Chapter 121: The Knocked-Out Orc in the Room
Morning light filtered softly through the curtains.
Max opened his eyes. He stayed still for a few seconds... staring at the ceiling.
And then—
"...ah..."
A slow smile spread across his face. He stretched out on the bed. Arms, legs, back.
"God... how I missed this..."
He sank a little deeper into the mattress. Soft. Spacious. Perfect.
Nothing like the hard floor of a carriage... or the uncomfortable beds of a cheap inn.
He turned his head, resting his cheek against the pillow.
"...definitely... I’m not leaving this for a while..."
...
He blinked.
"...ah, right."
He sat up abruptly.
"I had something to claim."
He raised his hand, and a blue window appeared in front of him.
[Quest: Bring Abigail Morningstar to her true home][Status: Completed][Reward: ???][Claim]
Max tilted his head.
"...mysterious as always."
He rested his elbow on his knee.
"Let’s see what you’ve got for me... you damn system that works however it wants."
He pressed Claim. A small flash appeared in front of him.
And then—
pop
A little box floated in the air. Pink. With golden and silver ribbons. Shining excessively.
Max stared at it in silence.
"Well..."
He grabbed it with one hand.
"...I don’t like this at all."
Still, he pulled one of the ribbons. Then another. Carefully untied them. Opened the box. And inside was a small dropper. Thin glass. Transparent liquid.
With a label attached:
[Night Vision Drops]
Max blinked. Then let out a short laugh.
"...ah."
He held it between his fingers.
"Of course..."
He turned the vial, examining it.
"A great useless item for any race in this world..."
He smiled.
"...except for me."
He leaned back slightly.
"A human without night vision..."
He raised the dropper slightly.
"...but with this..."
He let out a small laugh.
"...I can see in the dark. Even if it’s just a few meters."
He closed his eyes.
"...in black and white."
He stayed thoughtful for a few seconds, turning the vial.
"...it’s not a big deal..."
But his expression shifted slightly.
"...although..."
He frowned.
"With my SSS-rank skill..."
The one he still didn’t fully understand.
"...how much could it enhance the effect?"
Silence.
"...hmm..."
He shook his head.
"I’ll test it later."
With a gesture, he stored the dropper in his infinite inventory. He got out of bed, stretched once more, and walked toward the clothes Sophie had prepared.
Clean shirt. Fitted pants. Everything flawless.
"At least someone cares about my lifestyle..."
He started getting dressed. Buttons. Belt. Adjustments.
Just as he finished buttoning his shirt, a new window appeared in front of him. Bigger. More important.
[New Main Quest]
Max froze.
"...here we go..."
He read.
[Quest: Protect the king’s new pet][Description: An unknown group of rare beast traffickers is interested in kidnapping and selling the king’s new pet.][Reward: ???]
Silence.
Max blinked a couple of times.
"...you’ve got to be kidding me..."
He ran a hand over his face.
"Can’t I have a single quiet day?"
He took a deep breath.
"...not even one..."
He sighed.
But his expression hardened. Serious. Focused.
"...if this is real..."
He looked toward the door.
"...Chloe’s in danger."
He didn’t hesitate. He pulled on his boots in one motion. Tightened the laces properly. And left the room at a quick pace, crossing the hallway.
Straight toward the guest rooms.
Toward where Chloe was supposed to be sleeping.
***
Max’s footsteps echoed quickly through the hallway. He turned the corner. And there it was. The guest room door where Chloe had spent the night.
But he wasn’t alone.
Abby stood in front of the door, holding a set of folded clothes in her arms, about to knock. When she saw him rushing over like that, she stopped. Raised an eyebrow.
"...what’s with that face?"
Pause.
"Why’s the little pet in such a hurry?"
Max didn’t fully stop.
"No time to explain."
He walked straight up.
"Did you see anything strange?"
Abby thought for a second. Then smiled.
"Yes."
She let out a laugh.
"I saw you running through the halls like you were about to be late for the bathroom."
Max looked at her. Then laughed.
"...you never change."
Abby laughed too.
But Max was already knocking on the door.
knock knock
And then, the door slowly opened.
Max blinked.
...
On the other side stood Chloe. Wearing tight leggings and a sports bra. Hair messy. Arms raised as she tied it up. Completely casual.
"...morning," she said, totally normal.
Max lowered his gaze. And there he saw it.
An orc. Large. Covered with a green hood. Lying on the floor. Knocked out, badly beaten. Breathing... barely.
"...okay," Max said.
He blinked.
"...that’s not exactly what I expected to find."
Abby stepped forward. She handed the clothes to Chloe... but without taking her eyes off the orc.
"...I think I’m not going to ask."
She turned to Max.
"Better leave this in your hands."
She smiled.
"Oh, and breakfast’s ready."
She turned around... and left as if nothing had happened.
Chloe took the clothes.
"Tell her thanks for me."
She looked at Max and frowned.
"...what are you staring at?"
Pause.
"Never seen a girl right after waking up?"
Max let out a laugh.
"That’s not it."
He pointed at the floor.
"What happened to that guy?"
Chloe looked at the orc.
"Oh, that."
She shrugged.
"A few hours ago he started knocking on the door."
She smiled.
"Since I couldn’t understand him... and you said to trust the people in the castle..."
She crossed her arms.
"...I let him in."
Max looked at her.
"...right."
Chloe continued, like it was the most normal thing in the world.
"But then this green thing grabbed me."
She wrinkled her nose.
"With those disgusting hands."
She closed her eyes.
"So I did what I always do."
She flexed her arm, showing off her bicep proudly.
"I defended myself."
She smiled.
Max looked down at the orc. Then back at her.
"...yeah, I can see that."
He nodded.
"You can clearly handle yourself."
He let out a laugh.
"...with those stats, I’m not surprised."
Chloe raised a hand, showing one of her rings.
"What’s interesting is this."
She turned it.
"These rings that the dwarf gave me..."
She smiled.
"...they can turn into a gauntlet."
Max raised an eyebrow.
"...okay. That wasn’t in my calculations either."
Chloe grabbed the clothes.
"If you don’t mind..."
She pointed inside.
"...I’m going to change."
She looked at him with a crooked smile.
"If you want to watch, I don’t mind."
She laughed.
"But at least close the door."
Max blushed instantly.
"—no, no, it’s fine."
He raised his hands.
"I’ll wait outside."
Chloe laughed.
"Perfect. Then do me a favor."
She pointed at the orc.
"Get the green monster out."
She wrinkled her nose.
"It makes me a little uncomfortable."
Max nodded.
"Yeah, of course."
He brought a hand to his necklace. A faint glow. And two skeletal knights appeared at his side, armed and steady.
"Take him outside."
The skeletons obeyed without hesitation. They grabbed the orc... and dragged him out of the room.
Chloe watched them, amused.
"...wow."
She smiled.
"That was definitely interesting."
Max stepped out. Closed the door. Stood in the hallway.
The skeletons dropped the orc to the side.
Max sighed and sat down on the floor, leaning his back against the wall.
He looked at the unconscious orc. Then at the closed door.
"...yeah..."
Pause.
"...she can definitely take care of herself."
But his gaze hardened slightly.
"...though that doesn’t mean she’s safe."
And there he stayed.
Waiting for Chloe to come out.