Babel

With more than fifteen-hundred base species, animalistic traits like tails, ears, or even wings, were not that uncommon within the planar world of Lumen. There was even an entire subset of people known as Demibeasts due to the fact they often had a real-world counterpart in the form of some kind of mammal.Among the better-known Demibeasts, the Vanargandr were very near the top as, while they were not the most powerful, they were rather unique amongst the other tribes.Unlike the vast majority of people that called Lumen home, the Vanargandr had separated from the common sense of the world.Rather than congregate around the Tower, the Vanargandr were one of the nomadic species that had ventured toward the endless horizon innumerable generations ago. As a result, they were rarely seen outside of the Tower and, while tales of their existence had been passed down from word of mouth, it was nearly impossible to find a single Vanargandr within the Megacity and surrounding slums.This, however, wasn't the most interesting fact about the Vanargandr as, while they may not be the strongest race by default, they had incredible potential.While most other tribes could go for increasingly long periods of time without eating, especially with high Constitution, the Vanargandr tribe were one of the few exceptions. They required sustenance or they would experience a significant reduction in their attributes. Inversely, the more they consumed, the stronger they would become.This inherent ability was wholly dependant on how much they had eaten so, while it may seem like an incredibly powerful boon, it was only temporary. What was more important was the fact that, as a failsafe of sorts against starvation, the Vanargandr tribe was able to eat virtually anything, even solid metal, to sustain themselves.Linnaeus may not realize the implications of picking up a Vanargandr but Eliza couldn't help but feel as if they had just acquired a major liability. Keeping the woman fed would be a major undertaking and, even if they could pull it off, there were a variety of complications associated with doing so.Unfortunately, they had already accepted Emilia into the Party so, while she had inhibitions, Eliza just smiled knowingly while Linnaeus perused the woman's Status. He was the type to analyze things on the spot so, while his guard hadn't really been lowered, it looked like he had spaced out for a brief moment...----------------------------------------[Status]Name: Emilia StarseekerTitle: Gluttonous Fledgling(+3 Con, +2 Spi, +1 Luk per Level)Race: VanargandrAge: 18Gender: FemaleLevel: 25Health: 4260/4260Soul Power: 2573/2573Strength: 79Constitution: 142+71Agility: 138+69Dexterity: 103+30.9Intelligence: 51+23.3Wisdom: 48+14.4Spirit: 60+21Charisma: 23Luck: 20Free Attributes: 0Skills: [Kinu Comprehension:(-)], [*Phase Master(Water):LV52*], [Spirit of Gluttony:LV55], [Healthy:LV20], [Vital Spirit:LV13], [Fleet-Footed:LV28], [Swift: Lv16], [Nimble Fingers:LV23], [Sense Danger:LV44], [Martial Arts:LV38], [Spear Mastery:LV41], [Hunting:LV53], [Acrobatics:LV51], [Presence Concealment:LV39], [Dismantling:LV51], [Cooking:LV11], [Taste:LV53], [Trap Set:LV51], [Trap Disarm:LV51], [Flexible Body:LV35], [Footwork:LV29], [Perception:LV28]Abilities: [Night Vision:LV51], [Enhanced Hearing:LV51], [Olfactory Sense:LV51]Magic: [Create Water:LV51], [Phase Change:LV51]----------------------------------------Emilia was an example of someone who, despite having a Blessing related to Magic, didn't diverge from her original path. Since she was from a nomadic tribe of hunters and gatherers, her Blessing was secondary to everything else as, with no real enemies to face, it didn't particularly matter how strong you were. Rather, as a tribe ruled by a matriarch, the females had the duty of hunting while the males often took care of the caravan processing goods for consumption.Linnaeus knew nothing about this but, seeing Emilia's Status, he couldn't help comparing her to himself as they were nearly the same Level. From this, he could tell that she actually had a much stronger foundation than even himself and Eliza.Despite appearing relatively weak at a glance, it could be seen from Emilia's Status that she was not even remotely powerless. Rather, she was quite obviously a hunter and, though Eliza would win most certainly win in a battle, it was apparent that Emilia was the more talented between them. This was likely due to the fact that she spent her entire childhood hunting while people like Eliza, even with all the benefits of belonging to one of the Eight Heavenly Families, spent most of her time focusing on theory and living a relatively stress-free lifestyle.Though he couldn't be certain, Linnaeus could tell from the comparison between himself, Ryuuna, Eliza, Krone, and now Emilia that practical experience could surpass given benefits. This affirmed the notion that, if you worked hard, the Akashic System would reward your efforts. Those that were born into status and wealth often had a significant advantage early on but, if you could tide through the lower Levels, it was becoming increasingly apparent that the gap could not only be closed, but overcome entirely.At this point, Linnaeus' primary regret was that he hadn't put any focus into his Constitution as, with Emilia as another example, he was beginning to feel a little anxious about his pathetically low Health. While his SP could be considered a secondary Health pool, it was also his primary method of dealing with enemies so he needed to find a solution before it became an even bigger issue.Deciding to shelve the matter, as there were more pressing things to attend, Linnaeus broke from his momentary reverie, stating, "It seems you are even more suited to the position of Scout than I am. I won't go back on my previous words but, depending on the circumstances, I may request that you help conduct reconnaissance with me. Having a second set of eyes and ears will be a tremendous boon when we have multiple enemies to case."Hearing Linnaeus' remark, Emilia's ears twitched slightly before she suddenly smiled and said, "I'm good at hunting and scouting. Tracking people is a little harder but I'm usually able to avoid giving myself away...actually, I'm surprised you managed to track me without my notice. How did you find my hut...?"Knowing she had seen his own Status, Linnaeus didn't bother beating around the bush as he calmly stated, "I discovered you more than a month ago. I may not be able to measure up to you when it comes to hunting but, when it comes to casing people and locations, I have complete confidence in my abilities. I've already dealt with people that have powerful senses so it isn't simple to trace my location if you don't know to look for me."Seeing that Linnaeus had higher [Presence Concealment] than her own, combined with his [Stealth] and [Assassination], Emilia couldn't really refute his claims. She could learn a lot from him and, as they had similar paths, there was much she could teach him in exchange. Before that, however, there was one important thing she wanted to know so, without footing around the issue, she asked, "Do you have anything to eat...?"Linnaeus experienced a momentary pause when he heard Emilia's question but, before he could fall into a complete stupor, Eliza explained, "The Vanargandr tribe are known for their appetites. Though they can eat virtually anything, they prefer nutrient-rich foods since it provides them a considerable increase in power and speed. From what I can tell, she has had trouble hunting due to the chaotic state of this territory. Also...it seems she has had trouble preparing the food...?"Emilia issued a dry laugh in response to Eliza's words but, rather than refute them, she sheepishly explained, "I learned the basics when I was just a cub. I've tried to practice a bit while I'm here but it hasn't gone well. Most of the cooking was left to the males in my tribe, hahahaha~"In response to Emilia's words, Eliza just lightly shrugged her shoulders before smiling in a casual manner and added, "Well, I can't say I'm any better. I know how to bake things but that is about it. Most of my food was prepared by others so I'm in the same boat. Fortunately, Linnaeus isn't that bad at cooking. We also picked up another ally just this morning and his [Cooking] is LV28. Though I've yet to taste any of his food, I have high hopes."Hearing Eliza's words, Emilia's face blossomed into a smile that seemed to make the surroundings brighten up slightly. Despite this, Linnaeus' expression remained unchanged, something that Eliza had made a point of confirming. She didn't doubt him, especially after hearing about his past, but she was still inclined to watch and see if he ever tried proactively developing his [Charm]. Since he was like a little brother to her, she didn't want him to become another egotistical despot who cared more about his own ego than the women whose hearts were broken by his actions.Feeling Eliza's gaze on him, Linnaeus looked in her direction only to find her averting her eyes just as soon as their gazes met. This wasn't the first time she had done this but, remembering how she had behaved during their first meeting, he believed it was just part of her nature. She didn't give him the same impression as Saht so, while there were undoubtedly complex thoughts running through her mind, he wasn't too worried about her.So as not to keep Krone waiting the rest of the afternoon, Linnaeus kept the line of conversation flowing, stating, "I have a few smoked and grilled rations in my Inventory. They have light seasoning, courtesy of Eliza. If you want anything more complicated, it will have to wait until we reach the den. It is safer than this little hovel you have created so we'll retreat there to gather our bearing and get acclimated to each other."As grilled meat was the staple food source for her people, Emilia wasn't shy at all when Linnaeus offered her a skewer of medium-rare venison. She hadn't eaten in almost an hour and, while she had collected some meat during her latest hunt, it needed to be treated to remove some of the gamey smell and foul taste. Even though her tribe was rumored to have descended from wolves, they did not eat their prey raw as the taste and smell were simply terrible.After handing over a skewer for Emilia's consumption, Linnaeus and Eliza watched in abject horror as she bit into the meat like a person who hadn't eaten in weeks. For a brief moment, her ivory white teeth had become noticeably sharper and, while it was difficult for most people to chew, Emilia ate, not only the meat, but a part of the rabbit horn he had used as a skewer.The horn of a Horned Rabbit was nearly as strong as iron so it was quite the sight to see someone take a bite out of it, seemingly without noticing they had done so. It wasn't until Emilia was licking the horn clean, earning Linnaeus another glance from Eliza, that the voracious woman noticed what she had done.With her ears laying flat in a dejected manner, Emilia handed the skewer back to Linnaeus as she stated in a somber tone, "Sorry...it was just too good...I couldn't help myself...I will make you a better one in the future..."Rather than reprimand Emilia for her actions, Linnaeus just inspected the horn for a few seconds before tossing it into his Inventory and saying, "It isn't an issue. I have a few spares back in the den. Just try and avoid a repeat of the same incident and there won't be any problems..."As she had expected to be berated, Emilia couldn't help but smile radiantly when she heard the words of her new Party Leader. Her ears perked back up and, if not for the fact it had been tucked away beneath her makeshift skirt, they would have been able to see her tail waggle slightly. Since this would have been very embarrassing, Emilia was grateful for her past self's foresight as she was already an adult and it wasn't appropriate to expose your tail except to kin and close friends.Feeling a little unnerved by Emilia's gaze and close proximity, Linnaeus decided it was time for them to pick up Krone and return. He didn't know why but Emilia made him feel a little uncomfortable as she didn't seem to have a proper sense of boundaries. Since he really disliked having people in his personal space, it took a lot of self-restraint to prevent himself from immediately stepping back and pulling out a dagger...

With Emilia and Eliza following close behind, Linnaeus led the group back to where Krone was sitting with his back to a tree. He had his eyes closed at first but, after they entered the clearing, he opened them to give Emilia a brief once over.Feeling troubled by Krone's scrutinizing gaze, Emilia's ears angled backward as she naturally moved into a position with her balance evenly distributed between both feet. She could see his Status and knew that he was a lot stronger than her, despite having only a fraction of her speed.Seeing Emilia's reaction, Krone gave a small nod before rising to his feet and plainly stating, "I'm Krone, the Vanguard."Emilia didn't immediately relax but, knowing she would be in the same Party as Krone, she took a deep breath before saying in a subdued tone, "I'm Emilia...a Huntress of the Vanargandr tribe. I will help scout and protect the backline..."Since gender and race were shown in the Status, Krone wasn't surprised by the fact that Emilia was a member of the Vanargandr tribe. He had been a little surprised at first but, during the period he sat waiting, he had more than enough time to resume his usual demeanor.With simple introductions out of the way, Linnaeus stepped up to say, "We'll return to the den Eliza and I have been using. For now, Eliza and Emilia will stay in the back while you protect them. I'll be leading the way forward and scouting ahead a few hundred meters. With Emilia's tracking ability and the Party function, you shouldn't have any problems following the path I map out."Eliza wasn't too fond of Linnaeus' setup and wanted to nominate Emilia for the position of Scout but, according to their original agreement, this wouldn't be proper. She didn't want to cause any rifts in the nascent Party so, before returning to the den, Eliza decided to keep her opinion to herself.Without any dissension, Linnaeus disappeared into the underbrush and, after a few seconds, even Emilia's sensitive ears weren't able to pick up on him. If not for the Party function allowing them to roughly sense each other, it would be very difficult to track Linnaeus through the forested terrain.With this in mind, Emilia turned to Eliza with an awkward smile on her face as she said, "He is pretty good. I still don't understand how he was made the Party Leader though...?"As a member of a nomadic tribe, Emilia lacked knowledge regarding the Eight Heavenly Families. To her, Eliza was just a powerful woman and, due to growing up in a matriarchal tribe, she had trouble understanding why Linnaeus was in charge.Eliza was annoyed by Emilia's words so, without beating around the bush, she stated, "If you were to speak about your leaders back in your tribe, how would people react? Don't say senseless things that will sow discord in the Party. Having more power does not automatically guarantee a person has the necessary leadership qualities to lead a Party successfully."Emilia frowned in response to Eliza's words but, as she didn't have any way to refute them, she opted to remain silent as she followed after Krone. Since the latter made an incredible amount of noise as he tore ambled through the forest, it was very easy to ascertain his location...---Though it was only a short period of time, Linnaeus enjoyed the relative quiet as he stealthily made his way through the forest. While he didn't mind Eliza's behavior that much, it was still troubling as, even when he was with Saht, they rarely spoke.With the addition of Emilia, Linnaeus knew things were going to become lively in the future. It was impossible to know if this was a good or a bad thing but, as conflict and drama were something any Party would face, he needed to be mentally prepared to deal with it.Truth be told, Linnaeus still didn't trust Eliza and, while he allowed her to get away with invading his personal space, this was primarily due to the fact that she was much stronger than him. Since she also supported his position as Party Leader, he needed to be more tolerant of her actions.Eliza was extremely important for his future plans and, with her connection to his sister, Linnaeus was unable to easily distance himself from her. If she began to scheme and turn against him, the odds of ever finding someone to replace her were negligible at best. Thus, for the time being, he would allow Eliza to dote on him like a little brother as, until he became stronger, he needed the support of those more powerful than himself.After reaching a small clearing that was only 500m from the location of his den, Linnaeus took a seat on a moss-covered rock to wait for the others to catch up. He had chosen a route where the chances of encountering an enemy were slim so, after a few minutes, Krone's figure could be seen tearing his way through a dense shrub.While Eliza and Emilia would cause a few troubles, Linnaeus knew that this mountain of a man would be the most troublesome element in their Party. It was very apparent that Krone didn't respect him and, if not for the presence of Eliza, there was little he could do to keep the man in line.Despite this, Linnaeus believed that Krone could eventually be won over and, if he managed to win the man's respect, recruiting new members would be a lot easier. After all, while Eliza would be able to support his position as Party Leader, being a member of the Evendoom family all but guaranteed that people would seek trouble with them in an effort to obtain her.Status and authority were the most powerful control factors in the entire world so, if they had the chance, there would be no end to the number of despotic individuals who would want to bring Eliza to ruin. She may not be an indisputable beauty but, as a daughter of the Evendoom family, she was a trophy that few would be willing to pass up...Upon reaching Linnaeus' location, Krone just gave him a curt nod before leaning against a tree at the side. Linnaeus returned this nod and, for another minute or so, the two teens waited in silence as Eliza and Emilia caught up with them.Emilia was a little confused after reaching the clearing but, knowing what Linnaeus had in mind, Eliza moved to sit on the same moss-covered stone. This was an action that emphasized her support and, while Emilia was originally intending to speak out, she ultimately decided to hold her tongue.Using the calm and confident tone he believed was necessary for a Party Leader, Linnaeus looked between Krone and Emilia as he explained, "I may be lacking in experience but I have learned a lot from my short time climbing the Tower. I have seen powerful people put themselves into situations that could easily lead to their deaths for no better reason than their own arrogance. Until we reach a point where we can call ourselves the strongest, we should never underestimate the ingenuity and persistence of our opponents..."Seeing that everyone was listening quietly, Linnaeus gave another small nod before adding, "I know how far some people will go when it comes to casing a potential target. With this in mind, I refuse to tolerate complacency when it comes to securing our place of rest. For the rest of the afternoon, I will be teaching you how to case an area and set basic traps before we return to our den. Unless you are forced to retreat during an emergency, you should never, under any circumstances, simply return to your place of rest without checking the area..."While Krone and Emilia may have offered a few words of dissent under normal circumstances, they were well aware of the fact that Linnaeus had tracked them both without their notice. Just imagining a person knowing what they were doing for more than a month was an unnerving thought so, while he may be an exception to the rule, they could not refute that others may put in just as much effort.After showing the duo a map of the area, this one drawn by Eliza, Linnaeus led the group around the periphery of the den in a slow and methodical manner. Fortunately, as a Huntress, Emilia was better at setting and disarming traps than Linnaeus so, while he had a lot to teach her about casing an area, she was able to correct some of his mistakes along the way.At first, Emilia was afraid to speak out but Linnaeus quickly put an end to this, stating how senseless it was to remain silent if you knew someone else was making a mistake. He did not pretend to be a perfect Party Leader and, so long as she did not countermand his orders, he encouraged both her and Krone to express their opinions.Krone's reaction to this was to simply cross his arms but, as if she had been given free rein, Emilia began asking a ton of questions and, whenever she felt he was doing something wrong, she would not hesitate to correct him. Since Linnaeus was always eager to better himself, he listened closely to everything Emilia said, just as he had done when Eliza and Ryuuna were teaching him new things.As a result of exchanging guidance and pointers along the way, it was late afternoon by the time the Party finally reached the den. Before entering, however, Linnaeus showed them all the entry points and how to determine whether or not someone had entered while they were aways. This ended up being a pertinent lesson as, while they were away, a six-meter long snake-like monster had made the den it's home.After dealing with the intruder, the group finally made their way inside the den which, since the time Eliza moved in, had become more spacious. There were now three main chambers, one for storage and two for resting. Linnaeus had hollowed out an area prior to recruiting Eliza and, while she didn't use it the previous night, he intended to have her and Emilia share the chamber in the interim.Due to his size, Krone wasn't able to move comfortably within the tunnels leading into the den but he never complained. Instead, once everyone was getting settled in, he began preparing food for the entire group after Linnaeus showed him the make-shift stove he had painstakingly developed over his month of isolation.With LV28 [Cooking], Krone was inarguably the best chef amongst the group and, with Linnaeus and Eliza providing extra ingredients, such as salt, honey, and some herbal spices, he was able to whip up a surprisingly delicious meal. While it wasn't even close to the best thing Eliza had ever eaten, it was a blessing to be able to eat such high-quality food in a small den underground.Linnaeus was also grateful for the meal but, more than anyone else, Emilia was the most enthused about having something palatable to devour. She ended up eating more than the three of them combined and, if not for providing the meat and helping to season it, this would have caused more than a few issues.It wasn't until after Emilia devoured nearly her body weight in meat that Eliza cleared up Linnaeus' confusion by explaining the quirks of the Vanargandr tribe. If not for the low light of the den, she would have been able to see him pale slightly but, after learning she didn't actually need to eat as much as she did, he was able to relax a bit. Still, he would need to take Emilia's appetite into account in the future as, while supplies were plentiful on this floor, they may enter a wasteland without any resources on higher floors...

Due to the fact they showed up around noon, it would be some time before the girl with the water Blessing returned to her abode. She wasn't very proficient when it came to hunting and, due to the ongoing territorial dispute between local Kings, the majority of suitable monsters had migrated to less tumultuous regions.Since it would probably scare her away if they just idled around the girl's encampment, Linnaeus guided the group to a region where they could lay low while waiting for her return.Once everyone had settled in, Linnaeus pulled out a bundle of twigs that he had harvested recently. Eliza had taught him how to make cord and rope using plant fibers so, with nothing better to do, he decided to add to his ever-growing stockpile of supplies.Krone wasn't the most sociable person so, after seeing Linnaeus busy himself, he decided to pull out some of his own tools to perform routine maintenance. Though he used his body as a weapon for combat, he had developed a few tools to make his life a little easier. This included a pick made from the curved horn of an Axtola and a bone hatchet produced from the shoulder blade of a monster that Linnaeus couldn't identify.Seeing her two companions at work, Eliza didn't want to be the odd one out so she pulled out a simple pestle and mortar to grind down some medicinal herbs. This had been her primary interest outside of the Tower so she could easily produce a few simple medicinal pastes. If she had the proper instruments, she could even create various potions, some of which could even regrow lost limbs in a very short period of time.Despite being much weaker than Eliza, Linnaeus took it upon himself to be the one to hunt for most of their food. He also gathered the majority of their supplies as, with how much noise even walking produced, it was less efficient for them to go together. The only time they hunted together was to improve their teamwork and cooperation, something that was relatively easy considering the versatility of her Blessing.During the moments when Linnaeus went out by himself, he would gather up anything that seemed remotely useful as, over the course of her lifetime, Eliza had committed thousands of different plants and other materials to memory. Even if he brought back something she didn't understand, it didn't take long for her to discover its properties.It was at times like this where [Iron Stomach] showed its true prowess and, while it seemed extremely dangerous, most people that grew up in the megacity had trained the Skill during their primary education. As for Linnaeus, he didn't have the skill at all as it typically required you to ingest a few potent poisons before awakening. This was also how the [Abnormal Status Resistance] was learned, meaning he was at a distinct disadvantage when it came to poisoning and other ailments.Fortunately, Linnaeus had a few innate abilities that had escaped his notice before entering into the Tower. Though his Hume side didn't really provide him too many boons, his Manalyte blood allowed him to perceive the flow of Spiritual Energy better than most. It was because of this reason that most Manalytes born inside the megacity became proficient Mages or Artificers, two things Linnaeus had never even considered while struggling int he slums.Linnaeus didn't know how to identify each kind of plant but, with his extrasensory abilities, he was able to feel whether or not something should be useful. This had come as a surprise to Eliza as, even with the ability to view his Status at her leisure, she had never put a lot of thought into his race.While some tribes hated each other to the core, most people didn't discriminate due to the existence of Blessings. There were rumored to be more than 1500 different tribes and, while you may have an advantage against one, you might be at a distinct disadvantage against another tribe. Weaker tribes often bred with those much stronger than themselves and, though there were some restrictions, a few powerful hybrid races had come into existence over the years.What surprised Eliza wasn't the fact that Linnaeus had a dual heritage but, with very few exceptions, everyone with Manalyte blood was female. They were one of the dozen or so races that were wholly female and, though they could interbreed with other races, the result was almost always a member of the Manalyte tribe, not a true hybrid.When he heard Eliza's explanation, Linnaeus was also a little surprised but, as it really didn't matter all that much, he decided not to mind it. After all, it wasn't like he had any choice regarding his own race so, while it may be exceptionally rare, it ultimately had no bearing on their situation. Still, if he had the opportunity in the future, Linnaeus wanted a compendium of all the tribes so that he could make better decisions. After all, knowledge was one of the most intrinsic parts of power and, if you knew the strengths and weaknesses of everyone else, there were few enemies beyond your means to defeat.---After around four hours, the light in the sky began to dim and, with it, a distant rustling reached the ears of the trio. They had only moved a few tens of meters away from the small hovel so, while it was almost inaudible at first, it didn't take long for the sound of movement to reach them.Deciding to take the initiative, Eliza hopped up to her feet and, after dusting off her backside, she looked toward Krone and said, "You should stay here. Lin and I will go and try to recruit our next Party member. Since you have a scary face and a cold demeanor, it is better to wait until we get an answer before she has to meet you."Krone just shook his head without comment, earning him a pointed glare from Eliza as Linnaeus rose to his feet and added, "Eliza is right. Sorry, but you do have an intimidating appearance. For better or worse, mine is pretty disarming...the chances I'll scare someone off are pretty slim."Hearing Linnaeus' words, Krone snorted through his nose while Eliza released a pleasant-sounding giggle before pulling the former along by his hand. She wanted to comment that, if he was wearing thicker clothes, it would be almost impossible to determine his gender but, as most men wouldn't want to hear such a thing, she ultimately resisted the urge to tease him.As could be expected, Eliza made a lot of noise while walking through the forested area so, by the time they reached the small hovel, the girl they were intending to recruit had already exited. She had a long spear formed from some kind of bone in her hands which, curiously, had an orb of water near the base of the sharped point. It would move around with the spearhead and, though it was hard to imagine just what purpose it served, Linnaeus' imagination ran rampant with possibilities.Despite how amicable Eliza and Linnaeus appeared at a glance, the woman didn't drop her weapon as, even outside of the Tower, appearances could be deceiving. It was possible for a petite woman like Ryuuna to obliterate boulders and overturn trees while, in some situations, even the burliest men could be overpowered by an opponent with greater physical attributes.Stopping a respectable distance away from the girl, Eliza pulled Linnaeus to her front before giving him a supportive smile as she lightly pushed against his back. This caused him to take a few awkward steps forward and, due to the peculiarity of the situation, even the spear-wielding woman tilted her head to the side slightly, confused.Linnaeus did his best to put on a smile while raising both of his hands in a placating gesture, palms forward and fingers wide. This actually caused the woman to grip her spear a little tighter but, rather than attack, she asked in a hesitant voice filled with the pretense of courage, "W-Who are you? Why have you come here...?"In response to the woman's question, Linnaeus answered in as calm a tone as he could manage with a spear angled toward his neck, "My name is Linnaeus...my friends call me Lin. The one behind me is Eliza...my friend and companion. We also have another person waiting for us. His name is Krone. He has a pretty scary face so we had him stay back so you weren't spooked..."Hearing that there was a third person, the woman began to breathe a little quicker but, as Linnaeus seemed to be forthright with her, part of her subconscious mind began to relax. If they had wanted to attack her, it wouldn't take much effort for three people to overwhelm a single person so, at the very least, she could assume they came with good intentions.Even without being asked, the woman took it upon herself to say in a subdued tone, "My name is Emilia..." before following it up by, once again, asking, "Why are you here...?"Understanding that the girl was beginning to drop her guard, Linnaeus slowly lowered his hands as he answered in the same calm tone as before, "We wanted to scout you for our Party. Our ultimate goal is to reach the top of the Crucible of Souls. For now, however, we're looking for people that can help us survive on each successive floor."The moment Linnaeus mentioned scouting her for his Party, the woman released a tired sigh as she aimed the tip of her spear to the side. She didn't completely drop her guard but, as the two people before her seemed friendly enough, Emilia didn't want to antagonize them.Without taking much time to consider her options, Emilia simply asked, "What kind of position do you want me to fill in your Party? My Level isn't that high and I don't like fighting..."In response to the question and subsequent remark, Linnaeus kept his calm as he answered, "I would want you to stay in the back-line to support Eliza. Most of the fighting will be handled by myself and Krone. I can't promise that you won't have to fight but, in this world, you rarely have the opportunity to completely avoid conflict..."Hearing that she wouldn't be forced to fight up front, Emilia didn't take any extra time to think as she answered, "I'll join you. I'm tired of living in this forest on my own...I feel like every day brings me closer and closer to death..."Despite having numerous inhibitions, Emilia still wanted to join the duo's Party as she had become very lonely over the past month. The only other person she had met tried to attack her and, if not for the fortunate intervention of a large Bear Rabbit, she might not have had a choice in how she spent her second life. At the very least, Linnaeus and Eliza put on a pretense of being good people so, for the time being, she would rather entrust her fate to them than continue living alone.Linnaeus and Eliza both saw through Emilia's intentions but, as the latter could empathize with her, she wasn't going to say anything. As for Linnaeus, he knew loneliness was a very painful thing for most people and, though he had grown accustomed to it, being apart from Saht for such a long period of time had weighed heavily on his heart and mind...Without much of a delay, Linnaeus extended a Party invitation to Emilia who, after accepting the terms, removed the makeshift hood she had been wearing. This allowed Linnaeus to get his first full view of her features and, even without looking at her Status, he knew her Charisma had to be rather high.Eliza promptly frowned when she saw Emilia with her hood off, despite having already determined she was a beauty just based on what little of her face and body was visible. She had rather delicate features, a common trait among those with water-oriented Blessings, while her hair cascaded down in silky blue locks. Though it was very apparent she hadn't been able to care for it properly, it still had a healthy luster while, at the very top of her head, two pointed ears with tufts of white hair on the inside stood perched proudly.Even without looking at Emilia's Status, Eliza gave a small sigh of her own before muttering, "She is a Vanargandr of all things...haaaa..."

Chapter 47: An Uncommon Species