Chapter 63: Goodbyes After several days spent on the Abundant Shore, Xin gradually pieced together the underlying narrative of Newbie Island.
Glesga, the driving force behind the town’s growth, employed various strategies to promote prosperity.
Drasta, on the other hand, played the role of a concerned friend, ensuring that Glesga’s actions remained within reasonable bounds.
Amidst this dynamic, the Reef Raiders, led by Wind Whisperer, aimed to coexist harmoniously with the coral reefs. Yet, they remained in constant conflict with Seagull’s Nest for control over valuable resources.
Illyath’s desire was to return to Celestia, a wish that propelled her to delve into the mysteries of the sunken fleet’s lost treasures.
Amidst these local dynamics, external forces like Elysia had her own motives. Her goal was to safeguard the sea, transcending allegiance to either Seagull’s Nest or the Reef Raiders.
The quests offered on the island often revolved around these key NPCs or, occasionally, mundane tasks.
The overall storyline unfolded in cycles and repetitions, creating a tapestry of interwoven interests and conflicts.
Xin refrained from blaming the system for its design –– after all, Newbie Island was purposefully tailored to guide the steady stream of newcomers who arrived on its shores each day.
But for Xin, who had now spent a whole week navigating the island, it was time to bid farewell to this introductory phase and step into the real depths of the game.
Amassing over a hundred million gil from just the first round of auctioned items alone felt astonishing. That wealth translated to roughly a hundred thousand dollars!
With these funds at his disposal, the moment had come for Xin to make a significant purchase in Illyath’s shop and finally leave the island.
Walking into Illyath’s Shop, Xin made a sizable dent in her inventory, leaving only the items with unlimited availability, such as potions.
He chose to reserve the [Sun Blade] and [Spellguard Shield] for Xiaxia, carefully selecting [Create Golem] for his Tier-5 slot and placing [Electric Surge] in his Tier-2 slot.
Given Xin’s current level, he had four Tier-1 slots, two Tier-2 slots, and one coveted Tier-5 slot.
In addition to these choices, he equipped the [Ring of Regeneration]. Though it didn’t boost his stats or shield him from status effects, the ring possessed a remarkable ability: it regenerated 10% of his HP every ten seconds, making it an OP item to have as he progressed into the game.
As for the remaining items, Xin decided to put them up for auction.
Excitement coursed through him as he anticipated the outcome of the fourth batch of items. This collection included Illyath’s offerings and some of the rare treasures salvaged from the sunken fleet.
He anticipated that this batch alone would likely surpass the combined value of the first three batches he had previously auctioned.
𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚 "Are you departing, Lord Schrodinger?" Illyath’s voice held a tinge of wistfulness.
Xin nodded, his decision already cemented. "Yes." He had traversed every quest available and held sway over every NPC in the town. His time here had reached its conclusion.
Illyath’s lips curved into a semblance of happiness, yet her eyes betrayed a touch of melancholy. "I will miss you," she admitted softly. "Though our time together has been brief, every moment remains etched in my memory."
Xin’s pause was pregnant with realization. Departing this realm meant leaving these characters behind. A sudden pang of understanding gripped him –– he might not have the chance to see them again.
Xin hadn’t anticipated that he would develop such a strong attachment to these virtual characters –– Triton, Drasta, Glesga, Elysia, Captain Scarlet, Illyath, Wind Whisperer, and even the eccentric Ariel.
As he stood there, he felt an unexpected wave of fondness for them.
"Yeah, me too," Xin managed to respond, his emotions tangling with his words as he exited the shop.
An earnest determination led him to bid farewell to each NPC he had encountered on this journey. Gratitude for their assistance in obtaining rare items fueled his actions.
The NPCs’ reactions varied –– some shed tears, others offered well-wishes and goodbyes, while a few eccentric ones even maintained their oddities, like drowning him in the sea. And the majority expressed reluctance to see him go.
"I will miss you, Lord Schrodinger," Triton’s voice trembled with emotion, his tears undeniable. "I didn’t want this day to come, but . . . I knew it would eventually. Best of luck to you."
A genuine smile played on Xin’s lips. "I will miss you too," he replied warmly. Triton had been a steadfast companion from the very beginning, guiding him and aiding him in grinding and leveling up when quests weren’t his preference.
Surprisingly, Xin realized that only a week had passed on this island. It felt like years had gone by, and the connections he had formed with these virtual characters seemed to span a lifetime.
The sense of loss was palpable as he stood there, knowing he would truly miss them.
Xin pressed , and his form slowly began to dissolve on the shore. As he was on the verge of departing, he caught a heartwarming sight –– the townspeople were gathered at the entrance of the town, waving their farewells to him.
Triton, Flora, and the others on the shore wore smiles with tears shimmering in their eyes, offering him their best wishes.
Ariel’s reactions were as dramatic as ever, her distress evident as she resisted his departure while the fellow merfolk who had befriended him restrained her, all the while conveying their own goodbyes.
In a show of camaraderie, Captain Scarlet’s pirate ship led a synchronized cannon fire from the other pirate vessels in his honor.
A bit farther away, Elysia perched atop Turtly, the White Dragon by her side, both adorned with melancholic smiles.
"Goodbye, everyone. I hope to see you all again," Xin whispered, his voice tinged with emotion.
At that precise moment, he vanished entirely from the Abundant Shore, and the system logged him out, informing him that his physical body required sustenance.
Looks like entering Eternia would have to wait.
Upon awakening in the real world, Xin removed the helmet and made his way to the refrigerator for a quick snack.
With it being a quiet Sunday afternoon, the house was relatively peaceful, as their mother had gone out for her nail appointment and grocery shopping.
Emerging from the bedroom, Xiaxia spotted Xin, her face contorted in concern. "What happened to you?" she inquired with a furrowed brow.
Xin, in the process of taking a sip of water, paused. "What?"
"Your eyes are a bit red and watery. Did you stay up all night playing the game?" Xiaxia inquired, her concern evident in her voice.
Xin paused, his finger coming up to touch the solitary tear that clung to the corner of his eye. He gazed at it for a long moment, his expression inscrutable, before finally admitting, "Yes . . ."
With a roll of her eyes, Xiaxia nudged Xin aside and proceeded to fetch some food from the fridge for herself. "Tomorrow’s your first day of classes. You should quit playing and get the rest you need."
Xiaxia refused to entertain even the faintest notion that Xin might have been crying; that would be completely out of character for him. And it would be the end of the world if he did.
It had been years since she had witnessed him shed a tear –– their childhood days were the last time if she could recall. He hadn’t even shed a single tear when his relationship with Meilyn had ended.
"Have you already got what you need for tomorrow?" Xiaxia asked her question prompting Xin to realize that he hadn’t.
Exhaling deeply, Xiaxia directed an exasperated sigh at the ceiling. "Get dressed. We’re going to buy those things. You can’t just head to school carrying yourself."
With little choice but to comply, Xin followed Xiaxia’s lead, and together they spent the day acquiring the necessary school supplies for him.