It happened in an instant. Suddenly, the power of the wind soared in my body and exploded. I closed my eyes for a moment and once I opened them, I was looking up at the sky. No, I was flying through the air.
“W-What? Ugh...”
My entire body shook. Looking closely, countless tiny wounds were carved all over my body. I checked my health and it had already decreased by more than half. My clothes had already become slightly ragged. I could already hear what Drain would say. I continued to rise into the air only to feel my speed gradually slowing down.
At one point, I got an ominous premonition. This...
I started to fall toward the ground at a high speed. The speed was too fast.
“Ugh, what...?!”
It was like the last time I rode on the Ice Silk Road. Of course, it was safe at that time. Now it was different. If I struck the ground now, I would die and then what about the Colosseum battle tomorrow...!
[Kuhaha! It is another big accident! This is why I like you!
"Eek. Shut up, this guy!"
[Kukuk. In any case, I"m curious. What will I do if you die? Am I going to die too?]
I wasn"t curious about it at all. No, I didn"t want to know. I looked around and there was nothing. The last time I jumped off the cliff, I had the cobwebs. I couldn"t even use them now. I closed my eyes as I got closer to the ground. d.a.m.n, I couldn"t keep my promise.
“Puuuung~”
“...?”
I turned my head at the familiar sound and saw Punghee in the distance, flying at a fast speed toward me. I made an alarmed expression.
“Punghee! It is dangerous...”
However, Punghee quickly reached me and flew around me to create a small wind. It felt cozy. After a moment, a message came out.
[The sacred creature of the wind, "Punghee," has detected that her master is in danger and has awakened a new sub-ability.]
A new sub-ability...?
[The sacred creature of the wind, "Punghee," has used "Levitation."]
I suddenly felt my body getting lighter. The distance to the ground was just over a meter. I was floating in the air like Punghee. It felt like the shadow of death was going away little by little. Phew, I barely lived.
“Puuuung♡”
“Huhu. Thank you, Punghee.”
This girl was acting cute as she rubbed her white fur on me. I read the description of Levitation and tapped Punghee"s nose. It wasn"t all that great. It was just a skill that allowed me to float a bit. Then someone walked over. Kerenos frowned as he took off the cobweb stuck to his mouth.
“Ah, d.a.m.n cobwebs. I really want to get rid of it. Why do you always act so hastily? I was trying to tell you about the precautions.”
“Tsk. You should"ve said that sooner, this guy.”
“Phew. Who can stop your stubbornness?”
...I should shut his mouth again with a cobweb.
“Cough. In any case, I"ll explain it now so listen carefully. Don"t fly into the sky without listening, I won"t save you.”
Kerenos started to give a lengthy explanation. Of course, I listened while digging at my ears.
* * *
Around that time, Kim Sujeong arrived near Metheus Village. However, the village was a bit different. She felt like it was more energetic than before. it was obvious even from a distance. It seemed that many users had gathered since the village was completed.
“Is this the place where the person of that topic is the village chief?”
“It isn"t as special as I thought?”
“Yes, he saved Windia but this is the only reward.”
"Well, this is a commemoration. We should take a photo, Honey.”
“Yes, Honey. Stand here.”
Snap snap! They took several photos with Metheus in the background. They seemed like a couple. Her side was aching for no reason.
“Wow, why are there so many NPCS?”
“What are they doing?”
“Isn"t this a lot of people?”
After pa.s.sing by the couple and entering the village, they attracted the attention of many people. Kim Sujeong was leading many NPCS so maybe it was natural. Just then, there was the sound of camera flashes.
“Who are you?!”
“Who are you to lead so many NPCs?”
“What do you have to do with a user called Jackson? Are you lovers?”
Kim Sujeong frowned. It was natural for reporters to come in since the village was completed. Even so, it was strangely annoying. She sent a whisper straight away.
-Crystal: Father, what should I do? There are reporters buzzing around the village.
-Jackson: ...Those bunch of rotten people. Talk to Becker and place a sign at the entrance that no reporters and monsters are allowed, then chase them all away.
-Crystal: Yes, I"ll do so.
“Why aren"t you saying anything? Can I take this as your confirmation?”
“What is your level? What"s your cla.s.s?”
“Since when have you been playing this game? That instrument...”
There were endless questions. Helena, who was supporting Aino, came over. She was also frowning. “Metheus has changed a lot. Why so suddenly...”
“Ohh, a beautiful NPC! It is comparable to Madam Lanya!”
“Huhu, it"s a big hit. I will have to put it on the front page tomorrow.”
There was another baptism of flashes. It was hard to bear anymore. Every person had a limit. This was at the level of invasion of privacy. It was to the point where she would be afraid to play the game.
[The firefly star, "Camille," is frowning.]
“Hey, who gave you permission to shoot at will?”
“P-Pretty lady, can I take photos as I please?”
“No, don"t you know about portrait rights? Portrait rights?!”
Kim Sujeong didn"t know why they were so shameless. If she knew this would happen, they should"ve come together. The others hadn"t come because they had their own work. She was the only one who was here.
“Huhu, you are a stubborn young lady. Then I will take a photo of the NPC next to you.”
A middle-aged reporter said so before starting to photograph Helena. Helena frowned once more. It was the same for the residents of Garbage Village. They seemed to be upset. They were people who had to settle here. It would be bad if they left because of this.
“...We came. We received a call in advance.”
Becker and the Sylphid Knights appeared. Kim Sujeong thought that this worked out well.
“Uncle Becker.”
“Huh, uncle? Suddenly calling me by this...”
“What"s wrong with it? Lend me your ears for a bit.”
“Cough.”
Kim Sujeong whispered a few words into Becker"s ears and pointed to the reporters. The important thing was to get rid of the people in front of him. She boldly asked Becker to kick them out. “Yes, I understand.”
Becker nodded and turned to the Sylphid Knights. Then he ordered, “From now on, all reporters who appear will be thrown out of the village.”
“Yes! I understand!”
The Sylphid Knights pointed their weapons at the reporters. In an instant, the reporters paled.
“W-What?! Do you know who I am? Eh?!”
Becker aimed a sword at the speaking person"s neck.
“Get out while you can still speak.”
* * *
[The firefly star, "Camille," is satisfied with the quiet village.]
Fortunately, the reporters were able to be sent out safely. If someone resisted, she would"ve used her strength to help the Sylphid Knights. Fortunately, it didn"t reach that far.
“Thank you for sending them away, Crystal.”
Helena approached happily. She seemed to be in a good mood.
“No, it wasn"t me. It was Father"s order.”
“Ah? By Father, do you mean...”
“Jackson.”
“Aha. Are you his daughter?”
“Huh? Ahahah... I"m not his daughter but it is something similar?”
“I see. I roughly understand.”
She shouldn"t roughly understand...
No, did she understand it properly?
“Then we"ll develop Metheus Village as promised.”
“Ah, yep.”
Helena turned around and looked at the villagers. “Everyone, do you know what to do?”
Many young men gathered at her words. They were skinny but they looked pretty st.u.r.dy. They were like little giants.
“The men should spread out and take care of the labor.”
“Haha, don"t worry, Helena. We might look like this but we are very strong when it comes to labor.”
“Ahh. I can relax after a long time.”
“The food here should be pretty good, right?”
Half of the NPCs scattered. All that remained were women and children.
“For the women, just walk around and see if there is anything you can help with. It is okay to just pick fruit. Anyone who is good at handicrafts can sell their work.”
Just then, a girl held onto Helena"s skirt.
“Sister, us...?”
Helena smiled sweetly.
“You can play.”
“Don"t worry~?”
“Yes, why don"t you help your mother and play?”
“Yep!”
[The firefly star, "Camille," is smiling with joy.]
All of the Garbage Village residents" scattered. All that remained was Helena and Kis. There was also Aino, the village chief. Kim Sujeong approached them. “Wow, Helena. You are really good at dealing with people. Amazing.”
“Huh? “Ah~ this is something I"ve done often.”
“You do this often?” Kim Sujeong wondered.
Helena smiled.
“We are not the bourgeois cla.s.s of Fortren.”
“Oh~ can you explain in detail? I don"t know it.”
A long story followed.
Helena said that Fortren"s cla.s.s system could be divided into two main categories. The bourgeoisie with the money and the proletariat who labors because they don"t have the money. The bourgeois was said to be roughly divided into three cla.s.ses.
They were divided into the ranks according to the colors of cutlery: gold, silver, and bronze. The color symbolized the difference in status and it was said that the number of tickets available in the presidential election varied depending on the color. It was said that if someone had a lot of money, the color of the cutlery would automatically change.
“In any case, on top of the gold spoon, there is the diamond spoon for the Merchant King and there is only one of this. Every five years, the owner will change with the presidential election. I haven"t seen it once.”
“Ah~ thank you for the explanation. I need to let Father know this.”
“Well, it"s nothing.” Helena shrugged.
Kim Sujeong asked, “Why do the residents of Garbage Village have no cutlery? The residents of Fortren have everything.”
“Um, that...”
Helena hesitated before pulling something out.