On the way home, I secretly go through the crowd to avoid everyone's attention because of my weird outfit. They're still half surprised by it, and I understand that.
I should buy a new outfit...
I thought as I blended into the crowd in the market square, heading toward the gate.
While I'm passing through the market square, I see some adventurers passing by, and I recognize them from the Monster Raid. It seems like they just came back from their mission. They look so tired and are covered in the blood of monsters.
I stare at them for too long, and one of them suddenly turns toward me.
"Did someone just stare at us?"
"You must be imagining things, like always."
Another snickers, and the other adventurers make fun of him.
I sigh when I hear their conversation.
Well, I hope they are happy after the losses from the raid...
I thought, contemplating it.
Only if I give the information sooner...
I clench my fist and quickly get out of the crowd to head toward the kingdom gate to go home.
{Kingdom Gate}
At the gate, I see the Holy Knights guild, and the Azure Magus guild is coming back from the mission. They look devastated and covered in dust. They are talking about something that I can't analyze.
"The ruin was destroyed after we cleared it, like what the King said."
Vaelira said, turning to Alice with a happy expression.
"Yeah, it's kinda strange."
Alice replied, trying to match Vaelira's energy.
"It's so weird when the ruin suddenly appears near our kingdom."
Arthur said, hand on his chin, thinking.
"We need to report to the King about this upcoming threat."
I walk past them without them noticing me. They may be giving all their attention to their conversation.
Ruin?
I wondered about it, feeling strange about their conversation.
As soon as I leave the place, Sora rushes toward them with a serious expression.
"We got important news. His Majesty wants us to participate in the meeting right now."
Sora said, making everyone stop talking.
"We also plan to go there and report to him, so let's go."
They all quickly made their way toward the castle. Everyone in their way instinctively moved aside.
***
{My House}
When I finally reach my house, the sun has already disappeared, leaving the hill covered in the soft glow of twilight. I lie down on the grassy field in front of the house, panting and exhausted from climbing the hill home.
There were some troublesome monsters chasing me while I was going home. I had to run away from them until they stopped following me. Now they are down the hill, slowly leaving me alone.
«You are weaker than I expected.»
The system showed up with a comment.
"Shut up! I didn't exercise before being summoned here."
"But at least my stats increase from that run"
I keep gasping.
"How did I have enough energy to run to the kingdom gate in Chapter 8?"
I finally stop panting and go into the house.
«Because you ran downhill.»
I stand up angrily and kick the rock.
"Fair point, but those slimes appear out of nowhere and chase me around."
I sigh, thinking about that.
I open the door and get inside.
The inside is totally dark, but suddenly, lights appear inside the house. I was surprised for a second before calming down.
"I hate those magical lights... Full of surprise."
I said, heading up to my room.
{My Room}
There is also a magical light hanging on a hanger near the door. The light is set to its maximum level, making the room look bright, just like a modern room with the lights on.
"Now, give me all the information you have."
I said, sitting on the bed.
«Okay, I will show you.»
But a second system appears in front of me and blocks the system from showing information to me.
"W-what's this?"
I mumbled to myself shockingly.
"New ability?"
I asked.
The second appeared with different text.
—— Info ——
Name: No Name
Type: Unique Skill
Description: Allows the user to access the System's point of view within a limited range.
——————
I am surprised at this new skill information. The first system also seems surprised by floating around the second one.
«New Skill?! That's amazing!»
Hand on my chin, I think about it.
"New skill... Name..."
I mumbled to myself.
"I will name it 'Observation'."
I said confidently.
«...»
I turn to the system with a proud expression.
"You like the name of it?"
I asked.
«You suck at giving names.»
It commented.
It popped up.
"Well, at least I tried."
I said, turning back to the main subject.
"About the informatio—"
The second interrupts me again with a new message.
I smirked at this cool function in my new skill.
"Yes, I will watch the conversation."
I said, crossing my arms.
The ability system, showing the request, starts turning into a big rectangular screen with a word on it.
It showed on screen.
I look at it, confused, and turn to the first system; my eyes widen as I see the system glowing.
"What's happening?"
I asked.
«That system is trying to show you what I saw in the Throne Room earlier.»
«To do that, it will transfer what I saw to itself and turn it into a video for you.»
I look at it and nod.
"I see..."
The ability system finishes transferring, and the screen turns into the scene from earlier.
Inside the screen is the Throne Room after System One enters the room. Everyone looks serious. The sound from the video is very clear to me.
Wow!
My eyes glow with excitement.
***
After watching the scene, the system showing the scene disappears, leaving the other system and me alone. I suddenly started sweating, and the system noticed that.
«What's wrong?»
I am silent but still sweating. I forced a smile as I spoke.
"I think it's enough for today."
I said, trembling.
«Do you disagree about going to help them—?»
I ignore it and lay down on the bed, wrapping a blanket over me.
"No! I'm not the one they were talking about."
I prayed under the blanket.
"I would rather die than go to the Elf kingdom, as they said."
The system's watching me with judgment.
«STOP BEING A COWARD! AND YOU AREN'T EVEN HAVING A DINNER YET!»
{Throne Room}
In the room, each guild leader and two or three important members from each guild have come to attend the meeting. They find their positions so the King can easily recognize which group belongs to which guild.
The King is on his throne, with the elf princess Serelith Syl'vayne and her guards standing beside him. They wear their hoods to hide their identities until the perfect time, just as the King said.
"So everyone is here, right?"
The King asked.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
They said, in sync.
King Aurelius Valerius starts to stand up, and away from the throne, he walks and finally stops directly in front of everyone.
"Good... I see that the Holy Knights and Azure Magus have done their raiding at the ruin."
He said, looking at Arthur.
"Arthur, now tell me what happened at the ruin."
Arthur stands up and kneels down to answer the King.
"Yes, Your Majesty! I have a report to tell you."
He said, pausing to think before speaking.
"We found some weird things inside the ruin earlier. I think they are candles and a magical circle."
Arthur said, calculating his words.
"I think... Perhaps it may be related to that guy we imprisoned... from the Herald's Covenant."
The King had his hands on his back, looking at him with a serious expression.
"I see... So you want me to come, people, to investigate it?"
"Yes, Your Majesty! I understand."
Arthur said.
"I will think about it... But there is another request..."
The king said, his voice more serious.
"We got a request for help from another Kingdom!"
He said loudly so everyone could hear him clearly.
Some of them look surprised by my words, while others become suspicious.
"I know you are wondering why a kingdom wants help from a small kingdom like us..."
He said, moving aside for Serelith to go up.
Serelith understands his action and goes up, stands next to him, and removes the hood.
As soon as she reveals herself, some people are surprised by her presence at the meeting. Others can't help but stare at her, since she rarely reveals herself to so many people, and her beauty catches everyone's attention.
"...As you can see, the Elf Kingdom is in danger, and the princess comes here in person to seek our help."
"Pl-please save my Kingdom! I'm begging you!"
She said, bowing down, making everyone soft-hearted.
The King's eyes soften, and he stops Princess Serelith from continuing to bow and begs.
"I told you... we will save your Kingdom, so don't worry."
He said, guiding her to her guardians.
He now comes back to everyone for an announcement.
"So, we have two requests that we need to do... So, I will assign people for the missions."
The King looks pleased with them before assigning the missions.
"I will put people into teams..."
He said, scanning around to pick the right teams.
"...For investigating the ruins, I will assign Arthur Aethelred from the Holy Knights and Kael Draven from WolfCrest. I want you two to lead people to investigate the ruins..."
He said, pausing to think before continuing.
"...You can pick people for the mission, but not anyone I will call next."
They both nodded as the King continued his assigning.
"Alice Valoria, Sora Sinclair, and Vaelira Corvayne!"
The King called them, making all three surprised.
"You guys will be going to the Elf Kingdom..."
He said, thinking more about it.
Serelith is surprised by his decision and comes to ask him.
"What about the guy that you mentioned earlier?!"
She asked, confused that the King hadn't mentioned that special person once in this meeting.
"Ah, yes! he will be with them too..."
He said, hinting at someone who is being a coward at home right now.
Some people don't know who the King is mentioning, but they know how dangerous it is when the King sends Alice, Sora, and Vaelira to the Elf Kingdom on a mission.
Is he out of his mind?!
Everyone thought, except Alice, Sora, and Vaeli.
He's letting people who aren't adults yet go to the Elf Kingdom?!
They all laughed in their thoughts, making sure the King wouldn't notice.
What a careless King...
{Inside the Kingdom}
Somehow, I'm outside the house and in the Kingdom. Heading toward Garrick restaurant again for dinner, but with a bag of gold money with me.
"Damn you... System..."
I mumbled, starting to think about what happened earlier.
My thoughts returned to what had happened back at home earlier.
I was lying on the bed, with a blanket over me. The system kept annoying by system's appearance sound when it knew that word inside the system would not work.
«WAKE UP! WAKE UP! WAKE UP!!»
It kept making the appearance sound until I had had enough.
"Fine! I will go eat dinner! Just stop that, you annoying crazy system."
I said, holding the system by the hand throw it away till it hit the wall and fell down to the ground.
«Okay, but that hurts, you know?»
"Shut up!"
I said angrily.
I stood up; this time I grabbed the bag of gold and left.
"I will go eat dinner, but I will never join that kind of mission."
The memory scene slowly faded away from my head.
Damn it!
I thought angrily.
While I am heading to Garrick Restaurant again, I suddenly sneeze out of nowhere.
Is someone mentioning me?
I thought confusingly, continuing to go toward the restaurant.
{Garrick Restaurant}
The inside of the restaurant is now bustling because it is a golden time for dinner.
I head toward the same spot as always, seeing Garrick watching everyone around the restaurant, bored.
"Hi, Garrick."
I said, settling down into my seat in front of him.
"You come back again, kid?"
He asked, with a mix of boredom and surprise.
"Yeah, for dinner."
I answered with my hungry stomach.
"Can I have your special meal, please? This time I'll pay."
I said, showing him some gold coins.
"Oh! Can you also teach me about this world's money?"
Garrick slowly stands up properly, with a smile and a thumbs-up.
"Of course! I will be willing to help you, special boy..."
He said, with a mischievous smile.
"...But if you have any information from those knights..."
With a helpless look, I forced a smile.
"I don't have..."
I said.
Just like Sora said, and novel information... He is an information freak...
I thought sarcastically.
"Alright then, I will give you dinner and help you."
He said, turning around to prepare my meal.
At least he's willing to help.
I sighed in relief.
—— PROFILE ——
Name: Zin Fortis (The Ghost of the Future)
Age: 15
Gender: Male
Race: Human
----
Authority: Unknown
----
Stats:
STR: 4
AGI: 3
END: 1
STA: 3
----
Skills:
Observation
——————