《Edean World Online》


 Chapter 1 : New Life, New Beginning (E)

    Chapter 1


    The Neos just released their new long waited game called Edean World Online.


    I`ve waited for that game also. They created the AVTR Pod or avatar that is used for VR games but they don`t release a game, that was absurd but least they released it  after years of waiting.


    I`m a freshman college student of Luminous University. A world reknown school because it`s where most of the successful people nowadays came from even the owner of Neos.


    It`s still school break and the first day of school was three months from now, so I`m here at my house arranging my stuffs like shirts, shorts, and pants. I¡¯m moving out because Neos called me two days ago for me being their beta tester and scholar.


    Well for me, I`m a bit excited about it and a bit anxious to think that they`re eager for me to study and if you are thinking why well, I`m their sponsored student so yeah I`m an employee in the making.And hey, I don`t mind about it because their giving me a reason to leave my miserable state.


    Being a disabled person given a chance of a new life was really a lifesaver. The feeling of being unable to walk was still depressing like it`s has been what two or three months ago and seeing my okaa-san or mother died right in front of my eyes shattered my heart. I even have nightmares for weeks of okaa-san and me.


    I`m about to withdraw my application when one of their agents came to me in the hospital. Damn! The first one that rammed the door was a bulky looking person that looks like he can break my arms without a sweat. What is he? Is he a wrestle? Owh no¡­


    And the other one on his side looks lanky but I also have doubt about him. Especially that businessman like smile of his creeps the hell outta me. Ugh¡­


    They told me that they are part of the school and Neos were willing to sponsor my education. Well, at first I have my doubts about them but to think that they`ll go to this extent. I discarded all my doubts and agreed with them. Oh~ I`m taking Virtual technology as my major and I even have sub-classes like Graphic Designing and Computer Engineering.


    *


    Someone is knocking the door or rather smashing it. Damn! Why they can`t just be normal agents? They didn`t have to destroy my door!


    I rolled my way to the door and spoke.


    ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡±


    ¡°Neos¡±


    Damn! That`s too short and stiff answer but meh. As I opened, what come to my view were two HUGE guys that send shivers to my spine. They`re bald! Wait, I had seen this baldnes before from one of my games. They definitely needed a mustache.


    ¡°I¡¯m ready; I¡¯ll just get my things¡±


    ¡°No. We`re getting them¡±


    ¡°Okay¡­. It¡¯s in the living room¡±


    I moved a bit so they could go inside. Shit! Their so big they even needed to lower their heads just to get inside my small house. Then I rolled outside my house and got in front of a limousine. The door opened and one that comes out is a beautiful onee-san. If I would rate her, she would be nine out of ten.


    I do`nt give a rating of ten in first impression though, personality was also important too.


    ¡°Good morning Mr.. Cross, I¡¯m Jean from Neos and I`ll be your guide from here until further notice from the ups.¡±


    ¡°Good morning also Jean-san and excuse for my language because I¡¯m raise this way by my okaa-san, it is also my last connection to her.¡±


    ¡°I know Mr. Cross and I were also informed that you have a petition to change name, am I right?¡±


    ¡°Yes I have filed to change my name and my lawyer said that it might take a bit of time.¡±


    ¡°No need to worry Mr. Cross, we at Neos would help you in a way to make it faster.¡±


    ¡°Your company was really favouring me that I have my doubts about it.¡±


    Onee-san smile cramped a bit but she held on to it.Then I heard a bang at my back.


    ¡°We`are ready to go.¡±


    ¡°Wait, I haven¡¯t locked the house and the keys should be given to the dealer but he`s not here either.¡±


    Then I turned around but the two giants are blocking my path and I saw a familiar face going here.


    ¡°Ares, are you really leaving now?¡±


    She`s the Obaa-san right next door. Looks like she saw us because she usually comes at my house and talks to Okaa-san. She even bring food when I`m grieving about it.


    ¡°Yes, I have to go now and can I ask you one last favour?¡±


    I smile at her and grab the keys that I forget to give to my lawyer that is also taking care of my name.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry; I know Mr.. Waltz will understand. And take care of yourself there okay.¡±


    ¡°I will and thank you for everything.¡±


    I stretch my arms to hugged her and she pats my back.


    ¡°I know you have a flight so go now.¡±


    I just smiled again to her and Jean-san order the giants to help me to sit inside and get my costumed wheelchair at the back of the car.


    ¡°Mr. Cross...¡±


    ¡°Rishido, Tadashi Rishido¡±


    I cut her before she could explain everything.


    ¡°Right¡­ Mr. Tadashi we`ll be flying to US by our private plane then another ride on car going to Neos main office for your attendance about the beta tester conference that will be broadcasted globally and the staffs and the boss are expecting you to attend.¡±


    More like forcing me, well I have to comply I`m like their employee already because of all the help they have given to me. In addition, being a student of that school that they have shares.


    Anyways I lost in myself monologue again, why am I doing this self-talking¡­ oh forgot the doctor said it to me one time that become a habit.


    ¡°Sorry, can you repeat the last part again?¡±


    I said as an excuse from my lost thoughts


    ¡°We will be attending the conference of beta tester that was broadcasted globally then lunch will be held or rather a get together party so everyone will know each other so they can have friends from the start and have parties early on.¡±


    I groaned because of the thought of a party, I mean I`m good at making friends but since I got on wheels I`m become reclusive and bullies start aiming at me.


    *sigh* ¡°Okay at least I will know whom the people I¡¯m working with.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not a party person are you?¡±


    ¡°Not really, but since that day I exclude myself from the crowd that¡¯s all.¡±


    ¡°Sorry for asking¡±


    ¡°No worries, please continue and I feel like I`m a boss getting his hectic schedules from his secretary¡±


    ¡°Well it does feels like. After the lunch, everyone will go to our facilities that will be your home for three months¡¯ time, and everything you need to ask will be answered there.¡±


    ¡°Looks like we are here.¡±


    The trip was fast. She said that they owned a plane but here we`re walking inside the airport, doing what normal passengers do, and I`m being pushed by one of the giants then the other people are looking at us. I wonder why.


    Let us see two bouncer, a beautiful onee-san, and my costumed wheelchair that resembled one of the famous character that use psychic power in a movie from the early twentieth century.


    ¡°Looks like we stand out much.¡±


    ¡°It might be your wheelchair that attracts attention.¡±


    I pay no mind at this and just let them do their work.


    On the plane, I just sleep or watch movies and video to past time


    I remembered that Neos posted in their game website. Therefore, I ask Jean-san if I could get my laptop but she said they couldn¡¯t so she lent me her laptop. I connected to the net and view threads that are about the game like basics of it as game control, UID and other measly stuff that a normal teen will know.


    Well, I`m not a really a fan of VR but I do play some but just using the glasses. What I am fan of are the old gaming console like PS.


    After hours of plane travel, we arrived at last. My butt hurt sitting in this chair, my wheelchair was more comfortable.


    The trip towards the Neos is rather silent but it¡¯s okay for me.We arrived at Neos main building and it almost breaks my neck by just looking up. Uhn my neck hurts.


    The desk onee-san greeted us as we arrived then the two giants separates from us as we approached the elevator that will take use at twentieth floor or rather the conference hall floor.


    She helped me bypassing people inside the hall and some of the press were looking at me, I felt the chills ran to my back.


    Then we arrived on one of the round table that`s prepared for us. How big was this conference hall really, I mean they got more or less fifty thousand players here plus the press.


    From the looks of the people I might be the waited VIP, I mean their staring at me so intense but I keep my poker face intact.


    ¡°Looks like our last player has arrived, but before we start I will asked him first¡±


    NO!!!! Stop what you are doing. I don¡¯t like attention you know.


    ¡°Good morning sir, may I ask your name?¡±


    ¡°Rishido, Tadashi Rishido¡±


    ¡°Oh~ a Japanese, I think you understand English so I will not ask for a translator, yes, anyways how`s your trip is and being a beta tester what are your first impression?¡±


    I breathe deep and strengthen my gaze to him as the camera turn towards our table pointing at me.


    ¡°For starter, I`m a half Japanese, mother side. And for your question the trip was uneventful and good, second my first impression will be like, a revival and if you¡¯re thinking on asking more please refrain now because we have a millions of people waiting.¡±


    ¡°Thank you sir and sorry for asking, yes. Then we will that our conference starting from---¡°


    The conference circle around the game operation, what things we can do`s and don¡¯ts, the jobs and skills.I got interested that skills were boost by RL (real life) experience. Then the jobs, we can receive jobs to quest or mission and in special case specific activity that I don¡¯t think is going to be easy.


    The races or character were disclose because they want it to be a surprise. Then we`re given some free days and cash to roam around the city with guide of course or rather bouncers.


    Many people in the press kept asking about things in and out of the game. Especially about trading game items for real money that the MC answered gleefully.


    Then the talk goes down to us players. As the MC instructed the press to ask us, few question about us.From the looks of it, the range of age is around 16 to 30 and some might be older. Moreover, on my table group that is around 10 people including me the ratio is four boys and six girls. However, I pay no attention to them rather; I listen to the interviewers with a set of two or three question.


    I don¡¯t think they would interview us all, do they.


    Most of the interviewed were people having the looks, like one with platinum blonde hair and brown eyes that see looks like a model of sort.


    Then a much older guy that was on his late twenties or early thirties looked like a real life blacksmith seeing his get up of shirt and pants that had a jumper attached to it, a bandana on his head and a set of open finger gloves.


    Then one of the press people approached our table maybe aiming from the guys that talking to each other like their forming a team or maybe the girls some of them are beautiful in their own way. Wait, being a beta tester does have a requirement of having the looks then why am I here¡­ oh right I`m their future employee.


    The one approaching us was a reporter onee-san that comes from a gaming television company.Wait why you are going towards me. Damn I have their attentions. This wasn`t going to be easy.


    ¡°Hello Mr. Tadashi, I¡¯m Lisa from GWN I would like to asked if what might be the possible jobs or race you might take.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have one right now but I may be inline towards production and balanced close and ranged combat type.¡±


    ¡°Oh so a craftsmen that can fight quite rare actually. And for the may second question, is there a story behind your chair if it¡¯s okay to ask¡±


    I heard murmurs and chuckles. Tsk, I don¡¯t like to share story.


    I give her a glare that she taken a step back but I held her hands stopping her from saying something.Then I rolled myself backwards for a bit so the camera could see me as a whole.


    ¡°First sorry for that instance but I don¡¯t really like telling a story about the chair or the one seated but hear me for what I will say. Have you ever felt depressed or helpless that you would rather die? Many people have their stories well for me, a heavy drama aired on primetime and watched by mothers that would make them cry. That¡¯s all I could say. In addition, the chair resembles the wheelchair of a famous character. You¡¯re a reporter you can do the research.¡±


    ¡°Sorry for asking the question Mr. Tadashi and thank you for answering my question that¡¯s all¡±


    ¡°No worries, no harm done.¡±


    ¡°Quite intriguing question there Sir Tadashi and an interesting hint of your life story. And also it`s about time that we ended this conference so our guests here can eat and have some sort of gathering and friendship building.¡±


    Then one by one, the press dispersed on their own packing their things and going out of the conference hall.


    ¡°Now for you guys we`ll be serving buffet that`s eat all you can, after eating and getting acquainted we will be going to Neos facilities where you`ll all being usher towards your own condo with a pod.¡±


    ¡°While waiting here are the rules of the Neos to you guys. First---¡°


    Well to summaries it first, we can only play EWO like duh. Second, we could have a virtual house, it is quite popular now, and I feel so outdated because someone asks if he or she could used their own. Third, we`re given breaks on Sundays so we could go around town but with guards of course then we are required to have few hours break every day or we`ll be forced to get out and punished by being unable to log in for a couple of hour. The punishment was harsh given a time limit.


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    Fourth, no bullies allowed thank goodness. Then after we finish the course, we can either play our existing ones or create a new one after the beta test and all of our items will be remove from the said account. After that food preparation have finished so we start eating.


    Even the MC came down to greet us while having his serving. Well Jean-san also ask me if she could help me but I decided that I could do it on my own in which she didn¡¯t protested.


    I waited a bit more because I might got into trouble bumping or rolling over feet while moving around. When I saw that some spaces are not crowded I start rolling.


    There are tons of foods but mainly there were just 50 dishes that they picked out maybe the popular foods that most people would eat. It had many dishes from around the world but I picked what I`m familiar and that was Japanese cuisine.


    I asked the attendant-san for my order of different kinds of sushi then tempura, tontaksu, some side dish and rice. Then one waiter-san asked if he could assist me so I complied and asked him to hold my tray and I asked for some desserts and tea then rolled my way back to my table.


    Well it looked desolated now. I really don¡¯t care much about them, it¡¯s a gathering after all and some sits were missing.. Much better for me. The waiter-san served my meal then bow to me that I thanked him. It`s time to eat.


    ¡°I gave thanks to all of the ingredients of the world, Itadakimasu¡±


    I started with sushi and no doubts about it, it tasted so good that the tuna feels like its melting at my mouth. I didn¡¯t rush from eating so I savoired it. It will be the last time I am eating good food from now on.


    Ahh¡­ I miss Okaa-san cooking, I felt liked I¡¯m about to cry but I held unto it and take a bite on my tempura, ohh... this one`s a formidable opponent against okaa-san`s cooking.


    I keeping eating on a steady pace and from my gaze looks liked no one`s going to sit with me but I just shrugged off the thought.I fished out my earphone and an old smartphone then play a music while eating silently. Gosh I feel so old using them.


    Then someone came and sat beside me, when I look who¡¯s invading my table. I sighed and thought why coudn`t he leave me alone.


    ¡°So Sir Tadashi you¡¯re quite a loner weren`t you? Yes. Well I think I could accompany you for a bit and have a little chat. Yes.¡±


    This MC was becoming a nuisance now. But I just pay no mind and keep eating while he keeps talking and smiling like a dumb. Then he waved his hands in front of me then as I glared and frowned with his gesture.


    ¡°Can¡¯t you mind your own plate and eat silently and try not to disturbed other people`s meal.


    I retorted to him and still giving him death glare as if he was being inquest.


    ¡°Woh¡­ hold that death stare to me, your sending shiver down my spine you know.¡±


    ¡°Then mind your own plate¡±


    And I start eating again and onwards to my dessert and plug back my earphone that I held down when he waved at me. He just nodded and starts eating. Looks liked I hit the soft spot but I cheerful guy like him don¡¯t give up so easily and I bet he was planning to reproach me after the meal.


    Then another one came and picked up the MC they talked for a bit and the MC having a cramp face walks away with his plate. At last, peace has been achieved again. While waiting for others to finished just held my tea and sips.


    *bamp* sfx slamming the table


    ¡°You limped guy looks like your enjoying yourself, mind if we join.¡±


    The one that asked is a guy that have red hair and dark brown eyes and he¡¯s as tall as I do when I`m standing that is but I think I¡¯m still taller.His clothes was a shirt with skulls on it, chains that dangling on his belt and pair by a torn pants.


    Hmm¡­ so, the bad guy get up was still in until this age. I place my cup on the table and look towards him.


    ¡°That was a kind offer coming from you but I declined your offer¡±


    Then I got my phone and raised the volume a bit. That made the guy fumed and snapped as he tried to snatch my earphone, I grab my chopsticks on the table and pinned it on his right arm then diverted his force so he will just passed by me and not grabbing my earphone or touching my chair.


    I stopped my music and place them on my chairs side pocket. Then I turned a bit backward turning clockwise so he can¡¯t surprise me from the back.


    ¡°You know that your chance of becoming a beta tester might be on the line yet, you¡¯re making a commotion here because you just got ignored by a disabled guy¡±


    ¡°Why you limped bastard¡±


    When he¡¯s about to jumped at me, he stumbled down and subdue by one of the Neos giant agents by simply holding his left shoulder and pushing him down. What the hell! For just pushing his left shoulder, he couldn¡¯t move and start complaining.


    ¡°Hold it Mr. Ross. Aren`t we just discussed about bullying and harassing minutes ago?¡±


    The one that is talking is the MC and that smile now was freakingly scary that it will make a baby cry or stop one.


    ¡°And no buts if you¡¯re thinking about it, we saw what you did to Mr. Tadashi, yes. Now this would just a warning but if we see, hear, catch or got a report of harassment again it`s a bye bye beta and deportation for you Mr. Ross, are we clear?¡±


    ¡°Tsk yeah I got ya`h. Now if you could remove this big guy pinning me down.¡±


    As he got up, he signaled his two friend to moved out and got out of the crowd.


    ¡°That was a splendid technique Mr. Tadashi, and it is quite odd now days seeing people having that kind of talent or skill, yes. So now we can talked for a bit, yes.¡±


    He turned towards me and changed his smile that become pleasant looking but not for me.


    ¡°My answer`s no and I just diverted his force and break his center of balanced, that¡¯s all no more question asked.¡±


    ¡°Ohh... that is quite something, yes. Can I have I try that too?¡±


    ¡°No and it`s just the flow of event so it can¡¯t be repeated again¡±


    ¡°Then let`s repeat the scenario again so I can try, yes.¡±


    Then he started to approached me but I placed down the chopstick and from the look on his face he was going to do it, so I get my cup of tea that was cold now then threw its content towards him that caught him off guard and jumped back slippingdown to his bottoms with a thud.


    ¡°Why did you do that!?¡±


    He exclaimed while standing up. And everyone was laughing at him that has seen the commotion.


    ¡°You¡¯re more dangerous than that guy so I have to put a stop on your antics¡±


    ¡°What if I get soaked by that hot tea you just threw? It was also dangerous also you know.¡±


    Looks like someone`s losing he¡¯s cool and start complaining. Better entertain the peanut gallery and myself a bit more.


    ¡°Like I said, you¡¯re dangerous so I take precautionary measures¡±


    Then I hold my cup and ask a random person from the peanut gallery.


    ¡°Can you make a refill, he`s getting more dangerous now¡±


    ¡°Okay¡±


    They all laughed and said things like bring the whole tea pot or bring a bowl of hot soup.


    ¡°Come guys stop your harassing me and it`s against the rule you know.¡±


    Looked who¡¯s the talking when he¡¯s the one that tried to harass me.


    ¡°But you¡¯re the one harassing me, yes. You said you¡¯re going to repeat what scene a while ago right, yes.¡±


    I copied him and his way of speaking and then the guy that got my cup brought it back with the teapot. Great.


    ¡°Um here`s your order sir..?¡±


    ¡°Thank you¡±


    I got my cup and signaled him to place the pot on the table then the peanut gallery laughed louder that we were making a commotion.


    ¡°Make way and what` going on here.¡±


    The one that barged in and making her way was a beautiful onee-san on her formal suit like Jean-san.


    ¡°Senior they`re playing with me and bullying me¡±


    He complained to her with teary  eyes. I think, I overboard. Meh.


    ¡°Are you serious? You should be the one disturbing them yet you¡¯re the one crying here, be a man and stand up.¡±


    *tonk* sfx slamming the fist on the head.


    ¡°That hurts senior.¡±


    ¡°Then sucked it up¡±


    And another slam on the head.  Ouch!, that second one really hurt that he`s holding his head. So it is ok to hurt him though.


    ¡°Okay twerps fun time is up, all of you fall in line were going to Neos facility now so keeping moving¡±


    We got dispered and ordered to go down so we could see our rooms. And here I am sipping my cup of tea. And it¡¯s a delicious one.


    I rolled my way towards the buffet to ask for take-outs. At first they hesitate but they looked to someone more likely their superior that nodded at me so they start packing my orders inside a plastic container and I gave them my bottle and they filled it with the ice tea.


    ¡°You¡¯re an odd one are you.¡± one of the staff said.


    ¡°Yes you¡¯re right but I have given a chance to eat good food for free so I`m taking souvenirs.¡±


    I smiled at them then rolled my way towards the emptied elevator that just got up and Jean-san approached me. Well she does look like my secretary now.


    ¡°Mr. Tadashi that was quite a feat there. Oh you even brought food, intriguing.¡±


    Yes, yes, I know many have said that as well.


    ¡°Just don¡¯t spread a rumour about this as it was just a trivial thing to talk about.¡±


    ¡°Okay then.¡±


    We just have a silent ride towards the car park as she assisting me with my chair and head out of the building. We were following sets of double decker buses that was also heading towards our new home but I just stared outside admiring a new built city from a war zone land that dated back almost 100 years ago.


    Neos facility looks liked another city inside a city not as big but I think all necessities were here. The outside was big steeled walls that protect their facility, isn¡¯t it too much for a gaming facility hmmm¡­ nah the avatar pod production was here also.


    The buses dropped them in front of a tall building that had more than thirty floor and I bet it will be a hotel like building. As our car approached, I saw group of employees waiting at the lobby waiting for players. There migh be room assignments for us to organize quickly.


    ¡°So would ! also had my own room assignment like them?¡±


    She startled for a bit but still answered my question. She¡¯s not good at holding her expression.


    ¡°Yes of course we don¡¯t have special treatment unless it was ordered and what I mean ordered was like this. However, your room will be on the same floor as them, so I hope you could make acquaintance with some of them as well.


    ¡°Okay, I got that.¡±


    We made our way towards the elevator going to 22nd floor. I rolled out while Jean-san was following me behind. We made a right turn first then I saw and lounge like area with TV, vending machine, a VIC (visual intercom), bookshelf, sofas and tables.


    ¡°This area was the right wing lounge of this floor and your room is 76 that are beside the window of this building so you could enjoy the view outside.¡±


    ¡°I thought there`s no favouritism¡±


    ¡°Well anyone that doesn¡¯t like their room could asked other players for room exchange then informed us so we`ll know who¡¯s getting whom and I¡¯m not helping you with that matter. And before I forgot, the game will be open 6pm sharp and we`re expecting everyone to do so. There were perks in every feat you do like fastest creation or first login.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re really making us work hard from the sound of it¡±


    ¡°Not really, we just want to know if some people couldn`t access using our new avatar that is.¡±


    ¡°Oh a new avatar for the game or rather an upgraded one.¡±


    ¡°Only upgraded one so it could coped up with the game that had faster time and you couldsleep inside the game as it won`t kicked you out for not taking a rest but logging out was still recommended.¡±


    We continue our talk until we arrived at my room 2276 and she bind her goodbye to me. I slide my card and open the dooras to my surprise, it was splendid.


    But the thing was my other neighbours were both girls. Well the room was alternating and she said that the ones that had acquaintances were on the same floor but not door apart. Maybe they planned it so others could build a group or a guild like the whole floor in one guild.


    My room or rather my condo was awesome. They really going to make us play hard just to have good results. But having a five star room was too good as an early investment. However, my room have some adjustments liked how high the table was,what the kitchen should be, the bathroom that had railings on the side then a non-slip flooring fit for my wheelchair.


    Oh well, they knew their housing a guy like me that they prepared it beforehand.


    I had some free time before six so I fixed my clothes that was in my bedroom and hang them and it was computer assisted, really convenient for me. As I¡¯m having my snack around 4pm and watching TV. I started thinking of my character name and the race I`m going to pick. I exclude the generic race like human, elves, dwarves, beastkin, demon and celestial beings that mostly others would picked because of the bonuses they`ll receive but for me, I`ll pick that would represent a new me in this world.


    -----


    EDITED

 Chapter 2 : New companion, New start

    I¡¯ve been thinking of things that happened to me this past few months now as if it was just a dream then again, when I look outside the window thinking everything that had happened and gonna happened to me while being here at Neos.


    -------------------


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Welcome to Edean</td><tr><td colspan=''4''>A new world awaits for you</td></tr></tbody></table>


    Then a bright flash and a sucking feeling goes over my whole body. Crap why can¡¯t they just simplify this suction feeling. And now i`m like floating in white space emptiness then I landed on the floor and I wait for someone to approached me.


    Then I remembered than can moved my legs then I look down and start walking. Feeling my legs again give me fuzzy feeling like a child having his or her favourite gift on Christmas. Then I take my first step one at a time then I start running around. Then feeling of being able to move my legs again is one of the best thing I ever had.


    Then after running I start performing series kicks and acrobatic fits and I even perform dance moves that uses mainly your legs. Then flashbacks start hitting me like flood. Series of memories with me and Okaa-san going to school when I was still a child, learning martial arts as a kid and especially dancing.


    Okaa-san teaches me how to dance from the old ones to modern, it was one of the best times in my life. Then I lied down on the floor covering my eyes with my arms and started crying.


    ¡°You travellers are weird people you know that.¡±


    I ignored her remark, yes a female because of her voice. Childlike voice of maybe 8 to 15 perhaps.


    ¡°You don¡¯t know my story and I don¡¯t like telling it too.¡±


    I said while calming myself but I still cover my eyes.


    ¡°You know, most of the travellers have finished their new persona and they are now on the respective village you know, and you¡¯re delaying my work and I want to explore also.¡±


    ¡°Much better, I don¡¯t like crowds let¡¯s wait a bit more and I need to recollect my thought also.¡±


    ¡°Fuhn. Fine. Hmp.¡±


    What a stubborn child. Wait I haven¡¯t seen her figure ok let¡¯s see. I peeked behind my arms to whom i¡¯m talking to. And guess what it¡¯s a fairy or maybe a pixie, I can¡¯t tell which is which. I got up and dust myself even though it is non-existent.


    ¡°What¡¯s your race and name?¡±


    I asked as I cross my arms on my chest and looking at her seriously. I know that most of this creature a mischievous and will play tricks on you when you let your guard down.


    ¡°Hmp. I will be your guide until you¡¯re able to get live on your own. And I`m a proud fairy race that lives near the world tree Yggdrasil that`s the main colony of the spirits. And my name is Leyla.¡±


    What an introduction she even puffing her flat chest. From her look well the generic are the wings and the leafy one piece long sleeve dress than end just above her knees. Her wings is like a butterfly one, it may be a swallow tail.


    Her hair is dark violet one having chucks of hair on both side of her face and bangs that goes right side. If I would describe that bangs it looks like it was sharply curved in the middle then down, like the hairs that you see in anime characters.


    Then she had a flower ornament that ties the rest of her hair on a ponytail manner. She got a childish face, that was given, and golden brown eyes. Her height might be around 20cm and I bet some lolicon will be flock licking to them now.


    ¡°Then let¡¯s get started with your job shall we.¡±


    ¡°Ok, now here are the races that your avatar can resemble to and all of them got good and bad.¡±


    ¡°I get it. So please remove the following races that I will point out¡±


    Then one by one, my options dwindled and I even remove some race I don¡¯t know about or don¡¯t give much good stats or start.


    ¡°What are those stars that they have?¡±


    ¡°Oh, so you notice they correspond difficulty the great one said, but for us it was like how hard your life will be but the higher the greater you become like for example hmmm¡­ right the dragoniods and their sub race. You see they have 4 star meaning if they work hard and got the magic it will be much higher that the lower race.¡±


    Oh so higher star, higher difficulty meanings greater reward at late game.


    ¡°Okay I get it. Wait for a bit i`m still undecided.¡±


    Let¡¯s see sentinel races are the ones that is left and most have 3 stars like the golem. As I see their stars, I ignored the 1 and 2 stars and continue reading the others. What hit my interest are this two sentinel that have a whopping 5 star. A Clockwork and a Construct. The clockwork is a physical type while the latter is more on magic.


    ¡°Are you sure about that? Most of the travellers picks are 3 or 4 star and only a few dare pick 5 because of the risk.¡±


    ¡°How many pick this two class?¡±


    ¡°None actually and besides their race is also one of the hardest to find and stories says that after the series of war most of them disappear. Some says dwarves still got connection to them but others say they vanish now.¡±


    ¡°Are they the cause of war?¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­ not really from the tales, their arrival are the cause of massive development of most races specially the humans and dwarves because of the things and machine they bring. And that was the age of magic tools comes to life.¡±


    ¡°Then from your story I can get the picture of it. The greed overcome people and races that ignite the war for advancement and most victims are captured for their own cause and the aftermath result of diminishing number of other races special this two. And now most of them hide themselves to prevent another inter race war.¡±


    ¡°Are you here before you know a lot of things?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just a fan of books that¡¯s all. Now I will take the clockwork and discover its full potential.¡±


    ¡°Okay but I have given you a warning. So name please¡±


    ¡°Raiser Qant¡±


    ¡°A weird name¡­hmm¡­ what thus your name means.¡±


    ¡°Raiser is your know to raise again and for the surname that¡¯s a special one. Oh does having a surname bad.¡±


    ¡°For some other races yes but most don¡¯t have until you proven worth to have like the beastkin.¡±


    ¡°Okay so I think i¡¯m ready but can¡¯t I change may looks or I can replace them I mean I¡¯m a clockwork you know.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, I haven¡¯t seen a clockwork or a construct. And the goddess said that we are the last one on the line. Mmhhnn¡­ my friends will laugh at me for doing this.¡±


    ¡°But your my guide and I¡¯m extinct race that have 5 star so be proud about it you might be popular on your colony guiding a lost one.¡±


    ¡°Thanks. Well the goddess informed me that you can only start in one village because of your race that is.¡±


    ¡°Okay no sweat.¡±


    ¡°Okay let¡¯s go to Edean!¡±


    One moment she¡¯s depressed and now excited. I¡¯m getting worried about her mental issue. When we goes down I feel like float peacefully as I closed my eyes. Then I started to feel my body is starting to change. Like i¡¯m being enclosed in metal, but I doesn¡¯t feel uncomfortable and it¡¯s more like i¡¯m inside my pod.


    When I got my consciousness back I feel something is hitting my metal face. I bet it¡¯s the fairy. Anyways let¡¯s get started.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Initializing body scan</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Standby</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Resut</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Head</td><td colspan=''2''>90% operational</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Right arm</td><td colspan=''2''>85% operational</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Left arm</td><td colspan=''2''>76% operational</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Body</td><td colspan=''2''>64% need repair</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Left leg</td><td colspan=''2''>24% damaged need replacement</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Right leg</td><td colspan=''2''>19% damaged need replacement</td></tr></tbody></table>


    Damn it, even here i`m still limp. Stupid realistic game.


    ¡°Wake up you big can, we need to repair you¡±


    ¡°Then stop kicking my visitor you might damage it and shut up i¡¯m starting to work now¡±


    She just puff her cheeks and cross her arms while moving beside me as I got up. I need to check my stats and skill if I have one.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>STATUS</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Name</td><td width="25%">Raiser Qant</td><td width="25%">Race</td><td width="25%">Clockwork</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Class</td><td width="25%">none</td><td width="25%">Level</td><td width="25%">1</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Durability</td><td width="25%">85/250</td><td width="25%">Energy</td><td width="25%">56/100</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Energy regen</td><td colspan=''2''>0.15 per second</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Strength</td><td width="25%">10 (-5)</td><td width="25%">Intelligent</td><td width="25%">10 (-5)</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Agility</td><td width="25%">10 (-5)</td><td width="25%">Dexterity</td><td width="25%">10 (-5)</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Wisdom</td><td width="25%">10 (-5)</td><td width="25%">Luck</td><td width="25%">10</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Toughness</td><td colspan=''2''>10 (-5)</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''3''>Free stat points</td><td width="25%">0</td></tr></tbody></table>


    Looks no good for me. And toughness is also a rare start that you have to make yourself a pin cushion before you acquire them, then again I don¡¯t need to go through that hard.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Traits</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Scanner (upgradable)</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Basic system that allows clockwork to scan the surrounding and identify tools, parts and items.</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Range</td><td width="25%">100 meters</td><td width="25%">Energy cost</td><td width="25%">1 every 10 seconds</td></tr></tbody></table>


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Rusted body (removable)</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Being non-operational for years, the body and systems are down</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>-5 all stats until body parts are repaired or replaced</td></tr></tbody></table>


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Ability</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''3''>Body Construction</td><td width="25%">Basic 1</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Installed system that allow clockworks to repair and contract body part</td></tr></tbody></table>


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''3''>Tinker</td><td width="25%">Basic 1</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Installed system for clockwork that enable them to tinker machine and tools</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>5% increase ability when tinkering with machine and tools</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Can received additional data from other ability</td></tr></tbody></table>


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''3''>Scavenger</td><td width="25%">Basic 1</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Able to retrieve part and tools from broken machineries and trash</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Chance to retrieve something: 5%</td></tr></tbody></table>


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Scanning memory data bank</td></tr></tbody></table>


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>New ability acquired</td></tr></tbody></table>


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>New world ability</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Being a traveller all life experience you accumulated will be transferred towards your new persona. Abilities can be able to apply at any time. Need to scan the system and memory bank before ability being able to use. Need sufficient experience before ability is able to transfer. One¡¯s ability is transferred it cannot be brought back to new world ability list. Ones the ability is deleted it cannot be relearned. Any ability that is incompatible to the body will not display its effect and also dysfunction other ability Proper body parts and system is required for the ability to fully perform.</td></tr></tbody></table>


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Traits</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Presence recognition</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Allow all sensors and scanner to identify the surrounding around the body and detect treats.</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Range of detection</td><td width="25%">3 meters radius</td></tr><td colspan=''2''>Intelligent + 10, Wisdom + 10</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Required additional system, upgraded scanner and sensors to fully utilize this system</td>[tr]</tbody></table>


    <table><tbody>[tr]<td colspan=''4''>Photographic memory</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>System that allow clockwork to take images around and storing it to the memory bank until further notice.</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>ntelligent + 10, Wisdom + 10</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Required additional memory bank, system, and upgraded scanner</td>[tr]</tbody></table>


    <table><tbody>[tr]<td colspan=''4''>Ability</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''3''>Acrobatics</td><td width="25%">Basic 1</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Skilful exercise of dextrous body coordination while moving</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Ability to evade incoming attack: 5%</td><td colspan=''2''>Dexterity + 5</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Required proper body coordination to perform evasion</td>[tr]</tbody></table>


    <table><tbody>[tr]<td colspan=''3''>Perception</td><td width="25%">Basic 1</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Ability to intercept incoming attack</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Ability to block/evade/counterattack: 3%</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Agility + 5</td><td colspan=''4''>Required proper body part and system to perform the ability</td></tr></tbody></table>


    Bingo!! Got new abilities and traits but it will take time. It said new world ability maybe I can take knowledge from the outside to this world. Better list it down later.I can¡¯t move what¡¯s wrong with this body. Baka¡­ i¡¯m a robot of some sort I have to start my engine first may be another inner voice command hmm¡­ let¡¯s try the chuuni type of phrase.


    ¡®Raiser Qant systems ready engine start¡¯ Then I can see that my vision are starting up and I can hear some noise inside me, well that might be my engine.


    ¡°Good morning Leyla, how¡¯s everything?¡±


    ¡°Finally you woke up, and here I thought your dead already.¡±


    ¡°I can move now but I have to repair my legs first on operational line before going out.¡±


    ¡°Then make it faster it stinks here you know.¡±


    Then look around and I got amaze because this world have garbage problem also and looks like it is a graveyard of machine. Well much better for me.


    ¡°Help me out first coz i¡¯m going to scan things that might help me move.¡±


    ¡°Hmp. Fine¡±


    Wild loli tsundere detected. Need further observation to confirm. Damn I should stop this robo talk. ¡®Item box¡¯


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Iventory</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>10 Fuel can</td><td colspan=''2''>5 water canteen</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>1 gear box</td><td colspan=''2''>1 tool box</td></tr></tbody></table>


    Okay, so I got some magic storage but from the looks of it *sigh* it was my only magic I keep receive. Anyways I have to start working now. Let¡¯s see gear box and tool box. Ohh nifty. I have to scan first my legs before I start.


    Great rusted and broken gears, burned wires, clog pistons and other stuff that¡¯s too many. Now for my arm hmm¡­ woo¡­ okay so I got basic construction kit. I haven¡¯t you a welding and soldering tool or even a metal cutter. Better learn it outside later. While i¡¯m deconstruct and replace my legs Leyla is on my shoulders humming beside my head.


    ¡°Are you done?¡±


    ¡°No, I need other parts that¡¯s not included in my tool and gear box.¡±


    ¡°I can help you¡±


    ¡°Thank you but I had scanned the surrounding and most part are just underneath of us¡±


    ¡°Fine and make it faster and bored here.¡±


    ¡°Just shut up and don¡¯t disturbed me.¡±


    I just ignore her murmuring about me being stupid and slow. Tsk spoiled fairy. After I repair my legs  my stats didn¡¯t improve coz i¡¯m still cover with rust ad my legs are just 50 to 40% repair that I can walk but still slow.


    While i¡¯m getting down I continue to burn my energy my scanning around then stop when it hits 40 to regenerate it until back to 70 then search again. Quite troublesome if you ask me. But its 5 star so I have no reason to complain about this.


    After 5 hours of scanning and retrieving I found a not so new arms that¡¯s not rusted maybe people here are using clockwork as labour force or something.Then a beast type broken leg but still repairable. So even monsters here are machine type. Well how can a clockwork live with just mined items?


    I adjust the beast legs by bisecting its parts and check for common parts then exchange it. One by one my body parts are being exchange from the non-rusted one. So i¡¯m satisfied with this for now and all I need is weapon and core for my head.


    When i¡¯m looking around I see that the humanoid type don¡¯t have core and memory on their heads. Might be retrieve or destroyed. After another 2 hour of repair i¡¯m able to remove my rusted body stat and even go bonuses from part I get.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>STATUS</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Name</td><td width="25%">Raiser Qant</td><td width="25%">Race</td><td width="25%">Clockwork</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Class</td><td width="25%">none</td><td width="25%">Level</td><td width="25%">1</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Durability</td><td width="25%">150/280</td><td width="25%">Energy</td><td width="25%">46/100</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Energy regen</td><td colspan=''2''>0.20 per second</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Strength</td><td width="25%">15</td><td width="25%">Intelligent</td><td width="25%">19</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Agility</td><td width="25%">24</td><td width="25%">Dexterity</td><td width="25%">20</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Wisdom</td><td width="25%">15</td><td width="25%">Luck</td><td width="25%">10</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Toughness</td><td colspan=''2''>18</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''3''>Free stat points</td><td width="25%">0</td></tr></tbody></table>


    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Some mobs got memory bank and circuits that¡¯s not totally broken so I installed it and well it¡¯s hard to tinker your head especially when you¡¯re not looking so Leyla help me with this. I need to create a repair bot as soon as possible.


    While Leyla is hovering around i`m scanning for possible fuel cans and other stuff like oil to help me. It¡¯s a junkyard after all.The good thing is that one¡¯s I¡¯ve scan I can specify it but it just give a vague highlight and come can are just junk. Another one hour and I got some fuel can, grease and oils also I retrieve some gears and other nick naks that I needed for repairs.


    ¡°Are we going to adventure now?¡±


    Why is she so eager to go out? She might be a shelter princess type.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry I just need to create weapon and shield and where good to go.¡±


    Then I continue getting scraps and ignore her remark of me being weak. I just retrieve large metal tube, pipe and other scrap that can make a crude club or may be a crude hammer. Then I found a broken shield that have pierced in the middle it quite big but not too heavy for me so I pick it up and repair by putting scrap metal sheets that I found.


    Using my core heat as a smelter I start forging my hitting metals and it is too tedious work. Forging metal with nothing but scrap is burn my energy and supply. Then I began storing items inside my item box but the sad part is that it only had 20 slot, but I found a way to storage many stuff by simple packing smaller items on a bigger one. Then I got new ability and item plus my tinker is now 2


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''3''>Crude blacksmithing</td><td width="25%">Basic 1</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Ability to create weapons and armours from scrap items.</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Need proper blacksmithing ability to fuse with this ability</td></tr></tbody></table>


    I made crude club and hammer and an iron shield they really looks scrap but if I have many weapon its acceptable.


    Now I just need to get out of this scrapyard.


    ¡°Do you have a map or know something about this place.¡±


    ¡°Not really, were not allowed to go here unless we are doing the guiding job.¡±


    Ohh shit. No use for this fairy.


    ¡°Okay so I just have to jump out of one of the wall and get outside¡±


    ¡°What? There is an exit you know¡±


    ¡°Look here sweet cheeks i`m a rare case so if i go to the crowd having this weak looking body I might get bullied and destroy so no.¡±


    The first statement make her fumed but se realize what our situation.


    ¡°Okay but you have me so they will know you¡¯re a traveller as well.¡±


    ¡°Thanks but I need to have weapon for self-defence and improve body part before going out.¡±


    While walking going the opposite side of the exit what I saw is this.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Drone worker ant</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Durability</td><td width="25%">50/50</td><td width="25%">Level 1</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Drone ant that is created from iron of low quality and items scavenged and programmed to search and scavenged materials for the hive.</td></tr></tbody></table>


    Well looks like a can try my weapons if it¡¯s effective. But it might call for support call of the description that have hive on it. I don¡¯t like to be swarmed and dismantled on my first day.


    Well it looks and operates like an ant but on a size of 3 shoebox, and its filling up scraps on its back. Interesting, I might discover new things from its mechanics.


    ¡°Look an enemy, go and smash it so you can level up now¡±


    ¡°I have others plan so be quite¡±


    I continue following the ant that¡¯s retrieving stuffs that I can¡¯t find. I feel like a bandit waiting to strike a merchant getting his goods. The ant is good at picking things then I see that his head part extend for a bit and moved out of the scraps.


    Looks like it¡¯s time for harvest. I circle around where I know the ant will go then wait for it. And as soon as I saw it head I smash it neck that connects its head.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Vital Hit -40</td></tr></tbody></table>


    Before it even reacts I cut its neck by my tool arm.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Drone worker ant defeated</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>90% are able to salvage</td></tr></tbody></table>


    I didn¡¯t see experience notice, looks like they will gonna make us discover it by our own.As I retrieve the ant and go to a safer place where there¡¯s no ant, I start dismantling it specially the major part as mentioned by my scanner.


    ¡°So you ambush it, quite tricky.¡±


    ¡°I need to or it might signal other drone to swarm me.¡±


    ¡°A success hunt doesn¡¯t it, but I wish to see more major battle¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry we will get there¡±


    After our exchange, I cut its visor in two so it could fit mine. Having no visor feels weird, but any way I have better scanner now and it also comes with an antenna that I attached around my ears. Its engine and battery is on its abdomen.


    I open my chest, my core like a heart and engines are like abdomen and others. I need to make myself bigger or find a more compact stuffs that is on the future. I place the extra battery and engine and connect them to the bigger one and close my chest again take my body scan.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>New scanner and face plate acquired</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Scanner improves range by 50m</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Sensor has been detected synchronizing</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Synchronizing complete</td></tr></tbody></table>


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Sensor antenna(upgradable)</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Enable the scanner to perceive movement and detect its location around the body.</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Radius: 3 meters</td></tr></tbody></table>


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>New engine and power supply has been attached</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Recalibrating power output and energy consumption</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Energy regeneration improve</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Energy storage enlarge</td></tr></tbody></table>


    Quite a good hunt, and now I have sensors so might as well full repair myself. After an hour of repairing and preparation, I start moving again. The loots that the ant collected are new ones that I attached to my body and now I don¡¯t hear unnecessary sounds produce my rusted, old parts.


    As I continue my hunt for worker ant, my supply of necessity is also increasing because of their work. After my hundred or so I¡¯ve already lost count, finally I levelled up. Then I think again I have a guide fairy but why isn¡¯t she helping me.


    ¡°Hey Leyla, you¡¯re a guide right then why are you unable to help me?¡±


    She looks shocked then starts to fidget around.


    ¡°You¡¯re not telling what you know are you.¡±


    She¡¯s on her verge of crying that her face stars turning red. Great I made a fairy cry.


    ¡°SORRY!!! UWAHHH!!!¡±


    ¡°Stop crying or both of use will get hunted¡±


    And I quickly cover her mouth.


    ¡°I will remove my finger but promise me you will not scream ok¡±


    She just nodded at me and I remove my finger on her mouth as she calm herself and start explaining. And from her story, I concluded that she is really a failure one. I pity her but to be one of the lowest in your fairy class, how promising.


    Her home is where the world tree is and I get that but to be so lazy and just play tricks to other, quite childish to the extreme that the other older fairy petitioned her to take this guiding job that only successful or chosen fairy and other sprites are allowed to take.


    Guess i`m lucky. I feel like i¡¯m also on the verge of destroying something. But my non-existing feeling didn¡¯t show up coz i¡¯m a freaking robot.


    ¡°So i`m here stuck with a no-good fairy¡±


    ¡°mmmnnnnhhhh¡­.¡±


    Great she¡¯s gonna cry again. So I quickly pat her head and ruffle her hair by my finger.


    ¡°Just don¡¯t coz me trouble and were good. And now better to learn stuff t hat a fairy can learn¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just got an average score in magic.¡±


    ¡°We have a more or less 12 month so you will learn things so cheer up, okay¡±


    She just nodded. I still have doubt about her better scan her first.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Compannion Status</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Name</td><td width="25%">Leyla</td><td width="25%">Race</td><td width="25%">Fairy</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Class</td><td width="25%">Magician</td><td width="25%">Level</td><td width="25%">1</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Health</td><td width="25%">100/100</td><td width="25%">Mana</td><td width="25%">130/150</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Health regen</td><td width="25%">0.01 per second</td><td width="25%">Mana regen</td><td width="25%">0.20 per second</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Strength</td><td width="25%">10</td><td width="25%">Intelligent</td><td width="25%">15</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Agility</td><td width="25%">14</td><td width="25%">Dexterity</td><td width="25%">12</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Wisdom</td><td width="25%">16</td><td width="25%">Luck</td><td width="25%">10</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Vitality</td><td colspan=''2''>10</td></tr></tbody></table>


    Hhmm¡­ the last time I scan her it¡¯s just her name, race, class and level only. Levelling up traits and abilities does do the trick. But until now I can¡¯t use my NWA, better work hard. After our break I return to my usual hunting spot but I got a new visitor.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Iron drone soldier ant</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Durability</td><td width="25%">250/250</td><td width="25%">Level 3</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Drone ant that created to protect the hive and travel with the worker class if threat is detected.</td></tr></tbody></table>


    Major crap. This is a formidable one for newbies but lucky its only one here. And its size is big as a pig but longer, also that claw and pincher in its mouth is my major problem. I have to retreat for now and find a way to kill it.


    ¡°That looks tough. And kind of scary with its claw.¡±


    ¡°It is triple than that ones I hunted last time.¡±


    ¡°So what¡¯s the plan?¡±


    I need to dismantle it or destroy it but I have to get the former for upgrades.


    ¡°I need it intact so I have to find a way to disable it.¡±


    Then I remembered than it got sensors in its head so it might be a problem. Then the next threat are those claws, I need to find a ways to evade or at least block one attack then all or nothing. As I see the sky turning red I find a place to sleep and think about my plan.


    ¡°Let¡¯s take a rest for now.¡±


    ¡°Then I will return to our kingdom¡±


    ¡°Really? Then how many times you can do that so won¡¯t be surprise when pop up and go.¡±


    ¡°Well we can all do it twice a day but if it was a force spell, then it will a day for us.¡±


    ¡°Can something hurt you?¡±


    ¡°Well, magic will do but if like this that we are guiding everything hurts us and also we are not summoned or contracted by you guys, so yeah everything.¡±


    ¡°Very well then better take care of yourself¡±


    ¡°Okay okay *yawn* i¡¯m sleepy already good night¡±


    Then a magic circle appeared under her the she vanish with it. While i¡¯m back to where I wake up I take some precaution like traps that if its disturbed it make noise. Childish trap but I can¡¯t complain I don¡¯t have money or anything except for myself.


    I shut down most of my system but not the scanner and sensors to prevent being attack. After a night of good rest, I strengthen my resolve and waited for Leyla to appear coz I need her for my own safety.


    ¡°Morning¡±


    ¡°Good morning¡±


    She looks cheerful today but I just keep shout or she`ll talk nonstop about it. I go back to where we saw that soldier ant yesterday. When I see that it¡¯s alone and no immediate backup.


    ¡°Leyla watch the enemy¡¯s movement okay.¡±


    ¡°Okay but please don¡¯t die.¡±


    ¡°I got this.¡±


    I`m soloing so I need to take measure before going in a fight. I revved up my engines and start running from its back and once I got inside its sensor it turned around but I threw my club towards its neck to delay its movement.


    As it got distracted, I slammed my hammer towards its left hind legs off balancing it then jump on its back then hammered it neck then connect my right arm tool kit disconnecting its connection towards its hive. Once I saw that its faceplate lights turned down, i`m safe.


    ¡°Hurry up, I saw some movement behind you¡±


    I grabbed its neck and start running towards my hiding place.


    ¡°This is so thrilling¡±


    ¡°Shut up, I don¡¯t want to be discovered and chased around by bugs you know.¡±


    ¡°Fine, but the hunt is a success.¡±


    ¡°I know but we have to cool down first before hunting again.¡±


    I don¡¯t receive anything in my sensor by I don¡¯t care about that for now. I need to live rather than doubt this good for nothing fairy even though it¡¯s a mischievous one. When nothing got inside my sensors, I start dismantling the ant and take of the important parts.


    The face plate was a hit for me coz it improved my old drone scanner and plate. It improves my range by 100m by now its 200m. The sensor also improve to 5m and had additional feature like markings. Next is I disable first my small engine and battery to be replace by much bigger and better parts.


    I know that me versus that level 3 ant is laughable but i¡¯m soloing and haven¡¯t been supported by anyone except for my companion. Yeah much better. I feel like I¡¯ve been on spa and distressing session. For the looted claws, from the looks of it I can make a halberd. Quite heavy but not heavy as my bulk hammer.


    It was rather easy to create coz I just combine the two claw on its sides, smelt them to stick together then weld it then attached smelted metal that bind it together. I also make the handle to gain a grip so it won¡¯t slip out. For the pinchers, I make it as daggers for addition weapons. And I used most of its part to improve my own part and its much better quality also.


    The machinery on its legs don¡¯t par from my wolf legs but I need to replace some parts of it. I even tinker my memory bank, motherboard and chips and replace some or add more circuits to improve my data processing. I¡¯m still wondering how I can improve my core. The ant doesn¡¯t have one, which made me think that I can only improve my core if I defeated a boss type or a special unit.


    As I finish my tinkering, I look at my system notification.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Sensor and scanner has been replace</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Range has been improved. Scanner trait has been improved and gain additional feature</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Sensor range has improved and gain additional feature</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Engine and power battery improve</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Energy capacity and restoration improve</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Due to crude blacksmithing, tinker and scavenger had gain additional data</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Body construction has been improved</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Improving memory capacity, faster processor, motherboard and body part gain additional status</td></tr></tbody></table>


    I need to check my stat if I can add my NWA it¡¯s making me itchy to try it.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>STATUS</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Name</td><td width="25%">Raiser Qant</td><td width="25%">Race</td><td width="25%">Clockwork</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Class</td><td width="25%">none</td><td width="25%">Level</td><td width="25%">2</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Durability</td><td width="25%">340/340</td><td width="25%">Energy</td><td width="25%">180/200</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Energy regen</td><td colspan=''2''>0.27 per second</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Strength</td><td width="25%">25</td><td width="25%">Intelligent</td><td width="25%">35</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Agility</td><td width="25%">30</td><td width="25%">Dexterity</td><td width="25%">27</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Wisdom</td><td width="25%">32</td><td width="25%">Luck</td><td width="25%">10</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Toughness</td><td colspan=''2''>22</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''3''>Free stat points</td><td width="25%">0</td></tr></tbody></table>


    Guess having high difficulty is also has its own perks, then again I don¡¯t have a real use for wis and int other than tinkering. Maybe I should start researching about stuff to gain more NWA. I¡¯m feel like a cheat but I don¡¯t care coz i¡¯m just testing it and they will also discover it sooner or later. Better take everything while it¡¯s here.


    _____________________________


    A/N


    i will not lose hope to this one and continue on writing this until the last chapter.

 Chapter 3 : New Things, New Goals

    Chapter 3


    I`m back. When I was still a child, i`m not good at talking to people and I even had a hard time making friends. Maybe it was just my cold attitude that keeps people away and I really hate having bullies picking at me.


    =====


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>New world ability</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Available Abilities and Trait</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Acrobatics</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Perception</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Presence recognition</td></tr></tbody></table>


    Alright I can download 3 out of 4, this will help me a lot but that presences recognition is don¡¯t par to my sensor well I can delete it but retrieve it back so i¡¯m taking my chances.


    ¡°What are you doing now?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m checking my system and upgrading myself so it¡¯ll take a few minutes¡±


    ¡°Fine, but after that we will go hunting again, Okay?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, I got ya`h.¡±


    After our exchange she just sat on my shoulder and start humming. I take all available then a notif came to my view.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Downloading new world ability 1/3</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Downloading new world ability 2/3</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Downloading new world ability 3/3</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Installing new found data 10/100%</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Installation completed</td></tr></tbody></table>


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''3''>Acrobatics</td><td width="25%">Beginner 1</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Skilful exercise of dextrous body coordination while moving</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Ability to evade incoming attack: 10%</td><td colspan=''2''>Dexterity +15</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Required proper body coordination to perform evasion</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''3''>Perception</td><td width="25%">Beginner 1</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Ability to intercept incoming attack</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Ability to block/evade/counterattack: 10%</td><td colspan=''2''>Agility +15</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Required proper body part and system to perform the ability</td></tr><table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Presence recognition</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Range of detection</td><td width="25%">3 meter radius</td><td colspan=''2''>Intelligent +10 Wisdom +10</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Required additional system, upgraded scanner and sensors to fully utilize this system</td></tr></tbody></table>


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Would you like to merge Presence recognition to Sensor Antenna?</td></tr></tbody></table>


    Woo¡­ that¡¯s new. Let¡¯s see. ¡®Show result from merging of two traits¡¯


    Hhmm¡­Additional features from existing one, upgraded status, additional range, system assist to ability involving movement, evasion, blocking, and counterattack, many benefits can be received.¡®Merge two traits¡¯


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Merging traits 5/100%</td></tr></tbody></table>


    Wooh¡­ that will take time, better keep moving.


    ¡°Leyla, help me with my cans again.¡±


    ¡°You really worked up to that one right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, my energy capacity is still small and doing additional work on my engine and gear really burned me.¡±


    ¡°Okay, okay now open up.¡±


    I open my hatch where she will pour the fuel and water at my back. It feels like eating but damn, thinking of the taste will be like you¡¯re just drink a warm soft drink. Bleh.


    ¡°Thanks Leyla, you might be a good assistant for a clockwork or maybe create your own robot.¡±


    ¡°That would be easy because i¡¯m your guide after all. Fu fu fu fu¡±


    Damn here we go again. I should stop praising here from small things. When I look at my bottom left of m visor the merging is now 8%. Too slow.


    ¡°It¡¯s noon already, let¡¯s go back to hunting before sun goes down.¡±


    ¡°Yey¡±


    Easy scared but too excited, she really need a counselling about her attitude and mental issue. When moving back to where my last fight is, we saw another one still on solo. Might as well take the chance before their hive send groups or higher threat.


    Now I do full frontal assault now that I have better equips. The drone run towards I but I utilize my new ability as I jump overhead while evading its claw that will slice me in half. It¡¯s really useful having warning flashing for 2 sec before the contact. I slice its neck to finish it quickly, it will be troublesome for me if it send signal towards others.


    ¡°Is that your upgrade that you¡¯re talking about?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, quite useful because I can see incoming attack and evade unlike me yesterday that can¡¯t move this fluidly.¡±


    ¡°Then can you hunt stronger ones now, I like to see big battle.¡±


    ¡°Fine, but you have to fight too you know.¡±


    ¡°Why would I do that? Hmp¡±


    ¡°If you can¡¯t fight or defend yourself, you can¡¯t go outside so here catch¡±


    I toss to her a pierced worker ant in my halberd.


    ¡°WAAHHHH¡±


    ¡°Use your magic.¡±


    ¡°Nature ball grip¡±


    So she can do chant less magic. And that ball fly towards the drone before vines that crushed it but not really powerful because the drones already dying.


    ¡°That was dangerous you know!¡±


    ¡°But you need to do it at least a hundred more.¡±


    ¡°What are you saying? You¡¯re higher than us fairies you know.¡±


    ¡°Oh. I forgot about it. Anyways better to teach you, so you can be better that the others.¡±


    ¡°Hmp. But I`m just training with you just for myself and not helping you or anything. Stupid tin can.¡±


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Tsundere loli fairy detected</td></tr></tbody></table>


    What the fuck really? My scanner just displayed that. Calm down, breath in, breath out wait I don¡¯t need oxygen i¡¯m a robot.


    I just shrugged off and start throwing pierced drones and after my 15 toss she shines for a bit. Looks like she level up, wait does everybody shine when levelling up.


    ¡°Yeah! the goddess said I become stronger. Fu fu fu.¡±


    Then I scanned her if I can help her with the points or maybe its auto locate.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Compannion Status</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Name</td><td width="25%">Leyla</td><td width="25%">Race</td><td width="25%">Fairy</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Class</td><td width="25%">Magician</td><td width="25%">Level</td><td width="25%">2</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Health</td><td width="25%">120/120</td><td width="25%">Mana</td><td width="25%">205/205</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Health regen</td><td width="25%">0.025 per second</td><td width="25%">Mana regen</td><td width="25%">0.275 per second</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Strength</td><td width="25%">11</td><td width="25%">Intelligent</td><td width="25%">19</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Agility</td><td width="25%">15</td><td width="25%">Dexterity</td><td width="25%">13</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Wisdom</td><td width="25%">19</td><td width="25%">Luck</td><td width="25%">11</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Vitality</td><td colspan=''2''>11</td></tr></tbody></table>


    Oh so they have all stat increase and additional bonuses depending on their class.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get going then.¡±


    As I look away she¡¯s puffing her cheeks and cross her arms. *sigh* I won¡¯t praise you. We continue our hunt and thank Minea she¡¯s helping me now. So the hunt run smoothly.


    As the night starts crawling at the junkyard we made it back to my so called base. And here i¡¯m preparing the scanners that will alert me when someone or something came nearby. Leyla also helping me with her magic by binding the useless scrap as I make a cave that will fit my body. And it¡¯s cramped but I can¡¯t say anything.


    As the night falls, she return to her home while  I connected all the surveillance scanner and sensor to my arms and shut down my system to sleep. Tomorrow will be my third and last day before walking up in RL.


    ----


    *yawn* last day before logging out.  I need to hit level three before night fall or maybe find something other than ants. But I can¡¯t just go inside the village looking poor or anything.


    As I start my engine and go online, I look at my sensors and scanners and I does scan a lot but mostly the workers drones moving around then it picked up life signature around midnight.


    Tsk, someone¡¯s roaming around and also at midnight that was suspicious. Maybe going to the village is inevitable. I kicked the block able of my mini cave and see Leyla with her beaming smile, but I ignore her and proceed towards the hunting ground.


    She¡¯s on her good mode today, looks like something good happened to her while on her town but I refrain asking coz she will talk nonstop. I saw increase of soldier drones patrolling around and looks like their queen send their commanders.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Autonomous siege drone ant</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Durability</td><td width="25%">600/600</td><td width="25%">Level 5</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Drone ant created to hold its own drone soldier network and workers to give orders if threat is found. It can also send signal to the hive if the collection site is dangerous. If it detect threat, soldier ant and siege will chase enemy and the send signal to hive for support to take down threat.</td></tr></tbody></table>


    Wow that¡¯s a lot and now I see a better engine for me, but what I hate is the hive system it had.


    ¡°Are they too many?¡±


    ¡°No just fine but we need to finish this quickly or we will get surrounded.¡±


    ¡°So what¡¯s the plan?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re just going bind them with your magic as much as possible while I take that big one. Got that.¡±


    ¡°I got it but I can¡¯t bind them all at the same time.¡±


    ¡°Just bind the ones attacking me from behind and my sides, I can¡¯t evade multiple attacked at once or ill burn myself.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go¡±


    Then I start running towards the enemy even though its 2 versus 6 we can managed so soldier but the siege is a problem. Then an alert came in signalling up I didn¡¯t think I just move sideward.


    Fuck that scrap ball is as big as a sofa. Then I saw the siege making another one. Crap need to move fast. On my single glaze to Leyla she starts firing nature ball and trapped or tumbled soldier ant.


    As I evade another ball that is fired at me, I jump on one of the ants then throw one of my spear that I made after yesterday¡¯s hunt. I connects towards the siege`s leg and disrupting its balance so the ball missed me an inch or two. I really need to go inside fight I will be smashed to bit by this.


    I bisect other ant that attacked me then go inside the siege`s claw range. The siege is as big as a full grown horse and i`m running out of time also. I move faster than the soldier as it slams its claws towards me and keep evading. I need to have a clear shot on its neck to defeat it and also stop it from throwing signal.


    Then it slams both claw then I saw its neck wide open and take the hit with my halberd blocking it. Damn it¡¯s too heavy for me. I keep getting lowered to the ground and a soldier is approaching to me.


    One ant break from Leyla`s binding this is not good. I look back at the siege and it¡¯s going to bite my head off so I lower myself to gain momentum from my feet then burn my energy to make a push upward removing the claws and evading the soldier ant claw by going under the siege neck then smashing my halberd so hard that I almost break its handle.


    Damn this one, the halberd only travel haft of its neck and it¡¯s stuck. But what I did is gripped its neck and pull myself up to disable it.


    The siege starts to shakes me off its neck but I need to focus or I¡¯ll gonna die. After I disconnected its wire and dysfunction its operating system that I always see in other ants, it stop moving and slowly lower its head. The soldier ant stop also, maybe I hit the hive connection.


    I didn¡¯t waste time and one by one I disable all of the five remaining. And I saw Leyla panting and hiding the scraps. She exhausted herself for this, I need to thank her at least.


    ¡°Are *pant* we *pant* done now?*pant*¡±


    Yep super exhausted. But hey, it was a good hunt though so it¡¯s a win-win.


    ¡°Yes battle is done we win so take a rest for a bit¡±


    ¡°Wuahh¡­¡±


    She just lie down on the dirt while I start dismantling the siege drone. While doing it, I turned on my notif to see what I gain.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>For disabling the siege ant status gain has been achieved</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Int +3, Wis +5, Dex +5]</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>For disabling the hive system of drone ant¡¯s status gain has been achieved</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>All stats + 2</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>.......</td></tr></tbody></table>


    Very nice, I gain a level, a Dismantle ability, and a title it was a truly a good hunt for the last day. Maybe Leyla level up to after this battle but first I have to bag this thing first.


    I carry the siege first but by parts while Leyla is guarding the other loots. And after gaining some distance and safe place for upgrade, I start my work for advancement.


    First I attached my new and more powerful engine and battery to use my core as a smelter for my new head part. The faceplate that have scanner is quite big but it can be bent and cut when heated, so I make a helmet like head with half of it¡¯s covered by the eyes scanner that¡¯s under the face plate. From the looks of it, it was like mask with no hole just a mask covering the face then I mould the heated plate like a helmet that I saw on TV.


    I also prepare my OS that is the combination of the siege and some of mine. It¡¯s quite hard coz I have to shut down some system and keep working on my new head. After i¡¯m done half way I ask Leyla to help me with my head. I extend my cords that connect to my body to the surface where I was working. It looks weird seeing your body without a head.


    ¡°Leyla did you get my instruction. It was colour coded so the cords will not go to the wrong slot you go it.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, i¡¯m genius at doing this.¡±


    That¡¯s what I fear the most.


    ¡°If you fail, I die so do it right. Good bye.¡±


    I shut down my system but not the engine after my data transfer to my new head.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Connecting to the new system stand by</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Scanning head</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Scan complete no abnormalities detected</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Connection complete, synchronizing with the body</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Synchronization complete, all body parts detected and operational</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>New scanner, sensor system, memory bank and OS has been synchronize</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Identification</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Raiser Qant</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Identification accepted[/td4</tr></tbody></table>


    I feel renewed again, my body feels great and moving my arms and legs don¡¯t feel anything weird except for some that needs replacement for burning them to work.


    ¡°My head feels light and great.¡±


    ¡°I told you i¡¯m good at this.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, you just said it a while ago.¡±


    Then she start laughing and praising herself. Better start my other upgrades and maybe I should go inside the village now to have a proper workshop to craft my gears.


    ¡°We are going inside the village so get ready. I`ll just finish collecting this and repair then we move out.¡±


    ¡°Finally, when can get out of this junkyard.¡±


    I store the limbs and other parts like the body and claw and eats about ten slot in my upgraded item box. I just change the gears from the soldiers and take some extra parts and repair myself. Crap my merging skill I forgot to check it.


    <table><tbody><tr>[td4]Merging status complete</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Zone detection (upgradeable)</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Enable the sensors to detect every biological and non-biological presence around the body</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Able to perceive possible threat and their level. Also aid the scanner and sensor to perceive movements that threatens then body.</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Enable to perceive intention towards the system.</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Give aids towards movement, evasion, blocking, and counterattack ability and trait</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Range for detection</td><td width="25%">6 meters</td><td width="25%">Range for perceiving threat movement</td><td width="25%">4 meters</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Intelligent + 15, Wisdom +15, Dexterity +5, Agility +5</td></tr></tbody></table>


    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Awesome!!!...  But my strength and toughness have been left out. Well I need to change part to increase my toughness and strength.


    ¡°Are you done? I¡¯m ready to go.¡±


    ¡°Yeah i`m ready so let¡¯s go then.¡±


    ¡°Yeah! We¡¯re exploring the village.¡±


    ¡°Stay on my shoulders and don¡¯t use you magic and shut your mouth, I don¡¯t need trouble because i¡¯m already a walking one.¡±


    ¡°Tsk fine, party popper.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re my guide so where to go first¡±


    ¡°The TEA guild¡±


    ¡°Tea guild, you know i¡¯m a non-biological sentinel being right.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re saying but it`s not a tea for drink but of travellers, explorers, and adventures guild.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t they all the same?¡±


    ¡°Yeah but there are some pecks and it is also groupings of job classes. Like if you register as a traveller you should have me chanting skill or crafting skill. While the explorer and adventurer have a little difference. Explorers do dungeon hunting and ruin excavation but the adventure do well adventuring the land and sea like mountain mapping and threat estimation.¡±


    ¡°Can I register them all?¡±


    ¡°Yes but you have to gain the required rank to have another one.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s talk later. I have to cover myself and I will instruct you when we have to talk.¡±


    ¡°Why is that?¡±


    ¡°I need to register first so I won¡¯t get hunted down¡±


    ¡°Yeah you¡¯re the sole clockwork traveller after.¡±


    I grab the cloth that I saw will going to the exit and cover my head and all the way down my feet but the holes are not help better find it fast.


    ¡°You ready?¡±


    ¡°Wait I¡¯ll scan first and mark my route for easiest way and not crowded path.¡±


    My scanner can reach up to 350meters but this village or rather a city is much bigger than I think off. The guild is one the east side and easily seen because it¡¯s on the main roadway.


    The town or city looks like diamond shape except for the scrapyard that is not connected from the town. There is also some settlement outside the walls and the slums must be there. There will be always people in need even in other worlds.


    As we walk inside the town, there is no guards stopping me and most people I see hear are human or the half breeds. How depressing but I have to keep walking and besides I don¡¯t have feelings or anything. As I turn right I can see the guild but its noon here I don¡¯t think its summer season as I look at my temperature gauge at my screen.


    Is looks like what would you see in some rig games. The reception is built from stones but the upper part are all wood. The banner have a sword and a wand making an x a shield behind it then an three arrow positioned horizontally then from the bottom of the shield is a dragon claw with a scroll or maybe a map with the other one is like a feline paw with a potion.


    Then building has 5 floors from the windows that I see and inside are lots of people that I pick up when I scanned the building. The fun part is that it has dungeon or a basement that has 2 floors below and there are quite a few people. My sensors give me a yellow warning, meaning there someone or a group watching me. Please leave me along and don¡¯t raise any red flag.


    As I walked inside I quickly proceed towards the counter for registration. By the way this floor have 3 section, first is the trading post where you report or trade your loot then the registration post and last is the lounge and request board.


    ¡°Good day sir, are you a traveller or a native.¡±


    ¡°Leyla do your work¡±


    ¡°Hmp. Stubborn lazy can.¡±


    Then she flew from the hole that is in my face and towards the receptionist onee-san.


    ¡°Oh so you¡¯re a traveller, I see but I know that travellers need to register once they got inside the town right?¡±


    ¡°Yes I know because that¡¯s my job but the thing is, we don¡¯t end up inside the town.¡±


    ¡°Sorry I didn¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°Registration.¡±


    ¡°Oh sorry sir, ohh¡­  I you could please remove your cloak and held your arms out, when hum... it is part of the registration¡­¡±


    Looks like they develop photos and finger print but i¡¯m a clockwork I can change my face and hands anytime.


    ¡°Can you contact you guild master here because i¡¯m in predicament about what you said.¡±


    ¡°T-the guild master... b-but I don¡¯t have that power sir¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry I can feel it to¡±


    ¡°What did you say sir.¡±


    ¡°Raiser you¡¯re scaring the lady!¡±


    ¡°I said don¡¯t make commotion right? And here you are shouting even my name.¡±


    ¡°But your scaring the lady don¡¯t you see.¡±


    ¡°She was just scared from what she don¡¯t know, that¡¯s all¡±


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Warning threat level 1 detected</td></tr></tbody></table>


    ¡°Oy! Did we just heard your scaring our beautiful Sheena?¡±


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Warning threat level 5 detected from above</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Warning threat level 10 detected from above</td></tr></tbody></table></tbody></table>


    So the guild master sense me, well love the make some anime like scene here. But better ignore them first or I might break one or two bones.


    ¡°I`m not scaring her, i¡¯m just requesting to meet the guild master of this town.¡±


    ¡°Heh. And who do you think you are? You even have a weird voice.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the one making commotion now raiser.¡±


    Why can¡¯t she just shut up?


    ¡°Your even like us, don¡¯t you know the rules. And if you think you can beat me and my crew think again. We are level 5 even if were jobless, we can beat you. And the highest right now would be at least 15.¡±


    These ruffians talk too much. My gears are raging to beat the day out of them.


    ¡°Shark please don¡¯t start a fight here. The guild master won¡¯t like it.


    Why does he even name himself shark if they are all human according to my scanner.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Warning threat level 5 detected far left</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Warning threat level 10 detected from far left non-hostile</td></tr></tbody></table>[/table]


    Let the show begin.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry Sheena we will just teach him a lesson.¡±


    As Shark grabs my left shoulder, the threat moves fast going at my back. Shit I have to make it. As my system received my command, my whole body starts pumping up more energy. Let¡¯s do this.


    I grab Shark`s arms with my left hand then pulled him at a fluid movement and let¡¯s hope not to damage my gears for this, I connect my right elbow to his midsection then do a back pass using Shark as a ball. Double shit it evade him, need to block.


    I plant my foot hard from the incoming attack that give me a breath time of 2 sec, too fast. I cross my arms luckily the scrap shield is still on my left arm or I will gonna find another arm. Then it connects to my shield.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Enchanted blow -120</td></tr></tbody></table>


    Fuck that hurts and enchanted blow, I don¡¯t even have magic resist. I might get scrap if I got 2 more hit.


    I got push several inches from my original place and my shield just got destroyed.


    What the hell? That shit might be armour pent guys. Nerf please. As the attacker jumped back and prepare another fist of hell someone grab his shoulder. Please stop that beast or he`ll break my arms you know.


    ¡°Luin, stand down he`s a traveller even you kill him, he will just come back to life.¡±


    What the hell, you didn¡¯t even care if he¡¯s going to kill me. My scanner can¡¯t identify the one beside him maybe identify inhibition or my scanner is just low.


    ¡°Sorry for his sudden burst he just got a bad taste from your presence.¡±


    For such thing, he just attacked and almost break my arm.


    ¡°Then at least put a good leash or a mouth guard to him, he might hurt somebody just because of trivial thing.¡±


    ¡°WHAT!!! You think I`m dog you insolent being.¡±


    He`s hot headed just for being teased what a childish upbringing or maybe just his nature after all he`s a beastkin of canine.


    ¡°Luin, I said stand down¡±


    Oh the old man gone cold now. And his grip might break my shoulder coz the mutt starts to wince.


    ¡°From my perspective, you already know who am I right *sigh* show ends now.¡±


    As I removed my tattered cloak everyone face got a mix of amazement and surprise. I expected this one, you don¡¯t see an independent clockwork nowadays.


    ¡°Yes, I already know when you step inside this building.¡±


    ¡°Then I want to be registered to be an explorer and adventurer.¡±


    ¡°Quite a request but you have to pass the exam for dual registration. And you also need to be at least silver with 3 quest that had 4 star or be gold that needed more than the silver.¡±


    Tsk. That would take too much time but i have to figure it out before the beta ends.


    ¡°That would be hard.¡±


    ¡°Heh¡­ and do you think you could get a silver, I bet even going at bronze will take you a year or two.¡±


    Quite cocky but his punch does say a lot. If I get stronger, I`ll challenge this mutt for another fight.


    ¡°What if I just register and don¡¯t pick my field what will happened.¡±


    ¡°Well you won¡¯t have additional skills given by the said field of work then you can`t do field oriented job orders like dungeon exploration commissioned by the guild.¡±


    ¡°Can I change my registration from none to adventurer or explorer?¡±


    ¡°Yes it¡¯s possible but you have to start by a level lower from your current rank.¡±


    ¡°Thank you guild master Arth¡±


    ¡°Oh so you know me, I¡¯m flattered.¡±


    ¡°Not really just heard someone saying your name.¡±


    ¡°Hey you¡¯re ignoring me.¡±


    After my talk to the guild master ignoring his mutt, I turn my attention towards Sheena-san and Leyla who`s eyes are sparkling. What`s so amusing just to make her like that.


    ¡°Ojou-san I would just like to register to the guild with no field.¡±


    ¡°Okay sir¡­your right hand please and release your mana on your hand.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a sentinel being that doesn¡¯t have mana¡±


    ¡°Sorry I didn¡¯t know.¡±


    I looked down and being ashamed about what I said. Come on this isn`t your fault.


    ¡°Wait a moment¡±


    Maybe I could do it with my energy but it will be hard to do with energy. Maybe I could pumped my energy in my hand, alright all or nothing like playing poker. I start pumping my energy focusing to my right hand. Fuck this is hard, how can I do this. Light bulb!!!


    ¡°Ojou-san! I can¡¯t keep it for too long or ill shut down.¡±


    Then she quickly insert the plate then I remembered that she might get hurt.


    ¡°Drop the plate! Or you¡¯ll get burned.¡±


    ¡°Aaah!!!¡±


    Looks like she got startled for a bit and drop  the plate right in my palm but the next moment the plate shine bright that even I have to shut down my vision for a bit. I feel Leyla that has been silent for the whole event at the back of my head.


    ¡°I¡¯m scared Raiser¡­ muhh...¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry I just used half of my energy so don¡¯t worry¡±


    ¡°Whaa...My eyes hurt.¡±


    Noisy mutt, I didn¡¯t even know what happened.


    ¡°Looks like mister clockwork release too much mana or whatever it is called.¡±


    ¡°Looks like the registration is a success.¡±


    The guild plate is quite amusing but the colour is somewhat whitish blue.


    ¡°I will just confirm the registration¡±


    She look at my tin card plate then it shine for a bit, maybe confirmation skill or something.


    ¡°Yes the process is completed, welcome to the guild Sir Raiser.¡±


    ¡°Raiser only Sheena-san¡±


    ¡°Okay¡­ Raiser¡±


    Then the guild master Arth approached with his business smile. That will gives me the chills but I`m a robot.


    ¡°So now that you¡¯re registered will you take some quest?¡±


    Quest is really something because I can receive more rewards but I like to explore more about my capabilities.


    ¡°No, I will go hunting solo again.¡±


    ¡°Then come back if you know what field you will take first.¡±


    ¡°Thank you Sheena and guild master but we will be back promise.¡±


    ¡°Leyla lets go¡±


    As she rushed at me I looked at my status.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>STATUS</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Name</td><td width="25%">Raiser Qant</td><td width="25%">Race</td><td width="25%">Clockwork</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Class</td><td width="25%">none</td><td width="25%">Level</td><td width="25%">3</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Durability</td><td width="25%">340/340</td><td width="25%">Energy</td><td width="25%">200/200</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Energy regen</td><td colspan=''2''>0.27 per second</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Strength</td><td width="25%">27 +3</td><td width="25%">Intelligent</td><td width="25%">75 +3</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Agility</td><td width="25%">52 +3</td><td width="25%">Dexterity</td><td width="25%">60 +3</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Wisdom</td><td width="25%">74 +3</td><td width="25%">Luck</td><td width="25%">12 +3</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Toughness</td><td colspan=''2''>24 +3</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''3''>Free stat points</td><td width="25%">5</td></tr></tbody></table>


    ______________________


    A/N


    Hello again if you`re still reading this and thank you,, and about that part where there are some text that is in the center..


    i can`t edit it out without doing damage to the whole thing sorry.. okay so stay tune and enjoy,,


    rate and review please..

 Chapter 4 : New people, New perks

    Back again, and guest what it¡¯s Sunday. Okaa-san always treat me dinner outside after her work and go sightseeing but what really matter is that i`m with her and before the day ends, I always have an ice cream.


    =====


    I should have used the forge while i¡¯m there but that baka-inu showed up. We made it back with not much attention, but the forge inside the guild is a disappointment.


    I don¡¯t have a choice either, I have to cold down first so I won¡¯t get into more fight. It¡¯s also my last log in day, might as well you it for research to gain more NWA.


    ¡°Leyla, this will be my last day before going back and I might take someday¡±


    I said at we entered the scrapyard and start preparing my weaponry.


    ¡°Is that so but don¡¯t make it long, you¡¯re still weak you know and everyone is getting higher.¡±


    ¡°I know but rushing to the unknown without much preparation mentally or physically will take you to your end.¡±


    ¡°Fine, i¡¯m be waiting but where will you keep your body.¡±


    ¡°Well, there`s a few inn just about few meters away from the guild with army outpost and its quite popular from what i`m hearing."


    ¡°Okay then, I will take a look at you every day but not too long okay.¡±


    ¡°Yeah I got you. And start your magic were here.¡±


    We arrive at the last battle ground and looks like they just replenish their ranks but no siege for now. Thank Minea for this. After series of battle, i¡¯m still at 3. Maybe my experience double every level or maybe I need to hunt new machine type.


    While collecting the loots and Leyla is starting to learn how I do things like dismantling the parts. She might be my new assistant or a new secretary, Jean-san is not here anymore.


    Before night fall we start going back to the guild to sell some parts that I got from the drones. We got inside the guild that is packed with returning players and I know who they are just from hearing their conversation.


    I don¡¯t stand out because of the tattered cloth and I pass people going straight to the trading desk.


    ¡°Good evening and what you¡¯re trading for today.¡±


    ¡°Will you accept machine parts?¡±


    ¡°We most of the monster are machine or part machine, so yes we are accepting them¡±


    ¡°Are weapon parts good for trade?¡±


    ¡°Of course every weapon like parts are welcome even the plates that¡¯s not too damaged are accepted.¡±


    So my loots are in good chance for trade. And not too damaged he said, maybe people here likes to destroy monster parts because they just pop up. I have doubts about spawning process because of my experience.


    ¡°Okay but can your desk handle the weight?¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes of course this is an enchanted building after all and most items are tough so even some members fight inside the building wont be damage, *sigh* but mostly the higher ranks do the trouble here.¡±


    ¡°I know, I just saw it this morning.¡±


    ¡°Raiser¡­¡±


    ¡°Not now Leyla.¡±


    She should¡¯ve learned to not always say things but then again she has her nature of being a mischievous. I open my item box and pick things that is sellable like the soldier claws, pinchers, their plates, and legs. For the siege, maybe after my upgrade.


    ¡°That¡¯s a lot but mostly not inside the request board coz it¡¯s a common loot here.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry I just need to have some space for my item box because it¡¯s already cramp.¡±


    ¡°Would you looked at this plates and claws, almost in perfect condition, your team do their work nicely.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have a team¡±


    I got a shocked looked from him from what I have said. Great, I just raised another death flag.


    ¡°That would be hard to believe knowing that most of the drones are hive connected and even if they lose their lives they will always send signals.¡±


    They don¡¯t know how to dismantle and disable drone, quite a perk for being a clockwork.


    ¡°I know my stuff that`s all.¡±


    ¡°Okay Sir and here`s your money sir, 25 silver and 56 copper in all.¡±


    I don¡¯t know if it`s big or not but it might be.


    ¡°Big exchange, why is that?¡±


    ¡°Well almost all of them are iron or refined iron so the exchange gets a bit higher than the usual and the plate that are not damaged it will fetch a good price from blacksmiths here.¡±


    So he got an identify skill that is higher than mine. He even know what it is made of. There are two options for me and it¡¯s either get a better scanner with specific program or learn metallurgy and maybe geology.


    I still hesitant on asking if I can sell it directly to the blacksmith but this is the travellers main branches so there will always take advantage on being illiterate in trade.


    ¡°Is there a forge that can I access free or I have to pay for it?¡±


    ¡°We have it inside the guild and its underground also but you need to at least finished 3 quest and be at iron plate if not you have to pay for it.¡±


    That iron plate is 20 finished quest with 1-2 star rating. But I¡¯m a tin plate with no quest and most of the quest I can get is non-star. But most request are subjugation, research, delivery and exploration that have ratings.


    ¡°Can you recommend me an inn or this building itself has an inn.¡±


    ¡°Well we do have rooms but it is only for high rank only sorry. But most of them goes to the Crafty inn. And the thing is the family that owns the inn is craftsmen, but their grandfather named it as that for some unknown reason, maybe just so you know they are crafter.¡±


    ¡°Yes that might be so. And thanks for the exchange I¡¯ll be back after several days¡±


    ¡°Thank you sir¡±


    As we left the guild, Leyla started talking to me venting her anger of me ignoring her or ordering her around. You¡¯re still a brat that don¡¯t know the things I¡¯m taking care of.


    And even I told her that in much longer and not to offend her flat pride, still she rant her stress. As we got inside the inn that marked on my map that almost parallel to the guild. We are greeted by a chubby not fat clerk-chan and those two have a thin line of difference.


    I pay up for a whole week that is 1 silver and 75 copper and I denied her dinner offer. I don¡¯t eat normal food, I drink fuel and water. Well water would be nice if cold. As I get my keys and start walking upstairs to the 2 floor of this large inn.


    Yep, quite big or they do expansion because of increasing travellers. Anyways, I get inside my room and lock it then place the chair to the door to stop someone going inside.


    ¡°Why would you block the door that would be suspicious?¡±


    ¡°They know who and what we are so no worries.¡±


    ¡°What are you doing now?¡±


    ¡°Going back and taking a good rest.¡±


    ¡°Then I will also be back and take a rest and don¡¯t worry I can return anywhere you are if you return early.¡±


    ¡°Okay thank and don¡¯t worry about me.¡±


    ¡°What?! I not worried about you or anything, tin head.¡±


    Lines of a true tsundere, wait lemme scan you first.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Tsundere detected</td></tr></tbody></table>


    Yup, even the scan says she`s a tsundere.


    ¡°Good bye¡±


    ¡°Hmp.¡±


    I open my menu and log out and my vision has been snatched then the next thing I know is i¡¯m staring at my pod. I open the hatch and move my legs.


    ¡°Being able to move them again feels nice.¡±


    Anyways, I have to relieve that thought or it will get to me one way or the other. I help myself with my chair that is quite convenient because it is costumed so it have its perks installed.


    It¡¯s already pass 9 am and my log in is 6 so half day or so and we spend 3 in game days. That¡¯s a lot of time. I quickly rolled to the bathroom to take a shower and use the toilet then after drying and changing clothes. I grab my card and move out of my condo and goes down the lobby.


    I ignore some people staring at me. I mean I looked creepy with the long hair that is down casted. I approached the Ojou-san in the assistant desk and ask if there is a cafeteria or something.


    She said it was on the 3rd floor and meals are served for free every day or go out of the facility but have a giant chaperon. I take the former because it¡¯s free. And I¡¯m still not comfortable having their big agents following me.


    As I got to the cafeteria, its kind a busy and looks normal like the ones back in my high school. Not as big as the conference for Minea knows how big. The Minea have a good ring to it. Better keep that expression.


    The breakfast is eggs, bacon, burger, sandwich, pancakes, and more. Not too heavy for me to eat but I need at least eat some rice. As I moved getting my servings of my orders in my tray like the stir-fried rice and eggs, I starts to notices that most people here are their employee. Looks like no early bird from the beta department except me.


    Most of them don¡¯t pay much attention for me and it¡¯s a good news for me. And even if it was Sunday there are still many people here. As I finished getting my servings of food. I find an unoccupied table and start my day.


    After my hearty meal with a silent environment, I decided to explore the city and window shop or two. As I got the elevator descending down, I plug my earphones and start playing music because it¡¯s one of my escape road from anything.


    Then I approached the receptionist onee-san and told her that I¡¯m going out of the facility to have a stroll until noon. Then she called someone and in a few moments an agent approached us.


    She introduce me to him and goes outside the building to wait for the car. My chaperon¡¯s name is Kale and a junior but he looks reliable unlike that certain speaker.


    He doesn¡¯t really talk much and just told to me his duties and things I shouldn¡¯t do like escaping or roaming around with permission, what the fuck are you serious.


    Even if i¡¯m on wheels it is still hard to move around you know. As our service arrived and got inside the car going out the facilities, I just realize how big this place is.


    The factory of Neos pod or warehouse with trailers, their research or development area like place, the recreational facility and it even have an Olympic size pool that¡¯s inside that big dome, come on, really it looks like a city inside a city except theirs no specialty stores here and street vendors.


    As we got outside, I quickly look for a place to buy books and read one and the best place is a mall. My guide also agreed with my decision, maybe he also needs to buy and relax. In the mall, he helps me when the crowd thickens, its Sunday so it is understandable but to be crowded with people.


    As we reached our destination, the book store, I approached the clerk-san and asked for my book and point out their locations and then thanked him.


    Libraries still exist but it is far away from the facility than the mall because the libraries are nearer to residential rather than the mall that`s inside the busy streets or open space.


    As I got my book stack, I still like this than the virtual although the convenience is a pressing factor. I told my guide that if needed something to buy or to do he may go that he quickly accepts and rush outside. And from the window of the second floor where the store is located I looked down and saw him hugging a little girl and a beautiful ojou-san.


    He does missed them so bad that he almost cry, it is still different from talking to people than holding them in your arms. Well he does deserved some family time and I hope I didn¡¯t receive a red flag for both of us.


    I saw him looked up to me then I signal him a one sign and tap my non-existing watch telling him one hour. I know myself it is short but we are in a tight spot. But he smiled back at me then holds his angels then have their family day.


    As for me I keep stacking books related to mechanics, robotics, electrical and other technical things necessary for me to create a better body and hope my NWA be useful this time.


    I also included books for other miscellaneous things like metallurgy, psychology, rocket science, physics and even that alchemy theory that gives vague lecture but I don¡¯t matter, materials are materials and I have to make the most out of it.


    As the time past an hour and I¡¯ve finished dozen of book but I didn¡¯t read from back to back, I only read some important parts then list the books I find useful for me and have a virtualize copy of it. Kale comeback but not with his family, that was sad I¡¯d liked to meet them also.


    ¡°Why not take them also with us, it¡¯s Sunday after all.¡±


    ¡°But i¡¯m in my work and I just break the rule so if I got caught I might get punishment.¡±


    ¡°Like what torture or firing you? I ordered you and you¡¯re just following, so I order you to take your family with us and besides you looked happy with them.¡±


    ¡°b-but i¡¯m in duty ¨C¡°


    ¡°I said go now before I change my mind and don¡¯t support you¡±


    I glared at him and move towards the clerk san with my order list of books and hand him my phone to proceed with the download. I¡¯m still hesitant to use the company card for payment so I use my own card to pay for the books and wait for him.


    There`s quite an increase of people going inside the store and even onlookers. Damn they already figured it out that was fast. My guide is still out so I retreated inside the store that has a blind spot from the outside. Damn where is he, things are getting out of hand.


    Then an ojou-chan approached me.  She`s quite cute and beaming with enthusiasm, her sienna brown bob cut hair and those big chocolate brown eyes adding her wide grin made my heart flutter a bit. Wait she look like the chibi of that beautiful ojou-san that kale-san is hugging. Damn, raijuu just explode.


    ¡°Kaila, please don¡¯t run inside.¡±


    Crap I just heard a beautiful voice that will pull my heartstrings.


    ¡°Sorry, mommy I just found daddy`s boss.¡±


    ¡°Sir Tadashi, please excuse my daughter sudden appearance¡±


    He said as he pick up chibi-chan and behind him was her Okaa-san really looks like her but the older version. He¡¯s really lucky.


    ¡°No worries, a sudden cute surprise won¡¯t make me mad or anything. And hello to you ojou-san¡±


    I lower my head and greeted her, and she looks confused but she greeted back and even bow like me.


    ¡°It was a tradition but don¡¯t worry about it.¡±


    ¡°Umm¡­ okay¡­ I forgot i`m Catherine and i¡¯m his wife¡±


    ¡°Nice too meet you too, i¡¯m Tadashi Rishido¡±


    ¡°Daddy, why does he say his name backwards?¡±


    Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    Oh right I forgot about this things. But kale-san fill her curiosity and after our greetings, I said that we should proceed to eat some snack before going back in which Kaila-chan agreed quickly.


    The peanut gallery becomes dense outside but kale-san do his job and we continue our way with little problem and that is murmurs and paparazzi.


    I glared at them and told them to make some distance and threat them to not disturb us or the two ladies. Kale-san even show some agitation towards them but I held him. It might go out of hand even more.


    As we eat some snacks like pizza and pasta from a French resto, the paparazzi is still there but the manager shoo them away because their blocking the way.


    Before lunch, I told them that we need to go back. Kaila-chan look sad but her Okaa-san told her that we just escaped just to meet them which she understand and hug her Tou-san while having tears.


    After that dramatic family exchange, we got outside but it is getting harder to move now. I don¡¯t want to use this but¡­ no it is still early and paparazzi might fuzz about this.


    I saw someone with a mic and like see he is reporting or something so I approached him from behind then tugged his coat as he turned around I snatch it and clear my throat.


    ¡°Alright people, you just hit my limit now. I want to stay a bit longer but your presence is becoming a nuisance for me and my company here. If you¡¯re asking about the game, we tester can¡¯t release any info. If why i¡¯m here, i¡¯m enjoying my Sunday that all of you just spoil just now.¡±


    I tossed back the mic to the dumbfounded guy the moved towards the exit and go inside our car. But I told kale-san to take his family to their home just to be safe. He protested at first but I told him I will cover for him when we get back.


    He is hesitant but agreed. When both are car on the move, I relaxed myself and breathe deeply.


    ¡°You sure are different from all the people I work with.¡±


    ¡°Not really, I just can¡¯t take the chance for them to be together. I¡¯ve been there also and end up like this.¡±


    This driver-san sounds like an old hermit but not an empty talk. I will enjoy this ride while talking to him.


    ¡°So you end up bad, that sure hurts every time.¡±


    ¡°I know but i¡¯m man so I just need to suck it up. Besides there are more this in life than this¡±


    ¡°Very positive outlook for a young man¡±


    ¡°I need to live in this harsh world after all, so I have to keep it tough¡±


    ¡°Then I wish for your safety on the road of your choice. This is coming from the one that seen many things already.¡±


    ¡°Thanks and we both know that it is not easy right.¡±


    ¡°Not really but are you sure you can handle his superior¡±


    ¡°I can don¡¯t worry, and I don¡¯t have time for that we are here anyways.¡±


    As I open the door someone help me and looks like i`m in deep shit, why because the one open is their superior, why again because it got a damn badge stating her position and yes her. I hope Minea blessed this body for what will happened.


    I was taken to their office that is at the inner place of the lobby and into their lounge where we talk but it was a tough one like fighting a boss-class with yourself that have 30 level differences.


    But I pulled it off after the circumstances that I stated like kale-san family always goes to mall every Sunday but what hit her is Kaila-chan. Yup I have a photo of her as my last resort if this happened and both of us slip, but with no next time. And she deleted my photo of her saying she¡¯s confiscating it. Tsk she¡¯s stingy. No more tramp card.


    Anyways I quickly go to my condo to do some research and looks like everyone is already up. Other pass by when I was in our floor, some are in the lounge chatting with their peers and chillin. I miss it but not now.


    As I got inside my room, I arrange some books that I bought but no so related to the game just trivial books and some that do just to fill the shelf.


    Once I¡¯ve finished changing to a more comfortable clothes, I slipped inside then plug the memory stick that have my major books then log inside my virtual space where I can read five times more because of the delay. Really cheat like for lazy students.


    As I gotten virtualize and called my memory stick folder, I saw different file that pleased me. But first I need an atmosphere just for me to ready. I think there¡¯s option for this but just the basic but looks like Neos real spoiled us having good virtual space items like house part and items.


    But I just put a door standing out of nowhere then make the floor looks like a trimmed lawn then trees that have some space apart. Then random growing flower bushes and have some insects, birds and small critters to roam around so it won¡¯t feel desolated.


    And after all of the things I added, I just sit in my garden and read non-stop on a much faster pace like flipping the page then view ever content and turn. I hope my memory scan will work hard for me or all of this will be non-sense.


    After finishing my major books and some topic I already needed, I log back. When I`m back to Edean, its pass midnight already and I still have few hours for me to racked my memory to juice out what I get from my reading.


    ¡®Memory scan and new world scan¡¯


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Memory scanning please wait</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Memory scan completed</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>New world ability acquired</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Traits</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Hyper data processing</td><td width="25%">Quick shift</td><td width="25%">Metallurgy</td><td width="25%">Innovation</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Energy conversion and conservation</td><td colspan=''2''>????????????</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Ability</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Body engineering</td><td width="25%">Programming</td><td width="25%">Blacksmithing</td><td width="25%">Alchemy</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Salvage[/tds2][td2]Metal works</td></tr></tbody></table>


    Alright everything paid off¡­ wait what¡¯s that question mark trait.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Unable to identify due to lack of data, abilities and resources</td></tr></tbody></table>


    Great!!! I hit something good from there. Better read first the requirements, I hope it won¡¯t be tough. As I read my traits and abilities, I frown a bit because of restrictions. Nothing comes free anymore this days.


    Some traits and abilities are connected one way or the other like the hyper data processing that required a programming skill, I don¡¯t get why I have metal works or blacksmithing but hey it¡¯s free so i¡¯m not complaining anymore. I first take programming and it¡¯s on basic 5. Then I take salvage and body engineering then a window appeared.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Pre requisite abilities have been acquired</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Collector</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>collector is unlocked</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Would you like to change you class?</td></tr></tbody></table>


    Wow¡­ finally my first class but it is the bottom feeder. But I might get something out of this class anyways. I tap yes and now my class is a collector, well as name implies so no more to ask. The good thing is it gave me +1 all stats plus bonus stats as long as i`m a collector which is +5 Int, Wis, Dex.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Would you like to integrate body construction to body engineering?</td></tr></tbody></table>


    I just tap yes and wait for another boost. I feel like a kid opening multiple gift at my birthday.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Integrating abilities</td></tr></tbody></table>


    Then the next one is innovator which aid me when working on weapons, body parts and tools to locate repair, defect and possible upgrades. And when I have I look at my tool arm then scan, my arm is painted in red, yellow, and blue.


    Red is for repair, yellow is for defect and not functioning well, and blue for upgrade. Then I look around just to be sure but I don¡¯t detect anything. Maybe later on.


    The combo trait of metallurgy and metal works gives me ideas for my materials and their uses and even here that have magic will greatly help me forging my body and weapons that can`t be done in earth.


    The energy, processing, and shift gear required advance body and bigger energy capacity. While the blacksmith and alchemy need a teacher first to properly learn them.


    After checking my stats and abilities, I tried to do the programming at a simple circuit that a drone worker have. At first i¡¯m having a hard time figuring out things because of symbol and language differences.


    Luckily my programming helps me a lot when doing this because of system assist that¡¯s keep showing pattern or path for me. It¡¯s good to have both system and personal touch of doing things, system assist just point things out and not really do the work and yes how or where to put this or that.


    I keep tinkering until i¡¯m able to increase the capacity of one system and tried to copy it at more sophisticated format for my head. As I looked outside, the sun is peeking out, I started packing my items then view my notification for news that keeps blinking.


    This programming is giving me tons of stats like wow. I mean just for finishing from a simple command of repairing and scavenging is worth 20 Int and Wis plus some Dex. Maybe I could make my own drone but I still don¡¯t have a mother system if I will create one. Maybe later after my hunt to collect more required items for this project.


    Leyla haven¡¯t been back so might as well go back to the scrapyard. But when I check my weapons, it made me cry. The halberd can`t take another fight because of the damage that¡¯s unrepairable. So I need to do craft new one but I bet it will be better because of the new abilities I got.


    As I walk out of the inn that still sleeping, I find my way towards the guild then ask someone to where I have to pay to use their forge. An elf-san help me with this and guide me downwards to their forgery after the payment.


    It is still desolated so but not for long, I quickly unload the necessary items that can be used for ingots. Then I start my work by melting the metal that have iron properties after I disassemble them to much smaller parts because some contain mineral ores like copper, bronze and some alloys.


    After melting I pour it down to the ingots casting block then repeat the process until i¡¯m satisfied.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Threat detected level 10 non hostile</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Safety precaution is highly recommended</td></tr></tbody></table>


    ¡°You¡¯re early for an old man to get out of the bed guild master- san¡±


    I pulled back the ingots from the furnace to speak with this old hermit that¡¯s a master smith according to the peanut gallery. This old man is a half giant pack with muscles and battle scars, bald and moustache with a grin made me think is he an anime rip off or inspired. Plus he`s always wear a rip denim vest and pants with a leather boots plus working gloves.


    ¡°I was my part of my daily routine to forge some ingots and for you, is it your first time down here.¡±


    He said as he grab one of the ingots and inspect it. Early evaluation for me but if I pass he might give me some lesson to fulfil the blacksmith ability.


    ¡°Mind if you teach this forgotten clockwork some process in blacksmithing¡±


    ¡°Okay then, so basic process won¡¯t hurt but don¡¯t expect for techniques or anything because you have to be a traveller first and an intermediate blacksmith to learn them.¡±


    ¡°No worries, shall we start.¡±


    He just nodded and begun instructing me how to forge the ingots and craft weapons and also how to maintain them. It takes time to learn but my system indicates that i¡¯m at 34% percent and were just getting started.


    After an hour or so, I have finally able to have blacksmithing and start downloading, while waiting I inspected the halberd that with the guidance of guild master


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Iron beheader</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Attack</td><td width="25%">50-90</td><td width="25%">Durability</td><td width="25%">200/200</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Pre Requisite</td><td width="25%">Str 40, Dex 20</td><td width="25%">Bonus stat</td><td width="25%">Str +20, Dex +10</td></tr></tbody></table>


    Yes, my first weapon is awesome from the start but that strength requirement is high and from my stats it¡¯s just around 30. Crap.


    ¡°Good one for the first try, mostly the first weapon being forged is a sword but as expected you can learn much faster and good quite a fit.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t do this halberd without your guidance sensei¡±


    I bowed to him as I held my halberd.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what the last word means but if it¡¯s a title for highly regarded person then thank you.¡±


    He pat my shoulder as I raise my head looking at my new weapon.


    ¡°Well then I will proceed upstairs for my meal¡±


    ¡°Okay sensei, I will clean this up but I will proceed to the scrapyard to hunt.¡±


    ¡°Say, what are the monsters in that scrapyard? Last time we clean that up its just some ant and scavengers.¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t seen a scavenger but the ants are there and I can solo it out and not being disturbed by others.¡±


    ¡°Then take care, maybe team up with someone it will benefit you, besides not all members are rough like Luin and Shark.¡±


    Then he bind his good bye and walk upstairs as I start cleaning. Then read my notifications.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''3''>Blacksmith</td><td width="25%">Basic 1</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Art of crafting with metals and other materials to produce weapons and armours.</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Improved crafted items depending on ability, materials, and other factors on crafting phase.</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Enable to equip all type of weapons and reduce damage and weapon incompatibility by 5%</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Fusing crude blacksmith to blacksmith</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Blacksmith basic 3</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>bonus stat STR +11</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''3''>Body engineering</td><td width="25%">Basic 1</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Improved system that allow clockworks to repair and construct body part</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Enable to construct other mechanical type body parts and system</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Increase durability of body parts depending on how it is crafted.</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''3''>Programming</td><td width="25%">Basic 5</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Enable the clockwork to create program to improve or create new program assisting the system</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''3''>As programming increase so thus the complexity of program being available</td><td width="25%">Int +9 Wis +9</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Creating a unique or complex program assistance provided by 12%</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''3''>Salvage</td><td colspan=''2''>Basic 3</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Enable to retrieve and repair tool and body parts from destruction</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Repairing broken parts become much faster.</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Retrieving parts from being destroy increase chance 7%</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''3''>Metalwork</td><td>Basic 1</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Improved crafted body part and weapon that crafted from metals or have some metal parts.</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Improvement is ability, material and performance dependent.</td></tr></tbody></table>


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Traits</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Metallurgy</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Learning the nature, structure and uses of metals.</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Aide system towards metal works, blacksmithing, mining</td></tr><tr><td>Metalworks</td><td colspan=''3''>Improves crafted items and tools. Also improve crafted body parts for clockworks</td></tr><tr><td>Blacksmithing</td><td colspan=''3''>Improves crafted weapons and armour. Depending on the skill and ability of the crafter</td></tr><tr><td>Mining</td><td colspan=''3''>Increase chance of mining high tier mineral and ore, small chance of mining gem and magic jewels</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Innovator</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Having thirst for improvement and innovation you gain this trait that will assist you</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>System assist indicator</td></tr><tr><td>Red</td><td>Repair</td><td>Yellow</td><td>Defect/non-operational</td></tr><tr><td>Blue</td><td>Upgrade</td><td>???????</td><td>???????</td></tr></tbody></table>


    ____________________


    A/N


    so here is the fourth one and now we got some real life going on and guys some here and there but i will keep adding some real life just not to be stuck at VR world anyways studying and playing Vr is kinda hard but i will pull it off but not so soon because we are still on beta test and i will keep adding some RL interaction.

 Chapter 5 : New Body. New Revelation

    Chapter 5


    Rishido here. After what happened to me, I started to loss will to live a day again. Becoming depressed is getting inside my system day by day until I lost the will to live. But then again, there are things that might come in my way that would help me through this struggle.


    ===


    After getting my daily scan and status check. I¡¯m back at the scrapyard still soloing my first week. I still keep this until i¡¯m good with my body and weapon. But the things is I haven¡¯t much talk to anyone here or out. Maybe i¡¯m just getting rough for myself that is. And if Leyla was annoying, I do like her being near with me like a sister being close to her last relative.


    I removed my endless thoughts and start hunting the ant. Even though there are no increase of enemies the fight was tough before I don¡¯t have my support with me. It is still favourable because I know now my own capacity towards fight.


    I keep killing troops and troops of ant that become relatively easier than yesterday because I can predict their movement and attack pattern. As I ended my fifth round I saw Leyla puffing her cheeks. Fuck she¡¯s mad like a lady waiting for her boyfriend in vain.


    ¡°You started hunting without me¡±


    Shit she¡¯s fuming now better smoothen this out.


    ¡°I need to check my own capabilities if you¡¯re not around and it is quite passable for soloing and also for me to defend myself if were not together.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t give me that reason! You just want to go ahead of me then you will start ignoring me again!¡±


    Where did she even get that stuff, well from the first three day I do ignored her presence more or less. But to rant me with just that, it was too shallow for me. Even i¡¯m a clockwork will try to sweet talk to her, but having voice with no emotion will take a lot of time.


    ¡°You¡¯re a fairy after all and even your class is lower you will surpassed me. And i¡¯m a clockwork you know and the only thing that makes us stronger is to create a better version and not just relaying on hunting level.¡±


    ¡°Hmp, fine but next time you need to tell me.¡±


    ¡°Fine sweet cheeks and I got a new ability that allow me to do alchemy, do you know anything about this.¡±


    ¡°Not really and i¡¯m not good and making stuffs like potion and beside we don¡¯t need that.¡±


    That was anti-climactic and here I was hoping she could learned this to make her busy.


    ¡°We still got time to work before noon then resume hunt after lunch.¡±


    Then we continue our hunt until noon and she didn¡¯t say anymore complains. Thank Minea she didn¡¯t rant for more or my circuits can¡¯t take it. As we do hunting down ants, I saw that Leyla start to be good at taking her aim like making them stumble or blocking their visuals.


    I didn¡¯t notice the time not until Leyla complain about this, then we proceed to go to the guild and take rest and while we¡¯re on the way Leyla ask for treats like fruits or sweets she saw from the others. Might as well treat her for the handwork, but I have to limit this or I¡¯ll go penniless again.


    I still do wear that tattered cloth that covered my whole body but the steam coming out is not good but I can¡¯t help it. I need to make a better body and with more energy capacity and have some cooling mech for getting overheated.


    They look at me with suspicious eyes but I didn¡¯t mind about this and buy her some citrus fruit that I scanned and sweets that she point at. But I didn¡¯t agreed all the time because so of it has some compound substances that my affect her when she consumes them and she¡¯s a fairy after all.


    I wonder if I can make a body that can eat food to convert them to energy or fuel. Maybe I can do research about this oil fuel or something. After our detour along the street food, we arrived at per usual rowdy guild with many people but most likely there are betas here.


    I scanned them but no information came up about being a native or traveller. And most level are low like a group of 5 or 6 with around level 5 as the average and the mutt was right that being a silver is around 50 or so. But that blow I received from him should take my life or maybe it is not armour pent just empowered like my visual shows me.


    Anyways, I quickly proceed to the trading section and sell my loots that I don¡¯t need for body construction. While Leyla is eating her meal on my shoulders not minding us. Maybe I could bribe her with this, I have to take note about this behaviour.


    After she finished her meal and after my trade, I pay for the entrance fee and went down to the forgery and the heat starts to get a bit higher like 3 degrees to 5. I didn¡¯t mind this but as for Leyla that was a lot.


    ¡°You can return to your home or upstairs if you can¡¯t take the heat down here.¡±


    ¡°Hmp, you think this will weaken me and persuade me. Think again tin can.¡±


    I just shrugged off her reply and proceed to one of the working place that is not occupied. There are others down here but I need to remove my cloak or it will burn down.


    ¡°Hey dude look at that, it¡¯s that a robot. I didn¡¯t know there is one.¡±


    ¡°Sheesh another dreamer, you know that in the selection that it has 5 star ranking and but how wants to be emotionless and not able to eat plus there are disadvantages about them.¡±


    And the peanut gallery arrived again and starts murmuring about how bad clockworks are, yeah at first it is hard and no one tries to be one because of special skills that can be created if you are tedious at making your own skills but I like sci-fi more.


    ¡°Hey rusty their talking behind our back and they are bad mouthing you like your worthless.¡±


    She whispered near my sensor, you know that I don¡¯t have ears right.


    ¡°Don¡¯t mind them, they are generics and i¡¯m unique that¡¯s all that matters and don¡¯t try to pick fight here.¡±


    ¡°You will let them talk bad at you and don¡¯t mind, are you scared?¡±


    ¡°Hey, remember what happened last time. It didn¡¯t end well for us either. And picking fights means creating enemies for the future. And i¡¯m still a solo so take it easy.¡±


    I unload my materials and ignored her mumbling about me being weak and kicking someone`s ass down here. I have body engineering so it will be easy in a way. I do the ingots crafting and thanks to the abilities and a trait I goes smoothly and even if the iron I just scraps and from drones, I can make them to a refined iron. I even make some alloys from other metals like nickel, copper, bronze and zinc. I found this out by doing scans on ingots and the residue from smelting.


    Then I made a cast for my body parts from the clay that can have heat and flame resistance. While thinking I might fine materials that have elements resistant. After creating casting blocks I start to melt again some alloy that I compounded early on then do additional experiment that my metallurgy helps me.


    I was like having two minds in one body my system and my own self that is. As long as it¡¯s no bad for me I will welcome it. But there are still limitation that traits can help so I need to do further experiments for this. As I completed my skeleton and let it cool down, I starts to forge my exoskeleton and armour plates. I didn¡¯t think about the aesthetics but its utility. But I will build it that would complement with my head.


    I made my body parts rather bigger than myself to be able to house much more upgrades in the future. Around 6 feet or so, but not too high or I will have to always adjust for time to time. Then I remembered Leyla who¡¯s sitting in my skeleton that still inside.


    ¡°Leyla can you ran your magic to my skeleton that you¡¯re sitting in.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, I mean I haven¡¯t take class about enchantment¡±


    She said will pounding her mind with my question. But she said she don¡¯t know not cant maybe, just maybe. If it failed I have to stick with this until tomorrow.


    ¡°Why not try that, maybe you can learn a thing or two like that besides if you can learn new magic on your own that would help you greatly.¡±


    Help sweet talk I need you to work now.


    ¡°Hhmm¡­ that will do, okay I will try your crazy idea and do it just because I can benefits from it and not like I want to help you or anything.¡±


    As she flies towards my face and puffed her flat chest. I have to take note of commenting about the chest in public or it will be a death flag but next to age talk. She hover to my skeleton and pump her magic on the core cage that I made with the skeleton. I turned on my scanner to see more on what is happening.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Unknown source has been detected entering the skeleton</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Source identified</td><td width="25%">Fairy magic</td><td width="25%">Affiliation</td><td width="25%">Nature</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Skeleton gauge</td><td colspan=''2''>3/100%</td></tr></tbody></table>


    Cool now I can have magic well technically my skeleton have magic. Maybe it is because I made some alloy that is magic conductor I do have some flashing box but may later on.


    ¡°It is working Leyla but you have to do it for quite a while.¡±


    ¡°R-really¡­ I mean of course it will work i`m your fairy after all. Fu fu fu fu.¡±


    ¡°Just don¡¯t loss focus because it decrease some points if left unattended.¡±


    ¡°I know what i`m doing so just finish what you¡¯re working at.¡±


    ¡°Tsk.¡±


    She¡¯s getting cocky about this but like the saying ¡®you reap what you sow¡¯ I have to bear with this. I start forging my metal plates and exoskeleton that will be connected to my main skeleton so it won¡¯t receive direct hit if the plates get damaged. If humans have skeleton covered with muscles and skin then why not for me.


    Unlike this body that plates was directly connected to the skeleton I made some gap like 3 to 5 centimetre away just to put more things like cables and wires that I scavenged and repaired.


    After I crafted all the necessary items for my body parts like plates, gears, piston and other smaller items. I watch Leyla finished her work, the process is quite hard because if she didn¡¯t supply magic for around 15 seconds the magic inside start to deceased by 1 every 15 seconds.


    I let her take her time as I created a war hammer for pounding things and a rapier for precision piercing. I also refined my tool kit and add some more that is missing like adjustable wrench, a better screw driver, torch and cutting tools.


    After she is done with my skeleton, I keep ignoring the notification but not the gauge that¡¯s on the lowest right side of my vision blinking green indicating it is a success.


    ¡°Okay looks like your done and made a success.¡±


    ¡°*sigh* yeah, I know I even receive additional blessing from doing this work you know so you have to treat me again as payment.¡±


    Her statement picks the curious cat in me and asked her what the things she received are. As I diagnose her self-praising statement while saying about her blessing, I concluded that she did gain magic enchantment but it¡¯s more specific that she can only cast this on clockwork, construct and the likes.


    She also received a hefty additional mana of 500, metal affinity and other stats bonus


    And i¡¯m so eager to see my bonus but I have to set it aside so it won¡¯t get inside my head. Then I proceed to assemble my body and with the help of Leyla as she assist giving me small things that I needed it was rather faster.


    After hours of fuel burning and steam leaking, we have finished  my new body without the head of course but the dock is already made so I just need to remove my head then connects it in which is hard because I need someone to assist me.


    After I transferred every parts and add new ones inside my new body, I will try a new experiment and that is do one by one connection and disconnection.


    ¡°Leyla, you know how to do this so just assist me with my wire and cable got it¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I know how to do that so shut down now so you can treat me some sweets.¡±


    ¡°I got it but it will be different you have to quickly connect the cables that I will disconnect because i¡¯m just using the stored energy of this body.¡±


    ¡°Fine, why did you even transfer your core first not your head.¡±


    ¡°It is needed so it will function after my transfer unlike this I can still process with stored energy.¡±


    Then she didn¡¯t ask for more and grab the cable that I said to be connected. I¡¯m most likely skeleton now so my neck and cable is exposed now so it will be easier. Then process didn¡¯t take too much time because she didn¡¯t ask or complain for a while.


    After all the cables and wires are connected I eject my head where as I will be momentarily off and then Leyla switch the button on my new neck to connect my head from the duck as it fits.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>New body has been detected doing body scan</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Body parts and system is connected and functioning normally</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Authentication</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Raiser Qant</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Accepted system synchronization initiated</td></tr></tbody></table>


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>STATUS</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Name</td><td width="25%">Raiser Qant</td><td width="25%">Race</td><td width="25%">Clockwork</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Class</td><td width="25%">Collector</td><td width="25%">Level</td><td width="25%">3</td></tr><tr>


    <td width="25%">Title</td><td colspan=''3''>Drone Ant Hunter</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Durability</td><td width="25%">560/560</td><td width="25%">Energy</td><td width="25%">280/290</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Mana energy</td><td width="25%">500/500</td><td width="25%">Energy regen</td><td width="25%">0.34 per second</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Strength</td><td width="25%">92 +3</td><td width="25%">Intelligent</td><td width="25%">188 +8</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Agility</td><td width="25%">107 +3</td><td width="25%">Dexterity</td><td width="25%">132 +8</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Wisdom</td><td width="25%">192 +8</td><td width="25%">Luck</td><td width="25%">45 +3</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Toughness</td><td colspan=''2''>97 +3</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''3''>Free stat points</td><td width="25%">5</td></tr></tbody></table>


    Just wow, but having high stats don`t means i¡¯m stronger than the norm. There is no direct relation towards stats and damage. It will always comes down to proficiency towards the skill and battle sense but still having high stats help a lot like lifting a great sword and swing it back and forth. For someone that`s just on the right stats will have a hard time adjusting unlike the one that have two to three times stats may also dual wield great sword.


    Plus if you could swing it with ease if you have good stats towards agility and dexterity. Using human psychics and study maybe on this subject I mean, there is a difference from a normal human punch to a world class boxer.


    Well for magic, it is quite complicated unlike melee fight that all you do is hack and slash but for magic it¡¯s about how you build yourself. Affinity, proficiency, mana manipulation, and other technicality is required to be one of the top magician. Still equipment do matter because of bonuses if can give.


    But still i¡¯m thankful about my stats bonuses like crafting the skeleton and body parts gives me all stats of around 30 plus from programming and network relaying give good bonus toward the three basic stat that is Wis, Int, and Dex.


    Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    And that magic energy is intriguing, maybe I can now use magic as an energy but I don¡¯t have regeneration for this. Maybe I could craft a magic tool for magic or mana collection or buy one if it¡¯s already created or more I can scan it and make my own.


    After some checking for body parts, I feel more empowered as the stats given and a bit taller than my original like 6 feet 8 inches or so but not as high as the guild master that¡¯s around 7 feet plus, come on that man is a giant after all.


    The peanut gallery that keeps on increasing just seeing a clockwork transfer from one body to the other is truly sight to see. I didn¡¯t care about them as always, while Leyla is having a dilemma on whether she will be my great fairy or fumes in rage as some of them keep saying bad things that I didn¡¯t care about. There will always be haters so I just let it go, for now.


    And for my old body I disassembled it and melt the bulky parts that is mostly from iron. Then store the alloy ingots and smaller pieces of metal and or things inside my item box that I have a loop hole how to store things inside.


    My old crude items are also melted and stored while the consumables like the daggers and throwing spear from the legs are still there, weapons have their own uses so better keep things than sorry.


    Then I got upstairs and proceed to the ojou-san that I saw last time just to reconfirm my stats or my looks if required. She just said to me that every time something changes towards the owner it also happen to the card or plate every time we hold on to it. Then I tried to take my first quest to increase my ranking, I excluded the traveller path because it is like apprenticeship towards one craft but the craft that is beneficial to me was blacksmithing.


    I¡¯m still pondering on what to take but being an adventurer is to roam around naturally and discover new things outside instances while the explorer do the opposite and do tomb raiding, dungeon mapping and ruin discovering so basically archaeologist and the former in mix of biologist, botanist and zoologist.


    But if i¡¯m going to find the remaining clockworks I have to do so dungeon exploration because there are hiding for some reason that is still vague for me. And I need to do it before the deadline or there will be dare devil idiots who just take this on a wimp and be exploited or go mad and end up bad for all clockworks and construct.


    Most subjugations are beast or monsters that is part or full mech. I take the explorer only subjugation and ask ojou-san to change my current status as none to explorer then instruct me with things like the time limit, subjugation range, monster counts and other things.


    I was also told that to go to the town hall that is just on the other street parallel to this building and be recognized by guards so they won¡¯t attacked me. That would be troublesome, so I listened to her advice and proceed but the enchantment didn¡¯t help because I become large like half giants, troll, and other race and sub race that is on the bigger size and even the cloak can¡¯t cover my whole body down the foot as it is now on my knees.


    As I walk down the street towards the opposite end where I have to past the fountain or what others called as market place I got strange stares from the people I passed by as I keep ignoring them and buy some sweets and fruits for Leyla how¡¯s sitting on my broad shoulders.


    The people here are just amazing like you could see trolls, ogres, elves and even some elemental sentinel like golems and sylphs plus even if you¡¯re a demon class your free to roam. So that means there is no Demon lord or something, I should give my condolence to the chuuni players dreaming on becoming a hero by fighting Demon lord.


    This town is the only safe way towards the duchy place so this might be the reason, but I want to explore other starter place. As I reach the fountain, the magnitude of people increase but i`m easily be mark because of my size but no one dares to pick a fight to a big guy with a halberd that is as tall as him with a giant axe head that is attached to it.


    There are still murmurs and gossips among the peanut gallery, but who care about them if they¡¯re just repeating things. I haven¡¯t viewed my abilities but maybe later on because i¡¯m so eager to fight using my new body. And as I arrived at the town hall and it¡¯s like the earth has but a little old time.


    They are weary about a guy with a scary halberd and that`s me. There are guards making rounds so no one with create ruckus. As I approached the help desk and ask an onee-san about my predicament that she nicely comply. I arrived at the second floor and went inside of a huge door then what I saw was that old man from the guild.


    ¡°Ah you arrived at last.¡±


    He said as he stand up and face the wall on his right and press something and the wall goes down.


    ¡°Follow me and you will know.¡±


    I just nodded then I gaze at Leyla who just nod back to me and follow the guild master to the hidden door. It was dimmed corridor and a bit eerie but I just keep walking behind him as he unlocked a door and then a bright light come out and another room came to my view.


    ¡°Most travellers have to comply with this and yes all of you had finished this process well you¡¯re the one left out.¡±


    ¡°I know and don¡¯t rub it more.¡±


    ¡°But the old man is right you were so stubborn about being weird and keep saying you want soloing.¡±


    What a companion but can¡¯t say a thing about it, i¡¯m guilty so no. Well as I have a better view of the room it is bluish lit room with crystal around then a crystal sculpture like a post with a crystal ball on top that`s on a raised platform and shining brightly.


    ¡°Place your both hands and just wait for it. This is a crystal crafted to records all travellers that is arriving since that time when it first started, and most kingdom and empires is following this rule since then but there are some that is not included here like the ones that far away from the union of land. But this can help us to know who¡¯s an offender and can easily mark that. So don¡¯t think of doing killing because most towns have powers to know it and even if you¡¯re able to remove your offence all will be alert about you.¡±


    In a sense, it is a data base of all of us and it is really informative for security reason. So most kingdoms and other places honour this process, maybe Minea and Neos prepared this. I approached the crystal then place my hands on it then my vision darkens and then a galaxy like view came to and I was floating then I heard voice from child like to jii-san, from a female to male, from hoarse voice to a pleasing one.


    Theirs a murmuring around me that I can identify but even using my scanner is not working.


    ¡°Don¡¯t even try that machine of yours young one, we don¡¯t allowed any kind of magic and tools to be used inside the God`s corridor.¡±


    Sounds like a jii-san that¡¯s always grumpy. If i¡¯m here so what do they need, I just touch that stone or maybe like the novels I read I might get blessing or missions. That mission would be great but too troublesome, I mean I just starting in this work and I got some plan on exploring all continents.


    ¡°That was a good dream to make and I¡¯m exciting to see how you would make it.¡±


    ¡°We will give you blessing but you have to earned it, some may do some would not, we can give and also take in accordance on your action. We do not give blessing on what side you will be the good or bad we give equal evaluation towards each of you.¡±


    ¡°As the merging of world continue so do us Gods increase. Many of us represent each race, faith, disposition and other things. But we agreed that we will work together in keeping this world from its destruction. And one of the cause if your race. They have given this world a new age of living and with the help of dwarves, machine ages have come to this land.¡±


    ¡°War starts, when greed of people increase, as they hunger for more so thus the destruction occurred. Many wars happened and most race have been damaged but most of all your race is the one that damaged deeply. They hide themselves from most race and to us, they haven¡¯t made any contact for help or assistance. Thus we decided to let them with their own will and let time pass by.¡±


    ¡°We cannot directly control on what is happening and what will happened but we can make certain intervention to our chosen race and followers. But still there are places that do this that`s against the law of the world but we will let the people decide for this. They need to grow up and do what they think is right and for us we just guide them in a vague premonition.¡±


    ¡°We are not giving you a mission to risk your short life to make a difference, all we ask is to find them the others and help them in your own way. We know that on the last day of the first arrival of the new world many people will be able to resurrect from the graves and walk again. What we fear is that you and your world bring destruction to ours. We can¡¯t make our move to stop you but we can speak to our believers about this.¡±


    ¡°We have talked to all of you and said this warning some don¡¯t believe to this and some understand, so the decision is at your hand to make a choice. Help others for peace and understanding or destroy this world and take our wrath.¡±


    ¡°We have foresighted this event and created a land where you and your kinds that revive from the dead cannot go, but only and only if permitted and that¡¯s not going too happened.¡±


    ¡°We have seen your past, your happiness, your sadness, your self-destruction and self-reaffirmation towards your goal. We can¡¯t say we do understand your suffering but if you help this land then thus so this world will help you.¡±


    ¡°This will not be our last encounter young one, when we see that we need to communicate with you we will do.¡±


    After their monologue that¡¯s quite long so I just recorded it on my avatar to do rerun. I build courage to ask.


    ¡°I know about this and I respect life above all after all that had happened to me, but I do not liked people or gods reading my memories because I don¡¯t like sharing them. I already know my destination and that is to know about this race and find them. About your request about our kind don¡¯t worry I may help you with that and for all I know there are people who do nothing but to destroy this and seek their own desire.¡±


    ¡°I liked your attitude clockwork, very fiery and intense but still under control. That is how long could you hold on to it until your own destruction.¡±


    ¡°I have my ways. I need to go now, I have other matters to do and I don¡¯t have much time now.¡±


    ¡°Very well, take care of yourself and take care of your companion. She maybe not the greatest fairy but she will assist you in the future.¡±


    ¡°Then I give my thanks to all of you for helping her coz she`s quite handful but I can manage.¡±


    Then I hear chuckles around and groans from the others. Well at least they know how it is to take care of her. Then my vision darken again then a bluish light peck at my vision letting me know I have returned.


    ¡°Looks like your back and you really taken your time or the gods got amused to a clockwork after all we haven¡¯t seen one walking around.¡±


    I turned towards Arth-dono and look also to Leyla who¡¯s crying slowly towards me.


    ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing there? *sniff* are you trying to pick a fight with them.¡±


    ¡°What are you saying, I just have some talk with them that¡¯s all.¡±


    Then a shocked look came to Arth-sensei. Did I say something wrong?


    ¡°Did you just say them?¡±


    ¡°Right, what about it, is it bad.¡±


    He scratch his chin thinking on how to say it to me, like come on jii-san just say it your too obvious.


    ¡°Well some do talk to two or three gods but most are only one, but to think you said them means you talk to a group or less.¡±


    That was it, well that was a reliever and Leyla is still crying and pounding my left flank saying i¡¯m stupid.*sigh* tsundere.


    ¡°Well more like a group because there are many voice that I hear. Maybe they just want to see first-hand a clockwork after.¡±


    ¡°Maybe your assumption was right, anyways you are already registered to this land and always follow the laws inside and out.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I know don¡¯t worry and Leyla stop crying okay, i¡¯m here now so don¡¯t worry.¡±


    ¡°I not worrying about you or anything,*sniff* i¡¯m just worried that my adventure will stop *sniff* because of you that all.¡±


    She not good at lying, well I just have to let it past.


    ¡°Okay, then let¡¯s move out to start our mission.¡±


    ¡°So you have taken request already so you¡¯re an explorer or adventurer and I can tell because i`m the travellers guild master after all.¡±


    Oh so he`s the one of the body of the guild. Well I can¡¯t expect less towards guild master after all.


    ¡°explorers and it`s just a simple subjugation of monsters on the south eastern side one on the hill¡±


    He crossed his arms and start thinking, please don¡¯t let this first mission be a death flag.


    ¡°Well it is a season after all so there is an increase of monster inside some dungeons.¡±


    ¡°Some it is their breeding season or hatching season. And another thing why can¡¯t you just destroy a dungeon.¡±


    ¡°Both some breed and some have their young, so some are hostile. Well for the dungeon thing¡­¡°


    To make it short, dungeons where some monster and other creature emerge. Then there are 3 kind of dungeon, first is god created meaning this is where creature emerge, second is craft made that is a dungeon created from a person own mana and it can hold monster or creatures that had been defeated inside like a dungeoneering game and the last is corrupted or magic dungeon where monsters came from mana that has no intervention just a natural thing and the sign that it is a corrupted one is that monster are more powerful and have tattoos or marking on their bodies.


    Some kingdoms regulate god created or craft made dungeons while the corrupted ones are destroyed to prevent any further accidents.  That was a long story but informative, I need to sort things out after I log out.


    ¡°Thank you guild master, we will be going now¡±


    ¡°Yey, my first mission¡±


    ¡°Okay then but take care of yourself.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry old man this fairy will take care of this metal head, come on Raiser hurry up.¡±


    *sigh* She really need counselling. Then we are back to his office then got out of the building. As we made back to the market place, I purchase a bigger cloak for me because i`m still unease. Then we head to the eastside of the town to start our mission.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Ability List</td>[tr][tr]<td width="25%">Body engineering basic 2</td><td width="25%">Tinker basic 6</td><td width="25%">Scavenger basic 6</td><td width="25%">Acrobatics beginner 3</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">Perception beginner 3</td><td width="25%">Dismantle basic 5</td><td width="25%">Blacksmithing basic 5</td><td width="25%">Programming basic 7</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Salvage basic 5</td><td colspan=''2''>Metalworks basic 3</td></tr></tbody></table>


    ________________________________


    A/N


    another update and more to the story and history of edean, anyways i`m your reading this series please rate and review :D

 Intermission 1 : The Meeting

    Here is where we see bigger picture of the story and read others disposition, thought and other things that may or may not affect our protagonist in the future.


    Chapter 5 intermission


    Vulcan TEA guild building ¨C Guild master secret room


    ¡°Are we all here?¡±


    Great i`m late again and that damn dragon is acting like highly and all shit.


    ¡°Yes, and your late guild master Arth.¡±


    Tsk, too much ego for a dragon as always and luckily only Duke is here.


    This emergency meeting must be big to call guild masters and the kingdom guild head master is here also.


    Wait why is the head priestess is here, I¡¯ve never seen here before except for actual meeting and also last month before the arrival.


    ¡°You`re looking livelier today Guild master Arth.¡±


    Always too formal by just greeting me and her way never gets old about it.


    ¡°Hahahaha, come on Kreisia just Arth for a hundred times. Is your place busy also about the arrival?¡±


    ¡°*sigh* you could say that, many of them are not really themselves. I know that they can take a persona of any race but they just don¡¯t live or act like one specially the elves.¡±


    The face of her having a sad expression is quite rare to see so that means she is really worked up by the youngster.


    ¡°Also at my place, they are hard to discipline youngling roaming around. Some are making ruckus here and there and some in fights that I don¡¯t understand in a way. Soldiers can conduct duel but they just don`t understand this art of fighting.¡±


    So Marduk too is also having problems about fight by them. But I bet they got punished really hard by him. I got so in fight but I can suppress them fast so why are they taking it so long.


    ¡°Ohh! So you`re having troubles at the west side Marduk. I didn¡¯t know a dragon having problems with youngsters.¡±


    ¡°How about your places Arth I know there are many races there because you`re place is the safest path to the dukedom.¡±


    Yeah mine`s the safest but having too many is quite handful, luckily I have some high ranking members keeping peace but Luin is troublesome. And also why do they have to appear in this time of the year.


    ¡°You can say that again Kreisia but I got something interesting that`s happening here and also I¡¯ve got some question to one over there.¡±


    She just smiled back at me so she got some answers like the last meeting.


    ¡°Let¡¯s end now your exchanges and let¡¯s start this meeting shall we.¡±


    ¡°Yes head master.¡±


    Damn this old man is the real deal as always. But Duke Kalius haven`t said a thing and even that girl.


    ¡°First of all thank you for complying this emergency meeting that the Temple Head Priestess ask.¡±


    ¡°We will always do comply on meetings Duke Kalius.¡±


    ¡°I know Marduk, but from what I hear just now is that your places are being busy lately.¡±


    Looks like the duke is worried by the youngster going to the dukedom but I can¡¯t say less about it.


    ¡°Yes, the eastern villages are having some troubles but not that big just kid fight that not ends well.¡±


    ¡°Mine also, so many of them are in my dungeon right now.¡±


    ¡°As expected of Marduk, hard punishments, we mine is also troublesome but I have some interesting kids showing up.¡±


    ¡°I hope you do your best guild master. And also do punish them that hard we all know they just have little time before the gate opening.¡±


    ¡°Yes guild master I just throw them in the dungeon and I feed them so don¡¯t worry.¡±


    I wonder what food they are eating. His stiff face is hard to read.


    ¡°Head priestess please.¡±


    ¡°Sorry¡­ Duke Kalius¡­ i¡¯m just thinking of thing but anyways, as we know that the gates will be opened after a year and a few months that is why we held this meeting and also I will answer your questions. But for now please to what will I say. Many of them might conquer kingdoms and start their own place to reign, some may help us that is why we need to test their intentions towards our world. We also know that they can be revive after several days that is why we need to gather the ones that don¡¯t have other motives than adventuring and exploring this world. That is what my vision have shown to me.¡±


    ¡°So another vision, that was intriguing, to have visions that is not just few months apart.¡±


    Yeah, I feel that too. Her last vision has like two or three months ago.


    ¡°Your right Head Master but the gods also shown to me that I will have more frequent vision to help us.¡±


    ¡°That might be so, if there is a vision concerning my place Head Priestess?¡±


    ¡°I`m sorry but I have not seen any of this. It might be that the other worlders haven¡¯t gotten in your place.¡±


    He`s so worrywart I haven¡¯t given them pass to the dukedom so they can go there on their own.


    ¡°Thank you, i`m just anxious about your vision last time that my place is where everything will start and it is vague for me so it`s still at the back of my head.¡±


    ¡°Don`t worry Duke Kalius, I will send aid if need and also the other guild masters will aid at you.¡±


    ¡°Thank you Head Master and the three of you for the future assistance.¡±


    Great another work in the future. But this might a good time for me to evaluate other high rankers.


    ¡°Are there question you would like to be answered?¡±


    Good now she`s talking. Hhmm may this two might ask but I¡¯ll wait first.


    ¡°No I have non Head Priestess, Kreisia have?¡±


    ¡°not really but I just like to know if we can limit them from choosing what is right or appropriate for them. Some elves are nuisance to me and they are disgrace towards our clan. Haven¡¯t you think of it Marduk.¡±


    Ohh that was a tough on and the look from Marduk was priceless. I have to hold my laughter or he will drag his wing her just to get even.


    ¡°That might be so, I disgust other dragon and half-dragon youngling especially they are not acting the way they should be. If I have to manage them I¡¯ll send them to the Ryu kingdom for manners and conduct. And I bet they can¡¯t last long for that training.¡±


    Wohw ¡­ he`s really not good at taking care of them and I feel sad for the dragonkin youngsters.


    ¡°Well we have or opinion but for me as long as they don¡¯t cause trouble and obey the law i`m find having them and I got a question and it¡¯s about the timely arrival, just why now, I mean we all know what will happened  during this time and it¡¯s just every five years.¡±


    ¡°I`m also thinking about that Arth but you mentioned it early so I don¡¯t voice it out. Can you enlighten us Head Priestess?¡±


    This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.So the fry head is thinking also about their arrival. It is really suspicious.


    ¡°Then for the two guild masters and the other, they arrival is really said to be this season of swarm for they can grow faster and we can see who might be step up and whom are just normal. Also that would be a good evaluation test that you can conduct.¡±


    ¡°So that season again, might as well prepare my men.¡±


    ¡°That would be it Duke Kalius and if you need assistance you can convey to me or the guild masters.¡±


    Last arrival of the swarms hit the dukedom hard and taken a big reduction of military and civilian.


    ¡°Thank you Head master.¡±


    ¡°Then Guild master Arth what is your news for us.¡±


    ¡°Ow I forgot, sorry Head Priestess well my great new is that the lost race just showed up and he got my interest.¡±


    All of them lost dumbfounded except the priestess maybe she haven¡¯t heard or taught about this.


    ¡°Yes he is an interesting one if I might say.¡±


    W-what he know him but how¡­ow right them know him.


    ¡°What did you say Head Priestess you know what is Guild master Arth is talking about¡±


    ¡°Yes of course Duke Kalius, which is also I will say in this meeting¡±


    ¡°So can you say more about it Arth.¡±


    Tsk even this lizard is demanding even his eyes says it. Kreisia is trying to hold her laughter, well I understand her because of Marduk`s face.


    ¡°Well the lost race is clockwork and he made a fit about going solo and taking a hit from Luin. And also he is a fast leaner than other youngsters.¡±


    ¡°Well clockworks are long lost race for decades but there are more races that we haven¡¯t seen so far, are there also me rare races showing up on your own place Marduk, Kreisia?¡±


    ¡°Not really, most are only just beastkin, daemons and even avian are there.¡±


    ¡°In my place are mostly elves, elementals and other sea clan that is currently living in the near lake and they have to learn water magic first so they can roam around or gain the ability to have legs to walk.¡±


    ¡°Well mine are almost all of them but my place is the biggest so I can manage. There are also Halfling walking around but the clockwork is an eye catcher and i¡¯m thinking of why is he alone. I conducted search in the scrapyard but there is none.¡±


    ¡°As to answer your question, Gods says that being a clockwork take a harder route that being a dragon and other race that is formidable on battle but the side effect of being of clockwork is having no feelings and also they take more time before they can be bless with power given by the Gods.¡±


    ¡°So to say it quickly, being clockwork is like being an undead.¡±


    ¡°Your right Head Master but the Gods also convey to me that me can be a world changer for all of us and my prayers is that he will not be the cause of another war.¡±


    ¡°It was hundreds of years ago but the field of war is still at the forbidden lands and outlawed island.¡±


    That event is a taboo to talk about but that story is dreadful in so many ways.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry Duke Kalius, all the hate and vengeance have been long lost by most clans and tribe.¡±


    ¡°I know head master but still the history of humans are dreadful that is why i¡¯m doing my best to help everyone.¡±


    ¡°we know Duke Kalius, we dragon my live longer but we don¡¯t hold any intention of revenge or so, even other tribe have forgiven human and also it is not just your fault but all people that have their own  interest.¡±


    ¡°Well said Marduk, please Duke Kalius be relieve about this matter what important is now.¡±


    Then Head master looked at me, this old man really gives me the uncanny feeling every time he looked at me.


    ¡°Now that is taken out, our clockwork is currently an explorer and taking a subjugation mission and he`s on solo again but I have trust in his specially that he is much more powerful now even if he is just a newbie level.¡±


    ¡°Hhmm an explorer interesting maybe I should take a visit to meet the clockwork.¡±


    Damn this lizard is making his move just because he`s just an explorer. Maybe Kreisia also wants to see him but I bet that he doesn¡¯t want to be disturbed.


    ¡°Arth can we meet you schedule us to meet your clockwork maybe this coming week and or next week.¡±


    ¡°Hhmm¡­I will try but I can promise and it is not that i`m doing monopoly to the clockwork but even I just saw him after three days upon the arrival.¡±


    ¡°So it was ¡®him¡¯ so what would be the reason of him not showing up.¡±


    Hmp now he`s giving me a glare while head master and Duke Kalius is talking about the swam event that will happened in a few days and the head priestess is just looking and listening at us.


    ¡°*sigh* well I haven¡¯t really talked to him for long just minimum exchange and also he don¡¯t  like having the attention so


    I can¡¯t make appointment besides you can find him easily coz he is almost as tall as me and always on tattered cloak or maybe he just buy a new one.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s okay Arth, it will be fun to find him¡±


    ¡°Then I pray for him to be safe¡±


    ¡°I also agree to Marduk.¡±


    Then we heard chuckles from the head priestess as Kreisia fumes from being teases and embarrassment of her antics. I just hope he survive her chase play, remembering the time she did that to the juniors makes me feel worried about him but I know he can pull it off.


    ¡°That was not funny you know, and your embarrassing me in front of them.¡±


    ¡°You three never grow old teasing each of you.¡±


    Maybe head master was right, it is hard to remove a habit.


    ¡°Well maybe we should end this meeting and is there anything you want to say.¡±


    ¡°I would like to meet Mr Clockwork when he come to you place Duke Kalius.¡±


    Hhmm so the little is also interested to him. This will be fun to watch and I will enjoy this till he finds is mission.


    ¡°Then I will send you a notice when he arrived at the dukedom Head Priestess.¡±


    ¡°Thank you Duke Kalius in advance.¡±


    ¡°Well it¡¯s time to go now¡±


    Then Head master`s image vanished in the mirror as the Duke and Head Priestess follows.


    ¡°I will visit your clockwork in a few days before the swarm start.¡±


    ¡°I will also visit you and the clockwork¡±


    Then both of their images vanished. Better to talk to him just to give him a hint but he might hide himself and Kreisia might cause a ruckus if that happened.


    Well better prepare the juniors for the swarm to protect this village and I bet he will not let go of this chance because of many things we will get interested into.

 Chapter 6 : Clockwork Revelation

    Chapter 6


    Rishido here, there is one time that me and Okaa-san had gone mountaineering and cave diving. It was fun to discover new places and explore the wilderness and caves, they are just amazing like all the rock formation that looks like chandelier and the creatures inside them.


    ======


    While we are on our way to the southern forest that have a dungeon which is our mission, I`ve been thinking that I can`t see other guides like Leyla just some blur from the spaces around people. But when I ask Leyla she just told me that it was the protection of the Fairy Queen.


    The Fairy Queen gives them protection or skill that can make them enter an ethereally state that is making them invincible to naked eyes unless they let them or a people that is much powerful and able to manipulate mana to his/her vision to see them.


    There are also enemies that can also use ethereal state and a bit difficult to deal with. She also said that most guide are pixies and fairies, I didn`t know the difference but I didn`t voice it out.


    As we ashtray the road onwards with the forest we saw a ranch that is near the wall and had some guards and players. There are different kinds of animals and mounts there but their looks are not very similar to normal animals.


    As we enter the forest I have small skirmish with the resident predator of the forest like wolf with fangs and claws made from steel, some armoured bear that is quite tough because of its hide that is made from alloyed materials.


    They give a decent amount of xp but I can really tell because the game never provide xp gauge or numerical and even the plate it has no information about this thing.


    As we venture more, I saw changes around the forest like some grass are identified by my scanners are brass weeds or stone cutter flower, and even some trees give a property of metal element.


    Some tree that fully transformed are bearing iron fruits that is like an unrefined ingots. And it is only abundant near the dungeon that we are tracking into and it`s just a few more minutes.


    Leyla told me that in every dungeon that corresponds an elements it can affects its surroundings but not as powerful as the corrupted dungeon because it can transform fauna and flora into monsters and can create damage when not subjugated.


    As I saw the entrance of the dungeon it is like a cave with some metal like plants surrounding it and the creatures coming out from the dungeon are wolves of different type like wolf I met earlier but it was the lowest here.


    Some wolves are at level 6 to 10 depending on their material, size, metallization rate and also battle prowess. And most of them are on packs but their health is a little low that range from 300 up to 500.


    Still the problem is their pack size that have 6 members and their alpha is double their own size I bet that their leader will be as big as car or a bus.


    We keep on surveillance as some of them left the entrance while some goes deeper. My mission is that killed at least 20 wolf type monster that has metalize parts.


    I currently have 3 from my early encounter but doing 1 versus 6 is a suicide. So I will change my approached to assassination and abduction. But the thing is they are wolves after all so that is not going to work well.


    Then we follow a pack of wolves going at the near water stream that`s gushing out from the higher lands that is going to the mountain range. As we stalked them and trying not to be detected by smell or radar if any of them have, we just keep following.


    Leyla is just sitting on my shoulder as we follow the targets. As the wolf approached a small clearing, I start taking my ant spear and take stance and aims for the one that is behind them. I didn`t have sniping or throwing abilities but I just trust my guts to where to throw and gather force on my right shoulder and throws the spear.


    As my spear flew to the target, I quickly take post and shoot another one aiming from any of the wolves that¡¯s close together. I didn¡¯t have time to choose because of the speed of that spear.


    The second spear is just half on its flight as the first spear made contact to the wolf at the back of its head piercing downwards its throat. The other wolves become alert as one of them become motionless then another spear strike another wolf that is looking at my direction and snarling.


    The wolf got hit on its flank and being push a few meters away then the remaining four take action and start running towards our direction. I equip my halberd and store my cloak because it`s useless in fights then I look at Leyla.


    ¡°Fly higher and support me from above and only shoot the one that is attacking from behind¡±


    ¡°Just don¡¯t get torn apart from their attack¡±


    ¡°Also be alert because they can jump on trees. Wohw¡±


    Before we finished our plan one just jump from my right side trying to bite my head off but I evaded and punch it`s side making it fly behind his team then they jump from different direction.


    My system is beaming red as they attack but thanks to my upgrades it can predict time of impact so I can calculate their movement and switch position from evading, attacking and blocking.


    The first is frontal assault and the two are on my both side but their time difference is just a seconds apart. Their attack is so coordinated but I have to live. I rammed myself to one in front and block its attack by the body of my halberd as the two wolf miss my sides taking another jump.


    Thankfully Leyla is above us and fire a nature ball towards one of the jumping wolf pushing it to the other making them fall just behind me. As I quickly grabbed the neck of the other wolf then throw it to the fallen two.


    I take defensive position as they got up gain but one wolf is entangled by vines that Leyla just fired. The other two didn`t mind it and rush to me by pincher attack. My system indicates that one from the right is higher from the other so I take the right one that jump high and pierces its stomach then slammed it towards the other.


    Upon making contact the pierced one got it`s stomach being decimated showing a gruesome scene but I just suck it up and pull my halberd beheading the one that just got smash.


    As I finish the two the other one starts to retreat but Leyla fire another ball making it stumbled. As I approached the wolf, it looks at me with hatred and rage as it tries to free itself from the vines. I feel something inside me that is being torn up but I just ignored it and continue.


    ¡°No hard feelings but it was my mission to eliminate your numbers.¡±


    I said my prayer then execute it with a swift move of my halberd down its head bisecting it from its body. Most of my plating are stained in blood now as I looked at the battle scene again. Their bodies never become pixels and fade, they just stay there like it was a natural thing for animals that died.


    ¡°It was kind of scary but we did it, but I feel bad about this.¡±


    As Leyla sulk towards me as I finished dismantling the last wolf. I feel a bit disgust about this but it was the law of nature that is taking circles. One will take life and one will live, I just need to think that i`m just controlling their number or I cannot proceed towards the end.


    ¡°Leyla, I was just natural for beast and other creature to die or be hunted but our responsibility is keep them from over populating and preserve the one that will be extinct.¡±


    I pat her head then collect the other wolves¡¯ remains. It is really a gruesome scene but I didn`t feel throwing up or anything. I just feel disgusted because everything feels so real inside this game.


    As I finished my task of collecting their remains, we proceed back to the dungeon entrance and wait again for another group. On our way, I cleaned myself on the stream by swiping my body with tattered cloth that I used back then.


    While cleaning I opened my notification to see any changes but only dismantle gain a level and some battle bonuses like Str, Agi and Dex. I did also have some durability reduction but it was minimal.


    I said to Leyla that after this hunt we will end the day and goes back to the inn to rest for tomorrow that she quickly, maybe the last fight hit her hard after all it was just her first time experiencing that gruesome fight.


    As we almost reach the dungeon entrance we are greeted by a group of 5 party with two melee, a mage, an archer and a druid fighting full frontal assault at the entrance. I don¡¯t know it their just stupid or over confident. I didn¡¯t see any priestess or even a church when we were in town.


    One dwarf melee that have long beard and stout body pack with muscles and carrying an axe that is as tall as him while the other tank is a human swordsman hold a big shield and a mace. While the rear guards are a girl mage on red dress with matching hat¡­ a pyromaniac a common one but full of power then a female elf archer a common choice for the race and last is a male druid that is also an elf that is in charge of making the tanks alive.


    I also notice that all of them have a fairy or pixie or any guide that they have received. It was just blur to me but from the magic coming from the side of the archer and mage looks like they also trained to fight. Most magic shoots are earth, nature and mana balls.


    ¡°Leyla can you see their companions?¡±


    I hide myself behind the trees and still looking at them. They can manage themselves because of the druid`s nature magic that envelopes them.


    ¡°Not really but I think they have three fairy, a pixie and a gnome.¡±


    Owh¡­ so three kinds maybe she got an acquaintance their but I have to watch them first to see what will happen. I didn¡¯t want to be branded as stealer or something.


    ¡°Leyla we will help them if they got in a pinch so be ready¡±


    ¡°Really? And here I thought your heartless being that don¡¯t have any concern about other.¡±


    ¡°Hmp¡­ technically I don¡¯t have a heart but core and i¡¯m just helping them if needed.¡±


    Then she just snort my reply and sit on a branch as we keep observing them. But the number of wolves will keep increasing as the time pass by and its now 30 wolves from my radar and most are coming from behind, might be the ones that is hunting is going back to their den to defend it and it`s moving fast.


    ¡°Leyla move your wings we are taking the reinforcement from behind but just do defence there are 23 of them so be careful and keep high ok.¡±


    ¡°Okay I got it you also take care of your tin head.¡±


    I just ignore her retort and take position on the wolf possible path and take an ambush. Leyla keep distance from the ground but not near the trees or she might get pouch by one. I readied my halberd and slash some trees that is parallel to each other but stopping in half just to keep them standing.


    Leyla keep asking but I just shut her by radiating my visor then proceed with my plan.  After I finished my chomping task I find a place that I can throw spears, I plant a dozen of it for quick draw now is a waiting game.


    They keep approaching quickly and I feel nervous from this fit i`m going to make while the group earlier is dealing with the additional wolves that came by from the northern part and they are on defence form because the mage got injured by a wolf that break their defence.


    I hope they can hold on so I can help them. Then my system give me warning about the wolves then I began throwing spears to the trees I cut. Almost all of them are just a hit away before to fall, the wolves break their ranks and take a frontal and pincher assault, 7 on sides and 6 frontal but before they can proceed I throw my spears on the marked trees as one by one they keep falling from a tree to the next one like a domino.


    That event startled the wolves that approaching us some got stuck and some died because they can`t evade the tree like dominoes. My prediction was right and it hit them big and now ten of them are left behind but the rest are still running and taken a detour to my location.


    ¡°Leyla let`s go to the group earlier I don¡¯t think I can last if I take them head on.¡±


    Leyla just nodded and fly towards them as I follow but the wolves are faster than us. A pincher attack came to warning that`s just 3 second counter I can take evasive manoeuvre so I take them with my arms. As the wolf made contact and damaged my arms, I quickly slammed them on a tree near by letting my arms and then rush to the group.


    ¡°You there we need to retreat now or were all going die.¡±


    The druid looks at me as he finish healing their tank. But i`m still behind the trees so he can`t see me clearly.


    ¡°What are you saying we are winning here and only two are left so don¡¯t try to steal it.¡±


    Tsk common gamers but can¡¯t blame them, most are gamers with nothing to do but hunt, conquer and destroy. Then Leyla came to his face as she slapped him hard but didn`t really take damaged.


    ¡°Shut up, he is trying to save your sorry lives because of your stupidity and this is what we will received. If we didn¡¯t taken care of the wolves from the south you¡¯re all dead right now.¡±


    My system sends a warning about the druid so I made my move before everything get out of hand and throw one dagger to him but just passing his face.


    ¡°Hurt her and your team will go down with all the wolf that is going back from the south. You got an archer so let her check if it¡¯s true.¡±


    Then I grabbed another two and throw it to the wolves that`s nearest to us. We need to really retreat right now or we are all done. I saw the tanks and mage finished the last wolf and talk to the archer who just nodded then the druid turn to me.


    ¡°Your right but we can defeat them I you just cooperate with us.¡±


    Tsk are they stupid their mage almost die from their last fight and from her looks she can¡¯t even last another fight and more now that almost a dozen are coming. Other wolf that is trapped by trees are now moving so it won¡¯t end well to us.


    ¡°You`re over confidence will put you to your end. Leyla there is no use on persuading them on retreating, let`s go¡±


    ¡°But they can fight them off so help them.¡±


    ¡°we can¡¯t win to them there are three alpha that still in good condition and a dozen of under wolf if you can fight those then go but I will not throw my life just to hunt and die meaninglessly.¡±


    Then I walked towards the small clearing where I have my first encounter. They are still discussing but they have no more time or they will die. Then the dwarf walked away from them as the mage flows, they have decided and split apart but the three run behind them.


    Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    ¡°If you got stamina then start running now they are just on our tails now.¡±


    Damn those wolf they are just too fast than the normal ones. Better revaluate my enemies just to keep the upper hand. The team starts running as they saw shadows lurking from the forest, the druid and draft assist the weakened mage while the shielder and archer are at their back.


    ¡°Just keep running I will assist you, and talk to your guides to help you. Leyla you know what to do.¡±


    Leyla just nodded to me and fly higher while i`m still no very visible to them because i¡¯m behind them as keep the wolves at bay by throwing daggers to the nearest ones.


    After us passing the stream and head to the clearing they taken a break and thankfully the wolves did not persist on chasing us. But i`m still weary of why they didn¡¯t chase us here.


    ¡°Guys don`t let your guard down, I feel unease about this¡±


    This feeling is like something is dangerous for us to be hear. But my sensor can`t pick up any signal nor traces of beast roaming around the area.


    ¡°What are you talking about the wolves are not following us¡±


    Is this druid dumb or he is just think that the aggro of the wolf just faded.


    ¡°Yeah, Blake was right the wolves are gone so we are okay now.¡±


    This elves are getting in my cables now they are dumb or something. They just play and don`t listen or read about this game. It is based on reality that has almost perfect so why would they think it is not another world.


    ¡°You don`t really know how nature works are you¡±


    I`m still feel unease but the sensors are still okay and my zone aren¡¯t detecting anything hostile or creature. The mage still recovering from mana exhaustion but the dwarf and the shielder are taking my advice and weary on their surroundings.


    ¡°What are you saying Raiser?¡±


    ¡°What i`m saying is that why would a big pack of wolves suddenly stop chasing its targets just become of their number got decrease. That mean there are more powerful beast that wolves can¡¯t attack freely and we are near that.¡±


    ¡°What unease feeling I get is coming from you who are still behind the shadows and it is suspicious for us to received help from the one that is hiding.¡±


    The short man was right but I don¡¯t have to show them what i`m, they can be wolves under sheep¡¯s skins. And besides they are just causing me trouble now.


    ¡°Is that the way you say thank you from the one that saves your life you fat short beard.¡±


    Leyla don¡¯t know how to hold her emotions and don¡¯t have patience, she`s too expressive on her opinion towards others but easily scared.


    ¡°And you fairy guide is the very first guide I saw that is talking back to us. Your work is just follow us because you¡¯re depending on us.¡±


    The dwarf is about to hit her with the blunt side off the axe but I can move faster as I fling a dagger just passing his face. This will be the second time happening this and it`s getting in my cables really hard.


    ¡°another bad thing you say or do to her and my mark will not miss it`s second shoot.¡±


    They are startled again but the druid and the dwarf might be sweating bullets right now while the shielder didn`t say so much just observing and hold his partner.


    ¡°take it easy guys we are safe now and that`s all that matter right now.¡±


    ¡°Your voice is not natural for any races or it was just your voice. And i`m still weary of you who`s still behind the shadows and hiding.¡±


    The mage is right but meh like I care that much now.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have reasons to show my face to earn your trust and I don¡¯t need people who think that taking lives are just an ordinary activity.¡±


    ¡°Oh so your one of the gamers that talk to npc like they are alive. I¡¯ve seen many on the western villages and they look stupid. Why would you even waste time talking nice to them?¡±


    This bastard druid is making my engine heat up. I`ll put your name on my ban list if I gain some influence on other places. I lift my halberd and shoulder it and check my arms for some repairs.


    ¡°Leyla get ready and fly above me again¡±


    ¡°And now what you¡¯re going to PK us. You know that there are penalties doing such deeds.¡±


    If i¡¯m going to kill them they will be all dead by now. But wolves my kill them quickly and be more alert and that will make them move in much larger groups.


    ¡°Then go on your own i`m out of here now.¡±


    I should have detect it earlier but it`s submerged underground but my sensor can find any monsters too deep and that worm is a big one but it looks like a sandworm but it got steel face and it`s level 20. This is more shit that the wolves.


    ¡°What are you s-¡°


    ¡°Blake!!! Behind us¡±


    The shielder shouted as he block the beak like mouth and twisting it¡¯s whole body like drilling the shield, he won¡¯t last long it he keeps taking it head on.


    ¡°WH-what the hell is that¡±


    This druid is officially dumb for me now is not the time for that, I should help them or I will die with them and I bet this worm will follow us everywhere.


    ¡°Break your showdown shield boy or you`ll die!!!¡±


    I shouted as I throw a spear to pierce it head but as my spear made contact it just dented it`s surface. We are so fucked up with this. This thing is harder than steel and even its body is just taking scratch from our attack and even magic can¡¯t hit this thing hard. And it had 2 thousand hp and our attacks just shave it by only 200.


    ¡°We can`t fight that off we need to run.¡±


    The archer is right but how can we run if there are wolves on the hunt for us, this is really bad for us going here.


    ¡°Just evade and run, we will pull this off.¡±


    Then after the shielder evade another dive from the worm behind him we start running towards the trail that we know. If we ashtray from the road we might be lost from this dangerous forest.


    From time to time the worm comes out and dives randomly towards us but that aiming is too precise. And when it accidentally hit a tree after it aims for the mage, the tree just broke down quickly and it`s endanger us more.


    As I keep running and evading it, I saw it`s mannerism of opening its mouth after it came out the ground then closed it in mid-air before diving at us. Then time of the opening is just seconds but i¡¯m thinking of the risk to me but I will take a chance for this.


    I run a bit near to them but still not showing up and I have a cloak with me. I detect movement near the mage who`s slower than most of them and if she can¡¯t evade it she will die for sure.


    I position myself just behind her and wait for that curial moment and it did but i¡¯m expecting this. The worm is now aiming for me but before it dive down to me I jump mid-air towards it and throw my halberd inside it`s throat. Then I have a glimpse of it, it was full of teeth and surprisingly flesh so I gain high hope for this fit but the things is it still diving down to me and i`m blocking it`s attack with my arms that will break in five more seconds.


    Thankfully the mage, her companion and Leyla shoot magic towards its head and I diverted its direction once the magic hit its head. But my arms are heavily damage specially the left arm that is in front of the cross block.


    As the worm dive is start twitching and made eerie sounds but from the looks of it my halberd embedded on its innards. As it keeps moving on the ground so thus the vitality of the worm decrease rapidly. I found the suspected location of my halberd and stomp on it and the worm twitches more and tried to fight back by its tail.


    The others help me defeat it and in few more minutes it stop moving and a notification came to my view.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>FOR DEFEATING MONSTER IN UNCONVENTIONAL STYLE OF KILLING IT YOU GAIN REWARD</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>+5 ALL STATS</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>FOR DEFEATING MONSTER THAT IS MORE THAN TRIPLE OF YOUR LEVEL YOU GAIN REWARD </td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>+10 ALL STATS</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>FOR FINDING A WAY TO KILL THE MONSTER QUICKLY OTHER THAN HITTING IT`S OTHER SKIN</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>+10 INT, +10 WIS</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>FOR DISPLAYING A FIT AND SURVIVE THEN DANGER YOU ARE GAIN A UNIQUE TRAIT BY THE GODS</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>BRAVERY (CLOCKWORK)</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>YOU LEVELLED UP X5</td></tr></tbody></table>


    I read it again and it is true¡­ Leyla, the mage and its companion is looking gleefully. While the other approached us and begun thanking me for helping and saving them. The druid who is Blake, feel ashamed on how he acted earlier because they meet other players that harassed them. I just nodded to them and collect the price of my performance.


    ¡°Your arms are badly hurt because of blocking the attack I can do first air and healing then let the apothecaries check your arm later if you have broken bones.¡±


    They might notice but I have to continue this. Besides it`s size of more than 20 meters it is made out of tough metal that is compose of steel alloy that compose of bits different metals but it will not be separated even if I melt it because of my lower proficiency of skills.


    Kasha who is the archer approaches me and keeps looking at me and worried. While the other just let it pass because I do say so. I tried to lift the have thing on my shoulder because it won¡¯t fit on the item box but it was in vain.


    ¡°Mind lifting this thing with me? it will fetch a good price because it`s big and sturdy.¡±


    Then two guys approached me and take the other and end of the worm and carry it on their shoulder while the girls stood up and tried to lift the heavy thing but it was just a few inches off the floor and drop it.


    ¡°This thing is so heavy and it won¡¯t move¡±


    ¡°If we leave it here others might take it or the monster so better drag it than leave it alone.¡±


    I just sigh and saw one of the trees that I chop down and an idea came to me. I cut down logs than is just the right size for the body then collect them and I instruct the group who is still following me but they are not questioning my looks because Leyla is taking care of my human relation department, thank you very much.


    I rolled one log and starts to pull the worm then the others starts to help me while I pull the worm they keep putting logs so I can pull it smoothly even if the road is kind a bumpy and luckily we didn¡¯t encounter wolf or bear or that would be a problem and I notice that my mana energy has decrease by 200 but my energy is decreasing a bit quickly.


    As we arrived at the edge of the forest we saw newbies here and there but most of the eyes are on us and staring at our luggage. We keep going back until we reach the gates, the guards just ask for our plates then after identification we walk southwest until we saw the guild building buzzling with people.


    Most players and residents are murmuring and talking about how we defeat this or we are a strong team, i`m not in their team you know. The girls are exhausted from helping use guys but they can keep up and even Blake is down on the floor when we arrived at the guild building.


    Leyla and other guides called an attendant-san and guide him towards us to apprise this worm. Except for levels we receive it fetch a good price but they refuse to have a share because they just help me carry it, well they are right about that because from just helping someone and get paid by at least 10 gold is a big deal here which is 100 silver per gold piece.


    I rate they as nice guys because of it but I refuse their refusal and the argument is invalid because what I want is the head part of this worm which is just 5 gold but I say I¡¯ll just have the head part and the rest are for them. The whole body and tail are not that really special in a way but the drill mouth got my tinkering twitch keep bugging me.


    The crowd grew more and then an unexpected happened, Leyla pulled a trick and remove my cloak by pulling the sting that keep it intact and the other guides help her take my cloak. Then a roar of surprise and disbelief emerge from the crowd and cause commotion. Many murmured on why would I pick this race while others are amaze on how do I look like but guy I look normal robot on real life.


    I glared at Leyla who just gave me a peace sign and flew towards the other guides and boasting about her being my guide and all the stuff we gone and learned. I just let them be and claim my loot by dismantling the worm and sell some wolf meat that haven¡¯t metalize and it`s metal part but my mission proof is still lacking by 11 so I just continue it and it`s already dark so I returned to the inn which I gain some strange looks but I just shrugged off and take a rest in my room but block my door and windows first.


    ----------


    A/N


    so we are getting somewhere and i`m taking some time lapse to speed up the progress because come on guys its hard to do everyday life you know..


    also i might take a break because im making the book cover and right now it was just pencil and dont expect something really good though.


    see you next time or maybe chat and msg.

 Chapter 7 : Insects and jewels

    Chapter 7


    My school day comes by quickly but there are things that most students awaits like school festival. This is also my favourite event in my school days because you have no classes for a whole week and have fun with your friends going around other classes booths and also there are SC organize games that can make you famous or earn something like title. It would be fun if it would also happen here, maybe not fun but you can earn something.


    -------------------------------------


    My days playing and resting in real world is not that eventful. My routine is to play 2 mornings and 1 night then on the second night I log out to eat and take bathe or sometimes get outside the compound and stroll at the mall to buy some books for reading.


    Most of my books are game related or machines and robots but I still got some miscellaneous books like agriculture or husbandry. I just buy them on a whim but it might be useful in one of my goals but I just let them be at the shelf for the time being.


    I usually hunt on solo from plains to dungeon which is mostly subjugation. As one week past in real life that would be a month and 5 day on rough estimation but the thing that bothers me is that monsters keep increasing and also the arrival of high ranking guild members from different secs and races.


    When I came back to go online, people around the guild building is on clamour so I got curious about this it also might be an event that will be release. On the balcony from the guild building there are 5 silver team besides Arth-sensei. But almost every day from last week there are arrivals of silver plated teams and going on western and eastern villages.


    There will be an event i`m sure about this and it might be a hard one. Then Leyla appeared beside me looking anxious and when I ask her she said that they are warned to be cautions this time because of the arrival of swarms of monster and if they got in a pinch they are requested to use teleportation back to their kingdom.


    I ease her anxiety and worries as I place her on my shoulder and pat her head giving her assurance that she won`t get hurt and also she ask me if I could help other guides about this. First I was reluctant but as I saw her face it show a different side of her usually ranting and energetic attitude so I reconsider it and agreed. I suspected that this swarm event did something to them to be so caution but I let it fly for now.


    ¡°Today as we all know that it will be the season of swarms or dungeon season but I as both mayor and guild master a sure to all of you that we will protect this town and keep everyone safe. As for all the members of 3 sections of the guild I¡¯d invite all of you to participate this season but there are risk that is included but I will assign different quest or mission that is suited on you and your team¡¯s capabilities.


    We also have supports from this 5 silver teams besides me and they will also participate in this event to help me keeping this town safe so everyone please rest assured about this. Other information about the activities is posted on the guild and the town hall and if you got questions just as the attendant on both places to help you. That`s all and have a good rest because tomorrow will be the beginning of the season.¡±


    As Arth-sensei finished his speech, most populace have their anxiety relieved while guild members feel more excited especially the players because of the event. My presence around town is now normal thing but my first week is hard because most people here are anxious about me but didn¡¯t do anything just they stared at me. it`s hard to move around but when i`m inside the guild most people and players didn¡¯t give a damn on me being clockwork or rare sight just a normal.


    The most annoying thing that just happened are, one blacksmiths around keeps asking question that I didn¡¯t answer because it is about the past that I have no clue even some ask if they can replicate me which I denied because I just don¡¯t know. Second are kids, yes kids, they look at me with sparkly eyes like i`m a toy or something but none of the kids that I meet dare to approached me. third and most annoying is Leyla and her ego, it`s not that bad but if you¡¯re a loser and you gain a big achievement you will definitely be a show off.


    As I got out of my self-monologue and being shouted by Leyla, we proceed to the guild and find some request that can be done solo as usual and i`m an iron plate explorer now, I earned numerous quest with rating and all plus i`m on solo so it did really boost my capabilities. My weapons keep changing almost every week because of different enemies that is around the town like one on the depths of the mine shaft that most worker goes because it is abundant with ores but is regulated by the Arth-sensei but players can mine them if they pay for it.


    As I got my subjugation quest from the guild which is rated as 2 bronze star and if you`re wondering the meaning it is the classification after the rating which chronologically arranged as bronze, silver, gold, platinum, and adamantium. The star rating might be the level limit and the coloration might be the difficulty but I never voice it out.


    The subjugation that I take is farther north from the mines. The dungeon is called treasure mines because it produces different ores from time to time but the catch is that monsters living there are also consuming the ore as their food. Also there are times that this subjugation quest get up until 3 gold stars because of monsters in depths of that dungeon comes out and for iron plate teams that would be nightmare on both numbers and level difference.


    As I arrived at the mine shaft I saw workers or slaves if they have collars, well I was my first time seeing slaves this many but from time to time I saw some people who do have collar in the town. I ask one attendant onee-san in the guild and she said that slavery are normal punishment for people offended the law some of them are just normal people that can`t pay the small tax of one silver but for me that is a bit far but it was already a law here and they have to work to pay the said amount being a slave and they are govern by the town treasury and guards besides their job are mostly physical work but the town hall didn¡¯t really need more man power.


    The next is criminal slaves and by the name itself they omitted crime and now working as a slave to pay for their sins but some are not on slavery because of the danger so they are lock down the dungeons of the town, or castle. I didn¡¯t ask for more because if getting in my system but if it`s their law I will not detest it but still not a fan of this specially some people abused this system for themselves. But like I said i`m not a hero on a novel or manga but a traveller it`s still sting when i`m seeing them but I still continue our trip, Leyla is just sleeping on my broad shoulders after she arrives.


    I saw the entrance after several minutes after passing the mine shaft and this place is like one of the wolf but most trees are like ores rather than metal trees. I keep scanning the trees that I pass by that are corrupted and when I saw a fruit bearing one the scanner showed up its properties thanks to metallurgy. It was like an apple but it`s inside are pack with silver in the center but normal stone in the outside. I keep picking silver apple on a tree then I saw a snake on this tree i`m picking apple. This scene looks familiar but i`m not naked and human after all so I just cut down the head of the snake then collect it`s skin that is also silver, jackpot.


    After my apple picking and other random stuff like collecting flowers and weeds that have abundant metal property and leave the growing ones. I proceed to the entrance of the dungeon. Unlike the wolf dungeon den, this one doesn¡¯t have a systematic hive just monsters on the same tribe goes on the ore they need to eat and doesn¡¯t mind other monsters. I saw earlier that there are in fights also like a group of 5 spiders fight 3 beetles and they both have same property which is bronze on their exoskeletons.  The beetles got it hard but they win amazingly because they can break the spider string that is made out of bronze. I really need that spider for my next body.


    My subjugation quest is to eliminate treat on the second basement just a stair away from where I am. Leyla who is on my shoulders are now sticking on my neck shivering and when I asked her earlier she just said she`s not good on bugs and other creepy crawly. Well I just let her in the time being and proceed to the second floor, as I descend the temperature got lower by 2 to 5 degrees and the sound of munching and crunching of something increases.


    What I saw just amazed me while Leyla is almost crying on my neck begging me to go out now. Well I will not let this opportunity go because of her because what i`m in right now is like heaven of insects like grasshoppers and cockroaches. And they do not attack each other like the one that I saw earlier plus their size is as big as a full grown dog, just imagine a cockroach that is as big as a dog it was just amazing.


    Their levels are only ranging from 10-15 while bigger ones are on the 20`s but it doesn¡¯t bug me¡­.the puns. Well i`m level 18 now while other players are now on their late 20`s guess having high star really do matter on xp but I still wonder on how much xp do I need. I will really enjoy this quest as I take out my sledgehammer that`s as tall as me and the hammer head is a bit bigger than a dog but I didn¡¯t mind this because I can easily lift this.


    ¡°Leyla support me i`m going now.¡±


    I looked at her and asked her first, she level 23 now but I can¡¯t see why she would shiver down on this just because they are bugs. Right, I forgot it was a girl thing. There will always be some fear on insects. Well she just nodded at me but she stayed on my back because she doesn¡¯t feel like moving around.


    The first monsters that approached me are the ones that finished their meal. But it was just like a walk in the park as I hammer them down destroying their heads only because the carapace and other parts are sellable to some extent. Even if they swarms at me I keep them at bay from taking a bite on me, I just keep evading buy jumping on one bug to the other while hammering the one that attack me and it just goes smoothly. What I really enjoyed is that Leyla keeps screaming every time insects appeared on my back but she just keep firing nature ball on desperation. Well insects and fear are girl things so I didn¡¯t ask for more.


    The troublesome one are the cockroaches that keeps flying around me and now I understand why people fear them and it was because they can just fly around and annoy you. It don¡¯t give me the creeps what so ever cos i`m a freaking robot and besides they can just fly and I can easily hammer their heads when they descend down so no worries.


    I keep this killing spree until monsters starts retreating back to their own nets or down the floor. There are still some resistance but it was just small fry. After the fun part of the killing mayhem which exhaust Leyla and keeps crying on me begging me to get us out of her but I just ignore her and dismantle the insects that makes a creepy sound every time I remove the carapace and other body parts that the guild might but. Most exoskeleton are metal oriented and most are bronze, copper and iron while on some rear ones have silver and a bit of gold.


    I also just learned from last month that monsters that borne out of the dungeon have magic cores that looks like shards. I overlooked at this trivia on my wolf hunt but after I learned this it was also the proof I needed from all dungeon type quest I needed. After I finished my messy job we got outside but i¡¯m having a tingling sensation just now before I finished dismantling.


    While ignoring Leyla`s ranting about me and the insects I keep walking around the floor where I fight the insects because I got the strongest feeling from there. I scanned the ground trying to find something but it was hard because I haven¡¯t upgraded the scanners. I keep that scanner upgrade for later and continue on walking and some quickly battle from roaming monsters.


    Once I experience the sensation again I quickly stop and scan around me and I pick up a small light in one of the corner of the room. I didn¡¯t have shovels or pickaxe so I improvise by making one by using the carapace as a shovel I began digging. And while I keep going deeper by at least a foot I hit something so I clear the surrounding dirty and what comes out is a jewel but after I scanned it, I just can believed what I just hit.


    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°Errmm¡­ Raiser, I know you¡¯re busy and all but can we get out of here right now please~.¡±


    Well at least she`s not nagging me now but I was on the climax of the event so I let her know.


    ¡°I just hit a magic jewel Leyla so if you could excused me.¡±


    I just said it to her nonchalantly and she looked dumbfounded. We all know those magic jewels are hard to find in the first place so her reaction is normal. She didn¡¯t asked but just stared at me with sparkling eyes and glowing aura around her, well I got some peaceful time now.


    First I thought it was just a small piece because from the first batch I retrieve but as I keep clearing the area it began to increase in size like from thumb size it goes to a palm size I can determine its properties so I keep it in one place for now. As my excavation continues I finally hit the last one and it was as big as a backpack and there are at least 3 of them.


    After I finished surfacing the last one of the big jewels I lay them down and start counting and separating them by three sizes. From finger size, ball size and last was the backpack one. Leyla also help me but her eyes looks dangerous from the way it sparkles. Yep, women and jewels friendship also exist here.


    I place the two sizes on my magic box that expanded on considerable size of 105 slots which is 5 slots per level plus the first 20 slot.  But it still have weight limit depending on the users strength but it doesn¡¯t bother. I`m able to store all of the jewels except the three big pieces so I put them on the cloaks and large cloth wrapping that I always bring.


    After packing things up, we proceed outside but the thing is insect starts attacking me out of whim. They might be attracted to the jewels i`m carrying, it was nuisance but I just trampled them with my hammer one hand while I hug the jewels as I start running towards the exit. Leyla also provided support as she blast insects around me and screaming about jewels but didn¡¯t bother listening to it and keep running until were out.


    After we get out of that insects infested dungeon we are now finally at the guild building. Most monsters we encounter engaged at us but I quickly deal with them. These jewels might be a good thing for power levelling and monster hunting.


    I reported my quest of subjugation and sell some loots but I keep some best parts. I requested to meet Arth-sensei which the attendant-san quickly relay this request to her senpai. I wait for a bit then he came down accompanied with some silver ranked teams. My sensors sending me so many warnings that my vision turn red now.


    ¡°Raiser, it is rare for you to ask for me so what can I do for a youngster like you.¡±


    As always, Arth-sensei is cheerful and welcoming unlike that baka inu besides him who`s snorting at me giving me glares. There are a demon kin, a usagi kin, a human, and a troll. Usagi-chan is quite a beauty even if she in on full bunny form not likes a bunny girls on clubs. Demon-san and human-san looks refined by the looks but troll-san looks arrogant to me.


    ¡°I discovered something and I bet you already know it so let`s talk in private.¡±


    Arth-sensei just nodded and proceeds upstairs being followed by the high rankers but usagi-chan gives me a wink and hopped upstairs. That makes Leyla fumes in range but when I asked her she denied my allegation of she cares about me or like me. Well i`m not so dense to not see her admiration or whatever she feels. Let`s just pray it won`t be develop to love.


    ¡°So how many have you retrieved and do you know the affiliation of the jewels?¡±


    ¡°Not really Arth-sensei, I can`t tell what it is besides it was a magic jewel. I would like to lay them on the floor¡±


    Arth- sensei just nodded and lift the center table with one arm and give it to troll-san who`s standing behind him with the others. I place first the small one that range from as small as 1 cm to at least thumb size that is 50 pieces then then palm size and ball size that counts 34 pieces and last was what i`m still holding.


    When I revealed three back pack size jewels their look astonishment and stared at the three jewels, even I can¡¯t even believe it also. Arth- sensei I first to recover and laughed loudly while slapping his thighs.


    ¡°You never failed to amuse me Raiser, from your first subjugation that you get until now it was full of surprises.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s say that i`m just torn between lucky and unlucky person. I now that you can apprised them Arth- sensei so what are they and their uses.¡±


    He scratches his chin first before explaining them to one by one. First the magic jewels are concentrated mana that solidify and takes form of a crystal, second crystals can received affiliation according to their location like the ones I got them all got metal affiliation. Next it that they are used in various ways like making magic tools by using them as catalyst, wand and staff for magicians to boost their magic and some uses jewels that have same affiliation with their magic, last is that it can be used for dungeon making but on how to create dungeons are not widely known and kingdoms and chosen people are the only one that is allowed to learn them.


    ¡°So will you sell them all, you also know the danger that carrying one will attract monsters around you?¡±


    He keep his beaming smile while aiming for my items like it was so rare but I have to haggle the price and keep some of it  for future experiment, maybe I can even empowered my core with this jewels.


    ¡°Yes but I would like to know their classification specially these three. After I decided what will I keep I will sell them all.¡±


    ¡°Hhmm¡­you¡¯re really interesting towards selling stuff, most items you sell are next to good ones like the one that you usually bring here from your escapades.¡±


    ¡°I like to keep the best ones that I know I have use for the future and you know that I can¡¯t become stronger by training.¡±


    ¡°Okay then Raiser most of this are metal jewels and they are used for common magic tools and magic weapons and armour. Some are still pure mana jewels and they can be also use for magic tools but it was better than metal because it can change its affiliation but it will permanent.¡±


    Arth- sensei arranged them by affiliation to make it easier for me. Hhmm¡­I need to secure a good prices and a good stock for my own. As I looked to my side I saw Leyla looking at me with pleading eyes. Okay, okay stop that act I will give you. *sigh*


    ¡°Leyla pick some jewels that you like¡±


    Before i finish my sentence she quickly flew towards the jewels and start picking ones that she like the most but it was just on small pieces that she place near me. I tried to identify it by scanning but what I got is a download that is on my lower left. So if I fulfil some qualification I can learn some new skills like what I did when using NWA. The download speed was fast as long as I keep scanning and asking questions to Arth- sensei.


    Mainly our topic comes down from uses to selling them to kingdoms. If there are places rich with mana there is a possibilities that a crystal will form but in some cases it turn to be a dungeon so most place to look for are dungeon because dungeon can produce jewels like this but takes a long time.


    But he also stated that the swarm season cause the magic concentration on dungeons and other places will increase and most likely dungeon will produce jewels. And this swarm season only happened every five years so it was really high demand low supply. After our exchange my software download is also complete and it was an ability called ¡®magic eyes¡¯ but it changes to ¡®mana scan¡¯ after the system propose it because I don¡¯t have eyes but a scanner.


    Mana scan is just an identification ability that let me recognize mana flow, mana affinity but it consumes my mana energy that only Leyla`s magic can replenish. But this task also improve Leyla`s control towards mana and affinity. But scanning them eats around 2 ME per 10 sec and I have to choose between mana flow and affinity. Maybe I should learn things like magic and mana after this season.


    I take a quick scan of the jewels around me and their affinity, i exchange some jewels Leyla got earlier and exchange it with higher ones mostly on 50-80% affinity. Also I take some high ones ranging from 80-100% which Arth- sensei winces about but I pretend I didn`t saw it. All in all Leyla have 5 mana and 5 metal small piece while I have 10 small and 10 ball size on equal ratio. I just keep one on both affinities that has almost perfect grades. The three big jewels got also almost perfect so I keep the two of them one mana and metal while the one left is also mana.


    Arth- sensei opened his item box that really looks different from the one that I used and place a coin bag that contained almost 50 gold coins. He also fetches one coin that is rarely used, a mithril coin.


    ¡°okay so here is the payment 46 gold and 72 silver for all of this and one mithril coin for this one.¡±


    Even his companions that are just watching us could not believe from what they are seeing right now. I have to keep my composure when dealing with this thing or I will be in trouble.


    ¡°Thank you Arth- sensei but I¡¯m afraid about holding a mithril coin around town.¡±


    I`m thinking all possible tragedies that might happened to me while having this big money while lay just keep hugging her jewelleries and murmuring something.


    ¡°I know that you will say that, well the town hall has a treasurer that is used by every kingdom across the land so you can use that to keep things safe but you have to pay fee for storing items and coins.¡±


    I nodded and grab the coin bag and the mithril and place them in my item box. Well items from items box can be stolen and even from death, items can be drop according to the game info. After I collect all the jewels that we decided to keep, we proceed outside and bind goodbye to Arth- sensei but the guys behind him keeps silent the whole time.


    After all the side strolls and a trip to the town hall where I deposit my items like mithril coin and jewels Leyla demand that she will bring them back to her place. Then I go back to the inn to end my day by experimenting one small jewel with low metal affinity. I¡¯m still anxious about this but I shrugged it off and continue.


    ¡°Leyla what ever happened to me never panic ok, i`m other worlders so don¡¯t you worry about me.¡±


    Leyla looks scared from what I just said and approached me hovering over my shoulders.


    ¡°Okay but what will you do with that jewel.¡±


    ¡°Well I¡¯ll try to integrate it with my core to see if something might happened but most likely I will experience pain or feel uncomfortable so take this jewels and go back to your kingdom okay.¡±


    I place the small pouch on the side table and pat her head.


    ¡°I`m not that worried or anything besides you can repair yourself so do whatever you want. I will enjoy myself with these jewels.¡±


    Not worried but you have teary eyes right now. But what does she do to the jewels anyway. Maybe for magic and accessories but most likely for accessories. After she disappeared after she hug my head I open my chest and pop out my core that is sealed tight inside me. I lie down the bed while my core is shining brightly, I found a case on my core that is bigger than the jewel I was holding. I braced myself for what ever happened as I place the jewel and push back the case.


    I waited for a bit but nothing happened then I felt it again. It was a long lost feeling from before than I have stored a long time ago from that day I lost everything close to me. The memories keep surging inside my head as the pain creeps to every part of my body. I can¡¯t speak nor move my body, I can¡¯t comprehend what is happening to me but one thing is for use I feel the pain all over my body then my vision black out.


    ------


    A/N


    kinda delay coz of RL problems but still working on things like i need to do to make it more appealing.


    Also i will rewrite this series after 15 chaps to make it more readable and improve grammar as other said.


    So stay tune and keep reading :D

 Chapter 8 : Battle of body, mind and heart

    Chapter 8


    Night after night, I keep getting nightmares that drowned me in sorrow and agony until I have suicidal thoughts but every time i`m thinking of it her face comes to my view. Okaa-san smiles and cheerfulness that she showered me every time i`m down even if I know that behind those smiles are tears every night. All this thoughts of her keeps me from the edge. And now that I was given a second chance to live, I promise to myself that I will be strong and move forward but the memories of that dreadful event still lingers in the shadows, waiting for a chance.


    ----------


    The smell of disinfectant and medicine lingers on my nose as I woke up from my nightmare. I observed around to confirm where i`m at right now. And all the white things and equipment like from the hospital are around me, wait I know that I fainted and maybe force log out but to have a setting like i`m on coma, really?!


    Before I even sit up on my bed the door opened and a doctor-san and two nurse onee-san comes to my view. Doctor-san asked me questions about what do I feel, how`s my head or something like what doctor usually ask while the two nurse onee-san have clipboards and checking my vital signs like heart pulse and the other machine around me.


    When I asked doctor-san on how long I¡¯ve been out he just said that it was almost half day already. I panic out and trying to find my chair to go back but doctor-san force me to rest as he inject something on my dextrous that makes me weak and sleepy but my anxiety just increase more because I might have another nightmare.


    I keep fighting the sedative by my own sheer willpower to stay awake after they got out. I feel like i¡¯m in a paranoia right now, cold sweat dropping and creepy feeling keeps me stay awake. This set up is like when I was in the hospital when I got into an accident with Okaa-san. I shrugged off the feeling but keep my composure and calmness.


    Hours have pass but I¡¯m not still sleepy but paranoid with blood shot eyes wide open and waiting for something to happen as my worries increase. Then doctor-san came again and some of the buff agents help me with my chair and dextrous as we moved out of the room and proceed to a place like where I get body scan or CAT scan I don¡¯t know.


    After series of test I was back again in my white room waiting for some officials from Neos. Right now I¡¯ve been calculating how much time in Edean have pass and probably Leyla will nag me for what happened here. I pray for Minea for strength and help.


    Right now i`m being interviewed but it`s more like being inquest as a captured agent from other country and the missing part are the table, that hanging light or table lamp and a dark room with glass. They asked several thing like what happened inside, what I did and other things concerning that single event. I explained to them what I did plus my hospital records that I remembered when I got hospitalize and my sudden mental breakdown or so.


    I have some meeting to other doctors like psychiatrist and psychologist, i`m not that crazy or anything but that ink blot is annoying to talk like why would you ask a person what did they saw in that ink blot, it was just and ink blot you know but I didn¡¯t stress this out because I might raise another flag that will delay me from being online for hours.


    After that questioning I was discharge by the doctors that check me and per order of Neos, but I know that they find something interesting on what did I do, well I was also eager to see what happened to me. I was accompanied by Jean-san again and we have little talk about what happened to me as we ride back to my condo. The infirmary is also connected to their lab or something like where they research but I didn¡¯t push more on this subject.


    As we arrived I asked her for us to eat first because i`m feeling so empty which she agreed with. Many players come and go as usual but now it`s desolated except for the employee not that I didn¡¯t mind but i`m so late for the event right now. After we arrived at my room Jean-san give some advice on playing game and real life which I take time to think.


    As I got online I check first what on Edean happened to me. A notif came to my view that stating that swarm season is beginning so I didn¡¯t read much and the next is what surprises me.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Magic jewel ¡®metal¡¯ has been fully absorb with the core</td>[tr][tr]<td colspan=''2''>Result</td><td colspan=''2''>Affinity metal 5%</td></tr>[table]


    A long silence and I feel like cold wind blew to me as I stare what is the result and after I reread it for the nth time I closed it and lock my room and proceed to the guild to received my any mission or quest. Well mission is all about battle while quest or request is more on gathering or getting some stuff but I didn¡¯t pay attention much on details. One of the attendant onee-san give me options from dungeon on the north to the wolves den down south, but she asked that I should have a team or party to start a mission on subjugation or I will not be allowed to go out because of the risk.


    They really do care about their members` wellness in some extent so I agreed to her and find someone or a party already then Leyla puff out in front of me crying while hammering my head with her tiny hands. But I just ignored her and her cries that turns to nagging but I keep ignoring her. Then I found party that looks newbie but i`m certain they are not players coz none of them have blur or guide around them.


    ¡°Can I help you?¡±


    They stared me anxiously, well it was a normal reaction if you¡¯re asked by a big guy but the thing is i`m a clockwork.


    ¡°d-don¡¯t worry about us we are just beginners and besides your quite popular among senior and junior members.¡±


    He said as he wave his hand nervously, he`s a native human and his companions are female human archer, female elf shaman, and a bear-kin guy. From their team build is a fine one but still not a good for long run battle. Might be good party for some low risk just to get the feel.


    ¡°Do you guys¡¯ have-¡°


    ¡°Guys I found what we can take now.¡±


    I was cut short by a feminine voice that came to our area and from the looks of it she`s their party leader and a player. Tsk, I have to find other party now but maybe take this chance to have someone to talk or interact.


    ¡°Sorry I didn¡¯t know that you already have someone with you.¡±


    ¡°Ohh the clockwork, finally I can see you up close now¡±


    The dark elf girl moves towards them as she greeted me. i`m really quite popular not that it`s a bad thing but meh. She motioned a handshake as she properly introduce herself and her team.


    ¡°Hi i`m Chloe and this is my guide Byume---¡°


    After pleasantries and name exchanges, Chloe-san became their leader after they left the eastern village known as Sedart. Their level is 15 while Chloe being the highest at 25 they also arrive yesterday night so they are just new here and when I asked them why do they have to leave their own villages they just said that this season will be their coming of the age test that quite hard if you ask me.


    Well mostly the coming of age for each tribe is different except if you are born on the year where swarm season will arrive so kids that is born on this year will take their test 14 years from now but the catch is that they will be more skilful and stronger than the one that are not born on that year but they didn¡¯t know anything more about this issue.


    Well for the name they are Zeldy the on that I asked, Eirin his childhood friend and an archer, I smell romcom wait I don¡¯t have nose, Fenella the elf shaman, and Slok the bear-kin. After some more chat about them Chloe-san presented me their mission and that is drone ant subjugation well i`m familiar with them so I just nodded and we all set out for the trip. I asked Chloe about the party system here even though I¡¯ve already read it but still hard to understand.


    The thing about party is that players have system while native have plate system which is if someone likes to join them or include them, the one being invited will present his/her plate and the inviter will connect their plate to them then release some mana to bond the two plate then a colour indicator will appear on their plate on the top right corner meaning you¡¯re in a party and only the guild can see it and the party members so I do the process with Chloe-san.


    As we get out of the south gate that is now fully guard unlike last time i`m here, we are now passing the scrapyard perimeter on the side and head towards the suspected cave of drone ants. Along the way, we have some skirmish with some ants but I didn¡¯t do that much because I will just gonna eat the xp for sure. For xp distribution, players and natives have different aspect that is still unknown. Maybe they can grow faster than us.


    Mostly Chloe-san just leave the ant barely alive as the others finished them off. While i`m just maiming them but Leyla is not participating because I still ignore her, but I have my reason though so even if I said it to her she will only rant and nag me more so, no.


    As we arrived at the den or rather ant hole that is because I goes down ward I asked first Chloe-san if she got something like dungeon or cave escape item. Well she does have but it was expensive to buy so she doesn¡¯t really have that many only two of it. I should have asked her this matter early on but no more crying on spilled milk. As Fenella-chan recasted her buffs as we dive down the ant cave.


    Chloe-san have an explorer skill called dungeon mapping which is an exclusive skill for explorers and unlike other mapping this one auto update everything after being use on the same dungeon to see any changes and in higher level she said trap can be detected but only on big areas not pinpoint ones. I haven¡¯t received any skills but that mapping will be available on my level 20 all I need is take a test. I didn¡¯t really need one of that because I have sensor and scanner that act as a map and enemy indicator.


    I keep using my scanner to have a better view and safer travel towards this cave, we didn¡¯t really engage fights all the time because of the hive system this one has. I help on the navigation like where the enemies are or where should we turn and likes of that. We got some quick battle but not on a disadvantageous one coz I help on disabling the hive system.


    While navigating around the ant cave, we take some quick rest and they eat, kinda out of place though so I drink fuel at my back but Leyla ignored me but Chloe-san asked if she could help me in which I agreed into. As we gotten deeper to the cave the ceiling also increase in height as well as the width of the corridors so I alert them to stay on guard.


    I received tons of warnings on one of the bigger rooms that have lots of red dots meaning more powerful enemies are ahead of us. I relay this information to Chloe-san and we make some plans on things that we will do. Well i`m doing the tanking and Slok-kun while other are the rear guards being protected by Zeldy-kun. It might be a mini boss stage so we are on extra caution as we approached.


    From what my scanners says to me, we are really on shits right now. A mini boss that is level 35 destroyer ant guard that has several siege ant that is higher than the ones that we fight they are even bigger than them there are also soldiers around maybe 20 or more. I quickly draw the agro of the enemies as Chloe and co. will help me from the back. I didn¡¯t allow Slok-kun to engage on frontal because he might die also and they needed to survive but for us we can just revive.


    Most siege attack were earth ball while i`m evading the claws of upgraded soldier ants while the others concentrate their attack on one ant killing them on a steady pace. While i`m running around keeping other ant and the mini boss from them, i`m calculating on how long still I get depleted if I reserved my mana energy. Once they have killed half of the soldiers and few siege around them, I regroup to them to cool down my body and have refuel coz even I didn¡¯t know on how long can I run around and evade numerous times so I have to be careful.


    As the enemies approached I take the agro again while Chloe-san begin to chant her AOE magic directed to the mini boss while the others are defending her. They were good for newbies so that birth on swarm season must be right. After she finished her chant a dark ball was summoned in the center of the ceiling and firing dark bolts around.


    That dark ball firing dark bolt around the ants especially to the destroyer which shaved good points but Chloe-san can¡¯t move, so it was a channelling magic. Because of this my work becomes much easier and the enemies quickly dealt with. Them shit happened as the mini boss change its target to Chloe-san as it rush towards them.


    Crap, I should have hit it once in a while but I have to rush now so I used my mana energy as i`m on the run to help them even though a got some glace hit from other ants. Leyla and Byume are with them but the two can stop that big guy with pillar like forearms. I`m already on its tail as I hammer down one of its legs making it stumble missing a few inches from striking Chloe-san and Slok-kun whose defending her.


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    We retreated to the opposite side to prepare, lucky the two of them just received only minor gash on their body from the impact. There are still few ants but Fenella-chan, Zeldy-kun and Eirin-chan will take the other and while the three of us will attack the mini boss side by side. I leave Leyla and Byume with Zeldy-kun as they needed them the most. Leyla still not talking to me or anything.


    I take out my giant axe to be my counter balance when i`m swinging my hammer around and also to do more damage. I`m not science buff or anything but if you keep experiencing things you might find something really interesting. As Chloe-san starts her magic again I begin my engagement with the destroyer while Slok-kun take out ants that stray away from Zeldy-kun and co.


    I begin to exchange blows with the mini boss as I swing my hammer aiming for its legs and keep my momentum at its peak and keep following it`s flow from axe swing or kicks. Maiming the destroyer is my own task to do but being near this boss is also hard because it can trample me when i`m under its body that as hard as the worm I fought.


    After I finished two out of six legs the others have cleared the rest of the minions and partake on maiming the mini boss as Chloe-chan keeps her chanting, she`s still not finish?! How long does it take, didn¡¯t she have some sort for shortening chant or something.


    Then after we severed one of its leg and maimed it by 3 legs it is now on 25% of its life. Then Chloe-san warned us to move out as a dark ball emerged at the top of the mini boss.


    ¡°Gravity carnage¡±


    The small dark ball quickly expand that is big as the mini boss and it`s starts to descend to the ant smashing it`s body down the ground. My heart keeps breaking as I stared at the parts being destroyed that can be sold and also I haven¡¯t vent out my rage from earlier event. That skill also sucks all the life force the mini boss have and only leave the deflated body.


    While they are cheering for Chloe-san and celebrating, i`m on salvaging the head and arm part that is not so damage. The head part is as big as my body while the arms is twice bigger than me and I found the a magic core that shouldn¡¯t be there because I have fought many times but I didn¡¯t see magic core on the mobs I have killed on my early days.


    After I stored the head on my box and saw my notifications that I levelled up and battle bonus stats. I suggest that we should stop for now which they agreed with besides our mission is just take a proof of subjugation mission and that is the core of the mini boss.


    On our way back we do still encounter several drone but it was relatively easier now because the newbie levelled up like me. But thing really didn¡¯t go smoothly as I detect a threat that approaching towards us just before the exit.


    Damn this luck, another mini boss but now it wasn¡¯t power base but movement. I didn¡¯t have several minion like the one earlier but it got good minion that range from 20-25 level. This mini boss might be a sweeper if the intruders aren¡¯t killed and retreating back.


    Chloe-san and Fenella-chan can`t keep up with the speed of the new enemies while us melee keep on defending them.


    ¡°I got a plan but I have to stay a bit longer for all of you to escape¡±


    I said as I repelled a claw aim on my head by the new mini boss. It wasn¡¯t humongous but on a size of an elephant but it was too fast for us.


    ¡°What are you saying Raiser we are in this together remember we are a team.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you get it, if this fight drags on reinforcement will come from all the hole in and out also we can¡¯t use that escape thing you have because of its retched condition so just comply.¡±


    That escape rope have a condition that we need to stay on non-battle pace at least 20 minutes but time to time ants come inside the mini boss room disturbing the countdown.


    ¡°We can make a plan without leaving anyone here so don¡¯t say that.¡±


    She`s really desperate to keep us all alive but Chloe-san forgot that i`m also a player but the death penalty is high. But I didn¡¯t have any choice either. As I dodge another attack and do a counter giving us a brief time, I quickly scoop the girls off their feet and run towards the exit but my sensor warned me that the mini boss is on our tails so I toss them towards Zeldy-kun and Slok-kun whose in front on me when I give them I nod before I sweep the girls.


    As the two catches the girls I got hit on my right arm giving me 20% damaged and destroying my arm. Fuck this mini boss and this ant hell. I swear to destroy this cave when I come back here.


    I remove myself from the wall I get planted with after receiving the hit then Leyla approached me.


    ¡°What on Edean are you doing!? Are you trying yourself get killed?¡±


    She`s bet red face and flapping her wings rapidly but I shrugs her as I grabbed her gently as I toss her also outside.


    ¡°YOU STUPID METAL HEAD!!!¡±


    I don¡¯t have much time to explain things to her also i`m in danger right now coz another claw is coming on my sight. I block it with my broke arm as a shield but removing it from my shoulders hurts like hell.


    I stumble around while dodging its claws but the others are trying to do re-entering but stop by other ant. I will not allow somebody to die again when i`m with them if I have the power to prevent it.


    It will be do or die but this will be also good for me venting out all of my emotions even though i`m a sentinel being with no emotion. I just keep dodging the attacks as I try to fetch my fuel can and water after all the dodging and running around i`m able to refuel myself and proceed with my plan on go all out.


    I enable my mana energy to be used as the main then my body starts to glow pale green as it creeps all over my body and I feel so light and energize. Then a notification came to my view.


    [table]<tr><td colspan=''4''>Mana energy is being utilize</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>All stats boost by 10%</td><td colspan=''2''>All battle traits and abilities improve</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>If mana energy boost is cancel body and system will suffer damaged according to how much has been used</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>If mana energy is full drained systems will shut down and a force log out if not rescued after 5 minutes</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Bravery activated</td></tr></tbody></table>


    After reading my system boost I feel like I gain power like one of the most famous anime hero that has yellow hair or something. As I lift my giant axe with my left arm I dash towards the mini boss and cut it down but it block my attack and repelled me. I continue our exchange while taking out all of its minion that is near me.


    I feel so light now as I fight with all that I can from dodging to blocking, attacking to countering I keep all my emotion being poured out to this fight like killing my nightmares that hunted me for several months. I just keep fight for my life and destroy all of the ant that blocks my path. The mini boss also starts to slow down as I keep giving it heavy axe swing all over its body.


    On my last 100 mana energy I dismembered its head from neck with an axe throw as I received a swing from its claw that send me flying on the ceiling and all of my attack that I have given earlier has paid off. My durability if falling fast as I keep receiving damaged around me when i have fallen down. Notification and other things are keep popping up but I sweep them as I retrieve the head and the core but I regret leaving the arms of the destroyer but I can¡¯t waste more time.


    My durability is now on red line that is one 200 flat while my energy keeps decreasing to 70 and if I cancel out this boost I might get destroy so I take the risk and run towards the exit. My team was already gone now and also Leyla so I didn¡¯t regret any of this.


    Jumping and dodging from all the attack around me is hard especially now that I lost both my arms. I have no means of defence except evading which keeps me alive until now. Then I think back when I was in the same position with Okaa-san, am I able to save her if I have the power to do so.


    ----------


    Leyla`s POV


    Damn that tin head, he is not thinking of things clearly. He said that he didn¡¯t want to be hero but on the last minute he still do it. Is there something wrong in his head?


    When he gets back here I will definitely scold him for being stupid and dumb also he will buy me all the sweet and fruits I want when he get back so he better be back or I will double this punishment.


    ¡°it`s okay Leyla, I know your companion will come back again even if not the same¡±


    Byume said as he comfort me after we arrived at the guild hall. Everybody is exhausted and sad about what happened. The most affected are the two guys that carry the girls away from that hole.


    But I know Raiser will do the same but he better live because i`m his guide and I don¡¯t allow him to die.


    ¡°I`m okay Byume and i`m not worried about him or anything coz I know he won¡¯t die for sure.¡±


    He better not die.


    ¡°You did really trust him¡±


    ¡°Of course I do trust him besides he is the nicest person I have ever seen so far except for some people I know.¡±


    Yeah he is the nicest one of the travellers I encounter except for Chloe.


    ¡°well I do also agree with you and almost all new world traveller tend to be arrogant or between those lines but your companion do really care about you in the end even if he tends to ignore you, as a guy I do understand one thing about his attitude earlier.¡±


    ¡°Really?! I mean, I really don¡¯t get why he would always ignore me when something happened especially this morning, he didn¡¯t wake up for almost 3 days and he didn¡¯t said something about it.¡±


    I`m he`s guide that the goddess Minea has chosen for him so why would he hide things from me.


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t want you to worry about him that much like right now.¡±


    After he said that I feel my mind gone blank for a while.


    ¡°really but i`m not worrying much about him besides if something happened to him you know what will happened also right.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I know that because I gotten send back forcibly a few times when Chloe is just starting and she is also clumsy from the start but get the hang of it quickly.¡±


    ¡°Hmp, well Raiser didn`t die on his first days here because i`m with him and I also help him with his body and repair so i`m knowable about this, we even dug out magic jewels and I have my share from discovering them fu fu fu fu.¡±


    ¡°Really?! That was rare to receive that jewels and even finding them. So what will you gonna do with them, most thing that we do are wand or accessories to power us up right.¡±


    ¡°of course I will do that and also Raiser will craft me thing that uses jewels so he better live and come back here quickly.¡±


    He better come back, hhmm¡­ I didn¡¯t think of that wand thing but accessories will be good, better asked Raiser to craft me a wand and other clockwork things that he can do.


    ¡°Sorry for all the trouble Leyla, i`m really sorry if only I was stronger maybe, just maybe we could---¡°


    ¡°Stop it Chloe it wasn¡¯t your fault it was just we are all exhausted from the earlier fight and besides Leyla didn`t really blame any of you guys so cheer up¡±


    Byume was right I didn¡¯t blame any of them even if they were weaker at least they help us in many ways than they can.


    ¡°But Byume i`m the one that invite him and so ---¡°


    *slap*¡±would you just shut up about blaming yourself, Raiser choose to save us all rather than let everybody die, beside he knows what is he doing even though he doesn`t looks like the one that think about things. So stop moping around¡±


    Then the rest of our teams` expression soften a little from what I said, they better be or I will scold them for being sad after all the thing that Raiser did to them.


    ¡°Thanks Leyla, I just feel guilty and all.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that besides we are all worried about Raiser.¡±


    ¡°So¡­ you did¡­ worry about me¡­Leyla¡±


    I know that voice but it`s ragged and distorted but i`m sure of it. Then I turned around and I saw Raiser standing beside the guild`s door but the thing is.


    ¡°RAISER!!! What happened to you and your arms are missing!?¡±


    I`m happy to see him even if he`s sometimes cold at me.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about this, wait you really do worry about me right.¡±


    ¡°Of course NOT!!! You stupid big can!!!¡±


    __________________


    A/N


    Yes!!!


    YESS!!!


    finally we are going somewhere here well technically. anyways after reading things around forums i cut down my tables but i still not good at editing though so bear with my english...


    i will still update but not that this daily coz there are still things i need to tend to.


    also i`m trying to make the book cover so yeah that`s all.

 Chapter 9 : Queen , the Migration and ...

    Chapter 9


    On my first day of being unable to use my legs I feel so down and depress like i¡¯m nothing but a burden to others. Even doing simple task like cleaning or cooking is like harder than because i`m still not used to it and going outside is even harder.


    I wonder how hard it is like to have no arms to use.


    ------


    ¡°Come on Leyla i`m ok now besides it`s been four days already.¡±


    After I¡¯ve been beaten to death and live i`m back on track and I have new arms now thanks to Chloe-san group. Having no arms is really a burden like being a limp the only difference is that I can move around but not able to do anything.


    My money is used for buying stuffs that is already available while I deposit my loots on the bank to have more space in my item box besides it will take a while before I can have arms.


    Leyla is a worrywart from the day I arrived in my broken state. Chloe-san contracted some of her friends that is good in machine and blacksmiths that are already in town.


    Many got interested seeing a clockwork and constructing an arm is not an easy task for them coz they`re not a clockwork to begin with. After some trial and error of blacksmith and other people, they finished one arm that I requested even though it is small and simple. I don¡¯t want the clockwork tech to be exposed broadly for man players and people so I just said how to make a simple arm.


    I begin constructing my tool kit so I could work faster and create a better arm set that I will upgrade because I have more materials and weapons inspiration. I still want to have projectile like guns and rockets also laser beam but I have to keep it in my bottom list because I haven`t have ideas how to create it here but guns will be available after I read how to make it but gunpowder will be my problem so I have to find an alternative but maybe a magic gun. Magic gun noted.


    After four days of doing nothing but weapon and arm construction is boring but I¡¯m able to add more weapons and boost my speed and power to maybe 1.5 than the last time. On this addition i`m able to download some of my NWA specially that photo memory and hyper data because I can now scan the monsters and beasts I have encountered that are machine, part machine or metalize. It was like a beastrian I can organize them according to my liking.


    I haven`t read a book for a while now but the event is still on going and it said that I will continue until the end of summer here so we got less than two months. Ain`t that long for swarm season but when I ask some native other season even last at the 1st month of fall and in some other places that haven¡¯t suppress their own dungeons and field it will last until the end of fall.


    Well the season can be ended quickly if it was interfered by magician that will create a magic tool that will sucks the magic power but it can make a new corrupted dungeon so it was only created on dead dungeons or caves that is already existing or kingdoms that have dungeon with in their territory because they can regulate it.


    My NWA is almost empty except for that alchemy and unknown skill but I will leave it for now. After I reconstructed my arms I replace the existing ones and store it for emergency like this. I upgraded my overall system like my scanner and sensors plus my memory bank and motherboard. I can now even use the quick shift because of the ant mini boss that we defeated coz it required a system to let is function well.


    I gain so many bonuses for defeating and staying alive after that dreadful battle but I don¡¯t want to do it again for months. I gain new title plus stats bonuses and that solo boss fight give me 3 levels but that level gap is really high so maybe it was the system or my racial nerf.


    I added attachment weapons on my arms like the drill that is inspired from the worm. The plates that act like an armour on my forearms fold into a drill in my left hands while my right arm have wolf like design that extend to be a grappler that can be used for clawing, grabbing or grappler as its first purpose.


    Other parts of my body got also an upgrade because I have the quick shift system and energy conversion but there is one option on the energy trait that is unknown and 2 options that is still locked. As time when by as I¡¯ve been unable to do quest many things did happened but the most talked about is the dungeon being created inside the scrapyard in which shouldn`t happened also that dungeon is making ruckus because of monsters coming out.


    Most of the players take the subjugation quest for the scrapyard dungeon and even the silver rankers are taking the subjugation quest in which the dungeon is rated as 3 silver stars meaning that the dungeon is only safe for silver teams but that is the initial rating because it was deeper than 10 floors.


    Arth-dono have also requested magician to do dungeon fencing to suppress the enlargement which it will eat the whole scrapyard and even the town if left unattended.


    Right now i`m taking the drone ant quest again even after what happened to me. Leyla is forcing me not to take the quest but I insist it just for my self-satisfaction and maybe vengeance.


    Chloe-san is with me again and her team but this time they are more prepared plus when i`m out for 4 days they take quest that has good ground to train and good for training cooperation. They levelled up quickly because of the number of enemies even if they are outnumbered they hold themselves very well and now they are 20-23 while Chloe-san is 30.


    They agreed with me so Leyla can¡¯t oppose me from not taking this and now we are at the mini boss room again but we know how to do it properly. Arth-dono said that the mini boss and boss of dungeon spawned quickly in this season but cavern monsters don¡¯t but he still warned us about this though.


    ¡°Raiser what`s waiting for us in the other side.¡±


    ¡°I`m not sure but there is a big one with 20 small ones. But this time it is not as big as I first saw it maybe a new one¡±


    Chloe-san is very anxious before entering this tunnel. The mini boss room change its entrance by making a small tunnel that only a soldier ant can only pass.


    ¡°we know what to do so let`s go¡±


    I take the front vanguard as we pass through the tunnel. As I scanned the enemies just in front of me they are just as the same level like us but the mini boss is still a destroyer but it was 30 which is 5 less than the last time.


    As planned beforehand, I will take the aggro of the boss and even some minions while they take out other ant also Chloe-san will prepare her magic to destroy it.


    The progress goes smoothly and I didn¡¯t need to use too much energy now that they levelled up to hold their ground. As planned we retrieved the core and proceed but I still do salvage the head and one arm that isn`t much damage.


    The cavern goes deeper as we proceed to the boss and occasionally there are amusing things that we find like ore vine like iron and copper and rare gem like a small piece of ruby.


    Several meters before we reach a large open inside the cavern, we have series of battle on some ants but there are also mix drone ants that we haven¡¯t seen before like a drone larvae or a nursery room which we see how drone ants are being born or created.


    We didn¡¯t destroy that hold them coz there are several drone ants like a mini version of mini boss we encountered. Besides if we take it any longer we will be in more danger. But the creation intrigue me so I scanned several eggs and larvae for my research and maybe I could create my own drones but I need a mother hive program in switch I find it hard to create coz i`m lacking parts for the program and system itself.


    We let a group of soldiers pass before we decided to enter. I was in shock when I first saw the queen ant laying inside and eating metals and ores but the thing is it has a forge-like thing attach on its abdomen.


    Around the queen are several soldier ants and siege ants which is bigger and stronger just by looking at their appearance. Like before our plan is take out all small fry while I run around and take aggro of the boss.


    I engaged the queen and some drone ants while they take their position and begin attacking the drones. The queen ant didn¡¯t even move on her spot which makes me anxious but when I think of it more maybe it was s spawning type of boss that will send dozens of minion to kill you.


    I relay it to Chloe-san and the others thus they feel more nervous but resolve to do it faster. As the plan goes on I keep evading and sometimes killing drones that are vulnerable. As the minion goes down to half, I attack the queen who`s just looking at me and occasionally clawed me when i`m near.


    My attacks are either being repelled by its thick cover or just giving it a small scratch. The queen`s neck is too high for me to climb and there are drone every now and then attacking me. It is annoying enough that it was 3 story building high with big claws and pinchers accompanied by dozens of drone. While i`m busy here the others are taking out drones on a faster rate while Chloe-san is no chanting here dark bolt that could really help a lot to use.


    And from the position I saw the dark ball above the queen which is she is almost completed her chant. I quickly made space from the queen so I can be safe coz it can do friendly fire. I Chloe-san said the activation name a rain of dark bolts hit the queen and few drone ant around her.


    As I distant myself from the queen and the others it started to move differently and lean it body to the ground then from the abdomen dozen of ball-like metal start rolling that is 1 meter in diameter then what my fear comes to life.


    Dozens of mini soldiers, siege and even the two mini bosses we encounter emerge from them. And they start attacking Chloe-san. I rushed to them by jumping from drones that are attacking me.


    They can hold their defence but the sheer number will overwhelm them so I need to go faster. I`m still contemplating if I will use my trump skill but I refrain coz the boss is still in good condition with 80% health.


    As I arrived to them while I gain several damaged which I ignored, I quickly take out the ones that are near from the girls specially Chloe-san who`s keeping the dark bolt active and killing the queen ant.


    The queen`s health keeps on decreasing while we are defending Chloe-san. She already cancelled out the dark bolt to do the gravity carnage. I`m on my own again attacking the queen which is on the ground laying metal ball and clawing me as I do a hit and run routine.


    ¡°Ain`t you finish with that, I¡¯m on red gauge now.¡±


    Spell casting or chanting whatever it is, the time to complete a spell that could hurt you real bad is time consuming. Volley of ball and elemental arrow are good but not every effective on this kind of fight but still that chant give us a lag on.


    ¡°Raiser, out now¡±


    Finally, as I saw the ball I started running towards them to help with the defence. Damn this boss for having thick armour and large health. Even though that the queen doesn`t move too much her minions are really annoying and they hurt badly if you get swarmed.


    As the gravity ball thingy descend down the queen ant pinning it down the minions stop spawning which is good for us. I can hear the scream or screech of the queen ant getting flattened down but it`s hp is still around 40% but before I leave it was 60%. This is really getting annoying and stressing to me and the team.


    I called Leyla to aid me with my refill and charge me some mana that I used for running but not as the main source. It was still confusing though but from what I know as long as i`m not changing the order my normal energy will be consume but I can draw some mana to refuel it while on the other hand if I use the mana energy as my main I can used the normal energy.


    ¡°Raiser I can`t cast another one of that until about 10mins plus it eats a lot of mana.¡±


    ¡°Okay then but take it easy now, but i`m still worried.¡±


    ¡°Raiser the queen ant is moving strange.¡±


    As Fenella-chan said it we all looked at the queen ant. We from what I observed it raised its head and I heard weird noise coming from somewhere.


    ¡°Guys I smell something that is burning¡±


    ¡°Really Slok I didn`t smell anything¡±


    ¡°Really Zeldy but I do smell something but only faint¡±


    Wait did he said burning.


    ¡°Get up guys and start running or we will be crispy any minute now.¡±


    ¡°What on Edean are you saying raiser don¡¯t you see that we are just recovering just now.¡±


    ¡°Don`t you understand Leyla from what I said earlier that boss got a furnace.¡±


    ¡°So what if the big ant got a furnace or something like ¡­ ohw I get¡±


    ¡°then start moving now coz it`s aiming its tail to us.¡±


    Damn this is getting really bad now. As we stumbled down and tripped while trying to save our ass from being barbequed i`m sure now that it won`t be able to spawn her hell minions.


    Chloe-san and the girls are with Zeldy-kun while i`m with Leyla and Slok-kun. The queen`s aggro is on Chloe-san because of what she did so they are on the run while we are at the back of the queen. Eureka!!!


    ¡°Slok-kun can you toss me up to the queen`s back?¡±


    ¡°Maybe I could why?¡±


    ¡°well I will destroy the queen`s head but I need you to distract it or maybe destroy the legs so it can`t move around anymore.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure about that raiser i`m mean your good at that but that was a boss class you know.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me Leyla just assist Slok-kun and the others plus I need the head part on good condition.¡±


    ¡°Hmp. Fine.¡±


    ¡°I`m good with your plan plus I can help the others to not get burned alive coz Chloe-san is still exhausted and being carried by Zeldy.¡±


    As we made our plan he toss me up to the queen as he run towards one of the leg and breaks its footing making that tail flamethrower missing them by a meter or two. While I impaled my halberd on the opening on its shell and drill the cover to make a footing. But the queen knew she`s having a pesky passenger which she tried to shake off but I didn`t let go as I used my grappler to hold on while the others start attacking the queen.


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    As i`m on its neck the queen become more shaky but I keep moving until I reach the back of the head. The good thing about my new trait is that I can use my innovator to see the conditions and connection of the head down to its body. I make holes in which I see several cords and cables that is in good condition and connect to the body, I also tried to do mana scan but I didn¡¯t pick up any sign except from the body that have a faint light on the center.


    As I start to cut the connection, Chloe-san and the others are attacking the queen on both sides but from what I know as long as the important parts are not that damage the monster will just take small amount of damage and will not die. I refocus on dismantling and destroying the connection of the cable as I gone deeper the head connection is pretty big and dozens of cables and wires are still ok but the queen ant is slowing down bit by bit.


    On my halfway down the cable that is connects the systems the body and head falls down. Oh shit.


    From the third floor high I descended down hugging the neck and praying I won¡¯t get destroyed. Then I fell my body got slammed down the ground eating 38% of my hp. I can¡¯t move my legs or arms but they are not damaged so much so maybe I got a stunned state or something.


    I can hear that they are calling for me but I can¡¯t send my reply for some reason. I don¡¯t see any status ailment or anything so I just waited for them to find me.


    The first one to see me is Slok-kun then with the help of Zeldy-kun they pulled me out of the rumble. I saw in my logs that I sustained damage that suddenly disable my body operation system plus the shocked that entered my body from the queen ant.


    After I recovered, I saw Chloe-san carrying a hand-size core with steel white like coating. Chloe-san said that cores with colour or elements are different from black shards we get from smaller monsters. And also the colour difference tells the value of them or the uses. Some core is used for magic tools and alchemy while others are used by smiths to create magic weapons. And also rumours about magicians using this shard to do monster summoning which is true in some way or the other.


    I asked them to help me dismantle the eyes pinchers and other important parts or sellable items with the queen ant. I carved out the scanners and sensor first then the system within the head.


    I was just amazing to see the structure of the queen ant plus it was better than my system in some areas like memory and connection. After I removed important parts inside the head plus the sensor and scanner I just let them have the pinchers and claws that are still good also some cover plates and machinery.


    ¡°Raiser, what will we do with the furnace like thing on the tail.¡±


    ¡°Hhmm... I think I will take that but it will be hard.¡±


    Chloe-san and I are still thinking if we will leave it or bring it back but with Leyla`s persuasion and convincing power, we decided to take it home but the thing is.


    ¡°How can we take it back if it won`t even move even after we pushed it.¡±


    ¡°Slok was right even if Raiser can dismantle the parts that don¡¯t belong to the furnace the furnace itself is unmovable.¡±


    ¡°Maybe Raiser got a plan, right?¡±


    Even if Eirin said that I haven`t thought about how on Edean i`m going to bring it. The escape rope have weight limit but I guess there might be a loop hole.


    ¡°Chloe-san you can use the escape rope now I¡¯ll join you later after I solve this or give up.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure about that Raiser? We know that there are restrictions on using the rope.¡±


    ¡°Yeah i`m sure of it but don¡¯t worry about me.¡±


    Then as Chloe-san understand me and nodded to the others they didn`t argue about it. As they leave I started to drop the things that is inside my item box then arrange them with in the cloth that I always had.


    ¡°You know Raiser you are having a habit of bring things like a large old cloth or something like that. There might be something wrong with your head.¡±


    ¡°Tsk of course not, I just prepare things in advance. Besides it was very useful for carrying things outside the item box.¡±


    ¡°So how can you bring that out?¡±


    ¡°Well i`m thinking of removing everything inside the box the put the furnace inside to see if this thing could fit.¡±


    ¡°You are such a big stupid lump of metal you know. The item box got a limitation you know.¡±


    ¡°Of course I know that so just shut up and just watch.¡±


    ¡°Hmp. Fine but before we leave I like to have pet so go grab one egg that we saw earlier and not that scary minion ants.¡±


    ¡°Now that you mentioned that maybe I could also grab some machine eggs for experiment or something.¡±


    Machine eggs noted. Well after I remove things that are heavy enough but I leave my juice drink and canteen coz they are just light, I move closer to the furnace which is off now. I shoved it to the item box but it didn`t get sucked in.


    Then I tried to hold my item box and pop it like an egg on a bowl or maybe like a ball thrown to a creature to capture it.


    Shit just got real.


    The furnace get sucked inside my item box but after it I feel an extreme weight all over my body like i`m carrying weights for professional lifting contest.


    ¡°Just what on Edean just happened?¡±


    The look from Leyla is either shocked or dumbfounded is really hilarious that I take a photo of it using my traits of course.


    ¡°Well looks like that crazy idea was right but the drawback was so huge. I`m carrying the overweight that comes from the item box right now and my legs might break if I let it alone or if I fall down.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care about you and your weight but let`s get moving but don¡¯t forget my pet.¡±


    ¡°Yeah yeah I know¡±


    I feel like singing the tsun tsun song. Well my weight is really uncomfortable but manageable but i`m super slow like I can`t lift my feet fast or far to stride. I remembered my grappler so I put it to use and grab the cloth containing my stuffs and slowly pulled it.


    All in all, I have everything I wanted to like the scanners and stuff that goes to the head then then weird core that I retrieved earlier when we are getting the magic core plus some miscellaneous stuff that is useful for my upgrade.


    I tied them up tightly on the blunt end of my halberd. Wait this baggage on stick looks familiar. Meh.


    I scanned first my surrounding just to be sure if there is hiding underground. My sensors haven`t picked up and signal of enemies so I proceed to the entrance where Leyla is waiting for me.


    As we walked back to where we saw the eggs that is just several meters from the boss room, I¡¯d notice that there are no roaming ants and even on my sensors didn`t send anything back.


    I just ignore this feeling and enter a small cave with metal balls eggs that Leyla is mentioning and from my scanners it showed me that it was still on processing before I can be a drone plus it was only on 10% completion so it was safe to carry it around. Leyla point out a small one that might me a drone worker if it was finished.


    The completion is on 23% and other are on their 40-50 so I didn`t get them only the low number one. Summary of my collection is 10 small balls that is just bigger than a tennis ball then 5 football size and all of them are just before 30% completion.


    Then I used my escape rope which didn`t activate so I used two then I got out like it was magic.


    ¡°I should have brought the entire body to sell.¡±


    ¡°Raiser what are the drone ants doing?¡±


    I quickly looked at Leyla then turn my head towards where she is looking, from my scanners and sensors I can see lines and lines of drone ants moving towards the town. I detected some players and native around them and fighting some drone ants that they lure away from the line.


    ¡°That was bizarre, I haven`t seen ant migration before or heard of it. Maybe we cause that because their queen is already dead.¡±


    ¡°But they are going towards the town right we better hurry beside I know that the others noticed it too.¡±


    I convey with Leyla`s suggestion and move back to town but on my current weight this will take a while before getting there.


    ~


    Finally, after my long and gear breaking walk i`m already at the guild building. I heard rumours and talked about on what just happened. Apparently the drone ants are getting mind control or something between hacking and virus but I haven¡¯t gotten any proof.


    My current situation now i`m being hard pressed by questions of Arth-dono after my arrival. Well the migration is strange by itself so he didn`t say anything more. For the subjugation matter, the core and other things that are sold at the guild while the subjugation payment are handsome because of the queen`s death.


    I tried persuade them on not accepting my share because I have a freaking furnace that i`m still carrying which I haven`t said to them. They still pushed it so I accepted it just to convince them I don¡¯t have any alter motives from refraining.


    I received 2 gold coin and several silver from all the loots and subjugation quest. After some exchanges and a stamp mark for complete subjugation that we received. I`m currently buying things I needed to build my mobile furnace and matters that might be useful for me on my upgrade.


    After I have gone to the town hall to deposit the eggs that I retrieved from the cavern and deposit other things which the attendant onee-san accepted with a dry smile and weird laugh after she asked some of them.


    ¡°That attendant thinks that you are going insane or something you know.¡±


    ¡°Well that would be one but i`m not here to complain coz i¡¯m the on whom brought eggs, head and other parts of monsters and few more weird think.¡±


    But i`m still stuck with the furnace and I need to have a carriage or cart that would support me from carrying things. Then I remembered that if I will use the corpse of the queen ant to create my mobile furnace maybe, just maybe.


    I ask around the merchant district if there`s someone who will sell carts but lucky there are carpenters and crafters that are willing to make one coz it was not really popular but adventures and the like are in need of crafters and wood works for some reason.


    I made a quick agreement then in a few seconds I can see a carriage made from wood and some metal attachment that I requested. And i`m back to the town hall to withdraw all the things I needed plus some coins to buy coals, fuel and thing I needed to operate a furnace plus self-supplies.


    I`m on my carriage with two donkey pulling it coz horses are a bit expensive plus they will be obsolete after my creation. The carriage is loaded with dozens of metals parts and 3 sacks of coals which I brought before moving towards the cavern.


    I`m on the coach but it was not hard to do this maybe because they are donkey and not harsh or maybe this donkey are used to being animals of burden. Leyla is right now besides me hugging her sweets and fruits. I was lovely though so I took a photo.


    There are newbies and other guildies, yes from now on I will call them guildies coz it was hard to always see them as different fraction besides we are all in one guild so maybe it was fine.


    As we arrive at our stop, I released the donkeys and give them some grass and water then let them rest for a while. I asked Leyla to looked for them while i`m gone gathering thing around the cavern mouth like woods and fruits that I spotted earlier.


    After my side trip we proceed deeper to the cavern and I have to do some manual work like drilling some tunnel to let my carriage pass through and it was right that I brought an open carriage.


    As we arrive where we left the queen, the atmosphere is still solemn in some point plus the only things I detect are some small critters roaming inside and ant eggs. Maybe I could use it for ingots or experiment.


    I left the donkey on the far side where they can¡¯t be startled as I do my work. I let out the furnace on the open space near the queen and start dismantling the queen bits and parts. Leyla is also curious and what am I doing but I bribed here with thing like fruits and sweets but the pet thing is a bull`s eye so she`s on the carriage humming but her eyes are dangerously sparkling. Very dangerous.


    I`m wrack by brain to do some brainstorming for images of animals and monsters I have seen then one image stuck my curiosity and I began laughing with my monotone voice, I should have start to do some upgrade regarding this voice box but later.


    After a long night and the sunrise is approaching soon i`m already finished with my furnace and I¡¯ve already upgrade it to a blast furnace with the help of the queens part plus the walls of the cavern that have the same property as the clay I used back in the guild.


    Leyla leave me alone i`m so into forging but demand for a pet drone or something. I`m only doing finishing touches like program installation and system command plus the hive network that i`m dreaming of.


    After I connected its system and network to mine I started the engine by my command.


    ¡°RAISE MY FIRST GREATEST CREATION!!!¡±


    Then green light shine on its scanner eyes as I start laughing hard like a villain. This is one of the best things I¡¯ve ever done.


    ______


    A/N


    CUT!!!!


    XD and i really like that line from Frankenstein.


    anyways sorry for not updating few days ago it was just some RL problems got caught up.

 Chapter 10 : Cerous and Alchemy

    Chapter 10


    Okaa-san and I had gone to the zoo when I was still a kid and it was one of my favourite place to go if she`s on her day off or holidays. I`ve seen many kinds of animals but what I like the most are the big ones like the elephant or the lion. I`m still wondering if I could own a big pet like them maybe when I got older but now I dream even bigger.


    --------


    ¡°WHAT IS THAT BIG THING!!!?¡±


    Your annoying you know and it`s early in the morning, you might disturbed the donkeys who`s still sleeping. I wonder why they are still asleep after all that happened here.


    ¡°Don¡¯t give me that look, I said I will create a mobile furnace but I think it was now a mobile blast furnace or something. As long as it can help me melt metals and I can create weapons and part I careless about what it is called.¡±


    ¡°Then why it is so big like it was a mini boss or something, besides can that thing fit to the road of the town.¡±


    ¡°Of course it can, I measured the town road plus the stalls that are outside the houses so it will fit but it can¡¯t go side by side with a carriage.¡±


    ¡°Okay fine, now where is my pet?¡±


    ¡°well about that, i`m still researching on how to create or reconfigure the eggs to have a nonviolent monster machine or something that have metal parts but don¡¯t worry we already have a mobile furnace so it can be created anywhere.¡±


    ¡°Let move out now i¡¯m having some sickness inside this cave.¡±


    As Leyla mentioned it, I quickly reorganized my things and put it at the back of the mobile furnace.


    I got inspired to make a dino-like furnace coz I haven`t seen any monster that resembles dinosaur except for the dragons. Well it was based on triceratops but it only got a single horn that can be moved in front to be a drill head. The hood or crest is for protection from arrows and other things, I just put it there for decoration only, maybe on the later date I might know why did I installed it.


    It got stumpy hooves that I designed to carry the weight plus it got also a quick shift system but it`s on power gear so it can moved without problem. Furnace is the real deal when i¡¯m creating this one coz I have to build it within the body that I have to move it and lifted it up just to install other things. Thankfully the queen`s parts are really a big help.


    After the furnace instalment in the center, the butt area or ass compartment is easy to do but I have to add a counter weight so it won¡¯t trip forward because of the weight. Down the neck where I also build a seat where the core is place and it was the queen`s machine core like mine but as I looked at it the structure is different from mine that is more advance.


    Most of the engines and other things that operates this is also place on the neck that is protected by the hood so I made it adjustable and movable according to need. It can refuel like an animal drinking the water but i`m still dreaming of making eat things like coal or metal. As of now I have to do this things manual but I can still upgrade it according to the traits but I still lack of materials and system level for crafting so I let it go for now.


    The bonuses I received from constructing this furnace are really good plus almost all of the stats improved and abilities alike. Maybe I should start making robots or mecha-beast. I saddled back the donkeys with the carriage and coached it while Leyla is admiring the mobile furnace.


    ¡°Have you named it yet?¡±


    ¡°Well my system do tell me to name it so i`m still depicting words from my memories.¡±


    ¡°Then why not unihorn ray coz it got a horn like unicorns and it had a metal crest like sun.¡±


    ¡°That might be good but i`m calling it technically by uniceraforps¡±


    ¡°What? I can¡¯t understand what are saying. Uniserapofs?¡±


    ¡°No Leyla, it was uni-cera-forps meaning one horned warm head like from the base monster I have in my memory.¡±


    ¡°You have weird naming sense but you¡¯re clockwork so maybe it was natural, but I will this Cera, wait is this male or female?¡±


    ¡°Maybe a male, the head part looks tough and it was big you know.¡±


    ¡°Okay, wait we are back at the egg place. Let¡¯s collect them.¡±


    Hhmm... Might as well so I just nodded at her and collect eggs but the weird thing is not a single egg increase their creation process. Maybe I could reconfigure or reconstruct them to have different monster.


    After the collection of eggs that is around hundred small and big eggs that is place on the compartment. I also bring the remaining parts from the queen on the empty carriage so I can reimburse the cost even if I take the downside.


    As we got out of the cave, there are many players that are aiming for the scrapyard dungeon that increases its number because of the ants but the other beast and dungeon dwellers are not attracted to it. Maybe it can only contract wandering monsters or hiveless like the drone ants.


    As we came back from the cave, we gain or mainly Cera as what Leyla called it but that sounds like a feminine name actually but I just let her. Now she is enjoying the crowd as she wave at them standing on its back, I should have brought some cloth for the seat in front and maybe also at the back, wait scratch that I will reconstruct the back to be a flat so I can sit or sleep there on long rides.


    Other people looked at Cera or I should give it a nickname of Cerous coz it was a male anyways, some stared it with awe while others looks confused on why is a big monster is inside the town even the guards are confused when I first enter the south gate.


    As we arrived at the guild as per usual it was jam packed with guildies going inside or out. And the one greeted me as I arrived is Arth-dono with a Dragonoid beside him that have the same level of Arth-dono and that is 300 and it was red meaning only estimated.


    ¡°Would you looked at that, I haven¡¯t seen that one from my travels did you tamed it or captured it.¡±


    ¡°Hello Arth-dono and Dragonoid-san as for my answer, I created this big guy.¡±


    I can see the shocked on their faces plus the peanut gallery that is inside and out of the guild. I know, I know it was shocking but please remove that death glare of envy.


    ¡°That was amazing, also the size is huge and the legs are good for long rough travels. You are truly and amusing one you know. So Marduk what can you say about this clockwork.¡±


    ¡°For travellers it was useful but for me as an explorer it will just lag the team from exploring dungeons and fighting monster so i`m not really impressed at all.¡±


    ¡°That was a hard one Marduk but he was still a kid you know. So Raiser what are the other uses of that monster, wait does it even have a name?¡±


    Marduk-san just snorted Arth-dono and keeps looking at me and Cerous sharply like telling me to say more or is this all. He`s too stiff and strict unlike Arth-dono whose always in good mood.


    ¡°The name is uniceraforps from the name of the monster I based that comes from our world but I called it Cerous for short.¡±


    ¡°It was Cera, haven¡¯t we discussed it back there.¡±


    ¡°Leyla it was a male from the looks and Cera is like a female name so I will change it to Cerous.¡±


    ¡°Okay, but my pet should be a female you got that.¡±


    I just nodded to her and began explaining other things like the head which excites Arth-dono and began thinking of mining the hard to reach ores that is on the deeper parts of mines.


    Marduk-san is just looking at us with boredom and uninterested but I let him be coz I bet he is one of the battle junkies. Leyla is boasting around the other guides that come near to us.


    As I opened my furnace and unfold my workspace, they just look at it with amazement especially Arth-dono and the blacksmiths that comes out from the guild forging room.


    I told him that Cerous is connected to me so it won¡¯t go on a rampage or anything plus as he saw the machine eggs from the queen ant he ask for some well actually buy them all but I refrain because I have other uses for them so I only sell him 10 pieces with 70-90% completion but I warned him about this.


    As we finished our personal transaction he called one attendant-san to inspect the things inside the carriage and assess them. Then he asked me to go inside to conduct my promotion to copper plate which excited me and Leyla but first I have to let Cerous go to the backyard of the guild so it won¡¯t cause any commotion in the street.


    Mainly promotions are conducted as a group so I got used to seeing several teams or players and natives but being solo is really hard and others will looked at you with doubt coz how can a solo guy have his promotion.


    I careless about the stares but proceed with the promotions and then receiving my newly plated cards. I`m still wondering if Chloe-san and the others have their copper plate but maybe they already have.


    Then I saw Marduk-san and Arth-dono at the balcony where they are announcing things or events.


    ¡°As we all know that there is a dungeon created at the scrapyard so we are conducting a dungeon raids from now until the dungeon is subjugated and all the teams that are allowed to enter is only the ones that have copper or higher but there are still limitation on how deep can you enter.¡±


    Then Marduk-san takes the position to talk to the crowd.


    ¡°I`m Marduk, the guild master of explorers and also I govern the western villages so some may know me by now, as for the dungeon, we all know that it was rated as 3 silver star but as of now, higher teams are clearing the floors and defeated a room master of the first floor.


    As the floor master is subjugated so thus the floor monster get weakened and navigation around the floor will be easier. We are not restricting you and your team challenging the dungeon but at least not now, because the silver teams are still on quest for floor master subjugation. I`m also asking if any of the otherworlders or descendant from what we called you to participate in dungeon subjugation. We know what you can do and even if something happened, you will just lost something but for us it will be their lives.


    So any descendant teams that wants to participate just go to the guild bulletin and if you¡¯re asking why are we not participating because we are enclose with the laws of the guild that I can`t tell, that`s all.¡±


    Many people cheers specially players or what they call us descendant, some natives envies us but others understood what Marduk-san want to say. Let descendant get killed inside to lessen the threat then natives may take the remaining threat. Quite a plan and evil but I do understand his position concerning our revival system.


    I went back to the guild and take the payment from the queen`s parts which is sold around 3 gold coins, I walked at the backyard of the guild where Cerous is parked.


    He does look like a vehicle for me. There are many people who is still looking at Cerous who is unmoving as I ordered.


    There are some beastkin and children who are climbing up and jumping on his neck but scolded by other people as they see me approaching but I didn`t mind, just don¡¯t scratch it or brake some parts.


    The crowd disperse on their own but the children are still nearby so I approached a group of 3 beastkin girl and from my scanner they are only level 1 but not slaves. I take out my large cloth and cut some parts then gave it to the three of them then asked them to wipe Cerous as I will pay them after I comeback.


    They nodded enthusiastically and run towards Cerous then start wiping him. Leyla poke my head and smiled at me, I tried to smile but I don¡¯t have a mouth so I just nodded and take my carriage and drove to the merchants¡¯` district.


    As I went shopping things like leather for Cerous covering just to protect the metal from water, dust and other things that might go inside the small gaps. Then sweets and fruit for Leyla then maybe also some meat skewers and water canteen for the children. I also brought addition necessities for me and forging.


    Maybe I could do some alchemy thing so I asked around where I could learn alchemy and point me towards an odd shop that sells potions and books. On why does it is called odd because the shop entrance and the place is looked like an overgrown garden with vines and tall grass around. The shop itself is covered with vines and greens.


    I looked around for someone to do carriage sitting for me but it hard to look for a trusty person so I will just drive back to the guild and walked back here.


    As I¡¯ve returned to the guild backyard there are at least 15 kids cleaning Cerous I also saw the first three I asked to so, maybe they told the others that I will pay if they clean him.


    I approached them as they lined up quickly, that was new, then I hand them 30 copper coins switch shocked them. Well living on the slums is hard so they need to work with double effort just to eat one meal a day. Others are employed to do odd jobs around town like carrying woods, cleaning and other things and only paid with 5 copper coin that could feed them at least two serving of skewers or some fruit and slate bread.


    I sympathized to them but I can`t do anything big but this is what I can do so I will try my best to help them. I`m not a hero or anything but i`m not that cold hearted person either. Maybe this feeling of sympathy comes from my life experience, I didn`t have siblings also so maybe I`m just venting my care and longing for care to others.


    As I finished giving them copper coins I was approached by the three little beastkin girls, they do looked like sibling but they are not the same but still family is not a place but it is where you love and beloved.


    I hand them the copper coins but I slipped a silver coin and Leyla motioned them to stay quiet. I called back the kids that are counting their coins and one by one I give them fruits that I brought, Leyla didn¡¯t disagreed to this one and she help me by making them fall in line. I pass the meat skewers to the three girls and asked them again not only the three girls to looked at my carriage with an agreement that if they don¡¯t look or let alone steal they will received additional payment that they agreed with a nod.


    I feel like I`m talking to my little brothers and sisters that never been born. But as long as I`m doing this even if it was just for my own self-satisfaction I will keep it up.


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    And now I`m back to the weird alchemy shop because other shop don¡¯t agree to teach me coz I have become their apprentice first which I don¡¯t agreed into, I know there might be a leash waiting for me in the end.


    I knocked first then enter the shop and I was anxious around even if I had my scanners and sensors that don¡¯t detect anything except one person behind the counter.


    An obaa-san is waiting on the counter but my scanners can¡¯t tell any info about her. This might be bad but sensors don¡¯t scan her as a threat so might be not so dangerous.


    Obaa-san is a human with wrinkles and white long hair wearing an old violet robe.


    ¡°Oh... so the rumours about the lost race, the clockwork is really true. Oh by the way I`m Jaldava an alchemist and you are?¡±


    ¡°Raiser and this is my guide Leyla, I`m here to learn how to do proper alchemy because I have some ideas but I need a proper teaching.¡±


    ¡°That was rare to know someone knew alchemy in addition you also know some ideas about this.¡±


    ¡°Yes but I can`t tell where I got the information.¡±


    ¡°Yes yes, I know that you¡¯re a descendant and you can`t freely talked about anything but why you would pick this old bones to be your teacher though there are other shops that are better.¡±


    ¡°I have my doubts about them so i`m here.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know about you but I can teach you but first I need my shop and garden to be cleaned so would you do it for me.¡±


    ¡°Of course but can I add some hands to do this.¡±


    ¡°Yes you may but you will carry the payments.¡±


    ¡°Thank you and I will be back.¡±


    I left the shop and run back to the guild tagging along Leyla who¡¯s bewildered to what I just said. I saw that I received a quest so i`m on the run now.


    As I returned to back to the guild backyard where the kids are but some ruffians are hurting that kids that are fighting back and crying. I heard that they are claiming my carriage as their own. As I saw another kid got punched as he grabbed back a sack with leather then one of my cable just sparked.


    ¡®Speed gear¡¯


    As I command my system, I feel the lightness in my body then I rush to the 5 ruffians. The little girls are not participating but guarding the remaining items while the boys are trying to get back the stolen items. I have doubt about this because there should be someone who should have seen or heard them but none approached here.


    I rushed to the closest one then slammed my fist to his solar plexus making him kneel down then grabbed his face then throw him with his buddies as I took aim for the farthest one that is carrying my goods and blast my grappler sinking on his neck and quickly pulled it back choking him as I slammed him down hard to the ground.


    Leyla took care of the 4 mugger with nature ball that bind them in place. My sensor detect an ill will up above the guild building but it was a level 10 threat and if you think I will let it passed coz your just higher maybe not. I change my gear to power gear and threw a rock near the target just only a centimetre apart and assist the kids that are guarding my things.


    Leyla bind the other one as I throw him with the others as I finished giving some kids cloth bandages. I don¡¯t have anything like potion or first aid so I have to go to obaa-san to do some treatment to them.


    Most of them refuse because they can¡¯t pay but I insist it as I picked them up and put them on the carriage as the other ride Cerous back as we moved. I dropped the guys to the patrol guards of town as I told them what happened then one of them brought out a crystal stone but the difference from the one I saw I that it was called Seeker stone and place their hand to if what i`m saying is true and the stone confirmed it that they do assault and rubbed so they will be delivered to the guard post for procedure.


    After I take care of the nuisance, I`m back to the shop with the children as I assist the ones that got hurt and present them to obaa-san. At first she`s doubtful about this but she comply as I will take what everything is needed. So she treat them as I employed the remaining kids to do some mowing as I gave them ant claws that I repaired and redesigned to be small sickles.


    As the other children got up, they quickly helped the others as I tell them what to cut and what`s not coz I¡¯d scan some herbs and other plants that have properties for healing and treatment.


    The cleaning runs quickly as all 15 of them are doing the work in and out the shop. Others are mowing while some are cleaning the shop with rugs that I gave them.


    Obaa-san just looked at us and observed me as I help them with the cleaning. After we are finished with the cleaning I gave them the payment. Some tried to decline because of what happened but Leyla help me with this matter.


    I reported back to obaa-san and the quest indicator blink green meaning that I have finished a quest. She told me that it won¡¯t be easy and will take some time so I bring my carriage and Cerous in her yard.


    ¡°Most people ignore children like them but you cared for them even if it was not natural for the likes of you to care.¡±


    ¡°Let`s just say that life teach me how to value life even more.¡±


    ¡°Very well then, I will teach you but things that you will use will be paid of course because glass vials are imported from the dukedom.¡±


    ¡°Money is just a trivial thing from the likes of me who don¡¯t need to eat nor need healing.¡±


    ¡°Well said then shall we¡±


    I nodded to her as I walk to her workspace at the back of the counter but I looked back at the children who are eating near the carriage and Cerous so I gave order to protect them and the carriage, i`m think that the donkey that I brought are weird donkey after all that happened they didn¡¯t reacted a bit.


    The workplace is full of glass items like beaker and vials of potions and most are for healing and mana recuperation but there are also potions to cure different poisons and status ailments. Isn`t she quite rich.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t touch anything here Leyla, I don¡¯t want to pay for wasted potions.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not breaking anything, i`m just staring at them.¡±


    Not long after obaa-san is back with a set of herbs of pom-pom grass and tinki fern. She told me that I have to pound the pom-pom grass but don¡¯t let the puffs goes flying around then set it aside as I pound the tinki fern. After pounding the two, I have to boil them until it turn dark green then take out the solid residue as I pour it down to other pot to boil it again but the tricky part is that I have to put some mana which I don¡¯t have so I said that I only have mana energy that amuses her.


    As I pour my mana energy with nature affinity which I only discovered that I can choose which affinity I could use but only the one that I have and that is nature and metal that Leyla had. The handle of the pot turn green as a pour my mana energy then as the liquid turn bright she told me to stop then wait it to settle.


    I only pour down 20 mana energy but i`m thinking if I could use the normal energy that i`m using. Anyways after 2 minutes or so the liquid is bright green now and she poured it on vials that filled 10 of them.


    ¡°Well judging from this, I might yes you got some skills handling potions so i`m approving you to do alchemy as my apprentice but don¡¯t worry I won¡¯t tie you down with me. In addition, i`m giving you this starter booklet that I made to teach you a bit more about alchemy, herbs, plants and other thing that can be used for alchemy.¡±


    ¡°Thank you Jaldava-dono and I have a request for you if you may like to hear of course.¡±


    ¡°Then what is it?¡±


    ¡°Can you teach any of those children alchemy and made them your apprentice.¡±


    ¡°Hhmm... then why would I do that?¡±


    ¡°Well you need an apprentice and you need someone to do things like cleaning.¡±


    ¡°Well I do need someone who will tend my lawn but the children can`t pay the lesson and the ingredients that are needed for alchemy.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll shoulder them so can any of them learn alchemy from you.¡±


    ¡°Before I answer your question, why are you doing these things for people whom you don¡¯t know and they haven¡¯t done any deed for you except that you employ them for trivial things? And answer me with the truth because that will be my basis if I will take any of them or not.¡±


    ¡°There is one event in my life that takes someone dear to me and I have neither power nor money to use. So now that I have what I needed to do help that person that already passed away so i`m conveying this to the people that needed it. You can brand me names but I careless about things like that.¡±


    ¡°Hhmm... so you¡¯re doing this to fulfil what you have failed to do am I right?¡±


    I just nodded then I walked out from the shop and wait for her outside, if she decided to teach anyone then good if not then I have to find a way to help them have a stable income.


    ¡°You know that you will shoulder the payment so I will just pick any of them¡±


    ¡°How much is there entire apprenticeship¡±


    ¡°5 gold with 3 meals a day and everything they need to learn and use is include so can you pay it?¡±


    ¡°As I told you before money is a trivial thing for me, so how many can you accommodate to teach.¡±


    Obaa-san wait Jaldava-dono looked at me with shocked expression as her how many can she teach. Maybe she can¡¯t handle many students.


    ¡°Big word coming from you but, are you sure you could pay it?¡±


    ¡°Are you willing enough to teach at least five of them or they need to have so sort of potential on alchemy and magic to be a good alchemist.¡±


    ¡°Well, I can see potential of a kid to be a good alchemist but i`m looking for my apprentice so, i`m looking for a great alchemist that I could teach.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have all afternoon to wait so can you tell me if you have seen any potentials.¡±


    ¡°Can you pay additional fee if I said that I could teach 4 of them until their coming of age¡±


    ¡°Name it¡±


    ¡°Well that would be 10 gold each and I will let them sleep here also I¡¯ll educate them with all the thing they needed in life.¡±


    ¡°Where do I sign?¡±


    She ushered me back inside as she prepare a thick paper-like scroll and ink as she begin to right all the terms inside the contract. Everything that she will do to them like teach them alchemy, arithmetic, reading and the likes. While I will pay her 10 gold for each of them.


    We signed the paper and pressed a mana inside the paper then she chant something then the contract duplicates and she gave me my copy. As we went back outside she pick 3 beastkin girls and 1 human girl then she told other children that they will be paid coins if they do things for her like herb colleting and other things that she will request.


    I just nodded at her as I left the kids with their new work. They also thanked me for all the help I did to them and even if I can smile I light up my visor and nod at them then I remembered that I don¡¯t need the carriage as I looked at my item box and compartment. So I emptied the carriage then gave it to Jaldava-dono for her own use then we went to the guild backyard to parked Cerous and use the forging space for me to sleep. I don¡¯t need to use inn because of this, besides I don¡¯t experience cramps.


    ¡°You know even if you are hard and cold as steel you do have a soft and warm heart. My only wish is that everyone can be like you.¡±


    ¡°If everyone would be like me that would be a terrible place¡±


    ¡°Why would you say that?¡±


    ¡°Well imagine if everyone has the same personality then the world will be boring and not enjoyable.¡±


    ¡°Maybe your right, but don¡¯t forget I want you to make a machine pet for me.¡±


    ¡°Okay but what kind of pet do you like.¡±


    ¡°As long as they are not creepy and crawling or scary i`m fine but I like some fluffy cute monster.¡±


    ¡°Fine I will try to find your monster pet.¡±


    ¡°It was still early to sleep but oh well, good night Raiser.¡±


    ¡°Good night¡±


    She disappeared as I lock the door of my forge and bend my body then order Cerous to lie down and I shut down my system and log out.


    ----------


    A/N


    for you who are still reading this series thank you very much.


    even though that my grammar and spelling is hard to digest, i`m really thankful for the ones that keeps reading this.


    i haven`t found an editor but i wont stop doing this series so please keep supporting and reading


    :D

 Chapter 11 : Dungeon Raid

    Chapter 11


    Rishido here. when I was still playing old rpg dungeon games, it was typically very easy if you know what may happened to you inside and what can you expect to encounter. Most floors and monsters are just the same and have repetitive pattern or program like attack on site. Maybe it will be different on VR games.


    -------


    After I learned alchemy and have Cerous, life become much easier in a way that I can finally compound material that can make an efficient fuel for me and it was hard to imagine how things like water, some grass, tree saps and magic could create fuels. Beats me if I has a clue, all I did is compound them randomly coz I have some free time at night when I don¡¯t have to log out.


    It`s been a week in game now after I had created Cerous and also i`m participating the dungeon raids in the scrapyard and I was fun because I gain many materials that most players can¡¯t extract like head components of monsters that is used for magic tools and high quality plates or parts that is not damaged.


    Still i`m on solo again but sometimes Chloe-san and her group invite me as well as the first group that I help. But most of the time, I was alone and doing my own thing.


    As of now i`m level 27 while Leyla is 33 which isn`t surprising because of my nerf as a clockwork. My alchemy reach basic 5 because I keep compound things like herb, flowers and other stuff that can be fuse, I mean it was fun to see how this things react to one another. For example, the usual healing potions are made from pom-pom grass and tinki herb then add some sutole herb that have a blood clotting which is actually good because if you just drink the potion well you recover heal but not heal the wound, realistic game anyone?


    Well that is how the game and system works here, if you gain deep wounds you`ll bleed and healing potion is not a magical potion, it was just magically infuse. Well magical potions are also here but they are much expensive and low on supply so not many buy those instead they learn how to do first aid which piqued my curiosity that I craft a healing potion with sutole herb and dipped the bandage cloth then let the potion sips in and boom you have now a bandage cloth that will help close open wounds but not the extreme ones like your chest get cut open or something.


    3 days after Cerous, the silver teams from the guild subdue the floor master of the 2nd floor and 3rd floor yesterday, they are really that skilled to do it that fast. So most teams are on these floors and keep on training. The subjugation quest for this dungeon don¡¯t have a star but only the floor masters ones. Maybe they are preventing early promotion, dunno know.


    Leyla is not talking to me because I can`t keep my promise on getting her or creating a pet for her. Yes, she has the right to get mad or something but creating a machine core or even reconstructing the eggs are hard and most of the tries ended in egg destruction and from my account it was 14 now.


    3 day from now I am joining the silver teams of Arth-dono on 4th floor subjugation because he insisted to include me. There are also other teams that are include like the Thunder`s Roar which is compose of beastkin, the Watchers which is an elf team only group, the Night Knight a human team, I chuckled at this when they are introducing themselves. Next is a mixture of all races which is called Freedom, I almost say ¡®For Freedom¡¯ which is always shouted on epic battle scenes from movies.


    Anyways, team composition and numbers don`t really matter if you are just beginning but if you and your team is really into dungeon hunting and adventuring that is when guild comes into play as you will register your team and the card will be updated. Most teams are from peers and room or ¡®floor mates¡¯ here so obviously they are good with each other.


    Some teams are from one country which I have seen like a team of German or British. But i`m still alone but i`m still having fun here also i`m still helping other natives like doing quest around from moving some heavy boxes for the fruit store or doing night watch with the guards which doesn`t bore me. In fact I feel more alive than ever even before the accident, most of the time in my younger days i`m with my group playing arcade, hanging out the mall and playing sports but not like this. Here I met different people day by day like what Okaa-san told me one time.


    ¡®going out and meet new people or help other is more fulfilling that your own self desire, you may never know what can you do to them or what they can do to you in the future, good deeds are like boomerang, when you throw it there will be two things it may comeback or not but we do good deeds not for the return but for just helping others.¡¯


    I missed her.


    *


    Dungeon raid day and also after 2 day in RL will be the gathering of player per floor in the cafeteria for some live feedback I think or just socialization. But I have to focus now as we are approaching 3rd floor.


    In a floor master is defeated the stair going down will be opened, but the floor master won`t be on the same place where the stair is.


    From time to time, we engage battles but most teams are inside the dungeon so the enemies are fewer. Some teams are following us as they will clear some rooms or halls down the 4th floor to be passable if we are in need of escape or resting place. All in all we got 18 teams and 4 of those are the silver ranker while the rest are copper and some bronze team. Most bronze team are famous because they are faster than the other but still the rumours of unique race like mine are still on their home towns and keep on grinding like the one on the eastern villages which is an angel but the angel still don`t have wings.


    Another one from the east is a kind of fairy or the likes of them but in human size. Most rumours state that even if they are unique or 5 star rated they are not really an OP race because of the nerfs like mine. The western village where Marduk-san govern have 7 other player that is 5 star rated but the thing is they are in one team. Nobody knows their race but they said that they got good team build.


    Looks like i`m the only odd ball get thrown here.


    As we keep on proceeding while having some battles like right now, we encounter mantis but it was way to huge that in my estimation that height would be around 20 feet. It has giant scythe arms and covered with thick metal armour, it was really intimidating though.


    I`m on the rear with Leyla and Cerous and just watching the surrounding for any surprise attack from the sides, well Arth-dono introduced me to do the scouting, mapping and navigation around dungeons because of my scanners and sensors. It wasn`t really hard but i`m not able to participate in fights because I have to give reports like right now there are a group of ore beetles of the left.


    ¡°10 Ore Beetle from the left side approaching us, time 5 minutes.¡±


    Well ore beetles are you know beetle with ores of different metals. Teams that heard my announcement quickly take defence formation to intercept the beetles. The mantis is being taken care of the silver team so I don¡¯t have to worry about them.


    As I know my role in this dungeon raid, I crafted a bow gun from scratch but this is more powerful than the average bow gun because it is a bow gun turret that is attached on Cerous back. The ammo are just monster parts so I don¡¯t have to worry about this. I envy others that are fighting the monsters from the early battle upstairs so I add a harpoon like thing here which I can use to ¡®fish¡¯ some monsters, reel them back and dismantle them.


    Other didn`t mind my monster fishing because i`m doing the navigation here and I even save some live with the bow gun so they can`t really complain to me. Still others give me glares but I just brush off the feeling and focus on my new hobby.


    Most of the time, some players that finished their encounter give me the corpses of monster and request to dismantle this and that which I comply but I can have what I like after that dismantling.


    It was a win-win situation for us even though some good parts are taken by them but I can fish out monsters so I don¡¯t have any more complain about loots.


    The progress goes smoothly until night time, technically speaking so we do some monster clearing in a large hall room with water vein that is naturally made from dungeons. It was a free flowing water like a spring from mountains. It was relatively safe but some water vein are poisonous before of the dungeon nature so we`re caution about this but there are some magicians so I don`t have to worry about this besides even if the water is bad I can filter it somehow, maybe.


    Teams formed tents or sleeping place while others prepare their meal as the tunnel or gateway is closed by stone wall, a magic from one of the high rankers, so we are safe for now. Some started to build fire and began cooking while others have magic tools for cooking purposes which is really convenient.


    I roam around while Cerous is laying down near the edge wall of the room away from other teams. I know that there is an ore vein here because my scanner detect something. Basically we can mine ores because this dungeon is a metal and earth type of dungeon so mainly we encounter machine, insects, earth burrowers, beast or combination. Some insects are edible as long as it is not metalize but most of the time insects are eerie to looked at for being some big.


    We are advised to not mine ores while on the mission but I can`t let this one get passed by so i`m searching for it besides we are on break. I`m having this weird tingling feeling inside me like a metal detector that keeps beeping inside so I just follow where the loudest one is.


    As I walked beside the wall where I follow the sensation then walked about a few feet off the wall where my scanner detect something deep down. I looked around first to see if any of them might saw me, coast is clear so I equip my drill arm and start digging.


    I made a hole on the earth that is around a meter and half then dug deeper as I can see the stone shape and size. As I saw the stone it was just so dangerous to hold if you¡¯re a biological being because the stone is a poison itself but only if you have wound where the dust can penetrate your system that would be dangerous to you.


    I got out of the hole and read the description of the stone.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Hurtalo Stone</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>A stone that has a very poisonous outer crust that will cause inflammation and blood poisoning if the dust or crumbs of the crust enters the body. The stone is used for storing mana and other form of energy</td></tr></tbody></table>


    After so many failures finally, finally I can try to create a clockwork like core.


    ¡°And what do you think you`re doing with that stone?¡±


    Damn it, a silver team just arrive.


    ¡°It was a clockwork thing so leave it as is.¡±


    I need this stone and I won¡¯t let it go even if I have to fight until the bitter end for this. As I scanned them, the one that asked is the demon guy from before with the troll and the dog, great just great.


    ¡°We agreed that we will not mine any ore because it might cause our life, am I right?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to remind me horned guy, besides the agreement is that no one will mine ores but what I do is dig a rock out not use pickaxe to mine some ore vein.¡±


    ¡°Even if you¡¯re recommended by Master Arth I won¡¯t tolerate your attitude towards us.¡±


    ¡°Are you picking a fight or something coz I have a lot of work to do.¡±


    Then Luin intrude to my heated conversation towards the demon guy, I know I can`t see his name but i`m sure he isn`t too high like Arth-dono and Marduk-san.


    ¡°You¡¯re really cocky aren`t you metal boy and I don¡¯t care if you are Master`s favourite just because you¡¯re just a clockwork.¡±


    ¡°If you don`t like me to be here fine, I¡¯ll just resurface because I found what I needed.¡±


    I just ignore Luin insult of me for just being a clockwork but I have to let it pass for now. If they don¡¯t like me then fine I¡¯ll just walk away and resurface.


    ¡°Why you¡ª¡°


    ¡°Luin stop this childish act.¡±


    And my life saver just come, i`m not a princess so why is there a knight in shining armour? Well, as long as he can stop this trio I won`t complain. Oh and usagi-chan is with him so basically the five silver leaders are here.


    ¡°This is none of your business Gerhard.¡±


    ¡°We are on exploration team Luin and in fights are not tolerated.¡±


    So they got some issue between them. Interesting.


    ¡°Hello Clocky, what you got this time?¡±


    Scanning size... we got a D size people. But how can she keep that melons from excessive wobbling better not ask. And she gave me a pet name, do I looked like an abandoned dog or something.


    ¡°Nothing special, just a poisonous stone that will be used for antidote.¡±


    ¡°See Luin, nothing to get fuzzed up about this.¡±


    ¡°What if he`s lying about that and it might put us in danger.¡±


    He really don¡¯t like me. Why those two are not backing him up.


    ¡°Enough Luin, Gerhard is right. It was just a stone with poison.¡±


    ¡°Tsk.¡±


    Ohh so that demon have some kind of identifying skill. Better be careful about him when showing things. Luin just walked away with the two but the demon looked back again. Very doubtful.


    ¡°Next time that you will do things that will jeopardize the agreement, inform us first before acting so this won¡¯t happened again.¡±


    ¡°Okay I got you, so i`m asking that if I find another stone like this I would like to dig it out.¡±


    ¡°But you don¡¯t have any use for poison because you¡¯re a clockwork.¡±


    ¡°I`m training my alchemy and you may never know when you need an antidote.¡±


    ¡°Fine by me. let`s go now Ahya.¡±


    ¡°Hhmm... I will stay with clocky a bit more besides i`m not really sleepy.¡±


    What?! Is this kind of harem plot or something? Please shiny knight take her away, I have work to do.


    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.¡°it`s up to you, but don¡¯t drag my team with your team.¡±


    NO!!! Don¡¯t walk away and leaving me with this bunny girl with slave capturing boobs.


    ¡°Hi hi. Don¡¯t worry Gerhard, besides were still far from the floor master, am I right clocky?¡±


    ¡°Erhmm... yeah I haven`t detected any monsters that is too high for me.¡±


    Great just great, she and her big double diversion will really get into my work. Focus Rishido, focus.


    As I return to Cerous with Ahya-chan tailing me and grinning like she just saw a new toy or something but please don¡¯t stare to me too much.


    As I open Cerous work place and cover the stone with cloth as I placed it on the table, Ahya-chan is leaning on the table with her boobs on the table. Dangerous, really dangerous. I`m really thankful that I have a helm with indestructible poker face.


    ¡°So what are you making this time?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m extracting the crust parts of the stone and store it for future poison-antidote examination.¡±


    ¡°Oh so you¡¯re like Nyuufy that like to craft thing and do some potions right?¡±


    ¡°Maybe, but i`m also doing smiting so we have some difference.¡±


    ¡°Okay so can I watch your work because when master is making weapons and armours when I was still a junior, i`m always watching him.¡±


    Huh? Do I and Arth-dono have similarities beside of being a blacksmith? Well he does teach me but why is she so fond of me or is she being directed by Arth-dono to observe me, I wonder.


    ¡°Okay but please stay away from the work area.¡±


    ¡°Nn¡±


    I gave her a metal stool as I grabbed a mini hammer and hit the stone lightly just to break the crust and not the stone itself. I don¡¯t want to mix the poison and the Hurtalo stone in my experiments.


    I hit some more after seeing the cracked from the first hit. As I uncovered the stone and see that the crust is all removed from the core stone, I wipe the remaining dust and crumbs from the stone and place the cloth with the poison crust inside a metal box that I made from my rest hours and mark the top lid with ¡®P¡¯ meaning poison then stash it out to the compartment.


    I scanned the hurtalo stone and confirmed that it`s malleable and can be melted so I cut it in four then stash the 3/4 of the core because i`m just experimenting this and I don`t want to waste an important material.


    Ahya-chan is watching me with her eyes full of sparkles. Ohh no, another Leyla. Her stare is really disturbing if i`m a person with feeling but i`m a clockwork so mind attack and charm from the valley of the gods can`t affect me.


    As I return to the table with the things I needed like silver spider string I got from the mines one time, then a magic core that I gain from dungeon hunts, a hollow circular metal ball with four holes and sockets to go along with the holes to be like vessels for the energy if it was a success.


    First I bundle the strings and make a wire for the sockets then connect the wires to the other socket to make a cross from the hole then I set aside. I crush the magic core that came from an elite monster I encounter from the mines just to increase the chance. Then I heat the hurtalo inside the forge until it was melted and remove some residue as I poured it on a moulding cup while sprinkling the crushed core.


    Then I prepare the pseudo-core near the forge. I fished out a normal jewel then punch a small hole in the center then place it at the intersecting wires at the center then reheat the melted hurtalo and stir it a little then pour it inside the pseudo-core and cover it. The critical part is that to wait if there will be any reaction.


    My scanners can¡¯t identify the pseudo-core so I can¡¯t really tell.


    ¡°Are you finished?¡±


    ¡°Almost, all I have to do is wait then power it up but I will do it in the morning.¡±


    Then she walk near me and look closer to the core with admiration.


    ¡°What is this ball for? Is it like the ones that mages use?¡±


    Mages use this? Maybe just a look like. Better investigate about this. WAIT! I quickly grab her hands and she take an initiative to poke the core.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t touch it because it is still unstable and any other force or mana can affect the outcome.¡±


    I quickly active my mana scan and confirmed that her hands does release some mana but it didn`t reach the core.


    ¡°Really?! I`m really sorry I didn`t know.¡±


    ¡°don¡¯t worry it wasn`t affected but please if you are watching or looking at the items please refrain from touching anything just to be safe.¡±


    Please let the excuse pass.


    ¡°Okay, uhmm... can you release my hand?¡±


    ¡°Ohw sorry¡±


    Damn I just hold her hand so tight... I haven`t done it beside with Okaa-san. I¡¯m such a failure.


    ¡°Okay don`t worry about it. So what will you do now?¡±


    ¡°Maybe construct a monster body.¡±


    ¡°REALLY!!¡±


    Please don¡¯t shove your face and near me while pressing your melons on my chest. I do feel them but it was only a vague feeling. Damn it!


    ¡°Yeah... uhm can you move a little?¡±


    ¡°Ohw, Teehee¡±


    Great, an anime reference. But it was so kawaii. Snapshots.


    As Ahya-chan goes back to her sit, I quickly proceed to create a monster pet that Leyla like. I wasn¡¯t really that hard because she likes cute animals so it was pretty easy for the design the thing that bugs me is that how can Leyla control the mech-pet so I have to make a control unit for this.


    Ahya-chan had left me hours after the core creation but I keep on tinkering the monster body as I try the programming that I created. My night goes down to creating a pet until everybody is awake.


    -


    As of now, we are almost near the floor master room but we are in a tight situation right now because of the mobs that keep on pouring out from the intersection that were at.


    I detected the monsters from earlier but they are at least a mile from where we are. I didn`t detect any traps that could agitate the monster to come here. Even the silver team are surprise from the sea of monster.


    Each of them are protecting all sides while the others are helping them even the guides are doing all they can to help us. Most of the rear guard are near me and Cerous but I didn`t let Leyla participate because i`m worried that she might be injured. I had a hard time persuading her to stay but I managed to convince her.


    I keep on firing spear until I change it to sling catapult for massive destruction from afar. Earth mages create boulders then ignite it with fire magic. Many vanguard are keep on getting injured from this massive monster swarm and the medical supplies are diminishing so fast.


    The only option for us is to find an escape route and use the rope to resurface. The native teams that`s with us are all exhausted and demoralize while the players are dying one by one.


    I need to act fast or we will be wipe out. I order one bearkin to take my position as I got down and opened my workshop. I checked everything I needed for this escape and I have to do it fast.


    ¡°How long can all of you hold your ground!!!?¡±


    ¡°What are you saying?¡±


    ¡°Shut up you mutt and answer me if you want to live.¡±


    He snarled and growled at me with rage as he looked back as he dodge the rain of attacks of a mantis mob.


    ¡°I`ll give you two hour to finished what you are planning clockwork.¡±


    Said Mr shining armour. That might be too short but I don¡¯t have any other choice.


    ¡°Any one that could do blacksmithing here are needed to make it fast¡±


    Twenty participants came to me as I instruct them to take out the corpse with metal parts and create a box that could fit a group of 6 to 8 people. They don`t question any of things that i`m ordering because we are on pressure right now.


    From the 18 teams five of them are keeping a clearing for resting and escaped route. From 15 that is here right now, most of the players are dead while the native teams are on rear guard or helping me so all in all we are roughly 10 teams, 4 silver, 3 native and the players.


    As I checked and some carts but it don¡¯t have any wheels just a thick flooring, a waist height walls and cables that attached each carts. The front of the carts is modified like a sledge to lessen the impact it there are bumps.


    As I recalled we can do I straight run to the wall where the stairs is parallel to it. After some adjustment like tightening the large cables and reinforce that attachment of the carts, I hook the end on Cerous back and tied it.


    I dismantle the turret and order that able one that could do earth magic to be in the front seat and control the floor surface to be smooth or just to remove the rocks and other things that could damage the carts.


    On my sensors, the monsters are keep on pouring but from a far I saw a where they are pouring out and it was just endless like we trigger a switch to make a hole for monster to swarm us or trigger a beacon.


    I shouted that we are finished and we started to retreat to where we are escaping. The injured ones are first board the carts then the magician and others with artillery or long range attack to support the swordsmen and others.


    I take the turret`s post and shouted the others that we ready to go. The guides that are still here are order to return to not endanger them as well as Leyla. As we make it in the narrow way things get even more dangerous as the monsters are climbing up each other like waves that could swallow us.


    Cerous start fighting of monsters that come near to us with the Ahya-chan and her team then Gerhard shouted to start moving as they run towards the end carts. Then the one companion of Ahya-chan board the front seat and do her earth magic as Cerous starts to running and trample the monsters that is in the way.


    As the last one of Gerhard team is on board, I ordered Cerous to increase the movement and shove the monsters away. I cut, smash and destroy all the monsters that came flying in near me that could fall in the carts while others do the same to protect themselves and the cart.


    The monster train are still chasing as and some monsters den that is on the path are disturbed and start attacking us but they seems to manage to defend themselves. I have to make it faster so I change gear to burst mode to double the running speed of Cerous but the energy consumption is too high and it will only last for a minute or two and we are still far way.


    I dug out a cable from the front seat side and open my back to attached that cable and relay my mana energy to Cerous to pumped up the speed and increase the duration. As the mana energy got drain steadily and speed keep a good pace to avoid monsters to attack the carts, I felt so weak but I keep on pushing monsters from falling at the back.


    My mana energy is down to a hundred but thanks to the boost were at the wall edge where the stair is just several meters away up north and the monster train is so far away now. Cerous is overheating and damaged greatly because burst gear is inappropriate for him while i`m lying at my back from energy drain.


    As Cerous is cooling down, they remove some carts to lessen the luggage but let the injured stay there and recover.


    After a few minutes we are on the move to the stair while calling the teams that stayed here to retreat back the surface. I checked the rope and saw that it was ready but other teams are still on third and second floor so the silver team will take care of them and tell them to go out because of monster train that could come upstairs.


    As we agreed to this terms one by one we used the escape rope and resurface.


    ------


    A/N


    Well hello for those who are still reading this series, thank you very much.


    i still dont have an editor... *sigh* still i`ll continue this series so for those are saying bad grammar blah blah..


    why not try to help me with this make it more appealing because i`m still working things out you know.


    critics are do welcome but if its like redundant please keep it.


    we have tons of complain.


    well updates are taking more time because i`m rereading them and maybe improve a little so yeah.


    that all folks msg everyone next post.

 Chapter 12 : Dungeon and Masters

    Chapter 12


    Rishido here. Lately i`m feeling ill because of non-stop dungeon exploration and monster hunting but it was beneficial because I can have more materials and learn more about the technology or machinery of monsters around. I haven¡¯t updated my NWA but I guess being on a hectic schedule didn`t really give me time to do research.


    ------


    After the tragic event down the dungeon and our safe escape. Most of the teams are anxious about going for another expedition down the fourth floor so it was suspended for a game week for safety. It was disappointing in a way that I can`t have my supply of hurtalo stone but I have to comply.


    I have talked to Leyla about the pseudo-core and promised her that after my return we will try to create her a pet.


    *


    Today is our schedule for floor meeting or gathering. I don¡¯t know why they would do this really but maybe there are some issue about gamers from other floors.


    Were at the 30th floor or the meeting hall, it wasn`t really big like the conference but it was spacious and have a stage like from the opening ceremony of school.


    ¡°We are gathered here for your monthly feedback, questioning or other things that concerning your game testing or your stay here.¡±


    Great the MC from the conference again but he does his job well and he is really entertaining to some extent. Some just asked about what will happened after the test or things that concern is game problems like items, skill and even the guides.


    Some asked about the special skill that is given to some players but they didn`t really say what kind or what it can do. Well from what the MC said is that it was given to several people whom done things like the fastest creation or first race user and other things that they added for fun or just to make players stronger to see what can they do.


    Maybe my NWA is a special skill also because i`m the only clockwork but there are some players that use also rare or difficult race. Most of the players in my floor are on the eastern villages so they team up and doing quest there to increase their level to be able to go out the starter village.


    Another question is that after we accomplished some quest what will happened beyond the starter village. MC said that after we gain some approval from our respective guild master that govern the villages or town were at, we will travel from the Vulcan town to the first stop which is the village of Feliusa then to the dukedom of Estonia where Duke Kalius govern.


    The rest of the story about the dukedom is still untold to us until one team was able to go the dukedom. He said that it was simple in way that we will just request to have a letter of recommendation then travel to Feliusa then the dukedom which will eat around a two weeks in game if you come from the western and eastern village while one for the Vulcan residents.


    I`m planning to live in this town but I have a lot of things to discover here besides the monsters from Feliusa is around 30 to 50 so I have to grind some more and the scrapyard dungeon is still here so there is no need to rush.


    After some more questioning, the mc said that we will eat lunch together so that many of us get to know other teams for  more man power or just to know each other¡¯s teams. I really do like to know who is Chloe-san and the previous team that I help out back then also i`m thinking about the pioneer teams that arrived at the village plus the rare race team that is still on their own places.


    Like the last time it was buffet so I wait for a couple of minutes before getting my meal. Incidentally the cooks and servants from last time are them also so they know what I want as they see me wave at them. As I return to my table where there are few occupants and mostly girls and some guys but they just ignore me.


    I prayed and begin eating my meal while some are crowding a table like there is a celebrity or something. Then there is a guy that stand on a chair and said something.


    ¡°I`m Michael Brinton and i`m one of the co-founder of the team called Freedom. We are planning to make a guild when we reach the dukedom and begin on exploration through the other continent and build a player city---


    Many are attentive on listening to him while others are glaring at him, might be they like to campaign also. I do also listen while eating and the important things I pick up is that they will build a kingdom away from the union then conquer lands around that place to make a starter kingdom for players. They also promoting a friendly gaming experience for all and as we all know having tons of player means there will be aggressive ones who will do PK.


    So all in all a kingdom for newbie, tourist and free roaming players but there are also other teams that might do that in the future after the beta. Most of the gaming companies and broadcasting station that feature top players from different game gain fame and cash as they are being featured or employed.


    Well, I already an employee from that start and i`m not really into celebrity things. Then one by one other people start to promote themselves from everybody here and most of them are going to build a kingdom but the intriguing one is the crafting or production guild called Crescent Art which is compose of well crafting jobs and other people enjoy doing things like this.


    ¡°Yow! Japanese boy, wanna our guild?¡±


    Then a very curvy ojou-san came to my view. Let`s see, she`s a bit tall maybe around 5¡¯10¡± got a C and hour glass body, does she do modelling perhaps. Her looks are good too, red-head, hazel nut colored eyes and dimples is a plus so overall she`s 9.5. Fuck, i`m starting to get a habit of scanning people like Raiser.


    ¡°Hello? Earth to wheels, are you there?¡±


    Crap, I stared too long.


    ¡°You haven`t introduce yourself¡±


    Facepalm, the hell is that!


    ¡°You¡¯re not listening are you, oh well, I`m Myra Aulin or Aurora the blacksmith at Sedart¡±


    ¡°Tadashi Rishido, multi craftsman, Vulcan¡±


    After I said the multi craftsman she showed a grin that resembles a child that saw a new toy at the store. I just signed a red flag now, damn. Wait why she`s breathing heavily!


    ¡°Really?! Most people are only doing one work like explorers and adventures. The production teams are focusing on one thing but you do multiple, tell me why.¡±


    ¡°Nothing.¡±


    I have to lie on this or she will bug me and she might also bring more of she friends, that would be good in a way coz I can finally meet other people but not now.


    ¡°Ehhh!?¡±


    Even the peanut gallery got shocked when I said that. I mean one should focus on one art or class but i`m doing many things, well not really, blacksmith, alchemy, clockwork making hmmm what else... I got some books from other hobby class and production but I haven¡¯t read them thoroughly.


    ¡°Okay, wait you haven`t said your IGN¡±


    ¡°Sorry but I like to be away from people for now as I practice in solitude¡±


    ¡°Fine but before the beta ends you have to join us.¡±


    Then she move away as her other friends return with some new people, all of this people are into guild thing. Even I do like to have a place where I can play in peace and do things that I like to do.


    A few players return to their room to play while others discuss about their future plans. I`m not really into gossips so I return to my room also and log in.


    *


    It was dusk when I got out of Cerous my mobile hotel, now that I think about Cerous does resembles the RVs I saw in one show. The thing is Cerous looks like triceratops replica.


    As I wait for the sun to come out, I start on removing the crust of the hurtalo stone that I excavate last time. It was just 3 but it will do besides we can explore the fourth floor again. And I bet other teams from the four villages will come here after they heard or read in the forums about this hard ass dungeon.


    After I remove the poison crust and store the hurtalo stone. I begin on creating iron alloy ingots for Leyla`s pet. She does say that she like to have a cute pet so I trim down the animal choices until I decided to make a mouse. Not the black mouse that invade house but a modified one that looks animated or something.


    For the body I¡¯ll make it segmented like caterpillar or maybe a hedgehog, the feet will small and under the body and maybe I will a spring system so it would jump. The ears will be the sensors but overall it will be like a simple drone type that have enemy detector. It won¡¯t have a neck like Cerous but a face or head that is attach to its body like the bunny from one old game that I played. I really do like the pet system where you have lottery slot when catching pets.


    After I assessed the body construction, I start to do the programming and system that I will attached to the program that I had. As I do the programming, I also made a watch that Leyla will use to give command to her pet but damn this watch. It was too small to begin with, so I trashed the idea of the watch then what if I make a shoulder bag that will be the controller and it was bigger.


    Then after my tinkering rampage on the shoulder bag and programming, it`s morning now and the town got lively again. I didn¡¯t wait for Leyla as start on moulding the body parts and begin on creating the body. It went well as it was small and only simple machinery is only needed. I do add the scanner, sensors and quick shift but it don¡¯t have a special thing to do.


    I`ve already know that Leyla appeared just only a few seconds as i`m half way done with the body so I stashed out the core and gave it to Leyla to begin on enchanting it or something like when she did it on my body. Cerous don`t have mana energy but i`m planning on Leyla give Cerous after she succeeded on this one.


    At first it, Leyla can¡¯t transfer her mana to the core but after she change the flow of it, the core begins to shine. Oh so she change the affinity to metal. I should do some mana scan on things when i`m buying or dismantling them. I`m depleted as of now so I¡¯ll ask her later. Wait she doesn`t nagged me as she come out just now, she should be puffing red right now.


    ¡°Leyla, you¡¯re not gonna nag me or shout at me or call me names.¡±


    ¡°What!? Are you a masochist or something? I won¡¯t do that because you will fulfil your promise so I won¡¯t spoil the mood, now back to work.¡±


    Hey i`m not a masochist, I just got used to it from her everyday ranting but I didn`t voice it out and ignore her bossy attitude. The core fills up fast so i`m able to embed it inside the body and starts to connects that small cables around to power the whole body then enclosed it. At first the mouse don`t look pleasing as it should be but I have some leathers and fur here.


    I gave Leyla the shoulder bag controller and she begin to laugh with tears on her eyes. She told me that it was her first time to receive a gift from someone. Does everyone from her hometown don¡¯t really like her, what about her friends.


    ¡°Hey raiser what kind of animal is that? It does look like a mouse and a rabbit¡±


    ¡°Well it do some what you want to name it before you power it up.¡±


    ¡°Hhmm¡­ how about Mabby it does look the two animal and it was cute and it was a girl right.¡±


    ¡°Well you¡¯re the owner so you can do whatever you want.¡±


    ¡°Okay! You are now Mabby, wakey wakey now Mabby.¡±


    As she hit the power button, Mabby¡¯s eyes shines and begin to jumping and looking around. The spring is working properly and even the core don`t have any problems but it was full of upgrade prospect but I have to refrain on that side though.


    ¡°Raiser does Mabby and say something or make noise like animals¡±


    ¡°Well I do include that after I scavenges some voice box like parts from elite monsters. But you can decide what Mabby will say.¡±


    ¡°Really!!! Okay, so what will be good for Mabby? Hhmm¡­ how about ¡®pyu¡¯?¡±


    ¡°You sure? It will be permanent after the programming.¡±


    ¡°Yeah i`m good with Mabby saying pyu, can she understand us?¡±


    ¡°To some extent yes, just wait a bit¡±


    I tap Mabby`s head or should I say forehead where the system resides and connect a small wire to do the programming then accept the command. As I finished my work Leyla called Mabby and she does say pyu and jump at her but Mabby is big for Leyla. Around 10cm in height while 20cm on length, the width is about 15 and also Leyla can sit on Mabby`s back as I made the back part flat somehow.


    After that I attach some leather on Mabby as Leyla deactivate her. It was easy to do but the fur is the problem but after some stitching and add some paste that I made from alchemy at of random compounding. The body and ears are covered with bluish white fur from the wolves but the tail that I made is a bit odd because it was like a string with a ball at the end.


    Leyla didn`t mind the tail and said that it add cuteness to Mabby as she slept on her back. Cerous don¡¯t have a soft fur but rigid leather suit but it gave a strong feeling of toughness though.


    then I take some quest from the guild that`s just at my back because i`m always parking here so I won¡¯t travel long just to get here.


    Because of the suspension of fourth floor, teams that are taking the dungeon quest increase that some request begin to lower the rewards while some materials gone wild as people start to deliver it every day that the guild don`t post any request of it. Well, i`m expecting that too happened while the crafting class cheers for low price materials.


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    I`m still thinking on the eggs but until now the completion is still stagnant so I don¡¯t have to worry about it. But as I remember the eggs, I think the cavern that we cleared will be filled with monsters now after all it has been a week or so.


    As I take Cerous and do some side trip around the merchants and Jaldava-dono who are teaching and helping the kids, I got out of the town through the west gate and roam around. Maybe I should build a drone collector for different things.


    As I past the mines and the north gate, I saw different people partying and going on different locations where most monsters stay like small caves and forest. As I pass by the vegetation where some players and natives take quest about growing them or protecting the crops from animals and monsters. I do have some books about this so if I got some time, I should take that skill for collection purpose.


    I haven`t seen slime that is popular in games, maybe they are on other places. As I arrived at the cavern where I got my furnace, it was now filled with spider drones but they are weak and even the upper class is weak. Maybe a new occupant but I have to farm and grind so I decimated them one by one while Cerous trampling them. I take one drone and scanned it to study the inner works but it was the same as the ant drones and even the fighter class has nothing special to offer but I still dismantle some parts.


    As we proceed inside the cavern where my radars is blinking red all over the place, I knew that it will be a long day today. Most spiders are relatively weak to begin with so I didn`t have any problems but the interesting about them is their webs or strings that they release coz it was made from metal alloy and it was hard. It would sell at a good price from shops that sells armour.


    I decided to harvest webs around the cavern until we reached the mini boss area. It wasn`t really that scary though because it`s just another spider only bigger but weaker than me and I have Cerous to fight with. At first, i`m struggling but as I got my own pace on evading the string shots that roots me, it was an easy win for me.


    I keep clearing the areas that has plenty of webs after the mini boss and also there is a nursery room with spiders of course but I eliminate them to get the eggs to add them in my monster egg collection. After harvesting around 50 eggs with low percentage we escaped the cavern and goes back to town to report what I have found. I`d like to do some hoarding about this cavern but if I report it to the guild I can gain some coin and even increase my achievements.


    As I sold some bundles of spider treads, I just continue my days on dungeon diving and elite monsters hunting. Sometimes I stop by at Jaldava-dono to sell some potions that I made and take some break. The kids that Jaldava-dono is taking care of is sitting the store and learning alchemy from her while the other kids are doing some errands for her.


    There is also a book store here that have some good reads that tacks on production class and magic tools but the magic tool creation is a bit vague but as I read things here like history, geography and even the politics of nobles gave me some ideas and stats.


    *


    As the suspension has passed a week, we assembled again with an additional team of players so from 18 last time, we are now 23. The ones that stay behind last is to stay there gain but some native teams also prefer to do the exit sitting, they can¡¯t force people to do floor master subjugation so they don¡¯t say anything about it. Unlike the last time, were not taking the route that we made last time to prevent the monster train or discover what is the coz of it. The teams are compose of 4 silver team as the leaders, 10 player team and 9 native, 6 of the native team will do the stair clearing.


    As we travel from 1st floor to 2nd, most teams that are going down the dungeon are just grinding and earning some living before the dungeon subjugation. Some of the barriers that keeping the dungeon from expanding is weakening, meaning the dungeon is beyond control if unattended and even Arth-dono didn`t like to have a dungeon that is too near from the town.


    The guild can`t assign some higher team because other places got it tough. The travel down the 4th floor didn`t take long because most teams are clearing the main path so we proceed quicker.


    One by one, the clearing teams begin to take their refugee and do their work as we leave the stairs and continue and traversing the dungeon as me as their guide. I pick the longer and safer route with few monster, the last path is colour red so we won¡¯t take it. From time to time we are getting some pincher attack from dungeon tunnels that is being created by the dungeon itself and used by monsters for roaming around.


    After hours of battle and walking, well i`m just sitting on Cerous with my fishing turret with Leyla and Mabby plus some guide that is lazing around or talking to Leyla about Mabby. Most of the conversation I pick up is that some players didn`t like them to participate in their fights because they are stealing their kill while others got some good life but they are not really fighting. Guides around me and Cerous are fairies and pixies then some elementals but not like the golem that magicians made but an elemental spirit or sprites.


    On sleeping breaks, I always do some dungeon excavation but now I report it to Gerhard to prevent others disturbing me. So my hurtalo stone stocks increase to 10 but I do like to dig on lower floors but we have to defeat the floor masters first.


    Hours of travel after the nap, we are back at the monster train area but we are a few blocks away from the same area. I relay to Gerhard that there is a monster den where the monster from last time attack us. He discussed it to the other 4 leaders and decided to raid the monster den that have at least a two hundred of them.


    The plan is that Gerhard tell will lure the monsters out until the manageable number then run outside to do a pincher attack as the monster get out. It was a good plan when I looked at my radar, the entrance is not that big but the hallway is big for us to do an encirclement.


    Gerhard and his vanguard team that have heavy looking plate armour start to lure monsters while I monitor the monsters from other places if there will be irregular movement. As they lured dozens of monsters comes behind them but the magicians and archers do their work of bombardment to the monsters as the vanguards take position if the monsters break free from the attacks. As some magicians get exhausted and archers stops firing, monsters begin to pour out but the vanguard and other people begin on their assault while i`m here fishing out monsters that I scanned with the best parts. It was pretty boring for me but the guides and Leyla are here firing some magic when I catch a monster.


    I just keep on looking at the surrounding and doing some assistance when need like fishing out monsters that is too dangerous or taking out monsters that will do some finishing hit to the vanguards. My spear supply is unlimited because of the battles we engaged even this battle will resupply my needs for ammo so I didn`t hold back on firing spears but I keep on catching monsters or just to give the guides some exercise with their magic.


    Some guide levelled up fast because of the gap some it was enjoyable and profitable even if some people got injured. We don¡¯t have priest here as they can only be available in the dukedom but Gerhard have one on his team. Priest-san said that any race that gain favour from the goddess of healing or light will be able to take priesthood.


    I called out Gerhard that we approaching the floor master`s room as I detect its presence so we take a room and take some rest before taking the floor master. Some teams are anxious while others are excited to fight it. Gerhard and the others are preparing some battle plans to subjugate the floor master. It will be our first encounter so we don¡¯t have any clue what it is or how will it fight. I¡¯m not planning to fight it either head on so i`m forging more spears and even compound some poisons and if its mechanize monsters I have to take It head on and do manual disconnection.


    *


    I woke up and saw many of us preparing their weapons and getting some potions. Most of the potions are for doping the stats and abilities on a limited time even the silver team got some of those potions. I can`t dope myself but I got some system boost so i`m fine but that doping potions are popular so I take note on making it.


    And right now we are at the entrance of the floor master`s room and the support class begin on buffing us specially the priest and druid from the silver team. The plan is that once the floor master is being pulled by Gerhard and the other vanguard team others will focus on their attack on its sides or back. Very simple but we need to be careful if the floor master got some area skills.


    When we enter the huge tunnel of the floor master, what we see is a giant scorpion but as I scanned the scorpion it was not metalize and it got poison all over its body. The pinchers is huge and sharp that it could cut Cerous in two the stinger look like it can spit out poison. Comparing it to the queen ant it was smaller but hell with the claws and stinger that could wipe out a dozen of people.


    Gerhard and the others signal us to take our position as they will fight it head on. As the vanguard engaged the scorpion everyone cast their long distance skills and even the vanguard use throwing spears and axe to help. The scorpion keeps on taking damage as the vanguards keeps it busy while i`m having doubts that this monster can be taken out easily besides it haven¡¯t use its stinger, the claws can be evaded or blocked but it things run smoothly like this I have to prepare for worst case scenario.


    I saw Luin jump on top of the scorpion and stab it in the open sections of its exoskeleton, he done something he shouldn`t do. He got sprayed but poison gas that comes out of its opening where Luin stab his claws and I can see that he is poisoned with paralyzing effect then the stinger move and begin to stab Luin but luckily some teams saw it and start to attack the stinger preventing Luin for being a kebab.


    A team rescued Luin away from the boss as it begin to enlarge the opening and releasing a poison mist around it and it was so thick that we cannot see the body of the scorpion. Everybody takes distance to it but the mist keeps spreading around the room. Some mages use wind magic to blow away the poison but it just increase the speed of mist spreading out.


    Things are getting dangerous right now that the room is being covered with poison we can`t fight it equally because of the mist. Then I remembered the antidotes that I made from hurtalo stones but I don`t know if it can fight the poison. Yes, it can fight the poison inside the body but the mist is a different story because it can make your body itchy and begin to give you rashes. It wasn`t really deadly but as you keep inhaling the poison the more you get some weird sensation like one got heavy fever then some starts to nose bleed.


    It was a disaster as the mist keeps on spreading. If the mist can spread around the room why not the antidote. I got down from Cerous while the guides are taking refugee inside the sealed compartment of him. They can`t use they teleportation spell and even the emergency one can¡¯t be activated.


    I assured them that they will be safe as I heat up my forge and begin on heating the antidotes. At first, nothing happened but as I keep on heating the antidote the smoke that comes out of it is being snorted by Cerous and deflecting the poison mist. I increase the temperature of the forge and use all the antidotes that I have in stock and began boiling them.


    Steadily the mist is being pushed by the smoke that came from Cerous and the other people help by using wind magic to quicken the spreading of the smoke. Gerhard and the other silver team didn`t get much affected by the mist but it hold them back somehow. Other people that got affected are being treated by their team mates while the rest help on fighting the scorpion.


    The mist still lingers around the scorpions body so it is still a threat to us also the stinger began to shot poison so it was a tough fit. As the battle drag on and we are trying to maim it but the legs are hard as an alloyed steel. Some of the frontline began to retreat as they got poisoned while other are being carried because of injuries.


    As the scorpion reach 50% of its life, the exoskeleton began to glow green and start on rampaging around with wild claws swings and random poison shoots. Even the provoke skill of the Troll didn`t affect the enrage scorpion, we being to run around the place evading from getting stab, shoot or trampled by the boss.


    Then out of nowhere small scorpion begin to pour out of the hole around the room that gave panic from everyone. The entrance and walls are now covered with scorpion and we have to fight it out. The only thing that good from the rampaging boss is that it keeps on trampling and killing the smaller ones but still the fact remains that we are trap inside this room with an enrage poisonous scorpion and smaller version of it.


    -------


    A/N


    And i`m back with new dungeon experience in Edean with things that is happening and others.


    anyways we are stuck at the floormaster`s room so yeah. deep shit right there.


    okay so in other news i`m trying to do some drawings for our mc and his tsundere but im not really good at this,


    Chat/Msg everyone next chap!

 Chapter 13 : Final Battle

    Chapter 13


    Rishido again. Did you ever feel sometimes that you just need to break your beliefs and principles because you just had enough or some people can¡¯t do their job right. For me, I do sometimes break that but most of the cases, things always end up being more complicated.


    ------


    We are on a dangerous situation where we need to stay alive at least we find some hole to get us outside but even if I scanned the walls around and even the holes where the scorpion pours out, I got nothing even the entrance is covered with scorpions and rocks now.


    The silver teams are taking out their all to the floor master and luckily no one has fallen down except some injured but no one died but that might be soon as things get worst. The guides can¡¯t help that much because they are weak against poison with their small body while other people is being treated and protected from the small fries that keeps swarming us.


    If we keep this stalemate with the floor master, the damage will be on us in the end so we need to act fast. I scanned people and teams that might be able to lend some hands as the others protect the weak ones. Mages can¡¯t do their fire magic without hurting others and earth magic is being inhibited by the floor master¡¯s presence while wind magic will only spread the poison mist that keeps fighting the antidote smoke that I produce then water magic will make a poison puddle within the boss area.


    The only thing the mages could do it mana bolts and other magic that don¡¯t have affinity but it was weaker and only basic magic that don`t really do that much but protect others from the small scorpions. Having defective team mate is really a big blow specially the DPS, without them battle will take longer time and we are running out of it.


    ¡°Leyla, can you and your friends protect the others? I need Cerous help to end this and I don¡¯t want anyone of you to get hurt inside the compartment if things done work well.¡±


    I got some plans but I have to leave the guide and Leyla to the others.


    ¡°Is it safe now? No more poison fog because we won`t last long if it¡¯s still there.¡±


    She said as I open one down and saw other guides cuddling each other and crying because of fear of death but I won¡¯t let that happened.


    ¡°The fog is now cancelled out by the smoke I produce but the boss still some of it around its body but don¡¯t worry it won¡¯t affect you. And what I need to all of you is protect each other and the injured ones, some of your partners are defeated but the presences of the master prohibit you from getting out of here but don¡¯t worry will defeat so come out now and help us.¡±


    I leave them to discuss as I sweep out the scorpions coming near us, even thou they are small fries but the number can`t be laughed about even their size is bigger, they look like full grown lobster so they are really dangerous.


    ¡°Okay we will help but drop us near them so we can`t be attack.¡±


    ¡°Can`t you just fly there?¡±


    ¡°Have some consideration Raiser, some of us is still shaking from fear you know besides our wings might be infected while others might attract attention.¡±


    Guess she might be right about this so I just nodded and drop them with the others that holding their ground while protecting each other. As I send them away and let them help the others, I rally around 5 able members of different team that could do the plan I propose. At first they are hesitant because of the poison thing but I have a damp cloth with antidote in it so the mist won¡¯t be inhaled so I got 5 brave men and they are beastkin from the Thunders Roar.


    As we ran into the fight, my team will rammed the side of the scorpion as I jump on its body and attack the stinger to prevent others from being shoot or stab. They need to turn around the boss with Cerous as their main force and protect him from getting pushed or trampled on.


    At first when we got here, I like to do a passive role and only collect things that I need but things really don`t work well when the opposite side is not within the plan but I have to help to survive to explore more and also collect more things.


    As Cerous got contact with the boss and Razack-san team, the leader of the Thunders Roar, I jumped on top of Cerous and intercept the stinger that keeps moving irregularly. The boss was still in rage but the lower part is not poisonous so they could do it while I can¡¯t be poisoned so I hope that we can pull it off.


    I keep slamming my sledge hammer on the tail`s base and the stinger while Cerous and Razack-san team keeps on pushing the boss upside down. While we are doing our own plan, the silver team keeps fight the boss head on but they spread out as we arrived and proceed with the plan. As I see some of them help us out with Gerhard-san and Jiendo`s teams keep fighting the boss and being covered by Luin`s team, Gariadak and Ahya-chan teams help us with this by protecting us from the incoming scorpion and pushing the boss upside down.


    Gariadak that is with Ahya-chan team did a really good job on lifting the boss as I change the gear of Cerous to rage mode to increase the power but drop the speed. The energy cost of Burst and Rage gear is huge and even the damage compensation but I have to do some crucial decision to help out more. As the monster got lifted up sideward I jump off and land near them and pumped my mana energy to be the main power and gear shift to Rage mode.


    As my body starts to produce stream I take some momentum from running and coordinate my attack with Cerous and the others that is helping us right now. Others pushed out the scorpion to have some distance as get closer while I ordered Cerous to push the scorpion and to have a brief moment lower its head and forelegs and doing a horn slam as I do an upswing towards its soft lower shell.


    At that moment when all of us attack the lower shell of boss, Gerhard and the others run towards us and begin an all-out assault destroying the soft shell and piercing its innards until it won¡¯t able to fight back because of being turned around. As we finished off the floor master, the smaller scorpion starts to move away from us and return to their holes as I scanned the surrounding confirming it.


    We can`t really have a cheery mode right now as we tend the others from injuries and poisoning but atmosphere around is more relax and joyful. As the silver team take out the things that the floor master produce which is really new to me, I mean when we subjugate the queen ant it didn`t drop thing but here the floor master do drop things like in RPG games.


    Gerhard thanks us from helping them because they are also trying to turn the floor master but they are lacking and they can`t really order us because we are also in a tight situation. Gerhard is really a good person as of now for me, maybe it was the nature of knights around this kingdom or Arth-dono forge him to be like this.


    Anyways, the floor masters drop will be transferred from here to the dukedom then from there it will be a long travel to the kingdom. It was a rule to show the floor master¡¯s drop to the king and nobles, the subjugation main team can take one from the loots while the supporting team and that is us will gain some compensation from helping like gold coins, title, weapons and other things that the kingdom could give.


    Well from what Ahya-chan explain to me, only the main team will be travelling to the kingdom and take audience to the king but we can travel with them to the dukedom to meet the duke which is a good thing besides we can only meet the duke on special occasion or being summoned by him, also we can only go to the dukedom by Arth-dono`s letter of recommendation so this floor masters subjugation is like a ticket or test for us to get out of this town.


    We could travel on our own but the dukedom is strict from travellers without letters from the village leaders or influential people like guild masters. Well from what I remember, the quirky MC said that things will be a lot different when we reached the dukedom so it might be a good chance for me to travel but I have to end all my business here.


    The loots from previous floor masters are being stored in the guild building not the treasury from town hall because it might attract people from stealing it like what happened from other places I don¡¯t know how could someone steal things from space magic but I guess it was a powerful person to do such fit. Well our items and coins is safe because it run from different space magic so I relieve now.


    After few more minutes of taking rest and healing for the injured ones we are ready to depart but for some reason we can¡¯t use the escape rope and earth magic is still unusable. The rock debris from the entrance is still there and we don`t have any more stamina to do this things, well I do have some energy and Cerous but my mind is too tried now.


    The guide that is with Leyla is joyous and lively now so the atmosphere is really relaxing. The scorpion`s corpse is still there so I request to scavenge it which they didn`t really mind because the whole place around it is covered with poison so I can have what I want here.


    First I take out some exoskeleton then the claws which is really big but after the floor subjugation I receive a 5 level up plus 2 from sweeping small fries which gives me item box slot that is around 35. The other bonuses and notif are still unread because i`m lazy to read them now. The magic core from the floor master is already with them but it was big as a basketball and the colour is bright red with green drop like objects inside.


    I don¡¯t want to be too technical around magic cores but magic cores from monsters range from black to bright red and it only apply on dungeon monsters and special cavern or field monsters. If some of them have mana affinity or element the core will have some coating or indicator of element depending on the quality of course. But in some occasion, some magic cores have different colour than the others like the steel white core we got from queen ant.


    Now that I think about it, that core is really different from the ones I see.


    After I scavenge everything including some innards which is really discussing but I can¡¯t puke because i¡¯m a robot but still the feeling is a nuisance, everyone decided to go down the fifth floor just to see what is there and also do some monsters checking.


    As we descend downwards which is really big and long that Cerous could still fit, what came to our view is like a forest sanctuary inside the dungeon and our view is overlooking the entire place from my rough estimation of the place it was around 10 hectares and the height from the ground to the ceiling is as high as a 50 storey building.


    As we walked down from the entrance cliff where we arrive, it was really amazing to see such place like this inside a dungeon. There is also wildlife here like from zoo but they can`t be eaten because they are made from 90% metal but they are more different from monsters we have seen. The initial assessment of this dungeon is 10 floors with dangerous powerful monsters but this place is like a sanctuary of monsters.


    As we enter the forest from our long walk, my sensor signals dozens and dozens of metalize animals roaming around us but most are just low level one like a deer with razor horns, some birds and even insects. We also see some predators like wolves but they are cautious about us.


    As we find a clearing near a water stream that is so clear that we can see some metal fishes, we immediately prepare a resting place and fire. While the silver team is discussing about what we will do here, some starts to roam around and check on things like trees bearing fruits that is inedible because it was metal. Most of the plants and flowers are metal but the colour of they look natural.


    While the guides are enjoying the surrounding with the others that stay around the fire, I can`t help myself to start collecting that piqued my curiosity, from metal fruits to flowers, from weeds to tree branches there are just tons of materials around me that make we what to scream for joy.


    But I hold myself from excitement and start listing what I should collect. First on the list are monster eggs or babies but I got a vibe of animal smuggling from taking monster eggs but I just shrugged it off and continue on, Metal fruits and seed if there is any is the second one well I do have some agriculture books so it might, third will be the herbs here that have different effects even if some are hard as a rock if chewed raw, last will be ores which is hard to find.


    After I enlist things and store the ones that I already have like fruits, herbs and other plants I went back to the campsite which is on heat right now. They are debating if we should stay more here to explore or went back up to report and have more exploring team but the thing is that there is a monster nest around the floor master`s room that is really hard to penetrate if the team is just compose of newbies.


    But as the possibility of other exploration team get wipe out because of monster dens and monster train last time we decided to stay and collect things that we could bring with us. So everyone start to form their team and begin on collecting thing like flowers and fruits but trees are left alone because taking one down is really annoying and elves from other team forbid us.


    Stolen novel; please report.


    I bring Cerous and Leyla with her pet Mabby on exploring the wild as we collect things around. While Leyla is pointing out things that she like to bring home, I dig some flowers from the ground with isn`t metalize so earth balling some plants is easy. I like to preserve them as much as I could.


    The compartment is full of items so I shove some of it inside my item box which is full of poisonous things from scorpions. Others are moved into the forge are but only the little ones that is inside the boxes. As I reorganized my things and storing the plants, I detected a presence differ from the whole team and I can`t identify it.


    Leyla also know that there is an unexpected guest, maybe a metal dryad or dungeon guardian.


    Then all of the sudden it rush to me but I was on alert status but the speed is nothing to laugh about. As I swung its arms down to me I blocked it with the shield that`s inside the compartment. As I saw the image of the aggressor, I was in shock.


    It was a clockwork but it was different from what I imagine. the clockwork still have a helm face but it was like a helmet from knights but make it more robot-like, the body is a bit small compared to me but the power of its fist can rival me. As the new comer make distance as it scanned me as I do to, the information is block from what I see and my sensors assess it as a level 5 threat.


    ¡°Why did you attacked me¡±


    ¡°You are attacking the dungeons core. Safety procedure is initiated. Exterminate threat.¡±


    Damn it, after the hard fight against the scorpion this is what we will get. And this clockwork is like from the scrapyard that I saw on my first arrival maybe it was eaten by the dungeon and give it new life. As I scan it again using my mana features, I can see a mana tread from its back going up and fading away. The core is shine bright in the center which is very similar to mine.


    Maybe this dungeon could help me, but first I have to defeat it but I don`t want to destroy it so I need to deactivate it`s system.


    ¡°Orders received. Eliminate all threat.¡±


    What? Maybe the perpetrator is just near to us or maybe the dungeon core is here. But radar can`t detect it anywhere but the numbers of enemies just increase and most are clockwork like. Change priority, I need to stay alive and kidnapped one of this clockwork and help the other to escape this place.


    Then I signal Leyla to stay back with Cerous as the unnamed clockwork attacked me again after scanning the surrounding. The fist that I keep blocking is a really deal and I can¡¯t let my guard down right now. As I evade another punch going to my face I do a side step to the right and hooked my left arm on her right shoulder and complete is with a head lock.


    The clockwork keeps struggling from my grip as I start to disconnect the cables from it neck and head from the tools in my arms. It even almost slip from the hold but I hold it tighter as I make it kneel with me then pushed my body down the ground so it won¡¯t have more space to move.


    I keep my scanners and sensors on high alert and use my mana scan to see the mana connection of it and cut if off then the cables that is connected to the main system to power it down. As it stop struggling and lose power from it arms I got up and check it`s status and it said it was power down.


    I lifted it on my shoulders and place the body on the forge area but I tied its arms with its feet at the back for safety precaution. Leyla said to me that others are struggling right now as she watch the radar on her bag so we move out and never talk about what happened just now because everyone is under attack.


    As I arrived at the camping site I saw destroyed clockworks and other monsters, some natives and players are heavily injured but no one died. Some guides that are with us start to have magical circle under them meaning some players are getting wipe out. But we can give a back up to them right now as per order of Jiendo who`s with us right now. Other team are on their way for save others.


    Most player team are not here except the ones that Jiendo`s team just save. We are all anxious as Ahya-chan and Luin came back with some injured natives and players. Luckily they hold their defences as Luin and Ahya-chan teams arrive some players died protecting them but all of the natives did survive because they stay at the campsite.


    As Gerhard-san and Gariadak teams arrive with the rest of the teams that survive, we assess that from the talks of the clockworks that attack us, we might be at the dungeon core room of dungeon heart. But it should be a high level place with terrifying monsters that could defeat us in seconds.


    Well the dungeon is just built a few days ago but the floor masters are strong and need 20 or so team to take it out but this place is really different. Some magicians said that the mana condensation is at the center so if we need to destroy this place we need to move towards the center or we could escape and prepare another assault with more teams with us.


    But the dungeon can have time to make a stronger defence against us. Even if it was a dangerous battle that await us we need to do it now before it gets harder.


    As the others got healed and able to fight, we don`t waste more time and proceed towards the center which mana keeps surging and condensing.


    From time to time we fight our way out of the forest full of monsters that keep attacking us. The dungeon is preventing us reaching its core so the animals around us is attacking us right now. But we managed it out because of battle prowess of us and the level gap is big to compensate the number of them because they are not like scorpions that keeps flowing out of hole so we are safe, just now.


    As we arrived at the center, we saw a huge tree and at the center of the trunk is an embedded orb shining brightly but we saw a more horrifying sight from the branches.


    Each branch is bearing around 5 different monster and some are full size clockwork. It was very haunting to see a tree that have hanging animal and people even if it was just game and they are machine. I will get nightmares from this sight.


    Some of us stop advancing and fell on their knees while others tried to run away just to be grabbed by their own team mates to calm them down. Even I feel an ease feeling around this place. But we keep marching on the tree even if we entered the tree`s branch circumference with animals and clockwork hanging above us.


    It was an eerie place for me as we got closer and the one by one some of the finished clockwork starts to drop down the center of the tree. That is the start of our struggle as we approached the tree because we can see some animals being drop and quickly engage on us. Magician is already prepared for this as we enter the danger zone but still the area magic can`t stop the assault of dozen machines in one go.


    We take a circular defence as Cerous as the center and do backup with the turret that I reinstalled and began firing earth balls to dozen of enemies and spears for close calls.


    As we keep getting closer, the enemies start to attack aggressively so we are having a hard time fighting but the vanguards keep us safe as magician and archers scrape all the power they had to support everyone. Even the guide that is still here are helping by firing their magic on monsters around us specially the close ones.


    ¡°Gerhard! I can see the dungeon core clear and I can shoot it down and pulled it out with my anchor spear.¡±


    ¡°Do it when we made a clearing in the center, men destroy everything in the way?¡±


    Then everyone near the center with Gerhard pushed down or destroy enemies and I load my anchor spear and lock my spear turret to its maximum range it can get.


    ¡°Spear Ready!¡±


    ¡°Mages now!¡±


    As he signal them dozens of magic flowed down the center and clear the way as I unload the spear and let it fly passing us and monster right through the dungeon core.


    But monster intercept the spear as they block the path and be pierced by the spear that so powerful it penetrate at least 3 clockwork.


    ¡°Gerhard they intercept the spear we need to move closer¡±


    ¡°Men hold you defence, Jiendo, Gariadak make some opening we will run fast then take hold Ahya, Luin back us up with your team, others mages recover your mana for another assault the rest keep on guard and stay alive. Clockwork we are counting on your spear so do it right.¡±


    I just nodded and they began to move, I use Cerous big body to help Jiendo¡¯s and Gariadak`s team to make some opening as we fight our way out as the rest starts to run beside Cerous. Things are getting tougher as we move closer because we know that enemies will increase spontaneously but we need to move closer.


    As we reform the defence formation, the battle pressure starts to affect other members and even the morale are going down as some got injured from constant monster attack.


    ¡°Clockwork ready yourself we taking another shot here.¡±


    ¡°Okay¡±


    If we could only remove the dungeon core from its base and destroy it, we will able to survive this predicament.


    Then an idea hit me. Even though it was so insane I have to try it.


    ¡°I need Gariadak to pull the lock the spear turret.¡±


    Then Jiendo signal Gariadak as he takes cover his position on the defence because he is one of the pillars that supporting the form with his team of trolls.


    ¡°Pull this and hold on until Gerhard signal us and don¡¯t ask why.¡±


    I teach him how to operate the turret that is like a giant crossbow and the spear will be me. I know it was insane but if the spear got stop gain that might be the end of us. Players can revive and fight again but native can`t and 5 silver team is a big blow to the moral of other teams.


    ¡°Fire¡±


    Then another volley of magic and skills are being release by everyone around us then as the coast got a bit clearer I signal Gariadak to let go of the lock. It was the one that use for rock throwing and it was the most suitable for me.


    ¡°No!!!¡±


    ¡°Raiser you dumb metal!!¡±


    The first one that scream is Gerhard as he see me flying then Leyla who`s being held down by other guide. Sorry Leyla but I have to do this.


    As I flew on my half mark and begin to descend down I prepared myself with my knives on both sides. I know, I won¡¯t reach the core but I could run passing other monsters with burst gear. I fired my grappling hook on one branch and I descend down to make a swing to fling me closer and have a safer landing.


    As I reach my upward arc from the swing I pulled back my grappler to increase the height and speed then let it go. For another ride I prepare myself and take a deep breath as I came down gain.


    When I came in contact with the ground I use my burst gear with mana energy to run faster. I was just several meters away from the core but enemies are here and there and I can¡¯t use another hook so I just pulled out my knives and start throwing them to the core which is block by its minions.


    Then I pulled my daggers as I make my way towards the core as I jump, dodge and maneuver around the enemies while blocking incoming attacks that in unavoidable.


    I keep gaining some damaged from the burst mode and the attacks from the enemies but I keep moving on until I almost reach the core but another clockwork block my path and it was stronger than the others. It got a shield and spear with a big build like me but it was bigger and stronger than me as I blocked its spear with my daggers.


    ¡°Exterminate, Exterminate¡±


    Another lose clockwork but I have to fight my way and my energy is still draining even if i`m not moving too much. I don¡¯t know if it will work manually but I have to.


    ¡°Bravery Activated¡±


    When I shouted it nothing happened so it was a fail but I don¡¯t lose hope because I still got my quick shift and mana energy but as I keep exchanging blows with this guardian my body can`t keep up with the power and speed of the enemy.


    I don¡¯t have any other choice but to use the last option of the quick shift which is a double edge sword.


    ¡°SYSTEM OVERRIDE!¡±


    I command my system to release all fail-safe conditions, i`m able to use both Burst and Rage Mode without the drawback of each other. The compensation is that my body will take toll from over using the system and might kill me in the process but I have the power to protect the others that I don¡¯t when i`m with her so I have to use it to the limit.


    As I feel the energy and power keep flowing inside me, I draw out my sledge hammer and begin my battle with the guardian.


    ¡°WE WILL ESCAPE THIS SHITHOLE AND NO ONE CAN STOP ME!!!¡±


    ------


    A/N


    okay another chapter is done and it was a fight scene...


    anyways about the drawing dont expect too much coz im just a noob.


    just want to illustrate it but i`ll make better ones in the future because im enjoying thing series and drawing of course


    can a FB pic be linked here. if not is there other places coz i liked to keep them in private

 Chapter 14 : Cycle of Life

    Chapter 14


    Rishido here. Sometime that when we do things that we just love to do or we just need to do impresses other people like one time that I made a program that show a 2D animation by just using basic coding that taught to us back in high school. Most of my friends are impress about it and even our teachers from then on I¡¯m suggested to enter Luminous to study. Some people really do have high expectation on other people whose good at things but sometimes it gave others a pressure, hope I don`t get another hot seat again, or not.


    ------


    ¡°How many times I¡¯d told you to not do that death defying act of bravery of yours hu!¡±


    ¡°I could even remember how many and besides it was almost a week ago and from the day we escape you didn`t even stop ranting and nagging about this and that, you know, but I really do appreciate your concern about me but please take it easy now.¡±


    Then her face steam out and got redden again, she`s cute in a way but gosh her nagging is worse than Okaa-san. I know Leyla is worried and everything but it was a week ago.


    ¡°W-what are you saying that I¡¯m worried of course not! I`m more worried about my reputation from other guides that can`t help their companions from dying just because they can come back from their graves for a few days.¡±


    *sigh* I get her. Most players do death grinding because they are abusing the beta system of just being lock inside the town for 24hr in game. Well we are still on beta test but I bet they will change it eventually to decrease the PK players and reckless kids running around fields and dungeons.


    Well it has been a week in game or 2 days RL but I still feel that battle rush from my fight against that guardian. At first, we are on stalemate but my override system and mana energy is really an OP combo and I won with overwhelming force and destroyed that dungeon core but I almost died again if not for Leyla and the others that came over as soon as the fight ended.


    If Leyla didn`t pump some mana inside me I would have been dead and lock inside the town for 24 hours. However, the damage in my gears and even my OS in my head got it hard and I have to stay in town for 3 days just replacing and repairing bits and parts of me. Luckily the mindless clockworks got some important parts that are not destroyed but no one in town can repair them even that dwarves that said to be had some small connection with clockwork can¡¯t help me.


    Well after we resurface, most teams are given with recommendation letter by Arth-dono while some are promoted, even I got my recommendation letter but my state at that time forbid me to travel with them. The silver teams and the pioneer teams will travel to Feliusa town then the Dukedom where not everything is revealed. The loots from the floor masters is already ahead of the silver team but it wasn`t revealed so everyone think that they will personally deliver it.


    While I¡¯m locked inside the town, I study about how could I remodel my body which is still crappy looking even though I got body engineering. I¡¯m still thinking if I will make my body more human or stick to this boxy or geometric shape parts which is really awkward to see.


    As for the rewards, the dungeon subjugation and conquering is really tasty indeed. First I got a whopping 15 levels for the entire expedition, others got around 20 but I don`t mind that coz I have already know why. My fighting abilities improved by two or three levels like acrobatics, heavy weaponry mastery, and two-hand mastery which I both got one week ago and they are both really useful because of my weapon preference of heavy and metal.


    The heavy weaponry is good if you can lift weapons heavier than half or your total weight and it improve the damage and power output plus it add a knock back and stun while in bladed weapon, it add more power in slashing and add automatically made you bleed. Well two hand mastery is self-explanatory then I also got turret and siege weaponry mastery which improve my aiming and even gave me details like wind current flow, ammo weight and uses.


    We got also titles for dungeon subjugation but I got a special title that is announced by the system, which is really embarrassing. Well the first one is floor master killer then dungeon conqueror after we subjugate the dungeon but I got a specified title, first is Guardian Destroyer which can only be achieve if you solo kill a core guardian and it gave a +15 all stats. The last one that is announce is a one-time only given title so it was so special, it is called Dungeon Trailblazer which required a guardian destroyer title and destroy the dungeon core inside the dungeon. But what really amazes me is the all-stat bonus of 25 then I have treasure finder ability while it was equip which is subtle when I used because it revealed tons of indicator in my radar. However, when I check some, it was just some items, which is keep as heirloom, expensive items, and other things.


    Well from what I heard from Arth-dono, days after the conquest is that dungeon core are sometimes taken out for studies. I can`t really think of anything at that time but the fact that I need to save everyone. In addition, most people in town called me as the Trailblazer or Conqueror, which really attract attentions from players.


    As for the coreless dungeon, it was being renovated to be used by merchants and production classes because it was as wide as the scrapyard but it got smaller as per Arth-dono`s suggestion because the weight if people start flooding inside it. The monsters inside are still roaming around even if it was coreless but they can`t respawn now so the demand also withered. The fifth floor or the sanctuary is still off limits because there might me a possibility of teams rushing there for hunting or just curious about what is down there.


    Well the beast down there is non-operational now but Arth-dono requested me to investigate it because I have more knowledge about this kind of things. As for the loots and dungeon subjugation rewards is already been given but I have to wait a few days coz I¡¯m still broken. However, just after 4 days, I got my share that is 50 gold coins and I can request for what I can take from the loot we gain while inside so I get all the materials that I really need for repairs and mostly it came from clockworks that we fought. But I¡¯m still thinking about the clockwork guardian`s body because it was durable and swift even if it was heavier than me.


    Now back to present where I log in and received my daily Leyla medicine, I¡¯m ready for another exploration but this time it will not be so dangerous. As I arrive to report to the guild and check some request, I saw Arth-dono waiting for me and told me what I will do in there like check if there are monsters dens or remnants of the dungeon. Second is that explore every corner of the dungeon for clues if it has other places or small hole which is still unrevealed and lastly he said that I will give him suggestion about my assessment about that floor.


    I asked why me if he got 5 silver team to explore it but he just said that the floor master`s loot and audience is more important than this also he got me to explore that floor. He really does have high expectation with me being clockwork and everything. I can`t complain about this because I can rip off many loots for this request.


    As I ride Cerous with Leyla and Mabby who`s enjoying the view of people who are amaze to see us and even do greet us. I don`t want to be a celebrity or something but it warms my heart as I saw peoples smiles and admiration. It lessens the depression and sadness that is still inside me.


    I wave and greet them back as we arrived at the withered dungeon entrance, which from my last memory is pack with teams, but now only few teams are exploring it. Other teams subjugated most monster dens and they will not respawn plus the reconstruction is on the way but some natives and players participate in it for specific experiences, salary, and food.


    As I came down to the fourth floor, it was desolated place except for few people looking around for things to mine then the guards who are in charge of the fifth floor. I remembered that I could dig out hurtalo stone, which is unpopular because it got poison. Now that I think about it, the floor master is a poison type monster and it was still inside my item box except for the innards, poison sacks and other small parts that I compounded days ago. I am still thinking on what I will do about the pinchers and stinger.


    I tried to use the treasure finder from the title then my radar is full of small dots around the dungeon. I should have used it at the first floor maybe it only work on dungeons because it does not have that many things like pricey weapons and weird items.


    While I coach Cerous around as we follow the path where I can dig hurtalo stone and some ores, Leyla is busy on practicing her new magic that she got and it was called blossom impaler. She will send a nature ball to the ground then a flower will rise quickly with sharp thorns that increase its size depending on the mana output. Another one is nature shockwave but as I saw it, it was like a cone-shape wave that has leaves pushing the monsters away.


    As I reach the half marked of my digging process, I saw few people with pickaxe, and from their looks, they are just native¡¯s slum dweller. I know that I can overlooked them but still a little help will not hurt so I told them that I saw two ore veins. This place isn`t taxable as of now unlike the mineshaft at the north and it still got monsters dwelling inside plus the crime slaves.


    As they rushed to where I direct them where to mine, I continue my stone digging until I retrieve everything then go back to the guards.


    I presented my plate and the letter of Arth-dono then they let me in. They said that after the dungeon conquering no one has ever came down to the fifth floor even a glimpse of it even though the gossip around town said that it was beautiful as a lush virgin forest. I agreed with them but I also told them what we saw and from the looks of them, they are shit scared about the tree bearing monster can`t blame them I still got goose bumps whenever I remember that thing.


    It was still as magnificent as I first saw it but the hole at the center where that tree is located is missing and replaced with only grass clearing. I activated again the treasure finder and I was just amaze on how many marked places are there but the ore veins are deep inside the walls. If I report, it got ore vein people will start to destroy this place so I should keep it as a secret besides the ores are just few and they are all tin.


    I let Mabby and Leyla walked beside us as we travel around the forest that is also desolated. Most things that I got are fruits, herbs, and some rare ones that were used for magical potions but they have some metal property, which is not weird to see because of the dungeons nature.


    Then my sensor send a warning of level ten and even Leyla saw it and starts to get nervous and anxious around us. I can`t see the threat around me so it was far from my safety perimeter but I have to focus and stay low. As we transverse around the forest looking for that threat and don`t make unnecessary noise so we will not alarm that monster if it was asleep or something, we arrived at the grass clearing where the dungeon core used to be.


    I tried to looked around and even activate my mana scan but I can find any trace of the guardian or even an abnormal mana flow. The clearing is nothing special so we continue to look around until I saw a red dot on my radar and it was near the pond.


    ¡°Don`t do it Raiser, you can`t win against that enemy we better say it to the guild master.¡±


    ¡°I know Leyla but at least let me scan it first so I can have some clues even it was just one.¡±


    ¡°Fine but after that we run back to the guards and alarm them, might as well cover the hole¡±


    ¡°Yes that would be good for everyone.¡±


    I leave Cerous and Mabby so we will not attract more attention. As we creep closer to the pond where the enemy reside, i`m starting to feel the pressure and tense around us even Leyla starts to sweat and hug me as we move closer.


    As we have I clear view on the enemy, I can only say one thing that I saw. F*CK!!!


    It was a female elf and she was NAKED! For Minea`s sake why are you even naked and how can she pass the guards without alarming them. They stand right beside the tunnel entrance so how can she pass through them. Then I concluded that she might because of the threat level she had.


    At least she is standing behind us but dat ass though. Vividly coloured yellow hair that ends on her waist, a bit slender but still she got the curves. Still, she is as dangerous as her body so I quickly withdraw as I saw a puffy cheeked Leyla staring at me. The thing I feared the most about Leyla must be with her now, let`s pray to Minea and the fairy goddess or queen to please don`t let her.


    Only a few meter away from that sacred place, an arrow just pass right in front of me landing on the ground but the arrow made a crater. I couldn`t see anything around even the red dot isn`t moving but I start running faster hugging Leyla to cover her from the arrows that elf is firing no doubt about it.


    As I run and dodge dozens of arrows falling down to me like meteors I start to use my speed gear to increase the speed and reaction and order others to start running back to the entrance. I can see that the elf is chasing us with unmatchable speed that even if I use my combo again I won`t brush her of my tail.


    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Then magic shots starts flying from different direction but I dodge them but damn that magic shot broke some trees just passing them others got vines that wrap around a tree and broke it into pieces. Fuck that shit I¡¯m out of here.


    Another wave of arrows and magic shots came down but this time I can see the elf smiling at me. She`s a succubus dressed as an elf. I need to run and dodge but as one arrow gash at my shoulders, it broke down my balance and fell down the one by one magic shots and arrows fell down to us but I protected Leyla under me as I hugged my head down and let my back be the target.


    However, nothing came down as I hear a sweet laughter from my pursuer; she might be a sadistic one who enjoys chasing her targets. I cannot let her hurt Leyla but she cannot use her emergency magic for some reason.


    ¡°Sorry for chasing you but I caught you peeping at me while I¡¯m dressing up.¡±


    She might be playing at me right now; I have to play it smoothly as I plan to make an escape.


    ¡°I don`t have any intentions on peeping at you but I perceive your presence which shouldn`t happened because this place should be empty and no one is allowed enter without permission from the guild master or village leader.¡±


    ¡°Is that so but I got my permission so I¡¯m allowed to enter this place.¡±


    How can she be if I¡¯m the only one whom Arth-dono requested.


    ¡°If you say so and I¡¯m sorry for what happened early on. I have to go now and do my work here.¡±


    As I bind my goodbye smoothly as walked away from her. I can see Leyla in my arms holding her cry and keep her silent.


    ¡°Awww but we haven¡¯t introduce ourselves besides your like fun to be with so I¡¯m tagging along with you.¡±


    W-what!!! This is really dangerous for both of us.


    ¡°I`m sorry but I have to authority to deny you from following me, stalking me or anything thing even the harassment because I could report you to the guild master.¡±


    ¡°Aawww~ what a bummer I like to talk to you more.¡±


    Sheesh, won¡¯t she just stop following me.


    ¡°I have to go and I also gave you a warning so please comply with it.¡±


    ¡°Your no fun you know, you too stiff to people. Aren`t you attracted at me?¡±


    If you asked me personally I would say yes but I¡¯m on my alter ego mode so¡­


    ¡°Not really also I don`t have any feelings and you are delaying my work now.¡±


    I turn around and start walking away from her which is weird coz she hasn`t move or even reply. Then one moment I saw her face in front of me.


    ¡°You¡¯re no fun but I like that also because you will just increase the excitement, so see you again clockwork.¡±


    She attempts to kiss me, which is really weird because I don¡¯t have a definite place for my mouth. Then a nature ball fired in front of her face that she dodge smoothly and jumped back.


    ¡°Don`t ever touch him you lewd elf.¡±


    Thank you, Leyla but you don`t have to hug my head while saying that.


    ¡°Ohw so the clockwork already got someone but don`t worry little fairy I won¡¯t take him away from you, I just want to play with him.¡±


    ¡°Then don¡¯t you lewd elf, I taught elves got some manners but I bet you don¡¯t learn a thing about being a lady.¡±


    Leyla please stop that heated woman talked, I can imagine the sparks from their stares to each other.


    ¡°You got big mouth and courage for a small body but I don`t like how you called and describe me for being not lady like as for your information I¡¯m more refined lady than you in so many ways.¡±


    ¡°You dared to say me things like you¡¯re a refined lady but your actions jeopardize everything you said from the very beginning¡±


    You too, please stop this talk right now. I still got a lot of work to do.


    ¡°Yes you can say that but he peep at me so I could punish him for doing that.¡±


    I said it was an accident but she`s not really listening from the beginning.


    ¡°As he said earlier we sense you here and even if you have authority from the being here you should know that attacking allied members are punishable.¡±


    ¡°You know your thing little fairy but you don`t know who you¡¯re talking with.¡±


    ¡°And you also don`t know who`s fairy you are talking with also.¡±


    Things are getting out of hands now and from their talk, we might be in more danger, Leyla I know your concern but angering a powerful enemy is no good.


    ¡°Well then see you again clockwork and you too little fairy¡±


    ¡°You also lewd elf¡±


    W-what just happened first they are arguing then saying goodbye. I can`t understand on just what happened right now. At least Leyla got that elf away from us.


    ¡°Thank you Leyla for driving her away, don`t worry I won¡¯t ask anything¡±


    ¡°We are just safe for now but I bet we will meet her again coz the fight just got started.¡±


    Fight? When? However, I let it go because it was a girl talk.


    I can see the red dot going back to the entrance as I called Cerous and Mabby that run before us ad continue my exploration around this place. This place can be used for animal husbandry, the center clearing can be used for agricultural purposes but the plants, and trees are mostly made or have some metal properties, which is inedible to some extent. However, if there is a magic that can convert this place then massive work of uprooting and replanting can be undone.


    As I seek the last marked item that is farther away from the other, I can now relax and continue my upgrade on both skills and parts. Then I saw tattered clockwork body but as I scanned it, it was the guardian that I fought back then but how can this clockwork be here if we fight in the center of this place.


    I can see its machine core with dimmed light so this clockwork survives in a way or it got revive back.


    ¡°You¡­ one¡­ I fight.¡±


    Huh? It is still alive but how I mean I got a title defeating it.


    ¡°Yes I¡¯m the one defeated you and also a clockwork. You¡¯re still operational so I¡¯ll repair you.¡±


    ¡°Don`t¡­virus active¡­¡±


    ¡°You got a virus how?¡±


    ¡°Dungeon¡­ revives me¡­ used¡­virus¡­ control¡­¡±


    So that dungeon can really do weird stuffs but the other clockworks are mindless but maybe he is the real deal i`m looking for.


    ¡°Mr Guardian why are you still alive what happened.¡±


    ¡°That is rude Leyla.¡±


    ¡°What I just asking about how can---¡°


    ¡°No clue¡­ me need¡­ give you¡­ this.¡±


    As the guardian cut off Leyla as it moves its core and hand it over weakly with its broken arms. I quickly hold the fragile looking core as I approached the guardian.


    ¡°Use¡­study¡­bring back¡­ life one¡­of us.¡±


    ¡°Okay I will but how can I use this core, I haven`t studied this matter.¡±


    ¡°Open head¡­ black card¡­ info there¡­ safe.¡±


    ¡°You mean we will open your head then take that black card so we can learn everything¡±


    ¡°Wait the guardian is still alive Leyla maybe I could support it with the core like Mabby had.¡±


    ¡°you know that we couldn`t save that right beside the guardian is like giving you its last will or death wish so just agreed with him.¡±


    I was hard for me to accept it because I feel like Okaa-san is talking to me again with her last wish for me. I hold on to my emotions and go on with the wish of my clan mate.


    ¡°Okay, I will. I have a mindless clockwork that I save back when we are here. I studied that It don`t have its own personality like us. I have many questions to ask but I know you won¡¯t last long.¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­ help others¡­ build again¡­ clan good days¡­we help peace¡­ not war.¡±


    ¡°I`m planning on finding the others and helping them so don¡¯t worry about it you can rest now.¡±


    ¡°Thank you¡­brother.¡±


    I can see the shine in its eyes fades away and terminate its system to operate again. I gave it a prayer for its soul if it had one then store the dimmed machine core in my box then open its head to retrieve the black card that it mentioned. I can see that there are other cards and items that I haven`t seen before but the virus keeps me from getting all of it but I continue to extract the small parts as I activate my traits to see things is many view like mana and innovator. I can see the infected parts in violet and give off a small mana trail.


    After I done getting some small parts that could help me repair that mindless clockwork that is still inside Cerous trunk. I dug a hole and buried my brethren¡¯s body then place some small stones around it as I marked the place and report it to Arth-dono.


    ¡°Are you done with your ritual?¡±


    ¡°Yes and I¡¯ve prayed for the guardian`s safe travel.¡±


    ¡°Have you gone to this same situation?¡±


    ¡°Yes I do but I don`t want to talk about it, we got a lot of work to do now.


    She just nodded at me and flew back to Cerous and Mabby whose waiting for us.


    *


    ¡°¡ªthen I saw the body of the guardian but it is non-operational and it was a real clockwork but it was infected with so dungeon virus that might be a mind controlling magic like the one that happened with the drone ants after we defeated their queen. The rest of our talked is a private matter for our race but it was just a last will of my brethren and don`t had any ill will against anyone.¡±


    ¡°Your report is really informative, maybe your suggestion on agriculture will profit more than another mineshaft. Most of the slum people that travel here might have a decent living now which is really a great help for us. I also have one person who could do the forest problem so don`t worry about it. I know that you are also eager to leave this town and explore more but I request you to stay a bit more just to supervise the fifth floor.¡±


    ¡°I`m really thankful about that offer but I have to turn it down. I`ll still be around this town a bit more because I still have a lot of work that needs to be done immediately.¡±


    ¡°Then why not stay at the fifth floor while you do your thing besides I¡¯ll send someone to do the whole thing, your just be there to assist him a little about this and that.


    ¡°But no more than that ok.¡±


    ¡°We have a deal.¡±


    I shake hands with Arth-dono as we agreed that I would just assist his appointee about the fifth floor matters after I reported about my assessment leaving the elf incident and the clockwork. My plans right now are repair the clockwork I abducted, the small machine animals plus the ant eggs and spider eggs. Even though i`m hoarding tons of works I didn`t feel the pressure and it was still a beta test so I might lose everything. If we will do a rebirth on the opening, I should find a place to keep them.


    As I walked out down the stairs while Leyla told me things she hear from the other guides inside the guild like the talked about the other teams arrived at the dukedom, the gossip about the rare race teams from the western and eastern villages and production teams moving to this town. It was informative and I can see Leyla being lively as before.


    I`m not taking any quest right now to do my mission which pops up after we got out for the fifth floor.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>CYCLE OF LIFE


    THE UNNAMED CLOCKWORK THAT WAS INFECTED BY THE DUNGEON REQUESTED YOU TO REVIVE CLOCKWORK USING ITS MACHINE CORE AND FIND OR HELP OTHER CLOCKWORKS.


    DIFFICULTY: UNKNOWN


    TIME LIMIT: UNKNOWN


    CONDITIONS: CLOCKWORK ONLY RACE, ABLE TO DEFEAT THE GUARDIAN, ACCEPTS IT`S LAST WILL


    FAILURE OF THE QUEST: UNABLE TO REVIVE A CLOCKWORK YOU HAD PROMISED TO REVIVE</td></tr></tbody></table>


    From that looks of it, if I completed this quest it might trigger another one like a chain quest event. I have my plans on finding them so it will really help me on finding the clue around the continent. First, I have to revive the clockwork inside Cerous.


    ¡°Let`s go Leyla, we will need to do some shopping first before it got dawn¡±


    As we ride Cerous while shopping things like foods for Leyla and machine parts for me from player merchants then I proceed to Jaldava-dono so sell some special herb, which sold at a good price, and she even gave me a beginner and intermediate recipe after I told her that I would leave in a week or so. Then I went to the town hall to withdraw some items I stored there and rush back to the dungeon to start my work.


    ______


    A/N


    Last two more chapter before i close the volume 1 of this series then i`ll do side stories about others and POVs


    i`m deleting the Prologue cuz it might be the cause of some people not continuing this series.


    i`m still clueless about  how to upload  or post pics so any help is welcome.


    still got no editor.


    still thank you for all the readers :D till sunday for the last chapter.. maybe

 Chapter 15: My Name Is...

    Chapter 15


    Rishido here. Chain quest is like story line quest in some RPG games because it gives the player a path to follow, mission to complete and things to do. While side story is like character development, back story or history of the place or maybe just a simple quest to keep you from boredom if you are at the end of the game. But what I like the most is a free roam game even if I finished the game which is really amusing, you can roam around the map and do various end game quest or forgotten quest from the start. In most cases, main quest is really hard than side quest but some side quest end up being a major twister that changes the main quest.


    ------


    After we come to the sanctuary and find a place for us to stay for the night, I log out to find things I needed to read and study before I began repairing that clockwork. It was already afternoon so I decided to grab some snack before working. The cafeteria is packed with players that`s also taking breaks.


    We still have two months before the test ends but others are picking their paces to explore more about the continent we`re at. I`m also curious about other places but I have also a quest to fulfil so I can hit two goals with one trip. At the cafeteria, there are screens that play videos of other players that posted their adventures especially now that the pioneer teams are on the Dukedom.


    The one being played right now is the dungeon conquering as I saw myself standing on top of Cerous as I fire a spear to the core. There are murmurs about me and the other pioneer that finished that dungeon subjugation. I`ve thought that dungeon has ten floors, but it maybe the estimated value from previous missions but that floor master is really a hard fight for us.


    There are cheers and screams as they saw me fly then the defending team fight back to advance towards the core. At first, fighting that guardian is hard because i`m lower than him but the boost I got gave me edge in our fight and I ended up victorious. The video ends after I send the guardian flying towards the core and give another hit to secure the kill.


    ¡°That clockwork is an OP race¡±


    ¡°Yeah you¡¯re right but did you know that the clockwork is unable to move for 3 game days because of that.¡±


    ¡°Heard the rumours about it but the pioneer teams are already ahead of him though.


    ¡°What about the other high class teams from the western village.¡±


    ¡°They are dominating the whole place like storming every dungeon mini boss but they don`t defeat the dungeon.¡±


    As I hear more about the other peoples adventures and discoveries, I feel more motivated to increase my knowledge towards robotic and machinery even though I don`t have passion for that. After eating my late lunch, I went back to my room but I was block by a group of players and I saw a familiar face.


    ¡°Hello Mr Mysterious Artisan, are you in a rush right now?¡±


    It was the Crescent Art recruiter Myra with her team of other production class; they look like random people that have been recruited like glass boy, a happy-go-lucky type of guy, girl that looks like a sheltered princess, a sporty girl, and then Myra.


    ¡°Yeah, i`m on a rush right now coz I have a lot of work to do.¡±


    ¡°Okay but why not introduce yourself first to them because we are on our way to Vulcan later.¡±


    Huh? They got some recommendation also. This is bad, I want to work in peace but i`m down several feet underground so I might not see them besides she didn`t know my IGN or race in the first place.


    ¡°I`m on Feliusa right now so I can`t meet you there and like I said before i`m soloing for now.¡±


    ¡°Really your on Feliusa right now, you should have said that so I can inform the others to meet you, I got connections with other teams too.¡±


    What kind of networking did she have?


    ¡°You might know my name but, Tadashi Rishido, multi artisan¡±


    I held out a handshake then first to introduce is the quirky guy or maybe not.


    ¡°Nice to meet you. I`m Alexander Arkwright but you can call me Alexa for short; my work is dressmaking and armour. Call me ok~.¡±


    ¡°Nope.¡±


    I don¡¯t have prejudice his or her preference but i`m not into flirting really. However, the wink gives me cold sweat at my back.


    ¡°Come on Alex leave the guy alone besides Myra like him.¡±


    ¡°I`m not Cynthia, he`s not my type at all.¡±


    Great, they began to argue in front me.


    ¡°Just leave the three of them, they are always like that. I`m Martino Salvador, I do woodworks and a bit of blacksmithing because i`m making bows and crossbow.¡±


    ¡°Please to meet you and you ojou-san?¡±


    ¡°Akihiro Mio, I do um¡­ potions and magic.¡±


    She does look like a sheltered princess also a Japanese, how do they pick people to be their beta tester. Never mind, this company pick people from different walks of life and that includes a different abled person like me.


    But if you look at her carefully, behind her bob cut hair and bangs that cover her eyes, she`s cute in a way.


    ¡°Please to meet you too Akihiro-san¡±


    ¡°The one left is Cynthia Philips and she`s also like Myra a blacksmith but they are competitors also. I know that you`re not a social type so I will leave you as is but I¡¯ll still invite you to join our guild in the future when you made up your mind.¡±


    ¡°Thank you Salvador-san, I¡¯ll be on my way now.¡±


    The two and a half girls are still arguing about things I didn`t really understand but Martino-san is like the older guy but the looks of them maybe younger than me or just the same. I left them as Martino said it would take a while, Akihiro-san didn`t really participate so much to them but maybe i`m just looking at it in a different perspective.


    I know that my abilities and traits are lacking because I can`t make a body that is more human like. But even though I made it like that my body still looks like boxy robot than the one I imagine it would be. Well the first one is human like but rusty, small, and weak in many different aspects. Also I need to know how to create a better energy storing system for my body to lessen my consumption and increase the output so I won¡¯t always rely on my mana energy that always give me tons of work every time I use it.


    While i`m inside my VH (virtual home) after I returned from eating, I quickly scanned every books that could help me from solar energy to mechanical ones but it won¡¯t suffice the need that I want. In addition, if I will use this to the clockwork I should at least give it more edge in fighting so I won¡¯t always carry the burden.


    After taking some rest and reading books, I log back inside to continue my work.


    *


    As I log in and scan, my memory if there will be additional skills for NWA but nothing happened. That unknown ability is still locked that made me think that how can I unlocked that ability.


    I start to study the machine core that the guardian gave me. It was intriguing to see a machine core that is not attach to you. However, as I looked at the machine core of the other clockwork, even though it was the same outer works but the inside is what really separates the two.


    The first one is powered by magic or mana of the dungeon core that is really different from the machine core that I possess. However, that gave me an idea of what if I could include this system to the machine core but the risk is high. If the experiment fails then the quest will fail immediately but if it¡¯s a success then an advancement can be achieve.


    Nevertheless, I have to postpone my plan for the machine core and focus on increasing my proficiency on my crafting abilities. Oh, I remember that I had a black card that could help me to revive a clockwork.


    ¡°Morning Raiser, what`s the plan for today?¡±


    Wohw, okay so she is energetic today, I have doubts about this because every time she becomes like this, there will be a favour coming right after.


    ¡°Morning, I`m working on monsters body and maybe add another one or make Cerous bigger to increase the space. Maybe I should make another one for sleeping purposes.¡±


    ¡°I agree on making another machine beast but not another Cerous coz that would take more time and you have to revive that clockwork you kidnapped. It was still inside Cerous plus the other small machine monster and the eggs remember.¡±


    ¡°Right, i`m planning to do all of that while we are here. There will be experiments and test I will do so the numbers really matter.¡±


    Now that I think about it, Cerous really need an upgrade and also increase the weight limit or space for my things that I can`t carry on my item box. The box is filled with big things like the claws and stinger some machine animal parts, clockworks things, and random items like the eggs that I withdraw last time.


    While waiting for the workers of Arth-dono, I decided to upgrade Cerous to be more efficient and have more space. I pulled out four metal blocks to be the lifting jack coz I still didn`t know how to make a hydraulic jack or the simper one. After placing, each one on Cerous legs and lifts it legs sideways slowly so the block will be the support then deactivate Cerous to continue my work.


    I dismantle the legs and the head part then the body cover, after that I unload all of stuffs inside the trunk including the abducted clockwork. Most of the items are for alchemy like herbs on different metal boxes then I remove the locker like storage to organize again the boxes.


    One by one, bits and parts that isn`t involve with the furnace is remove until I can see the core and the mechanical parts of it. I have some machine core from the clockworks from the reward but they are inferior in many ways than Cerous core. While i`m doing all the work, Leyla and Mabby is waiting for the people to come down as we sense them. I rely this matter to Leyla as I send my plan to Mabby`s system. It was like an email and really convenient.


    As Leyla do her work as a proxy supervisor for me, i`m here doing large scale melting of metals from monsters parts that I don`t need. I`m planning to make Cerous a little longer or bigger depending on my needs in the future but still undecided about it.


    Even though dino-type is good for the design there will be some flaws about it like the bulky body. It was required but I have to make it more convenient in a way that I could travel inside towns. Maybe a lizard will do but only bigger and longer, that would be right I could have a bigger space but I need to design the body to move in curves but Mabby`s design might help me. Doing curves is like increasing the other sides opening while decreasing the opposite side like the man`s waist.


    As I forge segment plates for the body and do some fitting for the furnace area, a dwarf approached me and introduce himself as Dizm, a male dwarf that is in charge of civil works and land development. After exchange of pleasantries, we discuss on how to use this place as a plantation and animal pastures, he suggest that the flat lands near under the entrance would be the plantation of crops because of water source. Well I couldn`t agree more about it but I told him that preserve the forest as much as possible.


    After some more issues that we have discuss then he left as I continue my work until night falls. The ceiling above us is really majestic even though the lights are stones that are usually seen in mines and caves. I still don`t understand how things work inside this place, I mean how can there be light inside a close cave that is deep in the underground and the only source of light is the small stones from the ceiling.


    Things are really complicated if you don`t know how they work but it didn`t really matter now because i`m still working on Cerous new body.


    *


    I took another day to finished Cerous but the result is what more important than time. The first day is all about making the body case and the head parts, which is really hard because I change the hood into two parts, one is a folding drill like mine but only bigger then a protective crest. The face is more lizard looking but short snouted so the drill would fit, then the next day I experiment on the core.


    The black card gives me many information on how to upgrade a core of machine beast but the parts are really hard to find in this place. Some weird wire and cables, rare ore that can store energy but unlike hurtalo stone it was much efficient in many ways as it can even produce its own energy by using the mana around the core that is really interesting. Some trials give me more idea on how to make it work then I remembered the light stones on the ceiling. First, it was hard to get one but I used a crossbow to knock down small piece to give it a try.


    The process is like how I made Mabby`s core but this time I will deactivate a monster core, dismantle some parts, add the melted hurtalo with the jewels and the lighting stone I got then power it up by magic. Then it shine bright as Leyla my mana charger, pumped it up and saw that with some addition to the recipe things could really improve. I continue my work from there until this afternoon.


    In some occasions, Dizm-san visits me to ask for advice on the plotted lands that has been reclaimed. The naturalization of the forest is on its way as I saw some elves or druids perhaps doing some magic on forest and fields like the reclaimed one but the process is still slow so the place that has been naturalize is the one being use and the surrounding area.


    Animals are not really a problem but some are not used in this place especially the domesticated ones that is used in farmland beside the town wall. Some go on rampage while other are acting weakly and even if they start planting some seeds and youngling the animals didn`t become calm and useful. I have to rely this to Arth-dono as a weird idea comes to my head.


    As for me, my body engineering, tinkering and scavenger are now beginner 1 and my system indicates that I`m able to advance my Collector to Mechanic which really impressive coz it has options on improving or aiding the existing traits and abilities that concern on body parts crafting and even weapon making. Then another thing pop up as I continue reading the black card as many of its files or areas are still lock like when I unlocked the Mechanic so thus the field open in the black card.


    Many options are there and I even gain two traits, first is body modelling, well as name suggest it helps me model the body inside my head and have visuals on it like a 3d hologram in my eyes. I can even work there for some minor trials like the new legs of Cerous when he uses quick shift, which is helpful. Next is Mechanics intuition, even though it looks like a trash trait because it¡¯s just an assistance in making body parts but maybe it can be helpful to other players that have little knowledge about this so I didn`t remove it.


    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    I`m getting derailed on my thoughts again, this afternoon I power up Cerous again but this time he gain his own mana energy that is around 800 which amaze me because I just installed additional parts that can conduct mana like silver cables from the spiders in the mineshaft. Now that I got a new job and additional skills, I might be able to revive the clockwork.


    As for Cerous new body, it was like a monitor lizard but have bigger back and abdomen then stouter legs that has pressure piston and shock absorbers, dual crest on his neck that is foldable and retractable because of the folding segments, a counter weight tail that also acts as a ballista where it could fold up to the back. In addition, I include some cooling pipes and vents for the forge and keep other places of from overheating specially the trunk that is at the base of the tail. It has two doors, first is when the tail moves up and the other one is a hatch on top of it.


    The back or the hump of Cerous is for sleeping purpose so it was bigger and have a lot of space but I didn`t really move when I sleep because I just turn off the system to make my body unmoving then surf around my memory or just log out and be inside my VH. The core is an upgraded one and more powerful perhaps. Well as I test the power output of the core I made earlier than the queen`s core that Cerous uses, it give more power that is required to move his entire body and even efficiently conserve when not moving.


    I`d like to repair this clockwork but I will postpone it still tomorrow so I could help the people here that is having hard time doing manual plotting of land. Well they could do that but large scale is different from backyard farming. I still have around 5 machine cores that isn`t powered with mana so maybe I could use them for the monster parts that I still have as Leyla mentioned days ago.


    Leyla is now assisting them and shooing other people coming here. Most of them are player who is just curious about what is beyond here and why is a guide forbidding them. She is getting more possessive when I looked at it but it really helps me when working on Cerous new body.


    I called Leyla as I mount Cerous on his neck; we are going back to the town to inform Arth-dono about my plan on using clockwork beast as domestic animals. Resurface using the rope is not a problem even though Cerous got bigger. Well travelling back to town gain us many attentions especially now that Cerous has a new body. Some merchants and people that I passed greeted me as they are the people I usually see around merchant`s district.


    *


    ¡±Is that so, but can your monster stay tamed even if you leave them?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m sure of it¡±


    ¡°Well why not. I haven`t seen a clockwork give life to a monster that roams around by itself let along be tamed.¡±


    ¡°Not really, Cerous and Mabby are two example of them.¡±


    ¡°They are connected to you somehow so it was different from the one you¡¯re suggesting with.¡±


    ¡°Don`t worry about it, I won`t fail on this.¡±


    ¡°Then the payment will be after all the work and before you leave¡±


    I nodded and shake hands with Arth-dono after we agreed that I will make clockwork monster but they will preserve a part of forest to be metalize. In many ways the metal forest can be harvested they just need to take care of it by not over harvesting from it besides there are other place that they can harvest the same product.


    After I left the guild, I move to Jaldava-dono to give her the recipe for the natural fuel that I made weeks ago. She was surprise to see it at first but she said that she`s trying to make it before but fail to make one because of the ingredients. Well the ingredients are mostly herbs and plants that only grow near or inside the dungeon like the tree sap of a metalize tree even though it was hard to scrape. Therefore, I told her that most items are on the fifth floor forest where she could get them.


    Most kids that I left in care of Jaldava-dono are able alchemist now but still staying with her to learn more especially magic. Some kids are trained to be adventure or explorer also but they were guided by an old man that`s also a former explorer. She said that the old man volunteer to teach the kids because he saw potentials in them to be explorers and adventures.


    It was a good new for me so I could finally calm myself from worrying about them.


    *


    ¡°Done, now I only need to turn on this beast and we are ready to test them on fields¡±


    ¡°You`re really into helping others with training yourself.¡±


    ¡°Don`t know, I just enjoy my work also my baggage will be less now¡±


    ¡°Your right but still you got some mana powered cores, eggs and that special clockwork that is still sleeping.¡±


    ¡°Don`t worry about the clockwork Leyla i`m on it now but after I give this to Dizm-san to test and be operational.¡±


    Week after my talk with Arth-dono, I have done this set of mechanical beast that is like carabaos but they are still like their origin animal. They will do farm works like plow pulling, carrying of goods or pulling carts and carriage. I tested it on the lands that are plowed manually by the workers, at first, the farmers are scared to use them, but I program them to comply when they are working on fields or carrying goods at their back also, I include that they will not go on a rampage when they mounted by people especially the children. After familiarization, teaching them how to take care of them, what to give them if they got hungry or power down.


    Well they don`t really get hungry but they overheat, drain fuel and water when used but it was easy to understand when you can see their status on their head and eyes. I installed a diamond shape scanner device on their forehead and will act as indicator for problems like green for operational, blue for water, violet for fuel and red if they are overheating or unable to work. Like animals, they need to rest or the system and gears might fail. I also teach them how to repair them as they are like mechanical beast that they usually saw.


    *


    After settling some issues about some people wants to have their own mech-carabaos, about what place in the sanctuary will stay as metalize forest and other matters concerning the development of the sanctuary, I can finally able to work in peace.


    I`m at the metalize forest where I buried the guardian, well the metal forest is separated by a long man made clearing with grass and stones indicating that your entering the metal forest. They did a good job because the forest is still wide and has its own water stream that is undrinkable but good for mechanical beast and also for me.


    My second day of repairing or remodelling the new body of the clockwork. At first i`m still thinking if I will make it neutral but as I scanned the system it has, it was a female clockwork that do household work but dump after several years. It was sad to see how people treat clockwork that is artificially made by incompetent dwarves. I don`t hate them but still memories are memories that won¡¯t be erased easily.


    I decide to copy her height of 164cm and maybe a slender one, the initial body didn`t really distinguish it to the others so i`m remodelling it. For the head, it would be human like but unlike my head, that has visor face with glowing lights as the eyes. I¡¯ll make her head bit like human but the eyes will be one long bar, sensors will be the ears then I¡¯ll add hair but it would be string wires from spiders just to make her look like a female clockwork.


    The body would be light and sturdy as possible because I will make her as a speed type fighter or long-range assaulter. I`ll still make her chest area bigger but not looking like two circular mould on her chest, that would look awkward. Maybe her chest armour will act as a shirt so it would be fine. I won`t make most of her parts as heavy as mine that have double plating but not too inferior to mine.


    The anatomy is just simple if you got reference and have working 3d holograms that assist you. For the programming of her system, I relay on the black card that I had but it was just basics like movement, reaction, fighting and repairing. Personality development and other things that make her different will be process after she wakes up.


    The third day is all about the technical aspects of the head, core recreation, and programming that stressed me.


    The hardest part is the core, installation of memories and other circuits inside the head. It was a delicate work to do because one wrong connection may result to malfunction. The machine core is also hard to build because I have only one try to do it. Other cores are not compatible on a humanoid clockwork unlike Cerous and the carabaos that they only need the right amount of energy output but this one needs a certain connector or system network inside the core to be compatible.


    Dismantling some parts of the dimmed lit core is really stressing but as I proceed with my entire traits and abilities, working on things is going smoothly. I didn`t really need to use a lot of pseudo-core mixture but I still use small part to make connections and covering but I add high affinity crushed jewel, the lighting stone and a melted pure silver from dozens of silver coins and silver strings. Making pure silver is hard because I always have to look at the temperature while melting because it might be burned while removing the impurities or other metal that is mixed in.


    After creating the core and installing the circuits, I ask Leyla to enchant the core to gain mana energy that really happened. Now that I think about it, my mana energy is different from them. Leyla enchant my whole body while others got by the core only, which is intriguing. My skeletal is the one that has been enchanted and I don`t know why but as long as it can help me I won¡¯t fuss about it.


    After series of working day and night, I finally able to put everything together and the awaited moment for the revival. I`m so excited to give life to my new creation that increase my understanding with clockworks and how could they improve themselves. As I installed the OS program that includes most of my programs except for the specific ones that needed mentors or certain memory data like blacksmithing and acrobatics, I powered her system up as she is connected to me.


    ¡°Good Afternoon¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    That was expected. At least she`s able to move her body and help herself to sit up and look at me.


    ¡°Do you think you connected some wrong wires on her head?¡±


    ¡°Of course not, I run series of test and check it several times so I won`t make a mistake about it, maybe she`s still scanning herself and surrounding like my first day here.¡±


    Maybe.


    ¡°Good Afternoon, are you the one that gave me new life and have a system connection with me.¡±


    Finally, she can communicate normally and even her voice is a feminine one unlike mine that sounds like husky.


    ¡°Yes that would be me, you might know by now as I can tell that you have already scanned us but let me say it formally, i`m Raiser Qant and my fairy guide¡ª¡°


    ¡°Hi i`m Leyla he`s fairy guide and nice to meet you, did you feel anything weird or did you have any question I could help you.¡±


    Don`t pressure her Leyla, she just woke up right now and still confuse on what is happening.


    ¡°Hello Milady, but i`m still confuse about what is happening. My last memory log is my arrival here for disposal because i`m already incompetent and inferior after several years of working.¡±


    ¡°¡­Milady¡±


    Okay so Leyla had her mind blown from her politeness but the last statement though.


    ¡°Tell me a brief story on how did you end up being here.¡±


    ¡°Yes, i`m created to be a servant of a rich high noble at the kingdom---¡°


    To shorten her story, she`s a clockwork made by dwarves for a rich noble to be a maid that is used for almost 5 years but the noble buy another one after he got sick of seeing her because she starts to show signs of disintegration from years of use and neglecting the repair. It was weird to know that a clockwork can`t repair his or her body but maybe it wasn`t included when she is created.


    ¡°Then your inactive for decades after that you eaten by the dungeon that has been use for defence but the dungeon got subjugated now you¡¯re here.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for giving me new life Master. I`ll work limitlessly just please don`t replace me, I¡¯ll will work and learn everything that is needed for my servitude.¡±


    Eh? Master¡­ me? Whoa whoa just hold that line.


    ¡°Let me get this straight, you`re thinking of me as your master because I gave you a new life and now you¡¯re saying that your willing to be my servant.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master¡±


    ¡°Eh? Master? What did you do to her program Raiser?¡±


    ¡°Hey don`t accuse me with that Leyla, I didn`t tamper her memories and data you know. Ask her.¡±


    Wait she doesn`t have a name.


    ¡°Why would you call him Master?¡±


    ¡°Because he gave me a new life after years of being obsolete and useless. Milady.¡±


    ¡°Then why are you calling me Milady?¡±


    Come on Leyla stop questioning her with simple things like that, I didn`t mind being called master but it was new to me personally to be called master or have a title or high position than the norm.


    ¡°Because your Master`s companion and assistant.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I get you but did you have a name. It was hard to call you as clockwork and the female clockwork.¡±


    ¡°I don`t have a name Milady, I didn`t need one because i`m just a servant.¡±


    ¡°Don`t just stand there Raiser do something about it¡±


    And here I thought you will do all the work. I`m not good at giving names though.


    ¡°Why not let her decides, that would be her name so let her find her preferred name.¡±


    ¡°¡­.¡±


    ------


    A/N


    Last chapter... sorry if i edit it just now, somethings wrong with the font and pc.


    anyways i intended to end the volume 1 like this... coz until now i dont have a name..


    well for those who are still reading this series thank you very much coz you are supporting this series somehow.


    i`m really grateful.


    side story will be posted for the whole week and i give you triple update but side stories are short and it was POV of other char.


    Please keep on supporting me and the series


    till next volume.

 Side story 1

    Side story 1


    Bejeweled


    Leyla`s POV


    It was the swarm season again. I know that it will happened it year but I got nervous as the elders warned us guides about entering dungeons in this season as there are records that dungeons will be powerful enough to block our teleportation magic. Some cases say that if one fairy, pixie, or other mystic race got trap inside a dungeon he or she will never be seen again.


    Most of us are scared to accompany our partners but we are required to do so because this will be the final year that we will do one on one guiding because in the following years after the first arrival dozens of descendants will come and we might not able to accommodate all of them. Even though i`m a failure unlike others, I was still grateful that I got pick for this course. Only the high scorers only get this course or the talented ones that are handpicked by the teachers.


    I`m not any of those people. I`m just a simple fairy that is far away from her family and only have small circle of friends. Mostly, I do some pranks and tricks to other people but not hurting them, no I don¡¯t do that kind of prank. Even my friends do it with the other guides and it was fun but the elders don`t like it.


    However, i`m thankful that I was picked by them even though it should be a punishment for me. Guides will be the partners of different races but I was assign to lost race of clockwork a month ago. However, it was like a blessing also coz I meet a nice person even though he is too cold to me and he is also really not talking except for some occasion.


    At first, I thought he would hard to get along but my assumptions were wrong. He was easy to get along after you understand him somehow but there are still things that he didn`t say to me but I won¡¯t bug him about those.


    Every week, we are required to report about our experience and our observation. Most guide complain about being abused to overworked or being neglected and treated as an object which is really angering, we are not just someone who can be bossed around and be used and thrown away if not useful.


    At least other guides have a companion with them but mine will not be left out, coz i`m his guide.


    *


    We are now on a subjugation quest on the treasure mines. It was just a simple hunting mission that he usually get for the past few weeks now. Well, his quest usually not really dangerous but some mishaps happens like that drill worm from the our first quest, then a colossal bears that chased us from our trip on the mountain and even though it was dangerous, he always pull all his crazy stunts and return with minimum damaged which he can repair.


    This treasure mine gives me the creeps that something is really scary. Then we saw beetles, spiders and other insects that is as big as wolves but I hate bugs and creepy insects especially now that they are so much bigger than usual. I cling on Raiser`s neck or head, his neck is almost unseen because of how short it is and covered with metal collar.


    As we goes down the second floor where we will do the subjugation quest, I can here monsters eating something that is hard and cranky, my bet it was ores and rock that is inside this dungeon. Then as I saw the monsters around us, I feel like all my blood has been sucked out of my body.


    Then I saw the one that I hate the most, cockroaches. I hug Raiser and start crying begging him to go up stair but he pulled his hammer and asked me to assist him, how could I do that I hate bugs!


    However, I can`t persuade him and just agreed to him then my horror experience starts there.


    As Raiser starts to fight the insects, I got even more nervous and stay at his back so I can see what happened to those monsters but there are even insects behind us.


    No! Go away you creepy insects! Wuaaahhh I hate you Raiser!!!


    I hate to fight for my life while Raiser is like enjoying this place.


    Kyaahh!!! T-the cockroaches start flying¡­ Let me get out of here!!!


    This forsaken place should be subjugated!


    After series of fight and crying, we final able to eliminate all insects that keeps fighting us. Go back to where you came from you¡ªkyaaahhh!! Raiser they are still some insects! Kill them!


    I want to get out here now but Raiser still ignores me as he start to dismantle the insects. Gross¡­ I feel like throwing up.


    The sounds of flesh and skeletons being crack open is very uncomfortable to hear.


    I keep shouting to him that we should get out of here or the insects might come back but he is still ignoring me as he starts walking around and looking for something. This was stressing, I take back what I said to him that he was nice. He is the worst person I ever meet except the elders.


    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    ¡°Errmm¡­ Raiser, I know you¡¯re busy and all but can we get out of here right now please~.¡±


    I got tired of ranting at him coz he is so absorbed in his work that he even start digging a hole out of nowhere. I too tired and scared now I want to eat and take a rest.


    ¡°I just hit a magic jewel Leyla so if you could excused me.¡±


    Ma-magic jewels¡­ Magic jewels!!!


    At first I didn`t believe but I saw some small pieces in the hole he is digging, he might hit a treasure there. Therefore, I have to behave now or he might not share some to me. If I had magic jewels I will be popular because of the rarity of them and I can even have powerful magic wand and other magic tools that I could use inside the house or for adventure. I can`t wait.


    Going back to the town is hard because monsters starts attacking us out of nowhere. You won¡¯t get my precious jewels you creepy insects.


    As we arrive at the guild and sell some items or insect parts, which is really disgusting, Raiser wants to meet the guild master, which he really came down with his junior team. I like the human he looked gorgeous. I don`t like Luin, the demon, and troll even though the demon look noble and manly but I can sense a bad vibes about him. A female Harusa and she got bigger weapons than I have.


    Master Arth invite us upstairs to discuss about the jewels. WHY YOU LEWD HARE! You dare winked and tease Raiser just because you have those.


    ¡°Leyla, why are you acting like that? She just wink at me but no harm done besides I don`t earn feeling so you don`t need to worry¡±


    ¡°w-what are you saying!? I don`t care about you let alone like you and I don`t care I you have feelings or not, Hmp.¡±


    H-how dare he got some guts to ask a lady about that kind of things without any concern. This stupid can can`t read the atmosphere around him.


    *


    As this two guys discuss about the jewels and their uses, I keep silent and behave properly so he would noticed that i`m behaving like a lady. Then he should give me some of those jewels for me being lady like but that Harusa is in the way and she is even staring at the jewels and Raiser. Why you¡­


    However, after the business talk of the two that I don`t have any interest in, Raiser looked down to me so I compose myself and behave properly as I looked at him. Please I need to have jewels. I know you won`t say no to me right Raiser.


    ¡°Leyla pick some jewels that you like¡±


    Alright, you should have said it earlier. I pick some jewels that look pretty and shiny but I can only pick the small size coz the next one is almost as big as I am besides they can`t fit inside my home if I take them back.


    As I place the jewels I liked Raiser starts to scan them and talked again to Master Arth. Then he started to exchange some of the jewels that I like to others that is less shiny but he whisper that it was the best class so I don`t protest. He is now nice again for me.


    Raiser and Master Arth do their transaction and we left the guild as Raiser pack the jewels that he decided to keep including mine. After our several shopping and as he deposit his money to the treasurer. We are back at the inn as he said that he will do some experiment.


    ¡°Leyla what ever happened to me never panic ok, i`m other worlders so don¡¯t you worry about me.¡±


    w-what? Why would I panic? It was just a small jewel but still, I know when he is serious when is not. I feel unease but I know he think before he said it to me.


    ¡°Okay but what will you do with that jewel.¡±


    ¡°Well I¡¯ll try to integrate it with my core to see if something might happened but most likely I will experience pain or feel uncomfortable so take this jewels and go back to your kingdom okay.¡±


    What?!  Are you insane? Is that true? Hey don`t pat my head.


    ¡°I`m not that worried or anything besides you can repair yourself so do whatever you want. I will enjoy myself with these jewels.¡±


    However, I still feel uncomfortable on what he said earlier. I`ll just hug you before you do something stupid again. Then I grab my small pouch full of jewels then teleport back to Yggdrasil. I hope he will be safe on what ever he will do.


    ------


    A/N


    it was kinda hard doing female pov


    specially a tsundere but i enjoyed it.


    it`s not like i do this for all of you to read and enjoy you know. i just do it


    XD i love being tsun tsun sometimes.


    please dont tease.

 Side story 2

    Side story 2


    Understanding


    Chloe`s POV


    Another day ends. *sigh* It was almost two months in game but until now I`m still reluctant to have other players to be my teammate. Others are just arrogant and bossy which really turn me off, then there are teams that will only take you if you¡¯re in the same country as them that I understand. Other teams are formed being neighbors even though I tried to approach them, they quickly judge me as weird girl when I told them I`m an Anime enthusiast.


    I always think that why am I not accepted by others for who am I. I know that this generation had accepted this kind of hobby but there are still people who`s still judging us like we are different but everybody is just like me who likes playing game and role playing different characters in game so why.


    Maybe because of my preference of gothic and horror might also scare some people but I carry on. I don`t get discourage easily just because of this things. I have to move from my parent`s house to this city because I passed and enrolled at Luminous College which I really worked hard.


    I`m also thankful that I was picked from millions of people that send their essay and mails. I`m not a social nor anti-social but I enjoy a small parties and events that are not too crowded. But being inside VR is really different because I can just be me being gothic and everything and it also open path that I could make friends here and overseas.


    Now that i`m staying at Neos by being their Beta tester is really something that could help me to have more friends. As of now, I have acquaintance from different floors and guilds that are starting up. But i`m still with the NPC team that I help when i`m still on Sedart, even if they are weaker than me they are much better than others that treat me as pawns just because i`m a mage.


    I decided to help them until they reach Vulcan and begin to train until their coming of age test, which is this season. They have their own stories that inspired me to work harder here and in RL.


    The interesting player that I had met except the lost race team from Sedart is Raiser the clockwork. He`s silent and cold somehow but I guess he`s just not very social. But there are times that I see him working and helping NPC or what others called Natives. He even has a talkative fairy named Leyla and from my experience with other players, Leyla is an exception from the normal guide that this game offers.


    She really cared about Raiser but always denied it when he`s around but she showed it when Raiser stay behind to let us escaped from our first mission together. Unlike Byume who¡¯s my guide, Leyla is very expressive when she wants something or she has opinions on things unlike Byume who keeps his silent but tactful and smart.


    After my first quest with Raiser that didn`t end up well, I feel down and discourage but Byume and the others help me up and get going. For weeks, we challenge different dungeons and forest missions that we can manage without Raiser`s help. He was good at making tactics and has good sense of leadership. But my teams can be stronger and coordinated so we trained harder, sometimes Raiser tag along with us but it wasn`t a very dangerous mission aside when we challenge the Ant hole.


    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.At first, I was scared because of the last mission here but now that we are stronger, I know that we can finish this quest to subjugate the queen ant. The mini boss is weaker but we are still careful not get it in our heads, even Raiser is still on alert while we goes deeper. We have some fights along the way but we manage it and continue but the Queen Ant is the real deal of this quest. Maybe that`s why only few teams only take this missions because of the risk and fine if you fail.


    The battle against the Queen is hard and risky but Zeldy and the others are determine to defeat it because they can be proud of it that they succeeded on their third step on coming of age and that is able to defeat or at least participate on subjugating boss class monster or dungeon floor master. The final one is go to dukedom to be recognized by the Guild headmaster and their respective class mentor.


    After we subjugated the queen ant we celebrate it but Raiser turn it down for some reason but Leyla back it up that he needs to do other things and don`t want to bother us. At least he add me before he leaves but when he came back that was just epic, he brought back a giant monster that is like a cross breed of rhino and a dinosaur.


    For us, we have to wait a little bit more before we move to the Dukedom because of the dungeon pop out inside the scrapyard. We take some quest for dungeon clear as the exploration team subjugate the floor masters. At first try, it was so hard and the monsters are too many even the drone ant that moves here is much stronger and bigger. Monster down here have tattoos or markings in their bodies that release mana trend that is connected to the dungeon according to other master magicians that we met in the guild.


    The tattoos are the representation of each dungeon so if monsters are marked then they are corrupted and stronger. After a week, the dungeon is subjugated and what`s more I received an announcement that Raiser gain a one-time only time. I know Raiser even if it was short and he would never flaunt something that could risk his life and not survive, maybe he`s not so careful after all. I also gain unique skill that is developing under certain circumstances but I denied to be announcing it globally.


    We tag along with the silver team and the rising teams that participate in the subjugation that are called pioneers by others. I was hoping to see Raiser again but from what I heard he is disable and heavily damage but I didn`t see him maybe he is hiding for some reason but I messaged him to get well and be okay.


    As we arrived at Feliusa village, things are become more convenient as many merchant that are here and trading their goods for a lower price and better conditions. Only a few days before we arrive at the Dukedom but I can`t wait to be there. I hope Raiser can catch up with us.


    ------


    A/N


    just to spoil a little.


    Chloe may interact with the MC on both RL and IG but not too soon because our clockwork will go into an adventure.


    Volume 2 will be covering that adventure and i don`t know how long it will take but it will be for V2.


    anyways i`ll post other POV maybe around 3 more. don`t know maybe along with my mode and story flow that will put insight and other things that may affect or not.

 Side story 3

    Side story 3


    Evaluation


    Arth`s POV


    ¡°Are you about this Marduk? You know that kid got some sensing ability and can detect us even if we hide our intentions.¡±


    He was insane about this idea. However, even if I intervene, he will just find another way to do it. Might as well see what this kid can offer.


    ¡°I`m sure about this Arth, besides we need to know if he might cause another war. I have doubts about him being passive to people, he even made a monster that could rival a new born floor master or an elite monster in dungeons.¡±


    ¡°I get your sentiment about him being able to give life but there are records that clockworks and constructs are able to make that kind of species. Even if it was used for war, just look around us, we are more advance than that time before they arrived. I was thankful somehow, that`s because of them many counties and tribes resolved their issues to unite in order to stop the conquerors.¡±


    ¡°I get what you are saying Arth but I want to see it with my own eyes.¡±


    *sigh* He`s really a hardheaded person and very straight forward sometimes.


    Then I sense the kid is coming back but the muggers are now on the move and attacking the kids. Even if they are slum`s kids, I need to protect them from harm because I`m also one of them.


    Even if head master gave me a good position for my cause still, it was really hard because some nobles asshole are keeping my work slow like funding an orphanage or a school for kids to learn and become productive adults.


    Somehow, I can help these kids as I have deals with the traders and crafters that they will teach or at least give work for kids at a fix income. Even though the salary is small due being not a trade route for main merchants, shop owners are just giving them coins to make them able to live day by day.


    ¡°He`s here¡±


    I looked down the window and saw Raiser in a donkey pulled cart but what made me really interested about him is that in one moment he stops then next thing the muggers know is that they get their ass kicked. That wolf head that has steel rope is really impressive for capturing.


    His guide also works fast as she tied them up with nature ball but it was more powerful than the normal ones that fairies use. Then he stop and looked at us then something passed right through the wall and just a very small gap from Marduk`s face. Then I saw a rock falls down my ceiling and it turned to crushed rock. It shouldn`t be able to pass the barrier that is built to repel a normal boss class monster.


    I can see clearly that this Clockwork was no push over or just special for being alone. I was also able to see Marduk`s face to be cramped for the longest time. He is a person who wouldn`t should his expression to people even if it was the king`s order. But this, this is the few moments that I saw Marduk`s face get cramped.


    ¡°That`s what you get¡±


    ¡°Did you said something?¡±


    Hmp. This dragonoid got his pride for being one of the best Dungeoner be stained by a piece of rock, let alone passing his face with a small margin. If that stone hit his face, I can`t reassure Raiser`s safety but I won`t let my rising star be mutilated by him.


    ¡°Nothing, guess shows over. Better check the muggers later this evening¡±


    ¡°Might as well, but keep watching your clockwork before you send him off to dukedom.¡±


    ¡°Don`t worry about it.¡±


    You really impressed me clockwork. Better, include him in my exploration team even if he will just be a guide or pathfinder. Nevertheless, I know he will exceed my expectation as always.


    *


    After the exploration`s great defeat with monster train that endanger even my junior team, I hold the subjugation quest for the fourth floor master and let them rest and compose themselves again. I didn`t expect them to be beaten up badly like this. Maybe I`m pressuring Gerhard and the others to finish this quest as soon as possible. But as always, Raiser was able to think something in crucial situation. That metal cart is really something that pumped my blood to run wild and think of things that this cart could do. Maybe I should consult head master about this.


    *


    After a week of suspension of the quest, they will rechallenge it again but this time an increase of descendant team. I was expecting them to finish it this time as the allotted time was long and they could improve their fighting coordination and team fights more polished.


    Raiser still tag along with his monster or what he called Cerous, the moving furnace and forgery. I will asked him again if he could make me one like that.


    While waiting for them, I talked to Kreisia about things like her rising teams that are quite a talk inside the guild. She said that they were strong but sticks within the village. Some are here right now but she gave me the work of giving them recommendation for the dukedom. She`ll still lazy or laid back as ever.


    However, what made that lazy elf to be attentive was the clockwork. She is like a slum kid being fed with good food after a long day of work. I know that I can`t hold her from coming here but at least she should tell me when will she comes here so I could be prepared for troubles that she will bring.


    ¡°Really?! He did that monster out of corpses of the Queen ant. That was amazing. I`m really eager to see him personally and talked to him about many things. Maybe I could asked if he could make a small monster for me.¡±


    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.¡°That`s not going to happened.¡±


    ¡°You`re so mean Arth. Why not? He`s not even talking to you either right.¡±


    ¡°Actually we talked a lot of things but mostly about business. But your request of making one monster is not going to happened.¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°Because he denied me also. And I still attempt to ask him different request to craft things for me but everything was turned down quickly even before I could finished my request.¡±


    I couldn`t even count on how many times I asked him for different items to be crafted but he keeps denying me. Kreisia was even laughing at my failures. Hmp, I will laugh at your face when he turned you down when you met him.


    ¡°That was hilarious Arth but, he won`t deny a request of this beautiful elf.¡±


    ¡°Oh, he will and I`ll bet on it.¡±


    ¡°Ohw, so you¡¯re gambling about it. Fine I¡¯ll take that challenge.¡±


    Great she misunderstood me again but gambling with high chance of winning is really good. Better, take this chance to humiliate her or have a favor. That`s right.


    ¡°Game. If I win, you will listen to one favor I will asked you.¡±


    ¡°But you know that if your favor will humiliate or offend me in any form, you better run.¡±


    ¡°Don`t worry, I won`t do that kind of things.¡±


    So no embarrassing event. What a turn down.


    ¡°Then, if I win and I know I will, he will be transferred here for a month.¡±


    ¡°Fine, I`m good with that.¡±


    Sorry kid, I have to close a deal using you.


    *


    After a day, Gerhard and the exploration team return with the prize loot of the fourth floor master. What really drop my jaw is that they subjugated the dungeon. At first, I was not believing them because they don`t have the dungeon core but Gerhard explained to me that they needed to destroy it or they will die down there. Then what comes next is really unexpected, I saw Raiser on top of Cerous lying down and beaten up badly that I could see his inner parts from large gaps. They explained to me what happened inside from the floor master to where Raiser brawled with the Dungeon Guardian and able to win.


    He never failed to amuse me. I send them off so everybody could rest, I will give the recommendation letter a few days later, but they need to rest first. It was rare for a dungeon to be empty when they defeated the dungeon, but maybe the reward is the place also the dungeon is still young.


    After days of rest, I conducted promotions and give recommendation letters for the subjugation team main force. I also asked them to go with the silver team that is going to the dukedom, which almost all of them agreed. Then I saw Raiser came in just a day after so I gave him a letter but asked him to evaluate the fifth floor, what they call the sanctuary. I think that the withered dungeon can be used for merchants and crafters place especially that there is a large place to stay but I trimmed it down so the value of the people flocking it won`t make the ceiling collapse.


    *


    ¡°I got a request for you Kreisia.¡±


    ¡°What it is¡±


    ¡°I need you to convert part of the fifth floor to be edible for consumption but keep a part of the forest to be metalize as Raiser`s suggestion.¡±


    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll do your favor but I will win next time.¡±


    I just nodded as she got out of my office. Raiser was dependable person. I just asked or requested him to estimate the whole place but I got a land development plan with things that will be need and need to change. I`m still wondering on Kreisia being here all of the sudden. Maybe she promised another thing for Ahya, mentor like master. I hope Raiser was safe now, being chased down by Kreisia is not a laughing matter especially when she so interested about it.


    Day by day, workers and common people are flocking the dungeon but it wasn`t dangerous now because the monsters are not able to come out again. But there are still some monsters to be killed to make the place livable to everyone, I`m planning on sending the slum people there to work and even have them their own place to stay.


    On one occasion, Raiser said that he could make a tamed clockwork monster that could be used for agriculture and be domesticated. I really like the idea of him so I agreed to it quickly but he needs to let others be the owners before he leaves this town for his adventure.


    Dizm, who was my appointed person to develop the sanctuary, is giving me tons of good news from the promised monsters to good vegetation. More and more people are starting to ask for work inside the dungeon even if it was just baggage carrier, which made me think that people here could live a hard but normal life. Merchants and Crafters here and far are making some request of space inside the dungeon. My problem might be solved by this, I could raise more funds for charity works, the await orphanage and the school might be seen in the future.


    I`m thankful that the gods have chosen my town to host this clockwork. He is really a blessing for me and to everyone that needed help. Maybe this time clockwork might help us to be a better kingdom for everyone.


    ______


    A/N


    Okay another SS.


    for the editing thing. i`ve found an editor but he`s a creepy pasta. But he`s good at it.   i think/


    anyway. He said that we might not able to release it on sunday. so i`m asking for more patience but i`ll post the last SS on sunday.


    To everyone stay safe and continue reading this series.


    :D

 Side story 4

    Side story 4


    Dukedom


    Duke Kalius POV


    It was the first time that I met this many team especially the teams of descendants. I can see that they lacked of ethics and manners when speaking or taking audience with me. I didn`t need to fuss more about this matter but I have to inform some officials to teach guild teams about ethical manner when seeing nobles.


    The junior team of Arth is still good as the last time I saw them. The achievement might helped them become gold plated members but they`re still too young for that in a way.


    The descendant will be staying here before they go to different kingdoms and territories so I can have plenty of time to evaluate them and know their purpose and mission. Arth said that they are the best from the rest so these teams might become a big impact when this year ends and the second coming arrive.


    *


    Days later after their arrival, they are still going around doing monster extermination and dungeon diving but the matter that made me anxious is that most of the teams are only focus on subjugation and has less time within the Dukedom. I can`t force them to stay at one place still I need more information about them.


    The guards and guild workers that my subordinate have talked to said that they are just focus on monster killing and training which is understandable if we are at war but it was time of peace. Maybe they are planning to make their own kingdom or empire as the Head Priestess said from our emergency meeting.


    Five kingdoms currently occupy the whole continent but still some places that are untouched due to monster infestation and powerful dungeons.


    I have to prepare everything even sending a messenger to the kingdom just to inform the capital about the early arrival of the descendant. I know the king is expecting them but they might travel faster than expected.


    Now that I think about it, the clockwork haven`t reach the Dukedom if he is one of the conqueror of the dungeon. Maybe, Arth is still holding him back for some reason. The Head Priestess is still on the temple up north but she might go here as soon as she hears the news. I should prepare the most trusted and strong team of knight to guard her.


    *


    Head Master Mouvin POV


    ¡°Welcome to everyone to the Estonia Guild Branch, and I`m Head Master Mouvin of the Tea Guild of this Kingdom. To the people who knows me please ease yourself, I`m just visiting here. And for those descendant team, I`m the one that hold the highest position of the guild here in Aurum Kingdom.¡±


    The descendant looks promising but most of them have their mana leaking all over the place. *sigh* I thought the three of them supervise them carefully. I should convey this matter to Duke Kalius so when the time comes that they will use the warp gate, they won`t get hurt or teleported on the wrong place. Maybe I should include the other Class mentor about this but I`m sure they will notice this.


    ¡°Thank you, Head Master.¡±


    The junior teams are well trained but Luin and Gariadak still need some disciplinary lesson about their attitude. At least the descendants have some sense of authority with them.


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    ¡°To the silver teams, you achievement is recognized but you`re not still qualified for the promotion. As for the rest, you can participate with the subjugation mission of the knights or do it by your own team. We won`t force you to stay but you may learn things while being here. Other information will be told to you when the Guild Master Fabrizia comes from her exercise.¡±


    The looks from the faces of the juniors are dreary. They still remember her training regimen and disciplinary action, good for them. Fabrizia will enjoy herself teaching these kids or maybe chasing them. I can`t change her habit about this.


    ¡°Was there any question that you would like to ask?¡±


    ¡°Me¡±


    Very confident. Some are still nervous and reluctant to ask their queries.


    ¡°Yes, young elf what is your question?¡±


    ¡°I`m Sagitta Foris, Leader of Watchers. I would like to ask if we could travel to other kingdoms.¡±


    ¡°First, I`ll inform you that using last name is not forbidden but if you`re meeting nobles and knight don`t state it only if you have attain knighthood, peerage, or become gold plated members of the guild. It was not an offense to say your last name but it was a form of disrespect if you`re meeting nobles without any of those.


    As for your question young elf, you could travel but the lands beyond dukedom is not very dangerous except from certain places but you can also use the Warp Gate near the Inner wall before you enter the High street of nobles. There are circumstances for you before you can enter. However, once you enter that gate, no coming back. It was built for arrival of people like you so choose wisely, where you will start your journey. Also you need to learn how to control your mana so it won`t affect the gate, better asked some magician here to learn more about this matter.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Head Master.¡±


    ¡°Is there any more questions? None, then I¡¯ll take my leave. Before, I forgot Gerhard and the rest of you could stay here for a while according to Arth. So take your time while you`re here.¡±


    I walked out of the building leaving the new teams discuss on their next step. It was livelier than the last few years where only few people are taking this job. Guess the new era is coming. As I sat inside the carriage waiting for me, and looked back to the guild. My only prayer for the gods is that to guide these young children to good and don`t let them be succumb with their desires.


    ¡°To the Castle, I`m meeting the Duke there before we leave.¡±


    ------


    A/N


    i know it is very short but it was just a glimpse of things that may or may no affect the whole story.


    you may skip SS f your not really satisfied.


    here is the promised "sketch"


    (http://royalroadl.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=55590</a>)


    i`m still trying to edit things out as my editor is still MIA. can`t contact from all sort of platform so.. things will be delayed abit... but not the opening chapter of volume 2 so stay tune

 Side story 5

    Side story 5


    Awakening


    *


    ¡°Do you want to live again?¡±


    ¡°Who are you?¡±


    ¡°We are the consciences of your mind. Do you want to live again and fight?¡±


    ¡°I`m a servant clockwork, I don`t know how to fight. I`m not created for combat purpose and that oppose my duty to serve.¡±


    ¡°You are free now. You can live again.¡±


    ¡°Free?¡±


    ¡°Yes, you are free now, no one can control you. I`m asking you gain do you want to live and become powerful.¡±


    ¡°¡­To live again. I agree.¡±


    *


    As I woke up from my slumber again, I can see other clockwork but as I scan them, they are weaker and different. I know that I have been deactivated long time ago but I remember that there is a voice saying I could live again.


    My mission was to patrol around the area and terminate any intruder. The Guardian is always near the Tree core that gave me life and power. I have to protect that tree at all cause if I want to live.


    Sometimes, we go up stair, kill some monster, and bring them back to the tree for clockwork creation. Days just pass by like that but all of a sudden the scorpion has defeated and we are alerted to kill everything on site.


    All of us are scattered around the area near the cliff path where it is the only way to go up. As I detected them, I recognized another clockwork and clockwork beast so we change deactivate our signals and put up sensor jammer to prevent detection.


    As the intruders start to spread out, we take our position and mark our targets. They are many but I know we can kill them all. The clockwork and its beast were near my location, I needed to take them down.


    The clockwork is bigger than expected plus it`s companions were a hybrid beast clockwork with furnace, a small vermin clockwork that have sensors, and a fairy. I sneak around him then execute a quick attacked, which quickly deflected by a shield that he pulled out.


    ¡°Why did you attacked me?¡±


    ¡°You are attacking the dungeons core. Initiate safety procedure. Exterminate threat.¡±


    ¡®Defeat it at all cause don`t let anyone escape, others are I need of support.¡¯ The tree had spoken with me again.


    ¡°Orders received. Eliminate all threat.¡±


    I rushed to the clockwork and rain down punches but all of it was either blocked or evaded. And in one instance, the clockwork is now at my back locking my arms up and pushing my head down as it started to destroy my link. I can`t let my link be destroyed or I will die again.


    First, I was able to lose the grip but it pushed me down and starts to dismantle me as my vision turn black again.


    *


    What is happening? Did something happened to my system? I`m feel some one was connected to me and pulling me up. I need to reach for it.


    ¡°Good Afternoon.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The first person I saw was a clockwork with a small fairy. I know I have seen them before but as I scanned my memories to retrieve them, the system indicate it as corrupted memories and need delete them so I did.


    ¡°Do you think you connected some wrong wires on her head?¡±


    ¡°Of course not, I run series of test and check it several times so I won`t make a mistake about it, maybe she`s still scanning herself and surrounding like my first day here.¡±


    I`m starting to be disoriented somehow which I shouldn`t think, in addition, my system were improved by numerous times than my previous body. Then I saw a system connection by the clockwork Raiser Qant ¨C Creator.


    ¡°Good Afternoon, are you the one that gave me new life and have a system connection with me.¡±


    ¡°Yes that would be me, you might know by now as I can tell that you have already scanned us but let me say it formally, I`m Raiser Qant and my fairy guide¡ª¡°


    ¡°Hi I`m Leyla he`s fairy guide and nice to meet you, did you feel anything weird or did you have any question I could help you.¡±


    Therefore, he is my new owner and creator.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡°Hello Milady, but I`m still confuse about what is happening. My last memory log is my arrival here for disposal because I`m already incompetent and inferior after several years of working.¡±


    ¡°¡­Milady¡±


    The fairy stops talking as I called her then my new master walk near in front of me.


    ¡°Tell me a brief story on how did you end up being here.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I`m created to be a servant of a rich high noble at the kingdom---¡°


    Years of working, day and night doing every order what my master said. Then one day, a newer clockwork replaced me. I was to be disposed or be a scrap metal. Even though I was a degraded clockwork, I know by myself that I develop personality and start to think. Why would they disposed me after years of loyal servitude?


    ¡°Then you¡¯re inactive for decades after that you eaten by the dungeon that has been use for defense but the dungeon got subjugated now you¡¯re here.¡±


    Maybe that was the corrupted memories I had deleted. I should be grateful now that I have a new life to begin with.


    ¡°Thank you for giving me new life Master. I`ll work limitlessly just please don`t replace me, I¡¯ll will work and learn everything that is needed for my servitude.¡±


    ¡°Let me get this straight, you`re thinking of me as your master because I gave you a new life and now you¡¯re saying that your willing to be my servant.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master¡±


    ¡°Eh? Master? What did you do to her program Raiser?¡±


    ¡°Hey don`t accuse me with that Leyla, I didn`t tamper her memories and data you know. Ask her.¡±


    Why would Milady question him of tampering of data? I was program like this from the start.


    ¡°Why would you call him Master?¡±


    ¡°Because he gave me a new life after years of being obsolete and useless. Milady.¡±


    ¡°Then why are you calling me Milady?¡±


    ¡°Because your Master`s companion and assistant.¡±


    Maybe they`re not used to be called in a courteous way. However, Master looked like a refine man even though he was a clockwork.


    ¡°Okay, I get you but did you have a name. It was hard to call you as clockwork and the female clockwork.¡±


    ¡°I don`t have a name Milady, I didn`t need one because I`m just a servant.¡±


    I don`t need a name as long I`m serving Master that gave me a new life that is better than my previous life.


    ¡°Don`t just stand there Raiser do something about it¡±


    ¡°Why not let her decides, that would be her name so let her find her preferred name.¡±


    ¡°¡­.¡±


    Me? To decide for my own name. Master is really a good clockwork. But I don`t know any names anymore.


    ¡°I`m sorry Master but I don`t have any names in my memories as it was deleted years ago.¡±


    ¡°That would be hard, I¡¯ll just send you names that you might like. Just list the names and discuss it with Leyla.¡±


    I`m starting to be disoriented again because of Master`s action. Then, I saw list of names on both side of my vision. They`re so many but I need to find a name suited for a servant or a name that means servitude.


    ¡°Then I will choose Servira."


    ------


    A/N


    volume is officially ended with this final SS.


    regular chapters will always be posted on wed. and sun. but the edited volume 1 is still unknown because of missing editor.


    now i`m trying my best to edit out every chapters to comply with people saying about my series.


    i know i`m still incompetent but i know i can still improve in time so please keep supporting.


    See you next volume.

 V2 Chapter 1 : Trip to Dukedom

    Chapter 1


    Rishido here. Lately, I`m enjoy touring around the city especially the bookstore. Now that the NWA is not very useful, I should study more about all sorts of things. Then I realize something, I should start to collect books and articles for my college.


    ------


    ¡°She sure were hardworking even if you don`t tell her to do all sorts of things.¡±


    ¡°I`m worried that she might wear out herself from overworking but she won`t overheat from doing small things like collecting and harvesting. She was rather¡­ enjoying it.¡±


    The morning after the day she woke up, she`s diligently helping me with things like arranging items, harvesting plants, and even crafting potions. I enjoyed her company, but she`s s too stiff because of her servant or maid protocol which was really awkward sometimes.


    I`m still worried that she would develop it into a habit. I`m thought of how to teach her about other things to made her more approachable. I could reprogram her but the memories and other things that she accumulated from her past life would be erased if I did that. In the end, I didn`t do that troublesome reprogramming.


    I`m dedicated this day for her to learn with the help of Leyla. I`m in charge of technical and things concerning battling, crafting, trading so on. While for Leyla, she said that she would teach her about women things, I don`t even asked why or what.


    Teaching her technical things was pretty easy because it was preprogrammed and she only needed some guidance in the actual. Books and experience were two different teachers so I have to do both. The afternoon was for Leyla and her ¡®Lady Lesson¡¯ I don`t understand why or what for.


    I keep myself busy in designing my new body while the two girls and a mouse are discussing things that I don`t know what. I`m thinking of making my body more humanoid because Servira was more humanoid than I was. I made her body as light but sturdy as possible rather than being heavy armored.


    Her figure was slender with normal arms and legs but she got a repair kit on her left forearm. What I mean for normal was a normal human size. She didn`t need any strong armor as I taught her that if she would help me with battle, she`ll be the rearguard. I do add some reinforcement on her shoulders, thighs, and feet for the sake of using the quick shift.


    Leyla suggested that I should add a skirt so she would look like a real woman. I didn`t protest to it when taught of things that she could do with her skirt. First, I made it retractable and segmented to be easy to use. Then I add a double layer but one size shorter than the other did that ended down the knees. The longer piece was for aesthetic only so I made it a bit thinner while the shorter one was detachable and used as a shield.


    She does look like someone I used to know, but I shook the feeling off as I worked on creating a prototype of cores that I would use in the future. What about the monster eggs and young that still unhatched or born. Maybe I could make coreless drones for surveillance or gather purpose.


    *


    After her crash course yesterday, we`re at the guild as I did my business here. Earlier, when we enter the town from the west gate there are many people that were also entering Vulcan and from the looks of them, they`re player teams. I heard murmurs and whispers the moment they saw us. Servira and Cerous were the eye catcher, though.


    It was new to them to they saw another clockwork but I shrugged off the stares of people as we proceed towards the guild building. I sold items that I harvested inside the  sanctuary as well as say my farewell to Arth-dono but the attendant-san said that he`s not there at the moment so I asked her to say that I stop by to claim my payment.


    Looks like I will stay here for another day before traveling.


    After my business with the guild, we proceed towards Jaldava-dono shop to say goodbye to her and the kids. Maybe Servira could learn things from her. The two girls were on Cerous back while I`m on his neck but I can hear Leyla teaching Servira about some girly things.


    As we arrived at Jaldava-dono`s place, I could say that the customers increase as both players and natives went in and out of her shop. I parked Cerous just beside the wood fence of her lawn then proceed to her shop. Leyla and Mabby were on Servira`s shoulder as she walked right behind me.


    As I opened the door, there were three young girls on the counter entertaining the customer orders so I waited near the door. I scanned the three of them and saw their class or job as Magic Alchemist. That was new, I never saw others have that class or maybe Jaldava was a Magic alchemist or higher.


    Then I saw her walked out the behind the counter. She knew that I`m here, I doubting that she`s just an ordinary Obaa-san.


    She waved at me as she went back inside so I followed her as Leyla and Servira tailing me. I saw the shocked faces of people as I walked pass them and one of the girls assisted me with the counter door. I`m their benefactor after all.


    ¡°Who`s the lady clockwork behind you, Raiser?¡±


    ¡°She`s the newly awake clockwork that I saved from the dungeon a week ago.¡±


    ¡°I`m Servira, the maidservant of Master Raiser. Nice to meet you Madam Jaldava.¡±


    *sigh* She`s way too formal.


    ¡°Very polite and polished for a maidservant. I didn`t know you became a noble a week ago.¡±


    ¡°I was taught by Lady Leyla on how to become a lady even though I`m just a servant.¡±


    ¡°Of course, she`s polite and polished like a lady because I`m her mentor. You don`t need to lower yourself Servira just because you¡¯re a maid. Every girl should learn to become a lady after all. Fu fu fu.¡±


    Now she`s boasting again. I can`t help it, but she really did a good job. However, I doubt her being a lady when she did some practical jokes and pranks to me.


    ¡°Of course not Jaldava-dono. She`s a maid clockwork decades ago then she got eaten by the dungeon where I saved her.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­ Well, I haven`t heard a clockwork bring back a life of others. This was my first time seeing one. However, for a young fairy to be able to teach a clockwork to be a young woman. That was even more fascinating to know.¡±


    ¡°Actually, I`m here to say goodbye as we will travel towards the dukedom tomorrow if I can finish my business here. I`d like also to asked a favor.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°I would like you to teach these two ladies here about alchemy.¡±


    They two of them look at me as I said it. What? You needed some hobby to do especially Leyla. Besides, having additional hands in the workplace was always welcome.


    ¡°Of course, there`s nothing to worry about teaching them but you still have to pay for the lesson.¡±


    After all the helped I did, I couldn`t afford a free lesson.


    ¡°Fine. Teach them what they could learn in one day. I leave them to you.¡±


    ¡°WHAT!? I have the right to say no to this. I don`t like to be schooled again you know.¡±


    ¡°Leyla it`s also for your own good also.¡±


    ¡°How could that be?¡±


    Then Jaldava-dono brought back an old book that`s like about to be ashes when you just touch it.


    ¡°I`m a magician also so I could teach you how to become more powerful and popular to other fairies that couldn`t do another magic spell.¡±


    ¡°Please take care of us Master Jaldava. Servira! What are you doing there? Say your gratitude towards Master Jaldava.¡±


    She`s easy to persuade when you mentioned about popularity, magic, and jewels.


    ¡°Thank you, Master Jaldava for being our mentor. I`m also grateful for Master for letting me studies about alchemy and magic even though I`m incompetent.¡±


    ¡°It`s okay Servira don`t worry about it. Just what were you back then Jaldava-dono?¡±


    What was her profession back in her younger days? Magic Alchemist was unknown even in the forums. Most players don¡¯t take this combined production and battle class like what I did.


    ¡°I`m just a well-known Alchemist in the Aurum Kingdom that`s all. Wait, I also had some colleagues from other kingdoms and few students.¡±


    ¡°Okay then. I won`t pry more about your past Jaldava-dono. Again, thank you for everything.¡±


    ¡°Thank you also for bringing children here. I feel so lively again. But before I forgot, here take this.¡±


    She took something from one of the drawers of her worktable. I didn`t know there`s a drawer last time. She hands over a small magic tool that looks like a medallion.


    ¡°That was a magic tool for gathering mana around you when it was on. Back then, I dreamed of making my own clockwork helper because golems were boring while elementals have an affinity that might affect the potions and other things that I`m creating. I tried but I failed too many times so I stop trying.¡±


    A magic tool for mana collection. This can`t be really true. This thing was beyond my imagination that I could ever think of. I planned to make a magic tool that could collect, store and produce mana so it could be used for my energy.


    ¡°I don`t know what to say. This thing was beyond my plan to have.¡±


    The two girls came to us while staring at the medallion. I could see Leyla`s smile and eyes. Dangerous.


    ¡°Can you make one for me Raiser? It looks so pretty. I can see a dozen of mana trails with the different color.¡±


    Mana with different affinity? As I scanned it. I was just in shocked, this medallion was full of mana with a dozen of affinity. Almost all basic elements were here.


    ¡°Are you sure that I could really have this Jaldava-dono?¡±


    ¡°Of course, but I liked you to used it to this lady over here. I have some research about constructs and clockworks. I knew that constructs could use mana like magicians do so I made that. I requested you to make this young lady be a construct for me.¡±


    [table]<tr><td colspan=''4''>Jaldava`s Magic Medallion</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>Master Jaldava requested you to recreate your clockwork companion to be a construct using the magic tool that had been given to you. Jaldava had researched for years just to recreate a part of construct that`s used for their energy and magic.


    Difficulty: Unknown


    Time Limit: Unknown


    Conditions: Become a student of Jaldava, Befriend her, Have a NPC Humanoid Clockwork in your team


    Failure: When the Magic tool got destroyed or is stolen from you</td></tr>[table]


    ¡­Okay. Another unknown quest. I still don`t get it. Why are these two quest feels like I`ll be always on the run? Anyways, I don`t need to worry right now. I`ll just enjoy my tour and hobby while I`m here.


    Jaldava-dono said that if ever I`m able to make her be a construct I should send her a letter or show my face to her to see Servira. So sending the letter was still in use here. Oh well, this game was torn between medieval and fantasy after all.


    *


    Today I`m back to the guild to get the promised payment from all the work that I did. Even though I do charity work, I don`t always work for free you know.


    I meet Arth-dono at his office as we talked about the things that were done on the fifth floor. Apparently, things run smoothly there with the help of the mech-carabaos. Harvesting plants and other goods are always monitored so it won`t deplete and let it regenerate on its own.


    The payment for assisting and other works that we have talked last week was 20 gold coins plus 25 gold for the 5 carabaos. At this rate, I don`t need to worry about money when traveling from kingdom to kingdom or maybe I can travel to another continent.


    After my farewell to Arth-dono, I picked up the girls that sleepover in Jaldava`s place. They`re really diligent in studying with Jaldava-dono when I talked to her. Leyla was now capable of doing basic alchemy but in her size amount. As long as she will learn new thing any size is acceptable. For Servira, she`s taking every lesson and technique to her core. I love her passion but that might be derailed from being studious to anxious as she always thinks that I might dump her.


    Even though I told it many times to her memories are memories after all.


    *


    I`ve already prepared everything yesterday so we`re on the move towards the Feliusa. The road to Feliusa was not very dangerous as they said it would be. Some are just too careless or reckless when traveling. Monster would pop up now and then like a while ago we encountered a group of goblins. Goblins here are different from the common green small humanoid. They are still small but their head was a bit bigger than their body with a bigger pointy nose and ears the weird about them was being grayish.


    I don`t know why they are grayish but it doesn`t matter. Relatively, they are still weak individually but fighting them in hordes would be troublesome which I already predicted as I saw red marks around. Most of the time they moved in 6 to 10 per group.


    We`re still on the road but we camp on a higher ground to be safe from night attacks. It was three-day travel to Feliusa and another four to dukedom if we don`t do stopover. Our travel to Feliusa was not very eventful because monsters roaming on the highway were very few. Enemies were small fries if the level was compared but the party size was a different talk.


    As we got nearer to Feliusa, we met different teams roaming around. We got some small talks about monster around here and the dungeons that were known here. When we arrived at the trade city gate, as people called it, we are required to show our plate to the guards that are polite to us descendants.


    The town was bigger than Vulcan was. Most residents here were either merchants or crafters. A guild master also governs this place. Many people here were just stopping by to trade or resupplying their stacks, as they will travel back to the dukedom. But the players are grinding and taking many requests as we arrived at the guild building to sell items that we collected from our small encounters.


    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Like before, we gained stares from people that saw when we entered the city. I just ignored them as we keep strolling around the city. I parked Cerous at the guild backyard as we decided to stay here for a day and do some shopping. Servira insisted that she would do all the works but I denied her remark and proceeded as I hired some kids to look at Cerous. I didn`t really need to hire some guards or sitters but people tend to be curious about new things.


    We proceeded to the marketplace to shop items that might be useful or just piqued my interest. The entrance was filled with foods stalls but I didn`t buy the stuff that they sold because I can`t eat period. I just got interested as we started to saw different stalls and people that sold all sort of things like monster parts and rare fruits that I haven`t seen in the entrance of the marketplace.


    The weapon and armor shop were just around 10 stores while the apothecary shop is just five. The magic shop that sells magic tools, potions, and scrolls are just two and they are located on the opposite side of each other one here and one on the other end of the marketplace. Every time that I enter a shop, I activate my mana scan to see which item gave off mana trail. Magic weapons and armors do give off the trail but not as powerful as the medallion or the mana trail from the clockworks that we fought back then.


    The magic tools were also weak but some are useful if I`m a human, a Halfling or a humanoid. I still buy some magic tools like spark rod, cooking pan, and other adventuring tools. They`re quite cheap even if I brought, at least, six of them each. Leyla said I`m not good at buying pieces of stuff and I don`t haggle with the price.


    Why need argue about the price if it`s cheap besides they`ve to sell things to live you know. Servira was still behind me while carrying a backpack that I brought to store my items. I didn`t need to buy it but Servira insisted that she will carry the baggage which Leyla second her request.


    A magic backpack reduced the weight of the items and was popular among players and natives. Some natives did inherit the magic item box while some don`t so that`s why people buying this the very first time they gained some coins.


    What I like about it is the magic used. If I could recreate the magic or reconfigure it to be applicable to my body, things will be a lot different. I should add it my list to visit a shop or magician that teaches on how to create magic tool. Jaldava-dono does have some magic tool but she said that she didn`t make them but it was brought in the dukedom.


    I don¡¯t need to hurry but I should shorten my visit here.


    *


    We ended our first day after window-shopping and today would be dungeon diving. We didn`t encounter odd group or aggressive people here unlike in Vulcan. As of now, we`re traveling towards a cave type dungeon that house mutated spiders. I''m sickened of insects as I keep fighting them inside the scrapyard dungeon.


    Insects could reproduce in large scale so most request and mission were about them but they`re so annoying when you`ll hunting them for an extended period. Still we took this quest because it was relatively easier than other dungeon quests. It was just a simple collection mission stating that we will collect eggshells of the spiders that around half way of the dungeon.


    It will be also Servira`s first official quest so we have to take it easy first. She`ll be my rearguard with Leyla as the support while Cerous would wait outside as he can`t fit inside the dungeon. We encountered spiderlings at the very entrance but they`re weak but the bigger versions of them are troublesome when I`m attacked in all direction.


    Their attack patterns were just simple lunging and ramming while other spiders that have different markings do some net web attack and string splitting which was hard to remove. Most of our battle are the surprise attack but we could detect it early so we won`t be in disadvantageous position.


    Servira performed very well on battles and cooperated quickly when instructed. Guess she`s working really hard to be fitted to my needs for a good servant but I rather have her as a companion.


    *


    After retrieving the eggshells that were located in one small cave-in, we reported back as we also brought the requested item. We continued on hunting and questing until Servira reached level 20. It`s kind of hard to help her level up as we`re clockworks in the first place but grinding fast could cope up with the experience nerf.


    We stopped grinding when the night comes and prepared to depart tomorrow morning. It will be our third day here and thought that we covered almost all places to see here except the farther dungeons. However, I don`t go there as we will go to the dukedom early to study and travel.


    The estimated travel was four days but we could make it three or two if we go there at full speed but I love to take things easy when I can. I love to travel here as I can freely move around unlike in my wheelchair still things served some purpose one-way or the other.


    Traveling farther away from Vulcan and Feliusa, things started to change with the surrounding especially the monster. From machine, mechanic and metalize monsters to more biological I guess. Wolves were more masculine and bigger than the mech types also. Nevertheless, the noticeable one was that they`re higher than the previous ones but they were also moved to smaller team or pack.


    We still have done some battle showdowns with monsters roaming in the highway like bees, wolves, and even a freaking bear that was bigger than I was. That bear was a real deal as it left a clawed mark in my arms while fighting. It enraged as the fight drags on but I defeated it anyways with the helped of Leyla and Servira. Like always, I skinned it and took everything from the corpse but Servira was helping me with this chore as she said she would do every chore. I don`t mind it as she had dismantling ability but she should calm her worries.


    From time to time, I harvested some plants for my alchemy and hunted some elite or rare monsters. In some cases, we encountered some teams and merchant that was going to Feliusa. We did pleasantry exchange and information like monsters that showed up or prices in Feliusa.


    At night, we found a small clearing to camp and took some break. Even though we don`t need to rest at all my mind couldn`t take sleepless nights for days. I`m still uncomfortable and not used to it, I couldn`t do a 24 hours playtime without a break even if it was in-game rest.


    *


    ¡°Your letter and plate Sir.¡±


    ¡°Here¡±


    We`re at the large gate of the outer wall of the dukedom. It was really big that it house farmlands and pasture inside but was the suburb of the dukedom where commoners and workers lived. The castle of the dukedom was still four hours away from here while the downtown was just an hour or two. As the guards let us passed after confirming our plates and letter, we entered the large wooden gate.


    The fortified wall encircled the whole dukedom protecting it from any other force like monster swarms from dungeons or invading force. The guards here were around 50 - 80 depending on their position and abilities. Bet this place always in troubled with monsters.


    The farmlands spread out as far as I could see but there was still small forest that was inhabited by wild animals like deer, boar, and other smaller animals. The main products produce were vegetable and wheat. As we traveled closer to the downtown, I scanned some tamed monster and animals roaming in the grassland area, so monsters could be tamed and be used as a livestock huh.


    The road became paved as we get nearer also spacious that Cerous could travel on the side without bumping coaches and stalls. The entrance was still guarded but they didn`t asked but only stared at us like observing our whole appearance.


    Well, they haven`t seen a clockwork for hundreds of years so they were still cautious about my arrival. It was afternoon when we entered the outer village but it was still busy. People around us stared at us anxiously but I just shrugged it off. We proceeded to the guild building to check some quest and maybe take a rest there before logging out.


    The guild was still far from the gate that was located near the inner wall or the Noble Street as my map indicates. The dukedom was divided by three walls. First, was the fortified wall for area coverage and protection next was the inner wall for the noble district and last would be for the castle. I saw some discrimination but this how things work in this world.


    After I parked Cerous behind the guild building and paid the horse caretaker that was also the attendant of the carriage, we entered the guild building but my sensors run rampant as I saw too many threats popped out everywhere. What a very welcoming atmosphere.


    I saw many teams inside the guild building; it was twice bigger than Vulcan has. Most teams must be bronze plated or even higher as it was the dukedom then I saw some familiar faces like the Knight`s team and the Watchers.


    I just ignored them but I stayed alert if a thing goes out of hand. I trimmed down my choice in the bulletin board that has many hunting, dungeon and collecting request. I just picked monster subjugation that has an appropriate difficulty for us. Our team was just a two-man crew so I have to take in consideration of going to a dangerous place and now that Servira was part of a quest.


    Now that I think about it again, the Cycle of life quest didn`t finish or even have a chained connection to Jaldava-dono`s quest. Maybe I should find clockwork or a village to continue this race quest.


    After I picked up our mission for tomorrow and have the details of it from the attendants, we proceed to the marketplace to window shop as always. The shops here were bursting with power but the prices that make me feel weak. I understood that they needed to earn but the prices was a total ripped off.


    After sightseeing around the weapon and armor shops, I decided to look at the magician`s tower where all sorts of magic tools, potions, and scroll were sold according to the guards that we encountered. They really assured public order here as I saw many patrolling guards from now and then.


    *


    We go swarmed by magician and other magic class people that kept asking a question about us like how are we made, can they reproduce us, or can they employ or tame us. Fuck with the questions. I even almost punch a guy that said on how can they tame or control us. Lucky him there`s a master came down the moment before I fire my grappling hook down to his throat.


    Even Leyla was about to burst into a rage as she was poked by someone.


    I don`t have any remorse for the people that wronged me. But I''m not a villain to kill indiscriminately, maybe that`s why I don`t take bandit subjugation.


    ¡°Stop on what are you`re about to do. You may kill any of them with just your raw power.¡±


    ¡°Teach them first to respect all form of life first. There will be no next time.¡±


    I stared at the old man but as I saw his hands, he`s a demi-human maybe a full form beastkin at most.


    ¡°All of you apologize to them. They`re important guest here.¡±


    Like in military, they quickly apologize to us even though they were older than we were. Many of them are human but there were mixed of elves, beastkin, and other race.


    ¡°I apologized for their rudeness even though they`re older than you. I could sense a powerful mana coming from you the very first second you stepped inside this tower.¡±


    ¡°Maybe it was how I''m built.¡±


    Does he detect the mana energy that we possessed? It was still mana after all.


    ¡°Not the mana inside you or anything but a familiar mana that you three have. If my guess was right you`re all able to do alchemy, am I right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, we do.¡±


    How did he know we took alchemy, moreover familiar mana. Maybe that means he knows.


    ¡°It was Master Jaldava`s mana that I''m sensing. It`s been years before she took students under her wings.¡±


    ¡°How did you know her?¡±


    ¡°I`m one of her students back then and all of Master Jaldava`s students possess an alchemy book but for a higher magician like myself, it was a letter of recommendation.¡±


    Hmmm¡­ that`s why.


    ¡°You can shop later and be accompanied by one of my assistants but I`d like to invite you first to my room so we could talk.¡±


    ¡°Wait! Before we agree, what things you want to talk about?¡±


    Leyla was right, I didn`t even think of it. Servira was still silent and unmoving even though we got into troubles.


    ¡°Well, it would be what kind of recommendation letter Master has given to the three of you.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­ now that you said that I`m intrigued as well on that matter also.¡±


    ¡°If Raiser doesn''t protest then I won`t but better be good or I`ll burst your face. Those old men and student of yours don`t have any manners when asking questions to a lady.¡±


    ¡°Pardon for the lack of manners of my subordinates and students young fairy. I`ll see to it that next time you came here, you`ll be treated properly.¡±


    ¡°Thank you¡±


    Okay¡­ I`m at lost now.


    ------


    EDITED


    A/N


    1st chapter for the 2nd installment but unedited coz le editor is missing again *tableflip*


    Anyways i just updated the cover hope you all liked it.


    i`ll still continue to improve my works and if you ever see some improvement i need to add just drop it at the comment,


    just don`t say it very hard i`m having a bad day because of the editor,


    Enjoy

 V2 Chapter 2 : Meeting with Important Guest

    Chapter 2


    Rishido here. Studying English was a bit hard way back when I was still a kid but I got through it by constant studying and practicing. At a foreign land where mostly speak in English was kind of hard because I`m not able to expressed myself that much. Then on my high school day, I remembered that we`re taught how to do computer programming and I was like having hemorrhage by just staring at the codes. Hope other places don¡¯t have this kinds of things.


    ------


    ¡°Nice place you got here.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, please take your seat and be comfortable.¡±


    Not bad for a Jii-san. Comfy place even though the tower was made out of stones. I`m drooling right now as I saw case and case of books around this place and I bet every magician would die just to read one or two of this old books here.


    ¡°Can I see you alchemy handouts.¡±


    We took out our handbooks and gave it to the old man. Wait. I haven¡¯t asked his name.


    ¡°Before I forgot. You haven¡¯t introduce to us.¡±


    ¡°Really?! Haa¡­ it`s hard getting old¡±


    ¡°I`m Raiser then this is Leyla my guide and Servira my assistance I supposed.¡±


    ¡°Nice to meet you juniors, I`m Pad Ropoda a bear beastkin and a master of Nature and Earth magic. Also a student of Master Jaldava.¡±


    Huh?! The master of elements was not really surprising but to be a student of Jaldava-dono. That was unexpected.


    ¡°What do you mean by student of hers`?¡±


    ¡°Ow so she didn¡¯t told you anything about her, her work and what she is.¡±


    ¡°I had no idea but I judged her as an influential person in the kingdom I think¡±


    ¡°Hhmm¡­ She didn¡¯t told us either when we`re training or having breaks but she did say that she`s a very powerful person.¡±


    So even the two girls didn¡¯t have any clues of her.


    ¡°Anyways, I guess it don¡¯t hurt if I told you. She`s an old one for some, ancient people by other but we the student of hers` called her as High Human.¡±


    High human? I didn¡¯t see any high human in the character selection.


    ¡°Well it wasn¡¯t really a race or a tribe now but a gift from birth by the gods.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean by ¡®now¡¯?¡±


    ¡°They were a lost tribe that died down decades ago even before your race came to this world. Records stated that they`re more talented than other human buy the drawback was that if they learn one art, they need to give up almost everything that don¡¯t have any relation towards their art. Simply saying, Master Jaldava was a powerful magician but have a weaker body than normal human.¡±


    ¡°So if a high human choose one type of job or mastery they would be weaken on the opposite side of it.¡±


    ¡°yes that`s it. Likewise if one choose to become a warrior or any weapon wielding fighter they need to give up magic.¡±


    That sucks big time but I guess battle junkies don¡¯t mind having no magic or mana in the first place.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t heard of rumors about by high human back in my home but I guess that was a long ago story by the elders that they forgotten it.¡±


    ¡°Maybe you¡¯re right young fairy.¡±


    ¡°Anyways how about our recommendations?¡±


    We got derailed but that was really informative. Leyla was excited and Servira was still siting silently. *sigh* teaching her will take a lot of time.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry I had deciphered them. First is you Raiser.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Your recommendation stated that she`s recommending you to be taught with magic tools and things that was in a relation with magic tools creation such as runic writing and magic layout.¡±


    That was new. I thought she would recommend me to someone who knew about clockworks.


    ¡°For the two girls, you`ll also be studying runic writing and different forms of magic like elemental manipulation and mana expansion.¡±


    ¡°Mana expansion?¡±


    Hhmm... Mana expansion another new skill and never seen any talk about it in the forums.


    ¡°Yes young fairy, I was taught to students in most places but only in a degree unlike with us. We could give you the full potential of this because Master Jaldava created this.¡±


    Wait. Does this means that only selected people can have the full version. I felt like we cheated on this. Am I gold member or paid user?


    ¡°Yeah! Did you hear that Raiser. I`m getting more awesome like what Master told us.¡±


    ¡°What did she told you?¡±


    ¡°S-E-C-R-E-T~¡±


    She`s irritating. And stop flying around my head while dusting your fairy glitters. I looked at Servira but she just told me that it was a secret she needed to keep. Damn it. Girls secret.


    ¡°Okay we will start tomorrow for your training. I`ll personally teach the two ladies while a colleague will be your mentor Raiser.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for giving us time Master Pad.¡±


    ¡°It`s our duty to teach the younger generation about Master Jaldava`s secrets and magic.¡±


    ¡°Before I forgot, she teaching kids alchemy back in Vulcan.¡±


    ¡°Is that true?!¡±


    ¡°What the buzz?¡±


    ¡°Well she stopped teaching students decade ago as she got bored and had some bad experiences with arrogant and obnoxious students.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t pay more in this matter. Again thank you.¡±


    ¡°Good. An attendant will guide you around the tower and its stalls and I guaranteed good quality of items here.¡±


    As we leave his office, we`re guided towards each shopping floor of this tower. This place was full of mana and element also different kinds of merchants and magical students. I should buy some magic tools here for study purposes.


    *


    Who would have thought that studying magic tool creation would be like this?


    Dozens of runes to remember, methods to combine them, how not to make them explode when loaded with mana and stuffs that will break your head if you`re not a smarty pants.


    At first, it was easy as studying letters and numbers but as we proceed towards magic tools section my system almost break down.


    Leyla and Servira only study the basics but I was left alone to study how it was being implemented or used on magic tools.


    Well for starters, magic tools are items that is mana powered and used for daily living or in battle purposes. Like the escape rope. It was a rope that`s imprinted with runes and teleportation magic that only work on dungeons.


    The first 3 days was to study runic writings then the rest of the week was for magic tool creation. Leyla and Servira only study for two days then proceed towards magical studies. I envy them.


    I was taught from basics like ignition rod which is used for cooking to early intermediate. I did gain runic writing as a trait and magic tool as an ability like blacksmithing.


    My test was to create a magic tool that is above basic or beginner. The test will determine if I`m qualified enough to have another recommendation towards the kingdom.


    After hearing the reward, I strived harder to study and create my first magic tool. First, I thought on creating a simple tool for daily use but I needed more that daily use. I decided to create a mana condenser and mana storage for my own use.


    It was a two piece item that would suck in mana being transferred inside and condensed it to be able to fit inside the mana storage to have more space.


    Doing the storage was easy unlike the condenser that I have several errors and explosions. But after many tries I`m able to condense the mana and safely transfer it inside the storage.


    My mentor was amazed that i`m able to create it but it was a weaker version of what kingdoms had. He said that a tool like what did was already created but not widely known because of how one could be dangerous.


    I was in shocked that I was able to recreate a magic tool but a version lower. He said that I shouldn¡¯t let anyone know about this item or use it publicly in which, I agreed on.


    I guess I have the right to relax after that hectic in game studying.


    Usually, I took break from time to time so I won¡¯t get exhausted from playing hours and hours. Some take it to the extreme and they were sent to the hospital for dehydration, lack of nutrients and other things what we neglected so we`re ordered to take some breather least twice a day.


    For this reason, many were gathered in the lobbies chatting or watching videos of other players either live or recorded. I do also watch few videos with interesting insight like the pioneer teams raiding dungeons.


    Most of the time, i`m locked up in my room to read and studying things that might help me gain new world ability. It was a tedious work but I kept on doing it as I will be able to gain something from this. I`m just not sure when or what it is.


    I`m back online and do some quest that was regular dungeon culling but a little hard because of the season.


    The dungeons and monster dens around the dukedom was mostly reptilians, insects and mutated creatures. Like most places that have high military movement, dukedom also have their own mine shaft only bigger but also dangerous.


    We do some runs inside the mines to gain some ores but that place was not for us as the monsters there were bigger and stronger even if we only take down one of them. It was a popular spot for pioneer teams as I remembered correctly.


    I kept on studying magic tools and even created simple tools that looks like power tools. I know that this items my break the logic and culture or whatever it is but I needed some specific items for upgrades.


    ¡°it`s getting boring Raiser.¡±


    ¡°I know. Doing it over and over again was really boring but we have no choice.¡±


    It was really boring to do this routine of dungeon diving. I even lost my motivation on tinkering tools.


    ¡°I wish some big would happened today or tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t say that Leyla, you might what you wished for. Hmm¡­ Servira are you done now?¡±


    ¡°Yes Master.¡±


    As of now, we`re bored. While Servira was doing so arranging or organizing Cerous trunk. She developed this hobby from constant clutter that I did when I`m tinkering tools, weapons and body parts.


    Servira was improving day by day as we tackle dungeons and interact towards different people. On the battle side, she`s good at decision making and tactical thinking which really helped a lot.


    She`s my rearguard and her favorite weapon was the crossbow that I made for her after our week crash course in the tower. It was a pseudo magic weapon because it lacks in many aspects but above regular crossbows.


    Mana could be infused in the handle to give a power shots that had knockback power. The arrows where the main items that I tinkered with. I`m able to do mass production of iron or steel arrows but I pimped it more with items that we took from dungeons like poisons.


    I also made a quick draw arrow holder on her right arm for emergency purposes.


    On the other hand, Leyla gain different skills from Jaldava and Pad mainly nature, earth, and water magics. She could now do some element manipulation especially to the metal which increase the ingots purity to the highest rate.


    Stolen story; please report.


    Her magic was helpful in many ways but also annoying that she uses it to do more pranks on me like stepping on a quick sand, being tangled by vines, or get soaked in freezing water.


    I don¡¯t get really mad at those things because I felt more relieved that things aren¡¯t going in circles. Still, boring days were boring days.


    *


    It was a normal boring day again for us but things didn¡¯t worked as it was last time.


    ¡°So why we being called again?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know the details Ms. Fairy, the only order was that to guide you to the castle that`s all.¡±


    ¡°Hmp. Fine¡±


    Let`s look back this morning.


    Today was just an ordinary day for us as we go dungeon diving but we`re blocked by a group of soldiers outside the guild and stated that we`re being summoned by the duke.


    At first I was reluctant to obey as why would we being summoned. Their leader approached us and said that the duke wanted to see us especially me.


    Hhmm¡­ Maybe it was about the dungeon subjugation case. I didn¡¯t came here immediately like the other teams.


    I agreed to them and escorted to the castle.


    The division of the dukedom was really something. From street pavement to house, you could see the difference.


    The Castle was grand as expected. Large decorated wooden gates, extravagant garden right after you enter the castle, and other things that you could expect on a castle.


    We`re escorted until we reached a large door, might be the main hall then we were taught how to act properly towards the duke like greeting him, never look directly in his eyes and other noble thingy that`s easy to understand.


    As we entered the main or should I say grand hall, we saw two figures sitting on their thrones with guards on the side then few people standing on both side of the hall might be the nobles and knights.


    ¡°Greetings Milord.¡±


    The leader said as we kneeled down with him. I don¡¯t like social gatherings like this.


    ¡°Same to you Sir Clamond.¡±


    Then he signaled us to stand. Looking at the duke closely he does looked like from medieval age, bearded with a brown long hair, and sharp eyes. Also, he and his wife where the only people I can¡¯t see their status expect for the name and title while I could see others such as knight, royal knight, castle mage, and so forth.


    ¡°Greetings Milord. I`m Raiser, clockwork and a descendant. My guide, Leyla the fairy and my assistant Servira.¡±


    ¡°It was nice to meet you, Milord¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Leyla is acting like a fine lady but Servira was just following us and didn¡¯t utter any words.


    ¡°So you`re the one that was talked about past few weeks. I haven¡¯t seen a clockwork for my entire life so I don¡¯t have any reference on what would you looked like except for the dwarves that was creating them. Anyways, I`m Kalius Radlif, the Duke of Estonia and my beloved wife Duchess Ashley.


    Now for the reason of you being here was a request from the Head Priestess. She wanted to see you and talked to you but the details were still unknown even for me. Other people was intrigued also about your arrival so I made still for everyone.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything exemplary or splendid.¡±


    ¡°Yes you were right but it was a request of the Head Priestess so I couldn¡¯t decline it. One of the knights will guide you towards the meeting room where you will wait for the Head Priestess.¡±


    Then one of the royal knights picked us up and guide us towards the meeting place. I didn¡¯t say my goodbye remarks or anything but I guess it was an urgent request. Now who`s this Head Priestess anyways.


    *


    Upon arriving at the meeting room, I saw a little girl siting on an expensive looking couch. So she`s the one the duke was talking about and from her looks she should be.


    She got blonde over shoulder cut hair, unnatural yellow eyes, and a golden circle that might symbolize her status. She`s wearing a decorated white robe that covers her whole body except her hands and accompanied by a ornamented staff that I can¡¯t scanned.


    Then she looked at us and smiled, she might knew that we were coming. No doubt about that with no data acquired by my scanners. For a little girl¡­ hhmm¡­ I`m giving her a nickname of chibi-chan.


    ¡°Hello Mr. Clockwork, I¡¯ve been waiting for you.¡±


    Soft spoken and modest but refined. I`ll give her 10 perfect points.


    We sat down on the opposite couch but Servira stand behind me. Guess habits won¡¯t be stop anytime soon.


    ¡°It was nice to meet you Head Priestess. I`m Raiser but I guess you already know.¡±


    ¡°I`m Leyla her guide. What are you doing at the back? Sit down her and introduce yourself.¡±


    Leyla flew over Servira and pushed her towards the couch even though she can¡¯t really push her.


    ¡°It`s also nice to meet you Head Priestess. I`m the servant of Master Raiser.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t knew that there would be another one.¡±


    ¡°Let`s just that I revived her from deep sleep.¡±


    ¡°Is that so. Well, back to why I wanted to meet you was that to tell you that there were a future vision for you by the gods.¡±


    ¡°The gods? What do you mean?¡±


    The gods eh. I don¡¯t feel anyway bad omen to this but gods are gods in game and they could messed you up big time. Even Leyla stopped doing side comments like earlier.


    ¡°The apparition I got from my dreams told me or shown to me that clockworks will do an active role in the whole kingdom and might affect the entire continent. That was what I interpret with my vision or dream.¡±


    So another flag but this time a more large scale one. This might be related with my race quest.


    ¡°That might be right. I`m currently finding clues on finding other clockworks and maybe helped them.¡±


    ¡°Then my suggestion was be strong as another vision of mine shown me that there would be a big storm that is facing your way. But not just a weather storm it was¡­ darkness.¡±


    She looked down with a grim on her face telling that this isn¡¯t a normal situation.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about it. Things won¡¯t work that way if I didn¡¯t follow it right. Besides future is future and if that vision of yours` did happened then I just need to work my way out and solved it.¡±


    I looked at Leyla and Servira the nods with me giving reassurance towards chibi-chan. She have heavy responsibility for a young age and having bad dreams that might cause global change was not good for her also.


    We continue our talk to what I had done around my first day and listen to her advice on things that might help me in the future. She also requested to have a clockwork pet like Leyla which I couldn¡¯t deny as it was a church or religion quest that can¡¯t be turned down.


    I wonder why I received a quest from her request while I could turn down Arth-dono and Kreisia-san. And I didn¡¯t gain any quest log when they asked me. Really suspicious.


    While we`re having small talks about the recent things that we did, the door opened and we saw the duke came in.


    He`s accompanied by his knight but they stay behind the doors after he entered.


    ¡°Finally I could relaxed now.¡±


    He said as he slacked down the couch and sighed. He acted differently while we`re in the main hall. So being a duke was stressful.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t stress yourself too much Duke Kalius especially this season.¡±


    ¡°Sorry about that. I`ll try my best to be health until the season ends.¡±


    He said as he sat down the couch where the Head Priestess was. He`s not an asshole type of noble from typical settings.


    I waited to be called or talked to by the duke as it is one of the lessons that was taught to us earlier. People with lower status should wait to be approached by high ranking nobles.


    ¡°It was nice to meet you clockwork. I didn¡¯t know that there would be two of you actually, the reports said you`re a sole clockwork from Vulcan.¡±


    ¡°I was a sole clockwork from Vulcan but I revived one my brethren back when I was in the dungeon subjugation mission.¡±


    ¡°Truly interesting to hear that. Well I called here because of her request but I do like to meet you also personally.¡±


    ¡°It was an honor to meet you Milord.¡±


    ¡°Mine as well. Now for more serious matters, I knew that you already talked to she about many things that I wouldn¡¯t pry unto it. The serious matter that i`m talking about was the massive monster spawning from dungeon. It happened every time the season ends and it wasn¡¯t an easy thing to deal with. ---¡°


    His speech was serious like the town would be in chaos if this matter happened. It was about the season¡¯s monster flocking outside their dungeons.it happens always before the season ends and it don¡¯t end peacefully. We could subjugate dungeons but it was forbidden by the kingdoms as I would lead to greater dungeon that would be hard to deal when the season came.


    Duke Kalius said in a grimed tone that there was once a duchy place that got wiped out by a new dungeon that replaced the withered dungeon before the season. Thus monsters from the new dungeon was still unknown and not evaluated. The dukedom got overconfident from their achievement that lead them to their destruction.


    Well Vulcan was a special case because of the risk it would cause when the season ends.


    It was their law for hundreds of years so I just need to obey it. But his request was, I would fully participate on defending the dukedom. Well I plan to defend this place after hearing the story but his request was I would help in keeping the whole place safe because of my abilities to detect.


    He also said that if I don¡¯t accept it I wouldn¡¯t receive supplies like other teams that he called. Free stuff are good so I won¡¯t decline this offer.


    I shook hands with the Duke and bind my farewell to the Head Priestess that I still didn¡¯t know her name. Even the duke only called her as Head Priestess.


    Leyla kept her manners not to interject when I was talking with Duke Kalius but now she bombarding me with questions like what would we do, where we would go, and stuff like that. Servira was still acting as a maid as usual. She needs to be approachable when the time comes that I have to part ways with her.


    I didn¡¯t answer her questioning and told her that we would decide after the season ends.


    Guess wishes do come true but in a bad way for us.


    *


    I''m back but still, i''m having a hard time doing this while the editor was missing.


    So no more editor for now besides i think i`m getting the hang of this.


    but life just caught me up few weeks ago including the mind block.


    i know i still owe you guys more chapter so i`ll try my best to dual update. maybe every sunday only.


    Check you guys next time

 V2 Chapter 3 : The Music Box

    Chapter 2


    Rishido here. Lately I`m thinking about some things but I can`t remember what is it when I want to solve it. Maybe it was just small things like science books or problems that I forgot weeks ago. I might be suffering from short term memory gap, hope not.


    ------


    Days had passed after that meeting but things here were still normal. No heavy patrol guards roaming or any military movements, might be later this month or the next.


    I needed to prepare or I would be the laughing stack of people if I fail this one.


    I knew that we could participate events through the system but having direct quest from the duke himself was very rare. I`d read some post on the forums and one post said that having direct request give different reward than waiting for the system announcement like what happened with the scrapyard dungeon.


    While I`m on the hunt for new quest and discovering the dukedom, I went to the library to find any books, manuscript or even a small hint about clockworks. The librarian-san was polite and told us¡­ yes Leyla and Servira tag along with me but sometimes they separates with me for some unknown reason.


    Back to the topic.


    She told us that we could find history books about clockworks but it was very few at least 10 of them. I`m still grateful that there were books about clockwork than none but saying 10 was few what`s many for her anyways.


    To describe the library it was an old looking 2 story stone building with small windows. The inside was covered with wood planks from the floor to ceiling then I thought why they would do that. I mean you had a stone building then you covered the inside with wood planks. What`s up with that?


    I`m not an architect so I won`t bugged it anymore. Well the history books were located at the history section duh. This place was really organized that you could find what you`re looking for but sadly there`s no magic tome or books that could teach you magic.


    That books can be brought through magic shops anyways.


    While I took my books and started reading, Leyla and Servira said that they would find their books also, so I let them be. I`m still wondering what were the things making them busy when I`m busy with all of my stuffs.


    First, I did selective reading to find how much information I could get from one books. I was very easy to know if the clockworks was just mentioned or do a big role.


    Some books did told about the arrival, what happened, and how they end up. I`m somehow dissatisfied from what I read. Yes, they do mentioned the arrival of clockworks and construct and everything but there`s no vital information about their technology, way of living, etc.


    The only good thing I received from reading those books was another access point inside the black card. Hhmm¡­ so information even if very little could give me some benefits. The black card was inside my head so I could access it anytime.


    Then a flash of memories or recorded mini clips of events flashes through my eyes like I`m watching a movie trailer.


    We arrived at a foreign land to be our salvation against the corruption eating our world. At first, I don`t agree with this idea of world travelling but the Council told us that it is the only way to save our race from destruction.


    Other planets were destroyed or corrupted and starts to attacked other planets. Only time would tell when ours would be attacked. I`m ordered to take care of every clockworks and construct with the help of other guardians that would join us but most of my squad will stay here to defend the metropolis until we evacuated.


    Most residents with us was worker class but everything could be worked out if we just learn new things. When we arrived, everything was green and they were like breathing. The man and his team that helped us said that this was his world and they do rescue missions to other planets or worlds.


    I trusted him as they fight alongside with us when the first wave of attacked came to our planet. I thought that would be my last battle. The enemies force and technology just surpass our machinery even though I achieved my mechanical perfection.


    Days after our arrival, the man called Adam said that they rescued others that survived from the attacked but only few. Most of them were trainees and lower class soldiers. We asked them what happened after getting them repaired and they told us that the enemies overwhelmed them by their numbers.


    I knew that the council could fight hundreds and survive but to be defeated by numbers was just unbelievable. They even have the ability to take the strongest version of themselves but if the enemies could defeat a council member on his prime mode then their overwhelming force might be just an understatement.


    We decided to help every tribe in this planet as Adam said that they would be needing our help. He also warned us that don`t trust everybody in this planet as there were some people driven with desires.


    If the Oracle was here with us, my only wish was to protect and guide us with our new home.


    Then the video got cut as my notification keeps blinking.


    <table><tbody><tr><td>You gained information about Machina. A race advancement of Clockwork. Needed more details to fully understand it and be able to transform into one.</td></tr><tr><td>You gained information about class ¡®Guardian¡¯. Needed more details how to attain being one.</td></tr><tr><td>You discovered a technology ability ¡®Prime mode¡¯. Needed more information to be able to learn how to use it.</td></tr><tr><td>You discovered the God of your race The Oracle. Needed further details to understand the existent of Oracle.</td></tr></tbody></table>


    Just wow¡­ first I opened up my skill list and saw on my NWA (new world abilities) the question mark became Prime Mode. Those that mean that I had ideas to become one.


    The advancement called Machina was intriguing also but I don`t have any idea except mechanical perfection as the video stated. Also a god called Oracle that was surprising to know that even clockworks do believed in God.


    I picked up the girls, whose reading history about magic and told them that we will go window shopping but this time it would be the flea market at the downtown square where most merchants would sell their goods.


    I`ve told Servira to use her mana scan to check every small items. There might be small items that was a quest item that would lead us to clockwork and construct history. The chances were slim but I decide to try our luck.


    As we arrived, there were dozens of people shouting the items they sell or items that they needed. Guess things like this also happened in different games.


    I didn`t bring Cerous as he`s too large for this crowded place. He might also attracted unwanted attention besides two was too much.


    From time to time I saw some mana trails from antique items and asked the merchant about it. Some does have their stories while others were unknown but I kept on buying useless things from them. Leyla was ranting about me spending money like a spoiled noble kid but I told her that some might give us clues or quest so she stop talking and sat on Servira shoulders.


    The price range was just around copper and silver coins. I do haggle the price when it reaches gold. I don`t haggle that much but I like to keep my lost in a minimum if this experiment fails me. The expensive ones were at my storage while cheaper things are at Servira`s bag. Some ruffians tries to steal from us but they just got their butt kicked by Servira. Looks like training paid off.


    *


    I scanned everything when we went back to the guild building where Cerous was. I paid the kids that looked after Cerous that also cleaned him.


    Some were heirlooms while others were artifacts or enchanted items from ages ago. The enchanted items lost their magic or use but still hold some mana which was new to me.


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    I had a hunch that if I could revive this items back to what they were then maybe I could have clues but it was just a wishful thinking.


    But there was one item that really intrigues me, it was a music box. The merchant said that this music box was locked and broken which was unrepairable because it was an old craftsmen art that had been lost for years and forgotten.


    The answer on why did people forget about it, because of magic. People started to use magic on a different approached that was when bards or minstrels class boom. He also said that the music box was a complicated item to repair as there are many small parts inside.


    The music box has weathered wooden cover and reinforced by rusty steel sidings. It got intricate wooden carving on the top while the sidings had floral etchings. It got a built in lock that for some reasons it release a small mana trail.


    It was weird actually, but I guess the owner really want to keep it safe from other people. I could also see the vague runic symbols around the box protecting it from any harm like what I did earlier when I tried to poke the side if it was loose but what I got was a spark pushing away my screwdriver.


    I guess, I have to postponed it for now and find a lock smith here or outside.


    I`m starting to think that I`d developed a hobby of collecting all sorts of things. I was really weird for me but the feeling was fuzzy though.


    It was just weeks ago but my habit of collecting stuff become more and more showy, I think. Then again, there was nothing wrong with it as long as it wasn`t disturbing in a way.


    Wait. I remembered that I have tons of miscellaneous items stored in the bank. Gosh, I should list down my stuffs or I¡¯ll forget them when I got more and be busier with quests and battles.


    Weekends come and I could stroll around but I have a mission for today and that was to learn how to be a lock smith or just know how to unlock that old music box.


    Lock smith nowadays were hard to find as the technology progress some skills starts to become forgotten like lock smith. Luckily this town had a restoration shop which could help me, I hope so.


    The shop wasn`t much of an old garage or something like that but a big rustic shop with displays of restored item from the past like the barbers pole, a telephone booth, and other small items on the window display.


    I`ve already contacted them that I¡¯ll be passing by here to asked for help and maybe learn something.


    As I entered the shop, I could smell the scent of some kind of old wood in the air and the cozy feeling like you`re inside your own home.


    ¡°Welcome to Rowdy Restoration, you must be Mr. Tadashi.¡±


    I was greeted by the clerk-san while I was staring blankly around admiring the small pieces that was on display at the shop.


    I do greeted her back and asked if I could be taught which she said yes shyly. Do I looked like a bad guy or an approachable one? Or she`s just a shy type? Enough of the details while I`m at work.


    She guided me at the back of the shop where I saw a muscled guy hammering down a bend hood or something and he looks mad at it. Is he bald also?


    Then we got approached by a more ripped guy, His chest was bulging that his shirt and jumpers can`t hold his muscles, his biceps was as big as my two arms. He also had a short mustaches and BALD! Damn, was this shop really a restoration shop or a gym? Wait did they also offer bodyguard or bouncer service here?


    ¡°Yow shorty who`s the wheeled Rapunzel withcha¡¯.¡±


    Hey, that`s rude to call me Rapunzel.


    ¡°He`s dad client for today.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I thought he`s your girlfriend.¡±


    That ticked me off.


    ¡°The way you speak was very annoying by the way.¡±


    ¡°Ow sorry didn`t mean to hurt your feelings but I don`t care about it.¡±


    Before he walked away from us he got hit with a book on his back.


    ¡°Stop insulting people Shawn. He`s an important client of dad so be careful.¡±


    But He just shrugged her off like nothing happened. The clerk-san came back to me fuming and muttering something.


    ¡°I really about his behavior, he`s just like that ever since he became one of dad`s handy man here but he`s not that really bad.¡±


    ¡°I get it. Still, he`s annoying and rude to people.¡±


    *sigh ¡°I know even dad got some bad days with him.¡±


    She helped me with my chair as we when to the work office. The clerk`s name was Marie and the daughter of the owner. If I would describe her she would be a shy nerd school girl. She just your average girl with glasses and long black hair. Stereotypical type of character in manga.


    When we entered the work office and saw her daddy my first impression was¡­ He`s their boss for sure. You know why? He`s FREAKING BALD ALSO!!!


    I starting to doubt this shop as a restoration shop but a gym that could made you go bald after training and working. The only difference was he`s not a muscular guy unlike his employees.


    ¡°Oh, Hi Marie and Mr. Tadashi. Welcome to my office I`m Ray and sorry if this place was kinda messy.¡±


    He laughed as he starts to tidy his tools and trinkets. Marie just sigh with his father`s antic and leave the two of us as she need to look after the shop.


    ¡°I would like to ask one question before we start.¡±


    ¡°Okay then, if you like to know anything before I teach you about lock smith go ahead.


    I know it was an old corny joke but.


    ¡°Could you one punch people?¡±


    ¡°Uhm¡­ no. Why would you asked that?¡±


    I suppressed my grin as I tried to reply back but I sigh to release the laughter.


    ¡°Nothing. I was just an old joke I just remember.¡±


    He looked dumbfounded with my answer but he ignored it and brought out a wooden box with a built in lock like the one that I had.


    Our session about lock smiting was just around afternoon. It wasn`t really that hard to understand the basic but the actually was kinda tricky and hard to apply. He gave me few pointers about it and I also asked some advice on how to repair music box.


    Well music box was composed of small metal parts that had different roles like who the gear works, the one that made sound, the timing, and everything to operate a music box. It was a complicated item like a wristwatch that has tons of small gears.


    I went back to my condo after the session, of course it was paid. But before I reach my floor, I came across Martino who`s taking a break.


    We exchange greetings and talked about what`s new things we do. Martino and the others were at the Dukedom also and planning on settling there for the moment because the warp gate was still unpassable because of the swarm season.


    He said that until the swarm season was still on going the warp gate would be closed for us. He added that it was a one way service so we could be stuck where we want to go.


    They`re right now discussing about where kingdom they will go. As of now, information state that we could access on five different kingdom including where we were the Aurum kingdom.


    The other four kingdoms was governed by their own race like the Ryu Empire, the home of the dragons and other lizardkins. Loremane Kingdom govern by beastkin tribes. Diamon Hammer Kingdom where dwarves lives and other craftsmen stays to learn about blacksmithing and other crafting class. And last the Oriesta home land of elves and a matriarchal kingdom.


    The Diamon was the best choice for them but he said that it would be crowded with people if the gate would be opened besides they had a team that would explore that place anyways.


    Now that I think about it, I haven`t decided where to go next after this seasonal event. I have to find a missing link about clockworks and the best choice was the Diamond but that would mean I could get into troubles there as i`m a clockwork.


    Maybe I should research more about before setting place to go next.


    We bid farewell as we reach his floor and set off. Maybe I should think about my next move after this event also. I needed more information about my quest and I had to remodel Servira into a construct to progress with her quest.


    Too much work, so little time.


    -----


    Right now i`ve choose to cut words as i realized that i`m giving too much info or something that might overload everything.

 V2 Chapter 4 : Connections

    Chapter 4


    Rishido here. During breaks, I enjoyed relaxing inside my room and eating snacks while listening to my favorite music. But sometimes, I conducted research about clockworks or the likes of it. Maybe i`m getting caught up being a clockwork. I really should take a day off but I can`t.


    ------


    ¡°Open it! The excitement was killing me already.¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright take it easy okay. I`m getting nervous you know.¡±


    Leyla was like a kid that ate tons of sugar and started running around the house. Would you please calm down for a minute!? You`re making me more nervous.


    At least Servira was here and hugging her so she won`t be flying around from excitement. Still she stoic as ever but I guess it was for the best.  A hyper active one and a nonchalant unexpressive one¡­ very balance.


    The key took days to be made so all my hopes were here.


    As I put the half of the key I turned a full counterclockwise and heard a rusty movement of gears and a click meaning I went through. Then pushed inside with the remaining half and do a half clockwise turn and with a clicking sound I knew that I unlocked this rusty music box.


    The atmosphere was getting heavy as I start to lift off the lid and what came to our view was.


    ¡°Was this all we got from stressful days?¡±


    I could see the disdain looked of Leyla as she saw what`s inside. Even I got surprised about it also.


    It was just a wrought iron that looked like leafy picture frame while inside that frame was a sketch of a mountain. I shouldn`t expected too much, it was very disappointing.


    ¡°It was a music box after all, not a treasure box.¡±


    I tried to comfort her but she`s fuming right now.


    ¡°The owner should at least put a ring, necklace, or any jewelries for the one that could open this stupid box.¡±


    ¡°What do you think Servira?¡±


    ¡°If the music box was repairable then we could use it but if not, I`m storing it on the miscellaneous box right now.¡±


    She was really into working even her comments shows it. Even if now that we confirmed that it was just an old music box the runic writings still bugged me.


    ¡°Weren`t the music ox suspicions that after all the effort we gained nothing even though this box showed signs that it was treasured so much it even had weak runic barrier to begin with.¡±


    ¡°Now that you said it, you were right about that one. Why would one protect it so much over nothing?¡±


    So we`re getting on the same page now. Good.


    ¡°Master, if you dismantled it or repaired it, you might find what you are looking for.¡±


    Then I asked why quizzically to Servira`s remark. Why would she say that?


    ¡°I could see something inside the music box that wasn`t a part of the mechanics, it was more like, it was intentionally put there for safe keeping.¡±


    Wait an item? I take a looked at the box and confirmed that she was saying the truth. Then all of the hard work won`t be wasted.


    I got fired up again and began meticulously disassemble it parts by parts. As I do my work, Leyla watched me like a child waiting for her birthday gift to be opened. While Servira assisted me not to mixed up the parts that I took out.


    While disassembling it, I took pictures of what was inside so I could put it back. It was one of the basic knowledge that I learned from the restoration shop.


    ¡°It is¡­¡±


    I couldn`t believe what I saw inside.


    ¡°It is a valuable? Tell me, tell me.¡±


    ¡°Milady calm down please or Master won`t able say it.¡±


    Then she stopped pestering me. She`s really helpful in cases like this.


    ¡°Thank you Servira, anyways if I would evaluate this. It won`t be a valuable one for you.¡±


    ¡°Why would you say that?¡±


    ¡°Because it was a memory chip of a clockwork. And my only hope was that I could scrap some information out of this.¡±


    I saw a disappointed look from Leyla`s face as she land on her butt in the work table. Hey don`t be down too much.


    ¡°We still got this music box and it was repairable.¡±


    Still even if I said that looks like it just passed her ears. Guess I should cheer her up with something late on.


    ¡°Master, if you`re going to test that. May I be the one to view it first for safety?¡±


    Huh? Why would Servira distrust this chip? Owh it might contain a virus or something. I scanned the chip and it didn`t some a violet coloration meaning it was safe.


    ¡°Don`t worry about it, Servira. It was safe when I scanned it again.¡±


    ¡°Is that so Master.¡±


    I reassembled the music box but this time I put some missing parts, repair broken parts and other things it needed to be operational.


    After the successfully repairing of the music box, I received bonus for repairing it and got proficiency on body engineering, tinkering, and programming. Hhmm¡­ didn`t know that programming could receive some by just repairing this music box. Maybe it was when I tone it or organized the pins of the rotator.


    I installed the chip inside me quickly as Leyla kept on urging me to do so as she said ¡°That might be a treasure map.¡± What`s up with her.


    Wait a minute. I had a skill that could point out stuffs like treasures. What was it again? It was on the tip of my tongue but I can`t really spell it out. Never mind.


    As I got access to the chip, what I got was another video clip again. Now that I mentioned videos clip flashback, I played a game one time that had a similar thing but I needed to absorb people and monsters. I loved the sequel also.


    This time it was just cut parts by parts like 10 ¨C 15 seconds then jump to another one.


    War just ended few years but it feels like yesterday. Many of us the ¡®Prime¡¯ as what we called to ourselves after we started to create inferior ones the ¡®Ersatz¡¯ during war. They`re far behind us in every angle but unlike us, they can be easily made and operational.


    Still the numbers have a say during wars. At least the plans of the Guardians did worked out just right and helped to end the war in favor of the greater good. But still, some of us didn`t make it till the end.


    We lived for a few years with the natives of this world but the rest of us knew that one day there might be another war that would broke if we stayed in wide open. So we decided that to seclude ourselves from everybody and even the so called Gods that was trying to communicate to us were shut down.


    A clockwork or a construct was the only one that could use this chip so I`m not afraid to send some images but my wish was that keep this as a secret for your safety also. I don`t know how much years would pass but I know that one day we could live freely again.


    I don`t know on where or when but my hopes were high. We knew that there would be other clockworks that would appear besides us. That`s why I`m making this Time memory for you to look for us but you need to know that we won`t be easily convince.


    If you want to learn more then, backtrack us. I`ve shown you hints. But to make it easier, we first arrived at a dukedom near the mountain ridge that`s inside the Aurum Kingdom.


    Be safe young one, this world had what they called bad people that hide under the skin of great people. We had innate intuition, use that to be guided to the right path. I`m trusting all my hope to you and the gift I gave you may guide you with your travels.


    Then it was cut. I haven`t seen the face nor the name of the narrator but what I`ve seen was his past experience. From their arrival to the dreadful war and even when they got enslave to make armies of what they called Ersatz.


    Now that I think about it, I made Cerous and Mabby that was inferior to me. Does that mean they`re Ersatz? Servira was not an Ersatz as she was the revived one from the original clockwork. But was one before. Uh¡­ very confusing.


    Then Leyla pestered me with questions about what I saw. She falls in silence as what I told her about the memories but I leave the names because that might affect Servira`s disposition.


    ¡°Don`t worry about it Leyla, years had passed and people had change somehow so cheer up. Besides, we will go for another adventure.¡±


    I cheered her up because she was too affected with it. She slapped her both cheeks and become energetic again. Hhmm... Guess I don`t have to worry too much but she needs to rely on others with her feelings.


    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    Then I opened my quest log. Owh! The Cycle of Life just got updated. Great isn`t it.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''4''>Cycle of Life</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''4''>You`ve just discovered different things about your race from the black card and discovered a time memory chip that have shown you some hints about their pass location. You need to discover where they stayed and find clues in that place to where to find them.


    Difficulty: Unknown


    Time Limit: Unknown


    Conditions: Clockwork only, received an item created by the clockwork


    Failure: Unable to discover it before going to any Capital or beta test end


    If failed, the clockwork race will be locked until it was discovered and finished the race quest.</td></tr></tbody></table>


    That was harsh for failure. No time limit. Tsk, I only got until beta test time then. Wait, no freebies? Ow, come on really? Great, after doing quest mission I`ve got no compensation except what I discovered.


    *sigh* it would be good if at least there was a free item or something.


    We just ended our day by cleaning and repairing old items. It was a good relaxation and I gain stats with quest being discovered but they don`t have ¡®unknown¡¯ on the time limit. I`ll do this quest later or after beta test.


    Hhmm¡­ how could I keep my item if they would be wiped out clean after the beta test. I need to find some loop holes inside the system.


    *


    ¡°Got any clues?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, a cavern near the small hill top just north of the dukedom.¡±


    Days after the music box event, I`ve been researching about the places they could have stayed. Incidentally this dukedom was established just after the war for travelers¡¯ reason.


    The map from the video or the terrain was almost the same somehow, things could change, but not an entire mountain could disappear in a blink of an eye.


    I`ve got a map of the dukedom and the surrounding area that was under control of the dukedom was included. Currently, we`re preparing to travel towards the northern cave called cave of memories.


    As the name implies, it was full of antic items from the first settlers here but got buried because of the earthquake happened decades ago.


    It wasn`t popular nowadays as it was plundered and excavated by earlier adventurers but still, I`m still hoping that we could find something inside that was helpful.


    Going to the northern part of the dukedom was the same as the southern part where everyone from the starter village would enter but the situation here was better.


    It go some pricier shops with good quality. Most shops here was a branch store from the southern store, guess they predicted this situation.


    Right before we exit the northern gates, we`re told by the guards that we need to be careful going to the cave as there were powerful monsters that`s roaming around.


    What could be that monster anyways?


    *


    Traversing up towards the mountain was easy as most residents were only animals, even the predators don`t set a threat to us as they back away once we`re getting closed to them.


    I`m still wondering if that monster was true or just an urban legend here.


    Inside the cave was pretty normal for me, I mean no odd things inside like wooden supports, carts or anything just a normal cave entrance that have some plants around.


    I didn`t detect any monsters inside even if it was a cave that was deep according to the info we`ve collected. The cave was like a mineshaft but don`t have any shine stone, the stone that I discovered from the scrapyard dungeon.


    It was pretty wide actually as Cerous could fit inside and even to turn around. There were some small room caverns but it was empty. I almost forgot my title skill.


    There are signals deep down the cave but we`re facing a dead end now. So I just activate the driller of Cerous and starts to dig more to discover what was on the other side.


    After about 20 meters or so, Cerous broke an earth wall as the drill pass through it, intriguing.


    I`ve stop Cerous so he won`t be overworked up for safety purposes if that urban monster was true. He will guard the tunnel as we will continue on searching this newly discovered cave room.


    ¡°Do you think we could find your legacy here?¡±


    ¡°I don`t know Leyla but the signals keep blinking as we got closer. Whatever that was, it might be important to be stored far from the entrance.¡±


    ¡°Master I think we reached our destination.¡±


    We both stop as Servira called me. What we saw were buried crates and jars. Too clich¨¦, a treasure chest? Really?


    Leyla quickly hover on top of the buried containers but my guess was there would be more if we dug them up. Servira and I was doing manual labor while Leyla was enthusiastically using her Earth manipulation magic that she got from Master Pad.


    I put away the excavated containers as Servira kept on digging them out one by one. It was good to have a fast pace but if this fast, I guess she would trouble her companions. Wait, i`m her companion.


    After we dug out the last chest, all in all we`ve got around 10 containers, 7 for the chest while 3 for the jars. What was the jars for, is it for wine, vinegar, or pickled foods.


    As expected, the chest had some runic symbols to them but became weaker. Oddly enough, when I inspected the lock it has the same mechanics as the music box. Could it be?


    Quickly opened the box and I was in shocked. I shouldn`t get shocked, i`m technical a robot right?


    ¡°Is this what I wasted my magic for?! Was there somebody that`s playing pranks to me? If it`s your doing Florence, I`m telling that you`re going to had very bad day, i`m telling you!¡±


    ¡°Calm down Milady, the items inside was useful so don`t frustrate yourself so much.¡±


    Good call Servira. I don`t know who this Florence was but I don`t think that they were friends. I sympathies that it wasn`t money, jewelries and other treasure items but a bunch of books, antic magic tool and other old stuffs.


    As I opened the other antic chest that also had the same lock mechanism, we assessed that the chest got books about history of different races including the war, antic magic tools that was the very first one to be created¡­maybe. Old magic weapons and armors that have the same design that I saw from the video clips.


    What caught my attention was the scrolls and manuscript with pictures drawn to it. It was all about making an energy efficient self-sustained core. My hard work was paying off big time now.


    I even saw a book about repairing a construct which I really needed.


    There were also some common clothes, crafting tools like for blacksmithing, and vanity items that cheered up Leyla when Servira hand it over to her. It was a perfume I guess but I couldn`t say if it was good or bad, I only got was bunch of details, then again, Leyla was happy so it was a good perfume.


    When we check the jars, the first jar was full on ingots and trinkets for a clockwork like gears, but the thing is when I check up on the purity of the ingots through metallurgy, it was a whopping 95% and the rest was mithril. A freaking mithril was compounded in this ingot.


    Rapidly checked the others and my mind was blown away by the ingots.


    ¡°Looks like antic buying and repair give good profits, don`t you think?¡±


    Leyla nodded eagerly as she hugged the perfume bottle while Servira just answered me with a yes as she started to organized the items we`ve got.


    Suddenly a thunderous roar rang all over the room. It had a disembodied like sound of a lion, an eagle and a gorilla.


    ¡°What was that Raiser?¡±


    Leyla asked worriedly as she flew over to me as I looked back to the tunnel.


    ¡°I don`t know Leyla but what`s beyond that tunnel we create might be the owner of this place and we just made a hole inside his home and he`s not happy about it.¡±


    Damn it. The connected sensor from Cerous that it was a Level 6 threat. Tsk, field boss class monster.


    We could deal with it but the space was the problem. I checked my escape rope but it was blocked by that monsters mana.


    ¡°The escape rope was no good also, we`re trapped.¡±


    ¡°We need to get out somehow, right? Could Cerous dig another hole for us to escape?¡±


    ¡°That was possible but that might be our end also as that monster beyond the darkness was approaching us fast. Bet it was digging the hole we made.¡±


    I needed to think of a plan or else we would become a part of the past right here.


    ------


    this will be the last item for this week hope you enjoyed this.


    if there are any errors please bear as i`m still a newbie and any suggestions are welcome.


    this next week.