Chapter 11: Negative Fame

After some talks with Arlo, I left and went back to my apartment before heading to [Harus] once more.

This time, I will definitely start my adventure!

“El, go look up herbs or potions in [Harus] that can enhance the energy. Things like feeling young and energized, or minor boost in strength. Even health potions is fine.” As I appeared in an alley in [Drachedge], I remembered my discussion with Arlo and thought of searching for such things on the way.

It’s times like this that it feels nice to have an inner voice in my head that can search the internet for me~ Kinda like a sci-fi novel’s advance AI guide or something. Maybe I should call El, Navi from now on?

“Tch, so troublesome...here. I’ll only say it only once so remember them!”

El began to list out the relevant ingredients and such...uhh, there’s too many! Am I supposed to remember these!?

“...Forget it, have Mei sort them out and write a list for me if you don’t want to do it...”

Since Mei can’t hear me at all, I can only entrust El to pass along the message.

Actually, I can just go back inside the [World Home] but it feels too ridiculous if I go back when I just got out…

I removed the illusions on my appearance, revealing my snow white hair and blood red eyes as well as my jet black left arm.

Since the chinese robes of [Zoulang] stood out too much, I decided to wear my [Beginner's Clothes] for now and went straight to the clothes shop.

I bought a simple black long sleeved turtleneck shirt which could be used as a half mask when unrolled upwards towards the face and black pants.

“Why’re you cosplaying as Kakashi?”

...Hey, I just noticed. With my white hair, red eyes, and a half mask on the face...don’t I look like Kakashi from Naruto like El said!?

Rather El...I’m surprised you actually noticed it before me!

Well, let’s roll the mask away…

Actually, I did aim for a ninja like getup. Or at the very least, an assassin or thief.

I’ve thought about it a lot. Having the [Wanderer] class, I am able to use all weapons and skills from other classes but it wouldn’t be good if I don’t define my primary weapon and means for battle.

For melee attacks, the weapons used are swords, axes, knives/daggers, maces, and such. Among these, the sword and the knife/daggers has better speed and easier for me to use.

In the end, I chose to wield the sword as my primary weapon in [Earth] as Mr. Knight but I will be using a dagger as my primary weapon here in [Zoulang]. It may be unnecessary, but I still want to take precautions.

For long range, there’s the bows, crossbows, and guns. Personally, I prefer guns. Pistols for a shorter range and a sniper rifle in case of long distance target.

I bought two leather sheaths for the daggers and attached them to my waist back. I also hid small knives blade in my socks in and sleeve arms in case of emergencies.

The weapons I have all came from the ones I had forged so they are all rather simple. Someday, I’ll be replacing them all after I got better materials.

I wore a slightly more sturdy vest and attached a chest armor on top to provide me with simple protection.

There, I should blend in just fine now.

Though, is it my imagination or are the people looking at me in disdain? Actually, some had looks of disgust and are inching away from me...am I shit or something?

...Ah, must’ve been the negative Fame...I hadn’t noticed it until now cause the people I had met so far are either people who already knew me quite a bit or because they can’t see my face as Mr. Knight or they are totally insignificant people that I wouldn’t bother to look at their expressions…

Hmmm...was that why Arlo’s face had been twitching nonstop?

Whatever. From my previous experience, Fame seemed rather easy to grind. Let’s leave it be for now...as long as I propery avoid using [Dragon’s Wrath] again…

Now then. To start off this adventure, I should begin by getting quests!

...Which reminds me, before I was so rudely transported to another world and changed my fate, I had three quests from the Adventurer’s Guild right?

…...Yep, totally forgot about them…

If I remember correctly, the guild membership card should be able to reveal my quests...

Name: Lucas

Rank: F

Team: None

Rank F...sigh, this is my fault for neglecting it for so long…

Let’s see here...the quests are…

Name: Search for Bluegrass Flower

Rank: F

Details: Look for 10 Bluegrass Flowers in Nillwood Forest

Reward: 2 Golds

Name: Search for Blue Slime Cores

Rank: F

Details: Look for 10 Blue Slime Cores in Nillwood Forest

Reward: 3 Golds

Name: Search for Red Slime Cores

Rank: E

Details: Look for 10 Red Slime Cores in Nillwood Forest

Reward: 10 Golds

...So utterly pitiful...all in all, it’s just 15 gold coins...alright. Let’s just do this and be done with.

I need to hurry and raise my ranks so I can accept higher rank quests and better rewards. Most importantly, being a high level ranker in the Adventurer’s Guild is an important point in fantasy novels. Yup. Let’s aim for S Rank Adventurer in a single day!

Eh? The reason? No idea.

Yooosh! Let’s kill some slimeys!!!

“Ah, robbery in X park.”

“...”

“Oh? Did you stop playing hero?”

“...Fine fine, I’m going...sigh...”

Just when I thought I’d get to start my adventure, El reported a robbery in progress back in [Earth]

Whatever, I already said that I will try to help as much as possible.

...Sigh…

...

After venting my anger on the pitiful thieves, I went back to [Harus] and resumed my quest…

Nillwood Forest.

A bit further away from the newbies, I began searching for slimes.

I can never forget that red slime that killed me in my first time...this time, I must get revenge! Kill all the red slimes!!!

Blue slime...kill!

Another blue slime...kill!

...Still a blue slime...kill!

...Blue slime...kill…

Eh? Why is it a green slime...whatever, let’s just kill it…

...Eh? Eh? Why is there no red slimes!?

What happened to my S rank in a day!?

I can’t even finish a rank E quest in a day!!!

+ + +

In the end, I was only able to find and kill the required 10 red slimes after a week...I wanna cry...what kind of cheat character needs a week to deal with 10 damn slimes!!!???

Sighing, I dragged myself to the Adventurer’s Guild and turned in my quest.

“Hi, how may I help you?”

The sexy receptionist smiled. But when he saw my handsome face, her expression darkened and spoke in a cold tone.

“What do you need?”

...Fuck this damn Fame! Before, chicks would throw themselves at me left and right! Ah! In [Zoulang], they still had a pretty good reaction to me. Maybe they won’t change much if I go back there?

Un, let’s go back there later...I need to restore my confidence a bit...

“...Here, I finished my tasks...”

“...Huh? These are from a month ago! The requester no longer needs it! Tch, couldn’t even deal with slimes for a month. Get lost!”

……………………………….

“Hahahahahahahaha! Ahahaha! Aha! Aha! Haha! Hahahahahahahahaaa!!!”

Kh-!

That sound of laughter in my head pains me…

……….Let’s go back to [Zoulang]...I really need my confidence back…

Like that, I left the Adventurer’s Guild without looking for anymore requests and went directly to [Zoulang].

I appeared inside the familiar cave but there is no longer a pool inside.

I left the cave immediately and searched for Lei and the rest.

Ah, oops. I need to change my clothes...there. Now, let’s set out!

Walking back to the town from before, I went straight to the Bai clan...well, it’s the only place I know.

Come to think of it, I haven’t seen them at all in this past month...I wonder how they are doing now?

“Quick! Quickly come! I don’t want to miss this!”

“What happened? What happened?”

“Young master Hong is battling someone from Wind City!”

“Young master Hong!? You mean the Rhythmic Swordsman Hong Lan!?”

“That’s right! Quick! Or else we’ll miss the show!”

Several people shouted as they ran to the side as I head to the Bai clan.

...Hong Lan? Lan? Is it him?

Moreover, what the heck’s a Rhythmic Swordsman!?

...I have a weird feeling about this...let’s go see…

I followed them and saw a crowd form in a circle. Inside the circle are two men who are currently in the midst of a battle.

One of which had a weird headband on his head that covered his ears...hey! Isn’t that a headset!? It’s really Lan!

In the battle, Lan actually still wore the headset...and his head is nodding back and forth...ah.

No wonder he was called the Rhythmic Swordsman. He dodges and strikes in tune to the song he is listening.

Even if the others are unable to hear it. It could easily be seen from his movements that there is a fixed rhythm in his moves.

You’d think that he would be more predictable this way but...the enemy had surprisingly been unable to even hit his clothes while he himself, had already been injured all over!

...Somehow...looking at him move like that reminds me of Lucio in Overwatch...maybe I should build him a futuristic gear that can speed his movement by turning up the beat or something…

“Time to amp it up!”

Lan shouted and a light green aura covered his body as his moves became faster and more destructive…

...Eh? Eh? Ehhh???

What the hell!?

Are you secretly Lucio’s reincarnation!!!???

Thought the effect is a bit different but still!!!

Why is there a green aura effect!!!???

“There it is! The [Amplifying Aura]!”

“They say that young master Hong had comprehended this technique himself and that it can increase one’s speed and attack by three times!”

“Genius! Young master Hong is undoubtably a genius found in a hundred years!”

“He had also reached the Immortal realm and is currently at low Martial Lord! Moreover, his opponent is actually a whole stage higher than him! A low Martial King!”

“Amazing! Truly amazing!”

Uwaah, everyone’s praises are really high!

I see, so he created the technique himself huh? How nice…

I can’t even use my power properly...huhu…

Not long after Lan’s [Amplifying Aura], the battle ended with his win. Well, it’s only as expected from him. Fumu. If he wasn’t an arrogant snob before, he would’ve been a fine xianxia MC. Good thing he had changed his ways.

“Gh! Bastard! This won’t be the end of this!”

“Hmph! Go run back to your Wind City! I, your father, will still defeat trash like you even if my right arm is tied behind my back!”

...Or not…

“Kghh-!….Let’s go!”

The other guy gnashed his teeth and waved at his comrades to quickly leave.

I can only sigh at how unlucky that guy is...I mean, don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that he’s unlucky because he met Lan, rather, he’s unlucky because he will meet me.

Middle Martial King isn’t a stage one can easily reach. For him to be able to reach it must be because he’s from a powerful sect or clan in Wind City and had extraordinary background.

Soon, someone stronger will come and trash Lan. Of course, since I’m here, I won’t let it happen.

That’s why can only sigh at how unlucky that guy will be in the future.

Also, this Lan is still idiotically offending people left and right. What’s his problem? Does he have ADHD or something?

And then, Lan turned around and faced a beautiful woman in the crowd.

“Xiao Zhi, are you alright?”

“Un. Thanks for helping me, big brother Lan!”

...Oho?

Fumu fumu. So it was like that.

Likely, this Xiao Zhi was taken fancy by that guy from Wind City and was harassed and it just so happen that Lan likes her too so he helped her.

Hai, what love can do to you…

“Sigh, Xiao Zhi, you can’t be so impulsive next time! Don’t offend other people unnecessarily just because they bumped you a bit! You know, last time, I had offended someone as well. I didn’t think that that guy was actually hiding his cultivation and was in the Immortal Realm! He could’ve killed me in a second if he wanted! Thank god that big bro Lei was there and we were able to befriend him! Today, I was with you. But next time, when I’m not there, then what if you get into danger!?”

...Fuck, what is wrong with this world!!!???

It was actually that beauty who had instigated the conflict and Lan was there to cover her!

Why is everything so...so...Fuck! Forget it. Let’s stop thinking about it!

Sigh, let’s go greet the guy before heading to the Bai clan...

“Muu, you already told me that countless of times! Besides, i-it would be fine if you don’t leave me right!?”

“...Xiao Zhi...”

“...Big brother Lan...”

…

…

…

Let’s leave.

After leaving those two flirting things, I reached the Bai clan but unable to get inside...well, the guards don’t exactly know who I am...Let’s sneak inside.

[Stealth]! Also, [World Eyes]!

Let’s see here...oh, there’s Xiuying!

She’s in her room listening to a soft melody.

I was about to go there directly but then thought that it would be rude to intrude a girl’s room without permission...should I knock on the door first?

Ah, but there are servants outside...they’ll see me if I suddenly appear…

...Ehh, let’s just go directly from the front gate and ask the guard to inform her that I’m here…

I sighed and canceled the [Stealth].

“Excuse me.”

“Who are you!? There is no business for you here trash!”

...This negative Fame is starting to annoy me…

Pissed, I can feel my [Rage] stat increasing but I held myself in...okay, actually, I should at least reveal my cultivation and pressure these two fools!

The air around me shuddered and the guards faces became pale.

“W-what do you want!?”

“Bastard! Do you want to go against the Bai clan!?”

…

“Tch, forget it.”

I sighed. This kind of entrance leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I didn’t want to trouble Xiuying any further. I should just leave.

I’ll return when I sorted out my negative Fame…actually, I’m kind of scared to see Xiuying’s reaction...after thinking about it slowly, it’s better if I fix my Fame first.

Still depressed, I took one last look at the Bai clan before leaving to [Harus] again.

Sigh...and here I thought bad luck is already quite bad...turns out, a negative fame is worse…

+ + +

“What was all the commotion about?”

A middle aged man frowned when he heard the noise on the gates and asked the guard.

“Master, there was a powerful fellow who wanted to force his way in.”

“Hm? Powerful fellow?”

“Yes, master! He had a cultivation of a peak Martial Emperor! But there’s no need to worry. We have driven him away!”

The middle aged man frowned again.

“Driven him away? Hmph! Are you an idiot!? With that kind of cultivation, he can flatten our Bai clan if he so wishes! And you said you fools drove him away!? Did you even ask him why he has come!?”

The guards paled and trembled.

“T-that...no, master, we didn’t...”

“Why not!?”

“T-that...h-he...we thought he was a trash so...”

“Trash!? A peak Martial Emperor trash!? Is there something wrong with your head!!!???”

The middle aged man bellowed in anger. Truly unable to comprehend the intelligence of these guards.

“What did he look like!?”

“H-he had a strange white hair...and red eyes...also, his left hand is completely black...”

As he heard the guard’s answer, the middle aged man’s eyebrows trembled and a murderous intent filled the area.

The guards’ face shook and became even paler as sweats continued to pour down on his body.

“You...do you have any idea who you just sent away!?”

“N-no! T-that...master! W-we’re really-”

“Sorry!? You still want to apologize!!?? Listen up! That man is my son-in-law!!! And you...you bastards actually called him trash and even sent him away!!!???”

The guards’ faces became increasingly paler by the second! Their faces were completely white as if all the blood in their faces had been drained!

“W-w-we di-”

“GET OUT!!!”

*Boom*

The guards’ bodies were thrown out of the clan with their bodies all tattered and bloodied!

The middle aged man, Xiuying’s father, glared at the other servants who all paled in fright.

“Quickly find my son-in-law so we can apologize!”

“Y-yes, master!”

Greatly frightened by their master, the servants all ran out and began searching. A pity that Lucas had already disappeared to another world so their search is destined to be fruitless.

From behind, a female figure appeared.

“...Did Lucas come?”

“Sigh. It seems he did...but because of how the guards treated him, he left immediately.”

“...Why didn’t he just force his way in?”

“Hai, Ying’er, for a man, it’s important that we don’t get hated by women we like. He didn’t want you to think that he’s a crude person who resorts to violence every time and might embarrass you as well so he quietly left and didn’t even teach those fools a lesson.”

“...I see.”

Xiuying nodded and went back to her room. It was unknown whether she understood what her father said or not.

Seeing this, Xiuying’s father sighed again.

“Boy, I am counting on you to open my daughter’s heart...I hope you won’t let me down...”

+ + +

Going back to [Harus], I went back to the Adventurer’s Guild and look for quests.

I picked a few similar quests and handed it to the receptionist while doing my best to ignore her disgust.

Afterwards, I went out to complete the quests.

Like this, another month had passed and I already reached Rank C. I also went ahead and gained the other elements available I can get but their values are all pretty low…

I also learned several other skills such as [Cure], [Triple Stab], [Successive Shots], and [Hunter’s Mark].

It should be time to leave [Drachedge].

Status

Name

Lucas

Level

10

Race

Human - Dragon

Gender

Male

Class

Wanderer

6

Stamina

7750

Mana

7800

Qi

100000000000

Spirit

1840

Cultivation

Peak Martial Emperor

STR

114

INT

112

SPD

113

DEX

111

VIT

110

LUK

173

Fire

55

Earth

10

Water

234

Wind

10

Light

221

Dark

10

Ice

10

Lightning

10

Holy

15

Space

16

Fame

-27000

Rage

0

Sealed

Elena Shenxue

Skills

Concoct

3.54%

Dragon’s Wrath

10.18%

Elemental Manipulation

Passive

Star Convergence

Passive

Spirit Formation

3.94%

Implosion Palm

7.51%

World Eyes

Passive

Smith

32.54%

Blink

5.11%

Stealth

6.99%

Heal

7.42%

Cure

1.12%

Triple Stab

3.22%

Successive Shots

2.45%

Hunter’s Mark

Passive