Blue was very satisfied with his pawns performance.
After the battle with the mage order he had also encountered another one along the way to the location of the chalice. Both of the order had faced the same fate and he had successfully eliminated more than three opponents personally thus completing the requirement to receive the reward from a category mentioned in the quest. Actually, he had exceeded the requirement.
He obviously needed more eliminations for his goals but it was still only the first day of the competition. He wasn't worried that there would be a shortage of students he would encounter here. His pawns had proven their worth to be able to hold their own against spells and Luna was, as expected, overpowered in the battlefield.
Anyways, it was all under control.
He soon saw the location of the chalice described in the complete clue.
“Northeast, a boulder with green moss that is surrounded by birds which perch on it to build its nest. The chalice hides among the life surrounding it.”
Unlike the previous incident with the emerald block this time there was no more pressing issue. They found the chalice inside a bird's nest. The eggs laid by those birds were as big as a watermelon. They had to clear the area before they finally cracked open an egg to get the chalice hidden within.
It wasn't an issue to find the only egg that held a different content inside as long as a perception skill was used so fortunately for those eggs they were spared but since their parents were all cleared by them their fate would probably be to be devoured by other beasts.
So was life in this harsh forest, though this is all just a high quality simulation.
He got the chalice and this time there was no need to worry about their location being exposed again. The previous base had to be abandoned because of the traces of the fight they had with the first mage order and the time was approaching for the next fixed exposure because of the block.
They had to be on the move again.
The pawns were still seemed to be expectant of finding more sub quests through the Artifact again but he had to burst the bubble as he revealed,
“It isn't that simple. Compass of Fortuity doesn't always activate this conveniently. Apparently only when I am at a distance close enough will it show any reaction. I am afraid we will have to follow the original plan to head north towards the central plains. With the location being exposed periodically we can't settle in a base.”
His words was like a rude awakening for these naive players and Luna added more salt,
“Now that two mage orders had been eliminated by us we have left behind many traces that will later point towards us as the culprit. They might band together to form teams to deal with us later. We should be vigilant about this.”
“Then what do you suggest?”
Karla asked in a frustrated tone as she was unsure what to do. They weren't the one who attacked first but now that they had defeated them there was a risk of being outnumbered and subdued later.
“We should take the initiative to form a team. After all, with more players we include the better we could negate that potential risk.”
“But if we do that doesn't that mean we will get in a dispute over the blocks and chalices? Now we only have to worry about the party but after forming the team the other two parties also need to be considered to make things fair for them.”
Darwin gave his opinion as he wasn't much keen on forming a team. They needed ten emerald blocks to pass the competition and the first one had already put them in a situation that made them constantly run around in this uncomfortable forest.
With more players they would only be run haggard from more search for sub quests or clues and also the unavoidable dispute.
“We could take a different approach. The students selected in this competition are all within the top hundred in party or order ranking but compared to us who are in the first place there are those who are struggling at the bottom ranks. We should team up with them and they would be smart enough to understand that without our involvement they have close to zero chance in passing this competition.”
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“The competition hadn't even passed for a day so I don't know if they would think that way.”
Marcus was skeptical of her suggestion but this time Blue interjected,
“Let's set it aside for a later day. As he said the competition is still at its early stage and the students probably haven't gotten a complete clue like us. Let us focus on finding more sub quests first. Since my quota is fulfilled on the very first day then we should press this advantage to increase our lead as much as possible when the other students are still behind.”
They discussed as they headed north towards the central plains.
He did have the same plan as Luna but the personality he shows wouldn't readily agree to make others “work” for them “forcibly” so he had replied in that manner which showed his “reluctance” to take that approach.
It was consistent with his character and Luna's bluntness was not unfamiliar to the other pawns so there wasn't any disharmony within the party.
On their way they had avoided other students, both mages and players, while only making their way ahead to search for the sub quests or clues that could be found without it.
The sub quest wasn't the only answer to find the blocks and chalices. It was just one of the ways filled with more accuracy. If a student saw any suspicious point and investigated with prudence they might discover one with good luck on their side.
Just like now when the Diviner Darwin suddenly found a weird result in his divination.
“Huh? An opportunity that leads to suffering upon the road you tread. This… it seems to hold a double meaning.”
The party halted in their steps as their eyes all focused on Blue for his decision. Only Luna was looking ahead to see what was up there. Maybe she was using more of her mysterious methods, who knows?
“It is probably something related to a block or a chalice. Let's go and find it out. I want to see what kind of suffering awaits.”
Since his Artifact wasn't activating he made this decision despite the risks but Luna suddenly looked at him with a hint of caution in her eyes as she said,
“I think it is better if we take a different route.”
The party was very surprised at the sudden contradiction. On one hand the party leader wanted to go ahead while another member was very unwilling. It was the first time they experienced a straight refusal to his decision since the party's founding.
“Did you sense something bad?”
He asked without beating around the bush. It was an established fact among the party that her perception skill was very strong compared to even the highest level player like Blue. Her opinion in the party was very strong and he had no objection to it as she was a vital piece to him.
Being contradicted didn't slight him like other hot blooded young adults of his body's age. Thanks to the usual personality shown he was obviously a very understanding guy to others.
“You could say that. Though I am confident that you and I could indeed gain the so-called opportunity, I am afraid the rest of the members will face elimination there.”
“Hey! Do we appear weak to you!? We can hold our own!”
Karla instantly became offended. Though she knew that both her boyfriend and Luna were the highest in level, attainments, ranking and overall strength, that didn't mean she would be happy to be underestimated like this.
She was a young prodigy, after all.
“Karla, it is not that I am underestimating others but the danger ahead requires a student to at least be on level 11 or close to it. Within the party only I have reached it and Blue is way ahead at 15 so it is a logical conclusion. I have never looked down at any of you. After all, I believe in his foresight to see your true potential.”
Her sweet words that were laced with confidence of the common point they all gathered around for seemed to appease the dissatisfaction that arose earlier. Blue had to give her a mental thumbs up again as her eloquence truly dazzled him.
As expected of a reincarnator!
Nothing really fazed her and handling these young prodigies' temperament was nothing for her. So he asked to pick up on the topic,
“Since it is so dangerous then how about this? Dawson, try covering up as much of our tracks that lead to here and create some false ones to confuse others. All of you assist him in it. Me and Luna will go ahead to check while others guard the rear. If you encounter a mage order then retreat northward. We will meet up there. A battle without two members' presence would be fought with difficulty. It is better to avoid it entirely.”
“Blue, we could actually lure them in that place ahead. The next exposure is closing in and I don't think we will be able to finish in time to get away from it. Though it will make the situation a bit complex but as long as we tread with caution then we can hit two birds with one stone.”
“With just the two of us?”
“Yeah. It will be fine. You will understand when we go there.”
“Hmm… alright then. Everyone should try to lure them over to us and as for the tracks, keep them as is. All of you should still retreat north towards the original goal. Just text the coordinates of your location later.”
The smartphone was usable in this map and locating by coordinates calculated by the smartphone was already taught to the students. The technological advancement approach this union had taken in this epoch was also known to his former self and even in Parallel Void it was the same development that hadn't deviated.
Blue gave his orders before finally heading ahead to see what got that reincarnator so assured of the plan.