After work, start to speedrun the other world-Chapter 121 - 26: Hybrid of Dwarf and Monster - Part 2

Chapter 121: Chapter 26: Hybrid of Dwarf and Monster - Part 2

After all, with an NPC’s assistance, the success rate of subduing the immortal serpent had increased, although most of them would die in the process.

"Being recognized by a noble Knight, I feel quite relieved," the one-armed Swordsman chuckled, seemingly reassured.

His feelings toward Ahtal were mixed with admiration and... jealousy. Both had risen from the lower ranks, but Ahtal had everything people dream of.

Not only had he won the princess’s love, but he was also a disciple of Queen Hecate, truly standing at the pinnacle of life.

If he were the protagonist in a story, there’s no doubt it would be thrilling, but he was just a listener, still an adventurer with ambitions of rising above.

That naturally led to some inevitable jealousy.

"Noble Knight... Ah, you have misunderstood me," Xi Mu chuckled, feeling the train slowing down and stood up accordingly.

"I hope to see you when we fight the immortal serpent," he said as he headed toward the train exit.

To enter Gear City, one must take the train, as per the rules set by Gear City. This was to prevent dwarves from assimilating into Gear City’s life, as well as to generate an extra source of income.

In short, to live in Gear City, one must go through registration, take a designated train into Gear City, and obtain an official permit.

With this permit, one could freely spend and find accommodation in Gear City; otherwise, all consumption activities would be restricted, and one could be caught by the city guards and ruthlessly expelled.

This was why he didn’t just ride his pony into Gear City.

The train doors opened.

Xi Mu walked out with the crowd and had only taken a few steps when he was stopped by several dwarves in armor.

"Lord Ahtal, welcome to Gear City," said a dwarf maiden with golden short hair and pale skin as she approached.

She lifted her clean, small face and smiled:

"I will take care of all your needs in Gear City—clothing, food, lodging, and travel. Feel free to tell me if you have any requests; I will do my best to accommodate them."

"How did you know I was coming to Gear City?" Xi Mu seemed surprised, while the maiden with golden short hair smiled slightly.

She bowed slightly and explained:

"At the train station, you wrote down your name on the registration form."

"I see," Xi Mu nodded, then said, "Don’t worry about me; I’m just here to explore Gear City a bit."

"This is the protocol of Gear City," the dwarf maiden smiled, slightly lifting her white skirt’s hem with a gentle voice.

"Please allow me, Nalis, the fifth princess of Gear City, to host you."

The atmosphere suddenly fell silent.

The passersby, seemingly shocked by the dwarf maiden’s revealed identity, hadn’t expected the princess of Gear City to appear here personally.

"Heroes really are different, directly greeted by a princess," remarked the one-armed Swordsman from a distance, his lips twitching with envy and jealousy.

Who wouldn’t want to be personally hosted by a noble princess upon arriving in a new city? Such treatment was beyond his wildest dreams.

After all, he was a mere unknown adventurer, incomparable to a famous hero like Ahtal—it wasn’t even the same league.

"It truly is enviable," he glanced at the delicate face of the dwarf princess, contrasting with the usual rough appearance of dwarf females.

This dwarf maiden was so delicate, resembling a doll, that even from his human perspective, she was undeniably beautiful.

Shaking his head, the one-armed Swordsman turned and left.

He was now even more determined to subdue the immortal serpent; succeeding would earn him the title of hero, and wealth would follow.

Perhaps he could even marry a beautiful princess.

"Then, Princess Nalis, please lead the way," Xi Mu glanced at the departing Swordsman and then smiled at the dwarf princess.

Once players achieve certain renown, they can more conveniently interact with plot characters, like having a princess directly greet them at the door.

Instead of struggling in a new map, incrementally completing a plethora of side missions to eventually catch the attention of important figures.

After all, as the players’ strengths had grown, they still had to painstakingly complete side missions to grind for favorability, gradually entering the mission plot line.

This increase in strength and prestige wasn’t really in vain, was it?

"No trouble, I’m also... quite curious about Sir Ahtal," Nalis said, waving her hand, looking somewhat embarrassed.

She gave a light cough.

"Please follow me, I have already arranged accommodations for you."

"..." Xi Mu nodded, following Nalis’s steps. This character was quite popular among players, lively yet a bit airheaded, and truly admired those known as heroes.

But that alone wasn’t enough to be loved by the players. She had a certain tragic aura, which made the players remember her.

Admiring heroes and aspiring to be one, Nalis had always wanted to defeat the immortal serpent threatening Gear City.

However, Nalis herself was... the daughter of the immortal serpent, a hybrid of a dwarf and a monster. The monster she yearned to defeat was her own father.

This fact devastated Nalis. She had always strived to help players defeat the immortal serpent, only to find out she was killing her own father.

And she herself was one of the monsters she had once wished to defeat.

"Ahtal, is there any place you would like to visit?" Nalis asked, her hands clasped behind her back, tilting her head to look at the handsome knight beside her. "I have quite a bit of free time right now; I could take you to the Clock Tower, or maybe buy you a steam car especially."

"I’d like to rest a bit," Xi Mu shook his head, uninterested in wandering aimlessly around Gear City, which might trigger unnecessary side missions.

He just wanted to wait for the dungeon that launches the raid against the immortal serpent to open and join the gathered adventurers to defeat the immortal serpent.

No other side missions. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"Then I will take Sir Ahtal to rest," Nalis seemed somewhat disappointed, but still smiled and agreed.

She led Xi Mu to the station outside, got on a steam-powered car, and with the roar of the engine, the vehicle drove towards the center of Gear City.

The scenery outside the window moved backward, many steam cars passed by, and the roadside shops sold many exquisite items. Occasionally, one could see a scenic train circling the city.

The aesthetic of Gear City was very punk, displaying numerous mechanical applications; however, due to the church and state regulations, many technologies were only permissible within Gear City, and taking them outside was illegal.

Moreover, the external world didn’t provide the environment of Gear City. The energy from the magma was inexhaustible for Gear City, supported by a bunch of dwarven forges crafting mechanical parts.

Outside, many of these technologies would cause severe maladjustment.

...

...

Gear City Palace.

Well... Nalis had directly brought him into the palace instead of arranging a stay at a city hotel, apparently planning to have an all-night conversation with him.

And yes, that was in the literal sense.

No deep, negative interaction.

"Sir Ahtal, please rest here," Nalis pushed open the door, then shuddered, unconsciously stepping back and bumping into Xi Mu behind her.

Her expression went from radiant to... guilty.

"Mother, what are you doing here?"

"I came to see my lovely daughter and which man she’s brought home," a cold voice drifted out of the room, tinged with sternness.

"Come in, I consider myself quite a progressive parent."

"..." Nalis pursed her lips, looking at Ahtal for help and then glanced inside the room, before grabbing Ahtal’s wrist and walking in.

A cold, blonde-haired woman came into view. Her expression was frosty and haughty as she sat elegantly in a chair, holding a fan to cover the lower half of her face.

Xi Mu met her gaze, then directed his eyes to the woman’s belly, where a noticeable bulge indicated she was pregnant.

And the child within her was from the immortal serpent.