The atmosphere in the room tensed up. Arthur recalled how things had gone the first time he played the game.
Players appeared out of nowhere. They could come back from the dead, and sometimes a golden light would wrap around them before they vanished entirely, logging out.
These things spiked the curiosity of every NPC who witnessed them. The Holy Church eventually acknowledged players as beings from a higher realm. It was the only explanation that made sense of what was happening.
The problem was that while the starting kingdoms were flooded with players, giving NPCs plenty of chances to interrogate them, or even kidnap and study them, the Dragon Kingdom had none of that. Arthur was the only player there.
Making Bram believe him would be far harder. Arthur had already thought this through. It was a problem he’d have to face eventually, one that required a careful explanation. Keeping it a secret, for now, was what mattered most.
But because the server had shut down without warning, still in its testing period, he hadn’t had time to find a hidden place to vanish properly.
"I can explain," Arthur said. "Don’t kill me."
Bram blinked rapidly, then laughed.
"Kill you? Who do you think I am, kid? I’m just curious, that’s all. Not everyone can disappear like that. Are you some powerful wizard pretending to be weak?"
Bram’s level was too high for Arthur to see, but Bram could see Arthur’s. That’s how the game worked.
Still, people could hide their levels, fake them, and players could even pass themselves off as NPCs if they wanted. So Bram couldn’t be certain whether Arthur was truly weak or not.
"I’m one of the Chosen Ones. There are millions of us scattered across the kingdoms below."
"Chosen Ones?"
"People who can come back from the dead, only losing experience points when we do. But we need to return to the higher realms daily to rest. That’s why I vanished."
Bram took another sip from his liquor bottle.
"Not drunk enough for this. What the fuck are you talking about?"
Arthur knew the only way to prove it. He was still level one, so dying wouldn’t cost him any items or experience.
"I can prove it," he said. "You saw me disappear, right? So you already know it’s true. Now you can kill me, and my body will vanish the same way. I’ll come back here to talk to you again."
"If I do that, people will throw me in prison for killing you. Stop with this nonsense."
Bram’s logic made sense. If Arthur didn’t return from the dead, which people usually didn’t, Bram would be accused of murder. That would be a real problem for him.
But Arthur needed to prove his point.
"I’ll clean it up after, don’t worry," he said.
Before Bram could react, Arthur grabbed a blacksmith hammer lying nearby and bashed his own head with it. His base HP wasn’t high. A few hits drained it completely.
Bram shot up from his chair and rushed toward Arthur’s body.
"Are you stupid? Damn it."
He grabbed Arthur’s shoulders and shook him.
"Wake up, kid."
Arthur’s head was a ruined mess, blood pooling beneath him. Then his face smoothed back to normal, as if nothing had touched it. His body vanished completely, reappearing in the middle of the city.
’Damn, that hurt.’
Pain in the game was duller than in real life, but it was still there. Arthur looked around the moment he respawned, checking that no one had seen him. It was late enough that the streets were empty except for the guards.
He walked back to Bram’s shop and knocked a few times. Bram opened the door in complete shock, staring at him standing there.
"Come in," Bram said. "I believe you."
They sat down for a serious conversation.
"So you’re saying there are millions of people like you, scattered across the kingdoms?"
"Yes, exactly." Arthur nodded. "Our presence here is going to change the world completely. We’ll be useful clearing dungeons, fighting monsters, doing things people are usually too scared to do."
Bram sat with that for a moment. Players really did change everything about the game’s world. NPCs quickly learned that players were their sharpest weapons, and befriending them was worth the effort.
"I want to see it with my own eyes," Bram said, setting his liquor bottle aside. "We’ll make a delivery to one of the kingdoms below, and you’re coming with me. How do you feel about being my personal apprentice?"
"Wasn’t I already your apprentice?"
"No, haha. I just wanted someone to clean the shop. But if everything you’re telling me is true, then having you as my actual apprentice might be worth something."
Arthur had no idea why Bram wanted him specifically. It wasn’t like he was strong, or skilled in anything yet. Add to that the fact the shop wouldn’t even exist anymore by the time the expansion released, and it left Arthur wondering exactly what Bram was planning.
"Can I ask why the sudden change?"
Bram shook his head. "I have my reasons, and when the time comes, I hope you’ll help me with them. Call it an exchange of favors. I’ll help you grow, and you’ll help me out. What do you say?"
The offer was tempting. Still unsure if he should accept it or not, Arthur changed his thought the moment the system notified him with a legendary quest.
[New Quest]
[Quest Rank: Legendary]
[Description: The legendary blacksmith, Bram the Scaled Heart, is looking for an apprentice. He might need your services in the future, when you’re strong enough. Do you accept his request? By doing so, you have to help him when the time comes.]
[Rewards: Special title, Scaled Disciple, and special passive, Scaled Heart.]