Chapter 16

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 16

Chapter Title: The City of the Serpent and the Sea (1)

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Runein Forest's central cave.

The knight in black armor, who had been battling the Forest Giant, sheathed his sword.

"That's it for now."

The Forest Giant's health was sitting at around 27%.

If he whittled it down a bit more, the poison spray pattern would kick in.

With his potions already depleted, the knight judged he couldn't handle the pattern and exited the cave, leaning against a massive tree.

"...How the hell did that girl take this thing down?"

The knight recalled the red-haired cat girl using the nickname Cheisi.

Her solo DPS, flawless dodges, swimming through the battlefield like a fish in water.

The poison pattern wasn't all that threatening to him. He'd learned he could counter it by hiding behind a goblin without needing a meat shield.

Sure, it meant eating goblin attacks, but after multiple attempts with maxed defense, they weren't too dangerous.

The real issue was chipping away at the Forest Giant's health.

Each hit hurt like hell, forcing blocks or dodges that weren't easy to react to.

That drained potions until he couldn't sustain the damage anymore.

This marked his fourteenth failed hunt.

'It seemed dodgeable enough.'

Muttering to himself, the knight pictured the girl shrugging off those attacks with ease.

"How is any of that 'dodgeable'..."

Feeling the vast gap in their dynamic vision, the knight sighed deeply again.

"Still... she's her, and I'm me."

The knight gripped his sword.

"No giving up. I am the noble Death Knight."

Stepping back into the cave to face the Forest Giant, he drew his black sword without taking his eyes off the charging behemoth.

"Come on. Fifteenth duel... Graaaah...!"

The knight died.

The ferry arrived safely at the new city.

"...I appreciate the thought, but please hold off on the spam."

Cheisi gave a casual reply to the long chat message and stepped onto solid ground.

It was a completely different scene from Runein Village. Massive sailing ships were docked, wooden crates stacked everywhere. It evoked a medieval port.

Fish that seemed to have flopped ashore by mistake wriggled all over the place.

The salty sea air mingled with the savory scent of seafood, tickling her nose, while NPCs dressed like sailors bustled through the harbor.

As viewers marveled at the new city's scenery, Cheisi furrowed her brow.

"...Why is that over there?"

A massive fountain dominated the harbor's center. A serpent spouting water from within it.

A sea serpent that had just stolen her fish was now spraying water from the fountain.

Passersby even paused to pray briefly.

The sea serpent's image was carved into buildings everywhere, not just the fountain.

Adin explained to Cheisi.

"Sea Serpent Siurug is this city's symbol."

"That is the symbol?"

"...I get how you feel, but don't think too badly of it. Our rickety ferry made it here safely thanks to the sea serpent's blessing."

Whatever the city thought of Siurug, to Cheisi, it was just an annoying fish thief.

Adin shrugged at her deepening frown.

"Anyway, welcome to Azelchen, the City of the Serpent and the Sea."

As if ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠celebrating her achievement, a message appeared.

Three titles already acquired.

"...Figured there'd be a title."

But even with the new title, Cheisi wasn't thrilled.

The first title's icon featured a broken machine knight, the second—First Logging—a Forest Giant.

This one's icon? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠The annoying sea serpent.

The memory of her hard-caught fish being stolen was still fresh; just seeing its face irked her.

Still, the effect might be good. Cheisi equipped it to check.

First Visitor of Azelchen

You are the first to visit the City of the Serpent and the Sea.

Grade: Rare

Effect: Faith in Sea Serpent Siurug +150

*Collect more titles!

Cheisi unequipped it immediately upon seeing the effect.

She swapped titles in a flash.

'Faith my ass...'

Faith for the fish thief? No way she wanted that effect even for a second.

"Craving some grilled eel now."

"Nice and crispy, fully seasoned..."

As Cheisi imagined grilling the sea serpent to a golden crisp, Adin hauled some wooden crates from the harbor onto the ferry.

"Gotta head back to the village now. Might see you again in about four hours."

He grabbed the oars and bid Cheisi farewell.

"Four hours?"

It took two hours to get here. Round trip made four, simply put.

Cheisi realized something crucial.

The only way to Azelchen was probably this ferry. No ferry for four hours meant no other players for four hours.

"...So no one else comes here for four hours?"

"If you mean Runein Village folks, yeah. Can't swim here."

"I could farm solo here for four hours and hog everything?"

"Why ask me? Your call."

His words ignited her motivation. New area. New monsters. Efficient growth. All hers for four hours.

Who knew what she'd accomplish, but the vibe was great.

"Safe travels! I'm off to explore the city!"

As Cheisi eagerly headed inland, Adin offered advice.

"If you're into growth, check the job guilds."

"Jobs?"

"Yeah, Runein Village is small, but Azelchen's big enough for job guilds. Not a bad idea if you want a job."

Come to think of it, she still had no job.

The flower of RPGs was jobs/classes, yet she'd been just an Adventurer so far.

The chat exploded at the job hint, even more hyped than Cheisi.

After thanking and waving off Adin, Cheisi decided.

"...Probably some class change conditions, but let's see what's available."

She'd visit a job guild first—viewers were super curious.

Cheisi ventured deeper into the city.

Passing the fountain she'd seen upon landing, a girl in white priest robes approached.

"Hey, adventurer! Wanna toss a coin into the sea serpent fountain? You'll get a blessing!"

The golden-haired girl, with braids and a hood, looked incredibly cheerful.

'Blessing?'

Cheisi stopped and eyed the fountain.

The sea serpent statue peacefully spouting water.

'Oh ho.'

Staring at the long serpent head, a sly grin crept across her face.

Rummaging in her pouch, she found some coins from Runein Village.

She gripped one tightly.

"Hiyah-!"

She took aim at the serpent statue's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠head spouting water.

The coin spun through the air...

Thwack-!

It nailed the serpent head perfectly before splashing into the fountain.

"Ahh, you can't do that?!"

The watching girl panicked.

"You'll get cursed!"

She was right.

Staring at the message, Cheisi was dumbfounded.

A debuff for hitting a statue's head?

And a massive one: reduced EXP gain.

"So petty."

She couldn't help complaining. It wasn't even the real thing—just a statue head, and it curses you?

'Grilled sea serpent it is.'

Cheisi was convinced.

"...Anyway, let's wander and find the job guild."

As she clicked her tongue and turned from the fountain, the priest girl rushed over.

"Wait! You just got cursed by Lord Siurug, right?"

"...Yeah, cursed."

"As expected."

The girl smiled softly.

"If you'd like, visit the priest guild to lift the curse."

Priest guild. One of the job guilds Adin mentioned.

Viewers weren't thrilled. Priest didn't appeal to Cheisi either—typically a support job for allies.

Implying party play. Bad for solo situations like now.

"Excuse me."

But she could check it out and decide. Plus, curse removal.

Cheisi followed the priest.

A solemn cathedral appeared.

Inside, blinding blue light flooded everything, obscuring the interior.

Cheisi squinted. The blue was intense.

Suffering viewers.

"Here, wear this."

The priest girl pulled something from her robes.

Sunglasses.

Cheisi put them on. Much better.

Cheisi was fine, but viewers still hurt.

She recalled the broadcast used a flying lens monster for footage, not shared vision.

Grabbing extra sunglasses from the priest, Cheisi beckoned the lens monster.

Whiiiine...

It approached, emitting a pitiful wail like it was complaining of pain.

Cheisi fitted sunglasses on it and sent it flying again.

Broadcast quality improved.

Only then could Cheisi take in the cathedral.