'Hmm, I must say that my role-playing practice is finally starting to bear fruit.'

I thought, looking at the sudden increase in synchronization.

[Role Playing System]
Host: Ren Arth Arcadia
Role Play Points: 1
Role Play Gacha: [Gilgamesh Rate UP!]
Synchronization: [Gilgamesh: 9%]
Passives/Skills: 
[Gate of Babylon: E+] 
-Limited access to the king's treasury.
[Divinity: D]
-Imbued all noble phantasm with divinity. (Increase damage by 5%)
Tasks:
[Main Quest] The Majesty of Humanity's Oldest King!
Description:
-His majesty, Gilgamesh, was deemed the most arrogant tyrant who claimed the world as his back garden. It was rumored that he bears the eyes that could see the future and omnipotence that exceeded even the Gods. He is the Wedge of Heaven! The king who wields the sword of rupture, EA! As his inheritor, act befitting to his king's majesty and show the world that only you are worthy of holding the title of a King!

Mission Requirement: Act and fill the synchronization rate to 10%
Mission Reward: [Gate of Babylon: D++]
Remarks: "I will tell you of the beginning! Heaven and Earth split, nothingness congratulated creation, and my sword cleaved the world!"

It increased by 4%, that kind of increase was something I can only dream of, now I finally reached it.

I couldn't help but feel moved by this progress. After all, my mother and sister aren't giving anything anymore after reaching 5%, evident that the system really wants me to step from my comfort zone and confront the public.

'Haa, I really came a long way.'

After briefly immersing myself in success, I turned my attention from the panel to the young lady.

What should I say? Hmm, messy? Yeah, I think that would somehow suit her.

The young lady had black hair and was wearing battered clothes unfit for her size; her body was coated with a considerable amount of mud. The only thing that standout from her shabby appearance was her eyes; it was brimming with intense emotion close to fanaticism. Making me feel that something's amiss.

'...W-what's wrong with this loli?'

Also, one more puzzling thing.

Although I'm aware of the possibility that I'm not the only one abducted in this cesspool-like place, I still can't help but frown at the state of my colleague.

'It's as if she's been living in this place for a long time.'

Indeed, she's not giving me the feeling of being abducted at the same time I was. After all, the time of my abduction was just 15 mins ago, which is definitely not enough for someone to degrade in her current state. 

As for why it's so short? I used one of the artifacts at the treasury to traverse the dark forest.

[Boots of Hermes: E+]
-A noble phantasm for swiftness and feather-like weight.

Thanks to this artifact, I just have to jump for a bit, and I can easily cross a considerable distance. After all, I'm not that fond of staying in this gloomy place more than necessary.

Anyway, I digressed. Long story short, I couldn't help but think that the young lady was one of those 'Lost Personas.'

'Still, what should I do now?'

Frankly speaking, I think it would be better to ask the young lady about the situation in this mysterious realm. After all, the young lady is a native; it's evident that she has some pieces of information about this realm. 

'I can also try to get some synchronization rate from her while getting useful information.'

After contemplating, I sorted out my emotion and extracted myself from distraction, and glanced at the young lady with a hint of disdain.

"Usually, staring at the king without his permission is enough to warrant capital punishment. But since it's a special occasion, I will tolerate it. State your name, mongrel."

Seemingly waking up from her stupor, the young girl visibly gulped and stared in my direction in panic.

"I-I... p-please excuse my blunder! M-my name is Ruri Alastor, 14 years old; o-one of the Lost Personas..."

One of my eyebrows rose, feeling genuinely surprised about her word.

'... How does she know about the Lost Personas? Did her parents tell her that? Or she met another victim?'

The Lost Personas is the title that the professionals came up with; after learning about the existence of people who managed to have offspring in a mysterious realm.

Unlike missing people, these Lost Personas are individuals who had no record in the real world; they do not have any trace of existence at all. Although the family's stuck in the mysterious realm intended to leave their descendants some knowledge about the outside world, only a few can truly live to the present to preserve this tale. After all, one must never forget; that the mysterious realm is by no means friendly to humanity, for it is fraught with nothing but death.

Eh, that's about what the official said, based on my findings.

This is actually rather bad. Because that means there are more than 2 of us abducted in this place. It is unknown what's the exact number, but based on my findings, the more people trapped in the mysterious realm, the stronger the mystery is.

'I have to get out of this place quickly, or else I might not be able to handle it.'

After sorting out my thoughts, I immediately responded.

"I see. It seems you are knowledgeable about this realm, tell me, and I'll grant you a fitting reward." I said; in a leisurely manner as if I just mentioned it on a whim.

Hearing this, for some reason, the eyes of Ruri started to change, from fanaticism to hope. 

'Looking back, I feel like my awareness of other people's inner world is no different from reading their minds. In a way, this is good for dealing with scheming people.'

A sudden thought flashed by as I awaited Ruri's response.

"I-I have useful information for getting out of this realm!"

"Oh, straight to the point, huh. Very well, occasional talks such as this are refreshing in a way. State it."

"...Yes," Ruri heavily nodded and took a deep breath.

"The mystery managing this place is not in the center of the dark forest. Instead, it was above us." Ruri pointed her finger towards the sky.

Seeing this, I turned my head and gazed at the blood-colored sky. Unlike Ruri, I can see much more detail than what she described.

Indeed, a gigantic mystery was floating like a castle in the sky; but it was not alone! 

Frankly speaking, I thought I just had to deal with one raid boss like in games. But those things in the sky had different thoughts; they wanted me to clear the bloody palace at the hardest difficulty with just Nero without any proper practice and upgrades! I'm just a newbie in starter town! How can I fight the demon king right at the start after I crossed the gate!?

I slowly sorted out my emotions and flashed out Gilgamesh's classic laugh.

"Fu...Fuhaha... Fuhahaha... Fuhahahaha! Intriguing! Most intriguing! I thought this was just going to be another boring pastime, but it looks like I was mistaken. Indeed, if it's an opponent of this magnitude, it is enough to merit a hint of my utmost effort."

That said, honestly, I don't know how to deal with those things in one blow aside from using EA. Apparently, the mystery is nearly unkillable in their own realm. One country tried to bombard the mysterious realm by planting several nuclear warheads inside, only to find that although those things indeed melted under the terrifying bombardment of nuclear. But subsequently, the mystery also recovered to its prime after the explosion, meaning they're utterly unscathed. But later, a professional suggested that maybe, one unparalleled strike is enough to truly eradicate mystery along with their realm. Unfortunately, this topic was still subjected to debates, with no actual evidence to back up the claim.

'But I don't have any choice.'

Indeed, I can only spend my precious Role play points to temporarily borrow discounted EA. 

'Ah, this is definitely a losing deal for me.'

I inwardly heaved a sigh of exasperation as I stared at the floating mysteries with a hint of listlessness.

There are reasons why I hate using this discounted EA. 

Aside from its scam-like restriction of 'only 50% of EA's 1/10 power,' it also disables me from harvesting synchronization rate while using it. That's right, I can't use this broken thing to reach heaven in one step; I have to do it step by step; no cheats allowed! 

'Forget it. I rather use my precious Role play points now than shiver and wait for my death.'

After contemplating, my mind started to work fast, thinking of a feasible plan to take out all the mysteries in one strike.

After all, the EA I'm using is discounted. Who knows? Maybe even its AoE range got nerfed. So, I had to make the most of it and plan.

'Baiting it is feasible, but it is unknown what kind of thing can attract mystery. I should at least try to aggro it. If it failed, create a spatial severance with EA and equip a bunch of armor to avoid being torn apart by the spatial storm.'

After coming up with a rough plan, I again equipped the Boots of Hermes and set off in the direction of the mystery; before halting for a moment.

"How long are you planning to make me wait?" I said, glancing in the direction of Ruri.

Hearing this, Ruri seemed awfully surprised before staring at me with a confused expression.

"Hmmph, I told you I'll give you a corresponding reward to your value. And that reward is taking you away from this place."

"...Eh?" Ruri's eyes gradually widen as if greatly shaken by my words.

"A-are you really going to take me away?" Ruri muttered as her tender voice fluttered in disbelief.

"Don't make me repeat my words, mongrel. Following me or not is not within your consideration. You will follow me because I ordered it. As this king subject, absolute obedience is a matter of course."

After saying those high-sounding words, I decisively turned my head to resume my walk toward the mysteries. Seemingly not caring whether Ruri would refuse.

'I'm sorry, Ruri. I have to say a bunch of mean things to increase my synchronization and at the same time increase our chance of survival.'

I inwardly bowed in Ruri's direction as an apology as I felt my guilty conscience eating me.

'I'll have to make it up to her after escaping from this place.'

The young lady, Ruri, just stared at the back of her savior with a hint of flush in her cheeks. Her heart was pounding not out of love but with excitement; as she imagined the future of escaping from the mysterious realm.

It is unknown when, but she firmly believed that everything her savior says is absolute, like a zealot believer of God.

At the same time, she never felt any anger from hearing her savior's words. She took it as a matter of course; because she firmly believes that her savior must have a corresponding arrogance to his majesty. 

'...I-if I managed to escape in this place. I'll do my utmost and serve his majesty!'

After cheering herself up, Ruri picked up her pace and ran to catch up with her savior.

RuriAgatsuma

About the so-called Lost Persona:

Some people might think that, "What do you mean lost identity when they never had it in the first place?"

The thing is they have it. Well, their parents does. Unfortunately, due the little to no contact to reality, these names started to fade and eventually disappeared to the vast river of time.

To put it simply, they had the chance to get an identity. It's just that, they are restricted and cannot contact the outside world to inherit their identity and all. Hence, the name LOST PERSONA, people who were deprived of their own identity.

Btw thanks for enjoying my novel! I plan to update 1 chapter every monday if I don't have much work to do~ It's consistent 2k word, of course. Once again thanks~ I appreciate it if you could leave your thoughts and critique!