Chapter 100

Chapter 100: Chapter 100 Filled with doubt and unease, Clayton moved cautiously toward the source of the noise, taking care to bring along his mini skeletons for protection. But when he arrived at the scene, he was baffled—there was nothing there. Not a trace of movement. Not a single clue. Instead of feeling relieved, Clayton grew even more alert. He feared that whatever had made the noise might be hiding nearby, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. To be safe, he ordered his skeletons to scout the area while he remained still and kept his guard up. After thoroughly scanning the surroundings, the skeletons returned—having found nothing out of the ordinary. That only deepened Clayton’s confusion. Was something really there? Or was it just my imagination? Driven by curiosity, Clayton began searching the area more carefully. Before long, he spotted several footprints in the snow—ones he hadn’t noticed earlier, likely missed because no one had taken a closer look. As he examined the tracks, he quickly realized they didn’t belong to a human or a demon beast. They came from a clawed, split-hoofed animal—specifically, a wild boar. Clayton let out a long breath of relief. So that explains it. In past winters, it was common for mountain monsters to wander down in search of food. This year was no different—though thankfully, the situation wasn’t as bad as last year. Realizing it had been a false alarm, Clayton turned around and headed home, feeling much more at ease. ... Later that morning, Clayton resumed his outdoor training with his mini skeletons. Swoosh! Thud! Plop! Spells echoed across the yard, accompanied by bursts of light—clear signs of their continued, disciplined efforts. However, Clayton’s enthusiasm faded slightly as he realized something frustrating: his mini skeletons still couldn’t cast the Core Explosion spell successfully. After several more failed attempts, he shook his head with a tired sigh. "Huff... It looks like this spell just isn’t compatible with skeleton physiology." Disappointed, Clayton removed the spell from their training regimen and had them focus on other skills instead. Then it was his turn. He practiced his Water Pistol spell with renewed energy, occasionally pausing to tend to his nearby crops. His efforts paid off. Before long, three of his skills linked to the [Divine Experience Bar] leveled up to Level 3. Name: Clayton Fisherman Age: 17 Rank: Two-Star Apprentice Mage / Two-Star Trainee Knight Skills: Farming (Lv 3) (1/800): (Observation), (Farmer’s Intuition), (Harvest Boost), (Alienation) Water Pistol (Lv 3) (0/800): (Density), (Viscosity), (Purity), (Tracking) Holy Skeleton (Lv 3) (2/800): (Rune), (Sharing), (Array), (Space) Clayton was thrilled. Without wasting any time, he ordered the skeletons to resume training. ... A few days later, Clayton prepared to attend the regular exchange conference hosted by the city government and the Magic Academy. He packed quickly and set off with his mini skeletons. Meanwhile, he placed Dingo, Gemma, and the baby deer safely inside his dimensional entry space. Clayton moved carefully through the streets. Ever since the dungeon had reopened, Sunlight City had been flooded with outsiders drawn by the promise of easy riches. The atmosphere had become increasingly chaotic. Even the once-sacrosanct law forbidding mages from killing within city limits was starting to be questioned. As reckless behavior spread, the city government had responded by tightening security and hiring more personnel. Clayton had no desire to get caught up in all that madness. He just wanted to keep a low profile and stay safe. After a cautious walk, he arrived at the towering venue where the previous exchange had been held. He paid the entrance fee and stepped into the grand hall. To his surprise, the place was packed. It seemed many of the newcomers didn’t want to miss the opportunity to hear directly from city officials and Magic Academy instructors. After a brief look around, Clayton found the designated room and sat down, listening quietly to the lectures. Fortunately, the event remained peaceful. No one gave him any trouble, though Clayton stayed alert throughout. He didn’t see anyone like Isadora—perhaps they were busy or off exploring the dungeon. Not that he minded. Clayton was here to learn, and that was all. That said, this session felt rather underwhelming. Most of the material was too basic to be of use. The few lectures on magical farming offered nothing new to him—thanks to his cheat-like skills, he already knew far more than the instructors. Still, Clayton remained patient and listened until the conference ended. As the event wrapped up, the crowd surged toward the exits, causing congestion at every turn. It was uncomfortable—but still manageable. Until— "Hey! What’s your problem, pushing like that?!" "It was an accident! Look around—it’s packed! Bumping into people is normal!" "’Normal’? You touched me! I feel violated!" "What? We’re both men—don’t act like some delicate princess!" "I don’t care! You made me uncomfortable!" Clayton frowned and immediately stepped aside. He’d seen this kind of situation before—and it was bound to escalate. Sure enough, one of them, already enraged, suddenly cast a spell. The other retaliated, and within seconds, the chaos exploded. People screamed and panicked. Several mages, feeling threatened, began casting spells of their own. The hall descended into total disorder. Fortunately, Clayton had already backed away. He slipped out of the crowd with his skeletons and watched the chaos from a safe distance. Uninterested in getting involved, he turned and made his way home. His thoughts were clear: Sunlight City is no longer safe. It’s time to avoid going out as much as possible. ... With heightened vigilance, Clayton returned home without incident. Once inside, he released his pets from the dimensional space. They stretched happily, clearly relieved—understandable, since that dimension had no mana and was uncomfortable for magical creatures. Clayton planned to clean up and get some rest. But just as he began, a familiar sound reached his ears. It was the same kind of noise he’d heard the last time he discovered boar tracks. Heart rate steady, Clayton moved toward the source—and soon spotted a large wild boar greedily munching on something. It froze when it noticed him, eyes alert and cautious. Clayton observed the creature. It was a low-tier, one-star beast. Nothing dangerous. In fact, it was the perfect opportunity to test a new skill combo. "Water Magic: Water of Wave!" Moisture gathered rapidly and formed a rushing wave that surged toward the boar. The beast tried to flee— Bang! —but it was too slow. The wave slammed into it, sending it flying and knocking it unconscious. Clayton didn’t hesitate. "Water Magic: Needle Rain!" Swoosh! Swoosh! Scattered droplets condensed into high-speed water needles. Splat! Blood sprayed in every direction. The boar’s body was pierced like a pincushion. It staggered for a moment before collapsing. Thud! Clayton smiled in satisfaction. He approached the carcass and began collecting meat and blood for later use. But then... something strange caught his eye. "Huh? Why is this here?" he murmured, frowning in confusion. His curiosity deepened.