Tepi watched the group leave, his expression revealing nothing of what he was thinking.

"This way, I know a route to avoid him," Isha said.

"Isn’t the Big Tree Guard a monster that must be defeated?" Fanen was surprised; he had planned to fight to the death when he set out.

"Hehe." Isha showed a weathered smile. Seeing her like this, it seemed as if she might have had a deadly encounter with the Big Tree Guard before meeting the group.

"I should have come out earlier than you all. I had already traveled far, but heard noise from this side and realized you were here too."

She led the people along a detour on the side of the cliff, successfully avoiding the Big Tree Guard’s notice.

"That old man with the White Mask looked suspicious, but in fact he was quite considerate. He said I’m a Faded without a witch, and if I wanted to complete my mission, I should follow the guidance of the blessing to a place called Stoneveil Castle, defeat the Demigod Greg, and seize his Great Rune."

She remembered something and added:

"Oh, and the White Mask also said that Greg is old and ugly."

Fanen’s mouth twitched, thinking there was no need for that addition because they had already seen Greg’s appearance during the Chasing Memories choice.

Uffie wondered if, had she not mistakenly attacked the White Mask, he would have told her the same story?

But they’re human, not Faded. This whole thing...

A sudden idea flashed through her mind.

Right, they’re currently in the memory of the Elden King!

Which meant that everyone and everything they could see now were part of the Elden King’s memory. Since he was Faded, that’s why the White Mask referred to them that way!

With that thought, her doubts vanished.

"It’s safe here."

Only when they arrived in a half-collapsed church did Isha stop whispering.

Uffie and Fanen relaxed, but just then she noticed a light in the depths of the church and looked in that direction.

Whoa, a donkey and Santa Claus warming by the fire!

Wait, upon closer inspection, wasn’t that the Wandering Merchant Curry, who sold goods in Academy Gate Town of Lake Lienia!

Uffie had visited Curry a few times while in the Lake District and had a strong impression of this flamboyantly dressed merchant.

Seeing an acquaintance here in the unfamiliar Nimgefo felt surreal to her.

"That old man sells things and even gave me a Forging Stone, he’s a good person," Isha explained, pointing to the collapsed wall on the other side of the church and said:

"When I was coming back from the soldier-filled checkpoint, I met Big Sister Reina here. She was speaking words I didn’t understand while giving me a Soul Summoning Bell and three wolf ashes; she’s a good person too."

Your way of judging people is based on whether they give you things...

"Why did she give you things?" Fanen asked, puzzled, and isn’t Reina the name of that four-armed blue-skinned woman, shouldn’t it be Lanni?

"Because at the checkpoint, someone named Melina gave me a horse called Torret, and Big Sister Reina said the Soul Summoning Bell was something Torret’s previous owner entrusted her to pass on to the next owner."

"Everyone we’ve met has been a good person!"

While talking, Isha took off the brass ring on her finger—named the Spirit Horse Whistle—and blew it.

The whistle flashed, and a "horse" appeared out of nowhere under the astonished gazes of the group.

Can it be called a "horse"? It had a pair of bovine-like horns on its head, so its true species is...

Cow-horse?

Fanen and Uffie realized that this Spiritual Horse named Torret was indeed the mount of the woman who first presented them with the Holy Grail Bottle!

Yet Torret appeared somewhat strange.

Its body was quite ethereal, and as time passed, it became more transparent until it vanished completely, lasting just under a minute.

"Originally, it could last over ten minutes, but I used it all up," Isha couldn’t help but tap her forehead, "It hasn’t recovered yet."

Uffie and Fanen looked at her with a curious gaze.

This girl... exactly how much had she explored before them?

The things she spoke of sounded like a foreign language to them!

In truth, the Soul Summoning Bell and Ashes of the Lone Wild Wolf combo were benefits prepared by Gong Qiying for the people. Suddenly coming to a foreign land, to quickly garner popularity, they needed to release valuable and seemingly easily obtainable rewards to attract people in.

Thus, the low-cost yet practical Soul Summoning Bell became an introductory benefit.

Though it’s given for free, obtaining it isn’t simple.

What would newcomers do upon entering Nimgefo?

They might recklessly attack the White Mask, be killed, and erupt with spiritual power.

Attack the Big Tree Guard, and their spiritual power would explode even more.

Thinking of quitting? The Soul Summoning Bell is free, you know. A little effort and going through the process, and you can get it—everyone has it, wouldn’t you feel unbalanced if you don’t?

Combined with various other factors, by the time newcomers really got their hands on the Soul Summoning Bell, the spiritual power they provided to the Sain Dungeon might be enough to create several bells.

The adventurers might profit, but Sain never loses.

"If you go to the checkpoints, you might also get one, should I take you there?" Isha enthusiastically suggested, as she was also afraid to explore alone.

"No rush, let’s rest first."

Uffie waved her hand, approached Curry, and asked:

"Why aren’t you staying at Lake Lienia, why did you come here?"

"Lake Lienia?" Curry looked up, puzzled, "My people do business there, but I haven’t been; perhaps you mistook me for someone else, dear customer."

"Uh."

Uffie furrowed her brows, refraining from asking more, instead saying, "Show me what goods you have here."

She suddenly recalled that the background of Lake Lienia and Nimgefo were entirely different. The Lake District’s backdrop was after the Elden King was born and departed, while Nimgefo was during the Elden King’s journey.

This meant that the Currys in both places might be the same person, but their memories were likely completely different!

Uffie found this Sain Dungeon increasingly interesting. How could different regions of the same dungeon have completely distinct backgrounds without contradictions? Fascinating.

What would happen if she brought this Curry to the Lake District and put him in front of the other Curry?

With that thought, the look in her eyes toward Curry turned mischievous.

Ultimately, she didn’t proceed for the time being, not that she didn’t want to, but she didn’t know how to get from here to the Lake District.

If given the chance, she certainly would!

"Let me take you to the checkpoint area."

Isha led the way, and the group left the "Aire Church" where Curry was, crossing through dense forests, besieged by wolves, bats, and other monsters, taking quite an effort to reach the so-called checkpoint.

"It truly is heavily guarded." After getting a clear look at the checkpoint, Uffie muttered to herself.

It was a massive checkpoint built into the mountains, with numerous soldiers in uniform armor stationed at the front, patrolling diligently and refusing to let any living creature pass.

With just a glance, she roughly estimated at least fifty soldiers in front of the checkpoint, all looking like well-trained elite troops. Who knew how many were hidden within?

To reach Stoneveil Castle, as the White Mask suggested, one must pass through here? What a troublesome situation.

But currently, the concern wasn’t about how to cross the checkpoint, but whether they could still obtain Torret.

In the woods, away from the checkpoint, a blessing quietly hovered there; Gong Qiying had changed its position mainly because the original blessing was glaringly placed in front of the checkpoint, almost like it was meant to directly lure people in.

What would newcomers to Nimgefo do?

Gawking at the White Mask for a moment and being killed could unleash mental power.

Being reckless upon seeing the Big Tree Guard, the mental power would explode even more.

Don’t want to play anymore and want to give up? The Soul Summoning Bell is free, and with some effort to follow the procedure, you can get it. Wouldn’t you feel psychologically unbalanced if everyone else had it and you didn’t?

Adding various factors together, by the time newcomers actually got hold of the Soul Summoning Bell, the spiritual power they supplied to Sain Dungeon might be enough to create several Soul Summoning Bells.

Adventurers might earn some, but Sain never loses.

"If you go over there, you might be able to get one. Shall I take you over?" Isha enthusiastically suggested, as she was afraid to go alone as well.

"No rush, let’s rest for a bit."

Uffie waved her hand and walked towards Curry, saying:

"Why aren’t you staying at the Lake Lienia, how did you end up here?"

Curry raised his head, looking puzzled, "Lake Lienia? My folks do business there, but I haven’t been there."

Uffie suddenly remembered that the background of the Lake Lienia area and Nimgefo were completely different. The background of the Lake District is after the Elden King has been born and left, while Nimgefo is during the Elden King’s journey.

This meant that everything they encountered here was merely a part of the Elden King’s memory!

She realized that if she picked up Curry here and threw him in front of the other Curry in the Lake District, it would make for an interesting scene.

Her look at Curry turned mischievous.

"I’ll take you over to the checkpoint." Isha led the way, and the group left the "Aire Church" where Curry was. They crossed dense forests, fought off wild wolves, bats, and other monsters, and after a fair amount of struggle, reached the said checkpoint.

"It’s heavily guarded indeed." Looking at the front of the checkpoint, Uffie said to herself.

With a single glance, she estimated that there were at least fifty soldiers in front of the checkpoint, maintaining strict patrol, leaving no living creature entry.

She only took a glance before estimating that there were at least fifty soldiers stationed in front of the checkpoint, all appearing to be well-trained elite soldiers, with unknown numbers hidden inside the checkpoint.

It’s not just about getting past the checkpoint, but whether they could receive Torret.

As they deliberated, a blessing quietly floated in the forest far from the front of the checkpoint, as Gong Qiying had relocated the blessing because originally the blessing was brazenly placed in front of the checkpoint, practically placed for the taking, and they had to make it through quite a process to obtain one.

A flash of light occurred, and a hooded woman materialized before Uffie’s watchful eyes.

There really is one!

"Hello, Faded," The woman calmly knelt down and said softly under Uffie’s gaze, "I want to make you an offer."

Melina removed her hood, revealing slightly wavy light brown short hair, and...

Mysterious engravings marked her face, with her left eye closed.