New World

A valley on a certain mountains where a large cave can be found--- a group of bandits have made this place into their base, eight years ago. They are the strongest bandit group in this area, the Wild-Boar.

Their leader has some dealings with a noble at a nearby city and so--- he knows which people to target and which people not to offend. This past years, his prime targets were the local commoners from the nearby villages and some merchant caravans that has no connection with a noble.

_______

But at this very moment--- this fat leader was terrified that he has started peeing his pants. He cannot remember when he had offended such terrifying monster.

*gush-- thud*

"Wait!.. who you are?!.. we never offended any noble from the city."

---a shorty raised his arms and yelled.

One of the veteran warrior said in a trembling voice---

"you… m..must have gotten the wrong person!"

---then he suddenly felt a tremendous danger boring down on him.

The young man in front of them suddenly transformed into a bizarre metallic monster with four tentacles coming out from its waist.

*spurt*--- one of the tentacles whipped someone's head off.

"Motherfucker… where are the rest?!, why are they so slow!? "

---the horrified fat leader started screaming as he witnessed his ten warriors being reduced to mincemeat.

*kshaa*--- one of the four mechanical tentacles stabbed into his forehead and it started emitting a low light.

"His knowledge about this world is too lacking."

Feeling disappointed, the monster created a bunch of miniature fireballs--- turning the corpses to ashes.

Then one of his tentacle emitted an inaudible sound that scanned the whole area.

"So that's where he has been keeping them."

---deep within the cave, at least 20 prisoners were currently bounded by a series of chains. Five of them were just children below ten-years old, while the others were healthy adults.

It seems the bandits were keeping their products healthy--- preparing to sell them covertly at the slave market in a few days.

The monster didn't went to save them directly, he first went to search for the bandit's treasure stash. The leader's treasure room was well hidden but it was still easily found after he scanned the area.

Inside it were a good amount of golds and other treasures. After keeping all of it, he transformed himself to look like normal human again.

Aesma doesn't have any doppelganger or shape-shifting skills but--- since he could control all 40 trillion mechanical blocks which makes up his body by using a racial ability

---changing his appearance was pretty easy.

_______

"Big Brother thank you!(Young man thank you!)"

---the local youngsters on this village were all very happy to see their parents or their siblings again, while the surviving adults were very grateful having escaped the cruel path of slavery.

Everyone felt joy to be reunited to their families again.

"There's no need to thank me since I was paid to do it. Also, I get to learn which city produces this manatite".

After another few more conversations, he turns around to leave this small village.

He had stumble upon that village in the morning--- and detected a valuable item inside it.

It was a small manatite stone, which could be useful for his current Predicament*.

A manatite is a condensation of pure natural mana and formed into a stone. It can be found in nature or be made artificially by using a gathering array--- a lost technology.

The village chief agreed to give him the treasure as a payment if he finds a way to rescue the seven villagers that were abducted there, two days ago.

After walking far enough where he can sense no one is spying on him, the space suddenly warps and he disappeared into it.

_______

A distance away from a bustling city, a young man walks out of the void.

"So that's Grand Kaliweir."

---he was currently admiring the beautiful city that gives off a rich purple aura.

Sixty years ago, this city suddenly went booming with wealth after the discovery of a natural manatite vein. Since then, this city has become the gathering haven for high level <Mages> and talented <Mage apprentice>.

The King also sends his strongest mage to become the overseer of this city.

So it was not surprising that in this city--- the mages ends up having a much higher authority and reverence than the other job classes.

"Then <Mage> it is"

---Aesma disintegrates and reforms himself into an old man with a long white beard.

This form will be more convenient for an outsider like him on socializing with the higher-ups of this city.

His current goal is--- to collect more information about this world and that famous news about a boulder-size high-grade manatite that was discovered 6 years ago.

_______

After entering the city gate, he spend five silver coins on hiring a guide to show him a place where everyone can gather and exchange information.

Right now he's standing outside a romanian looking building.

This building is owned by the <Magic Society> and they have other branches in all cities on this Kingdom.

It only have two floors, the first floor is like a public library--- open to anyone as long as you pay a certain amount of silver.

This floor have the basic knowledge about this kingdom, maps, territorial laws, history and common news that happened recently.

The second floor is only accessible for someone possessing a special status.

After paying 20 silver coins, Aesma takes everything that he sees relevant and went to sit in the corner near the window.

10 minutes later.

"So that's the current situation, no wonder there's a heavy tension when I entered the city."

---Aesma mumbled as he looks outside.

Some of the local residents are leaving the city, while a lot of mercenaries are coming in.

As it turns out--- one of the four <Demon Lord> has set his eyes on this city.

Even though the information gathered by the scout division states that the Demon Lord's preparation of his armies is far from over, that doesn't put the city lord at ease--- he ordered everyone to prepare for war at any given time.

*snicker*-- 'They refer to themselves as Demon Lords, but it looks like they are just some lucky bastards who managed to find some legacy of a fallen player.'

According to the recorded histories, about six-hundred years ago--- humanities were at the verge of extinction.

At that time, the Dragon Lords stand at the top of the food chain since they could use [Wild Magic]. But everything changed when a group of powerful beings called "Players" suddenly appeared on this world and killed those Dragons to near extinction.

They also brought with them knowledge of <Tier Magic>--- which could also be learn by other races. From then on, the humanity prospered and started building Kingdoms across the five continents.

Looking at the recorded history, there would be a "Player" appearing on this world every 100 years--- at least two of them.

'I wonder if the other players ended up in this continent too, maybe we could form a party and explore this world together. Nah--- base on the ratio of psychos back in [Yggdrasil] that might be impossible.'

The continent which Aesma is currently on is the smallest of the five--- with the size five-times of Japan. It has seven Kingdoms of which, three belongs to humanity.

The Grand Kaliweir City which he is currently on belongs to the Alfonse Kingdom, ruled by a family of Paladins that could use Tier 5 spells, there are even rumors that some of them could even use Tier 6.

After reading all this information, Aesma went to the young librarian to inquire about the qualification needed to enter the second floor.

Seeing the old man with a long white beard, the librarian who's an apprentice mage was very respectful--- his instinct tells him that this old man might be far stronger than his master.

"This lord, to enter the second floor, you just need to present a rank C <Mage badge> and pay five gold coins".

"<Mage badge>?--- boy I'm a nomad magician, I don't have that."

"This lord, feel at ease since the requirement is only a <Green Badge>, our establishment are allowed to give that kind of badge as long as you pass a simple test."

---after saying this, the young apprentice mage takes a silver crystal and handed it to the old man.

"This crystal can detect a person's mana capacity, only someone who can use tier 3 magic can fully light this up. If this lord can do that, then I can gift to you a rank C <Green Badge>."

"Tier 3 huh, then look closely kid."

---as he pours his mana into the crystal, it suddenly disintegrated.

It turns to dust without giving off any light.

Seeing this, the apprentice mage was very confused, since it was supposed to light up. Even if the old man could actually use a Tier 4 magic--- it would light up intensely and then breaks to pieces.

"This, m..maybe that crystal was defective--- please wait for a moment, I'll go get another crystal."

---as he was about to leave,

"There is no need for that."

---when the young apprentice heard that voice, he was surprised to see that it was his master.

His master then turns around to face the old man respectfully--- "My Lord, our Establishment's status is not high enough to bestow you a rank A <Golden Badge>, but you can use this badge temporarily if you wanted to go to the second floor."

---he then courteously handed the old man a <Silver Badge>.

Both master and apprentice mage watched the old man make his way up to the second floor.

"Master, y..you said <Golden Badge>?--- he is one of those who could use Tier 5 Magic?!"

The apprentice was really frightened, good thing he was very respectful to that old man.

"He must be someone hired by the capital for this incoming war."

---the master felt more confident on this incoming calamity.

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