Chapter 248: Shadow in the Crowd

Chapter 248: Shadow in the Crowd

Performers Plaza was always quite full, especially after sunset, when it transformed into one of the citys entertainment areasvery much to the city guards annoyance. The lord mayor, of course, had ordered that things be kept civil after midnight, which was his way of saying that he wanted the ruckus to be moved indoors.

With the festival approaching, the place was absolutely packed. Musicians, acrobats, and dancers trickled in matching their skills with those present, along with people who came to witness the sight.

When Dallion got to the plaza, he could barely recognize it. There seemed to be almost as many people in the air as there were on the ground. Before his very eyes, new poles were erected to hold lines for performers to sit on.

And this happens every festival? Dallion asked.

Now you see part of my reservations, Nil grumbled. A huge waste if you ask me, but who am I to judge? According to the new governing theories, this is the best way to increase city morale, gain finds, and show off to the rest of the nobility in the empire.

I take it you dont agree?

Dear boy, when someone comes to you with a solution to all your major problems with no disadvantages, better hold tight to your coin purse. Theres bound to be a price. We just dont know it yet.

Having second thoughts? Euryale asked.

Initially, Dallion thought that having her around would attract attention or make people somewhat nervous. Turned out he was wrong on both counts. At most, someone would give her a glance before continuing on their way or directing their attention to the various performer spots.

Didnt think there would be so many, Dallion admitted.

A lot of people would help Dallion check out some and direct enough attention to himself to make the copyette tip its hand. The problem was that with this many people, he would hardly be noticed by anyone, regardless of what he did. Even so, he still had an ace in his sleeve.

I think Ill go there, Dallion pointed in the highest line crisscrossing the plaza. It had to have been built recently, because there were only a few people standing in various parts of it. Will you be joining?

No, the gorgon replied. Im not in the mood for dancing today.

Okay? Dallion was somewhat surprised that she could dance and hadnt told him. Then again, she did have the skills for it.

Ill find a good spot to keep an eye on you, and several more on the crowd.

More like several dozen more, Dallion thought. A pity she couldnt use her skills to search for the copyette.

Making his way directly under a line, Dallion leapt up, then up again, like a circus acrobat. The entry got some momentary attention, along with mocking whispers of him being an amateur. Ignoring them, Dallion kept his balance on the top line for a few seconds before starting his routine.

The first thing was to take out the kaleidervisto box and hang it round his neck. Euryale had done a great job making the box as exotic as possible and equipping it with a leader trap in accordance with Dallions instructions. Glancing at the ground, Dallion was easily able to stop quite a few echoes within people of the crowd. At a brief glance, one in every fifteen people in the crowd had an echo either in themselves or in an item. In contrast, seven of every ten people on the lines had at least one.

Dear boy, this isnt an exact science. In fact, it isnt any science at all. Im not even awake of the last time a copyette was discovered in the wild. Not that thats a guarantee of any sort. What we can both agree on is that your attacker definitely wasnt human and youd have a difficult time evading.

Dallion started pacing through the room. Looking at the walls usually filled him with a sense of joy and achievement, though not today. It was easy to call the situation ironic, but in truth, this was exactly what several people warned about. In his mind, Dallion had seen this as a long and complicated game of three-dimensional chessmore scheming and talking than actual fighting. The copyette had put a quick end to that, choosing to end any threat at the first opportunityin this case, three seconds after spotting the threat.

That really isnt a good idea, Gen said, reading Dallions latest thought.

Dallion didnt say a word.

Nil, what happens if I remain in my realm after failing a leveling attempt?

Absolutely nothing, the echo replied. You get to enjoy all the rooms you have already established, as well as anything linked, but nothing else. No matter how long you stay here, time in the real world will remain still. In turn, that means that the day you need to wait for another attempt wont change.

So, Ill have to make it on my first go.

Youre thinking of leveling up? Gutsy, as Spike would put it, but it wont give you a tremendous advantage. Not unless youre hoping of picking up a few achievements along the way. All in all, Id say you have a very long shot of achieving anything.

Not if I improve more than once. Dallion swallowed. In all the scrolls hed read, it was strongly recommended not to do multiple level-ups one after the other. However, as dangerous as they made it out to be, Dallion knew it was possible. He had done the same back when he had visited Dhermas awakening shrine. Looking at it now, the challenges were elementary in comparison, not to mention that Dallion had acquired a weapon that far exceeded his level at the time.

Id make a witty comment, but I know you well enough to tell that youre being serious.

You think its impossible?

Three levels without a proper shield and sword? Id say its highly unlikely. I see what youre going for, just dont forget that there are no do overs on this one.

One mistake and it was all over. Not to mention that Dallion had no idea what the gate challenge would be. What he did know was that unless we went that far, it was hopeless to return to the real world.

Four trials, one life It was the same as playing a game on ironman mode. There was no guarantee of success, but it was the only trick that would keep him from near certain defeat. It was quite a gamble, and one Dallion hadnt come up with entirely on his own. Back when Euryale had made the box for him, she had mentioned that as a last resort he could enter his realm if in danger and possibly improve a level to gain an advantage in the real world. However, even she didnt expect he would go for a gate.

If anyone can give me any practical advice, nows the time, Dallion said.

Dont fail, Gen said, getting a smile out of Dallion.

Dallion waited for a while longer. When no one came up with anything else, he went into the corridor. As expected, a new door had appeared opposite his last leveling up. Gen had apparently changed that room into an inside swimming poolsomething Dallion wished he had back on Earth.

Lux, Nox, Dallion said. Ill be relying on you. He opened the door.