CHAPTER 31

A new data was downloaded. Interesting enough, it’s about silver.

According to the data, there was supposed to be a massive silver shipments to Bread Village before the place was sealed off. They were meant to be used as tools to deal with any Demons coming from the village. Apparently, the delivery was late as it was raided by Dwarvel. Because of that, Ambrous Knight had to deal with any Demons without silver on their side.

Oh! What’s this new data? There were actually two raids! One was on the silver shipment. The other one was on obsidian shipment. This one was unsuccessful. That’s why there is an obsidian wall on Bread Village. I wish that it was the opposite. I wouldn’t have that many problem against silver.

Curiously, there is a data about expeditions to find Sorcerous Lake. Apparently, Ambrous Knight had conducted dozens of expeditions to find it. None of them succeeded. There were remarks that the lake might’ve been a local myth to explain where the villagers went missing. If that was the case, I find it strange that they cannot explain who could’ve took the villagers. The villagers would always leave on their own discretion. They would go to the same path before they went missing. Surprisingly, there were no sightings of Demons or Feys in that path. This led them to believe Sorcerous Lake was programmed the same way that they programmed this world to be closer to a game. They’ve tried every programming that they could think of. Nothing helped them to find the elusive lake.

I’m curious about how to dispel a contract spell. Logically, it shouldn’t be too hard to do it. In most games and fiction, that’s easy to do. If Submissing Freedom is rampant, then Dwarvel shouldn’t be able to raid any shipment. The Ambrousian should be able to just control them just fine.

As I look into their history, there used to be a lot of spells to dispel contract spells. All of them cannot be used by Adventurers, except those that come from World Number 13. In fact, they can also do the brainwashing even if Contractuary was around. Adventurers from World Number 13 can just… circumvent Contractuary’s ability. That’s worrying for a sequel. I’ll worry about that later.

What I should worry about is that Ambrousian Empire actually killed millions of people that can dispel contract spells. They gained more and more slaves as they destroyed the only methods to counter them. Several species that can beat contract spells were eradicated. The only methods left are spreading Contractuary and Adventurers from World Number 13. Apparently, there’s no record of anyone from World Number 13 that figured that out. Everyone got too excited that they can live out their dreams to raid dungeons that they died too early for thinking that they’re the protagonist of this world. In a way, that problem solves itself. What’s left is Contractuaries.

“We’re here!” says Nostrades.

“It’s beautiful,” says Nostreidon.

“I cannot argue with that,” says Aurelius.

What are they talking about? I can’t see anything besides some trees. It’s one thing if the Nostra brothers can see it, but Aurelius too? Shouldn’t I be able to see it as well since I’m also an Adventurer? There is something that they have but I didn’t. Could it be because I’m from World Number 1?

Nostrades and Nostreidon disappear. Not long after that, Aurelius disappears too. I walk where they were, but I’m still here. I’m not teleported to a mythical lake!

Wait. Why can’t the Ambrous Knight found it? There must be something that I’m missing. Unless…

I take out my Lapis Lazuli armor. The moment I put down the last piece, a portal appear in front of me. So that’s how it is. Lapis Lazuli interferes with a person’s capability to enter it. That’s why none of of the knights can find it. Since there’s nothing stopping me, I take the step forward.

The name is a lie.

First, it’s not a lake. It’s a beach. A pocket dimension where there’s a tropical beach. In fact, there are people over here sunbathing under the sunlight. There are guys here too! The name Ladies of the Lake is also false!

If I can live here forever, maybe I can sunbath forever. I could just ignore all the problems in World Number 39 forever. If this is fiction, that means that the story is over because I chose the easy path. I would be hated by consumers because I ran away from the conflict that I should’ve solved. I’m already halfway of solving it, but taking the easy path means that I would invalidate it.

There is another problem. The things above the water.

Above the sea water, there are several spheres floating. It was made out of water, but inside each one of them is a human. They have white hair similar to Nostrades and Nostreidon. That must be villagers from Bread Village. Upon closer inspection, I can see their brain on where their forehead should be.

Wait a minute! Nostrazeus had stitches on his forehead. The audio log about Brenuaza mentioned that she had it too. Could it be that this is the process of getting a new species? The person must be inside the sphere but for how long? The Nostra brothers said that Nostrazeus’ personality was different after coming back from here. My stalker’s filthy attitude remains the same. Then, it’s possible that Adventurers won’t be affected too much. Other people will.

I can’t look at the records for now, but since there’s no one besides Nostrazeus ever went out, then this sphere might be giving their incubated user a pleasant dream. Something that they don’t want to wake up from. If I go in there, I might want to stay forever! But, this is the only way for me to get a power up besides looking for another Keyward Stone. If I want an army, I will need to convince everyone in here to face reality. It has to be realistic. I can’t just expect everyone would want to be friendly with a stranger like me.

Nostrazeus!

He got out with a clear goal: to kill any new Adventurers. New Adventurers ruined Bread Village once, so he’s out to kill any that he can find. That is the only sample case that I have. If I fail, then I have no choice but to attack Bread Village with what little force I have. I should tell the rest—

Nostrades is inside one of those spheres!

Nostreidon steps into the water. The water engulfs him inside a sphere. It drifts further away from the shore. Before I realize it, Aurelius is also inside a sphere.

Okay. It’s a good idea for them to get a new species. That’ll give them an edge in the upcoming fight. But if they won’t come out, then I have more people that I need to save. How can I save them?

“Is something the matter?”

The voice belongs to a woman. It came from the forest near the beach. Commanding. Far reaching. I turn to face her. Bovine head. Stitches on forehead.

Brenuaza.