Hell Difficulty Tutorial Chapter 796 - Sir Elydor

After a prolonged stare at Maya, I move past her and enter the common area, collapsing into an armchair with a weary sigh.

My mind is a whirlwind of thoughts as I process the latest intelligence. Despite my hopes for a favorable turn of events, a familiar conclusion keeps surfacing: this situation is poised to escalate beyond its current dire state.

“Where are the others?” I inquire of Maya as she settles nearby.

“Min-Jae is engaged at the docks. He-”

“Maya, forgive my interruption, but one of the world’s eleven most formidable individuals has perished, and Min-Jae chose this moment to secure his inaugural employment?”

“Employment? What precisely did you utter? Did… did you just censor yourself? Did you intend to say ‘job’?”

“Kindly refrain from uttering that particular monosyllable aloud.”

“Regardless, I suspect the male contingent has exerted a more significant influence on you than you realize. But yes, something to that effect. Job. The docks here are perpetually seeking individuals with specialized skills to aid their operations. A scout noticed Min-Jae’s peculiar gravitational energy. Its rarity apparently caught their attention, leading to a remarkably lucrative offer. He was practically receiving deference from some of the more affluent locals, not the ultra-wealthy, but influential figures nonetheless. So, he accepted and is currently leveraging this position to gather intelligence.”

“When you articulate it that way, it does possess a certain logic,” I concede, pausing by the couch where Lily rests and playfully prodding her cheek. “And this lazy one?”

“She has remained immobile since our arrival, necessitating a rotational watch. Incidentally, what is the deal with the spectacles? Quite fitting, unexpectedly. I mean, I’m aware of your less-than-ideal disposition, but were I unfamiliar with you, I would readily peg you as having the confident, intelligent, skilled, and perhaps arrogant aura of a wealthy young professor. If only you would adopt more appropriate attire.”

I cast her a meaningful glance and offer no verbal reply.

She quickly acknowledges my unspoken response with a nod. “Yes, precisely that look. But moving on. Tess and the twins are currently conducting surveillance at the auction house, where we suspect the egg is being held. Apparently, they occasionally auction significant artifacts before securing them in their vault until they reach the buyer. Meanwhile, Izzy, Sophie, Noodle, and Biscuit have been occupied with… well, whatever it is they do. I believe their strategy involved attempting to present Biscuit at the auction, marketing him as an exotic beast, with the hopes that he might facilitate closer proximity to the egg. Don’t give me that look, Nat. It was Izzy’s brainchild, but surprisingly, she and Sophie confirmed its viability after engaging in some… discreet negotiations, if you catch my meaning.”

“Maya, this place is a disaster.”

“You can say that again.”

“No, I mean a genuine catastrophe. We likely have mere days before events spiral into utter devastation, the apocalyptic kind. Don’t ask for specifics; I haven't the faintest clue myself, but it’s inevitable. If my understanding is correct, the Champion’s demise is merely the prelude. We must expedite the acquisition of the egg and ensure its safekeeping for the ensuing three days.”

“If even you are voicing such concerns, I believe I ought to genuinely worry. Tess and the twins are expected back shortly; you should confer with them regarding this matter.”

“You’re merely attempting to offload the responsibility and the burden of decision-making onto her,” I accuse.

With that, Maya rises and executes an elegant curtsy, reminiscent of a ballroom performance, accompanied by a radiant smile.

And I contemplate why such a gesture perfectly suits her, lending her an undeniable air of coolness.

“What’s with that haughty, irritating rich young professor demeanor…” Dennis trails off, unable to complete his thought.

“I’ve already addressed that,” Maya interjects smoothly.

As the two engage in a verbal exchange, Tess settles into an armchair opposite me and states with utmost seriousness, “Bambi’s curse has resurged, more potent than ever.”

I nod with equal gravity. “The Dusk Deer, Biscuit, was dragged here and subsequently reanimated by ambient blood or mana radiation from the fingers, and then proceeded to consume them?”

“That aligns with our assessment,” Tess confirms with a nod. “However, to have already slain a Champion, that Lycan’s blood must have been exceptionally potent.”

I shrug. “Reportedly, one of the most formidable werewolves within the system. Did you each procure a million and a half shards?”

“You were responsible for that?” Aaron interjects, having joined us nearby.

“I transported the appendage to Beyond and finalized the transaction there. I still harbor the suspicion that I was swindled and could have secured a better deal, but I am also relieved that I did not leave it behind.”

A subtle somberness descends upon the group as they reflect on the event, and I too find myself Pondering the implications. Most significantly, I contemplate how the circumstances might have unfolded had I truly abandoned it here.

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“

“Well, the curse returning was hardly a surprise,” I vocalize, the image of the deer I skinned still fresh in my mind. Rumors, hardly the most reliable, claimed my butchering skills were so abysmal that the deer’s spirit laid a curse upon me, leading to our current… deer predicament. “I’ve already informed Maya, but our priority is to clear this floor swiftly. Securing the egg today would be ideal, perhaps tomorrow, or with a bit of luck, within the next couple of days. However, I strongly believe lingering here is not in our best interest.”

Following my statement, I lay out all the newly acquired information. The twins promptly add me to their link, facilitating communication with the rest of the group. Due to the foreign nature of the mana, my new trait offers resistance, compelling them to channel significantly more mana to establish the link. It also necessitates my active focus to maintain the connection.

Ultimately, the exertion required proves greater than I had estimated. Even as I implement further adjustments, I can’t help but ponder the potential increase in difficulty down the line, following a few more enhancements.

I also share details about my recent bloodline development, hoping the others can assist in determining potential exploitable applications. While they are occupied brainstorming with the others, I turn my attention to Tess.

“My assessment is that the egg remains within the auction house. It’s widely recognized as the most secure storage facility available. I haven’t confirmed this, so I might be mistaken. It’s possible it was relocated after the Champion’s demise. Or perhaps, the very Champion it was intended for is the one who met their end,” she posits.

“Are there any upcoming auctions?” I inquire.

“Not for at least a week. Therefore, the only ingress is through a connection with someone of significant influence to arrange a tour of the auction house’s vaults, or by attending one of their associated parties, where they frequently showcase items slated for auction. However, I’m uncertain if any such events will occur given the current circumstances. Even if they do, they likely won’t display the egg, as it has already been sold,” Tess elaborates.

“We possess two pristine items from the previous floor. We could feign interest in auctioning them, using the storage as our gateway.”

Tess nods in agreement, “That was my initial thought as well, and I’ve begun preliminary investigations into it.”

“I overheard Izzy mentioning her desire to sell Biscuit,” I recall.

A faint smile graces Tess’s lips. “It’s rather endearing, isn’t it? Despite her growth and her remarkable capacity to understand people, she remains a child, leading to some of her more whimsical ideas. But truthfully, between us, I don’t think it’s an entirely terrible concept,” her voice drops to a conspiratorial whisper.

“I suspect Biscuit would perceive it as a game and relish the experience. Even if he were confined there for three days, the quest would be completed, granting him passage to the next floor.”

“The crucial question is, how convincing of an actor can he be?” Tess muses. “We could sell one of the lesser pristine items to generate funds for addressing our immediate concerns. Substantial capital often expedites solutions. Subsequently, we can liquidate more of our upper-arcane items or materials. That shouldn’t pose a significant challenge. Finally, we face the choice of either selling Biscuit or the remaining lesser pristine item. You expressed a desire for haste, so we shall proceed accordingly. The value of a lesser pristine item is negligible in exchange for enhanced security.”

“Understood. We could then utilize some of my blood, propagating rumors of discovering novel, exotic monsters with substantial quantities available for trade. I anticipate this would command a high price. Furthermore, should Lily awaken, she could subtly demonstrate her healing abilities, observing the resultant reactions.”

Tess furrows her brow, a note of skepticism in her voice. “Even if it’s a new trait, wouldn’t individuals discern that it’s human blood, not that of a monster?”

“And wouldn’t that prove even more advantageous?” I lean back into my armchair, propping my bare feet up near Lily’s face, wiggling my toes suggestively close to her nose. “Should they discover the blood is mine, they might attempt to abduct me, keeping me concealed near the egg. Alternatively, we could orchestrate their abduction in a retaliatory exchange, thereby gaining crucial information.”

As I conclude my statement, I disregard the expressions of distaste I receive from Tess and Maya, continuing their proximity to Lily’s face with my toes. “And you, wake up already.”

POV Sophie Martinez

Nearly a full day has elapsed since Nathaniel’s return to the 10th floor.

And precisely one day has passed since Lily, according to eyewitness accounts from within the room, regained consciousness. This event occurred shortly after Nathaniel, for reasons unknown, placed his toes beneath her nose. To this very moment, I regret my absence during that peculiar incident. Dennis recounted how Lily’s eyes fluttered open, followed by a deep inhalation, as if resurfacing from a prolonged submersion. Coincidentally, Dennis’s socks were positioned directly before her face at that precise juncture.

Dennis further reported that she propelled him across the entirety of the room, slamming him against the enchanted glass, which, despite its formidable thickness—comparable to my forearm—still sustained a noticeable crack.

Indicating a desire to preserve his dignity, Nat dismissed the incident as inconsequential. However, Maya suggested it was plausible that his somewhat fragile constitution was nearly overwhelmed. Apparently, she had been honing her abilities even during her period of unconsciousness.

From this point forward, events accelerated rapidly. The twin sisters have allied with Min-Jae, assisting his grand strategy to infiltrate the auction house. Their objective is to establish his importance and forge lucrative connections with the immensely wealthy Hadon Trans-Orbital Dockyards. Currently, Tess and Maya are fulfilling the roles of bodyguards and advisors for Lily, deploying their tried-and-true tactic: 'Healers are indispensable assets, so let's leverage that advantage once more.'

Meanwhile, I found myself in the company of Izzy, Nathaniel, Noodle, and Biscuit.

All three of us were adorned in opulent attire. Izzy and I sported matching yellow gowns, complemented by an assortment of our most exquisite upper-arcane items fashioned into stunning jewelry. Nathaniel cut a dapper figure in a perfectly tailored light gray suit, accented with a pale yellow tie and the distinctive silver round spectacles he had recently adopted.

Izzy cradled Biscuit in her arms. The corgi was the most diminutive creature I had ever encountered, a mere puppy, astonishingly without any nascent deer-like antlers. It took us a considerable ten minutes to persuade Nathaniel to cease his affectionate cuddling of the tiny canine.

However, an undeniable shift had occurred in Nathaniel's demeanor. His posture was remarkably erect, and each movement exuded an air of unshakeable confidence and outright arrogance, surpassing even his typical nonchalant state. This newfound persona was evident even in his expression, which, instead of its usual placid emptiness, now carried a distinct air of haughtiness as we traversed one of the auction house's publicly accessible corridors.

Our designated contact awaited us at the corridor's terminus, offering a profound bow. "I extend my greetings to the esteemed ladies and sir..."

"You may address me as Elydor," Nathaniel interjected, his attention seemingly elsewhere.

Much like myself, this individual undoubtedly recognized the name as an alias. Yet, he offered no sign of discomfort, a testament to the undeniable power of substantial financial influence.

Another gentleman approached, bowing first to the initial contact and then to our party. Before he could utter a word, Nathaniel produced a portion of the local currency – obtained in exchange for both our upper-arcane treasures and one of our low-pristine artifacts. These were coins, each bearing a centrally punched hole, through which a delicate chain had been threaded.

A bead of sweat trickled down my temple as the immense value of these coins dawned upon me. I recognized them instantly, leaving me to ponder whether Nathaniel was oblivious to their worth, indifferent, or if this ostentatious display was merely an elaborate facet of his performance.

The chain, laden with coins, struck the man directly in the face as Nathaniel declared with a tone of assured, noble disdain, "You. Remove yourself from this immediate vicinity."