“Oh! Screw you!” Suna shouted.
“You dare talk that way? To a god?”
“A rabbit”
“Ah, the ignorance. I couldn’t blame you since you're a… yes, an Integrator. But you would be worthless if you do not complete the tutorial…”
The god, or rabbit… seemed to hold a certain, what should he call it? Reverence? Reverence toward an Integrator, maybe being one, was truly a rare thing, which did not surprise Suna.
Still, one thing leaped to his mind. Why did this rabbit god type with her emotions so obvious, especially with the use of dots? Did the system somehow help him here?
My Knight Order will hunt you down. The Knight Order of the Lunar Rabbit. I suppose a name you haven’t heard before will not strike fear into you, but trust me, human… you do not want to be hunted down by me, especially. The Multiverse you will step into is vast, but vastness only applies to those without power.
“All of this for a grass?” Suna demanded loudly. He did not want to be beholden to this quest, where even this Furloan? And how was he supposed to deliver this grass?
“Suna? You’re talking to something?” Jack asked. The Tiefling called from across the bridge.
“Yes, a god.”
“I will need more information.”
If it ‘just a grass’ then get it for me. Would you rather make an enemy of me over this?
“Why don’t you get it yourself?”
Politics, Alliance, War, Bad Blood, Massacre. Plenty of reasons.
Well, in the worst-case scenario, this was just a quest; it's not like he would be punished if he did not deliver it. But still, getting an extra reward would be nice.
“Would you consider giving me something for this quest?”
Do not force your luck, human. I can threaten to invite you to my domain and force a pact on you; there are ways. In fact, actually…
The [Lunar Rabbit] has invited you to [Lunar Cage]
[Accept/Decline.]
“Decline,” Suna said, not even considering it.
The gall… Ah, you hurt me. Do you truly want to make a huge deal out of this?
“I’m not the one starting this.”
I beg to differ. Out of nowhere, you will wear my skin. Do you realize how degrading it is?
“It won’t literally peel your skin, right?” Suna asked, unsure how the System would go about this.
No, the System will just summon the item, with or without my consent.
“Then what is the problem?”
If we ignore the very fact that you would just casually wear my skin… Hmm, let us see. My followers, the Lunar Rabbit Knight Order—they’re, how should I put it, a very dedicated group. Who knows what they would do to you? I have three worlds where my religion is among the major ones, you see. I even have the strongest kingdom in Bulgh worshiping me. The children of Buldoen grow up wishing to be [Lunar Knights] or [Rabbit Knights] under me. They join the Knight Academy and spend years training for a class upgrade. And then someone—an Integrator—appears, capable of upgrading their class through mere action and resonance. Not to mention, my skin will help you gain a class based on my power. Do you realize how that will go? How many will seek to have that item? How many will hate you and wish you dead just because?
Now, if I were to, let us say, keep your existence a secret and even grant you a pardon for wearing my skin should it be revealed… just how much would that help you?
Or an offer. To you, by me. To join the Lunar Rabbit Knight Order. Yes, it shall be an appropriate reward.
[Quest issued] [Hungry Rabbit] — Deliver a bundle of Furloan’s grass to the [Lunar Rabbit]. If you decide to take the cloak without delivering it to her, you shall draw the ire of the [Lunar Rabbit] and be hunted down by her Knight Order.
Reward: Join the Knight Order Of Lunar Rabbit.
This did not seem like a reward. If the Rabbit revealed anything, it showed that being an Integrator was a precious thing. Suna couldn’t help but think his joining was exactly what the god wanted.
But what if everything she said was true? What if he completed the tutorial only to be hunted by some alien organization? Should he pick one of the other two? No, no—what would be the worst option? There was an option to choose nothing, but screw that, Suna wanted something—something that would help him against the [Necromancer] if negotiation broke down.
“I assume I’m free to refuse this?”
I believe I already made it clear, should you refuse then—
The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
“Your worshiper will hunt me, yes, I got that part,” Suna finished, resulting in a satisfying em dash. “You misunderstand. What I mean is, if I complete the quest, would I still be able to refuse your invitation to join this Knight Order?”
…
……
You would refuse?
“I have an obligation back on my own planet.”
I did not expect you to stay within my planets.
So it was her planets now? Suna could have sworn she did not claim to have the entire planet under control, just that her religion was one of the biggest and that kingdoms worshipped her.
Does her worshiper cause conflict? By her will to conquer?
He might just be thinking the worst. Suna was aware it was a bad habit of his, but one couldn’t be too careful when dealing with a god.
If anything, I would send you back as my representative to your world. As my Orator. I think I can figure out a way to sneak some of my Knights with you.
She made it sound like she would be doing him a favor. Just like James did in their negotiation. But Suna had seen it.
A humongous metallic plate held the flying double-castle—a world that breathed magic and wonder. There was an abundance of treasure awaiting adventurers.
Why should he invite the [Lunar Rabbit]? No, if anything, this should be Suna’s bargaining chip.
“Is it possible to send some of your worshippers?”
Knight—call them Knight, not Worshiper… This is the first time I have dealt with an Integrator, so I couldn’t be too sure. What I know is history—the countless mentions of riches that exist in your world.
Look at that, maybe she would be honest.
I think I can figure something out. With my resources, it shall be possible. But of course, there’s no point in doing so if you do not plan to join my order.
“It seems to me I’m your only key to getting there,” he pointed out.
How many live in your world? Millions? Billions? You look quite healthy and can read — a small sign, perhaps. But the system rang through the multiverse, sending a ripple of energy that shuddered through my fur. It always does when it finds a planet with medium-level technology…
“Medium?”
Oh yes, your world is not that advanced, human. I still remember how my consciousness was taken away due to my deep resonance with the multiverse. Yes, the times when the System found a space-faring planet. But alas, let's get back on topic. There would be plenty of Integrators from your world.
Most would fail and not receive the blessing, but they would still be able to return to your planet. By sheer volume alone, I can choose anyone. Sure, I might not be able to contact them now. But when the tutorial is over, they will be transported into a new world with the objective to return… There, I can make contact, since the tutorial will be over.
“Wait. What do you mean, the Tutorial will be over?”
Look at you, how lucky you are! I can reveal what awaits you in the future. Don’t you want to know?
--
[Quest issued][Hungry Rabbit]—Deliver a bundle of Furloan’s grass to the [Lunar Rabbit]. If you decided to take the cloak without delivering it to her, then you shall draw the ire of the [Lunar Rabbit] and be hunted down by her Knight Order.
Reward: Join the Knight Order Of Lunar Rabbit.
--
[Quest issued] [Hungry Rabbit] — Deliver a bundle of Furloan’s grass to the [Lunar Rabbit]. If you decide to take the cloak without delivering it to her, you shall draw the ire of the [Lunar Rabbit] and be hunted down by her Knight Order.
Reward: Join the Knight Order Of Lunar Rabbit.
--
[Quest issued] [Hungry Rabbit] — Deliver a bundle of Furloan’s grass to the [Lunar Rabbit]. If you decide to take the cloak without delivering it to her, you shall draw the ire of the [Lunar Rabbit] and be hunted down by her Knight Order.
Reward: Join the Knight Order Of Lunar Rabbit.
--
“Stop that!” Suna growled as the spam appeared.
How…how childish. Is she really a god?
--
[Quest issued] [Hungry Rabbit] — Deliver a bundle of Furloan’s grass to the [Lunar Rabbit]. If you decide to take the cloak without delivering it to her, you shall draw the ire of the [Lunar Rabbit] and be hunted down by her Knight Order.
Reward: Join the Knight Order Of Lunar Rabbit.
--
“You know I can just walk away, right?” Suna said in annoyance. That seemed to work, though; the spam stopped.
Hmm, I do not know why you are apprehensive. You’re not considering the other two options, are you? I might withdraw my offer, if only I could watch you struggle with those powers.
But alas… the advantage of having access to a newly integrated world was a great advantage for my Order’s sake. I shall play with you then, human. Tell me—how do I win you over?
“I do not even know what you are.”
A god. Is that enough for you?
Suna’s cheek twitched, and he let out a huff. “Tell me what awaits me.”
Fine. But you'd better consider my quest. The First Stage is the only true tutorial.
“What? What do you mean—”
Calm down, let me finish. The System transports Integrators into an environment where they must fight to succeed and even gives them a quest to pass through a Gateway. This is meant to simulate their planet. Those who seek will be rewarded… Of course, you can just stay; the System doesn’t specify this, but for a certain amount of time, if you remain, you’ll automatically pass to the Second Stage, where you’ll be stranded on a different planet. These planets are among those with a closely linked Gateway to yours.
“Crossing the gateway to the second stage will still mean something, right?” Suna asked, hopeful.
Why, of course. If anything, it’s mere foolishness not to cross it. Currently, you have two blessings granted by the System. The System has not yet revealed them, but they’re within you.
To keep them, you need to cross the Gateway to Second Stage.
The blessings are:
Blessing of Limitless Rune—normally, one could only consume a Rune adjacent to their Level number. But you, Integrator, are different; you can consume them regardless of your Level. This is special to you alone; not even your child would inherit it.
Blessing of Resonance—you’ve had a class upgrade, and it hasn’t even been a month since you arrived, right? That’s absurd. It takes years for one to upgrade their class. A [Knight] must enroll in school and be formally assigned as a knight by a king or god, and it still takes years of duty before they can truly achieve the upgrade.
A [Flame Mage] must spend years of their life, preferably from childhood, studying at a magical academy to research flame spells, even burning themselves on occasion. Those efforts are compounded by years of duty and a considerable amount of money required to enroll in such schools.
And finally, in the Second Stage, an Integrator can choose to stay in the world they were teleported to. Many Kingdoms would want to recruit them, especially if one has already completed the First Stage by passing through the Gateway. But most will still accept the scrub Integrators who wait around like cowards, afraid of death.
Do you know why?
“Because they want access to my new planet and what it can offer?”
Precisely. But that being said, every newly integrated world descends into madness. Under normal circumstances, until certain conditions are met, usually only the native Integrator can enter. Throughout history, it has taken about a year for Gateways to be established to invite outside forces. By then, kingdoms or governments have already formed…
“And you want to join the fray.”
Of course. Don’t you realize? The rule of the Multiverse always favors the Seeker — it’s how I gained my godhood. So, human, I’ve laid everything bare to you… Will you be hunted? Or will you be my Seeker?
