Chapter 65 Rock of Lamen (2/2)
”These bandits are the same,” Rhode said indifferently, as though he didn't hear what she said.
She didn't know whether did he actually hear it, or just pretending not to.
He continued, ”don't you find it odd that they had the ability to contend against the merchants in the first place? After all, most people wouldn't dare to risk their lives to become bandits. Since they could obtain that amount of strength, they must have a someone backing them. If we can follow up on this point and investigate further, maybe we can find an unexpected harvest.”
Rhode began to insert some half-truths into his narrative. Back in the game, many hidden quests derived from rumors, legends or even stories. Players were a sensitive bunch about this part because it was a virtual reality game. Therefore, the logic shouldn't be too far off from the ones in the real world. Any sentence contained within the game could be a trigger for a hidden quest.
In the game, the Rock of Lament questline activated when a player heard a bard singing a song in a tavern. The player's purpose of visiting the tavern was to seek an adventure, so they waited for the bard to sing to activate the quest.
Of course, Marlene was unable to relate to it — which was exactly why she was presently staring at Rhode with her eyes wide open. She was shocked at Rhode's ability to perceive information from a story. Marlene felt that the more time she spent with this man, the more she thought that he was becoming increasingly unfathomable. Could it be that nothing in this world was difficult to him?
Who is he actually?
Marlene's curiosity grew once more.
”It's here.”
At this moment, Rhode stopped in front of a cave. He carefully examined the mouth of the dark cave and went inside. Marlene hesitated for a while, but she still picked up her skirt and followed behind.
The duo lit up their torches, illuminating the dim tunnel. The only sounds they could hear were the echoes of their footsteps. Occasionally, a drop of water would fall to the ground, producing a crisp, tapping sound. Just from a brief scan, there was nothing peculiar about this underground cave.
Not long after entering, Marlene, who was in the rear, suddenly screamed as she jumped forward.
”Aah!”
”What happened?”
Rhode swiftly turned around and looked at her.
”I-I felt like someone touched me from behind,” Marlene said while she trembled slightly, clearly embarrassed by her sudden outcry.
”Touched you?”
Before he turned back to the front, Rhode thought of several possible reasons. But never would he had believed that it would be the most unrealistic one. He lifted his torch and waved it behind Marlene.
”There's no one.”
”O-or maybe I am mistaken?”
Marlene also turned around, her face was flushed, and she did not know what else to say.
Rhode did not mind her. Soon, both of them continued walking. But after three steps, Marlene's voice sounded again.
”Aahh!”
”Eh?”
Rhode turned around again, failing to discover anyone behind her. But this time, he realized that Marlene's face was incredibly pale. Her whole body began to tremble vigorously as though she'd seen a ghost.
”N-no, this isn't right... there's something...! I don't know what it is, but I know it touched my back... Rhode, h-help me! What... what is it tha—”
Before Marlene could finish, Rhode discovered fur-like mandibles stretching towards her neck.
”Don't move!”
Whoosh! He swiftly waved his sword past her collar, quickly pinning the perpetrator to the wall. At that moment, both of them finally saw its actual appearance.
It was a palm-sized spider!
Although the spider's sternum was cleanly pierced through, it still desperately tried to twist its body to escape. Brown-colored blood spurted out from the wound, and it sprayed out a white thread from between its chelicerae as though it was in severe pain.
The sight of it was truly disgusting.
While Rhode had encountered much more revolting beings than this, his rare indifferent expression changed slightly. He flicked his sword slightly, and the spider was immediately torn into pieces.
”Sigh...”
After getting rid of the spider, he finally felt relieved.
”Ms. Marlene, are you hurt? How do you fee—”
Rhode was interrupted when a soft, fragrant body flew into his arms.
”...” Rhode was speechless.
”Sobs...”
Marlene clung to Rhode tightly as she buried her head in his arms. Although he couldn't see her expression, he could hear her sobbing faintly.
Was this missy actually crying?
Rhode knit his brows together in confusion. Then he stretched out his left hand and patted her shoulder.
Surprisingly, the young maiden did not react. Her arms remained hooked around Rhode's body. He had to admit; those two soft buns were really tempting.
”Ms. Marlene? Everything is alright now.”
”Sobs...sobs... I-is that thing really dead? O-on my back, there's no more terrible monster? Mr. Rhode, please help me check, did that terrible monster leave something on my back?”
Rhode scrutinized Marlene's back with the torch. All he could see was a clean and tidy robe without any markings.
”There's nothing, Ms. Marlene.”
Once she heard his reassuring words, Marlene finally felt relieved. Then, she raised her head and quickly wiped her eyes. She suddenly remembered something, so she gave him an embarrassed smile and said, ”I-I have something to do, I will come back very soon, okay?”
”... Of course, no problem, be careful.”
Her meekness was somewhat refreshing from the usual. Rhode didn't know what was going through her mind right now, so he could only watch as she swiftly ran over to a corner, acting suspiciously. Soon, the torch in the corner moved once again, and when she came back, she was totally refreshed.
However, not only did her expression return to normal, the usual luxurious robe that she always wore... also changed?
”Ms. Marlene?”
”Eh? It's alright. I'm sorry for acting so unprofessionally, Mr. Rhode. I panicked and slipped up... I'm okay now, let's get going.”
”That goes without saying, but I have a question.”
”What is it?”
”Are you actually...afraid of spiders?”
”Oh... ha ha ha ha ha...” Marlene forced a laugh when she heard Rhode's question.
”What are you saying, Mr. Rhode. You are so funny, do you know that? How can this lady be afraid of those black, rough, fur-like, eight-legged creeps? It's impossible. I was just a little shocked and slipped up, that's all. Those kinds of useless insects only know how to scare people with its tiny jaws. I'm totally not afraid at all!”
Sounds like she really is afraid...