Huh the map has expanded in size probably thanks to visiting hamlets edge.

"Let's get moving to Springfield" Val says, already marching forward with no further elaboration.

Before she can take 5 steps though many people come to Val and so they are close to my view. All of them are not too happy to see me due to my perceived rudeness but they are all glad to see Val.

"Hero Val, we would like to give you what we have left to spare." old Harry says to Val completely ignoring me standing near her.

The gifts include a very old donkey named Gertrude, her body being covered with gray and eyes that look more bored than an office worker. They also give us some dried meat with bread and also 2 rusty swords one with a missing edge plus a small lantern.

"I'm so sorry I have nothing to give to you back. I wish I could also give you a parting gift as well. Make sure to be careful not all people entering this world are here to help and fight whatever evil there is." Val tells them with a smile and I feel as though she knows I'm one of the people that don't want to fight or help.

My plan is to reach the capital and perhaps wait until this tower is cleared and then I'm able to go home to obtain my fortune so I need Val to help keep off the dangers until then.

We then start heading along our way. I got the sword with a broken off edge and we took turns with the donkey riding on too Springfield.

Then a message comes through.

Seems as though Val has had a similar message pop up In Front of her.

We ride through a dirtied paved road. Any other area would be forest so we make sure to stay on the path.

"Hey Conway you hear that" Val asks me

"I haven't heard anything, why?" i say confused

"Behind you!" Val screams

I leap to my right and look back to see a large old appearing wolf with a scar over his empty left eye socket with a level flashing over its body showing one. As I look at a message arrives describing the wolf allowing Val and I to read.

Val pulls out her sword and so do I. We both gather up in front of Gertrude.

"GRrrrrr" the massive wolf growls readying itself to pounce.

I contemplate running away as my heart rate rises but even if I do it would just be able to chase me down plus I'd much rather be with Val then be on my own.

BANG

The wolf jumps out targeting me, still I steady my sword as much as I can prepared for the attack.

My sword stays true; it gets stuck into the wolf but I fall onto the ground.

I try to reclaim my sword yet I lack the ability to pull it out.

<HP 300/700 remaining> Jim

The wolf slashes at me as Val continues to slash at the wolf.

I can hardly hold it together as I block my vital regions away from the wolf wincing from the pain, then I remember. It has no left eye, if I'm able to gouge out its right eye it won't be able to see at all!

The wolf continues slashing and so does Val as I analyze its location and my chance to take out its right eye.

<HP 800/1600> Terror Wolf

<HP 200/700 remaining> Jim

<Stamina 200/700 remaining> Jim

POKE

My hand thrusts into its right eye and continues to go deeper as it whimpers and backs away. Val gives the beast its finishing blows as it is not able to visibly attack anything and has nowhere to escape unless it wants to run and hit a tree.

<XP+5000> to Jim

<XP+5000> to Val

<5000/10000 remaining> for Jim and Val to level 2

<+1 Wolf Pelt + 1 raw wolf meat> to Jim and Val

"Are you okay Conway!?" Val exclaims worried for my well being

"No not at all" as I look down at my state of well being I am full of massive and deep scratches.

Val doesn't even ask if I want to be on the mule as she helps me up and settles me onto it.

"Thank you" I say sincerely as I would have been dead if it wasn't for Val to constantly slash it for it to die. Of course the same for Val if I hadn't poked out its eye.

"No problem and please don't die, you might be loco but I don't want to be..."

"What alone?" I say in Spanish showing off my linguistic skills

"Yeah that especially since we are far away from everyone else"

Wait what she didn't say anything about me speaking Spanish?

"Hey I just spoke Spanish and you didn't bat an eye" I say confused

"I thought you have been talking Spanish this whole time, I thought it was pretty cool of you since you seem like you're not from the south west."

"I think all languages must be translated in this "tower" I say very surprised

"It must be, that will be extremely helpful as we interact with others who wouldn't have known Spanish or English"

"I agree it will definitely be of use"

2 years of Spanish lessons for nothing. This place is all kombi la as everyone speaks the same language. It's pretty interesting though that loco is recognized not just as Spanish since so many English speakers know what loco means.

We continued on our way. I laid dead for 6 more hours on top of old Gertrude and Val and I made small conversation. During this time my health and stamina slowly increase.

<HP 320> Jim

<Stamina 700> Jim

Springfield is clearly a hunting village of several hundreds people selling hides and meats for a share of fruits, vegetables, and clothes. Most people being middle aged men and a local brothel to keep the men content. There also seems to be an HQ building for the huntsman to receive jobs.

"Conway we need to see if there is any people here possibly before heading to the capital"

"I agree I will go and find any people and you can sell my hide as well as yours plus the raw meat. Perhaps we will be able to get enough currency to gain armor and not die"

"I don't like the idea of you recruiting people but neither you selling anything both will probably end badly.. But yeah that sounds smart" Val agrees and heads towards the markets keeping Gertrude with her.

Hmmmm I wonder what the inside of a brothel looks like, realizing this might be my only opportunity I decided that will be my first objective.

After Val is out of sight I make my way to the brothel and a huge guard blocks my entrance.

"Sorry kid but you look a few years too young to enter this type of establishment."

"oh okay" I say shyly I took my chance but seems like I have to complete my objective that Val and I agreed upon.

I walk up and down the streets where everything gets more and more rundown and poor until I hear a girl scream.

"Hey Stop! Leave me alone"

I quickly chase down wherever the words come from and match the voice with a girl my age. She is a head taller than the perpetrator messing with her.

"Hey I'm just trying to have fun sweet heart, whatever you're wearing I'm digging just come to my hut and I'll treat you just right"

The girl wears a traditional South Korean uniform. I know this as I enjoy a few Korean anime. I keep this secret away from everyone I know. and knew... The girl is clearly the goal to my objective and it seems the only way this will end is highly negative if I don't intervene as well.

"Hey Stop"

The man turns to me and the girl becomes silent awe struck at my seemingly act of selflessness.

"Or what, you're going to fight me? Seems like you already lost before coming over here dumbass." the little man chuckles pointing at my arm. I quiver at his words as I do only have one arm.

What good can I even do?

"Or-or I'll stop you! I fought a wolf so I know I can fight you!" The man chuckles at my statement and still turned to me.

The girl takes advantage of this, kicking him right in the middle ending whatever family tree he planned on having.

He immediately falls over on the ground not even trying to get up.

She then runs to me

"oh uh-come with me" I tell her looking back to see the man still slumped on the ground.

"Of course, thanking you so much for saving me" she smiles

I don't respond as I didn't save her. I just did what I told her to do for my best interest or at least I would like to tell myself that.

As she gets closer I gaze at her angelic face and compassionate demeaner able to put the most hardened men in a softened state.

She follows me with no question as all I do is back track my steps hoping Val is trying to find where I am.

Eventually I see Val and the motion of the girl in the uniform following me over.

"Val I found this girl" I say pointing to her point blank

"Good job Conway" Val then completely turns to the girl.

"How did he find you or did you find him? Also how did you get here?"

"I just came into this village, I was hiding since being transported here not knowing what to do but I eventually worked up the courage to come here. Once I came here a man said he would give me food saying I just had to come with him which I wasn't sure about until I realized I was too hungry to think. So I followed him but it led me to a dark corner and he was wanting to take advantage of me until.."

she then points at me and I notice as she stands that despite her best efforts bending herself to seem shorter yet she still is taller than me.

"he saved me distracting the man allowing me to escape and for me to follow him"

Woah this feeling of doing something good... It feels nice but I only did it to just find more people to communicate with and understand the situation.

Right?

"If you want you can join us. We are making our way to the capital to find a way to form a clan to work together. Val tells her

"Thank you I would be most glad to be able to join" she bows towards us both multiple times.

heheheh I can get used to being bowed too

"Aye Conway stop making that face" Val demands and asks further questions to the girl

"May you please show us your character window?"

"Yes of course"

"What does archery grade E mean?"

"It says that it increases my bow proficiency which makes sense as after school I would always practice archery with my father. I bet that in the higher grades it wont determine just knowing how well to use the weapon but instead give boosts."

"I agree" Val comments

We then exchange our own character menus and I remember the wolf pelts and raw meat Val was supposed to sell and check the markets.

"Val how are the prices here " I ask

"Well I walked through the markets and sold the hide. I decided to keep the meat as it isn't well valued and I'm sure I can make it delicious. We have enough cash to purchase a bow and some arrows. It is just over there I saw it earlier" Hana's face lightens up when Val points at a weapon store not 30 paces away.

"Why not armor?" I ask since I don't want to almost die like last time and I am still lingering in pain.

"Here drink this" Val tosses me a potion ignoring my question.

"What is it?"

"Just drink"

I begin drinking it and see my HP rise

<HP back to 700>

Ignoring my previous comment I immediately walk towards the weapons shop.

"Excuse me we would like to purchase that bow and that rack of arrows" Val says to a man

"Sure it will be 10 gold coins"

"Sorry we don't have enough for that... Is there any way you can accept 2?

"Not at all"...

The man then pulls out a poorly made bow on the edge of breaking with some bent arrows.

"My son made this I'll give this to ya for 2 coins he was learning how to be a blacksmith" the man appears sadden to give up the boy and I wonder why the son quit

Val gives up all the money we had for the bow and the rack of arrows and we walk off noticing the falling sun.

"Lets seek refuge" I say, still standing chest high to make myself seem taller.

We walk throughout the town and see no inn so instead we walk inside what seems to be the most important place inside the town.

We enter what appears to be a bar but with no barred entrance allowing us to go through. We leave Gertrude attached to the side of the seemingly HQ. A huge bulletin board stands in the middle expressing objectives and rewards.

"Excuse me" Val says to the clear owner of the establishment walking towards him. He is slim. bald, and a dark skinned man with a slick mustache.

"What?"

"May we spend the night here we have nowhere else to go we have been teleported here to save our world and defeat whatever we need too likely being in the best interests for you all"

"A guy said that last night and was the drunkest man I have ever seen, clearly off his rocker. Even if you are being truthful and I live under a rock you must earn your keep."

"I understand so how could we do that"

"Clear out the 3 first tasks on the board. You kids seem young and sprout so you should be able to handle it. You all can start tomorrow and don't worry you all will still obtain all the rewards. Pretty soon our whole town will be overrun as we have not been able to keep down the wildlife population and no one will help us due to the dragon."

"We accept" Val says before I can object since doing anything that puts me in danger just doesn't seem sane.

"What dragon sir?" Hana open her mouth

"A huge fire dragon that kills any human it sees has been raining havoc on us for 4 years now... Many of the men here lost their families to it and seek refuge here trying to find anyway to help as they were rejected to go off and fight it since many of them quickly turned to the drink"

I am saddened by his answer since it represents the reverse of when I lost my parents and the weapons seller stopped trying to be a blacksmith since he died..

I shake my head focusing on the objective at hand.

"Wait, isn't this a bar also?" Hana asks curious

"Yes but if I close another one would open I would prefer it to be me as these men respect when I say enough is enough so they can still walk home without falling head first."

"I understand that" I say in complete agreement as a lesser evil is not evil at all in my book.

We all walk over to the bulletin board and the paper turns into one massive message from the tower.

I shiver after seeing I have to face not just one wolf but 3! Also what in the hell are demon rabbits and demon boars?

The bar owner led us upstairs where he had a hidden extra bedroom with only two beds where I again had to clearly sleep on the floor.

"First thing first the moment we wake up we are going to hunt all those creatures down and get stronger. We are not just going to go to the capital anymore, we are going to help this village and have them regain their spirits!" Val exclaims towards Hana and I with Hana nodding her head.

I make a face showing I clearly disagree

"You are going too Conway," Val says, leading me to wine on the inside.

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Authors note: If you are enjoying my book so far please star it and possibly comment what you enjoy and don't enjoy so I can thoroughly read it and take in the kindness or criticism to reflect on how to perfect my book.

Sincerely Isaiah Jimenez

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