《Trailblazer》


 00 - Prologue

    Prologue


    And so the pen in the hands of the young man began to dance...


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    ¡ªYear 402, days before the Convergence of Gods


    My consciousness drifting slowly to realms unknown. The ground beneath me laid painted red, with both my blood and his.This fight would be theoneto decide the fate of humanity, and the fate of the world as it is.


    Before me, stood a being only bested by the Gods that once gave it birth.


    The white menace, clad in brilliant white crystalline scales and decorated by radiant amber eyes, glowing with intent to kill.


    The Dragon of Origin.


    However, even the proud beast of legend was now breathing heavily. The injuries sustained in this battle weren¡¯t one-sided. Though with that said, I was still but a mere manfacing a legendary dragon that stood alone at a zenith mere course evolution could never hope to reach.


    I steeled my resolve and readied myself for the final blow. The dragon, despite his monstrous form,hadunparalleled pride and honor.Realizing my intent, he boldlyreadied himself as a response to my last assault.


    ?It would seem that I have finally metaworthy foe!?


    The dragon proudly exclaimed.


    ?Finally, eh? Have you forgotten already? Though, it¡¯s been a while indeed..?


    ?Forgotten? Something as trivial as lives of the Racesare not of interest to me. In the millennia I''ve lived, I have no recollection of facing against a being as strong as you!?


    ?You seem to misunderstand. While this is my first time facing you in combat, we¡¯ve met once before.?


    I swept my bleak white hair out of the way, revealing a deep scar, that ranacrossthe left side of my face, from the forehead, through the eye, down to my cheek. Although my right eye was as teal as the clear seas of the lands in the far east, my now revealed left eye was as white as the scales of the dragon, yet it burned brightly in the shade of amber, just as did his...


    Eye of Origin¨Can arcane eye able to see through the fabric of reality itself. It wasbestowed to me by the very dragon standing before me many, many years ago. The beast had destroyed my home and killed my kin. Only I managed escaped with my life. The ancient runes of the white eye have ever since reminded me of how cruel fate can be, and how unfair life itself is¡­


    ?Y-You..!?!?


    The mighty beasttrembledat the thought.


    ?It would seem that you remember after all.?


    ?All those years ago¡­ To think that you would actually survive that. Interesting! Very well, child. Shall we finally see what kind of future fate has in store for you and I??


    ?Fine by me..?


    I readied myself for the inevitable and poured every last drop of the remaining magic power I had into my blade. It wasa magical sword without an equal, crafted from invaluable metals by the peerless elder-dwarven smiths.


    Usually, once active, the ancient runes etched along the edge of the blade would light up bright enough to illuminate a small room, however, this time the radiant white light emitting from the blade was no less than that of a blazing wildfire.


    Yet I needed more.


    Much, much more...


    A mere wildfire was hardly enough to topple a beast capable of annihilating nations at a whim.


    Even everything I had wasn''t enough? No.. I can''t give up yet. I won''t let it all be for naught!


    Lost in my hunger for power, I could feel myself starting to burn from the inside out.


    This sensation!?


    Without a doubt in my mind, the feeling was the same as back then, when the Dragon of Origin struck me and bestowed me the Eye of Origin.


    At that very moment, something happened deep inside of me.


    It was as if my powers were multiplying over and over again, as I felt my very soul light up in the white flames of Origin. Magic was bursting out, creating an aura of pure magical essence around me.


    Now clad in the flames of eternity, even the slightest bit of hesitation I had burned away in an instant.


    The Dragon let out a thunderous roar and charged towards me, but it was too late for him now. I felt as if I could take on the gods themselves. I answered his assault with one of my own.


    A faint, yet ever emotional chant escaped my lips...


    ?O'' Flames of Origin, return my foe to the very essence he was once created from. Break through the dark of the night and light up the path for the future of mankind,¡¾Origin Burst¡¿!?


    Man to Dragon, we clashed.It was over in a split second. Both of us, broken down and bloodied, stood with our backs at each other. Neither daring to turn around.As my blade shattered into a million pieces, and the fragments fell on the blood soiled ground one by one, there was a brief, yet somehow apainfully longmoment of absolute silence, that felt louder than the dragons roar.


    The moment of golden silence was broken by the Dragon, as he drew his last breath.


    ?To think that I¡¯d meet my end like this... You¡¯ve fought well¡­ I shall meet you once more in the afterlife!?A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    The dragon burst into white flamesand slowly collapsed down on to the ground, closing it¡¯s faintly glowing amber eyes, never to open them again. Soon after, as the flames started to disperse, the legendary beast finally disintegrated into particles of light, that danced about in the wind before eventually fading away.


    The Dragon of Origin had been bested.


    It took me a good while to process the events that had just taken place, but as I directed my gaze down towards the valley beneath, I felt as if all the pieces of the puzzle had finally found their rightful place.


    I stood on the overlook of the heavenly capital of the human realm, witnessing the cataclysmic disaster brought upon the world by the Dragon of Origin calming down by the moment.


    The vast horde of monsters that flooded the city streets in masses uncountable by man, were slowly dwindling down in numbers and escaping with their lives. The skies, painted crimson by the fire spilling out from the cracks on the surface of the earth, were clearing out. And as the ashen curtains, that had long concealed the sky, finally opened, the world, thought to be forgotten by the Gods, basked in the glory of the moon and the stars once again.


    It was a world I¡¯m glad to have saved.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    ?Wait.. Maybe Ishould¡¯ve died saving the world from the dragon? No, that won''t do. The adventure can¡¯t end yet, can it? The world still needs to be rebuilt... Ah, whatever. That¡¯s a damn good conclusion for the Dragon of Origin-arc if I do say so myself!?


    That was the glorious conclusion of the seventeenth arc in the story of the adventures of yours truly in a parallel world of swords and magic!Compared to fantasy worlds, this boring life of mine isn¡¯t really worth a damn. Nothing even remotely interesting ever happens in this world anyway.


    Learning how to ride a bike hardly compares to burning monsters to a crisp by throwing concentrated spheres of magical fire at them. Wouldn¡¯t you agree? Alternate universes are way more interesting, anyone with half a brain would realize that.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    However, unlike he claimed to be able to do in his ''alternate life in another world'', where he was able to ''see through the fabric of reality itself withhis arcane eye'', he lived his actual life in a state of absolute denial and refused to see things for what they really were.


    He lived alone. His parents mysteriously disappeared when he was young, and his grandfather, who took him in after he had been abandoned, died a year ago of old age. He had no friends to speak of, as the few friendships he had, usually came to an end before long. But he didn''t mind. Friends who wouldn''t stick around weren''t worth a damn anyway... Or at the very least that was what he kept telling himself.


    He barely managed to get by on a monthly basis, working a minimum wage job, living off of a diet mostly consisting of instant noodles and soft drinks. It was a simple, unfulfilling life, but a life nevertheless.


    Even at school, back when he still attended it, people used to avoid him,or rather, he avoided people, out of the fear of losing someone dear to him again, which in turn caused him to eventually become an outcast.Itwouldn''t be surprising for an individual like him to bear resentment towards life itself. His circumstances are nothing short of unfortunate, and as such, he finds solitude in escaping the cruel reality of life by writing fantasy stories.


    Thoughhe leaves one to wonder, whether his denial reaches heights of disregarding real life for fantasy, as more often than not, he feels more immersed in his stories than reality itself...


    ?All out of food already? I guess I¡¯ll go to the store¡­ Oh? It¡¯s been a year from grandpa¡¯s death already, huh? I should probably go pay the old man a visit on the way.?


    He muttered to himself staring at the calendar.


    As he made his way to his grandfathers final resting place, he realized that something wasn¡¯t quite right. Everything that could go wrong, went wrong. It was as if the world was after him. He didn¡¯t care much for his current life, but even so, he didn¡¯t exactly want to die.


    First turn to theright, he almost got hit by a cyclist, whom he managed to masterfully dodge. ¡®Hah! As if a sloppy attempt like that would rid me of my life.¡¯ he thought to himself. Busy admiring his exquisite evading abilities, he didn¡¯t realize that he had unconsciously walked right into the middle of the road.


    He was brought back to his senses bya loud honk, as a truck approached from behind at an alarming speed. Lucky for him, he had spent a vast amount of time immersing himself works of fantasy. A scene where the main character would get transported to another world by getting hit by a truck was extremely popular, and as such, he was prepared. All those hours spent reading weren¡¯t for naught after all. With a few light steps, he was able to get off the road and out of the way of the traffic¡­


    ¡­Or so he thought. He had accidentally dodged towards the wrong side and he was now standing in the middle ofan intersection. Even he himself was baffled at how idiotic one can be. It would be nothing short of a miracle if he was able to get out of there alive. And a miracle it was. One lane at a time, he was able to dodge his way out to the other side of the road.


    He took a deep breath as he wiped the cold sweat off of his forehead. His heavily, rapidly beating heart slowly calmed down. He was able to count at least four people flipping him off, as he danced aroundthe cars. The immediate threat was gone, but to his dismay, the misfortunes didn¡¯t end there. The clear summer skies had turned grey, and heavy rain followed soon after. But as all clouds have a silver lining, he was about to reach his destination.


    Upon reaching the shrine where his grandfather was resting, he offered a heartfelt prayerand thanked him for taking care of him for all those years. For a brief moment, hewas met with the painful reality he was so desperately fleeing from.


    ?¡­ But you know, sometimes it just feels like the world itself is against me. Even today, as soon as I stepped out of the door, all I was met with was misfortunes, one after another. I wonder if I really don¡¯t belong here after all. I''m sorry...?


    After those surprisingly honest words, the sound of thunder roared across the skies and lightning struck down on the wooden shrine.


    ?Give me damn a break already! Just what are you after!??


    He screamed, looking towards the skyas if those words were directed towardsthegod himself.


    He rarely showed any signs of anger, but he took this as a personal offense against his grandfather. The shrine was engulfed by flames, but those flames weren¡¯t blazing red. They were... a brilliant white?


    In an instant, the lightning struck another time. And no matter how hard you try, dodging lightning is too much for a mere human.


    ?G-Goddammit.. just why!? Wait.. this warmth??


    He was struck by the lightning, but instead of dying in an instant from electrocution, or feeling immense pain from thetremendous currentsrunning through his body, he felt warm, hot even, yet the heat was pleasant and welcoming.


    His consciousness was fading away and the world startedto blacken. Before his senses dulled, he saw his hands disintegrating into particles of light and eventuallyvanishingaway, as they floated towards the grey skies.


    Was it because of the absurdity of the event, and the similarities it bore to those he wroteof, that he didn''t even think it to be real? Or maybe it all happened so fast, that he didn¡¯t even have time to process what had just taken place...Either way, his final words weren¡¯t filled with grief nor anger, but rather regret for the¡­ story not being adequate for the ending!?!


    ?A death like this.. really? Hahaha! It¡¯s pretty cool, huh? If only the story was as good as the ending¡­?


    And with that, he passed on from the world.


    He didn¡¯t even have time to think twice about what he had just gone through. What kind of a human gets struck by lightning and dies by disintegrating into light? The only thing he thought about at the moment of passing, were the tales of his alternatelife in another world.


    But little did he know, that the life he wrote of, wouldn¡¯t be his alternate life, but a future one...

 01 - Waking Up

    Chapter 1 ¨C Waking up


    As I came to, I found myself laying down on the ground. The light pierced through the leaves of the surrounding trees. The sweet scent of morning dew filled my lungs. It was warm outside, but there was a slight, summer breeze blowing through the forest. Ahh, tranquility.


    ?I¡¯ve died after all huh??


    I muttered out in confusion.


    ?Hey, kiddo! You awake? What are you on about??


    And to my surprise, I received a reply from a surprisingly caring voice.


    ?Eh!??


    I sat up startled. I turned my gaze towards the person calling to me. He was a dazzling young man. A bit older than I was, and a bit taller too. His eyes were bright red, and his golden brown hair was unkemptbut cut short. He had an athletic buildand a workers tan. His complexion told a story of a life rougher than what I can even imagine, but despite that, he had a warm expression on his face. He extended his hand and helped me up.


    ?Here.. It isn¡¯t good to lie down on the grass for too long. I got some food cooking over here, and you look like you could use some,to be honest.?


    ?Thanks, I guess? By the way, can I ask something??


    ?Yeah??


    ?Just where am I right now??


    ?Haah? What kind of question is that? You just wandered into the middle of a forest and took a nap, huh? Are you alright in the head? I suppose you don¡¯t look like you would be..?


    ?Oi!?


    ?Hahaha! Kidding, kidding! I found you unconscious here a good while ago, so I decided to set up camp. I figured you were lost or something.. I took the liberty of making sure you won¡¯t get gobbled up by monsters while you were having your beauty sleep.?


    Hold on for just a moment..


    ?Monsters!??


    ?Can I take back the part where I said kidding??


    ?You mean like Goblins and Slimes??


    ?Yes. Are you taking me for a fool or something??


    ?No, seriously. Just where am I??


    ?I suppose I¡¯ll entertain you in your insanity for now. You¡¯re in the southern forests of the capital of the Human Realm, Ies.?


    The name matched perfectly with the stories I used to write.. A central location of the known continent, the realm of the Human Race, Ies. This is surreal...


    ?Ies!? What year is it currently??


    ?Let¡¯s see now¡­ If I correctly remember, the current year is 20.?


    The year,however, didn¡¯t.


    ?Only 20??


    ?Yeah, what¡¯s wrong? 20th year after the Convergence of Gods.?


    ?Please repeat that.?


    ?Huh? 20th after the Convergence of Gods.?


    ¡®¡ªYear 402, days before the Convergence of Gods.¡¯


    Of course! I remember writing in a diary format, often referencing the Convergence of Gods in the date! Although I guess I never really thought about what kind of event it would be. To be honest I just thought it sounded cool. I feel pretty embarrassed now. It''s already been 20 years though. I wonder what happened...


    That aside, I finally took a good look at my surroundings. The environment far exceeded what I had originally imagined the southern enchanted forest to be.


    I was currently sitting on a makeshift bench made out of a fallen tree that was laid down on grass greener than any I¡¯d seen in my previous life. Though the grass itself was already noteworthy, it''s nothing compared to the various plants and fungi that decorated the forest. Vines visibly swirling and coiling around the trees as if they were breathing, flowers of various peculiar shapes, vibrantly blooming in all the colors known to man, and faintly glowing luminescent mushrooms in sizes halfway to my waist. Amazing!


    Though, as much as I¡¯d have liked to marvel the world I was thrown into a little longer, I had something I desperately needed to figure out.


    ?Sorry, but can I keep bothering you for a second??


    ?Sure, sure. It isn¡¯t like I have anything else to do.?


    ?What do I look like??


    Just maybe¡­


    ?You look like an ass of a hobgoblin.?


    ?OI!?


    ?Pshhh..?


    He was cracking up. This guy..Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    ?Ahahah! I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry. The first thing I noticed was your weird hair. It¡¯s colorless, one could even say it''s white. I¡¯ve never seen anything like that! I''ve only heard of it in legends. You look pretty young, though. Around my age, if I had to guess. So you don''t really give off that legendary vibe. But even so, your scars tell me you¡¯ve seen your fair share of hardships. Your clothes seem to tell the same tale. Well, what¡¯s left of them anyway.?


    It matches up!


    I took a look at my clothing. My feet and hands were wrapped in blood-stained cloth. My scarf was mostly intact, but it''s gotten a bit rough around the edges, not to mention the numerous burns that had pretty much ruined the material. My shorts had gotten equally bad treatment, but the black jacket I was wearing had the wear and tear that could only be a result of fighting something like a dragon..


    Dragon? My eye! What about my eye!? I don¡¯t know whether it was excitement or fear that drove me, but in an instant I brought my hand to my eye, only to be obstructed by something..


    ?Huh? A bandage??


    My confusion was rather apparent.


    ?Oh yeah, you had a nasty scar on your left eye. I thought it¡¯d be best to bandage it up.?


    He went to check on the stew he was cooking up, while I tore the bandage off.


    For a brief moment my focus intensified to levels I couldn¡¯t comprehend, and I somehow perceived something I wasn''t otherwise able to see...


    ¡¾Seth ¨C Human Male ¨C Age: 19¡¿


    ¡¾Equipment: Cloth Shirt, Villager¡¯s Pants, Leather Boots, Copper Glaive¡¿


    W-What!? This¡­


    ?Seth! Over here!?


    ?Y-Your eye? What happened?!?


    ?Is my left eye any different from the right one??


    ?I thought you were weird enough to begin with, but this? I¡¯m not sure if I can keep up anymore.. You called me by my name too, but I don¡¯t recall ever telling it to you. You sure are an oddball.?


    He shook his head in disbelief, without even bothering to comment..


    The usage of my eye seemed to be limited to a very short period. As a sharp pain pierced in through my eye, I started to feel dizzy after mere seconds. Did I lack the magic power to utilize the eye? Did my abilities get reset? Does my current self even have any real abilities in the first place? Even then, I couldn¡¯t help it. I was grinning like a maniac.


    It was all real.


    ?I still possess the Eye of Origin? Ahahaa! This feels like a dream come true, and then some!!?


    I guess it would be safe to assume that the current me was indeed the alternate me. This saves me from a lot of trouble on the long run¡­


    ?The Eye of what now? Dream? You want to bring me up to speed or are you just going to keep muttering weird stuff by yourself??


    ?Sorry, I guess I got a little excited. Anyhow, I¡¯m sorry for bothering you with stupid questions earlier, I know where I am now.?


    ?Of course you do, I told you where we were after all.?


    ?I meant on a much larger scale.?


    ?Eh? I don¡¯t even want to know what scale you¡¯re talking about.?


    ?You probably wouldn¡¯t understand anyway.?


    ?Yeah, probably. I¡¯m still curious about the eye though.?


    ?It¡¯s an Arcane Eye that has the ability to see thetrue nature of everything. The Eye of Origin.?


    At least I¡¯m fairly sure it is¡­


    ?You have an ability like that? Sounds pretty useful.?


    ?Sure is! Back when I was an adventure¨C?


    I was interrupted mid-sentence. Rather brutally, at that.


    ?Hold on for just a minute, kiddo. Now you¡¯re just fucking with me,aren¡¯t you? There¡¯s no way someone who doesn¡¯t even know left from right could be an adventurer. What do you mean by ¡®back when you were an adventurer¡¯??


    ?Uhh..?


    I had no idea what to tell him. When I think about it from his perspective, my story would sound mental beyond belief. Besides, Seth seemed pretty adamant about this whole adventurer business. His previous lighthearted tone changed into a stern one. You could see it in his eyes. He was passionate. He meant every word he said.


    ?Thought so. Adventurers are warriors blessed by the Gods, that light up the path towards the future, granting us common folk the knowledge lost to the ages and liberating the territories that are overrun by monsters. They¡¯re the pioneers of the new age! You can¡¯t just suddenly stop being an adventurer, you¡¯re in it for life. If you¡¯re planning to quit one day, you might as well never even become one in the first place. Besides, you¡¯re too young to ¡®have been an adventurer¡¯ anyways.?


    Huh? Adventurers don¡¯t just go into the wilds to collect a bunch of herbs or kill a monster or two anymore? Warriors blessed by the Gods? Pioneers of the new age? Liberating territories? Yeah, you¡¯ve lost me ages ago, but I''ll admit that it sounds amazing! Well, better than the adventurers of the guilds I wrote of, anyway... I wanted to interruptand ask him about it, but I didn''t have the heart to do so.


    ?Anyhow, I was on my way to the capital to test my mettle in the annual Adventurer Trials until I found you lying unconscious. If you think you''ve got what it takes, you could tag along! We¡¯ll head towards the capital after we eat. Speaking of which, I think the food is ready.?


    I guess I¡¯ll stick with Seth for now and find out what has happened during my absence. If you could call it that... Not to forget that he already had made some food! Who am I to decline? I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll be better than soggy noodles. Hopefully...


    And so we both ate a full bowl of stew. At first, I barely even dared to taste it, as I began to wonder what kind of monster meat was used as an ingredient, but after I took my first spoonful, I was sold!


    ?So, how was it??


    Seth asked impatiently.


    ?Ah, this stew isn¡¯t bad at all! Judging by your personality, I was expecting nothing short of toxic sludge!?


    ?Haha! I get what you mean, but if you¡¯re going to become an adventurer, you better know how to make do with what you find from your surroundings.?


    ?I suppose so. You really know your stuff, huh??


    ?I¡¯d be ashamed if I didn¡¯t. Ever since I was little, I heard stories about the adventurers. I¡¯ve trained towards becoming one myself all my youth, up until this point. The Trials are held a couple of days from now. I thought that this year I would finally be ready.?


    ?Speaking of which, what exactly happens at the Adventurer Trials??


    ?I¡¯m sorry, the extent of my knowledge stops around there. I guess they hold a test of sorts for the adventurer prospects. The only thing I do know is that it¡¯s do or die out there. As I previously said, they¡¯re held annually, and the only real requirement for joining is ¡®Be ready to lay your life on the line for the future of the Races¡¯. If you had to ask me, I¡¯d tell you there is nothing more honorable than that.?


    ?I suppose so. But what¡¯s all this about the future of the Races? Is there some great imminent threat about to demolish all living beings??


    No response¡­


    ?Did I say something I shouldn¡¯t have??


    I asked anxiously.


    ?Are you going to ask me if water is wet next??


    ?No.. wait, don¡¯t tell me this world has changed that much??


    ?You really are an idiot, huh? Haha! Anyhow, we¡¯ve eaten already so we should get going. I guess I¡¯ll tell you what¡¯s going on with the world on the way there.?


    ?Alright! Thanks, you know. For everything.?


    I wasn''t exactly proficient at expressing my gratitude, but thankfully Seth didn''t seem to mind at all.


    ?No need! I was just doing what an adventurer is supposed to do. If you really want to thank me though¡­?


    I really don¡¯t like where this is going..


    ?I am sorry. I do not swing that way.?


    I exclaimed in the most polite tone I could muster.


    His previously carefree expression froze up for a moment, and all of a sudden he burst out into laughter. Leaving me thoroughly confused.


    ?Ahahah! You really are an idiot, huh??


    ?Wait, what did you mean then??


    As soon as the words left my lips the mood became heavy. His expression froze up once again, but this time I saw the same determination in his scarlet eyes as I did when he spoke of the adventurers.


    ?I want you to tell me where you really came from.?

 02 - Gates of the Capital

    I got a little bit too much into mercilessly dumping useless information about the world when writing this chapter. The majority of said exposition will be marked by ¡ª''s. Feel free to skip anything in between if you don''t feel that invested. You won''t be missing anything story-wise.


    Chapter 2 ¨C Gates of the Capital


    ?I want you to tell me where you really came from.?


    I was shocked. Did he already figure it out? What gave it away!? Did I ask too many questions? I guess I¡¯ll have to explain¡­ I lack the social skills to weasel my way out of a situation like this anyway.


    ?Do you know of a place called Earth??


    I hesitantly inquired.


    ?That¡¯s your home village? I haven¡¯t heard of it.?


    ?It isn¡¯t exactly a village..?


    ?A town then? No, I¡¯d have heard of it then.?


    ?Not that either..?


    I have no idea what to tell him. ¡®Oh yeah, it¡¯s a parallel world that exists in a plane completely separate from yours!¡¯ won¡¯t probably be an acceptable answer.


    ?Say.. Would you believe me if I was sent here from another world??


    ?Another world? Like the Realm of the Gods or something? You don¡¯t look all that godly to me.. I just wanted to know what your hometown was. You know.. to be sure that you aren''t a criminal or anything.?


    ?I¡¯m sorry, but my hometown doesn¡¯t exist in this realm, nor the Realm of the Gods.?


    ?Alright, alright... I¡¯ll give up. You don¡¯t have to tell me if you really don¡¯t want to. You probably wouldn''t hurt a fly either. But! You should know that dozing off in a forest like this is dangerous. You don¡¯t even have a weapon to defend yourself with!?


    Crisis averted! I feel guilty though. He thinks I¡¯m lying, but I guess sometimes fact is stranger than fiction.


    Wait a second! A weapon?


    Empty. Of course...


    The sheath strapped to my back was empty. I wanted to cry at my stupidity. Why did I have to have my blade shatter at the final clash against the Dragon of Origin!? I¡¯ve always wanted to swing a real sword around, too. To say that I''m disappointed would be an understatement and a half.


    But... There¡¯s still something I can use as a weapon, is there not?


    ?Seth, do you happen to know if magic exists??


    ?Sure does! I¡¯ve only ever heard adventurers and mages from the past era use any though.?


    ?Mind if I try something??


    ?H-Hold on! You can cast magic!??


    ?I''m not sure yet.?


    ?Hahah, good luck then. Don¡¯t burn the forest down!?


    I could feel the sarcasm oozing through his words. Well, I guess it would be pretty entertaining, that is if it wasn¡¯t directed towards me¡­


    But I¡¯m glad to hear that magic still exists. Most of the moves I, or rather my character and current self knew, were impressive finisher moves like Origin Burst and Grand Thunder. I guess I should stick to the basics,as I don''t seem to be able to really use my eye properly either. I had mastery of all the elements with Origin being the strongest, but what about something basic? Fireball, maybe?


    Alright, let¡¯s give it a try!


    I took a stance, aimed at a tree before me, and held my left hand out. I braced my arm with my right hand and chanted.


    ?O, Flame, eternal. Cleanse the evil that opposes me, and burn the impurities from within, ¡¾Fireball¡¿!?


    The word ''Fireball'' bewitchingly resonated across the woods, and at that very moment, I felt huge amounts of energy of some kind draining towards my hand, similar to when I tried to activate my eye. A burning sensation enveloped my palm as the energy was swiftly discharged. I was astonished..


    Did it really work? Just like that!?


    ?Ahahaha! Cleanse the evil, burn the impurities! HAHAHA!?


    Seth was rolling down on the grass crying his eyes out laughing.


    I saw a single spark slowly floating down in front of me. That was the fireball!?


    ?Pheeew. I''m out of breath.. What was that!? For a second there, I thought you were going to annihilate the tree and the forest along with it! That sure was something,wasn¡¯t it? Hahaha!?


    Seth snickered.


    God dammit. I shouldn¡¯t have tried this in front of him. It would¡¯ve been humiliating enough without someone giggling at my misfortune. But what was even more unfortunate was my inability to use magic like before. Or, well, like I had expected to be able to...


    I seemed to have lost all those powers I wrote about. At least the Eye of Origin still works, even if barely. For now, I should set regaining the ability to cast magic again as my goal. Seth had calmed down a bit, but he had tears falling down his cheeks. Really?


    ?Was it really that funny..??


    ?For sure! An epic chant like had me anticipating some sort of ancient forbidden magic! For it to end up being nothing more than a tiny cinder that wouldn¡¯t be able to light up a stack of dried up hay on a tranquil summer day. Hahaa! That¡¯s a story to tell the folk back at the village when I go home.?


    ?I¡¯d rather you not..?


    ?Too late, Mr. Magician! O, Flame, eternal! Cleanse the evil that opPOH¨C?


    With a loud thud, his sentence quickly came to a halt.


    I punched the fucker square in the chest. He took the blow pretty hard, yet he didn¡¯t raise his fists against me. I probably wouldn¡¯t have stood a chance if he did. Now that I think about it, punching Seth was a horrible idea¡­


    ?Guh¡­ Ow. Ahahaha! I guess I did deserve that. Anyway, I did promise to tell you about the world on our way to the capital. Shall we set off, magic man??


    He snarkily continued while holding his chest.


    ?My name isn¡¯t ¡®magic man¡¯, you know??


    ?Maybe. It¡¯s just hard to call you by your name when you haven¡¯t even introduced yourself yet. I don¡¯t happen to own one of those weird eyes either.?


    ?Oh, right. I guess it¡¯s a bit late for introductions, but my name is..?


    ?..?


    ?¡­?


    ?Yes? Your name is??The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    ?I.. can¡¯t seem to remember??


    ?Eh??


    Now that I think about it I never wrote the name of ¡®my alternate¡¯ down. I guess I just assumed that it was the same as what I had during my life on earth, but I can¡¯t seem to remember that either. Amnesia? Why can¡¯t I remember my name!? Are my past memories starting to fade away? No... It''s not that either.


    ?I can¡¯t remember what my name is.?


    ?What am I supposed to call you then, magic man??


    ?Anything but that..?


    ?Mr. Magician??


    ?Very funny...?


    ?Yeah, I guess you''ve had enough of my jokes for now... But, am I really going to have to name you on the spot??


    ?Well, I can¡¯t really imagine you coming up with a good name anyway.?


    He started to think of a fitting name as if I had just challenged him to do so.. It was quite funny to see a carefree guy like him so deeply lost in thought. It took a good while, but suddenly he blissfully threw his hands into the air like a kid.


    ?How about Light!? You know, since your eye lights up and your hair is pretty light!?


    He shouted out.


    And surprisingly enough, the name wasn''t half bad!


    ?Eh!? It¡¯s like the stew all over again! When I least expect it, you manage to surprise me.?


    ?How about it??


    ?It¡¯s great!?


    Aaah, Light is such a cool name! Well, I guess it does scream of eternal 8th grader, but I can''t help myself. You could call it a guilty pleasure of mine... Thank you, Seth. Thank you! For all the lame jokes you make, you definitely come around once it¡¯s needed.


    ?It¡¯s definitely not because the punch you threw was lightweight..?


    ?Goddammit, of course there had to be something like that. Whatever. I¡¯m fine with Light despite that. Nice to meet you, Seth. My name is Light.?


    ?What¡¯s with the formalities? I suppose you haven¡¯t introduced yourself yet after all. Nice to meet you, Light. I''m¨C?


    ?Isn¡¯t this just a tad bit awkward??


    ?Yeah. It is..?


    I''m glad we agree..


    With those words, we started making our way towards the capital. Seth told me all about the events that took place 20 years ago. Everyone knows the Convergence of Gods, the event that marked the beginning of the current era.


    All the races across the continents begun their movement towards the human capital simultaneously, as if the Gods themselves commanded so. It was a warning about what was to come.


    It took no less than a single cycle of night and daybefore the chaos spread across the land and hell was released down on to the world. In an instant, the whole world became a battlefield, and in the following month, as the Races fought towards the capital, the population dwindled down to a fraction of what it was.


    The incapacitated forces of the Races made their last stand on the outskirts of the capital, and the moment when they thought that all was lost, the Gods themselves descended from the heavens. Nobody seems to remember anything else about it. Actually, they seem to be surprised themselves when they realize they can¡¯t remember. I wonder if that has anything to do with me forgetting bits of my past life, such as my name..


    It seems that the world I knew of, or rather, wrote of, was barely even comparable to the one that existed now. Nearly everything I accidentally brainstormed into existence, had been ruined. Entire cultures were destroyed. Centuries of progress gone within mere days.


    To offset the grave losses, the Gods gave the Races the gift of Adventurers. Individuals blessed by the Gods, who exist for the sole purpose of paving the path towards a brighter future. Or so they say... If the Gods have such power, why did they let the Races get overrun by monsters in the first place!? I''m pissed off. Big time.


    ¡ª


    I was curious about the Races too, and whether the races I wrote of still existed, even if they weren''t the same anymore. Though I wasn''t really a fan of excessive exposition either, I thought it''d be best for me to learn all I could about the world I was thrown into.


    There were six races in total, with each living in their corresponding realm. Just as I had remembered. Humans populated the realm of Ies, the last bastion of the Races, and the land we currently walked on. Mostly consisting of grassy plains and flowering forests. It''s supposedly extremely standard, as far as theenvironment goes.


    Up north was the realm of the beautiful snow elves, Omi. Contrary to what the name might imply, the northern realm wasn¡¯t a frozen wasteland, rather it was a climate similar to the Nordic countries back on Earth. Snow elves were the personifications of beauty, though their beauty wasn''t the only favoring quality. They were also highly compatible with magic. Nevertheless, Seth seemed to insist that the beauty was their most important quality, and I guess I''d have to agree. I''m getting anxious just thinking about meeting one. But it''s not because of that. No, not at all...


    East from the human realm, bordering the sea, was Eto-Ies, the realm of Beastmen. Beastmen were indistinguishable from humans, apart from the fact that they possessed animal-like features, such as tails and ears. Precisely as one would expect. Their senses are also elevated to different degrees, based on their species. Seth¡¯s father was apparently a beastman, which would explain his crimson eyes. Crossbreeding between the races exists? That¡¯s uhh¡­ Good to know? I''m not sure how sensitive of a topic that is in this world.. But then again, I wouldn''t mind settling down with a snow e¨C ehehee..! His father was nowhere to be seen after the Convergence, but he seems adamant about him still being alive.


    Right between the realms of beastmen and snow elves laid Ilija, the grand forest of dark elves. While the beastman realm had multiple environments, and a complex landscape consisting of plains and mountains, the dark elven realm was just a forest. But apparently calling it ''just a forest'' would be an understatement grand enough to be considered discriminatory, as the variety of life in the forest was unbelievable. My first thought when I heard that was something along the lines of ¡®no way that¡¯s true¡¯, especially after being shocked to the extent I was just by having a glimpse of the forest we were currently wandering through, but apparently this forest is just a ¡®mere magical forest¡¯ compared to the home of the dark elves. I really need to go and see the forest myself sometime...


    Down in the southern mountain range laid two different realms side by side. The realm of dwarves, Ontu. And the realm of the dragonkin, Aarme. The dwarves were your generic fantasy dwarves. Short and stumpy craftsmen with long beards and no manners. The dragonkin,on the other hand, were humanoids of different sizes, possessing numerous draconic features, such as scales, a tail and dragon horns. These features varied greatly between the dragonkin. While one dragonkin could have huge horns and smooth skin, another could be completely clad scales and have no horns at all. Dragonkin aren''t quite how I imagined them to be, but they do sound pretty interesting nevertheless.


    The dwarves and dragonkin used to live in a symbiotic relationship before the Convergence, with the dwarves working the mines and the dragonkin patrolling the mountains, and as a result, the borders of the two realms were unclear. I can''t help but wonder how the cultures of the two manifested into reality. The dragonkin were peaceful folk, inspired by far eastern cultures of my old world, while the dwarves were rowdy drunkards with little to no finesse outside of matters concerning craftsmanship. While in written form, the two could easily live in harmony despite their differences. But in reality? I wouldn''t exactly keep my hopes high...


    The final realm, not counted among the six others, was an ancient realm in the west, abandoned centuries before the Convergence. It was a realm of floating islands in the skies, said to be the place where the ancestors of all the races first descended down onto this land. The ancient lands of legend went by the name of Orionia. That name sounded familiar, but I can¡¯t seem to put my finger on it. The floating islands too. I recall something along the lines of the current me beginning his journey from said islands. I was currently processing way too much information to properly recall anything about that.


    ¡ª


    Though we were ambushed by a fair few monsters on the way, such as some green grotesque beasts I could only assume to be goblins, our journey never came to a halt, as Seth swiftly disposed of the monsters with his polearm. Seeing him engage in combat like that really got my blood pumping. He really wasn¡¯t all talk! I was impressed. Though.. the guts of the goblins weren¡¯t exactly easy on the eyes. I was enthusiastic about trying to fight monsters before, but after witnessing its gruesome reality in person? I''ll admit, I''m having second thoughts.


    ?We¡¯ve arrived!?


    Seth shouted enthusiastically.


    We made our way out of the forest on to the edge of the overlook of the capital. This was, without a doubt, the spot where the current me brought down the Dragon of Origin twenty years ago. The sight left me breathless.


    Down in the vast valley beneath, laid the capital of the human race. Though I often described the city as heavenly, I was struck by an immense feeling of Deja Vu, as my expectations were shattered into a million pieces once more. The buildings in the central area were built of a marble-like stone, towering multiple stories high, decorated by interlaced streams of magical energy running across the otherwise solid structures. The outer districts,on the other hand, featured a variety of different materials in their constructs, however, the architecture was no less impressive.


    Though the metropolis was very densely packed, it seemed to live as one with the environment, as the growth seemed to flourish freely within. You could practically feel the life force emanating from the city. The great white walls protecting the capital looked like they could take on an army or two and not budge an inch. No wonder it still stood proudly unscathed after the Convergence.


    Even from up here, one could see the streets bustling with the populace, as well as people filling the outskirts, collecting fruits and vegetables from the various fields, trees,and bushes that filled the grasslands around the walls. This was truly a fantasy world. Even Seth¡¯s eyes were glistening in amazement. I never thought I¡¯d see something like this in my entire life! Oh, wait. About that¡­


    ?Alright!! What are you waiting for Light!? Let¡¯s go! Let¡¯s go already!?


    To be honest, I was just as enthusiastic as he was. I could hardly contain myself.


    ?Alright, Seth! Don¡¯t get left behind!?


    We raced down the path on the cliffs, although it did feel more like an obstacle course. I felt the breeze run through my hair as I dashed along the downhill path. I couldn''t seem to shake the feeling that I''ve been missing out on so much in my past life...

 03 - Going Shopping

    Since I missed yesterday''s chapter by a couple of hours, and it was just a tad heavy on the infodumps, here''s a second one for today.


    Chapter 3 ¨C Going Shopping


    ?Haah.. It¡¯s my win!?


    Seth proudly declared.


    ?No way! I was clearly first.?


    ?Call it a tie??


    ?Yeah, let¡¯s. That sounds alright.?


    We had finally reached the bottom. The city walls look even bigger up close. There was a constant flow of people going to and from the fields outside. There were people from all the races, just as Seth had told me! Even though I had described the races in great detail in my stories, and Seth gave a decent explanation, that matched my original portrayal of the races rather well, actually seeing them in person was nothing short of shocking.


    I did get a few cold stares my way from mindlessly ogling too much. It was the first time visiting the capital for both of us, so I thought that we would be on a level playing field now, but that was certainly not the case. He got us through the gates with a permit from his village¡¯s elders.. I''m glad I met up with him.


    We were strolling down the main street lost in aweuntil a young and enthusiastic beastman that was sitting on a fence called out.


    ?Hey, misters! Yes! You two! First time in the capital? Do you have someplace you¡¯re looking for perchance??


    ?You¡¯ve got sharp eyes! Tell you what, kiddo, I¡¯ll give you five copper coins if you take us to the town square.?


    Seth swiftly replied.


    ?Yosh! Thank you, mister! You can follow me! Is your friend there alright with those ragged and bloody clothes? I could take you to the tailorafter I show you the way to the town square. It¡¯s not often outsiders are so generous, after all!?


    ?Friend, huh¡­ Ah! excuse me.. To be honest, I wouldn¡¯t mind some better clothes, but I''m afraid I don''t have a single copper, or whatever it is you use, to my name right now..?


    Some replacements for these dirty rags definitely wouldn¡¯t hurt. Too bad I don¡¯t even have a penny to my name right now. In fact, I don¡¯t even know what currency is used here. Could it still be the coin system I wrote about? Perhaps I should ask Seth? He seemed to handle the situation rather well just now.


    ?It shouldn¡¯t cost too much to get your clothes repaired you know? I got a good few silver coins as a parting gift from the folk back at home.?


    ?Yosh! It¡¯s decided! I¡¯ll take you to the tailor afterward!?


    The young beastman eagerly declared.


    But it just didn''t feel right...


    ?Hey! It¡¯ not decided! I can¡¯t take your money, Seth.?


    ?Oh? Are you planning on strolling around the capital with clothes like that? I¡¯d rather spend a silver or two than have you tag along looking like a vagabond. Although, I guess that¡¯s what you currently are..?


    Seth sarcastically replied to my hesitant retort.


    ?Yeah, yeah! It¡¯s not good to walk around the town looking like that!?


    And it seems like he''s backed by the young beastman.


    I guess I''ll just admit my loss...


    ?Fine, fine. I¡¯ll go.?


    ?Yoshaa! Should we go to the tailor right away??


    ?Sure! The sooner the better, take us there, kiddo.?


    Seth tossed the copper coins for the kid and we started walking deeper into the city. It didn¡¯t take long until we reached our destination. On the way I asked Seth about the currency system.


    Ten copper coins equals a bronze coin and ten bronze equals a silver coin. From that point on it¡¯s a hundred silver for a gold coinand a hundred gold coins for a platinum coin. It seemed to mostly match what I had written down, which makes things a lot easier. However, the currency had deflated hard, and was hardly comparable to what I was used to¡­


    He told me that there were even more valuable coins from that point on, but those amounts weren¡¯t anything normal people ever dealt at, to the point that the coins were almost mythical. If I correctly remember, those were made from precious magical metals such as Orichalcum and Auronium. A couple of gold coins was enough to buy a small house these days. Just how much would a platinum coin be worth?


    ?Alright. Were here. Mom! I brought customers!?


    The young beastman yelled out as we entered the shop.


    The beastman¡¯s mother owned the tailor? That explains why he was so adamant on leading us here. I guess it was kind of lucky though, since we didn¡¯t have to wander around the city or pay for someone else to guide us to a tailor.


    From the counter at the back emerged a beautiful young woman that had brown triangular ears, just like her son did. Beastmen really don¡¯t seem to differ all that much from humans, huh.. Isn¡¯t she way too young to be a mother though?


    She welcomed us in with a warm smileand pat the young boys head. No, I wasn¡¯t jealous. I wasn''t jealous in the slightest...


    ?Welcome! Oh my, I think I already know what brought you here.?


    Seth took the lead. He¡¯s surprisingly reliable at times.


    ?Hello. My friend here fought a dragon or something and I¡¯m not dragging him around the town looking like that. How much would it be to patch those rags up??


    ¡­Or not¡­


    ?Hahaha.. The damage sure looks like a result of fighting a dragon. Are you two looking to become adventurers? I think I¡¯ll be able to fix them up before the Adventurer Trials. How much are you willing to pay.?


    ?How does a silver coin sound??


    First time in the capital and already bartering like an old merchant? What a guy...


    ?I¡¯m afraid that won¡¯t do.. Tell you what, since my kid seems to have taken a liking to you I¡¯ll give you a special price of two silver coins for the repairs, and I¡¯ll lend some replacement clothes for while I¡¯m doing the repairs. How does that sound??Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    The reply was just as snappy. Is this the norm? I''m somewhat intimidated.


    ?Alright madam, I¡¯m fine with that. I wouldn¡¯t want my friend to stroll the streets butt naked either.?


    ?Is that really alright, Seth??


    I askedwhile feeling extremely guilty for draining his savings.


    ?Yeah, sure. Would you rather..?


    Alright! I no longer feel any guilt!


    ?No, this is fine! Thank you very much!?


    For a while, I wondered if it was really alright, but I don¡¯t think I can go against Seth. Actually, it would be pretty stupid to do so. He¡¯s looking out for me after all.


    ?Alright, young man. Would you come over here? I¡¯ll take your clothes and we¡¯ll get you some replacement ones from the back.?


    ?Alright, here you go..?


    I handed over the remains of my clothes to the clerk.


    Though I still had a fair sized shirt on, I felt really embarrassed. She didn''t seem to mind at all, which in turn made me even more embarrassed about my embarrassment.


    ?Let¡¯s see here, do you happen to know what material these clothes are made of? If I want to match the color, it would save me a lot of trouble and the result of the repairs would be drastically improvedif I knew the original material. Is it Black Ox Leather perhaps??


    ?You had clothes made of Black Ox Leather? I had no Idea! I just thought it was some Evergreen Hog Leather at best. You really are full of surprises, kiddo.?


    ?I don¡¯t think it was either of those..?


    ?Hmm.. What is it then??


    Think, think! What were the clothes made of... Could it be?


    ¡®¡­and so the heated clash came to an end, as the man had bested the beast. Afterward, I made my way to the best tailors in the mid realmsand provided them the rarest materials they had seen in their entire lives. The pristine jet black hide of the Midnight Wyvern.¡¯


    ?I think the clothes might be made of Midnight Wyvern Hide.?


    ?OH?!??


    The shopkeeper yelled out in astonishment.


    I think that might be an appropriate reaction, as the Midnight Wyverns are one of the highest ranking monstersif my knowledge is anything to go by. Seth''s reaction,however, was on the opposite side of the spectrum.


    ?Light? Are you alright in the head? Midnight Wyvern is an omen of inevitable destruction. Nobody has even seen one since the Convergence!?


    Nobody has even seen a Midnight Wyvern in twenty years!? Otherwise, it sounds about right. Except the ¡®alright in the head¡¯-part. Yes, I¡¯m alright, thank you for asking.


    Regardless of Seth''s remarks the shopkeeper, couldn''t stay still.


    ?M-Make no mistake, young man¡­ Your friend here probably isn¡¯t lying. This jacket and these pants could very well be made of Midnight Wyvern Hide. The jet black color of the extraordinary hide is not at all easy to replicate. I¡¯m s-sorry but I cannot possibly repair these with my current ability, nor do I have the materials to do so. However, I could buy these from you for¡­ Let¡¯s see¡­ Hmm¡­?


    Oh? She''s about to make an offer? I had no idea these rags were of any value in this state. Well, I suppose a lot has happened in the world in the last couple of decades. I guess I¡¯ll sell them if the price is good.


    ?How does four gold coins sound to you??


    ?Four gold..? Not a way in hell...?


    To my surprise, Seth shook his head.


    Eh? Four gold sounds pretty good for my empty pockets.


    ?Sorry. It¡¯s not the full price of the set. After all, these clothes are ragged to bits and I can¡¯t be completely sure of the origin of the material either. So I¡¯m taking a gamble here, after all.?


    I thought Seth wasn¡¯t happy with the offer, and I was about to back down, but all of a sudden he grabbed me and damn near crushed me.


    ?LIGHT, WE¡¯RE RICH!!! RICH! YOU HEAR ME!??


    ?Haaah!? Guhh.. Seth, you¡¯re.. killing me¡­?


    ?Oh.. Haha! Sorry, sorry.?


    ?You¡¯re willing to sell these? Of course, I¡¯ll include some replacement clothing as a bonus.?


    The tailor seemed enthusiastic.


    ?YES! Right, Light!? This is the part where you say yes.?


    ?Y-Yes? Yes. I¡¯d like to sell those. Please, and thank you.?


    ?Alright!?


    The tailor¡¯s tail was wagging? How cute! Seth seemed pleased too. Four gold? Didn¡¯t Seth just tell me how valuable gold coins were? One man¡¯s trash is another man¡¯s treasure, huh?


    The shopkeeper led me around the shop and I picked out some new clothes. I bought a short sleeved open jacket, like the old one I had, and a pair of mid-length shorts. This time the material was just leather with a really dark tone.


    I also replaced my current bloodied shirt with a grey one, matching the color of my still somewhat intact scarf. I kept my old belts too, as they were mostly unscathed. An oversized scarf and excessive belts with no real purpose are a staple of my character... I wouldn''t get rid of them even if you asked me to.


    She set me up with a nice pair of leather boots along with the other clothes. She matched the color of the boots to the deep brown of belts, how thoughtful! I asked for a coupleof meters of cloth wraps, to replace the ones currently soaked in dirt and blood.


    Seth got confused when I started to wrap them around my feet and arms. I told him that it was as a precaution before I inevitably hurt myself again. He gave a warm laugh and seemed pleased with the answer. In reality, I did it because, in all honesty, I just think it looks cool. Not that I¡¯m ever going to tell that to anybody.


    I tied my boots, fastened the belts around my waist, put the jacket on and loosely wrapped the scarf around my neck. I felt fresh. Too bad there weren''t any mirrors around. I really wanted to see how I looked like.


    ?Alright! How¡¯s it look??


    I anxiously asked while scratching the back of my head.


    Had I a shred more confidence, I''d have made a sick pose befitting of my new outfit, but having three pairs of eyes glued onto me didn''t exactly make me comfortable enough to break out of my shell.


    ?A lot better than those rags of yours for sure.?


    Seth''s reply was pretty much what expected.


    ?It¡¯s not quite as glamorous as what you probably had before your clothes got ravaged, but I hope it serves you well!?


    I''m glad the tailor''s reply wasn''t following suit.


    Hearing such warm words from someone like her made me feel weirdly fuzzy inside. What a lovely lady.


    The little boy that guided us finally opened his mouth, his mother probably told him not to bother customers.


    ?You look so cooooool!! I had no idea you had such amazing gear before too! You must be a famous adventurer or something! Hey, why didn¡¯t you tell me before, why!??


    I like this little kid already!


    ?Heh, I guess you could say that I used to be one.?


    I instinctively replied.


    ?Don¡¯t get the boy¡¯s hopes up, Light. Actually, we¡¯re going to try our luck a couple days from now in the trials! It''s getting a bit late though, should we go and look for an inn??


    ?True enough. Suiting up took a little longer than I thought..?


    ?Oh, oh! I can take you there! Free of charge! You¡¯re amazing people after all!?


    ?I know the owner of an inn that''s close by. If you wait a moment, I can write a letter of introduction for you. You¡¯ll surely get a good price with that.?


    The two beastmen proved themselves helpful once more.. They''re lovely people. I know where I''m going the next time I''ll have to do business at the tailor!


    ?Alright! With those words, it sure is hard to refuse. Shall we set off??


    ?Sure! Let¡¯s get going.?


    Man, I hope the beds in this world don''t suck...


    ?The fee is on you, by the way.?


    ?Hah!? Seth you slimy bastard.?


    ?Heh!?


    Well, I do guess I am a bit wealthier than he is now. And despite him only having a few silver to his name he offered to pay the repairs of my clothing too. It¡¯s only right if return the favor. Since the inn was only a couple of blocks away from the tailor. It didn''t take long until we reached our final destination for the day.


    The guide kid promised to show us around tomorrow. His name was Green and his mom¡¯s name was Emerald. Did she really name his son because of the color of his eyes? I think the mom had green eyes too.. Real original... that family. I just hope that not every beastman will be named after their distinctive color, because the only named beastman in my stories went by the name Red..


    The bell rang as we stepped in through the door into an oddly soothing establishment. The comfortable atmosphere was only amplified by the setting sun''s light piercing into the dimly lit room through the tiny windows. To the right of the counter in front of the entrance, was the dining area, filled with enough tables to fit a good amount of full parties. To the left of the counter were the stairs, which most likely lead to the rentable rooms. Despite its size, the inn seemed awfully tranquil. Not that I mind that. In fact, I prefer it.


    After showing the letter of introduction we got from the tailor, the fee was extremely cheap! Only a couple of bronze coins,meals included. We rented a twin room for the night. I almost made the mistake of getting a double room. And boy, am I glad that I didn¡¯t. Sleeping for the first time in the new world, eh? I didn¡¯t think about anything special about it, I was way too tired to do so. The sheets were soft enough for me to doze off the moment I fell down on the bed.

 04 - Questionable Encounter

    Chapter 4 ¨C Questionable Encounter


    A calming light, gleaming faintly in the distance, yet the darkness trailing closely behind.


    I slowly made my way towards glow, but it never reached my grasp. And before long I was engulfed by the abyss, lifeless, dark and vast.


    Blank figures surrounded me, yet none could hear my plea. I tried to call outbut to no avail. I received no reply. I could only hear the whispers in the depths of the abyss cry...


    ''You¡¯re not worth it. You¡¯re not worth a damn... You can try but you won¡¯t succeed, so why even bother? In the end, for everyone else, you¡¯re nothing but fodder.''


    With every word, the faint light faded away, as the darkness took its place. I tried to run, but there was no escape, the abyss held me tightly in its sweet embrace.


    I want to go home...


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    I woke up.


    I¡¯m¡­ crying?


    What was that? A nightmare? It didn''t feel like a regular nightmare. I would know, as I''ve had plenty of those before. I don¡¯t understand...


    The morning sun shone through the window and lit up the dusty room, painting glorious rays across the interior of the small inn room. I was still in the other world. It seems like I¡¯ve really died after all. Still, I can''t let melancholy take me over now...


    There was a bucket of cold water next to my bed, but Seth was nowhere to be seen. Did he notice me having nightmares? Perhaps he had already gone down to have breakfast?


    I quickly washed my teary face with the cold water and left the room.


    I don¡¯t want to experience anything like that again. It felt way too real to be just a dream. I still feel a bit dizzy too, but I guess I shouldn¡¯t let that worry me too much.


    Making my way down the stairs, I could hear Seth talking to someone. A woman? And one that sounds extremely cute too!? Go explode...


    ?Eh, you¡¯re looking towards becoming adventurers? Aren¡¯t you a little too pretty for that.?


    Seth tried to get his game on.


    ?Oh! That¡¯s the first time someone told me that! But I don¡¯t really care about appearances. Nee~, are you going to become an adventurer too!??


    ?Yeah! I¡¯m going to go to the trials with a friend of mine. Actually, I¡¯m pretty worried about him. The kiddo¡¯s a bit of an oddball. I found him yesterday in the middle of the forest covered in numerous wounds and soaked in blood. This morning when I woke up, he was squirming in agony in his sleep.?


    ?Oh.. Nightmares, perhaps..??


    Another woman!?


    Just who did I team up with? Casanova!? This time, the voice was much calmer. Actually, tired might be more accurate. Regardless, with her silky smooth voice, she sounds like a beauty. I wanted to look. Badly. But I guess I¡¯ll just keep listening to the conversation for now..


    ?No, I don¡¯t think it was ¡®just nightmares¡¯. It damn near looked like someone had cast a damn curse on the poor guy. I thought about waking him up, but I honestly didn¡¯t know how to go about it.?


    Oh.. Seth sounded pretty remorseful. He called me his friend again, too. Could it be that I found someone special? Or rather, someone special found me.. Perhaps I should put a little more trust in him? No.. I¡¯ve only known him for a day after all¡­


    ?How awful! That¡¯s really bad.. We should go wake him up! Maybe some breakfast would make him feel a little better!? The food in this inn is really good after all!?


    The cute voice eagerly replied..


    ?Say, does this friend of yours happen to like eavesdropping..??


    ?Huh? The kiddo? I don¡¯t know about¨C Wait, what??


    As Seth realized what the calm voice had just asked him, I started sweating buckets. Fuck, this is bad.. I meant no harm of course! This wasn¡¯t an invasion of privacy, we''re at an inn after all. It¡¯s a public place!


    ?Oh¡­ It seems like I hit the nail on the head. I sensed a presence behind the staircase, and it became overwhelming at the mention of eavesdropping..?


    The calm voice continued her onslaught..


    A-Amazing!? Figuring out someone''s position just like that? The girl with the beautiful voice really was something. The cute voiced girl seemed to be just as confused as I was though, going all ¡®Eh?¡¯ and ¡®Huh?¡¯.


    ?Hey, kiddo! If you¡¯re really there, you should just come over here.?


    ?Nee~, why are you hiding!? Come here! I wanna see you too, weirdo!?


    Weirdo¡­ That struck me harder than any of the times Seth called me an idiot. I lost the last bit of confidence in myself I didn¡¯t even know I had. Who would¡¯ve thought a cute voice calling you names would hurt you this much. Mildly depressed, I made my way down the stairs.


    I was awestruck. Sitting on the same table as Seth were two young women. The cute voice seemed to belong a dark elf. Apart from the obvious elven features such as unbelievable beauty and long, sharp ears, she had short and wavy, creamy blonde hair, that contrasted amazingly with her milky chocolate colored skin.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    She was wearing an outfit that seemed... a little too revealing!? It was a greenish garment that covered her ample breasts, wrapped around her sides, and converged around her hips to form a skirt like bottom part, conveniently leaving the midriff bare. She had visible abs, too. Though I''m a bit intimidated, I am also very much intrigued..


    The calm, beautiful voice seemed to belong to a breathtaking beauty from the snow elf race. She seemed to have smaller ears than the dark elf. If the cute voiced elf was the chocolate, she would be the vanilla. Her skin was fair and light, almost translucent. Her eyes were bright turquoise, and wouldn¡¯t pale in comparison to the highest grade gemstones.


    She had long flowing platinum blonde hair with a short braid on the right side. Her eyelashes shared the tranquil pale color of her hair too. In comparison, her clothes were more modest than those of her darker counterpart. She wore a lightweight white tunic that was as elegant as it''s wearer. It had string ties that ran along the sides, revealing her slim figure at a glance. To top it all off, she wore nigh white thigh high boots, leaving a slight portion of her thigh, between the boots and the tunic exposed, starkly contrasting with her otherwise shy appearance.


    A happy go lucky dark elf dressed in revealing clothing living in blissful ignorance of her ¡®merits¡¯ and an elegant, calm snow elf whose appeal was fair and modest. Both beautiful enough to call living works of art.


    Elves really were something¡­ But there was a problem.


    Just how am I, who never talks to other people, much less other girls, supposed to talk to girls of that caliber? And to two of them at once? After one of them caught me listening to their conversation in secret!? Not happening, not in a million years.


    ¡­Is what I thought until Seth dragged me by force to greet them.


    ?Uh¡­ H-Hello? I¡¯m Light, nice to meet you.. I guess??


    ?Oooh! You really are weird, eh? What¡¯s with the hair? And why didn¡¯t you just come over? The food here is super good too! Here, eat up.?


    The dark elf was trying to get familiar. Fast.


    The snow elf wasn''t having any of it though..


    ?Aren¡¯t you a little too friendly to someone who just eavesdropped on us..??


    ?He isn¡¯t a bad guy, I know that much. But he sure is weird, you should watch out for that.?


    Seth defended me. Well, kind of...


    ?Oi! What¡¯s that supposed to mean!??


    ?You know... You got that weird eye and you said you came from another world and all.?


    The reactions of the two elves were worlds apart. The dark elf seemed extremely interested, while the snow elf barely even expressed her indifference...


    ?Eh, eh!? Another world! You really are weird! And what¡¯s this about an eye? Show me!?


    ?¡­?


    I almost got a positive picture of Seth for a moment. There was no way he would actually be nice and reliable, absolutely none. He could¡¯ve just, not told that..? I guess I could show the Eye of Origin though. Here goes..


    ¡¾Grace ¨C Dark Elf Female ¨C Age: 20¡¿


    ¡¾Equipment: Dress of the Boreal Forest, Hide Boots.¡¿


    It hurts, but it¡¯s more tolerable than yesterday. That being said it still burns like a sin, but I can handle it.


    ¡¾Lumi ¨C Snow Elf Female ¨C Age: 18¡¿


    ¡¾Equipment: Winter''s Veil, Pale High Boots, Aquamarine Earrings¡¿


    ¡¾Special Skills: Presence Detection¡¿


    Guhhh..!? That hurt a lot more than previously..


    Special Skills: Presence Detection? Oh.. So special skills exist? The ages really don¡¯t match up to their appearance though. I knew that elves had long-lasting lives, and their beauty certainly would suggest them being my age at the very least, but they were way too unblemished and pure. Especially compared to Seth¡­ No offense, buddy.


    ?Ah! It really lit up! Wow! Cool!! Now I know why they call you Light!?


    ?That was certainly interesting.. Though I wonder. Just what exactly did you see? I hope you didn¡¯t do something like look through our clothes, because if you did¡­?


    The scornful gaze of Lumi was frightening. Snow elves really are cold¡­ Heh. How did she come to a conclusion like that though!? I mean, I would if I coul¨C I mean, no! I¡¯m an honest man that respects privacy. Ohh¡­ right.


    I seem to be an expert in cornering and contradicting myself.


    ?Hold on just a minute, Lumi! There¡¯s no way I¡¯d do something like that.?


    I instinctively replied to her baseless accusations.


    ?Eh!??


    The girls let out a unanimous gasp. Without realizing, I used the name of the person I had read with the eye before actually hearing it from the person in question first once more. Even the calm and composed snow elf was a bit startled.


    ?Hold on just a minute! I haven¡¯t even told my name to your friend yet! What exactly did you see!??


    ?Well... You don¡¯t look eighteen, for one.?


    ?Tsk.. You¡¯re the worst..?


    Her hesitation quickly turned to contempt. That was a horrible idea. I shouldn¡¯t have said that.. Grace seemed amused though. Seth, however, was frozen solid. He probably didn¡¯t dare to say a word.


    ?Haha! You¡¯re pretty cool, weirdo! It¡¯s not often I see my little Lumi frown like this anymore. Nee~, what did you see about me!??


    ?I have a name, you know.. You¡¯re a dark elf named Grace. You¡¯re two years older than Lumi.?


    ?Oooh! You did it to me too! Are you sure you didn¡¯t peek under our clothes though!? You can¡¯t do that yet.?


    YET!? Just what are you trying to imply!?


    ?I¡¯m not able to do that, no.?


    I convinced Grace.


    Seth joined in on the worst possible moment imaginable. He somehow always manages to hit me where it hurts..


    ?Oh, so you tried??


    ?But you were the first person I read! Dammit, Seth.?


    ?Heeh!? Are you two in that kind of a relationship!??


    Grace interrupted our beef. Though her tone seemed slightly, how do I put it, disappointed..?


    ?Nope! Not a way in hell.?


    ?Yeah, there¡¯s not a way in hell.?


    We replied in unison.


    Once again, I''m glad we agree.


    ?Hehehe~! I was just kidding. Say, do you have any plans for today? We arrived here from the northern settlements just yesterday. If you two want to, we could go on a double date around the city!?


    ?Sure! We arrived here yesterday too. I don¡¯t have it in me to decline an invitation from two beautiful girls after all.?


    Seth switched his internal gear back to Don Juan.


    ?Oi, Seth! Shouldn¡¯t you ask me first before deciding??


    ?I don¡¯t recall inviting anyone anywhere either, especially not that pervert..!?


    ?Ooh, what¡¯s this? You two are starting to get along nicely already! Then it¡¯s decided! We¡¯re going after we¡¯ve eaten!?


    What do you mean by ¡®you two are starting to get along nicely¡¯!? She just called me a pervert for no reason!


    Grace looked like she didn¡¯t have a care in the world. She stood up in excitement. And made a striking pose. For better or worse, she sure was a high energy girl.


    She got along pretty well with Seth, as their personalities were somewhat compatible. I don¡¯t think I¡¯d survive five minutes with Lumi though. For a variety of reasons... We ate, geared up and headed out of the inn. As we started walking down the street I saw a young beastman charging towards us at full throttle.


    It was Green!


    ?Hey, Wyvernslayer! I promised to guide you today, so here I am! So, where do you wanna g-go¡­ o.. ooh..!??


    His eyes damn near started sparkling the moment he saw Lumi. An understandable reaction considering her beauty, but¡­


    ?Oh¡­ Excuse me! Nice to meet you, miss girlfriend!?


    Girlfriend!?!

 05 - Evaluating Architecture

    Chapter 5 ¨C Evaluating Architecture


    ?Oh¡­ Excuse me! Nice to meet you, miss girlfriend!?


    ?No, Green. You got it wrong, she¡¯s..?


    ?Yes.. wrong indeed. There¡¯s no way I¡¯d ever get along with someone like him, much less be in a relationship.. He¡¯s the worst.?


    Her words agitated me far more than they should''ve...


    ?Oi! You were the one who single-handedly obliterated my lifelong dream ofliving my days beside a loving snow elf wife within five minutes flat! Who do you think is the bad guy here??


    ?Tsk.. And you were the one who tried to spy on me. Twice...?


    ?Twice!? I already told you I couldn''t look through your clothes even if I wanted to!?


    ?And now you''re implying that you''d want to do so? Tsk..?


    That''s one too many clicks of tongue, miss.


    ?Nee~, When did you two get close enough to start fighting??


    Grace butted in again beautifully, right before I was able to reply to Lumi''s baseless accusations.


    She¡¯s making things way harder than they have to be. This is not what ¡®being close enough to have fights¡¯ means, you idiot! Even Seth was laughing this time. Lumi crossed her arms and started pouting. She might be an adult but she sure acts like a kid.


    ?Oh¡­ so that¡¯s how it was. Uh... I''m sorry, miss! Say, shall we get going around the town??


    ?Sure, kiddo. Do you mind if these two tag along??


    Seth asked.


    ?Not a problem! Friends of my friends are my friends too!?


    ?Aah! You¡¯re so cute! Cute! Nee~ Your name, what¡¯s your name??


    ?Name¡¯s Green! At your service!?


    Green saluted with such vigor that his flat cap almost fell. His clothing today seemed to be of much higher quality than yesterday. He must¡¯ve looked towards today. Green sure is a good kid. He¡¯s helpful too since I don¡¯t know the town all that well yet. He seemed to take a liking to me when I sold the Midnight Wyvern rags to his mom. Or maybe his mom told him to be on his best behavior after that. Who knows?


    ?Alright, kiddo. Can you take us to the town square? If I correctly recall, that¡¯s where the Adventurer Trials are held.?


    ?Can, do! The trials will start there tomorrow come noon! Say... Will the two pretty ladies also become adventurers!??


    ?Oh my, aren¡¯t you a charmer! Me and the ice princess over there are also going take part in the trials! We¡¯ll become top-rated adventurers in no time! Just you watch!?


    Grace proudly declared,brimming with confidence.


    ?That¡¯s awesome! You sure are amazing! Should we get going now? The streets will get really busy soon, you know??


    We started strolling towards the town square. The streets were stunning, to say the least, and my sense wonder only grew, as we wandered through the city. Witnessing the harmonious combination of wondrous constructs built on the unaltered hills surrounded by trees and plants woven in between from up close was surreal. Apart from the two great streams running across the city splitting the capital into it¡¯s four distinctive districts, there was also an abundance of smaller streams that ran all throughout the countless streets.


    Green pointed out several interesting stores, as we made our way through the trading district. They had everything from the general goods to the bakery. There were some stores I definitely want to visit at least once, like the alchemist and the smith. Not that I¡¯d really buy anything. I just want to witness alchemy and smithing in person, preferably with magic involved.


    We bought some meat skewers from a stall by the street. The taste was gentle, and the meat was juicy and tender. Beef, maybe? It¡¯s probably for the best that I don¡¯t think about the origin of any meat I eat in this world too much. Actually, now that I think about it, I''m quite sure I¡¯ve managed to eat a larger variety of foods after coming to this world than I had in the past year of living on my own.


    I almost had some time to get homesick before we finally arrived at the town square.


    We were met with a massive, circular plaza, paved with the same white marble-like stone as most of the bigger buildings currently surrounding us. Streams of magic power, similar to the ones in the grand marble structures, ran towards the middle, in the cracks between the stones, painting a picture of a mysterious pattern on the ground. In the middle stood a grand fountain, decorated by a sculpture of a monstrous dragon. My guess would be that it was the Dragon of Origin. The radius of the square or rather, the circle, was no less than a hundred meters.


    Behind the fountain, on the other end of the plaza, stood a building unlike any other. Though modest in height, when compared to the other structures towering around it, it more than made up for its lack of size with the ornamental details sculpted into it''s supporting pillars and the arch of its entrance. It also seemed to utilize the magical streams in its design, but it did so in much higher concentration than the surrounding buildings. At a mere glance, one would instantly recognize that said building was built for religious purposes, and as all religious buildings did, this building too, sported a certain motif. The Enneagram of the Nine Gods. A stylized nine-pointed star, representing the nine gods and their distinctive elements.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    ?We¡¯re here! So.. isn¡¯t it amazing??


    Green proudly announced.


    ?Yeah! It is. It sure is!?


    ?I-Indeed..?


    The girls were enchanted, and I''ll admit, it was a lot to take in indeed.. This whole world was a lot to take in.


    ?This world is quite something, isn''t it? Young man..?


    What was that?


    I heard a feeble old voice calling out to me from beneath the trees on the outer ring of the plaza.


    ?It isn¡¯t polite to not answer when someone calls out to you.. Ah, no matter. Are you looking towards becoming an adventurer to learn more about the world? What an interesting way to go about. I wish you the best of luck¡­ Sorry for interrupting your little tour. I¡¯ll see you soon, Son of the Heavens.?


    ?Oi!? Old man!?


    I quickly turned around, but the owner of the voice was nowhere to be seen. What was that about being a Son of the Heavens? Wasn¡¯t I just thinking about how astonishing this entire world was? He knew about my intentions with becoming an adventurer too. I was frozen solid...


    ?Now listen here, kiddo, and listen well. I know I¡¯m older than you, but isn¡¯t that just a tad bit rude to someone who saved you from becoming monster food!??


    ?Eh, Seth? No, it wasn¡¯t meant to you. There was an old man here just now. He called out to me.?


    ?Huh? Are you alright? Do you perhaps have spirit fever??


    ?What¡¯s that??


    ?You know, when you get all confused and start to believe that the spirits are talking to you. That¡¯d explain a thing or two¡­?


    ?Do you mean schizophrenia??


    ?Schizo-what now? I asked if you¡¯ve started to think spirits are talking to you.?


    Schizophrenia or not, it seems like they''re aware of conditions like it, and they just go by different names. I wonder what the treatment is like. Maybe the alchemist is able to produce antipsychotic potions! Or maybe I''m just looking too much into this and it''s all just magic...


    I should learn from this and refrain from sprouting out odd knowledge from my past life when things don''t quite seem to match up. It¡¯s better if I don¡¯t create too many misunderstandings.


    ?Ah, actually, don¡¯t mind that. I didn¡¯t too sleep well.?


    ?Hahaha! I figured. Sorry for not waking you up by the way¡­ I didn¡¯t exactly know what to do in a situation like that, but enough of that. This place really exceeds all the expectations, huh??


    ?Yeah, it really does! Not that I even had any idea what to expect.?


    ...As I never really described the buildings in the city itself. Though whoever created this wonderland from my barely descriptive scribbles, definitely deserves a raise!


    ?Tomorrow¡¯s going to be the big day. I can¡¯t wait! I¡¯m getting all fired up already!?


    Seth was getting excited about the trials tomorrow. I was a bit indifferent, as I only really chose to attend because I don¡¯t know what else I could do in this world. I wonder what the trials will have in store for us. Seth already made it pretty clear that adventurers aren¡¯t quite what they used to be, so I doubt they¡¯ll send us out in the wilds to gather herbs or kill monsters. I just hope that it won¡¯t be a written test. Not that my physical prowess is really anything to boast about either...


    After carefully examining the whole place and taking a long while to marvel the grandeur of the plaza and the surrounding buildings, we started to make our way to the outskirts of the town.


    The further away from the town square you got, the less impressive the buildings got. Despite that, they were still well made and looked sturdy and well constructed. But as soon as we got outside of the walls, the buildings, if they could even be called that, looked like nothing short of shoddy huts one would expect to find in slums. The build quality was on the level of a primitive human settlement at best. Compared to the exquisite craftsmanship inside the walls, the conditions on the outside were preposterous.


    What¡¯s even more bizarre, was that nobody seemed to mind at all! They happily went on about their lives without a care in the world. I was convinced that any decent human being would at the very least react to such drastic differences in quality of life, but that was not the case here.


    A countless number of plants and fruits that I had never seen previously, were being grown and gathered in the fields surrounding the capital. I couldn¡¯t help but wonder how they¡¯d taste like. There were also familiar ones such as apples, or at least a subspecies that shared a similar look to the counterpart back at home. At first, everything seemed to be in order, until I noticed that the people weren''t carrying the fruits and veggies in containers nor carriages, but in their arms and even the fields were being tilled by hand.


    Surely it would be to the benefit of all citizens if they invested into the farmlands and settlements outside the walls? I¡¯d like to have a word about efficiency with whoever is in charge around these parts.


    I won¡¯t question their farming and gathering methods for now, but even an idiot would be able to notice the difference in build quality between the buildings inside, and outside the walls.


    ?Hey, Green. Do you know why the huts outside are so badly constructed compared to the beautiful buildings on the inside??


    ?Badly constructed? Eh!? What do you mean mister Light??


    ?I mean, those buildings won¡¯t probably last for long, especially under heavy weather. The buildings inside the walls, on the other hand, are really well constructed and will probably hold in even the direst weather.?


    ?I don¡¯t¡­ think I know what you mean by that. Sorry, Mister Light.?


    Green sounded rather disappointed at himself. Thankfully Seth came to his rescue.


    ?Don''t worry, Green. I don''t understand it either. But I guess I¡¯m getting more and more used to not understanding anything you say, kiddo.?


    Lumi, who has been silent up until now joined in on the conversation.


    ?Actually... In my opinion, that was a rather reasonable observation on his part. Most newly built houses will collapse during storms and heavy eastern wind, but the ancient buildings inside the walls still stand unscathed. I too, still lack the understanding behind why this is, but what I do understand is the cause of concern. Although I thought it would be common sense that the Races aren¡¯t able to construct such wonders after the Convergence of Gods, it seems that I might be mistaken..?


    Wasn¡¯t that answer a bit too elaborate? ¡®I think he¡¯s right¡¯ would have sufficed. However, she did mention that construction of buildings like the ones inside the walls doesn¡¯t seem to be possible after the Convergence. If I correctly recall, Seth also said something about people not remembering a thing that happened after the Gods descended during the Convergence. He mentioned adventurers granting the races lost knowledge too.


    I think I¡¯m onto something here...

 06 - Preparations

    Chapter 6 ¨C Preparations


    While I was still lost in my thoughts, puzzled by the lack of common sense, we started to make our way back inside of the walls. I asked Green to take us to the smith, and he eagerly complied. The Trials were tomorrow, but I realized that I didn¡¯t even have a weapon yet, or rather, anymore. Also, I just really want to see a weapons shop for once in my life. If I get lucky, maybe I could see a fantasy smith in action!


    We reached smith¡¯s shop before long. Stepping in, I was reminded from the times when I was a child and my grandpa took me to a candy store. The thought alone warms my heart. It¡¯s the little things that count.


    Quite obviously, as opposed to the tailor, that dealt in fabrics, leather and hide, the smith dealt in metals. I was a bit disappointed that I didn¡¯t find any weapons made high-grade magical metals like Adamantine or Mithril.


    Speaking of finding things, we didn¡¯t find the shopkeeper either, rather she found us. She came barging to the counter from the back. Judging by the noise, she had managed to knock over at least three different weapon or armor stands on her way. A short young girl no older than thirteen, whose face was all dirty from working in the smithy, emerged from the doorway behind the counter. She had deep red hair tied in two long braids. Of course, the smith had to be a redhead girl! That¡¯s a given.


    ?W-Welcome! My da¨C uhh... Excuse me. The store owner isn¡¯t here today so I¡¯m here to look over the shop. Oh, I know! You lot must be here to gear up for the trials! Anything specific you¡¯re looking for? I¡¯m sure we have something suitable for everyone! Feel free to look around and be sure to let me know if you lot need help with anything!?


    Just how talkative do people get!? I guess she is supposed to guide the customers, but there¡¯s a limit to how long you can go on while still being helpful. Or maybe I''m just being a recluse again...


    ?Well then, I know what I¡¯m getting.?


    Seth said, as he took out his weapon and slammed it on top of the counter.


    ?This weapon has served me well through the years, but I think it¡¯s about the time for an upgrade. Hey, shopkeeper! You got any weapons like this one??


    He unwrapped his two-meter long polearm. The blade on its end was designed for cutting instead of thrusting. After taking a closer look, the blade part was quite damaged, and the wooden pole was weathered to the point where I¡¯m surprised it¡¯s still holding up. I remember seeing it among Seth''s equipment when I first analyzed him with my eye. Copper Glaive, was it?


    ?Oh? A spear? Wait, no... That¡¯s a glaive, ain¡¯t it!? You don¡¯t often see people those wiggling those around. Yours seems to be almost too well used, though. You should take better care of your weapons! They ain¡¯t going to last a long time like this.?


    She recognized it! That¡¯s otherworldly expertise for you.


    ?Yeah, this one¡¯s been my partner in crime for damn near a decade.?


    ?A c-c-criminal!? I¡¯m sorry we don¡¯t serve criminals here, go somewhere else!?


    ?Hah!? Please calm down! That¡¯s just a saying!?


    ?Oh.. right. I guess I¡¯m a bit flustered since this is the first day the shop¡¯s been left in my care. The highest tier of glaives we have available are bronze, which is a tier higher than iron. Is that fine with you? They¡¯re brand new though and will last a lot longer than a copper one if maintained well. Not to mention that they¡¯re nowhere near as expensive as steel ones!?


    ?Alright! How¡¯s the price then??


    ?Two silver and five bronze coins for the bronze one, two silver for the iron one if you can¡¯t spare a few bronze extra.?


    ?Hmm.. That sounds about right. I¡¯ll take it.?


    ?Ooh! Thank you for your purchase! Dad will be happy once he hears about this! It¡¯s not often we sell bronze weapons. Ehehe¡­?


    The smith girl giggled to herself.


    Didn¡¯t she get a little too excited from the sale of a single weapon? No.. I shouldn¡¯t judge people by what makes them happy. Even I¡¯m not that miserable. Perhaps all I really am is just jealous..


    ?Hey, you in the black! Are you looking for a weapon too perchance??


    She called out to me, as I was wandering around without a clue.


    ?Yeah, I guess.. I have no idea what kind of weapon I should go for though.?


    I come from a world of peace. I have no previous experience with swinging a giant two-handed sword or poking holes through monsters with a spear. If I¡¯m honest I rarely ever even went outside. I did do pretty well in physical education classes back in the day, but that hardly helps here.


    Something easy to swing around, maybe? How about a dagger? No, I¡¯d have to get too close for comfort, and that¡¯s way too dangerous for my tastes.


    ?Having trouble deciding? We have plenty of time, don''t you worry! Just name your budget and I¡¯ll round up a few weapons you can try. You have nice clothes, so you can probably afford a few of our better wares too! No need to hold back!?


    Oh right, I have a lot of money in my pockets right now. Seth even called me rich. I shouldn¡¯t go out of my way and splurge all my money on a single weapon¡­


    ?I think I can spend about a gold coin..?


    ?Y-y-you...!? YOU CAN FUCKING WHAT!?!?


    The talkative smith completely lost her composure and broke out into a frightening accent, cursing in disbelief. I felt pride. Undeserved pride, but pride nevertheless.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    ?EEH!??


    ?You.. had such amounts of money with you..? It seems I misjudged you..?


    Even the elven girls voiced their amazement. The way those two conduct themselves is like the difference between night and day. It¡¯s quite funny they get along. Well, now that I think about it, do they even get along?


    Anyhow, a single gold coin won¡¯t be that much of a price to pay. It¡¯s only four times the amount of Seth¡¯s weapon.Is there really any reason for a reaction like that?


    ?Uhh.. e-excuse my rude language. A g-golden coin? My word... Are you perhaps someone famous? I¡¯m so sorry for not noticing earlier.?


    ?Light¡­ kiddo. I know you¡¯re lacking in common sense, but..?


    ?Nee~, you¡¯re someone important, aren¡¯t you!? Why didn¡¯t you tell me!??


    ?What did I do wrong!? It¡¯s only one gold coin! That¡¯s only about four times the worth of Seth¡¯s weapon..?


    I hesitantly defended myself.


    ?It¡¯s only one gold coin he says¡­ How does one even come to possess such amounts while boasting such a low intelligence..?


    ?Light.. do you not remember anything I tell you? While ten bronze equals a silver, a golden coin is equal to a hundred silver coins. Not ten. You got that??


    ?!!!?


    Eh? I¡¯m fairly sure that in the currency system I wrote about, a gold coin was worth ten silver, not a hundred¡­ Did Seth misinform me? Or did it just pass by me when I heard about the currency and just assumed that it was the same? God dammit. I made myself look like an idiot. Again.


    ?Well, anyways, that¡¯s the amount I¡¯m willing to spend. I think I want something that¡¯s rather easy to use.?


    ?You could probably get no less than an entry level Adamantine weapon with that amount, but we don¡¯t have any ancient treasures like that... Oh, I know! I think I have something that will fit you just perfectly in the back! Give me a moment, I¡¯ll be right back! You¡¯re going to love this!?


    The moment she drew the sword from its sheath, my heart damn near skipped a beat, and in an instant, I knew that it was the weapon I was going to purchase.


    What she had brought out was a shining black short-sword, that had a beautiful single-edged blade. The design reminded me of a traditional eastern sword, but the shape of the blade was straight. Ninjato, was it? I¡¯m not quite sure¡­ In cases like this, I''d just have fired up image search on my computer, but alas, that was not possible now.


    ?This is the Darksteel Blade. It¡¯s one of the finest weapons we have. Until now, it has been gathering dust as a showpiece. But I believe it might just be exactly what you¡¯re looking for! Darksteel is an exquisite metal far surpassing the qualities of steel, and the weapon itself was crafted during the old era. I''m still an apprentice smith, but even I can tell that the craftsmanship poured into the blade was unparalleled. The short blade is easy to handle, yet in the right hands, its ability to cut through far exceeds other weapons of similar build and size. The price is set at 75 silver coins. You could arm an entire village for that amount, you know? Are you sure you want to buy it??


    I didn''t need such a long and elaborate sales pitch. I had already decided before you even opened your mouth! To be honest, I would''ve spent all my four gold on it if that''s what it took. Perhaps I''m just impulsive, but there''s no way I''m passing up on this!


    ?My life will depend on it soon enough, so I see no problem in spending such amounts. I would like to make the purchase, thank you.?


    ?Ehehehe.. Had you told me just five minutes ago that I would sell the Darksteel Blade, I would¡¯ve called you an idiot. I can hardly believe this. Thank you! A million times thank you!?


    ?Please don¡¯t. I¡¯ve been called an idiot plenty times already..?


    ?Oh no, I wouldn¡¯t dare. After all, you¡¯re an esteemed customer now!?


    Maybe I can analyze the weapon itself with my eye? It seemed to work rather flawlessly when looking at people, even if it did sting a bit. I see no reason why it wouldn¡¯t work with a weapon!


    ¡¾Weapon: Darksteel Blade ¨C Class: Blade ¨C Rank: Regular ¨C Rarity: B¡¿


    And worked it did! Brilliantly, in fact. Though my expectations for the analysis were far surpassed.


    It¡¯s showing class and rank slots now!? This really is starting to feel like the games I used to play. There seems to be another slot called ''Rarity'', too. While the rank is only ¡®Regular¡¯, the rarity seems to be a B! I wonder if the rarity goes from F to S as alphabet ranks usually go. As for the Rank? I have no idea how that works, but I suppose regular isn''t very impressive.


    Seeing as I was surrounded by numerous weapons, I decided to compare mine with the regular stock. I need to get used to the burning sensation gouging my left eye out anyway.


    ¡¾Weapon: Bronze Glaive ¨C Class: Polearm ¨C Rank: Usual ¨C Rarity: C¡¿


    ¡¾Weapon: Iron Sword ¨C Class: Sword ¨C Rank: Usual ¨C Rarity: D¡¿


    With that, I think it might be safe to assume that ¡®Regular¡¯ is a Rank higher than ¡®Usual¡¯. As per rarity, it seems to change with the materials. Both Rank and Rarity seem to be universal across all the weapon types. A bronze sword will be the same Rank and Rarity as a bronze glaive.


    I wonder what rank the weapons made of greater materials, like the Adamantine she mentioned, would be?


    While I was ogling at my new purchase, and took a few practice swings around, the girls made their purchases.


    Grace decided that it was a good idea to buy a giant greatsword. Actually, the term ''buster sword'' might be a better description of that instrument of death. I have no idea how a girl like her is even able to carry such a beast! I need to remind myself not to piss her off. Actually, can she even get pissed off? She seems almost unrealistically happy all the time. The image of Grace carelessly swinging the monstrous sword around, cleaving through hordes of monsters with a bright smile on her face was horrifying.


    Lumi,on the other hand, bought a pair of... bladed folding fans? Is she serious? I mean, I¡¯ve seen people fight with fans on various media before, and they do fit her character more than a battle-axe would, but isn¡¯t it just a little too ambitious to actually fight actual real monsters with them!? I don''t even know how people hold them when they''re used as weapons! How do you even strike with the blades, anyway? Has she gone mental? I¡¯m actually getting pretty worried for her safety now, even if she does manage to piss me off all the time...


    The smith girl was extremely satisfied with the transactions and was smiling from ear to ear the whole time. It was actually rather sweet.


    It was getting late by the time we had armed ourselves up, so we made our way back to the inn. I paid the lodging. Again. Not that I mind. I got 25 silver coins for extra use as change since the weapon ended up being less than a gold coin.


    Seth and I sat on the edges of our beds in the dimly lit room.


    ?Tomorrow is going to be a big day, huh??


    He thought out loud, gazing out of the window on the back wall.


    ?Yeah.. all in all, I¡¯m still as lost as ever. Maybe everything will work itself out eventually.?


    ?Sure will. Don¡¯t worry about it, kiddo.?


    ?I¡¯m not really a kid, you know??


    ?Haha... I know, I know. You just kinda remind me of the village kids back at home... I really wonder how they¡¯re doing. It''s only been a couple of days, but I just can''t help it.?


    ?I wonder what it¡¯s like to someone to worry about back at home. I was getting bored of being so lonely all the time. Perhaps it really was my time to pass. Well, at least there isn''t anybody back at my home who will miss me. And to be honest, this place isn''t half bad either.?


    ?Huh? You¡¯re on about something weird again, kiddo. I don¡¯t know about your situation back at home, but you aren¡¯t lonely anymore, you know? As weird as you are, I haven¡¯t had the chance to get bored once after you showed up. In a way, I¡¯m really grateful to have someone to stroll around with. I¡¯m not really good with words. Enough of that, though. It¡¯s a big day tomorrow, we should get some sleep.?


    ?Thanks, Seth. I mean it.?


    ?Oh, stop it, you. Can¡¯t you see I¡¯m blushing here??


    ?Actually, no, I cant. It¡¯s pretty dark.?


    ?Hahaha! Good one. Well, good night.?


    ?Yeah, night.?


    Tomorrow¡¯s gonna be a big day, huh?

 07 - Adventurer Trials

    Chapter 7 ¨C Adventurer Trials


    There I laid, bound by ethereal chains, down in the deepest, darkest depths of the abyss. A faint cry of despair resonated across the eternity. The echoes responded, telling but the same tale. The faint light in the horizon had faded and darkness roamed unrestrained. Yet¡­ By my side, a single, faint, crimson flame, refusing to be put out by the darkness, still fought and remained.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    I woke up once again.


    That¡­


    That was the very same dream, wasn¡¯t it?


    I felt disturbed, yet I didn¡¯t wake up crying this time.


    The dream feels familiar, but I don¡¯t know why. I¡¯ve never been chained in a dark room, have I? Sure, my life wasn¡¯t all that great, but I¡¯m fairly sure nothing of that sort had happened. Maybe it''s trying to tell me something? I sure as hell hope it isn''t telling me to go and get kidnapped, or anything along those lines. I should ask someone about this. Though the three people I currently know are definitely out of the question.


    ?Haaaaah... Oh! Morning, kiddo. Did you sleep better today??


    Seth yawned as he greeted me.


    ?Probably? I mean, I guess I did.?


    ?Alright, that¡¯s good to hear! We should get going as soon as possible though. I don¡¯t want to be late to the trials!?


    I think I still need a little time to compose myself¡­


    ?I¡¯ll be right there, you go on ahead.?


    ?Alright, I understand. Don¡¯t keep me waiting for too long!?


    I joined Seth for breakfast soon after. It was the same as last morning, but I don¡¯t mind. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m all that picky about food anyway. It took a good while before the elven girls who were staying at the same inn joined us. After we had finished our morning activities we made haste to the town square.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    A familiar voice resonated across the plaza, halting the idle talk of everyone present.


    ?I welcome you, adventurer initiates, to the trials on this bright and blessed day. As you very well know, in the present day, the Races are still in peril as a result of the lands being ravaged by the endless monster horde, but no longer we are helpless against the forces unknown! You are here today to prove your worth. Should the Gods recognize your worth, you will receive the title of an adventurer, and shall be acknowledged as a true hero of the people!?


    The short and to the point introduction was met with thunderous applause from the adventurer prospects and onlookers alike. The event was much more grandiose than I had thought it would be. Rather than a handful of people showing up, the entire plaza was filled to the brim with people from all walks of life. The atmosphere reminded more of a festival than anything else.


    ?I ask the initiates to step onward!?


    The crowd made way in an instant and no less than a hundred participants stepped towards the building at the back of the square. As the crowds steered clear I finally saw the man behind the voice. It was an old man dressed in white robes, holding a staff made of a pure white material that I was unable to recognize. At the end of the staff was a radiant spherical crystal, that vibrantly shifted from color to another. I got curious so I tried to look at him with my Eye of Origin.


    ¡¾¡õ¡¿


    ¡¾¡õ¡¿


    ¡¾¡õ¡¿


    Blanks...


    You what!? There are three columns though, so he must at the very least have a special skill.


    The moment I took a look at him, the instant he locked his eyes with mine, and gave a wry smile. His eyes were as white as the robes he wore. Did he also possess the same ability as I did? That was a possibility I couldn¡¯t overlook.


    The participants, guided by the old man, slowly made their way into the main hall of the religious-feeling building that stood on the back of the town square. In the back of the main hall were numerous doorways, which didn¡¯t seem to lead anywhere.


    Seemingly amused by the confusion of the participants, the old man hit the ground with the butt of his staff and in an instant, the doorways lit up. They looked like passageways to empty space as they began to emit a magical purplish glow. The amazement of the participants seemed to amuse the old man even more.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    ?Initiates! You will soon step through into the realm of the Gods. What you enter, is an instance that is known by the name ¡®Trail of the Gods¡¯. I assure you, you will know what to do once you enter. Do not worry, your life won¡¯t be in danger this time, as is the will of the Gods. Think of this as a simulation to test your might. You will succeed once you manage to satisfy the requirements. Your position in the queue will not matter, as your trials will begin simultaneously. Best of luck¡­?


    My life won¡¯t be in danger? That¡¯s good. I don¡¯t want to die again. The crowd cheered in excitement. Soon after, lines were formed behind every passageway. Grace and Lumi lined up before Seth and I. I started to look around the place as I was waiting for my turn.


    Compared to the other participants I suddenly started to feel really out of place. Most of the participants were rugged men dressed in heavy armor, carrying giant weapons on their backs. There were few women here and there, but I personally wouldn¡¯t call those beasts women. Well apart from one of them. The redhead smith was there! She seemed to carry a massive warhammer on her back. Compared to her short stature, her choice of weapon seemed almost comical. What¡¯s with girls choosing impractical weapons in this world? But I''ll admit, now that she was geared up, she didn''t really seem like a kid anymore.


    ?Getting excited yet, Light??


    Seth asked, as he cracked his knuckles and stretched his neck.


    ?No, not really. More anxious than anything.?


    ?Don¡¯t worry about it, kiddo. You¡¯ll do just fine.?


    ?Are you sure? Looking around us, I feel severely outclassed.?


    ?That might be the case. But don¡¯t let that get you down!?


    ?Are you trying to discourage me??


    ?Of course not..?


    ?That didn¡¯t sound very reassuring.?


    ?Being an adventurer isn¡¯t all about being able to smack a monster with full force, you know? Strength is only one part of the equation, and by the looks of things, those walking chunks of meat don¡¯t seem to possess anything else.?


    He somehow manages to do it every time. It¡¯s a vicious cycle of him acting like a jackass, actually proving himself helpful and instantly going back to acting like a jackass again.


    ?Oh, oh! It¡¯s going to be my turn next! I¡¯ll see you guys on the other side!?


    Grace entered the gateway with full force and a bright smile on her face.


    You might want to reconsider your choice of words, ma''am! And what¡¯s with that confidence?


    ?¡­?


    Lumi walked in without any visible reaction.


    She was as calm as ever, or maybe she¡¯s just tired all the time? I honestly don¡¯t know.


    ?Alright, kiddo. It¡¯s my turn now. I¡¯ll be disappointed if you don¡¯t make it, so you better give it your all, cause I sure know I will, and you wouldn¡¯t want to lose to me now, would you??


    Seth gave some warm words of encouragement and stepped in.


    ?Ah... It¡¯s finally your turn.?


    A familiar voice called out for my name.


    It was the old man.


    ?That much is true, yes. However you¡¯re not here to announce that it''s my turn, are you??


    ?Ah. You¡¯re quite sharp.?


    ?Not really. This is just the only time you¡¯ve chosen to talk to a participant.?


    ?You seem to possess interesting abilities. Or rather, you seem to be an interesting individual as a whole, Son of the Heavens.?


    ?That isn¡¯t the first time you¡¯ve called me that.?


    ?Ah, you see, this is the first time I¡¯ve seen one of your kind after all. I found it near impossible to contain my curiosity.?


    What a weird old man. Although I guess I am to blame too. I did try to analyze him with the Eye of Origin after all. He was able to almost completely negate it though. All I saw were blanks.


    ?Oh, that? Why don¡¯t you go ahead and try again.?


    Did he read my thoughts?!


    ?Yes.?


    ?Oh¡­?


    ¡¾Nero ¨C Human Male ¨C Age: 83 ¨C Class: Arch Sage ¨C Rank: Legendary¡¿


    ¡¾Equipment: Robes of the Apostle, Grand Staff of Akashia, Comfy Slippers¡¿


    ¡¾Special Skills: Eyes of the Gods, Ability Interference, Clairvoyance¡¿


    ?T-That¡¯s amazing.. you¡¯re a Legendary rank? And wearing slippers nonetheless!?! What are ranks anyway??


    The old man responded with a tone that was slightly remorseful.


    ?Yes, Legendary indeed. Although, you should know that my capabilities have been given certain limitations by the Gods. Well, to put it bluntly, they¡¯re severely incapacitated, making me unable to participate in combat. I am here to act as a guide on their behalf. And about the ranks... you¡¯ll hopefully find out what ranks are soon enough.?


    ?Why did you call out to me, then??


    ?That should be obvious by now.?


    It¡¯s not obvious! Unless it¡¯s about my eye? But he also possesses the same kind of eye! Two of them, in fact.


    ?Don¡¯t be mistaken. My eyes aren¡¯t the same as yours. Anyhow... Good luck! Don¡¯t let me down. And don''t you dare tell anybody about the slippers!?


    ?W-Wait¡­!?


    The old man pushed me through the passageway.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    In an instant I found myself falling through empty space. The surreal experience of finding myself in another world was nothing compared to the wonder of descending through the seemingly endless horizon filled with stardust and decorated by countless unknown constellations.


    My freefall through eternity came to an abrupt end, as I felt my feet planted firmly on the ground. I was no longer surrounded by stardust, but grassy terrain and clear skies. Before me, laid a twisting, beaten forest path. The landscape was filled with uncountable trees, shrubbery, and flowers. It reminded me of the forest I found myself in after I was thrown into this world, but unlike that time, I now felt an imminent sense of danger. My hesitation and uncertainty vanished into thin air, only to be replaced by determination and decisiveness. Just this once, I¡¯ll give it my all.


    The voice of the old man called down from above once more.


    ?I welcome you once again to the adventurer trials. You¡¯re in right now on the Trail of the Gods. Soon you will receive the clearing conditions for the Trail from the Gods. Do your best to fulfill the given conditions. Should you emerge victorious, and have your worth recognized by the Gods, you will be granted the title of Adventurer. Inability to fulfill the conditions, or suffering defeated in battle will result in failure. These are the only rules, but they are absolute. Godspeed, initiates.?


    Alright. No backing down now. Bring it on!

 08 - The First of Many

    Chapter 8 ¨C The First of Many


    ¡¾Trail of the Greenhorn ¨C Rank: Usual¡¿


    Time Limit: None


    Reward: Unknown


    Objectives:


    ?Subjugate: Five monsters


    ?Find: Elemental Manastone


    ?Reach: The Shrine


    ?Exterminate: The Guardian of the Shrine


    ¡ª


    I drew my sword from its sheath on my back, kicked the ground, and dashed full speed ahead. My grey scarf trailed behind in the air, beautifully dancing about in the wind. My overgrown, messy white hair no longer obstructed my vision, as it was blown back by the warm, gentle breeze.


    My eyes were blazing with determination.


    Examining my objectives, I had a rough idea of what I was supposed to do. ¡®Subjugate¡¯ would not mean the same as ¡®Exterminate¡¯, as those were separate goals. That¡¯s good. I don¡¯t want to kill if I don¡¯t have to. Though, I''m not even sure if I was able to kill, even in a situation where I should.


    The one thing that stuck out the most was the second goal. Finding an Elemental Manastone could prove difficult. Perhaps there were more than one hidden across the Trail, and you¡¯d only be required to find a single one? That¡¯s always a possibility. Maybe there was an Elemental Manastone for every single element?


    I suppose I¡¯ll fight The Guardian of the Shrine once I reach the shrine, so I don¡¯t have to worry about those two. Yet. I do remember Seth telling me something along the lines of ¡®It¡¯s do or die out there¡¯, but the last thing I want to do is die when some boss monster smashes me to smithereens. Well, the old man did say I wouldn''t die, but I can''t imagine the experience being all that pleasant either.


    Dashing down the forest path, I heard rustling in the bushes to my right. Intrigued, I steered my step towards the source of the sound.


    After paying closer attention to my surroundings, I could notice the abnormality in the frequency of vegetation under a tree to my right. And while the flora littering the Trail certainly was beautiful, the ones around the rustling thicket practically emanated magic essence. I guess I¡¯ll soon find out whether my hypothesis about the Manastones of multiple elemental varieties would be proven correct.


    After a closer inspection, I caught a glimpse of a figure lying in wait in the thicket.


    ¡¾Kobold ¨C Affinity: None ¨C Rank: Usual ¨C Rarity: E¡¿


    Although I was barely able to differentiate the beast from the background, I was able to analyze the monsters with my eye. Seth really hit the nail on the head when he said that my ability would prove useful!


    It seemed to be lying in ambush, ready to take on adventurer initiates that would steer away from the beaten path. Though I couldn¡¯t see more than a rough outline of one of them, my senses somehow felt elevated, as I could clearly feel the intent to kill directed towards me from more sources than one. However, my objective wasn¡¯t to kill but to subjugate. How can I subjugate a monster that has its sights set on taking my life? Perhaps I could calm them down by disarming them?


    Though my plan wasn¡¯t exactly foolproof, it was the best I could come up with on the spot. I leaped into the thicket, swung my blade, cleaving my way through the shrubbery. I finally saw the true form of the monsters that were lying in wait.


    Kobolds, three of them. They were Usual-Ranked monsters of a rather low rarity, that stood as tall as a human child, possessing both reptilian features, such as their tail and green, scaly skin, as well as canine features, such as their ears and fur around the head that mimicked the hair of a humanoid. Though their eyes were bloodshot, their limbs were feeble, and weapons inadequate. The weapons the trio wielded were flimsy stone weapons. The dull stones were tied to the ends of sticks using vines that grew in excess in the surrounding area. Even I, an absolute recluse, didn''t feel threatened.


    I took the initiative while I still had a chance. I jumped at the three kobolds swinging my blade in a wide arc. The black blade glistened beautifully in the sunlight, as it swung for the first time since the Convergence of Gods.


    The strike wasn¡¯t aimed at the kobolds themselves, but rather just short of them. Close enough to strike fear into their hearts, but far enough not to wound them.


    The kobolds readied their weapons against their prey, but their prey ran fast. The moment I jumped at them, they realized that the initiative they thought they had was already long gone, and the element of surprise had switched sides.


    Now on the defensive, the kobolds held their weapons up, to protect themselves the upcoming assault, but for naught. The blade I brandished swiftly cleaved through the flimsy makeshift weapons the kobolds had prepared.


    I knew the blade I had purchased was amazing, but to cleave through wood with such ease? Goddamn. I just hope I don''t ruin the edge like this...


    The kobolds instinctively closed their eyes in preparation for their now inevitable doom. However, once they finally dared open their eyes, they found themselves completely unscathed.


    I never intended to hurt them in the first place. The conditions only required the subjugation of five monsters. I was only required to exterminate the monster guarding the Shrine. The now helpless kobolds were no longer coming after me.


    ?Subjugate: 3/5The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    The subjugation was a success!


    I¡¯m glad it worked out that easily, but I had another objective in mind. I started to rummage through the bushes in search for the Elemental Manastone.


    My search quickly came to halt, as the Kobolds started to raise their voices in unison. Their shrieks weren''t exactly what you''d call pleasant, at least compared to Lumi''s voice, but they certainly caught my attention. At first, I was wary about them attacking once more, but that seemed not to be the case. The kobolds seemed awfully cooperative this time. They signaled me to wait. I wonder why?


    Not long after, the kobold trio came back, holding a precious green gem in their hands, and presented the said gem to me while humbly bowing down. These monsters have better manners than most people in my own world! Enchanted by the glow of the gem, I gratefully received it.


    ¡¾Elemental Manastone of Nature¡¿


    As soon as I had analyzed the gem it escaped from my grasp as it turned into bright light and disappeared¡­


    ?Find: 1/1


    Alright! I''m off to a great start.


    To think that the kobolds would actually bring me the Elemental Manastone! I returned the favor and bowed my head, giving them my thanks. I never thought I¡¯d bow for a monster, but it just seemed natural. Without thinking twice about what I had done, I ran back to the path and pressed onward. While I ran down the path, I noticed that my steps felt a lot lighter now than they did in my old life, however, I had much more important things to think about.


    What I had just found was the Elemental Manastone of Nature, and with nature being one of the nine elements I had written of, would it be safe to assume that Manastones for each element exists? While I do know that I¡¯d only have to collect one to pass, my completionist spirit won¡¯t allow such a half-assed act. Dedication works in weird ways¡­


    Anyhow, I kept running along the path. If I had to guess, the path will eventually lead to the shrine, and the Manastones will be guarded by monsters and hidden along the path. The objective was to ¡®Reach¡¯ the Shrine, not ¡®Find¡¯ it anyway.


    The sound of the leaves rustling in the gentle breeze was slowly being overpowered by the escalating sound of flowing water. If the Manastone of Nature was hidden in overgrown bushes, then perhaps I could find the Manastone of Water there?


    I made a sharp turn into the forest towards the sound of rippling water and soon found myself at the edge of a large pond. The source of the splashes originated from water pouring down from the top of a steep stone cliff at the back of the pond.


    In the middle of the pond stood a small, lonely spot of land, and on top of the small tuft of grass on the miniature island, laid a blue pearl. The stone was similar to the Elemental Manastone of Nature, yet instead of bright verdant green, it shone in tones of deep azure blue.


    As I stood in awe and observed the area, numerous monsters emerged the surrounding forest. However this time, they weren¡¯t kobolds, but slimes!


    ¡¾Aquatic Slime ¨C Affinity: Water ¨C Rank: Usual ¨C Rarity: D¡¿


    I found myself surrounded by five aquatic slimes. They were uncommon variants of the normal slime, usually found around still bodies of water.


    Slimes, as one may know, are sentient blobs of unique magical goo. The appearance of slimes could only be described as massive, droplets of dew held together by surface tension, in sizes up to one''s knee. Compared to water, they were much thicker in consistency, and their outer layer, or in other words their skin, was a pleasantly soft, yet resilient membrane. They were able to move both by bouncingand by generating directional force by wiggling the goo inside of their bodies around. The aquatic variants are able to swim, float and dive, resist slashes exceptionally well. They are easily recognizable by their light blue color.


    If there was anything I knew about, it was slimes. I retreated back into the woods. Not because of my inability to deal with slash resistant monsters, as I''m fairly sure I''d still be able to cut through them with my blade, but rather because I had a plan. The slimes didn¡¯t bother to follow, but before the slimes even started to retreat back into their positions in the surrounding shrubbery, I came back holding something in my hands.


    I had collected a handful of berries from the surrounding bushes. As I laid the haul down on the side of the pond, I immediately gained the interest of the aquatic slimes.


    Slimes had no mouths. They ate by absorbing their prey with their bodies and dissolving it in their bodily goo. Because of this, the slimes were never able to eat berries without dissolving the actual plant along with the berry, resulting in the sweet taste of the berry being overrun by the plant itself!


    Though I would soon come to realize that my expertise regarding slimes wasn''t as advanced I had thought it to be. I''m not sure whether or not slimes can taste!


    To my relief, the answer was, or at least seemed to be, a resounding yes. Although the slimes lacked facial features, I could practically see their happiness as they eagerly feasted on the berries. After consuming all the berries they joyously bounced and squished about around me.


    Apart from my love for the cute blobs, I had a reason to go this far. After all, aquatic slimes are able to swim, are they not? If they''re going to be as polite as the kobolds after subjugation, then perhaps...


    I pointed towards the spot of land in the middle of the pond, and soon found myself getting swept up by the slimes and being carried on their backs, not to the center, but across the pond!? Oi!


    I barely managed to grab the blue stone on the way, but before I was able to abandon ship, the slimes threw me against the waterfall.


    Were they displeased with the berries? That wasn¡¯t it... They were so happy too, and I doubt that slimes have sociopathic tendencies. Before I had time to even brace himself to the inevitable impact with the back wall of the waterfall, I found myself laying down on cold damp stone.


    Behind the waterfall was a cavern. Of course, there would be a cavern hidden behind the damn waterfall! In the back of the shallow cave behind the waterfall, a faint brownish glow could be seen lighting up the surrounding stone walls. That was the third Elemental Manastone I had in my hands. This time of the Earth element variety!


    This discovery finally confirmed the existence of Manastones of each element. I was overjoyed.


    ?Find: 3/1


    ThoughI''ll admit, I was a bit hesitant to jump back through the waterfall, as I was still drenched for the first time going through the falling current, I closed my eyes, and decisively charged towards the waterfall andleaped through once more.


    As I emerged through, to my surprise, there waited a mass comprised of aquatic slimes squishing their bodies against each other waiting to receive me. I fell down on the conveniently shaped makeshift slime raft and started floating towards the land. The slimes rolled and bounced around me one last time as I stepped on the land. I pat the slimes on the head and started sprinting towards the path once again.


    ?Subjugate: 8/5


    Satisfied with the completion of the Subjugation and the discovery of two additional Manastones, I was once again on the run, step after another advancing along the path. The sun and the gentle warm wind were drying my utterly drenched clothes. Everything seemed to be going smoothly until I was suddenly blown back¡­

 09 - Cold Breeze

    Chapter 9 ¨C Cold Breeze


    A howling gale struck me out of the blue, halting me in my tracks. Instead of trying to evade the gale, I basked in it. I lifted my arms up and started turning around. Ingenious, if I do say so myself. Though I was currently just drying myself off from dashing through a damn waterfall, twice, I didn¡¯t stop for that reason alone. The wind was irregular, and had to originate somewhere¡­


    I decisively ran against the gale, and made my way off the path and deep into the woods once again. The freely grown wildlife and densely grown trees, along with the intense headwind that blew through the thicket, made progressing towards the source of the abnormal energy time consuming, to say the least.


    Just as I was about to give up from being annoyed of cleaving tree branches with my blade. I had finally made my way out of the thicket, greeted by the howling gale blasting against me in full force. On the other side, up above, a giant nest laid on the edge of a cliff overlooking the forest below. A bird of monstrous stature circled around the nest far up in the air.


    ¡¾Gale Vulture ¨C Affinity: Air ¨C Rank: Usual ¨C Rarity: A¡¿


    Among the countless Usual-Rank monsters, the Gale Vulture seemed to be in a league of its own. Its adept affinity with the air element and a monstrous wingspan of near five meters made it a formidable foe to the most experienced of fighters. Standing proudly at A-Rarity, It was probably no less dangerous than a group of lower rarity monsters of a higher rank. I hope...


    As I emerged from the forest below, I alerted the vigilant beast near instantly. We locked eyes, but I tried not to show any signs of interest. I could feel the vulture keeping a close eye on my every move, even if it didn¡¯t take any aggressive actions.


    I started scaling the sloped rock wall towards the nest of the giant vulture. Though the height was no more than a couple of meters, I could still feel an imminent sense of danger that held me tightly within its iron fist. To think that an Usual-Rank monster would ignite such fear within me¡­ I swallowed and continued my climb.


    Finding footholds on the rocky incline proved surprisingly easy. It was as if it had been made to be scaled. Though my steps, for one reason or another, felt a tenfold lighter while running and I could sprint full speed ahead for as long as I liked, under the burden of the gale vulture¡¯s pressure, climbing quickly became exhausting, as my spirit wavered. Despite that, I pressed on. I couldn¡¯t rest now.


    When I finally found myself at the top of the cliff, the gale vulture descended down from the skies in front of its nest. However, before it had landed, among the numerous eggs in its nest, I noticed a rather peculiar specimen. A grey sphere emitting a colorless faint glow. It was unmistakably the Elemental Manastone of Air. I tried to approach the nest but to no result. The defense of the vulture was impenetrable.


    The Gale Vulture seemingly deemed my intentions as hostile. Hesitant, but aggravated, the vulture spread out its wings far and wide and slammed them against the ground behind it, propelling itself towards me at an incredibly high speed by vigorously kicking the ground and aided by the massive amounts of air it moved with its two giant wings.


    I swiftly stepped sideways, barely dodging the rapidly approaching beast. As if reflexive, or perhaps on accident, when I dodged, the blade I brandished barely remained within the monster''s range, resulting in me clipping the left wing of the giant vulture, as it dashed past me. After it lost control and found itself unable to stop, the vulture crashed against the trees behind me. Whether the cracking sound originated from the bones of the beast, or the shattering trees, remained unclear.


    Instead of finishing the vulture off, I dashed towards the giant vulture¡¯s nest.


    My efforts, or rather, accidental success was rewarded, as in the middle of the nest among the eggs, I found the pretty bleak stone, that glistened in various shades of grey. As I extended my hand to grab it, I could feel the current around the stone swirling around aimlessly. I had now found my fourth Elemental Manastone. The Elemental Manastone of Air.


    ?Find: 4/1


    I took one last look at the Gale Vulture with eyes filled with sorrow, I didn¡¯t want to hurt it, so I felt guilty, but I had a goal to accomplish and it stood in my way, threatening my life, so it¡¯s not like I had a choice. I hope that regeneration from such an injury wouldn¡¯t be impossible for such a beast. Anyhow, I should make my escape while I still can.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    After recovering from the crash, the vulture waddled towards its nest. Relief overran the vulture as it didn¡¯t find its nest ransacked and destroyed as it had feared. In fact, the nest, along with its contents was still perfectly intact, apart from a glowing grey stone the vulture had collected. The grey stone meant little to the vulture compared to the eggs it was trying to protect. As the vulture looked down from the cliff, the dark figure was nowhere to be seen.


    ?Subjugate: 9/5


    Once again, I emerged from the woods, back to the forest path. And was once again, I found myself on the run. For how long am I going to have to run along the trail? I don''t even want to think about it. Distracting myself from the mundane task of advancing, I started to get curious about something.


    Since one seemed to be able to find Elemental Manastones of every element, it would only make sense for Elemental Stones of elements rarely found in nature, such as Ice, Fire, and Thunder to exist somewhere. Considering the nature of the surrounding area, finding stones of said elements would prove difficult, if not impossible...


    ...Or so I thoughtuntil I was met with freezing cold air lingering from close by. The Trail seemed more and more artificial by the minute. Please consider hiring a new level designer!


    Before long, I had located the origin of the cold air. Before me stood an ice-covered entrance to a thoroughly frozen, dimly lit cavern. I didn¡¯t mind a cool breeze, but I definitely wouldn¡¯t dash deep into a freezer with my current attire out of free will, however, it¡¯s too late to give up on my quest now!


    I took a deep breath and charged inside. It felt like the middle of a hailstorm, as snow vigorously danced about in the cave, obstructing my view near completely. Not only was my vision obstructed, butthe countless reflections bouncing from the icicles hanging from the ceiling and growing from the floor made it impossible to find the Manastone that likely laid somewhere in the cave.


    I steeled onward in the cramped icy cave, kicking the snow out of the way, though I had to be careful as not to cause the icicles above fall down and impale my feeble body. To my dismay, that was all for naught. Walking on snow-covered ice is dangerous. The snow gives one a false sense of grip, yet as soon as the snow beneath your feet is gone, the slippery ice will work its treacherous magic.


    I lost my balance as I started to slide. While trying to desperately regain my footing, I hit an icicle growing from the ground, which completely eradicated the traces of balance that still kept me standing on my two feet. As a result, I managed to fall down on my ass in the most glorious fashion imaginable.


    My fall was swiftly followed by a low rumble. This isn¡¯t good¡­


    I got up as quickly as humanly possibleand tried to flail my way away from my impending doom. My stumble had set off a chain reaction of freezing death. The icicles started to fall down one after another.


    The horror of having to escape from giant falling icicles, while running on ice without knowing whether or not your balance will hold wassomething I never thought how badly I didn''t want to experience. Yet here I was, running for my life with my tail between my legs.


    The glacial mass falling from above was trailing close behind, with each falling chunk, triggering the fall of two chunks more. I desperately dashed forwards and finally found refuge under a giant pillar of ice, deeply rooted into both the ground and the ceiling.


    As the rumbling sound created by the falling icicles grew more and more distant, the snowstorm seemed to calm down too. I took a deep breath and started to examine my surroundings. Despite the extremely cold conditions, I felt no such thing as my mind was overflowing with asense of excitement and danger.


    It didn¡¯t take more than a hundred and eighty degrees of rotation for me to finally find what I was after. The Elemental Manastone of Ice¡­ Only it was stuck deep within the pillar of ice. As the danger of the falling icicles had gone, the feeling of immense cold also started to set in. This is certainly an unpleasant situation to be in, to say the least.


    Chipping the ice around it would be a pain, and the pillar was way too thick to break with ease. That wasn¡¯t enough to dishearten me, though.


    I tried slashing the pillar withmy blade. Though the cuts didn''t cleave the pillar in half, they were deep enough. Good.


    Rather than chopping at the same location as one would while felling a tree, the similarly slanted slashes were directed at multiple locations along the length of the pillar.


    After a good while of slashing, I took distance from the damaged pillar. The light emitting from the Manastone found it¡¯s way out of the pillar from the slits running across. It was as if the glacial structure was about to burst. Admiring the sight, I dug my feet between the rocks on the cold, icy surface of the cave and charged towards the pillar.


    Rather than bursting through and breaking the pillar, it only cracked a bit. I cursed to myself, but it seems that my plan wasn¡¯t for naught, as with the next tackle, I fell the frozen column, breaking it into bits fine as snow.


    ?Find: 5/1


    Elemental Manastone of Ice, GET! After I had accomplished my goal, I quickly came to realize that I could not handle the cold for a moment longerand dashed out of the frozen cave as fast as I possibly could.


    I started to question whether or not it was a good idea to decide to collect all the Manastones, as when I found myself on the path once again, I really began to feel like a broken record.


    Before I even managed to recollect myself and warm up after the icy cold dungeon delving, much unlike previous times, when I had to listen to water dripping down or feel the wind blowing against my skin to find where the Manastones might be, the location of the next one was nothing short of obvious.


    Up ahead, the sky was painted grey and crimson. A forest fire¡­

 10 - Thunder, Fire and Clear Skies

    Chapter 10 ¨C Thunder, Fire and Clear Skies


    Flames were dancing about without restraint, scorching everything that dared stay in their way. The intense burning heat quickly erased even the slightest thought of the shivering cold still lingering in my mind.


    Out of the smoke and ash, that had engulfed the now red forest, emerged two canine creatures. Clad in deep red fur, both of them had a scarlet gem decorating their foreheads.


    ¡¾Cinderwolf ¨C Affinity: Flame ¨C Rank: Usual ¨C Rarity: B¡¿


    Cinderwolves. While they too, were merely the rank of Usual, I¡¯d bet my money that the two of them could very well take on a gale vulture. The wolves proudly displayed their elemental prowess, letting out a frightening howl, accompanied by the flames rising up to the skies, as though the cry was commanding them. Their blazing crimson eyes were measuring me up as they began to surround me.


    Hesitantly, I readied myself and once again drew my blade from its sheath. Much unlike the previous ¡®fights¡¯ I had, this time I would actually have to fight. Contrary to the encounters with monsters before,which I had been able to end peacefully, cinderwolves were much more aggressive... And my intuition tells me that they would fight to the death.


    The two wolves quickly encircled me and lashed out simultaneously from both my left and my right. At a glance, it was as if their fangs had become a molten metal. Their ridiculously sharp teeth glistened white-hot as the wolves pounced on me. I was shocked. Those fangs would tear deep into my flesh and burn it from within without the slightest of problems if they ever reached me. I have to avoid that at all costs.


    I swiftly leaped forwards, which caused the wolves to get disoriented as they charged. It was then that I witnessed something even more frightening than their molten metal jaws. When they vigorously closed their fiery mouths shut, a faint explosion could be seen from between their burning teeth. Dangerous, however, not dangerous enough for me to run away.


    I''m going to see this through if it''s the last thing I do, goddammit.


    Despite preferring an escape to a fight, I took a defensive stance and readied myself for another attack. I don¡¯t have the skill to take the initiative against monsters like these, but there is one thing that might just work. The wolves took the opportunity given to them in an instant and attacked once again.


    This time, the I nimbly dodged sideways and jammed my bladeinto the side of the wolf that assaulted me from the left. Putting some actual strength the attack I accidentally used against the gale vulture proved extremely effective, as I managed to lodge my blade deepinto its ribcage. It worked once before, so I saw no reason why it wouldn¡¯t work with the cinderwolves.


    Though one could say that it worked too well. I felt disgusted when I felt the faint vibrations of its squirming insides transmitting to my hand through the thin blade that was now lodged deep within its chest. But knowing that my life was at stake, I closed my eyes, gritted my teeth and brutally twisted the black blade. The frightening howl was reduced to a lifeless whimper.


    Only one remained.


    I readied my now blood soiled blade once again. The remaining cinderwolf howled, several times louder than before, and the echo from the flames ravaging the forest was no less impressive. The frenzied wolf, now clad in a coat of blazing flames, rushed at me once more.


    This time the wolf was faster. Much faster. Fast enough to completely rewrite everything the I had thought about the wolves, or rather monsters as a whole, before. The drastic change in the speed alone was enough to confuse me for a split second. But that minuscule mistake would soon make me realize that the speed wasn¡¯t the only thing that had drastically improved.


    Hot.


    Excruciatingly hot.


    I desperately tried to dodge the furious flaming beast, but the moment of hesitation brought me into a vast world of hurt. The wolf had sunken it¡¯s white-hot fangs, now nearly twice in length, deep into the flesh on my left arm. I cried out in pain as I felt my very flesh boil to my bone. Blood, however, was nowhere to be seen, as the heat of the fangs had immediately cauterized the wound. Ah, how humane...


    But while I expected my arm to be entirely blown off from the elbow down, the sharp, nigh unbearable pain was only accompanied by damage amounting tonothing more than a deep charred wound.


    The cinderwolf raised it¡¯s head, seemingly to look down on me, as I was now holding my arm in agony. I was hurt, rather badly in fact. However, even more so, I was angry. Towards none other than myself. Is this where it ends? So soon? No. Not a way in hell. I don¡¯t want to die again, and I''ve come too far to give up now. I won¡¯t be laid to rest by a fucking mutt with matchsticks for teeth, dammit. I fell on my knees grasping my arm and shrieked in pain.


    The wolf took this the opportunity and started to charge towards me for one last time. But that reaction was exactly what I had planned for. All I have been able to learn of the wolves'' nature, is that they''re merciless.


    As the wolf was rapidly closing in, I raised my head and locked eyes with the approaching wolf. This time, the split second hesitation had switched sides. The wolf was confused, as it realized it had misunderstood my state. At that moment I kicked the ground and leaped towards the rabid dog, that doesn¡¯t know to not play with fire, with vigor I didn''t know I was capable of.


    We clashed, yet the fangs of the wolf never reached their target. Blood was dripping down on the ash covered ground. The black blade that took the life of the first cinderwolf, had now done so once more. The slash was aimed beautifully right at its neck from below, and the strike had nearly stolen the head of the wolf from its body. The cut was clean, the cinderwolves were no more.


    As the raging fire started to dwindle, the corpses of the cinderwolves started to disintegrate, beautifullyshifting from bloody corpses into particles of lively light, eventually dispersing into thin air.


    What was left was the two gems from the foreheads of the now gone monsters. They were halves of an Elemental Manastone of Flame. When I collected the halves from the ashen bed they laid on, the two halves started to seek each other as extremely strong magnets would. When the two reached one another, with a bright flash they conjoined into one.


    ?Find: 6/1


    I had now collected a total of 6 Elemental Manastones. Six times how many I needed, I know, but I wouldn¡¯t let myself get away with just gathering one of them given that multiples exist. Yet stone by stone, I regret my decision more and more...If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Out all the elements I knew, I still lacked 3. Thunder, Void and most importantly, Origin. Out of those three, I only thought Thunder to be something within the realm of possibility to find. I doubt I¡¯ll have to enter the void or witness the creation of life on the Trail. I need to keep an eye out for if a bolt of lightning strikes though. With that thought, I once again pressed on.


    ¡¾Goblin ¨C Affinity: None ¨C Rank: Usual ¨C Rarity: F¡¿


    This time, the path was infested with the same little pranksters I met when I traveled in the southern forests of the capital. Goblins. Small, green, grotesque creatures. Though humanoids, if one could even call them that, their appearance was twisted to the point where one would assume their entire species was perpetually cursed. Their nature was mischievous and sometimes even malicious, yet to the relief of many, they lacked in both strength and intellect, which hardly made them a threat for anyone that wasn¡¯t a child.


    Knowing this, I decided that avoiding combat and just running past the goblin horde was the best course of action. I''m already satisfying my inner completionist by collecting the Manastones.


    As I weaved through the horde, I avoided the strikes of the disgusting green creatures with ease. Not because I was skilled at dodging or anything, but because the monsters were just blatantly incompetent compared to the monsters I had fought just now. I continued running in full speed ahead until the goblins gave up on chasing me.


    Finally, I could feel the finale upon myself, as I walked through a giant red wooden gate, the surrounding forest opened up into a vast flowery field brimming with life. And in the middle of the field stood an eerily familiar shrine.


    Contrary to the one I instantly connected said shrine to, on the front of this one stood a lonely pedestal, and on that pedestal a radiant crystal ball. I was confused, and as such proceeded with care.


    Reminiscing of events not too long in the past, I decided to once again kneel down and offer a prayer. Perhaps the prayer will reach the afterlife from this world too...


    ?Reach: 1/1


    ?Gramps... If only you were here to see this.?


    As I started to think about the life I had before, I was reminded of an event I¡¯d much rather have forgotten. Thunder and lightning, huh.


    Anxious, I started to observe the skies above and the shrine in front of me. Any second now¡­


    Lightning struck from the blue skies and the thunder roared not a second behind. The shrine was set ablaze. Unlike normal people who would run away from the now burning building, I decisively dashed in without a moment''s hesitation. On the floor at the point of the lightning''s impact, I found a dazzling yellow stone, that sparkled wonderfully. Elemental Manastone of Thunder!


    ?Find: 7/1


    Somehow I felt like I had just cheated the system a bit, but I didn¡¯t have time to worry about such trivial matters. Not if I don¡¯t want to get burned alive, that is. However as I rushed back outside, to avoid roasting myself to a crisp, I accidentally knocked down the pedestal that the crystal ball laid on. I had hoped that my blunder wouldn¡¯t set me back too much, but that hope was quickly crushed to bits.


    A white light escaped from the shattering crystal ball, drowning the surroundings in its radiant shine. As the light gradually faded, and I regained my sight, I felt a shiver, unlike any before, run down my spine. The Guardian of the Shrine had emerged.


    ¡¾Guardian Ogre ¨C Affinity: None ¨C Rank: Regular ¨C Rarity: D¡¿


    What now stood in front of me was a variant of the ogre species. A variant I''m all too familiar with.


    A menacing red monster towering over three meters in height. It was the first monster on the Trial to break the rule of having the rank of Usual, however, the given Regular-rank barely gave any insight to the true power the Guardian Ogre possessed.


    ''Its monstrous strength stemmed from the primal will to protect whatever it had chosen to. Whoever it would deem to threaten what it protected, would be met with its unstoppable wrath. While it''s strength in a regular state of mind was nothing to scoff at, once enraged, it was an unstoppable menace of near peerless strength. And that very menacehad now set its blazing sights on me...''


    It was one of the first ''boss monsters'' I wrote of. I thought it would be a cool concept then, but now that I''m actually the one facing it, I''m not feeling too great about it. Coincidentally, the guardian ogre saw me dash out of the now burning shrine it was guarding, and to add insult to injury, I also managed to knock the crystal sphere over.


    I''m fucked, aren''t I?


    The eyes of the ogre lit up in red as it bared it¡¯s sharp and decayed teeth sticking out from its jutting jaw. As it groaned menacingly, the massive clubit wielded its right hand came down from above with such force that the ground beneath it cracked. I anxiously swallowed. One hit from that ...thing and the fight would be over.


    I wanted to run away, I wanted to escape, but I couldn¡¯t just turn back now.


    Now broken in a cold sweat, I started dashing towards the giant. In exchange for its massive strength, it had given up on speed, and that could be used against it. I never knew how frightening it would be to go against something that so thoroughly outclasses you in strength.


    The club swung down once again¡­


    Though it outclassed me in pure strength, its attacks boasted strength alone.After experiencing the frightening speed at which the enraged cinderwolf moved, dodging the ogre proved easier than I expected. I nimbly avoided the attack and continued to close in. Though the swings certainly packed a damn punch, they were slow and predictable. I managed to make my way behind the towering ogrebefore it readied itself to strike a second time.


    Thinking about the spot where I could inflict the most damage against a monster numerous times my size, there was but a single spot I should go after, and coincidentally, that was also one of the only spots I could go after. I decided to target the Achilles tendon of the ogre¡¯sleft leg. That way, I could severely incapacitate its movement, and possibly even topple it by making it lose its balance, with a single well-placed strike.


    As I slashed the heel of the unaware ogre, I was met with much more resistance than I had expected. While I easily pierced through the bones of the cinderwolves, I was barely able to cut through the rock hard sinews of the hulking ogre.


    Furious, the ogre roared in pain and raised it¡¯s club once more.


    I approached again, but this time the ogre had formulated a plan to counter the difference in speed between us. Once more, it swung its club, but this time, it swung sideways, making it near impossible for me to dodge it.


    The ogre was already getting ready to celebrate its inevitable victory, but to its surprise, the club encountered no resistance. Such strength was put into the swing, that as a result of the mass uncontrollably moving sideways, combined with the slashed tendon of the main supporting leg, the ogre fell down.


    The ogre managed to come up with a counter to my speed, but doing that, it entirely forgot the difference between our sizes. I could easily duck beneath the swinging club. Though, my heart did skip a few beats as I felt blunt mass whooshingabove of my head.


    Struggling to get up once again, the ogre had now completely lost the sight of me. Now the field was level, and the monstrous ogre no longer stood twice my height. As I readied myself to cut the monster¡¯s throat, I saw the bright red glow of its eyes fade away. It now lookeddeep into my soul with eyes that told the tale of a man sentenced to death. Filled with remorse, I delivered the ogre to the afterlife with one last blow.


    A dark blade was now struck deep into its throat. It cleanly cut through the solid flesh and the thick dark red skin. In a way, theogre was glad to die there. It wasn¡¯t the strength or the skill of the opponent that was overwhelming, but rather despite lacking such, he overcame all the odds and fell the giant that stood before him. It wasn''t a bloody fight to the bitter end. It was a rapid clash that came to a quick end.


    Thoroughly outclassed, the beast finally closed its eyes and faded away¡­


    ¡¾Trail of the Greenhorn ¨C Status: Clear¡¿


    ?Subjugate: 9/5


    ?Find: 7/1


    ?Reach: 1/1


    ?Exterminate: 1/1


    ?Rewards: Blessing of the Origin


    Laying down on the flowery field, I came to the realization that the death game had finally reached its conclusion. I couldn''t help but to laugh and curse, both at the same time.


    ?Ahahahaha!! I actually fucking managed to do it! Oooh... God fucking dammit! I didn¡¯t sign up for a suicide mission like this. What even was that!? Throwing me against giants, with no prior experience!?! Fuck you,Seth! I damn near died there! Ahhh, nevermind that. I¡¯m so tired I could just die on the spot.?


    But my victory celebration came to an abrupt end, as someone called out to me. A figure I would eventually come to know all too well, for better or worse.


    ?I¡¯m afraid that won¡¯t do... I can¡¯t possibly have you dying yet.?


    ?¡­!??

 11 - Gods Will

    Chapter 11 ¨C God¡¯s Will


    A figure dressed in white, accompanied by a brilliant light and surrounded by complex formations of pure magical essence, had descended from the heavens. However, compared to the previous blinding light that filled the air as the Guardian of the Shrine came forth, this luminescent light felt warm and welcoming. While his outlook might''vereminded me of an old human male, his stature implied his birth to be something far more grandiose than that of a mere human. His presence could only be described as godly.


    ?W-Who are you!??


    ?Shouldn¡¯t you know that already? I¡¯m why you came here in the first place, after all.?


    ?Care to elaborate??


    ?''Care to elaborate?'' he asks... God! I¡¯m a god! You came here to receive my blessing didn¡¯t you!??


    ?Oh, right. I think the old man mentioned something about such¡­ Wait! An actual real GOD!??


    Although I did describe the presence as ¡®godly¡¯ I didn¡¯t actually think a real god would show up. I¡¯d have been plenty fine just being blessed without being greeted by a god in person, you know!? What an awful system. But, isn''t this ''god'' a bit immature to be one? The way he acts doesn''t exactly remind me of someone of omnipotence.


    ?Arrogant brat¡­ Calling the Arch Sage an old man!? You really are something, young man, but I don¡¯t mind. After all, you¡¯ve done well. So much so that you¡¯ve impressed me. I am the God of Origin, Chrono. I have come here to grant you my blessing, my child.?


    ?God of Origin, you say? Wasn¡¯t the God of Origin named Eon? I''m fairly sure he was... I remember debating between Chrono and Eon, but Chrono sounds more like a god of space and time so I ended up with Eon...?


    Lost in thought about the conceptualization of my stories, I unconsciouslyrambled to myself.


    ?What!? You fool! I abandoned that na¨C ...No. That is not the case. My name is Chrono.?


    Ah, so this really isn¡¯t the very same world from my scribbles¡­ It¡¯s way too similar to be a coincidence though. Anyhow, for a god, he sure doesn¡¯t convey himself in a godly manner. Perhaps I could ask him about my eye?


    ?Oh¡­ Alright. Could you explain a few things to me??


    I swiped my bleak, overgrown hair backward, revealing my Eye of Origin. Perhaps a God would know more about me being sent to this world. There¡¯s a lot of other things I want to know too, like if ¡®my journeys¡¯ that I wrote about actually happened.


    ?Is that..? No, it shouldn¡¯t be¡­ It can''t be!!?


    ?You recognize this, right? Eye of Origin. Do you recognize me? I thought maybe you¡¯d know a thing or two about what''s been happening...?


    ?That scar on your face¡­ There is only one way that would happen, yet not me nor my prior generations have any records of such. No... Could it really be!? That white hair...?


    The self-proclaimed God of Origin muttered to himself.


    ?Uhh... Excuse me. I hate to interrupt your little chat with yourself, but could you tell me about this world? And preferably what happened to me in my old world too.?


    ?What happened to you in your old one? I don¡¯t understand¡­?


    ?Eh? Aren''t gods supposed to be like, I don''t know, omniscient??


    ?You dare question the gods!?! Y-You insolent fool!?


    The being of pure white radiance extended his hand towards me and as the complex formations surrounding the floating godly figure began to shift and morph, he ragingly began to chant.


    Uh oh... I think I might''ve fucked up big time.


    ?You''re but a fly, in front of a god. A short, fleeting life. A lifeform, flawed. Though a son of the heavens, an ancestor of all. Before the gods, even you will fall! ¡¾Forsake¡¿!?


    The moment the self-proclaimed God of Origin finished his advanced rhyming insult, immense energy surged through my body.


    The energy pulsed through me from my head to my toe. For a moment I could feel each synapse in my nervous system bursting with currents. I became aware of the blood flowing through every vein from my neck to the tips of my fingers. Yet before I even realized it, the agony and bliss had reached equilibrium.


    ?Now. Begone¡­?


    ?Wait! I still want to ask something!?


    ?¡­?


    ?Gone, huh? Cold...?


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Far away, in another realm, up in the clouds, on a colossal table that has but nine seats. Only two of which were filled.


    ?Exactly why is a Celestial, who already possessed an Eye of Origin alive!? And no less, he participated in the Adventurer Trials! And what¡¯s more, he seems to be completely oblivious about the rarity of his existence! Not only that, but he''s an insolent brat too. How!?


    Anancient being clad in white yelled out, smacking the table as he stood up enraged.


    ?Oh..? It¡¯s not often you get flustered so much Chrono, please sit back down. Are you perhaps afraid of your newfound child??


    A woman dressed in black and purple, still in the height of her beauty despite her near ancient age, responded to the worries of the white figure.


    ?I wouldn¡¯t say afraid¡­ although his presence was frightening. I didn''t even bless him, as he already possesses the Eye of Origin. I did take some precautions too, yet¡­?


    ?Oh? Some precautions, you say? I saw it all. You cast Forsake on the poor child, despite him already suffering from the Curse of the Dreamweaver. You''re afraid. Admit it. So much for the greatest of them all...?


    She sarcastically bickered.


    ?Sure! I was afraid, I''ll admit it. But had I not cast Forsake, he would''ve become a, or rather, the Heavenly Sword. Is that what you wanted??


    ?Oh... I suppose Forsake was the best course of action in that case. You know, we could also pass all the participants this year, and try to discourage him from destroying your little scheme. He won''t be able to do much after Forsake.?


    ?You never disappoint me, Eriza.?


    ?After all, I¡¯ve also found someone with frightening potential, and it¡¯ll be interesting to see how she utterly outclasses the common trash. Though I must admit, I¡¯ve also taken an interest in your child¡­?A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    ?Ah, as selfish as ever... Very well. I shall inform the Arch Sage.?


    The great white being exclaimed, vanishing away into thin air.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    ?And then he went like this! Heh, this part is so good... O, Flame, eternal. Cleanse the evil that opposes me, and burn the impurities from within, ¡¾Fireball¡¿!?


    The word fireball eerily echoed across the marble chambers, and a crimson light burned brightly in the young man¡¯s extended palm. Soon after, a ball of fire formed in his grasp and launched towards the stone wall. Though the spell didn¡¯t cause any damage to the wall, it burned the area of impact pitch black.


    ?Hahaha! To think that weirdo would put on such a show!?


    A cute voice giggled at the comical display of the young man.


    Someone else couldn''t quite contain their laughter either.


    ?Pffft..?


    ?Oh? You laughed a bit, Lumi! You laughed!?


    ?N-No..?


    I found myself back in the actual world, in a separate the room with another set of passageways. Or perhaps a portal would be a more descriptive term for said arcane gates. Sitting on the marble floor, in a circle, were the guys I came here in the first place. The smith girl was there too! But¡­


    ?Seth¡­ May I have a word with you??


    I inquired him calmly, as I put my hand on his shoulder.


    He quickly retracted the flamboyant pose he had after ridiculing my attempt at casting magic from before. He swallowed so loudly I could actually hear it.


    ?O-Oh¡­ H-Hi Light! How a-are you? See, I was just demonstrating¨C?


    ?Oh really!? You tricked me to go on a goddamn suicide mission, and when I finally make it out alive you¡¯re doing ...that. Whatever that was!?


    ?Hahaha! Sorry, sorry. I meant no harm. But did you see that, though? I thought now would be the absolute best moment to make that joke! Wasn¡¯t that awesome!??


    Seth¡¯s right arm was covered in crimson tattoos. The vein-like lines were similar to the streams of magic power interlaced in the buildings around the capital, yet this time instead of teal, they flowed with deep red energy. The arcane lines formed beautiful patterns painting flames on the canvas that his arm had become. I wasn¡¯t much of a fan of tattoos in my old life, but I had to admit that Seth''s looked cool. I was at a loss for words.


    ?See!? Ain¡¯t it amazing? I got the blessing of the God of Flame!?


    I see! That kind of explains why he decided to go ahead and destroy my already nonexistent social image but hardly excuses it. Now that I think about it, the flame attribute really fits Seth like a glove.


    ?Oh, oh! My turn next! Lookie here, weirdo!?


    Grace couldn¡¯t contain herself and wanted to show off immediately. Unlike Seth¡¯s, whose tattoos were covering the entirety of his right arm, Grace¡¯s tattoos covered the sides of both her upper arms.


    Again, contrary to Seth¡¯s flame patterned crimson tattoos, hers formed irregular geometric patterns made out of triangular shapes, and rather than flowing crimson, the glow was like the surface ofcracked ice. A combination of light blue and pale white.


    While I was ogling at the tattoos, her bare arms froze over and were now protected by a makeshift glacial armor. My ability to see people¡¯s names and what monsters are is getting less and less interesting by the minute... What a bummer.


    ?See, see!? I got the blessing of Ice! Ain''t it cool!?!?


    Eh!? I mean, I figured that out from the color and the patterns but...


    ?Why did you get the blessing of ice, when it¡¯s clearly Lumi who¡¯s the ice queen.?


    ?I¡¯d advise you to shut up..?


    Lumi snappily joined the conversation.


    ?Hehe~, I think it¡¯s because I have to deal with her coldness all the time!?


    ?G-Grace...! No matter.I¡¯m quite content with the blessing I received..?


    The braid on Lumi¡¯s right side was no longer tied. She had let her hair loose, covering her right eye. Don''t tell me she ended up getting the same ability as I have...


    She gracefully shifted her hand sideways to move the hair covering her eye out of the way, revealing that one of the two turquoise gems she had for eyes was now gleaming in an amethyst-onyx shade. Ancient runes glowed around the blurry outer line of the iris. The deep purple color of the void element freely swirled around the iris as though alive. Is that what an arcane eye looks like!?! Idesperately want to look in a mirror.


    That aside, the combination of ethereal dark purple and magical bright turquoise, contrasting against her porcelain skin was breathtaking. Her long, flowing platinum blonde hair, that covered her arcane eye also gave her presence a cool air. Indeed, she truly was the personification of beauty itself. I should really stop staring at her...


    ?Here.. I don¡¯t have any fancy tattoos. I received the Eye of Void as my bles¨C?


    She stopped abruptly and muttered in utter disbelief.


    ?Celestial...?


    ?What was that??


    ?Y-You¡¯re a Celestial..?


    ?Celestial? What¡¯s a Celestial!??


    I tried to look at myself with the Eye of Origin and weirdly enough, I was successful.


    ¡¾Light ¨C Celestial Male ¨C Age: 18 ¨C Class: Forsaken Sword ¨C Rank: Usual¡¿


    ¡¾Equipment: Leather Jacket, Leather Shorts, Leather Boots, Leather Belts, Ashen Scarf of Tireless Wind, Darksteel Blade¡¿


    ¡¾Special Skills: Celestial Blood, Eye of Origin, Savant¡¿


    Uh, aren¡¯t I wearing a little too much leather? Wait, no¡­ There¡¯s so much other info I should be paying attention to! I''m 18!? That''s, uhh... good to know? I have class and rank now too!?! What in the world is Forsaken Sword? What¡¯s Celestial Blood? Why does my scarf have such a cool name? Is the scarf the reason why my steps felt tenfold lighter within the Trail?


    I tried to look for answers but I only found more questions. My eye didn¡¯t seem to hurt at all though. In fact, it felt extremely natural to use now. Now that I think about it, I didn''t seem to mind it that much on the Trail either...


    ?Light, remember about the realm in the west I talked about? The one where the ancestors of all the races first descended upon this land??


    Seth asked me.


    ?Vaguely.?


    ?If I¡¯m not mistaken, the people that descended from the heavens above were called Celestials. And now you¡¯re trying to imply that you¡¯re one of those? A true Celestial??


    ¡®And so the child of the stars had descended from the heavens, to walk among men. His life in the isles in the sky was no longer, as the Dragon of Origin had ravaged their long-lost lands. Alone, he made his way down the thousand floating steps. Lost, the last of his kin now began his quest for vengeance.¡¯


    Oh god fucking dammit...


    Why did I overlook such a vital detail of my character¡¯s origin!? I think I just assumed that I was a human since, you know, I was a human¡­ Was that what the old man meant when he called me the son of the heavens?


    ?I highly doubt my eye is mistaken..?


    Lumi assured.


    ?Nee~, you¡¯re a real Celestial!? That¡¯s amazing!?


    ?Just when I thought you wouldn¡¯t be able to surprise me for a while. You really are something, kiddo.?


    Even the Smith¡¯s daughter, who had been silent up until now spoke up.


    ?True that! You sure are something, eh!? You have to make me your personal smith now, you absolutely must! I can already imagine my old man¡¯s reaction when he hears I¡¯m smithing weapons for an extinct species! Ehehee...?


    ?I¡¯m an extinct species now??


    I guess I did write my race into extinction. Who would¡¯ve thought that I¡¯d eventually come to regret my past edge¡­ I should''ve just written a regular story instead of a revenge one.


    ?Wait, wait! Oi! Don¡¯t go around choosing my personal smi¨C?


    ?Nuh uh! I won¡¯t take a no for an answer!?


    How persistent! And annoying. I guess it¡¯s lessened to an extent by the fact that she¡¯s an adorable kid... Might as well take a little closer look. I¡¯ll try and control things a bit, and leave needless information be.


    ¡¾Brigid ¨C Dwarf Female ¨C Age: 23 ¨C Class: Warrior ¨C Rank: Usual¡¿


    Works like a charm!


    What? She''s twenty-three, not thirteen? Everything from the way she behaves to the way she lookswould imply that she would be a decade younger than she actually is. I''m thoroughly confused.


    ?So, uhh, Brigid... You¡¯re a dwarf??


    ?Yep. That¡¯s right! I thought that was obvious since I¡¯m the daughter of the smith after all.?


    ?Yes, I suppose. But aren¡¯t dwarves supposed to be like, you know, short and stumpy??


    ?But I am short!?


    She wasn¡¯t surprised when I called her by her name! That¡¯s a pleasant change of pace. Well, she is short, especially compared to her age, at around 140cm. But I was expecting dwarves to be around a meter tall, with thick, short limbs and long rugged beards. Well, she is a she, so I doubt she¡¯ll grow a beard anytime soon. Hopefully¡­


    She was pretty much indistinguishable from a young human when looking at her face and height, but now that I pay closer attention, her build was clearly that of an adult. Well, now that I think about it, Seth was a human too, yet he had red eyes, so the common sense of my past world wouldn¡¯t exactly work here. Besides that, though she didn¡¯t have much of a chest, now that I know she''s of age, she certainly had some damn shapely thighs. And she is pretty sweet, even if a bit rowdy.


    I really need to get my mind out of the gutter. But then again, I am a healthy male that hasn''t been able to¨C No. No. No! I should check up on the others now... I¡¯ll try to focus on just the name class and rank now.


    ¡¾Seth ¨C Class: Spearman ¨C Rank: Usual¡¿


    ¡¾Lumi ¨C Class: Mystic ¨C Rank: Usual¡¿


    ¡¾Grace ¨C Class: Guardian ¨C Rank: Usual¡¿


    Eh? They all have such basic classic class names! Why did I get something obscure like Forsaken Sword!? Is it because I pissed off the God of Origin? How did we even get assigned classes? And what do they even do!? I¡¯m confused.

 12 - Wishes and Classes

    Chapter 12 ¨C Wishes and Classes


    ?So, kiddo. When the God showed up to grant your wish, what did you wish for??


    ?I just said I wanted to know more about the world, but that didn''t work out too well for me...?


    Grant a wish? That¡¯s what it was about? Had I known, I would¡¯ve asked for cross-dimensional travel, or maybe a cool sword like Excalibur or Gram. Wait a second... Grant a wish? He never did anything remotelyclose to that, goddammit! If anything, it felt like he had cast a damn curse on me! I want a refund.


    ?What a coincidence..?


    Lumi joined the conversation.


    And Grace eagerly replied.


    ?Eh, eh? Did you two ask for the same thing??


    ?Indeed..?


    Oh? Lumi asked for the same thing? But if we both asked for the same thing...


    ?Why is your eye black when mine is white??


    ?Eye of Void.. You seem to have an awfully short memory..?


    ?So you got the blessing of the Void God??


    ?Goddess, to be exact..?


    I wonder what dictates which God¡¯s blessing one receives. It¡¯s probably dependent on which Manastone you collected. And as I collected all of them, I received the blessing of Origin. Or well, I would have, had I not pissed him off. I still don''t know what I did! I guess it won''t hurt to ask and confirm my suspicion.


    ?So, which Elemental Manastones did you guys collect??


    I inquired.


    ?Does that matter??


    Seth returned the ball to me.


    ?I''m not sure yet.?


    ?I collected the Manastone of Flame! Those cinderwolves really were something, weren''t they? Not a match for me though!?


    So my theory was spot on! But goddamn, is Seth a showoff. That fight was honestly quite frightening. I really didn¡¯t think I¡¯d end up killing. I get shivers down my spine just thinking about it.


    ?I got the ice one! The area suddenly felt super cold so you couldn¡¯t miss it!?


    Grace proudly announced.


    ?Eh, I was sure that fire would be the most obvious one.?


    ?No way! Ice was the most obvious one, obviously!?


    Those two were talking way too much again. I wonder if they have ever heard of the word moderation or manners. Or maybe I¡¯m the one that¡¯s too silent all the time. Though, there''s always Lumi...


    ?I found the Earth one! It was also really obvious! There¡¯s always a hidden cave behind a waterfall!?


    Brigid, the smith''s daughter, boasted.


    But...


    ?I thought that the Manastone of Water would be more obvious since it was right in the middle of the pond.?


    ?WHAT THE FU..!? Uuuh... No. you have got to be kidding mee! I feel so stupid now...?


    Brigid was sulking and holding her face in her palms. It almost sounded like she was sobbing. I¡¯m not sure whether I should feel sorry for her or not.


    ?So, kiddo. Did you perhaps collect the Manastone of Water??


    Seth asked once more.


    ?Yeah.?


    ?Oh.. But did you get the blessing of the God of Water??


    ?Nope. I also collected the Manastone of Earth behind the waterfall.?


    ?Huh!? But¨C?


    ?I also collected the Manastone of Flame.?


    ?EH!??


    ?And Ice...?


    ?Eh, Eh!??


    Grace was now singing the song of disbelief in unison with Seth. I felt pretty proud telling them about gathering the Manastones of all elements, not that I¡¯d ever do anything like collecting them all ever again..


    ?And you also collected the Nature, Air and Thunder Manastones..??


    ?Yes, that¡¯s correct. But how did you¨C??


    ?That totals all the seven Manastones that I was able to sense in the Trail. I also gathered all the Manastonesand received the blessing of the Goddess of the Void. Void and Origin are the only Elemental Manastones, that weren¡¯t present on the trail. Perhaps the prerequisite for receiving ablessing from one of those two elementswas to collect all the other seven Manastones.?


    Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!Lumi comprehensively explained.


    ?Oh...?


    What an awfully in-depth explanation! Not that there really was a point in explaining it. But I guess that does confirm the validity of my assumptions about the blessings.


    ?Huh!? You gathered all of the Manastones!? Both of you??


    Seth was baffled.


    ?Honestly... I just did it because it would¡¯ve felt wrong to only collect one if many were present.?


    ?I couldn¡¯t resist the temptation either, besides they were rather easy to find, as they emitted such a presence..?


    Oh, right... Lumi didn¡¯t even have to really pay any attention to the surroundings, as she had the Presence Detection ability. I¡¯m kind of jealous right now.


    For a good while, Seth, Grace, and Brigid had their jaws glued to the floor. I wonder if the average intelligence quotient is in the mid-eighties in this world. No... That¡¯s a bit too rude, especially coming from someone like me. But about the blessings, were they given based on the wish?


    ?So, if Lumi wished to know more, what did you guys wish for??


    ?I wished to power to save the world!?


    Seth declared without a speck of shame.


    ?That¡¯s... awfully ambitious??


    ?True that! But you have to have aspirations if you want to succeed! And the God of Flame seemed to entertain that idea. Sigil of Flame, that¡¯s my blessing.?


    Really? I guess, the God of Flame is probably just as hot-headed as the one he gave his blessing to...


    ?That¡¯s true! I wished to be able to protect the world, and I received the Aegis of Ice!?


    What¡¯s with these grandiose wishes about saving and protecting the world? That name sounds pretty cool though. Heh¡­ Wait, she already made that joke, didn''t she? Dammit, I was sure this was my moment!


    ?Uuh... I feel a bit embarrassed about my wish now...?


    Brigid held her face in her palms once more.


    ?Don¡¯t tell me... Did you ask for the strength to crack the world in half? Or perhaps the power to travel across the stars??


    Surely it can¡¯t be that bad. Right..?


    ?No... I just wished for the power to become the greatest smith of them all.?


    She sighed.


    ?Oh! Finally, a normal wish! I like it!?


    ?Eh? It¡¯s normal? I thought that wanting to save or protect the world was way more normal.?


    More normal!?! No, that¡¯s not normal at all! ...Is what I wanted to say. But I didn¡¯t want to belittle other¡¯s dreams, no matter how crazy they were.


    ?I, for one, think your wish is great!?


    I assured her.


    ?Thanks, Light!?


    ?Yeah, yeah! It¡¯s a great wish! What kind of blessing did you receive though? What kind!??


    Encouraged by Grace, Brigid took off heriron gauntlets and revealed crude deep brown lines, similar to the tattoos on Seth and Grace, that ran across the back of her hands, and converged in the middle of her palms. The pattern formed was close to that of a pattern found on cracked stone. You could see energy pulsing through the sharp, jagged lines.


    ?I received the Grasp of Earth. I can¡¯t wait ¡¯till I get home and show this to my dad! I hope he will be proud...?


    Our conversation came to an end as all of a sudden the room we were sitting around in started to fill up with other people. Presumably the other initiates from before. Where did they come from though? And why are they all so beaten and bloodied... Failures?


    ?Attention, adventurers!?


    The old man called out to the crowds.


    ?I have received a message from the Gods. They have informed me that this year¡¯s Trials will be, how should I put it, somewhat special!?


    The crowd raised a ruckus.


    ?Calm yourselves, initiates! The Gods have tasked me with congratulating all of you, for you all shall become adventurers as of today!?


    The endless sea of newly crowned adventurers went mad.


    ?UOOOOH!!!?


    ?Whaat!??


    ?Everyone passes!??


    ?Wooohoooo!?


    ?Ah, I knew I could do it!?


    ?I did it, I can''t believe I really did it!?


    ?Wow, did I really pass!??


    Did I really go through all that pain and to pass, when everyone just passes for free? That¡¯s¡­ honestly really discouraging. And even more so, disappointing.


    The old man started to elaborate on the situation...


    ?You will each be granted a class, and you will set off on a journey to conquer a Trail in the wilds. Once you come back successfully, you will truly be recognized as an Adventurer! Now, I ask you to form a line, and on your turn, lay your hand down on this pedestal.?


    Next to the old man, at the back of the marble hall, was a weird pedestal, similar to the one found at the shrine on the Trail, and behind the pedestal was a giant blank white stone wall. The lack of seams made it seem like a smooth canvas of stone.


    Our group was among the first ones in the line. After a few people who selfishly rushed towards the front without entirely even listening to what the old man¡¯s speech was about. Truly polite, that lot.


    ?Now, place your hand on the pedestal.?


    The old man informed.


    ?Alright!?


    The first adventurer initiate planted his hand firmly on the pedestal.


    ¡¾Class: Swordsman ¨C Rank: Usual ¨C Weapon Type: Sword¡¿


    ?Health ¨C D


    ?Mana ¨C E


    ?Strength ¨C C


    ?Magic ¨C E


    ?Defense ¨C D


    ?Dexterity ¨C E


    ?Agility ¨C D


    ?EEH!???


    A unanimous yell of confusion resounded in the hall as the canvas-like stone wall began to display information in a manner similar to what I perceived when using the Eye of Origin.


    A name, a rank and a symbol depicting the weapon type could be seen. And below that, a heptagon, that displayed the values of the seven attributes. Health, Mana, Strength and so on... How interesting! This feels almost like¨C


    Before I could finish that thought, it was Seth¡¯s turn to step forwards.


    ¡¾Class: Spearman ¨C Rank: Usual ¨C Weapon Type: Polearm¡¿


    ?Health ¨C D


    ?Mana ¨C E


    ?Strength ¨C D


    ?Magic ¨C E


    ?Defense ¨C D


    ?Dexterity ¨C D


    ?Agility ¨C D


    That¡¯s pretty damn well balanced! Although, why are most of the attributes of the lowest rank at D? I wonder¡­


    Next was Grace.


    ¡¾Class: Guardian ¨C Rank: Usual ¨C Weapon Type: Two-Handed Weapons¡¿


    ?Health ¨C C


    ?Mana ¨C D


    ?Strength ¨C D


    ?Magic ¨C E


    ?Defense ¨C C


    ?Dexterity ¨C E


    ?Agility ¨C F


    And then Brigid.


    ¡¾Class: Warrior ¨C Rank: Usual ¨C Weapon Type: Two-Handed Weapons¡¿


    ?Health ¨C C


    ?Mana ¨C E


    ?Strength ¨C C


    ?Magic ¨C E


    ?Defense ¨C D


    ?Dexterity ¨C E


    ?Agility ¨C E


    And the last before me was Lumi.


    ¡¾Class: Mystic ¨C Rank: Usual ¨C Weapon Type: War Fans¡¿


    ?Health ¨C F


    ?Mana ¨C C


    ?Strength ¨C F


    ?Magic ¨C B


    ?Defense ¨C F


    ?Dexterity ¨C D


    ?Agility ¨C C


    Lumi¡¯s class seemed to agitate the crowds. Contrary to Seth''s Spearman class, Mystic was clearly a specialist one. B in magic at the lowest rank? That''s pretty damn amazing... Others were whispering about whether or not war fans can even count as weapons, and to be honest, I¡¯m also pretty curious about that myself. Does she just aggressively flap the enemies away?


    Amused at my thoughts, I stepped forwards... Alright, Forsaken Sword, let¡¯s see what you¡¯re made of.


    ¡¾Class: Forsaken Sword ¨C Rank: Usual ¨C Weapon Type: Blades¡¿


    ¡¾Class Skill: Savant¡¿


    ?Health ¨C F


    ?Mana ¨C F


    ?Strength ¨C F


    ?Magic ¨C F


    ?Defense ¨C F


    ?Dexterity ¨C F


    ?Agility ¨C F


    The mass of people behind me burst into laughter as my statistics began to display on the giant stone canvas. The heptagon depicting the attributes was reduced to a single dot. So... I really did get cursed, huh? Solid F''s across the board... Can I get another class, please? I somehow feel like crying.


    ?Oh my, oh my... We have an interesting specimen here.?


    A sultry voice pierced through the snickering masses.

 13 - My Class Guide Cant Be This Lewd!

    I have no idea what went through my mind as I wrote this, but it''s too late now.


    Chapter 13 - My Class Guide Can¡¯t Be This Lewd!


    ?Oh my, oh my... We have an interesting specimen here, don¡¯t we? I¡¯d advise you lot not to laugh unless you wish to make a fool of yourselves.?


    A smooth, sultry voice pierced through the snickering masses. It was of a refined nature, sweet as caramel and soft as a marshmallow. And as captivating as it was, it was also a spoken in a tone that demanded attention through authority. Out of the crowd emerged a woman whose age I dare not guess. She looked young enough to be twenty, yet her voice had a charm to it that would indicate an older age. And as proven before, I''m not good at guessing ages.


    A beauty dressed in clothing that instantly let one know she was a sorceress. Luscious purple hair flowed down from underneath the wide rim of her witch hat. Herthin silky robes were wine red, complete with golden lining along the edges, yet unlike the excessive coverage one would expect from the robes a sorceress, her robes could only be described as lascivious, featuring cuts designed to complement her ample bosom and revealing the side of her leg, which in turn was covered by black stockings up to her thigh. I think I caught a glimpse of her garter belt too.


    Dangerous¡­ Extremely dangerous.


    ?My, my.. young man. It isn¡¯t nice to stare that much at an old lady like me, is it? Perhaps if you¡¯d ask nicely, I might show you a bit more later on.?


    For better or worse, my shame of being laughed at quickly turned into being ashamed of something entirely else as she playfully giggled about. The laughter of the crowd was also quickly suppressed by her words, although I think I heard a fair few people muttering in bitter jealousy.


    ?Nero, This is the first time we¡¯ve ever seen an Usual-Rank with a Class Skill, no??


    She called out to the old man.


    ?Ah yes it is. We can talk more about this later. He is a bit of a special case, you see.?


    ?My, my! I¡¯ll be looking forward to that, but I really don¡¯t feel like waiting around..?


    She winked at me. I can¡¯t handle this! My face turned bright red, and she replied by once again sweetly giggling as if she enjoyed my suffering. She¡¯s a devil... No. A succubus would be a more accurate description of that demon dressed in red. She did seem like an important person, so I took a look with my Eye of Origin.


    ¡¾Violet ¨C Beastman Female ¨C Age: 27 ¨C Class: Hex Sorceress ¨C Rank: Peculiar¡¿


    Never have I ever thought I would come to regret such a simple decision so much and so soon. She must¡¯ve sensed me or something along those lines, as all of a sudden, she covered her breasts and crotch, knelt down and started to wail.


    ?Oh noo!! I¡¯m being magically violated by a young man I just met! P-Please, be gentle... it¡¯s my f-first t-t-time after all..! Uuu¡­. In front of all these people too¡­?


    If I was bright red before, my face must¡¯ve turned a brighter shade crimson than the glowing tattoo on Seth¡¯s arm just now. I was probably emitting an even brighter light from my face than I would''ve from my eye.


    ?W-What the...? What are youon about!?!?


    ?Noooo!! I¡¯m being assaulted!?


    ?WHAT ARE YOU ON ABOUT!??


    ?C-Can we a-at least go somewhere, now how should I put this¡­ more private??


    Midway through the sentence, the tone of her voice twisted around completely. She was no longer screaming and sobbing like a young girl about to be assaulted by a horde of faceless men, but rather, it seemed like she was the one who took the assaulting position. And I was the victim... She dragged me by the hand and led me out of the room.


    I looked at where Seth and the others were as if I wanted to call for help, but I quickly came to realize that my plead for help would''ve been in vain anyway. Seth was smiling wryly, as he basked in my misfortune. Grace looked like she was excited and cheered for me. Brigid covered her mouth with her hands and had a worried look on her face.


    But the one that hurt me the most was Lumi¡¯s expression. Her eyes were cold and she stared with immense contempt. It was as if she was looking at walking garbage. She already took me for a pervert, but goddammit, this was countless times worse.


    I was dragged through the corridors into a separate room, by the she-devil herself. Contrary to the large, hall-like room before, this one was much more confined and ...intimate. In the middle of the rather cozy candle-lit room were two sofas facing each other, and against the back wall, another pedestal, similar to the one that stood in the great hall.


    Violet and I sat down on the opposing sides. But of course, she couldn¡¯t just sit down like regular people do, oh no. She elegantly lifted the leg on the side of the cutout, and beautifully crossed it with her other one. The absolute territory of her luscious thigh was now in full view. This is just too much for a young, healthy man like me to handle...


    The delicate creamy voice called out to me once again, yet this time, it felt as if it was caressing me. The silky smooth words no longer tried to tempt me, but rather were spoken in a way that could be mistaken as a lullaby.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    ?I would like to offer you my apologies from the event before. I¡¯m sorry for dragging you out like that.?


    She expressed her regret.


    ?No, it¡¯s fine. It¡¯s not like I have a social image anyway...?


    ?Oh my! There''s no need to sulk like that.?


    ?No, really. I never did that well with other people. One could say it¡¯s more convenient to me that they avoid me.?


    ?My... I do hope you¡¯re alright. It makes me pretty sad to see someone with as much potential as you to be that pessimistic about something like opinions of people you don''t even know of, you know... Do you perhaps want a hug??


    I do!


    ?N-Not really...?


    ?Oh¡­ Alright then.?


    She seemed genuinely sad. Goddammit, I should¡¯ve just said yes! But does she care so much? I¡¯m just a stranger¡­


    ?But, I didn¡¯t bring you here to be your big sister. It''s about your class... Forsaken Sword, was it??


    ?Yes. That¡¯s the one.?


    ?Nero told me that everyone passed the trials this year around whether or not they really succeeded, but if my suspicion is correct, you actually completed the Trail. Am I wrong??


    ?No. I passed indeed. I received the blessing of the God of Origin. Or well, kind of...?


    ?O-Origin!? No way... Oh my, my boy. You¡¯re getting more interesting by the minute.?


    The temptress has arrived once again.


    ?Is there something wrong with Origin??


    ?No, it''s nothing, I''m just a bit impressed is all¡­ Anyway, your class ability. do you happen to know anything about it??


    ?No, not really.?


    ?Oh my. Do you mind if I ...examine you..??


    This counts as sexual harassment, right? Hello, officer!? Yes, this giggling lewd lady right here.


    ?My, my... That came out wrong, didn¡¯t it? I meant your abilities. Oh, it sure must be nice to be young.?


    She¡¯s just playing around with me at this point¡­ I should just give up. Resistance is futile.


    ?Yes, If you would.?


    She licked her lips. Does she enjoy this? Never mind, that¡¯s a dumb question.


    ?Alright then... Shall we do it??


    Not only did she have a rather exotic choice of words as she pointed to her left at the pedestal, but she conveniently placed her index finger on her left breast as she did that. Flustered, I quickly turned my gaze away from the finger, but looking her in the eyes was probably even more embarrassing. Her smug smile, revealing her sharp canines, in combination with her bedroom eyes, created an expression way too lewd for my sheltered soul.


    The sharp canines reminded me that Violet was indeed a beastman, but for one reason or another, I couldn''t see any racial characteristics apart from her sharp teeth, purple hair and amethyst eyes.


    ?Now, if you would...?


    She grasped my arm with both of her hands, sandwiching it between the two great mountains that one with more confidence and less poetic prowess would bluntly call boobies. The thin clothes she wore did little to obstruct me from feeling the fluffy yet vivacious masses that she keenly pressed against my arm.


    Not only did I get pleasantly greeted by the soft sensation of her bosom, I couldn¡¯t help but lose myself in her lavender scent. Though I had just met her, she gave off a familiar, caring and comfortable feel. I wouldn''t mind having to deal with her again in the future, despite all thehighly questionable teasing.


    She planted my hand againstthe pedestal, similar to the one in the previous hall.


    ¡¾Class Skill: Savant¡¿


    ?Through great sacrifice, a Savant is able to attain previously unknown heights. An equivalent exchange of present prowess for future potential. The one who persistsshall be rewarded, yet the one who doesn''tshall perish.


    The soft sensation around my arm was gone in an instant. Violet had taken two steps backward.


    ?What... is that¡­??


    ?Eh? I guess that explains why my stats were so low.?


    ?You don¡¯t get it,do you? Here, let me show you.?


    She planted her hand on the very same pedestal.


    ¡¾Class Skill: Haste¡¿


    ?The casting time highly accelerated.


    ?Eh? That¡¯s so simple!?


    ?No... this is regular. Yours is just way too complex. My, my...?


    ?So, what does all this even mean then??


    ?Mine means exactly what it says it means... When I cast magic, the casting time will be approximately half of the regular casting time. However, I don¡¯t even dare to try to decipher what yours means...?


    ?Oh.?


    ?But¡­ you¡¯ll let me know when you learn more, right??


    ?Sure! I want to learn more about it too.?


    She jumped at me and hugged me. Tightly. Is this heaven? Yeah, I''m fairly sure this is heaven.


    ?Cute! Mysterious, too, aren''t you? Much better than those brawny muscles for brains that don¡¯t know left from right.?


    Oh, if only she knew..


    Shebegan to ruffle my hair as I was drowning in her bust, losing myself in her fragrant flowery scent. The previous sweet and soft voice was now awfully playful. What an overwhelmingly explosive personality.


    ?Can I call you little brother??


    ?Can you call me what!?!?


    ?Eh!? You don¡¯t wanna??


    It¡¯s that sad tone again... I¡¯m starting to feel guilty now. I''m not making the same mistake twice.


    ?I mean... I guess I wouldn¡¯t mind but¨C?


    ?Aah! Cute! CUTE!?


    She damn near crushed me in her embrace. Did I just get an older sister? I think I did. There¡¯s nearly a decade between us, but she can be more childish than me at times.


    ?Hey, little bro? Shall we head back where your friends were??


    This is so damn awkward... How can she act so natural about it?


    ?They¡¯re not really my friends.. but sure. Let¡¯s go.?


    ?Not your friends? What are they then??


    ?I don¡¯t know.. Acquaintances??


    ?Are you sure? They seemed like friends to me.I''m sure they think you¡¯re their friend too.?


    ?I¡¯m bad with friends..?


    ?But you won¡¯t mind your sister, right??


    ?To be honest, it¡¯s more like I¡¯ve accepted my fate.?


    ?Oh, how harsh! you¡¯re breaking my heart...?


    ?I¡¯m sor¨C?


    She once again grasped my arm, burying it deep between the valley of bust.


    ?Kidding!?


    ?¨Cry...?


    She continued her onslaught as we began to get ready to join the others.


    ?By the way, what do you think about the girl with theplatinum blonde hair??


    Eh, where did that come from?


    ?Lumi? I don¡¯t know what to think about her. If anything I think she might hate me.?


    ?Oh my. To think you¡¯d be so innocent... I¡¯m falling for you all over again.?


    Oi! Don¡¯t fall for someone you suddenly start to call your little brother! That¡¯s just¡­ weird?


    ?She¡¯s beautiful is she not? And quite skilled too. Those snow elves are quite something¡­ It isn¡¯t often you find someone so capable that isn¡¯t taken yet.?


    Somehow I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that she felt ashamed saying that.


    ?I guess¡­?


    ?Well, what about the redhead??


    She asked with her tone back in playful mode.


    ?You know, it wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea to get friendly with a craftsman, especially one that has taken an interest in you. People can reach amazing heights if they have something, or someone, to work towards, you know??


    She eagerly continued.


    ?Oi! Are you trying to pair me up with all the girls I¡¯m acquainted with!??


    ?Oh, no, no. You don¡¯t have a chance with the dark elf. She has her sights set on someone else¡­ But enough of that. Let¡¯s go meet with your friends!?


    Without even giving me a chance to respond, she dragged me back to the main hall, with a bright smile on her face.

 14 - How the World Works

    Chapter 14 ¨C How the World Works


    I was forcefully brought back into the main hall by my new self proclaimed big sister. I received a fair few cold stares from my fellow adventurers, as Violet dragged me across the crowd. Who would¡¯ve thought that having a beauty cling into your arm would make people jealous... They were jealous, right?


    She left me off at where Seth and the others were waiting.


    ?Here you go! I took good care of him, so you best do so too. See you soon!?


    She changed her tone back into seductress mode as she let me go. Even Seth was flustered.


    ?H-Hey, kiddo... What¡¯s that supposed to mean!? She took.. c-care of you..? I¡­?


    ?No, no, no... It¡¯s not at all what you think!?


    ?Oh.. and I thought that you would be satisfied. Oh my... I guess I¡¯ll have to do even better the next time! See you, darling!?


    Next time!? DARLING!!?


    ?To think my most esteemed customer was such a beast... Oh no...?


    ?Nee~, are you perhaps into older women? Are you!??


    ?What do you mean by ''beast''!? And she¡¯s not that old, either! All she did was¨C?


    I was interrupted mid-sentence...


    ?Pervert¡­?


    There it is! There it fucking is! Lumi¡¯s calling me a pervert again. Goddammit, I¡¯ll just never interact with people again.


    The old man once again captivated the crowds with his voice.


    ?Alright. Have each of you received your classes? Good. I¡¯d like you to meet someone now.?


    ?Oh my, Nero! No need to be so formal about my introduction.?


    ?She is your senior adventurer, Violet. She is also the first, and one of the only people to have reached the rank of Peculiar. She was originally here to give guidance to the new adventurers, but as this year is different, we shall go about it as such. Violet, if you will.?


    Eh!? Violet is the first ever adventurer to reach the rank of Peculiar!?! That lewd woman? Peculiar doesn¡¯t sound all that impressive compared to the Legendary-Rank of the old man, but I suppose there¡¯s a major difference between how the two came to be.


    ?Oh my.. I¡¯m nothing special. Now, allow me to explain how these classes work.?


    And so she began her mind-numbingly long speech.


    ?Every adventurer will begin with an Usual-Rank class. Most of these classes will be very basic, such as Swordsman, Mage or Ranger. The class you get will mostly be determined by your weapon of choice as well as your fighting style. The direction your class will go as you rank up will also be determined by how you fight.?


    ?Ranking up will happen naturally over time, as you challenge more and more intense Trails. It is said, that ranking up will require one to break through their own boundaries. One can artificially do this, by challenging a Trail of a higher rank than oneself, but it is not advised, as deaths outside the trial are absolute. You¡¯d do best to remember that if you wish to stay alive.?


    ?As your class ranks up, your attributes will also rank up. As an example, when I ranked up from a Regular-Rank Sorceress to a Peculiar-Rank Hex Sorceress, my Magic attribute raised from B to an A. However, do keep in mind that your class rank matters more than the rank of an attribute. For example, the B-Rank magic attribute my Regular-Rank Sorceress had would triumph over the B-Rank magic attribute of an Usual-Rank Mystic.?


    ?As far as we¡¯re aware, the ranks are as follows, from lowest to highest,


    Usual,


    Regular,


    Peculiar,


    Abnormal,


    Exceptional,


    Extraordinary,


    Legendary.


    The attributes are ranked from F to S.?


    ?Another, still rather unknown value, is Rarity, which all items seem to have in place of attributes. Rarity seems to follow the same F to S ranking, yet the differences in rarities are way more fickle than class attributes and still require more research.?


    ?When a Class ranks up, it will evolve according to the nature of the adventurer. When I started out, I was an Usual-Rank Mage and after a while, I became a Regular-Rank Sorceress, however, a comrade of mine, who was also an Usual-Rank Mage is now a Regular-Rank Apprentice.?Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    ?The intricacies of how the class system works are still unclear to us, but we are doing our best to uncover the secrets behind it. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask.?


    I¡¯m honestly quite stunned. I didn¡¯t expect such an elaborate speech from someone with such an, uhh¡­ exotic personality. She really knows her stuff, huh?


    Soon enough, questions started rolling in.


    ?You talked about Trails having ranks.?


    ?Ah, yes. The Trails to the east start from the Usual-Rank. The further away you stray from the capital the higher ranked the Trails will be. The Trails in other directions start at much higher ranks, to the point that even I wouldn¡¯t dare go there alone, and as such, only the realm to the east is being explored currently.?


    Surprisingly enough, Lumi raised her hand and asked a question.


    ?Could you perhaps elaborate more on the content within the Trails, such as the objectives and rewards, and how they compare to those of the trial Trail. If possible, could you also provide insight as to how many people can enter a Trail at once??


    ?Excellent question! The trial Trail had 4 objectives to complete, but as you probably realized, one of those objectives, ¡®Reach¡¯, was redundant. This was because the Trails in the wild each only have one or two objectives, and the trial acted as an introduction for the four types of objectives. Some Trails will also have time limits, unlike the trial Trail. The rewards will include a Shard of Knowledge, as well as a piece of gear, such as a weapon or an armor piece suitable for your class, or in some cases, other miscellaneous items, such as potions or spell tomes. As per how many people can party up to challenge a Trail, as the Rank of a Trail goes up, so will the number of people able to enter. Usual Trails are strictly solo, Regular Trails can be challenged by two people at once, and so on.?


    A piece of gear? Like rewards for completing a dungeon!? Nice! But¡­ a shard of knowledge? It has to have something to do with the horrible living conditions outside the city walls. I guess I¡¯ll ask¡­


    ?What¡¯s a shard of knowledge??


    ?My, my¡­ erm. Excuse me.?


    Goddammit...


    ?A Shard of Knowledge is the name given for a bright white stone that contains the knowledge of the past age, from the time before the Convergence. Once a Shard of Knowledge is retrieved and released here, in the Chapel of the Capital, the contained knowledge will radiate throughout the lands, restoring the knowledge lost after the advent of the Gods. So far, we have retrieved the knowledge for things such as planting new trees and harvesting grown plants, constructing huts and handling various metals up to bronze.?


    ?May I ask a few things about the knowledge??


    ?Sure! Anything for you~...?


    Control yourself, woman!


    ?It has been 20 years since the Convergence right??


    ?Correct.?


    ?And all the knowledge was lost then??


    ?Not quite. We were left with some knowledge vital for survival, such as reproduction¡­?


    ¡­


    ?¡­however most advancements the races had made until then, were, indeed, lost.?


    ?For how long have adventurers been active? The living conditions outside were absolutely horrible compared to inside the walls, not to mention that handling metals such as bronze hardly differs from handling iron, apart from it being slightly harder to forge, yet easier to cast, as it¡¯s an alloy made of copper and tin. Smiths should¡¯ve easily learned the difference between the two in a couple of decades¡­?


    ?Wha..? An alloy..? Anyway... Adventurers have been active ever since. However, it should be noted that only a couple adventurers pass each year, and as such, the progress has been slow.?


    ?That is all, thank you.?


    ?My, my! No problem!?


    I suppose if you put things into perspective, already forging bronze is pretty far along the timeline of human development back in my old world. I guess the progress isn¡¯t exactly linear though¡­ In what world do people forge swords from bronze while they live in huts much worse than what the three little pigs were able to build.


    A burly man with a massive battleaxe strapped to his back raised his voice next... My precognition tells me this isn''t going to end well.


    ?You said one could rank up from challenging a Trail of a higher rank. Since a miss like you is able to raise up to the rank of Peculiar, surely a Regular-Rank Trail won''t be much of a challenge for me and my bro!?


    ?My, my.. Nothing is stopping you from trying.?


    ?Ahahaha! I¡¯ll show you!?


    ?But..?


    ?But what? I¡¯m sure it won''t be all that big of a deal. After all a fragile little gi¨C?


    ?You will die.?


    The whole hall went silent, as her cold words reflected across the empty space. One could practically hear the shivers running down the crowd¡¯s spines, as Violet absolutely annihilated the battleaxe guy. The expression of the caring and loving big sister character was gone, and the aura around her could only be described as menacing. And that terror had penetrated the souls of the rookie adventurers.


    ?Anything else??


    She asked while forcing her face into a wicked smile.


    ?N-No¡­?


    ?Then... Any other questions??


    I guess this is my chance to pry more into the ranks and the differences between the ranks.


    ?Is the difference between ranks really that big??


    ?My... Yes indeed. While a well-trained person might be able to clear a wild Usual-Rank Trail, but no matter how well you train, even a Regular-Rank Trail will be a death sentence for someone who isn''t an adventurer. The difference might not seem all that large at a glance, but the gap in strength between the ranks is like heaven and earth. Although you might be able to barely survive, since you¡¯re in possession of a class skill and an exquisite weapon, along with the blessing of the greatest God of them all, I¡¯d advise everyone else not to kill yourselves in arrogance, just because the Gods had decided to pass you all on a whim.?


    She really likes to pamper me, doesn''t she? I guess it isn¡¯t all that bad. She really did a number scaring the others off though. I suppose she has a reason to do so though.. Perhaps she has lost a comrade before, and doesn¡¯t want it to happen again, even if she has to retort to, bluntly put, scaring the shit out of the newbies.


    It seemed like nobody had any more questions so the old man took over...


    ?No more questions? Very well. You will set out towards the east tomorrow, and hopefully come back victorious before sundown, and bring glory to the Gods above! I shall pray for your success. Thank you all for participating this year! You¡¯re dismissed.?


    Once the cheering, excited crowds started dispersing, our group was stopped by the old man himself.


    ?I won¡¯t let you lot go just yet. The Gods seem to want to reward you¡­?


    Finally! Some well-deserved recognition.

 15 - Companions

    Chapter 15 ¨C Companions


    ¡®As a trusted companion on my journeys, by my side stood a ferocious beast sworn to carry my burdens and capable of devouring even the grandest of beasts. The monster swore loyalty to me, as I mercifully refused to slay it at the beginning of my grand journey. As theskin of thearcane monster emitted an ethereal light green glow, I bestowed the beast with the name of Lime, which it gratefully took as it¡¯s own. Cunning and devilishly intelligent, Lime quickly proveditself to be a worthy partner. Out of everyone in all the realms, there wasn¡¯t a single person, or monster for that matter, that I trusted more.¡¯


    I accurately remember the description of my companion in the alternate universe...


    Now then¡­


    *squish*


    ¡¾Lime ¨C Arcane Slime ¨C Affinity:None ¨C Rank: Usual ¨C Rarity: S¡¿


    ¡¾Special Skills: Multidimensional Access ¨C Absorption¡¿


    Why is Lime a goddamn Slime!? Is this some kind of a sick joke? First the class and now my beloved monster buddy...


    I was agonizing in my thoughts, as I realized that not once had I actually specified what species my otherworldly companion was. At the same time, I¡¯m rather surprised to find Lime here. After all, if the calendar is anything to go off about, it has been over twenty years since ''we'' last met.


    The old man even said that these monsters were given to be our companions as a gift from the Gods. Do they know after all, or are there some even more otherworldly powers in play here? Nevertheless, judging by its reaction and the fact that it already had a name, it was definitely the Lime from my stories.


    We were each given our own monster. All the monsters were of the lowest rank, but I suspect they¡¯ll evolve once their owners do.


    Seth¡¯s companion was a Flarehound Cub. A B-Rarity. I suspect it¡¯s some sort of a higher form of the Cinderwolves that I faced on the Trail. It certainly didn¡¯t look as fierce as the ones on the Trail, but I guess I¡¯ll leave that for until the size matches. Similar to the gems of the cinderwolves, the cub had a tiny crystalline horn protruding from its forehead.


    Grace¡¯s companion was a Cryotiger Kitten. Again, a B-Rarity. The Cryotiger part sounds pretty menacing, but once you add the kitten to the end it suddenly gives off a cute and cuddly feel. It looks like one of those white tigers from my old world, except fluffier! Grace activated her Aegis of Ice and the kitten started to gnaw on her ice-covered hands. I''m pretty sure that''s not how you use a blessing you''ve received from the gods...


    Lumi¡¯s companion was a Baby Moonlight Wyvern. An A-Rarity monster. If I¡¯m not mistaken, it¡¯s the light counterpart of the Midnight Wyvern. The baby wyvern looks pretty cute with its oversized head, feeble body and barely serviceable wings. For now. Is it really alright for the Gods to just give a baby of such an apocalyptic monster to someone who just became an adventurer!?


    Brigid¡¯s companion was an Elemental Pix. Once more, a B-Rarity. Contrary to the more monstrous companions the others received, the lively Pix just looked like a small, brilliant orb of living light that flew about with its luminescent wings. I wonder how that one will evolve. All the previous monsters will probably just get bigger, but I can''t really imagine her strolling around the town with a humongous magical light bulb following her around.


    ?Now then, are you all satisfied with your new companions??


    The old man asked, stroking his beard.


    ?Yeah!?


    ?Yes, yes!?


    ?Mhm..?


    ?OH FU¨C! I mean, Yes!?


    ?Y-Yeah... I guess??


    I¡¯m not a good enough actor to pretend that I wasn¡¯t a bit puzzled by the whole situation. I felt out of place, as everyone else expressed such satisfaction for their new companions.


    ?Eh, what¡¯s wrong, young man??


    ?Nothing¡­ My monster seems to already have a name.?


    ?Really!? Itdid seem weirdly attached to you at the very beginning... Perhaps this isn¡¯t the first time you¡¯ve met? No, that would be impossible.?


    Truth is stranger than fiction, old man.


    ?Well, what¡¯s the name??


    ?L-Lime..?


    Seth seemed extremely amused...


    ?Lime the Slime! Ahahaha!!?


    ?Don¡¯t bully the Slime!?


    Grace gave Seth a quick chop on the top of his head.


    ?AH! Uh¡­ Sorry.?


    Is this what Violet meant when she told me that Grace had already set her sights on someone? I wonder if a ¡®woman¡¯s intuition¡¯ ranks up along with your class¡­ What a frightening thought.


    ?You better be! Speaking of names, what names did you guys give to your pets? My kitty cat is named Glace! It rhymes with Grace! Isn¡¯t it a great name!??


    Pets? I guess that¡¯s a way to go about it. The idea of a fully grown Moonlight Wyvernas a pet sounds quite frightening though.


    ?How creative.. I¡¯ve given my Wyvern the name Luna.?Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    Well, I wouldn''t exactly call that name the pinnacle of creativity either.


    ?This Flarehound Cub here is named Peggy!?


    ?Eh!? Do you have to give them names? I¡¯ve just been calling my Pix Pixie!?


    That¡¯s what people call giving things names, yes.


    I started playing around with Lime¡¯s gelatinous body. The rebound of Lime was much higher than that of the Aquatic Slimes on the Trail. The softness was comparable to Violet¡¯s¨C actually, let''s leave that thought at that. While I was busy poking Lime¡¯s tender slimy ¡®flesh¡¯, I overheard Seth asking about something...


    ?Wait just a moment. Lumi, what was the species of your Wyvern again??


    ?It¡¯s a Baby Moonlight Wyvern..?


    ?Oh... So it wasn¡¯t Midnight after all. I wonder if those two have any relation??


    ?You''re quite sharp, young man. Indeed, one could say that the Moonlight Wyvern and Midnight Wyvern are the first descendants of the great ancient beast, the legendary Dragon of Void. The Midnight represents the dark of the night, while the Moonlight reminds us that even in the darkest night, one can still see the light.?


    The old man chimed in..


    ?A-Amazing!?


    Seth was enchanted by the story, however, Lumi seemed confused as to why Seth had brought the subject up.


    ?Indeed.. However, why did you ask??


    ?The gloomy kiddo sold some clothes made out of Midnight Wyvern Hide when we first arrived here. Your Baby Wyvern reminded me of that so I thought that there might be some connection between the two..?


    ?T-That pervert had clothes made of Midnight Wyvern Hide!?! It would explain why he has so much money, yet.. not one Midnight Wyvern has been seen since the Convergence. You mentioned him claiming to be from another world too¡­?


    I can hear you clearly¡­ Please stop calling me a pervert, while I compare the consistency of my new companion to the breast tissue of my new self proclaimed big sister.


    ?Oh my! Young man, you sure are something, aren¡¯t you!??


    The old man sarcastically imitated Violet''s manner of speech.


    He can read my thoughts, can¡¯t he? I-I¡­


    ?Indeed.. Although as amusing as that was perhaps it¡¯d be best to keep that information classified...?


    ?T-Thanks¡­?


    ?¡­for now.?


    Never would I have ever thought that the smug smile of an 80-year-old would be this terrifying. If he tells that to Violet my life will be over. He can practically just blackmail me to the end of the world now. Or not...


    ?Comfy Slippers.?


    ?Stalemate.?


    ?Haha!?


    Hah! The old man isn''t half bad after all. Grace seemed have taken an interest in our brief bout.


    ?Eh, eh!? What was amusing? Please tell me too!?


    ?Hahah! You best ask the young man yourself.?


    ?Nee~, weirdo! What¡¯s so funny??


    ?N-Nothing..?


    ?Come on! You can tell me!?


    ?Nope, I absolutely most definitely cannot tell you.?


    ?Eeeeh!? Alright..?


    Crisis averted once again! Or so I thought before Lumi joined in on the conversation.


    ?Excuse me, pervert.. How did you come into the possession of Midnight Wyvern Hide clothing??


    Lumi began to question me by calling me a pervert.


    But I''m not having any of that anymore.


    ?If you want me to answer, pleaserefrain from beginning your sentence with ¡®Excuse me, pervert.¡¯?


    ?Excuse me, deviant.?


    ?¡­?


    ?Alright.. Excuse me, weirdo.?


    ?Can you not??


    ?I was considering apologizing about calling you a pervert, now that I possessed the same power as you do, which indeed is unable to see through articles of clothing. Not that I tried that for any other purpose than scientific. However, after what happened with you and our senior adventurer, I cannot possibly describe you as anything else¡­?


    What the fuck?


    ?Is that so??


    ?Indeed.. Now, how did you get your hands on Midnight Wyvern Hide clothes??


    ?Can I lie??


    ?Unless you want to ruin your already nonexistent image, then do go ahead and be my guest..?


    Alright, I guess I¡¯ll have some fun... It''s not like they¡¯re going to believe me anyway, and besides, I¡¯m getting awfully pissed off for some reason.


    ?Alright... Years before the Convergence of Gods my journey led me to the southern mountain ranges bordering the realms of humans, dragonkin and dwarves. There, I fought a Midnight Wyvern with this very slime right beside me. Not only did I fight the Wyvern, but I also successfully slew the beast. Afterward, I brought the hide of the Wyvern to the greatest craftsmen of Ies, who then expertly crafted me those very clothes, I sold the remains of a couple days ago, from its jet black hide.?


    ?You could¡¯ve just said that you¡¯re mental..?


    You¡¯re getting awfully prissy, miss.


    ?Look me into my eyes. Am I lying??


    ?¡­?


    I wasn¡¯t. If I correctly recall, this is exactly what happened. Lumi was speechless and her cheeks began reddening to rose. Even Seth didn¡¯t crack a joke about me being weird and unbelievable. Did I really manage to convince them!? I was practically stuttering while explaining the origins of the rags¡­


    ?S-Shall we get going, it¡¯s getting pretty late already??


    Seth said after the long silence.


    ?Yes..P-Perhaps..?


    ?Very well, adventurers. I wish to see you soon after you bring back a Shard of Knowledge. Best of luck!?


    The old man set us off.


    ?Alright! See you!?


    As we were leaving Lumi stopped me and pulled me to the side... The others already left the room.


    ?Eh? What''s this about??


    ?I don¡¯t know what you are..?


    ?Is that all? Can I go now??


    ?No¡­ I¡¯d like to properly apologize for my rude behavior earlier.?


    ?W-What?A surprise, to be sure, but a welcome one.?


    She lowered her brow and raised her tired eyelids as she began to explain... She had a look of determination I did not know she was capable of. Her voice had morphed to a stern tone and her characteristic calmness was long gone.


    ?It seems like you¡¯re not lying. Not only are you a Celestial, but you also received the blessing of the God of Origin. What¡¯s more the monster you received as your companion seems to be of the highest rarity too. You seemed toinstantly recognize the bad living conditions outside, as well as knew the ancient method of creating bronze. It is as if the knowledge loss of the Convergence didn¡¯t apply to you. After the trial, you received an abnormal class nobody had ever seen before. Not only that but to add your age, which is only 18, to the equation I can only suspect that you¡¯re some sort of godly being capable of traveling in time... Perhaps even the personification of the long-forgotten God of Space and Time. Or maybeyou''re something entirely else that I¡¯m unable to possibly fathom. You showed me that there is much about this world that I¡¯ve yet to understand... I hope you''ll forgive me.?


    ?Oi, oi. Hold on for just a second there. Isn¡¯t this what they call ¡®stalking¡¯??


    ?N-No¡­ I¡¯m just fascinated is all. A-Also p-please, don¡¯t butcher my little Luna for clothes..?


    She hugged her baby Wyvern tightly and looked at me deep into my eyes as if she was begging for me to spare its life. What¡¯s this? The ice, or rather, the void queen somehow became insanely cute!? In such a short period too?


    ?B-But.. why were you so hostile against me? What suddenly changed??


    ?Nothing.. Please forget about it¡­?


    She ran off¡­


    I don¡¯t understand women. I don¡¯t understand women at all¡­


    We made our way back to the inn, dropping Brigid off at the smith. Once again I paid our lodging, not that I really mind. I have money to spare anyway, and Seth¡¯s been really helpful so far.


    I was pretty shocked once I saw that Grace and Lumi were staying on the room opposite to us, but I tried not to care too much. It¡¯s not like I could see through the walls even if I tried. And besides, ever since the grand speech about me, Lumi''s been actively avoiding eye contact.


    As I laid down on the bed, my mind was clouded by the event¡¯s that took place today. What an amazing day that was. I finally lost my hard fought battle against fatigueandfell asleep in the dustyinn room. Not in my wildest dreams could I have ever imagined a world like this! Oh¡­ right.

 16 - Good Morning and Goodbye

    Chapter 16 ¨C Good Morning and Goodbye


    The cursed chains which bound me in my place finally began to rust away, as the black of the night started to fade. The crimson flame grew ever stronger until the black of the night was no longer, yet the ever-welcoming warmth turned to scorching heat.


    Finally free, from the shackles of ire, I desperately fled from the scarlet fire. I dashed through a rocky field, past purple haze, lightning, and ice, only to be greeted once more by my only demise. Again, lost and alone, in the boundless abyss. Whatever did I do, to deserve a fate like this?


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Again? Third night in the new world and I¡¯m still having nightmares. Just as I thought I was getting used to sleeping within the surprisingly pleasant bedsheets... It was still the same tale too. I fairly sure it¡¯s trying to tell me something, but I just can¡¯t seem to figure out what.


    I was woken up by a soft yet firm and a rather familiar sensation that suddenly covered most of my body. A flowery scent filled my lungs, yet it wasn''t that of Violet''s lavender. Another woman? Oh no...


    ?G-G-Grace¡­W-Why you..!?


    ?Eh? But you were repeating his name over and over when you slept! Nee~, ''Don''t worry, I''ll save you from the curse! Please don''t run away! No, come back!'' was it? Hehe~?


    ?Uuuh... I¡¯ll kill you..?


    Our room had been invaded by the two elven beauties, one of which was on the verge of tears.


    And also on top of me.


    Why is she on top of me?


    ?I feel like I¡¯m getting jealous over here¡­ First the senior sorceress, and now the snow elf. Hell, even the smith girl seems to be after you after you went ahead and flaunted your wealth¡­?


    This is the first time I¡¯ve heard Seth speak with such unease. Soon after, he was jumped by a ferocious beast... Or rather, the other elf, of the dark variety.


    ?I¡¯m fine right? I should be fine??


    ?Y-Yes..!?


    The ferocious beast had painted the face of the mighty hunter as red as blood.


    ?Eh, eh!? Are you embarrassed? Eh??


    ?N-Not at all!?


    ?It¡¯s not nice to not be honest, you know!?


    ?A little..?


    ?Ehehe~!?


    Those two seem to get along well... Did something happen that I don¡¯t really get? Probably.


    The other elf, this time of the snow variety, who was on top of me, quickly got up and stared into my eyes with the utmost scorn. She didn¡¯t have to say a thing. I already knew what she was thinking.


    ?Pervert..?


    There it is! Of course!


    ?But wasn''t it you who woke me up by jumping on top of me!??


    ?But it was Grace who pushed me..?


    ?That hardly justifies anythi¨C?


    ?¡­?


    The icy-cold death glare of such beautiful eyes left me thinking that it¡¯d be best not to say anything else. It seems like there are a lot of things that I don¡¯t quite understand. Though women seem even more complex than magic and monsters if I''m completely honest.


    ?So, uh¡­ Good morning..??


    ?Morning!! Did you sleep better tonight? Nee~, Did you like the wake-up!??


    ?Well, to be honest, I¡¯d be lying if I said I didn¡¯t.?


    ?Pervert..?


    ?You sure are a broken record.?


    ?Nee~, what¡¯s a rec¨C?


    As I finally managed to get up, the whole room went silent. Even the hyperactive Grace froze mid-sentence.


    ?Eh!? What? Did I do something??


    ?Hey, kiddo. Are you alright!?!?


    ?You what now? Couldn¡¯t you have asked that yesterday after I came back from the Trail or something!? But, yeah... I think I am??


    ?But all those scars... That¡¯s not normal.?


    ?Indeed..?


    Even Lumi agreed.


    For the first time in the new world, I got comfortable enough to sleep without a shirt on, and as I got up, my scar ridden upper body reveled in the light piercing through the small window on the back wall of the room.


    Considering the stories I had written, and if my current self indeed followed said events, it didn¡¯t come to me as a surprise that my current body looked like it had been run through a meat grindermore than once. Remnants of smaller strikes covered my sides, while a horizontal cut across my abdomen, and multiple scars from the claw of a dragon running down my chest diagonally, decorated my front. I can only imagine what my back looks like.


    Though¡­ it does look pretty cool, no? And that''s not even mentioning my muscles. Though not that sizeable, they were lean and nearly unobstructed, as I had little to no fat to speak of. However did I not notice this before? I really want to know what my face looks like now...If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    ?Kiddo¡­ No matter how well I think I¡¯ve figured you out already, you still manage to surprise me one time after another.?


    ?But you¡¯ve shared a room with me all this time. You should¡¯ve noticed!?


    ?It¡¯s too dark at night, and I don¡¯t like to ogle at other men.?


    Good point...


    ?Nee~, would you ogle at me? I¡¯m not a man!?


    Grace playfully asked Seth.


    ?Wha-!??


    ?Hehe~!?


    Seth¡¯s cheeks were as red as his eyes once more. Can¡¯t those guys tone it down just a bit?


    ?Get a room, you two.?


    ?Oh!? Are you saying you want to switch places with me? Nee~, do you perhaps want to share a room with my little Lumi!??


    ?Please stop joking about such matters.. I¡¯ll never share a room with that¡­ uh.. pervert..?


    Lumi snappily replied, though thinking twice before calling me a pervert for like the fifth time this morning for no reason at all.


    ?It¡¯s not good to not be honest~!?


    I mean, I guess I would... She is beautiful after all. And she can be pretty cute at times¡­ No! What am I thinking!? She¡¯s been hostile against me all this time. I shouldn¡¯t give in this easily¡­ Begone, foul vixen!


    ?No, that¡¯s not what I meant! I wouldn¡¯t want to share a room with someone like her anyway.?


    ?Tsk..?


    Thankfully, Seth managed to step in before Lumi and I began waging war against each other.


    ?Eh, should we get going? The breakfast time will be over soon.?


    ?Oh yeah, let¡¯s go~! I¡¯m getting hungry!?


    Surely enough, we made our way downstairs to the dining area. Despite the morning being so eventful, and everyone else seeming so cheerful, I couldn''t shake the feeling of melancholy.I tried to not pay too much attention, but the thought still lingered.


    The food was basic once again, but ever so delicious nevertheless. It was a rather sizable meal, which is good since I probably won''t have many opportunities to eat. The inn employees were overjoyed to house 4 new adventurers, that our ''pets'' also had meals prepared for them. After all of us had our fill, we made our way outside and eventually ventured to the walls.


    As we stopped under the large arching gates, I started to reminisce the times I had with Seth and the elven girls since being sent to the new world. It¡¯s only been a couple of days, but it sure felt like so much more¡­


    This is where my journey to the world begins, huh? I guess it was fun to hang out with these guys, but this is where we part ways.


    ?Hey, Seth..?


    ?Yeah??


    ?Thanks for taking care of me until now.?


    After uttering those sorrow-filled words, I ran off faster than I¡¯ve ever run in my life. Had the wind not blown against my face, I¡¯m sure my face would¡¯ve been covered in tears. I''m fairly sure I know why I didn''t feel too great not too long ago...


    It¡¯s going to be easier this way.


    ?HUH!!? HEY, KIDDO! COME BACK!?


    I could faintly hear Seth''s shouts echo across the plains as I ran without looking back. For one reason or another, though my heart felt heavy, my steps felt light. They wouldn¡¯t be able to catch up even if they tried. Before long I was lost in the horizon. Gone, beyond the flowery hills on the blooming fields that opened up to the east of the valley in which the capital of human realm laid...


    We had only been together for a couple of days, so they¡¯ll forget about me before long. I don¡¯t want to worry about getting attached, and then crying myself to sleep once things inevitably go wrong.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    ?Nee~, Seeeth, what¡¯s up with that guy!? Couldn¡¯t we have gone together??


    ?Man, I don¡¯t know. Light is pretty weird, but I didn¡¯t imagine him doing anything like this. He does know we have to be back at the Chapel before sundown, right..??


    ?He does, I''m sure.. But I think it might be best to let him go..?


    I faintly muttered..


    ?Eh!? That kiddo will probably get himself killed out there!?


    ?He must have a reason, he always seems to have..?


    ?I guess that¡¯s right. I mean, he might be weird, but he¡¯s got his reasons. He said something about being from another world too¡­ I don¡¯t really get it, but it doesn''t seem like he''s lying... I just hope he won¡¯t forget us just like that though. Aaah, especially after I made that elaborate speech about him not being alone now, too. I know I''m not good with words, but still... A-And I¡¯m not saying that just because he¡¯s paying our lodging! I-It¡¯s just that I guess I would¡¯ve been really lonely in the Capital without him. Seriously...?


    ?Yeah, yeah! He was pretty amazing! He wasn¡¯t a bad guy at all! I wouldn¡¯t mind giving my little Lumi away to someone like him!?


    Shut it, Grace! I¡¯m trying to think here¡­ If he really was from another world, it would certainly explain a myriad of the secrets that surround him, but there¡¯s a lot more to it than just his knowledge.


    Do Celestials even exist in another world? How much information is interchangeable between the worlds? Why would he even attend the adventurer trials if he was capable of something on the magnitude of cross-dimensional travel¡­ It just doesn¡¯t add up! What a frustrating mystery.Wait.. Did he leave because we found out about his true identity!?! No, that can''t be it.. He wouldn''t have announced it in the first place in that case.


    ?Nee~, Lumi... What are you thinking about??


    ?It¡¯s nothing¡­?


    ?Eh, eh? Are you sure you¡¯re not thinking about Light??


    ?Yes, actually..?


    I said before even realizing what a horrible mistake I had just made..


    ?EH, EH!? Have you finally fallen to someone!??


    ?For that kiddo!??


    ?No.. Please get your sanity checked. It¡¯s about him being from another world. It¡¯s the only option that really makes sense..?


    ?Really? I thought he just didn¡¯t want to tell me where he was from for one reason or another. Are you sure about the ¡®other world¡¯ stuff??


    ?How else do you think he¡¯d have an ability one receives from the Gods as a blessing prior to becoming an adventurer? How else do you think he¡¯d be a Celestial of such a young age at the current era??


    ?True.?


    ?And where do you think he got those Midnight Wyvern Hide clothes? When he looked me into my eyes and told me the story behind them, it really didn¡¯t seem like he was lying. Though it was out of character, he was adamant about it.?


    ?¡­?


    ?Eh!? That weirdo really is from another world!? Amazing!?


    ?Still¡­ I hope he doesn¡¯t just blow us off and never talk to us again.?


    ?Indeed.. I¡¯ve still much to learn. Besides, it isn''t like he was all that bad despite being such a pe¨C?


    Our brief conversation came to an abrupt end as an obnoxious voice emerged from behind us..


    ?Hey, hey, hey! What are you lot doing here? And where¡¯s the cloudy-haired guy!??


    ?Oh, hey Brigid! Sorry, you¡¯re a bit late. The kiddo just ran off on his own.?


    ?Oh, dammit. I really wanted to travel with him!?


    ?He didn¡¯t seem to want to travel with us though. It¡¯s a shame, really.?


    ?No matter! I¡¯m going to clear all the Trails and become the best blacksmith in the world! Then I¡¯ll forge a blade much better than what he has now, just you watch!?


    ?You sure are energetic.?


    ?Damn right I am! Do you guys mind if I tag along??


    ?Sure, feel free! The more the merrier!?


    ?Right, right!??


    I chose not to take part in the conversation, but it seems that I was dragged into their plans regardless.


    Though I wouldn¡¯t exactly call the proposition alluring, I have other reasons, apart from annoyance, to decline. I can¡¯t lose to Light, and he¡¯s already way ahead. In a group, I¡¯ll only be slowed down. Maybe he will recognize me if I do well with the Trails..


    ?I think I¡¯ll go by myself too. I¡¯m sorry..?


    ?Eh, eh!? You too, Lumi!??


    ?Yes.. Take care, Grace.?


    I began dashing towards the hills. Though I could sprint for a lot longer than before, I couldn¡¯t match Light¡¯s pace nor stamina. Did he really possess such superior physical ability? I wonder..


    As I was making my journey over the verdant hills, I was pleasantly surprised when I found out that my baby Wyvern, Luna, was already able to fly beside me and match my pace, despite her wings being barely serviceable. She also swiftly chomped through the lower tier monsters that prowled in the fields. To display such power as a mere baby... I can¡¯t help but feel anxious knowing that I¡¯ve been chosen to raise such a monstrous creature. Perhaps I could steer the course of her evolution... I should search for a tome on that topic once I arrive back home.


    Speaking of creatures, I wonder where Light¡¯s Slime was. I didn¡¯t see it anywhere after the morning. How weird¡­

 17 - The Spring in my Step

    Chapter 17 ¨C The Spring in my Step


    I¡¯ve been running for god knows how long. Has it been an hour? Maybe two? I don¡¯t know and I''m doing my best not to care. On my way, I saw a fair few villages, and while I tried notto pay too much attention as I passed them, even then I couldn¡¯t help but feel jealousy.


    The villager''s life looked to be basic at best, but the people seemed to be more than content with their lives. Children were climbing the trees, playing tag and fighting each other with wooden swords. The men were working the fields or patrolling around, making sure that monsters wouldn¡¯t invade while the women were washing clothes near the riverbed, humming a pleasant tune. They happily waved at me as I ran past. Such a simple, yet fulfilling life¡­


    It didn¡¯t take long after passing the last village until I reached the so-called inhabitable territory. Though several monsters roamed about in the in the habitable territory, they barely posed a threat. Both the quantity and quality of the monsters I came across seemed to increase by the minute, but not to the point where advancing would become impossible. They were still few enough in numbers for me to maneuver around.


    Maybe Trails will show up soon enough? Actually, I have no idea how to identify them,without even mentioning finding them! Maybe just some magical gateway to a trail will show up from the middle of nowhere.


    No way!?


    Surprisingly enough, that¡¯s precisely what happened!


    ¡­


    Except it didn¡¯t.


    I was lost. Totally lost. The forest I was currently rummaging through looked the same everywhere I went. I probably couldn¡¯t find the way back if I tried, much less find an entrance to a Trail. I guess it''s a given that a city boy like me can''t find his destination without an abundance of street signs.


    I¡¯m probably going insane. I¡¯m starting to hear sloshing sounds, but there last water source I saw was a river by the village that I passed half an hour ago¡­


    The noise is coming closer!? I¡¯m really losing it... I shouldn¡¯t mind that and just keep going. I¡¯ll find something eventually.


    *squish*


    My leg was tightly hugged by an unknown entity. Or rather, an extremely familiar entity.


    It was Lime!?


    *squish squish*


    It seemed to be awfully happy! Wait¡­ I don¡¯t remember seeing Lime after breakfast. Everyone else had their companions with them though... Did I really forget Lime? Am I really that bad of an owner?


    ?I¡¯m sorry buddy... I shouldn¡¯t have left you.?


    I said as I pat Lime''s... head? Do slimes have a head? Are slimes the head?


    I slowly drifted away in thought, as I began to remember the times Lime and I had. It all came back to me in vivid detail. Rather than remembering pen on paper, the pictures painted in my mind were nothing but real memories of actual events. It''s really Lime, huh? And I''m really... me? I''m honestly beginning to question my existence. Did the timelines merge? I''m confused...


    ?*No worries, master! Do you not remember my abilities? I can access multiple dimensions, y¡¯know!? I locked an alternate dimension to your location, and I can bring myself to you from anywhere! There is no escape! Ehehe... I can also store anything in the alternate dimension if you so wish!*?


    A high pitched androgynous voice reached out to me.


    It didn''t resonate nor echo across the forest, no, it pierced right through into my thoughts. It was as if a child tried his best to be polite in front of a king. The result wasn''t exactly the most respectful of speeches, but somehow it came off as nothing short of adorable... For a second I was startled, but I quickly came to realize what was going on.


    ?WHO!?! W-Wait.. O-Oi¡­ Lime, was that you just now??


    ?*Indeed! I¡¯ve become an S-Rarity monster while you were gone, y¡¯know!? It¡¯d be shameful if I couldn¡¯t at least communicate with my master!*?


    ?Is this... telepathy??


    *boun boun*


    Lime seemed really cheerful as he bounced around.


    ?*Correct! As expected, you recognized the phenomena in an instant! You really are my old master!*?


    ?Old master??


    The bouncy ball of happiness started to dissolve into a sad puddle and I suddenly felt regret surging through me...


    ?*Did you forget all the adventures we used to have decades ago? Oh no... Maybe the Gods of the new age get your memories too¡­*?


    ?Are you reallythe Lime? Did all those adventures really take place!??


    The sad puddle quickly regained its bulbous shape and started to lively bounce all around the place.


    *squish squish*


    ?*YES! Master remembers!! It¡¯s a happy day!*?


    ?Oh man, I could never forget..?


    It was me that wrote you into existence in the first place. Although what I had in mind was a little different...


    ?*Are you perhaps having troubles with finding Trails?*?


    ?Please don¡¯t tell me you can also read my thoughts.?


    ?*Sorry, master. That I cannot do. I had observed you for a while and saw you wandering around the forest with a puzzled look on your face. From that, I deduced that perhaps you¡¯re trying to search for something.*?


    ?You¡¯re perceptive for a damn slime, that''s for sure. Yes, I¡¯m trying to find a Trail, but I haven¡¯t had much luck.?


    ?*Finding Trails isn¡¯t about luck, y¡¯know? You need to feel their magical currents in the air!*?


    ?And how does one do that??


    ?*It seems you haven¡¯t quite escaped the God-orchestrated mass murder of memories¡­ You do it by focusing, of course!*?


    What do you mean by ¡®you do it by focusing!¡¯ Dumb slime. I¡¯ve been trying to focus a good while now¡­This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ?*Close your eyes and try to sense your surroundings¡­ The magical energy in the air is much unlike regular wind, y¡¯know! It won¡¯t circle around you, it will pierce right through! The magic emits from the Trail entrances in massive quantities and master''s race is highly compatible with magic, so it should be a piece of cake!*?


    I think I¡¯m starting to feel it. It''s faint, but it''s there...


    Warm wind, that pierces right through. I can feel it!


    If I was currently to the east of the capital, in front of me would be east too, so... To the north? Not quite¡­


    Northeast? That¡¯s it!


    ?*Can you feel it?*?


    ?Yeah, I think I can!?


    ?*So, where to?*?


    ?Northeast from here, I think.?


    ?*Correct! Amazing! I knew you¡¯d be able to get it soon, but I didn¡¯t think it¡¯d be this easy!*?


    ?Correct? What do you mean correct? Oi!?


    Lime began to bounce away as a criminal would make his escape from the scene! That bastard knew how to do this himself all along...


    ?*Teehee~... you used to be damn near omnipotent back then, y¡¯know!? I couldn¡¯t resist messing around a bit now that I finally have the chance!*?


    ?I can¡¯t believe I was done in by a dumbblob like you..?


    Lime started to playfully bob around, flaunting his victory over me.


    ?Anyhow, shall we get going??


    *squish*


    ?*Yes!*?


    Searching for a Trail took way longer than I had expected. Though the rough direction was clear, there certainly was plenty of room for error. In the end, we did end up finding an entrance to a Trail.


    Much like the one during the trials, there stood a passageway to the unknown, only this one formed between two twisting birch-like trees woven into each other.


    ¡¾Spring Path ¨C Rank: Usual ¨CObjective: Reach¡¿


    Interesting. I can actually somewhat decipher what the Trail is like before entering it. The information is really limited though...


    ?Hey, Lime! Can you enter with me or am I going in solo??


    ?*I can enter with you indeed! Do you want me to join?*?


    ?Sure. Shall we go??


    *squish*


    What a happy little blob.


    I hopped into the glowing portal in front of me. Once again, I fell through the endless space. This time it didn¡¯t quite have the same impact on me as the first time did.


    Once again I felt my feet planted firmly on the grass covered ground. Contrary to the thick forest from before, around me was a seemingly endless open plain, with a few trees here and there. In the middle laid a beaten path...


    ¡¾Spring Path ¨C Rank: Usual¡¿


    Time Limit: 2:00


    Rewards: Random


    ?Armor Piece, Accessory or Weapon ( ¨C of Spring)


    ?Spell Tome


    ? ¨C Potion


    ?Random Material (Forest Biome)


    Objective: Reach the Hilltop Tree


    Rewards!? Is that like a drop table? And what does '' ¨C of Spring'' mean?


    Time Limit: 1:59


    What?


    Time Limit: 1:58


    Alright, alright! No need to rub it in!


    Time Limit: 1:57


    ?Goddammit! Let¡¯s go, Lime! Try to keep up!?


    ?*Yes!*?


    I started running forwards. Even though I ran for nearly two hours prior, I didn¡¯t feel any fatigue. The wind calmly blew against me as I dashed across the plains.


    This time, I wasn''t burdened by pressure as on the trials. It reminded me of the time when I was jumping down the cliffs with Seth when we first arrived at the outskirts of the capital...


    Soon after, I saw a group of familiar monsters standing in front of me in wait. Yet something seemed different from them this time.


    ¡¾Spring Kobold ¨C Affinity: Nature ¨C Rank: Usual ¨C Rarity: D¡¿


    Ah! Nature affinity Kobolds! No wonder they looked so similar. This time, their skin was just a shade greener and the fur a tone darker. Their features were also ever so slightly more primal. Someone has been slacking on the design.


    ?*Master! There are monsters in the vicinity. Shall we jump over?*?


    ?Sure! Let¡¯s¡­ Wait! OVER!??


    ?*Leave it to me! Here I go!*?


    ?!?!?


    Lime split into two and his two halves of covered my feet. Unable to stop in my tracks, my now Lime-covered foot struck the ground. The insane rebound of the slimy mucus and the additional manual movements from Lime sprung me right over the Spring Kobold unit.


    Needless to say, the bounce caught me off guard and as a result, the fall was quite the spectacle to say the least. Who knew handling your balance two meters in the air wasn''t the easiest of tasks... Lime didn¡¯t seem to have a care in the world though.


    ?*Wasn''t that great?*?


    ?WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT!?! When you decide to do something insane like that you need to let me know beforehand! Is that clear!??


    ?*But I asked and you said yes¡­ I-I¡¯m sorry, master.*?


    Time Limit: 1:06


    A couple hundred meters in front of me on the top of a hill stood a lonely old tree.


    ?*Master, Is that the objective?*?


    ?Yeah, I think it is. Let¡¯s pick up the pace!?


    Time Limit: 0:38


    ¡¾Spring Path ¨C Status: Clear¡¿


    ?Reach: 1/1


    ?Rewards:


    ?¡¾Boots of Spring ¨C Rank: Usual ¨C Rarity: D¡¿


    ?Shard of Knowledge:


    ?¡¾Practical Knowledge: Containers¡¿


    Back on the other side, huh? Wasn¡¯t that a bit too fast? Or rather, wasn¡¯t the trial way too long!?


    Wait just a moment¡­


    ?¡¯Practical Knowledge: Containers¡¯!? Do these people not know what containers are??


    I accidentally expressed my disbelief out loud as I held a bright white stone shard in my hands.


    My thoughts were quickly filled with concepts of wooden buckets andboxes alike as arcane knowledge flowed straight from the crystal into my mind. Call me a grandma but I really feel like weaving some baskets right now...


    ?*Master, that¡¯s the Shard of Knowledge, y¡¯know!? That one seems to contain the knowledge of making and utilizing containers!*?


    ?Yeah, it''s pretty amazing... But do the people not know how to make containers!? Are the people of this world monkeys??


    ?*At present time, no species worthy of the name of Race descending from the monkey-type monsters have been discovered, but you should know that!*?


    ?That¡¯s not what I meant and you should know that...?


    ?*Ah, master! What about the other reward? You received a pair of boots did you not?*?


    ?Yeah I did, they¡¯re right here.?


    ?*Have you analyzed the effect they have yet?*?


    ?An effect??


    ?*Yes! Gear received from Trails usually has an effect once they¡¯re above the D-Rarity, y¡¯know!? Maybe two if they''re good enough!*?


    Alright, let¡¯s give it a go! The Boots of Spring that materialized before me, were earthy brown leather boots, that had leaf patterns craved on the surface. The bootstraps were made of twisting vines. If these Usual-Rank boots are this amazing, I wonder what something with a higher rank and rarity looks like¡­


    ¡¾Boots of Spring ¨C Rank: Usual ¨C Rarity: D ¨C Effect: Spring Breeze¡¿


    ¡¾Spring Breeze: Minor increase in Speed and Stamina. Highly increased effect when paired with other items of the same effect.¡¿


    ?Th-This is fucking amazing! I gotta collect the whole set now...?


    ?*Isn''t it?*?


    Maybe I can check the scarf too? It always did feel a bit different from all my other clothes.


    My eyes widened in surprise as I began to realize that what was wrapped around my neck was no ordinary rag, oh no.


    ¡¾Ashen Scarf of Tireless Wind ¨C Rank: Extraordinary ¨C Rarity: A ¨C Effects: Grey Veil, Tireless Wind¡¿


    ¡¾Grey Veil: Medium increase in Evasion and Reflection. Highly increased effect when against monsters of Flame or Void Affinity.¡¿


    ¡¾Tireless Wind: Major increase in Speed and Stamina.¡¿


    ?A-An Extraordinary!?! And of an A-Rarity too!??


    Goddamn! Well, ain''t that a surprise and a half!? I guess I won¡¯t be changing my scarf for a good while... Though, while Speed, Stamina, and Evasion are quite obvious, whaton earth does Reflection mean?


    ?Lime! Do you happen to know what Reflection means??


    ?*Do you mean when the light gets sent back instead of absorbed by a surface?*?


    ?No, you daft blob. I meant as an effect.?


    ?*OH! Reflection is a subcategory of the Defense attribute. It affects one''s defenses against magic! Unlike Resilience, which will defend against physical attacks!*?


    ?That''s... pretty damn cool!? What about Speed, Stamina, and Evasion??


    ?*Speed is a subcategory of Agility, as is Evasion. Stamina, on the other hand, belongs to the Health branch. Which is a general measure of one''s physical health!*?


    ?Alright! Thanks. That clears a thing or two up.?


    Subcategories of attributes? I''m both confused and intrigued. I wonder just how much is a ''major increase''... As I began putting on my new leather boots, which are rather stylish might I add, Lime called out to me.


    ?*Master! Should I store your old boots in my dimensional storage?*?


    ?Uh, sure. Go ahead.?


    Surely enough, he soon started to happily devour my old boots!


    ¡­


    He started to do WHAT!?


    ?OI! Lime! Why are you eating my boots!? Have you lost your mind!? Do you even have a mind??


    ?*This is how I transport the items between dimensions, y¡¯know?*?


    I take back what I said. He¡¯s amazing, isn''t he? He? Hold on, I''ve been calling Lime a he all this time, but is Lime a he or a she?


    ?Oi, Lime!?


    ?*Yes, master?*?


    Alright, this is my moment!


    ?Are you a boy? Or are you a girl??


    ?*Lime is a Slime!*?


    ?Figures... Goddammit, there goes my moment.?


    ?*But if I really had to think about it, Lime would be a girl!*?


    ?Eh??


    ?*Yes! Lime will be a girl from here on out! I hope I can be master¡¯s bride one day!*?


    ?Please don''t do this to me... What the hell is that supposed to mean? Really!? You¡¯re twisted in more ways than one, that¡¯s for sure. Anyhow, we should start looking for new Trails now!?


    ?*That we should!*?

 18 - Slimy Surprise

    Chapter 18 ¨C Slimy Surprise


    ¡¾Spring Forest Grove ¨C Rank: Usual¡¿


    Time Limit: 5:00


    Rewards: Random


    ?Armor Piece, Accessory or Weapon ( ¨C of Spring)


    ?Spell Tome


    ? ¨C Potion


    ?Random Material (Forest Biome)


    Objective: Exterminate 15 Spring Kobolds


    Once again, I entered a Trail with Lime. The Spring Forest Grove was a dense forest area, much unlike the Spring Path, which was practically just empty plains with a few trees here and there.


    ?An extermination again? I don¡¯t like these that much... Oh well, it¡¯s not like I have a choice. Don¡¯t get left behind!?


    ?*Yes! If I may ask, why do you dislike extermination Trails?*?


    ?It feels wrong to kill other living beings. I still haven¡¯t grown accustomed to it.?


    ?*Hmm¡­ Would you rather be killed than kill?*?


    ?That¡¯s unfair. If I was driven into a situation like that, of course, I¡¯d do anything to save my own life. I just dislike being forced into a situation like that.?


    ?*I see, I see. But it¡¯s not like you have a say in the matter, y¡¯know? You know how this world works. There¡¯s no room for the morals of a saint on the Trails..*?


    ?I suppose I¡¯ll have to get used to it. I hope it¡¯ll stop bothering me before long¡­?


    After all, the value of life does differ drastically between this world and my old one. I guess I¡¯ll have to suck it up and live with it.


    ¡­


    Time Limit: 4:02


    ?*Watch out! Monsters up ahead!*?


    ?Got it!?


    A group of 8 Spring Kobolds stood in our way.


    I swiftly cut the flimsy spears of the front row Kobolds of the first group with a wide horizontal cleave. Little by little I''m beginning to get used to swinging a sword around. Unlike regular Kobolds, the Spring variants don¡¯t stop their charge once they¡¯re disarmed. This is good for my feeble conscience. I couldn¡¯t live with myself if I had to stab a monster in the back that¡¯s running away for its life.


    ?One¡­?


    An uppercut beneath a kobold''s right arm.


    ?Two..?


    I continued my onslaught as I brought my blade down horizontally to cut a second one.


    ?Three.?


    I vigorously swung my blade horizontally, slicing through the Kobold flesh, which was but butter in the face of my Darksteel Blade. I was about to finish the front squad off by stabbing the final kobold when Lime suddenly smacked it far into the horizon.


    ?*Four!*?


    Is this what they call the ¡°One Punch¡±? Can slimes even punch? But if that wasn¡¯t a punch, then I don¡¯t know what was.


    ?*How many Kobolds are left to gore?*?


    *Squish squish*


    Lime happily squished around, after making a godawful nursery rhyme about slaughtering Kobolds. Morbid.


    ?Can you please stop with the rhymes! And for the love of god don¡¯t call it ¡®goring¡¯, it makes me puke.?


    ?*Haha! Sorry¡­ Be careful, there''s still seven left!*?


    ¡­


    Time Limit: 2:25


    ?*Just three left!*?


    And three rapid strikes was all it took... The dark blade, reflecting the sunlight that pierced through the leaves of the surrounding trees, quickly found its way to the heart of the opposing Kobolds, painting itself red with their blood.


    Once again, a rather anticlimactic end for a Trail. It¡¯s still better than being centimeters away from death on the regular, trying to fight giant enraged ogres.


    ¡¾Spring Forest Grove ¨C Status: Clear¡¿


    ?Reach: 1/1


    ?Rewards:


    ?¡¾Origin Spell Tome ¨C Rank: Usual¡¿


    ?Shard of Knowledge:


    ?¡¾Agricultural Knowledge: Basic Farming Tools¡¿


    Finally! A spell tome! That took a good while... I hope I can start casting magic soon. The Shard of Knowledge isn¡¯t half bad either. I felt the knowledge of creating and utilizing various hoes and sickles and such radiate through me... Really though, a shard like this is a good find, especially when compared to some of the shards I had gotten earlier such as ¡®Utensil Knowledge: Spork¡¯, which I seriously contemplated throwing away into the bushes, never to be seen again.


    I gave the Shard to Lime, who quickly devoured it and stored it in ''her'' dimension. I still haven''t gotten used to calling Lime a female. And I probably never will.


    The Spell Tome, as I suspected, was just a book with some ancient runes on it, similar to those decorating Lumi''s Eye of Void. I would pray to the gods that those runes aren¡¯t the written language of this world, but judging from my experience with them, I''d rather roll a twenty-sided dice.


    ?Oi, Lime! How do I use the Spell Tome??This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ?*What do you usually do with a book?*?


    ?You read it??


    ?*Wow! Master, you''re so smart!*?


    ?Oh, fuck off... Alright, let''s try it then.?


    I opened the book, and a bright white light shining from within blinded me. Reading the tome immersed me in an empty space much like an entrance to a trail would, however instead of colorful stardust, I was surrounded by plain white... I''m not going insane, am I?


    ¡¾Origin Spell Tome ¨C Rank: Usual¡¿


    Available spells:


    ?Origin Flare


    ?Origin Ball


    ?Origin Bolt


    ?Origin Dart


    Eh? Can I choose here? I guess I¡¯ll go with flare...For no reason other than It obviously sounds the coolest.


    ¡¾Origin Spell: Origin Flare ¨C Rank: Usual¡¿


    I regained my sight as the blinding light dwindled.


    Did I learn it? I guess I did..? Wasn''t that way too easy, though?


    ?Lime.Do you have any idea how to cast a spell??


    ?*Eh? Shouldn¡¯t you know?*?


    ?Yes, I should, but right now I¡¯m suffering from a terrible case of extreme amnesia, and can¡¯t remember anything unless you tell me in utmost detail.?


    ?*Ahahaha! Alright. Just imagine the spell in your mind, chant the name of the spell and cast it!*?


    ?I don¡¯t even need to use lengthened chants? That¡¯s a shame¡­ I always thought they were pretty cool.?


    ?*A lengthened chant can amplify the strength of the spell, certainly, especially if one isn''t adept at magic, but that¡¯s because it reinforces the mental image of the spell, or otherwise raises the user¡¯s spirits. In reality, you really only need to chant the name of the spell...?


    ?Huh...?


    ?But! If you have advanced mastery of a spell, you can link a certain trigger for it, like extending or retracting one of your limbs or even fingers! It''s a technique often utilized by martial arts classes! However, you should probably know that it''s limited to spells you use very often and have absolute mastery of... Perhaps master could set a trigger for Origin Burst?*?


    Really? If I correctly remember, the God of Origin used a lengthened chant while casting the curse, or whatever that was. Do the gods not know how their very magic system works? No wonder this world is a fucking mess...


    Origin Flare, huh? Since it¡¯s Origin element, I suppose it¡¯d be like a concentrated bright white flame. If it¡¯s something like a shot from a flare gun, maybe I can shoot it from my hand, like a Fireball Spell? Let¡¯s go with that.


    After constructing a solid concept of the spell in my mind, I took a wide, stable stance, extended my left hand out and imagined the bright white flame gathering in my grasp.


    ?Here Goes,¡¾Origin Flare¡¿!?


    The words ''Origin Flare'' eerily resonated across the forest, and birds began to flee from the branches of the surrounding trees. Indeed, the image I pictured in my mind soon manifested itself in my extended hand. For a while, the flames danced around me before slowly gathering together, forming a concentrated ball of peculiar magical fire in front of my palm.


    I¡¯m starting to feel a tad bit dizzy¡­


    As everything began to fade away, I could see the bright light shoot out with blinding speed, leaving behind an afterimage of a glistening beam similar to a shot from a railgun. Before I could even decipher what had happened, the flare hit the tree I aimed at and burst out into glorious white flames.


    Under the sound of wood cracking into million bits, a loud thud could be heard. That very thud being none other than yours truly.


    Man, I hope I didn¡¯t start a forest fire...


    ¡­


    *squish squish*


    ?Shut up.. Five more minutes..?


    *boun boun boun*


    ?Didn¡¯t you hear me? Uhn¡­ Go away¡­?


    ?*Wake up!*?


    ?...!??


    What¡¯s this? Where am I?


    I found myself laying down on an empty field of grass. Similar to the Trails that featured vast grassy plains, the horizons seemed to extend endlessly.


    ?Lime, is that you??


    ?*Yes! Are you finally awake?*?


    ?I think so... But... Where am I??


    ?*Ah yes... Welcome to my dimension, master!*?


    ?Your dimension!??


    ?*Yes! Indeed.*?


    Amazing¡­


    ?Is this where all the gear you devour goes??


    ?*Spot on! They¡¯re right behind you, y¡¯know?*?


    And there they were indeed. But in horrible order!?


    Almost all of my old gear, excluding my scarf,laid down in a messy pile on the grassy floor. Next to my old gear, was also a rather sizeable pile of Usual-Rank Mana and Health Potions. I didn¡¯t need those, so I thought it would be best to save them, or maybe sell them once I get back to the capital.


    To the right, I had collected a bunch of Shards of Knowledge. Maybe fifteen by now, actually. Finding a Trail took about ten minutes, clearing it and sorting the rewards took another five minutes. I could clear four Trails in an hour, and I didn¡¯t really have to take breaks either, thanks to the effects of my scarf and new gear.


    ¡¾Equipment: Light Jacket of Spring, Shorts of Spring, Boots of Spring, Leather Belts, Ashen Scarf of Tireless Wind, Darksteel Blade¡¿


    Apart from the Scarf, I had almost collected the entire set of ¡® ¨C of Spring¡¯ gear, apart from my belts. The stacking bonus of the¡¾Effect: Spring Breeze¡¿all the items of the set shared was amazing. I could run amazingly fast for an eternity! If I was back on earth, I¡¯m confident I could¡¯ve probably broken all the world records for every single running event. Apart from maybe the longest distance ones, as those would bore me out before I¡¯d be able to finish¡­


    The theme of the set was universal across all the pieces. The pieces were made out of dark, earthy leather, that was decorated with engraved leaf patterns. A lot of effort was clearly put into the details of the gear, finishing the design up with various leaves and vines intertwined into the clothes.


    Even if I didn¡¯t know a single thing about fashion, I felt pretty damn fashionable in my current attire, if I do say so myself. Although I do prefer the monochrome form much more. Maybe in the future? Hopefully, I can collect a set of some black clothes after I rank up!


    I felt pretty accomplished. Of course, there were some duplicates.. I had two extra pairs of Boots of Spring. Though despite that, I still haven''t found the Blade of Spring. But then again, I can''t really imagine it surpassing my current weapon anytime soon.


    ¡¾Darksteel Blade ¨C Class: Blade ¨C Rank: Regular ¨C Rarity: B ¨C Effect: Edge¡¿


    ¡¾Edge: Able to retain unparalleled sharpness. Medium Damage increase against monsters of lower rank.¡¿


    It¡¯s absolutely perfect! Not only do I not have to actually pay attention and care for things I carelessly spent copious amounts of money for, but I can also slice through lower rank monsters with utmost ease, which greatly compensates for my absolute inability to fight! What a find!


    Funnily enough, as easy as the Trails were, I was utterly defeated the moment I tried to cast a spell. I can¡¯t remember anything that happened after...


    ?Oi, Lime. What happened when I passed out??


    ?*My suspicion is that you used too much mana at once!*?


    ?Eh? But it was a basic Usual-Rank spell..?


    ?*What¡¯s master¡¯s current mana stat? If it¡¯s too low you can¡¯t use some of the spells, y¡¯know? Even if they happen to be Usual-Rank.*?


    ?It¡¯s¡­?


    ?*Yes? It¡¯s not F, is it?*?


    ?It is.?


    *sad squish*


    What an utterly devastated sloshing sound she made... I felt like I just miserably failed to live up to her expectations. I¡¯m sorry, buddy.


    ?*Well! The Great Elder suspected this when he sent me!*?


    ?He did? Oh¡­ Who¡¯s the Great Elder!??


    ?*That''s uh...! Classified information! Even from master... Sorry...*?


    ?It¡¯s just the God of Origin, isn¡¯t it??


    ?*Haha! No way! Origin is but a mere child compared to the Great Elder!*?


    ?Eh? But you said he sent you... Did he intercept the process when the Gods sent us all our companions??


    ?*Not quite. It was him who sent the companions to all of you in the first place! He thought long and hard about what he should send for your buddies, so you should be grateful. The Nine Gods wouldn¡¯t do something like that, no way!*?


    Did he trick the old man? Just what kind of role does the Great Elder play if the Gods are but mere children before him? And most importantly, how did he know to send Lime to me?


    ?*But master, you¡¯ve slept for long enough! We should get going again!*?


    ?Yeah sure! But first things first, how long was I out for??


    ?*Approximately two minutes!*?


    Now, more than ever, I felt the urge to kick the shit out of Lime, but being the generous master that I am, I refrained from committing such disciplinary action.

 19 - Food Rations

    Chapter 19 ¨C Food Rations


    ?So, Lime¡­?


    ?*Yes?*?


    ?How did you bring me into this ¡®dimension¡¯ or whatever??


    ?*I ate you!*?


    ?Figures¡­ Why are you so happy about it, though??


    ?*I never thought I¡¯d have the chance to get close and personal with master, y¡¯know? I saw the opportunity and I took it!*?


    Lime happily bounced about. Somehow I felt extremely disgusted at the thought of being consumed by a ball sentient glowing goo that had the hots for me¡­ This isn¡¯t what I had in mind when I wrote you. You were supposed to be an epic luminescent dragon-type monster or something, goddammit!


    ?*By the way, master. Aren¡¯t you getting hungry? You haven¡¯t eaten anything since morning, y¡¯know!?*?


    ?That¡¯s true, I guess¡­ Should we head back to the capital? Now that you mention it, I¡¯m getting really hungry.?


    ?*No need for that yet. You could justconsume health potions to replenish your hunger, y¡¯know? You have a couple of those lying around, don''t you?*?


    ?Really? That¡¯s convenient!?


    Lime started to squiggle towards the pile of potions. I lack the descriptive capabilities to put her movement into words... It bore similarities to how a slug glides across surfaces, yet I could see the viscous liquid that Lime was made of swirl around as if she was rolling. What a peculiar little thing.


    I''ve loved the design of slimes ever since I first found out about them and always thought they were the cutest monsters in existence... But who would''ve known that they stop beingadorable the moment they start acting like thirsty degenerates?


    The green glob came back to me carrying a vial containing a red fluid on top of its head. A health potion. If they were any other color this world would be a failure as a fantasy world. Conversely, mana potions were blue. Everything in the world was exactly as it should be. I couldn¡¯t imagine drinking a blue health potion, much less something even more bizarre, like a purple one.


    The Lowest Rank potions were tiny simple medicinal glass bottles, that were sealed with a cork. I was expecting an ornamental design akin to a polished crystal, but I guess my expectations were a bit too high for the lowest rank after getting a pair of dapper leather boots... Roughly estimating, the capacity was a little less than two hundred milliliters.


    The cork popped off rather easily, and the red fluidbegan to bubble. It reminded me of a fizzy drink back at home. Interesting¡­ It honestly looks pretty delicious.


    ?Alright.. Bottoms up!?


    ?*Wa-wa-waaait! Mas¨COh no¡­*?


    I brought the bottle to my lips and took a big gulp. I downed nearly half of the potion at once.


    That was a mistake. A big mistake.


    I wanted to puke. The taste was both extremely sour, and piercingly bitter, and the sensation of the liquid stung worse than the vilest alcoholic beverages. With every bubble popping on the top of my tongue, I felt a sharppain piercing through as if my mouth was being assaulted by burning needles coated in poison.


    ?KCHHH¡­?


    There was still half a potion left, too¡­ I don¡¯t want to drink a single drop more. I can¡¯t drink a single drop more. The taste it left in my mouth was abysmal¡­


    It felt like I had gulped down a gallon of battery acid and burned the outer layer of the insides of my mouth in progress. Then proceeding to brush my teeth right after and following that up by swishing orange juice around my mouth until I had successfully committed mass genocide on my already ravaged taste buds.


    I¡¯d rather drink a hefty pint of molten lead.


    ?*Master, master! Please take a bite of me!*?


    ?Wha..? Guh¡­ Uwaah!?


    I could barely listen to what Lime said, as I was so preoccupied with the godawful taste violating my mouth.


    ?*Please!*?


    ?Eh??


    Suddenly Lime pounced at me and forced a part of herself into my mouth.


    Hasn¡¯t my mouth been violated enough by the potion already? I guess I can¡¯t become a bride anymore¡­


    ?*Please bite! It will help with the taste! Quickly!*?


    I could barely talk while the inside my mouth was completely filled with Lime''s slimy insides. I definitely wouldn¡¯t want to be a woman. Having my jaw stretched out like this felt... rather unpleasant¡­Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    ?I can¡¯t bite you!?


    I mumbled with mouth full of mucus.


    ?*You have to! I don¡¯t mind if it¡¯s master!*?


    I¡¯m not sure if I really want to hear that¡­ Despite that, I took a bite of Lime.


    ?I¡¯m sorry¡­ Hold on, what the hell, Lime? My god! It¡¯s tasty!?


    ?*My name isn¡¯t just for show, y¡¯know!?*?


    The horrid burning taste in my mouth quickly dissipated, as it was overpowered by the sweet sensation of a delicate creamy citrus flavor. The soft feeling of Limes flesh, or whatever the insides of the slime are called, gently enveloped my mouth, saving my taste buds from the hellish onslaught of the crimson poison.


    ?*Any better?*?


    ?Yes! Much better! Can I¡­ Have some more??


    ?*Oh my! Aren¡¯t you bold, master! I¡¯m sorry but I¡¯ll need a bit of time to regenerate.*?


    Oh, right. Lime is a living being after all.


    Perhaps¡­


    ?Oi, Lime! Do slimes have taste buds???


    ?*They do not. Though they can taste through their goo.*?


    ?Oh, so that''s why the aquatic slimes DID enjoy the berries¡­ Lucky! What about health potions? Can you regenerate by drinking those??


    ?*You¡¯d let me have a health potion!? You¡¯re so generous! Health potions taste like nectar for monsters like me, y''know!?*?


    I accidentally let out a burst menacing evil laughter befitting of a demon king¡­ My master plan is coming together.


    ?Here you go.?


    I said as I handed the remaining vial of the health potion to Lime.


    ?*THANK YOU! Wait, master¡­ Do you perhaps plan on¨C*?


    ?Precisely!?


    As soon as I handed the remaining health potion to Lime, she immediately figured out what was about to go down.


    ?*You plan to eat me, make me drink health potions and then eat me once more after I regenerate? You¡¯re awful, y¡¯know!?*?


    The corners of my mouth were rising up to my ears as I involuntarily let out a devilish grin. I did have my moments from time to time, but this was nothing short of a stroke of genius!


    ?*Uuu¡­ I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d have to do this kind of stuff¡­ Well, I did promise to serve master back then...*?


    ?Is there a problem??


    ?*N-No¡­ Not at all¡­ If anything I¡¯m getting kind of excited*?


    ?W-What!?! Oi¡­?


    Lime started to happily ingest the demon blood that some people go as far as to call a ¡®Health potion¡¯. My ass. It¡¯s supposed to heal me, not make me want to die. To my relief, Lime, however, had no problems drinking it. In fact, Lime seemed to ingest the fluid quite happily.


    ?*Alright! I¡¯ve assimilated the remaining health potion into myself. You can dig in now¡­ But please, be gentle...*?


    What in oblivion is that supposed to mean!?


    ?Oi, Lime... What are you thinking about right now??


    Lime squirmed around in excitement. I¡¯m having second thoughts about the sourcing of my nutrition¡­


    ?*Master is about to gobble me right up and use me like I was nothing but a tool for him! I can¡¯t help but get excited! Please don¡¯t make me wait any longer! I¡¯m leaking my goo all over the place, y¡¯know!?*?


    ?Excuse me, what the fuck??


    ?*Please! No more! Devour me and let us be one!*?


    What did I do in my previous life to deserve this? My Lime... My friend. My beloved companion. Reduced to this...


    The blob jumped me and once again stuck itself into my mouth. As much as I dislike being violated like this, Lime still tasted amazing, so I took a nice big bite.


    ?*Kyaaah!! It feels so goooood!*?


    ?Can you please shut up, you¡¯re ruining my appetite.?


    ?*Such harsh words too! I can¡¯t take it anymore.*?


    After a while of Lime¡¯s perverted remarks, I was full, in more ways than one... I had no idea why Slime¡¯s goo tasted so good. Perhaps I should try and take a bite from the other varieties if I happen to come across them on one of the Trails? Maybe they¡¯d be a little less raunchy, too.


    ?*Mm¡­ I¡¯m amazed you still went through with all that, even when I tried to creep you out by acting like a deranged lecher. As expected of master! No tricks will work on you.*?


    Really? Is this how her ''devilish intelligence'' manifested into reality? Where do I send my complaints!?


    ?You¡­?


    ?*Teehee! Though I won¡¯t deny that not all of it was an act¡­*?


    ?Anyhow, are you alright with drinking the health potions and me eating you afterward? I know it¡¯s a bit gruesome but¨C?


    ?*Not a problem at all! In fact, the contents of the health potion mix with my slimy fluids, making you drink a part of the health potion in progress too!*?


    ?Oh, really!? No wonder I feel so full!?


    ?*Yes indeed! By the way, do you know what Usual-Rank health potions are made of?*?


    ?Do I want to??


    ?*For sure you do! They¡¯re a distillate of deceased Water Orc seme¨C?


    ?TOODLE-LOO! I CANT HEAR YOU!?


    ?*It¡¯s actually just a liquid concentrate of the life essence of Usual-Rank monsters.*?


    ?Of course¡­ Are you ever trustworthy??


    ?*When it matters!*?


    ?Figures. Well, we¡¯ve been here long enough, should we get going??


    ?*Yes! We still have plenty of time before sundown!*?


    But wait a second¡­


    ?How do I get out of this dimension??


    ?*I¡¯m going to have to swallow you whole to transfer you back into the regular dimension!*?


    ?No¡­ Absolutely not.?


    ?*Come on. It will be pleasant! My body is quite soft, y¡¯know?*?


    Limebegan to wiggle around¡­ I can only imagine what she tried to imply with that.


    ?Not a way in hell.?


    ?*I¡¯ll make sure not to spill my liquids all over you!*?


    ?Hearing that makes me want to do it even less..?


    ?*Oh.. But we aren¡¯t doing it, are we? We haven¡¯t even been wed yet.*?


    ?You really just went there¡­?


    ?*Yes! Indeed I did! Now shut up and let¡¯s go!*?


    Lime jumped me, stretching her elastic goo into multiple times her original size, completely enveloping my body in the surprisingly pleasant green mass.


    *ptyui*


    And before I even noticed it, I was spat out of the slime and I fell down on my ass onto the grass covering the forest I first lost consciousness in¡­


    ?Eh? That fast??


    ?*Would you have rather had a full body slime massage?*?


    ?No thank you¡­?


    Maybe later though¡­ It was kind of nice.


    ?O-Oi, Lime..?


    I saw the tree I first shot my ¡¾Origin Flare¡¿at... It was utterly devastated all the way from its roots to its tip.


    A massive hole had been formed in the middle of the trunk, causing the entire tree to split in half. Burn marks had covered the thick bark surrounding the point of impact, and the now bare inner layers of the previously pale wood had been scorched pitch black.


    ?*Master! I know you¡¯re experiencing immense pride from ravaging a tree that had done no harm to you, but there are Trails waiting to be conquered, y¡¯know!?*?


    ?Alright, lead the way!?


    Judging by the sun, it was about early afternoon. I felt a faint sense of melancholy, though much unlike I what I felt this morning, as I traversed through the forest. How would''ve my journey ended up had I chosen to travel with Seth and the others. It might''ve been fun. Maybe we''ll meet someday again, and Seth''ll drag me around on another adventure. I didn''t mind the times we had at all...


    ?*Master, master! Another Trail is getting really close! Let''s pick up the pace!?


    Time sure flies by when you''re lost in thought...


    Before long, before me, once more, stood a faintly glowing portal interwoven between two twisting birches. Without even bothering to try and analyze what I was in for, I leaped in without a care in the world...

 20 - Picking Up Speed

    20 ¨C Picking Up Speed


    ¡¾Spring Forest Grove ¨C Rank: Usual¡¿


    Time Limit: 5:00


    Rewards: Random


    ?Armor Piece, Accessory or Weapon ( ¨C of Spring)


    ?Spell Tome


    ? ¨C Potion


    ?Random Material (Forest Biome)


    Objective: Exterminate 15 Spring Kobolds


    The Trail I had stepped into was a clear copy and paste of the Trail with the same name I had cleared once before. It was a rather small Trail in size. A simple path twisting through a thick forest, with Spring Kobolds lying in wait behind the trees and bushes.


    I began strolling down the path to draw the monsters out. Though my bait was as obvious as it gets, the kobolds seemed to not realize. Twoof them jumped at me from both sides, and another four emerged from the shrubbery at the back.


    I have already gotten familiar enough with combat, for weaklings like these not to pose me any threat. I''m not just getting arrogant, I swear...


    Blood spilled through the air as I cleaved through the helpless green fiends. I mostly stuck to horizontal cleaves against Spring Kobolds, as with a good strike, I could dispose of multiple monsters at once. Mundane melee massacres like this really make me wish I had the ability to cast area of effect spells, but you know how things are with me and my abysmal mana pool. Just a few well-placed strikes and the kobold squad laid dead on the beaten path and their bloodied corpses began to fade away. I seem to be getting more and more used to it.


    Time Limit: 3:37


    ?Exterminate 8/15


    There were still 7 left. If my memory serves me right, they would ambush me not further than fifty meters from here. I resumed my journey into the depths of the forest.


    ?*Watch out, master! The remaining forces are right up ahead!*?


    As I received the warning from Lime, contrary to what a more careful person might''ve thought to be the best course of action, I picked up the pace and dashed right through the unexpecting monsters. I took three of them down by dragging my blade across the masses before any of them could even react. And before the first three kobolds fell down on the ground, I finished the remaining four that surrounded me with two wide strikes.


    Time Limit: 2:53


    This is getting pretty boring, isn''t it? I guess I''m getting used to slaughtering monsters... My time has improved by over a minute.


    ¡¾Spring Forest Grove ¨C Status: Clear¡¿


    ?Reach: 1/1


    ?Rewards:


    ?¡¾Blade of Spring ¨C Rank: Usual ¨C Rarity: B¡¿


    ?Shard of Knowledge:


    ?¡¾Agricultural Knowledge: Slash and Burn¡¿


    I completely disregarded the shard for cultivation through controlled forest fires, as I had something way more interesting in my hands now!


    ¡¾Blade of Spring ¨C Class: Blade ¨C Rank: Usual ¨C Rarity: B ¨C Effect: Leech Minor¡¿


    ¡¾Leech Minor: Attacks will Drain the target''s Vitality.¡¿


    And a B-Rarity too! Would you look at that!?


    What I now held in my hands, was an ornamental blade, similar in length to my current sword, but completely different in design. Contrary to the sleek, elegant and straight black blade, the Blade of Spring I now held in my hands had awider blade made of a peculiar brownish metal and had a single edge which sharply curved twice.


    The single edge seems to be the deciding factor as to whether the weapon in question is a ''Sword'' or a ''Blade''. That''s pretty fucking stupid... What''s the system going to do when a rapier shows up, huh?


    Similar to the vines that my other ''¨C of Spring'' gear featured, the Blade of Spring too, had its own share of greenery coiling around the blade.


    To think I''d find a weapon with a life-steal ability so damn soon! It doesn''t quite fit into my sheath, because of the paddle-like fantasy design it sports, but despite that, it''s quite light and easy to swing around.


    ?Oi, Lime! Catch!?


    I threw myold blade at Limelike I usually did when finding a pair of new boots or receiving a Shard of Knowledge.


    I quickly realized what I had done as my sword flew through the air...


    ?*Master! You idiot! Are you trying to kill me? Why are you throwing swords at me!? Have you gotten tired of me already? What have I done wrong...*?


    Lime oozed to a pool of sad goo after barely dodging the flying blade.


    Though she hadn''t exactly done anything wrong, I saw my opportunity and I took it. Such are exchanges between Lime and I. I wonder why I feel so comfortable with her...


    ?Try not to be a damn degenerate next time!?


    ?*No can do!*?


    Okay, let''s try this approach...


    ?Sorry about that... You''re constantly proving yourself useful. There''s no way I''d get rid of you. Anyhow, I''m liking this new sword I got. Wanna go and test it out??


    Ireassured as I patted the head of the now deflated blob.


    After hearing those words, Lime regained her round shape in an instant and began bouncing around happily.


    ?*Yes! Let''s go! Ehehe~, master''s great today...*?


    ?What was that??


    ?*Nothing! Let''s get going!*?


    ¡¾Tranquil Woodlands ¨C Rank: Usual¡¿


    Time Limit: 3:00


    Rewards: Random


    ?Armor Piece, Accessory or Weapon ( ¨C of Spring)


    ?Spell Tome


    ? ¨C Potion


    ?Random Material (Forest Biome)


    Objective:Subjugate 5Evergreen Hogs


    When I felt my feet planted on the ground once more, an expansive field surrounded by a thick, nigh impenetrable line of trees opened before my eyes. Between thetrunks across the thick forests dashed multiple dark figures. Though I couldn''t catch more than a fleeting glimpse, I''m fairly sure they were Evergreen Hogs, as those are what I''m currently after...Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    I don''t have the slightest of clues as to how do I ''Subjugate'' an Evergreen Hog. In fact, I haven''t even seen the damn monsters before! I have a faint recollection of Seth mentioning them when we went to the tailor, but that''s about it.


    I assumed a defensive stance and began to make my way towards the treeline. It didn''t take more than a few steps until a dark hulking mass of meat came rushing towards me. I had no methods of stopping the hog and I couldn''t stop it in its tracks by killing it either, so I resorted to nimbly stepping to the side to avoid the charge...


    But for naught. Thereflexes of the hog were as quick as mine, and it steered its crash course right towards me.The monster crashed right into me with the force of a thousand suns and blew me back nearly two meters.


    While I gasped for airhaving gotten the wind knocked out of me, four more hogs emerged from the shrubbery surrounding me. I finally took a good look at what I was facing.Dark, nearly black boars with spiky hair on their backs, bulging leg muscles, and vibrant green eyes. They stood nearly a meter tall... I''m actually kind of surprised that I didn''t just outright fucking die when one of them charged me.


    ¡¾Evergreen Hog ¨C Affinity: Nature ¨C Rank: Usual ¨C Rarity: B¡¿


    An equal match for my new blade, huh? They had no weapons for me to dispose of, and I had naught to feed and tame them with, so I guess I''m just going to have to beat them into submission the old fashioned way... I hope I don''t fail because I accidentally kill them.


    Time Limit: 2:02


    Three hogs to my right, and two to my left. The leftmost hog was still regaining its composure from the impact with me. I feel like paying back for that one.


    The hogs were beautifully lined up, and as such, I was able to circle around and have one monster act as an obstruction for another. I''m glad these lower rank monsters don''t exactly have intelligence worth boasting about.


    My brand new Blade of Spring swung about for the first time since its materialization. As it met with the hard hide of the evergreen hog, I quickly came to realize how great of a purchase my Darksteel Blade really was...


    Whereas the black blade would''ve sliced deep into the flesh of the hog, the Blade of Spring barely even cut through the skin.


    The hog let out a frightening warcry and began to rampage around, with its friends soon following suit.


    ?This ain''t good... Lime! Can you throw me my old sword!? Quickly!?


    ?*Uuuuuh... Master...*?


    ?Hurry up! I''m about to get smacked around again! This new sword isn''t worth a damn compared to that one!?


    ?*About the old sword...*?


    ?What are you doing, you dumb blob!? Throw me the sword already, can''t you see I''m in a damn pickle here!??


    ?*I, uh... forgot to store it. It''s on the ground near the entrance of the last trail...*?


    Oh... I''m fucked, aren''t I? Big time, at that.


    An angered hog charged me full throttle and knocked me back once more. This time, however, I expected said assault, and thus found myself able to properly brace for the impact, lessening the distance I flew backward.


    Without giving the angered hog any time to regain its composure, I returned the offense by striking it on the head. The blade gruesomely vibrated as the steel came into contact with the thick skull of the hog. Though not much damage was visibly detectable, the ¡¾Effect: Leech Minor¡¿of the Blade of Spring most certainly kicked in, indicating that I had dealt a great blow.


    Thepain I felt in my arms as a result ofblocking the charge began to melt away as the monster standing before me slowly knelt down.


    ?Subjugate 1/5


    Alright! So I just have to give them a good smack on the head! Maybe I''m lucky to have picked this sword after all. It gives me a great bit of reassurance in a fight against monsters whose attacks I''m unable to dodge. Or perhaps I could indeed evade the monsters if I timed my sidestep properly like those Spaniards do when bullfighting.


    I could hear numerous footsteps approaching me from behind at an alarming rate. I turned around to face the oncoming hog horde.


    This time, they assaulted me with numbers instead of rage. My theory about bullfight dodges was quickly put to test, as I had nearly no time to react.


    I started my ballet of ''smack or be smacked'' with a nimble step to my right just as the leading hog was about to hit me. As I suspected, though they were able to change direction if given time to react, they couldn''t predict a last-second dodge. The two monsters following the lead, however, changed their course right toward me.


    This time, for reasons unbeknownst, I dodged between the two by twisting my body sideways. The two hogs had ample space between them as not to crash into each other, and I suppose I instinctively took advantage of that. I feel like I''m beginning to get used to the flow of battle. I might be getting a little bit ballsy, but I want to tryand strike the last one as I dodge.


    The fourth and final hog approached at an alarming speed, but that speeddidn''t reach heights I wasn''t already used to. At the last second, I evaded the speeding mass of muscle with a small turning leap to the left, and brought down my blade diagonally, smacking the sharp edge against its thick skull as it helplessly ran past me.


    ?Subjugate 2/5


    Time Limit: 0:32


    I really need to pick up the pace... No more dancing around.


    The clock was ticking, so I had no time to wait for the hogs to charge at me once more, so I took the initiative and jumped at them.


    The hogs were now wary of getting their heads smacked, so I decided to utilize my signature sidestep-to-stab technique. Patent pending... I doubt the Blade of Spring will kill them in a single hit.


    I ran towards one of the hogs, and at the last second evaded to it''s right, and struck my blade right into its ribcage. The wound wasn''t deep, but it was enough to calm the hog down.


    ?Subjugate 3/5


    I pulled my sword out of the wound as blood dripped down on to the ground. Only two more...


    Seeing as my ''signature technique'' worked wonderfully, I swiftly disposed of the two remaining hogs with ease. Or at the very least with sufficient efficiency.


    The last two beasts began their charge simultaneously, this time closing the gap between them, making me unable to squeeze between. As the approaching mass had significantly widened, my nimble sidesteps weren''t exactly as effective as before. My previously graceful dodges were now but desperate attempts of barely evading the hulking beasts with my breath still intact.


    Leaping to my left a moment earlier, to dodge the approaching monsters, I slightly steered their course. As I stabbed the fourth hog on its side, it stumbled down and kept rolling on the ground, hitting the other hog and bringing it down with it.


    All five had lost their will to fight.


    ?Subjugate 5/5


    Time Limit: 0:11


    ¡¾Tranquil Woodlands ¨C Status: Clear¡¿


    ?Subjugate: 5/5


    ?Rewards:


    ?¡¾Sash of Spring ¨C Rank: Usual ¨C Rarity: D¡¿


    ?Shard of Knowledge:


    ?¡¾Agricultural Knowledge: Crop Rotation¡¿


    ?Phew! Barely made it. Waaait a second...?


    ?*What is it, master?*?


    ?...?


    I fell on my knees, broken down and depressed.


    ?*Don''t worry! I still remember where your old sword is, y''know!? I''m sure no monster has picked it up yet!*?


    ?No... It''s not that, it''s this.?


    I uttered on the verge of tears, holding a bright white shard in my hand.


    ?How am I going to flaunt my otherworldy superiority now!?!?


    ?*Master... Are you alright in the head? That''s just a Shard of Knowledge, y''know?*?


    ?But it''s not just any Shard of Knowledge, no. It''s the knowledge for crop rotation, goddammit! I was supposed to introduce it, not some damn shard!?


    ?*Uh oh... We should really go and look for your old blade. I think you lost your sanity along with it...*?


    ...


    ?Ah! There it is! Oh, how I missed you...?


    ?*Master! I know you¡¯re happy to finally reunite with your old sword, but I felt a strong magical current not too far away from us. It may be a higher Rank Trail, y¡¯know!?*?


    ?A Regular-Rank? Really!?! Let¡¯s go! I¡¯ve been itching for a challenge after clearing so many Usual-Ranks.?


    Even if I did almost get my ass handed to me a couple of minutes ago...


    After almost half an hour of running, we found our way to the foot of a massive tree. Even its roots were thicker than the trunks of the surrounding trees and extended their reach far beyond their height too. Compared to the evergreen that towered in front of me, the deciduous trees that painted the forest in the colors of spring, stood but at the fourth of its height.


    At the bottom of the thick trunk, was an entrance that radiated more vibrantly than any I had seen before.


    ¡¾Underneath the Evergreen ¨C Rank: Regular¨C Objective: Exterminate¡¿


    I¡¯m sorry Violet, your scares were for naught¡­ I¡¯m way too excited to pass up on an opportunity like this.

 21 - Intervention in Flames

    Chapter 21 ¨C Interventionin Flames


    ¡¾Underneath the Evergreen ¨C Rank: Regular¡¿


    Time Limit: None


    Reward: Unique Accessory


    Objective: Exterminate The Woodland Spirit


    I''ll admit, I was a bit excited by the rewards. Hey, it had a guaranteed Unique Accessory, it was only natural I would get fired up... But little did I knowthat fate had something else in store for me...


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    The table of the Nine up in the heavens, foundbut five of its seats vacant anymore.


    ?This is unreal! This can¡¯t be happening¡­?


    A figure clad in white expressed his discontent towards the situation at hand.


    The rings of arcane surrounding the ethereal form of the man spun violently and white sparks flew across the empty space as his fist slammed down onto the cold surface of the table.


    ?What¡¯s wrong, Chrono??


    A woman dressed in purple and black replied to the man as a sister would to her little brother. Perhaps to poke fun at his childish reaction...


    ?No, no, no. You don''t get it, do you, Eriza? The Celestial brat has been blazing through our Trails without a care in the world and now he¡¯s going to tackle a Regular-Rank Trail!?


    ?Really??


    ?Yes, really... Now, if you''ll allow me¡­?


    ?Mhm... I suppose I don¡¯t object, however, are you sure you want to get rid of your child already? It¡¯s hardly been a full cycle of night and day yet. Besides, you¡¯ll have to regenerate for a good while afterward. It might be months until you regain your strength in full.?


    ?How many Trails have those adventurers, who didn¡¯t complete the trial, cleared so far? Five, six In total??


    ?Four, actually¡­ There is a fifth that¡¯s about to be cleared though¡­?


    ?And how about those who did receive the blessings??


    ?All of them have cleared one, with the exception of my child, who has cleared three.?


    Theindifference in the woman''s voicefaded away for a split second, as she proudly declared.


    ?Do you get it yet, Eriza? Even your child, who has extraordinary talent might I add, has barely accomplished a sixth of what that... otherworldly monster has.?


    Though a God,Chrono wasnot yet aware of the frightening accuracy of his description.


    ?So, might I inquire into what your master plan might be??


    ?I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d have to stoop this low¡­ I¡¯ll artificially increase the difficulty of the Trail.?


    Baffled at what she had just heard, a young, tiny, green haired girl, dressed in clothes made of vines and leaves, joined the heated conversation of the two grandiose beings.


    ?What!? Have you gone mad, Chrono? Are you going to something like that on a Trail I spent so much time creating? Truly despicable.?


    ?Shut it, Gaia! This is the only way.?


    Chrono stated sternly.


    ?In that case, at the very least let me handle it myself. Though you¡¯ll be responsible for supplying the divine powers required for the intervention. And Eriza, you''re second in command, you should stop encouraging him¡­?


    The young girl sighed in defeat.


    ?Very well... If that''s what it takes. I shall provide you with whatever you require¡­?


    The girl sat up from her seat and made her way to a figure on the other side of the table.


    ?Igni, wakey wakey... Can you help me with this one? I have an Idea.?


    She innocently pulled on the loose crimson sleeve of ayoung adult male who was carelessly dozing off with his feet on the table.


    ?Mhhhnnn... Huh!? Oh!! Sure!!! Oh man, let''s do this! I¡¯m getting all fired up!?


    He quickly went from a zero to a hundred at the mention of his name.


    Despite his expression of excitement sounding like nothing more than a bad joke, his long, flowing hair lit up in dancing flames as he sprung up from his seat.


    ?Please stop. It¡¯s not funny¡­?


    But to his dismay, his jokes weren''t appreciated.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    ¡¾¡õ ¡õ ¡õ ¨C Rank: ¡õ¡¿


    Time Limit: ¡õ


    Reward: ¡õ ¡õ ¡õ


    Objective: ¡õ ¡õ ¡õ


    ?Oi¡­?


    ?*What is it?*?


    ?What¡¯s happening??


    The information about the Trail beaming into my mind became distorted. The short descriptions began twisting and squirming around, quickly becoming absolutely illegible. A sharp pain radiated through my cranium... A glitch in the system? Though the phenomenon certainly felt like one, that can¡¯t be it¡­


    A gentle spring breeze became a howling gale. The clear blue skies faded to red as if the clouds themselves were set ablaze. The countless needles of the evergreen towering above me changed their shade to a deep red, replacing the previous vivid green shade that was brimming life.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    Death.


    That was all I could think about¡­


    ¡¾Underneath the Blazing Evergreen ¨C Rank: Peculiar¡¿


    Time Limit: None


    Reward: Unique Accessory


    Objective: Exterminate The Great Burning Woodland Spirit


    ?I was feeling a bit ambitious, so I took on a Regular-Rank Trail but¡­?


    ?*Is it just me, or did something just go horribly wrong?*?


    ?Yeah, something¡¯s definitely wrong. You have quick wits, right? Alright, riddle me this, Lime. What is an Usual-Rank, with an abysmal class, doing on a Peculiar-Rank Trail??


    ?*Don¡¯t tell me¡­ The Great Elder warned me that the Gods might not take kindly to your reappearance, but I didn¡¯t think they¡¯d go to these lengths just to oppose you.*?


    ?Well, it was fun enough while it lasted.?


    As I uttered those hopeless words of acceptance, preceded by a low rhythmic rumbling of the very earth itself, a giant figure no shorter than ten meters emerged from behind the massive tree.


    What now menacingly stood before me was a wooden behemoth of monstrous stature. Squirming roots formed tendons that connected the humongous limbs of the beast. The arms and legs of themonster werebut giant wooden chunks, roughly shaped in the form of huge monolithic slabs. A woodenfigure of unparalleled mass, supported by an ever-living exoskeleton of roots thicker than those of theevergreen it stood beside.


    Numerous runes ran all over the limbs of the beast, especially prominently around the shoulders and the knees, yet instead of the green color of life one would expect from a woodland beast, they were burning in a deep, bloody red tint.


    Though the energy in the within said runes seemed to expand outwards from it¡¯s chest, it¡¯s heart was heavily protected by solid wooden plating, covering the possible source of it¡¯s tremendous energy.


    ¡¾The Great Burning Woodland Spirit ¨C Affinity: Nature, Flame ¨C Rank: Peculiar ¨C Rarity: Unique¡¿


    Oi, oi, oi!? Unique rarity? What the fuck is that supposed to mean!? If I said I was currently having flashbacks of the Ogre from the trials, It''d be the understatement of a century. The¡­ thing... in front of me stood no less than thrice as tall and held power at least four times that of what the ogre had.


    No... That was a lie. It''s probably several times more than four times. No, I don''t have any idea how that much is either, but I certainly feel that to be an accurate description.


    The monster let out a roar that damn near shattered my eardrums. Lime had already gone hiding ages ago. Not that she has much combat potential anyway.


    I guess I¡¯ll give it a shot. I¡¯d rather die trying than give my life up without a fight¡­


    I kicked the ground beneath me and started dashing towards the giant, disregarding the little survival instinct I still had left after dying once before. Who would''ve known that mass murdering innocent monsters for the sake of reclaiming knowledge would eventually make one go mad?


    I remember playing a game in my old life, where a small guy with a puny sword took on colossal monsters on his own. I''m not stupid enough to think that I could replicate that, but to hell with it, I wanted to give it a try. After all, It¡¯s been a fantasy of mine ever since, and fantasies of mine have the tendency to become a little bit too damn real at times...


    Maybe I could find a weak point and jab my blade right in? Just maybe. Any chance is better than none. Oh wow, aren¡¯t I philosophical? I guess this is what it means when people turn to faith once death is near.


    Laughing at my own poor sense of humor, I steeled my resolve and kept my course flowing straight towards the burning menace.


    Precisely like the ogre from before, the giant swung it¡¯s right hand down from above with monstrous strength.


    However contrary to before, where I had to take but two steps to dodge, this time the steps had to be replaced by leaps. And even then, I barely avoided the wooden guillotine. However, that was to my advantage. I couldn''t dodge too far, as I had plans that required finesse.


    I aimed to hop onto the arm after it had hit the ground, and try to climb the beast from there. But as tends to be the norm in this world too, things don¡¯t always go the way they¡¯re supposed to.


    My elaborate plans were ruined the moment the colossal fist hit the ground, and the earth below shattered in its wake, causing me to be thrown off my balance¡­


    This isn¡¯t what was supposed to happen! Play by the rules, you brute.


    Disoriented, and cursing at the giant, I desperately circled aroundit as fast as I could. Maybe I could scale the beast from behind? Finding my way behind the beast proved easier than I thought, as compared to me, though its movements certainly were powerful, they were extremely sluggish.


    I already found myself behind it before it even realized that the attack had been evaded. The thick roots on the backside, that acted as the structural spines of the limbs seemed too thick to cut and too smooth to climb. Not to mention, that the roots seemed to be alive,and were weaving around. Imagine if they''d just throw me down after climbing halfway to the top? Yeah, no thanks.


    At a glance, I couldn¡¯t single out any weaknesses, yet somehow the monster didn¡¯t seem invincible. I somehow felt like I had a chance.Either my sense of battle was heightened to unprecedented levels as a result of facing such unfavorable odds... Or I had gone mental.


    There were three things to consider.


    First was how solid the wooden beast was. Could my blade even pierce through the giant wooden plates? Could I at the very least sever the roots that acted as its exoskeleton?


    The second point of interest was the glowing runes and streams of magic power that ran all across the monster¡¯s limbs. Was that the weak point? While it did seem unlikely, it was something I couldn¡¯t ignore. Perhaps I could immobilize the colossus by hitting the runes on its knees, or disarm it by hitting the points on the shoulders?


    And the third one was about getting into the position to inflict damage if doing so was even possible in the first place. I couldn¡¯t get hit once. As far as power goes, the thing that matters most is rank. But even in my own rank, my defense stat was severely outclassed. A single blow from a unique monster that¡¯s two ranks higher, no matter how puny its attack stat, would blow me to smithereens. Well, that was rather obvious by the stature, even without the mention of ranks or rarity.


    After taking all that into consideration, I decided to charge at the opponent before it was able to react. I¡¯ll test the first point now. We''ll see whether or not my blade will cut through the roots soon enough... The monster started to turn around counterclockwise to face me, so I aimed my charge a little to the right.


    The Woodland Spirit managed to turn only a quarter way around by the time I reached its legs. I vigorously slashed the roots running across the back of the legs and dug my blade deep into them. While the roots were surprisingly soft, the blade still didn¡¯t manage to cut cleanly through.


    I only managed to cut a third into the approximately half a meter thick root, yet the giant roared out. Regardless of it howling in pain or anger, a mere third wasn¡¯t nearly enough. Now while I could stand here, whacking away at the beast, slowly chipping away at the roots, there was a glaring problem in the method that was even more detrimental than the obvious inefficiency.


    The thin, black blade was now stuck in the living, squirming roots.


    I tried to yank it out of the cut, but for naught. The hold was too tight. So tight in fact, that I¡¯m surprised the blade didn¡¯t shatter. It felt as if the roots were sentient, and were grasping the foreign object embedded in them on their own volition.


    If I let the blade go, my chances of survival would drop to zero, as I was unable to use even the most elementary of magic spells. I desperately tried to pull the blade out, bracing myself against the root with my leg. Yet even that wasn¡¯t enough. I still couldn¡¯t output the force required to pull the blade out in that angle. Though, I did recognize what the problem was...


    Seeing as I had no other choice but to pull the sword out of the stone, I¡¯d have to jump on top of the root, hold the blade with both my hands and pull it out by pushing with both of my legs. This way, I¡¯d have the best angle and the most power that I¡¯m able to currently generate.


    My hands were starting to get sweaty from running around in the heat emitting from the blazing beast, so I quickly wiped my hands on the hem of my jacket and jumped on the calf of the colossus¡­

 22 - Against Overwhelming Odds

    Chapter 22 ¨CAgainst Overwhelming Odds


    As I planted my feet down on the calf of the beast, I firmly wrapped my hands around the hilt of the blade. But despite my best efforts,when I pulled the blade it only budged slightly, before ultimately slipping out of my sweaty hands. My hold wasn''t enough to withstand the force needed to yank the sword out. Goddammit. Well, I do suppose I have a few health potions in reserve.


    ?Lime! Can you hear me!? Get a health potion ready! Now!?


    ?*Will do!*?


    I was half expecting something sarcastic and tasteless like ¡®Have you finally awoken your inner masochist, master?¡¯ But I guess even Lime can act appropriately when it¡¯s needed. That''s a relief and a half.


    Since I was unable to hold onto and pull the blade out grabbing it by the hilt, there was only one thing left to do. I grabbed the blade itself and braced my hand against the guard. Why did I have to have a weapon with the Edge-effect? Goddammit, it hurts. I wanted to let go as soon as the blade cleanly cut through the cloth wraps on my hands and into my flesh, but despite the immense pain of the edge gnawing at my flesh, I grit my teeth and kept my grasp tight.


    I yelled out in pain and agony, as I tried to rip out the blade, which was now drenched in my blood. My screams of misery turned to those celebrating my accomplishment, as my struggle had come to an end and I flew backward at an unprecedented speed. My crimson blood spilling everywhere painted a glorious celebratory picture of my success in the canvas of air.


    You can crown me the king now. I wonder if Violet would laugh if I said that I was an expert at pulling out. I swear to god, I will never put effort into anything again. It¡¯s way too much work.


    As I laid down on my back on the grass field behind the beast, bathing in my temporary success, the pain in my palms started to set in folds far intense than I had expected... As I tried to get up, I subconsciously supported myself with my hand, which proved to be a big mistake.


    The soil,mixing into the blood in my open wound, gave me cold shivers throughout my entire body, as the slit on my palm felt like it was burninginside out. It was similar to the pain I felt when the cinderwolf bit me on the trials. I¡¯d even drink the godforsaken battery acid potion to get rid of this pain. Ibegan running towards where Lime was hiding.


    ?*Here you go, master! Please be careful.*?


    Lime told me, as she sprung a health potion towards me.


    ?I don¡¯t have time to be careful now... Thanks, though!?


    Somehow those words of encouragement felt extremely heartwarming. Maybe I''ve been missing out distancing myself from others... I popped open the Health Potion and downed it in one gulp. Though it wasn¡¯t pleasant, neither were the deep, agonizing cuts on my hands.


    Once more, the liquid of death ran rampant throughout my mouth and violated it as it pleased. I think I might¡¯ve puked a little, but since the horrendous aftertaste of the potion in my mouth still lingered, I wasn¡¯t able to experience the luxurious flavor of my vomit at all. Every cloud has a silver lining, I suppose. Even those that bring down acid rain...


    The wounds in my hands began to glow, and the soilgraduallyfell out of the cut on my right palm. The wounds quickly started to scar over, and before long, the palms had reached a state where one wouldn¡¯t imagine them to have even held a sword before. This is what the lowest rank health potions are able to do? I have to say, I¡¯m impressed. It feelsfar more impressive than the healing effect of the blade with life leech.


    As I had stood idle for a while, enchanted by the immensely fast healing of my wounds, the giant had located me and directed its deathly gaze towards me and Lime. But instead of approaching, the beast opened its massive jaws and started to growl, though spitting out more fire than words in the process.


    ?¡¾Torch Verdance¡¿?


    Waves of crimson death in the shape of flames began to expand outwards from where the beast stood, as it continuously stomped the ground. It looked like the grass before the wave of flame grew exponentially, only for it to get engulfed by tide of fire trailing closely behind.Dual affinity, huh...


    My first thought was to avoid the flames by jumping over them, as often is required in boss fights, but there¡¯s no way in hell I¡¯m able to repeatedly jump over the numerous waves of flames towering over two meters in height. Just what options do I have here? Should I just tank it and down health potions to override the pain of being burnt alive with horrendous taste? No thanks.


    Ah yes, there is one special move I have yet to use.


    ?Alright, Lime. Are you ready??


    ?*For what!? We don¡¯t have much time, y¡¯know?*?


    ?You¡¯re about to witness my special move!?Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    ?*EH!? Master¡¯s special move?*?


    ?That¡¯s right.?


    I took a sprinting stance and readied myself for what was about to come.


    It¡¯s do or die, baby!


    ?¡¾Run away¡¿!?


    ?*That¡¯s not a move! YOU IDIOT!*?


    I vigorously kicked the ground and started to run away with all my strength. It¡¯s not like the flames are going to last forever, yet the Trail seemed to go on for an eternity. I''m a genius!


    To my surprise, the words ''Run Away'' resonated bewitchingly across the plains as words triggering magic always do, and my legs sprung me forwards far faster than previously. I could barely keep my eyes open in when faced with the wind blowing against my face... Does this mean that Lime is wrong and Run Away is an actual move or spell or whatever!?! Since I was running at speeds previously unseen, I tried to hold my hands behind my back, as ninjas would while they run, but as it turns out, I''m not exactly trained in the ways of the ninja... I almost lost my balance and ate the dirt as soon as I began to drag my arms behind me. I guess I''ll just stick to running as normal people do...


    ?*What are you doing!? Weren¡¯t you going to use Origin Burst!? W-Waaait! How the hell are you so fast!?*?


    ?I can¡¯t even cast Origin Flare as I am right now! How do you expect me to execute a move that¡¯s able to bring down a dragon, like Origin Burst!??


    ?*¡­*?


    The flames seemed to disperse around two hundred meters away from the beast, yet I was able to distance myself far enough within ten seconds... I could run faster than the expanding waves, that''s for sure, but I couldn¡¯t get close to the beast if it had a move like that. It didn''t use it when I was already close to it, however... Maybe it can¡¯t cast it all that often, and resorts to other attacks when I''m close enough? I guess I¡¯ll have to rely on that.


    Every few seconds for around half a minute, the beast sent out one wall of fire after another. I think I counted sixteen... However, after it finally stopped emitting the flames, it stood still for a while. It probably had a temporary inability to function as a result of magical exhaustion, or something along those lines... But the little details don''t matter. That¡¯s my chance!


    Before the titan would even do so much as to budge, I closed in. I observed the runes that ran across its body. The streams of magic power all seemed to flow outwards from the chest of the beast, forming sigil-like knots around the knees and shoulders. If things go my way, I¡¯ll be able to severely wound the beast by striking said points. Perhaps its core is within its chest, I guess I''ll need to find a way to expose it somehow...


    It was time to put the second point to test, however, after the glorious failure of the first one, I¡¯ll admit, I didn¡¯t feel all that confident.


    I needed to scale the monster if I wanted to try and disable the arms, so I decided to aim for the knees first. The knee was low enough for me to barely reach by jumping too, making it a good first target.


    Soon enough I had reached the beast. I held my blade with a reverse grip, ready to stab it deep into the knee of the beast. I leaped at the right leg and thrust my blade against the beast as hard as I could, yet I wasn¡¯t able to even reach the sigil on its knee.


    This wasn¡¯t because of the height, but because the numerous vines and roots that were decorating the beast defended the sigil, as though they were commanded by the beast itself, to form a makeshift shield in front of the knee, protecting it from danger. This basically confirmed the point to be a vital, however, that won¡¯t matter if I won¡¯t be able to hit it.


    Learning from my previous mistake, I quickly yanked the blade out before the roots would lock it in place. As I took a fair few steps backward, I saw the vines and roots covering the knee squirm back to their original positions.


    When the vines and roots moved, the beast, surprisingly enough, didn¡¯t. It can¡¯t move while it¡¯s protecting the weak points? So I do have a chance, after all.


    Maybe it can¡¯t protect itself while it¡¯s moving? If that¡¯s the case, assuming that the same protective mechanism works on its shoulders, I¡¯ll have to take care of the arms first.


    I can¡¯t run too far, or it¡¯ll cast the flame wave attack again. I can¡¯t attack after the flame wave attack, as it can protect the weak points while standing still. I can¡¯t exactly wait to jump on its arm either, as the weight of the blow will crush the land beneath it.


    Alright...


    I took the initiative once more and ran towards the monster that was now on the move. As I predicted, the monster used its right arm to strike down on the ground once again. This time, instead of dodging the blow as it was about to hit the ground, I started to move sidewaysas the beast raised its arm.


    As I expected, the reactions of the beast were slow, and it wasn''t able to change the trajectory of its arm before it swung down. Knowing that I couldn¡¯t handle the tremors created by the arm striking the ground, I leaped into the air right as the fist was about to make contact with the earth below.


    My timing was a bit off, and my balance faltered as I kicked myself into the air off of the ravaged ground, yet by some miracle, I succeeded. I dodged the blow and the bits of shattering earth bursting from below, and I now stood on top of the beast¡¯s arm.


    Before the monster could respond to the unorthodox event that unfolded in front of its very eyes. I ran up its arm. The vines and roots that weaved across its body acted as my footholds, as I nimbly dashed up the near eight-meter long arm of the colossal.


    The monster slowly raised its arm from the ground, yet that only helped me, as the steep incline was significantly lowered. The shoulder of the Great Burning Woodland Spirit was right in front of my eyes. The vines started to squirm about, as it¡¯s movements slowed down, but it was too late for the beast to protect itself now.


    With all my heart, I jabbed the blade right into the glowing shoulder of the titan.


    The blade dug deep into the radiant red crystalline essence.


    The monolithic wooden slab of its shoulder charred to black and began to crack apart as the runes around the shoulder began glowing numerous times brighter than before. The giant howled in pain. It felt like the shoulder itself would soon implode under the stress of the tremendous currents of magic rushing towards it.


    The beast yelled out, spitting pillars of fire into the air.


    ?¡¾Blaze Bloom¡¿?


    The shoulder finally cracked open, emitting a massive shockwave, soon followed by a glorious explosion of death, cinder, and ash.


    Unable to hold my balance in the face of the blast on the uneven, trembling surface, I was blown down from the top of the ten-meter giant.


    I guess this is it...


    I closed my eyes and accepted my fate.


    Just as I finally figured out how to get him too...

 23 - Determination

    Chapter 23 ¨CDetermination


    Is this it? Really? Out of all the possible ways to die ina world of monsters and magic, my fate is to fall to my death?


    As I closed my eyes and resolved myself as I awaited my inevitable last date with the ground. I never knew falling ten meters would take so long. Life really flashes before your eyes when you''re about to die, huh...


    I''ve only lived a couple of days of this unlikely existence, but I haven''t been a moment alone. It really was a dumb idea to run away...


    Ah, dammit. I''m such an idiot.


    ¡­


    As I finally met with the solid ground below, all I could hear was loud, gruesome splatter.


    At the very least I died instantly, without feeling any pain...


    ...After I was ready to face the afterlife for the second time,I finally gathered the courage to open my tightly shut eyes. But to my utmost surprise, I found myself lying down on the ground unharmed.


    I was shaking. I don¡¯t think I can stand up even if I tried to. Hell, I was unable to think straight and properly internalize what had just happened... That is until I looked down at the ground.


    Mybeloved companion was now reduced to a mere pool of glowing goo.


    ?*O-Oi¡­ Master... Are you a-alright?*?


    The joy in her voice was long gone...


    ?Y-Yeah. I¡¯m alive¡­!?! I¡¯m so sorry Lime...?


    ?*I-It¡¯s ¡®thanks¡¯, master... Not ¡®s-sorry¡¯, y¡¯know?*?


    ?Thanks, Lime. I owe you one.?


    ?*T-That you d-do...*?


    My sense of fear was quickly overpowered by anger. The amount of adrenaline my system currently produced probably far surpassed the amount that I had produced in my entire past life.


    I felt like the lights would dim and my legs would give in anytime now, yet nothing of the sort happened.


    I hate this. I don¡¯t want to do this. I don¡¯t want to die again.


    Agonized by the thoughts of leaving my newfound life, filled with everything I had ever wished for, behind, my anger became unsuppressible. There was only one culprit behind my suffering... The now one-handed Great Burning Woodland Spirit.


    It seemed like the resentment we felt towards each other was mutual.


    Good.


    Now I can slaughter the oversized plank without any hard feelings.


    ?Oi, Lime. Are you going to survive??


    ?*Y-Yes... I think¡­*?


    ?Good. Stay safe, buddy. I¡¯ll go and fucking annihilate that stump.?


    I locked my sights on the runes covering the left shoulder of the beast and started to close in on it again.


    A couple of meters in front of the beast, I realized that similarly to the ogre guarding the shrine on the trials, this monster had also recognized the faults in its attack pattern. Instead of raising its arm vertically, it drew it back to the side. It was going to strike horizontally, however, this time it was out of luck.


    The problem with the horizontal swing attacks of the huge monsters was the inability to grasp their own height and compare it to the size of their opponent, and as such one could easily dodge the swings by ducking underneath.


    Several tons of wood swung right above me...


    I aimed for the moment the arm would reach the end of its range of motion and slow down. The second that happened I leaped towards the arm and clung onto the vines covering it. The beast reacted by trying to shake me off, but its movements weren¡¯t nearly erratic enough to make me fall. The abundant growth on the beast made it rather easy for me to hold onto it and climb on top of the arm once more.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    As the beast saw me scaling it¡¯s limb once again, itbegan to hesitate. It suddenly opened its mouth, and as the blazing flames raging inside the beast leaked out.


    The behemoth began casting another spell.


    ?¡¾Crimson Breeze¡¿?


    Contrary to what the name might imply, the following attack was certainly not a breeze. An intense cone of fire drowned me in its deathly embrace. The scalding heat felt like it melted my skin and fused it into my flesh...


    ...yet I only felt pain. No physical harm was inflicted?


    My scarf! It increased magic resistance against Flame affinity, right!? Though all my other attributes were F, my Luck was something else... Now all I have to do is endure crimson scorching headwind blowing against me in speeds enough to throw me off my balance at the slightest misstep. On instinct, I covered my face with my arm and pressed onward. Not that covering my face really helped to ease the pain at all¡­


    The closer I got to the shoulder, the more intense heat I was met with. By the time I was about a meter away from the shoulder and found myself unable to proceed. I was about to suffocate, as Inhaling air of temperatures nearing a thousand degrees Celsius didn¡¯t exactly sound like an inviting proposal.


    Slowly, the heat started to dissipate, and the spell had run its course. With the heat blasting towards me now gone, I felt weightless. Though there was a problem...


    The runes would explode once destroyed, and I currently stood near 8 meters off the ground. Landing on Lime once more was out of the question, as she was currently in the process of regenerating from being a pool of goo.


    ?Lime! If I have any Health Potions left in reserve, down one! Try to take it easy and regenerate. Just in case I fall again...?


    ?*Y-Yes¡­*?


    What a sad little slime she had become. I don¡¯t blame her, though. I don¡¯t exactly feel all that enthusiastic either.


    Maybe I could jump down on the vines growing on its body after destroying the shoulder!? No, not really¡­


    I wish I had more time to think, but if I ponder for a second longer, I¡¯ll miss my opportunity.


    A nimble step and a swift stab were all it took for the giant to let out another rumbling scream of agony, as I ran my blade deep into the runes on the shoulder, the streams of magic started blazing brightly once more.


    Now I just need to get down...


    No, that wasn''t it. I needed to get away from the explosion. I could probably use the huge body of the beast as a shield. That¡¯s probably the only thing I can do right now¡­


    Against my instinct, I kept on running towards the monster¡¯s head, and for a brief moment, as I used its dumb giant head as a mere stepping stone, I probably let out the smuggest grin the world had ever seen. Now, I¡¯m no sadist, but I¡¯ll admit, it felt weirdly good to trample on the head of such a monstrous giant with my dirty boot.


    I clung onto the growth on the right side of the beast. Since the right arm was already cleanly blown off, hiding there proved easier than one might have thought. The beast once again howled out the words of the explosion spell.


    ?¡¾Blaze Bloom¡¿?


    I felt the beast itself quaking as a result of the monstrous explosion that threw me into the air a few moments ago. This time, I managed to avoid falling by clinging onto the vines on the side of the blazing beast, yet¡­


    How am I going to get down from here!?


    Oh right, I can probably just climb down, as the beast doesn¡¯t have arms to hit with. My smug grin kept widening uncontrollably. I never thought overpowering a hulking chunk of firewood would feel this good. Now all that¡¯s left was its legs. I¡¯d need to somehow strike the weak spots before the beast could get in position to protect them.


    If I correctly remember, the beast had to stop moving to protect those vitals. I¡¯d have to time my strike for when it couldn¡¯t suddenly stop its movements in order to protect itself. However, I have no idea how it¡¯ll act now that it has severed both of its arms.


    I got into the beast¡¯s range to see how it would react, but no matter how much I tried to taunt it to attack me, it never did. It seemed to have become harmless, though I didn¡¯t dare to boldly just jump in. In my old life, I used to have a bad habit of throwing boss battles on accident in the last seconds because I was sure of my victory.


    This time it wasn¡¯t just a boss battle. It was a matter of life and death, so I¡¯ll play it safe... If just this once.


    Now, how do I go about attacking the runes on the knees? Do I circle around it, and wait for it to turn around and strike when it does? No, that won¡¯t do. Once I disable one of the legs, the beast will probably be unable to move and can then permanently protect its other leg, and I''m not about to whack away at rock solid roots for half an hour while showering in blazing carnage.


    I¡¯m not sure I¡¯ll be able to hit both of the vitals on the legs in succession, but it isn¡¯t like I have a say in the matter.


    If the sigils on its knees are the same, or at least similar, as the ones decorating the shoulders, I should have a few seconds of time between striking the weak point, and the runes on it overloading and exploding.


    Alright.


    I circled around behind the beast andawaited its reaction. The beast soon began turning around, counterclockwise, as I expected.


    Instead of dashing towards its right, as I did when trying to slash the roots, my target was the vital on the knee of the left leg. I didn¡¯t have enough time to stab, so I had to settle with a swift slash.


    I jumped up and struck my blade into the red crystalline essence forming the sigil on the knee. The cut wasn¡¯t nearly as deep or damaging as the stabs to the shoulders, yet it seemed to work well enough. The agonizing yell of the giant unarmed monster roared across the burning plains.


    Just one more to go...

 24 - David and Goliath

    Chapter 24 ¨CDavid and Goliath


    The beast cried in agony, unable to comprehend what had just happened, I aimed towards the second leg, and as though on a silver platter, the monster continued to turn around, bringing its other leg, my target, right towards me.


    I leaped into the air, holding my blade in reverse, aiming at the runes on the right knee. I could hear the beast already chanting the spell it used after getting my blade struck deep into its weak points...


    ?¡¾Blaze Blossom¡¿?


    ...Except it didn''t. Wasn¡¯t the spell name blaze bloom!? I have a bad feeling about this.


    Contrary to the grandiose explosion of Blaze Bloom, this time, what came forth was something even more bizarre. Following the words of the blazing beast, an event only describable as obscure unfolded before my very eyes. Heat began to gather, and a flowerbegan to bloom from energy seeping out of the runes of the beast, the petals of the flower being searing red flames.


    In mere fractions of a second, the flower had multiplied in size and kept on expanding. After having reached a meter in radius, the flower wilted as if the flames were compressing and folding upon each other. The color brightened from blazing red to pale orange. It¡¯s creating another bomb, isn¡¯t it!?


    I could feel it in my very bones. This was going to hurt a lot more than the previous one.


    My heroic, yet awfully timed charge towards the final weak spot on the limbs of the beast came to an end, and the black blade I brandished pierced the through into runes on the monster once more. But before I could celebrate my success, the crackling sound of burning and the howling sound of wind both halted...


    For a split second, absolute silence overpowered everything and dominated the plains as a shockwave preceding an inevitable doom blasted across the fields.


    Once.


    Twice.


    Thrice.


    In that short moment of golden solitude, I could hear my heart beating heavier and faster than it ever had none more than three times.


    As if a countdown for an explosion, on the fourth beat, crimson flames emerged from behind me, and engulfed everything within without restraint, as they expanded across the plains in a glorious crimson explosion of scorching death.


    I was blown away immediately. I lost my hold the moment the explosion resounded. I was rag-dolled across the mellow hills that expanded endlessly into as far as the eye can see, nearly passing out on each crash landing and rebound.


    I must¡¯ve broken something.


    Scratch that, I must¡¯ve died. This amount of stress, both mental and physical, was enough to kill me over ten times.


    But by some miracle, I was still alive.


    I laid down on the grass, lifeless and unable to see, hear or feel.


    But regardless of that, I was still able to think... I think?


    It somehow felt like a tremor, far stronger than the beasts fist hitting the ground, had just shaken the earth, though I¡¯m not all too sure about that.


    Not that it matters though. Maybe I could take a little nap... Surely the beast wouldn¡¯t go anywhere, right? And it¡¯s not like I have a time limit either¡­


    I¡¯ll be able to go back to the capital after this and sleep on the comfortable bed of the inn.


    Maybe eat a nice serving of the juicy forest hare stew for breakfast after I wake up.


    Maybe Seth¡¯ll say something stupid again, and Grace and Brigid will laugh at it. Or me...


    Lumi would probably call me a pervert again, for some reason or another, though maybe that would be justified if I got to talk with Violet again...


    Goddammit, I want to go home.


    Home..?


    Yeah, home¡­


    ¡­


    ?*¡­er!*?


    Huh..?


    ?*Ma¡­!*?


    ?*Master!*?


    Please stop yelling, it¡¯s irritating. Just let me rest for a while¡­


    ?*Don¡¯t¡­*?


    ?*¡­give up.*?


    My entire body began to feel warmer and warmer.But I couldn¡¯t feel any pain...


    Don¡¯t tell me I¡¯ve actually died. Ah, not that it matters. This feels good. I suppose this is just what I wanted... It reminds me of taking a warm bath in a hot tub after a long day of work at the construction site. Maybe the afterlife is far more forgiving and is still waiting for me after all¡­


    ?*Master! If you can hear me, please respond!*?


    Wait. No¡­


    ?*I can still feel you barely breathing. Please, don¡¯t give up yet.*?


    I slowly but surely regained my lost senses. For now, I could hear Lime''s worried voice piercing into my mind. Goddammit. For a second, I actually felt kind of happy as I thought I had died.


    In hindsight, I¡¯m also an enormous idiot. But I suppose that''s nothing I didn''t know yet...


    ?Li¡­?


    I couldn¡¯t speak. The words won¡¯t come out. Actually, I find it hard to breathe too. The warmth still remains though. Speaking of which, is it just me or isn¡¯t it getting kind of hot in here?


    ?*Master! Please wake up! Your clothes are on fire!*?


    Oh¡­ That¡¯s what the warmth was¡­ And I couldn¡¯t breathe because the flames were robbing the air of oxygen.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    I finally opened my eyes, as I came to. And my brand new garments from the spring collection were blazing brightly. So much so, that I temporarily managed to blind myself as soon as I opened my eyes.


    Stop, drop and roll? Well, I had already stopped, dropped and been rolled around several hundred meters by the miniature nuclear explosion, but the flames still persisted. How stubborn.


    I started to roll around in the grass... Had I witnessed the event from another perspective, I probably couldn¡¯t have held myself back from laughing. I had the most lifeless look on my face as humanly possible, as I lazily spun myself around in the grass for a good while until the flames finally dissipated. My leather gear had a cool charred black look now though.


    I¡¯d honestly just rather have died. It was way more comfortable.


    ?*Master... Please drink this. It might not be enough to restore your health completely, but you should be able to get better.*?


    Lime held the potion in her slimy mitts, and poured the atrocious death juice, that somehow ended up being mislabeled as ¡®health potion¡¯, down my throat. Thankfully, my senses were still rather dull and I couldn¡¯t really taste anything. Although, somehow it still managed to feel downright repulsive. I felt a sharp pain around my left clavicle and right shoulder... I can only imagine how much those would''ve hurt later on, had I not accepted the health potion.


    Soon after drinking the vile contents of the health potion, my senses came back in full, and I was finally able to stand up and walk. Though not much else. Well, actually, not that much either.


    I stood up, only to immediately fall on my knees again.


    A sharp pain radiated from my stomach throughout my beaten body. As I fell down on my knees, a torrent of blood and vomit gushed out of my mouth. Unable to move, breathe or speak, I kept on disgorging until nothing more would come out. Tears rolled down my cheeks. I realized that I was once again helpless and at the mercy of circumstance once again...


    ?*M-Master?*?


    ?...??


    I responded to Lime with but a miserable gaze.


    ?*Please... don''t give up.*?


    ?...?


    Fueled by the few sweet words of encouragement, Idecided that I''ve had enough.


    ''Fuck it!'' I thought to myself, stuck two fingers right down my throat, and forcefully got rid of any remaining blood or vomit that I might''ve had in my stomach.


    I stood up, took a deep breath of fresh air. Though my lungs felt like they were about to rupture, I grit my teeth and lived through the pain. I wiped to blood dripping from the corner of my mouth with the back of my hand and turned my back towards Lime gazing into the horizon as my white hair and ashen scarf gently fluttered in the wind.


    ?I won''t... Not today.?


    Goddamn, that must''ve looked so cool.


    Before Lime was able to bring my head down from the clouds, I made my way towards the ground zero.


    I now saw the culprit behind the tremors I felt while still laying down. The giant evergreen, under which the fight was hard fought, now had a large chunk of its trunk missing, and it had been felled by the massive explosion. The previously green field of luscious grass, that had managed to withstand the multiple waves of fire emitting from the beast, had now become but a barren wasteland. And in the middle of the lifeless ground, laid a limbless carcass of The Great Blazing Woodland Spirit. However, the Trail was yet to be cleared.


    Islowly made my way towards the lone torso that was laying down on the ground. On the way I saw numerous small scrapes on the ground, gradually decreasing in frequency, yet increasing in intensity. Probably the aftermath of yours truly getting smacked around.. Walking the distance I flew really put things into perspective.


    I shouldn¡¯t be alive right now, though I guess I shouldn¡¯t have been alive for a while now...


    The great thundering howls of the towering beast had been reduced to small, pathetic whimpers, devoid of all life. It seemed to have sustained major damage from the explosion too. The wooden plates covering its chest had burst into pieces. The origin of the runes, and the source of the beast¡¯s energy, the heart, now laid exposed.


    I stood triumphantly on top of its chest. As I brandished my blade, ready to strike one last time, right into the heart of the beast, I yelled out with the power of a thousand suns.


    Within my entire life, I hadachieved nothing, really.


    Each day I lived in wait of the next one. I was alive, but did I really live? No. Not really.


    I never even tried to do anything. Was it because I was afraid of failure? Or perhaps I didn¡¯t do anything, because it was too much effort? I don¡¯t honestly know. It was just the norm for me. And I was bad at change.


    All I know is that my life had been but an empty meaningless existence.


    Now, however, I experienced something unlike ever before. I felt as if I had been broken free from the chains that held me captive in the cycle of insignificance. Those chains being nothing more, nor nothing less, than me myself.


    With my mind overflowing with a sense of pride and accomplishment after fighting against all odds and coming out on top, I thrust my blade deep into the exposed heart of the beast.


    The response from the beast was faint, yet my scream of success got louder and louder as I twisted the blade in the pulsating, crimson, crystalline heart, cracking it in two.


    That instant, I was enveloped by blinding light that escaped from the now shattered heart. With its last breath, the roars it let out endlessly echoed in the plains. The massive lifeless body disintegrated into bright particles of light and slowly dispersed into the air.


    I fell on my back and began laughing uncontrollably.


    ?Ahahahaaah! Lime, come over here...!?


    Surely enough, she came without delay.


    ?Gotcha!?


    I yelled out as I caught Lime and hugged her as tightly as I presently could.


    ?*Master~!*?


    ?We did it! You lovely dumb blob! We fucking did it!?


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Once more, in the realm above, yet this time in a room much more confined... Two figures eagerly spectated the spectacle unfolding in front of their very eyes.


    ?Would you look at that, Gaia!?! The dude actually went and toppled the beast! Such burning fighting spirit too!?


    The amazement of the man clad in robes of red only kept escalating after witnessing the young man felling the monstrous blazing beast.


    ?Igni, I told you to stop with the fire puns already. They¡¯re not funny and they haven''t been in the past twenty or so years... But anyhow, that child managed something unthinkable. I¡¯m pleased with the result.?


    Even the young girl found herself impressed at the feat of resilience.


    ?Gaia, don¡¯t tell Chrono. I¡¯m going to do a thing!?


    The man proudly declared.


    ?You¡¯re going to do a thing. Very elaborate...?


    ?An unique accessory isn''t worthy of such amazing performance! Chrono might get pissed off if I encourage the dude a bit, but that isn''t going to matter if he isn''t going to find out! I really want to see more of where that came from!?


    ?I see your reasoning is still solid as ever. Whatever, do as you please, but remember. I had nothing to do with it¡­?


    Realizing that she had no chance against the spirit of the man, she sighed and let him do what he wished for.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    ¡¾ Underneath the Blazing Evergreen ¨C Status: Clear¡¿


    ?Exterminate: 1/1


    ?Rewards:


    ?¡¾¡õ ¡õ ¡õ¡¿


    ?Shard of Knowledge:


    ?¡¾¡õ ¡õ ¡õ¡¿


    Contrary to the usual, where after completing a trail, the rewards would materialize in a similar manner that monster corpses dematerialize, this time, the rewards were nowhere to be seen. Not that I really even care anymore. Downing the colossus was plenty fulfilling for me.


    Fuck you and your stupid glitches!


    ?Oh! Sorry about that, dude! Here you go!?


    Suddenly, an extremely loud and energetic voice, brimming with youth, but not without a hint of wisdom, thundered down from the heavens above.


    ?O-Oi... Lime? Did you grow up??


    ?*I didn''t!*?


    Then who the hell was that?


    ¡­


    ?Rewards:


    ?¡¾Fusion Ring¡¿


    ?¡¾Fission Ring¡¿


    ?¡¾Amp Ring¡¿


    ?¡¾Berserk Ring¡¿


    ?¡¾Bulwark Ring¡¿


    ?¡¾Vanguard Ring¡¿


    ?Shard of Knowledge:


    ?¡¾Forbidden Knowledge: Universal Classes¡¿


    Excuse me? Did I break the damn thing?


    ¡¾Fusion Ring ¨C Rank: Peculiar ¨C Rarity: S ¨C Effect: Fusion¡¿


    ¡¾Fusion: Able to fuse Mana¡¿


    What¡¯s this?


    ¡¾Fission Ring ¨C Rank: Peculiar ¨C Rarity: S ¨C Effect: Fission¡¿


    ¡¾Fission: Able to fission Mana¡¿


    What¡¯s that?


    ¡¾Amp Ring ¨C Rank: Peculiar ¨C Rarity: S ¨C Effect: Amp¡¿


    ¡¾Amp: Able to amplify Mana output¡¿


    I don¡¯t understand any of this!


    Well, I guess I kind of understand the Amp one.


    The remaining rings seemed to share the same rank and rarity, but at least their effects were understandable.


    ¡¾Berserk: Able to convert Mana for Major increase in Strength¡¿


    ¡¾Bulwark: Able to convert Mana for Major increase in Defense¡¿


    ¡¾Vanguard: Able to convert Mana for Medium increase in Strength and Defense¡¿


    Not only did I somehow break the loot faucet, or whatever it is that regulates the rewards, the Shard of Knowledge I received was a bit of a special case too. As opposed to the white glow the shards usually emitted, this one was glowing in an ominous red shade...


    ¡¾Forbidden Knowledge: Universal Classes¡¿


    Unlike its regular counterparts, that immediately invaded my mind with their knowledge, the vision I saw when holding this one in my hands depicted but a clockwork of gears all working in harmony... Peculiar indeed.


    Universal Classes? I think I might just know what that means¡­ Forbidden or not, I have a feeling I¡¯ve just gotten my hands on something damn good.


    ?Hah! This is gonna be a story and a half to tell my friends back home.?


    I sighed, satisfied. I couldn''t help but smile.

 25 - Tender Care

    Chapter 25 ¨C Tender Care


    I finally reached the overworld having left the godforsaken Trail. The sun had already begun to set, and the day was about to come to a close. Befittingly so. I could feel the breeze that gently blew through the forest becoming colder by the minute, as I laid down on the grass, gazing upwards at the warm, amber sky.


    What a day it has been.


    Fatigue was starting to get to me and had I laid down for a moment longer, I¡¯d have fallen asleep without a doubt.


    ?So, buddy... Shall we go home??


    ?*Mhm!*?


    And so webegan our journey back towards the capital. Lime led the way, as I still severely lacked a sense of direction. Slowly, yet surely, we found our way through and out of the forest. I no longer felt light as feathers. With every step, the burden of my own weight became heavier. My sight started to dim, and the scenery began to fade away, yet I still pressed on.


    One by one, the familiar villages passed by, as the sun slowly faded away from the evening sky. The candlelight radiating through the small windows were inviting, but I couldn''t exactly just go and barge in.No matter how much clearing the Trails feels like it, this new life of mine isn''t a game after all...


    The comforting orange tone up aboveslowly got overpowered by cold grey clouds, and even the monsters prowling the forests and fields had gone to hiding. Everything felt right. Though certainly unpleasant to experience, the scenario it created certainly satisfied my overly dramatic storytelling sense. A lone hero makes his miserable way back home after a hard fought battle... Though I''m no hero, I suppose.


    I don¡¯t know how long I had dragged myself out of the forest and across the plains for. While it felt like an eternity, my mind was completely blank, and as such, the journey seemed to me as none more than a fleeting moment. I tried to distract myself by counting sheep, but I always lost focus before reaching double digits. I couldn¡¯t even recite the lyrics of my favorite songs... The only things I could recall were the rewards I had amassed on my journey.


    Four health potions, all of which were used, and five mana potions, all of which were still left untouched. A full set of '' - of Spring'' gear, a jacket, shorts, a pair of boots and a sash to replace my belts. I wonder why I never got a pair of gloves or a helmet? Maybe because I didn''t wear any in the first place... Instead, Ifound two extra pairs of boots and an extra pair of shorts.


    I also managed to get my hands on a Blade of Spring, as well as a spell tome. Neither of which proved all that useful... I also found a couple of ingots of SpruceSpringsteel, a peculiar brown metal, reflecting the patterns of bark on its surface, of which I suppose the Blade of Spring is made. While I probably won''t find much use from those either, the name brought a smile on my face.


    And to top it all off, the Trails also blessed me with two sizeable sheets of Bloomhideand a roll of Vine Twine. If my examination abilities are anything to go by, my spring garments were made of those very materials. Maybe I could sell those to the tailor? It''s not like I''m able to fashion anything from them anyway.


    Those, along with the rings I just now received, all amount to a total of 24 cleared Trails. The Shards of Knowledge I managed to gather on my journey mostly seemed to focus more on the farming aspect of things, tools, methods of cultivation, cross-breeding plants... That sort. I wonder how the knowledge radiating through the realms will work. Are people just going to wake up and think ''Today is a good dayfor an agricultural revolution.''?


    In the distance, I could finally see a familiar and a very welcome sight. The flowery hills of the capital expanded across the mellow plains, as far as the eye could see. I had finally reached my destination.


    Excited, as my melancholic adventure to the unknown was finally reaching its end, I began jogging towards the towering walls before me. Unable to contain myself,my jog quickly turned into a full-speed sprint, disregarding all mental and physical fatigue. The guardsman at the gate seemed to have fallen asleep. Not my problem.


    Halfway to my destination, for better or worse, I was met with all too familiar faces. It was Seth and the elven girls. Even the smith''s daughter was there... And they seemed awfully worried about something.


    I wasn¡¯t sure whether or not I could look them in their eyes again, but it was too late to worry about that now. They already noticed me and ran towards me, with quite the haste, might I add. To be honest, my instincts were telling me to book it and run away, but somehow it just didn¡¯t seem right.


    I graciously accepted my fate and gave them a warm wave. After all, I suppose I''ve missed them, even if only for a day. While the others stopped at a couple of meters away, Seth kept pressing on, only to stop in his tracks in front of me, way too close for comfort...


    ?H-Hi..??


    No response.


    ?Hello??


    ?¡­?


    ?Uhh..?


    The awkward silence was broken as Seth cracked his knuckles. I could feel the countless shivers pulsing down my spine.


    ?DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW WORRIED WE WERE!? YOU FUCKING IDIOT!?


    He screamed at my face loud enough to wake up the entire block.


    His following movements far exceeded my perception. I could see but an afterimagebefore I suddenly felt a sharp pain on my cheekbone...


    The ground rotated sideways and the buildings began to topple.


    No...


    It was me that was falling over. I was losing my consciousness again.


    Yep, that¡¯s it.


    The fucker returned the punch I threw at him when we first met.


    Ah, how nostalgic.


    This long day finally came to a close, as I fell down on my side with a wide smile on my face.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    It was then, that I found myself waking up, staring at a ceiling all too familiar.


    But it wasn''t the wooden ceiling of the inn... It was the same old ceiling of my bedroom in my shabby apartment.


    So... It was all a dream?


    Figures. That''s always how it goes. It was way too good to be true, anyway.


    Next to me, stood the table I used to write my stories on. Doing my best at holding back my tears, afraid to live my old life once again, I began to flip through the pages of the notebook I used to write my stories into... To my dismay, the pages of the notebook were blank, with the exception of the very last page. My handwriting, however, was nowhere to be seen.


    So the lines on thefinal page read...


    ''Dearest grandson...''


    ''Long has it been since you''ve heard of me, but even longer has it been since I''ve heard of you.''


    ''I wish I had the opportunity to meet you in person once more, but alas, I find myself lacking themeans to do so...''


    ''But worry not, you''re still your alternate self... Isn''t that what you always wished for?''


    ''Traveling through time and transporting people from a dimension to another isn''t easy, y''know!?''


    ''Anyhow... It seems like I''ve made a blunder.''


    ''It takes a generous amount of power, and about twenty years to transport souls from our world to another. And fate seems to play a larger part in the process of evolution than I had anticipated...''The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    ''First, your parents, to save them from their illnesses, and now you... If you ever felt alone, I suppose it was my fault. I hope you understand and learn to forgive.''


    ''There''s so much to explain and so little time, but should you travel northward, to the Ruins of Akashia, you''ll find the answers you seek.''


    ''I sincerely hope the world has been to your liking. Treasure your friends as I did you... That is all I ask.''


    ''Good luck, "Light". Until we meet again...''


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    I... woke up once more.


    Was that... grandfather?


    My parentswere ill and he managed to save them!?


    They didn''t leave me after all...


    I''m... glad. I''m so glad...


    Ruins of Akashia, huh? I guess I''ll ask the old man at the chapel when I get the chance. I need to get there.


    ?Don''t worry... No need to cry. Everything is going to be alright... I''m here for you.?


    A faint voice softly mumbled into my ear. I couldn''t make out any words...


    I couldn¡¯t move. Or rather, my movements were restricted. Something was holding on to me.


    My lungs were filled with a comforting flowery scent, and my body was enveloped by a soft sensation that had become all too familiar to me in these last couple of days. Though this time, among the sheets, I felt something even softer and fluffier.


    Intrigued, I explored the abnormality. I slowly ran my fingers through the pleasant fuzz. A tail? Three tails!? A fox spirit?


    ?Nnnhghhh... Good morning... Y-You''re awake!??


    A sweet voice yawned and greeted me,though with a surprised tone.


    Except I didn¡¯t feel up the tail of a fox spirit, no. I would never mistake that sweet voice for anyone else.


    ?V-Violet!?!?


    ?Good morning~!?


    I finally opened my eyes only to realize that I had been lying in Violet¡¯s warm and comforting embrace the whole time. Relieved, as I found myself still existing within the other world, I instinctively tightened my hands around Violet...


    ?There, there.?


    She comforted me and ran her fingers through my hair. Only to scold me right after...


    ?But! The tails of beastmen are very sensitive. You need to be more careful next time!?


    ?I uhh¡­?


    ?Though maybe I¡¯ll let you get away with it this time... I''m so glad you''re awake.?


    Relief oozed through her caring words as she wiped the tears rolling down my cheeks.


    I did notice Violet being a beastman back then, but I don¡¯t remember seeing a tail, much less three of them. Come to think of it, I never noticed any ears either.. The only race-specific characteristics I remember were her sharp canines. To think she''d be a fox... For some reason, I''m not all that surprised.


    ?But enough about that. So... How did you enjoy the night??


    ?T-The night??


    ?Oh my, you were so amazing.?


    She giggled and wrapped her legs around mine, keeping me captive. Though being imprisoned in luscious, bare thighs was not something I minded at all.


    ?!?!?


    Don¡¯t tell me I actually did something. Considering that I was currently lying down in an unknown bed immersed in the barely covered bosom of a half-naked Violet, I don¡¯t exactly feel hopeful about my fate. I can''t remember anything, and given the chance, my instincts would probably commit to what my confidence couldn''t...


    ?Please, tell me I didn¡¯t do anything¡­?


    ?My, my. No need to worry. You can take your time with that. You haven¡¯t done anything yet.?


    ?Oh... Thank god.?


    ?However, I mean exactly what I said. You¡¯ve been out for three days straight, you poor little thing. I was getting worried. Every night I slept beside you, waiting for you to wake up, but you never did¡­ I¡¯m so glad you¡¯re back with us.?


    She had tried to combat her feelings by acting playful, but her eyes began to well up as she was finally losing the fight against her feelings...


    ?Three days¡­? Wait... Why did you cuddle a corpse for three days? And who gave you the permission to do that in the first place??


    ?Oh, my¡­ And here I thought you would¡¯ve been happy to see your big sis care for you...?


    If I¡¯m not mistaken, this far exceeds those boundaries¡­ But then again, I suppose I don''t mind.


    ?There¡¯s no winning you over, huh? Anyway, where am I??


    I admitted my defeat.


    ?Oh, but you¡¯ve already¨C... Ah, welcome to my home!?


    ?Oh!?!?


    ?Ah, I suppose you don¡¯t quite remember what happened. After your friends found you lying unconscious on the city streets, they brought you back to the Chapel of the Capital. I received permission from the Arch Sage to nurse you back to health. Passive healing magic has the greatest efficiency through skin contact, and I didn¡¯t exactly want to let others snuggle my little brother up.?


    ?Oh yeah... They found me unconscious alright¡­ So, you¡¯re a healer??


    ?Not quite. Though, I am proficient in healing magic. One could say I¡¯m the best around, and you certainly didn¡¯t seem to disagree. You eagerly sucked me dry every night. My, my... You were like a little baby.?


    She squeezed me even deeper into her embrace. I don''t think she realizes what kind of an effect her actions and words have...


    ?I¡¯m speaking of Mana, of course. Oh my, I sure hope you didn¡¯t misunderstand.?


    Please don¡¯t play with my sorry soul like that while holding me tightly against your soft skin obstructed only by a negligee. I¡¯m still a healthy young man, you know!? My self-control isn¡¯t exactly that of an ascetic monk¡¯s.


    ?Anyway, on that night, your friends were about to leave the capital to go out to search for you. Though few of the adventurer initiates never came back that day, and people already began to suspect that something had happened to you, they wouldn¡¯t take no for an answer.?


    She continued.


    ?They were about to go out of their way to look for me? Damn...?


    ?Yes... Most of the people that set out came back before sunset, yet you were nowhere to be seen.?


    ?They were back before sunset? I barely reached the end of the last Trail by then..?


    ?Last Trail? Did you clear multiple Trails? I suppose the fair-haired snow elf also cleared four... Oh my! I''m proud of you!?


    Though she tightened her grip on me to the point where I was barely able to even breathe, I couldn¡¯t help but express my disbelief.


    ?Four!?!?


    Just four?


    ?Yes. It¡¯s honestly quite impressive for a newcomer like her to clear so many. And on her first day out in the fields too. My, my. You youngsters sure are something.?


    And that¡¯s considered impressive!? Here I was thinking that I¡¯d have been able to clear near thirty, had I not been trapped in a fight to the death against that behemoth.


    ?Sorry, do you happen to know where Lime is??


    ?Lime? Oh, your slime companion? It¡¯s waiting for your awakening at the Chapel. Nero seemed to insist on examining it. Apparently, it¡¯s the first Arcane Slime ever seen!?


    ?Let¡¯s go there right now.?


    ?My, my. What¡¯s the hurry??


    ?I¡¯ve got something to show you, and I have a feeling you might just like it.?


    ?Oh my, how bold¡­!?


    Violet left the room. I now saw her beautiful figure in full through her nigh transparent lilac cloth... I found my sight being lead by her long locks of hair towards her lower back, along which ran a jagged tattoo. Perhaps she has the blessing of Thunder?My thoughts, however, were quickly swayed to other subjects... I couldn¡¯t take my eyes away from the wiggling¡­ tails! Yes. I couldn¡¯t take my eyes away from the tails. That¡¯s it. I¡¯m still not used to people having tails and ears...


    Still... I wonder why Violet is so fond of me? She could probably get any man she wanted.


    After I had calmed down and convinced myself thatmy indecent thoughts were completely natural, I dressed up and left the room. I immediately noticed that the house was no smaller than the inn I stayed at. I could count four doors on the top floor alone, and when glancing over the guardrail, I¡¯d expect the lower floor to nearly double that.


    Violet soon joined me... Once more in her sorceress attire. She seemed to have concealed her beastman features once more. A shame, really... The tails were kinda cute.


    ?So. What do you think of my humble home??


    ?This!? This is amazing! You have this mansion all for yourself!??


    ?A mansion? Ah... Not quite¡­ Shall we go outside??


    As soon as we opened the door, Violet and I were surrounded by a swarm of about fifteen kids in an instant.


    ?Big sis, big sis! Is this the one you were talking about??


    ?Oh my... No need to rush, children. This is the man I talked about indeed. Here¡¯s your new big brother!?


    Eh!? Oi¡­


    ?Oooh! Big bro!? Did you finally get a husband, big sis Violet!??


    OI!


    ?I haven¡¯t gotten my answer yet, I¡¯m afraid¡­ Sorry, children, but we have to get going. It¡¯s about something really really important. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be back before long! Remember to be on your best behavior, or you won''t get slime jello tonight!?


    ?Slime jello? Yay!!! Alright! Bye, big sis!?


    Thekids shouted in unison.


    After she had expertly handled the children, and we had made our way out of the vicinity of Violet¡¯s home, she began talking once more, though this time the confidence in her voice was nowhere to be seen. She seemed to be somewhat... afraid?


    ?Well¡­ What did you think??


    ?About what??


    ?About me¡­?


    ?Y-You!? I uhh¡­?


    ?No, not like that, you silly. I meant the orphanage I¡¯m running. Most people seem to lose interest the moment they become aware of it. I was afraid you¡¯d be the same. And perhaps I¡¯ve already given up hope. I¡¯m getting old after all¡­?


    She nonchalantlyexplained, gazing into the distance.


    Oh. So it was an orphanage? That explains it... But what is she going on about? Why would she, of all people, see themselves in such a bad light? I redirected mysights to the surroundings as she did, and began to rant...


    ?I think running an orphanage is nothing but admirable! For you to take care of children on your own accord is honestly amazing. And the way you were able to handle them too... You¡¯re clearly dedicated and it shows. You have a big heart, don¡¯t let anyone else tell you otherwise. I would never lose interest because of something like that. If anything, it makes me all the more interested in you! And there¡¯s not a way in hell you¡¯re getting too old, you look amazing. So much so that sometimes I don¡¯t think you even realize your own charm! Besides... You took me in and took care of me for the past three days...?


    ?¡­?


    Well... I knew I wasn¡¯t exactly the social type, but splurging out my feelings like that just because I got brazen for a second from lying in her embrace...? Oh well. What''s done is done...


    ?Light¡­?


    ?Y-Yes..??


    I lowered my head and braced myself for the final nail in the coffin thatthe last fragments of my confidence were about to be buried in.


    ?That''s embarrassing...?


    She giggled, raised my chin up with her delicate fingers and looked deeply into my mismatched eyes.


    The polar opposite of what I expected, happened. Though tearsbegan to burst down Violet¡¯s reddened cheeks, her smile was warmer than any I¡¯ve seen. I wasn¡¯t met with scorn or disgust, but rather joy and relief. And before I knew it, She wrapped her hands around my neck and I found myself in her warm embrace once more.


    ?But it''s also the first time someone ever said such words to me. You better take responsibility.?


    She softly whispered into my ear. Though not in a tone of a seductress, as she usually would, but in that of a shy maiden in love.


    ?Oh my... That was... a lot to take in. Say, would you care for a little detour with me? I think I need some time to recollect myself.?

 26 - Sharing is Caring

    Chapter 26 ¨CSharing is Caring


    It all started with him placing his hand down on the pedestal...


    Rumored by Nero to be a direct descendant of an ancient race, capable of toppling those who live in the heavens, but in my eyes...? He was just a sweet young boy.


    His eyes were glistening with a sense of wonder and excitement. The innocent air about him, oh how I''ve missed it... One after another, people come and go, but more often than not they all leave for the same purpose. Always after me, but never for me. It got tiring after so many years.


    ''Perhaps he would be the change?'' I thought to myself, entertained by his reactions. Cheeks red from embarrassment quite suited his otherwisebrooding outlook and unaware persona. So cute! The more I toyed with him, the more real my feelings towards him unexpectedly became. It seems that I played myself, as I never intended that to happen... But, I suppose it''s as good of an opportunity as any.


    I felt an unnatural pull towards him, as though fate so desired... Perhaps I subconsciously saw him as someone whose innocence to pray on, as my time in my prime would soon come to pass, and despite taking care of so many children, I had none of my own to speak of.


    Three days ago, the poor little boy was found unconscious on the streets. I was shocked to see how badly injured he was. He must''ve gone through quite an ordeal on his first adventure out into the wilds, but oh, I was so proud of him. He really gave it his all. I did my best to nurse him to health, but he just wouldn''t wake up. I already began to suspect the worst, but nevertheless, Nero and his friends entrusted him to my care. Back then, I hadn''t realized what I was in for.


    Restless nights one after another, I slept beside him, desperately trying my very best to heal him back to life, but it didn''t end there... In my dreams, I began to see visions. The dreams beaming to my mind truly felt real. But though they were cryptic at best in their depictions, even then, I finally began to understand his reluctance. He has led a lonely life, far more bizarre than what my imagination could hope to comprehend, and even now, when he finally isn''t alone anymore, he seeks distance to avoid losing someone dear to him once more.


    To think his innocence would conceal so much hurt... ''If only he would give me a chance.'' What a silly thought that was...


    Day by day I found myself caring more and more about the poor boy, religiously taking good care of him, and today, on the third morning, I was finally able to wake up with a smile on my face. He was finally with us once more!


    Funnily enough, I finally got the chance I longed for, as he kind of confessed to me this morning. But as embarrassing as it was, him stumbling to put his feelings into words, I was even more embarrassed to find myself involuntarily crying at his accidental sweetness. To think that was all it took... Oh my, I didn''t think myself to be that easy.


    Oh well... I don''t mind.


    ?V-Violet! Can you please stop clinging to my arm! People are looking. It''s embarrassing...?


    ?Not a chance!?


    I giggled and pulled him even closer as we strolled across the streets of the capital together.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Four adventurers lined up in a grand hall¡­


    An elegant snow elf, followed by an eager dark elf, a carefree dwarven girl and a determined young man. They all presented a glistening white stone, a Shard of Knowledge, to an old man, covered in the magical robes of a great sage.


    ?Well done, once again, adventurers. To think you would show such promising results within the first few days! The future of the world seems ever brighter.?


    ?Thank you very much, Arch Sage..?


    The snow elf gave a deep bow and graciously accepted his compliments.


    ?It is I, and all of the Races who thank you. Providing the races with so many Shards of Knowledge within such a short period of time is unheard of!?


    Though the Arch Sage enthusiastically praised the adventures, their mind seemed to be set on something else. Especially that of the young man...


    ?Hey, Arch Sage. Any news of Light yet??


    ?No¡­ I¡¯m afraid not. I¡¯m beginning to suspect the worst¡­?


    Such words ignited worry and disbelief even in the eager dark elf and the carefree dwarf.


    ?Eh? No way! He can¡¯t go down like that, can he? Can he!??


    ?He can¡¯t be gone! Right!??


    Yet their worries were shot down in an instant by the snow elf, who perhaps worried the most out of the four, yet concealed her worry all the same.


    ?I doubt that. After all, it¡¯d be highly unlikely for¨C No.. It¡¯d be impossible?


    The conversation came to an abrupt end as a smooth voice of an older woman echoed across the chambers.


    ?Neerooo~, I¡¯ve got some good news!?


    ?Violet. We have awaitedyou¡­ How is the boy??


    ?My, my.. Why don¡¯t you ask him yourself??


    ???!?!???


    The people present froze the moment I stepped through the door. Yet there was one who wouldn¡¯t stop in her tracks...


    A green blob gelatinous goo threw itself at me, as a newlywed bride wouldgreet her husband after he came home from a long day of work. I would have never thought that I¡¯d be happy to receive such a reception from a Slime.


    ?*Master! Welcome back!*?


    ?Yeah... I¡¯m back!?


    I held Lime in my embrace and greeted the old man, Seth, and the girls.


    ?K-Kiddo¡­ You¡¯re... alive!? I was sure you were a goner¡­ I¡¯m, uh... sorry I punched you.?


    ?You better! Though, I guess I did deserve it¡­ After all, Violet gave me one long lecture about how worried you were. I guess I kinda forgot I had to be back before sundown...?


    ?S-She did!? But she said she¡­ Well, I guess I did get a good scolding from Grace too. Hah! Anyway... You better not run off like that again! Besides, what even happened to you? Did get full of yourself and challenged a Regular-Rank Trail or something!? You were in awful condition when you came back¡­?


    Should I tell him? Well¡­ I suppose it¡¯d be an adequate excuse for my antics, and it would give me something to brag about, after all.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    ?Nope.?


    ?Thank the Gods... Then what did you do? Did you clear multiple Trails like Lumi did!? Did you hear that she managed to clear four in total within the first day! Now isn''t that amazing!??


    ?Four? Ah.. Well¡­ Not quite that either.?


    ?Three??


    ?Twenty three Usual-Ranks.?


    I proudly exclaimed, puffing up my chest.


    ?Ah.. Still recovering from the concussion¡­ I¡¯m sorry about that one.?


    But to my dismay, Seth wasn¡¯t having any of it.


    ?And one Peculiar-Rank one.?


    I desperately tried to insist.


    ?You really should get some more rest..?


    But neither was Lumi.


    Even Violet joined the fray, voicing her disbelief.


    ?P-Peculiar? But someone with an Usual-Rank class would die in an instant. After all, I would know¡­?


    Ah¡­ This¡¯ll be good. I can feel it already. If they aren''t going to believe me, I''ll just have to make them.


    ?Lime! You know what to do!?


    ?*Yes!*?


    ?Huh??


    Their gasps of disbelief were silenced by a lone clink that faintly echoed from the white walls of the empty hall, as Lime spat out a Shard of Knowledge on the marble floor.


    ?T-The slime is intelligent and it was fooling me all this time!? Color me impressed... And annoyed. Is this what an Arcane Slime is capable of!?!?


    Even the Arch Sage seemed to be baffled.


    Well, I do suppose Lime¡¯s wits and dimensional abilities are quite amazing, but it doesn¡¯t end there, old man. Oh no, it doesn¡¯t.


    The lone clink became a chiming ensemble, as Lime continued to spit out the bright white crystals from the endless depths of her transdimensional belly.


    The pile kept on growing as one shard after another was added to the crystal heap. And the last but certainly not the least, as a cherry on the top, Lime finally spat out the ominous red shard of Forbidden Knowledge.


    ?Well¡­ There you have it, ladies and gentlemen. 24 Shards of Knowledge, collected by yours truly, all within a single day.?


    I followed the presentation of the wealth I had amassed with a deep, grandiose bow.


    The long silence that followed made it all worth it.


    Well. Kind of...


    The silence was long enough to become painfully awkward.


    Hello..? Anyone home?


    I could feel my hands getting awfully sweaty¡­ Please, someone, say something!


    ?A r-red shard!?I have a faint recollection of the Gods informing me of red shards yet¡­ Violet, this isn¡¯t the norm on Peculiar Trails, right??


    The long silence was finally broken by the old man.


    I thank you from the bottom of my heart.


    ?N-No¡­ I¡¯ve never seen a red shard either.?


    The old man picked up the red shard from the pileand inspected it, but as soon as he tightened his grasp around the crystal, bright red sparks flew about, burning the surface of his hand.


    ?F-Forbidden Knowledge!? How did you get your hands on this, young man!??


    ?Will you believe me??


    ?I have no choice but to do so. Please, let us know.?


    ?Well... It all began when I decided to enter a Regular Trail.?


    ?But..??


    ?But as soon as I entered, the difficulty of the Trail changed. The clear skies on the Trail turned blazing red, and the gentle breeze into a howling gale. It was then that I suddenly found myself facing a Peculiar monster.?


    ?May I inquire you of this monster¡¯s name??


    ?It was The Great Burning Woodland Spirit, an Unique-Rarity monster with an affinity for both Nature and Flame¡­?


    ?Please... Do go on.?


    And so I told them of the intense fight I had against the blazing behemoth. I might¡¯ve exaggerated some parts here and there. And I most definitely left out the part where I thought the heat of my burning clothes was the warmth of afterlife¡­


    Though I could sense a bit of disbelief, they seemed to mostly believe it. Seth especially seemed quite ecstatic.


    ?You¡¯re a fricking genius, kiddo! How did you figure out that you needed to climb the arms? And how did you even find time to think in a situation like that!?!?


    ?A genius? Hardly...?


    If I''m honest, I ain''t the sharpest tool in the shed. My knowledge mostly amounted to ''Don''t get smacked or you die.'' and ''Hit the glowy spots, those are the weak points. Obviously...''


    ?Oh my, no need to be so modest. Your friend is right... A genius indeed. Quickly deducting the vital points of the opponent and carefully planning to take them down, even in the face of grave danger. That, along with quick judgment and swift execution of said plan. Your analysis of the movements of the opponent was also far beyond what an adventurer of your rank should be capable of... What an unbelievable feat.?


    Violet seemed to reinforce Seth''s opinion.


    ?I-Indeed.. It would seem that you''ve far surpassed me once more..?


    Lumi, despite probably hating me with a passion, seemed to be quite impressed too, yet her words weren''t uttered without a hint of shame. She didn''t even try to conceal her feelings.


    ?Ah, well¡­ Now that you put it that way¡­?


    Getting praised sure feels great. I don¡¯t think I have the wits to warrant the title of a genius, but I suppose my fight was quite impressive.


    ?But what about the rewards!? Surely you got some nice rewards, didn¡¯t you??


    But of course, Brigid would be interested in the rewards rather than the fight. I wonder if it''s in the dwarven blood to be interested in artifacts¡­


    ?Oi, Lime! Do you have the rings??


    ?*Yes! Right away!*?


    Lime spat out six rings in total, beautifully fashioned into the shape of coiling dragons. The ornamental draconic beasts held bright, faintly glowing gemstones in their fangs.


    All the rings shared the same design, but the colors of the gemstones and materials varied. Everyone present, apart from the old man, was entranced by the rings. I¡¯m not too good at reading emotions, but even I could clearly see that they wanted to get a closer look.


    ?Go ahead. It¡¯s not like they¡¯ll break.?


    And the moment I gave permission, their hands immediately reached out to grab one of the rings. Everyone seemed to have their eyes on a specific ring...


    I guess they do have a really cool design, and it¡¯s not often you see S-Rarity articles¡­ But aren¡¯t they inspecting the rings a little too vigorously!?! They''re just jewelry...


    The two elves, captivated by the beauty of the rings, began to converse.


    ?These rings.. They¡¯re all Peculiar-Ranked S-Rarity rings..?


    ?Eh, eh!? Lumi¡­ are you sure!??


    ?Yes. There¡¯s no mistaking it..And... if you take a closer look at the color schemes..?


    ?Right!? That¡¯s what I was thinking too! Nee~, doesn¡¯t this bronze and blue ring suit me??


    Well, now that you think about it... They do suit their current holders.


    I was left with the black metal Fusion ring,sporting a white gem. Lumi held the silver Fission ring, which had a gemstone that matched perfectly with her turquoise eye. Violet, on the other hand, was completely enthralled by the amethyst adorned golden Amp ring, which she seemed to measure against the ring finger on her left hand¡­ The bronze rings that Grace and Brigid held, both seemed to fit very well with theirsapphire andtopaz jewels. The scarlet gem on Seth¡¯s ring matched his eyes perfectly too¡­


    I think I can see where this is going. I can most definitely see where this is going...


    ?Nee~, Mister Light..?


    Oh no, you don¡¯t. You¡¯ve been calling me a weirdo all this time!


    ?Excuse me, a person with very reasonable desires.. Could you perhaps consider..??


    Oi! And now you stop calling me a pervert!?


    ?Well, I gotta admit, I, too wouldn¡¯t mind¡­?


    Yes... Of course, you wouldn¡¯t. You¡¯ve been calling me kiddo, despitethe fact that it was me who paid for your food and inn fees.


    ?I promise I¡¯ll forge you a new blade of equal value!! Maybe. Sometime in the future¡­?


    At the very least Brigid was ready to give something in return! But still, her offer isn¡¯t exactly tempting¡­


    ?Oh my¡­ I¡¯m not sure whether I¡¯m ready to receive a ring from you yet. After all, it¡¯s only been a couple of nights¡­?


    And you are going in that direction¡­ Of course, you are.


    ?Young man..?


    The Arch Sage called to me...


    ?To acquire such artifacts in such a short time... It isn¡¯t a feat to be taken lightly. You do realize, that what you¡¯ve just presented to us, far exceeds the rarity of national treasures? Could it be that you were sent by the Gods to bring salvation? Surely, if the Champion of the Gods harbors such unbelievable power, he would have a heart to match, no? And besides, it¡¯s not like you can equip more than a single ring at a time anyway¡­?


    ?Eh? I¡¯m not some Champion of the¨C Oh...?


    Yes. Of course¡­


    Et tu, Nero?


    ?Alright, alright! I get it.You can have your goddamn rings!?


    ?Eh? Really!?! Thanks, weirdo!?


    A whole half a second of appreciation..? Thank you very much!


    ?Y-You.. have my uhh¡­ gratitude..?


    ?Are you for real, kiddo!?! Awesome!?


    I''m seriously considering taking them back.


    ?THANK YOU! I promise to try harder in the smithy for you!?


    ?Oh my¡­?


    ?And as for you, Violet. Don¡¯t you dare put it on your left-hand ring finger.?


    ?Alright, alright~. I¡¯ll do my best to receive that permission...?


    Though I didn¡¯t exactly eagerly part with my new treasures, after witnessing the pure bliss of my friends ogling the rings in amazement somehow made me feel as accomplished as I did after downing the giant. It really was worth the struggle, huh?


    The Arch Sage called out once more¡­ Though I really shouldn¡¯t call him an Arch Sage anymore, since all he is, is a sly old man with a tad too much authority¡­


    ?I knew you had the heart...?


    Well... ''Treasure your friends as I did you...'' There you have it, grandfather! I hope you''re watching. Your boy is finally growing up!


    ?But that isn''t what I''m currently after. Something feels different about you, no??


    The old man continued...


    ?How come??


    ?I can¡¯t seem to quite figure what you are anymore¡­?

 27 - Gears of Evolution

    Chapter 27 ¨CGears of Evolution


    And so my journey as the man with an abysmal Usual-Rank class came to an end.


    I no longer found myself pained by F-Rank attributes across the board, nor a cryptic description for my class skill. No, that was not the case anymore...


    ¡¾Class:Unbound Blade ¨C Rank: Regular ¨C Weapon Type: Blades¡¿


    ¡¾Class Skill: Savant, Defiant¡¿


    ?Health ¨C F


    ?Mana ¨C F


    ?Strength ¨C E


    ?Magic ¨C D


    ?Defense ¨C F


    ?Dexterity ¨C E


    ?Agility ¨C E


    ¡¾Class Skill: Savant¡¿


    ?Through great sacrifice, a Savant is able to attain previously unknown heights. An equivalent exchange of present prowess for future potential. The one who persists shall be rewarded, yet the one who doesn''t shall perish.


    ¡¾Class Skill: Defiant¡¿


    ?Through challenging the Gods themselves, even if but a mere man, a Defiant shall reach for divinity itself, with his own two hands.


    My stats had risen... insignificantly! And no, I no longer had a cryptic description for my class skill. I now had absolutely incomprehensible descriptions for my class skills! The new one being even worse in its definition than the first one! Despite the end result not being quite as glamorous as I had hoped it to be, at the very least they sounded cool...


    I wonder if I''ll be able to have a little talk with the Gods sometime in the future. If my instincts serve me well, and they''re the ones behind this apocalypse, I might just have to ascend to godhood myself and lay down justice with my own two hands... Though I suppose that''s just a tad bit ambitious...


    ?Challenging the Gods, eh? Young man, do you reckon on this having something to do with the Trail becoming more difficult all of a sudden??


    Nero began to question me, baffled by the obscure information just as much as I was.


    ?It might... I did hear a voice thundering down from the heavens when I finally felled the beast. Could that have something to do with the Gods??


    Well, now that I think about it. It does sound quite obvious...


    ?Why would you leave out such a crucial detail? May I inquire as to what the voice was like??


    ?How do I put it... It was young-ish, I guess? Kind of similar to Seth''s, but definitely way wiser and more mature.?


    ?What the hell, kiddo? Don''t go pulling that on me just because you one-upped me this time.?


    Seth, however, didn''t appreciate my description.


    ?Ahah... I''m glad you two are getting along so well... Anyhow, what did the voice tell you??


    ?I think it was something along the lines of ''Oh! Sorry about that, dude! Here you go!'' And suddenly I found myself with my hands full of S-Rarity rings...?


    The old man soon held his foreheadin his palm, directing his gaze onto the tiled floor.


    ?It was Igni... Without a doubt in my mind. Despite the other Gods treating me with respect, he always kept calling me a geezer... It would explain the dual affinity of the monster you faced too.?


    Igni? I''m sure the God of Flame I wrote of was named Igni! How the hell is the God of Flame the same if the God of Origin isn''t? It just doesn''t add up. It also completely contradicts my theory of the Gods sending this world back to stone age. I suppose they do aid the races by bestowing their blessings on the chosen few adventurers... What a pickle.


    Though the conversation about my new skill didn''t quite lead anywhere, there was still another mystery to be solved about my rank up.


    ?So, old man... Would you happen to know why my stats barely went up at all? They''re still worse than your average Usual-Ranks, aren''t they??


    ?Yes. That certainly is unorthodox, to say the least.?


    ?And..??


    ?But it only follows the entirety of your existence, no??


    The old man nonchalantly shrugged.


    I''m still unsure as to whether or not he knows the secrets behind how I came to be, but it doesn''t really look like he does...


    I guess I''ll have to figure it out by myself as I go. Though while I think I have a faint grasp of it already, not everything is quite clear to me yet.


    My Magic attribute was now at D, and the only monster I''ve fought that used magic was the Great Burning Woodland Spirit, which conversely was at the rank of Peculiar. But then again, I haven''t fought a single Regular-rank monsterafter getting my class, which begs the question... How on earth did I raise my Strength, Dexterity, and Agility to E? I just hope that my class-specific abilities aren''t just limited to minuscule growth.


    But enough about me rambling on about my stats. I wasn''t the only one to rank up, after all!


    ¡¾Lime ¨C Arcane Slime ¨C Affinity:None ¨C Rank:Regular ¨C Rarity: S¡¿


    ¡¾Special Skills: Multidimensional Access ¨CAssimilation ¨C Absorption¡¿


    Though Lime didn''t get anything special either. I wonder if we''re both cursed, or something?


    ?*Master, do you want to seesomething funny!?*?


    Lime began to beam her thoughts into my mind as I was staring at her with my eye.


    ?Funny? Eh??


    ?*Tadah!*?


    And in an instant, on top of the smooth, slimy, glowing skin, two pitch black eyes suddenly popped up and opened wide. Lime stared right back at me, with her round button eyes gleaming in adoration.


    ?*Hello, master! It''s good to seeyou!*?


    ?Oh!?!?


    ?*Yep! Now... Do you want to hear something funny?*?Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    ?Now I''m intrigued!?


    ?Hey, kiddo... Are you sure you recovered properly? You''ve been talking to yourself for a while now...?


    Seth interjected our conversation and looked at me with pity as a noble would a beggar. Neither of which seem to exist in this world, weirdly enough.


    ?Oi, you! Shut up! He''s talking with me, y''know!??


    Lime told Seth off in an instant.


    Her voice no longer pierced straight into my mind, but now playfully reflected aroundacross the sparingly decorated room.


    ?Kiddo... Is it just me or¨C?


    ?Nope, it isn''t... I''m just as surprised.?


    ?You were talking with him all this time??


    ?Well... How do I put this... Lime''s a ''her''.?


    ?What the hell??


    ?A self-proclaimed ''her'' at that... Don''t ask me, I don''t know any better than you do.?


    ?Oi! I''m still here, y''know!??


    Lime forced her way into the conversation.


    ?Ahahaha! She''s already assumed your excessive usage of ''Oi'', too. I''m glad you''re back, Light. I never knew how lonely just a few days would be without you and your shenanigans. You better not run off again or I''ll have to smack you back into the dream world once more...?


    ?You just managed to turn something surprisingly heartwarming into a threat. Way to go, dude.?


    ?Hah, I suppose that''s how I am...?


    I guess I really am glad to be back.


    Led by the old man, our groupbegan to make our way through the countless corridors and into the inner chambers of the Chapel. Itried to pry as to where we were going, but for naught. My questions were answered with but a wry smile.Even Violet didn''t seem to know where we were going. I figure it has something to do with the fact that I''m the only one who can hold the Shard of Forbidden Knowledge in my hands...


    Seth kept his composure while Brigid and Grace were still as energetic as ever, constantly voicing their excitement out loud. Lumi, however, kept her distance as she silently followed behind in the back. I kept sensing bewitching currents flowing towards me from her direction every now and then, but as soon as I turned around to look, she would turn her head away in response.


    After strolling down into the depths of the nearly endless, dimly lit, network of passages for what felt like an eternity, we finally found ourselves in front of a giant steel door... Nero gently pressed on the heavy metal, and asoft blue light radiated from between the cold steel and his feeble palm. Accompanied bylow, rumbling creaks brought on by its ancient age, the unimaginable weight of the gate began to shift.


    And so, memories began to flood my thoughts...


    ''"No blade would pierce through the scales of the Dragon of Origin." Or so they say... The legends tella different tale. Since the beginning of times, underneath the crust of the earth, lying deep within the core of the continent. From the age of old, though now laid long forgotten, its bright white flames still raged on. For long I sought its whereabouts, searching far and wide, but now my journey was about to come to an end, as it stood before my very eyes...This is how the tale of the blade that wouldcleave the heavens in half began...''


    ?Welcome, adventurers, to¨C?


    ?The Crucible of Gods. The Forge of the Eternal Flameof Evolution.?


    I accidentally spoke my thoughts out loud, finishing the old man''s sentence...


    Ah damn, my naming sense was on point that day.


    Aspacious hall roughly carved into the very earth itself opened up before my disbelieving eyes. A pleasant change from the flawlessly polished marble. At the heart of the dungeon, laid a lone hearth, grander than what one would dare imagine, burning brightly in brilliant white flames.


    ?H-How did you know!?!?


    ?It''s only following the entirety of my existence, no??


    I shrugged. Rather sarcastically, at that.


    I silently giggled at my wits. Revenge is best served cold, old man!


    After closer inspection, the heat generated within the ancient forge wasn''t fueled by mere coal, though I suppose coal wasn''t exactly the first thing I''d use to fuel an eternal flame either... Its source of power seemed tobe an endless amount of Shards of Knowledge.


    ?Hmm... Then I suppose you also know why I have brought you here??


    ?Is it because of this??


    I redirected my gaze towards the Shard of Forbidden Knowledge in my hands.


    ?Your wisdom far surpasses your age... Very well. I''ll assume you also know how to proceed.?


    ?I throw the shards into the thingy??


    ?...Nevermind. It would seem that I''m not as good of a judge of character as I had presumed myself to be. Very well, young man...Throwthe fragile fragments of ancient knowledge vital for the progress of the Races, into the thingy, which happens to be the forge of legend responsible for feeding the ancient knowledge to the people...?


    Well, excuse me, pops. I''m not exactly all that keen on carefully sticking my hand right into white-hot flames, in the most literal sense of those words.


    Trying my best to take Nero''s remarks into account, I began tossing the Shards of Knowledge into the flames very, very carefully. My thoughts, however, quickly shifted away from the conversation I just had with the old man, as I found myself struck with awe.


    With each shard added to the fire, bleak sparks flew about, the white flames danced around and curious magical essence began to radiate throughout the cavern. The warmth of the magic pleasantly pulsating through my body was unlike anything I had experienced before. Feeling cleansed by the arcane currents, I finally threw in the shard of forbidden knowledge.


    In an instant, the flame roared ever higher and the very walls of the cavern began to tremble. The beautiful, bleak sparks, now shone brightly in all the colors known to man, carelessly bursting out without restraint. Though at that moment I didn''t quite realize what unfolded before me, I did realize that this world as I knew it was about to change once more...


    ?Wonderful! Truly, truly wonderful!?


    Nero began to yell in excitement.


    I felt a firm grasp tightening around my shoulders.


    ?Young man! Do you realize what you had just brought us!?!?


    ?N-No? I''m not q-quite sure...?


    I stumbled in my words while Nero nearly spat in my face...


    ?You''ve done the races a great service. No... That''s not quite it. You''ve managed toachievewhat nobody has even dreamed of within the last two decades! You''ve done the races a service of unimaginable proportions!?


    ?Eh??


    ?Universal Classes... To think I would''ve forgotten...?


    He muttered to himself, yet his hold staid firm.


    ?What are these ''Universal Classes'' anyway??


    ?Had you asked me mere moments ago, I wouldn''t have known, yet it seems that along with the knowledge, memories of long past are coming back to me in vivid detail... Thought this isn''t as much knowledge as it is a blessing.?


    He regained his composure, and finally let me go.


    ?During the age before the Convergence, every man had a class of his own, fromalchemists to tailors to herbalists alike... Even mere villagers and petty thieves had their very own classes. Along with their classes came knowledge, which was bestowed to them by the benevolent Gods that resided in the heavens. You can forget the blessings adventurers receive today... those aremere drops of water in an endless sea.?


    ?!?!?


    ?Many years ago, people could become whatever their heart truly desired... Should you have wished to become a smith, you had to but pick up the hammer, and should you have wished to become a scribe, you had to but sit down and write. Such was the way of life brought onto the races by the knowledge of the Gods. For two decades, that blessing had evaded us, but you...?


    What the hell!? That''s nothing like what I had written in my stories! I''m absolutely sure I never wrote about any class-systems... What does all this mean, old man!? Slow down! ...Is what I wanted to say, but despite my best efforts, I couldn''t puncture through the impenetrable wall that was his excitement.


    ?You, my boy, have brought that very blessing back to us.?


    ?I have??


    ?Yes! And what a joyous occasion it is for me to bear witness to this event unfolding before my old eyes!?


    Despite his old age, his enthusiasm seemed to have no limits.


    ?Listen well, young man. From this day onwards, you shall be known throughout the world as a hero! This I will make sure of.?


    ?Are you serious? Me, out of all people??


    ?Theone who conquered the Trails unlike any that came before him and the one who faced and fell the blazing beast, refusing to kneel even in the face of unimaginable odds! If you''re not a hero, then who is??


    ?I don''t know... Someone not terribly irresponsible? I''m not exactly fit to play the role.?


    ?You better start acting the part, because I''m not taking a no for an answer. The people need someone to light the way, and whowould be better thanLight himself? Or are you perhaps going to abandon the people in their time of need??


    There you go again, old man. Preying on my guilty conscience. Welp. I guess my dreams of living a slow life on the fantasy countryside will have to remain as dreams for a while longer...

 28 - Directions

    Chapter 28 ¨C Directions


    I finally found the chance to seek answers for the questions that had clouded my mind since this morning. The Ruins of Akashia were mentioned in my dreams, and if that''s where I need to go to find answers, that''s where I''m going.


    ?Oi, Nero! Can I bother you for a second? I have something I need to know.?


    ?Yes... I am very aware. Would you care to take a look at my staff??


    The old man presented his arcane wand...


    ¡¾Grand Staff of Akashia ¨C Class: Staff ¨C Rank: Extraordinary ¨C Rarity: S¡¿


    ?Akashia!? That''s it!?


    ?Indeed. Though I know precisely where you wish to direct your journey towards, your motives are still unclear.?


    ?It''s... personal.?


    I wouldn''t know how to explain it to him anyway.


    ?Then I cannot let you set course northward. You see, young man, even though you managed to cut down the blazing beast, you would not survive a trip up north. Whatever lies within the Ruins of Akashia far exceeds the leagues in which that behemoth would belong...?


    ?I don''t think you get it, old man. No matter how big the beasts I need to slay are, I need to get there.?


    I could feel myself becoming increasingly anxious at the opposition I didn''t expect myself to face. I would even go through the hell of trying to combat the flaming stump once more if that meant I''d finally get answers behind my existence.


    ?You might be able to beat The Great Burning Woodland Spirit once more, sure, but how would you go about trying to destroy ten monsters of equivalent strength within minutes!? You''ve made yourself into an irreplaceable asset for the races as a whole. And now you would risk the well being of the people for a mere chance at your personal gain? You''re more likely to die before you even get there than you are to succeed... Please, I beseech you, on behalf of all the people, reconsider your stance on the matter.?


    This is precisely what I meant when I told you to crown someone actually responsible as a hero... Honestly? I just wanted to spit on the ground, turn around, and leave, but it was me who was in the wrong here.


    I have no idea what could possibly await me in the wilds, and considering that Peculiar is still rather low in the ranking spectrum... It wouldn''t be unlikely for me to meet a monster that would be the end of me. And if the people truly need me, then perhaps I have a calling other than carelessly seeking my own satisfaction...


    I had no choice but to give up.


    ?I guess you''re right...?


    I lowered my head in shame. At the very least I recognized my arrogance before it got me into a world of hurt once again.


    Funnily enough, I found myself kind of proud in my moment of reflection... Though I suppose it should''ve been the first thing in my mind, not an afterthought.


    ?I''m glad you came to your senses. However...?


    He continued...


    ?Ruins of Akashia is a vital location for our progress, that I cannot deny, and as such, it should be of utmost priority in the quest for reconquering our lands. The knowledge within its Akashic Archives can only be described as unfathomably important. Though I won''t let you set out on a journey towards the north as you are...?


    ?And here''s the catch...?


    ?Should you and your friends reach the rank of Peculiar, you''ll receive my permission.?


    ?That''s it??


    ?Your ignorance is speaking volumes once more... You should probably know, that on average, it takes months for people to even rank up once... For example, it took Violet half a year to rank up once, and nearly five years to rank up once more.?


    ?Five whole years? Are you serious!??


    ?That speed was considered the absolute elite before you and your group showed up, I''ll have you know! Venturing out into the wilds every day for many years is quite taxing on both accounts, physical and mental.?


    ?Having to go through that every day? Yeah, I guess...?


    ?Ranking up within a day, however, is extraordinary, even when known standards are thrown out of the window... My suspicion is that it has something to do with the frequency at which you cleared the Trails. Twenty four, was it? How did you even find so many within a day??


    Before I could answer the old man''s questions, Lumi interjected our conversation.


    ?Light seems to be in possession of Magic Sense-Skill now.. A skill which he did not possess before dashing off into the wilds by himself..?


    Yeah... No need to dig it in...


    ?In a way, Magic Sense is similar to my Presence Detection, but it is far more suitable for magical dowsing, whereas the perceptive capabilities of Presence Detection are more oriented towards sensing fluctuations in energy..?


    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.She explained.


    Lumi really knows her stuff, huh? So much so that she could ease up on her explanations from time to time...


    ?Oh yeah! Something like that! Lime taught me how to sense magical currents in the air!?


    I didn''t think it''d be an actual skill, though. It feels too instinctive for that, but then again, using the Eye of Origin is the same... Speaking of which, I took a good look at myself once more. It''s been a while, after all.


    ¡¾Light ¨C Celestial Male ¨C Age: 18 ¨C Class: Unbound Blade ¨C Rank: Regular¡¿


    ¡¾Equipment: Light Jacket of Spring, Shorts of Spring, Boots of Spring, Sash of Spring, Ashen Scarf of Tireless Wind, Darksteel Blade¡¿


    ¡¾Effects: Spring Breeze +4, Grey Veil, Tireless Wind¡¿


    ¡¾Special Skills: Magic Sense, Celestial Blood, Eye of Origin, Savant, Defiant¡¿


    ¡¾Magic: Origin Flare, ¡õ¡õ¡õ¡¿


    Oh!? Effect and Magic rows have opened up! There''s something right after Origin Flare, but I can''t quite figure out what it says...


    ?Lime? Your slime taught you Magic Sense!? To think I''d see the day when a slime teaches magic to a Celestial. What is it with you breaking the laws of nature, young man??


    ?I wish I knew. But anyway, regardless of races and species, I wouldn''t have managed to find so many Trails had it not been for Lime''s help, that''s for sure.?


    I pat the little blob on her head. Her expressive responses never fail to bring a smile to my face.


    ?Hmm... If that''s how it is, then who am I to say no? Very well, do you all accept the conditions I have given??


    Nero turned to Seth and the others...


    And before I even had the chance to voice my opinion, they declared their stance on the matter loud and clear.


    ?I, for one, accept the requirements..?


    ?Eh, eh!? If my little Lumi is going, then I''m going too!?


    ?Oh, hell yeah, kiddo! I''m in too! I can''t let you outdo me twice!?


    ?Wa-wa-waaait! Don''t forget about me!?


    Even Violet seemed to be quite interested, though she had her own way of doing things... I felt her slender arms wrapping around me, pulling me into their embrace.


    ?Oh my, oh my... I guess I can''t laze around either if you''re so enthusiastic about it. I promise to assist you with my utmost abilities.?


    She softly stated, all the while bunting her cheeks against mine.


    And once more, before I even got the chance to speak my mind, Nero concluded the conversation.


    ?Very well, It is decided then! I wish you the best of luck, adventurers. May the Gods guide you on your journey.?


    ?Oi... Are you all just going to ignore me??


    ?Weren''t your sights set on this from the start??


    Seth snickered.


    ?I guess? But I didn''t want to drag you guys into¨C?


    ?Huh!? Sorry, what was that? You wanted to go by yourself? I don''t think I heard that right...?


    ?Alright, alright, I get it. Goddammit.?


    ?Ahahhaha! You know damn right I''m gonna use that on you for years to come, kiddo!?


    ?Years to come, eh? You know what? That doesn''t sound half bad...?


    And so our reunion finally concluded, and we had our sights set on a new goal. The rank of Peculiar.


    Speaking of ranks, I still have no idea why the ranks have such bizarre names. F to S would''ve been way more convenient! I''m pretty forgetful at times, so named ranks isn''t exactly my cup of tea...


    As we made our way down the streets of the capital, Seth and I began to converse about our experiences out in the wilds, which eventually lead us to the question of gear...


    ?So, kiddo. That damn expensive sword of yours... Did it do you any good? It must''ve, if your clumsy ass managed to clear so many Trails, after all!?


    ?Oh, you bet! Do you know about the rarity of gear, their ranks and the special effects they have??


    ?Well, kinda? Those terms were thrown around when you gave us these rings.?


    Seth continued, ogling at the blazing red gem on his ring.


    ?You see, pretty much everything has a rank and a rarity..?


    ?And you can see that with your eye, I presume... What''s my Bronze Glaive??


    ¡¾Weapon: Bronze Glaive ¨C Class: Polearm ¨C Rank: Usual ¨C Rarity: C ¨C Effect: Malleable¡¿


    ¡¾Malleable: Easily repairable. Will grow morerigid and effective with age.¡¿


    Huh? I don''t remember the Glaive having any effects... Could it be that what my Eye of Origin sees evolves as I do too? Nah, probably not... I''m guessing I just forgot.


    ?It''s a C-Rarity Usual-Rank Polearm with an effect that basically makes it better the longer you use it for.?


    I explained.


    ?Cool! I knew it was a solid investment! But then, what about your sword??


    I drew the blade out of the sheath on my back and pointed it towards the skies. I''m already playing the hero part quite well, no?


    ?Oh yeah, this bad boy is a B-Rarity weapon in the Regular-Ranks. It''s more effective against monsters of a lower rank and it retains its edge like nobody''s business!?


    Before I had the chance to brag about my extraordinary scarf, in the most literal sense of the word. You know... Because its Rank is Extraordinary... Brigid butted in into our conversation.


    ?You know, guys... We should go to our smithy and get some new gear! If my dad got his class back, I''m sure he''s gonna bang the anvil and get us some brand-spanking new weapons, I can guarantee you!?


    ?I''m just going to ignore half of what you said...?


    I muttered to myself.


    ?For real? But I just bought my glaive a couple of days ago, too... The effect''s gonna go to waste!?


    In the next following seconds, her innocent and unaware persona got completely displaced as the ancient dwarven blood running through her veins began to boil.


    ?Ya think some flimsy bronze stick is gonna do ye any good if ye wanna become a right proper adventurer, laddie!? Nay, didnae think so! Oh... I uh...?


    ?H-Hold on! What got into you??


    Seth was caught off guard by the sudden outburst of dwarven pep.


    ?Oops... It''s a bad habit of mine, a family thing. Sorry.?


    Yeah, I''m really not too keen on meeting her father now. Despite that, I didn''t voice my opinion out loud as we steered our course towards the smithy...


    The bell rang as Brigid barged in through the hefty wooden door. She took a deep breath and roared out with the force of a thousand suns.


    ?Daaa! I''m home! The guy I sold the Darksteel Blade is with me too!?


    And soon after, a short and stumpy figure emerged from behind the counter. A mirror image of what a dwarf should look like. Furrowed brow, and a beard that went on and on... Though I had never seen him before, he felt so ever familiar.


    ?What in the world are ye shouting at, lass? I''m right here, ye daft wench!?


    He began to yell, lifting the multi-layered magnifying monocle to his forehead.


    ?Ya calling yer daughter a wench? Go die in a ditch, ya reekin'' ol'' coot!?


    Brigid, however, stood her ground all the same.


    Their fight would''ve probably begun the first fantasy world war had Violet not stepped in.


    ?Oh my, oh my... You never change, huh, Dagda??


    Dagda? Nope... Still doesn''t ring a bell.


    ?The fox!? Shite... I need to be more careful, eh? Terribly sorry about that fiasco. It''s a family thing.?


    ?Hah, like two peas in a pod, you two.?


    I laughed out loud.


    ?Wait a wee minute... Nay. Can it really be...??


    The dwarf took a long look at me,leaning against the counter as far as his stubby arms would hold. He even went as far as to re-equip his magnifying goggle-gadget over his right eye once more...


    ?Laddie??


    ?Me??


    He slammed his fists down on the counter, cracking the wood beneath into bits.


    ?YER ALIVE!?!?

 29 - Familiar Faces

    Chapter 29 - Familiar Faces


    The fists of the dwarf came down with matchless vigor, cracking the wooden surface of the counter into bits.


    ?YER ALIVE!?! I thought I''d never see you again!?


    ?Yeah, I think I am??


    ?Lassie!? Is this the one you sold the Darksteel Blade to??


    The dwarf asked his daughter.


    ?Yep! He''s the one, alright!?


    ?Ya dare sell something like that to ''im!? Ach, heavens, help me...?


    He buried his face in his palms.


    ?B-But...! I''m sorry... I thought you would''ve been happy I managed to sell one of the more expensive pieces...?


    ?Aye, and I am. You''d make a fine shopkeep one day, lass... But to this laddie here, the Darksteel Blade ain''t nothin'' more than a flimsy toothpick. Even presenting a weapon like that, to ''im... Yer tarnishing our darn name! Or would''ve, if we still fecking had one!?


    ?HUH!? But you said it''s the highest quality of weapons we have!?


    Brigid didn''t quite understand what was going on. But to be fair, neither did anyone else, myself included. To be honest, I thought the Darksteel Blade to be an amazing weapon! From its effectiveness down to its design... I''ve always been a bit of a sucker for slick looking gear.


    ?Of what we have, not of what we had, ya dimwit! Compared to the weapons he used, and the weapons I crafted, the Darksteel Blade is a stain o'' shite! Hmph... If only I hadnae lost all my darn forging skills for two fecking decades! The Gods have cursed us, I tell ye!?


    ?The weapons he used? That would imply that you know him from somewhere..?


    Lumi took part in the conversation too, intrigued as ever.


    ?Do I know ''im!? Haaah... I guess I''ll have a go at it from the ground up... Do any of ya even realize who''s standing in front of yer very own oglers??


    The dwarf came out from behind the counter. Though he had calmed down, he waved his hands around more expressively than he managed to move his mouth...


    ?Oh my... Don''t tell me you''re going senile in your old age, Dagda? Why it''s just my little Light. The Arch Sage did crown him as a hero just now, but I doubt you''d know about that this soon...?


    Violet tried to convince him, but for naught.


    ?Get yer hands off of the laddie, fox! Crowned a hero by the Arch Sage just now!? Ahhah! Ah, feck, if that ain''t the best joke I''ve heard in ages! That gramps is just one of them useful idiot types the Gods are using the spread their message. If anyone''s going senile it''s that ol'' coot and his superiority complex! This laddie right here has been a hero for longer than yer been alive!?


    ?He''s been what!??


    ?If it wasnae for ''im, the human capital would''ve fallen twenty years ago... Ye better show some damn respect!?


    ?If it wasn''t for me? What the hell??


    I thought out loud. I had absolutely no idea what the dwarf was talking about.


    ?Aye, you. Ya probably ain''t aware of it, since all you did was travel around, but ya used to be a fecking legend! Nameless Rogue... That''s the only name you were known by. A wee bit ironic, ain''t it?


    ?..??


    I saw Lumi''s pointy ears twitch in surprise.


    ?Heh! You and I met a solid twenty years ago. All because of a request for a blade that would cleave the heavens in half.?


    ?No... There''s no way you''d¨C?


    ?Nay, laddie. If anyone would know, it''d be I.?


    The dwarf and I spoke in unison, cementing my fantasies as a reality far more bizarre than I had dared to imagine.


    ??Voidinium Runeblade.??


    ?The name of the sword I wielded in my last clash with the Dragon of Origin!?


    ?Ya remember, laddie!?


    ?And you know!??


    ?How could I not!? It was a masterpiece of weaponry the world had never seen before! Brought into existence by the hand of none other than yours truly! Hah! It was a challenge and a half, that''s for damn sure...?


    ?That sword was made by you? Brigid''s dad!??


    ?Yep! That''s right, laddie! To think ya''d be buddy buddy with my daughter! A weird world, ain''t it? Anyhow, the blade was quite something, wasnae it? Speaking of which...?


    ?I''m... terribly sorry...?


    ?For what, laddie? I''m just glad to see you alive an'' kickin''! Now, where''s the Runeblade??


    ?I uh... broke it.?


    Quite literally... My bad. Sorry about that one!


    ?Ya broke my fecking sword!? How!?! I spent weeks in the dungeons forging that bastard, weeks I tell ya! And now ya''ve gone and blasted me darn handiwork to thin itty bits!?


    ?Well, you see... The scales of a dragon aren''t exactly the softest of materials...?


    I tried to masterfully bullshit my way out.


    The real reason the weapon doesn''t exist anymore is that I thought it''d be cool and dramatic if the ultimate sword would shatter into a million pieces to conclude the final clash...


    ?Hmph... Since yer alive, and I am too, at the very least the blade served its purpose, no??


    ?Most definitely.?


    ?Ahhah! Well, that''s what weapons are for. A befitting end, I suppose...?


    Oh boy, am I glad we agree.


    Still... To think I''d actually meet the smith who forged a weapon I used... I''m unable to shake the feeling of familiarity, but somehow, I don''t really mind. After all, it does feel like we''ve known each other for longer than I can even dream of. I don''tget that anxious feeling I usually do when conversing with new people.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    The same thing happened with Lime, too. I wonder where the line between the old me and the alternate me draws. Or whether or not it exists in the first place...


    ?But even more so, laddie, I''m damn glad it was yer sword and not yer arse who met their maker in the final clash. Without you, there wouldnae been a world which I could''ve raised my gemstone of a daughter in... So, if ya ever want somethin'' a wee bit better than that flimsy black stick strapped to yer back, ya better let yer ol'' pal Dagda know! I''ve been having this tingly feeling telling me to craft something since morn. If ya wanna, I''ll fix ya right up in a heartbeat!?


    ?Oh! Really!??


    An offer like that from someone I described as a ''peerless dwarven craftsman'' in my power-fantasies is really something I should absolutely not pass up on. Our conversation, however, was completely detached from everyone else present... Until Lumi adeptly interrupted us once more, at which she seems to be getting better and better at.


    ?E-Excuse me.. Would you care to repeat what you said a moment ago.. You mentioned something quite interesting there..?


    ?Aye, what''s on yer mind, she-elf??


    ?There were a fair few things in your story that didn''t quite make sense..?


    ?Really, now? Now, I''m confident I can smack metal into any shape you can imagine, but I sure as hell ain''t witty enough to lie!?


    ?You know Light, correct??


    ?Light? If that''s really the laddie''s new name, then aye, you could say I know ''im.?


    ?And you said that you met two decades ago.?


    ?Aye, it''s been a wee while longer than that, but not by much... Care to get to the point, lassie? I''ve been itching to hit the smithy for a while now...?


    ?But, Light''s 18..?


    ?18? Hah! That joke would take the second place, for sure! Didnae ya know the laddie''s over four centuries old by now??


    Dagda furrowed his brow in confusion.


    ?A-And the Dragon of O-Origin!??


    And Lumi didn''t even try to retort his asinine claims of me being over 400 years old. She just kept course with her interrogation process.


    ?Ah, right! This laddie right here brought the Dragon of Origin down twenty years ago, no two ways about it. Nobody really knows about it, bar me and a few others who managed to connect the dots. I for one figured it out when I saw the human capital still fine and dandy after the laddie told me he was going to take on the Dragon of Origin on his own... Well, I didnae think he would succeed, but I''ll be darned!?


    ?Y-You''re being serious??


    ?Couldnae be more serious if I tried, she-elf! Ya see, nobody really knows what happened during the darn Convergence except this laddie here. Not a month before the final days of the past era, he came to me with a request for a blade that would cut down the holy dragon itself.?


    To think my stories would actually end up unfolding into events like this... I found myself listening to the stories of the dwarf in awe.


    ?Hah! Aye, I''ll admit it... I, too, thought the laddie to be a right lunatic back then, but the pay was good, as were the materials provided... And, well... I''m darn glad I took ''im up on the offer. Soon after, chaos began to unfold across the lands, and the races were driven away from their homes. Only the capital of the humans remained. Now you know who you should thank for that...?


    ?That''s...?


    ?As close to the truth as it gets, she-elf.?


    Dagda crossed his arms and puffed up his chest, taking immense pride in his knowledge.


    ?How? Him!? I don''t understand..!?


    Lumi found herself totally lost. Though not as much as everyone else present, as they didn''t even dare to utter a single word.


    ?Hah, neither do I, lassie! He''s an enigma, ain''t he? They''ve been telling the legend of the Nameless Rogue around the southern mountains for four hundred years now, but it ain''t just any old fairytale!?


    After the dwarf had explained the events that unfolded in the twilight of my last scriptures and second awakening, even I found myself speechless.


    ?I know of the texts... So... It''s all real? Is this really true, Light??


    Lumi turned to me.


    The similarities between the stories of the dwarf and those that I''ve written were undeniable. Even down to the four hundred year claim...


    ''¡ªYear 402, days before the Convergence of Gods''


    Well, yeah... I didn''t exactly use the currency of time all that sparingly within my stories. Well, in my defense, I thought I didn''t have to! Being of a different magical race would excuse that, no!? The calendar began on the day the Dragon of Origin massacred the Celestial lands, which would indeed equate to me being around 420 years old by now...


    ?Yeah... I guess so. But, how do I put it...? Me then, and me now are two entirely different persons. I wouldn''t worry about it too much.?


    Lumi, however, wasn''t having any of my sorry excuses...


    ?You can''t just say ''don''t worry about it too much'' after claiming to be the Nameless Rogue,stating that you''re an ancient being that bested the goddamn Dragon of Origin with his own two hands! Are you just playing around? Is this a damn game for you!? You probably ran away so we wouldn''t hold you back!?


    Her mismatched eyes began to swell.


    ?No, that wasn''t it at all! I¨C?


    ?Shut up, shut up! Idiot!?


    And with those words of wisdom, she barged out of the establishment faster than I was able to react...


    ?Laddie... Now ya''ve gone and done it.?


    ?That was my fault??


    Ifound myself every bit confused as I was surprised.


    ?Ya might be ancient, but yer dumb arse is still daft as a brick. Yes, it''s yer darn fault! Who else''s? Fox, ya said the laddie''s yours, but how I see things...?


    The dwarf turned to Violet.


    ?Please, Dagda, save your banter for later... I''ll need some time to sort myself over after what you just told me, too. I think I''ll go after the snow elf...?


    ?Ah, bollocks... Welp, there goes the fox too.?


    I was about to run out of the door and chase after Lumi and Violet, but before I was able to take a step forward, Dagda grabbed my shoulder and stopped me...


    ?Nay, laddie. Let them be...?


    ?But¨C?


    ?No buts, ya dimwit! Let ''em take their time. They''ll come around.?


    I involuntarily let out a long, tired sigh...


    Not only did I find myself experiencing a multi-dimensional existential crisis at the ripe age of somewhere between 18 to 420-something years old, but I managed to drag everyone I knew into the thick of it.


    Great.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    I stormed away from the smith.


    It seems that I can''t even control my feelings anymore. It''s so frustrating. No... He''s so frustrating.


    He acts so damn oblivious, unaware of anything that''s happening around him, but then he comes around out of the blue, absolutely obliterating any expectations people had dared to set for him without fail. It''s like he does it on purpose...


    That idiot does it every single time, but today, his antics were on a whole new level. I was so damn worried about him for the past few days, but now I regret ever even thinking about him.


    First, he barges into the chapel with that huge jugged sorceress clinging onto his arm. It''s not my damn fault I''m only modest in size...


    He had already figured out how to flawlessly communicate with his slime companion, while I still find my understanding of the thoughts of my baby wyvern to be elementary.


    He had also managed to clear multiple Trails on his first day out, and while that was according to my expectations, I could''ve never foreseen him acquiring Magic Sense and clearing eight damn times the number of Trails I did.


    He didn''t even budge at the mention of having acquired a new skill either, while I had to fight for my life for nearly a week to develop Presence Detection...


    And, to top it all of, he supposedly got greeted by the Gods themselves, too, receiving no less than a Shard of Forbidden Knowledge, which in turn managed to net him the title of a hero. ''Why would the Arch Sage bestow that title someone so damn irresponsible and eccentric?'' is what I thought at first, but that doesn''t really matter after all, as he''s supposedly been a hero for centuries...


    All the pieces of the puzzle fell into their rightful place when the dwarf mentioned his moniker. No matter how hard I tried to deny it, it all matched up. Frighteningly so..


    I remember the day I found that dusty old book in the ruins like it was yesterday... The first collection of southern scriptures, telling the tales of the Nameless Rogue and his lonely descent down from the heavens. Though I never found the remaining volumes, I''ve admired his adventures for as long as I can remember regardless, always doing my best to one day match up to his greatness. It was why I strived to become an adventurer in the first place...


    But now?Him out of all the people ending up being a hero¨C no... My hero..I don''t know anymore..Either he really is nothing like the stories told, or he''s playing me for a damn fool again, leading me around by the nose..Or maybe it could be that he''s abandoned his old life and is now trying to live life anew? And I''ve been so rude to him, too.. No... That can''t be it...


    I''m so confused. Should I be glad? Should I be mad?


    I don''t even understand myself anymore..


    ?Lumi! Please, wait!?


    A familiar voice called out to my name.


    Lo and behold, it''s none other than Light''s favorite walking pair of tits!


    Isn''t that just great? No, it''s really not... Please, stop following me and go somewhere else.. I''m not in the mood.

 30 - Arms

    Chapter 30 - Arms


    ?Lumi! Please, wait!?


    The sorceress called out to me, trailing closely behind...


    Even the sight of her oversized bouncing bre¨C Even the sight of her dumb face did naught but wonders for my brooding mood.


    ?Why should I? I have no reason to, after all..?


    I stated, doing my best to conceal any emotions, keeping my course steady towards the gates of the capital.


    Some peace and quiet in the wilds.. That''s what I''m after. Not the honeyed words of a beastman in heat.


    ?Playing hard to get, are we? It sure is nice to be young.?


    Despite me running as fast as I possibly could, it took no more than three steps for the sorceress to catch up to me, and on the fourth, she was already standing right in front of me.


    Unable to stop in my tracks, I soon found myself immersed in a valley of bust.. A pleasant scent of lavender filled my lungs, but her overly caring voice still felt as annoying as ever.


    ?My, my... Is everything alright, Lumi dear??


    ?Everything is j-just fine.. Now, please let me go..?


    ?Oh my, but it certainly doesn''t look like that. Please, come with me...?


    She grasped my hand and held it tightly.


    I tried to yank my hand away, but for naught. Though she sported a sweet smile, her iron fist held firm, not showing the slightest of hints of letting go. ''Oh my, resistance is futile!'' Tsk... It would seem that there are more things than one, or rather two, in which I find myself completely outclassed by this damn succubus...


    Finding our way to a secluded grove in the backstreets of the trading district, she made me sit down on an old bench, rather forcefully, might I add..


    ?Uh... What did you bring me here for, anyway??


    ?You probably already know, don''t you??


    ?It''s about him isn''t it? He''s the last damn thing I want to talk about right now.?


    ?Oh my, I understand. He''s quite the case, isn''t he??


    ?Consider your attempts at steering the conversation towards your preferred topics acknowledged, sorceress..?


    ?My... why are you so cold towards me? I haven''t done anything to you, have I? You''re making your senior sad...?


    ?Please, stop treating me like a child. It''s not that hard to figure out, is it??


    ?Are you jealous??


    Nevermind treating me like a child.. Please, just go and die in a fire...


    ?Couldn''t be further from it. I hate him, I absolutely hate him. Every single thing he does manages to piss me off at this point.?


    ?Oh my, that''s certainly something, but what does it have to do with me??


    ?I.. uh...?


    Once again exhibiting her characteristic demonic behavior, she embraced me out of the blue. Someone should teach this woman the concept of personal space...


    ?Lumi... About the ring he gave you. Why are you still wearing it, if you hate him so much??


    ?Because it''s¨C?


    ?Because it''s high ranked and extremely rare? Oh my, you''re not being honest, are you? Your pride would never allow your greed to go before your dignity, I know that much.?


    ?...?


    I found myself speechless after the words of the fox.


    ?You''re used to being the best at everything, aren''t you??


    ?That''s not¨C?


    ?And now that you find yourself in the second place, you don''t know how to handle the situation.?


    ?But¨C?


    ?Oh my, no worries. I understand.?


    ?It''s not like that even matters anymore...?


    ?What difference does it make if he''s actually been a hero or a legend or whatever, for Gods know how long. His new beginnings were the exact same as yours, and no matter his past, he''s still the same little rascal we know and love, isn''t he? You''re aware of that too... Oh my, if you only slept with him, you''d know. He''d show you things you couldn''t imagine..?


    I felt my cheeks redden at the suggestions and implications of the succubus.


    ?SLEPT WITH HIM!? Y-YOU''VE¨C?


    ?Oh my, that came out wrong, didn''t it??


    She giggled, feigning innocence, and continued to elaborate.


    ?I meant sleeping in the literal sense of the word. The dreams he sees, and shares with those close to him... They''re the real thing... Perhaps a curse, if I dare so suspect.?


    ?The dreams? I faintly recall them from once before. The day before our first journey to the wilds.. I thought them to be nothing more than nightmares..?


    ?Oh my, did you make the first move before I was able to??


    ?No, I didn''t. Please, stop.?


    ?Alright, alright~.?


    The succubus snickered.


    ...


    ?So, how do you feel now??This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ?I don''t know..?


    ?Any better??


    ?Yeah.. I guess..?


    ?Oh my, that''s great, isn''t it? By the way, your class, Mystic, was adept at wielding magic, no??


    ?Yes, indeed..?


    Her face twisted into a wide, somehow playful grin, baring her sharp canines. I didn''t even need the aid of Presence Detection to sense the devilish intent overflowing from her.


    ?Oh my, oh my... Do you want to give my Light a run for his money??


    Left confused as to what her true plans with him were, and not knowing how to react to the sudden proposition, I couldn''t utter a word.


    Though I did find myself compelled, that much I''ll admit..


    ?...?


    ?The determination in your eyes tells me all I need to know. Now, shall we begin??


    ?S-Shall we begin what!??


    She sat up and held her arm elegantly outwards.. Blue sparks converged in her grasp, and mana manifested itself into the form of a ball of crackling electricity.


    ?Training~.?


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    ?So, lassie... Ya and yer friends want some new weapons, eh??


    ?Yep! We''re gonna go on a journey to rank up!?


    ?A journey, eh? Darn, yer growing up so fast! Alrighty... It''s time to finally put my smithy mitts on! Ah, I''ve waited for this moment!?


    ?But da! You said you were busy showcasing your forging abilities in other villages for the last week and a half!?


    ?Aye, I was. but it ain''t the same if ya have twenty oglers glued to yer back the whole darn time!?


    I could practically feel the passion oozing through the words of the dwarven smith. To think something like race has such an impact on one''s personality and temperament... But then again, Dagda is pretty much your stereotypical dwarf.


    ?I wouldn''t be surprised if it was written in dwarven blood to constantly craft.?


    I joined in on the conversation.


    ?Hah! That''s a way to put it, ain''t it!? Since the times of old, us dwarves were always decent at pretty much everything, from wielding the swords to wiggling magic wands around, ya name it! But crafting... Ach, heavens... Fecking crafting. That''s where we had to be shite at!?


    The dwarf shook his fist in the air and my eyes widened in surprise.


    ?You were bad at crafting? Dwarves, of all the races!??


    ?Hah, took you by surprise, didnae it? most people think it comes to us naturally, but nay, those folks couldnae be more wrong if they tried! We don''t have that kind of finesse, darn it! Go to the snow elves or the dragonkin if ya want instinctive precision.?


    ?Da''s right! Were damn awful!?


    Brigid seconded her father.


    ?Don''t say with such fecking pride, ya dimwit! Well, I do guess it''s because we''re so darn awful at crafting at first, that we eventually get so good at it... Of fecking course, we get pissed off at a fork when we were trying to forge a sword! The hell did ya think!? Especially since pretty much everything always went our way... Welp, except the height department.?


    ?Uh... huh??


    ?Ach, enough of my ramblin'', must be a right bore for yer ancient ears. So... Ya three itching for new arms??


    He turned towards me, Seth and Grace.


    ?Hey, did you forget about me??


    Brigid swung her massive hammer around in protest, damn near destroying the stands that decorated the shop.


    ?Feckin'' hell lassie! Stop wangling that oversized hunk o'' metal around! Yer wreaking havoc! And nay, ya won''t get an upgrade this time... Yer weapon is an old artifact of mine I was keepin'' in the safe ''till ya''d become an adventurer. Not too sure if I can really top that off as I am...?


    Intrigued, I took a look at the glorious two-meter warhammer Brigid swung around with ease.


    ¡¾Jauhin''s Gavel ¨C Class: Warhammer ¨C Rank: Abnormal ¨C Rarity: C ¨C Affinity: Earth ¨C Effect: Grinder¡¿


    ¡¾Grinder: While in combat, Minor increase in Strength for every enemy slain. Increased effect when against monsters of Earth affinity.¡¿


    I could barely believe my eyes.


    The brass shine of the metal mallet sure gave an air of importance... But to this degree?


    ?Feasting yer eye on one of my better pieces, are ya, laddie? Ach, Jauhin was a great man. A darn shame he passed on so fecking young.?


    ?My condolences... But how the hell did you craft an Earth affinity weapon!??


    ?Earth affinity? Eh!??


    Brigid almost smacked herself in the face as she brought the hammer closer to take a better look at it.


    ?Welp, I''ll be. Even I didnae know about that! Yer reality-tearing eye is still as amazing as ever!?


    ?Da! Shouldn''t you care a little more about the things you craft??


    ?Nay. If it works, it works.?


    Fair enough...


    I tried to look around the shop to see whether or not any of the other weapons had their own affinities, but unfortunately, my attempts proved fruitless. Even the Darksteel Blade, my partner in crime, didn''t have an affinity of its own.


    But what about the Blade of Spring?


    ?Lime, can you spit out the Blade of Spring? I want to check something.?


    ?*Ay, ay. Captain!*?


    Lime hopped onto the counter and spat out the blade.


    ¡¾Blade of Spring ¨C Class: Blade ¨C Rank: Usual ¨C Rarity: B ¨C Effect: Leech Minor¡¿


    ¡¾Leech Minor: Attacks will Drain the target''s Vitality.¡¿


    Nothing.


    I''m kinda sad now. Oh well... What difference does it make whether a weapon has an affinity or not if I have no idea the affinity does in the first place?


    ?Laddie! Is this the Lime??


    Dagda lifted Lime off of the counter as one would a crown of a satin pillow.


    I never thought I''d see someone show so much respect for a degenerate slime... Is this really what this world has gone to?


    ?Yep! That''s me, y''know!??


    ?And ya can talk too!? Welp, I''ll be!?


    Lime turned to me. Or rather, she wriggled her eyes through her slimy body to point to my direction. Spooky.


    ?Master, should we sell the ingots of Springsteel we got??


    ?Ah, yeah. Sure.?


    Lime spat out the Springsteel Ingots, and to the surprise of absolutely nobody present, the dwarf immediately began his careful analysis of the fine metal hunks.


    ?Springsteel, eh? Would you happen to know which tree''s roots these were found at??


    ?Excuse me? Roots??


    ?Springsteel forms when life essence seeping from the roots of the trees infuses into minerals of the earth below. Is this Pine Springsteel? Nay, that can''t be it...?


    Oh? Oh!


    ?It''s Spruce Springsteel.?


    ?Spruce!? Are ya for real now? Say, laddie... How did you like the Blade of Spring? Surely ya at least gave it a li''l whirl, didn''t ya??


    ?Yeah, it wasn''t too great...?


    ?Aye, that''s because it''s made of Cypress Springsteel. No wonder ya didnae enjoy wiggling a fecking cypress stick around. Spruce is one of the better varieties. I should be able to make something well worth yer time.?


    Despite the seriousness of the dwarf, I couldn''t contain my laughter as nostalgia flooded my mind.


    ?Haha! Oh yeah... The sword was a Cypress Stick, alright...?


    ?Right... Ya have a few ingots here, and if I ain''t too wasteful with my resources, I should be able to forge four weapons... So, what''s yer fancy??


    ?I''d like one of these, please.?


    Seth unwrapped his glaive from the wraps that covered it.


    ?Could''ve just said the name of the weapon, laddie. I''ve been in this job for as long as I can remember. Ya think I wouldn''t know what a glaive is??


    ?Hah, yeah, I suppose. You can never be too sure though.?


    ?And what about the forest elf??


    ?It''s dark elf! Calling us forest elves is rude! But, but, I''d like a greatsword, please! Thank you!?


    ?Sure, sure. A dark elf. But without a bow? And wielding a greatsword, no less? Welp. That''s a fecking first...?


    Right? I''m glad someone else with half a brain for practicality exists, too... Says I, who doesn''t even wear the slightest of protective gear... Touch¨¦, me.


    ?And what about ya, laddie??


    ?I think I''ll stick with a blade, for now. But there''s something I''ve been wanting to ask.?


    ?What''s on yer mind??


    ?You know your weapons, right? So... If blades have a single edge, and swords have two, what would a rapier be??


    ?Eh? It''d be a sword, wouldnae it? You just answered your own question.?


    ?Rapiers are poking weapons, though!?


    ?Aye, but they still have two edges, and thus, they''re swords. Could it be that yer talking about a tuck??


    ?A tuck??


    ?An estoc. Those ain''t got any edges. Only a sharp tip.?


    ?So... They''re a different class altogether??


    ?Aye.?


    ?Oh...?


    Well, that was an... enlightening experience? I guess? Didn''t amount to much, but the more you know.


    ?So, is that it? A blade, a greatsword, and a glaive??


    ?Well, there''s also Lumi''s weapons. If you could call them that.?


    I added.


    ?The snow elf? Aye. What''s her weapon of choice??


    ?She uses a pair of folding fans.?


    ?Folding fans, eh? Hah, I''m guessing she really liked the stories of the Nameless Rogue. Alrighty, then...?


    The glint in the amber eyes of the dwarf sharpened.


    ?Now... for the payment side of things.?


    I could hear Seth audibly gulping. He looked like he was about to run away any second now.


    What a fucking bum...

 31 - Magic in Practice

    Chapter 31 - Magic in Practice


    ?Now... for the payment side of things.?


    I could practically hear Seth shaking in his boots at the mention of ''payment''.


    I sighed and began to dig out my coin pouch. Thankfully, for naught, as the dwarf stopped me midway through.


    ?Wait, wait! Haha! Got ya good, didn''t I? Oh, don''t ya worry, there''s no way I''d make the fecking Nameless Rogue pay, much less someone who''s buddies with my lass. Besides, you''ve given me the materials to work with, and it ain''t like I''d be doing anything else anyway.?


    ?Pheeew... I almost had to rely on you again, kiddo!?


    Seth was relieved.


    Not that I''m surprised... In the slightest.


    ?Yeah. How long do you think I''ll be paying for your stuff? Until the end of times??


    ?Works for me!?


    ?Hah! Of course, it does!?


    ?Now... before I put my smithy mitts on, I have a request for ya, Light. If that is indeed what yer called nowadays...?


    The dwarf turned to me, as he picked up the Blade of Spring still laying on the table and began his careful inspection process.


    ?Yes??


    ?Can I use this as materials for the weapon cores??


    ?Are you sure? Didn''t you just say it wasn''t worth much??


    ?On it''s own, aye. Cypress Springsteel is an impure metal, but it''s a good material for a softer core.?


    ?Eh??


    ?Ach, ya probably don''t understand. Let''s just say that if I layer the two metals, I can make the weapons better, while saving up on the better materials.?


    ?Sure? That should be fine, right??


    ?You could''ve made good money by selling an artifact from the Trails, though.?


    And though my question was rhetorical, Seth voiced his opinion regardless.


    ?I think I''d rather have a good weapon, thank you very much.?


    ?Right! I should be able to make some good stuff now! Ach, it''s been so long since I was able to forge something other than fecking iron or bronze! Laddie, can your eye see if I have my blacksmith class back? I''ve been feeling that old spark since morning...?


    Oh right! I didn''t even think about that! Apart from the adventurers, nobody had any classes... But perhaps this is what the ''Universal Classes'' meant? Nah, this is definitely what it meant.


    ¡¾Dagda ¨C Dwarf Male ¨C Age: 53 ¨C Class: Initiate Blacksmith¡¿


    ¡¾Equipment: Workshop Apron, Blacksmith''s Mitts, Triple-Layer Crystalline Magnifying Mono-Goggle¡¿


    ?Oh, so smithy mitts wasn''t just a saying... And a ''Triple-Layer Crystalline Magnifying Mono-Goggle''? That''s a mouthful.?


    ?Ach, stop looking at my gear, laddie! What''s my blacksmith class??


    ?Oh, right. It''s uh...?


    How do I break the news?


    ?I ain''t got all day.?


    ?It''s Initiate.?


    ?No fecking way! God darn it!?


    Uh oh... Yeah. I was kind of expecting this.


    ?No good??


    ?No good!? This is the best darn day since my daughter was born!?


    ?What!??


    ?Laddie... I''ve been stuck for two god-forsaken decades without making any fecking progress no matter how hard I tried. I know twenty or so years might not be much for yer ancient arse, but for me, it''s nearly half of my fecking life! Now? I can advance again. That''s all I dare ask for.?


    I understood the weight behind the words of the dwarf from his tone alone.


    Despite the overwhelming familiarity, I wouldn''t exactly say he''s a person I care deeply about. But from person to person perspective, helping people through my actions and receiving gratitude in return, really makes me feel an unknown, yet very welcome warmth.


    ?That red shard of yours sure had an impact, kiddo. I never even realized.?


    ?Yeah, it''s beginning to sink in for me too. I kinda understand why the Arch Sage was so keen on appointing me as a hero. Though... I still think I don''t really deserve it. I guess I''m gonna have to grab the title by the balls and start acting the part. I''m not too keen on going around disappointing people.?


    ?Haha! Right you are. To be honest, you''re the last goddamn person I''d appoint as a hero too, but since you''re supposedly one now, there''s no need to be so modest about it, is there??


    Seth chuckled.


    ?Laddie... Was it really you that brought the classes back??


    ?Yeah. It''s a long story, but that would be me, yes.?


    ?This series of events... Fecking unreal, once again. First, ya came back, and then, ya brought us hope before I even realized it. Though I wouldn''t like to admit it, the Arch Sage was right this time. Maybe the Gods havenae forgotten us after all.?


    ?I didn''t do¨C I... uh... Thank you.?


    I stumbled in my words trying to respond to the praises of the dwarf.


    ?Hah! Never change. But aye, enough ramblin''. Ya wanna see an old master, turned an initiate at work??


    ?Hell yes.?


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    I sat down beneath an old willow, with my legs crossed..


    ?So.. I start by sensing the flow of Mana within??


    I inquired.


    ?Correct. If you begin to cast without properly controlling your Mana, you will most likely waste far more Mana than you should''ve, which may result in passing out from over-expenditure. You wouldn''t want that to happen if you want to surpass him now, would you??The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    ?N-No.. He would never make such an elementary mistake so neither can I.?


    ?True, true. I guess he wouldn''t.?


    Violet giggled.


    ?Which is why you practice. Now, begin by closing your eyes, and focus on the flow.?


    And so I did.


    My mind quickly began to wander around, as the chirps of the bird sang to the rhythm of the gentle breeze rustling the leaves of the trees, however, I couldn''t let my attention waver.


    I shouldn''t pay attention to what was happening around me, but rather what takes place within. The beat of my heart, the blood flowing throughout, down to the breath in the depths of my chest as I deeply inhaled. My skin began to shiver..


    A cold, foreign feeling began to radiate from the tips of my toes, up my shins.. Passing the knees and reaching my hips.. Finally gathering around my chest, and from thereon, flowing to the far reaches of my body.


    Still keeping my eyes closed, I raised my left arm as Violet did once before, and tried to redirect the anomaly towards the tips of my fingers.


    A deep purple visage burned its image on to the canvas of my mind, obstructing my thoughts.


    ?Lumi..!?


    A voice called out to me from distances far beyond.


    ?Open your eyes!?


    The voice called out once more. Approaching at an alarming rate.


    A sharp and searing, yet piercing sensation, finally brought me back to my senses. I slowly opened my eyes. The verdant grove now bore a resemblance to an amethyst cove painted purple by the light of the glowing geodes, as a sparkling ball of dark electricity far larger than what the beastman had conjured lit up my surroundings..


    Witnessing the sight, I began to hesitate.


    ?W-What''s happening??


    ?Oh my... I knew snow elves were proficient at magic, but... This is something else...?


    Though she tried her best to hide it, her hesitancy was clear as day, which in turn added but fuel to the fire of my worries.


    ?W-What do I do with this.. thing!??


    The mass of crackling amethyst thunder only kept expanding within my grasp.


    ?I-I don''t know either. What you just did was similar to my thunder manipulation, but that purple tint... It''s clearly something else. If it was anything like my thunder, it should disperse, however...?


    My panic didn''t show any signs of calming down, and neither did the miniature storm, the sleeve of my white tunic was burnt black as night. So much for my favorite garment...


    ?What did you even teach me!??


    ?I don''t know either.?


    ?Then who does!??


    ?I don''t know! It was supposed to take you fifteen days, not fifteen minutes! Oh my... Let me take care of it. ¡¾Magic Absorb¡¿?


    Violet extended her hand towards the orb, and her caressing voice suddenly echoed throughout the leafy grove.


    The purple light began to slip out of existence, as though stolen by the sorceress right from my grasp. With my view no longer obstructed by the eerie electric menace, I noticed the turquoise gemstone on my ring glowing brightly, as did the orchid quartz on Violet''s ring.


    How curious..


    ?Oh my. S-So... This is what magic of the Void element feels like.?


    She stuttered in amazement, with a wide smile on her face.


    ?Hold on..! What did you do? What did I do!??


    Taken back by my confusion, Violet came back from her personal heaven and raised her voice to scold me...


    ?Easy now, Lumi... What you just conjured forth was what we call magic. And what I just did was absorb said magic, because your first attempt was just a little bit overboard for a first attempt. You best be careful with that in the future. You wouldn''t want to hurt anyone close to you, would you??


    I could sense no malice in her words.. Perhaps she truly does care..?


    ?But when it comes to why your magic was so powerful with no prior experience, I''m still quite unsure.?


    ?Could this ring be the cause? And yours too...?


    ?I doubt it... No matter how exquisite the relic is, for it to elicit this kind of reaction would be against all known laws of magic.?


    ¡¾Fission Ring ¨C Rank: Peculiar ¨C Rarity: S ¨C Effect: Fission¡¿


    ¡¾Fission: Able to fission Mana¡¿


    ?Able to fission Mana..? If only I knew what fission meant..?


    I looked down at the draconic ring wrapped around my finger and sighed.


    I never thought how depressing it would be to find myself defeated in the face of the unknown word. No books I''ve read ever mentioned fission, especially as magic specific ones were few and far between..


    Regardless, Violet was far more experienced with magic than I was. Arguing against her wouldn''t be smart. Yet even then, I can''t seem to shake the feeling that the arcane powers of my ring were behind the phenomenon.


    ?Oh my... You sure are adamant about the ring. You know, we''re only just beginning our training. Perhaps we''ll find more about it later on??


    ?Perhaps..?


    ?But how about we go shopping first? Just the two of us. It was my fault your clothes were burned, so I should at the very least pay the repercussions, no? Oh my, it''ll be so much fun~!?


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    The scent of burning coal immersed me within its rusticity as rhythmic clanks echoed across the smoke-filled interior, lit up only by the fire in the forge.


    Though repetitive, to be sure... Heating the metal, and smacking it to shape over and over again... The hours the dwarf had poured into his work were apparent by his carefully placed strikes. I found myself unable to look away from the enchanting act.


    He folded the chunk of metal and sandwiched the separate core between the two sheets, and the hammer swung once more.


    The etched runes flashed blue every time the mallet met the metal, reshaping it again and again. The chunk of brightly glowing layered steel gradually took the shape of a blade. Though this blade wouldn''t shape up to be the one I would wield, as it''s tang extended far longer than the blade itself.


    Though the veins on the forearm of the dwarf were bulging to the point of bursting and sweat was rolling down his forehead, I don''t think I saw him blink once. His focus was unshakeable to the point of nearing tangible.


    ?Lassie! Prepare the quench!?


    He shouted out loud enough to overpower the sound of the metallic clatter.


    Brigid, showing the same determination in her eyes as her father did, as she brought out a tub far bigger than her tiny body was. Seth and Grace both offered to help her, but she insisted on doing it on her own. If only I had a piece of their family''s ''I''ll do it myself'' temperament...


    Dagda inspected the blade one last time before thrusting it into the liquid.


    To my utmost surprise, not only did the metal hiss as it cooled down, the bath in which the blade was quenched in began to faintly glow. Instead of water turning into steam, magical essence akin to what I saw in the dungeons of the Chapel surfaced and filled the air.


    ?Ahh... Nothin'' quite like a proper quench in Mana.?


    The dwarf drew the blade out of the bath. The glowing golden blade now took a warm earthy tone.


    Mana, eh? That sounds ridiculous, but who am I to judge.


    ?Hah! Turned out proper, didnae it??


    Seth didn''t know what to say. From what I gather, he''s lived a humble life up to now... It''s probably about as amazing to him as it was to me.


    ?I-I''m gonna wield t-that!??


    ?Aye, laddie. How''s it look like? Satisfied??


    ?Fuck yes, I am! This is amazing! Ah, I can''t wait!?


    ?Eh? But you''re gonna wait! You can''t have your weapon before I will! It''s not fair!?


    ?Umm... I hate to break it to you, but neither of you is going to have any weapons before we finish the work on the hilts and the shafts on them.?


    Brigid pointed out.


    ??Oh...??


    ?Ach, right. Speaking of which, lassie. Would ya mind starting work on the wooden bits? I think we have some fresh wood lying within the storages. It should work nicely after a good treating.?


    ?Yep! Will do.?


    ?Great. I''ll get workin'' on the greatsword.?


    Dagda reached for another chunk of metal...


    Even if it did look quite amazing, it would be a long day if I stood here and watched as all of our weapons took shape. I guess I just feel like my time could be spent better...


    ?Oi, Dagda! When do you think the weapons are going to be ready for use??


    I interrupted him before he lost himself in his arts again.


    ?Let me think... Since they''re the utmost priority at the moment, I''d say you''ll have them by tomorrow. I could probably get one ready today, but I''d rather make ''em as a batch. Ya get me??


    ?A day? That sounds great!?


    ?I''ll probably need to go and buy some leather for the handles though... So they''d be ready for pickup around tomorrow evening.?


    ?*Master! Y''know?*?


    ?Oh right! Would this suffice??


    Lime spat out the sheets of Bloomhide on a table.


    ?Huh? Is that, uhh...?


    ?Bloomhide. I got it from the Trails.?


    ?Oh! That should be great! But I''ll admit, it''s kind of expensive to use for wrapping when any ol'' leather would suffice.. Are ya sure??


    Seth looked at me with his signature glint.


    ?What if I sold these sheets off and went to pick up some leather from the tailor??


    ?That''d work, aye. If you go to the shop on the end of this street and tell the clerk Dagda sent ya, she''ll know what to give ya.?


    ?Isn''t that Emerald''s place??


    I recalled back to my first day in the capital, when I sold the unusable wyvern rags I wore for a sizeable sum.


    It''s only really been a couple of days, but it feels like an eternity.


    ?Ya know her? Great! Everything should work swell!?


    ?Right. I''ll be off then!?


    ?Haha! Don''t get lost, kiddo!?


    Seth gave few last words of wisdom before I departed.


    ?Oh, fuck off! Worry about your own ass. See you!?


    The bell on the door rang once more as I stepped out to the fresh air. Oh, how I missed my time alone.


    Maybe I''ll take a detour and explore the city a little? It''s not like I''m in a hurry, anyway.

 32 - Running Errands

    Chapter 32 - Running Errands


    The bell on the old wooden door rang gently to welcome in the new customers.


    ?Excuse me~!?


    ?Oh my! If it isn''t Violet!?


    The shopkeep gave her greetings to the sorceress. Sarcastically reciting her manner of speech.


    Her playful welcome took a turn as she noticed the wyvern I held in my arms.


    ?Wait! I-Is t-that a¨C!?!?


    ?She''s my companion. No need to be afraid, she won''t bite..?


    ?B-But... It''s a monster!?


    ?She has manners, I can assure you..?


    ?Uh. Alright... I suppose you adventurers do sometimes have beasts as your companions sometimes...?


    ?Oh my. No need to be afraid, Emerald. Anyhow, as you can see, our little Dragonoid-trainer here was a little bit too adept with magic.?


    The shopkeep began to evaluate the damage the burnt sleeve had taken, still keeping her distance from the monster.


    ?Oh... That looks harsh. You''re not hurt, are you??


    ?No.. I''m quite fine, thank you very much..?


    ?I''m glad. Now, would you like a replacement or a repair??


    ?Repair, if possible.. This piece is.. rather important to me.?


    ?Very well.?


    ?Though... Could you leave it as it is, and just sew around the seared end so it won''t come apart..??


    I followed up.


    ?Sure, that''s very much possible, but are you sure you want to wear it with just a single sleeve??


    The beastman was confused. Understandably so. But I had my reasons.


    ?Yes.. I wish to carry my mistakes with me.?


    ?Oh my. The youth grows up so fast these days.?


    Violet snickered.


    I paid no heed, however. There''s a certain yet undeniable charm to something damaged yet still intact. It shows a lot of character..


    The tailor agreed and brought us to her workshop in the back. She began the repairs right away.


    The two struck up a conversation, leaving me completely outcast. I didn''t mind that, but what I did mind, however, was that I had to sit down without a top on in presence of Violet and her violent Violets, finding comfort only in the blanket that covered my... inadequacy.


    ?Have you heard the news yet, Violet??


    The dog eared beastman began the conversation, adeptly weaving her needle through my tunic.


    ?Hmm??


    ?The talk around the town is that someone special has surfaced from among the new adventurers!?


    ?Oh my... Really? I wonder...?


    ?Yes! And would you believe it? He came to my shop not too long ago!?


    She could hardly keep her excitement in check.


    ?Isn''t that great??


    ?It is! I knew he was special from the moment he sold me pieces made of Midnight Wyvern Hide...?


    Oh.. Of course. Go figure.


    ?Violet, my old friend. You''re an adventurer, right? Do you know him, by chance? The white-haired boy??


    ?Do I? Oh my, I''m not sure.?


    She giggled...


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    ?Haaah... Taking long walks sure is a meditative practice.?


    I yawned.


    It would seem that the solitude I found in strolling around the town was the very same in this world as it was in the former.


    I sat down on a bench in the shade on the side of the street and took a big bite of the meat skewer I bought. I can''t get seem to get enough of the juicy goodness of fantasy food. If it wasn''t so filling, and so damn cheap, I''d be penniless by now.


    ?Mhm... The meat of magical beasts really tastes magical, doesn''t it, Lime??


    ?*Yep! You''d know, after all.*?


    ?Heh... I guess. Do you want some??


    ?*Do I want master''s meat?*?


    The slime began to squirm around.


    Not again...


    ?I''ll take that as a resounding no.?


    ?*Uuu...*?


    ?Why don''t you use your actual voice, though? Wouldn''t that be easier than beaming your thoughts into my mind??


    ?*It''s one and the same for me, but people are going to get creeped out by talking monsters, y''know?*?


    ?Especially if it''s you that does the talking. Hah!?


    ?*That''s rude!*?


    ?I was joking. I love you and you know that.?


    I pat the dumb blob on her head.


    ?Now, shall we go and get the goods??


    ?*Yes, sir!*?


    ...


    The bell dangling above the door rang as I stepped in... The store, however, was empty. Not a soul came to greet me.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    ?Hello! Anyone here!??


    Nope. Nobody was there.


    Isn''t this terribly dangerous!? Someone could easily steal whatever they wanted to! Now I really need to find the owner before anything bad happens.


    Perhaps the shopkeep is doing something in the back? I mean, Brigid was when we first met her, though I''m not sure whether she''s a good point of reference...


    ?Pardon my intrusion...?


    I thought out loud as I went through to the back.


    I felt terribly guilty about going to places I probably shouldn''t. But on the other hand, the guilt I''d feel if a crime were to happen would far surpass that.


    The corridors around the back were rather expansive for a mere shop. I''m fairly sure this doubles as their home. That would be quite efficient, I guess...


    ?Alright! Done, and dusted. There you go, snow elf. I hope it fits.?


    I heard a faint voice behind one of the doors, though I couldn''t make anything out of the muffled speech.


    ''Finally!'' I thought to myself as I knocked on the door and opened it.


    ?Excuse me, the shop''s un¨C?


    Little did I realize what I had just walked into...


    A goddess. My eyes were lead to the rose pink highlights contrasting against her flawless pale skin. Her delicate form glistened in the warmth of the rays piercing through the window.


    ?Nice...?


    I involuntarily expressed my appreciation for the sight I was blessed with.


    Though her face was covered by the clothing she was about to put on, what I had witnessed was plenty to fill in the blanks.


    It didn''t take more than a split second for the door to slam shut once again. But, that split second was plenty for me. That image will forever be burnt into my memories.


    ?Hm..? What was that..??


    Lumi''s confused voice could barely be heard from behind the door.


    ?Oh, it was nothing. I can assure you. Now, shall we get going again? It''s not too good to stay here in the back room for too long. There might be someone waiting for the owner on the store side, no??


    Violet answered with heavy intonation. Even I''m not stupid enough to not realize what she meant by that.


    She must''ve realized what happened right away.


    I quickly left the scene. So much for the guilt dilemma. Damn, this is going to gnaw on my conscience for a while... Not because of what I did, but rather because I felt no guilt at all, which in turn made me feel like a scumbag.


    I wish I had the capability to comprehend how my own mind works at times.


    After waiting for an excruciatingly long thirty seconds, the three finally emerged from the back.


    ?Oh, a customer! Wait a minute, it''s you! Welcome, again! Psst... Violet, this is the boy I was talking about.?


    Eh? They were talking about me?


    ?Oh my... Indeed. Well then. Thanks for your help, Emerald. Lumi and I will be on our way now.?


    Lumi refused to look me into my eyes, but I don''t think she knew what happened. Violet, on the other hand, approached me...


    ?Don''t think you''ll be getting away with your antics so easily, young man. Drop by my home before sundown, or you''ll come to regret it.?


    That''s... Pretty damn scary. In more ways than one.


    ?Oh, and... I almost forgot.?


    She continued.


    I have a bad feeling about this...


    I closed my eyes and prepared for a nice fat slap on the cheek. That was what I''d deserve, anyway.


    ?Enjoyed the sight, did you? Oh my... No need to worry. She''s getting over it. You best not be absent this evening. Who knows what might slip out if you don''t show up~.?


    A faint whisper carried out to my ear.


    And to my surprise, my cheek wasn''t met with the stinging sensation of a palm slamming against it, but rather something lush and soft...


    A gentle chu was soon followed by her familiar giggle fading behind me, finally coming to an abrupt end with the sound of the door of the establishment slamming shut.


    Unable to comprehend the turn of events, I brought my hand to my cheek and just stood there, dumbfounded.


    Did she just... peck me on the cheek? I wanted to smile, but my astonishment held me back. Nevertheless, my happiness was through the roof. Does that count as a first kiss? It does, right?


    ?That fox... Does she have any restraints!??


    Emerald muttered to herself.


    ?I wonder how she manages to be so bold, yet still acts like a shy maiden at times. Same as always, I see... Ah, it sure is nice to be young... Anyhow, what brings you here, young man??


    It took me a good while to sort myself out and answer.


    ?Oh yeah... About that. I have something to sell.?


    ?You do? I don''t see you carrying anything.?


    ?My slime does.?


    Lime hopped on the counter and spat out the pieces of leather and twine I had collected from my adventures on the Trails.


    ?I''ve seen way too much today to even be surprised anymore. This is authentic Bloomhide, right? Rolls of Vine Twine, too? And freshly spat out from the innards of a sentient slime, no less? Alright, I give up.?


    She sighed.


    ?Thirty-five silver. Is that fine with you??


    It doesn''t feel like much, considering that I received four gold for my old clothes, but it''s probably a rather sizeable sum.


    ?Yes. That''s plenty fine. However, there''s something I''d also like to buy. Dagda told me you''d know if I told you he sent me.?


    She began to rummage through the shelves.


    ?Sap Wraps, I''m guessing? That''s what he used to get all the time. Did he find joy in crafting weapons again??


    ?Yeah, I guess. He was ecstatic when he heard that classes were brought back.?


    ?Please repeat that once again.?


    Her ears twitched.


    ?The universal classes were restored this morning.?


    ?Surely you jest...?


    ?Nope, I''m being serious. Dagda''s class, for example, was Initiate Blacksmith. I think the system might have reset, but he didn''t seem to mind.?


    ?Really? Are you absolutely sure??


    ?I retrieved the Shard of Knowledge, so I''d know. Hah.?


    I puffed up my chest.


    Lime, however, looked at me with pity in her button eyes. Shut up, slime. I''ve earned my moment of glory.


    ?Well, well. It seems that the rumors weren''t just rumors after all! It''s a joy to be of use for someone like you.?


    She had finally found what she was looking for and put the wraps on the counter.


    ?So, how many do you need??


    ?For four weapons, please.?


    ?Very well. It''d be two bronze and five copper for a piece, is that fine??


    ?That works for me. So, I''ll be getting thirty-four silver, and the wraps??


    ?Yes, that would be correct. Here you go.?


    She handed me the goods and the coins.


    ?Pleasure doing business with you again. I hope I''ll see you around!?


    ?Yeah, definitely! Bye!?


    I waved as I left the store.


    She really is unlike everyone else. Such a nice and wholesome person to deal with. Calm and grounded, as it should be.


    I strolled down the street to the smithy with a wide smile on my face.


    ?Oi! I got the wraps!?


    I loudly announced, entering the smoky grotto of craftsmanship.


    Loud enough that someone should actually hear it from beneath all the metallic clanks. Mere shouts, however, weren''t enough to make the focus of the dwarves waver. Them and their damn work.


    ?Hey, kiddo! Took you a while! What did you do? Did you go peep on girls??


    Yes. But it was an accident, I''m telling you. I''m an innocent man.


    ?N-No. Of course not. Anyway, can you get these to Dagda? I need to get going somewhere.?


    ?Anything interesting??


    ?I don''t know yet. But it''s important. That much I do know.?


    ?It''s gotta be pretty interesting at that point, though. Well, best not keep them waiting! I''ll make sure the wraps reach their destination.?


    ?If you manage to fuck it up when the distance is no more than five meters, you deserve a prize.?


    ?Haha! True, true. But you never know what might happen when you''re around.?


    ?I''m not sure whether that''s a compliment or an insult, but I''m taking it as a compliment.?


    ?Whatever floats your boat. See you!?


    ?Yeah, I''ll be seeing you later.?


    I guess I''m beginning to get along with people more and more. Now if only I''d manage to make amends with Lumi... Yeah, I''m not too hopeful on that front of the war.


    Though my problems weren''t limited to complications with interpersonal communication, no. The size of this city, paired with my terrible sense of direction. Well... Let''s just say I have no fucking idea how I''m going to find Violet''s place again.


    ?Lime, you know your directions, right??


    ?*Yep!*?


    ?Do you remember the route to Violet''s place??


    ?*Who?*?


    ?You don''t know Violet? Are you dumb??


    ?*Oh! The sorceress, right? Sorry! I was at the Chapel when you were there...*?


    Oh... Right. Nevermind that dumb part...


    ?Welp... Lime, are you ready??


    ?*For what, master?*?


    ?A painstakingly long trek across the city trying to find my way to the destination.?


    ...


    ?Fucking finally! Oh, how many streets I had to explore to find you.?


    Like the gates of heaven opening before me, I had finally reached the orphanage. The yards around these parts were rather sizeable, especially in comparison to the densely packed inner districts.


    ?So.. You came..?


    To my surprise, I was greeted by none other than Lumi herself.


    I dared not utter a word.


    ?Here..?


    She threw me a practice sword and swung open the fans she wielded.


    ?Duel me...!?

 33 - One Step at a Time

    Chapter 33 - One Step at a Time


    The wooden weapons struck against one another before a word left my lips.


    Relying solely on my instinct, as my thoughts were trailing far behind, the practice-sword I held in my hands twisted horizontally to parry the onslaught of the swiftly weaving fans. My heels dug into the ground as I repelled the attack.


    ?What the hell!??


    I yelled, distraught.


    ?..?


    The reply, unfortunately, was a cold, emotionless glare.


    ?Cat got your tongue? Or did you go insane!??


    ?Shut it..?


    She leaped towards me.


    Yep, it''s the latter.


    I took a step back to dodge. The edges of the wooden fan grazed my clothing.


    ?Why do I have to fight you!? What the hell is going on!??


    I barely found the time to express my confusion when faced with Lumi''s barrage of carefully placed strikes.


    ?I need to find something out..?


    ?Then why did fucking attack me out of the blue!? Just ask, goddammit!?


    I tried to return the offense.


    My movements with the wooden sword, however, were far too sluggish to ever even reach Lumi. Her combat style reminded me more of a dance performance than a display of martial prowess.


    She rotated around, dodging my vertical slash by a hair''s breadth, and redirected the flow right back at me.


    I flinched. The dulled edge of the fan struck my upper arm.


    I disregarded the fans as actual weapons because of the inconvenience of their design. That proved itself to be a mistake. I remember the time I wondered whether or not fans were actually usable weapons. They are. They most definitely are, and they''re terrifying, at that.


    A sword would cleave you into bits and a spear would impale through... But getting maimed by fans? That''s gonna be a long and painful death. Thank the incompetent Gods above that she was currently wielding weapons made out of wood.


    I took a stance and readied myself for a proper fight. I haven''t fought once after my rank-up, but Lumi isn''t exactly leaving me any room for holding back... It''s not my fault if things go south, alright?


    Though it should be noted that taking your time to assume a heroic position isn''t exactly the brightest of ideas in actual combat...


    A mere moment of carelessness was enough for Lumi to find an opening in my defense. A horizontal attack from her was easy enough block, but the spinning top of death I was up against had two edges to strike with. The short clash ended with tremors radiating throughout my cranium. Her crude, yet an ever-elegant instrument of pain met with my lower jaw, nearly dislocating it in the process.


    ?I refuse to believe that was all it took.. Get up.?


    She coldly stated, despite me kneeling down on the grass, holding mouth in agony.


    ?Wai¨C?


    I repeated my mistakes once again.


    Words didn''t get through. I should''ve realized that as soon as she came at me. I could feel a gust of wind tickle the tip of my nose as I barely managed to dodge a kick directed right at my chin.


    This is nothing like fighting monsters. I didn''t have the time to think, nor were my movements far beyond the perceptive capabilities of my adversaries.


    Lumi struck me once more, spinning around like a damn ballerina, chaining her attacks in a manner which gave me no room to retaliate. Though I somewhat kept track of her steady rhythm, the constantly alternating rotation kept me on my toes.


    It did not take more than a single misstep from me, for her to break through my defenses entirely. She struck my hands, forcing me to drop my blade.


    ?There.. Give up. I win..?


    She glared down on me with disappointment in her eyes.


    First, she tells me to fight, and then she tells me to give up. Pick one, goddammit.


    ?Not a way in hell.?


    I gritted my teeth and picked up my blade. I wish I could pinpoint what was so damn annoying about this all...


    ?Good..?


    She... smiled?


    ...


    Her breathing was getting heavier, and my movements were slowing down. I''m surprised I managed to draw the fight this far. My arms were bruised black. I think my lower lip was bleeding at one point too, although that has subsided already.


    The sun was halfway down into the horizon, but neither of us showed any signs of giving up.


    ?Are we still going??


    ?Yes..?


    She responded under her breath, kicked the ground, and dashed backward.


    Giving her no time to distance herself, I rushed right after.


    Slowly, but surely, I had gotten the hang of the battle, though I now felt the price I had to pay as fatigue and pain. Even if the difference in skill between us was evident, I was confident in my abilities to hold my ground... Or rather, so I thought, before Lumi extended her hand towards me, pointing it right between my eyes.


    Her calm and emotionless voice brought me back in time to events I''d have much rather forgotten, bearing a familiar echoing resonance to the words I uttered when I tried to cast a spell of my own.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ?¡¾Void Bolt¡¿?


    Her whisper reverberated across the field, and as though on her command, a shimmering flash of purple light blinded me.


    Before I even found the time to feel pain the spell inflicted, I could feel myself falling down. With a loud thump, my incompetent ass finally met with the ground.


    Hah... I didn''t stand a chance the moment I began... And here I thought myself to be skilled, having my head up my ass after getting a rank up on the first day.


    ?She''s more nimble, agile, and precise... And now magic? Fuck me...?


    I muttered to myself, with my senses still dulled after being struck by her spell. She must''ve held back. When the pain set in, it didn''t hurt as much as I thought it would...


    ?F-Flattery won''t get you anywhere..?


    ?Oh right... You''re still there. That''s embarrassing...?


    I sighed. I didn''t find it in myself to care anymore.


    ?Once more. The real you wouldn''t give up so easily..?


    She tried to insist.


    ?Look... Lumi. I''m sorry, but I already told you. I''m not the same now as I was then. Whatever that means.?


    I laid down on the grass, staring at the amber sky. I hate to disappoint... I truly do. But I''d rather get it done with than lead her on.


    ?I refuse to believe you.. You can''t possibly think I''d fall for that again.. I-I''ll...?


    She began to stutter.


    ?I''ll make a wager with you..!?


    ?Uh-huh... And if I win you''ll do anything I say? Isn''t that how it always goes??


    I sarcastically replied.


    ?If that is indeed what you wish for..?


    ?That was a joke. Dumbass...?


    Even laughing at my own stupid jokes hurt like hell.


    ?That does not matter.?


    ?Right... And if you win??


    ?You have to tell me all about yourself and your adventures.?


    ?That''s the second time someone''s ever asked for that...?


    I involuntarily smiled.


    ?Is that a yes..??


    ?There''s really no point, though. It''s not like I even have a chance.?


    ?How so..??


    She sat down next to me.


    ?I can''t even use magic. It probably has something to do with the fact that my class has an abysmal Mana stat... Not that I even really know what that means.?


    ?Even after the rank up? Are you sure??


    ?I haven''t tried after the rank up, but, well... My attempts so far haven''t really sown a seed of confidence in me... To put it lightly.?


    ?You? Having troubles with magic? Of all people..??


    Her pointy ears twitched in surprise.


    ?Yeah, me... I don''t know what kind of impression you had of me, but I most likely won''t live up to the expectations.?


    ?How can''t you, a celestial, use magic..? I don''t understand..?


    ?Neither do I, to be honest. Oh, well. It is what it is.?


    ?Perhaps you''ve lost your abilities in these past twenty decades..??


    ?If I had any in the first place, that is.?


    I noted.


    ?Do you at the very least still remember the basic practice of magic manipulation..??


    ?The basic-what??


    I tried to scour my mind for memories of magic practice, but I couldn''t remember anything of the sort. I guess I just kind of assumed that a magic swordsman knows magic from the get-go. That''s how it should go, right?


    ?Have you even tried to feel the flow of Mana within you..??


    ?Huh??


    ?..?


    She sat still, without uttering a word.


    ?I honestly don''t know anything you''re talking about. Magic this, Mana that... I completely whited out the last time I even tried to use a spell.?


    Her ears twitched once again. She leaned over me, blocking the little sunlight that still lit up the fields.


    ?I''ll teach you..!?


    Contrary to her usual nonchalant nature, her eyes sparkled as she spoke with enthusiasm I wouldn''t have expected in my wildest dreams. And my dreams in this world have been pretty wild, mind you.


    ?Hah... Good one. You??


    ?Is there something wrong with me..??


    ?I have no problems with you but aren''t yo¨C?


    ?Good.. Sit up.?


    She interrupted me.


    Ah, what the hell. Might as well go with the flow.


    ?Now what??


    I sat up. A moments rest really hit the spot.


    ?Close your eyes and focus on the circulation of magical energies within.. Your race should have no problems sensing the ebb and flow of Mana.?


    Yeah, yeah. My race hasn''t helped me much so far and probably won''t help me much in the future either.


    Doubtful, yet interested, I crossed my legs, shut my eyes and began to focus. I even held my palms together in front of me for extra effect... Who knows whether that helps or not.


    Unfortunately, I had no idea what to focus on. The concept of magic was about as foreign to me as technology is to this world.


    ?Try to visualize the arcane currents that run through you.. That should help you grasp the fundamental nature of magic.?


    Right...


    Energy, or rather Mana, in this case, is always blue, right? So maybe some sort of blue essence... And if it were to circulate throughout me, then maybe it does so in the same way as blood? Am I a magical being now? And if I am, how does the physiology between normal and magical beings differ? What about the draining sensation when I cast Origin Flare? It must''ve been Mana that I subconsciously moved.


    ?And once you become aware of the source of the magic, do your best to assume control over it..?


    Putting my deduction and imagination into good use, I attempted to recreate the feeling I had back then. Deep breaths in, slowly exhaling out. Visualizing the Mana coursing through me, I kept my focus stern.


    To my surprise, rather than flowing around my body, the essence within laid stagnant and still, as though dammed by forces unknown.


    Even if only barely, I broke loose of the ties that bound my Mana in place. Little did I expect the equivalent of a prick of a needle on the side of the Great Wall of China releasing so much energy within an instant. Unknown power surged throughout me. Immersing me within its warm embrace.


    I opened my eyes, startled, only to see myself cloaked in white light. Shivers ran across my spine as my lips twisted into a maddening grin.


    ?So.. It truly is you.?


    Lumi''s awe-struck, mismatched eyes reflected the bright white light like stars on the sky. She must''ve recognized the phenomenon too.


    Oh, how much I love you, you dumb, rude elf. This is Overdrive, isn''t it?


    I stood up and extended my hand towards the skies. My scarf fluttered in the draft created by the sheer amount of energy radiating from me.


    ?Here goes nothing, once again.¡¾Origin Flare¡¿?


    I roared my lungs out. If I''m going out again, might as well do it with a bang.


    The light that covered me began to disperse, as a sphere of concentrated energy formed within my grasp. The flare shot up and lit the warm orange skies white with its radiant flames.


    Though I tried damn hard, I could not contain the happiness I felt. My grin evolved into an uncontrollable full-blown laugh, celebrating my success.


    ?I''m glad..?


    ?T-This is amazing!?


    I couldn''t believe myself.


    ?And now..?


    ?Now what??


    ?We continue where we left off..?


    She lashed out at me.


    Bring it!


    ...


    Dozens, if not hundreds of strikes and spells later, dusk had settled in. The symphony of dark purple bolts against white beams of light came to a close as a pale leather boot came crashing down from above. My resistance amounted to naught but admiration of her elegant form fluttering in the light of the rising moon.


    In the end, it really just came down to the vast gap in skill. It was frustrating, but it was something I had to accept...


    I laid down on my back once again, though this time, I wasn''t dozing off alone.


    ?Perhaps I was of the wrong opinion about you..?


    Uncertainty oozed from her soft-spoken words.


    I didn''t know how to answer... I guess I''m just glad we can get along.


    ?You know, Light.. Today was pretty fun..?


    ?It really was... Even if I did get my ass handed to me on a silver platter time and time again.?


    ?Will you have a bout with me again, someday..??


    ?You do know that an invitation to get beaten up isn''t exactly the most alluring proposal??


    I laughed.


    ?What if I take it easy..??


    ?Now that''s just insulting. I''m not that weak, am I??


    ?Sorry..?


    ?Oh my... Sorry, you say, Lumi??


    The shadow of a woman with large, fuzzy ears cast over us.


    ??V-Violet???


    ?That''s me~... This is my yard you''re currently laying down on. Surely you didn''t forget that.?


    This ain''t good...


    ?Would you like to take a look at your surroundings??


    Even if she did try to display a warm smile, I could feel the sheer coldness radiating from her words.


    The arcane warfare of Lumi and I had turned the lush green field of flowers and finely cut grass into a battleground comparable to a freshly harvested potato field...


    ?Oh my... I hope you two rascals will have lots of fun bonding with each other as you clean it up~.?

 Reflection, Self-review, and Future Plans.

    "Trailblazer", or in LN title terms, "I''ve reincarnated into my stories as my alternate self, but the world I accidentally wrote into existence has become a mess and I''m not sure if I''m able to bring it back to its old glory!"


    From inconsistent themes to cardboard cutout characters, my story has been a mediocre one, at best. Who would''ve thought that writing about a writer, when you have never written before was a bad idea? Regardless of its plentiful faults, the reception my story has received so far has been great. Much greater than I had anticipated, in fact. And as such, I''ve decided to make this post.


    I''ve meditated on the thought for a good while now, as I saw my follower count slowly but surely climbing up, and I think it''s finally time to rip my own work to shreds. Figuratively, of course.


    I began writing for funand started uploading it here for the hell of it, to see whether or not people would like it, but as I previously stated, a lot more people actually began to read it than I suspected, and I suppose I''m beginning to feel more and more embarrassed and self-conscious about what I post.


    All in all, writing has been way more fun, but also way more challenging than I had expected it to be. I think I''ll slow down my pace and write more carefully from this point on. And if I find the spark, I think I might re-write the chapters up to this point to a more cohesive standard.


    Anyhow, I want to improve, and I can''t do that unless I know where I went wrong, so here goes...


    An honest review of my own work.


    Overall: 2.5/5


    Spoiler: Spoiler<input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show">


    Style:


    To say that the themes were inconsistent would be an understatement and a half.


    The prologue blasts you with misery, yet the first chapter is just friendly banter. The reader has absolutely nothing to latch onto, except maybe the mystery of what the hell adventurers have become. But that''s not all that interesting, to be honest. You get to the meat of the story at around 14, and it really kicks off at 17, but that''s a goddamn generous amount of reading to give for a sub-standard story.


    There might be a chapter of clearing Trails like there''s no tomorrow, yet the entirety of the next chapter might be a degenerate slime molesting the MC.All the suspense is ruined by me cracking tasteless jokes in the middle of battles, as I have no idea when to take things seriously, and when to ease up. During fights, I go too deep into mindless monologues about battle strategies, only for the actual combat to end up with a couple of swings of the sword.


    I also find myself often lacking heavily in the ''Show, don''t tell.'' department, which makes my story a goddamn bore to read. And despite me going on and on about describing things, often the descriptions, too, are lacking. Funny how that works.


    Maybe a 2.5/5 if I''m being generous? It isn''t a page-turner, that''s for fucking sure, but at the very least I think it''s readable and rather easy to follow if you can gut the erratic changes in theme.


    Story:


    Oh no...


    Story? What story? Oh, the convoluted mess that the readers have absolutely grasp of yet? Yeah, that one. The pacing of my novel is abysmally slow. Over 200 pages of the main character being thrown around, yet we still don''t even know the reason why MC''s stories are an actual world... Though I suppose ''Chrono'' and Lumi did hint towards that at chapters 11 and 15 respectively.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    I wanted to write a generic fantasy world, and I think I succeeded in that, as well as making up the premise to justify the regularity of the world. However, the original premise of MC being a man who never really had the opportunity to grow up, reincarnated within a world modeled after his own stories, was practically forgotten.


    Though him being his character plays a rather big role, his prior knowledge didn''t amount to anything except "Oh I know about this:--DD" and he has yet to even meet people from his stories in person, apart from Lime, his slime buddy, to whom we''ll get to later. I wanted to write an unconfident character that eventually grows up to become a man, but as it turns out, dumbasses with no promise of growth aren''t something people are all that interested in, myselfas a readerincluded.


    The only real story so far has been MC dying and reincarnating, becoming an adventurer and getting far more attention from girls than he did in his previous life, living his life of wish fulfillment to the fullest. As if that hasn''t been done a million times... If you''ve read any amount of isekai, you''ve also read mine by proxy.


    That isuntil the story actually (hopefully) gets to the ''pioneering'' part and MC and his friends, and other adventurers organize and territories actually get conquered and re-populated as the technology progresses.


    But as that hasn''t even begun yet, a solid 1.5/5 at best.


    Apart from the ''Trail'' system, which I''m quite content with as they have a lot of potential for the future when they become more intense, detailed and longer, and the ''shard of knowledge'' system, which has a lot of worldbuilding potential, there''s nothing noteworthy about my story.


    P.S. Never think of a word and write a story based around that, kids. Do it the other way around.


    Grammar:


    Well, you''d think I have nothing to comment on about my own text? Heh...


    ", however," "I started to" "As I". I often recycle the same words or patterns within a few sentences. My descriptions are either lacking in vocabulary, or I describe things in so much detail that it comes off as tedious and even pretentious. The structuring of my sentences also screams of middle school-tier, though that can be excused with the fact that Light, whose monologue works as the narration, isn''t exactly a genius in the field of the literary arts.


    3.5-4/5. If the lack of variety isn''t taken into account, at the very least my grammar is alright, especially for an ESL.


    Character:


    Both my strongest and my weakest point.


    Strongest as in I''m able to imagine extensive histories for each of the named characters, a solid lore behind all the races and all that jazz, but weakest as in I fail to put my thoughts into text and make their backstories into actual stories without making it seem like "Oh here''s a new dude. Btw his life was like this and you should know that for no reason at all :--DD" Trust me, there''s been a lot of drafts that never saw the light of day, no pun intended.


    Even the main character''s personality is shaky, though his story so far is rather well fleshed out. And even worse than his inconsistency is that his personality is very much dislikeable. Not to mention his relationship with Lime. I don''t think I quite captured how Light regained the memories of his alternate self back when he adventured with Lime, and what effect that had on him and his relationship with the dumb blob.


    Not to forget the fact that every single character acts a solid half a decade younger than their actual age is. For futureproofing reasons, I had to re-do the ages. I''ll leave the interpretation of that fact up to the reader. Wink wink, nudge nudge. That isunless people really just want to read my story for the action side of things, in which case, please let me know.


    Every character feels like a cardboard cutout with no real personality. Grace is your genki fantasy-gyaru, Violet is your christmas cakeoppai onee-san with a fetish for younger guys, Seth is your most generic bro #2965, Lumi is your hybrid tsun-kuudere with a gracious hint of autism, and Brigid isjust fucking stupidyouraho comic relief. (Refer to google or something if you don''t speak weeaboo)


    Though I had reasons for why the characters act as they do, the reasons might as well not exist if the readers aren''t aware.


    2/5 Though the current cast is solid, and the personalities are rather easily separable from each other, that''s almost solely because they''re walking stereotypes.


    So...


    I''ve gotten a few 2.5 ratings, and to be honest, I got kinda pissed off about them at first. Even though I suspect that those are just left after something they didn''t like happened.Namely, Light either running away or getting sexually harassed by his slime buddy, or the Gods playing 4D-chess.But after careful examination of what I had written down, I supposethat the ratings are very much justified.


    I''ve clearly bitten off more than I can chew, but the story is still young, and it isn''t too late for me to correct my mistakes. And that I''ll do. Thank you very much for reading my stuff so far!

 34 - Comfort and Chores

    Chapter 34 - Comfort and Chores


    For how long have I counted the knots on the wooden ceiling hanging above me? I wonder...


    There I laid, tired as hell, but the sleep just wouldn''t come to me. Violet invited me to stay in her place again. Was it out of hospitability or did she just want to make that Lumi and I don''t avoid our responsibilities? I''d like to think it''s the former. The sheets definitely beat out those of the inn''s, in both softness and scent, especially in the latter, but, well... Leave me on my lonesome and I''m bound to find something to worry about.


    Was it really worth it to part with the rings that easily? I have plenty of money still filling up my pockets and it''s doing the races a service if the adventurers are better equipped to clear the Trails. Hell, I''m worried about their well being on top of that. Not to mention that Dagda also seemed to be quite enthusiastic about forging us weapons free of charge. Either I''m trying to desperately rationalize my stupidity or I have finally found my purpose in accidental altruism.


    And while on the topic of purpose, I wonder just what the hell do those rings do. Fusion and Fission? I doubt they mean the same thing here as the nuclear jargon back in my old world did... Does the Fusion Ring somehow help me with casting magic, or was Lumi''s rough guide actually enough to suddenly make me able to use magic without passing out? But why would she show me the ropes of sensing Mana if she wanted to duel me? Why did she want to duel me in the first place? To ''know something'' right? I wonder what that was...


    I don''t know a damn about anything and it''s frustrating beyond belief. Though being kept in the dark is one thing, I guess the one thing I''m most upset about is myself... I shouldn''t worry, but I do. Everyone else seems so happy, so carefree. Even Lumi broke out of her shell today. I suppose I had my fair share of fun, too, but those feelings were as all good things in life are... Gone too soon. Perhaps even in a world of my very own creation, at least to some extent, I''ll still remain an outcast. I never did have it in me to make a change. All my thoughts ever amounted up to were wondering about the what if''s...


    I''d like to say it didn''t take long, but it could''ve been hours, for all I knew. I came to the realization that no matter how hard much I cried, the things I cried about wasn''t going to get any better by themselves. I forcefully closed my eyes shut and dug my face into the pillow.


    Unfortunately, as anyone would know, the more you try to fall asleep the less likely it''s going to happen. And for a while, my mind wandered, before eventually drifting into realms unknown. The blissful sleep I so longed for, however, was something I never quite managed to reach, as I was brought back to my senses by a low, quiet creak reverberating throughout the room. The weight of the hefty door began to shift on the few old hinges that still held it in its place.


    I laid still, awake, though so unbeknownst to the visitor.


    From underneath my barely open eyelids, the moonlight shining faintly through the windows gave away nothing more than the elegant silhouette of the guest. Even if that was enough to soothe my anxiety, the uncertain steps of the approaching phantom became but whispers in the wind as my heart pounded heavily against my chest, showing no restraint.


    My lone solitude was soon broken. Cold shivers ran across my spine, disregarding the familiar warmth now closing around me.


    ?I know you''re awake...?


    A velvet voice softly whispered.


    ?Will you let me stay with you? Just one more night...?


    She ran her delicate fingertips across my scar-ridden body, caressing me, pulling me closer with every weary breath. For I did not find it in me to answer her with words, I gently took hold of the hands that endeared me.


    Her soft lips pressed against the back of my neck. She didn''t have to speak any words either... Even I understood, yet in my time of melancholy, my desires weren''t carnal. Or rather, should I have had any as such, I wouldn''t have known, for my greed to satiate my lust was far overshadowed by my yearning of a lap to lay down on.


    ?...?


    I opened my mouth, but I couldn''t put my thoughts into words.


    ?Don''t worry, I understand. But...?


    She carefully turned me around and gently held me in my place, looking me deep into my swollen eyes.


    ?Nothing good will come out of sulking by yourself. You''re not alone. Not anymore.?


    Before I had the time to question what she knows, and how, she pulled me into her embrace.


    ?Big sister is here for you.?


    Though I was embarrassed at her calling herself my big sister once again, I couldn''t deny that it was precisely what I needed right now. A shoulder to cry on, someone who cared...


    I wrapped my hands around her body once more and laid my head down on her chest. I closed my eyes and held her tight. She ran her fingers through my bleak hair over and over again as she hummed a quiet lullaby.


    ?There, there...?


    I did not cry, nor did I smile. I laid there lifeless, and let my pains slip away, as did I eventually with them.


    ''Thank you, Violet...''This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ...is what I would''ve said, had I not fallen asleep in her loving arms.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    The tiny spark which had long laid dormant within me now raged on proudly without restraint, encompassing me in its white light. With my very soul set ablaze, the power radiating throughout me let me feel as though I was ready to take on the Gods themselves, but for only a fleeting moment...


    My inevitable end came without a word of warning. The intoxicating strength slowly consumed me, devouring me whole. I could not reign over the frenzied blaze. As the heartening warmth turned to scorching heat, I soon became but fuel for the flames of the never-ending fire.


    I ran and ran, but I could not escape, or rather, there was no escape, for wherever I''d go the flame would follow. The sequence leading to my demise had begun, and I had naught to stop it with. I couldn''t do but sit still as my body withered into the ashes from which I once came forth. Two screams of agony, neither of which belonged to me, were all I remember before I drifted into the afterlife, blinded by the shimmering light...


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    I shot up and opened my eyes wide within an instant. The room was still dark and the morning had yet to arrive. I felt warm, hot even, yet I woke up broken in cold sweat, hyperventilating. I was still alive. That was the most important part...


    Violet twisted and turned around in her sleep, as though worried of me. Her adorable vulnerability soothed my state of terror.


    As is with even the most vivid of dreams, the memories are gone within a moment''s notice, however, that wasn''t the case here. I thought myself desensitized to the horrors of the dream world, but excruciating death by a grandiose pyre of white flames had swiftly, or in this case, painfully slowly proven me wrong...


    Nevertheless, I would try to parse my dreams to the best of my abilities, but their abstract nature left me more questions than they gave me answers. Apart from the rare occasion, the dreams brought me nothing more than pain and headaches. Every day I wake up to the same feeling of eerie, unshakeable familiarity, as though they were trying to warn me. Yet every day, all the same, I find myself unable to parse the meaning behind it all.


    Though that might''ve bothered me last night, it doesn''t today. Not anymore.


    ?Thank you, Violet...?


    I awkwardly said what I last night couldn''t. I tucked Violet in and gave her a tiny kiss on the forehead...


    A warm smile was brought on her face as she hugged the blankets in her sleep. With a slight blush on my face, I dressed up and slowly crept out of the room, careful not to wake her from her comfortable slumber.


    ?Up and about already, are we..??


    An excessively tired voice sighed at me as soon as I closed the door, belonging to none other than Lumi herself.


    ?You too??


    ?No.. Do you honestly think I could get a second of sleep after I sensed... You know..?


    She couldn''t complete the sentence due to being visibly flustered, and as such, she resorted to insults... Directed toward me. Of course.


    ?You pe¨C?


    ?Oh... Oh, no, no. You''ve got it all wrong. It wasn''t what you think.?


    I interrupted her before she managed to say the magic word.


    Somehow I felt far more embarrassed about the fact that nothing happened rather than that she thought something did...


    ?You can save your excuses to someone who will listen.. We have a yard to clean up, and I''m not doing it alone..?


    ?Ah, right. That...?


    ...


    An overly prideful embodiment of elegance really putting her back into manual labor? I was entertained by the scenario, to say the least...


    ?We''ll never get this done if all you''ll do is spectate..?


    Lumi snapped at me.


    ?And whose grandiose idea was it to use magic in the first place??


    We''ve been trying to flatten the field from all the craters left by our spells for a good while now, but we aren''t even halfway done.


    ?Don''t..?


    Her hands began to emit a faint purplish glow as she stared daggers at me.


    I audibly swallowed and continued about with my business. More often than not I find myself not learning from my mistakes, but perhaps even I might show a bit of growth when it''s spelled out like this right in front of my face in capital letters...


    The time crawled by at a snail''s pace. I wanted to strike up a conversation to pass time, but out of the fear of managing to annoy her multiple times in rapid succession, as tends to be my specialty, I decided to stay quiet. To my surprise, however, she did what I wouldn''t commit to.


    ?Hey, Light.. Do you mind answering a few things for me? I did beat you yesterday after all..?


    ?Hah... Yeah, I guess you did. Go ahead.?


    I answered over my shoulder as I shifted the soil around to cover another goddamn hole.


    ?Have you concealed your name all those years up until now? If so, why..??


    ?I haven''t, actually... Not at all. I suppose I never really had a name before Seth came up with one.?


    ?But... Why would you assume a name now, after all those years??


    ?I didn''t need it then, but I definitely do now.?


    You know... Because ambiguous main characters rarely need a name... Hell, they can sometimes get by without the ability to speak.


    ?Why now??


    ?Uh...?


    ?Yes..??


    Now, how do I go about explaining this? I can recall almost all the events of the past me, so to say... I even get a fair sense of familiarity with figures the past me has met, especially in the case of Lime, but nevertheless...


    ?Think of this as my second coming. Though the me of the past and the me right now might be of one body and perhaps even ultimately one soul, my mind is definitely of a much more bizarre origin.?


    I explained to the best of my abilities, though it made me sound a tad bit too self-important for comfort...


    ?I don''t understand.. What do you even try to imply by saying you ''have a different mind?'' How did that even come to be? Did something happen after the Convergence??


    ?You see, here''s the kicker. That''s precisely what I''d like to know too. What happened during the years before the Convergence I know of, and what has happened after I met with Seth I know as well, but everything that has happened after the Convergence leading up to that point is about as shady to me as it is to everyone else.?


    ?...?


    She dug the hoe furiously into the dirt. Her pointy ears drooped downwards as she let out a disappointed sigh.


    ?But you know... I might know something else you might find interesting.?


    I tried to recover.


    She was talking about wanting to hear about my adventures yesterday and to be honest, I was kind of disappointed she didn''t ask about those...


    ?..!?


    Her ears twitched back up and her eyes darted right back towards my direction. She might conceal a lot more emotions than one might think, but excitement was certainly something she could never hold back on.


    I accidentally chuckled at her honesty, to which she quickly responded by turning away.


    ?Nevermind..?


    She muttered to herself.


    ?Nevermind what? Good morning, you two. Working hard together, are you??


    ?Good morning, Violet.?


    I greeted her, trying my best not to think about what happened last night...


    ?We''re having breakfast soon. I''d love it if you two would like to take a break and join us!?


    She said, beaming with joy.


    ?I, for one, very much welcome a minute of rest..?


    ?Yeah, a brief pause wouldn''t hurt.?