Chapter 13: Expanding Horizons
Learning about the weak points of monsters never got old.
What was utterly exciting for players in the past was now a norm for adventurers, and the reason many of them lived long enough to tell tales to their grandchildren.
As Nith listened to the stories of the swamps, he instinctively noted the monsters' weak points and how he could use them to spread his venoms more quickly within their systems, or where to inject them so that they'd reach a vital point as fast as possible.
"Has anything unusual ever happened around here?" Nith asked.
Alas, he didn't hear what he wanted. Ramon and Netta had no clue about other levels or monsters that shouldn't be seen on the swamp's surface.
Their experience stretched far and wide, but didn't include anything about a second level.
It also seemed their mission was to kill as many monsters as possible, looting their drops until their porters' backpacks were brimming with items.
"As an alchemist, would the adventurer guild require me to earn any other title before signing me?" Nith switched the topic to the adventurer guild now that he knew he wouldn't learn anything significant about the swamps.
Netta mused aloud, "They'd do everything in their power to keep you holed up in the basements, producing potions for them, and offer you the best contract so that you wouldn't run away to independent stores or the alchemist guild."
"They'd basically scare you about the danger zones," Ramon added heartily, retelling stories of young alchemists who had become shut-ins after getting frightened by the higher-ups—all in between hearty laughs. "But you can use the Reverse Mana Stream, so you have the means to fight and use your class to survive. I think they'd ask you to practice magic before allowing you to venture out."
Anyone could learn magic, but to truly become proficient in it, one would have to receive a few titles related to it, becoming an acknowledged mage.
In the case of adventurers, simply obtaining the [Mage] title met the requirements. Titles like Swordsman, Guardian, Archer, etc., ensured higher chances of survival in Low Danger Zones.
But what about titles one could earn within the danger zones themselves?
Netta chuckled. "I earned the Inexorable Maiden title, which helps me naturally patch up bleeding and minor wounds. I suffered lots of bites to earn it, though! Nearly lost an arm a few times, too!"
'Yeah, earning titles is going to be too difficult unless I take drastic measures,' Nith thought after hearing the advanced adventurers' stories.
Despite being at the lowest rank, these two had spent years honing their skills and working in this occupation. Enjoying the wilderness and the rush of adrenaline had become their normal routine, but that only convinced Nith that he couldn't follow in their footsteps.
Normal standards didn't concern him.
-
Meanwhile, a pink-haired alchemist, the recent talk of the town, happily cuddled her sleeping bag. She was having a rare dream, where the person she had developed feelings for finally made a move on her!
All this time, it had been her breaching the boundaries of friendship! Of course, only up to the point where Nith would realize her feelings, but no further.
The last step couldn't have been taken by Kyouka, and perhaps it would only happen when her frustration reached its peak. For now, she enjoyed the dream where the hunched jerk held her chin, whispering words that didn't suit him at all.
It was just a dream, so she didn't care how fake it was.
Then, her sweetheart leaned in, going for the kiss!
Kyouka woke up, bolted upright, and grabbed her head. "NO WAY! Such a rare, sensible dream, even if Nith was fake to a fault! I'd rather hear 'silly bitch' from him than whatever that fake said… but a kiss… a kiss!"
She looked around, only to find no one in the tent. Her heart jumped up to her throat, compelling Kyouka to run toward the zipped entrance of their tent. Upon opening it, she found Nith at the edge of their island, standing and conversing with other adventurers.
That hunched back, clad in her black cloak, put her mind at ease.
Nith noticed her then. He immediately twisted his face, perhaps weirded out by Kyouka's relieved expression and her puppy eyes staring at him with gratitude.
"Slept well?" he asked.
"Yes," Kyouka replied.
"We need to talk," Nith said, walking past her and entering the tent.
He lingered for a few seconds, staring at her before looking away at the same time Kyouka zipped the tent back up and turned around to face him.
Both sat down across from each other, with the heater in between them.
"Have you ever heard of the second level of this danger zone?" he asked.
Kyouka shook her head. "No."
"It seems my title, the player, which I obtained because of my past life, allowed me to descend to the second level. I don't know what's down there or what we will face, so I'm considering our next move," Nith explained.
"I've heard some rumors," Kyouka recalled what she had heard back home. "You know about The Commonwealth of Adventurers?"
"A little," Nith nodded.
"It's said that the capital's dungeon is unnatural. It's too complex to be natural, to begin with. Other countries have been suspecting that they know a way to find the Danger Zone's cores, steal them, and place them in their dungeon."
Nith smirked. "Sounds like something I'd love to destroy."
"You're not destroying anything," Kyouka said, looking like a strict mother. "It's a good country, and their civilians are the safest and happiest people in the entire world. Instead of destroying their main business, you should force them to share the profits. That is, if you're really willing to go that far."
"Nah, I said that without thinking… because the game's mindset is still within me. Yeah, this is a real world. I need to fix that," Nith nodded. "Anyway, you're saying we might find a way to exploit this danger zone?"
"Possibly," Kyouka smiled.
Inwardly, she didn't know why she was getting so excited. Was it the idea of uncovering more secrets about the world stirring her, or the fact that she genuinely wanted to follow Nith, even to far more hazardous places?
"I think we need to expand our party," Nith said. "What do you think?"
"Not a bad idea," Kyouka agreed. "But how much are you willing to reveal about your abilities?"