After receiving Vermillion Eclipse, Master handed me a map.
"I've marked the mines according to your story. You should go check them out." [Vincent]
From the story I've told him, there were only three mines. However, there were four markings.
"...What's this mark over here for?" [Solace]
"That's Medwin's manor. You can find your main source of information there." [Vincent]
Having said that, I wondered why I even needed to go to the three mines.
"O… kay…?" [Solace]
"It seems like you haven't understood the meaning behind my words." [Vincent]
He spoke as if he read my mind.
"I mean… yeah?" [Solace]
"A man who has a full stomach will never know hunger. Do you understand?" [Vincent]
I was baffled. He said it like it was a riddle, but it was just kind of a fact.
"...Just leave." [Vincent]
Nodding without replying, I left.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
I exited via breaking the wall, and pondered to myself.
("What's the first thing I do?") [Solace]
Thinking of possibilities, I did the one thing that was a must.
"|Doppelganger|." [Solace]
Summoning an exact copy of myself, I gave it a command.
"Go to Fina's side." [Solace]
Without replying, it turned into my spirit self and vanished.
("...I didn't even tell it to transform. Does it have sentience?") [Solace]
Before I could even ponder about that, I cut off the idea so I wouldn't get freaked out.
("Now, do I head to the mines first… or the manor?") [Solace]
As I made my decision, I thought of Master's words.
("...I'll head to the mines.") [Solace]
Changing into my evolved spirit form, I flew towards the Camerina mine. I flew over a long road, passing by carriages on the way. At some point, I noticed a sign on the road.
("This reads… Camerina village?") [Solace]
The village itself didn't appear on the map Master gave me, so I thought it must be where the mines were located.
("Guess I'll head that way.") [Solace]
As I traveled down the road, I had the thought of turning into a human along the way.
("Wouldn't I get more information if I talked to the villagers?") [Solace]
It was then that I decided to use |Mimic| without a second thought.
"|Wardrobe|." [Solace]
Lucky for me, I was able to put on clothes immediately using my skill.
("...It's been a while since I've traveled on foot.") [Solace]
Back on earth, I was the type of guy to get dragged around places with my friends. Since it's been a while since I've gone to another location, I was kind of excited.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
After walking for about thirty minutes, the village came into view. It was still quite far, but I could see children playing with sticks nearby.
("...They're pretty far from the village. Is parental supervision not a thing here?") [Solace]
The kids seemed to notice me too, seeing as they smiled and waved at me.
("Huh. Cute kids.") [Solace]
I smiled and waved back, until I got alerted.
"Warning: Hostility has been detected." [Spirit Guide]
("Huh?") [Solace]
I was immediately put on guard. Was it the kids? Or was it something else?
("...No, it can't be the kids.") [Solace]
The kids weren't even looking at me. They were playing with sticks like they were knights.
("Where could it possibly be coming from?") [Solace]
It was then that I heard flapping sounds from above.
("...What's that?") [Solace]
I saw some kind of gray bird in the sky. It looked similar to a hawk, but was multiple times bigger.
"|Analyze|." [Solace]
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Name: Bale
Race: Silver Jay
Class: N/A
Gender: Male
Age: 6
Level: 24
Health: 2400/2400
Mana: 700/700
Strength: 389
Agility: 645
Intelligence: 200
Willpower: 150
Status: Stable
Skills: |Paralytic Talon Lv. 2| |Air Slash Lv. 3| |Sonic Screech Lv. 1|
Unique Skill: N/A
Titles: N/A
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Looking at its stats, it wasn't much. The bird looked at me and paused for a few seconds.
("...What's it doing?") [Solace]
As if it had understood the difference between our strength, it dived towards the children.
("Ayo?! That's cheap!") [Solace]
I rushed to the kids, hoping I could make it in time.
"Move!" [Solace]
The children screamed in fright as they witnessed the Silver Jay fly towards them.
"R-run! It's a monster!" [Frightened Child]
I pushed myself harder than I have ever pushed myself before. Zooming across the road, I barely managed to arrive.
"Come at me!" [Solace]
I put my arms in front of me, causing the bird to strike my forearms with its beak.
"Urgh!" [Solace]
The bird backed up while inhaling. I assumed it was going to use its |Sonic Screech|, so I grabbed its mouth.
"What? Cat's got your beak?" [Solace]
The bird struggled, clawing me with its talons.
"|Shock Resistance| activated." [Spirit Guide]
Hearing that, I smiled.
"Too bad, so sad." [Solace]
Raising a hand, it burst into flame.
"|Blazing Fist|." [Solace]
I pierced the bird's chest with my hand, cooking it from the inside out.
"You have gained |Experience|. |Blazing Fist| has gained a level. You have gained a level." [Spirit Guide]
("...Sweet.") [Solace]
After finishing off the monster, I put it into my |Item box|.
("I wonder what happened to those kids.") [Solace]
As I turned to head towards the village, I found myself looking at three children staring at me with admiration.
("...Oh.") [Solace]