Chapter – 18
After finishing packing, I spoke to the group who were still fumbling around in confusion.
“Everyone just needs to check the quest window that appeared and accept it.”
Lilia nodded and looked at the air with fascination.
“Wow, look at this!”
Like Lilia, everyone’s eyes looked wide as they stared at their quest windows.
I also slowly reviewed the contents again.
Even if I already knew it, it was better to confirm it one more time.
Since the original story had already changed, there was no way the quests would remain exactly the same.
With uneasy eyes, I read through the text.
[First Gate: Forest of Evil Spirits]
[The quest will begin once you arrive at the destination marked on the map.]
[ This is a first-come, first-served role assignment quest. Arriving earlier gives you an advantage in selecting roles.]*
Fortunately, aside from the addition of the map, the quest content was identical to the original story.
Lilia, who had been staring at the quest window, suddenly spoke.
“Unni, I think this place marked on the map is the destination.”
She pointed to a spot on the large floating map.
Just as she said, there was a blue check mark in the center.
“Then… do these small dots represent our team members?”
As Yeriel pointed out, at the edge of the map—where we currently stood—there were four red dots lined up.
“That must be it. All five of our team members—”
I suddenly stopped speaking.
Wait… four?
Where did the other one go?
Now that I think about it, I’ve had this feeling since I woke up that I forgot something…
[Constellation, Furnace of the Universe, thinks your party is pathetic.]
[Constellation, Furnace of the Universe, declares there is no team here as carefree as yours.]
The constellation’s indirect message appeared immediately.
I had completely forgotten.
It seemed that now that the main quest had started, constellation messages were also enabled again.
Lilia looked at the air and huffed angrily.
“Unni, someone says we’re pathetic!”
She looked furious, not realizing it was probably her own constellation.
But regardless of her reaction, the constellations kept sending messages.
[Constellation, Master of Healing Arts, says you are the first to break your own finger just to demonstrate healing.]
[Constellation, Abandoned Child, is proud of their incarnation.]
“Haha… hello. This is the first time I’ve gotten this much attention.”
Yeriel seemed awkward but amused by the situation.
[Constellation, Light Loved by All Things, likes the girl’s lovely pink hair.]
[Constellation, Mother Who Watches the World, begs her to sign another contract.]
[Constellation, Furnace of the Universe, claims Lilia is its child.]
“This is weird, Unni… strangers keep talking to me.”
Lilia looked dizzy from the overwhelming number of messages, just like a true protagonist.
[Constellation, Sage Who Calls Death, says your technique earlier was impressive.]
[Constellation, Sun Slayer, covets your leather arm guard.]
“…Mine.”
And Eden stood stiffly.
Everyone seemed unsure how to react to these constellation messages.
But my eyes were fixed on a single red dot far away on the map.
[Constellation, Furnace of the Universe, mutters that the black-haired guy has no sense of camaraderie.]
The Furnace of the Universe said:
The black-haired guy has no team spirit.
And there’s only one black-haired guy on our team.
Ah, that bastard went ahead first!
“You damn social reject!”
I mean, if everyone was asleep he could’ve at least woken us up!
Just leaving like that—does he think he lives alone or something?
“Geez…”
If he had just woken us up first, we wouldn’t be in this mess.
“We should hurry too.”
While I was imagining how I’d scold Xenon later, someone tapped my back.
Turning around, I saw Yeriel smiling gently and gesturing forward.
“If we’re late, only the Ruler position will be left.”
“…What?”
I asked, wondering if I misheard.
Yeriel shook her head seriously.
“A role where you have to kill others… I’d refuse even if I died.”
She really thought the Ruler role would be taken first.
Maybe because she was such a kind person, she assumed everyone else thought the same way.
“Right now that’s not the issue… sigh. Fine. Let’s hurry.”
Sitting here wouldn’t solve anything.
Whatever happens, we have to go first.
As for a plan…
I guess I’ll have to think of one on the way.
* * *
After running diligently, we finally reached the quest area.
As soon as we arrived, a dense tropical forest greeted us.
At the entrance of the dark woods where even light could barely enter,
I sighed.
[Remaining Positions]
Evil Spirits: 4
Rulers: 0
Exactly what I feared had happened.
We must have been the last to arrive.
Well, nobody would oversleep before their first mission.
I expected it, but seeing it confirmed made me resent Xenon even more.
What do we do now?
“Well… at least it’s good the Evil Spirit role is still available. The name is a bit unsettling though…”
Yeriel seemed relieved that she wouldn’t have to harm anyone.
[Constellation, Abandoned Child, shakes its head.]
[Constellation, Furnace of the Universe, stirs things irritably.]
[Constellation, Sage Who Calls Death, is displeased combat is not allowed.]
[Constellation, Last Companion, mutters they will meet soon.]
Just looking at these messages made it obvious our situation was bad.
“Don’t worry. I’ll protect you. For sure.”
Eden approached from behind me and spoke quietly.
“Even if I have to give you my heart.”
This kid isn’t even fully grown yet…
“Hey, why would you give your heart?”
Smack.
“Ow…”
Eden rubbed his forehead after I flicked him.
“…I meant it.”
Still, hearing that cleared my head.
Right.
What’s done is done.
I can’t just sit here helplessly.
And I definitely can’t hide behind someone younger than me.
“I’ll protect Unni too!”
“No. I will.”
Watching the two start arguing again, I smiled slightly and slapped my cheeks lightly.
“Alright. Everyone stay sharp. This is only the first gate. We’re all surviving this together!”
Get it together.
We can’t fall apart already.
Slowly, I stepped into the forest filled with ominous fog.
Ding!
[You have entered the quest area: Forest of Evil Spirits.]
A notification appeared immediately.
[You are an Evil Spirit.]
[Avoid the Rulers, hide and flee, and survive for the allotted time. The allotted time is determined by your stats.]
Good. Just like expected.
But then—
[Your assigned survival time is 121 minutes.]
“…What?”
I couldn’t help but shout as my eyes widened.
121 minutes?
In the original story, most people got between one hour and one and a half hours.
Is the system looking down on me because I used to be a villainess?
[Assigned survival time is determined by physical ability stats. Higher stats grant advantages.]
The next message answered my question.
So this means…
My survival time looks like this because…
I’m just weak?
Oh Wendy.
You really should’ve exercised.
Now that I look, these wrists are really thin.
Same with these skinny legs.
Feels like there’s nothing but bones.
Still, this is too much!
“I got exactly one hour.”
“I got 52 minutes.”
“I got about the same. 1 hour 10 minutes. What about you, Unni?”
Why am I the only one like this?!
Yeriel, Eden, and Lilia each shared their times, proving my weakness.
Yeriel and Lilia probably got advantages from intelligence and magic stats.
And Eden obviously wouldn’t fall behind after showing that attack skill yesterday.
“I got…”
I already knew my stats were far behind theirs.
But seeing my weakness so clearly made me feel both ashamed and desperate to become stronger.
“I got… two hours.”
