Chapter 165 - Return To Resurgia

The players celebrated the opening of Sandurk. Anyone would feel delighted especially if another place to explore opened up. Not only that, but it also means more quests, more monsters, and more gear to discover. For players, exploring and obtaining items is one of the necessary things in the game.

The pioneers participated in the party, even Harmless Sparrow and Dolly are partying with the others and are eating delicious food. However, I have no time for celebrations. It is just a temporary side of fun and I am not finding parties as a fun activity. I would rather use the time I used partying to complete quests and clear dungeons. That way, my time is much more well spent instead.

"Are you sure you are not going to participate? You are the star of the party after all," Queen Tanya asked while sipping her wine.

"I am sorry, your majesty. But I am not a party person. I would rather go and find a monster to kill than to vibe with others in music and festivities."

"Hmm, I see. Well, I can't change your mind if that is your decision. I am not just going to hold you here by force if you don't like it. I will allow you to leave for the party. However, be sure to come back here from time to time. I might have some odd jobs you might like to complete."

"I will your majesty. I am indebted to you after all."

Queen Tanya nodded and raised her chalice full of wine as an act that sends me off. I bowed and left quietly without informing Harmless Sparrow or Dolly.

Just as I was about to go to the teleportation stone, Bloodaxe called out to me who was outside in the castle.

"Yo, leader, or should I say Bladeheart, right? Where are you going?"

I was surprised by his call since I didn't expect anyone to be calling me out here after slipping out of the party.

"I am going back to Resurgia. I need to do some matters now that the Pioneer Quests are done. You, what are you doing here? I thought you would be with the others in the party."

"Nah, I don't like loud and crowded places like parties. They are just too uncomfortable for me even if it is in the game," he answered as he sips the wine in his wine glass.

"If there is nothing more, I will need to get going."

An alert popped out of my menu and when I checked it, Bloodaxe sent a friend request to me. I accepted his request since there is no need for me to decline a request. After accepting, I left the castle after our exchange and went to the Teleportation Stone that was recently activated after our successful subjugation against Dirac, the Dragon of Darkness.

The Teleportation Stone is a marvel as it looks mystical with all the runes covering its bluish-green diamond shape gem floating in the air. If this was present in the real world, many scientists and other people will try to study this thing. Thankfully, this is just part of the design in the game so I don't need to worry about them. Before I can approach the Teleportation stone, I went to the stall beside it. Basically, that place acts as the booth for the users of the teleportation stone. This is to make sure there are no multiple people who have different destinations teleports together. After all, the stone can only teleport in one location so it isn't the problem of the stone if it teleports you somewhere you didn't want to be teleported into or the destination of the player who was with you activating it first.

The blue-haired girl with green eyes smiled and bowed the moment I approached the booth. I am also not surprised she called me by my name despite being our first encounter. With my name being broadcasted by NPCs around Sandurk, it will be strange if she didn't know me.

"Welcome Pioneer Bladeheart to the Sandurk Teleportation Stone! Are you going to teleport somewhere?"

"Yes. I need to go back to Resurgia."

"Alright, here is your ticket. Don't worry, it is free of charge. Once you present it to the guard of the Teleportation Stone, you will be able to use the teleportation stone to go to your desired location. Do you need some explanation on how to use the stone?"

I shook my head. "No need."

"Well then, have a good day and good luck in your journeys! We hope to see you again!"

Since the teleportation stone is still new and no one has yet to use it, I am the first guy who will be using the stone. As a pioneer of Sandurk, I am also the pioneer of using the reactivated stone too."

Once I handed the ticket to the guard, I went into the stone and touched it with my left hand. The cold yet warm surface of the stone is somewhat a weird mixture of feeling that seems good to the touch or not.

"Teleport! Resurgia Continent, The Capital!"

The Stone glows brightly and the runes that were on the surface of the stone pops out and encircled around the stone. Then, a magic circle appeared beneath my feet, spinning like crazy and swallowed me in bright light. And the split-second bright light disappeared and the desert surrounding Sandurk was replaced with the usual square of The Capital of Resurgia. The players who were nearby were not expecting the teleportation stone to glow. After all, it is still unusable until recently.

"Holy sh*t! Isn't that the guy who one-shots the dragon in the live stream?! The player wearing a wolf head?"

"Oh yeah, your right! He just appeared out of nowhere! Isn't he still in Sandurk?"

"The teleportation Stone was activated in Sandurk, maybe that is the reason why the teleportation stone is now in operational mode, and players can now use it!"

"If that is the case, I won't hesitate to use it and travel to Sandurk! I heard it has a good amount of challenge and enemies to kill based on the Pioneer battles!"

"I can't wait! I will try to go to the castle and ask Queen Tanya to step on me!"

...

I left the teleportation stone calmly. Even though I got popular from the live stream due to my act of killing the final boss in one shot during the final phase, that doesn't mean I am already popular with everyone. This is a game where players seek glory and recognition. Not a place where you can gather followers for being an idol or something unless that is what you are planning to do. My assumption is that the players will use my achievement as something they needed to surpass. 

Thankfully, I am not famous enough to be called a celebrity by the players and can only garner glances from other people. There might be some who recognize me but they do not approach which is good. I prefer my peaceful life of unobstructed peace rather than something like chaotic fans gathering around you.

The first thing I do when I went back to Resurgia is visiting my first follower, Lina. I didn't bring her with me when I went to Sandurk since she still has some of her family matters but I hope everything is fine now. Arriving at the inn her mother was previously running, the inn that looks like a normal one became a grand classy inn that I have mistaken for a small hotel in the streets. If not for the old signboard used by the old inn, I won't be able to recognize this place. It didn't become like this in the past timeline which makes me a little bit confused when I saw it.

Entering the inn, the place was now organized and the interior does not look like a tavern interior anymore but looks like a proper inn now. The dining hall is filled with players both male and female with their parties, happily chatting with each other. From the looks of it, the few days I was gone in Sandurk, things have already changed for the better for Lina's parents.

I quickly spotted Lina who was collecting the dishes left behind on the table. She still wears her usual battle maid outfit and her weapon is still attached behind her back but I can also tell she has gotten a bit stronger too.

"Hey, Lina."

When Lina heard me, she was surprised to see me, but the surprised look immediately changed to happiness and happily approached me.

"Master! You are back! Congratulations on completing the Pioneer Quests in Sandurk! And look! Our inn has progressed a lot due to your help! If not for you, this inn would never be looking like this!"

I pat her head and smiled inside the mask. For someone who is an NPC, she feels much more human than an actual human.

"I am back."