Chapter 4

The slate vanished as Ryzer's eyes looked away from it.

"Ah. It's gone."

Leo laughed a little.

"Just think of it, it'll reappear. If anything confuses you, focus on it. Descriptions and more will appear."

Ryzer leaned against the wall as the slate reappeared.

"Well, young Ryzer, would you be willing to spending time with an old man to chat?"

Ryzer nodded.

"Can I ask about the state of the outside? I wonder how things became after I came down here."

Scratching his neck, Ryzer could only sigh.

"That's... part of why Gramps bought me-"

"WHAT? BOUGHT?!"

Ryzer flinched at Leo's voice.

"Ah, y-yeah. I was a slave until recently. I was sold, as I was useless. I couldn't get a class, no matter what weapon I touched."

Leo sighed deeply.

"You were bought, then... this world has fallen deeper than I had expected. Your class issue will be resolved, you are no permanent Villager. Trust me, you'll see it when you open the interface. What of Edward? How is he holding up?"

Ryzer began to explain what had happened to their world. The slavery, hierarchy of races, as well as Edward's current condition.

"So he's nearing his end. The old bastard couldn't even make it out here one last time. You know, I married his sister. A gorgeous flower, living in an isolated village. I also took him in as my own brother. Hehe. That kid could never bring me any harm, so when that failure of a human king made him a Hero to hunt me down..."

Leo trailed off before saying something different.

"Lillian was captured by him. It was that bastard's selfish way of making brothers fight. It ended as you see it now. I begged him to kill me, to set her free. In the end, he helped me rest inside of one of my creations. These dungeons."

Ryzer felt a tear slide down his cheek, yet he couldn't stop himself as he asked a question.

"You made the dungeons?"

Leo let out a small chuckle.

"Of course. Where else would a ceaseless cesspool of beasts and monsters go? I wasn't always able to kill everything, so I sent them into the dungeons. Kind of made it like a video game, something from my world."

Ryzer tilted his head, while Leo continued.

"I was given the ability to get rid of the monsters. So long as I believed it would help, I could use it to save lives. That's also part of where Discerning Eye came from, as well as it's special characteristics."

Ryzer smiled a little.

"That's what catapulted you into a kingly position."

"Of course! Hmm... you should be off soon. I've got a feeling that you'll want to head to the Fang Dungeon soon. Someone close to you may lose their life if you don't. And keep that bangle on. My eyes may see past it, yet many others will find that information of yours...unsettling to say the least."

Ryzer felt a cold chill as he said his goodbye's to Leo. Leaving out the way he entered, Ryzer immediately pulled open a portal back to his room at the inn.

"Oh... damn."

Falling to his knees, Ryzer decided to roll himself through the portal to hasten his movements.

Appearing back in the inn, he huffed a heavy breath before getting back to his feet. To his surprise, he had only been gone for about an hour.

"Do the dungeons alter time when inside? Or is it only that one?"

Ryzer got to his feet, glancing at his bangle as well as his ring. Before he could react, the slate appeared.

[Accessory: Ring of Storage

Slot 1: Black Dragonskin Coat (Hooded)

Slot 2: Coin Pouch (35 Gold, 6 Silver)

Slot 3: x

Accessory: Bangle of Concealnent

Effect: Conceals the wearers status panel from most scanning abilities, skills or spells.]

Ryzer stared blankly for a moment.

"Thirty-five? Where did... was this left by Gramps?"

A soft smile fell on his face as he opened the door to his room. Hearing a gasp from the crack, Ryzer looked out in time to see Maddie with a shocked expression on her face.

"F-forgive me, Ryzer. I didn't mean to be rude. I'll allow you time to let your guest leave."

Ryzer noticed where her eyes were staring. The red knot he placed on the door handle.

"This... doesn't mean what I thought it did, does it?"

Maddie's mouth hung open for a moment.

"I-it usually signifies that you wish to be left alone, but umm... many of my patrons use it to ask for privacy while they..."

Ryzer nodded slowly, pulling the knot off the door and tossing it on the nearby table. Maddie's eyes flicked up for a moment, scanning the room. Sighing softly, Ryzer closed the door behind himself.

"Nobody, besides myself, was in my room. I left it in the handle for it's original purpose."

Maddie flashed an apologetic smile as she went back to sweeping the hallway. Ryzer didn't mind her mistake, as it left him from being bothered, but he was embarrassed as he watched the proprietress move passed him.

[Name: Maddie Grove

Race: Human

Age: 32

C. Lvl: 22

Class: Chef, Lvl. 7]

Ryzer flinched.

'It can examine other people? What exactly is Discerning Eye?'

[Skill: Discerning Eye

Description: An ability crafted by the Demon King, Leo Urd, in order to better understand those around him. Ally and foe alike may be examined. Items, skills, spells and anything the user can place their eyes upon will be identified or examined. Other effects include slight manipulation of the party members status (trust or similar required), examining unlock conditions for classes and piercing the truth of the world (locked by Leo Urd).]

Ryzer nodded to himself as he slipped down the staircase and out the inn's front door.

'If I'm going to the Fang Dungeon, I'll need a weapon. And I should check my own status. If my own unlock conditions have been met, maybe I can actually change my class!'

A little bit of hope burst inside of Ryzer's chest as he sped his way into a weapon smithy.

"Ello, ello kid! What can old Bart do for ya?"

Ryzer looked up at the voice. Standing before him was an energetic, middle-aged, man with a bright red beard that reached his cheeks. His head was reflecting the small fire in the back of his shop.

"Hello, Mr. Bart. I'm Ryzer."

Ryzer gave a friendly smile.

[Name: Bartholomew Tench

Race: Human

Age: 43

C. Lvl: 15

Class: Beginner Blacksmith, Lvl. 10]

'Beginner? At his age? How does he advance it?'

[Class: Intermediate Blacksmith

Prerequisites: Beginner Blacksmith 10/10

Craft Unique Equipment: 6/15]

Ryzer nodded to himself, his eyes going towards the weapons on the walls. Spears, swords, axes and daggers. There were pieces of armor as well, though the bare minimum. Shields and boots.

"Mr. Bart, did you make everything in here?"

The jovial man gave a confident reply.

"Oh yes, of course. I worked tirelessly, exhausting my stamina to work my magic. I've got some basic stone weapons, all the way up to some bronze and even iron weaponry. The small amount of armor... well it is only in bronze."

Ryzer nodded again.

"Is it hard for you to get materials lately?"

---

Thank you,

Anna Haig!