It was 9:00 AM the next day.
“Boss, you’re awake.”
When Gu Xin came downstairs, Togawa Sakiko was already sitting there, reading a magazine.
She was still wearing Gu Xin’s clothes; it seemed her own hadn’t dried from last night.
“I was going to make you breakfast, but…” Togawa Sakiko hesitated.
Right, because Gu Xin’s fridge was stocked with various sodas and absolutely nothing else.
“It’s fine, I’ll just grab something on the way.
Sakiko, take this money.
Go out and buy yourself some food and clothes.”
“Yes.
Are you heading out?”
“Yeah, I’m meeting up with some friends to go to a Secret Realm today.
If things go fast, I’ll be back in a day or two.”
“Then Sakiko will wait at home for your return,” Togawa Sakiko replied earnestly.
“Don’t worry.
I’m heading off now.”
“Understood.”
Togawa Sakiko stepped outside the shop, watching Gu Xin’s figure until he disappeared from sight.
“May your journey be safe and your return triumphant.”
…
Outside Yin City University.
“Big Gu, over here!”
As soon as Gu Xin arrived outside the school, he saw Wang Quan waving his arm in the distance.
“Old Wang, I’m not late, am I?” Gu Xin walked over.
“…We agreed on nine-thirty.
You’re as punctual as ever.”
Wang Quan checked the time, expressing disdain for Gu Xin’s “on-the-dot arrival.”
Gu Xin was always punctual, arriving exactly at the agreed-upon time every single instance.
It was practically a superpower.
“Come on, let me introduce you to our teammates.” Wang Quan pointed to the two people behind him.
A man and a woman.
The man was tall and built like a bear, clad in a full suit of armor.
He looked like an iron tower, exuding an overwhelming sense of security.
The woman, on the other hand, wore a blue nun’s habit.
She had a petite and graceful figure, a nun’s veil on her head, and held a staff in her hand.
“This is Meng Xiu from Class 1, First Year over at the Knight Academy.
He’s a Knight class, our team’s main tank.”
“And this beauty is Lan Lianhua from Class 2, First Year of our Mage Academy.
She’s a Nun class, our healer.”
Wang Quan gave a brief introduction.
Gu Xin nodded.
Meng Xiu looked like he could take a massive beating, no problem there.
But despite Wang Quan constantly badmouthing the muscle-brained idiots of the Knight Academy, he still sought out a Knight when it came time to dive into a Secret Realm.
Then there was Lan Lianhua—setting aside the fact that her name made Gu Xin really want to make a snarky comment.
Gu Xin glanced at Lan Lianhua’s chest.
*Hmm, not very big.*
“And this is my buddy, Gu Xin from Class 4, First Year of the Mage Academy.
He’s a Card Crafter class.”
Wang Quan then threw an arm around Gu Xin’s shoulders, introducing him to Meng Xiu and Lan Lianhua with a grin.
Meng Xiu and Lan Lianhua both looked at Gu Xin with considerable curiosity.
A Card Crafter?
That was a rare breed.
“Hello.”
“Hey there, brother!
I’m the best Knight in the Knight Academy!
Don’t worry, just stand behind me and I’ll protect you.”
Meng Xiu laughed heartily, thumping his chest and making his armor clank loudly.
“Hello, Gu Xin.
I’ve heard of you, but this is our first time meeting.
It’s a pleasure.” Lan Lianhua gripped her staff, looking at Gu Xin curiously.
Even though they were both students of the Mage Academy, she had genuinely never seen Gu Xin before.
“Sigh, my bro is usually too busy crafting cards.
He doesn’t even have time when I invite him out to eat,” Wang Quan said, rolling his eyes.
“Go, go, go!
Let’s head out.
It’d be best if we could clear the Secret Realm today.”
After getting acquainted, Wang Quan took the lead, guiding them to the magitech car he had booked in advance.
Secret Realms could also be referred to as Secret Realm Pocket Worlds.
These pocket worlds were sub-dimensions attached to the main world.
Compared to the wilderness areas of the main world, the most convenient aspect of Secret Realms was that their danger levels could be quantified.
This made it easier for class-holders to adventure and grow.
In the main world, since magical beasts and monsters roamed and migrated, you never knew if a Tier 4 magical beast might suddenly pop out in your adventuring zone and swat you to death with a single slap.
But Secret Realm Pocket Worlds weren’t like that.
Whenever a new one appeared, the Adventurer’s Guild and the Empire’s officials would proactively send people to explore and grade it.
Additionally, compared to the main world, some Secret Realm Pocket Worlds were incredibly rich in resources—though, of course, some could be extremely barren.
The most renowned Secret Realm was the Demi-human Secret Realm from several centuries ago.
It was a large-scale Tier 6 Secret Realm where the Demi-human High Priest established a reverse spatial portal to invade the main world.
They were subsequently beaten into unconditional surrender by the major empires.
To this day, the portal entrance to that large-scale Secret Realm still existed, though it had been completely sealed off.
It was said to be jointly sealed and guarded by the demigods of the various empires.
As for the Secret Realm Gu Xin’s group of four was heading to this time, it was a Tier 2 Secret Realm.
The magitech car drove out of the city, and a magnificent, large-scale building came into view.
Above the building’s main entrance was an emblem of a crossed sword and staff.
This was the Adventurer’s Guild, one of the world’s top-tier major factions.
Its stance was strictly neutral, never intervening in disputes between other powers.
“A Mage, a Knight, and a Nun.
Logically speaking, you guys should have recruited a Warrior too, otherwise aren’t we lacking in melee combat?”
After stepping out of the car, Gu Xin looked around and found that the central plaza in front of the Adventurer’s Guild was incredibly bustling.
Adventurers in all sorts of attire were gathered here.
Some were even holding up signs on the spot, indicating their need to form temporary parties.
*Tsk, now this is what another world should look like.*
Gu Xin found it all highly novel; this was his first time visiting the Adventurer’s Guild.
“What do we need a Warrior for?
We already have Meng Xiu,” Wang Quan said dismissively.
“As long as Meng Xiu can withstand the enemy’s attacks, with my magic, there’s no enemy we can’t handle.”
Wang Quan was incredibly arrogant, looking down his nose at everything.
This was the confidence of a master Mage.
Magic was simply the most badass!
Meng Xiu and Lan Lianhua were completely unfazed by this.
Clearly, the two of them were well-acquainted with Wang Quan and understood his personality perfectly.
“It’s said that demons roam in this Secret Realm.
Wang Quan, it’s best not to be too careless,” Lan Lianhua reminded him.
Her tone was very gentle, speaking in soft whispers that gave one a feeling as refreshing as a spring breeze.
One could only say she truly lived up to being a Nun.
“Heh heh, don’t worry, don’t worry.
Meng Xiu is a Knight who even I look at with newfound respect.
Even if it’s a demon, Meng Xiu can tank it.”
“Hahaha, exactly!
Just stand behind me and you’ll be absolutely safe!” Meng Xiu laughed heroically.
“I’m the toughest man in the Knight Academy!”
Lan Lianhua helplessly massaged her forehead.
*Damn it, an arrogant Mage and an overconfident Knight.* She was truly speechless.
*Thank goodness that Card Crafter seems pretty normal…*
“If we encounter a demon, I want its corpse.
Oh, right, try not to damage its body too much.
I need to use it as crafting material for my cards,” Gu Xin told the three of them with a completely straight face.
He had come this time specifically for demon materials.
“Not damage its body?
Wait, then how are we supposed to defeat the demon?”
Lan Lianhua looked at Gu Xin in disbelief.
*Bro, does what you just said even make sense?*
“I believe in Meng Xiu and Old Wang.
They’ll definitely figure something out.”