New World(2)

Lex looked at the status window of his most powerful NPC, Freude, and couldn't help but be impressed once again.

Compared to himself and the other two, who had only two or three unique (Lv5) professions, Freude had four—along with a greater number of advanced (Lv10) professions.

But considering the sheer amount of time, effort, and rare materials he had poured into creating Freude, this level of power made perfect sense.

Shifting his focus back to the three standing before him, Lex asked curiously,

"Well, do you remember anything before arriving here?"

Dabrius took a step forward, offering a polite bow before answering,

"As far as I recall, my lord, before coming here, we were stationed in Death Canyon. From the moment of our creation, we have stood guard there, preventing any intruders from trespassing."

Lex nodded, the response aligning with what he had expected.

Death Canyon had been his base of operations in Elecnor Online, an impenetrable fortress in the game's vast world. Many players had attempted to raid it, but due to the canyon's natural restrictions, only five attackers could enter at a time—making it virtually undefeatable.

Hell, some players even complained to the GMs, but there was nothing they could do. Lex had simply been the first to claim the area and was using its natural advantages—playing completely within the rules.

And, Varus, Dabrius, and Freude were essentially stationed as guardians of Death Canyon—each positioned strategically. Varus was the first line of defense, Dabrius stood as the second, and Freude was the final obstacle.

Even if some groups managed to break through Varus and Dabrius, Freude would typically wipe out any remaining challengers, ensuring that none could lay claim to Lex's domain.

Lex, lost in thought, considered his next move while his NPCs waited. Varus stood stiffly like a statue, ever silent. Dabrius, having stepped back, maintained his composed posture, though his sharp gaze flickered with irritation toward Freude.

Freude, meanwhile, had made himself comfortable on the ground, shuffling a deck of black cards as he casually tried to rope the others into his game.

"Master~~ since we have nothing to do, why don't we play a game? Right~ Dabrie-san?" Freude teased with a sing-song tone.

"Shut up. My lord is thinking—don't disturb him. Play by yourself," Dabrius replied coldly, his voice filled with disdain.

From the sidelines, Varus merely observed, unbothered.

"Tsk, stingy," Freude muttered under his breath, though given their heightened senses, everyone heard him. Dabrius, in particular, twitched as faint veins bulged on his forehead.

Choosing to ignore Dabrius' barely restrained anger, Freude began stacking his cards, constructing a delicate palace out of them.

Lex rubbed his temple as he observed his unique creations. He had designed them with such distinct personalities that inevitable clashes—like the ongoing friction between Freude and Dabrius—were bound to happen. Meanwhile, Varus, the ever-silent guardian, remained passive, only acting when a threat emerged or when something concerned him directly.

Deciding to set aside their antics for now, Lex focused on his next step. He needed to find a human settlement—somewhere to gather information and confirm whether this world was indeed the familiar Elecnor or something entirely different.

Raising a hand slightly, he muttered, "Tier 5 Spell: Life Detection."

A silent pulse radiated outward from his body, sweeping across the land like an unseen wave. This was one of his most frequently used spells in the game, capable of pinpointing life signs, their strength, and their locations.

As the spell expanded, a myriad of faint signals flooded his perception—small creatures, birds, and insects, their presence so minuscule they barely registered. But as the wave extended further, it revealed a concentration of life forms in the distance—some weak, others slightly stronger, forming clusters.

At the heart of this concentration, a few larger signals stood out—figures converging from different directions toward a single entry point.

'A city, huh…' Lex mused.

Checking the direction general direction towards the city , Lex opened his eyes and canceled the spell.

He then looked toward Fruede, who had almost completed a sophisticated building out of cards and was taking out more to finish it off, Dabrius, who had returned to his normal state from his anger, and Varus, who was still standing motionless.

"Pack up, everyone. We're heading to a nearby city."

Hearing his voice, Fruede instantly collected all his cards and stood up, while Dabrius and Varus also got ready.

"But before that—" Lex continued, his eyes on Varus and Fruede—or, more precisely, on their appearances.

"Take on a normal look," he added as his assassin outfit vanished, replaced by a sleek black robe.

Hearing this, Fruede's body slowly melted as if a candle were burning away before reforming into a new appearance.

Now, he had a bright, cheerful face with no mask whatsoever, though his hair remained the same. Instead of his black-and-white tuxedo, he now wore a dark tuxedo.

"How's it, Master~?" he asked, flashing a sunny smile.

"Disgusting," Dabrius muttered.

"It's okay," Lex replied nonchalantly as he turned toward Varus, who had removed all his armor and set aside his shield and bone whip.

Now, he looked like an honest, middle-aged man, wearing a half-sleeved shirt with chainmail layered over it, highlighting his muscular build. A sword rested at his waist.

"Well then, let's set off," Lex said, striding forward in the direction of the city.

Beside him, Varus, Dabrius, and Fruede followed.

Varus walked with steady, measured steps, exuding an air of silent vigilance. Dabrius followed with composed elegance, his sharp gaze scanning the surroundings. Fruede, on the other hand, moved with a carefree bounce in his step, his eyes wandering as he was already bored.

After walking for a while, they had covered quite a distance, and the edge of the forest was finally coming into view. The dense trees gradually thinned, revealing glimpses of the open road beyond.

Just then, a sudden rustling in the bushes broke the silence, as a few men appeared from there.

They numbered around seven or eight, led by a burly man with an axe strapped to his back. The others followed closely behind, clad in worn leather armor and gripping swords or clubs in their hands.

Just as Lex was about to initiate a conversation out of curiosity, the burly leader flashed a grin, revealing his yellowed teeth, and bellowed, "All of you, put down your valuables and sit on the ground!"