CHAPTER 12

The sudden appearance of Demons reminded me of something. When I was in school with my white-haired friend, we saw another figure that appeared out of nowhere. If memory serves, the figure was some sort of knight clad in blue gems. They appeared out nowhere, looked at us, then ran away. Considering that there are two cases of creatures appearing in my world, I’m beginning to think that there is at least one more method of traveling between worlds. There was no Goldcalibur or portal in both cases. Some sort of teleportation?

I’ve beaten two Demons. I only need one subclass to do it. That means that the cult was never the real reason why people would seal an entire area. Then, people would be afraid of Contractuary. In fiction, especially if its long enough, there will be more than one world-ending threats around. Sure, it’s bad if all the Demons come to this world at the same time, but that doesn’t seem to be likely. If that’s possible, then I would’ve encountered dozens of them at the same time. Instead, I only met two Demons in two days. That’s not world-ending.

Contractuary is strange. It’s not hostile, but people still sealed it. All I can confirm is that there’s a magic to create slaves. Considering that this world is much closer to a fantasy, then it’s most likely that an empire is afraid of it. Then, this empire could be a threat to me if they ever suspected that I unleashed it.

That’s two. A cult that wants to summon more Demons. An empire that’s afraid that Contractuaries will stop their workforce aka slavery. If this is a standard fiction, then I’ll encounter the hint of a different threat that’ll come my way.

Oh yeah! My stalker! That’s the third threat. The white-haired man is a mystery. In fiction, they can be good or bad. I’m fifty fifty about him at this point.

Anyone wants to fight me? No? No one? Are you sure?

Okay. Floating words, play the latest audio log.

DETAIL CHECK
Order confirmed.

“I’ve seen this world from my simple life. Cutting trees while looking at the crows in the sky. Day by day, the crows share their visions to me. I’ve seen Brenuaza mixing blood and magics to create a way out of the this world.”

Okay. Seems... normal so far. There’s no stupid romance story here.

“I was almost selected for Brenuaza’s experiments, but my sickness crossed my name out of the list. My sister auditioned for it too, but our bloodline was more prominent in her. She was hated, ridiculed, and shorn. She developed an addiction to stab herself. It started with needles. It escalated into a spear.”

That sounds like a potential boss later.

“My sister began to develop a feeling for me.”

There it is! The stupid romance! Wait. Brother and sister? Eww.

“She encouraged me to stab her and be stabbed by her. I declined. She fell deeper and deeper into despair as I reject her more and more. She couldn’t comprehend why I was so fascinated with the crows. Out of jealousy, she began to throw her needles and spear into the crows. I hit her with the flat part of my axe. Ever since that, I never saw her.”

That seems to be the end of the audio log. What the flour is that?! I don’t need to know any of that! It doesn’t progress any subplot! I regret hearing it!

Since there is nothing for me to do. I suppose that I should start going to my Keyward Stone. The location hasn’t changed. Thank goodness that no one seems to notice it.

Ah, here it is. The waterfall. I need to climb a cliff to progress. I can just use Dwarvel to climb, but I’m wondering if I can use Steam Sapien to create a stair upwards. If I use my solid steam on the cliff, would one side of the steam be glued to the wall? Let’s give it a try!

No. It doesn’t work. The steam is very specific on where it can be used. Very well then. Climb it is.

I haven’t consume enough fiction to know what usually happens in a climb. What I do know is that there’ll usually be a chase scene that leads to a wall climb, or the wall climb is simply filler in games for game journalists to feel great about themselves. I don’t think that I’ll trigger any boss encounter over here. But if I do, I wonder how I should be fighting them? I can see a possibility where the boss can have a better agility and climbing skills than me. A spider sounds like the perfect boss! But please no! I hate spiders!

Please spider! If you’re out there observing me, please don’t come after me in a fight! Please! I will let you win! Just leave me alone!

Keep on climbing! There’s no spider yet! Good! I should keep on climbing! Keep on climbing! No boss yet in here! Good! Keep on climbing!

Yes! I reached the top! There’s no spider or boss on the wall! I’m a great climber!

I can see Contractuary from here. It is far higher than this cliff. If it is a tree, what kind of tree it is? Is it like empress tree? It is one of the fastest growing trees, but even it will take more than one day to grow. Wait. Empress tree doesn’t have any television on it. Not to mention all the… fleshy bits.

The Contractuary is shaking. Is that something that it can do? Floating words?

DETAIL CHECK
Check failed.

Is the television shooting electric? It is! It’s shooting to something under it. Is it protecting itself from someone? Good thing I never attacked it.

I see purple energy beam! Someone is attacking the Contractuary! The purple energy beam is clashing with the electric! The electric is losing! Contractuary! You can do it!

The purple energy beam reaches the television. The television explodes. What’s left is a white stump as a reminder that a Contractuary was here once.

Whoever did it is someone that’s pro-slavery. I cannot deal with them now. But if I ever met them, I’ll be sure to avenge this Contractuary. I’ve turned this world into a slave-free world! I won’t let someone ruin my legacy! Just you wait!

Now then, where was I? Oh yes. My Keyward Stone. It’s location hasn’t changed. I should—

A sledgehammer with black liquid smacks my face.