" A new journey awaits just outside your doorstep."
I.
*Alert: You have reached Level 19. 10 bonus status points are given to you as reward.*
*Alert: You have reached Level 20. 10 bonus status points are given to you as reward.*
*Alert: You have reached Level 21. 10 bonus status points are given to you as reward.*
*Alert: You have reached Level 22. 10 bonus status points are given to you as reward.*
*Alert: You have reached Level 23. 10 bonus status points are given to you as reward.*
These messages kept stacking up as my final show for the town continued taking place. This is my farewell gift to the people of Ent and also, my farewell gift to Mystica. I will not let the people forget her, that's the least I could do for the woman I love whom I could not protect.
"You should see this Mystica. It's as beautiful as you are." I whispered to the wind, hoping that my message would be brought to her.
Last night, my undead troops and I went and planted all the seeds that we could. Every household and every building had their fair share of the plants. I also made the fertility worms scatter on the whole town. It was such a tiring night and I haven't gotten any sleep yet. After all, I also knocked at all their doors remembering that…
Oh right….
They'd forget about waking up early….
BECAUSE OF THE HAAAZE!
Right now I'm tired as can be but I'm also satisfied. I did not only solve the problem with my ranking, but I'm also able to leave Ent Town in a satisfactory manner.
*System Notice: You are now safe from the culling. Congratulations.*
This confirms that the problem with my rank is now solved. The system notice appeared before me, giving me the relief I wanted to obtain since transferring to this body.
*Sigh*
Planning out something that could raise my Entertainer Ranking in a single day is really tiring. I mean just think about it. A whole month's worth of work, that's what I need to go up against. It's really a good thing that I maxed out my intellect in the get go.
"Shall we get going master?"
"Yeah Sei, we're done here." I said, looking up at the highest point of town.
"Goodbye."
II.
"Rise."
Right after leaving town, I made my undead units appear before me. They have long black cloaks that covers them perfectly well. They look like real persons now. Really shady ones, but still they look like persons altogether. This means I have nothing to worry about when they go through various towns.
"Okay this is my instruction to you guys. Disperse and track down King. As soon as you find him, report back to me. Never make any unnecessary contact with him or he might be alarmed and slip away again; like the slithering snake that he is. Do I make myself clear?"
They all made a nod, meaning that they also understood what I just said. But before they start this mission, I need to make sure that they can be as stealth-like as can be.
*Stomach grumbles*
Damn I'm also hungry now. I need to eat something fast before my stamina goes on killing me again. Well, the best course of action right now would be to consult Sei while I eat some fruits I saved up.
"Sei."
"Yes master."
"I need to upgrade my undead men. Is there any way to do that aside from giving them skills?"
"Yes master there is a way." She responded quickly.
"What is it?"
"You can give them some of the status point you have saved up. If you allocate the skill points to your units. That would make them stronger."
"Wait I can actually do that?"
"Yes master. Since the undead you raised are basically living properties of you, they are also extensions of you master. Hence, you can also give them attribute points if you wish."
"Why didn't you tell me this earlier on?"
"The information was unnecessary for our earlier adventures." Sei responded.
"Wait, won't that cause a problem for me? I'd have nothing to spend in a crucial moment."
"Master, you were strong enough to overpower those men back in Ptah's Inn. You snapped a lot of necks and took out a lot of teeth along the process. If anything, I am sure that you are the one people should be cautious of. Not the other way around."
"Well what if I get drugged again?" I asked her.
"That is not a cause for concern master. I can take over your body now. So even if you fall asleep, I can use it whenever there is imminent danger." Again, I am amazed at just how much Sei can understand a situation holistically. It's like she already knows what I'll ask before I even asked it; with a million computations already working in her mind before speaking.
"You're really something else Sei." I told her.
"Thank you master. You should finish what you're eating now and think about my suggestion." She said.
There's really nothing to think about. Sei's suggestion is the best card I have right now. If I don't find King anytime soon, he might slip further and further away. I can't let that happen. I won't let that happen!
"Status point allocation. Divide it equally on the speed of my units." Right after saying this, a thick red aura covered them for several seconds. Sparks of lighting also appeared and a gust of wind seem to swirl around them. I gulped and got goosebumps watching my undead units and when they came out…nothing seems to have changed. That's a very anti climatic scene right there.
"Run and get some sticks." I told one of them. I'm kinda doubtful about the status allocation now. I'm sure Sei will never scam me, but this world created by those lunatic gods and goddesses might.
As soon as I gave this instruction, one of them disappeared from my sight. A minute later, he came back holding a bundle of sticks that he carried through his cloak. That really is fast! Okay I'll have no problem with these guys anymore. If they are quick with their feet then I can at least be sure that King will not see them.
"Disperse."
They all vanished from my sight leaving me all alone again. I felt my body weighing me down again and I realized, I haven't had any decent sleep since I set out for that grand performance.
*Yawn*
But I need to find a town first. Sleeping in the middle of the forest is definitely not the wisest choice.
III.
I walked for about an hour before finally finding a nearby town. This time, the entrance is a waterfall. I actually thought of taking a bath in the nearby river since I started having a bad stench from all the sweat I worked up back in Ent. But then the analysis skill showed me something peculiar. At the end of the river is a waterfall that has a sign: "Entrance to Crystal Town."
Anyway, whoever thought of this must be an idiot. Who'd want to enter a town dipping wet? Nobody does! But I have no choice, if I want to catch some z's I need to get inside.
I held my breath and dove to the river connected to it. The water is freezing cold and my body started shaking because we all know that lack of sleep would make you feel colder than normal. When I got nearer, I noticed that a footing started appearing below me so tired stepping on it. Little by little, the footing got higher so that my body rose above the surface of the river. Then as I reached the waterfall, a small opening appeared.
"Don't mind if I do." I told myself, passing through it.
IV.
There are things that you would always expect in life. Like waking up the next day. Having new friends. Developing a new hobby and the list goes on. These are the normal things you'd expect life to throw at you. But what you would never expect however is…A BUNCH OF SPEAR POINTED AT YOUR FACE AS SOON AS YOU ENTER TOWN!
Right now that is happening to me. Yup, Jean Martin who is soaking wet. A person who does not have a bad reputation in this world. Right now, that same person is being shown hostility to? What the hell?!
"Uhmm. Hi?" I said to the men who look like guards of this town. My analysis skill is still in place so I can clearly see who these people are. Though I think their names will not benefit my escape at this point.
"Don't make any necessary movements. Another word from you and you'll get impaled in the middle of town." I thought all the people in this world are as kind as those in Ent. Guess I got the wrong idea.
I could fight them now. At the very least I can make them all unconscious and then make a run for it. But I'm no criminal! Why should I run? I gotta come out of this situation as clean as can be.
"Men! Lower your spears." An authoritative voice came from behind, making the town guards lower their weapons. That's a relief.
"My, my, I'm sorry for that misconduct that they've shown. We don't usually get visitors you see. Even if we do, they are usually those other worlders."
"Other worlders? Does he mean the Entertainers?" I thought to myself.
"Welcome to Crystal Town. I am the ruler of this land Count Dreyfus." The man calling himself Dreyfus is much taller than I am. He has graying hair and golden yellow eyes. Both his ears have an earring dangling about with jewelry. His clothing is a long 15th century looking blue shirt that goes on top of a longer sleeved clothing. Around his shoulder is a golden coil that holds together the two ends of his long red cape. He wears a belt with two swords sheathed to the left and another one sheathed at the right. Lower down, he wears blue pants that tightens itself around his brown combat boots.
"Now tell me, are you one of those other worlders? If so, we might just have to kill you right here and now." He said, his stout figure not directly above mine. Do I lie or do I say the truth? My parents always told me to tell the truth but then again, I'm sure they never had a dozen spears pointed at their face. Yup, lying is better than dying.
"No. I'm not." I said, looking away and sweating nervously. The Count is staring at me right now. Did he see through my lie? What is considered as a good lie anyway? Arrghhh I should've raised an attribute connected to this!
"Okay! I believe you." The count said.
"Gyn!" He shouted and a soldier who is smaller than the rest came forward.
"Please escort…." He motioned to me, probably asking for my name.
"Horan." I said, using this body's name instead of my own.
"Right. Please escort Sir Horan around town. Make sure he has a decent place to spend the day at and help him get new clothes." This Count is actually a nice guy huh.
"Please come to my Manor this evening, I still have questions which I want to ask you Sir Horan." The count said.
With that they moved out, leaving the guard Gyn to accompany me. I quickly stood up, not wanting to make the person wait any longer than he should.
"Don't talk to me trash."
"…"
"I think I heard you wrong Sir Gyn, what did you –"
"Trash." Ah yes. I did hear it right. This person is another weirdo that life has stuck me with.
"Just follow me. If you say another word, I'll impale you and feed your corpse to the swine at the Count's pig pens."
I didn't say another word and followed him. I want to get a place to sleep at more than anything. If it means being called trash over and over again, then I'll gladly accept it. My dignity is a small price to pay for the long slumber that awaits me.
"Let's go trash." Yes that is me. I am trash. Accept your inner trashness Jean. Take it all in and forget your neck snapping and head decapitating days in Ent. Just relax.
I looked around and it amazed me how tall the brick structures are in this place. I am an Entertainer of the goddess Heidi and this town, will be next that I amuse.