Hacking the Game Didn't Go as Intended [Part One]

CHAPTER 107: Reeza's Selfless Resolve

Reeza bit down on her lip in anger, but stifled the emotion and bided her time. When the invaders began departing and the Bearhounds went ahead of the caravan, she sprinted with all her might and grabbed onto a robe hanging off the back of the moving wagon.

The rope felt like razor blades against her palms as she struggled to pull herself into the wagon's bed, but she endured the pain. Bridgette's once passive expression turned to shock when she saw her daughter within reach of the predators that had taken them hostage.

"R-Reeza—what are you doing here?!" she whispered urgently, a blend of relief and dread in her voice. "I told you to stay hidden!" Her eyes darted around anxiously, fearing they might be discovered.

Reeza's face crumpled; those were not the words she had hoped to hear from her mother. She yearned for reassurance, for her mother to tell her that this ordeal was nothing more than a very vivid nightmare.

But those comforting words never came.

Instead, she had an epiphany: rather than depending on her strong father and clever mother, she needed to become independent and self-reliant. To avoid the pain that had almost unraveled her closest friendship, she realized she had no other choice.

"Don't worry, Mommy," she whispered, her voice trembling with a blend of determination and fear. "I'll do my best to save us both."

"So?" Daisuke urged, stirring the girl from her dark trance. "What do you plan to do?"

Reeza turned her gaze to the mother who had been searching in vain for her daughter. Now sitting inside one of the wagons, the woman looked distraught, her eyes hollow. As Reeza watched her, she saw her own mother reflected in the woman's despair, a haunting vision that affirmed her decision.

"...I'll be leaving the kingdom," she said slowly, feeling entirely responsible that her selfish ambitions and the dirty money they had yielded had funded her kin's misfortune. "I'll do my best to track down all those who were taken captive and find them a new home."

Daisuke's eyes widened slightly in surprise. Rather than succumbing to the vengeance he imagined was clawing away at her soul, she selflessly chose to prioritize the well-being of her people. "That strength of yours... it's incredible," he remarked, admiring her resilience.

Reeza blushed scarlet, evidently caught off-guard by the compliment. "W-What was that for?"

Daisuke slipped his hands into his pockets and turned his gaze toward the horizon. Deep down, he knew he wouldn't be able to resist the demanding whispers of revenge if he were in her position. In fact, he was still on the hunt for clues related to the masked figure he had seen fleeing his house on the night his mother died.

"I'm just stating the facts," he countered, his voice smooth as velvet, his butterscotch eyes glowing with a mysterious allure.

Reeza turned away with a pout, unable to hold his gaze. "...I'm sorry for everything," she whispered earnestly, battling with emotions she had never felt before.

As she was about to steal another glance at his face, she sensed a sudden blur of movement. Her ruby-red eyes snapped open in dread, and she stumbled back as a pair of jaws narrowly missed her face.

When she looked up, she spied a familiar ball of fluff in Daisuke's hands. It snapped and flailed like a vicious beast, eager to tear her apart with its fangs and claws.

"I-Is that Zephyr?" Reeza stammered in disbelief. "But I—"

"It's a long story," Daisuke explained, lifting the pup above his head and meeting its vengeful gaze. "It's okay, boy; she's turned over a new leaf. If you rip her to shreds now, all these people will be left to fend for themselves."

Zephyr stopped squirming, seemingly preoccupied untangling a mess of violent emotions. He didn't care about the miserable fate he had suffered; that was a byproduct of his own weakness, but he couldn't forgive the girl for making his companion despair.

"...Zephyr," Reeza slowly approached. "I'm so sorry for hurting you," she apologized sincerely, tentatively reaching out to stroke the canine's head.

A bite to the hand had her crouching in a corner, tending to the steaming wound.

Daisuke smiled awkwardly. "I guess forgiveness will take some time."

Reeza turned to steal a peek at the pup.

"Kyu!" Zephyr cocked his head to the side, fuming like a spoiled child.

Reeza rose to feet with a sigh, then she turned to them both with a deep bow. "Thank you for all you've done. I'll be sure to repay this debt one day."

The young Florian held her posture as Daisuke approached. Her eyes widened and a blush stained her cheeks as he took hold of her hands. Without a word, he summoned the magic bag within them, imparting 40% of the gold and all the other items it held.

"A magic bag?!" Reeza glanced from the magic tool to Daisuke incredulously. "Why are you giving me such a valuable item? I-I can't accept this!"

Daisuke flicked her forehead, winning a small yelp from her lips. "Help these people... and learn to forgive yourself in the process. You're only Florian, after all."

Reeza accepted the warm words in stunned silence, tears welling up in her eyes. Then she began to wail. Her entire life had been a relentless struggle to be self-reliant and protect those she loved. Through all the hardships that felt like lifetimes, no one had ever offered a helping hand without expecting something in return.

But then there was Daisuke.

It was inconceivable that the person who had pulled her back from the brink of madness and death was a victim of her own misdeeds. Could this really be happening? Was it truly okay for her to rely on someone else?

Daisuke stroked her head tenderly, as if answering her unspoken question. "Don't try to be a hero," he said, waving to Petula and her husband. "Rely on your people; they want happiness and freedom just as much as you do. I'm sure our paths will cross again."

"Hn!" Reeza nodded, desperately trying to wipe away her tears.

As Daisuke watched the caravan disappear into the distance, his thoughts shifted from Reeza's moral compass to his own. He found it unsettling how adaptable people could be.

When he had killed the two men in the mountains of Fleecia Forest, he had been shaken to his core with guilt. But now, after slaughtering even more people, he felt nothing. Had he become desensitized to killing, or did a part of him simply justify that those he had killed were evil?

DING!

[You have received a summons from the Adventurers' Guild.]

"A summons?" Daisuke remarked, both he and Zephyr leaning in to examine the holographic screen. "Ah, it must be Cleave. He's probably finished prepping the mobs I left him with."

"Rawrwu~"

"Alrightdy then, let's head back to town."

"Kyuu~"