The Fire Keeper also didn't know where she was, as she was also placed in this world from above.
She knew most of the world's secrets, but not everything.
However, if she knew the relevant towns or special geographical locations, she could roughly determine where they were.
The information she could provide was:
This was the Lands Between of the broken continent.
Kaito and the Fire Keeper were on a large island and needed to take a boat to the central continent.
Only by going there and setting foot on that land could it be considered the beginning.
Before that, they first needed to leave this area and find out the direction.
Basically, all Tarnished needed to do this: gather from various places to the starting point—Limgrave—and then proceed to—Leyndell, Royal Capital.
Of course, they could also land elsewhere, but other places were clearly dangerous areas.
Only Limgrave was suitable as a starting point!
"My Lord, have you rested enough? Should we depart?"
After breakfast and a brief rest, Kaito moved around a bit, familiarizing himself with his condition and the strength he could exert.
"Yes, almost."
"Oh, let me put a shield on you first."
His strength was very low.
But only his attributes were low!
What wasn't weakened was his combat skill, combat instinct, etc.!
Even without combat skills etched into muscle memory, his memory and combat experience hadn't disappeared.
He just needed to familiarize himself for a while and he would quickly adapt!
Since his Intelligence wasn't high, his manageable mana wasn't high either. After putting a shield on himself that could withstand a large missile bombardment for 5 seconds, Kaito's mana was depleted.
But fortunately, mana didn't require potions; it could slowly recover through rest.
So after fully recovering an hour later, he also put a shield of the same level on the Fire Keeper.
Too bad his mana wasn't enough; otherwise, he could go higher!
5% of [God · Morax] was no joke.
Even with his low level, the effect he could achieve was even lower, but the starting point was just too high!
"My Lord, is this your power?"
"Yes, how is it? Does it give a sense of security?"
"...Yes. I can feel the blessing my Lord grants me. Thank you, my Lord!"
"Okay... before we leave these bushes to fight, tell me about this world."
It wasn't that Kaito didn't know Elden Ring's story; he just knew part, not fully.
After all, when playing games, most people play for fun, to be with their waifus. Who would patiently watch the story, or delve into the world's secrets!
The Fire Keeper patiently sat down with Kaito again and began explaining the situation in this world.
"After Marika shattered the Elden Ring, the Greater Will punished her by imprisoning her inside the Erdtree."
"As the Erdtree's power weakened, the minds and bodies of all living beings began to change, even the demigods couldn't avoid it."
"The demigods, having obtained the shattered Great Runes, started fighting each other. They all wanted to become the next Elden Lord. Thus, the Shattering War plunged the Lands Between into chaos and destruction."
"Later, because the first prince became a Those Who Live in Death, his power seeped into the Erdtree, spreading throughout the world."
"Eventually, through the great tree roots underground, Deathroot sprouted everywhere in the Lands Between. Creatures with weaker blessings under the Erdtree became Those Who Live in Death like the first prince, causing great chaos in this world."
"Therefore, part of our mission is to hunt Those Who Live in Death and completely kill them."
"Of course, the most important mission is for you to become the Elden Lord, restore order, and reconstruct the Golden Order."
"And I, obeying the guidance of the Two Fingers of the Greater Will, assist and guide you, the Tarnished."
The Fire Keeper gave a brief introduction, highlighting the key points.
After understanding, Kaito nodded but then looked at the Maiden.
"So, do you also represent the Two Fingers to monitor me?"
Kaito might not know Elden Ring's secrets, but that didn't mean he couldn't be a non-playing viewer and watch someone clear the [Age of Stars] ending.
In that ending, the Tarnished would marry Ranni, and Ranni would kill her Two Fingers, thus freeing the Lands Between from the Greater Will's control?
Overall, the Greater Will wasn't good either.
When he was a viewer, he seemed to recall that the Greater Will, even the Erdtree itself, were outsiders.
Meaning they weren't originally native residents.
Otherwise, there wouldn't be the Age of Stars ending.
"No, I have no intention of monitoring you!"
Hearing Kaito's question, the Fire Keeper became flustered.
Even though her eyes were covered by the blindfold, her behavior made it obvious.
"So, you just have this mission, to make me the Elden Lord under the Golden Order. Your so-called guidance is the same, right?"
"Y-Yes..."
The Maiden was flustered; she didn't know how to answer.
Her mission was exactly that, nothing else.
Besides, becoming the Elden Lord under the Golden Order was normal, wasn't it?
Wasn't Queen Marika, Radagon, the Golden Lord?
What all Tarnished needed to do was gather the shattered Ring (Great Runes) and repair it to become the Lord.
"Can't there be other choices?"
"Other choices?"
The Fire Keeper was stunned. She didn't expect Kaito to ask that.
"I'm sorry, my Lord. I don't know how to answer this question..."
"I see... well, just assist me well, and guide me well."
But how to choose the final outcome is my own matter.
Kaito smiled, patted her shoulder, and stood up.
"Speaking of which, what's wrong with your eyes? Why do you wear this blindfold? And it's a crown?"
"...I'm not sure. I was born with it and grew up wearing it. But is this a crown?"
"Yes, it's a crown. You don't even know that? You really are..."
"Uh... I always thought it was just a metal ring. And it doesn't hinder my vision; I can see clearly, so I never considered other things."
The Fire Keeper didn't know either. She was curious herself because other Maidens didn't have this; only she did.
"Is that so? Haven't you thought of taking it off?"
"No... I don't know why either."
Hearing this, Kaito curiously rubbed his chin, feeling something was off.
Well, no need to overthink it.
He must be the chat group's favorite.
The Fire Keeper before him must be the one from Dark Souls 3, but not completely.
"Can you take it off?"
"M-Must I take it off?"
Rarely, the Fire Keeper blushed.
'Why does it look like taking off clothes? It was just taking off a crown blindfold, why were you blushing!'
"My Lord... C-Can I not take it off... I'll agree to anything else..."
"...What's with this setting?"
Kaito felt it sounded like taking off clothes was okay, but taking off the blindfold wasn't.
Ah no, that might actually be true!
Because some characters were like that.
For example, that one elf swordswoman character: taking off stockings? No, embarrassing. Being naked? No problem! Even, do as you please!
"Alright, alright, I'll let you off for now. But someday, I hope you'll take it off and let me see."
"O-Okay..."
The Fire Keeper nodded slightly, blushing, and sighed quietly with relief.
For some reason, she felt shy, instinctively nervous, afraid her eyes were ugly and Kaito would give up on her.
Otherwise, why would she wear a blindfold?
Even if she didn't know, there must be a reason, right?
"Let's go. Let's see if there are any villages nearby."
"If we're lucky, maybe they haven't gone mad and can still communicate rationally."
Not every creature in this world went mad, just a large portion whose blessings waned began to go mad and mutate, or became Those Who Live in Death (similar to undead, zombies) due to Deathroot.
Kaito was lucky. Shortly after leaving the bushes, they saw a small village in the distance.
Seeing smoke rising from chimneys indicated there were people in this village, living people, those who hadn't lost their minds and were still living normally.
"Lucky. Let's go ask there."
"Okay, my Lord."
Speaking of which, wasn't 'my Lord' exclusive to Ranni?
Hearing the Fire Keeper say 'my Lord' repeatedly reminded Kaito of Ranni again.
Well, it didn't matter.
Who said it was exclusive to her?
If Kaito wanted, many people could call him that, yes!
Two hours later, Kaito and the Fire Keeper smoothly arrived at the village.
The villagers didn't act abnormally, just were a bit wary of outsiders.
But upon seeing the Maiden, they quickly realized the identities of the two and warmly welcomed them.
Tarnished were good people.
Their arrival could not only help them kill the Those Who Live in Death surrounding the village, but also go fight at the center of the Lands Between, become the Elden Lord, and reconstruct the Golden Order!
Then they could receive normal blessings again and live prosperously again!
Overall, similar to a hero or champion, they received enthusiastic reception.
After some questions, Kaito got the information he needed.
Traveling north for about a week's journey, they would reach a harbor with a town and many ships, specially providing passage for Tarnished to the center of the Lands Between.
Yes, okay.
It seemed the number of Tarnished was higher than imagined.
The last time Tarnished appeared was... last time.
Well, just last week, there was one who came with a Maiden, stayed in this village for a while, then departed again.
"Those Who Live in Death are on the road ahead, right?"
"Yes, the necessary path goes through a corrupted swamp area. This area was once a large village, but unfortunately, the people there..."
That large village was unlucky to have tree roots underneath. When those roots became Deathroot, the people there naturally turned into Those Who Live in Death.
"I see. If we see any Those Who Live in Death on the way, I'll take care of them."
To express gratitude, the villagers prepared enough dried provisions for two weeks, packed them up. Kaito and the Fire Keeper set off again. The only downside was the village had no horses.