Eternal Empire Online: The Rise of the Mythical Detective

Chapter 15: The Eyes Of The Admirer And The Back Of His Hero 2

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WolfMasterX: Hey, anyone know if Part Two had been uploaded already?

Jojo9090: Yeah, I found it.

KillerKid: I alrdy read 8 & I sajes u skip 8…borngg as hell…2much 2king…part 3 ws mor axon pcked!

CamelotGuardian: Yeah, I agree. Aside from Bart giving his Last Will and the Rank C+ quest to his disciples, there’s nothing else interesting in part 2. Just the reuniting with Gambit and then a bunch of heated arguments between Deidre and Trevol while the rest are attempting to convince Grimm into telling them where he got his skills.

Inversa: Did Grimm share it to them? Hasn’t read Part 2 yet.

KillerKid: Of corz he ddnt. Dat wud hav myd Part 2 wurt a read f he dd.

Inversa: T_T Too bad.

WolfMasterX: There’s already a part 3?

Jojo9090: Part 3 is up?

Renegader: Yes! I already found it, currently reading it now.

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While reading the comments on the Forum Chat regarding the blogs that he’d just posted, Han Shinwoo, the teenage kid behind the Elf character Basche couldn’t help recalling the succeeding events that transpired on that day.

One Week Ago…

After an entire day of in-game time of crossing the forest while constantly battling Ghouls and several other Dark Type monsters, aside from Brother Grimm and Gambit, the rest of them are on the verge of exhaustion.

“Do you guys want to take a break?” Gambit asked when he noticed their sorry states.

All of them nodded yes and then began finding a good spot to start a camp. However, the moment that they’d found one, they immediately realize two problems that hindered them from starting the camp site.

First, Gust and his Break Room skill are no longer with them.

His avatar lost its life when they fought the first wave of Ghouls back at the training ground and it will take him 24 hours in real life or 4 days in the game to log in again.

Fortunately, that problem was immediately resolved when Deidre confessed that she and Gust had made a trade in the past. Gust was interested on her Life Trace skill, so in exchange of teaching him how to use it, she asked for the knowledge of creating the Break Room in return.

Gust agreed. So now, Deidre can also use the Break Room.

However, despite having the Break Room skill available again, the second problem had then arisen.

Reviewing the effect of the Break Room, it can only repel monsters with levels lower than its creator. And Deidre being only Level 40 at the most cannot create a Break Room that can protect them from the Level 60 Ghouls that are crawling everywhere.

“I’ll do it,” Brother Grimm said when they voiced out that concern.

“What?” Deidre frowned.

“I said I’ll do it,” Brother Grimm repeated. “Teach me the Break Room and I’ll create a camp that can protect us from the Ghouls.”

“Whoa, whoa, hold on. Are you implying that…?”

“I’m Level 70,” Brother Grimm said before Deidre could finish her sentence. “So yeah, my Level is higher than the Ghouls.”

When Brother Grimm revealed that, they all looked at him in confusion. But on the other hand, it all finally makes sense too. During the confrontation with Amradias, they almost won thanks to his help. So it shouldn’t be a surprise to know that he’s in a higher level than all of them. However, one big question mark still remains of…

“H-how?” Deidre asked in puzzlement, almost in a complaining manner. “How did you level up that much?”

What Deidre just said. How did he do it?

He said that he was Level 1 when they entered the training under Master Bart. Though there’s a possibility that he lied about his real level back then. Basche highly doubt it. He was the one who found and recruited him way back in Latona. And when they first met, he was working part-time in a restaurant for a few copper. That’s not something that a Rank D player would do for a living.

“I did a lot of night strolling when you guys are not around.” It was his simple answer.

Deidre still looked shocked.

Kylo and Louie are also itching to squeeze some answer from him but refrained themselves, knowing how fruitless attempting it against Brother Grimm.

“Alright, if you say so, then I’ll teach you the Break Room.” Deidre said. “But in one condition.”

“What’s that?”

Deidre pulled out a rectangular shaped paper from her bag. It was red in color and was crammed with several inscriptions. “This is a ‘Truth Talisman,’” she explained. “It also came from the Ranger Guild where I learned the Life Trace. It’s very expensive, 10 Gold each, but its effect is worth every copper you’ll spend on it.”

“I’m listening.”

“Once I activate this talisman and stick it on you, it will expose your entire Avatar Window for the rest of us to see.”

“Hey now, wait a minute.” Trevol immediately butt in after hearing what Deidre just said. “You can’t be suggesting that Grimm should show us his Avatar Info, don’t you?”

“I’m suggesting exactly just that,” she said with a very stern expression.

“Oh come on! You can’t be serious!”

“Yeah, that’s just outrageous.” Gambit added. “He already said that he’s Level 70 and we all had seen him fight the Ghouls with ease. That’s an evidence enough to support his level claim. There’s no reason to go that far.”

Trevol and Gambit are right. Sharing the content of the Avatar Window is no simple matter. For every player, the content on their Avatar Window is their lifeline in the game. And baring it to other players is no different from giving them a complete instruction on how to defeat you.

“Well his words are not enough anymore,” Deidre reasoned. “He’s been lying to us this entire time. So don’t blame me if I can’t easily believe him.”

“What?” You hypocrite b***h! Basche clenched both his fists upon hearing that. And not just him, the others had also made an expression of disgust upon hearing those words escape her lips. How dare you to accuse our savior like that when you’re the one who had been taking advantage on us the entire time!

Yeah, Basche knew all about it, they all knew it, about Deidre’s deceits and schemes. And they just didn’t voice it out because despite Deidre’s ulterior motives, it is still thanks to her skills and leadership that they’d survive this far.

However, accusing and demanding such things to the person who saved them were far too much. And what lies is she talking about? If they analyze thoroughly what Brother Grimm actually did. Technically, he never lied or done anything wrong to them even once. He simply just didn’t tell them something that they themselves never asked in the first place.

And also, despite surpassing them and achieving the target Level, Brother Grimm had never once neglected his obligations to the party. He helped and supported them in the best way he can despite knowing now that back then, it was not doing him any good anymore.

Basche could just imagine if it were someone else on Brother Grimm’s position especially if it were Deidre. He’s sure that if it were her, she would have abandoned them immediately. So it’s truly infuriating him how Deidre is trying to make it look like that she’s the one wronged here while shamelessly demanding such extreme things from Brother Grimm.

Basche could not take where the situation is heading anymore and was about to confront Deidre to stop this madness. However, before he could utter a single word, Brother Grimm had already responded with his answer.

“Sure, I’m fine with that.”

“What?” Basche, Trevol, and Gambit exclaimed at the same time, turning their heads towards Brother Grimm in disbelief.

Deidre gave a triumphant smirk as she probably thinks that things are going her way again.

“But also in one condition.”

“And that is?”

“Aside from the Break Room, I want the Life Trace too.”

With those words, the sly smile on Deidre’s face was instantly erased. “Are you crazy!? Why should I give the Life Trace too?”

“Well, let’s reevaluate things over again. You’re asking me to expose my stats so that I can learn a skill that I have to use in order to protect you. Don’t you think that’s quite unfair on my part? Exposing myself while doing you a favor.”

“What are you talking about? You’re gonna benefit on the Break Room too.”

“That doesn’t mean I have to,” Brother Grimm countered. “Ms. Deidre, I’d survived this forest long enough even without that kind of skill to protect myself. What makes you think that I’ll need it now?”

“But…” Deidre was lost in words.

“That’s my demand. It’s either you take it or…we sit our asses here, exposed and unprotected. Well, on my part, that doesn’t matter, I know I can handle myself. But what about you?”

Everyone then got tense and stilled. And why shouldn’t they? What Brother Grimm had just said was not just applicable to Deidre. It also applies to all of them. Without the Break Room…no, technically, without Brother Grimm’s aid, their probability of survival is near to nil.

“Damn it! Just do it, Deidre!” Gambit chided. “The training quest is over now, so there’s no point of taking advantage anymore. We need to survive and defeat Amradias or else we might not play this game again.”

And not just Gambit, the rest had also, in their own way, persuaded Deidre into agreeing.

In the end, “Fine, fine! I’ll do it!” Deidre finally said when she could not take their pressuring anymore.

As agreed, she then used the Truth Talisman to Brother Grimm in exchange for the Break Room and Life Trace skills.

“What the hell!?” “What the f**k!?” Their mouths dropped at the sight of the Information Window.

Ding!

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The player [Deidre] had used the [Truth Talisman]

Target => [Grimm]

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Not just that he’s in possession of several deluxe gears and weapons that can compensate with the penalty of the Black Mist but also, the penalty he’s receiving from it is halved compared to what is being inflicted towards them. Basche isn’t certain but he believes that it has something to do with his Titles. However, that’s not the most frightening thing about him. Seeing the figures on his stats, despite being a Level 70, his stats reflect a player who is at Level 100 or even higher.

“Satisfied?” Brother Grimm asked Deidre when the Info. Window disappeared.

Deidre nodded, dumbfounded as she absorb it all. And at some point, they could tell that the fey got intimidated on what she’d just discovered.

Well, she’s not alone.

“Good. Now it’s your turn.”

As agreed, Deidre teaches both the Break Room and Life Trace to him. And at long last, after the long arguments and bargaining, they’d finally manage to rest their tired bodies without worrying of getting attacked.

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“Uhmm…B-Brother Grimm, are you busy?” Basche asked when he finally gathered the courage to approach him.

“Ow hey Basche,” he said when he came aware of him. “No, not really. Why? You need something?”

But the moment he replies, Basche’s resolution immediately plummets. Before, he had regarded him as an equal or even someone even below him. But now, after witnessing his heroic display of power during their fight against the demon Amradias, that viewpoint immediately made a 180 degree turn. Now, he is the man that captured his great admiration, someone whom he can’t even approach without having butterflies in his stomach.

As a child, Basche had grown up playing games, reading comic books, fantasy novels, and admiring the superheroes of the world and there’s nothing else that enthralled him more than their heroism.

He wanted to be like them.

Unfortunately, he knows that reality could not allow ordinary people like himself to become such an existence regardless of how badly he wished for it. That’s because ultimately, she’s an inferior race.

However in Eternal Empire, it’s a whole new world for everyone, a paradise with endless possibilities and a place where everyone can become anything they wanted including an ascension to a Hero.

This reason is what captivated Basche to immerse into the Virtual Reality Game. In this new world, he himself can become a hero and he can be closer to such heroic existences as well.

He thought it would take long but today, his eyes were opened that a person he’d been aiming to meet had been with him this entire time.

“Uhmmm…No-no,” he stuttered before exhaling deeply. ‘I need to calm down.’ He told himself. “But I just need someone to talk with.”

He then glanced towards the others that are either resting peacefully or resting restlessly.

“Oh, I see. About what then?”

Basche breathed deeply again and lean his back against the tree that stood beside his Brother Grimm. He then began sharing everything that’s troubling him, his worries, fears, and uncertainties regarding the direness of their situation.

“Brother Grimm, do you think that we can get through this?”

“Of course,” he asserted confidently.

“Really? How can you be that sure?”

“Because I can see it. Even at this point alone, I can already see it. See us making it through, going out of here, finding new adventures, and then going home.”

Basche quietly snorted. He’s having a hard time believing that. “Maybe you mean you’re seeing yourself making it through. Unlike us, Brother Grimm is strong. After witnessing how you nearly beat Amradias, I can tell that even without us…,” he then trailed off and shook his head. “No, I think it’s more appropriate to say that if it was just Brother Grimm, completing this quest and beating Amradias could have been accomplished already.”

Basche dropped his gaze down and lamented.

“You don’t need us. And from the very beginning we’re nothing but excess baggage to you.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” Brother Grimm said as he arch his back. “I don’t need help to reach the Final Glade and yes, you’re also right that I would have made it to Stellio by now if you guys are not around.”

Basche downheartedness deepened further after hearing that directly from him.

“But you’re wrong about one thing.”

“Huh?”

“Regardless of how good I am or how good I’ll get, there are still things that I could never accomplish on my own and unfortunately, this quest is one of those. There is no way that the full extent of this quest will be completed if it just me. I will need your help and I will need theirs too.” He gestured towards Deidre and the other. “So please, stop thinking that you guys are a burden to me or anything. Because to be honest, our success lies more on you and on them than on me.”

“That’s flattering but I sort of finding that hard to believe.”

“I’m telling the truth, Basche,” he assured him. “I wish I was just joking. But unfortunately, I’m not.”

“I’m not buying it.”

Brother Grimm then shook his head with a woeful expression forming on his face. “Well, that was disappointing.”

“What’s disappointing?” Basche wonder.

“You and the way you see yourself.”

Basche tilted his head to the side, trying to figure out what he means.

“Basche, you’re a brilliant kid but you’re underestimating yourself way too much.”

“No, I’m…”

“Not to mention that you’re too reliant on your elders.”

“Eehh?”

“You’re better than them, Basche. But you’re too attached on your comfort zone that it’s greatly hindering your potentials, and most of all, your growth.”

Basche dropped his gaze to the ground with a gloomy expression once again. What his Brother Grimm just said had perfectly hit him where it hurt. And due to that, he started to ponder if he had truly been like this, not just in the game, but throughout his entire life. ‘Was I really?’

“Anyway, following someone whom you believe is greater than you is not bad. However, isn’t it better if you can plunge ahead sometimes instead of always tailing someone else’s shadow?”

“Well, that doesn’t sound bad,” he said. “But, I don’t know if I’m daring enough to be like that.”

“Hmmm, I might be able to help you with that.”

Basche’s eyes lit up. “You can?”

Brother Grimm nodded as he pulls out a folded parchment from his pocket. “Here, take this.”

“What’s this?” Basche asked as he receives the item. He tried to open it but Brother Grimm stopped him.

“Let’s say that it’s my insurance, just in case something goes awry along the way.”

Basche frowned. He can’t tell why but he doesn’t like the way his Brother Grimm deliver those words. “What do you mean?”

“You’ll know once the time comes. But for now, hold on to it. Then when the necessity of it comes, go try your best to pull it off. I’m sure that if you succeed, it will bring you a step closer into freeing yourself from your restrains.”

Basche happily accepted the task that the Hero he admired had appointed to him despite the bad feeling he’s having towards it. He had no idea back then that that was already an ill omen of an upcoming tragedy.