Isabella, who received the report from the women, sat on a chair made of lion skin and stroked her chin.
She had the beautiful women, who would inevitably elicit a reaction from any man, wash her feet. This was both the highest form of hospitality in the desert city of Faisalmir and a trap to test the Holy Seer.
And this trap was one from which no one could escape, even if they were not a man.
These women were trained to the point where they could detect even the slightest changes in heart rate and the tiniest tremors in the skin. No matter the age, gender, or status, anyone who came into contact with their hands would inevitably show a true reaction.
Yet, there was no reaction at all.
Though it was a perplexing situation, a smile bloomed on Isabella's lips.
'A mind that does not waver. Just as I've heard.'
She had heard countless stories and rumors about the Holy Seer.
The most fundamental aspect of the Holy Seer was the unshakable mind. It was said that the Holy Seer, who had dedicated everything to the stars, would not be swayed by any temptation of this world.
"Is there anything else to report?"
The five women spoke in turn.
"He asked to have his feet washed from the beginning. He knows the etiquette of Faisalmir."
"He moved through the palace without hesitation."
"He remained calm when he saw the bones of monsters hanging on the walls. Instead of being startled, he admired them and marveled at the taxidermy skills."
"His skin was as smooth as silk, but his muscles were as elastic as those of a wild horse."
"Most importantly, he seemed to value communication with the stars."
Isabella nodded at the honest impressions and reports of the women.
There was nothing ordinary about him.
First, he knew the etiquette of Faisalmir. The knowledge to request a foot washing on his own suggested that he had visited Faisalmir in the past.
Furthermore, slaves and commoners are usually overwhelmed by the sight of the palace. If he moved through it without hesitation, it indicated that he was of no ordinary status.
'Noble, or perhaps royal?'
His confident demeanor and tone. The fact that he did not waver or argue back when confronted suggested that he was likely a noble or a royal.
While it is said that the Holy Seer was born from the stars, they are ultimately human. As humans, they have a social status.
The ability to recognize taxidermy skills suggested a broad knowledge. To have such knowledge, one would need a certain status.
'Skin as smooth as silk, muscles like those of a wild horse... Contradictory, but as a Holy Seer, everything makes sense.'
Holy Seer. A truly magical word.
There are no Holy Seers in the desert. An unknown entity has appeared here, and no matter what they say, we have no choice but to believe them.
Isabella, having organized her thoughts, spoke.
"He was communicating with the stars, you said?"
"Yes."
"I need to see it for myself."
"But... If he stops communicating, he will lose his status as a Holy Seer..."
Isabella chuckled.
"Will you not be able to communicate if there is one more person present?"
The women closed their mouths.
The presence of one more person would not make communication impossible.
If they wanted a quiet conversation, they could simply observe in silence.
A conversation between two people?
Isabella couldn't hear the voice of the stars anyway. If they were already communicating, her presence would not be an obstacle.
Isabella stood up from her seat.
And she walked quickly towards the Holy Seer.
*
...If I had been a little later, it would have been a disaster.
Isabella von Dersian. When I opened my eyes, she was staring at me.
I was fortunate to log in as quickly as possible.
After roughly dealing with the situation in the real world, I logged back into Pangea. My calm mind and clear judgment led me here.
'There are monsters in the real world, and summoned players have appeared as Pangea characters. The failure of this expedition is likely due to them.'
This game, Pangea, has seen a sudden and exponential increase in difficulty.
NPCs who were once friendly suddenly betray, and allies turn into bandits.
No matter how many possibilities I consider, they have always interfered in ways beyond that.
This expedition was no different.
...But what if all the 'interfering elements' were players?
Of course, not all of them, but a significant number of 'trolls'?
If someone who doesn't want the ending or sees me as a competitor has been intentionally interfering...
'I need to cut them all down.'
Harmony? Camaraderie? We have already crossed a bridge that cannot be crossed.
Hundreds of characters have been deleted due to such interference. Even my strongest character, which contained all my essence, was killed and deleted.
I suddenly remembered what a soldier said when I was first summoned here.
"Damn. If it weren't for the internal conflict, the expedition would have succeeded..."
There is something I don't know.
Even the Demon King, whom I faced alone, suddenly became one of the '8 Heroes.'
This implies the existence of a 'speaker' capable of manipulating such achievements. The speaker could be an individual or a group.
No, it must be a group.
There is a group of players who intentionally interfere with and kill characters suspected to be me. They have even fabricated rumors about me and spread them in Pangea.
8 Heroes.
Clearly, they are intentionally undermining the superiority and uniqueness of my last character.
So, what I need to do is to become strong quickly.
To secure safety in both the game and the real world.
For that, I need to...
"โฆThe sanctuary is not accessible to just anyone."
"You can enter, right?"
She was necessary.
Isabella von Dersian.
A tragic character I created but abandoned.
I never named her that, yet she is now known as the Snake Princess and is the second-in-command of Faisalmir.
The nickname I originally gave her was different.
'Asuka Kirara...'
...I felt a bit guilty. But in Pangea, nicknames are treated as aliases. The real name and identity already exist, and the player possesses the body.
Anyway.
"If someone is secretly brought in and it is discovered..."
"This is the last chance to leave the desert. Think carefully before you answer."
Isabella's eyes wavered.
"How did you know I want to leave the desert?"
"The stars told me."
"..."
She had no words to say.
Of course, there is no setting that Isabella wants to leave the desert.
Such a setting does not exist.
But Isabella is a player character. A being who must travel the world and see the ending.
Being bound to the desert by a curse must be incredibly frustrating.
I felt the same way, which is why I gave up.
'The fourth star I obtained.'
And when I was raising my previous character, I discovered the supreme star hidden in the desert sanctuary. Its location is known only to me among all players.
That star is undoubtedly special. If I can obtain it, I should do so as quickly as possible.
"โฆThe sanctuary kills those who enter without permission."
"That is not a concern at all."
I have already seen the end of this place.
The traps that exist there have already been thoroughly mapped.
I have several hidden traits that work in sanctuaries.
Isabella's eyes narrowed after hearing my response.
"At dawn. When the moon begins to set, be awake."
She then turned and left with a blank expression.
*
At dawn.
"Choke!"
In the underground of the palace, I followed Isabella through a hidden path. The soldiers we encountered along the way were dealt with by Isabella.
Her movements were impressively swift. She attacked and killed the soldiers without hesitation.
Isabella had a talent specialized in assassination. She was so agile that most soldiers did not even realize they were dying before closing their eyes.
'She's like a ghost.'
I felt a chill down my spine.
If Isabella had intended to kill me from the start, I would not be alive now. Not just me, but most beings called strong would have met the same fate.
There is no one more reliable as an ally.
As we ran without hesitation, a massive altar came into view.
Statues lined up around a staircase leading underground.
"This is the sanctuary."
Her eyes asked, 'What will you do?'
Her expression suggested that she was not enthusiastic about it either. The desert sanctuary is that complex and chaotic.
But there is no turning back. We have crossed a bridge that cannot be crossed.
Why did Isabella kill all the soldiers?
'Covering up evidence.'
She is determined not to let anyone know that she entered the sanctuary without permission.
If we turn back, she will cut my throat without hesitation.
"I'll go in first."
I shrugged and stepped onto the staircase leading to the underground altar.
Then, numerous messages appeared before my eyes.
ใYou have entered the hidden sanctuary of the desert.ใ
ใSub-Quest: Explore the sanctuary.ใ
ใYou can obtain rewards based on the exploration rate.ใ
ใCaution. Your level (8) is below the recommended level for exploring the sanctuary.ใ
ใCaution. The sanctuary is filled with poison and evil energy. It is recommended not to enter if your resistance to evil is low.ใ
ใYou are protected by the hidden trait 'Giant's Resistance to Evil.'ใ
ใThe hidden trait 'Mutant' is applied.ใ
The hidden sanctuary. A place where a level 2 beginner should not enter.
One would need the queen's permission or the strength to defeat powerful warriors to reach it.
I entered through a loophole, using Isabella as a front.
The rewards from exploring the sanctuary are substantial.
But that's not all. My initial goal was not just the sub-quest.
ใMain Quest 2: 'Obtain a Class' has started.ใ
ใYou can obtain a class in the sanctuary.ใ
ใThis quest ends the moment you obtain a class.ใ
ใReward: Varies based on the class obtained.ใ
The second main quest.
'Varying rewards based on the class.'
A smile formed on my face as I read the conditions.
The strong monopolize everything, and Pangea is a place where this is most evident.
However, it was subtly different from the first main quest.
To obtain a good class, one must also have luck.
Not everyone with good skills will have an excellent class.
But I had no worries.
'I will be first again.'
I possess both skill and luck, as well as the hidden traits that encompass both.
One of the 13 hidden traits, Mutant.
'I can see the hidden path.'
The trait that allows me to see what human eyes cannot began to manifest.