Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Chapter 804: Chapter 600: Life and Freedom, Each Has Their Own Choice

The elves snorted disdainfully at the humans who stood up with delight, then turned to board the ship.

For those who champion freedom more, money and pleasure will never be their top priority.

But for the Toril commoners, who might not even reach the age of 30, the Stellar Realm, which can make people immortal, indeed holds more allure.

After all, what these merchants desire is their youth and beauty, and as long as they stay in the Stellar Realm, they can always keep this ticket of youth.

The female commoners of Toril, and even many males, never regard selling their bodies as shameful, given how hard life already is.

The terrifying order in the Toril World is the reason that worship of evil gods can never be changed; indeed, believing in evil gods may lead to a miserable death, but it’s likely they’d live longer than powerless commoners.

As for being judged by the All Gods after death, when life is already difficult, who cares about the afterlife?

Elves are natural ability users with long lifespans; even the lowest-ranking elves live without worry. The power struggles of the nobility actually don’t affect ordinary elves much, they don’t feel much pressure.

The resources that elf nobility fight for are something that ordinary elves simply cannot access.

Human nobles, on the other hand, desire the essentials for the survival of the lower-class people. This is the fundamental reason why the two races can never truly understand each other.

What these elves naturally enjoy from birth is something that human commoners can never attain, despite their best efforts.

So Hill does not look down on these young men and women for choosing such a path; for those who lack any knowledge, every tactic is a means of survival.

You can only say that what they see is only those things before them, but someone like Hill, from such a background, shouldn’t mock them for their shortsightedness.

After the elves and a few other humans entered the hall under the deck and sat down, the Ship Spirit commanded the Magic Ship to depart.

Hill glanced at the former slaves kneeling again in front of the Magic Ship, pressing their heads tightly against their outstretched hands, thanking him with the most formal etiquette of Toril, but said no more, leaving only, ”May the flowing winds protect you.”

This was Hill’s final advice to them. Staying on Dragon Rock Star was no issue, but they must choose their beliefs wisely.

Tom would never bless those who willingly degenerate, but Shandakor, being neutral and chaotic, could accept everyone’s faith.

They were different from slaves; despite also selling themselves, they were commoners and had some freedom.

As long as they weren’t foolish enough to leave Dragon Rock Star, their lives could still have some security.

The elf spy, who had been guided to the upper level of the Magic Tower, asked somewhat perplexed, ”Honorable Archmage, why are you so kind to these humans who willingly deprave themselves?

They completely disappointed you! They don’t deserve any more of your goodwill!”

Hill chuckled, ”The commoners of Toril, wanting to live like a person, don’t know how much self-esteem they must abandon. The requirements for talents to become a Professional are too high; other than looking decent, they have no advantages.

Such people, once back on Toril, might not even have enough to eat.

Humans are different from elves; it’s very hard to find a place where as long as you’re willing to work, you can live well.

Even though such a life is something we wouldn’t choose, there’s no need to get angry.”

The elf shook his head, still unable to understand, but decided not to meddle in human affairs further.

”I’m Estis.” The person who was clearly a Moon Elf stood upright and performed a formal elven salute, ”Many thanks for your lifesaving grace.”

Hill stopped him from continuing, ”There are some things you may not know. The Elf Queen chose to abdicate and leave Eternity Island, whereabouts unknown. General Gael led the Royal Fleet to protect Prince Ramriel to Agleya City.”

He paused, somewhat unsure when this elf had been captured, ”You know Agleya City, right?”

”I know,” Estis immediately replied, ”The place where the new Goddess of the Sea resides, the one who defeated Ambori. Is the prince still well? I am his direct subordinate!”

Hearing this, Hill knew exactly when he had been captured. But Estis, a traveler?

He flipped through his ring. He sometimes habitually threw newspapers inside after reading them, especially those with commemorative value.

Sure enough, there were some Ferun Great Land Dailies published by Silvermoon City, detailing virtually everything about Agleya City and even the massive changes on Eternity Island, given the Queen had considerable attention on the Ferun Great Land.

Many showed respect to Eternity Island, not for the elves, but because of this powerful and amiable Queen.

”You should take a look at these first!” Hill handed him the newspapers, ”Prince Ramriel is physically well, but as for how he’s feeling, I don’t know.

I’ll directly send you all to Prince Ramriel’s side, and you can discuss any issues with him yourself!”

Estis accepted the newspapers, glanced at the hooded mage, and understood that this compatriot refused to further involve himself in this troublesome matter.

He bowed once more and, under the guidance of the Ship Spirit dressed in a white and gold-laced uniform with white hair and eyes, reached a suite where his team members were waiting for him.

”Aren’t the others here?”

”They’re next door,” his deputy answered him, ”six people sharing a suite. We planned to wait for you to come back before choosing our rooms.

This Archmage must be an elf, only we like to team up in groups of six.”

”He didn’t let me see his true face,” Estelle shook his head, ”but he promised to send us to the Prince.”

”Going directly to Eternity Island? Isn’t that a bit reckless?” the deputy asked, ”These matters are clearly stirred up by that group of traitors.”

”He gave me a bunch of newspapers to look at recent events,” Estelle said, frowning, ”The Queen has abdicated and disappeared.”

”What?” his teammates exclaimed, all reaching out to grab the newspapers to see what happened.

Hill was a bit curious about why several other humans would return to Toril with him, but he chose not to ask questions.

His only goodwill towards these people was allowing them entry to Agleya City for work.

Recently, some individually run shops have appeared in the city, indeed needing some service staff.

But most of Agleya City’s people are Professionals, and even young people are thinking of entering schools.

Lynn gave the local residents a benefit, allowing them to defer tuition payment until after graduation, which wouldn’t be much if they became Professionals during that time.

Even if unable to succeed, educated people can still find better jobs, and since they don’t need to pay for room and board, most persist until they can’t learn anymore.

As families residing permanently in Agleya City, they couldn’t give up their citizen status over such matters.

Lynn often communicated with the Undead Tribe, envying their systematic education from a young age, and continuous learning as long as desired.

So when University Town officially opened, he specifically asked Hill if this could be done.

Lynn worried, if city population increases, whether Hill could still sustain it, though he would work hard to build the city, no one knew when income and expenses would balance.

Agleya City still didn’t have its own unique products to bring continuous income, and Lynn couldn’t guarantee any would develop later.

Hill just let him glance at his practice warehouse, then handed him the keys.

Lynn stayed silent a while before turning back, promptly issuing a City Lord’s Order in Hill’s name.

He had his pride, certainly not believing that a hundred years later, he’d still rely on selling Hill’s practice goods to support the entire city.

Hill remembered hearing Lynn mumble about needing to establish a settlement for newcomers before leaving.

Anyone there passing the faction test could rent housing, ranging from the cheapest single rooms to luxury apartments.

Though people there wouldn’t enjoy citizens’ equal treatment, they would be allowed to work in Agleya City.

Since there was such a place, it would be enough to leave these people to Lynn; they might not be able to do other work, but being service staff was certainly okay.

Moreover, if they truly showed such thought and integrity, at least they could audit some courses.

Though unable to enter classrooms, no one would chase them away if they listened from outside.

Hill had to admit he probably had a more favorable impression of these people, to consider so much for them.

The Stellar Realm, though full of perils, would drive many crazy with its promise of immortality; yet most Toril people didn’t even know such a place existed in the starry sky.

Even the existence of the interdimensional magic ship was a secret in this world.

And even knowing the Stellar Realm’s traits, how many could hold their ground out there?

The elves knew, but to them, such benefits meant nothing; life in Toril was far more comfortable.

Those able could choose not to, as immortality meant no further advancement in capability.

But for ordinary people, it was enough.

Along with merchants’ silver-tongued persuasion, it was impressive these individuals chose to return to Toril with clear minds, and Hill was quite pleased.

Sometimes he felt conflicted; clearly in this world, he mostly sided with the elves.

Yet Hill truly didn’t want all humans to exhibit such willing degeneration before the elves.

No matter how understandable, it still made him uncomfortable.

As the Toril Planet drew nearer, Hill quietly watched the world under the brilliant light curtain, and felt a bit of longing for Teraxil.