I greeted the Tigea couple that ran the inn when I got there, then went into the building and knocked on Pokora''s door, where I waited for a bit.


    I heard footsteps and the door opened.


    The Elf was wearing underwear, and her hair was a mess.


    “


    “


    She cracked open an eye and glared at me with her dull silver irises, “Why so early? Did something happen?”


    “


    She sighed, “It''s been almost fifty years since I last heard someone tell another person how to dress, not even talking about treating women as harlots. Or what? Your weewee will get hard?”


    I raised my eyebrows, “Get some proper meat in those bones, and maybe.”


    She laughed at that, “Ah, body shaming. A classic!” she stepped aside and gestured for me to come in.


    I walked into her apartment while laughing and turned to her.


    “


    I smiled, “You have committed crimes against Galeia and her people. What say you in your defense?”


    She bit her lips and shook her head, “I''d rather die than go to prison!”


    I scoffed, “Galeia has no use for your kind!”


    We burst in laughter, and she rubbed her eyes.


    “


    “


    She nodded, and walked into her place.


    I followed her to the kitchen, and sat down on a stool.


    She walked to a refrigerator and got a milk bottle. Then to a shelf and took a black box.


    “


    “


    “


    “


    She put the kettle on the fire and turned to me, “So, what brings you here? It''s...” she checked a clock on the kitchen wall and sighed. “A quarter past five. Shit, you''re a psychopath.”


    I shrugged, “I don''t actually need sleep. I came to ask you to show me what you use for combat.”


    She stared at me for a few seconds, “Why?”


    “


    “


    I nodded.


    A dark leather set covered her body.


    Standing up, I circled her to get a proper view of the affront to protection.


    It covered almost nothing. It had cleavage, even when considering her modest chest. Her navel, armpits, thighs, and back were visible. The leather looked flimsy and old.


    “


    “


    “


    “


    “


    Her eyes widened, “Huh? That exists?”


    I pulled out the spandex-like leather set for my Archer class from my storage, and offered it to her, “Check for yourself.”


    She took the items and frowned, “Are you expecting me to survive against Giants?”


    “


    She was silent as she appraised them.


    What''s so shocking?


    [Golden Band of Eternal Protection (Legendary)]


    (Durability SS)(Pool Recovery Factor SS)


    (Minor Healing Factor SS)(Minor Stamina Recovery Factor SS)


    -Toughness + 10%


    -STR + 50


    -CON + 50


    -DEX + 50


    Pretty shit, stat-wise, Barely one percent of my strength.


    “


    I pulled out a Unique bow. It looked like a standard composite bow. The body was a reddish brown wood, and the string was a matte black cord of metal.


    [+100 Trueshot Bow (Unique) {Ascension Lvl 10}]


    (Elastic Energy to Kinetic Energy SS+) (Durability S+)


    -Elastic Energy to Kinetic Energy +100% ({Lvl 10 Quartz} x10)


    -Draw Weight reduced by 10% (Enchantment) (Does not affect final Kinetic Energy)


    -DEX + 200


    -STR + 150


    -CON + 100


    I handed it to the Elf and got a sigh in return.


    “No Legendary weapon?” she voiced her disappointment.


    I shook my head.


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    “Do your girlfriends have Unique weapons, too?” her eyes inspected my face.


    “No, I gave them Mythical quality weapons,” I crossed my arms. “Because they''re my girlfriends. I had no tank weapons, however, so Yolin got Legendary fists.”


    “MYTHICAL?!” her eyes opened to the limit. Then, she looked at me in shock. “ Wait... you''re walling better weapons behind being in a relationship with you?”


    “I don''t think I have to explain myself in that regard,” I pointed out. “Besides, Unique quality is plenty good.”


    “I mean... don''t get me wrong,” she shook her head. “It seems a bit arbitrary. You do you with your items, I guess.”


    I nodded, “I will.”


    She stored the items with a smile, after all.


    I searched my storage for arrows, and sighed after not finding any. Fuck games and their lack of ammunition.


    “So, now onto costumes,” I pulled one after the other.


    Pokora''s eyes widened along with her smile, and I felt my chest tighten with glee at her excitement.


    In the end, she chose an Archer costume that was similar to the Elven archers in the movie franchise that was about a short man bringing a ring to a volcano.


    After that I reminded her about the appointment we had later, then left as she made herself a cup of coffee.


    <hr>


    We joined the Watchers a few hours later in the northwest gate of Lakeview and set off. Their caravan was quite humble, consisting of three carts that were pulled by Tateli, the ostrich-looking animal. Six Watchers drove the coaches, two on each to switch every eight hours. The other four rode Bhin around the vehicles, and Ranulf, the man Lorena mentioned, rode an Untu, the large orange cats.


    My group mounted an animal each. We all wore our combat gear.


    Thick clouds covered the suns casting a nice shade on us.


    I looked up, hoping for some rain. I always liked rain, but hadn''t had that many chances to enjoy it in the last decade back on Earth.


    “


    After leaving Lakeview we started a game with riddles since it was easy to play and everybody could join. We had a score going and Bromisnar was in the lead with five points. Next was me with three points, then Alyssa with two, and the rest had a point each.


    Escorting the caravan was abysmally more boring than I initially expected.


    “


    I noticed Ranulf nodding to himself. He had chosen not to join, and instead rode his mount a bit farther ahead from our group.


    Flat, but deep. Kills and feeds. Angry and calm. No owner, but great provider,


    The road was pretty wide, around thirty meters from edge to edge. The road itself was a dirt road that cut through the seemingly endless forest so tall trees lined it on both sides.


    Well... it''s the ocean,


    “


    The rest groaned, and I heard Pokora click her tongue. The Satyr gave me an expectant look.


    I gave him a nod, “The ocean.”


    The man smiled, “Correct.”


    The man knew way too many riddles, and sometimes gave an instant answer to the ones I knew. His eyebrows knitted and a frown replaced his light smile. Then, he looked ahead and squinted.


    I chuckled.


    “


    “


    She scowled at me. Her body moving up and down with the movement of her mount made it even funnier.


    Lapia gasped, “Got it!”


    We all turned to her, waiting for her answer.


    “


    Bonte clapped once, “Yeah. Got it.”


    Bromisar groaned, “Obviously.”


    “


    I nodded, “Correct.”


    Alyssa let out an exasperated sigh, “I was so close!”


    She raised a fist and made an angry face at it.


    “


    We continued the riddle game for a few hours. The suns reached the zenith behind the clouds, and we stopped at the side of the road when it was time for lunch. I was admittedly not hungry at all, but flesh beings require their sustenance.


    Ranulf went ahead and shared a few words with a couple of Watchers.


    My companions dismounted and I copied them, keeping an eye out on the road and glancing at the Watchers from time to time.


    One of them, a female Lupum, nodded with too much enthusiasm after whatever the man said. She dismounted and walked to the edge of the forest, then took a peek in my direction. After noticing I was watching, she nodded to herself and waved her hands. I noticed a short mace in her right hand that emanated a faint green light.


    The trees were pushed aside, almost as if they had come to life by themselves. The roots moved like worms under the ground and the trunks closed into each other forming a small clearing big enough to fit everyone.


    I watched with wide eyes.


    That''s fucking useful around here, isn''t it?!


    A hand closed my hanging jaw.


    ''Get your shit together''


    I shrugged in response. The display of magic was cool.


    Three Watchers made camp in five minutes, setting a large pot in the middle of the clearing and some stools around the space.


    In the meantime, the Watchers driving the carts guided the vehicles so that the backs faced the clearing.


    Ranulf approached one of the carts and removed a cloth on the back revealing people inside.


    “


    Sussanna and a few others came out, their hands tied with rope.


    Another set of Watchers guided them to the stools and sat them down. Then, appropriately, watched over them.


    Elena came out of another cart, no ropes binding her hands. She looked around for a few seconds, confusion and apprehension clear on her face. Until her eyes met mine. She smiled and walked over to me.


    Fucking hell.


    “


    “


    “


    I nodded in understanding. Sussanna was level 98 after all.


    “


    “


    Is that the slogan?


    “


    “


    Everybody went into action immediately.


    thump


    “


    I noticed a slight shift in the ambient E''er and turned to her.


    She had her staff floating next to her and all my companions were ready to fight.


    I smiled widely behind my helmet, a rumbling in my stomach made me shiver, “No idea, but it''s pretty fucking big.”