I can't keep up the schedule 4days/chapter

It seems I'm overestimating my ability.

I'll try to be more humble next time.

Chapter 10 - Crystal Trial Part 1

It’s 9 o'clock in the morning.

I am currently eating spicy fried noodle with meatballs. My sister is sitting across me and eating her own fried noodle.

"Ren. Help me buy some groceries after this."

"Didn't we already stock some?"

"You only stocked up on instant noodle. It's not healthy!"

"Instant noodle is delicious and easy to make. It's the epitome of food."

"Ppffftt. I need eggs, celeries, tomatoes and potatoes."

"You're not listening to me at all."

I furrow my eyebrow in response because of dissatisfaction.

"I heard you. Go wash up and buy me those things."

"Yea yeah."

She's always like this. She only cooks when she wants to. If she's not outside, all errands will be put on me. She's kind of pushy, but the food she makes is delicious so I don't have any complaint.

I finished my noodle and washed the dishes. Afterwards, I took a quick bath and wear black shirt and jean pants.

"What do you want to cook tonight?"

"A simple teriyaki will do, buy me some chicken meat too."

"Yes yes."

Why am I not online? Tatsu said the crystal trial can be taken on 10 o'clock until 11 o'clock, so I decided to go offline and eat.

The distance from my house to the food market is not too far. It took me 10minutes on my yellow bicycle.

As usual, the market is crowded. I wonder why there is two or more stalls selling the same items. The market is a square shaped building with spices on the outer side vendors, vegetable and meat on the inside stalls. It's like a kitchen show where they put the products on a long table made of ceramics. There's also a few stalls selling readymade food such as pancakes and breads.

I make my trip from egg vendor towards vegetable and then meat. Since my sister said she want to make teriyaki, I pick boneless meat and some breast fillet.

When I'm done, I walk towards the parking area. Then I noticed a good smell lingering in the air. I breathe it in.

*Shuuu

"Aahh, what a nice smell."

It's coming from my left side. I turn to look towards the source of this heavenly aroma.

"Ah the cute looking boy over there, come and try my croquettes. It is still fresh."

A plump looking auntie called out to me. She got a round face with a never ending smile. She wears an apron with flowers pattern.

"Oh. I’ll take one please.”

Its price is 1$ for two pieces, quite expensive considering it was sold on food market. The moments I take a bite, the cream sauce inside immediately gushed out and flood my mouth. That crisp skin combined with bacon and boiled egg inside it plus sweet and sour cream sauce makes a perfect mix.

The sweet taste from the sauce empowers the bacon and the sour taste rises up my appetite. This is probably the most delicious croquette I’ve ever had.

I eat the rest within 3 more bites. I can’t believe I just ate a croquette this fast. My sister will surely love this. I proceed to buy 4 more croquettes to enjoy at home.

Once I get back, I search for my sister. She’s nowhere to be seen. Then I hear a blower sound from upstairs. It seems she’s drying her hair with a blower.

‘I guess she’s done showering.’

I take out the food I brought before and place today’s dinner inside the fridge. While I am putting the eggs, my sister comes down from the stairs.

“I smell something good. Did you buy something?”

“Nee-san, I brought some croquettes on the market. It’s super delicious. Come and try it.”

She take one croquette and bite it in a huge size.

“Oh. It’s unexpectedly delicious. I see there are bacon, egg, and chicken meat. Too bad I can’t reproduce the sauce.”

“Haha. Too bad indeed. I don’t mind eating these croquettes for a whole day.”

“Damn you snotty brat. I just told you to eat healthy and you want to eat junk food for a whole day? Not going to happen. I’ll cook dinner tonight, make sure you get off your butt on dinner time”

“Yea yeah.”

I log back into Eden as soon as I can.

‘Come to think of it, I still got that skill book sitting in my inventory.’

I take out the nature skill book which I can’t learn earlier. I try to register it once again.

‘Oh!’

Skill Name:Harmony with NatureSkill Rank:BeginnerSkill Type:Passive / Skill TreeSkill Level:10%Nature is a mysterious thing. It can provide protection to those who need it. It can also bring destruction to those who harm it. Learn to become one with nature to unlock its mysterious potential.

Camouflage (Toggle Support Magic)

‘Well well, look at me. A mage with stealth! Hu hu hu hu.’

Imagine a mage with the capability of assassin but higher damage output. If I can grind my speed status to the top, I’ll be able to PK other player easily as long as their level is not higher than mine.

Looking at the time in my menu, it shows 7:45 PM. It’s almost past the time to get the crystal trial. I hurry back to find the Guild Master NPC in the tavern.

The tavern is located near the zigzag road. It is next to the potion store. Even outside the tavern door, I can hear a lot of noises.

‘What am I expecting? It is a tavern after all.’

Although I dislike noisy places, it’s not enough to turn me away from a quest. According to Tatsu’s information, the NPC should be an old man in his 40s with a muscular build and thick moustache. He is also bald and that makes it easy to find him.

I spot a group of 4 people sharing a single table near the corner. One of them is bald and meets most of the criteria except he doesn’t look like a 40s. The guy on the left has long braided hair and a feminine build. I can’t look at his face, but he is dressed like a man with tuxedo and all. The woman on the right has slightly big build; thinner than the auntie I met earlier today but still plump enough to be called big. Her face is refreshing to look at with that smile plastered on it. The last person is sitting with his back facing me so I can’t get a good look at him/her.

I walk towards them and ask the bald man.

“Hello sir, I am here to take the trial.”

“…”

“…”

Am I being ignored? They keep talking among themselves, even laughing in the process. I walk closer towards the bald man and lock my eyes on him.

“Good evening, sir. Are you the guild mater?”

“Huh? Guild Master? Oh you’re talking about Roy. Hey Roy, do you know this cute guy?”

The man who sits across the bald man looks at me and says “Nah, never met him.” Then he proceeds to continue drinking.

‘He’s not bald!’

Did Tatsu give me wrong information? Looking at his body build, I can’t tell whether he’s muscular or not.

“I am here to take the Crystal Trial.”

“Ah, another one of those people. Fine, follow me.”

We left the tavern and walk towards the northern part of the town. We arrived at the place where I wait for the instructor for class promotion.

‘The breeze. This is truly a great place.’

He casts something towards the tree and strikes his palm against a magic diagram that appeared after the chant. Suddenly a black hole formed in the tree and starts to suck me in.

“Wha…!”

He waves his hand and says “Have a safe trip.”

Have you ever tried sucking your hand with a vacuum cleaner? That black hole feels a lot like it except you get sucked in every part of your body. I wish they have a better method instead of using rough method like that.

I landed on something concrete. My butt hurts and my left upper arm is numb. It seems I landed in a wrong position.

‘Damn that NPC. You could have told me before initiating the transfer!’

I take a look around. It’s a wide flatland with a few trees growing on it. I don’t see any other life form beside the trees.

‘What next?’

I wait for further instruction, but no one is coming. What am I supposed to do in this plain?

I wait for another 5 minutes.

No sign of anything.

‘Well, I shall play with my skill then.’

Since I learned >, I need to test it before using it on anything else. I walk towards the nearest tree and activate my skill.

>

My entire body is covered by a faint green light. I take a look at my hands and legs.

‘Hmm, no stealth. Do I need to be closer?’

I walk until I can lean on the tree. My hands and legs become transparent.

‘Hooo. Amazing.’

I try to move my hand out of my current position to measure the distance needed to ensure the activation of the > skill.

Bit by bit, I move my hand out of the tree’s shadow. When a light shines upon my hand, the > is deactivated only on the hand area while my whole body is still invisible.

‘That’s pretty good.’

Immersing myself into playing with this skill, I didn’t notice there is a person approaching me from behind.

“Boo!”

My eyes open wide, my heart feels like it would jump out of my body.

“Hey! That’s not nice!”

“Ha ha ha ha, can’t help it. Seeing a cute face like yours, it’s impossible not to tease it.”

“So…” I take a look at her name. “Ms. Sherly, what am I supposed to do in this trial?”

“It’s simple. You can do anything you want. If you want to end it, you can speak to me again.”

“Huh?”

She vanished after saying that.

‘Do anything I want? Okay, think. What is strange from the last scene?’

I recall the images from when I landed here until she vanished. The sky, land and trees. Nothing is out of ordinary.

‘Except!’

I recalled the image when she surprises me by shouting boo. Wasn’t I on stealth? Without realizing it, my stealth has come undone. I look at my skill and camouflage is turned off.

‘Since when?’

Please bear with this for a while until I update the next chapter.