nChapter 2: Newborn Ranger (2)

nTranslator: Translation Nation Editor: Translation Nation

nDespite River Shore City’s oppressive evening atmosphere, Marvin still felt like a fish in water as he left Fierce Horse Inn with quick and light footsteps.

nWhen he walked into an alley, he stepped into the shadows and instinctively moved stealthily. This was a good habit that could help thieves to move even more furtively during Stealth.

nHowever, not only was Marvin currently in poor health, he also didn’t even have a class, so obviously he couldn’t even use Stealth.

nAfter turning a corner, two youths could be seen paying their daily earnings to a robust man. Marvin recognized one of them, a level 2 Thief. These young thieves were stealing in the city, but all their loot had to be given to the gang managing them.

nThe sturdy man spotted Marvin and gave him a quick look, apparently noticing Marvin’s Nobility Emblem on his sleeve, and swore under his breath.

nMarvin lowered his head and quickly departed. The current him wasn’t qualified to stir up trouble.

n...

nChurches of various gods were currently having trouble developing in River Shore City, as it was a city under the rule of the South Wizards Alliance. It wasn’t limited to River Shore City either, as other cities were also facing this issue. However, over the past few years the Silver Church was the odd one out. They not only had a firm foundation in River Shore City, but they also became River Shore City’s third major power. This had something to do with the Silver God’s divinity. Although the arrogant wizards only ever believed in the greatest Wizard God Lance and never cared about the other gods, they still needed money.

nIn the aftermath of the fall of the God of Wealth, the Silver God, at the time still a weak divinity, was still worshipped by the businessmen. And the wizards who have been ruling Feinan for an era just followed suit.

nMarvin knew the character of the Silver Church’s Priests. These guys only thought of personal gains. As long as the payment was sufficiently generous, they were even willing to cast Divine spells with on you.

nThe Priests of the Silver Church also were the only ones from whom you could buy a healing spell with silvers.

nThe original young owner wasn’t unaware of this way of doing things. He merely thought he could save some money, but died as a result. Marvin didn’t want to repeat his mistakes.

nThe pawnshop was in a very remote place, the depths of an alley. However, based on Marvin’s memories, its reputation was pretty good. The owner was an old goblin wearing a pair of pince-nez. He looked cunning and deceitful. Seeing Marvin, he grinned. Obviously, Marvin was a regular customer.

n(T

/N: pince-nez are those old glasses without the temples(ears support))

nAfter great effort, Marvin exchanged the exquisite pearl necklace for 150 silvers. In fact, according to his Accounting, this necklace was worth at least 300 silvers on the market. If Marvin wanted to reclaim this necklace, he would need at least 330 silvers.

nPawnshops are profiteering businesses, but Marvin didn’t object at all, as his current strength wasn’t good enough to. His Diplomacy was at a pitiful 19 points and wasn’t able to influence the old goblin to yield any extra silvers.

nHe hid the pouch well. This world’s silvers were in fact the size of a pinkie fingernail. Even though 150 sounded like a lot, it could fit in a small pouch.

nMarvin left the pawn shop, taking advantage of the fact that the fever hadn’t worsened to find the Silver Church’s Priest on duty.

nAfter paying 80 silvers, this seemingly simple and honest middle-aged Priest was finally willing to display the

"Silver Church’s Radiance

" to Marvin.

nA simple Remove Disease and Cure Light Wounds removed Marvin’s fever status as well as getting him back to full HP.

n

"Under the effect of the spell Remove Disease, your status has recovered to Healthy!

"

n

"Weakness Penalty: Attribute Reduction - 70% Removed.

"

n

"HP recovered: 26

/26

"

nWith the warm flow from the spell and the information popping before his eyes, Marvin couldn’t help being somewhat excited.

n‘That damned weakness penalty finally disappeared!’

nWith his HP back to a full 26, he felt a lot stronger.

n

"You look quite healthy now, young man.

" The Priest of the Silver Church showed a trace of fatigue and hinted that it was time for Marvin to leave.

nHe was merely a Priest at the lowest level that could only use three spells per day, and each use would use up a lot of his mental strength and spirit.

nMarvin quickly left, but he didn’t go back to the Fierce Horse Inn yet. Rather, he started his own plan.

nTo survive in this world!

nHe needed his own strength. The invasions of the Gods and the Abyss were closing in. But the most pressing matter was that of his territory.

nThere were hundreds of gnolls, and if the River Shore City Lord didn’t dispatch his guards, then he couldn’t do anything about the gnoll elimination. And behind this inexplicable gnoll attack, Marvin smelled a hint of a conspiracy.

nEspecially since his task panel shockingly had the following soulbound quest:

nReclaim your territory – Gnoll Invasion

nQuest Description: In the Summer of the year 297 of Fourth Wizard Era your territory met with a gnoll invasion. You narrowly escaped with your life and want the River Shore City Lord’s help. However, the city hall’s officials keep delaying the matter and this makes you feel suspicious. Perhaps your experiences in the city should keep you more vigilant. You cannot count on others; you can only rely on yourself.

nQuest Reward: 1000 general experience points (Exp).

nMission Deadline: 29 days left

n...

nSoulbound meant that the quest couldn’t be removed unless you deleted your account and started over. And the current Marvin obviously couldn’t delete his account by killing himself.

nHe had to admit that the quest reward was generous, as surprisingly the reward was 1000 general exp. General exp is of the highest grade of experience like battle exp and can be distributed to any class. 1000 general exp could make a level 1 adventurer class reach level 3 and still have some exp left over. It was fairly difficult to gain this much experience in this world. This could be considered an extraordinary leveling speed.

n‘The quest description explained things very clearly. I’m afraid that I can only complete it with my own power.’ If Marvin was still the original weak and incompetent noble, he could only welcome failure. Just as he said to Anna, he needed to change.

nFirst of all, he couldn’t rely on his general class, Noble. He needed a combat class.

nAnd as a god level player, Marvin already had an idea before stepping out of Fierce Horse Inn.

n...

nRiver Shore City, Business District, Succubus Tavern’s backdoor.

nA beggar miserably cowering under a sleeping bag was pleading to the passersby,

"Please give me some wine, even diluted with water...

"

nHe struggled to look up, and sniffed madly, apparently content just to detect the smell of alcohol on the passersby.

n

"Fuck off, old drunk!

"

nA grumpy thug kicked the beggar and the pitiful man rolled a few times, still clutching his sleeping bag.

nThe group of people walking through the back door burst into laughter.

nThey lacked sympathy toward these sorts. This was the grey area of the business district, and the slums were just two streets away. All sorts of gangs were endlessly fighting, and the most lucrative underground businesses were developing around here: organ markets, slave markets, military weapon markets, etc. Those gathering here were rarely good people.

nThe beggar clutched his stomach and dispiritedly withdrew to his sleeping bag while holding his head.

nAfter the group passed by, the alley became a little deserted.

nHowever when the scent of pure rum suddenly flew in, he still couldn’t help but come out of his sleeping bag, holding his head. Apparently, he wouldn’t even mind taking another kick.

nHis eyes were locked onto the bottle of rum that had just been opened.

n

"10 silvers for a bottle of golden rum,

" a young voice said.

nThe beggar couldn’t stop looking at that bottle of golden rum and could only guess from the voice that it was a very young man.

n

"Sir, please have mercy, allow me to have some…

" The beggar suddenly lunged toward the bottle, trying to grab it.

nMarvin, already expecting his reaction, took a step to avoid it. Looking at the beggar whose eyes reddened, he said,

"To get something, you must first pay the price.

"

nThe beggar crawled out of the sleeping bag, and a stench filled the air. He kept swallowing and with a trembling voice he asked,

"What do you want?

"

nMarvin smiled and passed him a handwritten letter, along with a red ink paste usually used for seals. He had prepared those beforehand.

nHonestly, he couldn’t be sure whether this would work, but this was the fastest way to get a class. He had learned of this shortcut from his close friend in the game.

nIn

"Feinan Continent

", it wasn’t easy to get a class. First of all, you had to be well-trained (which meant to be at least level 5 in the basic Commoner class.) Then you had to complete a class quest to get the corresponding class.

nWith Marvin’s current situation, if he tried to get the class the same way ordinary people did, it would take too long. He had to try to take a shortcut.

nIn order to take this shortcut, he even had to give up on his favorite and most familiar class, Thief, and pick another similar class. Fortunately, the final advancement of this class was also Ruler of the Night. Otherwise, Marvin would definitely not give up the class he was the best at.

nThe beggar took the letter and read it for a long time, shivering. Then he took out a pitch-black object.

n‘The bet paid off! This guy really was a high-level adventurer, at least of the second rank!’

nMarvin saw the class badge and knew that his guess wasn’t wrong. Although the beggar seemed weird, his ingrained movements exposed his former class.

nFor example, that technical move when he curled up inside his sleeping bag was a very useful class skill – Hide.

n

"I can’t do that, my conscience won’t allow it!

" The beggar struggled.

nMarvin smiled encouragingly.

"Of course you can.

" He gave the bottle of rum to the beggar.

nThe beggar’s breathing suddenly became coarse. He took the pitch-black badge and pressed it on the ink paste, leaving a seal on the letter. It was a circle of holly leaves with the name Mark Chene in the middle.

nMarvin was ecstatic when he received the letter. The beggar was eagerly drinking his golden rum, and before he had finished, Marvin had left the alley.

nRecommendation letter received.

nClass Acquired.

nHalf an hour later when Marvin came out of the Ranger Guild, there was a sika deer badge on his chest.

nThis marked his success in getting a Rank 1 Ranger Class.

nAt the same time he also received a title with bonuses.

nNewborn Ranger

n