Newbie's Quest: Awaiting Challenge
Chapter 18: Hand in Hand

Rewinding time to ten minutes earlier.

Ethan Walker skillfully eliminates the fierce male teacher in his class and then heads to the storage room.

The experience in the storage room was even more bizarre. At Ethan Walker's command, "Red, go," Little Red Riding Hood pulls a kitchen knife from her butterfly-knotted wicker basket and bursts through the door. Ethan Walker, standing outside, closes the door and leans against the wall with his arms crossed.

In less than two minutes, a polite knock comes from inside.

"Brother, please open the door."

Ethan Walker turns and opens the door. Little Red Riding Hood has cleaned herself up, her face pale and small, reaching out her left hand to hold his.

The storage room door is now ajar, thick liquid seeping through the gap.

The raven camera captures a fleeting glimpse of the scene inside as it flies away.

The audience nearly vomits at the sight.

Commentator 1: "My goodness."

Commentator 2: "Isn't Red too fierce?"

Commentator 3: "After all, she's high-risk. If it weren't for Ethan Walker's triple kill last time, she would have wiped out the whole squad." Commentator 4: "Terrifying..."

Commentator 5: "But how come this subordinate is so obedient? I've seen some chase their masters to bite them."

Commentator 6: "Ethan Walker must have trained her well."

Commentator 7: "When did he have the time? Didn't he move to the next instance just two days after finishing the last one?"

Commentator 8: "I heard that if a player's level is particularly high, they can suppress their subordinate, making them obedient." Commentator 9: "But the question is, how could Ethan Walker, a newcomer, have such a high level?"

In the shortest time, Ethan Walker, accompanied by Little Red Riding Hood, arrives at the final level.

Unsurprisingly, the final boss, a female high school student named Parker, appears.

This time, Ethan Walker doesn't leap down from the upper floor as before.

Jane appears beside him unexpectedly, their hands intertwined, watching the pale figure in the distance with slight fear.

"That's Olivia Parker, who died recently," she says.

Ethan Walker nods, gripping his hammer tightly in his right hand, Little Red Riding Hood standing ready for battle in front of him. Then, unexpectedly, Ethan Walker sheathes his weapon.

Commentator 10: "What's up with Ethan Walker?"

Commentator 11: "Why did he suddenly sheathe his weapon?"

Commentator 12: "Is he not fighting this time?"

Commentator 13: "Came late, why did Ethan Walker abandon the level last time?"

Commentator 14: "Avalon Guild didn't say, but I guess it's to attempt the 35 side quest."

Commentator 15: "Why attempt that? Didn't he fail last time?"

Commentator 16: "Don't know, maybe to replace Tess Johnson?"

Commentator 17: "There's inside information that Tess Johnson from Team 2 might still be alive."

After Ethan Walker sheathes his weapon, the boss, a long-haired female high school student in a summer uniform, reveals herself. Her face is frightful, her expression sinister, eyeing Ethan Walker and Jane with malice.

Jane steps back twice, and Ethan Walker, glancing at her, remains silent.

"Are you Parker?" Ethan Walker speaks up, "I'd like to have a word with you."

Ethan Walker's strategy is to try every method he can think of. If anyone knows this instance well, it would be the NPCs and the boss. This time, he didn't want to eliminate the boss; he wanted to talk to her.

"Do you have any grievances?" Ethan Walker suddenly asked.

Commentator 1: "What's Ethan Walker up to now?"

Commentator 2: "I don't get it, is he offering psychological counseling to the boss?"

Commentator 3: "I think he's trying to extract information."

Commentator 4: "Won't the boss attack?"

To everyone's surprise, as soon as Ethan Walker finished speaking, the boss's expression changed and she began to cry. Ethan Walker: ?

Did that actually work?

Commentator 5: "Hahaha, Ethan Walker's expression is hilarious."

Commentator 6: "He must not have expected that."

Commentator 7: "Looks like he's trying his luck."

Ethan Walker steps forward, and Olivia Parker collapses to the ground, continuously wiping her tears.

From her, Ethan Walker learns a "truth."

Olivia Parker reveals she was a student in Class 5, Grade 11 at Hamilton High, outstanding in studies and attractive, which led to jealousy and exclusion from other girls. She was also harassed by a Mr. Davis. Terrified, she reported this to her homeroom teacher. Soon after, Mr. Davis was dismissed and, unable to bear the public disgrace, he took his own life.

Olivia thought everything would end there, and she could peacefully finish high school. However, she was stalked by a security guard from the school who attempted to assault her. In the struggle, they both died.

She expressed her anguish, unable to rest knowing another perpetrator was still alive.

Ethan Walker asked her who the other person was.

"Michael Johnson," Olivia's expression turned fierce, "He was in cahoots with the guard named Frank!"

Commentator 8: "Michael Johnson? Isn't he the guard at the school gate?"

Commentator 9: "Is this some hidden storyline?"

Commentator 10: "So by resolving the boss's issue, can we unlock a hidden quest?"

Commentator 11: "Doesn't seem like it. Alex Johnson's team didn't trigger anything like this before."

Commentator 12: "So, what now?"

Ethan Walker is pondering the same question.

But then he hears sobbing.

Turning, he sees Jane, tears streaming down her face.

?

What's going on?

Moved to tears?

Jane's crying intensely, her clean face marred by dark tears.

"You're lying!"

She points at Olivia Parker, her voice tinged with accusation.

Olivia appears not to recognize Jane.

"Who are you? Why are you accusing me of lying? Were you one of the girls who ostracized me?"

After accusing Olivia of lying, Jane seems to lose her spirit and returns to a state of silence and numbness. Ethan Walker is baffled.

What is this plot twist?

"Olivia Parker is the most vengeful spirit haunting Hamilton High. If she's gone, everything will be resolved."

This line is always uttered by NPC Jane at the boss level, seemingly no different from before.

Ethan Walker is somewhat bewildered.

Olivia, hearing Jane's words, seems deeply agitated.

"What vengeful spirit? I, I didn't harm anyone, I don't believe it!"

She covers her face, visibly in agony. Before Ethan can react, she screams and attempts to jump from the building.

"67"

Ethan is shocked.

"Wait a moment!"

He rushes forward, grabbing the boss's hand.

Commentator 13: "Congratulations to the contestants for successfully joining hands."

Commentator 14: "Hahaha, Ethan Walker, don't kill me with laughter, saving the boss now, haha."

Commentator 15: "If the boss dies, it's game over. Ethan Walker must be cursing inside."

Commentator 16: "Ethan Walker - all for survival."

This scene is what Emily Johnson sees when she turns on her screen. She's mistaken; Ethan Walker doesn't plan to kill the boss. Instead, he wants to save her. "Big sister, give a shout before you jump, alright?"

With a burst of strength, Ethan flings the boss back.

Luckily, he was quick; if the boss had died, the game would be over.

"Alright, alright, no more jumping. I'll do it for you."

Saying so, he leaps without hesitation.

As he falls, Ethan thinks he sees a dark silhouette behind the railing on the rooftop, a girl quietly watching his descent.

Until the game scene dissipates, Ethan remains solemn.

"Back already?"

Alex Johnson and others approach, Emily Johnson's hand heavy with another bag of gold.

After tossing the gold to them, Ethan prepares for his third dive into the game.

While adjusting his clothes, he ponders Jane's words.

Setting aside the content, isn't Jane, as an NPC, exhibiting an excessive range of emotions?