Those words completely threw Ebon off. He had no idea such a law against Heroes even existed and, to make things worse, he had already screwed up with that psychopath.
"Okay, calm down, maybe we started off on the wrong foot, let me start over, okay?"
"There's no point in talking, if I let you live I'd only earn myself a trial for helping a Visitor, I promise it'll be just one cut and I promise I'll leave your pretty face intact"
That last part made him very uncomfortable, but it also gave him an idea.
"That's very kind of you, but wouldn't it be unfair to kill me without at least knowing my name? It'd be pretty ugly to leave me in a nameless grave… heh heh…"
The elf raised an eyebrow and his gaze softened, so he put the dagger aside and sat back down on his chair. It wasn't much, but he had bought some time.
"I suppose it would be unfair to let your memory be forgotten, tell me your name and your final words for your gravestone"
"So straightforward, at least tell me what year it is and where we are, it seems I missed a few things"
Ebon began to look around, searching for some kind of help, but the place was nothing more than an old cabin. It barely had a broken table with a half-finished plate of food on it.
"Year 743 A.C. and we are in the kingdom of Lithany"
"A.C.?"
"After the Catastrophe, now your name, I won't repeat it again"
That explained a few things, Ebon thought. The Catastrophe was an event scheduled for that year and promised massive changes, so he assumed he had missed quite a lot.
"Well I… I aaaaam…"
He didn't have many options, so he decided to call the cavalry.
"(System activate)" as he thought those words, the window appeared in front of her, but it was invisible to her captor.
[----------------------------]
Do you wish to view the status of your body?
[----------------------------]
"(And what good is that gonna do to me with these magic-sealing ropes? Better give me a power-up or some crap like that)"
[----------------------------]
That request is impossible, this is your new life and you must move forward using your own means.
[----------------------------]
"(But I'm the protagonist, I deserve my plot armor before this lunatic kills me)"
[----------------------------]
Error.
You are just another character inside a much larger game, now play or die whining like a little girl.
This is your second life, use it or throw it away, I don't care.
[----------------------------]
"(Shit, stupid system!) …I'm Ebon..."
"Just that? You don't have a last name?" Asked the green-haired girl, raising an eyebrow.
"Nah, that's fine," said the girl in a relaxed voice.
"I see, no family then" Mentioned the elf, his gaze wavering slightly.
"Well no, I mean yes, I mean…" It had been a long time since anyone had asked him that. Ever since he had devoted his life to that game, he had stopped caring about remembering it.
"I… I had a family, but then I separated from them and decided to stop using my last name, since then I… I'm just EbonY35… yeah that's my name"
At that moment, Ebon wanted to look away out of embarrassment, but his captor moved first and stopped looking at him. It seemed he had struck a nerve, and that was perfect.
"Hey, tell me what your name is? If you're going to kill me without even inviting me for a coffee first, at least tell me your name"
"My name?... Hmm… I'm Lucian" Said the elf, crossing his arms.
The bastard stood up, fully determined to kill him in cold blood, but he had already given him what he wanted. That guy was just like him.
"Now tell me your last words."
"Wait wait, you're like me too, right? You're a half-elf, a mixed-blood exile"
Lucian grabbed him by the hair harshly and brought the dagger close to his chest.
"You're just another one begging for his life with lies"
"Yes yes I am a Visitor, that's true, but I'm a visitor with privileged information, I can help you, I promise, just let me talk"
"That's bullshit, you didn't even know about the sacred law, you know nothing"
"Listen, I knew this world before the Catastrophe, so maybe I missed a few things, but I know the location of certain relics, like the Emerald Seed, which judging by your presence here, I imagine is still lost"
"That's impossible, it's just a myth, nobody knows where it is and even less a filthy visi—"
"But did I mention it or not? How did I know about it without knowing it beforehand if I'm just a filthy visitor?"
As soon as he said those words, the elf's gaze faltered despite his rage, a rage that only grew worse with every sentence coming out of his mouth. It was all or nothing for Ebon.
"Listen pointy-ears, you and I are in the same boat, mixed-bloods are still exiled from your homeland, right? They won't let you return and join Yggdrasil until you obtain that stupid seed, that's why you live alone in this abandoned shack"
Upon hearing that, the elf was about to stab the dagger into his heart, but instead only made a cut that sliced through his clothes. Then he returned to his chair, let out a long sigh, and sheathed the dagger.
"And you think I'll break the law just for a stupid legend that only god knows if it's real"
Hearing those words, he couldn't help but smile confidently as he saw his chance.
"Of course you will, because your situation is worse than mine, maybe my punishment is death, but it ends today, yours is only just beginning"
The elf remained silent. He was considering his proposal when suddenly a black arrow pierced through the window and nearly hit his head. At the same time, a loud voice echoed from outside.
"Thief, we found you, come out or we'll burn the cabin down and recover the dagger from your ashes!"
"Your friends are here already, didn't take them as long as I thought" Mentioned the elf, indifferent to his own safety.
"Stop joking and untie me, those lunatics will kill us both, you need my help"
The elf, completely calm, cut the tip of his finger with the ceremonial dagger. At the same time, a rain of flaming arrows fell onto the roof.
"You cry a lot trying to save a life that's going to be shit anyway, tell me why do you want to live so badly?"
Seeing the blood run down his finger, he understood. If he wanted to live, he would have to sign a Blood Contract with that psychopath. He wouldn't back down. He looked at him with all the courage he had left.
"Why? Are you kidding?... Because I want to live to fulfill my dreams! I want to earn so much money that I'll never have to worry about food again, be so famous that everyone envies me and wants my life, and above all I…"
At that moment, the roof collapsed and a burning beam fell beside him, but he didn't avert his gaze even an inch.
"I want to stop being a virgin with a cute girl!"
The elf watched him with doubt, then let out a deep sigh before forming a faint smile.
"I suppose you are a simple creature, it's a deal, you help me with my dream and I'll help you with yours"
"Deal deal, now get me out of here"
"Perfect, now just… don't think badly, it wasn't my intention to touch you, this is just a lifetime loyalty contract"
Immediately, the pointy-eared one approached and pressed his bloodied finger against the wound on his chest.
"... For life?"
A red magical seal appeared on the floor as he felt the magic run through his body, while for the first time he felt a stranger touch his chest, the sensation froze him, not because of the magic, but because of what it implied.
"(You've gotta be kidding me… They improved the spell? It used to only last a few years… I don't even know where that seed is… I won't be able to get rid of this lunatic!)"