NOVEL NEXT Chapter 53
The retaliation from the Great Clan was swift, almost like they were just waiting for a reason to pounce.
In the midst of it all, Jun lost a room in the blink of an eye. It was done in almost the same way he had orchestrated it. A spy from Jun’s group had leaked all the info to the Great Clan.
Though Jun was somewhat prepared for this, the Great Clan moved faster than he had anticipated. They took advantage of the weakest point in the room’s setup, with only a handful of them slipping in.
It was the folks from the Great Clan. Everything crumbled before the strength of those five. Unable to bridge the gap in power, Jun quickly abandoned the room and focused on what remained.
This brawl wasn’t just confined to the second floor. After ascending, the Great Clan began exerting their influence all the way down to the first floor, solely aiming to weaken Jun’s forces.
And so began their war. Swordsmen flourished amid the chaos, reaping the benefits while the two factions were too preoccupied with each other. Both sides were careful to ensure they didn’t tip the scales too much in favor of one over the other.
As time passed, this war dragged on. Frequently, students were bribed to steal info from each other’s bulletin boards, with false information and fake plans strewn about, causing chaos.
It was a sort of information warfare. They fought fiercely for dominance in this realm of info, which triggered many real battles as a result.
I had expected this situation, but I never imagined that even two months later, the fervor would show no signs of cooling down. Professor Ilian was absolutely thrilled about it. Just like now.
Professor Ilian leaned against the table, eyeing a swarm of Mirror Bugs floating in front of her. Those little critters were reflecting the secret bulletin boards of each faction.
Every day, whenever I dropped by, she would check the contents. I also let the folks from each group know that the professor was keeping an eye on their posts.
Ah, looking back, maybe that’s why the war just kept raging on. It was a chance to catch the professor’s attention, after all.
Regardless, it was beneficial for me. Watching the war unfold, the professor regained her spark. The days of her lethargy were nowhere to be found.
Perhaps wanting to witness such a conflict even in the treasure hunt, in her last lecture, she contrived a massive battlefield.
After the fierce battle, only one faction would be allowed to challenge for the treasure. Thus, the twelfth treasure hunt began.
The Great Clan emerged victorious from that war.
However, they suffered significant losses in the process and ultimately fell victim to this treasure known as ‘Bloodied Fangs’ with little resistance.
I observed the professor pop the last cookie on her plate into her mouth. She leaned back in her chair, a very satisfied smile plastered across her face.
I approached and bowed my head. Today’s lunch had come to an end.
“Then I shall take my leave.”
The professor nodded. I carefully exited that floor. Today’s hospitality, too, had concluded.
Now, maybe I’d take a little time to unwind.
Stretching my limbs, I headed towards the workshop. There, a dark shape was crafting a doll in front of a Mirror Bug. It turned and glanced at me, sensing my presence.
“Unit 0, did you have some work pile up while I was away?”
It shook its head. Then it picked up the doll again and began fiddling with it. I snuck a peek at the doll—it had about twenty legs, an odd sight for sure.
Well, everyone has their tastes, I guess. With that thought, I quietly stepped away.
“If you need a hand, just send a message to my Mirror Bug. I’ll add a Shadow Doll to manage the bulletin board.”
Unit 0 nodded. But these days were relatively peaceful, so it should be able to manage on its own.
In the early days, when hordes of people flooded in, it had been utter madness. The three bulletin boards were practically war zones.
Dozens of squabbles erupted daily. They attacked each other through slander, scams to put their opponents in peril, and various other means—including impersonating others.
Such antics were of no help to my growth whatsoever. I had established the bulletin board to collect information and gain experience, not to turn it into a battleground.
So I made Unit 0 the administrator of the bulletin board. It was the only being I could trust with such a responsibility.
No one else could handle it. Other mages would surely wield their power for their gain, and the creations I made weren’t competent enough to manage it all.
Unit 0 diligently organized the bulletin boards. First, it left warnings for those harboring malice and slandering others. If they continued their antics, they were banished from the board.
Scammers received the same treatment. They would be blocked without a warning. These fraudulent acts were the things to watch for most closely.
Those who were expelled had to sign a pact stating they wouldn’t bring their faction’s disputes back to the board before being allowed to return.
Through this process, a set of rules formed for the bulletin board. Breaching them led to warnings or even expulsions.
It wasn’t all that complicated. A few simple rules: register your real name, don’t drag your faction’s issues into it, don’t scam others, and so on. Just basic guidelines to ensure the bulletin board didn’t descend into lawlessness.
Once all that was set in place, peace was finally able to settle in.
I leaned back in the recliner set up in one corner of the workshop. The magic imbued in the chair worked wonders to ease my muscles. Reveling in that sensation, I released some of my magic. With that, a Mirror Bug emerged from my lap and floated over.
“Open the Free Bulletin Board for me.”
The stabilized Free Bulletin Board flourished beyond my expectations.
In truth, the Info and Trade Boards functioned like shops, where interactions among people didn’t happen much. Whether info or trades, both required points.
Instead, the Free Bulletin Board became the go-to spot for people. They began posting a ton of messages and started engaging each other. They shared little snippets of their daily lives or ambiguous info that wouldn’t fly on the Info Board.
It packed the same sort of bustling vibe you’d find in a city tavern. I slowly sifted through the posts.
– Nadia: I’ve charted the optimal route to reach here from Stalactite City in just six hours. Detailed info is available on the Info Board, so check it out, everyone!
This was an achievement from our “Safe Hiking Group,” making it much more convenient and safe compared to the eight-hour trek I previously provided!
┗ Luka: Sounds like a joke—no runaway monsters are gonna laugh at that, right? Trying to con people again?
┗ Nadia: What’s with the hostility? We’ve never duped anyone!
┗ Luka: Sure you haven’t. I almost met a nasty end following your path last time.
┗ Nadia: Maybe you just didn’t read the contract carefully enough? Our route only holds for about a week.
┗ Luka: Wow, and you dare place a 100-point bet on that? You gotta be kidding me.
┗ Nadia: If you’re unhappy, do you wanna settle it? Meet me in the central hall on the first floor.
┗ Luka: Alright, let’s see what you got with that 100 points.
– Kashian: Come look at my adorable Bear Doll. Day 56!
[Picture of the Bear Doll rolling]
[Picture of the Bear Doll hanging from a tree]
[Picture of the Bear Doll sitting on a chair]
Isn’t it absolutely adorable?
┗ Hao: Is it really cute though?
┗ Kashian: Come to the central hall on the second floor. I cannot forgive anyone who insults my Bear Doll.
┗ Hao: I was just asking, you know.
┗ Kashian: If you don’t come, I’ll find you myself.
┗ Hao: Whatever, it’s cute. I swear, I’ll come over now.
– Goro: I encountered a strong monster on my way today. Be careful since it’s lurking in a cave halfway up the southern mountain.
[Image of a man stepping on a fallen bear and laughing]
[Image of a man flexing muscles]
[Image of a man holding a sword and concentrating]
┗ Omon: Oh, I mistook the guy for a monster.
┗ Goro: Aren’t you being a bit rude, saying that to a Great Clan member?
┗ Omon: What can I do? It genuinely looked like one.
┗ Goro: Unforgivable. Come to the central hall on the second floor. It’s a duel.
┗ Omon: Well, seems good for a warm-up. I’m on my way.
– Yuna: I accidentally absorbed too much magic while sleeping last night, and now I got a fine—100 points, no less. This is why I hate being homeless.
Everyone, be cautious when sleeping in the mountains not to absorb too much magic! How did they even know I absorbed a little too much though?
┗ Marco: Did you happen to sleep on the west mountain yesterday?
┗ Yuna: Yeah, how did you know?
┗ Marco: Oh, thanks.
┗ Yuna: Huh?
┗ Marco: I got a reward of 50 points thanks to you. I reported you.
┗ Yuna: Come to the central hall on the first floor. I’ll tear up your points.
┗ Marco: With your skills? I don’t think so. Let’s see there.
More messages continued to flow beneath that.
I chuckled as I slowly checked them out. Sure, things often led to fights, but it seemed relatively normal. Just yesterday, around twenty folks had a shouting match that escalated into a brawl.
The central halls on each floor were now frequently being used as dueling arenas. Sometimes bets were even placed on those fights. The professor occasionally watched those too.
All in all, as information piled up and piled up, it was enriching my Shadow Tree tremendously. Those bits seeped into my imperfect selves, helping them grow.
But with that growth came issues too.
“Now switch to the Trade Bulletin Board.”
My Mirror Bug altered the screen to display the Trade Bulletin Board. I checked the posts I’d made. Not a single reply. I’ve been updating it daily for almost a month, yet nada.
A dry smile crept onto my face. It seemed like I’d have to hit the city if I wanted anything. Time was running short.
Information had piled up too quickly—much faster than I’d expected.
To be fair, I saw this coming. I had only been at the child tree stage for less than a year. Thus, my Shadow Tree’s capacity wasn’t all that great.
I had hoped to slowly gather folks and expand that area, but thanks to Jun stirring things up, the spread of the Mirror Bugs had been far too rapid.
My tree couldn’t handle the influx of information, which was starting to exceed what I could contain.
I needed a new storage space to house all this data—something capable of holding vast amounts. I had tried commissioning requests and seeking info, but the replies never came.
It was likely something these students on the first and second floors just wouldn’t grasp. Ultimately, I had to head to the city.
[Ebron: In about a week, all bulletin boards will be closed for a couple of days. I have to step out to the city, so please bear with me.]
Thus, I posted that on the Free Bulletin Board. As a public announcement, everyone would see it. My Mirror Bug started buzzing energetically—it seemed I was getting responses.
I closed my eyes and sank even deeper into the chair. Maybe I’d catch a quick nap; there was no need to check that.