[B1] Chapter 9: Help Mira first, alright?
He was gazing at the 'mysterious bug' message, his brow furrowing in deep thought.
In an instant, it all clicked - the reason behind his unexpected weight gain in this primary world, despite only four years having elapsed compared to his previous life. Doubts began to bubble up in Theo's mind.
Could the Silverblade family be behind it?
Maybe someone unknown to him? Or even Grandpa Ryuk?
His mind raced with countless theories. But, pushing those thoughts aside, he realized there was something more urgent to attend to.
"I'll get to the bottom of this later," he decided, "Right now, gaining another kilogram isn't an option."
The quest requirement was clear to him. A two-hour workout was required to fulfill the demands. Although such a duration of tiresome workout wasn't hard for him since he was used to it in his previous world, attempting it in his current, heavier state was going to be a annoying trial. He let out a resigned sigh.
He decided to descend and climb the mountain to complete his quest. As he jogged toward the mountain slope, a progress bar appeared before him, clearly marking out the 120 minutes. He began his descent, and the minutes on the bar started ticking away, decreasing in number.
"Well, at least this counts as exercise," he thought, taking small steps.
The journey down was proving more challenging than he predicted. Only ten minutes in, and his breath came out in ragged, heavy puffs. Sweat poured from him, soaking his clothes and making them stick uncomfortably to his skin.
Needing a moment, Theo found a large rock midway and eased himself onto it. The cool stone beneath him provided brief relief as he tried to regulate his breathing.
Looking around, he could hear the faint chirping of mountain birds, and the distant laughter of children from the village below.
The setting sun cast long shadows, painting the landscape in a soft orange glow. This brief moment of tranquility contrasted sharply with his pounding heart and the urgent task ahead.
After resting enough, Theo began his descent again, he noticed the system's progress bar indicating [109 minutes]. Every step he took on the mountain's rugged path was a challenge due to his heavy body. Yet, he was resolute to finish the task at hand.
After descending for about 50 meters, his legs started to protest, and his breaths came out ragged. His gaze fell on a large flat stone and decided to take a brief respite.
Closing his eyes, he felt the soothing breeze of the mountain, which offered a temporary relief to his sweating face.
Gathering his strength, he pushed forward. The next 50 meters felt even longer. By now, his clothes and body were completely drenched in sweat. It seemed like he'd just stepped out of a bath.
As he approached the 100-meter mark, the weight of his body and gravity's pull made every step feel like lifting heavy boulders. The village was in sight, yet still a bit distant.
Once he reached the 100-meter mark, he felt a sense of accomplishment. However, glancing at the system's progress bar, he realized he had only completed half of his exercise quest.
“Looks like I might need to climb back up," he mused. But for now, he decided to venture into the village.
Theo’s shoes kicked up small clouds of dust with each step, further marking his first journey through the village.
He could hear the joyful laughter of children and the distant barking of a dog. There was also the scent of something delicious cooking nearby.
He watched the older villagers sitting on wooden benches outside their homes, sharing stories or merely enjoying the warmth of the sun. They looked up with curious eyes as he passed by.
'Probably wondering who the huge stranger is,' he thought.
The simplicity and harmony of their daily life made him reflect on the stark difference from his previous world.
Amidst the shade offered by the trees, he felt a cool breeze brushing against his face, carrying with it the fresh scent of blooming flowers. This tranquility was occasionally disrupted by the sound of a door creaking open or the playful shouts of children running past.
As he approached the central square, he paused for a moment, watching the scene. Women were bending over the well, drawing water into their clay pitchers, and chatting among themselves. Their conversations seemed to be related to details of daily life – crops, children, and community news.
He continued to walk, the progress bar now decreasing at a steadier rate, filling him with hope that he could complete the quest without having to climb the mountain again.
As Theo ventured deeper into the village, he noticed a growing commotion up ahead. Dozens of villagers had gathered in a tight circle outside an adobe house with a thatched roof. Theo's steps slowed as he was curious to find out what was happening here.
From his vantage point, he could see a distressed woman seated on the ground, cradling the limp body of a young girl in her lap.
The child's skin was a pale, sickly shade, glistening with sweat despite the cool morning air. Her eyes were closed, and her breathing shallow, revealing the unmistakable signs of a severe fever. Her hair were damp and plastered to her forehead.
A young man, probably in his early twenties, stood beside the pair, his eyes ablaze with anger.
"Elder Morin," he spat, addressing the village head, "It was your decision that kept us here! Now see what happened to my sister! She's fallen sick after just a trip to the forest's edge."
Elder Morin, an old man with deep-set eyes and a wrinkled face, looked pained. He began, "Rolan, I understand your anger, but the Baron will surely help if we go to him."
A murmur spread among the crowd, and another voice rose, filled with resentment. "The baron? The same one who hasn't sent rations or offered any aid for a year, even though the empire grants him funds for us?"
The woman, Mira's mother, looked up, her eyes brimming with tears. "I don't care about politics or rations," she sobbed, holding her daughter tighter. "I just don't want to lose my child."
‘Wait a minute, aren't I the Baron of this village?’ Theo almost tripped over, realizing he was the very Baron they spoke of.
His heart constricted in his chest as he watched the sad scene. He had only recently taken over this new body, and now he comprehended the weighty role of a baron. It was the first instance he genuinely sensed the immense burden of responsibility.
Theo took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions within him. "I've got to fix this," he whispered to himself, determination evident in his eyes.
Turning around, his eyes set on the mountain’s peak where the mansion stood tall. The familiar path up, which he had descended not too long ago, now felt like a challenge. But it wasn’t just about a personal quest anymore. It was about saving a life, about fulfilling the duty he had unknowingly inherited.
His feet pressed forward, moving over rocks and loose soil. Every step was a fight against the fatigue trying to hold him down. His muscles ached, yearning for a break, but the urgency of the situation wouldn't allow him to stop. His heart raced, thoughts consumed by the image of Mira, lying sick in the village below.
He stopped halfway, taking a brief moment to rest against a tree. Looking down, the village seemed so small, so peaceful. But he knew the truth – there was a girl down there fighting for her life. And the responsibility weighed on him.
"This is my village now," he whispered, "I am its Baron."
Pushing off from the tree, he continued his ascent. Despite the tiredness pulling at his limbs, his pace was unyielding. As he pushed forward, the occasional notification bell rang in his ears, but he ignored them all. The closer he got to the mansion, the more mechanical his movements became, each step a proof of his sheer willpower.
By the time he reached the mountain’s top, exhaustion had painted itself all over him. His clothing, now darkened with sweat, clung to him, signaling the effort he had put into the climb.
The ascent was brutal. With every meter, his energy decreased. He made it just over the mountain before collapsing, breathless and fully spent.
From his position on the ground, he stared up at the sky, trying to catch his breath. His system's chime sounded, momentarily distracting him but he wasn't in mood and condition to check it right now.
Taking a moment to catch his breath, his thoughts immediately shifted to Mira. "First things first," he murmured, "I need to find Elena to help that sick girl."
Theo's heart thudded in his chest, its rhythm louder than the sound of his tired feet dragging across the ground. With every painful breath, he could feel the exhaustion threatening to engulf him, but he pushed through. The mansion stood before him, but the distance of six meters felt like miles away in his current condition.
Lurching forward, he made it to the entrance and his knee gave in, collapsing on the cold, hard floor of the mansion's entrance.
Lying on his back, the vast sky was the only thing in his vision. Its blueness held his gaze as he tried to calm his erratic breaths. The limitless sky seemed to mock the limitations of his own body, and for a moment, all was silent.
Then, a familiar chime broke the tranquility, but his mind was filled with one name, Elena. He needed to find Elena.
He attempted to push himself up when he heard hurried footsteps approaching.
Elena, with her doe-eyed innocence and filled with concern, appeared at the entrance. Her face darkened as she saw him sprawled on the ground. "Master, what happened to you?" Her voice wavered with worry.
With an exhausted smile, Theo tried to inject some humor into the situation. "Let's just say the mountain and I had a disagreement," He coughed, struggling to keep his smile.
Seeing that the girl didn't find his joke funny in this situation he decided to get to the point first.
Gasping for breathe, he replied, "Elena, there's a girl in the village, Mira. She's unwell. Do you have anything that could help her?"
Elena blinked in surprise, her brows knitting together. "Mira? Who is she? And what happened?"
Exhaling slowly, Theo explained, "She ventured into the forest and came back sick. The villagers are desperate, and I can't let them suffer, especially when I am here."
A look of understanding crossed Elena's face. "I have some high grade healing elixirs given to me by her highness," she informed hesitantly. "It's very precious, and was meant for emergencies concerning you."
Theo's eyes lit up with hope. "How many do you have?"
"Twelve," Elena replied, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her dress.
"Use one for Mira," the boy requested resolutely.
"But, Master, it's--"
"I know," Theo interrupted gently, his voice tinged with humor. "But I'm still here, aren't I? I'll be Alright. Don’t worry, Elena, we’ll sort everything out soon. But first, We need to help that girl. She needs it as soon as possible."
Elena hesitated, her gaze flitting between the mansion and Theo. With a nod, she murmured, "Alright, Master. I'll see to it."
As Theo watched her prepare to depart, his exhaustion caught up with him. He murmured, "Help Mira first, alright?"
Elena cast a reluctant glance back at him, a hint of sadness in her eyes, but she nodded in understanding.
And as she disappeared from view, Theo's eyelids grew heavy, a comforting darkness wrapping around him as sleep pulled him into its embrace, and the weight of the day's events finally took its toll on him.
The last thing he felt was a warm sense of pride – he'd made the right call, even in his state of utter exhaustion.
[B1] Chapter 9: Help Mira first, alright?
He was gazing at the 'mysterious bug' message, his brow furrowing in deep thought.
In an instant, it all clicked - the reason behind his unexpected weight gain in this primary world, despite only four years having elapsed compared to his previous life. Doubts began to bubble up in Theo's mind.
Could the Silverblade family be behind it?
Maybe someone unknown to him? Or even Grandpa Ryuk?
His mind raced with countless theories. But, pushing those thoughts aside, he realized there was something more urgent to attend to.
"I'll get to the bottom of this later," he decided, "Right now, gaining another kilogram isn't an option."
The quest requirement was clear to him. A two-hour workout was required to fulfill the demands. Although such a duration of tiresome workout wasn't hard for him since he was used to it in his previous world, attempting it in his current, heavier state was going to be a annoying trial. He let out a resigned sigh.
He decided to descend and climb the mountain to complete his quest. As he jogged toward the mountain slope, a progress bar appeared before him, clearly marking out the 120 minutes. He began his descent, and the minutes on the bar started ticking away, decreasing in number.
"Well, at least this counts as exercise," he thought, taking small steps.
The journey down was proving more challenging than he predicted. Only ten minutes in, and his breath came out in ragged, heavy puffs. Sweat poured from him, soaking his clothes and making them stick uncomfortably to his skin.
Needing a moment, Theo found a large rock midway and eased himself onto it. The cool stone beneath him provided brief relief as he tried to regulate his breathing.
Looking around, he could hear the faint chirping of mountain birds, and the distant laughter of children from the village below.
The setting sun cast long shadows, painting the landscape in a soft orange glow. This brief moment of tranquility contrasted sharply with his pounding heart and the urgent task ahead.
After resting enough, Theo began his descent again, he noticed the system's progress bar indicating [109 minutes]. Every step he took on the mountain's rugged path was a challenge due to his heavy body. Yet, he was resolute to finish the task at hand.
After descending for about 50 meters, his legs started to protest, and his breaths came out ragged. His gaze fell on a large flat stone and decided to take a brief respite.
Closing his eyes, he felt the soothing breeze of the mountain, which offered a temporary relief to his sweating face.
Gathering his strength, he pushed forward. The next 50 meters felt even longer. By now, his clothes and body were completely drenched in sweat. It seemed like he'd just stepped out of a bath.
As he approached the 100-meter mark, the weight of his body and gravity's pull made every step feel like lifting heavy boulders. The village was in sight, yet still a bit distant.
Once he reached the 100-meter mark, he felt a sense of accomplishment. However, glancing at the system's progress bar, he realized he had only completed half of his exercise quest.
“Looks like I might need to climb back up," he mused. But for now, he decided to venture into the village.
Theo’s shoes kicked up small clouds of dust with each step, further marking his first journey through the village.
He could hear the joyful laughter of children and the distant barking of a dog. There was also the scent of something delicious cooking nearby.
He watched the older villagers sitting on wooden benches outside their homes, sharing stories or merely enjoying the warmth of the sun. They looked up with curious eyes as he passed by.
'Probably wondering who the huge stranger is,' he thought.
The simplicity and harmony of their daily life made him reflect on the stark difference from his previous world.
Amidst the shade offered by the trees, he felt a cool breeze brushing against his face, carrying with it the fresh scent of blooming flowers. This tranquility was occasionally disrupted by the sound of a door creaking open or the playful shouts of children running past.
As he approached the central square, he paused for a moment, watching the scene. Women were bending over the well, drawing water into their clay pitchers, and chatting among themselves. Their conversations seemed to be related to details of daily life – crops, children, and community news.
He continued to walk, the progress bar now decreasing at a steadier rate, filling him with hope that he could complete the quest without having to climb the mountain again.
As Theo ventured deeper into the village, he noticed a growing commotion up ahead. Dozens of villagers had gathered in a tight circle outside an adobe house with a thatched roof. Theo's steps slowed as he was curious to find out what was happening here.
From his vantage point, he could see a distressed woman seated on the ground, cradling the limp body of a young girl in her lap.
The child's skin was a pale, sickly shade, glistening with sweat despite the cool morning air. Her eyes were closed, and her breathing shallow, revealing the unmistakable signs of a severe fever. Her hair were damp and plastered to her forehead.
A young man, probably in his early twenties, stood beside the pair, his eyes ablaze with anger.
"Elder Morin," he spat, addressing the village head, "It was your decision that kept us here! Now see what happened to my sister! She's fallen sick after just a trip to the forest's edge."
Elder Morin, an old man with deep-set eyes and a wrinkled face, looked pained. He began, "Rolan, I understand your anger, but the Baron will surely help if we go to him."
A murmur spread among the crowd, and another voice rose, filled with resentment. "The baron? The same one who hasn't sent rations or offered any aid for a year, even though the empire grants him funds for us?"
The woman, Mira's mother, looked up, her eyes brimming with tears. "I don't care about politics or rations," she sobbed, holding her daughter tighter. "I just don't want to lose my child."
‘Wait a minute, aren't I the Baron of this village?’ Theo almost tripped over, realizing he was the very Baron they spoke of.
His heart constricted in his chest as he watched the sad scene. He had only recently taken over this new body, and now he comprehended the weighty role of a baron. It was the first instance he genuinely sensed the immense burden of responsibility.
Theo took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions within him. "I've got to fix this," he whispered to himself, determination evident in his eyes.
Turning around, his eyes set on the mountain’s peak where the mansion stood tall. The familiar path up, which he had descended not too long ago, now felt like a challenge. But it wasn’t just about a personal quest anymore. It was about saving a life, about fulfilling the duty he had unknowingly inherited.
His feet pressed forward, moving over rocks and loose soil. Every step was a fight against the fatigue trying to hold him down. His muscles ached, yearning for a break, but the urgency of the situation wouldn't allow him to stop. His heart raced, thoughts consumed by the image of Mira, lying sick in the village below.
He stopped halfway, taking a brief moment to rest against a tree. Looking down, the village seemed so small, so peaceful. But he knew the truth – there was a girl down there fighting for her life. And the responsibility weighed on him.
"This is my village now," he whispered, "I am its Baron."
Pushing off from the tree, he continued his ascent. Despite the tiredness pulling at his limbs, his pace was unyielding. As he pushed forward, the occasional notification bell rang in his ears, but he ignored them all. The closer he got to the mansion, the more mechanical his movements became, each step a proof of his sheer willpower.
By the time he reached the mountain’s top, exhaustion had painted itself all over him. His clothing, now darkened with sweat, clung to him, signaling the effort he had put into the climb.
The ascent was brutal. With every meter, his energy decreased. He made it just over the mountain before collapsing, breathless and fully spent.
From his position on the ground, he stared up at the sky, trying to catch his breath. His system's chime sounded, momentarily distracting him but he wasn't in mood and condition to check it right now.
Taking a moment to catch his breath, his thoughts immediately shifted to Mira. "First things first," he murmured, "I need to find Elena to help that sick girl."
Theo's heart thudded in his chest, its rhythm louder than the sound of his tired feet dragging across the ground. With every painful breath, he could feel the exhaustion threatening to engulf him, but he pushed through. The mansion stood before him, but the distance of six meters felt like miles away in his current condition.
Lurching forward, he made it to the entrance and his knee gave in, collapsing on the cold, hard floor of the mansion's entrance.
Lying on his back, the vast sky was the only thing in his vision. Its blueness held his gaze as he tried to calm his erratic breaths. The limitless sky seemed to mock the limitations of his own body, and for a moment, all was silent.
Then, a familiar chime broke the tranquility, but his mind was filled with one name, Elena. He needed to find Elena.
He attempted to push himself up when he heard hurried footsteps approaching.
Elena, with her doe-eyed innocence and filled with concern, appeared at the entrance. Her face darkened as she saw him sprawled on the ground. "Master, what happened to you?" Her voice wavered with worry.
With an exhausted smile, Theo tried to inject some humor into the situation. "Let's just say the mountain and I had a disagreement," He coughed, struggling to keep his smile.
Seeing that the girl didn't find his joke funny in this situation he decided to get to the point first.
Gasping for breathe, he replied, "Elena, there's a girl in the village, Mira. She's unwell. Do you have anything that could help her?"
Elena blinked in surprise, her brows knitting together. "Mira? Who is she? And what happened?"
Exhaling slowly, Theo explained, "She ventured into the forest and came back sick. The villagers are desperate, and I can't let them suffer, especially when I am here."
A look of understanding crossed Elena's face. "I have some high grade healing elixirs given to me by her highness," she informed hesitantly. "It's very precious, and was meant for emergencies concerning you."
Theo's eyes lit up with hope. "How many do you have?"
"Twelve," Elena replied, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her dress.
"Use one for Mira," the boy requested resolutely.
"But, Master, it's--"
"I know," Theo interrupted gently, his voice tinged with humor. "But I'm still here, aren't I? I'll be Alright. Don’t worry, Elena, we’ll sort everything out soon. But first, We need to help that girl. She needs it as soon as possible."
Elena hesitated, her gaze flitting between the mansion and Theo. With a nod, she murmured, "Alright, Master. I'll see to it."
As Theo watched her prepare to depart, his exhaustion caught up with him. He murmured, "Help Mira first, alright?"
Elena cast a reluctant glance back at him, a hint of sadness in her eyes, but she nodded in understanding.
And as she disappeared from view, Theo's eyelids grew heavy, a comforting darkness wrapping around him as sleep pulled him into its embrace, and the weight of the day's events finally took its toll on him.
The last thing he felt was a warm sense of pride – he'd made the right call, even in his state of utter exhaustion.
