Ray answers her readily, as though Eric had already given his permission prior to her question.
“My lady, do you recall what I said about the extraction?”
How can I not?
She’s sure her face says it all. Just as it usually does.
“The imperial family has been concerned over the lack of a single new Hargreaves for seven years.”
You don’t say.
According to what she’s learned, while players enter the world at random from various designated locations in the empire, the longest a single spawning point has gone without a player appearing has been nine months.
And with twelve locations through which players can enter Terra, that says a lot.
Players die a little too often for comfort.
Not for the first time, she’s grateful for her terrifying escorts.
“I was dispatched to the Viscounty of Brego one and a half years ago, expecting to find some sort of issue in the forest given the viscount had actively sought out an Oracle’s assistance in determining the cause of the drought.” Ah, I see. That piece of shit covered his ass well, so the crown thought they needed brute strength to take care of the monsters killing players. “Though I am trained in covert operations, my forte lies in combat and defense.” Shocker. “It was only six months prior to now that I discovered the truth behind the absence of any new Hargreaves, which is a well-kept secret few in Brego know.”
This time she stumbles over a pebble, but Ray goes along with her pretense that it didn’t happen.
“After sending word to the Commander, I waited to receive my next orders, only to find him standing in the courtyard one day as a freshly appointed knight.”
Oh?
“Why did Eric go to that place? Why not just arrest the viscount?”
The shadow that falls across Ray’s face could be from the trees around them, though Lexi isn’t sure.
“Jord told me to make sure the next Hargreaves makes it to the capital safely.”
Who the heck is ‘Jord’?
Swiveling her head towards the red haired man walking in front of her, Lexi opens her mouth to ask but is beaten to the punch by Ray.
“The Commander is referring to His Imperial Highness, the star of the empire, Crown Prince Jordan Solusol.”
The WHAT now?
Maybe she looks funny gaping up at Ray dumbfounded, because his tone seems amused when he explains.
“Though the Commander is six years older than His Highness, they have been close since childhood.”
Hang on. SIX years older?
“Is the Crown Prince twelve years old or something?”
It’s definitely a hastily stifled grin on a scarred face this time, Lexi’s sure of it.
“My lady, the Commander is thirty-six years old.”
“WHAT?!”
Broad shoulders tremble with barely contained mirth next to her, as she tries to digest this piece of information.
“You’re joking, right? He looks barely twenty at most!”
This is the first time she’s seen a twinkle in those green eyes.
“My lady, I swear on my honor that I speak only the truth: the Commander has already passed his thirty-sixth birthday.”
Oh. My. GOD.
“What skincare is he using...” Though she thinks she mumbles it to herself, it’s clear from the reactions that both knights heard her.
So that means the Crown Prince is thirty.
“But why is that guy so insistent on having a player from that part of the world brought to the capital?”
“Jord has his reasons.”
Stingy.
----------------------------------------
I knew it was too good to be true.
While they’ve been walking peacefully for the past few days, it seems their luck has run out.
Seven weird winged creatures with multiple eyes each screech at them from above, as more than thirty purplish horned and fanged monsters slither around them in the clearing.
Eric and Ray appear completely unfazed as they take up positions and hide her between them. She wonders if it’s because they usually don’t show much emotion, wonders if there’s some way she can contribute instead of simply relying on them all the time like a damn ninny.
Menu.
Lexi full bio [https://i.imgur.com/vXeJ0O8.png]
Shit.
Lexi hates feeling helpless, abhors being beholden to others, but with pathetic stats like hers and skills that are better suited for planning and investigation, she has to admit that all she can do now is not cause more problems.
I knew I'd have to be carried, but we're seriously outnumbered.
And then she wonders what she’d worried about.
The knights make quick work of the beasts - not even budging from their positions, just wielding their aura-blades almost lazily in the golden sunset and slicing up monsters that stupidly keep charging at them - before ushering her along as they continue their journey.
Wow.
----------------------------------------
The hell?
HP: 23 / 23. MP: 20 / 20. EXP: 216 / 2,000 [https://i.imgur.com/iddM0Ep.png]
Is this a bug?
Rubbing her eyes doesn’t change anything, so she just stares some more.
“Is something the matter, my lady?”
How much should I tell them? How much can I trust them?
Well, they already know I’m either an alchemist or a sage, so...
Both men don’t question her further, quietly going about preparing a breakfast of wild berries and some sort of crazy looking bird with feathers that look drawn by a kindergartener who colored them in a tantrum.
It’s not like I have anyone else to ask. And they’re familiar with players so they might know what’s going on.
“I’m gaining EXP by just walking around with you both.”
“Explain.” She’s gotten used to Eric’s taciturn ways by now, so she doesn’t even bristle.
“I had 84 EXP points yesterday when those monsters surrounded us, but now it’s 216.” Their lack of reaction speaks volumes to her.
“My lady, alchemists and sages prize knowledge above all else.”
I see.
It makes sense, given her current skills are focused on information as well. Which means that the more knowledge she gleans from this world - whether it be through books, conversations, or simply observing others - the more EXP she’ll accrue.
Talk about a growth hack.
Lexi isn’t complaining though. In fact, she makes it a point to ask as many questions as possible from that moment on, and Ray patiently answers each one with Eric chiming in now and then.
----------------------------------------
The Duchy of Drumsticks is something else entirely - manicured wilds, if that’s even possible, and strict security measures unlike the previous territories they’d been passing through.
She’d spotted knights on patrol awhile back, though Eric and Ray eventually lead her to a path that seemingly appears out of nowhere behind thick pink vines, and soon she can see the telltale signs of smoke rising from a township.
I need a bath and clean clothes.
Lexi had been surprised to learn that players are generally immune to diseases here, a minor blessing granted to transmigrators coming from different worlds and vaccinated against alien illnesses.
That still doesn’t mean she likes going days without washing.
This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.
“Glenfiernne has several clothing stores, my lady.”
Perking up immediately, because she’s gotten used to these knights’ way of speaking, she increases her pace and ignores the muffled chuckle from behind her, though her excitement soon wanes when she looks in the mirror.
How could you forget? You’re much bigger than most women, even here.
The clothes that had looked so good on display didn’t quite fall the right way when she put on the larger sizes.
All that walking, for nothing.
Turning away from her reflection with clenched fists, Lexi hurriedly changes out of the dress-and-pants combination, pulling her hood as low as possible over her face.
The knights seem to know something’s wrong, but they say nothing as they accept her mumbled “I’ll take these” before paying and exiting the store together to find lodging for the night.
The men themselves hadn’t bothered trying anything on, simply pointing at shirts and pants and leaving it to the staff to find their sizes. At first Lexi had wondered if Ray could even purchase anything off the shelf, but it seems there are plenty of people in this world built like trees.
Though, they’d be able to wear anything easily since they don’t have any fat on them.
She’s quiet all the way to the inn, taking the new clothes to her room and determinedly avoiding looking in the full length mirror all the while, then it’s time for dinner and the brunette and redhead seated at the same table don’t say anything when she has almost twenty pints of ale.
Thank you.
----------------------------------------
A week later, as they near the border to the County of Nurses, Lexi can honestly say she’s glad to leave the Viscounty of Hacking.
Fortunately, they’d all purchased an extra set of clothes in the duchy, because the viscounty had been nothing like its esteemed neighboring territory at all.
From terrain that blends both marsh and desert, to sudden storms appearing in the middle of forests while they slept, and an overwhelming amount of monsters at every turn - Lexi had angrily questioned the master of the land's sanity many times, since no rational person would choose to live in a land where the very air could turn toxic in a heartbeat.
The only reason she’s survived is because the two knights with her are excellent fighters. Ray always keeps Lexi close - sometimes going so far as to literally carry her like she’s a little green creature and he’s a man who never removes his helmet - while Eric charges forward, blasting aura to clear paths for Ray and Lexi to run through, before stabbing and slashing in beautiful and deadly sword dances she wishes she could enjoy watching instead of struggling to breathe while dodging claws, fangs, tails, flames, flying spikes, poison, rocks, and even some homicidal mutant bugs.
A few days ago she'd gotten so fed up she’d picked up sticks and tried to fence, or even use some of the Kali techniques she’d learned out of curiosity, before giving up and deciding to play killer baseball and tennis.
Thank God I’m not THAT useless.
It’s bloody tiring whacking these things though.
Lexi is grateful for Ray's patience as she plies him with questions incessantly in order to distract herself from the miserable conditions.
He’d told her a few things that had bumped her up to Level 3, including the fact that the Viscount of Hercules is on bad terms with his neighbors.
When Ray informed her that the viscount is heavily in debt from gambling and therefore unable to pay for players to clear the dungeons in his territory, it had led to Lexi learning some key information about the world:
Firstly, that entrance to dungeons is only open to players (and their parties, if applicable), and that the Guild manages all such requests at a hefty commission rate.
Secondly, failing to clear dungeons on time leads to breaks, which means these dungeons slowly take over the land with their unique environments and monsters.
Thirdly, while Lexi is a player, she cannot see dungeons or access them before completing her Initiation at the Guild.
So the Guild has some sort of system-like powers? Or maybe the system gave them a bit of its powers so they can remain relevant.
As to why the knights had decided on such a difficult route when there are plenty of straightforward, well maintained roads to the capital, Eric had tersely shut that line of inquiry down.
I guess it has something to do with the lack of a new Hargreaves for seven years, and the Crown Prince.
Her mood has been foul for days, ever since mud and sand got where they shouldn’t, so she’s been focused on not losing her temper with the only individuals around who can keep her safe.
Level: 3 Class: ??? Attribute: Time [https://i.imgur.com/EceG2Q5.png]
HP: 35 / 35 MP: 30 / 30 EXP: 132 / 3,000 [https://i.imgur.com/jXReaiS.png]
P-ATK: 2 M-ATK: 2 P-DEF: 2 M-DEF: 2 [https://i.imgur.com/Rj0uSki.png]
With 15 new stat points, she’d distributed them while bearing in mind the fact that she’d arrive at the capital soon, and the fact that her class prioritizes knowledge above all else.
Strength: 3 Speed: 6 Dexterity: 4 Agility: 4 Intelligence: 8 Vitality: 6 Charisma: 5 Luck: 6 [https://i.imgur.com/OVK45TM.png]
Though ultimately, it’d been the new passive skill unlocked that had turned her mood around most.
Sight Allows user to see information about others. At current level, user can view levels of people and items that the user already knows the complete names of [https://i.imgur.com/SbCZISr.png]
She’d made it a point to ask for the Imperial Knights’ full names - Eric Tridentia and Rayleigh Fortisutum - and immediately gawked at the numbers hovering above their heads.
Eric is level 90, and Ray is level 87?!
These two are almost at the greatest height possible in this world, so close to becoming living legends themselves, and yet they casually sit in the mud with her eating leftovers.
Ray explains that the original residents of this world have a different way of measuring strength and progress compared to players, but that some players can view a local’s prowess in a translated manner that makes more sense to them.
“Does that mean your progression is different from mine?”
While she asks plenty of questions in order to gain EXP, she also desperately wants to be distracted from the unwanted mud bath.
“Yes, my lady.” Neither Ray nor Eric seem perturbed by the situation, though she supposes elite knights are battle hardened warriors who’ve suffered through worse conditions. “For those of us who come from Terra, we not only possess different skills but grow at a different rate from players. From what we’ve learned, it appears that while Terrans grow faster than players, the power scale at each level is much higher for players.”
So that means...
“A level 90 player will be stronger than a level 90 Terran?” Ray nods in response.
I see. Even if our skills are somewhat different, even if we’re talking about something like healing abilities - level for level, a player’s ability will be more potent than a local’s.
We're not just useful alive. Even if it’s a bit of a hassle when it comes to skills and traits that Terrans need to forcibly extract from players, it’s still just a matter of equipping an item containing the 'essence' - a weak, mutated version of the player's original power.
"Equip an item containing the essence." Like we're just an accessory to be discarded once we're out of juice.
She can feel her blood beginning to boil.
Stop it. Don't think about that. Find out as much as you can.
“You mentioned Terrans grow faster, but I assume for both Terrans and players the amount of effort required to progress increases with each level up?”
Ray nods again.
“Who are the key players and NP...Terrans I should know about in the capital?” Something itches really badly under her clothes, and she desperately needs a distraction.
“There are currently three members of the imperial family, my lady.” Somehow mention of the ruling family causes shadows to settle on the knights’ faces. “His Imperial Majesty, the eternal sun of the empire, Emperor Aurelius Solusol, will celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of his rule come spring. His Majesty’s younger brother, His Imperial Highness the Grand Duke Lucas Solusol, serves as Lord Chancellor and Protector of the South, and is second in line for the title of Emperor. Lastly, His Imperial Highness, the star of the empire, Crown Prince Jordan Solusol, is heir to the throne and is involved with the Imperial Knights and Parliament.”
’Involved’? Interesting choice of words. That means the Emperor holds most of the power, I guess.
If the Crown Prince is already thirty, then...
“What’s the median age for having children in Terra?”
While both Eric and Ray understand the meaning behind her question, it sours their expressions temporarily and Lexi wonders if she’d come across as a gold-digger. Before she can try to explain herself, the messy haired commander speaks.
“Jord had a wife, but lost her and the baby during childbirth.”
During childbirth? I know they don’t have modern medicine here but they have healer NPCs and players with healing abilities. The rate of death at childbirth should be lower than medieval times in my own world, and the wife of a Crown Prince would DEFINITELY have received the best treatment possible, which made her chances of survival much higher than others.
When she voices her question, brown eyes meet hers. While the expression on that handsome face is grim, there’s a hint of satisfaction in his gaze.
So he’s saying that there’s something going on - maybe a fight for the throne - and that not only is the imperial family a hot mess, he’s glad I realized something’s up.
Intrigue isn’t something new to Lexi, though at least she hadn’t had to worry about her life being on the line back home - it was more games of money and pride. After all, she belonged to a fortunate group who didn’t have to face war, famine, or poverty - people in her circle only ever died from accidents, illnesses, or suicide.
Though there had been some whispers of murder when the first son of a family friend had suddenly fallen off his horse and hit his head while playing polo, whispers about it then, such concepts were still abstract notions to Lexi - things she’d only seen in books, webtoons, or dramas.
The first time she’d experienced the death of someone close to her had only been recently.
Don’t think about that time. Focus on now.
Yet, from the moment she’d set foot in this world, it’d been clear that anyone could die at anytime, from things that Lexi would never have considered possibilities before this.
Ray continues the lecture after a few minutes of silence.
“There are many other noble families, though it would be best to explain it to you in the Imperial Library as there are excellent books and family trees there.” Lexi nods at that, and makes a mental note to reading as much as she can get her hands on to boost her EXP.
“Wait.” Green eyes look curious. “Are you and Eric nobles?”
Thick lips lift slightly. “Yes, my lady. Only members of nobility possess family names.”
Just like in the webtoons!
“Does that mean that, in order to become a knight, you need to be from a noble house? Doesn’t that just limit the pool of talent available?”
Eric’s face is carefully blank, though he’s watching her closely out of the corner of his eye.
“It depends on the knight order, my lady. In the Imperial Knightage, commoners with promise may join the Badger Legion. The most exceptional of them go on to become adopted by noble families seeking honor, which then allows the knight in question to move to different Legions.” I see. “While most nobles would never allow a commoner into their house’s knight order, many make exceptions for talented individuals and have them adopted by distant relatives or branch families.”
Interesting.
“What are your thoughts on such a system?”
Eric is always brusque, but she’s starting to think it’s because he’d used up a lifetime of words while masquerading as a cheerful young knight.
“Before I answer, I’d like some clarification.” That makes the commander turn towards her fully. “May I assume that the reason commoners usually aren’t accepted into knight orders is because they’re seen as inferior to nobles?”
At least Ray deigns to nod. His superior can’t be bothered to do more than blink.
“Why are they considered inferior? Is it in terms of intelligence, physical ability, or character?”
Brown eyes sharpen at that last word.
So it’s character. Nobles think commoners are untrustworthy and unreliable.
“Then, my answer is that though the system is flawed, it cannot be any other way unless the narrative of noble bloodlines being ‘purer’ and more honorable is put to rest for good, all associated prejudices are eradicated, and a support structure with formal procedures and adequate penalties is put in place to both protect the fledgling new normal, and enable it to grow and permeate until it’s deeply ingrained in society as ‘the way things are’.”
“And how do you think such a change can come about?”
I know you’re testing me, and I wonder why.
“Forcing it would lead to too much resistance, from nobles and commoners alike who have been indoctrinated with these prejudices for so long it’s pretty much a part of their bones. It needs to be a gradual change brought about in a carefully curated plan, with a focus on incremental gains over the long term. Some quick wins early on would be good, of course, to improve morale, secure more support from stakeholders, and build momentum. But more importantly there should be regular successes to sustain the initiative and support over the longer term, and these milestone achievements should be part of the plan.”
This reminds her of the years spent recycling slides while tweaking colors, numbers, and names.
“Just like the apologue - if you put a frog in boiling water, it’ll leap out. But if you put it in tepid water and raise the temperature little by little, eventually the frog will be boiled without it even realizing that itself.”
It’s the first time Eric has ever given her anything resembling a smile since he dropped his disguise. Though it’s not one of happiness, it’s at least an acknowledgment, which makes Lexi happy.
I guess you’ve finally realized I’m not a complete idiot.
Later on, Ray tells her that there have been many previous players who openly denounced the empire’s societal structure, and worked to try and change it into a more equal world.
They didn’t last very long.
Interestingly, not a single Hargreaves has ever been an idealist.
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CHAPTER 6 END