Gamers of the Underworld

Outside a grand manor, a flag was flown, one that had the side of a lion that was brightly colored. This was the emblem of a noble.

A few glass lamps illuminated the main door of the manor.

An armored figure was thrown out the main door of the manor and subsequently collapsed to the ground. He used a single arm to support himself and climbed up with great effort.

A few armored warriors who were grasping their sword hilts stood by the side. They were the ones who threw him out. A man in a black Tuxedo walked to him and said, “I think you’ve heard the master. The excommunication notice from the Church was served to my master. You are a pathetic non-believer who dared to deceive my master. Get lost immediately.”

The warriors returned back to the manor, and the main door was shut.

It was quiet again, and flies danced around the incandescent lamps.

The collapsed person climbed up and patted the soil and dust off himself, then began to limp towards the darkness. Before he could go far, he saw a man wearing a black windbreaker and a tall western hat standing before him. The man took off his hat as a show of respect. Then, he smiled and said, “It seems like you are down and out. Don’t worry or be afraid. I heard that when God shuts the door on you, even the windows will be welded. But it’s alright. There will always be mysterious and kind souls who will help you. My name is Sherlock, and this is my name card.”

Sherlock passed him a small name card. On the card were the words, “Service for Custom-Made Life—Sherlock. Your life’s best assistant.”

The card didn’t have any contact details or the company’s address.

“How can you help me?”

The man lifted his head. With the lamps’ illumination, his face appeared thin and pallid. However, his eyes were filled with hope, as though he were a man who grabbed onto a bundle of straw when he fell into the water.

“Your name is Lancelot. You had an affair with the Lord Overseer’s wife. Hence your lands were confiscated, and you were exiled. Because of your sin, the Church terminated your teaching post. Even your last hope, Baron Glamorgan, wasn’t willing to keep you. He wasn’t willing to keep you not because of your excommunication but because his Lord Overseer intends to confiscate his land and called for his arrest. Therefore, he had to send you away. In other words, he is true to you.”

Lancelot was taken aback. He ran back to the main door of the manor. Sherlock took out a crystal ball and showed him that a carriage was leaving the manor.

“Don’t waste your effort, the Baron and his family have fled.”

“What do you want? Why did you investigate me?”

Lancelot gazed at him with wide eyes. Sherlock took out some documents and said, “I only knew about it from the documents. As for Baron Glamorgan, everyone knows that the King wants to confiscate Baron Glamorgan’s land. As for me, I’m going to give you a job.”

Sherlock took out a new document with the words, “Victoria Recruitment Letter of Intent.”

“I’m managing a Freedom City called Victoria. The location is on the land of the Duke of York, which isn’t far from here. If you’re willing to work for me, I provide protection and a job. The job is simple, teach the beginners combat techniques.”

Lancelot frowned and asked, “Why did you look for me?”

“Because you’re the best trainer for combat skills.” Sherlock then added frankly, “And the cheapest.”

…

Lancelot finally accepted Sherlock’s recruitment and signed his name on the Letter of Intent.

Lancelot didn’t have a choice as he needed the job and a place to stay. The Freedom City may not have been the best choice, but it was his only choice.

After Lancelot signed the work contract that had Mana-binding, the mysterious man, Sherlock, left a detailed address and vanished.

Lancelot found a place to rest for the night, then he set off for that address.

He left the city, traveled through the valleys, walked on plains, climbed over hills, and helped a village fend off some bandits. He also evaded the capture of mercenary soldiers. Then, he arrived at that address.

A forest on the Duke of York’s land.

Lancelot didn’t see a Freedom City. If there was one, it was most likely Elven. Because, besides trees, there were only trees.

Besides Elves, who lived in treehouses, there were no races that lived in treehouses.

Yes, there were the Bird Men.

Lancelot laughed at his own sense of humor. Then, he heard swishing sounds. Someone was in the forest!

Lancelot was wary. He grasped the hilt of his sword and unsheathed it slowly, nervously looking in the direction of the sound.

Then, he saw a small green kid coming out from the trees. The small kid held a net for catching worms. When the kid saw Lancelot, he was given a fright.

It wasn’t a human.

Lancelot immediately recognized that it wasn’t a human because humans didn’t have green skin. The green melded perfectly with the surrounding trees, so it was a protective color.

The small green kid stared at Lancelot for a few seconds. Then, he put the worm from the net into his mouth and asked, “Are you here to report for work?”

Lancelot was dumbfounded, but he quickly replied, “No, Sherlock asked me to assume my post here. It’s called… Victoria…”

“This is it. Follow me.”

Lancelot saw the green kid walk into the groves, and he followed.

After walking for tens of minutes, Lancelot was stunned by the sight before him.

In the woods was a piece of…

It was a stomped out empty space that was a few square meters in size. There were a few strange fellows sitting in the empty space.