V2 Chapter 123
As time quietly passed, Cian and Sibylla came increasingly closer to the Ice Grass City’s territory—the vanguard city of the Haaravar Empire located in the western part of the Winter Mountain.
Due to them being delayed by Cian who had become immersed himself in picking up interesting medicinal plants and strange-looking fruits and treasures along the way, almost two days had been used for what was originally a mere half a day’s journey since they entered the cold ravine.
To this, even Sibylla can’t help but feel bewildered and surprised.
Her beloved fiancée’s luck is truly good, it seems.
Of course, it was not just this time’s ordeals. Even before in the Demon City, Cian had displayed heaven-defying luck that Sibylla can’t help but wonder if he was the adopted son or the secret lover of the Goddess of Luck. This fickle bastard’s luck was always very mystical.
Because of his unwarranted reputation, he, for some reason wanted to keep and uphold for this past year, if he didn’t go into brothels and red-light districts, he would always buy various nonsensical things just to squander money—seemingly wanting to display how wastrel he was to the entire world.
He was even already a regular customer of every Auction Houses in the City.
In front of the world, the Second Demon Prince was conducting a low profile impression. Being a very ordinary prodigal wastrel and a small little hedonistic spoiled prince of an empire where no one knew what kind of ability he actually had.
To this, Sibylla has the ‘understand yet couldn’t accept it’ kind of feelings about it. After all, she was not some stupid damsels with no brain. She understands the principles of staying low-key, especially with her fiancée’s situation and grim circumstances.
Even still, even though this wastrel of a prince would often buy some odd and bizarre kinds of stuff, she just can’t understand—Don’t even know if it was because similar things would always go together. However, just that, his prodigal conduct sometimes was very interesting as the outcome would always make others feel surprised.
Within the things he buys, there would often be odd and bizarre goods whose worth was hard for one to even imagine.
Take this time for example; if he used a hundred gold coins to buy something, surely… the true value or worth of would surely be known to far surpass the amount he had spent for it after being appraised properly. And so, to Sibylla, even if he had spent a thousand or more for it, it would also have been counted as cheap, surprising her. Furthermore, in her possession, a big pile of things was stored and collected. All of these were given by him—appearing carefree, but all of these documents were all certified owner certificates.
For example like land leases, business association share certificates, and so on. All these were all the result of this single year of him being a wastrel, buying whatever his eyes laid upon. As a Second Prince, could someone actually stop him and fight it for him? He might be infamous trash that every person despised and detested, but if he wanted something... no one would dare go against it.
'Fight me, then off with your head,' a fitting catchphrase that had been associated directly with him due to these past few years of debauchery and acting like a prodigal.
Besides, most of those he had bought are those completely unpopular by many people and deemed as unprofitable. For example, a few months ago, when Cian was strolling around like usual, he happened to see a barren hill, once a mining area for iron but was already used up since a couple of months prior.
Cian, for some reason, bought it despite Sibylla’s objection. However, when Sibylla send some people to check what can still be salvaged so that she can make use of it one way or another to offset the cost or just resell it. When she did that, she discovered a magic core vein that was left untouched, a few dozen meters deep underground.
She was shocked and also pleasantly surprised.
A magic core vein was something extremely precious even among all races.
It’s a crystallization of magic power, and was the power source of any magical item!
It was a commodity that is high in demand but low in supply.
Of course, right now, that original owner was currently crying and shouting with regret. Although it was sold at a considerably high-price, but this so-called high price of his, if you calculated in the mineral resources which the mine possessed, it was completely just one hair from nine oxen only.
This was just one of the example. Right now, under his name, he possess who knows how many assets—whether it’s in the Northern Border or in the Capital of the Demon Empire, and in between all this, with his wastrel character that spends money like an open faucet without a care—who knows if he was actually losing or earning money.
Hence, because of this as well, Sibylla was able to finance the rapidly growing organization without any problem.
Even without asking for any external help, she was able to support the rapidly growing organization. Whether she believed it or not, she was truly impressed.
Looking at this circumstance, Sibylla was only able to sigh, sigh as to why this beloved fiancée of hers is so mystical. Obviously, he was being a wastrel, acting without any thoughts and spending money without any care, but his assets were, however, increasing more and more. And moreover, who knows when some important thing will come out that will be under his name, for example, that matter at that time.
She thought that it was just luck sometimes, but it occurring often was already to the point of being abnormal.
It was just that, was this really just luck?
Sibylla wondered if Cian already knows its true value before buying things—she tried asking before but Cian only smiled mysteriously at her, making her extremely annoyed.
However, his luck was once again proven to be something else.
While walking, they encountered rare and precious herbs that can be only be found but not sought, met interesting creatures that were said to be rarely seen and even found caves of treasures or tombs. It was really fun as if they were in an adventurer. There were many first she had experienced in her life.
Icegrass City was a huge city, known as the border city of the northern empire, the Haaravar Empire—The Empire of Cold.
From here, it was the true entrance to the Human World. Using a couple of magic items to mask their true appearance and auras, they were able to enter the City. Of course, there was some problem, since Cian seemed to have underestimated the elites of this City and was eyed on by the Captain who was guarding the Gates. However, with {Night’s Eye} all matters were easily resolved.
Cian was able to, at the very least, control the {Night’s Eye} efficiently during this one year of arduous training and misleading unguarded people was as easy as a magician in a circus.
There was also that orb that identifies whether one was a Demon or not—even Cian felt panicky about it. Fortunately, he was already told about its existence before and made some countermeasure to pull a wool over everyone’s eyes, with the help of some magical item that can boost the power of illusions. Though normally this wouldn’t have been enough even with magical items, it would surely is bound to be noticed—but Cian’s {Night’s Eye} is a God’s Eye.
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It’s no doubt one of the most powerful abilities in this world. He might not be able to fool the magical item but deceiving every people around them without anyone noticing, was as easy as flipping his hands.
As long as there were no people who possess the same level as Ezra Redhawk, no one can break off his illusion—though, the mental power it consumed was too high it almost drained the current him even though he was a Demon who possess more than magic power compared to average human mages, it was still sufficient enough for the job.
The moment Cian passed through the Gate; he remained alert against the people around them. His eyes narrowed as he surveyed the entire place, which was like a human city in the medieval era, with most houses made from bricks and stones. Every corner of the City, alley, and roads was registered in his mind in an instant.
This was a good thing.
When entering a strange land and meeting new people, such caution was essential. However, as he watched the people walking the streets, he was assaulted by nostalgia. Humans… indeed, unlike the Demon World filled with non-humans, this kind of buzzing City was almost like that in Earth.
How long has it been since I came into this world…?
“What a lively place…”
“I know, right?”
Cian stared at the city with a tyrannical presence, yet there was a hint of sadness flashing in his eyes.
This sorrow appearing in such an evil and murderous monster like him was quite weird.
As expected enough though, the City was like a scenery straight out from fairytale with a medieval Concept. Armors and weapons were displayed without any care and the women in this world were fine specimens compared to the ones back in Earth.
Barely any ugly and terrible looking creature. Why…? This question had always been in his mind ever since he had noticed this fact a few months ago. Why is it different? Was it the Gods hobby to make their men and women good-looking?
Looking at the chest, the legs... oh, are they not wearing any bras? Although their skinned were tanned and somewhat rough, they exuded an exotic kind of beauty. And for some reason, although they are not as fair and neat as the modern women were, they emitted some kind of hard to repel attracted charm as well.
As Cian was surveying the people walking around after entering the City, suddenly he felt a stinging pain from his side.
When he turned around his lips couldn’t help but curl into a wry smile.
“What are you doing?” he asked as he saw Sibylla glaring at him while pinching his waist and rotating it downwards.
It actually hurts…
“It’s full of life even at night,” Cian muttered with a faint smile.
“It must have an active downtown area.”
There were innumerable people and open-air shops. Okmahun Demon City was almost comparable to this City, even though the Demon City should be much livelier due to the fact that Demons have much variety in species. Most races also prefer to have fun and walk around the City at night due to racial preference. So the scenery of this Human City at night can be said to be quite a surprise for Cian, especially when it's this cold. He would feel it normal if this is Earth, after all, in Earth, there is electricity that can make night seemed like a day.
But this world…? They only rely on Magic Items and Magic Stones, and one must know, these things are quite expensive for average people.
As they walk over, asking many things and questions along the road, finally Cian arrived at the infamous Adventurer’s Guild that he had heard so much even back in Earth. And the size of the City was reflected in the size of its guildhall.
A guildhall was generally just a facility run by the adventurer’s guild, but the one in this City had lodgings, weapon and armor shops, and even a training ground and church.
According to Sibylla, this is already slightly bigger than normal Adventurers Guild in some Cities. Probably, because Adventurers in this City are like Mercenaries extremely necessary—they can be considered additional manpower in case something bad had happened or the Demon army suddenly attacks.
In addition, there were many still unexplored region of the Winter Mountain, meaning there are still countless treasures that are yet to be found. Although dangerous, there are still many of those death-seeking daredevil adventurers that wanted to tread a shortcut to richness. Hence, this place is quite lively than one might expect.
“Okay, Sibylla. You check us in and get some rest. I’ll ask for any information around.”
Cian spoke and acted naturally so he would not stand out from the other adventurers. But Sibylla was a little surprised to see him immediately head out to gather information without even getting any rest first.
“W-wait! You must be tired too, Aanu—no, Cian. Don’t you think we should rest first? According to Ezra, although she had already prepared everything needed to let us use the Teleportation Array in this City’s Municipal Hall, after passing this City, there is still at least three to four days walk towards the Capital of the Haaravar Empire. You still need some rest…!” Sibylla muttered with a worried expression.
“It’s fine…I’m quite confident about my stamina. And besides, information is also needed as soon as possible so that we can be prepared for anything,” Cian replied with a smile. "As for going to the Capital of the Empire, let's think about it after we have some fun in this City,"
"...but that's not what you said before..."
Didn't he say that he wanted to go to the Capital as soon as possible...? Why is he so fast in changing his mind? Sibylla frowned and somewhat felt helpless. But Cian’s insistence defeated her. Therefore, despite having many complains, she could only sigh helplessly. Well, she was quite tired as well, anyway. All the fighting and walking they did inside the forest. In addition, sleeping outdoors, it might be fun but it surely is tiresome…
Well, whatever... she was just a bodyguard for him anyway. Whatever he wanted, will it be!
Dropping her off at the slightly famous Inn in the City, located just a few minute distances from the Adventurers Guild, Cian went straight towards the Guild Hall in high spirits. Actually, he was already registered an adventurer—of course, this was not his but Ezra’s preparation for him so that he could enter the Human City easily.
Ezra and the other human subordinates of the {Garden of Eden} had already prepared everything he might need in this trip, including credentials, identity and Adventurer Card.
There were actually different identities he had in hand. Adventurer Guild Card, Merchant Guild Card, Mercenary Guild Card and etc. Each of these Cards is extremely convenient and can be substituted as an Identity ID.
As long as you have one of these cards, you can basically enter any City without much problem. So this is one of the must-have items for Cian.
With a creaking sound, Cian opened the door to the building. Then, an unexpected view entered his eyes. Rowdy people gathered in great numbers, some drinking booze, and some arguing, sometimes a voice would raise vulgar laughter. ……Though Cian expected such a scene, it was still much livelier than he expected.
It was a typical guild right out of an RPG. It was just as he imagined and that made him quite happy. I thought it would only be muscular middle-aged men or rough-looking and huge-looking people but there were also quite a few young woman and man, too.
There were definitely places for food and drink in the Adventurers Guild, but there were only about over ten people who looked like adventurers, a few more people were drinking but most seats were vacant. Cian nodded with much appreciation that the setting of this world is still walking on the same template as he had imagined. He chuckled at that thought. Passing through the crowd, he went straight into the Guild Board where many requests and missions are being posted.
Then, surveying the quest-filled board, Cian checked every request and found several that he could immediately complete, though most of them are monster subjugation quests. It was because they had encountered several monsters that had attacked them on the way.
After killing most of them, apart from those he had eaten, he stored most of the materials he had gotten from them and was now on his {Interspatial Rings}.
Without hesitation picked up five quests, which one was a request for a specific herb to find and then went straight towards the reception counter.
For additional information, Adventurer Guild has several ranks; from lowest Yellow rank, Brown, Blue, White, Red, Purple and Black Rank. And like the normal template, rankings limit the quest grades that an individual could get. However, it was actually not that strict. Yellow Rank can still pick up a quest that up to a Red Rank adventurer could get. Though, only below the B Rank. A and S Grade Quests are off-limits and only a capable Purple and above Rank are eligible to receive such quests.
However, just because it’s not that strict, ranking can easily be disregard.
One must have confidence that they can complete the task they pick up.
One higher rank Quest you take, the double the penalty you will get if you failed to complete it. Two ranks higher triple the penalty and so on. Furthermore, everyone knows that the ranking of the quests is reasonably given according to the danger. And so, only idiots would take up impossible quests to show-off. That is basically playing with life.
As for picking up quests, this is actually because Cian wanted to have a reason to come. Registering in this time and day would attract attention, which he doesn’t want to occur. At the very least, he could say that he had already registered in another City and be done with it. Besides, completing quests too can raise ranking, and the higher the rank the greater benefits the Guild could give him.
After picking up the quests from the Request Board, Cian lined up at the queue for the counter and waited a little while.
Then, finally, his turn came around.
“Hello! What sort of business do you have?”
It was a sweet girl with light golden braided hair who greeted him in an energetic voice.
Energetic girls sure are nice~.
Cian mused as he stared at the girl before him.