[An event is occuring. You can purchase a quest. Would you like to see the details?]
The system's voice rang again in my head for the second time. Curious about it, I decided to check it out.
[Your grandpa always feels a headache when thinking about his granddaughter. Would you be a filial grandson to him and solve his worries?]
[Brian's Worries quest package:
1. Low-difficulty quest: befriend Clairemont Eldora
Quest price: 10 AP
Time limit: one day
Completion rewards: 100 AP
2. Mid-difficulty quest: Take Clairemont Eldora outside by her own will
Quest price: 90 AP
Time limit: one week
Completion rewards: 1000 AP
3. High-difficulty quest: Fix Clairemont Eldora's trauma
Quest price: 700 AP
Time limit: one month
Completion rewards: 10000 AP]
[You can purchase the quest package with 750 AP!]
[Would you like to use the special 100% quest package discount for the new user?]
A sigh of disappointment left my throat. That old fart and this poop system, all of them tried to control me what to do in their own ways. Still, it wouldn't hurt me to accept the quest.
[You have purchased Brian's Worries quest package with 0 AP]
"Hello? Why are you suddenly getting silent?" The gray-haired beauty said.
Clairemont Eldora, I assumed. Now that I took a good look at her, she seemed to have issues. Black hue brushed her slightly swelling eyebags. Her cheeks hollowed into her face, signing malnutrition. Most eye-catching of them all, slash wounds marked her wrists.
'Damn it. Is this spoiled princess a suicidal?' I thought.
She shuddered, probably thinking something bad about my 'lecherous' gaze, but that was her wishful thinking, probably. Her condition was a big turn off for me.
"Relax. Look at you. Skin and bone and scars. Take care of yourself first. At this point, even bad guys will pity you," I said as I approached the mattress.
She dragged her body back when I crawled on the bed. I only raised one eyebrow before lying down beside her.
"Got a complaint? Look here. Your granddaddy threw me and locked me here. All probably because of you in the first place. I will do nothing to you, but I demand half the bed. 'Tis the only thing I appreciate in this room."
"Because of me? I—did I do something bad again? I did something bad again. It's all because of me. Because of me. Because of me...."
I frowned upon realization I had triggered some kind of mechanism in her. Her body shuddered as she worked her best finding comfort by hugging her own knees. My conscience forbade me to relax, but I got no clue what to do. This man was just a former criminal and not a therapist or some sort of mental specialist.
"Damn, girl. You win. Look, I will move from here, but at least let me have a pillow, 'kay?" I persuaded her, but she still swayed her body back-and forth with terrified expression. "Alright. Alright. No pillow. At least the floor is carpeted. Yay?"
I immediately sat on the corner of the room with my back turning against her. I felt helpless. System. How did I even suppose to befriend this problematic girl?
Having nothing to do, I decided to check this mysterious power. "System," I whispered. Fortunately, it appeared before my eyes.
[Grandpa System
Menu:
1. Character information
2. Quest
3. Shop
4. Grandpa list]
Not being pessimistic, I knew well about my ordinary self, so character information intrigued nothing in me. I could guess what quest and grandpa list menus cover, so I checked the shop menu first.
[AP: 0
List:
1. Item
2. Ability]
I checked the list one by one and realized how broken this system was.
[Name: Sun-breathing Technique
Price: 100.000 AP
Description: A mana breathing manual. With frequent training, your mana capacity will increase. Reaching perfection will add light and fire property to your mana]
[Name: Dragon Slaying Spear
Price: 100.000 AP
Description: an extremely powerful weapon forged with Mythrune ore and Tyrant Dragon's essence. Deal three times more damage to the dragon race. Can cast a powerful ability, Overlord Causal Break]
My own drool flowed down my mouth as I browsed through the lists. I would keep doing it and imagining myself having these things, but the girl's sobs stopped me. I turned around and saw something shocking.
Clairemont's index finger emitted light. Then, she ran it along her wrist, bursting it open and letting the blood stream.
I leaped onto the bed and grabbed her index finger. The light wounded my palm, but I kept myself calm, even when blood flowed down my hand. "Is that magic?"
"Let me go," Clairemont said with a weak voice.
"Sure, but this thing looks cool. Mind using it on me?"
"Why would you want that?"
"Why would you do this?" I asked back.
"None of your business."
Her index finger stopped emitting light, and I let it go. She folded her legs and buried her face on her knees.
"Alright. My name is Ryder by the way. I just got out of the prison today. You know, I thought today was going to be a bright day until that old fart kidnapped me."
She shifted her face and peeked at me over her gray hair. "Did I ruin your day?"
"Yep, so that's why, do me a favor and teach me magic, okay?" I said, licking the blood in my palm.
"Aren't you going to stop me from harming myself?"
"Why? Are we close? I have no responsibility toward you, but you have. I am here against my will so at least treat me like a guest, alright? Next time you harm yourself with magic, at least teach it to me."
"Spatial Edge," she chanted. Her index finger emitted light. "This is my awakened ability. I can manipulate space and turn it into a sharp weapon, so I cannot teach you." She pointed the fingertip on her wrist, wounding it again.
"How sharp is it?" I asked, grabbing her hand and directing the shining fingertip to my own wrist. I felt like a sharp blade cut open my wrist. "Wow. It's really sharp."
"Does it hurt?" she asked.
"I can bear it. Can you keep up? I want to feel more."
She paused her hand, so I grabbed it. With my guidance and consent, the fingertip left several slice marks on my arm.
"Magic is fun, isn't it?"
She averted her eyes. "I don't know."
As she put down her guard, I pulled her hand. Before she could exclaim something, I pressed my wounded arm against her. I smiled at her. "Look, we have the same wounds. Doesn't that make us similar? Let's do this together from now on. Once again, my name is Ryder. Only Ryder with no surname. I'm just a peasant and a former convict, but would you be my first friend? Of course, if you don't mind someone like me."
Drip. Drip. Drip. Droplets of blood dripped to the white sheet as she let my words hang.
"Well, I guess I am too low for someone like you."
As I was about to pull my hand, she grabbed me firmly. "I am the worthless one. I hope you don't mind a friend like me."
"We can have a lot of fun together. What's your name?" I asked even though I already knew.
"Clairemont. Clairemont Eldora."
"I will call you Claire, alright? Let's get along from now on."
[Quest Complete. Befriend Clairemont Eldora. Reward: 100 AP]