Chapter 1071: Kundara (4)

The old man’s reaction, mentioning the Eight Great Dragon Kings of the Water God Clan and immediately becoming wary upon seeing the Ruyi Orb.

But Lennok had anticipated this outcome the moment he took out the Ruyi Orb.

Lennok’s Ruyi Orb was crafted directly by the Water God Dragon King, Alohan, and most of its energy was filled with Alohan’s own life force.

If various energies were mixed, it might be different, but filled with such pure Dragon King energy, it wouldn’t be strange for a Long-lived Being to recognize it.

Of course, the reason he still deliberately took out the Ruyi Orb, knowing this—

“Water, Water God Dragon King…!!”

Snook, a workshop employee who had been listening to the conversation behind the old man, trembled, his face pale.

He, too, knew well the name that spilled from the old man’s lips the moment he saw Lennok’s Ruyi Orb.

A Long-lived Being known to have the most volatile temper among the Eight Great Dragon Kings who guard the borders of Kundara.

Had he, just moments ago, been uttering blasphemy against the very being who controlled and ruled the entire Water God Clan?

Snook, his face turning purple, stammered and struggled to open his mouth.

“Th-there’s no one among the, the Dragonkin who s-speaks like that…! I, I mistakenly thought…!!”

“…”

“I’m, I’m sorry. I’m sorry…!!”

The old man firmly pressed down on Snook’s shoulder, who was trembling, unable to even properly apologize.

Snook, bowing his head deeply under the force, prostrated himself on the floor.

Looking at the young man, the old man, who had placed the Ruyi Orb on the display case, spoke.

“Snook. Ask the customers in the workshop for their understanding and close the shop.”

“Y-yes, yes?”

“Business is over for today.”

The old man spoke in a heavy voice.

“I intend to serve this gentleman last and then close, so you go and ask the customers for their understanding.”

“Ah, alright…!!”

Only then did Snook frantically get up and start busily scurrying around the workshop.

Snook, bowing his head repeatedly to customers who showed displeasure, guided them to the exit.

Surprised by Snook’s sudden politeness after his previously impolite attitude, the customers one by one left the workshop.

Lennok gazed at the young man for a moment, then smiled and turned his attention to the old man.

“You didn’t need to make excuses to get him out of my sight; I wasn’t going to kill him.”

“…”

“You seem to care for your apprentice quite a lot.”

“Who worries about such a foolish employee?”

The old man pretended to be calm, changing the subject.

“I merely assigned him a troublesome task to tidy up the shop; I couldn’t care less if he falls down dead somewhere.”

“Is that so?”

“More importantly, we had something to discuss about the existence of this Ruyi Orb.”

With all the customers gone, the old man quietly spoke in the suddenly silent, vast workshop.

He tried to hide his agitation, but his experienced eyes could not leave the dazzling Ruyi Orb placed on the display case.

The old man carefully wiped the brilliantly shining Ruyi Orb with a towel in his hand, then hesitated and opened his mouth.

“The energy contained in this Ruyi Orb is undoubtedly that of the Eight Great Dragon Kings. It must be that Water Minister Alohan, who guards the Deep Sea Domain, personally bestowed his own life force.”

“…”

“However, this Ruyi Orb appears to have been made very recently for a Dragon King’s Orb. Therefore, it cannot be Water Minister Alohan’s personal Ruyi Orb.”

Even as the old man said that, he asked as if disbelieving.

“So, does that mean the Water God Dragon King personally made and bestowed a Ruyi Orb upon someone who is not even of the Water God Clan?”

“If you know that much, there’s no need for me to explain.”

Lennok crossed his arms and raised his head.

The Water God Dragon King, Alohan, who guards the Deep Sea Domain, wouldn’t be able to return to Kundara for some time anyway.

Even if Lennok slightly distorted his relationship with Alohan, there would be no one to point out the discrepancy.

It was, after all, an undeniable fact that Alohan had personally crafted the Ruyi Orb for Lennok and infused his life force into the orb.

“I came to the workshop to purchase the Black-Chained Dragon Scale Armor. Can I now hear the price of the item?”

“Indeed. With a Ruyi Orb of this level, there would be no problem handling Dragonkin equipment. However…”

The old man groaned and shook his head.

“Unfortunately, I cannot sell you the equipment.”

“Why not?”

“Because you are not a Long-lived Being who has normally passed Kundara’s Tribulations.”

“…”

Suddenly, a tense atmosphere hung between the two.

Lennok immediately checked the firmly closed workshop door after hearing those words, and the old man noticed his action.

The old man, too, seemed to realize what Lennok was thinking the moment he heard the words, and asked with a bitter smile.

“You seem to have some idea as well.”

“That is…”

“I will explain, but can you promise not to kill me during that time?”

Lennok, trying to draw upon his magic for a moment, stopped himself once he made up his mind.

The old man’s attitude was quite calm, considering he noticed Lennok’s secret immediately upon seeing the Ruyi Orb.

The very act of informing Lennok of this fact was, in itself, proof that he wasn’t trying to pressure him.

Lennok, quietly suppressing his will-thought, replied.

“I’m not one to revel in eliminating witnesses.”

“[…?]”

Ignoring Davi’s questioning voice from within his pocket, Lennok nodded.

“I’m listening.”

“Passing the Tribulations in Kundara is a process of accumulating legitimate karma to live and exist in this city.”

The old man said.

“Therefore, for Long-lived Beings residing in Outer Tribulation City, that karma is accumulated in their Ruyi Orbs each time they pass a Tribulation.”

“…”

“But even though you are in this Fifth Tribulation garden, there is no trace of having passed a Tribulation in your Ruyi Orb. It is as clear as a transparent mirror.”

The old man, looking at Lennok with deep eyes, said.

“If one were to interact with someone who hasn’t acquired such karma, the Elder Council of Eight Tribulations would immediately detect the distortion of that karma and intervene to ‘adjust’ it.”

“Passing Tribulations as karma for existing in Kundara…”

Lennok pondered and asked.

“You’re not just guessing from the circumstances, are you? From where did you first suspect that I am not a Long-lived Being?”

“A Long-lived Being who possesses a Ruyi Orb usually keeps the orb deeply within some organ of their body.”

The old man replied.

“Naturally, because of that, a strong aura or scent usually permeates the Ruyi Orb.”

“…”

“However, this Ruyi Orb, despite containing the Water God Dragon King’s energy, has almost no scent. At most, a faint sea scent?”

The old man held out the Ruyi Orb to Lennok and said.

“It’s proof that you are not the kind of ‘being’ who would originally create or carry a Ruyi Orb.”

“…”

Was it not because he failed to hide his presence, but rather because he showed no presence, that he was suspected of not being a Long-lived Being?

Seeing Lennok lost in thought, the old man summarized his words.

“Of course, reaching such a high status in a Short-lived Species’ body is something to be respected. I intend to treat you as a customer based on that alone.”

“For someone who says that, you also seem to have accumulated a considerable level of status yourself.”

Just by glancing at Lennok’s Ruyi Orb, the old man recognized that the energy contained within it was that of the Water God Dragon King.

At the same time, he discerned that the Ruyi Orb was a recently made artifact and realized that Lennok was not Alohan himself.

This would be impossible unless the old man himself was a skilled magic user and a holder of considerable status.

Is it possible that even a merchant selling goods in the bustling commercial district of Kundara is such a powerful superhuman?

“You seem unfamiliar with Long-lived Beings.”

But the old man shook his head, even after hearing Lennok’s words.

“We are beings who complete our status merely by living and breathing. The accumulated status has little to do with enlightenment.”

“…You mean status increases and is completed merely by being alive?”

“A Long-lived Being with high status is not necessarily a Transcendent. In fact, the opposite is often true.”

“…”

“If you wish to interact with Long-lived Beings in Kundara through legitimate means, merely having the blessing of the Water God Dragon King is not enough.”

The old man, tidying the display case, nodded to Lennok and said.

“Proof that you have passed the Tribulations. Or, a corresponding form of identification or qualification is required.”

“Identification, you say?”

“Outer Tribulation City is a city where Long-lived Beings gather, but it’s not entirely devoid of Short-lived Species.”

The old man replied.

“Some humans have obtained qualification to operate in Kundara by receiving sponsorship from a Long-lived Being, or by becoming their possession, or even their slave.”

The old man shook his head.

“This is all I can tell you. If you wish to buy something, bring a means to prove your identity in a different way.”

Lennok stared silently at the firmly closed workshop door, lost in thought.

“There are more problems than I expected to freely move around the city. Is it a good thing I found out now, at least…?”

Outer Tribulation City, Kundara, is a city of non-humans where lifespan is used as currency.

If he hid the Ruyi Orb, he wouldn’t easily be exposed as a Short-lived Species, but conversely, he wouldn’t be able to use lifespan as currency.

At this point, Lennok’s access to accommodation and amenities in Outer Tribulation City was effectively blocked.

There was a possibility that having the Water God Dragon King as backing could make things easier, but conversely, he couldn’t utilize that benefit because he hadn’t passed the Tribulations.

Things hadn’t gone smoothly since he skipped the Tribulations and entered the city after encountering the Fearsome Blood King.

‘Even if not the Black-Chained Dragon Scale Armor, there were a few other items I wanted to buy from that workshop.’

While conversing with the old man, Lennok had occasionally eyed useful equipment displayed in the workshop.

Among them, Lennok had noticed a saddle for magical beasts that could be used as mounts for unintelligent magical beasts.

And a summoning contract that could be used with the agreement of a Long-lived Being.

Setting aside the magical beast saddle, the summoning contract was tempting, as it apparently worked normally even outside Kundara.

If he could make a summoning contract with one of Kundara’s powerful Long-lived Beings, it would certainly be a great help in future endeavors.

Not just for purchasing items from the workshop, but also for information gathering, identification would be essential.

Having made up his mind, Lennok sat on a pavilion outside the street and pulled out an old notebook.

The Blood-Thought Scribe, which had returned to Lennok’s hands due to the mishap during his transaction with the Fearsome Blood King.

Lennok looked down at the notebook, which vibrated faintly as if it had found its rightful owner, with heavy eyes.

‘Perhaps only twice more?’

The Blood-Thought Scribe is a vast recording device for blood and living creatures, but it has the drawback of ceasing to function for a long time after each use.

Once during the First Tribulation. And more than five times during the process of transferring ownership to the Fearsome Blood King.

He probably had only a few uses left.

He needed to choose his questions carefully.

A question that wouldn’t greatly deviate from the Blood-Thought Scribe’s theme, yet aligned most with Lennok’s objective…

Lost in thought, Lennok eventually pricked his fingertip and began to write on the page.

=I want to know the place where the highest-ranking Long-lived Beings of Kundara gather the most, on this street.

=…

The Blood-Thought Scribe did not answer.

Instead, drops of blood welled up on the notebook and began to form a drawing.

Realizing it was a map of the nearby streets, Lennok immediately stood up and began walking in the direction the notebook indicated.

‘This will do.’

He had already received an answer from the Blood-Thought Scribe that the Fearsome Blood King held the method for passing Kundara’s Tribulations.

In that case, Lennok had to find the method for obtaining identification in this city himself.

Now, unable to get multiple answers from the Blood-Thought Scribe, what Lennok needed to find out with a single question was the location of high-ranking Long-lived Beings.

Leaving the bustling commercial district, he headed towards a large garden located on the outskirts of the street.

A beautiful utopian garden, a peach blossom paradise, with peach trees scattered here and there, and vast lawns.

Under the trees, people of all ages sat facing each other, holding stones.

“…Hmm?”

Looking again, Lennok realized with a bewildered expression that everyone gathered in this utopian garden was playing Obaekro.

“Conjunction. Homma.”

“Alternation. Sacred Flame.”

As his ears belatedly opened, terms explaining the Obaekro game drifted from all directions.

People engrossed in their games, completely ignoring the passersby around them.

All those gathered here must be Long-lived Beings, not humans, living for a long time.

Lost in Obaekro, holding stones, forgetting even the passage of time.

The statement that Obaekro, the board game founded by Jindun, was widely spread in both Ars Nova and Kundara, was not an exaggeration in the slightest.

“…”

Lennok surveyed the various games underway in all directions and naturally headed towards an secluded corner of the garden.

The two people playing the highest-level game among all the Obaekro players gathered here.

Two young boys, dressed in black and red robes, were placing stones on the board with infinitely solemn faces.

The garden’s coordinates, located at the end of the map indicated by the Blood-Thought Scribe.

These two must surely be the most powerful spellcasters and Long-lived Beings at this location.

“…Hoo.”

Lennok let out a bitter smile, looking at the two boys engrossed in their game, not even noticing his approach.

Considering what Lennok was about to do, he did feel a little sorry for them.

However, to collect information smoothly in Kundara, he needed a way to prove himself in this city as quickly as possible.

And if his opponents were high-ranking Long-lived Beings who treated Short-lived Species like insects, there was only one way for Lennok to approach them and catch their attention.

It wouldn’t be difficult.

Because as much as Lennok needed them, they would soon need Lennok.

Having made up his mind, Lennok, in a slightly low, subdued voice, spoke to the two boys.

“You’re doing it wrong.”

“…”

“…Huh?”

A provocation, timeless and universal, transcending species.

The two boys, veins throbbing on their foreheads, simultaneously turned their gaze towards Lennok.