MMORPG: I was BUGGED-Chapter 250: The Dwarven Girl

"That was close," Xin sighed. "I didn’t expect to see Victor so soon."

"He seems to know you as John," Hilda commented, her eyes turning cold.

"Victor knows a lot of solo players, especially from the top, so it isn’t weird that he knew John as well."

"What should we do then? Should I just kill him?" she said, her eyes turning bloodshot.

"NO!" Xin’s stoic face broke at Hilda’s audacious suggestion. "Don’t kill Victor. He’s my friend."

Hilda only blinked before she smiled sheepishly. "Copy."

Xin wasn’t convinced with how Hilda grinned at him.

"For now, let’s just avoid him," Xin suggested.

"Roger that."

"Let’s look around and find some clues about this castle."

Xin and Hilda navigated through the cobbled streets of the Castle of Doom, their footsteps echoing against the stone walls that bore witness to centuries of history.

The atmosphere was a curious blend of normalcy and impending danger. Villagers moved about their daily routines, but an undercurrent of tension hung in the air.

The duo approached the townsfolk with inquiries, their questions met with cautious glances and measured responses.

Xin, adopting the guise of John, engaged the NPCs in casual conversation, while Hilda observed the interactions keenly, ready to intervene if needed.

The first NPC they approached was an elderly woman tending to a quaint garden beside her cottage. Her gnarled hands carefully tended to vibrant flowers that seemed to defy the somber mood surrounding the castle.

"Excuse me, ma’am," Xin began with a friendly smile. "We’re new here and heard about the impending monster attack. Do you have any advice on how we can prepare?"

The woman paused, her eyes scanning Xin and Hilda before she spoke in a hushed tone, "Child, there’s no preparing for what’s coming. But if you must stay, make sure to fortify your defenses and stay close to the town hall during the attack. The leaders will guide us through."

Then the woman got back to her work and ignored him.

Xin and Hilda looked at each other and proceed to their next NPC.

As they continued their exploration, Xin and Hilda encountered a group of children playing near the castle walls. With a warmth that contrasted the impending threat, the children laughed and chased each other in a carefree manner.

Approaching a middle-aged man repairing a wooden cart, Xin posed another question. "Sir, why do people stay here knowing the danger that lurks?"

The man paused in his work, wiping sweat from his brow. "We’ve lived in this town our whole lives. This castle is our home. If we’re to face our end, it’ll be here, where our ancestors built their lives."

Xin found himself grappling with uncertainty as he interviewed one NPC after another. The glaring reality became evident –– there were no substantial clues to be found.

The villagers, rather than offering insights, consistently deferred to their leader, the town’s mayor, asserting that he had already assembled a formidable force of one hundred adventurers to safeguard the town.

Reassurances echoed, insisting that everything would be alright in the end.

It was unclear whether the villagers had grown accustomed to the routine of monster attacks or if they were simply oblivious to the gravity of what was about to unfold.

The air hung heavy with a mix of trust in their leader and a potential underestimation of the impending threat.

As noon approached, Xin and Hilda gathered these fragments of information.

The villagers, despite their fear, held a deep-rooted loyalty to their home. They were aware of the impending attack but refused to abandon their town.

The combination of fear in their eyes and the determination etched on their faces painted a poignant picture of a community united in the face of adversity.

Xin also meticulously mapped the layout of the village, and prepared for any potential contingencies.

Just as the sun was about to reach its zenith, a small dwarven child caught his eye as she slipped into an inconspicuous alleyway.

Intrigued by her presence, Xin’s curiosity got the better of him, prompting him to follow the girl.

"Lord Schrodinger, the meeting is about to begin," Hilda reminded.

"Go on ahead and just fill me in. I’ll be right there," Xin replied and quickly followed the girl.

Hilda shrugged, scratching her head, and made her way to the time square as instructed by Lord Schrodinger.

Meanwhile, Xin continued his pursuit of the elusive dwarven child, eventually finding himself in an abandoned storage house.

As he scanned the surroundings, the girl seemed to vanish, leaving Xin puzzled. He had been in this area before, and he didn’t encounter any NPC in here before.

"Who are you, Mister?"

An innocent voice broke Xin from his thoughts, and he turned to find the girl standing nearby, curiosity gleaming in her eyes.

The girl, standing at a petite stature, caught Xin’s attention with her distinctive appearance. Her big golden eyes sparkled with curiosity, giving her a wide-eyed innocence that seemed to defy the impending danger surrounding the castle.

Tied in playful pig tails, her vibrant orange hair added a splash of color to the otherwise grim surroundings. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

A big, yellow hat, reminiscent of a balloon, adorned her head, casting a shadow over her features. The hat seemed comically oversized, making her look like a whimsical character in a storybook.

Despite the dirt smudges on her face and clothes, her radiant grin revealed a childlike enthusiasm that transcended the grim reality of the situation.

Dressed in a slightly dirty jumper, she clutched a shovel in one hand, a peculiar choice for a child’s accessory. Her face bore evidence of recent adventures, marked by smudges and a scattering of dirt.

As she grinned, the gap where a few missing teeth should be added to her charm, making her appear even more innocent and childlike amidst the looming threat in the Castle of Doom.

"Are you following Poppy, Mister?" she asked with her twinkling voice.

"Poppy? Is that your name?"

Poppy’s smile widened. "That’s right."

"My name’s Xi—I mean John."

"Are you an adventurer, Mister John?"

"That’s right."

"Are you here to save our town?"

Xin nodded.

Poppy beamed. "Then you and I are friends!"

[CONGRATULATIONS! Your Relationship Level with Poppy increased to INTIMATE!]