<h4>Chapter 7: Emergency Weing (Part 2)</h4>


    "Have you all evolved?" n asked as he followed the humanoid figures down the road.


    "That''s a simple way to put it, yes. All thanks to Goddess Vi. Bless her."


    "n," Ashley whispered close to his ear. "That''s the name of an administrator, Vi Lang."


    n did not respond, his expression turning into a frown.


    <i>If that''s the case, this whole situation is really messed up.</i>


    "Just a heads-up before we get there," the slime man said. "As you can see, we mean no harm. The days of fighting new Users are long gone. So please..."


    "We won''t try anything strange, we promise."


    <i>He calls us ''users'', huh?</i>


    The further they ventured through the tunnels, the more the sounds of people reached their ears. n remembered arge, spacious area inside the mountain where a subterranean river flowed.


    <i>If I recall correctly, Astrid and I spent our first whole day killing Slimes here, until a boss appeared.</i>


    What he discovered, however, was a fully functional town. Bridges crossed over cliffs, stone houses lined the streets, and there was even a structure resembling a church.


    <i>If they worship Vi Lang there, I might just puke.</i>


    n watched as a low-level familiar monster carried loads across the settlement. Workshops buzzed with activity, and materials for construction and furniture were everywhere.


    As they walked, every translucent humanoid they passed stared at them, their faces nk but their bodynguage revealing concern. Some in skirts whispered among themselves, while those in vests and jackets scratched their heads or crossed their arms.


    <i>When was thest time they saw a human walk through here?</i>


    "Smaio," one called out loudly. "Exin, now! Why are these Users here?"


    "You know as much as I do. They just walked out of the Renovatio Caves," their guide turned its head towards n, expecting him to confirm.


    n cleared his throat. "He''s telling the truth. And if you''ll excuse us, we''d like to pass through your...nds, without issue."


    "That doesn''t exin why you came from that direction!" As they were surrounded, a bulky slime blocked their path, a menacing number 20 clearly visible above its head.


    "Oh,e on!" n eximed, his gaze challenging everyone. "Is it that crazy to think some of us might just bete to the party?"


    "You''re level 5, and that''s impossible since there''s no living creature left back there for you to level up. Unless..."


    The huge slime flexed its knuckles, making no sound but suggesting a threat.


    <i>Crap, is he implying we killed some of their people?</i>


    "I''m ready, n," Ashley whispered at his back, causing the threatening slime to hesitate.


    "N-no! We will not retaliate," he dered, gritting his teeth, pondering if they could escape through the crowd until anothermanding voice intervened.


    "Back off, Smollet. I would like to speak with them." The crowd parted to allow another slime person to approach n. d in pants and leather boots, its chest bare revealed a human rib cage. "Pardon the manners of my people, travelers, but you must understand, we haven''t seen humans in thesends in a long, long time. Follow me. Smaio, you too."


    n nodded, feeling the piercing, invisible res of everyone around them. "Thanks, man."


    <i>Um... Shouldn''t have said that.</i>


    "I''m Smudock, leader of this humble tribe," the older-looking slime-man introduced himself as they headed towards the town outskirts.


    "I''m n, and she''s Ashley," he said, noticing Ashley was holding the slime child by the hand. "So, Smudock... Do you believe our story?"


    "I only believe in facts. Your levels don''t match your story, which is suspicious, but I assume it has something to do with you having been logged out of The Novus, correct?"


    The slime child ran off to y with other kids, including a pair of regr, limbless slimes hopping and running around.


    <i>A! Are those supposed to be babies? Wait, what did he say?</i>


    "Do you know about The Novus?" n frowned, stopping in his tracks.


    "Are you asking if we are aware this is a virtual environment? Every NU that has spawned here in the System knows it."


    "O-Okay, but what''s a ''Nu''?"


    "Non-User..." Smudock nced around. "Smaio?"


    "Yes, chief?" The slime-man they had first encountered stepped forward, showing reluctance.


    "Ride them to Unus, will you?"


    "Yes, chief. You two,e this way."


    "Do people from Unus know about you?" n asked Smudock before parting.


    "Yes. Although, the closer you get to Londorus, the more Users you''ll find who oppose our existence."


    <i>Oppose? That''s an interesting way to put it.</i>


    "It''d be good to keep quiet about this ce then."


    "Yes. We would appreciate that."


    "Chief," Ashley stepped forward, causing n to halt. "We would equally appreciate it if our arrival could be kept a secret too."


    "Understood."


    * * * * *


    * * * *


    * * *


    * *


    *


    "No one has to know that we just logged in, right?" n whispered to Ashley as they rode in a wooden cart pulled by a giant ck insect, its frontal ws hissing silently as it moved.


    "We mustn''t cause panic among the other Users," Ashley replied, her expression unreadable. "The locals have already questioned you about your low level, so remember that when interacting with others."


    n sighed andy back. "Yeah, I''ll need toe up with a clever excuse or something."


    They had left the cave entrance behind, and the mountains in the distance were tinged blue on the horizon. n estimated it would take at least half an hour to reach Unus.


    "So much time has passed that even these creatures have established their own trade," he mused, ncing at the crates beside him filled with glowing mushrooms.


    "Hey, Smaio, what are these used for?"


    "Originally, Users used to craft low-ranking mana potions with them, but now they''ve be just an exotic ingredient."


    "I see," n responded, stifling a yawn while opening his User Interface to explore it more thoroughly.


    <i>What''s this? A Guild menu? Oh, right! I never checked this out since I logged out right after forming it with Astrid.</i>


    He tapped the tab, revealing aplete list of every member.


    <i>What?!</i>


    n sat up sharply.


    <i>100 members?! And they''re all part of... Yes, I''m not misreading this! Shooting Stars! All 100 members are part of our guild! That''s insane, Astrid! Did you manage all this by yourself?</i>


    A crack resounded nearby, then the ground trembled. n leaned toward Smaio''s seat, only to see a massive figure approaching. "What''s that?"


    "Oh, my goddess!" Smaio eximed,manding the insect to halt. "It''s the Weasenox!"


    <i>''The'', not ''a Weasenox''?</i> n wondered as he watched the red-furred mammal beast with an elongated body begin to salivate at the sight of their ck insect, which trembled in fear. It seemed familiar.


    n noticed the number 15 above the Weasenox.


    <i>Oh, shit.</i>


    "Smollet usually guards the cart every time we go to Unus!" Smaio cried, rushing to find his weapon, a wooden staff.


    "Who, that bulky level 20 Advanced Slime?" n asked, noticing Smaio''s terrified shakes.


    <i>But why is he so scared? If Smaio dies, he should be able to respawn back in his town, right?</i>


    n eyed the carnivorous beast, bracing for it to strike.


    "Out of the cart, now!" The cart''s roof was ripped apart by a swift tail swipe. n drew his rusty sword. "Come on! We have to--!"


    Smaio stayed put, covering his head and crying: "I don''t want to devolve, I don''t want to devolve, I don''t..."


    <i>Devolve?</i> n frowned,ing to a realization. <i>So those ordinary-looking slimes back in town weren''t babies?</i>


    He swallowed hard.


    "Ashley!"


    "Battle mode, n?"


    "Full-on battle mode, girl!"


    "Engaging."


    "Listen, I''ll try to—" n''s words halted as he spotted a blur darting from his side. The next thing he saw was Ashley atop the Weasenox, plunging her dagger into its head.


    The beast wailed in agony, trying to smash Ashley against a nearby boulder. Despite being mmed into the rock, she didn''t let go. That final shove seemed to have knocked the creature out, and it copsed lifelessly on the road, Ashley beside it, retrieving her weapon.


    "Hey, Smaio," n muttered.


    "Yes, User?"


    "She''s the reason your Chief didn''t send Smollet with us."


    <i>I just remembered why I couldn''t see her level. The level gap between us must be enormous.</i>


    "Target eliminated," Ashley announced, returning to them seemingly unharmed.


    "Yes, I noticed!" n beamed at her. "But why didn''t you use your bow? You should be more proficient with it than your dagger."


    Ashley stared nkly at him. "You told me to use only the dagger."