Chapter 4: Shop Runs and Forbidden Chests

3.

Hello, na me be your guide for this adventure. Gift pack... handbook... slime... quest... Oya, check the branch near the big mango tree. Mama Ozioma cat dey there. I just hope say you no go behave like that last stubborn one.

(Catch the cat)

#System prompt: 【Cat jump attack you】

#System prompt: Entering battle

Nneka: Monster... traitor... revenge... die...

(Swing machete) (Swing machete)

#System prompt: You don kill Nneka, get 【Engagement Ring*1】【Half Thumb*1】

#System prompt: Achievement unlocked 【Schrödinger’s Cat】

You try—at least you get sense pass the last person. No forget, many enemies go attack you anyhow. If you no strike first, dem fit finish you. Congrats again—you don solve the monster problem for border town. Now, you fit talk to Mama Ozioma and report your quest, Or waka go general store to learn about the place.

(Walking) (For general store)

The shop people for border town dey sell basic things: Medicine, weapon, tunic, small small items, and more. But na if you get enough Umuola coins o. You fit kill enemies for outside town, collect wetin dem drop, and sell am for more money. For west, na desert dey, where big, hard insect tribe dey. Dem big, get shell, and dem run fast—dem dey give wahala. If your level low, abeg, no near there. Better first go Iron Ruins go fight zombie wey dey waka. But before then, go meet Mama Ozioma report your quest.

The shop get strong wooden counter, two market women dey argue price as dem dey count change. 'How much be this ogogoro?' 'Ah, bros, na 200 naira last!' One old man dey mend machete for corner, him mouth dey move as if e dey pray. Sun dey hot, sweat dey your back, but you still dey hustle for better weapon. Na so life be for border town—struggle, bargain, and survival.

(Walking) (Talk to the old woman)

Hello, pikin—you see my cat? You mean my cat Nneka? You kill am? Thank God! You try well well, you be good child.

Her hands dey shake as she hold your arm. Na joy and small pain you fit see for her eye. "God bless you," she repeat, "God bless you." For our side, if you do this kind job, sometimes you fit collect yam or kola nut join the thanks.

#System prompt: 【Find Little Nneka】completed

#System prompt: Lost 【Half Thumb*1】

#System prompt: Level up LV2

Good, if you report quest, you go get experience points. The higher your level, the stronger and faster you go dey. Most magic skills sef need certain level. Now, follow my guidance go meet combat skill teacher. After you learn your first skill, you fit go fight zombie. Wait—wetin you dey do? Pikin, why you dey enter Mama Ozioma house? No, no go near that place, e no concern you. Comot for there, pikin, no touch that chest. Oh, that gold chest na Mama Ozioma own true true. Yes, you dey right—the chest wey you see na your own. Even if e dey another person house, nobody fit stop you from opening am. But you sure say you wan do am like this? Abeg, as better adventurer, To dey scatter person property no make sense. ......Oya, do as you like, I no talk again, na wa o.

E get as e dey do you—like when pikin wan steal meat from pot and elder dey watch am. Some voice dey beg you stop, another dey push you, "Open am, no fear!"

——

Narrator:

The adventurer no send Mama Ozioma beg, he still open the chest. You hear small scratching sound, like rat dey inside. Before you fit close am, dem don rush out. One bad smell rush out as the chest dey shake anyhow. Suddenly, plenty plague rats rush out. Hungry rats use red eyes dey look the adventurer. Dem hunger don make dem craze. Dem chop the adventurer body like cheese, hole full everywhere. He beg Mama Ozioma to help, but the old woman just look am, sigh. Him shout lost inside the rats noise, Till nothing remain except white bone, no flesh at all. Na only for the end he come realize: The true owner of the chest no be Mama Ozioma, na Nneka.

For Umuola, na so dem dey warn pikin: "No touch wetin no concern you." The kind rats wey rush, e resemble all the evil spirit story wey elders dey tell for harmattan night. Even the ground for Mama Ozioma house go dey cold for days. Na heavy lesson for any adventurer wey no dey hear word.

Advice: The treasure chest wey you see na your own—nobody fit stop you. Rules no be for breaking. Abeg, follow the guidance.

For Umuola, your story fit end before e even start—if you no hear word.