I Can Extract Game Items

Chapter 128 On A Personal Quest To Save Tara

August's chest tightened. He pushed past the guards, ignoring their protests.

The crowd erupted into gasps and whispers as the man with the futuristic helmet broke through the barrier, heading straight for Derrick.

When Derrick saw the man stop in front of him, he hesitated, unsure why he'd been singled out. Before he could react, the muffled, modulated voice spoke.

"Derrick."

Derrick's jaw dropped. How did this man know his name?

"Come with me," August voiced with a low but firm tone.

The guards were confused but obedient. They swiftly flanked them as August led Derrick through the corridors toward the ICU. The murmurs of the crowd followed them, but no one dared block their path.

They reached a private ward, and August dismissed the guards. "We need privacy," he stated before locking the door behind them.

Derrick's confusion deepened as August turned to face the bed where Tara lay. Her frail, pale, and motionless body, was hooked to an array of monitors. The rhythmic beeping of the machines filled the silence.

"How do you—" Derrick began, but his words caught in his throat as August reached up and removed the helmet.

Derrick's eyes widened. "A-August?"

August nodded with a faint smile. "It's me, Derrick."

Derrick stumbled back while covering his mouth in disbelief. "You're… You're the miracle man? You're the one everyone's talking about?"

"I suppose I am," August voiced while setting the helmet on a nearby chair.

He placed a reassuring hand on Derrick's shoulder. "But let's talk about why you're here. Tell me everything."

Derrick's emotions spilled out like a broken dam. He explained how Tara had fallen ill months ago with a rare ailment that doctors couldn't diagnose, how she had deteriorated rapidly, and how her pregnancy had complicated everything further.

He spoke of sleepless nights and how he had to pretend like all was fine during shifts at the factory... the unbearable feeling of watching the love of his life fade away.

August listened intently as his eyes flicked between Derrick and Tara. "Why didn't you tell me?" he asked softly.

"I didn't want to burden you," Derrick admitted with tears streaming down his face. "You had your own struggles. I thought… I thought I could handle it."

It was the first time August had ever seen Derrick shed tears and it broke something inside of him.

Derrick had always been kind to August... had always ignored his own burdens to try and help August, all with a smile on his face and now that he was struggling... August never had an idea... Never dug well enough to figure things out and lend a supporting shoulder to the one person who had always been there...

August suddenly felt like a failure of a friend.

He couldn't believe that Derrick had been suffering this whole time.

"So all those times you went in a different direction after shifts... This is where you were headed?" August questioned with a look of disbelief.

Derrick nodded affirmatively.

August clenched his fists. "You're my friend, Derrick. You should've told me."

Derrick's voice cracked. "I didn't think anyone could help. You also have your issues with the loans and Sophia's school fees and all that... I've prayed to gods I don't believe in, and begged for a miracle. And then… you walked out of that boardroom."

August turned his attention to Tara, inspecting her fragile form. Her condition was worse than he imagined. He touched her hand, feeling the coldness of her skin.

"I can't use a health potion on her... Her condition isn't merely physical and it doesn't work on illnesses," August said after a moment. Derrick's face fell, and he looked like he might collapse. "But," August added quickly, "I have an idea."

Derrick looked up with hope flickering in his eyes. "What idea?"

August straightened and put a hand on Derrick's shoulder. "Give me one night. I'll find a way to save her. I promise."

Derrick's lips trembled, and he gripped August's arm tightly. "You mean it? You'll save her?"

"I will," August said firmly. "But I need you to trust me."

"I trust you," Derrick nearly whispered.

August put the helmet back on and turned toward the door. "Stay here with her. I'll be back."

Derrick could only hope and pray that his friend would come back with a solution.

...

...

The evening air carried a sense of quiet as August entered his apartment. He set his helmet down on the table and stretched.

His mind still processed the events of the day. Meeting Derrick at Faith Specialist Hospital had been a surprise, and the condition of Derrick's wife was very troubling.

August was still disappointed in himself for not knowing that Derrick was going through this. He had been so self-absorbed in his world and behemoth of activities that he didn't think of reaching out in the past few weeks.

Seated on his couch, August stared at the wall, pondering over the possibilities. Health potions were out of the question; they worked wonders for wounds and external injuries but couldn't mend conditions as complex as what Derrick's wife was going through.

His mind drifted to something he had encountered as a fledgling player in Enders Light—the fruit of life.

The fruit wasn't legendary or particularly rare, but it was an essential item for new players. It was known for its ability to boost physical and internal systems and also give players access to venture beyond their first spawn point in the game.

August remembered the unique tree that bore the fruit, located within the mystical Unhidden Mist village. It was one of the game's most serene locations, where half-human, half-beast villagers lived in harmony.

"I wonder if the chief will even remember me," August mused to himself. He hadn't been back to Unhidden Mist in what felt like ages.

Tagharium, where he was currently based, was a world away. The village was tucked away in the game's far southeastern corner, and he would need to use the teleportation hub to even get close.

He powered up his gaming pod, settling inside. The familiar sweet sounds of the system starting up greeted him, followed by the system notifications filling his vision. Enjoy exclusive chapters from empire

A feeling of weightlessness enveloped him as white streaks filled his vision.

[ Welcome Back, Aleman. ]

[ Player Status Loading… ]

[ Synchronization Complete. ]

Once in the game, August opened his inventory to ensure he had everything he needed. With 25,120 gold still available, he knew he wouldn't face any issues.

The bustling streets of Tagharium came alive around him. Players hurried past with weapons and items strapped to their backs. Some were discussing guild strategies, while others traded rare goods. August activated his Ogre Tusk artifact to disguise himself, watching as his avatar's features morphed into the grotesque appearance of an ogre.

He navigated his way to the teleportation hub, a massive circular structure at the city's edge, pulsating with radiant energy. A mage NPC stood at the center, managing the flow of players.

"Destination?" the NPC voice resonated with a mechanical tone as he questioned.

"Southwest hub," August replied.

The NPC nodded, inputting coordinates.

[ Teleportation Fee: 10silvers ]

August confirmed the deduction, and a bright light engulfed him. Within moments, the futuristic cityscape of Tagharium vanished, replaced by the tranquil, mist-shrouded forest of Unhidden Mist.

The difference was striking. Here, there were no castles or throngs of players—only the gentle rustle of leaves and the distant sound of insects chirping.

The village slowly came into view. Wooden huts with thatched roofs lined a winding path. Villagers with animalistic features moved about their daily lives—fox-like ears twitched at sounds, while tails swayed behind them. It was a sight August had nearly forgotten.

The serene village was abuzz with activity, from children playing near the shimmering lake to traders selling peculiar goods from makeshift stalls. The soft sounds of the village's background music created an air of nostalgia, one that August always found comforting.

"Look, it's Aleman!" a child yelled while pointing toward him.

The group of children swarmed him with bright, excited eyes. They were mostly NPCs, but their expressions felt so lifelike that August couldn't help but smile. He knelt down, ruffling one of the boy's messy hair.

"Have you all been behaving?" August questioned with a warm tone.

"Yes, Sir Aleman! I promise! Look, I even got a new dagger!" a particularly enthusiastic child replied, showing off a small blade that looked far too oversized for his tiny hands. August chuckled, making a mental note to remind the village chief about NPC child safety mechanics.

As he walked through the village square, other NPCs greeted him warmly, with many thanking him for his past deeds. Some handed him fruits, while others offered crafted trinkets. He accepted them graciously, knowing they were simply programmed tokens of appreciation but appreciating the gesture nonetheless.

"You're back, Aleman," a familiar figure approached. It was the chief, a towering man with stag-like features and piercing yellow eyes. His furred ears perked up as he gazed upon August.

"It has been a long time. I thought you had forgotten us."

August offered a sheepish smile. "I've been... busy. How have things been here?"