Chapter 82: Story (Combined Chapter)

Karanfor, church.

Sacred light beams illuminating countless tiny particles of dust sprinkled down from the hall's dome; gorgeous stained glass windows depicting saint images refracted mottled brilliance in the air.

Sacred, tranquil.

The priest dressed in judge-style robes stood atop the altar.

Eyes lowered, lips moving.

The golden sun holy symbol hanging from crimson silk at his chest flickered with faint radiance under the sunlight's reflection.

"Sir, the negative energy in that merchant's body has dispersed."

Below the steps, a nun in similarly solemn attire reported in a low voice.

The priest slowly opened his eyes. On that kind-faced countenance, there were no ripples whatsoever.

Lightly raising his head, in his aged and tranquil pupils reflected the image of his devoutly believed Lord on the glass window.

"Let him go."

Steady words without any fluctuation echoed quietly in the spacious hall.

"Yes."

The nun's gentle footsteps disappeared at the side corridor's end.

The air seemed to return to silence again.

"Cough cough..."

Coughing sounds carrying decayed energy abruptly rang out in the church.

At the overlapping boundary between magnificent pillars and bright light, under the only shadow shrouding the entire hall.

A gaunt, elderly figure struggled up from the cold bench with difficulty.

On cheeks filled with wrinkles and age spots like rough tree bark, an eerie smile appeared.

"Failed?"

Lips full of dead skin and bloodless lightly opened and closed, a hoarse, low voice ringing in the air.

"The merciful and great Lord spreads radiance to the world. Sacred rules cannot be trampled, and order should also be followed."

"Heh."

A laugh with ambiguous meaning rang out harshly.

The old man opened his one remaining turbid eye, looking at the kindly priest bathed in holy light atop the altar.

In his eyes was only mockery.

......

Three days later, River Valley Town.

White Sparrow Tavern.

The fireplace burning with flames, clashing and raised wine cups, and noisy people amid the food's aroma...

Everything seemed no different from before.

"Friends!" Caravan captain Jeff gripped a wooden cup swaying with crystalline liquor in his right hand, clearing his throat.

"Remember when I first came to River Valley Town, I was still a greenhorn who hadn't even touched a woman's hand. Dreamed of becoming a famous adventurer, then bringing back enough gold coins to fill an entire warehouse to my hometown, eating white bread every meal, occasionally even having meat soup."

"Unfortunately, on my first mission, I was so scared by those three goblins not even as big as stray dogs that I pissed my pants."

Good-natured laughter rang out in the tavern.

Jeff's other hand leaned on a wooden crutch, his alcohol-reeking face flushed red.

"All these years, I've led caravans traveling north and south. The dangers I've encountered definitely can't compare to yours, but they weren't few either. A few trips almost cost me my life."

"Every time I came back, sitting here, I told myself this was the last trip—earn one more sum and retire."

"But every time I still couldn't help myself. One trip, two trips... After all, who can refuse fragrant gold coins?"

"But this time is different."

Seeming too drunk, Jeff's body swayed.

Below his left leg severed flush at the knee, the temporarily made simple prosthetic tapped the floor, producing the sound of wood collision.

"Your good old Jeff, after today, is officially retiring."

"We're all bitter souls living with our heads on our belts. I won't say anything depressing."

"I wish everyone present can earn enough gold coins to fill an entire warehouse!"

"Cheers!"

The already lively tavern instantly became even more boisterous.

Although Jeff wasn't an adventurer, he was honest and often hired adventurers at the guild as guards.

Over many years, he'd built somewhat of a reputation among bottom-tier adventurers.

Seeing him able to retire safely in this state, even if some people inwardly had criticisms, on the surface they still maintained basic decency.

Nothing unpleasant happened.

I sat in the tavern's corner, before me a bowl of cream mushroom soup already half-drunk, beside it the already-finished stewed meat chunks.

My mind recalled the encounters from a few days ago, feeling puzzled inwardly.

That day after pinning Ingram dead on the tree, I'd actually not planned to return to Karanfor, wanting to run away directly.

After all, the sheriff had close ties with the priest in the sun god church who seemed to be a professional. If the priest's will was behind his actions, returning would undoubtedly be seeking death.

But unexpectedly, the death of a sheriff didn't even splash a ripple in this small town of Karanfor.

Everything operated according to original order, regular and silent.

Even Jeff, who'd been recuperating at the church before, smoothly returned to the inn and rejoined the caravan members.

And until three days later now, I still hadn't heard any information related to this incident.

"Could it really just be Ingram's personal action, unrelated to the church?"

"But how could an important town sheriff's sudden disappearance have no commotion at all?"

I just felt strange.

As if touching the tip of an iceberg above water, only vaguely seeing a bit of the massive outline hidden behind it, I fearfully and tremblingly restrained my movements.

With my current strength, better not get involved unnecessarily.

"Tap, tap, tap."

Accompanied by the light sound of the wooden prosthetic landing, Jeff reeking of alcohol wobbled over.

Before I even spoke, just my gaze looking over, he raised his head and drained the alcohol in his hand in one gulp.

"Although I've said it many times already, but... burp."

"If it weren't for you two that night, forget retiring—I'm afraid I couldn't even make it back to River Valley Town."

His eyes full of drunkenness suddenly showed a serious expression.

"My capabilities are limited. Can't help much with adventurer matters."

"But if you come to Nyum in the future, find me."

Having made the retirement decision, the caravan he'd worked hard for half his life was naturally also put on the shelf.

Already found a buyer.

Possibly also due to Jeff's own decent reputation, the offered price was quite good.

Enough for him to return to Nyum and open a small tailor shop with his family. Income definitely wouldn't be as high as before, but it was safe and stable.

Plus his savings over all these years, as long as he saved on expenses somewhat and didn't splurge excessively, Jeff should be able to have a fairly decent later years.

"Your leg, not planning to get it treated?"

I glanced at the prosthetic on his left foot and asked.

"Where's the money? Too expensive!" Jeff smiled carefree, shaking his wine cup. "Anyway I won't be running with caravans anymore. Just living in the city, treating it or not doesn't really matter."

I nodded slightly, respecting his decision without saying more.

But inwardly I vaguely had a thought:

Speaking of which, if I didn't possess the "attribute panel" cheat, and fairly good physical talent, allowing me to see clearly the road upward.

Like Jeff before me—saving money for a few years, finding a safe place to open a small shop—also seemed like a pretty good life.

"No!"

The thought just arose before I instantly snuffed it out.

In my line of sight, the skin at Jeff's severed limb wound was like dead, withered wood—death gray completely devoid of color.

Bones and flesh severed by a sword. Just one look and you could feel the phantom pain within.

Before my eyes involuntarily surfaced the terrifying scene from that night a few days ago, where the undead Tim had forcibly pulled out Jeff's calf bones from tendons and flesh while he slept.

Different from the previous life's highly developed technological civilized society.

The fantasy world I currently inhabited, although possessing even more advanced supernatural powers, didn't have an official organization strong enough to broadly and widely check and balance high-tier professionals.

To a certain extent, "law" for some powerful existences in the evil alignment was almost no different from waste paper.

With this as premise, if I were just an ordinary person, or a bottom-tier adventurer slightly above that.

I might be able to spend a lifetime peacefully and safely.

But also possibly one day just because a passing high-tier professional was in a bad mood, I'd die miserably in the aftershock of their venting.

If drawn into a conspiracy like the one Ingram had plotted, even more so I wouldn't even know the reason for dying.

Even if I truly lived as I'd once dreamed—saving a large sum, retiring to the countryside, living a plain and happy life with family.

I absolutely couldn't tolerate any random cat or dog on the road easily threatening my own life safety and that of those I valued.

The dreamlike happy life, savings vast enough to live richly through a lifetime, even everything I pursued...

Strength was the most fundamental thing for me to stand in this world!

Looking at Jeff ahead gradually walking away, still not completely adapted to the prosthetic's movement method, limping and wobbling.

The deeply rooted cognitive concepts constructed from my previous life's thirty-plus years of modern society living were quietly undergoing transformation imperceptibly.

Instinctively pulling out from my chest that brass coin engraved with the goddess's portrait, my fingertips rubbed it, feeling the cool sensation of the coin's surface.

Concentrating attention, semi-transparent characters appeared before my eyes.

......

【Fate Coin】

Type: Consumable/Prop

Level: Epic (Pink)

Remaining Uses: 3

Introduction:

A specially made copper coin wrapped with fortune's divine power, the trigger of "miracles."

Remark:

"This is it—I! Want! To! Go! All! In!"

—Destined Gambler · Complete Collection of Blacklists from 126 Casinos in Swordfish Isles · Tymora's Eyebrow · Arlene

......

Alton had already left the group two days ago, traveling alone.

As a lightfoot halfling currently in the midst of a journey, making him stay long-term in a fixed place, even retracing the road he'd come, was almost impossible.

Regarding this, I wasn't worried at all.

Although small in stature, looking like he'd easily be deceived, his actual combat power also not particularly outstanding.

But...

Are you kidding!

This was someone who could chat about household matters with a deity in dreams!

With the Smiling Lady's protection, I even suspected if someone truly had evil intentions toward the halfling.

Before their turn to act, they'd die from tripping because they stepped out with their left foot first when going out.

Possessing the ability to directly communicate with a deity, Alton definitely wasn't the ordinary believer I'd once thought.

At least also at the "god's chosen" level.

"Don't know if there'll be a chance to meet again in the future."

I pondered inwardly, but the coin in my hand, just like the halfling had often displayed before me, was rather dashingly tossed high by my palm unconsciously.

But the instant the copper coin left my hand, I suddenly felt unsure inwardly, a strong sense of insecurity surging up.

Somewhat awkwardly with both hands upward, I tightly grasped the tossed coin in my palm.

This was genuine epic-level pink equipment!

Forget losing it due to unnecessary movements—even accidentally bumping or scraping it was a result I absolutely couldn't accept.

Carefully tucking it into my chest, placing it close to my body.

Possibly because 【Fate Coin】's quality level was too high, even involving a deity's great power.

The always reliable attribute panel also didn't detail its effects.

Only vaguely included a line "trigger of 'miracles.'"

Made me somewhat unable to figure it out.

Just speculating that perhaps this precious prop that could still be used three times could increase the probability of certain things occurring.

Probably similar to winning the lottery jackpot, or guessing all multiple choice questions on a test correctly?

I wasn't clear about the scope the coin's effects involved, nor the specific degree of influence.

Also reluctant to sacrifice the only three chances for testing.

At least, through practical verification, what could already be confirmed was:

【Fate Coin】 could trigger 【Iron Bones】's physical damage immunity effect 100%.

Just looking at this alone, its effect had already reached an exaggerated degree.

Could say, with the copper coin in hand, I had three extra lives!

An absolute trump card in the true sense.

Not to mention, the 【Light-Bathed One】 specialty I'd obtained in battle before, strictly speaking, was also coincidentally obtained through the fate divine power when using the coin.

Perhaps...

I licked my somewhat dry lips, chaotic thoughts flying through my mind.

The banquet continued until late night.

Not until the completely drunk Jeff was supported by several familiar friends into a guest room did the originally lively, boisterous atmosphere in the tavern cool down slightly.

Worth mentioning, during this time there were actually several familiar-faced adventurers who actively came to chat with me and build connections.

Clearly because the strength I'd displayed during the mission gained these peers' recognition.

I even vaguely heard some adventurer reeking of alcohol, in the exaggerated tone common to drunkards, describing to similarly drunk colleagues around him my fierce battle record of killing four goblins with one sword.

Although just boasting at the drinking table, rarely taken to heart by anyone. Even among them, the vast majority, after waking up the next day, would have already forgotten my name.

Only vaguely remembering that last night some drunk boasted to them about encountering a fierce person who could cut goblins like piglets.

But undoubtedly, over a month after I'd crossed to this world.

Among River Valley Town's bottom-tier adventurers,

For the first time,

I had my own story.