Being all together for the past month, there was a limit to how much he could talk to Vestla, so he finally told them that she was an Ego Sword.
They were surprised at first, but after seeing the way she floated along in the air, they accepted it. Vestla, surprisingly, didnt even put up a fight about the reveal.
But the problem remained. They still couldnt have a conversation altogether.
Vestla's voice could not be heard by anyone else.
Therefore, in order to communicate, they had no choice but to rely on Allen, the only one who could talk to all parties involved.
"I'll figure out a way for everyone to communicate after we get to the Academy, so I'll just put up with it for now."
Its a plan!
"Right"
Her prattling personality made Allen, who preferred to be more stoic, very exhausted.
Utterly. Exhausted.
He discovered more and more about himself as they continued on toward their destination.
They had already passed along through three or four small countries, allowing them to see exotic ecosystems not found in the west.
"Wow, sir!! These are edible mushrooms, right?
"Linbelle, put that down. It's a poisonous mushroom. Wash your hands clean."
"Ah I see
Nothing too eventful happened apart from that one near-mistake made midway through their journey.
The temperature rose far higher as they headed inland.
Unlike ho, where the spring breeze was quite cold, the weather got hotter and hotter as they headed toward the Great Galshdin Desert, and their thick clothes dwindled to thinner and thinner layers.
"Brother, should we take a rest and stay here for a few days?
We should.
On their way to the Academy, Julius would disappear then return every few days
"Look, Brother. I found a rare herb over there."
and when hed co back, he always returned holding sothing valuable in his hands. Or hed go off with Byron and Anya for a ti.
Andof courseLaina, his personal maid.
Allen smiled with a touch of subtlety, not preventing Julius from carrying on with what he was doing.
"You have good luck."
"Yes, I guess I am pretty lucky. Hahaha!"
As his actions changed the future, Allen knew that 'Quest Rewards' and clues to obtain other fun items that were not recorded in the black book would appear.
Though, it wasnt like the value of the things he was finding were that significant.
'I need to loosen up a bit.'
After all, he had used his own information from that very system to siphon the reward from Julius at Mount Nicaea just the other day. He needed to leave it be for the ti being.
If Allen were to take away all of his rewards, Julius would surely lose faith in the 'System' eventually. Though seeing how much of Julius's actions were influenceddirectly or indirectlyby the System, it would be difficult for him to fully lose trust in it.
His behavior should lie within predictable bounds.
Thus, after packing up from their break, the party had a fairly comfortable journey.
And after another month had passed
"Finally."
Wow! We're finally here!
They arrived in Kairan, the City of Adventure, one of several cities where they could enter the Great Desert in which the Academy was located.
There were various magical sites located throughout the continent, from a small poisonous swamp to the Plains of Nastrond, ho to eternal warfare. The speculations surrounding the significance behind these sites were diverse, but implicitly speaking, it was simple.
Magical sites were places unfit for human beings to inhabit, or in principle, areas that could not be pioneered by humans, whether due to artificial or natural reasons.
That's why dark sorcerers who use artificially crafted magic treat them as free to claim.
The Great Desert was one of those sites.
It wasnt just any magical site, but an incredibly large one, spanning the central region of the continent. With the terrains barren landscape and the monsters which appeared from every angle, just crossing it was seen as an achievent.
Why was the Academy built in such a place?
"There are many reasons, but to tell you one thats more widely known
The Holy Sword.
The reason why the Academy had been built there was because it was where the First Warriors Holy Sword had been found.
Well then, why cant they just move the Holy Sword? Why did they need to build sothing there?
There was a simple explanation for that, too.
Because they couldnt move it.
What?
Those who first discovered the sword had also planned to move it. However, such a thing could only be done by the master of the sword, and thus, the Holy Sword would not budge.
Even so, they didnt need to build the Academy right on top of it, did they?
"That's a good point Maybe it was a sign of the tis.
Now may be the ti to make that judgnt, but it wasnt back then.
A sign of the tis?
Yeah.
After the Great Fall, the devastated world called out for a hero, and the only hero worthy of that title was the First Warrior.
However, that hero suddenly disappeared shortly thereafter.
When the Holy Sword was discovered, the world could only have seen it as a symbol of hope.
That's why they built the Academy? They couldnt take it with them, so they just built an entire academy?
"That's right."
It was a reasonable solution for the conundrum, and that was due to one of the abilities of the Holy Sword: the Sanctuary, which prevented monsters from entering a certain area.
In addition, countless people flocked to the Great Desert after it was revealed that there was an enormous number of ruins to be discovered there.
Adventurers, rcenaries, rchants, nobles, and knights. Many moved to the Great Desert for their own gain, and it was not long before the Academy was established under the plausible pretext of raising a hero for the new era.
However, as the city expanded, the number of areas protected by the Sanctuary decreased.
Therefore, they had no choice but to look elsewhere.
"Wow, sir! Look at this!"
That's how the city was created here.
A city that was minimally affected by the magic of the site, but that also provided access to enter the desert adjacent to the Great Desert.
"There are so many relics!"
Kairan, the city of adventure, was one of the cities that was ford in that way.
"I've only heard stories, but seeing it now, it really is stunning."
Allen was looking around Kairan's shopping district with Linbelle and Inellia.
Julius left Byron and Anya at the inn, saying he had sothing to do, and disappeared with Laina alone.
Allen couldn't take his eyes off the exotic sight of the city. It was his first ti seeing it, in both his previous and present life.
"Hey, did you hear the news? Tim's rcenaries say they got a new relic.
"What? What are they up to now?"
n with faces of lizards conversed.
There were giant lizard people, golems carrying cargo, cyborg beastn, bargaining elves, and even children with shells for skin.
Races of all kinds filled the streets, as did nurous relics that he had never seen before.
"What the fuck did you just say?"
When he looked to the side, he saw a rcenary bargaining with a rchant.
"Havent you heard? It's a recent discovery! A water bottle that automatically fills itself up with water."
"Is there really sothing like that?"
He spoke with fluid pronunciation, a little different from in the Kingdom of Liber to the west.
The difference in accent and dialect was evident.
"The sorcerer said that it collects water from the air or sothing So are you going to buy it or not?
"Two gold coins is a little much
When the rcenary showed signs of hesitation, Allen smoothly intervened. "If you're not going to buy it, can I?"
The rchant saw his clothing as well as Inellia sitting next to him, and imdiately cast his sights from the rcenary and bent toward Allen.
"Yes, yes, you can! Of course, sir.
"Then I'll buy it." Allen held out the gold without even attempting to bargain.
"Oh, thank you, sir!" The rchant opened his mouth wide and accepted the gold coin.
The rcenary smacked his lips and began, "But"
As he accepted the relics from the rchant, Allen said, "Were there always so few guides to the Academy?"
Guides were required to get to the Academy in the Great Desert.
Upon entering the city, Allen and his party visited the Adventurer's Guild, but were told that there were no guides available at the mont.
"Guides?"
Inevitably, the party was forced to stay in the city.
"Yes."
At his words, the rchant glanced at his new partner, lowering his eyes again.
"I guess you're not from here".
"Yes."
"Then you may not know. There's a reason
As the rchant dragged out his words in hesitation, Allen smirked and bought a few more items. He then smiled, now happy to explain.
* * *
* * *
"Thank you! Co again!"
Co again! You're such a crook!
Allen slowly exited the shopping district, calming down the fuming Vestla.
It was information that you would have figured out if you just walked around a little bit!
The explanation hed received was sothing he never wouldve conjured up on his own.
Because of a sandstorm
Sandstorms struck periodically in the Great Desert, and a few days ago, signs of a new storm arose.
Unless there was a truly dire need, the guides did not travel during sandstorms.
This event was unexpected seeing as in their past life, Julius had already made it to the city by then, putting the issue entirely off his radar.
What are you going to do? You can't be late, can you?
"Youre right."
The Academy's entrance examination could only be taken every six months. Missing this opportunity now ant wasting half a year.
"If its not working out right now, I suppose we have no choice but to pay extra money to get one."
It wouldnt be a small sum, but theyd have no choice if they wanted to arrive in a tily fashion.
I guess I really cant tell the future, like anybody else.
Allen reminded himself that the future he knew that was written in the black book was part of the old future.
As the party was going back to the Adventurer's Guild, Linbelle asked him in apparent sudden realization, "Oh! Wait, we're all different races, but we all speak the sa language.
Did she only just realize that now?
"Why not ask an elf?
"That's hehe.
Well, he hadnt been in the mood to care about that at the ti.
Allen explained, recalling her unstable appearance. "Its because of the Ancient Empire."
"The Ancient Empire?"
Inellia listened in carefully as well to see whether it was sothing that would hold her curiosity.
"Yes."
From the language and characters they used today to the architecture and fundantal principles of law, traces of the Ancient Empire could be found in various parts of their modern life.
Of course, ti has passed, and many things have been altered depending on the historical nature of the language.
Words were abbreviated and new concepts erged. Those words with obsolete uses went extinct, while others ca to have entirely different anings.
"I'm sure Laura, the head maid, told you at least this much.
As Allen gave her a strange look, Linbelle turned her head in embarrassnt and pointed the other way.
"Oh, oh, sir! Look over there! What are they?
Allen turned his head gently, finding a group consisting of those of different races walking by.
No, looking at the group from an angle of heterogeneity, they looked unusualentirely different, even. The n were wrapped in white cloth, with huge scorpion tails protruding from their hips. The won, on the other hand, were covered in black cloth, with two pairs of spider legs coming from holes in the backs of the clothing.
Oh, could that be?
Allen rembered hearing about the two tribes that resided only in the Great Desert as well as their unusual abilities.
There are two tribes in the Great Desert, one of which can act as a guide.
He acted quickly after rembering that crucial information hed skimd through in the black book.
Where are you going?
Sir!
Theyd found their way to get to the Academy.
* * *
Julius reflected on the order of events he had read in the original novel as he headed to the slums. Fortunately, it was easy to recall. He hadnt forgotten the more important parts of the story, even after a few months without it.
Behind him, only Laina followed.
"Hmm Is it here?"
He puzzledly looked at the old sign with butterfly patterns on it.
Even though he could rember the major story beats, he wasnt totally sure about the details.
"Still"
He had to check. It was a Quest.
When he opened up the Quest Window, several Sub-Quests appeared as well.
A sandstorm is raging! Find a way to get to the Academy before the entrance exam! Ti limit: 13:12:55.
Reward: Increase in Wind affinity
Kill Deswuom, the Ruler of the Desert, and prove yourself (0/1)! Ti limit: 172:59:02.
Reward: 1 B-Tier Skill card
Eliminate the traffickers and bandits tornting travelers and keep the peace (0/20)! Ti limit: 34:07:26.
Reward: 3 random sword skill draws
The rewards were decent. He had to complete these over the next few months to get them.
I need a way to get to the Academy while clearing the Quests. Killing two birds with one stone.
Squeeeak.
As he pushed open the wooden door, the rusty hinge scread, announcing his presence.
Surprisingly, the inside of the bar was clean. He had expected a stench of vomit mixed with other rather unpleasant slls.
When he turned his head, an old man was there, unbothered and wiping down glasses at the bar.
Julius strode in front of him and sat down. As he sat, the bartender asked, "What would you like to order, sir?"
"Give a glass of honey beer if you have one, and to go with it butterflies dipped in snake venom."
He paused, taking in Juliuss words before slowly speaking again. "I'm sorry, but we dont have food like that here."
"No, you guys do have that kind of food. Right? Or, I guess, do you have blueapple pie instead?"
Julius was quite confident when he said that.
The main character did this in the novel, right?
He was certain that there were many scenes where the main character had used those phrases several tis to take advantage of the information organization, Psyche, which spanned across the central region of the continent.
He forgot what the main character had done to get this information, but it didn't matter.
Don't I just need to know the password, anyway?
While he was focused on his own jubilant mood, the bartender gently grabbed the handle of the dagger from his waistline.
'Saying a butterfly dipped in a snake venom ans that Im a mber of the sa organization.
But he didnt ntion a flavor to distinguish himself.
"Cant you get so?
The blueapple pie was a sign that sothing bad had happened.
"Or what about a poisonous apple? Then, what about hilltop frog hind legs or Dark Garden flower bud soup?"
Poisonous apple ant that sothing had been discovered that shouldnt have been revealed.
Hilltop frog hind legs ant that a direct order from the boss had been issued.
He said the Dark Garden flower bud soup.
Then, that ant
"I know everything, so just hurry up and bring it! Or bring one of your superiors!"
That person had arrived.
"Can't you hurry up?"
His eyes flashed to Julius.
Information had never been leaked before. The guild recorded all the custor's information, so it was possible to keep track.
Is he even a mber of the sa organization?
That wasnt it either.
Did he know the code to get inside?
It was either one of two things.
Soone betrayed them, or one of their custors leaked the code.
And if that wasnt the case
"Why is it so different from what I read?"
Just as the bartender was about to move, his eyes and Laina's eyes collided.
He hesitated.
"Ha, I'm here to buy so information. Do you understand now?"
He checked the pattern in her eyes, opened his eyes wide, and smiled kindly as if he understood the situation.
"Aha, I see now. I ask for your understanding for taking so long to reply. It's been quite a while.
Julius smiled contentedly at his answer.
"It's a sha that the password doesn't work Alright. Then, I want to get so information.
"I can help you."
As he took them inside the bar, Julius asked curiously, "But can you leave the bar empty? How can you make sure nobody steals anything?"
"That's not a problem. Hes already here."
When Julius looked back again, a middle-aged man with a calm face ca in and sat at the bar.
Julius smiled happily as the scene overlapped with what hed read in the novel.
"Really? Then let's go. Soone is waiting on ."
"Please co this way."
They headed to the basent of the bar.
A white light flashed from the ceiling, lighting up the hallway.
"Why does the light keep blinking? You guys don't have money?
"Haha, it's because it has been quite a while since it's been repaired. Ill have it fixed by the next ti you visit.
Hed make sure of it.
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