MONSTER MMORPG: Mayhem Online

I was currently walking on the streets of Brinkest City, and following me closely were Nameless, Gomchul, Bowser, Lynch and Fender.

We were currently walking towards Wenselm Castle, which was situated at the end of Brinkest city, the capital city of Wenselm Dukedom.

It was way, way better than the capital city of Crisedia. The roads were made up of clean bricks with cleaning magic inscribed in them. The sewers were connected to a proper drainage system. There wasn't a single small house, as all around us were buildings like there were in mediaeval England.

It was already nighttime, but the magical street lights, the lights coming out of the building's windows, and the shops were giving enough illumination to leave no space for darkness.

Magical, old-fashioned cars and horse carriages would pass us from time to time, and some people were even using earth salamanders to get their carriages moving.

Vendors were all organised and busy. Even though it was nighttime, the number of people here was enormous. Maybe due to the princess's quest, or maybe just because the Dukedom of Wenselm was that popular, the streets were crowded to the brim.

Most of the people were players, while most of the vendors were NPCs.

Walking past the market area, we reached the residential area, which was much quieter. Very few people were returning, vendors and shopkeepers that had closed their shops and were going back home. However, the brick-layered roads made high noise during the nighttime, as the footsteps of the guards patrolling about were ringing out loud.

Some guards stopped us on the way to question us, but Lynch easily handled them by showing his guild ID and how he was a respectable guild master of one of the famous guilds in the city.

Surprisingly, the ever childish behaviour of Lynch was nowhere to be seen when he talked with the guards with authority and dignity.

Walking past the residence area, we finally reached the castle walls surrounding Wenselm Castle.

The castle walls weren't too big. They were only three meters tall and were placed as a boundary. There were huge iron twin gates which were patrolled by guards. One couldn't imagine the scenery in front of them as something they would see outside a Duke's castle.

The gate was filled with people lining up almost 30 meters away. It was a totally different scene from the quiet residential area of Brinkest City.

"Is it really the Duke's castle?"

Gomchul asked, looking at the huge queue of people. There were even many orcs from different tribes.

"Well, ever since the princess' condition got worse, this place has always been packed, be it day or night."

Fender replied as he scratched his head. Somehow, every action of his stood out, maybe just because of his height.

Walking up, I didn't join the line as I started moving towards the gate from the side.

"Hey, kid. Get on the line. Can't you see we all are in the line?"

A big, two-meter tall man, who I assumed to be a berserker, scowled as he saw me cutting the line.

"I know it's wrong of me to cut the line, but someone's line is on this line– I mean, someone's life is on the line, and I have got the cure for it, so I must pass."

—-HAHAHAHA!

"This guy talks funny."

"Who the fuck does he think he is."

"Dude, everyone here thinks they've brought a cure for the princess, no one wants to waste their time. Buzz off to the back now."

"What an attention whore."

Everyone around started spouting cynical remarks and chuckling as they looked at me.

I felt irritated, but there wasn't much I could say to convince them. So I started walking again without talking.

"Hey, wtf is the matter with this brat."

"This mofo doesn't know his place. Leave it. The guards will send him where he belongs."

"Fuck! What an eyesore."

They still kept commenting, but I didn't pay them any heed as I moved towards the gate with everyone else following me.

"Isn't that Lynch?"

"OHH!! It's not just Lynch. It's the whole Chrysanthemum trio! What are they doing here?"

"Man, I want an autograph. My girlfriend would go crazy if she learned I have Bowser's in-game autograph."

"Why are they following that loser though?"

Walking towards the gate, the guards were organising people and, letting them go one by one, looked at our bunch. A few of them mobilised as they ran towards me, with spears and swords in their hands.

"State your purpose! Why are you cutting the queue?"

"I am here to cure the princess."

"So is everyone else. Go and wait for your turn."

"Everyone else is wasting both your and the princess's precious time. Do you really think you can afford to delay the princess' cure for such reasons as a queue?"

The guards visibly hesitated as this was the first time they had encountered this. What if the guy really had a cure? Wouldn't they be delaying him by not letting him in sooner?

I bet they were thinking that.

"Why do you think we should let you pass before others? What makes you more credible than them?"

A guy who seemed to be the captain of the guards came forward as he asked.

I sighed. There was really no easier way to make myself credible than to do what I was about to do.

I simply took off my mask and the white hood that I had bought to cover my whole body.

"I am a Legend. Does that make me somewhat credible?"

I unequipped the hood, my black hair falling to my forehead. It was already hard to wear a hood with a horn on my head.

To all the people who think getting crocodile-like tails and sheep-like horns are cool, they don't know how much trouble they give when trying to wear normal clothes or simply trying to sit.

"Shura! Oh my god! I can't believe Shura came to Wenselm!"

"It's the legendary class, fuck where my camera! Camera out now!"

"Wasn't he in Crisedia? Why did he travel the whole Empire?"

"LOLOL! Guys! Look at this. I found Shura again! It's the third time already! Even after I travelled a whole Empire, Shura appeared right in front of my eyes! I am the only guy who is bringing you all the Shura news that you need to know! Please saba-suba-suba-suscribe my channel and like this video to show your love!"

'What the fuck? How is this guy everywhere?'

I couldn't help but feel extremely weird. This nerdy-looking guy was starting to creep me out now. Every time I appeared in front of people, he was always there!

'He is like that Hollywood Insider guy from that famous novel Versatile Superstar!'

"We are honoured to be in the presence of a living legend. Pardon my earlier rudeness. Please follow me inside. Your friends can come along too."

The other guards didn't react as much as the guard captain did, as if he had already recognised my face. However, from the way he talked without confirming if I was actually the right guy, I was pretty sure that my portrait had been circulating among the NPCs to know my face.

I felt a shiver run down my spine thinking about that. On my side, Nameless's eyes were shining with admiration toward the guard captain.

'Of course, birds of a feather flock together.'

He seemed to have found his own person after being alone in the world for too long, as the guard captain's speech matched his.

Ignoring him, I walked after the guard captain, who gestured for the other guards to open the door.

Following inside, I found it hard to keep my jaw intact. The castle was simply ….dreamy.

It wasn't too big, but it had that unique elegance and that dream-like fairy tale vibes to it. It was far, far behind the gate that I had entered from.

The gate was just an entrance to the huge garden of the Duke, with trees carved into such that they made a pathway leading to the garden. The road was made of the same bricks as the city, as I was made to sit inside a horse carriage with the others sitting in separate carriages, the coachmen commanding the horses to walk.

Some guards went way ahead of us, riding directly on a horse, probably to deliver the news inside the castle.

After a while, we reached the grand entrance to the castle. Walking out of the carriage, I was following the guard captain inside from the huge wooden door when I saw a middle-aged man in high-quality golden and white royal clothing running out from inside the castle.

His forehead was huffing, and his light blonde hair and beard were soaked in sweat.

"Sir…?"

"You can call me Shura."

"Please, save my daughter."

The middle-aged man said in a meek and tired voice, filled with emotions such as hope and sorrow.

I felt a pang in my heart as soon as I heard those words.

~"Please, save my daughter."~

Those were the exact same words that Kai, Jeze's father, had said to me.

Trying to suppress my burning emotions, I replied in a heavy voice.

"I'll try my best, sir. Please do not worry. I have a cure with me."

[Affinity with Harold Wenselm has increased by +50.]

Another sense of Deja Vu hit me as I remembered that the same thing had happened with Jeze's father.

Fuck! This situation was way too similar.

'I swear, Jeze, I won't let it have the same ending. And I will bring you back even if you're in Yama's hands. Just wait for me.'