The evening is progressing without much event. And I just noticed that if it wasn’t for Leiva who is here, I would have been bored to death.
I wanted to offer her something to drink, but I did not have anything. The kitchen is equipped with some basic stuff, I could cook something up, but I do not want to use it with the System in place, because when I check the skill list I see it.
[Cooking Lv1]
Skill that controls your cooking capacity. It increases the quality of the meal, making it more nutritious (more stat and skill potential gain). Lower skill can mean a lower chance of success, especially in more complex recipes.
I kind of remember I knew how to cook back on Earth, but if the system is threatening with a diceroll that can end in my house setting on fire, I prefer not to take my chances while just making some fruit juice.
For the moment, Leiva still seems a bit shaken, although she is trying to act calm. I can tell as when we talk about some random stuff, she seems to drift into deep thought from time to time and she often loses the line of thought.
We have been talking about random topics, mostly to pass time. Karina has been around, but she does not do much more than just throwing a random comment before moving to anything else.
Not being able to interact with anyone else other than me must be affecting her. She is trapped in her spiritual form.
"Ah... sorry... what was that?" Leuva asks me when she seems to be drifting once more before recovering and returning to the topic.
"I asked you if you always wanted to be a teacher." I remind her.
"Ah! Yes! Actually, it was always my dream to teach people and become a mentor."
She lets a long sigh escape her lips.
"I guess that dream is not possible now... I just wanted to have a normal life..."
"The guards in the capital did nothing?"
She shakes her head.
"No, that clan seems to have several contacts and friends working for them with the security. I did warn them but they always knew where I was. I moved away and came here to this town after I heard about the mayor Russell."
I don’t know much about him right now other than he is my current employer.
"What made you choose this town?"
"Did you not notice how it is not covered in snow during this time period? He got a mage to have a heating system that moves away. I just kept hearing good things about him and maybe this would be a different place where I could be safe."
"That... I am so sorry..." I actually don’t know how much to tell. "You will be safe here."
"Yes, but at this rate, I will be stuck here. All I want is to be a teacher, but my presence puts people in danger. You saw what happened with the teachers, the majority don’t know how to defend themselves and the ones that did were beaten."
"I understand. Having your life cut short because of something you cannot control is horrible."
"It is more than horrible! It is a nightmare! And I don’t know what to do! I know a bit of magic, but I never trained for combat. And no matter where I look, the people that are supposed to be helping me have turned a blind eye..."
Then I suppose there is more corruption in the Federation than I knew about. That Clan surely has a long arm if they managed to get here and act like they would face no consequences.
Then, I wonder how strong the rest of the members are. I managed to defeat Vermis with little issue.
Once I have time and the opportunity, I will give them a visit. Maybe they have some nice artefacts I could take from their hands, or at least get more money to have my base become bigger.
"Now you’re safe. They would be stupid to attempt to reach this spot. Only crazy people try to enter the Nothing and get deep."
"What does that make you and your team?" She fixes her glasses and her hair. "I mean, you are trying to build a base here."
"A lunatic." I happen to say the same time Karina comments.
"Yeah, you are." Leiva answers.
She is now giving a soft smile, but I still feel she is afraid. Not surprising, she just escaped from a sure death or something worse.
I doubt her problem will be solved soon, but at least here she will have an easier time living and can escape when she needs it.
**************************************************************
Several hours later, it is getting late already. The evening is long gone and now it is becoming night.
Outside of the base, a huge stone golem, the size of a multi stories apartment building, tries to reach us. He is a good distance from us.
Leiva panics.
"Relax." I answer, before I see how a big barrier stops the great beast from entering.
It hits and falls back and falls to the ground from the rebound of his own energy being turned against him.
"The barrier will not allow monsters based on their level. These things are too powerful and the system uses energy to prevent them from invading. It will be like that until it levels up a few moments."
"Why is something like this not in the cities?" Karina asks, looking at the stone.
"Good question." I literally have no idea or know any lore reason for it.
It was just a method to explain why some monsters invade you when you are in your base when an invasion event triggers and you must defend your property. The monsters and their power depends on the level of the stone and where you placed it.
It was just a game element back there, here it seems like a powerful tool to stop monster invasions.
Then, a bright light happens behind us.
"We are back!" Aurelia screams, smiling. Time to hear her report.