“We can’t be off-guard just because he’s a Sculptor. With his use of Necromancer magic and the physical fighting prowess he’s shown, there’s really no telling what his profession is.”
Maren was also a ranker within the top 50 of all of Royal Road, but he didn’t know his opponents’ abilities at all. Considering the fighting ability Weed had shown when fighting the Bone Dragon and the quests he had completed, it was, honestly, daunting.
‘We fight as a guild. But honestly… I have no confidence in being able to do a quest alone like that. And, apart from level, his battle sense is at least several times greater than mine.’
There wasn’t much information known about Weed.
Being defeated in a one on one fight with many variables would be very damaging. If a ranker of Maren’s level died, it would be extremely difficult to regain the lost level and proficiency. He could even be culled from the breathlessly tight competition between rankers. Moreover, a fight with Weed would definitely be put on broadcast, and videos would be posted as well. If he was defeated in such a fight, he had to bear the knowledge that he could also lose his fame.
The image was being drawn in Maren’s head!
‘He’d tear our guild members apart like tissue paper, and the Ice Dragon, Phoenix, Wyvern… and if he used that uber rare Necromancer magic too, it’d be a big pain in the ass.’
The might of Necromancer magic was publicly acknowledged. There were fierce complaints from the people who actually tried raising a Necromancer about how the class’s Stamina was low and that they were hard to raise, but because of the terrifying sight Weed had shown in the broadcast, it was a profession many people aspired to be.
‘A Necromancer’s magic… his fighting ability is truly nothing short of being called a God of War.’
Weed, laughing brutally and slicing Maren’s throat apart in the public eye…
“Ahem.”
Maren couldn’t take action recklessly.
“I’ve no thought of losing, but it’s a difficult issue, since we can’t ignore the ‘what if’ either.”
“And, if we send an expedition all the way to the North, we could be giving the other guilds, who are waiting to pounce on us, a good opportunity.”
As powerful as the Crimson Mercenary Guild was, they had as many enemies. They were in a position where they couldn’t send out their main force indefinitely.
“Are you saying our guild could be attacked while trying to catch Weed?”
“It’s a definite possibility. Our territory will inevitably become vulnerable while our attack force is all the way in the North. From the viewpoint of other guilds, don’t you think it’s more reasonable to aim for our large, profitable territory than the fame of catching Weed?”
They had many Mercenary guild competitors, and there was no law preventing them from joining forces to attack.
It was an issue with all sorts of worries for the Crimson Mercenary Guild.
* * *
Weed was left with just a few things after he disposed of all the japtem. He planned to find owners for the Sophia’s Greatspear, Large Crystal Gemstone, Jorudia’s Signet, the diamonds, and Isuren’s Magic Weapon elsewhere.
“It’ll be good to sell off the Large Crystal Gemstone to nobles after I process it with sculpting and make it a large ornament… it wouldn’t be bad to use it when I’m Light Sculpting, either. I’ll have to sell the other items through the auction site or the Dark Gamer’s Union.”
A dresser and dining table made with the large crystal! They would be hard to sell in the North, but they were luxury goods he could sell at extremely high prices in a Central Continent kingdom.
After selling the miscellaneous items, Weed walked along the streets of Morata with Yellowy.
The residents recognized him and greeted him first.
“Welcome, my Lord.”
“My Lord, they say you have successfully completed an impressive request once again… Please be sure to tell us the story later. My son says he wants to be just like you when he grows up.”
“Count of Morata, I am a Merchant from Rintle Kingdom. It is an honor to meet such a famous man.”
Because of the enormous Fame he had accumulated in the River of Lamentations, even NPCs from the Central Continent responded to him warmly.
“The apples have ripened beautifully in our front-yard. We’ve saved the most delicious apples for you, my Lord, so please be sure to try them.”
A woman handed him apples by the basketful! It was a fruit basket she had taken out to sell to the market, but when she saw the Lord, she had given it to him on the spot.
Weed received the fruit basket and took a big bite out of a ripe, red apple.
“Yellowy, you eat one too.”
He threw Yellowy a worm-eaten apple. The bull stuck out his tongue to lick it, then opened his mouth wide and crunched into it.
Weed solemnly proceeded to give it a lesson.
“Yellowy, the way people are, they help each other when times are tough. Don’t you think things like these are all because of our daily actions?”
Yellowy didn’t believe him at all, but he just nodded; he was busy eating the apples in the basket.
Morata had become very different from the last time he had come. Mystical figures were sculpted on the sturdy bridge on the crossway to the Lord’s castle. Sculptors, Artists, and Painters had come to Morata and were enriching the city.
“We’re building a shopping district!”
“I’m a Painter, please take me with you.”
“A Sculptor is participating, leave the ceiling to me!”
When a construction quest appeared, all the artists joined in to construct a beautiful building.
With its crystal clear river and lake, Morata’s attractions continued to increase.
There was even a sizeable ornament hanging from Morata’s spire, visible from the square.
Adventurer Spenson’s hair ornament of Ankia!
Lady Ankia’s Hair Ornament, City Ornament
Durability: 80/80.
A gold ornament with outstanding archaeological value.
Options:
The entire village’s commercial development speed increases by 2%.
Adventure related experience increases by 1.5%.
Spenson was a very distinguished adventurer in Royal Road; the hair ornament he had excavated after coming to the North was displayed in Morata.
Adventurers could arrange or publicize a special kind of excavated item in a town. They sometimes sold such items for very high prices, but the adventurer received a massive increase in Fame if they donated it to a town. There was also the effect of their intimacy with the townspeople increasing instantaneously, and they could also buy goods very cheaply — at much better prices than an average Merchant would get. Moreover, their popularity with the employees at a tavern was the best! The residents would also go out of their way to find the adventurer in order to offer them quests.
Spenson had predicted that the future Morata would grow into the central city of the North and had left his excavated item here.
Returning to Morata after a long time, Weed could feel the vivid liveliness of adventure.
“It’s beautiful.”
“Aren’t you glad we came here?”
“Yeah. The ambience is good.”