Ake Town

"So this is still within the Kingdom of Arthur?"

"Of course! Just ahead is Ake Town, Lord Wilson's territory. They say he fought in the Hedge Wood Battle back in the day and was personally awarded a medal by the Queen..."

"Is that so?"

Li Wen's eyes flickered. Her goal was indeed within the Kingdom of Arthur, and not far from this very Ake Town.

The cart creaked and groaned as it rolled along, loaded with grain, firewood, and local specialties. Mr. and Mrs. Regan needed to haul them into town for cash to prepare for winter. Pulling the cart was an animal Li Wen had never seen before—she guessed it was some hybrid bred from alchemical or Flesh Cult creations that had escaped into the wild and mated with local wildlife.

She'd gotten lucky. Right after logging into the game, she'd run into Mr. and Mrs. Regan. After explaining that she'd been separated from her family and lost in the forest, the Regans were happy to give her a ride to the nearest town.

Of course, that was also because Li Wen currently looked like nothing more than a frail little girl.

"Less with the chatter. Everyone in the whole Black Dragon Territory knows Wilson loves to brag after a few drinks. Besides the Queen herself, who knows if he's really a deserter or a hero!"

The exceptionally stout Mrs. Regan slapped Mr. Regan on the back, signaling him to focus on driving and not let it get dark before they reached Ake Town.

Though the jab was aimed at Lord Wilson, Mr. Regan's face flushed red and white. But with his scrawny frame, he didn't dare talk back to his wife, who towered a head above him. He just muttered, "Can't say that either—at least he's generous when buying people drinks..."

Li Wen didn't care whose view was right. She was busy recalling everything she knew about Ake Town and the Black Dragon Territory as a whole.

In her past life, Li Wen had never visited this border town. Her only impression of it was that the Black Dragon Territory might really have a black dragon. Back then, a Tide had erupted within the territory, wiping out the entire region. But some said it was actually a black dragon that caused the disaster.

Li Wen didn't know the truth, but her goal had nothing to do with black dragons, and the disaster happened after her transmigration anyway, so it shouldn't be a problem... probably.

As they drew closer to Ake Town, the narrow, bumpy path widened into a smooth, spacious road. Along the way, they passed a few pedestrians and carts, all heading to the same destination: Ake Town.

Regan said Ake Town was the only major town nearby and an important transport hub. Many foreign merchant caravans passed through, and adventurers or mercenaries showed up from time to time.

By noon, Ake Town's worn but sturdy walls came into view. The town was often harassed by monsters, especially around the turn of autumn and winter, when many creatures would raid and pillage. So the walls were a necessity.

As the transport hub of the Black Dragon Territory, Ake Town usually charged an entry tax—not much, just a penny per person, with an extra fee based on cargo weight. Mr. and Mrs. Regan were good people; they paid for Li Wen.

"If you're looking for someone, you can ask around at the Hop Tavern in the West District, but that place is full of damn drunks and money-grubbing leeches. The town mayor, Mr. Morgan, is a good man. Tell him your troubles, and he'll help you out somehow."

Before parting, Uncle Regan gave Li Wen some advice. The more emotional Mrs. Regan bear-hugged her, repeatedly telling her to stay safe and insisting she visit them in Goldstone Village later, where she'd prepare a delicious oat cake.

Li Wen couldn't help but wonder if they were being overly warm, but she also felt a little touched.

"Thank you very much. If I get the chance, I definitely will."

Though parting was always a bit sad, Li Wen didn't forget her goal.

Instead of following Uncle Regan's advice to go to the tavern or find the town mayor, she asked a passerby for directions to the church.

The Kingdom of Arthur was a nation of the Order Faction, so the mainstream church was naturally the great sect that served Radiance: the Holy Candlemas Church. In the Kingdom of Arthur, any decent-sized town would have at least one of their churches or missionary posts.

In World Tree: Origins, for players to level up and grow stronger, the first requirement was to obtain a Class—equivalent to a job in other games. Unlike other games, getting a Class in World Tree: Origins was extremely difficult. Players generally had to study corresponding skills over a long period to earn one.

For example, if a player learned swordsmanship from a veteran or instructor, after a few days they'd likely receive a Class like Swordsman or Guard.

Most players were still stuck in this process. They worked during the day to earn money for food and shelter—yes, the game had a hunger mechanic; players had to eat—and at night, they paid to hire teachers with relevant skills to train them.

Some craftier players aimed higher. They'd try their luck at places with names like "Alchemist Association," "Secret Scroll Bookstore," or "Blood Chapel"—names that practically screamed significance. If they landed a powerful Class, they'd be set.

But Li Wen knew that was wishful thinking.

At this point in the game, at least on the Order side, supernatural factions still held a reserved and ambiguous attitude toward players. On one hand, they coveted the players' ability to level up without limits; on the other, they were wary of the players' reckless nature and resurrection ability.

Because of this impression, for at least a month, these supernatural factions would rarely recruit players as members, let alone grant them lineages or guide them onto a Path.

Thanks to World Tree: Origins' massive popularity, even in a border town like Ake Town, Li Wen ran into plenty of players along the way. She recognized them at a glance because their behavior and chatter were just... too bizarre.

For instance, in just this short stretch, she'd already seen at least three players trying to jump or roll and slide on the ground to speed up their movement. Naturally, it did nothing but draw stares. Others stopped anyone they met, trying to get quests from these so-called NPCs, earning nothing but eye rolls in return.

To be honest, if these players hadn't paid their entry tax, the town guards would have kicked them all out. But since they hadn't caused any trouble, the guards could only give verbal warnings and let them keep performing their antics.

When Li Wen reached the church, she found it was even worse.

A massive crowd clogged the church entrance. It wasn't quite a sea of people, but it was packed to the brim. Most were players, some were onlookers, and others were just blocked from passing through...