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In the previous timeline, it wasn't rare for players to have to either defeat or get past the defense of the guardians to actually enter a dungeon. But without the 'ten times' drop rate boost from the dungeon they should have been in, the rewards for defeating these monsters were far from being proportional to the effort required.
Any sensible team, including the hero's, would usually choose to just skip past them if possible, especially if the monsters themselves didn't take the initiative to attack them.
But Emilia also knew that having a clear understanding of their own abilities was also important for their team to be able to work together, so she didn't interrupt them.
Fortunately, even if the beasts in the area had already been cleaned up by them, and the guardians remained hidden, Danielle and the others still didn't dare to dally for too long.
After all, almost everyone in the world was probably rushing to complete the 'pillar' event, and they hadn't even gotten started yet.
What was the use of all these newly acquired skills and levels if they still ended up falling behind someone else?
"Let's go, Emilia, lead the way!"
Of course, the crimson-haired girl didn't need to be told twice, and rushed straight towards the marble pillar at her top speed.
"W-Wait, you're too fast!"
"Stop!"
"Baby, you'll crash into it face first!"
Unfortunately, their warnings came 'too late', and they could only watch in horror as their companion's pretty little face made intimate contact with hard marble. Or at least, it should have.
The max-strength 'Minor Heal' and words of comfort and consolation immediately died in their throats as Emilia's figure vanished in front of their eyes, and a mixture of relief and realization flooded the rest of the team.
"Fortunately, it was a portal."
"Let's go!"
Of course, the first thing they did after entering this 'new area' wasn't to admire the vast and endless greenery around them.
"What the hell were you thinking, rushing straight ahead like that?!" Sylvia scolded.
Danielle also couldn't help but nod. "Even if your reaction speed is great, I don't think you could have stopped in time if that pillar turned out to be solid."
Robin sensed the opportunity to score, and immediately pounced on it with an 'indignant' expression.
"Do you know how worried we were? If you continue being so reckless and smush that precious face for real, wouldn't it be a great tragedy?" The tomboy squeezed Emilia's cheeks 'angrily', inwardly marveling at both the elasticity and softness. "I was almost scared to death!"
"I-I didn't do it without thinking! I guessed that this thing must have been a portal!" The crimson-haired elf couldn't help but pout. "Anyway, it's so shiny and round, and there's no gate, but the monsters must have come from somewhere else for the 'native' beasts to fight like that. So I guessed this must have been it!"
If Emilia knew that she would be 'bullied' like this just because she wanted to save some time, she'd never have been so hasty.
Unfortunately, aside from Crystal, no one believed her 'sophistry', and Danielle even rolled her eyes in exasperation.
With how reckless and impulsive Emilia usually was, who would believe that she made all those 'deductions'? It was obvious that she just rushed in without thinking, relying on that incredible luck as always.
But since she was so 'cute', no one could bear watching her 'cry', and Nico smacked the one bullying the 'little girl' with her new staff. "Okay, that's enough!"
"OWW! What the hell?! It hurts so much!!!"
Robin rolled on the ground with an unbearable expression on her face, but everyone just snickered.
"Still dare to bully others?"
"Look at the poor girl's red cheeks, you deserve it."
Only Crystal appeared a little surprised. 'She's not pretending…?'
Even Emilia, who'd been busy pretending to be pitiful, noticed her abnormality. "What's wrong…?"
"Nothing, it's that she really seems to be in pain. Guess Robin is more sensitive than I expected?"
Robin, who'd overheard it, could only jump, feeling offended. "I'm not sensitive!"
Fortunately, their 'argument' was interrupted by a system notification, and the team quickly came back to their senses.
—[The 'Pillar of Greed' welcomes you. Protected by creatures who covet both wealth and beauty endlessly, a part of the champion's gear waits for the worthy's 'rescue'.]
Surprisingly enough, there was no new 'quest' added to their menu, nor was there any clear mention of their objectives or rewards.
Moments later, another notification came through.
—You have received an 'Anchor Crystal'. Please check your inventory.
Emilia opened her inventory, and curiously took out the transparent cube. It hadn't been clear in the timeline, but now she could see that it actually contained a tiny image of her elf form lying in a fetal position with her eyes closed.
It wasn't 'equipped' with any of her gear, though, and Emilia was sure that not many would dare to 'share' this little thing with others out of sheer embarrassment.
"Hey, it's really pretty!"
It was only then that Emilia realized that everyone else had been staring at her anchor crystal 'secretly', though Sylvia and Danielle turned away so fast that she almost wondered if it was just her illusion.
Of course, there was no excuse for Robin's drooling face.
"Shameless!" Nico raised her staff again, making the rogue girl shudder and distance herself from the 'healer' in terror.
Meanwhile, Danielle was too embarrassed to get involved in their antics again, and focused on her own anchor crystal instead.
The item's description was simple and easy to understand — it was like a portable 'save location' point that they could carry around with them. If they logged out and logged back in, instead of spawning randomly, they would reappear at the location of their respective 'anchor crystal'.
Looking at the vast and endless forest around them, though, Danielle could only pull at one of her drill-styled braids in annoyance. "Exactly where are we supposed to find this champion's gear, and what the hell even is it?!"
Emilia grinned. "Why worry so much? Don't we still have those 'Corrupted Blood Essence'?"
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