Max investigated the Village Bell Tower next. There were warriors having a grave expression guarding it, but when they saw Max, they immediately became friendly, causing the players to notice them to be stunned.
The warriors allowed Max to enter the Bell Tower after he requested politely.
Max walked towards the stairs spiraling upwards until he reached the platform where the bell tower could be observed closely.
He frowned when he noticed an unstable mana radiating from the clapper itself.
[You have detected an unusual mana in the Village Bell Tower.
Remaining places to be investigated: Range Watchtower.]
He thought. I can't determine what type of mana it is, but it should be a mana where demons have high affinity. It's disgusting, to say the least.
Despite having an intermediate level proficiency in mana sensitivity, Max could barely perceive the unstable mana while failing to presume what it really was.
He glanced below and stared at the warriors, staring at him while beaming a smile.
He smiled at them and nodded, shouting, "I'll be coming back now."
"Take care!"
"Careful! You might fall out of fear of heights."
Max simply smiled at their response as he descended below.
He chatted with them for a while before thanking them as he proceeded in the Village Watchtower.
Along the way, he met a lot of players.
Most of them were still wearing shabby clothes, while he… was already wearing equipment of a D-Rank class.
Max didn't even bother hiding it.
He was indirectly revealing to the players that he was the mage, who earned a global achievement.
He thought. It doesn't matter anyway if my face has been engraved in their mind. My face here and back in the real world is not a hundred percent similar.
Max was quite confident that he appeared more handsome in the game than in the real world.
After all, the NovaLite Pod was currently less advanced in capturing a facial image.
It was like comparing a first generation phone to the latest generation of phone, the former being the NovaLite Pod.
Furthermore, Max was not famous in the real world.
Not even a bit.
This is the second time that I've been described like this. I hate myself.
Max sighed as he proceeded to the Ranger Post.
The Ranger Post was where the players, who wanted to gain a class in the Ranger path, were currently training.
It was also where the Range Watchtower was located.
In other words, it would be inevitable for Max to gain the attention of other players.
The Ranger's path has quite a broad class at D-Rank.
Archer, Scout, Assassin, Thrower, with the first two mentioned classes being popular in the Greyfen Village.
Max couldn't remember a player who was popular in the Greyfen Village who chose the ranger's path.
He wasn't familiar with Julian's cohort in the first place, except Jaden who betrayed him.
Max chatted with archers, who were guarding their post.
Eventually, Max led the topic to his current mission.
He asked, "I'm currently on a mission given by Archmage Arlen, my teacher. He wanted me to investigate the places he deemed as having an unstable mana. The Range Watchtower is included.
Do you think it's possible for me to investigate it?"
The archers glanced at each other, until the archer with long hair said, "Since you are on a mission from one and only Archmage Arlen, then of course we allow it.
However, if possible, you should tell Sir Sylwen about it, he might be able to help you with your mission."
Max nodded. "I'll definitely talk with him."
The archers then didn't keep Max with them anymore as they opened the gate for him.
Max entered and instantly saw countless players drawing their bow and hitting a target that was at least fifteen meters away from them.
Some of the players were also moving in the shadows, sweeping their gaze from time to time to earn the D-Rank Class – Scout.
Max would always wonder what was more amazing in becoming a scout than becoming a mage.
Max saw a B-Rank NPC with an Epic rank set of equipment, supervising the players, who were training.
He would personally correct each player's stances from time to time.
Max didn't hesitate to walk towards him.
As soon as the B-Rank NPC noticed him, the B-Rank NPC left the players and walked towards him.
He said, "I'm Sylwen Thorn, a Spirit Marksman. If I'm not wrong, you are sent by Archmage Arlen to investigate the unstable mana here, correct?"
Max was surprised. He nodded. "So, is there really an unstable mana in the Watchtower?"
Sylwen left his gaze from him and glanced at the Watchtower, facing the ruins.
He replied, "I haven't been there, but just by standing here, I can already sense the repulsive mana of those hideous demons." His tone growled on his last words.
Max could discern the hatred Sylwen had for demons.
Sylwen said, "However, I trust Archmage Arlen's judgement. He hates demons more than me. Since he sent you, then you are more than capable.
Go and investigate now. You have my permission."
Before Max could respond, Sylwen already turned around to continue his teaching.
However, noticing most of the players had stopped practicing as they stared at them with eyes filled with curiosity, he quivered in rage.
He shouted, "What are you dawdling around for?! As a punishment, 1 hour of horse stance!"
The players grumbled in frustration as they immediately took a horse stance.
Max glanced at them with indifferent gaze as he turned around and proceeded at the Watchtower.
After he ascended through the spiraling stairs and stood above, he met an archer, overlooking the outside of the village.
Max shook his hands as he received an amiable smile.
The archer said, "Nice to meet you. I just saw you chatting with Sir Sylwen. He gave me a signal. I assume it's to entertain you?"
Max chuckled. "I guess so."
Max turned towards the outside of the Greyfen Village, seeing a grey fog swallowing the forest.
As he pulled his hand away from the archer, he noticed an imp staring at them mischievously, as though provoking him.
The archer noticed where he was looking and said, "This guy… I spent around twenty archers just to kill him, but he always evaded it.
Although I've already injured him, I still can't wipe that grin off of his face."
Max stared at it in nonchalance and silently cast a spell on his wooden staff behind his back.
He replied, "So, one arcane bolt is enough."
Just as the spell casting was finished, he swiftly aimed the staff towards the imp, who was taken aback by his actions.
Before it was able to make a move, a white bolt swallowed its vision.