Chapter 303
"No, but you've been eating the whole way, aren't you afraid of gaining weight?"
Gaining weight?
The girl puffed out her cheeks, transforming into Mushroom, and coldly replied, "For someone with an extraordinary physique, gaining weight is impossible. Please don't make such meaningless jokes."
"Don't take it so seriously. By the way, do you really like this?"
Frieren remained silent. A burst of flame shot from the mouth of the Clown beside her, drawing enthusiastic applause. She recalled her past journeys; no town had ever been more bustling than this one.
"It's all about getting used to it. No matter how good the dungeons are, they're not home. In terms of fun, none of them can compare to PX5."
That's a very practical answer.
Yuki smiled wryly, walked to the fountain in the center of town, sat down, and quietly enjoyed the acrobatic performance not far away, as well as the countless flirtatious glances thrown his way.
This instance was novel and interesting to him, much more interesting than those bugs.
Frieren sat down next to her and started eating fried nuts again; she was really busy.
This Yuki been so peaceful in a dungeon, which felt strange. She secretly glanced at Fei Lun, but didn't know what to say.
"Last time you talked about the division of power. Who are the players in the Aether Particles that are beyond the monster level?"
The girl, who had been fidgeting like a squirrel, paused, realizing she'd forgotten to ask the man something.
He knows nothing about the Aether Particles, yet he dares to protect me.
"There are quite a few. As far as I know, there are great sages, Ancient Magician, Deathwing, and the Graveyard King, each with their own faction."
What abstract names they all have.
Yuki noticed that players in this new phase didn't like wearing aliases, but had many impressive-sounding nicknames. He carefully considered these names.
"Tell me about the Monster Front."
"Yes, the owner of the Monster Front is Deathwing, a dragon."
Dragon? Deathwing?
"Is this dragon black, and does it like to breathe fire?"
Frieren looked at her strangely and blurted out, "How did you know?"
Holy crap, it really is Deathwing Neltharion? Does that mean the Aether Particles includes 'World of Warcraft'?
Yuki's expression turned extremely ugly; this was a high-magic world, after all. Then, seeing that Frieren's expression also darkened, he waved his hand dismissively.
"I'm not panicking. No matter how powerful it is, it won't come over now and burn me to ashes. According to the rules of the game, the people of its hometown also have to start from the Transcendental Grade level to regain their power."
"Actually, you should reconsider. Providing a place to stay is enough. Getting too close to me will only cause trouble."
"Wouldn't I be at a huge loss? Don't worry, I have even more trouble than you." Yuki gently patted the girl's shoulder. He was the type who didn't mind having too much debt, as if Deathwing had come to his territory.
"By the way, how serious is your trouble?"
"Uh, the Monster Front is vengeful. I killed one of their people, and they might track me down across instances."
"I killed their people too, so it's uncertain whether they'll chase you or me." Yuki was surprisingly relaxed. Since he was going to be dealt with anyway, having another ally was always a good thing, so he simply extended his hand.
"Besides the same dungeon, there are the same enemies. Let's work together to keep that Monster Front from messing with us!"
This person really knows how to comfort people.
Frieren glanced at Yuki's hand, feeling a sweet warmth in his heart. This was originally a transaction: the other party provided shelter, and he provided power.
You can experience it for yourself. From Yuki to Hiyori, no one treated her as a transaction. Everyone tried their best to make Frieren feel a sense of belonging and give the wandering traveler a home.
"You're a good person, and so are Miss Mai Sakurajima and the others. Sometimes I feel it's all too abnormal, like I'm maintaining vigilance as if in a dream, but no matter what, I can't find any falsehood, or any value in being deceived."
This is because they've had too many hard times; once they start living a good life, they become suspicious and paranoid.
Yuki understood this mentality, but he didn't want to explain it.
Do you like this team?
As soon as I finished speaking, I felt a delicate, soft, and warm touch in my palm.
"Certainly."
Chapter 3: The Flame Pillar? Kento Nanami? Yomi Isayama? (5K)
Ding ding ding--
The tolling of the bells made the already restless town even more bustling, with bars packed Night Capital and street performances never stopping.
The merchants, who had made a fortune, looked on with regret. Such a grand event only happened once every seventy years; there was never a time when so many powerful wizards and nobles would gather in one place.
They were savvy businessmen; before the tower even opened, various clinics and medical stalls were already up and running.
"Compared to the previous instances, this is perfectly normal."
Yuki yawned. Last night, he and Frieren hadn't done anything; they just wandered around and eventually settled on a hotel.
Of course, since there can't be two suns in the sky, it means two rooms were booked.
The town was teeming with important figures, like brothel owners, who would extend invitations to him whenever they saw him, which was incredibly annoying. Besides, he didn't see any other players.
Players at this level are already immune to things like venting their desires, and they are even less willing to come into contact with their own kind too early.
"These are the medicines you've prepared?" Yuki looked at the hundreds of burly men in front of him, with cattle and horses piled high with various supplies around him.
"Yes, this is the Soul Crystal Bottle." Peggy took out the small, azure bottle and handed it to Yuki. The latter looked at it but did not receive any game notifications, only a faint energy reaction.
Switching to the Devil's Vision, the fluctuations in this energy were similar in frequency to those in the air and on the gems on the mercenary's weapon.
"For drinking?"
"How could that be? The human body can't withstand the energy inside. It's used to irrigate the Soul Crystal and replenish its energy urgently, but it's best to use it sparingly, as this will reduce the purity of the Soul Crystal."
That's a strange usage; I thought it was the blue bottle from Western fantasy.
He smashed it, pulled out his Hunter's Blunderbuss, and fired a shot; sure enough, it ignited.
It's soul energy, but like the 'Fire Seed,' it can't be incorporated into the Demon Heart. I don't know if my seniors can use it.
Yuki bored, Yuuki didn't bother to think about where the energy came from and simply asked, "What do you mean by saying there are enemies besides monsters?"
"Oh, those are the opponents of the Tower Explorer Alliance, saying the tower shouldn't be activated. They're just a bunch of bastards who can't stand to see others succeed." Peggy's face was full of hatred, as if she had a grudge against him.
Oh, so these must be the Rebels from the backstory.
Yuki recalled the previous introduction; well, these Rebels were definitely not the mainstream.
Commoners need towers so they can enjoy grand festivals; merchants need towers so they can make a decade's worth of profits in one go; wizards need towers because they are a shortcut to upward social mobility. Everyone is born with the talent of a 'wizard' and will devote all their energy to the adventure of becoming a 'tower explorer'.
Nobles also need towers, to leave wizards with dreams, which is better than them being idle and causing chaos everywhere. Each selection is a leap in class, accompanied by countless transactions.
So why would anyone oppose something that is entirely beneficial and without any harm?
'Find a way to capture a few Rebels alive.'
Yuki glanced at Frieren, his thoughts quite simple. Just then, a loud horn sounded, turning the already bustling town into a frenzy.
No one from the Alliance showed up, but the king who ruled the area came in person with his nobles. Banners fluttered in the town center, a high platform was erected, and the explorers who were about to set off prayed for blessings.
At this point, Yuki realized that there weren't many actual tower explorers; the largest teams were only five people, accompanied by mercenaries or even the kingdom's regular army in full uniform.
According to Hiyori, it is possible to cooperate with the nobles who explore the tower.
Yuki looked down at the faces of everyone on the stage, scanning each person with the same energy fluctuations. They were neither weak nor strong. Their team composition was similar to the Western fantasy adventure team in her memory, with at least a hundred elite soldiers attached to them as the core.
A wizard wielding a sword, a wizard with a staff, a wizard riding a warhorse...
Those tower explorers were even more ornately equipped, though they wore all sorts of strange decorations.
There are necklaces made of finger bones, skulls on breastplates—these look odd on standard Western fantasy equipment. But when switched to Devil's Vision, these bones appear as tiny Black Hole, seemingly pure in this world.
"These are the strongest individuals selected by each faction?"
"Not necessarily. The selection process is full of deals. Did you see that blond youth? He's the kingdom's second prince. And that one with the staff is the illegitimate daughter of the Grand Duke next door. They've formed Alliance." Peggy's face was full of disdain. The Alliance was only responsible for allocating the spots. Nobles had a much greater advantage than commoners. No matter how talented you were, you couldn't compete with others who had better equipment and more helpers.
Yuki slightly. He had inquired about it. The so-called selection was not simply a competition; there were many shady dealings involved. Then, each noble family would train a son to participate, or if that didn't work, they would adopt a son.
It's touted as a shortcut to upward social mobility, but in reality, most of the benefits end up rotting inside the pot.
"This has been a huge help to me. If it were as fair as the 'Calamity of Blood,' it would probably select only battle-hardened monster-level experts." Yuki muttered to himself. There's nothing new in this world, and this is advantageous for the players.
That blond-haired, very handsome second prince possessed monster-level strength, but such power was too weak; even Frieren could kill him single-handedly.
"Aren't you really going to say hello?" Peggy rubbed her hands together, nervously but kindly reminding her, "If you're too disrespectful, you might get targeted. Tower explorers can cooperate, but they're more often adversaries. If you guys start fighting each other, I wouldn't dare get involved."
His eyes were full of expectation, though it was unclear whether he was hoping Yuki would agree or refuse.
"They wouldn't dare ambush me halfway, would they?"
"Uh, not really. The Alliance has rules that prohibit fighting each other before entering the tower for the first time; otherwise, you'll be disqualified from exploring the tower again."
The first time, meaning if I go in and then come out, I'm not protected and my spot is revoked. This thing has no restrictions on players.
Yuki was relieved and waved his hand.
"I'm not interested, and I don't need it. Tell everyone to follow us; we're going to the tower."
Players finish the main storyline, pack their bags, and leave. And you're going to take revenge on them?
"Your Majesty, the chosen explorer of the tower did not come as expected. This is extremely impolite."
The departure of hundreds of people was clearly seen from the high platform. In the Red Earth Continent, towers are strategic resources, which is why every kingdom cherishes its quota.
"How many groups of Chosen Tower Explorers are there within the kingdom?" asked the white-haired king, holding a golden cup, his triangular eyes glancing at the departing group.
"There are two groups now, and both of them have been very rude."
"The Tower of Asura is an asset of our Meso Kingdom, but unless they are connected to the Rebels, don't provoke them lightly." He turned his gaze to the audience below, where there were five groups of tower explorers. Even though the kingdom only had one spot, the tower was within its borders.
The tower explorers selected by the neighboring duchies and city-states have all formed an alliance with them. Except for one team of tower explorers dressed in black robes who are directly under the Alliance and are not under their control, the other teams have clear tasks and their spoils are divided proportionally.
What era are we living in? Still thinking about activating the tower to acquire the gods' assets?
These human forces are the complete opposite of the 'Calamity of Blood'; they talk about glory, but their hearts are full of business.
At the same time, Yuki entered the mountains, where the vegetation was lush and the streams flowed, making it a good place for camping in spring.
The shadows of the trees swayed, and birdsong filled the air. Yuki rode on Magical Beasts that resembled both a bull and a horse, admiring the surrounding scenery with great interest, but he could hear Hiyori's gentle report in his ear.
The neighboring country is a duchy called 'Fulleda'. The Grand Duke's invitation to them was not for something as trivial as obtaining genetic information, but rather to propose an alliance.
The duchy provides all the necessary assistance, dispatching its most elite regular army to clear the perimeter. In return, Mai Sakurajima will help their explorers once they enter the tower and ensure the harvest is transported out before the tower is activated.
This is not a tower exploration adventure at all; it's a hunt where, every seventy years, various forces on the Red Earth Continent reap a heavy harvest.
'No wonder these natives didn't consider changing their target; they were already prepared. It would be best if they could complete the second phase and obtain the Witch God's legacy; if not, they could still make a good profit.'
Yuki turned his head and met Frieren's gaze for a moment. The latter seemed unsurprised, finding this behavior more in line with human nature.
The tower explorers never succeeded; they were all wiped out every time. Wouldn't it have been better for them to become sacrifices for human progress?
Yuki didn't bother with sarcasm. His strategy was completely opposite to his senior's. Since the natives considered the tower their private property, it was clear what to do about their rudeness.
It's not bad to start with reputation at 'hostile', but honestly, these kingdoms are too weak.
"There are no immortal species on the Red Earth Continent. The energy particles in the air are harmful. Ordinary people do not live past fifty. Even wizards who can wield this power will be corrupted and will not live past seventy, no matter how powerful they are. After entering old age, their physical condition will decline rapidly. Therefore, there is no issue of the reclusive old monsters you are worried about."
"Wizards are divided into four levels according to their strength. The mercenary next to you named Peggy is a level two wizard, which corroborates the information. Tower explorers generally have the aptitude of a level one wizard, which is roughly equivalent to the strength of a player at the level of Transcendental Grade III to Monster I."
"The monsters on the continent are called Witch Beasts. Legend has it that they are formed from the flesh and blood of the Witch God. They produce something called 'Soul Crystal,' which is the source of the wizard's power. Yes, it's the kind you see on mercenaries and various creations."
"By the way, the documents also mention a type of human called the 'Soulless Ones.' There's very little information about them. They're born unable to use Soul Crystal and are generally persecuted. There are rumors that they're connected to the Rebels."
Hiyori activated the 'Shared Reading' feature. Yuki appeared to be riding a horse, but in his mind he was actually attending a meeting, with virtual images of everyone in front of him.
This is somewhat similar to Johnny Silverhand's Cyber Conference, but it is fundamentally different from the Sea of Data, and it is also the premise for Yuki increasingly bold in forming groups.
Everyone was so lifelike, and there was no delay at all. Frieren looked surprised, realizing that she had underestimated this most unassuming girl.
The sense of belonging to a team comes not only from comfort, but also from the player team's high level of professionalism. The reason why Miss Mai Sakurajima agreed to the alliance was because she had her eye on Grand Duke Fulleda's identity as a 'scholar'. Their condition was to gain access to the largest library on the Red Earth Continent, and then the terrifying thing happened.
Shiina Hiyori activated her special ability, using the Void Puppet to split herself into four and begin reading. In just one night, she extracted a massive amount of information from the sea of books. No wonder Yuki Sorajima was so idle that she wandered around aimlessly with him; it turned out that someone had been gathering intelligence all along.
People may deceive you, but books won't. Even if one book has a problem, you can definitely find the Truth by comparing it with a hundred others. Add in Future Deduction, and it becomes a supercomputer that can actually run.
"Well done, I've pretty much figured out the basics of dungeons. Do you have any information on that 'Witch God'?" Yuki's expression was calm; this was just basic stuff for Hiyori.