***
A battle with the forest was set to begin if the egg was not given. However, giving it was also a problem.
"Hmm. What are you doing?"
I had tried holding out the Celestial Egg, but as expected, it seemed invisible to the High Dryad. It was natural, since only I could see the egg containing the Celestial Spirit. Furthermore, it was not a spirit of the natural world, so it couldn't revive the forest anyway.
I wondered if I really had to run away. It hurt my heart to think of my reputation dropping if the quest failed, but I felt like I could use the Teleport Book if I set up a wall with Star Scratch and if Isabella and Hudson held out for just 30 seconds.
"Take this, dweller of the forest."
Just as I was seriously considering an escape, Isabella stepped forward. Immediately after, she handed a spirit egg to the High Dryad. The High Dryad’s eyes grew as wide as lanterns as he took the egg.
"A-A Wind Spirit!"
A Wind Spirit Egg. A spirit of the natural world that could revive a dead forest! Judging by its size and the energy felt from it, the forest would gain more vitality and grow larger than before. A Wind Spirit was far more suitable for growing a forest than a Rock Spirit. Cheers filled the High Dryad’s eyes.
"Thank you, thank you so much! You are the benefactors and friends of our forest!"
"For the forest!"
"Hurrah!"
The watching Dryads also let out shouts, filled with excitement. Simultaneously:
<< You have gifted a Wind Spirit to the ‘Rustle Forest.’ >>
<< Sub-Quest: ‘Returning the Spirit to the Forest’ has been completed. >>
<< Reward: Achievement ‘Friend of the Dryads,’ Gratitude of the Forest >>
<< A waypoint for ‘Rustle Forest’ has been created in the ‘Teleport Book.’ >>
<< Currently, there are 3 registered waypoints in the Teleport Book (Desert Sanctuary, Arcana Sewers, Rustle Forest). >>
The notice that the quest was completed appeared. However, the text didn't properly enter my sight.
...Honestly, I was a little surprised. This was because I never imagined Isabella would unhesitatingly give away the spirit egg she had obtained by overcoming the trial in the Tower of Spirits. There was no way she didn't know the value of a spirit. On the contrary, the problem was that she knew it too well.
"……."
When I stared at her, Isabella shrugged her shoulders as if it were no big deal. Only then did I realize that this was also one of the 'services' I had ordered from her. Hadn't Isabella sworn to serve me for one year in exchange for leaving the desert? She was showing her will to serve devotedly, even giving away what was hers.
"We must hold a festival today!"
The High Dryad began to dance joyfully with a broad smile.
✺✺✺
<< The Hall of Fame has been updated. >>
<< The rankings for ‘Main Quest 3 – Ascending the Tower’ have changed. >>
< 1st Place, 240 points. Randolph >
< 2nd Place, 219 points. Gracia >
< 3rd Place, 191 points. Mint Chocolate Taste >
< 4th Place, 188 points. Obsidian >
< 5th Place, 180 points. Master >
< 6th Place, 175 points. Massacre >
……
<< ‘Massacre’s’ rank for ‘Ascending the Tower’ has dropped by one level. >>
<< The level of the benefit ‘Guardian Wall’ has dropped from Lv. 6 to Lv. 5. >>
Massacre, who was waiting in front of the Tower of the War God, frowned deeply.
'What kind of nonsense is this?'
He had been leisurely waiting for the person presumed to be Randolph, but his rank had suddenly dropped. And as his rank dropped, the level of his Guardian Wall dropped along with it.
'Do they know how much effort I put into climbing the Tower of Typhoons...!'
In the case of Main Quest 3, a benefit called the 'Guardian Wall' was given to those who placed within the top 100. Everyone from 10th to 100th place received a Level 1 Guardian Wall, but for those from 1st to 9th place, there was a difference in the level of the Guardian Wall for each rank.
The reason Gracia had spent months leveling up before climbing the tower was to obtain a higher-level Guardian Wall. By achieving those results, Gracia had obtained a Level 10 Guardian Wall with a staggering 219 points.
It was the same for Massacre. He had devoted himself to conquering the Tower of Typhoons and was ranked 5th, grabbing a Level 6 Guardian Wall. The Guardian Wall was used to protect the 'real' body when logged out. No matter how high one's level was in Pangenia, it was useless if the body in reality died.
However, there were few functions that protected the real body on their own without using a Fragment of Broken Golden Rule, like the Guardian Wall did. One couldn't keep something like an Amulet of Protection active at all times. That was why everyone had desperately climbed the towers.
Grit!
'Phantom. No, Randolph...!'
He felt like he would die from a stroke. A Main Quest, once cleared, could not be attempted again. If he was this angry, how must Gracia feel, having been robbed of 1st place three times already?
Gracia had spent months leveling up under the worst conditions just to obtain a Level 10 Guardian Wall. He had reached Level 7 despite the limits of growing without pushing the Main Quests. On top of that, he had stubbornly climbed the Tower of Immortals while risking death.
Despite that, he only had 219 points. Just what kind of tower did that damn bastard Randolph climb to get 240 points?
'What kind of trick did he use?'
What was certain was that it meant he had climbed a tower of a higher grade than the Tower of Immortals. Surely, it wasn't a tower climbed through normal methods. Since Phantom possessed all sorts of knowledge about Pangenia, he must have used a bug. Otherwise, it made no sense at all.
Deep breath! Deep breath!
Massacre composed his breathing.
"Dammit! This is absolute trash!!"
But no matter how much he composed his breathing, his anger simply would not subside.
✺✺✺
< The rankings for ‘Main Quest 3, Ascending the Tower’ have been updated. >
< ‘Randolph’s’ rank has risen to 1st place. >
< He has surpassed the ‘Limit Score’ with 240 points. The grade of the benefit ‘Guardian Wall’ has been elevated. >
The text that appeared upon entering the Hall of Fame. 1st place was 1st place, but it was clearly different from before.
'An elevation of the benefit grade.'
Upon snatching 1st place in Main Quest 3, Ascending the Tower, a benefit called the Guardian Wall was created. I immediately read the explanation related to the Guardian Wall.
【 Guardian Wall (Lv. 11) 】
★ Protects and warns the logged-out body against danger.
★ There is a difference in the intensity of protection depending on the level of the Guardian Wall.
★ A Level 11 Guardian Wall nullifies attacks of 1-star or lower for 30 seconds.
My eyes widened.
'I can breathe a sigh of relief.'
This benefit was one of the things I needed most desperately. This meant this Guardian Wall would protect the real Park Hyunmyeong when I logged into Pangenia, and the Randolph in Pangenia when I returned to reality. Moreover, it was an absolute defensive wall that nullified even 1-star attacks—those that transcended Level 10—for 30 seconds!
'It meant that what should have been Level 10 for 1st place was elevated to Level 11 due to breaking the limit score.'
It seemed the grade of the established benefit could be elevated depending on the score. Furthermore, 30 seconds was enough time to return and properly reorganize my lines.
'The remaining time for the Fragment of Broken Golden Rule has also become 72 hours.'
The reward for 1st place was not just that. The Fragment of Broken Golden Rule had 24 hours added, making it 72 hours. Thinking about the future, the more remaining time there was, the better.
"Star-Awakened, thank you. I never dreamed I would obtain a spirit."
While the Dryads were dancing and holding a festival, Hudson approached and spoke. Hudson had obtained a Water Spirit Egg. It was a natural result since he had 'Water' in his talents.
"You have to hatch it first to make a formal contract."
"Yes. I’ll have to buy a ‘Spirit Incubator’ as soon as I return."
The most common way to hatch a spirit egg was to use a Spirit Incubator. It could be used by paying a very high price at a Spirit Association, which existed in a very few metropolises.
"What kind of egg did you obtain, Star-Awakened?"
"I don't know either."
"……Pardon?"
Hudson blinked at my answer. But what could I do when it was the truth? Even if it was called a Celestial Spirit, I didn't know its identity either. I couldn't tell if 'Celestial' referred to the Demon Realm, the Divine Realm, or another world.
"Kee-hee-hee!"
"Uwa-ha-ha-ha!"
"Let’s play! Let’s spin! Let’s dance!"
The Dryads spun in a circle and danced merrily.
"……."
And in the center of it all was Isabella. Isabella, who had gifted the Wind Spirit, was the top guest among us. However, Isabella was merely standing there awkwardly, not knowing what to do.
'I'm glad she obtained two eggs.'
Isabella had grabbed two eggs while climbing the Tower of Spirits. No wonder she gave one away so easily; to think she had one more. Still, it was certainly a difficult choice. A spirit egg was incredibly valuable in itself. Furthermore, a spirit obtained by climbing the 'Tower of Spirits' was much more powerful than ordinary spirits.
'To think they gave a thousand-year-old Mandragora as a gift.'
In Isabella’s hands was a Mandragora, a plant in human form. It was the best elixir that had lived for a thousand years by absorbing the positive energy of the forest. Eating such an elixir would awaken a new talent. Of course, since I had no more talents to awaken, it wouldn't matter whether I ate it or not.
"I want to hatch it as soon as possible. A spirit will surely solve my problems."
Hudson’s eyes were full of excitement. Was he picturing a future where he hunted together with a spirit? The path rising from 9 to 10. While impossible alone, it might be possible with a spirit.
"Before that, there is a place we must go together."
"Is there still a place left to stop by?"
"Yes."
"I will follow you unconditionally."
When I nodded, Hudson clenched his fists and showed a determined look in his eyes. He looked ready to follow me to the end of the world. I couldn't help but chuckle. To follow me unconditionally?
"I hope you keep that word, without fail."
✺✺✺
"……."
Hudson regretted saying he would follow unconditionally. He could only stare blankly at the estate before him after crossing the warp.
Gulp!
"Why... this place...?"
"Do you recognize where this is?"
"Is this not the estate of the House of Marquis Weiser... in the Kingdom of Valan...?"
He had no choice but to recognize it. Serengeti. This was the place where she was—the woman he had promised his future to and held a secret engagement ceremony with, the woman who had returned from the Great Expedition with both legs amputated.
Hudson staggered. He was not yet mentally prepared to meet her. He hadn't even reached Level 10, let alone become a Councilor. But he didn't know the reason the Star-Awakened had come here with him. Was he perhaps trying to arrange a meeting between him and Serengeti?
"T-The place we had to go together is..."
When Hudson asked while swallowing again, I nodded firmly.
"It is here."
The Kingdom of Valan, consisting of 13 metropolises. Among them, the place called the 'Garden of Knights.' However, the reason I came here was not because of Hudson.
'The end of the Great Expedition, that day of the battle with the Demon King.'
The Pure White Knight, Serengeti, who had participated in the Great Expedition with 500 knights and lost her lower body in a trap while saving me. She was my closest aide during the Great Expedition. Furthermore, she was the only witness who saw me fighting the Demon King.
Therefore, she would know.
...The story about the end of my life as the Knight King Wilhelm, about the situation that was incomprehensible at the time.