Important note - What does Sukrucuk mean? : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNrY-6sooZ8
"How do you know that?"
I had found his soft spot, his voice softening a lot as I asked my second question.
"You're here because of that sin, aren't you?"
It was like a huge surprise emoji replaced the angry face of the man who thought I was guessing.
"I get it if you're a little nervous, but listen to me and you'll get all the answers!"
From last night until now, I told him everything that happened. Even though our first meeting was tense, he was an adult after all, and he calmed down and understood me.
"Wow, so that's how it is. Now you know your strength and features, and you even have skill on top of that!"
I thought I was right; the man who looked at the writing above my head took me and my words seriously.
"Max, is that your name? I think I have the same one written on my head. What does it say?"
I had never called him by this new name because I guessed he didn't know it. Now, I was curious how he would react when he heard it for the first time.
"Sukrucuk is written on the top of your head, big brother!"
I was talking, but I could barely stop myself from laughing. Was this really a name to give to an older man?
"Oh, it's all because of that weird brother-in-law. That's all I said—I don't know how to dance!"
He was worried, so I wanted to know about his last night since I had the chance.
"Tell me about that last night. Why did you fall into Hell?"
"Don't ask, friend. My wife has three siblings—two girls and one boy. The middle sister had her wedding that night. We had to go, and we almost became the wedding hosts!"
My wife's brother is useless. The groom's side brought Sukrucuk to the wedding. And my wife's brother said, 'Let's dance, let's have a belly dance!'
The story was getting more colorful as he talked, and when we passed the start of the wedding and reached the end, the real disaster came.
"We drank quite a bit. No, when I said I wouldn't dance, I was already on stage, playing with Sukrucuk. One of our relatives came and put money on my forehead. In less than ten seconds, Sukrucuk, who was wearing a skirt, waved his hand to get the money, and his finger hit my eye!"
"It felt like my brain was pierced; even though he said, 'I'm sorry, brother,' I hit my head against his face. My wife screamed on one side, and this guy was crying and rolling on the floor—suddenly, it was a total mess!"
"We ended up at the police station last. I thought, 'God, just take my life and get rid of me.' My eyes went dark. Then I opened them, and they said, 'You're going to Hell.' That last blow is why I fell here, you see!"
Although it was strange at first, now I was thankful for my name. Compared to the title given to that big man, mine was like a stage name.
"What are we going to do? You're saying I have to go and kill one of those?"
"Exactly. You stood between them for hours. Did they do anything to you? Just don't show that you are going to attack. Do you see that crazy guy having fun alone?"
I pointed to a Fallen slightly apart from the crowd.
"Yes, I saw him!"
"We'll wait. After you're well separated from the herd, you'll calmly go up to him and give the final blow!"
"If we're lucky, this mob might even drop a skill book for you!"
After I said this, the middle-aged man looked at me confused, eyebrows furrowed, and lower lip twisted.
"Brother, this place is like an online game. Creatures here are called mobs for short. That's just the way people talk!"
I was ready to explain more. Something inside me said this time it would work; luck was on our side. The crowd, except for the one mob left, was completely separated when they switched to a group dance.
"I'm going. I'm going to take this guy's life!"
I couldn't stop myself from saying this last thing as Sukrucuk stepped out of the shield.
"Big brother, think like you're hitting the brother-in-law! See it on the face of the Fallen!"
The man was already nervous; after I said that, he got very angry and slowly entered the attack area of the mob named Tırrek LVL 1 with big steps.
This Level 1 creature didn't know that Sukrucuk was immune. It immediately turned to him and started a dance with its hands and arms twisted.
They moved closer step by step. When there was less than a meter left, our man grabbed its collar and hit its head.
"Look at this bastard! It's writhing like a snake in front of me. Oh, brother-in-law, if I got my hands on you, I would rip your head off!"
It happened—slowly, the Fallen disappeared into nothingness. A few coins and a small book the size of a hand dropped on the floor, just like me.
"Help!"
Tırrek LVL 1 did something unexpected as it was about to vanish. It cried for help to lure its friends to the middle-aged man who killed it.
"Brother, grab the book quickly and run into the shield! They're all coming!"
Sukrucuk kept cursing in his victory excitement, and if he didn't calm down fast, we would have to start all over.
"Big brother, take the book and run. They're coming!"
I shouted as loud as I could, but even then, our tough old man barely heard me. When he hit his head, he was in a good mood.
"What a mop that is!"
I had mixed feelings as Sukrucuk grabbed the ground and ran, feet stamping his backside. I didn't know whether to laugh at the man calling the Fallen "mop" or be glad he was trying to adapt quickly.
While I was thinking, my big brother came to me, the Fallen, shouting hate at us from outside the shield.
"You will come here!"
"We'll make this man a madame, madame!"
They shouted angrily, making all kinds of gestures. Sukrucuk was still out of breath. When he couldn't stand the shaking of his knees and collapsed, his face was a little purple because he couldn't breathe well.
"First, catch your breath, then learn the talent in the book!"
His eyes were fixed on the book he held tightly with his claw-like hand. I think Sukrucuk was more interested in leaving here and the talent he'd get than the pain he would suffer.
But I forgot one thing—after the first Fallen kill, the man had somewhere to go. I didn't even get a chance to answer him yet, and he disappeared in an instant.
I wondered about the title of the book and the talent's characteristics. At least I thought I'd have fun with the Fallen, but the Bagcılar region mobs, gathered in front of the shield, started to scatter after Sukrucuk disappeared.
For an hour, I lay on my back and stared at the sky above us. There was a little peace inside me. It was good to know I wasn't alone because the middle-aged man and I were going to be allies, at least until we left the starting village.
I wasn't sleepy, and I felt like I had never slept before. There was no problem with basic needs here. I just had to fight for a purpose.
"Goodness score received +5!"
"First lead bonus +5!"
Two warnings echoed in my mind. As I enjoyed a quiet afternoon, another picture appeared in front of my eyes.
In front of me was a big book opened in the middle. On one side was written GOODNESS on a powder-blue page, on the other side EVIL on a dark red page.
I saw the same voices I heard in my head were written on the GOODNESS page. As the black letters came out of the paper, two sentences appeared quickly.