Chapter 417: Searching
"I can do this. I can do this. I can."
Kazi had been casual about it. He didn’t force her, he didn’t urge her, he suggested an opportunity and Marta accepted. School was over for the day. She did her homework and, well, she didn’t have anyone in the way of friends so socialization wasn’t needed.
Marta Kowalski stood before Gate 23, her prosthetic legs knees quaking, her grip on her staff tight. The Server Room had people come and go. This was one of those gates. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, but her heart raced with anxiety. She had not stopped inside a gate since Gate 10—since the loss of her limbs three months ago. Three months of no XP. She was Level 23. She was under leveled.
’I’m under leveled. I’m too weak. God, why am I—why am I even trying? I’m going to die. I’m going to actually die.’
Come on! She was here in the Server Room! Backing out now would be a waste of time! A waste of everything. She told herself that she would enter, that she would take that step forward.
"Marta, if you back down now, you won’t ever be able to go in," she whispered to herself. "You’ve got this. Just... one step at a time."
One step. Two steps. Three steps.
The portal was right there.
Summoning all her courage, she tightened her grip on her staff and pushed forward, crossing the threshold. The world shimmered around her, and in an instant, she was transported—into a large Japanese bar. She blinked, momentarily disoriented.
Marta was in Matsue.
’K-Kazi mentioned this. A bar, yeah. It’s peaceful, just like he said.’