Hacking the Game Didn't Go as Intended

CHAPTER 55: The Trio's Burden

The night had deepened into a tranquil stillness, the glow of luminescent fungi casting a soft light upon the cavern. Each member of the party was reclined on their mossy beds, their hunger satisfied. Zephyr lay sprawled on his belly, wrestling with a large bone, his playful growls filling the quiet space.

Gavric, lying on his back, used his shield as a makeshift pillow, his gaze fixated on the intricate patterns of the fungi above. Finnian, occupied with the meticulous cleaning of his sword, brought a sharp gleam to the blade. Lyanna popped a berry into her mouth, her eyes alight with amusement as Rexar effortlessly annihilated Milo at arm wrestling.

As the warmth of the campfire dwindled, Daisuke, ever the vigilant host, replenished the flames with more wood from his inventory. Elena watched his every move, her mind laden with thoughts.

"Um... everyone," she spoke with a tinge of melancholy, her words pulling everyone's focus. "I have a request... just in case... I don't make it tomorrow."

"Elena..."

Rexar and Milo's expressions twisted in evident agony. Regrettably, no one could speak out about her pessimism; it was an irrefutable fact that their fates were blurred. They had found themselves ensnared in the perilous clutches of a situation with no guaranteed path to victory.

Elena took a deep breath. Before she could delve further into her request, she felt it necessary to share their backstory, and her voice quivered slightly as she began painting a vivid picture of their home.

"Rexar, Milo, and I come from a small village deep within the heart of the Fleecia Forest," she began, her words resonating with a bittersweet nostalgia. "It's a poor village, and we're few in number, but we were happy," she confessed with a glum smile, imagining it.

"Every evening, Mr. Rekton would make his rounds, sharing the day's catch of fish with each household. Mrs. Higgs, with her hair as silver as the moon, would eagerly offer to mend your torn clothes if she happened upon a snag. At dusk, we would all gather in the village square, sharing stories and songs around a bonfire.

We're a warm community, where everyone knows their neighbors and lent a helping hand in times of need. It created a true sense of belonging. However, in recent months, we've been under constant attack by demons."

The mention of the menacing creatures sent a shiver through the group, their expressions now burdened with shared unease.

"Despite our meager numbers and limited strength, we've managed to fend them off each time, but... not without bearing painful sacrifices," she admitted, her voice cracking.

Rexar placed a comforting hand on Elena's shoulder, and then began to speak in her place. "Our village has always been self-sufficient, where every man, woman, and child learns the essential skills to sustain our way of life. Only a few among us possess the skills to wield swords or spears—and while we do have a handful of skilled archers, their expertise lies in hunting game, not combatting monsters.

If the demons keep invading, it's only a matter of time before we're all slaughtered. The village's chief considered hiring an adventurer, but as a secluded and self-sufficient village that never considered trading with the outside, we didn't have the coin necessary to pay the commission fee."

"...That's why we became adventurers ourselves," Milo chimed in with a rare show of confidence.

Elena nodded. "If we couldn't afford to hire strong help, we would become that help instead. In the worst-case scenario, if we couldn't get strong to defend against the demons, we could at least save up enough gold to hire someone who could."

As Daisuke absorbed their heartfelt accounts, he scrutinized the trio through the Eye of Verity, discerning the authenticity of their words. It was apparent that for them, becoming adventurers was not merely a pursuit of strength but also a means of safeguarding themselves against the horrors of slavery.