NPC Code: Red Riding Hood

"Some treasures you could see in here have active curses inside of them. If you doubt me, let your system run a search or appraisal to those items. You will notice with your two eyes that those items would have the word 'cursed' beside it," Stormfly suggested, as he motioned his hands. "While you are viewing the treasures, I will collect the two valuables for you. Give me a few seconds, Red, and I shall give you what you need."

I heeded Stormfly's advice and opened my system. A window appeared before me, paired with a high-pitch sound as I called forth for my appraisal ability. My appraising skills were not the best compared to Okami.. But it was still enough to view any descriptions portraying the items or people I wanted to know.

(Author's note: Using the [appraisal] ability would work in its simpler terms. It only means that if a player that doesn't have the inspection class would only appraise the object or other creatures and players would only view the surface introduction, not the entire content.)

[Golden Pendant (cursed item)- It is a necklace made of gold that could give extra abilities to the wearer.]

[Cursed item would not give the benefits to the wearer unless a priest or a priest class player blesses the item. If the player or NPCs wears this item, the wearer would receive diminution of statistical power and other status points. It could also lower the wearer's mana and health points overtime]

Just like stormfly had mentioned, this random golden pendant had a curse attached to its name. It even gave the detailed information about the cursed item as well as its reduction of wearer's status.

Instead of taking the item with me, I let the item rest in its place. Bringing anything that had a cursed description would only bring me demie than its use for my upcoming battles.

"Are there any items left inside the treasure room that aren't cursed?" I asked Stormflly, while inspecting the place.

But as luck would have it, there were no items around this treasure room that was not a cursed item. Most of them even had worse statistical power and status points reduction than the golden pendant, which really cracked my skull.

After a few seconds, Stormfly gave me his answer, "There are other items out there that are not cursed. Take this as an example."

Storfmly went towards me and delivered the Ruby Obelisk on his right hand and a glowing red orb with the other. My eyes widened in surprise upon witnessing those two things nestling on Stormfly's hands, as if flexing it to me.

But before he could say anything else, I reached out for the Ruby Obelisk and asked Stormfly, "is this for me?"

I lost everything while taking this stone to my inventory. These rocks were my ticket on meeting the game developer once and for all. I did not know what Code would do to grant me that wish. But I would still hope until the day I die to meet those people who created this game.

As soon as I opened my inventory, my system notified me about the obelisks. I currently have the Emerald Obelisk, which I obtained from La Finta, the Elven's grandmother, and the Sapphire Obelisk, which came from Alice. 

Upon placing the Ruby Obelisk inside my stash, my system told me I still needed one last thing to complete the puzzle. And that was the Diamond Obelisk that belonged inside the Mainland's castle. 

"Why, of course, Red! These two items are for you, especially the Ruby Obelisk!" Stormfly cired, and offered me his left hand. "And this one's for you too."

My eyes stared at the glowing crimson ball resting on Stormfly's hand. Even my system could describe the radiating ball that Stormfly wanted to give me. 

When I gaze into his eyes, Stormfly nodded his head and continued, "Yes. I'm giving this to you."

"What is that thing even?" I asked, unsure about the gift he wanted to give me.

Stormfly tilted his head and wondered, "You don't know? I thought you would immediately recognize it, since you have lost your eye. I sense a dangerous amount of arcane and potential on your glimmering right eye. It is common to see an eye glowing right, but not that would give immense power."

Stormfly was not wrong about that. My right eye gave me tremendous strength in combat when I needed it the most. It was my ace every time I would face something terrible, especially when I needed to save Match. 

Coincidentally, my glowing right eye happened after witnessing the death of Clementine. It was the strength that kept me on par against the players who were usually stronger than me.

If I did not have this eye, maybe I would still be a punching bag to those arrogant players. As long as I could stand on equal footing with them, those players won't stand a chance against me.

Those people only knew flashy fights without bothering about efficiency. As soon as they turned their backs, I would slice their necks and kill them.

Unfortunately, I only had my right eye glowing when I faced my battles. I did not know why, but I did not have that power on my left eye. The thought never occurred inside my head that I needed a pair of flaring eyes to unlock my full potential.

"Are you telling me that this eye would grant me enormous power?" I asked, and went for my point.

Stormfly nodded his head and answered, "Yes. I know that your right eye grants you power beyond your expectations. You could outmaneuver your enemies with only just your right eye. Imagine that you're using both eyes at once in battle! Nothing could ever stop you, not even the earth dragon residing in this place. That is your power, Red. And luckily, the treasure room saved this eye for you."

I shook my head and asked, "If that's so, why now? Why is my left eye here inside the treasure room and did not come from me? Do you have any explanation about this, Stormfly?" 

Despite this advantageous meeting, I stared at Stormfly and sent dozens of question marks in his direction. That reptile realised what I wanted to ask, but could tell me everything about it. Stormfly was not hiding something, but couldn't explain the things he was unsure about the left eye.

"Like you've hunched, I do not know why it's here. But while visiting this place, a glowing eyeball emerged around this area. I had no other choice but to safekeep it, since it was not a cursed item. I did not have any system, but I have my means of appraising items. This red glowing eye told me that it belonged to the player and NPC named Red, which was you," Stormfly explained, while maintaining his gaze at my figure. "But the process of attaching this left eye inside your head would shake all your cells. I could not fathom how much pain you need to endure just to place this eyeball inside of your socket."

I couldn't defend Clementine when she needed me the most. This world happened because I was not strong enough to fend off those players from Code. Alice had the power, but she got apprehended by Okami himself. There were also threats out there waiting for me, especially the game developers and players wanting me dead.

But with more power coming inside of me, I could finally extract my revenge. If Stormfly would place this eye inside my left eye socket, I would unlock the full potential of my powers. 

I never thought that the day would come to witness my strength as one of the strongest players. If I was lucky enough, I could even outclass Okami with these two functional glowing eyes. 

My fingers became wiggly as it became difficult for me to contain my excitement. But before anything else, I needed to endure that pain that Stormfly mentioned.

"Can you do it right now?" I asked.

There was no chance for me to idle around for this opportunity. If someone came knocking on my front door, opening it was the only logical reason. 

Stormfly expanded his eyes after hearing my words. He might have not expected my words coming through my mouth.

"Even after hearing my warnings, you still want to apply this eyeball inside of you. Your revenge has definitely consumed you….. But that is the greatest part of all. "

After Stormfly finished his monologue, he asked me to sit on the nearby chair and open my eyes. 

"If you faint while doing this procedure, you die. If you jerk or run away, you die. As long as you maintain your position, I will do my part and insert this eye inside of you. Do not worry, Red. I have done this countless times….. But I have seen a dozen of them die in my hands," Stormly shared, as he prepared all those magic circles around his hands.

"Do it, Stormfly," I demanded, and glared at the treasure room's ceiling.