C11 Gourault Manor
It's no surprise that Matthew was struggling to wrap his head around this. All his previous quests in instance dungeons involved directing heroes in combat, and he had never tackled storyline quests like this before. His experience was limited to menial work in shops; the thought of encountering such an intelligent NPC hadn't crossed his mind. And the little girl was so exquisitely detailed. It was clear that the Mysterious Realm was a whole different ballgame compared to the instance dungeons. Recalling the pixelated, mosaic-like visuals from those dungeons, he marveled at the stark contrast.
Reflecting on his performance in both battles and quests, Matthew couldn't help but notice the chasm between himself and the elite players. But what was Tina's reason for summoning me here? I've yet to discern any advantage from my gold card. He felt a pang of jealousy observing the little girl, Mia. As they neared Gourault Manor, Matthew found himself coasting along once more. Truth be told, his presence wasn't necessary; the man of silence, though sparing with words, always managed to hit the nail on the head. Mia guided them effortlessly, charmingly playful in her downtime, creating the perfect couple's dynamic. Could gaming really be this challenging?
"We've arrived!" Mia exclaimed. Matthew and the man of silence followed her voice and beheld an ancient tower, crowned with a massive pearl.
Quickening their pace, they reached Gourault Manor in under two hours.
The manor was unlike anything Matthew had envisioned—larger and bustling with people, resembling a small town more than a private estate.
Contrary to the majestic tower seen from afar, the surrounding walls of the manor were crumbling, with some sections barely reaching a meter high and punctuated by gaps where they had collapsed. The buildings within were equally run-down, save for the central tower they had spotted from a distance. There were no guards at the entrance, allowing them to stroll in effortlessly. Mia then gestured for them to head toward the central tower.
If the manor was in such a state, then Mia's status was surely not what he had assumed. Matthew had pictured a lavish private estate, but this side quest seemed almost too easy, with the promise of a generous reward.
Navigating through the crowd and into the tower, they were enveloped by an air of bygone grandeur. The chandelier overhead cast a gentle glow. But before Matthew could take it all in, he was interrupted by a voice exclaiming, "Father!"
The man of silence gently set Mia down, and a soldier approached to carry her away. As she left, she expressed her gratitude to the man of silence, inadvertently deepening Matthew's sense of hurt.
A system notification brought him some comfort: "Attention, the side quest 'Injured Mia' has been completed! Mission reward: 10 gold coins. You have aided the people of Gourault Manor and earned Reputation."
"Reputation - Gourault Manor - Friendly; Royal Family - Favorably Noticed."
Greenwald Sieg, the lord of Gourault Manor, was more a commander than a mere master, given the manor's city-like scale. He appeared to be in his mid-fifties, with a tall, imposing stature and a gaze that was both steadfast and piercing. A beard graced half of his face, and his hair, flecked with white, suggested a life of many trials. Contrary to Matthew's expectations, Greenwald was clad not in simple garments but in ornate, lightweight armor, its white silver threading and clasps shimmering in the sunlight.
"Adventurers, I am grateful for your contributions and for rescuing my daughter," Greenwald said, nodding slightly as he extended his hand to the man of silence. Once again, Matthew felt as if he had become invisible.
"You honor us with your kindness, Lord Greenwald," the man of silence responded with due respect, his composure unfazed by Greenwald's imposing presence. He was the epitome of reliability as he stated their purpose: "My companions and I have come to assist the people of the manor. Suppressing the rebels is both our responsibility and our duty."
"That is most appreciated. A pack of wild dogs has been tormenting the vicinity of the manor. Could you lend your aid in dealing with them?" Greenwald inquired.
As soon as he finished speaking, both men received a system notification: "You have successfully rendezvoused with the manor lord. The main quest has been updated: Please assist Gourault Manor in eliminating the Wild Dog Pack."
"Without a doubt, we will stand united with you in this fight," the man of silence assured him.
"Your support is invaluable," Greenwald said, his expression unchanging. "The day has grown late. I will have Kieve arrange accommodations for you and your companions. Come morning, we shall venture into the forest for further investigation."
"Understood, Manor Lord. We will follow your lead," Matthew replied this time.
The main mission for our group had undergone some changes. Greenwald Sieg seemed preoccupied with other matters, so Kieve led Matthew and his companions to the tower's backyard. After a brief rundown of the Wild Dog Pack situation, Kieve hastily took his leave.
The courtyard had a certain charm, with a willow tree whose lush branches swayed in the breeze. The room was small but tastefully decorated. The bed was slightly worn, but it seemed to be the extent of it. This guest room was clearly meant for someone of importance – that would be me, Matthew mused to himself with a nod.
"Oh, right, how did you come by Gala's Bow before?" Matthew inquired, lounging on the bed and addressing the man of silence, "I got it last time by exchanging points I earned during a Mysterious Realm mission. You can trade points for high-quality cards and cards with special features, like Gala's Bow. It requires your energy value to use, and you won't unlock that until you reach Level 20. So, even if you had it now, you wouldn't be able to use it."
"I see, points are quite valuable then!" Matthew remarked before drifting off to sleep.
The moonlight arrived, and the playful moon emerged, casting Gourault Manor in a silvery glow.
Outside the dilapidated walls of Gourault Manor, two oddly dressed men made their way toward the main gate.
The leader, donned in an eccentric black coat with a high collar that nearly obscured half his face, wore a tattered gray hat and was wrapped up so thoroughly that even his eyes were hidden behind sunglasses. His companion, clad in a patterned shirt, exuded a relaxed vibe, a piece of dog's tail grass dangling from his lips. Though not unattractive, his presence was somehow off-putting.
He glanced at his system notification, which indicated he should converse with the man in black, "This is so dull. The players I've encountered in this scene are far too weak; I can't spot a single impressive card. That one guy only had a 2-star Leonard. How on earth did he manage to reach level 20? It's baffling."
"Hmph!"
The man shrouded in a black windbreaker merely let out a cold snort, showing no interest in engaging with the man next to him.
Unperturbed, the man in the floral shirt maintained his nonchalant demeanor. "What are we doing in this middle of nowhere? Wasn't life good back in the Imperial City?"
"Shut it," the man of silence retorted. "The president sent us here for a reason, no doubt about that."