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Chapter 1.15
Klbkch finds a gravely wounded Erin Solstice and saves her life with a healing potion. He deduces she is from another world during their subsequent conversation. Klbkch then returns to Liscor and violently confronts his partner, Relc, for his role in provoking the goblin attack.
Klbkch, an Antinium member of the Liscor City Guard, feels a sense of unease and decides to check on Erin Solstice. Using his [Enhanced Movement] skill, he travels with incredible speed from the city to her inn. He arrives to find a scene of carnage, with dead goblins littering the common room and Erin near death from a grievous stomach wound.
Acting quickly, Klbkch administers a valuable healing potion to Erin, which miraculously heals her fatal injury. After ensuring she is stable, he takes the corpse of the Goblin Chieftain outside, dismembering and burying it to prevent it from reanimating as an undead creature. He plans to turn in its head for a bounty later.
Returning inside, Klbkch speaks with the traumatized Erin. He attempts to explain some of the world's mechanics, referencing 'The Book of Levels' and the class system. He finds her ignorance of fundamental concepts like levels, skills, and historical events like 'The Black Tide' to be profoundly strange. Her unusual sympathy for a Goblin further piques his suspicion, leading him to ask if she is from this world. A tearful Erin confirms she is not, admitting she comes from a place called Michigan.
Klbkch absorbs this incredible revelation and decides he must report his findings about the unique Human to his Queen. He returns to Liscor and finds his partner, Relc, drunk in a bar. Blaming Relc for instigating the goblin attack by stealing their banner, Klbkch furiously assaults him, leaving him beaten and unconscious on the floor.
Using his [Enhanced Movement] skill to arrive quickly, Klbkch finds Erin Solstice dying from a stomach wound. He administers a powerful healing potion, which completely heals the injury and saves her life.
To prevent it from reanimating as an undead, Klbkch dismembers and buries the corpse of the Goblin Chieftain that Erin killed.
A young woman from Earth who stumbles into a fantasy world and takes refuge in an abandoned inn.
aka Erin, the traveller +39
A city adjacent to the Floodplains, culturally aligned with Drakes and not friendly to Humans.
aka City of Liscor, the city +4
Small green humanoids with red eyes and sharp teeth that chased and slashed at Erin.
aka Goblins, little green things +7
Noticing her profound lack of knowledge about the world, Klbkch correctly deduces that Erin Solstice is not from this world. A distraught Erin confirms his suspicion.
An Antinium Senior Guardsman in the city’s watch; arrives at Erin’s door and greets her.
aka Senior Guardsman Klbkch, ant-man +13
A powerful and savage Goblin warrior who breaks into The Wandering Inn and attacks Erin, serving as the chapter's primary antagonist.
aka The Chieftain, the Goblin +4
Local armed watchmen; Klbkch and Relc are members and present at Erin's table examining her injury.
aka the Watch, guards +18
A guardsman referenced by a rookie as likely getting punishment duty for breaking windows.
aka Guardsman Relc, Senior Guardsman Relc +6
A Senior Guardswoman who supervises the walls and orders a report to the Captain about possible smoke.
aka Senior Guardswoman Beilmark, Beilmark the Guardswoman
A sapient reptilian species dominant in regions south of Liscor, generally unfriendly to Humans.
aka lizards, giant lizards +2
An ancient and foundational text that explains the mechanics and philosophy of the world's system of levels and classes.
aka The Book
A species of large, sentient insectoid people; one arrives at Erin’s door with a companion.
aka giant insect, Ants +18
A martial civic class for members of the city’s guard, denoting training and authority to patrol and enforce law.
aka Guardsman, [Guardswoman] +9
A species of which Erin Solstice is a member.
aka Humans, smooth skin +3
A class focused on running inns, hospitality, and tending to guests and establishments.
aka [Innkeeper], Innkeeper (class) +3
A skill possessed by Klbkch that allows him to move at incredible speeds.
aka [Enhanced Movement]
“They’re murderers. And so am I. Don’t kill them.”
“Your leveling is stupid. Your skills are stupid. I hate your world’s classes, I hate your city, and I hate you.”
“All those that Think—Feel. From Feeling do we Act. It is in Action that we Level. All those who Think have a Class. And it is in that Class which we find destiny.”
“Many clues lead me to this conclusion. Your curiosity about levels and classes, your mysterious arrival, and this ‘Michigan,’ which is no nation recorded in any book or map. But most of all, it was this last moment. No Human would weep for a Goblin.”
“I’m just having a bad—I mean, it’s been—I hate this world. But I didn’t mean that last bit about you. You’re okay. Everyone else can go to hell.”
“Allow me to apologize on both our behalves. Words cannot express my shame.”
“That’s stupid.”
“I see. It is a long way to Rhir. Here. Please accept this.”
“The Antinium? We do not weep.”
“I took no offense, Miss Solstice. I realize you have gone through a traumatic event. The fault lies with me for not being more receptive to your distress. I should have provided more comfort and companionship. In that, my partner Relc is occasionally more effective than I.”
“Good night to you. Please accept my apologies for the inconvenience. I shall take my leave.”
“Many would argue otherwise, Miss Solstice. Goblins are considered monsters and bandits for the purposes of determining crime under Liscorian law. They are killers who prey on the weak. You have nearly died at the hands of one.”
“It is part of the lessons any child learns. The exact wording comes from a book: The Book of Levels, which was originally written nearly twenty thousand years ago. Copies of this text are among the few mainstream works that have been faithfully reproduced into this age. I have studied it extensively upon coming to this continent to understand the mentality of the peoples here, as well as levels and classes in general.”
“No Human. No Drake or Gnoll, Selphid, Dullahan, Beastkin, or any creature from this world would.”
“I’m okay. Really. I just—I’m from somewhere else. Another world. This place is different. I just—I just don’t want to talk about it right now. It’s been a bad day.”
“Say rather that it has become obvious. It is an unbelievable statement, but it is the only one I can come to.”
“No, it’s not. We don’t have levels, and we don’t learn Skills like we’re in a video game. We don’t have classes except for ones in school, and we don’t need levels to learn things.”
“It is simply how we live our life. This is a universal truth throughout the world. Is yours not the same?”
“One last question, Miss Solstice, if I may? What caused the Goblin Chieftain to attack you in the first place? It is rare that the tribal leader takes any aggressive action if unprovoked.”
“You are not from here, are you, Miss Solstice?”
“I do not mean this country or even this continent. You are not from here, are you?”
“I do not understand your reasoning. But I will accede to your request. Know that I will defend myself with lethal force if attacked, however.”
“No. No killing Goblins.”
“Then you have a commonality with many non-Antinium species. My apologies. I should not be asking such questions now. You are still in shock.”
“Indeed not. Two individuals taking the [Soldier] class, for instance, may learn different Skills at the same level. It is a matter of need and inclination which allows individuals to learn skills. For instance, while Relc is a higher-level warrior than I, he is not of a higher level in the actual [Guardsman] class and thus does not possess the [Detect Guilt] skill.”
“I had made the observation that you were not from this world, Miss Solstice.”
“Good thing you’re here. Let me tell you, that Erin girl? Stupidest Human I’ve ever met. Do you know what she did this morning?”
“You will be weak for at least a day afterwards. However, you will recover in full. You are lucky; there was no infection that the healing potion could have exacerbated.”
“Of course. Forgive my rudeness. But if I may, I would like to suggest a course of action.”
“This is true. Over a quarter of the deaths of travellers on the roads around Liscor are due to Goblin attacks. They are murderers.”
“I mean no offense. It is simply that all beings know how classes and skills work.”
“…I didn’t mean that.”
“I will remain here with your permission. It would be unwise to—”
“Oi, Klb! You won’t believe what that stupid Human did this time.”
“I buried it outside. Far from the inn, in pieces, to prevent chance reanimation. Worry not.”
“You are still suffering from this encounter. Your mental state is unbalanced.”
“I have disposed of the Goblin Chieftain’s body. However, there are many Goblins still hiding nearby. If you feel safe here, I will dispose of as many as I can. If not, I will escort you to the city and then return with reinforcements to—”
“After I killed the Goblin—I gained a new skill. Two, actually. [Bar Fighting] and [Unerring Throw].”
“To put it simply, classes are general ways of life that individuals take. In life, one might choose to become a [Butcher], or perhaps a [Musician]. It is simply a matter of fulfilling the requirements. Often, they are known, but there are exceptions. One cannot simply take [Ruler]-type classes for instance.”
“Learning skills is not merely a matter of levels. Classes and leveling are simply the basis of our lives so we may grow faster from what we do. It is a fact of life.”
“Respectfully, I must disagree. Though the Goblin Chieftain is dead, his tribe may seek vengeance.”
“Hey, what’s gotten into you, Klb? Decided to take me up on a night out for once? Pull up a seat.”
“I’m not in shock. I’m really not. I’m just—tired.”
“They’re vicious, evil little monsters. And they’d probably eat me if they could.”
“They are worthy skills. Unusual for the [Innkeeper] class, but not unheard of.”
“Not really. Sort of. I guess? But why are there levels in the first place?”
“Really? No one? What about Drakes?”
“That’s fine. They’re gone, anyways. They ran off when they heard him screaming.”
“That is indeed one of the ways to learn such a class. But in any case, classes increase one’s proficiency at their role with each new level. And with that increase in ability, Skills may be learnt. But there is no one set of Skills for a class.”
“It is the way of the world. All races that think are given the ability to level and take classes.”
“Yeah. I changed the subject. Humans do that when they don’t want to talk about something.”
“Another sign you do not belong to this world, Miss Solstice.”
“I’d like to be alone now.”
“I just know. Please. I’d really like to be left alone.”
“I—I'm alive.”
“It’s wrong.”
“It is not known. But our oldest texts tell us of this truth.”
“Thanks for dealing with those drunks, Klbkch. I owe you one.”
“Miss Solstice. Are you well?”
“Was it obvious?”
“What about your people?”
“May I ask why not?”
“Or whom. Who did it? And why?”
“How’d you figure it out?”
“Miss Solstice? Miss Solstice, you must drink.”
“Right, you’ve got to be born into it.”
“Did someone teach you that?”
“They won’t.”
“It’s okay.”
“No. I’m not.”
“Worry not. The healing potion worked. The bandage has stuck to your skin.”
“No? If you feel unable to travel, I can—”
“Really? Why’d I get them? And aren’t skills like…set?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“May I ask how you know?”
“I’m going to sleep.”
“I thought as much.”
“And they’re murderers.”
“By who?”
“But why is that how things work?”
“Good. Thank you. So. What now? Did you—what did you do with the body?”
“I’m not in shock.”
“Is there something you wish to ask of me, Miss Solstice?”
“Well then, explain it to me.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“One more thing.”
“Ah. Miss Solstice?”
“Do you understand?”
“You’re fine.”
“…Thank you. Um. Thank you.”
“No.”
“Drink.”
“As you say.”
“Undoubtedly.”
“Oh—ow! Good to know.”
“Very well then.”
“Well then. Take care, Miss Solstice.”
“Not at all, Senior Guardswoman Beilmark.”
“Oh. I see.”
“Really?”
“Um. Okay?”
“Ow. What was—”
“Guh.”
“Yeah.”
“Okay.”