PLAYER SYSTEM C6 FIRST QUEST II

After accepting the quest, Jack followed Asha through the winding path out of the market square, heading westward. They walked in silence for a few minutes, the village slowly unfolding before him.

‘Even though this place is just a "village," it feels more like a small city,’ Jack mused as he glanced around. Children were running barefoot along the cobblestone path, tossing pebbles and clumps of dirt at each other with carefree laughter. ‘These NPC kids… they look so real. So unburdened.’ He found himself smiling at the sight.

Before long, Asha stopped in front of a villa gate adorned with two elegant stone cat statues. Their golden tails gleamed under the sun, curling upward like question marks. The gate itself was made of steel.

Jack raised a brow. “This place looks... fancy. These statues alone scream money. Is this your house?”

Asha turned to him and shook her head with a light smile. “This is my uncle’s villa. Ours is a bit bigger—it’s in Luke Town.”

“Bigger?” Jack echoed, eyebrows rising. 'So she’s from an influential family... Makes sense,’ he thought. ‘She probably could’ve offered me more reward but just doesn’t carry the funds on her right now.'

As he got lost in thought, Asha pressed a button on the gatepost. A chime rang through the property.

Jack blinked. ‘Wait—was that a doorbell?’ He glanced around in surprise. ‘This world really isn’t purely medieval, huh? Looks like some advanced tech exists here too.’

The gate soon creaked open, revealing a tall, golden-haired man in a crisp black butler suit. His posture was impeccable, and every step exuded grace and discipline.

“Lady Asha,” he greeted with a respectful nod, hands clasped behind his back. “You’ve returned. Lord Leoford has been quite worried.”

Asha grinned mischievously. “I told him I’m sixteen already—old enough to handle things myself. Besides,” she added proudly, stepping aside, “I brought one of the summoned heroes with me. Larkight, meet Gerald.”

Only then did the butler’s eyes turn toward Jack. He gave a courteous bow. “Ah, a Summoned Hero? The honor is mine.”

“I’m Gerald Arkman, steward to Lord Leoford Guinevere.”

Jack gave a small nod and mirrored the bow. “Pleasure to meet you too, Mr. Arkman.”

Gerald offered a faint smile. His well-groomed golden beard and mustache gave Jack the impression of a man who was both honorable and refined.

“Please, come in,” Gerald said, gesturing gracefully toward the ornate gate. “I’m certain Lord Leoford will be pleased to hear that one of the Summoned Heroes has accepted Lady Asha’s request.”

Asha gave Jack a reassuring smile and motioned for him to follow. Jack nodded quietly and trailed behind them.

They stepped through the gate and followed a stone path lined with colorful flowers and perfectly trimmed hedges. The garden was calm, fragrant, and beautiful—soothing in a way Jack hadn’t expected.

He glanced around the estate. The villa ahead stood tall and elegant, its walls covered in creeping vines and detailed stonework. When they reached a large double door, Gerald stepped forward and gave it a gentle push. It creaked open, revealing the grandeur inside.

Jack couldn’t help but admire the interior. The floor was covered in an elegant carpet, the staircase curved gracefully with ornate bannisters, and the polished wooden panels had a refined texture that clearly wasn't ordinary lumber. Above them, silver chandeliers glinted with the light of crystal lamps.

‘My parents are wealthy,’ Jack mused, ‘but I’ve never even seen our main house—just lived in the penthouse. And while that was luxurious, this villa’s on a whole different level.’

Footsteps echoed from down the hall. All three turned.

A man who looked to be in his thirties entered. He was around 5’11, dressed in a well-fitted gentleman’s suit. His brown hair flowed just past his shoulders, and his eyes, soft and brown, gave off a sincere, innocent look.

“Asha, my dear niece!” he exclaimed, his tone warm yet panicked. He hurried over with a worried expression. “Thank the stars you’re safe. What would I have told your father if anything had happened to you?”

He glanced between her and Gerald, still flustered. “Especially now… with all the chaos. A large number of Summoned Heroes appearing out of nowhere—just as the prophecy foretold. The entire kingdom is in disarray. Word spread fast, and even prominent figures from the capital are making their way here—”

Asha cleared her throat sharply. “Ahem. About that… I’ve brought one of the Summoned Heroes with me.”

Leoford blinked, frozen mid-sentence. Gerald subtly gestured in Jack’s direction.

Finally noticing him, Leoford turned, eyes widening slightly. “Ah—! There’s a Summoned Hero here?” He laughed awkwardly, adjusting his posture. “Haha, my apologies. Welcome, welcome!”

Jack gave a polite nod but remained silent, his eyes scanning the room and absorbing every detail. Still, something about Leoford’s earlier words stuck with him.

'So they really see us as 'Summoned Heroes'... That must be how the game explains player appearances in the world narrative.'

He chuckled to himself.

‘Interesting… even the AI doesn’t fully understand where we came from. I guess, from their perspective, we’re as much a mystery as the game is to us.’

“With a Summoned Hero in our midst, I cannot afford to be negligent,” Leoford declared with theatrical flair. He clapped his hands once.

Almost immediately, five maids appeared, moving in perfect formation.

“Our guest is of great importance today,” he continued, his tone warm yet commanding. “Prepare the finest meal we can offer. It’s the least we can do to show our gratitude.”

The maids gave swift bows and scurried off to the kitchen.

Leoford turned back to Jack with a welcoming smile and motioned toward a grand velvet-cushioned chair in the spacious living room.

Jack nodded in appreciation and took a seat. The hospitality was a nice touch, even if it all felt slightly over the top.

They soon shifted the conversation toward the matter at hand.

“From what Lady Asha told me,” Jack began, “my task is to escort a merchant carriage carrying goods—fruits, wines, and perfume—to Luke Town. I’m to protect it from any possible attacks by the Gelatine Slimes along the way.”

Leoford nodded gravely. “Yes. The journey to Luke Town takes about two hours on foot—through rolling hills and patches of woodland. The terrain is peaceful, but the road… it’s been tainted.”

He paused before elaborating. “The Gelatine Slimes left a sticky residue across several stretches of the road. It’s more than just an inconvenience—it slows travel to a crawl and has already ruined goods in previous shipments. My niece was lucky to return safely last time, and that was only thanks to the adventurer party she’d hired to guard the cargo.”

He sighed. “What’s troubling is not just the residue—it’s the possibility of another swarm. If the slimes attack again, we’ll have far more to worry about than slow wagons.”

Jack leaned forward slightly. “Two hours on foot… and the slimes aren’t the only threat, I assume?”

“You’re correct,” Leoford said, nodding. “While monsters are rare along that path, they do occasionally appear. The road is mostly cleared and patrolled, but things slip through—especially slimes or bandits looking for quick targets.”

He offered a reassuring smile. “Still, it’s not just you. Asha has already contracted a small adventurer party to accompany the caravan. You won’t be alone.”

“That’s good to hear,” Jack said genuinely.

Leoford placed a hand on his chest, clearly relieved. “Now that a Summoned Hero is involved, I can rest easy. With someone like you on the job, I trust her journey will be safe.”

Jack gave a polite smile—but inwardly, he chuckled.

‘They really have that much faith in me just because I’m labeled a Summoned Hero… if only they knew I’ve barely swung a weapon in this game yet.’