Fuyeli watched Duya’s contemplative expression and could not help but speak up.
“Are you planning on checking out that inn?”
For some reason, Duya always felt that Fuyeli’s gentle words carried a hint of mockery.
It was faint, so he did not pay it much mind.
“I have that thought. After all, I have to find that white-haired, purple-eyed bastard first.”
“Your obsession with her is truly deep.”
While Fuyeli spouted nonsense with a straight face, she did not forget to give Duya a small warning.
“But I advise you: unless you have a death wish, I do not recommend you go to that place.”
“Why?”
“The reason is simple. Do you remember the eldritch incident you encountered when you went out in Crescent Town late at night?”
Fuyeli picked up a small cup, poured herself some juice, and continued: “That place is even worse. With your current strength, there is only one outcome if you go in… death, and then starting over.”
“Although this is a game and you have the ability to load your save, you have experienced that feeling of death, haven’t you?”
Duya nodded at Fuyeli’s words.
He certainly would not forget the agonizing pain and the sense of nothingness as his soul gradually sank into the void.
Death was the most terrifying thing in this world, more frightening than any anomaly.
It was no exaggeration to say that if he reloaded his save a few more times, even Duya might not be able to withstand the mental torture and would collapse completely.
“Then, what do you think is the probability of you surviving if you go out at night and encounter that kind of eldritch event again?”
Duya was silent for a moment.
After thinking for an unknown amount of time, he lowered his voice and replied.
“Less than one-fifth.”
“There you have it. If you go to the inn in your current state, you will only die even more miserably.”
Fuyeli spread her hands, appearing somewhat helpless as she spoke.
“So what you should do is raise your level first. Only by increasing your level and stats will you have the possibility of fighting back.”
“So this really is an RPG?”
Duya could not help but tease himself.
“What happened to this being a healing game?”
Speaking of which, Duya opened his status window.
The information on it was very simple: Level 15, and that was it.
It was even simpler than the last time it was displayed.
However… was his level not ten last time?
Where did this sudden five levels come from?
It could not be that he leveled up five times just from eating some flesh of an anomaly, could it?
But then again, this character panel did not even state what these levels actually improved.
This system was definitely flawed.
Many functions must have been castrated, preventing him from obtaining useful information.
The key was to find a way to bind himself to Fuyeli.
But to bind with Fuyeli, he had to catch that trash, Bubble Shadow, first.
But then another problem arose: where on earth was that bastard hiding?
“So, what should I rely on to increase my level?”
“It’s simple. You have seen those monsters, right? Just like the RPG game you mentioned, you just have to kill them.”
Fuyeli’s tone was very flat.
She set her cup aside and continued.
“This town looks perfectly normal during the day, but at night… you know, it is full of monsters.”
“However, with your strength, it should not be an issue to treat them as prey.”
Based on Fuyeli’s understanding of Duya, this man’s strength was not weak, but his physical constitution was truly subpar, making him susceptible to being killed by sneak attacks.
Everything else should be fine…
Wait.
Why did she care if he lived or died?
Would it not be better to let him die a few more times to temper his will and spirit?
“Rationally speaking, as long as I am not ambushed, then everything is manageable.”
Duya was born human, and his body was incredibly fragile.
Just like before, once ambushed, he might not even have time to react.
If he fought head-on, it was not impossible to put up a fight.
But that was only under normal circumstances; when facing anomalies, the human body and soul were extremely fragile.
“Based on your understanding, what level do I need to reach to enter that inn?”
“Maybe level 30?”
Fuyeli was not entirely sure, since her own level was only one.
Hearing that he needed to be level 30, Duya frowned.
Level 30 was not that far off for him.
But to increase his level, there were currently only two known paths: one was killing anomalies as Fuyeli suggested.
The other was his own guess: consuming the flesh of anomalies.
But regardless of which one, the only anomaly he knew of in Crescent Town was Bulanni’s grandfather.
Fuyeli seemed to see through Duya’s thoughts.
“Are you going to deal with Bulanni’s grandfather?”
If she thought about it carefully, that mushroom monster was quite tricky for her, but for Duya, it should not be too much trouble.
After all, unlike herself—a weak and deceptive anomaly—this man actually possessed some strength.
It was just that he was easily killed by underhanded tactics…
It was fine.
If he died a few more times, he should stop getting killed by sneak attacks.
Fuyeli could not help but laugh inside.
However, her face remained as gentle as ever.
“If that is the case… it is also good for Bulanni. Ever since her parents passed away, she has kept thinking her grandfather is still alive.”
“She goes into the mountains every day to pick mushrooms to bring back for that monster to eat… in the end, she let the monster eat her. Sigh, thinking about it, it is quite pitiful.”
Duya shook his head helplessly.
“Although it is a bit cruel to Bulanni, dragging it on like this is not a solution. Let’s solve it sooner rather than later.”
“Shall we act tomorrow?”
Fuyeli suggested.
“During the day, this town is relatively safe.”
“Whatever you say.”
After the two discussed it, they decided to start their operation the next morning.
….
“I am heading home now.”
The time came to the next day.
Having stayed at Fuyeli’s house for one night, Bulanni stood outside and waved goodbye to the two.
“I will see you home.”
According to the plan, Duya intended to go to her house with Bulanni and help her recognize and accept reality.
Regardless of the result, it would be better than death.
“That is great! Just so happens the mushrooms I picked last night haven’t gone bad yet; I will make some mushroom soup for my big brother when we get back.”
The two gradually moved away.
Fuyeli stood at the door, watching them leave.
Everything looked so normal.
After Duya and Bulanni returned to the dilapidated little house, Bulanni said to Duya.
“I am going to the kitchen to make some mushroom soup. Grandfather should still be sleeping in the bedroom right now.”
Duya looked at the mushrooms in Bulanni’s basket, their gray-white texture appearing nothing like something that could be eaten.
“Does your grandfather only eat those mushrooms?”
“Yes, he has been… a bit of a picky eater lately.”