“Milady,” Russ sounded delighted with a hint of melancholy at the same time. “My memory cannot accurately capture your beauty. You become increasingly prettier every time we meet… Ah, how careless of me. Let me first present you with a gift.”

The girl with the same face as Paina aside, Viers spurred into action once Russ showed the Auspicious Butterfly in a resin. That luck-raising item was even stronger than his mummy finger.

“Bow of Four Beast,” Viers loosed his finger once the bow had sucked his Victa. “Ox!”

The arrow turned into a raging yellow ox phantom in mid-air and struck the ground near Russ. The ground was blown away as dirt and rock spread out randomly.

“Wha-!?” Russ hurriedly defended himself. It was a reflexive action on Russ’ part. The splash damage lacked the power to hurt him.

“Who’s there? Guards, guards!” Pinaca looked at where the attack came from.

Bow of Four Beast could change its elemental damage depending on the user. Viers used the wind eagle to shoot Aletro’s book in the past. This time he used a different one so people couldn't connect it to Avel.

Arsène materialized like a ghost when Viers shot the arrow; his face and form were hidden. There was no need for words between the two. Arsène snatched the Auspicious Butterfly among the confusion and ran like the wind.

“Ah!?” Russ gasped. “How dare yo-”

Arte - Water Blast!

It was the fourth round of the day between Viers and Russ but this time Viers’ Arte knocked Russ back despite the skilled swordsman having raised his guard.

Nuhnn! Such power, Russ grunted. “Who are you?”

Like there’s an idiot who would answer that, fool.

Viers struck with a storm of Artes. Rain of water swords, homing projectiles, water sprouts from below, an unceasing barrage. Russ might recognize him if they crossed swords so Viers chose long-distance attacks.

Ambushed and with Viers’ Artes being empowered by Horizon, Russ was too much at a disadvantage.

“Knave!”

Pinaca jumped out of the window while wearing a dress. Seven water spheres the size of cannonballs were unleashed upon Viers. The cloaked Viers raised a water shield that had no problem defending against Pinaca’s Arte and before her feet even touched the ground, his hand was on her neck. He chokeslammed the girl to the ground. He was a bit rough but he figured a Level 3 should be able to handle it.

“Hakh,” Pinaca coughed.

She has a water affinity too. Same as Paina.

“You bastard!!”

The third water user was angered seeing his sweetheart attacked and let out a mighty thrust that was accompanied by a water twister with his sword.

Viers’ water shield could not completely block Russ' Arte but the damage was very minor. Viers used the Arte’s momentum to carry him backward and disengaged, moving past a wall to break the line of sight.

Five seconds of head start is enough for Arsène.

“There he is!”

“Bold of you to attack House Wright!”

“Your head will be on a pike at the front gate!”

The guards and Russ were onto Viers but they were only Level 3s. Good news for Viers but he wasn't in the clear.

If there’s a Level 4 it will be really troublesome.

Viers increased the distance with his Horizon-boosted Raging River Steps Arte and blended with the shadows with Fade in Shadow Arte.

Using a smuggler’s route, Viers went back to the Underbelly. There were many criminal elements here that wouldn't treat the law and order of the surface kindly.

Viers went into an old, small house, Ditan’s safe house. The careful man had prepared two, one above the ground and one below. Ditan had not used either for months so Viers made himself at home.

“You’re late,” Arsène said while throwing the Auspicious Butterfly to him.

“Had to lead them away from you,” Viers caught it.

Arsène returned inside Viers and he sighed in relief.

“With the butterfly, my luck should be abysmal no longer. So, angels, what do you think about our latest discovery?”

The meeting was a lively one despite the late hour.

“So,” Viers began. “How do you feel seeing your twin sister?”

“Even if you said how…” Paina replied with a complicated expression. “In the first place, is she really my sister?”

“There’s an uncanny resemblance. It’s the most reasonable conjecture,” Farley said.

“We found them so let’s ask them directly,” Clarissa paused. “Perhaps a few days later because Viers just robbed them.”

“How about we follow Paina’s lead first, do the quest in order. Fabled Sheep Bar, right?” Viers asked.

I think I explored too much and stumbled on later content in video games. Let’s take it from the top.

“Yes.”

***

At a city square with little greenery that had been colored with the colors of autumn, Viers sat on a bench under the glare of the sun.

…I don't think I would like to live here long term.

It was clear he was up against a major house of this place. He needed information.

Two days had passed since Viers met the suspected Paina’s twin sister. Viers went all over the city to gather information. Not only was he using Skinny Dog’s service, but he also put his boots on the ground. He was taking memory donations from other people, Idlers and Pathseekers Level 2 or below.

From multiple sources, he had an outlook on how things ran in Valkut city. The isolation barrier that only opened once a year, the unbalanced economy, the danger inside and outside the city, strict city regulations, the Governor-King that seemed to do nothing except take seventy percent taxes on everything, and other matters. The limited freedom one had in this place made Viers think of one of the most isolated countries on Earth.

And there’s something unpleasant in the air. I don't know what. Airborne virus? Harmful mana? Don't know. It just feels wrong. The only silver lining is that the Governor-King didn't make himself like a god to the masses.

The focus of Viers' search was House Wright, the family of that Pinaca lass. She looked like Paina but older by a year. Understandable since Paina wouldn't grow physically as a ghost.

Skin treatment, hairdo, makeup, fashion and accessories, gave the person more points in the beauty stats than Paina who was raised as a commoner.

Before engaging with the Wrights, Viers and Paina followed the sole lead that the girl had for finding her family. Her mother’s last words were to go to the Fabled Sheep Bar, with no details whatsoever.

Viers found the bar earlier this day. It was closed. It had been closed for half a year according to the neighbors. The owner was said to have left Valkut entirely.

A dead end.

So the Wrights it is.

Viers turned his head to the Wright family’s mansion which was within viewing distance from the open space he was in.

The head of the house was named Jerrold, a Level 4. A trusted vassal of the Governor-King.

Jerrold had many wives and Pinaca had twenty-three siblings, plus two more who were still in their mother’s bellies.

House Wright was responsible for a local ceremony unique to Valkut: Newborn Blessing. Every baby within a month of their birth was eligible to visit the mansion to receive the blessing. The babies would grow healthier after receiving the boon, it had been proven. When it first started fifteen years ago, only a handful of parents brought their child to receive the blessing but practically every child born in Valkut was given the blessing nowadays, whether they were nobles or commoners. It was easily accessible to the masses since there was no charge.

My Viers-senses are tingling. No one gives a free meal. Some conspiracy is happening. I bet my ass on it… But there have been no problems since it started and there are many stronger Pathseekers than me here. No one makes a fuss if there's something wrong with the babies? Weird…

Valkut was a big city so every day there were babies born. Viers watched the Newborn Blessing procession from afar. There was a chapel-like building where the babies would be carried by the staff, the parents were welcome to follow. The babies would be carried out after receiving the blessing, about an hour later.

And there are clergies of the Estellian Church involved in the proceedings so this is Goddess Approved? Are the babies really okay? Is that similar to a vaccine?

Viers was even more confused.

Like a charity event, members of House Wright helped with the processing. Viers saw Pinaca among them.

Beside her is Enzo Wright, a genius Pathseeker. Level 3 despite being a year younger than Pinaca and me. In fact, every Wrights' children -those above fifteen years old- can also be considered accomplished Pathseekers but Enzo is the most dazzling among them.

Pinaca is already Level 3… Was it talent or resources of a great house that allowed her to become Level 3 with the same pace as me? Hmm, looking at her and Enzo, they don't seem to be at odds. Noble half-siblings usually don't get along in the stories but those two look pretty close with each other.

Viers considered the report from Skinny Dog.

The soul search from that house’s servants and guards below Level 2 yielded nothing unusual either. But you all can't fool me! No humans are that perfect, which means what you’re showing is fake. I’ll get to the bottom of this.

A person approached Pinaca, it was Russ. He approached quite bashfully at first. Pinaca said something to him and they both were laughing.

Well, Pinaca is now engaged. Just yesterday, with that guy, Russ Sullivan, sword prodigy. Also from another prominent house in Valkut. Engagement triggered by my robbery?

A refreshing melody entered Viers’ ears, elevating his overheated brain somewhat. Not far from Viers, there was an old woman playing something similar to a zither. She was here even before Viers sat on this bench, playing her musical instrument skillfully.

Her eyes were closed the whole time.

A jar was placed in front of the white-haired woman for putting in money.

Viers looked at her and approached. The gold coins he put in the clay jar made a distinct sound.

“Lady, thanks for the music. Here’s some food for lunch. Please have some.”

Viers withdrew a hot meal along with hot tea from his Thousand Treasures Casket and offered it to the zither lady. She raised her face towards Viers.

She is really blind.

“Bless you, young man,” she said. “Bless you.”

“And you,” Viers replied before leaving. Paina called him a few steps later.

“That’s really nice of you.”

“Rule of thumb. Beware of old people in a world where people usually die young. Only Level 2 and live past fifty years? Unlikely. Even if my Euryale Sight couldn't see anything unusual about her, the theme is solid.”

“Huh!? So you hope to curry her favor?”

“Why not? If she’s a hidden master then great. If not, I’m doing some good. Win-win for me.”

“Typical Viers,” Clarissa huffed. “Practical.”

Viers started walking while thinking about how he should investigate House Wright this time, but there was a commotion at the blessing procession.

“Paina! Oh Paina, you’re alive!”

A young woman wearing a Silver Legion white robe embraced Pinaca. The Paina look-alike looked confused by the sudden hug. The other girl practically tackled her.

Viers’ eyes bulged from their sockets.

Rose!

The Angel-Blessed!

From Luxore town!

She’s here too!?

What the hell is happening in this city?

Viers had a premonition something big was happening.