Chapter 319: Ship
On the way back, I kept playing with the Half-Rhombus Stone I got from the Altar. The dull gray stone was about a finger long and looked very rough, but it felt unexpectedly smooth to the touch. One side was uneven, like a fracture, which made me guess it wasn't a complete Item. As for the idea of collecting the remaining stone pieces, I hadn't considered it at all. Sanctuary is so vast, it would undoubtedly be harder than finding a needle in a haystack.
Casually tossing it into a Corner of my Inventory, just then, Tia, who was lying on Light Snow 's back, let out a soft moan and slowly opened her Eyes.
"Tia, you're awake? How are you feeling? Any better?"
After suffering a mental Weakness state and then Duriel's mental impact, I was very worried that it would leave some psychological shadow or Aftermath in her Inner Heart.
Slowly raising her Head, Tia's Eyes were unfocused. She looked around blankly, the Surroundings gradually becoming clear. Finally, her Gaze settled on me. After a few seconds, a look of Fear suddenly appeared, and she instinctively recoiled, not realizing she was on Light Snow 's back. As a Result, she fell to the ground with a "thud".
"Tia, what's wrong..."
I was about to step forward to help her up, but unexpectedly, she retreated repeatedly as if I were a snake or scorpion, backing all the way to the Wall in the Corner. Waving her hands, she kept shouting with a tearful Tone, "Don't come near... don't come near...".
"..."
It seems the shadow left in her Inner Heart wasn't Duriel, but me. I had anticipated this situation. After all, looking back, even I felt a deep sense of dread towards "the me from that time." Perhaps only the Oblivious Lar's Trio and Sarah, who deeply loves me, could understand and Accept it. I wasn't surprised by Tia's reaction.
Not surprised, just a little Solitary...
Tia hugged her knees, burying her pretty face in them, and quietly sobbed alone in the Corner. I stood there at a loss, staring ahead. My Gaze was unfocused, my Brain randomly thinking of things to pass the Time. It was better to let her be alone for now. Once she cried enough, she would Calm down. Then, she would quietly go back, and we would quietly part ways. As long as we deliberately avoided each other, we would never Encounter again in this life. That would be for the best.
"Fanfan..."
A voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz sounded in my ears. Illusion? It didn't seem like it. I turned my Head in surprise and saw that Tia had stopped trembling. Half of her cute Eyes peeked out from behind her knees, looking over like a timid Rabbit. This was completely different from her usual Vital Energy-filled Appearance; it was a gentle and lovely Tia, adding another layer of feminine Charm.
"Wha... what's wrong?"
I was surprised by this sudden change, and even more so, I trembled with unconcealed joy in my voice. I walked over gently, and Tia didn't Avoid me.
"Hey, Fanfan..."
Just as I reached her, my sleeve was tugged by a small hand, then gently pulled down. I followed the pull and squatted down, facing Tia who was hugging her knees. The Distance was less than half a meter. Then, to my astonished Gaze, Tia's Body leaned forward, her forehead resting against my Chest.
"Fanfan, tell me. Everything just now was an Illusion. Right?"
"..."
I opened my mouth, knowing that for her sake, and for my own, I couldn't say the word "yes."
"It was an Illusion, right!!"
As if sensing my determination, Tia's hands suddenly wrapped around my waist, hugging tightly, and her forehead pressed hard against me, almost making me choke on the words I was about to say.
"Yes, that's right."
Feeling the Weakness in her Tone, I couldn't help but sigh and gently held her Head. To be honest, I really didn't understand what Tia was thinking right now. Self-deception? Didn't her Clothes, stained with Magic Grade blood, already explain everything? A girl's Inner Heart, I really couldn't understand it.
"Waaah~~~~, Fanfan, you scared me to death, I was really scared."
As soon as the words left her mouth, they became the trigger for Tia's tear ducts to burst. Clinging to my Chest like this, she cried loudly. Her warm Tears quickly soaked my Chest. I even suspected she was releasing all the Tears she had stored up for over a decade in one go.
I wouldn't blame Tia for her weakness. She was just a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl, living in this secluded Village that was free from worldly strife. If anyone was to blame, it could only be this cruel world.
After she finally cried enough, her voice quieted down. I waited until the traces of her crying disappeared – if we went back like this and others saw her red Eyes, they would 100% think I had bullied her.
"Let's use a Town Portal Scroll to go back."
Seeing that she had recovered almost completely, I immediately suggested it. Walking back from here would take at least ten days, which was really not worth it.
"Boohoo~~, a Town Portal Scroll? Isn't that too extravagant?"
Tia, still holding onto my sleeve and refusing to let go, pouted her small mouth and immediately entered the mode of a thrifty and good housewife, which made me smile bitterly. However, in the Horadric Tribe, where Materials were scarce, Town Portal Scrolls were indeed very precious.
"Don't worry, our thrifty little housewife, Ms. Tia. Once the Waypoint is connected, we won't have to worry about not having Town Portal Scrolls."
I told a small lie. Even outside, Town Portal Scrolls were exceptionally precious. Many Mercenary-level Adventurer Teams, or even entire Parties, only had one or two.
"What, what? I'm only 17 years old! I'm not a housewife! Fanfan, you're so rude." Tia immediately puffed up her cheeks in protest at my teasing.
Laughing and joking like this, I opened the Town Portal Scroll. Just as I was about to step into the Teleportation Array, my sleeve was suddenly pulled hard.
"Fanfan, will you blame me for being too weak?" Tia, who had been forcing a smile, asked in a dejected Tone.
"How could I? At your Age, I hadn't even killed a chicken. You've done very well," I sighed and smiled slightly.
"I... I will train hard after I go out. I definitely will. In the future, I will definitely be able to face it. So... so please don't be angry with me, okay?"
"Okay, I'll cheer you on."
I turned around and gently patted Tia, who was pulling my sleeve and resting her small Head on my Chest. This little one was finally growing up.
After returning to the Village, we recounted our Experience to Sakhrul and received News from him that the Village's Waypoint would be connected to the Rogue Encampment within the next few days. This was indeed good News. I quickly found Akara and learned that the negotiations with the Horadrim were also in the final stages. After the Waypoint was opened, within a month, the Camp would successively welcome 600 Horadrim Sorceresses, including 100 Class Changers and 500 Mercenaries. Soldiers were temporarily not needed, as the Camp's capacity was limited, and too many unfamiliar Adventurers flooding in at once would be difficult to Manage.
However, Sorceresses were a popular Class and had always been in short supply at the Rogue Encampment. Therefore, we believed that these 600 Horadrim Sorceresses would quickly Integrate into the ranks of the Camp's Adventurers. It was estimated that the next batch of Horadrim would arrive after half a year.
Of course, there was also the issue of Supplies, which was a minor Matter. The Horadrim had been isolated for a thousand years and must have accumulated a considerable amount of Gold Coin. With Money, everything would be easy. Could the vast Sanctuary not supply the needs of a mere fifty thousand people? Only some scarce Items – such as Town Portal Scrolls – still needed to be discussed. In fact, the best Method would be for the Horadrim themselves to collect and produce the Raw Materials, as they had no shortage of Combat Power.
Another point still under discussion, related to future development, was whether to connect the Village's Waypoint to other Waypoints after the Horadrim's connection with the outside world stabilized, allowing Adventurers to enter and making this one of the Adventurer Gathering Places. This was indeed a problem. Opening up to the outside world was definitely more beneficial than harmful for the Village's economic and cultural development. However, it also depended on whether the arrogant Horadrim wanted to develop their economy and whether they valued the cultures of other Races. But, when I conveyed the News about Duriel to the Great Elder, the Horadrim's Tone clearly softened a lot. After all, if a large number of Adventurers gathered here, they wouldn't have to worry about Duriel causing trouble in the future.
These were all things I heard from Akara. Of course, the private negotiations were definitely more than just these. How could the cunning and sly Akara not take advantage of the Horadrim as a piece of fat meat? The Elders led by Sakhrul were not pushovers either. Everyone was just cooperating to achieve a win-win situation; at most, it was just a matter of who benefited more.
While I was being caught by Akara and having these things drilled into me, on the other side, the Horadrim also welcomed another Guest. Carlos, who had been following us, also quietly sneaked in a few days after we entered the Village. Of course, he didn't intend to cause trouble for the Horadrim; he just wanted to see if there was anything he needed within the legendary Horadrim Tribe.
However, his Luck didn't seem to be very good. Relying on his Strength, he quickly cleared out most of the Ancient Tomb but didn't find anything useful. It made sense; even if there were any good things hidden in the Ancient Tomb originally, they should have been moved back by the Horadrim who had lived here for thousands of years. It wouldn't be his turn to take them. So, he set his Gaze on the Mage Tower. But even more unfortunately, there happened to be a stingy Old Man guarding it, known as the Rogue's Number One Stingy. When Carlos casually stepped into an empty Library, Fara had already appeared behind him, nonchalantly taking a Book from the Bookshelf and slowly flipping through it.
The subtle Movement made Carlos suddenly turn around. Seeing Fara, who had appeared behind him at some unknown Time, his neck felt instantly cold.
"Teacher Fara, long time no see." Carlos bowed slightly.
"Heh heh, wasn't it just last month that we met?" Fara replied flatly, his Eyes never looking at Carlos.
Had he been discovered right when he started following them? Carlos was stunned, awkwardly not knowing what to say.
"Ah!! You and Seattlek, I watched you grow up. Now, I'm old, and I can no longer guess what's going on In One's Head. I know a little about your Experience, but there's nothing you need here."
Fara turned around, abandoning his usual disrespectful demeanor, and deeply gazed at Kalot before throwing the Book in his hand over.
"The Horadrim here don't seem to have mastered much useful Data."
He sighed. He had been staying in the Mage Tower researching these past few days. While many of the Data here had opened his Eyes, that was all. The once glorious Horadrim could not possibly have only these superficial things left. Cain, who was researching with him, also strongly agreed with this point.
"Here's a Suggestion. Perhaps you should go see the Horadrim in Act II. You've been following for so long, you should know the Method, right?" After speaking, Fara turned back and no longer looked at Carlos.
Silently flipping through the Book in his hand, Carlos's face was gloomy and uncertain. Finally, he revealed a deep sense of loss. Clenching the Jade in his embrace, his Gaze became firm again.
"This student understands."
Putting the Book back in its original place, Carlos bowed again. Turning around, his Footsteps paused for a moment.
"Teacher Kashya, how is she?"
"Good, very good. Drinking Alcohol and fighting every day. She won't die," Fara replied grumpily.
"Then, this student takes his leave." Carlos, who had been expressionless, couldn't help but reveal a warm Smile at the Corner of his mouth before striding away.
Hmm. It seems I have another good Helper.
Watching Carlos's disappearing Back View, Fara smiled slyly. Finding the Horadric Staff in Act II wouldn't be easy. With Carlos, an Expert with considerable Skill, the progress would undoubtedly be much faster. He was now somewhat impatient to know what good things were in the Horadrim Tribe in Act II. If it weren't for the Camp's Matters keeping him busy, Fara might even have gone himself.
However, speaking of which, this kid Carlos really wasn't cut out to be the Protagonist. It's not that there were no good things in the First World; the Horadric Cube, Tal Rasha's Soul Legacy, which one wasn't an Opportunity for him to break through his Bottleneck? It's just that all these benefits were taken by that kid. This is probably what they call "the gears of Destiny are turning," Fara muttered to himself, shaking his Head. He then buried himself back in the sea of books...
It had been the fourth day since returning from the Ancient Tomb. Life was quite leisurely. With the lively little girl Tia accompanying me all day, life wasn't boring. It's just that the Gazes of the young men around seemed much fiercer. Was it my imagination? I didn't realize Tia was so popular among the Tribe members.
Of course, I didn't think the enthusiasm she showed towards me was what they called Love. At most, it was just some liking. Her Nature was originally like this, treating everyone with friendliness and warmth. Plus, I was an outsider who was good at reciting scriptures (an idiom for someone who is more respected or listened to because they are from elsewhere), and I had a Brain full of strange and wonderful insights. Therefore, it was only natural that I could gain her Friendship. So please, stop looking at me with such terrifying Gazes, okay?
So, on the fifth day, when Tia was dragging my sleeve and walking down the Street, allowing me to fully Experience how Gazes could turn into "flashing blades and clashing swords," the Elders, who seemed to want to carve Magic Arrays on their foreheads, finally sent News – the Teleportation Portal between them and the Rogue Encampment was open.
"Ooh—"
Everyone on the Street immediately cheered. Even Tia was so happy she jumped up in excitement and clung to me, a scene that seemed to be Accepted as well.
The day after the Teleportation Array opened, we were going back. Akara and the other two needed to return to the Camp as soon as possible to prepare for the reception of the Horadrim. 600 Sorceresses were different from 600 Commoners; if not handled well, the entire Camp could descend into chaos. As for me, the idle Elder, I was purely accompanying them out of Friendship; it didn't Matter whether I returned or not. But I didn't want to stay here and enjoy the Baptism of those Gazes anymore.
Great Elder Sakhrul, along with several other Elders whose Names I couldn't recall, followed by nearly a thousand onlookers from the Horadrim, saw us off. Most of those following were restless young people. Their Vision was naturally not us, but the opened Teleportation Array. No Matter how much they longed to go out, not a single one of them requested to leave, but quietly awaited the Tribe's allocation of spots. This showed the Discipline of the Horadrim.
"Fanfan~~~"
As I stepped onto the Steps, Tia's voice came from behind. Didn't this little one say she was too sad to come? What was it now? I turned back and saw her squeezing out from the Crowd, jumping and waving at me.
"Remember to come back and see me!"
I waved back to her from a distance.
"And~~~"
What now? I turned back again, smiling bitterly.
"My Body is ready anytime, you can come and ask for it anytime!!"
"Pfft—"
I spit up three liters of blood and stumbled onto the Steps. After finally getting up, I was pierced through by hundreds of Gazes that felt substantial, and I collapsed again powerlessly.
"This... this is a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding!!"
Facing Akara and the others' meaningful Gazes, I tried hard to explain. Under countless murderous Gazes behind me, I almost hunched over as I entered the Teleportation Array. The moment the White Light flashed, I subconsciously turned back and saw that the Killing Intent emanating from those hundreds of young Horadrim men was so thick it seemed to condense into a giant black Skull in the air above.
It seems I'll have to be extra careful of my back during future Training. Who knows when I might be submerged by countless Lightning, Fire Ball, Ice Bolt, and other Magic spells.
After returning to Rogue, I was Fallen for a few days at Home, then I found Akara.
"Akara, didn't you say that since I've already defeated Duriel, I would be exempted from the Lut Gholein test and allowed to go directly to Kurast Docks? That should still count, right?"
Given that the Mini-Boss competition in Lut Gholein was too fierce, Akara had planned to include "defeating Duriel" as part of the Lut Gholein test. Of course, this could only be implemented after the Horadrim agreed to open the Teleportation Array. And I, being the first person to try this, naturally wanted to get a free ride.
"Of course," Akara said with a Smile.
"Then why don't you just let me use the Remote Teleportation Station to go directly to Kurast!"
I shamelessly went behind Akara and massaged her shoulders, my face full of a fawning Smile.
"Of course not," Akara's Smile didn't change. She enjoyed my service without changing her Expression while mercilessly Refusing my small Suggestion.
"Why!!" My Expression was grief-stricken and indignant, pretending to burst into Tears and run away.
"This is also part of the Trial."
"I get seasick."
"Then you need to train even more."
"What if a Shipwreck happens? I, a fine young man of the Rogue Encampment, will sink to the bottom of the Ocean! Aren't you worried?"
"It's okay, I believe with your Strength, you can handle even a hurricane."
I said, Akara, you have more confidence in me than I do myself. A hurricane? Do you want me to star in a production of "Robinson Crusoe"?
In Helplessness, I had no choice but to secretly find Fara, planning to persuade him with Money and reason. When I dangled the shining Gold Coin in front of his Eyes, his Eyes immediately lit up. He snatched it with a Speed that even Kashya would envy, saying he could consider it. Then, the next day, he came running over happily to tell me that the Result of his consideration was "no."
Hmph hmph, give me back my Gold Coin! You old scoundrel, you're so old and still cheating a child out of Money, have you no shame!!!
Finally, I obediently took the Teleportation Array to Lut Gholein. Before leaving, I gave Fara the middle finger. I'll remember this Money. Don't think that Rogue's Third Stingy will give up so easily.