Chapter 89: Blood and the Shadow of Blood

“Tell me, what was Belcimann’s setting again?”

“An ambitious conspirator?”

“He loves beautiful things and absolutely despises ugliness.”

“But his wife is pretty hard on the eyes.”

“That’s because he’s the most beautiful man in this world. All women are uglier than him, so what he pursues is inner beauty.”

The programmers sat together on the rooftop, smoking and gossiping about their world boss. They had just received a system notification that the playable race, Arcadians, was officially online.

This was no big deal. They had been keeping an eye on Fairy Kingdom, the top-tier guild, so they knew Fairy Kingdom was going to raid the Silver Castle today. Given Fairy Kingdom’s strength, as long as they didn’t lose their minds and try to solo him, the boss Belcimann wouldn’t be difficult to deal with.

However, an item they had never designed appeared in the quest rewards. After reading its description, they had collectively gone up to the rooftop to sit and sigh at the wonders of life.

“So, why did that kind of thing become a quest reward?”

“Because it seemed fun at the time, we added a setting where ‘drops are decided by the Monster.'”

“No, no, no, you clearly said you wanted to lower the drop rate of materials back then.”

“Um, should we take it back…” the human avatar of the Penguin programmer asked his seniors quietly, holding his tablet.

“Why should we take it back?” The Gothic Girl turned her head. “Those players dropped everything and sprinted for three whole hours from the nearest territory to Lai Kaion City. Isn’t it only natural that they get this kind of reward?”

“But over three hundred people got it, and many of them are completely new players,” the Penguin programmer pointed out.

“Ah, how nice. If they use that item, won’t they have a perfect start?” The Gothic Girl completely missed the Penguin programmer’s hidden concern, sighing with genuine envy instead.

“What about the top-tier players among them? Once they use that item, they’ll directly Breakthrough Limit.” The Penguin programmer had no choice but to spell it out.

“They deserve it too. They dropped their current quests and ran like crazy just for a rebellion in a tiny territory.

“How wonderful. I really want to sprint thousands of miles just for the thrill and passion in my heart, to help the people of a virtual world.

“Forget about balance! As long as we work hard to make this world exciting enough, that’s all that matters.”

The Penguin programmer’s mouth twitched. These seniors of his were all founders of this great game, and to this day, he was the only new addition to the team.

He could faintly guess why—because he felt like he wouldn’t be able to hold on much longer either. A genius’s ability was naturally hard to match, but what truly made people back away was their pure, childlike innocence.

“You’re not thinking of leaving, are you!”

The Gothic Girl sharply noticed the change in the Penguin’s expression and immediately scrambled over on all fours. “Don’t do it! We can’t survive without an errand boy like you.”

“We won’t let you leave!” The muscular otaku freak hoisted the Penguin up in a chokehold.

“COUGH, COUGH! I-I can’t breathe!”

The Penguin kicked his legs in vain. What was truly terrifying wasn’t the arm strangling his neck, but the helmet the Gothic Girl brought out while muttering to herself.

It had a label stuck on it… Hypnotic Corruption Device No. 1!?

“I-I won’t leave! I still have to write… write my thesis!”

***

[Silver Blood 1/1]

[The legendary Pure Blood of the Silver Race. It can fuse with the blood of any race and grant them the Power of the Silver Race.]

[Restricted to participants of the Arcadia revolution.]

[Upon use, obtain Special Skill: Silver Bloodline F.]

[Awaken the Silver Blood within the body to transform into a powerful and beautiful Silver Werewolf. During the transformation, the user will gain the Profession Silver Werewolf, changing their Level to their original Level + Silver Werewolf Level.]

[The Level of the Silver Werewolf is determined by Skill Proficiency.]

Blaze’s hand trembled as he held the Silver Blood.

This item would turn a Foreigner into an Arcadian. Just like during the liberation of the Beastman Species, this was Belcimann’s trick to deceive the Creation Giant Bell using “established facts” and “conclusions.”

Anyone who obtained this item would merely think that an evil Lord named Belcimann had cruelly hunted his own people to become a true member of the Silver Race. Meanwhile, Blaze, having obtained the other item, became the only person to know the truth.

[Dark Silver Blood 0/1]

[His beloved older brother was there, and his kind children were there, but he alone was absent. He stripped himself away, playing the role of evil with clumsy acting. And this man’s only blasphemy was touching the Creation Giant Bell with his own hands.

The man’s soul has already vanished, but styling himself as despicable, he prepared a hush fee and an overseer for the sole person who knows the truth. It is shadow blood created by using a Vampire’s abilities to fuse his own bestial nature with the shadow of the Silver Blood.]

[Restricted to the one who knows the truth and possesses the Silver Blood.]

[Upon use, obtain Special Skill: Shadow of Filth F.]

[The shadow has acquired blood, and with it, Life. The shadow will always, always, always watch over you, protect you, and never leave.]

“Audrey.”

Audrey fell into a momentary daze. Even though his height and voice hadn’t changed at all, she felt as if the youth had grown up a little. It was the silhouette of someone pressing forward while bearing a heavy burden.

“We defeated him. We won.”

Blaze walked over to Audrey, dropping to one knee like a Knight, and took her hand. “Go and announce the liberation of Arcadia and the dawn of a new era.”

Behind the black Knight, the sunshine poured in, and Audrey stood within the Knight’s shadow. It was the shadow of a giant Werewolf, like a Guardian embracing everything within its body.

A beautiful black-haired girl stood atop the ruined Silver Castle, announcing the liberation of Arcadia to the Foreigners and the Arcadians.

The Foreigners raised their arms and cheered. After all, becoming a part of great history was always something to be happy about.

The Arcadians shed tears, though it was unknown who those tears were falling for.

In the distant Sacrificial Stone Forest, the evil Witches surrounded the stiff and nervous Silver Werewolf. Their terrifying, heavy-panting demeanor prompted the Werewolf’s wife to jump out, spreading her arms like a mother hen protecting her chick.

But for some reason, the Witches cheered, “Long live pure love!” and surrounded the wife as well. From afar, it looked like some sort of evil ritual.

Arcadia would probably become quite lively now.

Just as planned by the man who was neither good at being an actor nor a Lord.