The Glass Warrior [Weak to Strong LitRPG]

After some time roaming the streets of Zoria, Lucas confirmed what he had been suspecting ever since getting back: it was becoming increasingly hard to tell NPCs and non-NPCs apart.

There was a simple reason for that: it was because the way he used to know them was due to the NPCs' familiarity with the routine of the city and the world. But as time passed, people became more and more accustomed to that somewhat new routine, and it wasn't so easy to tell them apart.

It crossed Lucas's mind that this was by design. Whoever created this planet wanted NPCs and people to be treated as equals, and he, for one, had embraced that sentiment. Hilda and Elliot were as real to him as anyone else, and those NPCs he didn't know... well, they were as real to him as people he didn't know.

This sentiment, however, wasn't shared by everyone in Zoria, and that became clear once Lucas started noticing small groups of non-NPCs walking together to the exclusion of all NPCs, some even treating them poorly whenever they could. Lucas thought this was pretty unfair, considering the non-NPCs were the visitors in their city.

Despite their "realness," Lucas had to admit they were essentially different. For instance, there wasn't a single NPC on the scoreboards, they simply didn't partake in those competitions, or if they did, the system didn't acknowledge it.

Lucas couldn't help but feel somewhat sorry for them, being forced to play second fiddle in someone else's grand scheme, with no real say in their own fates. But since he was powerless to help them, he decided not to give it too much thought.

As he walked further into the outskirts of Zoria, Lucas was surprised to see how well people had adapted already.

He saw children sparring with wooden swords, women in their late forties making leather sets on the sidewalk and selling them along with a few weapons in street shops. He even saw more than a couple of people carrying beasts on their shoulders to sell or consume.

Arriving at a busy, crowded street, Lucas found it packed with street vendors. All the sellers were non-NPCs, eagerly advertising their goods to anyone who passed by their stalls.

There were many interesting things there, amongst which Lucas found a beautiful golden talisman that could generate a protective barrier when activated and another that created a puff of smoke to aid in escape.

Although undoubtedly interesting items, they were too low level to be of any use to him at the moment. Being labeled as Common, he doubted the barrier could sustain much damage or that the smoke would help against stronger foes.

In the middle of the horde of people, Lucas found John, the mayor, talking to a few of the sellers nearby, but the man soon noticed him.

"Fancy seeing you here in these parts of town," John said, smiling as ever.

"I thought I should take a look and see how the people are faring," Lucas replied, and he saw the man's smile dim somewhat.

"People are still adapting, but they are much better than in the beginning. Most have jobs or are doing well with simple quests, they practically have no use for me anymore..." he said, then added sadly, "I just worry for the ones who are not doing so well."

"What do you mean?" Lucas asked, curious. The mayor sighed.

"All types of people arrived in Ponos, and everyone brought their own problems with them. That means that drunks and addicts are still among us. However, now they have real danger lurking around just outside the cities," John explained wearily. "There have been many cases where a drunk man left the city, only to be found ripped to shreds in the forest beyond."

As Lucas considered this, he thought it wasn't completely unexpected. As the mayor said, people's problems didn't disappear just because they switched planets. There was one thing that puzzled him, though.

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

"What about the drug addicts? Are there already drugs here?"

John seemed to grow concerned once more.

"Yes. Not the old ones... they are new. Potions or something like that, I've heard. But they generate just as many problems. I just can't tell how or when they started to appear. I'm sure they are not sold by the main stores. Based on some reports I received, they come into the city through some unknown people that sell them discreetly, like real drug dealers."

Lucas heard everything with rapt attention, and then he remembered something Hilda had said to him.

She mentioned that once upon a time, there was a potion capable of enhancing someone's status ten times over for a short period. However, they came with severe side effects, they were highly addictive, and some even acted as narcotics or hallucinogens, causing them to be ruled out and outlawed.

Could this be the potion John was referring to? If so, wouldn't he have mentioned those amazing effects? But then again, Hilda had also said there was a version that had none of the benefits.

Lucas's suspicion that this was indeed the same potion, or at least a variant. If that was true, and it really was the same one, then whoever was selling them was doing so against the law, risking the ire of the powerful yet silent mayor of Zoria.

"Say, John, do you know if those drug dealers were NPCs?" Lucas asked after a while as they walked side by side. John shook his head.

"My scouts couldn't tell. Those people are very secretive and don't talk to just anyone," he replied. Then, as if remembering something, he added, "There is one peculiar thing, though. All the men caught selling the potions were reported to have an ant tattooed on the back of their hands."

"All of them?" Lucas asked, raising an eyebrow. John only nodded in silence.

Could they be part of some system event? Were they in a gang? If so, why an ant? Why not something scarier, like a skull?

There were so many questions and yet so few clues. Lucas himself, even with his high perception, hadn't caught sight of anyone matching that description, which meant that whoever they were, they acted cautiously.

Another thing that surprised him in this matter was how John spoke about scouts and reports. The man had truly taken his role as the non-NPC mayor seriously, keeping himself well-informed on everything happening in the city.

"Have you considered taking this matter to the actual mayor of the city?" Lucas asked. John laughed.

"So, you're still resistant to the idea of me being called mayor?"

Lucas shook his head.

"Not at all. I admit I was a little resistant at first, but now I can see that people need you," Lucas acknowledged. Seeing how well-organized everything was, even amidst the chaos, he had to admit John had done a good job. "I wouldn't know the first thing about putting together a place like this."

"I'm happy to hear you've come around. But I can't take all the credit; there are plenty of good people helping. Zoria should be self-sufficient soon enough," John commented. "But then, why do you want me to take this matter to the mayor? Don't you think I can handle it myself?"

"Despite you being pretty good at your job, you're still level 12, while the mayor has actual power. He could end this swiftly if he wished," Lucas remarked. John's expression turned peculiar.

"The mayor has already shown he has no interest in us. A lot of people have migrated here, and he didn't even bother to show his face. And besides, if he were to 'end' this, how would he go about doing it? I'm sure he has great power, but these people aren't so easy to find."

Lucas listened quietly, noticing the anger in John's voice every time he mentioned the mayor. Clearly, John had strong feelings toward that elusive figure, and since Lucas didn't care to defend the man, he chose to stay silent.

Lucas's main concern wasn't how to deal with the situation, what people chose to do with their own lives was their problem. He only cared about identifying who was behind it because that person was likely powerful and, as someone planning to sell potions soon, potentially a competitor.

After being introduced to some well-known figures around Zoria, a few merchants and hunters, Lucas talked briefly about Tim, letting John know the boy was fine, before parting ways.

He was happy to see people doing well overall, but he also felt a sense of detachment from them. Somehow, it felt like they were an entirely different species.

They just went about their days, doing their chores and living one day at a time. Of course, their tasks were different now, but their attitude remained the same, it was just a different job in a foreign land for them.

Somehow, seeing these people go about their lives as they always had, even in a world that allowed the impossible, seemed strangely alien to him. He simply couldn't understand.

Ponos had freed him from the shackles that bound his mind. How could he go back to what he was before? Just imagining himself taking a job as a healer made him uneasy. He couldn't return to his old self now that he had seen the innumerable possibilities.

Feeling glad to create some distance between himself and the others, Lucas turned toward the city walls, the same ones he had entered a few months ago, and slowly made his way out. He had delayed long enough, that tomb wouldn't plunder itself!