Chapter 47: Real-life plight
“It is getting colder,” Reylin said after he’d left the bureau.
It was October, so it wasn’t that weird for the climate to get a little colder! A few people already wore thicker clothes, and their hands stuffed the pockets.
Reylin had his car, so he didn’t feel cold for too long.
After he took his seat, Sebastian grabbed the wheel and slowly drove them back home.
However, Reylin’s phone suddenly rang.
He fished it out of his pocket and glanced at the caller, “What does she want from me?”
“Ferocious Bear?” Sebastian asked, “Perhaps, she is worried about the young master because you are not in the game. That would be pretty cute! Haha.” He laughed along with Hania, who chuckled on the side.
Reylin threw a glance at him, then answered the call, “If you are worried about me being outside the game, then I will blow up your face in-game.”
“Oh! How did you know?” Ferocious Bear asked on the other side.
She sounded oddly surprised and amazed that Reylin read her like that.
Reylin threw a glare at the laughing butler and maid, then replied, “Because the guild competition is coming up.”
“That’s right! We decided to take some break from the constant gaming world. That’s why I am outside, doing groceries now. I just logged in to leave the announcement in the guild today, and I was shocked to see you offline!
Hmm… I also told mom I would make dinner today, but I don’t know what I should prepare.”
Reylin looked outside, and he saw some chicken on sale, “Chicken.”
“I know how to make chicken!” Maya chirped happily. “Since you said it fast, it must be your favorite dinner!”
“No, I just saw the banner,” Reylin replied, but Maya whistled, imitating him.
They talked for a little, and it seemed like Maya was done with her groceries. She left the shop and went back home shortcut.
However, it seemed like the trouble bared her way!
Reylin was about to turn off the call, but he heard the irritating voice of a male. That male wasn’t friendly, and he was also not alone.
“Where are you going, ‘hero’?” That man said.
“Haha. She is that hero! We saw you on stream, and we are really, really jealous of your class. How about we walk you back home and talk about partying up in the game?”
“Don’t touch me!” Maya shouted, then her phone fell from her hand.
It seemed like the group of some idiots ganged up on her, and they wanted Maya’s skills from the game to level up! With her abilities, they would surely increase their level and face a lot of impossible quests…
However, they compelled Maya and blatantly threatened her!
Reylin still was on the line, and he heard the location through some locals, “Sebastian. You can ignore the law.”
“As you wish!”
The car drove faster than usual, and it passed through a few red lights…
–
“We don’t have the whole day, hero,” The man chuckled, “We will safely walk you back home, then have some fun in the game. Aren’t we friends already?”
Maya shook her head a few times and hugged her groceries.
If they knew where she lived, they would be able to threaten her and her family! Maya understood it well, and she didn’t dare to reveal her address.
She was also too small before those grown-up people and surrounded by them; her presence was far from the heroic one.
She was, and always would be, the normal girl in real life!
She could barely keep herself on her legs in her plight and was really scared about her future!
“I also don’t have time.” A familiar voice rang out from the side then!
All bullies threw their eyes to the side, and Maya did too. Her eyes rippled with relief as Reylin and Sebastian stood there!
It was impossible to not recognize Reylin.
His irritation written on his face reassured Maya that everything would soon be fine!
The bully snickered, “Look. We have a male hero-”
He didn’t end his speech as Reylin threw out his bomb. It was a small bomb, and it filled the man’s mouth! Soon, the explosion followed, and the man’s eyes rolled backward. He thrashed on his two legs, then blood and teeth dropped out of his mouth.
Tears streamed down his eyes, and he groaned loudly!
Maya paled, and she took a few steps back!
“What the fuck are you doing?!” The other guys roared, but no one dared to make any move.
Reylin tilted his head, “Adequate damage to what could’ve happened to the hero. No, she would have suffered even worse if she brought you to her home. I have to say, that’s a pretty disgusting thing to ask.”
“Fuck it!”
“I am not dealing with this psychopath!”
“Sorry, bro!”
The other guys finally left, and the guy without teeth followed them slightly after. He was on his four and clearly unstable from how slow he walked… One of his hands kept the mouth dammed, but blood still oozed out through it…
Maya looked at that man with slight confusion, then turned her eyes to Reylin, “Thank you for saving me… But that was too much… Right?” She looked down as if not sure whether her words were correct.
However, the first part was indeed right.
She thanked her savior, and she no longer trembled in his presence!
Reylin didn’t comment on that, “Think of me as a bad guy too.”
“I can’t! You have saved me after all!” Maya shook her head!
He didn’t continue with the topic, but his lips curled up into a faint smile.
She just stared at him, and a faint understanding bloomed within her.
Reylin offered help for Maya, and he took her groceries.
“Do you want me to give you a ride home? If that’s not okay, then we can slowly walk until you get better,” Reylin continued to offer help.
He wouldn’t leave her alone after suffering so much stress, and that pleased Sebastian, who had been standing all this time silently.
Maya glanced at them both and nodded, “I would like to return home as soon as possible…”
“Sure thing,” Reylin nodded and guided her to the car.
In the car, Hania had been waiting all the time.
Seeing her, Maya’s fear lessened further. She was too sensitive about her surroundings in her current state, and even Reylin’s offer was a little scary! The thugs took her into the alley, and now, Reylin offered a ride.
That was the consequence Reylin understood, and he took the front seat while leaving these two on the backseat.
Reylin was well aware that Hania’s presence would help, and so he left the door open.
The ride to Maya’s home was silent with Maya’s eyes down. She sometimes trembled, and soon tears tumbled down her face.
She imagined what would have happened had Reylin not come to help her! Of course, those images were greatly exaggerated because of her stress, but the point was valid! The image of that man puking out the blood soon became a thing that added strength for the hero!
She clenched her hands and wiped off her tears.
At that time, Sebastian poked Reylin’s side, and he passed the handkerchief.
Reylin read the move, and he silently passed it to Maya.
“Thank you.” She took the handkerchief and blew her nose like a small elephant!
Reylin’s lighter went off, and he stared at his lighter with widened eyes, “Quite a strong hero.” He slid his finger across it, and it lit up anew.
Maya blushed and didn’t dare to utter the word!
Reylin began some conversation now that she let it all out, “I haven’t paid much attention to the character cosmetics, but I guess adding some stuff would’ve helped with the privacy.”
“World is really small… I think it was just one video so far…” Maya replied faintly, and her reply meant she was open for some talk.
Reylin asked, “Why didn’t you tune your in-game appearance?” He looked behind, “I think blonde hair would look good on you, and it would add a different air. Just look at Vis and his change due to the hair color.”
Maya smiled, “It wouldn’t feel like myself. I entered the game to change a little. People always turned merrier around me, and they kept calling me cute and cute. In school, I received the Cute Bear nickname and always had people tending to me.
Even other classes were overly nice, and they kept acting too close around me. In the game, I wanted to become different and independent, I think.
…But I ended up with the hero class, and I rely on people more. That is why I didn’t do any cosmetics. I also don’t like make-up, so this is the answer.”
“You don’t need make-up! You are adorable!” Hania cheered from the side as if she hadn’t heard Maya’s words at all.
Reylin glanced at the mirror, “We could argue over that.”
Maya and Hania stared at him as if demanding an answer from him.
Reylin chuckled, “Taste is subjective, isn’t it?”
–
“Was it the first time you haven’t sweated over me using the bomb?” Reylin asked after Maya had left the car and went back to her home.
He directed those words to Sebastian.
The butler replied, “That’s probably the case. Young Master has been bullying others with bombs for a long time, but you have never hurt others. Even the overly jealous Braun was never hurt.
Today was a different case, and I didn’t feel anything wrong with it. Frankly, I have seen Ferocious Bear working on her guild from time to time in the beginner city, so I am familiar with her.
It would have been heart-breaking if she stopped playing.”
Sebastian’s reply drew a chuckle from Reylin, “Well. We did all we should have done. Not too much or less explanation and we left her thinking alone. Now, it’s all up to her. Honestly, it would be better if she thought of me as the bad guy.
Maybe those daily messages would’ve calmed down for a while.”
Sebastian burst out laughing, “I think girls like to gossip. And it is because of the young master’s charisma.”
“In other words, I can’t blame no one other than myself? Tsk. Why is that bitch Yvonne on another continent?” Reylin entered the car and shut the doors loudly.
Sebastian also took the seat, “Wouldn’t it be an appropriate time to call her? She must have seen The Red Sky. That was pretty epic.”
“Legendary,” Reylin corrected, “I might give her a call after the guild competition. Too busy with my current schedule. Anyway, I am not in a hurry to get a real girlfriend. On the contrary, it makes my polygamous life much easier in the game world.
Now, I am pretty interested. I wonder if there are players with girlfriends or wives in both worlds. Like, do girls from our world think of it as a game with how real another world is?”
“There’s a high chance someone has already tried that and made a post on the forum. I can look around to satiate Young Master’s curiosity,” Hania replied.
Reylin waved his hand, “No need. At one point, I will meet one of those guys, and he will be more than glad to share his experience with me.”
“Oh, I see…” Hania nodded.
After such a hectic day, the guild competition finally arrived!
It was time for some high-level gaming!