FANTASY GAME
CHAPTER 7: THE FIRST PROBLEM IN THE CITY
The three players finally arrived in their assigned city.
To their surprise, the city looked absolutely beautiful.
Stone buildings lined the streets, merchants displayed their goods in wooden stalls, and colorful flags waved above the crowded marketplaces. The scenery was breathtaking, with a castle standing proudly in the distance and a river flowing beside the city walls.
People walked around cheerfully, children played in the streets, and the smell of freshly baked bread filled the air.
Everything seemed peaceful.
There were no monsters attacking the citizens, no fires destroying buildings, and no signs of war.
Even the food looked delicious.
Nixon Ballot stared at the surroundings in amazement.
"Wow. Is this really the city we're supposed to survive in for fifty days?"
Sukishi examined the streets.
"It looks like an ordinary medieval city. There is nothing obviously wrong with it."
She watched a merchant sell fruit to a group of customers.
"Perhaps our first task is simply to understand how this place operates."
But Nostradamus wasn't smiling.
Instead, he looked around with an expression of disgust.
He watched wealthy merchants laughing with their customers. He saw families eating together at outdoor tables and children running around without a care in the world.
His eyes narrowed.
"How irritating."
Nixon turned toward him.
"What is?"
Nostradamus looked at a group of citizens enjoying their meals.
"Look at them. They live peacefully, enjoy their food, and go about their lives as though the world owes them nothing but happiness."
Sukishi raised an eyebrow.
"And that bothers you?"
Nostradamus adjusted his collar.
"Perhaps I simply find their happiness rather irritating."
Nixon stared at him.
"Are you jealous of these people?"
Nostradamus smiled faintly.
"My dear fellow, I prefer the term dissatisfied."
"That's literally jealousy!"
Nostradamus ignored him.
He continued examining the city, his expression becoming increasingly unpleasant.
The peaceful atmosphere seemed to irritate him more than any monster they had encountered.
Sukishi finally broke the silence.
"Regardless of how you feel about the citizens, we need to find somewhere to stay. We should also acquire food before we begin investigating the city."
Nixon nodded enthusiastically.
"Finally, someone is talking sense! I'm starving!"
Nostradamus turned toward a nearby food stall.
The merchant was selling freshly baked bread, roasted meat, fruit, and several other dishes.
Nixon's eyes immediately brightened.
"That food looks amazing!"
Sukishi approached the stall.
"We should ask the merchant how much everything costs."
But Nostradamus had a different idea.
"We should simply take it."
Nixon froze.
"...What?"
Nostradamus walked toward the merchant.
"I said we should take the food."
Nixon hurried after him.
"Wait! You can't just steal from people! We haven't even established whether we have any money!"
Nostradamus glanced at him.
"And what would you suggest? Starving while we politely negotiate with every merchant in the city?"
"We could find work! Or trade something! Or ask for help!"
Nostradamus sighed.
"Such an unnecessarily complicated approach."
He stopped directly in front of the merchant.
The man smiled politely.
"Welcome, gentlemen! What can I get for you today?"
Nostradamus leaned toward the stall.
"Everything you have prepared."
The merchant blinked.
"Everything?"
"Indeed."
The man looked at the quantity of food on display.
"That will cost a considerable amount of money, sir. Do you have the necessary payment?"
Nostradamus's smile disappeared.
"Payment?"
He repeated the word as though the merchant had just insulted him.
"Listen carefully, my good man. You are going to give us the food."
The merchant's expression changed.
"I'm sorry, but I cannot simply give away my entire stock. I have a family to feed, and I must earn a living."
Nostradamus stared at him coldly.
"Then allow me to simplify the situation."
He leaned closer.
"Give us the food, or suffer the consequences. And by consequences, I mean death."
Nixon's jaw dropped.
"WHAT?! NOSTRADAMUS!"
The merchant went pale.
He looked at Nostradamus's expression and realized that the strange pink-haired man wasn't making an ordinary joke.
"Please, sir! There's no need for this! Take the food! Take whatever you need!"
He hurriedly began packing the bread, meat, fruit, and other provisions into several large containers.
Within minutes, he had handed them an enormous quantity of food.
"Please, just leave me and my family alone!"
Nostradamus accepted the provisions.
"Excellent. I appreciate your cooperation."
He turned and walked away as though nothing unusual had happened.
Nixon followed him, absolutely furious.
"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?! YOU JUST THREATENED AN INNOCENT MAN!"
Nostradamus continued walking.
"And now we have food."
"THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT RIGHT!"
"Morality is a luxury that people often discuss when their stomachs are full, my dear fellow."
Nixon stopped walking.
"That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard!"
Sukishi followed behind them, watching Nostradamus with a serious expression.
"You do realize that threatening the citizens could create problems for us later?"
Nostradamus shrugged.
"Then we shall deal with those problems when they arise."
"That is not a strategy," Sukishi replied. "That is recklessness."
For once, Nostradamus didn't immediately answer.
Instead, he continued toward a nearby establishment that appeared to offer rooms to travelers.
The three players entered a small motel and rented a room using some of the coins they had managed to acquire from their initial system allocation.
Inside, Nostradamus placed the food on a large table.
"Now then, let us eat."
Nixon remained standing.
"I don't feel like eating stolen food."
Nostradamus sat down and began arranging the provisions.
"Then you may remain hungry."
Sukishi pulled out a chair.
"Nixon, sit down. We still need our strength."
Nixon reluctantly sat beside her.
The food was delicious.
The bread was warm, the roasted meat was perfectly seasoned, and the fruit was fresh.
Unfortunately, Nixon couldn't enjoy it properly.
He kept thinking about the frightened merchant.
After several minutes, he finally spoke.
"What happens when that man tells the city guards what we did?"
Nostradamus took a bite of bread.
"Then the city guards may come looking for us."
"And what will we do?"
Nostradamus smiled.
"Whatever is necessary."
Sukishi put down her food.
"That attitude will become a serious problem if we intend to remain here for fifty days."
Nostradamus looked at her.
"Explain."
"These people are not monsters. They have families, businesses, laws, and their own ways of living. If we threaten everyone who refuses to obey us, we will eventually turn the entire city against us."
Nixon immediately pointed at her.
"EXACTLY!"
Sukishi continued.
"We are supposed to survive this challenge. We don't know what the system considers a successful solution to the city's problems, and we certainly don't know whether harming its inhabitants will affect our results."
Nostradamus listened quietly.
For a moment, he appeared to consider her words.
Then he leaned back in his chair.
"Very well. I shall take your concerns into consideration."
Nixon narrowed his eyes.
"Does that mean you won't threaten anybody else?"
Nostradamus smiled.
"It means I shall take your concerns into consideration."
"THAT IS NOT THE SAME THING!"
Sukishi sighed.
"This is going to be a very long fifty days."
Suddenly, a notification appeared before all three players.
SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT.
CITY SURVIVAL: DAY 1.
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: SURVIVE FOR 50 DAYS.
CITY CONDITION: PEACEFUL.
UNRESOLVED PROBLEMS: UNKNOWN.
WARNING: PLAYER ACTIONS MAY AFFECT CITY CONDITIONS.
Nixon stared at the notification.
"City condition: peaceful? Then why does the announcer keep telling us there are serious problems?"
Nostradamus's expression changed.
He slowly put down his bread.
"An excellent question."
He looked toward the window, where the peaceful streets were still filled with cheerful citizens.
"Perhaps the problems are not immediately visible."
Sukishi nodded.
"Then we need to investigate instead of making assumptions."
Nostradamus stood up and adjusted his clothing.
"Agreed. Tomorrow, we shall explore the city, speak with its inhabitants, and discover what this challenge is truly about."
Nixon looked relieved.
"Finally! A sensible decision!"
Nostradamus walked toward the door.
"However, my dear fellow, I remain the leader of this team. I expect both of you to follow my instructions."
Nixon groaned.
"Here we go again."
Sukishi picked up her katana and followed Nostradamus.
Nixon reluctantly followed them.
Outside, the city remained beautiful and peaceful.
But somewhere within its streets, a problem was waiting to be discovered.
And Nostradamus had already made their first mistake.
He had mistaken fear for obedience.
Whether that mistake would cost them their challenge remained to be seen.
END OF CHAPTER 7.
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