I blocked attack from insect like monster, whose arms resembled two curved swords, using my dagger and my counterattack finished the duel, when my sword went inside his neck. It was tricky to cut out his magic stone because of his armor like shell.

  Insect warrior was one of the strongest monsters in Dead man's chest dungeon's fifth floor. But as long as he was alone, he was no match for me even if I did not use my spells. I was in the middle of removing his shell that I could sell later, when I heard footsteps. I replaced my dagger with my throwing knife, and took out my second throwing knife.

  - Well, well what have we here? Some lady steeling our loot, - smirked an adventurer holding big sword. His companions laughed. There were three of them all together. Judging from their badges, C rank adventurers. Warrior with a sword, mage and assassin or scout in black clothes, armed with short sword and daggers.

  - That is not nice to steal? But if you apologize and leave us all your money, we will forgive you.

  What lowlifes. But not the first adventurers who asked for trouble. Stealing from others was rear, but as adventurers sometimes said: What happens in the dungeon stays in the dungeon. So stealing and killing other adventurers was something that I needed to expect.

  I slowly stood up, hiding my knives. I used the time to cast Hast spell on myself. The moment I faintly glowed and they noticed my spell I threw my knifes. Mages rarely used armor, which was a weakness. My first dagger pierced his heart. Second knife I through at the scout, but he almost dodged it, and knife wounded his arm.

  - You whore! - screamed their leader and attacked me. Geesh, attacking someone without mages assistance, was reckless. I would have used all advantages before that, like enhancement spells or potions.

  I managed to take out my sword and sliced his neck, simultaneously dodging his attack. He dropped his sword and grabbed his neck trying to stop the bleeding, but it was too late.

  Assassin paled and stepped back.

  - We were just kidding. You did not have to do that.

  Sure, sure. Like I would ever trust that. He turned away and tried to run away. I could have run after him, but it could a trap. A changed a grip on my sword and threw it. Heavy blade pierced his back and assassin fell on the ground. I slowly approached him, but adventurer was already dead. I took out my sword, and quickly searched their wallets. Taking their personal belongings was too dangerous, but money could not be traced back to them. I sadly looked at insect warrior's body. I did not remove his shell, and now had to leave it. Adventurers might have been not alone.

  I sighed and looked at the ceiling. It was time to leave the dungeon and return to capitol.

  * * *

  I tried to hit my instructor, but he grabbed my hand and through me over his shoulder. I landed on my back and grunted in displeasure.

  - If you have time to complain, then you have time to get up, - told me my teacher.

  - I pay you for these lessons, - I reminded him, but Askor only smiled.

  - Yes, and it is my job to make most of the time that you paid me for.

  I got up and took a fighting stance. I could have sworn that I moved faster than my teacher, but like he always said, watch your opponents body, anticipate movements of his muscles and even his breathing will tell you about his next move. Even after two years I did not mastered that part of unarmed combat. Today we practiced throwing an opponent and after four more times of landing on my butt our lesson came to an end. We bowed to each other and I left the room.

  Best way to describe the place, was to say that it looked like a dojo, from my original world. I was wearing a shirt and short pants and was barefooted. Unlike to dojo in my original world, this one had wooden floor covered by stretched carpet.

  I started attending this martial arts school after I returned from my quest in Gornagog village. I also attended swordsmanship school where master taught dual wielding style of sword and dagger uses.

  My dual wielding lessons were more successful. Thanks to my Dual wielding skill I learned my teacher's fighting style faster and my skill subconsciously corrected my movements, when I fought using two blades. My teacher already told me that I was close to being master of the style, and that soon there will be nothing that he could teach me. I disagreed with that since in a practice duel he still could best me eight times out of ten. For that reason I continued my lessons and was not planning on quitting them for a while.

  By now my schedule for last two years was two afternoons of learning martial arts, two mornings of dual wielding lessons and then three and half days I spend in one of two dungeons located near capitol of Asgrin.

  In the past there were three dungeons, but the least visited dungeon ceased to exist and now there were only two. No one missed Cemetery dungeon since no one went there anyway, and by now the only difference were rookie adventurers who searched the remnants of town of the dead that used to be Cemetery dungeon, in hopes of finding any treasure. Even two years later, they did not found anything, but that did not stop them from continuing the search.

  By now I was level five high elf. This meant that I did not need to concern myself worrying about old age. High elves did not age and lived forever, unless they were killed by violent means. My increased health stats also protected me from getting sick, or at least I would heal very fast.

  My main job was adventurer and by now I was B rank adventurer just two levels under the highest rank S. My goal in dungeon visits was finding artifacts, that could increase my speed, but I had no such luck. Instead I spend most of the money that I earned in two years to by a bracelet that had ability to increase my speed stat by one. Now I had two artifacts, ring and bracelet, both of which increased users speed by one.

  During my training practice I did not use them, to keep my training more efficient. I went to the cloakroom and changed into my adventuring clothes and armor. I was hungry and decided to visit nearest tavern. After ordering food and diluted wine I listened to conversations in surrounding tables. Mostly people discussed the promotion of a royal night to paladin. That was the topic of conversations because royal knight used to be a commoner and raise of his rank to paladin was highest honor that he could receive from the king. I listened to conversation because knight's name was Trevor. In the past we used to be members of the same adventurers party. Last time I saw Trevor was more than ten years ago. The ceremony was supposed to be held tomorrow after the sunrise in the local church of light. Most of times the ceremony was closed to public, but this time it was supposed to be open for the public view because of Trevor's peasant background. Apparently king wanted to show people, that even peasant could become famous and powerful royal knight, as long as he puts enough effort into it.

  I had nothing to do next morning and ended up near the church of Theia, goddess of the light. There was a crowd in front of it. Apparently too many people wanted to see the ceremony and knights restricted the access to church to avoid overcrowding. I had no connections in king's court, and no chances to get inside, but out of curiosity I came closer to the entrance. I never visited churches in the capitol and only saw this one from the distance. As I came closer to entrance, crowd pushed me forwards and I ended up in front of the guards, who guarded the gate. One of them looked at me. I wanted to step back, but before I could he addressed me.

  - You are B rank adventurer, as I see. So, even someone like you wants to see our legendary commander. Very well, you may go inside, - he opened the left side of the gates, and I ended up going inside. It is not like I want to see it, but by then I felt too uncomfortable to refuse.

  - Thank you, - I thanked knight and ne nodded.

  I went inside and took one of the empty seats. Ceremony already started. Trevor was kneeling before the priest in white robes. Last time I saw him he looked like an eighteen years old boy. Now he looked like a man in his early twenties. He was tall and well built. I noticed that he probably exercised daily and just like me increased his level, since that was the only explanation to his youthful look. Back then I looked like a seventeen years old girl and now looked like eighteen year old. But unlike humans my outer appearance will not change anymore.

  Priest was talking about Trevor's heroic deeds that apparently started with his victory in the tournament. I thought to myself that I do not want to hear about his the next achievement, when bright light shined into my eyes. I covered my face and when light disappeared I jumped up and looked around surprised. From what I could tell I was inside the throne room. In a large white chair was sitting beautiful woman who was glowing slightly.

  - Do not be afraid child. I will soon send you back, and no one will even notice your absence.

  - Who are you? And where am I?

  - My name is Theia and you are in my palace, far away from your world.

  That sounds insane, but it was the best explanation that I could think of.

  - Why am I here?

  - I needed to talk to you.

  - And why now? I assume that you are the reason why I was reincarnated in this world, so why are we talking only now?

  The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  - I was able to contact you because you entered place of my power, my church. Until then you were out of my reach.

  - I went inside churches before.

  - Churches that you mention are not mine. They do not belong to any individual god and are more like workplaces for priests, who represent the high pope, who worships all human gods that are worshiped in your continent. But what belongs to all does not really belong to anyone.

  - I see.

  - Then let me explain the reason why you were reincarnated. That will make rest of conversation easier for you to understand, - I nodded and she continued: - The game Heroes, Magic and Monsters were created by gods to prepare people for the battle that been fought in this world since ancient times, between the gods that represent order and forces of chaos, represented by Lucifer, lord of demons and devils. We visited earth many times. We were worshiped as sumerian, egyptian, greek and norse gods and many others. We inspired humans to create the game that represented abilities of races that people and creatures had in this world to prepare you and many others for the battles, so you could help us defeat Lucifer and his armies. But in order to do that we needed help from other gods, that are worshiped in this world. And we were betrayed. One of the evil gods that in your realm was known as Loki decided that it will be fun if humans will fight on the Lucifer's side as well.

  Originally humans were supposed to be reincarnated as children among the races of two continents, but because of Loki's interference, humans were reincarnated also as representatives of the races that fight on Lucifer's side. Humans were reincarnated as creatures whose characters they mostly choose, while playing the game. Many of heroes were based on real persons, who lived in this world twenty years ago, others, like your favorite character Avone, were created by humans who developed the game.

  After your death you were supposed to be reincarnated as newborn children and most of you were met by gods during your souls journey and received an explanation. Your case was the only exception and as far as I know, also will be in the future.

  Like I said, you were supposed to be reincarnated as children born to real parents, and you are the only one who reincarnated as game's character. That happened because of your attachment, I will not even hesitate to say, unhealthy addiction to game's character.

  Well, who could blame me? Avone's character was so cute.

  - Because of that, as an exception, you were granted knowledge, like language and ability to read that the game character would have. Along with her body's instinctive abilities of elven ranger.

  - So does that mean that right now I am the only adult?

  - No. Partially you are right. Human children are still children. But you forget that you are reincarnated only after your death. Some sooner, some later. Of course elves mature much later, even if they were reincarnated before you, they will need more time to grow up, but there are races like goblins. Who come into adulthood in four to six years. I summoned you because of one of such goblins. He is reincarnated human from your world. But he became a warlord. He enslaved his village's people, after killing half of them in their sleep. Then he gathered a huge army, who is now approaching kingdom of Ashgrin. He is killing every living creature in his way, and his first target in Ashgrin will be Grimsburg and its people.

  I am afraid that if his powers will continue to grow, he may become too powerful and will drown this continent in blood and fire. I want to enlist your help in stopping him.

  - What makes him so powerful, that people of this world cannot stop him themselves?

  - Like I mentioned many gods welcomed the souls from your world. In exchange for their allegiance gods granted humans the jobs of their choosing and in some cases even a skill that they were already born with. You can imagine the difference between someone with hero job and a commoner?

  Yes, I could. My Double skill slots skill made me more powerful, that I would have been without it.

  - Tell me more about that allegiance. Why is that important? Humans are known to betray their masters. Especially if we become powerful and do not need to follow the law.

  - There is a great difference. I cannot contact you anywhere, but inside my church. But if you would be my servant I could contact you anywhere. I could know your location anytime, and even if we do not interfere directly in lower worlds affairs, evil gods could send assassins after someone who betrayed them. They would send their assassins and order them to attack the traitor during their sleep or during the moment of their most vulnerability.

  That was an inconvenient.

  - Just to be clear. Even if I decide to help you, I do not pledge my allegiance to you.

  - As you wish. I do not ask that of you.

  - Good.

  - But if you agree to help me, I can offer you a reward. Skill or perhaps something else?

  I thought about the thing that I could need. Something that I missed the most.

  - Coffee beans.

  - You want coffee beans?

  - Yes, - I missed coffee in the morning. There was sugar, honey, milk and juice. Even potatoes, so I could make hamburgers and french fries, but no coffee. I missed also lemonade, but had no idea how to make it. And any amount that I could ask would be finite. But if I got coffee beans, also known as seeds of the fruit. I could grow coffea trees and get infinite amount of coffee in the mornings. That was exactly what I wanted.

  - You could have asked for a skill or an artifact, but instead you want coffee beans?

  - Fresh ones that I can plant and use to grow coffea trees. Besides, skills and artifacts I can get myself, but no coffee.

  - I am not surprise anymore that you reincarnated as a game character. You are a strange one. But fine, - she extended her arm and small bag appeared near me. I opened it. Inside were small red berry like seeds. Exactly ripe and good for planting.

  - Wont they go bad until I can arrange a cofea tree farm?

  - I will put preservation spell on them, to preserve them until they touch the earth.

  - Good, but I still need more information.

  - You have more questions?

  - First the most important one. According to the game scenario this world will be destroyed when last battle between the heroes and Lucifer starts, and only few survivors will relocate to another planet. Will that happen here? And when? And can it be stopped?

  - That story was a fiction, created by humans who developed the game. It is true that some of the characters like queen Elizabeth the great, king Rolan Griffinheart are real people, but many stories and also the worlds future are what you call fiction, created by games developers to advance the game and make it more popular.

  That was good. Waiting for this world to be destroyed, was driving me crazy. That also solved my predicament. I thought that I will be at a disadvantage, since I had no idea who was other reincarnated people. But if other characters were based on real people and I was only one who reincarnated as game character, then other reincarnated will think that I am just another life based character, not reincarnated person.

  - Good, - I gave voice to my thoughts: - When will this reincarnated goblin come to Grimsburg. What can you tell me about his army? And can you also warn the people of Asgrin, so they could prepare for the battle?

  - I only know that his army has thousands warriors in it. They will arrive in Grimsburg in fifty days or so. I cannot interfere and warn people directly, but word about the invaders is on its way. They should receive the news in five or six days.

  Good, that gave me some time.

  - Fine. I will accept your quest, and do what I can to stop this goblin-hero from killing everyone in Grimsburg.

  - Thank you brave adventurer.

  So now I was brave adventurer not some obsessed human with issues.

  The light again shined into my eyes and I found myself in the same place. Priest was listing Trevor achievements after he became a royal knight. Apparently he stopped bandits, hunted monsters and stopped monster stampedes. Not bad for a former scared boy, which he was when we first met.

  In the end priest took a shining sword from the altar and placed it on Trevor's shoulder.

  - From this day on you will be granted the rank of paladin, and will be known threw the kingdom as Trevor the Brave, protector of kingdom of Ashgrin.

  Crowd cheered, and Trevor stud up and waved. He looked like a real hero in his adamantium armor. I felt proud for him. Soon ceremony ended, and I left the church. I was holding bag with coffee beans in my hand, and placed it inside my magic bag. So I received the reward up front. Not bad, but it was not like it was precious for the goddess. And she was probably ready to grant me a skill to make my fighting more efficient. But I doubted that any novice level skill would be useful, and learning new spells would take too much time, while dealing with new skill.

  I decided to visit Adventurer guild. Last time I leveled up for month ago, and I will need all advantage that I could get in order to stop reincarnated hero with cheat skills. I greeted my familiar receptionist bunny-girl Bonnie. When we first met he was just a young girl, but now she was already young woman. Bonne got married six years ago and had two children that she talked about often.

  - Lady Avone, it has been a while. Did you bring as more items to sell?

  - Greetings Bonnie. Not this time. I just want to use leveling crystal.

  - Of course follow me.Bonnie took me to the leveling room and opened the door for me. I went inside and put my hands on the crystal.

  Good, I advanced one level:

  High elf, LV 5 - 6

  Name - Avone;

  Job: Ranger;

  Status:

  Health: 23 - 24;

  Mana: 340 - 350;

  Strength: 5 - 6;

  Defense: 2;

  Spell power: 13;

  Luck: 1;

  Speed: 7 (+3=10);

  Morale: Neutral

  Skills:

  Archery (Advanced);

  Night vision (Advanced);

  Mana rapid recovery (Novice);

  Magic resistance (Advanced);

  Wisdom (Basic);

  Earth magic (Advanced);

  Butchery (Basic);

  Water magic (Novice);

  Air magic (Basic);

  Intelligence (Advanced);

  Fire magic (Novice);

  Life magic (Novice);

  Swordsmanship (Advanced);

  Increased speed (Basic);

  Throwing (Novice);

  Hunting (Novice);

  Weapons master (Basic);

  Primordial magic (Basic);

  Dual wielding (Novice);

  Double skill slots

  Possible skill acquirement:

  - Farsight (Novice);

  - Butchery (Advanced);

  Please choose one skill!

  But my skill choice was awful. Again Butchery, my most useless skill. And second choice Farsight that I did not want as well. I sighed and chose Butchery, at least I will not have to level it up, until rest of my skills become advance level.

  I came outside and Bonnie locked the door behind me.

  - Are there any guard jobs for anyone who would go to Grimsburg? Payment does not matter.

  - Let me check.

  We returned to main hall and I waited for Bonnie to look for possible quest. I could go there alone, but no reason to do that if I could earn some money on the way. Unless I will have to wait too long, in which case I will have to journey alone. I was not experienced in long journeys and was afraid to get lost on my way.

  - There are merchants going to Grimsburg in two days. They posted quest searching for guards. Until now only two D rank adventurers accepted the job. So you can take the quest if you want.

  - Yes, I will take it.

  - As you wish.