[Max' POV]
Getting all the info about RI, we walked towards the wall, and I was already contemplating how to minimize the contact and maximize RI gain. We strolled on the footpath leading towards the massive entry point into the city.
There was a small line in front of the gate; I didn't want to wait around, so I pivoted to the empty lane.
Fiona asked tentatively, "Boss, you do know this is the VIP lane?"
I replied, "I want to see the requirements to be a VIP."
Fiona became silent; we reached the end of the lane. Two goblins stood at the gate with slightly used spears in their hands.
One of them spoke, "This is the VIP entry lane for kingdom officials and other VIPs. Go back to the normal entry line and wait for your turn."
I nodded and asked, "What's the quickest way to earn a VIP badge?"
The same goblin replied with a smirk, "Why, do you think you can afford it?"
"If you don't know, then say so; don't waste my time. Do you know about it?" I directly crushed the first goblin's smugness and asked the second goblin.
The smug goblin was obviously infuriated, but before he could cause any commotion, a second goblin answered my question: "You could get a VIP badge if you could add fifty thousand Myth Coins into the kingdom treasury."
The first goblin, still displeased, taunted, "Yeah, and if you can't, just get back in line before I mark a complaint on your name."
"It's that easy?" I questioned because if anybody has that much money, he or she could become a VIP easily.
Fiona voiced her thoughts. "Boss, having fifty thousand Myth Coins at this stage is not easy even if players form a party together, except in your case."
"Ohh....okay. I want two VIP badges for me and my companion here. Where do I have to pay?" I understood and asked the 2nd goblin.
The first one tried to say something again, but the 2nd goblin, who was shrewd according to his interaction with me, interrupted again and opened the entrance to welcome us and said, "You are most welcome for your generosity to the Favella kingdom. You both can wait here, and we will complete the transaction shortly."
The change in the second goblin's attitude was visible, but it was expected; we waited for a few minutes, and all the procedures were done. I half expected the smug goblin to cause some commotion, but I guess a hundred thousand Myth Coins was enough for his silence.
We entered the city, and now the system panel flickered alive with information.
[You have entered Netraxia City]
[Affiliation:] Favella Kingdom
[Permission level:] VIP
[RI:] 0
"So we have to earn our Reputation, huh.... Let's explore this city first. Now that we are here and the clearing mechanism of the floor has changed, we can't rush like before; maybe we can if we get lucky." I voiced my opinion.
"Yes, Boss, I have heard about kingdoms and natives. It is believed that the Tower created picked dying tribes or species and gave them place, purpose, and a chance to change their fate. I always wanted to explore all the kingdoms and empires in the Tower." Fiona explained a small history about natives.
I raised my brow. "Wow, I didn't know that. Anything else of importance you know about the supposed Tower creator? Do you think that he is real or something made by the tower to create fear and paranoia?"
I questioned because I remembered 'Authority of Creator' being mentioned when I accidentally released my soul pressure.
"Well, Boss, nobody knows for sure now, but I had heard some lore about the Tower creator and how he appeared when the Tower first came into existence on this planet.
Some even say that the Creator belonged to the same planet as us, and he created the Tower when he foresaw the Apocalypse to give us a fighting chance.
But nobody can write such things because some tried, but it never happened, and nobody knows the reason. I know this much due to gossip and collecting information about Tower." Fiona gave detailed information about Creator, which was new for me.
I stopped in my tracks hearing the last part. "Being on the same planet as us" means from Earth, possibly from the same timeline as me, unless this is a parallel Earth, which would open a whole different can of worms.
Could he be the reason that I reincarnated?
There is no concrete information about this; I guess I will add one more reason to reach the top of the Tower to check the authenticity of my claims.
"It seems I should talk more...." I stopped midway as I turned toward Fiona, but something in the street caught my eye, and I walked towards it.
[Lirra's POV]
Why was I born in this cursed world? I just want to die. I woke up this morning with the same thoughts and nightmare I get every day. I washed my face with some water and ate leftover stale bread from yesterday.
I started on with my daily routine of carrying heavy monster parts from one shop to different ones for processing and making weapons and artifacts.
This kind of pay is good money to other goblins, but because I am a half-goblin, I don't matter. I cursed myself and fate one more time and got ready for work.
While on the way, some were taunting me, saying things like, 'Here goes half-one; look at her thorn; she is definitely cursed.' It still bothered me, but I already had learned to tune out anything that could cause me emotional pain.
I was lost in my thoughts of pain of the past. I was told my name was Lirra Thornshade; that's one of the earliest things I remember.
I was a little girl, lying on my small bed; suddenly a man entered my room and scooped me up. He took me to some kind of elevation or altar, as I came to know about it later.
I was slightly frightened, so I couldn't even produce a sound. He put me on the altar and started chanting something that was incoherent to me.
Out of the blue, I felt unbearable pain in my body, and I started crying. I still remember that cry. I may have cried before, but that was the one I remember.
I shouted and cried in my childish voice so that somebody may do something about the pain, but it only stopped when that monster stopped his gibberish chant.
From that point forward, I lost count as to how many times I had gone through that process. I almost become numb to the pain, but just as I think that I will be able to handle the pain, the pain increases and tears roll down from my eyes.
I reached my pickup place for materials, and the shopkeeper rudely said, "Don't take too much time to reach the shop, otherwise I will cut your pay."
I just nodded and put both of my arms in the strap of the bag one by one and lifted the heavy bag whole. My body had literally grown thorns over some parts of my body; I alone have this, so maybe it has something to do with that heinous ritual. It was painful, but then again, it was more part of my life than anything.
I shouldered the pack and trudged on towards my destination. After walking for a few steps, I registered that the shopkeeper has probably increased the weight of the pack. I become furious. Isn't it enough for him that he pays me less, but he still has to increase the weight?
If this work wasn't the only way I could earn my stale bread, I would have left long ago. I knew I was in a tower that was full of opportunities and chances, but it required you to take the first step towards the tower.
However, the curve of life is such that it was almost impossible for me. I managed a rueful smile and trudged forward.
Out of nowhere, a group of young goblins collided with me, sending my weak, frail body downwards. I shrieked as I lay on the ground due to the heavy bag and the impact of the ground.
I looked up to see a group of 5 goblins grinning like monsters. Instead of shouting or fighting, I just stood up and said, "Please forgive me, I didn't see you guys coming. I will be careful next time."
The one with flashy clothes grinned with his uneven teeth on display and said, "See that you do, otherwise who knows, you may break your back next time you fall." Then laughed maniacally.
But a sudden slap on the back of his head sends him straight to the ground with his face kissing the dirt. All the others around him turned to look around, but they all got slapped and thrown like ragdolls.
I was stunned; I saw the leader getting slapped in the back of the head, but the rest I only saw scattered on the ground with painful wails.
I looked at the perpetrator of this event, who was actually moving towards me. He has striking red hair, mesmerizing golden eyes, a stoic handsome face, a lean body, and a sword bound perpendicularly on his back.
Looking at his dress and face, he was human, one of the tower players.
Beside her was an equally striking beauty. She had webbed-type pointed ears, serene bluish hair, and splendid armor on her body. She also had a different type of sword strapped on her thighs.
The red-haired boy stood in front of me and introduced, "Hello, my name is Max, and she is Fiona." He pointed to the side and continued, "What's your name?"
I sighed; he had already laid the children of someone important flat on the ground, and he is talking to me. Who is this Ember boy?
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[AN: We officially have a new nickname for MC guys – Ember boy
What you guys think about it, please leave your thoughts in comment]