I couldn't lie and say I hadn't used it when I had.
Hudson's eyes began to tremble like a quaking aspen.
"Ah......"
A deep sigh escaped Hudson's lips.
Hope crumbled.
After all, a talisman was essential to reach level 10.
Especially a talisman like the Fairy Queen's Tears, which drastically lowered the equipment restrictions, was a treasure among treasures, impossible to obtain even if one desired it.
The dream of so-called 'item boost' had just floated away into the air.
That said, I couldn't scold him for using it.
From the beginning, the Fairy Queen's Tears belonged to the Seer.
The Seer had only promised to show the way, not to give the Fairy Queen's Tears.
"To reach level 10 and enter the path of the Sacred Blood, you don't need a talisman. I told you beforehand not to have false hopes."
Of course, I couldn't admit that I had used it for the Chid Mamba raid.
It wasn't exactly a lie.
Even with the Fairy Queen's Tears, unbinding one piece of equipment wouldn't solve Hudson's numerous problems.
I stared intently at Hudson's face.
To be precise, at the parchment floating in front of his face.
=======================
<>
·Class: [Targeter]
·Level: [9]
·Strength: [61]
·Health: [71]
·Agility: [54]
·Intelligence: [71]
·Magic: [55]
【Intelligence】【Senses】【Carefulness】【Boldness】
【Leadership】【Craftsmanship】【Talent】【Water】
【Art】【Scholarship】【Observation】【Cooking】
·Observer's Hand (8Lv)
·Cash Hammer (5Lv)
·Mercenary Tactics (8Lv)
·Guardian of Water (6Lv)
·Hermit's Shop Summon (6Lv)
=======================
... Hudson's status window is visible.
From the moment I heard his entire life story, his status window had appeared before my eyes.
Including his real name Oliver in the real world, his gender, age, and even his tendencies.
'... Terrible.'
I inwardly clicked my tongue.
Hudson's status was so pitiful that it was hard to believe he was level 9.
Especially his stats were in a dire state.
From the talents he had, it seemed he had spent at least 10,000 SP.
'His intelligence should be at least 80.'
Frankly, I could have raised him better even if I had done it with my toes.
Intelligence is crucial for skill growth, allowing faster learning and mastery.
Additionally, many observation-related skills require high intelligence.
For a Targeter class with the talents he has, his intelligence should be at least 80. His skill levels should also be higher.
'He must not have fought directly himself.'
His Mercenary Tactics is at level 8.
While Merchant classes generally have basic combat skills, this was excessive.
His combat-related skill was only Cash Hammer (5Lv).
Wouldn't it have been better to be a commander or a priest?
I understood why he couldn't hunt with low stats.
He was probably in a similar situation to Jung Jin-woo.
Unlike in games, he might have been scared to fight directly when summoned.
'... The ability to see someone else's status window didn't exist in the game.'
Still, it's a curious thing.
There are observation skills that provide a rough understanding, but there was no function in the game to view everything in such detail.
Was it because Hudson had opened everything to me?
It didn't seem to be just that.
There was something that made knowledge more concrete.
'One of the hidden traits I have... the function of the Great Seer?'
The ability to show levels, reveal hidden things, and thoroughly know others' status windows could only be explained by a hidden trait.
If it's related to knowledge, it must be the 'Great Seer.'
As I gained deep knowledge about Hudson, this phenomenon appeared due to the Great Seer.
However, there was a question.
'Why can't I see Isabella's status window?'
Isn't Isabella the character I know best?
She was the character I created and raised.
It should be visible.
Then, there must be other conditions to see a status window.
'Background, more detailed memories, and related information... thinking about it, I don't really know much about Isabella.'
I know Isabella, but I don't know her.
I didn't know why she suddenly became known as the Snake Princess.
I realized I knew nothing about Isabella except that she longed for the outside of the desert and sought her own path.
In contrast, Hudson had told me everything, even things I didn't need to know.
"Seer, then are you saying there is another path for me?"
"It exists."
I was confident.
There are countless paths to level 10.
Even with low stats, there are ways to reach level 10 without relying on a talisman.
Since I have tried reaching level 10 the most in this Pangenea, you can trust me. However, I couldn't tell Hudson that.
Hudson bowed his head with a more desperate expression.
"Show me the way."
"Start by cleaning up the casino."
"...... What?"
His desperate expression quickly turned to confusion.
To tell him to clean up a smoothly running casino?
Was I crazy?
"Concentrating solely on the path of the Sacred Blood is not enough. Running such a large business inevitably requires a lot of attention, so I'm telling you to clean it up."
"That can be handled by a proxy."
"Will the council leave the casino alone without an owner?"
"......"
Hudson tightly closed his mouth.
One of the three major casinos in the Golden City of Arcana. There are many who would target it. If Hudson leaves his position, the council won't leave it alone.
Money-hungry people.
But how did the Seer know all these facts?
Facts that I only learned after living in Arcana for over a year and running a business.
'Do the stars really tell everything?'
Listening to the Seer's story made my skin crawl.
He really knew everything. When he mentioned that Seringetti and I were secretly engaged, it felt like I had been hit on the head with a hammer.
I had never seen the Seer before, and the rumors about him were all different, but he knew everything.
Since he knows everything and says there is a path, the only thing left is my belief.
'That's right. The casino is not important.'
Hudson bit his lip.
Running the casino was all for the sake of joining the council.
Becoming a council member and proposing to the Duke's family was the most important thing.
However, the council gave no opportunities to Hudson, who hadn't reached level 10.
Instead, they ignored him and tried to use and consume him.
"...... It will take at least three days to clean up as quickly as possible."
"I'll give you two days. We'll set off after that."
"Where are we going?"
"Masterpiece."
"Master... Piece?"
I smiled slightly.
The starting point of Main Quest 3 and the place that could solve all problems at once: Masterpiece.
And to get there, Hudson was needed.
'Hudson is a walking potion and shop.'
With Guardian of Water and Hermit's Shop!
Although his direct combat ability is low, Hudson is the best supporter, performing both the roles of a merchant and a priest.
It would be a waste to let such talent go to waste.
I clearly stated our destination.
"We're going to the Tower of Spirits."
"......? The Tower of Spirits, does it really exist?"
Hudson tilted his head.
Rumors about the Tower of Spirits are rampant, but no one has actually entered it.
However, it does exist.
'I've been there.'
I have entered it.
Spirits. The most mysterious beings in this world.
But only the chosen ones can ascend the Tower of Spirits.
Only those chosen by the spirits can do so.
It's an extremely rare case.
One must have the relevant talents, complete numerous quests, and have good luck to get the opportunity.
Among gamers, only a handful have entered the Tower of Spirits.
They are people who have been 'selected' by a miracle.
And to enter the Tower of Spirits, one must break through another miracle