Chess Mage of Faerûn

Chapter 35 Arrival at the Destination (Bonus Chapter in Thanks to Readers for Their Investment)
The rest of the journey was uneventful. Perhaps the monsters in this area were hiding in their dens for the winter; perhaps they were busy having a family reunion; or perhaps they were fighting each other passionately, their minds flying everywhere.

In short, whether in a lazy, happy, or busy moment, the local bigwigs simply don't have the extra energy to entertain and welcome guests from afar.

The Flame Fist soldiers, who had been on high alert the whole way, found that their efforts had been in vain. However, peace is always welcome, especially since it was achieved in such a desolate place inhabited by goblins, wolves, and ogres. It was truly precious.

After traversing hills and cliffs, and crossing fields and streams, before the sun had even set, we finally caught sight of smoke rising from distant chimneys.

After traveling only a few miles, the wilderness on both sides of the road turned into farmland, and the withered grass left over from the harvest replaced the sand flying in the wind. They had entered the territory of Naxikai, a major resource town in the south.

Upon entering Naxikai, a group of soldiers dressed in red armor and wearing blue helmets came up to question them.

The one who stepped forward to deal with them was not Ska, but Lawrence, that old lecher. The Flame Fist Squad was currently operating under the banner of the Seven Suns Merchant Alliance. Given Ska's military bearing, he might expose a flaw and cause some unnecessary trouble.

It's said that everyone has their own expertise, and Lawrence's negotiation skills are probably maxed out. With his smooth methods, honeyed words, and a few extremely persuasive gold coins, the guards didn't even bother to come up and check before waving him through.

Zhang Yuan wasn't surprised. These guards all came from the commercial kingdom of Am. Their sense of honor and responsibility were nonsense. Money was the only truth to them, which was the complete opposite of Flame Fist.

Thankfully, Ska didn't have to deal with them. Someone looked at Ska with a sense of relief.

Sure enough, although he didn't say anything, his disdain and contempt were written all over his face, and even his hands, which were hanging down, would sometimes clench and sometimes loosen.

Zhang Yuan coughed and walked in front of Ska, hiding this emotionally expressive guy a little deeper into the group.

They had only taken two steps when they reached the riverbank. A golden river flowed before them, its clear waters cascading over a pebble-strewn bed. The tranquil surface reflected the last rays of the sun, but occasionally, a eddy or a leaping fish would break the stillness, splashing up a handful of golden light.

Naxikai was thus embraced by the river before her, and whether it was for agricultural irrigation or mining and iron smelting, these demands, whether taken for granted or insatiable, were all accepted and tolerated by her.

Crossing a stone bridge over the river, you enter the main urban area of ​​Nasikai, where a completely different scene unfolds.

Unlike the hustle and bustle of Baldur's Gate as a large city, and also different from the everyday life of Belgost, Nashka, a small town surrounded by rivers and farmlands, has its own unique charm.

Along the riverbank lie vast fields and farmhouses with smoke rising from their chimneys, while the town center is in the middle of the river bend, where there are sparse houses and a few simple inns. The only thing that can be called magnificent is the towering Temple of Heim.

Further into the town, plumes of black smoke rose, the exhaust fumes from the furnaces of blacksmith shops or smelters, adding a few jarring strokes to this idyllic pastoral scene.

Although the inn in Xikai was ridiculously simple, it was still better than camping in the wilderness. The group, who hadn't had a proper rest for three days, practically rushed to the inn's door.

Unfortunately, due to a shortage of rooms, the group had to squeeze into single rooms in small groups, essentially sharing a room.

As the spellcaster, Zhang Yuan enjoyed special treatment—a private room of his own. He didn't intend to refuse this kindness, after all, what kind of sorcerer wouldn't even have such a privilege?
The preparation process for spells should be done as discreetly as possible, which is why few mages share rooms with others. Of course, the main reason is that mages are generally wealthy, and Zhang Yuan, being poor, is an exception. Alone in his room, Zhang Yuan was preparing to memorize tomorrow's spell when he remembered the chess pieces and glanced at their refresh status for the day.

"Crystal Maiden, Anti-Mage, Mars, Luna, Winter Wyvern"

Five pieces were displayed at the top of the chessboard, among which was the Crystal Maiden, whom he had been hoping for.

"Hooray, I got it!" Someone quickly spent ten energy points to buy the Ice Maiden MM.

"Witness the disaster from the glacial debris!" With this announcement, Lily stepped onto the chessboard in the void, enveloped in the cold wind.

At this moment, Zhang Yuan felt a little strange. When he summoned Xiao Xiao, he felt nothing but excitement and exhilaration. But unlike Xiao Xiao, who was a stone golem, the Crystal Maiden in front of him was a living, breathing beauty. Even if we take a step back, she was still a lifelike figure, a masterpiece of her craft.

Thinking of this, someone could no longer suppress their restless heart and directly called upon the system to enter the Void Chessboard.

It was the same familiar toilet-style teleportation. While the world spun around me, I comforted myself by thinking that it was preparation for future teleportation techniques.

With a soft "plop," Zhang Yuan was placed on the chessboard. He shook his head and got up from the ground, where he saw a row of chess pieces.

Ignoring the three round stone golems, they headed straight for their target, the Ice Maiden.

Looking at the beautiful Crystal Maiden standing in front of him, he felt a strange feeling. He was familiar with the girl in front of him. She had been used by him many times in both Dota and Auto Chess. However, when she appeared in "real life", he was still a little at a loss.

After carefully examining the Crystal Maiden from head to toe, I felt that she was even more beautiful in person than in the game. It was a pity that her beautiful long legs were completely covered by snow boots.

It seems I have to upgrade Ice Maiden with all my might. Only a three-star Ice Maiden with an Arcana will be able to show off the beauty under her skirt, well, I'm talking about her legs.

As for why? Isn't it common sense that the higher the rank, the less clothing one wears?
Mustering his courage, he poked the Ice Maiden's arm with his finger, feeling its soft yet cold and resilient touch. At the same time, he looked into her eyes, but saw no ripples in those beautiful, lake-like pupils.

The person who sighed was certainly disappointed, but also somewhat relieved. "Maybe I haven't figured out how to face it myself," the person thought to themselves.

After exiting the chessboard space, Zhang Yuan directly selected Sleep, Mage Armor, and two level-one summoned monsters as his spells. Then, listening to the grinding teeth and snoring coming from other rooms, he gradually drifted into a dream.

The next day, the man lying in bed was reluctant to get up. He closed his eyes, trying to grasp the dream that had already passed. It was such a good dream, he thought regretfully.

While the aftertaste was still lingering, someone stared intently at a figure in the chessboard space until the noise around them grew louder, at which point they reluctantly got up.

(End of this chapter)