Chapter 94 - Aurum?

Entrance to 16th Floor of Labyrinth,

"It really is him," Aransae muttered. His eyes followed the snow-white trail that Aurum's hair left behind as he swung his sword, killing the last of the wolfman in between them.

Grayfia and Millicas were right behind him, with Grayfia watching as Millicas fought to take care of the monsters. There were only a few monsters that had re-spawned.

He silently followed them until they were all outside the dungeon. He noticed Aurum pull Grayfia aside, giving her something from his pamphlet before talking with Millicas and taking his leave. He was wondering about following him when Grayfia looked in his direction.

"As sharp as always..."

He walked out of the shadow of the Dungeon, walking over to greet them, "So, what did he give you?"

"A sermon."

"About not having sex in the Dungeon?" Aransae curiously looked towards the pamphlet in Grayfia's hand.

"Yes, and no. Literally a sermon," Grayfia gave him the pamphlet. He scanned it, seeing big words written on top of it, "IT's OK?"

"Oh, that big brother was It's Ok guy?" Millicas looked towards the pamphlet, noticing the gaze of two adults.

"It's ok guy. Mother, I told you about him! He was the guy everyone was talking about. He started shouting It's Ok at the start of the game! Many people follow him!"

"Oh, what things does he say?" Aransae curiously scanned in the direction that Aurum left. He didn't even understand why or how he was here.

"Things like," Millicas thought back, "Like how government and our families would take care of our bodies. They must be working to help us from outside. That we don't have to hurry. That we can take our time. Oh, his famous words are First Step is always the Hardest!"

"Hm," Aransae turned over the pamphlet, and like he said, it was written right there.

First Step is always the Hardest, and behind it was a picture of Aincrad. With First Floor being the First Step, "Aurum is alive again...and he's here in Aincrad...how is this happening?"

"You are going to see him?"

"See him? Now? No. He's not the Aurum I know, and not the one I am waiting for to come back," Aransae shook his head, "but that gives me the idea. There is something I want to see."

Aransae smirked, "Grayfia, Millicas, hopefully we will meet soon."

"Yes, master."

"Bye, big brother!!" Millicas waved his hand as Aransae walked away.

He put a spring in his step to catch up to Aurum, who noticed him halfway through, "Hello, sir. Did you complete the HoRunka village quest too."

Aransae put an emphasis on Horunka, which made Aurum laugh. He blinked, "What?"

"Ho Runka? The way you said it?"

"Oh?"

"Ho... Runka? Your Japanese is good. Runka means to Masturbate. Ho Runka. Ho to Masturbate. Masturbating Hoe? Forget it," Aurum waved his palm, "No one really gets my sense of humour because I always have to explain it. I am a foreigner too. So many the people who have learned the language all their life naturally feel something is wrong with that joke."

"Ahaha..." Aransae blinked a few more times. He had no idea what was going on.

"Now, Mr Sleazy Merchant. What might you want?"

"I am the Traveling Merchant."

"Nah, you give the whole sleazy merchant vibe right now. Coming up and asking that if I have completed a strange quest."

"Strange? Horunka is famous for its quest."

"True," Aurum started walking forward, with Aransae walking beside him, "But I am not wearing the sword it's famous for. And you have an idea that I don't know about the quest you are talking about. So, what are you selling?"

"No, wait. How did even know all this...?"

"Your vibe. It's so erratic," Aurum stopped to look at Aransae, who stopped to ask the question. He scanned him, "one moment, you give of this sleazy merchant vibe...and now...you are nearly vibeless."

Aransae looked around him, patting his arms, waists and thighs, "Vibe...how does it look?"

Aurum chuckled, "it doesn't look like anything. It's how others perceive you. It's a combination of 10s of small things. It's also how people perceive the world. How I perceive the world. Anyway, Mr Strange Merchant. What do you want from me?"

'I wonder if I can do that too...read people like that,' Aransae hoped to look inside the Dungeon. But there was something else that tickled his fancy more.

"No, I surprised me that someone made it to the Fifteenth Floor, solo. I only made it to the entrance to the sixteenth with a secret item that shows me the way in Labyrinth."

"Oh, that. I had help from a few people who owe me. They show me the map and I share my knowledge that I get from others. First ten floors were easy. The only thing I had to explore was next five. You could say I was lucky that I didn't find too many dead ends."

"Luck. That's great," Aransae curved his lips, "Say. Would you like to try your hand at the quest?"

"In Horunka Village?"

"Yes. And it's a quest given by a player, not by an NPC."

"A player with the item to reveal the path in the pathless?" Aurum gave an 'it's laughable' look to Aransae.

"I know, but it's a really hot quest. It's called, Fuck the Little Sister."

Aurum's steps finally stopped, "wait, could she be a guy."

Aransae let out a short laugh, "that's your first thought?"

"You have to cautious in VR. Let's see, she will regain her body, and she can't hide her voice. Hm, the chances of her being a guy are close to zero...?"

"You think too much," Aransae smilingly sighed.

"I'll know for sure once I see her."

"So, why are you telling me this?"

"Well, I doubt there is another one of that Item. But if you get it, then you might be able to clear the Labrinth faster?"

"That can happen if you and I work together? Are you trying to set me up with this girl?"

"Um..."

"Look. Be honest. If I am interested. I might hear you out. If you lie, I am going to leave."

"Ok," Aransae breathed out, "I want to see how you get along with the girl. She's someone I know. You are just her type."

"You like her?"

"I don't know how to like people..." Aransae shook his head, "Would you take time to meet her? In turn. I will help you reach the 20th Floor with that item."

"Hm, ok. Horunka Village. I'll be there tonight," Aurum waved his hand, "Now, there is somewhere I must be. I have to share the map with a few friends."

"Then take the cleared map of 15th floor," Aransae stopped him, transferring the map data before waving his farewell for the day. He happily smiled, making his way towards Horunka Village.

Meanwhile, he borrowed the NPC from Horunka Village, making his way to see Aurelius and Eve, who planned to stay there. This village seemed was as noisy as ever. The line for Anneal Blade Quest hadn't reduced, and likely wouldn't. Though there was another line that made him raise his eyebrows. The one near the Blacksmith shop.

There were two shops side by side. One was owned by the NPC Blacksmith in Horunka Village, and the other named, "Eve's Smithy?"

"Hm," he smiled. Being the NPC, he got ignored by the players as he entered the Smithy from the side door. He covered his face, being hit by the wave of heat along with the clanking sound. He closed his eyes, reopening them. Only to see the sultry golden-haired girl with a glistening, slightly tanned skin, wearing a leather apron showing off her body.

He felt his mouth parch, and it wasn't just because of the heat. He looked at her face, happy as she a tray filled with swords to Aurelius. She looked over to him in surprise, waving her hand, "Sir Aransae!"

Her voice smothered by the constant hammering by Aurelius. She ran over, hugging the middle-aged NPC, "What brings you here?"

"Um..."

"Oh, the clothes," Eve took him near the door, leaning against one of the racks where the sound of hammering was least. She circled her hair around her finger, looking at her outfit, "He has so much control over his body and mind. He barely let's go and give into his desire. I have to tease him a little."

"You are feeling better?" Aransae cautiously asked.

"A little," Eve raised her eyes, with a grateful look in her eyes which he didn't understand, "a certain pink birdy came to me. She told me what certain someone said to her. Yeah...he's not here. He broke his promise to me, and I don't understand why it was necessary...I know logically...but...I don't see the world the way he does. It's not like he..."

She shook her head, "I can keep babbling on...about him...but the truth is...big brother Aurelius is him. Big brother Arcus is also him. And his soul will be him."

She tilted her head, letting out a smile, "I will get to know them...understand them...and cry if they are gone. And I don't know how I will deal with their loss when he comes back. Dying without knowing if he would come back is his burden...and accepting everything in between is mine. If it makes any sense."

"It doesn't," Aransae shook his head, "I won't even know where to begin."

"That's because words aren't good enough to explain," she took a deep breath, putting a smile on her lips, "Now, what brings you here?"

"To see him," Aransae was about to keep talking when he noticed that the voice of hammering disappeared. He looked towards the anvil, only to find Aurelius pointing towards the stairs. He nodded, following. As Eve grabbed his hand and guided him, he looked over to see the closed doors of the smithy.

He finally breathed once they were up the stairs, there was less heat, "why keep the doors closed?"

"It's better that way. They keep acting crazy or boast loudly when the doors are open. This way, they keep their swords, and when the tray is full she brings them in. It basically brings more business than crowd," Aurelius turned to move up the stairs, coming out on the second floor.

Aransae walked into the room with two separate beds. He looked towards Eve in confusion, who whispered, "that one we use. That one is for sex."

"Oh," Aransae breathed out in relief. For a moment, he was worried they were having problems.

He looked at Eve, before grabbing her by her shoulder and he pushed her out of the room.

"Sir Aransae!"

"Sorry Eve," Aransae sealed the room off using Dungeon Energy. He turned his head to look at Aurelius, "I saw Aurum."

"Oh," Aurelius gave him a look, which he was sure wasn't surprise.

"Were you the one?"

"I don't know how is that possible. I am very surprised."

Aransae glared at him, nearly shooting lasers through his eyes, only to see him unfazed by the glare that would scare others into speaking the truth.

Aurelius smiled, "I am still surprised."

"Is that so! Fine, don't tell me!" Aransae crossed his arms, looking away, "I called him over!"

"Let's see what happens when Eve sees him."

"He's coming, is he?" Aurelius looked out the window on the first floor, along with the long line, "I wonder too."