Chapter 44 – Progress
Chapter 44 – Progress
The game's skipping function was really helpful for players.
Just after Max took a few steps toward the Magistrate's office, he found himself standing inside an office room with two knights sitting on a couch beside him.
He couldn't help but get excited this time. Although it was his first time in this place, he knew what was about to happen, as he had watched some clips in the past for a few streamers.
'I will finally meet one of the heroines! So I made the right choice by lying back then!'
Indeed, he finally got the heroine's introduction scene. But he only saw a few clips about the heroines and didn't know what to expect in this situation. So, he was still clueless and his heart was beating faster in anticipation.
"Sit down, adventurer." One of the knights spoke with a cold tone.
"Don't raise your voice like that, Sir Knight," Max answered with a smirk as he sat down.
Surprisingly, it wasn't a cutscene, and he could still move freely.
Before long, a middle-aged man dressed in a nice suit entered with a stern face and sat behind a table. He looked at Max curiously, and his face immediately changed. He recognized Max.
Turning to the knights and glaring at them, he shouted loudly.
"How dare you disrespect him! Get your butt off that couch right now and stand in attention!"
— Tsk tsk, how dare these puny knights
— Indeed. They dare to sit on the same couch as Breeze
— Know shame!'
Unlike Max, it seemed like the chat already knew what to expect, so they weren't that surprised. The knights were silent and blinked their eyes, confused with the Magistrate's words.
Seeing them frozen, the Magistrate became angry and slammed the table hard.
Bam!
"Did you not hear what I said? Stand in attention!"
"Y-YES!" The two knights scurried away immediately and stood at the corner of the room, still looking confused, but didn't dare to ask any questions.
Sighing, the Magistrate gave an apologetic look to Max.
"My apologies, Sir Breeze. My subordinates have been so rude to my own savior. I can't be more ashamed!"
"Savior?" Max asked in a confused tone.
The Magistrate smiled, "Indeed." He nodded. "I was also in that war against the barbarians' army. When I was about to get done by those barbarians, you saved me. Once again, I am ashamed that I can't convey this properly. Thank you!"
"I see," Max smiled wryly, not minding what the Magistrate said.
'I am farming diamonds at that time, though. I know the Magistrate only said this to advance the plot.'
Max guessed the Magistrate would say this to every player no matter what, even if they didn't save him in that war. Or rather, the later part of the war was a cutscene, so this event happened at that time. A so-called forced event.
"As part of my gratitude and apology for what my subordinates did, please tell me what you need, Sir Breeze. We will provide it without fail."
"I don't need anything, Sir Magistrate."
This time, Max's mouth moved by itself. Another forced event happened, and he had entered a cutscene.
His character was speaking with the Magistrate and exchanged some information. He was also given a pouch filled with money as an apology before he left the building to continue his journey.
Nothing else happened. No side mission. No conclusion to the story from before, too. What happened to the thief who pretended to be a merchant? Max didn't know.
Just like before, a teleportation happened, and Max found himself in the middle of a forest this time. He stood idly for a while, looking around the area.
"Say, chat. Is it just my imagination or does the plot feel rushed?" He asked, raising his eyebrows. "I mean… That was the perfect time to introduce the heroine, right? But why? Why haven't I met a single female yet in this game? It's so strange!" He shouted loudly.
— … Good question
— I don't know
— This time, I can't agree more
— That was indeed the time when the heroine appeared. That's strange
— Breeze, forever single
— You will get a wizard title in a few years, do your best!
— Maidenless Breeze
"You guys are…" Max couldn't help but let out another sigh of disappointment.
He knew that he was exploring a new route, but to think that not only some missions were skipped, but also the heroine's introduction scene!
"Am I truly fated to be maidenless forever?" He lamented.
— It's because you chose the 2nd choice
— Kekekeke, the maidenless gang won!
— Actually, you would meet the heroine if you chose the first choice in that room and introduced your real name. My disappointment is immeasurable
— Take that! Hahaha, I won the bet with my friend! I recovered what I had lost!
— Good for you, Bloodsucker
— Thanks, pal. And be prepared, Breeze. I shall give you a new mission soon!
— This guy never learns…
"Thanks for cheering me up, Bloodsucker. I thank you for your donation in advance. I will now set the minimum amount to give me a mission to 10,000 diamonds just for you."
— lolol
— Go bankrupt once again! Breeze shall suck your money!
Max laughed as he read the chat again and walked toward the glowing light again. The disappointment of not meeting the heroine couldn't be erased, but at least he didn't get into any problems and could probably finish this game today.
"Let's aim to finish this quest before 10 PM!" He declared with a big smile. "Screw heroines! I shall be a maidenless knight!"
— Fweet fweet!! Way to go!
— This is why I love you!
"Sorry, but I still like a girl!"
Max joked around with his viewers as he kept walking, enjoying the atmosphere.
This was truly Knight's Last Journey. The calm atmosphere truly fit to end a journey after a long battle. But… Just walking would be boring.
The glowing light, his destination this time, was located on the peak of a rugged mountain. Many obstacles surely were waiting for him along the way.
For a normal player, that place might be hard to reach, and they would have a hard time reaching the peak. However, in Max's eyes, that place was perfect for him to do parkour.
"Why don't I show you guys some stuff? I am confident this will blow your mind."
— Surprise us
— No need to say anything. Just do it!
— It's about drive! Go and reach that peak!
"Of course." A grin appeared on Max's face as he began to run. "I am motherfucking Breeze for god's sake! A mountain will not stop my way to the top!"
***
Inside a dimly lit room with small lights on the ceiling, a cute girl wearing fluffy black bunny pajamas watched the floating hologram screen before her. Her eyes twinkled with curiosity as she watched a streamer called Breeze run up the mountain easily as if the obstacles were nothing for him.
If one needed to describe his movement, it was like a monkey. But upon closer inspection, that movement had grace and looked cool. Even climbing a mountain was a breeze for him.
"Breeze…" The girl muttered in a small voice. "He's indeed that guy." She continued, cradling a soft pillow and pulling it closer to her chest.
Her small hand extended to the screen and scrolled down slightly, finding a 'Follow' button and clicking on it.
[You 'LilyPixel' has followed Breeze! Activate notification?]
The small notification appeared on top of the streaming screen.
"Yes." The girl, Lily, answered without hesitation.
[Complete!]
After reading that notification, she swiped her hand and erased the small window. Her body leaned deeper into her bed, getting engulfed in warmth and softness.
A small smile adorned her face as she saw Breeze finally reach the peak and stand on the edge. The camera panned out and showed his figure looking in at the sunset in the distance. An ethereal light bathed his face that was full of satisfaction.
"Beautiful."
It was unknown what she called beautiful, the scenery or Breeze himself. However, her smile widened slightly as she muttered that. At that moment… Someone messaged her and the window replaced the stream she watched.
[StoneSword: Lily, time to practice.]
Her smile disappeared, replaced with a flat expression. She raised her body and brought up the virtual keyboard, typing the reply.
[LilyPixel: Yes, brother.]
"What a bummer." She sighed and left the bed, entering her VR capsule.