Volume 1.9 Black Joker (3)

When I blinked, I found myself inside another room.

"Whoah, this…"

The floor that I was stepping in and even the walls had the colours of the universe. It was like the extension of the bell tower earlier. But I knew clearly that it was not the tower anymore.

'This is more breathtaking than seeing it on a monitor screen.' My heart was pounding fast. It was like I was living inside a marvellous dream in the spur of my life.

Ding!

[Congratulations! You are the second player who unlocked a bonus stage.]

[Welcome to Chamber of the Black Joker!]

A translucent blue screen appeared in front of me.

'Second Player?' My eyes narrowed when I read the screen again. 'There was someone already ahead of me who unlocked the bonus stage? Did the second prince already unlock the bonus stages? Aside from this hidden stage, there is only one more hidden stage that can lead to a bonus stage.' Before I could go deeper in my thoughts, someone interrupted me.

"Hu-wah," I turned around, with extreme caution when I heard a loud yawn behind me, only to be left stunned. A dashing view filled my vision.

"Mortal, you have unlocked the bonus stage. Congratulations." A voice with not much enthusiasm resounded through the whole room.

There was a queen size bed with curtains that was between the blend of purple and blue.

'How can I not notice these things right away?' I walked towards it, completely mesmerised.

Before my hand could reach the white blankets.

"Mortal,"

I almost jumped out of my wits when a hand popped beneath, followed by the wiggling of something inside the blanket. I stepped back completely startled.

The wiggling continued until a head finally popped out from the blanket.

[The Black Joker has revealed herself.]

From under the thick white blanket of the bed, a girl who looked no older than fourteen, crawled out. For anyone who saw her for the first time, since the rest of her body was covered by the blanket, she seemed to be wearing a collar black shirt. However, as I saw her multiple times already in the game, she was wearing a gothic black dress that reached her ankles partnered with black boots... Her face was covered with a black mask with a red broken heart in the left cheek. She had long beautiful light green hair that seemed to blend with the galactic theme room.

But seeing how her entire body was covered in the blanket aside from her head, she reminded me of some fresh spring rolls. Ah, that makes me hungry for some reason. Now that I remembered, I haven't eaten that much given all these messes so far.

"I am the Black Joker, Edelle. The second game master that deals with the Bonus Stages and the Fairytale Shop. Hu-wah..." She let out another huge yawn. "Please system, tell her the rest."

[The Black Joker will grant you three gifts to choose.]

Seeing her like this, I tried my best not to grin like some idiot. After all, I would not play the Royal Nightmare for five years repeatedly if I didn't like it. Since it had been so chaotic when my memories returned, I really didn't have much time to fangirl about the game with the other characters I met so far, since they are trying to kill me.

Haysss.

Black Joker, Edelle. Her character was exactly in the game. She was the merchant of the system shop called the Fairy Tale Shop. The game master of the most hidden quests and also the one who would appear in bonus stages. She had this iconic image of a floating chibi girl who was hugging a huge white pillow each time she appeared.

However, meeting her earlier like this for the first event, it could only mean one thing. An advantage. All related to her, helped the players to become stronger in the game process as long as you solved her hidden quests and the bonus stages. To think these would all apply here, I hoped that everything would be the same as the game I played.

And even if she was a game master, she was much more likeable than the White Joker. Since the Black Joker has a lazy personality and always wanted to get things done as soon as possible, there was not much danger with her. However…

"Hurry mortal, choose the gifts that you want so I can go back to sleep." She reached for the white pillows and cuddled it. "System…"

My ghad. She reminded me of my adorable younger siblings.

Plus, I finally couldn't help but giggle when I remembered about the Black Joker in all the three endings of the game. She just looked at the players with one eye open before coming back to sleep again. Like in her mind, things were finally done or something.

[Choose your three gifts.

- Mystery Empty Egg

- Gambler's Dice (3x)

- Healing Rain

- Paralysis Powder

- Moonlight Daydream Seed (10x)

- Black Joker's Card]

"Is something funny?" The black joker noticed my unusual behaviour.

"Ehrm...'

That was a bit embarrassing.

"It's nothing. I just remembered something." I calmed myself down. "By the way, Ms. Black Joker before I can choose. Can I know who is the first player who unlocked a bonus stage?"

"Prohibited. Choose now," she seemed to be getting impatient now followed by another huge yawn.

"Ok. Then I want to choose the Black Joker's Pet Egg and the gambler's dice and the third choice... the black joker's card."

"The gambler's dice..." the black joker repeated my words monotonously. It was hard to undermine whether she just repeated it because she was interested or not.

"System." The black joker went inside her blanket again, seemingly her job had been done already.

[Congratulations! You have gained the Mystery Empty Egg, Gambler's Dice and Black Joker Card. Do you want to see the details of the item?

- Yes

- No]

"Yes." As soon as I responded, a floating white egg, with horizontal black lines appeared in front of me. It was the size of my fist and a faint green glow was surrounding it. Then next to it was a single white dice and a black card with joker face on it.

'This is it.' My gaming fangirling was kicking in.

[Mystery Empty Egg

Class: Legendary

A mystical empty egg that came from the World of Wonders. Obtain the blood of the creature, you wanted to be your familiar. They would be immediately put to the egg. The growth process shall begin and drop it with your blood to consider you as their master once they hatched.

Race: To be unlocked once it was hatched.

Species: To be unlocked once it was hatched.

Skills: To be unlocked once it was hatched.]

[Gambler's Dice

Class: C

Fortune or Misfortune. Choose what to bet from your six senses. Guessing the right number of the dice would give you a fortune that you could exchange in any item in the Fairytale Shop. However, if you guess wrong, misfortune will come your way and you will lose the sense you bet.

Number of use: 0/10]

The Gambler's Dice. This could be used as a sharp edge sword in future scenarios. But certainly it comes with greater risk. Well, this was for survival…

[Black Joker's Card

Class: ???

First Use: The player can use this to pass three events, without getting punished. It can be used for any main events, sub events or hidden events aside from bonus stages.

Number of use: 0/3

Second Use: Players who have the black joker card would gain the skill Mind Alteration.

Note: This card can only be used by only one player. If the card is lost, it would automatically return to its first owner.]

[Mind Alteration

Other players and entities who could use mind reading would be blocked by mind alteration automatically. The original thoughts of the player would be alternate by random thoughts that he/she wanted to let others know instead.

Mind Pressure would be reduced by 50 percent.]

[Player Yvette Celestine Ashtar has been registered as the owner of the Black Joker Card.]

[Player Yvette Celestine Ashtar has gained the Mind Alteration Skill.]

A small light particle flew and got absorbed to my forehead.

Woah. I didn't feel anything at all. But seeing that, I must have the skill already. This is it. I couldn't help but smile at the last item that I gained. It could be considered a cheat item, and it was worth all the risk I had gained.

[Player Yvette Celestine Ashtar has unlocked the inventory system.]

[All the three items would now be placed in the inventory. To open the inventory system, simply swipe the screen to the right in the air while thinking of the inventory system. To close it, simply swipe to the left while imagining the inventory system to close down. It was the same of bringing out or putting an item, just think of taking out an item or putting in an item.]

Perfect.

A grin curved into my lips. With these, the preparations were now complete.

[You will now be returned to the imperial palace grounds.]