Day 3.

“Hahaha. Yesterday, I got three pieces of Majet ore.”

“Oooh, lucky you. I only found some Pilici beanstalks. Not worth mentioning, not worth mentioning.”

“Phhft! You two call that boasting? Here! Look at my newfound sword from the Biome!”

“Hear this, I’ve heard that the Grey Irons adventurer group found a mana crystal deposit! Unfortunately, there’re many strong monsters in the area. They’re recruiting helpers.”

“I saw Glenn the Champion kill an enormous monster. The monster core was huge! I wonder how much he got for selling it.”

“Do you know if Izabella is on a quest? I went to her shop yesterday but it’s closed.”

“Hells and damnations! You remember the locked chamber that we passed by? Some dude that came after us spent the effort to unlock it, and found a Profound Codex inside! We’ve just missed a true treasure!!”

While picking today’s quest, Viers listened to the gossip among his fellow adventurers. Most of what he heard was boasting about their lucky encounter in the new Biome.

“Avel,” Callahan greeted him.

“...Cajan.”

“Cal-la-han! You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”

“Perhaps,” Viers riposted the accusation. “I take it your venture is satisfactory?”

“Eh, could go a little bit better. Look, I’m telling you that the Biome is a gold mine. I see no reason you shouldn't go.”

Viers answered after some thinking.

“Actually, you’re right. The appearance of the new Biome also opens new opportunities. I’ll make preparations to go in.”

“Great! Good luck bud. I gotta go. Need to prepare some supplies for my group for today’s delve. See ya inside.”

After the friendly adventurer left, Viers eyed the long line of adventurers. It was even longer than yesterday. People that were eager to pay the entrance fee so they can go to the oh-glorious city-owned Biome.

The entrance fee was also higher than yesterday.

“Hmph,” Viers scoffed and walked to a free guild staff. It was that sullen girl that told him he was not worth her time until he became an Obsidian. Viers dubbed her Peanut because she threw peanut shells at him once.

“What?”

“I want to go inside the Biome,” Viers said.

“The line is over there, if you have eyes. Shooo,” Peanut lazily said.

“You misunderstand, I mean the other Biome.”

***

Viers and Boram arrived in a clearing inside a lush tropical jungle. Tall trees that blocked out the sky, humid air as if they were in the equator.

“Woah...” Boram was awed by the extreme change of scenery.

“Yep, this is a Biome alright. C’mon B, let's go hunting.”

Boram diligently went after Viers’ back. As he expected, this Biome was deserted. The lack of hunters led to the abundance of prey. Therefore it wasn't long until Viers and Boram found a fitting quarry.

A wild bipedal lizard with four arms showed itself.

“Boram, I choose you!”

“...Choose me, Master?” The boy looked confused.

“Just go and beat the monster.”

Shame that he didn't get the reference.

Boram did as he was told and started running towards the lizard, he’d already begun the process of invoking an Arte. Mere moments after the lizard realized his presence, the two meters tall monster turned one head shorter.

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“Overhead Earth Smash!”

There was something satisfying in defeating enemies with a single blow, Viers thought as he watched. Boram’s hammer was infused with yellow-colored energy and fell with magnificent power. The lizard’s head burst like a crunched fruit and it died.

Viers wondered how much effort it would cost him to defend against Boram’s strike head-on.

“Master, I did it!” Boram smiled like a child eager to be praised after doing his homework. Though, the Arte was one of several that Viers bought from the Magisterium at Marakkus. He modified them a bit and let Boram learn the Artes.

“Good, take out the monster core in its chest area.”

“...How do you know there’s a core in this one? Don't only one in four monsters have cores?”

“Common misconception, but that’s a topic for another time. Get the core please,” Viers’ eyes had become like a snake’s turned green under the helmet.

Boram did so and really found a monster core, a red sphere the size of his fist. His master’s mysteriousness kept piling up.

“Let’s find a vantage point to look around,” Viers led the way.

Viers climbed a suitable tree that he found in the next hour, a truly tall tree. Boram volunteered to guard their luggage on the ground and Viers let him. No need to torture the poor boy. He had a deep thought while viewing his surroundings at a similar altitude to a thirty-story building.

Mmm… I must find an opportunity to perform a Leap of Faith one day. You know, for my Horizon. Haystacks are out though. I have enough IQ to understand that a bundle of hay doesn't cushion your fall like in the game… and Leap of Faith to water is too similar to a high dive. Well, there are magic and magic items in this world, I just need to keep a lookout for the chance to perform one. Without any Arte if possible.

This was the third Biome Viers visited but the first of the ‘normal’ kind. The first was Clarissa’s place, it had the size of a castle room. Clarissa’s mother had turned it into a warehouse/tomb. The second was Dia’s Biome, a plant paradise but an anomaly. This was the third, a normal Biome. Mana concentration was higher here, monsters spawned at a reasonable rate.

And it was currently almost empty of competitors.

Folks go to the new Biome, leaving this hunting ground open, Viers chuckled.

Marakkus city had been standing for a long time, there had been several Biomes that opened in the vicinity throughout the years. Just like the new one, adventurers could go inside the city-owned Biomes through the Adventurer’s Guild.

Using Euryale Sight, Viers scouted the area. He saw a few things worth examining from the vantage point. Viers climbed down after a while. He led the way and conversed with Boram in the way.

“I found what we’re looking for. It’s quite close. So why do you think I go inside a Biome at this time?”

“To search for treasures?”

“This is a well-known Biome, Boram. All treasures worth taking would already be taken a long time ago. If we’re lucky, we might find newly appeared natural treasures but I wouldn't count on it. After a newly opened Biome is thoroughly exploited, usually they become a place like we’re in now. As a farm of sorts. Monsters appear, breed, and grow in the Biome. We hunt them for cores and materials, bringing income to the city.”

“I see,” Boram replied.

“There are only a few people around so we practically have this place for ourselves. As for specifically why we’re here… There’s a monster here with a fitting ability for you. You'll kill it then use the core to create an Arte.”

“Yes Master.”

“It is notoriously hard to find and quick to run away. A Groundslider Mole. I’ll help you find it but you’ll be the one to fight it. After all this time, a Rank 1 monster should pose no threat to you, provided you’re careful.”

The task was the same as usual, Boram felt a bit relieved.

“After that you’ll stay here for three days. Alone. You cannot leave the Biome, find food and water yourself. Rejoice, Rank 2s are rare and there are no Rank 3 monsters in this place. Survive nature, fend off the monsters and be vigilant while you’re resting. This is training for the real thing in the wilds.”

Boram almost whimpered but he mastered his urges at the last moment. He was starting to wonder if his life mining rocks at the quarry was better.

“...And you, Master?”

“I have things to do in the city. I’ll come to pick you up after three days and three nights. Try not to die.”

Boram felt like he was thrown off a cliff to a valley filled with dangerous beasts. Certainly not his preferred place to be but his master was a horrible person and didn't balk at doing such a thing to his student.

***

“You are a bad master,” Paina said.

“He must learn to not depend on me to save him every time he is in a bind. I’ve done so too often.”

“Lord Viers, what are you up to?” Farley asked.

Viers had returned to his room after dropping off Boram. He then swiftly changed his clothes and equipment, took off his helmet and wore a mask. His attire was now entirely different from Avel the adventurer’s usual set.

“I’m gonna rob people.”

The new Biome was too suspicious. He had no plans to ever set foot inside the new Biome but he was also unwilling to let such fortune slip through his fingers like that. The earlier boasting of the adventurers stoked the envy in his heart.

“Since I cannot harvest my fortune inside, I’ll harvest it from people that leave the Biome,” Viers sneered.

Paina’s protests were muted by him while Farley started spinning the gears in her head.

“Gods, the nerve of this guy… Don't you think that’s a bit cruel to your fellow adventurers?” Clarissa said.

“It’s their fault if they’re weak enough to be robbed by me.”

Viers left the inn through the window. The sun was setting, according to Callahan, it was almost time for the exit Rift from the Biome to open. People would be leaving the pocket dimension with bags filled with loot. The twilight cast long shadows and Viers blended into them using the Arte Fade in Shadow.