Far From Vanilla: Modded Game Reincarnation

Ching!

Clang!

“Arghh–” I grimace. His sword was cutting into my cheek. Even though I was blocking his attacks, the power behind his strikes were way too powerful for me. 

I was getting weaker by the second, and his blade proved that. I was holding my knife upwards to block a downwards diagonal slash. I succeeded, but holding up the guard proved to be a monumental challenge.

Even though my other arm stopped bleeding, I still couldn’t use it to support myself in any way. Not because I didn’t close up the wound, but because I ran out of blood to bleed.

“To think this is how you would end,” The Journal scoffed, “You cheated death again and again, now, surely another shouldn’t be too hard?”

He said that to me, and while I was going to agree, I suddenly remembered something. Why was I so ecstatic about learning that answer from him when I knew what he did from the start?

Yes, this time was slightly more specific, but no less cryptic. That Jerk!

Come to think of it, how many times have I learned how to use the journal? Twice now? Once from when I got the book, which was explained through instinct, and today for when I got the verbal explanation. 

Sly prick, he made me waste my time to answer a question I should’ve already known from when we first met. He just meant it literally. 

Secrets laid out in the open, deceitfully instructing the path to a fake. 

Don’t pretend to cheer me on when you lead me on a wild goose chase, asshole! You only want me to live because if I die, your chance of finally having a proper body will eventually get further away from you!

“Yet, here you are, asking me for help.” I didn’t know if he heard me or felt my thoughts. Perhaps it was my heart screaming that got him to hear. “Your heart at least says so. What does your brain say, Child?”

Our relationship was defined by only one thing, our mutual desperation from death. Honestly, I don’t even have the strength to get mad.

The only reason as to why I was here was because in the process of my thinking I was in Control, I was being controlled. While on the path to release myself from someone else’s control.

Incredibly ironic.

 I looked up at the pouring rain clouds. "A-At least… I didn’t go out as pathetically as the first few times…”

Come to think of it, It was raining when I nearly kicked the bucket. It's a bad omen...

Ah... What am I even doing? Am I so pathetic as to blame the rain for coincidentally being the backdrop of my near death experiences?

Man, how long has it been since I was a newbie? I faintly remember dying almost a dozen times per in-game day during those times. Up until recently, I hadn’t died for hundreds of game hours in Source…

But since transmigrating, I’ve pretty much been in bed with death.

Funnily, she is a mistress that does not detach herself so easily. 

I lowered my dagger and looked at the man with the sword to my neck. He looked at me with a complex expression I didn’t bother trying to explain. I just closed my eyes in acceptance.

“Is this… really how you wish to die?” I could hear the journal mutter.

No, of course not. I don’t want to die today. I want to live more. I want to live just a little longer, but I’m not strong enough to do what it takes. Even if I am willing, nothing but a miracle can deliver me now.

“Rudolf… Do I really have to…” Charlie started to sniffle. He didn’t do it from the cold, but from his tears?

What? Why is this guy crying? And how does he know Rudolf? 

I opened my eyes and scrunched up my eyebrows. That was the extent of my remaining will and fainting consciousness.

“H-How do you know Rudolf?” I asked him. Shit. I’m getting drowsy. This is the exact same as the time I met Eric… 

“H-He said that if I infiltrate the Syndicate… I’d get revenge for what happened to Alissa…” Charlie.

Allissa. That name was eerily familiar. 

“Ah–” I understood. Allissa was the name of the girl I punched before running away. If I didn’t hear the name from someone, or even read the name plate on her neck, I would’ve just shrugged.

If I even could.

But I think I knew this Allissa. Was he the adventurer that called out to her when I punched her to escape? I even stole her sword.

I could’ve sold it for a small profit if I didn’t lose it in the Library. I wonder, did she die?

 “I-If you want…” My eyes looked up to the breaking man. He has no reason to answer my question, but I just had to ask. “H-How did she die?”

Charlie shook his head. “Eaten.”

He said only one word to make me understand. 

 “Giant Spiders caught us off guard.” He began to sob again. “I should’ve known…”

I could only blink as I stared at the man who aimed his blade at my throat. I hadn’t realized it, but I actually dropped my blade again. I was too tired to even grip it. 

And worse, my consciousness was quickly fading.

“She couldn’t speak, but because she was our best scout, we couldn’t afford to send her back. When we were asleep, on her rotation on guard duty, she was ambushed by a Spider [Knight].”

That’s a sad way to go… 

But I really can't care any less.

“I’m sorry…” I croaked, “For your loss.”

Come to think of it, was her death my fault?

“I’m a heavy sleeper… So I didn’t wake up in time to save her… I forgot that since she couldn’t speak, she couldn’t wake me up.” Charlie began to break down. His shoulders began to wobble and tremble. “I shouldn’t have…”

The man wept bitterly in place. I could only look at him with sadness. I didn’t feel the sadness myself, but instead reciprocated his feelings with empathy. Maybe if I did this, he’d spare me.

He doesn't look like he’s doing this out of his pure own will.

“And I was beginning to wonder if You had given up.” The Journal snickered, “Preying on the emotions, a classic tactic for cowards.” 

Shut the hell up, Journal! I’m saving both our hides!

“I loved her… We were going to start a family after that job… We were going to retire, while we were still young…”

Stop.

Don’t talk anymore.

I don’t think I can handle the heebie-jeebies if you did.

“Rudolf said that if I get into the mob, he’d give me a chance at Killing the man responsible…”

“Small world, eh, Demon child?” The Journal chuckled darkly. “I must admit, I’ve witnessed the epiphany for mortals for as long as I have lived and It never gets old.”

I wanted to say sorry but lying any more to him will make me laugh. I’m pretty sure my ribs are cracked too.

I reorganized myself and looked up to the adventurer. I am at this man’s mercy. I’m at the tip of his sword. I am the reason as to why he was in this pathetic state.

If I wasn’t so hot-blooded, I would’ve done something else than accept his challenge. I thought it was going to be a fair fight!

“Don’t concern yourself with him, Demon child.” The Journal roared in my subconscious. He was loud enough to chase away the darkening corners of my vision. He snapped me awake. 

“Speak for yourself, book.” I cursed under my breath. Charlie was too preoccupied in his depressive episode to notice. I’m trying to play it smart here, properly this time.

And for that to happen, I need to start using instead of being used. I needed to kill that man not just for the sake of my survival, but for this man’s soul to rest in peace. Frankly, I’ve stopped laughing internally at the man. He's just to pathetic to hate.

I’m just outright uncomfortable looking at his face.

“A-A-And I need to kill…” Charlie began to stop his sobbing. “I need to kill you… to get into the…”

I want to be free from this annoying situation.

“Listen closely to me, Dragon.” I asked the book solemnly, “What do I need to do to survive? I can’t beat a swordsman as experienced as him. What do I need to do to win?”

I clenched my first and opened it, feeling a weight return to it. “You would need the power of a swordsman to defeat a swordsman.” 

“And how do I get that power?”

“By sacrificing an object of equal value.”

I understood at that moment what the book meant. I closed my eyes and sighed. By borrowing the strength of tomorrow, I discreetly forced myself to grab the dagger I had dropped. I needed to do at least that much for what I need to do. 

Hopefully I don’t lose any more constitution points.

“May I know your name?” I asked, watching the man lower his sword to his side.

“Ben.”

“Ben… huh? I’ll remember that.” I nodded. “When we meet in hell, I’ll gladly take my punishment from you.”

Stab!

“Agh!” Ben screamed in surprise. I stabbed my knife deep into his thigh, angled just right to cut the major blood vessel inside. “Damn you!” 

He raised his sword and lowered it with great strength and speed. In fact, he put his all into that swing, even leaning forward and using the momentum for even more power. But I already thought of that.

Pang!

The edge of his sword collided with the Journal I had summoned. After I stabbed him in the leg, I left the blade there to get the book. I used it as a shield.

I doubt that many things could pierce dragon-skin leather, and by the chipping fragments of his blade, I was right.

“What–” The man could only gasp as he fell on top of me. I didn’t waste the opportunity to grab a rock from beside me to drive into his left temple.

“G-ack–” He groaned as his head was thrown to the side.

I took the book and held it by its covers, aiming the spine at the bobbing Adam's apple.

Honestly, I think Charlie suits him better than Ben.

Twack!