After departing Fasteia, slaying the Gluttonous Serpent, gearing up in Secondil, and conquering the Swamp Digger, the Pioneers reached Shangri-La Frontier's third city: Thirdrema.
For rookie Pioneers, arriving in Thirdrema is a badge of honor—a sign they've shed their Shangri-La Frontier newbie status, a milestone in their journey.
"Phew… Aitoil, we're almost at Thirdrema," Pepper said.
"Finally!" Aitoil replied from within his cloak. "They got any sake for sale there?"
"No clue, but it's a big city, so probably," Pepper said. "From what I read, it's massive."
Crossing the swampy canyon and traversing the vast wasteland with towering mountains in the distance, Pepper and the hidden Aitoil reached a vantage point overlooking the city.
Thirdrema sprawled like a wedding cake carved into a rocky plateau. A grand castle stood at its heart, surrounded by a medieval fantasy blend of castle town and lower districts. The houses were well-built, hinting at a high standard of living.
"Man, that's one huge city…" Pepper marveled.
"Yup, looks like they'll have all kinds o' sake," Aitoil chirped.
"With a place this big, you'll probably find some."
Pepper slapped his cheeks to focus. This was the real test. He'd enter Thirdrema, secure a path to Rabbits for a safe escape, and contact Pencilgon via Messenger Bird from safety. While he'd be fine, Aitoil getting spotted would spell trouble.
"Let's do this."
He steeled himself. Slip through the gate, dart into an alley, escape to Rabbits, and they'd win.
Or so he thought.
"Hey, Pepper-kun. Been waiting for you."
At the gate stood a female player, her top-tier holy sword plunged into the ground, red hair flowing to her waist with a left-sided braid, clad in white armor save for her face. She smiled brightly—until Pepper's eyes confirmed her presence.
"Uh… who are you?"
Stopped at Thirdrema's entrance by this mysterious player, Pepper felt the stares of passing players and NPCs pierce him.
"My apologies, I forgot to introduce myself," she said. "I'm Saiga-100, leader of the clan Wolfshwarz."
"Oh, hi. I'm Pepper, nice to meet you," he replied, offering his left hand for a handshake as she sheathed her sword.
"Not your right hand?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I'm left-handed by birth. Hope you don't mind."
It was a half-truth. His real reason was to hide the Lycaon's curse marking on his right hand—and, more critically, to keep Aitoil concealed. Meeting a player marked by the Nightslayer Lycaon was one thing; revealing he was traveling with another unique entity like a Vorpal Bunny would be a chain reaction of chaos.
"Got it," Saiga-100 said, accepting his explanation and shaking his left hand. Then, her gaze sharpened like a blade. "I'll cut to the chase, Pepper-kun. I heard you faced the Nightslayer Lycaon and earned its recognition. Is that true?"
Pepper sighed inwardly, guessing Rex's loose lips in Secondil were to blame. Information like this spreads like wildfire—once a hint slips, players dig until they find answers. Resigned, he mentally sorted his "cards," deciding what to reveal and what to hold back.
"I can answer, but… this isn't the place," he said, glancing at the curious onlookers. "People might eavesdrop. Can we move somewhere private?"
He knew mentioning a unique monster at Thirdrema's gate would draw a crowd. Even if he navigated Saiga-100, other players would swarm, hungry for details.
"You're right," Saiga-100 agreed. "Let's relocate."
"Sorry, I'm not used to this kind of thing," Pepper said.
"No, I rushed in too eagerly about the Lycaon. My apologies."
Exchanging apologies, they hurried away from the main street, seeking a secluded tavern in the back alleys.
"Hmm… so that's how you play, A-kun," a voice murmured. Unnoticed, Arthur Pencilgon watched from the shadows, her eyes devoid of light, harboring a darkness deeper than abyss.
Thirdrema Back Alley, The Serpent's Apple
This tavern, known to a select few players as a discreet meeting spot, was sparse with patrons. But one corner of the establishment was a veritable hellscape.
"…"
"…"
(This is beyond awkward…)
How did it come to this? On one side, Arthur Pencilgon radiated a sinister aura; on the other, Saiga-100 exuded crushing pressure. Caught in the middle, Pepper was suffocating.
After entering The Serpent's Apple with Saiga-100 and taking a seat, Pencilgon had breezed in with her usual sly grin—only to go stone-faced and join them, leading to this standoff.
"Hey, Saiga-100-san," Pencilgon said, slicing through the tension. "I've got some important business with Pepper-kun. Mind giving us some space?"
Her words were sharp, her glance flicking to Pepper, offering no respite.
"Is there something you don't want overheard, Arthur Pencilgon?" Saiga-100 countered, her pressure intensifying. "I have questions for Pepper-kun."
The standoff showed no signs of breaking. Desperate, Pepper mustered his courage.
"Uh, Saiga-100-san! About the Lycaon… I already told Pencilgon about it, and she insisted I check with her before sharing with other players! I'm so sorry!"
It was a lie spun as truth. Pencilgon had never said such a thing.
"Yeah, exactly!" Pepper doubled down, sweat pouring, eyes darting. "Pencilgon told me as my senior that spilling unique monster info recklessly could cause trouble, right!?"
This was it—he was doomed.
"…Right," Pencilgon said, seizing the moment. "Saiga-100-san, Pepper-kun's a newbie I got into Shangri-La Frontier. A few days ago, he mailed me, crying, 'I fought the Nightslayer Lycaon, held my own, and got marked! Help, Pencilgon-senpai!'
As his senior, I told him not to share that info lightly and to contact me if anyone asked, so we could discuss it together. Since he checked with me before talking to you, I'll let it slide… this time."
Whether she was humoring him or saw an opportunity, Pencilgon's silver tongue wove a convincing tale. Her mid-sentence jab and sharp glances irked Pepper, but her improv was impressive.
"I see," Saiga-100 said, nodding. "Communication is key. You're a good junior, Pepper-kun."
Amane's words turned lies into truth and truth into lies. Pepper knew her deceit well—he'd fallen for it countless times. In a battle of bluffs, few could outwit her.
"Exactly! We barely made it work," Pencilgon said. "So… shall we start the real talk?"
This was the true battle—a war of invisible "cards" in a game of deception.
"Pepper-kun," Saiga-100 began, "as I said, I came to Thirdrema because I heard you earned the Lycaon's recognition. My reason is simple: my clan, Wolfshwarz, aims to defeat the Nightslayer Lycaon as our ultimate goal."
She explained her purpose, her drive, her hunger for answers.
"To my shame, our clan has been crushed by it repeatedly, unable to find a breakthrough. But then we heard of a player who faced it and proved their strength. That led us to you."
Her clan was starving for Lycaon intel. Amidst their defeats against the dark wolf, Pepper's feat was a beacon—a glimmer of hope in an endless night.
"So, Saiga-100-san, you want Pepper-kun's Lycaon info, right?" Pencilgon interjected.
"Absolutely," Saiga-100 said. "Attack patterns, movements, anything, no matter how small. If it helps defeat the Lycaon, Wolfshwarz will spare no expense."
Her eyes burned with unyielding passion. In gaming, motivation outweighs talent or skill. No matter one's gifts, losing drive reduces it all to nothing. Maintaining it is deceptively hard.
"Can I ask something, Saiga-100-san?" Pepper said.
"What is it, Pepper-kun?"
He trusted her sincerity. So, he revealed his right hand.
"This is the 'curse' marking I got from fighting the Lycaon. Its description says it can be lifted by the 'Saint's Prayer.' Do you know this saint?"
Pencilgon and Saiga-100 stared at the mark—a symbol of a warrior recognized by a unique monster. Though they'd heard of such curses, seeing it was a first, especially for Saiga-100, a veteran player.
"…I do," Saiga-100 said.
For Pepper, lifting the curse meant reclaiming his dual-wield style—unleashing both slashing and blunt attacks. It wasn't just about attack options; it was about restoring his core playstyle.
"Her name is Saint of Mercy Iristera, the only unique NPC in Shangri-La Frontier who can lift any curse, even those from unique monsters. Her prayer will erase it."
"Got it," Pepper said, relief washing over him. A path to break the curse existed. Seizing the moment, Saiga-100 made an offer.
"If you wish, Wolfshwarz will arrange for you to meet Iristera."
"Wow, as expected of a top-tier clan," Pencilgon said, smirking. "You'd go that far to get Lycaon info? Even chasing Shangri-La Frontier's idol?"
"It's only natural," Saiga-100 replied. "Without that resolve, I wouldn't earn Pepper-kun's trust with you here."
Pencilgon's presence was clearly a thorn in her side.
"Alright," Pepper said. "But I only fought the Lycaon once. I can't guarantee my info's useful."
"That's fine," Saiga-100 assured.
Her resolve was unshakable. Pepper had to match it.
"The Lycaon's attack patterns include front-paw swipes, horizontal sweeps, diagonal slashes, and reverse-blade counters," he began, recalling that fateful duel.
"Every move is insanely fast. My reflexes aren't top-tier, so I had to keep optimal distance to even dodge. Also, blunt weapons and impact seem effective, while slashing weapons worked when I stabbed its eye—"
"Wait," Saiga-100 interrupted, stunned. "You fought it once? Kept distance in that onslaught… and stabbed its eye?"
"Pepper-kun, is that true?" Pencilgon pressed, incredulous.
"Yeah," Pepper admitted. "I could only land hits by baiting its moves."
Both women were speechless. Unique monsters were embodiments of unfairness. To defy one and land a blow made Pepper a formidable asset in their eyes.
"That's all I've got on the Lycaon," he said, bowing to Saiga-100. "Sorry if it's not helpful."
He'd hidden his use of the Vorpal Chopper, Rabbits, and Aitoil's existence. Duty done.
"…Pepper-kun," Saiga-100 said, standing and extending her right hand.
"I came to get Lycaon info. But I've changed my mind. This is from me—no, from Wolfshwarz."
She looked him dead in the eye.
"We want to recruit you. Lend your strength to our clan and fight the Lycaon without limit."
--+--
T/N: Although I'm an inexperienced Editor, I do have a Patreon account! Although it seems like I don't have many supporters right now, my webnovel will be released in full every day, and the advanced chapters will be uploaded to Patreon.
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