The Five Elements generate each other: Metal generates Water, Water generates Wood, Wood generates Fire, Fire generates Earth, Earth generates Metal.
The Five Elements overcome each other: Metal overcomes Wood, Wood overcomes Earth, Earth overcomes Water, Water overcomes Fire, Fire overcomes Metal.
There are also corresponding divine beasts, hence there is Green Wood, Crimson Fire, Earthen Response, White Metal, Dark Water…
(Not an ad: If you want to read more about the Five Elements, you can check out the I Ching or related books. Also, the following is entirely fictional.)
However, what few know is that beyond the Yin-Yang and Five Elements, there exist other categories —
Extreme and Evil. Born from the Yin-Yang and Five Elements, they are like Yin and Yang themselves, distinct yet interconnected. These two factions inherently counteract each other, originally unrelated and non-interfering. But after that war, the balance was permanently broken… Both factions vanished from the world since then, but they left behind many “things” for future generations to inherit. Their power is said to be eternally sealed within these “things” —
Belonging to Evil: Seal Jade, Curse Jade, Plunder Jade, Frenzy Jade, Annihilation Jade
Belonging to Extreme: Cauldron Jade, Attainment Jade, Return Jade, Stillness Jade, Life Jade
Their powers vary, with none being inherently stronger or weaker; it depends on how the wielder uses them.
Note: Power comes at a price. Although the Extreme and Evil Jades are mighty, if someone who is not a suitable vessel forcibly activates them, they will be devoured and become ■■■■.
However, occasionally, there are special cases…
…
…..
——————
I was stunned for a moment, then realized she wanted the gemstone on my chest. Seeing the greedy glint in her eyes, I tightly gripped the gem.
This series of actions seemed to have made my meaning clear. The ghost girl sighed softly, waved her hand at me as if giving up nonchalantly, but left behind a fierce glare.
‘Just you wait, I’ll get my hands on it…’
With that, she stood up and left as if cloaked in an invisibility spell. The reason for this metaphor? Her clothes were strangely unique, and she had startlingly sharp horns on both sides of her forehead — impossible not to notice. Yet, during her entire sequence of standing, walking, and exiting, I didn’t see anyone glance at her or even notice her. It was as if she didn’t exist to them.
Well, she is a ghost or monster, so it’s probably normal that ordinary people can’t see her.
As I was blankly staring at the doorway, I didn’t notice when that cat-eared girl had come back. She placed several pieces of delicious-looking bread and a glass of milk on the table and tapped my shoulder. Oh, right! I remembered, she had brought me food to stave off hunger… But because my mind was full of that ghost girl just now, I didn’t have time to savor the bread’s taste. I just stuffed it into my mouth mechanically and finally chugged the milk.
If I weren’t so preoccupied, I wouldn’t waste such an enjoyable moment. Seeing me eat so “heartily,” Miss Catgirl couldn’t help but laugh. She was still smiling even after I finished… Was it really that funny?
Done with my meal, I contentedly placed my hand on my stomach, but my eyes were fixed on the doorway where the ghost girl had disappeared. She said ‘just you wait’ — was she planning to show me what she’s made of? What kind of trouble did she have in mind? Hopefully, nothing involving bloodshed.
“Little guest, are you full?” I nodded, indicating I was done. “Well then, here’s a note left by the guest who brought you here~”
Huh? The guest who brought me here? Left a note? It felt like finding a thank-you note after accidentally taking something. As she handed me the note, I quickly took it, unfolded it, and carefully read…
The handwriting was a bit strange, as if written by two different people — sometimes scrawled, sometimes neat, with even signs of the pen being snatched away. What on earth happened between these two? Did their personalities clash that badly? But I could still make it out with some effort.
That said, I read it three times before understanding the gist: They were extremely surprised by my sudden appearance in their carriage but didn’t abandon me outside the city. To get me in, they changed my clothes. They deeply apologized for touching my personal belongings and clothes without permission, and to make up for it, they booked a room for me to rest in and paid for my dinner. They deposited my personal items at the counter, ready for me to collect anytime. As a final apology, they offered me the Gothic dress as a gift. Also, to help me get my bearings, they told me this place was the “Demi-Human City” Feltro.
For some reason, the last sentence was written with exceptional clarity: “Thank you, we’re both fine now!”; “He’s a pervert, ignore him.”
What did they mean by ‘we’re both fine now’? Fine from what? Well, no point in refusing a gift… Wait a minute. “Demi-Human City”? Feltro?! The destination I’d been hoping to reach for days? I’m actually in Feltro?!
Ya-hoo!! I don’t know how I looked to others, but inside I was overjoyed… I’ve finally arrived! Then finding Elf and Aleck is only a matter of time!
“Well then, you’re always welcome here~ Those two guests have been good to us for a long time.”
Good to them? Sounds like important customers! Anyway, thanks for getting me here!
And it means I might be a regular here. That’s good… I could treat this place as a base, stay here temporarily. Even if I can’t find Elf and Aleck, I’ll have somewhere to rest, and maybe I can even send a letter to Lady Cleriol.
Isn’t that great? I smiled, bowed to Miss Catgirl, then went to the counter to retrieve my belongings — the satchel, the magic stone, the silver coins, the quill pen, the diary, even those little leather shoes? Oh, they’d turned into boots, since I was wearing them. But although the fruits and bread were gone, that unknown potion was still there.
Speaking of the potion, I still hadn’t figured out what was inside it. Should I try it now…
Just as I twisted off the cork and was about to take a sip, a commotion suddenly erupted beside me —
“Thud! Urgh…”
“Huh?! You actually drank it!! That’s an unknown potion!!”
“Someone help! We need a doctor!!”
A player was lying there stiff, his face frozen, the empty bottle shattered on the floor… Yeah, maybe it’s better to confirm the effects first. That was a bit scary.
This is where 【Inspect】 comes in handy. As a unique skill for players, I never expected to have it. Depending on the level, the range and detail of 【Inspect】 can expand.
——:
——Potion ■■■ Name: ■■■■; Potion ■■: ■■■**■
Huh? Is it broken?
The interface flickered like a glitching screen, full of garbled text. For a second, I thought I was dealing with a corrupted game file… How could this happen? It’s just a skill — why would it break? Can it be fixed? I’ll probably need it later, and I can’t even check the time anymore.
Could it be a bug? Will the developers fix it later? When will they fix it? How am I supposed to know when they’ll fix it? 【Inspect】 is the most basic skill.
“Little guest, is something wrong?”
I quickly shook my head. Ordinary people (in this medieval world) can’t learn this skill, so I can’t let anyone see it. I had no choice but to close 【Inspect】.
“[Write] No, it’s nothing.”
The cat girl nodded and disappeared down the hallway. Honestly, I wanted to talk with her a bit more. People tend to interact more with those who give a good first impression… Speaking of time, if I want to know it, I just need to look outside — pitch black, but the streetlights are lit. Clearly, night has fallen.
Wait, wasn’t it just daytime a moment ago? Oh, because I was “asleep,” that stretch of time was probably “deleted.” But what should I do? I can’t sleep myself. Even if there’s no curfew at night, danger might still exist… Also, Feltro is quite large. Finding Elf and Aleck might be tough.
Should I just stare at the wall in my room? Doing nothing would bore me to death… Maybe I should go out for a walk. As long as I don’t cause any trouble, it should be fine.
Silently patting my hands in decision, I walked to the entrance, looked left and right, and saw no sign of that ghost girl. Relieved, I stepped out and was almost swept away by the crowd, barely managing to squeeze through. Standing under the streetlight, everything around me revealed the brilliance of this city…
The deep cultural fusion between demi-humans and humans was perfectly reflected in the architecture, roads, and everything else. Witnessing it all, I was at a loss for words. I really wonder how the people of this era overcame the hurdle of “discrimination.”
This place is truly wonderful. Although Maletes was also nice, I prefer this kind of simple, unpretentious place.
“(Chatter of passing pairs)”
I stared blankly at the pairs and groups chatting animatedly, and a sense of loneliness crept into my heart. But Elf and Aleck are somewhere in this city. I believe we’ll meet sooner or later — and until I help them return home, I won’t give up!
Thinking this, I wiped the corner of my eye… Just then, a sentence that caught my full attention reached my ears.
“Did you know? I saw an elf there yesterday.”
Startled, I immediately turned around, urgently locating the speaker amidst the crowd. Finally, I spotted him.
“Shh! Keep your voice down. Don’t you know how expensive elves are these days? To be honest, I saw one too… A really cute and tiny young elf.”
Cute and tiny, young elf… Could it be Elf? I considered for a moment, then decided to follow these two to investigate.
…
…..
Obtained Item: 【Seal Jade】
…..
…
“Hmm, are you sure that’s the jade we’re looking for?”
‘I’m certain. That jade contains a huge, familiar energy fluctuation. It’s definitely the jade.’
“…It seems the day of our clan’s resurgence is not far off.”
…
…..
“Phew~! We finally got in. Tia, Eric, are you two okay?”
“Of course. With the illusion earrings Eric made, we can at least fool those guards.”
“Alright, alright, enough joking. For now, we need to find that child…”
“Hey Eric, how did you know Miss Habane Tōki was heading to Feltro?”
“I had Iriar secretly attach himself to the child’s clothes… Enough talk, let’s hurry.”
