COI C32
In Isekai City, before the package delivered to Enders Bridge, and it was few days after the festival. An agreement of Thean with the city guild had made into a private matter. Not only Cecilla Brightstage won the bet, there was another big event to the city guild itself. Sork is apprehended and laughing his way to jail, the others who bet on the final match had their shares. Sadly, it is only the second highest bet where the first bet is between Gordon vs the doll. Due to how inflated the currency in this city, the Horsin people or locals are satisfied with their winnings.
The employees of Sister's hope highschool made some shares with the locals by using their devices. Thanks to that, they too have a good sum in their bank account. The entire group from First to Second by names of course except Quail leave their co-workers and meet with the other locals. Everyone has their wins and losses until Illtended remembered the deal with Thean, now he is there at the border where the dome is protecting the swarms outside. He sighs as he prepares, then there is someone else sighing next to him. A Horsin man in a robe where his suit carries a lot of potions.
The Horsin man sees him carrying a package that is stamp for Enders Bridge, it was recently gathered as Illtended is about to put it in his inventory. Illtended is carrying a package of letters from many members in the city guild. He never could expect that there is more, especially Thean's friends. The Horsin man asks him
"Are you really going to deliver it through the swarms?"
"I have too, it's a favor that many of my guild mates"
"Then why there's Guild seal with you?"
"Seal? I was asks to deliver it, wait . . . how do you know?"
"I'm from Enders Bridge"
"No way"
Illtended was tempted to ask him but
". . . I can still handle it. I'll just going to put it in my inventory"
A flick from his UI and the packages disappears in front of the Ender. Illtended is all set to leave the city, and the man besides him is identifying the dome’s barrier. He gets himself and distracted by the way he interacts the dome. The Ender can’t go through it, and nothing happened on him. Illtended moves past the barrier, the dome identified him and allowed him to leave. Leaving the man behind, he tells him one last thing.
“You can use the foundation to deliver it to Enders Bridge”
“Wait? Say that again”
“Surprisingly, you can deliver it to Enders Bridge. The other portal won’t work because it requires neutral mana, but the foundation uses a different source of mana”
Illtended stops and goes back in, a man who knows about the foundation is standing inside the barrier. Nothing for him to find a better way to deliver the package faster, with this man he could possibly know how to. There are a few problems though
“But the foundation is heavily guarded, there are news about the smuggling using the foundation as their gateway in different locations”
“Did they investigate it? I know so far it supposed to no track anyone when leaving from this world. If it linked, then we might invade yours and vice versa”
“Then why did you recommended it?”
“I thought the city guild had the authority to use it. I’ve seen a few adventurers using it”
“Well, that was a special emergency. They used it to travel to the east coast, even using it for an escape”
“Then it is impossible, maybe I could try to talk to them”
“You? Why would they?”
The man shows his papers that he is cooperating with the city, showing the details about the involvement of the elves. The name is also present, Illtended read his name and also his other names as well. He read the name from the city’s rumored criminal.
“The rat? The same man who runs around the city to avoid the police.”
“Awe, you know my infamous name. I have my reasons. But still, do you think I could have a chance to help you deliver it?”
Illtended don’t want to get involve with a troublemaker. And yet, he wants to know why the city guild’s department allowed him here. He turns his eyes were the swarm plaguing their view at the forest. Nothing much of pain to get through all that, because of an urgent delivery. The rat continues
“At least try something else before heading out. The last time we got here, the swarm attracted a few animals blocking our way to the city. Have you seen a swarm limper before?”
Illtended knows that through the news, it’s the carrier nest of the root bites. It became alive after the exposure of Alga’s light.
Once it is destroyed, they will migrate elsewhere to make more nests. Where the alga’s light still there at night, more of them will appeared. The rat didn’t talk about that, instead
“Those animals I’m talking about are from Rune Isles, and that swarm limper attracted them. It still safe by the way, but no carriage can make a safe journey it will block their way”
“That’s fine I can use magic to . . .”
Ilttended forgot the procedure to venture off to Enders Bridge, once you reach closer to Rune Isles. They have to stop using their magic, and try going there by foot for a few hours. They can sleep for one night outside of the city’s outpost to minimize the long distance.
Illtended is still persistent the idea to go through the swarm. A police officer saw them near the barrier, where she finds Myrrkei having a chat from one of the adventurers. She goes over there and tries to communicate with them.
“Hey! Myrrkei, the police department is looking for you. Is there a problem, sir?”
“No, no problem at all”
“Oh officer, this adventurer didn’t believe we can deliver his package with the foundation”
“Wait!”
“Uh huh, is it important?”
“Well?”
“It’s a big package”
“A package, from who?”
Illtended didn’t think this would happen, but he cooperated with the police.
“So, a delivery to Enders Bridge. I think it would be possible, we are using the foundation to transfer the excavators. Because of the swarms, we are forced to use it as for the demands for ores are urgent for the manufacturing industries”
“Are you serious!!?”
“Yes, however, they won’t deliver it back through the foundation. They will find a way to deliver it”
Illtended didn’t know they are allowed to. According to the police, it was recent and it will be planning to reopen it after the reformation and the updates. Myrrkei knows about the foundation that it didn’t use neutral mana, but somewhere else.
They go to the foundation where they see many cargoes stacking up, but not yet ready to teleport it. Many securities are guarding it with every equipment they have to stop anyone to get in or out from there. Emerald and her team are there carrying their equipment to the cargo.
“Myrrkei? Why are you here?”
“Helping this man delivering his package”
“Oh, is the package for Enders Bridge?”
“Yes”
“Wow! That is lucky. It was the government have authorized to transfer the equipment to Enders Bridge. No one knows about it except the officials. I also have Myrrkei’s present for one of our citizens there”
“Seems like they are helping my city for the resources”
“Yeah, and it’s an executive order by the new councils. They need to transfer the equipment before your people stagnate themselves leaving those ores without refining it”
Illtended gives his package to them as he already finished his quest, he turns to Myrrkei and thank him for it. Where he is about to say something, he overheard them.
“Having a special meeting? Myrrkei I thought you were just surveying the dungeons”
“Yes well, more and more of us are showing some potential of finding hidden areas of your city”
Illtended knows about it from the news, mysterious gangs appearing and disappearing after a crime had happened.
It is all happening in Mihayara District, what’s make the government want him to do.
“Say, I heard your conversation. What’s that all about?”
“Many of your criminals know how to make portals, which is easy for them to escape. For us, we can tract it easily. They needed help to find them. I have no idea why they wanted us to cooperate as they took away our equipment to fight”
Illtended didn’t know about that. The city guild should’ve gives quest about it, it is probably for the best as adventurers shouldn’t be part of the security on this matter. Illtended just wave them goodbye as he shouldn’t be involved.
He returns to the city guild with the papers from the government, they didn’t know that there was an emergency teleportation to Enders Bridge. The way Illtended explains answer a few of their questions regarding about the delivery.
“That’s why most of the vehicles are converted to heavy construction equipment. The supplies of ores are dire now” “We still have enough resources”
“Enough? Did you ever see people trying to make runes out of their personal belongings? They demand raw materials for them to manufacture one”
“I never thought we want quality instead of quantity products”
“Like you never seen robotic maids with runes inside its hard drive. They are waterproof with those runes”
“Oh stop that, you’re making me think differently”
“Smile* Yeah I hope you did”
“Fuck you”
Illtended never realize how their society grew more advance than he thought. He is a free agent wants to train newcomers to become adventurers. He is old fashioned but it still works for him. The runes required more resources though, comparing plastic to the runic plastic, the quality of the runic is all purpose material. Making itself being strong, hard, soft, flexible, docile, brittle, or any texture from the rune words.
It made him realize even more why Team Platinum is known for their utilization. Silfa sees Illtended still inside the city and comes to see him.
“Are you not ready to leave yet?”
“Oh Silfa!”
“He said he was done. He brought the package to the foundation with the government’s permission”
“Really? Then that pick up stick game is really is a game”
“And it was meant who will be the one to deliver it”
“Maybe because you’re lucky”
Everyone gets their day like no other, for the delivery of the package end so quickly. There is nothing much for them to do.
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A city being trapped by the swarm. The quests are halted and there is much to do inside, limited with the raw materials or resources they have. The city starts to slow down a bit, but for the police department. Myrrkei and the other Horsin were offered a job to help surveying the districts. They were the first to report to the police and soon after the people began to report it. After tens of reports from the Horsin, they were ignored but now their own citizens report it by the dozens. It is safe to say for them, they shouldn’t underestimate them.
Ruby from the city guild had volunteered on this mission. Her help to the police force will help her improved her skills as an adventurer. Where Myrrkei is there to meet her as they once face it each other.
“It’s been a while, the rat”
“Respects to you, did the tournament made you think about Rune Isles?”
“No, I was too busy doing something else. More and more troubles coming in this city”
“I hope bringing us along with help will find them”
“That’s for sure, better find a seat, I think they are starting”
The police and the volunteered/hired Horsin are here to investigate on this matter.
The officers have already found out the suspects, and they need anyone from them to find their secret hideout. It was called realms and be more specific they are gang made portals for them to hide. It’s like their domain with multiple advantages because it separates a lot of people once they get in. They know other ways to meet up and special pathways to lose the police on sight. It is difficult for them, until Horsins managed to pick it up. Horsin adventurers or they called as surveyors or explorers. They already pinpoint the closes to the public places, and the police managed to raid them one by one.
It was very efficient to them, but this time there is trouble for the police. They show them the returning of the outcasts/defectors or anything what the Horsins called them. They need more help to crackdown those people, and with the help of the failed safe. They will escape easily when beaten, but there was report that the failed safe didn’t activate and sees one of their police officers beaten but save from one of the Enders. However, the suspects who were trying to take a life from the police were killed in return. They show them a picture who save and kill. Myrrkei smirks.
“U’ecin, he is really an opportunist”
“That’s an Ender, how can he be the bad example?”
“There is no need to kill someone, and with our best medical facility will handle the situation even exceeded potential near death conditions”
The police and the Horsins were having problem when dealing with the suspects. It is their mission to maintain order, but they have no power to suppress an Isekai citizen. They are planning to work together by teams if any problems broke out. The Agatheans will manage, but won’t intervene because of their condition.
The Tais of goblins will not agree to this, they are not the Horde chief’s chosen as Sork was one. Their rituals are limited by the influence of their spirits. The police thought so even what happened from the summer festival. The Tais of dwarves are willing, but will only last when the suspects escape. Their recommended runes were denied only use the defensive one. So, they could only do traps. The police's options were getting lower and lower, even more so as Myrrkei’s turn to talk with them. He was called by his employer because of his first search for the realm, without anyone interact with it.
He is there because what he did and the thought of his colleague to join won’t be interested with the limits.
“Enders will not hold themselves back, these people around me are your ordinary people in Kinteinnou. I am from Rune Isles, they have only potential to fight and already lost their sense of use with simple weaponry”
“It’s ok, we will be providing our own version to replicate their familiar weapons”
“That’s where you’re wrong. They will always find a way”
“I agreed to this Enders, we goblins have seen what they are capable of. They are swifter to kill like any other. The region they face is lifeless and they might be doing it again here”
“Listen to the tiny goblin, a few of my kins have travelled their city for the ores. Believe me, holding them back is a disrespect. You even won’t let us use our own weapons”
Police are facing a few arguments here and there, yet, they are still civil. It would be best to start the patrol and try what they can to do with the suspects later on. After the meeting, Ruby and Myrrkei talk about the mission
“The police thought they can handle the situation”
“The city is not in turmoil, Ruby, my guildmembers will find other ways to get their blades”
“I guess, but if any innocent civilians get hurt by you people”
“It’s impossible, we Enders will always hunt at the source”
Myrrkei remembers the Enders guilds, one of them is taking missions to hunt down the rebellion. With only limited numbers of members, they managed for the rebellion only to stretch eastward where near to the northern and northwestern valley were protected by them.
“There is a guild who taught anyone who can kill to track down the target”
“Like what exactly?”
“Herd baiting, trying to harm a few of them to attract a handful. Keep doing it as they will eventually big enough to follow them back to their nest. Or what I can see is taking hostage to attract more”
“That’s . . . I can’t even describe it”
“Don’t worry, the police will stop us when we are getting too far”
Ruby and Myrrkei move on their separate ways, and meet a few people along the way. Other Horsins tried to test what abilities they are allowed to do. It is impossible for them to interact the suspect but can handle themselves to escape. Nothing much for them and the pay is too much for them to ignore, the payment to report about those secret realms and the suspects are equivalent after converting into coins are 80 Cuu each.
It gotten a lot cheaper now thanks to the new security system, and with no report of unidentified criminals yet. Its priority lessens. On the other part of the payment where capturing suspects raises up to 10 Sylvs or 1000 Cuu but no signs of killing them. It made many Horsins thought the impossible to deal with them. Myrrkei hears many people the struggle to get them. Where one of them mention that they have magic items that will harm the citizens themselves. More information after that, the outcasts possessed items from the rebellion. They need proof that the rebellion equipment reached to this city, so that they enforce it.
Walking across to the far distance of South Shore Bay, where the city guild and the foundation are there. The people he sees are lively and enjoying themselves as they head to the beach. It is a promising place as he can’t describe what he sees as a civilization. The city is actually better looking than any other cities except he didn’t visit Purissarwell, and everything around him seem happy. The season of summer that never knew about to have events like this. He continues on and headed to the port to Stranding Island. As he headed there, he sees the screen that advertises some anime.
The anime is just reruns and what portray the same thing what the adventurers they are doing. It is probably their view as entertainment. Where the next advertisement comes along more and more shows for him to see. He stops looking at the screen as the words blurted out and can’t read it. He entered a foreign city, a truly different society, culture, and life. This is their world. Would it be possible they could survive if their world being threatened? He guessed so, but he let focus himself into reality. Only the dominant race should rule this world. Survived after the fall, only proves who is stronger. The demons.
Reaching the port, it is the same as always. Empty and a handful can be seen, they say it looks lonely but living here isn’t worth the price. The planned for helping the city to deal with their criminals are tempting a lot of people. The people themselves don’t want to get involved in their city’s problem, as he sees them trying to live a life. It would envy a lot of people to see them to be fruitful in their own community. The home world of those people is like that, then what about their entirety of their world. Probably be the same with this world without an apocalypse. He starts to question it by comparing their history to theirs, he will be planning going to their library in his spared time.
U’ecin, Ironno, and Rusic are talking together. After finished making perimeter to the building, they have put some finishing touches to the walls. Tired for the entire day's work, the construction is nearly finish for the walls. It is not much, but for nearly a month. The basic structure is good for them to acknowledge their progress.
“You’re saying Haw is making a sphere?”
“Right, also he has a few friends within the city too”
“Rusic, you know I was there”
“U’ecin you bloody murderer . . .”
One hiccup coming from the dwarf is already drinking away for his troubles, and its not about cheering U’ecin up. It felt like a celebration.
“. . . This is a celebration”
Ironno frowned at the idea, where U’ecin got praised by the by standers who witness his brave rescue to the police official. They thought what they saw and the reason for U’ecin’s action was an opportunity, they thought the criminals were unconscious since they can’t kill them effectively. U’ecin already finds a way to kill them directly. Myrrkei comes in and already know what he did, seeing the police about him with the evidence of his actions. They never thought using their own weapons against them is one of the examples. The outcasts are planning to kill their own people, which the same logic for them to use that too.
It was clever for U’ecin to use their own “products” and a few of their mana batteries to replicate the strength of their powers. Leaving those unconscious criminals fell into a coma, where they discovered it hit the right part of their brain to stop the flow of oxygen to their brains, causing the brain dead. The after effect of the teachings of a manhunt is in front of Myrrkei. U’ecin was supposed to stay away from the city, but the employer decided to postpone. Now he is now involved and the police is treating him like Sork, the special exemptions.
The Rusic continues their conversation
“Well now, the rat what the people called you for. Done scouting for the city?”
“No, they have new proposition but everything else is getting regulated further”
“Did Haw still have his potions, Ironno?”
“Juela took away the most severe and efficient. I can tell from a few potions that are supports and for crafting”
“That boy, he is prepared to become a law-abiding citizen here”
“No, it was Juela taking it for him. You should talk to him more”
“I might, but I don’t understand those potions anyway. So, gulp*”
The Rusic keeps drinking and U’ecin drinks his. Ironno pours a drink and give it to Myrrkei, they start drinking for the entire night. Looking at the constructions, the buildings where not even erected yet. Only the foundations cemented on the ground, a few pillars here and there, and a stacks of stone tiles already finished. By the look of their progress, they seem to be built faster than theirs. The gibbering is coming in their circle.
“Two to three people building an entire plot, can you imagine seeing others using magic except us?”
“That’s nothing, you can see how far did we build this thing”
Punching at the walls with the Rusic own strength.
“There! It is sturdy as the wall over there”
He pointed out the same wooden wall from the other corner. Drunken by its own achievement, he proves himself in circles. The city never once rained since the dome in place as they also blabbing about it.
“No rain for days, the last storm was miserable but I’m starting to hic* miss it”
“Don’t tell me, your source of cleaning water”
“There is no well in this island! I have to take a ferry just to wash up”
“You have your ale, and a few more people around. What else of a man could want?”
“A brawl”
“See! U’ecin gets the idea”
“And some good singing too”
U’ecin speaks a good way to entertain themselves. It is great for them someone can do it. Only things they could do now is get drunk and talk about around them. Boring as it is from everyone watches them, as they are more bored as they lied down on their camping beds. Stranding Island needs to open up soon, or they will be bored only through the night. The fortress looks impressive by the outside and empty on the inside, luckily some of the buildings are available for the warehouses. Crazy antics will people say about the night.
The next morning, Myrrkei checks on Haw. If he is interested doing some extra work. He headed to the school where is already outside. It is summer and only a few people are outside. One of the teachers sees him, it was Second.
“An Enders, are you here to see Haw?”
“Yes, I want to talk to him”
Second left and tries to contact with him. He returns with an invitation
“He is busy, but you can meet him if you wanted to”
“Alright, lead the way”
“By the way, the school should have summer school activities. The swarm made it harder for them to enjoy, so they decided to suspend it until it’s over”
“I see”
The school is empty, and nothing to see but it’s amazing structure. He can’t ever imagine a large number of students will be attending here. It is a tall building, and only see part of the facility. They entered a magic room where are Quail and Haw inside.
“Oh, a guest. Is it your guest Haw?”
“Seems so, I told them I’ll be setting up here”
“And I should not interfere yours. I have my reasons”
The two knows not to bother other guildmembers’ business, and for him to be here. It must be important, as for Myrrkei the rumored sphere is in front of him.
He walks towards it, Quail tries to stop him, but stops by Haw. They look at him interacting the sphere. Without touching it, the sphere immediately floats to his eye level. The surrounding magic starts occurring, a sudden flash and force a bit. All three are behind him and didn’t feel the reaction. The flashes only reach only a few meters away. Quail thought it will be affecting them as well, but the reach of the flashes of light couldn't do it. Second couldn’t believe it. Myrrkei stares at it and heard the voices from the sphere. He knows how to handle this old sphere, but the way he can control it, it fears him.
Without a second thought in his mind, the sphere forces out someone from the inside. Thean appeared out of nowhere, a thunderous sound where he appeared as he his head ringing.
“Screams coming from my head, what happened? It forces me out”
Myrrkei turns around and sees someone got out. He looks at the sphere again as it whispers his head. It was fast, but understandable. He response to them
“The sphere has more than just a realm, it’s like the sphere is alive”
A stranger who comes inside the simulation room have more knowledge than them.
The sphere returned back what it used to be and Myrrkei left it alone. He tells Thean about it.
“The sphere is coming from Enders Bridge, so don’t ask why how it interact like that. There are many mysteries, and Haw, properly search the sphere’s content. My curiosity is how much you progress, may I help you a bit as I ask yours”
Quail plays along by his strange attitude.
“What’s going on here?”
“This is Myrrkei, he has his eyes on rare items. You can say he is an explorer, but sometimes his curiosity overwhelmed him to go and get it”
Myrrkei wants to know more about the sphere personally, secretly, he already knows this is the same sphere being delivered to Haw. Back then, the sphere is kept together with the elves. Trying to use the Enders Bridge’s power source to reopen it but failed. It’s been 20 years now it finally reopened. When he was young, this the same interaction that sphere did. Acting it was alive under power of elven magic, but with neutral mana it seems to open. He fears to go in, as we will be lost by exploring alone.
“Are you sure about that?”
Thean questions him as he was busy trying to find inside the sphere.
“I may have interrupted your project, and I might repay for it with my experience”
“How so?”
“Limiting how the sphere of influence reaching to their psyche, spheres from Rune Isles are heavily protected which these are the most valuable. Such as I am, a researcher, will only lowering the causes it will bring”
“No!”
Thean left him and went back inside. Where Haw only thing left for him is to get him out of here. Quail and Second watch Myrrkei leave and they have nothing to say about the incident.
“It’s the same as before, calling you the rat”
Haw never thought he is overacting again after the first incident. There is still not right on his head. Leaving no traces of guilt or shame, Myrrkei curiosity remained wild and reckless.
“I let you see the sphere for how much of a researcher you are, but you seem acting reckless and trying to test it endangering the others. You even show no sympathy from what you have done. No wonder why the guild let you be alone when entered the city”
“I took interest of the city back then, and I have no patience regarding to testify”
Haw should expect something like this. He was not alone trying to cure himself from his own insanity.
It only proven now that Enders Bridge has a collection of people who are honest, and shouldn’t take them likely when they are trying to portray as. As for Myrrkei, he lost his patience. What drove him to go here in the first place. Trying to check what the sphere possesses, and more so he shouldn’t be here exposing himself with the students. That’s for sure Haw understands.
“We better go somewhere else to talk about it”
“Are you still going to help us?”
“Us?”
Myrrkei can’t break off his mind, yesterday, when the meeting with an adventurer.
The Horsin man sees him carrying a package that is stamp for Enders Bridge, where his mind flashes back further connecting the delivery that is sent to Isekai City. He is not obsessed over it, and he knows that. Yet his mind treated this as research, his impulse. Already proven from his mind that he can’t control. The sense of research and exploration pulled through as him alone. Even the daily life of everyone else made him think, his bad behavior can easily hide it if he gets to say something right.
“In Mihayara district, there was an incident . . .”