Buttopia
patreon
Chapter 47: Roadtrip
🕑 Added 2024-12-17 00:00:05 +0000 UTC“Before we get to Smithtown, I need to hit you with a ton of questions, Mel, especially if time is running short,” I said. The mountain of questions I had was calling too loudly to ignore any further.
“I’ll answer what I can, but remember the core oath,” Mel said.
“Speaking of the core oath, that can’t be everyone who does anything with the arena, right? I assume, at some level, people get exempted from it?” I asked. I found it hard to believe those at the top would be willing to place themselves in a position of control like that. Mel just didn’t answer, which, honestly, the silence did somewhat answer. This all depended exactly on how the oath worked, of course, but a no wasn’t new information. Only a yes was any real data given to me.
“Okay better topic instead, lots of odd dungeon questions that you can much more likely answer. The diredeer in the one dungeon seemed a lot more intelligent than other monsters so far, and they formed some kind of cult around the dungeon core. Is that normal?” I asked. That whole situation was bizarre the more I thought about it. Why had the dungeon core wanted a religion like that anyway?
“Dungeons can do anything, and the more remote or longer they’re allowed to grow, the more that can change. The only real general rules I can give you ain’t that different from what I told ya day one when you went out to the first dungeon without a core. Also, keep in mind that this is just what I know. Whatever information may be tucked away in some noble or royal library somewhere could be entirely different. Dungeon cores are natural mana orbs that absorb enough energy that they draw in something from a universe very closely aligned to themselves. That something combines with the orb and becomes a much more alive thing that we call dungeon cores, primarily because they start to form dungeons around themselves. Sometimes, they team up with other cores, which we don’t understand at all. Sometimes, they decide they prefer working menial jobs and not being megalomaniacs. Sometimes, they’re lying and trying to turn their new location into a dungeon. I know of at least two dungeon cores that have become full-fledged people somehow and another person who works with a series of cores as a way to summon creatures from other universes. What I’m saying is that I can’t tell you what’s normal and what isn’t for cores, only that when left alone, they usually grow into giant problems,” Mel explained, somehow managing to answer a lot and nothing at the same time.
“Mel, anyone ever told you that you can talk alot without saying much?” I said jokingly, hoping I didn’t offend the man.
“Only my grandkids have been allowed to do it more than once,” Mel replied, still smiling, but I decided to take the hint just in case.
“So, what exactly is going on with the archives? Is this just a case of idiots wanting to burn books?” I asked.
“Not exactly. Some of the lower people probably just want to get rid of a few books they don’t like, but those at the top are just doing it to control their own positions. Too much free knowledge out there and they won’t be able to hold their own secrets as easily. The archives have been fighting to stay open since before the first person stepped through the doors. Elody was just one of the many master librarians who kept the place running smoothly and safely, and apparently she was the last one willing and able to continue. I’m sad to see it go. It was a great idea, and maybe if they weren’t in such a rut with expansion, the focus wouldn’t have been nearly so strong on it,” Mel said.
“What do you mean by rut with expansion?” I asked, wondering if he meant the archives had stopped growing or if he meant something grander.
“Yeah, this one, you wouldn’t really know. The Spiral tends to go in cycles of expansion and breaks while everything gets settled out from the new additions. It never fully stops. Some prizes are given out, and random conquests happen, your world, for example, but the System isn’t doing full universal-level integrations of its own accord right now. This has been one of the longer lulls in that, nothing record-breaking, mind you, but the longer they last, the more restless the nobility tend to get. Without new universes, it’s hard for them to expand, and their little stalemate becomes all the more tenuous. So some of them start to play games with the people they see as below them or in any way threatening. Which is another big reason I didn’t want you there during the takeover. Good news though, the faction that is taking over the archives certainly ain’t the same faction Korl is working for, and man, are they gonna be angry when they find out we got lost in the shuffle,” Mel said, smiling at that last part.
“So, are these large-scale factions rival royal families or something else?” I asked. I could think of several possibilities, from giant corporations to a more mafia-life system.
“Both royal families and factions exist, and don’t ever assume all members of the same family are part of the same faction. There’s been more faction wars started from a family feud at a royal party than probably anything else,” Mel answered with a tinge of anger in his voice.
“Interesting, it doesn’t sound that different from Earth, just on a much larger scale. Oh, about Chip, you said he was just doing what he does. What does that mean? Why were you so surprised I had him?” I asked. Chip had woken up from his sleeping position on Mel’s head, reminding me of Mel’s earlier reaction.
“Your pumakey, you really haven’t noticed?” Mel asked.
“Noticed what?” I had no idea what he was talking about.
“The reason these little guys are all over the blackmarket is they recharge your core constantly by being in close proximity. Haven’t you noticed how much he’s been eating, or probably why you’ve been feeling so great every morning?” Mel asked. I had, but I had figured it was a combination of the life magic and finally getting used to this place.
“Oh, Chip, are you the reason I’ve been able to push the dungeon simulations even further?” I said, suddenly realizing the actual reason I was able to go further. It wasn’t just the increase in my soul-core. It was Chip actively boosting my core. As though in answer, Chip leaped back onto my lap and curled up to resume his nap.
“Almost certainly, and speaking of, how far did you manage to push yourself? I assume ya ain’t two-fifty yet, or you’d have some more questions. Where are ya at?” Mel asked.
“One eighty-two, but I think I can push further when we get some free time, assuming this bus has enough food for me and a shower I can sit in while my head stops screaming,” I said.
“It does. Let’s wait til we get set up in Smithtown for that, though. We don’t need you out of it if anything weird comes up on the road,” Mel replied.
“Hey, what about that backpack we found?” Cecile interrupted with a shout.
“Oh yeah, good point, Cecile. I found this on one of the weird diredeer cultists,” I said, producing the pack from my System storage.
“Wonder where he got that. See that insignia there on the side? This ain’t some newbie’s gear. I don’t see how diredeer could have killed someone with this but still lost to you guys. Something don’t add up. What’s inside?” Mel asked, looking at the pack with a glare. I had seen the marking before, but it wasn’t like I had any idea what insignias belonged to who or even if they were that.
I opened the backpack as Mel asked and dumped the contents gently on top of the table between rows of seats. A dozen mana orbs, a few knives, and several potions fell spilled out of it. Mel immediately started to grow hands, each one grabbing an orb. Eight of them were green, two white, so I knew what those were. The last two, though, one was sky blue, and the other one was grey.
“Yeah, this don’t make any damned sense. All of these orbs have invested skill ranks, and most of them are tier three. Plus, this one right here is a shield orb. That ain’t something a nobody has, especially a nobody who is gonna lose to a random dungeon monster.” Mel held up the sky-blue orb. “I don’t even know what this grey one is, and I like that even less. Are you okay if I put this all into a special container in my System storage? I think we need to really look over these before we risk any use,” Mel asked. His color had turned back to the orange-green hue, which I now connected with worry.
“Of course, and the rest of these things?” Elicec agreed and then asked, pointing to the other items on the table.
“Harder to see what those can do, but let’s be careful with them too. Dave, put that backpack into your storage, and don’t take it out again unless I tell you. We need to keep this find under wraps for now. It means something, but I don’t know what,” Mel said.
“Secret’s safe with me!” Timon called back from the front. I turned around to take a look at the driver. It was the first time he had actually come into view. I was staring at a nearly six-foot-tall praying mantis wearing a Hawaiian t-shirt.
Many of the native mana-infused animals from throughout the Spiral have found themselves as part of illegal black markets. The pumakey is one of the most sought-after, and the trade of them has been heavily restricted, but this hasn’t stopped the poachers. The few that remain in their home world are closely guarded. Considering just how valuable a pumakey is, though, it’s unlikely they will be able to protect them for long.
Taken from Lorntal, Paladin of Conservation’s Speech at the Grand Gathering.
