Chapter 343: Invitation and the Visitor

Actually, it wasn't hard to guess what kind of help she needed.

【1】 Actually, it wasn't hard to guess what kind of help she needed.

"These are the selection criteria for a 【Hero】?"

【2】 "These are the selection criteria for a 【Hero】?"

"Well, not exactly—it's more like one of the conditions a 【Hero】 should possess," Rachel said apologetically. "This is only one of the conditions, and I'm sorry I can't say more. Once too much leaks from the river of prophecy, it will become less precise."

【3】 "Well, not exactly—it's one of the conditions a 【Hero】 should possess." Rachel said apologetically. "This is only one of the conditions; please forgive me for saying no more. Once too much of the river of prophecy is leaked, it will become less precise."

March—this is a primary condition.

【4】 March—this is a primary condition.

There are still five more conditions to fulfill, and only after achieving them one by one will one meet the 【Hero】's journey.

【5】 There are still five more conditions; only after achieving them one by one will one fit the journey of a 【Hero】.

Since the forester before her couldn't even meet the first primary condition, Rachel lost interest in him and naturally had nothing more to say.

【6】 Since the forest warden before her couldn't even meet the first primary condition, Rachel lost interest in him and naturally couldn't say more.

Rod nodded and didn't ask further.

【7】 Rod nodded and didn't ask further.

He took her to the town hall to look up relevant records.

【8】 He took her to the town hall to look up the relevant records.

Little Ke, meanwhile, took Amy on a detour back to the forest.

【9】 Miss Xiao Ke, meanwhile, took Aimy on a detour back to the forest.

This guy was still afraid of people, let alone Quartz Town with its even larger transient population now.

【10】 This one was still afraid of people, let alone Shi Ying Town, which now had even more outsiders.

Rod still had face at the town hall. He just raised his eyebrows at the little girl at the reception desk, and she was already somewhat smitten.

【11】 Rod still had face at the town hall; he merely raised an eyebrow at the little girl at the counter, and she was already a bit smitten.

He got the records quickly.

【12】 He got the records quickly.

The last large-scale comprehensive survey was ten years ago.

【13】 The most recent large-scale census was ten years ago.

But unfortunately, the census at that time was relatively complicated and incomplete, with only broad data like population count, gender ratio, and age distribution recorded.

【14】 But unfortunately, the census at the time was relatively complicated and incomplete; the recorded information was only broad data like population count, gender ratio, and age distribution.

This method was mainly for convenience of taxation, and detailed birth dates for each person were probably known only to their own families.

【15】 This method was mainly for the convenience of tax collection, and detailed birth dates for each person were probably known only to their own families.

Rachel was a bit disappointed.

【16】 Rachel was a little disappointed.

Rod had wanted to treat her to a meal, to fulfill his duties as host.

【17】 Rod had originally wanted to treat her to a meal, fulfilling his duty as host.

But her mind was set on finding the 【Hero】, and in the blink of an eye she left without saying goodbye.

【18】 But her mind was set on finding the 【Hero】, and in the blink of an eye she left without saying goodbye.

At the edge of the woods.

【19】 The edge of the woods.

Yellow sand churned.

【20】 Yellow sand churned.

Rod, the half-deer person Little Ke, and the female beastman Amy sat around on the grass, sheltered within the windbreak barrier set up by the spider-turned elf Watching Yuna.

【21】 Rod, the half-deer Miss Xiao Ke, and the female beastkin Aimy sat around on the grass, sheltered within a wind-blocking barrier set up by the spider-transformed elf Watching Yuna.

On the picnic blanket sat a pot of steaming dwarf stew—beef, potatoes, carrots, celery, onions, seasoned with garlic, bango berry leaves, bay leaves, and other heavy spices. Rich in color and aroma, its intense flavor was visible to the naked eye.

【22】 On the picnic blanket sat a pot of steaming dwarven stew—beef, potatoes, carrots, celery, onions, seasoned with heavy spices like garlic, bango berry leaves, and bay leaves—rich in color, fragrant and mouth-watering, with a visibly intense flavor.

This was something Rod had bought on his way back from a newly opened dwarf restaurant on New Lanke Street.

【23】 This was something Rod had bought on his way back from a newly opened dwarven restaurant on New Lank Street.

Just as there's no wife in a wife cake and no fish in fish-fragrant shredded pork, there were no dwarves in this dwarf restaurant either.

【24】 Just as there's no wife in a wife cake, and no fish in fish-fragrant shredded pork, there were no dwarves in this dwarven restaurant either.

The chef was a halfling who put on thick clothes and pretended to be a dwarf to greet customers, claiming this was the most authentic dwarf cuisine on the entire continent.

【25】 The chef was a halfling; he put on thick clothes and pretended to be a dwarf to greet customers, claiming this was the most authentic dwarven cuisine on the entire continent.

Rod saw right through it when ordering, but was too lazy to care.

【26】 Rod saw right through it the moment he ordered, but was too lazy to care.

Beside the picnic blanket, Watching Yuna stood quietly, brewing mushroom tea with a dark elf flair for everyone.

【27】 Beside the picnic blanket, Watching Yuna stood quietly, brewing everyone a mushroom tea with a dark-elf flair.

Having a picnic in this kind of sandstorm weather—there's no one else quite like them.

【28】 Having a picnic in this kind of sandstorm weather—there's no one else quite like them.

The late-arriving tree spirit Vivienne blinked her innocent glowing big eyes and squeezed in between Rod and Little Ke.

【29】 The late-arriving tree spirit Vivian blinked her innocent, glowing big eyes and squeezed in between Rod and Miss Xiao Ke.

Of course she didn't have any ill intentions—she mainly just wanted to sit next to Rod and her good friend.

【30】 Of course she had no ill intentions; she mainly just wanted to sit next to Rod and her good friend.

Everyone ate and chatted.

【31】 Everyone ate and chatted.

Mainly it was Little Ke and Amy talking about what they'd seen and heard along the way.

【32】 Mainly it was Miss Xiao Ke and Aimy talking about what they had seen and heard along the way.

With Rachel around earlier, there were many things she hadn't been able to say, so now she opened her heart.

【33】 With Rachel around earlier, there were many things she couldn't bring herself to say; now she opened her heart.

Rod listened with a smile while eating the spicy stew.

【34】 Rod listened with a smile while eating the spicy stew.

He stepped on a landmine.

【35】 He'd stepped into a trap.

This restaurant was way too spicy.

【36】 That restaurant was way too spicy.

Apart from him and Amy, who kept their heads down and devoured the food, Vivienne and Little Ke barely had two bites.

【37】 Apart from him and Aimy, who kept their heads down and devoured it, Vivian and Miss Xiao Ke barely had two bites.

Tree spirits and half-deer folk still prefer something on the lighter side.

【38】 Tree spirits and half-deer still preferred lighter fare.

Fortunately, he'd bought some extra salad and mixed vegetables.

【39】 Luckily he had bought some extra salad and mixed dishes.

Terri, meanwhile, was half-reclining against Watching Yuna's enormous spider abdomen, drinking mushroom tea with a bored expression.

【40】 Tally, meanwhile, was half-reclining against Watching Yuna's enormous spider abdomen, drinking mushroom tea with a bored expression.

Succubi don't need this kind of food, but she did quite enjoy having a drink.

【41】 Succubi don't need this kind of food, but she did quite enjoy drinking beverages.

Sometimes at night she'd even drink alcohol, and she liked to pour it on herself and have Rod clean it up.

【42】 Sometimes at night she would drink alcohol, and she even liked to pour it on herself and have Rod clean it up.

"Sorry, Rachel was just too anxious to find the 【Hero】. She wouldn't normally be this rude."

【43】 "Sorry, Rachel was just too anxious to find the 【Hero】; she wouldn't normally be this rude."

Little Ke explained on behalf of her hometown friend's abrupt departure.

【44】 Miss Xiao Ke explained her hometown friend's abrupt departure.

Rod waved it off—of course he wouldn't mind such a small thing.

【45】 Rod waved it off; naturally he wouldn't fuss over such a small thing.

But he was still quite interested in the matter of the 【Hero】, so he asked some more details.

【46】 However, he was quite interested in the matter of the 【Hero】, so he asked a few more details.

Little Ke noticed Rod's hand unconsciously resting on Vivienne's thigh, slapped it away, and said in a low voice:

【47】 Miss Xiao Ke noticed Rod's hand had unconsciously landed on Vivian's thigh, swatted it away, and said in a lowered voice:

"The Grand Elder's prophecy foretells that a once-in-a-millennium chaos has begun to show signs. Six 【Heroes】 will emerge to set everything right, and every 【Hero Giver】 who finds a 【Hero】 will thereby gain the chance to ascend to godhood. Rachel told me this in secret—don't you dare tell anyone."

【48】 "The Elder predicted that the once-in-a-millennium chaos has already begun to show signs; six 【Heroes】 will be born to set everything right, and every 【Hero-Giver】 who finds a 【Hero】 will thereby gain the chance to become a god. Rachel told me this in secret—absolutely don't tell anyone."

"Ascend to godhood? Is there some causal connection behind this?"

【49】 "Becoming a god? Is there some causal relationship behind this?"

The half-deer girl shrugged, indicating she didn't know either.

【50】 The half-deer girl shrugged, indicating she didn't know either.

Rod was puzzled.

【51】 Rod was puzzled.

If the heroes who set the chaos right gain the chance to ascend to godhood, there's nothing to say—they deserve it.

【52】 If the heroes who set the chaotic times right gained the chance to become gods, there was nothing to say—they deserved it.

But if you say that the givers who find the heroes will receive the same treatment as the heroes, wouldn't that be a bit unfair to the 【Heroes】?

【53】 But if you say that the givers who found the heroes would receive the same treatment as the heroes themselves, wouldn't that be a bit unfair to the 【Heroes】?

After all, they're the ones fighting on the front lines, while these half-deer folk just sit back and reap the rewards.

【54】 After all, those people were fighting on the front line; on the contrary, these half-deer were just reaping the benefits from behind.

He then realized.

【55】 He then realized.

Since the appearance of the Sacred Spark, the possibility of ascending to godhood has been foretold.

【56】 Since the appearance of the Divine Spark, the possibility of ascending to godhood had been foreshadowed.

And now these so-called six 【Heroes】 who will pacify the chaos are the half-deer folk's way of ascending to godhood.

【57】 And now these so-called six 【Heroes】 who would pacify the chaotic times were the half-deer's way of ascending to godhood.

Honestly, Rod didn't see anything wrong with this.

【58】 To be honest, Rod didn't see anything wrong with it.

He even felt a surge of excitement in his heart—all of this indicated that the continent was changing, and it was giving people more opportunities.

【59】 He even felt a surge of excitement in his heart; all of this indicated that the continent was changing, and it was giving people more opportunities.

But he quickly suppressed the stirring in his heart.

【60】 But he quickly suppressed the stirrings in his heart.

His path has never been about adventure or exploration, but lies in the girls before him.

The girls before him who provide him with shared skills.

Inevitably.

Rod leaned close to Vivian and gave a little nibble on her tender, smooth cheek.

The Tree Spirit blinked her innocent large eyes and kissed back without expression, yet she grew bolder, staring at the man's lips before pressing down on them.

Finding one kiss insufficient, she actively leaned in to devour his mouth.

"Hey! If you want to talk, just talk! Why are you getting physical!"

Miss Xiao Ke didn't even have time to stop him and could only say in displeasure.

Rod gently pushed away the Tree Spirit, who was truly biting his lip, wiped the liquid trace from the corner of her mouth, and whispered in her ear:

"Tonight, at the Henry Farm, in Pan Ni's room."

Vivian nodded silently, her expression still unreadable.

The voice was not quiet; everyone present heard it.

Miss Xiao Ke's face flushed red, and she said angrily, "What are you up to again! Do you really need so many people for... for that?!!"

"You don't understand; the more people, the happier it is."

Amy, her mouth full of stew, heard this and looked up foolishly.

"Master, are you going to play? Why not invite Amy?"

"We are exercising our muscles together in Pan Ni's room. You come too, but you must bathe first."

"Then forget it; Amy won't go."

The female orc stated that she hated bathing.

"When you overheard our conversation, the choice was no longer in your hands, understand, Amy?"

Seeing her master's threatening expression, Amy couldn't help but shrug her shoulders: "Alright, alright, Master..."

"Not just Vivian and Amy; Daphne, needless to say... Watching Yuna, you go too."

"As you command, Master."

"Hey!!" Miss Xiao Ke shouted.

Immediately, she saw the Ranger looking at her with a wicked grin: "Except for you, Miss Xiao Ke. You are not allowed to attend the party."

The half-deer girl ground her teeth in hatred, wishing she could bite this fellow to death!

But suddenly, she saw the man's expression turn serious as he turned his head to look at the distant south.

Yet within that hazy mist barrier, Miss Xiao Ke saw nothing.

Not until a full two minutes later did the figure of a strange man gradually rise.

His pitch-black skin and elven ears revealed his identity.

A Dark Elf.

(End of this chapter)