Surviving The Fourth Calamity

”I’ve actually tried getting him to repay that debt sooner,” Hill shook his head helplessly, ”but it’s not possible.

The real advantage Russell got is his talents, which can’t be repaid in just a few tries.

However, the ties have lessened somewhat.

So, I’m planning to have them create a Starry Sky Magic Tower, to live in that stretch of the starry sky between the star and the moon.

This way, the connection with the world remains, but a lot of unnecessary trouble can be avoided.”

For instance, those newborn Sons of Fortune who love wandering around suddenly walking up to the Russell family’s doorstep to knock.

Of course, if the World Will really wants to drag Russell into the mix, then some Son of Fortune might suddenly teleport straight up to the sky.

But the energy required for this is not insignificant.

The greater the energy expenditure, the more Russell will have to repay.

But there’s a catch: he can’t bankrupt himself while repaying.

At this time, Lansendel’s Chosen becomes really useful.

World Will wouldn’t plot against him.

It’s not necessarily because they’re afraid of Lansendel, but the data needed for calculation with his Chosen might be ten times more... If they had such energy, who wouldn’t they plot against?

No world will, however resilient, would do something that’s not worth the cost.

So, as long as everyone understands that if Russell feels he can’t handle it anymore, he might seek help from this Chosen of Dawn, they will definitely try to prevent Russell from getting to that point.

Lansendel immediately understood Hill’s intention... and deeply grasped why Hill placed his student at the Magic Tower’s entrance.

”Oh, so you want Josh to be a Mountain Overlord!” The Great Peacock laughed.

”So, can I ask you to help with this favor, Lansendel?” Hill asked very earnestly.

Lansendel was a bit surprised: ”Of course, do we even need to say this between us?”

Hill knew that even if he didn’t say anything, Lansendel would still let his Chosen help with this favor.

However, Hill was never one to pretend not to understand.

When he receives someone’s assistance, he acknowledges it.

”Even the best of friends shouldn’t ask for help without reason,” Hill smiled gently, ”Besides, isn’t Josh the one putting in the effort?

Your Chosen, though surely willing to serve you, still needs to know why.”

”The Undead were right, you’re just too thorough,” Lansendel shook his head, ”No wonder someone calls you Sister Hill.”

”Some things you can pretend not to have heard, no need to say them to my face,” Hill was a bit agitated, ”I’m not a deity, I don’t have the ability to divide all things, nor do I enjoy gender-switching games!

Besides, I’m just a mortal, is it wrong to think a bit more?

Those who think less are now having meetings at Styx!”

”Hmm... Sometimes your use of your identity is really flexible.

But why are you so upset? Aren’t the Undead always saying?” Lansendel tilted his head, ”I haven’t seen you arguing with them?”

”Arguing with the Undead?” Hill scoffed, ”I’m not crazy.

Even Rose can listen to them call her a venomous spider without changing her expression!”

”Though the Undead love giving nicknames, it’s... not malicious, nor true contempt,” Shaer said softly, ”Rose actually enjoys their way of speaking.”

Hill took a deep breath: ”Keeping a calm face when dealing with them is the best approach.

The bigger the reaction, the more they play.

Rose, seeing them frequently, naturally knows how to handle them.”

It’s not like Shaer said; it’s not because the Undead aren’t malicious that there’s no reaction!

That Rose, because of those past troubles, is most annoyed by others disrespecting her.

Seeing her evoking reverence from everyone is her favorite.

But she was the first deity in Toril to reach out to the Undead, so she naturally understands what those Undead, who even dare to curse the God of Time and Space and William above them, are all about.

Thus, when Rose interacts with the Undead and finds them entering an uncontrollable mode, she usually shifts the topic to the Elf Deity System or deities she dislikes.

Though she herself is also spoken of rather harshly, she can still hear these creatures Coron brought to Toril expressing even more scathing and caustic blame towards the Father of Elves.

There’s no way around it... The Gold Coin of the Toril Undead is generally issued by Coron.

Many task rewards are naturally set by the Father of Elves.

Well... anyone who has played games knows, it’s an easy position to get cursed.

Even if the prices given are extremely fair, it’s no use.

There will always be complaints.

Rose, during her time on the Black and White Path, discovered this, so she almost daily poked at the Undead’s sore spots, listening to their curses as she laughed herself to sleep.

You should know, even her Zholar followers only curse Coron before her statue... then turn around in their secret places to cry out their helplessness to Coron; they are not few.

Rose knows this.

She just can’t concern herself with so many details.

She indeed controls the Zholar tightly, but they aren’t entirely without other options.

To these black-skinned elves, accustomed to intrigue and machinations, Rose offers them what they most desire.

Therefore, they are willing to endure that terrible torment.

The relationship between Zholar and Rose is actually a mutual choice.

That also means Rose has the possibility of losing them.

Thus, Rose’s harsh cruelty towards the Zholar is actually quite limited in scope, those matrons she really targets are the failures.

Rose is quite satisfied with the beautiful language she hears from the Undead Tribe, so she’s willing to tolerate their disrespect.

This Spider Queen, though residing in the Abyss, conducts herself in a hellish manner... she may not always accept a fair exchange, but she understands the concept of gain and loss.

Shaer’s low laughter resonated.

”Why are you still here? Shaer,” Lansendel curiously glanced at her.

”Don’t tell me you plan to leave your Chosen alone in this chaotic world,” Shaer said casually.

”What are you pretending?” Lansendel tilted his head and asked, ”Didn’t I go looking for William? Aren’t you standing right beside?”

”So, what’s the reason you asked me this question anyway?” Shaer said slowly.

Hill pressed his lips together, sensing a foreboding feeling.

”Heh~ I just knew, you intended to see it live!” Lansendel flapped his wings forcefully, ”Since hearing the news about Hill, the Undead Tribe has been in an uproar!”

Darn... it!

The only words echoing in Hill’s mind were these two, and only after a long time did he manage to ask, ”When?”

”According to this world’s flow of time...” Shaer answered him cheerfully, her words filled with laughter, ”You have one month to mentally prepare, Hill.

I thought you’d leave early to return to Teraxil!

But it seems, rather than letting your student face the unpredictable future on their own, you still prefer enduring the delightful songs of the Undead Tribe!”

Hill lowered his eyebrows, pondering for a moment, before gently asking, ”Is there something behind the Tower of Dark Enigma and the Tower of Despair that caught your attention, Shaer?”

He’s a bit silly, but not foolish.

Even though the fun between Hill and the Undead Tribe is worth seeing, it’s definitely not worth the Lady of the Night wasting her time.

As if she couldn’t see the grand spectacle, the Undead Tribe would undoubtedly broadcast it live throughout.

Seeing it firsthand is absolutely meaningless to her.

”Ah... William said you’d surely figure it out,” Shaer sighed, ”I always think of you like a kid, thinking you can’t understand these things.”

”Hill managed to retreat from Toril unscathed, not leaving anything behind!?” Lansendel questioned, baffled, ”How could he not comprehend this?

Don’t compare him to Celene!

Although both like to act on impulse, Hill just prefers using intuition to guide direction, and once he sees the direction, he carefully explores the route’s feasibility before acting, never acting blindly on so-called intuition.”

Shaer smiled slightly, refraining from speaking.

But Hill suspected she had interacted with Aurelio or other Earth Bear before having such thoughts.

Shaer wouldn’t compare Celene with him.

She typically uses Celene’s intelligence only when humiliating someone.

Shaer quickly changed the topic... Although she detests Celene, she also doesn’t like anyone ridiculing Celene’s intelligence before her; after all, she’s not always the winner: ”Hill, do you remember the Divine Artifact we acquired in Netherworld crafted from foreign deities’ remains?”

”Vikna Demon Eye?” Hill answered, somewhat confused.

”Indeed you knew,” Shaer smiled slightly, ”Though the news from the Undead Tribe often seems vague, at times, they are unexpectedly helpful.

At least, I know, besides that eye, there’s a demon hand.”

”Even if combined, those objects are just 30-something level Divine Artifacts,” Hill was somewhat confused, ”It’s not much use to you, right?”

”The path he took in the direction of hidden divinity is just opposite to mine,” Shaer said frankly, ”That guy clearly started halfway, occasionally stumbled into the corner of hidden law, then randomly picked a direction to walk.

Quite interesting, conveniently away from my side.

If I can thoroughly understand this Divine Artifact associated with him, it’ll greatly benefit my future path.”

”You’re planning to devour him, right?” Lansendel tilted his head, ”It seems, the shackles on you aren’t too heavy.”

”What are you thinking?” Shaer laughed, ”How could William be my shackle? He’s more like my driving force forward.

At least, allowing my eyes not to only see Toril.”

”As long as you’re happy,” Lansendel pondered for a few seconds before speaking.