Chapter 35: Chapter 34: Millennium Dragon (3)

White, crystalline walls encircled Kenchi City, giving it an almost blinding and divine appearance. At the northernmost entrance, a group of travelers were stopped by one of the many city guards.

“If you can’t show your identification then I’m afraid I will have to turn you away.”

The guard waved for the next person in line, ignoring the young man and woman before him.

“Now wait just a minute. How are my friends supposed to register for identification if they can’t enter the city?”

Claude had already passed through the gate when he turned around just in time to see Sans and Elsie declined entry. Sans’ eyes shifted back and forth between the guard and Claude.

“Sir, you must not know, but right now the city is well over sustainable limits. On top of it, the great Anthor Kingdom’s prince is visiting in preparation for the tomb’s trials. Therefore, access to Kenchi City is being restricted.”

The guard gave an exhausted sigh. It seemed this wasn’t the first time he had to deny someone city access.

“Sir, sir!”

Elsie pulled the fringes of her hood closer together, taking a step toward the guard. Her wonderous eyes glanced up at him like an innocent porcelain doll.

“Uh-er, yes… There’s nothing I can-“

A small gleam of light caught the guard’s attention, forcing him to pause midsentence.

“M-Mid grade spirit stone?”

He sucked in a quick breath of air and warily checked his surroundings. It seemed the other guards were too busy dealing with other travelers to notice. He quickly beckoned Sans and Elsie over and spoke in a low volume.

“Alright, go on in. I’ll forget I saw anything here, got it? But do us all a favor, please get registered at the adventure guild, Millennium Dragon. Travelers without identification are often times bandits and outlaws.”

Sans and Elsie nodded at the same time before ambling by, catching up to Claude and the others.

“Next! Come forward! I don’t have all day.”

The guard called out to the line of people; his voice carried a new level of barely concealed enthusiasm.

“How did you get past the guard?”

Claude asked the two stragglers.

“Oh, the guard said that I reminded him of his daughter and how she died one day in the wilderness. He felt bad, so he let us go!”

Elsie explained and elbowed Sans in his ribs, prompting him to speak up.

“Ahem, it’s as she said. An awful tale to hear. I truly feel sorry for that guard and his family.”

“That’s really unfortunate…”

Claude glanced over his shoulder in pity. He clicked his tongue before remarking out loud.

“He must be masking all that sadness behind his apathetic and cold attitude.”

“Y-yea, let’s go with that.”

Sans lightly pushed the man forward to pick up the pace. He decided to change the topic away from the bribed guardsman.

“So where is the adventurer’s guild?”

“You mean Millennium Dragon? Do you see that massive building over there?”

Claude pointed into the distance at a crystalline palace with pointed towers and scenic glass windows. Similar to the city’s walls, the palace’s white stone material shimmied against the sunlight.

“Wow, Millennium Dragon must really care about their appearances.”

Sans remarked with wide eyes. Even Rose Manor paled in comparison to the blatant opulence of the palace before him.

“Oh… No, that’s a palace for Anthor royalty. Millennium Dragon is the building to the left of it.”

Claude shifted his finger toward a worn-down structure that hid within the shadows of the palace. The walls were scratched and discolored, while its wooden door seemed to be barely hanging on to its hinges. On either side of the shabby door were two small windows, one of which was cracked as if someone had thrown a stone through it.

“T-That’s Millennium Dragon? The all-powerful guild that has a presence on every floor of the tower?”

Sans’ eyes shifted between the two buildings with a strange gaze. The difference between the two was simply too staggering!

“Don’t be fooled by this building of theirs. Every outpost of Millennium Dragon is interconnected with each other. Members of a certain status can even use their membership to travel across floors for free!”

Claude spoke with sparkles in his eyes.

“Millennium Dragon members can travel across floors? Does that mean one could travel to a higher floor?”

Sans asked Claude as the group made its way to the outpost.

“That… I’m not sure! However, they can definitely travel to lower floors. Because of this feature, no one dares to cause trouble at any Millennium Dragon outpost.”

Claude shrugged his shoulders, and at the same time Rosa joined in the conversation.

“All they have to do is send a signal, and this place will be swarming with High Rankers.”

She smirked and hooked her arm around Claude’s.

“Swarming with High Rankers… what is a High Ranker?”

Sans asked her.

“You don’t even know about High Rankers? I guess that makes sense, considering you didn’t even know about Millennium Dragon.”

Rosa flipped her hair and continued.

“A High Ranker is someone who reaches the sixth floor. You see, every time someone completes their floor trial, they increase in level. This means that everyone stuck on floor one is level one. There are many benefits to increasing your level, ranging from natural stat increases to more advanced skill expression.”

Before she could continue, Talru hobbled over in excitement, flexing his muscles with clenched fists.

“But level doesn’t mean everything. Me and bro are the same level and I’m way stronger!”

He contracted his biceps, showing off his sculpted physique.

“Shoo, shoo. Not everyone is an exercise maniac like you.”

Claude waved off the simple man and gestured for Rosa to continue.

“It’s like Talru said. Although we’re all level one, there are drastic differences. Talru’s strength and Meysi’s comprehension of spells are some examples. Other people manifest different specialties all the time, and not all of them are combat oriented. If you have time alone, you should inspect your soul crystal carefully.”

Now that I think about it, Jun once told me to keep a notebook on all the skills I learned. Perhaps I should also try gauging my stats…but how?

Sans glanced sideways toward Elsie, who was busy surveying the city with enthusiasm.

Maybe Elsie can help me figure it out? I’ll ask her when we’re alone.

As Sans was lost in thought, he didn’t notice Meysi had joined them until she spoke.

“My intelligence stat is 14… just thought you should know.”

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She shied away, scurrying off to stand beside Talru.

“That girl needs to gain more confidence. Anyway, we’re almost at the outpost.”

Claude shook his head and remarked as they crossed the road. Just as they were nearing the entrance, he cleared his throat and announced in a grand fashion.

“Welcome to Millennium Dra-“

The door swung open, the wall stopping its momentum with a loud bang. It was a wonder how the door hadn’t snapped off its bindings.

“Get out of my way. Don’t you know who I am?”

A sallow faced man raged at the group as if he owned the streets. He wore a speckled fur coat over his shoulders and was adorned with glimmering jewels of all different sizes. Before anyone could reply, a young voice came from behind the man.

“Prince Marlow, please don’t waste your time of commoners. We need to get you-“

A man in full plated armor came through the doorway. His face was hidden within a full helm, which had two slanted slits for him to see through.

Why is he looking at me?

Sans could feel the man’s gaze lingering on his body. Despite the creepy sensation of being stared at by an unknown man, he didn’t feel any malice. Instead, he felt something odd.

He seems… sad? No, happy?

Before Sans could think on it further, the guardsman turned his attention back to the rude prince.

“Prince Marlow let’s carry on. The weaponsmith has your order ready, and we still need to get you that artifact for the tomb’s trials.”

“Right! My sword!”

Prince Marlow’s eyes gleamed before he shot Sans’ group a cold stare.

“But my sword can wait. These fools dared to blockade me and I…I…? Well, hello there.”

His mouth curled in a lascivious smile as he stooped low in an attempt to peer inside Elsie’s hood.

“My, my... Lady, I want you, no. I need you, what’s your name?”

“Prince Marlow-“

“Silence!”

The guard let out a sigh and shook his head. Meanwhile, Sans frowned while staring at the prince with furrowed brows.

Why do I feel so…? What is this strange emotion?

He looked once more at the prince’s drooling mouth in curiosity.

Why does my chest feel so constricted? And why do I suddenly want to kill this man?

“Young lady, please show me your gorgeous smile. I would be happy even if it’s the last thing I ever see!”

Prince Marlow wasn’t going to let Elsie slip away. However, to everyone’s surprise…

“Hmm? Okay!”

Elsie chirped like a sonorous bird and pulled back her hood. The next second, she struck a casual pose and flashed a breathtaking smile to the world.

Sans stared with wide eyes, along with everyone else. It was as if someone had stopped time, and it would have been criminal to start it once more.

This demoness.

Sans shook the image out of his head, coincidentally catching sight of Prince Marlow falling to the ground!

“P-Prince Marlow!”

The guard called out and knelt before his charge. The prince’s eyes were glazed over while froth and foam spewed out of his open mouth.

“Quickly get out of here. I’ll handle this mess.”

He waved a plated hand toward the group just as other people were starting to gather.

Why does he seem like he’s helping us?

Sans gave the man a strange look as he passed by. In just a few seconds, the group had rushed inside the Millennium Dragon outpost. Each of them breathed out a sigh of relief, still confused by everything that happened.

The inside of the outpost was sparsely decorated with a collection of furniture. The main attraction was a service desk in the back of the room. Two lines of people waited patiently for their turn.

“Elsie, what did you just do?”

Sans whispered to his unruly master while the rest of the group found places to rest their weary bones. It had been too long since they were able to properly relax.

“Hmm? What do you mean?”

“I mean, that poor guy looked like he had seen a ghost. I think he maybe fainted.”

“Oh that? He said he would happily go blind if he saw me smile. Hm?”

Elsie shrugged and walked away, assuming her position in one of the lines. Sans squinted his eyes in thought and followed behind her.

There’s no way it’s that simple…

The line moved forward at a rapid pace, all thanks to the four attendants behind the service desk. As they reached the front of the line, Sans was able to make out the different conversations being held.

“What do you mean the mission isn’t complete? Of course I felled the beast!”

“I’m sorry sir, but your millennium token suggests otherwise.”

A youthful woman with sharp ears and pale skin responded to a travelworn adventurer.

“How can this token possibly know whether I killed it or not? If I said it killed the beast, then I killed it!”

The man slammed his fist on the counter, but the dainty woman was unfazed. She merely frowned before responding in a cold tone.

“Do not underestimate the founders of Millennium Dragon. Each token is connected to a grand formation that tracks all of your progress. Are you suggesting you’re more powerful than the founders of the most powerful guild?”

The man took a hesitant step back after detecting the change in atmosphere. It was one thing to speak aggressively, but provoking Millennium Dragon was a different story.

“I-I see, maybe you’re right. I must not have finished the beast off all the way. I’ll go and take care of that… thanks.”

The man shuffled off through crowd and disappeared.

“Wow, that man seemed really frustrated.”

Elsie glanced back with gleaming eyes.

“Maybe he bit off more than he could chew?”

Sans shrugged. Not a moment later, the attendant at the far end called out in a deep voice.

“Next person please!”

“Oh! That’s me!”

Elsie hopped away in excitement while Sans curiously stared at the sharp eared woman just ahead.

I didn’t get a good look before, but this lady in front seems odd. Is she human?

Noticing Sans’ stare, the woman tilted her head to the side before giving him a friendly wink. After being discovered, Sans blushed and averted his eyes.

“Next person in line?”

The woman called out, much to Sans’ excitement. However, just before Sans could take a step forward, a burly man charged over from the other line!

“That’s me!”

His animated voice was like a barbed arrow passing through the hearts and ears of all those watching, including Sans.

“I hope I get Lady Hina when I’m at the front.”

“She has to be the prettiest elf I’ve ever seen!”

Whispers and small chatter echoed around Sans as he watched his position at the counter being taken over.

I forgot there’s two lines…

This was the first time he had ever seen an elf, and he couldn’t help but wonder if they were all naturally beautiful or if it was just Lady Hina.

“Next person.”

A husky voice called out from beside Lady Hina.

“Oh, that’s me.”

Sans took a step forward, but oddly he didn’t see anyone there.

“Sir, please come quickly. I don’t have all day.”

Creeping closer, Sans eventually found him staring down at a pudgy woman. Her height barely came to Lady Hina’s waist, while she was at least three times more horizontally endowed.

“I…”

“Oh my, you’re a handsome one!”

The creature blew a chilling kiss toward Sans. Despite her face being caked with multiple layers of makeup, he could still see her cheeks burn a rosy hue.

What… is this thing?

Sans’ eyes shifted between the pudgy woman and Lady Hina who stood beside her. The difference was way too staggering!

“You act like you’ve never seen a dwarf before? I see, you’re one of those. Hypnotized by this ditzy elf’s beauty!”

The female dwarf pouted while Lady Hina hid a small smile by the side.

“I… uh…”

“Don’t worry handsome. What you need is a strong woman in your life, someone who will take care of you. I can handle that for you, and if you ask nicely… I can handle you as well.”

The dwarf fluttered her eyes, sending a series of chills underneath Sans’ skin. From some reason, his fight or flight instincts were surging with full force.

“Stop messing with the boy, Helda.”

Lady Hina tapped the dwarf with her foot, who snorted and returned the elf an angry stare.

“But I was serious. Anyway, how may I help you?”

Seeing that she was moving on, Sans buried a sigh of relief and responded.

“I’m a new adventurer, and I was told this is the place to get started.”

“Oh, a new adventurer! Welcome to Millennium Dragon, the tower’s number one adventuring guild!”

Helda shifted through a mound of papers and drawers, finally procuring a circular tablet with an intricate design. She held the tablet in her hand and soon began announcing out loud.

“Registering yourself with Millennium Dragon is the first step of a long journey. What is that journey? A wonderful adventure to the peak, where fantasies and challenges await those who are worthy!”

Sans stared dumbfoundedly at Helda.

What is she on about?

“Gathering herbs, slaying dragons, and defending castle keeps; Millennium Dragon is here to connect those in need with all sorts of unlikely heroes. Our mission at Millennium Dragon is to ensure the continuity of…”

Helda’s words faded like a natural ambiance as Sans stared at her strangely. It was only then that he realized she was reading from a piece of paper, aptly labeled as New Adventurer Speech.

“…And that’s why you’re here! Riding on this grain of sand we call a moment, forge your path forward and find the future that you’re destined for! So, are you ready to join Millennium Dragon?”

Her speech came to an abrupt end, catching Sans off guard. He shook himself out of his daze before nodding.

Why do I feel like I was just sold something I don’t want?

Helda beamed as she pushed the tablet forward.

“That’s great! This is your millennium token. All you have to do is feed your mana through this token and it’ll bind it to you. It will act as both your identity and mission tracker. Don’t worry if you lose it as you can always purchase another one for the small price of one low-grade spirit shard!”

Sans held the device and promptly channeled a flow of energy through it. He watched as the intricate designs swirled to life with a faint blue glow. Strangely, he could feel a subconscious connection to the tablet, almost as if he could read it without looking at it.

“Terrific!”

Helda clasped her hands together once she saw the tablet light up. She continued with her explanation.

“Now that you’ve bonded with your millennium token, you should be able to recall the information embedded within with just a thought! It’ll hold your name, your progress, and of course your adventure rank. Although all adventurers start at D rank, one day you’ll reach the upper echelons if you work hard enough!”

Sans nodded his head before concentrating on the millennium token. Sure enough, a flood of information came surging forth. After a moment of reading, Sans cocked his head with a wry smile.

“Miss Helda. If I lose my millennium token, how does the replacement know who I am?”

“Hmm? That’s easy! Every recorded mana signature is stored in a complex formation created by the founders! So even if it’s a brand-new token, it’ll be able to detect your unique mana signature.”

Sans nodded before procuring a low-grade spirit stone.

“If that’s the case, I’d like to purchase another one. A backup, so to speak.”

Helda’s hands blurred as she procured a new tablet. Before Sans could even blink, the exchange had already been completed. She performed a giddy bounce as she pocketed the spirit shard.

Sans shook his head and channeled his mana through the new token.

Same result… Same name, same details, same accomplishments.

He lowered the tablet and gave Helda a small smile.

“Thank you for everything, is there anything else I should know?”

“No sir! You’re all set. Do take care, oh and… if you’re ever interested, I would be happy to accompany you for dinner.”

Helda flashed him a clumsy wink, which he instinctively avoided as if it were a flying projectile. Sans lightly coughed and walked away from the counter, but not before catching sight of the smirk on Lady Hina’s face.

While making his way toward Claude’s group, Sans inspected the millennium token in his hands once more.

There’s just one problem. My name isn’t Azrael, and these accomplishments aren’t mine.