Ake Town

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

"Of course! Ake Town is not far ahead. It belongs to Lord Wilson. They say he took part in the Hedge Wood Battle back then and was personally awarded a medal by the Queen..."

"Is that so?"

Li Wen's eyes flickered. Her destination was within the Kingdom of Arthur, and it was not even far from Ake Town.

The cart creaked onward, laden mostly with grain, firewood, and local specialties. Mr. and Mrs. Regan needed to take them to town to exchange for money and prepare for winter. The animal pulling the cart was something Li Wen had never seen before. She guessed it was likely some breed produced after an alchemical or Flesh Cult creation escaped into the wild and crossbred with wild animals.

She had been lucky. The moment she entered the game, she encountered Mr. and Mrs. Regan. After explaining that she had become separated from her family and gotten lost in the forest, they had gladly offered her a ride to the nearest town.

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

"Quit talking nonsense. Who in the entire Black Dragon Territory doesn't know that Wilson loves boasting after he drinks? Other than the Queen herself, who knows whether he was really a deserter or a hero!"

The exceptionally burly Mrs. Regan slapped Regan on the back, signaling him to focus on driving so they would not fail to reach Ake Town before dark.

Though Lord Wilson was the one being mocked, Regan's face turned red and then pale. However, his slight frame left him no courage to act up before Mrs. Regan, who stood two heads taller than him. He could only mutter, "You can't put it that way either. At least he's especially generous when he treats people to drinks..."

Li Wen did not care whose opinion was right. She was currently recalling the information she knew about Ake Town and the entire Black Dragon Territory.

In her previous life, Li Wen had never come to this remote border town. Her only impression of it was that the Black Dragon Territory might truly have a Black Dragon. Back then, The Tide had erupted within the territory and destroyed the entire region, though some claimed it had actually been a disaster caused by a Black Dragon.

Li Wen did not know whether that was true, but her goal had nothing to do with the Black Dragon, and the disaster would only occur after the crossing anyway, so it was not a major problem... perhaps?

As they drew closer to Ake Town, the narrow, bumpy path gradually became a broad, level road. They also encountered a few pedestrians and caravans along the way, all headed for the same destination: Ake Town.

Regan said that Ake Town was the only major town nearby and an important transportation hub. Many outside merchant caravans passed through it, and adventurers or Mercenaries arrived from time to time.

When noon came, Ake Town's weathered yet sturdy walls appeared before Li Wen. The town was often harassed by monsters, especially during the transition from autumn to winter, when many monsters would rush into town to attack and plunder. That made the walls necessary.

Ake Town was the transportation hub of the Black Dragon Territory. Normally, one had to pay an entry tax to enter town. It was not much, just one penny per person, though additional fees were charged according to the weight of any goods. Mr. and Mrs. Regan were kind enough to pay for Li Wen.

"If you're looking for someone, you can ask around at the Hop Tavern in the West District. But it's full of damned drunks and money-grubbing leeches. Mr. Morgan, the mayor of Ake Town, is a good man. Tell him about your troubles, and he'll surely help you somehow."

Before they parted, Uncle Regan gave Li Wen some advice. The more emotional Mrs. Regan gave Li Wen a bear hug and repeatedly urged her to stay safe. She also told Li Wen to remember to visit them in Goldstone Village someday, promising to make her delicious oat cakes.

Li Wen could not help sighing at how overly enthusiastic they were, yet she was also a little touched.

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

Though partings were always sad, Li Wen had not forgotten her own goal.

Rather than follow Uncle Regan's advice to visit the Tavern or seek out the mayor of Ake Town, she asked passersby for the location of the church.

The Kingdom of Arthur belonged to the Order Faction, so its mainstream church was naturally the Holy Candlemas Church, a major faith devoted to Radiance. Nearly every moderately large town in the Kingdom of Arthur had one of their churches or mission houses.

In World Tree: Origins, the first requirement for players who wanted to level up and grow stronger was to possess a class, equivalent to a profession in other games. Unlike other games, however, obtaining a class in World Tree: Origins was extremely difficult. Players generally had to spend a long time learning the corresponding skills before they could acquire one.

For example, if a player learned swordsmanship from an old soldier or instructor, then after a few days, they would most likely gain a class called Swordsman or Guard.

Most players were probably still in this stage. They worked during the day to earn money for food and lodging—yes, the game had a hunger mechanic, and players needed to eat too—then spent money at night to hire teachers with the appropriate abilities to teach them skills.

Some more cunning players set their sights higher. They went to places such as the Alchemist Association, Secret Scroll Bookstore, and Blood Chapel, places whose names alone suggested something extraordinary, hoping to get lucky. If they managed to obtain a powerful class, they would soar.

But Li Wen knew that was wishful thinking.

At present, at least within the Order Faction, supernatural forces still held an evasive 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' unrestrained nature and ability to resurrect.

Because of that impression, for at least the next month, these supernatural forces would rarely accept players as members, much less grant them lineages and guide them onto a path.

Thanks to the immense popularity of World Tree: Origins, Li Wen encountered quite a few players along the way even in a frontier town like Ake Town. The reason she could identify them at a glance was because their behavior and words were simply... far too bizarre.

For instance, over this short stretch of road alone, she had already seen no fewer than three players trying to speed themselves up by jumping, rolling on the ground, or performing sliding tackles. Naturally, this achieved nothing besides drawing attention. Other players stopped everyone they saw, attempting to obtain quests from these so-called NPCs, earning nothing but eye-rolls in return.

Honestly, if these players had not paid the entry tax as well, the town Guards would have thrown them all out long ago. But as long as they did not break any laws, the Guards could only offer verbal warnings and let them continue their performance art.

Only when Li Wen arrived at the church did she realize that this place was even worse.

Countless people crowded before the church gates. Calling it a sea of people would not be an exaggeration; it was packed to the brim. Most were players, while some had come to watch the commotion, and others had simply had their path blocked by the crowd...