Leveling Up by Executing Monsters

Chapter 104: Chapter 104: Their Own Little Stories

"Before we begin our formal discussion, allow me to reiterate our group’s purpose and goal—everything we do is to break free from the shackles of the Saints and forge a true future for humanity."

As always, Jenkins began with some opening remarks. He then paused, waiting for a reaction from the ’spectator’ beside him.

There was no reaction, and Jenkins breathed another sigh of relief.

’This means my philosophy hasn’t offended him.’

"Alright, let’s begin the discussion. Why don’t we all start by sharing some interesting stories?"

Jenkins suggested.

’Since the Supreme One is always talking about what’s ’interesting,’ it’s only natural to start with topics like that.’

"Hmm... I can share a story to start. It was an encounter I had five years ago when I was sent to the countryside on a mission..."

Goldrinn was the first to speak, bringing up a short story he had shared once before.

Back then, he had just completed his second Transcendence when he received a mission that sent him out of town. He eventually found his way to a remote village inn, where he took the best room on the third floor.

He pushed open the window to the sight of a beautiful little lake. The view was so refreshing that Goldrinn couldn’t help but lean on the windowsill and sigh in admiration:

"This place is so beautiful!"

Then he heard an assenting voice from downstairs:

"This place is so beautiful..."

Goldrinn assumed it was another guest staying on the floor below, so he just smiled and thought nothing of it.

Two days later, one evening, the setting sun cast a golden sheen over the small lake outside. It was another uniquely beautiful sight, and Goldrinn sighed in admiration again:

"It’s truly beautiful."

Again, an assenting voice came from downstairs:

"It’s truly beautiful..."

This time, the voice was a little closer than before.

At the time, Goldrinn was exhausted and didn’t think much of it, simply assuming that the person downstairs was someone who appreciated the scenery as much as he did.

It was just that in the several days he’d been staying there, he hadn’t seen any other guests coming or going.

’Maybe a reclusive painter is staying on the second floor?’

Goldrinn thought to himself.

Two more days passed. With his mission complete, he was preparing to leave. He pushed open the window for one last look at the beautiful view.

But the view was gone.

A tree had appeared outside his window at some point, its dense branches and leaves completely blocking his line of sight.

"What’s going on? When did this tree get here?"

A voice immediately responded from the tree:

"What’s going on? When did this tree get here?"

He froze for a moment. It was only then that he realized: all along, it had been the tree talking to him...

Goldrinn was panicked at first but quickly calmed himself. He then activated the power of Law, making himself immensely strong.

He then jumped straight out the window and, while the innkeeper wasn’t looking, uprooted the tree and took off running.

When the owner found out, he immediately grabbed a pitchfork, rounded up the other villagers, and brought along the village’s big yellow dog and big white goose to chase him for a good long while.

But they were just ordinary villagers. Ultimately, they were no match for a body enhanced by Law, and Goldrinn escaped with ease.

"HUFF... PUFF... Sorry about that. I’ll make it up to you later..."

Goldrinn said guiltily.

"HUFF... PUFF... Sorry about that. I’ll make it up to you later..."

The tree he was carrying on his shoulder repeated.

Later, the tree was processed into a high-value material: a ’Learning-to-Speak Tree.’ It’s the core material for the fifth Transcendence of the Shelter path, and Goldrinn sold it for a handsome price.

It was with that money that his third and fourth Transcendences went incredibly smoothly. He never had to worry about finances.

His own talent was also astonishing. He reached the threshold of Tier Five in just five short years. By any normal standard, he was definitely a genius.

Of course, he didn’t forget to compensate the village. He sent several payments over time, which has now left him in the embarrassing predicament of being broke. The materials for his fifth Transcendence are nowhere in sight, and if he were to get in line to apply for them, it could take who knows how many years.

But they never forgave him. To this day, the innkeeper is still searching for the tree thief from five years ago, claiming he stole his only son. It’s a problem money alone can’t solve.

But Goldrinn had someone ask around later and found out the owner is still unmarried and has no son at all...

Finally, Goldrinn gave a self-deprecating laugh and concluded:

"In short, that’s the only story from my short life worth telling. It might be a bit unethical, but perhaps it qualifies as interesting? But it’s precisely because of the choice I made back then that my progress has been so smooth ever since."

’Not bad?’

Off-screen, Lloyd rubbed his chin in thought, giving the story a middling evaluation.

’This little story also shows that on the path to becoming extraordinary, you need a good deal of luck in addition to your own hard work.’

After Goldrinn finished his story, Balderes took his turn:

"Now that you’re done, I’ll tell one as well. The only thing I have to talk about is a job I did two years ago involving a Holy Artifact..."

According to his account, he had spent most of his life in a second-rate private workshop, making a living by processing Extraordinary Materials for others. Business was slow, so he had time to dabble in all sorts of strange research.

But he had no intention of leaving. The workshop had been passed down from his grandfather’s generation, and he was determined to keep it running no matter what, even though it was no longer profitable...

That is, until he took on a difficult job: assisting the Silent Sect’s Saint’s Favor Court with sealing and processing a unique Holy Artifact.

He was bound by confidentiality and couldn’t mention the specific details, so he just repeatedly criticized the scholars of the Saint’s Favor Court for their foolishness and rigidity, saying they did nothing but parrot the dogmas in their books without a shred of creativity.

However, the payment they offered was quite generous. It greatly eased his financial pressures and even brought him a lot of new business. The entire workshop began to thrive.

He maintained this connection, obtaining Transcendence materials by helping the Saint’s Favor Court with their problems. In just three short years, he advanced to Tier Four—an even more incredible feat than Goldrinn’s.

’As expected of the first one I took a liking to. He really is impressive.’

Lloyd wasn’t particularly interested in Balderes’s story, but he thought highly of the man himself.

After Balderes, it was Elolo’s turn to tell her story.

"My story is actually really simple! See, my dad loves to fish, and one day he caught this huuuge fish. But then he didn’t come home for three days straight. It was like he got lost right where he was, just wandering all over the place carrying that fish. It scared me half to death! I thought there was something wrong with the fish..."

"But when I finally snatched the fish away to get a look, it was just a totally normal grass carp, you know?"

"When I asked my dad later why he got lost, he just smiled and didn’t say a word. I really don’t get what goes on in his head!"

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