GLITCH

A Toxic within the City

CRYSTAL CITY

Monday, November 15, 2500

6:55pm

"I guess I need to have my dinner."

I went outside from my room and have gone to the public eatery here. This place is engulfed with various street foods that I craved so much!

•••

PUBLIC EATERY

7:00pm

After a few minutes of walking, I finally reached the place given from the heavens. The aroma coming from the food makes my tummy grumble. Oh well, better enjoy the moment while I still can! I prefer to eat with someone though. For a certain reason, I've been avoided by some people here. Even the librarian got pretty scared when she first saw me. It is believed here that having black hair symbolizes bad omen, since the goddess of darkness herself possessed black hair. Nice racism folks, you deserve a round of applause.

Speaking of someone to eat with, I wonder where Sven is right now. After we came here in Crystal City, I haven't seen him at all. I guess he's busy about something. Oh well…

"Yum…!"

The barbeque is so delicious! After I savored my meal I went to the vendor and pay for it when a group of five individuals encircled me. Looking at the vendor's facial expression, it seems that these thugs love to mess around a lot. I looked at their stats, and discovered that these five committed various crimes already. Murder, k********g, s*****y, r**e…almost all frugal acts were attached.

"Hey you black-haired girl, It seems that you're a foreigner aren't ya? Come with us and let's go have some fun!"

This way of talking suited his appearance.

I looked him in the eyes and said something that made him a bit startled.

"Sorry Mister Rohan, but I'm not obliged to come with you."

"How the f**k did you know my name!?"

"Who knows? It's just some slip of the tongue. However, this isn't surprising that you guys are third-rate villains. Rohan, Gash, Olas, Gregor and Polad… I'm afraid that with your actions, you should be punished by the law."

"Oh…? So you're one of those law-abiding citizens eh? I shall trample that know-it-all attitude of yours", he said as he cracked both of his fists, as if he's trying to intimidate me. The other hoodlums were preparing to assault me as well.

"N-No you can't do that here dear costumers! Now…young miss please apologize to them. I can't guarantee your safety but please leave here immediately!" the vendor said to me in a low voice.

"Hah? After all the trouble you've went through by us, you're still poking your nose to where it doesn't belong!"

The man named Rohan is about to throw his fist to the good vendor but as what I've been expecting, this companion of mine is here to save the day. He holds the wrist of the ruffian with his left hand. It's not surprising to see him stopping easily.

Sven Fleming HP: 8000/8000 MP: 600/600

Mantle: Rogue Knight Lv. 018

Strength: 43

Dexterity: 34

Constitution: 44

Intelligence: 30

Skill:

NIGHT VISION [Toggle Status: Inactive]

- Can see well in the darkness

IRON DEFENSE [ACTIVE]

- Defense is boosted thrice

SLASH [ACTIVE]

- Attacks with a heavy slash

TENACITY [PASSIVE]

- Negates 40% of the damage taken

KNIGHT'S ASSAULT [ACTIVE]

- A powerful strike that can pierce through the enemy's defense

ACCELERATE [TEMPORARY / Toggle Status: Inactive]

- Accelerate movement speed by three percent for 25MP/minute; 40MP for initial use (skill available when Accelerate Ring is equipped)

I see. So that's the reason why Sven's speed. He's now using the stuff I put inside his G-watch. Sven is equipping the Accelerate Ring, a B-class boost item. As the name implies, it gives the wearer the ability to increase the speed. To be honest, I put a lot of stuff in Sven's G-watch inventory before I gave it to him. That Accelerate Ring is one of the things with a decent quality stuck in there. The rest are…well, F-class items.

He directed his gaze to the vendor.

"Are you okay mister?"

"Ah, yes thank you young lad."

I sighed and walk towards him and talked.

"Took you long enough Sven…"

"Rylai, you're here huh? I forgot the part where you're fond of street foods. I'm glad to meet you here. What are you doing these past few days aside from going to the library?"

"Well, I'm just lollygagging here. I love the street food here by the way!"

Sven chuckled.

"What's so funny?" I asked in a state of confusion.

"Nothing at all Rylai. Pfft…"

Sven said while forcing himself not to laugh.

One of the thugs interrupted our chat.

"Don't you dare talk leisurely while in front of us, the Venom Cloak…!"

To describe their appearance is none of my concern. The only thing that I can think of is that they're trash.

The one named Rohan is about to pull his arm away from Sven's grasp but then Sven pulled him towards, and punched his face. As expected, the guy flew a few meters away.

"Damn you…! Let's go and teach this man a lesson!"

The four idiots started encircling Sven instead and attacked him. I trust Sven's strength, so there's no need for me to butt in. I guess I'll order some barbeque again.

"Could you give me another ten – no, twenty?" I said while pointing the barbeque sizzling above the hot charcoal.

"E-Eh? B-B-But…your friend might get hurt! How come you are so relaxed?"

"I respectfully disagree on that. Sven is a strong man. That's all I can say. Rather than worrying about nonsense, would you mind telling me what's this Venom 'Cloak' is?"

"Er…Venom Cloak is a local guild that appeared two months ago. At first we just let them be since they're protecting us from the glitches. We formerly look up to them in high regards. But then, for some reason, most of the guild members suddenly became rotten after two weeks of their existence, and now they're starting to rummage any stall that opposes them and go make havoc to someone's life if they deemed him or her as a potential threat to their guild. So please leave right away after this."

Oh…is that so? So that's some facade they've shown. But he did say "…most of them…" so there's a few among them that aren't tainted with evil.

"Rylai… I'm done."

When I turned my eyes to Sven, he's fine. Behind him are the four thugs, piled in a neat manner.

"Is there a need for me to know that you're done beating those guys?"

"You're into sarcasm now."

"I'm just messing with you. So then mister", I diverted my attention towards the vendor once more. "I have no intention to leave this place for now. I prefer to stay here and ward these thugs off. Oh, don't pester me to stay away from your internal affairs. Even though I'm not a local, my friend's grandparents here are living in this very place, so I find it troubling to just run away. So tell me mister. If we repel those bastards who dominate this place, will you allow me to have another twenty barbeques?"

"Eh?"

Hmm, is my phrasing that confusing? He seems dumbfounded.

"Father…!"

From the crowd who were now gathered near us, probably because of curiosity, a lady, wearing an elegant white dress, with a staff on her hand, approached the mister barbeque man (I'll call him this one onwards) and hugged him. She's a slender, flawlessly white one, with the same height as mine; she's a pink-haired, pink-eyed individual. So this is that vendor's daughter huh.

After a heartwarming moment of their hugging session, the lady lets go from their hug and went towards me and Sven. She then bowed low and raised her head afterwards.

"I'm thankful for the both of you for helping my father."

"We did what any people can do", Sven said with a blank expression on his face.

"I didn't do anything there either. At least your father is safe."

"No, I can't thank you two enough. I'm Natalie Galdoa, from the Venom Claw guild; White Ribbon Faction."

Gracious me… there's a faction within a guild? Now that's peculiar.