16 Proof of Strength?

"was that some kind of a test of courage?" Mathew asked his self as he saw Pedro ran back to the Village and the murderous aura of village soldier Tam vanished. He then decided to check village soldier Tam's information out of his curiosity.

....

Name: Tam Darko (Village soldier, NPC)

Level: 6

HP: 1000/1000

MP: 850/850

Stamina: 100/100

....

"whooooosh!" a wind blew past Mathew, Berting, and Starberry and they once again felt the murderous aura that was present when Pedro was talking to Village soldier Tam.

If a player or NPC has a high enough Instinct, their five senses would be enhanced and they would be able to determine if someone was checking or inspecting their information. This, however, does not apply to monsters. This was like an early warning system that would inform them that they were somehow being targeted by someone. However, this does not allow a player or NPC to determine the location of the person spying on them. Locating those person spying on them require specific skills that were rare to come by.

'Looks like someone is interested in my handsome looks despite my old age!' Village soldier Tam sneered as he tried to calmly look around for the person who inspected him.

"what did I just do?? Man! I know how realistic this game is... But this is way too scary!" Mathew muttered as he was shaking behind the tree and didn't have even the slightest courage to look back to where village soldier Tam was.

"Pro bro! Pssst! What did you do?? Why did that NPC seem to be angry once again?" Berting whispered to Mathew who was hiding to a nearby tree.

"Did my A##! I just checked his information! I didn't know that it might anger him!" Mathew retaliated while he was unable to calm his self as he felt the murderous aura from village soldier Tam.

"So... You're my admirer?!" Someone spoke behind the tree where Mathew was hiding.

Mathew and Berting slowly turned their heads to the origin of the voice and they saw village soldier Tam smiling while leaning his hand to the tree where Mathew was hiding.

"RUUUUN!" Berting shouted as he and Mathew tried to run away from village soldier Tam.

"How can I let you leave without giving my signature?" Village soldier Tam suddenly grabbed Berting and Mathew in the back as the murderous aura he released became stronger.

"Live???" Berting and Mathew misunderstood the word "Live" with "Leave" and looked at each other with an unexplainable look like saying 'we're dead!!!'. Although Mathew was a professional gamer and was well adapted to the environment of AVR Games, he was still unable to escape village soldier Tam.

"Re... respected villager! please don't misunderstand! we adventurers were just curious about your relationship with the aad... adventurer named... de... death!" Starberry shakingly tried to explain to village soldier Tam as he carries Mathew and Berting.

"Hmmm?" Village soldier Tam doubted Starberry as he looked at the three adventurers.

"Ye... Yess! It's true!" Mathew got back to his self, barely calming his self, and tried to bluff his way out.

"Ri...right! You see respected villager, that man saved our lives and we were just curious about how he got that strong... we followed him and when we were about to approach him, he talked to you! when you released this same murderous aura... It really scared the sh@@ out of us! we got curious and just happen to check you! That's all!" Berting panicked and the made-up story quickly came out of his mouth out of fear.

"Hahahaha! Is that so? You are the weaklings that he saved?" village soldier Tam laughed as the trio released a relieved expression.

"I have plans for that adventurer! However, you three are too weak to join him! Strengthen your selves first, then I should give you quests to complete!" village soldier Tam gently dropped Berting and Mathew to the ground.

....

'Is the gap between me and that player that big?' Mathew suddenly changed his expression and his competitive personality arisen.

"I personally think that the difference between me and that adventurer is not that large!" from fear to his competitive personality, Mathew bravely spoke to village soldier Tam.

"Hahaha! Adventurers are truly unpredictable! If it is the case, then prove it to me! Hunt down three wild pig each and bring them to me within half an hour! As they say... Let your actions speak!" Village soldier Tam laughed as the notification of the trio prompted.

...

[Quest: Proof of Strength!

Rating: A-rated

Mission: Kill three wild pig and bring the dead body of the pig to village soldier Tam!

Duration: 30 minutes ]

...

"Go now! for your time is limited!" Village soldier Tam became serious and returned to his post like nothing happened.

"What did you just do!? Again!!" Berting shouted to Mathew. As a result of the single phrase, Mathew said to village soldier Tam, they were given of an impossible quest of killing the wild pigs, three each at the top of that.

"Got an A-rated quest?" Mathew uttered in an annoyed manner. He glanced for a second on Berting and Starberry, then he started walking back to the area where the wild pigs were located.

As Mathew's figure faded, Berting was still puzzled on what to do. It was an A-rated quest. Players who received quests of this rarity at that point of the game could only be counted on one hand. It was rare but the difficulty of its completion was consequently hard. This made Berting's mind undecided as he tried to determine whether to do the quest or not is more beneficial to him.

"There's no point standing around! Why don't we go to the wild pig spawn area and think of a way to accomplish this quest?" Starberry felt that it would be such a waste to give up immediately on the quest. These quests were rare as of now, and there was a chance that they would get some sort of "first server achievements". Hence, she felt losing thirty minutes of in-game time was worth it. At most, they would have information on how hard A-rated and above quests were for their current level.

"Sister Star!! Can't you remember?? A wild pig almost killed me!! If not for brother Death... I would be starting a new character by now!" Berting was angered. The quest already pressured him enough. He had personally experienced how strong those wild pigs for players at the moment. What Starberry further pressured him, making him unable to contain his anger.

"I know!!! But what can standing here do????! Huh??! Instant completion of the quest??" Starberry shouted like an angry mother.

"Can't you see? Death was able to kill a wild pig!! a player did!! It means it's possible!! Although we are not as strong as those pros, we just have to find a way to do it given our current abilities to make up for it! Else... how can normal players match professional players? Do you think that the developers would allow professionals to be the only strong ones??!" Starberry scolded Berting. It was so fierce that Berting was not even able to speak a single word.

"... Never mind! Follow if you want! I won't require you to join me anymore!" Starberry left and ran quickly to the direction of the spawn area of the wild pig.

"wai..." ... "Aish!! D@@@ this too realistic game!" Berting cursed as he tried to chase the running Starberry.

"Sister Staar! Wait!" ... "Waiiit!" Berting shouted as he ran as fast as he could.

...

Village soldier Tam glanced at the fading figure of Starberry and Berting.

"Adventurers are truly unpredictable! Haha!" He uttered as he returned his focus in his post with a smirk.

"Looks like I would be having a fun trip in the next few days..."