NOVEL NEXT Chapter 141: Future
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<Archery>
<Rank: Rare>
<Passive>
<Description: Enhances the user's accuracy and steadiness when using ranged weapons. Provides improved aiming precision, enabling newbie archers to land shots with better consistency. And, helping more advanced archers in landing critical hits.
—
She stared at it for a long moment, her lips quivering slightly. Then, to Arthur's surprise, tears began welling up in her eyes. She clutched the book tightly to her chest, her voice breaking as she said, "Thank you, Fateless... thank you so much…"
Arthur blinked, taking a step back in confusion. "Hey, there's no need to cry about it," he said awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck.
But Jasmine didn't stop. She started crying in earnest, tears streaming down her cheeks as she muttered incoherent words of gratitude. Before Arthur could react, she threw herself forward, wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug.
Arthur froze, completely caught off guard. His first instinct was to dodge or push her away—he wasn't one for sentimental gestures, especially not from someone like Jasmine. But as she clung to him, something in her expression reminded him of his sister, Charlotte.
He sighed, shaking his head wryly. "Alright, alright," he muttered, awkwardly patting her back. "Just... stop crying, okay?"
Jasmine pulled back slightly after a while, sniffling but smiling through her tears. "You're a good person, Fateless," she said earnestly. "Even if you act all grumpy and serious, I know you are a good person deep down."
Arthur rolled his eyes. "Yeah, sure. Don't read too much into it." He stepped back, creating some distance between them.
Jasmine quickly wiped her tears and picked up the bow, inspecting it with a gleam of determination in her eyes. "I'll make you proud!" she declared. "I'll train hard, level up, and become the strongest healer. Just you wait!"
Arthur smirked faintly. "You'd better. And Lupin?"
The silver wolf perked up, his ears twitching as he turned to Arthur. Experience new stories on My Virtual Library Empire
"Keep an eye on her," Arthur said. "Make sure she doesn't do anything reckless."
Lupin let out a soft growl, his way of acknowledging the command.
"Thank you, Fateless!" Jasmine said again, beaming. "I'll make sure Lupin and I come back stronger than ever!"
Arthur shook his head, already heading for the door. "Good luck," he said simply, giving her one last glance before stepping out.
Though Arthur outwardly appeared indifferent, his decision to arm Jasmine with rare items and entrust her with Lupin hadn't been made lightly.
The girl, despite her overly cheerful and sometimes frivolous demeanour, wasn't as simple as she seemed.
Arthur knew this. Her casual deflections and the guarded look in her eyes, whenever the conversation veered too close to personal territory, told him all he needed to know—Jasmine was hiding something. Maybe it was her background, maybe it was her talent, or maybe it was something even she didn't fully understand.
Whatever it was, Arthur wasn't concerned with digging too deeply. Not yet. People often revealed themselves in time, especially in a world as cruel and demanding as this one.
Still, her secrecy wasn't why Arthur had gone out of his way to help her. That was only part of the puzzle.
The main reason stemmed from Jasmine's talent.
Jasmine was a healer. A rare and valuable asset in any scenario, especially in a village that was woefully underprepared for the dangers lurking beyond its borders. A good healer could turn the tide in any battle, and even a novice one could make a difference in the survival rate of adventurers or villagers. If Jasmine reached a high enough level, she wouldn't just become an invaluable tool to herself but to the entire village.
Her potential as a healer meant more than just her survival—it could mean saving dozens, even hundreds of lives in the future. And while Arthur didn't see himself as a selfless person, he knew that bolstering the strength of the village was directly tied to his own success.
The stronger Village #420 became, the better prepared it would be for the storm that was brewing on the horizon.
Then there was Lupin. Arthur had assigned the silver-furred wolf to protect Jasmine not just because of her naivety but because Lupin would benefit from the experience as well.
It was a mutually beneficial arrangement.
Lupin would also be able to deal with some things in the village if he wasn't there, he had commanded him telepathically.
Yet, practical reasons aside, there was one more layer to Arthur's decision—something he hadn't fully acknowledged even to himself.
Jasmine really reminded him of Charlotte.
The thought had struck him fully, the moment she hugged him in tears, her gratitude spilling out in waves. For a brief moment, Arthur had been reminded of his sister's smile, the way she used to rely on him, the way she used to cry when things got too overwhelming. Charlotte's cancer and her lack of time were always on his mind. He wanted to get stronger, and find a cure and hope that both worlds merge before her time was up. Every time her name crossed his mind, it brought with it a pang of guilt and an overwhelming sense of urgency.
He wasn't entirely sure why he felt compelled to help Jasmine beyond the practical benefits, but deep down, he suspected it was because he couldn't help Charlotte right now. At least, not directly. He could only grow stronger, faster, and smarter in this world. But for now, helping someone else—even in a small way—eased that ache ever so slightly.
And then there was the matter of those thieves. Arthur hadn't forgotten Jasmine's story about being hunted in the forest. When he first found her, she'd been terrified, constantly glancing over her shoulder as if expecting someone to jump out of the shadows.
Oddly enough, Arthur hadn't encountered any sign of the thieves since that day. No ambushes. No lurking figures. Nothing. It was as if they'd simply vanished. That in itself was strange. Thieves weren't the type to simply give up, especially if they thought their prey was still in the area.
Arthur had considered investigating, but he'd decided against it. He had too many other priorities to deal with, and if the thieves had truly given up, then so much the better. Fewer enemies meant fewer distractions, and Arthur had enough on his plate as it was.
Still, he couldn't entirely shake the feeling that something was off.
Whatever secrets Jasmine held, whatever dangers might still follow her, Arthur had done what he could for now. She was equipped, protected, and had a clear path forward. The rest was up to her.
...
Arthur's boots crunched softly against the forest floor, the damp leaves and twisted roots forming an uneven path beneath him. Sunlight barely filtered through the dense canopy above, casting shifting patches of light and shadow on the ground. The air here was heavier, almost oppressive, carrying the faint scent of moss and damp earth.
This place was deeper in the forest than most players or even villagers dared to venture—a perfect spot to avoid prying eyes. Arthur had originally planned to use this secluded area to head to the city, to finally put his Teleportation Scroll to use.
But plans, he knew, rarely survived contact with reality.
Instead, he found himself here for a different purpose.
Arthur stopped walking, standing perfectly still as his sharp eyes scanned the trees around him. He could feel it—a presence lingering in the shadows. It wasn't the first time he'd sensed it either. Ever since he'd left the village, he'd known something was trailing him. More specifically, it was a person trailing him.
A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he turned his head slightly, his gaze sweeping over the thick foliage to his right.
"Are you going to show yourself?" Arthur called out, his tone casual, almost mocking. "Or should I come over there and take you out myself?"
His voice echoed faintly through the forest, mingling with the rustle of leaves stirred by a faint breeze. Silence followed. Arthur's smirk widened, his grip tightening on Chaos' hilt at his side.
"I can sense you, you know," he continued, stepping forward slowly. His boots made deliberate, measured movements, the sound of them crunching against the forest floor growing louder in the stillness. "You're not as good at hiding as you think."
The shadows around him remained unmoving. But Arthur could feel the tension in the air now, the way it shifted subtly with the weight of whoever—or whatever—was lurking out of sight.
"Suit yourself." Arthur's voice dropped slightly, his smirk fading as he drew Chaos from its sheath in one fluid motion.
The blade gleamed faintly in the dim light, its dark surface rippling as if it were alive. The air grew heavier around him, the oppressive atmosphere pressing against his skin like a warning.
Arthur's sharp eyes locked onto the shadows ahead, his grip tightening on the hilt.
His body tensed as he shifted his stance, ready to strike. Chaos, resting firmly in his grip, seemed to hum with anticipation, its dark surface rippling faintly as if eager to taste blood.
Arthur's gaze locked onto the darkened patch of foliage where he'd sensed the person moments ago. His stance shifted once again, Chaos tilting just enough to catch the faint light filtering through the trees.
Whoever—or whatever—was out there had pushed their luck too far. He didn't tolerate being followed, especially not this far from the village.
But before Arthur could make his next move, a voice cut through the silence like a knife.
"Wait."