47. A Task Again?

But, why not let Ningguang buy all of the copies of the novel? If she bought them first, then he would agree to participate.

Ningguang put her chin on her hand while hearing what Ryūhei wanted.

"Hm, it's not like he wants to sell novels. Rather, he's using me to take advantage of sales. I see. So, he's that kind of person, huh? Let's see if he could be used." She said inwardly. She turned her gaze to Ryūhei.

"I can't agree with this."

Then, Ningguang explained why she refused. Although she promised to give her something, she didn't mean to give him a lot of benefits. After all, Ningguang had only asked Ryūhei to participate, which would boost his fame and his novel would eventually sell well if lots of people visited his shop afterward.

"I see." Ryūhei replied curtly. But, Ningguang's voice sounded again.

"But, if you agree to my request, I'll consider it. Since you're also an adventurer with the skill to sense the ley line disturbance, I believe this request is suitable for you."

"Request?"

"That's right. Two weeks ago, some miners disappeared. I sent some adventurers to investigate, but those adventurers also had the same fate as the miners. They disappeared without notice. We are so busy with the festival drawing near. And because I heard that you are strong and equipped with good senses, there's no way I'll miss this opportunity." Ningguang explained. If not for the festival, she would send someone else instead of Ryūhei. And, knowing a little bit of his strength, she didn't forget to use him.

Ryūhei felt something troublesome and planned to decline her request. After all, he could just go to other nations to sell them. However, before he could decline, his expression changed in a split second. Then…

"Alright, I agree. But, I have a condition if you want me to accept your request."

"Oh, let me hear it! As long as it can maintain the value of exchange, I will agree to your condition."

"It's not much, really. I just want the Milelith to protect my shop for the time being. I can't let my employee run my shop without protection when I'm away." Ryūhei believed that this request required him to be away for a few days. So, he was concerned about his employee since a Fatuus wanted to cause trouble 2 weeks prior. That was why he didn't want to accept daily commissions in the Adventurers' Guild in the past 2 weeks.

Even when he got a test from Zhongli at that time, it could be considered an instant test.

Ningguang nodded to accept Ryūhei's condition.

"Then, I'll make sure of the safety of your shop."

"I'm relieved then. Alright, I agree."

"In that case, I hope you will be ready tomorrow. And I'll send some people to pick you up in the morning."

After that, the two discussed the festival that would happen 15 days later.

— — — —

Upon returning to the shop, he noticed that several copies of the novel had been sold, so she called Atsuko.

"Atsuko, can you tell me who bought the novel? I mean, the traits."

Atsuko nodded.

"If I recall, one person from Mondstadt, and the other two from Fontaine."

"Only 3 people?"

10 copies of the novel had been sold, but oddly enough, only 3 people had bought it.

"Yes. It was a person from Fontaine that usually bought a bunch of manga. Actually, he bought 1 at first, then he came back to buy 4 more. Another one from Mondstadt bought a lot, every volume of all the manga and 4 copies of the novel have been bought by that person as well."

Hearing this, Ryūhei understood that the novel could be popular in Fontaine since the same person bought it twice as if that person wanted to buy it for friends or perhaps to sell it again after reading the story.

But he wanted to know why the person from Mondstadt bought a lot, including the novel. The nearest main city in other nations is Sumeru City. But, he doubted that the people from that nation were interested in Xingqiu's novel. After all, most of them are researchers. So, if people from Mondstadt were interested in that kind of novel, he planned to go there to sell the rest of the copies of the novel since the set time wasn't that much.

More importantly, he needed to print some more manga for stock since he would be away for a few days.

After going up to his room upstairs, he opened the system. The reason he accepted Ningguang was due to this.

[The host has a new task! Across the long years, in the bed of rock carved into the very heart of the world, has imprisoned a creature in a seal beneath the Dragon-Queller. A crazed, violent, and vengeful creature affected by Erosion is on the verge of breaking the seal. The seal can only last 4 months. If the host failed to stop it in time, Liyue would be razed to the ground. Completing the task will be rewarded with two multifunctional bionic puppets.]

And what caught his attention the most was the so-called Erosion. He didn't know what that was, but it was definitely dangerous. If indeed the seal will be opened after 4 months according to the task of the system, that means it will happen after Zhongli's contract is fulfilled because the plan is to start 2 months later in early November.

This task was triggered after Ningguang asked him to look for the disappearance of miners and adventurers. So, he guessed that Ningguang's request was related to the sealed creature.

He thought it would be better if he asked Zhongli about Erosion and a sealed creature since he felt something amiss.

Thinking about that, Ryūhei immediately set off toward the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.

A few minutes later, at Zhongli's office.

"Mr. Zhongli." Ryūhei greeted him after entering.

"Oh, it's you. What's the matter?"

"I wanted to ask." Ryūhei looked around, trying to confirm that one would overhear. Then, he asked in a low voice. "Mr. Zhongli, other than the sealed ancient god you mentioned, were there any other beings you sealed in the past?"

"Oh, you heard it somewhere?"

"Yeah, from a storyteller. The storyteller said, "In the rock carved into the very heart of the world," and if I remember correctly, that person mentioned a dragon or something. Do you happen to seal this creature?" Ryūhei tried to make an excuse.

He didn't know if it was the creature sealed by Zhongli in the past. But, since the task mentioned Liyue and Dragon-Queller, there was no harm in asking.

"I see. So you're talking about that, huh? There's no harm in telling the tale. I indeed sealed a dragon called Azhdaha in the past." He looked at Ryūhei for a moment before continuing.

"A thousand years ago, Azhdaha attacked The Chasm. I tried to obstruct him, fighting him tooth and nail down the length and breadth of the mine. Finally, I brought him down and sealed him underground. Azhdaha was once my friend and ally, with a lifespan far exceeding that of mankind. The memories of the dragon do not last long. Those memories that survive are rooted in powerful emotion. But as time passes, these memories fade into obscurity. Erosion ground Azhdaha's consciousness into oblivion. Slowly, he forgot the face of his old friend, and his memories of defending Liyue Harbor disintegrated."

"Erosion?" Now Ryūhei heard the term from Zhongli's mouth. But he had no idea what that was, except it should be extremely dangerous.

Then, Zhongli explained that Erosion caused one to lose the sense of self. And even a god-like being such as Zhongli was susceptible to Erosion.

"Seriously? There's something that can affect you?"

"Even I cannot avoid it. But there is something I understand better than most, "When the door opens, it is time to leave." The greater the power, the greater the danger Erosion may bring about. The millennia may come and go, but even a stone may tire."

Ryūhei was glad there was a Walkingpedia in this world. Otherwise, he would have gone straight to the dragon's lair only to lose his life without anyone else's knowledge. After all, this dragon could even fight toe to toe against the Geo Archon.

"So, Erosion is the reason why Azhdaha attacked The Chasm?"

Zhongli shook his head at Ryūhei's question.

"Yes and no. In the beginning, in order to open up new territory and increase production, the citizens of Liyue came to the mountains to mine. Overexploitation caused the Ley Lines to quake, which brought untold suffering to Azhdaha. Erosion made my old friend even more savage. No matter how he struggled, he lost the ability to coexist with humanity. I tried to prevent further Erosion with my power, but it was futile."

Now, Ryūhei confirmed from Zhongli's words that it was caused by mining. And from Ningguang's request, which also mentioned the disappearance of miners, Ryūhei became more and more convinced that the two things were related.