EBE Chapter 53 Moonstone
Chapter 53 Moonstone
The second largest city in the Valerian Federation.
Nissolia, the vast heart of the Valerian Federation, embodies human wisdom and ambition.
The city's magnificence stretches endlessly, blending the ancient and the modern, the historical and the technological.
As I wander through the bustling streets of this vibrant metropolis, I find myself immersed in a symphony of the senses that vividly portrays this dynamic city.
We arrived here through the portal because Arcadia and Nisolia are located at opposite ends of the Federation. The fastest train from Arcadia to Nisolia takes ten hours, while a regular train takes fifteen hours.
In short, the atmosphere of this city isn't much different from Arcadia. But if there's any significant difference, it's that there are more hunters here.
The reason is simple. The landscape and environment around Nissolia have not yet fully recovered from the damage caused by wildlife.
The Valerian Federation occupies a vast area of land, but not all of it is suitable for habitation.
Some areas have been occupied by monsters from the portal, and the city of Nisolia is in such a state.
The surrounding environment is fraught with threats, which is why, despite being the second-largest city, Nissolia is not the safest place.
Legend has it that before the "hub integration," this place was the capital of a declining kingdom, so it was not difficult to develop this area into a metropolis, which is another reason why the city is so developed.
"Without a doubt, the scenery here is very similar to that in the game," I thought to myself as I walked.
This place is another area for free exploration in the open world, so I already knew about it to some extent.
With that thought in mind, I continued walking, observing my surroundings.
Why does something feel off to me?
I couldn't understand what was happening, but my senses were constantly on edge.
Is someone following me?
This seems illogical. Why would someone be following me? My past is clean; I haven't boasted or offended anyone. Even if I have offended a few people, it wouldn't warrant them following me like this.
Moreover, this feeling only arose after I entered Nissolia, which makes no sense unless those targeting me knew I would be there beforehand. But I don't think they would choose to strike here, but rather while I was visiting the black market.
"This means there is only one possibility."
"A demon is nearby."
Nothing makes me more uneasy than the appearance of a demon.
Gritting my teeth...
The appearance of demons or demon contractors means that something not mentioned in the game will happen.
"I was mentally prepared for this."
After all, it's impossible to depict an entire world solely based on a game. No single game can encompass all the actions that take place in a world.
"But since I haven't heard anything about it, it must be being kept under wraps. This means it's not a big deal."
Most of the time, the federal government keeps things from the demons because they are too busy dealing with invasions of other species and international issues.
Internal problems and societal panic will be much harder to manage, and that's exactly what the devil wants to create.
"Public distrust."
"terrorism."
These insidious tactics will weaken the government and the association, making the Federation of Humanity more vulnerable.
Therefore, the news is mostly filled with inspiring content.
Although I have a feeling that something might happen, I don't know the source of the danger. Even if I did, I'm already struggling to deal with the academy students, let alone a demon contractor.
I also cannot notify anyone.
So all I can do is keep going down my path while remaining vigilant against any potential dangers.
And so, I strolled through the streets of Nissolia, glancing at the city map on my watch.
"Freshly roasted monster meat! Try this delicious treat brought straight from the dungeon!" A vendor's enthusiastic cry caught my attention. I was drawn to a bustling food stall, the air thick with the aroma of grilled meat, a crowd gathered around, eager to sample this exotic flavor. Such a scene was a rare sight in the serious city of Arcadia.
As I approached the stall, a smiling man with sparkling eyes waved to me.
"Take a bite of adventure, sir! This is a beast that roams the depths of the dungeon, and it's now on your plate!"
My interest was piqued.
"What kind of monster is this?"
"Ah, it's an extremely ferocious creature! It's called the 'Heavenly Wrath Flying Serpent,' and its flesh is tender and juicy, all thanks to its fire attribute."
"The Wrathful Flying Serpent." I thought to myself, this is the first time I've heard this name. The stall was very lively, and my curiosity was piqued.
"Fire attribute?" I raised an eyebrow.
The vendor nodded excitedly. "Yes! These creatures can breathe fire. But don't worry, we've dealt with the fire, leaving only the delicious treat!"
I decided to give it a try, and the vendor skillfully cut a piece of grilled meat and placed it on a plate. When I took a bite, the flavor exploded in my mouth, a savory and slightly smoky taste with a hint of spiciness. It was a flavor I had never experienced before.
This moment made me realize once again how special the world I live in is. The magical power flowing into my body from this monster's flesh is enough to prove that this world is full of countless possibilities.
"Thank you, how much is this piece of meat?"
500 valers.
Until I heard the price.
"You're not kidding, are you?" I looked up and finally noticed the stall's name. Because my senses had been on edge, I was more focused on the people around me and ignored the stall's sign.
It turned out to be a stall run by a famous chef. In the end, I could only pay and continue on my way.
As I strolled through the streets, I couldn't help but overhear snippets of conversations, filled with excitement and a sense of familiarity.
"Have you heard? The Black Fang Guild is organizing an expedition to the Wildwood Dungeon!"
"Yes, finally a high-level guild has intervened."
"Indeed. I don't understand why it took them so long to get into that dungeon?"
"I heard it's a tax problem. They say the association's demands this time are outrageously high."
"That makes sense. The association has been very strict with the guilds' tax requirements lately."
These words once again demonstrate the adventurous spirit of Nisolia. Here, dungeons and their treasures are part of daily life, but I also see the power of the Guild more clearly.
Since I deal more with the black market dungeons, I don't yet have an association license. I could certainly get one, but there's no need to for the time being.
Therefore, I don't know much about the Association's dungeons.
Finally, after walking for a while, I arrived at my destination—the museum.
"The sense of threat has disappeared. It seems they've retreated," I thought to myself.
That's what I was thinking.
Now that the discomfort had subsided, I decided not to waste any more time and went straight into the museum.
"This trip feels a bit refreshing," I thought. For the past three weeks I've been constantly busy and haven't done anything, so wandering around like this has cleared my head a little.
As I stepped through the museum's doors, the elegant words "Magic Museum of Nisolia" came into view. With a quiet resolve, I decided to explore the exhibits on my own, foregoing the help of a guide.
The receptionist was a young woman with a warm smile. "Welcome to the Nisolia Magic Museum! Are you here for a guided tour?"
She was neatly dressed and had a friendly smile on her face. From the cuffs and small pockets of her uniform, I noticed that she smoked, and she also wore braces to fix her teeth.
"She uses a high-quality cigarette brand. Her breathing is steady, without any signs of heaviness. She's been smoking for at least ten years, and the signs of nicotine addiction are masked by the heavy makeup under her eyes. She's unmarried, but she's sexually satisfied. There are three different men's colognes mixed in with her body odor. I guess she's a 'player'."
"Okay, that's enough observation."
After reaching these conclusions, I said to her, "No need, I want to see for myself."
She nodded understandingly: "Of course! Please feel free to look around. If you have any questions or need any help, please let me know." Even though my tone was a bit direct, she didn't mind.
"A rare professional," I thought to myself, nodding in acknowledgment as I entered the museum.
This museum is a place that brings together otherworldly objects and legacies from the past.
The museum's first floor displays materials from another world.
The first exhibit caught my eye—a set of metal ingots emitting a soft glow, seemingly enveloped in mysterious energy.
Luminas
The sign next to it reads that the metals come from "The Cavern of Light," an underground city known for its intricate network of tunnels.
These crystals are said to absorb and amplify magical power, making them a valuable resource for spellcasters and enchanters.
However, that's all in the past. This material was once one of the keys to human civilization's ability to resist invasions by species possessing innate magical powers.
The technology here is based on magic, not electricity, and this material is the source of the breakthrough. It can convert any type of magic into primal energy to power magic batteries, and for many other purposes.
This is the essential difference between this world and Earth.
Earth's civilization is built on electricity, while this world revolves around magic.
Continuing on, I encountered other remarkable materials. There were "Rainbow Scales" salvaged from the "Azure Abyss" dungeon, which exuded a protective aura and were ideal for crafting sturdy armor.
A few steps further on, petals of the "Celestial Flower" were displayed, collected from the dungeon of "Plains of Bliss." These petals are said to possess extraordinary healing abilities and are considered sacred objects capable of healing wounds and diseases.
boom!
Just as I continued forward, I suddenly felt a violent throbbing in my head.
"what happened?"
Before I could think any further, the throbbing intensified, and my vision suddenly went completely black.
"elder brother."
A voice echoed in my mind, and at the same time, the silhouette of a girl appeared before my eyes.
"younger sister……"
However, I couldn't make a sound; it felt like something was pressing down on my chest. This was the dream I kept having.
Then, a cryptic voice appeared, mixed with an unknown sense of presence.
"Searching for moonstone."
This time, however, the words rang out as clearly as a bell, their meaning instantly becoming clear in my mind. Everything seemed to connect. The throbbing in my mind was no longer a mysterious enigma, but a force guiding me towards my goal.
When my vision cleared, my gaze was drawn to a corner of the museum where a soft silver light illuminated a display case.
Like a child tempted by candy, I stumbled toward the display case.
When I walked up to the display case, there was a stone on display with its name on a sign next to it.
＜Moonstone＞