Chương 183: Chapter 169-Chosen Right Turn

Another day in Iserparar Island, where the skies are clear and the sun is shining. No problems or even an obstacle in sight. So that means it's time to relax. Just take a load off and bask under the sun. You might be expecting a twist or the other shoe to drop, but not today. I'm relaxing today. That's all I'm going to do.

"Isn't that right, Axel?" I ask as I pull down my shades.

"Yes? I might need some more context," he says, sitting in the shade.

"Forget about it. How are you feeling?" Axel shifts his foot in the sand.

"Better?"

"Are you asking me?" Nearby, Adiline runs away as Clint tries to show her a crab. I might ask him for that later. A crab pot sounds like it would hit the spot. I'm sure Martin knows some recipes. My eyes linger on Axel, who has yet to answer. He's back from being treated, but I can tell he's not his old self.

"It's okay to feel bad. Can't always be happy," I say as I put my hand out.

"I know," he says as a coconut falls into my hand.

"But?"

"The treatment helped me recover from [Level Mania], but I'm not immune. I could relapse if I'm not careful. What happens if I [Level Up] again and I start to like it?" he asks, bringing his knees up to his chest.

"I'll punch you."

"What?" With Stabby, I slice the top off the coconut.

"You're worried you'll start to feel good, right? I'll punch the shit out of you until it feels bad again. Should cancel it out, right?" I ask.

"I'm not joking here, Chosen One," he says with a hint of annoyance.

"Neither am I. It should work. Now, I can't be with you all the time, but you can ask your teammates, Bex and Yilua to do it. I'm sure they would be more than happy to knock some sense into you. Especially after you made them worried so much," I say as I take a long sip from my coconut.

"Do you think that will actually work?"

"Wouldn't hurt to try. Listen, Axel. It's okay for you to be scared about slipping back into [Level Mania]. In fact, I would be worried if you weren't. What's not okay is you letting fear guide you. The moment you let fear take the reins, you're bound to take the same path that got you there." A seagull squawks as it flies high into the air. Fear sucks. I mean it really sucks. The bird lands on my horn. One minute you're standing tall against some schmuck and the next you're frozen.

The creature from the deepest pit of the hells pecks at my head. You can't do anything, not even take a breath. I wave my hand, trying to shoo the bird away.

"I don't know if I'm ready." Without even blinking, I catch the seagull by the foot and [Throw] it as far away as possible.

"Nobody ever is. It's stepping up when you aren't that counts."

"Maybe you're… Are you okay?" he asks as three seagulls land on my horns.

"We're having bird for lunch," I say with a hint of malice. Axel lets out a small laugh as he watches me struggle to catch the birds.

"I think I'm going to give it a try. Thanks, CJ."

"Don't mention it," I say as the birds fly right outside my reach. With a huff, I walk through the muggy jungle. Damned birds. They wouldn't leave me alone yesterday, and I couldn't even catch a single one. They ruined my entire relaxation time. I swear I'll catch those fuckers if it's the last thing I do. With Stabby, I hack through the shrubbery.

"Are you okay?" Hopper asks.

"He's never okay," Penelope says as she follows close behind.

"You're right, Penelope. I'm never okay. I'm fran-fucking-tastic," I [Lie]. Stabby slices clean through the shrubbery, clearing my way. Now, a smart man would think, why am I leading? Shouldn't Hopper be leading? I mean, he is the only person in this group who has [Track]. I'm sure with the help of Hopper we could find a monster to fight, but you see, I'm not looking for a monster. I'm actually doing my job. Somewhere on this island is a necklace that belonged to some holy person. The Holy Jewel of Hig, I think.

"Do you know where you're going, Charlatan?" Penelope asks as I pretend to be lost.

"Of course I do." This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Now if I were an expensive and valuable jewel, where would I be? My first instinct tells me to head straight for that looming mountain or better known as the place Professor Stargazer told us to avoid. I'm hoping that I'm wrong, because I may be good, but Penelope and Hopper aren't so dumb as to not notice us heading straight for the mountain.

Which leads me to circling this island in hopes of finding, like, a secret tunnel or something. There has to be one. I mean, what self-respecting treasure island doesn't have one?

"Wait," Hopper says as his bunny ears twitch.

"What is it?" Penelope asks as she grabs the handle of her greatsword.

"A pig?" he asks in confusion.

"Why are you so-" The nearby trees are toppled as a Giant Boar tears through the jungle foliage. With no warning, I watch as the creature slams right into me, sending me flying on to it's back. A dull pain spreads through my hands as the recoil from blocking with Stabby hits me. Oh, thank the Gods that you're extra hardy now, Stabby. Now on the back of the Boar, I watch as Penelope and Hopper get further and further away.

"Huh, I guess they were as surprised as me," I say as I grab onto the hairy back of the charging monster. No chance it's going to stop anytime soon, right? The creature slams straight through a riverbed and continues as if nothing happened. Okay, not stopping. Definitely not stopping anytime soon. My body slides as it takes a wide turn. Slow down. For the love of the Gods- My hand slips, sending me tumbling through the jungle floor. With a deep groan, I sit up. Well, that sucked.

"Could have been worse. It could've eaten you," Blue remarks as I look around.

"I suppose it eating me would've been marginally worse. Any chance you've been here before, Blue?" A typical jungle lies before me, along with a nice river and a waterfall. You know, if I hadn't been dragged here by a crazed Boar, this might actually be a calming spot. Yet I was. Dragged by an insane Boar, that is.

"Never. I would have recognized it," Blue says after a pause.

"Was a long shot anyways. Think I should wait for Penelope and Hopper to catch up?" I ask as I walk up to the waterfall.

"You could or…"

"Didn't finish that sentence, but I think I'm picking up what you're putting down," I say with a devilish smile. With a grin, I dive into the pool at the base of the waterfall and swim right behind it. Feeling around, I eventually find the edge and pull myself up. Wiping the water away from my eyes, I spot a small cavern hidden behind the waterfall. I knew it. There's always something hidden behind the waterfall. I would [Gamble] my left horn on it.

"What do you think, Blue? Traps or no traps?" I ask as I walk carelessly down the cave entrance.

"From my experience, there are traps," he says as his blue gem glimmers.

"Where is everybody else?" I ask.

"You mean Hopper and Penelope? They're probably trying to find you. Why do you ask?"

"I mean Yellow, Black, and Brown. You know everybody else. What did they take the day off for?" I ask as a hint of suspicion grows.

"They're away for now. You're stuck with me." Hmm. Something is fishy. I've spent the better part of half a year trying to get voices to stop, and you're telling me that they just suddenly decide to stop. I mean come on. I may not be the smartest person around, but don't insult me. Now, what reason could these assholes have for [Lying]? My foot steps on a plate. Could they have found the real Chosen One? A scythe slashes through space where my head was. I doubt it. I mean come on.

When would they have found the time? Bending over, I pick up a rock. A bolt of fire misses me, scorching the wall. If not The Chosen One, then why would they be avoiding me? Reaching an intersection, I turn right. It could be that they finally got fed up with me. Had it happen before. I narrowly avoid setting off a tripwire as I step over it.

"CJ, do you realize what you're doing?" Blue asks as I continue forward.

"It's called detective work, Blue. You said that they were away. You're in the afterlife. What could they be doing?" I ask as I reach a locked door.

"You know I can't tell you anything about the heavens, CJ."

"Yeah, yeah. The 'rules'. Didn't take you as a rules follower," I say as I pick the lock.

"Even I have to follow the most fundamental rules set forth by the Gods. The rest… Well, those are bendable," he says with an audible smirk. The lock lets out a satisfying click. Swinging the door open, I spot a pedestal with a gold necklace. That must be the Holy Jewel of George. Guess I was going to find it faster than I thought. Walking up to the pedestal, I trip some sort of wire. Almost immediately, a large cage falls from the sky, landing around me and the necklace. Huh, that's a pain.

Stuffing the necklace in my bag, I easily slip out between the bars.

"That was… odd. Why can your limbs bend that way?" Blue asks as I slip and crack my way through the bars.

"You think this is my first foray with a cage? I've been trapped in more cages than you have probably ever seen in your lifetime," I joke as I walk out the same way I came.

"Why not just get better at not being trapped?"

"Why not just get better at not breathing? In my line of work, you'll almost always have a run-in with a cage," I explain as I look at the mess.

"I get it." You would think whoever lived in this dump would actually take the time to [Clean] up. I mean, come on. Do at least a little bit. I mean, you have scorch marks on the wall, random metal shavings, and not to mention a whole ton of needles on the ground. Leaving the entrance of the cave, I watch as Penelope and Hopper talk at the entrance.

"You're saying he's down there?" Penelope asks with a hint of worry.

"That's what my [Skill] is telling me. Think the Giant Boar took him down there?

"Nah, I doubt it," I say as I walk up to them. Penelope shakes her head.

"See, told you he would be fine. This time Hopper leads." Hopper shrugs as Penelope walks out from behind the waterfall. Odd. Well, at least I have the Holy Gem of Helen. Now, I just need to relax. Should be easy.