socalfunplaces Page 155
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[Morning Flower: I truly hope to see you again soon, Your Excellency.]
"Little princess, have you forgotten that I'm also a cyber police officer? I can see all your records..." you muttered helplessly, glanced at her message again, and disconnected from the internet.
You were flying in the air when you were suddenly dazzled by the bright sunlight. You landed back on the ground, looked up at the bright sky, paused, and murmured:
"Wow, I just realized how bright the sun has become without me even noticing!"
After refilling your Flight spell seven or eight times, you finally arrived in Silverpath Town. You finally understood why the local mages were reluctant to come: there were no teleportation arrays, riding horses was painful, and Flight's turnaround time was far too short. If you weren't an old-school mage with your spells still on cooldown, you'd still be hiking through the wilderness!
It was close to 11 a.m., a busy time, and even in a small town like Silverway Town, people were coming and going. You stopped a miner pushing a minecart, preparing to return to town, and asked him if he had seen the strange combination of "knight, dwarf, and dog." The miner looked you up and down, then asked with a strange expression:
"Who are they to you?"
"Uh, the knight is my wife, the dwarf is Big Hammer, and the dog is a valuable item." You said this with a straight face, something that's definitely worth making fun of.
"Good heavens!" The miner exclaimed with admiration, "Brother, you'd better go check it out! Your wife's taking off, with a giant sledgehammer on her back, and valuables are chasing after her!"
[The garbled description made your CPU burn out. Scratching your head, you ran to the vicinity of the mine, about to shout for Jennifer and the others, when suddenly a dark shadow swept past you. You looked closely and saw it was your valuable... no, it was the Gold-Eating Dog.]
You paused for a moment, then quickly chased after them, turning back to ask as you reached the dog, "Where are they?!"
The dog, panting and tongue lolling, heard your voice, its eyes lit up, and it smiled. It barked loudly twice, then shook its head towards the sky.
You look up, utterly bewildered, and stare in disbelief as Jennifer, suspended on a kite, soars happily past, while the dwarf Gangan hangs on the long kite string behind her, spinning endlessly.
[“…” You felt your mind go blank, and involuntarily slowed your pace. The dog glanced back at you, barked disdainfully, and continued chasing after you.]
You glanced at the sky again. Jennifer's cheerful laughter and Gan Gan's retching sounds faintly reached your ears. You stopped, remained silent for a long while, and murmured softly:
"ah?"】
[“Wuhu!” “Ugh…” The girls’ screams swept over your head. You exchanged a glance with the dog that had turned around and was running back, watching its bread-like rear end bobbing up and down. You fell silent again, took a deep breath, and seemed to age ten years. You slumped down on a nearby boulder, supporting your back.]
Five minutes later, you finally recovered. Looking at the girls still flying in the sky, you decided to bring them back first and then get some answers from them.
[A moment later, you flapped your magical wings and pulled the kite back to the ground. As soon as you landed, Jennifer gave you a playful hug and said, "That idea you came up with is so much fun!"]
"Wait, what did I think?" you couldn't help but retort, "Don't accuse me!"
[Then, you look at the photograph Jennifer took with her magic and fall silent.]
"What I mean is, I was grabbed by a stingray! This isn't a kite string, it's its tentacles!" you say, pointing to the diamond shape behind the stick figure in the picture, filled with grief and indignation.
"I told you to bring your dogs to find me by following my scent, not to let them chase kites on the ground!"
"Oh." Jennifer's smile faded, she sighed, and said sadly, "Lazi, why don't you go and learn to draw from that artist in the group? You're really a bit..."
"It's a terrible sight!" Gan Gan cried weakly, lying pale-faced on the dog.
"Hey! That's not the point! I got kidnapped last night!" you yelled frantically. "Look at these tentacles! I almost got into a magical girl defeat CG!"
"It's not impossible... but it's good that you're alright now..." Jennifer muttered, cleared her throat, and asked, "Then why didn't you just call me from the beacon?"
A thunderclap resounded in your mind, and you instinctively took a step back, repeating, pale-faced, "Beacon?... "
"Oh yeah?" Jennifer raised an eyebrow and asked, "You haven't forgotten, have you? Lazi, Teacher Lazi?"
You remained silent for a long time, then sighed. Even though you'd already entered a normal isekai world, you still hadn't gotten used to this internet-connected isekai world with its incredibly advanced magic network. While other isekai transmigrators were still stuck in the goblin lair with Muzan, you could already get help with everything online with a single click…
"Sigh, never mind." You reluctantly admitted your outdated thinking and humbly asked Jennifer if there were any other techniques for using the magic network.
"Of course I do, but I don't usually take on combat missions, so I'll just tell you what I know," Jennifer said generously, patting you on the shoulder.
"First, there's the common method of calling for help from beacons. Besides that, the unlocked spell tree can also show which monsters it has special attacks against. However, I don't use these often. I prefer to post for help on another type of beacon, and the replies from other users are quite quick..."
"Another kind of beacon?" you scratched your head and asked. "Which kind?"
Jennifer paused, and seeing the equally curious look on Gangan's face, she organized her thoughts and said, "As we all know, there are two kinds of beacons..."
[Through her explanation, you finally remembered the types of beacons you had heard about before, and you named them "group chat beacons" and "forum beacons" according to your own preferences.]
[Group chat beacons are similar to private communication beacons; both use the beacon owner's personal address as the server and the beacon owner as the base station for communication. For example, the address of SilverAsh's "Hand of the Mage" beacon is on SilverAsh herself. If SilverAsh goes to another dimension or a place without a magic network, making it impossible for others to contact her beacon, then this group chat will cease to exist.]
The "Forum Beacon," on the other hand, is an immovable beacon with a fixed address, usually located in the starry sky. Once mages learn this precise address, they can project their consciousness, or some form of soul link, towards that address. If the address is correct, the beacon's signal will be reflected back to the mage like a satellite signal.
Therefore, a "forum beacon" is a public beacon that all mages can connect to and post in, while a "group chat beacon" requires an invitation from the beacon owner to establish a connection.
However, this also makes it relatively easier for cyber police to crack down on "forum beacons," since they cannot move, while "group chat beacons" move with their owners. Although cyber police can temporarily block the connection between group members and the beacon, the beacon owner can easily create a new group chat using the addresses of group members recorded in the beacon.
"What Valhalla..." you muttered, then asked curiously, "So you usually post questions about it before battles?"
"Yes, um, connect to this beacon!" Jennifer sent you a beacon address, saying with a grin, "You can ask around more often, it seems like the beacon guys are always just posting nonsense, they get really happy when someone posts something."
"…Damn it, I'm actually being taught how to surf the internet by people from another world…" you mentally groaned incredulously. Looking at Jennifer's enthusiastic smile, you sighed helplessly, rubbing your temples as you focused your attention on the beacon address.
After waiting a while, your reflexive consciousness brought back information from the beacon. You nodded, knowing that you had established a connection with the beacon.
[You direct your attention to the beacon link, entering a forum beacon called "Monster Hunter Bar".]
Upon entering the beacon, the large characters on the featured posts immediately catch the eye: "Ancient Magic Warrior's Longsword Rising Dragon Slash Tutorial", "A Detailed List of the Static Points and Striking Postures for Various Dragon-type Monsters", "On How Mages Should Engage in Real, Hand-to-Hand Combat with Monsters"...
"Wow, Chao's back, everyone's back..." You couldn't help but gasp, a feeling of returning home making you both silent and tearful. Curious, you clicked on the third featured post, eager to see what life experiences the Beacon brothers could share.
[I'm Not a Katana Swordsman: A Warrior Class Change.]
The very first comment on the featured post left you deep in thought. Puzzled, you scratched your head and scrolled down. Fortunately, all the replies to that comment were condemning the "rebellious elements," and you couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief before continuing to read.
[One-Punch Mage: Actually, there are also tricks to close combat for mages. As we all know, the points required to unlock the spells of the Defense School are much less than those of other schools, and the strength is actually much higher. It's just that you can't take the initiative to attack.]
In that case, we can cast all our protective spells before the battle, then just charge straight at the monster with a powerful lunge—ahhh, mage charge! As long as we can keep our protective spells active, you're the ultimate human cannonball!
[The ever-changing little hard magician: If you ask me, I'd suggest you study my "slide tackle" technique. When monsters come, a simple slide tackle will take them down.]
[Owner of Steel Bull's Notes: What? Isn't this post about how to stir-fry monsters? I think we should just go up and ram them; they can't handle that.]
[“…” You silently exited the beacon, exchanged a glance with Jennifer, and, seeing her innocent look, couldn’t help but loudly complain, “I knew it, I knew it! Jennifer, what kind of forum is this? It’s causing so much harm!”]
Chapter 166 Will I Win If I Hit Lazi?
After enjoying a pleasant chat in the "Monster Hunter" forum and learning that the weak points of the ray monster are generally its tail with sparse tentacles and its abdomen where its internal organs are concentrated, as well as its tendency to be weak in light, you reluctantly disconnected the beacon link.
Although the time, place, and even the world are different, the guys on Tieba are still as interesting as ever. They're all talented. You really enjoy being here.
However, seeing Jennifer's teasing look, you couldn't help but stand up guiltily and shout, "Look!...What are you looking at? Haven't you ever seen someone posting online? I was just worried you might be looking at some inappropriate stuff, so I checked it for you, understand?"
Jennifer chuckled. She tiptoed closer to your face, a forced smile playing on her lips as she looked at the cold sweat trickling down your cheek. She whispered in your ear, "Just thinking about how monsters have to muster the courage to fight while trying so hard not to spill their little pearls..."
[Your DNA suddenly stirred, and with a laugh, you raised a finger and immediately continued: "As a hunter, I couldn't help but reach for my staff and hum softly..."]
Before you could finish speaking, your face suddenly turned deathly pale. You instinctively took a step back, looked at Jennifer's defiant expression, and weakly explained, "It's...it's just that the joke is too catchy! I have absolutely no idea what it means!"
"Oh~" Jennifer walked around you twice with her hands behind her back, glanced at Gan Gan who was watching with great interest while holding the dog, coughed, and whispered, "You wait, I'll let you moan again tonight..."
You fled back to the mine, grabbed a pickaxe, and began to beat the ore mercilessly. The crisp or dull sounds of the blows, like soft hums, entered your mind. This was your time for fantasizing!
As the sun set, you slowly emerged from the mine. Having witnessed the rebirth of the Ancient Tree of Dawn, your worries about the impending seasonal tornado in the town lessened, and even the mining process became more leisurely.
"That's about it. We don't know when the ancient tree will fully recover, but the crisis here shouldn't be so severe in the future," you said to your teammates, singing and cooking hotpot in the courtyard of a residential house.
"With this, my annual mission should be pretty much complete. Once the time comes and I confirm that the townspeople can easily withstand the seasonal tornadoes, the magic network should be able to settle my accounts... Gan Gan, are you coming back to Lundia with us afterward?"
Gan Gan, who was munching on a melon, paused for a moment upon hearing your words. She held the melon, thought for a while, and then hesitantly said:
“Gangan… will probably choose to venture out some more! Lundia is the magical capital that Gangan has longed for for a long time. Although Gangan no longer needs magic, she still considers it the destination of her journey. Gangan doesn’t know anything yet. She’ll stop when she learns a skill that’s enough to stay there for a long time…”
You scratched your head, glanced at Gan Gan's pure and innocent eyes, and said with a mix of sarcasm and admiration, "Although you've only survived this long because of sheer luck, you're still quite the traveler!"
[At night, you lean against the headboard, watching Jennifer struggle with interest, and ask, "Hey, Jennifer, didn't you say you'd let me moan softly? Why are you chickening out?"]
"What…" Jennifer raised an eyebrow, glared at you indignantly, gritted her teeth, and shouted, "Bring it on! Who's afraid of who!"
Half an hour later, you see Jennifer's straight flush, slam down your cards, clutch your head, and yell, "Ughhhhhh, you stinky knight, you cheated!"
"No way!" Jennifer exclaimed innocently. "We play cards during our shifts! There are six others as strong as me in the Lundian Knights!"
"Are you guys the Calabash Brothers?!" you couldn't help but blurt out. Suddenly, a feeling of being blessed made you pause. You scratched your head, knowing that Slinger's "Blessing of Purity" effect had activated. A faint sense of confidence surged into your chest. You chuckled coldly, quickly shuffled the cards, and said to Jennifer's puzzled look:
"Please, little knight."
Two minutes later, Jennifer's expression grew increasingly serious as she watched the first hand you played.
Five minutes later, she glanced at the remaining hand of cards in her hand, then at you, smugly swinging your empty hand, and a bead of cold sweat rolled down her forehead.
Twenty minutes later, Jennifer sullenly threw down her cards and huffed, "I lost! Humph!!"
"Haha, want to play with me? Don't blame me for being unlucky!" You spread your hands and shook your head, about to say some more post-match trash talk, when you watched in horror as Jennifer headbutted you in the stomach with a rocket-like header. Your vision went black, and you collapsed onto the bed.
[A dozen seconds later, you slowly regained consciousness from the dizziness. After silently lamenting that you were still no match for the super rookie Ash, you suddenly felt something strange in your body.]
You subconsciously looked up at Jennifer, whose face was inexplicably flushed. Just as you were about to speak, your gaze swept over Niu Ge, whose hands were being held by hers, and your eyes widened instantly.
"No, don't rush!" Jennifer exclaimed anxiously, "I'm checking the walkthrough! It'll be ready soon!"
Hearing her words, your initial panic subsided, replaced by a faint sense of speechlessness and melancholy. After a moment of silence, you sighed deeply and asked:
"Have you checked the strategy guide? The boss has been holding his fast and slow sword attack in the air for two minutes now..."
"I...I...okay!" Jennifer coughed awkwardly, her eyes meeting yours briefly before she shyly looked away. Under your puzzled gaze, she tilted her head back, took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and then let out a soft groan before abruptly lowering her head.
The dim magic crystal chandelier swayed gently on the ceiling. Listening to the occasional soft rustling of leaves outside the window, you couldn't help but sigh, "You little knight, you truly delight me..."
Half an hour later, Jennifer coughed, covered her mouth, looked up at you reproachfully, made laborious gurgling sounds, then let out a groan and collapsed beside you.
"What a difficult level!" Jennifer mumbled. "The walkthrough should have ended after just one page..."
"Maybe this boss has a lot of health..." you chuckled, patting her head and saying, "So, are you going to continue the fight?"
"Ahhh..." Jennifer screamed and nestled into your arms. After a long while, she weakly said, "Let's... let's save this first..."
You had a pleasant night, and the next morning you got up and resumed your leisurely mining work.
The days that followed gradually became more relaxed. Firstly, with your help, mineral production had been steadily increasing, and secondly, you were no longer so worried about the aggressiveness of the seasonal tornadoes.
[During this time, you and your teammates went to the abandoned mine to try to re-enter the dungeon. However, perhaps because the Void Ray was killed, the small tornado that was originally near the abandoned mine dissipated and turned into scattered monsters that occupied the area.]
Looking at the swarms of centipedes and cockroaches covering the mountains, and the birds, bats, and flying monsters buzzing around like headless flies, you felt a chill run down your spine and retreated from the area, deciding to explore again after the seasons changed and the monsters left.
As time passed, you gradually saw the bark growing on the exposed tree roots between the hills. In the slowly growing chill of the autumn wind, you would occasionally catch a whiff of damp plants. The dust and withered soil in the barren mountains had unknowingly become solidified. Walking on the road, you were momentarily unaccustomed to the weather that was no longer filled with flying sand.
"It's clearly heading towards autumn, but it's acting like spring has arrived!" you muttered. But then, realizing that this huge change originated from your own actions, you suddenly had a surreal feeling, like you'd taken a derivative on a whim, only to find that the result had been stored in the human gene pool and launched out of the solar system by a rocket...
[Besides these delightful discoveries, what makes Jennifer's life even more enjoyable is her nightly boss challenge. To gather enough information before the final boss battle, she uses different strategies and different parts of the body to record the boss's timing, attack patterns, and weaknesses at each stage every night.]
[Even more remarkably, she found an analysis of a plant-type monster called "Ancient Giant Mushroom" on the "Monster Hunter Forum," and meticulously calculated various preparatory builds and combos for defeating the final boss in her notes, based on the post.]
You glanced at the so-called "Ancient Giant Mushroom" guide, but the images in the post reminded you of some unpleasant memories. After washing your eyes, you couldn't help but mutter a wry smile: