Leveling Up by Executing Monsters

Comparing the knowledge from the butler and the knowledge from the fragment, the starting point was the same: the need to maintain one’s self-cognition.

It was just that the butler’s focus was on *how* to maintain self-cognition, while the fragment’s method was a bit too simple and crude...

The main difference between the two was in how to ’crack’ the problem.

The butler’s method was to find various loopholes to jump out of the [story] and return to reality.

The fragment’s method was: To hell with this, I’m taking you down with me!

After some thought, Lloyd felt the butler’s method was more reliable...

He believed that anyone with a functioning brain would definitely trust the butler.

"This is about all I can teach you. I can’t give you more specific theoretical knowledge; that’s against the rules of our ’wager’."

The butler spoke, then asked:

"You must have a lot of questions, right?"

"Will we face any danger in there? Also, how can I tell which story is yours?"

Lloyd quickly asked the two most important questions.

The butler answered them one by one:

"To ensure ’realism,’ you might encounter some danger, but nothing life-threatening. And you can’t retaliate afterward. That’s also part of the game’s rules..."

"As for identifying my story... don’t worry about it. Just treat every [story] as if it belongs to someone else. I can’t reveal specific plot details to you either."

"Is that part of your game’s rules too? What if the other side cheats?"

The butler explained again:

"Of course not. The rules of this game have been certified by a powerful expert from the Order Sect. Once signed, they cannot be violated, or one will face punishment from the [Law]."

’So the [Law] system has that kind of function? No wonder their city is named ’Order.’ A [Contract] is clearly a vital component of [Order].’

Lloyd mulled it over before continuing to ask about some of the finer details.

For example, whether he could use Extraordinary Abilities or Holy Artifacts.

The two talked until dusk, when the butler suggested he "Don’t Ask Too Much," and just go home to rest and build up his energy.

When Lloyd got home, he saw his sister, Evelor, already in her cartoon crocodile pajamas, hopping over to greet him.

"Yi, are you going out with Mr. Randolph for three days? Miss Desda told me."

"That’s right. It’s the favor I promised the butler I’d help him with."

"Mhm! Well, you two do your best! Don’t worry about me. Miss Desda and I have already arranged it; she’s coming to pick me up to stay with her tomorrow."

The butler was certainly meticulous, even arranging things for Lloyd at home. It was a comforting feeling.

Lloyd said confidently:

"Of course! With the butler and I teaming up, it’s an alliance of powerhouses. We’re definitely going to tear it up!"

Next, he took a shower, changed into his cartoon Hammerhead Shark pajamas—the same style as his sister’s—and sat with her on the couch for a while before heading to his room to rest early.

Of course, tonight he still had to ’sleep’ while ’holding’ Elolo.

But when Lloyd used [Infiltration], he found himself in a steamy, misty bathroom. Beside him, in the bathtub, was the magnificent sight of a beautiful, naked body.

He instantly felt a rush of blood to his head. Mumbling an apology she probably couldn’t hear, he quickly averted his gaze.

’Don’t look, it’s improper. Don’t look...’

’But would that make me worse than a beast?’

’Oh, right, I haven’t used [Investigation] on Elolo’s status today. A quick peek won’t hurt, right?’

Lloyd made an excuse for himself and snuck a glance back, peeking at Elolo’s exquisite feet, which were propped up on the edge of the tub. They had a tempting, rosy-white hue.

The results of the [Enhanced Investigation] appeared.

[Target: Elolo]

[Status: ??]

[System: ??]

[Rationality: 20]

[Spiritual Power: 20]

[inspiration: 20]

[Cognition: 20]

The results were the same as yesterday, with two strange ’??’s, possibly related to her current identity.

Her Attributes were all neat and even, as flat and unchanging as her figure.

As for the [Threat Level], it was a shocking sea of red...

All pink heart patterns. Ninety-eight of them, representing the girl’s ardent affections, warming Lloyd’s very vision.

’As for why it’s 98 and not 99, maybe the last one is inside the girl’s passionate chest?’

Lloyd smiled. Now he felt too embarrassed to peek. He sent out his inspiration, feeling around until it touched Elolo’s delicate body, and began to help her bear the Spiritual Contamination.

[Ding~ Madness Value +6]

[Ding~ Madness Value +66]

Overall, the magnitude and frequency were about the same as yesterday.

Just like yesterday, Elolo had fallen asleep in the tub, completely unguarded against Lloyd, looking like a flower ready to be plucked.

Then again, with a chest as "magnanimous" as Evelor’s, there wasn’t really much to pluck...

Lloyd waited patiently for half an hour. When he had absorbed enough Madness Value for another level, he added the 5 new points to [inspiration] just before falling asleep himself, bringing the total to 105.

The butler had said before that [Spiritual Power] was often of little use inside a [story]. The main test was on the other three Attributes, so it was better to add more points to them to increase his chances of winning.

...

The next day came quickly. Lloyd had just seen his sister off when the butler pulled up to the apartment building in a high-end black steam car.

Lloyd grabbed the simple luggage he had packed the night before and got into the car.

It wasn’t until lunchtime that the two arrived at a remote, deserted town.

The surroundings were desolate, without a soul in sight. Weeds grew past their ankles, the remaining buildings were dilapidated, and discarded trash and debris were everywhere.

"There used to be a mineral vein nearby that made this town quite bustling. But once the resources were depleted, the place was completely abandoned. The residents were collectively relocated to another town."

The butler gave a brief introduction, then added:

"I’ve already hired people to clean up a place for us to stay. They’ll also deliver food and water every day, so there’s no need to worry."

Lloyd nodded. He had heard of remote, desolate towns like this. In a world where one could be threatened by Demons at any moment, there wouldn’t be any ’holdouts’ in a place like this.

"What’s this place called?"

He asked curiously.

The butler smiled and replied:

"What it used to be called isn’t important. But from now on, it will be known as ’Arkham Town’."

’Ugh... it’s actually called that?’

’This is the ’Holy Land’ for all sorts of weird, supernatural, and folklore enthusiasts...’

’Don’t tell me these three high-level experts are ’teaming up’ to create a real Arkham Town?’

Lost in thought, Lloyd followed the butler to the center of the abandoned town.

There stood a hotel that had been cleaned up, a stark contrast to the desolate and dilapidated scenery around it. It was stocked with various supplies; this would be their residence for the next three days.

And this important ritual, which would produce an Eighth Tier expert, was also to be held in this less-than-grand, less-than-dignified place.

’Is it because experts of the [Manifestation] system are all down-to-earth? Or is this also a requirement of the ritual?’

As Lloyd’s mind was wandering, he saw two other groups approaching from different directions.

"Haha! Randolph, long time no see. I hope your [story] will be satisfying and enjoyable."

"Heh, Olga, if your confidence were directly proportional to the quality of your [story], then I would be very pleased indeed."

"Alright, alright, you two losers. Don’t you know how to maintain some decorum in front of the young ones?"

"Hmph~ Inesha, all you have left are your sharp words."

The three leading experts exchanged ’friendly’ greetings the moment they met, turning the originally bleak atmosphere fiery.

And the three ’readers’ they brought with them were all sensible enough to remain silent, merely observing everyone present.

Lloyd’s observation was clearly more meticulous. The moment he saw them, he hit each one with an [Enhanced Investigation].

The three experts—two men and one woman—naturally had all ’??’ for their four Attributes. Their systems were all a singular [Manifestation], with no dabbling in other systems.

They appeared to be around the same age, and their attire was low-key yet respectable, nothing too flashy.

In terms of Threat Level, the butler was a stick-figure drawing of a ’handshake,’ indicating he was an ally;

The other two were a huge, blood-red skull, its maw wide open, indicating extreme danger. It was a frightening sight.

As for the two ’readers’ Lloyd would be directly facing, their four Attributes were all around 80 points. [Rationality] was the highest for both, approaching 100.

Their systems were also simple: one was [Law], the other [Wisdom].

They looked much more mature than Lloyd, probably in their thirties. One was dressed as an investigator—burly and broad-shouldered, with a somewhat rugged style. The other had the standard scholar look with a robe and monocle, his temperament and expression quiet, his style exceptionally refined.

As for their Threat Level, they were in the same category. Both were stick-figure drawings that looked a bit like...

A big white goose?

’Uh... what kind of Threat Level is that supposed to be?’

Lloyd had felt for a while that there was something off about the ’Threat Level’ display. It expressed itself in a very strange way, as if it refused to speak plainly.

Considering this ability was enhanced through Elolo, he had reason to suspect it might have been influenced by her in some way.