Chapter 617: The Gray Chamber Merchant Group [2] |
"Assistant? Working for you..?"
An'as looked at the merchant, stunned, his expression a mix of confusion and bafflement. And then, as he properly registered the situation, his face changed, and his voice raised.
"How ridiculous!? What sort of nonsense are you spouting?"
The disdain in An'as's face became all too clear.
How could he not be baffled? Some random "merchant" he knew nothing about had appeared out of nowhere and declared him an assistant. As if that made any sense.
This guy...
He was a total lunatic!
"I can't gauge your strength, but I don't think you're anywhere near as strong as the seven lords. It's also nothing compared to the Temple. Why would I work for someone like you? What can you even provide me? I can eas—"
"At the rate that you're progressing, you'll be stuck in your rank for a very long time."
The merchant casually glanced at the sea.
"Like I said before, I know quite a bit about you. I've been closely watching you for some time, and found enough information to know your current position."
"What sort of—!"
"You've only recently been promoted to the team leader rank. The average time that someone remains stuck in such a rank is about five years. If you do exceptionally well, you'll be promoted in two years."
"....Ah."
An'as was speechless. He couldn't find any words to argue back. No, but most importantly, how did he know so much?
This information wasn't something that just anyone could know.
"What happens once you get promoted? You'll become a collector. How long do you think it will take for you to rank up to become a Luminarch?"
An'as felt his lips become dry.
The ranks for the temple were as such: Acolyte, Emissary, Team Leader, Collector, Clergy, High-Clergy, Luminarch, Solarch, and Radiant Hierophant, or best known as the living Saint.
"To rank up from Collector to Clergy doesn't just take merit. You need to display abilities befitting such a rank."
With a casual glance in An'as's direction, the merchant shook his head.
"At your current Tier 4 rank, there's simply no way for you to rank up to become a Clergy. You'll need to develop a domain at the very least."
"Wait, how do you..."
An'as's eyes widened when he saw the merchant see through his strength with just a glance. However, before he could say anything more, Lazarus raised his hand and stopped him.
"It doesn't matter how I know. The only thing you need to know is that I can help you."
"....What?"
Help...? An'as's lips opened and closed as he struggled to find the right words. How could someone like him...
Seeing his struggle, the merchant from afar smiled.
"Did I not say it before? I'm a merchant who comes from very far. I do have quite a few things that might come in handy for you. Who knows..."
He shrugged, closely looking at An'as.
"...I might even be able to help you develop a domain."
"Hiss."
An'as drew a cold breath upon hearing the merchant's words. Develop a domain? As if such a thing were easy! Especially in this treacherous place where everyone thought about their own benefit.
For years, An'as had been stuck in the same rank, unable to develop a domain.
This was something that nearly everyone struggled to develop. In fact, almost ninety percent of people remained stuck in the fourth tier, never capable of developing a domain. To most people, the fifth tier was the wall that separated the normal people from the talented.
If there really was an item that could help him develop a domain, then there wouldn't be so many people stuck at such a level.
An'as didn't buy his words.
But...
What if?
There was always that 'what if' that lingered at the back of his mind.
"Hoo."
An'as took a deep breath, calming his thoughts down.
Though he was tempted to accept the offer, he still wanted to figure out what the motives behind the merchant were. There was no such thing as a free lunch.
"What exactly do you need from me?"
The merchant smiled at the question.
"Seems like I've managed to tempt you a little."
"...Speak. Don't waste my time."
"Well, it's nothing much."
The merchant crossed his legs while staring at the crimson sea before pointing towards the distance.
An'as cocked his head in confusion.
"Ah?"
He wanted the sea?
"Remnant Sou—"
"That's impossible!"
An'as immediately cut Lazarus off before he could finish his words. He didn't need to listen to his voice to understand what his goal was.
He wanted to go to the Remnant South.
The land where the Eclipsed Maw was!
"If your goal is to go to the Remnant South, I suggest you give up on the idea. Like I said before, the Crimson Sea is closely monitored by the Seven Lords. Getting past them needs special boats, and such boats only come once every several months. The most recent boat just left. And even if it was here, getting a place on the boat is impossible!"
The remnant south was an extremely dangerous place. It was where the Eclipsed Maw was located, and it was filled with all sorts of monsters. However, just as dangerous as the place was, it was also filled with opportunities.
It was filled with all sorts of resources, and it was for this reason that the Seven Lords prevented passage.
They wanted to monopolize the resources for themselves.
"Each one of the Lords is a monster of the eight tier, with hundreds, if not thousands, of crew members by their side. Trying to get to the Remnant South without their approval is like asking to get yourself killed!"
But that wasn't the scariest part.
"Even if you're strong. Let's say Tier 9, you'd still most likely lose! Not only do you need to take into account the number of crew members helping the Lords, but you also need to take into account the environment! You're not fighting on land. You'll immediately be put at a disadvantage."
There was a reason why nobody had been able to overthrow the Seven Lords. Not only were they strong, but even if someone stronger showed up, in the water, they were nearly invincible.
There had been several instances in the past where a Tier 9 had tried taking on one of the Seven Lords, only for them to lose miserably.
It was such events that made everyone give up on the notion of fighting them.
"If your plan is to—"
"Don't worry about that."
In spite of An'as's warnings, the merchant remained calm, the same warm smile tugging at his lips as he stared at the distant Crimson Sea.
"I was aware of the circumstances from the start."
"Then!"
"...Then, nothing."
He slowly turned his attention towards An'as.
"I'll still stick to my plan, and you're coming with me."
"Me? What—"
"Like I said before, the moment you took money from me was the moment you became my assistant. I'll make sure you work your worth."
"You're crazy!"
An'as's voice rose, but the merchant ignored him and stood up, gently patting his clothes clean before turning around and moving towards the bazaar.
"Wait, where are you going...? I told you, I'm not—"
"You said the same thing the last time. Don't worry about that, I'll come find you when the time comes, my assistant."
"Huh?"
Last time? When did he...
"...Oh, and don't even think about reporting me to the temple. This conversation we're having... It's not exactly the first."
"What...? Wait, what do you mean?!"
The merchant's finger pressed casually against his temple, his back to An'as as he began walking away, his figure slowly melting into the crowd.
Even as he disappeared, his voice lingered in An'as's ears, sharp and unsettling.
"I'm capable of so much more than you think. I also know a lot. Things that you personally aren't even aware of, haha. It'd be best if you kept your mouth sealed unless you want all your hard work to go in vain."
These were the last words An'as heard before he disappeared completely.
An'as could only remain standing on the spot, his face frozen as his mouth opened and closed.
"What did...?"
***
"Huerk!"
I stopped inside a deserted alley within the city, pressing my hand against the side of the wall as my stomach lurched. A silver string flowed down from my mouth as my entire body shook.
"A-ah, shit."
I stared at my trembling arm, my mouth pressing tightly.
'This is taking a bigger toll on me than I originally expected.'
Rustle~
A sudden rustling echoed in the midst of my situation. Looking up, a black owl appeared not far from me.
"Are you okay, human?"
"...I...I can manage."
I replied while forcing myself to stand upright and forcing myself back into my facade. But the moment I did, my stomach twisted again.
This couldn't be helped...
...It was a reaction that came from my mind directly.
It was rejecting what I was trying to do.
But I had to do it regardless of whether I wanted to or not.
This was the only way for me to reach the fifth level of emotive magic.
'Yes, this is all for that...'
I was not the same person as before.
I no longer had the ability to spam the first leaf or the second leaf in order to improve my emotive magic. And even if I was capable, I knew that it wasn't enough for me to reach the fifth level.
The fifth level was fundamentally different.
...The slow growth became painfully apparent to me.
And that was when I realized...
To reach the fifth level, I needed to do something different.
I needed to be different.
I couldn't stay as Julien or Emmet anymore. I had already experienced all there was to experience as them.
To reach the fifth level.. I needed to become someone else.
To experience things from a different perspective.
And as such, I became Lazarus.
An elegant merchant from afar.
But...
"Kh... who would've thought things would be this problematic?"
In order to experience things as someone else, I had to become them. I had to fully immerse myself in the persona. Making myself forget all about what I once was.
It was hard, and my body was rejecting it.
But even so...
'I have to do it.'
In order to improve my emotive magic, this was a must, and as such, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath, I brushed my hair back and calmed down.
This wasn't the first time I had done something like this.
Perhaps, all that acting in the past had been a foreshadowing of what was to come.
Opening my eyes again, my lips slowly curled.
I immersed myself once more.
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