Unexpected Meeting

Day 7

Not much has happened in past few days. Hotaru was still trying to figure out how to use her skill, but nothing was coming up to her mind. While she was chatting other day with Hachi, she wanted to ask him about it, but it slipped her mind.

Meanwhile she got to know if these 620 gold is a lot or no. Pure curiosity led her to local bakery, where she overheard the conversation between two people. They were complaining about prices.

„This is a joke! 30 gold for a loaf of bread! You’ll go outside this town and price will drop to 20!”

It seemed like prices in Nagato were higher comparing to other towns, but it was rather clear.

Having this comparison, what she had earned wasn’t that bad. She could buy 20 loafs of bread with that. Or something else. She decided to buy something sweet while she was there. Mostly to check the taste. Shop had a wide range of pastries and baking in general, they had things Hotaru had never seen before. She bought some croissant-looking pastry with blueberry spread inside. They were smaller than normal croissant and weren’t made with puff pastry. But they were ridiculously good.

For six of these she paid roughly 45 gold, but they were worth the price.

As of progress with skills, her last hope was Yoko. She didn’t know much people that would possess such knowledge, that’s why she seemed to be a clear choice. Also, she couldn’t get a rid of feeling that solution will be so trivial and she would be so dumb to not think about that.

Unfortunately, Yoko was off that day and whole plan to not embarrass herself went to trash.

To gather her thoughts she sat at the bar that was in Guild's building. Guess every guild has its own?

‘Yoko-san’s off. She won’t back today. Uh-huh uhh... What now? What now? I can always try ask Hachi... but he’s different class than mine. Damn lucker... Ugh...’ she sighed loudly.

„Something’s bothering you, miss?” someone asked her.

It was a man behind a bar.

‘Guess I have no choice.’

„I have a problem and I can’t find any solution to it.” she responded shyly.

„Maybe I can help somehow?”

„Thank you. I’m not sure about that... It’s about certain skills...”

„Skills, huh?” man looked up to the ceiling.

„I have problem with using them. I tried to figure out by myself...”

„I’m afraid I may not possess enough knowledge to help you.”

‘That was to be expected.’

„But, I know someone who might be able to help you. Can I ask you firstly if you’re asking about mage skills or... ?”

„Warrior ones.”

„Warrior, yes? Then definitely he will be able to help you.”

Hotaru's hope has been restored. She was only worried if such person really could help her. Even if this matter is trivial, any help would do.

„Oh, speak of the devil! Good to see you, Hato-san!”

„Hmm? Something happened?”

In the moment she heard him, she looked in his direction. She instantly froze.

‘HI-HI-HI-HI-HI-HI-HI-HI-HI-HI-HI-HI-HIM?!’

She froze, because he was incredibly gorgeous. So much that it made her very nervous. She never felt that much overwhelmed by anyone. She has seen many different people, in real world and in the game, but he was different.

She had a quick look on him, but it was enough for her to notice the most important things. First one – he was hellishly handsome. Looked older, definitely past his early 20s, but she could be wrong while she saw him only from profile, plus part of his face was covered by his hair.

They were in dark brown color, and quite long, up to around his waist. She was able to tell the length only because ponytail was tied low.

Also, it went without saying that he was much taller than her. She wasn’t sure how much exactly, but with her height of 154 cm everyone was tall for her.

‘Calm down, you dummy! Like you have never seen a man in your life! But still... damn... I wonder if he’s an NPC or player. It’s really hard to tell the difference with such advanced AI.’

Unfortunately for her, Hato had a keen eye and noticed that she got suddenly nervous when he came. That wasn’t something new for him.

„Actually, this lady is seeking help with skill usage. Am I correct?” man turned to Hotaru.

„Yes.” she responded.

„Thus I thought about you while you would definitely know more about it than me. I hope you don’t mind.”

Hato wasn’t much interested, but he recalled person Boss has mentioned before.

‘Did he mean her back then?’

It was a good opportunity to actually check her out. That’s why he decided to help her, but he couldn’t do it straight away. He thought she could find it suspicious.

He turned in Hotaru’s direction and lean head on his hand.

„What skills exactly?” he asked.

Girl was avoiding eye contact with man. She didn’t want to embarrass herself more, but while he asked her directly about the problem, it would be rude to continue acting like that, so she turned around.

There were two seats distance between them, but she was able to notice some more his details.

‘D-damn...’

He was looking at her with his grey eyes waiting for an answer. She could feel his piercing gaze throughtout her body and again was overwhelmed by him, but quickly realized she was the only one acting weird while he looked at her absolutely normal. That made her come down to Earth, but... she couldn’t deny that he was really good-looking man.

„Um...” she tried to recall all of them. „Slash.” out of habit she started count them on fingers. „Pierce. And...”

‘So basically skills dealing non-magic damage? I wonder what... Oh, I think I know already.’

„In short, skills which requires you to use your weapon, right?”

„Yes.”

Hato put himself in thought for few seconds and after that he gave his answer to impatient Hotaru.

„Ok.” he got up. „Let’s go outside. Follow me.”

„O-okay! Thank you very much!” she thanked man behind the bar first before going after Hatou.

„You’re very welcome.” he responded.

Hotaru sped up to catch up with Hato. He was already outside waiting for her. They went to the other side of building, so no one could interrupt them. Meanwhile Hotaru took opportunity to have a closer look on him once more.

„Alright, that will do.”

„Umm... Was it necessary to go here?”

„Hm? It bothers you?”

„No, no! Not really!”

„I think it’s better like that than shout to each other in busy place, don’t you think?”

‘Well... He has some right there... Besides that – he’s so damn tall! Even in Japan people are not that tall! Damn it... This game is freaking me out with its possibilities...’

„Yeah...”

„So, what is exactly the problem?”

„I don’t know how to use these skills. I think I tried everything I know that could work, but they didn’t, so I stuck and have absolutely no idea what else I can do.”

„What is everything?”

„Umm... I tried just use them, like, if I wanted to use Slash I just tried to do this exact thing, but it didn’t work. I tried casting them, but it didn’t work as well. I’ve been using both of them alternately, but I focused more on actually trying to use it, not cast, while, uh, I don’t really think I should be able to cast such skills...”

‘At least she’s not that stupid...’ Hato somehow felt relieved.

„I see. Definitely trying to cast such skills won’t work while you can’t cast them.”

‘That was something to anticipate.’

„You can use them only, as you have said, just by using them. If you want to use Slash, you just Slash the enemy. Same thing with any other skills.”

„But, I did that and nothing happened!”

„Hmm...” he raised head a bit. „Maybe try to put the image of what you want to do?”

Hotaru didn’t get that suggestion. She didn’t understand how this would help. Hatou noticed her consternation.

„What I mean is... That may help. I’m just guessing, but, for sure, do what you were doing. Try to approach it from different sides, like imaging doing it. It may be even that you’re not confident about this move.”

„Have you had similar problem, Hato-san?”

She was unsure if she heard his name correctly earlier, but luckily for her it wasn’t complicated, plus it was Japanese. That was one of things that convinced her that Hato was a player like her.

What’s more, she hasn’t noticed yet that she wasn’t that nervous around him anymore.

„Hmm... In my case, I was doing it until it worked.”

‘Ehhh...’ she sighed. „So, just keep carrying on with what I was doing so far?”

„Yes.”

‘That wasn’t a big help, but at least he tried.’

„Sorry that I could help you only that much.”

Without knowing why girl felt a bit bad after hearing Hato. She immediately wanted to reassure him.

„Aah, no, no, it’s fine! It really is! I’m thankful anyway for your help. At least I know what direction I should follow.”

„These skills are pretty tricky to use, but after some time of trying you should be able to tell what will work for you.”

„I’ll try do as you suggested. Thank you very much.”

„You’re welcome.”

From whole conversation he gained no informations about her. He had to find something unusual or interesting enough to decide whether proceed further or no.

„Do you have any more questions?”

„Uh?”

‘But what should I ask him while I don’t even know myself?’

„While I’m here.”

„To be honest, I started playing like week ago, I haven’t made much progress so far, at least that’s what I think, so it’s hard for me to think of anything that I could ask you. Same as that I don’t really want to bother you, while for sure you have better stuff to do-"

„You’re not a bother. Besides, I’ve proposed it myself, so no pressure.”

‘He’s so nice~’

„May I ask how much progress you made so far?”

„Um, level 15 for now.”

That didn’t say much to Hato.

„Right... Can I have a look on your stats, if you don’t mind?”

„Sure, I guess.”

Hotaru wasn’t sure why did he ask for that, but he seemed to know what he’s doing, so she was okay with that. Besides, she had nothing really to hide.

She opened her menu and navigated to profile. She opened the panel in larger size, so Hato could see what was in it.

He had a closer look, but he found nothing interesting. Stats were a bit higher than average, but that wasn’t enough.

„Hato-san?”

„Hmm?”

„What level do you have?”

He had a feeling she could ask him that, but he didn’t have an answer for that. He had to think fast.

‘If she’s 15, then to be credible, I need to be on much higher level than she is. 25? Nah, too low. 30? 50? But I can’t be that high too... Hmm... Maybe 40, 40-ish, will do?’

„40-ish. I don’t remember the exact number while it’s changing rapidly-"

„40-ish?!”

‘Dammit.’

„That’s so impressive! How did you do that?”

To the surprise of him, she was actually impressed by that. At some point she has overheard someone mentioned reaching level 35, so, by that logic, reaching Hato’s level at that time was possible as well.

‘She actually fell for it?!’

„Well... I spend a lot of time here doing this and that...”

„Right...”

„Can you scroll down, please?”

„Yes, sure.”

Below the stats were additional informations about the character such as reputation, resistance to certain sources (elements, poison, inability effects) and any special skills in crafting. While Hotaru wasn’t playing long enough to obtain any additional stats or skills, she had only info of her resistance, but what she didn’t know was that there were hidden stats as well. Rogue class could see them by using skill Hidden Eye. Hato could use it as well while he’s been taught that. It was right moment to use it, so he did that.

Skill lasts up to 1 minute, but he could keep it only for around 30 seconds while he hasn’t mastered it, so he had to make a haste.

Throughout useless informations for him he was looking for something in special features. That was a part that you could see only by using skills as Hidden Eye. It was showing „natural talents", basically – those character traits which make person to stand out from others, including intelligence, charisma, leadership etc. Their levels are shown up in a bar, it can be filled up to maximum of 5 parts. If, for example, someone's leadership’s bar is filled to second part, it means an average level of it.

Hato was looking for two specific traits – leadership and intelligence. Everything else didn’t matter. Same as level of leadership. If someone is intelligent then they can use it wisely, as anything else.

30 seconds to just find those two should be enough, but when you see sea of bars like Hato did, then you put your thought to consideration. Luckily intelligence bar was one of the first.

‘3 parts, huh? Seems I underestimated her a bit.’

While he found one of two, the most important one left. Not much time has left, he started to think that she doesn’t possess such trait, but he eventually found it hidden among others.

‘Finally, I thought that I won’t find it at the end.’

With that, he could go further with a plan.

„So...?”

„Well, as you said, you just started, so there is a lot of work to do. First focus on how to use those skills, then you can do everything else. About stats – they’re above average, but you need to think which way will you go. If DPS then, obviously, you’ll focus on strength. If tank – vitality, armor and stuff.”

„Right... Oh, I have one more skill that I wanted to ask you about.”

„Which one?”

„Lightweight.”

Hato never heard about such skill.

„Lightweight?” he wanted to confirm if he heard name correctly. Hotaru noticed by looking at him that he probably hasn’t heard about it.

„To be precise – Enhance: Lightweight. It’s an enhancement spell.”

„Hmm... I think I’ve heard about it, but why are you asking about it?”

„Well, I was wondering if I’ll get any more skills like that, so...”

„Umm...”

Hato got confused as he knew that this skill can only be used by mages.

„The only enhancement spells that we can use are those three that you gain at the beginning.”

That got Hotaru confused as she didn’t know what to think about that.

„How did you manage to get this skill anyway?”

„I had it from the beginning.”

„From the beginning?”

„Yeah...”

It was hard to believe in such explanation, but girl didn’t seem to be lying. He had no choice, but to believe her. Also, such information made him wanting keeping an eye on her, while it wasn’t normal that she possess something that she shouldn’t have.

„That is weird.”

„Well, I thought if I have it then...”

„...everyone has it too?”

That was exactly what she was thinking.

„Y-yeah.” she smiled.

„Not in this case.” he smiled back.

„Umm...” she seemed to Hato as she wanted to ask him something. And he had already in mind about what.

„Do I have something similar?”

„Yes.”

„I’m not that special.” he crossed his arms and with slightly tilted head on side again smiled to her.

‘Yeah, right...’

That wasn’t very convincing for her.

„Anyway, it would be better for you to not use it in public.”

„Is it really that bad?”

He said that only to not let anyone else know about that abnormality, so he can „secure" her.

„It’s not good to run around with something that you shouldn’t have, isn’t it?”

„I guess...?”

‘It sounded like I’m a thief or something...’

He sighed. „Well, just don’t use it in public.”

„Okay.”

He was about just to leave, but something was telling him to let her know where she can find him just in case.

„I have some business to do here, so I’ll be staying here for some time. If you’ll need something, you can find me in Guild around noon.”

„Thank you, Hato-san! What if I-, would it be a problem if I’ll add you to my friendlist?”

‘Crap.’

He had to think about something quickly, so he wouldn’t have to say why she can’t do it.

„That won’t be necessary. If I won’t be there, just leave the message at Guild. I’ll try to response as soon as I can.”

„Uh?”

„You can say to one of the staff members your message and they’ll write it down, or just give them already written message. They’ll contact me straight away.”

„Oh, okay, I didn’t know about that. But, wouldn’t they need more detailed info to who this message is?”

„Don’t worry about that. I don’t think there is anybody with same name as mine.”

„Alright then. Thank you for your help. I do appreciate it.”

„No worries. See you later and good luck.”

„And to you. See you!”

Hato went back to the Guild. Hotaru stayed a bit longer thinking.

„I’m not that special.” she said that to yourself mocking Hato in her mind. ‘It’s enough that his character looks even better than Mukuro from Catalyst, whom I adore.’

She sighed and quickly came down to earth.

‘So, what now? Guess only option is to try do as Hato-san said. I need to find a training dummy. But... where?’

One of the possible options were Guild’s surroundings and Hotaru went to check them.