Nolan held the compass, tossed it up and caught it again. His eyes still fixed on the entertaining system message.
[Job Specific Artifact Obtained!]
[Name: The Pathfinder's Gold Compass.
• Purpose: Upgrades your occupation level, letting you see more paths and information about targets.
• Obtain difficulty: A]
[Use? Y/N]
He wanted to use it right away, but then, if he did that, what was he going to offer that witch in exchange for an idea on how to boost his mana reserves.
"Hmm," Nolan hummed, putting a finger against his chin. "I guess, I need to think this through," he said.
He put the compass in his pocket, but it disappeared as he did so. He added it to his inventory. Doing so, openly, in front of Liana wasn't a good idea, so he had to hide it first.
[Item added to Inventory]
"Ahem, so… we're done, right?" Liana cleared her throat as she followed Nolan who started walking again. "My part of the deal?"
"Oh," Nolan nodded. "I haven't forgotten. I ought to teach you something tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?!" Liana walked to a stop in front of him. "That wasn't the deal."
"I said help me and I'll help you. We never agreed on a time. I did not say I wasn't going to teach you, did I?" Nolan voiced, voice flat and utterly bored. He went around and continued forward, leaving a pouting Liana who fell into step behind him.
… …
Somewhere in Cloveland.
Inside a cave.
There was a crackle of red and black lightning for a few seconds before the air tore open, revealing big red portal.
These portals were called gateways to hell. The means these demons use to bridge both worlds. More commonly known as "hell gates."
Many low-grade demons emerged from the hell gate, running out aimlessly without command or purpose.
After the low-grades—about a hundred if them—went out, bigger demons emerged. They walked out of the hell gate, not mindlessly like the low grades.
They were taller, bulkier, had longer and sharper claws. Some wielded weapons, some had small horns, some were not hunched at all—actually, only D-ranks downward were hunched, except for special cases—standing like a normal human, but with red skin, beastly features and a weird dressing.
These were ranked demons. D and C-ranks to be precise. Ranked demons were the real threats of the world.
Smarter, stronger, more organized and terrifyingly brutal.
After these demons exited the hell gate, a final figured walked out before it finally sealed shut.
A hulking figure with red skin and redlines designed over its body, stood with an axe over its shoulder. A stretched smile revealing its jagged, yellow teeth.
It had two big horns that went by the side of its head, but one was cut in half. Its hair short and rough. It had on a black tattered garment over its waist and shoulder pads.
B-rank demon.
General Kraxus.
A name that always got on Nolan's nerves.
But perhaps, his appearance was a little… too early?
… …
The next morning came in no time and Nolan, Cedric and Liana had moved to the guild in their uniforms.
As they went up the mountains, Cedric and Liana were having a conversation, eating cakes they bought on the way, while Nolan quietly walked behind them.
"...and the worst part was the fact that it wasn't big," Cedric laughed with a mouthful. "Like ye big," he added clenching his fist and showing it to Liana.
"Two months and it was just that big?" Liana laughed, taking a bite out of hers. "Gods, being a farmer is quite tough, isn't it?"
"True," Cedric nodded, eating the rest of his treat. "Ah, I was wanting to ask you something."
"Hm?" Liana turned to him with innocent eyes and puffed cheeks.
"Where were you in a hurry to go to, yesterday? It can't just be a 'walk.'"
Her brows shot up and she slowly swallowed what was in her mouth but still ended up choking. She started coughing and Cedric patted her on the back. "Sorry," he kept saying.
"Here," Nolan said to Cedric, zero concern in his expression as he threw a flask to him. "Water."
Cedric caught it and gave her to drink.
She eventually calmed down, eyes red. "Thank you," she voiced in a raspy tone, clearing her throat.
"Are you okay now?" Cedric asked and she nodded.
"Was it… because of what I asked?"
"What? No, no. Definitely not. I just choked on the cake like a normal person does, hehe," she laughed nervously.
How was she supposed to explain that she went out to steal. She needed to cook up a story, but her mind wasn't giving her anything.
Cedric looked at her with narrowed eyes for a beat, suspicious, but he just shrugged it.
However, someone came to her rescue.
The sound of hooves tapping the earth was heard.
"Morning, my picks."
Liana and Cedric turned to the side to see who it was, but Nolan didn't even stop walking. He knew who it was and he wasn't interested.
"Oh, morning, Ace Cyndy," Liana greeted with a smile while Cedric gave a simple bow of his head. 'That was close,' Liana thought, subconsciously putting a hand over her chest feeling a wave of relief wash over her.
However, Cyndy's eyes were fixed on Nolan who didn't even acknowledge her presence, with slight annoyance. "Hope you both had a good night rest?" She forced out.
Liana and Cedric nodded as they walked beside Cyndy's horse.
Cyndy managed to shake it off and returned her focus to the two by her side. "You should hasten up. There's an announcement to be made this morning. I'll meet you inside."
With that, she rode on, leaving them back.
"Hey, wait up!" Cedric called out to Nolan as he and Liana jogged up to him.
Nolan did hear what Cyndy said though, but it was somewhat strange.
An announcement? That never happened before. At least, not this early. What was it about?
The first announcement that was made in all his lives in the Cerulean Guardians was supposed to be in the next two years, about some low-grade demons converging to the Dark Woods and demon adapta—
His eyes widened and he stood in place, looking up, realization hitting him. "Tell me this is a joke."