Spirit Game

"Waagh . . . I'm completely excited! We're going to meet other players, Chi!" Rain announced, his voice brimming with enthusiasm.

~Chi~

Rain laughed at Chi's disinterest. Among them, he was the most excited since it meant he would finally meet his fellow humans in the Spirit Realm. It felt like it had been so long since he had last seen another human, even though he had been on Earth just a while ago.

"I wonder who the association has sent?" Rain continued to muse aloud. "Honestly, I never thought they would send help at all. I guess Dean really pulled through for us! I owe him one!"

~Chi~

Chi stuck out her tongue. 'We don't need them. We can defend our territory just fine.'

Rain ignored her and remained optimistic. Everything was finally coming together for him, except for his deal with Eve about those flowers, but he refused to be swayed by negativity right now.

"Don't be like that, Chi. I'm sure with their help we will surely succeed in earning my Novice Lord title!" Rain declared, his eyes sparkling with happiness.

Rather, he had no choice in the matter, he had to succeed, or it would mean death.

"But I still can't believe that they really sent someone. I thought they had discarded me." Rain felt a lump form in his throat. "They care about me in the end," he choked.

"Approaching carriages spotted at a distance!" someone announced.

Rain jumped to his feet and bolted to the entrance of his small village. "They're finally here! Yay!"

Chi and Hana could only watch him go, shaking their heads.

"He's still a kid," Hana said.

Chi glared at her. ~Chi~

'Why are you still here?'

Hana laughed off Chi's hostility. "I don't have anything to do back in town, and a simple life like this suits me well. I'm good at taking care of animals, you know."

Chi clicked her tongue while Hana went after Rain.

"Anyway, we should meet Rain's friends!" she said excitedly, running off to where Rain was.

~Chi~

'Look who's acting like a kid. And they're not my lord's friends!' Chi chirped and chased after them.

Outside, Cid and his troops arrived at the brick-walled gate, which was guarded by a Goliath.

Cid couldn't believe his eyes. A Goliath?!

How did a newbie acquire a Goliath?

Moreover, this level of village construction was already in the Apprentice Lord stage. Just how did this newbie achieve this level of construction so early and with so few resources?

Even with his immature ways, Cid knew this much: this Rain Weathers, just how did he manage to achieve this kind village in such a short month and even surpass those Novice Lords on the mainland who had ample resources to build?

"Welcome!" Rain greeted them with all smiles.

Cid and Silphie's high expectations for Rain plummeted, crushed into dust and swept away by the wind.

He's . . . He's too ordinary! There's nothing remarkable about his appearance at all!

"Are you Rain Weathers?" Cid immediately asked.

"That's right," Rain answered, his eyes twinkling. "And you must be the player that the association sent to help me with my Novice Lord Title, right? Nice to finally meet you!"

Rain grabbed Cid's hand and shook it vigorously. "Wow. I never thought that the association would really send help! You've really saved me! Now I'm more confident about succeeding in my Novice Title challenge!"

Cid shook his head and glared at Rain. "Cut it off! I'm not here to play buddy-buddy with you. And don't mistake that I'm here to help you. It's a request from the association that I couldn't refuse. As soon as I've done my mission here, we're going back."

"Oh, is that so." Rain's enthusiasm dimmed slightly. "That's too bad. Can't you stay a little longer?"

"This isn't a vacation!" Cid growled and sighed. "I can't believe you. Do you really know the seriousness of the situation you're in?"

Rain's head tilted to the side. "Huh?"

Cid glared at him, taking it upon himself to explain. "The Novice Lord title, which 90 percent of the players fail to achieve. Do you know how serious it is?"

"Yes, but . . ." Rain didn't get to finish his sentence as Cid continued.

"Most of the challenges will have you facing packs of goblins or wolves or even gnolls in numbers ranging from twenty to fifty! I doubt that this shabby place could hold on when they attack."

"You don't have to worry about that. We have traps–"

"Now bring us to our quarters. I'm tired."

Cid took it upon himself to enter the village without waiting for Rain.

"But shouldn't we discuss strategy on how to defend my territory? My Novice Lord title challenge is actually coming tomorrow, if I'm not mistaken."

Cid merely waved his hand. "No need. Can't you see my troops? They're all elves and they boast superior combat abilities compared to your . . ."

Cid paused. "What are your troops again?"

Rain smiled and said proudly, "Aasimar."

"Aasimar?" To that, Cid laughed. "Hahaha. Not only the weakest but the most useless race."

Rain opened his mouth to protest, but Cid continued talking, leaving him no room to interject.

"You can take it easy. Now that I'm here, consider your Novice Lord Challenge as good as done. Leave everything to me and my troops. I doubt that this puny shelter and your weak troops could do much anyway . . ."

Cid paused again. It was only then that he noticed the inside of the territory, previously obstructed by the brick walls on the outside.

There were villagers performing various tasks, tending to animals and helping with construction. The roads were paved, and the buildings were made of bricks, intricately styled with carvings. Everything looked organized, well thought out, and meticulously crafted.

'T-this . . . This is more beautiful than my territory!' Cid screamed in his head, and he turned into stone.

At the side, Silphie thought the same. Even their territory back on the mainland didn't have brick fences and brick houses. What's more, the craftsmanship was excellent! She could tell because of her race's inclination toward crafting.

Though the buildings looked simple, she could see that the lines were solid and straight, the placement of watchtowers, buildings, and networks of roads and pathways was well thought out, and the work was clean with no smudges of construction. It was clear that whoever did the constructing placed great care into every building and detail.

It must be a master builder! Silphie was sure of it. But how?

How could an unremarkable and ordinary-looking guy achieve this in less than a month?!

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