《VRMMO: My first Contractee is Yandere》 Chapter 1 Prolouge "God, god, god, god, god, god, god, god¡­" "¡­I may have overdone it a bit." A charming young girl with splendid white hair and ruby eyes carries arge scythe on her back. Her beautiful eyes swirl with fanaticism as she worships me¡ªthough I''m just a dark spirit she calls "God." This girl, Liora, clings to me affectionately, rubbing her cheek against mine repeatedly. In the world''s first full-dive VRMMO, she became the strongest character¡ªthe [Reaper Girl]. And along with her I who had no intention of bing a top-ranking yer was dragged too. "How did ite to this¡­"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "God, god~! Let''s be together, forever. Forever together. Forever and ever¡­" I quit my job to y games. The game I decided to y is the world''s first full-dive VRMMO called Phanom Heroes Online. We call it PHO. This game lets you exchange in-game currency and items for real money. I''ve always liked games. I like money too. So, even though I haven''t yed it yet, I already love PHO, where one can earn money just by ying. Thus, my first VR game experience begun. Chapter 2 CHARACTER CREATION [Please set your yer name.] "Zephyr." I''m currently in the midst of character creation. An AI is guiding me through the process, making it essible for beginners like me. But now, I''ve hit a wall: spirit attributes. In PHO, yers assume the role of spirits who support and nurture in-game residents. Each spirit can only control one attribute, a choice that could define my entire gamey. The attributes avable are "Fire," "Water," "Wind," "Earth," "Light," and "Darkness." This choice says a lot about your personality. Fire, though powerful and destructive, might be toomon. Given my limited gaming prowess, I should choose an attribute where I can be most effective. That leaves me torn between Light and Darkness. Both offer supportive or debuff roles, which could suit me well. Darkness it is then; Light doesn''t quite fit my style. I address the silent AI, which has been patiently assisting me. "I''ll be a dark spirit." [Please choose your skills. You may select five initial skills. Additional skills can be chosen every ten levels.] A vast list of skills appears before me. In PHO, I role-y as a supportive spirit. The mainbatants are the residents, NPCs whose survival is critical; losing them means wasted effort and lost potential. "I''d prefer not to lose any contractees. It''s a waste of time¡­ So, let''s take [Auto HP Recovery], [Auto MP Recovery], and [Appraisal]." That''s three slots filled. Both [Auto HP Recovery] and [Auto MP Recovery] are passive skills that apply to contractees as well. Appraisal is essential, a skill I''ve read about in web novels. For the remaining two slots, I choose [Dark Aura] and [Darkness Creation]. [Dark Aura] envelops my contractee in a mysterious darkness; its practical use remains to be seen, but it looks impressive! Perhaps Intimidation could be another skill? In PHO, character resets are prohibited; trying to create another avatar in alternative pods will be discovered¡ªrumored to be based on brainwave patterns. Scary. This makes it challenging for testers, discouraging choices made just for fun. But I don''t mind. The monotony of being bound to a sryman''s life exhausts me. I never want to be constrained again. Even if I''m not strong, I can still earn in-game currency. Lastly, I select [Darkness Creation]. This skill conjures tangible darkness. It sounds fun; my contractees could forge swords and other items! These two skills are unique to dark spirits, distinct from conventional magic. They''re special abilities exclusive to dark spirits, potentially powerful.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Though I''m unsure of their full capabilities, I''m confident they will benefit my contractees! "Warning: You haven''t selected the skill [Manifest]. Without it, you can''t materialize in the other world." "It''s fine. I''m not keen on interacting with people, not even in a VRMMO." "Understood." The homepage emphasizes that [Manifest] is essential. Spirits typically appear as floating, glowing entities. With [Manifest], they can take physical form temporarily, enhancing the full-dive experience. "I''ll save that for future games. For now, I just want to earn in-game currency." Status Boost Selection: "Now, let''s discuss status boosts. When a contractee levels up, you can enhance their growth. Choose an attribute." "Boost HP." In this game, spirits can enhance only one of a contractee''s stats. "Let''s add a second enhancement, even with a penalty." With a penalty, you can boost a second stat. "Decrease strength growth, increase agility." "Understood." Everything is set. A blinding white light envelops me for a moment, but it passes swiftly. When I open my eyes again, a different world unfolds before me. "Wee, yer Nero. You will save this world from its impending destruction. Form contracts with the residents and guide them to salvation." "Wow!" I soar through the air. Below me stretch countless clouds, a fantastical town, a majestic castle, armed figures, beautiful elves, and cool beastmen bustling about. Incredible! I feel the breeze. I inhale the scents. I sense the textures! Chapter 3 My first contractee Liora As I started the game, my first task wasn''t to sightsee the VR world but to search for a contractor. As a spirit yer, I cannot exercise my "power" without a contractor. Without [MANIFESTATION], sightseeing is a waste of time. I can''t level up either. No level-up means no money. Therefore, I must find an NPC to contract with. However, there''s one problem. I am part of the "first wave" of this game. I was one of the earliest yers to buy the pod, but my resignation process took longer than expected. Now, it''s been three days since the service started. This is the worst! All the promising NPCs have already been taken by other yers. The kingdom''s knightmander. The holy maiden. The handsome third prince (the first prince apparently dislikes spirits). Most other seemingly strong and good-looking NPCs have already been contracted by other yers. "I also prefer a beautiful girl, if possible." If I have to watch over someone, I prefer a woman over a man, and the more beautiful she is, the better. Moreover, the stronger they are from the start, the better it is, right? Considering the growth boost and the penalty I have set up, an initially high-level NPC might not be ideal, though. I floated away from the royal capital towards the surrounding viges. In my current form, I was like a glowing balloon. Apparently, NPCs without the aptitude couldn''t see me, so I could observe anything freely. Some yers, not choosing contractors, spent their time peeping. This game is restricted to yers aged 19 and over, meaning even the erotic scenes are unrestricted. By the way, there are no limits on gore either, leading some yers to quit due to trauma. It''s not even been a week since the game started, though. I had been floating for an hour. Although time flows three times faster in the game, it felt like a waste of time. I was torn between my desire to be selective and my urge to start quickly. It was at that moment. "St-stay away!" At the outskirts of the mountains, near a small vige, a young girl was being attacked by monsters. The enemies were goblins, and they were drooling all over her, pinning her down. She was still a child, but the goblins were small too. They seemed to have found the perfect prey. Well, I can''t really tell from a goblin''s face. "Wow..." This is the terrifying part of "PHO." Such things happen routinely. Some yers contract beautiful girls and happily venture into the field, only for those girls to be defeated and vited by goblins. Some yers get excited, some are devastated, and others cry out in despair. Many different types of yers emerged. The inte buzzed daily with debates on whether this game should be discontinued due to these things. "This... is really unpleasant to overlook." Even though they are NPCs, they are equipped with advanced AI. Whether or not you can call it emotions, they seem to experience pain and sadness. I sighed, epting this as fate. ¨ŒLiorna''s Perspective¨Œ The young girl, Liora, was in despair. She had ventured into the mountains to collect medicine for her sick mother. She knew there were monsters but never thought she would actually be attacked. "S-someone, help¡ª" A goblin punched her in the face. Blood spurted from her nose, and her vision blurred with shes of light. The goblin was already in an attacking stance, pulling off Liora''s skirt. Finding her smooth skin, young flesh, the goblinughed gleefully. ''It''s over'' Liora closed her eyes, envisioning herself being taken to the goblin''s nest, her belly swelling with goblin children. She saw herself living a life of a breeding sow amidst filth. "Kill me..." She said, just then. ''Can you hear me, young girl?'' "...Huh?" Turning away from the goblin''s filthy face, Liora saw a floating ck orb beside her. The orb spoke to her. ''Girl, do you desire power?'' She couldn''t understand what it was saying. ''Do you not want the power to protect yourself from these vile creatures?'' She didn''t understand. But the voice was so gentle. It was the first time anyone had spoken to her so kindly. ''It''s too early to give up. If you contract with me, you can be free.'' "Free...?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om ''With power, you can do whatever you wish. You may live as you please, and I will permit it.'' ''I can live as I please...I can save my mother?'' ''Will you contract with me?'' In Liora''s despairing heart, a spark ignited. "I will! I''ll contract! I want to save my mother!" [PLAYER ZEPHYR, you have contracted with NPC: Liora.] Suddenly, the ck orb burst. Immediately, darkness enveloped Liora''s entire body, and power surged through her. She felt an overwhelming sense of invincibility. Liora''s eyes widened. At that moment, the ck orb spoke. ''I see. Your name is Liora, correct? Liora¡ªscream it.'' "W-what should I...scream?" ''Darkness Creation!'' "DARKNESS CREATION!!!" And with that, the darkness was unleashed. ¨ŒZephyr''s Pov¨Œ What I unleashed using Liora''s MP was one of the dark spells. A dark sphere collided with the goblin''s face, sending its body flying with the impact. It probably wasn''t enough to kill it in one blow. The goblin tumbled on the ground, quickly getting back up. However, its face was now a mangled mess. It had been ugly to begin with, but the injuries seemed to add a certain grim determination to its appearance. By contracting with me, Liora now had [HP Auto-Recovery]. Her face, which had been punched, was gradually healing. As Liora stood in shock, I spoke to her. "Stand up, Liora. The battle isn''t over yet." "Uh, what should I do..." "Pick up a weapon." "A weapon?" Liora nced at the sickle lying on the ground. She must have brought it to gather herbs. The sickle was old, its de rusted and chipped. But a weapon is a weapon. She picked it up and, with trembling hands, pointed it at the goblin. "Run." "O-okay!" Liora dashed forward. It was an amateur''s full sprint with no sense of distance management. Despite the contradiction in terms, her short stride didn''t gain much speed. The goblin raised its club mockingly, only for it to be ensnared by a rope made of [Darkness Creation] that I had cast. "Gyah?" The goblin, bewildered by the loss of its club, looked up just in time to see Liora drive the sickle into its unprotected heart. [Zephyr has levelled up!] [Liora has levelled up!] [Zephyr''s dark magic has levelled up!] [Darkness Creation has leveled up] [Liora has reached level 10 and can now change jobs] The first game logs flowed. So many! Next to me, in my joy, Liora looked at her own trembling hands in astonishment. But the twisted smile on her face was not one of fear¡ªit was joy. Yes, it was joy. That day, I knew, I am creating a monster¡ªa little girl-shaped one. Chapter 4 The Dark Spirit Who Claims to Be a God Name: Zephyr Gender: Male Level: 2 Race: Dark Elemental Contract Adjustment: Increased HP, Increased Agility, Decreased Strength Magic: 20 Skills: HP Auto-Recovery, MP Auto-Recovery, Appraisal, Darkness Creation, Dark Aura Stats:Attack: [10] Magic Attack: [10] Durability: [10] Agility: [10] Luck: [10] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Name: Liora Gender: Female Level: 10 Race: Human Job: Farmer Magic: 1 Production: Agriculture 19 Stats: Attack: [74] Magic Attack: [50] Durability: [77] Agility: [53] Luck: [50] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- That''s how it goes. I''m still a beginner, so I don''t quite understand it all yet. Maybe I should think about itter? More importantly, now is the time to decide Liora''s new job and then acquire new skills. In this game, you can acquire skills every 10 levels, so reaching level 10 is fortunate. In the aftermath of the battle, Liora''s cheeks are flushed with excitement. I call out to her. "Liora. From today, as someone who has contracted with me, you can choose a profession every 10 levels. Also, the way skills are acquired has changed from random to selection. What will you do?" "Um, before that... what are you?" "Oh?" Come to think of it, I skipped the exnation entirely. Well, given the circumstances, if I had exined in detail, Liora would probably have been in the midst of something else right now. Currently, Liora was attacked by a goblin, and suddenly she was urged to contract with a ck sphere. The moment she agreed, the goblin was blown away, and we won. If it were me, I would be running around in confusion. She''s a tough little girl. "I still haven''t introduced myself, have I? My name is Zephyr. I''m a dark..." Suddenly, an idea strikes me. I am ater to the first wave. I waste to join. However, this tardiness may not be entirely disadvantageous. That''s because I have information from the bulletin board. ording to the bulletin board, "If you contract with a super cool bandit-looking guy, he''llpletely ignore your orders." NPCs seem to have advanced AI and appear quite human. Even in a nurturing game, it''s possible for the subject to ignore you. So what should I do to prevent that? I am no dark spirit. After all, I am just a yer. However, NPCs shouldn''t know that. After all, this is a game. It must be enjoyed. So let''s do some role-ying (RP). "I am the God of Darkness. People call me a ''Dark God.''" "A-Are you... an evil God...?" "Don''t worry, Liora. ''Dark God'' is just what people call me. I simply govern the darkness. Without darkness, there is no peace in the world. Darkness isn''t necessarily evil." "...I guess so. Without darkness, I can''t sleep at night." "Exactly." Liora nods repeatedly, impressed. She''s so pure. It pricks at my conscience a little. But this is just a game, and after all, the other party is an NPC. I listen to Liora as she gazes at her own hands and murmurs. "...I made a contract with a God. I was saved by God." "Now, Liora. You have obtained the power of a God. You are free in this world now. You can do whatever you want." Since she contracted with me, I want to get along with her. As for me, as long as she hunts and does random adventures, that''s okay. I''ll let her do it under the guise of "God''s mission," but otherwise, I want her to have fun and be free. "Liora, I am the God of Darkness. I permit all desires. What do you want to do?" "I want to be strong." "With that strength, what will you do?" "Ad...venture." Liora''s cheeks turn red, and then her eyes start spinning wildly. Her head shakes slightly, and she begins to express her feelings. The desires of a young girl, through the darkness, have been revealed. "I want to be an adventurer and get rich! I want to eat rice with tes, I want to eat to my heart''s content! I don''t want anyone taking my food! I want to sleep in a warm bed! I don''t want anyone hitting me! I want to kill everyone, the vigers who bullied me, my brothers who tried to sell me to a brothel! I don''t want to see their faces or be at their mercy anymore! I want to be free!" Liora pours out her heart while screaming. Overwhelmed by the torrent of tears and the screaming young girl, I feel pressured. ''Does a kid''s backstory have to be this intense?'' I closely observe the dirty Liora. Her facial features are rmingly well-formed. With snow-white hair, crimson eyes, and unusually pure white skin, faint blood vessels are visible. She has a startlingly beautiful appearance that takes my breath away. "They called me a monster''s child and oppressed me. I want to kill them all!" Liora abruptly stops crying and stares at me. Her expression is empty. It''s a ghastly face, as if the reflection in the mirror is staring back expressionlessly. Seeing that expression, I... got angry. Under the torn clothes, there are bruises. They''re not from the recent wounds inflicted just now. And given Liora''s current words... I already understand how she was treated in the vige. "Alright, Liora." I am a dark god. After all, this is just a game. I think it''s silly to sympathize with NPCs. However, I sympathized with this girl. Being unfairly mistreated by those around her. Even though she was desperately trying to do her best for them, they arrogantly took her devotion for granted. I dislike those people. Enemies who bully young girls. They''re monsters. "Alright, Liora! Let''s exterminate the vigers!" I''m not the type to hesitate about killing game characters. I don''t know if there''s such a thing as karma points, but bring it on. In response to my approval, Liora murmured in ecstasy. "Yes... my lord." Next to the dirty goblin''s corpse. In the mountains behind the vige. Our witness was lush nature, as we made a true covenant. The wind swayed the forest, and the rustling of leaves sounded like apuse. Chapter 5 Let鈥檚 Get Stronger to Kill My Family! ¨Œ Liora, her eyes swirling with emotion, sps her hands together like a praying saint and bows to me repeatedly. Over and over, she murmurs, "Thank you, God. Thank you, God. Thank you, God." "That''s enough! I ept your prayers!" However, let''s prioritize ying the game over words of gratitude for now. "Liora, I can change your job with the power of the gods. What new job would you like?" "I would like to be a cleric¡­" A cleric? Does she want to preach my greatness to the world? Pfft-! That''s funny!! With arge nod from me ¡ª although it''s just a ck orb bobbing up and down ¡ª I agree. "Alright, let''s go with a cleric." I change Liora''s job. A cleric''s job boosts MP and magic attack power. Apparently, in this game, both offensive and healing spells are calcted using the same stat. Moreover, the hidden ability of the cleric (a special effect not shown in the status) is increased healing capabilities. Since I have ''Auto HP Recovery'' and ''Auto MP Recovery,'' it''s quite effective. "You can also choose one skill. Which one will it be?" "I want God to decide¡­ for me¡­" "Me? Hmm, let''s see¡­" This is good news. Many yersin, "I want NPCs to be front-liners, but they keep choosing magic support skills!" Liora is considerate to let me decide. "Well, we need a weapon first. How about a sickle?" The only nearby weapons are a club dropped by a goblin and the sickle Liora brought. To get a sword or axe, we''d have to steal from the vige. But considering what Liora said, it seems no one would willingly lend her anything. People should be kinder to little girls! But first, there''s something I need to ask. "Liora, what about magic? It seems you have an aptitude for magic." Magic Arts allows one spell per skill level 1 and then one more every ten levels. Essentially, this means you can eventually learn up to eleven spells. Yet Liora hasn''t learned any magic so far. "No one¡­ taught me magic¡­" Liora looks down and then suddenly beams a radiant smile. "That''s why¡­ I want God to decide¡­ everything for me." "Oh, I see¡­ That''s good¡­ yeah." Liora smiles happily. It seems her affection level has maxed out. She''s had a tough life so far, and I''m the only one who has treated her well in a positive way. I gave her power. And I acknowledged the dark desires she had been harboring¡­ Standing next to a goblin''s corpse is getting a bit tough, so we decide to move a little. ¨Œ Our new spot is a giant rock. Liora sits on top, swinging her legs cheerfully. She looks just like a little girl (because she is one). "What magic should I choose?" It''s tough since I can''t undo it once my little contractee learns it once. The consensus on the message boards is that a cleric job''s magic is difficult. Although, she is now essentially a dark magic user, that too includes "healing," "buffing," "attack," "binding," "defense," and more. Specializing in any of these can be powerful, but being a jack-of-all-trades might be weak. ¡­ "Then, how about learning the ''sh'' spell at level 1?" "Understood. God." [NPC Liora has learned the spell: FLASH under the guidance of yer: Zephyr] Notification resounded confirming that my follower had learned the spell. "You''ve learned it, Liora. Please use it well." This spell has a low rating on the boards. It''s just a simple sh of light, not as impressive as healing, supporting, or attacking. The effect is uncertain too. But thinking about it as a fantasy game with swords and magic, a low-cost shbang sounds quite useful for hunting or in actualbat. Simple attacks, recovery, and support might be stronger, but Liora uses ''sh'' happily. So shy! A trail of darkness was left behind as she moved with her new skill excitedly. Whizzzzzzzzzz- Whizzzz-! Liora swings her sickle wildly. ''I may have to get a scythe for her in the future, after all she seemsfortable with that sickle.'' As for abat skill, let''s follow up with [Scythe Technique 1.] She looks like a fierce praying mantis. Though the sickle is small, she seems to be getting the hang of it. We''re ready. Let''s start leveling up. ¨Œ Liora charges alone into a group of goblins. I use [Darkness Creation] to protect her vulnerable areas, covering her neck and chest with tangible darkness. The five goblins cheer at the sight of prey but soon, their excitement changes to screams. Liora equips "sh" appearing in front of the goblin covered in darkness, then slices its neck with the sickle. The goblins are around level ten. It''s hard to believe that Liora''s strength alone could cause an instant kill. But this is actually due to the ''Scythe'' skill. The skill ''Scythe Technique 1''es with the passive skill [Head Hunt]. This skill increases the power of attacks aimed at the neck by five times and ignores the target''s durability (defense). It seems it can also instantly kill weaker enemies. "Feel free to go wild, Liora." "Yes! Sir!" She swings with a rotating sh. One goblin''s neck is severed, and another''s chest is deeply shed. The goblins, spurting blood, scramble to fight back. And then! "sh!" The dark attribute art explodes. Blinded by the sh, the goblins freeze. Liora, unaffected, charges forward. She continues to decapitate the goblins. Liora''s hair sways in the wind as she emotionlessly hunts. How cool! "I will annihte them!" "One wounded, one unhurt left, Liora." "Yes, my god!" She immediately casts another ''sh.'' The goblins, wary now, close their eyes and swing their clubs wildly, trying to keep Liora at bay. Not a bad move. But not good enough! Because, "Darkness Creation!!" I''m here. Binding them up with the chains created from my skill, I keep the goblin''s movement at bay. "Gyaa!?" The screaming goblin doesn''t understand what happened. And why it''s hands are tied my something aburptly. Liora throws her sickle, hitting its neck. The goblin''s head is ripped off. Only the injured goblin remains. "Gya-gya-gya-gya!" Thest goblin, panicked, throws its club at Liora. With little battle experience, Liora reacts slowly and takes the hit to her face. "Liora!?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "I''m used to¡­ the pain¡­" Despite her broken nose, Liora charges at the unarmed goblin. I retrieve her thrown sickle with a dark hand created by [Darkness Creation]. Gripping the sickle tightly, Liora delivers the final blow. In the mountains, another weakling lets out a death cry today. While it might bemonce in the mountains, for us, it''s a rare event. The heat of victory fills our bodies. [Zephyr has leveled up.] Chapter 6 The Game Play and Mechanics After wepletely annihte a horde of goblins, fanfare resounds in my mind. The system''s voice activates, reporting our achievements. [Zephyr has leveled up] [Zephyr''s Dark Magic has leveled up] [Zephyr''s Darkness Creation has leveled up] [Zephyr''s HP auto recovery has leveled up] [Zephyr''s MP auto recovery has leveled up] [Liora''s Scythe Technique has leveled up] [Liora''s Agriculture skills have leveled up] [Liora''s Dark Magic has leveled up] ...Oh? There was a slightly unnatural announcement just now. In "Phantom Heroes Online," skills level up through use. This implies that if you don''t use them, they won''t level up, paradoxically. However, Liora''s agricultural skills leveled up in the recent battle. Could it be because she used the sickle? If so, it might be quite an abnormal situation. As levels increase, the basic power of attacks also strengthens. So, if Liora''s Scythe Technique and Agriculture coexist, the power of her scythe could potentially double. Could this be cheating? Well, my theory''s evidence is still insufficient. It''s just a possibility for now. "You''re doing well. There shouldn''t be any problems with goblins of this level." "Y-yes, sir. God." "...Now, Liora. I think it''s about time for me to log out¡ªtake a break. Staying in this world for too long could be burdensome even for a god." "?" Liora tilts her head cutely. She probably doesn''t understand logging out. I repeat my exnation carefully. As a result, tears well up slowly in Liora''s eyes. She prostrates herself desperately right there. "P-please don''t abandon me, God..." "Oh no, I really don''t intend to abandon you. It''s alright, Liora." "B-but..." "See, it''s like this." I log out for a moment. Then I immediately log back in. Time in the game world seems to advance three times faster than in the real world. Even in that brief moment, several seconds have passed for Liora. Seeing me return, Liora bursts into tears. "You''vee back, right? I''ll be back after a while, you know." "Y-yes... God." "...In six hours... I''ll return eighteen hourster, so in the meantime, focus on leveling up your Dark Magic. Don''t attack goblins in groups; kill the ones wandering alone." In "PHO," it seems NPCs continue to grow even when yers are not logged in. It''s like self-training. Automatic leveling up even when not logged in¡ªhow convenient. The automation of games these days has both supporters and critics, but I''m pro if it fits the game system. Convenience is better than inconvenience. Before logging out, I set the logout settings. When I log out, my spirit hovers around Liora. It operates automatically as I''ve set. "Liora, when I''m not here, if you chant ''Darkness Creation,'' the vessel will release magic. With this, defensive darkness will appear to protect weak points." "Yes, God. Thank you once again." "Use Appraisal as you like too." With this, I''ve logged out. In that moment of disappearance, I meet Liora''s gaze like an abandoned puppy. It pains my conscience, but this is just a game. Real life takes priority for me. ¨Œ I eat chicken biryani that I bought. I live alone, single, and sad, so I can eat what I want whenever I want. I won''t be scolded for looking at my smartphone during meals. I''m looking at the "PHO" bulletin board. Apparently, everyone is struggling with the first field boss. There are many character losses. yers contracted with knight captains and saints are frustrated because they can''t challenge the field boss due to workmitments. Even if they are strong, NPC status prevents them from acting rashly. Currently, the most popr contract targets are "strong individuals," like mercenaries. Next in line are "reasonably strong adventurers." Some are contracting artisans to help with their production. Some even contract with their favorite pretty girls or handsome guys. Contracting children like me are extremely unpopr. Initially, lolicons and shotacons rushed to contract, but... if they take children out for leveling, they be intimidated by monsters and can''t move, ending up brutally ughtered. Although Liora is 15, she is an exception and has the mental fortitude beyond anyone''s imagination. "PHO" depicts child corpses matter-of-factly. There are even cases where parents won''t allow children to go to leveling areas. "It seems I''m going to be quite a unique yer." I mutter and crush the leg piece with my teeth. I enjoy the popping sensation and then savor the meaty taste that lingers in my mouth. It''s delicious. I open the "PHO" app synced with my smartphone. There''s a "cash out" page. I haven''t been active enough to cash out much. "Oh, I can cash out goblin corpses for ten rupees." Some might think that''s just ten rupees. However, I feel like "even ten rupees" is something. After all, I don''t need ten thousand rupees for goblin corpses. Still, I''ll cash out just in case. Even ten rupees is money. If I can sell off unwanted items, it''s nothing but profit. "But how does the cash-out system even work? It seems like there''s a catch in ''PHO''... but if I can earn money happily, it''s not a big deal." After finishing the meal, I dive into bed.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om From today, I''m unemployed. I''ll indulge inzy sleep. Freely! Without being tied down by anything! ...Well, I''ll set an rm so I don''t neglect Liora. Chapter 7 The Exterimination When I looked in again, Liora was diligently hunting goblins. [yer ZEPHYR has reached level 10!] Since I have surpassed level 10, I can acquire a new skill. Moreover, Liora can also learn a new skill. It''s especially beneficial for Liora, as she currently only has the spell [sh], so an additional spell will increase ourbat power. "Do you have any preferences, Liora?" "Whatever the gods will is, that... will be my will too~" "Understood. We will strive for the best." For Liora''s new spell, I choose the dark magic [Dark Regen]. Given that she is a cleric, I want her to learn healing magic, and I aim to synergize this with [HP Auto-Recovery]. Surprisingly, they can coexist. Well, learning the standard [Heal] for immediate recovery was also attractive, but if we''re going to learn one, I thought aiming for a higher level of skill would be ideal. [Dark Regen] in that way seems a really good skill. Liora''s scythe techniques have also surpassed level 10, allowing us to acquire another art for herbat. I selected [Life Stealing de]. This is a drain-type art that, when used with the scythe, grants the effect of "stealing HP from the target it shes." Since I have chosen HP as my contract enhancement, eventually, Liora might be an unsinkable battleship. The regeneration type is percentage-based, so its effect increases. "Next is me..." "I''m excited, my lord. You''ll regain more of your power, right?" Although Liora is quite a gloomy young girl, she always smiles brightly when she expresses her expectations of me. I cannot betray her expectations... "I can add one dark magic art, one [Create Dark], and since I''ve reached level ten, I can learn one production skill." I''ve decided. For dark magic art, I''ll choose [Gift Of Venom], a spell that poisons the target. Given that I am developing Liora to be a sustained tank type, this poison will pair excellently. I learned this from a game where you send monsters into battle from balls. Additionally, I will obtain the skill [Resist Dispel] in the remaining skill slot. Since poison is powerful, it''s likely to be countered, and this selection anticipates that. Then there is the acquisition ofbat art resulting from [Darkness Creation] reaching level 10. This skill, it seems, solidifies the shape of the material it creates. [Darkness Materialization I] A bit unclear? Let''s give it a try. The shape I chose¡ªa shield. [You have added "Shield" mode to Darkness Creation.] The MP consumption is also reduced when creating the shield. Convenient. "I''ll hold off on production skills for now... Now, Liora." I adopt a serious tone to question Liora''s resolve. "Are you sure about this? I am a god. I will respect your free will. I will guide you, but the path you choose is¡ªyours alone." "P-please, my lord... My parents, who tried to sell me, are my enemies." Liora reportedly entered the mountains to find medicinal herbs for her sick mother. This dedication wasn''t out of love.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om She was forced, and it seemed like she also attempted to deceive me by saying, "I want to save my mother." In the end, she couldn''t deceive me. "I am sorry, my god." Snow-white hair, crimson eyes, astonishingly pale skin. To the ignorant vigers, these were signs of poison. They perceived Liora as something to fear, to shun, and believed it was eptable to mistreat her. Liora is broken. Even in such conditions, she made efforts to be loved¡ªknowing it was futile. But her efforts were never rewarded. Even if she risked her life to bring back medicinal herbs, she wouldn''t be loved. Merely existing was enough to be hated, and it seemed her fate was already sealed to be sold to a brothel. Remarkably, she survived to her current age; she was raised only because a girl with such rare looks could be sold for a high price. ''I am an adult. Normally, it would be right to stop Liora. But that''s only in societies with structures simr to ours. At least in this game, stopping Liora would be cruel to her.'' Well, I''m not a normal person myself. I don''t intend to live rightly. Moreover, this is a game. There''s no need to think too deeply about it. The game''s high realism makes me overthink, doesn''t it? "Then tonight¡ªwe will proceed. Of course, if you want to stop, just say so at any time. What''s important is you, Liora." "Thank you, my saviour..." Liora smiled happily, joyfully. She surely won''t stop. If I forcibly stop her now, Liora might never move forward orpletely break. Then. Rather than letting young Liora break¡ª "Let''s kill them then." "Yes, my god~!!" Our battle is about to begin. ¨Œ Late at night. Naturally, there are no streetlights, so the vige is enveloped in silence. Though insects chirp from the mountains, their sounds blend into the world, oddly not feeling noisy. After a preparatory nap of about three hours, Liora was fully prepared. Liora strides through the vige, as I blend with pitch darkness partially giving me a stealth advantage. Breaking into her house is no challenge for her. Naturally, she knows exactly where everyone is. "First, it''s my father... I''ll kill him with the scythe while he''s sleeping." "Yes, my child..." As soon as we intrude into her father''s room, the man wakes up with a startle. His body, honed by farm work, is slender but toned¡ªa type that would make you think "scary" if you met him in real life. "Tch, so you''re still alive, Liora. I''d be troubled if you died since I raised you to sell." "Die!" "Huh?" One swift strike. However, unlike the blow against the goblin, this onecked sharpness. It wasn''t out of fear. It was due to overwhelming hatred. Excitement. Barely escaping the diverted strike, her father grabs an axe near his bed and stands up. "You damn brat!" He swings down without hesitation. Liora, unable to dodge, seems about to take the blow head-on. But I would never let that happen. "[Darkness Materialization I]." I intercept the axe with a dark shield, reducing its force. The axe breaks through but only manages to bruise Liora''s shoulder. Bleeding, Liora shows no sign of giving up, gripping her scythe so tightly her hands turn white. Stopping now would be uncouth. More importantly, seeing Liora''s father in person seems to have strengthened her resolve as well. "Liora. Use [sh]!" "Yes, my god!" Whizzz-! Clutching his eyes, Liora''s father crouches, shouting. "I raised you! Have you forgotten your debt, you ungrateful brat!" "...The vige''sw prevented killing children. You are all considered as children of God and can''t be harmed by their parents. After that, I kept you only to sell you at a high price to a brothel." "I gave you food! A bed! Are you going to kill your father!?" "I''m a child of a monster. Right?" Liora''s scythe decapitates her father. Liora, who had preemptively enhanced her scythe with [Life Stealing de], heals her shoulder wound instantly. She trembles, hugging herself tightly. "All along..." The happy sigh of a little girl. A strange night allure. "All along, I''ve wanted to do this!" Tears streaming, the ecstatic little girl rejoices. "Thank you... you, god of darkness." Shouting like she''s breaking free from chains, Liora leaps. The remnants of her father''s flesh forgotten as if they never existed, she moves to her next target¡ªon this night, Liora''s entire family was wiped out. Leaving behind Liora, the cursed child. [Zephyr has acquired the title ''Ruler of Tragic ys.''] [Liora has acquired the title ''Deadly Sinner.''] Chapter 8 Descend On The Dark The man''s yelling didn''t make the already quiet ce any louder. Screams from her mother and siblings followed, panicked and clear through the thin walls. Liora, stained red with blood, held her breath. "What should we do, Liora?" "Everyone''s an enemy... except for the recently born girl. She''s not." "Do you know which house?" "Yes." Alright. The vige has around a hundred people. There hadn''t been any children born in years, so apart from the newborn, everyone had mistreated Liora. If it had only been mistreatment, I might have stopped her revenge. But they had abused her as a vige. They stole her food, made her carry heavy water alone, and beat her if she waste¡ªsuch despicable acts. You might think it''s just a game, but I want to kill them. Liora and I get along well. "First, as nned. Let''s set fire to the houses." Liora lit a fire as instructed. The fire quickly spread through the wooden house, and the vigers, upon seeing it, frantically began firefighting efforts. A water magician used water, a wind magician tried to prevent sparks from scattering, and an earth magician attempted to extinguish the fire withrge amounts of dirt. Liora dashed into the darkness. She headed to a nearby house, quickly setting it on fire too, and soon the vige was engulfed in mes. "It''s a curse! We should have killed that demon child sooner!" "So that''s why the fire started at that house!?" No, that''s not the reason. Liora began killing isted individuals. I am currently deploying [Dark Aura] on Liora. It''s a spell with no particr effect, but it helps her blend into the night. [Zephyr has leveled up] [Liora has leveled up] [Liora''s scythe technique has leveled up] [Liora''s farming skills have leveled up] In an instant, a dozen people were sent to the afterlife. However, since the bodies were left in in sight, the vigers finally realized it was a deliberate massacre. "What''s happening!?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "I don''t know! But everyone, gather! Don''t scatter!" "Mommy!" The surviving vigers gathered in one ce, forming a formation to guard all directions. "Are you ready, Liora?" "Yes, God." Liora ran, melting into the night. She charged straight into a section of the group, using her own body as a bullet, crashing into the mass of vigers. "Aaaaaaaaahhhh!" Liora, with eyes spinning wildly, whirled around like a madwoman. In that one attack, five vigers'' heads fell to the ground. The vigers, realizing they were under attack,unched their attacks on Liora at once. Swords, axes, and magic tore into Liora''s young body. But, "The suffering you inflicted on her, she''s used to that level. Ravage them, Liora." "God says... kill them all!" Despite being wounded all over, Liora did not falter. Just by swinging her scythe forcefully, she quickly brought down her enemies. Fear spread among them. Liora mercilessly chased down those trying to escape, wielding her deadly scythe. The scene was like the reaper of death dancing to his heart''s content. "Hehehe! Die die!! DIE!!!!" Eventually, the weaker-willed people cowered, muttering apologies and confessions, but their words were empty strings. Liora did not stop. After the rampage, Liora stood under the night sky. Surrounded by a sea of blood. Mountains of corpses. Ugly intestines writhing, lifeless bodies lying beside them. "We won. God... it''s all thanks to you!" "No, you did well, Liora." I used [Darkness Creation] to pat Liora''s head. It was meant to be a caress, but it was difficult to do it properly. Maybe I should let her choose [Manifestation]... ''Still, I could feel the touch.'' Despite her beautiful hair, it was damaged by her harsh life. Liora started crying, tears falling in big drops. I cleared my throat. "Now, Liora. We still need to retrieve the baby. The mother is still alive, right?" "Yes, God... she''s the hunter''s woman!" The baby is innocent. But the mother has sinned. ording to Liora, she had pushed Liora to fetch water on a freezing day and repeatedly said, "Go fetch more! Not that I can use the water fetched by a demon child, anyway." "Then¡ª" Before I could finish speaking, a sudden shock shook my entire body. I saw that I had been blown away several meters. On the ground was an arrow. I had been shot by an arrow. However, it didn''t matter, as spirits don''t have an HP concept. Because I made a pact with Liora, my presence is visible to people. Still, despite being hit by arrows multiple times, Liora has been enduring well. After witnessing my sniping, Liora''s face turned pale and then instantly flushed with anger. She red at the roof of an intact house. On the roof, a sharp-eyed woman was drawing her bow. "How dare you! Hurt my god!" "A demon child indeed. You''re cursed! To make a pact with a dark spirit!" "Aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!" Screaming, Liora started running. The archer''s skills were excellent, and she repeatedly hit Liora in the abdomen and legs. But that didn''t stop Liora. "What the...!" Of course, I didn''t let every one of the arrows hit my contracted; I made a shield of darkness and equipped it as efficiently as I could. The archer, her eyes trembling with agitation, leaped from the house. She intended to change her sniping position. Using some sort of stealth skill, she melded into the darkness, disappearing from sight. "Where did she go!?" Liora spun around, scanning her surroundings. ''Tch, I can''t let her take any more hits...'' Although she was constantly recovering, seeing her hurt made me ufortable for some reason. Even if she is just a programmed character... An arrow shot from the right pierced Liora''s young abdomen. Without removing it, Liora ran in the direction from which the arrow came, but this time an arrow flew from the left. The hit sent Liora flying several meters. It seemed the attack was imbued with some sort of skill. "U...ugh. God. God, God! God is on my side!" Liora got up, wiping the blood dripping from her mouth. With a quick rotation of her eyes, she continued observing. Watching this deadly battle, I floated into the air using my spirit powers. There she was. The archer was hiding on the roof of the house she had supposedly escaped from. It seemed she used a skill to create a decoy and was using some other skill to repeatedly snipe from a surrounding position. In that case. I cast [Dark Aura] on the archer. Suddenly enveloped in darkness, the archer frantically tried to brush it off with her hands. Hearing the noise, Liora was already on the move. "Shit¡ªThe demon child...!" "God says: Kill them all!" The archer released an arrow, and Liora threw her scythe. Only the arrow hit the girl, while Liora''s scythe flew in apletely wrong direction. Seeing Liora fall, the archer''s face broke into a joyous smile. "Ha, haha! She''s dead! The vige''s cursed child is dead! My baby and I are safe! I killed her! I won!" "Too bad, bitch." "...What?" I circled behind the archer and cast [Darkness Creation] on her back. A slight push was all that was needed. On the unstable footing of the roof, just a slight push was enough to send the archer falling to the ground. She fell hard with her face hitting the ground. However, her level must have been high. Despite her face being bloody, the archer survived. She red at me, shouting as if to kill me. "Dark spirit! Just because you can''t die, don''t get cocky¡ª" "God is God. Not a dark spirit!" "!" The archer, turning around, was toote by a few moments. Liora''s scythe, which I helped her to retrieve, was already ced right at the archer''s neck. Feeling the cold de, the archer''s mouth twisted in fear. A drop of sweat trickled down. "F-forgive¡ª" Liora''s mouth curled into a smile, like that of Light Yagami''s. She swung her arm, and the archer''s head fell. Ah, the [Darkness Creation] skill I acquired for fun is really handy. [Zephyr has leveled up] [Zephyr''s Dark Magic has leveled up] [Zephyr''s Create Dark has leveled up] [Zephyr''s Dark Aura has leveled up] [Zephyr''s HP Auto-Recovery has leveled up] [Zephyr''s MP Auto-Recovery has leveled up] [Liora''s Scythe Technique has leveled up] [Liora''s Farming Skills have leveled up] [Liora''s Light Magic has leveled up] We leveled up. The archer seemed to be of a higher rank, so just defeating her allowed us to level up. Thus, Liora''s vige was annihted. The sounds of insects had vanished into the darkness at some point. The crackling of burning houses was the only sound filling the world. The sight of the girl, bathed in moonlight, her white skin tear-streaked, was terrifyingly artistic. Chapter 9 Results "Liora. Should we put something on you? You mustn''t catch a cold." "Thank you for worrying... god." The young girl, half-naked and battered from the battle, looked up with teary eyes, full of emotion. Liora possesses regeneration, automatic HP recovery, and the scythe technique [Life-stealing de], which allows her to recover from physical damage. Even if pierced by an arrow, she can forcibly pull it out, and as long as the arrowhead isn''t left behind, she can heal. Gruesome. To ensure the arrowhead isn''t left in her body, it''s crucial to cut away more flesh. After a few hours of this process, Liora somehow manages to fully recover. However, clothing is not subject to regeneration, leaving Liora half-naked. The tips of her well-developed chest stood firm, emphasizing the cold. Being a spirit, I cannot feel it, but it seems quite cold for her. Thank goodness we had a campfire ready. Liora took clothes from a girl about her age and put them on, then quickly moved to retrieve the baby. The baby was crying heartily. As if unaware of the carnage, the baby reached out andughed at the approaching Liora with a "kyakya." Even Liora didn''t know what to do in this situation. She quickly averted her gaze. I softly floated into her line of sight. "What do you intend to do, Liora?" "I''ll protect it for just a week. Then the traveling merchant wille. He''s not a bad person!" "I understand. And you can be casual with me, Liora." But Liora shook her head vigorously, looking like her head mighte off. "I don''t want to speak rudely to god. Sorry!" "Understood. You can speak however you like." Liora ns to entrust the baby to the traveling merchant. Raising it herself would be difficult. It might be unfortunate for the baby, but it was necessary for Liora''s life. It''s hard to throw everything away for an unknown baby. If we waited another three years, this baby would also be subject to purification. I can vividly imagine Liora being pelted with stones by three-year-olds. "Let''s confirm the battle results for now." "Yes. God!" Liora was excited. She seems to like getting stronger. I do too. [Name: Zephyr Gender: Male Level: 16 Race: Dark Spirit Magic: Dark Magic 19 Crafting: Skill Not Set Skills: HP Auto Recovery 15, MP Auto Recovery 19, Appraisal 3 Darkness Creation 17, Dark Aura 2 Title: Ruler of Tragic ys [Enemy Resistance Reduction] Stats: Attack 80, Magic Attack 80 Defence 80, Agility 80 Luck 80] [Name: Liora Gender: Female Level: 19 Race: Human Job: Priest Magic: Dark Magic 20 Crafting: Agriculture 24 Title: Deadly Sinner Skills: Loneliness Resistance 36, Scythe Techniques 19 Stats: Attack 92, Magic Attack 122 Defence 122, Agility 125 Luck 95] Despite the high kill count, the rewards were surprisingly low. Could it be that PK or NPC killing is inefficient for gaining experience? There are two new elements. One is that Liora''s [Dark Magic] reached 20, enabling her to acquire new sub-skills. The next point of interest is the title. Liora has been given the title [Deadly Sinner]. Let''s check its details. [Deadly Sinner: An act humanity has deemed forbidden. Grants a special attack against beings who walk in the path of righteousness. Effect: All status is increased by 20% during battle. And only works at people or monsters older than the user.]n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Isn''t this strong? Liora looks to be around 10 to 13 years old due to poor nutrition. This means she will have a special attack against most enemies. Well, it won''t work on goblins. But if a King or Queen goblin appears, it might be effective. I''m d I killed Liora''s family. This seems to have been a very rewarding quest. Liora is also happy about the strength of her title. She doesn''t seem to care about having killed her parents. "...If I get stronger, god won''t abandon me. I''ll be stronger." "Liora?" "I''ll do my best. Thank you for choosing me, god!" Liora''s character design, shy and all, is simply stunning. Liora is indeed cute. If I posted pictures on social media, they would probably go viral. But that''s too much trouble, so I won''t. By the way, live streams of "PHO" are quite popr. The government-distributed goggles for "PHO" can be used to watch videos. Some people are even doing live broadcasts. There was a lot of controversy when the government distributed game consoles. But since they have many uses besides gaming, more people now stay silent about it. "PHO" is indeed a mysterious game. "God...are you perhaps going to rest again?" "Uhm, yes." Perhaps she sensed that I was about to log out; her voice felt low. Though, it''s nice to feel wanted. "I will be back, okay?" "Yeah, god. I will be waiting." Logging out now. Starting this time, I''ve changed the settings to allow Liora ess to the email function. If she speaks while touching my avatar (the ck sphere), her messages will be sent to my smartphone. I can also send messages back. I''ll have her call me if something happens. I''ve also turned on the notification function, so if Liora levels up, I''ll be notified. ¨Œ I enjoy my afternoon tea while browsing the message board on my smartphone. This time, I''m looking up "powerful magic arts obtainable with Dark Magic level 20." It''s more efficient than figuring it out myself. If I did it myself, I''d end up choosing something for its cool factor. Having at least one practical spell would be good. Though [FLASH] and [HP REGEN] are already quite useful. I open a thread titled, "Tell me the strongest magic spells by attribute." This tea is delicious, and it pairs perfectly with the biscuit I''m having. 84¡­Merry-chan: If you''re using Dark Magic, focus solely on destructiveness! Don''t even think about healing spells! Though it offers those! 85¡­Rasetsu¡ð: No, get all healing and holy dark spells for your character and get destructive spells for yourself, this way it will be the ace of gamey! 87¡­Bokki: Currently, the must-have Light Magic spells are: "Heal," "Party Heal," "High Heal," "Cure." And, in this game, the weird thing is dark magic has healing things it seems to lead special job weird af! Dark spells include "Dispel," "Raise," and "Judgment." "Nullification!" ¨Œ I see. [Nullification] seems like a good choice. If Liora gets paralyzed and can''t move, she''ll be doomed. It''s practically a must-have. It''s decided then. The message board seems to consider Regen mediocre. Instant healing is more popr. Regen can be wasteful if HP is full and is considered tedious because it takes time. Additionally, HP boosts are unpopr. In a game, it''s more exciting to boost attack, agility, or luck for a critical hit chance. However, I must follow this route to create the lightest tank in a little girl''s form. Hehe... Anyway, the n is set. [Ding--] Oh, I just got a notification on my smartphone. "God" "God, I want to see you! Please!" "God. Are you busy?" "God. I''m lonely." "God" "God. Please respond! Please!" "God" About a hundred messages like this flood in at once. I reply to Liora, "I''m eating right now." "Is it delicious, God?" "God" "I''m happy to talk to you, God." "I want to see you, God." Hmm, I''d like to reduce these notifications. Liora is cute and I like her, but this might be a bit much. It''s a mix of fear and affection. I sip my tea and take a bite of my biscuit. Chapter 10 Field Boss [1] A week has passed since then, and we can finally set off on our journey. That said, in-game time moves three times faster. So, in reality, I''ve only waited for about two days and a bit. Leveling up hasn''t been going smoothly. We can''t just leave the baby unattended, after all. We''ve been taking food from the vige''s storage. There''s no one left to use it, so it''s fine. Not that we have any qualms about theft at this point. We entrust the baby to a merchant who is shocked at the sight of the ruined vige and then set off. By the way, we''ve got new weapons. The rusty sickle had its limits. Now, Liora walks around dragging a giant scythe taller than herself. It''s the type with a grip in the middle of the handle. Liora seems to ignore that part entirely, never using it inbat, but she does make use of it when walking through thick brush. "How''s the handling?" "Not bad! But itcks attack power!" "Well, it is a farming tool. Hopefully, we can find some proper weapons along the way..." Scythes are unpopr on the forums. In fact, there are very few NPCs who use scythes as weapons. It makes sense since axes are more practical for daily use and more suited as weapons. In a world full of monsters, it would be natural to keep spears and swords handy. For NPCs without a contract with a spirit, skills are learned randomly, but they seem to acquire skills based on their thoughts and activities. If you don''t usually recognize a scythe as a weapon, you won''t learn it as a weapon skill. At least, no named NPCs have been confirmed to learn "Scythe Techniques" on the forums. Only a few yers have learned and use it, but they find it quite cumbersome and wish to quit. When yers acquire weapon skills, it''s usually for use with [Manifestation]. Since spirits don''t have an HP concept, it''s strong for the vanguard role. I don''t n on taking [Manifestation], though. By the way, it''s popr to take[Manifestation], get a human body, and touch beautiful girls. Many yers end up getting their contracts terminated for this reason. I hope Liora grows up quickly. Despite being malnourished, her development might not be too bad. I''ve assisted in murder in-game, but sexually harassing Liora and getting our contract terminated would be too harsh, both in the game and emotionally. "Alright." I float in the air, surveying the surroundings. Our goal was the city, but it seems we''ve gotten lost. Liora has never left the vige. This world is new to me too. We can''t afford to enjoy being lost in life. However, after wandering for a few hours, we finally find something. "...Oh, people. I don''t really want to interact with them, but we have no choice. I need to make Liora an adventurer." I stop my aerial reconnaissance and return to Liora''s side. She hugs me tightly and lets out a warm breath. "Wee back, God." "Yes, I''m back, Liora. It seems there are people over there." We see a stone-paved road ahead. Compared to the real world, the technology iscking, but the presence of a road is reassuring. We walk along the road, heading towards the people. Until now, we''ve mostly been in the forest, but suddenly it feels like civilization. The fantasy forest was fun, but the moving mushrooms were creepy. When Liora saw my difort, she immediately stomped on them. I haven''t been using [Appraisal] at all. I should''ve used it at times like those. As we approach people, we hear the sounds of intense sword fighting. The booming sound of magic and the sharp sound of arrows being shot apany it. Battle sounds. "Liora." "Yes, God." Liora dashed off, hurrying to the scene. What we came upon was a battle. At the end of the road was a za with a fountain. In contrast to its peaceful appearance, it had be a battlefield. A huge armored monster was engaged inbat with five NPCs. One of the NPCs cast a wind spell, while the floating spirit next to them released a burst of me. The fire, amplified by the wind, created a torrent of destruction aimed at the armor. However... "It won''t work!" "What should we do, Lord Tanaka!? ...Yes, yes, understood. I approve!" After the handsome NPC with the staff muttered to himself, the atmosphere suddenly changed. The space around him warped slightly, and the spirit at the center began to transform. What emerged was a bewitching woman in a dress. "[Decisive Manifestation]¡ªWe only have three minutes. Let''s finish this quickly, Hilda." "Yes, Lord Tanaka!" "Everyone else, cut your [Manifestation].We can''t afford to lose anyone." As soon as yer Tanaka used [Manifestation],various shadows appeared around the other NPCs. It seemed like non-humanoid avatars were also an option, as there were lizard and bird forms visible. Their group, now swelled to ten,unched a barrage of attacks at the armored monster. The barrage stirred up a storm of dust, causing Liora to shield her eyes with her arm. When the barrage ceased, a shadow moved behind the dust cloud. Only Tanaka seemed to notice. Just as the yers began to celebrate their victory, the elf with a bow was cleaved in half by the armored monster''s greatsword. "Damn! We''ve hit our limit! With one of us lost, we can exit the boss area! Retreat!" As Tanaka shouted, the armored monster was shrouded in darkness. The party, however, had already begun their retreat. The manifested yers, being immortal, used their bodies to shield the NPCs. The NPCs, with desperate expressions, managed to escape from the dome. As soon as they did, the dome was enveloped in darkness, obscuring its interior. "Ah, it seems they were in a boss battle." "Boss?" "Yes, that was a field boss. We can''t proceed to the next field until it''s defeated." "God is so knowledgeable!" "Thank you, Liora. The collective wisdom of the inte is quite powerful." "Inte?" "Liora, you''re so adorable." Perched on Liora''s head as she blushed, I observed the escaping NPCs. The field boss had not yet been defeated. The boss of the first field. Eternal Wanderer Helmut¡ªthat was the identity of the enemy.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "Perhaps now is the best time to challenge it." "God?" "ording to the forums, Helmut''s defeat doesn''t need to be achieved necessarily by higher rank yers." Seeing the fleeing NPCs gave me some hesitation, but I was eager to face the boss. Liora tilted her head in confusion. Chapter 11 Field Boss [2] This exceedingly powerful enemy has a characteristic that can be summed up in one phrase: "It bes stronger in proportion to its enemies." It''s a troublesome characteristic. Really. The level of Helmut will be 20 levels higher than the character who challenges it. Furthermore, the more people challenge it, the higher its stats grow. But since its level is 20 levels higher than the attacker, at least a minimum of 5 people is required before confronting the boss monster. However, it seems that yers are also counted in the numbers when they manifest, and that''s probably why the final onught was nullified when the numbers doubled. The firepower seemedcking, so manifesting wasn''t a bad decision. Manifesting allows for high firepower support. Moreover, yers can also act as a meat shield for NPCs, so as long as you''re not careless... it should have been a win. When I used the skill [Appraisal], the average level of the NPCs was around 40. By the way, my [Appraisal] level has increased. With an average level of 40, Helmut''s level would have been over 60. Enemies also acquire skills every 10 levels. Considering that, Liora is in an excellent position right now. She is low-level, and level 19. Even if the enemy''s level increases by 20, it would be 39. The number of skills is also only four. And most advantageously she is a one-man army tank! A solo NPC! AH, of course, I am there. But since I won''t and can''t manifest it all depends upon her. "Let''s challenge it, Liora. Now is our chance!" "Yes! God...! I won''t disappoint you." As we head towards the dome, a handsome guy in a flustered manner approaches us. He grabs Liora''s shoulder and gives her a warning. "Wait, you. You can''t go any further. You''ll end up fighting the field boss." "God says, ''Defeat the enemy.''" "God? Ah, you''re a contractor too. Hey, spirit over there. It''s not right to let such a child challenge the boss alone. You must understand if you watched our battle earlier, right?" "Hm... not a spirit, a god." "?" The handsome guy tilts his head in confusion. Suddenly, a beautiful woman appears beside him. It was a yer named Tanaka who was fighting earlier. It seems that the effect time of [Manifestation] is still active. She speaks up. "You''d better not. Isn''t that child underdeveloped? Probably, you''re nning to scout the enemy with a disposable NPC... but even if it''s a game, it''s notmendable to use a child as a sacrificial pawn." "Liora. You believe me right?" "Of course my god. This life is yours and yours alone~!" "Then, let''s ignore them and go." "Yes, my God." Ignoring Tanaka, who tilts her head at the mention of God, Liora starts running. However, the NPC is higher level than us. She is easily grabbed by the shoulder and stopped. The handsome guy says: "You can''t escape a field boss battle until someone dies! I just lost arade too... even though we just formed a party¡ª" The handsome guy starts to speak tearfully. But it''s troublesome if they interfere too much. Hm, what should I do? While I was pondering, Liora acted first. With teary eyes, she looks at the arm grabbing her. "It hurts..." "Oh, sorry! I didn''t mean to use so much force¡ª" "¡ª!" In an instant, the handsome guy''s hand released. At that moment, Liora, without hesitation, charges into the dome. ¨Œ An overwhelming presence stands before us. In the tranquil setting of the fountain square, an overpowering presence makes us forget the peaceful surroundings. The Eternal Wanderer Helmut. Facing it is a small young girl, holding arge scythe low and emanating the light of regeneration from her entire body. "Oh. You dare challenge me with this diminutive form?" "God says, ''You will die.''" "Interesting. Since you dared toe here, meet your death." The conversation ended there. At the same time! Both of them kicked off the ground forcefully and collided. I immediately tried [Appraisal]. Normally, [Appraisal] effectiveness should decrease if there''s a level difference, but for some reason, I could see everything. Is it because this information is already posted on the bulletin board? Name: [Helmut] Gender: [Male] Level: [39] Race: [Doppel General] Magic: [Dark Magic] Production: [Smithing] Skills: [Defense Increase 39] [Iron Wall 39] [MP Substitute] [Scythe Arts 39] Stats: Attack [390] Magic Attack [78] Endurance [500] Agility [78] Luck [78] Unique Skill: [Eternal Force] Title: [Demon Lord Army''s Four Heavenly Kings] It seems the opponent also uses a scythe. A tremendous exchange of shes ensued. Although the scythe is difficult to handle, Liora spins her body to unleash her shes. Helmut, on the other hand, grips the handle firmly and swings it with solid strength. "Hmph." Liora''s attacksnded on the enemy several times, but they didn''t leave a scratch on the armour. "Liora." "Yes!! My GOD!!" "..." You really don''t have to shout my name like that, you know. Anyway. It seems Helmut specializes in defence inherently. He seems to have judged that there''s no need to fear Liora''s attacks anymore, and he has abandoned defence to focus on offensive moves. What he''s about to unleash is a big, sweeping strike. However, Liora didn''t show any sign of dodging the attack; instead, she jumped. The trajectory of the scythe was aiming to cleave through Liora''s chest. Against that, I used [Darkness Creation] in shield mode, reducing the power and speed of the strike. Liora trusts my interference. Her straight aim is¡ªHelmut''s neck. Scythe Arts¡ª[Head Hunt]! The scythe crashes into the neck of the armour with a roaring explosion. The massive armour is blown away. The armour that rolls on the ground stops when it hits the semi-transparent dome.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "Ugh, nuh!" "sh!" "What¡ª!" Liora starts running, blinding her opponent. Her scythe urately aims to sever Helmut''s now unguarded neck. Though the neck muscles were severed halfway, he didn''t hesitate; instead, Helmut swiftly swung his scythe around. The handle of the scythe struck Liora''s abdomen, and now it was Liora''s turn to be blown away. The unpleasant sound of bones breaking echoed through the battlefield. "¡­But, I can heal in time." "Don''t rush, Liora. We have [MP Auto-Recovery] on our side. Let''s reapply [Regen] as well." "Yes, GOD! [HP Regen]." It was good that I boosted her HP. If it were any weaker character, that strike would have resulted in death. Liora wiped the blood from her mouth with her sleeve and readied her scythe again. The Scythe Arts [Head Hunt] ignores defence and deals damage with five times the usual power. It''s almost like a weapon art made specifically to counter Helmut. The attack must hit the neck, but Liora should be fully capable of achieving that. Even Helmut couldn''t remain arrogant and faced Liora with caution. "What''s with your scythe skills? At that level, it feels unnaturally high." "God says, ''DIE''." "You can''t even hold a conversation. IMPUDENT!!!" The enemy is more rational, huh!? But, it was a question meant to reveal our skills. Ignoring it was the best answer. It seems Liora''s scythe skills surpass Helmut''s. Liora''s [Scythe Arts] skill level is only 19. However, her [Farming] skill is 24. Her total skill level is 43, slightly surpassing Helmut''s 39. It seems skills arebined duringbat; man, he really saved me the trouble of testing. Thanks, Helmut-san! "Liora, let''s whittle him down without letting our guard down." "Yes, GOD!!" Liora nodded, and Helmut''s expression rxed under his helmet. "I now take you as my serious enemy¡­ If I don''t crush you here, you could be an obstacle for the Demon Lord." "DIE!!!" "I''d like a bit more conversation, though." Liora and Helmut''s scythes glimmered. "''[Life-Draining de]''" Their voices ovepped. Identical Arts shed directly. The fight was about to get intense. Chapter 12 Defeating Helmut She mmed her scythe into his neck again. However, even taking this much risk, I couldn''t see a future where we could deplete Helmuth''s health. He''s more than a strong enemy; he''s a crappy boss. "Liora, we''ll use it. Your MP will be temporarily depleted. Can you endure it?" "Y-yes, God!" "Very well. Skill activation¡ª[Reduce Enemy Resistance] applied." The skill [Reduce Enemy Resistance] lowers the target''s resistance to status ailments. If that were all, it would be a cheat skill, but in proportion, it depletes the MP. This skill consumes 70% of MP to activate. If it hits, it reduces the enemy''s status ailment resistance by 5%. However, if the enemy has "Immunity," the skill has no effect. Also, if the enemy has 100% resistance, it only reduces it by less than 1%. "It wasn''t nullified. Helmuth probably has 100% resistance. Now, there''s less than a 1% chance for the status ailment to take effect." This is bad. Even with [Life Steal de] active, the damage she dealt was so minimal that the absorption wasn''t enough. Helmuth''s powerful attacks caused damage even if they only grazed her or from the shockwave alone. A direct hit was out of the question. Each strike was a close call to death. Despite the high-performance AI, Liora continued to dance with her scythe without hesitation, even with the fear of death, she didn''t hesitate. That''s how much she trusted me (God). ''If so, I should respond in kind.'' ¨Œ yer Tanaka "PHO" had justunched, and Tanaka was one of the top yers. Spending most of the day in the game, she was among the higher ranks. From her experience as a top yer in many other games, her support abilities were exceptional. Tanaka widened her eyes and stared in amazement at the scene before her. "W-what''s going on!? That girl is insanely strong." "She''s not strong, graceful spirit Tanaka. She''s risking her life." "What''s the difference? I''m not a fighter, so I don''t get it." "She''s betting her life on the line as if it''s natural. That''s not a sane way to fight." Helmuth''srge yet skillful strike could make anyone tremble with fear. The girl faced the fierce scythe without expression, repeatedly shing as if programmed. Constantly moving, her attacks always aimed at the neck. The girl showed no fear of being attacked. Against fatal strikes, she calmly charged forward. Sometimes she trusted the spirit without defense, sometimes she narrowly evaded... Even if she missed an evasion and her belly was shed open¡ªshe attacked without expression. Indeed, Tanaka''s contractor¡ªHilda''s words were right. She wasn''t strong. She was¡ªjust insane. Liora unusually delivered arge strike. With a scythe wound up at her waist, she swung it upwards. Helmuth tried to protect his neck with his weapon, but Liora suddenly rotated the scythe in her hand. She shed at his legs. ''It doesn''t work! Wait¡ª'' Liora continued to attack silently. It seemed Helmuth was not proficient with a scythe, unlike Liora. In his previous fight with the yer, he used a greatsword. Helmuth usually used the same weapon as his enemy, but it seemed he wasn''t familiar with scythes. His movements were more akin to greatsword techniques, so he couldn''t match Liora, who had only used scythes. An unexpected third phase of the strategy. As for me, the results werecking. Despite using [Gift of Venom] numerous times, it was always resisted. Retreating wasn''t an option. MP was also needed for [Darkness Creation]. It had to be used for evasion or shielding Liora from Helmut. We spirits use the contractor''s MP to cast magic since I only have a small amount of MP. Resources are limited. I needed to reserve MP for Liora''s [Regen] and [sh] as well. Liora was steadily getting worn down. I had already attempted [Gift of Venom] over ten times. But it showed no sign of sess. "Liora... I seem to be unlucky." "G-God... If you''re God, you can control FATE!!!" Ugh. Her blind faith was painful. Liora''s pure eyes didn''t doubt sess for a moment. "Fine¡ªtake this! [Gift of Venom]!" For the first time in years, I shouted as I cast [Gift of Venom], praying to God. In response to my desperate cry, a purplish aura appeared on Helmuth''s body. "Yes, Liora!" "As expected of GOD! HEyaaHHH!!!" ''Poison!?'' At the moment Helmuth was shaken, Liora''s scythe sliced through his neck. In a counterattack, a strike severed Liora''s right arm halfway. "Shit, Liora!?" "Wua---" Without shouting Liora bit her lips, as she looked at me blood trickled from her mouth, "I-i am not weak, god."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om ¨ŒPOV Of Liora¨Œ The girl picked her scythe up with one hand. Drenched in sweat and breathing heavily, Liora red at her enemy. A divine enemy. She could not let him live. With the blessings of [Auto HP Recovery] and [Auto MP Recovery] given by God, Liora could somehow maintain her stance in the battle. Despite constantly exerting herself, she didn''t run out of stamina thanks to God''s protection. The slight recovery from [Life Steal de] also supplemented her stamina. God had inflicted poison on the enemy. Against an enemy likely to have poison immunity, God''s power prevailed. (God is amazing.) God chose Liora. Though everyone in her vige hated and ostracized her, someone with no power¡­ God chose her. Treating the child of monsters as if she were a normal girl. Remembering the kind voice of God filled Liora''s heart with gratitude and emotion. It made her happy. So, "That''s why!" She would never betray God. If God said to defeat, if God said to win,¡ªLiora wouldn''t lose. Her eyes swirling with fanaticism, she unleashed a ten-hitbo with her scythe like a dance. As her scythe skills and farming skills increased, she began to understand how to wield this weapon. It wasn''t a weapon for cutting, stabbing, or striking. It was just a weapon for reaping. Synchronizing her body''s rotational movements, she also rotated the scythe. Turning centrifugal force into her ally, she increased its power. Increased, and increased. ''What are you, damn you!'' "I am¡ªGod''s Apostle! LIORA!!!" Weakened by the poison, Helmuth''s stance wavered slightly. Liora, unlike him, had one hell of stamina. Therefore, she could "fully utilize skills" with all her might. Skills alone made her strong. Because the auxiliary effects of skills could be obtained. However, most people used auxiliary effects only as "auxiliaries." Liora was¡ªa genius. Being recognized by God, her talent for fully harnessing the power of the skills given by God had awakened. "Win, Liora! You can do it!!" "God has decreed. The one to win¡ªis me." Helmuth''s eyes widened. Liora trusted in God and jumped. She stepped on the [Darkness Creation] foothold that appeared in the air and rose above the huge armored being...that was the final strike. "SLASSSHA-------" It was a long battle. Before she knew it, the battlefield was enveloped in night, illuminated by the moon. In the middle of the battlefield, the quiet night air felt pleasant. With the moon as a backdrop¡ªa strike that manifested death was unleashed. One of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon King. Helmuth''s head, the Eternal Wanderer, flew through the air. Laughing while spitting blood, Helmuth said. "¡ªImpressive. To think you just ined me. I misjudged you. You are not a warrior! The heart that fully entrusts itself to God¡ªyou are a Hero, no more of a fanatic.'' "¡­" ''An opponent worthy of the Demon King''s army that opposes God! We will wait in thest city, Liora!'' Chapter 13 Fiora and Floria Liora, mentally exhausted, copsed on the spot. Nothing else reached her ears. "Liora, are you alright? You did well." Except for the voice of her God. Helmut''s body shattered like polygons, shouting something meaningful. Liora sat on the ground, exhausted. It had been a very long battle. It felt like a solo raid battle. The decisive blow came quickly after the poison took effect. The enemy was level 39, so they didn''t have an enormous amount of HP. We did it. [World Announcement Starting] The first Field Boss "Eternal Wanderer Helmut" has been defeated by yer Zephyr and his contractor Liora. The time freeze of the second field, Forest Nation, will be lifted. In line with this, the second phase of registration will begin. Additional copies of Phantom Hero Online will be distributed. The next batch will be 30,000 units to match the scale of the city. From now on, the Field Boss "Eternal Wanderer Helmut" can be challenged again in a weakened state. Please participate actively. The announcement continued three more times. Having my name mentioned is a bit troublesome¡ªwell, it was just a lucky match with the first field boss. Eventually, it will be buried and forgotten. [The following is an individual announcement] Tomemorate the first defeat of the Field Boss, a unique skill will be granted to contractor Liora. Additionally, tomemorate the first defeat of Helmut, the weapon he used will be given to the NPC. A title will be bestowed on yer Zephyr. One million rupees will be deposited into yer Zephyr''s ount. We look forward to your continued efforts. There were many things I wanted to say. But, but, before that¡ª "One million rupees!?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om I hurriedly logged out. Bulletin Board LOL, seriously? Finally, Helmut''s gone? LOL. By the way, who''s Liora? I don''t know that NPC. I''ve never heard of the yer Zephyr either. They''ve never posted on the official bulletin board, right? Iris Oh no! My dear Sieg was supposed to be the first to defeat him! Where''s the video of the boss fight?! How did they defeat Helmut? We should share information. Tanaka Witnessed the moment of defeat. Liora solo-challenged and took about four hours to kill him. Dodon Witness arrived! More details, please! Tanaka It''s information from another yer''s perspective, so I can''t be too detailed. But Liora was low-level. Liora''s personal skill (even though it''s an NPC) was insanely high, ording to my contractor. JOKERRR Tanaka, don''t be stingy, share the details. Sigh, okay. Here''s the video. Four hours non-stop. [Video of Liora fighting] The Goddesses'' Observation The two goddesses leaned over, intently observing a tiny speck of light. It was a star. A world. The world overseen by the Goddess The World, which Zephyr and the others believed was a "game" they were intervening in. "Look, Floria! Helmut lost! This hasn''t happened in six hundred years... I''m so happy." "Stop clinging to me and shouting. We should reset the demon king so he can be born again." "But this is the first time ''human race'' has defeated Helmut this early. Do you know how many trillion years it took them to get here?" "They only did it because of your ridiculous idea of disturbing the world of another god!" "But¡ª" "When Darkos finds out, he will be he mad. Hump~" The Goddess sighed at the bunny-eared goddess and looked at the world. A mysterious entity called the Demon King emerges, magic is born into the world, and creatures known as monsters, imbued with magic, begin to ravage the world. And the races of humans, including elves, dwarves, and many others, team up to resist his atrocities. But Fiora, the bunny-eared goddess, was unusually lenient in her world management. She even messed with her brother''s world by connecting the two. Even now, without any care, she was praising "Liora" for defeating Helmut and awarding her a "unique skill." "Liora cutie is a good girl! If she dies, I''ll make her an angel. It''s sad she killed her parents, but sometimes living means killing." Her excitement was palpable. "So, what will you do next?" asked The Fool. "I''ll keep my contract with the Demon King. If they can defeat the other races this time, I will bless them and relieve them of the time loop." "Even if other creatures are massacred?" "I want to end this medieval age and create one like my brother''s universe, maybe? A sci-fi one this time." Floria''s face twisted with happiness, and she smirked at Fiora. "So, you''re finally following my path, huh?" "Don''t be so smug, I just thought this world is getting too boring." Floria grabbed Fiora''s melons as her hands transformed, and then her face too, turning into a male voice. "In return, tonight''s sex will be intense. As a thank you, I''ll be with you for the next ten billion years!" "Uh, um. Hehe." The two goddesses, or rather, one now a god, held hands, and then¡ª "Ahhhh~!" Chapter 14 Rewards Shadow of Death After logging out, I quickly grab my smartphone. Checking my ount, I see that a million rupees have really been deposited! It seems "PHO" is truly a divine game. Feeling ted, I hold up my smartphone and spin around. Halfway through, I bump my knee on the table and kneel, "Oww, shit!" but my spirits remain high. "I feel like I can do anything right now!" As I dance in the highest spirits of my life, my smartphone buzzes with notifications. Lots of them. [God?] [God? What''s wrong with you?] [God! Please don''t leave me! Wahh! I will do well next time, GOD!! I will kill him in one strike next time!! Pleasee back.] Oops. [No, I will be back Liora! I need to rest to recover.] [God, please don''t abandon me! Please!] [I won''t.] It seems I worried Liora by logging out so suddenly. My apologies. Even though Liora is an NPC, she''s a valuable partner. I need to consider her feelings. This money should be used for Liora''s benefit too. To maintain a good rtionship, we must continue to be mutually beneficial. I carefully ce the smartphone on the desk and log back in. I can''t stop grinning. ¨Œ "So, Liora. Before we look at the battle results... shall we enter the second field? Many eyes are watching us here, so we must keep the information confidential." "Yes, God!" Liora starts running. I float up and high, tagging along with her. Enjoying the scenery, we cross a fountain and reach the forest. "It''s amazing." "Such big trees, God..." Everywhere we look, there are trees. These trees pierce the sky like spears, each one hundreds of meters tall. The scale is overwhelming. Even the bees living in the trees are the size of pigs and cows. "Shall we appraise it?" I appraise a nearby rhinoceros beetle. Name: [Unknown], Gender: [Unknown] Level: [45], Species: [Mini-Grasp] Magic: [Wood Attribute] Production: [Sap] [Other skills and stats are unknown due to the level difference.] ...Scary. We should retreat for now. "God?" "Let''s do some confirmation work here. After that, we''ll go back and level up." "Yes, God!" Her smile is dazzling. I can''t just say we''re not strong enough and go back now. Liora believes from the bottom of her heart that the God doesn''t make mistakes. While staying alert to our surroundings, I start checking the rewards, beginning with Liora''s unique skill. Unique Skill: [Murderous de] A skill that increases the scythe''s killing power at the cost of one''s vitality. A de of sin borne by the deranged. A higher-tier art simr to the scythe skill [Life-Stealing de]. "This is good. Liora has [Life-Stealing de], [HP AND MP Regen], and [HP Auto Recovery], so this synergizes well." "This is the power given by the God... I''m happy." "Oh, yes. That''s right, Liora. You did well. I shouldn''t y favorites, so I gave a reward that suits your efforts." "Rewards..." Liora''s face turns bright red, and a single tear falls from the corner of her eye. Liora probably never received any rewards or words of encouragement, no matter how hard she worked. "Shall we try it out a little? Liora, first cut a tree normally. Then, use about a third of your strength." "Yes!" Liora holds her scythe low and swings it like a h hoop, striking the tree. The de sinks into the tree. She pulls it out and uses the art [Murderous de] on her scythe. "Hah! Yes!" Liora''s scythe cuts halfway through a tree several meters in diameter. This attack power is beyond expectations. The more she uses, the more the attack power increases directly. "Amazing, God! Thank you." "It''s a dangerous technique. Use it carefully." While Liora nods respectfully, I check the next reward. That reward, currently lying on the ground, is the huge scythe Helmut wielded. It''s slightly too big for Liora. "Shall we appraise it?" Scythe: "Shadow of Death" Rarity: Unique Level: 1n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Attack Power: 50 Durability: 100 Skills: Restoration, Soul Eater A scythe born from a fragment of the vessel of Helmut, one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon Lord''s army. By consuming life, it can transform its shape at will and even consume the life of its wielder to exist eternally. Due to its unique rarity, it has the potential to grow. Skill: Restoration Sacrifices the wielder''s HP to restore the scythe''s durability. It can regenerate even ifpletely destroyed. Skill: Soul Eater Collects the souls of creatures killed by this scythe. By using the collected souls, it can increase its power, recover HP, restore MP, and activate a defensive barrier. The effects depend on the number of souls collected. "This is a powerful scythe. The problem is its size." "God, let me try holding it." "Indeed, try it out first." Liora lifts the scythe, managing to wield it, albeit clumsily. It looks too unwieldy for her to swing effectively. As Liora and I ponder this, we suddenly sense danger. A giant beetle charges at us like a bullet. "Liora! Use it!" "Right! Killing de!" She sacrifices 80% of her HP. A sinister ck aura envelops "Shadow of Death." She swings out of instinct. The beetle approaches. In a panic, I cast [Darkness Creation] a shield, however the beetle breaks it up easily. "HEYAHHHH!!!" Batter up, swing, and it''s a home run! The beetle is smashed to pieces, sttering green blood everywhere. Liora poses triumphantly, covered in the beetle''s blood. A home run feels good. "Liora, how was the Murderous de? Did it hurt?" "It hurts, but I can bear it." "The pain is inevitable... We''ll have to use it sparingly." I don''t want her to die from using it. However, Liora doesn''t seem hesitant. The scythe couldn''t handle the ultra-high power, shattering to pieces. Liora quickly uses Restoration. Her HP is drained, and the scythe regenerates to a suitable size for her. It''s now perfectly suited to her. Liora swings the scythe around, and its speed is remarkable. "Liora, how about Soul Eater?" "Let''s try it, God!" Liora touches the beetle''s corpse with the scythe. The mangled body disappears, absorbed into the scythe. Scythe: Shadow of Death Rarity: Unique Level: 2 Souls Stock: 1 Attack Power: 55 Durability: 230 Skills: Restoration, Soul Eater It''s growing. It seems that "Shadow of Death" levels up by consuming souls. The collected souls are managed as Soul Stock. The durability is proportional to the HP drained from Liora. "Testing her unique skill and weapon is good enough for now. Next is the title." However... "We''ve spent hours fighting the boss. Liora, you must be tired. Let''s return to the first field and rest." Liora nods. "I need to log out...soon." Liora looks sad. "...But let''s stay together for a few more hours." "Yes, God! Forever!" "Not forever, but for a while." We returned to the first field. Chapter 15 Against the ants After logging out, I decided to take a break for a few hours to get some sleep. My sleep schedule had been disrupted by my previous corporate job, so I needed sleeping pills for good rest. "Sigh..." Thanks to Liora, I didn''t have to worry about money for a while. I thought about getting a better mattress. They say sleep takes up a third of our lives, and now that I spend even my VR time lying down, it feels like two-thirds of my life is spent in bed. Investing in a good bed would mean longer gaming sessions for Liora too.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om "Good night, Liora." I received a flood of replies when I checked my smartphone, but I decided to respond after I woke up. When I checked the forumter, I found that Liora had be quite popr. My gamey was also receiving praise, although I didn''t feel it much. Many live-streaming yers were now ying "PHO" because it allowed live streaming. But that was fine. I wanted to keep Liora''s details as secret as possible to avoid her being PKed. However, staying too secretive and not ying at all was also not ideal. I logged back in. [Zephyr leveled up] [Zephyr''s Dark Magic leveled up] [Zephyr''s Create Dark leveled up] [Zephyr''s Dark Aura leveled up] [Zephyr''s HP Auto-Recovery leveled up] [Zephyr''s MP Auto-Recovery leveled up] [Zephyr''s Appraisal leveled up] [Liora leveled up] [Liora''s Scythe Technique leveled up] [Liora''s Farming Skill leveled up] [Liora''s Dark Magic leveled up] [Liora''s Solitude Resistance leveled up] They were getting stronger even while I slept. I wondered if Liora had slept well. It felt a bit strange to watch a young girl sleep for hours, even if she would do so if I asked. After what felt like a long time, I checked our status. Name: Zephyr Gender: Male Level: 27 Race: Dark Spirit Magic: Dark Magic 31 Production: Skills: HP Auto-Recovery 30, MP Auto-Recovery 45, Appraisal 4, Darkness Creation 27, Dark Aura 13, Enemy Resistance Reduction 3, Gift of Venom 1. Status: Attack 135, Magic Attack 135, Durability 135, Agility 135, Luck 135 Title: Ruler of Tragic ys. Name: Liora Gender: Female Level: 30 Race: Human Job: Priest Magic: Dark Magic 35 Production: Farming 40 Skills: Solitude Resistance 38, Scythe Technique 38, de arts, Status: Attack 114, Magic Attack 210, Durability 177, Agility 213, Luck 150 Title: Deadly Sin - Parent Killer Unique Skill: Death de, Head Hunt It was a lot of information. Our levels had significantly increased after soloing a high-level boss. With so many new skills and techniques to explore, it was impossible to check each one individually. I decided I would test them out during my free time. The immediate task was to decide Liora''s job. We spirits could change our contractor''s job every ten levels, but Liora was already at level 30. Being a priest wasn''t bad, but beyond level 50, advanced jobs offered substantial stat bonuses that were hard to pass up. But how did the system work exactly? There were irreversible elements that were crucial. I had to be careful when the time came. "Liora, do you want to change your job?" "Priest... is good. I want to honor the gods and spread your greatness throughout the world!" "Hmm, oh! Look, you could be a Shrine Maiden, which seems like a higher rank than a priest!" "A Shrine Maiden! Oh, God, I''ll be a Shrine Maiden!" "Very well." "I will serve you even more faithfully!" "So, a Shrine Maiden it is." ''The hidden ability of a Shrine Maiden... partial magic attack power applied to melee attacks. This is perfect for Liora, who focuses on meleebat despite having high magic attack power.'' Though the numbers were small. Hidden abilities varied by job. Even if jobs changed, acquired hidden abilities continued to affect stats. For example, a priest''s hidden ability was increased healing power. This effect strengthened with each level, making specialization in the same job beneficial. Changing jobs too frequently might not be wise. The basic strategy was to stick with the same job until level 50 and then choose an advanced job for its exclusive skills. However, detours to acquire those skills could also be a viable training n. Liora sessfully changed her job to Shrine Maiden. After that, we quickly acquired new skills and techniques, resuming our adventure in the second field. We ventured into an unchartednd. There''s a theory, though its authenticity is uncertain, that if you put all humans and all ants on a scale, they would weigh about the same. There are a lot of ants. I couldn''t imagine ants outweighing humans. "Huge!" Our view was filled with giant ants. Each one was about the size of a hippo. They wererge and eerie, resembling creatures from an alien movie. ''Squeak squeak squeak squeak'' "Ants make noises?" "Oh, what should we do, God?" Appraisal showed their levels wereparable to ours. The only concern was their sheer numbers, but we should be able to handle it. Liora excelled in prolongedbat. "She''s extremely strong against lower-level opponents." "Let''s go!" "Understood, God!" Liora danced into the midst of the ants. With her new Shrine Maiden skill, [Death Dance], her movements were like a dance. She always moved as if dancing with her scythe, but this skill refined her technique even further. In an instant, three ant heads flew into the air. "[Darkness Creation] - Smoke Mode." I activated the new Smoke Mode of [Create Dark] to conceal Liora''s presence from the ants. As the ants started to stir, Liora used the scythe skill [Death''s Guidance]. This art made all attacks critical. Scythe arts could not coexist with de-type arts, so [Life Reaper de] was not active. However, once used, they remained effective indefinitely unless overwritten, making them cost-effective. As an exception, the unique skill [Death de] could coexist with other arts. Strictly speaking, it wasn''t a scythe skill. "¨D¨D!" Additionally, thanks to the passive skill [Weakness Strike] acquired through the scythe technique, damage increased when hitting weak points ornding critical hits. At each swing of her scythe, Liora''s attacks tore through the ants'' bodies. "Until now, I couldn''t do enough damage unless I hit their heads, but this is great." "There''s no need to aim for the head. It''s easy, right?" "Yes!" The ants only attacked by biting. With enemies on all sides, evasion was difficult, but they couldn''t break through the scythe''s range. By roughly spinning around, death kept piling up. "There''s no sign of a tough fight. Should we increase the difficulty level a bit?" "Of course, God! Aura, right?" "That''s right. [Dark Aura]!" Even this [Dark Aura] skill level was finally acquired after raising its skill level. An art called [Consumption Reduction] reduced MP consumption when using an aura. A dark aura enveloped Liora. It didn''t have any particr effect, but leveling up this aura skill could grant effects like DOT damage to enemies within the aura or applying existing abnormal status effects. It consumed a lot of MP and wasn''t easy to level up. However, Liora realized that increasing the number of enemies enveloped in darkness was necessary to level the skill to 5 or higher. If Liora didn''t have MP auto-recovery and wasn''t someone who "absolutely followed my instructions," she wouldn''t even consider trying it. It seemed like a skill that would grow stronger as it leveled up. Especially with Liora''s endurance and DOT attacks, theyplemented each other perfectly. The battle against the swarm of ants continued. ''Let''s earn some money!'' Chapter 16 Invitation to Elf Land In the blink of an eye, we annihted over fifty ants. However, the ones we defeated were Pawn Ants, the weakest enemies in chess pieces (though yers who underestimate pawns are weak themselves). After dispatching this swarm of lowly enemies, the first round was finally over. "Chitter, chitter, chitter." "Liora, from here on, it''s inevitable that we''ll be hit. Swap out your de." Liora nodded and activated the [Life-Stealing de]. She switched to a de with an HP drain effect and started running. The Rook Ants spewed acid from their mouths. It was probably formic acid, and if it hit, it would surely dissolve flesh. Since I dislike gore, let''s block it. "[Darkness Creation]! Mode: Shield! Charge, Liora." I blocked the acid rain with a dark shield. Seizing the brief opening, Liora charged at the dozen or so sniper ants. Using the physical techniques enhanced by the shrine maiden''s skill, Liora swung her scythe in a dance-like manner. Ten kills in five seconds. However, in prioritizing the snipers, Liora did not dodge any other attacks. Her skin was marked with numerous wounds, but she immediately healed with regeneration skills. Against the swarming enemies, she spun around, attacking with her scythe. Even though the ants had excellent defenses, Liora''s attacks were insufficient without activating [Death-Guiding de]. She had to aim for their necks. But Liora had be stronger now. "Liora, new technique." "Dark Magic¡ª[Darkness Burst]." Liora''s body was momentarily enveloped in a faint dark Dark. Then, the dark concentrated around her and exploded the next instant. A dark attribute area attack. [Darkness Burst]. An attack magic that sweeps away everything within a five-meter radius with darkness. This attack has high power for a dark attribute spell because it can only be used at close range. Attack magic is usually the job of the rear guard. The disadvantage of this magic is offset by its high power and range. It''s an area attack with powerparable to single-target spells. Fortunately, Liora excels in closebat and has higher magic attack power than physical attack power. So, Liora can use this magic without any drawbacks. The enemies around her were obliterated, leaving a small crater centered around Liora. "Now, what''s next?" A giant ant stood before us. Not the hippo-sized ones we faced earlier, but a behemothparable to a house. ording to my appraisal¡ªQueen Ant. Clearly, the strongest ant in this swarm. Each of its legs was a long spear, measuring in meters. Acid dripped from its mouth, and being bitten would undoubtedly spell doom in every sense. A formidable foe indeed. The Queen struck down with two of its legs. The ground was torn up by its gatling-like barrage of attacks. Though it relied on its high stats, its speed made it a formidable challenge. Liora evaded these attacks as if she were dancing. Admiring her graceful movements, I issued our strategy. "We''ll end this with one strike." "Understood. [sh]!" "[Darkness Creation] Mode: Smoke." We blinded the Queen with a sh and smoke screen, and Liora leapt with all her might. Enhancing her scythe, [Shadow of Death], with the skills [Death-Guiding de] and [Life-Taking de], and boosting its power with the weapon''s skill [Soul Devourer], Liora''s scythe was no longer just a scythe but a massive shadow. Without any hesitation, the little reaper girl swung it down. Naturally, she aimed for the enemy''s neck. With thebined effects of the scythe skills [Head Hunter] and [Weak Point Attack]¡ª ¡ªBOOM, a thunderous explosion echoed. With unbelievable durability, the massive ant, the Queen fell to the ground with a single strike. Liora, whonded manically, charged at the stunned swarm of ants. She had already switched her de to the [Life-Stealing de], rapidly recovering her health. It didn''t take more than thirty minutes to annihte the swarm. [Zephyr has leveled up.] [Zephyr''s Dark Magic has leveled up.] [Zephyr''s Create Dark has leveled up.] [Zephyr''s Dark Aura has leveled up.] [Zephyr''s HP Auto-Recovery has leveled up.] [Zephyr''s MP Auto-Recovery has leveled up.] [Zephyr''s Appraisal has leveled up.] [Liora has leveled up.] [Liora''s Scythe Technique has leveled up.] [Liora''s Farming Skill has leveled up.] [Liora''s Light Magic has leveled up.] [Liora''s Loneliness Resistance has leveled up.] [Liora''s mainden''s skill has leveled up.] After the battle, we fed the ant materials to the [Shadow of Death] to enhance it. Since there was a significant amount, the weapon''s level increased nicely. This enemy is probably meant to be fought by a party. But before Liora''s durability and burst power, they were nothing more than insignificant opponents. For now, we''re on the front lines of this game, albeit reluctantly. This level of performance is to be expected, I suppose. "However, while it''s convenient not to have to carry the materials back..." Therge scythe [Shadow of Death]pletely prevents material loss. However, my primary purpose for ying the game is to "earn money." Not being able to bring back materials is a drawback. Though it''s better than wasting them... I could log out frequently to exchange the materials for cash, but that would make Liora lonely. Some might say not to worry about an NPC being lonely, but her sDarkly sad face is too realistic... "Liora, I have a proposal." "? I want you to do as you think best, Master." "You trust me too much. Alright, then let''s learn the [Item Box] skill." The [Item Box] skill is an essential skill. It starts with 10 slots. After that, the number of slots increases by one each time the level goes up. Ultimately, you can carry up to 110 items. It is a convenient skill. However, using a skill slot for this can weaken you. Naturally, carrying items yourself and using skills for attacks or support makes you stronger. "Some yers hire NPCs to carry their items... Well, it can''t be helped. Convenience is the best." "Indeed." "Still, my skill setup is too ''Liora-dependent''..." I have no intention of doing so, but if Liora were lost, I''d be in trouble. I started storing some of the materials in the item box. The cleanup took longer than the battle itself. It''s realistic, but the hassle outweighs the immersion. Chatting with Liora keeps me from getting bored, though. As we finished collecting everything and were about to move, a voice called out from above. "Wait. You there, spirit and girl." "...Hm. Who are you? Also, I''m not a spirit, but a god." "A god? ...Regardless, I don''t recognize your faces. Where are you from?" "I don''t know." That''s right. Liora didn''t know the name of her own country, let alone her vige, until the end. It''s not that no one taught her; it was just too rural to matter. The owner of the voice looked puzzled. Upon closer inspection, the man appeared to be an elf. Quite a handsome one. His golden hair seemed to glow, and every movement scattered sparkling particles. He was wary, aiming his bow at us. "Say youe from the human kingdom of Albute." I whispered to Liora. "Wee from the human kingdom of Albute." "...Albute! So you are the hero who defeated Helmut! That ursed Helmut. Because you defeated him, the time-space freeze has been lifted." It seems he''s exining the game''s lore. The first field where we respawned is called the human kingdom of Albute. It''s a nation where diverse human species coexist. It''s said to be thestnd of humanity, with other ces destroyed by the demon king''s army. However, just before the kingdom''s fall, the goddess used a "time-space freeze" to protect the people. Those frozen were preserved in a separate dimension for hundreds of years. Only the second field has been unlocked. The elf continued.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "When the demon king''s army invaded Elf Land, we were frozen by the goddess''s power. It felt like an instant to us, but we were undoubtedly annihted. In reality, Elf Land was destroyed, bing a den for monsters." "Elf Land?" "Yes. This great forest itself is the country where elves lived. Wee to the forest nation of Elf Land, liberators." The elf muttered "Follow me" and moved by kicking off the trees. Liora tilted her head, looking at me, but since it was a quest, we shouldply for now. Liora, too, kicked off the trees and moved through the forest with ease. Impressive! Chapter 17 Start From Straight As Arriving in Elnd Countless treehouses adorn the giant trees. It truly feels like an elf vige, but on a scale that constitutes a nation. "Amazing," I say. "Yes, god!!" Liora exims. Despite the vastnd, houses are stacked vertically. Branches, each as wide as a road, host houses, with treehouses wherever you look. The handsome elf shes a smile. "Even so, we''ve lost over half of our territory. This area around the capital was somehow preserved by the goddess''s freezing power..." "So, there are a lot of elves?" "The god is asking. Are there many elves?" "The god...? Yes, indeed. We are numerous but not as much as you humans. Our reproductive capabilities are not efficient as humans, but in return, we have a longer lifespan." The elf awkwardly looks away. I have a bad feeling. Do I have to give Liora a sex education talk? I must ensure she''s not misled while I''m logged out. Despite her current skinny frame, Liora has the features of a beautiful young girl. By the way, what age range defines a young girl? I personally consider Liora (about 13 to 16 years old) to be one. Am I an outlier? Even as a god (self-proimed). "I want Liora to eat a lot," I say. "Thank you, god." "First, we need to earn money. Liora is strong enough now, so if she registers with the adventurers'' guild, she won''t have trouble getting food." "I''m happy. God!!" "Haha." We asked the elf if there was a guild. He smiles with joy. It''s a captivating smile. However, Liora is impatiently waiting for the god''s question to be answered. "I haven''t introduced myself yet. I''m Euclis, an SS-ranked elf adventurer--!" "SS rank?" "Yes. I watched your fight from afar, and with your current skills, you could send enemies to the other world in a blink of an eye. Not that I would." "You should have helped." "If I had interfered clumsily, it would have been a hindrance, reducing your experience points. Most importantly, I wanted to see your skills." Liora tenses up in caution. I''ve often taught her that enemies who seek information are dangerous and to be careful about revealing information. It''s an achievement of my education. However, "Liora. Rx. If you challenge him now, you''ll be killed. Showing caution and hostility means defeat." "Yes, god!" Liora''s body rxes as if she''s at home (though she can''t rx at home). Euclis''s eyes widen at her rxation. "You''re impressive. Deciding to face me in an instant and then discarding that decisionpletely... You''re not justposed, you''re reliable!" "?" If Imand, Liora can rx even at the brink of death. What will happen when he realizes the truth? Lying is scary. But I wanted to role-y back then, and I think it was the right decision. There have been instances where child NPCs were too scared to be useful in real battles. "Well then," Euclis says. "Let me guide you to our guild, warrior." As expected, it was a wooden building. The ck wood interior is calm and exudes the atmosphere of a peaceful afternoon coffee. The guild is filled with silence. As expected of elves, there''s elegance. Most of the poption in this country are elves, and naturally, the guild is also predominantly elves. Some are drinking, savoring their drinks like in a high-end bar. I''d like to try mead too. An elderly elf, smoking a pipe, carefully maintains his bow. He lifts his face slowly, smiling gently. "Oh, Euclis. Have you finished scouting?" "Yes, Guild Master. I''ve found a liberator. This person here. Everyone! This is our savior!!" Euclis''s voice suddenly booms. The guild''s elves gracefully nce and listen intently.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "This person will be crucial in theing demon king war. I''ve seen her fight, and though her level is low, her skills are exceptional. Do not be disrespectful." "Oh?" The elf woman who had been sipping mead stands. She approaches Liora with silent steps. She moves close, as if to peer into Liora''s face. "Euclis speaks true. I smell death." Bowing respectfully, she gazes up at Liora. "I am Nin, the ''War Princess''. Would you cross des with me?" "No." "...Very well. Then, if you defeat me, I will give you some of my treasures. I have good weapons and armor." "No." "Hmm, a skilled negotiator, I see. Then..." Euclis grips Nin''s shoulder. The force is evident to onlookers. Euclis smiles gracefully. Even his eyes smile, though it''s clearly a facade. People who can smile with their eyes are scary. Second-rate ones can''t. "Nin. She''s my guest." "But brother, I want to fight strong people..." "Nin." Leaving the crestfallen Nin behind, we approach the reception. The elves part to make way, some bowing their heads. Such politeness andposure. Truly a long-lived race. We face the receptionist. "Liora. Wants to be an adventurer." "Understood, Liora. I will issue a guild card. Normally, proof of identity and a registration fee are required, but with Euclis''s endorsement, we''ll waive them." The receptionist beams a smile. Cute. It lifts my spirits. I''m happy with my contract with Liora, but I originally intended to contract with an elf girl. At the time, Elnd wasn''t open yet, so there were few elves. The second wave of contracts will likely involve more elves. Beastfolk are popr too, so the third field might be a beastfolk nation. The receptionist quickly makes the guild card. Liora answers the required questions verbally, keeping confidential information minimal as instructed. The card is useful for forming parties, but I prefer Liora to go solo. Socializing is troublesome. I''ve gotten her new skills for solo y. You''ll see them soon. "Okay, registration isplete. Do you need an exnation about the guild?" "The god knows." "...Liora, let''s hear it. My understanding might differ significantly from humans''." "The god says to listen." "Very well," the receptionist smiles wryly. The exnation is typical. Adventurers have ranks and can only take jobs within two ranks above or below their own. For jobs, check the bulletin board. A-rank and above jobs are avable from dedicated receptionists. There are alsopulsory missions, refusal of which can result in demotion or expulsion. They don''t want those who run away when needed. Liora happily looks at her guild card. I peek over her shoulder and see "A-Rank Adventurer¡ªLiora." Shocked, I lose control and fall. Getting up, I see Liora confused. "This is wrong. It should start at F-rank." "No, with Euclis''s rmendation, starting at A-rank is appropriate. We expect great things from you, liberator." The guild fills with apuse. It''s neither noisy nor silent. Perhaps it''s a big celebration for elves. Thus, we became upper-rank adventurers. Chapter 18 Promotion of Video Liora doesn''t really think about order, so I sometimes guide her. She tried to eat bread with a knife and fork, so I told her, "You can use your hands for that." She grabbed therge white bread firmly. Liora bit into it energetically, but her expression turned to confusion. She pulled her face away from the bread, looking at me with a frightened expression. "Is this bread?" "Yes, it is." "It''s not hard... Did my attack power increase?" "No, that''s just the type of bread it is." "Amazing... Is this the power of a god? I am happy~ Yea, long live god!!" "It''s not my power, though." Liora began to eat the bread slowly this time. She seemed scared of the fluffy texture. Soft as a cloud of cotton, the bread was far from her understanding of what bread should be¡ªsomething you tear with your teeth. This was the moment when themon knowledge of the bread industry (at least in Liora''s mind) was about to be overturned. Bread that tears apart just by grazing it with your lips. The more you chew, the sweeter the dough bes. She ate like a hamster, munching away. Before I could stop her, it was all gone. Liora was astonished when she saw the empty te. Tears started to well up in her eyes, so I quickly patted her head.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "It''s okay, you can order more." "Order more?" "Yes, it''s called a refill." "A refill?" "It means buying more food. We have money, and this time, it''s on Euclis. You can get as many refills as you want." "Refills! Wow! God knows everything!" Understanding the concept of refills excitedly, Liora continued to eat with the grace I had taught her, though with the enthusiasm of a beast. It was an incredible sight to see someone eat so elegantly yet so voraciously. ¨Œ After about ten refills, Liora left the room. It was like watching a monster devour its prey. I''m not much of an eater myself, but I couldn''t help but watch. I now understood why eating challenges were popr on video sites. A cute girl eating a lot of food. Fantastic! And she eats so neatly! This would make great content. With Liora''s permission, I recorded the whole thing. I''ll upload it to a video site. There is a reason for this: Liora is currently on the front lines of PHO. Her battle footage has been posted on forums, making her somewhat known. This can be dangerous. It only creates more "potential enemies." But if a beautiful young girl eats happily and neatly, it might actually gain her allies. ''The goal is to reduce the likelihood of PK¡ªyer killing¡ªand eventually create a situation where targeting Liora results in severe bacsh, making the game unyable for those who try.'' For the first time in my life, I made a forum post. The topic was about Liora, who was mentioned in a thread about field bosses. Simply advertising would create enemies, so I wrote something like this: --- Field Boss Strategy Thread 78! 45...ck Cat Knight We still can''t defeat it... Helmuth can only level up by 10, but his defensive skills are all insane. Is poison the answer? Poison it to death? At least we can escape without losing anyone now. 46...Lloyd Judging by Zephyr''s video, yer skill is also required. Liora alone can''t tank it. She''s probably a tank-focused character herself. I also took "Darkness Creation" because I''m a Dark Spirit user, but I can''t use it. It just gets wobbly and disappears. I can''t maintain its shape. 47...Zephyr To 46-san: Yes. The skill "Darkness Creation" is difficult without a clear image of the final form. It wavers due to unexpected factors like wind and battle aftermath. For now, aim to get the skill level to 10. It should help stabilize the shape somewhat. 48...Archangel ! It''s the real Zephyr!!! Please, we want a cob with Liora! Cuteness is justice! Combine it with me, Archangel and it''s double justice! 49...Megumi Zephyr!? I want to ask, how can I make my child''s character strong? My little boy can''t fight at all, so he can''t level up. I just watch and adore him. I want to go on an adventure and find unknown cute boys. 50...Zephyr >48 A cob is a bit... Liora is very shy. She allowed this much filming though... [Video of Liora eating happily and neatly] >49 It might be the NPC''s personality. In my case, Liora was prepared to fight from the start. She fought monsters risking her life to escape being mistreated in her vige. Even doing practice swings can raise skill levels, so maybe start there. >50 It''s a vast forest. I forgot to record a video, but it''s a forest made of trees like skyscrapers. The enemies are level 30 insects that swarm inrge numbers. There are many elves in the Elven country. The second wave will likely include many elf contracts. All beautiful. I rmend Euclis as a strong NPC. He''s an SS-rank adventurer. A good person! I have some real-life errands to run, so I''ll be off. --- Trying the forum was tough however I at least achieved what I wanted to. That''s how it went. Archangel''s assist was a hit. I timed the post so she would definitely react, and from there, I naturally promoted Liora. The forum buzzed with excitement afterwards. Indeed, eating challenge videos are popr. A cute fantasy girl eating a lot is rare in real life. I created a channel for uploading and streaming videos just for this purpose. I''ll post the video there. The channel is called "Liora Eats Well." Please subscribe. The views are doing well. Subscribers are increasing too. Many seem to expect me to upload strategy videos, but unfortunately, you''ll only see humanity''s potential (eating a lot). I received a lot of strategy questions, but I did say I was logging off. I also hinted that I don''t use forums often due to bad eyesight. My poor eyesight is actually true, so it''s okay. I wear sses on my days off. These days, every day is an off day. Liora''s poprity seems to be heading in a good direction. Ideally, she''d stay unnoticed... but desperate times call for desperate measures. I''ll turn Liora into a beloved big-eating cute girl, a popr video content star. ''By the way, is it true that popr video creators make a lot of money?'' Chapter 19 Dungeon [1] I bought clothes for Liora. I enjoy seeing a cute girl dressed up, so I ended up buying a lot of clothes. ording to a yer, it costs a considerable amount to buy clothes in the royal capital. The amount is even greater than a decent shield or any other weapon since only nobles are privileged enough to wear good dresses. However, this is Elnd. Apparently, they keep arge number of silkworm-like creatures, so high-quality clothes can be bought rtively cheaply here. However, these are not battle clothes.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om They don''t seem durable enough to withstand intense battles and will eventually tear. "Oh, Lady Liora. There you are!" While sightseeing in the city, we were suddenly addressed from behind. Neither Liora nor I noticed the presence; the person was truly skilled. It was Nin, the self-proimed war maiden we met at the guild. Nin is a woman with a beautiful look, her golden hair tied in a ponytail with a few spots scattered across her face. The only odd thing is therge sword strapped to her back, whichh is quite unbnced. "What a coincidence. This might be fate. How about a match? At the training ground over there." "Don''t invite her to a deadly fight as if you''re inviting me for tea! Liora, refuse her!" "The god said: No." Nin looked troubled. She crossed her arms, and I could see her well-shaped chest distorting under her leather armor. Should I ask Liora if I can record a video of this? "I believe fighting me would only bring good results. It would be good training, and if you win, I''ll give you good weapons and armor." "Can I get stronger?" "Of course. As things stand, Lady Liora, you wouldn''t be able to defeat me." Liora was wavering. I wouldn''t mind epting, though. Nin seems trustworthy. However, if word spreads that challenging her would guarantee a spar, it could be dangerous if misused by others to approach her with ill intentions. "For instance," Nin smiled seductively. "Wouldn''t you like clothes that don''t tear during battles?" I shivered. Yes! That''s exactly what I want! "Liora, get the details." "Clothes that don''t tear? I want more information!" It seems I wasn''t the only one impressed; even Liora waspletely wavered. "Huh? That''s all you want? Sigh," Nin furrowed her brows in confusion. However, she nodded and provided the information. "There is a dungeon nearby where rare items can be obtained. I got clothes that ''regenerate'' there. I assume you fight in a way that damages your clothes?" "How do you know?" "It''s obvious by looking at the state of your clothes. You yourself are unscathed, but your clothes are in tatters." "I want those clothes¡­" "It''s a matter of luck. Dungeon items are rare. However, if you fight with me, win or lose, I''ll gift them to you!" Liora shook her head. "No need. I will get those clothes by myself!" She''s adhering to my policy of "not fighting unbeatable opponents." Well, I would like to try the dungeon at least once. If we fail to get the regenerating clothes after a few attempts, I''ll let her y with Nin. If we manage to get the clothes, we can ask for something else instead. While the clothes are convenient, they don''t seem to provide anybat advantage. If they did, she would have highlighted that. "Liora, let''s head to the dungeon." "Okay. Hum, uh, Sister¡ªwe are going to the dungeon." "You¡ªyou are cute! That''s okay, it''s just a matter of time before you reach a higher level. As an elf, I''m good at waiting. So let''s spar after you be strong." "Which way is the dungeon?" "That way, youngdy." She bowed gracefully and pointed north. "Are you well-prepared with knowledge about the dungeon?" "Fully prepared. The gods know everything." "No, Liora! Let''s listen to her. Hum, we need information from mortals too!" "I''ll listen after all." We then received an exnation about the dungeon. With her help, we purchased the essential items and were ready to head to the dungeon by tomorrow. We just arrived in Elnd today. Since we got a nice inn, let''s rest well. I want to let Liora enjoy a good bed. ¡­I should order a mattress for myself once I log out. ¨Œ I logged out when Liora went to bed. I had a meal in the real world. Influenced by Liora, I made more than usual but could only eat half. I''ll eat the rest tomorrow. Maybe my neighbor might want some. I live in an apartment. My neighbor is quite unique. One day, she suddenly knocked on my door at night and asked, "Excuse me, did you make too much dinner?" I was terrified. That day, I happened to have made biryani (with chicken 65) in a slow cooker, so I let her have some. She said, "It''s like a professional''s taste! Are you a chef?" My neighbor seems to get nervous when talking to people. She often stutters and ends up saying "sorry" a lot. By the way, regarding the biryani, all I did was put the ingredients in the appliance and press a button. I''m good at cooking, but with dishes, the cooking time is what makes the difference. Every now and then, shees to beg for food. Apparently, she has quite ack of living skills, and if it''s past the delivery hours, she has no food. I try to avoid her. She makes a lot of noise at night, which I dislike. She screams and bangs on her desk¡­ it''s scary. It seems like she''s talking to herself while ying games. Not really a conversation. She''s a cute woman, but I don''t like her. Lately, she hasn''t been making noise, but could she be¡­ dead? The thought of what''s behind the wall scares me. She''s a terrifying woman. Chapter 20 Dungeon [2] The inn is safe for Liora, so I decided to sleep and told Liora to do the same. ''I''ll sleep for about eight hours.'' With the elerated time, it feels like a whole day for Liora. However, there''s nothing I can do. Even while I''m sleeping, I get a barrage of notifications, but I can''t reply because I''m asleep. When I wake up, I reply to them and carry on with my daily life: brushing my teeth, taking a bath, that sort of thing. Lately, I''ve been so absorbed in "PHO" that I haven''t had any leisure time. I''d like to read some books, but Liora''s persistent notifications make it difficult. It feels like the developers are determined to prevent us from doing anything other than ying "PHO." Are other yers experiencing the same thing? "Hum, Liora will be sad if I make her wait any longer." I logged in. ¨Œ The dungeon was a mystical space. A dazzling forest. Transparent droplets fell from the golden leaves soaked in morning dew. In the distance, a giant waterfall could be seen. A jungle shining with gold. This is one of the three dungeons in Elnd. ''Golden Jungle'' was its name. We came here because it''s said that regenerating clothes drop in this dungeon. As usual, we are doing this solo. Or rather, it''s a duo? Technically solo in terms of the system. "On the first floor here, you need to be wary of enemies that drag you into rivers or swamps. Also, there are poisonous insects, but¡­ Liora, you have [Heal], right?" "Yes! I will even drink poison if you say so!" Sigh, this girl...!! "Don''t let your guard down. There are poisonous monsters here, and I don''t want you to get hurt." Liora nodded seriously, her eyes full of determination. Enemies on the first floor are said to be weak, but we can''t becent. As we braced ourselves, a monkey-like creature approached using the jungle vines. ''Aah, aah!'' "Making a loud noise while ambushing, huh, monkey...they are dumb." Swinging from the vines like a trapeze, the magic apeunched an attack from above. Liora calmly scooped up her scythe in response to the stomping attack. [Death de] Thanks to its forced critical effect, the monkey was sliced cleanly from its soles to its heart. With a loud "pop," the monkey split in half, its attack thwarted. To avoid getting sttered with blood, I created a dark umbre with [Darkness Creation]. This skill isn''t popr on the forums, but I find it quite useful. After all, it''s tough to master as I discussed with people on the forum. "Liora." "Yes!" Right after the battle, I had a bad feeling and called out. But Liora seemed to sense it faster than I did. She already had her scythe raised. A metallic sound rang out as her scythe deflected something. On the groundy a small needle. ording to my research, it''s a poison needle from an Assassin Ho. The distance was about five meters. "[Gift Of Venom]" The effect was immediate. Since it''s not a boss monster like Helmut, the skill disyed its effect at once. The ho fell to the ground. Liora took a step forward and stabbed it with the tip of her scythe, killing it. We continued to advance. After some time, we were attacked by groups of monkeys and hos. However, it seems Liora, who specializes in stamina, was well-suited for the dungeon. Even when surrounded, she could recover while striking back with [Life Steal de]. The bees'' poison was troublesome, but everything was manageable with [Heal] and [Darkness Creation.] I also provided support with [Gift Of Venom.] These attacks were mostly for leveling up my skills. Liora could handle things on her own just fine. Without much dy, we discovered the stairs leading down to the second floor. "Shall we descend, God?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "The experience points efficiency is poor here, so I''d prefer to go down. However...." "? God...?" Liora blinked her two eyes as she stared at me. "We don''t have a scout, and we''re not good with traps. It might be worth considering going back and hiring a specialist." "I''ll follow God''s instructions." Liora could force her way through traps. Status ailments could bepletely cured with [Heal]. However, there was still the risk of instant death traps, which was my main concern. It''s a tricky situation. Well, I don''t think there would be any instant death traps in a low-difficulty dungeon like this. Unless there''s a major irregrity. Even if I calcte everything, still, I don''t want her to get hurt needlessly. "Oh." ? While I was deep in thought, Liora seemed to have noticed something. She was pointing up at a tree. "What is that, God?" "Ah, that''s a treasure chest." "Treasure chest!?" "Shall we open it? We might achieve our goal." There are two ways to find treasures in a dungeon. One is to defeat the monsters inside the dungeon, hoping that what we want will be dropped after the boss kill. The other is to open treasure chests that are either randomly ced or appear after defeating monsters. This time, it''s the former. We''ve already experienced thetter with the bee hunt. We got a dagger with a low poison effect. I''ve given it to Liora as a sub-weapon, but she might not use it. ''Let''s hope the treasure chest has what I want.'' Liora cut down the tree with her scythe, causing the treasure chest to fall. She looked at me with a big smile, and I nodded with a wry smile. Then, like a child opening a Christmas present, Liora threw open the lid of the treasure chest¡ª ¡ªand was promptly eaten by the treasure chest. "¡ªLiora!?" "¡ªDamn, it''s a mimic¡­" Liora''s upper body was already swallowed whole by the chest. Shit! How can I rescue her? I suddenly remembered some information I read on a forum. There was a warning to be careful of treasure chests, that said chests that turn into "mimics" are extremely low. "Did I just hit the most unluckiest jackpot here!?" "[Darkness Creation]! [Appraisal]! [Gift of Venom]! [GIFT OF VENOM]!!! But it has too much health and resistances!" Liora was being dragged in. Chapter 21 New Companion Liora was being dragged in. She couldn''t wield her scythe or use her dagger. She probably couldn''t even think straight in that situation. She kicked and iled her legs wildly. Even repeated [sh] spells were ineffective, showcasing the mimic''s trait of "always taking at least one person with it." Is she really going to be lost... I shouted desperately. "Liora, use that skill! It might be futile, but... [Tame]!" "¡ª!" Before Liora could be aplete victim of the mimic, I decided to try every possible means. The [Tame] skill I instructed Liora to use was one I had her learn, considering it essential for solo activities. Essentially, it''s a "Tame" skill, a unique skill limited to shrine maidens, but it seemed very inconvenient. It couldn''t capture normal monsters and could only secure "Yuni," which were rare to find. Yuni is a type of weird monster. Despite debating between Tame and this, we decided to go with the shrine maiden-exclusive skill. ording to the forum, there were no reports of taming a mimic. This was confirmed by a reliable source who consulted with an Elf sage. Even if taming was ineffective, it was the only option left to try. "Keep spamming it!" "¡ª! Ugh¡ª!" Just as her MP was about to run out... [Tame sessful. Name your tamed mimic.] The mimic spat out Liora. Covered in slime, she clung to me, almost in tears. "That was terrifying! God! God! Thank you, God!" "Yes, yes. It was scary, wasn''t it? There, there, good girl, Liora." So, mimics are Yuni... Now that I think about it, they do seem like spirits possessing treasure chests. In the end, we got a treasure chest from the dungeon. [Liora''s Tame skill has leveled up.] ¨Œ Liora was terrified of the mimic she had tamed. The mimic itself was quiet, pretending to be a treasure chest. The old, vintage-style chest looked quite stylish. I approached and observed it. "Liora, what shall we name it?" "I want to release it, God..." "It''s rare, you know. Plus, it''s unusual for a monster to bepatible with [Tame]. Not to mention, monsterspatible with a shrine maiden are rare." We had used [Tame] on monkeys and bees multiple times, but it had never worked. I wanted to be happy about finally taming something. "...I''ll endure it since God is pleased..." "If you really dislike it, we can release it. But it might attack us again." "Ugh. As expected, God is clever." We named it and disyed its status. Name: [Samurai]¡¡Gender: [None] Level: [47]¡¡Race: [Old Mimic] Magic: [Earth Magic 5] Crafting: [Woodworking 1] Skills: [Mimicry 34] [Ambush 24] [Restraint 28] [Action Interruption Resistance] Status: Attack: [47]¡¡Magic Attack: [47] Durability: [376]¡¡Agility: [470]n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Luck: [47] Something like this. The mimic has quite an unusual stat distributionpared to humans. Since it can kill enemies by swallowing them, it doesn''t need much attack power. Instead, its durability and speed are off the charts. Liora''s highest stat is agility, but she couldn''t react at all to the mimic''s speed. Its HP is also very high. My [Dark Ball] couldn''t even leave a dent on it. If Helmut''s durability is from defense, then the mimic''s is from its HP. Liora, on the other hand, is a regen-type tank. In this world, the toughest ones are all durability types. Anyway, if used well, this mimic could be a pure tank. While Liora is also a tank, their ways of enduring are different. "Samurai, pleased to meet you. By the way, about your mimicry skill... can you increase your skills?" ''¡ª'' "I see! It seems it doesn''t understand speech..." "? God. It says it can." I turned to Liora, wide-eyed in surprise. Well, the default form of the dark spirit doesn''t have eyes, and its entire body is round, anyway. Could it be that Liora understands mimguage? Or maybe because it''s her tamed monster? "Liora, please ask if it can take human form." "God is asking. Can you take human form?" ''¡ª'' "It says it can add one form for every 10 levels. It currently only has the treasure chest form, so it''s free to choose." Samurai''s [Mimicry] is at level 34. This means, excluding the initial treasure chest form, it can take up to three different forms. This should be interesting. First, human form is a must. Without matching movement speed and actions, our party would be disorganized. We can''t have Liora carrying a treasure chest everywhere. It needs a way to move on its own. Human form would also increase its utility. "Tell it to take it to human form like this¡­" Hearing my words, Liora''s eyes shone as she nodded her head brightly, "Yes, God!!" ''¡ª'' Thus, the mimic Samurai took on human form. Chapter 22 Exploration as a Trio The mimic''s mimicry was more perfect than I had imagined. I thought it would just be a look-alike of "Liora," but instead, a beautiful elf girl stood there. Her vacant expression was striking. She was a beautiful girl with long golden hair reaching her waist, partially tied into twin tails. She looked about fifteen or sixteen years old. She still seemed a bit young, but she appeared more mature than her apparent age. She stared at me and Liora with sleepy eyes. The mimicked elf girl, Samurai, walked around. Although a bit awkward, it was within a range that could improve with practice. "It seems she can walk. I''m excited to see what other two forms she can mimic." "What should the other forms be, God?" "One should be a creature we can ride. If her movement speed increases, it will make things easier. I wonder if she can fly if she mimics a winged creature?" That might be too difficult. Since it''s just mimicry, replicating the function of flight might be challenging. However, mimicking a creature specialized for traversing terrain, like a horse, could be useful. High agility wille in handy, I bet. "For now, let''s continue exploring the dungeon. We can increase her forms as needed at ater time." "Yes, God." With Samurai in tow, we resumed the dungeon attack. We descended the stairs. Samurai took the lead. Since she''s currently under Liora''s [Tame], even if she dies, Liora can revive her by consuming MP. However, with Samurai''s abundant HP, it''s unlikely she''ll die easily. While I was thinking about this, Samurai triggered a trap. It seemed to be a fire trap, as her body was being scorched from below. She was engulfed in mes, her HP gradually decreasing, but Samurai didn''t move. "Liora, have Samurai use earth magic to extinguish the fire. And cast Regen on her as well." "!" As a summoner, Liora has a mental connection with her summoned creatures. Samurai, seemingly dazed, used earth magic to extinguish the mes on her body. Since she''s originally a mimic, her skin didn''t seem to melt from the fire. "¡­Mimics are convenient." "Yes, but I am more convenient!" Oh, she is getting jealous! Cuteee!!! "Liora is adorable." "Oh. Hehe¡­" The second floor of this dungeon seemed somewhat different. It felt like an endless cave, typical of abyrinth. There was enough air, so we didn''t suffocate. While the leading mimic asionally disarmed traps, we encountered an enemy. A small old man wearing a tattered, stylish red hat. He was only about half of Liora''s height and held an axe with both hands. "A goblin with a hat?" I appraised him. Name: Unknown Gender:Male Level:34 Race:Red Cap Magic: Earth Magic 1 Skills:Axe Technique 35, Martial Arts 38, Critical Hit 17, Agility Enhancement 38 Stats: Attack 170, Magic Attack 34 Durability 34, Agility 272 Luck 170 It seemed to be a melee type enemy using an axe. Its high agility means we should be wary of it closing the distance quickly. Its attacks seem high enough, so it might not pair well with Liora. But now, we have a reliable tank. ''¡ª'' Samurai extended her two arms forward, which quickly turned into two tentacles attacking the Red Cap. ¡ªIt was an ambush. Caught off guard by the sudden tentacles, the Red Cap froze. Before it could leverage its agility, the monster was entangled by the tentacles. They were wriggling. Liora, gripping her scythe, trembled more than the captured Red Cap. "So scary¡­ God, it''s scary. This thing." "It''s your tamed monster, Liora. Finish it off." "Ugh¡­ Okay." Liora raised her scythe and struck the captured Red Cap. The fallen Red Cap''s body vanished, and a ring dropped in its ce. I immediately appraised it. Ring: Destiny Ring Rarity:Rare Skill:Luck +10 I see. It''s a ring that increases the luck stat. Since luck influences critical hit chances and damage, it''s perfect for Liora, who''s a front-line attacker with low attack power. Let''s have her equip it. "Liora, try putting this on." "Oh." She repeatedly raised her hand with the ring, showing it off happily. She seemed very pleased. I remember being excited about toy rings as a child. I''m satisfied to see Liora acting her age. Apparently, you can equip two rings for their effects, so I''d like to collect more. So far, we''ve gained a poison dagger, a mimic, and a ring from this dungeon. Not bad for just one day. We continued the exploration. After walking for about five minutes, we reached a corner. It was dangerous, so we sent Samurai ahead. An ambushing Red Cap swung its axe at Samurai. The axe embedded in Samurai''s head. ''Gyagyagya!'' The Red Cap, reveling in the kill, screamed in delight, but Samurai continued operating without issue. Despite the axe stuck in her head, she calmly restrained the Red Cap with her tentacles. "It seems we have a horde this time." "Let''s go!" Emerging from the corner was a horde of Red Caps. About ten of them swarmed Samurai in an instant. With Liora''s Regen, Samurai showed no signs of being affected. "[sh]! [Head Hunt]!" However, Liora wasn''t a girl to rely on someone else. She leaped into the horde without hesitation and disyed her scythe techniques. The monsters staggered from the damage, and Liora struck with her scythe¡ªkilling everything in her sight. [Zephyr leveled up] [Zephyr''s Dark Magic leveled up] [Zephyr''s Dark Aura leveled up] [Zephyr''s HP Auto-Recovery leveled up] [Zephyr''s MP Auto-Recovery leveled up]n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om [Zephyr''s Appraisal leveled up] [Liora leveled up] [Liora''s Scythe Technique leveled up] [Liora''s Farming Skill leveled up] [Liora''s Light Magic leveled up] [Liora''s Tame leveled up] [Samurai''s Mimicry leveled up] [Samurai''s Ambush leveled up] [Samurai''s Restraint leveled up] Chapter 23 Tough Fight Yet another group of Red Caps appeared, but this time there were magic users present, along with a boss-like figure¡ªa giant Red Cap. It was as tall as an orc, standing twice Liora''s height. I had read that Red Caps were supposed to be small... Well, we have no choice but to fight. As usual, Samurai initiated with a tentacle attack. In response, the Big Cap mmed its axe down, cutting the tentacle in half and spraying blood. ''¨D¨DMu'' Samurai, looking irritated, sent her left-hand tentacle towards the Big Cap. "[Gift of Venom]! Liora!" "[Deathly sh]!" Using the tform I created with [Darkness Creation], Liora quickly positioned herself above the Big Cap. She imbued her de with a dense aura of death and swung it in a bisecting arc. At that moment, a magic spell from a Red Cap mage exploded, striking the unguarded Liora directly and sending her frail body flying. The Big Cap, now free from paralysis, stepped forward, causing cracks to spread across the ground. ''¨D¨D!'' Samurai tried to bind it with her tentacles again, but the Big Cap tore through them and mmed its axe into the airborne Liora. A thunderous crash followed. I hurriedly created a [Darkness Creation] shield, but it wasn''t enough. The shield shattered, and the axe struck Liora''s abdomen directly. "¨D¨DGah" Her abdomen was deeply cut, and she hit the ground with her back. Despite spewing blood, Liora quickly stood up and dodged the next strike. Red Caps and magic users charged at the retreating Liora. The Big Cap was still attacking Samurai, who was now mmed against the wall. It swung its axe at her again and again, aiming for a home run strike to the abdomen. With her high HP and Regen, Samurai should be able to hold out for a minute. "I''ll support you, Liora. [Dark Ball]!" "Please heal me." I fired off five [Dark Ball] spells. The dark balls, with their speed minimized, floated slowly in the air, perfect for creating a barrier. Liora held her abdomen, trying to control her rough breathing. Her HP was already 90% restored. "We underestimated them, didn''t we?" "I-I''m sorry, God!" "No, the one who underestimated them was me, Liora. It was my job to block that magic." "God, it''s not your fault!" "If that''s the case, then Liora isn''t at fault either. Let''s me the enemy." "Yes, God!" Her HP was fully restored. However, the maze-like structure of this dungeon is disadvantageous for Liora. Her highest stat is agility, and she excels in speed-basedbat. But in these narrow corridors, her speed is less effective. Her scythe also seems difficult to wield. Frankly, Liora is a self-healing tank with speed-based frontline critical attack capabilities and high magic attack power... a rather iprehensible development n. A person with high gameprehension would avoid such stats. It''s good that the scythe weapon matches her stats. Well, it doesn''t matter. "Liora, we''ll break through in one strike¡ªactivate [Soul Devourer]." "[Deathly Shadow], release¡ª[Soul Devourer] full purge!" The characteristic of the scythe [Deathly Shadow] is that it collects the souls of killed targets. The life gathered as Life Stock now fills the [Deathly Shadow]. A giant dark de enveloped the scythe. An enormous, intangible de. The little reaper girl held the scythe at her waist. "[Deathly sh]!" With a single sweep, the Red Caps within a few meters had their heads separated from their bodies. The small fry were wiped out. The dyed shockwave blew the corpses away, clearing the path to the Big Cap. "I''ll finish this!" Liora''s shout caught the attention of the Big Cap, who had been tormenting Samurai. In the moment it looked towards Liora, Samurai entangled it with her tentacles. Movement stopped for a moment. For Liora, a moment is¡ªthe time to deliver a fatal blow. With her immense agility, she closed the distance to the Big Cap. ''Gyaa gyaa gyaa!'' The Big Cap swung its axe in a trajectory that would split Liora''s head. I stepped in to counter it. "[Darkness Creation]¡ªno room for mistakes." I created dark wires, attaching them to the ceiling and connecting them to Liora. I pulled Liora up quickly with the wires. Liora''s position changed slightly. The axe, which would have struck her head, hit where she had been moments before. But now, she wasn''t there. "[Deathly sh]!" The HP she recovered with [HP Auto-Recovery] and [Regen] was converted into power for her Deathly sh. Aiming for the neck, in a straight line. Swissh---! The attack, enhanced with [Head Hunt] and [Weak Point Attack], cleanly decapitated the Big Cap. Blood sprayed over Liora as shended, but Samurai shielded her with her mimicry. [Zephyr leveled up] [Zephyr''s Dark Magic leveled up]n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om [Zephyr''s Create Dark leveled up] [Zephyr''s HP Auto-Recovery leveled up] [Zephyr''s MP Auto-Recovery leveled up] [Zephyr''s Appraisal leveled up] [Liora leveled up] [Liora''s Scythe Technique leveled up] [Liora''s Farming Skill leveled up] [Liora''s Dark Magic leveled up] [Liora''s Head Hunt leveled up] [Liora''s Tame leveled up] [Samurai leveled up] [Samurai''s Mimicry leveled up] [Samurai''s Ambush leveled up] [Samurai''s Restraint leveled up] Hearing the victory announcement, we finally rxed. Looking down, we saw a drop item. It was a long, long¡ªstaff. "A rare drop, but it is a¡­ magic item?" "What a shame." "Nheless, it''s a victory, Liora!" "Yes!" Liora raised her scythe high and cheered, matching my vibe. She passed the vibe check. Chapter 24 Even Announcement I''ve finally returned. We had to use Liora''s trump card, the [Soul Eater], after all. "We can still go on" quickly turned into "It''s too dangerous." We fought some light battles on the way back to recharge our life stocks. This dungeon yielded quite a haul: "Poison Dagger," "Ring of Luck," "Samurai," and "Staff of Lamentation." Some people on the forum are raising suspicions that [PHO] is a hack-and-sh game. In other words, dungeons where you can level up while acquiring supplies are vital for this game. We didn''t obtain the "Regenerating Clothing" we aimed for, but worst-case scenario, we can secure it by fighting Nin. It''s not a "deathmatch," right? Just in case, I should bring Euklis along to act as the referee. We returned to the inn and took a moment to rx when I noticed the forum was buzzing. This forum is a thread where the administration makes announcements, and users can''t post there. [Congrattions] Announcement of the First Event [Yay] 1... The World Everyone, everyone, listen up! Thanks to Fool-chan''s cooperation, we can hold an event! The event content is "A battle royale with 60 random yers in a raid battle repeated over and over!" As long as you keep winning, you can continue ying the raid infinitely! Can you be thest raid team standing!? By the way, we''ve prepared several servers, so don''t worry. Each server will host 100 teams of 60 yers each. Winning teams will emerge on each server! Confused? You''ll understand once you try! There are rewards for the top raid teams and top individuals, so do your best! Oh, and any "death" or "penalty" during the event will be nullified! It wouldn''t be fun otherwise. However, boss rewards and experience points will carry over! The World is awesome, right? Alright, everyone, love you all! That''s all for the announcement from the administration. For more details, please check the in-game announcement mail. ¨Œ The administration has quite a unique style. Although it''s a bit unclear, it fits well with the setting that the game world operates using the power of a goddess. I don''t dislike it. However, seasoned gamers are repeatedly shouting, "It''s confusing, damn it, crappy admin!" Incidentally, the admin responds to suchments with "(¡ä?¦Ø?`)". Anyway, it looks like it will be a tasty event. It seems you can get various boss rewards, and it''s risk-free. Most importantly, we get to experience what might be a main content, raid battles. Considering [PHO]''s system where NPCs don''t return once lost, it''s a precious opportunity. "We can''t afford not to participate... It starts next week, right? Seems like a second batch wille five dayster, so I guess this 60 includes them too." "God...?" "Liora, let''s enter a strengthening period aiming for one week. Then we''ll face the bosses."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Boss! I''m good at defeating bosses... I am!" If we be too active, we might stand out on the forums again. But if we don''t, we won''t get the top rewards. I want to prioritize strengthening over concealing information. Anyway, just by participating, our information will be exposed through [Appraisal], so there''s no point in hiding. We decided to prepare for the event over the next week. Our preparation strategy includes several things. First, leveling up steadily. Liora''s level is still in the 30s, so we need to push it up to 40. My level too, of course. I want to raise my skill levels, especially [Darkness Creation] and [Gift of Venom]. And we must get the regenerating clothes. If a streamer is on the team, Liora''s cute naked body will be exposed to the public. That sounds creepy, doesn''t it? ''And I can''t allow others to see her naked body!'' Training begins. I have quit my job and Liora has a skill for enduring rough times. Thisbination is monstrously strong¡­! ¨Œ [Zephyr has leveled up] [Zephyr''s Dark Magic has leveled up] [Zephyr''s Darkness Creation has leveled up] [Zephyr''s Dark Aura has leveled up] [Zephyr''s HP Auto-Recovery has leveled up] [Zephyr''s MP Auto-Recovery has leveled up] [Zephyr''s Appraisal has leveled up] [Zephyr''s Item Box has leveled up] [Liora has leveled up] [Liora''s Scythe Technique has leveled up] [Liora''s Agricultural Skill has leveled up] [Liora''s Dark Magic has leveled up] [Liora''s Loneliness Resistance has leveled up] [Liora''s Tame has leveled up] [Samurai has leveled up] [Samurai''s Mimicry has leveled up] [Samurai''s Surprise Attack has leveled up] [Samurai''s Restraint has leveled up] We barely made it. After a week of intense training, our stats are as follows: Name: [Zephyr] Gender: [Male] Level: [37] Species: [Dark Spirit] Magic: [Dark Magic 48] Crafting: [Alchemy 15] Skills: [HP Auto-Recovery 45] [MP Auto-Recovery 58] [Appraisal 10] [Dark Creation 40] [Dark Aura 31] [Enemy Resistance Reduction] [Item Box 10] [Adversity Strengthening] Stats: Attack [185] Magic Attack [185] Endurance [185] Agility [185] Luck [185] Title: [False God''s Voice] Let''s start by exining my enhancements. Gaining 10 levels earned me [Adversity Strengthening]. This skill increases firepower, defense, and agility in return for HP. It''s unpopr in [PHO] because death equals loss, and HP is a vital stat. It''s dangerous. But Liora is a character who fights by reducing her HP with [Death Scythe]. She''s often in a pinch, making this skill likely to activate. If we can get through a pinch with this skill and stabilize with auto-recovery, it''s great. I finally set my title. I had two and struggled to decide. I chose [False God''s Voice], which enhances my lies. Not useful inbat, though. My dark magic increased, I got more transformations for [Darkness Creation], and [Dark Aura] became practical. There are other minor changes that will be showcased in battle. Lastly, let''s talk about the [Alchemy] skill. I took it to have something to do while Liora slept. It pairs well with the Item Box, giving me more options. Heh heh... Next is Liora. Name: [Liora] Gender: [Female] Level: [40] Species: [Human] Job: [Miko] Magic: [Dark Magic 45] Crafting: [Agriculture 41] Skills: [Loneliness Resistance 40] [Scythe Technique 45] [Tame 15] Stats: Attack [134] Magic Attack [290] Endurance [227] Agility [293] Luck [230] Title: [Sin of Patricide] Unique Skill: [Death Scythe] Liora also gained 10 levels. The new skill is [Chant Extension], which allows extending the chant time to increase magic power. This makes her magic attacks practical. It''s a bit of a mess, but that suits Liora. Initially, I didn''t n for her to get [Chant Extension], but I wanted a support skill. Lastly, Samurai the Mimic. Samurai has been straightforwardly enhanced, without any weird changes. Chapter 25 Event Raid Battle Name: [Samurai] Gender: [None] Level: [49] Species: [Old Mimic] Magic: [Earth Magic 9] Crafting: [Woodworking 15] Skills: [Mimicry 38] [Surprise Attack 27] [Restraint 37] [Action Obstruction Resistance] Stats: Attack [49] Magic Attack [49] Endurance [392] Agility [490] Luck [49] Samurai''s level has increased by 2. That''s all. This was due to focusing on weaker enemies and not including Samurai in the party. It seems that when a tamed monster is in the party, the experience points are split among all members. To ensure Liora was ready in time, we had no choice but to leave Samurai out. Ideally, we wanted to raise Samurai''s level by one more, which would have unlocked a new skill. It''s truly unfortunate. "The strengthening phase is over. Now, let''s go wild in actualbat¡­" I eagerly pressed the "Participate in Event" button. [Transporting to desginated location¡­] In the pure white space, sixty participants have gathered. There is no visible end to this space. The ceiling height is indeterminate, and the floor seems to be floating in mid-air. Among the blinding white, elves, humans, beastkin, and dwarves of all ages and genders were present. "Wow, it feels like a Raid battle is about to start, myun! Myun! Is everyone watching? The event is about to start. For those who watch my stream while participation in the game, be sure to watch my stream without dying! No causing trouble, okay?" The one chattering away using the [Manifestation] skill despite no enemies being around was a girl who looked like an angel at first nce. She had a halo above her head,rge wings on her back, and her white hair was intricately tied. I''ve seen her in amercial before. She must be Archangel Myumyu. Given that raid teams are randomly assembled, it''s no surprise to see someone like her. "I sensed this from themercial but it''s annoying how her voice sounds just like my neighbor''s. It''s not her fault, though¡­wait could it be¡­?" "God?" "No, let''s start preparing for battle as well." At that moment, Archangel Myumyu and Liora''s eyes met for just a second. However, she quickly looked away with a startled expression and whispered something into the camera. Curious, I decided to watch Archangel Myumyu''s stream. "Oh, wow, Liora is here! But I got turned down for a cob on the forum before¡­ so I won''t be showing her on the stream." "Though, don''t worry, I''ll use the stream''s mosaic function. So you will still get coverage of her movements and battle y!!!" Archangel Myumyu remembered and announced. She was being considerate. I felt a little sorry. After all, since "other yers" would expose her anyway, only Archangel Myumyu''s stream would have the mosaic. Since I n to fight on the front lines, it would make for a rather difficult-to-watch stream. ¡­It can''t be helped. I typed a message into the rapidly flowing chat. User [Zephyr] "Since I''ll be exposed anyway, you don''t need the mosaic." The message quickly got lost in the fast chat. A few people noticed it, but it couldn''t be helped. I decided to pay for myment to stand out. You can spend up to 10,000 Rupees to highlight yourment. This makes the chat message stand out by changing its color. This feature is called Ultra Chat, or Ultra for short. Reluctantly, I spent 10,000 Rupees. Why am I doing this¡­ It''s not like I am her fan. Archangel Myumyu noticed myment. "Oh, they said no mosaic needed! Thanks for the permission and Ultra Chat, Zephyr! Everyone, you''ll be able to see Liora in action!" The chat erupted with "Woohoo!" Some extreme fans were upset, saying things like "A viewer shouldn''t seek attention. Using Ultra Chat for this!" I''ve taken note of their names. I dislike them! I dislike my former work associates, my neighbors, and then you, sidekicks! ''Just you guys wait and see!!'' ¨Œ My channel, [Liora Eats a Lot], has already be a popr channel with over 100,000 subscribers. We were also the first to defeat a field boss in this game. Due to the nature of this event, prominent characters might get called out. But this time, it was unexpected. In front of the small Liora, eight men and women stood in a line, striking poses. In unison, they shouted, "We are of the strike n ¨C [Destruction Society]! The eight executives, the [Eight Destruction Members]!!" Then, one by one, they began their introductions with original poses. "First Destruction¡ªBreaking Destruction Ozma!"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om "Second Destruction¡ªMagic Destruction n!" "Third Destruction¡ªDust Destruction Greed!" "Fourth Destruction¡ªAnnihtion Destruction Franzman!" "Fifth Destruction¡ªRaging Destruction Do!" "Sixth Destruction¡ªPunching Destruction Melon!!" "Seventh Destruction¡ªMelting Destruction Lagna!" "Eighth Destruction¡ªPiercing Destruction Elenora!" As soon as they finished introducing themselves, a yer who had been secretly [Manifested] behind them set off an explosive. With a loud bang, they struck a new pose. He seems to be the spirit of these eight NPCs. What a strange group. They don''t seem like bad people, though. "Liora, say something to them." "Yes, God." After clearing her throat, Liora dered, "I am Liora. I don''t destroy. I just kill." "Wow! That sounds cool." "Wow! As expected of the Liberator! Her words carry weight!" They seem to like her. Well, that''s fine. Among the sixty participants, it seems the prominent yers are Archangel Myumyu''s team (with a massive audience supporting her, and a few detractors who can''t do much about it) and the Eight Destruction Members. We, however, are solo. We might be considered baggage in a raid. [Hey, hey, yers!] [It''s your idol, The World!] [Thanks for gathering for the sake of the world today!] [I''m sure everyone wants to hear more from The World, but] [We''re starting right away! Good luck!] Then, above the sixty of us, we saw a giant mass of flesh falling from hundreds of meters in the sky. It was so massive and so distant that itpletely threw off our sense of scale. "Liora, let''s run." "Yes, God!" Seeing Liora sprinting at full speed, several yers started running too. It was difficult to coordinate all sixty people, but Archangel Myumyu''s charisma led many to flee. ¡ªBoom. The ground shook violently, and many NPCs fell to the floor. Liora jumped to avoid the impact. Amazing. I appraised the situation. Name: [Garmer] Gender: [Male] Level: [100] Species: [Emperor Orc] Magic: [Earth Magic] Skills: [Destruction Technique 100] [Martial Arts 100] [Armor 100] [Violence Boost] [Attack Boost] [Roaring Technique 100] [Iron Fist] [Heavy Strike] [Magic Resistance] [Offense-Defense Technique 100] [Sensory Increase] Stats: Attack [1500] Magic Attack [100] Endurance [800] Agility [500] Luck [500] Unique Skill: [Leader] A monster-like enemy with overwhelming stats stood over us, exuding a terrifying aura that starkly emphasized our inferiority. This VRMMO''s high quality made it clear. We cannot win this. My whole body began to tremble, and I couldn''t move. The surrounding NPCs also seemed to have their spirits broken, falling to their knees and groaning in agony. "Oh, no¡­" "I''ll go. Yes!" While most were speechless and immobile, a single girl''s eyes gleamed. Those eyes were like those of a hunting beast. No! Liora''s eyes were swirling with fervor. All for one thing, "God will praise me¡­ for killing a strong enemy!" Leaving the other 59 behind, the death-reaping girl charged solo at the raid boss. Chapter 26 K.Oed I catch up to Liora, who is racing ahead, andugh like a madman. "Hahaha! Hahaha! That''s right, Liora! I promised you. You are freer than anyone else in this world! It''s uneptable for you to be unable to defeat an unbeatable enemy. As God¡ªZephyr, I won''t allow it." "I''ll defeat it, God!" "Let''s go all out! Leave all the defense to me." I''m exhrated. This excitement is something I could never experience in reality! The sight of a young girl like Liora charging alone against a massive monster, leaving all other strong warriors behind¡ªit''s the stuff of legends! There''s no doubt about it. Liora is a hero. You couldn''t even see something like this in a movie! "Liora!" "Unleash, ''Shadow of Death''!" A massive shadow oveps Liora''s scythe. The de extends over ten meters, transforming into a colossal weapon meant to y monsters. Liora, now wielding the grim reaper''s scythe, screams out. "Darkness Creation!!!" I support her to lift the scythe with a huge hand made of darkness. The Emperor Orc notices Liora''s power and trembles with delight, letting out a siren-like roar. Its purpose is to buff itself with its roar skill. ''Bwoooooooohhhh!'' "Oooooh," Liora replies in a monotone voice. The Emperor Orc''s fist, as massive as a meteor,es crashing down, aiming to obliterate everything with a single blow. But¡ª I murmur. "Dark Region." The Emperor Orc''s fist passes through Liora, as if it struck an illusion. The sheer wind pressure from its punch uproots the ground, and the air itself seems to explode. Its devastating attack was thwarted by my single action. Now¡ªn/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "Go, Liora!" My Level 40 Dark Magic Art, "Dark Region," allows me to shift dimensions and avoid one attack absolutely. This art can only be used once a day, making it a unique ability. Liora is already running up the Emperor Orc''s body. She stands before its thick neck, grinning menacingly. "Heh." The audience roars as Liora lets out a shout. The 59 other raid participants are either speechless or cheering. Liora delivers her maximum power strike to the Emperor Orc''s neck. With Liora''s "Shadows Of Death," and "Head Hunt," the Emperor Orc''s massive body copses to the ground. The scythe''s strike reaches seventy percent through its neck. Aplete decapitation in one strike was not possible. However, Liora immediately switches to her "Life Steal de" and delivers four swift shes. "Yeah, finish him!!!" "God says you''re destined to be reaped by me!" With skills "Life Steal de," "Head Hunter," "Weakness Exploit," and "Great Sin: Parricide"bined, Liora''s fearsome strike severs the remaining thirty percent of the neck. With a thud, the head falls, and Liora copses on the spot. She raises her fist high while panting. "I win." [Team 3 of the Third Server has defeated the raid boss.] The spectators left behind are left speechless. The first to regain her voice is Archangel Myumyu. She looks pale but manages to look at thement section and speaks up. "She won¡­" "Yes, angel¡­" Myumyu''s contracted NPC, the elf Noir, mutters in a high-pitched voice. This triggers the NPCs to start chattering. Other yers, who haven''t used the "Manifestation" skill, remain quiet. We return to our camp, and everyone gazes at Liora with a mix of fear and respect. Once derided as a monster child, she''s now treated like a demon king. However, she has exhausted all her resources in this battle. They shouldn''t expect a repeat performance today. Now I understand why my "Dark Region" is considered essential yet not the strongest art. Many melee-oriented dark mages seem to learn it. Pure dark mages often prefer "Dark Shield" for its utility. My "Darkness Creation" makes my choice clear, though¡­ Liora performed splendidly. By the way, the phrase "Grim Reaper''s Scythe" was crafted by me, including the preparatory incantation. It sounds cooler and stronger that way. There''s also a slight intention to mislead. If people think it''s my unique skill, Liora might be targeted less. While I was lost in the post-battle analysis, the event seemed to continue. [The second raid boss will appear.] An announcement echoed. Everyone tensed up but seemed more rxed than before. Some NPCs, encouraged by the yers, were brimming with determination. It looks like we won''t have another disaster where everyone is paralyzed with fear. Suddenly, the ground began to shake. A massive chasm appeared, and something enormous began to emerge from it. It was so huge it towered above us. Chapter 27 2nd Boss Emerging from the ground was a gigantic tree. Each of the numerous fruits growing on it had faces, giving it a disturbingly grotesque appearance. Near the central area, akin to a chest, there was arge hollow filled with a gigantic fruit. Inside that fruit was the face of an elderly man, looking pained. I appraised the creature. **Name**: Jasper Gender: Male Level: 120 Species: Corrupted World Tree Magic: Dark Magic 100, Eternal Night Magic 50 Production: Apples of Malice Skills: Bombardment 100, Durability Enhancement, Physical and Magical Barriers, Apple Bombardment, Stamina Enhancement, Regeneration 100, Command Enhancement, Whip Technique 100, Creation: Vine Hounds Stats: Attack 600, Magic Attack 600, Durability 2400, Agility 120, Luck 600 Unique Skill: Forbidden Fruit The enemy''s level cap is supposed to be 100, isn''t it? It seems the Emperor Orc was just the first wave''s enemy. Liora had used up all her strength on the first enemy. How unfortunate¡­but that was spectacr. Liora seemed unfazed, holding her scythe ready. I wouldn''t let her charge recklessly this time. We don''t have Dark Region now. This battle will likely be a more conventional raid. "Go!" someone shouted, and the tank units charged forward. Liora followed, summoning Samurai with Tame Technique. It was a waste not to call her earlier for the experience points. "Liora, let''s start with magic to test the waters." "Yes, God!" "I''ll use Enemy Resistance Reduction as support." There are probably NPCs with weapons that inflict status ailments. Liora unleashed Shadow sh while I applied gift of venom. The spell''s chant extension ensured she delivered the minimum required magic damage. During the ten-second chant extension, her consumed HP was restored by HP Auto-Recovery and Regen. A nearby mage raised his staff, ncing in shock at Liora.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Liora''s attacks pruned the branches and leaves of the corrupted world tree with impressive efficiency. She''s fulfilling her role as rear support firepower excellently. Let''s unveil a new technique here. I''ve already shown a lot earlier. At this point, I need to aim for the highest contribution. "Create Dark, Mode: Sub-Arm." From near Liora''s spine, two dark arms emerged. This is a new support magic I spent a lot of time developing. Each arm held a staff, connected to Liora, thus counting as her equipped weapons. Unfortunately, the arms couldn''t move. But being able to carry two extra weapons is immensely powerful. However, each arm consumes 30% of her maximum MP, and while in use, that lost MP won''t recover, so it''s not an unconditional advantage. "Brace yourselves!" The corrupted world tree wielded its branches like whips, sweeping away the NPCs on the ground. The tanks braced with shields, greatswords, or defensive magic. During that window, melee attackers closed in, and rear magic usersunched spells. Through explosions and mes, warriors added their fierce attacks to the tree. This is a raid boss battle! Healers and buffers supported the tanks. "Retreat now!" shouted Archangel MyuMyu, and the front-liners pulled back as one. MyuMyu''s manifestation effect is impressively long. She must have a unique skill or supportive equipment. "Fall back! Cease attack!" A few front-line attackers ignored themand, frantically attacking. Speed characters supported the retreat by harrying the corrupted world tree. "Ahhhh!" Unable to bear the damage, the corrupted world tree shook its leaves. Apples dropped like bombs, exploding on the ground. MyuMyu''s prediction was spot on. Several disobedient attackers died. "Ahhhh!" With the corrupted world tree''s cry, countless dogs formed from vines emerged from the ground. The skills Creation: Vine Hounds and Command Enhancement had activated. Over fifty vine hounds appeared. This wasn''t the time to stay in the backlines for fire support. The tanks were already forward, and front-line attackers too. Vine hounds charged at the healers, mages, and archers. It looked like a wall of dog-shaped missiles. "Liora, we''re going!" "Yes, God! Samurai you too! Attack!!!" Samurai dashed forward, transforming into a new form we had developed. Her new form was a massive octopus. Mode: Kraken. The octopus was 15 meters long, with ten-meter tentacles, surpassing thergest real-world sizes. And it had ten tentacles. I tricked Samurai into this form using false information and a model created with Create Dark. (I couldn''t make the hundred-tentacle version due to my skill limitations, but this form is powerful.) Samurai, in her gigantic form, collided with the vine hounds, losing 60% of her HP in one hit, but Liora''s Regen helped. Also, "Feel the miracle of MyuMyu! MyunMyun Beam!" Healer MyuMyu healed Samurai. She specialized in recovery. Immediately, MyuMyu''s contracted NPC¡ªan elf named Noir¡ªrapidly fired arrows, reducing the vine hounds. Second-wave attackers also engaged the vine hounds. Underleveled yers who couldn''t join the main front managed to fend off the vine hounds. With Liora joining, the rear guard was secured. "Second tanks, forward! Main tanks, recover. Healers prioritize tanks. Use small spells to avoid drawing aggro. Myun!" "Steady damage, go!" Archers and long-range attackers dealt damage. Mages coordinated to time their next high-damage spells. Gradual damage is dangerous in raid boss fights due to HP-triggered powerful attacks. When damage reaches certain thresholds, bosses unleash devastating moves. Coordinated bursts can bypass these, reducing them from three to two uses. Archangel MyuMyu is well-versed in the game. The battle against the corrupted world tree reached its climax. Chapter 28 A Sabotager The Evil World Tree shook its head again, dropping a barrage of apples. While the tanks endured the attack, a sudden announcement rang out. [Third Server Team 1 has defeated the raid boss] Another team had taken down the first boss. Annoying to hear these updates from other teams, isn''t it? Fortunately, they can be turned off. Let''s do that. Distracted by the unexpected announcement, one of the tanks was lost. "Damn," I muttered as the Evil World Tree suddenly cloaked itself in dark shadows. The condition for its special skill seemed to be the loss of a certain number of NPCs. We''d already lost quite a few. "Feast upon me! My branches, leaves, and fruits! Take what you will! My wrath for the suffering endured by you all will be your end!" "Wow, that''s quite a dramatic line," I remarked, impressed by the Evil World Tree''s words. But then, the head of the mage supporting us next to me was blown off. What? NPCs started getting blown away and lost inrge numbers. Liora wasn''t spared, taking damage as if she''d been struck in the face. "What is this?" Everyone stopped moving in confusion, and the mysterious damage ceased. It seemed the attack was caused by the Evil World Tree. And since the damage stopped when our attacks ceased, that meant¡­ Reaching the same conclusion, Myumyuu shouted out. "Look at the fruits of the Evil World Tree, nyun!" Indeed, the fruits bore faces. At first, they were strangers, but now they resembled members of our raid team. I even spotted Liora''s anguished face. "We shouldn''t attack those, nyun! Magic attack team, avoid hitting the fruits, Myumyuu!" Realizing this quickly was a relief. Without noticing, we would have been wiped out. Still, many NPCs had already fallen due to the special attack. It was a skill designed to kill on the first encounter. "Liora, let''s head to the front lines. We may not deal much damage without a headshot, but¡­" "Yes, God! Right away¡ª!" "Liora?!" Liora''s body was suddenly blown away by mysterious damage. As shey on the ground, she continued taking damage. This was definitely due to the Evil World Tree''s special skill. But this damage shouldn''t ur without attacking. Looking at the Evil World Tree, I spotted it. "Die, die, die, die!" An NPC was climbing the Evil World Tree and specifically targeting Liora''s fruit with relentless attacks, causing her constant damage. I gritted my teeth. "What are you doing?" Without the skill [Manifestation], my shout only reached Liora. "Liora, endure for a while. I''ll make sure you win." I handed her a potion from my [Item Box], created through alchemy. Although it was a basic recovery potion, it would help. I also gave her a painkiller potion and headed toward Samurai. "Samurai, we need to stop that! Liora can''t join the front lines while taking sudden damage!" ¡º¨D¨D¡» "Mode: Horse." Samurai transformed from an octopus shape to a small horse, the perfect size for Liora to ride. Mounting Liora, I leaped onto Samurai and dashed through the battlefield. "Hey, Zephyr!? Without that octopus, the rear guard¡ª" Ignoring the voice calling out, I proceeded. Only I had noticed the malicious NPC''s actions. "I want more rewards! That first boss was taken out solo, that bastard! You won''t hog the top rewards, right, you vicious dark spirit?!" From his shouts, I understood his motive. This event raid wasn''t a true raid.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Normally, a raid battle involves a team with aligned goals and cooperation. However, this event paired random members together. Motives and motivation didn''t align, creating a rabble. We''d managed well so far, and that was praiseworthy. "So you''re good at dragging people down." Still, "You should try when you''re stronger¡­" The person who lost beside me probably died from a single hit due to the power difference. The malicious NPC, despite relentless attacks, hadn''t managed to kill Liora. Impressive, Liora, the regenerating girl. That name suited her well. The malicious NPC''s assault weakened as he struggled to maintain his position. We reached the front lines quickly. Imanded Samurai. "Now! Throw me!" ¡º¨D¨D¡» Transforming from horse to octopus, Samurai grabbed and threw me with a tentacle. A fastball! In an instant, I reached the malicious NPC, immediately deploying [Dark Aura]. I also unleashed [Gift of Venom]. With [Dark Aura] over level 30, I had two new arts: [Area Damage Infliction] and [Owner Status Effect Infliction]. The goal here was thetter. This meant the status effects that Liora and I possessed were inflicted within the aura''s range. While the probability was low, the frequent checks ensured it was almost certain unless there was resistance. The malicious NPC was paralyzed and fell from Liora''s fruit. Samurai''s tentacle caught the falling NPC, bound him tightly, and threw him into an ally''s spell. Boom! The malicious NPC exploded, his eyes wide with confusion till the end. It happened so fast he couldn''tprehend what had urred. "What was that?" Some NPCs were bewildered by our actions, but that was understandable. From an outsider''s perspective, we justunched an ally into a spell, killing him¡­ It''s worse if a streamer had captured this as evidence. An exnation on the forums would be necessary, how troublesome. But now, Liora could finally join the fight. She dashed towards the Evil World Tree as soon as we finished our target, barely crossing paths with me. Wait, she could do that? "God decrees, I shall win!" Liora, wielding her scythe infused with [Killing de], jumped, using the tree''s branch tounch herself into the air. As she descended, she activated an art while passing by therge fruit embedded in a hollow. "[Rabbit''s sh]!" It was a new active attack art for Liora, designed for aerialbat. She glowed red and spun in midair, shing vertically. Like a rabbit pounding mochi in the moon. With MP consumption, this art allowed continuous activation, dealing additional hits. The Evil World Tree''s HP depleted rapidly. While Liora dished out immense damage solo, the attackers below also roared andunched their attacks. The DPS finally did its job. Theirbined assault, especially the [Eight Destroyers], inflicted tremendous damage with each hit. Each strike resonated with explosive force. Even a tanky raid boss couldn''t withstand this onught. After a minute of full-force attack, the Evil World Tree''s HP waspletely depleted. As Liora deactivated her art and descended, Samurai caught her with a tentacle. Liora screamed, hating Samurai''s slimy grip. "uegahhh!!" It was my first time hearing Liora scream. And her own tamed monster caused it. "Hahah!" As the Evil World Tree crumbled, I realized something was off. "Liora, be on guard! It''s not over yet." "Yes, God." ¡º¨D¨D¡» Seeing Liora ready, Myumyuu and the [Eight Destroyers] issuedmands. As the Evil World Tree withered, therge fruit shattered upon hitting the ground. From the remnants, a small sprout emerged. It grew rapidly, forming a nt dragon. "Liora, use [Shadow sh]." "Understood!" With Liora''s attack, the magic users unleashed their power. As the five-meter dragon took shape, our desperate attacks left it with minimal HP upon emerging. ''This was probably a DPS check. If we failed to deal enough damage, it would essentially mean another raid boss fight.'' We seeded in the DPS check. Just a bit more damage, and victory would be ours. The nt dragon tipped over as its HP was fully depleted. **[Third Server Team 3 has defeated the raid boss]** The announcement rang out. As we tried toprehend, a small figure emerged from the nt dragon. An elderly elf. "Hmm, harsh on old bones¡­ Rasen-dono, is this eptable? ¡­ Hmm. Then may I prioritize my goal next? ¡­ Hmm. I don''t wish to stifle the future of the young¡­ Let''s do that." The newly appeared NPC looked kindly at Liora and spoke. "During the next raid boss fight, I shall PK you, Liora." [The third raid boss had appeared!] A three-headed bird monster appeared in the field. But before I could even analyze it, the elderly elf, with a rapier, had already taken Liora''s back. His old eyes gleamed with murderous intent. ''Shit-!'' Chapter 29 Defeat? The raid battle had alreadymenced. All the surviving NPCs were giving their all to confront the raid boss. On the edge of this battlefield, where no one paid attention, I stood facing the man. "A battle maniac, is he? Every game has yers who prefer PvP over PvE, but¡­" Sometimes in MMOs, PKs crash peaceful crafting contests and ughter defenseless participants. I wanted to ignore it, but if they attacked during the boss fight, it would be fatal. I used [Appraisal]. However, my target was not the elderly elf but the spirit apanying him. The NPC would most likely have maxed-out stats and wouldn''t be readable. **Name: [Ribbit] **Gender: [Female] **Level: [47] **Race: [Aqua Spirit] **Magic: [Water Magic 58] **Crafting: [Hidden Weapon Smithing 23] **Skills: [Stamina Reduction Mitigation 58][Cooldown Reduction][Appraisal Failure][Critical Attack Boost][Manifestation 28][Assassination Boost][Appraisal 37][Concentration Enhancement][Aqua Veil 39] **Stats: Attack [235] Magic Attack [235] Defense [235] Agility [235] Luck [235] **Title: [Creeping Death] Assessmentplete. It appears to be specialized in supporting assassination-type NPCs. The skill Hidden Weapon Smithing also indicates that the elderly man in front of us uses hidden weapons. I shared this information with Liora. The elderly elf unleashed a flurry of rapid rapier strikes. Each one was so fast that it was impossible to track with the naked eye. Liora, too, couldn''t keep up and focused on defending critical areas like her eyes, neck, and heart. "Ho ho! To think you do not flinch at my attacks. As expected of a liberator." "What are you?" "My name is Jack Jack. My spirit, Ribbit, calls me a PK. You can think of me as a filthy assassin." "And I''m busy!" At the moment when the rapier stabbed into her abdomen, Liora deliberately stepped forward with arge stride. She used one of the arts from [sh]. "Hm." Ignoring the elderly elf, Jack Jack, Liora closed the distance to zero. She unleashed [Dark ze] at point-nk range. A zero-distance area magic attack. But before anyone realized, Jack Jack disappeared, leaving the rapier in Liora''s abdomen. He was now perched on her head, shrugging his shoulders in a troubled manner. "I underestimated you. Your resolve is not that of an ordinary person." "Annoying¡ª!" "Oops. You missed¡ª! Haha!" Liora swung her scythe at him, but Jack Jack disappeared again. Hastily, I put the withdrawn rapier into my [Item Box]. Now, the weapon¡ªfive knives were embedded in Liora''s back. "Liora, use self-heal!" "What do we do, God?" "Samurai, head towards the raid boss. Liora and I will handle Jack Jack with all our might." I''m not giving up on earning contribution points yet. We can''t afford to waste time dealing with such a lunatic. If Samurai joins the raid, at least her participation as a sub-tank will be acknowledged. Honestly, I don''t think Samurai can sessfully [Bind] Jack Jack. His character is heavily focused on speed. His luck is also high. To be frank, Liora''s auto-recovery can''t keep up. Every time a critical hit urs, Liora''s HP drops significantly. The poison on his weapons is also troublesome. "It''s troubling that you''ve taken my weapon¡­could you return it?" "Impossible." "Please tell your contracted spirit to examine the effects of that weapon." "I don''t have a spirit." "?" "He is God. No spirit!"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Ahem. Anyway, I appraised the rapier I obtained. **Rapier [Depriver of Divine Favor] **Rarity: [Unique] **Level: [0] **Attack Power: [0] **Durability: [1000] **Skills: [Restoration][Greatly Reduced Attack Power][Final Damage Reduction][Owner''s Ability Restriction]** Ugh, what is this? I don''t need it! I hurriedly took the rapier out of my [Item Box]. Liora, not understanding, picked it up. I shivered. "Liora, you can throw that away." "Yes, God! I''ll throw it away!" Liora casually tossed the rapier to the ground. Jack Jack chuckled bitterly, picked it up, and re-equipped it. He rotated his shoulders as if to test it. "Without this, it wouldn''t be a proper fight. It seems there is quite a level gap between Liora and me." "I''m strong. God said so." "Indeed, you are strong. At your level, you are exceptionally powerful. When your level catches up to mine, I won''t be able to do anything." "I''ll win now." "Ho ho¡­a word of warning, Zephyr." Jack Jack addressed me. His hoarse voice was filled with seriousness and truth. "The second field boss, ''Wandering Knight''¡­Do not challenge him. At Liora''s current level, she would be easily defeated. It would be a waste of talent to lose her." "Liora, thank him for the advice. Then say, ''If it''s just to test our strength, isn''t there no need to continue fighting?''" "God says thank you for the advice. Then, if it''s just to test our strength, isn''t there no need to continue fighting?" Ho ho, Jack Jack chuckled and stroked his long beard. The elf''s old eyes still harbored a dark light. "No. This is my training." "I hate you." "For theing vengeance. I must kill a certain person who was time-frozen in the third field, Dawn City Yggdra." "Finally! Thanks to you defeating Helmut, I can avenge my 700-year grudge. To challenge him at his peak, I must sharpen my rusty skills, even a little." "You don''t understand! Die." I agree. While reasons for participating in events are up to individuals, there''s no need to indulge this old man''s ramblings. Liora leapt in and spun, shing with her scythe. Jack Jack dodged at thest moment. He countered with a sharp rapier thrust, which Liora tried to catch with her body. "The same move won''t work," the old man chuckled. "Ugh." He easily pulled out the rapier, and Jack Jack''s hand began to glow. He was likely activating some rapier art. Liora took the initiative. "[sh]!" "Too soft!" She tried to blind him, but Jack Jack''s rapier stabbed into Liora regardless. Her trick was ineffective against his seasoned movements. However, Liora had anticipated this. "Got you¡­" "Was this your n?" While Liora and I were fighting, tentacles had crept up behind Jack Jack. Samurai captured Jack Jack. Our initial goal was to make it seem like Samurai had left the fight, only to catch him off guard and restrain him. Liora''s eyes glowed red. "[Shadow sh]!" "¡­Na?ve." Liora swung her scythe. But instead of cleaving Jack Jack, it passed harmlessly through his neck. This was the [Dark Magic] skill¡ª[Dark Region]. "The true essence of [Dark Region] is to charge recklessly at the enemy andnd a supreme blow." "The way the dark spirit used it earlier was admirable. However, Liora, you should utilize your dark spirit more effectively." Jack Jack''s rapier pierced Liora''s heart. Chapter 30 Death Dance ¨Œ Liora''s body copsed to the ground with a thud. Like shattered polygons, her body broke apart. Seeing this, my mind went nk. During this event, characters can be revived even if they are lost. But this was undoubtedly a defeat and death¡­ "Liora!" The happy voice I usually hear in response didn''te. Jack Jack, covered in blood, sighed wearily and lightly flicked his rapier, clearing it of Liora''s blood. He turned his back and started walking. "Not being in the same team as Jiek, Nin, or Euklis was fatal. Other strong ones are too different in type." "Pilot wouldn''t contract with a spirit¡­ Nevertheless, fighting against strong opponents is very educational." "I won''t lose." "Huh!?" A voice was heard. Immediately after, Jack Jack''s old body rolled several meters across the ground. When he got up, so did the figure of a young girl. Her eyes were spinning with fanatical devotion. The young girl, holding her scythe low, began to walk, cloaked in a malevolent aura.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om At the same time Liora stood up, a cute voice echoed around us. "Hey!" Bang, bang¡ª the sound of someone hitting a desk. The rhythm was familiar, but the owner of the voice caught my attention more. The girl, Archangel Myumyu, was ring at the old man with obvious rage. She was pounding on a desk she had conjured up. "We''re in the middle of a raid! Quit messing around, boys!" "What should we do, Myumyu-sama? I won''t be able to defeat that old man." "Return to the raid, contractee. Leave that old man to Liora! Zephyr, I''ve repaid the favor for allowing me filmi!" It seemed that the recovery-specialized Archangel Myumyu had done something for us. Liora''s current HP was 1, so it wasn''t the Light Magic Art [Resurrection]. It was more likely a spell that allowed her to endure with 1 HP. Anyway, it meant she could still fight. Good grief. Please subscribe to Archangel Myumyu''s channel, give it a high rating, and join as a member. I smoothly donate fifty thousand Urucha to Archangel Myumyu. Liora looked apologetically, her shoulders slumping in dejection. "God, I''m sorry¡­ I lost¡­" "No, Liora. We are still fighting, aren''t we? In that case, we haven''t lost yet." "Can I still be of use to God?" "I guarantee it in the name of the Evil God Zephyr. Liora, I''m proud of my decision to contract with you. You are my precious apostle." "! I¡­ am¡­ precious?" Overwhelmed with emotion, Liora started crying uncontrobly. However, she quickly wiped her face with her sleeve and red sharply at Jack Jack. "I won''t lose anymore¡­!" "But we can''t win by fighting normally, so let''s change the strategy a bit, shall we?" Liora, who had started running, suddenly stopped, causing her to trip and fall. ¨Œ A fierce exchange of attacks ensued. In the middle of the battlefield, the young girl and the old man were engaged in a fierce duel. Yes. We were in the middle of the battlefield, right under the raid boss''s feet, engaging in a full-blown PvP fight. "Ho ho! The ideas of the young are truly surprising!" ''Gyaoooooo!'' "Everyone, be quiet." Liora avoided Jack Jack''s rapier by hiding behind the raid boss¡ªChimera Griffin''s leg. Jack Jack''s rapier pierced the boss''s leg. "[Dark ze]!" The magic imbued with the unique skill [Killing de] attacked Jack Jack. Naturally, he avoided it, but a [Dark Ball] that I had set up was floating in his path. "How troublesome!" Although the damage was negligible, it would cause him to flinch if it hit. In the spot he avoided, Samurai extended her tentacles. "[Dark Wall]! Art [Prate]!" The old man leaped using the dark wall as a stepping stone, infusing his rapier with the art as he descended. The rapier, imbued with piercing attributes, was surrounded by a vortex of wind. A lightning-fast thrust. Liora closed the distance with [Dedication: Swift Dance], evading as she did so. She jumped to take the high ground and activated the art [Moon Rabbit sh]. "? Using an art here? Such an opening¡ª" "[Dedication: Halt Dance]!" A dance art that forcibly interrupts an art. Liora delivered a sweeping strike from an unexpected sudden stop. The rapier deflected the attack. Jack Jack''s rapier aimed for Liora''s face, but I hit Liora, who was in mid-air, with a [Dark Ball], knocking her back. "¡ªHo ho. Excellent teamwork." "Kuh¡­ God and I are the best. I am God''s apostle! You die." Liora smirked. Her scythe had a peculiar shape. The shape, like the number "7," made it difficult to use as a weapon. However, it was convenient for reaping something. Now, the de of Liora''s scythe was behind Jack Jack''s neck. Utilizing the momentum from being blown away by me, Liora executed a surprise decapitation strike from right in front of Jack Jack. For a moment, Jack Jack''s reaction was dyed. Chapter 31 Finale A ferocious exchange of attacks. On the battlefield, a fierce battle between a young girl and an old man is unfolding. Yes, we are right in the middle of the battlefield, under the raid boss''s feet, engaging in a full-scale PvP battle. "Ho ho! The ingenuity of the young never ceases to amaze me!" "Graaaah!" "Everyone, be quiet." Liora dodges Jackjack''s rapier by hiding behind the raid boss¡ªChimera Griffin''s legs. Jackjack''s rapier pierces the boss''s leg. "Shining sh!" The magic enhanced with the unique skill, Killing de, attacks Jackjack. He easily dodges, but my Dark Ball is floating where he evades. "Annoying!" It might not deal much damage, but it will stagger him if it hits. When he dodges, Shiwo extends his tentacles. "Dark Wall! Arts Prate!" The old man jumps off the dark wall, enhancing his rapier with arts as he descends. The rapier, imbued with aplete pration attribute, is swirling with wind. A lightning-fast thrust. Liora closes the distance while evading with the ritual dance of Offering and Instant Move. She leaps and takes the high ground, then activates the arts, Hare''s sh. "Using arts here? Such an opening¡ª" "Offering, Halted Conquest!" It''s an arts that forcefully interrupts the arts. Liora performs a sudden stop, catching him off guard, and delivers a sweeping strike downward. The rapier deflects the attack. Jackjack''s rapier aims for Liora''s face, but I hit the airborne Liora with Dark Ball, pushing her back. "Ho ho. An impressive coordination." "Hehe¡­ I and God are the best. I am God''s apostle! You die now." Liora grins. The scythe has a unique shape, like the numeral "7". It''s inconvenient as a weapon but handy for cutting something. Now, the de of Liora''s scythe is behind Jackjack''s neck. Utilizing the momentum from being blown away, Liora delivers an almost surprise attack to decapitate him. For a moment, Jackjack''s reaction was slow. The arts-enhanced scythe attack, Neck Hunter and Weakness Strike, merely grazed Jackjack, yet it shaved off 80% of his HP. Indeed, an attack power 5x + defense-ignore attack is formidable. It''s designed for monsters with massive HP. The drawback is having to aim for the neck. The opponent excels in speed and assassination. His HP and defense seem inadequate. One more hit. "¡ª" Jackjack suddenly sharpens his gaze and, before anyone knew it, stood behind Liora. He grabbed her head and threw her far away. "¡­I''vee to a conclusion." Releasing a formidable pressure, Jackjack lowers his head. "Coordination with spirits is a powerful trump card. I thought I''d seek revenge alone, but dying in defeat is pointless. Liora, though still inexperienced, can reach me through spirit coordination." Jackjack uses a weapon that intentionally weakens him. Without it, there wouldn''t be a fight. Liora excels in PvE over PvP. The old man, seemingly having realized something, raises his hand. "Ribbit-sama¡­ I''ve resolved to borrow your power toplete my revenge!" "Seriously. Long-winded old man. Didn''t expect a game character to tell me not to y games, but if you can fight, that''s fine." A giant woman appears. In this "Sugo," obtaining the Manifestation skill allows for character creation. Humanoid forms, faces based on one''s own or entirely new designs, animals, nts, and monsters are possible. The yer Ribbit- created a ten-meter giant. She is incredibly beautiful, but the sheer size precedes her beauty and grace. "Decisive Manifestation¡ªstatus multiplied by five! I''ll trample everything." When Ribbit- raises her hand, countless light swords appear. Light magic!? ording to appraisal, Ribbit- should be using water spirits. Spirits and NPCs are typically limited to their innate attributes! Seeing our confusion, Ribbit- smirks. "I''m not the only one who''s unique, Zephyr-." Light attribute magic, Shining Shower, activates. Enhanced by Decisive Manifestation, each light sword possesses lethal power. A devastating rain. The attack mercilessly pierces even the raid boss, Chimera Griffin. While the aim is chaotic, making evasion possible. However, merely dodging magic won''t protect us from Jackjack''s attacks. Thus, "Shiwo." Liora mutters, and Shiwo expands his body. A giant octopus covers Liora with its body, shielding her from the attacks. Sorry, but let''s dedicate the victory to you. Jackjack approaches. Liora prepares to face him head-on, but I shout without hesitation. "Go for Chimera Griffin''s neck!" "Okay. The neck!" Ignoring Jackjack, Liora leaps high, aiming for Chimera Griffin''s neck. Jackjack''s rapier pierces her ankle. Unfazed, Liora shes through the three lowered heads of Chimera Griffin simultaneously with the light swords. [Third server team 3 has defeated the raid boss.] With the massive beast fading behind her, the young girl swings her scythe. The sudden defeat stuns everyone. Jackjack tilts his head but quietly readies his rapier. However, I whisper to Liora. "Liora, say this." Liora nods naturally The line I had Liora say was this: "God says¡­ You said, ''During the next raid boss battle, I''ll PK you, Liora-.'' The ''next raid boss battle'' is already over." Jackjack widened his eyes and turned around hastily. He looked at his contracted spirit, Ribbit¡ð-. The massive Ribbit¡ð- shook her overly remarkable figure andughed heartily. A grin spread across her lips. "Well noticed, Zephyr-. That''s right, old man. I did say ''during the next raid boss battle.'' That was the agreement. The pointless fighting is over now." "But, Ribbit¡ð-. My honing is not yet¡ª" "Sacrificing pride for revenge is not a bad thing. But old man, the fate of someone who makes pride out of sacrificing pride is predetermined." Ribbit¡ð- continued, "Not that you need me, a young girl, to tell you this." Jackjack groaned, "Hmph." "With nothing aplished, they just wither away¡­ Alright." It seems Jackjack has already lowered his rapier. Frankly, Liora has no chance of winning as things stand. The level gap is toorge. The only winning strategy is to swiftly defeat the raid boss andunch a simultaneous attack with the other members during the raid. (So, if he didn''t agree to the persuasion, I intended to incite the team to kill him¡­) It seems we won''t need to resort to that worst-case scenario. Though this ce nullifies death, Liora and I were attacked. Normally, that would warrant killing, but this old man is still useful. Liora wants to get stronger and be free. I want to get stronger and earn money. We will use him as a stepping stone for those purposes. "Liora, let''s propose a coboration with Jackjack." "Jackjack. God says, propose a coboration." "Impressive, Liora-¡­ That sounds good. This event, as it''s called, seems to offer rewards the more youplete it. For me,bat experience with people was the rarest thing, but I have achieved my goal. I''ll lend this life, this dream for the time being." Thus, we gained Jackjack as a fighting force. [The Fourth Raid Boss Battle will begin] The old warrior and the young reaper stood side by side, facing the appearing raid boss. ¨Œ We''ve fought several battles since then. In the end, our team, [Third Server Team 3], was defeated by the seventh raid boss. The reasons for our defeat were the many dropouts by then (the sixth raid boss spread poison, which was tough) and the seventh raid boss''s troublesome special ability. Forcing a stun over the entire area was unexpected. It was tough when Jackjack was taken out by that. Assassination characters are already at a disadvantage in straightforward boss fights, and bosses that stop movements with certainty are like anti-specialty characters. After that, we gradually approached defeat, and though Liora fought solo for a while, wecked firepower. The absence of a head on the enemy was troublesome. Liora isn''t purely powerful; she''s an attacker who stacks various damage-boosting skills to deal damage. With all the fights in the Third Server over, we''ve been gathered in a waiting area of sorts. It''s a huge square. There are restaurants and such, providing a very rxing atmosphere. The staff are glowing blobs. Liora is being offered lots of food. As expected of a regr on the popr channel [Liora Eats a Lot], with 100,000 subscribers. She''s worth feeding. asionally, jealousy leads to poison being mixed in, but well, Liora can use [Cure]. She continues eating without concern. Even if she dies on this field, it''s nullified. Let''s have her remember the taste of dangerous poison when she returns. I''ve recorded the yers who poisoned her¡­ I''ll make sure they regret everythingter. After the event where they can truly die, that is. Leaving them alone is risky. If you harm others in the game, there''s no need to have Liora fight them. Just a drop of justice in the form of lethal poison on the forum will suffice. "Liora-, may I have a moment?" The one who sat next to us was the old elf, Jackjack. He ced his hat on the table and ordered an ale. He treated Liora to some grilled chicken. ¡­It seems there''s no poison in it. "Nom, nom, nom." Liora continues eating without a care. Only Shio and I can stop Liora''s meals. Shio would wave his tentacles, and Liora would run away saying, "That''s gross¡­" Jackjack took a swig of his ale and looked at me, floating beside Liora. "Zephyr-. I won''t resist, so please use [Appraisal]." "Then, without hesitation. [Appraisal]." If there''s no resistance, [Appraisal] seeds regardless of the level difference. Now, let''s see what his skill set is like. Jackjack is likely max level, so this should be interesting. Name: [Johan Argart]¡¡Gender: [Male] Level: [100]¡¡Race: [Elf]¡¡Job: [Head Butler] Magic: [Dark Magic 100] Crafting: [Tea Ceremony 100] Skills: [Butler Techniques 100][Management 100][Command 100] [Rapier Techniques 100][Riding 100][Guarding 100] [Assassination 100][Covert Movement 100] Stats:¡¡Attack: [400]¡¡Magic Attack: [600] Defense: [400]¡¡Agility: [1000] Luck: [900] Titles: [Defeated One Burned with Revenge] Unique Skills: [Watchful Eye][Super Senses] ¡­Well, well? He seems like an assassin type, but at his core, he''spletely a butler. He doesn''t feel like a pure warrior. Noticing my puzzlement, Jackjack¡ªno, Johan¡ªsmiled. "As you can see, I''m not a warrior. After seeking revenge, I hastily trained to acquirebat skills¡­ but in the end, I''m a distorted imitation of an assassin." "So, you weren''t a purebat ss. Still, considering your skills and experience, you''re not weak." "Through this experience, I''ve realized something. Could you continue coborating with Liora-? Of course, not for free. You can take as much as you want from an old man''s savings." "Liora, should we refuse?" Liora nodded and then shook her head. "God says no." "Please, reconsider! My target of revenge is on the Third Field. Until I reach that ce, I need your cooperation." "No." The old man slumped. I don''t want to get involved in a revenge story. While many find it interesting, and I don''t mind reading it, I don''t want to ''experience'' it in this realistic VR. I want to enjoy a carefree journey with Liora. ¡­Wasn''t Liora''s first episode a revenge story? Liora is cute, so it''s fine. Obviously. Seeing the old man continuously slumping was indeed pitiful. As I felt awkward and Liora continued enjoying her meal, Ribbit¡ð- manifested, floating beside us. The appearance Is of a giant woman. "That''s why I said, old man. If you pick a fight first, you can''t form a cooperative rtionship¡­ But how about it, Zephyr-? This old man is strong. How about a rtionship where you call each other when you need extra strength for boss battles or side quests?" ...It''s troublesome. I avoided taking the highly rmended skill [Manifestation] because I dislike dealing with people. It seems convenient for conversations,mands, and useful in battles¡­ but I don''t want it. Conversations are troublesome. I don''t desire team y. I''m delighted that Liora is a solo-oriented NPC, so forming a party now¡­ However, I understand the benefits. You can''t clear an MMO solo. The raid event we experienced has reinforced that belief. But there''s the fact that Liora was attacked unreasonably. I dislike it. "They attacked Liora out of nowhere." "We won!" "Well, yes, but¡­" Liora doesn''t doubt her victory.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Well, we used everything avable on the battlefield (the raid boss and other yers) to fight, so I don''t feel we lost either. Liora doesn''t seem to care about Jackjack. More precisely, she has no interest in Jackjack at all. It seems she doesn''t even feel that she was nearly killed. If Liora has no interest, let''s prioritize rationality. We are not bound by anything. "Not teaming up with disliked individuals" is a self-imposed rule, and we are free from even such constraints. Let''s use them to our advantage. ¡­I''ve decided. "Liora, let''s ept with conditions. We''ll do a so-called friend registration. No excessive camaraderie is needed; we''ll contact each other only when necessary." "Yes. Alright, God!" I used one of my powers as a spirit. I sent a friend request. Now we can see each other''s login status, chat as friends, and send friend party invitations. "Thank you!" the voluptuous womanughed cheerfully. Jackjack also bowed his head. "Much appreciated. To reach my destination, there''s at least one raid-ss boss waiting. I''ll call you then. Look forward to the rewards." "Yes. If God is okay with it, I''ll go." "So, this ''God''¡­?" "God is God." The raid boss battle rewards are likely valuable. Having a rtionship where we asionally raid together without tight contact is ideal. I''m already looking forward to the rewards. Meanwhile, it seems the other servers. Chapter 32 Event Results and Rewards Our results are in, and we made it quite high up! Third Server Ranking: 1st ce: Team 3 (That''s us!) 2nd ce: Team 1 3rd ce: Team 45 We ranked first within our server. It''s nice to see our hard work pay off. Next, wepete against teams from other servers. Overall Server Ranking: 1st ce: Team 6 from First Server - Number of Bosses Defeated: 8 2nd ce: Team 1 from Fourth Server - Number of Bosses Defeated: 7 3rd ce: Team 52 from Sixth Server - Number of Bosses Defeated: 7 4th ce: Team 3 from Third Server (That''s us) - Number of Bosses Defeated: 6 5th ce: Team 28 from First Server - Number of Bosses Defeated: 6 We did well overall, ranking fourth. I''m astonished that the first-ce team defeated eight bosses. Even the seventh boss seemed daunting, but they managed to defeat higher-level raid bosses. I''d love to know what kind of team managed to win. I will definitely be checking the forumster. I''m also curious about the first-ce rewards. "God, God, and Liora''s names are here, lined up!" "Yes, Liora. It''s a good thing." There is also an individual contribution ranking, showing individual performance in the raid battles. Having many bosses defeated is advantageous, but it turns out that''s not always the case if a team has outstanding individuals. We made it into the top ten,ing in ninth. Individual Performance Ranking: 1st ce: Eculis Leo & .Mark 2nd ce: Sieghardt Fansum & Iris 3rd ce: Crushure de Sea & Poison Nene 4th ce: Meme & Zerotape 5th ce: Reginald Force & Onigiri Chilling 6th ce: Lost & OK Hanako 7th ce: Goss Loshu & Koyasu Kensuke @Artist 8th ce: Nin Rino & Just a Sow 9th ce: Liora & Zephyr 10th ce: Ru & Ahh It seems Eculis joined with the second wave. Since Eculis is extremely strong, having a weaker yer wasn''t an issue. This highlights why this game is sometimes called a ''bad game.'' Nin also participated, paired with a yer named "Just a Sow," which sounds a bit scary. Anyway, it looks like our individual efforts were also recognized. I received an email from the management, so I''ll check the content. I put Liora to sleep for now. Although there are no physical damages, the constant battles and PVP with Jack Jack must have caused mental fatigue, unlike fighting monsters. I also want to carefully check the rewards alone. Samurai is staring at me with a stick-straight posture. Could she have read my mind? Of course, Samurai, you can check it with me. I went next to Samurai and opened the email so she could see it too. ¨Œ "Looks good." The first thing that catches my eye is the various drop items from the raid bosses. Each material looks quite powerful. I chose Alchemy as my crafting skill. Some of these materials can be used for potions. Making good potions will help raise my skill, so I''m looking forward to making them. Selling or exchanging them for real money could fetch a considerable amount. Since I don''t want to get involved with production jobs like cksmithing or armor crafting, it''s inconvenient that I can''t use these for equipment procurement. It would be great to connect with business-minded yers, but I''m not actively seeking that out. We also got some rare drop equipment. One usable item is a long staff from the Evil World Tree, with a legendary rarity. Long Staff: "All Things, The Dreaded Decay" - Rarity: Legendary - Level: 87 - Magic Attack: 696 - Durability: 800 - Skills: Magic Attack Boost, Apple Bomb, Generate Weak Vine Dog Wow, this looks interesting! I love weapons like this. asionally, in hack-and-sh games, there are weapons that let you use the skills of the enemies you defeated, and I really like that. Sometimes they are extremely powerful, sometimes just for fun, but they''re usually quite unique. I''d love to see Liora fighting by throwing apples. We also got some rare drop equipment from the fifth raid boss, Yatagarasu of the Night. Mantle: "Wings that Know the Night" - Rarity: Legendary - Level: 90 - Durability: 300 - Armor Durability: 800 - Skills: Night Regeneration, Bad Weather Resistance, de Resistance, Low Magic Resistance We got a stylish mantle too. This one regenerates at night. So even if it gets torn during the day, it repairs itself at night. During our dungeon attacks, we obtained regenerating undergarments. Fortunately, there were tanks and other decoys, so she didn''t get hit much. We also got a choker (more like a ne) with Poison Resistance from the Duhan, who scattered poison everywhere. A headless Duhan having a choker seems odd, but resistance is precious, so we''ll use it. "Quite a haul¡­ Now, let''s check the ranking rewards." First, let''s look at the rewards for being first ce within the server. The rewards we received were a set of consumables. These are quite valuable, including some rare potions and even a resurrection potion. If I store this in my [Item Box], it will be a significant safety. In the system of "PHO," the value of resurrection items can be greater than some unique items. It was definitely worth the effort. Next, let''s check the overall team ranking rewards. It appears that these are selectable rewards. We have several options to choose from, and we can select two of them. There are countless options, but realistically, it''s a choice between three. One is a [Race Advancement Ticket]. This ticket allows the user to advance their race to a higher level once they reach a certain level. For example, an elf can be a high elf, and a human can be a high human. Another is a [Magic Evolution Ticket]. This ticket allows the user to acquire advanced magic skills once their magic skill exceeds level 50. It seems highly useful. Thest one is a [Special Job Unlock Ticket].n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om As the name suggests, this ticket allows the user to acquire a special job. The skills gained vary depending on the job. Liora''s [Maiden] and [Summoning] are skills limited to shrine maidens. The skills from special jobs are quite intriguing. This is a tough decision. Should I wake up Liora for this? As a yer, I''d want to use all of these on myself. The race advancement would allow me to be a high dark spirit or something simr. The same goes for magic. The only thing that doesn''t apply to me is the job... "We''ll decide on thister." Finally, let''s look at the individual rewards. These have already been decided and obtained. The item we received is called a [Rainbow Talent Ticket]. This ticket allows an NPC to choose any skill upon acquisition. In other words, a shrine maiden could acquire a swordsman''s [Sword Technique]. Since it mentions "any," it might even include skills exclusive to spirits or monsters. However, it seems that unique skills are not obtainable. This seems quite interesting too. I''ll have to look for good skills to acquire. It was quite a fruitful event. We experienced raids, and tasted PVP with strong opponents, albeit in a twisted way, and the rewards speak for themselves. I can''t wait for the next event. "Mmn... God...mmm!" Liora, talking in her sleep, turns over unguardedly. Thanks to a stable diet, she has gained a bit of flesh. Considering she was as thin as a bone before, it''s a good thing. When I see Liora sleeping, she looks like a girl her age. Her white hair is fine and beautiful, shining brightly in the moonlighting through the window. Her cool facial features hint at budding beauty alongside her adorable appearance. She is destined to be a beautiful woman in the future. "Sweet dreams, Liora." I''m surprised by the gentleness in my voice. Smiling wryly, I spread out the materials I had obtained to raise my [Alchemy] skill. The quiet night continues. Chapter 33 Reward From The Friend I only have one friend. I open the notification from Ribbit. Since we agreed to keep our interactions to a minimum, this must be urgent. The message starts with a polite apology: "I''m sorry for contacting you right away, despite saying I wouldn''t be in touch often." This feels good. If they''re this considerate, I can be more lenient aboutmunication. I even feel a bit guilty for being so demanding. In short, the email says, "I intended to give you the reward I received from the event when I initiated the PK, but it seems I won''t be able to do so. Also, the item won''t be particrly useful for either of you, so I''m giving you a rare and useful item I already have." The attached item is a "Light Magic Acquisition Ticket." "Shit! A gift from the heavens!" "...? The heavens!" "My gift! I have prepared a gift for you!" Although I feel a little guilty for iming Ribbit''s present as my own, I can''t undo my roley now. "A gift from the gods!" Correcting myself, I find my opinion of Ribbit improving due to their perfect timing. I gratefully ept the apology gift. Well, Ribbit likely intended for me to use it, knowing my inclination. Combining dark and light magic is intriguing, and there may be some sort of integrated evolution skill. However, Liora remains my priority. Liora can''t be reced. Liorabined [Dark Magic] and [Scythe Arts]¡ªno, [Dark Magic] and [Agriculture]¡ªthrough integrated evolution. I figured it might work, and it turns out I was right. Liora''s stats have changed. Name: [Liora] Gender: [Female] Level: [46] Race: [Human] Job: [Shrine Maiden] Magic: [Light Magic 1], [Dark Magic 55] Crafting: [No Skill Set] Skills: [Loneliness Resistance 40], [Scythe Arts 53], [Summoning 23], [Dance of the Gods 35], [Chant Extension 5], [Moonlight Scythe Arts 1]n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Stats: Attack [146], Magic Attack [338], Endurance [257], Agility [341], Luck [278] Title: [Sin: Patricide] Unique Skill: [Killing de] It seems the re-acquired skill retained its original level. Additionally, it looks like Liora can acquire a different skill since [Agriculture] has been removed from her crafting skills. The mechanics seem different from other integrated evolutions. It appears that she must possess some kind of crafting skill. I tried to choose [Agriculture] again, but it didn''t work. I also attempted to select [Gardening], which involves using a scythe, but that was also rejected. I started getting stubborn. I desperately searched for a crafting activity that uses a [Scythe] and finally found the [Landscaping] skill. Landscaping involves the art of creating and maintaining gardens, using a scythe for nt care. I''m eager to give it a try. "Liora, please use [Moonlight Scythe Arts]." "¨D¨D!" Liora''srge scythe is enveloped in light. It''s not a blinding light, but a gentle, soft, and beautiful glow, akin to moonlight. Every slight swing leaves a faint afterglow. It seems that the light itself causes damage, though it''s minimalpared to the main attack. Still, it adds some firepower. "What kind of Arts should we take?" "There are quite a few options." "They all seem powerful." Amon characteristic of scythe skills is their ability to enhance the de itself with additional effects. This trait remains unchanged in [Moonlight Scythe Arts]. The top choice among desirable Arts would be [Life-Stealing de II]. It''s simr to, or perhaps an upgraded version of, [Life-stealing de I]. This Art drains the enemy''s life force in addition to dealing damage. In other words, it adds life-stealing damage as a bonus. For instance, if you deal 1,000 damage, you might gain an additional 100 points of absorption damage. I''m not sure about the exact numbers, but that''s the general idea. Liora was attacked by six mantises. They were likely specialized in stealth and ambush. Caught off guard, Liora almost had her neck sliced off. If not for the [Fatal Evasion] skill I had just acquired, she would have been dead. "Isn''t a forest full of assassins a bit too much?" "Saved by the god again. So happy...!" "Is this really the time to be saying that, Liora?" With blood gushing from her neck, Liora imbued herrge scythe with [Life-Stealing de]. She then tilted her head slightly and murmured: "...[Life-Stealing de]." "!?" The scythe now emitted a dual glow. One was the soft light from [Moonlight Scythe Arts], and the other was the ominous hue from [Scythe Arts]. They can be used simultaneously. It seems that [Killing de] differs from Scythe Arts, allowing for stacking. "I see. So, [Scythe Arts] and [Moonlight Scythe Arts] are technically distinct skills." "As expected of the god..." "For now, Liora, try using the new skill, [Regeneration]." My new skill, [Regeneration], supports both passive healing and active use. In other words, the more MP you sacrifice, the more HP you can recover¡ªinstantly. When Liora whispered "Regeneration," her health was fully restored in an instant. "Now, let''s crush those mantis scum." Liora was nearly killed. I''m pretty upset too. "[Speed Boost]!" Liora activated [Speed Boost] from her [Light Magic]. Her offensive options are already well-covered thanks to [Dark Magic]. From now on, she can focus on learning support and healing skills under [Light Magic]. [Hound Lightning], the new Art from [sh], was also used. It has high homing capabilities, making it effective despite its modest damage output. Liora aimed upwards and released [Hound Lightning]. The light zigzagged in mid-air, then surged straight towards the mantises. "¡ªShya!" The mantis looked up at the sky just as Liora closed the gap. In one swift motion, she sliced through two of their necks. All were instant kills. When the remaining mantises prepared for Liora''s next move, [Hound Lightning] struck from above, disrupting their stance. "As long as I have the god, I won''t lose to mere insects." Another mantis head rolled. Three of the mantises had already been eliminated. The additional options we''ve acquired have greatly increased our ability to close the gap quickly. The finishing move is still typically a decapitation. Three remain. Liora charged at the mantises without hesitation. The mantises swung their scythes, shing at Liora''s body, but she simultaneously decapitated them. The wounds she received closed up instantly. It seems the ovepping skills are working. The recovery rate is astonishing. "You''re doing great, Liora. ...Does it hurt?" "God, GOD is here!!..." "Oh, something''s gotten into you." With spinning eyes, Liora lunged at the remaining mantises. The mantises tried desperately to target her with their scythes, but she blocked all non-fatal hits with her body, then forcefully decapitated them with herrge scythe. The battle was overwhelming. The fight was over. [Zephyr has leveled up.] [Zephyr''s Regeneration has leveled up.] [Liora has leveled up.] [Liora''s Scythe Arts have leveled up.] [Liora''s Moonlight Scythe Arts have leveled up.] [Liora''s Landscaping Skill has leveled up.] [Liora''s Light Magic has leveled up.] [Liora''s Dark Magic has leveled up.] [Liora''s Dance of the Gods has leveled up.] [Liora''s Tame has leveled up.] [Samurai has leveled up.] [Samurai''s Mimicry has leveled up.] "Liora, you''ve grown stronger." "...Got caught off guard... I did..." "Don''t worry about it. The enemy was specialized in ambush and assassination. ...However, this situation is bing more dangerous. If we try to return now, we might be ambushed again." My [Fatal Evasion] skill allows me to avoid a fatal blow once per day. Since I''ve already used it today, it won''t work again. In a game where death means losing everything, this skill is essential. I always make sure to acquire some form of instant death avoidance skill in any game. As we ponder how to avoid further ambushes... "¡ª" "Eek!" Samurai wriggled her tentacles. Seeing this, I immediately understood. "I see. You''re suggesting that you should acquire a skill to detect ambushes, right?" "¡ª!" She even has intelligence. Well, that was surprising. I decided to check Samurai''s status. Chapter 34 Samurais Growth Samurai''s Evolution Name: Samurai Gender: None Level: 50 Race: Mimic Magic: Earth Magic 5 Crafting: Woodworking 1 Skills: Mimicry 40, Ambush 27, Restraint 30, Action Interference Resistance Unused Skill Slot 1, Unused Skill Slot 2, Unused Skill Slot 3 Stats: Attack: 50Magic Attack: 50Durability: 400Agility: 500Luck: 50 Samurai has reached level 50, triggering an evolution that opened three additional skill slots, thanks to Liora''s Summoning skill. In the game PHO, the TAME skill enhances summoned creatures every 10 levels. Liora has focused on increasing Samurai''s skill slots rather than boosting stats, as her Summoning skill has now surpassed level 20, adding two extra slots. Given Samurai''s nature as a Mimic, increasing skill slots is more valuable than stat boosts. "So, one of these new skill slots should be for a detection skill, right?" "What would be useful, God?" "Simple options would be Detection, Ambush Alert, or Enhanced Scouting. There are plenty of scouting-type skills, though. And, of course, there are many skills that counter them." In PHO, the battle between detection and counter-detection skills is an ongoing tug of war. For instance, a spell that avoids Detection might still be caught by Magic Detection. After a few minutes of contemtion, I found an interesting skill. "Hmm... this one seems intriguing." "Then let''s choose that one, God!" "Well, I''m just considering it for now... but, sure, why not?" I nced at Samurai, who nodded back at me. With her finely crafted Elven face, Samurai is quite stunning, though Liora seems a bit intimidated by her. The skill I decided to assign to Samurai is Sonic Wave. This skill emits sound waves to perform sonar-like detection of the surroundings. The strength of physically detecting something is undeniable. While sense-enhancing detection skills may have more depth, relying solely on them is quite nerve-wracking. Even though I''m a gamer, I only trust what I can see with my eyes¡ªI''m not someone who relies on intuition. ¡º¨D¨D¡» Samurai made some sort of sound. Although neither Liora nor I could hear it, Samurai seems to have sensed something. Pointing southward, Samurai then raised fifteen fingers in my direction (since they''re mimicking, they can control their form freely). Liora looked on the verge of tears. Samurai''s Sonic Wave skill has leveled up. I''m relieved to see that this skill will likely develop into apetent scouting ability. The Sonic Wave skill is exclusive to certain monsters¡ªhumans typically can''t learn it. I''m a sucker for anythingbeled "exclusive." "What about the other two slots? Since Samurai is our tank, should we aim for regeneration skills like HP Auto-Regen and MP Auto-Regen?" ¡º¨D¨D!¡» Samurai shook its head in refusal. Liora, sensing Samurai''s disagreement, momentarily emitted a menacing aura... She might really be a wild dog. While I gently bonked her head with [Aura of Darkness], I listened to Samurai''s thoughts. It''s not easy for Samurai tomunicate with anyone other than Liora. Liora timidly looked to me for confirmation as she ryed Samurai''s proposal. Perhaps she finds it too daunting to suggest something on her own, even though it''s a suggestion from her tamed monster. A side effect of this "God role-y." "Samurai says she wants a stronger body, God." "Ah, I see. It seems like she didn''t quite enjoy having her body torn apart by JackJack and raid bosses!" Samurai visibly drooped her shoulders. As a Mimic, Samuraicks many offensive options. Her usual tactic is to ambush, restrain, and drag prey into the treasure chest to devour them. What she needs most is agility for ambushing and durability to survive while restraining enemies. Since Mimics generally rely on HP for durability, it''s actually not that hard to rip off Samurai''s tentacles¡ªif you''re a Raid Boss or a max-level yer, that is. "It sounds like Samurai wants a skill that will make her body tougher. There are a few such skills that only monsters can choose..." At this point, I realized my failure to keep up with the taming forums was bing a problem. Strengthening Samurai is important, but I can''t help but prioritize Liora and myself. "In PHO, the more exclusive something is, the stronger it tends to be. This skill, Tentacle Reinforcement, might be a good choice." We could also consider Iron Wall, a skill held by Helmut, or Devil Armor from the Emperor Orc. ¡º¨D¨D!¡» "Samurai says she wants both Tentacle Reinforcement and Iron Wall, God." "Both, huh? Well, the skill slots will continue to increase, so it''s fine, I guess." Both of these skills will undoubtedly prove useful. I see no reason not to proceed. With these new skills, Samurai is even better equipped to specialize in interference activities. As our main tank, Iron Wall will be especially beneficial, and the enhanced precision from Tentacle Reinforcement will make Samurai even more effective at protecting Liora. "What a great skill, this taming one is. It uses up a party slot and splits experience, so it''s tricky in an MMO context, but for solo y, it''s a must-have." It remains popr, though. However, it can be a mixed bag when ites to party dynamics. For example, if two NPCs are in a party, they should each get 50% of the 100 experience points earned from a battle. But if one has a tamed monster, the experience gets split into thirds, so each ends up with around 30 points. Loot distribution also bes a three-way split, making it advantageous for the yer with the tamed monster. If the tamer has a skill like Item Box or something simr, any loot automatically goes into their inventory, making it easy to hide from others. "And yet, taming remains so popr." Given that PHO is essentially about taming NPCs and making them fight, there''s no need to be overly fixated on having tamed monsters. Still, there are plenty of dedicated tamers. It''s an incredibly powerful strategy, especially for solo yers or those with understanding teammates. "Now that we have scouting capabilities, let''s proceed to the catbs." "Yes, God!" Samurai quickly used Sonic Wave to find a safe route for us. Our journey with the horse resumed. Since Samurai is a Mimic, there''s no sound of hooves clopping. She could mimic the sound if necessary, but that''s one of the impressive features of a Mimic''s disguise. However, there''s no benefit to making noise in enemy territory, so we continued in silence. Then, all of a sudden... "Help! Someone, please!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om A woman''s scream echoed out. This must be... an event. Without concern, Liora and Samurai continued toward the catbs. But I stopped them and decided to investigate the sudden event. These kinds of events tend to be either a huge hassle ore with really great rewards. ''Either way, I should enjoy the game!'' Chapter 35 Elf Princess What we encountered was a group of elves already decimated, with half of them horrifically turned into undead, attacking the survivors. Among them, a fierce assault was directed at a young elven girl dressed in an extravagant gown. She squeezed one eye shut in fear, yet red at her enemies with the other. It''s hard to tell if she''s brave or just scared. "Sh-Should I use fire magic¡ª?" "We''re in the forest! You mustn''t, you mustn''t! We willy down our lives to protect you, so please, please... wait, Princess Remelia." "Don''t die on me, old man!" "This old fool has grown so seniletely that I''ve even forgotten how to die!" With that mboyant shout, a handsome elf wielding a katana-like sword leaped at the undead, enveloped in a violent wind¡ªa likelybination of wind magic and katana techniques. With one swift motion, he shed through the undead elf''s body. However, the undead quickly reassembled. They''re quite a nuisance, it seems. The elves were cornered in the middle of the great forest, backed up against a shattered carriage. The carriage wheels were broken, and the horses had joined the ranks of the undead. The ugliest stench of decay lingered, hidden within the lush greenery. "Damn! They just keeping. If only we had someone with a rare light attribute... this would be..." We do! Liora, she picked light magic, a dual attribute thanks to Ribbit! The horde of undead before us numbered over fifty. What''s more, nearly all of them reanimated after being struck down. It seemed the source controlling them was that massive skeleton in the center of the group, cloaked in a dark robe. "Liora, you know what to do." "Yes, I do!" I prepared [Darkness Creation] as Liora began chanting [Shining sh], her new skill imbued with the [de of ughter], consuming 80% of her life force. Then, "I sense a dense presence of light! Reinforcements, elves!" The skeletal figure in the robe shouted, aiming its dark, menacing staff at us, muttering an incantation. The enemy appeared formidable. Rather than dodging, I used [Dark Region] to nullify it. Dodging magic is tricky, after all. "Reinforcements!? For us!?" The pair of elves suddenly noticed Liora. She stood on a massive tree branch, scythe in hand, gathering magical energy. The elven youth''s eyes widened. "A Demon King!?" "No, a girl with a scythe in our forest¡­ it''s the apostle that freed us!" "She''s not a Demon King... but chosen by the Goddess of The World!?" "No, a god even greater." "...?" Just then, Liorapleted her spell. But at the same time, the skeleton-robed figure finished its incantation as well. "¡ªDark Magic [End of Darkness]! Perish, little girl! Behold, the ultimate art that leads all beings to death, the pinnacle of dark magic!" "[Shining sh]!" Light and darkness collided. The space between them warped, emitting an unstable sound that resonated through the area. The skeletal figure in the robe screamed as the sh forced him back. His impressive ck robe fluttered violently, as he was pulled towards the rift in space. "My ultimate dark magic is being matched by a mere [Shining sh]!?" "[Shining sh]!" "St-Stop¡ª" The dark magic [End of Darkness] shattered from the additional magic, and the skeletal figure''s body was cleaved in half by the light. Liora could use [Regeneration] to quickly recover her HP. With that replenished HP, she immediately unleashed another [Shining sh] with the [de of ughter] attached. Although the skill [Extended Chant] wasn''t applied, the additional power was lethal to the undead. The skeletal figure''s body crumbled, as if decaying and withering away. Stunned, the skeleton muttered, "Im-Impossible..." "My god once said, ''The one who calls others a fool is the true fool.''" "D-Damn you! Damn you!" "And the one who curses others is the one who is truly cursed." "Liora, thatst part doesn''t quite make sense, does it?" Liora tilted her head in confusion but ruthlessly continued her assault. After all, his minions were still left behind. "Finish them, Liora!" "Yes, GOD!!" The battlefield fell eerily silent. However, the quickest to recover was, of course, Liora. She leaped into the center of the fifty undead and immediately unleashed her magic. "[Head Hunter]!" She swept through them with a single strike. ? It didn''t even take a minute to annihte them all. Liora''s [Moonlight Scythe Technique] is a light attribute magic attack. Yes, the skill [Moonlight Scythe Technique] doesn''t rely on her physical attack stats but instead uses her magic attack stats to deal damage.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Liora''s lowest stat is her [Attack]. This was a challenge for Liora, who had primarily relied on closebat. But now, it has been resolved. She''s incredibly strong. With her undead-ying advantage, it was like slicing through tofu. We even had time to level up our skills. As a result: Zephyr leveled up. Zephyr''s Dark Magic leveled up. Zephyr''s Create Dark leveled up. Zephyr''s Dark Aura leveled up. Zephyr''s Regeneration leveled up. Zephyr''s Appraisal leveled up. Liora leveled up. Liora''s Scythe Technique leveled up. Liora''s Moonlight Scythe Technique leveled up. Liora''s Landscaping Skill leveled up. Liora''s Light Magic leveled up. Liora''s sh Magic leveled up. Liora''s Kagura leveled up. Liora''s Summoning leveled up. Liora''s Extended Chant leveled up. Samurai leveled up. Samurai''s Mimicry leveled up. Samurai''s Ambush leveled up. Samurai''s Binding leveled up. Samurai''s Sonic Wave leveled up. Samurai''s Iron Wall leveled up. Samurai''s Tentacle Enhancement leveled up. Leveling up is always the most satisfying, isn''t it? As the victory fanfare echoed in my ears, I checked our spoils of war. Unfortunately, there weren''t any rare drops of particr use in my [Item Box]. We did get a sword, but Liora can''t use it. The same goes for Samurai. The other materials... well, they''re not too bad. The [Item Box] is convenient because it can stack up to 99 of the same item. By the way, water counts as one item per 500 milliliters. Dried meat is also a travel necessity. "Um, excuse me¡­" The handsome young elf approached us hesitantly. Earlier, they had hurried to join the battle, but when I asked Liora, "Can you ask them not to interfere? I want to level up," she tly refused with, "The gods have spoken. Leave this to us." The elves were left wide-eyed, asionally shedding tears of gratitude as their once-ally undead were purified. They sped their hands together, saying, "Thank you, thank you." On the forums, she''s known as the "Grim Reaper Girl," but to them, she''s more of a "hero" or "angel." To me, Liora is a "partner." The handsome elf bowed his head. "Thank you for saving us. We can''t express our gratitude enough for cleansing our kin." "It was the will of the gods." "¡­My name is Sebas. Please, I beg of you, lend us your strength! Help us protect Her Highness, the Princess of Elnd!" "? P-princess?" As Liora stood there, looking somewhat dazed, a beautiful elven girl¡ªlikely the princess¡ªsuddenly dashed toward her. Her destination was straight for Liora. The beautiful elf girl spread her arms wide. "Kyah! So cute! A beautiful little girl!" Just as the princess attempted to leap and hug her, Liora, with a nk expression, delivered a kick to her. "Gahhh-!!" Shit, Liora! "Only God can touch me, hump~" The elves'' jaws dropped¡ªSebas, the handsome elf, fainted on the spot. It seems this event is going to be quite turbulent Chapter 36 Exploration The elves were prostrating themselves in apology. The princess, on the verge of tears, tried to lower her head as well, but as royalty, she couldn''t. Liora and Shio watched the scene without any visible emotion. And then there was me, a Dark Spirit, floating nearby. It was a rather strange sight. Apparently, the elves are a conscientious race. Even after Liora kicked their princess, they expressed gratitude, saying, "Pouncing at a warrior out of nowhere is enough to get you killed! Thank you for only kicking her!" They also assumed we didn''t realize the elven girl was their princess. So, the handsome elf exined it to us, just in case. Well, both Liora and I understood perfectly well who she was. Liora kicked her to guard against a surprise attack¡ªor so they thought. Even though she''s "sanctioned" by the gods (fraudulently), I''m a bit worried Liora might be too violent. I hope she''ll listen if I ask her to be careful. "Liora, that''s enough. I''d like to hear what they have to say." "The gods have spoken. That''s enough. Tell us what''s on your mind." The elves stood up simultaneously, bowed deeply once more, and then got to the point. "We''re headed to the catbs, a vast graveyard where royal elves have beenid to rest for generations." "Then, are outsiders allowed there?" "Not at all! Normally, we elves practice tree burials, but for royalty, we make an exception and entomb them in the catbs. It''s a point of pride, not something we hide from other races." "Then, we''ll just go in on our own." "Please, do take a look. Ah, this is the brochure for the catbs¡ªmy apologies, I slipped into work mode." Sebas, the handsome elf, blushed and quickly stowed away the brochure he had pulled out. "For the past few hundred years, we''ve been frozen in time. Because of that, the catbs have fallen into the hands of monsters and the undead. We are now working to reim them." "...I see." Uh oh, Liora is losing interest. It seems the hassle of it all is outweighing her curiosity. She''s still listening because I told her to, but it''s clear she''s not fully engaged. What Sebas is saying is essentially, "We''re going into the catbs to exterminate monsters." It''s the same thing we were nning to do, so there''s not much need to discuss it further. Though, I suppose some people might be going to bury bodies instead... "What do you want from us?"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om "I see you prefer to skip the preliminaries¡­ We intend to enter a restricted area only essible to the royal family. There, the sacred treasures of the elves are enshrined. Our goal is to retrieve these weapons and bring them back to face the Demon King''s army. That is our current mission." "Sacred treasures? Are they powerful?" "They possess immense power. They are the trump card of the elven race, but¡­st time, we didn''t have enough time to retrieve them before the temporal freeze. The goddess''s wrath came upon us without warning." Quite the story, isn''t it? The elven sacred treasures sound intriguing. I don''t expect they''ll let us use them, but I don''t mind if the NPCs get stronger. It wouldn''t be fun if the Demon King''s army invaded and Liora was forcibly made to lose the battle. "Let''s ept it, Liora." "Alright, the lord god of darkness says it''s fine to grant you protection." "Oh! Thank you." But it seems that the enemy is also after these so-called sacred treasures. They probably wanted a living elven royal¡ªRemelia¡ªto ess the secret room in the catbs. It seems they sent a lich to do the job. Unfortunately, they failed and now have added a powerful entity such as Liora as their enemy. Escort quests are more fun than fetch quests. If this were an old game, the AI would be so dumb that they''d drag you down, causing much frustration. Fortunately, the elves seem to be elite warriors. ? I was mistaken. Indeed, the elves are elite. However, we underestimated how troublesome the undead in this world can be. Instant revival. No matter how much we cut down the undead, it was pointless. sting them away with magic was effective, but even elves have limited resources. They don''t seem to have anyone with [Regeneration] like Liora. The elves took turns chugging MP potions from their magic pouches. Some even looked unwell from drinking too much. I''m so d I acquired the [Regeneration] skill! Recently, thebined evolution skills have also be known, and it seems more people are aiming to acquire both skills, including [Regeneration]. It''s a useful skill, after all. While there aren''t many characters whose HP fluctuates as much as Liora''s, it''s a must-have. Personally, I prioritize a stable strategy over aggressive y in games. I know my choices might seem reckless, but what I''m ultimately aiming for is stability. Honestly. It''s not like I quit my job and am acting out of desperation. Please believe me. "Liora, let''s keep pushing forward. We want to level up our skills too." "Yes, my lord." It''s been about an hour since we arrived at the catbs. The number of undead here seems endless. Even though only the royal family is supposed to be buried here, meaning there should be only a few, the swirling miasma has caused more to naturally spawn. Liora''s scythe, imbued with light attributes, easily sends the skeleton knights back to the afterlife. I''d like to contribute more, but there''s really nothing for me to do. Since I am a darkness Spirit, my abilities are limited in this situation. At best, I could hold a staff in my off-hand to increase my magic attack power, which in turn also boosts Liora''s attack power a bit. Oh, right! "[Summon Weak Vine Hound]! Go!" I released a weak vine hound created with a weapon skill of my staff to support Liora in battle. The dog silently rushed toward the undead, only to be crushed and disappear. So weak! No wonder it''s called [Weak Vine Hound]. "My lord?" "¡ªAh, that was close, Liora. If I hadn''t summoned that dog just now, who knows what might have happened." "! M-my lord...!" Liora gazed at me with a nk expression, her face radiating devotion. I haven''t really done anything; in fact, I wasted MP and tried to cover it up with words. Oh, gods, please punish this bad adult. Liora tightened her grip on her scythe. "I''ll work even harder!" ''...'' Shio, floating nearby, nced at me with an exasperated look, but quickly returned to work. Uh¡­did she see that? Using sonar to pinpoint the enemies'' exact locations, Shio ensnared even the ones behind us with her tendrils. While she couldn''t kill them, immobilizing them was certainly beneficial. This unexpected benefit of her scouting ability is invaluable. Liora followed up by finishing off the captured enemies with [Shining sh]. For those out of reach, she repeatedly used [Hound Lightning] to keep them at bay. She seems to find it easy to use and keeps firing it in quick session. As the enemies dodged her magic, Liora''s true strength¡ªclose-quartersbat¡ªcame into y. With just one person and her summon, the battlefield was being subdued. "You''re amazing, Lady Liora!" The one saying that and embracing her was Princess Remelia, the elven princess. A pure and beautiful young girl. Even among the handsome elves, her outstanding beauty was as if she had stepped out of a painting. Her lush red hair draped over Liora''s face. Liora, looking annoyed, brushed her hair away with her hand. Without changing her expression, she coldly said, "You''re in the way. You smell." "S-smell!? Eek!" Well, she might smell a bit sweaty. We''ve traveled a considerable distance, and just a while ago, the elves were repeatedly fighting for their lives (and in a disadvantaged position at that). Incidentally, the reason we encountered the elves was that they had given up once. They were on their way back from the catbs. They said they were fending off a pursuing lich. ¡­Since they were fighting the undead, they likely picked up the stench of death as well. "The s-smell¡­" The princess fainted. Sebas fainted too, as if his sanity had shattered after witnessing the princess copse. Perhaps elves are prone to fainting. Maybe it''s a side effect of their long lifespan. They might have a tendency to faint when their emotions reach a certain level¡­ though I''ve never heard of such a thing. "This is enemy territory... or rather, this used to be their homnd?" "We don''t need them, my lord." "This is a quest, Liora. We must endure it. These people will give us a powerful reward." "I''ll endure it." Three hours have passed since we entered the catbs. Our levels and skills have improved. For Liora, thepatibility was good, and with therge number of weak enemies spawning, the efficiency was excellent. We decided to make camp in the cemetery. This part is oddly realistic. Constant movement is impossible; food and rest are essential. And, this exploration doesn''t seem to end anytime soon. Chapter 37 Deeper into the catacombs As we descend deeper into the Elven Catbs, the atmosphere grows increasingly eerie, almost as if the royal pce itself is sinking into the depths. The once-opulent surroundings now bear the marks of centuries of neglect: the lights have dimmed, grime covers the walls, and cobwebsce the corners. Tattered carpets line the massive corridors. Seeing this, Sebas sighs deeply, clutching his head. "Our pride... covered in dust." We''ve already reached the eighth floor of the Catbs. This is a structure that defies reality; magic and special materials must have allowed the elves to build such an incredible ce. The enemies have also grown much stronger, and even Liora is struggling a bit. It''s be clear that we need to work together with the other elves. I doubt they would have made it this far without Liora''s help. "Liora, ask them what they nned to do if you weren''t here." "God wants to know¡ªif I weren''t here, how were you nning to get through this?" Princess Remelia lowers her gaze, her long red hair covering her face and hiding her beauty. Yet, even concealed by her hair, her underlying grace exudes an imposing aura. She lifts her face, her long eyshes fluttering. "We didn''t anticipate it being this difficult. We were only conducting a reconnaissance mission. We''ve made it this far thanks to you, Lady Liora." "Reconnaissance?" "Currently, the Elven Royal Family is fully engaged in resisting the Demon King''s army." She exins that the Demon King''s army has been acting strangely. In the past, they were relentless in conquering the world and trampling humanity. But now, the current Demon King is rmingly inactive. "If it were the former Demon King, they would have resumed their invasion as soon as the Second Field¡ªElnd¡ªwas liberated, as the Goddess said. If they give us time, we might even liberate the Third Field." "Why aren''t they attacking?" "That''s the question. That''s why we elves concluded that if we don''t take the offensive, we risk some form of defeat. Time is likely on their side." Of course, there have been sporadic attacks, like the lich earlier. The princess speaks with a pained expression, as if reading from a tragic y. "Before time was frozen, we were on the brink of defeat. The remaining elves, except for Lord Eculis and some of the defense forces, aren''t that strong. Our usable resources are limited." It seems they were aware that the Catbs were overrun with undead. However, the elves, being a defeated army,cked warriors who could use light magic. Apparently, [Light Magic] is a rare type of magic, often specializing in healing and support. Offensive [Light Magic], like Liora''s [sh Magic], is evidently quite rare. "It''s not that we don''t have anyone. But those capable warriors are being reserved to face the Field Boss of the Third Field, the ''Demonic Knightness Gabbi.''" "Gabbi?" "She''s a knight who once sided with humanity but betrayed us. She defected to the Demon King''s army and now roams eternally as an undead knight. Gabbi is one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon King''s army and is the one responsible for sealing Elnd." In preparation for Gabbi, the elves'' offensive [Light Magic] users are on standby. It seems Princess Remelia''s mission was to scout and determine whether to deploy those magic users. Given that, I feel like it would have made more sense to return after the reconnaissance. "Seeing Lady Liora''s abilities has confirmed it for me. Lady Liora must be the legendary hero¡­! We have sufficient strength with just us. In fact, exploring the Catbs without Lady Liora would be the real risk." "?" "Never mind, Liora." As we ept this exnation, Sebas, who has been apanying us, suddenly speaks up. "Rere, please calm down." "This ce is so creepy! And¡ªEeek! I smell another spirit!!" A girl-shaped spirit appears right next to Sebas. She seems to be a yer contracted with him. Name: Rere Gender: Female Level: 28 Race: Wind Elemental Magic: Wind Magic 30 Crafting: Magic Tools 35 Skills: Increased Crafting Efficiency, Mass Production 20, Item Box 19, Summoning 13, Manifestation 18, Appraisal 21, Skill Improvement Stats: Attack 140, Magic Attack 140, Endurance 140, Agility 140, Luck 140 Title: Unfazed by Trial and Error It seems she specializes in crafting magic tools. The standout skill is Summoning. It''s well-known on the forums that the monsters she can summon are weak, much like the vine hounds I summoned with [Everything, Wretched Branches]. Many yers wonder if it''s better to use [Tame] instead. However, Summoning is a popr skill, so many people acquire it. Since it''s prone to wasting MP, it seems her skill level hasn''t progressed much. Elementals use the contractor''s MP to cast spells, so wasting it is frowned upon by NPCs. Liora is probably the only one who doesn''t mind me using her MP extensively. Or perhaps she simply doesn''t understand magic and assumes there''s always a purpose behind any spell I cast. She must think, "Wow, the god is amazing." What am I doing to this innocent girl? Sigh, now I feel bad¡­but I won''t stop.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Wearing sses and with her ck hair tied in pigtails, Rere''s appearance is striking. Given that [PHO] allows for avatar modifications, there''s nothing unusual about her being an extremely beautiful girl. "¡­Kiiiii!" she keeps panicking with her "kiiiii!" While she continues to scream, Rere suddenly looks shocked. "Ah, Liora!? That Liora!? Why is that reaper with you in Sebas''s party!?" "We''re not in a party. It''s just me, the god, and Samurai." "God? ¡­Ah, Zephyr. I remember that Liora calls Zephyr a god, doesn''t she?" "Don''t address the god without honorifics. Or else, scythe!" "Oh, sorry, sorry." An intimidating reaper girl. Though Liora looks adorable, the madness within her would likely leave adults speechless. Rere floats and says, "All right, my skill timing is up." She decides to deactivate her skill and return to her fluffy elemental mode. Even in that state, she can stillmunicate with her contractor. Sebas exins in a murmured tone, and soon, I receive a friend request notification from Rere. I ept it, although I don''t want any friends. However, people like this can be a hassle to deal with, even if I keep refusing. It might be better to ept the friend request while in a team and then remove itter. The impression might be terrible, but honestly, I don''t care about others'' opinions. I am the malevolent god Zephyr, after all. "Ah, here ites. Why can''t I ess your information? Hum?" I get a message from Rere but leave it on read. Come to think of it, [Appraisal] doesn''t seem to work on Liora, Samurai, or me. It''s probably because our statuses are not exposed on the forums. Many characters at that location could bypass our [Appraisal] resistance. Yet, since [Appraisal] wasn''t used, it must have been a matter of conditions being met. I suspect it''s due to my title [Voice of the False God]. This title "adds a correction to my lies." Perhaps the title is ensuring that the lie of "I am a god" remains undisclosed. The effect on me extends to Liora as well. I''m not sure why it applies to Samurai, though. Let''s ept it as a "power" of sorts. If it turns out to be disadvantageous, I''ll handle it with full force, but if it''s advantageous, I won''t go out of my way to explore it further. For now, I''ve made a new friend. It''s only the second one. For someone at the forefront of the MMO like me, it seems like a small number? Hahaha. Chapter 38 Vs Boss! It seems that none of the members of this Elf unit have contracts with spirits. Given their attractiveness and likely poprity, one would expect more, but only Sebas has one. It''s possible that yers tried to recruit them, but the NPCs refused. The reason for this is unclear. They might exin if I asked, but conversations are a hassle¡­ "F-finally... we made it..." After hours of fighting, we finally reached the lowest level of the catbs. An endless swarm of undead kept appearing, forcing us to take breaks and resupply, which dyed us significantly. We were met by a vast throne room. The room had deteriorated over the years, and a zombie wearing a crown sat on the throne. Sebas, who had been standing by, stepped forward with a katana in hand. "How dare you, corpse. That throne... It might be eptable if you were human, but it is not for a mere undead to sit upon." "...Heh." "What? What is it?" The zombie rose from the throne. Immediately after, its body began to bloat and swell, bursting open and spewing decaying flesh all over the room. Countless insects began crawling out from within. Let''s appraise it. Name: Test Gender: Male Level: 89 Race: Parasite Job: Nightmare Magic: Dark Magic 90 Skills: Magic Enhancement 100, Automatic MP Recovery 100, Undead Bonus, Curse Arts 80, Life Independence, Free Casting 100, Magic Armor 100, Forbidden Arts 100 Stats: Attack 89, Magic Attack 1600, Durability 89, Agility 89, Luck 89 Title: The One Who Rejects Death Unique Skill: Life Domination This is likely a boss-level enemy. Its stats are all over the ce, making it an unpredictable threat. Rather than just being strong, it seems to be a troublesome type. "Liora, let''s test it out first." "Yes, my lord." Liora nodded and began unleashing multiple Shining shes, avoiding major skills as this was just a trial. She took down the insects one by one. Meanwhile, the princess used fire magic to burn the insects. Fire is effective against both insects and undead. "Protect the hero and the princess! Make sure the princess doesn''t push too far forward!" Sebas shouted while aiming a hand mirror at the undead insects. A beam of light shot out, scorching the insects. That appears to be a magic tool crafted by Rere, his spirit. The Elf unit members fended off the insects with their swords, spears, and shields. "Rere-! Calm down, please, quiet down!" "...Annoying." Rere was panicking over the insect horde, but fortunately, only Sebas could hear her. She unleashed a massive gust of wind magic, blowing the insects away. "...Heh. So you can handle this much. Otherwise... it won''t be worth it! Undead: Beru''s Form!" The massive swarm of insects merged into a humanoid shape. This time, insect wings sprouted from its back, and its eyes becamepound eyes, like goggles. It seems to have taken on a more insectoid undead form. "Dark Lance!" From behind the insect zombie, a swarm of flies that had been lurking like loyal retainers unleashed a barrage of Dark Lances. Over a hundred spells were cast simultaneously. Liora has plenty of skills to save herself, but she doesn''t have a way to protect everyone from an attack of this magnitude. Just as Liora was about to send Samurai forward... "Final Manifestation! Nero, you should at least learn Basic Manifestation!! Storm Wall!" One of the arts thates with the Manifestation skill, Final Manifestation, allows for manifestation for only three minutes, consuming almost all MP. But during those three minutes, it grants a tremendous buff. A wall of wind, invisible to the naked eye, formed in front of us and began to block the enemy''s attacks. It couldn''tpletely nullify them but significantly weakened their power. At this level, everyone present could defend themselves without issue. Therefore... "We can''t let them keep spamming that. Liora, are you ready?" "Yes, I''m good to go!" "Samurai too, follow us!" We all charged forward simultaneously. Samurai ran alongside Liora in her girl form, ready to deploy a protective barrier at any moment. Liora had already activated her speed buffs. We sprinted through the storm of dark magic. "Heh. Do you not fear death? ...Dark Shower." It''s a wide-area dark magic attack. When unleashed by someone with the high magical power of this insect zombie, it bes indistinguishable from arge-scale bombardment. There''s no time to evade it. "Samurai!" ''¡ª!'' Samurai transformed her body into that of an octopus and leaped in front of Liora. She withstood the entire barrage with her high durability, but her HP was reduced to about one-fifth in an instant¡ª "It''s over." The brief moment Samurai bought was enough for Liora. With her scythe glowing brightly, Liora swung it over her head, soaring through the air. Directly below her was the insect zombie, its staff raised high. Liora''s eyes swirled with fervent devotion. "Finish it, Liora." "God says... you will die here¡ª" Just as Liora was about to unleash Shining sh and Head Hunt mid-air, the insect zombie looked up at her and smiled faintly. Its rotting lips moved to form words. Only then did I realize the lips were infused with magical power. "Forbidden Art¡ªForbidden Designation: Pulse." The spell struck Liora. It must be a target-specific debuff that doesn''t allow for evasion. "¡ª!" Liora''s body convulsed before shepletely froze. Her scythe slipped from her hands, and her body, now limp, began to fall helplessly to the ground. The insect zombie reached out its thin hand toward Liora. This is bad, I think. ''Swish---'' In a panic, I created a huge hand from Darkness Creation, wrapping it around Liora''s body and pulling her back to safety. Although Liora had already regained consciousness, for a brief moment... her heart had definitely stopped. That was a Forbidden Art skill. The details are unclear, but it seems to be a skill that prohibits something. The MP cost, drawbacks, and cooldown are unknown, but it''s dangerously powerful. The insect zombie pointed its palm at Liora. Samurai reflexively moved to block it, but her body was already afflicted with the status condition Curse. "Liora, use Cure!" "It''s not working! My Lord!" "Cure doesn''t seem suitable for breaking curses or forbidden arts." It seems we''ll need a skill that can specifically dispel curses. ...The insect zombie isn''t overwhelmingly strong, but it''s incredibly troublesome. Honestly, I''m starting to think it might be best to retreat at this point. "Dark Orbs!" Countless dark balls wereunched by both the main body and the flies. They looked like harmless soap bubbles, but if they hit, we wouldn''t escape unscathed.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Liora sliced through each ball with her Shining sh. "Wait¡ªhold on, Liora!!" "Zephyr! My Final Manifestation is about to wear off!" "Wait,... Liora, this might hurt a little, but bear with it. And please, shout ''Rere, Check the chat!''" "Yeah! Got it! My Lord! Rere, Check the chat!" Even before Liora could shout, I quickly messaged Rere in the chat. At the same time, I focused, ready to provide support at any moment. "Are you serious?! Of course, you are! Do whatever it takes!¡ªWind Burst!" Rere''s Final Manifestation ended with her casting onest spell. The magic she cast hit Liora,unching her small body like a high-speed bullet. Even as she spat blood, Liora was already poised with her scythe. Naturally, I had already retrieved the scythe with Darkness Creation. Liora was fired at the enemy. In response, the enemy trembled with derisiveughter. I noticed that its grip on its staff loosened slightly. "Foolish¡ªForbidden Art: Forbidden Designation: Pulse." "Dark Region!" "Hm!?" Dark Region is a dark magic art that guarantees absolute evasion. The insect zombie, which had intended to stop Liora, hesitated, surprised by the unexpected continuation of the attack. Liora''s scythe was now imbued with Head Hunt, Life-Draining de, and Shining sh. ¡ªA sh! As they passed by each other, Liora''s scythe cleaved the insect zombie''s head from its body. The insect zombie was consumed by the light-based attack¡ªand disappeared. Chapter 39 The Elven Prince The insect zombie vanished into thin air¡ªjust as a massive swarm of insects began emerging from the remnants of its body. "Fufu... This is just the beginning¡ª" "¡ªEmpress re!" "¡ªTempest Hurricane!" While it may have seemed like Liora was the only one standing out in this battle, the truth is, this was arge-scale party fight. Liora had already been retrieved by Samurai''s tentacles. Massive spells rained down on the boss. The fact that Liora had been able to fight on her own meant that the Elves had been able to conserve their strength. All their firepower was now concentrated. The insect zombie, already defeated once by Liora, had no way to defend itself. "...Fufu. It ends here," the insect zombie muttered contentedly before its body finally disintegrated for good. [Zephyr has leveled up] [Zephyr''s Dark Magic has leveled up] [Zephyr''s Darkness Creation has leveled up] [Zephyr''s Regeneration has leveled up] [Zephyr''s Appraisal has leveled up] [Liora has leveled up] [Liora''s Scythe Arts have leveled up] [Liora''s Moonlight Scythe Arts have leveled up] [Liora''s Landscaping Skill has leveled up] [Liora''s Light Magic has leveled up] [Liora''s sh Magic has leveled up] [Liora''s Summoning has leveled up] [Liora''s Chant Extension has leveled up] [Samurai''s Mimicry has leveled up] [Samurai''s Ambush has leveled up] [Samurai''s Restraint has leveled up] [Samurai''s Sonic Wave has leveled up] [Samurai''s Iron Defense has leveled up] [Samurai''s Tentacle Enhancement has leveled up] Thus, the unexpected boss battle came to an end. "Here, I offer the blood of the Elven King. I, who have received one of the Seven Divine Artifacts from the Goddess The World, shall take it in hand to defy the apocalypse." Seated on the throne, the princess shed her own wrist. As her blood flowed from the throne, it rapidly stained the floor crimson. A loud, rumbling sound indicated the activation of a massive mechanism. "Gar! Tar...hum!" "¡­" "DDDaaaNN¡­GUNNN!!!" "¡­" After about ten minutes, the painting that hung in the throne room transformed into a door. "That door leads to the ce where we Elves have hidden the Divine Artifact. It''s the innermost sanctum of the sacred realm¡ªThe Catbs." The princess spoke reverently, as if she were a narrator of history. However, Liora, being just a little girl, had no interest in history. There was a group on the message board dedicated to verifying the game''s history, but... I kind of feel sorry for them. "So, what should I do?" "Please apany us. I don''t expect there to be any danger inside... but I''d like the Hero to witness the Elves'' secret weapon." "I''m not a Hero. I''m a Priestess." "Haan, alright my cute priestess~!" The princess began to walk carefully. Liora followed behind her absentmindedly. Given her personality, it wouldn''t be surprising if she charged ahead, but I had instructed her to always follow someone in the dungeon, so she behaved. Usually, I use Samurai as ady-first shield in the traditional sense. But today, it''s the princess leading the way. Liora and the others followed the princess inside. Whaty before them was a vast chamber. It was a treasure vault, though not only filled with riches but also with a massive stone tomb shaped like a tree. At the far end¡ª In the ce where the throne would have been in the throne room, there was a pedestal with a sword thrust into it. "Oh, I like stuff like this, especially in RPGs." "If you like it, I like it too!!" "I like you too, Liora." "!! ...Hehe." While Liora grinned foolishly, the elves maintained serious expressions. The princess was slowly and cautiously approaching the sword when¡ª ''¡­We were toote. Ah, we were toote. Goddess. Goddess. Why did you not wait for us? Goddess, why did you let me live?'' "...Brother?" As the princess murmured, a thick aura of death suddenly surged from the ceiling. "Samurai!" ''¡ª!'' Samurai extended her tentacles and grabbed the princess, pulling her away just in time. A massive sword plunged into the spot where she had just been standing. A mangled mass of flesh. That flesh bore faint remnants of an elven face. The zombie elf''s body, wielding the massive sword, swayed unsteadily. ''Intruders. I will not forgive you. This is my ce to guard. My mission is to protect the hope of the elves. The hope that remains... My mission that remains. I... Why couldn''t I make it in time!?'' "It really is you... Brother," the princess whispered. "What''s going on?" Liora asked, readying her scythe. The elves were all struck silent, seemingly forgetting to even take up arms. Only the princess stood resolute, staff in hand, her eyes filled with determination. "...Just before time was frozen, we went to retrieve the Divine Artifact. The royal family member who went was my brother. But the goddess activated the time freeze without waiting for the artifact to arrive." "He was left behind?" "Yes... The catbs were outside the range of the time freeze." Probably, the steward, who had regained hisposure, raised his katana, though it trembled in his hands. Its tip was pointed at the royal¡ªan elven undead. Blood dripped from between his clenched teeth. "You have my deepest sympathies, Young Master. You must have defended this innermost part of the catbs for centuries, keeping it safe from the Demon King''s forces." "He was sealed?" "There are ways to deceive seals. Doppelgangers can impersonate royalty, steal their blood, or pick up their descendants... The Young Master likely fended off all those threats." Yet judging by the state of his body, he must have been struck down at some point. Even so, the prince couldn''t let go of his duty, so he transformed his body into an undead and continued to protect the treasure vault. For centuries¡ªdriven by his obsession. Though it''s supposed to be just a game setting, the resolve of the elven prince leaves one speechless. His body is in ruins. He''s lost an arm, and half of his face is missing. He drags his right leg because his thigh is deeply gouged. His appearance, with his intestines hanging from his abdomen, evokes a pitiful sight. The undead form retained the semnce of its living self, with added decay. This means the elven prince, even before bing undead, spent centuries in this state, alone in the treasure vault. Clinging to the hope that one day, his elven kin would return to retrieve the Divine Artifact¡ªn/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "Even after bing undead, he never lost sight of his purpose. As expected of the brother who was once destined to be king. As your unworthy younger sister, Remelia Elnd, I shall face you with my staff." ''The elves will not be defeated! I won''t allow anyone to be lost!'' "Indeed, I will not allow you to kill any elves, Brother. The elves will not know defeat, and Brother, I will cleanse you here and now." Chapter 40 Against the undead Prince He drags his right leg because his thigh is deeply gouged. His appearance, with his intestines hanging from his abdomen, evokes a pitiful sight. The undead form retained the semnce of its living self, with added decay. This means the elven prince, even before bing undead, spent centuries in this state, alone in the treasure vault. Clinging to the hope that one day, his elven kin would return to retrieve the Divine Artifact¡ª "Even after bing undead, he never lost sight of his purpose. As expected of the brother who was once destined to be king. As your unworthy younger sister, Remelia Elnd, I shall face you with my staff." ''The elves will not be defeated! I won''t allow anyone to be lost!'' "Indeed, I will not allow you to kill any elves, Brother. The elves will not know defeat, and Brother, I will cleanse you here and now." "Intruders, begone! This ce bears the hopes of the Elves! Begone, begone, just leaveeeeeeeeeeeeee!" The despairing, beautiful voice¡ªso ill-suited to the decayed body¡ªechoed as it shook its head violently. The undead swiftly dodged the heavy sword strike, but Sebas skillfully intercepted it with a katana art, halting the mighty sword for just a moment. In that instant, Her Highness''s [Fire Magic] erupted. Yet, the prince''s burning body was extinguished almost immediately. "Scythe Art: [Swift Killing de]" The scythe art enveloped the de, gradually reducing the agility of any target it struck. Liora''s scythe lightly grazed the prince''s body. Without striking the [Neck], the attackcked sufficient power. As an undead, the prince would be vulnerable to the [Moonlight Scythe Art], but Liora''s skill level was stillcking¡ªit had only recently evolved. "Eternal Darkness Magic ¡ª [ck Ball]" The prince cast a spell. A jet-ck sphere materialized, not aimed at anyone in particr, but rather ced in an uncertain location. Liora, puzzled, found herself drawn to it. "Liora, whatever you do, don''t touch that sphere." "Got it!" It seemed to be a small-scale ck hole. If it were a true ck hole, the would have been destroyed, but this one had simr properties. A ck as a skill¡­.how terrifying! A powerful suction force. Anything that touched it¡ªmagic, stone fragments¡ªvanished, so it was something to avoid at all costs. No matter, we still have to face our opponent. "Fighting here is¡­ difficult." The suction made it impossible for Liora to run. The prince forcefully knocked Sebas aside and lunged at Liora, who had lost her bnce. The giant greatsword was cloaked in darkness. Liora tried to evade by jumping, but once airborne, she couldn''t resist the pull of the [ck Ball]. "[Create Dark] Mode-Wall!" A wall of darkness formed in midair. Liora, confident in its support, kicked off the wall without even looking. Her target was the prince, now defenseless after his greatsword strike. A lightning-fast triple strike. The effects of [Swift Killing de] gradually drained the prince''s speed. "Eternal Darkness Sword Art ¡ª [Darkness Pressure]!" Simply by readying the greatsword, the prince unleashed a dark, destructive force that pushed his opponent back. Liora, taking the attack head-on, was blown away at incredible speed. Troublesome. The goal seemed to be to throw her into the [ck Ball]. This might have been the prince''s primary tactic in life¡ªa powerfulbo. "But Liora has not only me but also Samurai." Samurai caught Liora with her tentacles. The speed at which she was thrown might have torn apart the old Samurai''s tentacles. But with the enhancements of [Iron Wall] and [Tentacle Enhancement]¡­ "Well done, Samurai. Though it feels a bit gross." "¡­" Caught by Samurai, Liora began firing [Hound Lightning] repeatedly. Thanks to the [Regeneration] skill, her MP consumption was significantly reduced. I also equipped her with the [All Things, Cursed Withered Branch] using my sub-arm. This long staff, [All Things, Cursed Withered Branch], is quite a fine weapon. Long Staff [All Things, Cursed Withered Branch] ¡ª Rarity: [Legend] Level: [87] Magic Attack Power: [696] Durability: [800] Skills: [Magic Attack Power Boost], [Apple Bomb], [Creation ¨C Weak Vine Dog] As expected of a drop from a raid boss. The magic attack power is incredible. Honestly, the scythe [Shadow That Fills Death] only has strong unique skills; as a weapon, its performance is mediocre. Liora''s strongest attacks are actually magic-based. Realizing that simple attacks weren''t enough, the undead prince raised his greatsword and, with decayed lips, shouted: "Eternal Darkness Magic: [Lower Undead Summoning]" Suddenly, more than twenty undead gathered around the prince. But Liora was already on the offensive. Although the scythe [Shadow That Fills Death] had low attack power, its skills were incredibly powerful. Scythe [Shadow That Fills Death] ¡ª Rarity: [Unique] Level: [10] Life Stock: [589] Attack Power: [100] Durability: [230] Skills: [Restoration], [Soul Devourer] The life stock was plentiful. The [Soul Devourer] skill was ready to be activated. As Liora prepared the scythe at her waist, she spoke the keyword I had devised to unleash its power. "Open, [Shadow That Fills Death]! Praise the death¡ª"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om A massive darkness enveloped Liora''s scythe. In an instant, the de''s length extended beyond ten meters, forming a merciful scythe meant to cleanse the solitary undead. Raising the enormous darkness, the reaper girl let out a scream: "¡ª[Reaper''s Job]!!" One strike. With a sweeping blow, more than twenty summoned undead were sliced apart. Even the body of the undead prince, their source, was cleaved in two. Now, [Reaper''s Job] had been strengthened by [Moonlight Scythe Art], adding the effect of light. A decisive blow. Although it didn''t strike the neck, making it not the most powerful attack, it likely brought the prince close to death. However, "¡­!" The undead prince instantly regenerated his body. It seemed the [Regeneration 100] skill was at work. The undead prince, unscathed, readied his greatsword once again. But his MP should be significantly drained. If we''re going to attack, now is the time! "Liora, notify everyone! We''re going to finish this here!" "Godmands it: Everyone, attack!" The elves cheered and began concentrating their firepower. The boss battle was reaching its climax. Chapter 41 The fight intensifies The battlefield is engulfed in explosions, caused by the diverse elemental magic unleashed by the elves. Even the Undead Prince is struggling to defend himself. Surprisingly, it''s Rere who seems to be making an impact. She isunching attacks using the magic tools she brought with her. She uses a gun that shoots sticky webs, a water gun that makes the ground slippery, origami cranes that explode on contact, and a harmonica that applies a weak buff when yed. Individually, these tools seem unimpressive, making you wonder why they were even created. But whenbined, they subtly influence the course of the battle. Such tools can be troublesome when used by enemies. In fact, the Undead Prince is having a hard time attacking, as Liora, Samurai, and Sebas are holding the front line. "With the [Regeneration] skill, the enemy''s MP is rapidly recovering. We need more firepower!" "More! The gods demand it!" "We''re giving it our all, but..." The undead are relentless. Thanks to Liora''s [Swift Killingde], the undead prince''s agility has been halved, which is why they have the upper hand in both offense and defense. It''s the main reason they can keep up with an enemy of this caliber. Liora learned from their battles with Jack-Jack that overwhelming agility was the biggest threat, which is why we acquired this skill. By crippling the enemy''s speed, it''s almost like killing them. The [Swift Killing de] skill truly lives up to its name. However, the enemy counters with [Regeneration], maintaining the bnce. Half-hearted attacks are useless, and Liora now understands what it feels like for the weaker enemies who have fought them. As the Undead Prince, impaled by Sebas, finishes his incantation, "[ck Ball]!" A third [ck Ball] appears on the battlefield. It seems to be a magic art with a cooldown period, so it can''t be spammed, but it''s still troublesome. The trump card, [Death God''s Scythe], can still be used. Even so, Liora only have one more shot left. Liora bravely engages in closebat. Thanks to shirne Madien''s skill [Dance of Divine Descent], her agility surpasses that of the Undead Prince. This skillsts for a few hours once activated and stacks with other agility buffs. While the effect is minor, its long duration and ability to coexist with other agility buffs make it powerful. "[sh]." Using the dark magic [sh], Liora instantly moves behind the Undead Prince and swings her scythe with one hand, aiming to decapitate him. However, the prince''s head falls off on its own before Liora''s strikends. When Liora''s sh misses, the prince''s head reattaches automatically. Having no other choice, Liora kicks the prince''s back to create some distance. This odd technique prevents her fromnding a critical hit. "Well, there''s nothing else we can do." "This is troublesome, O Divine One." With no way to target the neck, Liora''s role shifts to that of a tank. However, to allow the elves in the rear to deal damage, it''s not good for her to stay too close to the front line, as she could get caught in the crossfire. Liora''s specialization in solobat bes a disadvantage here. "Our MP is fully charged." "Yes... [Life-Stealing de]." Liora charges forward and begins an intense swordfight with the Undead Prince. Relying on their regenerative abilities, they exchange blow after blow without bothering to defend. I use my skills to block attacks targeting weak points like the neck or heart. Samurai and Sebas asionally intervene, closing the damage gap. After three minutes of deadlybat, the one who first gave in to the exhaustion was the Undead Prince. "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh! [Darkness Pressure]!" "[sh]!" She severs the prince''s remaining arm, but even that regenerates. When a regeneration skill reaches this level, it bes overwhelming, though it must consume a massive amount of MP. For a brief moment, the prince stops moving to regenerate, and Liora seizes the opportunity to decapitate him with herrge scythe. The [Life-Stealing de] has cut his HP by 90%, delivering a decisive critical hit. After the strike, Liora lifts her head. Beneath her snow-white hair, her crimson eyes whirl with mad devotion. "Just as the gods intended. Enduring this battle of attrition was easy for me because I believe in the gods." "As expected of you, Hero! Maximum chant! [Empress re]!" The princess''s explosive magic sts into the prince, creating a huge hole in his abdomen. The Undead Prince finally touches the ground. "Is this... the end? No... not yet!" He''s likely out of MP. The [Regeneration] skill consumes MP as it heals, and even though he became a boss as an undead, his resources aren''t infinite. "Come forth, Sacred Tool [Mercy of the World Goddess: The World of Kindness]!"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om From the depths of the treasure vault, the sword embedded in the pedestal pulls itself out. The withdrawn sword emits a dazzling light as it transforms. "Liora!" Just before Liora can deliver the final blow to the Undead Prince, the sacred swordpletes its transformation. The sword has changed into a massive suit of armor. It attaches itself to the prince, protecting his body from Liora''s scythe. The scythe is deflected, causing Liora to stumble. The Undead Prince''s rotting eyes roll around before he punches Liora in the stomach, spilling her insides in a gruesome disy. "Liora!" The [Instant Death Avoidance] skill activates. Sebas charges with his K, trying to protect the fallen Liora. But the prince''s fist is already poised to strike. Sebas,cking a simr [Instant Death Avoidance] skill, won''t make it in time. "I won''t let you, brother!" The one who pushes Sebas aside is a young girl¡ªRemelia. With a hint of fear in her voice, the princess cries out. "I won''t let you kill an elf!" The High Elf princess spreads her arms wide, but the prince''s fist doesn''t hit her. "Ahhhhhhh!" Instead, the prince screams and ms his fist into his own face. Though it immediately regenerates, a glimmer of willpower flickers in his decayed eyes. "I... I did it! I protected them!" "Brother!?" "When you encounter a dangerous monster... you shut your eyes tightly." The princess''s eyes widen in realization. At the moment when she was sure the prince would kill her, she had indeed tightly closed one eye. The prince''s voice trembles, yet he speaks gently. "But... you don''t close both eyes. You fight back, even if it''s just one. I thought that was noble. For hundreds of years, I remembered your nobility and did not lose." "You were truly admirable, brother." "Now, what I''m about to unleash is... the Sacred Tool''s ultimate strike. Endure it! I can barely... keep it under control!" The goddess''s sacred tool. If it had to bepared, its form would resemble that of a powered suit. Goddess, isn''t this a bit too out of ce in this world? The prince''s eyes grow vacant as he reaches his limit. "Come." Liora replies softly, raising her scythe. She downs a potion to enhance her attack power, then tosses the ss bottle aside. The sound of shattering ss rings out clearly. Wiping her mouth with her sleeve, she deres, "Gods are stronger than goddesses. I won''t lose to a mere Sacred Tool." "Leave this ceeeeeeeeeeeeee!" The goddess''s sacred tool. The false god''s apostle. Who will win? Chapter 42 Battle End and Rewards "Open, [Shadow of Death]¡­ Praise the god! [Death Scythe]! [Reaper''s Job!]" A colossal trump card, consuming all life stock, was imbued into the scythe. Liora, small but exuding a massive ck and white aura, faced the prince, who was d in divine silver armor. Both stepped forward simultaneously and vanished, elerating at incredible speed. Their gazes crossed intensely as the distance between them closed in an instant. In a fraction of a second, the prince''s fist and Liora''s scythe swung simultaneously. With [Death Avoidance] and [Dark Illusion] exhausted, Liora had no choice but to either block or evade the enemy''s attack¡ªyet she chose to attack head-on. Her target: decapitation, nothing more. Liora clenched her teeth as the prince''s fist struck her abdomen, depleting all her HP. Yet, in her dying moment, her scythe shed through the prince. Thebination of skills¡ª[Head Hunt], [Weak Point Attack], [Killing de], [Life-Absorbing de], [Soul Eater], [Moonlight Scythe Technique], and [Scythe Technique]¡ªdealt massive damage, draining the prince''s HPpletely. It was truly the scythe of death. But the cost was great. Liora lost her life without uttering a word. [Zephyr has leveled up.] [Zephyr''s Dark Magic has leveled up.] [Zephyr''s Create Dark has leveled up.] [Zephyr''s Dark Aura has leveled up.] [Zephyr''s Regeneration has leveled up.] [Zephyr''s Appraisal has leveled up.] [Samurai has leveled up.] [Samurai''s Mimicry has leveled up.] [Samurai''s Surprise Attack has leveled up.] [Samurai''s Restraint has leveled up.] [Samurai''s Sonic Wave has leveled up.] [Samurai''s Iron Wall has leveled up.] [Samurai''s Tentacle Enhancement has leveled up.] ? ? ? Find your next adventure on empire The battlefield fell silent. As everyone held their breath, I used a revival potion from my [Item Box], obtained during an event. Liora''s HP restored to just 1, and she came back to life. With a rustle, Liora sat up, blinking her eyes. "Revived." "Let''s be more considerate next time, Liora." "I won¡­ God." [Liora has leveled up.] [Liora''s Scythe Technique has leveled up.] [Liora''s Moonlight Scythe Technique has leveled up.] [Liora''s Landscaping Skill has leveled up.] [Liora''s Light Magic has leveled up.] [Liora''s sh Magic has leveled up.] [Liora''s Solitude Resistance has leveled up.] [Liora''s Kagura has leveled up.] [Liora''s Summoning has leveled up.] [Liora''s Chant Extension has leveled up.] And so, we recovered the divine artifact. ¨Œ The prince''s body left no remains. As the victory announcement echoed, his corpse turned to ash, which the wind scattered, disappearing entirely. The princess knelt, shedding a single tear. But in the next moment, her expression became resolute as she picked up the divine artifact. The armor had reverted to the form of a sword. "This is the divine artifact¡ª[World Goddess'' Mercy]. A piece of armor that grants its user immense physical abilities." "Weaker than me." "That''s true, Lady Liora." The princess seemed slightly intimidated. Liora''s attack was not just about risking her life¡ªit was about discarding it. She didn''t hesitate for a moment, and even as she was killed, she calmly went in for the kill. Seriously, Liora is like the Grim Reaper. To her, it''s better to die than to leave an enemy alive. Thispletes the quest. But, where''s the reward? Could it be that the NPC elves obtained a secret weapon? I kept ncing repeatedly at the elves. But they seemed too filled with grief over the prince''s death, excitement over acquiring the divine artifact, and relief at surviving the fierce battle to notice. This game''s excessive realism has its downsides. Liora stood still as the princess hesitantly made a proposal. "Lady Liora, you are the hero of this event. The elves are grateful for your work, for which you didn''t even spare your life. Thus, you may take one item from this treasure vault." "One." "¡­ Two." "Okay, two." "Okay." Liora, surprisingly proving to be a skilled negotiator, secured two treasures passed down among the elf royalty. This is amazing. There''s a growing concern that this game has a heavy emphasis on hack-and-sh mechanics. Character leveling is unexpectedly quick, and some contracted NPCs start maxed out. The pursuit of strength bes a matter of collecting gear. Which means that all the items held by the elf royalty should be exceptional. It''s hard to decide. We quickly began exploring the treasure vault, with Liora, Samurai, and I on the search. However, due to the aftermath of the battle, some items were badly damaged, and some were absorbed into the [ck Ball] and vanished. In hindsight, I should have stored everything in the [Item Box] as soon as the battle started. ¨Œn/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om We explored for about three hours. The elves waited quietly, likely needing Liora to apany them for safety. It seems the divine artifact also has disadvantages when used, so it can''t be used regrly. We eventually selected the elf n''s secret treasures. Magic Ring [Tete''s Sacrifice Ring] Rarity [Epic] Level [20] Luck [50] Durability [1000] Skills [Restoration], [Sacrifice Finger], [Critical Enhancement 3%] This [Tete''s Sacrifice Ring] is a wooden ring. Its effect is the ability to ignore one negative skill, art, or other debuff once per day. Testing is still needed, but it seems to be very useful. At worst, applying it to [Killing de] alone is strong. Even if 99% is sacrificed, having the HP consumption reduced to zero once can significantly enhance stability. It opens up new strategies. The next item we chose was a pair of shoes. Boots [Aike''s Winged Boots] Rarity [Epic] Level [58] Agility [70] Durability [1000] Skills [Safety Boots], [Air Jump], [HP Enhancement 2%] The effect of these boots is simple: they allow double jumps by consuming MP. They also provide better grip on difficult terrain. Double jump is a vital skill. Though I can somewhat simte it with my [Create Dark] mode step, being able to easily jump by herself is definitely convenient. The rewards were incredible. Liora, now wearing the new boots and ring, seemed quite satisfied. Along with the cape acquired earlier, she is gradually shedding her beginner''s gear. In high spirits, Liora joined up with the elves. The princess, still with red eyes and a slightly nasal voice, called out to us. "Lady Liora, have you finished?" "Your voice is strange. You, sick?" "No, that''s not it. I just need a moment to sort out my feelings." "?" For Liora, the feeling of sorrow over the death of a loved one is likely an emotion far from her understanding. She tilted her head in confusion. The princess, not noticing, pointed to a pot ced behind her. "Shall we have a meal? We''ve used skills and arts with long cooldowns. Considering Lady Liora''s condition too, it would be best to rest until tomorrow." "Yes. Food, eat." Liora joyfully dashed forward. "W-wait a moment! Liora!" The spirit girl¡ªRere¡ªstood in her way. Chapter 43 Mistreated Liora ran toward the pot with excitement. "Stop right there, Liora." Rere materialized in front of Liora, blocking her path with arms outstretched. Beads of sweat dripped down her forehead. It seems even that detail is faithfully reproduced. Impressive. As I marveled at this beside me, Rere began to speak insistently. "Liora, you eat a lot! Our supplies aren''t enough! I''m sorry, but the elves couldn''t prepare enough for you!" "¡­ So I can''t eat?" "N-no! Uh... please don''t look so sad with that expressionless face!" "It''s fine." Well, Liora wasn''t receiving enough food from her family. The idea of getting food from others probably never urred to her. Even though she was happy when she thought she could. However, I never thought Rere could do this to her, well everyone for themselves huh. Liora returned to me, seemingly unfazed. But, her stomach was grumbling and I know she could atleast give her one bowl... Wait. "Well, it can''t be helped. Liora, I only have dried meat, but..." "! I love you, God!" Liora grabbed the dried meat I took out of the [Item Box] and started gnawing on it. Her mouth got greasy. "Yay! The treat from the god is great!!" Since there are no forks or knives, it can''t be helped. Besides, she''s been through a lot of battles. It''s no surprise she''s eating with such gusto. Also, the delicious-looking stew in front of her might be another factor. But deep inside me I felt cold...even if it''s not real world, how can just abandon someone who just died for you over a simple meal? Avoiding the fact she is still a 13 year old girl? The thing even more heartbreaking was no elf including the princess stepped up. A friend chat popped up. Friend: Rere Tell Liora to eat more gracefully, why is she eating like that? Is she okay, Zephyr!? You: Zephyr It''s because you made her hopeful. Liora was mistreated by her family and was hardly given any food. To treat her like this¡­ Should I report you and everyone on the bulletin board? Shall I tell them of your and Sebas'' great deeds? Friend: Rere I said I''m sorry! I was just worried that there wouldn''t be enough for Sebas and the princess! She can eat now if she wants to! You: Zephyr No, no. Liora was mistreated by her family and was hardly given any food. A single meal of dried meat isn''t a problem. Friend: Rere I didn''t know! I''m sorry! Zephyr, you have a sharp tongue, don''t you!? You: Zephyr Just because you didn''t know, you''re going to exclude a young girl from the meal!? Since when did ignorance be a free pass for cruelty!? As I finished typing, Rere clutched her head and cried out. She performed an incredibly fast prostration in front of Liora. "I''m really sorry, Liora! Liora Liora! You can eat this stew too! The same amount as everyone else! It''s fine now!" "What, you said there is not enough for everyone?" "There is enough!" "Then why did you lie?" "Ugh¡­" Liora seemed annoyed with Rere and turned away with a pout. The elves, seeing this, hurriedly tried to offer their portions to Liora. After all, it wouldn''t do if they couldn''t even give a meal to the one who risked her life the most, achieved the most, and didn''t even need to try the hardest¡ªthe youngest one. It would be a disgrace to the elves. Moreover, they were nning to escape under Liora''s protection. Though they didn''t say it aloud, the elves all had expressions that screamed, "What were you thinking, Rere!?" "Please, Lady Liora! Enjoy this meal." "It''s okay. I received food from the god. You should eat your own portions." Liora proudly held up the dried meat. It was cheap, not very tasty, and merely a tough preserved food. But for Liora, it was a feast. Rere looked awkward. Well, to be honest, I can understand her concerns. Liora has high endurance, and with the [Regeneration] skill, she can endure without food if needed. On the other hand, if the elves don''t eat properly, they might not even survive, let alone make it back to Elnd or escape the catbs. I usually try to behave immaturely. Even if I act like an adult, dealing with kids is troublesome. It''s one thing for a sryman, but being unemployed makes you unbeatable. But here, I''ll make a small concession. More than anything, I want Liora to eat something delicious. "Liora, why don''t you have just one bowl?" "God has spoken. I shall have one bowl." "! Thank you! Thank you so much!" For some reason, Liora was being thanked just for epting the stew. Liora took the wooden bowl and spoon, then sat down next to me. However, I still think sitting on the ground isn''t ideal. I created a table and chair using [Create Dark]. This much is easy to make. Since I didn''t use [Arts], it consumes more energy. But I can quickly recover that with [Regeneration]. "Thank you, God. This is a veryfortable seat and table¡­" "To think you''d even praise the table¡­" ¡º¨D¨D¡» Samurai looked at me with exasperation. Well, well. Liora happily swung her legs for a moment, then straightened her posture. With a refined stance, she gracefully handled the spoon. The steaming stew emitted a delightful aroma. There weren''t many ingredients. We left the food in the carriage. My and Rere''s [Item Boxes] aren''t thatrge, and the other NPCs'' magic bags were full. Stay updated through empire Though meals are important, potions and such take priority if we''re going to fight. "It''s delicious. God, but your dried meat is the best." "I''m d to hear that. I''m sure the maker of that preserved food would be delighted to know." "It became delicious because God gave it to me...!" "So my Item Box has that effect, huh?"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Liora ate the stew without making a sound, and within ten seconds, the bowl was empty. I''m d she seems at least a little satisfied. --- Starting tomorrow, the weapon enhancement arc will begin. Chapter 44 Liora Becomes an Angel After oveing two consecutive boss battles in the catbs, Liora has finally reached level 50. Thanks to the effect of the ticket acquired during the event, Liora''s race has evolved. - Name: Liora - Gender:Female - Level: 50 - Race:High Human - Job:Apostle - Magic: [sh Magic 17], [Light Magic 59] - Crafting:[Gardening 17] - Skills: [Lonely Resistance 40], [Scythe Arts 57], [Summoning 30], [Maiden 42], [Extended Chanting 11], [Moonlight Scythe Arts 15], [Head Hunt] [Skill Unset] - Stats: - Attack: 154 - Magic Attack: 370 - Endurance: 277 - Agility: 373 - Luck: 310 Explore more at empire - Title:The Great Sin: Parricide - Unique Skill: Shining de, Darkness de. Finally, she''s reached level 50. It took¡ªwell, actually, it feels like it was pretty soon, no matter how you look at it. This is probably because she''s constantly been taking on higher-level enemies. While other NPCs and yers are ying it safe and avoiding losses, Liora has been relentlessly pushing forward. From a hack-and-sh perspective, she''s been gradually getting better equipment, so it''s not a bad strategy overall. After all, Liora has been using mostly beginner gear up to this point. Anyway, hitting the milestone of level 50 has triggered an evolution in her race and a change in her job to an advanced ss. The job "Apostle" seems to be a special kind of evolution, but it is indeed an advanced ss. She has also unlocked a hidden ability called "Magic Attack Boost (Low)," which slightly increases her healing and magic attack damage. To be honest, it''s almost negligible. With this, her stats will improve, and she''ll be able to acquire skills specific to her new race and job. These skills seem quite intriguing as well. However, we also need to use the "Rainbow Gift Ticket" obtained from the event. This ticket allows the acquisition of various skills regardless of race or job. It even enables the acquisition of skills from monsters or spirits. It''s a ticket that offers both convenient and powerful skills. "Liora." I fly right beside the pottering Liora. So far, our progress in the catbs has been smooth. Rather than calling it a conquest, it''s more like a return trip. After spending a day in the tent, we''re back on track. ¡­Come to think of it, the number of undead in the catbs seems to have decreased. This abnormal urrence was probably caused by the Prince''s "Darkness Magic" or something simr. Now that he''s gone, the undead poption in the catbs has decreased. The catbs have essentially turned into an underground tomb tourist spot. Although there are still undead wandering around, Liora can easily annihte them with her "Shining sh" or "Hound Lightning." "What is it, God?" "You have an empty skill slot now that you''ve reached level 50. What will you choose?" "Whatever God thinks is best!" "Y-Yes, of course, Liora." She leaves it all to me. She''s so adamant that she doesn''t want anything other than my choice. If I were to tell her to choose, she would, but knowing her, she''d agonize over it forever. The number of skills that can be chosen with the "Rainbow Gift Ticket" is vast. What does Liorack right now? Healing is sufficient. Support is also well-covered. Her offensive capabilities are solid. Her endurance is enough to substitute as a tank. ...She can handle anything on her own. Let''s just choose a skill from a strong monster. When thinking of powerful monsters, dragons, vampires, demons, and angelse to mind. A vampire seems like a good choice, but it mighte with too many drawbacks. Besides, Liora''s current skill set is somewhat simr to a vampire''s. If we make her skills even more simr, it might lead to redundancy. In that case, let''s go with a dragon. When ites to pure strength, there''s no creature stronger than a dragon. "Alright, let''s search for the strongest dragon. Hmm¡­ Azi Dahaka, Quetzalcoatl¡­ something dark seems fitting." There are a few promising options: - [Evil Dragon''s Factor] - [Dragon Scales] - [Dragon''s Breath] These are the most noteworthy skills.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om The idea of the cute, small Liora using "Dragon''s Breath" is quite appealing. While the scythe suits her well, "Dragon''s Breath" would look good too. But upon closer inspection, it''s not very practical. The power of "Dragon''s Breath" seems to depend on HP. If Liora''s maximum HP were at dragon levels, it would be a top-tier skill, but as a High Human, it wouldck sufficient firepower. Though it would be amusing¡­ let''s pass on it. "Dragon Scales" is a strong skill, but since it would cover her entire body in dragon scales, it''s a no-go. "Evil Dragon''s Factor"¡­ seems ominous. It might be better not to use it on Liora. Change of ns. Let''s go with an angel instead. After all, Liora is like an angel. Thus, Liora''s new skill became "Angel''s Factor." Upon acquiring the skill, she also automatically obtained an art. It seems "Angel''s Factor" has only eleven arts, and all of them can be acquired. The art she got at level 1 is called "Heavenly Ring." "Try using it." "Mm¡­ okay! ''Heavenly Ring.''" "Oh." A halo appeared above Liora''s head. Combined with her fantastical appearance, with her white hair, she truly looks like an angel. I recorded a video and immediately posted it on the "Liora Eats Well" channel. The title is "Liora Bes an Angel." I couldn''t think of anything else for the title, but it gives off an announcement-like vibe, doesn''t it? Comments quickly started pouring in. Well, Liora is very cute, and she has a lot of content potential. The halo grants a slight resistance to magic and also allows for the storage of excess HP. It functions as a reserve HP bar. Liora is starting to resemble a boss character. The skill "Regeneration" works well with it. It even allows her to use 120% of her HP for "Darkness de"? "Do you like it, Liora?" "This¡­ God! Am I an angel now?" "Hm? Yes, that''s right. This is a skill called ''Angel''s Factor.''" "Oh, wow! I''m serving God now, right?!" Ah, that''s right, an angel is supposed to serve God. It seems I''ve identally chosen the perfect skill for Liora. Her eyes are spinning more than usual. "Angel, angel, angel¡­ I''ll stay with God, forever and ever!" "Well, make sure you master it." "Yes, I will!" I''ve never seen Liora this happy. Her usually calm expression is now lit up with an adorable smile, something I rarely get to see. Seeing her joy, the princess apanying us also smiled. "Lady Liora, is that a new skill? It''s wonderful." "Yes, it''s wonderful. It''s a sign that I''ve been recognized by God." "Indeed¡­ could it be the skill of an angel?" "That''s right." Liora responded with a deadpan expression, her usualck of emotion giving way to a hint of pride. The princess looked impressed. It seems that the role of an "angel" is important in this world¡­ even if it''s technically a monster skill. From that point on, Liora became unstoppable. She eagerly sought out undead to purify with all her might to nurture her new skill, "Angel''s Factor." She seemed genuinely thrilled. It was like watching a child y with a Christmas toy. "Graaagghhh!" And thus, we safely escorted the elves and reached the elvennd. Chapter 45 Rest and Enjoyment Liorapletely ignored the invitation to the royal castle and decided to rest at the inn she had booked. After all, she was undoubtedly exhausted from the series of battles she had endured, and on her way back, she was too caught up in the excitement to take a break. She deserves at least a day of rest. There''s no need to rush. Now that Liora has reached level 50, she has taken her first step into the advanced ranks. Her skills and stats have also be quite solid. ...If I had to point out one concern, it would be her equipment. Liora''s weapon, [Shadow of Death], is one that levels up. However, it''s been capped at level 10, and its attack power is severelycking. More importantly, now that Liora primarily uses [Moonlight Scythe Technique], what she really needs is a scythe that enhances her magical attack power, rather than physical attack power. At this point, she''s basically fighting with the [Withered Branch of Abomination], a sub-weapon that I had equipped. A scythe for everyday use. That''s what she needs, isn''t it? Or perhaps an upgrade for the [Shadow of Death]. "But for now, let''s take it easy today. I''m tired too." Currently, Samurai is out shopping. Having a humanoid tamed monster is convenient in situations like this. She''s quite intelligent and versatile. Beside the sleeping Liora, I quietly slipped out of bed. I couldn''t say no when she begged to sleep together. It was my first time sleeping with a young girl, so I was pretty nervous. "Arts: [Alchemy]" This is the perfect time to level up my [Alchemy] skill. The potion I''m making is one that changes the color of fabric. The materials are easy to obtain, and the experience efficiency isn''t bad either. I control my two sub-arms and quickly get to work making the potion. ...As my skill level has increased, I can handle more than just two arms at once¡ªI get absorbed in the task. About an hour passed, and the doorknob turned with a click. Naturally, it was Samurai who appeared. She was carefully holding a paper bag with her tentacle-like arms. Samurai''s eyes widened in surprise. "What''s the matter, Samurai?" ''...'' Samurai, who usually mirrors my expressionless face, showed a surprisingly eloquent expression. She was clearly amazed by me. It''s funny how pets start to resemble their owners, even in a game. As expected, "PHO" is truly impressive. After an hour of practice, I managed to control about ten sub-arms simultaneously. I wouldn''t be able to do this in battle, and I can only connect two arms to Liora. Inbat, I can''t move my arms at all. Changing their shape in the heat of battle is extremely difficult. However, if there''s no need for me to move or rush, it''s a different story. I managed to mass-produce quite a few potions. After stuffing them into a leather bag, I handed it over to Samurai and started making more potions with the materials she bought. ''Hah'' "!? Did you just sigh!?" ''...'' Samurai silently headed out to sell the potions. These fetch a pretty good price, you know. The materials themselves are cheap, but processing them increases their value. It''s the perfect way to earn money and level up¡ªalchemy at its finest! Now, I''ll make a few recovery potions. Discover more content at empire I''ll also try making some attack potions. Liora and I can use them for surprise attacks, and even Samurai, whocks offensive abilities, will find them handy. Production skills are surprisingly fun. [Zephyr''s Alchemy has leveled up.] ¨Œ Liora, who woke up exactly eight hourster, couldn''t hide her restlessness. Her beautiful crimson eyes kept gazing out the window. She looked like an eager dog wagging an invisible tail, desperate to go outside. It''s adorable... but isn''t she a bit too much of a battle junkie? Generally, people in this world take a few days off after a big job. There''s amonint on the forums: "My NPC won''t move for ten days after a quest!" If this "PHO" were a real sword-and-sorcery fantasy world, that would be perfectly natural. If you keep moving all the time, your body will break down. Unless you have a [Regeneration] skill like Liora, that is. In that sense, the [Regeneration] skill should be more popr. After Liora''s video leaked, the value of [HP Auto Recovery] has been reconsidered. But honestly, it''s not a skill you need unless you''re a tank.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om As long as you can team up with a healer, that is. "I want to move...," Liora murmured. "Shall we go out for a meal? Or maybe do some shopping?" "And then, fight...?" "No, today is a day of rest, Liora." "...Okay, my God." Liora sulked. But here, I must steel my heart and make her rest. A girl her age who says, "My hobby is fighting!" would be a cause for concern in the future. Well, she''s an NPC, though. Still, "PHO" is so realistic. That being said, I need the "PHO" developers to keep doing their best. If the service were to shut down, it would mean saying goodbye to Liora. I never thought I''d get this invested, but at this rate, I might never be able to prioritize real life over Liora. I''ve tricked her too much¡­ but if deceiving her until the end only brings benefits, then maybe it''s the same as telling the truth. That''s just an excuse, though. A bad adult''s excuse. But I wanted to role-y! "But Liora, this is also necessary to be stronger." "To be stronger!" "Yes. Just walking around the city can lead to unexpected discoveries and encounters. Even buying items can make you stronger." "! As expected of you, my God." Liora quickly got dressed. She didn''t mind that I was watching¡ªperhaps because she doesn''t feel shame like us, floating in the air as she does. Honestly, I don''t think I''d feel it either. Liora summoned a [Heavenly Ring] above her head. It seems she really likes that. This skill consumes MP upon activation and stays active until she sleeps. Of course, she can turn it off at will, but there''s no need to bother doing so. It''s incredibly eye-catching, though. But with her white hair and crimson eyes, she already stands out. In this world, those traits are considered marks of a "Demon Lord," so some NPCs tend to be wary of her. However, elves, who have lived long lives, seem to have more knowledge and a calmer demeanor. They might be startled when they first see Liora, but they soon rx. They don''t confront her either. It probably helps that Yuclis has been spreading the word that she''s "a benefactor of Elves." "Let''s go in search of gourmet food!" "Ooh!" "And to capture some good footage!" "? Ooh!" Liora opened the window and dashed out into the city. ¡­We really need to stop doing that. The elves in the city looked startled as well. But man, no matter what they do, pretty people are just pretty. Elves are amazing! Chapter 46 New Quest!! With Liora in tow, we entered a restaurant. The moment we stepped inside, the ce buzzed with whispers. About eighty percent of this buzz was due to Liora''s striking appearance: white hair, red eyes, spirit possession, carrying arge scythe, and equipped with a heavenly ring¡ªit was quite a sight. The remaining twenty percent came from those who knew what was "toe" for her. Liora immediately sat down and began browsing the menu. Even though she couldn''t read, she cheerfully followed the letters with her eyes. What she was actually observing wasn''t the content of the menu but the variety of dishes offered. "Don''t hold back, Liora, eat as much as you want." "Yes! Thank you, God!" The elf waitress approached with a look of fear etched on her face. As expected of an elf, she was beautiful. Naturally, my gaze was drawn to the chest pressing against her apron¡ªthis is just instinct. Liora, however, wasparing her own chest to the waitress''s. I perched on top of Liora''s head and said, "Let''s ce our order." "Everything." The waitress, seemingly expecting this response, nodded slowly before hurrying off to the kitchen. I could hear the cries of the elven chef from where we sat. ... "This is delicious." "Y-Yes, indeed..." "I want God to try it too." "I don''t have a mouth in this world, you know." Liora was savoring arge earthworm steak, seasoned with ck pepper and salt, and garnished with herbs thatpletely masked any unpleasant odor. Despite being roasted earthworm, it looked juicy and appetizing. So this is what elves eat... Apparently, the vor was exceptional. Each bite burst with umami. The meat was quite springy, adding a fun texture to chew. In no time, Liora had finished the steak and was now sipping a nearly clear soup. The broth, made from the leaves of a carnivorous nt known as "meat leaves," had a rich vorparable to pork bone broth. Each sip made Liora''s throat make a satisfying gulp. She sighed with satisfaction; the deep vor was clearly soothing her mind. Along with the soup, she enjoyed a sd made from meat leaves. It looked like raw meat tossed onto a te but was actually a nt resembling meat. Topped with a white sauce simr to mayonnaise, it enhanced the meatiness, making the vors explode in her mouth. Naturally, Liora didn''t stop eating. She even picked up some bread and elegantly took a bite while enjoying her meal. "Except for the earthworm, everything else looks delicious. Well, even the earthworm looked appetizing... We''ll cut that part out of the video and post it separately with a ''viewer discretion'' warning." In any case, Liora had sessfully replenished her nutrients. As for the food expenses, I''ve been collecting materials from monsters to sell, and my [Alchemy] skills have also been earning us money. After going through the entire menu twice, Liora finally paid the bill. ... We stepped out of the restaurant. The weather outside was wonderful. I squinted against the sunlight. Elnd is not only wide horizontally but also vertically structured. Giant trees here have numerous staircases installed. These trees, ranging from tens to hundreds of meters in height, have spiral staircases wrapped around them, with each branch forming arge pathway. It''s like a shopping mall made of trees, reminiscent of the modern world. You could see many elven families around. It seems like there are more women here, likely because this area was close to defeat before being frozen in time, which might exin this setting. Plus, female characters are more popr for contracts. Everyone wants to befriend a cute girl. Handsome guys are popr too, but the demand leans more towards female characters. It''s a harsh reality. "God..." As I floated above her, Liora looked around curiously and asked, "Where to next? An adventure?" "No, we''re going to check out some equipment. We still need better armor. Let''s get something decent, even if it''s just from a normal shop." "Okay..." "It would be nice if we could find some cute gear. You''ll look even more adorable, Liora." "!?" Liora looked ready to dash off in excitement, but I held her back as we headed to the armor shop. It''s amon theme in these fantasy worlds to find weapon and armor shops in ces that resemble shopping malls. We entered a dwarf''s shop. It''s rare to find a dwarf shop in Elnd. The dwarves are generally small in stature but very muscr. A dwarf with a singed beard approached us for customer service. "Hey there, littledy... You''re dressed quite uniquely. But no worries. I''ve got some great armor here." "I want something strong." "How much are you willing to spend? Usually, someone your age would prioritize weapons, but armor is crucial. As long as you stay alive, you can always get stronger weaponster. The most important thing is good footwear... but it looks like you''re already wearing something pretty high-quality. In that case, let''s get you some lower body armor." Liora emptied her entire pouch of money. The dwarf widened his eyes but then grinned widely. It wasn''t a malicious grin, but a pleased one. "I never expected such a capable adventurer toe into my shop! Usually, people head to the craftsmen''s district for specialized gear, not a ce that has everything." "Is this ce not good?" "No, it''s fine. The adventurers whoe here are usually beginners, not earning much, or they''re weak. My hobby is ensuring they leave here alive. But making gear for someone like you... that''s my real job." With heavy, confident footsteps, the dwarf craftsman disappeared into the back of the shop. When he returned, he was holding a rather cute outfit. I was surprised, as I had expected something more rugged, like leather armor... The dwarf handed it over with a cheerful expression. "Hey, can you appraise this? I heard that spirit-possessed folks have a high chance of being able to appraise things..." "A god can do anything." Continue your adventure with empire "...?" Sorry to disappoint Liora''s faith, but there are many things I can''t do, like telling the truth all the time. I went ahead and appraised the adorable outfit. **Dress of the Great Forest Wind** - Rarity: Create-Epic - Level: 38 - Agility: 30 - Defense: 20 - Durability: 1000 - Skills: [Appearance Maintenance], [Environmental Damage Immunity], [Defense Enhancement 2%], [Minor Fire Resistance] Oh! It has various features and seems like a decent piece of armor. Though it was meant to be lower body armor, the shopkeeper seemed to think a one-piece dress was the best fit. The look is something like a khaki military dress. "What''s this ''Environmental Damage Immunity''?" "The god is asking: What is ''Environmental Damage Immunity''?" "Looks like you did a good job appraising it." The dwarf armor shopkeeper exined, "Lower body armor is crucial for avoiding unnecessary damage or interference. For instance, while walking through thick undergrowth, bugs might get in, or you could get cut by grass. Even at high levels, certain nts can be dangerous. Poisonous ones are the worst." Additionally, there are many traps in dungeons that target your legs, like acid pools or poisonous swamps. This skill would protect against such damage. "Strong." "Indeed, but using it too often will rapidly decrease its durability. Ideally, you''d want to avoid such situations, but it''s excellent as a backup... Also, for women, the ''Appearance Maintenance'' skill is quite useful." The ''Appearance Maintenance'' skill ensures that even if the armor is damaged or torn, its appearance remains intact. The defense and other skills might stop working, though. It''s better than a regeneration skill. "So, will you buy it?" "I''ll buy it." "But... sorry. With all the effort I put in, this money won''t be enough." "That''s all my money. If it''s not enough, I''ll give up." "Hold on! Your scythe is ''Unique,'' right? Sorry, I went ahead and appraised it." Liora nodded. We''vee to ept that appraisals aremon here. Direct appraisals of us are blocked by my title, but items like our weapon are not. The dwarf stroked his beard and said, "I have a personal request for you. It would benefit you too." "What should I do?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "My master lives deep in the Great Forest. This was before the time freeze. Since my master was a High Elf, he is probably still alive. I''d like you to deliver a letter. But unlike before, the threats in the forest have increased. I''m not a fighting dwarf." "I understand. I''ll bring the master here." "No, no, there''s no need to bring him here. I don''t want to be a bother. Just deliver the letter." Liora nodded solemnly. She really wanted that cute armor, knowing I''dpliment her for it. I agreed to take on the quest, so I nodded too. "By the way, I almost forgot to mention this¡­ That scythe of yours seems to be a growth weapon. However, its growth seems to have hit a ceiling. But if it''s my master, he might be able to break through that limit." "Make it stronger?" "Much, much stronger. However, for a unique growth weapon of that level, you''ll need raid-level boss materials every 10 levels. And they have to be rare drops. Do you have any?" "I do." "Just as I thought! If the master is still the same as before, he''ll enjoy working on it¡­ Oh, but the master doesn''t work for free. You''ll need to either earn more money or provide extraordinary materials." Currently, we''re broke from buying this armor. The master will likely need more money. So, it might not be effective to earn it the hard way. "Let''s consider providing materials instead." Fortunately, raid boss materials are resting in the [Item Box]. They seem rare, but they''ve been useless and annoying. Of course, some materials have been used for [Alchemy]¡­ I created freezing potions, attack potions, low-level animal control potions, and charm resistance potions. As for the rest¡­ My condolences. Well, let''s forget the sad parts and enjoy the quest! Chapter 47 The Real World Liora was eager to continue, but I made her take a day off. The reason was that Liora''s armor durability had decreased. While it was being repaired, we couldn''t go on any adventures. We could have used the initial equipment, but that would have been an unnecessary risk. "No. No. No, God¡­ I''m sorry." "Come on, Liora. Calm down." "Ugh¡­ it''s painful." I was about to log out. Since we couldn''t go on an adventure, there was no point in me staying with Liora. In fact, it was better for me to log out so Liora could utilize her [Lonely Resistance] skill. With that skill, even practicing swings gives her a decent amount of experience points. Especially since her skill level is still low, it''s quite effective. The level-up pace slows down after level 50. Liora sat on the inn''s floor, tears streaming down her face. I felt bad, but if I don''t log out, I can''t eat or sleep. "Look, Liora. I''ll respond to your messages as promptly as possible, okay?" "Ugh¡­ I''m sorry, but please be back soon." "There, there, you''re a good girl. You''re a good girl, Liora." After spending three hoursforting Liora, I finally logged out. ¨Œ It almost felt like I hadn''t been in the real world for a while. Since time is elerated in the game world, this feeling isn''t entirely wrong. I got up from the bed and stretched. The mattress I ordered will take a few more days to arrive. I''ve also ordered one for Liora, just in case. As I mentioned earlier, if you pay, you can bring items from this world into the other one. It''s as if the items you purchase online get delivered directly there. It''s a strange feature. To be honest, it''s a rip-off (since you don''t actually receive the items here). Apparently, those who brought in mattresses said that when they tried sitting or lying on them after [Manifesting] them, the sensation was exactly the same as in the real world. So, I''ll gift one to Liora as well. It feels like I''m spoiling a game character, but it''s more like a donation because I''m impressed by the quality of "PHO." I wouldn''t want the service to end. Despite these expenses, I''m actually making a decent amount of money in "PHO." Even setting aside the million rupees from the event, I''m doing well from regr adventures, selling rare drop items that I don''t use. Sometimes, I get an amount equivalent to selling a weapon with really unique abilities. Well, it''s mostly small change, but it''s a huge amount considering it''s money earned from ying. Considering the time eleration, the hourly rate is quite good. "But there''s not much to do in the real world." Reading and watching videos are also possible in the other world if you pay. Lately, I''ve been enjoying such activities while apanying Liora when I have free time. I can''t fully immerse myself in them, though, because if I don''t pay enough attention to Liora, she bes despondent (not just sad). I quickly finished my meal and bath. I''ve never disliked cooking, but I''m not particrly interested in eating. As for bathing, I don''t go out, and I don''t meet anyone, so I keep it to the bare minimum. Even if my neighbores over, it doesn''t really matter. It seems that fixing Liora''s armor will take about three days in the other world. The dwarf said it could have been done the same day if he weren''t busy, but it seems the dwarf is quite upied. That means I have about a full day off here. Just then¡ª "God, God!!" "How much longer? When will youe back, God!?"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om "Liora, rest and sleep." Liora''s email bombardment began. This is already routine, so I sent minimal replies with one hand while deciding to do some light exercise. This apartment building has a gym. I should get some exercise. Staying in bed all the time isn''t good for my body. I don''t like exercising, but it''s better than being forced to die overweight or something. ¡­ After some time spent exercising, I took another shower. "Wow, there really isn''t much to do." In the end, I spent the day focusing on building my strength and preparing tomorrow''s meal. My body was more out of shape than I thought. Since I spend more than half the day sleeping, I realized that I really need to exercise. Honestly, I moved into this apartment because it has more security than any other. I wasn''t interested in the gym, but now it seems convenient. However, I find it annoying when people try to talk to me. I wish the security measures also applied to the residents. I''d rather deal with my neighbor than those kinds of people. --- The sky was pale pink as I brushed my teeth, ate my meal while reading Liora''s bot-like messages, "Haha, I should really go now." Just as I was about to log in, the doorbell rang. "¡­ How annoying." When I opened the door, my neighbor was there with a sad expression, clutching her stomach as she spoke. "Um, did you¡­ make extra breakfast by any chance?" "I told you to stock up, didn''t I?" "I''ve been eating cup noodles morning, noon, and night, continuously! Please, I want to eat something warm, made by a human! Plus, the garbage is piling up infinitely, and there''s no room to step¡­" Stay updated through empire "Why don''t you eat out? You could order delivery. And please don''t let insects infest your ce. They mighte over here." "It''s a hassle¡­ andtely, I''ve been too busy with the game¡­" I sighed deeply. As I was about to go back to my room, my neighbor hastily held the door open. I waved lightly over my shoulder. "I''ll bring you the meal in a box. Eat it at home." "Th-thank you¡­ I''m sorry, as always." "Since you can''t wash it, just leave the box by the door when you''re done. Don''t let it get moldy likest time because you couldn''t wash it." "I-I''m sorry¡­ for everything. Mo¡ªArav." "Did you just start to call me ''Mom''?" I handed the box to my neighbor. It''s not out of kindness, but to avoid having a rotting corpse next door. It''s scary, and it stinks. It''s natural to want to prevent it if possible. ¡­ I might have to go over to clean soon. I really don''t want to deal with insects. Her ce is seriously filthy. I realized this when she once lost some documents and asked me to help her find them. Finally, I can log into the game. Now, let''s head to the forest in Elnd¡­ to its deepest part! Goodbye to the harsh reality. Chapter 48 The Team Up [1] The moment I logged in, Liora noticed my presence immediately. "GOD, Liora was lonely!!!" she cried, clinging to me, her petite body pressing against mine. ''Good thing I''m not into that sort of thing,'' I thought. "Uh-huh, Liora, I missed you too, but this is enough, don''t you think?" I gently pried her off. "Hnnngh, just a little more," she pleaded. When I finally managed to break free, I realized we weren''t at the inn. Instead, we were in an unusually luxurious ce. Despite the wooden structure, the ceiling was incredibly high. In Elnd, "glowing mushrooms" are often used for lighting, but this room boasted a splendid chandelier made from something resembling "semi-transparent bird feathers." The mes inside were real, ignited by magic¡ªa true fantasy setting. "Liora, where are we?" "The royal castle. A weird person insisted wee here. The armored guy told me to go, so¡­ I''m sorry." "No, it''s fine." I understood the situation. I had been invited to the royal castle before but hadn''t bothered to go because it seemed like too much trouble. Dealing with important NPCs feels too much like real life, which is a pain. I never expected the quest to progress on its own if I didn''t show up. Usual game strategies don''t apply here. My favorite method of ignoring annoying side quests¡­isn''t possible, it seems. In many open-world games, getting involved often leads to a bad ending, though it can be interesting in its own way. "So, that armor shop guy was a royal family member? What''s happening now?" "That strange princess keeps bringing sweets!" "Sweets?" As I tilted my head, a maid opened the door. Behind the enormous door, the princess appeared, holding a te of sweets. The maid seemed flustered, clearly wanting to carry the te herself. The princess, smiling brightly, ced the sweets on the table. "Here you go, Lady Liora! Please enjoy these as well!" "Now that God has arrived, I''ll take my leave." "Oh my! Lord Nero! I''ve been proposing something to Lady Liora that she hasn''t been willing to consider." This sounds like another bothersome quest. However, I''m familiar with the princess''s personality. As long as it''s not too troublesome, I might as well hear her out. I prompted the princess to speak. "I''ve been officially recognized as a user of the [Goddess of Mercy]. However, I''m still under-leveled, so I can''t fully unleash its power. Therefore, I''d like to form a party and gain experience." ¡­What should I do about this? If it''s just adding one more NPC, it wouldn''t be too much of a burden. She seems to have at least minimal skills, and if she has a powerful divine artifact, even better. It would also increase Liora''s safety. However, it''s unlikely the princess woulde alone. If the butler joins us, I''d have to refuse. That would mean Rere woulde along, and I really don''t want that. It''s not that I dislike Rere; I just find dealing with people exhausting. I still haven''t been able to cancel the forced friend registration from an earlier event. I wouldn''t mind being disliked, but my conscience keeps getting in the way. Isn''t it wrong to delete someone''s contact info? Without any valid reason? When I deleted a work contact and changed my number, I felt more fear than relief. I''m quite a coward, aren''t I? Ah¡­ I wish I could cleanly cut all my human rtionships¡­ The one I want to cut most right now is with my neighbor. I wish they would at least clean up on their own. I had Liora ask. "The god says, if Rere isn''ting, we''ll ept." "Oh my! That''s perfect. The butler is high-level, after all. Forming a party with him would make the experience points less efficient." By the way, why isn''t the princess a spirit-bearer? Unless they''re very entric, most people would ept a contract with a spirit since it only offers benefits, especially someone like the princess who fights regrly. Yet few of the people around her, other than the butler, have contracts. When I had Liora ask, this was the response we got. "The spirit that tried to contract with me¡­ it was, um, rather improper¡­" "Improper?" "I-it kept talking about my b-breasts, saying they were, um, erotic, or that it wanted to lick my face, and so on¡­" Ah¡­ It was probably a yer who got carried away and harassed her. Most of the spirits in Elnd were contracted by the second wave of yers. They didn''t realize how intelligent the NPCs in this game are. Or perhaps they just thought, "It''s just an NPC," and let loose. I can understand the feeling. You can say things to game characters or 2D characters that you would never say to real people. Even idols, who are as distant as 2D characters, sometimes get treated that way on social media. But I don''t use social media, so it''s not something I worry about. "Because of that, I''ve avoided contracting with a spirit, and those around me have refrained as well to avoid offending me. It''s hard to tell one spirit from another, after all." "What about the butler?" "He made a contract before I was approached." "I see." That seems to be the situation. I''m relieved that it wasn''t anything too oundish. At least she''s not a die-hard anti-spirit person. Anyway, if it''s just forming a party, that''s fine. After discussing how to divide the loot (apparently, they are fine with us taking 100%), we headed deeper into Elnd. ¨Œ "Take this!" The princess shouted as she struck the head of a Forest Goblin with her long staff. The staff burst into mes, and the goblin vanished without a trace. It seems the princess can handle closebat as well. She frequently uses that explosive staff art. Wiping the sweat from her brow, she shed a bright smile. "How was it, Lady Liora!? Did you see me in action?" "¡­I wasn''t watching." "No way!" By the time the princess had defeated one goblin, Liora had already taken down five. They were pesky enemies that used both magic and arrows. The goblins had a fairly high leve", so Liora went for the quick kill. Liora pulled out the arrow stuck in her shoulder. The poison had already been neutralized, and the wound quickly healed thanks to [Regeneration].n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om She hadn''t bothered to dodge to ensure a swift attack, but it still looked quite painful. "My clothes, they''re fine." Though her military dress had been torn, it didn''t show any signs of damage. The [Appearance Maintenance] skill seems to be quite useful. Meanwhile, the elf who hade along as a bodyguard¡ªa female elf wielding knives¡ªwas bent over, breathing heavily, unable to hide her exhaustion. A few drops of sweat dripped to the ground. "Let''s¡­ let''s take a break¡­ shall we¡­?" "Again¡­?" "Please¡­ I beg you¡­ huff, huff." The princess also looked troubled. The elf escorting us seems to have very little stamina. It feels like she''s holding us back, but I suspect she''s just pretending. She''s probably a scout type. Or maybe she has stats suited for an assassin. The reason my [Appraisal] failed is that royal guards are equipped with items that interfere with it¡­ However, it wouldn''t be surprising If she were at a higher level than us. She''s likely using the breaks to scout ahead. Samurai hasn''t fully matured as a scout yet, so this helps. "Let''s rest, Liora. In the meantime, let''s review what you have aplished while I was gone, okay?" "Yes! I worked hard!" "If your skill levels have improved nicely, maybe I can leave you alone a bit more often." "A-aahh¡­ no¡­ uuh¡­ ooh¡­ g-gwaahhh¡­ aaahhhh. No!!! God wahh, please don''t leave me wahhh!!!" "Lady Liora!!?! What happened, why are you crying?" "It was a joke, Liora! Just a joke! I''m joking, okay?" I meant to tease her a little, but Liora''s emotions got all tangled up, thinking her hard work was going to backfire on her. I should avoid ying around with Liora. She''s already been subjected to enough role-ying. I should be gentle with her. I should spoil her. I became flustered as Liora started to cry out of control. After finally convincing her, I took a look at our current situation. [Zephyr has leveled up] [Zephyr''s Dark Magic has leveled up] [Zephyr''s Darkness Creation has leveled up] [Zephyr''s Dark Aura has leveled up] [Zephyr''s Regeneration has leveled up] [Zephyr''s Appraisal has leveled up] [Zephyr''s Item Box has leveled up] [Liora has leveled up] [Liora''s Scythe Technique has leveled up] [Liora''s Moonlight Scythe Technique has leveled up] [Liora''s Landscaping Skill has leveled up] [Liora''s Light Magic has leveled up] [Liora''s sh Magic has leveled up] [Liora''s Loneliness Resistance has leveled up] [Liora''s Shrine Maiden has leveled up] [Liora''s Summoning has leveled up] [Liora''s Chant Extension has leveled up] [Liora''s Angel''s Factor has leveled up] It seems everything has increased, except for Samurai and my Alchemy skills. Despite not being on the battlefield, these results are quite impressive. How long has it been? Three days, maybe? It seems Liora has been practicing her swings and testing her skills, holed up in the guild''s training grounds. Let''s take a closer look at the status. Name: [Zephyr] Gender: [Male] Level: [50] Race: [Dark Spirit] Magic: [Dark Magic 57] Craft: [Alchemy 18] Skills: [Regeneration 38], [Appraisal 17], [Darkness Creation 55], [Dark Aura 38], [Enemy Resistance Reduction], [Item Box 12], [Adversity Enhancement], [Fatal Avoidance], [Skill Not Set] Stats: Attack [250], Magic Attack [250], Durability [250], Agility [250], Luck [250] [Gift of Venom] Title: [Voice of the Deceiving God], [Ruler of the Tragic ys] Chapter 49 Finding the Eleven Smith I have also reached level 50, which isn''t surprising given the experience gained from the catbs'' battles. The most remarkable increases are in Dark Aura and Item Box, both of which are difficult to level up, yet they improved significantly. Especially Dark Aura, which usually requires hitting multiple targets during battle, leveled up independently. Perhaps she dragged some guild members into it. Unless activated with Arts, Dark Aura is merely a malevolent, high-consumption skill with no real effect. I''ll think about the skillster; the main focus should be on Liora. Name: [Liora] Gender: [Female] Level: [51] Race: [High Human] Job: [Apostle] Magic: [sh Magic 31], [Light Magic 61] Craft: [Landscaping 28] Skills: [Loneliness Resistance 50], [Scythe Technique 59], [Summoning 31], [Shrine Maiden 48], [Chant Extension 28], [Moonlight Scythe Technique 25], [Angel''s Factor 10] Stats: Attack [156], Magic Attack [379], Durability [282], Agility [381], Luck [319] Title: [Mortal Sin: Murderer] Unique Skill: [Lethal de], [Shadow of Death] Despite not having been inbat, this level of increase is exceptional. Liora''s strengths are numerous, but Loneliness Resistance seems to be a particrly noteworthy benefit. However, even with Loneliness Resistance, it''s meaningless without effort. There are several Arts avable to acquire now. I n to consider them gradually, but first, let''s obtain the Angel''s Factor Art. This skill has only eleven Arts: one at level 1, and then one every 10 levels, so all eleven can be acquired. The order might be important, but there''sfort in knowing that I can get them all. Without overthinking or investigating, I''ll just go ahead and choose one. ''Here we go!'' The newly acquired Art is called "Blessed Wing." When Liora dered its use, a single wing appeared behind her, extending diagonally upward from her right side. Rather than a wing, it feels more like a semi-transparent de. It doesn''t look biological, more like something mechanical or artificial. It''s a strange feeling. "Oh! More blessings from the gods!" Liora, delighted, tries to look at her own wing, spinning around like a dog chasing its tail. How cute. I''ll record this too. Whether or not I''ll post it is uncertain, but if I do, it might be titled "Liora Chasing Her Wing." After resting, we proceeded deeper into the forest. In an ordinary forest, we''d have to worry about ambushes from behind trees, but the trees here are so tall that there are no hiding spots. Though, we must always stay vignt of the sky. "Let''s go." About ten spiders appeared. Upon using Appraisal, I found their level to be 53¡ªrtively high. Additionally, they possess a dreadful skill called Egg Shot. We need to be cautious while killing them. Liora was about to rush forward but first unleashed a Shining sh infused with Lethal de. The attack effortlessly killed the spider, but a swarm of baby spiders erupted from its belly. Yikes! Unfazed, Liora dashed toward the horde of baby spiders. Using a double jump, a skill from her shoes, shended right in the center of the swarm. Amid the mass of baby spiders, Liora unleashed Shining Burst. Wiped out. All the spiders were wiped out. Before even confirming the results, Liora had already shed at another spider. She decapitated it, and just like before, a horde of baby spiders burst from its belly. I activated Dark Aura on Liora and applied all avable Arts. Along with numerous status ailments, the instant death effect of Scythe Technique, which rarely manifests, was triggered. The weak baby spiders died instantly from the instant death effect. "Liora¡ª!" "I know, Samurai." As the spider''s horde turned its belly toward Liora, my fear that they might actually do it was realized. The spiders unleashed Egg Shot. A hail of baby spider bullets fired from all directions. Samurai blocked them. She transformed her body into an octopus-like shape, shielding Liora by wrapping her arms around her. The baby spiders directly hit Samurai. Although she took significant damage, Samurai, being a mimic, had a massive HP pool. In recognition of Liora''s eptance of a clear "death" during battle, I assigned Samurai as her bodyguard. Her durability is indeed monstrous. From the gap in her tendrils, Liora peeked out the Withered Branch of All Things. If it''s about magic attacks, this should be the main focus as it provides more firepower. She received it as a sub-weapon. A sh of light burst from the long staff. The spell she used was Lightning Snipe, a new Art from Light Magic. This Art is a sniping magic. The MP cost is high, but it delivers strong firepower and allows for long-range attacks. Furthermore, it has a headshot mechanic that increases damage when it hits the head. The spider''s head exploded. Liora returned the staff to the sub-weapon slot and regripped her scythe. With a dance and a jump, she closed the distance and delivered a spinning sh with her scythe imbued with Death''s Guiding de. The sh dealt significant damage to three spiders. Although it was a critical hit, it wasn''t an instant kill because the Head Hunt skill didn''t apply. The severely injured spiders lunged at Liora. Liora escaped their attack with sh and then unleashed Shining de. The weakened spiders were eradicated, along with the baby spiders in their bellies. "I''ll fight too!" The princess rushed in, sweeping her staff upward. "[Staff Technique] Art: [Scooping Up]!" The spider was flung into the air, its legs iling as it was suspended in the sky. The princess dyed her staff red with the glimmer of magic power. "It''s safe to use this in the sky, right?¡ª[Empress re]!" A st of mes shot at the spider''s belly. After piercing through, the spider''s body was incinerated. "It''s over, huff¡­ huff¡­ so tired¡­" Thest spider was taken down by the elven guard. Properbat can be exhausting. Although there was no real danger... The biggest risk was probably the princess setting the forest on fire. I''ve heard that the trees in this area are hard to burn, but we still need to be careful."Levels may be rising, but... my skill levels aren''t improving." Since then, the elf''s guard has be more enthusiastic. It started after they witnessed Liora''s [Snipe Lightning]. The elf''s guard¡ªSicily¡ªestablished a tactic where she would scout for enemies, and Liora would perform long-range sniping. They formed a good pair. More than Liora and elf princess. Currently, Liora has a permanent buff of "significantly increased critical damage" thanks to the effect of [Heavenly Wing], obtained from the [Angel''s Factor]. Additionally, this art has the effect of "instantly killing enemies with less than 5% HP." Thetter effect aside, the former greatly enhances [Snipe Lightning]. She lines up her long staff like a sniper rifle, aiming and shooting. Since it''s light, there''s no sound, and the head of an ogre in the distance is blown off. With the sudden death of one of their group, the ogres notice us. Another head is blown off. The ogres run at us with desperate expressions, but at this distance, it seems their best move would have been to flee. One dies, another sustains a wound to the abdomen. One''s leg is shattered, and another loses its head. "Shall we fight?" "Y-Yes! That''s why we''re here!" The princess, with mes infused in her staff, begins to run, but Sicily reaches the ogres first. She''s no longer hiding her high level, is she? She clings to the back of an ogre and slices its neck with a dagger. It''s coated in paralyzing poison. As the ogre falls to its knees, the princess smashes her staff into its face. An explosion of mes follows,pletely depleting the ogre''s HP. "Whoa!" An ogre that had survived tried to m a rock about the size of a vending machine into the princess. She blocks it with a barrier of me magic, and as the ogre reels back from the impact, she ms her staff into its groin. ¡ªExplosion.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Aaaah! The ogre rolls its eyes, foams at the mouth, and its HP drops to zero. The princess finishes off the remaining enemies who had been immobilized by Liora''s sniping. "Not bad. This is easier than going solo." "Mhm... yes! Your decision was great, divine being!" "Haha, yes, that''s right." Liora has high endurance and can handle everything on her own. With the support roles of myself and Samurai, she possesses a strength that would beplete even as a solo yer. To defeat her, one would need the strength of a max-level character. However, long-term expeditions are still dangerous. When facing multiple enemies, she inevitably resorts to a forceful fighting style, relying on [Regeneration] and [HP Regen]. If we increase our numbers, we''ll simply be able to hold our own against multiple foes. ''it''s an MMO, after all. It''s natural for solo y to be tough. The difficulty is likely intended for party-based or team-basedbat.'' It seems having reliablepanions is necessary. ying with other yers is a hassle, but for Liora''s safety and a smoother game experience, it''s wiser topromise. Chapter 50 Fighting against the wolf Moreover the team we have made only has NPCs. I''ve formed a raid party before, and joining a party doesn''t mean I''ll die. "Divine being!" While I was pondering the friend issue, Liora called out. She was pointing to an old cabin.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om I check the map. It seems this is indeed our destination. The elf princess, Remeria, also has a proud expression. It''s apparently the home of an elven cksmith. An elf with an apprentice of the dwarf race, known for their cksmithing. No wonder she''s proud. Liora follows the princess toward the cabin. The princess calls out to it. "Brother! It''s me, Remeria." "Brother?" "Yes, my third brother." "You have many siblings." "Yes, many." Then, from the cabin, a frail elf with a beard covering his face, much like a dwarf, emerges. "¡­Has the time freeze been lifted? Come in." "Brother, is that all you have to say for our emotional reunion?" "Hundreds of years pass quickly when you''re cksmithing. For you too, it must have felt like only a few days." "That''s true, but still¡­" "That weapon¡ªis it a divine artifact? Did he die." At the bearded elf''s words, the princess stiffens. Seeing her reaction, the bearded elf lets out a heartyugh. Augh so boisterous, it doesn''t seem elven at all. "Dohohoho! He really protected it! The divine artifact! Alone, against the Demon King''s army! For hundreds of years! So, how was that greatsword he used?" "A weapon that didn''t break even after hundreds of years! I''m proud as his brother!! It''s proof that he mastered it." The princess looks conflicted. For her, it may have felt like a moment, but for him, most of his life was spent in the depths of a dark grave. A time gap that can''t be bridged by regret. The elven prince, who could only be saved by being killed. "Did you know?" "Of course. I met him twice. The first time was when I entered the catbs, wondering ''What happened to the divine artifact?'' The second time was when I went to deliver a weapon to him." "Didn''t you help him?" "I''m a cksmith. Besides, he didn''t want it. The first time I met him, he said, ''Aren''t you being tailed? You might attract troublesome enemies, don''te back.''" He seems like a rather difficult brother. He must have regretted not being able to help in time. In the end, he was able to pass it on to his sister, so it turned out well, even if it''s just a game scenario. We lost the resurrection potion, but I can ept that. After a bout of heartyughter, the bearded elf wipes away a single tear from his eye. His thin, branch-like body suddenly seems to shrink even further. "So, who''s the girl? My guest? She''s overkill as your guard. You can fight yourself, and Sicily''s with you too." "She''s someone I acknowledge as a hero." "Oh¡­ So you''re the one who took down my Brother? Then I owe you. That scythe of yours¡­ I''ll appraise it for free, just this once." A thin, frail body. However, the aura he exudes as a master craftsman is enough to send shivers down your spine. No wonder that dwarf armorer looked up to him. With a gulp, Liora hesitantly offers the scythe. "¡­A special drop from Helmut? Interesting stats. Even at level 10, the skills alone make it top-tier. Now, let''s see how it can evolve." The elven master cksmith grinned ferociously. Inside the small hut, there was only a straw mattress. There was nothing else. It was less a cramped space and more like a ce where even a prisoner in solitary confinement might live more luxuriously. However, that wasn''t our destination. The bearded elf, Gauche, stomped on the floor, revealing a hidden passage. He started descending the stairs, and Liora and the others followed behind. Our destination was said to be a forge. A forge underground¡­ how fantastical. The ce we arrived at was filled with an array of unfamiliar tools. It made one question if these were truly cksmithing tools. The bearded elf moved with a slight sway. "The act of forging iron has surpassed mere dimensions. A magical cksmith''s craft goes beyond the ordinary. I negotiate with the materials, offer sacrifices, and make them obey my will." "Huh?" "In short, Liora, how do you want your scythe, Shadow of Death? Should it cut better? Be unbreakable? Do you want it to have special powers?" "Should it be enveloped in mes? Automaticallytch onto enemies? Lighter? Heavier? Life-giving? Death-bringing? Or increase its attack power? Specialize in magic attacks? Or focus on supportive effects?" Gauche asked, offering a hell lot of choices. Liora looked at me. However, Gauche didn''t allow that. "Don''t ask the spirit! It''s your weapon. It''s something you hold! You must decide with your own mouth, with your own will, or it''ll turn into a failure worse than any dull de!" "Not a spirit, A GOD!!" "Huh?" Despite being scolded, Liora calmly responded. I couldn''t help but admire and find her courage adorable. Liora is invincible. Completely ignoring Gauche, she still seemed to seek my opinion. Although I didn''t fully understand, I decided to have her follow Gauche''s lead. "Liora, decide for yourself. That way, I''ll enjoy it more." "U-Uhm¡­ I wanted the god to decide¡­ But I''ll decide myself." "If you make a proper decision, I''ll stay with you five minutes longer than usual today." "Wow, five more minutes together¡­ Is this really happening?" I couldn''t help but feel really guilty. Maybe I should splurge and stay six minutes longer¡­ No, but if I don''t sleep in real life, I''ll die. I still need to eat and relieve myself! After that, Liora sat down and began to ponder, mumbling "hmm, hmm." After a while, she stood up and made a decision. With a deration, she said, "Everything from before." "Huh¡­ wait, all of it?" Gauche, losing track of even his own character, swung his head frantically, trying to stop Liora. "No, no, no! Listen, Liora. There are things I can and can''t do, and your weapon has limits too, you know? Understand?" "Can''t do it?" "Even your dark spirit has limits, right? It''s like that." "God has no limits, and it''s not a dark spirit. You can do it or not?" "¡­I don''t want to say I can''t." "Alright. Then I''ll ask that armor shop." Enjoy exclusive chapters from empire "Armor shop¡­? Could it be Tex? That guy can''t even unlock it." At that, Liora murmured "Ah" and handed over a letter from her pocket. "That''s the request. It''spleted. I''m leaving." "Wait, wait, wait! I understand! I''ll do my best to meet your desires. But it has to be gradual. A unique weapon at that level must be unlocked every 10 levels." "¡­Understood." Gauche heaved a sigh of relief. He then examined Shadow that Feeds on Death with some mysterious tools, running a steeldle along the de and cutting into a lump of strange y. After a while, the magical cksmith nodded and handed the scythe back to Liora. "Well, in any case, I should see you in action. Go outside, Liora." The bearded elf spoke as if inviting her to a fight. ¨Œ Deep within the great forest. The elf, now clean-shaven and with his disheveled hair tied with thread, said, "I''ve raised my summoning technique to 100. I also possess skills that support it. Probably, among the human race at present, there hasn''t been a summoner born who surpasses me." "Are you strong?" "Fairly strong¡­ I can tell you''re strong just by looking at you. That''s why the creature I''m about to summon is dangerous. It''s okay to lose, but give it your all." "I won''t lose." "That''s the best oue. ¡ªCome forth, Wind Elemental High Wolf!" At the end of Gauche''s conjuring, a gigantic wolf with lush green fur appeared. Whirlwinds constantly surrounded it, resembling a small-scale tornado. Let''s appraise it. Name: River Gender: Female Level: 99 Race: Wind Elemental High Wolf Magic: Gale Magic 99 Crafting: Mining 99 Skills: Beast Body 99 Fang and w Arts 99 Ambush 99 Magic Body 99 Physical Enhancement 89 Luck Enhancement 67 Wind Enhancement 95 Roar Arts 99 Armor 99 Stats: Attack: 990 Magic Attack: 990 Endurance: 198 Agility: 1485 Luck: 495 Title: Spirit Eater Unique Skill: Gale w It looks pretty strong. Its stats are definitely boss-level. It''s a big wolf that controls the wind, and its agility being significantly higher is a concern. Liora readied herself with Shadow of Death She had already activated the buffs she could use¡ªHeavenly Ring, Heavenly Wing, and Moonlight Scythe technique. The scythe was also imbued with Head Hung and Soul Steal. "I''ll crush you." ''AAOOOOOOHH!'' The wind wolf howled, causing its body to glow. In the next moment, a massive bullet-like force sent Liora flying. That bullet was the wolf itself. It had charged at her using Gale Magic and Roar Arts to enhance its body,bined with a surprise attack. Liora''s HP was reduced by 90% in an instant, but it was fully restored with Regeneration. "Is that all?" Chapter 51 Defeated And Commissioned ''¡­!'' "Now it''s my turn." At the moment of the wolf''s charge, Liora chose to attack rather than evade. Although the damage was slight, she managed to inflict some with Shining de and [sh] yed important role. With the wolf''s agility now debuffed and Liora unscathed except for her MP, the initial strike was surprisingly in Liora''s favor. "sh¡ª" A blinding darkness. Immediately following, she used the Divine Dance arts to close the distance rapidly, nullifying the wolf''s reaction with the Enemy resistance reduction. Her scythe shed at the wolf''s leg, spilling blood. The attack didn''t end there. Liora continued with a series of blows, moving as if she were dancing. ''¡ª¡ª!'' The wind wolf activated a spell. It increased the output of the wind armor that had been covering its body. The sudden surge caused Liora to lose her bnce, and in that moment, the wolf''s sharp ws shed at her. Even though her body was injured, Liora countered with her scythe. The wolf, eyes wide, roared and applied a buff before standing up on its hind legs. It seemed to have chosen to engage in a direct melee. The shes of shes repeated multiple times. Despite being sliced across her entire body, Liora continued fighting with a crazed intensity. The sheer ferocity of the battle caused Gauche, who had initiated the fight, to groan. "What is this? Why go this far¡­ It''s just a test!" Gauche''s words didn''t reach Liora. She swung her scythe wildly, yet her attacks, though fierce, were not sloppy. They were like the graceful yet insatiable feast of an angel, much like how she looked when eating¡ªelegant, silent, and full of poise, never stopping, yet wild in her hunger. Dripping blood from her mouth, Liora shouted. "More! More! With a stronger weapon, I can be with the god even more.'' Liora stomped the ground hard. "I won''t lose to you!" Leaping into the air, Liora instantly positioned herself above the wind wolf. With Razor Wind''s effects at their peak, she changed the de she wielded to Soul Steal. Raising her scythe, ''Aaon!'' But the wolf had anticipated this move and unleashed a wind sh above without even looking. It seemed to be some sort of art from Gale Magic. In midair, Liora seemed defenseless¡ªbut not entirely. Magic Boots [Winged Boots] ¨C Rarity: Epic Level: 58 Agility: 70 Durability: 1000 Skills: [Safety Shoes], [Aerial Leap], [HP Boost 2%] The effect of this equipment is [Aerial Leap]. Liora stepped on an invisible tform in mid-air, allowing her to jump even higher. As she did, the wind de grazed the soles of her feet. "¡ª!?" "[Moonlight Scythe Arts! ]. [Head Hunt!]" In a swift aerial spin, Liora drove the scythe, into the neck of the Wind Wolf! Liora mmed her scythe into the Wind Wolf. As expected from a level 99 summoned beast, it didn''t die instantly. Instead, it thrashed wildly, flinging Liora''s slender frame away. I deliberately refrained from providing support this time. I wanted to observe Liora''s movements. The most I did was lend her a [Regeneration] skill. With my [Dark Aura], she could have fought more aggressively, but that skill is tricky to use since its effect onlysts an instant. "...ept your death, dog." "Awoooo!" "Sorry, wolf." Mid-air, Liora switched her scythe to a sniper rifle position and unleashed a barrage of [Snipe Light] spells. Attempting a sniping attack from this distance is reckless. True to its name, the Wind Wolf dodged nimbly, swaying left and right like a swift breeze. It then leaped beside Liora, swinging its ws at her. A massive blow seemed inevitable. Without changing her expression, Liora took the hit to her stomach while slicing through the wolf''s eye with her scythe. "Awo!?" The impact sent Liora rolling across the ground. However, without bothering to heal, she charged forward. The enemy hadn''t yet recovered from the shock and pain of having its eye shed. The scythe came crashing down. "HEAD HUNT!!!" "AW-!!!?" It was over. ¨Œ Liora has the [Heaven''s Ring], which effectively doubles her HP. Normally, even a fatal wound wouldn''t stop her. Even if it had been a fatal blow, she has [Fatal Evasion] and [Adversity Strengthening] to rely on. Yet, she secured aplete victory without resorting to those trump cards. Even though the Wind Wolf was boss-level, the battle was heavily in Liora''s favor. The Wind Wolf''s critical mistake was engaging in closebat and having its legs crippled by [Shining de]. Well, it was the Wind Wolf''s fault for not possessing the [Appraisal] skill. It was foolish to face off against someone with [Regeneration] without any means of countering it.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "The final," Gosh murmured in frustration. "The final sniping spell? What was the purpose of that? I didn''t think it would hit." "It was trying to charge forward the whole time. It wanted to create distance by knocking me away. So, I prevented it from attacking in a straight line." "...I see. You fought with that level of understanding?" "Huh?" What could this mean? The princess, indifferent to my dilemma, tilted her head and asked, "What do you mean?" "It''s the wolf''s unique skill," Gosh replied. Once again, he summoned the deceased Wind Wolf and demonstrated its unique skill. The Wind Wolf''s unique skill¡ª[Wind w]. The Wind Wolf dashed forward at incredible speed, likely enhanced by a powerful speed buff from [Wind Magic]. In seconds, it covered a hundred meters and used the momentum and weight of its body to tear through a massive tree with its ws. The tree, easily a hundred meters tall, fell with a tremendous crash. "It''s a unique skill that adds the distance and speed it runs to the power of its ws. It''s rare tond a perfect hit, but most opponents are killed by it. Once it realized Liora was a stamina-type fighter, it kept trying to use that skill." "And Lady Liora figured that out in such a short time?" "She must be a genius at this kind of battle." Ignoring the brother and sister''s conversation, Liora approached me. Her childlike, innocent manner as she tottered over was in stark contrast to the blood-soaked, deathly figure she had been during the battle. "You did well, Liora. It was wonderful." "! Wonderful... Ehehe. I am wonderful! And God is even more wonderful! Yes!" "Well, I have been impressed. This will be a great weapon in my hands." "Yes!" Although I couldn''t grant Liora''s every wish, it was reassuring to know she wouldn''t be weaker than she already was. Gauche stroked his smooth chin and then reached out. "This scythe, [Shadow of Death]... I''m thinking of first changing its attack power increase to a magic attack power increase. Liora''s main attack is a fusion skill of magic and weapon techniques, right? And it deals damage based on magic attack power." "Yes." "Don''t expect any changes to its special skills. It''s difficult to alter those." Gauche carefullyid the [Shadow of Death] on the ground and began touching it with some tools. He continued for several minutes before looking up at us. "Show me all the materials you have." Your journey continues at empire I began taking out the event raid boss reward materials from my [Item Box]. Most of what I picked were items too valuable to turn into potions or sell. Eventually, Gauche picked up a material from the Cursed World Tree. "This is good! It might turn into a cursed weapon, but Liora''s strong light attribute should counterbnce that. I''ll strengthen it..." With that, he disappeared into his workshop, leaving us behind. We were left in the deepest part of the Elnd Great Forest. Liora''s main scythe had been taken from her. Before we knew it, monsters, drawn by the sounds of the previous battle, began to gather around us. The princess and Cicily readied their weapons. Liora, looking troubled, nced around before timidly clenching her fists. "No, no, no!" I handed Liora the [Cursed Branch of All Things] from my [Item Box]. Liora, who received my support, smiled happily. She must have felt lonely without my support during the previous battle. Very well. For this battle, I''ll provide extensive support. ¨Œ It''s been three hours since then. Monsters continue to appear endlessly. The more we defeat, the more the scent of blood, the dying cries of beasts, and the smell of flesh attract more monsters. "My MP... has run out! And we''re out of potions too!" "Haa, haa... I''m honestly at my limit too." "Step back." I tossed the princess an MP potion from my [Item Box] (it only restores a small amount, enough for basic self-defense) and followed after Liora as she dashed forward. Liora isn''t the type of girl to stop fighting just because she lost her main weapon. She used the Art [sh] to close the distance. As she smashed the enemy''s face with her staff, she activated [Sniping Light]. A forced headshot created a hole in the monster''s face. When monsters attacked from all directions, she countered them with [Shining de]. She then fired the fast-casting [Hound Lightning] at distant enemies. I added poison with [Gift of Venom]. That damage was enough to bring down the enemy. "I do use poison quite a bit... but in high-level battles, there aren''t many opportunities." There''s little point in afflicting weaklings with status effects, and strong foes often have resistances. There aren''t many opportunities to use it. Well, it was effective against Helmut, so it''s worth it. "Now, Liora. Let''s continue fighting without letting our guard down." "God! Yes...!" "You seem happy, Liora." "Fighting with God is fun!" "I''m d to hear that." The samurai was in charge of guarding the princess and Cicily. It''s great that we could focus solely on rampaging. In an MMO, isn''t it normal to fight for hours to level up? We moved on to the next battle. Chapter 52 Evolved Weapon ''¡­When is this going to end!?'' In front of the old, almost ruined hut, countless shadows are dancing. It''s already night. Several hours have passed since then. Despite Liora having the [Regeneration] skill, her movements are noticeably sluggish due to fatigue. In fact, it might be better for me to log out to activate the [Loneliness Resistance]¡ªbut since Princess and the others are here, it may not activate. Normally, with the great scythe skills, [Life Steal] and [Soul Steal] would provide endless stamina. But she don''t have those right now. Although [Regeneration] does help with fatigue recovery, it isn''t enough. "Are you okay, Liora?" "Yes!" "You seem to be in good spirits¡­ at least." Her movements have slowed, but her spirits remain high. In fact, the longer this goes on, the happier she seems. Well, we''re fighting during what would usually be logout time. In other words, my game time today has been unusually long. It seems Liora has noticed this. "I wish this time would just go on forever." "A berserker, in every sense." But even if her spirits are high, her physical limits are still there. It''s my job to manage that. As monsters approach, Liora momentarily reacts too slowly. I throw an exploding potion, which damages the monsters. Liora seems to understand this. She shes through the monsters with [Shining de]. "¡­Maybe I should get a new skill." My level has reached 50 during this battle, meaning I have an extra skill slot now. Acquiring a skill that could change the current situation might be a good idea. Or perhaps a new art. I haven''t acquired the art for reaching level 50 in [Dark Magic]. There''s actually an HP absorption magic art avable, but its practicality is unclear. Besides, Liora already has ample healing options. Moreover, [Darkness Creation] is useful for debuffs and action inhibition, and I don''t find thetter hard to manage. Despite my indecision, the monsters'' assault continues. Unseen insects with high realism in this game are quite unsettling. Liora keeps attacking steadily. She uses her agility and magical arts to attack. The spells cause her to stiffen momentarily, which can be troublesome. "¡­?" For a brief moment, a monster''s attack grazes Liora. This alone causes her body to stiffen, and she falls to the ground. Her mouth twitches. Is this¡­ paralysis? A spider, dripping with venom from its fangs, ambushes from the trees. Liora, paralyzed and unable to move or chant spells, is vulnerable. "[Dark Ball]" I deploy [Dark Ball], which slows the spider down slightly. I then use [Darkness creation] to send the spider back into the tree, like an action star performing rope tricks. "Ugh! Revive!" The monsters are now very close, but Liora has recovered from the paralysis. She avoids using arts and maneuvers through the enemies using only her physical skills. The increased proficiency in [Shrine Maiden] helps with her agility. She swiftly exits the swarm of monsters and discards an explosive potion. Explosion. At the same time, I use [Darkness Creation] to create a smoke screen. I fly up into the air and ry the enemy positions to Liora. Amid the veil of darkness, Liora''s sniping reliably takes down the enemies. ¨Œ After an additional five hours of fighting, we''ve fully experienced the terror of this vast forest. Princess and Sicilly, who have recovered naturally, alternate between joining the fray and taking breaks. During the intense battle: "Devour them all¡ª[Ouroboros]!"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Gauche appears from the underground forge, chanting. From his right arm emerges a massive poisonous snake that swallows the surrounding monsters whole. The enemies focusing on Liora are helplessly devoured. "What''s the matter? Why aren''t you resting in the forge? Leveling up?" "Monsters entered the house." "¡­I should have mentioned that there are anti-monster items inside. Oh, and the secret passages could only be opened by me¡­ I think? How was it?" "?" "Never mind¡­ I got caught up in the work and forgot. Sorry. It''s been hundreds of years since I met someone else, so I didn''t consider it. Sorry for not asking, but you guys are okay right?" "Yes." "Then it''s not a problem." Gauche throws a great scythe to Liora. She catches it but seems surprised by its lighter weight. She swings the scythe repeatedly. "It''s light. Feels good." A lighter weapon means less attack power, but since Liora fights with critical damage rather than raw firepower, the improved handling results in higher effective damage. Let''s check it. Great Scythe [Shadow of Death] ¨C Rarity [Unique] Level [10] ¨C Life Stock [487] Magic Attack Power [100] ¨C Durability [230] Skills [Restoration] [Soul Eater] [Magic Damage Increase ¨C Minor] Oh. It has indeed transformed into a magic attack power weapon. This is quite impressive. It''s like turning a scythe''s capabilities into a staff''s. Despite keeping its scythe ssification. Liora grins. She can finally show her full potential. She was cornered and exhausted because shecked this weapon. In fact, it''s surprising she managed with just secondary weapons until now. From here on, Liora''s rampage began.Liorapletely exterminated the area. Over a radius of several hundred meters, every monster was killed by her alone. When she beheaded thest monster, Liora had a slightly sad expression. Is she still not satisfied with the killing? ¨Œ Gauche is sitting dejectedly. His swollen cheeks are the result of a p from the princess. It seems he''s aware of his mistake and, despite being the eldest among us¡ªhaving lived for several hundred years¡ªhe''s behaving like a scolded child. Even though he''s a former member of royalty. He must have been the type to get so absorbed in his work that he ignored everything around him, which is why he could spend hundreds of years focusing on cksmithing in the depths of this forest. It appears he''s already publicly renounced his royal status, but it raises suspicions that he was forced to do so. Actually, I''m somewhat like him in that regard, so criticizing him feels like criticizing myself. "I''m sorry¡­ Ipletely forgot," Gauche says. Liora shakes her head. "It''s fine. I had more time with the gods. You should havee eventer." "Is that so?" Liora seems downcast. I''m genuinely starting to feel sleepy. Even though it''s necessary, maintaining focus for over ten hours is like torture for a human. It''s enough to make even the most notorious ckpanies look mild. I was hoping to graduate from being a IT overworker, but¡­ I don''t dislike games. And if I convert it into ying a game for about ten hours¡ªwell, it seems quite manageable. Humans are impressive. "Well then, I wille soon Liora." "Take care, GOD!! WAHHH!!" I logged out. As soon as I returned to reality, I found myself lying in bed. VRMMOs are meant to be yed while lying down, but I felt strange, so I got out of bed only to jump back in. My back ached a little. Feeling a bit down, I decided to sleep. I ended up sleeping for ten hours straight. My brain must have been exhausted¡ªit seems those rarely-used brain cells were working overtime. After rubbing my eyes, I began my morning routine. Lately, I''ve been neglecting cleaning, and my groceries are running low. I should have enough, but my neighbor keeps pestering me for some. I''m starting to think I should start charging them, but doing so would mean "making a deal," which would mean losing my ability to say "no." Losing that would be damaging to my spirit, so it''s better to just let them take the food. "Oh, it''s already thiste. I feel bad for leaving Liora alone, but..." Time in the game world flows three times faster than in reality, so it''s been about a day in Liora''s experience since Ist saw her. Some might say, "Why worry about an AI?" but it feels too real. Who would have thought an online game could disrupt real life? I noticed a ton of notifications on my smartphone¡ªall from Liora. I quickly replied. As my phone kept buzzing, it felt like dealing with a demanding lover. But since she''s just a little girl, I couldn''t brush her off. I needed to treat her gently. ...I slept too much and made her worry. I''ll log in for five minutes and then get back to cleaning and shopping¡ªor maybe I''ll put off cleaning until tomorrow. That''s what I decided. ¨Œ I took care of things as quickly as possible, and while replying to Liora, I checked the messages from my friends. It''s annoying, but I have two friends. One is Ribbit. The other is Rere. This time, the message was from the former, Ribbit. It was an invitation to join a party to defeat the second field boss. There was also a n invitation. Honestly, I''m not interested at all. But I understand the importance of ns in MMOs. In the future, there will probably be n-exclusive events and features. As someone who once led a solo n with ir, I understand the benefits of this offer. "...I suppose forming a party wouldn''t be too bad." I do prefer going solo. But I recall Jack-Jack''s warning: Never challenge the "second field boss" alone. Chapter 53 [Independent Alliance] Liora struggles with certain types of enemies: - Enemies with overwhelming firepower that Liora''s regeneration can''t keep up with. - Enemies that are faster than Liora. - Enemies that inflict status ailments. - Small enemies that Liora''s scythe can''t hit. - Enemies thatpletely nullify attacks. - Enemies that are more skilled than Liora. I have a feeling Gimira, the second field boss, falls into thatst category. With its overwhelming skill, there''s a risk Liora''s attacks might notnd at all. It''s an opponent I must defeat to move on to the third area. "If I''m with Jack-Jack and the others, it should be safe. The rewards from a frozen field boss are tempting¡­ I suppose I''ll join." The n situation depends on the members. In *PHO*, you need at least three NPCs to form a n. I could establish it with Liora, Jack-Jack, and one more NPC, but¡­ I decided to log in to the game to sort out the details. They''re ying now, so it''s more convenient to discuss in the game, considering the time eleration. ¨Œ As I reassured the clingy Liora, I began chatting in the game. It seems they want to meet in person. It''s quite a hassle, but I can leave the conversation to Liora. Since I don''t have the [Manifestation] skill, I can use it as an excuse for not being able to have detailed conversations. The meeting ce was the adventurers'' guild in Elnd. While I was asleep, Liora and the others had returned to Elnd. Honestly, it should have been safe with the four NPCs, including Samurai. Especially with Liora, who has evolved into [Shadow of Death]. As a result, we were the second to arrive at the meeting spot. "Thanks foring, Liora, Zephyr."The one greeting us warmly was Ribbit, Jack-Jack''s owner. As always, his enormous figure didn''t quite fit in the guild''s training ground. She appears and then quickly disappears. In this world, there''s actually a size bonus. The bigger you are, the more your attack power and durability are amplified. On the other hand, agility and luck stats are lower. It seems like a reasonable trade-off. It wouldn''t make sense for Liora and a dragon to have the same attack power but yield the same results. So Ribbit''s size is a strength. But there are disadvantages. In tight spaces, he might not be able to [Manifest] at all. "Liora, ask where the others are." "The god asks, ''Where are the others?''" In response, Jack-Jack, who''s sipping tea, answers. He''s sitting on the dusty floor of the training ground, having a tea party with fine tea utensils. The elderly figure slowly looks up at Liora and breaks into a smile. "Thank you foring, Liora. The others¡­ are right here." Following Jack-Jack''s gaze, we also looked in that direction. There stood two NPCs. One of them was a familiar face to me. It''s Hilda, who is contracted with a yer named Tanaka. Liora seems to have forgotten, but she was the leader of the party that had been fighting Helmut before us. The handsome¡ªyet beautiful¡ªperson who grabbed Liora''s shoulder. It might be gender discrimination, but I can forgive it because it was a beautiful woman.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om "I know Hilda, but who is the other person?" As I tilted my head, Jack-Jack kindly introduced her. She was a small dwarf girl, shorter than Liora, but not childish; her impressive chest was well-developed. She carried a huge shield on her back, along with a one-handed sword. "This is Meme. She''s the one who matched Liora in battle during that dream." "My name''s Meme. Nice to meet ya, Liora!" I remember the name Meme. She ranked fourth in that event. Her contractor was¡ª "...Zero-Tape. Nice to meet you, Zephyr and Liora¡­ I usually y solo, so, well, I''m not very good at socializing. Please forgive any rudeness¡­" A small dragon, about the size of a pigeon or crow, muttered while looking away. It wasn''t a sign of annoyance; rather, it seemed like he couldn''t meet others'' eyes due to shyness. ording to the forums, Zero-Tape is a fairly well-known solo yer. He even has the achievement of soloing Helmut. He used a rare item that reduces poison resistance and chipped away at Helmut with a poison-inflicting sword. While it''s the same method we used to achieve victory, it''s a rather rare approach. The current trend is to take advantage of the fact that you can now flee without losing anything. In other words, yers continuously run away and retry until Helmut ends up with a nonsensical weapon. Videos show poor Helmut wielding an abacus, swinging around thread, or awkwardly holding a deck of cards. Helmut''s cool gimmick of fighting with his preferred weapon is being ruined. That''s the current trend¡ªmaking him use weak or hard-to-use weapons and then ganging up on him with a party. Everyone gathered and formed a circle. I didn''t want Liora sitting on the ground, so I created a mat with [Darkness creation]. Everyone sat on it¡­ well, it''s fine. After serving everyone tea, Jack-Jack cleared his throat. "Let''s start the meeting about the n¡ª[Independent Alliance]. I''ll act as the moderator for now. If you have any questions, feel free to ask." And so, the exnation of the solo yer gathering¡ªthe [Independent Alliance]¡ªbegan. MMOs, by their very nature, are not a game genre designed for solo y. In this genre, yers recruitrades andbine their forces to clear content. In other words, it''s a team-based game. Amidst this, those who insist on ying solo are typically loners. And I too am a loners. Loners aren''t to be trifled with since they are strong powerhouses in the game, rising their danger levels to whole new range. It''s rare to find a yer who ys solo with a purpose. That''s because individual skill in an MMO only amounts to so much. Well, in this game, since you can acquire a wide variety of skills solo, it''s easier to y alone. Now, four yers have gathered here. All of them were top tier powerhouses who had yed alone from the start. Alongside them, four NPCs, all of whom seem to have a strong solo mindset¡ªjust like a group of loners. "Uh, well¡­ I heard that Tanaka is often seen in parties though." The one speaking hesitantly was a small green dragon, Zerotape. He seemed flustered by the presence of Tanaka, who had manifested as a beautiful girl. I predicted him to be a teenager or early adult but the way he speaks and behaves. Still, his point is valid. Since even I saw tanaka ying in a party to defeat Helmut. This "Independent Alliance" is essentially a gathering of those who prefer to y solo but still want to enjoy the n system. Non-loners are excluded. Thus, it bes a group of loners. Tanaka tilted her head, looking somewhat annoyed. "I''m a loner too. But probably not in the way you''re all thinking." "Huh? Wh-what do you mean¡­ uh, sorry if I''m being rude¡­" "I only form temporary parties. I don''t have a fixed group. That''s my style." "I-I see!" That could also be a form of solo y. In particr, most of "PHO" consists of fixed parties. NPCs generally avoid forming groups with strangers. Unlike other MMOs, there''s no instant-party system here. In some ways, joining various parties flexibly could be considered solo y. The green dragon tightly shuts his eyes. "S-so basically, are you saying we should form a fixed group?" "Not really. It''s just less hassle to form parties with different people. But ns are a different story. That''s why I want to ally with some strong yers." The green dragon nodded enthusiastically. "If I had to form a fixed group¡­ well, I''d refuse. I don''t want to be disliked, and maintaining rtionships long-term is impossible for me¡­ it''s a losing battle." "Exactly. Rather than spending effort maintaining rtionships in an MMO, I''d rather improve my gamey. That''s why I''m attracted to this n. If everyone''s just here for the collective benefits without pretending to be friends¡­ then I''m all for it." From their conversation, it seems that Zerotape is "a solo yer by result," while Tanaka is "solo for practical reasons." They seem to dislike the hassle of maintaining a team and prefer acting like mercenaries. Honestly, I can rte to their conversation. If they understand the benefits of solo y, I feel like I can maintain a good distance from them. I had Liora speak on my behalf. "The gods have spoken. I''m fine with it. As long as we can maintain the form of four solo yers who happen to be working together, rather than a fixed party." "I''m in too, if that''s the case¡­" "I agree as well. If there''s a good quest, invite me. I''ll invite you too. But let''s avoid unnecessary interference otherwise." "¡­ I''m supposed to be the facilitator, but it seems we''ve reached an agreement." Thus, we formed the "Independent Alliance" of solo yers. And that night... Weunched an assault on Gimora. ---- Please don''t unlock 59th chap some bug has made a chapter to repeat itself Chapter 54 The Assualt And that night¡­ Weunched an assault on Gimora. ¨Œ There was already talk on the message board about organizing arge-scale raid to defeat Gimora. The enemy is a field boss specialized in "escape." To defeat it, you first need a location where it can''t escape. That requires arge group to surround it and block its escape routes. Jackjack stroked his long beard. His white beard, flowing in the night wind, twisted like a dragon. His wrinkled eyes narrowed sharply as he red down at Gimora wandering beneath the cliff. "ording to Rasetsu-sama, the group battle will take ce in three days. I doubt Gimora will be caught by a mob¡­ Considering how troublesome Gimora is, it''s likely a diversion." "Diversion?" Liora, who was clutching her scythe behind him, muttered. Jackjack turned to her, smiling in the moonlight. "Those familiar with Gimora in its prime would understand why it runs. It''s waiting for its enemies to gather, nning to wipe them all out in one swoop." "Why doesn''t it always do that?" "Perhaps because the goddess will freeze time again. Or¡­ it could be luring the enemy, anticipating that Elf Land''s defenses will weaken, allowing the demon army to overrun it." "Wait, is Gimora intelligent?" Jackjack shook his head. The old man, gripping his rapier, sighed as he closed his eyes. "I''ve never known a bigger fool than him, aside from myself." "That''s a harsh statement, Johan. No way he''s on the same level as you, the one who held back thedy." "!?" Behind Jackjack. In a ce that should have been an impassable cliff, a ghostly knight hovered in the moonlight. "Liora." "On it!" Liora had already begun to run. She shed her scythe against Gimora''s sword, sending sparks flying. Due to his overwhelming attack power, Liora''s slender frame was blown away. She crashed into a tree behind her, barelying to a stop. But she remained copsed on the ground. Gimora,nding on the hill, cracked his neck and sheathed his sword with a deep sigh. "Again, Johan? You''ve always been good at getting girls to protect you." "¡­ Gimora, it''s not toote toe back. Bring thedy back." "That''s over and done. She chose you, and you couldn''t save her. That''s the end of that story, and the beginning of the tale of the wandering knight Gimora¡­ Man, you''re as annoying as ever, Johan." A fleeting grin crossed Gimora''s face beneath his helmet. "If you make me seriously want to kill you, I might just forget about running away." A shiver ran down my spine. It was the same overwhelming feeling I had when I first witnessed a raid boss¡ªa terrifyingly superior enemy. Jackjack''s rapier shed fiercely with Gimora''s sword, too fast for the eye to follow. Sparks erupted momentster. Amid the intense swordy, sweat trickled down the old man''s cheek. It seemed¡­ Jackjack was being pushed back. But reinforcements soon arrived. Hilda and Zerotapeunched a surprise attack. "Aqua Fortress!" "Wind Lance!"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Gimora''s lower half was submerged in a wall of water, while wind spears struck his upper body. While the damage wasn''t significant, it created a clear opening. Jackjack''s eyes gleamed. Creating this moment was their true aim. Rapier Art Ultimate Skill: **Vanitas Connect!** Jackjack''s rapier pierced Gimora''s throat, heart, and lungs simultaneously. With a thud, Gimora fell to his knees and copsed. Looking down at him, Jackjack wiped the blood stter from his face and muttered. "I am no longer weak." "I know that. But, Johan, you know too, right? I''m no longer a human being either¡­ I''ve be a full-fledged undead!" Gimora, who had been struck in his vital points,ughed as he leaped backward. Behind him was a sheer cliff. Spreading his limbs wide, Gimora fell without hesitation. Behind the now-detached helmet, there was¡­ nothing. "I am one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon King''s Army¡ª**The Wandering Knight, Gimora!**" "Wait, Gimora!" "Can''t wait while falling, Johan! It was nice chatting with you again. Oh, and¡­ I saw your strategy. I didn''t catch the little girl''s skillset, but I figured out the unknown presence¡­ Next time, I''ll wipe you out." As Gimora plummeted, Liora fired a **Lightning Magic** spell at him. Using the skill **Lightning Snipe**, she shot him in the torso. However, she couldn''t drain all his health, and before we knew it, Gimora had disappeared into the forest. Stay tuned with empire Our ambush had failed. Under the pale moonlight, we¡­ughed. ¨Œ Everything went ording to n. ¨Œ The most terrifying aspect of Gimora seems to be their reconnaissance skills. They thoroughly understand the enemy''s strength and hand, and win as they are meant to¡ªthis is the strength of Gimora. In other words, paradoxically, as long as we don''t reveal everything, Gimora won''t fullymit to attacking us. This time, we deliberately lured Gimora into battle. Our objective was to observe Gimora''s style. Liora, having exchanged blows with them even once, seems to have understood the difference between herself and Gimora. "Still, it''s so scary," murmured Meme, the dwarf girl. She wasn''t looking at Gimora, but at me, hovering beside Liora. "This dark magic art, ''Shadow Veil''? That''s what it''s called, right? This is my first time seeing it in action, but just thinking about facing it as an enemy is terrifying. Are there any monsters that use it?" The hand we revealed this time was my new dark magic art, Shadow Veil. This skill hides the target from view. However, if they move too vigorously or take any offensive action, the veil is dispelled. Moreover, even slow movement slightly distorts the scenery. It''s like when a photo is poorly edited¡ªyou can see the distortion. Using that art, I concealed Meme and Hilda. Though it seemed Gimora noticed it. They probably have detection skills. It felt as if Gimora too purposely let it happen to confirm something. "God¡­ I still can''t win¡­ Sorry," Liora said, slumping her shoulders dejectedly. To which I replied, "No, it''s not a problem, Liora." What we learned from the fight with Gimora wasn''t a fundamental difference in physical abilities but rather battle experience. Simply put, Liora''s technique was significantly inferior. Though Liora can force her way through with sheer stats, this time, her opponent was just too strong. Gimora''s skill with closebat weapons is likely maxed out. Currently, the total value of Liora''s Scythe, Moonlight Scythe Technique, and Gardening is inferior to Gimora''s. "The biggest reason you won against Helmut was that your Scythe Technique was superior. Without that, the battle wouldn''t have even been close." "I''ll get stronger!" "Yes, Liora. And we can grow stronger quickly." Feeling the difference between us and Gimora was our objective this time. And we''ve achieved that objective. "In three in-game days," said Ribbit, who had Manifested, raising a finger. We all gazed at that finger with serious expressions. "In three days, we will move to subjugate Gimora. However, everyone¡­ will act freely. We won''t form parties unless necessary. If we corner Gimora with a group, they''ll just focus on escaping. If anyone''s in danger, they should request assistance, and as a general rule, we will respond." Ribbit looked around at all of us. Though we may differ in specialties, we all possess considerable skill. Just from those few exchanges, we''ve identified our weaknesses. Each of us has likely found a way to defeat Gimora. The biggest issue is Gimora''s tendency to flee¡­ "The next time we meet, she will probably escape again, despite that we should destroy Gimora." "You can''t escape from God!" Liora dered. "Indeed, that''s what we aim for." In three days'' time¡ª We decided that the day arge number of yers would gather to subdue Gimora would be the decisive day. We''ll take advantage and finish the subjugation. ¨Œ Zephyr has leveled up. Zephyr''s Dark Magic has leveled up. Zephyr''s Create Dark has leveled up. Zephyr''s Dark Aura has leveled up. Zephyr''s Regeneration has leveled up. Zephyr''s Appraisal has leveled up. Zephyr''s Item Box has leveled up. Liora has leveled up. Liora''s Scythe Technique has leveled up. Liora''s Moonlight Scythe Technique has leveled up. Liora''s Gardening skill has leveled up. Liora''s Light Magic has leveled up. Liora''s Light Magic has leveled up. Liora''s Solitude Resistance has leveled up. Liora''s Kagura has leveled up. Liora''s Chant Extension has leveled up. Liora''s Angelic Factor has leveled up. Three in-game days had passed. In the Catbs, following the death of the prince, we indulged in leveling up. For Liora, who specializes in Light attributes, this was an ideal ce for leveling. Desecration of the dead is highly rmended. The main goal was to level up Moonlight Scythe Technique and other Sycthe skills. Without surpassing the enemy in weapon skills, we can''t feel at ease. It seems Gimora, like us, is using some kind of cheat. In terms of raw totals, Liora''s stats exceeded 100 during the battle against Gimora. Gimora must have some technique that allows them to wield skills above level 100. If we''ve closed the gap even slightly over these three days, then that''s great. At the same time, we also leveled up the Angelic Factor skill. Name: Liora Gender: Female Level: 53 Race: High Human Job: Angel Magic: Light Magic 38, Dark Magic 62 Production: Gardening 38 Skills: Solitude Resistance 54, Scythe Technique 63, Taming 35 Shrine Maiden 52, Chant Extension 34, Moonlight Scythe Technique 35 Angelic Factor 22 Stats: Attack 160, Magic Attack 394 Durability 292, Agility 397 Luck 337 Unique Skill: Killing de, Head Hunt. This is how things stand. We raised her scythe skills to a total of 136. Gimora''s skill level is probably around 200, so we''re still numericallycking¡­ but that''s what I''m here for. That''s what spirits are for¡ªtwo against one. Moreover, Liora acquired a new art through the Angelic Factor skill, called Angelic Wing II. Currently, the wing is positioned above and to the left. Now that she also has Angelic Wing I, they form a pair. Bnce has been achieved. This art provides an HP boost buff. It also has the option to "use" the wings. Doing so makes the wings disappear for a set period, but in return, the effects are extremely powerful. It''s our trump card. Angelic Wing I, when used, has the effect of "converting critical hits into normal damage for five minutes." On the other hand, Angelic Wing II has a very unique and interesting effect when used. I''m looking forward to using it soon. Chapter 55 The Troublesome Duo "However, this is a problem, Liora." "? What is it? Dear, God?" "It seems some yers rushed ahead. The battle has already started¡­ At this rate, the encirclement might be broken before we even arrive." "Humans are foolish, yes." "They''re spirits though." Our decision to grind levels right up to thest minute backfired. In a hurry, we mounted Samurai (in horse mode) and raced toward the battlefield. ¡ô From Dodon''s perspective A dense forest, thick with overgrowth. Part of it had been cut down by the yers, turning it into a small clearing. This ce was supposed to be an arena for drawing in and fighting Gimora. Discover hidden content at empire The n was for arge number of yers to lure Gimora here and attack it as a group. But that''s not how things turned out. "Damn it¡­"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Dodon was one of the front-line yers. He had already lost two NPCs in the past, but since switching to his current NPC, things had been going smoothly. He had even defeated Helmuth and was now aiming to be the first to take down Gimora. What a fool he had been. "Why¡­ Why did it turn out like this?!" The party that Dodon had assembled had already been wiped out. Everyone, except for Dodon''s contracted NPC, Era, had been lost. Gimora, who had already taken down countless NPCs, cracked its neck as if bored. "What did you expect? I am one of the Four Heavenly Kings. Of course, I am strong if you fight me head-on. You really thought I was weak just because I have been running away? Tch¡­ What a fool!" ''As she says¡­ It''smy fault ughhh¡ªI can''t lose Era!!'' "Ugh¡­ Era! Run, get out of here!" Dodon quickly turned to his contracted NPC, Era. There, a badly wounded boyy on the ground, discarded like a rag. He looked as though he could easily blend in with the surrounding corpses at any moment. Era was by no means weak. He was level 68. Originally a mid-level adventurer, Dodon had diligently supported him and turned him into a formidable warrior. Not only had Dodon equipped him with a powerful title, but he had also provided him with unique skills and strong weapons. And yet¡­ Gimora was on apletely different level. They should have waited until they had encircled it. His obsession with being the first to defeat it had blinded him to the situation. ''I''m¡­ I''m nothing more than an average yer after all¡­'' Realizing this now was toote. Gimora''s hand was reaching out toward his contracted NPC. Dodon''s [Manifestation] time had already run out, leaving him with no choice but to watch. To witness the final moments. "Someone! Someone, please help! I''ll apologize! It was all my fault!" Dodon had a deep attachment to Era. They had spent countless days adventuring together. He knew Era was just an NPC, just a game character that could die. There was no reason to panic over something like that. But. But the time Dodon had spent with Era was irreceable to him. It was as if he had been talking to a real person, as if he had found a true friend. Even with Dodon''s difficult personality, Era would always give a wry smile and put up with him. ''Oh Dodon, you''re hopeless.'' That smile¡ªEra was, to Dodon¡ª "Please stop! He''s¡­ He''s my first friend!" "Tough luck. Seems your contracted spirit was a fool." A wind bullet was unleashed. A devastating st, like being struck by a direct gale¡­ an inevitable fatal blow. The swirling dust turned the entire area white. But in the midst of that whiteness, a presence even purer than the surrounding whiteness made an entrance. Through his tear-filled eyes, Dodon saw it¡­ he witnessed it. The figure that cut through the dust with her shoulder. Standing in front of Dodon. A young girl,zily carrying arge scythe on her back, exuding the overwhelming presence of a grim reaper. Contrary to the dense aura of death around her, she had a halo above her head and a pair of wings on her back, making her look like an angel. A contradictory, purely beautiful figure. "A-Liora?!" Without paying any attention to Dodon''s wide-eyed exmation, the grim reaper girl twirled her eyes in madness and smiled with ecstasy. "God says¡­" The young girl, who had sliced through a seemingly unavoidable magical attack with her scythe, pointed her weapon at the boss and dered. "You will die here." "Heh, scary. Killing women and children¡­ as a knight, that''s terrifying." Gimora raised its sword, and Liora, wielding her scythe, leapt toward it. A battle between top-tier yers was about to begin. Dodon, drenched in tears, could only watch and pray. The young girl, cloaked in darkness, spun her eyes in mad devotion, and her lips curled into a sinister smile. "Keep attacking, Liora!" "Y-Yes¡­! God-!" Liora swung her scythe as if she were dancing. Opposing her, Gimora effortlessly parried each of her high-speed attacks. To be blunt, in terms of technique, Liora waspletely outssed. No matter how many times she was cut, Liora relentlessly charged forward. She looked like a mad dog, her face twisted in a crooked grin, her eyes spinning wildly with fanatic devotion. Liora seemed weaker than Gimora. "But," I muttered. Liora swung her scythe wide, sending Gimora flying. The smile on her face strained, hiding the pain beneath. A single drop of sweat trickled down her dried, undead cheek. "Damn, this is troublesome!" "I have God on my side." At this moment, Liora held the advantage. I had been continuously casting [Darkness] to support her, enveloping Gimora''s vision with a dark cloth. I also created tform of darkness beneath her feet, disrupting her bnce every time Gimora tried to step forward. Although it was a skill that only created tangible darkness, it was the pinnacle of disruption techniques. Thanks to this, Gimora, despite being the stronger opponent, couldn''t fully unleash her potential. This is the essence of CC, crowd control¡ªdominating the battlefield like a deep, all-epassing darkness. That said, Gimora is one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon Lord''s Army, a battle-hardened foe. As an ordinary human, eventually, she will see through my disruptions. I must always be one step ahead of her thoughts, always breaking her predictions. This battle, more than a fight between Liora and Gimora, is a mental contest between Gimora and me. "So the real nuisance was the dark spirit," Gimora murmured. "There is no spirit." "Huh?" It irked me to hear Liora being underestimated. The moment Gimora red at me, Liora''s speed surged. This wasn''t due to any skill but pure fanaticism driving her to boost herself. Caught off guard by the sudden eleration, Gimora was grazed by her scythe. [Swift Killing de] The skill that shes agility itself caused Gimora''s speed to slow slightly. "This is a real pain!" Gimora cast a wind spell on herself, granting him a speed buff that exceeded the amount he had just lost. Liora, now open after her attack, was defenseless. I could sense Gimora aiming a strike at Liora neck. However, Liora calmly let go of her scythe and activated a martial arts skill with her bare hands. "[Offering: Dance of the Maiden]" This was one of the arts from the [Shrine Maiden] skillset. It was a technique of pure martial arts, dealing direct damage with rapid, powerful kicks. As Gimora raised her sword, Liora''s small foot stomped on her face, the leapt. "Dear God!!!" "Yes, I have your scythe right here." "Thank you! Thank you very much!" Liora summoned Samurai through [Tame] and tried to capture the fallen Gimora. However, Gimora enveloped herself in wind, controlled her posture mid-air, and escaped. "Samurai, activate new mode." ¡º¨D¨D!¡» Shio began to transform. It took the form of a massive cage. A mimic-made colosseum, encircling both us and Gimora. This was Mode: Prison. Gimora chuckled dryly. "This is insane. You''re going this far against the weakest of the Four Heavenly Kings?" "It doesn''t matter. Before God, all are equally trash." "You shouldn''t call people trash, littledy." Gimora sighed as if giving up, quietly inhaled, and spoke. "Guess I''ll stop running then." It seemed Gimora was about to get serious. ¨Œ I had heard about Gimora''s skill set from Jack-Jack, who was once her friend. Though she had be undead, her core abilities likely hadn''t changed much. Name: Gimora Arsine Gender: Female Level: 100 Race: Elf (before bing undead) Job: Great Adventurer Magic: Wind Magic 100 Production: Document Work 100 Skills: Appraisal 100, Item Box 100, Knightly Arts 100 Army Command 100, Escape Techniques 100, Anti-Knight Arts 100 Magic Power Enhancement, Physical Enhancement, MP Auto-Recovery 100 Title: Self-Deriding Anti-Knight Unique Skill: Supreme Execution Boost This was her profile. Surprisingly, Gimora wasn''t built for directbat. However, her skill set is what makes her such a formidable opponent. Even the strongest, Eculis, once said that Gimora was stronger than him. The most troublesome ability is her unique skill, [Supreme Execution Boost], which enhances the sess rate of all her actions. In short, it''s a cheat skill that ensures his strategies and moves always seed. Chapter 56 The Troublesome Duo [2] In short, her strategy and actions always works out. "So, she''s not the type to fight using normal sword techniques. Be careful, Liora." "I''ll be careful...," Liora replied, nodding. While smiling at Liora, Gimora thrust her hand into the void. With a deliberate disy of vulnerability, she rummaged through and pulled out something from her item box. "Ta-da! Now, what could this be?" What she pulled out was a sh bomb. "Lior¡ª" "!" Though Liora was used to using sh bombs herself, it was her first time having one used against her. The moment she reflexively shut her eyes, Gimora pulled an arrow from his item box. She imbued it with wind magic and shot it at high speed. "To your right." "Got it!" Even without being able to see, Liora leaped to the right. The arrow aimed for her abdomen, but only grazed her side. Any bleeding from her abdomen would be healed by her regenerative ability. Explore stories at empire Even without sight, Liora followed my instructions faithfully. As expected of her. "Oh dear, it would''ve been nice if you had died from that so I could save resources." Gimora, still speaking, pulled out an array of items from her item box¡ªarrows, rocks, swords, spears, axes¡ªeach one falling from the sky. She moved her finger like a conductor and quietly muttered. "Execute. Tempest Booster." That was one of the arts of wind magic. It generates a wind nozzle on touched objects, sting them forward. It''s generally considered useless, but this¡­ "It''s a mess, isn''t it?" The barrage of items fired off. It was truly a storm. Liora swung herrge scythe desperately, deflecting each blow, but some attacks broke through, leaving cuts and bruises on his body. A ssic case of overwhelming force. "Samurai, tank." With a sigh, Samurai switched out of her prison mode and formed in front of Liora, absorbing Gimora''s attacks with her enormous HP. Her body became riddled with holes from the barrage of projectiles, and Samurai''s HP was soon depleted within 30 seconds. But in return, the gatling-like onught ended. As Samurai faded away, Gimora pulled out a scroll from his item box, smiling triumphantly. "A rare item. The me Dragon Scroll, Second Act." It seemed like a magic attack sealed within the scroll. The scroll quickly disintegrated, reced by a giant ming dragon. The powerful fire attack barreled forward, but Liora calmly activated her skill, Moonlight Scythe Technique. The new art of the skill, [Moonlight Severing de] It allowed the scythe to cut through magic. This was the same art she had used earlier to save that NPC. The massive me dragon charged at Liora. She stood unwaveringly, her white hair billowing in the heat. The little reaper girl stood poised, her sharp eyes brimming with darkness. At the moment of impact, Liora struck with perfect timing. The me dragon was cleaved in half, the split mes scorching the ground on either side of him. "Whoa! You really blocked it, huh?" Even as she made light-heartedments, Gimora moved above Liora, raising her sword. Her sword gleamed like a hero''s holy de meant to y a demon king. "Anti-Chivalry Art: Dying sh!" The sword shone brightly, and Liora momentarily lost sight of it. The sh was aimed directly at her head, but Liora¡ª "The gods have spoken." Still with her eyes closed, she swung her scythe upward as if scooping something. "Everything is going ording to n." "Ugh! No way!" In mid-air, Gimora crashed into something, slowing her movement. It was the Dark Ball I had ced in the air. The ck orb had been made invisible with the art Shadow Veil. With my magic attack power, it wouldn''t even leave a scratch. But as long as it her him for just a moment¡ª "Reaper''s Gift!" Liora, eyes filled with madness, trusted my assistance and unleashed a full-powered strike on the Four Heavenly Kings'' Gimora. Gimora''s armor shattered, and her body was crushed into pieces! Looking at the fragmented armor, I floated and spoke softly. "Pardon us for the two-on-one." "As expected of a god... It''s easier to fight with you guiding me." "Liora, you''re the impressive one for keeping up with me." "Am I... impressive...? Hehe... God, god, god, god..." Liora''s cheeks flushed with joy. Even though I only call myself a false god, I can''t afford to lose to the Four Heavenly Kings if I want to keep deceiving Liora. Besides, my title Voice of the False God boosts the effectiveness of my lies and actions. Still... "Liora, stay on guard. There''s no announcement yet. She doesn''t seem dead." "...!" Silently, Liora raised her scythe and witnessed something horrifying. Beneath the shattered armor, Gimora''s withered flesh began regenerating. Despite being a corpse, her condition was strangely pristine, reminiscent of a noble''s mummified remains. A dandy, handsome mummy. Gimora stood up slowly. "You two are a tough pair. Such urate support, and this terrifying little girl going straight for the head without fear of damage¡­ Ha. Being one of the Four Heavenly Kings is tough." It seemed that bing undead had granted her some sort of skill. Despite the clearly fatal blow, Gimora pulled a shield from her item box and practiced a few shield bash moves. The pressure from her now felt akin to that of a raid boss. "Well then¡ª" Before she could finish her sentence, Liora charged at her again. At the same time, I deactivated the invisibility on the Create Dark mode, dropping the bomb potion I had nted in the air. Gimora, who had blocked Liora''s strike with her shield, took the bomb directly on her head. "You''re really annoying!" "I''m happy. It means more time to fight with god."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Wow, scary. Don''t normal people get discouraged by a boss''s second form?" Lioraughed maniacally as she continued her battle with Gimora. While I also enjoyed the extra time to y with Liora, dealing with Gimora was exhausting. I''d rather she just leave behind the loot and disappear.1 We had actually been observing the battle with Gimora for quite some time after sending Samurai away. We witnessed several groups rushing ahead, only to bepletely annihted. During this time, I secretly used [Shadow Veil] to set up various traps. I made rocks and trees in the area invisible. I also used the dark magic [Dark Ball] and made that invisible as well. As a result, the current field is advantageous for both Liora and me. Since the enemies are elves, fighting in the forest would put us at a disadvantage. Fortunately, other yers cleared the forest, driving Gimora to this area, which benefits us. By the way, the reason I saved just one person was for future considerations. If we defeated the field boss after everyone''s death, the rumors would spread badly. Therefore, we had to take the position of "saving an NPC yer who was about to be lost due to others rushing ahead." That''s why we participated by rescuing one person. Soon, the preparations for the group seemed nearlyplete. Judging from the posts on the bulletin board, a pseudo-raid battle against Gimora would likely begin in less than five minutes. I''d like to finish it off before that happens¡­ "I am gonna take it down!" "Wow, so much energy! Youth is terrifying. I''m already like an old women, please go easy on me, youngdy." "Die!" "Oh, Dark Spirit, I think she could use some lessons in manners!" Despite the light-hearted banter, both sides'' actions are filled with intensity. Their eyes were serious, in stark contrast to their words, as they shed with skill and power. A fierce exchange of shes ensued. Liora moved wildly, swinging her scythe like a baton. She entrusted any minor counterattacks to [Regeneration] and pressed her offensive. With her scythe arts, [shing Gale de], and the new Moonlight Scythe Art [Vampire de], she continuously stripped Gimora of her options every time she inflicted a scratch. [Vampire de], the new Moonlight Scythe Art, is an ability that drains MP with every hit. Liora used the stolen MP to cloak herself in the costly [Dark Aura], which dealt constant damage just by being near. The activated arts included [Damage Infliction] and [Status Ailment Infliction]. Gimora''s body shuddered. "!? Par¡­alyzed¡­?" "Got you!" Gimora was inflicted with a status ailment¡ªparalysis¡ªwhich rendered herpletely immobile for a few seconds. Six seconds of vulnerability. "Hmph." Liora''s fanatical red eyes gleamed. Her scythe sliced through Gimora with reckless abandon. In an instant, the debuff limit for [shing Gale de] was reached, and Liora switched her scythe to [Shadow de], an ability that forces critical hits. Gimora, now losing a significant amount of blood, hastily used wind magic to blow Liora away. Despite being knocked back, Liora did not ease her offensive and kept Gimora in check with [Hound Lightning]. Unable to counter, Gimora clicked her tongue. While knocking spells away with her sword, Gimora reached into the void to pull out a healing potion from her item box, but I quickly applied [Dark Aura] to the potion. The bottle shattered due to the [Damage Infliction]. Gimora clenched her fist around the broken bottle and red at me. "Ugh, how annoying! I''ll use [Hete''s Ring]!" As he shouted, the ring he was wearing shattered, and her body recovered. It seems the ring had healing properties. Once its durability hit zero, it broke. At least we managed to reduce some of her resources. "I guess it''s about time." Gimora nced around and forced a bitter smile. "As expected, I''m better at escaping. Well, I''ll take my leave for today." Gimora pulled out a smoke bomb and mmed it onto the ground¡ªor so I thought. Instead, he applied [Tempest Booster] to it. The smoke bomb acted like a jetpack,unching Gimora into the sky. Skillfully using wind magic, Gimora fled through the air. With [Escape Mastery 100], her speed was overwhelming, making pursuit impossible. As I watched her figure disappear, I shrugged. Not that anyone could see me in the dark. "¡­She got away, Liora." "Over there¡­ there are others¡­ waiting." "Yes, Tanaka''s n worked." Chapter 57 The Decesive Battle "¡­She got away, Liora." "Over there¡­ there are others¡­ waiting." "Yes, Tanaka''s n worked." Few people were on the side Gimora escaped toward. We had steered her in that direction. Gimora probably realized it, but she didn''t want to waste any more time fighting us. She must have understood that the raid team was closing in. "Liora, it seems our kill stealer has closed in." "¡­?" Liora tilted her head in confusion. Covered in blood and clutching arge scythe, her expressionless face looked adorable, fitting her age. "You''re really cute, Liora." "Eh¡­ Uh, hehe." Liora blushed and held her cheeks, looking pleased. While she remained expressionless, her emotions seemed to be growing. Mostly in the direction of fanaticism. A bit warped. I wonder what her parents were like. Well, they''re buried in the ground now. I killed them before I could find out. Stay updated with empire "Well then, let''s go." ¨Œ With Liora, we made our way out of the forest. The natural surroundings beyond the battlefield remained unscathed. As we strolled through the rich green environment, it felt more like a pic. We were attacked by monsters a few times, but we defeated them without issue. After about five minutes of walking, we arrived at our destination. The guild members were gathered there. Among them was the old elf warrior, Jack Jack. The dwarf warrior, Meme. And Hilda, the elf who had the appearance of a handsome woman. Along with several other unfamiliar elves. Liora tilted her head, her eyes fixed on the group of elves. "Who are they?" "These are the elf warriors Mr. Tanaka gathered. They appear to be a group of light-attribute mages specializing in countering Gimora." Hilda answered simply. Mr. Tanaka was skilled at forming parties with strangers. This time, her allies seemed to be the official soldiers of Elnd. Now that I think about it, when we rescued the princess in the past, Tanaka mentioned having a main battle unit. This must be the elf force prepared to deal with Gimora. How did Mr. Tanaka manage to get these elf soldiers to follow him¡­? I don''t quite understand, nor do I particrly care¡­ but it would definitely be annoying to have someone like Tanaka as an enemy. Best to stay on friendly terms. As I marveled at Mr. Tanaka''s political skill, Jack Jack pointed to a transparent dome. "Lord Zephyr, Lady Liora. Look, it seems Gimora has retreated into a dome." "What''s that?" "It''s a trump card of the Demon King''s Four Heavenly Kings. That dome is called [Boss Field]. Once inside, no one can escape until someone dies." "Same as with Helmut?" "Exactly. After the battle with you, she must have realized she was surrounded by us and gave up, retreating into that dome." Deploying that dome seemed to have healed the damage Liora had inflicted on her. Since escape wasn''t possible, it appeared she intended to take as many of us down with her as she could. Gimora may be a powerful boss, but unlike Helmut, she''s not an unbeatable foe. In fact, if Liora and I teamed up, we could have easily taken her down. Back when Jack Jack told me, "Don''t let Liora fight Gimora," I hadn''t fully supported her. But now, with my full backing, Liora''s scythe could im the heads of even the top yers. "Well, let''s have a tea party first." Jack Jack said with a beaming smile, as he prepared tea. Few people are present in the direction Gimora fled. We''ve been guiding him to escape that way. Though Gimora must have realized it, he chose not to waste time on Liora and me. Gimora likely knew the raid team was closing in. "Tanaka-san called for the raid on the message board. So, creating a hole in the encirclement is intentional. He can freely ce himself and his guild members in that gap... Even if Gimora knows it''s a trap, he has no choice but to flee that way." "...?" Liora tilts her head in confusion. Even though she''s a blood-covered little girl holding arge scythe, her gesture is appropriately cute for her age. "Liora is adorable." "Eh, um¡­ hehe." Liora touches her cheek and looks delighted. Though her face remains expressionless, it''s clear her emotions are growing, particrly her devotion. It''s a bit warped. I wonder what her parents were like. They''re long buried now, of course. I killed them before getting a good look at them. "Well then, let''s head out." ¨Œ Liora and I walk through the forest. The areas outside the nned battlefield haven''t been cut down. The rich scent of greenery fills the air as we stroll along, almost as if on a pic. Although some monsters attacked us along the way, we easily defeated them. After walking for about five minutes, we arrived at our destination. The guild members had gathered there. Among them were: Jackjack, the elderly elf warrior. Meme, the dwarf warrior. Hilda, a handsome-looking elf woman. And about a dozen other elves I didn''t recognize. Liora tilted her head, her eyes fixed on the elf group. "Who?" "These are the elf warriors Tanaka gathered. It seems they specialize in light magic, specifically for fighting Gimora," Hilda answered casually. Tanaka-san is known for being good at forming parties with strangers. It seems this time, the allies are official soldiers from Elnd. Now that I think about it, when we saved the princess, he mentioned having a properbat force. These elves must be part of the team intended for fighting Gimora.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om I''m not sure why this elf unit follows Tanaka-san¡­ I don''t particrly care either. But someone like Tanaka-san would be a nightmare to turn into an enemy, so it''s best to stay friendly. While I was marveling at Tanaka-san''s political skill, Jackjack pointed to a transparent dome. "Zephyr, Liora. Look, Gimora has holed himself up in that dome." "What''s that?" "That''s a trump card used by the Demon King''s Four Generals. That dome is called [Field Boss Field], and once inside, no one can escape until someone dies." "Just like Helmuth?" "Exactly. After your fight, it seems he realized he''s surrounded and decided to take refuge in there, probably hoping to take down as many of us as he can before he goes." The dome also seems to have healed the damage Liora inflicted on him. Since there''s no escape, Gimora is probably nning to take out as many as he can before he dies. Gimora may be a strong boss, but unlike Helmuth, he''s not unbeatable. In fact, Liora and I could take him down together. In the past, Jackjack once said, "Don''t let Liora challenge Gimora." But back then, I wasn''t supporting her at full strength. With me involved, Liora''s scythe can reach the necks of even the top-tier yers. "Now, let''s have a tea party first," Jackjack said, smiling widely as he prepared the tea. Tanaka-san pulled out a table from his item box, and tea treats were swiftly arranged. It''s quite elegant, despite being right in front of a boss fight. Liora looks at me, clearly eager to join the tea party. When I nod and sway my body up and down, she immediately smiles as if a flower had bloomed. She gracefully sits in one of the luxurious chairs that had been prepared. "I''m excited." Despite her expressionless face, Liora gives off a cheerful aura. Only someone like me, who''s known her for so long, could notice. Everyone sits around the circr table. (It''s kind of like a gathering of big shots, isn''t it? This is fun.) Since everyone is attractive in their own way, it feels like a picture-perfect scene. Yet, it strangely resembles a meeting of an evil organization. Maybe it''s because of the crazy PK (actually, he''s PKK) Jackjack. The tea party begins. As we savor the elegant tea, Hilda smiles mischievously. She seems so practiced at it that she must be of noble birth. "Such a wonderful aroma, Jackjack." "Hohoho, my [Tea Ceremony] skill is maxed out at 100. From ck tea to matcha, coffee, and any other beverage, I can make it all to perfection, hohoho." "I don''t really understand the taste of tea... Can I drink this as much as I want? You''re not going to charge meter, are you? If so, I''ll just sip it slowly." "What''s this fluffy thing?" Liora seems incredibly excited about the souffl¨¦ in front of her. She quickly eats it, and in no time, the souffl¨¦ is gone. She looks very sad now. It seems I''ll have to make one for herter. These days, even evil gods can make sweets. Calories are apparently sinful, but I''ll forgive her this time. If someone tantly shows an aura of "I want you to make this for me" like a neighbor would, it would annoy me. But when someone like Liora patiently waits without saying anything, it makes me want to indulge her. I guess I''m just contrary like that. The tea party progresses peacefully. No one would think this group is about to engage in a life-or-death boss battle. But perhaps it''s precisely this ability to fully rx before a fight that makes them strong enough to face such challenges. After finishing up various small tasks (like visiting the restroom), we lined up and made our way into Gimora''s Field Boss area. We had already discussed our strategy during the tea party. For now, we''re leaving behind the elf army that Tanaka-san brought with him. It seems that if too many people challenge the Field Boss at once, the boss inside bes stronger. A small elite team. It''s my second-favorite four-character idiom, right after "bank savings." And so, the battle between our group, the Independent Alliance, and Gimora begins. Chapter 58 Gimora Defeated A small elite team. It''s my second-favorite four-character idiom, right after "bank savings." And so, the battle between our group, the Independent Alliance, and Gimora begins. We lined up and charged into the boss area. At the same moment, Meme, the dwarf warrior, dashed forward, holding up her giant steel shield. If I had to describe it, I''d say it looked like futuristic armor. Before I could even react with wide eyes, realizing something was amiss: "Wee! Die!" Gimora, who had transformed into a massive undead, swung a colossal sword several meters long. The impact was like an explosion, and we faced a crisis right from the start. But Meme moved to counter Gimora''s attack. "Deploy: [Patience of the World Goddess - The World of Patience]!" This equipment skill makes all party members invincible for three seconds. I had heard about it before, but I didn''t realize it was a divine artifact. This cheat-level equipment is likely the reason Meme and Zerotape ranked fourth in the individual event rankings. Gimora''s surprise attack was neutralized. Jack Jack blocked the overwhelming attack with his raised rapier. Without the divine artifact''s effect, he would''ve been killed. Jack Jack grinned. "Counterattack." His rapier gleamed gold, and Gimora''s massive sword shattered. It seems Jack Jack unleashed some kind of secret technique. We had already used two trump cards right at the start of the battle. Just as nned. Weunched an all-out assault. "Liora, activate [Angels Wings]." At the same moment that Liora nodded, one of her two wings disappeared. In exchange for losing the buff, her eyes began to glow with rainbow colors. The skill [Angel''s Factor] has an art called [Angels Wing]. When 2 wings arebined, a special effect takes ce. When used only one wing it boosts HP, but when both wings arebined, it grants the ability to "see a few seconds into the future." I don''t understand the exact mechanics, but maybe it''s some kind of super-fast AI thinking? Liora started to move. Gimoraunched a barrage of countless items using [Tempest Booster]. In response to the storm of death, Liora effortlessly dodged everything by shifting her body left and right. After all, if you can see the attacks seconds ahead, dodging them is a piece of cake.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om "Open." "[Shadows Full of Death.]" "Praise the multitude of deaths." The five-meter-tall Gimora, having grown into a giant, leapt backward as if in fear. But Liora, unfazed, swung her scythe in a wide arc. "[Reaper''s Gift]!" With one swift motion, the enormous dark sh ignored the distance and sliced Gimora''s body in half. A tremendous spray of blood drenched Liora, but... "Still alive. Let''s continue." "Of course." Jack Jack was already charging forward, followed by Liora and Meme. Meanwhile, from her initial position, Hilda, having increased her firepower using [Extended Chanting], raised her staff with force. "Herees my unique skill. [Resonance Magic] ¡ª [Burst Ignis]!" For a brief moment, Tanaka, who had manifested, and Hilda cast magic simultaneously. Thebined force of a tornado and zing mes, specialized for destruction, engulfed Gimora. Gimora screamed in agony. Jack Jack pierced Gimora with his rusty rapier. Liora struck with a blow infused with [Death Leading de], [Life-Draining de], and [Head Hunt]. Meme threw her dagger at him. Gimora''s body was torn apart and sted away, but there was no announcement yet. It seemed we hadn''t finished her off. We had sessfully defended against the initial deadly rush. It wouldn''t be fun otherwise¡­ "Well, this sucks. You''ve got divine artifact users, a berserker loli with deadly skills, an ex-colleague, and a pretty boy firing absurd magic¡­ and I''m a solo yer?" Gimora hovered in the sky above us. His wings were massive, decayed, and rotting. "My race is [Undead Chimera]. I''ve absorbed the genes of various monsters into my body and mimicked their abilities." "Not like you to reveal your hand, Gimora." "Haha! You don''t know anything about me on the battlefield, Johann!" Gimora, floating above, pulled a massive statue from his item box andunched it at us. "This is getting ridiculous..." Liora spoke in exasperation, addressing Gimora. Well, Gimora, despite being an NPC, is alive. She''s desperately fighting back against a deadly threat (the reaper girl). Though this is a boss specializing in escape, it feels like the roles are reversed here. We dodged the iing statue, sprinting away. We weaved between the falling statues. Liora sliced some of them apart with her scythe. "I''ll bring him her," I said. I cast [Enemy Resistance Reduction] and [Gift of Venom]to knock Gimora down. Right after the statue fell, Gimora''s massive body crashed to the ground. However, through the dust cloud, Gimora, now in knight form, rushed out. "Can you keep up with my true swordsmanship!?" Her massive sword swung at blinding speed. It was overwhelmingly faster than before. Likely, Gimora was exploiting the glitch with [Escape Technique 100]. By incorporating "escape actions" into her attacks, she seemed to have temporarily doubled or tripled her speed. When pulling her arm back, she does it with escape movement. When stepping forward, she uses escape motion. This way, she applies [Escape Technique] to both her attack and defense moves. As a result, a series of untelegraphed attacks were unleashed. Meme, the tank, had her arm severed, and Jack Jack, deeply shed across his abdomen, was forced to retreat. The difference in speed was overwhelming. No longer able to hold back, Gimora had stopped hiding her cards. "Understood." I, the dark spirit, smiled broadly. Not that anyone could see. Finally, I glimpsed Gimora''s true potential. As long as she concealed her cards, we couldn''t go all out. If you have the means to counter a trump card, the one who uses it is at a disadvantage. However, Liora was finally freed from her restraints. "Are you ready, Liora?" "Yes¡­ absolutely! My Lord!" "Good." After confirming that the front-line fighters had fallen, one of Liora''s wings vanished. She used the [Angel''s Factor] art, [Angels Wing II]. In ce of the lost wing, a buff preventing critical attacks from bing fatal was granted for five minutes. Liora charged forward. There was no trick to this reckless charge. However, the reaper girl''s scythe was now cloaked in immense darkness. This was [Reaper''s Gift], powered by all of her remaining life energy. Knowing the power of the attack, Gimora deliberately raised her sword to meet it head-on. "I''ll kill you before it evennds!" "Go ahead." "Ha!" An inhumanly fast sh was aimed at Liora. Even with my enhanced vision, I couldn''t time [Dark Legion] to intercept it. Before I could stop it, Gimora''s massive sword drove into Liora''s neck. But [Fatal Avoidance] activated. After all we haven''t used this overpowered skill for the day. With one strike, the ultimate skill [Reaper''s Gift] exploded against Gimora. It seemed [Head Hunt] also activated since Liora strikes Gimora''s nape. "Gahhh! But it''s not over yet!" "Then die already!" Gimora didn''t stop. Read new chapters at empire With godlike speed, aided by [Escape Technique], she immediately countered, crushing Liora''s slender neck. Her head rolled to the ground with a soft thud. The decapitated head whispered: "Activating [Offering of the Fingers of Tete]. Praise the multitude of deaths¡­ [Reaper''s Gift]!" The headless body of the little reaper girl, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, unleashed an enormous wave of darkness toward Gimora. "¡­" After regenerating her head with the [Regeneration] skill, Liora tilted her head from side to side, as if testing her neck. Gimora stared at the impossible sight in utter shock. Hher knees buckled. The mummy-faced Gimora looked up at Liora, trembling in fear. "Are you¡­ really human?" "I am the Angel of Lord Zephyrs, the evil god." "Evil god¡­ huh. Sorry, Demon Lord. I seeded in this mission, but I couldn''t carry it out perfectly." Gimora''s body began to crumble. Ass he disintegrated, Gimora turned her gaze toward Jack Jack and shouted. "I''ll be waiting in thest city¡ªJohann! Bring the girl with you!" Gimora''s body shattered like polygons. And just after that... [World Announcement Begins] [The Second Field Boss "Gimora the Roaming Knight" has been defeated by the yer n "Independent Alliance." The time freeze in the chaotic metropolis, Third Field has been lifted.] [In ordance, the registration for the third wave has begun. Spirit Guardian Online has decided to distribute additional copies. The next software distribution will amodate fifty thousand yers.] [Henceforth, the Field Boss "Gimora the Roaming Knight" can be challenged in a weakened state. Please join us.] The announcement echoed throughout. ''It seems our n was revealed after all...'' The objective we had in jind when creating the n was to disband it after defeating Gimora after all, we were solo yers. If the other users came to know about "Independent Alliance" the applications to join will naturally pour in which is quite troublesome. ''But since wepleted our objective...guess I should be satisfied with it.'' Since our objective was to defeat Gimora, we weren''t particrly concerned... but the message boards might be in chaos right now Chapter 59 Kindly dont unlock!!! "However, this is a problem, Liora." "? What is it? Dear, God?" "It seems some yers rushed ahead. The battle has already started¡­ At this rate, the encirclement might be broken before we even arrive." "Humans are foolish, yes." "They''re spirits though." Our decision to grind levels right up to thest minute backfired. In a hurry, we mounted Samurai (in horse mode) and raced toward the battlefield. ¡ô From Dodon''s perspective A dense forest, thick with overgrowth. Part of it had been cut down by the yers, turning it into a small clearing. This ce was supposed to be an arena for drawing in and fighting Gimora. The n was for arge number of yers to lure Gimora here and attack it as a group. But that''s not how things turned out. "Damn it¡­" Dodon was one of the front-line yers. He had already lost two NPCs in the past, but since switching to his current NPC, things had been going smoothly. He had even defeated Helmuth and was now aiming to be the first to take down Gimora. What a fool he had been. "Why¡­ Why did it turn out like this?!" The party that Dodon had assembled had already been wiped out. Everyone, except for Dodon''s contracted NPC, Era, had been lost. Gimora, who had already taken down countless NPCs, cracked its neck as if bored. "What did you expect? I am one of the Four Heavenly Kings. Of course, I am strong if you fight me head-on. You really thought I was weak just because I have been running away? Tch¡­ What a fool!" ''As she says¡­ It''smy fault ughhh¡ªI can''t lose Era!!'' "Ugh¡­ Era! Run, get out of here!" Dodon quickly turned to his contracted NPC, Era. There, a badly wounded boyy on the ground, discarded like a rag. He looked as though he could easily blend in with the surrounding corpses at any moment. Era was by no means weak. He was level 68. Originally a mid-level adventurer, Dodon had diligently supported him and turned him into a formidable warrior. Not only had Dodon equipped him with a powerful title, but he had also provided him with unique skills and strong weapons. And yet¡­ Gimora was on apletely different level. They should have waited until they had encircled it. His obsession with being the first to defeat it had blinded him to the situation. ''I''m¡­ I''m nothing more than an average yer after all¡­'' Realizing this now was toote. Gimora''s hand was reaching out toward his contracted NPC. Dodon''s [Manifestation] time had already run out, leaving him with no choice but to watch. Experience exclusive tales on empire To witness the final moments. "Someone! Someone, please help! I''ll apologize! It was all my fault!" Dodon had a deep attachment to Era. They had spent countless days adventuring together. He knew Era was just an NPC, just a game character that could die. There was no reason to panic over something like that. But. But the time Dodon had spent with Era was irreceable to him. It was as if he had been talking to a real person, as if he had found a true friend. Even with Dodon''s difficult personality, Era would always give a wry smile and put up with him. ''Oh Dodon, you''re hopeless.'' That smile¡ªEra was, to Dodon¡ª "Please stop! He''s¡­ He''s my first friend!" "Tough luck. Seems your contracted spirit was a fool." A wind bullet was unleashed. A devastating st, like being struck by a direct gale¡­ an inevitable fatal blow. The swirling dust turned the entire area white. But in the midst of that whiteness, a presence even purer than the surrounding whiteness made an entrance. Through his tear-filled eyes, Dodon saw it¡­ he witnessed it. The figure that cut through the dust with her shoulder. Standing in front of Dodon. A young girl,zily carrying arge scythe on her back, exuding the overwhelming presence of a grim reaper. Contrary to the dense aura of death around her, she had a halo above her head and a pair of wings on her back, making her look like an angel. A contradictory, purely beautiful figure. "A-Liora?!" Without paying any attention to Dodon''s wide-eyed exmation, the grim reaper girl twirled her eyes in madness and smiled with ecstasy. "God says¡­" The young girl, who had sliced through a seemingly unavoidable magical attack with her scythe, pointed her weapon at the boss and dered. "You will die here." "Heh, scary. Killing women and children¡­ as a knight, that''s terrifying." Gimora raised its sword, and Liora, wielding her scythe, leapt toward it. A battle between top-tier yers was about to begin. Dodon, drenched in tears, could only watch and pray. The young girl, cloaked in darkness, spun her eyes in mad devotion, and her lips curled into a sinister smile. "Keep attacking, Liora!" "Y-Yes¡­! God-!" Liora swung her scythe as if she were dancing. Opposing her, Gimora effortlessly parried each of her high-speed attacks. To be blunt, in terms of technique, Liora waspletely outssed. No matter how many times she was cut, Liora relentlessly charged forward. She looked like a mad dog, her face twisted in a crooked grin, her eyes spinning wildly with fanatic devotion. Liora seemed weaker than Gimora. "But," I muttered. Liora swung her scythe wide, sending Gimora flying. The smile on her face strained, hiding the pain beneath. A single drop of sweat trickled down her dried, undead cheek. "Damn, this is troublesome!" "I have God on my side." At this moment, Liora held the advantage. I had been continuously casting [Darkness] to support her, enveloping Gimora''s vision with a dark cloth. I also created tform of darkness beneath her feet, disrupting her bnce every time Gimora tried to step forward. Although it was a skill that only created tangible darkness, it was the pinnacle of disruption techniques. Thanks to this, Gimora, despite being the stronger opponent, couldn''t fully unleash her potential. This is the essence of CC, crowd control¡ªdominating the battlefield like a deep, all-epassing darkness. That said, Gimora is one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon Lord''s Army, a battle-hardened foe. As an ordinary human, eventually, she will see through my disruptions. I must always be one step ahead of her thoughts, always breaking her predictions. This battle, more than a fight between Liora and Gimora, is a mental contest between Gimora and me. "So the real nuisance was the dark spirit," Gimora murmured. "There is no spirit." "Huh?" It irked me to hear Liora being underestimated. The moment Gimora red at me, Liora''s speed surged. This wasn''t due to any skill but pure fanaticism driving her to boost herself. Caught off guard by the sudden eleration, Gimora was grazed by her scythe. [Swift Killing de] The skill that shes agility itself caused Gimora''s speed to slow slightly. "This is a real pain!"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Gimora cast a wind spell on herself, granting him a speed buff that exceeded the amount he had just lost. Liora, now open after her attack, was defenseless. I could sense Gimora aiming a strike at Liora neck. However, Liora calmly let go of her scythe and activated a martial arts skill with her bare hands. "[Offering: Dance of the Maiden]" This was one of the arts from the [Shrine Maiden] skillset. It was a technique of pure martial arts, dealing direct damage with rapid, powerful kicks. As Gimora raised her sword, Liora''s small foot stomped on her face, the leapt. "Dear God!!!" "Yes, I have your scythe right here." "Thank you! Thank you very much!" Liora summoned Samurai through [Tame] and tried to capture the fallen Gimora. However, Gimora enveloped herself in wind, controlled her posture mid-air, and escaped. "Samurai, activate new mode." ¡º¨D¨D!¡» Shio began to transform. It took the form of a massive cage. A mimic-made colosseum, encircling both us and Gimora. This was Mode: Prison. Gimora chuckled dryly. "This is insane. You''re going this far against the weakest of the Four Heavenly Kings?" "It doesn''t matter. Before God, all are equally trash." "You shouldn''t call people trash, littledy." Gimora sighed as if giving up, quietly inhaled, and spoke. "Guess I''ll stop running then." It seemed Gimora was about to get serious. ¨Œ I had heard about Gimora''s skill set from Jack-Jack, who was once her friend. Though she had be undead, her core abilities likely hadn''t changed much. Name: Gimora Arsine Gender: Female Level: 100 Race: Elf (before bing undead) Job: Great Adventurer Magic: Wind Magic 100 Production: Document Work 100 Skills: Appraisal 100, Item Box 100, Knightly Arts 100 Army Command 100, Escape Techniques 100, Anti-Knight Arts 100 Magic Power Enhancement, Physical Enhancement, MP Auto-Recovery 100 Title: Self-Deriding Anti-Knight Unique Skill: Supreme Execution Boost This was her profile. Surprisingly, Gimora wasn''t built for directbat. However, her skill set is what makes her such a formidable opponent. Even the strongest, Eculis, once said that Gimora was stronger than him. The most troublesome ability is her unique skill, [Supreme Execution Boost], which enhances the sess rate of all her actions. In short, it''s a cheat skill that ensures his strategies and moves always seed. Chapter 60 Slave Traders? On an immacte sea of sheets, two goddessesy close together. They were neither sleeping, nor exchanging tender words, nor engaging in any physical intimacy. For goddesses who had spent an eternity together, merely touching shoulder to shoulder was enough. In this tranquil flow of time, the most beautiful of all living beings¡ªThe World¡ªopened her eyes wide. "Oh, Gimora lost again¡­ It''s Liora! She''s amazing!" "Well, Liora is definitely exceptional. When Zephyr gave her the Angel''s Factor skill, I thought it was over." "That skill isn''t something a human should be able to use. To endure the soul''s pain and raise the skill to level 20 or above¡­ that''s incredible!" "She''s managed to adapt through this achievement, and now there''s no more damage to her soul, but¡­ is it really okay?" "What''s wrong?" The World tilted her head in confusion, and The Life, the other goddess, almost let her lips curl into a smile. Despite being the best in bed, The World was the most carefree and absentminded during normal times. Many were charmed by such a contrast in her personality. All the goddesses had deep gratitude towards The World. Though they held feelings of affection, their concern for her was far greater. "Angel''s Factor is connected to the Sephirot, right? When wisdom and lifebine, shouldn''t something happen?" "Will something happen?" "Like obtaining a power close to that of a god? Humans often say things like that." "Hmm, I don''t think so. The skill system was created to help out because only the Demon King could use magic. After all, divine power isn''t something you can obtain through talent or effort." At one point, the goddesses had suddenlye into existence. There was nothing besides themselves¡ªno heaven, no earth, just themselves. And hunger. There was no way to satisfy it, so the goddesses were forced to spend billions of years in an empty space. The only sustenance they had was¡­ Because of that time, none of the goddesses could refuse The World''s leadership. She had always been willing to sacrifice herself without hesitation. Divine power¡­ is something obtained through time. It is a realm unreachable for beings with finite lifespans. Anyone could wield godlike power with enough time, but no living creature could endure that length of time. The Life, sighed. "Humans and the world itself are so unreasonable. They steal our power without asking, grow on their own like parasites, and thene to us for salvation when things go wrong. If something happens, it''s all our fault. We can''t even get rid of them all, so we just watch and enjoy it as entertainment." "But I actually like them." "You''re the strange one for leaving the Demon King bug as it is. You should have erased it long ago. Humans are smart enough to reset a game when it breaks due to a bug, or remove a diseased part when they fall ill." The concept of goddess, "The world" was, in essence, a parasite. The current situation, where that parasite spread a disease, was what the Demon King bug represented. To the goddesses, that disease was nothing but harmful. "Humans are so irritating. They rely on us without permission, and when we refuse, they get furious." "They can''t help it because they were never taught. Humans can''t pay the price for such knowledge." "That''s their problem, not ours." "You''re so cute when you''re mad, Life-chan." "Wha¡ª! Ugh, you''re the one they''re badmouthing!" The Life stood up from the bed and summoned a monitor, ring at the messages disyed: "Terrible management," "The game''s bnce is the worst," "The devs should die." With a dark expression, The Life muttered. "Maybe I should seriously die. If we weren''t around, they''d just suffer in hunger and despair. Let them starve in soul-hunger too!" "Come on now. The inte is always like this, you know." "Why are you more familiar with inte culture than I am?" "¡­Fufu." The World closed her eyes. "They''ve captured the First Field. If things keep going this way, humanity will be cornered and lose. Zephyr boy will have to work harder. Though it''s going to be tough on him." "This world will be destroyed by the Demon King in a hundred years anyway. There''s no need to worry." "I wonder if Zephyr will use God Manifestation. I''m worried¡­ Even though he''s contracted with an angel, it would''ve been impossible as just a dark spirit. At least his skill should feel god-like." "Does that skill really have the power of a god?" "Not really. But it carries the authority of my approval, like a divine relic." The Life''s mood visibly soured. Her cool face now slightly puffed, showing her displeasure. The reason was obvious¡ªThe World was far too partial to Zephyr, Liora, watching her sulk, The World found it adorable and smiled. She flopped down onto the bed, extending one white arm, and patted it with her other hand. "Come. You can sleep here, Life." "Huh, ah, um¡­ Can I cuddle you while we sleep?" "Sure, but¡­ let''s take off our clothes. They''re in the way." The life''s wless beauty turned bright red, and she nodded repeatedly, hurriedly unbuttoning her clothes. The World, nced sideways at the Liora''s world. "Sorry about this." No one knew whom she apologized to. Her attention quickly returned to the shy girl undressing beside her. *** Three real days have passed since we defeated the second field boss, Gimora, the Wandering Knight. It seems the third wave will arrive the day after tomorrow. Our *Independent Alliance* members are all doing as they please. The atmosphere after the battle was terrible. Experience more tales on empiren/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Even Jack-Jack was bewildered, saying, "What exactly is Lady Liora?" Meme''s face was frozen in horror as she muttered, "Scary. How is she still alive? How can anyone live without a head?" Hilda stood silently, beads of sweat dripping from her forehead. As for the yers, Zerotape has been too scared to show up. The sight of Liora''s decapitated head still talking was apparently quite a horror show for them. That was the effect of the [Angel''s Wing II] Art, a skill granted by the [Angel''s Factor]. It converts critical damage into regr damage. Essentially, even if her head is severed, it''s the same as losing an arm. While under the effects of [Angel''s Wing Iau], Liora won''t be stopped unless her HP ispletely depleted, whether she loses her head or her heart is crushed. A truly rampaging little girl. Since the battle, we''ve been focused on leveling up, gathering equipment, and collecting materials. Tanaka, a fellow n member, has been enjoying *PHO* as an MMO to its fullest, forming impromptu parties with others and having fun. Hilda, who has a contract with Tanaka, must be having a hard time. Zerotape has headed back to the first field, needing to assist his fellow Dwarves as a wielder of a sacred artifact. Ribbit has finally unlocked the third field and is already heading toward his sworn enemy. There''s likely to be a raid battle at least once, but not right away. We are currently in a period ofplete stagnation. "Well done, Liora. You''ve now mastered basic arithmetic." "Yes! Thank you, God! It''s amazing that I can understand numbers now!" Liora, overjoyed, hugs the elementary-level math workbook I purchased using real money. The person who created this workbook would be moved to tears if they saw this scene. It''s like witnessing a priest who''s been bestowed a divine relic. It''s rare to see a child so delighted by a math workbook. When I first received a workbook like this, I felt like I had been given a high-level doodle pad. It was a challenge to see how I could naturally transform the rows of numbers and letters into illustrations. Currently, we are riding in a carriage. We''re traveling along the road in the third field. Despite its medieval setting, the road is impressively paved¡ªlikely maintained by magic. It''s quite well done. Normally, we''d be zooming by on Samurai, but right now we''re on a quest to escort someone down this road. "Liora, mydy, are you truly not willing to sell that elegant and unique book of yours? It could fetch a fortune. If it gets damaged, it would be a disaster, so better to sell it now." "I''m not selling it. This is a sacred book of wisdom, bestowed upon me by God." "God?" The person addressing Liora is a rotund human sitting in the same carriage. He appears to be a merchant. He is one of the clients who hired Liora for this escort mission. It''s a typical escort request. For someone of Liora''s A-rank adventurer status, it''s a somewhat dull assignment. In fact, there''s been no sign of monsters or bandits, allowing us the luxury of holding study sessions inside the carriage. Well, that''s thanks to Samurai, who is keeping watch outside. Hooray for the [Sonic] skill. We don''t ck off during our jobs. We''ve had to defeat a few stray monsters that wandered onto the road. But with Liora in top form, there''s no way she''d lose to any weaklings. Her level has also increased since we defeated Gimora. Although the experience gain was more modestpared to the battle against Helmut, it was still a positive for us. Compared to Samurai, riding in a regr carriage is almost boring. Samurai''s horse form boasts a speed stat of over 500, allowing us to cover what would normally be a day''s journey in just a few hours. As we ride for several hours, night begins to fall outside the window. It''s been a long ride. For most yers, long travel times like this are a cue to log out. In the real world, the journey takes seven hours, but in *PHO* time (which runs at triple speed), it''s over in just two hours. In-game travel is fun at first, but after a while, it bes tedious. Open-world games are exciting initially, but before long, you find yourself relying heavily on fast travel, which takes away from the experience. In fact, there are many calls for fast travel to be implemented in this game as well. The rotund merchant signals the driver to stop the carriage. "It''s time to camp for the night, Lady Liora. There are other guards hired by the merchant guild, so it would be best for you to rest early. Escort missions can be quite taxing, even for a A-rank adventurer like yourself." "Understood." "Shall we prepare dinner?" The merchants deftly begin preparing food. A quick [Appraisal] reveals that, only Liora''s portion has beenced with poison. Just as the Adventurer''s Guild had warned, these guys are shady. They''re ck-market ve traders. Chapter 61 Slavers Slain, Mission Accomplished Dark ve Trader Generally speaking, ve traders are not inherently evil. In viges suffering from poverty and famine, it can be a means to survive while helping to escape children. Individuals who can no longer work may also sell their bodies as their final asset. In a way, it functions as a safety. In our world, at a more advanced level of development, the negative aspects of very be more pronounced. But at this level of civilization, it also has its necessary evil. Well, ves are personal property, after all. There are surprisingly few people who would go out of their way to overwork and destroy them. "Liora, let''s get ready. We have enemies." "Yes! God! I''m good at this!" "You''re a good child. That''s what makes you a proper angel." "Yay!" The behavior of dark ve traders lies in kidnapping and selling those who didn''t wish for it. It seems that there are many brainwashing techniques in this world as well. An adventurer who can fight to some extent is very useful as a ve. The dark ve trader grinned as he spoke. "Well then, the meal I''ve prepared for you. It''s delicious, you know." "Thank you, I''ll take it." Instead of epting the offered bowl, Liora swiftly swung herrge scythe. With just that, the dark ve trader''s head flew off, rolling across the ground. The blood spurted out with a dy. I used the umbre from [Darkness Creation] to block the filthy blood. "It''s over..." The aplices of the dark ve trader were left speechless as they watched Liora murmur. In the dim light, Liora, d in an aura cker than ck, took a step forward. She had her head slightly bowed, so her expression was hidden beneath her white hair. However... Immediately after stepping forward, she raised her head, and in Liora''s eyes¡ªthere was a swirling madness of fanaticism. "Eek! K-kill her! Kill her! The enemy is just a C-rank kid! Surround and kill her!" It seems like the merchant has misinformed the aplice of Liora''s rank. Not that it matters now. "We even have someone as strong as a B-rank here!" Meaningless chatter. Liora danced wildly. Swinging therge scythe, she also spun her body to generate more power. Heads flew off one after another. A few managed to injure Liora, but she immediately healed herself with [Regeneration], [Lifesteal de], and [Vitality Steal de]. When the magic users in the back attacked, she neutralized it with [Magic Severing de]. The little reaper girl grinned as her lips curled up. "Everything...is futile." A chilling, unique pressure emanated from her, the kind only the strong can exert, crushing the surroundings. The once formidable ve traders'' bodyguards now keenly felt the vast difference in power and existence. "She''s insane!" "Isn''t she supposed to be C-rank?! Why is she healing so fast?!" "Is it even allowed to just kill us without question?!" "Help me! Please! I need money for my family! I''m sorry, forgive me!" Those attempting to flee were ensnared by Samurai tentacles, which had been set up to spread across the dark night. Eventually, Liora mercilessly severed the neck of thest remaining person. The secret mission [Uncover and Exterminate the Dark ve Traders]plete. Next to the mountain of corpses, Liora began to enjoy the meal that had been prepared for the ve traders. Meanwhile, Samurai was gathering the bodies into one pile. From the scene alone, it looked like a group of evil people. However, justice is on our side. Liora hurried back the way we came, carried by Samurai. Although we wasted half a day using the ve trader''s carriage, Samurai is incredibly fast. The downside is that Samurai''s speed is much faster than mine. When Liora is riding, I naturally end up being held in Liora''s arms. Being carried by a little girl feels somewhat like a humiliating. That said, the improved food situation has led to her gaining a bit of weight. I can feel a slight softness against my back. Liora is holding me tightly, so I won''t fall (not that I would, since I can fly anyway). Meanwhile, I was reading a book that I had brought in through microtransactions. This [PHO] system allows you to recreate and bring in real-world items through paid transactions. With the time flowing three times faster here, reading and watching movies goes by quickly. And you can save time too. Although, with the intense shaking, some people might find it tough. So here I am, gracefully reading while being carried on horseback by a little girl. Ah, I see, I see. A creature that walks on its nose, huh? By the time I finished reading, we had already arrived at our destination. This is the first city of the third field, the City of Morning Star, Mari.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om In this third field, the Chaos Metropolis, many cities stand side by side. Each one is a walled city, functioning like a small country. Each city has its ownws, so we need to be cautious. "Liora, we''re not going to the reception desk, but directly to the Guild Master''s room." "Yes, God." "Being an A-rank adventurer sure makes things easy." Originally, the quest was to "verify the truth about the dark ve traders and report to the guild." But verifying the truth is difficult. Investigation missions take time. Stay updated with empire That''s why Liora rewrote the mission to "if judged as guilty, you may kill them at your discretion." This is a special privilege granted because of her A-rank aplishments. If we were C-rank, it would have been like, "You can''t just kill people based on your judgment." By the way, we brought the corpse back in the item box. It seems that having a body makes it possible to extract information. I don''t know what kind of skill or item is used for that, but it''s certainly convenient. In this world, the dead speak louder than the living. There was a bit of trouble inside the guild (the usual "What, a kid''s going to the Guild Master?" kind of hassle), but a couple of punches with the handle of the scythe to their stomachs seemed to silence them. I mean, it''s amazing that anyone would even think of bothering Liora at this point. After all, she''s got a halo above her head, wings on her back, and she''s carrying a huge scythe. I, with my ominous appearance, am apanying her. Even if it were a beautiful little girl, I wouldn''t dare approach her. We climbed the stairs and reached the Guild Master''s room. When we opened the chocte-colored door, there was an intellectual beauty wearing sses seated inside. She was dressed in something close to a business jacket, neat and tight. However, both her hands were equipped with what seemed like sturdy gauntlets. This person is Ernest Jacks, the Branch Manager of the Adventurer''s Guild, Mari branch. "Wee, Liora. How did the mission go?" "This." I ced the dark ve trader''s corpse on the desk I created with [Darkness creation]. Although only the head was needed, I brought the body just in case. Ernest''s eyes glinted under her sses. "Hmm¡­ So this is the dark ve trader. Well, I''m not that familiar with the details. The quest isplete. That''s good enough, right?" "Aren''t you being a bit careless?" "Heh, we''re not that smart here. The details don''t really matter. As long as it looks the part. If you were lying to me, I''d juste and kill youter." Despite her appearance, Ernest seems to have quite a bold temperament. It makes things easier for me. With that, the quest waspleted. The dark ve trader apparently got back to work the moment the time freeze was lifted. If only it were a cleaner job, perhaps he would have been praised for being a diligent worker. But unfortunately, the nature of the work was too dark. Well, right now is a time of confusion, with the sudden lifting of the time freeze. In such times, money is in demand, and it''s understandable that people would find work more easily. It was a stroke of bad luck that Liora happened to show up just when they were already under suspicion. The reward was good, and it was a rtively simple quest to take on. If we keep stacking up aplishments, bing an S-rank adventurer won''t just be a dream. Liora is a powerful character, but she doesn''t have any backing. To avoid getting caught in troublesome conflicts that aren''t based on pure strength, having a strong position and backing is essential. The Adventurer''s Guild provides us with both. All it takes is that ticket of power. Ernest spoke up. "About the next quest¡­ Will you ept it here? Or will you move to another city? We prefer younger adventurers to experience various adventures, so I''d rmend heading to a different city." "Is it okay to stay here?" "It''s not ideal. We do have a few quests that could use an A-rank adventurer. But any adventurer bound to this ce wouldn''t be worth much." "I see." Liora nced at me. Generally, her decision is mine as well. As I floated idly, I pondered for a few moments. Chapter 62 Mysterious Area [1] Ernest spoke up. "About the next quest¡­ Will you ept it here? Or will you move to another city? We prefer younger adventurers to experience various adventures, so I''d rmend heading to a different city." "Is it okay to stay here?" "It''s not ideal. We do have a few quests that could use an A-rank adventurer. But any adventurer bound to this ce wouldn''t be worth much." "I see." Liora nced at me. Generally, her decision is mine as well. As I floated idly, I pondered for a few moments. I made a decision. "Liora, let''s focus on the events in this city. Instead going to another city, let''s fully explore this area." "Yes, God has spoken. We''ll tackle the events in this city." "Event? Huh? Was there something going on? If there is, maybe I''ll join inter." Ernest tilted her head repeatedly in confusion. She''s so... innocent. How charming. We decided to explore the city of Mari. ¨Œ The first event we encountered was a training session for adventurers. Honestly, they probably have more knowledge about being adventurers than we do. After all, Liora hasn''t done much adventurer work herself. Even thepleted requests were tailored to Liora''s own style. However, Liora is simply strong. In the end, strength is the essence of being an adventurer. But these novice adventurers haven''t grasped that truth yet. When Liora was called in as a temporary instructor, the rookie adventurers tantly underestimated her. They judged her A-rank status purely on her appearance. That''s exactly why they''re still novices. "What''s with this kid? Are they messing with us?" A one-eyed boy with a wooden sword resting on his shoulder spoke in irritation, not even trying to hide his intimidation toward the small, child-like girl. He looked about 19 or 20. Although he wasn''trge, he had a lean, toned physique. "We''re serious adventurers here. We don''t have time to babysit some kid." "I don''t care." "Huh? What the hell are you saying, kid¡ª?" "Now, I''m going to defeat all of you." "Wait, aren''t you supposed to teach us as an instructor, not defeat us?" "God says sustainedbat ability is key." The moment she spoke, Liora''s body vanished. The novice adventurers couldn''t even follow her with their eyes. In an instant, ten of them were on the ground, having taken heavy blows from her scythe to their abdomens. A few of them were even vomiting from the impact. Standing tall, Liora looked down at the groaning adventurers and dered, "Stand up within five seconds. If not, you''ll receive a second hit." "W-Wait! What kind of training is this? Are you mad because we insulted you? Then I apologize! You''re strong!" "Five seconds have passed." Once again, Liora attacked. The novice adventurers tried to run, but the difference in their abilities was too vast. They couldn''t even move due to the damage they had taken. "Please, help me!" the one-eyed boy cried out to the other adventurers around the training grounds. But everyone turned away, choosing not to get involved. It couldn''t be helped. Since Liora isn''t the best at exining things, I decided to step in. "Liora, tell them this: ''If you''re unable to move because of the pain, you''ll be killed. This is training to ept pain.''" "God says, ''If you''re unable to move because of the pain, you''ll be killed. This is training to ept pain.''" Despair spread across the faces of the novice adventurers. Enjoy new tales from empire Liora, unfazed, spoke again. "Three, two¡ª" The adventurers scrambled to their feet in a panic.Liora was fired from her position as an adventurer instructor. The guild master said, "This training is absolutely necessary. Keep going." However, the other guild employees protested fiercely. Well, from an outsider''s perspective, what Liora was doing certainly looked like violence. If you''re paralyzed by pain or fear, you''ll definitely be killed at some point. The purpose of that training wasn''t bad, but¡­ well, I guess it couldn''t be helped. It was wrong to expect novice adventurers to have Liora''s level of resolve. Liora wouldn''t stop even if her arm were blown off. Now that we were free, we were given a new mission: "Explore the Unknown Territory." This unknown territory refers to the changes caused by a long period of frozen time. Our task was to investigate a ce that had appeared without anyone noticing. "God, here''s your handkerchief!" "Very good, Liora. We''ve made lunch, and our equipment is ready. The expense system is truly the best." "Absolutely the best!" "When you''re independent, you save on taxes, but through thepany, it feels like extra ie." "? Ie?" This quest has an unknown danger level. The guild also seems wary of the mysterious area nearby, so they''ve spared no expense for the investigation. We''re doing some shopping with the funds provided by the guild. It feels like a pic.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om My goal has always been to "have fun while making a decent ie." I don''t need to fight powerful enemies or take on grueling missions. We can just finish our work casually and enjoy a pic. ¨Œ We arrived at a mysterious hole located about five minutes from the road, riding on Samurai. A bottomless darkness. It doesn''t look man-made, but there''s adder leading into the abyss. Thisdder was discovered just a few days ago. Apparently, all the adventurers who entered haven''t returned. "Samurai." At Liora''s whisper, Samurai, who had been granted regeneration, began descending thedder. As her tamed monster, even if Samurai were killed underground, it wouldn''t be a problem. Meanwhile, we enjoyed a rxed snack party on the surface. I created a house using my skill, [Darkness Creation]. This was the new form of [Darkness Creation], known as "House Mode." It''s always good to have a secure base. Chairs and tables are fully furnished. Liora sat down and couldn''t hide her amazement at my arts. "God, you''re amazing! What a lovely home! I want to stay here forever!" "Indeed. Well, the all-ck color is a slight w, though." One of the few drawbacks of [Darkness Creation] is that everything is pure ck. As an artist, I would have preferred a bit more color variety. But since Liora is happy, I''ll let it slide. "Oh, Samurai is¡­" "What''s the matter, Liora?" "Samurai got¡­ defeated." "I see. So there''s an enemy strong enough to take down Samurai. We''ll summon Samurai again tomorrow and ask for details. For now, let''s move our base elsewhere." Samurai is entirely focused on defense and disruption. Without Liora, our attacker, it would take time, but it''s not impossible to defeat enemies. Still, knowing there''s something that can take down Samurai is a good benchmark. We moved about ten kilometers away and continued our tea party. I brought out some famous sweets that I had purchased through microtransactions. They were so exquisite, more like gems than simple confections. Liora, though expressionless, seemed to sparkle at the sight of them. "Amazing¡­ Is this food?" "Yes. I prepared this for you, Liora. Enjoy it to your heart''s content." "! For me!" Liora eagerly gripped her fork. It''s shaping up to be a delightful tea party. Watching Liora excitedly enjoy the sweets, I opened up a magazine I brought from the real world. ¨Œ The next day. We summoned Samurai and asked for details about the underground area. It seems the unknown territory is swarming with small fry. Samurai was overwhelmed by their sheer numbers. Liora could probably break through them. But that''s only as far as Samurai was able to reach. "In the worst-case scenario, we can use Samurai as bait to escape." "Yes, God!" We descended underground. We weren''t attacked while climbing down thedder and made it safely to the bottom. Liora equipped antern at her waist. Samurai and I did the same. My ethereal body was equipped with antern as well. As a backup light source, I also summoned [Weak Vine Dog]. While using strong skills is fun, I also enjoy cherishing the weaker ones. We proceeded through the dark underground passage. It was a typical underground tunnel. It''s a bit unfortunate that there''s no room to try out new moves in such a confined space. The monsters we encountered were numerous but not particrly threatening. Each time Liora swung her scythe, small creatures fell. Liora, cloaked in the skill [Dark Aura], wiped out the enemies. "Still, something feels off. Even B-rank adventurers haven''t returned from this ce. It''s hard to believe they''d fall in such an ordinary tunnel¡­" "Could there be stronger enemies¡­?" "Most likely, yes. Stay sharp." We continued our exploration. Without thenterns, it would be hard to see in the pitch-dark tunnels. However, the monsters adapted to the underground were quite weak to Liora''s light magic, [sh]. It was a one-sided hunt. After about an hour of exploration, we were considering heading back. At that moment, we encountered a pack of dogs made of vines. Samurai and I turned to look at my beloved [Weak Vine Dog]. Only Liora paid no mind and charged into the vine dogs'' swarm. "This looks like¡­" Chapter 63 Again against World Tree Liora, without hesitation, charged into the pack of vine dogs. "This seems to be..." As we scattered the vine dogs, a vast open space awaited us. It was asrge as a dome hall, with a grand, towering tree at its center. Standing there was the World Tree of Evil¡ªan entity we once defeated in an event. "It''s the boss!" "Indeed. We could retreat for now, but..." I found myself at a crossroads. If we report this, the quest will be consideredplete. We could always fight the Evil World Treeter. However, due to the intricate mechanics of this boss, it''s not ideal to team up with someone unfamiliar. If I''m going to take it on solo, now might be the perfect time. "Alright, Liora, let''s have a bit of fun." "! I''ll do my best!" Before facing the raid boss, we decided to check our statuses. Thanks to defeating Gimora, our stats have increased slightly. Name: Nero Gender: Male Level: 56 Race: Dark Spirit Magic: Dark Magic 61 Crafting: Alchemy 30 Stats: Attack: 280 Magic Attack: 280 Durability: 280 Agility: 280 Luck: 280 Title: Ruler of Tragic ys Unique skill: Divine Might Manifestation That''s my current status. I recently acquired the Agility Boost skill. Being outpaced can be tough. In a party-based ystyle, it''s fine to rely on others for speed while focusing on attack. But for solo y, losing in agility can be a serious disadvantage. I want to ensure I''m able to fight anyone. Additionally, thanks to some assistance from the game devs, I learned the unique skill Divine Might Manifestation. It appears that if I pay a significant cost, I can manifest in an overpowered state for 30 seconds. It''s definitely a trump card. Next is Liora. Name: Liora Gender: Femalen/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Level: 58 Race: High Human Job: Angel Magic: Light Magic 43, Dark Magic 67 Crafting: Landscaping 47 Skills: Solitude Resistance 59, Scythe Arts 68, Summoning 43, Shirne Maiden 57, Extended Chant 40, Moonlight Scythe Arts 44, Angelic Factor 28 Stats: Attack: 170 Magic Attack: 439 Durability: 317 Agility: 437 Luck: 382 Title: Mortal Sin: Parent-yer Unique Skill: Killing de, Head Hunter Liora seems to be growing steadily. After reaching level 50, growth slows down drastically, but her progress is still quite good. "We''re stronger thanst time, and my Life Stock of Shadows That Fill with Death is full. I think we''ve got this." "Yes!" "We also have Divine Might Manifestation if needed." "!!" Liora looks excited. She already knows I can use Manifestation, but since ites with a great cost, I have no intention of using it unless absolutely necessary. Fortunately, Liora isn''t the type to push me into using it by creating a crisis on purpose. Let''s go. We entered the raid boss''s field¡ªonly to be ambushed from behind. ¨‹ "Oh. My Weak Vine Dog got taken out." We were ambushed by a sudden horde of vine dogs that appeared behind us. They quickly devoured my Weak Vine Dog. Samurai morphed into Kraken Mode, holding off the vine dogs. "Is it gone for good?" "What will you do, god? Will you use Manifestation?" "No, I''ll just summon a new monster." "Understood¡­ Come forth, Roro." Liora summoned a new monster contracted through her Tame skill''s new art. She figured it wasn''t ideal to only have monsters with no offensive capability, so she obtained this one. Garrarararara¡­ What appeared was a massive skull, the size of a five-story building. Itcked a lower body and was partially buried in the ground. It was an enormous boss-level monster. Let''s check its stats just in case. Name: Roro Gender: Unknown Level: 48 Race: Skeleton Job: Desperado Magic: None Crafting: Stonecraft 1 Skills: Violence Boost, Attack Increase 48, Crushing Grasp, Undead Boost, Purification Resistance, Destruction Arts 38 Stats: Attack: 720 Magic Attack: 0 Durability: 0 Agility: 240 Luck: 240 Title: Crowd of the Dead I encountered this rare boss while leveling in the Catbs. ording to a member of the investigation team, there''s a rare boss that appears if you clear out the entire field, and Gashadokuro was that boss. Given its monstrous appearance, I decided to tame it. "Crush them." At Liora''smand, Roro swung its massive skeletal arms. In one sweeping motion, the vine dogs were obliterated, as if clearing dust off a table. The difference In power was clear. The vine dogs were squashed in an instant. Garrararara! Roro repeatedly pounded the remains of the vine dogs, much like an impatient child banging their fork and knife on the table, eager for dinner. The vine dogs were ground into pulp. A bit hard to control, this one. "Liora, have Roro target the Evil World Tree." "Target it." Roro began moving toward the Evil World Tree, its massive body swaying. Though itcked a lower half, it crawled toward the tree by digging its hands into the ground. Roro struck the Evil World Tree. A booming crash echoed. The towering Evil World Tree tilted dangerously, as though it might snap in half. In response, the Evil World Tree swung its branches like whips. The moment Roro was struck by the whip, it was instantly destroyed. Its durability was abysmal. Thanks to the time Roro bought us, Liora had already arrived. "Moonlight Bite." She activated the active art Moonlight Bite from her Moonlight Scythe Arts. A simple, high-damage strike enveloped in light. Naturally, her Killing de was also infused in the attack. A 180% enhanced Killing de strike mmed into the roots of the Evil World Tree. Simultaneously, her Lifesteal de restored her HP to full. Liora unleashed a relentless barrage, her scythe moving too fast for the eye to follow. "Foolish humans! Fear me! Tremble before me! I am not the same as I was 600 years ago! The branches, leaves, and fruits you stole from me¡ªI shall reim!" The Evil World Tree roared and began shaking violently. Countless apples rained down, bombarding Liora and the others. Samurai instantly expanded its body to shield Liora from the barrage. "Keep going!" "The whips areing. Be careful." "Got it!" In addition to the apple bombardment, the vinesshed out like whips. Moving in a snake-like pattern, the whips were likely enhanced with some active skill. Liora red at the iing whip for a moment. However, after observing the thick branch''s speed, she decided against dodging and continued shing the trunk. The whip struck Liora. Even as she was sent flying, Liora continued firing off Light Magic spells. Her Snipe Lightning hit the main fruit, causing the Evil World Tree to groan in agony as itunched more attacks. But Samurai caught Liora mid-air and threw her directly toward the main fruit. "It''s over." Liora had already fully healed with her Regeneration and Regen. She funneled the recovered HP into her Killing de, aiming for the primary fruit. "Reaper''s Gift!!!" The weakness of the Evil World Tree was revealed during the event. Just like back then, Liora activated the skill targeting the malevolent fruit. Converting HP into MP, the flow is stronger than usual. Experience exclusive tales on empire Liora has be far stronger than before. No matter how much of a raid boss the Evil World Tree is, it couldn''t withstand this level of firepower. ¡ºI¡­ I am¡­!¡» With a death cry, the Evil World Tree withers away. But as you know, this was a feint. From the decaying tree, a dragon made of vines quickly takes shape before our eyes. This is the trial of firepower. Without hesitation, Liora prepares the [Death God''s Scythe], consuming all of her life stock. A massive scythe brimming with darkness swings in a single breath. "Praise death with , [Shadow of death!!] Cross! By using the ring [Offering of Tete], Liora cancels out the life stock consumption, allowing her to unleash a second all-out strike. With a cross-shaped attack, most of the vine dragon''s HP is obliterated. "¡­Hmm. That wasn''t enough." "Well, it didn''t have a head, so it can''t be helped." "Yes, God!" Even in its weakened state, the vine dragon rises once again. Thest time this happened, Jack-Jack took it down. We must finish it before it does anything. "Resummon¡ª[Rouro]." ¡ºGarrararara!¡» Though Rouro has low durability, it revives quickly thanks to the [Undead Boost]. The MP consumption is high, so it can''t be used frequently, and there''s a limit to how many times it can be summoned in a day. Rouro grabs the dragon''s neck as soon as it appears. ¡ºGarrararara.¡» Dark light flickers in the eyeless sockets. With a crushing sound, the vine dragon copses to the ground. Rouro continues to relentlessly attack it, and eventually¡ª [Zephyr has leveled up] [Zephyr''s Create Dark has leveled up] [Zephyr''s Dark Aura has leveled up] [Zephyr''s Regeneration has leveled up] [Zephyr''s Agility Enhancement has leveled up] [Liora has leveled up] [Liora''s Scythe Skills have leveled up] [Liora''s Moonlight Scythe Skills have leveled up] [Liora''s Landscaping Skill has leveled up] [Liora''s Light Magic has leveled up] [Liora''s Dark Magic has leveled up] [Liora''s Shirne Maiden has leveled up] [Liora''s Summoning has leveled up] [Liora''s Angelic Factor has leveled up] Chapter 64 Leisure Life It seems we have achieved victory. Rouro continues attacking the corpse, so Liora uses her [Tame] skill to dismiss him. Otherwise, Rouro would destroy even the rewards. Although Rouro is powerful, he is hopelessly destructive in every other aspect. Thankfully, the important materials seem to have survived.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om The important items have been automatically transferred to the [Item Box]. "I got something interesting." The item we acquired is called [Seed of the World Tree]. No details are avable. We have no idea what kind of item it is, and it doesn''t seem to be listed on any walkthrough site. Either it''s never dropped before or it''s been kept secret. Personally, I''d prefer thetter. Secret items tend to be more powerful. Upon appraisal, the only thing we learned is that it''s a Seed of the World Tree. This might allow us to grow a World Tree. The materials from the World Tree would be excellent for alchemy. It''s exciting to think that my alchemy may soon reach a practical stage. With that hope in mind, we did a bit of exploration before heading back to the guild to report. ¨Œ In the guild master''s office, Liora finished her report without even sitting down. It seems she''s eager to get to dinner. The master didn''t seem to mind, simply nodding and saying "Hmm" as Liora spoke. "Ah, a raid-ss boss, huh? That''s interesting. Good work on the report." "Mm." It seems our mission isplete. For us, just being able to y in the raid was a reward in itself. However, it looks like we''ll also receive the missionpletion reward. Well, it''s just cash and merit points, but still. The boss we defeated will likely respawn after some time. It won''t attack anymore, which is a relief for the local poption. That Evil World Tree couldn''t move, but it could endlessly spawn minions. It must have been quite a threat¡­ at least to themon folk. Though how it would have gotten out of the underground is another question. "Liora, ask about that thing." "God says we neednd." "Land?" The guild master tilted his head. "Settling down at your age could be boring¡­ but there are adventurers who do that. For the guild, having strong adventurers settle down is beneficial. What kind ofnd do you want? For an A-rank adventurer, we can make some arrangements." "Really?" "Of course. As long as you don''t cause any problems." "¡­I''m kind of a troublemaker." Liora can''t be called a model student. She changed quest objectives during the ve trader mission and got fired as a temporary instructor. The guild master smiled. It was a smile like that of a kind-hearted teacher guiding a young child. "Troublemakers don''t let us know anything. But you, you''re simply exercising your rights, and you even report back to us. Real troublemakers change quests without saying a word and act on their own judgment." "Then¡­I am excellent." "Exactly. Now, tell me what kind ofnd you want. Take your time." "No, we''re going to dinner. We will talk aboutndter! Bye!" After that, we made ns to purchasend in Mari. ¨Œ We ended up purchasingnd in the depths of the forest, about an hour from Mari. It seems thisnd belongs to Mari ording to the territory humans have arbitrarily established. It''s not within the city walls, as we''re not buyingnd for "living." Liora summoned Rouro, who began destroying the surroundings. Weak monsters, trees, rocks¡ªall were smashed by Rouro''s fists. After dismissing Rouro, we stood in the newly cleared space. A decent amount of space had been secured. In front of me stood Liora, wearing a straw hat, her brand-new overalls, and a fresh towel around her neck. My spirit form also wore a matching straw hat, just for fun. "Let''s nt the seed now." "Yes! ¡­God, I can use a skill¡­!" "What skill¡­ could it be [Landscaping]?" "As expected of God! You knew from the start!" "Well, of course I did." It seems that Liora can nt the [Seed of the World Tree] more skillfully than usual. You might find it surprising, but the [Landscaping] skill is not rted to enhancing scythe techniques. It went ording to n, probably. "Time to nt!" Liora dug a hole with a shovel created from [Darkness Creation]. She carefully ced the seed into the hole, and just then¡ª [System Message: Contracted Liora has been registered as the owner of the World Tree] "?" Liora tilted her head in confusion, and her straw hat slipped off. I caught it with [Darkness Creation] and ced it back on her head as I nodded. "It means you''ve be the caretaker of the World Tree. The benefits are unclear, though. For now, let''s focus on nurturing this seed. We''ll be staying here for a while, Liora." "! We''ll be together forever!" "No, Liora will stay here, not me." "¡­?" It seemed a bit difficult for her to grasp. But well, if Liora stays here, I''ll be here too. I''ve already used [Darkness Creation] to set up a house. Staying here for a while won''t be a problem. "Let''s start decorating the house." "Yes! It''s God''s and my house!" The house I created with [Darkness Creation] is a bit lifeless. There''s no lighting, so we''ll need to arrange things purchased from shops. We set up the sofa, bed, and shelves we got through paid items. There''s also a bathing facility, but it requires arge amount of water, so using it daily will be difficult. After cleaning herself up from working in the dirt, Liora changed clothes and sat down on the sofa with a soft "poof." I was ced nearby and quietly spent my time reading. Meanwhile, Samurai and the [Weak Vine Dogs] were on guard. The Vine Dogs are weak and seem useless¡­ but their job is to die. If they disappear, it means something is approaching. And so, time passed peacefully. Discover hidden content at empire ***** "Plowing fields on sunny days and reading books on rainy days." It signifies a lifestyle of enjoying both productive work and leisurely activities, and is often praised as a symbol of a carefree, ideal life. Originally, my goal in starting "Sugo" was to achieve freedom and liberation from society, which aligns with what Liora likely desires as well. For us, tending to the World Tree is a refreshing and satisfying activity. Let''s outline our recent activities: Morning: Liora tends to the World Tree, dealing with nearby monsters and building barriers. She also cultivates other nts around the World Tree. Afternoon: After changing clothes, Liora studies with me. Her ability to absorb knowledge quickly makes teaching her a pleasure. She has already covered all the material for sixth-grade education. Evening: Liora and I spend time rxing. I read books or watch movies while she happily makes me sits on herp. At the end of the day, we take a bath together. Bathing is often overlooked in games, but it''s important for hygiene and preventing illnesses. Over-washing can be problematic, so I try to manage it to avoid wasting time. "-God" "What is it, Liora?" "It feels good!" "I''m d to hear that. It''s not so bad to enjoy this." "Yes! Right!" Liora is beginning to appreciate the joys of a slower-paced life. While it might not be typical for a young child to understand, there''s no harm in her learning these joys now if it brings her happiness. After bing tired of reading, Iy down on the bed. Liora follows, cuddling me like a stuffed animal. Despite her small size, she feels warm andforting, making me drowsy. Though I prefer real sleep, VR napping will suffice for now. We slept. Upon waking, we decided to go outside for a change of scenery. Thend, previously ravaged by Roro''s destruction, is now beginning to recover. Grass and trees are growing, and the World Tree has already reached Liora''s waist in height. Although the World Tree currently looks like an ordinary tree, possibly simr to an oak, it remains an unknown nt. We wonder if it will eventually resemble the corrupted World Tree. Hopefully, it won''t develop a face. "It seems monsters aren''ting around much." "Yes, is it because of God''s power?" "No, it might be due to the World Tree''s influence." Initially, this forest was teeming with monsters. We used various anti-monster items and methods to manage them. As the World Tree has grown, the number of enemies has decreased, which is a positive development. Liora can function without sleep due to her high regeneration and resilience, as well as the effects of the Angelic Factor. However, she is still a growing child, and adequate rest is important. Although it''s unclear if NPCs grow or change, their appearance can alter based on their nutrition. Since I have seen it practically in Liora''s case. "Will this be a raid boss?" "It''s possible, but it''s unlikely to attack its owner." Liora is officially recognized by the system as the World Tree''s owner, so it would be strange for it to attack us. I use the scissors made from [Darkness Creation] to prune the World Tree''s sapling, cutting small branches to encourage better growth. Liora''sndscaping skills are proving useful. I examine the small branches and discover they are materials for alchemy. With the quantity we''ve gathered over the past few days, it''s time to start my production. Since I have the necessary equipment, I began the alchemy process using the World Tree materials. [Liora''s Gardening Skill has leveled up!] [Nero''s Alchemy Skill has leveled up!] Chapter 65 The World Tree is all grown up Since I have the necessary equipment, I began the alchemy process using the World Tree materials. [Liora''s Gardening Skill has leveled up!] [Nero''s Alchemy Skill has leveled up!] The skill levels are skyrocketing. Both Liora''s Gardening skill and my Alchemy skill are rising ridiculously. Which is really good. It seems that the World Tree is crucial for production-oriented tasks. The level of the materials is too high. I''ve failed many times, but each failure has resulted in an increase in skill level as expected. Moreover, the materials seem to be in unlimited supply (probably). The skill levels are rising so rapidly that it has be quite amusing. My Alchemy skill is now at level 69. The efficiency is exceptional. Additionally, although iplete, I have managed to create a "Revival Potion." "I can die anytime now¡­?" "Please try not to die too often, Liora." "Yes, God! If I die, can Ie to your ce?" "Liora can alwayse to me." "O¡­ oh!" Liora starts to get excited and her eyes spin around. The effect of this revival potion is that it can be used once per day, and only within 30 seconds after death. The revived person will have 1 HP and will receive the negative status effect Near Death. This is a debuff that causes HP to not increase from 1 for a week. However, it will decrease over time. Also, a considerable amount of pain will be inflicted. It is basically not an item to be used inbat; using it means you are already in a losing situation. However, it should sell for a high price. "If it bes known that this is a production item and not a drop item, it could be problematic. We need to be careful when putting it on the market." "Yes! There are many useful items." "Yes, they are all interesting items. Bombs can also be used for attack purposes, and acids might be useful against special enemies." Due to material constraints, we can only make potions and explosives. It seems that if perfected, we could create Homunculi. So far, no yer has created a Homunculus. Though, it might just be kept secret. However, we can now create Golems as long as we have the materials. I''m looking forward to it. Find more chapters on empire It''s only a matter of time before we start cheating as production specialists. ¡­By the way, Samurai is also using the World Tree to raise her woodworking skills. She seems to have made a bench. During her idle time, Samurai sits expressionlessly on it. ¡­Is she quite fond of it? When I suggested improving the design, she ignored mepletely. "¡­" ***** Meanwhile ***** I decided to quit my job and make a living through gaming. I don''t find any merit in enduring societal life anymore. It''s boring, dull, and uninteresting¡ªthis reality. It''s a world without the excitement you find in online novels. But to think that a VRMMO would actually be developed in my lifetime¡­ I''ve always wanted to y one. By the time I was able to get the equipment to y, I had already missed the third wave. But still! Still, I can live in my ideal world. That thought alone kept me going, and I quit my job. I''ve gathered enough information from the pioneers, and they''ve said that it''s rtively easy to make a living through the game. I chose the dark spirit. Of course, I should look to Zephyr, the most sessful yer so far, for guidance. I''ve already obtained the essential skill, [Manifestation]. The issue now is finding the right contract target. From the third wave onwards, yers can ess the chaotic cities of Meteoearth, which are said to be muchrger than previous fields. Each city has its own unique traits¡ªsome are exclusively for elves, humans, dwarves, beastmen, or a mixture of all. Ideally, I want to make a contract with an elf, and preferably a beautiful girl. I have no interest in teaming up with any brutish men. However... While I was floating near the slums of a certain city, I spotted a young man frantically running for his life. The back alleys were filthy, with waste scattered everywhere. It was a scene under the ck night, illuminated by the moonlight on the edge of the world. The young man, with a swollen face, tripped and fell spectacrly. "Ugh... Why? Why does nothing ever go right for me? I hate this... I hate this kind of life... I hate this shitty world!" Seeing the pathetic state of the young man, I was deeply moved. This young man is me. Despairing at the triviality of the world, bored, tired... yet without the knowledge, power, or will to change it, only my heart rotting away. I have VR games at least. But this young man has nothing. Without thinking, I approached the filthy young man. As he shed pitiful tears, I, Milim the Dark Spirit, whispered to him. "Young man, don''t you want the power to destroy this worthless world?" "What... who are you? Am I going to die?" "Make a contract with me, young man. Then you''ll be able to win against the world." "Haha... I must have finally lost my mind. There''s no way I could win. I''ve never won at anything in my entire life." But! the young man howled at the moonlit sky. "I want to win too! Just once, I want to beat those who looked down on me, the smart ones who left the slums, the worthless scum who adapted to life here, the idiots who died... Just once, I want to win! I want to destroy this shitty worldpletely!" "Then it''s settled. You''ve got nothing to lose, right?" "Yeah, that''s right! I''ll make the contract! Give me power, you grim reaper!" And the contract was sealed. Just then, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching. It was those ruffians again. Leading them was a bald man wielding an axe, and his face looked terrifying. "Hey, there he is. It''s that idiot Stark! Just kill him already! There''s no point in keeping him alive. He''s worthless!" "H-Hey, Grim Reaper! Do something!" I shrugged my shoulders. Well, I don''t actually have shoulders since I''m a spirit. I whispered, "[Darkness Berserk]." ¨Œ "Now, Liora. The World Tree has grown quite a bit." "Yes, my God! It''s all thanks to your divine power..." "No, this time, it''s thanks to you, Liora. You''ve done well." "Oh... Waaaah!" Tears of joy started streaming down Liora''s face. Her emotional instability is part of her personality, so I won''t hold it against her. But it''s always awkward when a young girl cries.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Thanks to Liora''s efforts, the World Tree grew healthily. It now has its own self-defense mechanisms, and itshes out with its branches at anyone who approaches¡ªexcept for Liora, of course. It even strikes at me. There was also that incident where Liora, enraged after the World Tree hit me, shed it in half with the [Reaper''s Gift]. I panicked when I saw the tree cut in two, but luckily, it grew back just fine the next day. The World Tree has now even gained the ability to summon vine hounds, making it a formidable entity. Unfortunately, it isn''t a tameable monster, so I can''t take it with me. Well, not that a World Tree could walk anyway. Both the forest and its inhabitants seem to wee the World Tree''s presence. Instead of attacking it, they seem to be protecting it. Since this ce is so remote, it''s unlikely that anyone wille and try to hunt it down. "For now, we''ve run out of food and supplies. Let''s return to Mari." "...Yes." "We''lle back again. We need to level up asionally, or we''ll get rusty." "I''ll do my best!" Liora clenched her small, pudgy fists. Although her hands may look soft and tiny, if this were the real world, she''d have the strength to crush me with one grip. Such is the terrifying power of fantasy VRMMOs. Inded on Liora''s head and gently bounced up and down tofort her. "We''ll be back, of course. The World Tree''s materials are valuable, and this ce is our home, after all." "...Hehe. Our home. Mine and God''s home..." "Yes, our home." We had enjoyed this slow life for about a month. Well, in real time, it''s been just over a week. The emptynd is now covered with a grand tree, surrounded by a field of flowers. Next to it stands a pitch-ck house. We even dug a well, thanks to Samurai''s earth magic. Though Samurai doesn''t have much MP and isn''t very good at magic, she managed to keep going by drinking the MP potions we had made in infinite supply. Later, I learned that those potions tasted absolutely terrible. Samurai''s affection towards me dropped. But since I didn''t need the Mimic''s affection anyway, it wasn''t a big deal. I wasn''t being defensive, not at all. We climbed onto Samurai''s back and headed toward Mari. Chapter 66 The Witch No one truly understood the significance of Liora''s return, so it was treated like a triumphant parade that passed by a cute little girl. But this time, we''re different. After all, we brought along a resurrection potion. While this potion has severe drawbacks, it''s not meant forbat. However, having just one can prevent an unexpected ident. This would be a must-have for the wealthy and powerful. And, as an elite alchemist, I can make as much of this resurrection potion as I want. I could practically rule the world with this. I wonder how I''ll turn down the offer if I get chosen to be a national alchemist? As I was feeling good and arrived at the guild, a flustered receptionist hurried over to us. She looked at Liora''s face, then rudely examined her body, only to get kicked in the stomach and knocked to the ground. It''s a good thing for her. If Liora had used her Arts, her stomach would''ve beenpletely destroyed. The receptionist, barely able to breathe, muttered: "P-pardon me... The Master, h-he''s¡­" "? The gods say most things can be fixed with a punch." "Hah...hah...the Master...is calling you." "Okay." Without paying any attention to the receptionist, Liora headed to the guild master''s room with an expressionless face. The guild master had called Liora a model student, but if he wants to take that back, now''s the time. I''ll leave a healing potion here. Though it''s her fault, I won''t charge for it, out of the goodness of my heart. We arrived at the master''s room. "d you came, Liora. I''m sorry to say that currently, a mandatory mission has been issued to all adventurers of A-rank or higher in Marie." "A mandatory mission?" "Yes. Adventurers of A-rank or higher enjoy special privileges. But, along with those benefitse certain drawbacks. That''s the mandatory mission. It''s a ''since we always treat you well, please do us this favor in return'' kind of system." "The gods say: freedom means taking responsibility for oneself. I don''t mind." "That''s a relief." He handed over a parchment with the details written on it. Having learned a bit of reading, Liora struggled to make out the words. After a while, she managed to decipher that a powerful group of bandits had recently appeared. "They call themselves the ''Fallen Society.''" "Are they allies of the ''Destruction Society''?" "What''s that?" "I don''t remember." It seemed she only remembered the name. The "Destruction Society" was the name of a guild that fought alongside Liora in a raid battle royale. Their ystyle was mediocre, but they were quitepetent as close-range DPS. They were simr to Lolo in that role. The quest this time was to eliminate the bandit group known as the "Fallen Society." Basically, it seems like we''re allowed to wipe them out entirely. The safety of the women they kidnapped has taken a back seat, and it seems like the priority is to eradicate them. That''s the level of morality expected in a world like this. Several adventurers had attempted the mission, only to be wiped out without gaining any information. "The estimated threat level is S. If possible, I''d like you to form a party for this mission, Liora. You don''t have to rush as an A-rank adventurer. Take your time to prepare. Otherwise, it''s a mission you''ll die in. Honestly, we rmend just epting the mission and waiting it out." "Don''t need that." "An A-rank group, even veterans, challenged this and failed. Well, they were adventurers from another city, so we only know about their skills from rumors." It''s an incredibly strong, unknown enemy. Because it''s a mandatory mission, the reward is extraordinarilyvish, unlike usual. However, ording to the request, active participation isn''t exactly encouraged. It seems the guild doesn''t want to lose valuable A-rank adventurers. This mandatory mission seems more like a notice to "inform upper-rank adventurers of the threat" and "if possible, take them down," with a strong suggestion to "be cautious and form a group if you''re going to fight them." We gained some valuable information, usually reserved for higher-ranked adventurers. It could also be an "Independent Alliance" matter. However, for now, Jack Jack is searching for the enemy, and Hilda and Meme are focused on retaking the first field. It''s a hassle, and I don''t want to call everyone together. "Liora, let''s ept the quest. You can decideter whether or not to form a party." "The gods say: I ept. I''ll decideter whether to form a party." The guild master nodded in approval. She rested her chin on her interlocked fingers with an air of dignity and said, "By the way, Liora, what''s this ''Destruction Society''? Is it a group our guild can join?" "I don''t know." "Destruction! I like the sound of that..." This person is a bit of an odd one. ¨‹ For now, we tried selling the resurrection potion at the guild, but it didn''t go well. "No one sells a potion that amazing at a guild! You''re an A-rank adventurer, so it''s probably not a lie...is it? Is it really a resurrection potion...?" "It''s not a lie. Want to try it?" Liora brandished her scythe in front of the male receptionist (the female one had run away at the sight of Liora). The receptionist let out a shriek and furrowed his brows in distress. There''s no way a guild could afford to buy a resurrection potion. So, where should we sell it? "There''s a skilled witch in Marie. She might buy it. What do you think?" "Understood." "Great. However, the guild is also interested in the resurrection potion. Please keep us updated with any developments. We''ll offerpensation. I''ll also contact the witch, but she''s a bit entric¡­" "Understood." Liora lightly nodded and headed to the witch''s house as instructed. Before arriving at the house, I quickly checked the wiki for information on the witch. It seems like "witch" is a general term for someone in a production role, and they can make witch potions. Apparently, no one really understands the difference between those and regr potions. It sounds interesting, and I''m looking forward to meeting her. Read exclusive chapters at empire We walked through Marie. The town had a typical medieval European appearance. The stone streets were well-maintained with magic, keeping everything in good condition. There''s no sign of themonly depicted issue of waste left in the streets. It''s all likely due to magic. Maybe there''s a skill to maintain sanitation. Well, it''s a game world, so we shouldn''t expect too much realism. We grabbed some food from the noisy market stalls. Liora elegantly took a bite out of a meat skewer. Her small teeth tore through the thick meat, but despite the abundance of juices, she didn''t make a mess. She''s hunted animals and lived a slow-paced life, so she''s used to it. "We''ve arrived." "Let''s knock." Liora knocked on the door. The witch''s house didn''t look particrly witch-like. In fact, it was so ordinary that it was hard to tell it apart from the neighboring houses. There weren''t even any vines growing on it. Just as I began to doubt if this was really the witch''s house, the door opened, and a naked girl appeared. Her blue hair was sticking up in all directions, resembling a small jungle due to her bedhead. She had sleepy eyes.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om She wiped her face with the back of her hand. Her unfocused gaze drifted between Liora, me, and Samurai, and she mumbled: "Die." With a m, the door closed with a bang. Liora kicked the door open with force. The witch, who had been right behind the door, was knocked back by the impact. She quickly recovered and stood up, grasping a wooden staff. "What the hell! Attacking out of nowhere? Die! Die hard! I''m a level-70-something B-rank adventurer! I''ll turn you into a corpse! Die!" "You''re the one who''s going to die." Liora, holding her scythe, faced off against the witch. Judging by her appearance as a magic user, the witch probably couldn''t beat Liora at this close range. Especially if Liora used the power of "Keter''s Wing," she would be nearly impossible to kill. With the skill "Heavenly Wheel" and the support of "Yesod''s Wing,"bined with my spirit buff boosting her HP, Liora doesn''t die easily unless hit by a critical blow. Meanwhile, Liora can dish out instant kills. If the witchcks resistance to status effects, there''s nothing she can do. That said¡­ "Liora, we''re the ones who barged in unannounced. Though, telling us to die right away was a bit much." "She told a god to die. Gods are beings who transcend death!" "Indeed." Our goal is to sell the resurrection potion. In a way, I really do transcend death. For now, I might go along with Liora''s wishes. Killing the witch once and reviving her to sell the potion could work. She might not have the [Appraisal] skill, after all. It would be an efficient way to prove the potion''s effects. Maybe we should kill her after all. Liora''s instincts sometimes lead her to the truth. Just as I was about to give the green light to kill, Samurai pulled on my sleeve, handing over the resurrection potion. She showed it to the witch. "That! That''s an item made from the World Tree! Where did you get it!? I also want to make potions with World Tree materials!" It seems like the event with the witch has progressed. While the option to kill her might have worked, taking the peaceful route seems easier. As someone who has yed many games, I understand that using dirty methods usuallyes with some form of bacsh. "You actually managed to find World Tree materials!" the witch says with a smile. Chapter 67 The witch [2] It seems like the event with the witch has progressed. While the option to kill her might have worked, taking the peaceful route seems easier. As someone who has yed many games, I understand that using dirty methods usuallyes with some form of bacsh. "You actually managed to find World Tree materials!" the witch says with a smile. Unable to hide her excitement, the naked witch excitedly prattles on. Although her disheveled hair hides it, the witch is quite a beautiful young girl. As an adult man, I can only describe her as rather youthful. She looks around seventeen or eighteen years old. "So, where did you get the World Tree material? No, wait, you''re an adventurer. It''s bad manners to pry information from adventurers. But still... where did you get the World Tree material? I just can''t help but ask!" "This is the power of a god." "A god? The World? That one doesn''t make potions. It only exists to protect us based on its divine values." "A much greater god. My god." "Huh?" Liora''s god talk always leaves the listener bewildered. In this world, it seems there''s only The World as the recognized god. Since my stance and that of The World are so different, it''s no wonder the NPCs can''t make sense of it. The World seems to have a mixed reputation. Personally, I don''t really dislike The World. I don''t live my life diligently enough to hate airheaded people. And I''m not so capable that I can afford to see such people as enemies. But that doesn''t mean I like it either. The witch hops around the room with excitement. A lovely, naked girl is bouncing around, and in sync with her movements, her flesh jiggles. I see. "Sit down, sit down! What''s your name? Wee to myb."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om "Huh? What about killing you?" "Huh? Killing? What are you talking about?" "Huh?" "Huh? Just sit down." "Huh?" In a strange turn of events, Liora sat down with perfect posture. It seems Samurai is using their [Woodworking] skill to repair the door they destroyed. Fortunately, the door was made of wood. Samurai seems to be discovering the joy of woodworking. They''ll probably want to build a house eventually, perhaps near the World Tree. My house, created with [Create Dark], is certainly convenient but aesthetically not very pleasing, being all ck. Its strength is also just average. If Samurai carefully selects materials and builds it¡ªespecially using World Tree materials¡ªit could be a near-imprable fortress. Or maybe not. Liora sips the tea that was served. Apparently, it tastes good. Upon using [Appraisal], I find that it has the effect of recovering mental fatigue. I wonder if we can buy this? While Liora can ignore mental fatigue, I believe she still feels it. The witch puts on her witch hat and wraps a robe over her naked body. "I''m a witch. I''ve discarded my name. That''s why I''m just a witch." "That''s cool. I''ll discard my name too. I''ll be a servant of God." "Isn''t that a bit long?" "Long is fine." I shake my head from side to side. Even though I don''t have a head in my spirit form, Liora somehow senses my movements and understands. "Liora is Liora." "I''m me. Liora." Liora''s renaming crisis was averted. From there, the negotiations proceed. The resurrection potion is rare and fetches a high price. On the table, a pile of gold coins starts to umte. "That''s a lot of money." "Of course! A resurrection potion is something even royalty would kill for. Even if they''re poisoned, assassinated, or die suddenly, they cane back to life. A king''s job, when you think about it, is just to stay alive." "An easy job." "Paradise. Well, it seems like our king doesn''t think that way though..." We ended up selling three potions. That alone brings in enough money to livefortably for a year. It wasn''t as overpriced as I thought¡ªit was a fair deal. Apparently, resurrection potions are hard to manage. Considering the 30-second time limit after death, the frequency of use is extremely low. "Some people have items or skills suited for preserving things. But unless you keep those near you all the time, they''re useless. If the usage window or preservation time was longer, you''d have enough money to live luxuriously for life." Liora swallows audibly. One of Liora''s original wishes was to "make money as an adventurer." After all, money is a clear and understandable means of mastering life. Besides, Liora has experience living a slow life. The joy of not living life desperately is engraved into her young body. "Together with God forever... heh. No one else is around." "So, do you have any more World Tree material? I want to use it!" "I picked that potion up in a dungeon." "That''s impossible. The [Eye of Midlusa] isn''t something regr [Appraisal] can detect. It even shows the creator''s name. Zephyr made this one, didn''t they?" "Use ''sama'' with that name." "Huh?" It seems she''s onto us. If it were an item from a dungeon, there wouldn''t be a creator. So, the fact that I made it is now out in the open. Oh well, it can''t be helped. Keeping it secret would''ve been ideal, but prioritizing secrecy over earning money is pointless. Besides, it''s not for use inbat. Other yers might take notice... but I''ll manage somehow. "Well, leave it to me. I''m a born witch. Buying and selling potions is second nature to me. I''ll only sell to those I trust. Now, what about the World Tree material?" "Liora, let''s share a little. She''s a better craftsman than me. She might make something amazing." The World Tree material was created by Liora herself. It wouldn''t make sense to give it away without her permission. Though, it''s unlikely Liora will refuse. Liora nods. She takes the material out of her item box and starts toy it out. "Here. Take this." "No, I''ll buy it! I like you! I don''t beg from people I like. It''s because we''re equals that the next time is allowed, and rtionships are formed. A transaction forms an unbreakable bond." If you give something away unterally, that bond can be severed at any time. However, if there''s profit involved, breaking that bond won''t be so easy. Though, depending on the person''s nature, they might not care. "Then I''ll sell it. How much?" Liora tilts her head. Even more money was piled up than what we received for the resurrection potions. Liora''s eyes widened in surprise. "Why is this so expensive?" "The potions were already processed, and the one who made them is still inexperienced. I can make something even better. In other words, the raw material is rarer." "God is much greater!" "Well, for now, Liora, that''s just how things work. I can''t use my full power in this world." Liora, after pondering for a moment, nods in agreement. For now, the transaction isplete. Liora and the witch begin what feels like a tea party. Meanwhile, I start appraising the items in the shop. I''d like to buy anything useful. Enjoy new adventures from empire There are also forced quests, after all. Liora and the witch chat, surprisingly having a decent conversation. Although Liora is quite bad at exining things, it seems. The witch, on the other hand, is obsessed with the World Tree material. "When will you get more World Tree material? I''ll probably fail a few times since it''s new stuff." "I''m on a forced mission right now. I''m not sure when I''ll get more." "Oh, is it that bandit group?" Oh? This might be important information. I stop appraising and listen to the witch. "I didn''t fight them, but one guy returned. Though it seems he only survived by abandoning his femalepanion. That''s why he hasn''t been able to report it to the guild." "Were they strong?" "He didn''t know. Apparently, their ace fell out of nowhere and started crying, and in that moment, they were surrounded. All the men were killed instantly, but this guy escaped with his agility. The enemy group doesn''t seem to be particrly high-level." From what I hear, it seems like something was done to their minds. The enemy''sbat strength doesn''t seem high. That makes them all the more troublesome. Most likely, some kind of [Title] or [Unique Skill] is at y here. "If it''s a forced mission, you''ll have to fight. I''m not much forbat myself, but I can prepare something to defend against mental attacks." "Thank you." "Don''t mention it. It''s for the World Tree material and, besides, you seem like you''ll bring me more interesting things in the future." The witch prepared several items to defend against mental attacks. No matter how strong you are, mental attacks are always troublesome. A doll that takes the mental attack for you, a hair ornament that cures confusion, a mirror to break free from brainwashing¡ªall sorts of items. Sixty percent of the money we earned from selling the resurrection potions vanished in the process. Chapter 68 BANDIT HUNT! After that, Liora and I rented a room at an inn. While Liora was resting, I gathered information about the bandits from the bulletin board. The third wave had already arrived in the game "PHO," and they were primarily ying in the third field. Some yers who had failed to reim the first field and lost their NPCs had also moved to the third field. In any case, there were plenty of yers in the third field. Since this field was muchrger than the previous ones, encountering other yers seemed rare. "Hmm, it seems that some of the bandits are possessed by spirits." "Spirits are meaningless before God." "Indeed¡­" What would Liora think if she knew that I was one of those spirits? I feel like she wouldn''t be able to handle the truth. For the sake of the young girl''s mental health, I must ensure my lie remains hidden. The bulletin board disyed the atrocitiesmitted by the bandits. There were many videos of them doing terrible things to women, torturing and killing men. People with any sense of decency were outraged. On the other hand, those who reveled in such actions were apuding and even requesting to join forces with them. "This could be troublesome if we don''t take them out soon." In the real world, such actions would be criminal, but in the game, they were merely considered bad manners. If people who want to do such things form a group, it could turn into arger problem than expected. The most troublesome person was the leader of the group. Whenever he did something, it caused people to break down in tears and fall to the ground. He wasn''t dealing direct physical damage. It was a form of **mind control**. That seemed to be the type of attack he used. Furthermore, from the videos, it appeared that his attacks were always apanied by the manifestation of a spirit. It''s likely a unique skill avable to the yer. "PHO" had a rare feature for a modern MMO. There were no system restrictions on dirty y at all. In most MMOs, there are safe zones where yer killing (PK) isn''t allowed, or penalties for PK yers like turning their names red. These mechanics make PKing less favorable. But in "PHO," none of those exist. yers canmit crimes freely. If they''re caught, they might be arrested, but the system imposes no real penalties. It''s almost like real life. It was a miracle that themunity in "PHO" had maintained its integrity until now. Gamers tend to think, "If it''s not forbidden, it''s part of the game." Some yers follow proper etiquette, but that''s only a small portion. If more people gather to join the bandit group and their levels rise, it will be dangerous. For the sake of Liora and I having a safe and fun VRMMO life¡­ we''ll need to eliminate them. "I''ve decided, Liora. Before they level up any further, we''re going to deal with them." "Understood, God. I''ll follow you¡­ no matter what!"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Good." The person responsible for recording the bandit group''s deeds, a water spirit yer known as "Acid Method," had started a live stream. He was a spirit without a contractor, making him rtively powerless. However, by not forming a contract, he could freely roam around in "PHO." He seemed to enjoy filming the atrocitiesmitted by the bandits and posting videos of them. In the video, we see an NPC woman crying and copsing after being attacked by the leader. The men rush forward. Some yers who had manifested spirits were among them. It was a video too brutal to watch. I kept watching the stream without cutting it off, keeping my eyes fixed on the leader and his spirit. They were up to something, both the leader and his contracted spirit. Discover exclusive tales at empire It was likely a coordination skill simr to what Tanaka and Hilda used. "¡­Honestly, this is too unpredictable. Many of those who have challenged them were A-rank. Surely, they must have devised some countermeasures." The bulletin board was abuzz with activity. It seemed that a team had formed to take down the bandit group. However, I suspected deception. Recruiting through the bulletin board¡­ It was most likely a trap. There were probably ouws mixed in, people already part of the bandit group or wanting to join them. Anyone joining this team would likely be stabbed in the back. These enemies were irritating. Before themunity crumbled, we needed to stop them. ¨Œ The location of the bandits was quickly discovered. After all, they were streaming their crimes live in real-time. They were raping and torturing women, utterly destroying their dignity. yers who had contracted NPCs couldn''t bear the horrific sight and fled. The live stream was quite popr. Many people were joining in, saying things like, "I''m next!" and "I''ll kill off my NPC on purpose and head to the third field." It was essentially a recruitment drive. If my contracted NPC had been male, I might have infiltrated the group to gain their trust, but¡­ Liora would be targeted immediately. We approached the bandits'' hideout under the cover of "Shadow Veil." Their base was a cave in the mountains. The cave, upgraded with cash items, looked surprisinglyfortable. There were two guards posted outside. After using "Appraisal," I found that both were fairly skilled. Their skillposition was too polished, so I concluded they were possessed by spirits. The spirits were probably nearby, or perhaps even present in the live stream. They were too engrossed in their brutal acts to be on guard. Now was the perfect time to strike. The time was noon. We avoided attacking at night because Liora''s "Angel Factor" skill would draw too much attention in the dark. In the forest, Liora silently dashed forward. Liora reached the designated position and silently prepared to use "Snipe Lightning." At the same time, I quietly approached one of the NPCs. The witchcraft signal I purchased from a witch vibrated. Without a sound, Liora''s sniper shot blew off the head of one of the guards. Just as the other guard was about to scream, my "Present Silent" silenced him. His mouth opened wide, but no sound came out. Another shot followed. ¨Œ We sessfully infiltrated the cave. The cave had been renovated using "Earth Magic" and "Construction" skills. It was structured like a smallbyrinth. There was even a locked door. However, such mechanisms were powerless before "Create Dark." By inserting darkness into the keyhole, manipting it, and turning it, I could unlock the door. "Create Dark" was still considered a high-difficulty skill on the bulletin board andbeled "useless." I needed to spread the word about how useful it truly was. Liora''s scythe, too, was gaining recognition for its utility, but it was still unpopr because no one wanted to learn how to use such a difficult weapon from scratch. Along the way, we eliminated a few weak guards. My "Present Silent" and Samurai''s surprise attacks were highly effective. We moved through the cave without breaking our "Shadow Veil." We weren''t suited for sneak missions. Eventually, we saw rooms scattered throughout the cave. It was clear that the power of fantasy was incredible¡ªthis ordinary cave had been turned into a lodging facility. Samurai used his "Sonic Wave" skill to search the area. It seemed there were fewer people waiting around since most were busy having fun. Whenever we encountered someone in a room, we swiftly eliminated them. The cave exploration was going smoothly, but of course, it had its limits. Naturally, there were also enemies who specialized in searching. A man, followed by five subordinates, sensed something and approached. "Hmm, I hear something." "Really, Beak?" "Yeah. My ''Music'' skill is telling me. It sounds like there''s a melody other than screams of agony and joy in this cave." "Man, I wanna get back. I''ve only had two turns so far, and one of them was just the butt! It sucked¡­ though it was kinda nice. If we don''t hurry back, those bastards are going to make a mess with their fluids." "Don''t even get me started. I haven''t had a single go yet." "Well, that''s because you were too busy ying your instrument during it." "I was just turning my excitement into music." "Gross." Their lighthearted conversation was easy to overhear. We didn''t even need to rely on Samurai''s "Sonic Wave." They were clearly the kind of people who wouldn''t be missed if we killed them, so we had no reason to hold back. "Liora, go. ''Present Silent,'' ''Present Paralyze.''" "!" I grabbed the leader''s mouth and paralyzed his underlings. Liora rushed past them and ughtered the rest of the group. With a casual swing of her scythe, their heads parted from their bodies. A few tried to resist, but none could kill Liora. Those who did only provided her with recovery through her "Life-Stealing de." Though it was a surprise attack, Liora was terrifyingly strong against weaker foes. The self-proimed musician tried to shout something. The paralyzed underling writhed on the ground. Samurai bound them both tightly. Liora ced her scythe against their necks, tilting her adorable head with a smile. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 69 The Bandit Head- STARK! We began using the items purchased from the witch. We took all the possible defensive measures, such as resistance potions and decoy dolls made from World Tree materials by the witch. Additionally, Liora had already activated her new Angel''s Factor Arts. During a month of slow living, though there were few battles, I kept the Angel''s Factor constantly active. Thanks to that, the skill level had surpassed 30 and was soon approaching 40. The new Art was called Ultimate Wing. The constant buff of this Art provides "resistance to debuffs." While it isn''t a perfect resistance, it significantly reduces the chances of being affected by status ailments. When activated, it has the ability to "forcefully remove all buffs and debuffs in the vicinity, regardless of the target''s unique skills." However, it also removes any buffs on oneself, so itspatibility with other Angel''s Factor Arts is not the best. Even wings and heavenly rings disappear. Still, better safe than sorry. The skills used by the enemy might be considered buffs, and the ability to remove them unconditionally would be our trump card in this fight. I did consider using Angle Wing II instead. Its constant buff reduces MP consumption, and its activated effect is a "one-time ability to nullify an enemy''s Arts," a cheat-like ability. However, if the enemy could spam their unique skills, it would be meaningless, so I opted not to use it. I try to avoid using Angel''s Factor as much as possible since losing its constant buffs would be a waste. After finishing all the preparations we could, we silently slipped into the grand hall. A scene of chaos, which could only be described as madness, was unfolding before us. A group of rough, filthy men, barely clothed in rags, were acting as they pleased. They tormented women and, when bored, drank alcohol as if it were water. Men snored on the floor, others fought, and some were clearly under the influence of dubious substances. It was the worst kind of party. A vile debauchery of gluttony and lust. This was far from the kind of scene I wanted Liora to witness. I had hoped to raise her as a girl who appreciated flowers and butterflies. ¡­Though, I had actively made her kill bandits. Ideals always seem the furthest from reality, don''t they? "Liora, aim slowly. The enemy hasn''t noticed us¡­ That weak-looking young man, he''s the leader of this group¡ªStark." "¡­" Liora nodded quietly. The young man known as Stark was the leader of this "Fallen Society." His individualbat ability was low, and his estimated level didn''t even reach 40. However, he seemed to possess a powerful unique skill. This PHO world asionally grants unique skills that could be called official cheats. Liora''s ughter de is incredibly powerful, though ites with drawbacks. Its effect is simply "enhancing des." I''ve heard of skills like "halving all damage while the eyes are closed," "teleportation," or "exploding anything touched," all cheat-level abilities. It''s practically like supernatural powers. Stark seemed to possess a suspicious, cheat-like unique skill on par with these. "But, in modern ability battles, there''s a standard weakness. The Achilles'' heel of ability users is sniping." No matter how powerful someone''s abilities may be, they''re irrelevant if you can kill them from afar with a sniper shot. And this guy didn''t seem to have any skills to counter sniping, right? Now, die peacefully. Liora''s scythe glowed with a sh, and Snipe Light shot forth. The light bullet pierced through Stark''s head in an instant. With a thud, Stark fell lifeless to the ground. Momentster, blood started gushing out of his head, and the bandits who witnessed it stood frozen in shock. However, a morepetent one quickly began organizing the situation. Since we had attacked, Shadow Veil had already been dispelled. "Kill them!" "Death God! Hurry and give us the usual boost!" The moment one of the bandits shouted, their bodies were consumed by dark energy. That must have been the dark spirit''s special buff skill¡ªDarkness Berserk. It robbed Its targets of reason and greatly enhanced their physical abilities. Drooling, the men rushed at Liora. The scene looked like something out of a zombie apocalypse movie, but this is the world of a VRMMO! The Death God girl''s eyes turned ck as she took a step forward with calm grace. Warriors without reason were utterly pointless. She dodged a swinging fist with fluid movement, severed the man''s neck in a single upward sh, and killed the spear wielder approaching her with a return stroke. Her de was imbued with Death Guide de. The forced critical hits easily sliced through human bodies. This Art is especially terrifying when used against other yers. Several enemies in the rear fired arrows. I had already activated Khesed''s Wing. Even if an arrow pierced her head, Liora would convert the damage to normal and shrug it off. As long as the arrows are pulled out within five minutes, it won''t be an issue. Liora possesses cheat-like strength too. It was a massacre. With every move of Liora''s small body, blood sttered, and organs were flung into the air. Her dance, using the Kagura skill, resembled a deadly wind. Within five seconds, six banditsy dead. Liora, expressionless, continued to spread death without hesitation. The surviving bandits, terrified, started shouting something. Some yers Manifested. However, no matter how strong or invincible a Manifested yer may be, it''s meaningless if their contractor is too afraid to act. I could just kill the NPCs as usual. "Honestly¡­" A round yer manifested. There are several types of Manifestation skills. Judging by the effect surrounding this yer, it wasn''t the Decisive Manifestation used for critical battles. Rather, it was the opposite. This was a Manifestation meant for long durations, allowing them to walk the world without adding any buffs to their stats. It''s not an Art used forbat. Yet, the fact that they dared to use it now meant something was up. Liora seemed to understand this as well, but yers cannot be damaged. "Seriously, huh. Getting killed by a sniper¡­ I suppose that''s something to work on. We should have prioritized the Fatal Evasion skill. Oh well¡­ Get up, Stark." The dark spirit pulled out a resurrection potion from its Item Box. It wasn''t the kind I made through alchemy. No, it was aplete version of a resurrection potion obtained from an event. Stark''s group, being part of the third wave, must have stolen it from NPCs participating in the event over the past month on the third field. There wasn''t enough time to stop them. The resurrection potion was poured over Stark. Liora, having already given up on stopping it, began chanting Snipe Lightning again. However, a Manifested yer stepped into the line of fire. "¡­Ah, being dead sucks. Hey, Grim Reaper." "I told you, I''m not a Grim Reaper. Let''s go." "Yeah." The rogue group''s cheat-like unique skills were activated. The rogues'' unique skills were about to activate. "It doesn''t seem like we can stop them." I quickly cast Darkness Creation on Stark. I didn''t know what his unique skill was, but if the activation condition involved being seen, it would be problematic. If I could just block his vision with a curtain of darkness¡ª However, before I could finish, the enemy''s Manifestation surpassed my fastest movements. "Envision it." "Behold." "Nightmare Trauma Vision." "Mind Lens!" Something was cast on Atri. With a ng, Atri dropped the Death-filled Shadow. Her spiraling eyes lost all color. Clutching her head, she¡ª "AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om She screamed. Tears overflowed from her eyes as she repeatedly reached out into the void. Like an abandoned puppy, Atri, in utter despair, stretched her hands toward something unseen. I couldn''t tell from the video. But, since I know Atri well, I could understand. I see now¡ªthis was a skill that was indeed difficult to defend against. The enemy''s unique skill made you "see something." That''s all it did. It wasn''t a debuff. Strictly speaking, it was simr to my Shadow Veil. In a way, it was like projecting a screen directly onto the retina. To induce hallucinations, you''d normally need drugs or some form of brain maniption. However, their attack was akin to forcibly putting a VR headset on someone. It was a different genre of attack, making it difficult to defend against. "Don''t¡­ don''t abandon me¡­ God! God, God, God, God, God¡­ Without God, I¡­ Ah, ah, ah¡­" The enemy''s unique skill was much "weaker" than I had anticipated. However, bybining their otherwise minor skills, they managed to create a significant disruption. "Shio, let''s buy some time. Their level is low. If you and I hold them off, Atri should recover. They can''t maintain that vision indefinitely." ¡º¨D¨D!¡» Shio extended her tendrils, and I sharpened my focus. The remaining thieves. The yers allied with the thieves. And now, the resurrected Stark and his group. "Three minutes, Shio. If we can''t hold for three minutes¡ª" ¡ªA full-scale defense battle had begun. ¨Œ I have nothing. Being born was a mistake. The other children are surrounded by their families and friends, and they all look so happy. The families and friends look so joyful as they watch over the children. But. But my family¡­ only looks in pain. If I hadn''t been born, my family wouldn''t have had to give birth to a child like me, a monster¡­ The world feels dark, like an endless night. I was hit so many times. Kicked so many times. Chapter 70 Bandit Hunt [2] "Don''t¡­ don''t abandon me¡­ God! God, God, God, God, God¡­ Without God, I¡­ Ah, ah, ah¡­" The enemy''s unique skill was much "weaker" than I had imagined. However, bybining their otherwise minor skills, they managed to create a significant disruption. "Samurai, let''s buy some time. Their level is low. If you and I hold them off, Liora should recover. They can''t maintain this vision indefinitely." ¡º¨D¨D!¡» Samurai extended her tendrils, and I sharpened my focus. The remaining thieves. The yers allied with the thieves. And now, the resurrected Stark and his group. "Three minutes, Samurai. If we can''t hold for three minutes¡ª" ¡ªA full-scale defense battle had begun. ¨Œ I have nothing. Being born was a mistake. The other children are surrounded by their families and friends, and they all look so happy. Their families and friends look so joyful as they watch over the children. But. But my family¡­ only looks in pain. If I hadn''t been born, my family wouldn''t have had to give birth to a child like me, a monster¡­ The world feels dark, like an endless night.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om I was hit so many times. Kicked so many times. Thrown to the floor, drenched in water, beaten with sticks, and cursed at. The vige''sws kept them from killing me, but I was little more than livestock¡ªjust barely kept alive. That was my everyday life. There was no escape. A child like me would only die if I went outside. No, perhaps dying would''ve been better, but from a young age, it had been drilled into my soul: "Don''t go outside." Violence and abuse. "Don''t go outside." That was all I ever learned from my family. Maybe, I wanted to die. One day, my mother got sick. I was delighted. It wasn''t because I felt triumphant. If I could cure my mother¡­ maybe I could finally smile too. The smile that the other children wore so easily. The smile I had never seen on my family''s faces¡ªor even my own. I thought this was my chance to finally see it. Later, the gods told me this was amon psychological response. Abused children often hide their parents'' abuse. There are many reasons for this, but in my case¡­ I thought I could earn love. There''s no such thing as unconditional love in this world, but if it were conditional, then maybe¡­ Such foolish thoughts. But perhaps, on that day, I was ready to die. ¨Œ Thanks to the decision I made that day, I met God. God is incredible. He gave a powerless nobody like me the strength to kill anything and everything. The weak Liora that once was is no longer. God spoke to me. ¡ºGirl, can you hear me?¡» ¡ºGirl, do you desire power?¡» ¡ºDo you not wish for the strength to protect yourself from those foul creatures?¡» ¡ºIt is too soon to give up. If you make a contract with me¡ªyou can be free.¡» ¡ºWith power, you may do as you please. Live as you wish. I will allow it.¡» God''s words were filled with more love than anything I had ever known. Kind, warm¡ªevery word ignited my soul. It felt like a breath of new life had been blown into me, as if my entire miserable existence had been a lie. If you have power, you can do whatever you want. When I heard those words, I felt a shiver down my spine. That''s it. The reason my family and the vige could treat me however they wanted, could oppress me¡ªit was because I was weak. The weak are taken from, destroyed, tormented, and ridiculed. But if I be strong¡­ God gave me the answer. He even showed me how to obtain it. I love Him. In this world, only God saved me. At that moment, I realized. It wasn''t that I wanted to be loved. I wanted to love someone from the bottom of my heart. Feel true devotion. I had never known such emotions, but they naturally surfaced within me. God taught me that I, too, had those feelings. God gives me everything. He showed me that I wasn''t a monster''s child, but just a normal human being. And so. And so, I became afraid. What if¡­ What if, what if, what if, what if, what if, what if, what if, what if, what if, what if, what if, what if, what if, what if, what if, what if, what if¡­ ¡ªWhat if God abandons me? ¨Œ Samurai and I tried to buy time, but it was impossible. Both Samurai and I specialize in crowd control. If they target Liora, who can''t move, there''s nothing we can do. I prepared everything, but I have to admit, the enemy was better. This match is Liora''s loss. However, Liora''s defeat is not our defeat. "The time for stalling is over. Samurai, guard Liora." ¡º¨D¨D?¡» "I''m done with this. I''ve been meaning to experience full-dive VR seriously." This world feels far more alive than the boring reality outside. However, my values and those of the thieves are fundamentally ipatible. They must be eliminated for my sake. Above all else¡­ "Watching Liora cry and scream is¡­ not fun." And so. I said. "Die, you fools." Trash talk is a gamer''s habit. I sighed, stopped floating around aimlessly, and muttered in resignation. The air, the very space around us, began to pulse like a heartbeat. It was as if the world itself had been waiting for this moment. "**Kamui¡­**" I felt an overwhelming force of darkness. It should only be mere data, yet it filled me with a sense of omnipotence, as if I truly possessed the power of a god. As I wove my words, night spread around me. The official cheat skill, granted to me by the system god¡ª "**Manifestation¡­**" The world was swallowed by darkness, and then¡ª¨Œ Video Streamer Acid Method The moment Zephyr muttered something, the world shifted. It was just a game, and yet, a fierce sense of dread, as if I had touched a forbidden taboo, surged within me. The cute, fluffy appearance of the dark spirit vanished¡ªno, more urately, it was erased. In its ce, a massive, towering dark curtain appeared, looming over the spot where Zephyr once stood. A strong sense of foreboding. I wasn''t participating in the battle. I didn''t even have any contract NPCs. Since I wasn''t in a fighting position, I couldn''t lose, nor could I lose anything. I was simply a spirit drifting through the world, broadcasting what I saw and what I wanted to share. And yet, my trembling wouldn''t stop. The dark curtain began to slowly open. The being beyond the curtain was nothing more than data¡ªat least it should have been! But I was terrified. Horrified beyond belief¡­ It felt like a real¡ªevil god was about to emerge. "Ah." A new voice, one that hadn''t been present before, echoed. The curtain opened. At that moment, a fog-like night poured out from behind it. And from within that night, *It* emerged, cutting through the darkness with its presence. The moment Iid eyes on it, I instinctively muttered, "Amane Roki¡­?" There stood, no¡ªthere reigned a figure. A figure that anyone, at least anyone with a basic level of education, would recognize. A young man with beauty rivaling that of an elf. Long, golden hair flowing down his back, and a perfectly bnced, mncholic expression¡­ His looks were so surreal that even as a man, I couldn''t help but sense his allure¡ªthis was no ordinary person. Commonly referred to as the "Murdered Artist." Referred to as the "World''s Greatest Masterpiece." Referred to as a "Madman." He possessed the greatest talent in the field of art, and whenever he created a piece, it would be traded for millions. He was a monster who would use all the money he earned to create even more masterpieces¡­ A true lunatic. Most importantly, He was a pitiful man who threw away his talent and allowed himself to be a cog in society out of some petty emotion. There he was, Amane Roki, a true legend, as if he had stepped right out of the TV screen. "Now I get it," I muttered in disbelief. In this game, "Sugo", there were monsters known as "real-life cheats." Zephyr was considered one of them, especially known for handling the notoriously difficult skill [Create Dark]¡ªa monstrous ability. It was often said on the forums: "Only Zephyr or Amane Roki could handle such a skill freely." Seeing Amane Roki in person, I couldn''t stop trembling. It wasn''t the awe of seeing a famous person¡ªit was the realization of the overwhelming difference in existence that those who had once challenged event raids had felt. As I stood frozen, Amane Roki lightly shrugged his shoulders. His movements were simple, but every action was so refined it was like watching art in motion. With each blink, his long eyshes fluttered. "I see. This body moves better than my real one. Is there anyone who can control it perfectly on their first try? Even I, with all my knowledge of muscle dynamics, took a while." Casually, Amane Roki¡ªZephyr picked up a scythe. Zephyr''s lips moved as he turned towards Stark, who still couldn''t move. "[Create Dark]." Instantly, darkness formed aplex house-like structure. Stark, trapped inside, seemed desperate to escape. But the cruel reality wouldn''t stop. "Five." Zephyr whispered the number, resting the scythe on his shoulder as he began to walk. "Get him!" yelled the bandits. "He''s alone! We''ve got weapon skills over 50!" Chapter 71 Zephyr-The death itself Seeing Amane Roki in person, I couldn''t stop trembling. It wasn''t the awe of seeing a famous person¡ªit was the realization of the overwhelming difference in existence that those who had once challenged event raids had felt. As I stood frozen, Amane Roki lightly shrugged his shoulders. His movements were simple, but every action was so refined it was like watching art in motion. With each blink, his long eyshes fluttered. "I see. This body moves better than my real one. Is there anyone who can control it perfectly on their first try? Even I, with all my knowledge of muscle dynamics, took a while." Casually, Amane Roki¡ªZephyr picked up a scythe. Zephyr''s lips moved as he turned towards Stark, who still couldn''t move. "[Create Dark]." Instantly, darkness formed aplex house-like structure. Stark, trapped inside, seemed desperate to escape. But the cruel reality wouldn''t stop. "Five." Zephyr whispered the number, resting the scythe on his shoulder as he began to walk. "Get him!" yelled the bandits. "He''s alone! We''ve got weapon skills over 50!" "Spirits aren''t skilled in closebat anyway." "Kill him! Hurry! Kill him! This our only chance finish that bastard off!!" Finally, the bandits began to move. All of them had decent skills. If the information on the forums was to be believed, this was Zephyr''s first time using [Manifestation]. So, he will not familiar with it. And my bandit army can easily kill him And on top of that, his [Dark Magic] was mostly focused on debuffs. Even if he manifested, he wouldn''t be able to use any significant magic, nor could he possibly engage in closebat¡­or so I thought. "I''ve carefully observed Liora''s movements. I don''t need skills." Effortlessly, he swung his weapon while muttering iprehensible to me. Zephyr easily took down the bandits who had honed their weapon skills to rival those of real-life swordmasters. The bandits who hadunched themselves at him were ughtered in an instant. Before I realized it, there were corpses lying around. Even drenched in blood, Amane Roki was terrifyingly beautiful. It wasn''t like Liora''s graceful scythe technique. Zephyr''s was more brutal. He fully understood and controlled his muscles, striking with the scythe in the most efficient and deadly way possible. His enemies were cleaved in two by his scythe as if they were drawn into it. "Six." There were only a few bandits left. The army whom I thought and invested in to win this fight were easily defeated. Even the reinforcements who had arrived were casually dispatched by Zephyr''s scythe. It looked like he was just swinging it around, but with each swing, lives were taken with ease. On top of that he is iming he is not using any skills. If Liora''s scythe technique "spread death," then Zephyr''s was "delivered death with a brutal finality." The owner of the Death Spirit was¡ªDeath itself. "Seven." It was over. No one could stop Zephyr as he walked leisurely forward. Before I realized it, the beautifully menacing figure, cloaked in ominous darkness, nced softly in my direction, sending a chill down my spine. I couldn''t even remember to keep filming. I just crouched down and stared at the ground. But I couldn''t help but look back at Zephyr. It felt dangerous to even take my eyes off him. That being¡­ I shouldn''t get involved with him. I finally understood the fear that those who had once frozen in terror during the raid boss fights had felt. ¨Œ Dark Spirit Milim That was an absurdly durable wall.N?v(el)B\\jnn It must''ve been a far more powerful manifestation skill than a normal [Manifestation]. That was probably Zephyr''s trump card¡ªhis unique skill. "It''s unfair¡­" Zephyr''s true identity was likely the real Amane Roki. He had everything. Talent, wealth, charisma, beauty¡ªeverything that people desire, he possessed. And yet, he imed to throw it all away for his friends. Against someone like that. I wouldn''t lose¡ªnot even in this game. "Stark! We''re going to kill him! Forget that brat. Next, we''ll take down that arrogant¡ªStark?" Just when Stark was about to break free from Zephyr''s [Create Darkness], when I thought it was finally time to strike back¡­ The match was already decided. "Ugh, gah¡­" Groaning in pain was Stark, lying on the ground. Zephyr''s foot rested on his neck, poised to crush him at any moment. Those horrifyingly beautiful eyes looked down at Stark as though he were nothing more than an insect. "The unique skill you cast on Liora, does it disappear after your death?" "Ugh¡­ No¡­ I don''t want to die. Do something¡­ Please, Grim Reaper!" Stark is weak. Just like me in reality. My chest burns with anger. Why is the world so unfair? Those who have everything, keep gaining more. Those with nothing, struggle desperately to find something¡ªonly to end up with nothing. In such a life, I had finally found it. Just one thing. A power given to me and Stark by the system. A power that could hold its own in the world. My unique skill that forces me to relive sny trauma. Stark''s unique skill that shows what he is thinking. Both are useless on their own, meaningless¡­ but that''s precisely why theyplement each other so perfectly. "Please¡­ stop. I won''t hurt anyone anymore." I mutter in a daze. But my plea¡ªwords from a background character¡ªwon''t reach the protagonist. He, coldly beautiful, tells fools like us, "I''m going to kill him, either way. And as for you, youngdy¡­ tough luck. You''ve lost." "Wait, Amane Roki!" "¡­It''s off-putting. Don''t call me by my real name." "I know who you are!" Amane Roki nodded, looking utterly uninterested. "I figured you did." "I know! I know everything! If you kill him¡ªif you kill Stark¡ªI''ll hunt you down in real life! This isn''t a bluff! My unique skill is useless without Stark!" "If he dies, I''ll be thrown back into my meaningless life! I won''t let you kill him! I''lle to your house in the real world and kill you! Do you understand what it''s like to have nothing to lose?!" Find exclusive stories on empire "Feel free, as you like." Stark''s neck was crushed. Just like that. I frantically tried to use a resurrection potion, but Amane Loki grabbed my spirit body faster than I could react. I had no idea when he even moved. His beautiful face was right next to mine, close enough to kiss, as he observed me. Those empty, yet gorgeous eyes were staring deep into me. "Your ystyle isn''t bad. In fact, I don''t dislike it. Many people will mock you, saying, ''She''s taking a game this seriously? Threatening someone in real life over it?''" "But it''s no lie if you''re that invested. You''re sacrificing reality, pulling reality into the game¡­ Desperation is truth, and I acknowledge your malice." A chill ran down my spine. I''m scared. Amane Roki''s eyes¡­ terrify me. I truly intend to kill him in the real world. And he understands that. He knows I''m going toe after him¡ªand he epts it. He''s making me understand. He too is a man with nothing to lose. It''s probably also due to the system''s influence. The aura emanating from Amane Loki is like a god''s¡ªno, more like an evil god who permits malice. His presence sends a shiver through me. "I¡­" Amane Roki¡ªor rather, Zephyr¡ªspeaks. "I''m not good with affection. I don''t know how to reject it¡­ But your malice is easy to grasp. It''s something I can trample on, reject, and destroy without guilt. The clearest, simplest, most convenient¡ªsuch a delightful rtionship!" "I don''t understand¡­ Why is this happening to us?" "You made Liora cry. Isn''t that obvious? That sin is punishable by death." He cleared his throat with a cough. "Now, there are only seventeen seconds left. Time for your punishment." He carried me, crushing me with his grip, and headed towards Acid Method, the one recording the scene. He picked up the fallen Acid Method with his left hand, while holding me in his right. Zephyr smiled. "Spirits don''t take damage, but you can still feel pain, can''t you?" As soon as he finished speaking, we were both swung around. At a speed impossible in reality, without a chance to react, we were relentlessly swung through the air. In an instant, my sense of bnce was shattered, and though I wanted to vomit¡­ I couldn''t. We were subjected to sixteen seconds of hell before finally being released. But by then, we had no strength left. I wanted to throw up but couldn''t. The world was spinning. Even though I was looking straight ahead, I couldn''t see straight. The world was breaking apart. A shattered world. Inside the cave. A tiny world. Fleeting happiness. The joy of trampling on others. What remained was a dark cave, blood, flesh, and the grotesqueness of organs. "Then," a sweet voice fell from above, "I''ll see you in real life." I lost consciousness and was forcibly logged out. That day, Stark and my "Dropout Guild" was erased from existence. Chapter 72 Vrmmo Side-effect Stark waspletely lost. After a while, Liora suddenly stood up and began turning her head at a tremendous speed. She was likely looking for me. The effect of Manifestation had already worn off. This meant I could be found without causing any suspicion. Using her high agility, Liora rushed to me in the blink of an eye. "G-God! Please don''t abandon me¡­ please!" Just a few moments ago, this cave had been a battlefield. But for Liora, even that seemed like a trivial matter. There was no danger anymore, as I had already wiped everyone out. Amidst the pile of dead men, with naked women frozen in shock in the background, Liora clung to me, sobbing uncontrobly. In this moment, she seemed like an ordinary young girl of her age. "Liora... there''s no need to cry." "...Mhm, mhm." "Trust me. I will never abandon you." Because¡ª "I am your one and only god." "God..." Liora nodded repeatedly, over and over. It seemed Stark''s unique skills had been quite brutal. His power likely forced her to relive her trauma through visions, and she has a lot of them. The skill didn''t inflict hallucinations or mental damage but showed memories and thoughts as if they were real. It''s a type of attack that''s not easy to defend against. But it wasn''t even originally meant to be an attack skill. With this, the situation was resolved for now. However, simr incidents would likely continue in the future, since I couldn''t kill the yers. But that doesn''t matter to me. From this experience, the dirty yers should have learned the foolishness of making Liora their enemy. Even if they still try to target her, I''ll just kill them again. Over and over, I''ll kill my enemies, raising my level and taking their resources. That''s just the way MMOs are. "Now then, Liora, can I leave the cleanup to you?" "Huh? God, are you going somewhere?" "Yes. You see, I used Manifestation." "!! I wanted to see it too..." Due to its significant drawbacks, I hadn''t even been able to test the skill yet. That''s why I hadn''t been given time for character customization. Normally, after using Manifestation for the first time, one can create their physical body. But I was in such a hurry that I had to skip that part. I ended up revealing my identity and even received death threats. I''ve gotten used to death threats, and some of them have even been carried out. During my active years, I was kidnapped a few times in countries I visited for research. After all, I was rich. Though I spent my entire fortune on creating and destroying works, so now my savings are just average. I''ve even bought a mountain and had massive construction done just to hang a single painting. That''s why it''s hard to save money when I''m working. "Anyway, the drawbacks are intense, so I''ll rest for a while. I''m counting on you, Liora. Samurai should be able to assist you to some extent, so feel free to rely on her." "U-... okay." It seems Liora is still not used to Samurai. However, Samurai carefully observes people. Given her training under me, she might actually be better at social interactions than Liora. "And don''t use Rouro in the town. I won''t be back for a while, but make sure to wait for me." "O-Okay¡­ I''ll do better next time!" "It seems like the matchup wasn''t great for you. Don''t overdo it. Well then." Liora seemed reluctant to let me go, but I logged out. ¨‹ "Ughhhhhh! This is incredibly painful!" Returning to reality, I finally let out the scream I had been holding back. Intense, inexplicable pain coursed through my entire body. It wasn''t a pain in my muscles or organs but something more abstract, as if my soul itself was in agony. It was a new kind of pain¡ªan unknown pain. This must be what people have been talking about in rumors of Soul Pain within PHO. "Is this some side effect of their strange technology?! It hurts so much!" Full-dive VR is still a brand-new technology. People had voiced concerns about potential physical side effects. In my case, maybe my brain got scrambled by using Manifestation, which boosts physical abilities to an extreme degree. I clenched my teeth instinctively but quickly stopped myself. Breaking my teeth after all the effort I put into dental care would be terrible. Instead, I grabbed my thigh to distract myself from the pain. And my finger bones cracked. "!! Ggh!" While I continued to scream, I lost consciousness. In the fading moments before I cked out, I heard the sound of someone pounding furiously on my door. "--Ar! --! AArjun--!!" ¨‹ When I woke up, I was in a hospital. The mysterious pain still lingered in my body. I wanted to thrash around, but I restrained myself when I saw who was sitting beside my bed. It was my neighbor. This was the worst-case scenario. I had likely caused my neighbor trouble. My screams must have echoed through the thin walls, and out of concern, they had called for help. I hate to admit it, but those thin walls probably saved my life. "Ah, Arjun bhai... are you alright?" "Yes. Thank you for calling the ambnce." "I-I''m d¡­" "I''m sorry for making you stay with me. I''ll handle things from here. Sorry for troubling you." "N-No, I''m the one who''s always troubling you, so this is the least I could do." "That''s true." "Mew!?" My neighbor stood up and bowed repeatedly. On the table next to my bed, I noticed my smartphone had been ced there. They''re surprisingly considerate, this neighbor of mine. "Pardon me. I need to make a call." "H-Okay!" I used my smartphone to call an acquaintance. Just a bodyguard-type person. Since I injured my finger, the threat from that yer who sent the death threat had escted. This was just a precaution. After I finished the call, my neighbor pulled a knife out of their bag. "Oh?" Were they going to attack me? Just as I had that thought, my neighbor also took out an apple. They smiled awkwardly and held it out to me.N?v(el)B\\jnn "W-Would you like some?" "You''re stuttering too much. ¡­I''ll have some, thank you." "! I''ll do my best!" Perhaps because she usually rely on me, she now wanted to repay the favor. Normally, I would refuse, but I wasn''t in a position to turn them down. It was a forced apple. Not that I dislike apples or anything. "Alright, I''ll peel it for you. First time using a knife!" "Huh?" Blood sttered all over the hospital room. My finger was already broken, and now, with this Soul Pain, I had no way to stop them. The apple she ended up peeling¡­ was in terrible shape. It had been reduced to the size of a ping-pong ball... "Hehe," my neighbor chuckled. "It''s¡­ a bunny." "No, that''s not a bunny. The title of your work is Poor Apple." The taste was normal. ¨‹ I underwent thorough medical tests, just in case. There didn''t seem to be any problems. At least, not by modern medical standards. Though VRMMOs are starting to feel a bit scary, I''m not too worried about the future. What matters is now. I couldn''t care less what happens to my future self. That''s his responsibility. The only problem was my broken finger. Since I had surgery, it should be fully functional again. The doctor seemed pretty stressed, though. Given my reputation, my fingers carry a lot of responsibility worldwide. But I don''t really care what happens to them. I spent a few days hospitalized. Because of the death threat I received, the police set up security for me. Apparently, the authorities can''t track IP addresses within PHO, so even the police can''t locate the culprit. I did hire apetent person for security, so unless the threates from a professional killer, I should be safe. If I do get killed, so be it. My neighbour visited me every day, which was a bit concerning... I hope this doesn''t lead to a scandal. Not that I care about public opinion. It seems my neighbor also ys PHO. They even mentioned what was being talked about on the forums. Apparently, my identity had been exposed and was a hot topic. That''s the worst. I already find people annoying, and now even more will start talking to me. After two weeks of such days, I finally returned home. During that time, Liora''s constant messages nearly drove me to a breakdown. I had to mute notifications, but even then, I made sure to reply at least once an hour. I even set up scheduled replies while I slept. For some reason, Liora noticed, but that''s beside the point. Upon returning home, I thanked my neighbor and immediately logged back into Phantom Hero Online. Ah, the familiar air of the other world. Explore stories on empire Immediately, Liora, who had been swinging her scythe, froze. She quickly turned around and rushed toward me. "God! God, God¡ª" "Yes, yes, I''m back, Liora." Liora hugged me tightly. She had be much stronger during the two weeks I was absent. I had been keeping track through my smartphone. Due to the side effects of Manifestation, my level had dropped by 5. Chapter 73 Second Event While I was hospitalized, it seems the announcement for the second event was made. This time, the event appears to focus on production jobs. One of the features of Sugo is that every character is required to have at least one production job. So, this event is likely targeted at all yers. By the way, in The World, the first event also seemed to be aimed at production jobs. The event notice said something along the lines of: "We received a lot ofints from production-focused yers, but don''t worry! We made sure the materials won''t disappear, and you can bring them back home. We love you all, so we decided to offer this service." Apparently, it was legal. Some of the yers with production jobs avoidedbat and focused solely on crafting. At the time, this was considered disruptive y, and those yers were publicly criticized. It seems that Sugo''s management tolerates various ystyles after all. Nevertheless, I don''t intend to aim for a top rank in this event. To put it bluntly, it''s impossible. Given that my character is built forbat, I can''t suddenly excel in production-rted activities. Also, my skill setup is primarily geared towardbat. However, Liora and Samurai are both motivated. They''ve been diligently tending to the World Tree. Samurai, in particr, has been repeatedly practicing [Woodworking] using materials from the World Tree. Right now, both of them are working hard on their production skills at our base near the World Tree. "A cultural festival for this event, huh? It feels a bit strange." A giant school ind has been prepared, and we are divided into sses to set up exhibits. There''s also a stage performance category, and it seems some people are already preparing for it. Liora would probably do better aiming for the stage with her [Kagura] skills rather than focusing on [Gardening]. She could also consider being a maid in a maid caf¨¦. Given the growing number of production skills, let''s take a fresh look at our statuses. Name: Zephyr Gender: Male Level: 60 Race: Dark Spirit Magic: Dark Magic 68 Production: Alchemy 71 Skills: Regeneration 67 Appraisal 26 Create Dark 70 Dark Aura 51 Enemy Resistance Reduction Item Box 28 Adversity Enhancement Fatal Blow Avoidance Agility Enhancement 47 Unassigned Skills Stats: Attack: 295 Magic Attack: 295 Durability: 295 Agility: 295 Luck: 295 Title: The Voice of the Deceptive God Unique Skill: Kamui Manifestation Name: Liora Gender: Female Level: 68 Race: High Human Job: Apostlen/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Magic: sh Magic 57, Light Magic 71 Production: Gardening 70 Skills: Loneliness Resistance 85 Scythe Technique 75 Summoning 52 Kagura 67 Chant Extension 55 Moonlight Scythe Technique 55 Angel''s Factor 41 Berserk Stats: Attack: 190 Magic Attack: 529 Durability: 367 Agility: 517 Luck: 472 Title: The One Who Spreads Death Unique Skill: Killing de We''ve grown quite strong. Liora has spent over a month in this world without me. She seems to have undergone considerable training and has regained the levels she lost when I used [Kamui Manifestation]. Liora''s [Loneliness Resistance] has increased significantly. She has also acquired a new title. After wiping out that band of thieves, she earned the title [The One Who Spreads Death]. The effect of this title is "Grants bonus damage against all living creatures." It''s a very broad skill. Her previous title, [Great Sin: Parent yer], granted her bonus damage against those older than her. Thus, her new title has a much wider range. However, it does not work against the undead. But since Liora has the light attribute, she''s already effective against the undead. Before we fight Gehenna again, we''ll make sure to change her title. It''s unfortunate that titles can''t be changed during battle. I also received the title [Harbinger of Death]. However, I find [Appraisal Negation] more useful, so I won''t be changing my title. "By the way, Liora, I noticed you haven''t used the [Berserk] skill yet." "Is it a powerful skill?" "It''s a trump card, but¡­ I''m not sure." Liora''s new skill, [Berserk], is a toggle-type skill. In games, it''s what you''d call a toggle ability. It''s simr to Liora''s [Angel''s Factor]. This [Berserk] is known for being a difficult skill to handle (all our skills seem to be like that). The user loses their rationality in exchange for a massive stat boost. At the same time, they lose the ability to use Arts, and any damage they take is doubled. However, as a trade-off, the user gains "Immunity to Incapacitation," "Immunity to Mental Attacks," and "Significant Stat Boosts." This was meant to counter the situation in the bandit fight where Liora was immobilized and couldn''t fight. Oddly enough, the skill suits Liora quite well. With the [Heavenly Wheel] Arts, which doubles Liora''s HP, the doubled damage would be no different from normal damage. Plus, the scythe skill [de] is applied beforehand, so the effect continues. The inability to switch des is a downside, though. Regeneration skills also remain active. My [Regeneration] works just fine, and since I''m the user, "rapid HP recovery in exchange for MP" is still possible. "The question is, how much rationality will be lost¡­ Let''s test it out. Liora, stay away from the World Tree for now." From what I''ve seen in videos, this [Berserk] is a disastrous skill. Users just rampage uncontrobly. Compared to them, even Rowro seemed like a calm gentleman. But since it has many advantages, it''s perfect as ast resort. yers who possess this skill generally treat it like a self-destruct move. Most of them seem to lose their character after using it. After moving a considerable distance, I gave Liora the order. "Try going berserk." "Mm¡­ Okay! [Berserk]¡­" "..." I watched Liora closely. I was both terrified and curious to see how cute little Liora would rampage. I waited for two minutes while observing her, but¡­ "Um, Liora? How''s the [Berserk] going?" "Hm? I''m using it¡­ right now." "You''re speaking normally? Any violent urges?" "Huh?" "Huh?" Liora tilted her head in confusion. She didn''t seem any different from usual. Normally, the user would lose their rationality. Floating around her, I checked her from every angle. From 360 degrees, she just looked like a beautiful little girl. Adorable, yes, but there were no visible signs of losing rationality. Liora tilted her head cutely, looking puzzled. "Liora, do you feel any uncontroble emotions?" "I want to hug God¡­" "Um, is that what you''re feeling?" I wasn''t quite sure, but I approached Liora''s chest. She hugged me tightly, but this seemed just like her usual behavior. Did I perhaps acquire a skill with a simr name by mistake? To test, I had her punch a nearby tree with her bare hands, and she broke it in half. It turns out Liora has been in a constant state of mama I''ll switch off the skill [Madness] for now. After all, not being able to use Arts is a disadvantage. It''s not a skill you can keep on constantly and stay powerful. By the way, [ughter de] is a skill, so it can still be used while [Madness] is active. The same goes for weapon skills. Only Arts are unusable while it''s active. Liora has been steadily breaking down. Normally a regen tank, she can switch into a hyper-aggressive attacker¡­ quite impressive. Enjoy exclusive adventures from empire I''d hate it if the enemy used her, but since she''s on my side, there''s no problem. Currently, we are on "Cultural Festival Ind." During the preparation period for the event, we can warp here freely. The ind is quiterge, about the size of a small town. There are several servers, so it''s not overly crowded. "We''re in the ck ss, huh? Looks like we can interfere with the other sses." "Defeat the enemy!" "That''s also an option. It seems like we can attack other sses. If we get counterattacked and lose, we''ll be disqualified from the event. But it''s reassuring that we can only lose once." We should stay alert for enemy attacks during the event. Samurai is always on guard, but her [Soundwave] skill is still in development. I could summon Rouro into the enemy base to harass them endlessly¡­ but holding grudges can wait forter. There''s no need to try that hard to win. This event has "Individual Rankings" and "ss Rankings." I can''t win in the former due to my skill setup, and for thetter, there''s only so much I can do on my own. Liora and I will focus on the exhibitions. I''ll be entering in the "Alchemy Item" and "Sculpture" categories. For thetter, I''m certain to win first ce. We could also enter paintings and music, but that might be overkill. Liora is going to create a flower bed on "Cultural Festival Ind" using her [Gardening] skill. That will also count as an exhibition, and it will surely brighten up the ind. Liora, busy with her gardening, turns around with a bashful smile. "Once I''m done, I''ll offer flowers to God¡­!" "I''ll be looking forward to it." "Yes!" Excited, Liora turns back to her garden. All of the materials are rare, hard-earned seeds. They''ll be nice to look at and useful too. Samurai seems to be making something as well. Even with her usual squinty expression, she seems quite pleased as she files down wood. Rouro, on the other hand, can only destroy things, so there''s nothing for him to do. We step outside from the ck Group''s ssroom, our warp destination. Chapter 74 First Day of cultural festival Liora continues working on the flower bed with her [Gardening] skill, and I start on my sculpture. The material is unknown, and I have no idea how it feels to carve, so I''ll just y around with about five million yen''s worth of it¡­ No, wait, my bad habits are starting to show. Enjoy new chapters from empire I''ve made good money before. However, I also lost it all to work-rted expenses¡­ A foolish pattern, in hindsight. Just like the saying goes, even a master carpenter can make mistakes. But it''s those very mistakes that make the tools, materials, environment, and subjects worth notpromising on¡ªwell, never mind that. I begin chiseling away at the mysterious material. "I''m not quite satisfied with my work so far. Should I use [Divine Manifestation] here? But this event has limited uses¡­ I can probably only use it once, given the level cap of 10 and the [Soul Pain] debuff. I don''t even know what this material is made of¡­ I bought it from a witch. I just couldn''t resist the temptation of an unknown material. I wish I could incorporate more of its properties." As I blow up the material with some explosives from my [Item Box], a little girl looks down at us from the third-floor window. She has snow-white hair and blood-red eyes¡ªa stunning beauty. She''s probably even younger than Liora¡ªa genuine little girl. With beauty that seems to color the night sky like the moon. Even though she''s just a child, there''s an odd sense of allure about her. What I feel is a faint chill. "What are you doing there, you ck one?" "Who is that?" My voice doesn''t reach the other NPCs. Liora stopped her work and red at the little girl on the third floor. Being called "the ck one" must have triggered her. Liora''s re is terrifying. But the little girl doesn''t seem to care. She leans out of the window, her face expressionless. "Hey, you, the ck one. You''re a spirit, right? Spirits can make contracts with the residents here, right? Kill that child and make a contract with me. I''ll give you half the world." "God is not a spirit. The world already belongs to God." "The strange little girl hates me now. Heh¡ª" Before the beautiful little girl could say anything else, a handsome, ck-haired elf youth barged in. He wore a student cap pulled low over his eyes, and his outfit was a school uniform. It''s a rare sight in the real world nowadays, but in a fantasy game, it stands out even more. "¡ªYou can''t do that, Princess! We''re here to have fun this time. Since we''ve been invited, we should take it easy. It''ll be a hassle if we get caught." "Killing them would be fine, right? I''m starving." "Alright, alright! I know a food stall that serves great food. Let''s go." "I want tender, young girl meat." "That one''s dangerous. She''ll kill you, just like that one time someone else got killed." "Huh?" "Yeah, yeah. I know you''re excited since it''s been hundreds of years since you woke up. But leave this to me, okay, Princess? And if you''re going to do it, target someone other than the ck group." The little girl pouted, but she followed the youth. What a strange pair of NPCs. My "Appraisal" skill was blocked. Well, my skill level is low, so it''s not surprising. She must be quite skilled despite her age, or she has some unique skills or items. Liora had already lost interest and returned to her gardening. I''ll return to blowing up the materials too. Once that''s done, I''ll try freezing them, burning them, and experimenting with various methods. Now, I wonder what kind of color this mysterious mineral will reveal? Discovering, guiding, and nurturing the potential of raw materials¡ªthat''s the essence of art, and it''s always thrilling.The cultural festival has finally begun. This time, it''s aid-back event focused on production professions. Everyone seems to be having fun walking around in the distributed school uniforms, gym clothes, and perhaps tricked into wearing school swimsuits. These distributed outfits have the "skin system" applied. When worn over regr equipment, it only changes the appearance while maintaining the original equipment''s abilities. On this festival ind, there''s arge school on the vast grounds. You can enjoy various events being held inside the school. Liora is dressed in a ssic sailor uniform, while I have ced a student cap on my dark spirit form. Liora looks adorable. I took several screenshots, having her twirl around for me. Though I don''t visit theme parks, dressing up is a must for events like these, isn''t it? Such things are often scoffed at, but people who enjoy themselves tend to be better at living life. I wouldn''t wear costumes in real life, though. I remember the time when I was forced to wear a maid outfit for apany project. The humiliation nearly overwhelmed me. I never want to experience that again. The problem was that they mistakenly believed I had a weakness for tears and groveling. As we walk through the school, there are many events hosted by each ss. There''s a maid caf¨¦, a haunted house, and even club (n) exhibitions. Liora visits every food stall that catches her eye. Of course, she can''t eat everything, and we can''t contribute too much to groups outside of our ck faction. For now, we decided to enter the maid caf¨¦. Elves dressed as maids greeted us. It''s quite something. These incredibly beautiful figures, rarely seen in real life, are wearing oddly cheap, overly stylized maid outfits. In a world where real maids exist, the decision to wear modern Japanese-style maid outfits feels delightfully improper. The glimpse of their white thighs peeking from the mini skirts is dazzling. "Wee, mydy. Here is the menu. The spell to make your food delicious is free."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Spell to make it... delicious? Amazing. What skill is it?" "It''s not a skill, but..." "I know. Some information should remain secret. You don''t have to say anything," Liora misunderstood, shaking her head from side to side. She immediately looked down at the menu and stared at it silently. Normally, Liora would just say, "I''ll take everything." But this time, that''s not an option. So I suggested a few items for her. "Liora, repeat after me: omelette rice, 100% apple juice, squid rings." "Omelette rice, 100% apple juice, squid rings." "Understood, mydy! Please wait a moment." "Okay. I''m excited." Liora happily swayed her head from side to side. I, for the moment, am pretending not to exist. In real life, I''m somewhat well-known, and too many people try to talk to me. It''s exhausting to deal with them. That''s why I''m staying hidden. Only Liora can tell whether or not I''m controlling the avatar. Before long, the omelette rice arrived. "What''s this?" "It''s an egg dish. The eggs were summoned using a skill by the spirits, and they''re quite special. The freshness is different." "Amazing." Liora happily picked up her spoon. Just before she was about to scoop up the omelette rice, the maid elf took out a bottle of ketchup. Liora''s hand paused. "Now, let me draw a heart for you. *Oishikunare, kyun kyun, nyan!*" "?" "It''s a spell to make the food delicious." "That''s amazing..." Liora started eating thepleted omelette rice. To be frank, it tasted like amateur cooking. No matter how delicious Japanese eggs are, Liora has tasted the food of first-rate chefs. It seems it wasn''t as tasty as she expected. However, Liora is the type of person who finds anything delicious. With graceful movements, she finished the omelette rice in no time. Next, she ate the squid rings. The freshly fried squid made a crisp sound. She liked them much more, as they were quite tasty and unique. The apple juice was also of a quality not found in this fantasy world. She drank it all in one go. The waiting maid elf spoke. "How about a cheki with your meal?" "Cheki? What''s that?" "It''s a photo. It''s an item that spirits summoned using their skills." The elf pulled out an instant camera from the pouch at her waist. The fantasy world was slowly being invaded by modern technology. I didn''t think Liora would want to take a photo, though. She didn''t seem to understand what a photo even was. "Liora, a photo is like a picture that''s made instantly. It allows you to preserve the current scene." "...Is it some kind of memory-altering magic?" "It''s not a crazy spell." I''m somewhat decent at photography. Although I can create greater works by drawing myself, photography has its own appeal. Unlike drawing, it has limitations, but finding creativity within those limitations is quite rewarding. In some ways, it requires more artistic sense than drawing. "Let''s take one photo, shall we?" "Yes, let''s take one." "Alright, say peace!" The maid elf leaned in close and took a selfie with Liora. Above Liora''s head, my own figure was also present. The instant camera produced the photo. Liora, who had been staring at it with a startled expression, eventually took the photo and began trembling with excitement. "G-God is there¡­ with me! It''s me and God!" "Yes, that''s what a photo is." "A photo... I want more! I don''t need this elf in it, though." "...I''ll buy you a camerater." The maid elf looked a bit sad. I felt bad, so I left a generous tip. The food wasn''t that great, but the price was reasonable. Chapter 75 The TAG game However, if that beautiful elf were serving customers in real life, I bet there are people who would pay ten times the price. It''s kind of fun to make a real elf (even if it''s just a game) wear a cheap imitation outfit. Liora, satisfied, hugged the photo tightly and trotted down the hallway. Liora walked down the center. NPCs who recognized her moved to the sides, almost as if they were fleeing. It''s a sight you often see in real life, too¡ªpeople making way for celebrities or high-ranking members of the social hierarchy. Well, in Liora''s case, it''s less about being part of a "social hierarchy" and more like being part of a "curse" or something. She''s just being avoided. Let''s continue enjoying the cultural festival.The next ce Liora headed was the ssroom of the ck ss. It was a spacious area, resembling a gymnasium more than a ssroom. The excessivelyrge school was certainly being put to full use here. Inside, people dressed in ck robes were running around in panic. "Wee! This is one of the first-year ck ss''s attractions: the Grand Tag Tournament! ...Oh, wait, you''re from ck ss." The one who suddenly appeared and gave this introduction was a beastman. It was the first time they had spoken. He seemed to be a dog-type beastman, probably around 20 years old. He had dog ears, but they didn''t quite match hisrge and muscr body. "I''m Gomez! I''m in charge of the reception here. Are you here to y, miss?" "No, I was called." Strictly speaking, Liora belonged to the first-year ck ss. In other words, this was her ce. This event allowed each ss to either open up a store or not, depending on their choice. While participation wasn''t mandatory, it was more fun to join in. Plus, the rewards would likely be better. It was a rtively free event. Many just walked around looking at the disys, while some people ran individual stalls or exhibited their own works, even outside their ss. The yers seemed to be enjoying themselves. Some NPCs had expressions like, "Even though the First Field is in such a mess..." "I''m¡ª" Liora ced her photo in the item box and pointed at herrge scythe. "I''m Liora, the Apostle of God." "Oh! You''re Liora! The ace of our ss!" The attraction for this ss was "tag." You pay a participation fee, and if you catch the demon within the time limit, you get a prize. Only one demon can be caught. Different demons give different points, so catching a weak one means you''ll lose out on rewards. You''re free to use skills and arts. However, causing any damage is considered a foul, and the entire ck ss will gang up on vitors. Liora donned the ck robe she was handed. The moment she stepped into the ssroom, the atmospherepletely changed. Gomez, standing at the reception, excitedly shouted out.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "The main event has arrived! It''s Liora, the Grim Reaper Girl! If you catch her, you''ll get the best reward! Capture points: 10!" "10!? No way. Even those with speed-specialized skills only had 8 points!" The NPCs looked shaken. It was news to me as well. While Liora is strong and fast, she doesn''tpare to those with speed-specialized skills. Her level isn''t maxed yet either. This seems like a strategy to attract more customers. With the infamous Liora making an appearance and offering high points, it was bound to bring in a crowd. Sure enough, NPCs began gathering in the ssroom, probably after seeing posts on the bulletin board. "Hey, that girl is joining." "She''s just a kid, can''t be that strong." "My spirit seems obsessed with her. Weird to like such a child." "No, this is bad. I can feel it. She''s got a presence that tells me I''m in danger. I''m outta here." "That girl is so cute!" Liora began applying various buffs to herself. There were speed buffs from Light Magic, a ritual dance from Kagura Arts, and even my own agility boost. "Liora, let''s go with [Berserk] as well." "Yes... Understood." [Berserk] is a major buffing skill. The downside is that arts can''t be used while it''s active, but the speed boost is phenomenal. The force with which she kicks the ground increases, and so does her speed. Let''s get started. ¨Œ Around a dozen burly men were desperately chasing a single little girl. "Catch her! It''s just a kid!" "She''s too fast! What the heck is this!?" "She''s too skilled." "I take back what I said about the 100,000 entry fee being too much! This is worth every penny!" Liora''s total scythe-rted skills far exceed a hundred. Her techniques when wielding a scythe are beyond humanprehension. Now, coupled with massive buffs, her physical abilities match her skill. Five fighters lunged at her simultaneously, but Liora gracefully dodged and slipped past them in an instant. If this were a real fight, she would have cut their heads off with her scythe as they passed. Additionally, before activating [Berserk], she had used [Yesod''s Wing]. Liora, who can even see the future, is¡ª "I''ve caught her! I even used my unique skill¡ªwait, what!?" Did she teleport? A man suddenly appeared behind Liora, trying to grab her, but ended up hugging thin air. She was no longer there, now darting around the ssroom in all directions. Even without arts or my support, she could perform a double jump thanks to the effects of her boots. The Grim Reaper Girl bounced around everywhere. Her face expressionless, almost chilling. While Liora didn''t even break a sweat, the men chasing her were so overheated that steam rose from their bodies. Honestly, Liora seems to be better at tag than I initially thought. She saw through the traps, sliced through the ropes thrown at her with her scythe, and even nullified binding spells with [Magic Severing de]. A faint [Dark Aura] surrounded her. It didn''t have any particr effect, but the ominous presence concealed her body from view. I had been worried about status effects, but the resistance buff from [Hod''s Wing] was useful. "There''s no time left! This is myst shot! Taste my pride!" The man who had teleported earlier removed a belt from his waist. It was a long rope. After muttering something, he swung it overhead. "Binding Art [Fangs of Restraint]!" The rope whipped through the air at incredible speed. It was more of an attack art than a binding skill. The speed of the rope strikes was blinding, leaving behind aplex,-like afterimage. This might be an unavoidable move. Even the audience began booing the man, shouting, "That''s unfair!" But only Liora and the man wore different expressions. "I saw everything." "Wha¡ª! You can''t be serious!" The crowd had already resigned themselves to Liora''s defeat. But Liora remained calm, casually dodging the strikes with simple jumps. In an instant, the unfair binding attack had turned into nothing more than a game of jump rope. Even the man who had been using the art was left speechless. He dropped the rope with a thud. "That''s it! Time''s up!" Liora, havingpletely escaped, returned without a single drop of sweat. The NPCs were in an uproar. Since they didn''t know about the effects of [Yesod''s Wing], they couldn''tprehend how Liora was moving like that. With her future sight and agility, it seems she easily avoided being caught. Due to cooldown times, she won''t be able to do this again today. Although, if I use [Tete''s Offering Finger], I could cancel the cooldown and have her do it again. But that would be a waste. It seems there were some strong participants. The man with the teleportation skill was a tricky opponent. His agility was higher than Liora''s, even with her buffs, and he made good use of movement arts. He must have been a character specialized in "capturing." However, neither his traps nor ropes could ovee Liora''s future vision. As the NPCs buzzed around, Gomez came over, smiling brightly. "You''re amazing, miss. We made a lot of money." "Really? I only yed once." Your journey continues on empire "They were betting on it. Even though this is arge, enclosed space, no one thought a little girl could escape from people using [Entangling Threads], [Void Step], or [Speed Demon]." "?" "You were incredible, that''s what I''m saying. We got plenty of visitors. Many of the people who came to see you will stick around and watch the other attractions, hoping to win their bets back! We''re rolling in it! To be honest, we were prepared to lose money just to draw in customers, but you actually won it for us!" "I''m strong." "After watching those crazy moves of yours, no one''s going to feel down. You''re the best." It turns out this ss was more like a gambling den than a casual tag-ying attraction. It was more along the lines of horse racing or a colosseum. The total revenue contributes to event points. We might have contributed more to the event than expected. After dering she''d participate once more tomorrow, Liora left the ck ss. Gomez handed over a good amount of money as a participation fee. Apparently, Gomez runs a "gambling den" outside of the event too. Liora, having made a good impression, received a participation ticket. Gambling seems like it could be fun. After all, it''s not a game if you don''t enjoy it. With the intent of fully enjoying the cultural festival, we headed to the real gymnasium. It seems they''re putting on a y there. Chapter 76 Next Thing I''ll be entering in the "Alchemy Item" and "Sculpture" categories. For thetter, I''m certain to win first ce. We could also enter paintings and music, but that might be overkill. Liora is going to create a flower bed on "Cultural Festival Ind" using her [Gardening] skill. That will also count as an exhibition, and it will surely brighten up the ind. Liora, busy with her gardening, turns around with a bashful smile. "Once I''m done, I''ll offer flowers to God¡­!" "I''ll be looking forward to it." "Yes!" Excited, Liora turns back to her garden. All of the materials are rare, hard-earned seeds. They''ll be nice to look at and useful too. Samurai seems to be making something as well. Even with her usual squinty expression, she seems quite pleased as she files down wood. Rouro, on the other hand, can only destroy things, so there''s nothing for him to do. We step outside from the ck Group''s ssroom, our warp destination. I really enjoyed the culture festival. The performances held in the gym were all very entertaining. The actors in the y were incredibly beautiful, and the script being a ssic "youth school sports drama" was fantastic. It was funny how they specifically gathered actors with a fantasy world vibe to perform that type of y. However, the NPCs were tilting their heads, asking, "What''s baseball?" The Rakugo performance by a storyteller in this world was also quite good. It was an elf Rakugo storyteller. Apparently, elves have a traditional culture simr to Rakugo, and the performance was one I''d never heard before. The slight differences made it feel like this game world truly had its own culture. As for the music, it was heartwarming. The NPCs and the yers who manifested seemed to be having a great time performing, and it really made me feel like I was attending a school festival. Though I can y a wide range of instruments, it was nice to see some unfamiliar ones. In this way, I enjoyed the culture festival together with Atri. The whole time, while constantly munching on something, Atri was happily carrying me on their head. Since Atri had never participated in a festival before, this experience must have been particrly special for them. I, too, haven''t participated in many festivals. The culture festival with Atri, who I get along with so well, turned out to be more fun than I had expected. And so, the first day''s performances came to an end. It''s now time for the announcement of the "Exhibit Rankings" for the first day. Both Shio and I had some items on disy. In a way, this is the highlight of this crafting event. The rankings will be determined by the crafted items that were exhibited, a sort of battle. "And now, the announcements. Third ce in the **Alchemy** category goes to... Nero! This ''Super Mutant nt Potion'' is quite impressive. However, it seems the quality of the materials used was better than the actual alchemical skill, which led to some points being deducted." "Oh, third ce, huh?" It''s a potion I made using materials from the World Tree. The effect is that it turns ordinary nts into monsters. And as the ''super'' in the name suggests, the monsters created are on the level of mini-bosses. You could use this in an emergency to summon a third-party monster by transforming nts, or you could test it out when you need monster materials. It''s a potion that witches who need all sorts of materials would rave about, and I was even assured it was a guaranteed first-ce potion that witches and alchemists all over the world would desire. Well, third ce is good enough. As I was feeling satisfied, Atri, who was carrying me on their head, quietly drew out their **Shadow of Death**. "That judge is wrong...! I''m going to kill them! The god is first! First, first, first, first... firssstttt!" Shio restrained Atri, who was about to go on a rampage. Atri stopped moving, intimidated by Shio. It seems only Shio and I can serve as Atri''s brakes. I moved in front of Atri and peered into their cute face. "Atri, I was aiming for third ce." "! As expected of the god... everything is in your hands. The god only needs to be first for me, right?!" "By the way, I don''t have hands." "? Yes!" It seems Atri didn''t get the joke. Shio red at me with half-closed eyes. She''s not Atri, but it''s still scary. After some time passed, the **Woodworking** category for Shio began. What Shio made was a small, wooden treasure chest. It was neither great nor terrible. The top three were announced. "Third ce goes to Noranotama''s **Heavenly Chair**. Its ability to cure illnesses just by sitting on it is an amazing effect. Second ce is¡ª" Shio wasn''t called for second ce either. However, she stood with her arms crossed, looking quite smug (probably, based on the vibe). Her fingers were twitching nervously. Noticing this, Atri was on the verge of tears. Then, the first ce in the **Woodworking** category was announced. "First ce goes to Kukuri''s **Amethyst Shelf**! Its ability to automatically cut stored gemstones perfectly and even increase their rank is simply incredible. A well-deserved first ce!" As the audience cheered at the item''s overwhelming power, Shio''s tentacles multiplied, and with those fingers, she pointed repeatedly at the judge, seemingly saying something to Atri. Atri shrugged in exasperation. "Judges are always fair. Your item just wasn''t good enough." ¡º¨D¨D!!¡» "Don''t kill them." ¡º¨D¨D!!¡» "No torture either." ¡º¨D¨D!!!!¡» "I''m not ipetent; you''re just weak." Read exclusive adventures at empire When Shio tried to start a fight, Atri canceled the summoning. Shio''s personality changes when ites to **Woodworking**. But I feel sorry for her. As an artist, this isn''t good. You have to ept reality. Art is a battle against oneself. If you run away from that, you''ll never achieve true artistry. "Well then." Now, it''s time for the main event of the day. It''s my moment to win the **Sculpture** category. I barely paid attention to the announcements of third and second ce, thinking how my work will once again be released into the world. Once again, history will be altered. Museums will fight viciously, auctioning off famous paintings they once held to make room for my work, using every political maneuver they can muster. It saddens me to witness it. This time, my piece is¡­ the universe. I sculpted the universe. A three-dimensional universe, to be exact. Of course, I didn''t use any pre-existings¡ªthat would be ackluster expression of creativity. I crafted apletely imaginary gxy, full of vibrant, fantastical colors. I fully utilized the unique properties of the materials to create this supreme masterpiece. In the past, when sculptors were forbidden to create nudes, they took to sculpting transparent veils instead. In the same way, I... "And first ce goes to Rurutia Meris'' **Sensuous Statue**! Just by looking at it, even those with no capability are ready for action, and the effectsts for an extended time. It''s a priceless item that royals have sought after instead of potions. A national treasure-worthy piece, without question." "...Atri, let''s kill that host." "Yes!" Atri sprang into action. Thanks to the cooperation of Yuclys, other strong figures, and the capture specialist from earlier, the philistine who couldn''t appreciate art somehow managed to survive. Me, not first ce? What on earth is going on? For now, it seems our task is to increase Ro''s durability. ¨Œ The returned **Illusory Universe** will be disyed in the ssroom of ss 3-ck. It seems ss 3-ck is a rxed group that showcases art. They dly epted my piece as well. ...It became incredibly popr. People flocked in like waves, and Atri was begged by many to sell the work. In this world, there are even nobles and royalty. It seems that art holds more importance in this world than in ours. Moreover, many people seem to understand it. Although they don''t know what the "universe" is in this world. A representative from some corner of the third field is groveling before me. "I have never witnessed such a mystery in my life. Please, make it a national treasure. I cannot live tomorrow with confidence if I don''t obtain this." As expected, high praise. Why didn''t I win first ce? Could it be that "I didn''t have the **Sculpture** skill, so my piece didn''t have any effects" that caused the problem? There''s no way, right? I acknowledge functional beauty, but in the face of this quality, function should be irrelevant. It must have been rigged. Next time I see that host, I will make sure they disappear. They''re an enemy, an evil god. Shio wholeheartedly agrees with me on this matter.Next time I see that host, I will make sure they disappear. They''re an enemy, an evil god. Shio wholeheartedly agrees with me on this matter.Next time I see that host, I will make sure they disappear. They''re an enemy, an evil god.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Shio wholeheartedly agrees with me on this matter. Chapter 77 Events As expected, high praise. Why didn''t I win first ce? Could it be that "I didn''t have the **Sculpture** skill, so my piece didn''t have any effects" that caused the problem? There''s no way, right? I acknowledge functional beauty, but in the face of this quality, function should be irrelevant. It must have been rigged. Next time I see that host, I will make sure they disappear. They''re an enemy, an evil god. Shio wholeheartedly agrees with me on this matter. Yesterday was ruined by foul y, but if I set that aside, it was a wonderful day. Today, my task is to lightly browse the shops and participate in the second "ss Exhibition." But before that, I head to ss 3 ck. In the end, ss 3 ck changed their exhibition method. They switched to a system that charges an entrance fee. Apparently, they made quite a bit of money. They want me to take a share of the profits and decide the fate of the piece I created. When we arrive at ss 3 ck, we are greeted by the same little white-haired girl I saw earlier, standing with her arms crossed. Behind her, three attendants stand by. "Wee to my ss''s exhibit. The piece you made? We will buy it. Gehe¡ª" "The attendant goes ''Gehe-gehe!'' We''ve got plenty of money, please ept our offer." The attendant seems to have an [Item Box], asrge sums of money appear one after another, soon covering the room in gold. I had already suspected it, but it seems they''re of a very high level since my [Appraisal] is blocked. The other two attendants are quite imposing as well. One is a towering giant, nearly three meters tall. Bald, with no eyebrows, his rugged face carries the air of a seasoned warrior. His entire body is like armor made of muscle. The other attendant is a stunningly beautiful woman. Dressed in a revealing, seductive gown, she wears an elegant, graceful smile that captivates anyone who looks at her. "But still," the little white-haired girl tilted her head, "Where is Pity? This is my first outing in centuries. Has she given up on being my friend?" "She was excited about getting some good materials and is busy with her research, as usual," the attendant answered. "Hmph! How cute... I wanted to enjoy this festival with her," the mysterious little girl muttered, causing therge man behind her to smile faintly. "That is her own battle. Pity likely holds a different form of loyalty from us." "...Huh! I fell asleep. Where am I? Kidnapped? Am I about to be vited?" The beautiful woman who had been smiling had apparently been standing there asleep. After shaking her head, she hugged the little girl and then looked at Atori with wide eyes. "Wait, there''s another one...? What on earth..." The mysterious beauty rubs her cheek against the little girl. What an odd group. Well, I think I''ll ept their offer. Whether the price is right, I''m not sure, but they seem like a good fit for the piece. They''ll likely turn my work into a part of their everyday life in the best way possible. "Atori, let''s agree." "The gods say to agree." The little white-haired girl nodded grandly. "Good. My name is Googiasdis Medtarva. You two were interesting yesterday. Imend you." "?" "You were in that brawl, weren''t you? The violent chaos was amusing! But what was best was the timing. Only a few would act so boldly then. Your work also shows good taste. What do you think? Will both of you join my group?" "No, we won''t." "Hmm... What a pity. But it is difficult to resist eating someone. I suppose that''s fine too." The little girl, Googiasdis Medtarva, nodded repeatedly. With the deal done, we decided to head to the garden. Atori''s tended flower beds have elevated simple beauty to a level of elegance. She''s done well, probably because she listens to my advice, so the flowers are at a near-artistic level. If it weren''t for any cheating, Atori might just win the flower bedpetition. Each of the beautiful flowers is also top-quality as materials. But when we arrive at the garden, the flower bed is in ruins. Trampled and crushed¡­ the once-lovely flower bed is destroyed. Atori gasped. ¨‹ There are still people left in the ruined garden. A group of five is carelessly picking medicinal herbs from the flower beds. They stomp on the ground carelessly, turning the once-beautiful flowers into a mess. "While it''s within the rules of the event... I can''t believe someone would actually do it." Protecting the flower beds is difficult. If one bed is destroyed, others will be too, which reduces everyone''s points in the end. However, from a strategic point of view, it makes sense.N?v(el)B\\jnn For those who can see the obvious winner in the flower bed category, destroying Atori''s garden at least prevents ss 3 ck from gaining an advantage. I have noints about Atori wielding her scythe. Atori is free. She can act however she wishes. If she wants to protect something, she can protect it, and if she wants to kill someone, she can kill them. That was the agreement between us. "There are five enemies... They seem to be reasonably skilled. My [Appraisal] doesn''t work on them. Considering they''re apanied by spirits, they might be quite dangerous. Let''s be careful." "Yes... I will." A man who hadn''t entered the garden turns to face Atori. A young man with sses, exuding intelligence. However, his fingers, ears, and neck are covered in jewelry. ...I remembered. A man with sses, wearing a tailcoat and standing tall. He is well-known on the forums as one of the strongest NPCs. "The Tyrant Geese." Geese looked Atori up and down, then scoffed, adjusting his sses with a sharp push of his finger. "What?! You think pointing a weapon at me doesn''t mean you''re going to get raped and then killed, kid?" "That flower bed is mine. God''s flowers. I''ll kill you." "Huh? What are you talking about? That flower bed ain''t yours. Everything in this world belongs to me, and I can take whatever I want. You, pests, are just borrowing it for now. Know your ce!" This loudmouthed Geese is one of the strongest NPCs, often discussed alongside Euclys and Siegheart. He''s a bodyguard for the underworld''s king in the first field. He missed the first event because he was "too annoyed with spirits to join." I doubt Atori can win against him... but since this is a no-death event, perhaps it''s worth challenging him. Atori muttered. "Rouro." A giant skeletal monster suddenly appeared, swinging its massive fist at Geese. Thus, under the clear sky, the battle between the strongest NPC and the most insane little girl began. ¨‹ Rouro''s first strike waspletely destroyed, shattering into countless pieces. The scattered bone fragments lightly grazed Atori''s cheek. Though it was hard to tell what happened, the result was clear: the enemy was unharmed. Meanwhile, Atori had lost the Rouro card, at least for a while. Amidst the destroyed flower beds, Geese stood unscathed. Not a speck of dust on his clothes, and he hadn''t even shifted his posture. He slowly pulled a chain from his pocket while whistling. "Well, well, not bad, kid. Any weaker, and you''d be dead!" "You''ll die soon too." "Oh yeah, maybe in a hundred years! But you''ll be dead right now!" Geese threw the chain into the air, and a mysterious light surrounded them. It seemed to be some sort of buff item. The chain hovered in midair as his fourpanions charged toward Atori. Apparently, a one-on-one battle wasn''t in their ns. Atori immediately summoned Shio and used [Hound Lightning] to keep them at bay. She hasn''t grasped their skillsets yet. Jumping into meleebat right away would be risky. "Sword Art: [Paralyze sh]!" "Spear Art: [Spin Rush]!" Two of the frontliners charged with a sword and spear. Shio''s tentacles blocked the sword, while Atori''s [sh] stopped the spear''s movement. In that moment of vulnerability, Atori''s [Snipe Lightning] struck. A direct hit to the head. However, despite the concept of headshots in [Snipe Lightning], it didn''t kill the enemy. Instead, the glowing chain above them dimmed slightly. It seemed to provide some sort of armor effect for party members. Suddenly, Atori sensed a presence behind her. One of the enemies was likely using a rogue-type skill, as a dagger stabbed into Atori''s back from a blind spot. "...!" Atori coughed up blood, but being a regen tank, she quickly healed the damage and unleashed [Lightning Burst] to blow the rogue away. However, the rogue skillfully evaded the attack with a perfect backstep. Even theckeys are strong. This is going to be a tough battle... Wiping the blood from her mouth, Atori enveloped herself in the glow of regeneration. As that light grew, she activated [Dark Aura]¡ªa little death god, shrouded in both white and ck, took a step forward. Chapter 78 4 vs 1 The four individuals quickly coordinated, cornering Atori and Shio. It turns out the swordsman wasn''t a swordsman after all. His role was that of an aggressive tank, primarily absorbing attacks while aiming for a reversal through status effects. The spear-wielder specialized in area attacks, though they didn''t pose much of a threat to Atori. Still, having an extra enemy made things significantly more difficult. The thief specialized in stealth, while thest individual was a pure mage. Because of thisst person, Atori couldn''t switch from the skill [Magic Severing de]. And at the very back, smirking smugly, stood Geese the Tyrant. "...!" Adding to the trouble were the enemy''s spirits. Though they hadn''t fully manifested, they supported the group with various spells. Imagine them like bits or turrets; that''s the kind of nuisance these spirits are. Atori charged through a spirit''s fire magic, heading straight for the mage behind it. She was pierced from both sides by spears and shed by swords but pushed forward thanks to her regeneration ability. Shio kept the thief in check. "This guy''s a monster!" "Go for the neck or crush the heart!" Your next read is at empire Atori''s scythe was enveloped in the light of [Lunar Scythe Techniques], enhancing the power of her strikes. I released a smokescreen using [Create Dark Smoke] to provide some cover. This should help disrupt the enemies, at least for now, allowing me to focus on killing the mage. "First, one down¡ª!" Just as I thought that, Atori was blown away. Her arm was torn off, and her organs spilled out as her small body bounced across the ground. Shio extended her tentacles to catch Atori, managing to stop her from moving further. "Hey, did you forget about me, you weakling?" Geese adjusted his sses, sticking his tongue out mockingly. Drool dripped down, his intellectual appearance marred by his savage nature. Geese the Tyrant was listed on the forums. ¡ªAs a highly dangerous individual. Name: [Geese] Gender: [Male] Level: [76] Race: [Human] Job: [Desperate] Magic: [Wind Magic 37] Crafting: [sswork 84] Skills: [Swordsmanship 42] [Rest 89] [Trap Detection 53] [Suicidal Attack] [Fatality Evasion] [Drop Rate Boost] [Luck Enhancement] [Luck Boost 36] Stats: Attack: [614] Magic Attack: [380] Durability: [380] Agility: [614] Luck: [398] Title: [Ouw of Twilight] Unique Skill: [Tyranny] These were the stats listed for Geese on the forums. Although he''s considered one of the strongest, his level isn''t maxed out. Moreover, his skill set isn''t particrly impressive. But what makes Geese one of the strongest is his unique skill, [Tyranny]. The effect of the unique skill [Tyranny] allows him topletely ignore any drawbacks of skills or arts. Normally, the skill [Suicide Attack], which doubles attack power at the cost of losing half your HP, can be used repeatedly. Since cooldown times are also ignored, it truly bes a spammable skill. As for his imprable defense, it likelyes from ignoring the cooldown of his equipment''s abilities. In this world of [Sugo], strengthes in various forms. Among those, Geese''s unique skill makes him one of the strongest. As a result, he hasn''t been leveling up or raising his skills much. Atori, having recovered thanks to her [Regeneration] skill, managed to stand back up. At that moment, the thief appeared from behind, but I immediately blocked him using [Create Dark], creating a softyer of darkness on the ground to disrupt his movement. As the thief lost his bnce, Atori swung her scythe backward without even looking, delivering a heavy blow. It should have been a fatal strike. But, as expected, the thief survived and escaped. Cracks began to appear in the chain floating in the air. However, with just one nce from Geese, the chain''s "party HP sharing at the cost of durability loss" drawback waspletely nullified. "Do you get it now, weakling?" Geese taunted as he tapped his temple with his finger. "There''s a whole different dimension between me and you. Stay on the ground where you belong, you little bug... Jijiru, wasn''t it you who liked kids? I''ll give you this one." "Nah, boss, you should take the first turn. Even if she''s a kid, she''s a real beauty. Bet she''d be a great cuddle." "Well, once in a while, I suppose? The boss never sends us any kids." "He''s got some weird logic about not wanting his grandkids to hate him. But just dealing in girls is enough to get hated." "I couldn''t care less if the boss gets hated. His job is to get me what I want without me lifting a finger. Tch, annoying!" Geese spat into the flowerbed and started to approach slowly. His movements werepletely unguarded, more careless than any NPC. And yet, we had no way to defeat him. This was the power of his arrogant violence. Atori, still cautious, held her scythe at the ready and exhaled slowly. "God once said, ''In this world, the strong may do as they please.''" "Ha! Now there''s a god who''s got his head screwed on right. I could believe in that." "If you''re strong, you''ll be forgiven for most things." "That''s right! What now? Have you surrendered? You''re strong, so I could even make you my subordinate. Of course, I''ll still have a taste of that body of yours!" "That''s why you, the weak one, should understand that you could never do anything to me." "Huh?" Atori''s [Wing of Keter] vanished from her back. She, who had once gained the Eye of Future Sight, suddenly froze in ce. With a puzzled expression, she turned around, leaving herselfpletely unguarded. I also looked behind me, following her lead. "¡­It''sing." Something was ing," Atori said, as the space behind her began to warp. From the distortion, four men and women calmly stepped forward. They were the same four individuals we had spoken to earlier during negotiations. In other words, they were part of the mysterious faction led by the enigmatic girl, Gugyusudismedotava. With her white hair and red eyes swaying merrily, Gugyusudismedotava grinned happily. Her childlike smile was tinged with a few drops of madness."What''s this! I was going to invite you to y, but it seems you''re already having fun." "Princess, this isn''t ying. This is called a brawl." "Oh, is it that thing you did yesterday? I wanted to join too, but you stopped me, so I couldn''t go." "If you''d gone, it would''ve ended right there. I wanted the event rewards." "I can''t take it anymore, I''m starving! Gehena, Helmut, Alice-Dine... I permit you to crush one each. Quickly, bring me the corpses of those fools." "Yes, ma''am." At the same time Gugyas Dis Medotava gave themand, a giant man smashed a swordsman with his great sword, a schr-looking youth stole a spear from a spearman, and a seductive woman pulled out the guts of a mage. The woman smiled beautifully, turning to Gugyas Dis Medotava.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "Master Gu, fresh intestines. Want to eat? ...Huh? You''re not here. Hey, fake Master Gu, do you want some? They''re tasty¡­" "I don''t want it." "Then I won''t eat it... Freshness is everything, though. Such a shame." She tossed the mage''s intestines to the ground and pulled out a knife with a sad expression. Slowly, she began dissecting the body. Humming, the woman whispered to the mage''s corpse. "I am Alice-Dine, one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon King, and his personal chef... or something like that. I''ll make you delicious." "Alice, your title is ''Abyssal Beauty,'' you know." "Gehena... calling me beautiful all of a sudden. I''m blushing. I''m not good with flirting. Do you want to eat?" "You''re such an idiot." The demon army executives chatted happily. Before anyone could even question why they were participating in the event, a scream echoed from beyond their awareness. Looking over, Gugyas Dis Medotava was straddling Geese,ughing loudly. Her mouth wide open, sheughed like a maniac while punching Geese. "What is this, what is this! How amusing, how amusing! Why don''t you die no matter how much I hit you? I like you. Serve me as my personal punching bag, and I''ll give you half the world." "You crazy brat! Get off me! Why don''t you die, what''s wrong with you!" Geese kept using [Self-Destruct] over and over. But it didn''t seem to harm Gugyas Dis Medotava at all. Only her clothes, defenseless as they were, were blown away, leaving a naked young girlughing merrily. Her tiny fists repeatedly crashed into Geese''s face with tremendous force. But they were blocked by something like a transparent barrier, so the punches didn''t seem to reach. It appeared neither of them could break through the other''s defense. The young girl smiled sweetly. "This is fun! I can''t hold it anymore! Time to release it! Sin Weapon [Demon King''s Pride - Bag Z ]¡ª" "¡ªNo." Just as Gugyas Dis Medotava¡ªno, the Demon King¡ªwas about to do something, Atri, who had disappeared unnoticed, called out in a halting voice. At the same time, Atri used [Consecrated Battle Dance] and kicked the Demon King in the face. Chapter 79 Vs Giss Liora had probably intended to send her flying, but the Demon King didn''t budge at all. The Demon King stood still, her face stomped by Liora''s shoe, still wearing a full smile. Everyone, except Geese who was desperately bombing away, was at a loss for words. The devastated trees swayed in the wind, oddly memorable. In this strange atmosphere, the giant Helmut raised his voice angrily. "Hmph, that lunatic! To kick the Demon King in the face! Such bravery! Just as expected from the one who defeated me." Is that really okay, though? In a workce where subordinates rejoice after seeing their boss''s face stepped on, one might wonder if it''s a terrible ckpany or an unexpectedly great whitepany. Still smiling widely, the Demon King nced sideways at Liora. After a few moments of silence, the Demon King''s smile deepened further. Her red eyes turned a dark, blood-red color. "Interesting! Very well, little girl. I''ll allow you the honor of telling me your name." "I''m Liora. That guy is mine to kill. Stay out of it." "Liora! But I''ve already decided to eat him." "Then I''ll kill you too." "Kufufu... I see, I see! So, you''re the brave one Helmut and Gehena were talking about. That smell! In other words, you''re my one and only ymate! Very well!!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om With unexpected ease, the Demon King stepped off of Geese. Before anyone realized it, the Demon King had moved and was now sitting on Helmut''s head. Her small bottom sat directly atop his bald head. For certain enthusiasts, this scene would be quite a reward. Helmut, without so much as a change in expression, crossed his arms with an air of dignity. Perched atop his head, the Demon King grinned like royalty, as if sitting on a throne. "I shall allow it! Kill each other¡ª!" Dered the Demon King, who then turned her eyes to the standoff between Shio and the thief. "Mimic and thief, I forbid you from joining this fight. The mimic isn''t enough, and the thief would only be a nuisance. Sit still and be bound." "...Tch." The thief clicked his tongue, but silently allowed Shio to restrain him. He probably feared the possibility of the Demon King and Liora teaming up. A wise decision. However, there was one person who could not bear to see his subordinate obey someone else. "I don''t care about this, you pathetic weaklings!" Enraged and no longer concealing it, Geese stood up. Facing him was the young girl who embodied both light and dark, Liora, ready to kill. Already, the once-beautiful flower bed was in ruins, the faint scent of flowers lingering in the air. But this was already a battlefield. The sweet fragrance of flowers was overwhelmed by the stench of blood. And this was the stage where we would shine. Indeed, the true essence of a VRMMO is "blood, flesh, and experience points." "Liora, it''s a shame about the flowers, isn''t it?" "...Yes, it is." The flowers that Liora might have given me would surely have been beautiful. "Liora, I bestow upon you a divinemand." "!" "Defeat that most powerful of foes. I, the evil god Nero, affirm your murderous intent." Liora rxed her lips and dered: "God has spoken. I will destroy you, here and now." "Hah? What kind of insane god is that, you pathetic weakling!" A boring battle has begun. Liora charges forward at an incredible speed, but all of her attacks are blocked. Sword strikes, magic, physical blows¡ªnothing affects Giis. Without even taking a defensive stance, Giis, with his arms wide open, is impervious to everything. "Stay in your ce like the small fry you are, jumping around like a fool! The moment you stop, the second you touch me again, I''ll blow you to pieces!" "Shut up." It seems my status ailments are being nullified as well. This is likely not just 100% resistance butplete immunity. Even my skill, [Enemy Resistance Reduction], shows no sign of working. Absolute defense, absolute offense. What a dull opponent. But then, I can''t help but think, this man, who even nullified the Demon Lord''s attacks, is often debated as one of the strongest in *Spirit Guardian Online*. Zeke Hart, who owns a divine weapon and boasts overwhelming strength. Euclis, with his ability to destroy everything. Kurushue zu Si, a berserker holding both a curse and beastly power. Ghost, the archmage who controls magic. Among those, Giis, known as [Tyrant Giis], is often discussed. Yet, from my experience of enduring his unreasonable strength, I cannot agree that "Giis is the strongest," but rather that he is only considered to be "among the strongest." Not the strongest, just one of the strongest¡­ He''s ranked alongside other top yers. That can''t be right. If he can block all attacks and possesses overwhelming power, why isn''t Giis considered the strongest of all? "God! He''s weak, but I can''t win!" "Indeed, Liora. I''ve thought of something we can try. Are you ready?" "Always!" "Good. Then, let''s take down this ''not-quite-strongest'' man." Liora nodded firmly. ¨‹ Tyrant Giis "Die, you weakling!" I don''t understand. The person I''m fighting, this fool, says her name is Liora. She''s clearly insane. All she did was trample on some flowerbeds. That''s all it took for her toe at me, the strongest in the world. And from what I''ve heard, she seems to have some connection to the Demon Lord. I don''t get it. There''s no one who could stand against me¡ªmaybe the Demon Lord could¡ªbut why is she here? And the weirdest part is¡­ "Ugh!" A scythe shes at my neck. Thanks to my rings, the damage is nullified. But after a flurry of three consecutive strikes, four of my rings have been used up in an instant. I quickly activate [Tyranny]. I can''t stop clicking my tongue. "Die!" I use the skill [Self-Destruct Attack] to try and blow Liora away. But she escapes with inhuman speed. How can such a brat be so strong? More importantly, why can she even challenge me? I have absolute defense, and my [Self-Destruct Attack] can take anyone out in one hit, and I can use it repeatedly without cost. Someone fighting me¡­ they must be insane. It''s like challenging the ocean or the sky. The eerie little girl lowers her scythe to the ground and dispels the darkness that cloaked her. Her unfocused, creepy eyes fix on me directly. The killing intent sends shivers down my spine. "Yes¡­ I understand, God." She''s a disturbing child. She''s probably talking to her contracted spirit, but she looks more like a possessed doll. "Hey, Gujo. Get ready to use [Manifestation]. She''s about to do something." "Got it, bro." Honestly, there''s little benefit for me to contract with a spirit. Even if they grant me more skills, I''m already aplete being. That''s why I only seek spirits that are obedient. Ones that make me money. Ones that reduce my workload. In that sense, Gujo is the perfect spirit. He''s not good in a fight, but he can use [Manifestation] in a pinch. There''s no way I''ll lose. But something feels off. The real threat isn''t the girl. She''s insane, strong, and yes, she''s my enemy. But there are others like her out there. The problem is the dark spirit standing by her side, watching me. "Gujo, if things get tough, you handle the dark spirit." I hold my breath. I''m starting to feel overwhelmed. I haven''t taken any damage in years. I can''t even imagine myself losing, but¡­ I have a bad feeling about this. Why am I fighting? I''m not someone who fights. I''m someone who kills. This is all so irritating. "Just die already! Stop dodging, you weakling!" Frustrated, I unleash my full power and detonate a [Self-Destruct Attack]. I expected her to dodge, but¡ªLiora''s arm gets blown off. A grin spreads across my face. Spit flies as I speak. "You let your guard down, weakling!" I rush in to grab her face, but I meet her gaze¡ªthose crazed eyes unfazed by losing an arm. ¨‹ Liora, with her right arm blown off, proceeds to use [Offering: War Dance]. She tries to kick Giis in the stomach, only to have her leg blown off in the process. The force of the explosion sends her flying backward. Giis immediately goes on the offensive. Explore new worlds at empire Even though Giis isn''t at the level cap, his stats, especially his speed, are higher than Liora''s. He closes the distance and punches her in the abdomen. But it''s not just a punch. It''s the setup for a [Self-Destruct Attack]. "Die!" Liora''s stomach is blown apart. Coughing up blood, Liora instantly recovers using [Regeneration], then follows up with a sh of light magic, [sh]. One of Giis''s weaknesses is his inability to nullify attacks like this. "Damn it!" Giis clutches his eyes in pain. His stance is so vulnerable, it''s almostughable. Taking advantage, Liora shes at his neck with her scythe, only to be stopped by his invisible barrier once again. [Self-Destruct Attack] Liora is sent flying again. However, she shows no sign of feeling any pain. As soon as she recovers with her regenerative abilities, she charges at Giis once more. Without defending herself. Blown back, taking damage, Liora repeatedly charges at Giis, relentlessly attacking his neck. But every time, Giis counters with a [Self-Destruct Attack]. Chapter 80 Giss End However, she shows no sign of feeling any pain or misery on her, truly marvelous. As soon as she recovers with her regenerative abilities, she charges at Giis once more. Without defending herself. Blown back, taking damage, Liora repeatedly charges at Giis, relentlessly attacking his neck. But every time, Giis counters with a [Self-Destruct Attack]. Even though she has regeneration, it''s bing clear that Liora''s healing can''t keep up with the damage. Normally, she could recover by using [Life Steal de] or [Vampiric de]. But since her attacks are being nullified, she can''t heal herself. Liora begins to stagger from blood loss. Her small body has bled far more than it should be capable of. She''s lost count of how many limbs she''s had blown off. A normal person would have gone mad from the pain long ago. Yet, despite her battered state, Liora''s eyes still shine with fanatical determination. "Why are you still standing!? Can''t you feel the pain, or are you out of your mind!? You know you don''t have a chance, right!? Even if you can regenerate, if you lose consciousness, you''ll die!" Frustrated by Liora''s persistence, Giis screams. "It''s pointless, you weakling! Everything''s pointless! My absolute defense is¡ª" Before he can finish. Liora uses [Offering: sh Step] to close the distance instantly and swings her scythe haphazardly. The de is imbued with [Life Steal de] and [Vampiric de]. "It''s pointless, I said!" Giis carelessly reaches out to counterattack. The heat of his [Self-Destruct Attack] begins to build up in his hand. In that moment. "Got you¡­" Liora slices through nearly 90% of Giis''s neck. A massive spray of blood erupts as Giis, unable to block the attack, tumbles across the ground. The so-called strongest-ss warrior is left sprawling on the floor like a rag doll. It seems Giis''s [Death Evade] skill has activated. He''s being healed by his contracted spirit, but as he sits on the ground, his face is one of disbelief. It''s as if reality itself had betrayed him. Clutching his neck, the thug-like Giis snarls. "How¡­ how did you manage to damage me!? What''s going on!? Damn you, what kind of tricks are you using!? You lowly weakling, how dare you! Why didn''t you just let me kill you quietly, you human scum!" "Be quiet." "¡ª!" With just a single step forward from Liora, Giis tries to scramble away in fear. But sitting as he is, he only ils in his own pool of blood. Covered in blood, her scythe, [Shadow of Death], drips with Giis''s filthy blood as Liora calmly steps toward him. Drip, drip. The scythe continues to ooze with Giis''s blood. I praise Liora for her endurance. "You did well, Liora. Now, all that''s left is to kill him." "Yes¡­ It''s all thanks to you, God." "If his mysterious defense is tied to his equipment, all we need to do is strip him of it. Simple enough. His movements were far too amateurish." Throughout the battle with Giis, I had intentionally made Liora charge repeatedly.All of that was meaningless... or rather, it wasn''t. Due to his focus on killing Atori, Geese had neglected his own defense. Atori seized the opportunity, and I used [Create Dark] to steal one of his rings. Geese had been wearing many rings, but now only three remained. Due to the mechanics of this [Sugo], only two rings can be active at any given time. However, with [Tyranny], even that disadvantage can be ignored. It''s a powerful skill, but that''s all it is. "Three consecutive times¡ªthat''s the limit of what Geese can defend against right now. The remaining cor and earrings seem to be for status ailment or mind-control protection. The earrings can''t be removed. Even if there were defensive capabilities in those earrings, one wouldn''t be enough." No matter how much Geese ignores cooldowns, responding to continuous attacks would require a maxed-out reaction speed. Even if he has reached that max, Atori''s attack speed would likely surpass it. We simply need to kill him before he can activate [Tyranny]. Geese seemed to have realized the trick as well. He nced at his now-bare fingers, grinding his teeth in frustration. "You filthy thief!" "Shut up." "...Give it back. That''s my ring! You want to die, you bastard?!" Atori, as if showing off, wore the ring I had given her. Seeing this, veins popped on Geese''s temples. "You damn brat!!!" He charged forward, hands outstretched in rage, like an angry child. He no longer resembled a warrior¡ªhe''d failed even as a human. Atori''s scythe began to pulse with overwhelming darkness. When her face, which had been slightly downcast, looked forward, her crimson eyes shone darkly. "Unleash [Shadows Filled with Death]." "Kill everything with [Self-Destruct Attack]!" "Praise the glory of a thousand deaths!" With Geese''s [Self-Destruct Attack], the ring that Atori had equipped shattered into pieces. However, she sessfully nullified the attack. Reflected on Geese''s face was an absolute defense that mocked his desperate actions. The transparent walls, the rings, and his pride all crumbled. This was the sum of all the "strength" Geese had relied on until now. "This is exactly what you''ve been doing to others." Of course, my words didn''t reach him. But in his mind, I''m sure he now saw the faces of the warriors he had trampled over. Now, he understands it''s his turn. In the eyes of Nero, the Evil God, I saw nothing but the face of a terrified coward. Geese, meanwhile, beheld a young girl announcing his death. Let this moment burn into your memory. "Kill him, Atori." "¡ª[Scythe of Death, Nero Ragnarok]!!" With a simple, emotionless swing of her scythe, Geese''s body began to crumble. His lower half vanished entirely, yet he still reached out towards Atori. Oh? It seems the remaining rings couldn''t protect him against Atori''s [Scythe of Death, Nero Ragnarok]. There''s no need for any further attacks. "Give it back... my... my..." "All of it, meaningless." "¡ª!!" "The sin of destroying God''s and my garden is grave. Thus, you must die." Atori spun around gracefully. Without sparing a nce at the now-dead Geese, she trotted towards me. The strongest man, Geese of [Tyranny], had perished before the young girl, Atori. All that remained on the battlefield were the massive cracks etched into the ground and the crater from the [Self-Destruct Attack]. The wind blew, and the scattered petals fluttered up towards the sky.After everything had ended, a round of apuse erupted behind us. When we turned around, the Demon Kings were cheering. Despite being on the enemy''s side, they sure were enthusiastic. This kind of energy might even tempt yers to switch sides to the Demon King''s faction.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om One of the Demon Kings leaped down from Helmut''s head. As always, they were naked. But Gehena, standing behind them, quickly pulled out some clothes from the item box. The Demon King took the clothes but threw them to the ground. "I don''t need that. Bring me something frillier. What''s with this dull robe?" "If I always carried frilly clothes around, that''d be pretty weird! Just wear it! You''ll catch a cold, and it''ll hurt!" "I don''t get cold. Are you mocking me, Gehena? I''ll kick you." "Not now, boss! That''s your real body right now!" Their exchange was so ridiculous that I quickly created a makeshift outfit with my [Create Dark] ability. It was entirely ck, so it wasn''t the best, but the design shouldn''t raise anyints. Wearing the frilly dark dress, the Demon King nodded approvingly. "Well done, dark spirit. I like it. How about bing my exclusive fashion designer? I''ll give you half the world." "I''m not a spirit, I''m a god." "? You''re a spirit." "God." "Spirit." "God." "Spirit." And so, the "God" vs. "Spirit" battle began. As expected of a Demon King. An ordinary person would''ve already buckled under Atori''s pressure and returned to the main topic by now. This would never end at this rate. Gehena, realizing this too, gave me a look. "Atori, that''s enough. It''s beyond a Demon King''sprehension." "Princess, that''s enough too. We need to get to the main point, or the event will end." Reluctantly, both sides withdrew. Taking over for the sulking Demon King, Gehena cheerfully addressed us. This was likely their original form from when they were alive¡ªa strikingly handsome elf. Though the academic cap looked a bit odd, it suited them well. They smiled warmly. "Now then, Atori, Lord Nelo, how about we tour the festival together? Though we have our differences, let''s enjoy this while we can." "No thanks. I want to be alone with God." "Oh, was it a date?" "Date?" Atori tilted her head in confusion, and Gehena tried to kindly exin¡ªbut suddenly, a massive volley of arrows rained down from above. It was a storm of arrows, heavier than rain. Neither I, Atori, nor Shio could move, but it seemed that everything else (including the thieves Shio had restrained) was being targeted. "Yukris, is that you!? [Bug of Acedia, Demon King''s Indolence]!" Chapter 81 Event End It was a storm of arrows, heavier than rain. Neither I, Atori, nor Shio could move, but it seemed that everything else (including the thieves Shio had restrained) was being targeted. "Yukris, is that you!? [Bug of Acedia, Demon King''s Indolence]!"The Demon King waved a hand, and a rift tore through the sky, from which a gray... octopus appeared. It swelled rapidly, stopping the arrow storm midair. A frozen world. Yukris, now standing right behind the Demon King with his bow drawn, wore an expression more suited to a murderous hunter than his usual gentle demeanor. "Good to see you, Demon King. Have you enjoyed your sightseeing?" "Not yet. I was just about to y with the heroes. Care to join? Gimora will foot the bill." "No, thanks. While I hate to turn down ady''s invitation... I can''t let you roam free." "Hmm. So, we''re already within your attack range. Testing whether my defenses or your firepower is superior could be fun, no?" It seemed like a tense situation. We werepletely left behind. The main story seemed to be advancing without us, and the atmosphere felt intense. But I wasn''t all that interested. We''d already taken down Giss, and honestly, I wanted to take the day off. Liora had already returned to fixing the destroyed flowerbed. She was nting the seeds I had provided. Herposure was so unnerving it was almost scary. Next to her, Arisdyne was helping out. "Lord Zephyr, I want this. It''ll taste good when cooked." "Really?" "Delicious. It''ll make a good spice... Piti''s specialty." Are they getting along? It''s unsettling since they''ll eventually be enemies. Well, I''m not aiming to be a top-tier yer, and my ie is more than sufficient. Living quietly as an A-rank adventurer might not be so bad. But I''ll need to kill Giss again in the first field. Living quietly will have to wait. With his personality, I''m sure Giss bears a grudge against Liora. If given time, he''ll probably obtain new equipment and might even prepare countermeasures for next time. He''s said to have wealth and power on his side. While the peaceful scene at the flowerbed continued, the conversation between the Demon King and Yukris dragged on. The Demon King spread their arms, ready to embrace whatever came next. "Go ahead, shoot, Yukris! But do you understand this? Goddess The World is merciful. She loves not only you but even me. Even if you kill me in this event, she''ll undo my death." "¡­The World! That crazed phnthropist." "Don''t be so harsh. She''s already been favoring your side. Without some form of bnce, her divine love would smother all humanity. We''re only alive thanks to her cautious management." Yukris slumped his shoulders and put away his bow. The Demon King, now freed, seemed oddly lonely. Perhaps he had really wanted to test his durability. Yukris spat bitterly. "I won''t make the mistake of testing my firepower here. But one day, I''ll deliver my arrow to your head." "Hmm, I look forward to it." "Hmph¡­ Gimora, one more thing." Yukris red at Gimora. Gimora, hiding under his academic cap, avoided showing any expression. They were apparently once close friends. There seems to be a deeper story there. As I eavesdropped, suddenly, Yukris, Liora, and the others began to float upwards. It was as if they were falling into the sky. Yukris, elerating upward, shouted. "!? [God''s Venomous Piti]! When did I get poisoned!?" "What is this?" Liora asked, confused. But no answer came. Because¡ª [Personal Announcement Starting] [Contracted NPC Liora is dead. She is now excluded from the event space.] [We deeply appreciate your continued efforts to save the world.] After that, ording to the forums, nearly all the NPCs on our server died in mid-air from some mysterious floating phenomenon. It seems that any NPC who ate or drank anything at the festival ind was affected, ording to the theory put forth by the investigation team. Liora certainly ate something. And so, our festival was forcibly ended by the intervention of demon king. ***** We werepletely powerless and defeated. Our opponent, whom we couldn''t eveny eyes on, was one of the Demon King''s Four Heavenly Kings¡ªPitti, the Divine Poison of Deadly Toxins. This created quite a deep connection.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Losing in the previous event was part of the setup. It didn''t end until we lost everything. However, this event was different. More than anything, even those of us who had grown stronger, like Liora and me, were mercilessly killed. The Demon King is probably the same, and so are the executives who are no longer in their physical form. They were such overwhelming beings. "I feel a little relieved, don''t you?" "¡­?" "Fighting weak opponents wouldn''t be interesting." The final goal of this *Sugo* is to defeat the Demon King. It wouldn''t be fun if it ended too easily. If the game could be cleared too quickly, the service would soone to an end due to its shallowness. It would be a little sad not to see Liora anymore, even though she''s just an NPC. That aside, cute Liora was killed. So Pitti must be given death. ¨D¨DIn the name of the Evil God Zephyr. Let''s indulge in some role-ying once in a while. "More importantly, Liora, let''s take a look at the event rewards." "Yes! I''m excited!" It seems the rankings for this event differ by server. It''s nice that the results aren''t influenced by other servers. Let''s check. Server 1 Rankings: 1st ce: ck Team (us) 2nd ce: White Team 3rd ce: Red Team It seems we ced first on our server. Well, since the Demon King wiped out everyone else, it''s natural that the ck Team, which the Demon King belonged to, won. In a way, Demon King, good job. Next, let''s check the individual rankings within the server. 1st ce: ck Team ¨C Zephyr & Liora Oh. That was quick. It seems our performance was highly rated by the game administrators. Although I only ced 3rd in the [Alchemy] category, and thanks to some sabotage, I was unranked in the [Sculpture] category. Both Shiwo and Liora''s flowerbeds were destroyed. Ah, maybe it''s because the sculptures were sold to the Demon King? The money we earned also contributes to our event score. Since we earned a massive amount, we might have made the most during the event. If that''s the case, Demon King, good job. Could the Demon King be on our side? Liora celebrates with apletely expressionless "banzai." I rush toward her outstretched arms. "? ¡­What''s wrong, God?" "It''s a high five, Liora. We came in first." "High five?" "It''s something friends do when they''re happy." "Friends¡­ hehehe. Hehehehe. God and I are friends. Best friends¡­ best friends, best friends, best friends, best friends. God is only friends with me¡­" "I''m not a loner¡­ probably." Anyway, thanks to the Demon King''s assistance, it looks like we can im some great rewards. Let''s review the options. It seems you earn points based on your rank in this event. We can use those points to obtain items from a catalog. Being first ce in both categories gives us an abundance of options. The more choices, the more fun the game bes, right? Let''s start by iming the most expensive item. [Ideal Atelier] A subspace facility optimized for production activities. Can only be entered once per day. Cannot be used in certain locations. "I''m not entirely sure what it is, but let''s go with this." Since this is a high-priced item only avable to the first-ce team, there''s no choice but to purchase it. As a result, we have very few points left. We might be able to get one decent item, if that. "Finally, Liora, you can pick something if you''d like." "I want God to pick for me." "Is that so? I''m torn now." Compared to thest event, there seem to be fewer items that directly affectbat ability. However, that might make them more troublesome. Sometimes, people with odd items are harder to deal with than those who are simply strong. "We still have time to decide. For now, let''s use the [Ideal Atelier]." "Yes, God." "It''s Liora''s Atelier now." "?" Liora has a surprising sense of humor that''s hard to pin down. Sebbas, who once fought alongside us, managed to make Lioraugh a lot. I''m not sure if my sense of humor is terrible or if there''s something off about Liora. I activated the [Ideal Atelier]. Suddenly. Several images appeared before me. [System message initiating] [Please select your Ideal Atelier] It seems the images that appeared are properties that can be turned into an atelier. My house is there, as is Liora''s family home. ces we''ve visited. Those are the options for the [Ideal Atelier]. "If that''s the case¡­ here it is. Let''s go with [Alsviz Fuss]." The [Alsviz Fuss] I chose is a castle I built using all of my fortune. It''s a massive, majestic, and incredibly beautiful castle. The interior is adorned with various intricate designs. Chapter 82 Arsvis Fuss ces we''ve visited. Those are the options for the [Ideal Atelier]. The castle I selected, "Arsvis Fuss," is a massive and majestic structure that I built using my entire fortune. It''s an enormous, awe-inspiring, and incredibly beautiful castle. The interior is adorned with various borate designs. Among the works I''ve created, this is the most famous but also the least well-received. In the center of the castle is an easel enclosed in reinforced ss, disying a nk canvas. This massive structure exists solely to showcase these two items. Most people didn''t understand the purpose behind it, calling it "overly ambitious" and critiquing it as such. However, there''s a secret mechanism: under certain conditions, when the time is right, the moonlight interacts with the nk canvas, revealing a painting. Honestly, it''s my masterpiece. That said, since nighttime visits are prohibited, even I have never seen the painting. Once selected, the castle became essible. I brought Atori along, and we immediately headed to "Arsvis Fuss." Just like during the first event, the space was a stark, white void. In that emptiness, the majestic "Arsvis Fuss" stood tall. No matter how many times I see it, this castle never fails to impress me. Overwhelmed, Atori plopped down on her bottom. "Is this¡­ your home, God?" "Well, you could say it''s one of them." "It''s incredible¡­" The castle has intricate decorations, but the interior is empty. There are many rooms, but none of them have any furnishings. Is this supposed to be the ideal atelier? As I tilted my head in confusion, a semi-transparent control panel appeared before me. "If I insert materials here, it looks like I can upgrade the facility." I tried inserting a leaf from the World Tree. This increased the upgrade points by about a hundred. I repeated this process, using up items I didn''t need. "Oh, I see a potion cauldron has be avable for crafting. Plus, I can now purchase a few basic materials. This is quite handy." When making potions, bottles are essential. Normally, I use ceramics or ss, but they are expensive and difficult to acquire inrge quantities. However, now I can use points to buy bottles. I can make as many potions as I want. I immediately used the points to purchase a full set of alchemy equipment and arge stock of bottles. Before I knew it, my "Arsvis Fuss" had turned into a storage shed. But since this is just a replica, it doesn''t matter. If this were the real castle, it would have been a disaster. Next, I created a gardening room for Atori and a woodworking atelier for Shio. Let''s make full use of our production skills! The pinnacle of the Alchemy skill seems to be the creation of the Philosopher''s Stone. But what can you even use a Philosopher''s Stone for? Personally, I prefer diamonds and such since they''re more valuable. However, before that, there''s the creation of a Homunculus. It seems my current skill level and resources aren''t enough to create one, but I can make a Golem. After discussing with Atori, I received the event reward: the "Supreme Golem Core." I''m excited. Normally, obtaining a Golem Core requires either defeating wild Golems or raid bosses, or crafting it bybining various items. But receiving a Supreme Golem Core as a reward is more than worth it in terms of cost-effectiveness. This time, I selected dark-element minerals as my material. It''s one of the stones I prepared for my "Sculpture" division. It has a smooth texture, retaining the weight and feel of stone, but with a strange, almost sticky sensation. Of course, this is just a metaphor, since dark spirits don''t have hands. "Let''s begin." I infused the properly cut stones with "Create Dark." They seemed to absorb it quite well. Though the dark energy will eventually dissipate, the minerals gradually became saturated with darkness and attuned to me. The purity of the dark element rose rapidly. A few stones couldn''t withstand the dark energy and shattered. I pushed the dark energy to the limit, then ground the stones into sand. I mixed this darkened sand into a y that was simrly imbued with darkness. I''m not bad with y work either. In no time, I sculpted a beautiful y figure of a young girl. Using "Create Dark" to form the limbs was convenient. Thanks to practice, my control over it has improved significantly. Next, I refined the figure using the Alchemy skill. The joints were made from carefully rounded minerals. For the bones, I used branches from the World Tree. I embedded the Golem Core in the heart and carved symbols near the thigh, which would bring the Golem to life. "Activating skill: Alchemy¡­ Naming: Seck." The beautiful girl-shaped Golem stood up by itself. Although its movements were a bit stiff, it didn''t seem to have any problems functioning. Since I made it, its appearance as a doll was remarkably high-quality. A beauty that would take anyone''s breath away. The girl-shaped Golem, Seck, opened her eyes and gave a slight bow, though she didn''t blink¡ªapparently, I forgot to give her that ability. It seems I should''ve made her eyelids functional. "Now, let''s choose your skills." "Yes, master." "I n for you to handle production and gathering. Is that okay?" "Yes, master." "Very good." Thanks to the Supreme Golem Core, Seck could be equipped with eight skills. While I can''t increase the number, eight is more than enough. The selections were made. Name: Seck Gender: None Level: 70 Race: Abyss Golem Job: Head Maid Magic: Everdark Magic 70 Production: Smithing 70 Skills: High-Quality Production Gathering 70 Mass Production 70 Army Command 70 Increased Production Efficiency Skill Improvement Magic Power Control Correction Assistant 70 Stats: Attack: 350 Magic Attack: 350 Durability: 350 Agility: 350 Luck: 350 Title: Supreme Golem These are Seck''s stats. Thanks to the Supreme Golem Core, she started at level 70, though further growth seems impossible. If I acquire the "Golem Mastery" skill, I can make her grow, though. I gave her Smithing to avoid having to visit the former Elf prince often. Associating with him only when I need to enhance my "Death-Filled Shadow" weapon is the limit for me. For now, I set up a forge. I had Seck work on smithing. She handled the ores with skilled hands. "I want more Golem Cores." Since I intend for Seck to eventually manage Golems, I gave her the "Army Command" skill as well. Soon enough, she finished making a small scythe. This is Atori''s throwing weapon. It''s also her sub-weapon. After all, her skill is "Scythe Arts." She can handle bothrge and small scythes with ease. I had always wanted one, but a scythe fit for battle wasn''t avable for purchase. Agricultural scythes had far too little attack power. With this, Atori''s equipment can be significantly upgraded. Between the "Ideal Atelier" and "Supreme Golem," ourbat capabilities are feeling much more flexible.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om I then ordered Seck to make a sparerge scythe for Atori and arge shield for Shio. It''s nice to have production in-house. Let''s have Atori test out the small scythe now. ¨Œ I headed to Atori''s location with Seck in tow. It was outside the castle. Instead of working indoors, it seemed she was doing somendscaping outside. Arge amount of soil had been spread, and a magical tool that generated artificial sunlight hovered overhead. Sensing my presence, Atori immediately stood up. "? God? Who is that naked person?" "Oh, she''s Seck, a Golem I created." "Wow! A Golem created by God¡­ A new species to rece humanity!" Atori bowed her head to Seck. It seems that in Atori''s mind, the Golem I created > herself dynamic has been established. I patted her on the head. "Atori, a Golem is just a Golem. She''s your subordinate too. Make good use of her." "Yes¡­ I will." "You''re the most important, Atori." "I¡­ I''m God''s number one¡­ I am¡­" Atori began mumbling to herself. I had her test the small scythe next. First, some light swings. Instead of her usual sweeping scythe technique, she delivered a series of sharp, slicing strikes. Atori started muttering under her breath. I stopped her and had her test the small scythe. First, a few light swings. Instead of her usual wild scythe technique, she executed a series of precise shes. It seems she''s getting the hang of it. This will likely make a solid sub-weapon. Its special effect, "Increased Bleeding," causes significant bleeding even from a minor cut. Next, she tried throwing it. This will take some practice, but it seems promising. If it continues to go well, I might have her learn the "Throwing Skill" with the next skill acquisition. "God, it''s good!" "I''m d. Now, Seck, could you make a few more? I''ll leave the materials here. You can earn points by offering World Tree leaves for low-rank materials. I''ll leave some, so feel free to use them." Seck nodded slightly and returned to the workshop. Chapter 83 Acquire Golem Cores For the time being, our goal has be acquiring golem cores. If we can mass-produce golems, it would give us a huge advantage in terms of production. In normal gamey, having too many golems might be troublesome. However, we have a secret weapon: "The Ideal Atelier." With enough production facilities, there''s no doubt we have an abundance of craftsmen. Even low-level golem cores would make menial tasks much easier. Mid-level cores would greatly expand our flexibility, and if we can find a high-level core, we''d be unstoppable. We n to mainly use golems for production, but if necessary, we could also use them as abat force. Leading an army of golems is entirely possible. In fact, Atori''s race, the "High Human," is a treasure trove of such skills. This game, *Sugo*, has a feature called limited skills. For example, skills like "Create Dark," "Dark Aura," and "Darkness Berserk" are exclusive to dark spirits, while skills like "Kagura" and "Summoning" are exclusive to shrine maidens. Simrly, some skills are tied to specific races. Among them, the "High Human" has many skills geared toward leading armies. "Well, shall we conquer the dungeon?" "Yes, my god... just the two of us..." "Jack and the others are here too." Surprisingly, I was working alongside one of my few friends, Rasetsu¡ð, this time. We had agreed to clear a dungeon together. Rasetsu¡ð doesn''t interfere too much, and when we do talk, it''s mostly about the game. Teaming up asionally isn''t an issue. For this dungeon exploration, although we''re working together, we''re each doing it solo in our own way. After all, solo yers reign supreme. We''re now in the third field, "Agyoten City Yarumzam." It''s known as a dungeon city, with a massive dungeon towering in the center. It''s a mid-sized dungeon with ten floors. The city itself was lively, with wide streets that could amodate carriages. The sides were filled with street stalls, emitting wild, unfamiliar food scents. It seemed to be a city mostly inhabited by beastmen. There were plenty of muscr adventurers with cat ears roaming around. Being a dungeon city, it''s not surprising that many of the inhabitants were fighters. Atori, being a High Human, would probably stand out here. After fending off about five pickpockets, Atori finally arrived at the adventurer''s guild. It was a rough-looking guild. A rowdy tavern where all sorts of roughnecks gathered... the moment Atori stepped inside, murderous res were directed her way. But the little grim reaper paid them no mind. She boldly took a seat at the counter and ordered milk. But¡ª "We don''t have a menu for kids." The clerk, clearly looking down on her, was supposed to be a guild employee... but this ce seemed to have a strong anti-High Human sentiment. Or perhaps it was more about territorial behavior, as the clerk was a wolf beastman. Atori tilted her head. "They had it at other guilds. Is this guild poor?" "...You little brat, you wanna die?" "How?" Atori silently stared at the clerk. Her overwhelming presence. The silent pressureing from this small girl caused the clerk to turn pale in an instant. Atori, who could take down raid bosses solo, was not someone a nonbatant clerk could oppose. Trembling, the clerk began to shake when someone sat down beside Atori. This beastman must not have realized, since Atori''s intimidation was only directed at the clerk. "What''s this human brat doing here? Here for a job? Or are you seriously calling yourself an adventurer? You didn''te here because you''re enamored with Yarumzam, did you?" "I''m not. I came for work." "Ah, that pisses me off. A weak human kid acting all tough... should I crush you?" "Thank you, my god!" Completely ignoring the new arrival, Atori happily sipped the drink I had given her. The wolf boy sitting next to her was visibly irritated. He tried to snatch Atori''s drink in his anger¡ªonly to be bound by Shiwo''s tentacles. Oh dear.N?v(el)B\\jnn I really don''t want to see a guy get tied up like this. "What the hell is this? Let go of me! Are you a tamer or something? You think you''re tough just because you''re using someone else''s strength!? Hey, you lot, kill this guy!" "Aren''t you relying on others yourself...?" As I sighed in exasperation, the other adventurers stood up as well. They each readied their weapons, all directed at Shiwo. It seemed like there was about to be a guild brawl. Atori''s A-rank card might be making an appearance here. As I was thinking that, a few of the adventurers suddenly copsed. The beastmen who weren''t taken down were too shocked to move. The one who appeared afterward was a one-armed old man... Jack Jack. "What''s the matter, Atori-dono? These fools aren''t even worth talking to." "What happened to your arm?" "I made a mistake. It''s cursed, and no healing can fix it, hohoho." "How about using the ''Regeneration'' skill?" "Even if I were to get it, that''s something for the far future. This old body doesn''t have much time left." Stroking his long beard, Jack Jack had already sheathed his bloodstained rapier. Stepping over the fallen beastmen, Jack Jack sat down in the now-vacant seat beside Atori. After a small nod, he ced an order with the clerk. "I''ll have some alcohol. Something fruity would be nice." "T-this can''t... this can''t be allowed..." The clerk stammered, trembling. "You think this kind of thing... is allowed...?" "Two A-rank adventurers are speaking, what do you have to say? I know this city favors beastmen, and that it''s working well for you. But if you''re going to discriminate, do it outside the guild. The guild, by principle, is an organization." "A-rank... this kid is!?" "Still as low-level as ever, this guild. I''ll be reporting this to the guild headquarters. The word of an A-rank adventurer holds weight." "T-that''s... that''s abuse of authority!" "You brought this upon yourselves." "W-wait! Please wait!" "I don''t care...e on, Atori-dono." Jack Jack stood up, giving Atori a sidelong nce. "Let''s dive into the dungeon already. Are you ready?" "Yes." "Good. Let''s go. If you have any equipment or weapons that can lift curses, please share them. We''ll discuss other items as we go." "Got it." Negotiations are always a hassle. Well, if things don''t work out, we can just break ties and distance ourselves. We made our way toward the dungeon. ¨‹ This was the Thousand-Changing Labyrinth, Ariirirau. The first floor was aplex maze that changed every week. The dungeon''syout, monsters, items, and even traps were all random. However, golems seemed to appear fairly often. It''s not a ce for casual yers, but the rewards are varied, and the drop rates are better than other dungeons. This dungeon is a treasure hunter''s dream. We began our assault on the dungeon in cooperation with Rasetsu¡ð''s team. We immediately split into two groups to search for the stairs leading upward. Thebyrinth was dimly lit. We were equipped withnterns, and we had summoned one weak vine dog for assistance. Shiwo led the way ahead. She had a new set of gear, including two small shields and onerge shield strapped to her back. All of them were crafted by Seck. Using her soundwave skill, Shiwo detected the presence of traps. Taking a small stone from her pouch, she tossed it into the trap''s path. Immediately, a bear trap appeared, crushing the stone to dust. Shiwo can''t understand the exact details of a trap, so it''s good she has ways to test them. To be honest, we''ve never fully cleared a dungeon before. The catbs weren''t strictly a dungeon, and we''ve never seen the lowest floor of the Golden Tree Sea Dalesgana either. Conquering a dungeon¡ªit''s every gamer''s dream. I want to reach the deepest floor this time. Atori threw a small scythe, which pierced the skull of an approaching monster. The monsters that appeared included zombies, goblins, orcs, high orcs, and arge bird I had never seen before. "Let''s appraise this bird, just in case." Level: 13 Species: Cockatrice Job: Sorcerer Magic: Water Magic 15 Skills: Petrification Attack, Enemy Resistance Reduction I''ll list only the necessary information. To be honest, it''s a weakling. However, a cockatrice is generally considered a decently strong monster. But at this level, it''s no threat. Shio steps in front of Atri. Shio can nullify petrification with his Action Inhibition Resistance. The cockatrice uses Enemy Resistance Reduction, but that doesn''t work against immunity. Since I have the same skill, I understand how it works, Cockatrice. "Present Paralysis!" I stopped the high orc that was about to charge. Immediately afterward, Atri unleashed a Shining sh imbued with Killing de. All the monsters that appeared at the same time were cut in half. An earring rolled out among the dropped items. After appraising it, the effect seemed weak, so I debated whether to take it. Let''s pick it up for a golem I n to acquire in the future. Chapter 84 With the, Jack Jack "The first floor won''t pose much of a challenge. Let''s just be cautious of traps." "Yes! Got it!" "However, it''s quite inconvenient that we can''t use ''Ideal Atelier'' inside the dungeon." That item is useful both as a temporary lodging and as storage for equipment. It''s a remarkablyfortable tool in the field, but inside this dungeon, it''s utterly powerless. Resting spots are also inside the dungeon. It''s tough. We could be attacked at any time. This is the difficulty of conquering dungeons. I''m mapping as we walk. It feels like we''ve likely gone off course. Perhaps it''s best if we regroup at the starting point. As for our coboration with Rasetsu ¡ð, it''s going like this: Basically, we''re each soloing. We share map information and any items we find. Whoever wants a certain item gets it, that sort of arrangement. For example, if a rapier drops for us, we don''t need it. Then, we team up for boss battles... That''s the loose party y we''re engaging in. Apparently, we can''t send friend chats inside the dungeon either. But we can send messages to people not in the dungeon. While trying to backtrack, we stumbled upon a treasure chest. "A treasure chest..." Liora took a step back from the chest. It seems she''s recalling the time Shiwo nearly killed her. Since then, it''s be a trauma for Liora. Perhaps when we fought that yer who exposed her trauma, it reappeared then as well. "Liora, do you want to open it?" "...!?" Liora shook her head vigorously from side to side. By the way, if I had said, "Liora, let''s open it," she probably would have opened it with teary eyes. But I deliberately only asked if she wanted to. Still, treasure chests are the highlight of a dungeon. There''s no choice but to open it, so I had Shiwo open it from a distance. As soon as the chest popped open, tentacles sprang out. It really was a mimic. A battle between mimics ensued. Both were evenly matched, their tentacles entwining. It reminded me of a tug of war. The loser would be devoured. Shiwo was dominant. Thanks to spending time with Liora, hisbat experience and level had increased. However, since this was bing a stalemate, I used ''Present Poison'' to poison the mimic. "Liora, you can help now." "Yes, my god." Liora, still hesitant to approach, continued firing ''Shining sh'' from a distance. HP tanks like mimics are truly troublesome. What''s more frightening is their power, unrted to the dungeon floor or rank. That said, as long as they can''t catch you, it''s not a problem. Eventually, the mimic was defeated. It dropped a mysterious mask. I''ll appraise itter. Liora turned back with a beaming smile. "I defeated Shiwo!" ''¡ª!'' "That''s your future." ''¡ª!!'' "Be quiet. God loves only me. Only me..." Ignoring Shiwo, Liora briskly made her way toward the rendezvous point. Apart from the mimic, there was no other threat on the first floor. We ughtered everything in our path and returned to the starting point. ¨Œ Jack Jack was sitting on a mat, leisurely enjoying some tea. He seems to possess a storage-type item, as he''s carrying a lot of supplies. Though not as convenient as the skill ''Item Box'', saving skill slots is important. Noticing Liora''s presence, he raised an eyebrow. "Oh, Liora-dono." "Found it?" "Indeed, it''s just an hour''s walk from here." "Sorry to keep you waiting." "Not at all, it''s a matter of luck and chance. No need to worry." Jack Jack shared a hand-drawn map with us. With this, even if we''re caught in a trap and split up, it''ll be easier to reach our destination. We followed the old elf. Jack Jack is quite a powerful NPC, though not as absurdly strong as Liora. He''s a traditionally strong character. His specialty is assassination. Not exactly suited for dungeon crawling. His rapier precisely pierces the weak points of approaching monsters. He doesn''t seem to use dark magic much. He specializes in disappearing, masking his presence, silencing sounds, and simr magic. Before long, we reached the stairs. "Well then, Liora-dono. First, let''s scout the upper floor. Then, we''ll rest here and have a meal." "Food!" After sending Shiwo to scout the upper floor, Liora started eating. This is how we made it to the fourth floor. This entire dungeon is a maze. It''s incredibly tedious. Since we''re splitting into two groups, we''re somehow managing. We''ve already been wandering the dungeon for two days of in-game time. "It''s nighttime. I owe Shiwo-dono a lot." "Tame monsters don''t need sleep." Shiwo''s specialty is keeping watch. He doesn''t need to sleep, has immense stamina, and also has the ''Sonic Wave'' skill. Even if enemiese suddenly, he can tank them and buy time with his crowd-control abilities. I created a ''Dark Mode House'' as a resting space. I kept it modest in size. Two private rooms should be enough. Liora and the others made a campfire. There seems to be some mysterious airflow in the dungeon, so using fire doesn''t seem to be a problem. Let''s roast the marshmallows we bought with microtransactions. I''ve never roasted marshmallows before. To eat them, I''d need to ''manifest'', but I can''t eat, so that''s out of the question. The crackling fire sparks. The warm air feelsforting. The flickering mes are mesmerizing. Liora is quietly eating, and Jack Jack is doing the same. The tense atmosphere seems to have eased. Jack Jack, after savoring a marshmallow, spoke with interest. "Liora-dono. How about we do a bit of training?" "Training?" "Indeed. I''d like you to be even stronger, Liora-dono." "Jack Jack is weaker than me." "True. But strengthes in many forms in this world." Jack Jack stood up. Sparks flew from the campfire. A momentter, Liora stood as well, holding her scythe. Since I have a resurrection potion, they can train without holding back. This potion is useful for both training and negotiations. Long live the World Tree. I''d like to try using materials from other raid bosses too. "Let''s avoid killing, for now." The old man''s wrinkled face softened into a smile.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "The current Liora-dono is a bit beyond my abilities." Liora gave a small nod. The old elf and the high-human young girl shed in the dungeon''s night.Liora, who was thrown to the ground, wore a nk expression. She had been utterly defeated. She had been allowed to do nothing and was simply tossed to the ground. Liora has grown significantly at this point. Considering all her speed buffs, she should have been able to hold her own against Jack-Jack. Yet, the result was Liora crawling on the ground. The difference in experience. If this had been a fight to the death, Liora would likely have won. She could use Kesed''s Wing to guard against instant death, rely on Yesod''s Wing to foresee the future, and simply lop off her opponent''s head, even if she took some hits in the process. If necessary, she could slow her opponent down with Killing de. However, the moment it became a formal match, Liora''s weaknesses wereid bare. Liora stared at her trembling hands in disbelief. "Why did I lose?" "What I used was just a simple martial art. It wasn''t a skill granted by a god, but a technique that humanity developed on its own¡ªan ''outside skill.''" "Outside skill?" "Originally, humans had no skills. But, through the mercy of the goddess, The World, we were granted skills to fight against the Demon Lord." In the past, humans fought only with the wisdom and techniques they had developed. In other words, just like us. "What I used was one of those outside skills... specifically, a martial art known as jujutsu in the spirit world." Hearing Jack-Jack''s exnation, my eyes widened. I see. It''s possible to use jujutsu even without selecting a skill or art. For instance, you can throw something without having the Throwing Technique skill, and you can negotiate even without the Negotiation skill. It''s just like how I use a scythe without the Scythe Technique skill. By the way, I now carry an arming sword, an orthodox weapon, for Divine Manifestation. Without the Scythe Technique skill, I can''t wield a scythe effectively anymore. My contract buffs share with spirits, but non-buff techniques, like Scythe Technique, cannot be shared. The scythe is Liora''s ace card for when she finds herself in a tough situation. It''s a weapon designed for environments she struggles in, like narrow spaces or indoor battles. Swords in fantasy settings are far stronger than in reality. Spears may struggle to killrge monsters since the de is too small. In contrast, a sword''s weight allows it to smash through tough opponents. Often, special effects are embedded in the de, and therger the de''s surface area, the more final damage it inflicts. That said, spears are still strong due to their reach. Jack-Jack spoke up. "You can see through traps without the Trap Detection skill and move swiftly without martial arts. Rasetsu¡ð mentioned you''re like a ninja. I n to teach you those movements, Liora-dono. Chapter 85 Exploration "Understood, Sensei?" "Oh... that has a nice ring to it." Afterward, the two sparred lightly. Jack-Jack''s skill set isn''t particrly strong, yet hisbat skills are exceptional, likely due to centuries spent honing his abilities for revenge. "Atri, ready for the next round?" "Yes, my god! One more time!" Atri charged forward as Jack-Jack nodded calmly. "Very well." Atri closed the gap using Offering: Dance of Swift Escape, but Jack-Jack negated the advantage with a counter-art, blocking the scythe''srge swing with just a light finger movement. A thread caught Atri''s hand, slowing her movement just slightly. In that brief moment, mes engulfed her clothes. Oil was sshed over her, and the fire showed no signs of stopping. The problem wasn''t so much the damage but how the fire obscured her vision. Although she tried to hold him off with sh, Jack-Jack caught her with a shoulder throw. "Impressive that the mes don''t faze you." "It just hurts a little. It was more of a distraction." "High-level people won''t die from such a fire, but it''ll still cause damage, and eventually, they would sumb." As they both burned, Jack-Jack calmly used a fire-extinguishing potion. He extinguished Atri''s mes as well. Jack-Jack seems to be a master of unconventional tactics. Atri relies on brute force, but Jack-Jack is a specialist in dirty tricks. I feel a bit of a connection with him. Atri may appear to haveplex strategies because I''m with her, but in reality, her approach is mostly "rush in and kill." The synergy between us just makes it seem more tactical. Jack-Jack''s methods might bring about a significant shift in Atri''s fighting style. Sensing this, Atri''s eyes gleamed darkly with anticipation. "My god will rely on me more... hehe, hehehe." "You''re kind of scary." "Teach me more, Sensei." "You''re kind of adorable." Once again, I felt a growing sense of camaraderie with Jack-Jack. The intended gamey here seems to be focused on how to grow and develop your contracted NPC. In other words, nurturing something can indeed be a source of content. Let me be clear about this. It appears that Jackjack has bepletely engrossed in the growth game as well. "Hmm, this is the first time I''ve taken on a disciple... but it''s not bad. I almost ended up teaching soul techniques beyond just outer techniques." Nodding repeatedly, Jackjack watches over Atori as she hunts monsters. That said, Atori doesn''t use many underhanded tactics duringbat. Atori''s essence, no matter how much she grows, is still all about "charging in and defeating the enemy." Using tricks might actually weaken her. However, it''s undeniable that a touch of finesse has been added to her "charge and defeat" approach. Currently, we''re on the sixth floor. This ce is filled with monsters strong enough to give even Atori and Jackjack a hard time. The terrain has changed, and it''s now a wilderness littered with countless rocks. This makes things tricky. If you take too long on one enemy, more monsters will swarm in from all directions. "¨DHah!" Atori swings herrge scythe. A stealth kill. Using therge rocks around her, Atori constantly hides her presence and form. She''s practicing stealth techniques that Jackjack taught her. For distant enemies, she throws small scythes to cut them down. The monsters don''t notice until their numbers have significantly dwindled. "Outer techniques are not the same as real skills. In the end, they''re just tricks. Naming a technique doesn''t change that. However, techniques with names carry logic behind them. And logic means reproducibility... If one has Atori''s level of ability, reproducing them is simple." Under the old Atori, a chaotic group battle would''ve already started by now. Of course, she had ess to options like stealth before with her [Snipe Lightning] skill. But now, her movements are on a whole other level. When she had silently killed about ten monsters, the situation shifted. "...I''ve been noticed." Atori''s presence is detected by a monster. Well, if the enemy has any search-rted skills, outer techniques be meaningless. They aren''t necessarily strong or essential techniques. A frontal battle begins. Ten monsters rush in all at once, pressing forward like an avnche. Atori calmly takes a breath. The ten monsters are ape-like creatures. When one leaps towards her, Atori pierces its heart with the butt of her scythe. She swings the scythe, throwing the dead ape''s body as a distraction to the others. The sudden appearance of theirrade''s corpse startles the apes. Using the body as a screen, Atori''s [Shining sh]nds a devastating blow. With their vision blocked by the corpse, the high-level apes are unable to react in time. Two more fall dead. At this point, the apes realize they''re at a disadvantage. Seven of them flee, but Atori had already set traps¡ªspecifically, the light-based magic arts [Mirror Lightning]. The ability of [Mirror Lightning] is simple. It enhances light-based magic and reflects it. The [Shining sh] she had fired earlier reflects off the [Mirror Lightning], blowing off one ape''s leg.N?v(el)B\\jnn Their movement slows as theirrade screams in agony, and Atori''s small scythes and [Snipe Lightning] continue to increase the body count. At the same time, she uses [Offering - Swift Dance] to close the distance. Pitifully, the apes are unable to escape. They simply cannot outrun Atori. Before, she relied solely on her agility stat to run. However, now she has learned the proper way to run. By making better use of her agility, Atori''s speed feels like it has doubled. Well, of course, that''s impossible in reality. But she''s undeniably faster. "[Kagura] is a skill rted to physical maniption. However, it''s not particrly suited for running. Atori''s movements are guided by [Kagura], but even that skill has its limits." She also learned various running techniques¡ªsilent running, deceptive movement, and more. ¨‹ We''ve reached the deepest part of the seventh floor. It''s a swampy maze. Without my [Create Dark] ability to manipte the terrain, we would''ve struggled here. Right now, we''re resting before the boss battle. We''re gathered around our campfire for the umpteenth time. It seems Atori and Jackjack have grown close. "This substance can hinder movement. It''s sticky. However, it''s not very effective against stronger opponents." "So, it''s pointless to use it?" "Everything depends on how it''s used. For instance, bybining it with this explosive..." Jackjack''s lecture continues. Atori nods, listening attentively. His bag of tricks is vast and ever-changing. However, it''s likely Atori will only put a fraction of it into practical use. Still, she will undoubtedly grow stronger. Her abilities that can''t be enhanced through skills or equipment will improve. It may not be visible, but it''s vital nheless. After finishing his lecture, Jackjack portions out some grilled meat. Atori silently holds out a paper te. She bites into the meat happily. Suddenly, a tear drops from Jackjack''s weathered skin. "Huh? Why are you crying, teacher?" "Oh? I''m crying... I wonder why." "The god once told me, ''Don''t worry when you''re sad.''" "Don''t worry?" Atori stands up and pats Jackjack''s head with her small hand. The old elf looks up, his eyes wide in surprise. Atori speaks. "When God is sad, they do this for me." "Hmm, a kind god, aren''t they?" "God is the kindest evil god in the world." "Hohoho, a kind evil god? That''s an odd one." "Peace will nevere to a world without darkness..." As someone who is quite cruel, I feel guilty for having Atori say something so misleading. Everyone, be careful with spreading fake news. We wouldn''t want Atori to be corrupted, after all. But then again, perhaps being my aplice isn''t the worst thing for her. Atori goes back to sitting down as if nothing happened, biting into her meat again. Jackjack watches her with a grandfatherly smile. Why Jackjack shed that tear, we don''t know. Without knowing his backstory, it''s impossible to understand. However, if that tear eased even a little of his burden, then perhaps it was a small blessing. At that moment, I felt like I could finally, from the bottom of my heart, forgive Jackjack for his past attempt at yer killing (PK).After defeating several floor bosses, we finally reached the 10th floor. "Well, what should we do now?" Rasetsu¡ð and I are essentially in a cooperative rtionship. To avoid troublesome interactions, we stick to solo y, even though Rasetsu¡ð isn''t the type to insist on ying solo. It''s just that her ystyle naturally leans towards solo activities. She has decentmunication skills, and this unusual dungeon conquest we''re undertaking is likely her way of being considerate of me. I don''t like dealing withplicated rtionships¡ªthat''s part of the reason I started ying this game. That said, Rasetsu¡ð is thoughtful enough to ensure things never be a "troublesome rtionship." We could probably be better friends. We''ve staggered our sleeping schedules. While I sleep, Rasetsu¡ð supports the NPCs, and while she sleeps, I take over. As a result, we''ve reached the final floor without stopping. Now, since we''ve arrived at the final floor, where the dungeon boss is waiting, both of us are actively participating. A friend message pops up: **Rasetsu¡ð**: Depending on the situation, we might have to make a run for it. **Nero**: Agreed. Let''s leave it to Jackjack to decide. **Rasetsu¡ð**: Thanks. After that simple exchange, we decided on our approach. Chapter 86 Dont unlock wrong chap, please skip "However, this is a problem, Liora." "? What is it? Dear, God?" "It seems some yers rushed ahead. The battle has already started¡­ At this rate, the encirclement might be broken before we even arrive." "Humans are foolish, yes."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "They''re spirits though." Our decision to grind levels right up to thest minute backfired. In a hurry, we mounted Samurai (in horse mode) and raced toward the battlefield. ¡ô From Dodon''s perspective A dense forest, thick with overgrowth. Part of it had been cut down by the yers, turning it into a small clearing. This ce was supposed to be an arena for drawing in and fighting Gimora. The n was for arge number of yers to lure Gimora here and attack it as a group. But that''s not how things turned out. "Damn it¡­" Dodon was one of the front-line yers. He had already lost two NPCs in the past, but since switching to his current NPC, things had been going smoothly. He had even defeated Helmuth and was now aiming to be the first to take down Gimora. What a fool he had been. "Why¡­ Why did it turn out like this?!" The party that Dodon had assembled had already been wiped out. Everyone, except for Dodon''s contracted NPC, Era, had been lost. Gimora, who had already taken down countless NPCs, cracked its neck as if bored. "What did you expect? I am one of the Four Heavenly Kings. Of course, I am strong if you fight me head-on. You really thought I was weak just because I have been running away? Tch¡­ What a fool!" ''As she says¡­ It''smy fault ughhh¡ªI can''t lose Era!!'' "Ugh¡­ Era! Run, get out of here!" Dodon quickly turned to his contracted NPC, Era. There, a badly wounded boyy on the ground, discarded like a rag. He looked as though he could easily blend in with the surrounding corpses at any moment. Era was by no means weak. He was level 68. Originally a mid-level adventurer, Dodon had diligently supported him and turned him into a formidable warrior. Not only had Dodon equipped him with a powerful title, but he had also provided him with unique skills and strong weapons. And yet¡­ Gimora was on apletely different level. They should have waited until they had encircled it. His obsession with being the first to defeat it had blinded him to the situation. ''I''m¡­ I''m nothing more than an average yer after all¡­'' Realizing this now was toote. Gimora''s hand was reaching out toward his contracted NPC. Dodon''s [Manifestation] time had already run out, leaving him with no choice but to watch. To witness the final moments. "Someone! Someone, please help! I''ll apologize! It was all my fault!" Dodon had a deep attachment to Era. They had spent countless days adventuring together. He knew Era was just an NPC, just a game character that could die. There was no reason to panic over something like that. But. But the time Dodon had spent with Era was irreceable to him. It was as if he had been talking to a real person, as if he had found a true friend. Even with Dodon''s difficult personality, Era would always give a wry smile and put up with him. ''Oh Dodon, you''re hopeless.'' That smile¡ªEra was, to Dodon¡ª "Please stop! He''s¡­ He''s my first friend!" "Tough luck. Seems your contracted spirit was a fool." A wind bullet was unleashed. A devastating st, like being struck by a direct gale¡­ an inevitable fatal blow. The swirling dust turned the entire area white. But in the midst of that whiteness, a presence even purer than the surrounding whiteness made an entrance. Through his tear-filled eyes, Dodon saw it¡­ he witnessed it. The figure that cut through the dust with her shoulder. Standing in front of Dodon. A young girl,zily carrying arge scythe on her back, exuding the overwhelming presence of a grim reaper. Contrary to the dense aura of death around her, she had a halo above her head and a pair of wings on her back, making her look like an angel. A contradictory, purely beautiful figure. "A-Liora?!" Without paying any attention to Dodon''s wide-eyed exmation, the grim reaper girl twirled her eyes in madness and smiled with ecstasy. "God says¡­" The young girl, who had sliced through a seemingly unavoidable magical attack with her scythe, pointed her weapon at the boss and dered. "You will die here." "Heh, scary. Killing women and children¡­ as a knight, that''s terrifying." Gimora raised its sword, and Liora, wielding her scythe, leapt toward it. A battle between top-tier yers was about to begin. Dodon, drenched in tears, could only watch and pray. The young girl, cloaked in darkness, spun her eyes in mad devotion, and her lips curled into a sinister smile. "Keep attacking, Liora!" "Y-Yes¡­! God-!" Liora swung her scythe as if she were dancing. Opposing her, Gimora effortlessly parried each of her high-speed attacks. To be blunt, in terms of technique, Liora waspletely outssed. No matter how many times she was cut, Liora relentlessly charged forward. She looked like a mad dog, her face twisted in a crooked grin, her eyes spinning wildly with fanatic devotion. Liora seemed weaker than Gimora. "But," I muttered. Liora swung her scythe wide, sending Gimora flying. The smile on her face strained, hiding the pain beneath. A single drop of sweat trickled down her dried, undead cheek. "Damn, this is troublesome!" "I have God on my side." At this moment, Liora held the advantage. I had been continuously casting [Darkness] to support her, enveloping Gimora''s vision with a dark cloth. I also created tform of darkness beneath her feet, disrupting her bnce every time Gimora tried to step forward. Although it was a skill that only created tangible darkness, it was the pinnacle of disruption techniques. Thanks to this, Gimora, despite being the stronger opponent, couldn''t fully unleash her potential. This is the essence of CC, crowd control¡ªdominating the battlefield like a deep, all-epassing darkness. That said, Gimora is one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon Lord''s Army, a battle-hardened foe. As an ordinary human, eventually, she will see through my disruptions. I must always be one step ahead of her thoughts, always breaking her predictions. This battle, more than a fight between Liora and Gimora, is a mental contest between Gimora and me. "So the real nuisance was the dark spirit," Gimora murmured. "There is no spirit." "Huh?" It irked me to hear Liora being underestimated. The moment Gimora red at me, Liora''s speed surged. This wasn''t due to any skill but pure fanaticism driving her to boost herself. Caught off guard by the sudden eleration, Gimora was grazed by her scythe. [Swift Killing de] The skill that shes agility itself caused Gimora''s speed to slow slightly. "This is a real pain!" Gimora cast a wind spell on herself, granting him a speed buff that exceeded the amount he had just lost. Liora, now open after her attack, was defenseless. I could sense Gimora aiming a strike at Liora neck. However, Liora calmly let go of her scythe and activated a martial arts skill with her bare hands. "[Offering: Dance of the Maiden]" This was one of the arts from the [Shrine Maiden] skillset. It was a technique of pure martial arts, dealing direct damage with rapid, powerful kicks. As Gimora raised her sword, Liora''s small foot stomped on her face, the leapt. "Dear God!!!" "Yes, I have your scythe right here." "Thank you! Thank you very much!" Liora summoned Samurai through [Tame] and tried to capture the fallen Gimora. However, Gimora enveloped herself in wind, controlled her posture mid-air, and escaped. "Samurai, activate new mode." ¡º¨D¨D!¡» Shio began to transform. It took the form of a massive cage. A mimic-made colosseum, encircling both us and Gimora. This was Mode: Prison. Gimora chuckled dryly. "This is insane. You''re going this far against the weakest of the Four Heavenly Kings?" "It doesn''t matter. Before God, all are equally trash." "You shouldn''t call people trash, littledy." Gimora sighed as if giving up, quietly inhaled, and spoke. "Guess I''ll stop running then." It seemed Gimora was about to get serious. ¨Œ I had heard about Gimora''s skill set from Jack-Jack, who was once her friend. Though she had be undead, her core abilities likely hadn''t changed much. Name: Gimora Arsine Gender: Female Level: 100 Race: Elf (before bing undead) Job: Great Adventurer Magic: Wind Magic 100 Production: Document Work 100 Skills: Appraisal 100, Item Box 100, Knightly Arts 100 Army Command 100, Escape Techniques 100, Anti-Knight Arts 100 Magic Power Enhancement, Physical Enhancement, MP Auto-Recovery 100 Title: Self-Deriding Anti-Knight Unique Skill: Supreme Execution Boost This was her profile. Surprisingly, Gimora wasn''t built for directbat. However, her skill set is what makes her such a formidable opponent. Even the strongest, Eculis, once said that Gimora was stronger than him. The most troublesome ability is her unique skill, [Supreme Execution Boost], which enhances the sess rate of all her actions. In short, it''s a cheat skill that ensures his strategies and moves always seed. Chapter 87 Last Floor and Rewards A thick fog enveloped the floor. After a brief sonic check from Samurai, it seemed we were in a giant colosseum-like space. At the center, the dungeon boss sat waiting. There didn''t seem to be any specific boss arena, meaning smaller enemies would join the battle as well. After killing a few mobs, we quickly realized they spawned infinitely. "A short, decisive battle followed by an immediate retreat... Seems like that''s our only option for this 10th floor." "Got it." "Rasetsu¡ð, Nero, are both of you ready? Don''t stray too far." As soon as Atri dispelled Samurai, Jackjack dashed forward, followed closely by Atri using a soundless running technique. Their movements made them look like master and apprentice ninjas. Flying monsters, like bats, specialized in scouting, descended from the sky. Without stopping, Atri and Jackjack cut down the bats as they ran. Up ahead, five orcs blocked our path. Atri and Jackjack briefly exchanged nces, each throwing items. Atri tossed two small sickles, while Jackjack threw a sturdy rope. Two orcs were struck in the head by the sickles, and the rope ensnared the remaining three as it wrapped around the fallen bodies. I quickly fired off a silent attack spell, [Present Silent], and we slipped past them. If it weren''t for the fog, we would''ve been in a brawl. Without it, the noise would''ve alerted enemies, and we''d be in the middle of a chaotic battle with limited visibility. After breaking through two more groups of enemies, we finally stood before a massive dragon. It was an unsightly, poisonous-colored dragon¡ªnot beautiful in the least. However, its overwhelming presence and majestic size were undeniable. A massive reptile, easily several meters tall. Its wings were torn in several ces. From its brow, a cluster of horns sprouted, and four irregrly moving tails swayed behind it. Atri, holding her sickle, muttered under her breath. "What do we do, sensei?" "Hm¡­ Let''s obliterate it with full force, shall we?" "Understood." Atri nodded and summoned: "Come forth, Roro." A deep, growling sound echoed: "Gararara..." Roro''s punch mmed the dragon''s face into the ground. Immediately after, Roro attempted to continue the attack, but his head was crushed by the dragon''s front ws. In an instant, Roro''s HP waspletely depleted. Starting with Roro is stable, but he goes down too quickly, which is unfortunate. However, since he''s a fast-resurrecting tamed monster, there might be another chance to summon him depending on the situation. Roro''s strength lies in the fact that he absolutely cannot be ignored. If left unchecked, his power can disrupt the battlefield. Because of this, the enemy can''t help but focus, even if only for a moment, on the huge Roro rather than the smaller Liora. While the enemy is distracted, the newly stealth-enabled Liora closes the distance, sacrificing Roro. Liora''srge scythe is infused with "Deathde," "Lifesteal de," and "Killing de." Additionally, with "Berserk" activated, the blow cuts deep into even the dragon''s front legs. "Gaaaaah!" As the dragon howls in pain, Jackjack''s rapier gleams. "Rapier Arts: Explosive Thrust." After throwing something, Jackjack''s rapier thrusts into the dragon''s hind legs, severing the muscles. He had thrown an iron stake imbued with a curse into the wound.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om He immediately retreats. The dragon''s tail swings to strike where Jackjack once was, but it hits nothing as he has already vanished. "Liora." Liora deactivates "Berserk" and calls forth Samurai. In the blink of an eye, Samurai transforms into an octopus and moves to pin down the dragon''s head, which was still embedded in the ground. For a brief moment, Samuraipletely halts the dragon''s movements. Though Samurai is shed by the dragon''s ws, Rasetsu-san, who has learned "Light Magic," heals him. I can''t afford to fall behind. I bestow "Dark Aura" upon Liora. The arts in use are "Status Infliction," "Damage Infliction," and "MP Drain." Liora is now a danger zone. Even for a dragon, approaching is a deadly mistake. The dragon is paralyzed. The dragon, now twitching from the paralysis, exposes its neck vulnerably. Liora, spinning her eyes, looks up at the gigantic creature that should have been feared. "I''ll take your neck¡ªMoon Devourer." The skill "Moonlight Scythe Arts" activates, specifically the active art "Moon Devourer." Even the dragon''s robust defenses are no match for the scythe art "Beheading." Without resistance, the dragon''s head is severed. In the end, the dragon perished without ever understanding what had attacked it. [Nero leveled up] [Nero''s Dark Magic leveled up] [Nero''s Dark Aura leveled up] [Nero''s Regeneration leveled up] [Nero''s Agility Enhancement leveled up] [Liora leveled up] [Liora''s Scythe Arts leveled up] [Liora''s Moonlight Scythe Arts leveled up] [Liora''s Landscaping Skill leveled up] [Liora''s Light Magic leveled up] [Liora''s sh Magic leveled up] [Liora''s Summoning leveled up] [Samurai leveled up] [Samurai''s Mimicry leveled up] [Samurai''s Ambush leveled up] [Samurai''s Binding leveled up] [Samurai''s Iron Wall leveled up] [Samurai''s Tentacle Enhancement leveled up] [Roro leveled up] [Roro''s Attack Power Enhancement leveled up] [Roro''s Destruction Arts leveled up] Without paying any heed to the dragon''s defeat, Liora spoke calmly. "Let''s retreat, Sensei." "Yes, indeed! The monsters are gathering!" Samurai extends his tentacles to hold off the approaching monsters. We are quickly surrounded byrge numbers and speed. At that moment, Rasetsu-san uses "Manifestation." A towering woman, asrge as Roro, suddenly dominates the space. "Nero, store the dragon''s corpse and the drops!" "Understood." "I''m counting on you!" My reply probably goes unheard, but I still collect the rewards as instructed. It seems Jackjack has already grabbed the treasure chest that appeared after the boss was defeated. Rasetsu-san scatters "Shining Shower." As weaker enemies are pierced by glowing swords of light, I finish collecting everything. Liora and the others begin running. After using the art "One Wing of Chesed," Liora activates "Berserk" again. Liora sweeps away the monsters ahead with the momentum of an unstoppable force. She takes damage from projectiles and magic, but it doesn''t matter. Liora is almost invincible now. Thanks to regeneration and Rasetsu-san''s healing, she recovers instantly. "God, God, God, God, God!" Even the monsters seem to hesitate as Liora mutters continuously. They are quickly and mercilessly overwhelmed. Jackjackughs. "This is exhrating! Here, a parting gift." From his pocket, Jackjack pulls out a small bomb. "I might as well have some fun, too." I toss a bomb I crafted through alchemy as a little bonus. The monsters are sted away, and I''m feeling good. All this experience is pouring in! We''ve reached the ninth floor. A little girl drenched in blood and an almost unscathed old man. The old manughs happily. "As expected of Liora-dono. You''ve made things quite easy for me." "It was easy for me too." It seems Rasetsu-san''s "Manifestation" has worn off. She returns to her fluffy, balloon-like form, bouncing up and down contentedly. A chat messagees in. Rasetsu: "Can we distribute the rewards now?" Nero: "Sure." Rasetsu: "Liora made it easy for us this time. You should take more." Nero: "We learned a lot too. Equal split is fine." Rasetsu: "No, no." Nero: "Let''s just go with an equal share to keep it simple." Rasetsu: "I appreciate it." Now, it''s time for the exciting reward distribution!We received a hefty reward. Considering the size and difficulty of the dungeon, it wouldn''t have been worth the effort if the rewards weren''t substantial. After all, what''s the point of dungeon content if the rewards aren''t appealing? Liora acquired a new ring. Oh, by the way, we didn''t use the ring we took from Geese. Its performance is too specialized, and no one else would be able to handle it. It has quirks like breaking after one use, having a cooldown of a month, or causing permanent burns. It was more trouble than it was worth, so we destroyed it to prevent it from falling back into Geese''s hands. Here are the stats of the new ring: Magic Ring [Zoomer''s Reverse Ring] Rarity: Rare Level: 56 Skills: [Enhanced Activity], [3% Damage Reduction] When equipped, this ring increases your stats when afflicted by status effects. You can even turn debuffs like silence into buffs or slightly mitigate unfavorable conditions. It''s an intriguing item, though I''ll swap it out if I find something better. You can only equip two rings at a time, after all. I''m definitely not removing [Tete''s Sacrificial Ring]. Though once I''ve used its effect, I could technically take it off. Losing it, however, would be a disaster. Another notable acquisition was a magic bag. It''s like a holster you can strap to your thigh, allowing you to store small items like scythes and potions. Its capacity is limited, but it does make essingbat items easier. Additionally, we obtained two Golem Cores, which was our primary goal. One of the conditions for diving into this dungeon with Jack-Jack was that it had to be a ce with a higher likelihood of encountering golems. It seems we weren''t lied to. We also gathered materials for crafting more cores. I might even be able to make a few myself, though they won''t be of top quality. Another drop was a mask from a mimic. It''s not abat item, so I probably won''t use it, though it seems handy in some situations. Chapter 88 Final Hierarchy "Hm, we got some interesting items, but¡­" Jack-Jack muttered dejectedly, his head hanging low, with the empty sleeve of his arm swaying in the wind. His main reason for joining the dungeon expedition was to find an item to lift his curse that prevents healing. Without that, it''s only natural for him to be disappointed. Well, we did earn quite a bit of money, which should make searching the market easier, though such items are rarely found. He sighed. "¡­Atori, give this to Jack-Jack," I said. "Yes! Jack-Jack, God has bestowed this item upon you. Please ept it." Atori handed over a doll that can lift curses. Simply hugging it causes any curse to transfer onto the doll. It''s a very rare and expensive item. It was something I had purchased from a witch for protection against mental attacks during our fight with the dark spirit Milim. In fact, I had been carrying it since before we entered the dungeon. It wasn''t that I had forgotten about it. My priority, however, was always Atori. I couldn''t risk him getting cursed inside the dungeon, so there was no way I would''ve given away such an important item. But at this point, it was eptable to hand it over. After all, we were about to leave, and it would be safer for Jack-Jack to have his arm restored. Jack-Jack hugged the doll as instructed, and it quickly decayed. Then, he drank a high-grade potion that I sold him, made from the leaves of the World Tree. It''s potent enough to regenerate limbs. Just don''t drink it too often, or it can cause addiction. Before our eyes, Jack-Jack''s arm began to grow back. "Oh! Thank you! I''m so grateful, Atori-dono, Nero-dono!" Jack-Jack eximed. "God is merciful," Atori replied. "Indeed," Jack-Jack nodded, swinging his newly restored arm. It seemed to be functioning perfectly. During this dungeon expedition, I realized that Jack-Jack is quite a powerful NPC. The fact that even he was cursed and had to retreat makes me wonder what kind of enemy he faced. Still, I have no intention of interfering in Jack-Jack''s quest. These types of games are full of individual stories, and I don''t want to needlessly disrupt them. "Now then," Jack-Jack cleared his throat. "I''ll settle the payment for this curse-removal itemter. For now, let''s focus on getting out of here." "Yeah, I need to get back so God can shower me with praise," Atori said. So, that''s what he had in mind. Well, this expedition yielded many rewards, and Atori''s skills have also improved. I suppose some praise is in order. We set off for home. ¨Œ We sped through the dungeon''s sixth floor. Without stopping much, we swept aside every monster we encountered. The deeper we descended, the weaker they became. They couldn''t keep up with our speed-focused builds. As Atori carried me, I supported with my [Present Paralysis] whenever necessary. "Hah, hah¡­ Atori-dono, could we take a short rest around here?" Jack-Jack panted. "Senseicks stamina," Atori remarked. "I''ll have you know that I''ve maxed out my stats¡­ But you, Atori-dono, how do you keep going?" Jack-Jack asked, perplexed. "If it''s for God, I don''t need to rest or even sleep." "I''ve always wondered, are you even human?" It seemed Jack-Jack waspletely exhausted. He is elderly, after all. ording to the lore, elves take many years to show signs of aging. High Elves are said to maintain their youthful appearance until their final days. How enviable. We set up camp once more. It turns out that Sugo is a game where camping is essential. NPCs need to sleep, after all. However, Atori almost never sleeps. He has some mysterious ability that allows him to stay awake without any visible side effects, using his skills and stats. asionally, I''ll lie down with him to keep himpany. Because of this, we haven''t had much experience camping. Honestly, I''m quite grateful for Atori''s unique abilities. It saves us the trouble of constantly logging out and in to match the NPCs'' sleep cycles. Still, once in a while, camping isn''t so bad. Maybe I should let Atori sleep more often, even though he''s just a game character. After all, I''ve grown quite fond of him. As I was creating a small shelter using [Create Dark] , Shio raised one of her tentacles, signaling an enemy attack. The raised right arm meant it was a human. "Atori." "Yes, God?" Atori, who had been peeking curiously into the stew Jack-Jack was making, quietly stood up, his scythe in hand. Soon, a group of enemies appeared. "We finally found you, kid and old man." It was a familiar face. These were the beastmen who had caused trouble for us in the guild before we entered the dungeon. Even the clerk who had been behind the counter was there. There were more than twenty of them in total, quite therge group. I noticed a dark spirit lingering behind them. However, none of them seemed particrly dangerous. I used [Appraisal] to check if they had any special abilities. The results didn''t suggest they were much of a threat. Then I recognized the dark spirit''s name¡ªMilim. Milim was a yer who had once been contracted to an NPC named Stark. They had tried to form arge-scale bandit n, which we had taken down. This same person had once made death threats against me in real life and even showed up at my apartment building with a knife. Luckily, my associate Yomura had spotted them and quickly subdued them. After a few punches, they confessed everything and went home bloodied. Apparently, they also had somepromising videos taken of them. Even though Yomura is the same gender, they might get into legal trouble. Well, if they get caught, it''s not my concern. It seems Milim gave up on killing me in real life and decided to focus on winning in the game instead. It''s easy to forget, but getting hit in real life hurts. Milim materialized. "It really is you guys. Whatever. If I keep attacking, one of these hits willnd. Besides, I''ve got nothing left to lose¡ªkill them!" At Milim''smand, the twenty enemies rushed at us. Despite the narrow space of the cave, there was just enough room for all twenty to charge at once. A confined ambush by twenty foes can be surprisingly troublesome. Atori activated [Khesed''s Wing] , granting [Regen] to himself, Jack-Jack, and Shio. Just as the battle was about to begin¡ª Most of the enemies were blown away.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Atori had triggered the light magic [Bomb Lightning] , which I had hidden with [Shadow Veil] . In a single blow, half of them were wiped out. "Wh-What!? What''s going on!?" Milim shrieked in confusion. What a pitiful enemy. Truly, nothing but a nuisance. Let me give you an update on my current status. Honestly, I haven''t leveled up at all. Recently, I haven''t had many chances to face strong opponents. Ghis was pretty weak, after all. Name: Nero Gender: Male Level: 62 Race: Dark Spirit Magic: Dark Magic 70 Production: Alchemy 75 Skills: Regeneration 70, Appraisal 31, Create Dark 72, Dark Aura 52, Enemy Resistance Reduction, Item Box 31, Adversity Enhancement, Critical Evasion, Agility Enhancement 55, Trap Art 15 Stats: Attack 295, Magic Attack 295, Endurance 295, Agility 295, Luck 295 Title: The False God''s Voice Unique Skill: Divine Manifestation I recently acquired a new skill: Trap Art. This increases the effectiveness of traps, making them harder to detect and more destructive or obstructive. Atri''s Bomb Lightning trap has also been powered up thanks to this skill. With just one blow, the enemy was half-destroyed. And Atri didn''t miss the opportunity. Charging forward through the explosion with her scythe in hand, she threw a small sickle with her free hand, killing one of them. Jack-Jack has also begun moving. The Create Dark ability I used has made the visibility in the area terrible. In the thick darkness, NPCs specialized in assassination dashed through the shadows. Screams. Cries. Death throes. The adventurers began shouting in panic. "We didn''t hear they were this strong!" "Weren''t we only supposed to deal with the old guy? Even Millim said it would be fine!" "This isn''t what we were told!" "Isn''t that kid supposed to be a tamer... why is he closeba¡ªgyahhh!" It was utter chaos. I can''t help but wonder what stance Millim had when she said "we could take them." That was never going to happen. No, maybe these NPCs were just cannon fodder. Or maybe it was all just to annoy us. Still, I must say, I''m impressed by Millim''s ystyle. My Appraisal revealed that all her NPCs are spirit-bound. She''s been exceptionally efficient in acquiring skills. In this world, NPCs who don''t make contracts with spirits tend to learn skills randomly, often with little synergy. But Millim''s NPCs have well-constructed skill sets. I''m guessing she''s contracted with all twenty of these NPCs. Normally, one can only bond with a single spirit, but it''s easy to break and re-establish a contract. This means Millim likely re-contracts just before her NPCs learn new skills. By doing this, she can effectively contract with as many NPCs as she wants. Chapter 89 The Final Place It seems Millim hasmitted to the "hit them with numbers" strategy. She''spletely taken a stance of opposition against us in the game. Annoying, but I can''t deny it if that''s how she wants to y. I''ll just subtly expose it on the forumter. Soon enough, the only ones left were Millim and the NPC she''s currently contracted with. It turns out it was the bartender. "You think you can kill all these guild members and get away with it? You signed in before diving into the dungeon. The guild has all your details, they know you did it.""Hoho, why would we, A-rank adventurers, target a bunch of lowly fighters?" "The evidence says otherwise." "That doesn''t matter. If we were worried about that, it''d be far riskier to let you live. Isn''t it worse if you''re allowed to walk away? Dying in a dungeon is hardly umon." "I-I''m sorry, please, spare me¡­" The beastman bowed deeply, his head lowered in a plea for mercy. Jack-Jack, about to pierce his neck with his rapier, was interrupted by Millim''s unique skill, still active from her Manifestation. Jack-Jack is out for revenge. His life has been nothing but trauma, and Millim''s skill, which forces her target to relive their worst memories, would be devastating. Just as her attack was about tond, Atri stepped in to shield Jack-Jack. Millim''s unique skill, Nightmare Trauma Vision, hit Atri directly. The dark spirit clicked its tongue in frustration. "Tch, Atri, huh? Well, whatever, now you''ll be drowning in¡ª" Millim couldn''t finish her sentence. Atri,pletely unfazed, calmly severed the head of Millim''s contracted NPC. Millim cried out in shock. "What''s going on!? You should be suffering from severe trauma! Even without Stark, at the very least you should be rattled... how are you still moving?" "God told me. God will never abandon me. If I can face the same thing without breaking again, God said He''ll sleep with me! And when we sleep, He''ll whisper in my ear!" "What!? T-Tenma Loki! You... sleeping with a little girl, and you¡ª" Before she could finish, Millim''s form disappeared. Herst words left a sting, though. She wasn''t one to be taken lightly. I should''ve known better than to underestimate her. A while back, I yed a harmless prank on Atri when she seemed bored. She ended up liking it too much. Rasetsu-sama, who had been quietly observing, spoke up. "That''s just... seriously off-putting, Nero-san..." I almost deactivated Divine Manifestation to try and exin myself, but decided instead to open the chat window. Millim, the Dark Spirit. A terrifying enemy. After wiping out the hordes of nobodies, we finally began setting up camp once again. "By the way, Atri-dono," Jack-Jack said as he stoked the fire. "Have you heard of the uing war?" "War? On the first field?" "No, no. I''m talking about a war brewing in the third field. It hasn''t officially started yet, but it''s about to." "I haven''t heard anything about it." It seems war hase to the third field as well. The developers are clearly keen to expand the war content. As long as there''s profit in it, I''m willing to jump in. I asked for more details. "There are several ruling factions in the third field. But the strongest, and most malevolent, is the Lord of Yggdrasil, the True Vampire¡ªYoyo Ro Yggdrasil. My sworn enemy. He''s preparing to start a war." "Your personal enemy?" "No. He''s an enemy of all humanity now." "?" "Back before the great time freeze, Yoyo dered to the defenseless people of thend: ''If you be my followers, I will grant you the power to fight. As vampires, you will stand on the battlefield. You who are powerless now, will be warriors, protectors! Even though we are of different factions, I wee all who can fight. I will not rule over you. Each of you may fight as you wish, defend as you please, and resist in your own way!'' He promised them that. And three thousand people became vampires, gaining the power to fight and defend. But instead of allowing them to protect the people they cared about, Yoyo forced them to defend only his city. Worse, he made their loved ones into their food. Now that the time freeze has ended, Yoyo is on the move again. He''s nning to invade nearby cities to grow his army." "I''ve been gathering intel, but Yoyo got the better of me. That''s how he took my arm." "God, what do we do?" Atri asked. "Well¡­" Taking on this event wouldn''t be the worst idea. Yoyo''s stance suggests he''s bing a new enemy of all humankind, aside from the Demon King. If we leave him unchecked, the third field will fall. Losing the first field, and now risking the third, would severely limit our options. Worse, Yoyo might push his forces into the second field. In fact, if we''re not careful, all of humanity could be wiped out at the hands of this vampire Lord. "Let''s join the fight, Atri. If we leave this event unattended, it might rob us of our future enjoyment." "Yes¡­ absolutely, my God! Teacher, I''m going too. I won''t let anyone take away God''s enjoyment¡­!" "Indeed, having you with us, Atri-dono, is like having the strength of a hundred men." Jack-Jack said. "We need to watch out for four people and one more." "? What kind of division is that?" "One is Yoyo himself. The others are his three knights, known to be formidable warriors. And thest one is¡­ Lady Ashley. My... benefactor." She was my master, who Yoyo took away from me. A nightmareir where even nts and trees have withered away. In the dpidated and crumbling abandoned castle, in the throne room... the Demon King Guugyasdis Medotarva was bored and hungry. His stomach growled loudly. Lying on the freshlyid, plush carpet, he thrashed about like a spoiled child. "Gehenna! Bring me food immediately! I''m starving! I don''t care! I want to go outside, I want to go outside!" "Are you a little girl!? You''re being too loud!" "Shut up, shut up! I''m a sprightly 123 years old! Don''t ask ady her age. That''s why you''re always rejected! Haha, you''re weak! The weakest of the Four Heavenly Kings!" "Shut up! You''re the worst boss ever! Maybe I should just kill you and save the world!?" The Demon King had been voluntarily sealed for a long time.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om The reason was simple. The war proposed by the goddess The World, where the Demon King was to survive for 666 years... the Demon King''s defeat had been decided even before the war began. The Demon King''s lifespan... wasn''t even 200 years. To deal with this, the druggist Pity of the "Divine Toxic Poison" used a potion to weaken the Demon King and sealed him away. As a result, the king had been frozen in time, asleep until recently. In the throne room, the Four Heavenly Kings had gathered. Gehenna pretended to bow, Helmuth knelt sincerely, Alisdyne was standing but asleep, and Pity was sitting on the throne, wearing ridiculously thick clothes. Shivering, Pity muttered. "Shut up. I''m working here. Go die. Did you call us here just to chat? Don''t joke around, go die." "What''s with the foul mood? It''s a shame since you''re so cute." "Die, you damned Demon King." "Is this a rebellious phase!?" Helmuth, still kneeling, spoke in a solemn voice. "There are signs of war in the Third Field, Demon King. Depending on the size of Yoyo Lowe Yggdra''s vampire army, our defeat is also a possibility." The Demon King responded. But... "Apologize! Apologize! Apologize! I''m the great Demon King! And just so you know, the reason I''m still a virgin isn''t because I''m unpopr, it''s because my race is...! We are fundamentally different from humans! I only see humans as food! Correct your statement and apologize, Pity!" "Excuses for being unpopr, huh, Demon King? Just die. Die hard. You''re an old hag over 600 years old, still a virgin." "Shut up, shut up, shut up!" "¡­Gehenna, do something." Helmuth said sadly. Gehenna, who had been kneelingzily, stopped and sat cross-legged on the spot. He turned the brim of his favorite school cap backward, a hat he had liked since an event. There was a faint sadness on the face of the beautiful elf. "So, what should we do about Yoyo? It could lead to your defeat, Demon King. Honestly, the best move for the humans to defeat you would be to ept Yoyo''s rule. Even if it''s efficient, humans would hate it emotionally." "Gehenna, you want to go, don''t you?" "¡­Yeah. Mydy got captured because I wasn''t there. But my loyalty is to the Demon King''s army, so I can''t act on personal feelings." "Our army is different from the elves and human nations. You are free to do what you want, even if Yoyo bes your enemy. In the end, I''ll just kill them all." "¡­" The Demon King was confident. No, in truth, the Demon King should have been able to wipe out humanity effortlessly. The only reason it turned into a battle was because The World gave humans cheats like skills. Before the birth of skills, humans were weak. At best, only vampires and witches could stand against the Demon King. A race presumed to be overwhelmingly powerful. A natural enemy of all living things and the world. That was the Demon King. Chapter 90 Infiltration and Feast Despite being a figure exuding terrifying intimidation, when he rode Pity like a horse and pped her repeatedly, there was no sense of dignity. Bloodied, Pity rolled her eyes and passed out. "You can''t say anything back now, can you, Pity? Consider yourself defeated." After dismounting Pity, the Demon King licked the blood off his hands with delight. His appearance was more monstrous than the Vampire Lord Yoyo, despite looking like a lovely young girl. Her outward appearance may be that of a beautiful child, but her nature and existence were worlds apart from humanity. The Demon King cast a seductive nce. "Do as you please, Gehenna. No matter what mistakes you make or what happens, I will not be defeated. Enjoy life until the endes. Everything will just add color to my existence." "Understood, Demon King. Instead of me, can I send Pity?" The Demon King nodded slightly. Among the Four Heavenly Kings, Pity was the only one whose identity remained concealed. Though her personality was disastrous, her abilities made her worthy of her title. Her skills were perfectly suited for behind-the-scenes work. Thus, it was officially decided that the Demon King''s army would eliminate the third faction, Yoyo Lowe Yggdra. The one to carry out the mission would be Divine Toxic Poison Pity, a pure witch from the Demon King''s army. A poison user feared even by gods. A pitiful girl who fought for humanity more than anyone, only to be rejected for one failure. Gehenna thought. Humans are always making mistakes. But it can''t be helped. No one really cares about humanity. Of course not. Only a handful of people would die for humanity. Everyone acts for themselves and only themselves. Anyone who denies this is either a fool, selfish, or naive. Thinking that everyone can make the ideal choice is just mentalziness. The world is full of mistakes. Gehenna had once made a mistake. He trusted someone he thought was arade, sought the best oue, and was betrayed. Now he stood as an enemy of humanity. And so, he wished. "May the Demon King''s rival not make the same mistakes." Gehenna muttered. Alisdyne opened her eyes, her gaze serious. "Oh, the meeting is starting¡­!" "It''s already over." "¡­So I can go back to sleep?" "Yeah, go ahead. Alisdyne, you can rest your head on my arm." "I''ve been granted permission." Gehenna, shrugging his shoulders, wished these people would stop trying to destroy humanity. Meanwhile, Alisdyne rubbed her sleepy eyes. "Oh, right. Grue-sama, what about the food? We captured plenty of fresh humans. Lots of soft children¡­" "I''ll eat them!" "Okay, I''ll cook them up nicely... and make them delicious." It seemed that the meal was a feast that day, though Gehenna didn''t partake. Got it! Here''s the trantion in our usual style: --- "You maggots!" Atori had joined the army. Though, she wasn''t an official soldier. Just one of the many volunteers. The unit she was assigned to was a medium-sized group of about thirty people. That might seem small, but the structure of the military in this other world is different from the one in the real world. The biggest reason for this small number is the presence of dragons. In the Third Field''s chaotic metropolis, Meteor Earth, countless cities are scattered. The biggest reason for this is the dragons. When they see a group of people, they attack them as prey. However, they are intelligent enough to avoid fortresses and castles. The cities are allowed independence primarily to defend against dragons. Each town has watchtowers to detect dragons early and facilities to kill them from a distance. That''s how Meteor Earth is structured. This is whyrge armies can''t be deployed in Meteor Earth. There are other reasons for the small numbers too. Real-world military strategies don''t help much here. After all, if it''s Atori versus 100 foot soldiers, Atori would win. The captain''s voice grew more intense, almost shouting. "I''ll beat that rotten attitude out of you! I''m the captain of this unit! I make the rules! If I tell you to die, you die! If I tell you to fight, you fight, even if you lose your arms or legs! Even if your family, friends, or lovers die, you follow my orders! Now respond, you worthless scum!" "Ohh," Atori responded absentmindedly. The captain didn''t like her tone. He walked over to her, standing tall and intimidating. "Hey, you maggot! What''s with that half-hearted response?" "Ohh." "Don''t mess with me! I don''t care if you''re A-rank or a child, you''re one of my subordinates now! I won''t tolerate that attitude!" "Ohh." "Yoooouuuu!!" The captain wasn''t wrong. Discipline and loud voices are important in war, especially in hand-to-handbat. But, to make excuses for her, Atori was doing her best. To an outsider, she might look unmotivated or like she was messing around. But she was standing in line, responding with an "ohh," and that was quite an effort for her. Unfortunately, the captain didn''t see it that way... "I''ll teach you a lesson! Come here!" He reached out to grab Atori''s white hair, but in an instant, his arm was sliced off by a scythe. "Huh?" the captain gasped. His severed arm flew and smacked a young recruit in the face. As his arm hit the ground, the captain muttered in shock. "My...arm? Aaaahhhhhhhh!! It hurts! It hurts! M-mommyyyyy! My arm! It hurts, mommmyyy!" "Ohh." "Waaahhhh!!" The captain iled on the ground, a hulking man writhing in pain. I thought all that thrashing would just make him bleed more. So, I went ahead and healed him with a potion. And thus, a unit with terrible morale was born. I do think the captain was right, but... trying to grab a girl''s hair is not okay. In a world of scythes and magic, being right isn''t enough. At least we seeded in teaching the captain that truth. And then, we were brought to a military court. --- We got through the military trial quite easily. Atori answered all their questions with "I''m strong" and "The gods have told me to fight." She overpowered the high-ranking officers who didn''t like her and won. It seems military trials in other worlds are pretty easy. Well, punishing Atori in this crisis would''ve been pointless. If they tried to detain her, she could resist fully, and if they made an enemy of her, the military would be severely weakened before even starting the battle. Instead, they sent us to what seemed to be a dangerous area. Our destination was the "Dawn City Yggdra." There are multiple routes leading there. This battle is about how many armies can break through those routes. Though we were a 30-man army, near Dawn City Yggdra,rger forces can operate. The dragons are wary of the city, so the usualrge-scale battle¡ªarmies of tens of thousands¡ªwon''t happen until the very end. Our group marched through the forest. "Dear God¡­" Atori, holding me to her chest, walked at a slow pace with the group. The speed was so slow it made you yawn. We were advancing cautiously to avoid any encounters with vampires. "...Boring," she muttered. "With Shio, this would be over in an instant. But this experience is valuable. A genius who doesn''t adapt to their surroundings will only be devoured." "Will I...be devoured?" she asked. "No. If you learn from this, you won''t." "I''ll do my best¡­" This area had reportedly wiped out every army that passed through. Dangerous monsters and vampire ambushes were expected. We were scouting to find more possible routes for the army to use. It was a two-day walk from the nearest city. "All right, we''ll camp here. Vampires move at night. Set up a wide perimeter." The captain gave orders to the troops. Arge bonfire was lit, andnterns were hung in the trees around us. It made us very visible, but better that than being attacked by vampires inplete darkness. Night is the perfect hunting time for our enemies.N?v(el)B\\jnn Vampires can see as clearly at night as they can during the day. So, trying to hide would be useless. As we were preparing the camp, night hadpletely fallen. Then, the forest suddenly shook. "...Enemies," Atori said. That amount of wind couldn''t have been natural. It was clearly a vampire ambush, trying to snuff out our fire andnterns with wind. "Atori, let''s go," I said. "Yes, my God! I''m off to fight!" Just as Atori was about to run off, the captain stopped her. Wait! First, strengthen the defenses¡ª" "The gods have spoken. I will fight." "Don''t be stupid! It''s nighttime, the vampires have the advantage! If you attack, they''ll only counter! You are the main defensive force. Stay here and form a defensive line¡ª" Ignoring himpletely, Atori dashed forward. In the distance, we could hear soldiers screaming. Some of them were being taken out already. "Rouro!" Atori called out to Rouro. She poured a "Low-Level Animal Control" potion on him. Despite his appearance, Rouro''s mind is ssified as a "low-level animal." It is a mass of human grudges. In essence, it''s an animal spirit¡ªalbeit a degraded one. I used this same potion to tame him. While under the potion''s effects, Rouro follows orders, albeit only slightly. "Cut down the trees." "Graaaaahhh!" Chapter 91 Captain of the Crops Rouro swung his massive arm, toppling the surrounding trees. This made it harder for the vampires to use guerri tactics. As the forest crumbled, several vampires were forced out of hiding. "sh." Liora blinded them with a sh of light, then rushed in for the kill. She decapitated a female vampire, but since it wasn''t enough to kill her, Liora burned her with holy magic. She then used the "Offering: Swift Dance " to reposition herself and cut down another vampire on the opposite side. Screams echoed among the vampires. "Forget the grunts! Kill this child!" The vampires all focused on Liora. Theyunched countless spells and arrows at her. She cut through most of them with her magic-destroying de, while the few that hit were immediately healed. An arrow aimed at her face hit her palm instead, but she didn''t even flinch as she pulled it out. Blood from the wound danced in the night wind, but the injury healed right away. The vampires hesitated, unnerved by Liora''s regenerative abilities. "Regeneration like a vampire¡­ Is she some kind of self-healing monster?!" "If that''s the case, crush her heart!" The vampires'' closebat troops surrounded Liora. But for us, that was actually convenient. It''s a hassle to find enemies in the dark, after all. Moreover, Liora''s new title, "Harbinger of Death," grants a slight attack boost during group battles. Since the vampires are considered living beings, her attacks were super effective. "The gods have spoken." In the pitch-ck night, Liora''s crimson eyes glowed ominously. Those who gazed into them instinctively stepped back. "You cannot devour me." The massacre began. --- The vampires were troublesome foes. They had regenerative abilities simr to Liora''s, and their immortality¡ªbeing able to survive even after decapitation¡ªsurpassed hers. Their physical abilities were also superior, making them a higher-tier species than Liora. But Liora was still stronger. The vampires didn''t know how to use their regeneration properly. The moment they took damage, they reflexively stopped moving. Liora, however, could keep attacking even after losing an arm. They should''ve fought more aggressively! They should''ve let their flesh be cut and kept pressing the attack. That''s the strength of regenerative abilities. But I suppose only a crazy person could use regenerative power effectively in battle. On top of that, they relied too much on their regeneration. Liora, on the other hand, had the "Life-Stealing de" and the "Vitality-Sapping de" ready. Taking a hit from Liora meant bing a mere resource for her recovery. The vampires, who weren''t very good at dodging, found that even though they initially had the upper hand in terms of strength, Liora ultimately outmatched them with her superior recovery rate. Out of the twenty or so vampires, she managed to take down more than half of them. The remaining enemies fled into the darkness of the night, but there wasn''t much we could do about that. Regardless, we had sessfully decimated the enemy force. Liora, now drenched in the blood of the fallen vampires, put away her scythe. Under the moonlight that filtered through the trees, her figure was clearly visible to everyone in the squad. The soldiers, who hadn''t done anything, muttered in fear. "She single-handedly wiped out the vampire squad... No way." "With that kind of recovery ability, could she be a vampire too...?" "If she were, why would she have killed them?" "She''s a grim reaper..." After blowing away the ashes of the dead vampires with her "Bomb Lightning" spell, Liora turned to face the soldiers. Her beautiful, yet young and delicate, blood-soaked face was visible to all. A single drop of blood fell to the ground with a soft "plop." "You should all rest now. They won''t being after us anymore." "Y-Yes, I understand... right." The captain nodded repeatedly, like a broken toy. It seemed that the mission was a sess. The truth behind this incident was that vampire soldiers had been lying in ambush in the dark forest. From now on, they would probably adjust their schedule to ensure they only passed through this forest during daylight. "God." "Yes, Liora?" "I learned something today! I got better at coordinating... I did it!" "Yes, you did well. You''ve improved a lot. You''re a good girl, as expected of Liora." "Yay! I did it...! Hehe, I belong to God!" Liora''s eyes twinkled as she puffed out her small chest. Perhaps her concern when she told the others to rest was proof of her growth. Liora had grown a little. I couldn''t help but feel slightly proud of her. Wait, no! That was close. I almost let my paternal instincts take over. Innocent young girls can be quite dangerous. That night, unusually, Liora was the only one who slept. As Jack Jack said, the war with the city led by the True Ancestor Vampire Yoyo has begun. We have been hired as volunteers by one of the cities. In reality, it''s closer to being mercenaries, though. Our goal this time was to defend the city. No matter how strong Liora is, the enemy army numbers thirty thousand. Liora alone cannot win.N?v(el)B\\jnn More importantly, even Liora may struggle against the enemy''s top officers. If it were up to me, I''d like to y solo with Liora. However, I don''t intend to put her at risk of getting lost. Thus, we joined the military. Liora, now a mere foot soldier. The clothes Liora wears are called the [Wind Garb of the Great Forest]. It''s armor obtained long ago, with decent performance. Dress: [Wind Garb of the Great Forest], Rarity: [Create Epic] Level: [38] Agility: [30] Defense: [20] Durability: [1000] Skills: [Appearance Preservation], [Environmental Damage Immunity], [Defense Enhancement 2%], [Minor me Resistance] It has quite a lot of useful features. That''s why Liora doesn''t end up naked during battles. It''s a khaki-colored, military-style dress, and it suits her current role perfectly. Though now, it''s mostly hidden by the cloak distributed by the military to identify our affiliation. "Captain Liora!" Morning. As Liora quietly sipped her tea, a young boy approached her like a puppy. The boy, who wore an eyepatch over one eye, was named Zeralc. He was a novice adventurer that Liora once took care of. Zeralc arrived, panting heavily, clearly having run a long distance. "Reconnaissanceplete¡­ here''s a letter from Lord Shio." "Got it. You can stay on standby." "I want to fight too! I can fight!" "No, you''ll just be in the way. Clean up. It''s a hassle if we get caught." "¡­Yes! Understood. Best of luck in battle." "Thanks." The battle began a few days ago. Liora, who went out as an ordinary soldier, single-handedly decimated an enemy unit. Thanks to her remarkable achievements and outstanding guerri tactics, she was already made captain of a unit. That said, it''s a small elite unit¡­ in name only. There are only six members. One of them, Zeralc, is a new recruit. It''s not that she''s being treated unfairly. Liora is simply regarded with such high esteem that they believe she can destroy the enemy''s weak points precisely, even without more manpower or strongpanions. One of Liora''s subordinates, an elderly man in his seventies, smiled as he leaned on his cane. "Captain Liora. This time, it''s a typical rescue mission. Normally, it''d be described as ''food supply,'' but for vampires, their meals are humans. If we steal their resources, we''ll have the advantage." "You take care of the strategy. I''m only here to kill." "Understood. We''ll carry out the operation tonight." The old man''s name is Gano. He seems to be a somewhat important military officer, but in order to make use of Liora, he gave up his position and became her subordinate. Considering his age, he probably has a lot of pride, but he''s willing to bow to a child and throw away his status and career if it means victory. Old men like this are always dangerous. In fact, his strategies have been urate, allowing Liora to make great achievements by just going, killing, and returning. Gano always sends Liora to the enemy''s weak points. Now, night falls. The reason we carry out the operation at night is simple. If we attacked during the day, we could win easily, but the vampires, in their desperation, might kill the hostages (who they see as food). We need to fight under conditions favorable to the enemy. The vampires''ir is in a cave. In this world, vampires don''t die from sunlight, but they are weakened by it. They seem to spend most of the day hiding. Several vampires emerged from the cave. In this war, even a few vampires entering the city is enough for them to win. That alone is enough to destroy the city. Thus, they have been attempting to infiltrate the city in small numbers multiple times. "¡­I''m going." Liora, hiding among the leaves, moves toward the cave. A butterfly summoned by a summoner, serving as a messenger, apanies her. Following the butterfly''s guidance, Liora sessfully infiltrates the cave. "Hmph." It''s better than the bandit group we fought before. The people used as food are chained up, but they haven''t been tortured or abused. Well, if they weaken their food, it would hinder their movements. However, they are left with little nutrition or stamina. They are mostly skin and bones. Their necks are covered in bite marks. There are about ten captives, but all are too anemic to even stand. Three vampire soldiers are guarding these humans. "¡­A girl with a scythe and wings. You must be Liora?" Chapter 92 Vampires get a beating! The leader of the guards speaks to her. A vampire with spiky blond hair. He appears frail, but thanks to the [Vampire Gene], his physical strength is superior. "I''ll be blunt," says the leader. "Since you''ve found us, we can''t protect the hostages. We don''t intend to die in vain. How about we negotiate?" Liora briefly nces at me. I nod in return. We''ll stay alert for any surprise attacks. I''m curious to learn more about the enemy''s methods. Since the butterfly hasn''t signalled any danger, I assume it''s safe. The vampire, cing his fangs near a hostage''s neck, speaks in a threatening tone. Blood trickles from the girl''s neck as the vampire lightly grazes her with his fangs. The girl, with vacant eyes, doesn''t resist. "We have ten hostages. We''ll return seven. In exchange, will you withdraw? We''ll retreat too. Otherwise, we''ll kill all the hostages." "Liora, this isn''t much of a threat," I say. "Got it." The vampire mistakenly believes ''s reply was directed at him. Just as he breathes a sigh of relief, Liora''s scythe swings down. The vampire leader''s head, along with the girl''s, flies through the air. Two heads soar in the sky. "What?! Huh?!" The remaining vampire soldiers are left speechless. But even in that brief moment, it''s toote. ''s [Beheader] technique is lethal to regenerating tanks. No matter how powerful a vampire''s regenerative abilities are, if you cut off their head and st them with [Light Magic] before they can regenerate, they''ll die. One of the two vampires quickly takes up a defensive stance. But the other is killed before he can resist. Thest one, realizing defeat, throws the hostage against the wall.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om With incredible strength, the vampire turns the hostage into a bloody stain on the wall. Despitemitting such brutality, the vampire res at with righteous indignation. His eyes burn with fury. "Weren''t you here to rescue the hostages?!" "I''m only here to kill." "You crazy brat!" The vampire thrusts his sword at Liora. "[Wing Thrust]!" A wind-enhanced thrust. My [Appraisal] is blocked, but it''s probably abined evolution skill of [Wind Magic] and [Swordsmanship]. The wind-imbued strike is sharp and fast. Liora''s shoulder is gouged, and the wind shreds her shoulder like a blender. Even with her shoulder destroyed in one hit, Liora swings her scythe without concern. The vampire''s head flies. "Impossible!" "The one who calls others stupid is stupid. That''s what God said." Liora fires a [Snipe Lightning] shot at the vampire''s head. However, the vampire sprouts bat wings from his head and quickly dodges, regenerating his entire body in no time. Just then, Samurai''s binding magic ensnares him. The vampire, startled, struggles to break free, but it''s toote¡ª''s [Bomb Lightning] spell is already in the air. Before the vampire can scream¡ª Liora''s bomb detonates. Despite the explosion, the vampire is still capable of fighting. Liora squints, infuses her scythe with an art, and moves forward. That art is the scythe technique [Forbidden Healing de]. When it hits its target, it inflicts the "Unheble" status condition. Honestly, when I learned of this debuff, I was pretty scared. Because it''s Liora''s trump card. However, when we''re the ones using it¡ªit''s a fantastic art. "Die." "Wha¡ª?" Liora decapitates the vampire at an unbelievable speed. --- And then administers resurrection potions to the ughtered hostages. Man, these potions are truly convenient. They can be used for negotiations, hostage rescues¡ªthey''re incredibly versatile. And the ingredients are easy toe by. However, the downside is that they leave the user in a "near-death" state. Also, the pain remains, so the rescued individuals appear to be suffering. Well, their lives were saved, so it''s fine. Life takes priority. "It''s done. Ten hostages. Requesting retrieval." "What should we do about the vampire who went out on reconnaissance, Captain Liora?" "If I can catch up, I''ll kill it." "Understood, we''re already tracking! Please follow!" "Got it." Liora nodded lightly toward the butterfly. Theposition of the Seventh Guerri Unit led by Liora is: "Liora 1", "Strategist 1", "General Helper 1", "Healer 1", "Summoner 1", and "Archer 1." Well-bnced. The Summoner in this "PHO" (game world) is considered a weak ss. However, if one specializes in nonbat roles, like information transmission or reconnaissance, they can be a useful asset. It seems that with a unique skill like Gaush''s,bat is also possible. Liora begins chasing the vampire soldier that joined the battle. The war in the Third Field is progressing with back-and-forth gains. Already, seven cities have fallen to the vampires. The enemy''s three knights, their main forces, are still intact, and the number of defeated vampires totals only a few thousand. However, it seems there are also many ces where we''ve sessfully repelled them. The number of soldiers expected to reach the target city, the Dawn City of Yggdra, within a week is around 10,000. With the enemy numbering 30,000, that seems like a long shot. They say we can win if we manage to attack during the daytime and force arge-scale battle, but... While I was lost in thought, the cheerful voice of a young boy reached my ears. "You''re amazing, Captain Liora! This is my first time camping out in such luxury!" "This isn''t my power. It''s all thanks to the gods..." "Huh?" Currently, the Seventh Vanguard Unit is clearing the way toward Dawn City Yggdra. We''re killing off any vampires ambushing us and thinning out the enemy forces that attempt tounch counterattacks. We''re also destroying any potential hiding spots, like caves and burrows. The northern front, led by Liora, seems to be advancing smoothly. ording to the bulletin board, the western front is a disaster, and it''s be a haven for vampires. Meanwhile, the eastern side (where Mari is located) has somehow eradicated all the vampires, and for some unknown reason, the human forces there are doing exceptionally well, with almost no casualties. Things are going great. On the southern front, Jack-Jack and his team are stationed. Mem¨¦, who rescued a tribe of dwarves, and Hilda, who prioritized this area, are also present. However, the situation on that front is hard to gauge. Many yers are heavily involved, with Yoyo being a significant factor, making the battle almost like an official event. If we lose not only the First Field but also the Third Field, it''s game over. There are many yers whose contracted NPCs have been turned into vampires, causing them to defect to the enemy. To prevent more defections, we absolutely cannot afford to lose this battle. That''s why Liora is working hard to give his subordinates clear instructions. "I am with the gods. Everyone else, do your job." "Yes, Captain Liora!" Zk ran off to gather firewood. In the base I created with Darkness Creation, Strategist Gano is already asleep. As an elderly man, the rigors of military life seem too much for him. Mya, the archer, is cheering over the arrows Samurai is crafting. Whenbined with Samurai''s woodworking skills and the materials from the World Tree, these arrows are of excellent quality. We are never short on small items, thanks to Ideal Atelier. Both arrowheads and feathers are being mass-produced through Ideal Atelier. Three golems are likely busy working even now. ¡ø With excitement, Zk shouted as he held a wooden cup. Inside was alcohol diluted with honey. There are no legal regtions on drinking in this world. The fifteen- or sixteen-year-old boy''s face was flushed. "It was then! Our party hadpletely given up on surviving. The enemy was a beginner killer¡ªRex Beast. We were all severely injured. None of us could stand up. It was agonizing. All our upperssmen who were leading us were ughtered!" "Yes, yes," Sister Lidis, the healer, nodded dismissively. "Yet you managed to move and escape afterward. A heart-warming story." "That''s oversimplifying it! We couldn''t move at all! But somehow, we found ourselves standing and running away! Unconsciously! It was all thanks to Captain Liora''s training. We survived because of her!" "Honestly, Captain Liora is scarier than a Rex Beast, right? It''d be better to die than fight him." Sister Lidis had once been captured by the Dropout Society. She was one of the victims of Millim, the dark spirit. When we charged in, she was one of those we found copsed. She seems to be grateful to us for that. Yet, despite her gratitude, she also fears Liora''sbat style. "Speaking of scary..." Sister Lidis sighed dreamily, covering her cheeks with her hands. "The vision I saw that day was beautiful. A divine figure¡­ Sister Lidis witnessed the god in a dreamlike trance that day. Ah, Goddess The World! Forgive your servant for acknowledging other gods¡­! Oh, my beautiful goddess, my only god, Sister Lidis'' god! Please, appear before me once more! Ahhh!" It seems Sister Lidis has gone mad after her ordeal. She ims to have seen a hallucination of a god during the torment, and since then, her faith has changed. She''s now aplete heretic. She''s a dangerous person, and I''d prefer she doesn''t get too involved with Liora. Although, given her circumstances, it''s understandable. Seeing this, Strategist Gano slumped his shoulders. "My granddaughter is worshipping a strange god. Oh, great The World, please forgive her." Chapter 93 Partys Status "Grandfather, it''s not a strange god. This Sister Lidis was saved from hell by the God of Beauty... given the god''s beauty, there''s no doubt about it." "Why would a God of Beauty fight? Wake up, Lidis." "Sister Lidis has already awakened, Grandfather." The Seventh Unit remains cheerful as always. By the way, Summoner Penny is stationed in the city. Since she mainly handlesmunications, she only dispatches her summoned monsters. There''s no problem being this far away. It''s certain that she possesses unique summoning skills. In fact, Penny, the summoner, is the most highly regarded in terms of ability among us. That''s reassuring. ¡ø A young vampire soldier was falling apart. Since bing a vampire, the concept of "damage" has be almost irrelevant. No matter how severe the injury, it would heal in the blink of an eye. That is, if it''s nighttime. But now, that theory had copsed. It was midnight, with no moon in sight¡ªa new moon''s darkness should have been a paradise for vampires, but instead, it had turned into hell. He couldn''t regenerate. His entire body was rotting away, turning into something like mud. "What is this? Why doesn''t it hurt... if anything, it feels good. What the hell!" His body was melting, yet an ecstasy akin to being drugged was crawling over him. His mind was breaking. Each time his body melted, pleasure and delight filled his heart. He couldn''t evenprehend what was being done to him. The vampire soldiers who had once ughtered and drained humans of their blood were now pitifully crawling on the ground, on the verge of death. But their faces showed only ecstasy. "What kind of poison is this¡­" In response to his murmured despair, a reply came. It was the dainty voice of a girl. Yet the voice was devoid of color, retaining the cold detachment of an observer. She had no intention of helping him, nor even of killing him. "It''s not poison. It''s a drug of evolution. Just like a caterpir dissolves its body to turn into a butterfly, this drug artificially induces that transformation. ording to the books, it''s called ''metamorphosis.'' Anyway, that''s what this drug simtes." "C-Can I recover?" "You won''t just recover; you''ll be stronger. But¡­ well, if you crush a chrysalis, it''s just a corpse." His eyes had already melted away. He couldn''t understand where the voice wasing from. In the midst of his liquefying consciousness, only the sweet voice of the girl reached him. "Thepound drug is a sess. It aimed at racial evolution, but this seems to be the limit of its replication... it''s not even that useful as poison. It can only kill idiotic low-level trash. But poison''s not really my specialty, anyway." A ss bottle shattered. ¨Œ Elite Vampire Soldier The vampire soldiers attacking from the south were facing an indescribably difficult battle. Vampires are a powerful race. They possess overwhelming regenerative abilities and stats specialized in offensive power. Their race-specific skill, Vampire Factor, is incredibly formidable. The weaknesses like being debilitated by sunlight or the inability to consume anything but human blood are minorpared to the overwhelming power of the vampire race. Despite forming an army, the vampires faced an uncertain battle. In fact, they seemed to be losing. Up until now, there were no records of the vampire army engaging in organized military action under the name of Yoyo. And there''s a reason for that. Vampires, as individuals, are overwhelmingly strong. But they are not creatures meant to fight in armies. When ites to battles between organized armies, they lose to the High-Humans, who specialize in leadership and military tactics, making them extremely troublesome opponents. The fact that the human-only nation of Albiut was the only one unaffected by time-space freezing is proof of the absurd strength of the High-Humans. They may have pushed the assault too hard because they were eager to destroy a few more cities. Around them, the ashes of their fallenrades were piled up. Even those ashes were blown away by a wind magic user. Vampires don''t even leave behind a corpse. As he trampled over the remaining ashes, an old elf took a step forward.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Hohoho, we''ve been preparing our countermeasures against vampires for hundreds of years. I''m not weak enough to fall behind someone like you, who isn''t even a key member of the enemy force." "What''re you bragging about, old man? We''re here too, y''know." "Heh, but it was Jack Jack who saw through the vampires'' route. Even alone, he probably could have secured victory." They were a mysterious trio. No, considering they were also possessed by spirits, you could say they were a group of six. The vampire unit of thirty had been reduced to ten in an instant. "Are you already assuming victory?!" He shouted. They were underestimating an elite vampire. The difference in caliber between an ordinary vampire and an elite one is vast. The elite vampire closed the distance with the old man using the martial arts technique Rush-In. He unleashed the martial arts move Nukite. It was a simple attack. However, it was low-cost and could be used in rapid session. Considering a vampire''s stats, its increased pration power made it akin to an instant death attack. If it pierced the heart, that is. The old man couldn''t even react. Even if he counterattacked, the elite vampire''s regeneration would kick in. The elite vampire sneered. His lethal strike would connect! But it didn''t. "Dodge, idiot," muttered the dwarf in exasperation. "I don''t make unnecessary movements. At my age, opportunities to preserve my strength are precious." The elite vampire''s Nukite had stopped at the old man''s chest. There''s no way it couldn''t pierce through the old man''s thin chest. Some kind of skill had been used. The vampire linked into his martial arts reflexively. Martial arts skills could be chained together in rapid session. Bybining numerous arts, one could maximize damage output without leaving any gaps. "Strike! Brow Strike! Break Kick! Nukite! Dragon Punch! Small Hand Sweep!" Within a second, he unleashed a barrage of destructive attacks. But every single one was blocked by some kind of mysterious barrier. Just as the vampire was about to activate a dodge art, the old man''s rapier pierced his chest. The vampireughed. "Too soft! An elite vampire like me¡ª" "This is no rapier. It''s a stake." The vampire''s eyes widened. His strength drained away. His knees buckled. It was a holy attribute stake. The weapon the old man had been using earlier had changed without him realizing. He had growncent, relying on the invincibility of being a vampire. "Well then, time to wipe you all out." A beautiful elf smiled elegantly. As he waved his short staff, a multitude of elemental spells were unleashed. He wielded multiple magic attributes simultaneously. Bybining several types of magic, he used unknown attacks to mow down the remaining vampire soldiers. A magical storm. But the vampires were resilient. Despite the brutal onught that would kill an ordinary person, they managed to survive. Their race was specialized in endurance¡ªthat is what vampires were. They had abandoned their humanity in exchange for supernatural power. At this point, retreat was the only option. The elite vampire made this judgment, but when he saw the monster standing in his way, he gasped. The dull voice of a gloomy young man murmured. "... All they do is regenerate... If they don''t have the terror of someone like Liora, it''s no different from ying whack-a-mole." There was a dragon. A beautiful dragon with emerald scales. It had started off as a small dragon, the size of one that could sit on a shoulder, but in the next instant, a gigantic dragon appeared. "Erge... perish." The dragon opened its massive jaws¡ª ¨D¨D¨D¨D¨D¨D Since more allies have appeared suddenly, here is a brief introduction of them: New Recruit Zerak A novice adventurer trained by Liora. He uses a sword. He''s not particrly strong, but he admires Liora. He handles odd jobs. Even when Liora''s training nearly killed him, he still didn''t try to flee. Old Strategist Gano One of the strategists from a certain city. During a court-martial, he caught Liora''s attention and lowered his head to join Liora''s forces. He can make good use of Liora''s aggressiveness and skirmish tactics. His skills as a magician are decent, and he has no hesitation about sacrificing his own life, which is nearing its end. He''s fond of new things. His recent worries are that his granddaughter has started worshipping a strange god and that his skin has lost its luster. Archer Mya An archer with B-rank skills. She provides long-range support for Liora. Her nature is more of a hunter than a warrior. She doesn''t want to fight but enjoys taking down prey. Cleric Sister Liddis A skilled female cleric who excels in healing. She is Gano''s granddaughter. She is a follower of an evil god. She was once a victim of Milim and Stark. Communications Officer/Summoner Penny Amunications specialist ranked at S-level in ability. She uses summoned creatures for reconnaissance and rying information. She has littlebat ability. She has a strong desire to be used well by strong people and refuses to speak to anyone she doesn''t recognize. She''s extremely stubborn, and her overall rating, including her personality, is A-rank. She volunteered to join this unit. She is currently in a distant city, surrounded by guards. Chapter 94 Against Vampire Knight: Gourmand [1] The continuous provocations day and night finally bore fruit. Recently, under orders from the old strategist, Liora had been "intentionally letting vampire soldiers escape." Afterward, she would send a message to the fleeing enemy, dering: "I am Liora. I will ughter all the vampires in the north. I will kill Yoyo too. If you''re not scared,e at me." It was a ridiculous provocation. But it was needed one, cause she was the only stronghold protecting humans on the northern side. However, the fact that Liora was troublesome became an undeniable truth for the enemy army. There was a noticeable decrease in their sorties in the direction where Liora was present. The situation was not bad. So far, several cities which had been on under the control of vampires had been re-captured with great efforts and minimal sacrifices. Although their numbers seemed to be increasing, it appeared that the overall advance was proceeding. It seems that eventually, an army of about ten thousand will gather at Yggdra, the City of Dawn. Once the High Humans, who specialize in group warfare, takemand... there should be a high chance of victory. Or at least, that''s what I''ve been told. The concern is the five special forces. And this time, Liora''s mission is to exterminate one of the three knights leading the northern invasion¡ªthe Gourmand. Given her sess so far, it''s certain that the big boss will eventuallye out. Penny, the summoner andmunicator, contacts us via a butterfly. "I found him, Captain Liora. It''s the Gourmand." "Where?" "The spot we checked on Elder Gano''s map. The most likely location¡ªthe Aza Valley. It''s ideal for infiltrating Lumza." "Got it, I''ll kill him." If even a single vampire manages to infiltrate a city, they could easily massacre the residents. Moreover, they can increase their numbers¡ªif handled poorly, they could multiply exponentially like rats. It''s likely that themanders n to attack the city themselves to make up for their losses to Liora. But I won''t let that happen. This vampire event, at least the northern part, belongs to Liora. Losing to Piti of the Demon King''s Four Heavenly Kings was more of a blow than I expected. To grow stronger, I need to capitalize on more rewarding events. I was too soft. During the First Field Recapture Event, I should have discarded any concerns about stealing others'' opportunities. If they lose their chance, that''s their fault¡ªafter all, that''s the concept of this game. "I will win,GOD." As for the Gourmand, Penny has already appraised him. Penny is incrediblypetent¡ªworthy of her S-rank adventurer status. She''s not on the level of someone like Eucris, but in terms of information warfare, she''s top ss. She sends her summoned monsters to distant locations and steals enemy information. When ites to information gathering, she''s a superior version of Gimora. She would have easily been an S-rank adventurer if not for her policy of only working with people she likes. Now, let''s confirm the information. [Name: Daddy Dedes Gender: Male Level: 100 Race: High Vampire Job: Undead Lancer Magic: Hellfire Magic 74 Production: Doll Making 1 Skills: Berserk, Corpse Robbery 100, Attack Power Buff, Blood Spear Arts 83, Vampire Factor 100, Devour, Super Strength, Thrall Control 100, Dead Hand, Throwing Arts 100 Stats: Attack 900, Magic Attack 550 Durability 400, Agility 750 Luck 400 Title: The Gourmand Unique Skill: Blood Drunken Berserk] Judging by his skill set, he''s not the type you want to face. He''s a berserk attacker. And as a vampire, his durability is higher than his numbers suggest. With two berserk skills, it looks like he''s going to rely on brute force. But there''s no choice but to fight. We''ll crush him. ¨‹ It waste at night. Moving through the valley was a unit of thirty men. At the rear, carried like a shrine pnquin, was a massive¡ªno, grotesquely obese¡ªman. He was about three meters tall, but his weight was impossible to guess just by looking¡ªprobably hundreds of kilograms. His face was so swollen with fat that it was impossible to read his expression. The vampire known as the Gourmand clutched a beautiful young woman in each hand. Both of them were already near death. The Gourmand would asionally squeeze them, and arge shower of blood would burst forth, which he drank greedily. "Delicious! Women''s blood, deeeeelicious! Haa, the most deeeliciousss thing ever wooHhh!!" The girl in his right hand waspletely crushed into a lump of flesh. He greedilypped up her blood and tossed her remains aside. There wasn''t even trace a of her being as a human. He licked the blood and flesh from his hands. Now the enemy force was down to twenty-nine. It seems there are about ten more girls being carried along as food... meaning the actualbatants number around twenty. While licking his now-clean hands, the Gourmand bellowed like a spoiled child. "Lioraaa! Lioraaa, I want to eat you! The blood of a cute little girl! And you can regenerate! You were born just to be eaten by meee! Lioraaa!" "Ew." Even Liora muttered in rare disgust. I, too, found myself thinking, ew. The enemy was advancing along the path through the valley. We were waiting, hidden in the forested mountains, concealed by the trees. All the information we needed came from Penny''s summoned monsters. We watched the enemy through an orb that projected their view. There''s no need to let them live. "Alright, Liora, let''s¡ª" Just then, the giant man in the orb met my gaze.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "The scent of a woman... and this exquisite smell... it''s a charity just for me!! A woman made just to be my blood bag!" "Liora, dodge." A momentter, the pnquin was hurled with tremendous force. The trees, meant as a shield, were mowed down, and Liora''s right arm was blown off as she tried to evade. Then three human girls were turned into lumps of meat and thrown at us. From the valley came a roar. "Lioraaaa! You look sooooo tasty!" The lumps of meat were blown away by a Bomb Lightning spell. The Gourmandunched himself toward us at a speed that belied his size. It seemed like he wasn''t running but propelling himself forward with brute force by kicking the ground. From above, like a falling meteor, the Gourmand descended, his body drenched in blood, sweat, and other fluids. I won''t let even a single drop touch Liora. "Darkness Creation, Mode: Smoke." A smokescreen spread. At the same time, I deployed a shield to protect Liora from the liquids. Liora silently readied her scythe and murmured. "Come, Rouro." Answering her call, Rouro appeared. Rouro tore a tree from the ground and mmed it into the falling Gourmand. The sound was like an explosion. The tree snapped, and the Gourmand spread his arms wide. "What are you? There''s nothing worth eating!" "Grrrroooar!" "Break!" Rouro''s fist collided with the Gourmand''s. In a single blow, Rouro was shattered into pieces, and the Gourmand was also sted away, tearing through the trees and vanishing from sight. "Let''s start with a sniper shot." "Yes... Got it, Master!" Just as Liora was about to activate Snipe Lightning, countless arms sprouted from beneath her feet, attempting to bind her. Liora''s eyes widened. In a split second, she unleashed a Shining Burst, creating a pir of light around her body to repel the arms. A heavy thud echoed. It was the sound of a spear piercing through Liora''s abdomen, passing through several trees, and punching a hole in the mountain. Liora coughed up a massive amount of blood. Had she not reacted instantly, the spear would have pierced her heart. "Ugh..." "Despite his looks, he''s ridiculously strong." "I''m stronger..." "Indeed. And we have the Forbidden de." The scythe technique specializes in anti-vampire attacks, a fatal art for enemies that rely on regeneration. I decided to wait for Liora to recover before engaging in closebat. But Liora''s abdomen wasn''t healing. "Is... is this a healing block? No, your HP is recovering." "A curse... maybe?" "It seems that spear had such an effect. I''ll retrieve it. Liora, hide for now." Liora tried to retreat. But the vampires weren''t alone. Nine more vampires began to charge up the mountain. I called upon Samurai to stop them. Samurai, taking the form of an octopus, extended his tentacles. Then, another projectile. Samurai shielded Liora, and most of his body was blown away. The projectile appeared to be arge rock. The nine vampires regrouped. We were clearly being pushed back. I bit my lip, debating whether to pull out a sword from my Item Box. But Liora acted faster. A wing disappeared from her back. "Kokma''s Wing, activate¡ªShining sh." Liora activated the recently acquired Kokma''s Wing. One of the eleven arts under the Angel''s Factor skill. It provides a constant buff to "magic attack power" and, when activated, allows for "one devastating magical attack." The light de, enhanced by the Forbidden de and Kokma''s Wing, was unleashed. The nine vampires were obliterated. Chapter 95 Against Vampire Knight: Gourmand [2] "God!" Liora skillfully uses the battlefield to her advantage. She leaps from tree to tree, sometimes erasing her presence, making it impossible for the vampires to track her. It''s an outside technique she learned from Jack Jack. It''s abination of concealing her presence and stealth. Though, in the end, it''s nothing more than a trick, but it''s certainly making the battle easier. "sh!" Liora unleashes a sh of light, and I create smoke with [Darkness Creation]. Of the ten vampires, seven are silenced with poison, leaving only the Gourmand unaffected by silence. However, even the Gourmand is affected by the poison. While his HP slowly decreases, it seems their regenerative abilities surpass the poison. "Liora! You smell so good!" The Gourmandes flying like a bullet. In his hands, the psychopathic vampire hold a long spear. Despite hisrge and round body, his spear skills are masterful. Liora, who had been on the trees, drops to the ground without responding. The tree that the Gourmand crashes into shatters like ss. "Let''s finish off the small fry first." We hadn''t been waiting idly. Considering the possibility of mountain warfare, we had already set traps in advance. Facing the Gourmand and nine other vampires of equal strength, the fact that we haven''t lost is due to the traps. It seems that the silence has lifted, and the vampires start speaking. "We''ll be killed by Vampire Knight! Quickly, steal the consciousness of the little girl!" "But isn''t that girl using [Regeneration] with the help of that dark spirit? Even if we steal the girl''s consciousness, the regeneration won''t stop. Should we capture her alive¡­?" "The spirit will sleep! All we need to do is knock her unconscious and restrain her!" "Ah, I see!" Their reasoning is terrifyingly urate. Five vampires simultaneously jump at us. Liora closes her eyes for just a moment, then whispers the name of her skill. "Frenzy." Therge scythe moves at a speed invisible to the naked eye. What follows from that slender body is a beautiful dance of death. Even I¡­ couldn''t help but be mesmerized by her chaotic movements. Overwhelming. She cuts down the five vampires purely with the violence of her stats. There''s a faint smile on her lips. It seems that when she uses [Frenzy] during battle, her emotions be slightly more expressive. The death god-like little girl speaks in a chilling voice. "Offer death¡­ to God." Even though the vampires have been bisected, they continue attacking as if nothing happened. Although their movements are slightly impaired by the pain, they stille at Liora. Each of their attacks pierces Liora. But she pays no mind and incinerates the vampires with [sh Magic]. I scatter holy water potions to hinder them. Liora finishes off the weakened vampires. We sessfully exterminated two. However, there are still¡­ "Eight remaining." "We''ll crush them all!" "Yes, it''s about time." As Liora nods, an arrow pierces the head of one of the vampires. Immediately after, arge-scale earth magic is unleashed, causing the remaining vampires to be swept to the ground by a wave of earth. "Samurai, restrain them. If they attack, endure them. I''ll not let you die, [Regenerate]." Liora casts [Regenerate] on Samurai again. We''re not fighting solo. While Liora is overwhelmingly strong, we''re still a party. And since we have a crazy priest on our side, Samurai''s restraints will be useful. Now, five of the remaining eight enemies are sealed. Three left. Only the two vampire underlings and the Gourmand remain. "Liora, let''s keep the two underlings alive. They''ll serve as our recovery resources." "Yes! I''ll leave it to God¡­!" As long as I defend against their lethal attacks, the underlings will simply be recovery items. Additionally, considering Liora''s title, they''ll also be buff items. Let''s show them whether the vampire or the death god girl is the true monster here. Or rather, this is a good opportunity. I''ll use an item I once ced third with in the second event''s [Alchemy] division. The item''s name is [Super Mutant nt Potion]. It''s a deadly poison that transforms nts into boss monsters. And since this battlefield is in the mountains¡ªa natural treasure trove¡ªwe''re in the perfect setting. Even if the monsters attack us¡­ so what? I scattered the potion around. ¨Œ The battlefield became chaos. I overdid it. The vampire underlings were wiped out, and the bosses began killing each other. In the end, only Liora, the Gourmand, and one remaining boss survived. Even the enemies Samurai had restrained were devoured. It was an extremely powerful potion. This could even be used to destroy enemy bases¡­ As the witch said, it might have been strange that this potion only ced third. "Guoooooooh!" "Don''t interfere with my meal with Liora-aa!" The Gourmand finally snapped thest boss in half. His dull eyeszily gazed at Liora. "It''s just the two of us now, Liora-you are my delicious meal!" "God is here too." "Huh?" Blood-soaked Liora stared down the enemy, showing no signs of exhaustion. Though Liora excels in chaotic battles, she''s also taken the most damage. Still, the little girl''s killing intent remains unwavering. She tightly grips the scythe in her hand. "[Forbidden de]." "Just give in and be mine, Liora. [Mist Form]." The Gourmand''s figure fades into mist. Liora leaps backward, casting [Bomb Lightning] repeatedly. I throw potions at him as well. But the mist takes no damage and continues to approach. Zero distance. The Gourmand reappeared right behind Liora, already mid-swing. I used [Darkness Creation] to shift Liora''s position, avoiding a direct hit to her head. His fist pierced through Liora''s right shoulder. Blood poured out. As the Gourmand licked the blood, he kicked at Liora. "Aaaaaah! This blood! How can it taste so good!?" "Shut up." Liora didn''t dodge the kick, but instead took it head-on, mming her scythe into him with a backhanded swing. Liora''s stomach was crushed. The Gourmand''s legs were thinly sliced, but this didn''t seem to stop his HP recovery. Then, a butterfly flying nearby reported back. "The Gourmand''s HP recovery isn''t stopping¡­ Oh, it seems that the [Predation] effect is giving him a buff that increases his max HP. It''s basically the same as recovering HP." "I see. Liora, it''s dangerous if he drinks your blood." "My blood belongs to God¡­" I don''t really need her blood, though. The Gourmand sighed and pulled out his spear. Apparently, he had been storing it inside his belly. He pulled the spear from his stomach and looked sad as he spoke. "Liora-¡­ you''re too strong. Now I''ll have to kill you. I don''t want to be killed by Yo-yo, so I''ll have to drink more of your rare, well-aged blood." The spear in the Gourmand''s hand began to glow red. "[Blood Spear] skill¡­ [Siphon de]! Oh, fate is such a cruel thing, separating the two of us! How tragic! [Frenzy] [Blood Frenzy]!" "Liora, let''s use the [Kagura] arts." Following my instructions, Liora spun gracefully and pped her hands. She activated the [Offering: Dance of Extinguishment]. This art erases all buffs and debuffs, regardless of who cast them. Unlike [Winged Art: Hod''s Wing], this one can''t erase unique or powerful skills. So, the Gourmand is now left only with [Blood Frenzy]. And since he''s lost his mind, he won''t reapply the buffs. "You shouldn''t carelessly cut through someone in a frenzy." Thus begins the battle against an enemy who is merely in a state of [Frenzy]. "Dieeee!" "Shut up."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om The Gourmand, wildly swinging his spear, chases after the delicate Liora. Each time the spear is wielded, trees are felled, earth crumbles, and the blood of the animals and monsters caught in the crossfire stters around. The attacks werepletely reckless. With Liora''s current stats, dodging them was easy. On top of that, the enemy had lost his sanity and was just charging in without any technique. Liora had also activated the [Berserk] skill, which made this battle overwhelmingly in her favour. However, fighting head-on was still dangerous since the inherent skill [Berserk] created a massive stat difference that couldn''t be ignored. Had the enemy also activated [Berserk] at the same time, Liora might have been overpowered. "Still, he is pretty tough. I''ve weakened them quite a bit with poison." "Annoying!" Liora leapt from tree to tree as her footing, just before one was destroyed by the Gourmand. A beastly roar followed in pursuit. Liora moved gracefully. Using the wires I created with [Darkness Creation], she skilfully took advantage of the terrain. The training with Jack Jack had paid off. I started the countdown. "Ten seconds." "Okay!!" Liora spun mid-air, evading the Gourmand''s heavy thrust, and shed with her scythe. The strike lightly cut through the Gourmand''s body. This extended the debuff effect of the [Cursed de]. The vampire''s regeneration skill was now useless. From here on, it was only a matter of weakening him with poison before finishing vampire knight off. Honestly, the [Stunning] status effect is too strong, which is why it''s less effective on bosses. But against enemies without countermeasures, it can be a one-sided ughter. Gradually, the Gourmand''s movements slowed, and within five minutes, he was brought to his knees. "Wha¡ªhuh? Why is my buff gone? Liora-you bitch, what did you do!?" Chapter 96 Finished and relaxing It seems the effects of [Blood-Drenched Berserk] had worn off. As the skill''s name suggests, it must require continuous blood consumption to maintain. The Gourmand, tilting his head in confusion, activated [Bloodsucking de]. A spear art. It seems to be an art that, like Liora''s, adds an effect to his weapon. From the name, it likely allows him to absorb the blood of those he shes. Originally, the synergy between [Bloodsucking de], [Predation], and the regeneration factor of [Vampire] would create a berserker-stylebat approach,bining rage with healing. Unfortunately, this enemy''s concept somewhat oveps with Liora''s. However. Liora possesses [Offering: Annihtion Dance]. The enemy''s usual winning strategy doesn''t work here. Despite having simrbat styles, the enemy was at a distinct disadvantage against Liora. The Gourmand, one of the Three Knights, seemed to realize this. "I can''t win this... I''m out of here." HIs decision-making ability is impressive. Honestly, despite his appearance and attitude, this vampire a formidable foe. Liora dered. "I''m not letting you escape." "So passionate! Liora-, you love me too much!" "I hate you." "That''s what they call tsundere, right? I heard it from a spirit on my side!" "Die." The Gourmand turned his back and struck the ground with his powerful arms. His massive body flew through the air at an incredible speed, but Liora had no intention of letting him escape. "Rouro!" Rouro''s summoning range is within Liora''s line of sight. In other words, Liora could summon it even in the air where the Gourmand was fleeing. Rouro suddenly appeared and struck the Gourmand with all its might. "Gwahhh!" As his internal organs were sted out, the Gourmand was sent flying back towards us. Liora''s scythe was already imbued with [Death Guide de], [Lifetaking de], and [Killing de]. Additionally, the [Shadows of Death] skill had consumed half of her Life Stock, boosting her attack power. In other words, "Greet my god after you die¡­!!" The scythe, filled with dense darkness, gleamed. Liora''s crimson eyes shone brightly, her cold gaze fixed on the enemy. The torrent of darkness surged forth¡ª "Too bad, Liora-! [Mist Form]!" The destructive wave of darkness, which could tear apart the sky, faded into the distance. The Gourmand easily evaded the wide, powerful strike. As if in retaliation, the Gourmand''s spear elerated towards Liora''s face. "[Blood Explosion Thrust]!" "[Dark Legion], Liora." Liora, trusting mepletely, neither dodged nor defended, instead swinging her scythe. The scythe struck the Gourmand''s neck, ignoring defense and multiplying the damage by five, wiping out his HP. The boss''s head flew through the air. "How dare you!" Liora immediately lunged at the regenerating Gourmand. Her de was once again infused with [Cursed de] and [Lifetaking de]. She didn''t use [Berserk] since she wanted to avoid taking any damage. Instead, she activated [Dark Aura]. Merely approaching the enemy spread status effects, drained his health, and stole the enemy''s MP. It was a brutal buff effect. Meanwhile, the Gourmand activated [Bloodsucking de]. A battle between a vampire and a young reaper girl¡ªa full-on, life-draining showdown had begun. The Gourmand''s spear technique was formidable. It was adaptable and versatile, preventing Liora from closing the distance. Small cuts began appearing on Liora. The enemy seemed determined to protect his neck at all costs. Due to the scythe''s properties, it was difficult to inflict significant damage if she focused solely on defense. However, the poison wouldn''t allow the battle to drag on. "Damn! How can such a little girl be this strong!?" The Gourmand''s tone shifted, and he unleashed a fearsome disy of spear techniques. But Liora''s speed was extraordinary. The spear whistled through empty air while Liora''s scythe continued tond blow after blow, overwhelming the Gourmand with sheer numbers. "[Summon Familiars]!" The Gourmand summoned a swarm of bats. By striking them with the spear, they triggered the [Bloodsucking de] and gained a pseudo-healing buff through HP absorption. However, the bats died instantly upon approaching, thanks to [Dark Aura]. Slowly but surely, fear began to creep into the Gourmand''s expression. The realization that a vampire, known for regeneration, was losing to someone else''s abilities must have been sinking in. The prolonged battle of shes continued. As dawn slowly approached, the Gourmand seemed to finally notice the fresh morning mist filling the mountain. "A-Ahh! No, no, no!" Vampires are incredibly powerful at night. But expose them to sunlight, and their performance plummets. Typically, vampires flee rather than fight during the day, which is part of what makes them so troublesome. The long battle had dragged on, and now dawn was breaking. The Gourmand''s movements became noticeably less precise, likely out of panic. Eventually, perhaps sensing his impending death, her activated trump card skills in a desperate attempt to survive. "[Berserk] [Blood-Drenched Berserk]!" "[Berserk]!" However, the Gourmand was mistaken. Liora is stubborn. If I had ordered her to wait for the morning, she would have done so, but left on her own¡ªshe doesn''t wait for dawn. A direct sh. But no matter how much the enemy''s stats increased, theck of technique and reason in a short skirmish made him far less threatening. The enemy was already weakened by poison and countless shes. Honestly, the Gourmand would have been more troublesome if he hadn''t used berserk mode in this situation. But well... sumbing to fear and choosing to abandon reason¡ªit was a fitting end for a psychopathic vampire. The Gourmand''s final, desperate strike passed by Liora''s side. "It''s over." At the break of dawn. Just as the moon was setting on the horizon. The jet-ck de decapitated the vampire. As the head rolled to the ground, Liora, having deactivated [Berserk], finished him off with a [Shining sh]. And thus, it was over. The monster''s corpse crumbled to ash and dissolved into the night breeze. Watching this, Liora softly muttered. "Death is equal for all under Lord Zephyr, the Evil God." "Indeed it is..." And so, one of the Three Knights, Vampire Kinght the Gourmand, was lost. Had he fought to the end as a true warrior, he might have had a better chance. A major achievement.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om We defeated the enemy''s main force without letting them aplish anything. The military is thrilled, and now there are countless offers to make Liora a general, calling her a "War Princess." It''s such a hassle, isn''t it? I also grew tired of these kinds of offers during my active years... Though I did leave all of that to Santosh. But now that he''s gone, who will manage my work as an artist? No one else knows my personality like Santosh did, so I''m afraid they''ll bring me jobs that don''t suit my taste. I''m quite picky when ites to my art, and not even threats from royalty would make me ept something I don''t want to do. As for anything outside of art... let''s just forget about that. Anyway, despite rejecting all the offers, Liora remains on the front lines. However, it seems she has been granted a brief vacation. She can''t take a long break since the operation will be carried out in a few days. This is a section of the city where Liora is employed. Earlier, we participated in a military strategy meeting with the lord, which was basically a praise session for her. Incidentally, the man whose arm Liora cut off apparently survived. He refused to meet Liora''s gaze, but that''s understandable. At the mansion prepared for the Seventh Strike Force, Liora is constantly swinging herrge scythe in the garden. Her movements are almost like a form of art, stepping into the realm of beauty. Watching her makes me feel a bit excited as well, making me want to move around. "Shall we take a break soon, Liora? What shall we do today?" "I''ll be with you all day, my lord¡­ it''s the best day ever!" "Every day is the best day, isn''t it?" "It is! It really is!" Well, I do log out to sleep and rest, so from Liora''s perspective, there are days when we aren''t together. To be honest, both Liora and I are kind of sick, aren''t we? Most of my time is spent with Liora, to the point of being a recluse. Ordinary people would log out during breaks or travel time, but we spend even that time together. I don''t mind, though, since I like Liora. Still, it''s quite a boring time. There are no new quests we can take, and levelling up feels unnecessary at this point. Plus, it''s Liora''s day off. Though her expression is nk, Liora has an aura of happiness around her. "For now, let''s head to the ''Ideal Atelier''¡ª" "¡ªCaptain Liora!" A boy soldier with one eye¡ªZerak¡ªcame running up, kicking up dust. In his arms was a girl who looked about four years old. The girl''s eyes went wide from Zerak''s speed as he skidded to a stop in front of Liora. I nearly got dirt thrown on me but managed to block it with a quick cast of [Darkness Creation]. "What?" Liora, perhaps because of the inconvenience, muttered in a grumpy tone. Though it didn''t seem to bother Zerak, who looked quite excited, his face flushed red. "Captain! This is my little sister! Well, she''s not my real sister, more like my honorary one¡­ she''s kind of like the official little sister of our party." "What?" "Ah, I just wanted to introduce her! She''s always listened to stories about you and her eyes light up! To her, you''re a hero, Captain Liora! You''re a hero to me too, of course!!" "I see." Liora didn''t seem the least bit interested. At Liora''s age, someone would usually get carried away with suchpliments, but she''s abnormal in every sense. "Come on, say hello to Captain Liora." The girl''s eyes sparkled, but she seemed embarrassed. She buried her face in Zerak''s chest, still held in his arms. Liora tilted her head and then began to turn her back to them. "Ah, A-Ah-iora Captain!" At the call from behind, Liora turned around. Her white hair fluttered in the breeze. There, still held in Zerak''s arms, the girl''s cheeks flushed pink as she desperately extended her hand toward Liora, offering her a flower. "Thank you for helping my big brother! Here, this is for you!" "¡­Understood. I''ll take it." "You''re so cool, Captain Liora." "?" Liora epted the flower from the girl, though she appeared quite confused, tilting her head repeatedly as she examined it. It was a small, simple yellow flower with delicate petals. A faint, sweet fragrance drifted up to her nose. Read exclusive adventures at empire "¡­" Liora stared at the flower, her expression puzzled as if unsure what to do with it. She might be simr to me in that sense. When someone acts out of kindness, neither of us seems to know how to respond. In her life, she''s probably had little experience receiving such gestures. Liora nced at me repeatedly, as if seeking an answer. I don''t know either. If it were an enemy, I could easily respond aggressively, but when approached with kindness, I''m at a loss. I''ve already decided to give up on such matters. Still, I''m curious about how Liora will respond. Though I can''t change my stance now, I never thought my way was the right one. Liora, however, can find her own best answer. "¡­I''m going back to training." "Good luck, Captain Liora!" "You''re amazing, Captain Liora! You''re so strong, but you still work hard." "Yeah." Liora nodded slightly. I see. It seems Liora has chosen the option of "putting it off." That''s not a bad choice either. With that thought, I pulled out an item from my [Item Box]. It was something a golem at the "Ideal Atelier" had prepared for me, a prototype I had created. The item''s name is [Resonance Stone]. It''s a paired item, one main stone and one sub-stone. The main stone is held by Liora, and itmunicates the position of the sub-stone. If Liora channels her magic into it, a loud sound will resonate. It''s a location detection tool. The stone is set into a small pin that''s light and easy to carry. With this, Liora can easily locate someone in a crisis. "Liora, let''s give this to Zerak." "Yes, my lord¡­ This was bestowed by my lord. Take good care of it." Liora exined the item briefly. After that, Liora gave Zerak a light training session (though it was too intense for the little girl to watch, so we called Samurai to take care of her. Samurai entertained her with some mysterious magic tricks she had picked up somewhere). Afterward, we returned to the "Ideal Atelier." Inside, golems were scurrying about busily. The top-tier golem, Seck, was holed up in the forge, working on some cksmithing. I''d asked him to mass-produce shovels and pickaxes. In this "Ideal Atelier," one can pay points to build mines or gardens. Since I n to mass-produce golems to gather materials eventually, I''m stocking up on tools in advance. The golems can only gather low-grade materials, but it''s better than nothing. This "Ideal Atelier" is probably meant to be managed by an entire n. Without high-level [Alchemy] skills like mine, it''s difficult to fully take advantage of its benefits. The golems don''t grow, their skill levels are low, and so it''s not exactly a huge advantage... I watched as Samurai ran off to the woodworking shop. I sat down on the sofa. Well, more like plopped down, really. I spoke to Liora. Chapter 97 A world without God Afterward, we returned to the "Ideal Atelier." Inside, golems were scurrying about busily. The top-tier golem, Seck, was holed up in the forge, working on some cksmithing. I''d asked him to mass-produce shovels and pickaxes. Fudhdjdndhdjdndvsbmd svdjnd gjdjnd dhkndbdb d jsjjdbdjdn gndnd hdjbdv Along with other weapons of usefulness which will help me in future battles. In this "Ideal Atelier," one can pay points to build mines or gardens. Since I n to mass-produce golems to gather materials eventually, I''m stocking up on tools in advance. The golems can only gather low-grade materials, but it''s better than nothing. This "Ideal Atelier" is probably meant to be managed by an entire n. Without high-level [Alchemy] skills like mine, it''s difficult to fully take advantage of its benefits. The golems don''t grow, their skill levels are low, and so it''s not exactly a huge advantage... I watched as Samurai ran off to the woodworking shop. I sat down on the sofa. Well, more like plopped down, really. I spoke to Liora. "Atori, why don''t you sit as well? Let''s take a good rest today." "! Next to my lord?!" Though the sofa wasrge, Atori sat so close to me that we were practically touching. Today is a day of rest. I decided to watch a movie on the sofa. In a world with time eleration, movie-watching goes by quickly. Even a two-hour movie is over in no time with time eleration. I see. It seems the final frame hase to a halt. "God is not here..." Bathed in the refreshing light of an early morning, I muttered in despair. Sometimes, every few days, God hides away for a day. God is busy. Even so, He leaves behind a vessel, so I can always receive His blessing. Even a small girl like me can be strong with God''s power. On the days when God is not here, I usually train. However, recently my actions have changed. Instead of training alone, I''ve begun to gain experience in realbat. I take on quests. God can use *Alchemy*. To avoid altering human civilization, He uses techniques tailored to human standards. Normally, with God''s level of power, He could create anything from scratch. But for the sake of us humans, God restrains His power. That means that for God to use *Alchemy*, materials are necessary. Gathering those materials is my duty when God is not around. "Shiwo." ¡ºAgain, Master? I''m sure the Lord isn''t thinking much about this. Whether you sleep through the day, train, or gather materials, I doubt it matters to Him. In that case, putting in effort is just a waste, wouldn''t you say? I, too, would rather avoid running through the wilds as a horse. If possible, I''d prefer to devote myself to woodworking or artistic pursuits.¡» "Be quiet. Let''s go." ¡ºAhh, there is no more futile task than to be devoted to your Master''s unappreciated devotion.¡» "Shut up." Shiwo shrugged his elf shoulders before finally transforming into a horse. I hate him. He''s frightening. He''s also good at giving off the vibe that he''s close to God. But I''m closer to God than he is. Still, as God says, Shiwo is useful. Convenient. God is kind, so He''s probably gentle with Shiwo, who is only useful, so he won''t feel bad. After all, no living being can survive being hated by God. Lately, I''ve been thinking. My family and the people in my vige were pitiable. They didn''t know the joy of serving God. The tion of bing a part of an extraordinary being, working as the hands and feet of an omnipotent existence. They''ll never know this supreme bliss. That''s why they wasted time on such meaningless things. In that sense, they were truly pitiful. That''s what I think. ¨Œ Riding on Shiwo, we dashed off. When Shiwo is in horse form, his speed is astonishing. In terms of movement speed, I wouldn''t be able to match him. I was taught how to run by Jack-Jack Sensei. That''s why I can understand. This body, which God designed specifically for running, is optimized for running in every aspect. As expected from God. Did He also create horses? I arrived at a city just within half a day''s journey. In this Third Field, every town and vige is surrounded by walls. If they weren''t, dragons would attack. I want to offer a dragon to God, so it''s unfortunate that dragons aren''t attacking. God, God, God, God, God, God... I touch God''s vessel, and call out to Him. God. God... I think that no human, other than me, could endure this situation without God for even a second. I, chosen by God with my strong soul, am barely able to endure this suffering.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om I''m certain that the reason God doesn''t speak casually to others is that other humans would go mad. I''m sure of it. I understand almost everything about God... As I stood by the gate, a weary-looking gatekeeper approached me. "May I see your identification and your status?" "I am Atori, an A-rank adventurer." I presented my adventurer card. The authority of an A-rank adventurer is powerful. Most things are permitted. Once, God said: ¡ºAdventurers are potential ouws. If left unchecked, they could be the world''s enemies. But by offering them privileges and status, they quickly be a force for humanity. That''s why A-rank adventurers are treated with extreme caution and favor.¡» Yes. As an A-rank adventurer, even a small girl like me is treated with utmost respect. They have no choice. But the gatekeeper''s face tightened with tension. "May I also confirm that you are not a vampire?" "Fine." Currently, vampires are a threat in this world. If even one enters a city, it''s said that the citizens will be devoured in no time, and most will turn into vampires. I was subjected to some magical tool I didn''t quite understand. I don''t know if I can trust this gatekeeper. Therefore, I used as many anti-status ailments, anti-mind control, and anti-mental domination measures as I could. As a result... "I see..." The gatekeeper seemed to be an enemy. Blood sttered. Normally, God would protect me. But since God is in His vessel form, I was drenched in the blood. God dislikes getting dirty with blood, but it doesn''t bother me at all. ¨Œ I decided to enter the city. The guards surrounded me in a panic, but that didn''t matter. I picked up the magical tool. "[Appraise]." With the portion of God''s power entrusted to me, I can wield part of His abilities. Using that power, I discerned that this magical tool had a "brainwashing" effect. While I have countermeasures against magical tools, it''s still true that I was attacked. "I was attacked. If you attack me again, you''ll be enemies." "It seems you''re truly not lying about being an A-rank adventurer..." The strongest-looking gatekeeper stepped forward. He had a robust physique that could only be described as powerful. It wasrge enough that I, being small, had to crane my neck more than usual. Arge body does seem strong. But I''m fine just the way I am. God often tells me I''m "cute." Therefore, I am the cutest in the world. I like this body, which God cherishes. For that, I''m grateful to my parents and ancestors. The leader spoke. "Please leave, A-rank adventurer. We cannot afford to deal with you right now." "I was attacked." "For that, we apologize. Now, please leave." "I don''t care." Ignoring them, I entered the city. Being attacked by gatekeepers, desperately trying to send me away. Considering the current state of the Third Field, it doesn''t make sense for them to turn away a powerful ally. They don''t seem to suspect that I''m a vampire. Well, if I were a vampire, this city''s destruction would already be guaranteed. An A-rank adventurer with vampire powers would be unstoppable. They''d give up. In other words, they can only act based on the assumption that I''m on the human side. "But why?" "In times like these, you wouldn''te here just for an adventure, would you? What''s your purpose? Whose side are you on...?" "Huh? I''m always on God''s side." "A priest?" "No. I''m an apostle." I walked forward. The gatekeepers couldn''t do anything. They understood that attacking me would mean their demise. In that sense, they might bepetent. Inside the walls, it felt more like a vige. Readtest stories on empire Not prosperous at all. In fact, it felt deste. The houses were even more modest than the ones in the vige where I lived. The kind of houses that Shiwo could break with a single punch. The smell of straw. A thin cow looked down sadly, staring at the barren ground. Next to it, a child sat, exhausted. "Wee, A-rank adventurer Atori." Behind me, I heard a man''s voice, tired as well. It was the elite gatekeeper from earlier. "This is the [City of Twilight, Tere]... and of decay." God would probably say: ¡ºIt smells like an event is about to happen.¡» Chapter 98 The creepy little girl **Graham the Hunter** The little girl appeared suddenly. Her face was disturbingly beautiful. White hair and red eyes that evoked a sense of foreboding. Her presence was so overwhelming that I, the strongest person in the vige, couldn''t move. And I couldn''t look away. Her eerie, unfocused eyes seemed to disregard the entire world... What was that glowing halo above her head? What were those strange wings? Why were there so many of them? The giant scythe on her back¡ªwas that really a weapon? Could such a young girl actually wield it? She was beautiful, terrifying, unnatural¡­ and unsettling. That was the kind of girl she was. The girl kept touching the ck mist swirling around her and muttering "God¡­" It was unsettling, like watching a possessed child. I had been tasked with guiding this girl. It sounded absurd, but the gatekeepers said she was an A-rank adventurer. If she got angry, it wouldn''t matter who we were¡ªshe could wipe us all out without a second thought. I swallowed nervously. "So, Lady Atori, what brings you to this vige? It''s so remote that no one everes here, and there''s no trade route." "That''s why I came. I must offer rare materials to the gods¡­" "Well, since no onees here, there might be some rare things." "I got information from the guild. I''m here to take on a rare extermination request." "Ah, well, this vige doesn''t have a guild." "I see¡­ then is there anything troubling you?" I was stunned. Even though this girl''s true identity was a mystery, she was an A-rank adventurer. Could she¡­ could she actually save us? I began to entertain the fantasy. But no, it was impossible. I''ve seen many adventurerse and go. In the end, they''re all about money. I don''t me them¡ªit''s just the way things are. But that truth has always been enough to crush us. Even if we pooled all our money, we couldn''t afford to hire an A-rank adventurer. Besides, it wasn''t even clear if this girl was actually strong. A-rank adventurers vary widely in their strengths. Some are politically powerful, others excel at negotiations, and some have unique, convenient skills. Not all are simply strong inbat. It was easier to believe this girl fell into thetter category. No, it wasn''t possible¡­ I shook my head. "There''s nothing. No trouble at all." "I see." The girl''s elfpanion was gesturing something. Maybe she couldn''t speak. This elf was strikingly beautiful, but ording to Barak, the head gatekeeper, she was a monster. A tamer, apparently. Maybe this girl had just tamed a powerful monster by sheer luck? Such A-rank adventurers do exist. Those who rely entirely on their overwhelmingly powerful monsters. They aren''t strong themselves¡ªjust lucky. Adventurers like that make me envious. If only I had a strong tamed monster, I could save a vige or two... "That''s it!" "Huh?" "Lady Atori! Please, I beg you¡ªsave this vige!" "What?" That''s right. The girl in front of me was just a girl. She had likely risen to A-rank not through skill but by sheer luck, taming a powerful monster. If that''s the case, her logic and the way she lives her life must be different from other adventurers. She might do things that ordinary adventurers wouldn''t. Right now, this girl must be basking in the "omnipotence" of having great power. If I stroke her ego and make her feel good, she might just help us without making a rational decision. I spoke with as much anguish as I could, framing it in a way that would satisfy her potential desire to y the hero. "This vige is being exploited by Lord Dart. He''s a wealthy merchant who bought his way into the lordship. His goal is domination, not the prosperity of thend." What Dart desired was a yground he could control at will. Normally, a noble or merchant would seek to enrich their territory for profit, but Dart didn''t care. He earned enough from his other ventures. Thisnd was nothing more than a stage where he could y "king." We barely get enough food to eat, the roads are deliberately kept in poor condition, the men endure harshbor, and the women¡­ suffer in other ways. The cycle is brutal. He even enforces a ridiculous rule about "first rights" to women. "All the adventurers are either bought off by Dart or brainwashed by magical tools in the gatekeepers'' possession. Please, do something about him! At least report this to the Adventurers'' Guild!" "No." "!? Why not!? Do you not care about the suffering here!?" "I cannot act based solely on your words. I don''t know if I should get involved. This would take time. But I only have half a day left." "Please¡­! Help us!" "I am free. I do not act for others." What a selfish brat! As I tried to suppress the urge to shout, the girl suddenly trembled in shock. "¡­Huh, G-God¡­?" She touched the ck mist and suddenly wore a look of despair. Her expressionless face, which she had maintained up until now, brokepletely. She looked like an abandoned child. With a trembling voice, she muttered like she had lost all hope. "God hasn''t returned¡­ The world is ending." "?" "¡­It''s over for me." "Lady Atori?" But how could that be? This girl was nning to leave, but that couldn''t happen. She had already killed one of the gatekeepers. Lord Dart would definitely summon her. Even if she was an A-rank adventurer, that didn''t make her immune to thew. The lord still outranked her. The Guild might get involved for an A-rank adventurer. That could result in skilled investigators uncovering the truth about thisnd. But most adventurers fear Dart''s "power and wealth." More often than not, the Guild''s investigators are bought off, as I''ve seen many times before. The elf monster next to the slumped girl said something.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "I understand," the girl responded. The dejected girl headed toward the onevish mansion in the vige¡ªLord Dart''s residence. I couldn''t imagine her defeating Dart. She''d likely be talked into submission or swayed by money or status¡­ this girl couldn''t be our hope. I couldn''t help but look up at the sky. The festering gray clouds were too terrifying to gaze at for long. A thin man sat in a chair, telling me something. Since it was out of the question to bring monsters into the lord''s house, Shio had been dismissed. It felt refreshing, but without Shio, Icked the ability to make sound judgments. I had to admit it¡ªShio was smarter than I was. More precisely, I had less capacity for thinkingpared to Shio. I never really needed to think. If Godmanded me to kill, I killed. There was nothing else required. Thus, in situations like this, I was at a bit of a loss. If God were here, He would make the optimal decision. That thought only deepened my uncertainty. "I''ll state my case first," I said. "I was attacked. You''re my enemy. Therefore, I''ll kill you." I spoke with a murderous intent. My level was high, though not exceptionally so. Still, my killing intent was strong enough to affect even those stronger than me. The reason was simple. I was an apostle of the evil god Nero. The lord recoiled slightly, fear in his eyes. His guards rushed forward in a panic, but I didn''t think they were strong enough to stop me. Even though his unique skill could be troublesome, I was confident I could kill them all before he activated it. The willpower of the strong is different. A soul that has already lost cannot defeat someone chosen by the evil god. No matter how strong the opponent, I will bite and kill¡­ Evil god Nero epts all forms of evil and weakness. But this eptance is not a sweet indulgence of allowing oneself to drown in evil or weakness. Even if you''re bad. Even if you''re weak. Even if you''re young. Even if you''re small. Even if you''re dull. You don''t need to fear because of it¡ªthat''s what evil god Nero says. But these people are afraid of their own evil and weakness. Even Zerach eventually came to understand his weakness and struck back Here''s the trantion with double quotes for dialogue and no quotes for the narration: --- They only tremble before terrifying enemies. That''s why they are killed, robbed... trampled on. Just like I once was. "If you retreat, I won''t kill you." Read new chapters at empire "...Please wait, Lady Atori? It seems you''ve misunderstood something." "What?" "You have no reason to oppose me." "I was attacked." "That was done by my subordinates acting on their own. Naturally, I will apologize. If you want something inpensation, I will give it to you. But what I want is not a fight, it''s negotiation¡ªa constructive discussion. You attacked the gatekeeper and forcibly entered the city. My subordinates attacked you. So let''s call it even." "I don''t think so." In times like this, I wonder what a god would do. In my judgment, I think it''s okay to kill now. But in reality, I''m not so sure. If there were a god, I could move without hesitation, but when there is no god, I must act cautiously. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!