Chapter 9

A Hidden Quest?

“The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.”

-Sun Tzu

“What a beautiful quote that is.” Lost said, hiding behind a bush.

Lost had recently gotten a book of quotes from someone. He read it to kill time, and now he has a tendency to say quotes to make himself look 'cooler', or so he thought.

A party of high-leveled adventurers were hunting a level 120 Aqua Basilisk. The serpentine monster appeared when players had defeated a total of 120 monsters around the area.

“Damagers fall back!” shouted the bald man wielding a shield, “Mage, thunderbolt!!”

“Gotchu fam!” The one in purple robes replied, casting an electric spell.

The Basilisk screamed in pain. It wiggled it’s body, as if trying to escape.

“Nice!” the mage said, complimenting herself.

“Everyone, it’s stunned!” announced the bald man, “Unleash your attacks!”

Swoosh!

Clang!

Wurrh!

Tzrrt!

Kzzk!

With each attack, the scaled monster was weakened. It was going well, and the Aqua Basilisk was almost defeated. When suddenly, the sky changed color.

“Leader! It’s about to rain!”

“Everyone, unleash your strongest attacks! Waste your mana potions, I don’t care!”

Everyone’s attacks became more and more intense. The basilisk’s health reached 1%. It was the perfect time for Lost to strike.

“Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”

-Sun Tzu

“Speed Bur-”

Suddenly, rain started to fall. The duration of the stun stopped, and the snake-like monster led out a loud cry.

“Mage!” Shouted the leader of the group

“Area Speed Boost!” the purple robed mage chanted, “It’s done!”

“Dodge!”

‘Oh no.’ Lost thought.

[You have equipped the characteristic ‘Hungry Viscosity’.]

The Basilisk unleashed a beam of pressurized water. Everyone in the party was vaporized instantly, even with the speed boost spell.

Lost was lucky. Thanks to his Hungry Viscosity characteristic, he was able to dodge the skill of the level 120 monster.

[You have unequipped the characteristic ‘Hungry Viscosity’.]

‘Phew! Okay let’s think this through...’

He inspected the monster’s name once more.

Level 120 Boss-fiend

‘Alright! Level 120.’

‘What about me?’

Lost

Level 23 Monster Eater HP: 4,911/4,911

MP: 814/858 Strength : 46

Vitality : 32

Dexterity : 31

Agility : 43

Intelligence : 31

Luck : 5

Stamina : 42 Skills:

[Lesser Devour], [Speed Burst], [Blood Gnaw] Abilities:

[Hand-to-Hand Combat (F)], [Unarmed Combat (F)], [Statue Morphing] Characteristics:

[Hungry Viscosity], [Black Iron Body]

‘Level 23 huh?’

‘Let’s see. If we calculate the percentage of me winning this fight it’s…’

Lost had a long pause.

‘Oh right, I failed math.’

‘But as they say, you never know unless you try.’

Lost had a deep breath, and once again, he spouted the words of his favorite army general.

“Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”

-Sun Tzu

[You have equipped the characteristic 'Black Iron Body'.]

“Speed Burst.”

A black figure flew into the air, towards the direction of the level 120 Basilisk. The velocity of said figure was in a simple term, very fast. However, the Basilisk was unaware of this. It thought that all threats have been dealt with, once it released its trustworthy skill. How could it not? A skill that can only be activated when the clouds shed tears of rain. A skill with such requirements needed to be powerful, of course.

[You have unequipped the characteristic ‘Black Iron Body’.]

[You have equipped the characteristic ‘Hungry Viscosity’.]

“Gotchu bitch.”

Lost, now a viscous creature, wrapped himself around the serpentine monster. The basilisk was too surprised to react, and in no time, its whole body was captured.

“Take this you slithery snake!”

“Absolute damage!”

It was slow, because of the difference in their levels. However, since Hungry Viscosity dealt absolute damage, the Aqua Basilisk was losing its health gradually.

.

.

.

After one hour of what feels like a rodeo ride in a cowboy themed fair, it finally happened.

[You have defeated Aqua Basilisk!]

[You have obtained 10 ‘Basilisk Scale's!]

[You have levelled up to 31!]

“Oh wow, okay.”

Lost

Level 31 Monster Eater HP: 6,619/6,619

MP: 1,156/1,156 Strength : 46

Vitality : 32

Dexterity : 31

Agility : 43

Intelligence : 31

Luck : 5

Stamina : 42

Points remaining: 80 Skills:

[Lesser Devour], [Speed Burst], [Blood Gnaw] Abilities:

[Hand-to-Hand Combat (F)], [Unarmed Combat (F)], [Statue Morphing] Characteristics:

[Hungry Viscosity], [Black Iron Body]

“I’ll just upgrade my luck….”

Lost

Level 31 Monster Eater HP: 6,619/6,619

MP: 1,156/1,156 Strength : 46

Vitality : 32

Dexterity : 31

Agility : 43

Intelligence : 31

Luck : 85

Stamina : 42 Skills:

[Lesser Devour], [Speed Burst], [Blood Gnaw] Abilities:

[Hand-to-Hand Combat (F)], [Unarmed Combat (F)], [Statue Morphing] Characteristics:

[Hungry Viscosity], [Black Iron Body]

“There! Lookin good!”

“Now, Lesser Devour!”

[No valid target exists.]

‘Huh?’

This was the first time for Lost, who had always used his skill to devour every monster’s corpse after defeating it. He then immediately realized why.

“Oh, it disappeared? But where?”

He thought about it for a while, until he finally realized.

“Ah right, it dissolved when I used Hungry Viscosity earlier”

“I guess that’s one way to balance this class...”

‘I shouldn’t use this too often’ Lost thought deep down.

It was a good strategy since it dealt absolute damage, however he wouldn’t be able to consume the enemy afterwards. This was a huge setback for him considering that his class revolved around doing so.

Although regrettable, he couldn’t complain. He leveled up 8 times in a row. That was more than he did during the last week. He then proceeded to look at the materials that he had gotten from the earlier fight.

Basilisk Scale Material

Scales that a Basilisk has shed. These scales offer a high physical resistance, and is used often as a material for protective gear by adventurers.

“This is nice, but I can’t really craft items.”

“Should I go to a blacksmith?”

***

Mirrond Town, a town known as the city of cuisines. Throughout history, Mirrond has been the home of chefs all around the west continent. When one thinks about the center of the eatery industry, one thinks of Mirrond.

Our hero, Lost, has stepped inside of this town.

“Ooh that smells good!” Lost exclaimed, upon experiencing the delicate scent of spices as a merchant passes by.

His intent visiting this town was to visit a blacksmith, but the smell of food from across the town gave him a new purpose. Was the purpose itself noble in nature? No, of course not. The purpose was to eat a lot until his stomach would explode. And so, he started asking around town.

“Do you know where is a good place to eat?”

Every NPC gave him a different answer, as expected. The world of Freedom Fantasy was so immersive that each and every NPC had their own preferences and personality, it was something to be amazed by for Lost. But there was something he was bothered by.

“There are no players?”

One would think that a city esteemed for its food would have players flocking around it. But the truth was different. Just to double check, he used his recently acquired bow and looked at the minimap, which would usually show white dots, signifying the presence of a player. Heck, that was how he ended up following high level players earlier. But this time, there were only green dots, which meant that there were only NPCs around.

“Strange…”

Lost can’t be the first one to discover this town either, he was absolutely sure about it. If he was, there would be a notification, as well as discovery rewards for him.

‘Was there something bad in this city that players avoid?’ He thought to himself, wondering why the city was so empty.

He looked around town once more and saw a restaurant called “Hungry Panda”. He remembered when the NPCs recommended him restaurants earlier, and this name was not on the list, at all. He got curious and went inside.

“Welcome!” shouted the man sitting behind the restaurant bar. “What can I get ya, Kiddo?”

“Well, what do you recommend.. Sir..?”

“Name’s Rodzic Chefman, call me Rod.” The man said, chuckling at Lost’ words. “I would recommend the Panda’s Bowl, it’s a favorite here.”

“Alright, I’ll get that then.”

“Meal’s gon’ be ready in 5 minutes, here’s a drink so you won’t get too lonely!” Rod said, putting a glass of liquid in front of Lost.

Mountain Panda's Tears Consumable

Despite the name, it is not actually a Panda's Tears. A sweet drink infused with herbs that can restored mana.

Recovers 250 Mana

The drink that Rod served recovered mana more than a low-grade mana potion. Yet it was free? Lost was left wondering how and why such a drink was free.

Five minutes later, the meal arrived.

“What is this?” Lost looked puzzled looking at the bowl.

The bowl consisted of rice, covered in a type of soy sauce. There were ornamental green leaves which contrasted with the color of the soy sauce and rice, giving the bowl a fresh color when looked at a glance. In the middle of it all, was a meatball, decorated in such a way that it looked like the head of a panda. The black and white color of the panda was shown by the different levels of doneness of the meatball itself, with what should be the panda’s black fur was a more toasty color, while the white fur was signified by a light brown color.

“Wow.” Lost exclaimed, pleased with the meal he had just bought.

He wanted to inspect the meal, but his stomach said otherwise. Even though food won’t actually make someone full in Freedom Fantasy, players would still taste the food.

Lost, possessed by his hunger, dug in.

“Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”

-Sun Tzu

Lost had said that quote three times that day. 'He's slowly becoming insane.' is what a person would think if they knew this fact. Rod heard the quote and wondered why Lost had said such words as he was about to eat. Lost grabbed his spoon, and struck the meatball open. Inside the meatball, was the color of gold.

'!!!'

Lost was surprised, but he couldn't such emotion stop his hunger. He touched the gold with his spoon and tasted it.

“E-egg yolk!?”

“Impressive! It is yolk!” Rod, surprised at Lost’ sudden remark replied.

The golden color of the egg yolk hidden inside the meatball was as if the moon revealed itself on a dark sky.

“This is good stuff, old man!” Lost said, eating his food like someone who hasn’t eaten in a month.

Rod looked pleased with Lost’ praise, and gave a big smile.

Lost finished his meal with sadness. He wanted to experience such pleasure once more. But alas, he has a game to play, and he feared that if he tasted such food once more, he wouldn’t be able to eat the food he ate at home anymore.

As Lost was about to pay, a child walked into the restaurant crying.

Rod noticed the Child immediately and quickly went to his side.

“Malec? Why are you crying?”

“I-I lo-lo-lost my teddy b-be-bear...” the child said, stuttering at his words while wiping his tears away.

“Where did you lose it?” Lost spoke without thinking.

“In t-t-th-the f-f-forest…” He responded, still stuttering.

“Hmm… hey kiddo, can you help me?” Rod opened his mouth, looking at Lost.

“Huh?”

"Look, I'll put that meal you had on the house, aight? I don't know what's gonna happen if I leave him crying so I'll take care of him right here. Will you do it?"

At that very moment, a window appeared in Lost’s vision.

Malec's Teddy

HIdden Quest A little boy by the name of Malec has lost his doll in the woods. Rodzic, the owner of the restaurant you were eating at is afraid of what would happen to the boy if he was left crying while Rodzic looked for the doll. He offers to treat the meal you just had as free if you would look for it. Will you accept? Quest Accept Rewards:

The purchase of Panda's Bowl x1 will be treated as free. Quest Clear Requirements:

Find the Missing Teddy Bear Difficulty: ???

Reward: ??? Accept Quest? (Y/N)

“A Hidden Quest?”