Ray picked up another short sword from the corpse of a schoolboy on the ground. After putting it inside the group storage, there are now 10 short swords inside.
'This should be about enough' Ray thought as he looks around the area. He could still see some short swords remaining. Not taking them was a pity, but taking any more than he had would be overkill.
He needed to have at least a little space in his storage in case of an emergency.
Feeling a slight hunger, Ray swallowed a nutrition pill from the storage and felt his satiety satisfied.
'This should last for the day'
It was good that he had received the nutrition pills. Now, he didn't need to use the majority of the space on his storage for food and water.
Still, the taste of the pill was dull as a biscuit, making him somewhat miss the taste of food.
Ray surveyed the area, besides the corpses and the short swords, there was nothing else. Everyone else has already gone towards the mansion, and what's left is just Ray and the angel.
Ray then came near the sleeping angel at the center.
As the angel was sleeping, she looked defenseless.
However, Ray knew that even if this angel is sleeping, she still had the means to know if people are looking at her. She could even be pretending to be asleep just to lure people into attacking her.
"I have a question" Ray said to the sleeping angel.
As the angel heard his words, the angel then opened her eyes to look at Ray. She was blinking her eyes and acted as if she was suddenly surprised.
"Que-what?"
"Oh~ a question! I love questions! do ask!" The angel then said animatedly after a few still seconds.
"I would like to know if there's a way to meet other people from other areas" Ray said.
There was a hint earlier from the rankings.
Regional Rankings.
The ranking had hinted at the existence of different areas on the same region. There could be a way to meet other people in different areas, and if there was one, Ray wanted to know how to meet people from there.
"Oh~ that's easy!
"But first, there's one thing I'd like to know"
"..."
"why do you want to meet other people from different areas?"
Hearing the angel's questions, Ray just answered honestly.
"Strength"
"Hmm? That's a weird answer~ are we even on the same page here?" The angel was confused about Ray's answer. She didn't detect any lie, or him trying to avoid the answer. Does he mean he wants to kill other people from different areas for strength? the angel pondered.
The angel was somewhat interested in the person in front of her. Since the very beginning, she couldn't get a read on his fate for some reason, and seeing his status and behavior, it seemed that this person could become someone interesting in the future.
"..."
Seeing Ray not bothering to clear her confusion, the angel then just shook her head and then proceed to explain.
"There's only one way to meet other people in different areas.
"On the wasteland there are three area bosses, and one hidden one, once you defeat the four of them, the gates leading towards the central island will open. And once you control the shrine at the central island, you could forcibly open the gates of the other areas"
"..."
"You don't need to ask about the location of the gate, you would know it when you go towards the wasteland.
"It's the same as the location of the three area bosses, you will know once you go towards the wasteland."
"..."
"However! The location of the hidden boss is a secret~"
"..." Ray took everything to mind.
'So, I just needed to defeat four monsters on the wasteland'
"Is there anything else?" The angel asked in anticipation.
"There is nothing else, thank you for your time" After giving a stiff thanks, Ray turned around and started going to the direction of the portal leading towards the wasteland.
The angel then interrupted Ray, "Wait!"
Hearing her call, Ray turned around to face the angel wanting to know what she wants to say.
Seeing him look at her, the angel then lets out a few forced coughs and then said, "If the person you wanted to meet had gone through the mansion, then you would have to go through the mansion instead of the wasteland. After you solve a series of puzzles there, you could unlock a hidden tunnel leading towards the other mansions."
After saying these words, there was a sparkle on the angel's eyes as if wanting to get praised.
"Okay…" Ray just said, and then turned around to continue walking. A single duel was enough to know a person and knowing the person he wants to meet... If Shiva did go to the mansion instead of the wasteland, then the pigs would start to fly tomorrow.
"Hmmph!" The angel pouted in anger.
She was excited to show off her knowledge, but this person doesn't even bother asking her about a hint regarding the hidden boss.
She was even looking forward to the things she would make Ray do as exchange.
As the angel then looks around the empty area, the angel then suddenly found herself bored.
"Just wait, you will return to me later!" The angel then fades away
...
Ray found himself in a desolate area.
As the wind blows, Ray felt the coldness of the breeze on his skin.
Ray looked above the sky and found out that it was the same as the grassland from before.
It was light as day but he couldn't see the sun anywhere.
*Ding!
[Wasteland Map Received!]
As Ray received a notice, he suddenly finds himself able to know the map of the area, as well as the territories belonging to specific monsters around.
The information even contained the information of the three bosses he was looking for.
The three bosses lorded three territories spanning across the whole wasteland.
The first boss, the Scorpion King, lorded over the vast desert territory occupying half of the map. As his territory, the desert has become home to various kinds of desert monsters, it is said that somewhere on its territory, a treasured relic had spawned an Oasis.
The 2nd boss, the Brood Queen, lorded over the Dead Forest occupying two-thirds of the remaining half of the map. As its territory, the forest has become home to various kinds of spider monsters, located on it is a treasure tree which was bearing miracle fruits.
The 3rd boss, the Giga Toad, lorded over the Poison Swamp occupying the remaining territory. As its territory, the swamp became home to various poisonous toads, it is said that somewhere inside its body, is a treasured pearl of miraculous ability.
The information only gives such details, there was no info about their strengths or any kinds of hints regarding their capabilities.
The map also contained the direction of the Gate as well as one individual.
An individual known as Mystery merchant... And the individual has settled in a lake between the territories of the bosses.
In exchange for small souls, it is selling various kinds of merchandise.
As Ray put all information to mind, he had decided to first visit the mystery merchant.
And knowing that the distance between them is the shortest, it was even better.
...