《Apostle of the Void》 Chapter 1 - The Beginning of an Empty Life [Translator - Kiteretsu][Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 1 - The Beginning of an Empty Life S~ea??h the N?velFire.net website on G00gle to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When I was around nine or ten years old, a group of incredibly powerful adventurers came to find me. They said they were from the four major adventurer guilds, and that my father had died after incurring a large debt. "So you have to pay off that debt, kid." "...What does it mean to be in debt?" "Your idiot father borrowed money from us and ran off to the afterlife." I cried and asked if my father was really dead. A muscular adventurer pulled out my father''s keepsake ring and showed it to me. "Where''s your mother?" "...She died a while ago." "Damn, this kid''s just an orphan pauper? There''s no money to take." "Let''s take him to a slave trader and get some money for him. His face is pretty like a girl''s, so he''ll be worth something." "Will we get much money for that? Our loss is 50 gold coins. And it''s so hard to deal in slaves while avoiding the ''Red Pilgrims.''" A female mage stroked my hair. As soon as a bluish mist flowed from her palm, golden electricity sparked from my forehead. "Look. This kid, like his father, has incredible divine power. He''s a half-elf." "So what?" "Don''t you know how expensive healers with divine power are? It''s a trait that almost no adventurer has. Witches are worth a fortune, and shepherds and priests are mostly cowards who don''t even come to the front lines." Aha! The adventurers started laughing one by one. It was definitely the laughter of adults. The giant who seemed to be the leader of the group stroked my head and said, "What''s your name, little one?" "Yes...?" "What''s your name, brat!" "...Um, my mother called me Arjen. The kids in the neighborhood called me the Underpass Kid." "Alright, alright. Our Arjen, let''s get you some adventurer combat training. You''ll have to go to the battlefield as a healer. And let''s change your name too. Al is good. It''s just the right amount of insignificant, and it''s a hassle if your real name gets traced and your identity is discovered." "I don''t want to be an adventurer. I''ll die like my dad-" Suddenly, I screamed in pain as if my neck was about to break. The leader had grabbed my hair and jerked my neck back. "-The only answer you can give is ''yes.'' Understand? You have no choices in your life anymore." "Yes...?" "Yes, just answer like that. From now on, until you die, you just have to keep paying off the debt with that divine power of yours. With that backtalk just now, your debt has increased from 50 to 100 gold coins." [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 2 - The Void, A New Possibility of Life (1) [Translator - Kiteretsu][Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 2 - The Void, A New Possibility of Life (1) ¡°Ugh, I¡¯m so hungry¡­¡± Hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry. I feel like I¡¯m going to die from hunger. Gurgle¡­ Holding his rumbling stomach tightly, Arjen quickened his pace. ¡®Maybe I should have stopped in the city.¡¯ He thought, but knew it was a foolish idea. In the southern cities, there weren¡¯t many adventurers cooperating with the Divine Guillotine. He might even encounter survivors. That¡¯s why he had avoided all cities and stuck to these rarely traveled back roads. ¡®Cities have ID checks when entering, which leave records.¡¯ If he left such records, those leeches would definitely come after him¡­ ¡®So, I couldn¡¯t even stop in a village.¡¯ He had considered seeking help at one point. But he was covered in a serious stench and drenched in blood. He had to flee immediately due to the suspicious looks. ¡®How many days has it been?¡¯ He had managed to survive for 20 days after fortuitously finding a camel left outside the by the Divine Guillotine. But now, the camel was dead and food was gone. The appearance of the Hydra had caused an abnormal rise in temperature, resulting in most of his food spoiling. ¡®I want to leave.¡¯ Still, he walked. Even if it meant starving to death, he wanted to leave this continent. With nowhere to go, he just wanted to escape. He wanted to leave this continent where his parents had died and he had been treated like a slave. So he kept walking. Just walking north, under the constellation of the Ice Dragon. But even that had reached its limit. Dizziness¡­ As stomach acid burned fiercely from his stomach, he tried to hold it back with his right hand. ¡°Is anyone there?¡± A shout echoed urgently through the forest. ¡°Help!¡± Arjen was startled and began to look around frantically. ¡®Help¡­?¡¯ Normally, the Divine Guillotine¡¯s minions would have given instructions on how to act in this situation. But now, Arjen was alone. He had to make his own judgments and take action. ¡®What good would helping do?¡¯ A rational voice said. ¡®What benefit is there in helping?¡¯ This world is full of bad people. It¡¯s common to get betrayed after helping. Those who help and those who are deceived are fools. "You, who willingly extend a hand to those in need of help,Will not be free of guilt if you turn away from such a call." The verse from the scriptures came to mind, but Arjen stopped and faced the sky. It wasn¡¯t worth reconsidering. Arjen had never received such help himself. ¡®So I won¡¯t help either.¡¯ One step, one step. He moved away from the urgent cries for help. But his steps grew heavy and stiff, and within ten paces, they came to a halt. ¡®Why¡­?¡¯ This was the world Arjen had learned. This was how Arjen knew to live in the world. Yet, why? ¡®Is that my voice from childhood I''ve been hearing?¡¯ It was when his mother was dying from illness. In those days, when he ran everywhere, pleading for help to save his mother... He heard the voice from a time when no one would extend a hand. ¡°Ah, seriously, dammit!¡± Arjen scratched his head until it bled. Then, he finally turned his body around. He turned and started running. ¡®What¡¯s the point of going over there, you fool! With no offensive skills at all!¡¯ He cursed himself. Frightened and hesitant. Cautiously approaching the source of the voice, Arjen had to immediately crouch in the bushes. ¡®Is it a Gnoll after all¡­¡¯ Gnolls were low-level monsters resembling hyenas. But that resemblance was superficial. Real hyenas didn¡¯t walk on two legs or wield clubs with their hands. ¡®If I remember correctly, Gnolls are Rank G.¡¯ The lowest level of monsters. But like goblins, if there were enough of them, it changed the situation. ¡®Five, seven, ten of them.¡¯ There were ten Gnolls surrounding a cart, growling. An adult and a child were back-to-back, aiming crossbows at the Gnolls in an attempt to scare them off. However, reloading a crossbow took time, so they would soon be in trouble. The Gnolls were sufficiently mature to attack humans. In a pack like that, it was extremely dangerous. ¡®Should I perform a miracle to protect them? Even if I do, will they be able to take down the Gnolls in time? Won¡¯t they just abandon me and run?¡¯ At that very moment, his mind was filled with various thoughts. The scriptures appeared of their own accord. Pages shimmering in dark green light unfolded before his eyes. I, Rodenkal, create the Void, and this power is the power to see beyond phenomena. Rodenkal? What was Rodenkal? Sea??h the ¦ÇovelFire .net website on G00gle to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Arjen had never heard of a god named Rodenkal. After 4,872 attempts to contain the power beyond the event horizon, The first successful grasp was the existence known as the Voidworms. Kaz to Atkuras. Deliver your will to those beings. Though it felt more like a research log than a general scripture¡­ At that moment, his heart leapt. One of the Gnolls let out a fierce cry, staring straight at the bush where Arjen was hiding. ¡°AuuuuuuuuuU!¡± Then three more began to charge on all fours. ¡°Soon, the benevolence¡­¡± He tried to recite a familiar scripture to create a divine barrier, but his tongue twisted in the urgency. ¡®Damn, come to think of it, the Divine Guillotine has never failed to provide support, even if it¡¯s just a bunch of garbage¡­!¡¯ The Divine Guillotine was the Platinum Adventurers¡¯ Guild. Their system was well-organized, and their battle formations were excellent. Arjen, as a support member, had never been so vulnerable to enemy attacks. ¡°Danger, brother!¡± At that moment, one of the Gnolls that had been leading the charge leaped towards Arjen. ¡®Fool, idiot, sucker. Why did you come here? Just barely escaped death.¡¯ Perhaps it was partly survival instinct. Or maybe some intervention beyond providence. As he stumbled and fell while trying to retreat, he desperately read the passage indicated by the Void Scripture. ¡°Kaz to Atkuras!¡± At that moment, a dark green mist suddenly swirled¡­ The Gnolls began to wail desperately. ¡®This isn¡¯t just mist.¡¯ It looked like mist but was actually several flying insects¡­ Voidworms. These insects were voraciously attacking the Gnolls'' bodies. The Gnolls struggled desperately to shake off the insects, but it was futile. ¡°G, graaaaaaaa!¡± It didn¡¯t take long. The Gnolls that had been about to attack Arjen vanished without a trace, leaving only their skins behind. ¡®It¡¯s not just insects. It feels just like those demons I saw before¡­?¡¯ Of course, compared to the demons that massacred the Hydra, these seemed almost harmless¡­ ¡®But did I just summon this?¡¯ Arjen himself couldn¡¯t believe the power he had just used and blinked in disbelief. ¡°Grrrrr¡­?¡± The Gnoll leader circling the cart watched Arjen with wary eyes. Honestly, it was terrifying. ¡°What! What are you looking at! Are you trying to die! Do you think humans are so easy? Put some water in the pot? Chop up some green onions and make a Gnoll stew? Keep your eyes down and get lost!¡± Bzzzzzz¡­ The Voidworms resonated with the Apostle¡¯s will. The Voidworms that had been menacingly circling Arjen suddenly charged at the Gnolls. Beasts and monsters can smell the scent of death. They understand the hierarchy of power better than anyone. The Gnoll leader began to flee in desperation. The rest followed suit. ¡°Ugh¡­!¡± Was it the backlash from using such alien power? Nausea and dizziness surged over him. ¡®What is this?¡¯ Arjen sank to the ground. ¡®Why does the backlash feel the same as when I overused miracles¡­¡¯ Quickly, the Voidworms that had been chasing the Gnolls began to disappear. Or rather, it felt like they were returning to another dimension. The merchants, who had been staring in disbelief at the scene, hurried over. ¡°Are you alright?¡± ¡°Are you okay, brother?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you see if he¡¯s alright or not¡­ with your eyes? Is your head just for decoration?¡± Then a bearded merchant chuckled. His son started snickering too. ¡°Ha, ha, hahaha!¡± ¡°Hih, hehe, hehehe!¡± ¡°Are they laughing?¡± Fortunately, Arjen didn¡¯t let any curses slip. The merchants were carrying crossbows. Humans were generally unreliable. You never knew when they might turn on you. ¡°Your skill with words right from the start is impressive. That bit about putting water in the pot was perfect. Ah, it¡¯s refreshing. This is what an adventure is.¡± However, the merchant didn¡¯t aim his crossbow at Arjen. Instead, he tossed the crossbow aside and helped Arjen to his feet. ¡°I thought I was done for this time, but thanks to you, I survived. I¡¯m grateful. This is my son, Locke.¡± ¡°Like I said, we should go to Fire Dragon Road. It¡¯s much safer there.¡± ¡°You fool, the real danger isn¡¯t the monsters, it¡¯s people. You¡¯re no longer cut out to be a proper merchant. Tsk, tsk.¡± The loud banter of the merchant and his son was cut short by the roar of Arjen¡¯s stomach. Gurgle¡­! Embarrassed, his face turned bright red, but the merchant and his son burst into laughter again. ¡°You¡¯re hungry, aren¡¯t you? You look young but strong. You must eat well.¡± ¡°Eat this, brother. It¡¯s very expensive jerky.¡± To be treated so kindly and given such high-quality jerky and water despite being dirty and smelly¡­ ¡®These people must be good¡­ Did they think I would think that?¡¯ They might have poisoned the food. No, if that were the case, they would have aimed a crossbow at his head already¡­ Gulp! For a long time, reason and instinct wrestled with each other. In the end, it was instinct that won over reason. It was hunger. ¡°Oh my¡­ not everyone is like the people from the Divine Guillotine.¡± After wrestling with his thoughts, Arjen finally took a bite of the jerky. The salty taste of the meat pleasantly caressed his taste buds. At that moment, just as expected, the merchant and his son got straight to the point. ¡°If you¡¯re willing, could you escort us?¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°Just to the City of Beginnings, . We plan to cross the continent by ship. We¡¯ll pay you well as a reward for today¡¯s work.¡± ¡°!¡± ¡°Since my son¡¯s guild test requires us to travel alone, we¡¯ve had to cut costs as much as possible. But at this rate, we¡¯ll end up needing fare for the afterlife instead of passing the test.¡± The City of Beginnings¡­ A port where one could cross the continent¡­ He wanted to board a ship there and cross the continent. But there was a problem. ¡°I can¡¯t go to the city.¡± The merchant and his son exchanged puzzled looks. ¡°Did you commit a crime or something?¡± ¡°Are you a murderer? You don¡¯t look like one. I¡¯ve never seen a murderer cry over jerky.¡± ¡°If he were a murderer, he¡¯d have killed not just the Gnolls but us too and taken everything. Speak properly.¡± ¡°Sorry, brother.¡± ¡°Is that all you have to say after causing trouble? Hand over more jerky.¡± Why can¡¯t I go to the port? Garrison had told him. Every city on the Adrion continent has eyes and ears, so no matter where Arjen runs, they¡¯ll find out immediately. - You¡¯d be shocked if you knew how much we¡¯ve put on your head. Don¡¯t even think about running. There was no need to explain such a weakness. ¡°Or is it that someone will come after you if you enter the city?¡± ¡°¡­¡­!¡± ¡°So that¡¯s what you¡¯re worried about. Don¡¯t worry. Merchants have their ways.¡± Could he trust such words? He suspected they would sell him out the moment they met city guards¡­ Despite his realistic thoughts, his body was nodding along on its own. No, he just wanted to leave. He wanted to escape from the land that had bound him for so long, as quickly as possible. But there was no suitable method. Above all, these people didn¡¯t seem to be trash, at least compared to the Divine Guillotine. ¡° should take about three weeks. I¡¯ll be counting on you during that time. Oh, but I didn¡¯t catch your name. What¡¯s your name?¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 3 - The Void, A New Possibility of Life (2) [Translator - Kiteretsu][Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 3 - The Void, A New Possibility of Life (2) ¡° is at the edge of the continent, so it¡¯ll take about three weeks to get there. I¡¯ll be counting on you until then. But, come to think of it, I didn¡¯t catch your name.¡± His name¡­ the name his mother gave me¡­ Saying that name to someone felt too foreign and terrifying. His lips quivered with fear, opening and closing several times. The fear that had been instilled in me since childhood crept into his mind. - Didn¡¯t I tell you not to get too close to others? That¡¯s why he couldn''t easily reveal his real name. ¡°We just met. No need for formalities... just call me Zen.¡± Despite the rudeness in his response, Ulman only burst into hearty laughter again. Sea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on G00gle to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Zen, huh? Alright, got it! Now, how about doing something about that smell? The horses are suffering! Come on, let¡¯s wash up!¡± Ulman was a boisterous man who always laughed heartily. His son, Lok, was just as talkative, taking after his father. After washing up in a nearby stream, Ulman lent me some of his spare clothes. They were far too large for his small frame. The shirt fell past his knees, and he had to tie the pants with a belt several times to keep them from slipping down. It looked ridiculous, but it was better than the bloodstained and dirty clothes he had been wearing. They were from the Linne Merchant Guild. Members of the Linne Guild traditionally wore anachronistic conical hats, and they lent me one as well. ¡®Are these people really good humans?¡¯ One could think it was only natural to repay someone who saved their life, but he had lived a life where the ¡°natural¡± had never come easily. Because of that, at some point, he started to feel a bit more at ease around these merchants. Sitting in the back of the wagon, chatting with Lok, became part of his new routine. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s your adventurer rank?¡± ¡°Steel.¡± ¡°Steel? Isn¡¯t that the lowest rank? How can you be that strong and not be ranked higher?¡± ¡°Shut up, you don¡¯t know anything. Steel is the coolest rank. The steel ID plate can even be used as a weapon in emergencies.¡± He gripped the adventurer ID tightly, pretending to hit Lok on the head, making him laugh uncontrollably. ¡°That¡¯s why he hasn''t bothered to rank up.¡± ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not just weak?¡± ¡°What¡¯s with that defiant look? For someone like me, silver or gold rank means nothing.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°I just like staying at Steel rank. It¡¯s the perfect rank for those who want to enjoy life while being an adventurer.¡± ¡°Hmmmmm.¡± Lok squinted suspiciously. For adventurers, rank determined social status. The higher the rank, the more burdensome responsibilities came with it. That¡¯s why, in the Divine Guillotine, they had registered me as a ¡®porter¡¯ early on, giving me no contribution points. Without contribution points, an adventurer couldn¡¯t rank up. ¡°Enough of this. Hey, you, come here.¡± ¡°Ouch! It hurts! Dad, the steel-ranked adventurer is hitting me!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much, even if he¡¯s steel-ranked. In two days, we¡¯ll be on the Fire Dragon Road, and there won¡¯t be much danger. If there is, even a steel-ranked adventurer should suffice. A steel-ranked adventurer, at least.¡± He really sounded like a merchant, didn¡¯t he? The way he twisted his words was no joke. ¡°Do you want to die? For real? I¡¯m staying at steel rank because I want to!¡± The father and son exchanged glances before bursting into laughter again. ¡°Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha.¡± ¡°He-he-he-he.¡± ¡°Ha, the ones I should¡¯ve thrown in a pot and chopped up weren¡¯t the gnolls, but these guys¡­¡± Of course, it was just a joke. How long had it been since he laughed and joked around like this? But he still didn¡¯t fully trust them. ¡®In this world, trusting someone you¡¯ve just met makes you a fool, and being deceived makes you an even bigger fool.¡¯ He always stayed awake at night. During the day, he napped in the wagon. Once, while he pretended to sleep, Ulman, who was on watch, approached me. He was ready to smash his head in with the scripture if he tried anything funny. But all he did was cover me with another blanket. ¡®I still don¡¯t trust him.¡¯ When it was his turn to stand guard, he spent a long time absentmindedly fiddling with the Void Scripture. ¡®This feeling still feels strange. And who, or when, attached it to me with chains?¡¯ The scripture, which had grown twice as thick, was now bound to his waist with a silver chain. From the moment he summoned the Void Bugs, this chain had been unbreakable¡ªlike a shackle around a slave¡¯s neck. Of course, that was a bit of an exaggeration. The scripture could transcend the physical realm; he could make it disappear when he wanted to. ¡®I should memorize the incantations. I need to be able to chant them in an instant if necessary.¡¯ He opened the scripture. The newly recorded miracles of the void were strange. Except for the page that summoned the Void Bugs, a bizarre mist clouded the other pages, preventing me from seeing them. ¡®Does this mean I can¡¯t use them yet? How stingy.¡¯ Perhaps it was telling me not to be greedy and to start by memorizing the basics. I, Rodenkal, have created the void, and this power allows one to peer beyond the events of this world. ¡ºThe Book of Stirring¡». his eyes lingered on the first line written on the page. ¡®But who is Rodenkal, really?¡¯ Among the Lords of Light, also known as the , there was no god named Rodenkal. What is this power? The one who said, "You have been chosen," was likely one of the , but could this really be the power of the Abyss? ¡®No, why would the Abyss¡¯s power kill its own subordinate, Hydra? And the Abyss Kings are sealed away¡­¡¯ He didn''t know who or what it was, but he was grateful. After all, this was the first god to ever answer his prayers. ¡®I should offer a prayer of gratitude¡­ Is that what you expected me to say?¡¯ Reveal more miracles, please. No need for a god to be so stingy. ¡°What are you doing, bro?¡± As he clasped his hands to pray, Rock¡¯s voice broke the silence. It seemed the early morning light had woken him. ¡°Why are you staring at a blank page? Gonna doodle or something?¡± ¡°Are your eyes broken? You really see nothing?¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to see? Some joke where only good people or adults can see it? That¡¯s not gonna work on me. Dad¡¯s always hiding his erotic books, you know.¡± Ulman, stretching and yawning, scolded his son. ¡°Boy, those are books you can only see when you¡¯re an adult. You¡¯re still a kid, that¡¯s why you can¡¯t see them.¡± ¡°I¡¯m an adult now! I even kissed Senya the other day!¡± ¡°Haha, you¡¯re certainly my son. But listen, a kiss without the tongue doesn¡¯t count.¡± ¡°Pfft, that¡¯s just the default option.¡± Default option? What the hell is wrong with this generation? No sense of decency at all! ¡°So, bro, how far have you gone?¡± Me¡­? Well, I¡¯ve barely managed to talk to anyone properly. ¡°Rock, you little rascal! How dare you ask a devoted priest such things, huh? Priests are supposed to remain celibate until the end!¡± ¡°Oh, sorry.¡± ¡°Hey, I¡¯m not actually a priest. No issues here.¡± ¡°Oh really? Sorry, Zen. In that case, let me congratulate you in advance on eventually graduating from virginhood.¡± ¡°Yeah, Zen is pretty handsome¡­ No, actually, he¡¯s kinda pretty. Almost prettier than girls, so I bet every woman who¡¯s crossed paths with him has fallen for him.¡± ¡°You know me well.¡± Arjen nodded slightly. It was true that women who got too close or showed him too much kindness usually ended up half-dead at the hands of the Divine Guillotine. So Rock wasn¡¯t completely wrong. ¡°When I first saw you from a distance, I thought you were a beautiful girl.¡± ¡°Is that why you ran over to introduce yourself, Dad?¡± ¡°Ahem.¡± Being mistaken for a girl was nothing new. It must have been his father¡¯s elf heritage showing through in his features. ¡®But still¡­¡¯ Arjen glanced down at the scripture. Was this really only visible to him? Why was Rodenkal hiding their true identity? ¡®Could it be that they don¡¯t want the other gods to notice?¡¯ For some reason, he felt a kinship with that. A being who would never fully reveal itself to the world, much like himself now. Perhaps it¡¯s better to respect that will. ¡®Fine, I won¡¯t tell anyone about you, Rodenkal. But in exchange, how about revealing a few more miracles?¡¯ Of course, there was no response. Over the next two days, they were ambushed three times. The attackers weren¡¯t anything special¡ªmostly gnolls from the forest. But it was the perfect opportunity to test the power of the Void. ¡°Kaz tu Arcturus! Rock, get the pot boiling and chop the green onions! I¡¯ll bring the meat!¡± Ripping through the fabric of dimensions, the minions of the Void appeared. The first one: Hivebug One! The second one: Hivebug Two! The third one: Hivebug Three! Even with just these three summoned, the gnolls¡¯ pathetic attempts at resistance turned into a grotesque display of body parts. ¡°Grrrrruuurrr!¡± The gnolls, surrounded by the Hivebugs, screamed in agony before collapsing, utterly defeated. Nice! Interestingly, the Void felt quite similar to miracles. Miracles drew upon the soul, allowing communion with the heavens. Naturally, the number of miracles one could perform per day was limited, and it seemed the Void operated the same way. Looks like two Void summons per day is the limit. After using the Hivebugs twice, Arjen felt his chest tighten, and his head throbbed with dizziness. Only two uses per day, huh? Yet, there was no frustration or disappointment. Without this power, he wouldn¡¯t have made it here¡ªhe would have died in that ancient desert. This power is a new possibility for life. One encouraging thought was that the Void seemed to draw from a different source than holy miracles. In emergencies, he could use both. Arjen decided to name this power ¡°Kongryeok,¡± or Void Force. ¡°Wow, Dad! Look at this! The gnoll¡¯s hide is perfectly skinned!¡± Ulman examined the neatly laid-out hides and gave a genuine word of admiration. ¡°Zen, you¡¯d make a perfect skinner for our merchant caravan. You¡¯d be sitting on a pile of money in no time.¡± After entering the Fire Dragon Road, Arjen found himself dozing off more and more in the wagon. It was a truly pleasant time. The warm sun, the gentle rattling of the cart, the cool breeze¡­ he used to get beaten for dozing off like this. At first, he would jolt awake in a cold sweat, afraid he¡¯d be struck. But no fists were waiting to pummel him. Slowly, he allowed himself to relax against the side of the wagon, though the nightmares would likely stay with him forever. By now, he felt much closer to the merchant father and son. Finally, the majestic sight of a bridge spanning the great strait came into view. ¡°Hey, bro, that¡¯s the Ranoa Bridge. Once we cross it, we¡¯ll be close to Orvenheim.¡± Arjen¡¯s heart began to pound. The urge to run away gripped him. he thought he was ready¡­ The Ranoa Bridge was the gateway to the southern republic, famous for its strict and thorough inspection process. Orvenheim is located at the northern tip of Tashin Island. Tashin Island and the Adrion Continent are connected by the Ranoa Bridge, making it the gateway to the continent. As such, the witches who guard the Republic¡¯s security keep a very strict watch over those passing through. ¡®If I get caught here¡­ If word reaches them that I¡¯ve crossed¡­¡¯ As Arjen clutched his head in both hands, curling into himself, Rock whistled. ¡°Dad, Zen¡¯s shrinking!¡± ¡°Zen, come sit here at the coachman¡¯s seat.¡± The coachman¡¯s seat? Sweat poured down like rain. ¡°Mister, that¡¯s the most visible spot! I should be hiding in the back with the luggage.¡± These bastards¡­ Were they planning to hand me over to the executioner all along? ¡®I trusted them! I was just starting to believe in them, but in the end, humans can¡¯t be trusted¡­!¡¯ However, Ulman, with a hearty and reassuring laugh, patted Arjen¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry and trust me. From now on, you¡¯ll see the legendary merchant Ulman perform a magic trick of a lifetime.¡± ¡°Bro, don¡¯t believe that part. My dad calls himself a legend.¡± ¡°You little brat! Can¡¯t you read the room? Zen was about to be completely convinced!¡± These guys¡­ For the first time, Arjen let out a genuine, unguarded laugh and completely dropped his suspicion toward the father and son. ¡®Alright, I¡¯ll trust them. Let¡¯s give it a shot.¡¯ [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 4 - The Void, a New Possibility in Life (3) [Translator - Kiteretsu][Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 4 - The Void, a New Possibility in Life (3) ¡°You idiot! If you can¡¯t even hold the reins properly, how do you plan on living later, huh?¡± The Ranoa Great Bridge is one of the world¡¯s Eleven Wonders. There¡¯s no other bridge in the world that could match its sheer scale and grandeur. Countless people passing between the two continents were all chuckling, their eyes fixed on Arjen. To be precise, on the ¡®hopelessly clumsy apprentice merchant who, according to the act, was getting a proper scolding.¡¯ ¡°Good grief, this is driving me mad! I told you to just hold the reins firmly! Is that so hard? How are you going to hold on to the women who¡¯ll leave you behind later, huh?!¡± The customs inspection was being conducted by the Republic''s guardians¡ªthe witches. ¡°What¡¯s with that kid?¡± The woman who seemed to be the eldest among them was going through the paperwork. ¡°When you entered, it was just you two, father and son. Who¡¯s this?¡± ¡°He¡¯s an orphan who was attacked by gnolls. I felt so bad for him that I took him in to help him live like a decent person, but look at this poor idiot¡ªso hopelessly clueless. Hey, you fool! Why aren¡¯t you greeting the witches?¡± ¡°...Hello.¡± ¡°With such a timid personality, do you think he can really be raised as a merchant?¡± The witch standing on the left expressed concern. Ulman bowed his head, full of flattery. ¡°You¡¯re right. I¡¯m worried about that too.¡± The witch standing on the right stared intently at Arjen, her face partially obscured by the shadow of her hat. ¡®Could she recognize me? What if she asks why someone from the Divine Guillotine is here? They say their eyes and ears are everywhere across the continent.¡¯ Thump, thump, thump, thump¡­ His heart felt like it was about to explode. ¡°Gwen, what do you think?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t feel any malicious energy from him. It¡¯s quite surprising.¡± ¡°So, he¡¯s not a criminal.¡± ¡°I can even sense a hint of something holy. It feels unfamiliar, but at the same time... familiar.¡± ¡°What nonsense are you spouting? Do you have a death wish, apprentice?¡± ¡°Sorry for being just an apprentice!¡± ¡°Ran, mark it down that a merchant from the Linne Trading Company picked up an orphan of unknown background, and let them through.¡± A merchant¡¯s credibility is based on the reputation of the trading company they belong to. Ulman¡¯s Linne Trading Company was one of the top three in terms of size, reputation, and credibility. So, as long as the record was made, there would be no procedural issues. If any problems arose, they would track down the case based on this record. And while it wasn¡¯t a common occurrence, it also wasn¡¯t rare for merchants to take in promising orphans as apprentices. ¡°You¡¯re clear!¡± Only when the witches were far behind them did Arjen finally let out a huge sigh of relief. ¡®We made it. We crossed the Ranoa Great Bridge.¡¯ Without revealing his name¡ªArjen¡ªto anyone, and quietly at that. ¡°Don¡¯t get mad at me for using rough words and hitting you a bit earlier. It was all part of laying the groundwork. It was all for the sake of a convincing act.¡± ¡°Still, Dad, you hit him pretty hard.¡± ¡°Well, yeah, they say you have to fool yourself first if you want to fool others. So, I just¡­ got carried away.¡± Arjen¡¯s heart was still pounding heavily. The tension wasn¡¯t from anxiety but from excitement. ¡°¡­It¡¯s okay.¡± The biggest hurdle to starting a new life was indeed the Ranoa Great Bridge. To pass it so easily must have been thanks to Ulman¡¯s divine acting. He managed to string together words that he could never have managed in normal speech. ¡°Uncle Ulman, I¡¯ll trust you now. You¡¯re a good merchant.¡± ¡°Haha, flattery won¡¯t get you anywhere, you know. I¡¯m embarrassed, so stop it.¡± It was the first time Arjen had spoken like that, and Ulman, feeling the emotion, awkwardly rubbed under his nose. There were no particular problems passing through the small towns after the bridge. Since the witches at the bridge had thoroughly checked their identities, the town¡¯s guards had no need to waste time. The real issue arose when they reached the city gate of the starting city, Orvenheim. Not from the outside, but from within. ¡°Actually, we didn¡¯t really need a guard. We only needed one for a few days. What did you do after that?¡± ¡°...?¡± ¡°Instead, we¡¯ve provided you with meals for three weeks, so it seems we¡¯ve already paid our fee, don¡¯t you think?¡± Lok tilted his head. ¡°Dad?¡± Ulman continued. ¡°And we¡¯re taking the gnoll skins, too.¡± ¡°!¡± ¡°You sold an unidentified person¡¯s passage through our trading company¡¯s credibility, so I think we deserve some compensation, don¡¯t you?¡± So it¡¯s the same with all humans. Speechless and heart pounding. Just when he was about to appear kind and sincere, Ulman¡¯s face, hidden by the hat, seemed to be shaded with a cunning smile. It wasn¡¯t just because of what Ulman said. It was because that expression was one he had seen far too often at the Divine Guillotine¡­ ¡°Dad, why are you suddenly like this?¡± If I cause a commotion here, it¡¯ll be my ruin¡­ ¡®He¡¯s got my weakness perfectly in his grip. I¡¯ve been completely outplayed. Truly a merchant. Better than anyone at practical matters.¡¯ But since he got them across the Ranoa Great Bridge, he can have this. Arjen, clenching his fists on his knees, lowered his gaze emptily. ¡°Fine, Uncle. Take everything. Getting us here is enough.¡± ¡°Are you serious about what you just said?¡± Yes, you bastard. I¡¯d rather not accept it because it¡¯s dirty. ¡°No backing out later?¡± Silence. Ulman, who had been staring at Arjen, finally sighed deeply. ¡°This isn¡¯t going to work, no it won¡¯t. You¡¯re just a complete fool, even if you¡¯re just playing the role. I¡¯m really worried, so I can¡¯t just leave you here. Isn¡¯t that right, Lok?¡± ¡°Exactly, Dad.¡± Arjen tilted his head, unable to follow the flow of the conversation. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Why did his expression suddenly revert to its original one? ¡°It¡¯s not really a joke, but I wanted to see if you could manage on your own in this harsh world¡­.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°These days, it¡¯s a time when people will cut off others¡¯ noses when they¡¯re not looking. I was hoping you¡¯d get angry and demand what¡¯s rightfully yours.¡± Ulman smirked. As the first twilight cast its glow on the rattling wagon, it filled the road with mysterious particles. At that moment, as soothing as the beautiful and enchanting twilight, a warm, fuzzy feeling caressed his heart. ¡°Take this for now. It¡¯s the payment for this job.¡± ¡°Wow, Dad. Isn¡¯t this nearly twice as much?¡± ¡°And take this too. This is the amount I¡¯ve estimated for the gnoll skins, bought at the average price.¡± Holding the thick purse of money, Arjen blinked in astonishment. It was incredibly surreal. This was the first time in his life he had received fair compensation for his labor. ¡°But you said you weren¡¯t going to give it¡­.¡± ¡°Come on now! What do you think of the Linne Trading Company? I told you it was a test. Just take it. And, well, if you have no work here, how about crossing the sea with us?¡± ¡°...The sea?¡± ¡°It¡¯ll be about a month. Once we cross the continent, I can send you as an apprentice for dismantling by-products. I¡¯ll connect you with the finest craftsmen in our company.¡± He would be leaving for somewhere. Leaving this land with no memories of home. Did those with proper homes and workplaces have a strong aversion to leaving their homes? But Arjen didn¡¯t have such feelings. He wanted to leave this land and go anywhere. Anywhere would do. ¡®But I haven¡¯t had a place to go, so I couldn¡¯t go, I just couldn¡¯t.¡¯ If he had known how to shout. If he had known how to be excited. He would surely be shouting now. ¡®I also want to go beyond the sea,¡¯ he would say. But he couldn¡¯t. Because he didn¡¯t know how. With a voice that could barely be heard, he could only respond like this: ¡°¡­I do want to go.¡± Only his fingers and lips, conveying his sincerity, trembled. ¡°Then it¡¯s decided. But if problems keep arising because of your identity, it¡¯ll be troublesome. Lok, go with him to the Adventurers¡¯ Guild. After finishing up, come to the company building.¡± ¡°Yes, Dad.¡± ¡°Adventurers¡¯ Guild?¡± ¡°It¡¯s better to get a new adventurer identification. Don¡¯t worry. With our company¡¯s recommendation letter, it¡¯ll come through quickly.¡± Ulman¡¯s trading company was the Linne Trading Company. During the era of the ¡®Seven Capitals, Six Sects, and Three Flows¡¯ when seven cities, six sects, and three factions divided and ruled the continent, it was a powerful influence as a distribution center. On the way to the guild, they arrived at the "Plaza of Beginnings," a city known by the nickname "The City of Beginnings." Lok, pointing excitedly at the statue in the middle of the plaza, spoke up. ¡°Look, that¡¯s it. The Grand Mage Lin! The founder of our company received a great favor from Lin, which is why our company¡¯s attire and name are as they are.¡± The statue, worn by the ravages of time, depicted the hero party that had saved the world 400 years ago. Even in this age, their achievements are not easily forgotten, and there¡¯s a reason for that. It¡¯s likely due to the development of printing technology and the emergence of various unofficial histories and novels about them. In the adventure stories Arjen had read, there were also legends of the ''Five Adventurers,'' who had helped the Rista party. ¡®Hmm, a hero party¡­¡¯ Arjen glanced at the statue as he crossed the plaza. ¡®I wonder if there will come a day when someone remembers me like that?¡¯ Perhaps that day might never come. But it¡¯s okay. If he could just enjoy an ordinary¡­ an ordinary life, that would be enough. ¡°Lok, give me the identification tag. Just in case we run into trouble.¡± Arjen placed his hand on the identification tag, which was hanging around his neck like a beast¡¯s leash. - If you take that off on your own, you¡¯ll get beaten again. The long-ingrained fear struck his chest as a shapeless pain. ¡®The Divine Guillotine isn¡¯t here. And Garrison died back then.¡¯ After several attempts to calm his breath soaked with cold sweat, he finally managed to remove the chain. Lok, who was turning the identification tag around and inspecting it, raised his eyebrows. ¡°Your name isn¡¯t Zen, but Al? Zen was just a nickname!¡± ¡°Nickname?¡± ¡°I had a nickname my mom used to call me when I was little¡­ It¡¯s amazing you had one too.¡± A nickname from his mother¡­ Though his memories of his parents had grown faint, that word left a sharp tremor. ¡®A nickname¡­¡¯ There had been no nickname. His father and mother always called him Arjen. The Divine Guillotine simply called him Al. ¡®Anyway, the only ones who knew my real name were the five officers who came to investigate back then¡­ Those guys all died in the desert.¡¯ The officers hadn¡¯t revealed Arjen¡¯s real name to the adventurer team. If the name leaked, the ¡®Red Pilgrims¡¯ would come after them, so it was only natural. ¡®In other words, none of those bastards knew my name.¡¯ Well, there was one person¡­ There had been one normal person among the Divine Guillotine officers. But at some point, they vanished. That person¡¯s name was Kyrke. - Do you like adventures? During Kyrke¡¯s first year, things had been a bit more bearable¡­ She was also the one who first gifted him an adventure novel. ¡®If I use the name Arjen¡­ could I meet Kyrke someday?¡¯ The curt receptionist checked the receipt and the company¡¯s recommendation letter, then looked up at Arjen. ¡°Is this really the name? Please verify the spelling.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± After some paperwork, the receptionist soon handed over a metal identification tag. - Arjen Arjen carefully touched his real name engraved on the tag. ¡®Arjen¡­¡¯ Using his real name felt like being reborn. No, it even felt like time had turned back to before his parents died. - Arjen? - Arjen! - Arjen~. The warmth of his mother hugging him while calling his name. Her voice telling him to eat¡­ Just the name alone brought those memories back so vividly. ¡°Are you sure that¡¯s all you need?¡± ¡°Yeah, this is enough.¡± ¡°Well, if you¡¯re okay with it, then it¡¯s fine.¡± He couldn¡¯t know the thoughts of his parents when they chose this name. But¡­ He felt he might understand his mother¡¯s feelings when she called his name. - Arjen, come here. Today¡¯s your favorite, olive pasta! Though it was as cold as ever, the metal against his neck felt strangely warm. At least, that¡¯s how it seemed. He carefully tucked the name tag into his collar. At that moment, the boy wore a faint smile, one he didn¡¯t even realize himself. Sea?ch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on G00gle to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. * * * The Linne company¡¯s ship was a sailing vessel with three sails. It was amazing that they could navigate the open sea with only the sails and no use of oars. Arjen¡¯s life on the ship involved watching and working hard as a merchant¡¯s apprentice under Ulman. As he began learning the work, Ulman scolded him sharply whenever he made mistakes, unlike before. Dealing with expensive goods seemed to make everyone more harsh. Is it the way of merchants to be gentle with customers but yell at subordinates? Arjen felt he could never do it. ¡®Damn, I can¡¯t handle this.¡¯ Lok, Ulman¡¯s son, already looked like a seasoned merchant. It seemed everyone had their own nature. ¡®If becoming a dismantler means enduring what Ulman and his kind do, then I¡¯ll definitely pass.¡¯ Still, it was nice that the cabin was quite spacious since they didn¡¯t need rowers. Lok and he had their own space. Lying in the net hammock that swayed with the sea waves, Arjen pondered his future. ¡®Yes, becoming a dismantler wasn¡¯t what I originally dreamed of.¡¯ Adventure¡­! He wanted to adventure¡­! At that moment, Arjen felt a thrill that jolted him upright. ¡°Yeah, I can become an adventurer with this name, Arjen!¡± Ulman and Lok had said that there was no mention of anything related to the Void in this holy scripture. This meant there was no risk of being caught in heretical interrogation. ¡°Even without the power of the Void, I have experience from rolling on the line of death at the Divine Guillotine, one of the Four Great Guilds. I could make a living just with my healing powers.¡± The power of the Void could be trained and used secretly. As time went on, he would gradually gain know-how. ¡°Heh heh heh¡­¡± A steel adventurer who appeared like a shooting star. No one knew his true identity, but he seemed to wield divine miracles like a major figure. ¡°That feels pretty good, doesn¡¯t it?¡± His only known way of life had been as an adventurer. ¡°Most of the memories that come to mind when I think of adventurers are quite miserable¡­ But, not all of them were bad.¡± The mage he met before heading to the ¡­ ¡°It would have been fun if we could have been friends.¡± He acknowledged it. At some point, he had clearly yearned for the life of a proper adventurer. ¡°That was when I had nothing, not even a penny!¡± Now things were different. Arjen had gained the immense backing of the Void. He was no longer a powerless orphan, a crybaby, or a child dragged around like a slave. ¡°Rodenkal reportedly slaughtered S-rank monsters like Hydra and A-rank monsters like Basilisk using faceless demons, right?¡± Even the eleven platinum-ranked adventurers, who were called the strongest in the world, could not do that. ¡°Even Olrat, who was ranked 4th in platinum, was killed by Hydra.¡± In other words, Adventurers were all inferior compared to the potential Arjen now possessed. ¡°If I could use just a fraction of the power I saw back then!¡± Forget platinum; he might even get a chance to aim for a diamond-ranked adventurer, a title that exists only once per era. ¡°And I¡¯ve got experience from living among those trash.¡± Though his current rank was steel, his experience and skills could easily be considered gold. The overwhelming potential of the Void! Arjen saw it as if fate had chosen him to be the king of this era. ¡°Kahaha! The greatest wealth, power, and honor! I¡¯ll grab it all! I¡¯ll reign from the top!¡± Adventurers could amass wealth if they succeeded. By subduing high-level monsters or finding artifacts, one could touch immense fortunes. The , once one of the Four Great Guilds, used to rake in money to the extreme. ¡°It¡¯s funny that even after making such a big score, they end up back at the bottom¡­¡± But that¡¯s precisely why they get involved. Who is Arjen? He had been watching the closely since he was young. ¡°I could write a book on how to rise from the bottom of adventurers!¡± Arjen lifted his upper body, deciding the direction of his life. Embracing the holy scripture of the Void. This wasn¡¯t merely holding the scripture; it was embracing a new possibility in life. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve decided! I¡¯ll rise to the top of this beast kingdom and make my mark before I¡¯m 30!¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 5 - How to Succeed as an Adventurer [Translator - Kiteretsu][Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 5 - How to Succeed as an Adventurer The port of this new land had a different kind of salty sea air. Even the sound of waves crashing white against the breakwater and the cries of seagulls felt somehow different. If anything, it was refreshing. Everything was unfamiliar, but that made it new and exciting. That newness was exhilarating. ¡°Then, brother, make sure to come back and tell me how it goes.¡± ¡°Why would I? Am I your lackey now?¡± ¡°Oh, come on.¡± These scattered islands in the middle of the two continents were collectively known as the Tersh Isles. On the largest island of these isles was the green city of Karsiko, one of the seven great cities of the Republic. Perhaps due to its reputation as the world¡¯s top producer of oranges and lemons, even the sea breeze carried a fresh, citrusy scent. Karsiko Adventurers'' Guild The sea breeze fluttered the guild sign, which was hanging from chains. ¡°It¡¯s quite modest for a guild located in one of the seven great cities¡­¡± It was only natural, perhaps. The Tersh Isles did not have a notable hub for adventurers. There were no high-rank monsters here. Inside the guild, the morning was bustling with a considerable number of people. With such a diverse range of races, their equipment varied greatly. ¡°Looking for a mage or gunslinger for a Rank 10 quest.¡± ¡°Urgently need a dealer. Only those with at least three Rank 8 quest achievements apply.¡± ¡°Any warriors available for a frontline role on a Rank 9 quest?¡± People lined up in pairs or small groups in front of the reception desk, chatting while holding their quest requests. Arjen looked around nervously, checking for any familiar faces from the Divine Guillotine. Fortunately, no one he recognized was there. Taking a deep breath, he approached the large cork board set up in the middle of the lobby. Various quest requests were pinned there. ¡°Currently, my rank is Steel.¡± The tasks he could handle alone were the lowest-tier Rank 13 quests. Among these, many didn¡¯t quite qualify as ¡°adventuring.¡± For instance, there were tasks like finding lost cats. Thus, Arjen pretended to scrutinize quests like ¡°sewer cleaning.¡± ¡°He needs to look like a clueless novice.¡± The world of adventurers is interconnected. If a new face suddenly appears and seems out of place, rumors spread quickly. ¡°If that happens, the survivors from the Divine Guillotine will also get my information, making me a target¡­¡± Pretending to be a beginner and being underestimated could be dangerous in this world, right? ¡°Not at all!¡± While that is often the case, it didn¡¯t apply to Arjen. ¡°Because healing jobs are considered elite among adventurers.¡± While clumsy warriors wielding swords and guns are everywhere. A valuable healer like Arjen is someone others are hesitant to even approach. In fact, it¡¯s a simple problem upon reflection. Could someone who was once a bookish scholar suddenly awaken and venture into a blood-soaked labyrinth? ¡°So, if I just hang around like this, a high-ranked party will eventually approach me!¡± Yes¡­! This is where it all begins. ¡°The grand journey of Arjen, aiming to become a Diamond-Rank adventurer, starts here!¡± * * * ¡­Arjen once had such an optimistic phase. ¡°Hahaha! Do you really think it will be that easy?¡± Upon returning to the dock area without receiving any attention, Arjen was met with uproarious laughter from Ulman, who had heard about his situation. ¡°Do you know what the most important thing is in the adventurer or merchant world?¡± ¡°What¡¯s that, damn it?¡± ¡°Trust, trust! Right now, you don¡¯t have a shred of it. Who would want to handle important quests with you?¡± Lok also chuckled. ¡°Yeah. They probably don¡¯t even know you¡¯re a priest. Look at the shabby clothes we gave you.¡± Arjen bit his lip. ¡°¡­It¡¯s not my fault, is it? It¡¯s the other adventurers who don¡¯t recognize me as the top-class healer in the adventurer world.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t expect much from the dull-witted sword-swingers anyway.¡± ¡°Pfft.¡± ¡°Treating them so kindly just makes them even more intolerable. Get over here.¡± ¡°Sorry. Ahhh! Brother, I¡¯m sorry! Please save me!¡± While Arjen was putting Lok in a headlock, Ulman spoke up. ¡°Why are you so impatient? You¡¯re not just young; you¡¯re still a child. Isn¡¯t it said that a thousand-mile journey begins with a single step?¡± ¡°!¡± ¡°Life is like farming; if you build up slowly, it will eventually bear fruit.¡± ¡°!!¡± ¡°Of course, not everyone enjoys a bountiful harvest. There might be famines too. But you can still harvest something.¡± ¡°!!!¡± ¡°Those who do nothing will have nothing to reap.¡± Ulman occasionally spoke such profound words. Arjen immediately vowed to memorize this and use it as his own words later. After all, a famous quote is a public resource. It will sound impressive. Lok patted Arjen¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Brother, we¡¯ll be staying here for about a month. We¡¯ll be trading goods and giving the sailors some rest before they cross the ocean. It will be busy, but make sure to keep coming by!¡± Right, why was I so impatient? Now, time is abundant. Improving adventurer rank is good, but it wouldn¡¯t hurt to train the Void power while tackling minor missions. ¡°Don¡¯t worry! I¡¯ve just thought of an overwhelming secret plan for rapid promotion!¡± The staff of the adventurers'' guild in this big city are very interested in adventurers. ¡°What if a newly arrived adventurer shows passion in taking and completing Rank 13 quests?¡± Word of mouth will start to spread. - ¡°Oh, that new person seems pretty good.¡± - ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s nice to see someone so eager.¡± That¡¯s how one establishes a foothold. The first effort to root oneself here would be to enthusiastically tackle those Rank 13 quests. Returning to the adventurers¡¯ guild, Arjen glanced around. ¡®Most adventurers are either out on quests or off to eat, so the guild is at its quietest right now. This is a perfect opportunity.¡¯ He quietly approached the quest corkboard. Carefully extracting the Rank 13 quest¡­ [Find the Cat], he silently made his way to the reception. ¡°I¡¯d like to take this quest¡­¡± Arjen muttered in a voice tinged with embarrassment, his face reddening with feigned shyness. ¡®Maintain those clear and delicate eyes like a fawn!¡¯ The receptionist smiled warmly. ¡°Could you please present your adventurer ID?¡± ¡°Oh, sorry!¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to apologize. Just a moment, please.¡± While the receptionist shuffled through the paperwork, Arjen gave a sly smile. ¡®Just as planned. It¡¯s all about playing the inexperienced novice.¡¯ Using beauty and charm. A trick that the trashy members of the were very efficient at. ¡®Humans¡­ they¡¯re endlessly superficial about appearance when it comes to reason! They use everything they can!¡¯ Arjen had a pretty face. So, he had been brought to social events by the before. Those were the only times he had worn clean clothes and looked good. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s you, Arjen. Your identity has been confirmed.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± ¡°Here¡¯s the cat¡¯s portrait¡­ and be aware that the reward will be subject to deductions: 11% for withholding tax, 10% for tithing, and 18% for the guild¡¯s fee.¡± Are these highway robbers or what? So, they take 39%? Do I have to pay triple taxes? Withholding tax, religious tithing, and guild fees. He felt a bit disheartened, as if he had glimpsed the harsh reality of adventurer life. ¡°Oh¡­ the fee is highest at the Steel rank. It decreases by 3% each time you upgrade to Brass, Silver, and Gold ranks.¡± Seeing Arjen¡¯s distress over the 39%, the receptionist quickly added an explanation. ¡°And when you reach the Platinum rank, you get extensive tax exemptions from the state. For instance, in , the tax rate drops to 6%, and the guild fee is reduced to 2%. By the way, Diamond rank has no fees aside from the tithe.¡± Of course, being a Platinum rank means that you are at a level where people beg you to take their quests from all over the world. ¡°Th-Thank you, ma¡¯am! I¡¯ll be off now!¡± ¡°Alright~!¡± Arjen completed the paperwork and left the guild. Turning the corner, he entered an empty alleyway. ¡®Finding a cat, huh¡­¡¯ Such a crazy quest is usually assigned to kids in the adventurers¡¯ guild. ¡®This guy must see adventurers as mere errand boys.¡¯ However, Steel rank adventurers are indeed less than errand boys. They have to be dealt with accordingly. ¡°Come forth, Void Insects! Kaz Tu Arcturus.¡± The command of the apostate was obeyed by the power. The dimension wavered, and then, from the depths of the boundary of oblivion, the Void Insects emerged. During his time with the wealthy merchant, Arjen had become capable of maintaining a stable summon of up to seven insects for an extended period. ¡®Void Insects do have a certain cuteness if you look closely.¡¯ Their fluffy, rounded bodies remind one of honeybees. And although they have six eyes, they are horizontally slit. When they are still, they almost look like dolls. ¡°First-Bee, can you see this?¡± The top veteran and ace was the First-Bee, who had appeared since the time of hunting the Playing Mantis. Under its command were the Second-Bee and Third-Bee. However, these insects didn¡¯t have much intelligence. The names seemed to have no particular significance, so Arjen decided to stop naming them except for the First-Bee. For reference, Void Insects, like those faceless demons from back then, don¡¯t make any sounds. ¡°Find this cat within half a day.¡± Buuuuuuuuuu¡­¡­ The First-Bee fluttered its wings and twitched its antennae. The Void Insects then flew off in various directions. ¡®Is there a special signal for Void Insects?¡¯ The First-Bee was special. It was larger than the other Void Insects and understood Arjen¡¯s words quickly. Moreover, it could relay the meaning to the other Void Insects. ¡®Ugh¡­ forcing them out like this is giving me a bad case of nausea.¡¯ After the Void Insects left, Arjen strolled through the streets of . was built around the subterranean springs that rose from the city center, forming 16 water channels through the urban area. Along these waterways, riverbank paths were established, and lemon trees lined the streets, creating a striking visual aesthetic. ¡®The city is filled with the scent of lemons¡­¡­¡¯ Just being able to explore this peaceful city without any restrictions or fear made him happy. ¡°Hey, boy over there! Try this tangerine. It¡¯s so delicious. If you¡¯re in , you must try the tangerines. It¡¯s a local specialty.¡± He bought a tangerine from a fruit vendor he encountered on the street, and it looked so fresh that he decided to get one. It was something he couldn¡¯t have dreamed of in the past when he was barely making ends meet. But now, Arjen had a good amount of money in his pocket from selling the Mantises¡¯ hides. As he peeled the fruit and tasted the flesh, he couldn¡¯t help but exclaim. ¡°Wow.¡± The fresh and sweet juice¡­ he couldn¡¯t suppress his amazement. ¡°That¡¯s not the taste of a boss, it¡¯s the taste of a tangerine. Want to buy a bag?¡± ¡°Sure. Give me two bags.¡± Arjen walked through the streets of holding the tangerine bags. Soon, he found a spot on the rooftop of a building overlooking the city and the sea. ¡®Just like this¡­¡­¡¯ Even just peeling tangerines while listening to the sound of the waves can make a person happy. ¡®In the future, I¡¯ll have to build a villa around here and enjoy the finest wines and dishes. But for now¡­¡­ I¡¯m a bit sleepy¡­¡­ maybe I¡¯ll take a short nap¡­¡­¡¯ sea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on G00gle to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The motion sickness had left him feeling weary. Arjen, with his hands clasped behind his head, fell into a pleasant sleep in the gentle, warm sea breeze. Buuu¡­¡­ ¡­Buuuuu¡­¡­ ¡­¡­Buuu. It was around twilight, when the sea was covered with a shimmering veil of water. The Void Insects returned to Arjen¡¯s side. The buzzing of the First-Bee¡¯s wings near his ear roused Arjen from his cozy nap. He stretched and stood up, asking, ¡°Did you bring them?¡± The Void Insects hovered in pairs, each holding the necks of the cats in the air. The cats, seemingly sensing the threat to their lives, were hanging limply like dolls. ¡®If I were in the same situation, being held by these monstrous-sized bees, I¡¯d probably be like that too.¡¯ Arjen generated a light with his illumination magic and compared the cats with the portraits. ¡°The ones the other Void Insects brought are completely different¡­¡­¡± As Arjen tilted his head in confusion, the Void Insects released the cats. The freed cats quickly disappeared. Though all the cats brought by the Void Insects were like that, the First-Bee never failed to impress Arjen. ¡°Ha ha ha! As expected of the First-Bee! The one you brought is definitely the right one, even an old lady passing by would confirm it!¡± The First-Bee, being unusually large, was able to hold the cat by itself. The cat, pretending to be dead while being held by the First-Bee, was clearly the right one. ¡°Here¡¯s your reward. Have some tangerines.¡± Buuu¡­¡­ ¡°You don¡¯t want to? They¡¯re delicious.¡± Buuu¡­¡­ ¡°They really are tasty.¡± Void beings cannot refuse the commands of the apostate¡­¡­ The First-Bee perched on Arjen¡¯s hand and began eating the tangerine. Only the peel, of course. ¡®Look at this guy¡­¡­ Last time, it left only the hides of the Praying Mantis, but now it can choose what to eat?¡¯ Arjen ate the fruit himself. He was quite pleased, so he gently patted the First-Bee¡¯s fluffy cotton-like fur. Though Void beings seem silent and emotionless, he felt a sense of friendship through the communication with the First-Bee. Arjen took care of the other Void Insects as well. However, they merely fluttered their wings in front of the tangerines, appearing disinterested. After the First-Bee wiggled its antennae, it seemed to receive a signal, and the others only ate the peels. ¡°Well, peeling the tangerines in an instant is incredibly convenient. I¡¯ll eat the fruit?¡± Having finished collecting the peels from the Void Insects, Arjen returned to the adventurer¡¯s guild with the cats. The receptionist who had been friendly earlier while Arjen was trying to appear cute was nowhere to be seen, possibly having left for the day. The work-life balance at the large city¡¯s adventurers'' guild is excellent. Arjen handed over the cat along with the request form. The muscular receptionist, while placing the cat into a trap, looked astonished. ¡°You caught this in just one day? Impressive.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°This cat is incredibly fast, so everyone else gave up quickly.¡± ¡°Heh heh.¡± ¡°Most people who take on Level 13 requests are novices who think, ¡®Why should I put my best effort into this kind of request?¡¯ and give up quickly. But you¡¯re already showing promise.¡± Ah~ the world is so easy. The plan worked perfectly. ¡®With this, I¡¯ve made a solid impression as an enthusiastic rookie adventurer tackling Level 13 requests!¡¯ Now, all that¡¯s left is to rise to prominence. ¡°I¡¯ll prepare your reward, so please wait a moment.¡± After completing some paperwork, the receptionist handed over 15 silver coins. ¡®After a 39% tax deduction, the reward seems rather paltry¡­¡­ But I don¡¯t feel that way at all.¡¯ It was common for Arjen to receive less than 10 silver coins for taking on life-threatening Level 4 or 5 requests. So receiving 15 silver coins for finding a single cat felt quite gratifying. Just as he was about to leave, happily counting the coins in his hand. ¡°Oh, wait a moment!¡± The muscular receptionist suddenly handed him another request form. ?Request Title: Sewer Cleaning ?Request Level: 12 ?Request Overview: Due to the summer season, slimes have proliferated in the sewers. The municipal sewer treatment office wants to commission this request to the adventurers¡¯ guild. ?Reward: 3 silver coins (exempt from withholding tax as it¡¯s a public office request) Arjen stared intently at the request form. ¡®Ha, ha, ha ha ha ha!¡¯ He had to barely suppress the victorious smile spreading across his face. ¡®Playing the newbie! Playing the newbie!¡¯ So he put on a face as if he didn¡¯t understand the situation. ¡®Arjen is an expert at hiding his emotions!¡¯ What to do to avoid suspicion? He needed to naturally express all sorts of emotions, starting with a pitiful look. The muscular receptionist spoke. ¡°I¡¯ll recommend you for this. According to your adventurer¡¯s identification, you¡¯re a healer, which is a very valuable profession.¡± ¡°!¡± ¡°Since a healer like you went out of your way to find a cat, there¡¯s no need to prove your sense of responsibility, right?¡± Arjen moistened his eyes with fake tears and pretended to be frightened. ¡°Me? Can I really do it?¡± ¡°You won¡¯t know until you try! There¡¯s a party departing tomorrow. One warrior, one mage, one archer. The gathering point is at Sewer Entrance 5, and the meeting time is exactly 9:00 AM.¡± ¡°!¡± ¡°If the four of you split the 3 silver coins, it will be quite a decent reward. What do you say, want to give it a try?¡± Arjen pretended to be scared, but internally, he wore a wickedly pleased smile. ¡®Ah~ the world is so easy.¡¯ What Arjen had demonstrated so far was all based on the same method used by the thugs of the Divine Guillotine to rapidly promote newly recruited members. ¡®Doesn¡¯t it bother you to use the same tactics as those trashy methods?¡¯ Not his concern. That¡¯s how one survives in this line of work. ¡®Pathetic slimes, just wait a little longer! I, Arjen, will use you as the first stepping stone on my journey to becoming a Platinum Rank!¡¯ [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 6 - When Five Adventurers Gather, There Is Bound To Be… [Translator - Kiteretsu][Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 6 - When Five Adventurers Gather, There Is Bound To Be¡­ The next day. Holding the mission contract received from the wonderful receptionist at the guild, Arzen arrived at the sewer entrance at the appointed time, but no one was there. ¡®Are the lowest-level adventurers just society¡¯s trash who can¡¯t even keep an appointment¡­?¡¯ As he thought this, someone waved from a distance. ¡°Ah, hello!¡± A man waved with a friendly smile. Arzen had mentally labeled him as a ¡®bastard¡¯ since he had been chatting warmly with a woman on a bench since morning, but decided to reconsider. He might just be a kind person after all. ¡°So you¡¯re the healer recommended by James, huh?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t see you right away because I was discussing the plan. Oh, by the way, I¡¯m Brick. As you can see, I¡¯m a warrior. I¡¯ll be in charge of the front line.¡± Steel-ranked warriors usually wear chainmail armor or even just padded armor because they struggle with the cost of plate or medium armor and its maintenance. But this guy is in light armor. He¡¯s either supported by a wealthy family or exceptionally skilled, and it¡¯s more likely the former. ¡®Basic warrior equipment¡­ A one-handed sword and a round shield.¡¯ Brick then pointed to the woman next to him. ¡°This is Dini. She¡¯s a mage. She¡¯s working this job to save up money and gain experience for her apprentice witch exam.¡± What is this, a bastard? Why is he going on about such unnecessary background details? ¡®I don¡¯t get the point at all. What¡¯s with this jerk?¡¯ Is he trying to say his girlfriend is different from us lowlifes who aim to make a living by the sword? This is a complete load of crap. ¡°Hmph¡­ Unnecessary information.¡± Just then, a voice from above, on the roof beside the sewer entrance, seemed to reflect Arzen¡¯s thoughts. What¡¯s going on! A woman was skillfully carving bamboo into arrows. By the way, it¡¯s a trait of poor archers that they can¡¯t afford metal arrowheads. ¡°We¡¯re just a collective group of interests for this mission. I don¡¯t understand why you¡¯re explaining all this.¡± So much for trying to look impressive, but not managing it at all. The lowest-level steel-ranked adventurers really are pitiable in many ways. The archer gathered the bamboo arrows into her quiver and jumped down with flair. But she seemed to twist her ankle upon landing, causing her body to jolt. ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Seeing the archer limping away and trying to hide it, Arzen spoke up. ¡°Need healing?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not necessary. It¡¯s equivalent to a mosquito bite.¡± ¡°Okay, so you really don¡¯t need any help?¡± Then the archer rolled up her pants to reveal an already swelling ankle. ¡®What insane honesty¡­!¡¯ This woman, who uses wooden arrows, is definitely meticulous about her economic calculations! ¡°That¡¯s a pretty big mosquito bite. It was so fast that you didn¡¯t even see it leave.¡± ¡°Yeah, I got bitten by a mosquito while jumping down. You¡¯re more observant than I thought.¡± ¡°Are you mocking me, you fool? ¡®Only love is the first commandment. Follow this commandment, so that the light of creation within your soul may be seen by the world¡­¡¯¡± Healing light radiated from Arzen¡¯s hands, enveloping the archer¡¯s ankle. ¡°Oh, oh! You¡¯re really amazing! Now I understand why James, who has such high standards for people, recommended you even at night!¡± The warrior, Brick, was full of praise. ¡®Yes, praise me. Applaud me!¡¯ For you lowlifes, this noble Arzen is fundamentally different from you! ¡°Hmph, is that so.¡± Sea??h the N??elFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As Arzen shrugged his shoulders while pretending to be indifferent, the mage Dini¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡®What¡¯s up with her¡­? Did she just recite a shortened version of the liturgy?¡¯ With her sun-tanned skin, she seemed like a shepherd type, but using a liturgy instead of a spell means she¡¯s a cleric type. ¡®But a shortened chant?¡¯ Even though it¡¯s basic healing magic, that was incredibly fast. ¡®Her healing power must be exceptionally quick.¡¯ At that moment, a public official from the city hall appeared, scratching his disheveled hair. ¡°Ah, everyone¡¯s gathered.¡± Arzen narrowed his eyes. ¡®A stench of corruption¡­ or maybe he just sees steel-ranked adventurers as nothing but trash.¡¯ It was infuriating. When he was with the , public officials were always groveling. But this guy now had an arrogant air, as if his shoulders were breaking through the sky. ¡®Steel-ranked adventurers are pitiful¡­ society is cold.¡¯ The public official pulled something out of his pocket and started chewing. It was a famous slime jelly made from slime essence. ¡°As you know, after slaying a slime, its mucus spreads everywhere, and the byproducts are sold at high prices.¡± ¡°!¡± ¡°This one can¡¯t be used for food since it¡¯s from the sewers, but you can collect as much as you want after exterminating them.¡± ¡°!!¡± ¡°Once the extermination is complete, report back to the guild. Any questions or concerns should be directed to the guild as well.¡± He completely shifted all responsibility for the process and results onto the guild. This guy was a high-level piece of trash. ¡®Quite impressive. Even though your level of trashiness is high in a different industry, I¡¯ll acknowledge it.¡¯ Brick, bowing deeply to this piece of trash of a public official. ¡°Thank you in advance!¡± Low-level adventurers are truly unfortunate. ¡°Alright, don¡¯t overdo it. I have some business to attend to, so I¡¯ll be off.¡± Brick bowed energetically once more and then looked back at everyone. ¡°Let¡¯s set up the formation. I¡¯ll naturally take the front, and since the sewer is dark, archer, please stay on the side and keep an eye out for any signs.¡± ¡°Hmph¡­¡­¡± ¡°Also, we¡¯ll place the healer in the safest central position, and Dini¡­ you¡¯ll take charge of fire support from the rear. Now, let¡¯s go!¡± While these instructions were exchanged, a light appeared on Arzen¡¯s palm as he recited the miracle''s incantation. ¡°¡¶Lamp of Prayer¡·.¡± This was even before the warrior had a chance to light the torch. Everyone looked at Arzen with confusion. To Arzen, their expressions were equally perplexing, and he tilted his head. ¡°Why? Don¡¯t you need this? The inside of the sewer is dark, you know.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 7 - Void Bug Mutation [Translator - Kiteretsu][Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 7 - Void Bug Mutation ¡°Ping, piping, pipipipipip!¡± After hearing that damn annoying sound for nearly half a day, the situation finally came to an end. ¡°What the heck happened? I heard that summer sewer slimes are numerous and that it would take three nights to deal with them¡­¡± Warrior Brick wiped the slime off his blade with an oily cloth as he spoke. The mage scanned the surroundings. ¡°There¡¯s slime all over the place. On the walls and the ground¡­¡± ¡°Dini, does that mean someone already caught them all?¡± ¡°Hm, it seems like it, but there are no traces at all. It feels like we arrived before the slimes could even gather.¡± The archer let out a cold chuckle. ¡°Looks like we got lucky.¡± The archer¡¯s backpack was already stuffed to the brim with slime goo, nearly bursting. But he wasn¡¯t satisfied; he was also shoving it into his quiver. What an obsession with money! ¡°No, it¡¯s not luck. It¡¯s our courage! We paved the way to get here! If we hadn¡¯t been brave enough, the slimes might have gathered first!¡± Brick clenched his fist and shouted. Dini, the mage, chuckled lightly, while the archer silently continued to collect the goo, coldly smiling. That seemed to impress him. ¡°Even if there are still a decent number of slimes left, if we combine our strength, it¡¯ll be nothing! Let¡¯s go!¡± Watching this, Arzen thought with wide eyes, ¡°What a load of nonsense.¡± Unknowingly expressing his inner thoughts caused the attention of the lower-tier adventurers to focus on him. ¡°?¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°?¡± He could feel the atmosphere growing tense. In this mad world of adventurers, one could easily kill for ¡°offending my feelings¡± and then claim, ¡°I was attacked by monsters.¡± Arzen, whose social skills were at an almost masterful level, began to stomp on the slime goo, crying out, ¡°You slimes! Causing chaos and disturbing people¡¯s peaceful lives! Ugh, ugh, ugh!!!¡± Warrior Brick was impressed by his strong sense of justice and whistled, while Dini nodded in understanding. ¡°Indeed, such pure dedication to justice¡­ It¡¯s no wonder that kid¡¯s divine power barrier was so strong.¡± Arzen felt differently from his party members as he made his way here. The slimes that ¡°died without a sound¡± were not objects of confusion or embarrassment but rather of self-congratulation. ¡°To test how far the power of summoning magic extends, I deliberately designated the entire northwest sewer area for the quest¡­¡± Had he already resolved nearly 40% of it? Heh, that little guy. Once they returned to the inn later, he should reward him with some citrus peels and give him a wash. ¡°His soft, fluffy fur makes you feel good just by touching it.¡± He had even instructed the little guy to leave ¡°a couple behind¡± to check how well his commands were being followed, and that turned out perfectly too. ¡°There are no signs of battle in the area; it seems like they only targeted the core.¡± Perhaps it was due to the nature of the void creatures that devour their targets. He might need to see that for himself later. What mattered was this: The little guy could control the void creatures even when away from the sorcerer. ¡°Alright, next corridor! We see slimes! Let¡¯s go, everyone!¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± ¡°Ping, piping, pipipipipip!¡± S~ea??h the N?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 8 - An Offer You Cant Refuse [Translator - Kiteretsu][Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 8 - An Offer You Can''t Refuse Arzen woke up early as usual. If he didn¡¯t wake up early and properly prepare, he¡¯d end up getting beaten badly. Maybe that¡¯s why he instinctively opened his eyes at this hour. His body was drenched in cold sweat. Another damn nightmare¡­ Placing his hand on the Void Scripture brought him some stability, calming his mind a little. ¡°Little guy, Kaz tu Arcturas.¡± The little guy reappeared from the dimension of the void. As Arzen finished washing up, pushing his discarded underwear into a corner, the little guy handed him a towel. ¡°What a lovely creature.¡± Wiping his face with the towel, Arzen shook off the last remnants of sleep. He had a lot to do today. First, he needed to collect the payment he hadn¡¯t received yesterday, and with that payment, he planned to buy new clothes. ¡°5 AM¡­ The first floor should be getting ready to open soon. You can head back now.¡± Mornings for steel-ranked adventurers start early. In fact, there¡¯s no such thing as a leisurely breakfast. Daily life begins at dawn. Breakfast? What a ridiculous notion! Among the requests available to those like him, there are very few high-quality ones. But there are plenty of people willing to take them on, resulting in fierce competition. Of course, capable adventurers can show up later in the day and still secure good quests, due to less competition and sometimes receiving direct requests thanks to their skills. ¡°Sir, please line up properly. This is all one line.¡± ¡°Oh, I never imagined that would all be a single line. But why is that girl staring so wide-eyed? She might just not know.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen your ugly face here more times than I can count! How would I not know? Back off already!¡± Even young women have to toughen up like that to survive in the cutthroat world of adventurers. Anyway, lining up early in the morning, even before the guild opens, is a routine for steel-ranked losers. This is professionally termed an ¡°open run.¡± It sounds fancy, but it just means standing outside in the cold dawn, shivering while waiting in line. ¡°Please take a few steps back. We¡¯re about to open.¡± The guild usually opens at 6 AM. Because of useless steel-ranked adventurers, guild members arrive by 4 AM. They need time to assess the requests that came in the previous day, determine their ranks and costs, and print them before pinning them to the corkboard. ¡°Waaaaah! Requests are here!¡± ¡°Move!¡± ¡°Stand in line properly, you lowlifes!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t push!¡± In the world of adventurers, the most important skills for survival are vision and reaction speed. Fighting strong enemies? That was only true for a select few adventurers. For those like him, surviving in this crazy marketplace required a different set of skills. As soon as the building opened, the adventurers surged toward the corkboard, with no regard for ethics or decorum. In the case of decent requests, the first person to tear off the request form claimed it as their own. One might wonder why they didn¡¯t just tear off several forms, but doing so would incur printing fees for the torn papers and accumulate warnings against them. If they fell out of favor with the guild members, no matter how quickly they grabbed a request form, they wouldn¡¯t receive help in processing it, so caution was necessary. What a crazy scene¡­ Although he was in a slave-like position, Arzen had once been a part of the upper echelon of the adventurer community. It was a truly mad spectacle. I need to escape this dump. I have to rank up to brass level. Fortunately, there weren¡¯t any urgent requests today. But he feared that once his food funds ran out, he might end up in the same dire situation. ¡°I¡¯m here to collect my payment.¡± He headed toward the counter where the receptionist he had been intentionally charming was stationed. ¡°Yes, please present your identification tag.¡± Seeing her smile as soon as she laid eyes on him made Arzen realize how perfectly his charm campaign was working, filling him with satisfaction. Human relationships are so easy. After finishing her paperwork quickly, the receptionist handed him a pouch filled with coins. ¡°This is the amount after deducting tithes and branch fees!¡± ¡°Wow.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve only been an adventurer for a short time, yet you¡¯ve already solved requests of this caliber. That¡¯s truly impressive! I have high hopes for your future.¡± The receptionist even clapped cheerfully. Feigning shyness, Arzen pretended not to meet her gaze. ¡°Ah, um, no! It¡¯s, well, thanks to my seniors who accompanied me¡­!¡± Those seniors could take a hike. The lower ranks of the adventurer society offered little to no real help. This is all thanks to Arzen¡¯s abilities! But as they say, a frog must bend low to leap high. This virtue of humility was merely a means to gain momentum. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll be off then!¡± As Arzen bowed his head repeatedly and stepped outside, another guild employee approached the counter. ¡°That newbie is really hard-working.¡± ¡°Yeah, and kind of cute.¡± ¡°Stop being nice just because he¡¯s cute. What a shallow mindset.¡± ¡°Oh please~ Someone like him is so rare in the adventurer community. Don¡¯t be ridiculous!¡± Once Arzen stepped outside the guild, his humble, awkward expression vanished, replaced by a wicked smile. He couldn¡¯t help but feel a thrill as he rummaged through his pouch. Hehe, with this money, I can buy some really nice fabric¡­ For an adventurer, good fabric didn¡¯t mean silk or anything fancy. Wearing something like that would just get torn to shreds in no time! First of all, clothes made from monster byproducts were known for their durability. Higher-level adventurers used enhancements and enchantments, but that was the realm of golden and top-tier silver-ranked adventurers. It¡¯s frustrating that I don¡¯t have that kind of money yet. Still, the thought of buying new clothes already filled him with excitement. The shops near the adventurer guild opened early. It was common for adventurers to receive requests and buy equipment in the morning. The morning was the peak time for shopping. ¡°Come on, when facing dangerous foes, you need good armor! Check out our selection!¡± Arzen entered a clothing store he had been eyeing through the display window for some time. Since it was in the adventurer guild district, naturally, everything on sale was made from monster byproducts. ¡°Hey, show me the clothes for healers. Just the leather ones.¡± The shop owner nodded eagerly, and while guiding Arzen to the other side of the counter, he licked his lips in anticipation. ¡°Lucky me, a mark has come early in the morning! There¡¯s nothing easier to con than clueless kids jumping into the adventurer market.¡± It wouldn¡¯t be hard to sell them at several times the usual price just by chatting casually. ¡°Here, check this out. What do you think? This is made from¡­.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the percentage of the lizard leather content?¡± The shopkeeper flinched. This kid¡­ had he actually studied a bit? There was no way to fool a pro with that level of knowledge. ¡°24%, but it also uses a high-quality synthetic fiber¡­¡± ¡°Bullshit. Where¡¯s the synthetic fiber that¡¯s better than monster leather? When was that developed? Should I ask the guild about this? You trying to piss me off this early?¡± ¡°N-no, I mean, it¡¯s more cost-effective with the synthetic fiber! I misspoke! Look, this one might look a bit shabby, but it¡¯s made from goblin leather¡­¡± ¡°Goblin leather is the crappiest kind of leather from low-level monsters, isn¡¯t it? Plus, it doesn¡¯t even have any fur, so it¡¯s classified as skin, not leather. If you lie to me again, we¡¯re going to the guild together. Got it?¡± But he was up against Arzen! Having rolled through the hellish guild, he was no rookie. He might not have worn many good clothes himself, but most adventurers in the had high-quality gear. He¡¯d picked up tales of what to buy, what was good, and what was bad over the years. So, his knowledge was at least on par with silver-ranked adventurers. ¡°...This is made from the skin of the vine monster Akahalu. It has an 89% skin content! You won¡¯t find this at this price anywhere else.¡± Hmm¡­ this is pretty nice. The dark green color of Akahalu matched well with the hues of the void creatures. I¡¯ve been considering what kind of color would suit the boss of the void creatures, and this design isn¡¯t half bad. The thickness was impressive, and it fell just above the knees. Plus, the collar that buttoned up would provide excellent protection, reaching up to his chin. It was both practical and stylish. ¡°Oh, by the way, it¡¯s second-hand. Just finished the refurbishing today.¡± ¡°Seriously? Why would I wear something that smells like someone else¡¯s sweat? And if you look closely, the attacked areas are all tattered!¡± ¡°Hey, there are second-hand clothes that look cooler. This one especially has character with its battle scars. And I swear I got rid of all the sweat smells.¡± ¡°How long have you worn it?¡± ¡°About four years? I¡¯ll let it go for one silver coin.¡± Arzen felt a twinge of realization. If it were new, it would cost at least five or six silver coins. To be honest, as a support class, he rarely took hits directly, so was there really a need for perfect protection from brand-new gear? In the cutthroat adventurer world, looking the part could often fool others into thinking you were a pro. ¡°Hmm, so the esteemed shopkeeper who said synthetic fiber is better than monster leather and called goblin skin leather is selling this for one silver coin? I see. I¡¯ll just stop by the guild for a bit.¡± ¡°Wait a second! Haha, this guy has some guts! Actually, this is a special opening sale today for eighty coins. A steal, really!¡± ¡°Ah¡­ this ¡®opening sale¡¯ is melting the frozen heart of the super rookie Arzen!¡± Arzen extended his hand for a handshake. The shopkeeper gritted his teeth but managed a hearty laugh as they clasped hands. ¡°Listen, I¡¯m a nice guy, so let¡¯s call it even. If you don¡¯t want to face worse, you should do honest business.¡± The was truly made up of masters of intimidation. Of course, those bastards would threaten even the innocent traders to drive down prices. Arzen was comparatively mild in this respect. At this rate, he wouldn¡¯t even have enough for a meal. Feeling dejected at the thought of returning to the seedy underbelly of adventurer society, he sighed. ¡°Hey!¡± At that moment, someone waved at him. Noticing the cigarette in their hand, Arzen quickly deduced they hadn¡¯t received proper upbringing. ¡°I told you we¡¯d meet again, didn¡¯t I?¡± No way, it¡¯s him¡­? Samson, the manager from the city¡¯s sewage management department! He decided he¡¯d make him squirm just a little. ¡°Have you eaten? You don¡¯t look like you have. Come on, I¡¯ll treat you.¡± Anyone thinking they¡¯d get a free meal was in for a surprise. ¡°Of course, Manager! With a fine person like you handling the duties of , the future is looking bright!¡± As the master of flattery, Arzen immediately turned on the charm. --- Samson led him to a restaurant that was probably known only to locals. Most of the patrons were familiar faces rather than outsiders. The aroma of eggs and sausages sizzling in olive oil was simply divine. ¡°Didn¡¯t know about this place, did you? Tourists and outsiders wouldn¡¯t know. The locals don¡¯t share their secrets. If too many people flock here, we¡¯d have to wait in line.¡± ¡°Very wise of you!¡± ¡°It¡¯s cheap, generous portions, and they use quality ingredients. Plus, the service is great. With a civil servant¡¯s meager salary, I have to eat here to save up for living expenses.¡± Just as Samson stubbed out his cigarette, their order arrived. Anyone who could make that combination taste bad deserved to lose a hand. ¡°It can¡¯t help but be delicious.¡± ¡°Why are you acting all shy? Eat up. You¡¯re the one who swore at me on our first meeting.¡± ¡°I was controlled by a slime¡¯s brainwaves, so¡­¡± ¡°Hahaha! I was looking for someone like you, whose mouth opens and lies come pouring out. This is perfect!¡± Arzen lifted a sausage still steaming with heat. The olive oil and juices burst in his mouth, delivering a taste sensation beyond compare. His favorite food as a child had always been olive pasta. ¡°Is it delicious?¡± ¡°Absolutely.¡± ¡°No matter how good it is, everyone craves something extravagant sometimes.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± ¡°Why should only the wealthy, like market traders or witches, get to enjoy caviar? We should get to indulge a bit when we feel like it too.¡± ¡°Your words are completely justified.¡± ¡°You and I get along well. So, how about it? Do you want to consider a short-term contract with the city hall this summer? I¡¯ll take care of all the paperwork.¡± Having been through the for years, the term felt foreign to Arzen. ¡°A short-term contract?¡± He paused, breaking the runny yolk of his egg as he looked up. ¡°What do you mean by ¡®short-term contract¡¯?¡± S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Samson stuck a new cigarette in his mouth and smirked slyly. ¡°Actually, I saw everything. Well, not everything, but¡­ I definitely noticed your strength yesterday.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 9 - Short-Term Contract Worker (1) [Translator - Kiteretsu][Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 9 - Short-Term Contract Worker (1) ¡°Actually, I saw everything. Well, not everything, but¡­ I definitely noticed your strength yesterday. Just a glimpse.¡± Arzen instinctively held his breath. ''This crazy¡­'' So there really are no acts of kindness in this world without ulterior motives. Is this bastard trying to blackmail me? ''Are you threatening to hand me over to the Inquisition? To treat me like a slave? Is that what you¡¯re planning?'' Arzen felt the unpleasant trickle of sweat running down his forehead and along the bridge of his nose. ''I need to kill him¡­'' I can¡¯t live that life again. Void creatures leave no trace. Right now, I have to navigate this situation and then, when no one is watching, eliminate him without a trace. ¡°Wow, a healer who can use magic? You¡¯re more impressive than I thought!¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°There are always guys like you. Ace adventurers who hide their identities and enter the adventurer world from places like the Sword Palace or the Magic Tower.¡± ¡°!¡± ¡°What are you looking so shocked for? I have experience, too. I¡¯ve seen hundreds of adventurers at the city hall. You used summoning magic, didn¡¯t you? It¡¯s no joke how strong those creatures are.¡± Arzen tilted his head in confusion. Samson raised an eyebrow, as if to say not to tease him. ''This doesn¡¯t seem like a lie, though?'' Wait a minute¡­ Why was I overthinking this? To outsiders, it wouldn¡¯t be any different from regular magic. ''I¡¯ve heard that the classification of magic is incredibly broad.'' I remember that a talented individual named Yong-hyeon appeared a hundred years ago, and since then, the magical system has been significantly subdivided and developed. Even summoning magic has a lot of classifications, starting from whether it involves organic or inorganic materials. Unless one has considerable knowledge of magic, it makes sense for someone like Samson to judge it this way. ¡°The other three yesterday were useless compared to you. I felt like you could wipe them out all on your own if given the chance.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± sea??h the N?vel(F)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Exactly, so let¡¯s team up and make some money together. I¡¯ll get you set up for a short-term contract.¡± ¡°What does that entail?¡± ¡°In the summer, slimes keep infesting the sewers every week or two. No matter how much you clean, it never ends. Ugh, I¡¯m always stuck submitting requests and getting approvals. It¡¯s a hassle.¡± ¡°So you want me to catch slimes?¡± ¡°Basically, yes. I¡¯ll funnel all the work your way. Most people don¡¯t care about sewer jobs anyway. You¡¯ll get to keep all the money you earned yesterday. Just give me this little cut in return.¡± Samson held up three fingers. Having grown up among thugs, Arzen could smell the stench of corruption in the air. ''He¡¯s asking for 30% of the profits. What a thief.'' Well, if I think of it as doubling the guild fees, it¡¯s a loss, but¡­ - Waaaah! A request! - Move aside! - Line up properly, you scoundrels! - Don¡¯t push! Is now really the time to be picky about food? In a society like this, it¡¯s better to take what you can get than to search for high-quality requests! Above all, in this world, it¡¯s the fools who don¡¯t use loopholes. Those who try to live honestly are the gullible ones. Arzen felt this truth deeply while struggling in the ranks of the Divine Guillotine. ¡°Why? Are you hesitating because of that guy¡¯s contributions? To get promoted?¡± ¡°It¡¯s true I can¡¯t remain a Steel tier forever.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry! If you say you worked as a contract manager for the sewers in the summer, that¡¯ll count as a credential in the guild.¡± ¡°!¡± ¡°If you need any paperwork, just let me know. I¡¯ll handle it right away.¡± Arzen jumped to his feet immediately. He bowed deeply and extended his hands. ¡°I¡¯m in awe of your insight, sir. If you entrust this task to someone as unworthy as me, I¡¯ll do my utmost.¡± Arzen and Samson shook hands, exchanging smiles that reeked of money. ¡°Then let¡¯s head to the city hall right away. You don¡¯t have any other plans, do you?¡± ¡°If I have any, I¡¯ll cancel them all for you, sir.¡± ¡°Haha! Then hurry up and finish eating! We¡¯re going to the city hall.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 10 - Short-Term Contract Worker (2) [Translator - Kiteretsu][Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 10 - Short-Term Contract Worker (2) That day, Arzen spent about 30 coins to buy a ragged cloak and some clothes to wear. The guild branch has an agency that handles deceased or missing persons. If family members aren¡¯t found within 60 days, the bodies are sold cheaply by that agency. It¡¯s natural for most people to avoid it, thinking it¡¯s ominous. However, Arzen had lived closely with death since childhood, so he didn¡¯t understand why it was considered so ominous. He also bought a secondhand Akahaloo skin robe, which looked no different from new ones. For Arzen, it was hard to grasp why people wouldn¡¯t buy used items. Of course, I wouldn¡¯t buy used underwear or anything, just a cloak and boots¡­ Boots were mostly large, as there weren¡¯t many delicate adventurers like Arzen, but they were fine as long as they were wearable. After all, he would only wear them a few times before discarding them. He also stopped by a medical supply store to buy a mask used for sanitation. No matter how he thought about it, the smell from the sewers was too awful to ignore. ¡°Hey, old lady, this really doesn¡¯t let any smell through, right? It¡¯s not going to stink, is it?¡± ¡°Ah, have you been fooled all your life? Of course it lets smells through, who¡¯d sell it if it didn¡¯t!¡± ¡°Seems I¡¯ve lived my whole life being deceived.¡± ¡°Ha!¡± After that, he headed to the shop that Samson had taken him to that morning. He was curious about the taste of the basil pesto sandwich that Samson had eaten. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s in this sandwich?¡± ¡°It¡¯s basil pesto, of course!¡± ¡°What¡¯s basil pesto?¡± ¡°It¡¯s basil pesto, what else could it be?¡± The owner¡¯s curt reply made Arzen frown. No matter how good the food was, he disliked unfriendly places. I won¡¯t put up with it¡­ I¡¯ve decided I won¡¯t tolerate those who look down on me. sea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Just as he was about to leave without ordering, someone punched the owner on the top of the head. ¡°Hey, whether I¡¯m older than you or not, I told you to speak properly, didn¡¯t I?¡± The owner was a scrawny man, while the one who spoke was an enormous woman. ¡°Basil pesto is made by grinding basil leaves with garlic and pine nuts, then mixing them well with olive oil.¡± ¡°Oh, olive¡­¡± ¡°Yes, the number 4 island in Wrinkle Land is famous for its olive trees! It¡¯s a world-renowned olive-producing area. Even the great Yong-hyun is said to visit often to relax. We also mix in some tangerine juice.¡± Now that she mentioned it, the olive oil from the ¡°Egg & Bacon Sausage Set¡± he had for breakfast was indeed delicious. Arzen sat back down. After paying for the basil pesto, the owner¡¯s wife smiled warmly, saying she¡¯d prepare it deliciously. Is that the sea¡­? From the outdoor table, he could see the horizon of the ocean coloring the view with its blue. He could feel the sea breeze bringing both summer warmth and ocean coolness. Sitting at that table, Arzen briefly stared blankly at the sea. The waves, white and foamy, crashing on the shore. It felt like something he could watch for a lifetime without getting bored. I never imagined this before¡­ As he lost himself in thought, someone approached and hit Arzen. - "Have you memorized the scriptures?" - "Have you memorized all 25 combat readiness protocols?" - "You¡¯ve memorized them all? Recite them. If you get even one wrong, it¡¯s twenty lashes." Just like this¡­ Without being exposed to violence¡­ Just having time to watch something freely¡­ Humans can find happiness. ''But what if I can gain money, power, and the purest priestess in the world from here?'' Heh, heh, heh, heh heh heh. A laugh escaped him. Dreams will come true, and destiny stood by the boy in the name of emptiness. ''Just wait a little longer! I, Arzen, will take all your money and power!'' At that moment, the owner¡¯s wife brought a sandwich to the table. ¡°Here you go, basil pesto sandwich!¡± Next to the plate was a glass cup exuding a refreshing aroma. ¡°Oh, this is olive juice. It¡¯s tangerine juice mixed with olives, and it¡¯s very popular.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t order this.¡± ¡°Our husband was grumbling earlier. He has a very delicate personality. Regulars know this, but newcomers often feel uncomfortable.¡± ¡°!¡± ¡°But that just shows how dedicated he is to his cooking. So I hope you¡¯ll forgive him with this.¡± Arzen took a sip of the olive juice. The tangy flavor filled his mouth and coolly slid down his throat. It was a taste that could easily forgive even the owner¡¯s grandmother. ¡°Right.¡± ¡°Yeah, thank you.¡± If Arzen hadn¡¯t gained the power of emptiness, he might have thought: ''Living in a place like this, surrounded by peaceful and kind people, wouldn¡¯t be so bad¡­'' But that wasn¡¯t possible. ''I, Arzen, am a being chosen by destiny to be a king!'' A king must reign. Even in this kingdom of beasts, where adventurers must flee with their tails tucked between their legs. ''Still, the taste is good¡­'' Taking a hearty bite of the basil pesto sandwich, Arzen looked back at the azure sea. ''I should invite Ulman and Rock here for a meal sometime.'' Arzen glanced at the menu. There were about six options, all looking delicious. He could ask the kind owner¡¯s wife what would be best to serve guests. ''Alright, I¡¯m full now¡­ time to get to work.'' [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 11 - Short-Term Contract Worker (3) [Translator - Kiteretsu][Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 11 - Short-Term Contract Worker (3) For Arzen, the summer of the year 1529 in the Tersia Calendar wasn¡¯t just about cleaning the sewers. Twice a week, as a contracted worker for the city hall, there were mandatory workdays he had to attend. In order to improve his rapport with others, it was essential for him to show dedication at all times, every single moment. "Arzen~ Hi!" Thanks to this effort to build rapport, Arzen was gradually becoming friends with Milbiet, the nagging supervisor of the Sewer Maintenance Department. "Hello." "How¡¯s the sewer work going?" "It¡¯s the same as always." "Oh my, a young boy like you catching slimes in those sewers... Want a cookie?" Since he had already succeeded in earning her favor early on, getting a free cookie had become a regular occurrence. "This is delicious. Where did you buy it?" "Buy it? I made it myself." "Homemade cookies, really? I¡¯m so touched, I could cry..." Reacting properly to the kindness of others was crucial in every interaction. One must never take kindness for granted, or worse, treat it as a right. Such a mistake would instantly render all the rapport he had built up meaningless. "I made plenty, so eat as much as you like." Of course, he didn¡¯t have much time to chat idly. Being the City Hall of a major metropolis, the number of complaints reaching the Sewer Maintenance Department was staggering. Most of the complainers were old folks grumbling things like, ¡°How are you going to compensate me for rusty water coming out of my tap?¡± Arzen''s job was to direct these people to the Water Supply Department. "This way, sir." sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Oh, you¡¯re working hard for such a young one. All right, I¡¯ll head to the Water Supply Department." "Yes, please go." Arzen was dressed in a city-issued public official¡¯s uniform. Karsico, a metropolis often called "The Green City," had a distinct city uniform where the green and white color scheme gave off a fresh, clean feeling. Since they didn¡¯t have a men¡¯s uniform in Arzen¡¯s size, he had to wear a women¡¯s uniform. But with his pretty face, it didn¡¯t seem out of place at all. As a half-elf, Arzen wasn¡¯t a classically handsome man, according to Lok. He was more of a pretty boy who looked like a beautiful girl. Since he was still young, his appearance made even adults want to dote on him. "Thanks to you, Arzen, things have been going much smoother. Plus, since you¡¯re young, the old folks don¡¯t make as many rude remarks." "Really?" "Yeah, whenever it was just Samson and me, we¡¯d always end up in shouting matches... That, and there¡¯s something about you¡ªsomething mysterious. Maybe that¡¯s why." Hearing compliments like this made him feel proud inside. ¡®This feeling of being praised and adored!¡¯ When his mother was still alive, he used to receive such affection even for the smallest things... But ever since she was sent to the Divine Guillotine, even the smallest missteps led to constant berating. The flood of emotions swept over him. If he felt this good now, how would it feel to be revered by everyone once he reached the Gold Grade? "I used to think civil servants were a bunch of lazy bums with guaranteed jobs, but there¡¯s actually quite a lot of work." ¡°We¡¯re actually doing pretty well compared to others. See over there? Do you see the Welfare Department? Most of the people going there are really upset, so their work looks really tough.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Yeah. Right now, the person that just came in is young, so that¡¯s a bit better¡­ Oh, it¡¯s Sora. She¡¯s calm and well-behaved, so it should be fine.¡± Arzen couldn¡¯t see her face clearly from where he was sitting, but he did notice the children playing quietly nearby. No, they weren¡¯t exactly playing. They were behaving quite maturely, making sure they weren¡¯t disturbing anyone, which was impressive in itself. ¡°Do you know her?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even ask. A few years ago, her parents died in an accident, and she¡¯s been raising her three younger siblings on her own, without sending them to an orphanage. She¡¯s incredible.¡± Curious to get a better look, Arzen lifted himself slightly off his seat to catch a glimpse of her face... Wait a minute. ¡°Eh.¡± A neatly tied ponytail, a serious expression, but if you really knew her, you''d recognize that she was far from that impression¡­! ¡®No way, that woman¡­!¡¯ It was the same crazy woman who kept talking during that first sewer extermination mission! ¡°!¡± Did she sense his gaze because she was an archer? Sora¡¯s expression changed rapidly as her eyes met Arzen¡¯s. At first, she was expressionless. Then one eyebrow shot up... and once she realized who Arzen was, her face flushed as red as a beet. ¡°Pffft.¡± Arzen subtly mimicked her exact reaction, as if letting out a breath. ¡®I, Arzen, will not let this slide!¡¯ Considering what she put him through, this was just a playful payback. Too bad he couldn¡¯t openly tease her because he was in the middle of building rapport. ¡°!!!¡± Suddenly, Sora sprang up from her seat and bolted outside. Escape! ¡°Sora? Sora, where are you going? You still need to finish filling this out!¡± Her siblings and the bewildered city official were left staring at the empty seat. ¡°Big brother, where did sis go?¡± ¡°She probably needed to use the restroom urgently. Let¡¯s just wait here.¡± ¡°I want to eat soon. I¡¯m hungry.¡± The youngest sibling yawned. The eldest gently wiped the younger¡¯s mouth and handed them a toy. ¡°Just hang in there a little longer. Sis said she¡¯d buy us something delicious today.¡± Taking advantage of the break, Milbiet approached the children and handed them some of her homemade cookies. ¡°Wow, cookies!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t eat yet! You have to say ¡®thank you¡¯ first!¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± The eldest handled the younger siblings with great care. As the kids bowed politely, a warm atmosphere filled the room. Others around them started rummaging through their pockets, as if looking for snacks to share. ¡°My goodness, how cute. You¡¯re seven now, right?¡± "Yeah, I''ll be starting school next year. But I don¡¯t really want to go. I¡¯m worried it¡¯ll be too much for my sister. I¡¯m also worried about my younger siblings." "Don¡¯t worry about it~ The city will provide all the support you need. You don¡¯t have to worry." At that moment, Arzen felt a pang of guilt as the last remaining shred of his conscience kicked in. ¡®I was planning to tease her since I still hadn¡¯t let go of what happened last time¡­¡¯ But seeing her siblings like that made him feel a bit of remorse. ¡®What the heck¡­¡¯ He had thought she was just a selfish, heartless adventurer, but there was clearly more to her situation. ¡®If I stay here, she probably won¡¯t come back in because she can sense my presence. That¡¯s just the way she is.¡¯ Arzen checked his watch. ¡®11:45¡­¡¯ Realizing it was time to clock out, he took off his uniform. He put on his cherished "Akahelu Hide Robe," which he had been wearing sparingly lately, stamped his time card, and left work. Samson, the department head, was dozing off, his face tilted back and covered by a book. When Arzen said goodbye, Samson lazily waved his hand without even opening his eyes. ¡®Sleeping so well during work hours¡­ what a scumbag. But you know, sometimes you can actually trust scumbags because they¡¯re consistent!¡¯ Arzen found that he could trust people like Samson more than hypocrites who pretended to be nice. ¡®They¡¯re always true to their own interests, and as long as you don¡¯t go against those interests, they¡¯ll show you goodwill in return.¡¯ Arzen first headed back to the Adventurer¡¯s Guild to change clothes. After that, he stopped by the medical supply shop to buy a Level 2 Odor-Blocking Mask¡­ Next, he¡¯d eat lunch at his now-favorite spot, Olive You, and then he¡¯d be fully prepared. At this point, Arzen could deploy up to eleven Voidlings. Today, he aimed to break through the limit of twelve and unlock a new technique. "Kaz Tu Arcturus. First-Bee, come forth." Buzzzzzz¡­ The sound of wings was now so familiar, it was almost comforting. From beyond the dimensional rift, the creatures of the Void tore through the veil of perception and appeared! Leading them, as always, was First-Bee, the most trusted servant of the Apostle. "We finished up the north-west section yesterday, so¡­ today we¡¯ll push straight ahead, right up to the edge of the central district. Sound good?" Buzzzzz¡­ "Two of you, guard above my head. One behind me. You take the rest and lead the charge forward." Buzzzzz¡­ At this point, there was no need to micromanage every little command. After about two weeks of sewer cleaning, Arzen had realized something¡ªFirst-Bee was learning how to fight. It commanded the Voidlings efficiently, adapting its tactics, and it even remembered all the previous commands Arzen had given. "Su Ja Kunia! Combine." The two Voidlings that had been guarding above Arzen''s head merged into one stronger mid-tier Voidling. No matter how fast they dealt with the falling slimes, the fact that they were so close meant they¡¯d still get splattered with that sticky mucus. But with a five-meter gap, the mid-tier Voidling was perfect for taking them out from a distance, giving them enough time to avoid the mess. ¡®Good, the formation¡¯s set. Now I just need to¡­¡¯ Arzen took a deep breath, then stretched out his hand, once again issuing commands to the Void as the Apostle. "Kaz Tu Arcturus." He had already deployed 11 Voidlings, which had drained all his Void Energy (as defined by the scriptures, this was the power needed to wield the Void¡¯s strength). ¡®But... now I must break through this limit!¡¯ Reaching toward the dimension of the Void! Calling out to the beings that dwell within! As the Apostle, he had to proclaim his intent to push beyond the current boundaries of this realm! "Ugh, uh... uuuuaaah...!" The intense heat swirling within his body exceeded even the suffocating summer heat of the sewers. Cold sweat poured down like rain. Despite the overwhelming pressure, Arzen could see it¡ªthe slow, steady encroachment into the dimension his hand was extended toward. The Void was being infiltrated. ¡®Come out, come out, come out!¡¯ How long could he hold out? This was no ordinary struggle¡ªthis was a battle against the primal laws of creation. A fight to see whether the providence of the universe would seal the rift first, or if Arzen could force it open and keep it stable. ¡®It¡¯s getting harder to breathe. If you¡¯re coming, hurry up! You, the 12th Voidling!¡¯ At that moment, First-Bee, who had been leading the slaughter of the slimes, looped back and flew toward him. It hovered in front of the dimensional rift, wings beating steadily in place. Its antennae twitched several times, and then... the legs of a new Voidling emerged from the rift. With those legs, it began to pull its body out, the 12th Voidling slowly inching free from the dimensional tear. First-Bee carefully assisted, tugging the new Voidling¡¯s body with the care of a mother bird tending to a hatchling. "Guhk...!" A painful burst of congestion erupted from within Arzen¡¯s chest, the kind that only happens when someone pushes themselves to their absolute limit. But for some reason, he couldn¡¯t stop now. "First-Bee, faster¡­!" It wasn¡¯t that he was afraid of failing to unlock the new skill. He would have more chances later. But if the rift closed now, the body of the 12th Voidling would be severed in half, and that... well, that would be a pity. Buzzzzzz! First-Bee¡¯s wings flapped with a newfound ferocity. And suddenly! The ten Voidlings that had been busy hunting slimes stopped what they were doing and flew to First-Bee¡¯s side. It was a bizarre sight. As they gnawed at the edges of the rift, the gap slowly but surely widened. ¡°Two seconds¡­ one second¡­ no more than that!¡± Just as Arzen feared he would collapse from the internal pressure, the 12th Voidling finally emerged from the other side of the rift. ¡°Haa...!¡± The tension drained from his body, and his legs gave out beneath him. He collapsed to his knees, gasping for air, his mask slipping down as he struggled to breathe. First-Bee, ever vigilant, arranged the Voidlings into the optimal formation to protect him. Arzen slumped against the sewer wall, not caring that his clothes were now filthy. They were second-hand anyway, and he didn¡¯t mind tossing them after this. Arzen hastily opened the chained grimoire. 12/12 His fists clenched tightly on their own, filled with a surge of uncontainable satisfaction. The sheer euphoria of the moment was indescribable. "Yes!!" There was no one around to hear him. He yelled triumphantly into the sewers, and the slimes, startled by the sudden noise, scurried off in a panic. Of course, it was probably the Voidlings that scared them off, but that didn¡¯t matter. First-Bee gently landed on his hand. It looked as though it was about to transform into a key, but Arzen shook his head, lightly stroking the fuzzy head of the creature. "No, no, we can¡¯t complete this important task here. Let¡¯s finish what we started and return to the inn afterward. First-Bee, lead the Voidlings and charge ahead. We¡¯ve got to complete today''s objective." With renewed determination, Arzen gave the command, and the swarm of Voidlings surged forward, ready to clear the rest of the sewer. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 12 - Short-Term Contract Worker(4) [Translator - Kiteretsu][Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 12 - Short-Term Contract Worker(4) That day, Arzen got so carried away that he ended up defeating nearly twice as many slimes as usual. This created a problem: he couldn''t carry all the slime byproducts with him. Given the restrictions in the city, where the Grand Witch resided, he couldn¡¯t bring along all the Voidlings, so two sacks were the limit for him. ¡®Oh well, how much difference can it make?¡¯ Exactly, what difference would it really make? For now, he could only command 12 Voidlings, but Arzen was growing stronger by the day. ¡®If I ever reach the level where I can control that faceless demon¡­ I¡¯ll probably be ranked Adamantine!¡¯ By then, he¡¯d reach a point where he couldn¡¯t spend his money fast enough, no matter how hard he tried. ¡®Phew, I got way too excited. It¡¯s completely dark now.¡¯ The usual bustling noise that would greet him was absent. Occasionally, the drunken howls, sobs, or laughter from taverns spilled into the streets, but no one dared to bother Arzen, whose entire body reeked from the sewer. ¡®1 a.m.¡­ The adventurer¡¯s guild is already closed. That¡¯s unfortunate. Sure, the public baths are open 24/7, but...¡¯ Of course, there was always a niche market. Some shady characters specialized in buying byproducts from late-returning adventurers like him. Though, unlike the guild¡¯s standard rates, these buyers always undercut the prices, leading to a loss. ¡®How much of a difference could it really be, though¡­¡¯ It seemed more sensible to just sell quickly and return to the inn, unlock the new oracle, and get some rest. ¡°Hm?¡± The green city of Karshiko, being one of the Seven Great Cities, had magical street lamps, keeping the streets bright even at night. Moths and night insects flitted around the glowing lamps as Arzen noticed a group of kids drawing on sheets of paper beneath one of them. ¡°...This is how mackerel looks.¡± ¡°Mackerel tastes good!¡± ¡°Sis is going to buy us mackerel!¡± Wait a minute, these kids... they were unmistakable. ¡®Aren¡¯t these the siblings of that archer I saw earlier at City Hall?¡¯ The kids were momentarily startled by the presence of a stranger. However, the eldest recognized Arzen and instructed the younger ones to greet him. ¡°It¡¯s the public officer hyung. Say hello.¡± ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Hello.¡± This was not a route Arzen normally passed through. ¡®Since I went up to the central sector and came back through that nearby passage¡­¡¯ Milbiet had once mentioned that 3rd Street in the southwestern district was mostly home to the city¡¯s poorer residents. ¡°What are you guys doing out here?¡± ¡°We¡¯re waiting for our sister.¡± ¡°Sora¡¯s an adventurer! Isn¡¯t that cool?¡± ¡°She¡¯s running a little late with today¡¯s request!¡± Hmm¡­ whatever jobs she could get were probably insignificant. ''Or¡­ could they be?'' Even so, being assigned to sewer duties means she¡¯s somewhat acknowledged among the Iron Rank adventurers. "Why are you out here waiting at night? It¡¯s dangerous." "We¡¯re fine." "Right, it¡¯s your business." As Arzen waved and walked away, the eldest sibling had the others bow in farewell once again. ¡®Wait a minute¡­¡¯ In that instant, like a lightning strike, an incredible idea flashed through Arzen''s mind. ¡®Those kids are super popular at City Hall!¡¯ If he did something good for those kids, his work evaluation would skyrocket. He was certain of it. ¡®This sewer cleaning job is a goldmine! If things go well, I could secure this contract every summer!¡¯ He might even get promoted to a permanent position just below a civil servant. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Guaranteed retirement! This could be the one shot that flips his life around from a temp to a full-time city worker. ¡®But I don¡¯t want to spend my own money. I¡¯m barely making enough as it is.¡¯ In that case, he might as well give them something that would¡¯ve just become trash anyway. ¡®Haha, haha, hahahaha! I¡¯m a genius!¡¯ Barely containing the laughter bubbling up from within, Arzen stopped in his tracks. ¡°What you do for the least of these, you do for me. The Light of Creation will surely remember and reward this.¡± According to scripture, this was essentially like lending money to the creation¡¯s providence! ¡®A perfect win-win!¡¯ He couldn¡¯t stop grinning at the brilliance of his own plan. After all, this stuff would¡¯ve been sold off for cheap, and he was eager to get back to his place. ¡®And since tossing it in the trash feels like a waste¡­ this is pretty much just taking out the garbage!¡¯ Arzen turned around. The kids looked at him in confusion as he approached. ¡°Hey, you lot. You¡¯re that archer¡¯s siblings, right? I just remembered something.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°I did a job with your sister a while back.¡± Their eyes lit up. "Our sister¡¯s an adventurer too?" "That¡¯s so cool!" "Not your sister¡ªyour brother. Sure, I¡¯m pretty, but let¡¯s not get confused here. Anyway, there was a mistake with the payment, so your sister didn¡¯t get her full share. I just found out about it today." "Really? But she brought home a lot of money last time." "What I say is always right. You want to argue with me?" "Sorry, sir." "When your sister gets home, give this to her. She¡¯ll know what to do. Oh, and don¡¯t eat it. It smells bad, so I¡¯m sure you wouldn¡¯t, but just in case." He almost gave them a light smack on the head, but after dealing with filth all day, he figured it¡¯d be inhumane to touch them with his dirty hands, so he held back. "I¡¯m off." The kids peered into the bag, poking the gooey stuff inside with their fingers in curiosity. ¡®I¡¯ve planted the seed. The harvest will come soon enough! Now that the load¡¯s off my back, I¡¯ll head to the bathhouse¡­ I¡¯ll figure out that new technique¡­ maybe tomorrow morning. I¡¯m too tired.¡¯ Just as he was thinking of his final tasks for the day, drowsiness began to creep in. "Big brother!" Hearing the eldest call out, Arzen turned to see the children waving at him with bright smiles. ¡°Thank you!¡± ¡°Good night, big brother!¡± In that moment¡­ a thought crossed his mind. Perhaps this was what he looked like, rushing out to greet his father, waving his hand frantically, on the day he returned home¡­ Arzen gave a faint, weary smile. ¡®Foolish kids¡­ ridiculous...¡¯ They were so innocent, so unaware of how the world really worked. Did they think they¡¯d just received some great favor? In reality, everything he did was calculated for his own benefit¡ªa simple win-win situation. ¡®All this over a measly gift... honestly, it¡¯s absurd...¡¯ * * * At the very edge of the civilized world lay the "Flowing Desert," a place that consumed life itself. The corpses buried beneath its sands had long been drained of their essence, leaving only bleached bones behind. A shadow with wings passed over the cursed land, and soon after, three figures materialized, bathed in sacred flame. Their red dragon scales gleamed in the harsh light. It was clear from their appearance that they were not mere humans¡ªthe guardians of the world, the Dragons , had taken on human form for a brief time. The two on either side bore single horns, marking them as wyverns, the rank-and-file of the dragon legion. But the figure in the center bore two horns¡ªthis was no ordinary dragon, but a true dragon, the leader of their legion. "The rampage of the Abyss occurred here, Daughter of the Great Flame, Akirea." The True Dragon¡¯s fiery red hair, more dazzling than the flames themselves, blew in the wind as a thin line formed between her brows. "There are so many human bodies, but no trace of the Abyss. It¡¯s as if it simply vanished." If there had been adventurers here, they would¡¯ve left identification tags. But there was nothing¡ªonly an eerie absence. "Last Flame, strange things are happening across the continent, and they all have one thing in common¡ªancient beings are reemerging. But here¡­ there is no sign of any ancient presence." Akirea swept her hand through the sands, pulling out something buried deep within. "This isn¡¯t just the desert draining life. These bones were already dissolved, leaving barely a trace behind." The wyverns fell silent, and the True Dragon''s eyes narrowed. "Look, lava." "Lava¡­ the Abyss of the Kings¡­!" "Yes, something great and terrible¡­ but also unknowable is happening. From the depths of the world, the echoes of the ancient kings can be heard." Akirea exhaled, a soft breath that carried the weight of ages, directing it toward the skeletal remains ensnared by the Abyss of the Kings. Her breath became a raging flame, consuming the bones until only ash remained. It was a funeral¡ªa ritual of peace, performed to prevent the lifeless body from being devoured by the Abyss. This was the world as it stood now¡ªwithout light, and with the era of dragons coming to its end. A funeral pyre lit by dragon fire was a rare and sacred act, one most could only dream of. Few would ever be granted such a ceremony. And this fire¡­ wasn¡¯t even from a mere wyvern, but from a True Dragon. An honor that no one, no matter how worthy, could simply claim. "The souls remaining in these bones are stained with desire and thoughts. It¡¯s clear they secretly entered the gold zone; they must have been wicked individuals. You needn¡¯t feel so sorry for them¡­" Akirea smiled sadly at the wyvern''s words. "If not us, who would pity them? The judgment of souls belongs to the gods; we only need to do our part." Akirea turned her gaze back to the desert, pulling the distant sights closer with the eyes of a dragon. ¡®There are more than a few oddities here.¡¯ From those bones, something was definitely¡­ So subtle that the wyverns didn¡¯t notice, but Akirea felt the unmistakable power of the Anti-Dragon Barrier. ¡®The Anti-Dragon Barrier. My father said it was a magic crafted specifically to combat dragons¡­¡¯ Few can wield its power, but its effect is certain¡ªit completely disrupts the perception and sensory signals of dragons. ¡®If the scale of the barrier is vast¡­¡¯ It could render the dragon kin entirely immobile within the barrier, a true weapon against dragons. ¡®The appearance of this means that a select few are moving¡­¡¯ Another strange thing was the presence of an unknown force that had erased the very existence of ancient beings. ¡®Beyond the shadow of the Anti-Dragon Barrier, I can sense remnants of a power that silenced all the commotion here.¡¯ Something similar to my father¡­ ¡®No, the essence feels similar, yet different¡­¡¯ It felt like the two sides of a coin. ¡®Could it be my father?¡¯ It was a chilling thought, one that cut sharply through her instincts¡ªthis was impossible. The father who raised Akirea like his own was a mortal. He could not enjoy eternal life like the dragon kin, and he had long since returned to the earth. - Akira, I leave everything to you from here on. The smile¡­ It emerged from the distant memories of the past, only to shatter into pieces. After swallowing that sorrow alone, Akirea turned to the wyverns to fulfill her promise to her father. ¡°Command the Red Pilgrims to uncover who has come here. Check if there are any survivors. If there are, bring them to me.¡± * * * "No matter how tired I am, I can¡¯t stand this! Absolutely can¡¯t!" As soon as Arzen returned to the inn, he opened the scripture. ¡°Ready, little worker?¡± As the little worker emerged from the void, it transformed into a key in his hand. The situation was different this time. The lock itself glowed with the same dark green light as the key. Arzen pushed the key into the lock. After taking a deep, tense breath, he tightened his grip on the key¡­ and, unlike before, it began to turn to the right. Clunk¡­! The lock opened, radiating light, and vanished just like the void creatures had. Swish¡­! The central lock disappeared. With that, the chains that had sealed the entire bookshelf also vanished. ¡®With the obstacles gone, the new commands of the void are becoming clear to my eyes!¡¯ ¡®Now, what¡¯s the third skill?¡¯ [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 13 - Short-Term Contract Worker(5) [Translator - Kiteretsu][Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 13 - Short-Term Contract Worker(5) The one who surveys the void. You must continuously attempt to expand the boundaries of perception beyond the infinite horizon. Only curiosity towards the void will lead to enlightenment about the "Transformative Divergence." Su Ja Heros. Transform the existence of the void and take another step towards the horizon of realization. The newly unlocked incantation, satisfying the control conditions for the 12 Void Creatures, was also a technique within the Void Creature lineage. "Come forth, Su Ja Heros!" A new fusion entity generated from the fusion of three Void Creatures! "Ooh, this is...!" If the previous creature had a large lower body equipped with a venom sack, this one had an exceptionally large and sturdy head. "And it even has a cool, developed jaw! Incredible!" If one had to categorize it¡­ it felt like the strongest wasp, akin to a giant hornet. While its form was specialized for battle, it still retained a cute charm since its base was that of a Void Creature. These creatures would need to act as front-line defenders like warriors, so Arzen decided to name it "Jeonbong" (War Hornet). "Looking forward to working with you, Jeonbong." As Arzen gently petted it with his fingertips, Jeonbong 1 maintained its hovering state but remained still. Silence is a characteristic of Void Creatures. However, given Jeonbong''s fierce appearance, Arzen wondered if it might have a savage personality, but it seemed not to be the case. "Hehe." Satisfied, Arzen jumped onto the bed¡­ And soon, exhaustion washed over him, pulling him into a deep sleep. "Little worker¡­ I have to go to work tomorrow¡­ if I happen to¡­ not wake up in the morning¡­ wake me up¡­" Brrrrrrrrr¡­ The little worker tucked the blanket up to Arzen¡¯s chin and then sent Jeonbong back to the void. It then perched itself on the bedside table, guarding Arzen through the night, waiting to carry out the apostle''s orders. * * * Since the work start date wasn¡¯t set, it didn¡¯t matter if he went in for two consecutive days. In short, there was no obligation for him to show up today. However, there was a reason Arzen decided to brave the annoyance and come to City Hall. "By-products collection duty?" Samson asked back. "Yes. The slime''s mucilage is valuable, and since I can''t collect it all in time, just the waste would fill a few carts." Once slime mucilage mixes with sewage, it dissolves completely and becomes useless. "Hey, you need adventurers to access the sewers¡­ starting with the referral fees to the branch, it''s all money. If you can''t use it, just throw it away." "I''ll just tell them not to worry about the pay and use the money from selling the by-products for myself." "You''re a funny guy. That by-product is all your money¡ªare you okay with that?" "I figured it was better than slipping and falling on the way." "Do what you want. But you know you have to handle the approvals, right? I absolutely detest that kind of hassle." Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You''re being too harsh, Director Samson." ¡°My life motto is ¡®I absolutely detest hassle.¡¯ You take care of it. If you want to post a notice to the Adventurers¡¯ Guild, just fill out the form over there, and get the mayor and the great witch¡¯s seals on it.¡± The approval of the great witch¡­! Now it made sense why that trash, Samson, was so averse to it. Arzen hesitated for a moment upon hearing that terrifying title. ¡°But nothing went wrong last time, so what could happen this time?¡± For a piece of trash like Samson, it seemed like the best courtesy he could offer was to vaguely approve it instead of outright rejecting it. ¡°Milbiet, sister.¡± ¡°Ooh, Arzen! You¡¯re here again today.¡± ¡°Could you teach me how to use the printing press?¡± As expected from a city hall in a major metropolis, a printing press was readily available. ¡°Here, like this¡­ Place the paper underneath, then fit the type pieces together like a puzzle according to the sample template and pour in the ink¡­ and voil¨¤! Finished!¡± The ink only adhered to the raised letters on the type, allowing the text to print directly onto the blank page. ¡°Ooh, the wonders of technology! Amazing!¡± ¡°Haha, sometimes you say cute things, Arzen.¡± His favorability towards Milbiet had already peaked; now he could ask anything without issue. ¡°So, what kind of notice are you posting?¡± There wasn¡¯t much difference from what he had explained to Samson earlier. He had just added a few more detailed requirements. - There¡¯s a high possibility that threats still remain inside the sewers, so preference will be given to archers and pathfinder roles capable of detecting movements in the dark. Experienced candidates will be prioritized. Milbiet, who had been attentively watching the arrangement of the type, suddenly wore a sly smile. ¡°Aha~ Our Arzen¡­ You fell for Sora when you saw her, didn¡¯t you? Isn¡¯t this a bit too blatant?¡± Hehe, it¡¯s too easy. He had taken the bait! Now it was time to play the role of the bashful boy. ¡°Wh-what! Who would fall for such a crazy adventurer? That woman who talks deals wouldn¡¯t even pass as a slime¡¯s partner!¡± ¡°Aha ha ha ha! They say excessive denial is a form of affirmation¡­?¡± ¡°Ugh, stop it!¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯ll let up on the teasing for now. This is good, really good. Arzen, you¡¯re amazing! Sora is quite proud, so she only accepts what she really needs, and this is perfect for her!¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not it! I¡¯m just trying to rescue the by-products before they get washed into the sewage, really. I¡¯m going to make sure to operate only in the early morning so our schedules don¡¯t overlap. Having her around would just be a hassle.¡± Arzen protested, his face turning bright red. ¡®This is all an act!¡¯ Seeing the sly smile on Milbiet¡¯s face shift to something more sinister confirmed that his performance was spot on. ¡°Okay, okay, I get it. Well then, off you go~ I¡¯d love to go with you, but I already have a client waiting.¡± Everything had gone according to plan so far. With Milbiet, there were no issues. ¡®But the real problem is¡­!¡¯ Whether a mere contract worker could waltz into the mayor¡¯s office and ask for their signatures on a document. ¡®Damn it, those sly foxes, the mayor and the great witch, they can probably see right through my lies!¡¯ As he arrived in front of the mayor¡¯s office, his heart began to race for no reason. Arzen felt resentful toward Samson and Milbiet for making him handle such a big task alone. The presence of those in power was almost surreal. ¡®What a hell of a situation!¡¯ Standing in front of them, he felt an inexplicable guilt, cold sweat pouring down, and his heart racing. ¡®This is no different from meeting the executives of the ¡°Divine Guillotine.¡± Power is terrifying.¡¯ He tried to calm his breath when suddenly the door opened by itself, and the mayor appeared. ¡°Hmm? Is that our brilliant contract worker, Arzen?¡± But there was no problem here! This kind of issue wasn¡¯t a problem for Arzen at all! ¡®What type of new face do those in power like?¡¯ It¡¯s a new recruit who greets well. At his age, people start to lose their hearing, so it¡¯s best to speak loudly. ¡°Mr. Mayor! Good day! Ah, it¡¯s almost lunchtime!¡± He added a flustered atmosphere. Then, they¡¯d think their power was truly impressive and be satisfied. He had learned this trick when training new recruits at the ¡°Divine Guillotine.¡± ¡°Oh my, to teach me such an important fact, you¡¯re really quite polite. So, what¡¯s the matter? Aha! Looking at the paper in your hand, it seems poor Samson is already trying to pass all sorts of paperwork on to you!¡± Denying what a powerful person said by saying, ¡°No, that¡¯s not true,¡± would be madness. He nodded vigorously, mixed with resentment toward Samson for sending him alone to such a dangerous place. The mayor laughed heartily, glanced over the paper, and shouted ¡°Seal!¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Then, a tall, sophisticated-looking man quickly brought over the seal. While the mayor stamped the document, Arzen waited politely, half-bowing. He would have gladly prostrated himself if necessary. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the foul odor from the sewers has been decreasing lately. Do your best, Arzen. I¡¯m counting on you.¡± Having worried so much, receiving recognition from the mayor filled him with an unexplainable sense of superiority. ¡®Who am I? Arzen, a man recognized even by the mayor of the Seven Great Cities. Phew, I even scare myself sometimes.¡¯ He kept his bow deep until the mayor left with his secretary. Arzen, who had rolled in the filth of the ¡°Divine Guillotine,¡± was quite accustomed to this clear hierarchy in a world of the strong eating the weak. The last problem was that solving this issue now didn¡¯t make him truly strong. ¡®Ugh, damn it¡­¡¯ When he stood in front of the Witch Association¡¯s office, his heart was pounding loudly in his ears. ¡®I¡¯m going to go mad. Why am I doing this crazy thing? It¡¯s not because of those three brats¡­ but for my tumultuous plan to expand my contract worker employment at the city hall.¡¯ He wanted to quit right away. However, if it became known that he hadn¡¯t submitted the official document after getting the mayor¡¯s seal, it might raise suspicions. Arzen knocked on the door, feeling even more tense than when facing the executives of the ¡°Divine Guillotine.¡± ¡°Come in.¡± Finally, the dull-witted Arzen entered the lion¡¯s den¡­ As he opened the door and stepped inside, all eyes of various kinds turned toward him, and a peculiar silence enveloped the room. Everyone was wearing pointed hats. Witches often wore those indoors, taking it as an honor. The elite members of the city association were powerful law enforcers. ¡°Um, hello! I¡¯m Arzen, the new contract worker from the Sewage Management Department!¡± There was no way back now! He had to deliver his lines with the best acting skills he could muster. ¡°It¡¯s an honor to meet all the witches! I¡¯ve come for a document that requires the association¡¯s seal!¡± But his mind was racing with worst-case scenarios. - Wait a minute. You, something feels off about you. Come here. - Eek! Suddenly, he¡¯d be captured by witches¡­ Enduring all sorts of torture in the "Room of Repentance," confessing everything about the void¡¯s powers¡­ Ultimately handed over to the Holy Office¡¯s Inquisition¡­ Ending in the most excruciating fate of being burned at the stake¡­ ¡®Last time I got away, but that was just controlling a few void creatures¡­¡¯ Now, however, Arzen was the boss of twelve void creatures. He was a dark horse who could manipulate both Jungbong and Jeonbong at will. ¡®If any of my power leaks, it could be dangerous!¡¯ Arzen hunched so low that his head nearly touched the floor, sweating profusely. ¡°Is that him?¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s him.¡± He could already hear the strange whispers among the witches. ¡®Could it be that the remnants of the ¡°Divine Guillotine¡± are looking for me?¡¯ Or had they found out about the scam with Ulman crossing the Ranoa Bridge? ¡®With the Great Witch not here¡­ are they waiting outside to trap me?¡¯ Arzen regretted his decision to come here. He vowed never to lie or act foolishly in front of witches again. But the next moment, their reactions were completely unexpected. ¡°Oh my! So cute!¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Come here, Arzen. We were just about to have our lunch tea time. Have you ever tried coffee?¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± ¡°This is made from the best beans from the Balande Kingdom. You haven¡¯t had it, right? Come sit in the best spot!¡± Despite standing by the door, he found himself sitting on a sofa, breathing in the aroma of the coffee. It was so luxurious that it felt more comfortable than the feather bed at his lodging. Being among friendly women, he realized for the first time that the scents of soap and perfume tickled his nose pleasantly. ¡®No, there¡¯s no way they¡¯re being nice. Don¡¯t trust them! Wake up, Arzen! These are terrifying women trying to extract information to trap you!¡¯ But¡­ this madness¡­ What these intimidating women were offering wasn¡¯t just cookies¡­ It was a cake, known as the queen of desserts¡­ ¡®The struggle in the Room of Repentance has already begun, Arzen. There¡¯s a confession potion in there. Don¡¯t eat! Say you¡¯re full!¡¯ But the aroma was too tempting. ¡°Here, Arzen~ ah~.¡± Even the witches were personally slicing the cake with forks and offering it to Arzen¡¯s mouth. ¡°What¡¯s this? I¡¯m going to give some to our cute Arzen~.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m first~ Come on, strawberry cream cake~ Arzen, say ah~.¡± ¡°You shameless ones! We have to go in order! What are you doing? Step back!¡± No matter how suspicious and dangerous the situation seemed, who could resist such tempting desserts? Arzen simply complied and opened his mouth for the ¡°ah~¡±¡­ But the moment the cake touched his tongue, a powerful shiver coursed through him. ¡®Wha¡ªwhat is this taste¡­?¡¯ A sugary mass melting sweetly on his tongue. It truly was not an exaggeration to say it ¡°melts in your mouth.¡± ¡®Oh no¡­ I¡¯ll never be satisfied with cookies again¡­!¡¯ He thought. Paradise isn¡¯t in the sky. It¡¯s right here, in the witches¡¯ association office in the green city of . Even though cheaper cakes were available to the common folk, this kind was still a luxury for the upper class. ¡°I thought you¡¯d smell bad since you work in the sewage. But you don¡¯t smell at all!¡± ¡°Did you wash up just to meet us? Oh my, that¡¯s adorable.¡± ¡°Here, the last piece of cake~ with strawberries~ Arzen, say aah~.¡± All he did was eat the cake, yet compliments flew in from all directions¡­ ¡®Damn! As expected, witches are too dangerous! Even a seasoned skeptic like me is starting to trust people!¡¯ Though his body seemed to surrender, he was glad to keep at least a tiny bit of wariness in his heart. ¡®Witches¡­!¡¯ They were not to be underestimated. Just as all tension was dissipating, the senior witch suddenly asked a serious question. ¡°Arzen, answer me honestly from now on. How do you manage to clean the sewage all by yourself? What kind of power do you have?¡± The witches, who had been all smiles, were now staring at him with intense gazes. ¡°It¡¯d be better if you spoke honestly.¡± ¡°Yes. That way, you¡¯ll be safe.¡± ¡°Now, I¡¯ll give you exactly three seconds to tell the truth.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 14 - Short-Term Contract Worker(6) [Translator - Kiteretsu][Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 14 - Short-Term Contract Worker(6) ¡°Speak honestly. If you don¡¯t want to get hurt.¡± Arzen felt a whirlwind in his eyes. Who did you talk to? Who was that guy? It was the same interrogative voice he¡¯d heard relentlessly while in the Divine Guillotine. His heart raced, thundering like it might break through his chest. ¡®In a situation like this¡­¡¯ However, hearing it so often meant he knew what the best course of action was in a crisis. ¡°Uh, well, I use a bit of magic. Summoning magic.¡± That was the truth. He wasn¡¯t revealing everything mindlessly, but rather just part of the truth¡ªabout 50%¡ªwhile concealing the rest. ¡®Those who interrogate like this can pick up on lies with remarkable skill!¡¯ That¡¯s why he needed to take this indirect approach. ¡°Magic? You?¡± While the lead witch narrowed her eyes suspiciously, the youngest-looking witch clapped her hands and laughed. ¡°Our Arzen was a magician? What a traitor! You should use spells like us! How unfair~!¡± ¡°Hey!¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry.¡± The lead witch stepped closer to Arzen, gripping his shoulders to keep him from escaping. ¡°Show me.¡± ¡°W-what?¡± ¡°Show me your magic.¡± It felt like the moment had finally arrived. To put it bluntly¡­ it was a dire situation. But he couldn¡¯t hesitate now. ¡°Um, well¡­¡± His experiences getting beaten by the thugs from Divine Guillotine were coming in handy now. Instead, he needed to leverage his greatest asset: being ¡°a boy who hasn¡¯t fully matured yet.¡± He covered his face with both hands, trembling as if about to burst into tears¡ªthis was his best tactic. ¡°If there are so many people watching, I get, um, nervous¡­¡± This approach had worked wonders with the thugs from Divine Guillotine, especially with the women. ¡°Ah! So cute! Senpai! That¡¯s magic, right? Even slimes would explode from that charm!¡± ¡°Hm, is that so? I think it could even cause the Earth to explode.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you guys going to shut up?¡± The lead witch pointed toward the door with her chin. ¡°Then go outside and summon a creature, then come back in. Just try to run away. We¡¯re doing this for your sake, you know.¡± She must have been thinking about his performance. Arzen smirked inwardly. ¡®Heh, but you¡¯ve completely fallen for my scheme. How weak!¡¯ He stepped outside, pretending to be shy, and closed the door. ¡®The high witch¡­ I don¡¯t sense such a powerful presence around her.¡¯ After checking subtly to see where the watchful eyes might be lurking, he quietly began to recite the incantation. ¡°Kaz tu Arcturus.¡± Buuuuuuum¡­¡­ The Void Wasp appeared from beyond the void dimension. Lately, he had recited this incantation so often that he had become quite skilled at controlling the number summoned just by the feeling in his chest. Right now, he had summoned two, including the wasp. ¡°Wasp! Is there the smallest one? Like, really, really tiny, harmless-looking, and gives off very little void energy!¡± Buuuuuuuuum¡­¡­. It seemed this wasn¡¯t information that was registered; the agile wasp just stared silently at Arzen. Perhaps the ability to miniaturize void creatures was a technique that needed to be unlocked. ¡°What¡¯s taking so long?¡± At that moment, the lead witch suddenly burst through the door. ¡®Holy sh*t!¡¯ He found himself face-to-face with the largest void creature, the wasp. The worst-case scenario unfolded in his mind. - You little brat, what¡¯s with that wicked power? Come here. - Kyaah! He would be dragged off to the Room of Repentance¡­¡­. After enduring all kinds of torture, he would spill the truth¡­¡­ And ultimately, handed over to the Inquisition, meeting a gruesome end¡­ the worst conclusion. ¡®Should I run?¡¯ Where to? The witches had broomstick flying skills, so they would catch up in no time. ¡®Escape from here?¡¯ That was impossible. The power of the void was likely nearly invincible if perfected, given that he had previously defeated the hydra¡­¡­ ¡®But I¡¯m weak now!¡¯ On the other hand, the witches working at the association specialized in combat. He could recognize them by their red uniforms. Witches were divided into three types by their attire: Red, Blue, and Yellow. Among them, the red-clad witches were the ¡°Red Witches,¡± specialized in combat. ¡®Excuses¡­¡­ But witches can sense energy¡­¡­ Would that even work?¡¯ In that brief moment, hundreds of thoughts raced through his mind. However, there was no solution in sight. ¡®Damn.¡¯ Arzen instinctively sensed his doom. He had only two choices: either struggle until caught or surrender peacefully to endure less torture. ¡°What the hell, it¡¯s real.¡± But just as he was about to give up, the witches reacted in a strange way. ¡°It¡¯s real?¡± ¡°What? I want to see too.¡± What unfolded next was utterly bewildering. The youngest witch was fussing over how cute the void creature was. ¡°Wow, it¡¯s so fluffy! Is it because the summoner is cute? Even the summoned creature is super cute!¡± ¡°Ugh, you have a strong stomach. I can''t stand bugs.¡± ¡°But it looks cute, like a honeybee.¡± ¡°Hey! Don¡¯t bring it over here! Just the sound of a honeybee or wasp flapping its wings gives me chills all over!¡± The most dangerous, top-ranking witch was examining the hornet. ¡°Magic... Hmm, the aura feels similar. Who was it again? That mage from the Magic Bureau¡¯s special unit six months ago.¡± ¡°Oh, the summoner? Yeah, it feels like the magic they used!¡± ¡°Summoning magic is pretty rare; I thought there were no paths to learn it outside the official Magic Tower. Where did you learn this?¡± The answer to that question is simple. Just withhold 50% of the truth taught by the mysterious Old Rodenkal. So I can just say it was an unknown old man who taught me. ¡°If you were a shaman, we would have treated you really well and taught you more!¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± When the top witch growled at the youngest, the youngest fell silent. The top witch scratched her head and sighed. ¡°I thought that idiot Samson was using you as a front for embezzlement, but it seems like it¡¯s real.¡± Samson... How long had you been a consistent piece of trash even before I met you? ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I mentioned danger because I didn¡¯t want you to get in trouble for embezzlement. Or worse, if you went down the sewers without knowing, it would be a big deal.¡± ¡°...!¡± ¡°You need a stamp? Hand it here. I¡¯m in charge while the branch manager is away.¡± The top witch stamped the document with the witch association''s seal, then playfully punched Arzen on the head. ¡°If Samson tries anything bad or hurts you, come tell me.¡± ¡°!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take care of him. Working hard is good, but don¡¯t overdo it, okay? It would be a disaster if you got hurt.¡± When Arzen looked up, he was surprised. The stern expression from earlier had completely vanished. In its place was only a gentle smile on her face. ¡®Something... um, something...¡¯ S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The moment almost brought tears to his eyes... Maybe it was just that fleeting moment. Kirk¨¦¡¯s smile might have overlapped in his mind... ¡®No, no. It¡¯s the shock of realizing that witches can actually be kind people.¡¯ Now that he thought about it, he couldn¡¯t quite understand why he had been so scared of witches. ¡®Witches are the guardians of the Republic!¡¯ They are the ones who spread the teachings of the Dragon Scripture in this land. Of course, there are corrupted individuals everywhere. But it¡¯s natural for those with complete personalities to outnumber those in other professions. ¡®The Divine Guillotine also tried to stay as far away from witches as possible...¡¯ As he descended the stairs, looking at the witch association¡¯s seal stamped on the document... His heart was still racing, but it felt different from fear. ¡®If I have to come back next time, maybe I won¡¯t be so tense... will that be okay?¡¯ Arzen headed straight to the Adventurer''s Guild. It was a unique experience to visit the guild to place a quest order. As he showed up in his official uniform, the adventurers began to lick their lips in anticipation. Even before the notice went up on the corkboard, they started competing with arm wrestling and verbal sparring. It seemed that the quests issued by the city hall were quite popular due to their neat reward system and tax exemptions. The public servant¡¯s counter was separate from that of the adventurers. This one felt more polished and organized. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve confirmed the quest form. The notarization is complete.¡± ¡°Um, about that¡­¡± ¡°What can I help you with?¡± ¡°The department head mentioned that he liked the archer who came for the last quest, so could you prioritize assigning him?¡± ¡°I see, a designated quest? In this case, since the quest reward is a byproduct, the guild has the authority to purchase all of the relevant byproducts. There will be an additional 4% surcharge on the existing guild fee during the purchase. Is that acceptable?¡± He wasn¡¯t in a position to be picky, so it was fine. Nodding, the receptionist, who wore glasses and was unfamiliar to him, quickly registered the quest. He had thought there would be a separate fee for placing the order, but it seemed the guild¡¯s referral fee covered that cost. ¡®Great, now that the work is done¡­¡¯ Arzen returned to city hall to return his uniform. After placing the quest in his uniform, he felt a bit embarrassed to visit in casual clothes, so he decided to grab lunch outside first. He then completely changed into his sewer work outfit. Consulting the map, he headed towards the southwestern entrance of the sewer. ¡®My two workdays this week are over. For the next three days, I can experiment with my strength to my heart¡¯s content.¡¯ His newly acquired power: the Void Bugs! Over the next three days, he aimed to thoroughly experiment with this power and significantly increase the number of Void Bugs he could control! ¡®If we had to classify the power of the Void, it would be, as the witches said, in the summoning category.¡¯ First, he needed to chant the command to summon the creatures. ¡°Kaz tu Arcturus.¡± At that command, insects tore through dimensions and emerged. A hornet and twelve Void Bugs! The sheer sight of the squadron was enough to make his heart race with excitement, but he knew it was still too early to be satisfied. ¡°Su ja Heros! Fuse with the hornet!¡± Three Void Bugs clashed their heads together. The entire ontological status of those creatures twisted and transformed into a new form. Every time he witnessed that spectacle, it felt wondrous. ¡°Wow, that¡¯s so cool! Especially that powerful head and jaw!¡± Arzen danced around, excitedly stroking the sturdy jaw of the hornet. ¡®How can it be so reassuring!¡¯ The close-range offensive capability had surely been significantly bolstered. ¡°Hornet, position three bugs beside the hornet. No, place the hornet at the front and form a triangle with three behind.¡± As always, the hornet satisfactorily executed the command. Just having the hornet at the forefront brought a sense of order to the formation, which felt immensely satisfying. If he were to compare it to a human battalion, it felt like having heavily armored cavalry leading the charge. ¡°Having the hornets follow behind really enhances the feeling.¡± ¡°Now there are six remaining Void Bugs. Su ja Kunia! All six, merge into three hornets and gather in front of me!¡± A similar effect occurred as when they fused with the hornet. Within that effect! The six Void Bugs transformed into three hornets, their venom sacs and abdomens significantly enlarged. ¡°Ah~ this is it, this is it, this is it! So reassuring! I just want to squeeze their big, round bellies and make them fart!¡± Arzen danced with joy as he touched the bellies of the hornets. ¡°Hornet, spread the hornets a bit wider in a triangle formation compared to the Void Bugs. Hmm~ about double the size?¡± Bzzzz¡­ The hornet''s wingbeats sent a chemical command signal to the hornets. The sight of the hornets lined up behind the Void Bugs was truly a heart-stirring spectacle. This time, it felt like arranging an archer battalion. He felt a sense of satisfaction akin to that of a commander ruling over the world. ¡°Alright, today we¡¯ll charge straight through the central section and exit on the other side!¡± Arzen crossed his arms with delight and looked at his most trusted Void Bug, the hornet. ¡°Hornet, you guard me. Just clear out the slimes on the ceiling. I need to capture every moment of my squad¡¯s historic movement with my own eyes. Now, advance!¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 15 - Short-Term Contract Worker(7) [Translator - Kiteretsu][Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 15 - Short-Term Contract Worker(7) As Arzen charged straight from the southwestern section to the central section, he noticed various strengths and weaknesses among the different entities. ¡°First, the hornet.¡± The hornet was indeed powerful. Typically, Void Bugs had to delve into the core of a slime to destroy it. But this one could tear it apart with its jaw and extract the core. ¡°But it¡¯s slow!¡± Its size was already larger than the hornets. Being a fusion of three entities contributed to that. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With its massive jaw, it was bound to move sluggishly due to the weight. ¡°And it tires quickly!¡± The hornet exhausted its energy and vanished several times faster than ordinary Void Bugs. That was the biggest issue. ¡°It might be a bit challenging to form a squad with just the hornets¡­¡± In contrast, ordinary Void Bugs weren¡¯t as strong as the hornets but could move quickly and execute more precise flights. If the two types formed a complementary relationship, they could become even more destructive. To create a powerful squad, ordinary Void Bugs were indispensable, much like infantry in an army. ¡°Most importantly, the hornets!¡± Worried about the hornets, Arzen assigned them the task of intercepting the slimes on the ceiling. Each hornet could fire three shots before exhausting their venom. However, if given time to recharge, they could shoot up to four times. ¡°They definitely have the advantage of range, but I wish the firing rate was just a bit better. It must be somewhere in the scriptures¡­ I¡¯ll have to look for it later.¡± While slaughtering the slimes and advancing, something thick and large moved slowly in the distance. ¡°This is the central section! As we get closer to the bustling city center, the sewers are at their largest!¡± That kind of presence could not possibly come from slimes. ¡°Which audacious bastard dares to step into my hunting ground?¡± Could it be that archer? No, he just placed the request! ¡°I won¡¯t forgive the homeless! Get a job and live properly, you bastard!¡± Peeking around the corner to confirm the source of the presence, Arzen froze for a moment. ¡°What the hell¡­ is that?¡± A colossal slime filled the vast passage of the sewer! ¡°Big slime? No, it¡¯s definitely a giant!¡± In the adventurer¡¯s guild, they used simple prefixes for mutant monsters to accommodate the 99% of adventurers who were dimwitted. ¡°Big¡± was for slightly larger than normal creatures, while ¡°giant¡± was for those significantly bigger. Monsters often operated under primitive strength hierarchies, so if it was a giant, it was bound to be very strong. ¡°There¡¯s something peculiar about it. That thing is growing bigger by absorbing waste!¡± The creature was wriggling as it approached Arzen. It must have caught the scent of life. Monsters have an inherent nature to seek life. ¡°What¡¯s this? Are you challenging me? Hmph, haha!¡± To me, the Void Tyrant who can control twelve Void Bugs? ¡°You¡¯re just a worthless slime that doesn¡¯t know its place! Hornet, I¡¯ll make the screams of that slime a fanfare to celebrate this joyous day! Go!¡± Buuuuuung...! The hornet fiercely charged the giant slime with the squad of Void Bugs. ¡°Feel the bitter difference! How dare you, a mere slime, challenge me?¡± Arzen, with his arms crossed, was confidently anticipating victory. But in the next moment! His pupils shook at the unexpected turn of events before him. ¡°Difference¡­?¡± Buuuu¡­ burrrr¡­ gurgle¡­ ¡°The difference is¡­???¡± As the Void Bugs penetrated the surface and entered its body¡­ They couldn¡¯t withstand the acidity and toxicity of the vomit-like substance, being digested instantly. Arzen screamed. ¡°Run away! Come back, hornet! You can¡¯t get eaten too!¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 16 - Short-Term Contract Worker(8) [Translator - Kiteretsu][Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 16 - Short-Term Contract Worker(8) From the day after parting ways with Ulman and Lok, Arzen became very busy. In the past, he strictly separated his everyday life from his missions. However, from this point on, whenever he had free time during his daily routine, he would stay holed up in his lodging, pouring his heart and soul into increasing the number of Void Bugs. The Giant Slime was undoubtedly a formidable foe he had to face. But unlike in his days at the Divine Guillotine, it didn''t feel overwhelming or frightening. ¡°Just a stepping stone for growth¡­ that¡¯s all!¡± Instead, he saw it as an important indicator to gauge how much he could grow his Void Army over the summer and how strong their combat abilities could become. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Arzen was rapidly becoming stronger. While clearing the southern sector, he managed to increase the number of Void Bugs to 15, allowing him to add one more Void Tyrant to his squad. ¡°One more, another one, one more!¡± Every day, both morning and night¡­ Training to push the limits of his Void powers as soon as he woke up and right before he went to sleep helped him enhance his abilities quickly. ¡°Ah, Arzen, you¡¯re back.¡± Three days passed in an instant. A new week began, and as he went to the city hall to check in, Milbiet greeted him. ¡°Did you know Sora received that request?¡± ¡°Yeah, well. I didn¡¯t see any byproducts.¡± It seemed she had cleaned everything up so thoroughly that it felt like the floor was swept clean. Even if someone offered him billions, he wouldn¡¯t be able to do the same. ¡°That¡¯s why Sora came to thank me the other day. Despite her not being the most honest person, you know?¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°She thought the designated request was my doing! Hohoho, so she said there was no need to thank me. I told her it was all Arzen¡¯s doing. How about that? Good job, right?¡± ¡°W-why are you saying that?!¡± ¡°Why? You should be grateful when I help you out. Where else are you going to find a nice girl like Sora? When she comes back, how about treating her to a nice meal?¡± That was nonsense. ¡®What the hell¡­ That crazy girl wasn¡¯t even interested in me!¡¯ Ugh, I need to be more careful when trying to build rapport from now on. I was just aiming to score points with the city hall, but because I¡¯m too good-looking, this kind of trouble pops up. If I misstep even a little, it could get annoying. ¡°Ah, I don¡¯t want to hear it. I¡¯m feeling bad now. I¡¯ll leave right on the dot today.¡± ¡°You have to stay until lunchtime to get your stamp.¡± I was worried about whether she¡¯d actually show up, but thankfully, I didn¡¯t run into that crazy archer. Amidst the intense training and battles, a month had already passed. When he had completely wrapped up the eastern sector, the number of Void Bugs in his squad reached 20! ¡°Now, I have 2 Void Tyrants at the forefront and 5 Void Majors!¡± Four regular Void Bugs would each pair up to support the Void Tyrants. As the hornet learned to fight, the combat efficiency of the squad rapidly increased. When facing slimes, the Void Majors would shoot their poison to expose the slime¡¯s core, and then the regular Void Bugs would rush in to devour it. ¡°When I was only using the regular Void Bugs, they disappeared pretty quickly due to the constant exposure to slime poison¡­!¡± He reserved the most powerful entity, the Void Tyrant, for critical moments. It would only engage when facing slimes that had thick mucous surfaces or those that had grown large from swallowing waste. ¡°The Void Tyrant¡¯s weaknesses are stamina and mobility!¡± By selectively choosing enemies for it to battle, he could avoid significant issues. ¡°Hmm, wait¡­ is it already this late?¡± It was the day he was finishing up in the eastern sector. He had been so excited that he lost track of time, and it was already well past dawn. ¡°I need to get out of here. Before I run into that girl.¡± However, for Arzen, this unfortunate boy, bad premonitions often came true. ¡°Hey, Hornet, heh heh, it won¡¯t be long until the big event. You¡¯re well prepared, right? The day our legion makes its announcement is approaching.¡± Just as he was chatting with the Hornet and turning the corner, he came face to face with Sora, who was hungrily shoving slime mucous into a bag. ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± In other words, running into this crazy archer was the worst possible outcome. They both saw each other at an awkward moment. Arzen had been talking to the Hornet, and Sora was in the middle of collecting the slime. ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Hah.¡± For a pair of teenagers, just the fact that they had witnessed each other in an embarrassing situation was something that would linger in their memories as a dreadful experience. ¡°Phew.¡± Arzen made the first move! ¡°Heh, what¡¯s this big event? Heh heh. Talking to bugs is a specialty of those who have no friends, huh?¡± Sora¡¯s sharp counterattack! ¡°You¡¯re just a loudmouth who can only deal with insults!¡± ¡°Hmph, when your skills reach their peak, you can deal with insults with your mouth too!¡± ¡°Damn, you¡¯re so shameless! Yeah, you¡¯d need that kind of thick skin to shoot arrows with your mouth.¡± ¡°Not as shameless as a corrupt official who steals the country¡¯s salary while only showing up twice a week.¡± ¡°Seriously, how can you not feel embarrassed even once?¡± ¡°Who are you talking to?¡± ¡°Ugh, get lost!¡± ¡°You get lost!¡± Just as they were moving away from each other on the other side of the sewer, Arzen unintentionally asked, ¡°¡­How are your siblings doing?¡± There was a brief moment of hesitation before Sora replied. ¡°Um¡­ thanks to someone.¡± ¡°Yeah, tell them to take care.¡± An awkward silence fell between them again. This time, it was Sora who broke the silence first. ¡°¡­What days and times do you go to work?¡± Arzen had mixed up his work schedule to avoid running into Sora. He completely randomized the days and times he would go in during the week. He continued on his way, shaking his fist behind him. ¡°I¡¯m not telling you, idiot.¡± *** Another two weeks passed. During that time, Arzen had roamed through 12 sectors, excluding the central one. He hunted the newly spawned slimes and further honed the Hornet¡¯s command of the Void Bugs. ¡°In the process, I¡¯ve added two more Void Bugs!¡± These were not made into the more powerful variants but were instead placed as regular Void Bugs in the squad. ¡°The time until the day of reckoning has been roughly 50 days!¡± They had moved from early summer into late summer. Compared to 50 days ago, the Void squad had nearly doubled in numbers. It wasn¡¯t just about the increase in numbers; the Hornet had learned from battles and became more adept at leading. ¡°The day of reckoning has come.¡± On the eve of the decisive battle, Arzen had gathered all the Void Bugs in his room and declared: He stood on his bed, arms crossed, gazing at each one of the Void Bugs with solemnity. ¡®Now I understand why that bastard Olart, the commander of the Divine Guillotine, used to inspect adventurer squads before deployments¡­¡¯ There was a romance in it that was hard to express in words! As he watched the assembled unit, he felt an overwhelming emotion that made his heart swell. ¡°The operation target is the Giant Slime! It¡¯s that bastard who mercilessly slaughtered your senior Void Bugs 50 days ago.¡± Buuuuuuummmm¡­¡­ The Void Bugs flapped their wings with indifference, but the synchronized sound was enough to evoke a sense of discipline in the unit. ¡°But you are different! Unlike those ignorant seniors, you are much stronger and twice as many! Hornet, explain tomorrow¡¯s Giant Slime extermination operation to the children!¡± Buuuuuuummmm¡­¡­ Unfortunately, the Hornet could not convey commands that were not expressed in a formal manner. ¡°Since the Hornet''s voice is hoarse, I¡¯ll explain instead! The formation will consist of 2 Void Tyrants, 5 Medium Bugs, and 6 Regular Bugs!¡± Buuuuuuummmm¡­¡­ ¡°The poison stingers from the 5 Medium Bugs will open the path towards it, allowing the Void Tyrants to charge in line and penetrate deeper.¡± In that process, the Void Tyrants would likely perish, but their sacrifice would be remembered with honor. ¡°If the first Void Tyrant dies, the second will take its place and continue the charge.¡± And if the second falls? The remaining Regular Bugs would follow the example set by the first and second Void Tyrants. ¡°The target is the core! If we can destroy that damned Giant Slime¡¯s core, victory is ours!¡± At that moment, a loud bang echoed from the adjacent room as someone punched the wall. ¡°¡­¡­Can¡¯t you let me sleep, damn it!¡± ¡°¡­¡­What time is it that you¡¯re already sleeping? Life?¡± ¡°¡­¡­Hey, you idiot, it¡¯s already 1 AM!¡± Arzen ignored the chatter of the bugs and finished explaining the operation. As a commander, maintaining dignity was essential. He couldn¡¯t show any signs of being intimidated by others. ¡°Phew, that¡¯s it for now. Enjoy the last moments until the battle.¡± *** Then Arzen fell into a deep sleep. He didn¡¯t wake up until after 10 AM, when it was already too late to sleep any longer. ¡®It¡¯s the time when even the chirping of morning birds can¡¯t be heard!¡¯ Still, the adventurer¡¯s guild was bustling as usual. Arzen purchased a rather expensive cloak from the belongings of the deceased. It was nearly three times the price of the cloaks he had bought before, but one shouldn¡¯t only look for value when shopping. ¡®On important days, it¡¯s also essential to dress appropriately to set the mood!¡¯ He stopped by Olive You for an early lunch. Then he climbed up to a hill overlooking the sea, peeled an orange, and spent an hour gazing at the ocean. After that, he headed to the city hall. ¡°Oh my, Arzen. You seem different today. You look really serious!¡± Milbiet said. ¡°You noticed. Today is the day of reckoning.¡± ¡°The day of reckoning?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been preparing for today for 50 days. It¡¯s time to settle things.¡± Milbiet¡¯s expression turned serious for a moment. ¡°I see. So you¡¯ve finally found your courage.¡± ¡°Well, if you want to put it that way.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be cheering for you! Next time, you should bring Sora along to the welfare department as a youth couple, right?¡± Recently, Arzen¡¯s opinion of Milbiet had dropped significantly. ¡®I thought she was a smart elite bureaucrat, but it turns out she¡¯s a total airhead!¡¯ Because of this, his efforts to gain her favor had taken a nosedive. ¡°Just get to work.¡± ¡°Haha, okay.¡± That day, since he arrived late for lunch, he finished work early in the evening. ¡®There¡¯s a reason for this route.¡¯ The city hall was located in the center of town, so the entrance to the central sector''s sewer was not far. ¡®As much as I don¡¯t want to admit it, the Giant Slime is a formidable foe.¡¯ This would be the first powerful enemy he encountered after mastering the powers of the Void. ¡®So I¡¯ll skip dinner! I might have to run through the sewers later¡­ It¡¯d be a disaster if I had too much in my stomach then.¡¯ Arzen opened the entrance to the central sector. The massive lock clicked open. The chains clanged against the metal bars, creating a heavy echo that reverberated down the staircase. ¡®The stench from the sewers feels even worse than usual¡­¡¯ Was it because of the rival¡¯s presence, or was it the tension before facing a formidable enemy that caused this sensation? ¡®I don¡¯t know; I¡¯ll find out when I go!¡¯ Arzen carefully descended the stairs. ¡®The sewers are twisted to one side as if something massive has passed through¡­ It¡¯s nearby.¡¯ The central sector was the largest, so caution was necessary from the moment of entry. ¡®Even the rats are holding their breath. They¡¯re scared!¡¯ Arzen opened his tome and snapped his fingers. ¡°Kaz, to Arcturus! Ill-Worker, deploy the Void Beasts and find it!¡± The Void Beasts were deployed, and they had been searching for nearly an hour when¡­ In the vast corridor on the other side of the central sector, something immense began to rise from the sewer. Arzen couldn¡¯t believe his eyes. ¡®What am I seeing right now?¡¯ Is this a hallucination? ¡®No! This¡­ this isn¡¯t a hallucination!¡¯ The sewer was not merely bubbling up. At that moment, the Giant Slime was transforming into the very sewer itself. ¡®Has it absorbed all the sewage over these 50 days?¡¯ As it rose, an empty space formed where the usual sewage flowed. ¡®This creature¡­ does this mean I wasn¡¯t the only one who got stronger over these 50 days?¡¯ This thought deeply unsettled Arzen. ¡®With the slime¡¯s abilities, it could have ambushed me, but it¡¯s standing out in the open like this!¡¯ But that wasn¡¯t all. Without the slightest hesitation or fear, the creature approached Arzen, an action he could neither forgive nor accept. ¡°Grrr¡­ Don¡¯t mess with me! You¡¯re still just a low-tier monster, no matter how big you get! Ill-Worker, fully deploy the Void Beasts! Show it who¡¯s boss!¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 17 - Short-Term Contract Worker(9) [Translator - Kiteretsu][Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 17 - Short-Term Contract Worker(9) Buuuuuum¡­! As the Void Beasts assembled, the Giant Slime approached without a hint of caution. ¡°Did you think your surface could swallow my Void Beasts like last time? Fool! I specifically prepared Void Beasts that can tear through your surface! Su ja Heros!¡± The void obeyed the ground command issued from above. ¡°The first-level Void Beast with an abnormally developed head and jaw!¡± Six Void Beasts at the center of the formation merged into two powerful first-level beasts, their jaws snapping loudly as they emerged. ¡°Of course, two of them won¡¯t be enough! We need cover to break through! Su ja Kunia! Come forth, mid-level unit!¡± Ten Void Beasts at the forefront merged into five mid-level beasts. Having already been in combat mode since their lower state, their venom sacs were already swollen and ready. Arzen extended his finger, precisely designating the target for the Void Beasts. ¡°Fire at will! First, disable that slime¡¯s surface!¡± The venom shot out from the sacs, striking the surface of the slime directly. The void swallowed the very existence of the alternate world. The slime¡¯s outer layer, the thickest and most resilient, contained the liquid in a formless mass. ¡°¡­!¡± As holes pierced through that layer, wastewater erupted and splattered throughout the sewer. Sensing its form begin to collapse, the slime trembled. At that moment, Arzen was taken aback. ¡®No, it¡¯s not trembling! This creature focused the spilling wastewater towards me!¡¯ This Giant Slime¡­! It wasn¡¯t just a dumb brute with size¡­! ¡®It must have gained this size by winning countless battles¡­!¡¯ In that moment of shock before the torrent of wastewater, Ill-Worker¡¯s combat command shone through. The mid-level beasts¡¯ secondary fire widened the holes in the surface even more. The wastewater aimed at Arzen was weakly sprayed across the ground. ¡®Water jets are typically stronger with smaller holes.¡¯ As the holes enlarged, the water pressure decreased, losing its strength. ¡°Now that the outer layer has collapsed, its frail body is revealed, Giant Slime! Third shot! The path to the core is through that opening!¡± If the first attack was an indiscriminate barrage to penetrate its surface, the second shot was concentrated fire. Arzen learned from various missions in the God''s Guillotine that a slime can have up to three layers as it grows. Even if the outer layer is torn, the middle layer remains; and if the middle is torn, the inner layer stays intact. Our target now is the middle layer. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re running? Not on my watch!¡± The mid-level beasts relentlessly maintained a five-meter range, targeting the surface opening as the slime staggered backward. ¡°I won¡¯t miss the moment the surface is pierced, and I¡¯ll strike with the full force of the first-level beasts!¡± The mid-level beasts exhausted their strength and perished after their three-shot volley, but it was no problem. They fulfilled their mission. According to the original plan, it was now the turn of the first-level beasts to break through at close range. ¡®Everything is going according to plan! The operation is functioning perfectly!¡¯ Arzen felt a thrilling sense of battle. I can feel it, my power¡­! ''I can feel my growth¡­!'' The power of the void I¡¯ve honed over these 50 days has reached a level where I can toy with that Giant Slime. ¡°Rip it apart, first-level beast!¡± The first-level beast charged at the slime, its fearsome jaws ready to tear into its surface as it plunged into the wastewater. Of course, it was reckless! As it ripped through the surface, the exploding wastewater exposed its body, causing it to dissolve. However, the second-level beast quickly took its place. ¡®Alright, the second-level beast has pierced through to the inner layer! Now, if the mid-level beasts can hit that core, victory is mine!¡¯ The mid-level beasts did not hesitate in the oncoming wave of wastewater. In a straight line, they ruthlessly used their comrades as shields while charging forward. Mid-level beast 1, down! Mid-level beast 2, down! Mid-level beast 3, down! Mid-level beast 4, down! Mid-level beast 5, down! Mid-level beast 6, down! Did the plan go awry with the last mid-level beast that was supposed to break the core also perishing? ¡®No, that¡¯s not it!¡¯ The Giant Slime had shrunk significantly as its outer, middle, and inner layers collapsed. However, due to the sheer size of its core, it was still nearly 1.5 times larger than Arzen. That creature was now swelling up. Like a beast preparing to swallow its prey! With its inflated body, it lunged toward Arzen. ¡°Did you think you won just because the Void Beasts are all dead?¡± Fool! ¡°Look ahead! Your body is drooping like torn rubber, and the path to your core is so clear!¡± What the Void Beasts had created with their lives up to this point was a path! A path for the queen¡¯s arrival! It was the so-called Honey Road, guiding the Void Beasts under the Apostle of the Void toward the queen¡¯s honey pot! ¡°If it¡¯s this clear to me, it¡¯ll be even clearer to my worker bees!¡± Buuuuuum¡­ In an instant, the worker bee easily pierced through the holes in the surface and charged forward. In one swift move, it engulfed the Giant Slime¡¯s core in its larger-than-normal maw. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Then it performed an acrobatic maneuver, flying back out through the same hole. ¡°©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤!¡± It would be impressive to burst through to the other side, but the back surface was still intact, posing a high risk of the worker bee dissolving in the sludge. ¡®The most delicious part belongs to the worker bee¡­ this was a predetermined conclusion from the moment this plan was made!¡¯ The Giant Slime''s core was obliterated! With a silent scream, characteristic of beings without vocal organs, it began to writhe uncontrollably. ¡°Die under the fury of my Void Beasts who couldn¡¯t leave a single name behind, you pathetic slime!¡± Arzen called the worker bee to his side and widely spread the divine miracle, Shield of Radiance, in front of him. Beyond that dazzling veil, the Giant Slime began to twist and turn. And then, at the moment he heard the first pop of an explosion¡­ a torrent of sludge flew through the light curtain. It was the same principle as when rubber expands and explodes, causing the water inside to spray everywhere. Without the core, the sludge lost its ability to contain itself as a single form, causing the filth inside the slime to explode. ¡®The acidity and toxicity are so strong¡­ it¡¯s no wonder the Void Beasts were defeated.¡¯ Even the Shield of Radiance was crackling wildly, spitting sparks everywhere. Droplets of sludge splattered onto the ceiling, falling down like rain. That alone was enough to begin dissolving the expensive cloak Arzen had bought. As the hot and sharp sensation surged across his shoulder, Arzen cradled the worker bee gently with both hands. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± How much time had passed? A stillness filled the space where the enormous, writhing presence had completely vanished. Before long, the sound of rats began to echo. ¡°It¡¯s over, worker bee. Ha ha ha! We¡¯ve won!¡± Finally able to breathe a sigh of relief, Arzen released the worker bee from his embrace. But¡­ something was off. The worker bee was enveloped in a dark green glow, radiating a strange heat. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± The shape of the worker bee twisted grotesquely, soon transforming into a key. ¡®A key of unlocking?¡¯ No, it was something even more peculiar than what he had seen before. Its form was more complex, and it shone even more brilliantly. ¡®Could it be related to swallowing the Giant Slime''s core¡­?¡¯ Arzen flipped through the scripture. Then he realized this key was a master key. ¡®What I learned last time is that a lock shines when it resonates with the key¡­!¡¯ This key could even shine for locks sealed with chains. ¡®Could it be? Could I actually use this? So soon!¡¯ In a fervor of excitement, he hurriedly flipped to the later pages of the book featuring the Faceless Demon, only to let out a sigh. ¡®Sigh, of course.¡¯ Despairingly, it did not resonate with that lock. It wasn¡¯t a true master key. Although the lock for the Faceless Demon didn¡¯t respond, he could see a precursor chain connected to it flickering. ¡®Hmm¡­?¡¯ Arzen, almost entranced, turned the pages toward the location of the chain¡¯s lock. Due to the original lock and chain, he couldn''t see inside. But at the end, he caught a glimpse of an illustration peeking through the gaps between the chains. Oddly, there was an illustration of the Faceless Demon. Not just any ordinary illustration, but one that moved in a way that made the principles behind it incomprehensible. ¡®But this illustration¡­ is that an arm of a demon?¡¯ In an empty void, a dimensional crack suddenly appeared, and the arm of a demon abruptly shot out in the illustration. The illustration only repeated the motion of that moment. ¡®Is it only summoning the arm of a demon?¡¯ This was undoubtedly an impressive technique. However, the fact that he couldn¡¯t summon the demon¡¯s actual body was somewhat disappointing. Arzen fitted the master key onto his finger and turned it, flipping through the pages of the book. ¡®I wonder what other techniques I can unlock.¡¯ Yet... ¡®The most delicious dish¡­ I mean, having seen a demon, other techniques feel like mere minnows in comparison.¡¯ As he casually flipped through the pages, he eventually found himself back at the beginning. At that moment, Arzen doubted his eyes. ¡®What¡¯s going on here?¡¯ The very first technique he had unlocked, the page for summoning the Void Beasts, also had a lock and chain on it. ¡®Wait, could it be... did the Void Beasts¡¯ legion get wiped out? Then I have to unlock this again with the key?¡¯ Despair flooded his mind. Did he really have to unlock this and then create all 22 of them again from scratch? ¡®No, that¡¯s just not right!¡¯ This was crossing the line, Rodenkal¡­ how hard did I work to raise them! ¡®Huh?¡¯ But something was different. Unlike the others, this page¡¯s lock and chain were translucent, revealing what was inside... Every time the key touched the lock, the numbers inscribed inside changed like a trick. 44 When he pulled the key away from the lock, the number reverted back to 22. His heart raced wildly. The implications were clear: the summoning number for the Void Beasts would double, a staggering increase! ¡®Two months¡ªno, if I consider the time spent coming to Karshiko, it¡¯s over three months of hard work, and now the number of Void Beasts is going to double in just one go?¡¯ Crazy, this is insane...! Arzen fell into a moment of joyous contemplation. Despite being covered in sludge, he couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°What should I do, worker bee? Should we take this opportunity to double the Void Legion?¡± He asked the key, but whether in its Void form or not, a response was impossible. This was a decision that the Apostle had to make. ¡®If I use this key on the Void Legion, their abilities will become ridiculously powerful¡­ clearly, this is the practical choice.¡¯ But... That being said... Adventurers choose romance over practicality from the start...! ¡®I can¡¯t resist. There¡¯s no way I can hold back.¡¯ Thinking this, Arzen frantically flipped back through the pages. ¡®How can I hold back? Even if it¡¯s just an arm, how can I possibly resist summoning a demon!¡¯ There was no hesitation left in the Apostle. As soon as Arzen reached the relevant page, he immediately thrust the key into the lock, as if denying himself any more time to ponder. The lock mechanism was released by the key, and it vanished into particles of the Void along with the attached chain. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 18 - Short-Term Contract Worker(10) [Translator - Kiteretsu][Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 18 - Short-Term Contract Worker(10) The Void. A dimension of all forgetfulness and disconnection. Thus, the Void is akin to the night, a time of forgetfulness and disconnection. To confront a foe, one must understand their nature, and the same applies to the spacetime called night. Barolus. Command the existence of the Void born from the quest for the Night Face. Barolus... this was the incantation to make first contact with the "Faceless Demon" Night Face. ¡°Barolus!¡± Arzen chanted the incantation with an overflowing anticipation that burned within him... and the Void responded to the Apostle''s command. It was... disconnection. A tremendous power that severed all that existed in reality with overwhelming force. ??? The demon''s arm pierced a hole in the sewer wall. Cracks spread extensively around it. This was the sewer of the Seven Great Cities. A place built and maintained with extreme technological prowess. The strength of its construction was so robust that it hardly needed describing. ¡®But to break this¡­?¡¯ It was undeniably a strong force. Truly, it was a powerful force, but even the mere moment of its emergence made Arzen''s hair stand on end. ¡®The load of this power doesn¡¯t make sense!¡¯ The energy circulating throughout his body was suddenly consumed all at once, causing a rush of heat that burst forth from his nose and mouth. ¡®Crazy, how am I supposed to use this in real combat?¡¯ There was another issue. No, it wasn¡¯t just an issue. ¡®I can wipe away the blood. But what¡¯s unfolding before my eyes right now¡­!¡¯ S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This wasn¡¯t something that could be resolved by merely wiping it away. ¡®Mom, what do I do?¡¯ If they demand full payment for repairs, what on earth will I do then? [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 19 - Short-Term Contract Worker (11) [Translator - Kiteretsu][Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 19 - Short-Term Contract Worker (11) Despite the chaos, the red dragon and the red pilgrim left the city in less than five minutes. A sigh of relief swept through the area. If the red dragon had seen them unfavorably, Arzen¡¯s career as a civil servant would have certainly come to an end. ¡°...I heard the red dragon used to stay in every city. I can¡¯t imagine how suffocating that must have been.¡± ¡°...If it were me, I wouldn¡¯t have become a civil servant.¡± ¡°...You think you could?¡± Hearing their murmurs, Arzen stepped outside the city hall. He asked Milbiet about a dessert shop that women liked, and immediately headed there. Looking through the shop window at the cakes, he felt a jolt at the prices. ¡®Women actually spend money on this? With this much, I could eat at Olive You for a week and still have leftovers!¡¯ But now wasn¡¯t the time to think about value. ¡®I need to extract information from the witches. Why did the dragon clan come here?¡¯ Arzen opened his coin purse. He had gathered about thirty silver coins over two months of work. That hefty sum warmed Arzen¡¯s heart just by gleaming. ¡®Bribery is almost always the right choice.¡¯ A typical worker earned one silver coin for a day¡¯s labor. So, after accounting for lodging and food expenses, Arzen still had money for thirty days. That silver brought him courage. The strength to boldly push open the shop¡¯s door. ¡°Do witches come here often?¡± ¡°Of course. But... they tend to eat something more expensive than others.¡± ¡°What do they get?¡± The cakes were already expensive. ¡®But among those cakes, they must be devouring the overwhelmingly pricey whipped cream cake every day!¡¯ With tears of blood, Arzen paid for the cake and returned to the city hall. He immediately dashed up the stairs to the third floor and knocked on the door of the witch association¡¯s office. ¡°Y-Yes... come in.¡± Inside the office, exhausted witches sprawled on the sofa like corpses. However, upon seeing Arzen, their eyes lit up with curiosity. ¡°Oh, Arzen~ Did you come to see me?¡± ¡°Of course you¡¯d want to see me. What else would your squid face want to look at?¡± ¡°Geez, how rude.¡± No matter how much he succeeded in charming them, his heart raced like crazy in front of the witches. The reason was likely the alien nature of the Void¡¯s power. ¡®But I¡¯ve adapted quite a bit now.¡¯ Arzen steadied his breath. ¡®There won¡¯t be a repeat of last time when my nerves were at MAX.¡¯ When he was at the Divine Guillotine, he had often played the role of the pitiful one well. Maybe he could twist it a bit to make it work. ¡°Um, well... since you witches must be tired from cleaning today, I brought some cake¡­¡± Cute! Life really is simple! ¡°OMG~ Oh my gosh, oh my gosh!¡± ¡°For Arzen¡¯s sake!¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s for me!¡± ¡°I think I¡¯ll be going now.¡± ¡°What are you talking about? The sisters will brew some coffee. You should eat too, Arzen!¡± The operation was a success. Glancing around, Arzen noticed that the archwitch and the highest-ranking witch were nowhere to be seen. Given the red dragon''s earlier arrival, something serious must have happened. ¡®Alright, let¡¯s eavesdrop for some information.¡¯ Arzen focused on the witches¡¯ chatter. ¡°Phew¡­ The majesty of the red dragon is incredible. This is my first time seeing one in person.¡± ¡°Of course! They¡¯re all at the ends of the earth in Flame Myriad.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t there less than ten red dragons alive right now? Wow, so they really do exist.¡± The witches were clearing the table to set up for tea time, arranging the cakes and teacups. At that moment, a wanted poster caught Arzen¡¯s eye. As he tilted his head in curiosity, the youngest witch showed the poster to him, saying, ¡°Our Arzen~ The people on this poster are all bad guys, so if you see them, you have to run away, okay? Just come back here and tell us, and we¡¯ll take care of them.¡± His heart froze. ¡®The ones in the portrait¡­!¡¯ It was just a picture, but the fear from the past gripped his heart with icy fingers. ¡®Damn it.¡¯ He felt a wave of nausea wash over him, nearly choking. The witches scolded the youngest witch. ¡°Hey, why did you show Arzen their pictures? You scared him!¡± ¡°No, I just wanted to warn him since he¡¯s precious to us¡­¡± ¡°Shut up! You don¡¯t deserve any of Arzen¡¯s cake. Go copy that, as the archwitch ordered.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­ I want to eat the cake Arzen brought too.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll leave you a slice, so go on!¡± How could he possibly forget those faces? ¡®The Healthy Assassination Team!¡¯ Helshi was right under the upper echelons of Divine Guillotine, a candidate for the top position. ¡®Helshi is an expert in human combat, not demon combat, and formed a team of assassins¡­¡¯ The purpose of the assassination team was to maintain the chains of corruption. First, they would blackmail bribed officials by using their secrets or by kidnapping their families. Second, any humans making threats against Divine Guillotine would be eliminated, disguised as accidents. These people could kill easier than slaughtering beasts, and their ruthlessness made them among the worst of Divine Guillotine¡¯s thugs. ¡®It¡¯s easy to understand why Divine Guillotine evades the consequences of crime when you know about these guys¡­¡¯ They were masters of disguising their identities using erased backgrounds. ¡®If they encounter a dragon, their crimes will undoubtedly be exposed, so they must be hiding with new identities.¡¯ The fact that these guys were alive and active was real. ¡®I should have confronted them earlier. Why had I forgotten? Was I hoping to forget?¡¯ A deep-rooted fear struck the back of Arzen''s head. ¡®If only I could say something about them¡­¡¯ He felt the brand on his left chest throb painfully. What would happen if he tried to say anything about them? That brand would activate, causing him to bleed out and die. He had seen plenty of those who were treated like slaves, just like him, meet such a fate. - No dragon could sense this. It''s the Dragonbound Barrier! What''s the point? No one can save you. If you want to die, go ahead. Even now, when he closed his eyes¡­ It felt like he could hear the laughter of those bastards from Divine Guillotine. ¡®Maybe¡­ the dragon race could have saved me.¡¯ If he had begged that red dragon for help earlier, could it have saved him before he bled out in the seven circles? ¡®Who knows.¡¯ It was too late to dwell on what was already past. And Arzen had no intention of gambling with his life. ¡®Settling here? What a nonsensical delusion that was¡­¡¯ What if they discovered that Arzen was still alive? They would definitely come after him to eliminate the witness to their crimes. ¡®I had hoped they would be dealt with. Or that Divine Guillotine would crumble and go its own way like the trash they are.¡¯ But they were currently bound together by fate. They would surely be looking for any way to survive. ¡®For now, they don¡¯t know my real name. But if my information were to slip out¡­¡¯ Even that fragmentary detail would surely lead them to deduce that Arzen was still alive. They were those kinds of people. ¡®Damn it!¡¯ There would be no peaceful days until he could deal with them personally. The problem was that all of them were golden-ranked adventurers. ¡®I need to get as far away from the Adrion continent as possible and hone the power of the Void¡­¡¯ He couldn¡¯t stay in this green city of Karshiko. ¡®There are too many powerful monsters, too many opportunities for adventure, and most importantly, I need to move to a smaller town, not a big city.¡¯ The Helshi assassination team were experts at gathering information, so staying in a big city would undoubtedly lead to trouble. * * * That very day, Arzen headed to the harbor district. The green city of Karshiko was built in the center of a lagoon. However, a canal had been dug toward the northern trade route, placing the harbor at the west center of the city. ¡°You want to buy passage?¡± the lighthouse keeper asked in response to Arzen''s request. ¡°Yeah, old man. I need to book my passage in advance.¡± To cross the ocean, he needed to use the Connected Fleet route. In the golden age when dragons ruled, they protected all sea routes. But now, with the drastic decline in the dragon population, there was no way to be safeguarded from the sea monsters. Thus, the Republic had implemented a policy to bind ships crossing the ocean with magical chains, forming a single fleet. ¡®The witches board those ships and use their spells to ensure the fleet reaches its destination safely.¡¯ Since it was a large fleet, there were only two destinations available. The green sanctuary, Tervenope. The indigo city, Aristapo. Both cities, like Karshiko, were among the seven great cities of the Republic. Tervenope boasted the highest scale and served as the capital of the Northern Republic. ¡°The fleet heading to Tervenope sets sail tomorrow, but there aren¡¯t many spots left. The fleet to Aristapo departs in ten days.¡± Tomorrow? He couldn¡¯t just disappear in a hurry. For now, as a civil servant, he needed to formally say he was quitting to avoid future troubles. He had always wanted to see the breathtaking scenery of Tervenope that he had read about in adventurer books, but¡­ he would have to postpone such desires for now. ¡°What ship should I choose?¡± ¡°All the ships docked from section 11 onward are part of the fleet heading to Aristapo. Talk to the shipowners about the fare.¡± Arzen used most of his savings to purchase a ticket for a private cabin on a medium-sized cargo ship. He intended to focus on his training in the Void during the ocean crossing. He had to bear this expense. * * * The next day, Arzen reported to the city hall. ¡°I think I¡¯ll need to quit my contract a week early due to personal circumstances.¡± Samson''s reaction was dry and indifferent. ¡°Is that so? Well, it¡¯s not like you had a tight schedule to begin with. Just make sure to clean the sewers properly before your last day.¡± That was even better. However, Milbiet and the youngest witch burst into tears when he told them. ¡°Why? Why are you quitting? Take the civil service exam and join us! We¡¯ll give you a ton of extra points!¡± ¡°With what?¡± ¡°Cutness!¡± ¡°You crazy girl.¡± Even if their tears were feigned, it felt good to think he had become someone precious to them, even for a moment. From that day on, Arzen didn¡¯t go to work. His daily routine was divided into two time frames: one spent contemplating sewer slime hunting and settling in Karshiko while gazing at the sea. He felt sorry for Sora, but Arzen began to transport the slime two or three times a day back and forth to the branch. Crossing the ocean would nearly deplete his funds. He would need quite a bit of money to settle somewhere new. * * * Three days passed like this. The muscular receptionist, who had initially arranged the sewer job, asked, ¡°Are you planning to leave for somewhere?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m getting a bit tired of it here. It feels a bit beneath me as an adventurer.¡± He tucked away any mention of heading to Aristapo to avoid raising suspicion. ¡°Haha! It is a peaceful city. That¡¯s an advantage, but I see. Wait just a moment.¡± He didn¡¯t know why he was being asked to wait, but he did. Then, the muscular man handed him a sealed letter with the Karshiko Adventurer''s Guild crest. Unsure of what to do since he didn¡¯t understand the letter or its significance, Arzen hesitated to accept it. ¡°That¡¯s a recommendation letter from the guild,¡± the muscular man explained. ¡°?¡± ¡°I heard from Samson that you¡¯ve been cleaning the sewers all by yourself.¡± ¡°!¡± ¡°But since that¡¯s a direct contract, your contributions to the guild won¡¯t be recognized, and there won¡¯t be any record of it.¡± ¡°???¡± ¡°Samson must have lied and told you that everything would be acknowledged, but¡­¡± That bastard Samson¡­ How trashy could he be¡­? ¡°The number of slime bags you¡¯ve brought in every day is proof of your skill and diligence, right?¡± ¡°!¡± ¡°With your talent, I couldn¡¯t let you go off chasing cats at another branch just like that, you know?¡± ¡°!!¡± ¡°So, I just wrote, ¡®This steel-ranked adventurer is more skilled than he looks.¡¯ No need to refuse it.¡± ¡°!!!¡± ¡°It¡¯ll help you adapt at the new guild branch. Of course, the most important thing is your actions and expertise.¡± What in the world¡­ how was he supposed to respond? This was different from the time when he felt like crying. With the merchant family, it made sense that their goodwill returned because Arzen had first done them a favor. But why was this man helping him? ¡®I hardly even flattered him! Except for that time when I took on the cat-finding request at the beginning.¡¯ As if he could read Arzen''s trembling eyes, the muscular man smiled and put a hand on his shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t ask why. Getting involved in unnecessary things is the essence of being an adventurer, isn¡¯t it? Just like the first five adventurers who helped the Lister Hero Party during the turmoil 400 years ago, pushing forward to the ends of the earth.¡± ¡°¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Now¡­ set forth on your adventure, boy! This vast world is unfolding before you.¡± The guild members at the Karshiko branch watched the scene with warm smiles. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since the branch chief took such care of someone.¡± The branch chief of Karshiko had always been interested in every adventurer who came through. That¡¯s why he dressed as an ordinary member and carried out regular tasks. ¡°He must be reminded of the past. Whenever he sees junior members working hard like himself, he can¡¯t help but want to assist them.¡± S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 20 - Once Again, Beyond the Sea [Translator - Kiteretsu][Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 20 - Once Again, Beyond the Sea The merchant fleet sets sail at dawn. With the wind asleep and the sea calm, it was the perfect weather for crossing the ocean. The witches, reading the atmosphere, chose a day when the fair winds would blow, which was only natural. Arzen left his lodging. The adventurer guild branch hadn¡¯t opened yet, leaving the area quiet. However, a few adventurers were out running morning laps. ¡®It would have been nice to have breakfast at Olive You on my last day¡­¡¯ Arzen let that dream go. As dawn broke, the city awakened in shades of light green¡ªan everyday sight by now. Seeing it made him feel he could never leave this city. ¡®Above all, the fare for the merchant fleet is very expensive, and cancellations aren¡¯t allowed.¡¯ So there was no room for hesitation. Lost in thought, Arzen arrived at the harbor. On the horizon, merchant ships, whaling vessels, and warships were magically tied together, forming a sturdy fleet. ¡®That¡¯s the merchant fleet crossing the ocean!¡¯ Those boarding the fleet either boarded the merchant ship the night before or took a small boat at dawn. While the elderly preferred the former, Arzen chose the latter. He wanted to sleep in a feather bed for his last night. ¡°Are you here for the merchant fleet? Come aboard.¡± Arzen stretched his legs as he climbed onto the small boat. The boat shifted slightly backward under his weight. The boatman began to row once a few more passengers boarded. ¡®Back, further back¡­¡¯ The green city Karsiko gradually receded into the distance. ¡®¡­¡­.¡¯ The merchant ship tied to the fleet soon approached Arzen¡¯s sight. By that time, the city had already become a distant memory. Even the refreshing scents of lemons and tangerines were swept away by the salty sea breeze. ¡®The green city, Karsiko.¡¯ Only then did Arzen gather the courage to look back. ¡®So this is what it feels like¡­¡¯ He thought if he had a hometown he wished to return to, it would feel this way. ¡®As an adventurer, if I achieve greatness, sever all my ill-fated ties, and when it¡¯s time to settle down¡­ I should seriously consider this place.¡¯ The small boat reached the merchant ship. Arzen grasped the rope ladder and began to pull himself up onto the ship. One hand, then the other, steadily. Arzen boarded the connected fleet and made his way to the merchant ship where he had purchased his fare. Witches bustled about on their brooms, darting through the air as they inspected the fleet. It seemed they were making their final checks on the departure barrier and the binding chains. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seagulls followed them closely. Arzen unpacked his belongings in the cabin he had paid for. He grabbed his wallet and valuables, locked the door, and returned to the deck. Others were also coming out onto the deck in small groups, awaiting departure. Soon, the dawn broke, casting a crimson light across the eastern sky... As the three suns quickly began to rise, the witches sounded their horns. Anchors were raised in unison, and the sails unfurled in perfect coordination. With enchantments of wind embedded in each sail, the massive collection of ships miraculously began to slice through the ocean. Arzen leaned against the railing for a moment, staring blankly at the sea, but soon headed back to his cabin. Even on the water, the summer sun was intense. The sea breeze, constantly tangling his hair, was starting to get on his nerves as well. ¡®It¡¯s time to train my Void powers.¡¯ Although he had left the city in a hurry, there was no need to rush his thoughts. ¡®When you think about it, it will take quite a while for the assassination team to confirm whether I¡¯m dead or alive.¡¯ Arzen had never used the name ¡°Al¡± anywhere. Thanks to Ulman, he hadn¡¯t left a trace crossing the Lanoa Bridge either. ¡®And they¡¯re the ones being hunted now... They¡¯ll have a hard time crossing the Lanoa Bridge, so they¡¯ll likely be stuck on the Adrion continent for a while.¡¯ As Ulman had said, time was on Arzen¡¯s side. ¡®Ulman didn¡¯t know the full details, but he was right!¡¯ During that time, he would grow stronger. ¡®I just need to grow stronger than them!¡¯ Arzen had already devised an intense training regimen for the fifteen-day ocean crossing. ¡°Barolus¡­!¡± That was to summon the demon''s arm. Just calling forth this one arm would drain all his energy and overload his body, making it not unusual for him to cough up blood. It was just one arm, after all. But if he could harness this, he could exhaust his entire energy reserve in one go and accelerate the production of Voidlings. It wasn¡¯t practical to painstakingly summon each of the 22 Voidlings one by one and then struggle to bring out a 23rd. Sure, it felt great to line up 22 Voidlings, but... ¡®I can¡¯t be struggling just to summon one of these.¡¯ In real combat, he¡¯d already have the entire Voidling squadron summoned, saving this demon arm for critical moments. ¡®I need to reach a level where I can call this arm without trouble, even after using all 22 Voidlings.¡¯ He couldn¡¯t afford to collapse from exhaustion and sleep every time he used it. ¡°Barolus!¡± Through training, he was slowly getting a handle on how to use this power. The demon''s arm responded based on the intentions he harbored when casting the spell. One time, he had summoned it while thinking absentmindedly that he wished someone would feed him, as he was too tired to eat. With a half-hearted "Barolus," he had unintentionally summoned the arm. ¡®And this crazy thing¡­¡¯ The arm grabbed the entire tray and shoved it right into his face. The problem was, the arm¡¯s manifestation lasted only for a brief moment. It vanished just like that, leaving Arzen covered in soup and the bread rolling on the floor. ¡®This little punk¡­!¡¯ He swore that when the day came to summon the full demon, he¡¯d punish it for this insolence. But for now, there was no way to reprimand it. ¡®Still, I learned something important...¡¯ The demon was capable of delicate movements. It had an unexpected degree of control. ¡®Now that I think about it, when we first met, it handed me the scripture quite gently.¡¯ Even with that realization, Arzen couldn¡¯t help but be annoyed. Wiping the soup off his clothes, he clicked his tongue. ¡®Tch... Useless brat!¡¯ If he had strengthened the Voidling squadron to 44 back then, he¡¯d feel like he had the whole world at his feet by now. ¡°Listen here, I¡¯ll make it clear in advance. There¡¯s no way I¡¯ll ever cherish you like a loyal Worker Bee, alright? Not in a million years. Got it?¡± The demon arm seemed to dislike hearing this rebuke, vanishing quicker than usual. Of course, it was all just in Arzen¡¯s head. The arm had simply disappeared because its manifestation time had run out. Nonetheless, Arzen¡¯s relentless training was not in vain. His body had begun to adjust to the overload, and the manifestation time, though small, had gradually increased. ¡®Though¡­ I thought the Voidlings would grow stronger since we share power, but that doesn¡¯t seem to be the case.¡¯ Perhaps their powers operated on different systems. To strengthen the Voidling squadron, he still needed to train using the old summoning methods. Still, his progress during this time was impressive. Whereas before, summoning 22 Voidlings would drain him completely, now he could reorganize 10 of them afterward. ¡®But I still need to train if I want to reach the maximum number.¡¯ How convenient would it be if all these abilities were just unified into one? ¡®Training would be so much easier! Right, Rodenkal?¡¯ Rodenkal, the God of the Void, was surely a stubborn and inflexible deity. Grumbling aloud didn¡¯t bring any response, so Arzen gave up complaining after a while. ¡®Every day it¡¯s just eating, resting, summoning the demon arm until I collapse from exhaustion¡­ No real rhythm to life.¡¯ Of course, not every moment of the journey was uneventful. * * * ¡°Hey, it¡¯s heading that way!¡± The witches had spotted mackerel in the area and set out to hunt them. Mackerel were swift and cunning, scattering at the slightest sign of danger. But the witches used their magic to cast wide nets and began a drive hunt. With nothing else to see but the open sea, the bored passengers eagerly watched this ridiculous spectacle from start to finish. ¡°Hey, over there! Fix that net! We¡¯re going to lose them all!¡± The senior witch flew above the sea on her broom, barking orders to her juniors. Gradually, they tightened the net, drawing it closer and closer until finally¡­ When the senior witch raised the enchanted net with all her might, hundreds of wriggling mackerel were caught inside. ¡°Hooray!¡± ¡°That was perfect!¡± The witches clapped each other on the back and laughed heartily. The passengers cheered and applauded. Even Arzen, amused, clapped along. ¡®Friends, huh...¡¯ Arzen had a friend too. ¡®That would be Worker Bee!¡¯ Talking to a bug might be something to outgrow before you turn ten, as that crazy archer would say, but Worker Bee wasn¡¯t just any bug, right? ¡®Though it is a one-way conversation.¡¯ As an adventurer, would there come a day when he too had friends like that? He didn¡¯t know. But he was clear on one thing: he had to sever his ill-fated ties with the Divine Guillotine. ¡®Time to go train.¡¯ With a sigh, he turned back, but just then, the senior witch flew over on her broom. ¡°In gratitude for your enthusiastic support, we¡¯ll be serving grilled mackerel to everyone tonight!¡± The crowd cheered wildly. Arzen, too, halted his steps, deciding to stay for the mackerel. ¡®Mackerel is an expensive fish! Can¡¯t miss out!¡¯ When grilled, it wasn¡¯t fishy at all, and the juicy meat was said to be truly sensational. It wasn¡¯t a fish you could catch unless you sailed the high seas. And as he had heard, the mackerel, grilled until just shy of being burnt, was indeed a flavor that moved him. ¡®Delicious¡­!¡¯ Arzen felt happy. To think he could be so happy just from a meal made him feel almost simple-minded. But he thought, maybe that wasn¡¯t such a bad thing. * * * Those small moments on the sea soon came to an end. ¡°Senior! We¡¯re almost there! The coastline will be visible soon!¡± A witch, scouting ahead on her broom to check for dangers, returned with the report. The senior witch signaled to the others. ¡°Spread the word to everyone. We¡¯ll reach Aristapo in a day or two.¡± In those 16 days of sailing, Arzen had certainly grown. ¡®The Voidling squadron is now at 24!¡¯ Most notably, he had extended the manifestation time of the demon arm to almost 1.8 seconds, just shy of 2. ¡®And now, if my energy is at 100%, I don¡¯t even cough up blood anymore. Heh, even I¡¯m impressed with my growth.¡¯ He had worried at first that training with the demon arm would draw attention, with the witches sensing its dark power and coming after him, but that didn¡¯t happen. ¡®Still, it¡¯s not exactly something I can show others.¡¯ The Voidlings were cute in their own way, but this demon arm? It was the very embodiment of terror, the kind of thing that would make someone wet their pants if they saw it at night. ¡®So unless it¡¯s a life-or-death situation, I¡¯d better avoid using it when others are watching¡­¡¯ With such thoughts and determination, the connected fleet finally arrived at a new land, the continent of Aristapo. It was a major city with a bustling harbor and no shortage of adventurers from across the continent. The merchant ship slowly approached the coast, and soon the docking ritual began. Arzen gazed ahead at the strange city, taking a deep breath. ¡®This is the beginning of a new adventure¡­!¡¯ [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 21 - The First Journey on a Strange Continent (1) [Translator - Kiteretsu][Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 21 - The First Journey on a Strange Continent (1) The port of the continent was packed to the point where there wasn¡¯t even space to set foot. The green city of Karshiko only gets crowded when the canal steamers arrive at the archipelago. But here, it''s always like this. That¡¯s the difference between the continent and the islands. As Arzen pushed through the sea of people, he suddenly caught a hand sneaking toward his waist. "Not happening. I¡¯ve been an adventurer for too long to fall for that." "Ah." It was a filthy little kid, so dirty that grime practically dripped off his skin. ¡®Even in a grand city like this, there are still street kids living off pickpocketing. The world really is hopeless, isn¡¯t it?¡¯ He was about to give the kid a proper scolding but decided against it. "Hey, where¡¯s the adventurer¡¯s guild?" "Wh-what?" "I¡¯m asking, which way is the adventurer¡¯s guild?" The frightened kid pointed to a signpost. With so many people around, Arzen hadn¡¯t noticed it while he was distracted by the crowd. Given the city''s enormous size, the signpost listed the locations of various government offices and major buildings. "I¡¯ll let you off this once. Don¡¯t do that again." Suddenly, Arzen realized he was hungry. It was probably because of the tempting smell from a nearby food stall he had passed by earlier. He returned to the stall and bought a skewer of fish cakes and a piece of dried squid, each for 2 silver coins. ¡®Oh, damn, this is too good!¡¯ It wasn¡¯t exactly the weather for hot food, but even under the scorching late summer sun, the taste was incredible. *** Aristapo Adventurer¡¯s Guild The adventurer¡¯s guild in one of the continent¡¯s seven great cities had a much more intimidating atmosphere than the one in Karshiko. The building alone stood about five stories tall. Inside, the counters were double in number and teeming with adventurers who clearly had some muscle to back up their bravado. Compared to Karshiko''s guild, which was full of small fries, the difference was night and day. ¡®It¡¯s been a while... since I¡¯ve seen so many real adventurers, the kind that carry the stench of blood.¡¯ Could it be that the assassination team from Helsea is hidden among them? He glanced around just in case, but everything seemed fine. If he acted too cautious here, it would actually make him stand out and attract unwanted attention. Arzen walked past the central request board and got in line at one of the counters. After the three people ahead of him finished their business, it was his turn. "Verbal abuse or violence against guild members can result in a significant drop in contributions, fines, and even the confiscation of your adventurer¡¯s tag. How can I assist you today?" "Is there a decent base in a nearby small town? Somewhere with good hunting grounds?" "Yes, may I check your adventurer¡¯s tag to recommend a location that matches your rank and verify your identity?" When Arzen showed his steel-ranked tag, the receptionist let out an exaggerated sigh, as if to make it clear she was exhausted. "If you''re a steel rank, it shouldn¡¯t matter much where you go..." Is it because this is a big city, and she couldn¡¯t care less about small fries? Or maybe she¡¯s just worn out dealing with so many low-ranked adventurers. Either way, Arzen was not pleased. ¡®How outrageous! I may be a steel rank now, but thanks to the power of the Void, I¡¯m practically destined to reach diamond rank in the future!¡¯ However, arguing with a guild employee wasn¡¯t the wisest course of action. ¡®I need to advance in rank soon. They¡¯re underestimating me just because I¡¯m steel-ranked.¡¯ The adventurer guilds in big cities had the power to back up their presence. Many of the staff were former adventurers themselves. "Oh, I¡¯ve got this." Arzen handed the receptionist the letter of recommendation he received from the Karshiko guild, even as she continued to wear a clearly annoyed expression. In an instant, her eyebrows shot up. As she broke the seal and read the letter, she glanced back and forth between the letter and Arzen, her expression now one of disbelief. "This... this seal is genuine... Wow... I didn¡¯t expect you to have a recommendation from the Karshiko guildmaster. Especially from him." "Is he famous?" "You don¡¯t know? He¡¯s a former high-ranking adventurer. One of the top-tier ones, in fact." Adventurers referred to those ranked in the top 100 of the gold tier as "Rankers." ¡®What the... That muscular guy didn¡¯t look like much, but turns out he¡¯s not just the guildmaster¡ªhe¡¯s a Ranker too?¡¯ Even in the Divine Guillotine, only the top brass were Rankers. "I¡¯ve never heard of a Ranker named James." "That¡¯s just his alias. His real name¡¯s something else. Want me to tell you?" "No, that¡¯s fine." Even if she told him, Arzen wouldn¡¯t know since they had operated on different continents. The vast oceans separated many things, after all. Just from this brief conversation, Arzen noticed subtle differences in how the receptionist pronounced certain words. Even though they were both speaking Republic Common, the regional accents were clear. "The letter says he¡¯s willing to vouch for your skills and take full responsibility if anything goes wrong. You¡¯ve got some serious trust from him." "¡­!" "Well then, I have a few locations I could recommend. One is the Ilbas Forest." Recently, goblin hordes had been running rampant, causing trouble for many villages. The guild here didn¡¯t have enough manpower to handle it, so they requested help from outside. It was a six-day journey by wagon. ¡®Goblins, huh... Goblins!¡¯ Individually, they were weak, but in groups, they became far more dangerous, much like humans. Small-scale hunts were typically assigned to rookies. However, when it came to larger groups, those missions were given to upper-level steel ranks or mid-level bronze ranks. "And the next option is©¤" "©¤I¡¯ll take the goblins." "The goblins?" "Yeah." "That¡¯s surprising. Most people avoid goblin nests because they¡¯re so filthy, so it¡¯s hard to find anyone willing to take the job." For Arzen, though, a place like that was perfect. It meant he could use the Void¡¯s power without worrying about anyone noticing. "The canal route is the fastest way, but since you have the guildmaster¡¯s recommendation, I can arrange for you to take on a guard duty mission aboard the wagon heading to the Euphoria branch." "Is that a good option?" "It¡¯ll take a bit longer, but as a guard, you won¡¯t have to pay the fare. Plus, for the first three days, you¡¯ll be traveling along the main road that connects to Aristapo, so there¡¯s not much danger." For now, it seemed wise to save every penny. ¡®One of these days, I should really go and pay my respects to good old James!¡¯ Arzen took back his adventurer¡¯s tag while receiving a rundown of the key instructions. "The wagon departs tomorrow at 8 AM. Please don¡¯t be late. If you are, and it causes any losses to the guild, we may file a claim for damages." "Understood." "Here, take the mission receipt. You can check the full mission details and collect your reward at the Euphoria branch. Any other questions?" "No." "Thank you. Next adventurer, please." Dealing with the receptionist, who stuck strictly to business without any idle chatter, made Arzen already miss Karshiko. He longed for the warmth and friendliness of the islanders. The cities on the continent felt cold. Life as a steel-ranked adventurer was even harsher. ¡®First things first, I need to find a place to stay...¡¯ Being a big city, even the adventurer guild''s lodging, though cheaper than the local market rates, was still more expensive than he expected. Since he only needed to stay for one night, he ended up booking a shabby inn on the outskirts of town. The only valuable possession he had was his coin pouch, and that could stay with him. Not knowing any good local spots for food, Arzen wandered the evening streets until he found a place bustling with people and took a seat. ¡®Since this is a major port on the continent, there¡¯s not just seafood but a ton of meat options too.¡¯ Aristapo was known for its pepper-based cuisine, with pepper being added to just about everything. Having had his fill of fish on the ship, Arzen craved meat for the first time in a while. The most intriguing dish on the menu was pepper chicken legs. Seeing the person next to him eat them made his mouth water, so he ordered two. The server asked, "Do you want old hen or young chicken?" "Do they taste different?" "The old hen¡¯s really tough. I don¡¯t like it, but some people love the chewy texture. Just so you know, we don¡¯t serve it to elderly folks anymore. Too many lost their teeth chewing on it, and it¡¯s pretty gross for us to clean up." Wow, how blunt. That¡¯s how servers are on the continent, I guess. "Give me one of each." "And to drink?" "What¡¯s good?" "Do you drink alcohol?" "No, I hate alcohol." "Then just water for you." "Give me milk. I need to grow taller." "Sure, one cold glass of milk. That everything?" Arzen clicked his tongue. ¡®Even this kind of conversation feels so cold in a continental city!¡¯ But any lingering resentment he had was immediately washed away... by the overwhelming flavor of the chicken. "When you eat the old hen, use these scissors to cut it. It might be tough, so pair it with the cabbage here." From the moment the dish arrived, it was clear this was no ordinary meal... As soon as the juices burst in his mouth, he forgot all the hardships of the world. ¡®Wait, is this paradise?¡¯ "No, this... this is happiness." Tears of joy welled up in Arzen''s eyes. ¡®Next is the old hen...¡¯ Unlike the young chicken, the old hen¡¯s meat had shriveled up significantly. ¡®What the... It¡¯s hard to even cut this thing with scissors, damn it!¡¯ But the moment he put it in his mouth, his opinion changed. ¡®Hmm, this is... an unusual taste.¡¯ sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The flavor, chewy and tough, was definitely one people would either love or hate. It wasn¡¯t the most delicious thing, but it was the kind of taste that could linger in his mind, making him crave it now and then. ¡®Is it because they¡¯ve used pepper like it''s salt? The flavor¡¯s unique, but it¡¯s not unpleasantly salty either.¡¯ As Arzen chewed on the old hen, he gazed out into the evening streets. Countless wagons continued to stream through the city gates. Cargo ships from the grand canal endlessly flowed into the city via the sluice gates. ¡®So busy, even at this hour...¡¯ The continent of was fascinating in so many ways. ¡®The distinct seasons here must be why people wear such a wide variety of clothing, unlike in the desert climate of the continent.¡¯ After finishing his meal, Arzen sipped on his water for a while, watching the lively streets, then paid his bill and stepped outside. The cool air was refreshing. ¡®It¡¯s even cooler than the Archipelago, not to mention the continent.¡¯ Though the late summer was transitioning into early autumn, the climate here was entirely different. ¡®It¡¯s unfamiliar, but not unpleasant, so I guess that¡¯s fine...¡¯ Arzen wandered the streets a bit longer before finally heading back to his lodgings. --- Once back at the inn, he spread out his holy book on the bed and began organizing his plans for the future. ¡®I need to find stronger monsters.¡¯ When he defeated the giant slime, the worker turned into a master key. This meant that powerful monsters were the key to growth. ¡®To hunt strong monsters, I need to raise my adventurer rank so I can take on those kinds of requests.¡¯ Of course, advancing in rank wasn¡¯t just about defeating strong monsters. He also had to build up his contributions to the guild. ¡®Contribution varies by request.¡¯ Some people slowly rank up by completing hundreds of small, easy tasks. Others take on extraordinary missions, select only the most difficult ones, and advance quickly. ¡®And after that, there¡¯s still the promotion exam... hmm...¡¯ The promotion exams were a chaotic mess, filled with all sorts of unsavory characters, but Arzen already had a plan to deal with that. ¡®I¡¯ll set those thoughts aside for now. I should train the power of the Void and then get some sleep for tomorrow.¡¯ His training regimen consisted of two parts: First, he would summon the Demon¡¯s Arm, draining all of his internal energy. Then, in his exhausted state, he would summon 24 Void Bugs. The challenge of his training was to summon a 25th Void Bug, pushing himself beyond his limits. ¡°*Barolus! Move the holy book to the nightstand!*¡± From beyond the dimensions, the responded to the apostle¡¯s command. Ripping through the fabric of the dimensional rift, the eldritch entity made its appearance. The creature moved swiftly and menacingly, grabbing the holy book, but in the process, it tore the bedsheet. Before it could even finish placing the book on the nightstand, its time ran out, and the book tumbled to the dusty carpet below. "......" Arzen, with wide, unimpressed eyes, stared at the disappointing scene. He then subtly covered the torn sheet with his pillow. "I know nothing. Some demon did it. Kaz tu Arcturas!" Arzen proceeded to summon the Void Bugs, starting with the First-Bee. ¡®21st... 22nd... 23rd... 24th...!¡¯ In a frantic effort to summon the 25th creature from the other side, both Arzen and his Void Bugs struggled, but not even a leg emerged. "Hah... hah... damn it..." Collapsing onto the bed, Arzen panted heavily. His eyes met the First-Bee, now perched on the torn sheet, and for some reason, it looked like it was judging him. Tears of frustration welled up in Arzen''s eyes. "I''m sorry, First-Bee. It''s all my fault. I made the wrong choice back then! I should''ve trusted you from the start... sniff." Arzen picked up the holy book from the floor once again. Su Ja Heros. On the next page, which described the fusion of Void Bugs with the First-Bee, the requirement read: 24/30. The following page listed the next requirement as 24/44. ¡®Tch, if only I had made the right choice back then, I would''ve unlocked two Void Bug techniques at once.¡¯ It was too late for regrets now. ¡®I¡¯ll focus on building up my contributions, and master the Void¡¯s power so I can command 30 creatures simultaneously.¡¯ Resolving himself, Arzen lay down to sleep. "First-Bee, wake me up in the morning." [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 22 - The First Journey on a Strange Continent (2) [Translator - Kiteretsu][Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 22: The First Journey on a Strange Continent (2) The stagecoach operates under the sponsorship of the Merchants¡¯ Guild. Though passengers pay a fare, it''s not uncommon for merchant wagons to join the caravan as well. The stagecoach runs with a generous budget, and since merchants don''t need to hire adventurers for each trip, it¡¯s a win-win situation. "Hah, a runt like you is supposed to be a guard?" This was what Arzen heard from another adventurer when he arrived at the west gate half an hour earlier than the appointed time. "And what¡¯s it to you, you lowlife?" "???" "I¡¯m seriously asking, but you¡¯re sitting there making that dumb face. You wanna die? You think I don¡¯t know you¡¯re mocking me from the start? You little punk." Arzen couldn¡¯t stand the sight of some random lowlife speaking down to him from the get-go. ¡°Hahaha!¡± ¡°Well, he¡¯s got some spirit.¡± ¡°He¡¯s more of an adventurer than you, Jack.¡± The other adventurers burst out laughing, and the situation came to an end for the moment. But the one who started cursing from the beginning? Turns out he was a high-ranking bronze-tier adventurer and the leader of the escort group. As the leader, he was responsible for creating the duty schedule, which meant he wielded near-absolute power during the journey. ¡°There are 16 guards! We¡¯ll run three shifts, with six people on duty for 14 hours at a time.¡± The leader could set up the schedule so that anyone he didn¡¯t like ended up with the worst shifts. That¡¯s how adventurers in power operated. Arzen shot him a glance. As expected, he saw the jerk assigning him to the night watch¡ªan unmistakable sign of petty vengeance. ¡®Seriously, this guy?¡¯ Sure, Arzen could take this guy down in a heartbeat if he summoned his , but the one who strikes first is always at a disadvantage. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m so sorry, dear senior. I lost my parents when I was young¡­ I was raised by thugs, so my manners are lacking¡­¡± Arzen was confident in playing the pitiful act better than anyone. With tears brimming like chicken droppings, Jack clicked his tongue in annoyance. ¡°Not gonna work, kid. This is where you learn about life. It''s always the ones like you who have no problem selling out their parents.¡± ¡°Sniff, sob, waaah! Mom! Dad! Please forgive your useless son, boohoo!¡± Even the other adventurers and merchants shot sharp glances at Jack. ¡°Hey, Jack. A kid adventuring at that age? You can bet he¡¯s got a rough backstory. Cut him some slack.¡± ¡°What? You heard him cursing me out earlier.¡± ¡°Hey you, what¡¯s your name and rank?¡± ¡°Why do you care, merchant?¡± ¡°I¡¯m planning to file a complaint with the Adventurers'' Guild! How could someone like you make a kid cry?¡± Back in the days of , Arzen had mastered this trick to avoid violence whenever possible. ¡®But now that I¡¯m using it among normal people...¡¯ Arzen realized something crucial: he could make his opponent look like trash. ¡°Come on, Jack. Sure, he swore, but he apologized. Why not just let it go?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°You''re only hurting your own reputation by being stubborn. Don¡¯t you have to take the promotion exam within three years? You don¡¯t want to be stuck at bronze forever, do you?¡± With stares coming from all directions, Jack had no choice but to back down in the end. He angrily scratched out Arzen''s name from the night watch list. ¡°Ugh, this is ridiculous¡­ Kid, you''re lucky I¡¯m a nice guy. Next time you pull a stunt like this, you¡¯re gonna be in real trouble, got it?¡± Pretending to wipe away nonexistent tears, Arzen smiled inwardly with satisfaction. ¡®Man, the world is way too easy.¡¯ --- The three-shift guard system was a little different from what most people imagined. First, each person¡¯s shift and team were assigned. In this case, there were 16 guards in total, with six on duty at a time. For the third rotation, the two missing guards would be filled in from the next team, creating a cycle for the shifts. ¡°Let¡¯s move out!¡± When they weren¡¯t on duty, guards could grab a seat in either the stagecoach or a merchant¡¯s wagon. Thanks to Arzen¡¯s pitiful act on the first day, plenty of merchants were willing to offer him a seat. However, after leaving the main road, he realized that working during the shift was actually more comfortable than resting. During guard duty, each of the six adventurers was responsible for one of the directions, allowing Arzen to train in the powers of the Void in peace. As a mere steel-tier adventurer, Arzen wasn¡¯t assigned to any critical positions. He was mostly placed in the rear or the flanks, away from attention, making it easy for him to train without being noticed. ¡®I can¡¯t let rumors spread about the Void powers being strange¡­ I can¡¯t use them freely in front of people.¡¯ The witches of seemed to have overlooked it, probably because they liked him. But Arzen thought it best to avoid unnecessary risks. Buuuuuuuzzz¡­ Guard duty mainly consisted of walking endlessly alongside his Void insects. Still, the landscape of this Akrad continent was fresh and fascinating, so it wasn¡¯t all that boring. ¡®So, plants can be this vividly green.¡¯ He¡¯d heard that the Northern Republic had a tropical climate. Unlike the desert-like conditions back on the Adrion continent, here the wild grass grew up to his waist, and fireflies danced among the tall blades. The ground beneath his feet felt firm yet slightly moist¡ªa pleasant change from the dry, crumbly earth of Adrion. Out of 30 Void insects, Arzen managed to enhance one during this escort mission, which was a small but satisfying accomplishment. --- At the 16th crossroads, Arzen parted ways with the stagecoach caravan. The request he received from was in a forested area. After leaving the riverside road, he would have to take a national highway that led deep into the woods. ¡°Hm, looks like it could be dangerous if snakes show up.¡± The path to was densely packed with summer¡¯s vibrant greenery, exuding life in every direction. ¡®But no problem! Not for Void Commander Arzen!¡¯ Buuuuuuuzzz¡­! He sent out his Void insects, spreading them wide to detect any wild beasts lurking in the forest! ¡®With this, there''s no chance of being bitten by a dangerous beast or snake!¡¯ Now, all he had to do was keep walking as long as his stamina held out. "Worker bee." As Arzen pushed forward on the path, he spoke to his insect companion. "We''re on an adventure right now!" In the heat of summer, as he wiped the cold sweat off his face, a smile played on the boy''s lips, filled with excitement. Arzen took frequent breaks. It was nice to sit and lean against the shade of a giant tree. It was nice to hear the rustling of the leaves as the wind brushed through the forest. It was nice to listen to the cicadas singing in the background. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the midst of this pleasantness, there was a magical tranquility that naturally lulled him into naps. Buuuuuuuzzz¡­ Any snakes or beasts that dared approach the sleeping Arzen were quickly driven away by his worker bee. It was a peaceful journey. --- was more of a wooden palisade than a stone fortress, and it had a somewhat desolate appearance. This was typical for areas overrun by monsters. The farmers were in distress, unable to finish their harvest due to goblins, even though early autumn was approaching. Not just farmers, but many adventurers with swords and spears were going in and out of the gates. The guards were mostly indifferent. The merchants passing through the city traded herbs for potions and various iron ores. While the war against monsters was a disaster for the locals, it was an opportunity for outsiders to make a fortune. "What¡¯s your business?" ¡°Goblin extermination.¡± ¡°ID tag?¡± ¡°Here.¡± ¡°And what¡¯s the bribe for us hardworking soldiers in this summer heat?¡± ¡°Candy.¡± ¡°Candy? Alright, we¡¯ve got a smartass here. Get him, boys.¡± But when Arzen pulled out actual candy instead of flipping them off, the guards¡¯ expressions changed. ¡°Hehe, I thought you mighty guards might need something sweet under this hot sun, so I bought some on my way here. Please, enjoy the candy.¡± ¡°Well, would you look at that? A polite young man. Go on through.¡± Chewing on the candy, the guards lifted the crossed spears that had barred his way. ¡®Even the art of bribing guards is something I learned from my days in ¡­ Who knew lessons from those thugs would come in handy in life?¡¯ Arzen stepped inside the fortress. It wasn¡¯t a city, so its scale was much smaller¡ªperhaps a few dozen times smaller than a major city. The adventurers¡¯ guild was also small, proportional to the size of the outpost. Compared to the guilds in the Seven Great Cities, it was nothing more than a tiny countryside office. As he opened the door and stepped inside, the sign above his head creaked annoyingly, its hinges rusted with age. "Hmm..." There were only two reception counters, and there was already a line, so Arzen decided to check the request board first. Since this was a regional outpost, the board had a map of the area as its background, with various requests pinned to it using tacks. Most of the requests on the board were for goblin exterminations. The location of the tacks marked the areas where the requests were issued. ¡®Strangely, there are a lot of high-ranking requests. I expected them to be around grade 12 or 13 at most...¡¯ Let''s see... is here, so... ¡®Since I¡¯m already tired from traveling this far, it¡¯s better to take something close. I can''t ignore the round-trip distance either.¡¯ Arzen pulled the request closest to the fortress off the board and joined the line at the counter. Then, something caught his attention. ¡®Crimson hair?¡¯ Hair the color of dried blood on a corpse¡ªharsh, yet somehow alluring. The hair flashed before his eyes. ¡®Wait, did that person just cut in line?¡¯ But that thought barely registered in his mind, because... the woman was stunning. It wasn¡¯t her height or the massive greatsword strapped to her back that made her intimidating. It was that short, crimson hair and the aura she exuded. "Hey, sorry, but I already claimed that request." She wasn¡¯t talking to Arzen. She was addressing the group in front of him, slamming her fist down on their request form as she spoke to the receptionist. ¡°We don¡¯t need two parties for this job, right? It¡¯ll only cause problems for both of us.¡± The group she was talking to consisted of big, burly men. Yet, for some reason, they hesitated awkwardly, unable to meet her gaze. ¡°N-no, we were just¡­¡± ¡°Huh? What was that?¡± ¡°I-I said, we were about to take this request first.¡± ¡°Actually, we claimed it first. But if you follow along, it¡¯ll just be a hassle. We¡¯ll have to split the rewards and contribution points, and let¡¯s be real¡ªyou guys won¡¯t be of any help.¡± The woman was slightly taller than the men she was addressing. She snatched the request form and waved it teasingly above her head. ¡°You know those urban legends that go around sometimes? About an assassin disguised as an adventurer, who joins the same quest and then makes it look like the others were killed by monsters? You¡¯ve heard of it, right? Judging by your faces, I¡¯d say you have.¡± ¡°...!¡± ¡°But here¡¯s the thing. As you can see, I use a greatsword. If someone¡¯s standing nearby, I can¡¯t always control my strength. If you happen to get hit by my sword... well, your bones will get crushed, and it¡¯ll look like a monster did it.¡± Incredibly, the burly men, their fists trembling in frustration, turned away from the counter and grumbled as they walked off. ¡°Damn it, what¡¯s a silver-ranked adventurer doing hunting goblins here anyway?¡± Arzen became even more intrigued by this woman. First, her overwhelming attitude! Her sheer audacity rivaled, if not surpassed, what Arzen had learned during his time with thugs. ¡®And that confidence... It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve felt something like this!¡¯ In , the squad leaders and higher-ups were all gold-ranked, with most of the lieutenants at silver rank. Even though Arzen had been an ordinary member, being silver-ranked meant you were a highly skilled adventurer, welcomed in any nation or city. Only the top 9% of adventurers ever reached silver rank. The silver-ranked female warrior flashed a victorious smile at the retreating backs of the large men, then theatrically tore the request form in half in front of the receptionist. "We¡¯ll be taking this request solo. You don¡¯t think we won¡¯t be able to handle it, do you?" At a small regional branch like this, a silver rank could practically reign like a king. The receptionist, visibly flustered, nodded eagerly. "O-of course! A request like this is nothing for someone like you, Shia!" With that, the warrior exited through the swinging doors of the guild, and a voice called out. "Still the same overwhelming trash, aren¡¯t you?" The voice was deep, almost gravelly¡ªlikely belonging to a dwarf. "¡­I''ll take that as a compliment." "Compliment? Trash was a compliment? Wow! First time I¡¯ve heard that!" This time, a slightly younger voice chimed in, immediately followed by the sound of a fist landing on someone¡¯s head. "Ouch! You idiot! You think that was a real compliment?" It seemed she wasn¡¯t alone¡ªshe had companions. Arzen''s estimation of her dropped a bit. Lone wolves are always cooler, after all. When Arzen finally got to the receptionist, she looked visibly worn out. After the usual formalities¡ªchecking his ID tag and the request form¡ªshe picked up a pen. "This is a 10th-grade request. You have your party members'' ID tags, right?" "Party members?" "This request recommends a party of at least five people. Only bronze or higher ranks can take it, and steel-ranked adventurers are only allowed in supporting roles. Where are your companions?" "Sis, don¡¯t you know me? I¡¯m Arzen. I¡¯m like a one-man army." He threw in a playful, yet truthful, remark, but the receptionist wasn¡¯t having it. "Then you¡¯ll need to find a party." "Ugh, why?" "That¡¯s the rule." Arzen didn¡¯t like the idea of a party. Sure, he admired adventurers, but he knew better than anyone that most adventurers were trash. "I¡¯m stronger than I look. Just let me go solo." How could she not trust , the cold and ruthless commander of the Void Legion? "Sigh." The receptionist responded with a sigh and spoke firmly. "Steel-ranked adventurers always underestimate goblins, but the goblins in our region are different." "No matter how different they are, they''re still just goblins." "Well, they didn¡¯t use to be like this, but recently¡­ In any case, you can¡¯t take this request alone as a steel rank." "Isn¡¯t there anything I can do solo?" "There are some requests from small villages, but they¡¯re quite far. Should I check those for you?" Arzen was about to nod when he remembered the letter of recommendation from Brother James. "Ah. I¡¯ve got this." He handed over the letter, and the receptionist glanced at it indifferently at first. Then her expression changed completely. "A recommendation from the guild master of one of the Seven Great Cities¡­?" She seemed to realize this wasn¡¯t something she could simply brush off. The receptionist stood up and went to the back, where she exchanged glances with the old, grizzled branch manager while discussing something in low tones, occasionally glancing at Arzen. After a short conversation, she returned. ¡°Technically, this isn¡¯t allowed... but since you¡¯re such a unique case, we¡¯ll approve your request for a solo mission.¡± ¡°Ah, thank you very much.¡± ''James, is it you again?'' ''My light, my joy, my hope.'' ¡°But seriously, this really isn¡¯t by the book. Please don¡¯t mention it anywhere else, okay? It could cause some problems.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 23 - The First Journey on a Strange Continent (3) [Translator - Kiteretsu][Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 23 - The First Journey on a Strange Continent (3) The request area was said to be a half-day¡¯s walk through the forest from here. It¡¯s different from Karshiko. In Karshiko, the city was right on the surface, so you could easily access medical facilities if anything went wrong. But in a rural place like this, you can¡¯t expect that kind of support. "Give me a private room." Arzen unpacked his things in the guild''s lodging. Being a rural branch, it was about 30% cheaper compared to the big cities. Affordable. On the way here, he had noticed an alchemist¡¯s shop, where the owner was haggling with a herbalist over the price of herbs. The way the alchemist meticulously pointed out the quality of each herb showed he only bought the best, which made Arzen trust him. "How much for a stamina potion?" The alchemist enthusiastically pointed to each glass bottle on display as he explained. ¡°This one¡¯s almost pure extract¡ªgive it to a dying granny, and she¡¯ll be dancing in no time. One silver coin.¡± "Hmm." ¡°The next one is diluted by half¡ªit¡¯s a high-grade potion, 50 copper coins.¡± "Alright." ¡°The one diluted again from that is mid-grade, 25 copper coins.¡± "Hmm." ¡°And the low-grade potion is 10 copper coins each." ¡°They all look thick and either green or blood-red. They look disgusting.¡± ¡°Hey, kid! I get that you¡¯re young and don¡¯t know much, but didn¡¯t your parents teach you? The nastier it tastes, the better it is for your body.¡± He didn¡¯t seem like the type to bargain. But Arzen knew the prices were close to the standard rates, so he wasn¡¯t being ripped off either. However, there¡¯s always a way to find a loophole¡ªsomething Arzen had learned from The Divine Guillotine. ¡°Hey, old man. I¡¯m planning to give this potion to my grandma right away. If she doesn¡¯t start dancing, can I get a refund?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a figure of speech! Of course, it¡¯s not literal.¡± ¡°Then isn¡¯t that false advertising?¡± ¡°Ugh.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t want to get reported, give me two mid-grade potions for 20 copper coins each.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t go lower than 23 copper coins each.¡± ¡°And I was also hurt when you brought up my parents since they¡¯re dead. Can I talk about that somewhere, too?¡± ¡°22 copper coins.¡± ¡°Deal.¡± ¡°Good.¡± After sealing the deal, Arzen stopped by the hardware store and bought a few thin copper plates. He then went to a tailor shop and asked them to sew the plates into the lining of his Akahalu hide robe. Goblins may be poorly armed with stone knives, but they¡¯re cunning enough to coat their weapons in poison, so a wound near the organs could be fatal. ¡°Granny, know any good places to eat around here?¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing special in this rural place. But if you go three blocks left, you¡¯ll find a restaurant run by Sini. It¡¯s decent enough.¡± ¡°Thanks. You¡¯ll have my robe done by tomorrow morning, right? I¡¯m leaving tomorrow.¡± "I was called the Queen of Repairs back in my day, you brat. Don¡¯t worry; just eat well and clean your feet before going to bed." "Pfft, even so, calling yourself a queen is a bit much." After taking a hard hit from the old lady, I stepped outside. The restaurant recommended by the repair shop didn¡¯t exactly serve anything special. However, the sandwich made with summer mountain herbs was quite impressive. The main ingredient, the egg, was a lightly cooked soft-boiled egg, and it didn¡¯t have any fishy taste¡ªjust a healthy flavor, which was nice. Arzen always preferred outdoor tables, no matter which restaurant he went to. The evening atmosphere in the countryside felt much richer compared to the city. It might be because of the thick scent of the forest. "The cicadas are still chirping even at night," Arzen murmured as he finished off his sandwich. Before long, the birds'' chirping diminished, and the nighttime insects began to sing. After settling the bill, Arzen returned to the branch¡¯s lodging. "I had planned to focus on training in the Void¡­" Feeling quite fatigued from the journey, Arzen collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep almost instantly. * * * "Right over there." The mission area was a coal mining town. "Indeed¡­" Coal mines tend to be vast compared to typical caves. Naturally, this also meant a larger number of goblin colonies. "Those pests are making it impossible to work. But they don¡¯t even come to take on the job." "Hmm." "Adventurers have been coming in groups, but after a few attempts, they just give up and leave. Now a kid like you shows up¡­" Hearing that, Arzen pretended to hold back tears and said, "Sir, I didn¡¯t really want to come here either. But I couldn¡¯t just watch the goblins run rampant¡­ I wanted to be of some help, even if it¡¯s just a little¡­" The locals who guided Arzen to the mission area felt their eyes moisten at his brave and noble spirit. "I¡¯m really sorry!" "I didn¡¯t realize you were such a remarkable child!" "We should at least make sure you have something to eat." They were so easily swayed. "I was born a genius at acting and looks, so I can¡¯t help but earn favor with the world!" Building goodwill with the client is essential for a higher performance rating. Completing the mission can lead to a greater contribution score from the guild. In short, it¡¯s a necessary task for rapid advancement. "Could you give me a rough map of the mine?" Looking at the map, it was clear that the mine extended three underground levels deep. So, it was likely that goblins had multiplied inside like ants. But in front of Arzen, this posed no problem at all. "I could clear it out in a day." Goblin extermination was merely a secondary goal. "My real objective is to unlock the two skills I missed while chasing after the garbage known as ¡®romance!¡¯" Goblins are nocturnal creatures. During the day, they were quite feeble, resembling the lowest tier of steel-ranked adventurers. So, he decided to take them out in bulk during the day. "Should I, a being who has played in the celestial realm of adventurers, be stuck catching goblins all day, you worker bee? Kaz to Arcturus!" The Apostle''s commands are absolute. The servants of the Void responded to that command, gnawing through dimensions and slipping out through the gaps. "Su Ja Kunia." "Su Ja Heros." The servants fused their bodies, mutating their physical structures to suit the Apostle''s desired combat. "Worker bee, advance forward!" Arzen commanded the worker bees to charge into the pitch-black interior of the coal mine with the void creatures. "No, it means nothing if I can¡¯t see it myself. Light of Prayer." In communion with the celestial realm, a golden radiance rose. It illuminated brightly from the mine entrance to the far depths. Bat droppings were falling from the stalactites. "Goblins and bats have a wonderful symbiotic relationship!" Finally, Arzen spotted two goblins dozing off on guard duty. "Your filthy cohabitation ends here, as it has come to my attention, the future gold-ranked adventurer, Arzen! What business do you have living together without even being married? Get out, you bastards!" The worker bees charged forward! The jaws of the worker bees mercilessly sliced through the goblins¡¯ flesh! "A pitiful low-tier monster like this doesn¡¯t even need the worker bees to step in!" The slime¡¯s toxicity and acidity were nearly self-destructive, acting as natural enemies to the void creatures¡­ "But these guys are truly food for the void creatures!" The power of the void creatures slaughtering the goblins was absolutely overwhelming. "At this rate, it won¡¯t take even half a day to finish!" As Arzen giggled and moved forward, he suddenly felt a chilling sensation at his feet. The sensation of a thread snapping¡­ And as soon as he felt it, a sharp pain shot through his shins. "A trap¡­?" Frowning and looking down, his eyes widened in shock. Piercing through his leather boots was¡­ an arrow. It was a crudely carved wooden arrow, with poison glistening on the tip. "Ugh, my foot!" Dizziness began to swirl in his head, and the urge to vomit unpleasantly stirred in his gut. "Ugh!" Don¡¯t panic. "I, Arzen, am the finest healer who survived the Divine Guillotine!" It was easy to detoxify poison used by low-tier monsters, like munching on a chicken leg. "It¡¯s just that I didn¡¯t need to be cautious since I wasn¡¯t expecting a trap! Healing it will be all it takes!" Just as he was about to cast a healing miracle on his swelling shin, he suddenly felt a gaze from the left. "Huh." Not just from the left. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There were also sights from the right, above, and right beneath his feet¡­ he saw light! It wasn¡¯t just simple light; it was the gleam of eyes reflecting back. ¡°G-goblins¡­!¡± In an instant, the earth of the coal mine split open as if it were collapsing. ¡°Kiiee!¡± ¡°Kiieeet!¡± Dozens of goblins burst forth from the walls and ceiling. They swung their clubs at Arzen, who was falling into the depths of the mine. The void creatures had already charged forward to engage in slaughter. This was truly a critical moment in his adventurer life. ¡®No way I¡¯ll let it end like this!¡¯ If he were to face a crisis from goblins, it would shatter his pride. His pride, already destined to rise to gold rank in the future, would be in ruins! ¡°Don¡¯t you dare crawl out! You pathetic low-tier monsters! Barolus!¡± Barolus¡­ In that instant, the Apostle¡¯s command reached even the realm of the void. A high-ranking entity of the void tore through the fabric of dimensions and surged forth. It created a rift in the connection between the lives and fates of monsters within its reach¡­ a demon. ¡°©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤!¡± The demon¡¯s five claws crushed the heads of five goblins. At the same time, its hand became a shield, protecting the Apostle who had fallen to the ground. ¡°Kiik, kiiee!¡± This was a color of slaughter not of this world, but from an alien realm. Goblins, trembling from the primal terror, soiled themselves and fled into the darkness of the mine. Arzen gasped for breath as he rose to his feet, and only then did the worker bees follow him, leading the void creatures behind. ¡®Right, the problem with the void creatures is their speed¡­¡¯ No matter how tightly the squad was arranged, they were vulnerable to ambushes. ¡®What a useless situation!¡¯ Though he didn¡¯t voice his concern about the worker bees getting hurt, it was clear that improvements were needed. ¡®By the way, summoning a demon is truly incredible¡­¡¯ Its power was unquestionable. But he also found it exceedingly satisfying that it instilled such overwhelming fear in the monsters. Though it did cost him blood in return. ¡°Ugh.¡± It was akin to a holy miracle. Just like divine miracles, if the void miracle was recited in haste, it drained far more energy than usual, putting immense strain on his entire body. ¡®Damn it, the bruises from the fall are killing me.¡¯ Arzen felt the fracture in his right shoulder blade. The added iron plate meant to block the goblins¡¯ ambush only amplified the impact from the fall. Arzen spread the void creatures out above, below, left, and right, focusing first on healing his whole body. ¡®Complete healing can only be done twice a day¡­ assuming I haven¡¯t used many other miracles.¡¯ If he were to use the power of the void as he was now, once a day would be the maximum. ¡®Alright, I admit I underestimated the goblins. That was my mistake.¡¯ He seemed to have overlooked the survival strategies that even the lowest-tier monsters had to avoid extinction. ¡®Let¡¯s face it: the knowledge I learned from the Divine Guillotine was mostly focused on support and healing!¡¯ Traps like these? The first-class pathfinders from the had completely dismantled the traps, so there was no need to worry about them. ¡®If I had asked with curiosity about what kind of traps there were and how to disable them, I would have been punished¡­ So I just decided to ignore them from some point on.¡¯ Here¡¯s the key point: ¡®For me, Arzen, to rise to gold rank¡­¡¯ It was something he truly didn¡¯t want to admit. He needed some low-tier monsters to use as stepping stones. In other words, he needed to form a party. ¡®First, I¡¯ll find a pathfinder. And it would be nice to have a warrior who could act as a slave in the front lines.¡¯ But if he returned to to form a party, it would look like he had fled in fear from the goblins. ¡®There¡¯s one thing I, Arzen, cannot tolerate since escaping from ¡­¡¯ That was watching the bastards who had made a fool of him live their days happily and normally. Arzen had no intention of allowing these despicable low-tier monsters to finish their day peacefully. ¡°You cockroaches, the lowest trash in the monster pyramid! I will return! This future gold-rank adventurer, Arzen, will come back to wipe you out, so get ready and wait for it! Do you understand? Are you listening, you lowly bastards!¡± What Arzen felt while living at was that waiting for a beating was scarier than getting hit. - I¡¯ll keep hitting you until you die. After such a declaration, the time spent waiting to be beaten was much more painful. ¡®In other words, right now, I can say I¡¯ve given these guys a greater pain than death¡­¡¯ This wasn¡¯t running away. It was making them tremble in the utmost fear. ¡°Clear the way, worker bees! I need to head back to the surface for now.¡± * * * Using the void creatures, Arzen swept aside the goblins blocking his path and made his way to the first floor of the mine. When he finally escaped the mine, he had been struck by four poisoned arrows. His robe was tattered and torn from being hit by clubs. He had fallen into a trap. Even after consuming all the potions, Arzen had suffered for about two days in the village. Thanks to the goodwill he had built up in advance, the villagers cared for him diligently, which was fortunate; otherwise, it could have been dangerous. ¡®I¡¯ll kill them¡­ Those goblins, I¡¯ll wipe them out¡­ Not leaving a single one of them in this world¡­!¡¯ After three days of barely recovering, Arzen gritted his teeth and returned to It was what they called a strategic retreat. He had merely given the enemy a chance to tremble in fear. He definitely wasn¡¯t running away out of fear. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 24 - The First Journey on a Strange Continent (4) [Translator - Kiteretsu][Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 24 - The First Journey on a Strange Continent (4) Arzen stood firmly in front of the mission board. A group of hulking adventurers with heavy weapons shot him a look, signaling him to move aside. "I''m a healer. Currently looking for a party. I¡¯ll join the first group that comes, but you¡¯ll have to take care of this request." One of the bulky men scowled. "What''s your rank?" "Steel." "Any high-rank subjugation accomplishments?" "None." "Get lost." "I''m a healer, though?" "I have no interest in babysitting a Steel-ranked healer. At best, you¡¯ll only be useful for treating mosquito bites." The adventurers burst into laughter. Arzen silently decided to kill that muscle-bound oaf later when they crossed paths somewhere less crowded. He suddenly felt drained. After a moment of sitting at the table, fidgeting his legs, he headed back to the mission board. ''What on earth am I supposed to do with idiots like these?'' Revenge filled his heart... ''Dammit, those pathetic goblins are probably laughing at me right now¡­!'' -"Keek, we captured a future Diamond-rank adventurer!" - "Adventurers aren''t that special, keek!" To put it simply, this wasn''t just Arzen''s problem anymore. It was a matter that affected the dignity of all adventurers, and how was he supposed to explain that to these fools? ''Besides, I need to take on high-level missions to find the monster that can transform the key into a master key...'' Just then, someone suddenly spoke to him. It was an older dwarf with a massive gun strapped to his back. "Are you the healer who uses divine power?" "Yeah." "Got any official credentials?" "Nope. Does that matter?" If he had a problem with that, he could shove off. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But strangely, the dwarf burst into a hearty laugh instead. "Unlicensed, huh? Even better." "...?" "Licenses are for the weak who lack confidence in their skills. A real man proves his worth through his abilities." Arzen immediately understood. This dwarf was crazy. And he liked him a lot for it. "My name''s Jerome. As you can probably tell from my distinguished look, I¡¯m a Dwarf Gunslinger. Our party''s been in need of a healer. Interested?" Something felt off. Why did his voice sound familiar? Before Arzen could even respond, Jerome gestured to his companions sitting at a nearby table. "This here is Kitan, a Pathfinder. A bit of an idiot, but he''s great at finding routes and traps. He¡¯s also a Bronze rank like me." The approaching kid had two daggers strapped to his waist. He also carried a box on his back, filled with lockpicking tools and various equipment for finding paths. ¡°Hi! How old are you?¡± That voice sounded familiar too. ¡°How old are you?¡± ¡°Maybe fifteen? Not sure of my exact age. You''re fifteen too, right? Let''s be friends, hehe.¡± Arzen¡¯s expression turned serious. ¡°I¡¯m sixteen.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°So, call me ¡®big brother¡¯.¡± In truth, he was probably the same age as Kitan, fifteen. But after all the beatings he¡¯d endured in the Divine Guillotine, he might have lost a year somewhere along the way. Kitan stared at Arzen for a moment, then looked at Jerome, and they both burst into laughter. Kitan, who was roughly the same height as the relatively short Arzen, smiled brightly and extended his hand. ¡°Maybe I¡¯m sixteen too. Let¡¯s just be friends.¡± Was this guy an idiot? ¡®Well¡­¡¯ At least he didn¡¯t seem like a bad guy. There¡¯s no such thing as a bad idiot, right? Jerome pointed to another person. ¡°And that moody woman over there is Sia. She¡¯s our party leader and in charge of anger. She gets mad whenever she¡¯s bored. Being a Silver-ranked adventurer, she crushes us with violence and authority.¡± ¡°What¡¯s this ¡®in charge of anger¡¯ nonsense? Half of what this short old man says is nonsense, so just ignore it.¡± Arzen blinked in disbelief. Sia was incredibly beautiful¡ªeasily the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. ¡®Wait, is she even real?¡¯ Despite her strong build, she still had a distinctly feminine figure. But there was one drawback: she was very tall. Arzen, on the other hand, was quite short. Her short hair revealed sharp facial features, and there was an X-shaped scar across her face. Even if you tried, it¡¯d be hard to look that cool on purpose. ¡®Her whole appearance just screams the scent of blood.¡¯ She had a suspicious aura, with bandages wrapping her entire right arm and a massive executioner¡¯s sword strapped to her back¡ªa clear sign of her formidable prowess. ¡®It¡¯s obvious that being a Silver rank means she¡¯s on a whole different level... She has the same intimidating presence as the guys from Divine Guillotine. You can just tell she¡¯s a professional in battle.¡¯ While Arzen observed Sia, she too scanned him from head to toe with her crimson eyes. ¡°What¡¯s your rank?¡± ¡°Diamond-tier Steel.¡± ¡°Steel?¡± Though his actual rank was Steel, his skills were at least Gold, if not higher. That¡¯s why he called himself Diamond-tier. It wasn¡¯t his lack of skill that had kept him in Steel rank until now¡ªit was his former teammates who had been the problem. ¡°So what if you¡¯re Steel? A healer adventurer is incredibly valuable. If you''re joining us, we should be grateful.¡± "They didn''t seem like a Steel-ranked rookie, that''s why I asked. What miracles can you use?" Since most people don¡¯t recognize miracles just by their names, Arzen mixed in a few hand gestures to explain. "I can make a shield, heal, bind, stab with a spear¡ªthings like that. I¡¯ve got a lot in my toolkit. Impressed?" Kitan whistled in amazement. ¡°Wow! What the heck? You can do all that? You¡¯re insane, that¡¯s awesome!¡± Jerome and Sia exchanged puzzled glances. "How can someone with access to that many miracles still be Steel-ranked?" Did some promising member of the church run off because they wanted to become an adventurer? ¡®Even if it¡¯s hard to believe... if all that¡¯s true, they¡¯re a Steel with the skills of gold,¡¯ Sia thought, finishing her mental calculations. She extended her unbandaged left hand. ¡°You know that vanguards and healers are paired, right? For this request, I¡¯m counting on you.¡± But Arzen didn¡¯t take her hand. Was it because of the dazzling smile from such a beautiful woman? ¡®No, that¡¯s not it. She¡¯s not even my type, if I¡¯m being honest.¡¯ The issue was much more straightforward than that. ¡°What kind of request is this?¡± There was a brief silence. Outside, a rooster crowed. Sia blinked in confusion, then glared at Jerome. ¡°Hey, short old man! Did you seriously not tell him what the request was?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± ¡°And you invited him to join the party?¡± ¡°Of course I did.¡± ¡°So why the hell are we all here? After all that chatting, now we just look like fools, damn it!¡± ¡°I figured we''d just get him swept up in the moment and have him agree to join the party.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°What if he bolted the moment he heard the details?¡± ¡°???¡± ¡°Having a healer is too valuable to lose, so it was a reasonable decision. Humans often lack rational thinking.¡± ¡°You insane bastard, that¡¯s not rational thinking, that¡¯s !¡± As Sia grabbed Jerome by the collar and began shaking him furiously, Kitan jumped in with a simple explanation of the request. ¡°There¡¯s been a massive goblin outbreak in Mine #6. The numbers are crazy, so we¡¯ve got to go clean them out. It¡¯s a 9th-tier mission.¡± ¡°Wait, Mine #6? And it¡¯s ranked 9th tier?¡± ¡°No clue. We were surprised too. There¡¯s probably something fishy going on, but you in? Goblin extermination missions usually don¡¯t pay much, but this one¡¯s got a high rank, so the reward is massive. And we split the loot evenly.¡± Mine #6 was the same one Arzen had been planning to take care of himself. "Why did the rank go up?" Suddenly, a voice from a staff member chimed in. ¡°It¡¯s because a bunch of stupid adventurers thought they could handle it alone and ended up running away. The locals raised the difficulty rating. Apparently, one adventurer claimed to be really strong but failed miserably.¡± Arzen smirked and turned to the staff. ¡°And what if this was all part of my plan?¡± ¡°Yeah, sure.¡± Could this be any easier? ¡®This revenge mission is practically falling into my lap!¡¯ The increase in rank meant higher rewards and contribution points, and now, Arzen had found the perfect pawns to use as stepping stones for his rise to power. ¡°So, shall we do this?¡± he asked. ¡°Let¡¯s,¡± came the immediate reply. ¡°Beg for it.¡± But things wouldn¡¯t go so smoothly. ¡®A healer is like a noble! We have pride!¡¯ These damage dealers were nothing more than the lowest of the low¡ªcommoners that could easily be discarded. But healers? They were rare and precious. ¡®If I join too easily, it will undermine the of noble adventurers¡­¡¯ While these sly thoughts crossed his mind, Kitan, clearly misinterpreting the situation, shouted enthusiastically, ¡°Arzen¡¯s in!¡± Jerome, still being vigorously shaken by the collar, grabbed Sia¡¯s wrist and pointed at Arzen. ¡°Look! It¡¯s just as I planned.¡± ¡°No, this doesn¡¯t feel right¡­ If we go along with this, I¡¯ll feel guilty¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s the harm? A conscience doesn¡¯t feed you. In this line of work, it¡¯s all about who¡¯s better at making the best of a bad deal.¡± Kitan shook his head vigorously. ¡°No, no! Arzen¡¯s no pushover! He says Sia has to get on her knees and beg him to join. Go on, Sia, beg him!¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°???¡± Recalling how this woman had intimidated burly men not too long ago, Arzen immediately reconsidered. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t say that.¡± ¡°Oh, you didn¡¯t? My bad! Anyway, he¡¯s joining us!¡± Arzen shot a furious glare at Kitan. ¡®Wow, this scumbag¡­¡¯ At first glance, he seemed like an idiot, but maybe he was actually quite cunning. Arzen decided to keep an eye on him. ¡°Well, let¡¯s get the party registration form filled out then, shall we? Just to make sure no one backs out later,¡± Jerome said, quickly taking Arzen to the reception desk. The party registration form contained the following fields: 1. Have you fully understood the mission details? Yes / No. 2. Is the profit-sharing ratio in line with the guild¡¯s recommended guidelines? Yes / No. In the past, scams in party formation were rampant, so the guild introduced this rule, requiring personal attendance and the signing of an official document to prevent future disputes. After quickly marking all the ¡°Yes¡± boxes, Arzen submitted the form, heart pounding. ¡°Well, we¡¯re all in the same boat now. I¡¯m counting on you. You¡¯ll be dealing with all of Sia¡¯s tantrums on our behalf, so best of luck.¡± ¡°Shut it, unless you want me to beat you senseless,¡± Sia retorted. All three of them seemed like utter lunatics, which, strangely enough, made Arzen like them¡ªjust a little. ¡®Not that I trust them. I¡¯ll never fully trust adventurers I¡¯ve just met. Not ever.¡¯ He couldn''t deny, though, that there was a bit of excitement about this new partnership. But that was a feeling he knew he had to suppress. Adventurers were, more often than not, liars and scoundrels. Giving away your trust too easily would lead to regret. Half of his excitement came from forming the party he had longed for. The other half was rooted in the fear of old memories¡ªmemories of being cursed and beaten for the smallest mistakes. "The supplies for the expedition will be prepared on our end. Meet here tomorrow morning." Although they wanted to continue the conversation, it seemed everyone had things to do. The guild temporarily engraves a unique emblem on the identification tags of party members. After receiving the emblem, Arzen went back to the counter and, almost as if making excuses. "I purposely had the mission raised to a 9th-grade task so I could clear it. What do you think, sister? Pretty impressive, right?" The guild receptionist just gave him a disdainful look, not even bothering to respond. "For tomorrow, I need a good rest, so could you give me a private room?" [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 25 - The First Journey on a Strange Continent (5) [Translator - Kiteretsu][Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 25 - The First Journey on a Strange Continent (5) Arzen sat cross-legged on the bed with a stern expression. ¡°Worker Bee, sit here. This whole week has been wasted searching for stepping stones of pain and fury¡­ Now, we¡¯ll start a serious executive meeting.¡± There may have only been Worker Bee, but in moments like this, setting the mood was key. ¡°Let¡¯s review the last battle. What were we lacking?¡± A foundation of stepping stones to serve as pathfinders and the vanguard? Of course, that¡¯s a big one. But even for the future Arzen, there were areas to improve. ¡°The weak point of the Void Bugs! They¡¯re vulnerable to ambush!¡± Arzen had been trained back when he was part of to respond faster to others¡¯ dangers than his own. That¡¯s why his reaction was always a half-beat slower. Even in deadly situations, Arzen¡¯s body had ingrained the instinct to save the officers of first, no matter the cost. ¡®That must change¡­ I am the ruler. I must transform this instinct with the authority of a future king.¡¯ The only thing that matters is ! A new survival instinct must be engraved¡ª¡®It doesn¡¯t matter what happens to other people.¡¯ ¡®It would be nice if that were easy¡­ But I was originally trained as a support role.¡¯ All adventurers put support roles in the safest position on the battlefield. The reason is simple. Every single one of them, without exception, is vulnerable to ambushes. As support roles, most have slower reflexes as well. ¡®I can¡¯t afford to show such a pathetic sight to those low-tier adventurers who¡¯ll be traveling with me from tomorrow.¡¯ As the future , maintaining dignity is essential. If Arzen¡¯s own abilities couldn¡¯t be polished in a rush, then he would simply borrow the power of the Void. ¡®Of course, if I had enhanced the Void Bug instead of the demon back then, there would¡¯ve been no problem, but it¡¯s not my fault things went wrong.¡¯ Exactly. The demon who tempted him not to enhance the Void Bug was the one at fault. ¡°So, what do we need? A new skill. And so, from now on, I¡¯m launching the ¡®Complete 30 Void Bugs in One Day Project.¡¯¡± Arzen pointed at the potions placed on the bedside table. ¡®A total of 10!¡¯ These were potions he had spent his entire fortune on. Four red potions for stamina recovery, and six golden ones primarily for restoring divine power. ¡°With these potions, I¡¯ll keep recovering my strength and keep pushing forward, Worker Bee. I¡¯ll leave some for you to lick up, but don¡¯t even think about sleeping until we summon all 30 Void Bugs.¡± * * * Summon, Void! Empty your core, Vacant! Extract, Void Bugs! ¡°Come forth, 26th Void Bug!¡± Nothing. ¡°Bring me another potion!¡± Buzz¡­ Several bees opened the cork of the potion, pouring the liquid into Arzen¡¯s mouth. ¡®Gwaaahhh!¡¯ Even while screaming at the nauseating taste, Arzen refused to break his concentration. "Come out, come out! I said, come out already!" All 25 Void Bugs were gnawing at the dimensional rift, widening the hole for the newcomer to pass through. And finally! The 26th Void Bug successfully crossed over from that dimension into this world. ¡°Nice!¡± Arzen let out a victorious shout, jumping off the bed. He did a little celebratory dance, shaking his hips. ¡°Worker Bee, what time is it?¡± S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Instead of checking the clock tower, Worker Bee pulled aside the curtains. The warm light of the morning sun was pouring gently into the room. ¡°What the¡ª It''s already morning?!¡± Arzen hurriedly threw himself out of bed. Worker Bee quickly commanded the Void Bugs to clear the glass potion bottles out of his way, ensuring none tripped him. The Void Bugs also neatly stacked his toiletries and towel into a basket. Unlike the branch, the sink here was located outside the lodgings in a shared area. Arzen hastily splashed some water on his face and hair. That was all the grooming he bothered with, but even with such minimal effort, he was an incredibly handsome young man, as expected of a half-elf. The boy quickly threw on his robe, slipped into his new boots, and bolted out the door. ¡°Huff, huff, huff.¡± Arriving 20 minutes earlier than the scheduled meeting time, Arzen wondered if he¡¯d rushed unnecessarily. However, the other three were already there, chatting amongst themselves. Kitan was crouched down, inspecting several knives of various types that were laid out on the ground, checking the condition of his gear. As soon as he sensed Arzen¡¯s presence from afar, he lifted his head and waved excitedly. ¡°Arzen! Arzen¡¯s here!¡± What is he, a puppy? Arzen felt a little embarrassed, glancing around nervously, but he had to admit that deep down, he was pleased. He quickly walked over to the group. ¡°You¡¯re early.¡± Jerome, the Dwarf gunslinger, was wiping the long barrel of his rifle with an oiled cloth. He nodded in greeting. ¡°Why are you all here so early?¡± ¡°Our party¡¯s ¡®rage manager¡¯ doesn¡¯t like waiting or being made to wait, so we tend to be punctual. In that sense, you¡¯ve probably scored some points with Sia.¡± Sia, who had been alternating between the request form and the local map, spoke up. ¡°Yeah, I like it.¡± Arzen leaned in and whispered to Jerome. ¡°Is she seriously the ¡®rage manager¡¯? Why does she have such a scowl on her face even though she said she likes it?¡± ¡°Have you ever known a Dwarf to lie?¡± ¡°I can hear you, you know!¡± Sia folded the map and request form in half and tucked them into her coat. She wore mostly medium armor¡ªnot a full suit like a knight, but leaving the joints unarmored for flexibility. Where her body wasn¡¯t protected by the armor, she wore leather gear to maintain mobility. What stood out the most, however, was her right arm. It wasn¡¯t covered by either armor or leather, instead wrapped entirely in magical bandages. He wore a hooded cloak over his armor instead of a helmet. As adventurers level up, their gear varies greatly, showcasing their individuality. They find the most comfortable and suitable equipment through accumulated battle experience. ¡®Above all, heavy armor is incredibly expensive; the fact that he bought that... Huh, he must be making good money since he''s Silver Rank.¡¯ In that moment, he realized that he had truly stepped out of the world of low-tier adventurers. It had been a long time since he saw a heavy-armored warrior. ¡°Let¡¯s get going once we¡¯re ready.¡± *** He thought they would only exchange trivial chatter during their journey, but these guys were professionals, not just a bunch of misfits. As soon as they left Euphoria, they moved onto a path not used by people but by wild beasts. This was to avoid drawing the attention of goblin sentries. Kitan led the way, skillfully clearing various vegetation from the exploration jungle path. ¡°Aren¡¯t we going to get lost? The forest is so dense.¡± As Arzen voiced his concerns, Kitan pulled out a compass and shrugged. ¡®A compass! That must be quite expensive, too.¡¯ Those with brass or steel gear were essentially poor, relying on sundials during the day and constellations at night to navigate. ¡°Kitan never gets lost.¡± Sia said. ¡°Even if he loses money, look¡ªhis route to the quest area is a perfect straight line.¡± ¡°How is that even possible?¡± ¡°When Kitan is charting the course, you shouldn¡¯t interfere. We should sync our signals in the meantime.¡± ¡°Signals?¡± ¡°Yeah, signals. The frontline and the healer coordinate their signals, right? Don¡¯t pretend you don¡¯t know; I can tell you do by your expression.¡± He knew. But since it was a new concept to him, he pretended to hear it for the first time. He sounded just like a rookie adventurer. ¡®Signals, huh...¡¯ When he was under Divine Guillotine, there were no such signals. He had to adapt swiftly to each of their unpredictable actions, or he¡¯d end up beaten to a pulp. Thinking about this made Arzen respond somewhat brusquely. ¡°Is that really necessary? I don¡¯t think it¡¯s needed.¡± ¡°Are you pretending to be a newbie, or do you genuinely not understand? Signals are essential when dealing with strong monsters, not just small fry.¡± ¡°Hey, Sia. It¡¯s hard to expect a signal from a Steel Rank adventurer. I¡¯m the Steel of our group, Arzen! I¡¯m the weakest among us!¡± Jerome, who was lugging a heavy weapon and following from behind, chimed in. ¡°What are you saying, you little squat dwarf!¡± Arzen shouted back angrily. ¡°I¡¯m Gold Rank Steel, Arzen! It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t need signals; I can manage on my own, so there¡¯s no need to set them!¡± ¡°Sure, sure. Got it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m serious!¡± Jerome threw his hands up with a sigh, as if he genuinely found it unfortunate. ¡°Of course, I want to trust you, but humans are far better at lying than our kind. Our race is very intelligent, so we believe in statistics, not people. Please don¡¯t fight against statistics, Arzen.¡± At that, Sia crossed her arms with a hum. ¡°True. I might be expecting too much from a Steel rank. He¡¯s still just a Steel rookie.¡± Arzen stomped his foot in frustration. ¡°Ah, come on! What do you mean statistics! If you can¡¯t trust it, at least you can follow basic signals! Charge, Switch, Wall. Those three.¡± Charge means to advance, while Wall is for defense. Both require the healer to cast a protective miracle on the front line. Switch refers to a change. When the front line suffers extreme damage, they retreat to the back line, where the healer must apply a healing miracle. ¡°You said you could land a spear throw yesterday, right? Then you can also do holding.¡± Holding is the act of restraining. It involves the front line holding down an enemy that has been exposed. ¡°But holding doesn¡¯t just happen with one signal, and only healers of Silver rank or higher can pull it off, so let¡¯s not try it on our first mission.¡± He couldn¡¯t speak up. The experience of discussing signals felt so new. ¡®A signal is a structure established through mutual respect, isn¡¯t it¡­¡¯ Everything about his life as an adventurer until now had been completely fake¡­ But he couldn¡¯t easily express that sentiment. ¡°You¡¯re looking down on me too much. I¡¯ll show you what I can do later. You¡¯ll see what holding really is¡ªlike a fantastical show.¡± At that moment, Kitan suddenly stopped and cut through the underbrush by the roadside at ankle height. ¡°Goblin droppings. It¡¯s huge. Want to take a look, Arzen?¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°I wonder if it¡¯s fresh since it¡¯s still soft. Want to touch it? Poke it with a stick.¡± Arzen recoiled in disgust. That guy is really insane. But Sia approached Kitan with a very serious expression. ¡°What do you think? Are we in their territory?¡± ¡°Yeah. There are plenty of traces.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the rough number?¡± ¡°Probably over a hundred. If they¡¯re leaving droppings everywhere, it indicates territory. Goblins usually act like this if there are over a hundred of them.¡± Following Sia, Arzen glanced at Kitan. ¡°This filthy creature didn¡¯t even clean up after itself while moving around? But isn¡¯t that area outside the mission zone?¡± Kitan shook his head and picked up a couple of stones from the ground. ¡°Hmm¡­ That¡¯s just a distraction to hide their traces. Chasing that could lead to a wild goose chase. There might be traps. Goblins are hunters too. Oddly enough, they¡¯re quite clever in this regard.¡± The moment he threw the stone onto the droppings in the mud, the ground sank. It was a pitfall trap. Not just any pit, but a deadly trap with sharp wooden stakes poked into it. ¡°Thanks to Arzen, we learned some valuable information! If they¡¯re setting traps like that to catch boars or humans, it must be at least a rank 200 trap! Thanks!¡± ¡®What is this guy¡­ Did I underestimate him because he¡¯s Bronze rank?¡¯ ¡®He¡¯s a complete expert.¡¯ ¡®Could he really be a master at goblin hunting?¡¯ ¡°No, it¡¯s only natural that I don¡¯t know goblins well since I¡¯ve played in much deeper waters. This guy is from the lower class, so he knows a lot about them.¡± Arzen felt a sense of superiority in such trivial matters. ¡°But it seems some clumsy fool has been randomly poking around here lately. It¡¯s just making everyone more cautious, so the traps have become thorough and there¡¯s a lot of bluffing with the traces.¡± Instead of speaking up, Arzen decided to join in the complaining, sweating nervously. ¡°Really? I want to see the face of that pathetic guy.¡± Hmm~. Just look in a mirror, and you¡¯ll know~. ¡°Hey, can I ask you something?¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Seeing that he had much to learn from Kitan, Arzen moved closer and started asking various questions. Kitan responded sincerely to every question. ¡°Did you choose this path to find traps like these?¡± At Arzen¡¯s question, Sia shook her head instead. ¡°No, the most important thing in goblin hunting is to eliminate the root of the problem. You must uproot their base. Otherwise, there¡¯s no point in hunting them down. The residents here will suffer from goblins again.¡± If the base isn¡¯t eliminated, the goblins reproduce like cockroaches and crawl back out in no time. Goblins have no females, only males, and they use a bizarre method of interbreeding. Even scholars haven¡¯t figured out how the genetic implantation occurs, but they¡¯re definitely disgusting creatures. The sixth great demon, Uruk, is similar in that regard. ¡°Sia is right. By following the types and traces of traps and droppings, we can tell if there¡¯s one base or two or three.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why we¡¯re moving in such a large circle. Don¡¯t worry, Arzen! I¡¯ll make sure to guide us properly! That¡¯s my job.¡± Kitan smiled and skillfully wielded his jungle sword, clearing the path so Arzen could follow comfortably. Arzen hesitated for a moment. He clenched his eyes tightly while staring at that hand, then quickly stepped forward before anyone could see. - Hey, just stay back because you¡¯re in the way. - Curious about why it is like this? You don¡¯t need to be curious at all. Just focus on using miracles properly, you little brat. - Ugh, why does that heavy piece of junk have so many questions? - Hey, do you think I¡¯m easy to mess with? You¡¯re speaking to me as if it¡¯s a given. Ha, you brat. In that brief moment, Arzen found himself overlapping the past and present. ¡®Ah, damn¡­¡¯ And in that dizzying thrill, he thought to himself. ¡®Heading towards the mission area while sharing knowledge¡­ modifying the plan like this¡­¡¯ Damn¡­ This was exactly what he had dreamed of¡­ A real adventure¡­ [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 26 - The First Journey on a Strange Continent (6) [Translator - Kiteretsu][Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 26 - The First Journey on a Strange Continent (6) By the time the party arrived at the entrance of the abandoned mine, it was already dusk. The sunset filtering through the leaves was staining the forest red. ¡°The ore has been depleted, and it¡¯s been closed down, but this mine is part of the same vein as mine number 6,¡± Sia said. Kitan speculated that goblins were running rampant in this area. ¡®Hmm, so the mine I went to back then was a trap, huh?¡¯ In short, this abandoned mine was a true den for them. Kitan spotted a couple of goblins lurking in the shadows beyond the mine entrance, their eyes glinting ominously. The party was hidden in the bushes near the entrance. Kitan had positioned himself to ensure that the scent didn¡¯t flow toward the cave, considering the wind direction. ¡°Kitan, memorize the map.¡± Sia pulled out the mine guide and handed it to him. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Kitan, fixed on the wooden board, didn¡¯t blink once. ¡®Something seems different about him.¡¯ Arzen thought as a fly crawled across Kitan''s face, yet he remained unresponsive. About five minutes later, a playful expression returned to Kitan¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯ve memorized it all!¡± ¡°You memorized it all already?¡± Arzen was surprised. That was unbelievably fast! ¡°Yeah. I can memorize any map perfectly in no time.¡± Sia scoffed. ¡°Just maps. That idiot can¡¯t study worth a damn. He only knows the basics of the Vern language.¡± ¡°Sia, you nag about everything. Ebe, I can¡¯t hear you. What does a wanderer need to study for? It¡¯s completely unnecessary, you know?¡± Could it really be that he wouldn¡¯t need it at all in life? What a thick-headed guy! ¡®...But I can¡¯t say that.¡¯ Since he had been friendly from the first meeting, I¡¯ll let it slide this time. ¡°Then shall we dissect one by one?¡± Sia said. Her expression changed as she placed a hand on the hilt of her executioner''s sword, which couldn¡¯t hide its ferocity even while sheathed. A glimmer of light shot through her crimson eyes for a moment. It was the light of excitement shown when a predator spots its prey. ¡°My first kill is mine!¡± Kitan announced the start of the hunt. He threw one dagger from each side of his waist simultaneously. The daggers pierced the necks of the sentry goblins perfectly, silencing their screams. ¡°Good.¡± Sia dashed forward, swinging her executioner¡¯s sword at the two goblins gasping for breath while clutching their severed necks. Such unbelievable speed in a heavily armed state! The goblins were pulverized into meat paste by her abnormal blade. ¡°Move immediately. Kitan, luminescent stone.¡± Ambush relies on stealth. Sia quickly signaled Kitan with a simple hand gesture. The luminescent stone emitted only a faint glow, a special stone that absorbed sunlight or moonlight. Of course, while torches are excellent for illumination, they also have the drawback of revealing one¡¯s position to monsters. ¡°At least 200 torches. It¡¯s best to light them and proceed carefully,¡± Kitan said, shaking his head in disagreement. He may have missed a few signals, but he was not so foolish as to not understand Sia''s instructions. Sia furrowed her brow and raised her right hand above her head. - Just do as I say. If you don¡¯t want to get hit, you idiot. It wasn¡¯t a signal, but for some reason, he understood! However, Arzen decided to side with Kitan. ¡®It¡¯s been a while since I focused on support with holy miracles instead of the power of the Void.¡¯ Of course, divine power and the power of the Void are separate, but stamina and energy are the same; if one is pushed to the limit, it will reach a threshold. ¡°¡¶Shield of Radiance¡·.¡± With both hands reverently clasped, Arzen prayed to connect with the celestial realm. Heaven responded to his prayer. Countless golden light particles danced like fireflies, intertwining into one. ¡®This is a service for massive healing. Let me show you what a healer from the heavenly realm of the adventurer industry can do!¡¯ First, he unfurled a ¡¶Shield of Radiance¡· at the rear. The goblins had modified their lairs into a labyrinth more complex than an anthill, ambushing from the rear or flanks under the cover of darkness. If he could preemptively block the source of that danger, it would be like halving the threat. ¡°¡¶Lamp of Prayer¡·.¡± The light shaped by the second prayer appeared. It was a luminous point the size of a fist. However, it was sufficient to brightly illuminate the darkness of the abandoned mine and reveal the traps scattered everywhere. ¡°Now we can just make some noise and move, right?¡± Kitan whistled cheerfully, his eyes sparkling as he grabbed Arzen¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Wow, this is awesome! Arzen! You weren¡¯t lying when you said that before!¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, big brother here can use such miracles as a basic skill.¡± ¡°This is my first time experiencing something like this! I feel like I might wet myself every time I remove a trap in the dark with the luminescent stone. If I wet myself, I¡¯d feel uncomfortable all day. And Sia doesn¡¯t even understand that.¡± Kitan casually draped his arm over Arzen¡¯s shoulder and shook him around. ¡®This useless brat, daring to put his arm around the shoulder of someone who will one day be of the Diamond rank... doesn¡¯t he care about his life?¡¯ Still, such a reaction... wasn¡¯t entirely unwelcome. In the past, he would have likely slapped him while saying, ¡°Why are you asking about something so obvious?¡± Compared to that, this was nothing. ¡°What¡¯s this...¡± Jerome said to Sia, who was looking at the suddenly brightened landscape of the abandoned mine in disbelief. ¡°Look, didn¡¯t I catch a big one? What a tremendous force. It was worth using rational thinking.¡± ¡°That¡¯s cheating, you little dwarf.¡± Sia punched Jerome on the head, wearing a meaningful smile. ¡°True. But I can¡¯t deny that it¡¯s impressive.¡± How could anyone deny it? The visibility had opened up brightly to nearly 20 meters in front and behind them in an instant. In places like abandoned mines or caves, the fight is against darkness. The advantages of hiding in such places had been completely erased. ¡°Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm~.¡± Kitan easily disarmed the traps lurking everywhere. He even hummed a tune as he worked. Originally, one should be in a state of heightened alertness, with all senses on edge, ready for the goblins to emerge from the darkness, in what one might call a "pee-your-pants" situation. ¡°Footsteps. About 30 of them?¡± Kitan glanced up to gauge the front before turning his head back towards the traps. Jerome stepped forward, straightening the folded barrel and integrating it with the gun''s body. Then he forcefully pulled the recoil starter to activate the SteamCore. ¡®SteamCore! It¡¯s my first time seeing it up close!¡¯ Arzen''s eyes widened with excitement. The SteamCore refers to a portable steam engine. It is one of the top technological weapons monopolized by the Dwarves. To use a steam gun, one must have that SteamCore strapped to their back. ¡°With everything so clearly visible, aiming is really easy! No need to worry about ricochets at all! Thanks, Arzen!¡± The rubber hoses of the SteamCore supplied steam to the gun. With that power, the barrel began to spin, and in an instant, it unleashed a shower of iron projectiles forward¡­ The stench of blood hit their noses as dozens of goblins turned into bloody heaps, their brains pierced and guts torn apart. ¡°Make sure they can¡¯t sneak away with the little ones by setting traps at the entrance, Kitan!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already done that! Thanks to Arzen, I was able to change up their traps comfortably. Oh, but we¡¯ll have to deactivate them on the way out.¡± ¡°That works! Lead the way! Let¡¯s move quickly.¡± Arzen pretended to follow everyone but suddenly stopped. As a Harbinger of the Void, he commanded his subordinates. ¡°Kaz tu Arcturus.¡± Buuuuummm¡­ The soldier appeared, proud and stalwart, along with five Voidlings under his command. ¡®This should be more than enough to deal with any remaining goblin stragglers!¡¯ After all the trouble he went through, he did not want any remnants to survive and rise again. ¡°If any sneak out, please take care of it, soldier. Make sure to be gone by the time we come back up.¡± Arzen murmured softly and quickly dashed to catch up with his party members. ¡°Bugs?¡± ¡°Yeah, I hear something like a bug.¡± ¡°Do goblins raise bugs too?¡± Kitan and Sia were already having such a conversation. ¡°No, I¡¯ve never seen that before, and I don¡¯t feel any hostility¡­¡± ¡°Just focus on the goblins. If they act up, we can take care of them on the way out.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Sia felt a refreshing sensation for the first time in ages¡­ Since she left her old party, this was the first time she felt so invigorated¡­ ¡®It¡¯s like being free from all constraints, allowing the power dancing throughout my body to be unleashed without hesitation.¡¯ Before Sia¡¯s order even reached him, there was a supporting action, perhaps even half a beat faster. ¡°Wall.¡± ¡°Change.¡± ¡°Hold.¡± Arzen, that guy, was definitely not a Steel Rank as he initially seemed. ¡®Something felt different from the start.¡¯ Talent alone couldn¡¯t explain it. His experience and knowledge clearly supported his abilities¡­ at least Silver Rank. ¡®The only reason for hiding such a background must be one.¡¯ There may be shadows of a past he cannot reveal¡­ just like Sia herself. ¡°I don¡¯t know, I don¡¯t get it. I¡¯ll deal with that anguish later.¡± Right now, I just want to fully embrace this refreshing sense of liberation that rushes through me to the tips of my hair! ¡°Hahahahahaha! Yes, yes! This is fantastic!¡± As Sia began to rampage, Kitan pulled on Arzen''s collar. ¡°Ugh, Sia¡¯s in frenzy mode! Arzen, get back! It¡¯s dangerous!¡± ¡°Frenzy mode?¡± ¡°I think she has to release the pent-up anger she has built up sometimes since she¡¯s in charge of rage. Normally, she wouldn¡¯t let it out like this because you''re here.¡± Arzen couldn''t simply dismiss Jerome''s joke... or rather, he didn¡¯t even hear it. The sight of Sia cackling while slaughtering dozens of goblins had a brutal charm that left him mesmerized. Her crimson eyes seemed to shine even darker than usual. Moreover, an aura of eerie energy was swirling from her bandaged right arm. ¡®But what on earth is that chilling energy?¡¯ The energy of the Void felt foreign yet not frightening. ¡®Hmm... It feels familiar somehow, but where have I felt it before?¡¯ Fortunately, it didn¡¯t seem like she was losing her mind under the influence of that aura, but Sia was behaving strangely. The bandage had loosened slightly, yet she was tightening it excessively during the fight. As the bandage tightened, the eerie energy blooming from Sia''s arm also vanished. ¡°What are you doing? Let¡¯s go!¡± Sia, having instantly taken down all the goblins, turned back and shouted. Just as Kitan was following behind, perplexed, he tapped Arzen on the back and asked, ¡°Arzen, have you ever eaten goblin poop?¡± ¡°Why on earth would I eat that, you crazy idiot?¡± ¡°I tried it once when I was really hungry during Pathfinder training with my master, and it was surprisingly edible.¡± That¡¯s how the mission was going. It was clearly a Rank 9 request, yet the journey was ridiculously smooth. The goblin horde that appeared ahead turned into piles of meat under Jerome¡¯s heavy artillery. There were even some trying to attack from behind. However, they met the same fate as Sia after being initially blocked by the Shield of Radiance. Just when it seemed that everything would finish as easily as a spring outing¡­ ¡°Whoa, that¡¯s a trap.¡± The moment Arzen reached out to examine what the device was, Kitan exclaimed. ¡°Say that sooner!¡± In an instant, the ground sank as if it were collapsing. The party suddenly found themselves in the center of a deep underground chamber. Sia swiped the dirt away with a gust of wind to clear her vision. ¡°Kiiiii!¡± Dozens of goblins were surrounding the party, growling menacingly. ¡°Jerome, how many rounds do you have left?¡± ¡°About ten. I got so excited that I used them all up. I thought we wouldn''t shoot much since it¡¯s a mine, so I didn¡¯t bring many.¡± ¡°Then all three of you just stay in the corner. I¡¯ll take care of all of them.¡± Sia gave a chilling smile just before charging forward. As she swung her Executioner''s Sword, shaking off the blood from its blade, the droplets splattered on the goblins, causing them to scream. Jerome, with his goggle eyes, said, ¡°This is the center! How can we go to a corner? Didn¡¯t you hear there are only ten rounds left? You¡¯re like a magic monkey.¡± Sia almost fell forward with the momentum of her charge. Barely regaining her balance, she grabbed Jerome by the collar. ¡°Ugh! That¡¯s just how I speak! Just try to understand a bit! Get the gist of it!¡± At that moment, Arzen¡¯s eyes gleamed fiercely as he stepped forward. ¡°Hey, you goblin scum! Your big brother is here! Didn¡¯t I say I would return?¡± For being lowly monsters that dared to tarnish the future body of a Gold Rank, I will make them pay with a fate worse than death. ¡°Kaz tu Arcturus! Come forth, Rambo!¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 27: The First Journey on the Strange Continent (7) [Translator - Kiteretsu][Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 27: The First Journey on the Strange Continent (7) ¡°Kaz tu Arcturus!¡± A rift tore through space and time, and from the dark green dimension, void insects began to swarm. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± ¡°¡­Bugs?¡± ¡°¡­Is a healer summoning creatures?¡± Arzen had no intention of revealing his summoning abilities so casually. But! The moment he saw those repulsive goblins, memories of past pain flashed through his mind, causing his blood to boil. ¡°How am I supposed to hold back? Damn it! With the lead insect missing, the second and third swarm leaders take charge! Go! Annihilate them!¡± However, aside from the lead insect, void creatures don¡¯t distinguish between command units. There¡¯s no size difference among them either. ¡®That¡¯s why, with the lead insect gone, it¡¯s impossible to coordinate their movements!¡¯ But against something as lowly as goblins, even uncoordinated movements were more than enough. ¡°Whoa! The goblins are being wiped out!¡± Kitan exclaimed. The goblins, swarmed by the ten void insects, screamed as they were torn apart. ¡°This is the void¡¯s devouring destruction! It leaves only the skin, consuming everything else!¡± However, there were beings that put an end to this wave of slaughter. ¡°Keekeekee!¡± ¡°Kiieeeet!¡± Rusty blades slashed through the void insects'' bodies vertically, and clubs crushed their exoskeletons. ¡®Damn it! If the lead insect were here, we could have easily avoided those attacks!¡¯ The absence of the lead insect was painfully clear. However. The enemies ambushing the void creatures were no mere weaklings. ¡°Th-That¡¯s!¡± Goblins, much like ants, live in underground colonies and will defend their egg chambers to the death. And in those chambers are the victims they''ve used as breeding hosts. In a colony this large, there¡¯s bound to be humans among the victims. ¡°A goblin mixed with human blood!¡± When a goblin colony begins using a human as a breeding host, their numbers swell rapidly. ¡®It¡¯s all thanks to that mutated goblin!¡¯ Goblins born from human hosts were nearly twice the size of regular goblins. Their larger size meant they were physically stronger and capable of wielding more dangerous weapons. Sia grinned maniacally as she raised her executioner¡¯s sword toward the mutated goblins. ¡°Disgusting bastards. Only three mutants? Maybe I should have come later¡­ Just kidding.¡± The biggest one was armed with a sword and shield, no doubt stolen from a hapless adventurer. The other two were smaller but held a shovel and pickaxe, likely taken from a mining operation. Normally, goblins rely on poison due to their weak physical strength, but these ones could wield human weapons. ¡°Come on. This egg chamber is just the right size for a brawl.¡± The mutants roared, charging forward, using the regular goblins as cannon fodder. Jerome¡¯s heavy artillery instantly roared to life. ¡°This should finish them off!¡± The weaker goblins were mowed down by gunfire. Now it was down to the three mutants versus Sia. However, the odds were not in her favor. However, Sia''s power was enough to completely overturn the disadvantage. ''This... this person isn¡¯t anywhere near Silver rank!'' Just before clashing with the largest mutant goblin, Sia swung her executioner¡¯s sword, tearing apart the goblin¡¯s flesh and bones into shredded pieces. As the mutant was sent flying, Sia let go of the sword for just a moment, allowing it to rise. ''Did she lose control of the sword due to its weight and momentum?'' No, that wasn¡¯t the case. In mid-air, Sia swiftly reversed her grip on the sword. Then, as the second mutant goblin charged towards her, she brought the sword down vertically, striking its skull. She smashed its head into the ground, utterly destroying it. ''Insane!'' Next, when the third mutant came rushing in, she tripped it, causing it to fall. Grabbing it by the nape, she drove its head into the blade of the sword, which was still embedded in the ground. Like slicing fruit with a grater, she shredded its face. ¡°Ahahaha! This is so refreshing! Unbelievably satisfying!¡± Drenched in the blood and fat of her prey, Sia¡¯s wild laughter was the epitome of a predator at ease. Around twenty weaker goblins hesitated, visibly terrified. But in the end, their instinct to protect the egg chamber for the sake of reproduction overtook their fear. ¡°Kiiiiiit!¡± As they rushed forward, Sia seemed to lose interest, her posture appearing somewhat deflated. ''Is she out of energy?'' It wasn¡¯t exhaustion; it was more a sense of boredom. ¡°Ah, damn, how annoying¡­¡± Jerome and Kitan knew Sia well. They were fully aware that she¡¯d wipe out the remaining goblins with ease. ¡°Sia¡¯s in her ''sage time'' now!¡± ¡°What¡¯s that even mean?¡± ¡°It¡¯s when her frenzy reaches its limit, and she gets bored, but don¡¯t worry, she¡¯ll take care of them all eventually.¡± Everyone began to relax, but just then, a single goblin that had been hiding among the corpses of its kin leapt toward Jerome¡¯s back. This one was also a mutated goblin, born from a human host. It was far larger than the previous three. ¡®This one¡¯s holding a bizarrely modified pair of pickaxes!¡¯ Arzen immediately spun around. Jerome, assuming the fight was over, had already folded up his gun. At this rate, he wouldn¡¯t be able to respond in time. ''A holy miracle?'' Arzen hesitated for a split second. No! That would take too long to chant the incantation. ¡°You must be the leader of this damn goblin horde! Let me give you a death worthy of that title!¡± As expected¡ªjust as expected! ¡®No matter how fierce these creatures seem, their endings are always sloppy.¡¯ In the end, they¡¯d have to rely on the strength of Arzen, the future Adamant-ranked adventurer. ¡°I¡¯ll show you the Super Void Parade of Arzen, the Adamant-ranked Steel Adventurer! Barolus!¡± [TL/N: Arzen is still a steel ranked and says he is either gold/diamond/Adamant ranked as a joke Also Adamant and Diamond are interchanged in the series but both mean the same] With that command, the dimension trembled. From the twilight gloom, an otherworldly demon emerged, its presence even more ghostly and pronounced in the dim light. It scattered the terror of its otherness throughout the entire space. ¡°©¤©¤©¤©¤!¡± In an instant. The demon''s fingers, which surged from beyond the void, tore the mutated goblin apart, leaving nothing but a mess of bloody flesh. ¡°?¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°?¡± The goblins that had been charging toward Sia froze in their tracks. Beings from the lesser planes have an instinctual fear and wariness when they witness a demon from another dimension. Some goblins, driven mad with fear, rolled their eyes back, foaming at the mouth as they began to frenzy. ¡°Ki-Kiiiiiit!¡± However, the power of the Apostle was still incomplete. This meant the demon had not fully received the blessing of materialization. Thus, it soon began to dissipate back into the void. ¡®But that¡¯s no problem!¡¯ As long as the mutated goblins were gone, it wouldn¡¯t be difficult to clean up the rest, even without the lead insect. ¡°Kaz tu Arcturus! Deploy the second void squadron!¡± Through the dimensional rift left by the demon¡¯s departure, more void creatures poured out. ¡°Void bugs, tonight¡¯s meal is goblin tartare! Feast to your heart¡¯s content!¡± The dark green void insects descended upon the goblins, delivering merciless punishment. There would be no mercy for the sacrilegious beings who dared oppose the Apostle. The void creatures instantly overwhelmed the heretics, consuming their very existence and banishing them to the void itself. * * * The only thing they could recover from the goblin den were the victims used as breeding hosts. Kitan blocked off the tunnel connected to Mine No. 6, while Jerome doused the path they had come down with oil before heading back up. As Sia carried the victims on her back and made her way out of the lair, Arzen threw a torch into the mine. ¡°What¡¯s going to happen to these two women now?¡± Kitan asked as he watched the fire quickly spread through the abandoned mine. The only way to purify a place so tainted with goblin filth, vomit, and mold was to burn it all. Sia clicked her tongue before answering. ¡°They¡¯ll probably undergo purification and psychological treatment at the church. If it were me, I¡¯d bite my tongue and end it right there¡­¡± Jerome stroked his thick beard. ¡°I¡¯ve heard rumors that His Holiness from the Papacy, Lord Raiky¨­, can erase memories. Maybe there¡¯s some hope for them after all.¡± Just as Akirea of the Crimson Flame represents the Red Dragon Legion. Raiky¨­ of the Thunderous Echo is known for being the most communicative representative of the Yellow Dragon Legion, frequently engaging with the world. In other words, His Holiness Raiky¨­ is also a prominent figure among the dragonkin. ¡°Ah, I can finally breathe easy.¡± At that moment, Arzen dusted off his hands and emerged from the cave. Kitan, looking excited, spoke up. ¡°Hey, that thing you did earlier, how¡¯d you pull it off? I¡¯ve never seen a miracle like that before! A summoning miracle of all things¡ªSia, have you ever seen something like that?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Hmm, that¡¯s really strange. For someone who can use miracles even Sia hasn¡¯t seen, and yet you¡¯re only an Iron-ranked adventurer? Have you not been an adventurer for long?¡± Jerome asked, eyeing him curiously. Arzen flinched at the sudden attention. ¡®If only I could explain the real reason behind it¡­¡¯ He grimaced as he felt the familiar throb of the brand, wincing from the pain once again. ''Damn it, this thing still¡­.¡¯ Sia, having noticed the emotion hidden behind Arzen''s expression, turned her body toward the forest path that led back to the village that had commissioned the job. ¡°Don¡¯t press someone to talk when they clearly don¡¯t want to. That¡¯s considered rude in this line of work, you know.¡± ¡°Well, yeah, but I was just really curious, so I asked.¡± ¡°There¡¯s only one thing we can be sure of from this job: this guy may be Iron rank, but he¡¯s incredibly skilled.¡± Arzen arrogantly crossed his arms. ¡®As expected from a Silver rank... she knows exactly what¡¯s going on!¡¯ What they had just witnessed was a glimpse of the brilliance that played among the highest tiers of the adventurer world. ¡°It¡¯s no big deal. All I did was take down some goblins. Nothing impressive.¡± As Arzen modestly brushed his hand under his nose, Jerome nodded in agreement. ¡°I agree.¡± ¡°What do you mean ¡®you agree¡¯! You senile old dwarf! You almost died and I saved your life!¡± When Arzen shouted in protest, Jerome shook his head in confusion. ¡°Hmph, why are you getting so worked up? I was just acknowledging your words. A ¡®thank you¡¯ would be more appropriate, don¡¯t you think? Honestly, I¡¯ll never understand how humans think.¡± Amidst the commotion, Kitan sidled up to Sia and asked quietly. ¡°What do you think of Arzen?¡± ¡°He¡¯s got a lot of miracles at his disposal, can adapt to different situations, and has plenty of experience.¡± ¡°Right?¡± ¡°With someone like him, we could aim even higher. Platinum rank, maybe even Adamant rank.¡± Kitan¡¯s eyes widened before he rushed over to Arzen and shouted excitedly. ¡°Arzen! With you, we might be able to aim for Adamant rank adventurers!¡± Arzen, who had been shaking Jerome by the collar, blinked in surprise. ¡°Adamant rank?¡± Adamant rank is above Platinum. ¡®That¡¯s the rank of the eleven strongest adventurers in the world!¡¯ Platinum rank itself was no easy feat. Only eleven adventurers per generation could reach Platinum rank, unlike the lower ranks, which had no such limit. ¡®Like Orlat, the captain of .'' But Adamant rank? Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡®That¡¯s a whole different level, the pinnacle of the adventurer world!¡¯ The rank achieved only by the very best. ¡®These middle-class adventurers think they can get there?¡¯ Arzen couldn¡¯t help but ask the obvious question. ¡°¡­How?¡± Maybe could, but them? These commoners? ¡°?¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°?¡± The atmosphere instantly turned cold, like a bucket of ice water had been dumped on them. Everyone fell silent, and the only sound that remained was the crunch of footsteps on the forest path. After a brief pause, Sia and Kitan both responded to Arzen¡¯s reasonable doubt. ¡°What do you mean ¡®how¡¯? We¡¯ll just keep taking jobs and leveling up, step by step.¡± ¡°Yeah, Arzen! We can do it! There¡¯s nothing in this world you can¡¯t achieve if you work hard enough!¡± Jerome, who was folding the barrel of his gun and attaching it back to the steam core''s mount, spoke up. ¡°They¡¯re just excited after seeing what you¡¯re capable of. No need to feel pressured. Adventurers come and go based on profit. If you don¡¯t like it, you can always leave.¡± ¡°Huh? No way. I like Arzen,¡± Kitan protested. ¡°Well, if he says no, there¡¯s not much you can do,¡± Jerome replied calmly. ¡°Ugh.¡± Sia stared directly at Arzen. ¡°Yeah. I hate clinging to someone who doesn¡¯t want to be there. So, what do you want to do?¡± Something about the situation felt completely different to Arzen. Back in Divine Guillotine, Arzen was nothing more than livestock. There was no such thing as a choice. ¡®But here¡­¡¯ No one raises a hand against me. No one hurls insults at me. ¡®Here, with these lunatics¡­¡¯ Maybe, unlike the miserable childhood he¡¯d endured, he could experience a true adventure. ¡°Hmph, if you all beg that much, I suppose I, the one destined for Adamant rank in the future, could use you as my stepping stones.¡± Arzen¡¯s sly grin revealed his mischievous intent, prompting Sia to scratch her head. ¡°Ah, drop this guy. He¡¯s more of a nutcase than I thought.¡± ¡°Seems like the right move,¡± Jerome agreed. ¡°No, no! I just wanted to try saying something cool!¡± These idiots¡­ are they really trying to mess with me, Arzen? But, for now, he¡¯d back down. After all, finding stepping stones of this quality wouldn¡¯t be easy elsewhere. ¡®Fine, have it your way.¡¯ After all, only one person can be the top in any given era. ¡®I¡¯ll bend for now, but in the end, I¡¯ll use you to stand at the very top!¡¯ *** ¡°Damn it! Shit!¡± A woman angrily flung a dagger across the room. The blade shattered several bottles before embedding itself into a dartboard, tearing it apart with brutal precision. That skill¡­ The precision of her throw alone was enough to hint at who she was. She was none other than Helsea, the leader of the Divine Guillotine remnants'' assassination team. ¡°I still can¡¯t believe the captain¡¯s dead, and now what? Akirea, that crazy powerhouse, is personally hunting us down!¡± The impact of Akirea of the Crimson Flame personally leading the Red Dragon Legion was monumental. Most of those tangled in the web of corruption had confessed the atrocities committed by Divine Guillotine, and the noose around the remaining members had tightened considerably. Helsea¡¯s assassination team specialized in stealth and covert operations, but now, even gathering all six of them in one place was a life-threatening risk. ¡®So that¡¯s why Orlat and the higher-ups went to such lengths to keep us from getting involved with the Red Pilgrims¡­¡¯ It would have been better if they had only dealt with the Pilgrims. But with Akirea herself stepping into the fray, the situation had spiraled completely out of control. With a furious expression, Helsea shouted, ¡°Ben, is it ready yet? Have you found a way to meet with the Black Church?¡± The operations of Divine Guillotine had been tightly intertwined with the Black Church. In return for their services, the Black Church had gifted them a special power known as the Dragon-Sealing Barrier. This ability to evade the watchful eyes of the dragonkin had allowed them to carry out all sorts of reckless deeds. However, their connection to the Black Church had been severed when the leadership was killed. Now, they were frantically scrambling to reestablish that link. ¡°Boss, but what¡¯s the point of finding the Black Church again?¡± ¡°We¡¯re going to surrender ourselves.¡± ¡°What? Have you lost your mind?¡± ¡°Listen. The Red Dragon Legion may be strict, but I¡¯ve heard that Raiky¨­ from the Papacy is so lenient that even serious criminals often get off with just a prison sentence.¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s well known.¡± ¡°We¡¯re going to use that to our advantage. We¡¯ll borrow the Black Church¡¯s sorcery to erase all our crimes from our memories. Using the Dragon-Sealing Barrier.¡± ¡°But why?¡± ¡°Raiky¨­ is said to be able to read minds... If that¡¯s the case, wouldn¡¯t they believe we¡¯re innocent? We¡¯ll make it seem like we had nothing to do with Orlat¡¯s or the leadership¡¯s evil deeds.¡± The assassination team members whistled at the suggestion, while a man leaning against the outer wall spoke up. ¡°The Red Pilgrims seem to think there was a survivor at the scene.¡± ¡°Bullshit. Orlat¡¯s dead¡ªwho could¡¯ve survived? You think someone could walk away from the number four Platinum adventurer?¡± ¡°That¡¯s just the intel I got.¡± Helsea bit her lip. ¡®If there was a survivor, they would have contacted the assassination team by now...¡¯ Wait. What if¡ªjust a slim chance¡ªbut what if the survivor was one of the slaves we treated like dirt? ¡°Do we still have contacts for the witches we bribed at the Lanoa Bridge?¡± ¡°Boss, you know the Red Dragon Legion controls the bridge. No matter how well you change your identity, you¡¯d be caught crossing. We¡¯re stuck here like rats for at least a few more years.¡± ¡°I know that better than you, you idiot! Just shut up and get the list, somehow. I need to check the records from the days after Orlat¡¯s death to see if anything unusual happened.¡± If her gut feeling was right... They¡¯d have to risk their lives, sneak onto a smuggling ship, cross the sea, and kill whoever it was. ¡®I have to kill them as quickly as possible.¡¯ If that person exposed everything, their plan to surrender would fall apart. ¡°Thanks to the Dragon-Sealing Barrier, they can¡¯t just spill the truth to anyone... But if that bastard meets Akirea or Raiky¨­ first, it¡¯s all over.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 28: At the Forbidden Grounds, The Beginning of the Journey (1) [Translator - Kiteretsu][Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 28: At the Forbidden Grounds, The Beginning of the Journey (1) "The entire Karshiko branch sincerely congratulates Lord Arzen on his promotion to the Diamond Rank. We will continue to do our best to assist you in the future." The staff members of the adventurer branch all stood in formal respect, while Kitan and Jerome, who were standing nearby, clapped their hands. "Congratulations, Arzen!" "It''s infuriating that a human surpassed this great Dwarf to achieve the Diamond Rank, but I must offer my congratulations." Arzen arrogantly extended his hand, issuing a command. "Hahaha! Praise me more! Worship me! I, who have reached the Diamond Rank! From now on, I will rule and reign over all with overwhelming power and absolute authority!" At that moment, Sia silently approached and, without warning, kissed Arzen on the forehead. Suddenly, the world turned completely white. Cheers erupted from all around, but Arzen couldn¡¯t even breathe. ''What the hell is that smell?'' It wasn''t from excitement, but because the breath was unbearably foul. ''Is this for real?'' From within that foul breath, a voice emerged. "Chirp. Chirp chirp." Chirp? At that point, even breathing became painful, and then the illusion lifted. When Arzen opened his eyes, he saw a house mouse wandering across his nose. ''A mouse...'' Of course, it was just a dream. For Arzen, living alongside mice had been a part of his daily life since childhood, so he wasn¡¯t even surprised. He swiftly grabbed the mouse by the tail and dangled it in the air. "How dare you interrupt my pleasant dream? Do you have a death wish? Worker Bee, your master is greatly displeased." Bzzzzz... The dimension of the Void opened, and Worker Bee appeared, fluttering its wings. The mouse flailed madly in panic, eventually slipping from Arzen''s grasp and escaping. Arzen watched it flee into a hole, then yawned and stretched. ''I slept in today for the first time since the liberation. Must be around 10 AM?'' He drew back the curtains of his lodging and opened the window, causing a pigeon perched on the window frame to fly away. Sunlight streamed in, dazzling his eyes. Only when the sunlight hit him directly did the remnants of sleep finally dissipate, bringing him back to full awareness. ''A dream¡­'' His face still felt flushed. He threw on his coat haphazardly and opened the holy book that had been sitting on the nightstand. The Void. One must be careful, as the yearning for the rift can lead to disdain for connection. La Tsi Qua, breathe life into the creatures of the Void and guide the balance of all things toward the rift. This had always been a miracle that required the precondition of 30 Voidworms, but after yesterday''s battle with the mutant goblins, it was unlocked. ''The number of Voidworms has suddenly increased as well.'' Upon reflection... Though it wasn¡¯t quite like the giant slime that gave him a master key... The life force of those mutant goblins must have accelerated the growth of the Void. ¡®Could it be that the power of the Void grows stronger by devouring life?¡¯ Arzen recalled the fight from two days ago. He had used Baralus to protect Jerome. However, to get within the effective range of one meter, he had to throw himself into the fray. That kind of fighting style doesn¡¯t suit a ruler. "A king is a king because they carry themselves with dignity!" If a future Diamond Rank were to act rashly, like recklessly throwing themselves, it would ruin their dignity in front of their subordinates. "So, I have no choice but to rely on this new Void miracle..." He hadn''t been able to use it while returning to Euphoria due to being completely exhausted. And after arriving, he collapsed and couldn¡¯t try it out. Just as he was about to test his new skill, a sound interrupted Arzen. Grrrrr... It was the sound of his own stomach, the sound of life itself. "Right, let¡¯s eat first." After all, there''s a saying: even the Red Mountains are better after a meal. Arzen closed the holy book, rubbed his eyes, and went downstairs, where Kitan waved at him cheerfully. "Arzen! Over here. I almost ate your portion, but I resisted." For a Bronze Rank rookie, he sure is polite. Approved. Of course, that level of courtesy is to be expected if one doesn¡¯t want to lose a noble profession like being a healer. "Still..." It had been a long time since anyone greeted him so warmly in the morning. "Alright." Arzen briefly raised his hand in acknowledgment, just enough for Kitan to see, then lowered it immediately. He sat down next to Kitan. The adventurer guild¡¯s early morning scene had a somewhat fairy tale-like atmosphere. Citizens lined up at the counters to submit their requests. Guild staff were cleaning with brooms and mops. Adventurers who had arrived early in search of good requests. And adventurers, like Arzen, who had stayed in the second-floor dormitories, coming down for breakfast. "Hmm, so this is the vibe." On the table were fried eggs, saut¨¦ed bacon and onions, and steaming rye bread. "This is the guild¡¯s famous breakfast special. You haven¡¯t tried it yet, have you? It¡¯s really good." Kitan was already on his third empty plate. "Where did you originally operate, Arzen? Judging by your slightly tanned skin, it must be the Adrion Continent, right?" "Yeah." "Did they have lots of pretty women there?" "No, just a bunch of scary ladies." In the first place, there aren¡¯t many adventurers who are both good with a sword and beautiful. "Ugh, that¡¯s the worst. I hate scary women. Especially ones like Sia. I prefer gentle women, don¡¯t you?" Sia¡­ hearing her name made Arzen recall his dream, and he choked. "That horrible breath, ugh." He had to spit out two pieces of bacon, unfortunately. "Speaking of which, I don¡¯t see those two around." "Jerome went to work on some equipment. Dwarf gear is complicated, you know? Guns or something. So after each expedition, he¡¯s busy repairing them." "You¡¯ve been traveling together for a while?" "Not that long. About half a year? Sia used to be part of a really promising party from the Empire, but something happened, and she left." A promising party? Arzen flinched and dropped his fork. "A ranker party?" If it''s promising, it doesn''t mean it¡¯s famous yet. Arzen hoped it wouldn''t come to that. If they were a well-known party, they might have seen his embarrassing moments during the joint mission with the Divine Guillotine. "Those days are a disgrace! This Arzen, who will reign over the adventurer world like a future Diamond Rank, has to keep such shame hidden!" But if they were from the Empire... he probably didn¡¯t have to worry too much. "I don''t know the rankings either. It''s a small group. The party leader apparently leveled up to Gold Rank at lightning speed. What was their name again? Was it a priest or a paladin?" Heh, even though they''re partners, being just a Gold Rank doesn''t seem impressive. He felt an inexplicable sense of superiority. Even if he was treated like a slave, he had been part of a Platinum Rank adventuring party at one point. "I worried for nothing. Even though my teammates were awful and I couldn''t level up, if I had been able to earn contributions properly, I would have reached Gold Rank ages ago." "But Arzen, you¡¯re Steel Rank." "Don¡¯t you have ears? I couldn¡¯t rise because I met the wrong team!" Kitan''s comment killed his appetite. ''Thinking about it again makes me mad. Where did my youth go?'' With a slightly gloomy feeling, Arzen popped the yolk into his mouth. Kitan was now on his fourth empty plate. "Eat up, Arzen! We just tackled a Rank 9 quest. Your pockets are overflowing." He was right. Since it was a Rank 9 quest, the rewards were substantial compared to the lowest tier requests. Was it just money? His contributions had also increased significantly, so at this rate, he could graduate from Steel Rank in no time. "Arzen, my motto is to eat a lot and sleep a lot. Especially after having a hearty breakfast, crawling back into bed is the happiest moment for me." "That¡¯s true." It was at that moment that Sia appeared. "What kind of lazy thinking is that for someone your age?" Just like when they first met, she was dressed simply in casual wear without any armor. The chilling aura she exuded during battles was nowhere to be felt now. "Ah, the anger representative." Arzen teased, feeling playful. "Right now, she¡¯s the dung representative. Sia probably just took a dump." Kitan waved his fork in disbelief. "What are you saying?!" Sia punched Kitan on the head and took her seat. Soon, a guild staff member brought out the same menu that the two had been eating. Arzen stole glances at Sia. The women from the Empire, with their fair skin, seemed more beautiful than those with tanned skin from the Republic. For the record, Sia was also fair-skinned. The northern republics at the southern tip of the Acrad continent had whiter skin compared to the southern republics of the Adrion continent, which made them more attractive. ¡®For instance, Kitan¡¯s skin tone from the northern republic¡­ he might be a bit dim-witted, but he seems like a decent guy.¡¯ Maybe it was just the whole southern republic that he disliked. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In reality, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to like them. He had lost everything in that land. His father had died, his mother had died, and all the happiness of his childhood was taken away. He vowed to never return if he could help it. ¡°I noticed there are quite a few strange requests showing up on the status board,¡± Sia said, tearing a piece of bread with both hands. ¡°Strange requests?¡± Kitan looked up from his fifth plate. How has this guy managed to stay thin despite eating like this? ¡°Yeah, if you go northeast from here, there''s a Gold Zone,¡± she explained. ¡°Gold Zone?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a place called Blood Tree Forest. But in every nearby village, goblins are swarming unusually.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no geological reason for such a large-scale occurrence, especially since it¡¯s not a mining area.¡± The Gold Zone was a restricted area, either due to it being an Abyssal den or because important facilities were located there. For instance, the Desert of the Flowing Sands that annihilated the Divine Guillotine was the former. ¡®But this one is likely the latter!¡¯ If the southern part of the Adrion continent was a boundary with the Abyss, then the northern part of the Acrad continent was the land¡¯s end. ¡°I thought about it while looking at this. It smells fishy¡­¡± Sia flashed a meaningful smile, reminiscent of the one she wore when they took down the goblins last time. It was a smile that hinted at some thrilling discovery. ¡°Smelly? That¡¯s just because Sia just took a dump,¡± Kitan remarked. Arzen instinctively pinched his nose, remembering the stench he¡¯d encountered in his dreams. Sia started punching Kitan¡¯s head repeatedly, yelling, ¡°Ugh, that damn poop! I didn¡¯t just take a dump, you brat!¡± ¡°Ouch! Then what kind of smell is it?¡± ¡°Why are you asking when you already know?!¡± ¡°What kind of smell is it?¡± Arzen interjected. Sia, who had been beating up Kitan, finally sat down with a sigh. ¡°I have a good nose. I can smell money or the strong scent of monsters really well. That¡¯s why I came here.¡± Arzen smirked slyly. ¡®You don¡¯t seem to realize that I plan to use you like slaves to climb higher. Hehe.¡¯ Sia narrowed her eyes at Arzen¡¯s grin. ¡°What¡¯s with that creepy smile? Don¡¯t make that face¡ªit gives me an unsettling feeling, you jerk. Anyway, I plan to head to that Gold Zone for the next quest.¡± ¡°Right away?¡± ¡°Yeah, right at dawn tomorrow. The stronger folks around here will soon flock there. It¡¯s better to secure a good spot first.¡± Kitan, patting his bloated stomach and burping, received another smack from Sia. ¡°Have you seen Jerome?¡± ¡°He¡¯s probably wrestling with some merchants at the hardware store. Making iron bullets, I guess.¡± ¡°Iron bullets?¡± Sia answered Arzen¡¯s question, ¡°That guy carries around his own mold for making bullets. He says if he uses anything that doesn¡¯t fit his gun¡¯s specifications, it¡¯ll break quickly.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 29: At the Forbidden Grounds, The Beginning of the Journey (2) [Translator - Kiteretsu][Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 29: At the Forbidden Grounds, The Beginning of the Journey (2) After finishing her meal, Sia, as the party leader, accepted two simultaneous requests for subjugation near the Gold Zone. Then she suddenly disappeared. From Silver rank onwards, it becomes possible to take on two requests at the same time. ¡®At Gold rank, you can take up to three.¡¯ At Platinum rank, you can take five requests if you wish. The Diamond rank has no limit on numbers at all. Who would dare impose a restriction on the top adventurer in the world? ¡®Is it a request going to the Gold Zone?¡¯ After Kitan headed upstairs for a nap, Arzen glanced at the spot where the two had just been and thought, ¡®I¡¯ll need some information to make good use of those two.¡¯ Arzen approached a guild member who was sweeping the floor with a rolling pin. ¡°What¡¯s the situation around here? Hmm~ There used to be a lot of hunters, just like the locals who have taken root in the forest.¡± ¡°I thought there were more mines.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not recent; the situation changed quite a while ago. About 30 years ago? As you know, that was when the steam revolution occurred.¡± The steam revolution. It was a technological innovation achieved in the later years of the legendary Dwarf engineer, Frisbea. The steam gun technology that Jerome uses originates from that steam revolution. ¡°With the rising demand for coal to operate steam engines, mining areas were developed and flourished. Originally, they only mined iron ore¡­¡± As a result, local villages, where hunters were the majority, had almost no requests for goblin subjugation. In contrast, the mining villages formed by outsiders were flooded with subjugation requests plastered all over the status board. While listening to this, a senior guild member approached and playfully flicked the forehead of the sister cleaning. ¡°Hey! You still haven¡¯t cleaned this area?¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯ll do it right away! Adventurer, I have to go now.¡± Feeling a bit guilty for her reprimand, Arzen couldn¡¯t help but move on. He left the guild branch and wandered around the city of Euphoria. However, since it was a castle located in a rural area, the size of the houses was small, and there wasn¡¯t much to see. After finishing his sightseeing, Arzen exited the castle and entered an empty forest. ¡°This should be a good spot. Kaz tu Arcturas!¡± Since the number of Void Insects summoned depended on conditions, it was definitely a technique of the Void Insect type. ¡®Worker bees and their subordinate drones!¡¯ Seeing 30 Void Insects lined up instantly pleased him greatly. As the Void Insects appeared, the presence of life vanished. Everyone held their breath or ran away. ¡®Alright, let¡¯s go.¡¯ It was time to showcase Arzen¡¯s new technique. In that moment, the dark green glow flowing from the Void Insects¡¯ eyes amplified grotesquely. ¡®And then¡­?¡¯ The insects rushed toward the tree his fingertips pointed at and unleashed a vortex of annihilation. ¡®I can feel it! Drone No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, disappearing!¡¯ Indeed. The squadron of 30 Void Insects unleashed their bodies in a frenzy, spiraling into a dark green storm. The void storm that gnawed at the raw wood only stopped after leaving the massive trees grotesquely twisted and dried up. ¡®This technique¡­ is slightly different from the Void Insect techniques I¡¯ve learned so far!¡¯ This technique does not enhance or mutate the Void Insects; rather, it consumes them. ¡®More than anything, I like that it doesn¡¯t put as much strain on my body as Baralus does!¡¯ Though it did make him uneasy to sacrifice all the Void Insects, this would perfectly complement the lack of a powerful ranged technique he realized he needed during the last mining battle. ¡®What¡¯s the effective range? The power? With only 30, will it only gnaw at a massive tree halfway?¡¯ Arzen spent the entire day experimenting with La Tsi Qua. He summoned the Void Insects, sent them swirling, and then restored both his energy and spiritual power to summon them again, repeating the process. As a result, dusk began to creep into the forest. ¡®Got it. The power of La Tsi Qua depends on how many Void Insects I use¡­!¡¯ When the Void Squadron is at full strength, it¡¯s a finishing move, but as their numbers dwindle, it becomes a more ordinary ranged technique. ¡®But I¡¯m satisfied! Just having more options is a win! It¡¯s still a basic technique! The pages of the scripture are still so plentiful!¡¯ He liked the simplicity of it. The power of this technique increases as the number of Void Insects grows? It¡¯s easy to determine the direction of my training. ¡®Baralus, this devil is getting increasingly annoyed by the diversifying training with the Void Insects¡­!¡¯ No matter how much he rested, there was a limit to the amount of miraculous energy a person could use in a day. Arzen felt the weight of his limits. He thought his training could stop for now. He returned to the castle and quickly devoured two wild herb sandwiches. After looking around the castle, he realized the other party members had not shown their faces. ¡®These guys are already trying to ditch me¡­ Are they eating at some nice place without me?¡¯ The little ones seemed to be establishing their ranks in a very predictable way. ¡®But too bad! This Arzen won¡¯t be toppled so easily!¡¯ Still, he spent another hour wandering around and peeking inside buildings but did not encounter the little ones. Returning empty-handed to his lodging, he felt an emptiness inside. Not receiving evening flattery from the little ones bothered him a bit, but he decided to sleep because he was tired. ¡°Alright, time to sleep. I¡¯m so sleepy. Kaz tu Arcturas¡­ Worker bee, wake me up at dawn.¡± With a warm back and a full stomach, he felt drained of energy and tired, making it the perfect time for a nap. In the early autumn breeze, which painted the forest with colorful leaves, the boy soon began to breathe softly in his sleep. Above him, the curtain fluttered in the wind as the worker bee tied it back, blocking any disturbances that could disrupt the disciple''s sleep. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Buuuuuum¡­¡­ As the night deepened, the worker bee suddenly became alert, sensing the presence of a predator. The north wind filled the room with the scent of autumn¡­ And from its depths, the stench of blood began to seep through. * * * The worker bee¡¯s morning call was quite meticulous. Buuuum¡­ Buuuuuum¡­¡­ Buuuuuuuuuuum¡­¡­ The husky sound of flapping wings echoed in his ears. If Arzen didn¡¯t wake up, the sound would gradually grow louder and longer. ¡°Is it dawn, worker bee?¡± Arzen mumbled in his sleep. Buuuuuum¡­ The worker bee responded with a flap of its wings. ¡°Of course, if it¡¯s not dawn for you, there¡¯s no way you¡¯d wake me up.¡± Since it was dawn, there wouldn¡¯t be anyone in the shared washroom. He had the worker bee carry his toiletries (which could be bought as a set for five coins at the branch) and headed toward the washroom. ¡®Am I pushing it too hard?¡¯ A boss should have a certain dignity. Only then will those below him look up to him and follow. ¡°Even Platinum Rank 4 Olrat has never laid a hand on me directly. He always had his subordinates do it.¡± Arzen realized this from observing Olrat¡¯s behavior. Even for the pinnacle of trashy thugs, a ruler needs to possess a sense of dignity. That¡¯s why he decided to act similarly. ¡°Toothbrush.¡± ¡°Toothpaste.¡± ¡°Soap.¡± ¡°Towel.¡± Each time Arzen reached out, the worker bee carefully placed the toiletries into his hands. ¡®Perfect to the very end!¡¯ The worker bee, which had practically worn Arzen¡¯s old underwear, assisted with the entire process of getting dressed again when they returned to the dormitory. ¡°Good work today, worker bee. What do you want as a reward?¡± Buuuuuum¡­ ¡°You think just being able to serve me is a reward? Hahaha! Truly my right-hand man! Such a cute little fellow.¡± Arzen ruffled the soft and fluffy fur of the worker bee. When Void Insects are caught by Arzen, they almost come to a standstill, becoming docile like dolls. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This state of mind can occur when a boy in his adolescence becomes consumed by loneliness, so parents should be cautious. ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard. Go in and rest.¡± Arzen snugly tightened the Akahalu epidermis robe up to his chin and left the lodging. The old wooden planks creaked beneath his feet. Arzen was frustrated by the lazy bums next door, who were still sleeping at this hour, despite being made of steel or brass at best. To jolt them awake, he deliberately stomped his feet, making more noise. ¡®Wow~ so stubborn, huh? Can you really sleep at your rank? Huh? You think you can sleep?¡¯ It was infuriating that he had to get up early, while these guys were sleeping soundly. ¡®So this is¡­ encouragement.¡¯ It was a loving kick aimed at his future subordinates, who were sorely lacking. ¡°Damn, who the hell are you?¡± A muscular brute kicked the door open as if to break it down. The muscles were impressive. Compared to Barolus or La Tsui Kua, they wouldn¡¯t stand a chance, but before he could even chant, he felt like he would get knocked out by a punch. ¡°I¡¯m actually looking for him too, brother.¡± Thus, Arzen rubbed his eyes sleepily and expressed irritation, as though he had just been awakened from a dream. ¡°Ah, where is that bastard? The terrorist at this early hour!¡± One by one, the muscle-bound men emerged, weapons in hand. They looked ready to kill someone. Desperately maintaining the guise of a person chasing after the terrorist, Arzen scanned the stairs, pretending as if he had spotted the culprit. He then dashed down the steps with all his might. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t just stand there! You damned hoodlum! Brothers! I¡¯ll bring that vile guy back!¡± Of course, this was the escape route designed by Arzen, who ranked at the top of intelligence in a world of adventurers with an average IQ. ¡®Escape successful!¡¯ On the stair landing, there were messy boxes scattered about, with a few keys lying around. ¡®An unmanned return box¡­ The branch is so small that even this is haphazardly managed.¡¯ In Karshiko, there was a member of the guild present 24/7 for checkout. He casually tossed the keys inside and stepped out of the branch. As the season shifted to early autumn, it had gotten quite cold at dawn. On the Adrion continent, it wouldn''t start getting cold until mid-winter, so each of these little differences felt fascinating. ¡®It¡¯s cold, cold. I need to tighten my robe all the way up to my neck.¡¯ As he adjusted his attire in the chilly early autumn dawn, his party members were waiting for Arzen. Kitan was the first to appear. Seemingly still half-asleep, he rubbed his eyes with his fingers. However, upon seeing Arzen, he cheerfully waved his hand. ¡°Arzen, did you sleep well?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°I slept well too.¡± ¡°Who asked you?¡± ¡°I did.¡± ¡°Self-talk is acceptable, I guess.¡± Sia, true to her role as the anger delegate, frowned while looking at the map and yawned repeatedly. The last to arrive was Jerome. He dragged a cart filled with firearms and ammunition behind him. The sound of the wheels rolling across the ground echoed deeply in the early morning streets. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Jerome answered Arzen¡¯s question. ¡°We¡¯re heading quite a distance from the base. Since we won¡¯t be able to resupply for a while, I brought plenty. It¡¯s also necessary to relieve some fatigue.¡± As Sia folded the map in half and then again, tucking it into her pocket, she spoke. ¡°If we¡¯re going near the Golden Region, pushing a cart might be too much effort. Don¡¯t you have any heavy equipment?¡± ¡°Do you think I¡¯m weak like you guys? Just look at these arms. They¡¯re twice the size of yours.¡± ¡°Manuki¡± means ¡°monkey¡± and is a term used by the Dwarf to mock humans. That damn dwarf casually threw out a racist remark at the crack of dawn. He was quite a character. ¡°Hmph, if you make a whiny sound asking for help, you¡¯ll regret it.¡± Sia turned her body toward the north. Though no words were exchanged, Everyone naturally began to follow in her footsteps. Arzen¡­ found joy in that. Together with his party members. Setting off on a new adventure as if it were the most natural thing in the world. That unfamiliarity felt inexplicably fresh and wonderful. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 30: At the Forbidden Grounds, The Beginning of the Journey (3) [Translator - Kiteretsu][Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 30: At the Forbidden Grounds, The Beginning of the Journey (3) Arzen followed the party, crossing the northeast path. The early morning mist that had faintly brushed against their noses gradually lifted as the crimson dawn emerged. It wasn¡¯t exactly peaceful. Jerome kept grumbling every time the cart got stuck on a root or rock. ¡°Ugh, a road like this in the 16th century is beyond ridiculous. It¡¯s enough to make you curse. My hometown had paved roads everywhere more than a hundred years ago.¡± Without turning around, Sia, who was walking at the front with Kitan, replied, ¡°This whole area is designated as a restricted zone, so a lot of places are inconvenient to travel through.¡± ¡°Why is that?¡± ¡°If everyone could easily come and go, it wouldn¡¯t be called a ''restricted zone,'' would it? The idea is to make it as inaccessible as possible, starting with the surroundings.¡± ¡°Knowing that, and still accepting a job in this kind of place... if this was your way of taking out your anger on me, then I have to say I¡¯m impressed.¡± ¡°How should we deal with this Dwarf?¡± The party took six breaks each day. One for breakfast, snacks, lunch, snacks, dinner, and more snacks. Arzen narrowed his eyes. ¡°Why are there three snack times?¡± ¡°They¡¯re important to me, Arzen!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be surprised. I already cut it down from the original six snack times.¡± The food consisted of field rations¡ªcorn and jerky. For lunch, they managed to cook an oatmeal stew, but from dinner onwards, as they entered the operation zone, they couldn¡¯t light any fires. Sia sniffed the air and scrunched her nose. ¡°There¡¯s a smell of blood nearby. Let¡¯s camp here for the night and go hunt goblins at dawn.¡± Arzen, chewing on some jerky, glanced at Sia. ¡®What Kitan said is bothering me.¡¯ Apparently, her former party leader had been either a priest or a paladin. He wanted to ask her which miracles were better. But he held back, worried he might come across as too pathetic. ¡®All I need to do is start showing them the overwhelming worth of Arzen from now on!¡¯ Arzen was on the last night watch. Thus, he curled up in his blanket and quickly fell asleep. It must have been a long day, for fatigue weighed heavily on him. ¡°Arzen, Arzen, wake up.¡± He had only just closed his eyes, or so it seemed, when Sia shook him awake with her foot. He squinted. It still appeared to be the middle of the night, and he was annoyed. Arzen¡¯s watch didn¡¯t begin until 4 a.m., and with the moon high in the sky, it was far too early. Plus, if he remembered correctly, Sia was supposed to take the first watch. So there was only one reason. ¡°Do you want me to go to the bathroom with you? That¡¯s a bit... I¡¯m really tired. Can I be excused from this waste-related duty?¡± Arzen rubbed the large lump that had appeared on the top of his head as he sat up. With the sleepiness shaken off, the surroundings came into clearer view. Kitan and Jerome were already up, gathering their equipment. ¡°Can¡¯t you hear that sound?¡± Sia, sensing Arzen¡¯s confusion, jerked her chin toward the eastern forest path. ¡°Sound?¡± Arzen tilted his head and listened, then jumped in alarm. ¡°Heard it, faint but clear.¡± It was the sound of screams. Though the other noises were too far to make out, the varied pitches suggested a sizable group. ¡°Could it be goblins...?¡± At Arzen¡¯s muttering, Sia nodded. ¡°If they¡¯re causing this much havoc, it¡¯s probably not goblins, but if we help in a raid like this, the contribution payout is 1.8 times the usual.¡± ¡°!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hurry before someone else gets ahead of us.¡± Arzen whistled softly to himself. ¡®As expected, this woman¡¯s ability to manipulate is on par with mine¡ªmaybe even better!¡¯ In a world where it¡¯s easier to trust those who are straightforward, it''s often people like her who earn trust in this field. ¡®The contribution system was originally created to distinguish adventurers from mercenaries.¡¯ It was supposed to measure if adventurers were genuinely helping others¡­ but in reality, it''s become a tool for people like them to exploit. ¡®Honestly, this is nothing compared to what the Divine Guillotine gang used to do... They¡¯d deliberately lure monsters toward villages just to stage a situation like this.¡¯ The system certainly needed reform. However, since the benefits outweighed the negatives, no one dared touch it. In short, it was easier to trust someone who¡¯s honest about their instincts than someone who pretends to be altruistic with empty ideals. ¡°Hold on.¡± Kitan, who was leading the way, suddenly crouched down. The rest of the group immediately followed suit, lowering their shoulders. ¡°There¡¯s a fort ahead. Goblins inside.¡± ¡°A fort?¡± ¡°That¡¯s interesting. It¡¯s my first time seeing one.¡± By human standards, it was a pitiful excuse for a fort. It was about as tall as Sia, and barely large enough to fit the four of them inside. It was more of a watchtower than a proper fort. Still, it was shocking that goblins had constructed something like that at all. ¡°What¡¯s the deal? Are they blocking the path? What about going around?¡± At Arzen¡¯s question, Kitan pointed to either side of the fort with his dagger. ¡°They¡¯ve set traps. See? The dirt isn¡¯t the same as the surface soil¡ªit¡¯s from underground. Plus, the way the leaves are scattered looks off, like they¡¯ve been deliberately placed. Step there, and the ground will collapse.¡± How would anyone notice that, you crazy fool? Still, if he said so, it was true. Kitan wasn¡¯t the type to lie or exaggerate. ¡°So, basically, we just need to destroy it, right? Let¡¯s show these goblins, with their primitive construction, that Dwarven engineering is the best in the world.¡± As Jerome began assembling his rifle, Sia raised a hand. ¡°Wait, let¡¯s take it slow. Gunfire¡¯s too noisy.¡± ¡°What do you suggest?¡± ¡°Ahem, ahem, hmhm, heh-hrm!¡± Arzen cleared his throat theatrically, drawing everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°You? You¡¯re going to handle it?¡± Sia¡¯s gaze held a knowing look, as if it was obvious that Arzen would step up. He felt a thrilling sense of superiority. ¡®There¡¯s no way she would¡¯ve asked her old party leader for something like this.¡¯ What mattered more than the request itself was establishing a distinctive image. ¡®Little by little, I¡¯ll make sure that no one can be satisfied without , Arzen!¡¯ There¡¯s only one healer in the world who can wield the ¡ª*me*, Arzen! ¡°I don¡¯t know your name, I don¡¯t know your face, but I¡¯ve definitely won this round!¡± Engulfed in overwhelming superiority, Arzen cheerfully chanted the words of the Void''s invocation. ¡°Kaz tu Arcturas! Come forth, my worker bees!¡± At his command, the Void tore through dimensions, summoning entities from the depths of oblivion. ¡®A fort like that¡­ three will do just fine.¡¯ He called forth exactly three void bees and closed the dimensional rift. ¡°Handle it.¡± The worker bees, trained for battle, commanded their swarm from the air, moving into a vertical dive unseen by the goblins below. Kitan and Jerome whistled in admiration. ¡°Wow, they attack like that?¡± ¡°They seem intelligent.¡± It wasn¡¯t long after the Void creatures infiltrated the watchtower when a silent scream reverberated across the area. Kitan, sensing something, suddenly straightened up. ¡°They¡¯re all dead. The presences vanished instantly! Arzen, that¡¯s incredible!¡± The worker bees returned to Arzen, landing delicately on his outstretched finger. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With the combat still ongoing, he decided to maintain the summoning. ¡°What in the world¡­¡± Meanwhile, Sia squinted at the decimated remains of the watchtower. She wasn¡¯t surprised by the void creatures consuming flesh¡ªit wasn¡¯t the first time she¡¯d seen it. But there were no goblin corpses left behind, only their weapons remained. Sia picked up one of the weapons and tossed it to Jerome. ¡°This¡­ is a sword, right?¡± ¡°Bronze. Pricier and rarer than iron.¡± ¡°Exactly. There¡¯s no way they stole this. And judging by their armor, even though it¡¯s shabby¡­ were they wearing fur armor?¡± Goblins lacked any semblance of culture, let alone forging capabilities, so they typically used stone weapons. Even when variants wielded iron weapons, those were usually stolen from humans, not something they crafted themselves. But these¡­ these weapons and armor were perfectly suited to goblin hands and bodies, as if custom-made. That shouldn''t be possible. ¡°The other weapons are obsidian. They aren¡¯t designed for killing but for wounding. The bronze must have belonged to a commander.¡± ¡°A commander? Goblins don¡¯t have commanders.¡± ¡°And goblins don¡¯t normally build watchtowers either, do they?¡± The party realized something was off. Without a word of instruction, their pace quickened. Every time Kitan spotted a watchtower, Arzen¡¯s void creatures silently massacred the goblins within. By the time they had cleared three watchtowers, a village came into view. Flames were rising from several parts of it. ¡°The number of goblins seems about the same as last time,¡± Kitan observed. Sia placed her hand on the hilt of her executioner¡¯s sword. ¡°Yeah, but there weren¡¯t any wearing armor and wielding weapons like this last time, except for the three variants.¡± In the village¡¯s center stood a glowing blue barrier. Goblins surrounded it, repeatedly striking at the shield. At the center of the barrier stood a figure dressed in blue robes and a pointed hat. A witch. The Yellow Witches enter the political scene. The Red Witches handle national defense and law enforcement. Unlike them, the Blue Witches serve in rural areas, tending to everyday life¡ªhealing the sick, assisting with childbirth, and teaching children to read. This is the duty of a Blue Witch. ¡°Hard to believe¡­ are those really goblins?¡± Arzen raised an eyebrow. ¡°Maybe they¡¯ve only just started to gain power? There don¡¯t seem to be any variants. Still, with those numbers, this should be entertaining.¡± Sia, licking her lips in a mix of madness and anticipation, looked strangely captivating even in her bloodlust. Her sword scabbard had been modified with a hole on the side, making it easier to draw and swing in one fluid motion. Using this design, Sia unsheathed her executioner¡¯s sword in an instant, charging forward. The goblins¡¯ reaction to the uninvited guests was distinctly different from that of ordinary goblins. ¡°KieeeeeAkkkKKKKKK!¡± It wasn¡¯t a panicked shriek. It was a commanding cry from a goblin who appeared to be their leader, one distinguished by its superior armament. At its signal, the goblins moved with precision and coordination. ¡°Kiiiiii!¡± ¡°Kieeee!¡± Jerome calmly and swiftly assembled his gun, aiming it at the approaching goblins without needing to say a word. Arzen, a veteran who had served under the , was already prepared. ¡®Pathetic, worthless goblins, witness the brilliance that once ruled the heavens of the adventurer world!¡¯ With hands clasped in fervent prayer and an incantation whispered in desperation, a heavenly echo descended upon the battlefield. ¡°¡¶Dawn¡¯s Touch¡·.¡± This ability had a smaller range than the ¡¶Shield of Radiance¡· but made up for it with the speed at which the barrier moved, making it ideal for protecting a single target. ¡®The target for protection is¡­ Sia!¡¯ Once Jerome confirmed the golden barrier enveloping Sia, he pulled the trigger without hesitation. Drrrrr¡­ tatatatatatata! No matter how heavily armed they were, these goblins could not withstand the rain of bullets, a pinnacle of modern technology. Goblin troops were shredded apart, reduced to flesh, brains, and blood as they fell in a cascade of death. Sia stormed into the frenzy, her executioner¡¯s sword slicing through ten goblins in one swing. ¡°One! Two! Three! Ahahaha!¡± With each slash, several goblins were ripped apart, screaming as blood spurted into the air. The splattered blood evaporated the moment it touched the surface of the golden barrier. The barrier moved in tandem with Arzen¡¯s hands, following Sia¡¯s every step. Though her movements seemed linear, they were deceptively dynamic, making it more difficult than anticipated to keep up. ¡°They¡¯re coming from the side. You see them?¡± Jerome called out. With a nod from Arzen, the worker bee split the void creatures into two groups. ¡®One worker bee handles the left, while the remaining two cover the right!¡¯ Even with just that number, the void creatures, natural predators of life, would slaughter dozens of goblins effortlessly. ¡°I¡¯ll need to reload,¡± Jerome remarked as steam hissed from the overheated barrel of his Gatling gun. But reloading seemed unnecessary¡ªmost of the goblins had already been taken care of. As the worker bees returned, Arzen finally dispelled the barrier. All that remained were bloodstains and ragged loincloths scattered across the ground, marking the goblins who had been erased from existence. "Two Void Bees disappeared during the battle? Well, they¡¯ve done more than enough." Kitan commented while slashing through goblins with his dagger, replacing the Void Bees that had been handling the right flank. ¡°They¡¯re trying to escape.¡± Sia spun in midair, blocking the path of the goblins fleeing into the forest. Her hair and face were slick with goblin blood and flesh, yet she giggled darkly¡ªan absolute nightmare incarnate for the goblins. ¡°Where do you think you''re going? We¡¯re not done playing yet. I¡¯m still not satisfied.¡± Sia¡¯s maniacal laughter and the dull sound of her beheading sword cleaving through bodies echoed through the night, as the goblins¡¯ sorrowful screams mixed with the bloodstained moonlight. --- ¡°Everyone! Are you safe?¡± Seizing the opportunity, Arzen rushed toward the barrier, breathless. ''These guys in Sia''s party are just stepping stones!'' Now that the witch had appeared, he needed to get ahead of them and make a strong impression¡ªraise his contribution. ¡°I-I¡¯m so relieved¡­ I thought it was dangerous, so I came as fast as I could¡­ It¡¯s a relief, truly¡­¡± Arzen feigned tears, and the people inside the barrier started sniffling. ¡°To think we have such a brave young man!¡± ¡°He¡¯s an adventurer at that age?¡± ¡°No, no, he¡¯s a priest! I saw him perform a miracle!¡± Around fifty villagers had survived. ¡°No need to cry, we¡¯re grateful just for you showing up.¡± The witch finally lowered the barrier and collapsed onto the ground. ¡°Thank you¡­ If you hadn¡¯t come¡­¡± ''This is too easy¡­'' By the time Arzen had finished his little performance, the battle was also wrapping up. Sia approached, wiping off the caked blood and grease from her beheading sword with an oil-soaked cloth. ¡°We¡¯re from the Adventurer¡¯s Guild. I¡¯m a Silver-tier adventurer. Is this the village that submitted the request?¡± Once the villagers and the witch saw Sia¡¯s silver-tier badge, their attitudes completely changed. ¡®Do I need a rank upgrade?¡¯ Arzen puffed out his cheeks in frustration. ¡®She doesn¡¯t even use honorifics with the witch, and yet she¡¯s instantly trusted!¡¯ Since Sia wasn¡¯t from the Republic¡ªshe was a Westerner¡ªthere was no need for her to speak formally to the witch, and the witch didn¡¯t seem to mind. But the way trust and rapport built without any effort rubbed Arzen the wrong way. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why start those fires? It¡¯s a complete misstep.¡± Sia questioned, and the witch sighed heavily. ¡°We didn¡¯t set those. The goblins did¡­¡± ¡°Come on, goblins attack in the dead of night. They don¡¯t use fire tactics.¡± ¡°These weren¡¯t just any goblins. I¡¯ve seen it in books¡­ They¡¯re Elder Goblins.¡± Sia raised her eyebrows and looked back at her companions, then suddenly burst out laughing. ¡°Elder Goblins? You must be really tired, or maybe you¡¯re trying to lighten the mood with a joke. Elder Kitan sounds scarier.¡± Jerome stroked his beard. ¡°Why waste that title on someone like Kitan? From now on, call my gun the Elder Gatling Gun.¡± ¡°Elder Gatling Gun? That¡¯s awesome! I want to be Elder Kitan!¡± Arzen stood with his arms crossed, deep in thought. ¡®Elder? Elder Void Bee? Whoa! That¡¯s a pretty cool name!¡¯ He made a mental note to give the ¡°Elder¡± prefix to any future powerful Void creature he came across. ¡°This isn¡¯t a joke! I¡¯m serious!¡± The witch suddenly snapped, causing the group to stifle their laughter and fall silent. ¡°Those creatures came out of the Forbidden Zone. Something¡¯s definitely happened inside¡­ We need to investigate.¡± ¡°You want to go in? Isn¡¯t that dangerous? It¡¯s the Forbidden Zone!¡± ¡°Of course. I¡¯m a witch. Back in my apprentice days, I used to run errands for ¡®Him,¡¯ delivering necessities and food there.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s ¡®Him¡¯?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t tell you. It¡¯s classified information regarding the Forbidden Zone. But how did you all get here? The goblins had completely fortified the area around this village. One person who tried to go to the guild for help returned mortally wounded and is barely hanging on.¡± ¡°The two kids in my party handled it together.¡± Sia gestured toward Arzen and Kitan with her chin. ¡°They¡¯re good at navigating, quick at setting up barriers, and the duration is long. You can tell quality when you see it.¡± ¡°So, every Silver-tier adventurer is reliable, huh?¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to say? They¡¯re in my party.¡± ¡°Alright then, I¡¯m issuing you a special request. Escort me to the Forbidden Zone. Just point out the route you took to my villagers; it should be safe. I¡¯ll request your success fee from the Witch¡¯s Association.¡± Arzen almost drooled in excitement. ¡®Yes! A major job just landed in our laps!¡¯ Sia, just as pleased, snapped her fingers with a grin. ¡®See? Whenever this right arm starts tingling, it means we¡¯re about to land a big catch.¡¯ She pulled out a contract form from her pouch. ¡°Jerome, hand me the pen.¡± ¡°Here you go.¡± ¡°Alright, sign the contract, please.¡± The witch accepted the pen and paper with an exasperated expression. ¡°This is a serious emergency, and you¡¯re still doing this by the book?¡± ¡°These things need to be clear. We earn our keep this way. Also, you wanted us to show the villagers a safe path, right? That means Kitan needs to mark the map. There were traps all over the place.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Look, Kitan¡¯s already working on it. All you need to do is hurry up and sign.¡± The witch bit her lip and pointed towards the outskirts of the village. ¡°Fine. Let¡¯s head to my hut first. That¡¯s where I keep a map of the Forbidden Zone. I just hope it¡¯s still intact¡­¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 31: At the Forbidden Grounds, The Beginning of the Journey (4) [Translator - Kiteretsu][Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 31: At the Forbidden Grounds, The Beginning of the Journey (4) Fortunately, the witch¡¯s hut was safe and sound. The Blue Witch¡¯s hut was a treasure trove of herbs and teaching materials. With protective barriers constantly in place, it was no surprise that it remained intact. Yuz The name signed on the contract was Yuz. After signing the request form, the witch brought out a map of the Forbidden Grounds from her hut. Apparently having nothing more to hide, she spread the map open in front of the party. "The Blood Forest is a very complicated path. If you go straight from here toward the Forbidden Grounds, you¡¯ll reach a place called . It¡¯s like the entrance to the forest." The map depicted something closer to a labyrinth than a forest. However, Yuz traced her finger across the pathways skillfully as she continued her explanation. "From there, if you keep going straight... you¡¯ll come across ." "And what¡¯s that?" "It serves as the gate to the barrier. It¡¯s the only way to access the deeper layers of the barrier." Arzen asked, "What¡¯s inside the deeper layers?" "*Velterek Lake*. Sorry, I can¡¯t tell you more than that. But this is the place we need to reach. How long will it take?" Kitan had already begun memorizing the map. Sia seemed to be calculating the route in her head. Arzen spoke on behalf of everyone, "Given the distance and the dangers involved, we should assume it''ll take at least five days..." Sia and Jerome raised their eyebrows at Arzen. ¡®Five days? Why five days?¡¯ ¡®It won¡¯t take that long.¡¯ Yuz looked the most baffled. "Five days? We can¡¯t afford to take that long." "It¡¯s scary! There are so many goblins around! Eeek!" What a con artist! But unfortunately, the lessons Arzen learned from the mostly involved such tactics. To survive as an adventurer, it seemed necessary to approach things this way. ¡®Besides, she¡¯s the Blue Witch... unlike the Red Witch, she hasn¡¯t mastered any combat spells!¡¯ Without combat skills, she¡¯d naturally end up in a weaker position in these kinds of high-stakes situations. "Ahh! I¡¯m so scared! Eeek!" Arzen covered his face with both hands, pretending to cry, while peeking through his fingers to gauge the witch¡¯s expression, adjusting his wails accordingly. Jerome and Sia exchanged satisfied glances, recognizing the devious look in Arzen¡¯s eyes. ¡®Huh, he¡¯s got some skill.¡¯ ¡®Not a bad negotiation.¡¯ Sia, who was just as good at bluffing and scheming as Arzen, quickly joined in on the act. "We were already exhausted by the time we got here, and we used up all our energy helping you." "?" "Of course, if more of that adventurer¡¯s universal recovery potion¡ªmoney¡ªcame our way, we might feel differently." "!" "Depending on how much is deposited, we might finish the task in three days, maybe even two, you know... that sort of thing." Yuz let out a long sigh. "Fine... the amount will depend on the gravity of the situation, and the Association will adjust the payment. Is that enough? Now hurry, we don¡¯t have time to waste." Beyond the Forbidden Grounds, The Dawn of the Journey (4) There was no need to prepare any further. The party followed the witch for nearly an hour along a narrow path, eventually entering the Forbidden Grounds. Ropes adorned with golden threads were tied between the trunks of the giant trees. It didn¡¯t feel sacred; instead, it gave off a rather eerie atmosphere. "Beyond these golden threads lies the Forbidden Grounds." Arzen felt a sense of curiosity as he ran his fingers over the fragments of holy texts that were regularly attached to the golden ropes. "Golden threads... I learned that they¡¯re used by fairies to maintain miracles continuously. Humans don¡¯t usually use something like this." Sia¡¯s lips curled into a slight smirk at Arzen¡¯s words. "It¡¯s probably related to the fairies. You¡¯re from the south, so you might not know, but most of the Forbidden Grounds on the Akhrad Continent are surrounded by these golden threads." "Really?" On the Adrion Continent, the Forbidden Grounds were controlled by the Red Dragon Legion and the Red Pilgrims. "Yeah, most of the newly established Forbidden Grounds were set up by the White Dragon Legion, so it¡¯s to be expected, right?" "Whoa." "I told you, there¡¯s money to be made here. Since we¡¯ll be fighting soon, let¡¯s take a quick break." During the rest, Yuz, the witch, seemed visibly anxious, nervously tapping her foot and biting her nails. Sia spoke up, "Hey, witch. I get that you want to keep information about the Forbidden Ground under wraps, but wouldn¡¯t it be better to share at least the crucial details?" "Crucial details?" "What we need to be careful about." "Originally, there wasn¡¯t much to worry about. If you wandered off the path, you¡¯d just get bounced outside the barrier, so that¡¯s all you had to watch for... But now, the main thing to be cautious of is the Elder Goblins. I can tell you as much as you want about them." At that moment, Kitan, who had been chewing on jerky, suddenly raised his hand and shouted, "I am Elder Kitan!" "Even though I¡¯m serious! Listen, the Elder Goblins are incredibly strong. They even established their own kingdom." To understand Elder Goblins, one must first delve into the history of the Mythic Era. When the Lords of Light, known as , banished the Abyssal True Kings, , the world entered a new dawn of creation. "The Elder Goblins rose up during that time. When the kings disappeared, they tried to seize power for themselves. Unlike the goblins you see today, their strength is on a completely different level, as they survived under the rule of the ." Arzen tilted his head in confusion. "So, these goblins are about 1,500 years old?" "Exactly." "How in the world did goblins from 1,500 years ago show up again? Does that even make sense?" Yuz scratched her head awkwardly. "Well, I¡¯m not sure... but anyway, they¡¯re Elder Goblins! Don¡¯t underestimate them, got it? Alright, we¡¯ve rested enough. Let¡¯s move." With a sigh, Sia grabbed her decapitation sword and stood up. "This is like dealing with a terrible employer. Can¡¯t we at least get a proper break?" "Even after we agreed to triple the payment, you''re still complaining?" The golden threads were supposed to produce a barrier so powerful that even Arzen couldn¡¯t break through. But that was no longer the case. The ropes were frayed and broken in various places, rendering the barrier completely ineffective. Yuz crossed over the golden thread first, and the party followed behind her. ¡®This single golden thread separates this side of the forest from that side...¡¯ But once they crossed it, it felt like the entire atmosphere of the forest had changed. Not just the feeling¡ª the forest itself was truly deteriorating. The sound of axes chopping echoed relentlessly from all directions. Kitan, who had quietly tracked the source of the sound, let out a scream of horror. "Whaaat the hell, the goblins are chopping down trees!" Dozens of goblins were viciously hacking at the giant trees with axes. It wasn''t just a fit of rage; they were neatly stacking the chopped trees and moving them somewhere. "Look at that! Those are iron axes!" A goblin, who seemed to be supervising his subordinates, turned his gaze toward them. In that instant, Jerome''s Gatling gun erupted with a burst of steam. "Kiiee!" In an instant, dozens of goblins were reduced to grotesque heaps of flesh. "Oh dear, it seems that this new technology might be too stimulating for the Elder Goblins." There was a hint of mockery in Jerome''s eloquent wording, directed at the adjective "Elder." Arzen didn¡¯t like that. No, that wasn¡¯t it. The gun needed to be reloaded, and he had to carry all that heavy machinery and steam engine with him. Alternating between the holy texts and the gun, Arzen grinned, feeling a sense of superiority. "Hey, witch. Is this place called ?" In response to Sia''s question, Kitan answered instead of Yuz. "No, we need to go further this way." "What do you mean? This is the way." Although Yuz rebutted, all the party members were following Kitan. Sia spoke, "Kitan''s path is definitely the right one. You said it was urgent, right? Let¡¯s go." The shortcut Kitan led them on skillfully avoided the eyes of the goblins transporting the wood. When they finally arrived at without any obstructions, Arzen couldn''t help but gape. It was indeed a fortress. The logs were stacked up to two meters high, piled on top of each other like a massive structure. "What I saw earlier was just a watchtower?" Sia frowned in disbelief. "No way, goblins building a ¡®fortress¡¯? I thought you said they were Elder Goblins; unlike the ''fortress'' goblins, they really built a ¡®fortress¡¯?" The party members opened their eyes wide in disbelief and stared intently at Sia. "Sia, is this how you vent your anger today?" "Hah, you should just leave this party." "You crazy little¡ª" Sia''s face flushed as she cleared her throat repeatedly. "Jerome, can you destroy it all with your gun?" "Are you trying to change the subject and escape? You sound like a magic monkey." "Ugh, sorry!" "Hmm, since it¡¯s a wall made of logs unlike the fortress goblins, I suppose we¡¯ll need to dump half of the iron shots into it." "That would be quite a loss." The goblins atop the fortress were wearing strange masks and suddenly began spinning their slingshots. "Kit, kit, kiiee!" Slingshot. A primitive throwing weapon. If supported by skill, its power rivals that of the strongest weapons. ¡°In the name of the ashen lotus and the rune of tranquility, I command you to arrive with the power of protection! Elbisc!¡± The blue witch¡¯s spell soon enveloped the entire party in a blue circle. This was a barrier spell! The haphazard barrage of the goblins¡¯ slingshots was completely blocked by the barrier. ¡°Oh, it seems that a professional is indeed a professional.¡± Jerome exclaimed in admiration. Sia nodded her head. ¡°She looks to be in her mid to late twenties, so she probably became an official early on, and her skills must be solid.¡± Yuz said, wiping the sweat from his brow. ¡°I didn¡¯t write that for you to admire! You¡¯ve got a method, right? You¡¯re silver-ranked after all.¡± At that moment, Arzen stepped forward. He had already recited the initial incantation, known as ¡°Kaz to Arkturas.¡± The void bugs were rapidly unfolding into this dimension. ¡°Go, worker ant! Move the void creatures to that position!¡± It was time to showcase a new technique. ¡®Perhaps this is the technique that was destined for this moment!¡¯ There was no better setup than this. ¡®If I can¡¯t seize this opportunity, I won¡¯t be able to reach the future golden rank!¡¯ Once the void creatures reached their target position and spread out as wide as possible, Arzen shouted. ¡°Ra Tsui Kua!¡± The apostle¡¯s command thoroughly negated the ontological status of the void minions. Life is about the attachment to living, instinctively preserving strength for tomorrow. However, at that moment! The void beings began to overheat, not preserving their lifespan, but instead going into a frenzy. ¡®The swarm of void creatures, emitting a dark green light from their entire bodies... in the next moment, they whirl and explode!¡¯ As the swarm of void creatures decomposed into void matter and created a whirlwind, the moment it hit the fortress wall. The void whirlwind, a blend of annihilation and pressure, engulfed everything in its vicinity. The power of the void, which devoured the very essence of the target, tore apart a corner of the fortress wall and swallowed the goblins on top. ¡®What is that power? Summoning magic?¡¯ Yuz raised an eyebrow. Summoning magic has diversified over the history of magic, with various branches of summoned beings. As such, it¡¯s challenging for anyone who isn¡¯t an expert to grasp the fundamentals immediately. ¡®No, but there¡¯s something different about it for it to be called magic; it seems like the incantation is more akin to a spell or miracle...¡¯ However, even Arzen did not know the origins of the void runes. Naturally, it was impossible for the witch to discern their nature either. ¡°Wow, Arzen is amazing!¡± As Kitan expressed his admiration, Sia dashed forward. ¡°The log wall isn¡¯t completely collapsed, but it¡¯s lost its cohesion and is a mess. If I hit it with my beheading sword, I could break through!¡± Crack! Just like that, the log shattered splendidly, opening a path to the other side of the fortress. ¡°Great, we¡¯ve opened a path! This way!¡± But crossing over the fortress wouldn¡¯t be that easy. If the goblins had only been slingshotting, breaking through wouldn¡¯t have been difficult. But the problem was the rush of psychic energy that surged in the next moment. ¡°This, this is!¡± At the moment when the mist of thoughts was about to envelop everyone. ¡°Here, how about the Shield of Radiance?¡± Arzen activated the miraculous light in front of him, parting the mist to the sides. ¡°Is it sorcery? A dark mage? If that¡¯s the case, the commission fee will skyrocket.¡± Kitan commented. The witch shook her head vigorously. ¡°No, that¡¯s a goblin shaman! Over there!¡± In fact, some goblins dressed in ragged robes were playing flutes and beating drums, swaying their bodies. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Wow, a goblin shaman. I¡¯m terrified.¡± Sia laughed. Jerome chuckled too. ¡°Where are the goblin gunslingers?¡± Arzen joined in the laughter. ¡°Isn¡¯t a goblin swordmaster even scarier?¡± At that moment, a rustling sound came from the bushes across the fortress. Jerome, as if he had been waiting, aimed his gun and pulled the trigger. Tu-da-da-da-da... Ti-di-di-ding! The sound of impact was strange. It wasn¡¯t the sound of flesh being sliced. Wasn¡¯t it the sound of metal bouncing off metal? ¡°Ki-iiih...!¡± What emerged from the bushes was... well, there was no need to explain further. It was a goblin. But it was peculiar. Gripped in both hands was a special sword, whether made of iron or stone, and its appearance was truly intimidating. ¡°A goblin swordmaster...!¡± Yuz shouted in a panicked voice. Sia aimed her beheading sword at the goblin swordmaster. ¡°It¡¯s about the same height as Kitan, isn¡¯t it? Indeed, to become a swordmaster, a goblin must be a mutant? This is going to be interesting.¡± Arzen screamed in disbelief at the absurdity of the unfolding situation. ¡°No, what the hell, why is that thing actually real?!¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 32: At the Forbidden Grounds, The Beginning of the Journey (5) [Translator - Kiteretsu][Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 32: At the Forbidden Grounds, The Beginning of the Journey (5) Sia and the goblin swordmaster charged at each other and clashed. Sia''s executioner''s sword was powerful yet heavy, while the goblin''s twin swords were nimble and fast. Sia¡¯s sword couldn¡¯t keep up with the goblin''s speed, and the goblin¡¯s blades couldn¡¯t penetrate Sia¡¯s armor. ¡°I can¡¯t focus only on that guy! They''re swarming in from all sides!¡± Kitan shouted. Jerome was already wildly firing his Gatling gun. ¡®Guns are the spears of this age!¡¯ Whether they were elder goblins or shaman goblins, if they were goblins, they would all be torn to shreds. Except for the goblin swordmaster. ¡®If I want to break through here, I have to take that guy down first¡­¡¯ Arzen thought. ¡®But with that speed, he might be faster than the void insects?¡¯ What if he ordered a flanking attack on the void insects? The goblin would quickly escape. And he would keep pursuing. ¡®The thought of such a guy continually chasing after us is infuriating, no matter how I think about it.¡¯ It was best to exclude him. In that case, he could just overwhelm the goblins with his strategies and skills that were beyond their reach. Suddenly, Arzen darted out of the witch''s barrier and rolled around. ¡°Ugh, the backlash from using miracles! It hurts! My head! Aaaah! My head, my head!¡± ¡°Ki-iiih!¡± The goblin swordmaster reacted to that. Goblins are embodiments of strength and weakness. They have no interest in reveling in fights against the strong. Targeting what they can kill right now is no different from the sand goblins of the Adrion continent. As the goblin swordmaster charged at him, Arzen suddenly lifted his head and grinned. ¡°You¡¯ve fallen for it, goblin swordmaster.¡± ¡°Ki-iiih?¡± ¡°Honestly, how foolish of you to challenge me, Arzen!¡± The swordmaster''s blade, which had struck at high speed, was soon split in half and flew through the air. What was that? What had blocked it? No, it wasn¡¯t blocked! It was as if his void insect had gnawed away at the middle of the blade in that instant, cutting it apart. ¡°Your physical abilities are impressive, but your intelligence is that of a lowly monster!¡± Dreaming of escape was out of the question. He had already deployed eight void insects around him. ¡°Receive this successive finishing move! Finishing move, La Tsi Qua!¡± Originally, La Tsi Qua was a miracle that summoned void insects and activated by charging forward. ¡®What if I change the approach here? Instead of charging, if I set up the void insects in advance like a surround?¡¯ By omitting all that preparation time, he could use the ¡°storm of the void¡± quickly. ¡°Ki, kiiiih¡­!¡± Even the elder goblin variant felt primal fear from the void insects, which was excellent information. The goblin swordmaster leaped. To escape the storm of the void, he concentrated solely on the jump, giving up everything else. ¡°Do you think it will be that easy?!¡± Just then, two daggers struck his back. ¡°Whoa, just like Arzen said, he really showed a gap!¡± It was Kitan¡¯s dagger throw. As he was pierced by the daggers, the goblin swordmaster slowed down, and Sia¡¯s executioners sword came crashing down with a heavy sound. It crushed the goblin''s flesh, organs, and bones, embedding them into the fortress wall. ¡°Kitan, now that the distraction is gone, take the lead!¡± Sia shouted after finishing off the goblin swordmaster. ¡°This way!¡± After dispelling the barrier, the witch Yuz mounted her broom and followed Kitan, swallowing hard. ¡®These adventurers seem so casual, but each one is unbelievably strong! No, maybe they just work well together?¡¯ Jerome, running from the back, suddenly stopped occasionally to spray bullets from his Gatling gun. Every time he did, a scream echoed. The goblins were small in stature and couldn¡¯t keep up with the stamina and speed of humans. Thus, stopping to halt the pursuit was very effective in creating distance. ¡°Where''s next? What was it called again?¡± Sia asked. The witch answered, ¡° .¡± Kitan, who was leading the way swinging his jungle sword, flicked a few stones off his hand. He occasionally tossed them here and there. Every time, a goblin pitfall trap was triggered. ¡°Hmm~ The method of creating and hiding traps is pretty much the same for both ancient goblins and modern ones. Is that all goblins think about?¡± As they gradually entered deeper into the forest, the trees appeared stark and withered. Why had all the leaves fallen? The autumn leaves being trampled underfoot didn¡¯t crunch; they seemed to have rotted and become mushy from the rain. ¡°This is a bit strange.¡± Arzen frowned, and Jerome nodded in agreement. ¡°Yeah, it is strange. It¡¯s still early autumn; the leaves shouldn¡¯t have decayed like this yet.¡± They arrived at around that time. Instead of a fortress, enormous goblins were chopping down trees. They were goblins about the size of Sia. At that size, it would be no exaggeration to call them giant goblins. ¡°Thanks to the goblin swordmaster, it¡¯s time to recover the pride of our firearms.¡± Jerome¡¯s Gatling gun whirred furiously, spraying bullets everywhere. The large goblins moved slowly, but that didn¡¯t mean their bodies were tough. The bullets concentrated on their ankles soon rendered them crippled, causing them to roll on the ground. Kitan and Sia took turns finishing them off. ¡°How much farther do we have to go?¡± ¡°Just a bit more.¡± No matter how ancient the goblins were, they couldn¡¯t compete with an A-rank adventurer party. Only goblin swordmasters could pose a threat, but such ones seemed to be quite rare. Thus, the party delved into the depths of the barrier through . And as they headed toward , all the goblins they encountered met the same fate. ¡®This is a complete honey pot.¡¯ As the end came into sight, the party members exchanged smiles that conveyed this meaning. ¡®With this level of difficulty and this much contribution, you can¡¯t easily find this anywhere!¡¯ However¡­ the moment they arrived at , they realized something was off. ¡°A lake¡­?¡± ¡°Is there really a lake in a place like this¡­?¡± ¡°But the water quality is like some filthy sewage, and it¡¯s so dark green¡­?¡± The lake''s water was indeed putrid enough to be called rotten. A foul odor wafted up. Yet¡­ there was something that starkly contrasted with that horrible stench and color. ¡®A dazzlingly bright formation of pure light.¡¯ In other words, a magic circle was rotating above it. ¡°Seven layers? A seven-layer magic circle?!¡± Seven layers meant it was a level seven magic. Only a wizard who had ascended to the rank of a great sage could wield level seven magic. It was the pinnacle of magical arts. ¡°Only three beings have ever reached the seventh level! The first wizard, Emithsa Page, the dragonborn Rain Ludwig, and the storm sorcerer Setsunen!¡± If Sia knew that knowledge, she could roughly guess the power of that magic circle. ¡°But that seven-layer magic circle¡­ looks like it¡¯s about to break apart!¡± At that moment, Jerome saw something lodged in the center of the magic circle. ¡°Is it because of that? I can''t tell which came first¡ªthe cause or the effect.¡± The dimension above was torn apart. It was as if a living creature was weeping and screaming¡­ such a crack had formed. Arzen was alarmed. It resembled a void crack. ¡®A dimensional rift?¡¯ When using the power of the void, creatures from the void would emerge from such gaps. However, from that place, Elder Goblins were continuously pouring out. Then, Yuz looked down at the lakeshore and covered her mouth. ¡°Oh no, this can¡¯t be¡­ I didn¡¯t think it would come to this.¡± There were corpses. No, there were traces of death that had even left no corpses behind. A noble fabric, a silk robe of exquisite quality, lay soaked in a puddle of dried blood. ¡°¡­!¡± At that moment, Arzen didn¡¯t focus on the fabric¡¯s quality but rather on the signs of death. The area around it had caved in like a pit. It was evidence that an abnormal entity was nearby. ¡°That thing, we need to seal that crack!¡± Then Yuz snapped back to reality and shouted. ¡°How?!¡± At Sia¡¯s words, Yuz quickly thought. ¡°If we can pull out that thing lodged in the center of the magic circle¡­ I don¡¯t know for sure, but¡­¡± ¡°Then what should we do?!¡± ¡°But the source of the contamination is definitely that! The lake used to be crystal clear, and there was nothing like this before!¡± Suddenly, the world began to shake. Even the surface of the lake rippled, causing water to overflow onto the shore. Everyone was horrified. The sound, the vibration¡ªit was hard to describe the shock they felt when they turned to see what was approaching. ¡°What is that?!¡± ¡°A goblin?¡± ¡°It looks like a goblin, but why is it so huge?!¡± The goblin appeared to be about seven feet tall, with a build that made it look several times larger. He had encased his entire body in a suit of armor made from interwoven iron plates, so the weight must be immense. Jerome pulled the trigger all the way, but¡­ The iron bullet dented the armor, but it didn¡¯t reach a fatal blow in time. ¡°Runes of the air that hover above, unfold here as my barrier! Ijuge!¡± Yuz stepped forward in an instant and unleashed her barrier. The monster swung its fist with all its might! The barrier engaged in a brief struggle with the fist before shattering into shards of light. ¡°Is that a crazy goblin or what?!¡± Sia stepped up. With her right hand gripping the hilt of her sword and her left hand pressing against the blade, she took a complete defensive stance. Just as she thought she could block the goblin¡¯s attack¡­ the next moment, she was sent flying far away. ¡°Sia lost in a strength contest?!¡± Kitan exclaimed in surprise. ¡°What the heck is this thing?!¡± Jerome shouted. ¡°It¡¯s the Goblin King! The king of the ancient Elder Goblin kingdom!¡± Yuz replied. At that moment, Arzen noticed the wasp sitting on his shoulder fluttering its wings. Could it mean that, like the giant slime, there was a possibility it could be a universal key? Arzen immediately licked his lips in anticipation. Just then, Kitan threw himself and knocked Arzen down. The King Goblin¡¯s fist passed right above them, leaving a massive pressure wave in its wake. ¡°A goblin king? You must be joking!¡± Arzen dramatically opened the scripture and pressed his forehead. There was no particular meaning to the action; it was just for show. In the world of adventurers, style is important. ¡°Just what are you, a king? Then let me make you howl like a king from now on! Kaz to Ackturas!¡± Twenty-four void insects burst forth from the dimensional rift. Even the King Goblin seemed to hesitate for a moment. But still, this was a rapid service sending a mere goblin to the afterlife. He had learned something valuable while facing the giant slime. Against an enemy with such sturdy armor, it was right to utilize fused entities. The formation would consist of four front units and six middle units. ¡°Su Ja Heros! Su Ja Kunia!¡± In the twisted effects of the dimension, the void insects intertwined into one. They were reborn as a beautiful form specialized solely for slaughter. ¡°Are you ready to die, King¡ª¡± ¡°¡ªKing? King Goblin? Ah-ha, ahahaha, ahahahahahahaha!¡± At that moment. Sia, who had been flung away by the recoil of blocking the punch, began to laugh. As she got up from the ground, she said, ¡°You¡¯re strong enough to be called a king? Then it¡¯ll be fun to let loose!¡± The malice leaking through her bandages was thicker than usual. A red haze was visible. Sia planted her executioners sword into the ground. And as she began to unwrap the bandages she had always tightly bound herself with, a surge of malice surged forth. ¡°¡­¡­!¡± As the bandages came undone, Sia¡¯s arms were revealed. They were covered in an incomprehensible array of runes and spells¡­ inscribed so densely it was grotesque. ¡®What the hell is that¡­?¡¯ To Arzen''s eyes, it seemed like Sia had transformed into an entirely different person. ¡®She¡¯s acting like she¡¯s drunk on blood!¡¯ A warrior of slaughter! Only battle filled her vision, and only the stench of blood and death stimulated her senses¡­! She had become a berserker! ¡°KEEIIIIIIT!¡± The King Goblin¡¯s focus¡ªno, it was more accurate to say his attention¡ªwas completely diverted to Sia. Sia charged forward¡­ Soon, half of the King Goblin¡¯s left arm was severed along with the armor, and a fierce scream erupted. ¡®So fast!¡¯ S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sia was moving nearly twice as fast as usual. Not only her speed had increased. It felt like her strength and power had been purely amplified. ¡®On par with that Elder Goblin King!¡¯ No, she was gaining the upper hand against the King Goblin. ¡°KEEEEEEHHHH!¡± The King Goblin raised his head and let out a roar. This wasn¡¯t a battle cry exchanged between predators clashing. After all, goblins had no sense of honor in combat. Soon, the ground shook, and an army of goblins appeared. ¡°Cheh¡­!¡± Arzen divided his void insect assault unit to the left and right, targeting the King Goblin. Two front units and three middle units. The void insects were assigned to deal with the overwhelming numbers of enemies instead of the King Goblin. ¡°Wasp, don¡¯t hold back, just sweep them away. I¡¯ll focus on support.¡± That should be enough. Even a single void insect could easily slaughter a dozen enemies during its summoning time. As the indiscriminate massacre of the void insects halted the advance of the Elder Goblins, Arzen took a golden potion from his pocket. ¡®A potion used to urgently recover divine power!¡¯ His head spun, and a tingling sensation spread through his tongue. At the same time, he felt the vitality turning within his body. ¡®With this amount¡­ I should be able to exert my strength one more time.¡¯ Ah, this cool yet warm sensation. It was time to return to being Arzen, the healer who traversed the celestial realm of adventurers. ¡°¡¶Flag of Twilight¡·.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 33: At the Forbidden Grounds, The Beginning of the Journey (6) [Translator - Kiteretsu][Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 33: At the Forbidden Grounds, The Beginning of the Journey (6) The "Flag of Twilight" is a mid-tier miracle where light gathers into the form of a pole, primarily used for holding enemies in place. ¡®It has the effect of binding the target.¡¯ The lower the grade of the monster, the more likely a direct hit would paralyze the entire body. Arzen took two running steps to gain momentum. Then, he hurled the pole of light. "Kreee!" The Goblin King swung his fist, attempting to deflect it. ¡®Useless!¡¯ The pole of light, ignoring physical force, pierced deep into his arm and began to glow. "!" A momentary slowdown in his movements. Sia wasn¡¯t about to miss that opportunity. The blade of the Executioner''s Sword shattered the Goblin King''s gorget and sunk into the flesh beneath. "Kiiiiiiiiiit!" However, because Sia had to strike deep, it left her exposed to a counterattack. ¡®The pole''s paralysis has already worn off? Is this Elder Goblin King a higher grade than expected!¡¯ But this, too, had been anticipated from the previous exchange. "Wall!" Even before Sia shouted, Arzen was already reciting the sacred chant. The echo of the gospel spread across the land through his voice, and the miracle materialized. A veil of light wrapped around Sia, shielding her from the Goblin King''s incoming punch. "Nice!" Instead of retreating to recover her stance, Sia didn¡¯t step back. Instead! She leaped outside the barrier and thrust the Executioner''s Sword into the Goblin King¡¯s left eye. "Kiiiiiiiiiit!" In agony, the Goblin King went berserk, turning the battlefield into chaos. Goblins were being trampled, and even the Void Bees, which had been slaughtering those goblins, were now at risk of being caught in the carnage. Arzen lunged forward, throwing himself into the path to protect the Void Bees, particularly the worker bees. "You worthless Goblin, keep your hands off my insects! Barolus!" The Apostle''s command allowed a demon to descend into this world. The demon¡¯s arm shot up, grabbing the Goblin King¡¯s fist¡­ and crushed it, a mix of skin and shattered bone. As if bursting a leather pouch, effortlessly. "Kyaaah!" The Goblin King''s hand hung limp like a rag, pitiful to behold. ¡°Wow, both of them are amazing. I''ve never seen anyone support Sia''s movements that perfectly,¡± Kitan marveled in awe. ¡°Kitan, leave them! Let those two handle things over there, and let¡¯s focus on this!¡± Jerome shouted, motioning toward the center of the lake with his chin. Elder Goblins were pouring out from the dimensional rift, swimming across the lake. And that wasn¡¯t all. The Elder Goblin vanguard, which had spread throughout the Forbidden ground, was now converging here, drawn by the king''s roar. ¡°Witch! Can you set up a barrier around the lake?¡± "Are you out of your mind? The lake is huge! How could we possibly create a barrier that vast¡­ That¡¯s something only a Grand Witch could barely manage!" "It doesn''t need to be that big! Just enough to temporarily block the goblins coming our way!" Without waiting for Yuz¡¯s response, Jerome turned his gun towards the lake. Then, he unleashed a storm of bullets at the goblins crawling out of the water, turning their bodies into mangled pieces. "Cover me! You two witches go and pull that thing out!" Kitan assessed the goblin corpses that filled the water¡¯s surface. By sensing the ripples, he could tell whether the bodies had floated up due to buoyancy or if there was a pile of corpses building up from beneath. Kitan¡¯s footsteps were quick and light, and every time he stepped on a corpse, it didn¡¯t sink but held firm. It was a mountain of corpses. "Hup, hup, heave¡­ Catch me if you can!" Occasionally, he intentionally stepped on the heads of still-living goblins. The goblins, infuriated, swung their weapons at Kitan. But being submerged in water, their movements were severely limited. Kitan laughed even louder, gradually heading towards the center of the magic circle. The dimensional rift widened. More goblins poured out. Tudududududududu¡­! However, the newly arriving goblins were shredded into chunks, splattering across the lake. The earlier goblins acted as if they were protecting something precious. They desperately tried to stop Kitan from reaching the center. But intelligence was always an issue. While their focus was on Kitan, Yuz moved. "Go, Witch!" Yuz, being a witch, of course knew how to fly a broomstick. In the next moment, Yuz sped forward on her broom, grabbing the stake that was driven into the lake''s center. ¡®Huh? It won¡¯t budge¡­!¡¯ Up close, the stake was about as thick as a grown man¡¯s wrist. And it didn¡¯t even move, firmly lodged into the magic circle. That¡¯s when it happened. Buzzzzzz¡­¡­! The worker bee reacted. In front of Arzen, who had collapsed to his knees, vomiting blood as a rebound from using Barolus, the worker bee buzzed. "What¡¯s wrong, worker bee? You need to control the underlings!" But the worker bee wasn¡¯t looking at the Goblin King¡ªit was staring at the object the witch was desperately trying to pull out. Arzen realized something. ¡®Whenever the worker bee reacts like this¡­¡¯ It always happened when something was deeply connected to the Void. Like when the Power of the Void was about to be unleashed¡­ ¡®So, this means I need to head over there right now?¡¯ Sia was holding her own against the Goblin King. One of the Goblin King''s hands had been destroyed by Barolus. For the moment, Sia could handle things on her own. Arzen made his decision. He immediately ran over to Jerome. "Uncle Jerome! Launch me over there!" "Over there?" "Yeah, just toss me!" The Gatling gun''s barrel had turned a fiery red from overheating. Jerome discarded the steam-powered gun and its core, nodding in agreement. "Given your size, I think I can manage. But hurry! The witch¡¯s barrier has collapsed, and the goblins are coming." Jerome gripped Arzen¡¯s belt tightly and hoisted him into the air. With two spins to add momentum and force, he hurled Arzen far across the lake. As Arzen flew over the water, he felt the worker bee on his shoulder buzz more intensely. ¡®The only power I can use is...!¡¯ The only ability he had left was the Night Face, slightly different from the Void creatures'' power. ¡®Is the worker bee telling me to use it again?¡¯ He had already used it once and wasn¡¯t sure he could again, yet the bee seemed to insist he could. "Kiiiiik!" One goblin attempted to slash at the airborne Arzen, but Kitan¡¯s dagger flew through the air and pierced the goblin''s skull. ¡®Range: 1 meter! I just need to get within 1 meter!¡¯ Closer, just a little more! "Out of the way!" The witch, who had been struggling to pull out the stake while shielding herself with a barrier from the goblins¡¯ attacks, was startled and jumped back. "Now, right now! Barolus!" As Arzen descended in a long arc, a demon''s hand tore through the dimensions above him, reaching out. The demon followed Arzen¡¯s command without hesitation. It slaughtered the dozen goblins that were feebly resisting and grasped the stake. "©¤©¤©¤©¤!" As the demon''s hand and arm began to dissipate into particles of the Void, its muscles bulged with power. And in the next instant¡ª With a sound like the world itself splitting, the stake shot up from the ground, still clutched in the demon''s grip. "It... it¡¯s out!" Yuz shouted in disbelief. At that moment, the light of the magic circle spinning above the lake reached its peak... and exploded. The radiant blast purified the entire area, cleansing it of all evil, leaving behind only a serene, peaceful stillness. *** Dragon Sage Rain Ludwig. The second being in history to reach the realm of Grand Sage. He was the one who defeated the Spider Lord, one of the Forgotten Kings, when it broke its seal. The influence Rain Ludwig had on the world was immense. To suppress the stirrings of the Abyss, he had placed sealing formations at every crucial point in the world¡¯s ley lines. These were the legendary 36 Sealing Circles. When these formations ran wild, they wiped out all foreign entities in existence. Yet the power inflicted no harm upon humanity, a marvel that was both mysterious and miraculous. ¡®The miasma¡­ it¡¯s gone?¡¯ Sia, who had been locked in a fierce battle with the Goblin King, muttered in confusion. ¡®The bloodlust that always needs to be quelled through slaughter¡­!¡¯ It had completely subsided, almost as if it had been a lie. ¡®This warm sense of peace¡­ how long has it been since I¡¯ve felt this¡­?¡¯ The pure white wave did more than just erase the ominous energy engraved on Sia''s right arm. The King Goblin, who had been locked in battle, also vanished as if it had never been there. ¡°The dimensional rift... it''s gone. The Goblins that had been pouring out of it, their corpses, all of it... gone.¡± Everything had disappeared, swept away by the light that still faintly colored the forest. ¡°Is this power because of the sealing formation created by the Dragon Sage?¡± *** That pure white wave revealed a different scene to Arzen. "Huh?" The moment Arzen was enveloped in the light, the world he saw completely changed. ¡°Where is this? A dream? A world of illusion?¡± It was a space where black fog and dark green mist swirled chaotically. At the center of the fog stood a being. Its radiance was so blinding that it was impossible to look at directly¡ªmuch like staring at the midday sun. ¡¸Now, it all begins. One by one.¡¹ This presence, this voice¡ªimpossible to forget, even if one tried. ¡°That¡¯s right... the voice I heard when the world was on the verge of collapse.¡± It was the voice of the God of the Void, Rodenkal. Arzen could feel that this entity was staring directly at him, and a transcendent sensation rushed through his body. ¡¸Hasten your awakening to the power of the void. You shall become the vessel of the Apostle, linking this era to the final age.¡¹ Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With those final words, the vast space that had filled Arzen''s vision was sucked away somewhere. Reality slowly returned to him. ¡°Was that an illusion? A dream?¡± Yet, the memory of that encounter began to fade, slipping away as if it were some distant, hazy recollection¡ªperhaps erased by some transcendent force, as if to prevent anyone from prying into it. In reality, the wedge that Nightface had drawn out was spinning through the air, falling right in front of Arzen. "Don¡¯t touch it!" Just as Arzen moved to catch it, the witch urgently shouted. ¡°?¡± Her magic snatched the wedge mid-air, using an invisible force to pull it toward her. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m saying this... but it¡¯s a Wedge of the Abyss. If you touch it recklessly, your mind will be consumed.¡± She then removed her pointed hat and used it to securely wrap the wedge. The eerie thoughts that had been pressing down on them suddenly subsided. ¡°The Abyss? The Abyss?¡± The Abyss was the domain of the Forgotten Kings, an entity that stood as an existential threat to the world. The emergence of the Abyss had always driven the world to the brink of apocalypse. Four hundred years ago, the Lista Hero Party ventured to the ends of the earth for that very reason¡ªthe Abyss. ¡°What on earth is going on? If you keep staying silent, even a gentle soul like me might start to get angry.¡± Jerome spoke up. Yuz responded. ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on either, but I suppose I owe you all an explanation.¡± ¡°Then, get on with it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m warning you though, revealing this in the wrong place could have dire consequences. The White Dragon Legion is extremely strict, you know? The Yellow Dragon Legion too, and as for the Red Dragon Legion, well, they¡¯re the most severe when it comes to punishment.¡± Everyone knew this well, and Arzen swallowed nervously. The one currently leading the White Dragon Legion was Mirengadia of Cheongseong. Alongside Setsunen of Thunder and Akirea of the Crimson Flame, he was one of the Three Dragon Heroes. These three were considered successors to the Three Divine Dragons, who once led the Golden Age. ¡°This forbidden zone... it''s where one of the 36 Sealing Formations of the Dragon Sage (??) was located.¡± ¡°!¡± ¡°Cheongseong himself dispatched Seal Keepers to guard each of these 36 formations. They''re known as the Order of Light, Jerenion.¡± At that moment, Sia approached, quickly wrapping her right arm with a bandage, as if to hide something shameful. ¡°And where exactly is this so-called proud Fairy Sealer now?¡± Yuz gestured with his chin toward the back, where a robe was half-buried in a pool of blood. ¡°He''s dead. Probably killed by the King Goblin. That body back there? That''s him.¡± ¡°...!¡± ¡°If I were part of Jerenion, I¡¯d have a way to contact Cheongseong directly... but unfortunately, I¡¯m not.¡± Sia waved her hand dismissively. ¡°Well, that¡¯s something for them to deal with. We¡¯ve completed the request, so let¡¯s head back to the guild and get our payment.¡± Of course, Sia had no intention of actually finishing things here. This was a classic tactic: prolong the task to make the client pay even more¡ªa hustler''s strategy. ¡°The Abyss? The Order of Light? The Dragon Sage? These key words being mentioned together... this is an insane goldmine of a request!¡± Not only would the reward be immense, but the overwhelming contribution points would make for a hefty payoff. ¡°Opportunities like this only come once in a few years. It''s best to take advantage of it while I can!¡± Without hesitation, Sia spun around to leave. ¡°Wait!¡± As expected, Yuz called out immediately. ¡°I need to bring this to my master... so I¡¯d like to borrow your strength a little longer.¡± Meanwhile, Kitan, now stripped to his undergarments, was wringing water from his clothes. ¡°Where is your master?¡± ¡°In Aurelinope.¡± ¡°Whoa, that¡¯s the Purple City! One of the Seven Great Cities! What a place to be! Are they rich? Beautiful?¡± ¡°She¡¯s in her 60s now. Probably was pretty in her younger days.¡± ¡°Aww.¡± Witches have a fully established apprentice system. Unlike wizards, a witch, once becoming a master, only takes in two or three disciples throughout their life. Thus, the master-apprentice relationship is almost familial, with strong emotional bonds between them. ¡°My master is Serna, the last disciple of the previous priestess, Lady Yuliana. She¡¯ll definitely know what this wedge is and how to contact Cheongseong...¡± Yuz tightly gripped the pointed hat wrapped around the wedge. Jerome flashed a satisfied smile. ¡°And she¡¯ll also have the authority to provide us with the proper compensation.¡± With a resigned sigh, Yuz nodded. ¡°True. But tell me, are all skilled adventurers like you guys such misers?¡± Sia shrugged. ¡°If we weren¡¯t, we wouldn¡¯t survive long in this line of work. Maybe elite witches who grew up only seeing the good sides of society wouldn¡¯t understand that.¡± Yuz glared at Sia, then her gaze shifted to Sia¡¯s right arm. ¡°But what happened to your arm...?¡± Sia shook her head firmly, clearly indicating that she didn¡¯t want to answer. ¡°It¡¯s getting late, and I¡¯m exhausted... Let¡¯s rest here for a bit. The lake is unbelievably clear, and we can drink as much as we want... plus, it¡¯s so peaceful¡­ it feels nice.¡± With that, Sia wobbled and collapsed to the ground. Yuz moved in shock, but Jerome shook his head. ¡°She¡¯s just asleep. She always does this after releasing that power. It brings on overwhelming fatigue.¡± ¡°What exactly is that... do you know?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t. But even if I did, I wouldn¡¯t say. These kinds of things should be heard directly from her.¡± Arzen, however, wasn¡¯t participating in this conversation. The bee sitting on his shoulder had begun to change form. ¡®Everything is going as expected. No, it¡¯s more accurate to say this is what I hoped for!¡¯ Just like when he had defeated the giant slime, the bee was now transforming into a universal key. ¡®Even though the King Goblin¡¯s death was caused by the Seal exploding, it still counts as a successful subjugation! Did the Void Bees absorb its essence?¡¯ The specifics of the process didn¡¯t matter much. As long as the results were perfect, that¡¯s all that mattered. His heart was already racing. Perhaps it was because he was still a boy, but the anticipation of gaining new power always made his heart pound. ¡®Yes, I¡¯ve got it again! The universal key that can unlock most miracles without any prerequisites!¡¯ [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 34: The Second Request: To Aurelinople (1) [Translator - Kiteretsu][Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 34: The Second Request: To Aurelinople (1) ¡°I¡¯ll carry this. Let¡¯s head to Euphoria first. If we¡¯re going to rest, I¡¯d much rather sleep in a bed than camp out here.¡± With his hulking, muscular arms, Jerome hoisted both Sia and the Executioner¡¯s Sword onto his shoulders. In one hand, he even held his Gatling gun. Even though he couldn¡¯t use magic, his sheer physical strength embodied the perfect image of a Dwarf. Yuz bit her lip and shook her head. ¡°No, the power of the Void attracts monsters and can drive them into a frenzy. The forbidden area is stabilized by the seal, but... we don¡¯t know about the goblins outside of it.¡± ¡°Goblins? You¡¯re worried about goblins?¡± The one dismissing Yuz¡¯s concern with a chuckle was none other than Arzen. ¡°With me here, you don¡¯t need to worry about lowly goblins. Not at all!¡± Arzen placed a hand on his forehead and let out a loud laugh. The way he appeared now was... completely different from the boy who had once shed tears, worrying about the safety of the townspeople. Yes, he had become something akin to a madman! ¡°Kaz tu Arcturas! Worker Bee, full Void Squadron deployment!¡± The boy was in an extreme state of excitement, to the point where he forgot he had been putting on a whole act to increase his favorability and contributions. ¡®Second-stage release of Kaz tu Arcturas! That number just doubled right at this moment!¡¯ Arzen had used it. The King Goblin¡¯s universal key! Without a second thought, not to unlock a new technique, but to strengthen his Void Creature summoning. Buuuuuuuuung¡­! As a result, the Void Creatures began pouring out, gnawing at the dimensional rift. This was different from usual. Usually, after summoning 25 units, the strain on his power would slow down the process. But this time, it was different. ¡®Thirty? Forty? Fifty? Still going strong at fifty-five!¡¯ Fifty-six, fifty-seven, fifty-eight, fifty-nine¡­ sixty! ¡®Perfect! Sixty units, the maximum operational number!¡¯ Double the usual amount. ¡®I thank you, King Goblin! You¡¯ve certainly become a stepping stone for me, Arzen!¡¯ How much had he regretted unlocking Barolus last time? ¡®The number of Void Creatures equals power, stamina, and energy... I have to pump up this number as much as I can.¡¯ Chasing after fanciful dreams nearly got him killed, so this time, he made a practical choice. Buuuuuuuuung¡­! The collective sound of the Void Creatures¡¯ wings rubbing against one another was so loud it became painful to the ears. ¡®Now the power of La Tsui Kua has been at least doubled! What a splendid growth this is!¡¯ And it doesn¡¯t end there. This increase in Void Creatures also naturally unlocked miracles that had them as prerequisites. It was truly a two-for-one deal. Gaining new insights is always a result of something fitting the right moment. Long for divine wisdom. Ebakta, through an intense understanding of the Void¡¯s nature, attain new enlightenment. Without needing the universal key to unlock a new technique, Arzen could now enjoy a ¡®happy new technique time.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯ll save this technique for later! To enjoy secretly in a room where no one can see! Hahaha!¡¯ As Arzen burst into maniacal laughter, Yuz covered her mouth with both hands. Kitan shook his head. ¡°Arzen is like that normally. Sia says he seems to be feeling a bit unwell.¡± *** The Void Spike had the trait of drawing monsters from all corners, just as Yuz feared. It was fine until they exited the forbidden area. The Elder Goblins that emerged from the other realm were all swept away without a trace when the seal was broken. ¡°Goblins keep coming¡­!¡± Not just goblins. Various monsters dwelling in the forest charged in with their eyes gleaming darkly. ¡°To rush against me, how fearless! Worker Bee, it''s a perfect opportunity to form the best squadron!¡± While he thought this¡­ they were just insignificant monsters, so there was no need to use fusion entities. ¡®Against these trash, it would be a loss to use fusion entities that have special abilities but are limited in mobility and active time.¡¯ Just deploying them broadly around would prevent the monsters from surpassing that greenish-black wave of annihilation. ¡®But those monsters seem odd. Are they enthralled by the Void?¡¯ It was as if they completely lacked sensation. Some were even rushing in while having more than half their bodies gnawed away by Void Insects. However, in their weakened state from the Void Insects, they couldn¡¯t pass through Yuz¡¯s barrier, so there was no problem. ¡°Arzen, I can feel an incredible energy from behind! At least E-rank! That¡¯s a RoachCat!¡± RoachCat. A grotesque mix of feline and cockroach features. It had eleven eyes, and the drool from its antennae contained a venom that paralyzed the limbs of its prey. ¡°E-rank, primarily hunted by top-tier bronze and lower-tier silver rank monsters!¡± It could be considered on par with this grade-9 request. Also, that RoachCat is notorious for brutally slaughtering adventurers. ¡°Let it come, Worker Bee.¡± He was hungry¡­ Arzen¡¯s Happy Happy New Technique Time! ¡°Arzen, you look like a magic monkey! Why are you gathering bugs? It¡¯s charging at us!¡± As the Void Insects deployed in the back split to the sides, Jerome shouted, and Kitan asked. ¡°Arzen, are we going to lose?¡± Chwaaaaaa¡­! In response, Arzen dramatically opened the holy book. It was important. In moments like this, looking good also mattered. ¡°Bobting, do you think I, the future gold rank, would lose to such a pathetic monster!¡± While replying to Kitan, he flipped the pages too far back and had to awkwardly return them. Realizing something is always an act deserving of a particular occasion. Long for divine wisdom. Ebakta, through an intense understanding of the Void¡¯s nature, attain new enlightenment. The Void is the same as miracles and the principles of use. If one memorizes all the explanations of that incantation, it becomes possible to skip the casting by just uttering one activation word. ¡®But I haven¡¯t memorized it yet¡­!¡¯ He quickly read that phrase as if praying, then shouted the activation word. ¡®But there¡¯s a different part from miracles.¡¯ It must be shouted with a commanding attitude rather than a desperate one for the power to manifest. ¡°Ebakta!¡± In an instant, a dark green crack spread through the dimension, and from that gap, a massive tentacle¡ªno, a root¡ªshot up. ¡®Is this a plant of the Void¡­?¡¯ It was something that resembled either a vine or a root. It charged forward! It entwined the body of the RoachCat, a monster that had penetrated deep into the rear of the formation. ¡°KeWooooooooooooo!¡± The RoachCat, ensnared by the vine, began to writhe in pain. The aberration of the Void had already begun. Starting from the RoachCat¡¯s fur, its body was being dragged into another dimension, on the verge of annihilation. ¡®Oh, this is a binding-type miracle!¡¯ It had captured the RoachCat, which was at least 1.5 times the size of a bear, and lifted it into the air. It wasn''t just a simple binding; it could easily crush the lowest-tier monsters. ¡°ShyaaaaKKKKKKKK!¡± However, the RoachCat did not give in easily. It tried to gnaw at the Void plant with its venomous fangs to gradually escape the binding. ¡®Is it because of the rampage of the Void, or is my power still weak¡­ It¡¯s impossible to handle E-rank solely with Ebakta!¡¯ And although it was longer than Barolus, the manifestation time wasn¡¯t as long as that of the Void Insects. The Void¡¯s vines began to dissipate. ¡®Still, it¡¯s not a problem at all!¡¯ There were more than enough troops to reinforce the RoachCat raid. A whopping 60 Void Insects could be summoned. ¡°Su Ja Kunia, three mid-tier. Su Ja Heros, two front-tier. Assemble.¡± The Void Insects paired up two or three at a time, instantly merging into entities that lined up before Arzen. ¡°Worker Bee, the target is the brain.¡± They would penetrate the skull with the mid-tier and finish it off with the front-tier. Buuuuuuuuuuuuum¡­! Cooking the RoachCat still caught in Ebakta¡¯s vines was easier than picking one¡¯s nose while lying on a bed. ¡°Finish it off!¡± With the mid-tier¡¯s venom saturation, part of the RoachCat¡¯s thick fur and skull vanished into another dimension. Through that gap rushed the front-tier! As Ebakta finally dissipated, the RoachCat fell to the ground. It convulsed all over, soon frothing at the mouth and slumping down. This was because the front-tier had torn apart its brain and organs. ¡®In just one week, what a perfect power-up!¡¯ Now, it was almost toying with this rampaging RoachCat, which could be compared to a Giant Slime. ¡®Power, volume, speed! Nothing lags behind! The Void is undoubtedly the strongest attribute! Hah hah hah hah¡­ ha, huh?¡¯ Huh¡­? Why¡­? Was the horizon vertical instead of horizontal¡­? ¡®Now that I think about it¡­ I was definitely¡­ exhausted, but how did I summon 60¡­ Was there a recovery effect in the sealing formation¡­?¡¯ The strain hit his body hard. Blood was pouring from his nose, enough to block his prayers. ¡°¡­¡­Arzen has collapsed!¡± ¡°¡­¡­I¡¯ll carry him!¡± ¡°¡­¡­I¡¯ll check his condition! If we get past there, our village will be out! Your cart is over there!¡± With Arzen fainted, the entire fighting force was effectively unarmed. Now, the fate of their situation rested on Kitan. Kitan led the group while trying to conceal his presence as much as possible. The monsters could sense that "there was an Void nearby," but they seemed unsure of the exact location. ¡°I¡¯ll turn the goblins¡¯ traps against them!¡± Since there were many goblins from other areas, they wouldn¡¯t know the trap locations, and given their current frenzied state, they likely lacked reason. ¡°How?¡± Yuz, who had healed Arzen''s internal bleeding with healing magic, interrupted. ¡°Goblins mark traps with a stench, so we just need to eliminate that odor. We can change it to something else.¡± Kitan used the animal dung he had collected nearby. He repeatedly made the goblins fall into their own traps. He also strung wires throughout the forest at goblin height. Goblins that charged in blindly had their necks cleanly severed by the wires. Thanks to these efforts, the group safely arrived at Yuz¡¯s village. At the edge of the village was the cart Jerome had left behind. ¡°There¡¯s enough iron pellets here to max load five times. Priestess, you can use telekinesis, right?¡± As Jerome loaded the executioner''s sword onto the cart, he started to load bullets into the Gatling gun with a clank. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°What are you planning?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll stand on this cart and fire the gun wildly. Kitan, make sure to guide us downhill as much as possible. Since I suggested this plan, I¡¯ll take responsibility.¡± The three climbed onto the cart. Tu-da-da-da-da-da-da¡­! The cart began to rush forward at full speed, with Jerome¡¯s Gatling gun spewing steam like a maniac. ¡°Kiiee!¡± ¡°Kiieeek!¡± There was no way G-rank monsters like goblins could withstand this barrage of bullets. The iron pellets sweeping through the forest turned the goblins into chunks of meat in an instant. ¡°Wait, a rock ahead!¡± Kitan¡¯s shout echoed, and in the next moment¡ª Clunk¡­! The cart soared high, and everyone was suddenly in a state of weightlessness, as if in midair. ¡°Wow, we¡¯re flying! Look at that, that¡¯s Euphoria!¡± ¡°What a sight to see just before dying.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not dead yet! Don¡¯t underestimate me just because I became a witch at twenty-three! O great forces of nature that flow with the currents of reversal, gather here now at my command, Yuz!¡± Yuz¡¯s spell quickly transformed into a translucent veil that enveloped the cart. The veil itself had mass. Composed of ethereal energy lighter than air, it allowed the cart to float into the sky. ¡°From here¡­ ugh, I¡¯ll land us inside the walls of Euphoria¡­!¡± ¡°Are you pushing yourself too hard? You¡¯re coughing up blood.¡± ¡°I¡¯m a witch, after all. I¡¯m the one who urged us to hurry¡­ I have to pull off something like this¡­!¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 35: The Second Request,To Aurelinople (2) [Translator - Kiteretsu][Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 35: The Second Request,To Aurelinople (2) The barrier surrounding the cart vanished just before it touched the ground inside the castle. The cart bounced multiple times along the road in the castle. After its wheels broke, fell off, and became a wreck, the cart finally managed to escape the relentless momentum. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The guards rushed over immediately, but when Yuz displayed her witch''s insignia, they quickly saluted her. "Yuz, what happened here?" The witch residing in Euphoria was a red witch, and upon hearing the details, she showed a bewildered expression. "I will reinforce the defense forces and set up a barrier, but... I can''t guarantee how long it will hold." "Well, it was mostly goblins. It shouldn''t stretch the castle''s defenses too thin." "Then that''s good to hear... But until we leave for Aurelinople, I will ensure your safety. You''re planning to use the river route, right?" Originally, they had intended to take the overland route... but traveling via the Belysor River would be several times faster. ¡®And considering the number of those monsters¡­¡¯ Taking the overland route might actually create more significant problems. "That''s probably best. The river route is regularly patrolled by witches, so we should take advantage of any help we can get." "There¡¯s also the option to hire other adventurers. Let¡¯s use the association''s resources." "No, let''s skip hiring other adventurers." There were plenty of adventurers willing to lend a hand for anything that could be of assistance. Surely, there would be some willing to dip their toes into the void¡¯s power as well. "This party may be a bunch of misers, but they still seem reliable when it comes to issues like this." Especially since all four of them were exceptional in their respective fields. "Alright, understood." Jerome and Kitan tossed Sia and Arzen into the witch''s hut before spreading out blankets in the living room and falling asleep themselves. Everyone was exhausted. The witch generously added firewood to the hearth and then suggested that Yuz take a brief nap as well. ¡®The void¡­¡¯ As the witch reached for the wedge that Yuz had rolled up with her pointed hat, she felt a strong surge of energy and pulled back in surprise. ¡®The void, which had vanished from the world since the emergence of the Dragon Sage, has now appeared as if waiting for the Dragon Sage to die, fifty years later?¡¯ It was ominous¡­ So ominous¡­ Could this be the end of the second era of peace, the silver age? * * * ¡®Hmm¡­?¡¯ Arzen once again saw something strange in his dream. ¡®Is it black mist or dark green mist? Or perhaps they¡¯re mixed together¡­¡¯ It was definitely mist, but within it lay an unreal presence that dared not be looked into or uncovered. That presence was doing something. It was combining and weaving dark green mist to create entities of emptiness. ¡°!¡± Just as he attempted to speak to that presence, he woke up. It was already dawn. He realized the early autumn forest was noisy with the sounds of frogs and insects. ¡°Did I wake up because it was too noisy?¡± Jerome said. He was using a cleaning rod to thoroughly clean the inside of the barrel. Due to the high-pressure steam, a lot of moisture remained inside the steam gun, and if left for even a short time, it would develop mold. ¡°Normally, a night with a lover is noisy. I hope you can bear with it.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s your lover?¡± ¡°You have to treat a gun like a lover. So what I¡¯m doing now is just like intimacy between lovers. See? It doesn¡¯t make a sound.¡± Well, he really is a madman... Facing genuine madness, Arzen realized once again that he had to be humble in this line of work. ¡°Did you bring me here?¡± ¡°No, you were carried by Kitan, and I¡¯m over here. After moving that heavy load, my arms feel like they¡¯re going to fall off. Recite a healing miracle for me.¡± ¡°Who are you calling a heavy load?¡± Sia sat up in bed. She looked like someone suffering from a hangover, holding her head and groaning. ¡°Is it always like this?¡± ¡°Yeah, if you release the bandages completely, you¡¯ll faint for about half a day to a day. That¡¯s my weakness, due to the strain on my body.¡± Arzen didn¡¯t ask for further details. Sia hadn¡¯t asked much about the power of the Void before either. It was a small act of reciprocity. ¡°Ah¡­ I owe you one. I¡¯ll take a bit off your pay.¡± ¡°Why are you saying something so obvious as if you¡¯re being generous?¡± Arzen was momentarily startled and checked his pocket. His coin pouch was safe. In this line of work, it was generally accepted that anything stolen from someone who had fainted was fair game, but these folks didn¡¯t operate that way. ¡®Maybe it was too busy this time¡­ That¡¯s my oversight! I need to make sure I don¡¯t get too carried away in the future. My body is my responsibility!¡¯ The future¡¯s top-tier physique. No one should be allowed to lay a hand on it. ¡°We¡¯ll set out when the sun rises.¡± The witch Yuz said. ¡°Most of the dangerous monsters in the forest are primarily nocturnal.¡± Sia rummaged through the hut in her sleeveless outfit until she quickly found water and downed it in one go. ¡°What route are we taking?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll use the river route.¡± ¡°What kind of obvious statement is that? It¡¯s not like we¡¯re going to walk for two weeks.¡± Yuz stared at Sia with wide eyes. ¡°Why? What kind of expression is that?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you have any respect for witches? Even if you can¡¯t use honorifics, you should at least show some respect.¡± ¡°Ha! Even when I get requests from noble brats, I keep this stance. My life motto is ¡®Be strong against the strong, and stronger against the weak.¡¯¡± ¡°What kind of trash philosophy is that? You sound proud of it!¡± Arzen was genuinely curious. Why do women always engage in power struggles to establish a hierarchy when they are together? The female thugs from the Divine Guillotine were worse than that, and there wasn¡¯t much difference. ¡°Sia is like that with every woman she meets. It¡¯s even more so when she¡¯s with elites like wizards or witches or nobles.¡± As dawn approached, the witch brought out a salad garnished with wild vegetables. Just by smelling it, Kitan, who had been snoring, jolted awake. This guy is the ultimate glutton. --- "The goblins attacking the city walls is unprecedented, so all the guards are terrified." At the words of the red witch, Yuz nodded. "We might need to strengthen the seals¡­ We have to suppress the overwhelming morale." The group quickly finished off the wild vegetable salad, packed three days'' worth of field rations, and headed out through the south gate of Euphoria. "If we go down this road for two days, we¡¯ll reach the port. We¡¯ll catch a boat there. Until then, let¡¯s stick to the trails so that passersby don¡¯t get caught up in any trouble, so keep your wits about you." The purple city, Aurelinople, is one of the seven great cities located in the heart of the Northern Republic. Since the Balisor River, known as the lifeblood of the republic, divides east and west from this point, it was a strategic location to unify the Northern Republic. Walking from the backwater town of Euphoria to this major city takes about two to three weeks. ¡°Kaz tu Arcturus.¡± As the dimensional rift opened, the void insects began to pour out, starting with the worker bee. Buuuuuuuuuumm¡­ As sixty void insects spread out in all directions, the morning liveliness of the forest fell silent in an instant. ¡®Good, good! The way those insignificant creatures of the forest tremble in fear!¡¯ Arzen grinned wickedly. Someday, when adventurers see my arrival, they will react like this too. Just thinking about it sent a thrill down his spine. ¡°Worker bee, I¡¯ll be busy summoning the sixty-first, so take care of the deployment and command of the voidlings yourself.¡± Buuuuuuuumm¡­ The worker bee flew up above Arzen¡¯s head. It seemed to intend to grasp the battlefield situation from the sky and command the others. ¡®To maintain all sixty, I¡¯ll have to use up more energy faster¡­ I need to train my energy every time I can.¡¯ And that energy training meant pushing himself to the brink of his limits. That was the way to increase the maximum capacity of the void insects. Buuuuuumm¡­! Occasionally, he felt a presence somewhere along the trail, and a monster would leap out. However, it was already a half-step behind, as he had left part of his body somewhere else. It had been hit by a void insect. ¡°Ugh, gross.¡± Sia could easily kick or stomp them to finish them off. ¡°That guy is working hard to get stronger, despite his obnoxious appearance,¡± Sia said, glancing at Arzen. Jerome, pulling the cart forward, shrugged his shoulders. ¡°It might be due to guilt.¡± ¡°Guilt?¡± ¡°Arzen collapsed trying to protect us all back then. He didn¡¯t show it, but that must have weighed heavily on his heart, right? Not that it¡¯s necessary, though.¡± Hmm, that guy¡­ Sia whistled in interest. ¡°True, priests and witches, as a type of religious person, generally have better character than average folks.¡± Yuz shot a glare at Sia. ¡°Why does it sound like you want me to hear that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a compliment~ Why are you getting all worked up?¡± ¡°Do you think I don¡¯t know the difference between a compliment and a jab?¡± In front, Kitan was too engrossed in eating the wild vegetable sandwich prepared by the witch to notice. As they continued south, they began to prepare for camping in the evening. To avoid being ambushed, they set up camp in a clearing, with Kitan placing traps all around. Yuz lit fires to drive away the monsters, but it was uncertain how effective they would be against the creatures entranced by the Void. Arzen, who had expended a lot of energy, was assigned the last watch and fell asleep first, while the party gathered around the campfire. ¡°Well, it¡¯s great that we got a big commission, but couldn¡¯t we just hand this off to the Witch Association? Then you wouldn¡¯t have to suffer so much,¡± Sia said, shaking her head. Yuz disagreed. ¡°In this era, where the Void has interfered with the world, many witches have fallen.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Actually, if you look at the ratios, elite magicians and witches tend to be far more corrupted than regular people. For instance, 400 years ago, during the turbulent times, the priestess Lubriane fell into the Void.¡± ¡°Wow, you¡¯re quite frank. It seems like the elites have always been more rotten in any age.¡± ¡°Right? They¡¯re a bit different from adventurers who only think about how to swindle clients.¡± ¡°Did you just say that? Say it again.¡± ¡°I said they¡¯re a bit different from adventurers who only think about how to swindle clients. Why?¡± Kitan and Jerome sighed and shook their heads. At that moment, a ping... followed by the sound of something getting caught in the wire, and soon a monster''s mournful roar echoed through the forest. Sia, who had been pointing fingers at Yuz, said irritably, ¡°It¡¯s noisy... handle it before the monsters gather.¡± Kitan swung his slingshot and hurled a stone that quickly silenced the area. Except for Kitan, the first watch, everyone soon fell asleep. The second watch was Jerome¡¯s. Whenever it seemed like monsters were gathering, a series of gunshots echoed through the forest, waking the entire party. ¡°Ugh, just take care of it! I¡¯ll take the watch until your turn.¡± Sia, dressed lightly and having disarmed herself as much as possible, wandered around the traps and quickly dealt with the approaching monsters using her daggers. Yuz was exempt from the watch since she was the client. The last watch was Arzen¡¯s. When Arzen was on watch, it was the quietest time, allowing everyone to sleep soundly. Arzen organized the groups. One middle-grade unit and three low-grade units. She instructed the middle-grade unit to take down anything that approached within five meters. ¡°Hey, I¡¯m going to sleep now, so don¡¯t make any noise, okay?¡± Arzen entrusted command to the middle-grade unit and dozed off to make up for lost sleep. Thanks to the deployment of the units, the monsters were silenced before they could even roar, leaving the dawn quiet. As the morning sun rose, they awoke to a new day. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 36:The Second Request,To Aurelinople (3) [Translator - Kiteretsu][Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 36:The Second Request,To Aurelinople (3) ¡°If we go down for about two more hours, we¡¯ll reach a harbor. We¡¯ll catch a boat from there,¡± Yuz said. Arzen yawned. ¡®Sleeping outdoors is exhausting, no matter how much I rest¡­¡¯ The smell of the sea grew closer, and the road became busier. Soon, they arrived at the Balisor River, a massive river so wide it resembled the sea, stretching out beyond sight. The Balisor River was like a natural canal. The Republic government operated ferries that ran on a schedule, stopping at various harbors like stations. Boatmen also made a living by ferrying passengers over shorter distances. The harbor was thriving. Most of the harbors along the Balisor River were this prosperous. ¡°Yippee! So much delicious food!¡± Kitan exclaimed, bouncing up and down. Street vendors selling snacks lined up, catering to those waiting for boats at the harbor. ¡°Hmm, maybe we should fill our ¡®stomachs¡¯ while we wait for the ¡®boat,¡¯¡± Sia remarked, her eyes glinting mischievously. Everyone stared at her, unimpressed. ¡°Is that sort of thing really popular among Manuki women these days?¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t lump me together with her,¡± Yuz muttered. ¡°Seriously, just get out of here,¡± Arzen added. Sia blushed slightly and yelled, ¡°Sh-shut up!¡± The street food mainly consisted of freshwater fish dishes. Unlike the desert climate of the South Republic, the North Republic had a tropical oceanic climate, making its ecosystem more diverse. ¡°Arzen! Let¡¯s have some grilled sea bass! Grilling fish makes it taste the best,¡± Kitan suggested excitedly. ¡°Hold on. Decisions like these need to be made carefully.¡± Arzen carefully surveyed the stalls, starting with a sushi place, and finally sat down at one specializing in grilled sea bass. Sea bass was smaller and had a stronger fishy odor compared to mackerel, but it was known that freshwater fish typically smelled stronger than those from the ocean. The fish itself might have been ordinary, but with the sweet sauce provided by the vendor, it melted delightfully in their mouths. It was the kind of flavor worth returning for if given the chance. ¡°Hmm, not bad. It¡¯s pretty good,¡± Arzen admitted. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Right? Let¡¯s have another serving!¡± ¡°Pig, stop eating so much.¡± ¡°Pig? Wait, they sell pork here too? Where? Where?¡± Kitan frantically scanned the area, using his hand as a visor, while Jerome grabbed Arzen¡¯s shoulder and shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t try to understand him with logic. He¡¯s just some other lifeform disguised as a Manuki.¡± [TL/N: "Manuki" is a term in the original text, it likely represents an in-universe culture or people] After finishing their meal, they spent about an hour watching countless boats passing by. Eventually, a fast boat appeared. The tricolored flag of blue, yellow, and red fluttered at the bow. It was the flag of the Witches¡¯ Association. This was one of the patrol ships dispatched by the Witches¡¯ Association to maintain order along the river. Yuz used her magic to draw attention and shouted. ¡°Embrasyl, you¡¯ve done well. I am Yuz, the Blue Witch. I urgently need to travel to the Witch¡¯s Association in Aurelinople. Could you assist us?¡± At Yuz¡¯s words, the Red Witch commanding the fast boat removed her pointed hat and greeted her. ¡°Embra Ki Vi Simra, I am Oana, the Red Witch. Of course. Are these people with you?¡± ¡°Yes, they are adventurers I¡¯ve hired.¡± ¡°Adventurers¡­ I will lower the gangway, so please move to the side.¡± Eight soldiers, rowing the boat, were stationed aboard. The Republic operates on a militia system, where citizens receive basic military training, and short-term contracts fill most positions. Therefore, while they are referred to as soldiers due to their uniforms, most are actually short-term contract workers from government offices. As the adventurers boarded, the otherwise bored contract workers showed interest. ¡°So, you¡¯re heading to Aurelinople too? Are you going to the Red Mountain?¡± ¡°No, we¡¯re just headed to Aurelinople.¡± ¡°Hey, we¡¯re not competitors, so why be secretive? These days, every adventurer in the area is flocking to Aurelinople.¡± Arzen raised an eyebrow. ¡°Why? Are you seriously asking because you don¡¯t know?¡± ¡°They say there¡¯s some strange phenomenon in the Red Mountain. They¡¯re sending in adventurers all over the place.¡± ¡°A strange phenomenon?¡± While the party was chatting with the contract workers, Yuz was having a more serious conversation with Oana. ¡°The Void?¡± ¡°Yes. I need to meet with Master Serna as soon as possible. There aren¡¯t any dangerous monsters near the river, are there?¡± ¡°No, fortunately, our regular patrols passed through less than two days ago.¡± The Balisor River is strictly controlled by the Witches¡¯ Association. If any monster caused material or human damage along the river, it would affect the Republic¡¯s entire economy. ¡°The Void, huh¡­ This is truly serious. I will activate the emergency lights immediately.¡± From the bridge, the witch¡¯s magic began flashing in the tricolor sequence of blue, yellow, and red. As the boat cut through the river, the vessels ahead adjusted their course towards the riverbank, clearing the path for the fast boat to race ahead. Thanks to wind magic cast by both witches, the sails billowed fully, propelling the boat swiftly down the river without the need to row. ¡°At this speed, we should reach Aurelinople by tomorrow evening at the latest. However, I can¡¯t guarantee you¡¯ll be able to meet the priestess right away¡­¡± ¡°Is something wrong with my master?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that something happened to the priestess, but something has occurred at the Red Mountain.¡± ¡°What kind of event?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not entirely sure, as I¡¯m not part of that group, but I¡¯ve heard that the Aurelinople Witches¡¯ Association is at the center of the investigation.¡± Yuz¡¯s eyes widened before she rested her chin on her fingers, lost in thought. ¡®The disappearance of the Seal Array¡­ Is this causing anomalies to appear all over the world?¡¯ But the timeline didn¡¯t add up. ¡®The Seal Array vanished only two days ago. Or was it three?¡¯ Two or three days¡­ For there to already be rumors about the Red Mountain¡¯s strange phenomena, it must have started well before that. ¡®Is it around the same time that goblins overran the Euphoria region? This feels ominous.¡¯ Arzen had originally planned to continue training his Void Insect techniques aboard the boat, but he soon abandoned the idea. With so many eyes watching and the ever-changing sights of riverside villages passing by, simply enjoying the view was entertainment enough. The fast boat sailed past not only villages but also small cities from time to time, where merchants and workers were busy unloading cargo, even during the dead of night or early morning. ¡®No matter where in the world you go, the lowest classes of society can never rest, even in the early hours of the morning...!¡¯ However, instead of feeling a sense of solidarity, Arzen now felt a sense of superiority and pity when he witnessed such scenes. ¡®I, Arzen, am destined to be a future Diamond Rank!¡¯ He believed he was fated to rule over the upper echelons of society and dominate those below him. ¡®But still¡­¡¯ Perhaps it was because he had always longed for this... Just the mere act of watching these new and unfamiliar sights left him feeling restless and excited. * * * ¡°Is that a monster?¡± One of the contract workers pointed toward the opposite riverbank. The Red Witch¡¯s magic flared into flames, protecting the port town. The guards swiftly moved into action. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since a monster attacked a place where witches are stationed.¡± ¡°They say strange things are happening all over the world these days. Could something big be on the horizon?¡± ¡°Heh, with the Triumvirate Dragons around, what¡¯s there to worry about? We should be more concerned about our contract extensions. It¡¯s always the common folk like us who suffer, not the world.¡± The contract workers all sighed in unison. After approximately 20 hours of travel, the fast boat finally arrived at Aurelinople by 11 a.m. There were so many ships that even with the boat¡¯s emergency lights, it took nearly 30 minutes to dock due to the heavy traffic around the lighthouse. This was common in Aurelinople, as ships crossed in both directions¡ªvessels bringing inland goods out to sea and those delivering maritime products inland. Witch Oana saluted Yuz by tipping the brim of her pointed hat. ¡°This is as far as I can help. Farewell.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been a great help. I¡¯ll make sure to inform my master.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need. I was just doing my duty.¡± The witches exchanged a respectful hand gesture, which drew a disapproving look from Sia. ¡°Why do elites always have to put on a show like that? Tch.¡± The first thing that stood out about Aurelinople was the grandeur of its walls. Though built from simple stones from the Balisor River, the walls appeared sturdy and gave off a sense of solid strength. The crowds were so thick that it took quite a while to move from the outer wall to the central district, where government offices were clustered. ¡°Wait here.¡± The Aurelinople city hall building was far grander than the one in the green city of Karshiko, boasting at least ten stories. However, unlike the city hall of Karshiko, which stood on an independent plot with a plaza and courtyard, Aurelinople''s city hall was located in the bustling center of the city, making the overall space feel smaller. Suddenly, a heart-wrenching scream echoed from somewhere nearby. Arzen immediately gripped his holy book, ready to fight, but Sia glanced toward the direction of the scream and shook her head in pity. ¡°Ugh.¡± It was the sound of a despairing wretch. Many such wretches were lying on the ground, their eyes hollow as they howled in anguish. ¡°My weapon, my precious 5-gold weapon!¡± ¡°How could this scrap of iron¡­!¡± ¡°Argh, I was one step away from a +10 weapon!¡± Indeed, the legendary enhancement artifact was located near the Adventurers'' Guild in Aurelinople. It was a relic salvaged from Trident Point, the Sanctuary of Adventure, known as the Legacy of the Returned! Only four of these artifacts existed across both continents. This highly coveted antique was famous for pushing weapons, which typically capped at enhancement level 8, beyond their limits¡ªup to a maximum of level 12. ¡°Idiots, why do they gamble on such pointless things?¡± Sia muttered. A Dwarf, sweeping shattered metal pieces from the artifact¡¯s vicinity into a dustpan, replied. ¡°Of course, someone practical like you wouldn¡¯t understand. It¡¯s about the romance of it all.¡± Dwarves are generally split into two distinct types: stocky individuals with bodies covered in muscle and thick beards, like Jerome, who excelled in physical prowess, and smaller ones that retain the appearance of a young boy throughout their life. The one sweeping the fragments was the latter¡ªan appearance seemingly frozen in youthful innocence, though her features showed an ageless confidence. Her hair was pulled back tightly, and she wore safety goggles. It was difficult to guess the age of a Dwarf, but for all Arzen knew, she could be a grandmother. ¡°Aren¡¯t you a woman, too?¡± Jerome asked, causing the Dwarf to wag her index fingers side to side in defiance. ¡°You clearly don¡¯t know this, but there¡¯s no such thing as gender when it comes to blacksmiths. You¡¯ll need to grow up a little more.¡± ¡°How old are you?¡± ¡°Twenty-nine.¡± ¡°I¡¯m forty-two.¡± ¡°Oh, my bad! I¡¯ve only just inherited this place from my father.¡± Sia spat on the ground, clearly unimpressed. ¡°Tch, all you do is scam suckers into shoving their weapons into that enhancer, only for them to shatter, then you sweep up the pieces with a broom. Some blacksmith you are.¡± They say a woman¡¯s worst enemy is another woman, and Sia seemed determined to pick fights with them at every opportunity. ¡°What did you say?! You have no idea how hard it is to operate that artifact! I¡¯ll remember your face! Don¡¯t even think about asking me to enhance anything for you or your companions in the future!¡± Kitan blinked rapidly in surprise. ¡°Huh, me too? Why? I didn¡¯t say anything.¡± Sia, unfazed, shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that line a hundred times walking past here. And I¡¯ve seen more than a few people standing next to me who ended up getting their equipment enhanced.¡± The Dwarf smirked and shot back, ¡°That¡¯s because the money was too good to turn down!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t go proudly admitting your greed, you lunatic!¡± Sia snapped back. ¡°Anyway! The more you enhance, the greater the return! Look at this!¡± The Dwarf triumphantly held up a dustpan she had successfully enhanced to level 11. ¡°This is the pinnacle of romance! The culmination of all my hard work!¡± For a moment, both Sia and Kitan¡¯s eyes gleamed intensely. In reality, it wasn¡¯t their eyes that were shining so brightly. It was the radiant glow from the enhanced dustpan. Once an enhancement level surpasses 8 and reaches 9, the weapon begins to emit a glow. If the enhancement is successful with the artifact, the equipment gains this shimmering aura. ¡®Idiots are everywhere, no matter where you go!¡¯ Arzen couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of familiarity as he observed the adventurers weeping and rolling on the ground in despair. ¡®Enhancement! It¡¯s a luxury only for adventurers who have secured their skills and status and gained financial stability!¡¯ Incidentally, Garrison, the vice-captain of the Divine Guillotine, wielded a pair of knuckles enhanced to level 10, while captain Olart used an axe enhanced to level 11. ¡®Though there were also those scumbags who, after failing an enhancement, took out their frustration by assaulting me.¡¯ At that time, Arzen practically despised the enhancement system. However, now that he was free from their shackles, he surprisingly felt no great animosity towards it anymore. ¡°I want to, I want to too! I want my flat blade to glow like that!¡± Kitan drooled at the thought, but Sia grabbed him by the back of his neck, shaking her head. ¡°Enhance what? You¡¯re not even a combat specialist. How are you supposed to remain stealthy if that shiny thing is glowing in the jungle?¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± ¡°And besides, this guy¡¯s a total rip-off. Even if you manage to enhance up to level 8, it¡¯s a hundred times better to find a skilled blacksmith in some remote village.¡± At this, the female Dwarf blacksmith folded her arms and turned her nose up arrogantly. ¡°Hmph! Why are you hanging out with these no-good amateurs who don¡¯t even understand the art of enhancement?¡± ¡°Wow, that¡¯s a pretty racist remark,¡± Sia shot back. ¡°Enhancement is all about the process! You have to trust a proper blacksmith to handle it, or the density of the weapon won''t be high enough. That way, when you use this artifact, the chances of breaking will decrease! That¡¯s why you should always entrust a proper blacksmith from level zero!¡± Jerome nodded in agreement. ¡°Though, a twenty-nine-year-old blacksmith isn¡¯t really qualified to be saying that. At that age, you¡¯re barely even a blacksmith.¡± ¡°Heheh, that¡¯s a secret,¡± the Dwarf replied with a mischievous grin. So, she was practically admitting to being a quack. The adventurer world was truly a cesspool where no one could be trusted, and Arzen found himself both bemused and oddly familiar with the constant grime. ¡°Hey!¡± At that moment, Yuz emerged from the city hall. ¡°The request¡¯s been extended. We have to head to the Red Mountain Range. Master is leading the witches there.¡± Sia shrugged casually. ¡°As long as they pay us, we¡¯ll go to hell itself. Should I draft a new contract?¡± ¡°What are you talking about? The request was for an escort until I meet my master in Aurelinople. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re trying to scam me while wearing a silver rank?¡± ¡°What? You little¡ª¡± Sia, shocked, quickly flipped over the handwritten contract Yuz had provided. It was true¡ªthe contract had been written exactly that way from the start. Catching the look of bewilderment on Sia¡¯s face, Yuz smirked. ¡°Did you really think I¡¯d stay an easy target forever? I was ordained a witch at twenty-three. I¡¯m the elite of elites! You adventurers, you¡¯re all playing right into the palm of my hand.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 37: In the Red Mountain Range (1) [Translator - Kiteretsu][Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 37: In the Red Mountain Range (1) The purple city of sits at the heart of the point where the Red Mountain Range splits. The North Gate, East Gate, and West Gate¡­ Whichever gate you leave from, if you hurry, you can reach the foothills of the mountain range within a day. This time, Yuz chose the North Gate. She explained that the investigation team from the Witch Association had headed north. The group, tasked with escorting Yuz, made their way toward the foothills of the Red Mountain Range. Since they avoided using a carriage to guard against monster attacks, it took them a full day and a half on foot. Though there were some monster attacks during that time, this area was well-protected by witches and swarming with adventurers, so they encountered no real threats. Finally, they reached the Red Mountain Range. ¡°Wow, it¡¯s hot¡­¡± Arzen fanned himself as he gazed up at the majestic peaks of the Red Mountain Range. The heat here felt similar to that of the distant continent of , intense and scorching. Yuz explained, ¡°This range was created as a flame to suppress the ancient abyss. It¡¯s still burning, consuming the abyss with eternal flames. It¡¯s a sacred heat.¡± As the patrol contractors had mentioned, the area around the Red Mountain Range was teeming with adventurers. Where adventurers gather, money follows. Merchants, seeing this as an opportunity, had come laden with potions. Alchemists, hardware shops selling various tools, blacksmiths repairing armor, and tanners were all here as well. Naturally, the prices were outrageous, like being hit over the head with a stick multiple times compared to the city. But that¡¯s the price unprepared fools have to pay. ¡°Hey.¡± Sia called out to an adventurer passing by. ¡°Huh?¡± The adventurer answered aggressively. Sia, eyes narrowing, grabbed him by the collar. ¡°You, a bronze-level grunt, have the nerve to look at me like that? Do you want to die?¡± Such authority! The adventurer shrank back, likely intimidated by the aura emanating from Sia¡¯s arm. His companion urgently nudged him in the side. ¡°Hey, lower your gaze! Can¡¯t you see that short, dark red hair and the Executioner¡¯s Sword?¡± The adventurer immediately became docile. It seemed Sia had made quite a name for herself in this area. Even among silver-ranked adventurers, only a few at the top displayed similar prowess, a sight commonly seen even across the sea on the continent of . ¡°I heard the Witch Association¡¯s investigation team is here. Do you know where they are?¡± ¡°Oh, if you mean them¡­ head up a bit further, and you¡¯ll find them. The witches don¡¯t seem to want to mingle with adventurers like us.¡± ¡°Over there? Got it. Hey, let¡¯s go!¡± *The Priestess of the Heavenly Star, Serna, stood out even from her attire, which was far more distinguished than that of ordinary witches. You could recognize her as a Priestess just by her clothes. Is it because of the extravagant embellishments? ¡®Of course, that¡¯s part of it, but I would¡¯ve known even if it wasn¡¯t there.¡¯ Even among the finest silks, there are grades, and the gap between each grade is immense! Her appearance radiated an imposing dignity, much more so than the Grand Witch seen in . Such a person was warmly welcoming Yuz. ¡°Master!¡± ¡°Yuz! What brings you all the way here?¡± ¡°I have something urgent to discuss. It¡¯s really important.¡± At this, the Priestess''s previously kind expression turned very serious. ¡°Which one is it?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°Between the two of them. Which one? They¡¯re both cute, just my type. Didn¡¯t you bring them here to ask me to officiate a wedding?¡± ¡°What are you talking about?! Please stop with the strange comments. We¡¯re dealing with a ridiculously urgent situation here!¡± ¡°Hahaha. You¡¯re still too inexperienced, Yuz, if you get flustered by such a small joke.¡± * * * Inside the tent, after hearing the whole story from Yuz, Priestess Serna¡¯s face grew even more grim. ¡°The Void was breached, and an Elder Goblin emerged?¡± ¡°Yes. And in the process, a member of the Zerenion Squad died, and the sealing circle was broken. We need to relay this information to His Excellency, one of the Three Dragon Lords, as soon as possible.¡± ¡°This is highly unusual.¡± Priestess Serna was wrapping the Void Seal with layers of sacred sealing scrolls. ¡°Zerenion members are the most elite of the Dark Elf followers. There¡¯s no way they would fall to a mere King Goblin.¡± ¡°What are you saying¡­?¡± ¡°Someone drove this seal in. You mentioned the body was crushed under the King Goblin, right? That was surely to cover their tracks.¡± A chill ran down Yuz¡¯s spine. It took her some time to suppress the trembling in her voice. ¡°I thought finding you would help clarify things, but now it feels like the situation is becoming even more complicated¡­¡± ¡°No, you¡¯ve come to the right place. But this is beyond something I can leisurely analyze.¡± ¡°But Master, you¡¯re the greatest Witch and Priestess in the Northern Republic. How could you say ¡®beyond me¡¯?¡± ¡°That¡¯s why it¡¯s frightening. Even I, who have such a title, am feeling my blood run cold from the overwhelming power within this Void Seal.¡± Serna was the disciple of Yuliana. Yuliana lived during the reign of the Dragon Lord and resolved countless global calamities alongside him. Naturally, Serna had been taught by her master about the true danger of the Void''s powers. ¡°What should we do?¡± ¡°The power of the Void can drive beasts into a frenzy. Especially with such an overwhelming force¡­ From here on, you¡¯ll come with me to the Papal Court.¡± ¡°You mean to see His Excellency Raihyang?¡± ¡°Yes. The Papal Court is the closest from here.¡± ¡°The adventurers I brought with me¡ª all four of them are very skilled.¡± ¡°This is not a matter we can leave in the hands of adventurers. I¡¯ll have to bring most of the witches here with me.¡± ¡°If only the witches are going, we can take broomsticks straight over the mountains. It would be much faster than traveling by sea.¡± At Yuz¡¯s words, Serna shook her head. ¡°No, the air currents around the Red Mountain Range are unstable. Broomstick flight is practically impossible.¡± ¡°Air currents? Master, I¡¯m no longer at the level where such winds would affect my flight.¡± ¡°I misspoke. It¡¯s not the physical currents¡ªit¡¯s the flow of spiritual energy. The natural energies we use for magic have become severely corrupted.¡± ¡°How could that happen¡­?¡± ¡°For now, we¡¯ll return to Aurelinople, then travel by boat to Tervenople. It¡¯s the only viable route.¡± ¡°Master, about those adventurers¡­ I owe them a lot, and I think you should handle the payment.¡± Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The paper Serna received was an invoice written by Sia. It detailed various reasons and demanded a payment of 4 gold coins and equivalent contributions. "4 gold coins? That¡¯s quite a lot. I hope you¡¯re not falling for those cute kids?" "No, no! They¡¯re not my type at all. I don¡¯t even like the party leader... but all four of them are definitely skilled." "Really?" "Yes, really! If it weren''t for those adventurers, I wouldn''t have made it this far." "I see. I can approve the payment of 4 gold coins right here and now at my discretion." Serna clapped her hands to summon her disciple. She looked to be in her mid-teens and was a junior to Yuz. The girl bowed deeply to Yuz and soon brought back 4 gold coins as instructed by Serna. "As for the contributions, since the guild''s branch is here, just settle that there." "Thank you." "I need to finish preparing for the journey. In the meantime, you should say goodbye to those adventurers." Yuz took the gold coins and stepped outside the tent. The adventurer party was giggling over trivial topics when Yuz waved to them. Not wanting anyone to snatch the coins away, Yuz handed each of them a gold coin. "What¡¯s this? Are you trying to bribe us?" Sia asked incredulously, to which Yuz sighed. "You adventurers will secretly kill someone if you have money. I¡¯m worried, that¡¯s why." When Kitan tried to bite the gold coin, Yuz covered his mouth with her hand. "No, Kitan! You only do that with pure gold." "Huh?" "And doing that would lower the value of pure gold. More importantly, coins, no matter the material, are full of germs! Never do that. It''s not good for you." "Ugh... okay." "And this is the last one. Arzen, especially you, I received a lot of help." "Oh?" "If I had the authority, I¡¯d like to give you more rewards, but... it wouldn¡¯t be fair, and I''m not part of the guild." Arzen quickly tucked the gold coin Yuz handed him into his money pouch. "One gold coin! One gold coin is worth 100 silver coins!" This meant that it was the amount a laborer would have to save up without spending a single penny for 100 days. "To earn that much money in less than ten days... being an adventurer is definitely the quickest way to get rich!" Arzen swallowed hard but maintained a serious smile. "I didn¡¯t do this for the reward, Lady Witch." "Then would you like to return it?" "However, if it really bothers you, I could write a few lines about my performance, and I can take that to the branch as proof." Yuz sighed, unable to scold Arzen, and playfully poked his forehead with her index finger. "Don¡¯t get too greedy, or you¡¯ll end up in hell. Well then, everyone, thank you. Goodbye." --- Having settled the payment, there was no longer any need to stay in this place. All the party members were excitedly discussing what to buy and what to eat. "I want to try all the delicacies from !" "Idiot! All food is basically the same. Don¡¯t waste money on weird stuff; buy good equipment instead." "With this money, I could upgrade my Gatling gun quite a bit." At that moment, a red witch called out to them. "Wait. I heard from Yuz that all four of you are quite skilled... How about taking on a named request?" Sia immediately stopped in her tracks and raised an eyebrow. "A named request? What¡¯s the rank?" "It''s against kobolds. The branch generally rates them between 10 and 11." "Only 10 to 11? Are you kidding? That¡¯s not impressive. When we return to , there are plenty of requests rated 6 to 8." "There is a way to adjust the payment... but right now, we''re short on personnel since the priestess left with twenty witches. We can accommodate you to some extent." The witch wore a troubled expression. Sia seemed to smile as if she had been caught, but then she shook her head. "No, thinking it over, I''m not really interested." Arzen asked, "Why not?" "Kobolds are small creatures that dig holes deep into the ground, right?" "But you handled goblins just fine." "That¡¯s different from using a human-made tunnel that they modify." "Is it?" "They do wander outside, but kobolds are truly only in the tunnels. It would be difficult to wield my executioner''s sword properly in there." Sia especially noted the lack of any reaction from her right arm. ¡®That means it¡¯s not that impressive.¡¯ Jerome nodded in agreement. "My Gatling gun is the same. The risk of ricochet is too high." "Moreover, is a major city. It''s true that this place is hot right now, but looking at the majority being brass rank, the request difficulty and rewards don¡¯t seem that high." "I¡¯m getting a bit tired of finding my way in the dark! Of course, it wouldn¡¯t be a problem with Arzen around, haha!" Arzen crossed his arms. These guys seemed to think about getting better requests when they returned to . It would be best to roll with it as long as they could. ¡®Hmm?¡¯ At that moment, the Void Grimoire hanging from her waist began to emit a heavy light. Not only light but a feeling of weight as well. ¡®What¡¯s going on? Is it telling me to stay here?¡¯ She had experienced something similar not long ago. At Lake of the Golden Realm. Back then, her work bee had reacted this way, but now, without the work bee summoned, it felt like the grimoire was responding instead. ¡®To grow... this must be the right place.¡¯ If that¡¯s the case, then the conclusion I, a future Diamond rank, should reach is already decided! There must be a foundation for Arzen¡¯s growth here as well. Therefore, she said, "I¡¯ll stay. My abilities are well suited for these dark caves." The bonds of adventurers that come together and break apart according to mutual interests are inherently fleeting. There¡¯s a reason why famous parties do all sorts of tricks to recruit promising talents. Still, the man Arzen wouldn''t beg or act pitifully trying to persuade those who wanted to leave. ¡®Remember, you¡¯re the ones who should feel regret and try to hold onto me! Let¡¯s recognize this hierarchy right here and now!¡¯ At that, Kitan''s eyes widened. "What? Then I want to stay too!" As Arzen was about to nod in satisfaction, Sia grabbed Kitan by the back of his neck. "You should be the pathfinder for our party; what¡¯s left for you? Besides, kobolds don¡¯t even set traps, so you won¡¯t have much to do here except memorize the tunnel routes." "Ugh¡­." "Then, Arzen, let¡¯s form a party again if we get the chance later. I feel like I¡¯ll be seeing you often." Following Sia, Jerome also turned his back. "Yeah, see you next time, Arzen. Oh, and next time, try to change that rookie-smelling steel tag." "Arzeeeeeeeeen~ I don¡¯t want to say goodbye~~~~~~~~!" Kitan flailed as he was dragged away. Aside from him, Sia''s party left far too coolly. Watching their retreating figures, Arzen felt a moment of confusion. ¡®Wow, no matter how you look at it, isn¡¯t this a bit too decisive?¡¯ No matter what? Hmm? ¡®I was prepared to catch them a couple of times and completely ignore the work bee''s reaction!¡¯ Not that he¡¯d kneel and beg? He just wanted them to say, ¡°Let¡¯s go together,¡± and he would¡¯ve pretended to think it over before following them. ¡®I¡¯m hurt...¡¯ Both his pride and dignity as a noble adventurer! ¡®For offending my feelings... What was it again? Some kind of punishment, right? Yeah, I¡¯ll impose the punishment of never forming a party with you again!¡¯ But if they turn around now and apologize, he might let it slide. If they hang onto his pants, he might forgive them. ¡®I¡¯ll give you exactly three more seconds. 3, 2, 1... Alright, is that how it¡¯s going to be? Hmph! I¡¯m upset too!¡¯ Anyway, he needed time to train alone with the power of the Void for a while, so this actually worked out well. ¡®Starting with slimes and working in dark places feels a bit annoying, though¡­!¡¯ In fact, having that burden lifted felt incredibly refreshing. ¡®No, this is really a good thing!¡¯ It truly feels great, right? He¡¯s definitely not disappointed or gloomy at all! [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 38: In the Red Mountain Range (2) [Translator - Kiteretsu][Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 38: In the Red Mountain Range (2) ¡°Are you okay, dear? Your companions are all leaving¡­¡± A witch, appearing to be in her forties, asked. She was the acting head of the investigation team since Priestess Serna was leaving the Red Mountains. This indicated one thing: it was a top priority to make a good impression. ¡°Ugh, sniff, sob¡­.¡± Arzen pretended to swallow his tears. ¡°I really, really didn¡¯t want to part with everyone¡­ but, , the justice in my heart¡­ , is crying out to help the witch and do what¡¯s right, waah!¡± ¡°Oh my, I can¡¯t believe there¡¯s such a solid kid! Yuz must have recommended you!¡± ¡°Just give me any task! I may still be lacking, but I¡¯ll do my best in anything!¡± He turned the special situation of leaving the party to his advantage, creating a context to build goodwill even more perfectly than usual. ''Ha ha ha! Thank you, you useless stepping stones! To have helped me so wonderfully until the very end!'' Moved to the point of tears, the witch provided Arzen with detailed explanations about the request. ¡°Perhaps to block the spiritual energy of the Red Mountains, the kobolds have started driving these large nails deep into the ground.¡± The large nail the witch presented to Arzen was about three feet long. ¡°This was made by the kobolds using magic stones, and I have no idea how many they¡¯ve driven into the mountains.¡± ¡°Should I dig this out?¡± ¡°Yes. The special request is for a ¡®daily exploration,¡¯ and for this large nail, you¡¯ll be paid per piece once you bring it back. It¡¯ll be a direct transaction.¡± Arzen smiled in satisfaction. ''Wow, she¡¯s really a witch who knows how to communicate well!'' Having dealt with adventurers who cared only about money, it seemed she understood how to manage her counterparts. ''This is actually great!'' After all, the relationship between a requestor and an adventurer is based on mutual benefit. With such clear calculations, there was no need to haggle or complicate matters. At that moment, the witch¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°Oh, I forgot to ask the most important thing. What¡¯s your rank?¡± A hurdle right off the bat! But don¡¯t forget the lesson emphasized from long ago! The perfect lie only requires a tiny bit of truth! ¡°I was in a silver-ranked party, but is it really necessary to mention that?¡± Using a subtle evasion to conceal the truth. ''This way, I won¡¯t have to worry about being scolded later for lying, nor will I be anxious about getting caught!'' The witch nodded as if she understood. ¡°Right, I shouldn¡¯t have asked unnecessarily. Then, I look forward to working with you.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll start the work from tomorrow.¡± Arzen accepted the request form from the witch and headed back to the foot of the mountain. It was truly bustling with adventurers to the point of being overwhelming. ''Heh, if cockroaches walked on two legs, this might be what they¡¯d look like in a swarm.'' The ¡°Divine Guillotine¡± was the Platinum Adventurer¡¯s Guild. The useless ones at the bottom of the adventurer society dared not even enter such a place. Though it was hardly different from being a slave, it was only natural for Arzen, who had experienced the divine realm, to have no connection with such lowly ranks. ''Hehehe.'' With a smug smile of superiority, Arzen deliberately tensed his shoulders and swaggered through the crowd. However, his boyish body was frail! Instead, it was Arzen who was getting knocked around by the bulky adventurers, leaving him battered and bruised. ¡°These lower-class folks with muscles for brains¡­ How could you possibly hope to outdo me, Arzen, if you can¡¯t manage even this? I¡¯ll let it slide this time.¡± *** Arzen headed to the Adventurer Guild''s field branch. Whenever a large-scale investigation mission arises, an intense game of survival ensues within the guild. Those who lose are stripped of their comfortable work-life balance in the city and sent to work in outdoor tents like this one. Naturally, the receptionists'' gazes were filled with hostility. ¡°Let¡¯s see.¡± Arzen searched for his prey. It would be best if the receptionists were on the verge of breaking down from the heavy workload. That¡¯s how he could earn their goodwill most easily. ¡°The second hurdle is¡­ to verify if it¡¯s true that I, a Steel-ranked adventurer, received a designated request from the Witch Association!¡± If Arzen were to confirm this with the witch and it got out that he was Steel-ranked¡­ his sweet honey pot would shatter. ¡°So I need to find the receptionist who is just about ready to break!¡± He quickly spotted his target. It was the counter where an adventurer had been arguing with a receptionist since he first entered. ¡°No, where¡¯s the damage? You didn¡¯t even pay the proper price? Do you think it¡¯s easy being an adventurer? Do you find joy in shortchanging us, huh?¡± ¡°No! Damn, you really can¡¯t understand a thing! Even a little damage to a Rat Spider¡¯s fur drastically lowers its value!¡± ¡°How bad could it be¡­?¡± ¡°Hey, I¡¯m not stealing your money! Do you think I¡¯m getting a bonus for buying this cheap? I¡¯m just following the rules, you want to die?¡± ¡°Gah.¡± The receptionist, who would normally greet adventurers with a smile, wore a face more ferocious than a beast during field duty. Work-life balance was that important. As the adventurer, having endured all sorts of insults, teared up and dashed outside, the other adventurers began to murmur. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bit much?¡± ¡°Seriously.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s avoid that counter.¡± ¡°We should file a complaint with the guild.¡± Though adventurers pretended to be the strongest, deep down, they wanted the receptionists to support them. ¡°Fools! You need to know how to turn that to your advantage!¡± Having locked onto his target, Arzen stepped back outside. After purchasing a cool carbonated drink from a traveling merchant, he returned. The receptionist was covering her face with both hands, and adventurers were refusing to line up at that counter. Arzen made his way toward her. The adventurers hurriedly warned him, shouting, ¡°Hey, it¡¯s hell up there!¡± ¡°Hello, Miss!¡± In moments of crisis, one must view it as a ladder. Only those who know how to use even such situations can claim victory in life. ¡°You must be exhausted! Here, take this and cheer up!¡± ¡°Oh my¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to submit a designated request! I have plenty of time, so please take your time!¡± The receptionist''s eyes glistened with tears as she gulped down the carbonated drink. Then she quickly began processing the paperwork. ¡°Oh, Arzen, you¡¯re about to qualify for your promotion exam, huh? That¡¯s impressive!¡± Wait, already? It seemed he had earned more contribution points than expected from this mission. ¡°Hehe, I was just lucky.¡± Still, he had to pretend to be humble. He reminded himself that humility was the number one virtue when trying to win someone over. ¡°Right, keep working hard. How wonderful would it be if all adventurers were as cute and honest as you, Arzen? Honestly, they¡¯re all just greedy trash.¡± The first rule of winning over women was unconditional empathy. Whenever a woman said something, he just had to repeat these three phrases. ¡°Gah, that¡¯s so true.¡± ¡°Oh my, really?¡± ¡°Wow, what should we do?¡± If he used these three catchphrases, gaining the favor of any woman would be as easy as pie. ¡°Come back again~ Next time, I¡¯ll give you a present, Arzen!¡± How about that? Isn¡¯t life just so easy? ¡°Yes!¡± Just as Arzen was flashing a triumphant smile after smoothly overcoming both the first and second hurdles, she said, ¡°Oh, wait a moment.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Since your last mission was rated as Eighth Grade, the guild requires a separate report. If you submit it, it might help with your contribution points.¡± A report? Just hearing the word made his blood boil. Reports were a major factor in determining contribution points in party hunts¡ªessentially the honor system. That was only for missions that Steel-ranked adventurers could participate in; they hadn¡¯t even acknowledged his involvement in the others. ¡°Your party members already submitted brief reports, so what do you think? Want to hear them?¡± His heart sank at those words. The chances were high. Humans were inherently selfish. Among them, adventurers were even more so. It was far too common in this savage world for a party to fall apart and then label someone as trash. ¡°Let¡¯s see, the leader wrote this on behalf of the party: ¡®Arzen not only provided miracles but also skillfully handled summoning spells, greatly contributing to the completion of this mission¡­¡¯¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°The Silver rank praised it, so the contribution assessment is favorable. How about you write something as well, Arzen?¡± With a dazed expression, Arzen picked up the pen. Following Yuz''s warning, he excluded any mention of the sealing techniques from this mission. - Sia is in charge of anger and spent the whole day fuming, but she wields a sword exceptionally well. - Jerome has a quirky personality, but he shoots very accurately. - Kitan may be a bit dim-witted, but he has an excellent sense of direction. As he wrote about the goblin extermination, Arzen planned to pen harsh criticisms about the trash who abandoned him... But this was the best he could do... Even that, after much deliberation while tapping the pen on the desk, he ended up striking through useless phrases like ¡®~ but¡¯ or ¡®~ however¡¯... - Sia wields a sword exceptionally well. - Jerome shoots very accurately. - Kitan has a great sense of direction. The receptionist chuckled softly. ¡°Thank you for the information. I¡¯ll rewrite it excluding the stricken parts.¡± ¡°......¡± ¡°It seems you had a lot of fun on this mission with your party, Arzen.¡± Arzen¡¯s head was still spinning. He stepped outside the guild. No, that couldn¡¯t be right. Arzen shook his head vigorously. After all, they say world domination is for the diligent. --- The Red Pilgrims The Red Pilgrims wore robes adorned with red flames. Each of them, trained directly in martial arts by the Flame Dragon, Akirea, had served as exceptional martial artists, ensuring the safety of the Adrion continent. Their number was about one hundred. In operations like these, they usually paired off and traveled across the continent, which is how they earned the name ¡°pilgrims.¡± ¡°The esteemed one has arrived.¡± A dragon descended from the distant sky, its form transforming into that of a dragon warrior amidst flames. The Crimson Flame, Akirea. Over ten pilgrims knelt in reverence before her majesty. ¡°I¡¯ve heard we¡¯ve secured an important witness.¡± At Akirea''s inquiry, Whitney, one of the five leaders of the pilgrims, respectfully responded. ¡°Yes, they were originally an executive of the but left a few years ago for some unknown reason.¡± ¡°Guide her to me.¡± ¡°While your highness orders it... she does not speak at all. If permitted, I intend to attempt interrogation.¡± ¡°Interrogation is forbidden under any circumstances. That is the principle. Do not forget it.¡± ¡°My humble apologies for my reckless words¡­ Please forgive me.¡± Despite the high status of the pilgrim, standing before this dragon¡ªwho was fire itself¡ªfelt like being overshadowed. No, perhaps it wasn¡¯t overshadowed but rather embraced. The Crimson Flame Akirea¡­ she was a flame that enveloped all living beings warmly and gently. ¡°Is that her?¡± The woman the pilgrims brought forth and made kneel appeared young. She looked to be in her late twenties, but her hair was tangled like rotting seaweed, and her body was in tatters. Seeing her disheveled state caused wrinkles to form at the corners of Akirea¡¯s eyes, prompting Whitney to speak up urgently. ¡°Your highness, this is not our doing. She was in such a state when we found her.¡± ¡°How peculiar. If she was an executive of an adventurer¡¯s party, she should have been a promising adventurer.¡± ¡°I... we also have no idea why. We kept asking, but she just sticks out her tongue with a derisive smile and doesn¡¯t answer. Is she out of her mind?¡± Akirea approached the woman. ¡¸I¡¯ve heard you don¡¯t speak at all. What is the reason?¡¹ The woman didn¡¯t respond. Instead, she raised her head and merely stuck out her tongue with an irreverent grin. The pilgrims flared up and rolled up their sleeves, but Akirea raised her hand, stopping them. ¡¸You¡¯re bleeding.¡¹ Akirea offered a sorrowful smile. The pilgrims tilted their heads in confusion. Although the woman had dried blood clots all over her body, she wasn¡¯t bleeding at all. ¡¸Despite your suffering so much... it is my shortcoming that I have not heard your moans until now.¡¹ From the fingertips of Akirea, who grasped the woman''s shoulders, surreal flames ignited. This was not the flames of annihilation or splitting, but the flames of purification. As all evil and impurities were burned away in those flames... everything that gnawed at the woman was incinerated. ¡¾©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤!¡¿ Something the pilgrims had never seen before emerged. Etched upon the woman¡¯s tongue was the Mark of the Void. To be precise, it was the Curse of the Anti-Dragon. That irreverent mark could not withstand the transcendent flames and erupted from its host''s body. The Void did not take shape but appeared as a mere conglomeration of raging power. Even so, it carried an overwhelming might that sent chills down their spines. ¡°Y-your highness!¡± The moment the Void charged fiercely at Akirea. With a speed that transcended perception, Akirea moved her hand to seize the Void. Though it tried to root itself in Akirea¡¯s grasp, its movements were completely halted... ¡¸Be gone into the flames.¡¹ As a blaze of intense heat surged from her fingertips, the Void was instantaneously obliterated. ¡¾©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤!¡¿ The tension that had caused cold sweat to trickle down their backs dissipated, leaving an eerie silence. Nothing, no one, could dare to intrude upon this profound stillness. The only being who could break this silence was the one who had created it¡­ Akirea herself. ¡¸Where has the fetter that bound your soul in blood gone?¡¹ At this question, the woman absentmindedly groped her body. Her body, renewed in the flames... was truly a fragment of a miracle. It seemed that no water in the world could cleanse anything more purely than this. ¡°Nowhere... not anywhere, your highness.¡± The woman couldn¡¯t believe this situation, couldn¡¯t fathom it at all, and yet, amidst the rising tears, she bowed deeply. However, she found herself unable to do so. Truly warm hands cradled her face. Those hands held the warmth of everyday life that anyone would dream of in their sleep. ¡¸Yes, now you can speak. I am called Akirea. It is the name given to me by my mother, meaning ¡®freedom.¡¯ What is your name?¡¹ The counterpart was a dragon. A being she could not even dare to meet gaze with. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. That gentle smile completely denied such common sense... It was the kind of radiant smile that said it was alright to share sadness, pain, and joy face to face, just like her father and mother had done. ¡°Kirke, it¡¯s Kirke...!¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 39: In the Red Mountain Range (3) [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 39: In the Red Mountain Range (3) Arzen wandered around the foothills, gathering information. Adventurers are notoriously chatty, so it was easy to glean valuable insights just by eavesdropping. He sought out adventurers who appeared relatively strong and deliberately positioned himself nearby to listen closely. ¡°...I hear the kobolds are quite rampant these days?¡± ¡°...Don¡¯t even get me started. The kobolds have been so aggressive that even the goblins have lost their homes.¡± ¡°...Those guys have dug tunnels where the rat spiders roam, making the deeper parts of the underground increasingly dangerous.¡± Rat spiders were hideous creatures that seemed to be a bizarre mix of rats and spiders. Their danger level was rated a staggering E+. Given that goblins are rated G and kobolds G+, it indicated that they were indeed dangerous monsters. ¡®But to me, they are nothing more than passing vermin...!¡¯ Arzen was a calamity in and of himself. Could one stop a storm just because they saw it coming? To monsters, the power of the Void was just that. ¡®Hehe.¡¯ Afterward, Arzen also gathered information about local amenities. ¡®To support large-scale investigations, the mayor of has rolled up his sleeves.¡¯ S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He heard that the city had extended its curfew by four hours and shortened the opening hours by two hours. In short, the city would not close its doors until 10 PM. And it would open at 5 AM. ¡®I¡¯ll work two days and then head to the city for a day of rest.¡¯ After regaining his freedom, Arzen had made one decision. ¡®That is to achieve work-life balance!¡¯ Growing the power of the Void was important and enjoyable. However, he decided to refrain from overworking himself as much as possible. ¡®I must live with at least a minimum level of happiness!¡¯ The city hall had added more shuttle carriages running between the Red Mountain Range and , significantly shortening the intervals between departures. Therefore, this plan shouldn¡¯t be difficult. Inside the crowded carriage, he didn¡¯t want to be mixed in with the adventurers, all reeking of monster blood and sweat. ¡®When I heard the witch¡¯s explanation earlier, it seemed like a long stay was expected.¡¯ So, Arzen went to the station information desk and bought a monthly pass for three rides a week. ¡®It¡¯s foolish not to take advantage of a 26% discount compared to paying each time!¡¯ Of course, camping out in the Red Mountain Range and resolving quests might be faster, but he didn¡¯t want to do that. Arzen returned to the branch. Next to the quest status board, there was a bulletin board. There, a detailed map of the kobolds¡¯ tunnels in the southern part of the Red Mountain Range was displayed. A note below indicated that it was created based on reports from brave adventurers. ¡®Selling such important information for a measly contribution... they¡¯re brave as hell, aren¡¯t they? Bunch of idiots!¡¯ Despite his thoughts, Arzen went to the counter to purchase a copy of that map. Information was crucial. ¡®And just in case I might not have the luxury to chant a healing miracle, let¡¯s buy some potions too.¡¯ It would be best to purchase them from places bustling with adventurers. Potions were a matter of life and death, so adventurers were keen to find quality items. The fact that many adventurers frequented a shop meant that word of mouth had ensured its quality. ¡®I found one right away.¡¯ A sizable temporary tent had been set up, and adventurers were lining up. The queue was quite long, but the turnover was quick. Upon entering, Arzen understood the reason. Three neatly dressed alchemists in clean white attire were collaborating inside. Their cleanliness made them seem far more trustworthy compared to the people who carelessly displayed potions on the streets. To Arzen''s discerning eye, the quality seemed decent. Unlike the usual herbalists who only categorized their potions as low, medium, or high grade, these alchemists had further subdivided them into lower-medium and upper-medium grades. Arzen purchased three lower-medium potions. Since he could use the healing miracle, anything beyond this would be unnecessary overspending. He also bought some glowstone. ¡°Tch, losing a usable pathfinder stepping stone means I have to handle these trivial matters myself.¡± He definitely wanted to avoid becoming lost and dying deep underground. The glowstone would be handy for marking his path. ¡°Preparation is complete... time to go.¡± * * * He decided to set out for the first day of exploration. A newly discovered area would be ideal. He avoided popular spots known to be prime locations due to the crowd. At the entrance of the tunnel, apprentice witches were strictly managing access, accompanied by guards from the city hall. They seemed to be compiling a list to keep track of casualties and missing persons. ¡°Looks like such menial tasks have fallen to the apprentice witches!¡± The apprentice witches were typically in their late teens to late twenties. Yuz, who had already been officially appointed as a witch in her early twenties, was quite an elite. Being the disciple of a priestess was no lie either. ¡°Identification tag?¡± ¡°Here.¡± ¡°Steel, huh? What¡¯s your request?¡± When Arzen presented the request slip stamped by the Witch Association, the witch raised an eyebrow. ¡°So you received a designated request from Witch Beth?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°How interesting. I see you''re not someone to be misjudged... you may pass.¡± Upon entering the tunnel, a slope appeared immediately. ¡®There are various supports, braces, and torches set up near the entrance, making it seem solid, but...¡¯ Deeper inside lay untouched tunnels where human hands had not reached. Dust fell with even minor tremors, which felt slightly unsettling. ¡®No, kobolds are masters of tunnels. They wouldn¡¯t let anything collapse so easily.¡¯ Arzen formed a light using the ¡¶Lamp of Prayer¡·. ¡°Kaz to Arcturus. 10th tier.¡± Buuuuuum... The eerie silence of the underground felt calmed by the sound of the flapping wings. ¡°Worker bee!¡± The worker bee perched on Arzen¡¯s shoulder. Lately, he had almost given the little creature its own dedicated space. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go!¡± They descended further for about half an hour. As they went deeper, the echoing sounds of the tunnel began to resonate, soon capturing the sound of hammering. ¡®The sounds are resonating through the tunnels...?¡¯ Kobold tunnels varied immensely in size depending on their purpose. Tunnels simply used for travel were barely wide enough for an adult to pass through. Arzen understood why Sia and Jerome hadn¡¯t come. ¡®If they had indeed arrived here, they would have had quite a tough time.¡¯ However, the area where the work was in progress was quite vast. As he exited the long tunnel, he could see kobolds setting up supports and hammering stakes here and there. ¡®Kobolds!¡¯ They were reptilian demons. There¡¯s a legend that they are descendants of ancient beings known as Reptilians, but that is merely a legend. They were short like goblins, and while their combat ability was better than that of goblins, they were still insignificant. However, kobolds possessed masonry skills that distinguished them from the typical lowest-grade monsters, and they wore a kind of stone armor and helmets. ¡°Nevertheless, in the face of the power of the Void, all monsters are utterly insignificant!¡± The kobolds, who had been widening the tunnel with pickaxes or hammering stakes, turned in surprise at his voice. ¡°Kobold brothers, you¡¯ve worked hard today. If you leave those stakes behind, I¡¯ll let you live. Oh, and since pickaxes can fetch a price, leave those too.¡± The kobolds exhibited a primal animosity toward humans. Thus, they charged at him, using their tools as weapons. ¡°Crawrrrr!¡± Arzen crossed his arms arrogantly and chuckled. ¡°What¡¯s this? You want to rush me? You think a mere G+ rank can take on me, Arzen? Worker bee, we need to teach these rude trash some manners!¡± Buuuuuum¡­ The worker bees lined up in formation and advanced. The kobolds caught in that line began to writhe in pain as if being swallowed by some unseen force. Arzen picked up a pickaxe that one of them had dropped. ¡®This looks to be of decent quality.¡¯ He could understand why it was valuable. ¡°Let¡¯s see if it fits your head.¡± Crack! He delivered a lethal blow to the head of a kobold, nearly half of its body consumed by the Void creatures. The helmet, likely due to weight issues, was merely clay molded from dirt with a stone piece attached to it. It couldn¡¯t withstand the destructive force of the pickaxe. ¡°Boom, clap, boom, crack, boom! Follow me! Boom! Clap clap! Boom! Clap!¡± Arzen danced rhythmically as he confirmed each kobold¡¯s kill with his pickaxe. It seemed cruel, but kobolds were said to possess enough intelligence to play dead, so caution was warranted. ¡®The number of kobolds I¡¯ve taken out is already 10!¡¯ The rest had been completely devoured by the Void creatures, so there was no need to confirm their demise. ¡°Wow, what a windfall on the first day.¡± Soon, this vast cavern would belong to Arzen. All those pickaxes and stakes represented today¡¯s profits. Arzen spread his troops wide and collected all the pickaxes while analyzing the battle he just fought. ¡®Even while using La Tsi Qua, I felt that the power of the Void is incredibly strong against organic beings but weak against inorganic ones¡­¡¯ Living beings without armor were truly slaughtered. However, when obstructed by inorganic matter, its destructive power was significantly diminished. It had already been proven that he couldn¡¯t completely annihilate a great tree with La Tsi Qua. ¡®But demons have taken down even hydras, right? This might just mean my power is still weak.¡¯ Perhaps there might be a new mutation among the Void creatures or some other kind of evolution. ¡®But for now, I need to devise a strategy. When dealing with kobolds, I¡¯ll avoid using the worker bees and stick to the fused entities instead.¡¯ The worker bees and the soldier bees could exert considerable strength even against inorganic materials. These kinds of armor wouldn¡¯t be able to obstruct their power. ¡°Hmm, uh¡­?¡± At that moment, Arzen let out a groan. ¡®The stakes won¡¯t budge!¡¯ No matter how hard he pulled, they were embedded so deeply that there was no movement at all. His palms were scraping and burning from the effort. ¡°Worker bee, can you get this out?¡± The Void creatures rushed in. They began gnawing at the underground earth to extract the roots of the stakes¡­ As expected, they were tough against organic matter but weak against inorganic, which meant they took a long time for this simple labor. ¡°Enough, worker bee. We can¡¯t waste precious Void creatures on such simple labor. There are laborers more suited for this menial task! We¡¯ll need their help.¡± * * * After packing the pickaxes into his army, Arzen followed the path marked by glowstone and exited the tunnel. He hadn¡¯t realized how much time had passed underground, but it was already dusk. Just then, a burly party was having a junior witch write up an entry list. ¡°Wow~ This is a real gold mine! Look at all these pickaxes marked with green glowstone!¡± Arzen shouted, as if to let them hear. ¡°Aah~ There were tons of stakes too, but my army is full, so I couldn¡¯t bring them along! I¡¯m really weak! Oh no, how unfair! Oh!¡± Fire ignited in the eyes of the burly party members. They shot looks at the junior witch, urging her to hurry. As soon as the entry list was completed, they dashed into the tunnel like hungry beasts. Arzen watched their retreating figures and smiled wickedly. * * * ¡°¡­¡­It¡¯s real! There are really tons of stakes!¡± ¡°¡­¡­Each one is worth 10 coins! There are at least 20 here!¡± ¡°¡­¡­Woohoo! It¡¯s steak for dinner tonight!¡± The burly party members began to grunt and work hard to pull out the stakes. The pile of stakes they spread out in the center of the cavern soon counted up to 15. If exchanged for money, that would be one silver coin and 50 copper coins. Just then, it happened. Suddenly, all the torches went out at once, and bugs rushed in from the darkness. ¡°Uh? What, what¡¯s going on!¡± ¡°Gah, it hurts!¡± ¡°Get away! These things are on my head! No! I can¡¯t go bald at my age!¡± The burly party members were no match for the bugs that relentlessly tugged at their scalps in the darkness. There was only one option! They could only grab the stakes they had just pulled out and hurriedly flee toward the glowstone. ¡°Gah! Bugs! Bugs! What kind of gigantic bugs are these!¡± ¡°Run away!¡± ¡°It¡¯s a terrifying new type of monster that causes baldness! We need to report this to the guild!¡± As the burly party members flailed and disappeared under the pursuit of the bugs, a new presence soon emerged. ¡°Cough, cough, ha ha ha, ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!¡± The presence began to laugh. Gwanghui! The boy who was laughing maniacally started to gather the pile of stakes in the center of the cavern as if they were his. ¡°You fools! Don¡¯t you know there¡¯s no such thing as a free lunch in this world at your age?¡± This is neither a scam nor exploitation. ''I paid a fair price¡ª10 silver coins¡ªto purchase the labor of those fools.'' ''I wondered if there could be a more fair trade than this.'' ¡®I caught the kobolds and cleared the path, so it would only be right for me to reap all the rewards¡­!¡¯ ''I, Arzen, am such a soft-hearted and benevolent boy.'' ''I just couldn''t bring myself to do that.'' ''So, at the moment the big guys were pulling out the last stakes, I sent in the void creatures.'' ''Sigh~ If I keep being such an altruistic adventurer, I¡¯ll end up with nothing. I really am too soft-hearted for my own good.'' [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 40: In the Red Mountain Range (4) [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 40: In the Red Mountain Range (4) By the time Arzen emerged from the underground tunnel, it was already late at night. It had taken quite a while to wait for the burly men to completely disappear. Outside the tunnel, an exhausted apprentice witch, barely staying awake, was scribbling on a roster. A guard frowned openly at the sight. ¡°Hey, stick to the entry and exit times! You¡¯re 10 minutes over. I couldn¡¯t even leave because you didn¡¯t come up.¡± It wasn¡¯t wise to provoke people on the payroll carelessly. And considering he¡¯d interrupted their precious work-life balance, the fact that he wasn¡¯t being cursed at meant this was a rather gentlemanly response. Arzen nodded in apology and quickly made his way down the mountain. Arzen sold the intact pickaxe for 3 coins each. After deducting various fees, he was left with 23 coins. With that in mind, Arzen wandered around the mountain base. Several proprietors had set up chairs in front of large, makeshift tents. These were known as "chicken coops," lodging facilities crammed with nothing but tightly packed double-decker bunk beds, where adventurers would sleep amidst constant snoring, stinky feet, and drunken ramblings. But there were no other options. Arzen paid 3 coins for a spot. He climbed the ladder to the top bunk and wrapped himself in the provided blanket, only for his skin to itch. It was clear that the blanket hadn¡¯t been properly washed, likely crawling with mites. Cursing under his breath, Arzen kicked the blanket away and tried to sleep relying solely on the warmth of his Akahalu hide robe. His body itched so much that he ended up spending the night tossing and turning, sleepless. Early in the morning, he headed to the Witch Association tent. The witches, who prioritized spiritual discipline, were already awake, having finished their early morning gathering. Beth, the senior witch who had assigned Arzen his task, was inside the tent, conducting various experiments with the large nails. She was either dripping liquids onto the nails or embedding them into ritual circles. ¡°I brought the nails.¡± ¡°Oh my, you brought a lot! Didn¡¯t you overwork yourself? You look exhausted.¡± ¡°I just couldn¡¯t sleep. May I go now?¡± ¡°Of course. Oh, wait a moment. I¡¯ll make a record proving your shift. Adventurers need these for contribution points, right?¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± The tunnels opened at 8 a.m. The witches needed time to wrap up their morning gatherings and prepare for the day. As Arzen waited for 8 a.m., he thought he might collapse from exhaustion if he went back into the tunnels. Arzen headed toward the bus stop. Just then, a stagecoach was unloading a crowd of adventurers into the Red Ridge. About half of that number was now queuing up. It seemed commuting hours were always busy. Arzen barely managed to board before the coach reached its capacity. The crowd was so packed that he had to pull his knees to his chest, unable to even stretch out his legs. Despite that, Arzen was so tired that he felt sleep coming over him. He summoned a worker bee inside the lining of his Akaharu-hide robe to guard his money pouch, then buried his head between his knees and began to doze off. Except for waking up once or twice when the carriage stopped at a station or jolted from hitting an obstacle... Arzen napped pleasantly. He felt so good that he even drooled in his sleep. Having boarded just before the carriage reached full capacity, he managed to secure a seat where the sunlight poured down, adding to his comfort. How long had he slept, letting the rhythmic shaking of the carriage rock him? By the time all three suns were high in the sky, the carriage had reached the city gates. ¡°Those with a regular pass, come this way. First-time visitors or those without a pass, come over here for inspection.¡± Seeing how thoroughly the witches managed the city¡¯s entrance from the early morning, Arzen thought, "As expected of one of the Seven Great Cities." In most small towns or castles, gatekeepers would handle these mundane tasks, not witches. Thanks to his regular pass, Arzen quickly completed the entry procedures and entered the city. He wandered around, looking at different inns. Many tried to rip him off because of his young age. ¡®But who am I? I learned the art of haggling from the !¡¯ After giving a few of them a piece of his mind, he managed to find out that all the inns near the gates had skyrocketed in price, as they were convenient for commuting to the Red Mountain Range. Arzen hesitated for a moment. But he figured that inns in the central district wouldn¡¯t be much cheaper. ¡®The Red Mountain Range is a hot spot right now, and even the accommodations attached to the guild branch must have increased in price.¡¯ More than anything, he was too tired. He was so sleepy that everything seemed like a hassle. He still had plenty of money left. Even after subtracting the two silver coins he earned from selling picks and nails, the single gold coin Yuz had given him was still gleaming brightly in his pouch. ¡®I''ll just take an inn right in front of the north gate¡­ I¡¯ll catch the first ride to the Red Mountain Range at dawn and return on the last carriage of the day.¡¯ He thought about upgrading his regular pass at the carriage office but was too exhausted to bother. Besides, he could always do it at the temporary office set up in the Red Mountain Range. Arzen chose the cleanest inn he had seen. It came with a private bathroom, and the room was the largest of all the ones he had checked. The cost was quite high, but he managed to haggle it down, using the excuse of staying long-term for a month and having breakfast included every morning. ¡®The price? 23 silver coins!¡¯ Considering the original price was one silver coin per night, it was quite the achievement. After concluding a deal that satisfied both the innkeeper and himself, Arzen received the key with a handshake. ¡°Oh, and if you use hot water, the boiler will kick in, and you¡¯ll be charged extra according to the usage.¡± The boiler was a byproduct of the Steam Revolution. Under the welfare directive of Aurelinople, the Dwarves were allowed to sell such technologies to humans for a price. They wouldn¡¯t teach the technical details, but it wasn¡¯t like humans could understand it anyway. In the past, to get hot water, you¡¯d need to either rely on expensive magic tools or heat up stones and carry them around, but the world was getting better. ¡°Got it.¡± The moment Arzen entered his room, he practically threw off his clothes and went straight to wash himself. The bathroom even had a bathtub. "One of the Seven Great Cities really is different," Arzen thought. Even inns here offered such luxuries. ¡®Ah~ this is life. Now I can finally relax.¡¯ Arzen thought to himself. Earning lots of money and advancing in rank were important, but if the process was unbearable, then none of it mattered. There''s no use trying to grab hold of happiness in old age. Each moment of youth must be filled with happiness. In the warmth of the room, a pleasant drowsiness washed over him. "Falling asleep in a carriage doesn¡¯t count." Now he understood. A person needs a soft bed to truly get a good night¡¯s sleep. "I used to sleep just fine in stables or warehouses..." Arzen could feel he had changed. He had learned to live like a human being and realized that it was the way to find happiness. And this change felt good. After conveniently finishing his bath, thanks to the worker bee¡¯s assistance, Arzen changed into the cheap clothes he''d bought from the innkeeper and collapsed onto the bed. ¡°Worker bee, guard that well.¡± His coin pouch, now filled with silver coins as change, was noticeably missing the gold coin. It stung a little, losing the first gold coin he had ever held in his life. But then again, he would be handling hundreds, thousands of gold coins in the future. There was no need to dwell on it. With the worker bee standing guard over his pouch, Arzen quickly drifted into a blissful sleep. --- Arzen woke up early at dawn. It was still 3 AM, too early for breakfast. After some light exercise, Arzen opened his sacred text and deployed all 61 of his Void Bugs. "Kaz to Arcturus." The summoning of the 62nd Void Bug was imminent. He had been stuck at 61 for a while, too busy to move forward, but today, he planned to bring forth the 62nd Void Bug. Besides, he¡¯d probably doze off during the ride to the Red Mountain Range anyway, so his energy could be replenished then. ¡°Let¡¯s do this, worker bee.¡± Arzen focused. The worker bee opened the window. Soon, a massive heat surged through his body, so intense that it made him forget the chill of the early autumn morning. Sweat poured down, and his insides ached here and there. "One thing I¡¯ve realized since reaching 60 Void Bugs is that the more I summon, the easier they are to multiply...!" As expected, the existing Void Bugs widened the dimensional rift, allowing the newly summoned ones to pass through more easily. "In the past, it used to take half a day of struggle just to add one more Void Bug, but now it''s different! I can complete the summoning of one in just an hour!" If he could strengthen his energy further, he was confident that he could increase by two, maybe even three, Void Bugs a day. "Time to get ready." Arzen finished his preparations quickly and headed down to the inn¡¯s first floor. It was 4:20 AM. Quite a few people were already there, eating the breakfast the innkeeper had prepared since the early morning. Most of them looked formidable and well-armed. "They must be seasoned adventurers, given that they¡¯re paying a silver coin per night for lodging and forking over extra for the carriage fare. Not that they compare to me, Arzen." Arzen felt a sense of superiority at being part of this group, rather than the rabble he''d dealt with last time. ¡°Hey there, for our long-term guest, I¡¯ll toss in an extra egg!¡± The innkeeper said this cheerfully, though the portion didn¡¯t look any different from what the others received. The breakfast was nothing special. It was a standard meal of toast, bacon, scrambled eggs with onions, and corn soup¡ªsomething anyone from the Republic would love. ¡°It¡¯s always the same. The best breakfast is something everyone can enjoy, especially when no one has much of an appetite in the morning.¡± He agreed. It was better to eat something guaranteed, rather than fall victim to the innkeeper¡¯s greed by trying something too experimental. And considering the innkeeper¡¯s skill, the meal was excellent. The corn soup, in particular, was rich and sweet¡ªa real delight. "Yesterday, I was too tired to notice, but after signing a long-term contract, I can see that the daily lodging fee of one silver coin is definitely worth it..." Like a pack of ghouls, the adventurers, who had been eating in silence with soulless expressions, began to rise from their seats one by one. The gate was about to open, and the first carriage of the day would depart soon. It was almost 5 AM. Arzen hurriedly wrapped the remaining bacon and eggs in the last slice of bread, making a makeshift sandwich. With it in his mouth, he joined the line of adventurers heading out. Just as the door, opened by the adventurer ahead of him, was about to close and Arzen stepped through... His gaze shot upward. His bread, eggs, bacon, and drops of grease were flying through the dim early morning sky. ¡°Ouch...!¡± Someone had rushed into him, knocking him off balance. A girl, about the same age as Kitan, had fallen right in front of him, landing on her backside. ¡°No¡­ the fried egg the innkeeper gave me as a bonus...!¡± As Arzen gazed at his sandwich, now sprawled across the ground, tears welled up in his eyes. Meanwhile, the girl bowed repeatedly, frantic with apologies. ¡°I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯m so sorry!¡± ¡°Ah, damn it! Do you think sorry is enough?¡± Instead of shouting, Arzen sighed and stood up. Her desperate apology and the fact that if he missed the first carriage, there would be no seats left, softened his heart. The adventurer tag around the girl¡¯s neck, gleaming silver, also played a part in his decision. ¡°She must¡¯ve seen me leaving the inn near the gate and realized who I am, which is why she¡¯s groveling... If she messes with the wrong adventurer, she¡¯ll suffer.¡± The adventurer society was a hierarchy driven by power, after all. Arzen joined the line in front of the stop. The girl, without a trace of shame, stood right behind him, despite the trouble she¡¯d caused. The line grew quickly, but soon the first carriage arrived. The adventurers showed their tickets and boarded. The witch who had opened the gate and the guards double-checked everyone¡¯s identities as they prepared to leave the city. ¡°All clear. Let¡¯s go.¡± The witch waved her hand in a circular motion. The second gate, made of iron bars, rose into the air. The carriage passed through and sped out of the city. [Translator - Kiteretsu] S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 41: In the Red Mountain Range (5) [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 41: In the Red Mountain Range (5) Arzen decided to use Tunnel No. 82, which he had explored the previous day, as his base of operations. The earlier a tunnel was discovered, the lower its number. As time passed, progress had been made to the point where rough maps of the tunnels were now available. Having so much information was an advantage, but the downside was far greater. It attracted all sorts of riffraff. "This spot is ours." "This is spot, you bastard!" "*Tch*... What are you four planning to do with this huge space? Damn idiots." While fighting Kobolds, adventurers often shouted such things whenever others tried to interfere. In groups of eight or more, auxiliary members would sometimes block the common entrance entirely. In the adventurer community, claiming a "spot" was of utmost importance. "If you don¡¯t understand this well, your life as an adventurer could become quite miserable due to ''contribution terrorism''!" Adventurers were often seen as tough and rugged by outsiders, but in truth, they were some of the pettiest people around. Proof of this could be seen in how they loved to stalk those who didn¡¯t respect the ¡°spot¡± culture and tarnish their reputation using ''contribution reports.'' What is ''spot'' culture? Unless it¡¯s a straightforward raid, battles tend to break out in various ''hot spots.'' Imagine a monster appears, and a bunch of adventurers rush in to fight it. Winning may be easy, but when it comes time to divide the spoils, the payout might not even amount to a single coin. It¡¯s a waste of time and energy. "That¡¯s why the party that arrives first and occupies the space can claim the right to the ''spot''!" The ''spot'' refers to the right to engage the monsters first and claim the rewards. There¡¯s no time limit for holding a ''spot.'' The ''spot'' is only relinquished when the adventurer moves away from that location. But what if the party that claimed the ''spot'' encounters a monster that¡¯s too powerful, or the number of monsters becomes overwhelming? There are two options: One is to give up the ''spot'' and run away. The other is to recruit passing adventurers into their party. "Hey, kid! I see you¡¯re using light magic. You must be part of the support crew, right? Why don¡¯t you join our party?" The party that called out to Arzen, who was descending the sloped tunnel with the fell into the latter category. ¡°Ugh! Two more are coming from the front!¡± ¡°Why are these Kobolds so damn strong?¡± "Kid! It¡¯s a goldmine in here! There are over a dozen Kobolds! We''re a four-member bronze-ranked party! It¡¯ll be worth your while!" Arzen peeked inside and, in an indifferent tone, asked: ¡°How¡¯s the reward distribution?¡± "Of course, we¡¯ll split it evenly!" "Evenly, my ass! You useless trash! I¡¯ll take 60%, and you guys can split the remaining 40%. Obviously, I get the 60.¡± "W-What?" ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, go ahead and get wiped out.¡± Arzen sat cross-legged in front of the common entrance. ¡°Help us out! What are you doing, damn it?¡± ¡°I¡¯m waiting in line.¡± Arzen¡¯s actions didn¡¯t fall under the category of ''contribution terrorism.'' Just the act of lining up subtly honored the ''spot'' culture, making his stance clear. In this case, if the party inside decided to retaliate through ''contribution terrorism,'' they¡¯d likely be the ones to face ridicule. The adventurer society was twisted from the very foundation. ¡°Oh, when will they get wiped out? When will they flee? Ah~ The vanguard¡¯s shield just broke against a pickaxe, didn¡¯t it? Dangerous, huh?¡± Arzen began to relay the situation inside while shaking his hips. ¡°Oh dear~ The front line is in trouble, and now the archer is at risk too? One hit from a kobold''s pickaxe really brings you back to your senses, huh?¡± ¡°Someone shut that bastard up! I can¡¯t concentrate!¡± ¡°Oh~ Just now, while yelling at me, they got hit by a kobold. That¡¯s gotta be at least two broken bones, right? They better wipe out fast so I can sneak in and grab all the rewards.¡± Arzen was so entertainingly sarcastic that adventurers descending into the tunnel began to settle in one by one, chuckling to themselves. Watching a disaster unfold is always the most entertaining thing in the world. The adventurer community is ruthless. ¡°Leader! This is getting dangerous! I¡¯m serious! These kobolds in the Red Mountains aren¡¯t the G+ rank weaklings we used to know!¡± ¡°Ugh! Fine! Kid! 60-40! Hurry and help!¡± ¡°Geez~ What do I do? The settlement ratio just went up to 70-30 exactly three seconds ago.¡± S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°70, 70, 70-30? That¡¯s ridiculous! This is too much!¡± ¡°It¡¯s scheduled to go up to 80-20 in 10 seconds... tick-tock.¡± Arzen had a knack for twisting the urgent ones around like this, a specialty of the . ¡°9 seconds.¡± And this Arzen was the boy who had been watching all this ridiculousness from the front row. ¡°6 seconds.¡± If the boy set his mind to mischief, he could rival the . ¡°3 seconds.¡± ¡°Leader!¡± ¡°Ugh, c¡¯mon! Yes! 70-30! 70-30! Help me!¡± Arzen clapped his hands together excitedly as he stood up. He let the four adventurers watching know that the show was over. ¡°Wow, this guy is really funny as hell.¡± ¡°Hey, what¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s form a party later. Just being together seems like it would be fun.¡± Arzen shouted his name loudly for all the adventurers currently exploring the tunnel to hear. ¡°My name is Arzen! I¡¯m going to be a Gold-ranked man!¡± This was also a part of his perfect plan. Humans always act differently when entering and exiting a restroom. This was to ensure that the party struggling down below wouldn¡¯t bury Arzen deep underground out of possible revenge. ¡®Of course, if I unleash the Void division, the massacre would be on our side, but this place is smaller than it seems, so it¡¯s better to avoid such unfortunate accidents!¡¯ As the adventurers giggled and continued on their way, Arzen opened the holy scripture and prepared to showcase a miracle. ¡®There are three methods to perform a miracle.¡¯ The first is a shortened chant. This is how you use it when the prayer is perfectly memorized in your mind. Those with memory and divine power that fall into the genius category can use miracles most quickly, but the power is diminished. ¡®The second is to recite the miracle¡¯s verses slowly.¡¯ This method doesn¡¯t require opening the scripture, but the power is halved, and it¡¯s almost similar to the first. The third method is to unfold the verses of the miracle and read them with a sincere heart. Though this is the slowest method, unlike memorization, you can concentrate entirely on the words, allowing the miracle¡¯s full power to be unleashed. ¡°The light of the Holy Spirit shall bestow a baptism of hope upon you, and that baptism shall spread like waves across the whole earth. .¡± The miracle cast using the third method, , was a space-designated miracle. It creates a cubic barrier in that space, from which waves of light cascade down, providing a baptism of healing. It was a healing light that breathes life into weary and fatigued souls. ¡®Just as you¡¯d expect from the explanation¡­ it¡¯s a high-level miracle that performs both defense and healing.¡¯ It was a miracle that seemed to occupy the celestial realm of miracles. It¡¯s no wonder the faces of the adventurers experiencing this miracle for the first time turned to confusion. Of course, it was also crucial to utilize this situation well to survive in this industry. ¡°Ugh! My pancreas! My pancreas! It hurts! I didn¡¯t want to use this miracle¡­ but since everyone¡¯s in danger¡­¡± The lighting was dim, and the musty smell of the underground was overwhelming. They couldn¡¯t really see if blood was being vomited, so they could just pretend. ¡°Ah! It hurts! Ugh! It¡¯s painful! Argh! Blood keeps coming!¡± At that, the adventurers started to tear up. ¡°Is that guy¡­ actually on borrowed time?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard of that! A person with genius-level talent for miracles but suffers immense pain as a backlash when using them!¡± ¡°No way! So that¡¯s why he was so calculating? At that age? What kind of life has he lived!¡± ¡°What an idiot! If that¡¯s the case, he should have said something from the beginning!¡± Humans are all trash, but they still possess a sense of humanity. This sense of humanity amplifies when someone helps them, regardless of their background, and they cleverly exploit that. Most importantly, the light of miracles is warm and touching, giving it the power to manipulate people¡¯s emotions¡­ Arzen had learned this well. ¡®Perfect¡­ Hahaha!¡¯ The party, rejuvenated by the light of miracles, quickly swept away the remaining kobolds. Still, considering they were a bronze rank party, regaining their strength against the kobolds shouldn¡¯t have been a problem¡­ or so they thought. However, the time it took this incompetent party to deal with a dozen kobolds was nearly three times longer compared to when operating the Void Squad. ¡®Why are they so weak, these guys?¡¯ He had expected strength on par with Jerome or Kitan¡­ Were those guys particularly strong among the bronze ranks? ¡®Speaking of which, Sia was also incredibly strong for just being silver rank.¡¯ As he pondered, a silence settled over the pit. ¡°Phew¡­ we won.¡± ¡°Yeah, we won.¡± ¡°Leader, your command was great again this time!¡± Typically, incompetent adventurers are the loudest. ¡®Real masters give each other feedback even at this moment, tsk.¡¯ The adventurers began to carelessly gather their gear. The archer picked up some arrows. In the meantime, the party leader approached Arzen. ¡°Thanks to you, we survived, little priest.¡± ¡°Just a makeshift priest.¡± ¡°I¡¯m the leader of this party. Anyway, we just went through an intense battle, right?¡± Puhuh! An intense battle against kobolds! They¡¯re pathetic, not even worth a bug! For reference, this bug refers to the Voidlings. ¡°So we can¡¯t afford to dig out that large nail.¡± ¡°Uh?¡± ¡°We agreed to a profit distribution of 70:30, right? If we dig out more, won¡¯t you end up with the 70? So we just took our pickaxes and left with a clear conscience. Well then, goodbye. Good luck!¡± While the leader blocked Arzen¡¯s view, the party members were already sneaking away from the pit and quickly climbing up the slope as if they were fleeing. ¡°What? Wait a second, you piece of trash! Pulling that thing out is harder than catching a kobold, so why are you acting all generous? Aren¡¯t you going to move?¡± The fool who is deceived is the real idiot! That place is worse than this beast kingdom¡ªthe world of adventurers! ¡°Hey, hey! You damn con artists©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤!¡± And it was a place that even struck the back of Arzen¡¯s head, who prided himself on having mastered this crazy world. Ah, the world of adventurers. In this world, worse than beasts¡ªor rather, a world of long-haired beasts¡ªone must always be humble. Arzen learned a lot that day. * * * ¡°I¡¯m doing my best to heal, but there are no signs of awakening at all,¡± said Whitney, the Red Pilgrim. She was looking down at the bed next to the flame, where Kirke lay fast asleep. ¡°I never thought she would faint just from hearing her name¡­.¡± Akirea shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t rush; wait for her condition to improve. She¡¯s sleeping so peacefully; how can you want to wake her so urgently?¡± ¡°But, my lord, that power back then was definitely¡­ a dragon-warding barrier. I¡¯ve never heard of embedding such a barrier into a human. I can¡¯t even imagine how malicious the sorcerer must be.¡± ¡°No¡­.¡± In Akirea¡¯s childhood, during her days traveling with the Dragon Sage, the sorcerer who created that spell had been a formidable enemy. ¡®¡­It¡¯s not that I¡¯ve never heard of it.¡¯ That ancient dark mage had managed to operate outside the surveillance of the dragon kin by inscribing a dragon-warding barrier onto his own soul. ¡®Zernix, could it be that he¡¯s back?¡¯ No¡­ that possibility is impossible. My father surely destroyed him completely in their final battle. ¡®So, there¡¯s something of unknown identity¡­ but¡­ that ominous echo is creeping up through my peripheral nerves, sending chills throughout my entire body¡­ something is happening in the world.¡¯ Ah, Mir¡­ If only you had consciousness¡­ You would have pinpointed the source of this chilling evil right away¡­ [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 42: In the Red Mountain Range (6) [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 42: In the Red Mountain Range (6) ¡°Pant, pant, pant... those bastards!¡± Arzen returned to the vast cavern, gasping for breath. He had learned a lot. First of all, the adventuring world was full of scum, so he realized that staying humble was the key to avoiding betrayal. ¡®Damn it, I saw it while chasing them, but it seems like adventurers come and go frequently...¡¯ At this rate, he couldn¡¯t use the ¡®Pain of Forced Conscription¡¯ strategy. While searching for adventurers to betray, the problem arose when other adventurers would enter the cavern and claim ¡°territory.¡± This was why Arzen couldn¡¯t chase after the backstabbers until the end. They must have calculated this too. ¡®In other words, I, Arzen, must handle this situation alone...!¡¯ He steeled his resolve. He found his courage. The ruthless and merciless future King of Steel wouldn¡¯t be discouraged by something like this. ¡°I, Arzen, have a dream, aaaaargh!¡± He grunted, hanging onto a massive spike, but it didn¡¯t budge. His body was fragile and weak. In short, he was feeble. But what if a demon were to intervene? ¡°Barolus!¡± From beyond time and space, a demon that ruled at the top of the ecosystem appeared, summoned by the Apostle¡¯s command. Though its form wasn¡¯t fully realized, only manifesting parts of its limbs, its power was still terrifying. With one swipe of its hand, the demon ripped out the spike in an instant. Cracks spread across the ground during the process. Even the spike couldn¡¯t withstand its strength and shattered to pieces. ¡°You bastard! Each of those spikes was worth my meal today! Useless, worthless demon!¡± Just as Arzen was whining, clang¡­ something hit the top of his head with a sharp ring. ¡®No way, is this demon betraying me?¡¯ There was no other suspect. Ting, ting, ti-ri-ring... rattle... However, the thing that struck his head wasn¡¯t the demon. In fact, the demon had disappeared the moment it pulled out the spike, having exhausted its time of manifestation. What had bounced off the ground and rolled over was none other than the spike itself. It wasn¡¯t a broken spike, but a perfectly intact one. ¡®Should I punish it through some labor? No, it looks like labor would lose...¡¯ Arzen, being a generous master, decided to let it go. It wasn¡¯t because he thought he might lose, definitely not. There was something else to focus on. ¡®Could it be¡­¡¯ S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yes, it was the cracks. When Barolus pulled out the spike, the resulting cracks loosened the hold of the other spikes. One had already fallen out by itself, and with the help of the Void Bugs, the remaining two could easily be removed. ¡®As expected of my demon, you had it all planned out! I knew I could trust you!¡¯ However, Barolus¡¯s power was so consuming that it couldn¡¯t be summoned recklessly. Arzen¡¯s back was already drenched in cold sweat, proof of the enormous strain it had taken. He needed a new approach. Something different, something better. ¡°Everyone, assemble!¡± After inspecting the 20 mid-level Void Bugs, Arzen had them launch their toxic darts randomly around the target. This method was dismissed. The efficiency was too poor, as it took all three volleys from the 20 Void Bugs just to make the spike start to tremble. ¡®If it doesn¡¯t work with the mid-level ones, it¡¯ll be even worse with the lower or higher Void Bugs...¡¯ After sacrificing the mid-level ones, a worker Void Bug, with the help of five higher Void Bugs, managed to pull out the now-loosened spike. ¡®This won¡¯t work¡­¡¯ But giving up wasn¡¯t an option. There had to be a reason Rodenkal sent Arzen here. It wasn¡¯t like there was a sinister prophecy that commanded him to betray adventurers every time he led a kobold hunt using the ¡®Pain of Forced Conscription¡¯ strategy. ¡®Wait a second¡­ I¡¯ve got one more trick up my sleeve.¡¯ It was something new he had recently acquired. Due to its massive size, he hadn¡¯t had the chance to train with it in front of others! ¡°Evakta!¡± The dimension tore apart more dramatically than ever, and an enormous dark green monstrosity emerged. This colossal plant-beast followed Arzen¡¯s slightest gesture. As he guided it toward the spike, it coiled around the target and began its bizarre work. It gnawed at the ground around the spike with its toxic touch, loosening the soil and making the spike easier to remove. ¡®It¡¯s not like a demon, tearing things out with brute force¡­ but that¡¯s even better!¡¯ Arzen had learned something. ¡®Even though it¡¯s a summoned creature¡­!¡¯ How familiar he became with its power determined not only the duration of its manifestation but also its strength and speed. ¡®This Void Vine lasts two to three times longer than Barolus. That¡¯s what I like most about it.¡¯ Evakta wasn¡¯t just useful for restraining things. With enough mastery, it could perform far more complex movements. ¡°Okay, that¡¯s enough for now, huff¡­ huff... let¡¯s take a break.¡± Arzen laid his back against the entrance to the cavern. This was something valuable to remember in "spot" culture. Constantly shouting, "Hey, that¡¯s my spot!" at someone who sneaked in would only drain his energy. ¡®I need to hurry. I¡¯ve got to finish before the last ride leaves.¡¯ After lying down, dazed for an hour, Arzen sprang back to his feet. The key to recovering his energy was ¡°not thinking.¡± Since the miracles were about ¡°communication,¡± his brain¡¯s nutrients were crucial. Simply lying still was the best way to let his mind recover. Arzen moved toward the area where the spikes were clustered. He had to bundle as many as possible in the shortest amount of time. ¡°Evakta!¡± Zz-zz-zz-zz... Once again, the monstrous plant emerged from the strange tear in space, wrapping itself around one of the spikes. Arzen adjusted the direction of his hand. The plant, still coiled around the first spike, moved further and entwined a second one. Success. He twisted his fingers once more. Now wrapped around both the first and second spikes, the plant extended and grabbed hold of a third. ¡®It doesn¡¯t have enough length for more! This¡¯ll do!¡¯ Arzen clapped his hands together with a twist. In resonance with his movement, Evakta tightened its grip on the targets, twisting them violently and pulling them out. ¡°Krrrr, excellent!¡± That made eight spikes removed. Arzen returned to the cavern¡¯s entrance and lay down once more. A few adventurers, descending the slope of the tunnel, glanced over at the cavern as they passed by. However, they respected the "spot" culture and didn¡¯t dare set foot inside. Arzen used his "worker alarm" to jolt himself awake exactly an hour later. ¡°Evakta!¡± Evakta¡¯s power was fundamentally different from the Void Bugs. While the Void Bugs could be controlled by a worker bug, Evakta¡¯s movements directly depended on Arzen¡¯s concentration. If his focus wavered, the grip of the vines would loosen. Conversely, when he was fully focused, as he was now, he could bind three or four targets at once. ¡°Pull!¡± Evakta¡¯s strength uprooted four spikes. Arzen carefully gathered them up and put them into his sack. ¡®Including the one Barolus destroyed, that makes 12 spikes...!¡¯ He looked around wistfully. ¡®Six spikes still left... but I refuse to spend another night in that chicken coop for just 60 coppers.¡¯ Arzen had originally believed the chicken coop held the promise of new encounters. He had been enamored by the idea. ¡®Adventurer meetups! Friendships forged in the fires of adventure! Party formations! What a load of crap!¡¯ In the first chicken coop he ever stayed in, with his heart pounding with excitement, he found only... foot odor, burps, farts, fleas, scabies, and ticks. The people using the coop were mostly large, hairy brutes, and he swore never to return. ¡®If I can¡¯t have it... I¡¯ll destroy it. No way I¡¯m letting someone get away with a free ride!¡¯ Arzen almost summoned Barolus to collapse the entire cave entrance but stopped himself. ¡®I¡¯ll count it as charity...¡¯ Though he thought this, deep down he had a bad feeling. He knew that using Barolus would leave him unconscious, just like when he escaped the restricted area. He was on the edge of his limit. Using the at full power earlier had taken a serious toll on him. ¡®But only pathetic adventurers would despair in this situation! I am Arzen! I¡¯ll turn even this into an opportunity!¡¯ --- Arzen emerged from the cave. As he had feared, twilight was already settling in. It took about three hours by carriage to reach from the Red Mountain Range, and the last ride left at 6:30 PM. ¡®And if I¡¯m unlucky, it might already be full, so I need to line up now!¡¯ Thinking ahead, Arzen handed a makeshift map to an apprentice witch nearby. ¡°Here, I found a new area with about five spikes still left. Tell anyone desperate for money.¡± He even used this situation to improve his reputation. The apprentice witch''s eyes sparkled. ¡°You¡¯re giving this away?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Hmm~ You must have a good heart, especially since you¡¯re getting special requests from the witches.¡± Success. Life was that easy. No, it wasn¡¯t easy. He had to stay humble. He had been cocky earlier, and look where that had gotten him today. ¡®Those jerks... next time we meet, they¡¯re dead... I¡¯ll have Void Bugs erase all their hair follicles so they¡¯re bald, men and women alike.¡¯ Arzen made his way to the Witch Association tent and sold the spikes. Witch Beth was very pleased. ¡°These spikes you brought today are in excellent condition. Most are damaged during excavation, but these are nearly intact.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°But this one broke while being pulled out. I can¡¯t pay full price for it.¡± Arzen had expected this. Still, considering he had easily pulled out three spikes thanks to Barolus, he graciously forgave it. ¡°Well, I guess it can¡¯t be helped.¡± ¡°Here, the payment for today''s spikes.¡± Feeling the weight of the newly acquired silver coin and 60 coppers in his pouch, Arzen headed down toward the mountain foothill¡¯s station. A long line had already formed. Luckily, since the staff at the ticket booth weren¡¯t stopping anyone, it seemed he would still be able to get on. While waiting, he called over a staff member, handing over 60 coppers to upgrade his regular ticket. ¡®Today¡¯s earnings just about cover my lodging...¡¯ But it wasn¡¯t an unproductive day. He had figured out a new training method. ¡®Pulling out spikes while honing Evakta¡¯s power... maybe that¡¯s why Lord Rodenkal sent me here in the first place.¡¯ He also didn¡¯t have to worry about being known as a jerk for constantly forcing adventurers into labor. As he mulled over these thoughts, the bell rang. Ding-ding-ding-ding-ding... The carriages lined up and entered. There were few getting off, but many waiting to board. Some unlucky ones weren¡¯t able to get a seat and were left behind. ¡°Ticket check complete! Full capacity! We¡¯re departing!¡± The ticket booth staff hurriedly shouted while physically blocking desperate adventurers who were frantically begging to return to the city. ¡®Wait, that voice?¡¯ It was familiar. Unforgettable. Arzen snapped his head up and saw the bastards he met earlier reaching toward the departing carriages, wailing in despair. ¡°Kyak-ha! Justice lives! Serves you right, you filthy scam artists! I¡¯ve memorized your faces, so watch out! I¡¯m going to ruin your reputation!¡± Feeling a rush of victory, Arzen flipped both middle fingers at them. Those pathetic idiots had failed to keep track of time and missed the ride. But Arzen had made it aboard. He had survived another day. The final winner was Arzen. ¡®Ha! Just seeing their faces cleared up that lingering unease like I hadn¡¯t wiped properly!¡¯ Settling back into his seat, he noticed a few adventurers curiously eyeing him, seemingly wondering what had just happened. Feigning tears, Arzen dramatically exaggerated how horribly he had been treated today. ¡°Can you believe those scumbags?!¡± ¡°No kidding! If I get assigned the same quest as them later, I¡¯ll destroy their reputation score!¡± ¡°Haha, I¡¯m already looking forward to it!¡± Adventurers were a rowdy bunch. Putting their lives on the line day in and day out, they were always looking for a legitimate excuse to unleash some stress. And no one understood that better than Arzen, who was masterfully playing into it like a demon himself. ¡®The truth doesn¡¯t matter! All that matters is giving them a reason to pounce!¡¯ Satisfied beyond measure, Arzen began to doze off to the steady rhythm of the carriage. Aside from the rattling of the wheels and the horses¡¯ snorts, the world was filled with the sounds of autumn. Night insects and frogs sang in chorus, and the fallen leaves, bathed in moonlight, rustled in the wind along the road. ¡®What a truly delightful scene...¡¯ [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 43: In the Red Mountain Range (7) [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 43: In the Red Mountain Range (7) The next morning, Arzen woke up late in his inn. Even the birds, whose songs heralded the dawn, had already quieted down. When he opened the window, the refreshing early autumn breeze swept into the room. A peculiar climate formed in due to its location near the Red Mountain Range. It was famous for its mild weather year-round. Amazingly, even winter wasn¡¯t cold here. ¡®Today is a well-deserved rest day for the great Arzen. Heh heh.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t just about working nonstop, as following his original plan wasn¡¯t always the best idea. He had decided to work for two days and rest on the third. ¡®Today, I¡¯ll explore the famous spots and restaurants of !¡¯ When Arzen asked the innkeeper for some recommendations, the man looked a bit disheartened. ¡°Why not just eat at our restaurant?¡± ¡°I eat here every day, for crying out loud.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not saying it was bad, are you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s good, but how can I eat the same thing every day?!¡± ¡°Fair enough. Then, how about visiting birthplace? It¡¯s our most famous tourist attraction.¡± ¡°Fride¡¯s birthplace?¡± ¡°She was the . A hero who quelled the chaos 400 years ago. She¡¯s the pride of .¡± ¡°Yeah, I know that much.¡± Fride was a key support member of the party, the legendary group of warriors from 400 years ago. Incidentally, she was also a companion of , the Archmage whom the Lynne Guild revered. ¡®They say she could easily deploy a barrier that covered the size of an entire city... hmm.¡¯ If that wasn¡¯t just a legend, then there was no doubt she was on a level far beyond what Arzen could currently reach. ¡®There are simply too many eyewitness accounts for it to be mere exaggeration or fiction.¡¯ Not to mention, even -ranked mercenaries of the time, as well as -ranked mercenaries, were swept away like leaves in the wind. Clearly, she was in a league of her own. ¡®Of course, that was all before awakened the , heh.¡¯ Arzen decided to check out what the so-called "support member of the overhyped party" from 400 years ago was all about. ¡°And any restaurant recommendations?¡± The innkeeper replied that the best places were clustered near the dock area. It made sense since fresh goods were brought in both by land and sea routes. ¡°There¡¯s a well-functioning tram system in the city. If you¡¯re a tourist, you can purchase a day pass.¡± ¡°A tourist?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t have citizenship, you¡¯re considered a tourist. If you plan on walking around all day, it¡¯s definitely worth it to get a pass.¡± His destination was set. After finishing his warm milk, Arzen made his way to the tram stop. The ticket office was conveniently located near the station by the city gate, so buying a pass wasn¡¯t difficult. The staff stamped it with today¡¯s date. ¡°You can only use this on the trams running in the city. If caught falsifying the date, you¡¯ll be fined fifty times the fare, so be careful.¡± It seemed like something best avoided. After waiting about ten minutes, he boarded the city¡¯s inner tram. There was an inexplicable, lazy pleasure in gazing out at the cityscape while basking in the morning sun and breeze. About thirty minutes passed in a daze before the tram reached the stop for , where Arzen disembarked. ¡®Why are there so many people here?¡¯ It was more like a memorial than a birthplace. All the surrounding buildings had been demolished and replaced with a grand plaza. At the center of the plaza, a majestic statue of Fride stood tall. Perched on her shoulder was Pipi, the Sun Parrot, her lifelong pet. The Sun Parrot, a fantastical creature that could envelop itself in flames, was said to be the origin of the Phoenix legend. ¡®A pet, huh...¡¯ Arzen liked the idea. ¡®If they ever build a statue of me, it should be something like this.¡¯ Except, he imagined replacing Pipi with one of his Void Bees, which would look far more impressive. "Make sure to draw us beautifully!" Young women, who appeared to be apprentice witches or mages, were chattering excitedly in front of the statue. ¡°Yes, but please hold still.¡± Artists were spread out, sketching portraits of them on canvases. It seemed to be a profitable business. Hats placed beside the canvases were overflowing with copper and silver coins. ¡®If I ever become a legend, I should sell the rights to paint me in places like this to my descendants. Make some money off it.¡¯ Arzen turned and headed toward the memorial hall. The entry fee was 5 copper coins. ¡°Damn, what a rip-off.¡± But since he¡¯d come this far, turning back felt like a waste. He figured he might learn something, so he bought the ticket and went inside. ¡®Fride¡¯s upbringing... joining the Hero Party... the death of Archmage Lyn... taking on Tureina as a disciple... hmm.¡¯ Fride¡¯s life could easily be described as the epitome of a prodigy of the century. She had displayed genius from a young age, becoming the youngest witch and priestess. In her twenties, she joined the Hero Party and brought an end to the chaos. But her life seemed unbearably melancholic. The death of Archmage Lyn at the end of the chaos appeared to be the reason. He overheard the guide explaining to some visitors: "Lady Fride waited her entire life, believing in Master Lyn''s promise that he would return, but they never reunited." What a fool! That¡¯s what happens when you trust people for no reason. Arzen didn¡¯t trust others. ¡®Except for Ulman and Lok, but they¡¯re the rare exceptions.¡¯ Even if he could never see them again, he wouldn¡¯t spend his life pining over them. ¡®Fride, you¡¯ve taught me well. Though it¡¯s a lesson of what to do. I¡¯m grateful for that.¡¯ The ideal party should be made up of gullible idiots you can easily use. ¡®After all, there¡¯s only one -rank per era!¡¯ You don¡¯t need any flunkies hanging around. In the end, even party members are just competitors. "Huh, sob." "It''s so sad." "How much pain she must have endured." Female witch apprentices, who were naturally more sensitive than men, were sobbing at the guide¡¯s explanation. ¡®Ugh, pathetic!¡¯ However, in the next room, something caught Arzen''s attention, momentarily stopping him in his tracks. ¡®Hmm, what¡¯s this?¡¯ It was a painting called , done by the most famous artist of the time. Unlike the imposing statues of the Hero Party, this painting depicted them humorously. They were gagging while eating some strange food, with Hero Lista and Fride retching, while Lyn and Pipi laughed hysterically. The last member, the royal knight Kyes, was running away. -"¡ªArzen, have you ever eaten goblin dung?" -"Why the hell would I eat that, you idiot!" -"Hmm, humans are such irrational beings." Arzen couldn¡¯t help but chuckle for a moment. It wasn¡¯t just because of the incredible detail in the painting. It was because the scene reminded him of the fools he had met in Sia¡¯s party not long ago. ¡®Tch.¡¯ He shook his head, trying to get rid of that thought. After giving the rest of the museum a quick glance, he stepped outside. Yet, a strange question lingered in his mind. ¡®I¡¯ve always admired adventure, that¡¯s true.¡¯ And it was also true that he had yearned for the connections that could be made during those journeys. Of course, those kinds of encounters were impossible in the adventurer world, where most people were trash. But still, he hadn¡¯t completely lost hope for such relationships. ¡®But if all that¡¯s left in the end is pain... is there really any point in forming such deep bonds?¡¯ Relationships like that... only leave behind emptiness. ¡®Hmm.¡¯ Arzen arrived at the station. He boarded a carriage heading toward the harbor district. Since he had already bought a pass, he figured he might as well get the most out of it. The harbor, which he had seen before, was as bustling as ever, with endless crowds. Following his instincts, he picked a restaurant with the most pleasant aroma, trusting the local saying that any place you chose here would be good. ¡®Hmm? What¡¯s this? Half-and-half?¡¯ Scanning the tables around him, Arzen noticed something odd about the plates. All the dishes were split in half. "What¡¯s that?" he asked, grabbing a busy waiter who was taking orders. "That¡¯s ! It¡¯s a local specialty. You should try it!" Aurelinople was a city where goods from both land and sea met. As a result, people wanted to enjoy both land and sea delicacies at the same time. The problem was, with more and more people living alone, there was no way for individuals to enjoy both by themselves. And so, the dish was invented. Arzen ordered the stew. "Here¡¯s your stew. Enjoy your meal!" The same broth was used, but one side was filled with seafood, and the other with meat. ¡®Oh, oh, this is...!¡¯ The meat side was savory and packed with umami, while the seafood side had a light, refreshing broth that was absolutely superb. ¡®The best part is, if I get tired of one flavor, I can switch to the other. No chance of palate fatigue!¡¯ Though Arzen was a bit annoyed that other cities hadn¡¯t adopted this brilliant idea, it turned out Aurelinople had a patent on it. ¡®As expected from a city of heroes... tourism thrives, and even leads to inventions like this.¡¯ Arzen made up his mind. When he eventually became a -rank adventurer, he¡¯d sell the citizenship of whatever city he called home to wealthy merchants for a hefty price. Merchants would undoubtedly line up to buy the rights to claim they lived in the same city as the great Arzen, ensuring the city¡¯s future prosperity. ¡®I¡¯m already excited... I wonder what Arzen¡¯s city will look like in the future!¡¯ Today, Arzen had a productive day, as his dreams and ambitions became clearer and more defined. He thought that if he continued exploring each city he stayed in, there would always be something new to learn. Not wanting to waste the pass he had purchased, Arzen hopped on a city carriage that made rounds through the city and gazed out the window. As the day progressed, the streets became more crowded, and by rush hour, the carriage was packed. When it became too crowded even inside the carriage, Arzen got off near the north gate and walked back to his inn. ¡®Something feels empty.¡¯ That thought lingered in his mind the whole time he soaked in the bath. Eating wherever he wanted. Sleeping as much as he desired. Touring the city while others worked. ¡®I¡¯m living well... but something, something feels missing¡­.¡¯ * * * A month passed. ¡°Hey, did you hear the rumors?¡± ¡°Of course! They say there are bugs causing hair loss.¡± ¡°They only show up in the dark, when the lights are off... and after they appear, all the nails disappear too.¡± During this time, Arzen made a significant amount of money through Evakta¡¯s training and the ¡°Pain of Forced Labor¡± operation. The greatest achievement was that the active time of Evakta¡¯s manifestation had almost doubled compared to the time when he fought Roachcats. Now, Arzen didn¡¯t even need to bear the burden of paying travel expenses anymore. In the past month, he had relocated his base of operations five times. Each time he moved, his profits increased. He had mastered the optimal team formation for hunting Kobolds and had grown more skilled in using Evakta¡¯s power. ¡®Now, even if I work leisurely for just half a day, I can make five silver coins!¡¯ That was five times the amount a typical laborer earned from a full day of grueling work. ¡®Heh, let¡¯s get one step closer to becoming a true victor in life today.¡¯ As he grinned with satisfaction and prepared to enter the tunnels, an apprentice witch, who was busy recording something in a ledger, flinched and looked up. ¡°Ah, so you¡¯re Arzen?¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°Witch Beth passed along a message during the morning meeting. She said if you showed up, you should head to the Witch Association tent.¡± S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. What¡¯s this about? He needed to get inside the tunnels quickly before they became prime territory... Could it be that someone reported him? - Arzen, there¡¯s a rumor that you¡¯re using suspicious powers. You might be behind the hair loss incidents! Arrest him! - Gah! A shiver ran through his entire body. He vowed to live more cautiously from now on. Stumbling, he made his way to the tent, where the atmosphere was already tense. It seemed his luck had truly run out today. ¡°Oh, Arzen, you¡¯re here.¡± He greeted Beth politely, but at that moment, he spotted a face he could never forget. Arzen¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°No way! That woman?¡± The woman reacted the same way. They both pointed at each other, their mouths agape in shock. "You¡¯re that arrogant jerk from before!" "And you¡¯re that sweet gentleman from back then!" Their evaluations of each other clearly differed. Beth looked back and forth between them with an amused expression. "What¡¯s this? You two know each other?" "Ah, Witch Beth! My precious breakfast became a luxurious banquet for the pigeons of Aurelinople because of this careless woman! You¡¯ve got to give her a proper scolding!" Back then, Arzen hadn¡¯t been able to act out because of her Silver-rank badge, but now, with some backing, the situation was different. "It¡¯s a misunderstanding!" "More like it¡¯s an ¡®Oh yes!¡¯ moment!" "It really is! I was just in a rush to catch the first carriage that day and bumped into you. To think you saw me that way... I actually thought you were a sweet person for forgiving me so kindly!" "Hahaha! Looks like you¡¯ve already started getting along. That¡¯s great." "How is this great?!" Arzen shouted in frustration, while the woman¡¯s face contorted as if she were about to cry. Beth waved her hand to calm the commotion. "No, I think you¡¯ll get along just fine. Let me introduce you. This is Ronida, a member of the Tall-Half race." [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 44: In the Red Mountain Range (8) [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 44: In the Red Mountain Range (8) "Tall-Half, you say?" "Yeah, despite how she looks, she''s twenty-five. She''s ten years older than you." Tall-Half was a race born from both humans and Dwarves. Although generally short (but taller than Dwarves), they experience aging much later in life. Since they inherit traits equally from both humans and Dwarves, they''re known for having greater strength than humans and possessing a small degree of magical ability. ¡®Now that I think about it... Dwarves are usually protective of their techniques, but Tall-Halfs are considered kin, so they¡¯re more open to sharing them.¡¯ Though smaller than Jerome''s, it was clearly a steam core. Attached to both sides of the steam core were two holstered pistols. It seemed that, unlike Jerome¡¯s preference for heavy weaponry, this person opted for light armor focused on speed. "This is Arzen. He brought most of the high-quality spikes." Ronnie clapped her hands. [tl/n:Ronnie is the nickname given to Ronida by the author] "Wow, impressive!" Arzen arrogantly brushed under his nose. "Hmph, is it really that impressive?" "Then are you saying it isn''t impressive?!" "Typical for someone with Dwarven blood¡ªquick to stubbornly hold their ground but even faster to relent when it¡¯s convenient!" Beth burst out laughing. "You two seem to get along well. That¡¯s good, because I plan to send both of you as escorts for the Deep Investigation Team." "The Deep Investigation Team?" "After analyzing these spikes for a month, we¡¯ve confirmed something. These spikes are a tool to suppress the power of the Red Mountain Range by damaging its ley lines." "What do you mean?" "The original name of the Red Mountain Range was Anshurnav, which translates to ''The Twisting Range.'' It was the domain of one of the , the Lord of Time." ¡°!¡± "The Red Dragon Legion once filled the mountain range with flames to suppress and seal the corruption that spread throughout it. The kobolds¡¯ goal is undoubtedly to weaken that seal." Arzen raised an eyebrow. "Kobolds aren¡¯t smart enough for that." Ronnie nodded in agreement. "Yeah, they¡¯re usually pretty dumb. But I did notice they were stronger than the ones we used to deal with." Beth sighed as she placed a spike on the table. "If they find a leader, who knows what could happen. Arzen, you would know better than anyone, wouldn¡¯t you?" "...!" "In any case, there¡¯s something suspicious behind the strange phenomena in the Red Mountain Range. And yesterday, we discovered a deep rift." Beth unfurled a large map beside the spike. It was unlike the cheap maps they had seen at the branch office. A holographic map of the mountain range appeared in mid-air, with the target tunnel clearly marked. It was undoubtedly a map manifested through sorcery. "The party that found this place marked the location and immediately retreated, saying it looked extremely dangerous. This was a top-tier Brass-ranked party." Ronnie placed her hands on her hips. "You mentioned we¡¯d be escorts, right? So who¡¯s in charge of the investigation?" At that moment, from the far end of the table inside the tent, the witch who had been silently sitting there lifted the brim of her pointed hat, revealing her face. "It''s me." The badge on her chest marked her as a Witch of Death. Just wearing that badge indicated she was not an apprentice witch, but a fully qualified one. Her robe was red, which meant she specialized in battle magic¡ªshe was a Red Witch. "She''s my disciple. Her name is Svena," Beth explained. "Though she¡¯s only been a witch for a few years, her combat skills far surpass her seniors''." "She¡¯s quite formidable." "Of course, I trained her rigorously. I¡¯m confident the three of you can uncover the secret buried beneath the Deep Rift." Arzen stroked his chin. "Deep exploration takes a lot of time, and only three of us... that seems¡ª" He had intended to use this as an opportunity to negotiate higher compensation, but the foolish Tollhalf woman spoiled his plan. "Yes! A long journey with just the three of us will be tough! We¡¯ll probably need some help!" Svena shook her head. "I already sent a large-scale request through the Adventurer¡¯s Guild yesterday. By now, the entrances to tunnels 1 through 9 should be swarming with adventurers heading toward the Deep Rift." "!" "While those adventurers distract whatever might be behind the kobolds, we¡¯ll head deep underground through tunnel 10." The tunnels close to each other were all connected below ground, thanks to the kobolds¡¯ digging. "Esteemed witch, hehe, what about the reward?" Arzen asked, rubbing his hands together with a sycophantic tone. "Do you really have to ask?" "Oh! I was just talking nonsense!" "Since we¡¯re putting on such a grand show, it¡¯s only right to expect a big payoff!" Wait, a gold coin? Sure, this request was big enough to warrant hiring Silver-ranked adventurers, but still¡­ ¡®No matter how I look at it, this reward is way too generous!¡¯ Arzen¡¯s spirits soared as he remembered how lavishly he¡¯d lived after receiving a single gold coin from the request he had completed with Sia¡¯s party. "Oh, esteemed witch, I¡¯ll give everything I have to this mission until my body breaks!" "But after taxes and fees, it comes down to 80 silver coins." "Uh, then maybe I won¡¯t go all out until my body breaks." Beth sighed with disappointment. "I routed the request through the guild specifically because finishing this mission will give you the chance to take your promotion test¡­ but if you insist, I¡¯ll arrange for you to be directly contracted instead." Arzen immediately fell to his knees before the witch. "Oh, my foolish self! I swear I¡¯ll give my all to complete this mission!" --- And so, the three-member investigation team was formed. It was a shame they didn¡¯t have a proper vanguard. However, since the Red Witch, who had officially been knighted, was extremely powerful, there wasn¡¯t much to worry about. Silver-ranked adventurers, like the ones in Sia¡¯s party, were known to be quite strong. ¡®And more importantly, with the future Gold-ranked Arzen on this team, this mission is as good as done!¡¯ It would be nice to receive the reward immediately, though... Just kidding. After bowing deeply to Beth and stepping outside, Arzen saw that Ronnie and Svena were already geared up and ready to move. Ronnie was warming up her steam core. She seemed to wear a special pair of goggles during combat. Ronnie asked, "It sounds like an important mission. Why is only one witch going?" "Because I wanted to. As my master''s disciple, I saw this as the perfect chance to make a name for myself." "?" As Ronnie and Arzen gave her skeptical side glances, Svena turned to face them and snapped her fingers. "Let me make this clear right now. I¡¯m perfect! And you two are lucky to be escorting me. You¡¯re going to get high rewards without much risk." "???" "And since I¡¯m destined for greatness, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to start earning points with me now. Adventurers know how important it is to build connections, don¡¯t they?" Arzen furrowed his brow. ¡®This brat¡ªher arrogance is through the roof now that the esteemed witch isn¡¯t around!¡¯ However, the simple-minded Ronnie responded with genuine admiration. "Wow, that¡¯s incredible! I look forward to working with you!" Svena then looked at Arzen. "Answer." Arzen neither applauded nor replied. That was something only novices did! Instead, he picked a fight with some adventurers being tossed aside like trash on the road. "Hey, move it, you bunch of weaklings! The great Witch Svena, future High Priestess, is passing through! Huh?!" The adventurers gritted their teeth at Arzen¡¯s provocations, but knowing it would do them no good to anger a witch, they went on their way. With exaggerated gestures, Arzen pointed ahead. "Lady Witch, please proceed! I¡¯ve cleared the path of trash for you!" Svena grinned in satisfaction. "Ahahaha! Very good! Now, let¡¯s go and find out what¡¯s happening in the Deep Rift." * * * While adventurers were lining up to enter tunnels 1 through 9, tunnel 10 was under the strict control of the Witch Association. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Hey, can¡¯t we use this tunnel too?" Several adventuring parties pleaded with the apprentice witches at the entrance, but the association¡¯s stance was firm. "No, you can¡¯t. We¡¯re not letting you in. Go away. We won¡¯t change our minds." "That¡¯s so unfair¡­." "Let¡¯s stop wasting time and go line up. The Witch Association¡¯s stubbornness is nothing new." With slumped shoulders, the adventurers departed, defeated. As Arzen passed by them, he felt like he was on top of the world. This is how winners and losers in life are separated. ¡®Pathetic! These trash adventurers should have been smart like me and made connections in advance!¡¯ The apprentice witches, who had maintained a strict and serious attitude with the adventurers, immediately bowed repeatedly when Svena appeared. "Se-Senior!" "T-The Red Witch Svena, who was knighted at 23 years old!" "Kyaa, she¡¯s so amazing!" Their reactions were incredibly contrived. It was obvious that Svena had trained them herself. But Arzen decided not to point it out. This is just how social life works, after all. "Starting now, we¡¯re on an investigation mission. Guard the entrance well. Oh, and if we don¡¯t come out within 48 hours, send a rescue team." "Yes, Senior!" "Alright, let¡¯s move out, adventurers." As they descended the tunnel¡¯s slope, they soon reached a point where the torches began to flicker and fade. Arzen opened the scripture. The , summoned with a perfect incantation, was large enough to be split into two. He placed one at the front and the other at the back, illuminating the entire tunnel. Witches were often clumsy, and it wouldn¡¯t do for them to trip on something valuable. "This is useful, after all." "Oh, it''s just a minor trick. Nothing compared to the power of a witch." "That¡¯s true." Arzen''s eyebrow twitched. ¡®This arrogant witch¡­ gets cocky just because I praised her a little?¡¯ But he had to endure it. In this line of work, the client is king. And among clients, the Witch Association was the one that tossed gold coins around without a second thought. ¡®If I¡¯m going to flatter her, I should do it in the most fantastic and artistic way possible!¡¯ Just then, Ronnie, who had been quietly staring into the darkness, moved. In an instant, she pulled two guns from her Steam Core¡¯s holsters, one in each hand. "Hostile detected, it¡¯s a kobold." The sound of steam traveling through the hoses of the Steam Core was quickly followed by screams. Arzen squinted his eyes. "Wasn''t that a person?" "N-No! It''s not!" "A person? Are you insane, murderer!" "It¡¯s a kobold! Hmph, my Alpha Vision scans perfectly up to 20 meters." Ronnie proudly pointed at her goggles. ¡®Huh... are those goggles actually an artifact?¡¯ How could someone of Silver rank already have an artifact? ¡®Wearable artifacts are so expensive, they might as well touch the heavens!¡¯ While Arzen was deep in thought, Svena had already moved forward and was nudging the kobold¡¯s corpse with her foot. "It¡¯s a kobold." All five of them had their helmets, made of mana stones, pierced precisely in the middle of their foreheads. The aim was extraordinary. Svena continued speaking. "Kobolds are the spawn of the Lizard Lord, failed creations that couldn¡¯t become reptilians." "!" "Since their connection to the abyss is weak, they survived even during the Era of Light." "!!" "Until now, they¡¯ve caused trouble here and there, but never in large groups or to the extent of affecting the Red Mountains¡­ Something is definitely strange." Just like Yuz, witches often exuded a serious and dignified aura when talking about the legends of this world. Maybe it was part of their education. "I''ll be observing the flow of spiritual energy as we move. Keep guarding the front and back as you are." For a big mission that offered a high reward, the faster it was completed, the better. There was no benefit in dragging it out. "Kaz tu Arcturas! Full deployment of the Void Squadron!" From the darkness came the eerie sound of wings flapping as the creatures of the Void poured out. ¡®Void creatures total, 79 units!¡¯ After a month of continuous training (with rest on holidays, of course), Arzen had managed to increase his squadron to 18 units. "Destroy the kobolds that dare interfere with the great Witch Svena! Do not allow them to interrupt her spiritual energy observations." The lead bees guided the Void creatures into the dark area beyond the torchlight. "That...!" Svena¡¯s eyes trembled for a moment. A sudden flash of fear crossed Arzen¡¯s mind. ¡ª That¡¯s clearly an ancient evil power! Ronnie, arrest that suspicious thing at once! ¡ª Kyaaah! However, in the next moment, Svena simply darted behind Ronnie¡¯s back. "Eek! Bugs! I hate bugs more than anything in the world! Don¡¯t let them come within 5 meters of me!" This time, Ronnie placed a hand on her Alpha Vision goggles, furrowing her brow. "I¡¯ve heard of this... It¡¯s a monster that¡¯s been attacking adventurers recently, causing them to lose their hair!" Ronnie looked at Arzen with a serious expression. "Arzen, could it be... you?" [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 45: In the Red Mountain Range (9) [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 45: In the Red Mountain Range (9) ¡°Wait, no! This is just a misunderstanding.¡± Arzen''s mind raced to come up with an excuse, but the recoil from fully deploying the Void Bees had left his brain a little sluggish. Ronnie, swallowing her tears, spoke up, ¡°Oh no! You must have been misunderstood so many times! Summoning similar insect-type creatures... the emotional toll you must have endured!¡± ¡°?¡± Fortunately, unlike Dwarves, Tall-Halfs had a simpler, one-track mind. Then again, Dwarves might be just as stubborn, which could make him seem simple-minded. ¡®Anyway, it''s resolved! Now I just need to highlight the abilities of the Worker Void Bees and form a connection with this promising witch!¡¯ With Ronnie securely holding the rear, Arzen could focus on using his Void Bees to sweep through the Kobolds in the front. Occasionally, safety helmets or pickaxes lying around got kicked aside¡ªevidence of the Void Bees'' work. They devoured the bodies, leaving no trace of the remains. ¡°Depth check... we''ve descended at least ten levels underground. It looks like we''re about to enter the deep zone Lord Beth mentioned.¡± Ronnie said this while resting her hand on her Alpha Vision goggles. Lights raced across the lenses'' surface. ¡°I¡¯m picking up adventurer combat sounds nearby. Hmm... seems like adventurers who entered through other tunnels are fighting in various locations.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve come down much faster than I thought. Arzen, your bugs are really useful.¡± ¡°It''s an honor to hear that from you, Lady Svena.¡± ¡°Ha ha ha! Alright, let''s keep moving!¡± However, as they neared the deep zone, something strange happened. The previously silent Void Bees, which had been efficiently dealing with the Kobolds, suddenly grew louder. The buzzing of their wings was getting closer. As they relied on their lights and approached the location, they discovered... a mutated Kobold. Svena exclaimed, ¡°That¡¯s... a Stonybold!¡± [**Stonybold**: a Kobold whose entire body is encased in hard, stone-like minerals, forming an exoskeleton. It¡¯s easier to think of them as heavily armored Kobolds.] ¡®Even their weapons aren''t simple pickaxes¡ªthey¡¯re wielding spears and swords made from mana stones!¡¯ From handling the Void Bees, Arzen could deduce that these were battle-class Stonybolds. ¡®The only spots the regular Void Bees can target are their eyes, nose, and mouth!¡¯ Seven of them lay on the ground, their eyes burst or snouts torn apart. While the Worker Bees had done their best under the leadership of the Void Bees, there were obvious limitations to what they could do. ¡®But that¡¯s no problem!¡¯ After all, with the ruthless and cold-hearted apostle of the Void, Arzen himself, victory was all but guaranteed. ¡°Su Ja Kunia! Merge 30 into 15 Heavy Bees!¡± The Void Bees transformed into entities of otherworldly mist, intertwining and morphing into a new form. ¡°Aim for the head! One shot each!¡± The Heavy Bees unleashed their Void Venom, which melted the Stonybolds¡¯ hardened armor. But it didn¡¯t stop there¡ªit reached beyond, exposing the soft, vulnerable tissue underneath. ¡°Su Ja Heros! Merge 36 Worker Bees into 12 Giant Bees!¡± As they merged, the Void Bees took on new forms, sporting massive jaws and thick, reinforced exoskeletons. With their massive jaws, the Giant Void Bees tore into the gaps of the Stonybolds¡¯ armor, driving deep and consuming the creatures¡¯ brains with certainty. The Stonybolds, now devoid of their brains or central nervous systems, shuddered violently before collapsing. ¡°Oh, that''s amazing! It''s just like a queen controlling her entire swarm. But, hey! I told you, no approaching within five meters!¡± As a Worker Bee neared Arzen, Svena screamed and backed away. However, it seemed she was fine as long as there was some distance between them. At that moment, Ronnie pulled out a fresh clip of ammunition from her belt. ¡°They¡¯re coming from behind, too. I¡¯ll handle that side.¡± Ronnie''s armor was a chainmail coat adorned with countless ammo belts, each in four distinct colors: gray, black, red, and blue. Each pouch was filled with ¡®clips¡¯ holding ten rounds of steel bullets each. She quickly reloaded by opening the chamber next to the barrel and inserting a clip. ¡°I¡¯ll need to use armor-piercing rounds.¡± These advanced bullets wouldn¡¯t be widely available for another 150 years. Thud-thud-thud-thud! The heavy gunfire pierced right through the Stonybolds'' mana stone-covered skin, driving the steel bullets deep inside. The rounds shredded the Stonybolds'' brains, leaving no room for survival. As Arzen whistled in admiration, Svena nudged him in the side and whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t be too surprised. She¡¯s the daughter of the chief engineer. She¡¯s got quite the pedigree.¡± ¡°Chief engineer?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know about the top ten Ain engineers? Her father gave up his position when he married a human. Most races are the same when it comes to sticking to purity at the top. Anyway, her mother makes all her bullets.¡± Arzen clicked his tongue. Compared to his humble beginnings, she was like someone born with a golden spoon in her mouth. He had thought they were kindred spirits, but now he felt betrayed. Arzen silently vowed that one day, he would drive the spear of the Void into every golden spoon holder''s heart. * * * ¡°You two are so strong; there¡¯s no need for me to fight. Let¡¯s keep moving. We¡¯re getting close to whatever is corrupting the spiritual energy of the Red Mountain Range.¡± They had just wiped out a couple more waves of Stonybolds when they stumbled upon a vast cavern. The cavern was so large that it would have taken at least hundreds of Kobolds to carve it out. At the center of the cavern, something was bubbling up. Yes, that was the best way to describe it. ¡°T-That! Could it be... a Lavabold?¡± Svena exclaimed in a flustered tone. ¡°Lavabold? What¡¯s that?¡± Ronnie asked. ¡°Kobolds born of lava! This doesn¡¯t make sense! Lava is the domain of the ancient king!¡± Arzen felt the hair on his body stand on end. ¡®Lava¡­ that ominous presence I felt in the desert¡­!¡¯ Though weaker than what he had encountered before, the aura was undeniably the same. The creature had the skeleton of a Kobold, but its entire skin was flowing like molten lava. It looked incredibly dangerous. ¡°Graaaaargh!¡± As the Lavabold spotted them and let out a scream, dozens of Stonybolds immediately launched an attack. ¡°Hmph, so you want to fight now? You think pathetic creatures like you can challenge those protecting the great Lady Svena?¡± Svena''s shoulders rose with pride at Arzen¡¯s smooth flattery, her mood visibly lifted. ¡°Any trash that dares to interfere with Lady Svena¡¯s investigation will face my wrath! Evakta!¡± The Void split open, much larger than ever before, and from it surged a terrifying force¡ªa Void plant that devoured the life force of anything it touched. ¡°Guaaah!¡± ¡°Squeeeaaak!¡± No need to bother catching them one by one. ''These small fries will be swept away by Evakta''s sheer size in one go! I¡¯ve already mastered how to use it!'' Arzen had learned that day, after a brutal defeat, the true power of Evakta wasn¡¯t just about binding foes. It had multiple uses. ¡°Whoa, your summoning skills are amazing!¡± Svena shouted in awe. But just as Evakta wrapped itself around the Lavabold, both began to writhe in agony. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Void clashed with lava! The plant¡¯s surface started melting under the intense heat of the molten creature, weakening its hold. It was a tough battle from the start. ¡®Tch... This is like how the Giant Slime melted the Void Bees!¡¯ Arzen clicked his tongue in frustration. He had been so close to snapping the Lavabold¡¯s bones! ¡°Arzen, focus on the other Stonybolds! I¡¯ll shoot a cooling round at that thing!¡± Ronnie called out, pulling a clip from her blue ammo belt. The bullets were imbued with chilling energy¡ªelemental enchanted rounds. As the bullets were fired and struck the Lavabold, they unleashed a freezing force upon impact. They were truly magical rounds. Ting-ting-ting-ting! However, despite the barrage, the Lavabold charged forward, undeterred. ¡°H-Hey! The ice is melting!¡± Ronnie cried as she dodged the beast¡¯s ferocious charge. Lava droplets sizzled as they fell from the Lavabold¡¯s body. Svena shouted from a distance, ¡°Lava¡¯s basic temperature is around 1,000¡ãC! Of course, it melts, you fool!¡± ¡°Ahh, sorry!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be! In fact, your attack just gave me an idea. Try shooting with your biggest rounds now!¡± ¡°They¡¯re already disabled!¡± ¡°Not the cooling rounds! I¡¯ll shield your bullets with my barrier. Trust me! Fire just before I finish chanting!¡± Ronnie quickly grabbed a clip from her black ammo belt and loaded it. These were armor-piercing rounds, significantly larger than normal bullets¡ªso large that it seemed the barrel might burst under their weight. ¡°Guaaaargh!¡± The Lavabold rose again, charging furiously at them. ¡°I call upon the spirits of water that dwell in this underground space¡ªmanifest in the forms of cold and foam, and help me vanquish the root of this evil. Hoktoah!¡± It all happened almost simultaneously. Svena¡¯s chant ended just as the clip clicked into place. The chamber snapped shut, and the sound of gunfire echoed through the cavern. ¡°!¡± The surface of the bullets gleamed with a magical sheen as they flew through the air, now enveloped in an aura of watery enchantment. A watery shield formed around the bullets, acting as the first line of defense against the lava. But it didn¡¯t stop there¡ªanother layer of foam materialized between the water and the bullets, creating a secondary barrier. ¡°Skreeeaaah!¡± The bullets held out for just one critical second before melting, and that second was enough to decide the battle. The Lavabold was lifted off the ground, spinning in the air before crashing headfirst into the ground. The once-violent bubbling of the lava started to weaken and finally disappeared, leaving only scattered bone fragments. Only after confirming the Lavabold¡¯s death did Ronnie lower her gun. ¡°What that thing...?¡± Svena, picking up one of the bone fragments, smiled in satisfaction. ¡°The Abyss of Kings, huh? Haha, this is getting interesting. The bigger this gets, the better it is for my reputation.¡± Just as she grinned, a new sound echoed through the cavern. ¡°What¡¯s this racket? I knew I heard something, and it turns out uninvited guests have already arrived.¡± The cavern had two entrances, and from the opposite one, a couple of figures entered. ¡®Imperial common language pronunciation!¡¯ Arzen thought, narrowing his eyes at the sight of the intruders, who wore mage robes that were clearly modified for combat. ¡°Ah, you guys!¡± Svena spoke in a guarded tone. ¡°That¡¯s right! We¡¯re from the Special Operations Division! And yes, we¡¯re elite! Among the elite, we¡¯re the best!¡± The Special Operations Division was a special task force controlled by the Mage Tower, composed entirely of battle mages¡ªan organization that lived up to its arrogant reputation as ¡°true elites.¡± The two battle mages who had entered were vastly different. One was a short woman, while the other, who seemed to be the same age as Svena, acted obnoxiously from the start. ¡°Now that our elite division is here, this situation is practically resolved. You witches might as well head back and enjoy your tea time like usual.¡± The young mage''s smugness, a byproduct of being worshipped as an elite since childhood, was unbearable. ¡®This is my chance... the perfect opportunity to improve our standing!¡¯ Arzen stepped forward with confidence. ¡°*Elite among elites?* You¡¯re talking to the Red Witch of the Aurelinople Witch Association¡ªLady Svena! She¡¯s the ! Who do you think you¡¯re challenging?¡± Arzen retorted. ¡°What? E-Elite among the elite among the elite?¡± the battle mage stammered. ¡°Exactly! With Lady Svena here, you Special Operations grunts are practically useless! You might as well go back and bury yourselves in a library, like the good little bookworms you are!¡± Arzen continued. This was how real social battles were fought. The battle mage''s face twisted with anger, while Svena chuckled in satisfaction. Even the female battle mage couldn¡¯t help but snicker. ¡°Cut it out, Nomie.¡± ¡°Ouch! Why¡¯d you hit me, ma¡¯am?! That little squirt insulted our division!¡± ¡°That¡¯s because you provoked them first. I apologize for this fool¡¯s rudeness. He just got commissioned this year, and his arrogance knows no bounds,¡± the superior said as she dragged the whining mage away with a telekinetic spell. ¡°The northern mountains under Imperial jurisdiction are in chaos right now, with beasts going wild. I bet it¡¯s no different down south.¡± ¡°What?¡± Svena raised an eyebrow. ¡°If you¡¯re planning to return to the surface, now¡¯s the time. The deeper underground you go, the more monstrous the kobolds get. Some mutations have already appeared. Anyway, excuse us.¡± As the Special Operations mages disappeared through the entrance they had come from, Svena fumed. ¡°What the hell? These Imperial brats think they can just give us orders!¡± The Holy Empire of Humanity and the Dragonfolk Republic were like fraternal twins. In the Age of Origins, the dragon race had given the Empire ¡°minimal control¡± over¡­ "Maximum control" was the contrasting governance system that the Republic had experimented with compared to the Empire. ¡®The Republic was directly ruled by the Red Dragon Legion, whereas the Empire appointed titles to heroes who had supported the during the Mythic Age!¡¯ While the Republic flourished under the rule of the dragon race from the 1st century onward, the Empire didn¡¯t stand shoulder to shoulder with the Republic until after the 9th century. Even today, the people of the Republic prided themselves on being civilized and looked down on Imperial citizens and those from smaller kingdoms, calling them country bumpkins. By the 16th century, however, the Empire¡¯s national power had nearly surpassed the Republic¡¯s, with the balance tipping in the Empire''s favor. That¡¯s how glory from the past works¡ªit fades. "Exactly! How dare these country bumpkins crawl out of their backwater holes!" Arzen felt the same way. Since the two nations were essentially twin siblings, it was closer to regional prejudice than anything else. "Ahh~ I really like you! Anyway, I''m too riled up to stop now! We were supposed to return to the surface to report on the Lavabold, but forget it. We''re going deeper!" "Huh?" "I can''t let those country bumpkins figure out the source of this disaster before us, the true civilized people!" "Uh¡­ wouldn¡¯t it be better to leave such menial tasks to¡­ uh¡­ the bumpkins? I mean, it¡¯s almost¡­ uh¡­ quitting time¡­." "What are you waiting for? Let¡¯s go!" As Svena dragged him along, Arzen shed a tear in frustration, his deep-rooted resentment toward the Empire growing even stronger. ¡®If only those country bumpkins hadn¡¯t shown up, I¡¯d be on my way back to the surface, dreaming of a peaceful end to the day...!¡¯ [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 46: In the Red Mountain Range (10) [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 46: In the Red Mountain Range (10) The depth was gradually increasing. All three were skilled, so their progress was smooth. As the depth increased, the frequency and number of kobolds appearing significantly rose. While there were no dangerous variants like the Lavabold, the majority were Stonybolds and kobolds¡­ but it was the sheer number that posed a problem. "To disturb the area beneath the Red Mountain Range this much... how many are there?" Svena remarked as she descended along the slope of the tunnel. Even Arzen, who had been continuously deploying his Void Bug squadron, was starting to feel fatigued. For Ronnie, the situation was worse; her ammunition, unlike typical thrown weapons, couldn¡¯t be reused, making it particularly consumable. "Let''s call it a day for the investigation!" "Huh? Why?" "I''ve used up almost 80% of my rounds. If even one Lavabold appears now, we¡¯re finished! We could end up in a dangerous situation." "What do you think, Arzen?" From Arzen¡¯s standpoint, maintaining just 15 Void Bugs was a welcome proposal. "Absolutely! I¡¯m also worried that I can¡¯t hear the sounds of those incompetent adventurers at all. It feels risky!" Since entering the deeper sections, they hadn¡¯t encountered a single party in the past few hours. "That''s true¡­ what time is it? I can¡¯t keep track of time down here. Arzen, could you shine the light over here?" As Arzen shifted the light, Svena pulled out a pocket watch from her cloak. The watch was a pinnacle of mechanical engineering produced by the Ain. In this era, such portable timepieces were considered an extraordinary luxury. The fact that most witches owned one hinted that they might have received some under-the-table payments. That''s just how the world works. "Oh my, it''s already 8 PM." "If we go back up, it¡¯ll be around 10 or 11, assuming we hardly run into any kobolds." "Well, we did have the discovery of the Lavabold, so¡­ right, pushing too hard wouldn¡¯t be good." Svena was someone with whom he could at least share a breath of relief, but the prospect of leaving was already out of the question. ¡®Damn it, another chicken coop¡­¡¯ Arzen truly felt saddened by that reality. Having marked the path carefully with phosphorescent stones, finding the exit wouldn¡¯t be difficult. According to Arzen''s calculations, when they returned to the surface, it was nearly 11 PM. "Svena-senpai!" A novice witch guarding the entrance of the tunnel greeted them enthusiastically. "How was it inside?" "All kinds of variants popped up, but they all knelt before me, Svena." "Phew, it was complete chaos up top. The Ratspiders went on a rampage, and the witches had to bring in the novice witches to suppress them. A few got injured." It matched the information provided by the Special Operations Division. Leaving Svena to chat with the novice witch, Arzen trudged away with heavy steps. ¡®Ugh, I¡¯m so tired that I could just take a deep sleep in that chicken coop¡­¡¯ Just endure today. He had managed to survive in places worse than that chicken coop before. At that moment, Ronnie asked, ¡°Where will you rest today, Arzen?¡± "Is there any option other than the chicken coop?" ¡°Anyway, since the reward for this job is only one gold coin before tax, there''s no need to sleep in a place like that, right?¡± ¡°Then should we just sleep outside?¡± ¡°No. The chicken coop has 8-person and 16-person rooms, but it also has 2-person rooms.¡± Arzen swiftly reached over and grabbed Ronnie¡¯s hand. ¡°A 2-person room? A 2-person room?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that! It¡¯s not some shady place!¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t! Who would want to share with a Tall-Half?¡± ¡°Oh my, making comments like that about a race in this day and age! I¡¯m remembering this! I¡¯ll report you later!¡± ¡°Shut up! Just tell me about that 2-person room. That¡¯s all I care about.¡± ¡°Well, the beds are far apart from each other. If you pull the curtains between the beds, it¡¯s almost completely private. There¡¯s also a washing area inside the tent. We have to fetch water from outside, though.¡± This kind of information was something Arzen had never encountered during his days as a slave. The Divine Guillotine had shoved him into places worse than a chicken coop during long expeditions. ¡°But aren¡¯t the women¡¯s chicken coops tolerable?¡± ¡°What are you talking about! It¡¯s the same for both men and women. In the chicken coop, I swear, it¡¯s a stench explosion.¡± ¡°What do you mean? In the men¡¯s chicken coop, it just smells like rotting squid.¡± They decided to use the 2-person chicken coop that Ronnie frequented. A place with reviews was more reliable. ¡°There it is. I¡¯ve already paid, so I¡¯ll go change first. But the person who was originally here should have left by now.¡± A grumpy-looking old man was sitting in a makeshift chair in front of the tent, lighting a fire to chase away the bugs. ¡°Old man.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°How much?¡± ¡°5 silver coins.¡± ¡°What the hell! Even the best inns in the city charge just a little over 1 silver coin.¡± ¡°Hey, you punk! Don¡¯t you think about the cost of bringing those expensive beds and tents all the way here and managing them? This is a seasonal business; if I don¡¯t charge like this, I¡¯ll be at a loss. If you don¡¯t like it, go sleep in that real chicken coop and get covered in foot odor.¡± ¡°Here are your 5 coins.¡± 5 silver coins per person was truly outrageous. But he didn¡¯t want to sleep again in that stinking chicken coop. The old man looked satisfied. ¡°Okay. Normally, mixed-gender usage isn¡¯t allowed, but I¡¯ll let it slide since you clearly look like a kid. Just don¡¯t do anything weird inside. If the witches catch you, I¡¯ll lose my license.¡± Arzen paid the fee and entered. Inside, the beds were arranged with considerable distance from each other at both ends of a truly massive tent. A large curtain hung between the two beds, respecting their privacy, which he appreciated. ¡®Though I have to fetch water myself, there¡¯s a drainage system so I can easily wash my face and hands!¡¯ If he used a towel, he could wash his whole body. Even the towels seemed to be overpriced, showing how the old man was desperate for money, but there was no choice. After fetching water, Arzen soaked the towel and cleaned himself from head to toe. His entire body was drenched in sweat. The Red Mountain Range was ablaze inside. ¡®Maybe because of that background, the underground space is not cool at all; it¡¯s unbelievably hot!¡¯ While he was washing up, Ronnie¡¯s voice came from beyond the curtain. ¡°Why did you become an adventurer, Arzen?¡± Why had he become an adventurer? His current goal was simply to make a lot of money. ¡°Money.¡± ¡°I have a dream. I want to become a Gold-ranked adventurer.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± ¡°Why is that?¡± ¡°Because it pays the most.¡± ¡°For me, it¡¯s because of my mother.¡± ¡°Hm.¡± ¡°My mother practically gave up her position as the top artisan for me. So I have to become a Gold-ranked adventurer to prove that her decision wasn¡¯t in vain. If I can become the best using my mother¡¯s equipment, everyone will recognize her again.¡± Listening to Ronnie speak with such a clear goal and ambition made Arzen feel a twinge of jealousy. ¡°I¡¯m not someone who had it easy like you.¡± He had no other choice but this. The only life he had known was this one. So perhaps that was why he had chosen this path. ¡®No, there were many times I genuinely admired adventure¡­¡¯ He envied how bravely Ronnie could express her goals. She must have lived a life of high self-esteem under a great mother. ¡®Unlike me¡­¡¯ Not thinking too deeply had become his life motto, but that day, an uncomfortable thought kept nagging at him. ¡®What do I even know about my parents?¡¯ Now that he thought about it, he didn¡¯t even know what his father had done to incur such a huge debt to the Guillotine of the Gods. ¡®I don¡¯t know¡­ right now¡­ I¡¯m just¡­ so¡­ sleepy¡­¡¯ --- The next morning, the investigation resumed. Thanks to the glowstone markers, they didn¡¯t get lost, and the path that had taken them half a day yesterday was covered in just two hours. Every time they reached a new area, Svena diligently recorded the current depth and temperature in her notebook. ¡®Even detailing the number of kobolds encountered! It¡¯s clear that an elite is indeed an elite.¡¯ This kind of investigation had been ongoing for nearly three weeks. Svena didn¡¯t want a harsh investigation either, so they worked for about five days and then took two days off. Every two days, Arzen would return to the city, stay at the inn, and have breakfast. On days when he missed the last train back, he would swallow his tears and sleep in the 2-person chicken coop. After a month of steadily expanding their investigation range by taking out kobolds, they prepared to venture deeper and packed food for a fortnight. --- The Red Mountain Range was vast. It was no surprise that the tunnels carved through the mountains wouldn¡¯t be finished in just a day or two. After three days of defeating kobolds and pushing further into the unexplored depths, an unsettling chill suddenly enveloped him. ¡®What is this?¡¯ Is it cold? Chilly? ¡®This feels strange¡­ Am I imagining things?¡¯ No, this wasn¡¯t an illusion. The heat that usually burned in the mountains was now different. ¡°Has the power of fire weakened¡­?¡± As Arzen muttered blankly, Ronnie scanned the temperature of the tunnel with her Alpha vision. ¡°It¡¯s true. The temperature is dropping. It¡¯s nice after sweating buckets, but it¡¯s unsettling that it changed so suddenly¡­¡± Just then, a strange sound echoed from deeper within the tunnel. From deep within the tunnel, the sound of frantic footsteps echoed. It could be an enemy. Arzen and Ronnie focused their attention, ready with their Void Bugs and firearms. ¡°Who¡¯s there?!¡± Arzen shouted. Kobolds didn¡¯t understand human speech. If it were a human, they would answer. If no reply came, they would attack as soon as they sensed movement. ¡°P-please, help me!¡± Soon, illuminated by the light of the Lamp of Prayer, a bloodied adventurer stumbled into view. He was missing one of his arms, having apparently left it behind somewhere. A heavy vibration followed behind the adventurer, the sound of multiple footsteps. ¡°Damn it, damn it! How far are they chasing me?!¡± The adventurer tripped over a rock and fell. With wide eyes filled with terror, he kept glancing back, crawling like a madman. Then, the source of his fear emerged. At first, it appeared human, but it was anything but. It looked like a statue that suddenly came to life. Svena¡¯s face went pale. ¡°Those¡­ Could they be Stonians?¡± The stone figures were remarkably distinct, with male and female forms, each armed differently. Ronnie shouted in alarm. ¡°What are those things?!¡± ¡°All three of them used to be part of my party! Not anymore! They¡¯ve gone crazy!¡± ¡°What do you mean?!¡± ¡°They¡¯ve turned into stone people!¡± Arzen reached out his hand. At his command, the Void Bugs that had been scouting ahead surrounded the Stonians, but¡­ ¡°They¡¯re stone; we can¡¯t eat them!¡± That¡¯s right. With their entire bodies turned to stone, there was no weak point to penetrate. Void Bugs were extremely weak against inorganic materials. ¡°Can¡¯t you use your summoning magic, Arzen? Blow them away, Ronnie!¡± ¡°But¡­ doesn¡¯t that mean they were once people?¡± ¡°Not anymore! They¡¯re already dead! During the process of becoming Stonians, their hearts were replaced with stone! What we see now is just moving stone! They¡¯re the ghosts of their former selves!¡± Ronnie let out a hesitant sigh. But she was an elite. In the next moment, she pulled a clip of explosive rounds from her black belt and loaded it into her pistol. Tat-tat-tat-tat¡­! The explosive rounds proved effective against the thick-skinned monsters. ¡°¡­!¡± ¡°¡­!¡± ¡°¡­!¡± A total of twelve explosive rounds fired. The shots pushed back the approaching Stonians, stripping away their stone skin and exposing what lay beneath. Arzen¡¯s eyes widened. ¡®So they¡¯re not completely petrified! They must need some form of organic movement! Anyway, I¡¯ve figured out how to deal with you!¡¯ The Void Bugs, while weak against solid forms, became an easy target once the weaknesses were exposed. ¡°Go, my little ones! Devour them!¡± The Void Bugs surged into the gaps created by the explosive rounds. Soon, the Stonians trembled violently and began to fall, one by one, powerless against the onslaught. The Void Bugs feasted on the organic matter inside, leaving only fragments of stone skin behind. Shattered stone limbs lay scattered about, no blood flowing from the wreckage. ¡°Hey, what the hell is going on?¡± Svena was casting healing spells on the adventurer. Unfortunately, modern spells and miracles lacked the power to restore lost limbs. Such feats had only been possible by beings known as the Arrived Ones and the legendary hero from a century ago, The Dragon Sage. ¡°I don¡¯t know! Damn it, I went deeper than anyone else¡­ and then¡­ then those stone people, they just¡­ ugh!¡± The adventurer, overcome with terror, began banging his head against the ground. Ronnie swiftly struck him on the back of the neck, knocking him unconscious. Next, she checked the identification tag hanging from the adventurer¡¯s neck. ¡°Bronze rank¡­ that¡¯s quite impressive. He¡¯s among the top ranks.¡± Arzen was also rummaging through the remains of the Stonians, collecting identification tags. Bringing the tags of the deceased or missing to the guild would earn them contribution rewards. In fact, there were those who specialized in collecting such tags while hunting. ¡°This one¡¯s the same, but wait, here¡¯s one that¡¯s Silver rank?¡± This discovery was more chilling than the crazed adventurer. A heavy silence fell over the group. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After completing the healing spell, Svena stood up abruptly. ¡°Something¡¯s happening down below¡­ If we leave it alone, there will surely be greater casualties. Arzen, can you leave a few of your summons here?¡± ¡°Yeah, I can do that¡­¡± ¡°Good. We¡¯ve stabilized this adventurer for now, so let¡¯s leave him with your summons and head down. We might be able to confront the source of this phenomenon.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 47: From the Red Mountain Range (11) [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 47: From the Red Mountain Range (11) ¡°Another Stonian up ahead!¡± ¡°Damn, it¡¯s another adventurer!¡± The living stone statue, the Stonian, was indeed a threatening enemy. If Arzen were alone, it would have been regrettably impossible to take on such numbers. With Ronnie blasting holes using explosive rounds, the investigation proceeded smoothly. By dividing their tasks, Arzen and Ronnie could conserve their power and ammunition. However, the deeper they descended, the colder the underground air became. There was a vibration of sorts. At first, it felt like a tremor, but when measured with Alpha Vision, it turned out to be sound. It was an immensely powerful noise, reverberating from who knows how far away. They had been hearing it for over half a day, yet they still hadn¡¯t reached its source. Despite this, the sound was growing louder, making Arzen feel as if he might go insane. ¡°This tunnel is unusually long,¡± Ronnie remarked. Svena furrowed her brow. ¡°It¡¯s not just long; it¡¯s too wide. It¡¯s spacious enough for ten people to pass through at once... Why is it so wide? It¡¯s too big for kobolds to use.¡± The sense of dread drew closer. It was something one could definitely feel without amplifying their senses to the extreme. That sound. The noise of metal striking metal! It echoed clearly, like the heartbeat of some monstrous creature. ¡°Shh! The tunnel is about to end!¡± Arzen raised his finger to his lips. Soon, the investigation team arrived at the mouth of the cave where the tunnel ended. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The sound that had been echoing through the passage was now booming fiercely directly ahead. Arzen first sent the light of the Lamp of Prayer into the cavern. The space was so vast that the light couldn¡¯t reach everywhere, leaving parts shrouded in darkness. In that immense area, Stonybolds were hammering away, but this was unlike any sound they had heard before. Right in the middle of the cave, a giant was driving a massive stake into the ground with a colossal hammer. Arzen swallowed hard. He couldn''t discern the identity of the behemoth driving in the stake. But he certainly felt the tension coursing through him. Svena spoke in a startled tone. ¡°Trog¡­?¡± Ronnie rushed to the front, leveling her firearm. ¡°What¡¯s a Trog?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a failed creation that didn¡¯t quite make it to troll status! I was hoping it was just a rumor when I saw the Stonians, but they really exist!¡± ¡°A troll? That troll?¡± Trolls are one of the six major demon races. Each individual is a fearsome monster, typically ranked as ''B+'' in danger level. Arzen had never encountered a troll in person. *Draining Desert** was A-rank.* Just being one rank lower indicates how formidable they are. ¡°How strong are they? Are they as strong as trolls?¡± ¡°No, they¡¯re not even close to that! They¡¯re probably only half as strong at best.¡± ¡°Then at least they¡¯d be ranked ¡®D+¡¯!¡± The adventurer guild categorizes monster danger levels into seven ranks from A to G. Rank G is classified as ''Lowest Tier,'' for which creatures in the steel and bronze ranks are typically responsible. Rank F is considered ''Lower Tier,'' mainly handled by mid-ranking bronze-level adventurers. Starting from Rank E, monsters are categorized as ''Lower Mid Tier,'' specialized for top-tier bronze and bottom-tier silver-level adventurers. Rank D is ''Mid Tier,'' setting the minimum requirement for participation in eradication at the silver level. Rank C is ''Upper Mid Tier,'' dealing with top-tier silver and bottom-tier gold-level monsters. As indicated by the emergence of the top 1.16% gold-ranked adventurers, rewards significantly increase from this point onward. Rank B is ''Upper Tier,'' dedicated to gold-level specialists. Rank A is ''Top Tier,'' managed by high-ranking gold and platinum-level adventurers! ¡°That guy is making Stonians! We have to stop him!¡± Svena exclaimed. There were numerous Stonybolds gathered around the Trog. They were placing stone-carved hearts into the corpses of adventurers from whom the Trog had extracted their hearts. Then, they coated the adventurers¡¯ bodies with monster crystals as if wrapping them in batter, giving birth to Stonians. ¡°Eeeeeek!¡± The Stonybolds, exposed to the light, screamed in horror. They were the ones applying mud to the adventurers'' bodies while adding monster crystals. Trog¡¯s aversion to light is likely even worse than that of kobolds. Even the successful trolls turn to stone when exposed to sunlight. The Trog looked up at the Lamp of Prayer and let out a scream filled with hatred and rage, so intense that it could be felt in the cold sweat on its body. ¡°Ugh, ugh! I will¡­ destroy everything! By the master¡¯s command, I shall turn them all to stone!¡± The Trog charged forward, dragging its hammer along the ground and shaking the earth beneath it. On either side, the Stonybolds surged forward in a frenzied charge. Arzen opened the Tome of the Void and commanded the void creatures. ¡°Formation! Stonybold eradication formation!¡± Immediately, the void creatures lined up in three rows and unleashed a barrage of void energy. In the chaos where brain matter was splattered, the void creatures and Ronnie¡¯s iron bullets pierced through. Those hit by the former writhed madly before collapsing, while those struck by the latter spun around and fell backward. ¡°This is never-ending!¡± This time, Svena actively joined the battle. ¡°I summon the will of flame to unite! By my command as Svena, gather here! Velsalabor!¡± Fire erupted before the advancing Stonybolds, breaking through the hail of void energy and gunfire. ¡°No matter how hardened they become, it seems they can¡¯t withstand the heat of flames piercing through their thick skin! Ha!¡± Svena shouted confidently. The Stonybolds writhed in agony as they blackened and burned. ¡°Trog is coming! Reload!¡± ¡°To the front, Middle Guardians! La Tsi Qua!¡± One Middle Guardian can unleash the power of two Greater Guardians. The void creatures surged forth, becoming a maelstrom of void fog, swirling with the power to cast everything beyond the borders of oblivion. Ten Middle Guardians used their own bodies as material, creating a vortex of devouring force. ¡°Grrrrraaaah!¡± Direct hit¡­! The storm of the void spun violently, beginning to gnaw at the entire body of its prey. ¡°It hurts! The Trog is terrifying! But the master''s command is even scarier!¡± However, the Trog¡¯s body wasn¡¯t merely covered in monster crystals like the Stonybolds or Stonians. Its entire physique was made of monster crystals! The storm of the void only weathered the surface of its body like eroded stone. It didn¡¯t reach a fatal wound. Arzen gritted his teeth in irritation. The Trog raised its hammer menacingly. Ronnie launched herself, rolling along the ground with Svena. ¡°Arzen, dodge!¡± Dodge? Me? Nonsense! The only time this Arzen dodges is when a pile of poop is charging at me! ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate me! How dare a pathetic failure like you, who can''t even become a troll, act so high and mighty!¡± This power is, unlike yours, a force for domination! It¡¯s an overwhelming power that could elevate me to the Diamond rank! The void demon, Nightface, can pierce your heart from within range! No, not like this! It¡¯s reaching my limit! If I push any further, I might just die in reverse! ¡°Come, Barolus!¡± The demon that emerged from the void, bringing only a hollow light. Its arm caught the hand of the being revealing its hatred towards the apostle¡­ and twisted it, shattering it. ¡°Grrraaaah! It hurts! The Trog is hurt! My arm is broken!¡± As the Trog¡¯s wrist twisted and crushed, it rolled on the ground. The hammer crashed down, shaking the earth. *Karshiko**! No matter how rocky the body is, it can¡¯t withstand that!* Nightface ranks among the highest echelon of void entities. I tried to wait until I could aim for the heart or head, but that still seems difficult. After a month of training, I can now freely use Evakta even after casting Barolus. ¡°**Evakta!**¡± The tendrils of the void entwined around the Trog. Lifting the void was impossible due to the load. But it was certainly possible to bind its movements. ¡°You trash! A pathetic Trog that can¡¯t even be a troll! Let¡¯s see if I can twist you out! Where''s your weakness!¡± The vines of Evakta constricted around the Trog''s body, twisting it painfully. The stone began to crack slowly, revealing the soft muscles beneath. Ronnie gasped. ¡°Ah! Being a bipedal life form means it must have softened areas at the joints! That¡¯s impressive!¡± Taking a deep breath, Ronnie pulled out two clips from both the black and blue belts. The black ones were Pargap rounds. The blue ones were Frost bullets. In other words, she was loading cooling rounds. With a lively leap, Ronnie aimed for the exposed weakness of the Trog and unleashed a barrage of bullets from the air. The first to fire was the Pargap round. The bullet struck the Trog¡¯s soft tissue, shattering the rocky parts and widening the hole for further penetration. Ronnie let go of the pistols. As they hung from the steam core¡¯s rubber hose in midair, she pulled out the third and fourth pistols from the holster and fired again. ¡°Grrraaaah! It hurts! Master, the Trog is in pain!¡± The Trog screamed in agony. This was to be expected. As soon as the bullet pierced the skin, a cooling phenomenon occurred inside. ¡°Ice has the same mass as water but a greater volume! You¡¯ve essentially created material inside your body out of nowhere!¡± The ice began to expand. At that moment, Arzen manipulated the movement of Evakta with his hands. By covering the area where the bullets had penetrated, he ensured that the ice couldn''t escape and instead burrowed deeper into the Trog''s body. ¡°Ugh! Ugh! Grrrrraaaah!¡± The Trog screamed in agony, flailing its arms wildly to grab Arzen and Ronnie. Dirt erupted around Arzen as the creature¡¯s body became a wreck and rolled on the ground. Svena rushed in, shouting urgently. ¡°Arzen!¡± However, since the previous blow hadn¡¯t been a direct hit, Arzen quickly stood up, covered in dirt. ¡°That pathetic Trog¡¯s attack landed at my feet! I¡¯m fine!¡± Even amidst all this, Arzen did not let go of his grasp. It was all to maintain the binding power of Evakta. His efforts paid off as the Trog twitched in pain throughout its body. Soon after, it shattered into dozens of stone fragments and chunks of flesh, scattering in all directions. ¡°Ronnie, come back!¡± As Ronnie landed with acrobatic grace, Svena quickly cast a protective barrier. It was just large enough for the three of them to fit inside. However, the principle of the barrier meant that the wider it was, the thinner it became, and the narrower it was, the thicker it grew. That barrier safely protected all three amidst the storm of flying rocks. * * * ¡°There are no life signs.¡± Ronnie reported after scanning the interior of the chamber with her Alpha Vision. Only then did Svena exhale deeply and lower the barrier. ¡°You guys are amazing! Especially you, Arzen, your performance was incredible. I can see why the master nominated you!¡± Ronnie said to Arzen, twirling her pistol before holstering it. ¡°Arzen, why are you Steel rank? I¡¯ve heard about Summoners, and their summons seem much weaker than you.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ I¡¯m just humble. I didn¡¯t want to stand above others¡­ until now.¡± ¡°That''s impressive! Such a noble mindset! Truly befitting someone who performs miracles!¡± Isn''t she a bit too easy? How did she manage to become Silver rank in this kingdom of beasts? ¡°What should we do now, Svena?¡± ¡°We need to take this back. So, what¡¯s next?¡± ¡°Well, I wanted to pull it out, but it doesn¡¯t budge at all.¡± ¡°That¡¯s expected. The guy who was hammering it in with that unrealistically large hammer, there''s no way the three of us can pull it out¡­¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°Well, if an adventurer capable of handling a powerful summon were to lend a hand¡­ we might be able to pull it out.¡± At Svena¡¯s gesture, Arzen pretended to roll on the ground. ¡°Gah! My insides! My insides hurt!¡± ¡°Oh, I know it doesn¡¯t hurt. If it does, I¡¯ll heal you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, but if you use it now, it¡¯ll definitely hurt! Do you know how awful it feels to vomit blood? I need to rest.¡± ¡°How long?¡± ¡°This one is the strongest among my summons¡­ so I need to sleep at least four hours. Otherwise, I¡¯ll faint.¡± He had already used a full course of Void Miracles, from Kaz tu Arcturus to La Tsi Qua, Barolus, and Evakta. Though he felt proud to have used them all as a measure of his growth, he had certainly come to realize his limits during that process. Even if he managed to summon one, he would undoubtedly suffer from hemoptysis and congestion. ¡°Hmm.¡± Svena nodded. ¡°Then I guess we have no choice but to rest here for about five hours.¡± ¡°Ugh.¡± ¡°And we¡¯ll pull this out and head up to the surface. If I take this back as my first task right after being appointed Witch, my reputation will skyrocket!¡± Arzen swallowed his tears. The life of an adventurer is harsh. The client''s demands are even harsher. ¡°Ronnie, you follow me. While he¡¯s resting, I need to investigate this chamber a bit. Let¡¯s recover the adventurer badges.¡± As Ronnie hurried after Svena, Arzen grinned. It¡¯s not like he was sneaking or cheating. The body of the Worker Bee that had settled on his shoulder was undergoing a transformation. Indeed, by defeating the Trog, Arzen had obtained the third Universal Key. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 48: In the Red Mountain Range (12) [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 48: In the Red Mountain Range (12) As Arzen awoke from what felt like a pleasant nap, drifting through the mist, a sudden, thunderous voice shattered the tranquility. ¡°The exit is blocked?¡± In response to Arzen¡¯s question, Svena let out a sigh so heavy it seemed the earth might cave in under her. It was as if she truly wished for it to happen. ¡°Yes, it was when Ronnie and I were investigating the cavern together. Those damn kobolds suddenly appeared, blocked the exit, and vanished.¡± ¡°!¡± ¡°Ronnie says it¡¯s not just here¡ªthere are tremors everywhere. The whole place is likely blocked.¡± Ronnie was meticulously pulling out rocks, one by one, from the pile that sealed the exit. Her hands were covered in blood. No matter how many stones she dug out, new ones rolled down from somewhere, filling the gap she had just made. ¡®Even if I use Barolus or Evakta, if this keeps happening, I¡¯ll eventually collapse from exhaustion...!¡¯ Physical stamina was crucial, but with no food, even recovering magical power would be slow. ¡®It took us six days just to get here!¡¯ Naturally, they only had enough food for eight days. Even if they rationed to the extreme, they¡¯d barely last ten days. ¡°Damn it... I just started making a name for myself as a witch, and now I¡¯m going to die, buried alive like this?¡± Svena, clutching her head after throwing off her pointed hat, sounded as though she had already given up on life. She was the complete opposite of Ronnie, who was desperately digging out as many stones as she could to survive. For a moment, Arzen felt a wave of resentment. Rodenkal had sent him here, only for him to meet such an end? ¡®No, that can¡¯t be...¡¯ He quickly dismissed the thought, believing there was no way it would happen. It wasn¡¯t so much a certainty as it was hope, but still. ¡®Lord Rodenkal has helped me since the defeat of the Hydra. There¡¯s no way he would let me die here, buried alive like this.¡¯ Cooling his head, Arzen summoned the Void Bee. The Void Bee had once conveyed Rodenkal¡¯s will. ¡®This time too...!¡¯ As soon as Arzen opened the scripture, it began turning its pages on its own, as if it had been waiting for him. ¡®Just as I thought...!¡¯ At a certain point, the pages stopped, and the Void Bee settled on one of them, transforming into a key. It was an intermediate form between a Void creature and a demon. With no hesitation, Arzen grabbed the master key and inserted it into the lock. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡®I¡¯m sure of it. Just like in the , Lord Rodenkal, who saved me then, won¡¯t leave me to die here either!¡¯ A dark green radiance swirled around the Void scripture, concentrating into a single beam of light that shot up before striking Arzen¡¯s chest, engraving itself onto his soul. A new power, bestowed by the Master of the Void, now resided within his apostle. ¡®The Veil of Ignorance is lifting!¡¯ The once-hidden text, obscured by the chains and lock, began to appear clearly before his eyes. To fill a new wineskin with wine, one must first discard the rotten water within the old skin. Thus, the Void is the first step towards enlightenment. Only those whose old vessels were empty can reach the truth through true enlightenment. Through this new step forward, gaze anew into the Void and grasp the fragments of truth. Arzen sprang to his feet. "Ronnie, move aside!" "?" "Quickly!" With the scripture in his left hand, Arzen thrust his right hand forward with force. This action would be seen as utterly inappropriate for a priest who served the light with reverence. But an apostle¡ªan apostle had to act this way. An apostle must always possess such authority and command their subordinates with absolute might. ¡°Re Taripo!¡± Ten Void creatures gathered around the apostle, suddenly swirling together and beginning to fuse. ''A fusion of ten creatures?'' It wasn¡¯t so much that the Void creatures themselves were merging, but rather that the Void essence that made up each creature was blending into one. "!" And what appeared¡­ what was it exactly? Would it be right to call it a small demon? Its size was about as large as Arzen¡¯s face, but its head alone was as big as its entire body combined. ¡®In other words, it¡¯s a two-headed figure!¡¯ Its face lacked any features except for the eyes. Like the Void creatures, it had no pupils, only glowing, hollow eye sockets. And in the center of its forehead, a third vertical eye was engraved, making three in total. ''Even its wings aren¡¯t insect-like.'' The small creature hovered effortlessly in the air with just a few leisurely flaps of what were clearly demon wings, not insect wings. The small demon cradled a large orb in its hands as if it were something precious. Then, it flew toward the pile of rocks blocking the exit. ¡®Its flying speed is slow!¡¯ Its flight was bizarre and far from fast or threatening. ''However...!'' The strength of this made up for every one of its weaknesses. No¡ªthis creature turned every disadvantage of the Void creatures into a strength. ''This thing is a bomb! A Void bomb!'' The moment the small demon touched the pile of rocks, starting from the orb in its hands, its entire form transformed into a rift in space itself. There was no sound, no visible form, but it unmistakably devoured everything in its vicinity, pulling it into some other place beyond. ¡®Right now, I can control up to 80 Void creatures...!¡¯ After using all 80, Arzen could summon about 30 more. ¡®If I convert them all, I could use 11 bombs in total!¡¯ A hole the size of the small demon appeared at the very top of the pile of rocks. ¡°Over there! Keep blasting through that spot!¡± Two Void bombs ignited on either side of the hole, expanding the passage significantly. Since the top was breached instead of the bottom, there was no risk of stones rolling down to block the newly opened path. Crossing through the passage would be easy, even for someone unskilled in physical movement, as long as there was something to step on. Ronnie, in shock, was so overwhelmed she had to cover her mouth with both hands. ¡°My goodness, how is this possible...!¡± Arzen turned his body around. There was something he had to take care of first. "Barolus!" The demon''s grasp seized the massive spike embedded deep within the earth''s crust. After about two seconds of a fierce struggle, it wrenched the spike free. Cracks spread across the ground, and the mountains quaked. Below the fissures, the fiery glow of molten flames surged. It seemed they had come close to the heart of the mountain''s seal. ¡®No way!¡¯ Arzen worried that the pile of rocks might collapse under the weight of more falling stones. However, instead of being buried, the vibrations widened the existing hole. As the Night Face''s hand withdrew, the massive spike tumbled heavily to the ground. It was far larger than the spikes the kobolds had been using up until now. Ronnie had to cradle it with both hands just to hold it. "Svena! Get up! Arzen opened the way!" "How did he¡­ open the way? What on earth happened?" "We can get out! Before the kobolds can do anything else, let''s hurry and escape!" There was no need for further discussion. The three quickly clambered over the pile of rocks. Just as Svena had feared, the kobolds hadn¡¯t blocked just one tunnel. Whether they were trying to trap them inside or prevent someone from coming in, more piles of rocks kept appearing to block their path forward. "Re Taripo!" But the fusion of ten Void creatures created explosions that obliterated those piles of rocks with ease. ¡®Since all three of us are small, three bombs will be enough to clear a path!¡¯ It was impossible to destroy the entire pile of rocks in one go. They had to carefully target the upper sections to create controlled explosions, but as long as they could escape, that was all that mattered. For now, that would suffice. "Up ahead! It''s the wounded we left behind!" With a simple telekinetic spell, Svena lifted the injured person into the air. Three Void creatures, which had been left behind to guard, rejoined the worker bee formation. Arzen ran ahead, using to blow open more paths. Every tunnel exit and entrance was blocked by debris. ¡®The mountains are shaking¡ªstaying here won¡¯t do us any good.¡¯ If they lingered any longer, the glowing stones they''d placed to mark the way out would undoubtedly be lost in the chaos. They had to run until they reached the limit of their endurance. "There¡¯s more kobolds ahead! Those bastards are trying to block our path again!" "I won¡¯t let them!" The thunderous shots of the armor-piercing rounds tore through the air. The bullets turned the kobolds into hideously mutilated corpses, their heads blown apart by the force of the blast. The expedition team trampled over the bodies as they pushed forward. ¡°Kaz Tu Arcturus!¡± Having exhausted all 80 Void creatures, Arzen summoned additional ones. A wave of nausea hit him, and dizziness overtook him, but he managed to call forth the maximum 30 creatures. As soon as the 30 Void creatures arrived from beyond the dimension, they immediately fused into three combined entities. ¡°Re Taripo!¡± * * * They had descended deep from the start, so it was no surprise that even after running like mad, no light was yet visible. The group stopped multiple times to catch their breath, eventually collapsing from exhaustion. Svena pulled a water bottle and jerky from her bag, distributing it to everyone, though Arzen received the largest portion. Arzen was the most crucial member of their team. The injured person¡¯s body burned with a fever. It was fortunate they were unconscious, as it meant one less mouth to feed. ¡°We need to rest for a bit to regain our strength. Wake me in two hours,¡± ¡°Alright, it''s 12:15 a.m. now, so I''ll wake you around 3 a.m. Get some rest, Ronnie and I will stand guard,¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry! You need your strength if we¡¯re going to make it out!¡± Ronnie added. Arzen leaned against the cave wall and quickly fell into a deep sleep. His spiritual energy was tied closely to his stamina. When one was depleted, the other would soon follow. Both were exhausted now, and he drifted off the moment he closed his eyes. It felt like he had only just fallen asleep when Svena shook him awake. Irritated, he wondered if they were in such a rush that she had woken him early. However, Svena''s clock showed that not just two but three hours had passed. ¡°It¡¯s 4 a.m.¡± Out of consideration for Arzen, they had let him sleep an extra hour. Despite the short rest, it was remarkably effective. With a single shout, Arzen summoned 60 Void creatures in an instant. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go!¡± They quickly ascended toward the surface, but without rest, even the others were becoming fatigued. Svena was the first to reach her limit. Her magical energy was completely drained, making her telekinetic abilities unusable, and the injured person she had been levitating fell to the ground. ¡°Ronnie, carry the injured person!¡± Arzen shouted. ¡°Me? But I¡¯m carrying the spike!¡± she protested. ¡°Forget the spike! What¡¯s more important than a human life? We can just explain what we saw ourselves!¡± Though Ronnie had appeared obsessed with success and recognition, she still had the heart of a witch. Her decision to prioritize life was deeply impressive. Ronnie discarded the spike and lifted the injured person. Arzen continued to use his Void creatures to blast open the path ahead, and they pressed on. One day, two days¡­ They would run to the point of collapse, take brief rests, and then push forward again, nearing the brink of exhaustion with each step. ¡°Re Taripo!¡± With the last of his spiritual power, Arzen commanded his Void creature to charge into the pile of rubble. The moment it hit, light flooded in¡ªblinding, but not from the sun. It was the warm glow of a spell that illuminated the darkness. ¡°...The top of the rock pile just blew away!¡± ¡°...What? Is it a monster? No, it¡¯s a person! There are people here!¡± ¡°Svena! Svena!¡± Though they hadn¡¯t reached the surface yet, the witches had sent a rescue team down, worried by their delay. Svena stumbled into the arms of her mentor, Beth. ¡°Oh, Master¡­¡± Arzen and Ronnie, breathing heavily, nearly collapsed from the relief that washed over them. Soldiers rushed forward, offering their shoulders to support them. As Arzen was half-carried up toward the surface, he glanced at the sacred scripture chained to his waist. ¡®Thank you, Lord Rodenkal...¡¯ [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 49: In the Red Mountain Range (13) [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 49:In the Red Mountain Range (13) The rescue team carried the investigation squad back to the Witch Association¡¯s tent. It was the 20th night since the investigation team had set out on their expedition. Svena managed to stay conscious through sheer willpower. She gave the witches a detailed report on the events that had occurred underground. The witches¡¯ expressions grew grim. ¡°A Trogg?¡± They were visibly shocked by Svena¡¯s report. ¡°Are you certain it was a Trogg, Svena?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m sure. Its appearance closely matched the illustrations I¡¯ve seen in books, and unlike trolls, it had many weak points at its joints. It was only about 7 feet tall, too,¡± she replied. ¡°We¡¯ve already had reports from adventurers about sightings of Stonions, but a Trogg... and underground in the Red Mountain Range at that,¡± one of the witches murmured. As the witches sighed, a muscular giant effortlessly held up a large spike with one hand¡ªthe same spike that even Ronnie, a powerful Tall-half with strength superior to that of a human, had needed both hands to lift. The female swordsman standing in front of the giant gestured toward the spike with her thumb. She was none other than ¡°Twin Blades Didi,¡± ranked 7th in the Platinum Tier. ¡°We found this while inspecting the tunnels on our way back from the rescue mission. There¡¯s no way kobolds could drive in spikes of this size. Only something like a Trogg could do it.¡± The individuals standing on either side of Didi, all in impressive stances, were seasoned veterans. They were members of the Platinum-ranked adventurer group, . This group was formed by six adventurers who wore a banner adorned with preserved plum blossom petals from the tree where they first came together. Over time, members left due to death, disappearance, or disagreements, but they always maintained their number at six, the original number of founders. Hence, they were known as . Unlike , this group was known for its small but elite composition. Bigger groups weren¡¯t always better; larger numbers led to internal conflicts and logistical problems. Each approach had its pros and cons. Upon receiving the report about Lavabolds, Beth had used her authority as acting priestess to hire at a high price. ¡°You witches must be pretty strong. You managed to take down a Trogg with just a Silver-rank and an Steel-rank helping you,¡± Didi remarked. ¡°I didn¡¯t do much. The Silver-rank and the Steel-rank were incredibly powerful,¡± Svena responded modestly. ¡°Steel-rank?¡± The members of snickered at this. ¡°Hah, too much humility can come off as arrogance,¡± one said. ¡°Which Steel-rank could have possibly helped take down a Trogg?¡± ¡°Yeah, most likely just a pack mule, right?¡± The chatter quieted as soon as Didi turned her body. Her team immediately stopped laughing and followed her lead. ¡°Where are you headed?¡± Beth asked. Didi held up two fingers as she responded. ¡°First rule of our adventurer group: payment must be made upfront. Second rule: we complete our commissions faster than any other group. We¡¯re off to fulfill those two rules.¡± Svena slowly stood up. ¡°Wait... Take that spike with you.¡± ¡°And why should we?¡± ¡°It will act as a tracker¡­ leading us toward the source of this whole ordeal. It¡¯s best to take it. Also, the path we took is marked by glowstones at intervals. It¡¯s not much, but it¡¯ll be helpful.¡± At Didi¡¯s signal, the giant returned to the tent, grabbed the spike, and walked back out. ¡°Thanks for the help. See you around.¡± * * * By the time Svena opened her eyes, everything had already ended. The tent smelled of mustiness, scorched by the sun. Sunlight filtered through the seams of the fabric, twinkling like beads of light. The sounds of rustling, clanking, and clicking echoed repeatedly. Ronnie was seated on a bench outside the tent, disassembling her firearm to clean it. Arzen slowly sat up. ¡®This doesn¡¯t feel like a chicken coop¡­¡¯ The faint scent of cosmetics in the air hinted that this was originally a place used by women. As he looked around, there were scrolls and scattered about. The is a scripture interpreting the teachings of light through the language of dragons. This seemed to be the witches¡¯ tent. Stretching, Arzen pulled back the curtain of the tent and stepped outside. Ronnie greeted him with a wide smile. ¡°Ah, Arzen! You¡¯re awake! I was really worried, you were in a coma for two days.¡± ¡°Two days? What about the investigation mission?¡± Ronnie put down the oil-soaked cloth she had been using to clean her gun on the makeshift table and picked up a dust brush. Her expression was a mix of relief and disappointment. ¡°The mission is beyond anything we could handle now. They¡¯ve deployed a Platinum-ranked adventurer group.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I heard that ever since the information about the Lavagbolts was relayed to the Witch Association, they¡¯ve been working behind the scenes to hire them. They arrived yesterday and immediately descended into the underground. You know of them, right? .¡± Arzen slumped down beside Ronnie. ¡®I¡¯ve never met them since we operated on different continents, but I¡¯ve at least heard their name.¡¯ Any adventurer, even after just a year of experience, would memorize the names of the Platinum-ranked adventurer groups. Whether it was for money or fame, they were the objects of admiration and envy. was a garbage group that stood in complete contrast to that admiration and envy, though. ¡®I would¡¯ve liked to see firsthand what a Platinum-ranked adventurer group from the Akrad continent is like¡­¡¯ For now, he had no desire to head back underground. Anyone who¡¯d been close to being buried alive would hesitate, too. Even the simple things like breathing the fresh air and feeling the warmth of the sunlight filled him with an almost trembling sense of joy. ¡®The moment the Special Task Force got involved, things were already tense. But now that a Trogg has appeared, it¡¯s no longer a stage where I can shine.¡¯ Yes, it¡¯s enough for me to have been involved this far. The real players would soon take charge of the investigation. ¡®It means I¡¯m still not strong enough to stand on the main stage of this era.¡¯ Rather than feeling bitter about this, Arzen felt relief. He had grown this powerful in just half a year since gaining the Power of the Void. If he was this strong in six months, how strong could he become in five years? He needed time to grow stronger. ¡®This is for the best. I¡¯d rather avoid life-threatening battlefields like that for a while.¡¯ Now, instead of fighting to survive by any means necessary, he only wanted to fight when victory was certain. ¡°And Svena?¡± ¡°She waited until this morning but eventually joined the investigation team.¡± S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°And you, Ronnie?¡± ¡°I stayed behind to wait for you to wake up, of course.¡± Ronnie reached into her pocket, fumbled with a money pouch, and tossed it to Arzen. The sunlight caught the shimmer of gold coins as they glistened. Arzen, unable to catch it with just one hand, supported the pouch with both hands as Ronnie chuckled. ¡°Svena exaggerated our efforts quite a bit, so we got an extra reward. After taxes, it''s a whole gold coin¡ªa pretty sweet haul.¡± ¡°To the great Svena!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not toast like we¡¯re mourning someone, it feels ominous. Anyway, I¡¯ve handed over your share of the reward, so my job¡¯s done. Besides, I just finished cleaning my gun, too.¡± The way Ronnie swiftly assembled her gun made it look incredibly cool. If there were a ranking of hobbies that attracted the opposite sex, this one could easily follow musical instruments without any problem. Ronnie firmly secured her steam core to her back with a belt, holstered all four pistols, and stood up. ¡°Well, I guess this is goodbye. How long have we been working together on this request? About two months? I enjoyed it. And in the end, I¡¯m really thankful. It¡¯s thanks to you, Arzen, that I managed to escape.¡± ¡°I only did what I had to in order to survive.¡± ¡°If you had given up on trying to save yourself, then I wouldn¡¯t have made it either. My dreams would have ended there.¡± Ronnie gave a slight chuckle before starting to walk away. It seems that the connections formed between adventurers who temporarily work together and then part ways are this fleeting. Maybe I¡¯ve been overly idealizing what it means to be part of a party, especially during my time under the ¡°Oh.¡± Suddenly, as Ronnie was about to disappear beyond the horizon of the mountains, she turned back toward Arzen. ¡°By the way, I have a message from Svena!¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°She said that she¡¯ll soon become a big shot, so both you and I should hurry up and do the same! That way, she can assign us high-profile requests!¡± Ronnie cupped her hands around her mouth as she shouted, then waved energetically. Without even realizing it, Arzen waved back, almost instinctively, as if part of him had been hoping for a moment like this. And with that, Ronnie left. ¡®Maybe it¡¯s better for parties to part ways without clinging too much after all.¡¯ Arzen swung his legs back and forth as he sat on the bench, enjoying the late autumn sunlight. Just being there like that made him happy. Perhaps happiness in life isn¡¯t so far away after all. When the sun was covered by clouds, Arzen stood up. His coat and belongings were neatly arranged next to the bed inside the tent. For a brief moment, he worried that one of the witches had gone through their scripture and found something about the Void, but it seemed there was no problem after all. He lightly packed his things and went out. After exchanging a nod with the apprentice witch who was organizing the entry logs near the bench, Arzen descended the mountain. The scenery at the foot of the mountain had changed quite a bit since he last saw it a month and a half ago. With the discovery of danger in the mountains, the Witch Association had forbidden entry to the underground tunnels, and the area was no longer a ¡®hot spot.¡¯ The various peddlers had already disappeared. Even more than half of the accommodations, like the chicken coops, were being demolished. The temporary offices of the Adventurers¡¯ Guild were no exception. Though the place wasn¡¯t entirely dismantled yet, they were still able to process paperwork. ¡°Hello.¡± Half of the reception counters were closed, but since there weren¡¯t many customers, Arzen¡¯s turn came quickly. The friendly older receptionist he had built rapport with wasn¡¯t there. She might have gone home, taken a day off, or perhaps even resigned. With her fiery personality, it wouldn¡¯t have been easy for her to endure this job. ¡°Yes, how can I help you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to update my ID tag.¡± ¡°Sure, please hand over your tag.¡± Since Ronnie had already settled the request here, all that was left was to collect the contribution rewards. Ronnie had already received the payment and passed it on to him, so all that remained was for him to get his contribution points calculated. The receptionist nodded and hummed, pulling out a few papers along with Arzen''s updated tag. ¡°Congratulations. These documents are copies of the proof that you completed the request. The original is kept with the guild, so if you¡¯d like, we can dispose of these for you.¡± ¡°Please dispose of it.¡± Arzen had no intention of carrying around something that would just become a burden. ¡°And here¡¯s a copy of your Merit Certificate for the subjugation. I see you were involved in the trog hunt.¡± ¡°Ah, yes.¡± ¡°A trog, and for someone at Steel rank... Whatever role you played, it''s something worth bragging about. Trogs almost never appear outside of the demon realm, so very few people know about them. You could easily exaggerate your achievements and impress others.¡± This woman... Her skill in bluffing made Arzen wonder if she should be an adventurer instead of a receptionist. ¡°And this is the report form. It''s for recording your party¡¯s performance.¡± ¡°!¡± ¡°Oh, and the reason it¡¯s not blank is that there¡¯s a rule requiring one report per party for smaller groups. What¡¯s written at the top is the report and evaluation from the party leader.¡± Ronnie had already written a very detailed report. There didn¡¯t seem to be any need for Arzen to add anything further. What caught his attention was the evaluation section. - A stylish summoner who never gives up until the end! Seeing that comment made Arzen chuckle to himself. He picked up the quill and added his own. - A Tolhaf sharpshooter who¡¯s incredible with at least one gun! The receptionist, after taking the completed report, handed him the final document along with his ID tag. ¡°Oh, and this document confirms that you¡¯ve qualified for the promotion test to Bronze rank!¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 50: Wintering (1) [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 50: Wintering (1) Arzen flung the windows wide open. The early winter chill quickly filled the room with a crisp coolness. He gazed out at the city, waking up amidst the dawn. Steam rose from the coffee he''d ordered through room service. With one hand on his side, Arzen arrogantly sipped his coffee, surveying the outside world. "Hahaha! Look at them! The cogs of society, heading to work with faces like ghouls on the brink of death! Meanwhile, I, the victorious one, am here on the 20th floor of the finest inn in Aurelinople, leisurely starting my day with the finest blend of coffee." At the moment, Arzen had a whopping 120 silver coins in his possession! A fortune that, by simple calculation, would take a commoner 120 days to save up, provided they neither ate nor drank. Arzen had amassed this sum over the fall alone. His life as an adventurer had been smooth sailing. ''That two-person coop... What an absolute scam! This place only charges six silver coins a day.'' It seemed money only provided pleasure when it was spent freely. Those who worried about the future and saved up were life''s losers. A true man didn''t concern himself with such things. Soon, the attendants brought in his breakfast through room service. In such a luxurious inn, there was no need to go downstairs to eat. "Your ''Es-Shi Fond Half-and-Half Chicken'' is served." At a top-tier inn like this, even the attendants wore formal uniforms, like butlers and maids. "Oh, and I''ll be checking out today." "Understood, sir. Please enjoy your meal." Es-Shi... what now? It was some half-and-half chicken dish made with ingredients and spices he couldn¡¯t even pronounce. ''They said one half was made with a meat-based sauce, and the other with a seafood-based one... But 50 silver coins for just six boneless pieces?'' No matter how he looked at it, it was a rip-off. With that kind of money, how many bowls of meat-packed stew could he get at the market? ''No! That kind of cost-effective thinking doesn''t suit a ruler! Stop it!'' Still, if he was being honest, he couldn¡¯t tell much difference in taste from market chicken. At times like this, he thought he might not be the type to indulge in luxury after all. After finishing his meal, Arzen started packing his belongings. It was his second day back from the Red Mountains. His ''Akahelu Skin Robe'' had gotten pretty torn up during his underground escape, so he planned to do some shopping today. ''Now then...'' If he wanted adventure gear, he¡¯d have to head toward the adventurers¡¯ guild area. Most shops fought to set up near there. However, in Aurelinople, the adventurers'' guild was in the central district, meaning the property fees or rent would be astronomical. ''If I go there, I¡¯ll probably end up paying a fortune for cheap gear.'' Arzen had asked a guild receptionist yesterday to recommend some shops that had good reviews from adventurers. "Welcome!" His first stop was the Aurelinople branch of Royal Armoring. It was an armor company founded by the Dwarf craftsman, Eimer, to rake in money from human society. The notable feature was that all the products came directly from the headquarters as finished goods. And, true to the perfectionist nature of Dwarves, their policy on exchanges and repairs was unparalleled. It was considered a mid-range brand. The so-called best value for money. "I''m looking for a leather-type robe." "Ah, that''s over there." The downside was that due to the price-fixing policy, costs were the same no matter where you went on the continent. In a major city like this, prices should normally be lower due to the free circulation of goods. Everything was accurately labeled on the price tags without any misleading ingredient listings. Thus, it seemed difficult for Arzen to leverage his advantages here. "Hmm, next..." He wandered far out of the central district and entered an alley as the northeastern district began to unfold. There was a small convenience store that looked like a hole-in-the-wall. Compared to Royal Armoring, the place looked even more shabby. ''This is a thrift shop!'' Adventurers often changed their armor as they grew. In the process, their old armor inevitably flowed into the second-hand market. These shops bought such armor, refurbished it, and sold it as if it were new. ''Of course, it¡¯s not truly new, though.'' An elderly woman was turning a sewing frame. An older man with glasses greeted Arzen. "What are you looking for?" "A leather-type robe." "We have plenty of good ones." The grandfather hummed an indecipherable tune while skillfully prodding the clothes rack with a metal rod, pulling out various garments. "Oh, oh, this is...!" "Hmm, is there something good?" "This is made from River Serpent leather! That insane ''B-'' rank monster! The material content must be over 50%, right?" In fact, to sell existing armor at a fair price, the also tried not to bring it to large cities unless necessary. In smaller towns, there was often no demand, meaning they couldn¡¯t sell at the right price. In contrast, large cities had many thrift shops willing to buy this armor, and there were also businesses that disassembled and recycled it. "How much is this?" "Hmm, let''s see... It''ll be one gold coin." Since the River Serpent was a ''B-'' rank monster that could only be captured by adventurers of gold rank or higher, the price of its byproducts was steep. ''They''re cunning and crafty; once a hunting party appears, they disappear without a trace, which makes adventurers hesitant to hunt them!'' For that reason, the leather was expensive. Moreover, it couldn¡¯t be easily cut with ordinary knives or scissors, which inflated the sewing costs even more. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ''What I mean is, one gold coin can actually be considered cheap!'' This level of premium leather could provide armor class protection comparable to chain mail. Of course, it would be a different story if it were made into chain mail from byproducts. "Old man, you¡¯re not going to hit me with any income tax or VAT on top of that, right? Just one gold coin?" "Hmm, of course not. But it seems like it was worn by a woman; is that alright? After all, you should judge clothes by how they fit." That was precisely why the length fit Arzen perfectly. The total length fell just above his ankles, and the sleeves covered the backs of his hands, providing even better protection. And since Arzen was still growing, it would fit him even better soon enough. It would be nice if he could dye it a dark green, but he decided against it; if the expensive leather got damaged, it would be a big problem. The elderly woman quietly working the sewing machine spoke up. "It''s pretty." Arzen was looking in the mirror and had the same thought. ¡®The dream I used to have, drooling over good equipment every time those guys from the made a purchase, is right here...!¡¯ In a society influenced by capitalism, equipment certainly justifies its cost¡ªthe more expensive, the better it is. ¡®In other words, it exudes a certain class!¡¯ If one were to glance only at his gear, Arzen might appear to be a silver-ranked adventurer. ¡°Here you go! Real gold coins! If you don¡¯t believe me, feel free to take a bite!¡± The grandfather received the single gold coin with both hands and, with a gentle smile, handed Arzen a few ginseng-flavored candies. ¡°Winter is coming, so take care not to catch a cold.¡± Perhaps this attitude was what made the shop popular; there was a warm, endearing feeling to it. ¡°Ah, are you selling this? I thought it might do well as second-hand after some repairs.¡± When the grandfather looked at the grandmother, she nodded her head. ¡°I could give you about ten silver coins for it.¡± Although it was bought for eighty silver coins, a price of one-eighth was fair considering the armor had become worn and tattered from all those battles. He guessed that the grandfather would probably sell it for around thirty to forty coins later. Arzen sold it right away. "Hehe." Feeling like he could fly, Arzen skipped out into the street. He had the odd sensation that the people passing by were watching him. It felt as though the entire world was focused solely on him. So he deliberately tried to strike a cool pose and walked with a serious demeanor. In reality, it wasn¡¯t like that, but such are the trivial thoughts of a teenage boy. ¡°Welcome!¡± Arzen returned to Royal Armoring. Dressed in expensive clothing, he sensed that the staff¡¯s responses were more courteous. Money equated to authority. He had come here to buy boots. Even so, buying used boots felt a bit off. They might carry odors and possibly even athlete''s foot. ¡®Ugh¡­ I bought that robe for almost a fraction of a fraction of its value, so paying full price for these boots is painful.¡¯ As he picked up and felt each pair of displayed boots, he pondered. The only footwear he could afford within his spending limit was a pair of all-purpose boots made from F-rank monster leather. Descriptions stated that plates were reinforced on the sole, back, and vamp, protecting his feet from various dangers. ¡°I¡¯ll take these.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll wear them right away, so no need for packaging.¡± ¡°Sure thing!¡± He sold his old, worn-out boots¡ªnow giving off a foul smell¡ªto the tanner for three silver coins. He felt grateful that someone was willing to buy them. Arzen headed to the docks to grab lunch. ¡®If I don¡¯t eat this half-and-half meat and shrimp stew, it doesn¡¯t feel like the day has started!¡¯ As he wore the River Serpent leather robe, he sensed the server¡¯s friendliness had increased. Money truly was king. Having savored every last drop of broth, Arzen sat quietly under the early winter sun, gazing blankly at the flowing river. ¡®Alright, now...¡¯ He planned to refrain from accepting combat requests for a while. Thus, he postponed his promotion test. But he needed to earn money. He had spent all his wealth except for three silver coins. ¡®If I had known it would turn out like this, I wouldn¡¯t have stayed at the best inn...¡¯ Although it wasn''t a combat request, a mission that allowed him to train his Void powers while earning money would be ideal. The Void power was increasingly demanding Arzen¡¯s focus. Unlike the Void insects, where earnings were stable, the details of Evakta''s power varied based on Arzen''s proficiency. ¡®Then again, considering that even the Void insects need daily training to increase their numbers, is it really any different?¡¯ In any case, the newly acquired Re Taripo also seemed to require some training. It would be good to have time to analyze its pros and cons thoroughly. ¡®However, it¡¯s better to stay in this area.¡¯ The Adrion continent beyond the sea had a desert-like climate, making the winters bitterly cold like the nights in the desert. He had heard that winter on the Akhrad continent was no joke either. He wanted to spend winter around the Red Mountains. After all, the Red Mountains kept the local climate warm year-round. ¡®Okay.¡¯ Finishing his thoughts, Arzen walked toward the central district. He scanned the request board at the guild branch and eventually moved to the counter to ask. ¡°Are there any requests that summoners can do to earn some pocket money?¡± ¡°A summoner, huh¡­ Let me check for a moment.¡± The male receptionist bent down and pulled out a few papers from under the counter. ¡°Well, depending on the type of summoning magic, it can vary greatly, so it¡¯s a bit hard to explain. Also, summoners are quite rare¡­¡± ¡°Hm.¡± ¡°However, recently¡­ Well, I say recently, but it was two years ago. Someone who received a request through our branch completed a logging request.¡± Logging? His eyes widened in realization. ¡®That¡¯s right, logging!¡¯ Logging would allow him to maximize the efficiency of Re Taripo and Evakta, and even Barolus, while also providing training opportunities. ¡°Is that request still available?¡± ¡°This request? Of course, it¡¯s not.¡± ¡°No, I meant a similar request.¡± ¡°Just a moment.¡± The receptionist soon spread a map out on the counter and placed the various request forms at their respective locations. ¡°If you want to take on a large-scale request, you¡¯ll need to go quite far. The western part of the empire is known as , and it always requires logging personnel due to the abundance of trees.¡± ¡°Something closer, then.¡± ¡°If you want something nearby, the village of in the southern region of is looking for logging personnel to prepare for the Grass Hut Festival.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°This request is for a maximum of two people, so it might be difficult if you have a party of three or more. The pay isn¡¯t great, but meals and lodging are provided.¡± ¡°Is it warm there during winter?¡± ¡°The region is next to the Red Mountains, so it stays warm. Not as warm as here, but still decent.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll take that one.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s see¡­ The requirements state that you need to be at least a bronze rank, but you have a certificate from the Witch Association registered, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°A certificate?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s issued only if you successfully complete a request commissioned by the Witch Association. The certificate is valid for six months.¡± ¡°!¡± ¡°With that, there shouldn¡¯t be a problem, as the person requesting the logging is also a witch. Just a moment, I¡¯ll stamp the request approval form for you.¡± Arzen soon left the guild branch with the stamped request approval form from the branch. ¡®My heart is racing...!¡¯ He was excited about what kind of adventure awaited him this time! ¡®Is this what the life of an adventurer is like!¡¯ Arzen began to run toward the docks. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 51: Wintering (2) [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 51: Wintering (2) Arzen made his way to the dock area and stopped a sailor to ask about his destination. ¡°*Marind* village? Well, to get there, you need to take the downward shuttle. Just a heads-up: if you take the express, it¡¯ll pass right by , so make sure to take the circular line.¡± At the circular line dock, the boarding procedures were already in progress. He was informed that the circular line only operated once a day. As he hurried to the ticket counter, the attendant shook her head. They were already at full capacity. At that moment, a young man approached him. ¡°Are you planning to take that boat? If so, would you like to buy my ticket? Something urgent came up, and I can¡¯t go.¡± Arzen felt a twinge of unease. It seemed like a kind offer, but in reality, the guy was in a hurry himself. He hated people who openly tried to deceive him more than anything else in the world. ¡°So you¡¯re saying if I don¡¯t buy it, you¡¯ll lose all your money, right?¡± ¡°Uh?¡± ¡°Then it has to be half price or I¡¯m not interested. Sorry, but I¡¯m currently unemployed and have plenty of time on my hands!¡± ¡°What are you saying? If you don¡¯t want it, I¡¯ll just find someone else.¡± ¡°Oh, can you really find someone else? The ship is about to set sail! The bell¡¯s about to ring!¡± The young man realized the situation and turned pale, but society is often cold, and capitalism is even colder. ¡°Ha ha ha! Thank you for going out of your way to get me a ticket at half price! Have a great day!¡± Thus, Arzen managed to buy the ticket at half price, using the underhanded tricks he learned from the ! ¡°Ugh¡­ Just you wait! I¡¯ll remember your face!¡± As the crew checked the tickets, one of the sailors tore the ticket in half and handed it back to him. This was to prevent double usage. Onboard, there was a diverse mix of people. There were adventurers who looked like swordsmen, tourists who appeared to be a couple, and many merchants. When it was the turn of the central lighthouse to give signals, the dock workers untied the ropes. The ship gradually drifted toward the river. Arzen leaned against the railing, savoring the scent of winter and the breeze that rushed across the surface of the water. He loved being on a ship. More specifically, he loved being on the water. Water was originally a symbol of bondage. There had been days when he couldn''t escape the , trapped by the vast ocean. However, the moment he could board a ship, water transformed from a symbol of restraint into a sign of freedom. He enjoyed the swift movement across the waves, traveling from one side to the other in an instant. He loved the rapidly changing scenery and the frothy white trails left in the ship¡¯s wake. ¡°Hey, how long until we reach village?¡± He asked a sailor who was folding the oars and setting the sails. The sailor replied in a disinterested tone, ¡°That¡¯s the last stop almost, you¡¯ll have to wait three days.¡± At that point, an elderly couple who looked like tourists chimed in. ¡°Oh my, you¡¯re going to ?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°The autumn festival just ended, didn¡¯t it? It won¡¯t be very beautiful right now. It¡¯s best to visit in the summer or autumn when it¡¯s lively.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going because I accepted a logging request. Is it a famous place?¡± ¡°Oh my, don¡¯t you know? It¡¯s really famous. It¡¯s the place where the hero party¡¯s breath still lingers. It¡¯s also known as a vacation spot where the Dragon Lord would often rest. The twilight and wine there are quite renowned.¡± The elderly couple continued sharing stories about village. They explained that is famous for its wine festival and is known as the origin of twilight flowers that bloom in the evening light. There are also many legends tied to historical figures, making it a bustling destination for tourists. These figures included members of the old hero party and the Dragon Lord. ¡°Oh, and it¡¯s also the place where the fiery Achillea visited during her youth. Even now, her charming figure is preserved in paintings.¡± ¡°!¡± ¡°However, if you want to buy wine that bears that painting as a label, it¡¯s a bit pricey. They add a significant premium.¡± So, this was a tourist spot where the wealthy gathered? ¡®Historical figures sure have a knack for making money! That kind of premium is ridiculous!¡¯ Arzen resolved that if he became famous, he would also put a premium on his very appearance. ¡®Fortunately, it doesn¡¯t seem to be tourist season right now. I wanted to spend the winter in a quiet place, and it looks like I¡¯ve hit the jackpot.¡¯ The structure of the circular line was a bit different from the ships that traversed the ocean. There weren¡¯t separate cabins; most of the ship was an open area. If the cold river breeze became too much, he could retreat inside to rest. While there were no beds, just seats, he could lie down as people gradually disembarked at each stop. Arzen went downstairs to the open area and spread out his scriptures. To draw out the full power of a miracle, he needed to memorize all its verses completely. Techniques like spell compression could only be used effectively when supported by complete memorization. ¡®The Void¡­ This miracle speaks entirely differently from the existing ones.¡¯ The key words in the Void miracle revolved around "disparity" or "enlightenment." While he could understand that disparity related to the power of the Void, he had no clue what enlightenment was truly asking for. ¡®What am I supposed to comprehend? I don¡¯t quite understand yet¡­¡¯ The nice thing about miracles is that if you don¡¯t get it, you can just shut up and memorize! ¡®Right now, I only know six verses. There isn¡¯t much to review¡­ but I can¡¯t suppress my excitement!¡¯ He wanted to experiment with the power of the Void as soon as possible. ¡®Especially with the new power I obtained, Explosive Evil!¡¯ He named it Explosive Evil because it exploded like a demon. No arguments accepted. As Arzen admired the riverside scenery, he would retreat inside when he got too cold and recite the miracle of the Void. He also reviewed everything he knew about Tersia¡¯s miracles. Thus, by the dawn of the third day, the shuttle reached village. * * * The crew first tied the ropes to the dock and lowered the gangway. Arzen jumped down onto the gangway, carefully checking the contract he had received again. The request came from the Green Witch of village. ¡®For this intermediary request, I should find the client first.¡¯ The village looked lively. It was impressive how the hills were turned into terraced vineyards. The village nestled snugly beneath those vineyards. A vast open space stretched from the dock to the village. A few shanties were set up in that area. Arzen stopped a woman who was saying goodbye to her husband at the dock and asked for directions to the witch''s hut. ¡°You just need to go to the hut between the vineyards.¡± The witch¡¯s hut stood alone near the terraced vineyards. The Green Witch was not only the village''s teacher and doctor but also its leader. It was only natural for the witch''s hut to be built in a location where it could overlook the entire village. As winter approached, Arzen crossed the bare vineyard and soon arrived at a cabin. A girl was coming from the opposite direction, her shoulders laden with branches. With a blank expression, she asked, ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°How unfortunate that you don¡¯t recognize me! I am Arzen, a future Bronze rank adventurer!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never heard that name before.¡± ¡°I said I¡¯m a future Bronze rank, didn¡¯t I?¡± ¡°That¡¯s completely unbelievable.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I thought a request would come in soon, so I was expecting someone. Please come inside.¡± Gasp¡­ Could she be a witch? Arzen felt a chill run down his spine. ¡®No, it can¡¯t be!¡¯ Witches didn¡¯t wear pointed hats or carry wands, right? He hadn¡¯t seen anything like that. And a witch wouldn¡¯t do such menial work as gathering firewood herself. If she had to, she could easily do it with telekinesis. ¡®Is my happy winter already leading me into trouble? No, don¡¯t panic! Opportunities only appear when you¡¯re not afraid!¡¯ Sweating profusely, he stepped inside the cabin, and his mind suddenly felt at ease. The air was filled with the bittersweet scent of herbs, the rich aroma of aged wood, and the dust of old books¡­ It was a comforting blend that soothed his soul. The girl unloaded the firewood from her shoulders into a box and washed her hands. Watching her was like sitting on pins and needles. ¡°Um¡­ Miss Witch? I must have misunderstood something¡­¡± ¡°Yes, but it¡¯s too late for apologies.¡± ¡°Ugh, I¡¯m sorry! Without the hat and wand, I just¡­¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m not a witch yet.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°You said you¡¯re a future Bronze rank, right? I¡¯m a future Green Witch. Aren¡¯t they the same?¡± The girl¡¯s blank expression twisted slightly into a smirk at the corners of her mouth. That expression had a strange power that evoked an overwhelming sense of shame in anyone who saw it. Arzen felt a surge of indignation. ¡°This little brat is treating an adult like a fool! I¡¯m an egalitarian who can knock out anyone¡ªman, woman, old, or young! Come here, you little squirt!¡± But the girl calmly turned her gaze into the cabin. ¡°Master, I just got back.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°A lumbering adventurer has come.¡± The girl stepped inside the cabin. Soon, a hunched old woman appeared. With the girl¡¯s support, the old woman used her other hand to lean on a cane, barely managing to shuffle along. ¡®She must be at least a hundred!¡¯ Her back was bent, and her face was filled with wrinkles. ¡°Who?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Arzen, Madam Witch!¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Arzen, revered Madam Witch!¡± ¡°Arzen?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Arzen!¡± ¡°Ah, Alzen!¡± Has she really gotten so old that her hearing is gone too? ¡®Ah, I don¡¯t want to grow old¡­¡¯ Arzen was horrified inside, but thanks to the survival skills he learned in the Divine Guillotine, he didn¡¯t show it at all. ¡°Welcome! So you want to date our Peggy, huh?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve heard that name.¡± So the girl¡¯s name is Peggy. ¡°Sit down! When a man loves a woman, he needs courage! Don¡¯t come asking for permission like this; you should make your move first!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t think it through and ended up like this¡­¡± ¡°You must be hungry! First, have some fruit! Do you like grapes?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never had them, but I think I would like them.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°I like them!¡± ¡°Great! The grapes harvested in the fall are right here! I¡¯ll wash them for you.¡± He wondered how she could wash the fruit with that body¡­ But as the old woman whispered a spell, water swirled around in an instant. Not a single grape fell from her grasp; it was an impressive display of magical control. ¡°Eat!¡± It was his first time tasting grapes. In truth, grapes were among the more expensive fruits. Wine, especially the high-end types, could be ridiculously pricey compared to beer or ale. As he hesitated, not knowing how to eat them, the girl plucked a grape and demonstrated. ¡°To eat a grape, you pull it gently from the stem. You can peel off the skin and just eat the inside. Chew once or twice to enjoy the juice, then swallow the whole thing.¡± At first, it felt awkward¡­ but it turned out to be simple. More than anything, it was delicious. Could such a sweet and tangy fruit exist? The way the grape slid down his throat was absolutely delightful. ¡°You¡¯ve eaten. That¡¯ll be 10 silver coins.¡± ¡°Are you crazy? Was that a forced sale?¡± ¡°Just kidding.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t suit your taste? Eat up!¡± ¡°It¡¯s delicious!¡± S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Good, but who are you again?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Arzen, Madam Witch.¡± ¡°Arzen?¡± ¡°Yes, Arzen!¡± It seemed easier to let her call him that than to argue each time. ¡°Alright, Arzen, eat as much as you want.¡± ¡°Madam Witch, weren¡¯t you nicknamed the ¡®Green Frog¡¯ in your youth?¡± ¡°Hmm? Are you asking for frog meat? I¡¯ll go catch one right away, so wait!¡± ¡°Grapes are enough! Thank you very much!¡± ¡°You¡¯re the first person to have a pleasant conversation with my master. Everyone else is terrified.¡± The girl suddenly broke into a smile. It was a type of smile that couldn¡¯t be expressed through her previous blank expression. ¡°Ah, I¡¯ve had to placate these trash for years, so this is like eating cold stew.¡± Talking to a hard-of-hearing old woman was as easy as picking your nose. And since she was giving him grapes right from the start instead of resorting to violence, it felt like he could dance while having this conversation. While Arzen enjoyed the grapes, the girl nodded disdainfully as she checked the request form. ¡°So you claimed to be a future Bronze rank, but in reality, you¡¯re just leftover scraps from the Steel rank.¡± ¡°Watch your mouth! I¡¯ve earned the qualifications for a promotion to Bronze rank in just six months! That¡¯s unprecedented, a super-fast promotion!¡± ¡°Pfft.¡± ¡°Pfft?¡± ¡°Even though I don¡¯t want to welcome a Steel rank, I have to say that on the occasion of your visit to our village.¡± ¡°Well, if it¡¯s just a formality, shouldn¡¯t you hide your true feelings?¡± ¡°Being honest is my virtue. After you finish all that, I¡¯ll tell you the location and details of the request.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 52: Wintering (3) [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 52: Wintering (3) When Arzen finished his meal, the girl guided him to the top of the vineyard. Normally, the vines would have been in the way, but it was winter, and they had all withered. Despite looking between eight and ten years old, the girl showed no sign of exhaustion as she climbed all the way to the top, indicating she was quite strong. "Here it is." The girl pointed to a sloped path. Unlike the slope on this side, the opposite slope was densely forested. As autumn passed and winter settled in, the trees had become bare and pale. Even so, the dense spacing of the trees made it deserving to be called a forest. There were only a few giant trees, and most were of a size where one could wrap their arms around them. "In winter, we need firewood, but especially now, before the Feast of Booths in December, we need a lot of wood for the booths." "Are you saying I can cut down all the trees from here to the bottom?" "It would be nice if you did, as we''re planning to expand the vineyard within three years. But don''t worry; we''re not expecting much from someone of your Steel grade." Arzen wasn''t angry. ¡®Provocations like that only sting when you''re really insignificant!¡¯ For someone like Arzen, whose future as a Gold grade was virtually guaranteed, there was no reason to react to such a taunt. "What did you just say, you brat?!" Of course, that''s what he thought, but in reality, it wasn¡¯t that simple. He had vowed not to tolerate anyone disrespecting him. "Just a joke. Well then, I¡¯ll leave it to you." "I heard lodging is included." "The hut is quite spacious. You can sleep there with us. Well then." As the girl hurried off into the distance, Arzen glared at her retreating figure before turning his gaze toward the forest. ¡®I like it.¡¯ The size of the tree trunks was just right. If they were too massive, it would be a hassle to deal with them afterward. Arzen opened the and recited the words of the first miracle. "Kaz tu Arcturas." Buuuuuuuum¡­¡­! The familiar hum of the Void insects began. They had become such a routine part of his life that they no longer felt strange. ¡®Now that the total number of summoned insects has reached 80, the summoning speed is noticeably faster!¡¯ He wished he could summon them all at once, though. Arzen smiled. He had a feeling that such power was another miracle hidden somewhere within the "Ughhhhhh¡­!" Though he felt the backlash twisting his internal organs, he maintained his power. ¡®This feeling, yes, this is it.¡¯ The sensation of forcibly connecting the Void dimension to this space... It was his training regimen for summoning the Void insects. Buuuuuuum¡­¡­! He had already planned his training routine on the river path here. The first task was to increase the number of Void insects. His goal was to add one more every day, except on holidays. ¡®Since I plan to stay until spring, the ideal number would be between 60 and 80 insects¡­.¡¯ In other words, he would double the current fleet. "Alright, another success¡­!" After about an hour of struggling, another Void insect emerged. A worker bee diligently cleaned the steam-like or moisture-like Void substance covering the new Void insect''s entire body. It seemed to be a customary ritual when a Void insect multiplied. It felt oddly satisfying, like a queen performing a knighthood ceremony. "Alright, let¡¯s start with the new technique! " Ten Void insects fused, producing a new fragment of power. The very form and presence of this creation seemed so alien to the principles of life that any living creature would feel an instinctive aversion to it. This was evidenced by the abrupt silence of the birds that had been flying over the forest moments before. "Go! Today''s goal is five trees, no more, no less!" The fused creature, , floated toward its target with a slow flap of wings that resembled the rise of a bloated entity. As Arzen had noted during his underground escape, was quite slow. In fact, it was the slowest of all his fused creatures. It seemed that its speed had been heavily sacrificed for power. ¡®If represents a well-balanced fusion, this one feels like the scales are tipped entirely toward strength.¡¯ However, the chosen power was flawless. The moment touched the tree trunk, there was a silent explosion, transforming into a gaping maw of consumption. It devoured everything, as if pulling it into a soundless, traceless void. Crack... SNAP! The tree¡¯s trunk snapped in an instant, causing it to slide and fall sideways. If the surrounding trees hadn¡¯t supported it, it would have tumbled far down the slope. Arzen was once again pleased with the power of . ¡°Ha, ha, haha! This is amazing! Absolutely perfect! It completely compensates for the Void insects'' weakness to inorganic materials!¡± If was a widespread storm, compressed that power and unleashed it with precision. But something had changed with this advanced fusion creature. ¡®*Pvoaki* is not controlled by the worker bee, but by me!¡¯ Just like with . ¡®In chaotic battles, it¡¯s useful when the worker bee can assist with small tasks...¡¯ Perhaps had ceased to be a Void insect entirely. It might be that even within the Void¡¯s entities, there was a hierarchy, and these beings refused to take orders from worker bees. The thought of these creatures, now grown larger, disregarding the worker bees sparked a momentary surge of anger. But Arzen was convinced that there was no such petty hierarchy among the Void¡¯s servants. ¡®Regardless, it''s perfect. Throughout this winter, I¡¯ll be able to grow several times stronger just from this logging work. Safely, too.¡¯ Safety¡ªthat was the most important thing. After experiencing the threat of being buried alive in the tunnels, Arzen had resolved not to set foot in life-threatening situations for a while. ¡®Gaining power to survive the Helci assassination team is one thing, but if I die while gaining strength, that defeats the purpose.¡¯ As he had always said, Arzen disliked pushing himself into deadly situations just to achieve victory. He preferred battles that he was certain to win. ¡®The solution to winning without looking pathetic is simple!¡¯ Become overwhelmingly strong. And the Void certainly had the potential to grant him such overwhelming power. ¡°Second , charge!¡± The second flapped its bat-like wings and charged at the tree. Once again, the explosion¡¯s range was consumed by an unseen force, leaving no trace behind. When Arzen first summoned the Void insects, they left nothing behind except for the clean skin of the creatures they attacked. ¡®Uncle Ulman was so impressed when he saw how cleanly the flesh and skin were separated for the first time,¡¯ he recalled. Ulman had even joked that Arzen could make a fortune as a dismantler if he ever went down that path. ¡®The power of the Void is truly strange¡­¡¯ Indeed, its strength lay in its mysteriousness. There likely weren¡¯t many humans capable of withstanding this power. Arzen¡¯s confidence grew, and his mood lifted. ¡°*Pvoaki* 3rd unit, charge!¡± ¡°*Pvoaki* 4th unit, strike!¡± ¡°*Pvoaki* 5th unit, attack!¡± Just from the first day of testing, he learned a great deal. One thing was the manifestation time of . It wasn¡¯t particularly long. Of course, it lasted much longer than or , but maintaining it for extended periods rapidly drained his energy, causing dizziness to surge. ¡®*War Hornets* were three times the size of , but its movements were much clumsier, and it ran out of energy quickly¡­¡¯ Perhaps the amount of energy consumed by Void summons was proportional to their mass. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡®And even if the manifestation time runs out and they disappear, the energy doesn¡¯t come back.¡¯ It was a powerful force, but he realized he would need to be mindful of timing and use it wisely. ¡°*Evakta!*¡± The next training involved testing ''s manifestation time and improving its mobility. After handling the power of the Void for about half a year, Arzen realized that this power was just like his body. Just as muscles and stamina grow through training and overexertion, the power of his summoned creatures worked the same way. ¡°Bring that tree over.¡± ¡¯s movements were guided by Arzen¡¯s fingertips. He extended both hands, and¡­ as the vines coiled around the target, he clapped his hands together. Immediately, the Void plant monster ensnared the tree in an instant. Arzen then spun his clasped hands above his head and forcefully swung them down behind him. mirrored his movements exactly. The first tree it had felled was now securely placed at the top of a hill. ¡°Phew¡­ nice!¡± When ¡¯s clapping ability was used with a twist, it not only enhanced its binding strength but also released the Void¡¯s unique acidic substance. Of course, he didn¡¯t need that feature right now, so he didn¡¯t use it. This is why he set a goal of felling five trees per day. ¡®The ultimate goal is for to be able to perform this task five times a day throughout the winter!¡¯ Pushing beyond that would lead to exhaustion and cause his body to collapse. After using a third time, Arzen took a brief break. His control slipped, causing the tree to roll back down the other side of the forested slope. Rather than being frustrated by his clumsiness, he found joy in knowing that he still had room to grow. ¡®Hmm¡­ four trees might be the limit for the first day.¡¯ As expected, by the time he had piled four trees neatly at the top of the hill, dusk was settling in. Arzen himself was completely drained. ¡®Ah, wait¡­!¡¯ At that point, Arzen realized he needed to revise his plan a little. He had to transport the trees to the village, and if he used all his energy on felling them, it wouldn¡¯t be feasible. From tomorrow on, he decided to allocate his energy¡ªif he defined his total daily capacity as 100, then 50 would be for felling trees and 50 for transporting them. "Are you done?" A voice came from somewhere. A girl dressed in herbalist¡¯s attire stood nearby. Both her hands and feet were caked in dirt. "Yeah, can you see? Four of them! Doesn¡¯t this Arzen seem pretty impressive now?" "Yes, very impressive." "Heh, I like your honesty." "I was joking, but seeing you giggling like that is quite amusing." "You little¡­ , never mind. What¡¯s for dinner today?" "Twilight grass porridge. It¡¯s made from the roots of twilight grass, which promotes digestion and enhances memory function." The Blue Witches were known for their exceptional knowledge of practical matters. This girl, being an apprentice witch, would soon be the same. She looked like she was only around ten years old, but she already showed great promise. "Heh, you¡¯re quite devoted to the witch, aren¡¯t you? Well, porridge sounds good after a hard day''s work." As they continued their light-hearted chatter, they arrived at the cabin before they knew it. "Hey, Peggy! I¡¯m going to wash up first, so make sure the porridge is delicious. And for the record, I don¡¯t eat anything that doesn¡¯t taste good." At that, the girl flinched slightly. She then lowered her gaze with a strangely cold yet somewhat sorrowful expression and responded quietly. "My name is not Peggy." "Don¡¯t be ridiculous! The witch called you that earlier." "That is the name of my older sister." "Heh! Now¡¯s the time to say you¡¯re joking, right?" "This is the truth." "Really? Ah, makes sense. The witch is too old, and you¡¯re too young. So, where is she?" To flatter someone properly, you first have to understand who holds the real power. It was likely not the deaf old witch or this cheeky little girl but rather her older sister who held sway over the village. However, the girl''s next words were quite shocking. They were the first hint of the sinister force that had quietly taken root in this seemingly peaceful village. "She passed away five years ago. Just like the three sisters before her." [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 53: Wintering (4) [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 53: Wintering (4) The witch''s cabin was heated by adding firewood to the furnace, which also warmed the interior and the bath. ''Maybe it''s because I''m used to staying at places with boilers? It''s a bit inconvenient that someone has to add firewood when the bath cools down.'' Still, it felt wrong to ask the little girl, who was already preparing meals, to handle this as well. ''Wait, I''m a Summoner. The noblest of the noble!'' Arzen figured out a trick using the Void Bugs. He made the Void Bugs throw more firewood into the furnace. The worker bee performed the task flawlessly. After finishing a warm bath without the water cooling even once, Arzen stepped out just as the girl was moving a pot onto the table. "Oh, this... smells amazing!" "I used scorched rice with turmeric powder. Master has trouble digesting, so rice is better suited to her body than wheat." "Rice, huh? I''ve been wanting to try it." The northern and western parts of the Empire, as well as the Iron Islands, were famous for their rice-based cultures. Since rice was their staple, a food culture completely different from wheat-based cultures had developed. This scorched rice dish was famous in the northern Empire. "I¡¯ll bring Master." The girl soon knocked on the witch''s workshop and went inside. After a few instances of loud yelling, typical of someone hard of hearing, the witch appeared, supported by the girl. Arzen quickly stood up and pulled out a chair for the witch to sit in. "Arfen, have you eaten?" "I''m about to. And it''s Arzen." "Eat a lot! At your age, you need to eat plenty to grow." As part of his efforts to gain favor, Arzen grabbed the ladle. When the girl sat down after seating the witch at the head of the table, both folded their hands quietly. Arzen also clasped his hands and closed his eyes. "Father of Light, we thank you for providing us with our daily bread today." "......" "Please bless Eren, who has prepared this meal with care, and bestow the grace of the Light upon Arzen, who has joined us today through a new connection." "......" "All glory and radiance belong to You, Father of Light, Dursiel." Something felt... strange. During the prayer, the witch, oddly enough, didn¡¯t shout. Instead, she clearly pronounced both Arzen''s and the girl¡¯s names, as if her senses had returned. ''Could she be pretending to be hard of hearing? I¡¯ll need to be more cautious!'' However, as the meal started, the witch sloppily ate her porridge. Each time, the girl wiped the witch¡¯s mouth with a tissue. Amidst this, the witch yelled at Arzen, "Eat more!" She even scooped more porridge from her bowl into Arzen''s. If he kept receiving more, he felt his stomach might burst. ''This situation itself is... strange. No, not strange¡ªfamiliar?'' It was because this sad, mundane scene was reminiscent of the year his mother had fallen ill and died. "......" Now that he thought about it, his sick mother had also never skipped her pre-meal prayers. "I¡¯ll clean up. You can use the guest room to the left of the kitchen. I''ve laid out bedding on the bed, and there''s a desk as well." The girl then helped the witch back to her workshop after they finished the meal. Arzen felt strangely unable to easily get up. Normally, he would¡¯ve just said, ¡°Lucky~¡± and headed to his room to reflect on the day¡¯s training and rest up for tomorrow. However, there was something about the companionship between the witch, who was nearing the end of her life, and the young girl, who had only just reached the starting line¡­ It felt almost sacred, something he couldn¡¯t treat lightly. ¡®No, maybe it¡¯s not something sacred¡­¡¯ The boy might have been remembering the despair he felt the year his mother passed, when no one came to help. ¡®Hmm, maybe I¡¯ll train the Void Bugs.¡¯ Arzen summoned the Void Bugs. With his current energy, he could summon up to five without feeling dizzy, and that was enough. The Void Bugs devoured the food scraps, even cleaning up the burnt rice residue stuck to the bottom of the pot. ¡®Yes, this is Void Bug training. No, it¡¯s favor-building! This is just a task to get into the client¡¯s good graces. Nothing more!¡¯ All that was left for Arzen to do was wipe things down with salt water. He¡¯d already done hard labor like this back in the Divine Guillotine days, where his hands blistered and even tore open. The cold water didn¡¯t particularly feel painful. Since the difficult parts were taken care of by the Void Bugs, the rest was simple. With only three people, there weren¡¯t many dishes to clean. By the time the girl emerged from the workshop, the washing up was nearly done. ¡°If you don¡¯t clean the dishes thoroughly, there will be hygiene issues. Master¡¯s body is sensitive to hygiene, so you¡¯ll have to redo it.¡± ¡°Hah! Really now? Do you really think you can clean better than me, Arzen? Look at these plates! Gleaming and shiny!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The girl inspected the pot, and her expression quickly shifted. At first, it was disbelief, but soon turned to surprise. ¡°Wow, how did you¡­?¡± It was the first time such genuine amazement came from the girl¡¯s mouth, and Arzen was quite pleased. His lips curled up in satisfaction. ¡°Ha! So, it turns out you were bad at dishwashing! Go tell the witch that from now on, I¡¯ll handle all the dishwashing. Make sure you add that ever since Arzen took over, daily life¡¯s gotten a lot easier!¡± ¡°I see you had some ulterior motives. Just kidding.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t sound like a joke to me.¡± ¡°Well, if that¡¯s how you feel, I can¡¯t help it¡­¡± The girl suddenly let out a faint chuckle. Her smile was always like that¡ªsubtle and soft. ¡°But really, it¡¯s much easier now. This way, I¡¯ll have more time to study.¡± It was as though she was telling herself not to laugh, just like Arzen used to do. ¡°Fine, I¡¯m going to rest too, so don¡¯t be noisy.¡± Arzen entered the guest room next to the kitchen. The room was cozy. There was a bed, a desk, and a bookshelf. It seemed like herbs had been stored there before, as the scent of herbs lingered in the room¡ªa pleasant smell. Arzen lay down on the bed. It was incredibly soft, as if made from feathers. ¡®It feels like¡­ a full day.¡¯ Had he been missing human conversation? When traveling between the Red Mountains and Aurelinople, after checking into an inn and ending the day, the silence would envelop him like a heavy shroud. But now, something felt¡­ fulfilling. ¡®I¡¯m not sure why¡­¡¯ Arzen soon fell asleep, and unexpectedly, he dreamt of something he missed dearly. His mother, who often couldn¡¯t sleep due to her illness, would stay up late reading the scriptures. While he liked watching her do that, he could never understand it. ¡®Why does the Light of Creation only bring her pain, even though she¡¯s so devout?¡¯ It made no sense to him. That was also the moment he swore he would never depend on a god. The chill of tears in the dream slowly brought him back to consciousness. The song he heard in the winter forest wasn¡¯t from insects but from owls. He also heard faint voices through the crack in the door. Peeking out, he found the voices were coming from the witch¡¯s workshop. Through the gap, he saw the witch and the girl sitting across from each other at a desk, reciting a spell. The witch would first read out a passage, showing the girl the proper pronunciation, and the girl would then repeat it, gradually mastering it. When the girl repeated the passage well, the witch smiled with satisfaction... and the girl, though calm, smiled brightly as well. That peaceful scene overlapped with a memory from a time before sorrow cast its shadow over the boy¡¯s life. ¡®Maybe I should start bringing in firewood tomorrow¡­¡¯ After all, chopping wood would naturally yield firewood. If he had the Void Bugs help, there wouldn¡¯t be much effort involved. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the end, this was just another task to build favor. If he not only did the dishes but also brought firewood, the witch¡¯s evaluation of him would surely rise. ¡®I¡¯m not doing this for their sake. It¡¯s just a practical choice that benefits me¡­¡¯ --- ¡°Priestess, the barrier is about to break!¡± In the depths of that land of oblivion, deeper than the sea itself¡­ the ocean trembled. The ancient sea, which sought to engulf the current waters, raged with ferocious storms and waves, violent and merciless. If it weren¡¯t for Priestess Serna and the witches under her command putting all their strength into maintaining the barrier, this ship would¡¯ve already been swallowed. ¡°Master, what¡¯s happening?¡± Yuz shouted. Her hair and clothes were soaked by the rampaging sea. The winter ocean roared with freezing cold, and all the witches were trembling from the extreme chill. ¡°We accounted for all risks when we chose this coastal route, not far from land¡­!¡± The wedge carrier was en route from to , sailing along the coast with the Papal Office as its destination. The fastest route through the open sea was rejected due to the unknown dangers lurking there. The land route, while also perilous, was far too slow and was similarly dismissed. Thus, they had chosen this coastal path. But now, even here, they were facing such danger¡­? ¡°Wait, what is that?¡± One of the witches suddenly shouted. Something¡­ something that made the hair on everyone¡¯s neck stand on end¡­ was moving on the dark horizon. ¡°What, what is that?!¡± Even if they saw it, explaining the writhing mass of shapes was impossible. It was a fragment of madness. A manifestation of the king that had once ruled the ancient sea, before the dawn of time. ¡°Abandon the ship! Each of you, take the captain and sailors, and fly up on your brooms!¡± Priestess Serna shouted urgently. The barrier was on the verge of breaking, so there was no choice, but it was a decision that was driving them toward disaster. As soon as the witches took to the sky on their brooms... the tendrils of madness surged up from the depths of the sea. "This, this is... Aaaah! No! Help me!" The witches caught by the ancient frenzy were dragged into the deep ocean, their dying screams echoing in the air. "This can''t be¡­" Serna unleashed a torrent of flames that exploded above the water¡¯s surface. ¡¾Hehehehehehahaha...¡¿ From within those flames... Beneath the foul and murky water... Hundreds of eyes stared directly at her. ¡¾I can feel... the madness in your soul...¡¿ Blink, blink, blinkblinkblinkblinkblinkblink...! The eyes were not only eyes¡ªthey were also transmitters of an ancient dream, an embodiment of madness. The voice of the king reverberated directly in Serna¡¯s mind. No mortal comprehension could withstand such overwhelming wisdom and knowledge, and it was only natural for the mind to label it as madness. The moment the absolute insanity made contact with her brain, Priestess Serna¡¯s head exploded. "Ma-Master©¤©¤©¤©¤!" Yuz screamed in shock. Fragments of her master''s skull had embedded themselves in her cheek. ¡°Aaaaahhhh!¡± Letting out a scream that couldn¡¯t even express her grief, Yuz sharply turned the course of her broom. Her master''s headless body wobbled a few times on the broom before plummeting toward the ocean. Unable to bear the sight of her master''s body being consumed by the unknown abyssal entity, Yuz acted instinctively. "No, Yuz! Come back!" Grand Witch Ceylon called out in desperation. Yuz, Serna¡¯s first direct disciple and second-in-command of this convoy, was caught in a moment of despair. Even in that moment, the night of madness continued. The rampaging tendrils continued to drag witches into the sea, one by one. Yuz deftly maneuvered her broom to dodge the tendrils and caught her master¡¯s body. "This¡­ I can¡¯t¡­ I won¡¯t give this up!" What Yuz clutched in her arms wasn¡¯t just her master¡¯s remains¡ªit was also the Abyssal Wedge. ¡®The fact that this corrupted power is enough to shake the very ocean proves how important it is.¡¯ Only five witches remained alive. But even in the face of annihilation, they remained faithful to their mission. The surviving witches began chanting incantations, ensuring Yuz could escape with the wedge. ¡°Protect Yuz! Stop those tendrils from reaching her!¡± Though powerless to resist the ancient madness, their desperate efforts managed to grant Yuz a brief reprieve from the frenzy. The price, however, was their lives. Yuz pressed forward at full speed, gasping for breath. Her gasps were laced with sobs. ¡¾Do not fear... hehehehahahaha...¡¿ The silence of the sea and the absence of any voices confirmed that the other witches were all dead. She dared not look back. ¡®But I can feel it.¡¯ Her skin convulsed. Her brain felt like it would explode. Yuz could feel the ancient madness chasing her, closing in right behind. ¡¾I will grant you the honor of becoming the incense of my kingdom, deep within this ocean...¡¿ Yuz made a choice. To escape the relentless pursuit, she had to let go of one of the two burdens currently weighing down her broom. With a cry that refused to become a full sob, she let go of her master¡¯s remains, keeping only the Abyssal Wedge as the body plummeted into the sea. ¡®I have to deliver this. If I can just get this to the three DragonLords... everyone¡¯s deaths won¡¯t be in vain!¡¯ She justified her choice to herself. She soothed her grief this way. But... Even so... At the very moment when all her will, life, and resolve were about to be dragged into the madness... ¡¾!¡¿ A radiance descended. In the shape of blades, the brilliance tore through the storm clouds above and plunged down to the sea. One, two, three, four... in total, seven. A dazzling cascade of lightning bolts descended, quelling the storms, the tidal waves, death, madness, and screams alike. ¡¾.......¡¿ The ancient madness let out a displeased murmur. And soon... The presence that had stretched its tendrils of madness into every corner of Yuz''s mind faded, and the sea grew calm once again. Yuz let out a sigh of relief. The darkness was being driven away, and light was approaching from the sky. "Ah..." Yes, it was light. One of the three legacies left on this land by the Dragon Lord, much like Akirea of the Crimson Flame. The era called that light Setsunen of the Thunder''s Echo. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 54: Wintering(5) [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 54: Wintering(5) Arzen left the cabin early the next morning. The girl, who had studied late into the night, was still asleep next to the witch. Quietly slipping out of the cabin, Arzen sprinted to the top of the vineyard hill. ¡°Stamina is important. Plus, it¡¯s quite cold, so I might as well warm up¡­¡± Despite being influenced by the Red Mountain Range, the dawn and early morning were still rather chilly. White breath escaped from Arzen''s lips. After extracting the maximum power from her void insects according to her usual training routine, she pushed beyond her limits. ¡°I should be good for about two hours now.¡± As she was assigning a new void insect to the squad, she didn¡¯t feel the cold much due to the warmth radiating from her body. ¡°But if I had known this would happen, I should have bought some fur clothes at Aurelinople¡­¡± About two hours had passed, so it was now late morning. It was roughly around 9 or 10 AM. Most people were probably awake now, so it would be alright to make some noise. ¡°Re Taripo!¡± The fusion of ten void insects soon created a demon of destruction that violently devoured everything in its path. As the first void insect heeded Arzen''s command, it soared towards its target. When she intentionally induced a misalignment in her aim, the explosion of the void swallowed half of the beam. The tree split with a cracking sound as it fell sideways. ¡°It reacts quite sensitively to my aim correction¡­ I like it.¡± However, she didn¡¯t intend to have the trees roll over like yesterday. Given how the supporting trees creaked, it would be quite troublesome if a landslide occurred. Thus, she decided to catch the tree before that could happen. ¡°Evakta.¡± This seemed like a good training exercise to use Evakta quickly and accurately in a crisis. Though it was her own idea, she couldn¡¯t help but praise herself. Of course, it was more challenging than she expected. ¡°I need three stages of timing. First, there¡¯s the time needed to cast Evakta, and then there¡¯s the time for the void vines to advance¡­¡± Controlling the vines to grasp the trees also required additional time. ¡°Once I can execute this process perfectly, Evakta will finally be mine!¡± Using the first Evakta, Arzen lifted a tree and stacked it atop the pile from yesterday. ¡°Su Ja Heros! Pruning!¡± During the process, she used the powerful jaws of her void insects to neatly trim the branches. She had the larger void insects gather the branches that had broken and fallen the previous day. Having received nutrients from the trees just yesterday, they made for excellent firewood. ¡°That¡¯s one down¡­!¡± She felled a second tree, following a similar process. Seeing those sizable trees stacked in a 3-2-1 order filled her with pride. She planned to move these to the village today. The trees were needed for the clearing where the market was located. ¡°Barolus.¡± She couldn¡¯t neglect her training in handling Knight Faces. The moment the demon''s hand lifted the bundle of trees, she looped the thick rope she had brought from the cabin downwards. Once the Knight Face disappeared and the trees were about to tumble, she meticulously tied them up with the assistance of her void insects. ¡°If I can tie up three trees three times each, that would be ideal, but¡­¡± Barolus had settled for a compromise, deciding to bundle things in pairs since two attempts were his limit. ¡°Okay, but how am I supposed to move this?¡± Arzen plopped down in front of the wooden bundle, panting heavily. Both his stamina and energy were depleted, making recovery slow. ¡°The vineyard isn¡¯t a steep slope, but it does have some incline¡­¡± If he wasn¡¯t careful, he might end up damaging the entire vineyard, which would lead to being held accountable. Grapes were expensive. However, using either Barolus or Evakta wasn¡¯t feasible since neither could be summoned for a long period. Just as he was feeling at a loss, he suddenly heard voices from across the way. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re really doing it.¡± ¡°Wow, you¡¯ve already done six of them!¡± A middle-aged man and a young man appeared, pulling a cart. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t Eren tell you? They¡¯re coming to move the wood.¡± The name he had heard during yesterday¡¯s prayer didn¡¯t seem to confuse the witch; it was the girl¡¯s actual name. ¡°They said a kid was coming alone, and all the wives were worried, but it turns out we should¡¯ve been worried about the forest instead! I¡¯m Dave. I¡¯ll rely on you until the logging is done.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Tom. I¡¯m his son. By the way, you really look young. How old are you?¡± ¡°Fifteen.¡± ¡°They say you¡¯re a magician?¡± ¡°Sort of.¡± ¡°What do you mean, ¡®sort of¡¯ a magician?¡± ¡°You¡¯re a funny one. I like you. With that cute face, the girls must go wild when they see you. When you come to the village, cover your face. If you keep the village boys from marrying, it¡¯ll be a big problem.¡± ¡°Heh, I¡¯ll think about it.¡± The men seemed familiar with this kind of work. The way Arzen secured the tied wood onto the cart looked practiced. Arzen asked, ¡°So how are you going to take this down?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a path through the vineyard. It winds down, but it¡¯s a gentle slope. The direct route from the cabin to here is a shortcut.¡± ¡°Oh, I see.¡± Well, there must have been logging work in the past. ¡°How many times do we need to come here?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s keep it easy. Just come once a day. We¡¯ll bundle everything up like that.¡± ¡°Hahaha! This kid is something else! Thinking about adult matters at that age. It¡¯s not easy to be so sharp at your age.¡± Dave and Tom waved goodbye to Arzen as they settled on the wood in the cart and headed back the way they came. Arzen looked up at the sky. Three suns hung slightly askew in the midday sky. As winter deepened, the days grew shorter. ¡°Hm.¡± Arzen glanced at the forest. Many trees still stood densely packed. He then turned to see the witch''s cabin and the village. It seemed like it would be a long and enjoyable winter. Completely different from the winters the boy had experienced until now. * * * Two weeks had passed since Arzen arrived in the village. During that time, his Void Insect squad had increased to 90 units. And he was gradually getting accustomed to the control techniques of Re Taripo. Like Evakta, pointing at a target with his hand significantly increased the speed beyond the usual. ¡°Of course, being naturally larger means it¡¯s slower and has a shorter maximum flight distance.¡± This drawback indicated that there was still much room for research. He had often wondered whether he could control the explosion. Using the experience he gained from Evakta, he tried various actions before the projectile landed. ¡°Hmm?¡± At that moment, when he clenched his fist, he witnessed the explosion occurring before the projectile hit. The action of clenching his fist had triggered the explosion. He tried to apply the same method to Evakta, but it was futile. Evakta required two hands to control, which meant he couldn''t hold the sacred text. ¡°No, there has to be a way. Let¡¯s keep training.¡± * * * ¡°Arzen oppa!¡± ¡°Big brother!¡± ¡°Yes, yes, I¡¯m your older brother. Worship me more!¡± Arzen had become quite close with the villagers. He bonded fastest with the children. These kids came to the cabin every weekday for lunch to learn to read. ¡°Witch, I¡¯m here!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°I said I finished my work.¡± ¡°Are you hungry? Wait a moment!¡± The witch was too elderly, so Eren taught the children instead. Eren had an unusually mature demeanor for her age, and both younger and older kids followed her well. Of course, Eren was the one Arzen had become closest to in this village. Living together and sharing meals three times a day naturally led to a bond. ¡°But those guys from the ¡ªdid they ever feel any affection for someone like me?¡± It was hard to believe that those irredeemable trash with such twisted hearts existed. ¡°Follow me.¡± Whenever there was something to do in the village, Eren took Arzen along. Of course, Arzen was not one to be easily ordered around. ¡°Say, ¡®Please follow me.¡¯¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll run away starting today, and I¡¯ll leave all the witch¡¯s care to you, Arzen.¡± ¡°Do you think I¡¯m scared? I should probably say, ¡®Just kidding!¡¯¡± ¡°I¡¯m serious. If the witch dies due to your negligence, the Witch Association will hunt you down until you die. So long!¡± ¡°Ha! Can¡¯t I even make a joke? It¡¯s just a joke~ Just tell me where you¡¯re going. I¡¯ll help with anything.¡± Whenever Arzen tried to tease him, Eren countered with even worse jokes to keep Arzen in check. ¡°Your scheming abilities are on par with, or even surpass mine... Eren, you¡¯re definitely going to be the ultimate schemer.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t feel even the slightest bit happy to receive such praise.¡± As Dave said, whenever Arzen came down, the village women went wild. ¡°Oh my, it¡¯s Arzen!¡± ¡°Arzen!¡± Some girls even came to the logging site to watch or bring her lunch. But while saying this might be quite rude, the age range of the women was uneven and extreme. They were either teenage girls like Eren or middle-aged women in their 40s to 50s. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡®So-called older sister types were extremely rare!¡¯ At first, he thought it was just a phenomenon common in rural areas, marked by an aging population. However, it seemed unlikely that the village of would experience such a decline, as it was a famous tourist destination with many job opportunities. The village was so large that it had facilities like a blacksmith and convenience stores. When Arzen asked why, Eren scolded him. ¡°Stop scanning the ages of the women and just carry the load properly. You look pathetic.¡± ¡°Are you really jealous? Is Arzen¡¯s attention being diverted to another woman?¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°You fool! A face genius like me is a public resource. If anyone tries to monopolize it, a fight will break out.¡± In fact, the had attempted to monopolize Arzen, leading to bloodshed because the Abyss grew jealous. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m jealous.¡± ¡°Whoa, really?¡± ¡°Just kidding.¡± ¡°You jerk.¡± Seeing Arzen¡¯s reaction, Eren smiled faintly. ¡°Actually, this village has a local disease.¡± ¡°Local disease?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a disease that only affects young and beautiful women. They quickly lose their vitality and suddenly die. My dear mentors all died that way.¡± Arzen took a step back in shock. ¡°W-what kind of disease is that? Is this some kind of haunted village? Are you trying to scare me? Hehe, I know it¡¯s just a joke. Now would be the time to say, ¡®Just kidding!¡¯¡± ¡°So, young women are increasingly marrying to the neighboring village or moving to the city. Meanwhile, women from other villages do not come to marry here.¡± ¡°???¡± ¡°As a result, young men are also leaving for the city, and the village is slowly dying.¡± ¡°Is that really true?¡± ¡°Those kids coming to learn to read might be the last generation.¡± The way Eren spoke made his back seem somewhat lonely. By the time their conversation ended, they had arrived at the cabin. Eren opened the door first, allowing Arzen, who was carrying the ingredients, to enter. Since they always ate rice-based meals, exotic dishes appeared on the table quite often. Today, it was ¡°Freshwater Shrimp Olive Risotto.¡± ¡°Oh, delicious!¡± While risotto alone might lack texture, the shrimp added a crunchy and crispy complement. It also added a nutty flavor. ¡°Eat a lot! You need to eat well to grow tall!¡± ¡°Witch, you should eat a lot too. You¡¯re shorter than me.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Arzen had developed a strategy to deal with the witch, who always served him food. Whenever the witch served him, Arzen would also serve the same amount to her. This way, the ratio of food served was perfectly balanced. Arzen wouldn¡¯t overeat, and Eren wouldn¡¯t need to serve more food for the witch. ¡°Why are you giving me more? I¡¯m full!¡± ¡°I¡¯m full too.¡± It was such a simple daily routine, but Arzen enjoyed it. Having someone to greet him when he returned from work felt nice. He usually finished dinner and fell asleep feeling good, but that night, Arzen tossed and turned in bed. ¡°A local disease that only affects young women? Does such a thing exist?¡± It was absurd nonsense. He had never heard of it. ¡°But if it¡¯s real¡­ what would happen?¡± Even if the other girls left this village, what about Eren? ¡°Would Eren really leave the witch alone here and depart?¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 55: Wintering (6) [Translator - Kiteretsu][Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 55: Wintering (6) The change in daily life began three weeks after arriving in the village. As usual, Arzen was felling trees with Pvoaki and stacking them with Evakta when suddenly a loud scolding rang out. ¡°Peggy, you little rascal! Didn¡¯t I tell you that you can¡¯t cast spells carelessly? Huh?¡± Startled, Arzen turned around to see the witch approaching, leaning on her staff. This area was steep; one wrong step could lead to serious injury. At her age, she could very well die from a fall. If that happened, Arzen would become a murder suspect, and under the relentless pursuit of the Witch Association¡­ No, that couldn''t happen! ¡°Oh, Witch! Why did you come all the way out here in this cold weather?¡± Arzen rushed over to support her. But the witch struck him sharply on the top of his head with her staff. It was an attack filled with genuine intent, not something to be dismissed as a joke. Arzen was bewildered. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you that habits are frightening? If I¡¯m not watching, you just try to take it easy, and if that really becomes second nature, it would be a disaster!¡± ¡°Witch, ah! Stop hitting me! I¡¯m Arzen!¡± ¡°Try that again!¡± ¡°Ugh! I¡¯m Arzen!¡± ¡°Are you making fun of me? Quickly, use the same spell you were using before!¡± Damn, this witch¡­ Has she gone senile? There was no way to forcibly chase her away, and it was truly a tricky situation. ¡®But¡­ this might be a good experiment.¡¯ If he could use the power of the Void in front of such an elderly witch without raising any suspicion? ¡®In the future, I could use the Void more comfortably in front of others!¡¯ Arzen opened the grimoire and shouted the incantation to summon the Void''s grotesque plant. ¡®Controlling Evakta with both hands is really bothersome.¡¯ As he put down the grimoire and attempted to control the grotesque plant with both hands, once again, the staff struck him on the head. ¡°Ow, that hurts!¡± ¡°Fool, fool, fool! Are you just going to ignore the double incantation method?¡± ¡°W-What¡¯s the double incantation method?¡± The answer came from Eren, the witch''s apprentice. ¡°It¡¯s the spellcasting technique organized and announced by the legendary witch Turena.¡± Did she just come back from gathering herbs? Eren was dressed like an herbalist, wearing a straw hat and carrying a burden on her back. It oddly suited her well. Such simple beauty looked even better on her. ¡°It was originally one of the spellcasting methods from Lady Frida, the witch of the Fire Dragon, but she used it unconsciously.¡± ¡°The Fire Dragon¡¯s witch? The one from the Hero Party?¡± ¡°Yes. It was then that her apprentice, the witch Turena, consciously controlled it and established the double incantation method for everyone to use.¡± ¡°But what does that have to do with me? I¡¯m a sorcerer!¡± ¡°Well, in this situation, the only thing you can do is match the rhythm with your master.¡± ¡°It seems the witch thinks of me as her apprentice; clear that up!¡± ¡°How long are you going to keep talking, fool? Hurry up and get on with it!¡± The witch¡¯s scolding rang out once more. Arzen decided to adapt to this insane play-acting. ¡°Ah, Master! I¡¯m so foolish that I forgot what that is!¡± ¡°Fool, fool, fool! Think of the man you like the most in the world!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like that man.¡± ¡°Then think of the man you dislike!¡± Arzen thought of Garrison, who called himself the King of Authority. He was one of the executives of the and had been especially cruel to Arzen. Anger boiled inside him. ¡®That bastard.¡¯ If he could meet him again, he would kill him without a trace using the power of the Void. How could he win against someone who was a top-ranking golden-tier player with the ¡°Mark of Obedience¡± on him, rendering him unable to fight back? That bastard had already been dealt with by Hydra. So, it could be said that Arzen was the victor. ¡°Let out a curse for him in just one word.¡± ¡°In just one word? That¡¯s too hard!¡± ¡°Do it if I say so, fool!¡± ¡°Hey, you piece of shit!¡± In an empty forest where only the pines shivered in the bleak winter wind, his voice rang out. ¡®Huh.¡¯ For some reason, he felt a bit of his mood lighten. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s it! That¡¯s the double incantation method!¡± ¡°Calling him a piece of shit is the double incantation method? Hah, I guess legendary witches were all foul-mouthed, huh? Hehe.¡± ¡°Fool, fool, fool!¡± ¡°Ah! Ouch! Ugh! Please stop hitting me! This is child abuse!¡± ¡°That¡¯s the kind of feeling you should have when you recite the spell. Condense all the information and emotions about the target into one word!¡± It didn¡¯t seem like she would let him go easily, so he decided to think it through. He needed to properly confirm the explanation for Evakta. Realizing something truly profound was indeed befitting of any task. Longing for divine wisdom. Evakta, through a deep understanding of the being of the Void, reach a new realization. So, did that mean he needed to cram this explanation into the incantation for Evakta? ¡®How exactly do I do that?!¡¯ But he thought it might be worth a try, even if it felt like he was being tricked. If he didn¡¯t get out of this mess, he wouldn¡¯t be able to finish his tasks for the day. ¡°Eva©¤©¤!¡± Realizing something truly profound was indeed befitting of any task. Longing for divine wisdom. ¡°©¤©¤kta!¡± He couldn¡¯t fully capture the remaining phrases, as they weren¡¯t familiar enough, and his concentration was waning. ¡®But¡­ this is strange, so very strange!¡¯ Surprisingly, it felt more vibrant than any Evakta he had seen before. The manifestation time was a bit longer than usual, but it was significantly more meaningful. ¡°This feeling. Remember this feeling!¡± The witch poked him sharply in the diaphragm, exactly opposite his heart. It felt like a light jab but came with considerable pain. Until now, he hadn¡¯t noticed, but perhaps the core organ where power was gathered and expelled was located here? ¡°M-Master! Where exactly are we?¡± ¡°Huh? Arzen! Why are you out here? Aren¡¯t you cold? Huh?¡± ¡°W-What?¡± Is it really possible that I''m losing my mind at such a crucial moment? Arzen sighed and helped the witch back to the cabin. However, his heart was pounding. ¡®The double incantation method!¡¯ Arzen had no master. The priest who taught him the healing miracles was trash. ¡®A piece of garbage who was expelled from the order for past offenses of sexual assault, castrated, and spent 25 years in prison!¡¯ He had completely lost his divine power due to his misdeeds and couldn¡¯t perform any miracles. But he could guide others. That¡¯s why the had paid to bring him in to teach Arzen healing miracles. ¡®Just thinking about being tormented by that bastard¡­!¡¯ If it hadn¡¯t been for Kirke during that time, Arzen might have been assaulted as well. ¡®But why is the double incantation method, which is only used in sorcery, applicable to the Void miracles?¡¯ This was a question without an answer. The progenitor of magic and sorcery was the Black Sun, Carenden. He was the most mysterious and secretive among the , leaving no significant traces in the world. Unlike the other , he didn¡¯t leave miracles but rather magic and sorcery, which was quite a notable difference. ¡®That¡¯s not my concern. The important thing is that this applies to my Void miracles, and that¡¯s the only fact that matters!¡¯ Arzen groaned as he laid the witch on the bed in the cabin and then returned to his work. The trees he needed to fell were still plentiful. Thinking of the number of those trees as the offerings he would use to grow stronger brought a warm smile to his face. ¡®I will become several times stronger than I am now during this winter, through this double incantation method!¡¯ * * * Kirke, a former executive of the , opened her eyes that winter. She had been in a state of unconsciousness for over three months. Propped up against the bed, Kirke began to testify. ¡°Our adventuring party originally met during the golden-tier promotion match, and we formed a party because we clicked so well.¡± Contrary to what the pilgrims called rude, the Scarlet Flame Akirea allowed it. ¡°Believe it or not, they were originally good guys. Yes, but when our vanguard and leader, Olart, kept failing to promote to platinum rank, dissonance started to emerge.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°At first, Olart wandered to gain artifacts and¡­ unfortunately got his hands on the Abyssal Artifact. I told him I needed to report it to the Holy See immediately, but the next day, the Black Church contacted us.¡± The red pilgrims gasped in shock. Akirea, who was standing by the window, had wrinkles forming around her eyebrows. ¡°Where? What kind of people?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know the details, but¡­ Olart became incredibly strong right after that, and as you know, he rose to the fourth rank of platinum. The other executives¡­ I mean, the original members also benefited. Everyone except me.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I felt something was off¡­ I might be a nasty person, but I thought this path was too wrong. In fact, Olart began to treat talented kids like slaves from that time on.¡± Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The red pilgrim sighed. ¡°It¡¯s impossible. There is nowhere in this continent that we cannot see.¡± ¡°No, in reality, you couldn¡¯t find them, could you? There were about five of those types in the .¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°A barrier of the Dragon God.¡± Kirke was startled by Akirea¡¯s statement but soon nodded. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s what they called it. They said with that power, they would never be caught¡­¡± ¡¸¡­¡­.¡¹ "As I kept opposing each of those actions, I gradually became an unworthy presence for an executive. I lost my voice in discussions." ¡¸¡­¡­!¡¹ "So one day¡­ I tried to escape with the kids I was forced to treat like slaves, but they were already waiting for us, somehow knowing our plan. The result was, well, as you can see." Kirke was one of the top-ranking members. If they were to disappear without a trace or be killed, it would raise suspicion, so they simply rendered her a useless shell. There were many cases of extreme stress leading to madness after encounters with bizarre monsters. Having lived like this, Kirke couldn''t speak to anyone or move her body properly. "I should have saved them then¡­ They were probably the first to die. They would have been used as cannon fodder when they were annihilated in the ." The red pilgrims glanced at Akirea. No matter how far the Black Church had spread its influence, they couldn¡¯t say it was without fault for failing to detect and punish such evil deeds in advance. Akirea remained silent for a while. In her eyes, staring out at the distant desert, a fire of righteous indignation burned. ¡¸Despite all the efforts to weed them out, they appeared again in the end...¡¹ Akirea sighed. The era of stability seemed to be coming to an end, and chaos was about to begin anew. ¡¸I will go to the Holy Sea. You all need to seal the continent even more meticulously and ensure that the survivors of the are hunted down.¡¹ ¡°Understood, Your Excellency!¡± ¡¸Kirke, come with me. I hope you can explain in detail what has happened during our journey. It¡¯s very important.¡¹ [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 56: Wintering (7) [Translator - Kiteretsu][Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 56: Wintering (7) Two weeks had passed since Arzen started practicing abdominal chant technique. It was difficult. It was like being asked to look left and right at the same time. ¡®Chanting the first few verses of the scripture seems simple, but perfectly embedding every verse is truly the delusion of a madman¡­!¡¯ To think she had been doing this subconsciously¡ªwas this woman, Frieda, a monster? Is that the kind of monster it takes to join a hero''s party? ¡®Hmph, who knows? If I had been born 400 years earlier, that spot would¡¯ve been mine, Arzen¡¯s.¡¯ The members of the hero''s party back then were just lucky enough to be born in a time without Arzen! Entertaining such ridiculous delusions, Arzen continued to train in the abdominal chant technique. Without such fantasies, he felt like he might go mad. ¡®At least the advantages of the abdominal chant technique are clear.¡¯ As the primary theory witches use when skipping chants, if mastered, its power increases while reducing energy consumption. But if it fails? It would drain concentration and mental strength twice as fast, while the power drops, leading to overwhelming frustration. ¡°Hah... Hah¡­¡± Arzen collapsed to the ground. Despite the cold nearing the end of early winter, he was sweating profusely. Rather than feeling cold, he was only hot. ¡®Should I just quit the abdominal chant technique?¡¯ He was already strong enough without relying on such outdated tricks. Did he really need to go through all this suffering? But he had no choice. For some strange reason, whenever he neglected the abdominal chant technique, the witch would suddenly appear and smack him on the head. ¡°Lazy fool! You can''t reach the summit by taking shortcuts!¡± ¡°Oww! That hurts!¡± ¡°If you¡¯re content being just an ordinary witch, I won''t say anything more, but didn¡¯t you say you wanted to become a priestess?¡± Only two priestesses existed in any given era¡ªone in the Northern Republic, one in the Southern Republic¡ªwielding supreme political power. They ruled over the council, their influence spanning across the entire republic. Compared to the adventurers'' guild, they held a status akin to a Diamond-ranked adventurer. ¡°Ow, ow! I¡¯ll do it! I¡¯ll do it right! Just stop hitting me!¡± And so, Arzen¡¯s training in the abdominal chant technique continued. Whenever he got too exhausted or irritated and wanted to quit, he would oddly have moments where its effectiveness became clear. For instance, when he used it to cast Barolus, the usual dizziness didn¡¯t hit him. ¡®Am I improving?¡¯ But that success happened only once. Every other time ended in failure, plunging him back into despair. ¡°Witch, how long must I practice this abdominal chant technique to master it?¡± ¡°Huh? What?¡± S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Gah! That hurts!¡± ¡°A lifetime! You must train for a lifetime! It will take over a decade to control it properly, and decades to do it unconsciously!¡± Over a decade and decades? His motivation drained instantly. But looking at it differently, it also meant he didn¡¯t need to rush. If he honed it slowly over a lifetime, wouldn¡¯t the time come when he¡¯d finally master it? ¡®If that¡¯s the case, there¡¯s hope!¡¯ Arzen, now in his mid-teens, had an abundance of time ahead of him. The dimension of all oblivion and disjunction. ¡°Rol!¡± Thus, the void is akin to the night, a time of forgetfulness and separation. ¡°Ru!¡± To confront an adversary, one must know the face of the enemy. So, too, does this apply to the time-space known as night. ¡°Ss!¡± Issue your command to the void-born entity that emerged from your exploration of the Night Face. ¡®Alright, the omitted parts are condensed properly! Feels great!¡¯ A demon, an embodiment of emerald terror, had appeared. What the demon¡¯s hand touched was a log of wood. With its transcendental strength, it effortlessly lifted the log. Just enough for Arzen to wrap a rope around it. As soon as Arzen finished his task, the demon''s hand vanished. Arzen shook his hips in delight. ¡°Kyahaha! Dual-chanting Barolus, successful! Dual-chanting is just a simple trick if the great Arzen invests a month into it!¡± Mastering dual-chanting made controlling the power of Barolus absurdly easy. ¡®It¡¯s awe-inspiring to think that this is the same demon who once tore a bed apart trying to move a single book¡­!¡¯ Of course, there were times when he failed and had to shatter a few logs, but that didn¡¯t matter. ¡®One success like this is a beacon of light in the endless dark days of training!¡¯ He had time! More than enough time! Wiping away his satisfied sweat, he suddenly heard an unfamiliar voice. ¡°So, it¡¯s you? The adventurer who arrived while I was gone.¡± Arzen flinched. Before him stood a stunning witch, who seemed to have monopolized all the youth and beauty of this dying village. ¡°They said there was an adventurer causing a ruckus, so I wondered how beautiful an adventurer could be, but you¡¯re prettier than most women.¡± The witch smiled brightly. Even her smile was beautiful¡ªenough to make any ordinary man fall head over heels. But for Arzen, a master of distrusting humans, his wariness only intensified. ¡®It¡¯s easier to trust someone who shows their true colors as garbage... This witch is suspiciously perfect¡ªtoo pretty, too eloquent, no flaws. That¡¯s why I can¡¯t trust her!¡¯ Her robes bore neither blue, red, nor yellow. Only gray. A sign that she was unaligned with any faction. ¡°My name is Merry, a wandering witch. Nice to meet you.¡± A wandering witch. One who roams without a home, spreading the teachings of the Dragon. ¡°Now that I¡¯m back, you¡¯ll have more free time. Why don¡¯t you come visit me if you have the chance?¡± Though Merry¡¯s smile was flawless, there was something sinister about it. It was the kind of smile often seen at the . * * * Ever since Merry returned, something changed in the daily routine. The children stopped coming. When Arzen asked Eren, he was told they were all learning to read from Merry. ¡°What the¡ª a wandering witch stealing the job of the Blue Witch? This is outright insubordination.¡± ¡°I actually prefer it this way.¡± "Are you serious?" "As you know, the witch''s health isn''t great, and honestly, I''m not qualified to teach anyone either. But now that I have more time to study, it¡¯s hard not to be thankful. She''s really a kind person." "Kind? Don¡¯t you think you''re trusting people too easily?" "Don''t worry. Arzen doesn''t trust her one bit." "You''re joking, right?" "I''m joking." "Right." Still, this situation turned out to be a good opportunity for Arzen. By following Eren to gather herbs, he learned the basics of distinguishing between poisonous and medicinal plants¡ªa skill that¡¯s hard to acquire even with money. "That''s a poisonous plant called Lapita. It looks similar to Tapira, but it has no medicinal effect and is highly toxic. Beginners often confuse the two and cause accidents." "Did you?" "Of course, I¡¯ve made mistakes." "I knew it. So, you''re actually a bit clumsy, huh?" "I''m joking." "..." And so, another week passed. Arzen¡¯s void bugs had now reached a total of 100. One reason he hadn¡¯t been able to produce more was that he¡¯d been focusing on training dual-chanting. But even when he hit 100, it took longer than a day or two to produce just one more. ''It takes almost three days to increase by just one!'' Maintaining 100 for long periods also made him feel queasy, a sign that his energy was insufficient. When it came to gathering basic herbs, Arzen went out alone instead of with Eren. He wanted to experiment with using void bugs for herb collection. He showed the worker bees samples of both poisonous and medicinal plants and ordered them to distinguish and collect them properly. "Don''t just rip them up. Gently scrape out the roots and bring them back, understood?" Soon, the void bees scattered in all directions and gathered herbs into a massive pile. The results were more than satisfactory. ''Still, I¡¯m already feeling nauseous... Maybe when I reach a capacity of 120, I¡¯ll be able to handle 100 without any problem?'' Feeling tired, Arzen decided to go check on things. ¡®The wandering witch Merry¡­ Her house is right in the center of the village. No wonder the children don¡¯t come this far!¡¯ She was so beautiful that every man must have pitched in to build her house in no time. Surely, they got scolded by their wives for it. As he approached the fence, the women he encountered started fussing. "Arzen! Have something to eat before you go!" At that point, any notion of spying was gone. Children who had been reciting lessons inside the house came running out, calling his name. "Big brother Arzen!" "Long time no see, brother!" "Did you break another tree today?" Even the wandering witch Merry stepped out with a bright smile. "Oh my, has our Arzen come to take care of the kids? Well then, how about having brother Arzen read this lesson?" "Yes!" "Hey, I didn''t agree to that. Who do you brats think you are, answering for me?" But some things in this world are just impossible to resist. Arzen eventually found himself inside, reading a passage from the Dragon Lord''s Scripture. "Love without action is not love, but merely hypocrisy. A tree that bears no fruit of love shall soon be cut down by its master." Isn''t this passage too difficult? They''re teaching kids with something like this? The children were clapping enthusiastically, but Merry¡¯s reaction seemed oddly different. "Hmm~ Something¡¯s still strange. I don¡¯t know where our Arzen came from, but he can read such complex texts, is registered as a healer at the adventurers¡¯ guild, and even uses summoning magic?" Her eyes, narrowed and sharp like blades, stared coldly at Arzen. But soon, that gaze softened into a smile. "Well, I suppose being a handsome boy means being talented in everything, huh? The world really is unfair." There¡¯s something off... ''The Divine Guillotine¡­ My instincts, sharpened from being surrounded by those bastards, are definitely reacting... There''s something dangerous about this wandering witch Merry!'' [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 57: Wintering (8) [Translator - Kiteretsu][Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 57: Wintering (8) The village of Marind was bustling with preparations for the festival. It was already mid-13th month, and the Festival of Shelters, a holiday observed by all nations and regions of the world, had arrived. The Festival of Shelters takes place from the middle to the end of the final month, culminating in welcoming the New Year in a temporary shelter. Arzen had come down to the village with Eren. They were here to bake unleavened bread. "Not like that! You need to smack the flour like this with your fist!" People were nagging incessantly around them. Children, covered in flour from head to toe, giggled as they ran around the mill. Their shrieks, mixed with those of the women chasing them, created such a cacophony that Arzen''s head started to spin. ¡°What¡¯s the point of eating unleavened bread?¡± Unable to suppress his boredom, Arzen muttered, to which Eren responded. "Because there¡¯s no flavor to it, that''s the point." "Is this some kind of torture?" ¡°Well, in a sense, yes. It¡¯s a reminder of the hardships of the past.¡± At that moment, something flew straight into Arzen¡¯s face. It was a ball of flour dough, and as the flour dispersed in the air, his respiratory system was thrown into disarray. Tom and the other boys were snickering. ¡°Hey, Arzen!¡± ¡°That¡¯s a love cake from us!¡± ¡°You little brats... Kaz tu Arcturas!¡± The Void Bees began to buzz... emerging from another dimension, causing the boys to freeze in fear. ¡°Wait, hold on! Let¡¯s talk this out!¡± ¡°Eat dirt!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already prepared a countermeasure for your cowardly summoning magic! Here, have some syrup!¡± Tom, imitating Arzen¡¯s tone, unleashed his strategy! ¡°You idiot! Like that¡¯ll work!¡± However, the Void Bees took even Arzen¡¯s command, ¡°Eat dirt,¡± literally and started feasting on the syrup instead. Arzen stumbled, dumbfounded. ¡°Wh-What? That ridiculous counter actually worked?¡± ¡°Your almighty summons have been neutralized! Now it¡¯s our turn again!¡± ¡°Charge! Hyaaaaah!¡± ¡°Gaaaah! Stop it!¡± Cakes were flying everywhere, turning Arzen''s head and face into a complete mess. ¡°I can¡¯t take it anymore! I¡¯m wiping you all out¡­ not a single one of you will survive!¡± As he seriously contemplated whether to unleash Barollus or Evakta, laughter echoed around him. ¡°Ha, ahaha, aha, ahahahaha¡­¡± In an instant, Arzen¡¯s mind went blank. It was Eren¡¯s laughter. It was the first time he¡¯d ever heard Eren laugh out loud like that. ¡®Who knew this guy could laugh like that?¡¯ That thought didn¡¯t last long. The cake attack continued even through Eren¡¯s laughter. ¡°Kaz tu Arcturas, Void Squadron, full deployment!¡± Close to a hundred Void Bees began crawling out from the other dimension, evoking a scene straight out of hell. ¡°Holy crap! Does this guy not understand the concept of a joke?! Run!¡± "Ah, that chilling and familiar sound of wings flapping. It¡¯s time to return to being the cold and ruthless Void Killer, Arzen." Arzen¡¯s eyes gleamed ominously. In an instant, a staff came crashing down upon his head. ¡°You little brat!¡± ¡°Ugh!¡± ¡°Why haven¡¯t you used the Double Incantation again, huh? What? Is what I¡¯m saying funny? Are you barking like a dog?¡± ¡°No, no! I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯ll do it again!¡± At that sight, everyone in the mill began to laugh. Arzen couldn''t understand why people chose to stay in the countryside instead of moving to the city. The city had everything. From all sorts of conveniences to cultural facilities like parks, libraries, and museums. On the other hand, the countryside had nothing. Because of that, he had thought of rural villages as prisons without bars. However, after coming to this Marind village, he realized that it was a twisted preconceived notion. The countryside had a different charm from the city. ''That is... Jeong.'' [TL/N: "Jeong" does not have a direct translation but means the feeling of loyalty and of strong emotional connection to people and places] The members of the city were mostly strangers to each other. Everyone had their own jobs and responsibilities, so it was difficult to form personal connections. But in the village, everyone was friends and family. Certainly, there were decayed villages and those that became hubs for crime. He had seen such places a few times during the era of the Divine Guillotine. But this was not one of them. This Marind was different. * * * At the highest level of the Papal Office, in the Dragon Spirit Hall. Here, just below the Heavenly Palace , five cardinals gathered. Known as the "Five Pillars" of the Papal Office, these were all True Dragons of the Yellow Dragon Legion. Originally, the supreme being of the Yellow Dragon Legion was the Radiant Dragon, Haraderiman. However, the Radiant Dragon had grown old and sick. Thus, these True Dragons discussed important matters and determined the course of events. Since the emergence of the Three-Dragon Legion, they had dedicated themselves solely to assisting the Radiant Dragon. However, for various significant matters, the Three-Dragon Legion sought their opinions as elders. ¡¸¡°Setsunen, what¡¯s the matter? Why do you wear such a sorrowful expression?¡±¡¹ Cardinal Yoshuhar, asked. He was a figure akin to the Grandmaster of Thunder. Setsunen of Thunder revealed an object sealed in rune-etched silk before the cardinals. ¡¸¡°!¡±¡¹ It was a manifestation of corruption, delusion, a scream spreading like cracks throughout space and time. In short, it was akin to the summation of the Void. The chief cardinal, Inraheit, unleashed beams of golden light to encase it in a brilliant veil of light. ¡¸¡°The 27th sealing formation has collapsed, and this is a trace left by that calamity. I lament that far too many children have died in the process.¡±¡¹ The lament of Setsunen focused more on the children who had perished within that narrative than on the collapse of the sealing formation. Setsunen had always been like that. The name Setsunen means ''Compassion'', or a ''heart of pity.'' S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Setsunen had lived a life befitting that name. ¡¸¡°Speak in detail,¡±¡¹ Another cardinal, Hagon, said. ¡¸"I have read the memories of the one surviving child, and ancient goblins have emerged, violating the borders.¡±¡¹ Cardinal Paremm squinted and looked around at his colleagues. ¡¸¡°That is strange. Weren¡¯t the ancient goblins exterminated by Sarandis Alter Naisemon during the ¡®Great Demon Purge¡¯ 1,400 years ago?¡±¡¹ Yoshuhar observed the wedge trapped within the veil of light and spoke up. ¡¸¡°What if they were summoned from the past when they were not exterminated?¡±¡¹ The cardinals fell silent in unison. The implications were clear. The destruction of the world stemming from the return of the ancient king. ¡¸¡°The ancient king, Anridal, who governs the entirety of space and time¡ªpast, present, and future.¡±¡¹ This was a matter from a century ago. When the Lord of Time, Anridal, was awakened by the Black Church''s Black Water, the Radiant Dragon had to pay the price on behalf of the world. During the process of reconstructing the seal, the Radiant Dragon suffered fatal injuries to its body and spirit. That was why it still had not emerged from its sickbed. ¡¸¡°Also, the investigation of the Red Mountains has been completed; a Salamander leading the Reptilians was discovered in the depths of the Red Mountains.¡±¡¹ ¡¸¡°!¡±¡¹ ¡¸¡°During the battle, many children were severely injured. Please allow me to go there and tend to their suffering.¡±¡¹ The Reptilians were one of the Forgotten Kings, the minions of the Lizard Lord from the primitive kingdom. Demons were the corrupted forms of humanity. However, these Reptilians were not; they were beings brought by the Forgotten Kings from another world. As primitive warriors, they did not even have the right to die, as that was entrusted to the Forgotten Kings, meaning they were bound by death. They could not simply be killed by strangulation; their bodies had to be completely crushed. The Salamander was a giant and high-ranking type of Reptilian. This Salamander was said to have held the rank of general or sorcerer, commanding the Reptilians in the era before recorded history. It could manipulate lava at will and was classified as a highly dangerous ancient creature. Thus, despite being a joint operation of the Platinum 7th Adventure Group, the Special Operations Division of the Magic Guild, and the Witch Association, numerous casualties had occurred. The cardinals each wore serious expressions. ¡¸¡°This is clearly a situation of concEren.¡±¡¹ Chief Cardinal Inrahit spoke. ¡¸¡°I command that a single WyvEren be dispatched to each border. We must ascertain the status of all sealing circles.¡±¡¹ * * * The final day of the Festival of Shelters concludes with a night spent in a handmade booth. In a clearing near the ferry terminal. Here, trees that Arzen had felled and Tom and Dave had tirelessly carried were stacked neatly. That day, the first snow of the year fell. The sight of the trees blanketed in pure white snow held an indescribable mystery. The witch made her way down to the ferry terminal, her aged body leaning heavily on Arzen, who helped her walk, making her steps appear easier than usual. The witch assigned wood to each household and offered a prayer. ¡°Parent of Light, we thank you for coming to this land and dying for us, freeing us from our moans in darkness.¡± ¡°......¡± ¡°May you be with us, who have gathered here to remember that grace, and guide us in joy until the last day of this year.¡± For Arzen, this was the first time since his childhood that he was properly celebrating a festival. A class of adventurers, especially those like the Divine Guillotine, would never properly observe such a festival. ¡°It¡¯s just a holiday that gives the guild a chance to squeeze out some extra bonuses.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get started, then.¡± Eren picked up an axe. ¡°Do you think the great Arzen would do such manual labor?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Though I will not do it with my own hands.¡± That¡¯s right. Arzen was the cold and ruthless master of the Void. Such menial tasks could be left to the underlings. ¡°Kaz tu¡ª¡± ¡°¡ªNo!¡± The witch tapped Arzen''s shoulder with her staff. ¡°You must not use the power of this ability when making the shelter for the Festival of Shelters!¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t I?¡± ¡°Oh? Are you hungry?¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t I, I say!¡± Eren explained in place of the hard-of-hearing witch. ¡°The Festival of Shelters is a time to reflect on the past when people had to live primitively in booths under the oppression of kings before recorded history. The process of making the booth holds significance.¡± ¡°Tch, I wasn¡¯t even born in that time and never suffered under such oppression. What¡¯s the point of this?¡± ¡°Everyone has their own booth¡­ a past of unfortunate times spent living in a booth.¡± Suddenly, the witch spoke. ¡°There must have been a time in your life as well. A life lived in a booth¡­ and the light that saved you from that life. This is a festival to remember and commemorate that.¡± At her voice... A moment from when his life in the Flowing Desert was about to end flashed in his memory. At that time, the majesty of the Void that descended, cutting through all darkness, came to mind. - You have been chosen. He did not know the intention or reason behind the choice. But. Arzen had surely been liberated from his ¡®own booth¡¯ starting from that moment. ¡°But I don¡¯t know anything.¡± He didn¡¯t know... He hadn¡¯t learned anything... The only fragmented memory he had of the Festival of Shelters was from his childhood when his mother was healthy and his father was by his side. Even that was all handled by his parents, and Arzen just watched. ¡°You can learn from now on.¡± The witch said. ¡°Since it¡¯s empty, it will be easier to fill it.¡± Arzen began to peel the surface of the wood, following Eren. They said that to make an excellent booth, you had to first strip off the bark. Once the inner flesh of the wood was exposed, it had to be placed at regular intervals and tied together, then draped with a tarp. ¡°You said you didn¡¯t know how, but you¡¯re doing quite well.¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing that the versatile Arzen cannot do.¡± ¡°I was joking.¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± ¡°Joking is what I was doing.¡± Arzen himself was surprised. ¡®It¡¯s my first time doing this, but¡­¡¯ After being forced to do all sorts of menial tasks during the days of Divine Guillotine, he quickly got the hang of it. ¡®I thought I¡¯d have nothing but useless knowledge from being an adventurer... but it turns out this knowledge is quite useful.¡¯ As he carved the wood, memories of setting up camping tents during the Divine Guillotine days came to mind. Back then, he had been so inexperienced that getting pricked by thorns and scraping his skin was a given, yet he couldn¡¯t cry. If he cried, he would get hit even more. When Kirk¨¦ was around, he had to be careful not to get caught when he was being punished, and after Kirk¨¦ disappeared, he was just bored and took the hits. ¡®Compared to that time¡­¡¯ Historically, booths were quickly built for living in the wildEreness, so he finished it in no time. The wood was already prepared, so there was nothing to hinder him. It was large enough for a three-person family, meaning everyone living in the hut could fit inside. The witch, supported by Eren, entered the booth and laid down. To prevent the witch¡¯s frail body from getting hurt, several layers of fur blankets were piled on top. Arzen lay down next to her. The draft was cold, and the interior was cramped, forcing them to stick close together. On top of that cold, the chill from the night before setting out for the Flowing Desert mingled with it. Memories of the days when he fell asleep crying in the stable, surrounded by the smell of horse manure, resurfaced. Arzen had thought there was no light in his life back then. But Lord Rodenkal had come and disproved that notion. He wiped away those tears. - I have chosen you. He had never been chosen in his life. With those few words, ¡°You have been chosen.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Arzen curled up further beneath the booth. He felt tears welling up again, but the emotions were different this time. ¡®Back then, that single drop of tear expressed a despair I couldn¡¯t articulate or reveal; now, it¡¯s¡­¡¯ Snow began to accumulate on the booth. The dawn of the next day heralded the beginning of the new year. It was the start of the New Year. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 58: Wintering (9) [Translator - Kiteretsu][Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 58: Wintering (9) Three weeks had passed since the Festival of Shelters. In mid-January, the season had turned to the heart of winter. With the Festival of Shelters concluded, the task was already accomplished. However, Arzen had come here with the intention of staying until he cleared the entire forest. Once the forest had only about 30% of its scrub left, Arzen''s logging efforts began to pick up speed. Thanks to the growth of his control over the Void, in accordance with the initial training goals he had set. ¡°Kaz tu Arcturus.¡± ¡°Su Ja Heros, pruning.¡± ¡°Re Taripo.¡± ¡°Evakta.¡± Now, he could capture trees with Evakta before they crashed into other trees with a 50% probability. As his control abilities grew, the time to manifest them also increased. That was more important. The growth of the number of Void Insects plateaued at a maximum of 105. However, he was satisfied as his skill in handling other powers had noticeably improved. ¡®Hmm, it would be even better if Evakta could uproot trees¡­¡¯ He could wrap around trees that could fit in both hands, but trees he had to wrap with his arms were challenging even for Evakta. ¡®But if I used Barolus, it would just smash everything to pieces. Sigh.¡¯ But what if he used double chanting here? ¡®Double Chanting!¡¯ It wasn''t just about memorizing the explanation section of the scriptures. In that brief moment of reciting the chant, he could compress the entire phrase into ¡®words¡¯! ¡°Re!¡± To fill a new bag with wine, you first have to dump the rotten water out of the old bag. ¡°Ta!¡± Thus, the Void is the first step toward enlightenment (†™ÃÉ). ¡°Ri!¡± Only those who have made the old bag empty can reach true enlightenment and truth. ¡°Po!¡± Through this new advancement, delve into the Void anew and realize the fragments of truth. ¡®Good, good feeling! It went in perfectly!¡¯ At the point when the double chanting succeeded, Re Taripo''s destructive power increased by 1.5 times. This meant that the explosion range would also expand. ¡°Yahoo! The destructive power is amazing!¡± At this point, the only way to finish off the logging was to use Re Taripo to completely delete the trees. ¡®If I keep doing this and eliminate about half, I¡¯ll be able to pull them out with Evakta!¡¯ Just as he was celebrating his victory and dancing with joy, the worker bee flapped its wings ominously. ¡°Hmm?¡± Soon, the Void Insects entered the gaps where the trees had disappeared and brought something strange out of the soil. ¡°What is this?¡± Strange, very strange! It was a cursed doll! It appeared to have been buried for a considerable amount of time. Hair that seemed to belong to a victim was tightly wrapped around it. ¡®Black magic? Dark sorcery?¡¯ A strong fragment of the void could be felt. It was a sensation similar to what he felt when he encountered the golden threads surrounding the golden area while hunting the Elder Goblin. The more peculiar thing was that, upon confirming that he had been ¡°detected by someone,¡± it seemed like it was about to explode remotely. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°This bastard¡­!¡± Of course, at that moment, the Void Insects rushed in and devoured the doll, so the explosion was averted. However, this also meant that the evidence had vanished. A strange premonition hammered away in his heart. The words Eren had told him about the endemic disease during the first month he came here resurfaced in his mind. ¡°Arzen!¡± At that moment, Dave and Tom, the father-son duo, appeared pulling a cart. Currently, the three were business partners. Arzen had been moving the wood to sell as firewood to the villagers for money. Although the price was low, the quantity was substantial, so it turned out better than expected. During that process, Dave and Tom collected the transportation fees. These guys were serious about money, and that made him want to work with them. ¡°You''re working hard today too.¡± ¡°Yeah, gotta make money.¡± ¡°Why does your face look so sour?¡± ¡°I saw you two since this morning, so how could I not be sour?¡± ¡°Haha! But hey, have you seen Eren?¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°No, the witch came alone, looking for Eren. She said she still hasn¡¯t returned.¡± Is it possible that Eren still hasn¡¯t come back? ¡°When I went back for lunch earlier, he wasn¡¯t there either. So, I prepared food for myself.¡± ¡°Did he say anything this morning?¡± ¡°He said he was definitely going to gather herbs this morning¡­¡± At that moment, an ominous feeling clouded his mind. The premonition he felt when he saw the cursed doll had taken shape. Arzen began to run, leaving Tom and Dave behind. ¡°Hey, Arzen! Where are you going!¡± ¡°Load it onto the trees and take it away!¡± As Arzen ran toward the forest where Eren usually went to gather herbs, he shouted the sacred war cry of the Void. ¡°Kaz tu Arcturus!¡± Buuuuuuuuuuuuuum¡­¡­! The queen of the Void Insects, commanded by the apostle, appeared leading her subordinate Void Insects. Currently, he could summon 30 with his magical power. ¡°Worker bee, disperse the Void Insects and find Eren!¡± *** When Arzen arrived at the forest, panting, several Void Insects were already waiting for him. Following the guidance of the Void Insects, he was able to find Eren quickly. Eren collapsed somewhere along the path, gasping for breath. Her body felt like a furnace. ¡®What the hell¡­¡¯ First, he needed to bring down the fever. He opened the scriptures. This was a miracle from the Teresia series, which was the healing series, not from the Void series. ¡°Stop! Are you trying to kill Eren?¡± At that moment, a firm voice rang out. Turning his head, he saw the wandering witch Merry hurriedly jumping off her broom. ¡°A fever is proof that the body¡¯s immune system is functioning properly!¡± ¡°!¡± ¡°The scarier thing is when you have no fever and feel cold. That¡¯s a sign of death. So, you shouldn¡¯t force the fever down. Not right now.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t come any closer!¡± The first suspect could only be Merry. It was just an instinct. The Void Insects resonated with the apostle¡¯s hostility and formed an attack formation. The situation was tense. ¡°Look at this. My witch''s mantle! I belong to the Hyeogyo Division, which identifies and resolves all kinds of phenomena.¡± ¡°!¡± ¡°None of the witches who came here have been able to identify the source of that ridiculous endemic disease. Not for thirty years! That¡¯s why I¡¯m here. I¡¯ve been lying in wait. If I appeared as a suspicious wandering witch, maybe the culprit would show themselves instead of lying low.¡± Merry casually advanced through the formation of Void Insects, as if daring them to attack. ¡°So far, your identity has been unclear, and I¡¯ve been suspicious of your strange powers¡­ but it seems this situation has cleared you of any suspicion.¡± Merry quickly knelt beside Eren and examined the girl¡¯s condition. ¡°Have you only been looking for humans in your search until now? No¡­ most people chant healing spells when they have a fever, so the evidence must have vanished like this.¡± Merry pointed to the nape of Eren¡¯s neck. ¡®Really, really faintly, only if you focus your eyes can you barely see¡­ a mark that looks like something has bitten her¡­?¡¯ It wasn¡¯t a beast. It must be a very small insect. However, when Merry infused it with the spirit energy, she could see the flow of poison infiltrating and spreading throughout the bloodstream. ¡°This is a truly terrifying poison¡­ it doesn¡¯t kill the host immediately but instead infiltrates the body and has an incubation period. It only awakens when the lethal dose accumulates.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t cure it?¡± ¡°A lethal dose means exactly that¡ªlethal! It would only matter if you could develop antibodies against this poison¡­ but this type of poison is hard to cure unless you¡¯re of the dragon lineage. The truly frightening poisons aren¡¯t the famous ones; they are the ones you¡¯ve never seen before.¡± She¡¯s going to die? Eren is going to die? He didn¡¯t want to be involved in someone¡¯s death like this¡­ but after spending months together, this girl was different. She felt like a little sister. ¡°Is there¡­ really no way?¡± Just then, despair darkened his mind. A worker bee landed on Arzen''s shoulder and fluttered its wings a few times. ¡®What is it? Does that mean it can be done?¡¯ The beings of the Void are originally without feeling, ignorance, and intention. However, when delivering Rodenkal''s will to Arzen, it acted proactively. Arzen gained some enlightenment from this and opened his mouth. ¡°Witches¡­ they also learn surgery, right? When treating someone. Cut open Eren¡¯s abdomen!¡± ¡°Right here?¡± ¡°Show me the location of where the poison has accumulated in the organs, just like before! My summoned creatures can eat what they want! I can¡¯t explain it properly¡­ but they can leave only the skin and eat the flesh!¡± If that applies to poison as well¡­ It was close to gambling, but no, it wouldn¡¯t be gambling. Rodenkal had indicated through the worker bee that this was possible. ¡°¡­¡­!¡± Being a member of the elite Hyeogyo Division, Merry¡¯s judgment was swift. She took out poppy juice from her pouch and poured it into Eren''s mouth. Then she cast a spell to block the sensation around the surgical area¡­! With a blade heated in fire, Merry opened Eren¡¯s abdomen. ¡°Only now, since the poison has only been injected for a short while, is it possible to trace its trajectory. It¡¯s already starting to fade. Hurry!¡± Buuuuuuuum¡­¡­! The worker bee landed on the area that resonated most with Merry¡¯s magical power, the darkest spot. As it unfolded its folded mouth and pierced that spot¡­! The dark energy boiling within the intestines began to gradually settle. ¡®It¡¯s working¡­¡­!¡¯ The power of the Void can selectively devour foreign substances in the intestines. ¡°The fever is subsiding¡­¡­ When I heard the explanation, it felt hopeless, but what on earth is this summoned creature? I¡¯ve never heard of such a thing.¡± Arzen had no intention of answering that question. Honestly, would he believe the answer? It was a relief that he wasn¡¯t reporting her for believing in a heretical god called Rodenkal. Thus, Arzen dismissed Merry¡¯s question with a casual shrug. And he began to say what he wanted to say. ¡°Hmm~ I can¡¯t forgive this. Yes, I cannot forgive. It¡¯s a death sentence.¡± The worker bee swallowing the poison within Eren''s body brought him the answer to this riddle. It was easy to pinpoint the source of that energy through the mysterious signal system that spread among the Void Insects. ¡°How dare you turn this loyal maidservant who serves Lord Arzen into this state? You must pay for it¡­ Evaakta!¡± In an instant, a Void plant surged from behind Arzen, targeting¡­ Merry the witch. ¡°!¡± During this winter, the size of the cut wood¡¯s trunk varied greatly. This meant that Arzen had become quite adept at handling Evaakta¡¯s movements. It had become possible for him to ensnare only Merry without involving Eren. ¡°Your insides will be vomited out through your mouth and backside as you die.¡± Pududududuk¡­¡­! It sounded as if bones and intestines were grinding, and then Merry¡¯s body exploded. Instead of brain matter and blood clots, it transformed into thousands of droplets that scattered in all directions. In other words, that wasn¡¯t the main body. ¡°How did you know?¡± A voice came again from the other side of the herbal path. Merry¡¯s true body leaned against a tree, frowning. Arzen snorted. ¡°Hmph, an illusion-type spell, huh?¡± Illusions are different from magic. The methods of utilizing each attribute are diverse. Because of this, one can create illusions of various attributes depending on the caster''s individuality. ¡°I was raised by thugs in terms of manners. You can tell if someone is trash just by looking at their face, roughly speaking.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Curious? You want to know how I figured it out? You can¡¯t stand not knowing, right?¡± While she seemed to be eagerly responding. In truth, this was merely a strategy to divert the Void Insects and target the true body behind her. By rambling on as much as possible, she was buying time for the Void Insects to approach the coordinates sufficiently. ¡®That witch Merry probably gained information about that unidentified bug in no time.¡¯ Earlier, Eren¡¯s condition was too critical for him to think clearly, but¡­ ¡®Then she must have intended to lure me into a trap¡­ to meet the same fate as Eren.¡¯ ¡°How do you know this so well?¡± ¡°Your pathetic trashy illusion was just too similar!¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°Suddenly appearing and acting like you know the whole situation¡­ It¡¯s the same way the thugs who taught me used to deceive their clients!¡± At that moment, the Void Insects surged toward Merry from all directions. Merry chanted her spell at high speed. Then, a yellowish droplet, resembling pus, unfolded in all directions. ¡°!¡± The Void Insects that came into contact with that liquid began to lose strength and disappear one by one, heated up. ¡®I see. So she¡¯s a poison expert¡­¡­.¡¯ From her recent movements, it seemed that the witch¡¯s charm was indeed real. It meant she definitely had skills. ¡®No letting my guard down! I can¡¯t let those bugs ambush me easily.¡¯ Merry¡¯s eyes, as she scanned Arzen from top to bottom and licked her lips, were alluring. It was the gaze of a predator inspecting its prey''s flesh. ¡°Now that no maidens come to this village anymore¡­ I was planning to savor you until the end, but well, I¡¯ll use both of you cuties as a sacrifice for my ¡®youth.¡¯¡± Feeling that chilling threat, instead of shrinking back, Arzen began to laugh. ¡°A sacrifice? You think you can use me as a sacrifice? You¡¯re hilarious for a pathetic witch!¡± He was confident! He was certain that the power of the Void was an overwhelmingly powerful force that far surpassed all abilities in this world! ¡°Kaz to Arcturus! Full deployment of the Void Insects!¡± Currently, the maximum number of Void Insects that Arzen could control was a staggering 105! The queen, commanding these 105, orchestrated the most suitable battle formation for the current situation. Once the apostle''s permission was granted, the normal units would merge into a composite entity, completing the combat arrangement. ¡°Consider it an honor! From now on, you¡¯ll be the punching bag to see how much this Super Void Commander Arzen has grown during this winter!¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 59: Wintering (10) [Translator - Kiteretsu][Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 59: Wintering (10) "The spirit of residing in the moisture of the air and the rune of , now heed the command of me, Merry, and bring forth the harmony of your power! Bondrad!" The witch''s incantation turned into a spell, transforming into hundreds of water droplets that surged forward. The Apostle did not dodge. It would be beneath him to avoid such things from a lesser being. ¡®I simply give commands instead!¡¯ Arzen reached out his hand and shouted: "An eye for an eye! A tooth for a tooth! Poison for poison! Su Ja Kunia!" Fifty standard units instantly fused into twenty-five combined entities! Simultaneously, emitted from the poison sacs, forming a barrage. This power, which creates a devouring space at the impact coordinates, swallows even the finest particles of water droplets. ¡°!¡± Merry¡¯s eyes widened in astonishment. ''What is that power...!? I didn''t see that ability while secretly watching his lumbering!'' Merry had no time to dwell on her confusion. A threatening flapping sound drilled into her ears, and giant hornets appeared from all directions. ¡®The poison barrier I spread around me!¡¯ They were tearing it apart with their massive jaws, clearing a path for the honeybee entities. ¡°Unlike your pathetic spells, my power allows for ultra-short incantations! It¡¯s just beginning! Evakta!¡± The Void Beasts that had emerged to assist the Apostle roared silently as they charged forward. Merry felt a shudder run down her spine from head to toe at the sight. Sensing the threat to her life, she summoned her broom. ''Good, neither the hornet nor the honeybee entities can match the broom''s flying speed!'' Although the Void Beasts were fast, their large size caused them to be constantly obstructed by the forest''s obstacles. ''Hmph, judging by their movements, it''s clear they¡¯re novices in combat! I''ll bide my time and sink poison into their blind spot!'' But then, a massive shadow loomed before her... it wasn¡¯t a Void creature. ¡®A... tree?¡¯ Trees were collapsing one by one in Merry¡¯s path. "Re Taripo! I¡¯ve perfected the art of felling trees in the desired direction during this winter!" A small demon, with wings much too small for its massive body, slowly flapped forward. As they slammed into the trees and exploded, the trees fell with a thunderous crash. The power and knowledge the boy had gained during his lumbering days formed a powerful synergy, suffocating Merry''s escape routes. "The only escape route left for you, blocked in front and behind, is upward! Ha! But even there, an elite squadron of worker bees is already waiting for you!" ¡°!¡± "To borrow Jerome''s words, from start to finish, you were nothing more than a dancing magic monkey in the palm of my hand! Farewell, pathetic trash witch!" Arzen thought. ¡®There''s no point in capturing Merry, that witch, alive.¡¯ Thanks to the protective measures unique to witches, her punishment would only be slightly reduced at best. And more importantly¡ª As the witch herself said, while Arzen¡¯s identity was unclear, hers was certain. ¡®And up until now, the Witch Association hasn¡¯t found any evidence from the people she poisoned.¡¯ In the end, if this case went to trial, it would be Arzen who would be cornered. ''There is only one answer!'' Erasing her existence completely, leaving no trace. The command was to have the Void beings devour her. "You insolent brat, where do you think you''re crawling to©¤©¤!" Surrounded by the Void minions, just before Merry''s very existence was devoured, she shouted. "©¤©¤Don¡¯t mess with me! The reason I came this far without fleeing was just to get close to you!" At that moment¡­ Eren, who had collapsed beside Arzen, twisted her body in agony. Yellow droplets floated up from her nose and mouth. These were the toxins that hadn¡¯t been purged. They solidified like icicles and shot toward Arzen. ¡®But this is no problem either!¡¯ Arzen still had one loyal subordinate, reigning at the pinnacle of the Void minion hierarchy. "Barolus." The demon, emerging from the horizon beyond the dimension, where everything fades into oblivion, extended its hand. That hand enveloped Arzen. That hand completely blocked the threat that dared to blaspheme against the Apostle. "Pathetic witch! Useless! A one-trick poison fool! It¡¯s time you knew your place and became bug food!" By this point, Merry was already engulfed by the Void creatures. ¡®Who is this brat... Could he be a mage sent by the Special Unit?¡¯ The task Merry received from the Black Church was to experiment with the Anti-Dragon Barrier. According to the upper echelon of the Black Church, the Three Sacred Dragon Lords visited the outskirts of this village every year. Merry''s task was to test if the newly revamped Anti-Dragon Barrier could work against the Three Sacred Dragon Lords. ¡®The witch poisonings were just a part of that¡­!¡¯ The Blue Witch of this place, Zyra, was the last disciple of the former priestess Juliana. Juliana was the disciple of the legendary priestess Tureina. ¡®In truth, the Three Sacred Dragon Lords neither knew nor solved the calamity that struck this village¡­!¡¯ The Void creatures began devouring Merry¡¯s clothing, skin, muscles, tendons, fibers, and even her internal organs. ¡®I was so close to returning for my reward, and now because of some brat¡­!¡¯ The indescribable pain. Everything that had once existed on this land with a clear trace¡­ In the silent feast, it all returned to nothingness. "©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤!" A silent death cry resounded. The Void creatures scattered widely, signaling that the devouring had ended. There was nothing left at the center. Not a single sign of life remained. ¡®Only emptiness!¡¯ Only after confirming this did Arzen cough up blood and collapse to his knees. ¡°Huff, huff, huff.¡± Indeed¡­ It¡¯s different from chopping down trees; real combat is on a whole other level. ¡®The burden of power, perhaps, is several times greater overall.¡¯ And in real combat, he didn¡¯t even have the thought or the chance to use a dual incantation. As the witch said, it seems that mastering it for real combat would require a lifetime of training. Even while panting for breath, Arzen wore a deeply satisfied smile. ¡®But the intense training this winter has certainly paid off¡­ The Void summons are perfectly synchronized, creating a powerful synergy!¡¯ At that moment, Eren stirred. Blood oozed from her mouth, and her stitches from the surgery were not fully closed, so blood seeped from there too. But with the unknown poison taken care of, this kind of internal injury was within Arzen''s area of expertise. ¡°¡®Cast off the old ways rotting within the flesh and put on the spirit of light, ¡¶Immeasurable Love¡·.¡¯ Arzen had only learned combat-focused miracles during his time with the Divine Guillotine. This was a high-level healing miracle for a single target. The miracle''s healing effects were comparable to an elixir. ¡®But the energy consumption is so great that using it even once causes fainting!¡¯ Even nuns renowned for their abilities as saints could only use it two or three times a day. For that reason, Divine Guillotine officers were forbidden from using it unless it was a life-threatening situation. But now, Arzen faced no such restrictions. The choice was his alone. ¡®I swore I''d never use this ability again after it rendered me useless... but!¡¯ He would save her! He had resolved this ever since he first heard that Eren had gone missing! Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Urgh¡­¡± As golden peace flowed through his fingertips into the girl¡¯s body, the opposite happened to Arzen. His body instantly lost vitality and grew cold. The Tersian Scriptures teach that as one ascends through higher miracles, the power of substitution (´úÚH) becomes stronger. ¡®The leader of the Ones Who Came... The healing power of Tersia doesn''t simply make sickness disappear.¡¯ It bears that pain and suffering in place of the one being healed. ¡®My sight... ah, my consciousness...¡¯ As his awareness sank rapidly into darkness, the boy, having spent all his strength, collapsed beside the girl. *** ¡°...Arzen!¡± ¡°...Eren!¡± ¡°...Where are you?¡± By the time Dave, Tom, and other villagers arrived at the path, a few hours had passed, and dusk was turning into night. ¡°Wait a second, that''s one of Arzen''s bugs!¡± ¡°What? A bee that big?¡± ¡°It''s one of Arzen¡¯s summoned creatures! It seems like it wants us to follow!¡± Bzzzz¡­! The largest and longest of the Void Bees led the villagers. The bee had already grown familiar with the villagers. ¡°Where is it taking us?¡± Deep within the path. To a location that would normally take a day or two to find after a thorough search. There, the boy and girl lay collapsed. ¡°What happened here? All the trees are knocked over.¡± ¡°This is Arzen''s way of breaking trees, isn''t it?¡± ¡°Could a monster have appeared?¡± The bee, having completed its mission of leading the villagers to that spot, halted its flight. And then, as if its task was complete, it dissipated into void matter and was sucked into the dimension of oblivion. ¡°Witch! We found them! It¡¯s Arzen and Eren!¡± The witch, riding her broom as worn and tattered as her body, came to the boy and girl. ¡°Haha, look at this. These two look just like siblings who ran away and fell asleep from exhaustion...¡± The villagers couldn''t help but smile. The boy and girl lay next to each other. Asleep, with peaceful smiles on their faces. The witch Zyra sensed the lingering echoes of battle in the air. The spirits were rampaging. She could feel the remnants of evil in Eren¡¯s body. However, that evil seemed to have been uprooted by something unknown. That mysterious force¡ªZyra sensed it from Arzen¡¯s now-vanished summoned creature, as well as from Arzen himself. ¡®Arzen, you did something. You did something to protect Eren from the evil that took all my disciples.¡¯ * * * Flames took shape. It was hard to describe their grandeur in just a few lines. However, the name that resonated in the current age would be . The flames landed just below the top of the Papal Tower, where light was waiting. ¡¸Sister!¡¹ Setsunen of the Thunder rushed forward with a simple smile and embraced Akirea tightly. The Thunder, who was revered for her benevolent dignity, was nothing more than a playful little sister in front of the Crimson Flame. The Crimson Flame kissed the Thunder''s forehead and smiled. ¡¸Nen!¡¹ The Crimson Flame¡¯s laughter was as transcendent as fire, and the Thunder¡¯s laughter was as pure as light. ¡¸How are the elders?¡¹ ¡¸They are well. They''ve been busy caring for the ailing Light Dragon of the Holy Flame every day, but such service brings them joy.¡¹ ¡¸I must meet the Light Dragon of the Holy Flame. There is something important I need to convey. Please inform them of my arrival.¡¹ ¡¸They already know, so you¡¯ll be granted an audience as soon as preparations are complete. But what brings you here, Sister?¡¹ Akirea told her younger sister about the tragedy that unfolded in that distant land and the events of the . ¡¸So, that happened.¡¹ ¡¸Yes¡­ In fact, something very sorrowful also happened here.¡¹ ¡¸Hmm?¡¹ ¡¸And the child you mentioned, Arzen, I know that name. I saw it in the memories of a brave soul who completed their mission and reached this place.¡¹ At that moment, the woman standing behind Akirea widened her eyes and stepped forward. ¡°He¡¯s alive?¡± The woman cried out in shock but quickly tried to compose herself and apologize. However, the Thunder gently shook her head. ¡¸There is no need to apologize, Kirke. In fact, I owe you an apology for not understanding your pain until now.¡¹ Tears welled up in Kirke¡¯s eyes once again. The had a way of moving hearts¡­ with their deep compassion. ¡¸Nen, is that child really alive?¡¹ The Crimson Flame urged an answer to Kirke¡¯s question. ¡¸Yes. He was using a strange¡­ neither magic, nor sorcery, nor miracle, but some other power. The memory is blurry, but yes, I¡¯m certain.¡¹ Kirke shook her head. ¡°No, that¡¯s not him! He only learned a few necessary miracles. To put it crudely, he was just trained as a miracle cannon¡­.¡± For a brief moment, Akirea thought she was finding clarity, but then furrowed her brow again at the more tangled puzzle in front of her. ¡®Could it be that child¡­? No, something doesn¡¯t add up. The stories don¡¯t align.¡¯ If Arzen had received power from the Void? That would explain how he survived alone in the . ¡®But if that child were truly an agent of the Void, how could he have helped move the stakes in the Forbidden Zone?¡¯ Was it all for deception? However, the power of the Void is something that cannot be hidden, no matter how one tries. ¡®The witch must have known, even if she witnessed it.¡¯ And if he were an agent of the Void? He should have killed his comrades to widen the dimensional rift and then protected that breach. It would be absurd to escort the transport. ¡®And the remnants of the power I sensed from that distant land¡­ they bore a similar scent to my father¡¯s¡­ This issue is more complicated than I thought.¡¯ Finally breaking free from her thoughts, the Crimson Flame grabbed the Thunder''s shoulder. ¡¸Nen, you must go to Mir immediately.¡¹ Mir is the affectionate name for the Blue Dragon, Mirngadia. Only the two of the ¡ªthe Crimson Flame and the Thunder¡ªcould call her by that name in this world. ¡¸To Mir?¡¹ The Blue Dragon, Mirengadia. The second leader of the White Dragon Legion, and the guardian of the World Tree. And the head of the Order of Light, the Zerenion. ¡¸Sister, Mir is currently...¡¹ ¡¸I know. She is connected to the , training to observe the future. But you can make contact with the World Tree to convey the current situation to Mir.¡¹ The Thunder considered the Crimson Flame¡¯s suggestion and then resolutely nodded. ¡¸Yes, I¡¯ll give it a try.¡¹ ¡¸Good. You¡¯re the most intelligent among us, so you¡¯ll come up with a way to resolve this situation.¡¹ ¡¸Should I issue a bounty on that boy, Arzen? If I command my disciples, we can secure him quickly.¡¹ The Thunder was the head of the former Inquisition, the ¡°Children of Gold.¡± However, since her appointment, inhumane tortures had ceased. The organization had been restructured into a more refined regulatory body. ¡¸Hmm.¡¹ The Crimson Flame seemed to ponder for a moment before shaking her head. ¡¸That way, he could vanish and cover his tracks. Kirke, would you like to search for him?¡¹ Kirke¡¯s eyes widened, then she bent deeply at the waist. ¡°If you entrust it to me¡­!¡± Akirea nodded solemnly. ¡¸I can hear the echoes of the former king. Hurry.¡¹ [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 60: Wintering (11) [Translator - Kiteretsu][Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 60: Wintering (11) It had been a fortnight since dealing with Witch Merry. By now, it was mid-February. Winter was coming to an end. The villagers didn¡¯t seem overly concerned about Merry. They said she was the type to vanish suddenly and then reappear. Arzen didn¡¯t say a word about her identity or the reason behind it. No one would believe him anyway. Instead, he decided to focus on his purpose for coming to this village: the final stage of the logging process. ¡®Hmm, the branches are mostly cleared, but the stumps are the problem...¡¯ If he intended to create a vineyard, he would need to uproot all of them. ¡®Only Barolus can pull out the stumps completely... but his power still weighs heavily on me.¡¯ Not to mention, Barolus was ultimately a distant relative. More often than not, he would crush the stumps rather than remove them. ¡®Continuing with Re Taripo would leave roots behind, making it a mess...¡¯ He thought about this as the logging process neared completion. However... The moment a worker bee landed on his shoulder, his concerns transformed into excitement and anticipation. ¡®Wha, what? The universal key?!¡¯ The power of the Void had awakened anew after consuming Merry. He still didn¡¯t know what conditions were needed to meet the universal key¡¯s requirements, but it was a good thing overall. For the entire day, Arzen neglected logging, sitting back against a stump, swallowing his saliva as he pondered the scriptures. ¡®Doubling the Void beings that seem to be stunted in growth?¡¯ It was then that he realized he was trying to strengthen Kaz to Arcturus. He noticed two keyholes on the underside of the lock. ¡®Ah, does that mean the unlocking of power doesn¡¯t rely on just one key?¡¯ If that were the case, what could he prioritize next...? No, he decided to leave it up to the Void¡¯s judgment this time as well. The Re Taripo bestowed by Lord Rodenkal was the answer. Therefore, he felt that following Rodenkal''s will again would lead him to the correct path. Shhhhhhhh...! The scriptures of the Void indicated precisely the next page after Barolus in the scriptures. ¡®So, strengthening Barolus, huh?¡¯ Kaz to Arcturus had also been growing in output limits and abilities alongside its enhancement. There was no reason not to apply this to Barolus as well. After a moment''s hesitation, Arzen decided to respect Rodenkal''s choice. Drrrrrrr... Clang! New power took residence within the Apostle¡¯s body through the universal key. It was fully permitted to manifest this new authority upon the land. At its core, inquiry is about respect. Curiosity stems from the respect and fascination one holds for another. The inquiry toward the ¡°Night of Oblivion¡± should also align with this definition. If it does not, be mindful and heed the warning, for the ¡°Night of Aberration¡± will soon devour you. Rea Barolus. The Void within your soul. Illuminate that gap with the light of enlightenment and embark on the journey with this power. Arzen felt his body, his mind, no, his entire soul, uplifted. ¡°It¡¯s different.¡± He truly felt sorry for Evakta, Re Taripo, but¡­ it was just so palpably clear. ¡°At this moment, the very specifications of the power inscribed in my soul... it¡¯s so overwhelming that it feels like I can¡¯t breathe... completely different.¡± Anticipation. Perhaps it was a shout mixed with respect. It drew obedience from beyond the dimension of the Void. ¡°Rea Barolus!¡± The dimensional rift from which Barolus emerged was several times wider than before. From both ends! The demon¡¯s hands appeared, drawing existence itself into aberration. ¡°With one hand, the possibilities are limited, but with both hands, the range of what can be done becomes limitless.¡± The power of the demon, reborn as Rea Barolus, was also swirling with boundless potential. ¡°To uproot the tree in one fell swoop...!¡± The demon¡¯s hands seized the stump that Arzen had just been leaning against, without a moment¡¯s hesitation. The roots buried deep in the ground were pulled up all at once. The earth cracked open, and dust rose thickly into the air. ¡°Truly the ultimate strength, the pinnacle of might, the supreme power...!¡± What kind of power would he demonstrate on the day he could pull that out completely? ¡°What can I say? Even that S-rank monster, the Hydra, was torn to shreds!¡± "Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!" "Ha, ha... huh?" ''What¡¯s this? Why am I so sleepy?'' ¡°Oh no... this lethargy, this drowsiness... so familiar...¡± ''Ah, I get it, yes...'' ''This is...'' ''Exactly like when I casted Unmeasurable Love...'' ¡°Crazy... it¡¯s the type that knocks you out with just one use... what was I expecting?¡± Arzen collapsed onto the dusty ground and fell asleep. *** ¡°It¡¯s still late winter, and you¡¯ll catch a cold sleeping anywhere like that.¡± As Arzen blew his nose, Eren admonished him. ¡°I have an overwhelming secret remedy. I was only pretending to catch a measly cold to prove it won¡¯t stop my logging.¡± Eren sighed. ¡°I¡¯ve brought some herbs good for colds. Using ginseng, turmeric, and ginger will warm you up and strengthen your immune system to help you recover quickly.¡± ¡°Ugh, it¡¯s disgusting.¡± ¡°Just kidding. It¡¯s poison. You seem like you want to die, so I thought I¡¯d let you die comfortably.¡± ¡°You crazy!¡± ¡°I was joking.¡± ¡°Really? I believe you?¡± ¡°Bitter things are good for your health. I¡¯ll make turmeric porridge tomorrow because of you, Arzen. Eat something else quickly to recover. Well then.¡± Eren and Arzen had always been close, but after the Merry incident, they grew even closer, appearing almost like siblings to the villagers. They often teased, chatted, and laughed at each other over trivial matters. Villagers commented that it was the first time they¡¯d seen Eren laugh so much. However, spring was coming. Arzen had intended to survive the winter and then leave from the very beginning. ¡°Settling down somewhere is only a thought for after I become an existence that poses no threat to life in this world...¡± In other words, he resolved to think about it only after reaching the Diamond rank. Arzen aimed to complete the logging to fulfill his winter training goals. Achieving a final success was important. ¡°With Rea Barolus¡¯s release, the manifestation time and energy consumption of Barolus have significantly improved... at this rate, by the time spring comes, I¡¯ll be able to uproot everything!¡± If he just mindlessly used Rea Barolus to uproot roots and faint for about ten days? The process of removing the largest obstacle, the big tree, would be completed. ¡°Using Rea Barolus requires the limits of my power with each use. This will also serve as power training!¡± By then, Eren would also participate in the logging. She wouldn¡¯t be helping with the logging, but rather waiting beside Arzen under the pretense of ¡°today¡¯s learned spell training.¡± Then, when Arzen fainted after using Rea Barolus, she would cover him with a blanket and cast warmth spells. ¡°...¡± Eren sat beside the sleeping Arzen, gazing intently at his face. A faint smile lingered on the girl¡¯s lips. Before long, Tom and Dave arrived with a cart to take away the logged trees. ¡°Eren!¡± ¡°Is Arzen asleep again?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t help but think he¡¯s amazing. To finish something that no villager would even dare to attempt, and all within this winter.¡± Arzen was indeed an outstanding child. Even though the requests for the Festival of Shelters had ended, he was still giving his all until the very last moment. This had created a greater fondness for him throughout the entire village. Tom handed over five packed lunches. The villagers had requested them to be brought. ¡°Thank you.¡± Eren accepted them on behalf of Arzen. Such ingredients were a great help in enriching the meals at the table. ¡°Spring will soon arrive, and the brewery will open again. Why don¡¯t you show Arzen around before he leaves? Just one last time.¡± *** February was coming to an end. It was around the time when the villagers began to take turns cleaning the brewery and dusting off the place. ¡°Our village, Marind, gets incredibly busy from summer to autumn, especially during the grape festival season.¡± Normally, the brewery maintained a strict rule against allowing outsiders in due to its brewing secrets, but Arzen¡¯s case was different. Eren showed Arzen around the interior. ¡°Hmm, a grape festival...¡± The grape festival was a celebration held together with the neighboring village of Lechol. Each village would nominate a cute, beautiful, or tall representative to compete in a dance battle. As twilight descended and the evening glow awakened brilliantly. When both heaven and earth were covered in the light of dusk. It was a festival to eat and drink grapes and wine together. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°These are the labels commemorating the winners from each year.¡± On the glass shelf were wine bottles, each with a different label design. ¡°And this one is a picture from when the Flame Lord Akirea won in our village during his childhood.¡± There was an adorably cute child smiling in the arms of a man, a being so rare that it seemed almost unbelievable. Given the context, it must be Yonghyeon. Arzen squinted his eyes. ¡°No matter how I look at it, isn¡¯t this a lie? I saw a wyvern in Karshiko before coming here.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Eren¡¯s eyes widened for the first time. She looked envious. In the eyes of witches, dragons were objects of admiration. ¡°Just looking into its eyes almost made me wet myself. But this Akirea here is a true dragon. Even if it was as a baby, does this make sense?¡± ¡°Yes, that was a joke.¡± ¡°I knew it!¡± ¡°Actually, it¡¯s true.¡± ¡°Damn you!¡± ¡°It¡¯s real. The sales of this wine haven¡¯t been surpassed since then. Even now, if we released a commemorative edition with that label, it would sell out instantly.¡± As Eren carefully placed the wine bottle back on the shelf, he said. ¡°In short, our village will be much busier starting from spring. It would be a lot easier if you were with us, Arzen.¡± It felt like Eren was intentionally moving slowly with that gesture. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. To avoid making eye contact. In that moment, Arzen was reminded of his farewell with Ulman and Lok in Karshiko. ¡°Pfft, looks like you¡¯re completely enamored by my charm. But I¡¯m a public resource, a being that cannot stay in one place.¡± He had no desire for a melodramatic farewell. From his parting with Sia¡¯s party and Ronnie, he realized that all good farewells should happen quickly. Then it would truly feel like they might run into each other again by chance someday. Parting with Lok or Ulman hadn¡¯t been a pleasant experience. ¡°Haha.¡± Eren turned away, smiling. It was the first time he saw her smile so openly. ¡°I was actually joking too.¡± Arzen chuckled, feeling a bittersweet sense of humor. ¡°Yeah, this works.¡± On the day they finished the brewery tour, Arzen sat on a stump he had left near the summit in preparation for his last day. He had cleared the forest neatly, and his view was now unobstructed. ¡°In spring, the villagers of Marind will plant grapevines here.¡± He sat alone on that stump for a long time. Exhaling white vapor, he gazed up at the moonlight in the night sky, rhythmically swinging his legs. It was a truly strange feeling to have such a clear trace of what he had done throughout the winter. After sitting there all night, he returned to the cabin at dawn when the twilight began to thicken. Somehow, the witch was already waiting in front of the cabin. ¡°Are you leaving?¡± She didn¡¯t shout as usual. Arzen nodded. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll take the first boat today.¡± The witch stepped a bit closer. She set her staff down and gently touched Arzen¡¯s cold cheeks with both hands. Her hands were truly warm. ¡°O Parent of Light, bless this child''s journey, may there be no worries or sorrows, and grant joy that he can bear tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, and the day after that. Durciel.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°Wherever you go, make sure to eat plenty. So you can grow tall. And be sure to chew well to avoid any trouble.¡± Inside the bag the witch handed Arzen were rice ball lunchboxes enough for three meals a day and a paper bag. The bag contained a request form. Not only was there a signature confirming the completion of the request, but the back was filled with a lengthy note. Arzen¡¯s deeds in the village were written out in the witch¡¯s meticulous handwriting. As he read further, his eyes began to sting, and he stopped. ¡°Seriously, I did these things just for my own sake. Why go through the trouble of writing something like this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s for my own sake as well.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to describe the majesty of Arzen like this. It actually takes away from the charm.¡± ¡°Arzen, I will not forget what you¡¯ve done for me.¡± There was something in the witch¡¯s tone. It felt like she knew even the things Arzen hadn¡¯t told anyone. However, Arzen chose not to dwell on it. ¡°Take care. Please send my regards to Eren and the villagers.¡± ¡°Alright, go on. Thank you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll stop by whenever I have time.¡± As Arzen left the cabin and walked down the slope, he pulled out the lunchbox. He had been awake all night, and he was hungry. It felt as if the lunchbox had just been made by the witch herself, as the grains of rice still held warmth. With just a light seasoning of salt and minced meat placed in the center, it was simple but very satisfying. Even if it hadn¡¯t tasted good, it would have still felt good. To set out on a new adventure with such a warm send-off from someone was truly a blessing. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros]