Teleportation

Lucian took Melina back to the Grace at Gatefront.

Lucian opened the map fragment--unlike in the game, this map was buried beneath the stone monument.

Perhaps to prevent it from being blown away by the wind, or perhaps to avoid being discovered by the soldiers.

In any case, this predecessor left behind this tattered map fragment and a line of text on the back.

"If you have found this map, I hope it can help you. If possible, I hope you leave a copy to help the next person."

It was unknown from what era the map was left. Although the edges were tattered, the drawings and handwriting upon it were still clearly visible.

This map also possessed no magic; the Graces touched before did not manifest on the map like they did in the game.

Lucian handed this map to Melina.

He pointed to the general location of the Church of Elleh on the map.

"I'd like to make a trip here. I have a touched site of Grace there, is that all right?"

Melina took the map and examined it for a moment.

"I can help you redraw the map onto a magical parchment and bind it to you so that the Graces you've touched can be displayed on the map."

"Oh? There's such a thing? Then I'll leave it to you."

Melina rummaged through the saddlebag on Torrent's back, pulled out a huge roll of parchment, and flattened it on the ground.

She then produced various items engraved with arcane runes, knelt on the ground, and began sketching onto the parchment.

Looking at Melina's dedicated profile, Lucian hesitated, but still spoke up:

"Should we find a more convenient place with tables and chairs or something? It looks very tiring for you like this."

Melina shook her head.

"No need. Since I said I would fulfill the duties of a maiden, naturally I will do my utmost, and I am not that delicate a person."

"Besides, you are the one who needs to fight and is relatively tired; work like this is nothing."

Lucian said nothing more. Melina had her own perseverance, which he had already experienced back in the game.

He just quietly looked at Melina's profile.

How wonderful it would be if you could live for yourself...

Lucian couldn't help thinking.

"Lucian..."

Melina's voice interrupted Lucian's thoughts.

"Hm? What is it?"

"Could you stop staring at me all the time?"

Melina glanced sidelong at Lucian.

"Ah, sorry, I'll pay attention."

Lucian thought about it—indeed, from Melina's perspective, they had just met, and staring at someone all the time really was a bit creepy.

Melina continued to lower her head and draw on the parchment.

Lucian's gaze had been fixed on her just now, making her feel a little uneasy.

Especially when she recalled the scene last night where he firmly held her hand.

All the knowledge and memories remaining in Melina's mind were related to her mission; no one had ever taught her how to get along with people.

In other words, it was beyond the syllabus, and Melina didn't know how to react.

However, when he uttered those words about protecting her, for some reason, Melina was actually a little happy.

"Hm? This is..."

A coordinate hidden by arcane runes on the map fragment was discovered by Melina.

Lucian had turned his head away as soon as Melina finished speaking; he didn't want to be a creep and ruin his favorability.

He fed Rowa Fruit picked from a bush to Torrent.

Watching Torrent eat with relish, Lucian tasted one too.

Mm, a horse's taste buds really were quite different from a human's, and Lucian silently removed this fruit from his emergency rations.

Patting Torrent's smooth coat, Lucian began planning his next route.

He would return to the Church of Elleh first, sell all his unneeded equipment to Kale, which should fetch quite a few Runes. Added to the Runes from farming mobs just now, he wondered if he could level up twice more.

It would be best if he could meet Ranni the Witch at the Church of Elleh, so he could get the Spirit Calling Bell for free.

But Lucian didn't hold out hope for that. Ranni only knew someone was riding Torrent because of intelligence.

And now he had yet to make a name for himself, plus the eyewitnesses at Gatefront were all dead.

No matter how strong Ranni's intelligence network was, it was impossible for her to track him down today just because he got Torrent yesterday.

Ranni and Torrent's former master had a relationship, but clearly not to the extent of being able to sense Torrent's location.

It might happen in a few days, or she might not show up looking for him like in the game.

He stopped thinking about Ranni, since there would be plenty of opportunities to approach her anyway.

After returning from selling his items, he would still set off for the Weeping Peninsula, stopping along the way to make contact with Boc the seamstitch and Sellen the sorcery teacher.

The thing Lucian was hesitating about now was whether to head straight to the Weeping Peninsula or take a detour to Mistwood to find Blaidd for help in getting the Bloodhound's Fang.

After much deliberation, Lucian decided to go to the Weeping Peninsula first; for every day delayed, the chance of Irina, the castle commander's daughter, being murdered increased by a fraction.

What couldn't be done in the game, Lucian would do; what couldn't be saved in the game, Lucian would save.

Not for any particular reason, but because he wanted to do it.

He wanted to give everyone a perfect ending.

Having transmigrated without even a shred of ambition, he might as well go home and farm.

--

Melina calmly handed the parchment to Lucian, as if nothing had happened at all.

On the huge parchment, only a portion of the lower left corner had color, while the rest was still completely blank.

In my memory, the location corresponding to this map fragment is roughly around this spot in the Lands Between, and the blank areas will have to be filled in later.

Give me your hand; I will bind this map for you.

Lucian obediently followed instructions, placing his hand on Melina's fair little hand. Even though she had just been digging in the dirt on the ground, it wasn't dirty at all.

Before long, Lucian vaguely felt a connection form between himself and this map.

He could sense his own position on the map, and the sites of Grace he had touched previously also appeared on it.

Which site of Grace do you want to go to? I will take you there.

However, Lucian shook his head.

Wait for me a moment, I'll be right back.

Then Lucian stood up holding the old map fragment.

He returned to the stone pillar where the map fragment had been dug out, packed it up, and buried it again.

Melina looked at Lucian returning to the site of Grace, somewhat surprised.

Why did you bury the map back? This map was hidden so deeply; to be honest, I don't even know how you dug it out.

Lucian smiled.

I already have a new map, so I'll leave this map here to help the next person. As for whether the next person can dig it out, it depends on their luck.

However, if your goal is to become Elden Lord, all of them will be your enemies.

Didn't the predecessor who left the map not fear such things either? If I really lose to a latecomer in the future, it'll just mean my strength was insufficient, and I won't lose unjustly.

Lucian said with confidence:

Besides, I won't lose.

Melina gazed deeply at Lucian. She had a new understanding of him now.

She had to admit that his straightforwardness made him very likable.

Melina didn't speak again, simply extending her hand once more.

Please touch my hand, and I will take you to the site of Grace you want to go to.

Because of the one-per-day reason, the progress looks a bit slow, sorry about that. Besides, I still want to write functions like maps and teleportation—which will be used frequently in the future—properly, otherwise things might feel a bit strange later on. Once this week ends, starting two per day will speed up progress quite a bit.