---Third POV---
Apart from that, the more valuable posts were from people like LootGoblin and Hedgehog, who shared tips on dealing with Blackrock Toad eggs.
"They clearly took away the dead egg corpses, but the remaining live eggs still gradually grow stronger…"
After finishing reading the warnings in the post, NeverShowOff's curiosity grew even stronger.
"Doesn't that mean the difficulty increases over time, but so do the rewards? Interesting, I wonder if I can make it back in time?"
Now, all they needed was to find Edgar, and their mission would be successfully completed.
Hopefully, the players still in Honeyvale Town left something for them…
Scrolling down, a familiar post appeared in his view.
---
[New Map Unlocked! Progress on the Initial Exploration of Nary Town!]
---
"So fast?" he exclaimed.
His post had been up for less than ten minutes, and it was already trending!
Was this the power of a good title?
Seeing the growing number of comments, he simply clicked in. He found that hardly anyone cared about the wasteland route map they spent an entire day exploring yesterday.
It was just a flood of exclamation marks.
[!!! New map? When did this happen?]
[Oh no, did I sleep through a major update?!]
[A new map, long-term quests, new players… How much content did the devs update yesterday?!!]
[What the heck! New map exploration! Why wasn't I the lucky one?]
Although the players hadn't hidden the story about the Inverted Space, they hadn't exactly advertised it either.
As a result, waves of players intrigued by that place came to explore, only to find scattered items and notes. No one else spotted the magical circle's purpose at a glance, like the bored player who did before.
Some even thought it was already broken.
It wasn't until Viktor secured the circle that some players started to reconsider. Then they saw NeverShowOff's post.
Reading through the jealous comments, so jealous they seemed ready to reach through the internet to punch him, NeverShowOff guiltily averted his gaze. He wasn't deliberately withholding information; he'd just been procrastinating on the guide for a few days.
Of course, he still replied to a few less emotional comments.
---
[Outside the forest is a plain? Covered in resilient grass? Wow, wow, wow, are there any abstract paintings for reference?]
[NeverShowOff]: Sorry, there are no abstract diagrams for now
[Can the magic circle still be activated? I'll log in right now]
[NeverShowOff]: Hmm... Probably not. The core of the teleportation array is a dimensional crystal, and its uses are currently limited
That person immediately followed up with another question.
[What?! Then doesn't that mean very few players can access the new map?]
Later, a flood of comments, possibly from beta testers, filled the thread.
[Time to grind contribution points!]
[Why not grind game levels? Don't most games unlock new maps based on level?]
[I think it's about Viktor's favorability!]
[?? Newbie tears… No way, I'm logging in right now to grind quests!]
Before panic could fully spread in the comments, NeverShowOff quickly quelled it.
[NeverShowOff]: Wait! I'm not done yet. Viktor is actually working on maintaining the long-term operation of the teleportation array. Plus, the Ship-Carriage Guild sells dimensional crystals. The price isn't too high; you just need to apply and wait a bit for delivery from other branches.
The comments started pouring in even faster.
[Ship-Carriage Guild? What's that?]
[Aren't you new to the town?]
[Hurry up and update!]
[How long is 'a bit'?]
[You better not have just missed a word with your input method]
The pressure was overwhelming for NeverShowOff. How did writing a guide post end up with him being hounded for updates?
Having accidentally spilled too much, he could only sigh and start updating the guide in real time. To be honest, reading the forum had clarified his thoughts quite a bit.
---
First, let's talk about something unavoidable in the game: local beliefs.
(P.S.: This is very important. If other players unlock new maps in the future, they must investigate this first. After all, it's the best way to "check someone's background," whether it's the region or individuals)
According to [@Child], who bribed a guide:
Dragons, dwarves, elves, and other intelligent species each have their own secluded habitats. Humans have three major nations:
The Gale Empire, occupying the entire northern part of the continent. Due to geography, the Gale Empire has a mixed faith, primarily worshiping the God of Storm, Frostmoon Goddess, and God of Ice.
Judging by the names, these deities are all in the top tier of destructive power. As a result, the people of the Gale Empire are fiercely martial and renowned for their overwhelming military strength.
The Berrian Empire, occupying the vast central plains. This is also the headquarters of the Radiant Church. The Berrian Empire is a country of pure God of Light worshipers, with the Church's power absolutely above the king.
With the Church's strong divine envoys, agriculture and commerce flourish, making it the richest nation on the continent. Its wealth also allows it to maintain far more vassal states than the Gale Empire. For example, the Kingdom of Yoan, where Nary Town is located, is one of the Berrian Empire's minor vassal states.
However, being far from the capital, the God of Light isn't as popular in Nary Town. The townsfolk here are more devoted to the Spring Goddess, who symbolizes hope and renewal. If you want to get close to the townsfolk, don't shout the wrong faith slogans!
Also, because it's a border town, there are plenty of adventurers and outsiders here, so disguising yourself as a follower of another faith is feasible. The townsfolk are surprisingly tolerant, and so far, the poster hasn't seen any instances of faith-based discrimination.
(But favorability might vary; see the previous point for an example.)
The Elise Kingdom, located in the southernmost part of the continent. Information about it is limited.
What we know: It borders an inland sea formed by the Sea of Mist's tributary and is surrounded by towering mountains and deep forests, making it almost isolated from the outside world. It refuses entry to outsiders, only occasionally sending out trade caravans with rare magical artifacts and peculiar devices. This is an advanced industrial nation specializing in forging, and its strength is undeniable. Its ability to fend off the great demonic tide that occurs every 300 years with minimal loss of territory is proof of its power.
To sum up: Nations bound by faith are generally backward!
Mages are still a minority. In Nary Town, the tools used by ordinary townsfolk are quite primitive. The most advanced technology is probably the tidal mill on the Duskwind River, which irrigates farmland. The townsfolk maintain a basic sunrise-to-sunset routine, and the city gates close promptly in the morning and evening. Beyond their own matters, the townsfolk have no nightlife to speak of!
(Players planning to visit, take note: wandering around at night after lights-out will get you locked in a dark room!)
The town's buildings are mostly wooden with thick thatched roofs made from wheat straw. The streets are extremely narrow, with buildings stacked four to five stories high and crisscrossing each other.
In the narrowest areas, the eaves of roofs on both sides of the street can almost touch! Under such poor lighting conditions, fire becomes an essential resource. Because flint is scarce and expensive, the townspeople keep a basin of embers during the day to light pine resin at night. While convenient, this poses a significant safety hazard, making the town highly prone to fires.
Interestingly, this also carries considerable commercial value, anyone interested should pay attention. Contrary to the original poster's expectations, the town's commercial trade is surprisingly well-developed, offering a wide variety of goods, including decent-quality handicrafts.
(At the very least, they are better than our shoddy carpentry attempts.)
Although the commercial scene seems promising, the market gap is unexpectedly small. Still, thanks to "@Lux," we gather some valuable insights into the local economy. We compile a list of common product prices, negotiable rates, and a scarcity table in a separate post. Check the link below for real-time updates before we return: #NaryTownGoodsPricesAndVariety#
Additionally, many hunters around Nary Town make a living by selling their hunting qualifications, allowing them access to the town. They have quite a bit of silver currency, so creating unique traps or tools might become a hot commodity. Furthermore, there seems to be no sign of medical clinics or schools in the town. We suspect that both functions are likely managed entirely by the church. Further investigation will take place during the collective prayer day.
---
In addition to summarizing major findings, NeverShowOff didn't forget to provide first-person insights into their journey to the town, including stories about the caravan they encountered and a complex calculus puzzle. Since they were the only four players able to leave the novice village and access the new map, he even shared their upcoming action plan: The Mayor's Estate, the Magicians' Guild, and the Temple of the Spring Goddess.
It was impossible to explore all three simultaneously, and each posed considerable risks. So, he enlisted the help of online players to brainstorm ideas.
---
"Calculus?! Staying in the novice village suddenly seems appealing."
"Turns out we Watchers do have industries and allies; Viktor isn't so bad after all!"
"Right, allies desperately distancing themselves, lol."
"Whoa, three major human empires, multiple Magicians' Guilds, and new map structures! The game lore just expanded big time!"
"We storyline enthusiasts are finally thriving!"
While lore enthusiasts eagerly theorized about the plot and main quest, others took a more unconventional approach.
"The urban planning and architectural aesthetics of Nary Town are horrendous! As a civil engineer, I'm in pain!"
"Environmental science enthusiasts in pain +1!"
"Good thing Viktor at least divided residential zones in the novice village with basic standards..."
"Traps and tools? Looks like this version caters to life-simulation players!"
"Handicapped players strongly protest!"
Others pursued more unique angles...
"Wait! A pre-modern town with heavy ideological restrictions and 100% realism? Isn't this essentially an isekai setting?"
"What's your plan, buddy? The NPCs have high intelligence!"
"Exactly! You don't know their customs or unspoken rules; how could you compete with ultra-intelligent AI? Don't die on your first day!"
"I see what you mean, there are so many of us, and we're networked! This is collective isekai!"
"Time to liberate the continent of Aeltia!"
"Liberate Aeltia! Down with the gods!"
"Down with the gods!"
"Down with the gods!"
---
The forum atmosphere grew unexpectedly fervent, leaving NeverShowOff with chills. He had to add a quick clarification:
"Wait! This is no ordinary medieval setting! I must remind you: the town's guards are far stronger than their shabby living conditions suggest! Not to mention, high-level mages have recently been arriving in the town!"
As a group of novice mages, their team couldn't possibly compete with a high-level mage. It was fine if other players lacked sense, but they mustn't drag his team onto a wanted list after unlocking the new map!
Judging by the wanted posters plastered around the inn and tavern, the treatment didn't seem pleasant.
Ironically, his warning only heightened player enthusiasm.
"High-level mages arriving in town?! That means there's special storyline content!"
"I'm logging in right now to request new map access from Viktor!"
"..."
NeverShowOff might as well find a way to disassociate himself from the incoming players entirely.
---
Late at night, he was still far from finishing his strategy guide. To be honest, he'd written many game guides before, for all sorts of games. But none gave him the same sense of accomplishment as Chronicles of Aeltia.
Not just because the game's popularity was skyrocketing, nor because of the amusingly generous likes and comments from other players.
But because the game's content was overwhelmingly realistic.
As he organized his notes, summarizing the patrol schedules of Nary Town's wall guards, he found his fingers pausing mid-typing.
"Even lazy guards? The AI realism in Chronicles of Aeltia is borderline excessive…"
Nary Town was no small place.
With 4,000–5,000 townsfolk, each NPC had unique behaviors, no cookie-cutter templates in sight.
It was no wonder some players were plotting "collective isekai" plans. The realism was so immersive that even he felt less like a guide writer and more like an intelligence agent.
While this gave him immense satisfaction, it also raised concerns about the game's longevity. How many servers would it take to sustain such detail?
Every second of gameplay seemed to ooze the scent of money.
He pondered this for a moment before being snapped back to reality by a barrage of forum notifications. Setting aside conspiracy theories, he resumed typing.
"Whatever. As long as we can play the game, it's enough! Anything more is none of our concern."
Sometimes, knowing less truly brings more joy.
---
Swish, swish, swish—
A faint scraping sound echoed through the hallway.
Gaeman's eyes shot open, his gaze sharp and alert. Without a sound, he rolled out of bed, stepping lightly onto the cabinet before climbing onto the beam above the door.
His lean figure easily concealed itself, with not even a hemline showing.
Barely two minutes passed before the door, guaranteed by the innkeeper to be unopenable without a key, creaked ajar.
Screee…
It groaned softly, like the faint lament of old wood.
A figure entered, a bizarre one clad in a black bear-fur hat and wrapped tightly from head to toe, completely at odds with the summer heat.