NOVEL NEXT Chapter 5
Chapter 5
“Welcome to Evil Grande, the third city of the Demon Lord’s army! This place is ruled by the esteemed Raiko, one of the Four Heavenly Kings! Make sure not to cause any trouble! You may proceed!”
Receiving a temporary entry permit from a skeleton soldier, Tatsu-san and I enter the city known as Evil Grande.
“How can a skeleton soldier even speak? They don’t have vocal cords,” I wondered aloud.
“It’s probably best to just accept it as a game thing,” Tatsu-san replied.
“Hmm, in that case, they could have put a little more thought into the gatekeeper’s design,” I said, my eyes drawn to the massive gate we passed through and the otherworldly cityscape beyond.
The gate, adorned with magical or mystical engravings, occasionally shimmered with a rainbow hue, adding a beautiful touch to the otherwise pitch-black structure, much like a bright star in the night sky.
And the city itself! It was predominantly black, with numerous buildings designed to evoke the image of sharp swords. Picture the Sagrada Familia in Spain, scaled down and painted entirely black, standing side by side as ordinary houses, and you’ll get the idea.
“Ouch!?”
“Oh, sorry about that, miss.”
I was so distracted by the scenery that I bumped into someone I didn’t know.
“Who is this?” I wondered as I looked up, only to see a towering figure, probably about three meters tall, staring back at me.
Was it an ogre? A troll? I couldn’t tell, but it was a muscular monster species!
“Hey, it’s dangerous to be spacing out in the middle of the road,” he said.
“Oh, um, sorry,” I replied.
“Especially for big guys like me who don’t always watch our step! Be careful not to get squashed! Gahaha!”
With that, the giant walked away.
Wait, was that an NPC? The way he interacted was incredibly smooth, and he seemed really cheerful. I always thought demons would be more gloomy, but maybe not in this game.
“You alright?” Tatsu-san asked.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” I said, quickly moving to the side of the road.
Thankfully, I didn’t seem to have taken any damage. Phew.
“Maybe it’s because this is the land ruled by one of the Demon King’s Four Heavenly Kings, but that was definitely intimidating…”
As I looked around again, I saw a wide variety of monsters walking around the city.
There were bipedal lizards armed with weapons, demons that looked like a cross between a purple-skinned bull and a gorilla, and one-eyed giants strolling around with barrels of alcohol in hand.
Actually, there seemed to be fewer ordinary humanoid figures like me around…
I really felt like I had stepped into another world. You could sense it through the atmosphere and the air. When I saw the tagline “Experience a New World with LIA,” I thought it was just marketing fluff, but this truly feels like a new world!
Even the dust on the road and the vibrations caused by the giant creatures felt incredibly real.
“It’s really a melting pot of different races,” Tatsu-san said, noticing that I was captivated by the city’s atmosphere and gazing around as well.
“Yeah, but not human races,” I replied.
“True enough.”
In human cities, would there be elves and dwarves walking around? That would be something I’d like to see too.
“So? What are you going to do, missy? I’m planning to head to the tutorial and get my guild card issued at the adventurers’ guild afterward,” Tatsu-san said.
“I’ll come with you to the adventurers’ guild. I need to take the tutorial too,” I replied.
“Aren’t you going to get a guild card?”
“I’ll get mine issued at the commercial guild. I want to pursue a production job, and monster hunting really isn’t my thing.”
“Really? I think you’ve got some talent for it.”
And so, Tatsu-san and I set off to find the adventurers’ guild.
By the way, thanks to the ‘Temporary Entry Permit’ we received at the gate, our identities were verified, allowing us to wander around the city. However, we need to get an ID card soon because the entry permit will eventually expire, and we’ll be kicked out of the city.
The ID cards, known as guild cards, are issued by various guilds.
The initial registration is free and open to anyone. However, each guild has its own set of requirements, and if you can’t meet them, you’ll be expelled from the guild, and your card will be invalidated. Re-registration incurs a considerable fee.
In other words, it’s a case of “no work, no eat.” Whether in the real world or virtual, reality can be pretty harsh.
“Oh, isn’t that the place?”
Ahead, there was a sign with a shield and two crossed swords.
“Yeah, that’s the mark of the Adventurers’ Guild from the manual.”
“Alright then, let’s go,” Tatsu-san said.
“Sure. Oh, do we need to ask for the tutorial at the reception? If so, let’s line up together, Tatsu-san,” I suggested.
“Yeah, just make sure you don’t accidentally register as an adventurer, Yama-chan.”
“I know, I know.”
Registering as an adventurer automatically gets you an Adventurers’ Guild card, so I won’t be registering here.
By the way, you can register with multiple guilds, but each guild has its own set of requirements, which increases the workload. Tatsu-san advised against it.
It’s possible to do something like being a traveling merchant, but I want to make unique items like equipment.
So, I lined up with Tatsu-san at the reception to request the tutorial.
There were no events like in light novels where rookie adventurers get harassed by bullies. I thought LIA would have included something like that.
“In that case, should I start harassing the new adventurers myself?”
“Save that for the Commercial Guild, okay?”
We spent some time relaxing in the tavern attached to the Adventurers’ Guild.
It seems the tutorial is only held at specific times, and we have to wait about thirty minutes for the next one to start. This setup kind of reminds me of renewing a driver’s license.
“Tatsu-san, do you know what the tutorial involves?” I asked.
“It’s nothing major. They show you medicinal herbs so you can learn to identify them, give an explanation of magic, provide an overview of the different elements, and then have you fight an instructor to gauge your combat level.”
“That sounds super important! Especially the part about medicinal herbs!”
Because I had been too busy chatting with Tatsu-san and slacking off on leveling my 【Appraisal】 skill, it’s still only at level 1!
Being able to identify medicinal herbs sounds like a godsend!
“Well, adventurers use potions like crazy, so I guess they’re saying you should be able to make your own.”
“Does that mean… if I sell potions on the World Market, I could make a good profit?”
“In the early stages, sure. But as more people get the skills and more healing methods become available, regular potions might not sell as well.”
“I see. Hehehe, I’ve found my meal ticket!”
“You’re making a wicked face,” Tatsu-san remarked.
Our thirty-minute wait flew by as we chatted, and soon it was time for the tutorial. We headed to the designated location.
Apparently, the first part of the tutorial is a lecture held in a room on the second floor of the Adventurers’ Guild.
When we entered the room we had been directed to, four other players were already there.
“Wow, I haven’t seen many players up until now, but it looks like quite a few have made it to this city,” Tatsu-san remarked.
“Well, we’ve been zigzagging through the forest because of the carriage, so we’re actually pretty late,” I replied.
“Does that mean we’re part of the straggler group here?”
Calling us the “straggler group” might sound like we’re losers, but this game isn’t about racing to the end. If you want to be on the cutting edge of the game’s progress, then maybe we are a bit behind.
“What the hell, shorty? You dissing us or something?” A rough-looking man dressed entirely in black responded to the term “straggler group.”
In this city, humanoid monsters are rare, but in this room, there are five of us. I guess most serious monster players would choose humanoid forms.
“Huh? If I offended you, sorry about that. I’m just an honest guy who says what he thinks,” Tatsu-san said calmly.
“What!? Are you trying to provoke me, you bastard?” The man’s eyes narrowed even more as he glared at us.
Moreover, as I watched his canine teeth grow unusually long, I realized this guy is probably a vampire. He doesn’t have that typical handsome look, more like the wild type that’s popular nowadays.
“Well, well, this isn’t a game where you have to rush to be the fastest. No need to get so worked up about it,” I interjected, trying to defuse the tension.
Seeing that things were getting out of hand, I stepped in. The man glared at me for a moment before turning away with a scoff.
“Tch, too much plastic surgery…”
Hey, this is my natural face!
And that’s not even the point!
“Yes, exactly! Fighting is wrong! We’re all here to take the same tutorial, so— eek!?”
A boy who looked like a zombie, and who was quite hard to look at directly, stood up to try to mediate. However, one fierce glare from the vampire boy silenced him immediately.
Seriously, “eek”?
Your appearance is much more “eek”-worthy, you know?
“You’re stinking up the place! Stay away!”
“S-sorry…”
The zombie boy, clearly intimidated, slunk back to his seat. Despite being a zombie, he didn’t move particularly slowly.
He didn’t seem like the slow, “Arrr, arrr” type of zombie you see in movies.
Next to the zombie boy sat a girl with long hair in a party dress, who was glaring intently at the vampire boy.
Is she acquainted with the zombie boy?
“What is it?” “Nothing.”
Well, that “nothing” didn’t seem like it. Your attitude was more like, “Why are you bullying the zombie boy, huh?” Those were some intense eyes you had there.
I was starting to think that monster players might all have strong personalities when…
▶ You were analyzed with 【Appraisal】 by Merlin. ▶ You resisted the 【Appraisal】.
▶ 【Balance】 activated. Counteracting with 【Appraisal】.
▶ 【Appraisal】 was successful.
Name: Merlin Species: Wraith Gender: ♂ Age: 0 LV: 5 HP: 70/70 MP: 150/150 SP: 8
Physical Attack: 2 Magic Attack: 20 Physical Defense: 8 Magic Defense: 20 Vitality: 7 Agility: 11 Intuition: 10 Spirit: 15 Fate: 3
Unique Skill: 【Blade of Assassination】 Racial Skill: 【Physical Immunity】 Common Skills: 【Fire Magic】Lv2 / 【Dark Magic】Lv1 / 【Appraisal】Lv2 / 【Stealth】Lv1
It seems I was appraised by the robed boy sitting at the far end of the room.
He was looking at me while grinning, with half his face hidden by his robe.
Judging by his grin, it seems he doesn’t realize he was appraised back. Was my appraisal successful because of my 【Balance】 skill?
In most VRMMORPGs, appraising someone without their permission is considered bad manners. Is he a newbie or just a troublemaker?
Noticing my strange expression, Tatsu-san gave me a puzzled look.
“What is it? What’s wrong?”
“Yeah, I just got appraised out of nowhere. Even in LIA, that’s considered bad manners, right?”
“What? Who’s the ignorant fool that did such a thing?”
“It’s fine, Tatsu-san. I didn’t lose any information, and in return, I managed to get the other person’s info.”
At my words, the faint grin behind the robe froze.
“So, there’s no need to worry, Mr. Merlin?”
As I said that, everyone’s attention in the room turned toward the robed man.
He clicked his tongue in frustration and, without saying a word, bowed his head to hide his face. It seems he was deliberately appraising people. Did he underestimate me because I’m a newbie?
Or maybe he was just curious because I’m wearing impressive-looking armor. Should I compliment him on his design skills?
“What’s with that attitude?”
“Well, well, let’s just sit down, Tatsu-san. If we keep this up, the tutorial won’t start.”
As Tatsu-san and I took our seats, the door to the room opened, and a woman walked in.
Perfect timing, or maybe everyone sitting down was the trigger?
She was dressed in a black leather high-cut outfit, with an alluring hourglass figure, and bat-like wings on her back as decoration.
Is that a succubus from the race list? Yikes, I’m glad I didn’t choose that! I couldn’t bear to wear something so embarrassing!
“Alright, you newbies, everyone’s here! First, let’s do some self-introductions! My name is Lyrica! I’m a B-rank adventurer! I’ve been called here today to drill the basics into you as your instructor! Nice to meet you! And――…”
In an instant, Instructor Lyrica vanished.
When I heard a gust of wind and then a muffled scream, I turned around to see what was happening. Merlin-kun was being hoisted up by Instructor Lyrica.
“Trying to appraise someone without permission is a breach of etiquette. Depending on the situation, you could get killed on the spot. Remember that well.”
Although Merlin-kun should have been immune to physical attacks, I could see a faint magical aura covering Instructor Lyrica’s arms. With that, even if he’s physically immune, she can still touch him…
A thin layer of magic, huh…
“……”
It seems it isn’t something you can easily do. It probably requires daily practice.
In that sense, Instructor Lyrica must be a well-trained adventurer. Impressive skills.
“I-I’m sorry…”
Just as Merlin-kun managed to spit out his apology, he was thrown to the floor.
“Cough cough…!”
“Yeah, I understand that rules and manners are important. When dealing with someone more powerful, rudeness is absolutely unacceptable!”
“Ha, how lame.”
Oh, the vampire kid is saying unnecessary things. Look, Merlin-kun is glaring at him.
“I’m not saying you have to get along, but don’t cause any problems until the basic training is over.”
It seems Instructor Lyrica also sensed the tense atmosphere.
I really wish they wouldn’t bring real-life conflicts into the game…
Despite the uneasy start, the tutorial progressed smoothly. After all, nobody wants to waste time here unnecessarily…
Nothing happened that deliberately obstructed the progress.
What did happen was――
“Remember this leaf well. This is a medicinal herb leaf. On the third floor of the Adventurers’ Guild, there are materials summarizing various useful wild plants besides these herbs. When accepting collection requests, make sure to check these wild plants in advance before heading out. Otherwise, you might end up in a foolish situation where you don’t know what to collect during the quest.”
▶Recognized 【Medicinal Herb】. ▶You can now identify 【Medicinal Herb】 with 【Appraisal】.
▶【Balance】 has activated.
“Adjusting the types of wild plants you can recognize.
▶You can now identify all 52 types of beginner wild plants.
‘…’ ‘What’s wrong? You look strange.’ ‘Oh, it’s nothing.’
Yeah, once I log out, I’m definitely going to send a report email to the management!”