Volume 25 Chapter 3 Zahab’s Artwork

“Kuuaaak!”

The flock of Wyverns flew on their stretched wings. Bingryong, Phoenix, Golden Bird, and Silver Bird followed behind them. While their flights looked free and lighthearted, their level was anything but.

Flying above the white clouds, they often pa.s.sed by large birds. Weed rode on Wy-Three, with Yellowy and Goldman on Wy-One and Wy-Two respectively.

“Can’t we stop to eat for a bit?”

“It looks delicious!”

“These don’t have any fishy smell.”

“Yes?”

“There are other Wyverns but why do you always ride on my back?”

“Do you hate it that much?”

“It’s not that, having a person ride is heavy and takes a lot of effort. It also feels unfair…”

“Keeaak.”

“It is as comfortable as lying on a mat so it’s impossible to ride the other Wyverns. You are the best.”

Grapa.s.s was located within Aidern Kingdom on the Central continent. It was an area swarming with monsters. Due to the large distance away from Vargo Fortress, Weed decided to fly on the Sculpture Lifeforms and was able to arrive in a short amount of time.

“Let's get started. You all had a nice, long rest right?”

“From now on pay 200 gold every day. I will take that and add the remainder with my own money so later on you will have a large retirement fund to draw on. Oh, right! I also have to add the marriage expenses with the heifer you like so much.”

“Thank you master. I will work and fight harder.”

“Phoenix, Bingryong. You attract too much attention, wait someplace where you can come to our aid immediately.”

“I understand, master.”

“Yes.”

“Father, talk to us.”

“Are you safe here?”

“If it is a request.”

“I will do as father ordered me to. I might return a bit late, eating all the delicious bugs in the forest.”

“I understand.”

“Did you call, master?”

“Yes.”

“The smell is pungent. I don’t think the blood will taste very well.”

“If so then I will fight.”

A spear has grazed your shoulder. The injury has reduce your strength. Your high endurance has cancelled the reduction in attack points.

Health reduced by 2,980.

Over 7 Kellkogs aimed for Weed, Van Hawk and Torido! As Van Hawk was attacking on top of his Phantom Horse, most of the spears flew towards him.

Gold Man riding on Yellowy attacked like the wind. Sculpture Lifeforms were too valuable to lose so only after the frontal a.s.sault did they join in!

“Tornado Blade!”

Acquired 2 blue gems.

Acquired 3 black gems.

Weed picked up the gems that granted magic. Hard battles equalled rewarding items! He could sell the gems to the enchanter but if he made a sculpture out of these gems, the sculpture would emanate a brilliant l.u.s.tre depending on the magic held within.

*****

Watchful of any monster movements, Weed was heedful in his exploration of Grapa.s.s. Though Kellkogs were dangerous, the fight was manageable. But if even 1 escaped it would come back with a flock of over 200, 300.

To prevent such situations, he rode on the Wyverns and hunted them down till the last member. Poisonous insects and savage beasts also lunged at them in single numbers, and they could only win through combining all their strength.

“Every time, if you adapt then everything will be alright.”

“Yes, master.”

The whiff of poverty could be felt from the eyes and below.

A sculptor who kept his promise to the girl who became queen, to show her the most beautiful sculpture on earth.

“Oh, I finally reached civilization!”

Petrov is an idiot. A mongrel.

The graffiti was just painful.

“I will definitely meet her again if I roam around the continent. I will go anywhere where there are signs of her.”

Petrov’s world was filled with weird ambition.

Gulp, gulp.

“Me too, give me some too. Gol gol!”

“My beak looks the best.”

“Whose wing is the widest?”

“My back is flat.”

“Yes, it is as you say.”

“However I have never heard of lifeforms like these… Their forms are not well defined but their proportion are relatively right. Could they possibly be lifeforms made out of sculptures?”

“The legendary skill of Emperor Geihar has appeared once again in this world. What an amazing occurrence. To see the sculpting skill pa.s.sing through generations without disappearing, this is truly a fortunate event.”

“It has been hard. However, as I take care of the Sculpture Lifeforms and cherish them, there is a feeling of satisfaction that swells from my heart. I think Emperor Geihar’s sculpting skill is really amazing. Of course your Moonlight Sculpting Blade is one of the most beautiful sculpting skills in the world.”

“I have a great love for sculpting. Through my adventures I have also learnt other sculpting skills.”

By telling recollections of sculpting skills, fame increased by 469.

“To collect all 5 sculpting legacies that were created after the existence of the first sculpture, it’s truly a miracle.”

Weed ate the potatoes till he was full and packed the rest into his backpack.

“But more importantly, the handmaiden in Rosenheim Kingdom wants to listen to the song you sang when you sculpted the moonlight before she departs.”

The most important business that called him to Grapa.s.s! To learn the song from Zahab and singing it to the old handmaiden in Serabourg Citadel.

“Did such a thing occur? I was making sculptures here and never did go back to Rosenheim Kingdom… Well, since we are talking about sculptures, do you want to see mine?”

“Absolutely. I absolutely want to see them.”

Weed as a sculptor obviously wanted to see Zahab’s masterpieces.

Perhaps there would be greater rewards here than the reward that the old handmaiden would give for completing the quest.

*****

Zahab led him to a cave behind the lake.

“This is my workshop. Go in and take your time.”

Inside the cave, the trees, boulders and walls had sculptures on them. Flowers and moss grew, widely disfiguring some of them. Weed observed the biggest and the most stylish sculptures first.

You have observed, ‘Mankind’s Last Moment’ A piece made by the Master Sculptor Zahab. A scene of humans making a last stand as they fight against the monsters was sculpted.

A sculpture that is extremely elaborate and minute in details, without high comprehension of sword skill it’s impossible to fully understand the piece.

Regenerate health and mana 35% faster for one day.

Stats related to battle increase by 12.

Warrior related skills improve by 2 levels.

Fighting Spirit increased by 2 permanently.

For 1 month, health increased by 450.

Art stat increased by 4.

By observing the sculpture with great discerning eyes, mastery of sculpting skill increased slightly.

Masterpiece sculpted near the entrance wall! The scene of 10 soldiers crumbling while fighting against the monsters in Grapa.s.s was vividly sculpted.

‘A Masterpiece… and that one is a fine piece.’

Weed walked swiftly. Every time he observed a piece, his art stat and mastery in sculpting skill increased.

The workshop had over 70 different works ranging from Fine pieces, Masterpieces and Magnum Opus.

You have observed, ‘The Moon, the Stars and the Wild Flowers.’ A piece made by Master Sculptor Zahab. This piece has been engraved on the ceiling and the floor of the cave.

Animation of nature has been realistically portrayed.

After completion, not much care has been given.

Art stat increased by 1.

By observing the sculpture with great discerning eyes, Affinity to Nature increased by 5.

There were nature sculptures as well.

“Seeing that you can’t take your eyes off that piece you must really like nature.”

“Yes. I really love nature.”

Weed was grinning evilly as he saw that the majority of the sculptures in the workshop were works that expressed nature. By increasing Affinity to Nature, the power of natural disaster sculpting became much stronger.

As Weed’s standards were high, even if these were sculpted by Zahab, his mastery in sculpting skill barely rose by 4.9%. Currently his skill was at advance level 8, 19.8%. Art stat increased by 137, with a variety of others skill also increasing by a bit.

The completed Masterpieces, Magnum Opus in the workshop of a master was much better than the ones found in Morata’s Art Center.

Sublime sculptures, delicate sculptures, graceful and elegant sculptures, and sculptures made from light that were s.h.i.+ning brightly to great heights!

Zahab created things freely without a set theme or form.

“How is my sculpting testimony?”

“It’s admirable. It feels like all the outstanding sculptures of Versailles continent have gathered here.”

The sculptures would all get a hundred points. It was not like the ma.s.s produced rabbits or foxes that Weed used to make to polish his skills. Every single one of these art works was created with heart and soul.

*****

“Ahem, wandering around like this is really great.”

Geomchi stood on the fore of the s.h.i.+p. It was a fast boat that was currently heading toward the Northern continent.

The wind pushed against the wide open sails. As the s.h.i.+p was orientated for pa.s.sengers, it did not have heavy cargo, so sailing speed was very fast.

“Getting fresh air from a different place is nice.”

Sitting behind Geomchi were 5 early 20 year olds that were getting along with each other.

“The wind is really refres.h.i.+ng.”

“This is the benefit of coming out to the sea.”

“I heard that the number of pa.s.senger, freighter and adventure s.h.i.+ps increased after Weed’s adventure. Looks like it was true.”

While on the voyage, many other sailing s.h.i.+ps could be seen. Even a romanticist was sailing with a sail full of holes!

The newcomers to the sea might not know, but the experienced seaman could feel the increased interest in the sea on their fingertips.

The harbour was crowded with noob captains and sailors. The sea was filled with the sight of sinking dinghies as they struck the reef. Weed gave them a simple taste of sailing, but it became a chance for the seasoned sailors to spread the charm of the sea to many.

Even if they weren’t fishermen or sailors, Royal Road allowed them to come to the sea whenever they wanted!

“Did you hear what happened to the 3 Mad Sharks of Becky Ninh that sailed with Weed? That Heint, Fractal and Bodomir?”

“What happened?”

“I heard Becky Ninh returned and is now operating a large pirate force. They are accepting every pirate and plundering every trade line without care…”

“They are truly evil.”

“Yes. They are unspeakably evil people.”

They applied Weed’s teachings imparted on them in their partings and became remorselessly evil.

But, pirating was a very poor profession. They could not step onto any harbour if their notoriety with that nation was high. When sighted by naval forces, they had to escape till their tails fell off, and on top of that, they only earned the ire of all the players.

They could not sell their loot at market price and more often than not were disposed of. They had to be aware all the time so it was hard and fatiguing work.

But the sea was wide and free. There was joy in adventures that only pirates could do.

*****

“Because of the war a lot of people are dying these days.”

“Save yourself. Don’t join carelessly, the situation is about to explode.”

“Just shut yourself quietly to a hunting ground. Levelling up is more beneficial right now.”

The tavern Dark Gamers gathered at! They were resting with cider or beer in hand. As once they entered a hunting ground, they did not come out for a month and ten days. So taking the chance to enjoy themselves in the city was important.

Cooking skill was a necessity for Dark Gamers, but unlike Weed they did not learn it properly. They could only do simple grilling or boil meat. So for them, if they had access to beer and appetizers it was enough for them to unwind.

“When I entered the second dungeon…”

“The secret entrance is to the left of the fireplace and leads outside…”

They also shared high-end information.

The tavern’s location was the Brent Kingdoms capital Nehalles. The most active Dark Gamers gathered there so it was always crowded.

Clunk!

The tavern door opened and a player wearing a dazzling purple dress entered.

“When I was hunting then…”

“Next time I am thinking of crossing the Rozend route…”

The player’s conversation suddenly died down. The player that just entered was a dancer.

The dancer cla.s.s that always needed dazzling clothes and accessories. Dancer was a hard cla.s.s for Dark Gamers to choose as there was always a greater demand for battle optimized cla.s.ses such as swordsman, warriors, mercenaries or magicians.

‘Must be a requestor.’

She was beautiful, and looking at her equipment, she was high level as well. If so, the number of Dark Gamers that could receive a contract from her were few.

The dancer moved around each table and spoke softly in a voice that other players could not hear.

“My request…”

Before the content is known, the level, reliability of mercenary, the time required to complete the request was thoroughly checked.

And as the dancer was leaving, Bade, Pason, Yumero, April, Volk and Daerin followed after her. The best and the most active Dark Gamers of Bretten Kingdom went with her. As they left, the Dark Gamers resumed their conversation. Seeing as it was none of their business, no one really cared.