Right after the revelation, everyone’s expressions changed from relaxed to tensed. Everyone instantly concluded that there was only one being other than them who came out of the dungeon. The one being who was sealed within the depths of the most highly ranked dungeon ever witnessed by humanity.
Albert, Sera, Elara knew the combat skills of the skinny man and if a fight were to break they were no match for him.
Roland read the faces of his companions and instantly understood what they were thinking.
“May I enquire, who you are young friend?” he asked calmly
“He doesn’t speak our language; however, it is possible to communicate with hand gestures. He saved us and has shown no hostility towards us” declared Sera
"Indeed, Your Highness, but according to the goddess's revelation, this man is labeled a monster. Allowing him to remain unchecked might lead to calamity befalling not only our Kingdom, but perhaps the entire continent. The threat posed by an SSS rank monster cannot be underestimated," Roland replied.
After much contemplation, he reached a decision and spoke up.
"Albert, Elara, I need you to escort the Princess and leave this place. No matter the circumstances, do not turn back. Consider this my final order as your Commander," Roland instructed Albert and Elara.
“Yes sir! It’s been an honor” responded both in unison, their voices carrying a mixture of respect and sadness. Albert's eyes reflected determination, a steadfast commitment to carry out his commander's final order no matter the cost. Elara's gaze, on the other hand, held a mix of sorrow and determination, as if she was torn between the duty she owed to her commander and the desire to stay and fight by his side.
“W-Wait what are you doing, we must not fight him, sir Roland we need you and maybe we can also use hi…..” before she could finish her sentence, Sera fell asleep by a sleep cast from Albert.
He then proceeded to carry her and both Albert and Elara left towards the Gaul Empire territory.
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The language they were speaking was unfamiliar to me, but my system diligently recorded the conversation, storing it for future analysis. However, despite the linguistic barrier, I could still interpret their emotions through their expressions. Initially, their demeanor was friendly, but then a shift occurred as if they were reading something, causing their expressions to turn serious and intense.
Out of nowhere, one of them swiftly scooped up the now unconscious girl and hastened in the direction of the west, trailed closely by their female companion clad in sturdy armor. Before I could fully comprehend the situation unfolding, my battle instincts snapped me back to reality. The elderly man was launching an assault against me.
I skillfully evaded his attack, executed a swift knee strike, and then feigned a maneuver to the left before decisively targeting his right arm with my laser gun. Predictably, his primary limb was incapacitated, and he crumbled to his knees, his eyes reflecting astonishment and disbelief.
I could have easily ended his life, yet I opted against it. In this moment, my priority was establishing connections with the intelligent beings of this realm and comprehending my circumstances. Antagonizing them would serve no purpose. While their aggression was unwarranted, I needed to rise above it and display magnanimity. With this conviction, I extended my hand and gently touched his forehead.
“Commence body restore”
ERROR unknown anatomy detected on subject. Would you like to connect to datacenter to check further?
With a disapproving click of my tongue, I selected "no." Yet, while my mind raced to devise a solution to aid the elderly man, his expression shifted to one of relief. Meeting my gaze, he managed a smile even as I distanced myself from him. I contemplated whether he would meet his demise, succumbing to a typical cinematic fate. To my astonishment, however, he conjured a vial seemingly out of thin air, swiftly consuming its contents. Miraculously, his injuries sealed, and his severed arm miraculously reattached, though not without some imperfection as he skillfully bound it in place using his other hand.
My mouth hung open in sheer bewilderment. Had this man just executed a surgical procedure on his own hand using just his other hand? I couldn't help but hold a newfound level of respect for him, recognizing his remarkable self-sufficiency. It appeared that the inhabitants of this world possessed a considerable degree of intelligence and skill.
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Upon coming to terms with the reality that he couldn't defeat the creature as foretold in the revelation, and considering the events that followed his defeat, where the alleged monster didn't actually kill him, Roland gradually comprehended that this being might not have any malevolent intentions... at least for now. It seemed plausible that the creature was attempting to gather information, given its human-like appearance. Or perhaps there was a misunderstanding in the interpretation of the goddess's revelation and he was actually a human?
‘Maybe seeking an audience with the Oracle at the Galadrian Sanctuary could help us decipher the meaning behind this revelation. If we take him there, they might be able to provide guidance. The Kingdom's Church is no longer trustworthy under the new king's rule, and they might even evacuate due to his heretical beliefs. Our best option is to bring him along to the Gaul Empire.’ Roland pondered.
With his decision made, he motioned for the disheveled white-haired man to accompany him in the direction of the west.
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Blackthorne watched in disbelief as the unimaginable scene played out before him. The renowned hero of the Kingdom of Everhart was being tossed around like a mere ragdoll by this monstrous being. Fully aware that his destiny would be sealed if their gazes met, he swiftly invoked his shadow magic, enveloping himself in its concealment. Gradually and cautiously, he began to distance himself from the pair.
During this maneuver, he observed the man's gaze locking onto him, a slight smile playing on his lips. Then, in a seemingly dismissive gesture, the man averted his eyes, as if indicating that he posed no danger and even inviting an attack from behind, displaying his vulnerability.
Blackthorne wasn't about to be goaded into action so easily; he exercised his strategic acumen and chose to withdraw wisely.
Blackthorne had his duties, but his life took precedence. He also wasn't known for his forgiving nature; he intended to return for the monster, but not before thoroughly preparing himself. At the moment, he needed to report the sudden revelations to the new king.
"Wait and watch, monster. I will certainly end you," he muttered, vanishing into the wilderness.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
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I trailed behind the man, and before long, we reunited with his fellow companions. I observed the cloaked figure and the woman clad in steel armor, both of whom seemed visibly relieved. The elderly man communicated with them in an unfamiliar language. Astonishingly, they had managed to find a road and procure a carriage within a brief span of time. Inside the carriage rested the girl from earlier, presumably still in slumber.
However, the carriage was rather peculiar. It displayed exquisite craftsmanship, drawn by horses radiating an otherworldly luminance, their impressive size resembling that of true war horses. Additionally, the carriage itself emitted a gentle glow. It was highly implausible that they stumbled upon such a carriage in the heart of the wilderness, just as they reached a road.
Curiosity was now getting the best of me as I asked the system about the information.
ERROR unknown anatomy detected on subject. Would you like to connect to datacenter to check further?
I let out a frustrated sigh and mentally rejected the prompt once more. My curiosity was growing, causing a gnawing sensation in my stomach. I was at a loss regarding communication since my system had minimal knowledge about this unfamiliar world. Learning the language and discussing the matter with them personally seemed to be the only viable option, even though the prospect felt daunting. Accessing the data center was currently off the table.
Several hours later, we set up camp as a group. They skillfully prepared a deer they had hunted and generously shared their meal with me. During this time, the girl had also awakened and attempted to teach me a few words through gestures. I discreetly instructed my system to record her attempts and use the data for analysis, all the while pretending to learn from her efforts.
Gradually, I managed to comprehend that the inhabitants of this world utilized names to distinguish themselves. Through their gestures, I gathered that the girl's name was something like "Seraphi," so I decided to nickname her "Sera," a designation she appeared to accept. The woman clad in armor introduced herself as Elara, the elderly man as Roland, and the enigmatic figure concealed in robes as Albert.
The moment arrived for me to share my name with them. I contemplated for a fleeting moment on what name to provide, aware that time was of the essence. I needed to avoid arousing suspicion, as if I were fabricating a name like "Alison Burgers." Nervously, I stammered, "A-Aaron."
And they repeated “Arion?”
I grinned wider, my smile matching the decision I had just made.
Upon waking up the next day, I was immediately bombarded with a multitude of notifications that obscured my vision. Finding it difficult to make sense of the chaos, I shut my eyes once more and mentally instructed the system to provide me with a concise summary through my ears.
Affirmative, analysis of yesterday information gathering is completed. Initial phase 1 language pack is ready for deployment. Would you like to install?
“Yes” I said, suddenly attracting my now companion’s attention towards me.
Out of the blue, a jolt ran through my medulla, causing my pupils to retract, and my body began to tremble as if experiencing a seizure.
Now my companions were surrounding me with a worried expression but I was back to being me in an instant.
“H-Hello, understand I?” I said as I tried to read their expressions for validation.
“Woah you アー learning ウェル, keep up the グッド work” said Sera cheerfully.
As she spoke rapidly, my eyes felt like they were spinning in circles, and her words were coming so quickly that a large portion of what she said flew right over my head.
I inwardly cursed the system, I spoke to them believing the system would have installed language pack without bugs but clearly I can only hold a conversation with a five year old with such limited vocabulary.
New words are being recorded and will be analysed overnight. Please be informed, you may be able to get an advanced language pack if you connect to data-center. Let’s not reinvent the wheel?
I denied the request and said to continue reinventing the said wheel and engine and whatever it takes while gritting my teeth in frustration.
With the passing hours, my system diligently stored a growing collection of words and their corresponding meanings. When Albert was preparing to head out for another hunting expedition, I contemplated joining him. However, he courteously declined my offer. I could sense his hesitation, perhaps he hadn't entirely placed his trust in me, or maybe he simply preferred to work alone. Respecting his choice, I abandoned the idea of hunting and redirected my focus towards mastering the language.
At this point, my primary goal revolves around mastering the language. If I aim to comprehend this world, earn the trust of its inhabitants, and familiarize myself with their culture and way of life, a solid understanding of their language is paramount.
Following our meal, I observed that the sun had already set, indicating the onset of night. I couldn't help but notice that the days in this world seemed considerably shorter compared to what I was accustomed to. A complete day cycle here appeared to last merely around 10 hours, while the night spanned approximately 12 hours. In total, the day-night cycle was roughly 22 hours long. This indicated that the planet's rotation was notably swifter than that of my own world.
Similarly, the trees here exhibited distinct characteristics compared to those on my home world. The animals roaming these lands also showed subtle variations. For instance, the deer that Albert had hunted on both days possessed ebony antlers and boasted hides that were notably more robust and denser. I also noticed peculiarities, such as crystals near the animals' hearts and exoskeletons on their feet.
Rabbits sported horns, an unusual sight, while birds had grown to a size where they could easily prey on such rabbits. Insects were as large as my torso, and the grass reached up to my thighs. The landscape was dominated by distant mountains that painted the horizon. Straining my focus, I noticed faint floating rocks in the far distance. The distance made it hard to see clearly, yet the curiosity to explore them myself someday persisted.
Observing the stark contrast in terrain compared to my previous world, I found myself wondering about the possible location where the government might have established a data center for my system's access.
My train of thought was abruptly interrupted by the eerie response from the system in my ear, prompting me to quickly request the system to display the information rather than conveying it through audio.
If the system were personified, their deadpan facial expression would surely be a sight to behold.
The most recent data center connection was established near the Proxima Century system. Unfortunately, the data center is currently out of range. Would you like to initiate a scan to locate the nearest available data center?
“I-I didn’t want to attempt to connect to any datacenter, why did you try to connect to that one anyways?” I screamed at the system internally.
I apologize for any confusion earlier. As time has passed, it's possible that the system has undergone improvements. Would you like to establish a connection with the nearest data center in order to update the system?
Veins started popping on my forehead now. If I were to anthropomorphize the system, it would make an excellent outlet for some well-deserved punching.
As I delved into the intricacies of the system and familiarized myself with this new world, I realized that everyone, except for Albert who remained vigilant on guard duty, had drifted into slumber. Given my unique situation, I wasn't assigned to keep watch, a fact that brought a sense of relief. Deciding to make the most of the opportunity, I opted to get some rest myself.
However, after few hours of my sweet slumber, a loud roar woke all of us up.
Stream of notifications yet again blocked my view but I mentally sent them away, not before seeing new package was installed while I was sleeping. I had ordered the system to perform all deployment during my sleep.
“W-wake up, it’s the pack of dire wolves” screamed Albert.
“Quickly, protect the princess” Roland ordered.
"Princess?" I muttered, narrowing my eyes as I scanned my surroundings. However, I quickly pushed that thought aside, deciding to contemplate it later. Right now, I needed to concentrate on the current situation at hand.
A massive wolf with a distinctive white cross marking on its forehead leaped toward me. The sheer size of the creature left me in awe, and I found myself quite captivated by it.
As it lunged at me with its sharp fangs, I found myself dodging in a somewhat comical manner, all the while closely observing its impressive physique.
Its powerful muscles coiled beneath its sleek, snow-white fur. Its eyes glinted with an intensity that conveyed both intelligence and wildness. Its fangs were like ivory daggers, poised to strike, and its agile frame suggested incredible speed and dexterity. Every movement it made was fluid and purposeful, displaying a balance of elegance and lethal precision.
After failing to land any attack, the encounter came to a halt. The wolf paused, titled its head, its piercing gaze locking onto mine. In that moment, I perceived something beyond the wild predator before me. It was as if the creature was assessing my intentions, considering the possibility of a different kind of connection.
With a newfound clarity, I lowered my stance, my movements more deliberate and fluid. I didn't see an adversary anymore; I saw a magnificent being, an embodiment of nature's unforgiving beauty. Slowly, I offered a piece of food, a gesture of goodwill and understanding. The wolf's eyes flickered, and a moment of hesitation passed between us, a silent dialogue of trust being forged.
I turned my gaze toward my fellow companions, their eyes fixed on my unfolding interaction. Amongst them, the remaining members of the wolf pack had withdrawn, their numbers reduced by the group's earlier confrontation. The alpha, a formidable and imposing figure, had singled me out for its attack. Yet, a shift had occurred – a transformation from adversaries to something more.
In the wake of our unlikely alliance, the once-hostile members of the wolf pack now stood at a respectful distance. With the alpha's change of heart, their collective animosity seemed to dissipate into the surrounding air.
The pack's response was swift and telling. One by one, they approached the offered sustenance, their wariness giving way to trust.
Eventually, the members of the wolf pack finished their meal and, as if on cue, departed. With each fading silhouette, a sense of quiet respect remained, a testament to the delicate balance between species and the profound influence of empathy.
With the departure of the wolf pack, the wild reclaimed its dominion, and we, in turn, settled back into our own space. As the shadows of the forest grew longer and the stars resumed their celestial watch, we, too, succumbed once more to the embrace of slumber.
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