Top Ten Levels

Justice's message caught Lan Qingyou off guard.

A one-hundred-percent success rate for the Witch race, but only ten percent for others?

That couldn't be right!

The identification results hadn't mentioned anything like that.

But Justice certainly wouldn't joke about such a thing.

However...

The Tower: “It was originally a custom-made consumable for Witches. For anyone else to have a ten-percent success rate is already quite high.”

Consumables and success rates—anyone who had played games knew that this success rate was actually pretty solid.

Even Justice expressed his understanding.

High Priestess: “Send some contract scrolls my way. I want to try signing a familiar too.”

The Sun: “I want some on my end as well.”

The Star: “Me too.”

The Moon: “I want some too.”

The Tower: “@The Moon, get lost. You're just looking for more stock, aren't you?”

The Moon: “You're actually wrong this time. Did you forget I have a Witch working under me? I'm asking for her.”

The Tower: “Oh, right. I forgot about the Witch on your side.”

Since she was giving them to the other Witches for free, Lan Qingyou didn't play favorites and sent one to The Moon as well.

These things were mostly made while she was practicing magic circles anyway. Only the monster hide cost a bit of money; the labor cost was essentially zero.

Everyone was relatively idle on the last day of the mana tide—or rather, it was a rare chance to slow down and rest.

They spent the day chatting in the group about future activities and development, and the day passed quickly with their banter.

【Ding! Congratulations to Li Huai, Vivian Nadasdy Bathory, David Angel, Esmeralda, Lan Qingyou... for reaching the top ten levels this month. All members are rewarded with Level +1, and a choice of 1 A-grade optional magic, 1 A-grade optional tool, or 1 optional book.】

On the night the mana tide ended, many people found it impossible to sleep.

It wasn't for any deep reason; it was mainly because tonight was the day the first leaderboard was released, and many wanted to see what the rewards were.

When they saw it was the same old three options plus a level increase, they felt a bit underwhelmed.

“What? It's just these things again? What's the point?”

“Level +1 is actually pretty good.”

“Higher levels are definitely good, but everyone is only around level ten or so right now. Adding one doesn't do much.”

“Heh, you're only saying that because you didn't get it, so it's useless to you.”

“I don't get it. A-grade magic and A-grade tools—those two things alone are what many people dream of. Why does everyone act like they don't care? Is there something wrong with my brain?”

“Nothing's wrong with your brain. It's just those losers who can't get it acting salty.”

“But you can only choose one. I feel like I'm seeing a prank from the world consciousness.”

“More than just a prank, it feels like it's squeezing the top players.”

“Pfft! Isn't that better? I already found those people annoying, especially that Witch. Dammit.”

“Who gave you the courage to mock the top players?”

“Still laughing at the top players? Look at yourselves. You're just a bunch of cannon fodder already abandoned by the world consciousness.”

“Oh? Are you saying you aren't cannon fodder, sir?”

“In my humble self-assessment, I'm in the top hundred on the level leaderboard.”

“Damn...”

This statement hit a nerve for quite a few people.

Just as that person said, top players were top players. Whether you liked them or not, you couldn't change the facts on the leaderboard.

One either had to work harder to grind dungeons and kill monsters, or give up on the path of combat early and choose another way to live.

After all, as things developed, people had progressed from living in small clusters to communities. The Kalim Supreme Council would surely push for urbanization later, and by then, people would be needed for everything from primary to tertiary industries.

Those unsuited for combat would be perfect to fill those gaps.

But...

In a place filled with extraordinary power, who would be willing to be an ordinary person and eventually vanish into the masses?

Lan Qingyou didn't have many such worries.

What others might see as a thorny problem or an enviable dilemma didn't feel that way to her.

As if she were already used to it, she immediately chose an A-grade Crystal Pen. Since she could choose again next month anyway, she picked the one that provided the biggest immediate boost to her current work.

...

The mana tide ended. When Lan Qingyou woke up the next day, the first thing she felt was the temperature rising.

Splash, splash, splash—

Pushing open the window of her sixth-floor bedroom, Lan Qingyou saw small streams formed by melting snow. The spring breeze blowing against her face carried a hint of chill.

But this chill didn't bite like before. Instead, because the sun's rays were starting to feel warm, there was a 'scent of spring' in the air, filling the entire Kalim continent with vitality.

In terms of the sun's warmth, it was a seamless transition from winter to spring.

However, although the temperature had risen and the snow was melting rapidly, it hadn't become incredibly hot either.

It had basically jumped from minus ten degrees to over ten degrees Celsius.

It was a temperature perfect for outings, hunting, and picnics.

But right now, it was unlikely anyone cared about things that were 'at most worth taking off a few layers of clothes.'

If one were to ask what the hottest topic was these days, the word 'dungeon' would undoubtedly be at the top of the list.

With Lan Qingyou's team as an example, there were now many people running dungeons.

Basically, new dungeons were being discovered every day.

However, due to transportation issues, these newly discovered dungeons were mostly only frequented by locals.

The people of the Tarot Villa were, of course, no exception.

But because they were the ones who controlled the core technology, they mostly just teleported back and forth.

They generally didn't share the dungeons they found individually.

They quietly handled them in private.

For example, the High Priestess sent her subordinates to level up in the two dungeons near her, while she hung out in the group chat to fish for intel from Chu Yuan.

Unlike the Undead Bay dungeon from before, most of these were small dungeons, or rather, dungeons without hidden bosses.

So, the people in the villa were essentially clearing them out at a rate of one per day.

That's right—clearing them out.

Using a playstyle that closed the dungeon entirely.

After a few days, Chu Yuan, the intel provider, was the first to reach his limit.

After all, he provided intel to gain a profit. Although the sight of everyone 'charging in with a roar and clearing it in two or three clicks' was satisfying and comfortable, and he could take a cut of the profits...

The problem was that if a dungeon closed, it was a one-time thing. If it didn't close, it was a long-term asset.

Anyone could do that economic math.

So, Chu Yuan made a hard rule that all dungeons must have one monster left behind as a 'seed.'

The others were extremely dissatisfied with this.

Given their combat power and speed, 'leaving one behind' was actually quite difficult for them.

What is humblebragging?

This is humblebragging.

While others might spend days trying to conquer a dungeon and not even see the final boss, they just strolled through and complained that it was too much trouble.

Of course, the most important thing was that the returns from these dungeons weren't as good as the original Undead Bay.