Chapter 25 - 025: Task oh task
The following day, Anaria slowly opened her eyes. For a few seconds, she stared at the wooden ceiling above her, wondering where she was. Then the soreness in her body reminded her of the uncomfortable prison bed, and everything that had happened the previous day came rushing back.
She sighed and covered her face with both hands. "So it wasn’t a nightmare."
She sat up and looked around the cell. The same wooden walls surrounded her, the same rough bed sat in the corner, and the same miserable prison bars stood between her and freedom.
"Of course," Anaria muttered, rubbing her aching shoulders. "Why would I get lucky for once?"
Her thoughts quickly turned to Rylan and Kai. They had been waiting for her when the villagers took her away, completely unaware of what had happened. By now, they were probably wondering where she was.
Anaria frowned. "I wonder what those two idiots are doing right now."
She could already imagine Rylan standing around with his usual serious expression while Kai complained about everything.
A small smile appeared on her face before she sighed again. "Hopefully, they haven’t decided to abandon their troublesome ugly mate."
She paused "Actually, knowing them, they probably haven’t."
Anaria shook her head and glanced toward the empty space beside her. "System."
The familiar fox-like figure appeared in front of her.
[Host has called.]
"Can I escape?" Anaria asked, looking toward the prison bars.
[Current escape probability is low.]
Her expression immediately fell. "Why?"
[Following Host’s previous escape, security around the prison has been increased.]
Anaria stared at the System for several seconds. "So you’re telling me they actually learned from my escape?"
[Correct.]
"Stress."
She walked toward the bars and examined them carefully. The wooden frame looked much stronger than before. She pushed against one of the bars, but it didn’t move. Anaria frowned and pushed harder.
Nothing... She kicked the lower section in frustration "Ow!", she immediately grabbed her foot and hopped backward, glaring at the prison. "Fine. Maybe violence isn’t the answer."
The System remained silent.
Anaria looked at it. "You could at least pretend to care."
[Host is capable of solving her own problems.]
Her eyes narrowed. "You’re becoming more annoying every day."
She returned to the bed and dropped onto it with a sigh. For a moment, she simply stared at the floor, maybe there really wasn’t a way out.
Then the System chimed again.
[There is another method.]
Anaria’s head lifted. "What method?"
[Host can improve her current situation by completing a new task.]
Anaria sat up straighter. "What kind of task?"
The fox-like figure remained still as a notification appeared before her
[New Task Activated.]
Anaria waited.
[Task: Assist the Village Leader in resolving one of the major problems affecting Ravenfall.]
She blinked. "That’s it?"
[Yes, Host.]
"So, what’s the catch?"
[Reward will be provided upon successful completion.]
Anaria narrowed her eyes. "And the penalty?"
There was a brief silence.
[Failure will result in consequences.]
Anaria’s expression immediately darkened. "That’s not an answer."
[Host does not need to know the penalty at this moment.]
She stared at the System in disbelief. "You’re seriously threatening me without even telling me what I’m being threatened with?"
[Correct.]
Anaria rubbed her forehead. "You’re unbelievable."
The System continued.
[If Host succeeds, the Village Leader’s trust may increase. This may create an opportunity for Host to leave the prison]
Anaria became quiet.
"So basically, I have to solve his problem if I want my freedom."
[Correct.]
She sighed and leaned against the wall. It wasn’t exactly the plan she had wanted, but at least it gave her something to work with.
"Fine," she muttered. "I’ll do it."
She paused before adding, "But if this somehow ends with me becoming food for angry villagers, I’m blaming you."
[Host’s complaint has been recorded.]
Anaria froze "Wait. I was joking."
The System disappeared without another word.
Anaria stared at the empty space in front of her."Foxy system?"
There was no response.
She sighed and rubbed her face. "This is going to be a long day."
Before Anaria could think of another way to escape, the sound of footsteps approached the prison. She quickly turned toward the entrance just as a guard appeared, carrying a wooden bowl filled with breakfast.
He unlocked the cell and placed the food inside before stepping back.
"Eat," the guard said plainly.
Anaria looked at the bowl. Whatever was inside looked barely edible. She poked at it with the wooden spoon and frowned.
"Is this breakfast or punishment?"
The guard ignored her and turned to leave.
Anaria quickly stood up and reached through the bars, catching his hand before he could walk away "Wait."
The guard looked back at her with a tired expression. "What?"
"I want to see the village leader."
The guard immediately shook his head. "The leader isn’t receiving anyone."
Anaria frowned. "I need to speak with him."
"You can speak with him when he decides to see you."
"And when will that be?"
"I don’t know."
The guard tried to pull his hand away, but Anaria held on for another second. "Please?"
"No."
"Just let me see him for a few minutes."
"I said no."
He finally pulled his hand free and started walking away.
Anaria watched him leave. Her expression slowly changed.
"Fine," she muttered. "If asking nicely doesn’t work..." She glanced at the guard’s back "...then I’ll have to try something else."
Anaria suddenly remembered some of the ridiculous American movies she had watched before transmigrating. There were always scenes where prisoners threatened to hurt themselves just to force someone important to listen to them.
A strange idea crossed Anaria’s mind. She glanced at the breakfast, then at the guard, and a mischievous smile appeared "Well..."
The guard had barely reached the entrance when she rushed forward and grabbed his loincloth.
He froze. "What are you doing?"
Before he could react, Anaria yanked him back and snatched the small knife from his waist.
The guard’s expression changed instantly. "Put that down!"
Anaria held the knife close to herself and took a step back.
"No."
The guard immediately raised both hands.
"Female, calm down."
"I’m perfectly calm."
"You have a knife!"
"Ohh really"
The guard looked terrified.
Anaria tightened her grip and placed the blade against her neck "If you won’t take me to the village leader, I’ll solve the problem myself."
The guard’s eyes widened "Don’t do that!"
He immediately shouted toward the entrance "Guards! Come here!"
Several footsteps rushed toward the cell. Within seconds, three more beast guards appeared, staring at Anaria in shock.
One of them pointed at the knife "Put it down!"
Anaria shook her head. "No."
"Female, you’re making a mistake."
"I’m already in prison. I think I’ve made plenty of mistakes."
The guards exchanged nervous glances before one stepped forward. "Please put the knife down. We can talk about this."
"There’s nothing to talk about." Anaria’s voice hardened "Take me to the village leader."
They hesitated. "He’s sick," one explained. "He doesn’t want visitors."
"Then tell him I have something important to discuss with him."
"He won’t see you."
Anaria lifted the knife slightly. "Then I guess I’ll die here."
The guards panicked. "No!"
"Don’t hurt yourself!"
"Put the knife down!"
Anaria stared at them "If a female dies inside your prison because you refused to let her speak to the village leader, what do you think the Beast God will do?"
The guards went silent.
Anaria could see the uncertainty in their expressions and knew she had found something that frightened them.
She continued, "You allowed a female under your protection to die. Do you really think the Beast God will forgive that?"
One guard swallowed nervously. "She’s right..."
Another shot him a glare. "Don’t encourage her."
Anaria almost smiled. It was actually working. Keeping the knife near her neck, she looked between them.
"I don’t want to hurt myself. I just want to speak with your leader. Take me to him, and everyone can stop panicking."
The guards looked at one another.
Finally, the oldest-looking guard sighed "Fine."
Anaria’s eyes brightened "You’ll take me?"
"We’ll take you," he said reluctantly, "but you have to stop threatening yourself."
Anaria lowered the knife slightly "I’ll stop when I’m standing in front of the village leader."
The guard looked exhausted already "You don’t need the knife anymore."
Anaria immediately tightened her grip "I’ll keep it."
"Why?"
"Because I don’t trust you."
The guard sighed "Just follow us."
The cell was opened, and Anaria stepped out with the knife still in hand as the guards carefully surrounded her.
She gave them a small, satisfied smile. "Good boys."
The guards exchanged helpless looks but said nothing.
As they led her deeper into leader’s residence, Anaria kept the knife near her neck. For the first time since her capture, she felt like she was finally getting somewhere.
She had no idea what the village leader wanted, what reward the System had prepared, or what punishment awaited her if she failed.
Still, at least she was finally going to meet him.
Anaria smiled faintly. "Now, let’s see what kind of trouble I’m walking into this time."