"Do you have a weapon I could use?" Julien asked.
He and Gizelle were standing in the elevator, as it descends.
After Julien successfully convinced Gizelle to let him tag along to subjugate the goblin horde, they went back to the elevator, fully intent on carrying out their mission.
Only when Julien imagined the different scenarios about the imminent clash, did he realize something: he didn't have a weapon.
This was obviously a big problem.
Realizing that there was no way he will find a decent weapon in a place like this, he asked Gizelle instead.
She was about to fight the horde alone, no? So doesn't that mean she prepared a backup weapon, just for in case?
Gizelle didn't answer immediately, just kept staring straight ahead. Only when the elevator opened on the third floor–Julien's apartment floor–did she speak.
"You go wear your shirt, I will get you the weapon."
Julien stepped out of the elevator when it was clear that she wasn't getting off with him.
He made his way towards his apartment, only when he heard the elevator door close, did he turn back.
He saw the light blinking up, signaling the elevators ascend.
Seeing this, he remembered something.
When he first got out of the apartment, driven by blood, he smelled two scents. Gizelle's and another male–he was passing by in the elevator at that time, going to a higher floor.
Julien completely forgot about him, his existence didn't matter until now.
He also didn't know if there are other people living in the building.
'Our fight was not very subtle. I'm sure the tremor could be felt throught the entire building when my fist collided with that wind-barrier.'
He glanced toward the door of his neighbor.
'So why didn't anybody react?
Why did no one come and check out the situation?
Is this... normal here?'
Julien searched the interior of the building, looking for any signs of battle.
He found none.
'Clean, spotless. Zero signs of battle.'
Also... when he I was on the rooftop earlier, he didn't see any lights on in any of the houses.
Yes, the sun was out. But it was early morning, people were still asleep.
Surely there would still shine some lights that were left on at night?
But no, there were none.
He was sure of that
So if none of these houses around have light, then how does this place have light?
Shit, it even has an elevator.
And it was also the only high-rise building in this place, as if it didn't belong here.
Something he only realized now.
Is that why none of the people that live here approached this place? Because it didn't belong here?
It's as if they want nothing to do with it.
Does that mean that something is wrong with this place?
Is something happening in here that is so terrifying that makes even people on the verge of falling dead from hunger afraid to come near?
If it's like that, then why did the original owner of this body come here?
"Fuck, this is getting complicated." Julien muttered.
Having no one around to answer his questions, Julien stepped into the apartment, deciding to investigate.
The first thing he did was move to the light switch of the kitchen, still burning from when he put it on earlier.
He flickered it off, then on.
He looked around, seeing no visible cable connecting the switch and the light.
"Maybe it's in the wall?"
Deciding to leave barbaric acts, like punching a hole in the wall, for later. Julien decided to exhaust all other options first.
Stepping onto a chair, he reach for the light bulb, trying to loosen it from the socket, delicately.
His hand phased through the light bulb.
"What?" Shocked painted his features.
He tried again.
The same thing happened.
After that, he tried with the broom, it too, phased through.
"Am I going crazy?"
Julien asked, genuinely thinking that he is losing his mind.
He experimented with other objects, a mop, a cloth, he even tried using a few skills, but no matter what he tried, nothing worked. They all had the same result: phase through.
'Maybe it's not real, maybe its just a projection?
But if it isn't real, then why can it light the room, why do I feel its heat on my skin, and why doesn't the projection flicker when touched?
It is like, it's there, but at the same time, it's not?'
"Shit! Why is this so hard to figure out?!"
Julien exclaimed in frustration. His impatient side coming out in full force.
'Maybe I'm asking the wrong questions.'
"Tch, fuck this. I'll just ask Gizelle, I'm sure she knows something about this."
Since all options were not yet exhausted, no hole was punched in the wall for today.
With that out of the way for now, Julien shifted his attention to something of utmost importance, something he has been neglecting for a while now.
"Now–"
Clap.
Julien clapped his hands together.
"Where the fuck is my money?"
Even though he didn't have to opportunity to outright search for the money, he still kept an eye open, in case he comes across it.
But, there was no signs of it.
"Inventory." He called out.
Right after that, a series of chimes echoed in his mind.
[Ding!]
[Conditions met!]
[Hidden Achievement!]
[Inventory Unlocked]
~~~~~~
[Inventory]
>10 000 000 Unicreds
~~~~~~
"Haha. That was easy. I thought I would have had to turn this whole place upside down. Luckily that didn't happen."
Julien laughed, genuinely happy that he found his money.
If not for the amount of novels he read in his last life, he was sure that he would never have been able to find it.
Using a flicker of willpower, Julien pulled out a single coin from his inventory, intent on inspecting it.
A tiny circular object appeared in the palm of his hand, glittering a golden glow under the light.
Julien ran the coin through his hands, feeling the texture, the weight and the quality.
"It's basically just a gold coin with the letters UC ingrained on it."
Julien felt a little disappointed, he saw the unique name lf the money and thought that it would be something unique too, but turns out, it's not.
"Well, it doesn't matter. It's pure gold, and I have plenty more of this. Surely this is a lot of money."
Realizing that he was wasting too much time, Julien went to the bedroom to look for appropriate clothing, but he found none.
His shirt was the only piece of clothing left in the apartment.
"The clothes are loose enough, I'm sure it won't be too much of a hindrance in battle."
Speaking of battle, for some reason, Julien is not nervous at all, in fact he was excited, looking forward to the clash.
That's because he was a curious person by nature, and curiosity has a way of overriding fear and nerves, and right now Julien was curious about how the gifts he got will fare in battle.
He was also using this opportunity to see which skills will be most proficient in battle, and he will also watch Gizelle fight, to figure out the standards of power in this world.
And yes, a single misstep could cost him his life, but he was certain that he wouldn't die, he had Gizelle on his side after all.
She is the type of person that don't like owing people, and if they do owe another, they will do anything in their power to repay the price.
So, surely she will save Julien's life in return for him saving hers, no?
Well, that's at least what Julien thinks. There was no doubt in his mind that Gizelle will do whatever she can to ensure his safety.
With that said, that is the reason that Julien was not nervous about the confrontation with the goblin horde.