Chapter 1: Adventurers
[——Do you know?]
[No matter what stage of civilization, no matter what era, there will always be a group of people called adventurers.
Their names might not have been "adventurers" back then, and what they did was probably very different from what most people imagine today.
But regardless, in essence, no matter the era or race, so-called adventurers are ultimately the same kind of people.
In the ancient, barbaric period of civilization, adventurers were those who first tried chewing herbs, the first to taste all kinds of bizarre creatures.
In the primitive tribal period of civilization, adventurers were those who traveled and explored, searching for new places to live, venturing into dangerous and unknown territories.
And in the later city-states, kingdoms, and even the modern era, adventurers still exist. They explore forests teeming with dangerous magical beasts, they carve safe paths through the wilderness under the greedy gaze of wild animals, they board ships large and small, break through the waves of the sea to distant lands, and discover new continents one after another.]
Year 839 of the Falling Stars Era, May 3rd, Noon.
Northern Empire, Northern Lands, Moldavia, in a small room in the southern district.
Priest had put on his wristband embedded with an information terminal. After debugging the newly installed 2.7th generation specialized external exploration information module, he nodded in satisfaction.
"Finally got the automatic scanning and analysis of unknown substances, and the function for mental cross-language species communication. Looks like the big shots up top have successfully analyzed quite a few ability modules from the Black Mist. The upgrades have been really frequent lately."
Murmuring this to himself, Priest stood up from the chair at his work desk. After adjusting his clothes a bit in front of the mirror, he walked out of his bedroom door and headed downstairs.
"Brother, you're going on another mission?"
A soft girl's voice came from a corner of the first floor. Priest turned his head and saw his sister, Brandy, sitting at the dining table with a small potted plant in front of her. She seemed to have been staring blankly at the plant, but the sound of Priest coming downstairs interrupted her, and also made the girl realize that her brother seemed to be leaving again.
"Yeah." Priest walked over and kissed Brandy on the forehead. He put an arm around his sister and asked with some amusement, "What's wrong? Still can't sense the power of nature? I told you, if you want to improve in the path of nature, you need to go outside more. Staring at a potted plant won't let you experience nature, no matter how long you do it."
"But the teacher said that using a potted plant is fine for the initiation period!" Brandy was a bit dissatisfied with her brother's attitude. She slapped the table with both hands and said indignantly, "It's obviously this little weed that looks down on me!"
Priest looked at the silver-leaf pine seedling in the potted plant, then at Brandy, who was still glaring at the plant with all her might. He decided to wait a while before telling her the difference between a sapling and grass.
The children's nurseries affiliated with the various academies in Moldavia—or rather, alternative kindergartens and elementary schools—were now experimentally starting to teach some knowledge about supernatural powers. Through repeated physical exams and small tests, those experienced mentors would roughly determine each child's talent and try to provide them with corresponding resources.
The school Brandy attended was one such experimental elementary school that had received special instructions. And Brandy herself, a few days ago, had found the path most suitable for her in a test presided over by an elven teacher—the Druidic path related to the power of nature.
To be honest, when that elven elder personally contacted him, Priest was still a bit incredulous: was his sister actually a genius? According to the other party, Brandy possessed a natural affinity for nature that was rare once in a hundred years. With just a little training, she could achieve even greater accomplishments than the elves.
"Does your family have elven blood in its ancestry?" That was the elder's direct and blunt original question, and it was also the norm in this world of mixed bloodlines.
Of course, it seemed that little Brandy still had a long way to go in her training. First, he had to seriously tell her the difference between grass and trees.
"Remember to come back early."
Brandy, who had been staring at the potted plant, noticed that Priest was about to leave. She looked up and muttered reluctantly, "My birthday is next month. If you don't come back, I'll definitely be sad!"
Hearing this, Priest, who had already opened the door, smiled slightly. "It's just a regular life-world exploration. Don't worry—I've already prepared a special birthday gift for you. Just be curious for now!"
With that, he chuckled, closed the door, and strode briskly toward the Champion Academy in the city center.
[——Adventurers exist in every era, everywhere, so common that they've become common sense of the world.]
[They slay magical beasts, complete tasks entrusted by others, form small teams to travel the world, journeying for a rumor, a piece of news, for a goal or wish that is either noble or ordinary. Adventurers like this are countless in this era, and some of them are even strong.
To be honest, this is really strange. If people who are desperate become adventurers, that's one thing. But why do the strong also become adventurers? They could just stay in their hometowns, in the human kingdoms, and have plenty of wealth, easily find suitable mates, leave behind more offspring, and build a foundation that might be solid or loose.
Whether from a purely biological instinct or from a material enjoyment perspective, it should be like this. The existence of adventurers is actually quite unbelievable.]
Priest walked along the street. The LCD screens on the street corners were playing midday news, while on both sides of the street walked a diverse array of races and individuals: elven Druids and archers, Fishman Wave-Breakers from the Eastern Sea, human warriors, rogues, and occasionally a few dwarven warriors who, even on the street, wore armor and had copper rings jingling in their beards and hair—even mages were not uncommon, gathered in small groups, discussing some matters with a shopkeeper at an alchemy shop.
[——After merging seven duchies and two kingdoms, the highest leader of the Roman Duchy, Grand Duke Fidel Roman, is expected to proclaim himself emperor in November of this year. Before that, the 'giant bipedal walking puppet' he developed in cooperation with the Stone Dwarves, a giant combat weapon called 'Titan' or 'Thunder God' by many, has already entered the view of multiple countries after several major victories. This mana puppet, extremely similar to the 'Giant Divine Soldier' in the Myriad Realms Sacrificial Ground, possesses terrifying combat power. Relevant personnel have stated that they have reason to believe that Grand Duke Roman may have obtained the blueprints of the ancient Giant Divine Soldiers.]
[The Commercial Alliance has issued its fourth solemn statement...]
Such a diverse atmosphere could perhaps only be seen in Moldavia in the Northern Lands, or in a few fortress cities on the borders of major powers. These various races, with different beliefs, customs, habits, and even personalities, all came here because of one person's name. They might be hoping to get a chance from that person, or they might simply be tired and want to retire in one of the safest places in the world, theoretically.
Priest was originally the latter, but now he was the former. The young warrior had already entered the castle gate of the Champion Academy. The usual guards were already familiar with him. After seeing Priest pass the verification, one of them casually waved his hand, signaling him to hurry in and not waste their time.
So Priest smoothly entered the castle of the Champion Academy and went straight to the top floor, arriving at the special teleportation room at the top of the castle.
It was rumored that each large branch of Winterfell Academy had a mysterious room that was off-limits to all ordinary students. They might be on the top floor, in the basement, or even near the cafeteria. But no matter where they were, these rooms were never opened to ordinary students, and even the mentors rarely had access.
Students speculated that the room might be a highly classified laboratory, or a passage to the academy's secret chamber. Some even swore that it was the exclusive lounge for the academy's deans, possibly directly connected to the Lord's Mansion and the Imperial Royal Mage Association, because they had personally seen a Space-Time Archmage and the Count walk out of it.
Actually, their guess was correct. The teleportation gate was indeed connected to the Lord's Mansion and the Imperial Capital. But not only that—it also connected to many more mysterious places... For example, the headquarters of the Imperial Foreign Exploration Department, or another place, a void airship named the *Gransaifa*.
"Yo, Captain, you're here?"
There were already quite a few people in the teleportation room. Four of them were sitting together, wiping and maintaining their weapons, armor, and various strange magical trinkets. A tall, sturdy man stood up in surprise when he saw Priest arrive, waving at him. The other three also paused what they were doing and smiled at him.
The Knight and the Clergy had been completely resurrected from the dead thanks to the Soul Abyss Orb preserving their souls intact, and it hadn't even affected their strength much. According to the Knight, after dying once, all the hidden injuries and various ailments in his body had been swept away, and his physical body actually had a bit more potential. But regardless, the fact that everyone had survived was because Priest had blocked that tentacle strike from the Black Mist back then. Otherwise, the entire Elite Squad would have been knocked down into a two-dimensional form.
The teleportation room wasn't just occupied by the exploration team. On the other side of the room, there were two dragon-girls who looked exactly alike, and a pair who were clearly siblings, gathered around an LCD screen chatting. The entire teleportation room was clearly divided into three areas.
[——The very existence of adventurers is abnormal.]
[With the same hard work and training, honing their strength, learning knowledge, and fighting magical beasts again and again, the strong who stay in human society will definitely be many times stronger than adventurers. They will become the protectors of everyone in the fight against the magic tide, receiving everyone's support and worship. They will become the upper echelons of the ruling class, wielding immense power, and gradually take control of their tribes, city-states, even kingdoms, and empires.
The royal families of countless duchies and kingdoms in the Western Mountains, and even the Diamond Royal Family of the Northern Empire, all emerged in this way, becoming the royal bloodlines passed down through generations.
In contrast, those who go far away to explore, adventure, and seek new continents will not have much fame spread. At least, the vast majority will have no renown. They live in dangerous areas far from human society, leading isolated lives, dancing on the edge of a knife every day, playing hide-and-seek with death.
But still, many strong choose to go far away, to head to desolate and uninhabited places, to fight against all kinds of powerful monsters, to seek the legendary wonders and treasures.]
"Come on, Mr. Syndicate, open wide."
In the innermost part of the room, Lisa smiled as she raised a spoon, trying to stuff a spoonful of powder that clearly carried an otherworldly aura into Syndicate's mouth. As she stuffed it, she said softly, "After you finish this bowl, we'll continue designing your new human form... Don't worry. Although the gland powder of the 'Hell Devourer Beast' has the effect of dissolving flesh, for you, it's just turning you back into a ball of flesh. You won't die."
Syndicate, now in the form of Lisa, had resisted to no avail and was now being stuffed full of the Devourer Beast's gland powder, which would cause an ordinary person's body to dissolve and collapse on the spot. His eyes were tearful. "But Lisa, I really don't know what form to take!"
"As long as it's the form Mr. Syndicate chooses, I'll like it—of course, it can't be too ugly, too strange, or too much like me!"
Nearby, Ivan and Amira seemed to have long been used to the interaction between Lisa and Syndicate. They were changing the channel on the LCD screen and quietly complaining to each other about some things.
"Karin and Nick have both gone into seclusion. Alva has also returned to the Imperial Capital to be examined by His Majesty the Emperor on this year's study results."
Ivan switched the screen to the 'National News Channel' and complained softly, "The squad is just the two of us now. We can only live this boring and decadent life."
"You could also go into seclusion, train your body, and learn how to use a sword." Amira snatched the remote control and switched the screen to the 'Mage Weekly Special Program Channel.' She turned her head seriously and said to her brother, "As the disciple of a great figure, brother, you couldn't even solo that Poison Swamp Dragon with swordsmanship last time. You had to rely on elemental enchantment to defeat it. That's too embarrassing!"
"But we're mages, aren't we?" Ivan felt something was off. "Although it's a bit strange for the disciple of a Legendary Warrior to be a mage..."
"The strange one is you, brother! Mages are supposed to know how to use a two-handed greatsword!"
"???"
On the other side, Syndicate let out a pathetic sound.
"Stop, stop stuffing me. I really can't eat anymore!"
"There's still half a bowl left. Come on, dear, open wide."
Priest could hear everyone's voices in the room. He smiled and shook his head without saying a word, and walked over to his own team.
"The fifth exploration is about to begin."
He said succinctly, "Are you ready?"
"Oh!! Of course!"
Everyone cheered. The five of them were all in high spirits. Even the Knight and Clergy, who had died once, showed no fear of the dangerous exploration mission. They might be cautious and respectful of an unfamiliar world, but they would never fear the unknown without reason.
[——The life of a powerful adventurer is always moving.]
[At the same age of ten or twenty, a promising adventurer completes their training and begins their adventures. From then on, they wander outside their homeland, completing various commissions, exploring countless desperate situations. They grow stronger and stronger, can open up distant territories for the country, explore mysterious and dangerous places, and might even leave behind many magnificent legends. If such a life ends well, the adventurer can return safely to their hometown and become a respected figure. But if they die in a foreign land, or are injured and unable to return, they can only fall regretfully in the uninhabited wilderness, buried in soil that is not their homeland.
Except for their friends, except for the familiar circle of strong individuals and adventurers, ordinary commoners might not even know who these people are or what contributions they have made.
But if it were the same person, the same age, the same strength, and the adventurer had not chosen to adventure but stayed in their homeland to hone their martial skills, joined a guild or the army, led troops to resist the danger of the magic tide, they would participate in the war against the Chaos Black Forest, perhaps fighting on the front lines until the very end of their lives. If such a strong person dies a natural death, countless students and soldiers under their command will mourn for them. If they die in battle, the entire nation will share their hatred, and they will surely have a dignified and grand funeral, their life recorded in history and remembered.
They might even have their own statues, stories, legends, and even a family. Their fame will be passed down forever.
Both contribute to civilization, both fight against magical beasts, yet the two lives are so different.
Both choices are part of greatness, but the gap between them is far too great, like a deep valley or a heavenly chasm.]
[——But even so, the life of an adventurer is so arduous.]
Priest put on his armor. He donned his helmet.
The young warrior issued a low, clear command.
"Begin preparations."
As he spoke, he raised the crystal greatshield beside him. With this command, the entire Elite Exploration Team quickly organized their various weapons, equipment, and items. Then, without any hesitation or delay, they lined up in an orderly formation, standing before Priest.
"Move out!"
The five of them stepped forward in unison, one after another, into the space-time gate. They would be directly teleported to the *Gransaifa* void airship, and then the power of the Myriad Realms Sacrificial Ground would teleport them to the target world of this mission. Everything was familiar and routine; no one had the slightest hesitation.
Priest, the corners of his mouth hidden behind his helmet, curled up slightly. In his eyes flowed a flame similar to that of his teacher.
—Yes, that's right. Knowing full well that this would be his life.
Even so.
Generation after generation of brave souls resolutely walk toward the unknown, far from their homeland.