Chapter 283 – Aintrier (2)
A place where all the goods worth money in the world co together.
That was the image people had when they thought of the city Aintrier.
‘A place where, as long as you have money, most problems can be solved easily.’
It followed money but maintained strict neutrality, and whether it was conflict between factions or criminals, within the territory of Aintrier, everyone tended to avoid clashes.
‘Because it’s the main stage of the black market.’
I thought of Dark Sales.
An event where the black market sold items deed special to VIPs. Given the timing, the owner of that item likely hadn’t appeared yet.
‘The problem is money.’
You needed money to enter Dark Sales, and the required amount was enough to make you gasp. There was no way I could afford it with the cash I had on hand.
‘Should I ask Fenry?’
She had certainly made good money thanks to , so I figured she might offer at least a little help—but that was my mistake.
Fenry, obsessed with money—no, Greedy Chaser.
Blowing a cloud of smoke in my face, she said,
“You’re not borrowing it, you're asking to give you money? Are you insane?”
“Haven’t you made a fair bit thanks to ?”
“You think elves live on grass alone? With all the people flowing into the World Tree, I have no idea how much more money will be drained just to feed them.”
“Then…”
“I can’t give it, but I’ll lend it to you.”
“You’ll lend it?”
“Low interest, 20%.”
“Low… 20%?”
“Monthly. 20% per month isn’t bad.”
“Monthly?”
That ant the principal would double in five months.
“Because it’s you, I’m giving you this rate. You should be grateful.”
What kind of con-elf was this?
She was worse than an illegal loan shark.
“I’ll pass.”
“Really? Then hand over 10,000 gold.”
“I said I’m not borrowing it.”
“No, that’s your dues. You think the World Tree Alliance runs itself? We’ll collect dues to fund it. I’ve already discussed it with the elder hag. You’re part of it too.”
“What? It’s not like Hunt has a lot of people—”
“So, are you in or not?”
As Fenry looked up at while sketching plans on how to exploit the dwarves like slaves, I let out a dry laugh and handed over the last of my ergency funds.
We were just starting to get things moving after forming the alliance, and I didn’t want to throw a wrench in it over sothing petty.
“When the next collection date cos, I’ll let you know. Be ready with the money.”
It felt like being extorted by a delinquent high school girl at the peak of her rebellious phase.
I ca to borrow so money and ended up losing 10,000 gold.
Shaking my head, I started walking toward the World Tree when soone called out to .
It was Lily.
She was leaning against a tree trunk, staring blankly at the sky. When she saw , she waved cheerfully.
“What are you doing here?”
“I’m sleepy. About to take a nap.”
“Didn’t you say you were heading to the forest outskirts this morning?”
“Oh, they told not to co. They said I wouldn’t help the barrier if I wasn’t staying in the forest.”
The witches were preparing a near-permanent grand barrier to protect the World Tree.
Due to its power, any witch who cast it couldn’t leave the barrier. After discussion, it seed the decision was made for only the Elder and Cordy to remain.
“When will the barrier activate?”
“Mm, a week? Ten days? They said it’d take about that long.”
That was quick, considering it was a grand barrier. It showed how strong their resolve was to protect the World Tree.
I nodded and glanced around. It was noisy—people everywhere carrying timber and working.
“Ugh, co on! Just a bit more!”
“It’s too heavy!”
“Hang in there! We need to get the fra up today!”
Dwarves, elves, even witches—
Everyone was sweating and helping build the village.
And there was Lily, preparing to nap in the middle of it all. It felt oddly out of place.
Like a grasshopper nestled among hundreds of ants.
Keurgh!
“Keros, you’re here?”
As Keros ran up wagging his tail, Lily pointed at the largest fallen tree nearby.
Keros bit into the tree trunk and shook it.
Crack! Crack!
He was built like a Shiba Inu but massive—each shake of his head sent the tree, several tis his size, swaying like a reed.
Monts like this reminded what a magical beast truly was.
Keros dragged the tree-sized log to the work site.
Even Keros was working.
“Shouldn’t you help too?”
“Natasha and I got exempted for training. They said it’s important.”
“Training?”
Looking around, Natasha was nowhere to be seen.
She was likely in the spirit realm’s rift.
The training Lily ntioned was only possible in that space.
“The weather’s nice today. Perfect for a nap!”
“When will you train?”
“When I feel like it?”
At this rate, she probably wouldn’t train at all.
Lily had Keros bite into two more trees, and a little later, she lay her head on a small rock and fell into a deep sleep, snoring.
The only witch who didn’t care about Fenry’s judgnt.
Her curse—Sloth—was indeed powerful.
I headed near the World Tree and found a large hole beneath the overturned soil. I slipped inside.
It was a passage leading to the World Tree’s roots.
The spirit realm rift.
Though the seed’s shell had been absorbed into my body and vanished, the rift remained.
It hadn’t expanded, but was still active at about the size of a fist.
Because of it, a portion of the spirit realm’s domain had taken root under the World Tree, making the presence of spiritual entities more pronounced.
That’s why Natasha was training here.
“…Eeit!?”
When I reached the clearing where the shell had been, Natasha was gritting her teeth and throwing slow punches within the domain.
Her face was drenched in sweat, and her movents wavered with every swing.
She was using Quanru, utilizing Gereflam.
The giant tribe’s spirit, Gereflam, now wrapped around her with a far greater presence than before.
‘She really is relentless.’
Ever since I told her how I awakened to 5-Star in the rift, Natasha had practically lived here.
Training to expand the vessel with the help of a spiritual entity—
The pain of having one’s soul and body torn apart was unimaginable.
But it seed this absurd thod suited her.
[Her presence is thicker than before.]
“You an Gereflam?”
[The giant tribe’s spirit has fully settled into its host’s body. It ans the vessel has grown that much.]
“Then… can she reach 6-Star?”
[Unless she’s the king of the giants, I doubt Gereflam alone can bring her to 6-Star.]
After a mont of thought, I asked cautiously,
“Then… what about you, Reto?”
I asked just in case.
Could Reto push to 6-Star again?
If possible, it was a gamble worth taking.
[That depends on the synchronization rate of your heart. Thanks to the shell, your current rate barely sustains 5-Star.]
“I-Is that so?”
[Increase the synchronization rate. If you want to raise your survival rate, that’s your only option.]
“Synchronization rate, huh…”
He ant the heart of Retonicalus.
[Retonicalus’s Heart – Synchronization Rate: 60%]
It had originally been 55%, but absorbing the shell raised it to 60%.
If I could push beyond 70%, then 80%, even 90%, wouldn’t that open the path to further growth?
‘So my next growth thod is set.’
To raise the synchronization rate, I needed to collect more divine nas.
As Reto had said, this body’s mana sensitivity was trash.
Training wouldn’t help grow—I needed Reto’s assistance.
[Looks like that one will awaken first.]
“Really?”
Natasha wasn’t the only one training in the rift.
Anyone with a spirit could train here.
It had beco a “special” training ground beneath the World Tree.
Among them was a figure black as ink.
The one Reto pointed to was Karl.
The spirit Karl controlled was inky black.
He was slowly walking toward the center of the clearing.
He too was forcefully expanding his vessel, and though he had fainted just yesterday, he was adapting quickly.
‘He really is different from the other ghosts…’
The others couldn’t even move properly at the edge of the clearing.
They collapsed and rose repeatedly, groaning—unable to control their spirits.
Even at the sa 4-Star level, the difference was clear.
“Huh?”
At so point, Karl had approached to within ten ters of Natasha.
From that point on, his movents slowed, as if moving underwater.
His motion was nearly imperceptible.
But if Karl reached Natasha’s location, I had no doubt he’d awaken to 5-Star.
‘If Karl and the others can grow without issue this way, I’ll need to incorporate the spirit realm rift into the training program.’
A special training ground created by the rift—
It would surely be a major asset to our force’s growth.
I stepped out of the rift and erged from the hole.
Saaahhh—
A cool breeze blew as leaves from the World Tree fluttered down.
A fragrance unique to the World Tree drifted into my nose—a scent that cald the heart.
“Huh?”
Mixed in with that scent was another pleasant aroma.
I turned toward the direction of the breeze.
An elf stood there, long hair fluttering, gazing blankly up at the World Tree.
It was Sharbadin.
“What are you doing here?”
“Oh, you’re here?”
Sharbadin, seemingly imrsed in the World Tree’s aura, turned and smiled at .
She looked back and forth between the World Tree and , then spoke.
“No matter how long I look at it, I don’t get tired of it. It just… makes you feel at peace.”
“To elves, it’s a blessing.”
“Ordor Forest has changed so much.”
“It’ll change even more from now on.”
“If Nella could’ve seen the World Tree, she would’ve been so happy. She rejoiced more than anyone at its birth.”
“Is she doing well?”
Sharbadin smiled and nodded.
“Yes. Now that she’s beco the master of a divine na, she’s been very busy.”
“Seems like she’s gained followers too.”
“Yes. Humans adore her.”
I had said that based on 4-Star Knight Ravitán’s reaction, but hearing it from Sharbadin, Nella’s influence seed even greater than I’d imagined.
“Nella asked to send you her regards. She said to please take care of the Master.”
“I’d love to care for Fenry, but she keeps doing things to get on my nerves.”
If only Fenry were even half like Nella… no, even a quarter.
“As a token of thanks, Nella sent so spoils of war.”
“Spoils of war?”
“Items obtained from Beneta. At Nella’s request, Dorneth made so refinents before sending them.”
Spoils from Beneta would include the equipnt of Harkman Oleve, the janitor of Demtor, and the rcenaries he brought.
Karl had left those spoils at the castle, and it seed Dorneth had repaired them and sent them over.
Could it be that even Harkman’s enchanted armor and greatsword were restored?
All of his subordinates’ equipnt had been magical artifacts too.
If all of them had been repaired and restored—
‘That’s going to be worth so serious money.’
Eyes gleaming, I followed behind Sharbadin as she headed toward the residence.
Forget what I said earlier.
If Fenry were even a fraction like Nella, that would be enough.
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