Mercenary Systems: The Eternal Life
Chapter 3 Getting Out of the Comfort Zone

"Get out, hurry!"

Inevitably, I could only obey the words of one of the men who escorted us to a dark room, as well as the miserable people who fared the same as me.

There was only one torch that lit up this room a little, but I guess, this is a warehouse.

"Try to run, or damage the things that are here, you will know the consequences. Be a good dirthead before the Boss checks you guys out. Do you understand?!"

Getting a sharp look from the man, I nodded despite being very reluctant. Especially, because he called these pathetic people, which of course included me, with dirt. I did consider myself to be someone who was very pitiful, but not to the extent of dirt. But well, at least garbage is better than dirt.

Krieit... BUGH!

Those shitty people left, the door was closed, leaving us in a dim place.

[QUEST]

[Get proof of the Slave Merchant's crime (75 Quest Points)]

[Lose at least 5 mercenaries (40 Quest Points)]

[Save at least 1 victim (12 Quest Points per victim)]

[Free yourself (12 Quest Points)]

I just wanted to check it out, and as expected. The content of the Quest had undergone a change, which was definitely in line with the situation in the environment. The number remains the same. What made me frown was that each Quest had an increase in the number of Quest Points I would earn after successfully completing the Quest.

After observing the Quest's behavior, I was immediately able to at least understand.

"The more difficult the Quest available, the greater the Quest Points offered. So, I see." I, who was sitting cross-legged leaning against the wall of the room, could only stare at the ceiling blankly.

A boring life, sitting in my comfort zone, I was forced to think hard in the face of a dangerous situation. Not only that, there are complications in the condition of the physical body. Suppose I had not experienced an increase in vitality, I might now have been sickly. How would I face the current situation if I still had a bad physical body?

So, despite being faced with this situation, I somehow felt better.

I got up to do some movement. After all, there was a significant change in my body. I need to adapt to these changes.

As expected. I feel more energetic. When I touched and pinched my own skin, it became a little firmer. Doing various random movements no longer feel pain in some parts of the joint. To be honest, even though I was young, my body condition was that bad. Also, the reason I was able to move around freely, of course those annoying people had released their ties to us.

After stopping moving, I came back to think about the top Quest. The quest was to obtain evidence of the Slave Merchant's crimes, it would certainly be difficult to do.

The Quest Points offered were huge. But considering that the Quest was only aimed at obtaining evidence of a crime, I could rely on an ingenious strategy to solve it rather than resorting to violence. It has many ways to do. Unfortunately, in order to obtain an intelligence-related INT increase, I do not have the rest of Attribute Points.

INT(1)

How depressing. It was enough to make me feel curious about the sensation I would feel when I experienced an increase in my intelligence. Am I really going to get smarter when the points on INT increase? After all, my intelligence is quite above the current average, it should be.

"Well, I guess, I need to get out of this stuffy room before I think about it."

The pathetic people that one room with me can't talk to. They seem to be very resigned to the fate they face. I don't know what they've been through before, but it reminds me of myself when I'm in my comfort zone. Although the case is different, when looking at people who do not work for anything, it feels sickening.

Did people see me that way too when I was still a pathetic person? I don't know why, I felt so embarrassed when I remembered my own behavior. Though not long ago I settled in the comfort zone, but I changed drastically just because of the improvement in body condition.

Like how the soul is joined to the body, it should affect each other.

The door of this room is locked. There's no other way out.

Am I just gonna break down the exit? But, it must have caught the attention of those annoying people. I have to avoid the fight at all costs. It's a pity that I wasted the opportunity when I made it out of my comfort zone.

I don't know what would happen if I waited for the examination to be conducted against us. It was probably just an examination of the physical body, as the Slave Merchant had said to the Pirate Captain earlier. It would be very dangerous if the Slave Merchant immediately performed a ritual that curbed a slave so as not to be able to refute to its owner, especially after the examination was completed. I need to avoid that possibility.

That way, there is no other way but to free yourself before the examination is carried out. Only, here there was absolutely no way out other than the entrance into the warehouse.

If I use the first way, there's a chance that I can survive even though it has attracted the attention of those annoying people. That possibility should be small. Did I just bet? Rather than end up being a slave who couldn't do anything about it, it was better to lose a life before being tormented even further, right? But, still it was horrifying to imagine my own death from fighting against them.

Perhaps, one day I will be able to break free when I eventually become a slave.

"Damn. Not yet officially a slave alone has been confusing like this, especially later?"

When the fight happens, maybe I won't be able to put up a meaningful fight. I've never practiced martial arts, just seen it from the movies. It won't be able to help much as long as I don't have any fighting experience.

I hesitated, standing at the door.

Trekkk...

Hearing that voice, I gasped slightly, before rushing away from the door and sitting in the corner of the room.

The door was opened by someone. He walked to the middle of the room. Then, he said, "said the Captain, you have not been fed. Do not disappoint the Slave Merchant when the examination begins. If your grades are lower than expected, don't expect you to be able to breathe again tomorrow. Tskc. Pathetic."

The last word he said was awful, but I'm not gonna miss this opportunity.

With a careful movement, I approached the man who brought us the food. I immediately wrapped my right hand through her front neck, while the left hand pressed her back. Then, the right hand gripped the tip of my own upper arm. Without any more hesitation, I broke her neck, before slowly moving her to the corner of the room.

Just in case, I ascertained whether the man was still alive or not by checking his pulse in the neck.

DEG-DEGS!

I can't feel it anymore. Did I just take his life? I thought I was just gonna make him lose consciousness. I did hear the sound of a broken bone, but wasn't that common when someone stretched? Was I too much when I broke his neck? I didn't intend to go that far. It's supposed to just give a shock to the central nerve, right?

"Huh. huh.... huh..."

What should I do with him? I knew he had to be buried, but I can't do it now. Did I just let it go?

"Don't..."

Again, I checked his pulse. It still can't be felt.

Hearing the sound of conversation from outside, I immediately realized that this was not the time for me to think of many things other than running away. I do want to complete the Quest with a higher level of difficulty. Unfortunately, I'm not even sure if I can successfully escape from here safely.

"I'm sorry... Dan, thank you."

Because, he opened the barn door for me.

After giving a brief salute to the body leaning against the wall helplessly, I rushed out of the warehouse.