The guards looked positively menacing. If the militia NPC had mostly been around level 20 ish, the ones here were about level 40 and had shiny-looking equipment.
The place was hectic, there were tons of NPC moving about, and an industrial district / commercial district could be seen in the distance.
Sprigfield —> Resource Outpost
Timber City —> A production City
”Woo?!” (What’s that?!)
Their bodies started glowing with gray light. This was an automatic spell that would approximate their karma. But, it mostly based its evaluation on the last days.
Luckily for him, stealing from bandits wouldn’t be considered a sin. As for any other vile deeds, it was simply impossible. After all, he hadn’t met any other soul for ages.
Jack strode in confidently, not minding the test at all.
[Bringer of Chaos Activated!]
”?!?”
That’s when the gray light suddenly turned into all-corrupting darkness. The energy even seemed alive as it wiggled around.
”An Apostle of Darkness! Hunt this guy!!!” The guards were already locking unto him.
Jack didn’t hesitate one bit as he ran. He knew fighting would give him a quick death in the best-case scenario! He fled as quickly as a man with diarrhea searching for a bathroom.
— Crush! —
As he ran, he hurriedly twisted his body out of nowhere, the many spears aimed at him penetrating the rocky ground easily.
”Bullies, they’re all bullies!” He kept complaining. Had he known this would happen, he wouldn’t have bothered with the entry token in the first place.
Their party only stopped once they had returned to the mountain, hiding amidst the many rocks. The only saving grace was that they had plenty of experience camouflaging in the mountains.
”Where did he go?! His traces disappear right here. He has to be under that boulder!! Crush it!!!”
— Shatter! —
They could only grumble in disappointment, for Jack wasn’t there. Only when they had left did the crater suddenly shake.
A bloodied Jack extirpated himself from under the second hiding layer. This had been real close! Dying now would mean returning to Sprigfield and having to travel back. How about no!
”Woo?!” (Why did they do that?!)
The little wolf was boiling with fury. Those people really didn’t know how to welcome visitors! It wanted nothing more than to bite their ankles.
”Don’t worry. This is just a small complication.” Jack reassured his partner. Still, how was he to deal with this issue?
Option A: Find a method to hide his title from the magical detection
Option B: Destroy the whole system
As a cultured youth hailing from a civilized world, the choice was extremely simple. They proceeded to circle around the City toward another entrance gate.
Of course, Jack had to change their disguise so that they wouldn’t be caught on sight. This was the moment when Carving came in play once again.
This walk let them see the scenery: 2 gates, a small river lazily floating across the City, and guards patrolling the tall walls.
A few pointed their way, for they had received the news about fugitives. A group even left the rampart to scowl at them at mid-range.
”We’re looking for a humanoid and a wolf….never mind, it can’t be them!” Their leader quickly determined their innocence.
After all, not only did the clothes not match, but there were actually two humanoids there, both wearing cool armor— Or so it seemed.
As soon as the soldiers were out of view….
”Woo!!” (This is fun!!)
The little wolf was having mad fun playing knight, a heroic red cape floating behind it. Still, walking on two legs sure was hard, and yet its master did it all the time! OP!
”Knight of the Moon, let us proceed with our plans. Are you ready for the most difficult challenge of your life?”
”Wooo!!” (I’ll do it for sure!!)
”Great! This is gonna be fun!”
A human and a little wolf cackled evilly, discussing their upcoming plan…
━━━━━━ POV ━━━━━━━
A knight was diligently roaming the streets.
”Woo!”
Moon Moon encouraged itself. Its master was counting on it, so it couldn’t drop the ball.
After the little wolf passed the entrance gates, white light surrounded its body. That’s when many humans came out of nowhere, crowding around it and almost scaring it to death.
Had they seen through the wonderful disguise its master had made it? Had it made another mistake?! Thousands of similar thoughts swirled inside its head.
”Wow! Such a pretty white color! How can someone be so pure?!” Impressed humans commented as they saw the bright white light around its body.
”This man is obviously a Saint! Just look at that radiance!”
”Please say a prayer for our sake!”
”Please bless my baby!”
Moon moon waved its paws in denial, trying to gesture with the orange gauntlets. The bystander instantly gasped in shock as they saw the little wolf move.
”He isn’t speaking? Does that mean he’s made a vow of silence?!”
”No wonder his soul is so pure!”
The NPCs misunderstood on their own, only confusing the poor wolf further. Those humans were really weird and silly. After all, its master was the truly great one!
Soon enough, the little wolf left the crowd behind, heading deeper into the City. It couldn’t help but salivate as it smelled plenty of delicious food, but it ignored it all!
It had a holy mission!
”Woo?!” (Maybe here?)
Finding a single shop in such a labyrinth was complex for sure. But, the difficulty wouldn’t deter it!
Fish shop? Nope!
Coffee shop? Nope!
Naked humans shop? Nope!
Small hidden tea shop? YES! This was it!!!
Moon Moon eagerly pushed the door open with its paw. Ding! The clear sound of a bell echoed, a man at the counter turning its way.
”Sorry, but we’re not open yet. We’re busy renovating the place.” He wore strange black clothes, the same its master had described, a Tux Edo!
He had a kind face and a slim build that made him look like a mage, and he even had blue earrings, as its master had said. Apparently, this was to hide his identity.
”Woo!” (Demon Found!!)
The little wolf happily rejoiced, its tail moving from side to side under the armor. The few words were enough to cause a chain reaction.
The Demon tensed, slamming a button under the counter. This caused metallic plates to drop down, blocking every entrance completely.
”You, how did you know my identity?! Also, why are you using the Lycan language?! Who are you?!!!” The Demon barraged the poor wolf with a flurry of questions.
”Woo?”
”Of course that matters! I’ve been hiding in this City for 200 years. How did you find me?! Who do you work for?! Who did you tell about me?!”
”Woo! Wooo!!!”
”Your master sent you? He’s the best master ever? What does that even mean?!” As he spoke, the Demon started emitting raw demonic energy.
The more energy he emitted and the more frightened he became. This newcomer did not fear him at all! It was as if he was utterly used to demonic energy.
He was even gazing at him with pure eyes glowing with great joy. Was he so happy to be accomplishing a mission for his master? Who could warrant such loyalty from a Lycan!
Unfazed by demonic energy + Complete submission to a master….
”What is your master called?” The Demon asked, fearing the answer.
”Woo! Woo!”
”Demon King?! Bringer of Chaos?! He wants to meet me outside the City?!” What kind of ungodly being had just set its eyes on him?!
It didn’t take long for the poor Demon to be completely traumatized. He felt trapped. A being he had not even known about had seen through him entirely.
The master hadn’t even bothered to visit, only sending a subordinate. This was obviously to establish the pecking order. To go or not to go?
”What if I refuse?”
”Woo!”
”?!?”
That’s when the Demon turned utterly white, all hope leaving his eyes. This mysterious warrior had uttered it so nonchalantly, but it was a fate that even gods themselves feared.
”Gods of Death, please have mercy on my soul.” The poor Demon lowly whispered as he followed behind the knight.
”Woo!”
”….” At this point, the poor Demon felt numb.
This crazy Lycan had just happily offered him to play with him and Thanatos the next time they died. Hide and seek….with a god of death?!
Either this guy was crazy or his master had broken the cycle of life and death. What the hell had he suddenly been mixed with?!
The way back was a torturous one. The Demon had always been the kind to scheme in the shadows. But now, he had the brightest lamp in the world aimed at him.
”R-relax, he wouldn’t have gone through all this trouble just to kill me, right?” He could only give himself words of encouragement.
Then they finally reached the Demon King’s temporary camp.
There was a campfire, a youngster busy grilling marshmallows. He seemed ordinary but was abnormally calm. Perhaps he’d be able to extract information from him?
”Hey there, youngster. Can you tell me—”
”Woo! Woo!”
”W-what, he’s your master?!” The Demon couldn’t help but gasp.
Young appearance? Check!
Near omniscience? Check!
Incredible Power? Nope!
”Hello there….” The youngster’s voice felt too ancient for his body.
As the Demon heard that voice, an eerily scary idea flourished in his brain. What if this man was an immortal who had come back with the mana renewal?
He would have to test him….