Near the Eternal Lake in the far south, in Redwood City, the sun is rising.
A team of adventurers who looked dusty stepped into this prosperous city located on the north shore of the Eternal Lake, a material transfer station in the Far South Forest that is famous for its trade.
The leader of the team was wearing a thin robe. This human, who looked quite thin at first glance, was carrying a bulging backpack, with various bottles and cans hung around his waist. He seemed to be an alchemist, his blond hair was disheveled from many days of exertion, and behind him, a group of guards who seemed to be adventurers were following his footsteps tiredly.
There are dwarves, humans, half-elves, dwarfs and barbarians in the team. It can be said that there are all kinds of strange things, but the pedestrians on the roadside and the elves living in the local area are all familiar with this strange team and don't care at all. There are also people on the street. The tavern girl leaned against the door, smiled and invited them in for a drink, and even winked at the dwarf who was less than half her height without any hesitation.
Because this is Redwood City, the adventurer capital of the Far South.
To the north is the primeval rainforest bordering the Far South Black Forest, to the south is the Eternal Lake, to the west is the Bondar Mountains, and to the east is the border of the Far South Kingdom... As an important place bordering the four directions, Redwood City has always been accessible to all parties. A place where people and horses travel back and forth, adventurers going to the Black Forest, human merchants trading with elves, and elf scholars going to the human kingdom to study. Countless people set out from this city every day, or come to this city and live in it. Local people have long been accustomed to all kinds of travelers and adventurers - tolerance and inclusiveness, which has gradually become the culture of Redwood City.
On the street, pedestrians of different races and clothes walk on both sides of the road. Iron carts driven by magic energy and carriages pulled by monsters shuttle back and forth in the middle of the road. Elves buy fruit snacks for breakfast, while dwarves are used to going to the hotel and ordering a drink. Draft beer or fruit wine, get drunk and wolf down the steak, and among the lush plants on both sides of the street, you can see activated plants that look like little tree men delivering takeaways. These activated beings engraved with special magic runes are' The executor of the emerging culture of "takeaways", in Redwood City, as long as you have money, you can enjoy everything without leaving home, and no one dares to provoke these little guys with local elf mage and druid backgrounds.
In addition, there is another emerging form of entertainment that is spreading in Redwood City. It is a strange magical device called the Goblin Card Table. At this time, it has replaced the old card table in the tavern. It has become the favorite way of entertainment for many residents on weekdays, and the winner pressing "sorry" three times to the loser has replaced drunken quarrels as the number one reason for fighting in the city, and the second number one, Perhaps he was deliberately showing off that he had drawn a legendary card.
"Haha, I got it!"
In a tavern, a loud and joyful cry suddenly sounded. Looking through the window, one could see a rich man in gorgeous clothes and decorated with gems. He was holding a crystal card that represented his account number, and he was triumphant. Show off to the people around you who are watching the card drawing.
[Natural Teacher Galan Nord]
[9 fees, 4 attacks, 4 lives, guard, rush]
[Advent: Recover 5 points of life of the main combatant and place a 'Natural Domain' talisman on the field]
[Curtain call: The effect of the 'Natural Domain' talisman is reversed]
[Natural domain]
[3-cost talisman, cannot be destroyed]
[At the end of each round, restore 3 points of physical strength to the holder]
[At the end of each round, the holder draws a card]
[Amulet Reversal·Wrath of Nature]
[At the beginning of each round, your enemy's physical strength will be reduced by 3 points. At the beginning of each round, a random card will be discarded from your hand]
[—Sow goodwill and reap goodwill; sow evil and reap evil. This is the way of nature.]
The overflowing energy circulation among the forests formed the face of a female druid in the sky. She looked lovingly at the city and forest in her 'body'.
"Dwarves' taverns and blacksmith shops, human grocery stores, dwarf jewelry stalls, mages' appraisal houses and God knows how many kinds of guilds... Redwood City is as diverse as ever."
It seemed that he had been rolling around in the forest for at least half a month. The dirty alchemist took off his dusty glasses, then took out a piece of cloth from his arms and wiped them. After putting them on again, he He looked around at the surrounding streets, and then said in confusion: "It's strange, why does it feel more lively than before?"
Redwood City is surrounded by forests and mountains, and the sun always comes late and goes early, so there are always magic lights in the city that will be temporarily extinguished only after the sun rises, but today is different—at this time The sun was rising, but the magic lamp was as bright as ever. The gentle blue-white light illuminated the entire city, making the alchemist who often traveled to the city feel that the clarity around him was unusual.
In addition, the doors of the shops on the street were wide open, and the morning market, which was supposed to have few people, was crowded with people. You could even see a rare elf patrol maintaining order in the team. The crowds in front of you were so dense that even this adventurer The team didn't know how to move forward.
"Boss, the pub even gives everyone who passes by a glass of wine for free!"
The alchemist was wondering, but behind him, a dwarf wearing heavy armor but wearing a priest's hat held a disposable leaf wine cup that he didn't know where he came from, and began to drink freely. It was hanging on his waist. The flail was clanking. After drinking it all in one gulp, the dwarf priest exhaled happily: "I haven't drank for almost a month. I almost died. You really saved my life."
"Giving wine? When did the merchants in Redwood City become so generous? Isn't the Elf Carnival in June?"
The alchemist looked around blankly, but the whole city was filled with a strange and cheerful atmosphere. The tavern generously presented a glass of fruit wine to every passing traveler, and pots of bright and delicate flowers were placed outside the dwarf's jewelry stall. There is a sign below that says 'Take any one'. The streets in the city are filled with colorful flags of various colors, and there seems to be the symbol of the largest elf tribe in the area, 'Lange', on them.
"It seems that 'Lange' is going to have a new clan leader, and that clan leader happens to be getting married. Naturally, the mentor and Her Majesty the Queen will be here to preside over it."
Just when the alchemist was puzzled, a human ranger emerged from the crowd and came to his rescue. This ranger had quietly gone to the crowd to ask for news. At this time, with everyone's doubts When the answer came back, he whispered: "From today until the end of next month, all stores' import and export will be tax-free. 'Lange' is very prestigious locally, so the locals in Redwood City are willing to be generous for this good news." One wave.”
"Boss Chris, this is good news. Our drug tax was originally the highest, but now it is tax-free, so we can make a lot of money!"
"Is that so? It's really good news."
Nodding slightly, the alchemist named Chris narrowed his eyes slightly, and the cyan pupils behind the metal glasses flickered. He said lightly: "In this case, I can give you a little more bonus... But why is the atmosphere so weird?"
Ignoring the members of the adventure team who started cheering beside him, Chris frowned and pointed at the elf guards patrolling the roadside to maintain order. He said softly: "Look at their suppressed anxiety and uneasiness... It's so incompatible with the surrounding atmosphere. .”
On the roadside, the elf guards wearing simple vine and tree armor did look quite silent, with their brows knitted together, completely out of tune with the cheerful crowd around them.
"Hey, it wasn't Yggdrasil that did it."
In the team, a half-elf archer touched the dagger on his waist. He curled his lips and said with disdain: "It's all because of the appearance of the 'World Tree' that there are constant conflicts among the elves now. I heard that the nine major tribes broke up unhappy during the last royal court meeting."
Following the explanation of the half-elf archer who understood the situation, everyone in the team roughly understood the reasons for the recent internal conflicts among the elves.
Everything stems from the 'World Tree Seed' brought back from Moldavia in the north by the natural teacher.
This world tree, which is said to come from the "Father of Nature", the creator of the elves, completely disrupted the original order among the major elven tribes from the moment it sprouted in the Eternal Lake.
Everyone knows how powerful the World Tree is. It is the inheritance from the gods and the most perfect explanation of the way of nature. Anyone who gets it can get a legend. Any tribe who gets it can be enough to surpass above other tribes.
The elves are very united, and they don't mind sharing with other tribes, but it is precisely because of this that they are angry - because the Elf Royal Court and the Natural Teacher have always held the World Tree in their hands, and so far they have not It was shared with other tribes and refused to be released, which immediately angered many elven tribes who were usually indifferent.
—We are all the children of Father Nature, why are you the only one who can understand His inheritance at any time? ! That is a treasure that belongs to the entire elf, not just one family!
"This time the 'Lange' tribe's wedding has invited the leaders of other elves. I heard that the Nature Master and Her Majesty the Queen plan to solve this problem through a formal negotiation... But I still don't understand. The big deal is to pass on the inheritance publicly. What's the matter? Secretive.”
As a half-elf, the matter has nothing to do with him. The archer shook his head and sighed: "Selfishness is indeed the biggest point of conflict... But boss, you have always been generous, which is different from the natural teachers!"
"Moldavia... Hehe, you guys are so blunt in flattering me."
Hearing the familiar location, Chris couldn't help but fell into deep thought, but then he heard the archer's words to please him, which made the alchemist couldn't help but smile and shake his head: "I know your sister is going to study recently and needs money, right? I can lend you some privately. Don’t be so rigid next time when you flatter me—and don’t bring your mentor with you. I don’t want to be caught and beaten half to death by the local elf guards.”
"Okay, thank you boss!"
After sending away the half-elf archer, the human ranger on the side seemed to have thought of something, and then said: "Speaking of which, boss, your hometown seems to be in the North, right? Do you know the Earl of the Radcliffe family? ?”
"What, boss, you are actually from the North?"
On the other side, the dwarf priest said with a look of fascination: "The Earl of Dragon Slayer is my idol. I didn't expect that you, boss, are fellow villagers with him. I'm really envious!"
"You, a priest, don't worship His Majesty the Pope. What kind of legendary warrior do you worship? Go back and realize the power of the Holy Light!"
He sighed inaudibly to hide his emotions. Chris, Chris Radcliffe closed his eyes. This man came to the Far South incognito and became the owner of a well-known alchemist workshop. The man couldn't help but recall the days when he and his brother were playing in the snow in his childhood. He recalled the winter six years ago, the alley where it all started, his father's death and those red pairs of burning flames. Hitomi.
The scene of a warrior with black hair and red eyes walking towards the lord's mansion full of ambushes is still before his eyes.
-Unknowingly, that ordinary warrior in the past has become a legendary powerhouse with a worldwide reputation. Even in the elven cities on the other side of the world, his reputation is spread.
With great emotion in his heart, the alchemist opened his eyes again. He skipped the topic and said in a calm tone: "What nonsense, hurry up and find a way for me. I can't handle the medicinal materials today, and no one can get them." To the salary.”
"Okay, okay, let's not talk about this. Boss Chris, you said that the new owner of Redwood City is getting married. When will you marry your sister-in-law?"
The dwarf priest raised his hands to express surrender, but he couldn't help but raise the topic again because he talked too much: "We have been waiting to drink your wedding wine."
"She has been married a long time ago, but I haven't held a luxurious wedding for her yet... The quality of the medicinal materials we collected this time is very good, and with the recent tax exemption, we will have enough money after selling it."
After telling the news calmly that shocked the members of the adventurer team who were said to be employees but actually more like family members, Chris couldn't help showing a happy smile: "When the time comes, we will go to the most expensive hotel in Redwood City. , have a banquet that will be remembered for a lifetime! Don’t miss it!”
"Oh oh oh!!" All the team members cheered, and Chris adjusted his glasses, raised the corners of his mouth slightly, and sighed.
—Let all glory belong to heroes, and all dullness return to ordinary. I have never longed for thrilling adventures and being above ten thousand people. I only want an ordinary life like a plant. Now I have achieved what I wanted and found what belongs to me. Ordinary road, how about you
At the same time, in the center of Redwood City, at the top of a huge redwood tree crown, in a solid wooden castle specially activated by natural magic, there was a hall covered with complex time and space runes. In the center of the hall, The blue space-time ripples flashed, and a group of serious-looking druids and elves in colorful clothes were standing in front of the hall, seemingly waiting for someone to arrive.
A few seconds later, as the time and space ripples suddenly intensified, all the elves present looked solemn, and the next moment, a man in black casual clothes and a pair of boys and girls strode out of the space-time door that had not yet stabilized.
And the moment he walked out, the entire Redwood City seemed to be swept by an electric current. Whether it was an ordinary person without extraordinary power, a peak golden person or even a powerful person with the ultimate will, they all sensed the arrival of some behemoth. In the center of the city, the magnetic field released by its existence alone covers an area many times larger than this city.
"Welcome to Redwood City, Earl Radcliffe, mentor. She is walking by the Eternal Lake. She should come over soon after knowing your arrival."
The leader of the group of elves who greeted Joshua's arrival stepped forward. He sensed the huge and terrifying aura that shrouded millions of people in his field. His legs felt weak and he couldn't help but feel secretly. Surprise - This area containing powerful pressure is strictly bound by the holder. If it is allowed to spread freely, there will be no living thing that can stand upright within a radius of a hundred miles.
Could it be said that all the people in the North live under such pressure? Aren't the rumors circulating among adventurers false? !
But the man whose mere appearance changed the entire surrounding environment of Redwood City didn't seem to hear the voice of the leader of the elf. He frowned and looked at a certain corner of the city.
“…what a coincidence.”
he whispered. Then, Joshua Brick looked at the elf in elegant clothes with a rather stiff expression. He waved his hand nonchalantly: "I know, you don't need to be so nervous. I'm not that big of a person, and I don't know how to eat people. I don’t like massacres either, the rumors are all false.”
"There is no need for the natural teacher to find me and tell me the location. I will go see her first."
Didn't you ask Joshua where his cousin went? I'm writing it for you now... He appears again after 2.4 million words ()
Okay, cousin, I forgot, because it’s not an important setting memo and I didn’t write it down.
Please ask for a monthly pass at the beginning of the month
(End of chapter)