Chapter 576: Dream And Bushes

The moment he pulled out of the elder’s secret cavern, he received a system notification concerning the acquisition of a brand new boon. Edrick had definitely not expected that this trip would result in him having his way with all of the females part of the Sect Of The Horned One, but it would appear that they had all decided that using their bodies to satisfy him was a great idea.‘I get the feeling that Falmax put them up to this…’

Regardless of the truth, Anoteros decided to check the new boon immediately before he went to bed and slept the rest of the night away.

Ignoring the ominous message that came along with the description for now. The first listed effect was one that was to be expected–Although it was a bit useless right now, as the only place Edrick could actually have horns in was Eltysia. However, the odd second portion didn’t really make sense to him. It certainly had something to do with the sect and the Horned One himself, but the scion had never heard anything about ‘The First Horn’.

He wondered how anyone could even hold a trace of a horn in the first place. Nonetheless, it was probably because of this trace that the second message had shown up. This ‘First Horn’ was definitely something of interest for the Horned One–Whoever or whatever he was.

Anoteros didn’t try to ponder on the subject for now and instead lay down in bed, quickly falling asleep.

Instead of being taken to a land of dreams, he found himself inside the space where he had slain the ego of Zixuan Elt. The last time he had arrived here was when he had spoken to the Magus-King, which could only mean one thing…

The young noble turned around to see a huge, vague, shadowy silhouette standing a few steps away from him. It resembled the shadow that a person wearing a cloak would cast, only that this person had a crown of countless horns jagging out of their head.

“A pleasure to meet you, Horned One”

The shadow did not reply immediately, as if taking a few moments to inspect Edrick.

When the figure spoke, it didn’t actually speak. It simply… Conveyed what it meant via a means Anoteros would be unable to describe. There were no words, no motions, just pure intent refined to the point that it was just as effective as speech.

Just as it didn’t need to speak, it didn’t need to hear to know the answer directed its way.

In this manner, a full conversation happened in the blink of an eye. Before Edrick could blink more than thrice, the shadowy silhouette–Which he presumed was the Horned One–Faded away and vanished entirely. 

Edrick was left behind as his gaze fell upon something new in the distance. It had only appeared just now, but it was a gigantic horn growing out of the ground.

According to what the shadow had ‘said’, it had sensed the presence of the First Horn inside of Anoteros and had thus come to check it out.

It did not know how or why the First Horn partly manifested here, but since it had decided to appear, it meant that Edrick was deserving of it. The shadow had thus helped to accommodate the First Horn’s presence, resulting in the scene Anoteros was currently bearing witness to.

The growth of the dark horn quickly stopped, but it had reached a truly titanic scale. If Anoteros were of the same size as he was in the real world, then this thing was easily beyond what the average human mind could fathom.

‘How in damnation did this all happen just because I bedded every female member of a sect…?’

Just as he asked himself this question, he woke up. Or at least, that’s how it seemed from his perspective. It was more likely that he had simply returned to a natural state of slumber and spent the rest of the night normally.

He cracked his neck and stretched his limbs. Today was a new day.

When he met up with the sect leader, it became quite obvious that the nightly visit had been his own doing–Or rather, the visit of the disciples had been his doing. He didn’t seem aware in the least that the elder had also shown up and had her insides rearranged, though.

In any case, they bid each other goodbye after discussing business for a little while.

…Since Anoteros was now able to summon and unsummon his bestial companions, he had come here by riding a single horse. The dog-mouthed equids that were common carriage pullers and mounts at the Elt clan were large and powerful enough to carry even him without any issue.

This made him wonder what kind of mount he should get for himself. He could probably ride on Oswulf’s back, but a Greater Vulpine Hound wasn’t really adapted to such activities, so it was best to only keep riding her in one way.

‘Mmh… Maybe one of those would do the trick just fine’

These kinds of equines were a specific and rare breed that the Elt clan had paid to be made a very long time ago. One of such creatures was called a ‘Hoult Of Erisior’, and shared a lot with the typical kind of equids,yet with a much more wolf-like maw and carnivorous appetite.

‘I’ll have to consider it. Maybe Wenxiong or Niediao could help me pick a nice one… Or I could always start a ranch of my own to breed a suitable Hoult…’

As he rode, he encountered an obstacle that had not been here on his first passage.

“Well, that’s a bit of an annoyance”

Boulders and rocks had fallen from the side of a mountain, completely blocking the path forward. More importantly, however, upon closer inspection, part of the path further down had been destroyed. The scion would need to find another route.

“Mmh…? Who’s there?”

“Well, that’s a bit embarrassing… I was hoping that you wouldn’t notice me, Good Sir…”

A man who appeared youthful but rugged stepped out from some bushes alongside a horse.

“Odd attire and unusual accent, you’re not a native of Leynlornd, are you?”

“I do work between Leynlornd and Heldeorlt, but usually the latter… To tell you the truth, I have been hired for a pretty big job, but huh… I know Leynlornd far less than Heldeorlt, so I am a bit stumped on what to do now that the path I am most familiar with has been… Made off limits”

Whilst the man was speaking, Anoteros analysed him carefully, and while he wasn’t some weakling, he was far from a threat.

‘I guess I’ll talk to him…’