Chapter 36: Become even more stronger?

Chapter 36: Become even more stronger?

"First, he assaulted me without any apparent reason. Then, he subjected me to a two-hour wait to meet the chief. And now, he enters dressed in Japanese samurai attire, claiming to be the village chief himself. Is this man unhinged?"

"Could it be that he spent those two hours conversing with his alter ego in a mirror? What an odd thought," Ben pondered, his face twisted in a perplexed expression.

"Ahem, Stranger, according to reports, you've proven yourself capable of challenging our gatekeepers. Therefore..."

"What on earth is he blabbering about? Whatever, I'll just play along," Ben thought, tuning in to the chief's monologue that seemed to fly over his head. nOVE)lb/In

"And because I'm an exceptionally benevolent individual, I've made the decision, utilizing my analytical mind, that..."

"Just get to the point already! What's your request?" Ben interjected, his patience finally wearing thin.

"Fine, fine... I'll cut to the chase," the boy in the chief costume responded, aiming for formality. "Here's the deal: You can reside in the village for as long as you wish. However, in return, we ask for your assistance in safeguarding the village."

"Safeguard the village? From what?" Ben inquired, a touch of confusion in his voice.

"We face threats from wild beasts that tend to attack during winter... That's the crux of it," the chief replied, inserting a dramatic pause to add gravity to his words.

"So, you're concerned about wild animals attacking the village?" Ben questioned, unsure whether to be disappointed or sarcastic.

"It's not about fear... but rather... ah... It's about responsibility! Yes, responsibility. Since you're residing here, contributing to the community's safety seems only fair, doesn't it?" The chief's response was a bit hesitant, a trace of nervousness evident in his demeanor.

"Fine, I'll protect the village as long as I'm living here. Satisfied?" Ben declared, rising from his spot. With no better options or alternate plans, he had already decided to make the village his home for a while.

If wild beasts are the only concern, they can't be more formidable than the enchantments of the forest. Taking the risk here beats aimlessly wandering the wilderness, hoping for another village or shelter.

"Hold on! You're agreeing to it?" The chief's calm facade shattered into utter astonishment, his composed tone replaced by excitement.

"I did say yes," Ben muttered, casting a peculiar glance at the chief.

"Like really," The chief asked, excited.

"Ya really."

"You mean, like real-real?"

"Yes, I mean real, 100% real, and dead sure real. Just how many times are you gonna make me say that?" Ben replied, usually he is usually a very calm and collected person. He was so calm that he could even communicate with foreigners with little English while traveling around the world.

But somehow, the person standing before him, his holly existence was something that was driving him mad.

"Alright then, we got one member in our guild, let's go inside the village." The village chief said, excitedly, that he was genuinely happy about Ben coming into the village.

Despite the enigmatic nature of the person before him, Ben sensed a lack of harm emanating from him. Thus, he lowered his guard, hoisting the silver-haired girl onto his back and trailing behind the self-proclaimed chief.

"Hey, system? Just a thought—what's my next move?" Ben pondered mentally, his steps aligned with the red-haired individual guiding them through the village.

Since his rebirth into this unfamiliar world, Ben's singular goal has been to regain his human form and navigate the obstacles that lay in his path. Now, having achieved a humanoid manifestation and finally arrived in a human settlement, he couldn't help but grapple with the question of his purpose.

Should he strive for a normal existence as a regular villager, a life he had yearned for? Yet, the glitch in the Reincarnation System and the jeopardy his soul faced in the cosmos cast a looming shadow.

How is he supposed to sleep peacefully knowing that the future of this universe is within his hands?

[ Ben, as per the Reincarnation System's data, your primary directive is your enhancement. At your present strength, you're not even 0.1% equipped for the task ahead.]

A look of astonishment washed over Ben's face as they neared the village gate. If he were back on Earth, his current strength and abilities would easily qualify him as a street-level superhero in a bustling city.

"To suggest that even with this level of superhuman prowess, I'm not even at 0.1% readiness... How much stronger do you anticipate I need to become, system?" Ben inquired, his surprise evident. Part of him wondered about the purpose of amassing such power, while another part questioned the rationale behind the system's demand for heightened strength.

[ Consider this: Your vampiric physique, although surpassing the innate strength of ordinary humans in this realm, falls considerably short of what's necessary to trigger the Reincarnation System within your consciousness. Hence, a lighter iteration of the system, like me, was conceived to fulfill its obligations.]

[ Not just this, but the aim we possess to fulfill will take us to many obstacles in our way. We don't even know why the reincarnation system was cut off from the universe in the first place?]

[Was it some kind of accident or a preplanned strategy? The only way to find this out is to make yourself stronger.]

With measured steps, Ben crossed the threshold of the silver gate. Before him unfurled a captivating tableau, etched in three-dimensional reality, a dream-like visage. Gazing upon the resplendent village, a sigh of awe escaped his lips. And the tension on his face vanished into thin air.

From the vista that lay before him, one truth was unmistakable—he stood within a realm of fantasy. Wooden abodes adorned with verdant expanses and vibrant blooms graced the landscape. Sturdy wooden carts traversed stone pathways, while children launched paper boats into the glistening brook that meandered alongside.

[Brooks are narrow watercourses used for irrigation by farmers.]

"Isn't it incredibly serene?" the red-haired guide mused, regarding Ben whose visage mirrored surprise and reverence.

"A mere hundred meters prior, there lay an eerie forest teeming with perilous flora and fauna. How is it possible for such a picturesque human enclave to emerge so suddenly?" Ben's query slipped forth, irresistible in its curiosity.

In response, a subtle smile danced upon the lips of the red-haired companion. "It's due to an underlying mana vein. Not only does it bestow us with abundant magic, but it also beckons splendid flora and fauna to coexist."

"Shall we proceed then?" he inquired, rousing Ben from his reverie. A nod of concurrence was his answer, and he trailed in the red-haired man's wake.

As they journeyed through the streets, Ben discerned an unusual occurrence. Houses they passed shuttered their windows and doors almost instantly.

Initially, Ben dismissed it as mere coincidence—until he observed a few individuals emerging from a residence, hastily retrieving playing children from the brook's edge and securing all entrances with swiftness.