Chapter 9: Chapter 8: NPC who don't give quests
Revsha stood at the edge of the village, gazing at the distant hills as the early morning mist began to lift. It was only his second day here, yet the weight of everything was already starting to crush him. The game was a distraction—a means to an end—but it couldn't mask the urgency that clawed at him. In the real world, he had just eight days before the disaster hit. The game had given him a brief respite from reality, a place where he could think, strategize, and plan, but it didn't change the fact that he was running out of time.
The village was alive with players and NPCs alike, the hustle and bustle of commerce filling the air. But to Revsha, it was all noise. He needed money, and he needed it fast. The little bit he earned from selling pelts and meat was a start, but it wasn't enough. He had to keep up the charade—remain unnoticed by the players and continue doing small tasks for the NPCs to build trust.
Today, he had been nothing more than a faceless figure in the background, helping the blacksmith gather iron, assisting the healer with herbs, and delivering firewood. Nothing more than a silent NPC who worked tirelessly in the background. But now, Revsha knew he couldn't stay invisible forever. His next move was crucial, and he couldn't afford to make any mistakes.
As he walked back toward the village center, his mind wandered to the state of his family. His mother and sister were still in the apartment, trapped by the same four walls that held them together. But they weren't safe. Not anymore. The disaster Revsha knew was coming would hit the city hard. The authorities were unprepared. It was inevitable. And he had to get them out—move them to a safer place.
But how could he explain any of this to them? How could he tell them that the only way out was through the game? He couldn't. Not yet. They wouldn't understand. No one would.
Revsha paused in the center of the village, watching as a few new players arrived, all fresh-faced and eager. They looked like they had no idea what they were getting themselves into. And that made him uneasy. How many players would die before they even realized the real danger of this world? It wasn't just about leveling up and fighting monsters; it was about surviving long enough to make a difference.
With a heavy sigh, Revsha walked toward the tavern. The smell of freshly baked bread and roasted meats filled the air as he stepped inside, the familiar warmth of the fire offering a momentary reprieve from the cold. Players sat at tables, chatting excitedly about their quests, and some even glanced his way. But no one approached him. No one ever did. He was just another NPC in their eyes.
He took a seat at a corner table, pulling his hood lower to shield his face. It wasn't that he was hiding; it was just easier this way. Let them think he was nothing more than a part of the scenery. Let them speculate about him, wonder what quests he might be tied to, and why he never spoke. For now, it worked. It kept them distracted, and most importantly, it kept him under the radar.
As he waited, a few players walked up to him, their eyes scanning his figure. They looked at his rough appearance—his makeshift armor of wolf pelts—and exchanged a few murmurs, but no one spoke directly to him. Not yet. He wasn't worth their attention, not while they had bigger goals in mind.
Revsha's thoughts drifted back to his situation. His mother and sister were still stuck in the apartment, and every day that passed was a day they moved closer to danger. It didn't matter how much money he made in the game, it wouldn't change the fact that they were running out of time.
His plan was simple: use the money he earned here to get them out of the apartment. Find a place that was safer, away from the chaos. The city was going to be hit hard, and it wouldn't take much for it to fall into complete disarray. He had to be ahead of it. He had to be the one to lead them out.
But for that to happen, he needed to move fast. And he needed to get the trust of the village chief. The crypt needed to be cleared, and while the players were busy chasing after their own quests, Revsha would take the lead. It wasn't about being a hero—it was about survival.
He got up from the table, his stomach still growling. The 75 copper coins he'd earned from selling meat and pelts wouldn't last long, but it was something. He walked toward the innkeeper, paid for a room for the night, and made his way upstairs to sleep. The tavern was still bustling with players, but he needed a break.
Lying on the bed, his mind raced. The players would keep coming, keep leveling up, and eventually, they'd have to face the challenges the village posed. It wouldn't be long before the goblins were the least of their worries.
Revsha closed his eyes, trying to get some rest, but sleep wouldn't come. His thoughts kept drifting back to his family, to the life they had left behind. In this world, he was a player, a character with powers and abilities, but in the real world, he was just a son, a brother, trying to save what was left.
It wasn't much, but it was all he had. And he would make it work.
David pulled off the VR headset, the room around him slowly coming into focus as the familiar weight of reality settled back in. The cold, sterile walls of his room greeted him. His body felt stiff, the aftereffects of hours spent in the immersive virtual world creeping through his limbs. The sounds of the game—the rustling wind, the creak of wooden buildings—faded into the background as he took in the real world once again.
His sister, Elena, was sitting on the couch nearby, her eyes fixed on the phone in her hands. She didn't seem to notice him immediately, and he took the moment to collect himself. His mind buzzed with everything he had to do. The time in the game was limited—he couldn't afford to waste it. He had a plan, but he needed to keep everything together, to make sure his family was safe.
His mother... *No*, not his biological mother, but the woman who had raised him, loved him as her own after his real mother's death. She wasn't his mother by blood, but she was his everything. And lately, he could sense something had shifted in the way she looked at him. There were times when she would pause, her eyes lingering on him longer than they should, and he could feel the tension in the air, that quiet fear she tried to suppress.
David knew the truth—he had been reincarnated, sent into this world as part of some strange twist of fate. He had his memories, the knowledge that his mother wasn't his biological one. But in his heart, she was still his mother, and he loved her as such. And now, because of that bond, the lines were getting blurred. She was scared to fall for him, scared of how she felt about him, but she couldn't help herself.
His chest tightened as he glanced over at Elena, her brow furrowed in thought, clearly distracted. She didn't fully understand everything. She knew something wasn't right, but he hadn't told her yet about the undead, the disaster, or how dangerous things were becoming. He couldn't let her know just yet. She was too pure, too innocent.
David stood up, his legs slightly wobbly from the long immersion in VR. He had only a few more days. Eight days until the disaster that no one knew was coming, and he couldn't waste any more time. The food was running low, his mother was starting to panic, and the pressure was building. He knew he couldn't let her leave the apartment anymore. Not until he had everything in place.
He moved toward the kitchen, his footsteps heavy, and saw his mother standing at the counter, her back turned. She was muttering to herself, obviously frustrated. The tension between them had been growing since he had locked the apartment doors, keeping them all inside. It was a risky move, but it was necessary. He had to stay focused.
"Mom," he said, breaking the silence. His voice was calm, but his eyes betrayed his unease.
She turned sharply, her eyes flashing with anger and fear. "David... what are you doing? You've been in that room for days. You're shutting us out. What is going on?"
David's heart sank, but he kept his composure. He had to stay in control. He knew she didn't understand, that she couldn't.
"I know. I'm sorry," he said, his voice softer now. "I just... need to focus. I'm doing something important. But I promise, it'll all be better in less than eight days. Trust me, please."
His mother's eyes narrowed, but there was something more there, something soft and fragile. She stepped closer, lowering her voice.
"I don't know, David," she murmured. "I'm not sure I can trust you anymore. You've been so distant. I'm worried. The food is running out..."
David hesitated, then did something he didn't want to. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the keys. "I'll let you go buy what we need," he said. "Just make sure you come back in four hours. Don't take any longer. I need you to trust me. I swear, it'll be okay."
His mother's eyes flickered between the keys in his hand and his face. There was hesitation there, but her need for food, for survival, won over. "Fine. I'll go," she said reluctantly, her voice tight. "But you better be here when I get back, David."
"I will be," he replied, trying to sound convincing. "But you have to promise me you won't go anywhere else. Just buy what we need and come home."
She nodded, but David could see the worry in her eyes. With a heavy sigh, she took the keys and left, leaving him alone with his thoughts.
David stood still for a moment, letting the silence fill the room. It was his chance to act, to research, to prepare for what was coming. He moved back to his room and grabbed Elena's phone. She had fallen asleep on the couch, the phone resting beside her.
David didn't hesitate. He took it, opened the browser, and started searching about undead creatures in the game. He needed to understand what was coming, what dangers were lurking in the game world. The disaster was real, and he had to be prepared.
Elena stirred as he typed, but she didn't wake up fully. The worry in her eyes when she spoke earlier was still fresh in his mind. She had asked him what was going on, but he had shut her down.
"David," she murmured in her sleep, her voice barely audible.
David paused, looking at her. He was torn. He wanted to tell her the truth, but he couldn't yet. Not until he had everything in place. Once he had control, once they were safe, he would bring her into the fold. He would make sure she was his ally, not just a sister, but someone who could help him navigate the dangers of this world. But for now, she had to stay in the dark.
"I'll tell you soon, Elena," he whispered, more to himself than her.
He returned to his research, determined to get everything right. Time was running out, and the stakes had never been higher.