The El-Vul-Or Tournament, where talents of selected individuals were shown throughout the 'comfort zones' of the Orion Continent, ended for this day as the bluish moon finally revealed itself on the night, glistening sky – which was barely seen as the nature overshadowed the entire kingdom of the Elves.
In one of the taverns, near the floating arena of the tournament, Azalea, together with some others – Victoria, and Lyra, were having drinks as they celebrated winning their matches. The matches of the former Secretary of the Student Council and the current Vice President of the Disciplinary Committee were downright interesting, but it couldn't be said with Azalea's fight against a Dwarf, which ended almost instantly as soon as the match presider's voice resounded.
"Where's Aisha?"
Sitting in front of a small rectangular sturdy wooden table, Victoria asked in a casual manner before slowly reaching out for the bamboo glass where a Dwarven liquor was poured.
"...Though Aisha's match happened yesterday, it seems that she's hella tired and just wanted to sleep. That's why she's not here."
Azalea responded casually before she drank her own bamboo glass of liquor that seemed to pack a punch, causing her to let out a sigh of relief. However, before Victoria could make a remark, Azalea added:
"Why are you asking about her, though? From what I see, it seems you hate her guts or even her mere presence. Don't tell me… are you bestfriends now? Heh heh."
"In your dreams. I just thought that the more the merrier on this kind of simple occasion.
"Also, I acknowledged that I'm the wrong one in blurting out about my Star Contractor, which caused that Arthur bastard to feel envious. I wonder what's his problem, perhaps he's a spoiled brat that wants to be on top of the food chain.
"But, I think it's settled now since he made an apology to me recently. Well, I'm pretty sure you two knew that as he literally prostrated in front of me. His personality's confusing as f*ck as if there's something wrong with his head."
Victoria responded as she shrugged off Azalea's remark, then proceeded to drink a mouthful of Dwarven liquor, letting out the same sigh of relief that Azalea involuntarily did.
Azalea pondered Victoria's words that were aimed at Arthur.
From the moment that Arthur approached her like a dog and asked her, in a casual, but somewhat polite manner, to join the raid of the Tower of Growth, Azalea felt that something changed in him, but she couldn't wrap her head around it.
It was impossible for Arthur Wolfson, a silent, greedy, and envious man, and a discreet person that worked for the Shadow Guild by kidnapping and turning the captives into slaves by forcing them to sign a contract that's basically telling them to become lifetime prisoners in someone else's command, to change overnight.
"...Pst. Lyra. What do you think of the Student Council President?"
Azalea asked randomly, not expecting an answer. She just freed her thoughts that were somewhat bothering her, especially when she's seeing Arthur in public who seemed to constantly humiliate himself and not batting an eye, only a smile of embarrassment.
Victoria glanced at Azalea. The former's expression showed perplexity since she didn't expect the latter to ask Lyra, an enigmatic woman who only opened her mouth if there was something necessary to be said.
Lyra, whose atmosphere exuded that was similar to dying alone due to coldness, drank the Dwarven liquor in her own bamboo glass before staring blankly at Azalea and Victoria.
A few seconds later, as the two curious eyes seemed to have pierced Lyra, she opened her mouth, causing the two to fall into a state of confusion because her words were totally unrelated to Azalea's inquiry.
"...What do you guys think of marriage?"
"Huh-?"
"Huh-?"
Almost at the same time, with a mix of confused and blank expressions, Azalea and Victoria looked at Lyra, who asked such a question with a poker face.
", Hehe, my bad. In today's world, something like love and marriage is only strong and long-lasting if the two people experience life difficulties together. Well, in most cases, that is."
Azalea and Victoria glanced at each other, but they let Lyra babble whatever was in her mind since they were at a loss for words at this moment. The innocent-in-love Victoria Angelica Rasputin and the Master of the Thorn of Rose, a business-minded Azalea Vermillion, were caught off-guard by an introverted Lyra Mihaela.
"...I wonder what marriage is like when it comes to the culture of the Old World…"
"Hey, Lyra. Are you perhaps drunk already?"
After processing what was happening in front of her, Azalea composed herself and finally interjected. She thought that Lyra's alcohol tolerance was low and couldn't handle heavy liquor that was manufactured by the Dwarven Race. Alcoholic Beverages in today's world contained a miniscule amount of Mana, but getting drunk could be prevented by possessing skills like Purification.
Looking at Lyra, Azalea scoffed because the former's expression wasn't showing any kind of drunkenness! She forgot her previous question, instead, she asked out of curiosity.
"I see. It seems you're still sober, but what's this thing about marriage? Is there someone you like?"
But, for the second time, Lyra's response wasn't referring to marriage.
"...President, and… Victoria, if the world is going to be destroyed a few years from now, where do you want to live before then?"
Azalea's face contorted, but her patience wasn't that slim. She noticed with these peculiar exchanges that Lyra didn't have any intention to be asked back. In other words, finding the current circumstances fascinating and somewhat strange, Azalea realized that she was only in a position to answer a question.
"Hmm… if the world's destroyed, does it basically mean that there's nowhere to go? So, I guess we'll all just die together then. Heh."
Victoria was just listening, but she chipped in since she was with them. She would look like an extra in this circle if she didn't participate in this conversation.
"Uh, although the location is subjective, I think there's a right answer to Lyra's question. I mean, aren't Towers indestructible? So, we can assume residency within a Tower!"
Azalea looked at her as if she was insane due to her expression of jubilance as Victoria spoke those words. However, Lyra's greyish-black eyes glistened and a faint smile crept up her lips. It's a cold yet genuine smile that Azalea and Victoria "barely" saw, considering Lyra's demeanor.
A moment later, Lyra spoke, her voice soft.
"The Close Mystery Towers, according to the System, could either be accessed Virtual or Physical. What I mean, is if a Close Mystery Tower opens, and it can only be entered through Physical means like going to the entrance of the Tower itself, I think it can house us even if the world is destroyed – depending on the Tower's contents though. Seeing the Tower of Growth's Failure Penalty, I don't think it's going to be better when other Close Mystery Towers open themselves."
Hearing Lyra's words that they could barely make something out of, Azalea and Victoria realized one thing about her – if the discussion contained deep and in regards to mysteries, Lyra could be so talkative!
Although they seemed surprised, Azalea and Victoria composed themselves and processed in their minds what Lyra had just said.
Various thoughts, as if they had the same brain cells, surfaced in their minds.
First, since Towers were indestructible, it would mean that even if the Earth was destroyed or fell into ruin, the Towers would still exist, but this posed the question – Did the Towers, the ones that could be seen by one's naked eyes, just spring out of nowhere or would they float if the Earth turned to ashes?
Second, if the other yet-to-be-known Close Mystery Towers opened, and their contents wouldn't necessarily send them outside after challenging it, would it mean that it's possible to live within them?
Furthermore, the two of them thought that Lyra might possess unusual wisdom and knowledge, causing Azalea to remember someone that's intermittently living in her mind.
'...Just like Russell Moon!'
As her thoughts raced, Azalea asked out of instinct.
"...Lyra! W-what do you think of the student named Russell Moon?"
Lyra tilted her head at Azalea's sudden question, while Victoria looked at her, perplexed.
"...President… Who's that?"
"...Eh? You don't know? Hmm, he... he's the one I pinned on the wall of the Disciplinary Committee Office. You know... when you, Victoria, and Aisha entered abruptly."
Azalea said in embarrassment. Victoria, on the other hand, remembered that particular scene, which made her recall the young man named Russell Moon.
However, she didn't have the time to voice out her thoughts as Lyra's expression turned strange as if she finally realized the identity of the person that Azalea was referring to.
'...D-did she just blush-?!'
'...What the f*ck??'
Azalea blurted inwardly, while Victoria reflexively cursed upon seeing Lyra's face, which turned slightly crimson for a second or two.
"Sigh, I'm beat."
Thud-!
At that moment, Lyra muttered as she quickly fell asleep. Her head lay on the wooden rectangular table.
***
"For f*ck's sake!"
Russell cursed in the air, being alone in the lodging at a foreign kingdom.
His Star Quest, which contained everything that seemed to be about himself, and his identity, just got updated.
Star Quests were a fixed number of quests a Star Contractor could bestow to one's Champion, but even with the peculiar condition of fulfilling his Star Quest "consecutively," Russell didn't expect such a change.
"Perhaps this triggers if some things happen that can affect the story route."
He surmised easily. As an author of his unpublished novel, and as a reader before writing his work, Russell learned that in a story that's related to a fixed timeline or route, a slight change could cause an enormous "butterfly effect".
"Sigh, what the hell happened behind my back...?"
He thought before reading the Star Quest through the System's holographic screen. The System's voice actually entered his head, but due to the unexpected variable, he almost instantly forgot what he heard.
[Your Star Quest has been updated!]
[A new quest has been added!]
Sitting on a cozy wooden bed, Russell read the contents of the new quest that's been added.
His expression froze before blinking his deep eyes in disbelief.
"..."
His mouth agape. Before reflexively touching his head with his both hands as if feeling an agonizing headache, Russell looked at the room's ceiling.
"..."
He was simply at a loss for words.
***
In the Vampire Lands, further East outside of the Elnira Kingdom.
The meeting between a certain Vampire Lord of one of the Twelve Clans, and the several main heads of the Black Sky Disorder would transpire at this moment.
The plan to destroy, or even make a hole in the mysterious dark curtain shrouding the other side of the world, would be formulated.
This would mean the opportunity for humanity, and at the same time, sacrifice.
After some time, Zebel, together with the Lord of the Black Sky Disorder, and other heads of the organization, discreetly arrived at the Royal Palace to be made an audience with this clan's Vampire Lord.
'...These humans are truly something else.'
Sitting on his throne, he gauged the strength of the newly arrived humans. The Vampire Lord's pale face turned serious, realizing that they were formidable.
The ability of the human race to adapt to new situations thrown at them was the trait that the Vampire Race was somewhat cautious of. That's the reason why they sent numerous Vampire spies to monitor their progress, but seeing some humans that possessed extraordinary strength in person was a different experience.
For a Vampire Lord like him, he knew that he could go toe-to-toe with them, but with consideration of the kin below him, he preferred not to.
Letting out a deep breath, he then addressed the visitors after scrutinizing them.
"A blessed night for this destined meeting. Shall we begin then?"
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