Chapter 3: Isn’t Shining Gold Town Just a Beginner Village? |
Damn it, isn't this Goldshire? Isn't Goldshire supposed to be the newbie village? Why is there something so terrifying in the newbie village?
In the afterimage left by the lightning flash and the darkness that descended once more, Alan nearly made a sound, but he held it back.
Although he didn't know what the other party was, the principle was: if the enemy doesn't move, I don't move.
Waiting in the darkness was excruciating, so quiet that Alan could hear his own heartbeat.
Not long after, another bolt of lightning streaked across the sky, briefly illuminating the room. He saw that the six children, who moments ago had looked like statues dredged from the bottom of a rainy night lake and lined up in a row, had now moved aside, changing their formation to stand in a pentagram pattern.
What were they doing? Performing a ritual?
As Alan's mind raced frantically, he suddenly heard a sharp, piercing scream coming from outside the inn door.
The children arranging themselves into the pentagram formation also turned their heads toward the source of the sound.
The lightning passed, plunging the room back into darkness. Yet, not long after, the door was suddenly flung open violently, and Wen Lei barged in, holding an oil lamp.
You actually came! Uncle Wen Lei, my sworn father, dad!
"Hurry, shine the light over there!" Alan pointed to where the children had just been standing. Wen Lei, though unaware of what had happened, strode over without hesitation, lamp in hand.
However, the corner where the pentagram had just been was now empty, with only damp water stains remaining on the floorboards.
"What on earth happened?" Wen Lei was puzzled. He had just heard the heart-rending scream, and his first reaction was to check on the safety of his "ally," Alan.
"I don't know. This inn seems to have something unclean. Let's go out and take a look." Alan dressed at lightning speed, got out of bed, and lit a lamp.
The two went downstairs to find the innkeeper sitting in the first-floor tavern, frowning deeply as he drank, muttering to himself, "It happened again, just like last time..."
"What happened???"
Seeing it was a distinguished guest asking, the innkeeper rubbed his bald head and said helplessly, "I don't know either. This is the second time this month. Three weeks ago, on a stormy night with thunder and rain just like this, a courier came here to take shelter from the rain overnight. Close to midnight, he ran downstairs screaming, and finally fled in his pajamas into the pouring rain. He's been missing ever since."
He took a gulp of wine and continued, "When it started raining again tonight, I had a bad feeling. I never expected the strange incident from last time to happen again. Just now, one of your fellow guests downstairs suddenly screamed and ran down from upstairs, once again dashing into the heavy rain. No matter how I tried to stop him or ask questions, he paid me no mind."
Walking to the door, the innkeeper pointed at a shadow barely visible in the forest when illuminated by lightning. "See, that's him. He's already run that far. If this continues, my inn will have to close down and go out of business..."
Wen Lei gazed intently for a moment, then began putting on his cloak. "You two wait here. I'll go chase him back."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Wen Lei rushed out.
"Wait for me, I'm coming too!"
With Wen Lei gone, Alan instantly felt a lack of security. He originally wanted to chase after him but was stopped by the innkeeper. "Young Master Prestor, it's too dangerous outside. You'd better stay here."
Recalling the six strange children he had just seen... Alan found it hard to say which place was safer...
"Innkeeper, what's your name?"
Alan thought of a method. If the innkeeper before him was the innkeeper of the Lion's Pride Inn from World of Warcraft, then this place should be relatively safe, because even up to the latest game version, the innkeeper was still alive and well.
"Just call me Farley."
Uh... Alan suddenly realized he had absolutely no idea what the Lion's Pride Inn's owner was called. He only knew Bob from Hearthstone.
Still wanting to see how far Wen Lei had chased, Alan looked outside and then froze stiff.
"Mr. Farley, look..."
Innkeeper Farley followed the direction Alan was pointing and saw that where the tavern entrance had just been was now a red wall built of brick and stone.
Farley and Alan looked at each other.
We're doomed!
The fireplace, candles, and oil lamps on the first floor instantly went out.
"Dobbins! Dobbins! Hurry up and bring me my gun!"
"Get me something too! Get me something too! Anything that can add Strength, weapons or equipment will do!"
The scene descended into chaos, and Farley didn't notice Alan's nonsensical babbling.
The Dobbins that Farley was shouting for made no response. Alan could only follow the clattering sounds Farley made as he moved through the darkness.
"Dobbins! Where the hell have you died!"
Farley finally managed to fumble his way to his armory in the dark and began rummaging around frantically.
Alan also started wildly grabbing things, trying to dig out a piece of equipment that could increase Strength.
This is a white item, this one's white too... damn it, this one adds Spirit, this one adds Intellect.
Farley pulled out his rifle, shouted "Who's there!" and charged forward.
At that moment, Alan finally picked up a short sword.
[Notched Short Sword]
One-Hand, Sword 「Uncommon Quality」
8-15 Damage, Speed 2.1
+1 Strength
Overjoyed, Alan stood up and drew the sword, only to find the entire first floor of the inn had fallen into complete silence. Innkeeper Farley's voice had also vanished.
All he could hear was the system's prompt tone:
「Damn it, Host, you're a damn genius, raising a whole point of Strength attribute in just one day. You're truly a one-in-ten-thousand martial arts prodigy!」
「Mission Objective: Increase your Strength attribute by 1 point, 1/1」
「Mission Name: To Forge Iron, One Must Be Strong Oneself (Completed).」
「Reward: Strength Attribute Points x5 have been distributed.」
「Reward: Random Low-Level Spell is being drawn...」
「...」
「Draw successful. Congratulations, you have successfully obtained the spell: 【Grease】」
Spell Details:
Spell Level: 1st-level
Effect: You designate a point within spell range. Slick grease covers an area centered on that point.
When the grease appears, each creature standing in its area must make a saving throw. A creature that fails the saving throw falls prone.
Additional Note: 「I said you slip and fall, are you deaf?」
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