(Denzel's POV):
I was instantly summoned by Seymour and travelled to his castle.
I arrived to a spacious room and saw Seymour sitting on the throne, emitting a huge amount of pressure.
"S-Seymour, you summoned me..."
I instinctively kneeled down from the immense pressure Seymour emitted.
"You have not done anything wrong... This is an emergency summon..." - Seymour
I looked up to Seymour with interest regarding my summon.
"You see, I've heard that you've brought along a new person to your palace right?" - Seymour
How does he know that?
It's already eight months since we first got stuck in this large experimental world. We have been unable to create some progress on the story and there is neither any way to find out what we have to do.
There was debate about a biome located very deep underground. It contains deadly lava pools and has a hellish atmosphere. Michael took interest in it and went straight for it some time ago.
But even before that, we were in a clash of death against a group of sorcerers and nearly died. I have no clear memory of it but I remember some parts where we the rest couldn't do anything until me and Michael arrived.
The group composed of very powerful magicians and an overpowered fighter that utilizes portals. The issue of us nearly dying wasn't because of the lineup, but the main attacker of their group. Michael had severe trouble in fighting the person alone, the enemy was chain-casting all kinds of elements and brought everyone to a terrible shape using a powerful tarot card.
That tarot card is in Seymour's hands right now.
"I have a feeling that the upcoming raiders have a relation to her. The enemies placed a sign on the southeast area of the castle containing... Allen." - Seymour
Seymour urges Allen with a hand signal.
"If you have no plans of returning our spectomancer. Then we may as well shine the light of the gods to end our first year of our life with your loot." - Allen
Ah, the top faction huh? What do they think they are? They keep talking like they own everything due to their sheer power and number.
"Denzel, the person you took home some time ago was a girl with white hair correct? She's a spectomancer and has the ability to copy other forms of magic." - Seymour
Seymour starts looking at the list that is seemingly a report. I see, so it was Allen and Ross when they visited me.
I had completed the creation of the crystal palace and started resting more often than training. The number of people wandering in with plundering eyes didn't shrink so I kept killing off every single one of them.
Right now, I have a kill count of two thousand player kills. I was placed at the very top of the kill count leaderboards and people start fearing me for some reason.
"Yeah, she doesn't seem to be a bad person though. I'll just keep her around for the time being."
The person that was mentioned was a girl named Rika. She had long white hair and had green eyes. The cuteness charmed me for a second but I simply just kept my cool for the longest time.
Well, if she loves me then I might as well.
"Alright, we don't particularly have to worry but... We have a raid to prepare so we need to call you in advance." - Seymour
"Oh right, it is a major raid so..."
I'm gonna have to bring everyone here huh? Well, we don't really have a choice since there is a huge chance that the palace will be searched around too. I just have to lock all chests so that they won't be able to steal the items hidden in there.
I gain the feeling of wanting to bring everyone here including Rika. She's a girl I recently met and is currently being a guest in the crystal palace. She doesn't seem to be causing trouble but she's actually helping us tend everything there.
"Now Denzel, I'll be heading to your palace soon enough to remind you. In that point, you will be prepared to fight against a thousand enemies." - Seymour
Increase in kill count? Sure thanks!
The loot will definitely be divided equally without any hassle. Allen takes charge with distribution and we just keep some things at the castle.
All other members are chattering around normally without any relation to the survivability. Well, it's only me that has been summoned so there isn't really tension within the atmosphere. It's just within me, Seymour, Allen, Ross, Julius, and Robin.
Michael isn't around ever since he heard about the hellish area. It was said that he went on an expedition along with his acquaintances and hasn't showed his face to me for the last five months.
"Huh, has Michael showed his face here some time ago?"
"Yep, it seems they returned here around December for a few hours only. He's with a girl that's also a demon and they were restocking the holy potion that ran out after a long fight in the jungle." - Seymour
"Jungle?"
I never expected them to use the jungle as a way down. I can only guess that the underground jungle is somewhat spacious and could still be difficult to navigate around.
"They said something like being swarmed by a huge amount of bees and snatcher traps." - Seymour
"They say that the Jungle's a harsh place, didn't think that it would be that harsh..."
"Well, they have brought us some loot you'll probably like though." - Seymour
"Ooh!!! Now we're talking!"
"They dropped it in the treasure room they said." - Seymour
I dashed out wordlessly in excitement towards the treasure room.
After arriving to the spacious treasure room, I moved around to the places that contain treasure to be organized.
I opened the one that had Michael's name and saw lots of loot.
"Anklet of the Wind, Feral Claws, and a Fiberglass fishing pole..."
Oh damn! Speed, Dexterity, and better fishing pole! I feel much better with this!
The increased dexterity is overpowered to the point where it can become a good asset for the long run. I suddenly remembered that merging accessories together. The effects can be combined altogether and create a combination of effects that will be dangerous if completed. It was rumored to have a total speed boost of fifty percent or maybe completely double a person's top speed.
"Now that's what you call a nice reason to come here!"
I picked up one of each item I mentioned and started wondering.
Why was Seymour holding the Death card?
I returned to the throne room where Seymour was located.
After passing through the spacious hallways, I had arrived where the room was completely empty except for Seymour, Allen, and Robin discussing something.
"So you two, what do you think about Michael and his current yields in the expedition?" - Seymour
Ah, they were talking about Michael?
"As far as I know, he came here with a girl right?" - Robin
They aren't exactly loud, they're talking in their normal voices which resonate through the entire room still. I walked towards them while listening on the conversation.
"Yeah, was that his girlfriend or something?" - Seymour
"I don't doubt it, she acts kinda aggressive though?" - Allen
"So a tsundere girlfriend? Good for him! He got what he wanted." - Robin
In all honesty I thought they were criticizing him.
"In terms of the loot he brought here though, I can't really say that he profited..." - Allen
"Oh? How so?" - Seymour
"Well, he had a major expense with the potion count. It seems his expedition party received major damage and has to restock up on potions." - Allen
"How many vials did he take exactly?" - Robin
"I can't really measure the market price but it's ranging to the point where he took half of the reserve ones." - Allen
"That's a lot..." - Seymour
"Yo!"
I finally interjected in between the conversation which isn't really a bad thing.
"Ah Denzel, perfect timing. We were discussing about Michael." - Seymour
"You heard it right? What do you think about his expenses for the expedition?" - Robin
Robin asked the same question to me.
"Well, if we consider what they got us, it was some tools we can utilize in a nice fashion. Specially in terms of boosting our certain stats."
"Oh, do you mind explaining those to us?" - Seymour
I explained how much stats we could boost ourselves if we manage the accessories properly.
"I see, so overall... It's useful to have it around to boost certain stats up without effort?" - Seymour
"Yeah, something like that... Ah! Before I forget, why are you holding the death tarot card?"
"Nothing big, this item will be the decoy card. I'll give it to someone in this castle sooner or later..." - Seymour
I see, I sure hope that's the case cause it was said that using two tarot cards can make you drain your mana pool very badly.
There isn't particularly anything to worry myself about except for myself since I'm highly targeted. After that, I returned to the crystal palace using a magic mirror.
"Wah!!" - ???
A white haired girl fell down to her butt while covering her eyes. That girl is Rika, who I took in to the palace after meeting her some time ago.
"Oh Rika? My bad, I was at a meeting with my leader..."
"Ah, I see... You have a guest that arrived, his name is William..."
Oh? He's finally arrived.
"What are you doing here though?"
"Ah, I was fixing up your room until you popped up right out of nowhere. I was on shock you know?"" - Rika
"Ahahaha~ My bad, where is he right now?"
"He's in the meeting room." - Rika
"Alright! Thanks!"
I left the room and jumped down the spiral staircase, dropping down from ten tall floors and landing on the ground with a nice roll.
"Oh sup William, what brings you here?"
"Well, I got some reports coming in for ya." - William
I currently live a life filled with preparation and information. I sure hope we won't get killed off here.