What do you mean by "this is a dating game"?

Chapter 18 Upgrading Among All Wonders

Grapefruit briefly explained the current situation.

Their adventure team is temporarily named the "Cat Team".

Don't ask Sieg why the team's name is so disgusting; Sieg doesn't know and doesn't care.

Cats and dogs, it doesn't matter.

Including the instructor, the team currently has four members:

Lala, Grapefruit, Falos, Sig.

Grapefruit has already invited Peach—that is, Emilia—but has not yet received a reply and is unsure of her intentions.

The goal of the cat team, of course, is to help Oz embark on the "path to godhood".

There are another twenty to thirty similar teams.

Sieg asked, "Does Lord Oz have a complete plan? Which specific palace are we going to?"

"I don't know, it seems like I have to try them one by one."

"..."

What's the point of trying this?!

Could it be that she doesn't even know where to start with Sequence One?

Despite the abundance of misinformation in the market, Sequence One, as the first step on the path to godhood, has long been known as "the secret that is not a secret."

In most large families with a true lineage, everyone knows which first-tier Fire Palaces are the [Chosen Fire Palaces].

Grapefruit said seriously, "Ms. Lala said that more specific instructions will be given in a couple of days. We need to explore with the 'Sensing Wand' developed by Teacher Oz. If there is a boss-level monster nearby, the wand will vibrate."

"A sensory wand?"

"This is it."

Grapefruit pulled a strange, thick, short stick from under the wizard's robe.

Dark purple, two-section design, with raised dots.

This thing can vibrate?

Sieg was astonished: "Is this a purple mood?"

What is a purple mood?

no……

Why does this look so unconventional compared to the "sensing wand"?

Is it really okay to take it around everywhere?

Grapefruit continued, "You should know that ascending to godhood requires killing all the leaders of the Flint Palace. This wand was specially made by Master Oz to prevent us from not being able to find the leaders."

"Alright, alright... put it away."

Sieg had already closed his eyes.

He asked, "What are the benefits of completing the task for her?"

Grapefruit shoved the sensory wand back: "You're my teammate, and the benefits you receive are from me, not from Teacher Oz."

reasonable.

And it's suitable.

Sieg wouldn't show himself in front of Oz, let alone try to take credit, until he was absolutely certain of Oz's current attitude towards him.

He just lingers on the periphery, collecting node rewards and such.

He asked, "When will the exploration of the beacon tower begin?"

Without hesitation, Grapefruit replied, "I don't know. It depends on Ms. Lala's arrangements; she's the instructor."

"...How come you don't know anything?"

Xiyou pulled over a cushion, hugged it to her chest, and looked very innocent: "You can treat me like a mascot, that would be the best, I don't want to do anything, I don't want to do anything."

Grapefruit doesn't seem to have much of a controlling nature.

that is good.

Sieg believes he might be able to perform slightly better.

That way, he would have the opportunity to mind control grapefruit.

Then he turned this "cat team" into his team, ostensibly to help Oz, but in reality, it was a stepping stone for his advancement.

……

……

Around 3 PM, Xiyou said that diligence leads to mastery, and she would do some meditation.

Sieg went into his room and lay down on the bed.

The quilt had just been aired and still smelled of sunshine.

Xiyou took it very seriously; she lit aromatherapy in the room, and the faint scent of herbs and trees was soothing.

Sieg had slept on stone slabs for a month, but now, lying on soft bedding, he felt an eerie sensation of sinking endlessly, which made him uneasy.

He opened his eyes and looked at the ceiling, thinking:

"The essence, the profession, the raw materials for crafting extraordinary items. All extraordinary materials are locked in the Fire Palace, where a dedicated team will greatly shorten my development period."

"Mind control over grapefruit isn't enough; that half-succubus is the true leader of the cat team..."

"I need to win her over, not just make her outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant, and formulate the Fire Palace adventure plan around my growth; at the very least, I need to influence her decisions. What's the point of me being here if I don't make any progress next time in the Fire Palace?"

Are you really working for Oz and Grapefruit?

But how do I get close to Lala?

Sieg encountered many hybrids in the game, including the "Dalit" group in this world of Sui.

They are sensitive and brooding; it's harder to open their hearts than to break into a bank vault.

Sieg pictured the gloves Lala was wearing.

This half-succubus is probably hard to come by even among hybrids.

I need to have my license checked.

A command rang in my ears.

Sieg raised an eyebrow; only he could see, pure white flames gathered before his eyes.

Through the firelight, he saw—

A purple-haired woman in military uniform sat upright on a leather sofa and recited a spell to summon him.

Judging from her attire, she looks like a wealthy person.

Sieg sat up, flicked his fingers, and pulled a silk cloak from thin air, which he then draped over his shoulders.

He touched the white fire.

In an instant, heaven and earth were turned upside down, and Sieg appeared among all the wonders, sitting behind the round table.

【Congratulations.】

[The Myriad Wonders have received ten different visitors, meeting the upgrade requirements and unlocking new abilities.]

Now you can read the visitor's basic information.

Now, you can communicate with your followers within the realm of consciousness and provide assistance in real time.

When your number of followers reaches '3', your level in the Myriad Wonders Realm will be upgraded, unlocking more abilities.

"?"

The realm of all wonders has been upgraded!

and……

It seems to be an "achievement upgrade" or "proficiency upgrade," which does not require additional materials. As long as certain conditions are met, the level can be increased.

The conditions for the next upgrade are clearly listed, instead of vaguely stating "upgrade is possible" as before.

[You can read the visitor's information].

This is easy to understand.

Sieg can learn the identity of the person in front of him, which makes it easier for him to play tricks, making it a very useful little enhancement.

But what does it mean to "communicate with believers in real time"?

Ultimately, what does "believer" mean?

Does he have any followers now?

"Emira?"

Sieg frowned, thinking, "The only one who's really close to being a 'believer' right now is Emilia... Does that mean accepting my curse makes her my believer?"

A faith bound by curses is cheap and hypocritical; it's nothing but coercion. What kind of believer is that?

Sieg didn't delve into the matter for the time being. He picked up a match from the table and, with a hiss, lit the kerosene lamp beside him.

He smiled as he looked at the woman in military uniform in the shadows ahead.

"Splash!"

It was the sound of pages turning.

Seen by Sieg was the alluring and passionate body standing before him, which opened like a book, revealing lines of text:

Name: Ethan Wood

Race: Human

[Class: Rune Swordsman]

[Rank: 2]

[What I like: The flattery of powerful men.]

[Things she dislikes: People who are cold to her.]

Ethan Wood, the second daughter of the Lord of Blackscale. Spoiled and arrogant, ambitious, possessive, and domineering, she is disdainful of everyone. Just days ago, her mother plotted a murder. Ethan knew about it but pretended not to. After the murder began, she proactively exposed her mother's conspiracy.

【turn out……】

Her mother's conspiracy was exposed, leading to her being ostracized and expelled; she bravely reported her mother's crimes, earning the sympathy and care of the Blackscale City Lord.

Ethan thus gains the opportunity to serve the Great Witch Oz. She assembles a team to attempt to conquer the Second-Order Chosen Palace.

Ethan wasn't satisfied; her ambitions went beyond that. She believed she should be Oz's student, not just an employee as she was.

"welcome."

Sieg's voice was as calm as a still pond: "Come closer, Miss Ethan. I can smell your ambition from this distance."