After leaving the Dungeon, I had to wear Brock's Shadow Cloaks to conceal my identity as a Golem. Nazrat and I met with the Triplets at the carriage and then began our trip to Rodwin's Market. During the first hour of our journey, Blackrock taught me how to drive the carriage and even allowed me to take control until we left the territory of the Falar Kingdom. Fortunately, we didn't encounter any Kingsmen patrols or other travelers on our path. However, I was disappointed with my first driving experience in this world due to the poor quality of the road and the limitations of the horse-drawn carriage.
After handing over the reins to Blackrock and Whiterock, I decided to join Nazrat and Redrock inside the carriage. They gazed out the windows, avoiding any conversation due to their past relationship. The silence allowed me to admire the landscape of Arya's central region. During our journey, we crossed vast stretches of farmland that grew crops familiar to me from my old life. It was a strange coincidence, suggesting a connection between this world and Earth exists.
Vast herds of livestock like those in the first level of my Dungeon were being tended to by their ranchers and farmers. Sealing off access to the Dungeon from the Kingdom wouldn't cause a food shortage in the Kingdom. The conditions were likely terrible in the past, but they have now established food security independently from the Dungeon.
Speaking of food, I must find a way to feed the Imps without letting them wipe out the livestock population within a week.
I asked Nazrat about it, and he told me about the Farmer Caste of Impdom, which was responsible for growing various crops such as fruit and nut trees and plants that produced beans that tasted like meat. Those Imps provided food for the rest of the castes. However, despite being skilled in growing meat plants, all the Imps still preferred meat from animals since it tasted far superior. The meat plants were reserved for emergencies when live prey were scarce. Interestingly, even Humans were on their menu and considered superior to animal meat. However, only the Leader Caste had the right to consume it. Redrock didn't seem bothered by that fact, probably accepting that Humans are not at the top of the food chain.
"Can't you add spices to make the Meat Plants more tasty?" I asked.
Nazrat looked at me confusedly and asked, "What is Spice?" Redrock also seemed curious, so I explained that spices are seasonings that enhance the flavor of food. I mentioned chilies, peppers, and other common seasonings, but they did not quite understand. I couldn't help but feel grateful that I didn't have to eat their cuisine, which only seemed to use salt and sugar as the primary way to add flavor.
"Redrock! Nazrat mentioned the Imps have a caste for Farming. Will the Market have them too?" I ask.
"The Farmer Caste resides in the Underworld and doesn't come to the surface. Only those with fighting skills venture above ground. Since there is no demand for Farming Imps, even Underworld explorer Adventurers wouldn't bother capturing them alive." Redrock explained, and Nazrat nodded in agreement.
As we continued our journey, I took a break from our conversation. Instead, I looked at the enormous grasslands and dense forests that replaced the farmlands. The landscape is teeming with plant-eating creatures. Most look alien to an Earthling. Amidst this diversity, however, one creature stood out - a herd of ancient Green Woolly Mammoth-like creatures. They had four long tusks and two curved and two straight lances. Long pine tree leaves replaced what would have been woolly hair. Small trees grew out of their backs to absorb sunlight. Their massive size is comparable to the height of a giraffe, and their skin resembles the bark of a mature oak tree. The creature's eyes were the size of footballs and shone like glittering amber stones. We had to wait for the herd of 20 to cross the highway. It felt like I was on a safari ride.
"Do they sell those creatures at the Market?" I asked because they seemed capable of carrying a Golem on their backs, but their walking speed was the same as a Golem.
"Forest Titans are what we call them! Those Elemental Beasts are too big for Tamers to manage or feed. Only the Cheras Kingdom to the South acquired a smaller tropical cousin of these Titans for their army. However, the Cheran army is mostly Tamers and Summoners," explained Redrock.
"Sounds like your kind of place to be." I point out to Redrock.
"There is too much competition for me to make a living there when almost everyone is a Summoner or a Tamer with no scarcity of monsters to capture. The Southern region has an infestation of hostile monsters and non-humans, so finding a spot outside the Cheran Kingdom with a human settlement is hard. However, because of the abundance of enemies, their army had more opportunities to engage in mass battles to rank up steadily. That is why their army has a lot of units in the Diamond and Platinum Rank, so they are the strongest army in Arya." Redrock explained.
"Why aren't the Cheran the Hegemons of Arya instead of the Falar?" I ask.
"Monster hordes constantly attack the Cheran Kingdom, and their primary focus is survival. They are not interested in conquering other territories or gaining glory. Their army is mainly focused on defense and has never attempted to cross the tall ice-covered mountain ranges that separate the southern region of Arya from the rest of the continent. The best way to reach them is through ships sailing along the coastline. Still, there isn't much trade to be had with them besides exporting some of their unique Monsters they've captured to other parts of Arya." Redrock explains.
"What is special about their Monsters?" I asked.
"All their Bug monsters have an affinity to Metal for some reason. Usually, we would classify them as Elemental Beasts, but they don't have a Metal Elemental Core in their bodies. Though there are over a dozen species of those Bugs, the most popular one the Cheran captures is the Giant Metal Beetles. They are as large as this carriage, with exoskeletons made of iron, which protects them from almost all kinds of elements except fire, ice and lightning. The strength of the Iron carapace is best used when they choose to ram something with their massive horns. But those that can fly are the most dangerous because they have flight, armor and strength. Fortunately, they have the Brains of a Bull. They only eat salt rocks and metal ores to increase the metal density of the exoskeleton. Water, grass, leaves and bark of trees for sustenance. If they possessed human-like intelligence, they could easily wipe out the Cheran and spread like locusts across the continent. We should be grateful that this is not the case." Redrock explained.
They sound like the perfect mount for my Golems! I can even make use of the resources the Triplets rejected to buy and feed them to Giant Metal Beetles.
"Will there be some in Rodwin's market?" I ask with a hopeful tone.
"Yes, they are usually sold there as mounts for Summoners and Tamers. As a fragile class, riding or flying on a carriage-sized metal beetle would provide an extra layer of protection. These beetles are also worth killing as they reward low-level adventurers with enough experience to rank up quickly. However, making a hole in their armor can be a struggle to defeat them. It's worth noting that the Falar Army purchases the best beetles in bulk from the Cheran Kingdom. The weaker or defective ones are sent to Rodwin's Market, which is something to keep in mind if you plan on getting one." Redrock explained.
"Why not add the bugs to the army instead of using them as Rank Up fodder?" I ask for clarification.
"The Falar army consists mainly of human infantry, wooden artillery, and horse cavalry. Unlike the Cheran army, which relies entirely on monsters, they do not use monsters in combat. However, the main reason for this policy is the lack of enemies for their forces to fight during times of peace. Bandits can be dealt with through bounty contracts, and the Adventurers Guild takes care of monster infestations, making it difficult for the army to find opponents who can provide combat experience for their forces. To solve this problem, they import monsters from the Cheran to train their forces without taking away contracts from the Adventurers." Redrock explained.
My knowledge of Arya was limited to what Brock experienced or learned in the past week through his activities and interactions with the people he encountered. That limited my understanding of Arya's Kingdoms and his dealings within the Falar Kingdom and the Heroes Church. Fortunately, I have established a relationship with knowledgeable people who can provide me with direct explanations in a conversation instead of relying on memory immersion to learn about it all. However, something stood out as a significant issue during Redrock's explanations.
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
"So you're saying there are no wars between the Kingdoms of Arya?" I ask.
"Not since the ancestor of the Falar King defeated them all and established the Falar Kingdom at the center of Arya. Sure, there were some rebellions and a few coups that cropped up now and then over the millennia. But overall, the Kingdoms have been at peace, and I doubt that will change unless they learn about you." Redrock explained.
I stayed silent for a bit to contemplate this. The Landsmeet of the Rulers and Knights of Arya is five days away in Falar. According to Rachel, the Demon King will issue an objective on the same day and reward the Dungeon Lords who complete it with a rank-up scroll. My theory that the two were connected has now been upgraded to a highly likely scenario since it would be a perfect opportunity to employ the divide-and-conquer strategy.
If something happened during the Landsmeet that led to a war between all the Kingdoms, their forces and attention would be split and drained—especially the Fallar Kingdom Army, which is at the continent's center.
What about all the innocent civilians who will be affected due to my intervention?
I couldn't help but think about the massive death toll of WWIII, where billions of people lost their lives due to the power struggle between the East and West. I often wondered at the time what led to such destruction and if it could have been prevented. Now, I find myself wondering if I am any different from those generals who disregarded the lives of civilians as an afterthought.
Let's be honest. I am no saint or savior! I will not miss a chance to ensure my survival by breaking the peace.
Although I do not want to engage in direct war with the Human Kingdoms, weakening them by having them war on each other will ultimately benefit me. Therefore, I cannot wait for the Demon King's plans to unfold and must start strategizing how to disrupt the Landsmeet. However, my thoughts are interrupted by the sudden neighing of horses as they come to a halt.
"What happened?" I ask.
"Something has spooked the horses! Let me go out and check," Redrock said as he opened the carriage door. After stepping outside, he pulled out his barbed whip and rushed toward the back of the carriage.
"AMBUSH!" Redrock yelled from behind the carriage.
"DROP YOUR WEAPONS AND SURRENDER!" A high-pitched old female voice yelled out.
"Kill the bandits! They are just Clay Ranks!" Blackrock yelled to his brothers from the front of the carriage.
"High Chief, stay inside!" Nazrat exclaimed with a fierce look. Without wasting a second, he sprang out of the open door. Nazrat roared and drummed his bare chest like a Silverback Gorilla before charging after Redrock, leaving me behind in the carriage.
As I sat there, the air around me grew thick with tension, and the sounds of Metal clashing against Metal filled my ears. Amidst the chaos, I could hear the piercing cries of agony. Slowly, I leaned forward and poked my Shadow-cloaked Golem's head out of the window to observe the scene in front of the carriage.
With a mighty pull, Blackrock drew his greatsword from the lifeless body of an imposing eight-foot-tall man. The Bandit had just let out a blood-curdling death cry before collapsing to the ground. As Blackrock turned to face his next challenge, he was surrounded by ten more Bandits. Their weapons were drawn, glinting menacingly in the sunlight. Blackrock remained undaunted despite the odds against him, his golden armor shining brightly as he prepared to defend himself against the impending attack.
The bandits who attacked us were wearing different-colored and poorly-fitted armor. Their faces are covered and hidden by Shadow fabric. Meanwhile, Whiterock was a blur of motion as he engaged in close-quarter combat with ten more Bandits. His hands were a flurry of activity as he wielded Dual Ninja swords and slashed expertly at his attackers' leg and arm joints. With each precise strike, his foes dropped their weapons or fell to the ground. Whiterock's movements were fluid and graceful, and his superior reflexes allowed him to avoid the Bandits' close-range weapons as if he were operating at a slower perception of time.
Nazrat and Redrock were working together against 10 Bandits who had charged in from behind once the other Bandits stopped our carriage. Redrock lashed his barbed whip at the exposed neck of the bandits, causing blood to spurt out like fountains. He kept repeating that action against anyone who came close to Nazrat, who had rammed into a Bandit, knocking him over and then biting the exposed neck of the fallen Bandit with his Feral Fangs. After that, he jumped to his next target and used the arrow tip of his tail to stab the eyes before jumping onto another to land a sucker punch to their face. It didn't take long before half the Bandits who attacked the caravan were dead or lying on the road bleeding out.
"Witches over there!" Nazrat yelled after his fourth kill. He pointed at the treeline nearby, where three elderly Females dressed in brown and black bird feathers, animal hide, and vines were chanting some summoning spell. They summoned 15 one-foot-tall flying humanoid sprites whose purple skin shimmered in the bright noon sunlight. These creatures had eyes, teeth, and claws made of obsidian, making them look all the more dangerous. Their butterfly-like wings flapped at an incredible speed, rivaling a hummingbird's. They quickly flew up and released purple glittering powder from their wings over all the combatants below them.
"It's only sleeping powder! Take a deep breath and hold it!" Blackrock yelled before the powder made contact with his mask. He didn't seem to be affected by it and swung his weapon to behead a bandit who charged at him with a spear. It failed to penetrate Blackrock's golden-plated armor. The bandits who encircled Blackrock seemed to resist the effects of the sleeping powder. Still, they were surprised that their opponent had also figured out how to resist it and charged at him with their weapons. Blackrock quickly swung his massive bronze-colored greatsword in a circular motion around him. Some bandits understood what was about to happen and stopped in time to avoid the blade that bisected the ones who couldn't escape its path.
Meanwhile, Redrock, Whiterock, and Nazrat followed Blackrock's instructions and resisted the powder. Redrock swapped his barbed whip for his expensive crossbow and aimed high at the Purple Sprites.
"Activate Rapid Fire, Precise Shot, and Scatter Shot!" Redrock yelled. The eye holes in his mask, arrow on the crossbow, and crossbow all glowed red.
When he fired the arrow, it split into three arrows and pierced the heads of three sprites. The remaining 12 were shocked by the attack and decided to deal with Redrock at all costs.
"Eat my star blades!" Whiterock yelled as he grabbed three shurikens from a pouch on his waist and threw them at the Purple sprites, who lost three more of their number. Then Nazrat released a roar that caused the Sprites to flinch in fear for a few seconds, enough time for Redrock to load another arrow and fire again to take out three more. The remaining Sprites decided to scatter and hide among the tree branches to avoid being taken out together again.
Two Bandits who remained from the ones who attacked from the back charged at Redrock. But Nazrat intercepted them with a sucker punch and an Eye-stinger, allowing Redrock to reload and hunt the remaining sprites in the trees.
Whiterock somehow sensed the incoming attack of a bandit from behind and reverse-stabbed his left Ninja sword into the stomach of his opponent before beheading him with the other sword.
At this time, the three Witches began to chant another summoning spell from the tree line. But these chants sound more intense, and the circle is twice as big as the first. Since the others were busy dealing with the Bandits and the Purple Sprites, I decided it was time for me to do my part.
I climbed onto the carriage and drew my Warrior's Stone sword. I aimed it at the Witch in the middle from my elevated position and used the 'Throw Projectile' skill. Since they were in a rush to chant the spell, the Witches failed to notice my incoming attack. The sword impaled my target's belly and made her fall to the ground. The pain caused her to release a mind-numbing cry that ruined the concentration of the other two witches and broke the summoning spell. They raged and cursed at me in some foreign tongue before one clawed the air to create a green crescent blade made of condensed air that launched toward me.
I quickly raised my shield to block the attack, and her wind blade slammed into it. My Rune Armor glowed, and it disappeared after making contact. I was surprised and wondered why I blocked it so quickly. Then I heard Rachel's voice.
[Do you wish to see the combat log notifications?]
"YES!" I yell.
Immediately, a small translucent notification screen popped up on top of the shield.
[Total Defence: 300 (Stone Shield 200 + Rune Armor (10 MP x 10) 100
Opponent Attack: Wind Blade (200)
Defence>Attack = Blocked]
I looked at the two Witches again and noticed them preparing more wind blades for a combined attack. I knew my Rune Armor had used up my only MP, so I could not activate it again. To survive, I had no choice but to jump off the opposite side of the carriage and hide behind it. The combined wind blades slammed into the vehicle, which absorbed the attack without leaving any damage behind.
"Huh? What happened to their attack?" I ask out loud.
"You think we go around in an ordinary carriage? It can absorb and resist long-range elemental attacks below steel Rank!" Blackrock yelled at me as he ended the life of the last Bandit, slamming the jeweled pommel of his Brass-colored Greatsword into the nose and then kicking the body away.
"It can also resist physical attacks of the same level!" Blackrock shouted as he sprinted toward the Witches and decapitated them before they could use another spell. Arrows flew into the trees, and the purple sprites' dead bodies fell to the ground.
"Got them all! Little buggers didn't know that I could see their Mana trails." Redrock called out.
"Ahhh!" A bandit cried out as Whiterock stabbed his chest through another corpse that he hid under.
"Some of them are pretending to be dead. Stab each body a few times to be sure." Whiterock called out.
"No need! I can smell and hear the ones that are still breathing. Mind if I kill and eat them, Chief?" Nazrat asked me for permission, and I looked to the triplets, who shrugged their shoulders.
The Bandits were Human, but they threatened my life and must have slain many travelers. Should I be showing them mercy just because they are Humans?
"Go ahead!" I answer.