CHAPTER 23: FOREST OF DARKNESS

The rest of the night, Richard went back to sleep, satisfied after experiencing the power within his body.

His only true activity in Apple Town so far had taken place at night.

He had yet to explore the city during the day, and he didn’t want to let tomorrow pass without seeing it under the sun.

Perhaps because of his lack of sleep, by the time he woke up, the sun was already shining brightly through the window.

He immediately sat up, stood, and stepped out of his room.

"Hehehe, Boss, you’re awake!"

The first thing he saw was Mr. Joe’s beaming smile.

"Old man, you don’t look heartbroken anymore," Richard remarked.

At his words, Mr. Joe suddenly remembered his crushing heartbreak.

"Ehhmm..." He cleared his throat.

"Your punishment nearly made me forget about my own life. And then I was overjoyed to discover the brightest diamond I’ve ever seen," he chuckled.

"Am I the diamond you’re talking about?" Richard asked with a faint smile.

"I’m certain you’ll become someone great in the future. But I’m a little confused—talented as you are, without access, how are you able to practice magic?" Mr. Joe voiced his curiosity.

At that, Richard shot him a sharp look, clearly telling him this was something he could not ask.

Mr. Joe quickly shut his mouth.

Of course, Richard wouldn’t tell him it was because of the books.

Better to keep that secret—or else the old man’s head would swell with pride.

"I want to bathe," Richard said before heading to the bathroom.

It had been days since he last bathed, and he could feel the dirt clinging to him.

After his bath and a small breakfast, Richard finally left Mr. Joe’s house—alone.

Since gaining power, he felt far more comfortable wandering by himself.

On the main street of the city, he finally witnessed the bustle he had never seen before.

There were so many people—from the wealthy to the common folk, even groups of arrogant youths between fifteen and twenty years old.

Even compared to cities on Earth, Apple Town seemed far livelier.

Here, everything had to be done in person. Unlike Earth, there was no distant communication.

Richard walked on, his eyes constantly darting left and right.

He saw builders raising new homes on empty plots, laborers hauling goods on their backs, and roads filled with merchants.

As a seven-year-old boy, he felt free and unrestrained. No one treated him as part of society.

Wherever he went, people simply assumed he was a child wandering while his parents lingered nearby.

Eventually, his wandering led him to a school built on wide grounds, surrounded by walls, with a three-story building at its center.

He saw children of various ages entering—some as young as himself, still escorted by their parents, while the eldest looked around fifteen or sixteen.

Richard sensed that the older ones, like William, had already begun gathering Aether.

He guessed this must be the school Mrs. Wilson had mentioned.

He had to admit, it looked interesting. With the right teachers, one could continue to receive guidance. But in truth, it wasn’t what he needed.

So he moved on, heading north of the city—unaware that in one of the alleys he passed, a pink-haired woman named Olivia was watching him.

Her rose-colored eyes glimmered faintly.

He actually possesses an Aether Will. Truly unbelievable, she thought.

Others couldn’t sense Richard’s strength, but there were always a few unique individuals with extraordinary detection abilities.

She continued watching him, startled when she realized his destination was the Forest of Darkness.

Richard, reaching the northern edge of the city, finally found it: the Forest of Darkness, enclosed by towering walls that spanned a wide area. Inside loomed immense trees, and now and then, fierce roars echoed from within.

The gate to the forest was heavily guarded by Sky Armor Knights.

Only children aged seventeen or younger could enter.

What surprised him even more was something resembling a screen—though seemingly made of magic—fixed to the wall.

It displayed names, their points, and ages.

He even spotted William Wagmer’s name, ranked fourth with a total of 663 points, age fifteen. Richard guessed this was the same William he had met yesterday.

"Richard!"

Startled, he turned to find Olivia suddenly standing beside him, her charming smile catching him so off guard that he nearly stumbled.

"Do you want to test your strength?" she asked, her words making his eyes tremble.

But he quickly regained his composure.

"Yes," he answered.

"In truth, the Forest of Darkness isn’t the most suitable place. The beasts within are only Tier 1 and 1+. They’re meant for children who haven’t awakened their Aether Will," Olivia explained.

Richard had already suspected she knew, since she asked if he wanted to test his strength. But to him, it wasn’t a serious matter if someone knew of his power.

"Of course, I understand. You must be aiming for the rewards, hahaha. And rightly so—the reward for reaching 1000 points is an Aether Skull. It’s a very expensive item, more expensive than hands and feet or body parts. At your Realm, gathering 1000 points wouldn’t take more than a day," she added.

Hearing the prize she spoke of, Richard’s interest grew.

To advance to the next Realm, beyond accumulating Aether, he would need to replace his skeleton with an Aether Skeleton.

Naturally, this was no simple matter. Aether Skeletons were rare, said to be born of the world itself, and each time they appeared, great powers fought to claim them.

And they never appeared whole—only as separate parts, such as skull, hands, or legs—forcing people to gather them piece by piece.

"By the way, Richard, what if we work together? You help me retrieve something from the Forest of Darkness, and I’ll pay you accordingly. I can even help hide your identity if you don’t want to draw attention," Olivia offered once more.

---