Gathering Information

Since this is a former territory of the Spiritas, ruins of the previous structures could still be seen throughout the whole fortress.

Though the streets were narrow, it's devoid of people which made my walk from one street to another easy. I only have 10 minutes so I didn't go far away from our house.

I needed to find someone that's more than just a patrolman so probably a 3-leaf or an average 4-leaf Dark Elf. But to be safe, 3-leaf is enough.

I didn't expect them to be a natural shut-in so I went on to observe the various makeshift houses. Normally, one would only get a small room. I'm concealed because of the orb so peeking through different houses was viable.

I already have experience at peeking inside houses before. It was back in Zerina's city when I was looking as to where the residents went off to.

Err... That will sound bad if taken out of context. Who would brag about their experience at peeking inside houses?

Anyway, that brings back memories. I'm now 10 times stronger than I was back then but I'm still trying to be as covert as that time.

The Invading Forces still have no idea about my existence who's slowly catching up to the Heroes. Only when it's really needed to act will I show them that someone was travelling to different worlds together with the Hero designated in that world. Even here, I will be treated as a native who was added to Yumiko's group. That's unless someone leaks about her companion from the same world.

After observing the houses, I found out the distinct differences between them. No matter which world, it's still divided in ranks.

The rows of houses where the couple's house was located were full of Dark Elves like them, 2-leaf Dark Elves. Even though most of them were staying inside their houses, all of them were alert. Just like how that neighbor immediately called out to us just after we entered.

They're constantly being attacked by the Spirit Beasts so that's probably one of the many reasons. They traveled to this world only to be met with setbacks after setbacks that the only territory they were pushed out to was a small part of this world and now that they found a trace of something close to their mission, it's located at the enemy territory.

When I noticed the change in the houses, I determined that I arrived at the place where higher ranked Dark Elves holed themselves.

I went near the first house but before I took the chance to peek inside, a slightly tall female Dark Elf came out of it, her demeanor was much better than the Naian we captured. Following behind her was another female Dark Elf whose height only reached her shoulder.

"Don't be nervous. You're already a 3-leaf, be more confident with yourself and do your job well."

Her voice carried a scolding tone to the shorter Dark Elf behind her.

"Y-yes, sister. But that Dimension Breacher was only draining us of our stored Dark Energy without any progress to show for it."

Dimension Breacher. Just with its name, it's pretty descriptive enough. And to think that it's called Dark Energy.

With only these two pieces of information, I feel like I already harvested a lot. So, that equipment they're using needs their so-called Dark Energy as fuel.

Dark Energy is probably their inherent energy that I couldn't know the details of before because my Adaptability level is too low. It was the energy that was corrupting those barbarians.

Since that shorter Dark Elf talked about their stored Dark Energy, I could infer that their connection to their homeworld wasn't always open. They also have limited Dark Energy so they're storing it somewhere and only replenish it when their connection to their homeworld opens again.

"That world is even higher than ours, the Great Ones' already expected this to happen. What we're doing is to test the defense of that world which hasn't awakened completely yet."

The tall Dark Elf answered with more information. 

Great Ones and higher world. Testing the defense. Has not awakened completely.

These girls. If they're not an enemy I might go and hug them for giving out free information. But with only them as the source, I shouldn't take this as the truth. Still valuable information nonetheless.

There's not only one with the title of Great One, and if they're calling the Earth as higher world compared to their homeworld then there's more secret that I need to uncover. Especially the 'awakened' part.

After that kind of conversation, the two went onto the direction where the breach was located. Yumiko and the twins already pinpointed the location of the breach since this is a former Spiritas territory, but without authorization, it's hard to gain entry in that place. So, we have to get ourselves 3-leaf identities that can give us the pass to go near the Dimensional Breacher.

Since it's already more than 5 minutes, I retraced my steps back to our makeshift house.

The night was about to come so the Dark Elves who were shutting themselves in their houses started to come out one by one. The couple's job of patrolling is a day shift so we're free for tonight.

When I went back to our house, Jayna was lying on the bed, asleep. Did she get tired or this is her acting asleep so no one would bother her?

There's still 2 minutes before the concealment buff wears off so I stood in front and observed her. With the disguise she put on, you would never think that underneath that was the somehow clumsy and curious girl. She's older than us but Yumiko was more mature than her.

As the previous owner of the third orb, I tried to steer away from her but even if I did that, it still ended with us together on this covert mission.

Is fate really a thing? I don't know. But with the third occurrence, I would be an idiot if I didn't consider that something was really pulling me towards the orbs and it's previous owners.

For now, we're just normal companions who went together on a mission. There's no pledge involved that will force her to have an affection towards me.

But was that really forced? I don't know. I looked back to the Pledge Bonus and the three names were still listed there. I'm really puzzled as to how Erin also appeared in it. The system should change the label right? They're not really bonuses.

Ah. Now that I tried to look at it, that Erin, she's already a Saint Realm. It's only been a week since I left that world. And Avelin is already a 3rd Stage Augmented Realm.

If this fast progress of them continued, I'll be the one that will be left behind in terms of cultivation. Even Zerina's system is already at Level 4 of Great-class.

Ah. It's not that I'm jealous, in fact, I'm glad that they're really making progress. Zerina will be able to help Yuko more effectively and those two at the World of Barbarians will be able to protect more Small Tribes with their increasing strength.

When the concealment wore off and I suddenly appeared in front of Jayna, she was startled at first but when she remembered the face she crafted, she sighed in relief.

"Can you not surprise me? I thought someone was about to kill me."

Clutching her chest, Jayna scowled at me.

"Sorry. I just thought of surprising you."

Putting on an apologetic expression, I lied about observing her before changing the topic.

"Anyway, we need at least a 3-leaf identity to enter the restricted area where the breach is located."

"I see. Yumiko's turn will come soon, we should prepare. But Daisuke, how long were you standing there?"

She nodded before she looked up at me and asked.

Yumiko will create a disturbance that will rouse the whole fortress into a panic. That's part of the plan.

But this girl, she correctly guessed that I stood there for a good while.

"Err… 2 minutes?"

Since she already inferred, there's no point to lie again.

"I see. Are you that fond of this Dark Elf's face and body?"

Eh? So her thoughts went there. Of course, she's wearing another person's face so it is quite normal for her to think that.

Do I need to lie to her and say yes? That sounds like I'm digging my own grave. Be fond of an enemy's face and body? Alright, telling the truth sounds better.

"No. I'm thinking about the person underneath it."

"Eh? Did my father put you to this?"

Why did she immediately point to her father? It's about the spirit-pair again, eh?

"No. Why would he?"

I already rejected his suggestion. And clearly, her mentality is still young for that.

"Then was that you being interested in me?"

Oi. Why do your eyes suddenly start to glitter? This is her curious trait again.

"Well, yes. Does that make you uncomfortable?"

"No. I'm just curious. You're the one who looked uncomfortable though."

She giggled cutely after that which is in contrast with the face she's wearing right now.

Ah. I guess I became her entertainment again. I forgot that this girl is a prankster. Using the Orb of Ailment for that purpose…

Well, she needed this kind of tension relief, I had Adaptability so even in this enemy territory, I could stay calm but it's a different story with her, she's probably feeling tense right now. Letting her laugh like that, her shoulders loosened as her expression turned brighter.

Moving on from that brief entertainment of hers, I had her prepare herself. Anytime now, Yumiko will start a commotion outside.

This is like that time with Yuko. Using the time when their focus was on her, we rescued Reinys, Caila and Noelle.

This time, Yumiko will try to draw out the two Peak 4-leaf which will decrease the risk to enter the Breach zone using false identities.

But first, we need to get new identities that we will be using.

Boom!

With a loud sound of an explosion from outside, we heard the silent Dark Elves all turned active as the sound of footsteps outside started to fill the street.

"It's time. Let's go join them first."

I looked at her and she nodded at me. I grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the house, acting like the other Dark Elves, confused but alert. Jayna didn't say anything and just copied me as we acted like the Dark Elves around us.

"Is it the Spirit Beasts again?"

Someone asked.

"No. It's that Priestess."

And someone else who came from near the wall answered.

Hearing that, we nodded at each other as we slowly moved away from our spot.

We have to keep this act until the Orb of Concealment can be used again.

Once the Aura of Concealment activates again it will be time for us to hunt for new faces and then enter that restricted area.