Chapter 67: It's all one and the same?

The thing that caught my eye was nothing major.

It was just a gentle flashing of certain words within my system, indicating that I was now on the correct path to achieve something.

Or, in more precise words, as I looked at my system, a single section of it kept flashing up.

[Main mission: Starlight Plain]

Just like when I tried to level up my endurance beyond the apparent limit, the name of the mission continued to flare up and down, as if to, once again, indicate I was on the right track to complete it.

'Doesn't that means, I'm still on the starlight plain?' I thought as I took a look through the three possible paths to fulfilling this mission.

The easy path was all about escaping the starlight plain. And all on its own, if it was the only path flashing up, I would assume that the misty valley was the way for me to go...

But no.

Both the advanced route of surviving on this plain and the master route of uncovering the secrets of this place... They were both flashing up and down too!

'Damn...' I thought, taking a step back under the shock of my unexpected discovery... But the mist around me didn't thin out, fading away under the influence of the shadow. As I turned my eyes, I realized that the single step I took inside the mist somehow brought me well over a hundred paces into the misty area!

'What the hell!' Initially startled, I quickly turned around, eager to leave... Only to fail a step and fall forth with all the momentum of my leap, burying my face... into the soft grass hidden within the mist.

'What's going on?' I thought, puzzled. And as Fay's warning and pleas resounded in my ears, I felt first seeds of panic settle in my soul.

'No, wait, I'm not moving away from them,' I thought, raising my eyes to look back toward the shadows as I gathered myself up and stood back up.

Sure, the first step moved me nearly a hundred paces away. But while I suddenly struggled to control my strength, there weren't really any other adverse effects to being in the mist!

Thankfully, after throwing me far deeper than I intended to get, this misty valley didn't play any further tricks on my perception of space, allowing me to peacefully get back to where the three women awaited my return.

I threw a quick glance at my system, just before leaving the misty zone.

[Usable points: 1.62] > [Usable points: 1.73]

In theory, I could just stay on the edge and gain free points... But right now, I was on the clock. And since both the starlight plain and the misty valley existed since ancient times, the chances were, they would still be there once I returned with more time on my hands!

"Another big fail?" Madam asked once I finally stepped into the shadows, mocking irony all over her voice.

Looking up, I simply gave her a big smile before turning my attention to Fay and grasping her in a tight hug. Still, I could only buy so much time for my dramatic revelation by mingling with my girl. And once I saw both the fox and the dryad turn impatient...

'It's quite the contrary," I said with a wildly satisfied smile.

After all her remarks, I was more than happy to get one over that damned fox!

"But while I'm more than happy to share what I found out..." I stated... Only to suddenly hesitate.

'I don't know much about this place. And while there is a chance they already know all about it...'

Gritting my teeth, I looked at the dryad and the fox, both looking at me with visible tension on their faces.

'Yeah, I don't think they have a clue.'

I breathed out and shook my head.

"It might not be the wisest idea to talk about it here, out in the open..." I looked around, just to add more feeling to my act. "When we have no idea who listens."