NOVEL WEB Chapter 22: Wanted
Zane made his way back to the main house. He was sure that the wife and kids of the count were still inside, so he walked up the stairs and got to the door of the main room.
Knock knock.
He knocked on the door twice and pushed it open, his footsteps heavy and slow. Though he didn't know it, there was a deathly aura around him now.
His presence immediately woke the wife lying on the bed, and when she saw him standing there in her room, she shrieked.
"Arghhhhhhhh!" She grabbed the folds of the bed and folded her legs, her body trembling and her eyes locked on him.
But Zane didn't speak. He noticed the makeup table against the wall opposite the bed, an apple that had been left there, and a knife beside it as well, as if someone had wanted to eat it that night and left it.
Fruits here don't go bad quickly. Mana helps keep them. He recalled a tiny detail of the world. He walked to the table, picked up the apple and the knife, and slowly cut a slice.
He was so slow and careful with it that it pulled her attention to the apple. She watched as the wetness clung to the blade and as his finger took out one piece.
He chewed on the apple slowly, and after swallowing, he finally spoke. "You screamed and no one came. I'm sure that's enough time to realize that there's no one coming."
The moment she heard that, she froze, realizing it was true. Someone should have come by now—guards, someone—but no one had.
"What... what did you do?" she asked.
"Me? I simply got rid of them because they were a nuisance," Zane said and got up. He flipped the knife in the air and caught it again.
"Let me ask a question. Do you know about what your husband was doing underground? Don't lie to me. I can make you say the truth by force," Zane said. His eyes flashed red, a chill ran up her spine.
"Y-yes, I do," she said, trembling even more.
"Great," Zane said. He bit into the apple and dropped it aside, then he got up and walked to the bed.
"So your husband has been killed, and I'm the one that did it. I don't know how you want to take that news, but do whatever you will with it. I just felt I should inform you that you are now a widow," Zane said, leaning in close to her.
"No... that's not possible. It can't be," she said, but Zane simply smiled and vanished into the shadows, leaving the woman stunned and scared.
He appeared back in the sitting room where those two were waiting for him, and he took a seat as well.
He was about to open his system and check some things when a message popped up.
[You have killed the Count of Raven City, completing the event faster than it should be. You have become a target of all Chosen, Adventurers, and guards within the vicinity of Raven City.]
[You are now wanted in Raven City. Reward for you: dead or alive – 2,000 gold.]
Zane read the message that popped up, and he wasn't expecting it. His eyes widened.
'What the hell? They're sending Chosen after me for completing an event this early? No one should know that I'm the one that completed the event early...'
'Unless... that figure.'
The figure that had tried to kill the count and had also tailed them—that was the only person who would know, and they must have been the one to do this.
"Just who is this person, and why are they after me?" Zane muttered.
The message might include adventurers and guards, but I'm sure the real threat comes from the players. They'll receive this message as an event.
'I wasn't planning on leaving Raven City too early, but I guess it's time,' Zane thought. He got on his feet.
"We are leaving," he said.
'The real game doesn't start at the starter towns. So far, we haven't met any issues, but when we leave, the tutorial mode will end,' Zane thought.
He knew that the game was really just in a tutorial setting right now, with how peaceful Raven City was and how players could adapt.
But that wasn't the case. The reality of the game was blood, war, battles, and striving for glory and ascension. Power above all.
'I guess the tutorial ends early. I've played around enough.'
Grey and Lucy followed behind him, and the moment he stepped out, he saw a fireball coming for his head. It was the size of a small ball and coming fast, but he simply stretched out his hand and blocked it.
The fireball burned his skin, but the skin healed back almost immediately.
"Someone is already here for me. That's fast. They must have some sort of sensory bloodline." He looked in the direction the attack had come from and could see a mage on a rooftop. A young boy, no more than sixteen, a purple witch's hat on his head and a purple robe. He held a staff in his hand as well.
"A full mage... but why is he dressing so flashy already? People tend to focus on better gear, not better-looking gear. This kid hasn't played before," Zane muttered.
"Master, should I kill him?" Lucy asked. Her blades were already in her hands; she would not tolerate any attack on her master.
"No, don't—unless I say so, you two don't do anything," Zane said.
[..... ]
On the roof, the mage was shocked that his attack had done absolutely nothing to the target. His eyes widened when he saw how easily Zane dealt with the attack.
But he didn't plan to give up. After all, the rewards for getting Zane were enormous. So he channeled his magic. The staff lit up with runes and was about to blast another spell.
"That won't work." Zane's cold voice came from behind the boy. Shivers ran down his spine. His body froze immediately.