"Hey, I don't remember the last time I logged in, but look. Now I'm here. But—this place seems like I've never explored it. Is this some kind of hidden area? But I've completed this game thirty-seven times already, and it seems I've truly never entered this area."
Serelith continued to monologue as she looked around, where there were numerous settlements. The land looked green with lots of grass and trees, and the air felt very cold.
For a moment, the girl stopped walking and closed her eyes, looking up and stretching both arms, "Ah, whatever it is, I still like this place. At least it has a peace I can't find at home."
Just as she opened her eyes, Serelith was confronted with a box emitting a bluish-white light floating in the air, with several glowing inscriptions.
[New Character Successfully Accessed!]
[Name: Serelith Valehart]
[Race: half-demon human]
[Class: blood-eater assassin]
[Level: 1]
[HP: 100] [MP: 90]
[EXP: 0/100] [STR: 40]
[AGI: 75] [DEX: 75]
[VIT: 50] [INT: 15]
[LUK: 5]
[Skills:]
[Silent Stare lv 1 (consumes 3 MP):
Causes enemies to lose skill usage for 3 seconds with her gaze. Enemies can only attack using physical attacks for 3 seconds.]
[Shadow Step lv 1 (consumes 3 MP):
A short step through shadows. The assassin can teleport up to 3 meters, then appear around an enemy and attack immediately. Enemies below level 3 will be confused and unaware due to the black shadows manipulating their vision.]
[Wound Carve lv 1 (consumes 10 MP):
The assassin can perform a slash that carves a wound into the enemy's body. The wound cannot heal unless the enemy increases their MP by 5. The slash can reduce the enemy's HP by up to 2%.]
[Talent: Unknown]
Serelith had read the flashing board multiple times, yet her brow remained furrowed, eyebrows drawn together, "What the heck is this? What do you mean Assassin? Why am I a half-demon human? How can I go back to level 1? Where are all the levels I've gained? Am I dreaming?"
One of her hands reached out to slap her own face, making sure that everything she experienced was a dream. But a few seconds later she started complaining, "Ah, that hurts. But why am I still here and not waking up?"
The girl stared at the flashing board that had now disappeared from her view, replaced by a round, one-eyed robot-like creature, with two arms and two wings floating in the air, flapping its small wings.
[You are not dreaming, Miss. You are indeed in the new game, with a new character.]
It was a deep male voice, but it came from the system. Could Serelith now communicate with her system? Oh, this was becoming even more absurd.
With a scrutinizing gaze, she looked around, then at the ball-sized yellow-black creature, "Who are you?"
[I am the system. Every player participating in this game receives one system each.]
"System?" Serelith muttered to herself, "I must have logged into the wrong game. I never logged into a game like this, and I've never created a terrifying avatar like this," she muttered in panic.
The girl looked at her own body and appearance. Look at how she was now wearing white clothing, with black on the lower part, "Oh, my god. Since when did my cute mage outfit change into something so monotonous? I don't even know why there are heels this high and—oh my god! How do I have two pairs of daggers?"
Serelith took two sharp weapons from the brown belt around her waist, then looked at them with wide eyes, "System, tell me how I can use these dangerous weapons with my image as a cute, adorable mage?"
[Mmm— but you are no longer a mage, Miss. You are an Assassin, and an assassin surely knows how to use sharp weapons.]
"Fine. Give me five minutes," said Serelith, extending one hand toward the system, signaling it to stay still.
Not long after, the floating ball vanished from Serelith's sight. And at that very moment, the girl screamed, her shout waking several guard dogs in the villagers' homes, even rousing some winged creatures living in the nearby forest.
"AAAAA!!!!"
After tiring herself out from her own screaming, Serelith knelt down, still holding her daggers. Her gaze was chaotic, "It seems I fell asleep and unknowingly logged into another VR. Ah, whatever, forget it. Even if no one wakes me in the real world, I can still survive in this new world. Besides, being an assassin isn't too bad. In my world, I always wanted to eliminate people who hurt me. Here I can do it without fearing the police or anything, right?"
Yes, Serelith could only try to comfort herself. Although she wasn't entirely depressed, she always handled things well. Serelith had completed Shardrealm thirty-seven times. Considering this, it didn't feel too bad.
The girl quickly got up and roughly wiped away the remaining tears, then returned the two daggers to her waist, "Well, what can I do? At least I still have a pretty face and a good body. This skin even looks better than my previous one."
"Alright. Since I have no choice, maybe I should walk around and see the area," she looked up at the sky, where the crescent moon had appeared, with stars scattered around, "Ah, where should I go on nights like this?"
"Will I encounter bandits or something? Oh god, I'm still not used to my new class. Usually, I'd just stay in the back of the team. Unexpectedly, now I'm going to be the front attacker," she muttered.
With her black heels adorned with luxurious ornaments, the girl walked wherever her feet took her. Until she stopped at the edge of a lake, with the bright reflection of the moon shining on it.
The girl paused for a moment and took a deep breath. She then sat under a large tree, gazing at the moon's reflection in the clear lake. As the wind began to blow her long black hair, she closed her eyes.
"Well, at least here I can find peace. Even though I don't know where to go tonight. Seems my coins aren't enough to rent an inn," she muttered again.
"Inventory!"
After Serelith said this, a board with small square slots appeared. As her gaze swept across it, she only chuckled bitterly. The slots were filled with just two daggers, one health potion, and one strength potion.
"Ah, whatever. I really have to start everything from scratch again."
Serelith closed her eyes, trying to sleep. Though she didn't know if she even needed to sleep here. Clearly, whether needed or not, sleep was a routine Serelith couldn't skip.
But just a moment after closing her eyes, a 'ding' sound rang in her ears. When Serelith opened her eyes, she saw a glowing board with writing in front of her.
[New Quest Available!]
[Title: Eradicate the Bandits
Description: Lately, bandits have been disturbing and wreaking havoc in the village. Serelith, will you kill them and restore peace to the village?]
"Huh?" Serelith widened her eyes. She looked to the right and left, then back at the screen, "System, this is my first mission. Can't you give me something easier? I don't even know how to fight yet."
[You have a choice, but the reward is 25 gold coins and 7 stat points.]
Serelith blinked several times at the display, then without waiting, she immediately nodded, "The gods seem to have heard my prayer. Finally, I have a chance to get some gold coins."
The girl quickly stood up and dusted off her butt from sitting on the grass earlier. Her face looked more refreshed than before.
[Do you like this quest? Even though earlier you put on a pitiful expression.]
"Hey, system. Listen. Money is everything. Well, maybe I won't get money here, but as long as I can get plenty of gold coins, my life will be secure too."
The floating ball could only roll its single big eye. Then it disappeared, leaving Serelith to continue walking toward the settlement.
At a highland, she could see all the villagers' houses from above. She squinted, "But how am I supposed to find the bandits? Will they appear on their own?"
At that moment, her mind hatched a crazy idea that she immediately acted upon. The girl removed her layered skirt, leaving only tight black shorts, a stocking on her right leg, and a leg strap on her left thigh.
Not stopping there, she also removed the brown waist cincher around her waist, leaving a white, transparent crop top that only reached her navel. She also removed her layered sleeves—which were only attached to her arms without connecting to her shoulders.
Now the girl was only wearing a white crop tank top, tight black shorts, stockings, and still the heels.
"You are indeed a genius, Serelith. If the bandits see you like this, it won't be you they chase, but them who'll be running," Serelith smiled proudly.
All the clothes she had just removed were stored in her inventory. She then continued walking. But after a while, she stopped and muttered, "Ah, I guess my walking style needs to change too."
Serelith resumed walking, deliberately swaying her body, heading down toward the settlement. When she reached the even stone road flanked by villagers' houses, she paused for a moment.
The girl looked back, then took a deep breath, "System, are you mistaken? Where are the bandits? I've walked this far and haven't found a single one. This village is empty; not a single human is out."
[Oh, come on. What you'll encounter are criminals. Do you think they'll come out in a crowded place? Wait a little longer!]
Clicking her tongue briefly, Serelith just crossed her arms. Yet the girl continued walking through the quiet, cold night.
When she turned at a three-way junction, her body tensed as she saw three tall, muscular men standing in front of her, each with head coverings.
The men's gaze looked so hungry as they stared at Serelith's body. Instead of stepping back, Serelith moved forward with a slight smile, "Oh, so you are the bandits disturbing the village?"
One of the big muscular men with a sword on his back stepped forward, leaving just a few centimeters between them. From this close distance, Serelith even had to look up despite wearing 15 cm heels.
"I didn't expect your words to be so bold with an appearance like that," said the man.
A corner of Serelith's lips lifted, then she took a dagger from her waist, pointing it right in front of the man, causing him to step back several paces.
"So, what do you expect from a girl who looks like this?"