My telepathy isn't working properly.
Damn...
I can't make any contact with Master Krishna.
Moreover, this burning hell of a planet is making me sick.
I've been walking for almost half an hour straight.
This is getting annoying.
Why couldn't they notice that the others were missing?
Is someone messing with our perception?
The possibility is still there. During my training years, Master Krishna explained that there are powers capable of altering one's perception.
However, the user needs to be nearby for such abilities to work.
The problem is that the stronger the enemy, the greater their effective range can become.
If I can't sense the enemy within a hundred-mile radius, then either they're beyond that range...
Or they're ridiculously good at concealing their presence.
I heard something.
I'm sure of it.
Without making a sound, I moved toward the direction from which the voice came.
Some soldiers?
What are they guarding?
Gold?
Wait...
Is that GOLD?!
So much gold?!
I'm going to become rich!
Yeah!
Should I loot them?
Is this the side quest that was meant for us?
[Pratik]: Is fate finally trying to make me rich and asking for forgiveness?
However, looting is a bad thing.
Especially when I don't even know whether the owner is good or evil.
Man...
I was so close to becoming rich.
For now, I should observe these guys.
One hour later~
We're standing in a slum.
For some reason, this place doesn't feel like a slum at all.
Everyone looks satisfied with their lives.
Kids are playing together.
The monsters—or aliens, or whatever they are—are talking, working, and living together.
They don't even look that poor despite living in what is apparently one of the slum districts.
Well...
Yeah.
They still look richer than me.
The soldiers walking across the bridge suddenly began throwing golden biscuits onto the empty ground for the needy to collect.
Free gold for poor people.
Hell, I'm in!
I disguised myself as a native alien and immediately started picking up the golden biscuits.
I'm the poorest and neediest person here, so I'm technically doing everything right!
I said that to myself as I collected more and more golden biscuits, storing them inside my Dimension Lock Pocket.
A handy technique Master Krishna taught me during my training years.
I call it extremely useful.
I collected more than four hundred golden biscuits, leaving around sixteen hundred behind for everyone else.
Storing them won't be a problem.
My Dimension Lock can hold tons of things.
It's basically like Koreamon's pocket.
I could already see the soldiers giving me weird looks.
I couldn't care less.
With a satisfied grin, I walked away.
I'm finally a rich boy!
I mean, these people apparently collect such large amounts on a regular basis.
I've never even seen this much wealth in my entire life.
And I'm not a bad person.
I left a considerable amount behind for everyone else.
I wandered through the slum for a while.
Then I bought some food and ate a lot of it.
It's ridiculously expensive.
Within the blink of an eye, I had already spent ten golden biscuits.
This calls for a...
Fast.
I'm going to have to fast until I return to Earth.
Not that big of a deal for me.
I was already grinning while imagining how much money I'd have after this mission.
I might even become one of the richest Apprentice Class Sorcerers.
Just then, someone pulled on my jacket from behind.
Wait...
Someone found me?
Despite my disguise?
Well, I'm still wearing my Sorcery clothes...
Am I already busted?
I slowly turned around.
A kid stood behind me.
His condition wasn't very good.
[Boy]: Big bather... helph.
Huh?
What?
Before I could understand what he meant, several soldiers came running toward us.
I see.
A rescue mission it is.
I picked up the boy and sped away, leaving the soldiers staring at me in disbelief.
Hehe...
After some time, we reached his home.
The building was broken in several places.
I followed the boy inside and eventually reached a bedroom.
There was an old man lying on the bed.
An old native alien—or whatever species they belonged to.
He must be the kid's grandfather.
The boy opened a bag and took out some food.
He handed it to the old man.
[Boy]: I bouht foor fhur ganpa.
He said while trying to give the food to his grandfather.
His tiny hands were holding what looked like a piece of bread.
[Grandpa]: I've already eaten, boy. You should eat it.
[Boy]: Lial... Ganpa lies all times... He never eats...
The boy's eyes filled with tears.
But...
Everyone outside seemed happy.
So what was happening here?
I slowly walked closer.
The boy looked at me.
[Boy]: Big bather is stlong... He will help flee fhather...
I was completely confused.
The old man finally noticed me standing behind the boy.
I think he could sense that I was powerful.
The boy suddenly ran toward me.
[Boy]: We will give you lots of goldan bishcuits... Please help us flee fhather...
Huh?
What?
[Boy]: I shaw you collect gold bishcuits so fast... You like them light? I like them too... Soldiers like them and even Walden likes them...
He paused.
His voice trembled.
[Boy]: I have collected a lot of bishcuits... I will give you more and more... but please help us save fhather...
A tear rolled down his cheek.
The golden biscuit slipped from my hand and fell to the floor.
I couldn't understand anything anymore.
The boy ran toward his small inventory and returned with several golden biscuits.
He held them out toward me.
[Boy]: We will give you more... Please help us save fhather... I will give you more...
He desperately tried to hand me his savings.
I could only stare at the scene before me.
A strange heaviness settled inside my chest.
The gold suddenly felt meaningless.
What the hell is wrong with this place?
To be continued...