Chapter 243: Few pseudo-wizards

The city of Sunshine was the nearest resource supply point to the Crystal Peak Light Mountain.

It was also the place where all visiting acolytes had to report before receiving authorization to enter the exploration area.

When I finally arrived in the city, coming from the outpost in a carriage that slowly made its way along the road, it was already dinner time.

As soon as I stepped down from the carriage, the first thing I noticed was how different this place was from the large cities I knew.

Sunshine was a remote city, but it was not completely desolate.

In fact, calling it a city already seemed like a bit of an exaggeration.

There was only one main street cutting through the center of the small settlement. If someone stopped at one of the corners and looked around, they could probably see practically the entire city.

Dozens of wooden houses had been built on both sides of the street. They were modest homes, without elaborate decorations, sophisticated magic formations, or any sign of the wealth found in the great cities of the Mage society.

Besides them, there was a small tavern, a grocery store, and an old hostel whose damp, weathered appearance made it clear that it had endured many years in this environment.

Adding all of that together with a population of approximately one hundred people...

Yet despite its insignificant appearance, there was something that made this place extremely important.

The Crystal Peak Light Mountain.

As soon as my feet touched the ground, I heard a sound.

A low, distant, muffled rumble.

BOOM...

I stopped for a moment.

The sound was coming from the direction of the mountain.

Ever since I had begun approaching this region, I had been able to hear it.

It sounded like nothing more than distant thunder that one might hear in the desert during winter. But now... Being in this small city, the rumble seemed much more powerful.

Perhaps this was the sound of the underground activity of the Crystal Peak Light Mountain... If I was right, that meant that an absurd amount of energy was accumulating far beneath my feet.

I couldn’t help but think about the residents.

How did they manage to live here?

The mountain’s resting period was approaching, but the situation was still far from peaceful.

A massive column of dust continued to rise from the crater located a considerable distance away and at a great altitude.

The city had been built less than eleven kilometers from the foot of the mountain.

I ran a finger over a nearby surface. The tip of my finger was immediately covered in grayish dust.

I ignored it and continued walking. After finding the hostel, I entered.

A Level 3 acolyte was waiting for me in the main hall.

His name was Notoki.

I looked at the badge attached to the chest of his long robe, which belonged to the Suntel Family.

The Mage family that controlled this region.

Notoki raised his eyes when I approached.

The moment he realized that I was also only a Level 3 acolyte, his expression changed.

—Another Level 3? You really aren’t afraid of dying, are you?

—Even during the resting period, the inner area of the Crystal Peak Light Mountain is not a safe place.

—The interior is filled with extremely scorching light currents. Are you sure you can survive in a place like that?

I did not answer immediately.

Instead, I let my gaze sweep across the hall. There were several acolytes sitting around the tables.

Then I raised my hand.

I waved my fingers a few times.

A light appeared.

Everyone in the hall turned their eyes toward me.

I wasn’t trying to impress them. But for those who knew the nature of this mission, that was enough. After absorbing the energy from the scorching light pool, my body had undergone a considerable transformation.

Standing over two meters tall, with long white hair and a naturally reserved, cold, and somewhat cruel aura, I attracted attention even without trying.

Notoki raised an eyebrow.

Then his expression changed.

—I see...

—So you’re an acolyte of the Light Element.

—In that case, the scorching environment will have a much smaller impact on you.

—If you can avoid those unpleasant light monsters, you might even be able to visit the deeper regions.

He took a white stone from his equipment and handed it to me.

I took it and examined it briefly.

It was an entry permit.

—This is your permission to visit the inner area of the Crystal Peak Light Mountain once the resting period begins.

I put the stone away.

—Thank you.

Notoki seemed to have become friendlier after discovering my elemental affinity.

—Go talk to them. Everyone you see in this hall is a visiting acolyte who came for the mission. If you can form a team, it will be much easier to complete the task.

I nodded.

But I had no intention of following his suggestion.

My main objective on this journey was not the mission’s reward.

It was my Light Body.

I wanted to use the mountain’s environment to strengthen my own foundation.

As for the Light Crystals... They were merely an additional benefit. Besides, traveling with a group meant sharing resources, sharing decisions, and, most importantly, sharing risks.

A slight magical pressure, an indifferent gaze, and an unapproachable demeanor were enough to create an invisible barrier around me.

I took advantage of the tranquility to analyze everyone in the hall.

The space was not large.

It was dark and slightly stuffy. I counted approximately seventeen acolytes.

Two of them were Pseudo-Mages, while the others were Level 3 acolytes.

This perfectly matched the mission’s requirements.

To collect resources in the depths of the Crystal Peak Light Mountain, merely enduring the environment was not enough.

It was also necessary to deal with light monsters, Light Spirits, and other elemental creatures that inhabited the region. Therefore, Level 3 acolytes were the minimum requirement, and more than half of those acolytes probably possessed an affinity with the Light Element.

The others were probably individuals extremely confident in their own abilities.

Then I thought about the two Pseudo-Mages.

Why were there so few?

The answer was also simple.

Resource-gathering missions depended heavily on luck.

If someone was lucky, they might find a vein of Light Crystals exposed after a current of scorching light receded.

In that case, they could make a fortune.

...

1210 Words

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