Azimuth: The Elden Throne (New Version)

Chapter 224 Ermin's Adventures

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This chapter is very light, not entirely a filler but it does expand into something most may not be interested exactly.

Enjoy!

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[Connection established]

As the mechanical voice female of his app spoke, a large distorted face appeared on his screen.

A young man with red hair, there was no need to explain who it was.

"Hum?... What's up!" Ermin said with a smile as he raised his right arm to wave at Dale, though he couldn't see it due to the zoom

"What's up indeed... Can you please take your ass off the screen first?"

"Eh?... OH! Sorry about that, is this better?"

"Yes... So? You doing okay with your sisters?" Dale replied as he also gave Ermin a slight wave

"Come on, it hasn't been that long since we last talked, at most a full day in-game or a few hours in the real world."

"My sisters are about the same as normal, they're still playing as of now since I somehow managed to have them do something productive." Ermin said with a scoff 

"I still can't understand how your relationship works, can't you just be a bit transparent with them?"

"Dude... We talked about this a few times before, it's no use, I tried before and it entered one ear and it left through the other."

"But like I said last time... My younger sister does have some hope but the problem is my older one, she's too bossy and controlling, I feel sorry for her future husband, if she'll ever have one."

"She's such a lost cause even my parents tried to correct her ways, but she never changed."

"She's the kind of woman to either laugh or say 'nice cock' if she were to see a guy naked." Ermin said as he rolled his eyes

"So... She's a tomboy?" Dale asked as he raised an eyebrow

Also, how does he know that? Speaking from experience? 

"Don't you dare say that to me again, just hearing those words makes me wanna puke." Ermin replied as he cringed

"Either way, I got some time for myself, we all have to rest after the lengthy game sessions... Can't say the same for them, they're more into this game then even me."

At least that's the impression I get from time to time. 

"They like to do Raids all the time and do some challenges atop it… Mostly my Elder Sister since my younger sister just follows her, but she's no weight alright."

"The problem comes from her desire to do so,  such luxuries cost money."

"They're skilled to even be able to do so in the first place of course, but since we lack people, we have to make up for the numbers with items and potions, either that or we stick to lower-level Raids."

"And this may be one of the few things I agree with my sister, but that would be a waste of our time."

"Even if we spent more money doing these Raids, it's not that hard to make the money back."

"And that's how I'm here, it's my daily break out of this mess, and I'll likely stay here for a few more hours while my sisters grind some levels and items."

Ermin then gave Dale a nod.

"I thank you for the items and even the Skill books you sent our way over these past few days, it allowed us to pump up our game quite a bit, I can't even imagine where I would've acquired those Skill Books otherwise."

"I'll repay you, of course, don't forget but I still have the items from the Tutorial with me as you requested, though they aren't that useful to me anymore."

Dale nodded, it seemed they had been putting his items to good use.

"I see… But hey, you sound a bit happy, did anything interesting happen recently?"

"Aside from me managing to convince my sisters to do something for the first time… It was the fact I actually got a Hidden Magic Related Class." He said with a proud smile

"And it was thanks to you, one more thing I owe you, it's quite the story."

"That's pretty awesome, what did you get and how? If you would be willing to share." Dale asked as he scratched his chin

"Honestly… I'm still a bit confused myself." Ermin replied awkwardly as he touched the back of his head

"I originally believed that due to the limitations of my Starting Village, I would have to rely on the free Class selection to get started with something useful, but I was fearful of doing so due to the way I played the game so far."

"There is a Mage Tower in this place, and like other players in the Northern Regions, if you pass the simple assessment of the Tower and pay the fee, you can receive the Mage Initiate Class and start your path as a Wizard!"

His expression then turned dim... 

"But getting access to it would be a pain in the ass."

"I made some simple calculations for their requirements when I first came across them, and even if we played the game perfectly at the time until now, unless we got some sort of hidden Quest, we would have had to wait until Level 30+ to get inside, and that's just for getting within and not the extra requirements afterward."

"Not to say the fee... Due to all of these conditions, not a single player managed to become a Mage through the Tower yet, which is quite the abysmal thing considering how many large Guilds are located in this area."

"It's the same thing for the Capital, but in there the conditions are more lax due to the availability of Quests and the friendlier level of the instance Dungeons and Fields."

"That does seem like a problem... But hey, here in Resko you don't even have the chance to get the Class..." Dale said with an awkward smile

"Everyone that goes to Resko is batshit insane or too greedy for their own good, either that or unaware of what's going on, nothing in between." Ermin replied as he shook his head

"Hey!"

"What? You fall into the Unaware category for being the first down there... Or maybe... I should call you the puppeteer, Elder Dale?" He asked with a chuckle

"Humph, just for your information, I just completed a Major Quest and saved the lives of over 1000 High-level Villagers from deep in the forest, they'll be joining in the ranks of the original 100 Villagers and soon enough there will be a Quest Explosion and many opportunities to all."

"Not only that but I managed to reactivate the old Mage Tower further North of Resko in the desert while also fixing the problem in the forest, there is no better time to invest in Resko then now!"

"... Damn, you sure got yourself worked up down there buddy... And because of that, I keep regretting having to follow my sisters." He said with a sigh as he touched his forehead

"Things look good for Resko, but that's good for me as well, isn't it?" Ermin said with a teasing smile

"Hm?"

"As long as you're on top, don't I gain as well, being your greatest investor?" 

"... Ha, fine, you have a point." Dale replied with a chuckle

He wasn't wrong, Ermin was by far his greatest investor, much of what he knew now came from their discussions during the last year, and Dale wouldn't have been able to prepare as thoroughly as he did for the Tutorial were it not for his assistance.

And taking all of the items he's carrying from the Tutorial, once they're in his hands, the value he'll provide to him will outshine everything any player has provided him within Resko.

"Keep working hard friend, once there's a road connecting this place to your Village the first thing I'll do is migrate there."

"That would be ideal, but don't get yourself worked up. Play the way you want, you don't have to follow me and my stupid ideas." Dale said as he shook his head

"Ah, come on. What do you take me for!"

"That's what makes it memorable." Ermin said with a smirk

"..."

"Before you continue, a caravan recently arrived at Resko, you might've even heard the news already."

"Yup I have... You're going to ask me why I didn't follow them to where you are, right?"

/Nod.../

"I tried but they didn't accept me or anyone." Ermin said with a sigh

"They arrived and just as quickly as they arrived they vanished after trading a few things here and there."

"The NPCs were actually trying to push them away, which was interesting to see, I always thought their distaste for outsiders went mostly for the players, but it's good to see that it encompasses everyone."

"Why are they like that?" Dale asked as he tapped his table

But Ermin just shrugged.

"No idea, but I have a suspicion it may be due to the governor, the guy is quite... Pridefull?"

"This entire Town is more of a Military Outpost, but because there is so little action going on down here, I believe they let go of their formalities long ago."

"This place is more like its own City state now, they don't bother about whatever their original purpose down here was, and that came from asking a few of the NPCs, the few that actually wanted to talk with me after I raised my Reputation with that shithole."

"Maybe he doesn't want to draw attention to himself so he kicked them all as soon as he could, maybe he wishes to act like a King, who knows?"

"Hum... It's definitely worth some thought." Dale said as he thought deeply

"True, these kinds of small events and interactions don't happen often and they give us glimpses into possible Quests and Events if we grasp at the clues."

"But for the current me, going after any such mysteries will only lead to my death so I'll stick with Raiding and completing Quests here and there..."

"STILL! We got a tad sidetracked, how about we return to the focus of our conversation?"

"Go on, I'm all ears."

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Notes