CH.3: DIE ALONE

"Hero?". Being a hero takes a lot of responsibility. Just one small mistake, a big chance of someone might get hurt. That's what I want to avoid no matter what.

"Sigh..." I can't believe myself that sudden events happened in my life. I died three times already and still alive. I've been stabbed, burned to death and melted in acid. But I didn't regretted any of it, in order to save someone.-- I supposed it's payback of my uneventful life.

I promised Elvie that I will help her cure her mother. We promised to go tomorrow. So before that, I need to go to the guild to claim my rewards in completing my quest.-- I really need to buy some real weapon and equipment first.

As I go inside, adventurers and stuff members suddenly cried. They don't actually believed that I'm still alive.-- I don't want to believe it either.

One of the stuff approaches me then holds my hand. "Good thing that you're still alive." The stuff said it in tears.

But wait a minute! They really knew that it's a very hard quest.-- Then why nobody told me?

The stuff told me that I looked very strong. My outfit and my face are somewhat out of this world.-- Well that's actually true.

"Are you making a joke?!".

"Aren't you the one who registered me? In other words-- That I'm a beginner!" I yelled.

The stuff told me that she forgot.-- How can someone forgot that?!

My phone vibrates and tells me her name.

The name of the stuff is "Hera River". Hera apologized herself and promised that it won't happen again.-- Good thing I'm immortal.

I gave the core fragments of the slime in proof of the quest. The reward is so big.-- As expected, the quest is really hard.

After that, I asked Hera if she can recommend a shop that sells weapons.

"Please. Let me be your accompany!", Hera said. Hera wants to escort me in order to repay her mistake.-- Well, I accepted her offer.

Going to the shop didn't take too long. Just a few minutes, we arrived at the shop. Hera told me that all of the weapons here are made by dwarves.

My phone suddenly vibrates again.

"Angru".-- I think this is the name of the owner. But I didn't see anyone. But suddenly, someone yelled.

"Welcome! My lovely Heraaa!"

A small man jumped in front of us and Hera kicked him, flying.-- I didn't expected her to that.

Hera introduced him. "This old geezer is Angru. But you can call him "Gru". He is the owner of the shop."

I introduced myself back but he is still knocked-out.

So I look around the shop and saw different kinds of weapons, even magic-typed swords too.

When Gru regained his consciousness, he offered me an "Order-Made" weapon.-- As the name implies, it's a weapon that is made for you, using the materials that you want to use.

He told me that he wanted to make this really wonderful sword but the material that will be using is very hard to get. He told me it's location, which is in the middle of the forest-- Where I actually met Elvie.

In the middle of the forest, there's a cave. Inside that cave lies a very powerful monster. In order to get that, I need to kill it.-- I'm getting a really bad feeling about this. But I accepted it. Right now, my objective is to become stronger. In the end, I bought a regular sword and some equipment.

As we go back to the guild, we passed a stall that sells accessories. I saw Hera looking at it, so I bought her one as a thanks for escorting me. I bought her a necklace.-- The one that she's been staring at.

"It looks good on you!" I said to her. Hera blushes, you can see her cheeks turning red.

We arrived at the guild. Hera thanked me and I thanked her back.-- Still blushing, actually.

Now that I have weapons, it's time to go back home, but I actually remembered that I need to buy some clothes for Maya.

So I looked around but I don't know what place should be.-- I don't know anything about dresses.

As I walk, I get this feeling that someone is following me. So I turned into a corner and waited. Then hooded person bumps me.-- You know who it is.

My phone vibrates and tells me, "Risaline Elsia".

"What are you doing?" I asked her.

"You?! What are you doing?!" She shouted in my face.

I explained to her, that I let Hera accompany me to buy some weapons but Risa ignored me.

"Why did you gave her a present when you actually have me?" She said it in a small-voice.

I said to her that it was only a thanks but she didn't accepted it.-- This girl is really...

Looking at Risa, it made me an idea.

"Risa. You are the only one that I needed right now!" I said.

Risa suddenly blushes and asked on what.

I asked her if she can show me around the town and look for clothes. Risa accepted and still blushing.

So I followed Risa and we reached the clothing shop. I asked Risa to try something that she likes. As expected, all of them suits her.-- I actually asked her to try some because her and Maya's body are mostly the same.

After we bought some clothes, I saw the stall earlier and bought Risa a ring.

Risa is mumbling,"Wha-What do you mean by this?! Is this for me?!"

"Of course. If I hadn't met you, I don't know what I supposed to do."-- Well, I don't have any clue about clothes.

"Le-Let me think about it first!" Risa shouted it and ran away.

I go back home, and give the clothes to Maya. Ria took Maya upstairs. It's really cute, seeing it wore by Maya. Those ears and tail of her really matches the clothes and her cuteness.-- So many cuteness in one day. I'll be sleeping deep tonight.

After I ate and I go straight to bed. I promised to see Elvie tomorrow.

*Beep, *Beep, *Beep, *Beep.

Next morning, Elvie and I meets outside the kingdom. So we go straight to the forest. While walking, I asked her if she knows where it is located but she said she doesn't know. She said that she's been looking for it for almost a month now but she couldn't find it.

I asked her what's it called.

"Fountain of Recovery." She said.

So I used my phone to search the map, there I saw it's location. It's in the middle of the forest near where I encountered Elvie and the slime. So we go to the location and found a cave but my phone suddenly vibrates, it tells me that the cave is surrounded by slimes.

So I told Elvie that we need to sneak around in order to pass the slimes without getting caught. She told me that she can use an invisibility spell but she could only use it once.

So we sneaked around the slimes and made it inside the cave.

As we walked through, I asked Elvie how did her mother get sicked. Elvie told me that she's been poisoned and it's getting worse.

"Who poisoned her?" I asked her that.

She told me that it might be one of their relatives.-- How could someone does that to their relative?

Our talk suddenly put on paused. after my phone vibrates and tells me that an enemy is nearby.

In front of us is a monster.

I asked Elvie what kind of monster is that.

"That's a 'Nue'!" Elvie whispered.-- It's actually a monster with a face of a monkey, a body of a tiger, and a snake as it's tail.

As we look closely, behind that monster is the fountain. So Elvie and I thinks for a plan on how to get to the fountain without waking that 'Nue'. Elvie suggests to use the invisibility spell. But -- Well, that's not a bad plan.

But I can't let Elvie do it, it's way too dangerous.

So I let Elvie cast it on me and sneaked around it.-- Thank god the monster is sleeping.

As I go closer and closer to the fountain, the monster woke up unexpectedly.-- I don't know how but I think it smelled me.

My phone vibrates and tells me that an attack is coming.

"Poison Spit Incoming!".

I successfully dodges the attack-- For the first time.

But suddenly my phone vibrates again and there's a second attack, and I didn't managed to dodge it.-- Actually, I didn't died. I'm actually beside the fountain, I drank some and I recovered so fast. "This fountain is the real deal!"

But Elvie has been spotted and now aiming by the monster.

Before the monster uses an attack, I used "Fireball". The monster came at me again.

My phone vibrates again and it tells, "Thunder Incoming!". Well, I didn't managed to dodged it. So I've been toasted.-- As expected, just a few seconds, I came back again.

My phone vibrates again. I learned new skills.

"Poison Spit Acquired!" and "Thunder Acquired!"

"It's on now."

Now that I have these skills, I used it against it. First, I used "Poison Spit". Which is quite effective. It slowed down the monster but the monster goes on a rampage. So I used "Thunder" to immobilize it.

As I cornered the monster, I used "Acid Spit" and "Fireball" to finished it.

After I defeated the 'Nue'-monster, I saw this ore inside of it.-- Like an 'Item-Drops' in games.

I think this is what's Gru is talking about. So I took it.

We finally found what we are looking for. The fountain to cure Elvie's mother.

Elvie is crying. It shows on her face, how hard she really wanted it. Every tear that dropped in her eyes means a lot.

So we took some from the fountain and head outside. But we actually forgot about the slimes.

So we try to sneak again but unfortunately failed, we've been found. The slimes chases us, so we ran as fast as we can.

The two of us catches our breath after we lost them.

"Do you think we're safe now?" I asked her.

"I think so." Elvie replied.

Unfortunately, we didn't noticed that we are at the end of a cliff.

And suddenly the ground begins to crack.

"Elvie look out!" I shouted at her.

But the ground breaks so fast near at Elvie's spot.

Elvie fell.

Elvie shouted my name and reached out her hand.

I reached her hand but I lost my balance, making us fell both. I hugged Elvie as we rolled down the cliff to protect her.

Unexpectedly at the bottom of the cliff, I ended up kissing Elvie and touches her chest.

"Sorry about tha--"

I tried to apologize but Elvie punched me in the face.

I told her that was an accident but Elvie ignored me like a stubborn little kid.

A few minutes later, we finally made it outside of the forest.

Elvie told me to come with her in her place.-- I don't have much to do anymore, so I go with her.

After an hour of walking, we reached the place.

I can't believe on what I'm seeing right now. It's a hidden kingdom with tall trees, unexplained creatures and most of all, it is full of elves.-- It's like the real paradise of this world.

My phone vibrates and tells me, "Enchanted Forest of Elvisha".

As we go through the forest, a group of elves came. With their bows and arrows, they aimed it at me but Elvie stopped them. The elves apologized and bowed their heads then offered us a ride.

Few minutes later, we reached Elvie's house. I can't actually believe it, her house is so big-- I'm getting this feeling that this girl have a royal blood running in her veins.

"We'll be living now, Princess Elvina." The elves said. -- A princess, huh? Well, as I suspected.

Elvie and I go to her mother's room.

As we go in front of the door, my phone vibrates and tells me, "Elviana".-- I think this is her mother' name.

So we knocked and go inside, there I saw a beautiful elf lying in her bed.

Elvie introduced me to her and her mother introduced herself back.

"My name is Elviana. Thank you for taking care of Elvie." She said it with this sweet smile.-- Is this how Elvie's gonna look when she matured? I can see where she get her beauty from.

So we gave the recovery to her mother and she drank it. Few seconds later, she feels absolutely fine.-- I guess that fountain is really the real deal.

Elvie cried emotionally, so I leave them alone.

I looked around the house and saw this suspicious elf headed to Elviana's room. My phone suddenly vibrates and tells me his name, "Vine Monster".-- There's an elf with name of 'Vine Monster'?! Something smells fishy about this elf.

So I followed him and see what's he up to.

Unexpectedly, my phone vibrates and tells me that an attack is coming.

"Entangle".

Suddenly, Elvie shouted my name in a way of calling for help.

So I barge myself inside the room, and there I saw Elvie and her mother tangled in these vines. I've been caught up too.

"How come you are still alive? You are supposed to die!" Lenard shouted.

"Uncle Lenard! Are you the one who poisoned my mother?" Elvie replied in anger.

"Of course I am. If your mother dies, I will be the one who will replace her!" Lenard shouted again like a madman.

As they talk--or rather argue, I used "Acid Spit" to free myself unnoticed.

Lenard suddenly changing his appearance, transforming in a different creature. His body suddenly stretches out. His arms, legs and neck became longer and eventually turned into vines.-- So that's what a 'Vine Monster' looks like.

My phone suddenly vibrates and tells an incoming attack.

"Thorns Incoming!".

Lenard aimed it at Elvie and Elviana then deadly thorns suddenly came out his body.

I rushed in front and covered them by myself. As expected, thorns pierced through my body one by one.-- Of course it hurts so bad, I feel like being stabbed at different places.

So I died again, but eventually revived again in a few seconds.

"How are you still alive?!" Lenard can't believed it.

"How? Because I'm a GOD!" I said it in a cool way.

"Im-Impossible!" Lenard said it in shocked.-- Lenard actually took it seriously.

I used "Fireball" at him-- Which I thought is very effective against him.

Lenard, I mean the 'Vine Monster' burned and turned into ashes eventually. Then I used "Acid Spit" to free Elvie and Elviana from the vines.

Elviana shocked on what happened so Elvie explained it to her. In the end both of them are safe.

"So your name is Rubi, right?" Elviana suddenly asked.

"Ye-Yes, Ma'am!" I replied.

Then here comes, out of the blue, Elviana holds my hands and says,

"Alright, Marry Elvie!" She said it with confidence.

Elvie suddenly kicked me away.

"Wha-What are you talking about, Mother?! How could you say that to someone you just met?!" Elvie said it with her cheeks and ears are turning red.

They actually continue their talking like I'm not even here anymore.

Seeing theri faces and how they talked right now, I think that these two are really close with each other.-- I see why Elvie is so serious in finding that fountain. She just love her mother, that's all.

In the end, Elviana thanked me for today. She told me to take care of Elvie.

But as we go out of the room, Elvie suddenly kissed me in the cheek.

"Tha-thank you very much. I don't know what will happen if you didn't come." She said it in a sweet voice with her cheeks and ears are red.-- I want to say to Elvie that her mom is actually peeking in her room and gives me this big thumbs up.

Elvie escorted me back to the kingdom of Elsia and few minutes later, we arrived.-- We actually accompanied by their guards, the ones that we met earlier.

"Thank you very much, Elvie!" I thanked her but Elvie suddenly turned red again for no reason.

So everything is alright now, right? It's really a long day. I want to sleep in my bed.

I thought that, everything is done now but actually it's not.

As I go infront of the beerhouse, royal guards of the kingdom came and actually looking for me.

"What happened?! Am I gonna DIE?!".-- I guess, I can't.

The guards told me that the queen of Elsia wants to meet me. So if it's the queen who said it, I don't have any choice to refuse.

My phone suddenly vibrates and tells me, "Risaline Elsia". -- Where is this girl?

Inside the cart, there I saw Risa dressed as a princess. Seeing her in a dress is really attractive-- Well, all that I saw that she wore is her disguise.

"What's going on?" I asked Risa.

Risa told me that her mother is calling for me to discuss something important and I can't refuse. She told me that the queen will explain everything when we arrive there.-- I'm getting goosebumps here.

But out of nowhere, Risa suddenly punched me.

"What's with that for?!" I asked her in confused.

"What in the world are you doing?!" She asked me with this furious eyes.-- I'm actually confused so I asked her.

"I didn't even do anything. Did I?" I still asked her in confused.

Risa punched me again.

"I smell another woman and it's coming from you!" She said it with burning eyes.-- What's with these women and their senses? Maybe at that time when Elvie and I fell from a cliff.

"I can't believe you. Even though you already have me." She said it in like an angel.

But everything turned back again.

"Lo-Look at your cheek! There's a kiss-mark on your cheek!" Risa yelled.-- That time in Elvie's place.

Risa punches me, again and again.-- Am I gonna be killed by Risa before we arrive? I wonder what will happen to me.

"I HAD IT! I WANT TO GO TO SLEEP!"