Chapter 37: Hidden Quest? (2/2)

“You dog fart! You were going to keep it all to yourself!” Even Edward, who had always been mild-mannered and polite could not hold back from cursing.

“It’s a hidden quest the God of Games gave me as repayment! Don’t even think about getting a whiff!”

Marni shot back boldly when he realized that he was not going to keep it a secret.

“Mother—I never expected someone with your spunk is so useless! You pain in the butt, come fight me one on one!”

“Let’s go! I, Marni never submits to anyone my whole life!”

***

Although he was in the Divine Kingdom, Xi Wei had been spying in the world below with his Divine Eye, and watched in astonishment as a bunch of Players started to duel each other in the unnamed town…

At first, it was only Marni and Edward fighting, but as the fight continued, the other Players who had been nursing an itch started to duel each other as well.

If Xi Wei had not set duel rules when he first designed the System so that Players would be forced to withdraw from a duel when their HP dropped to half, the free-for-all would have ended up with half of the Players losing their XP.

“What the hell are that bunch of monkeys doing? That hidden quest is just having Marni get in town and preach to some refugees… And didn’t I give Edward and the others the same quest before?”

The reality was that Edward and the others who had not seen much of the world would still maintain their advantage in terms of XP compared to the adult escort mercenaries, even after they had obtained their System. It was also partially why they were rewarded with an Epic-class item like the Ring of Gospel when the youths had completed their quest.

Meanwhile, as the Players were still dueling away, two knights riding chocobos1 approached town.

“Why would command have us confirm that the town is wiped out? It’s just useless! With that sea of skeletons bearing down upon them, even a small city would fall, much less some little town in the wilderness?” A figure in leather armor complained impatiently. “I didn’t join the Secret Eye for this!”

“What would you know? The town’s fate means nothing. We are here really just to check if the youngest Faust boy is dead!” Another figure who was wearing a cloak and appeared much larger replied. “In the end, the Bone Incense that the alchemists had concocted only lures any nearby skeletons—it can’t be used to target someone specific.”

“That’s what I’m saying! Wouldn’t a horde of those skeletons crush some useless noble… Huh? Hold on. Isn’t that place looking a little unusual?” The man in leather armor narrowed his eyes as he approached the starter village.

“Tut. It looks unharmed, and there seems to be more people around… but why are they fighting each other?” The cloaked man added in confusion.

That was when two Players incidentally approached the pair.

Both of them paused at once, looking at the two men who came out of nowhere.

“Who are you people? Could you be divine messengers, here to assign us hidden quests?”

“Divine messengers my ass! Can’t you see the HP bar on their heads?! They’re monsters, so kill and ask questions later!”

The pair from the Secret Eye then watched blankly as the two Players who were at each other throats just a second ago started towards them…