The first time Viers walked the underground corridor below the Styra mansion felt like a descent to hell which in turn resulted in the death of five children so Viers reckoned he wasn't entirely wrong. It was quite a bit of a walk but it was mostly a straight path with dim illumination. The occasional conversation from his two seniors helped to pass the time.

When he arrived, he saw the entirety of the underground cult base from the inside. It was a big open space and he was at the uppermost level. There was only one path that led downwards made like a coiling snake to his left and the wall was ladened with numerous tunnels and doors at a regular interval. To his front, there were no railings, so he could jump to the path below him without obstructions.

The base had a wide upper level and became smaller as one went downwards. At the bottom, there was a tall dark blue obelisk. Viers was on the uppermost floor and the obelisk’s tip was at his eye level. The base was quite bright despite being underground. Viers looked up to the ceiling, it glowed orange lights akin to sunsets.

There weren't a lot of people but he saw some walking around. Most worn clothes similar to a servant’s. All in all, the base felt similar to a stone quarry and ant nest combined. The base was not made of mud and dirt but modernized with stone and fitting decorations. The space was quite big, a bit needlessly big even, in his opinion.

“Well… let's not waste any more time and get started. Where do we go first?” Viers said while inhaling a deep breath, surprisingly, the air was fresh, unlike the supposedly stale underground air.

“Tonight there would be a gathering, they distribute our rewards there. We got one or two hours till then. Come on, let’s look around and meet up with some people.” Wesk jumped to the level below him and Abe followed without delay.

It seems this is how normally they travel, the spiral pathway would be bothersome for normal people but for Path-seekers, going up and down by jumping isn't that big of a deal. Those servants then… are they slaves?

Viers jumped down, two meters drop was nothing even for the level 0 him. Although for jumping two meters up he would need to use a bit of his Victa.

“So what are these holes and doors?” Viers curiously asked.

“Rooms in various sizes. Most are a cultist private room so they are quite small but bigger rooms exist for public uses like the training area, smithing area, trading area, and so on.” Abe answered.

“Won't it be confusing? How do I know which is which?” Viers looked around, wondering how to navigate this ant nest of a base. All the holes looked almost the same in his eyes.

“That's the idea, so enemies won't have an easy time. Genius, right?” Abe seemed proud for some reason.

“Uh-huh… so how many times has this base been breached?” Viers's tone was skeptical.

“None.” Wesk replied with a flat tone.

“Hahahaha...” Abe awkwardly laughed.

The architect must be an idiot then... and the cultists that okayed the design. Viers thought in his mind.

“There are other security measures for intruders of course but nevermind that. In time, you will get used to this place. Here, let’s go inside.” Wesk was pointing at a nearby hole.

Viers hoisted his potato sack and began his round of meet and greet with the cultists of Dumuzin. In the next hour or so, Viers was mostly following the two. Wesk and Abe introduced him to cultists they were on good terms with. Viers didn't talk much, he wasn't a people person although he tried to be polite to the new faces.

Wesk and Abe introduced him as Jor, his code name. Viers knew Wesk and Abe were fake names but he never bothered to ask their real names. He didn't care if they knew his true name or not, they certainly never called him ‘Viers’. Viers only need to make sure not to blurt out their cultist name in public. A ‘hey’ or ‘you’ was sufficient for him to call Wesk and Abe above the surface.

“This is the trading area? I expect it to be a noisy market or littered with stalls… certainly not church’s confession booths.” Viers said while looking at the somewhat large confessional, it was in use.

“Ahahah, I know that one. Confess your sins to a priest inside for absolution? Hhahahha, did you ever do it, Jor?” Wesk laughed

“...Two or three times,” on Earth, Viers added in his mind. “Nevermind that, so how does it work?” He asked Wesk.

“You may not know this yet but what you possess shouldn't be known to other people, even your fellow cultist. There are… complications.” Wesk answered.

“Because I missed your implication that the upper brass turned a blind eye when we steal from each other? Why do you think I bring this sack the whole time?” Viers rolled his eyes.

“Yes, well… nevermind. So what we have is secret, either you got it from someone you killed or found some rare materials in the wild, it may not be suitable for you. So you can turn it into crystals or trade it for something you fancy here.” Wesk hand gestured to the confessional.

“The transaction is conducted in secrecy and the handler inside cannot divulge it to anyone else. If more assurance is needed, there are some blood pacts available for you, you have to pay for it of course.”

While listening to Wesk's explanation, he observed the big panel on the wall. It contained a listing of materials, equipment, Artes, medicines, and many more. Their buy and sell prices were listed with the amount they had in stock. Viers noticed the price of a certain water Arte, on the surface, it cost twenty crystals but here, ten crystals. As he watched, he noticed some of the writings were magically changing now and then.

Down here everything is cheaper. In time, my strength could grow far faster than doing things normally.

“Can they appraise things? Tell what a magical item does, what monster a material came from?” Viers voiced another question.

“They can, although why must you ask others about magical items? Just use it and you will know.” Abe felt puzzled.

Viers didn't answer. The sun pendant isn't something I would use carelessly without knowing what it does, besides I’m low on Victa, every drop is precious.

He watched Nakala appraise his still unused magic ring in the past but he didn't attempt it on the pendant. He tried to put it on but didn't feel any different. Nevertheless, Viers was pleased with the trading system here then the three of them went to another place.

They went to the smithy, the air was hot like the boiler room of a cruise ship and the sounds of metalworking echoed through the room. Most blacksmiths were busy working, all of them were human and not dwarfs which disappointed him a little. And no female blacksmiths either, women that chose jobs of hammering metals were a rarity.

Viers noticed only a few of them were working on magic equipment, they weren’t normal blacksmiths but also Path-seekers. The normal smiths were making normal things or became assistants of the senior blacksmiths.

Viers only observed and politely greeted whoever Wesk was introducing then to the next place they went.

I don't think I need equipment at the moment. Godly equips are good but I prefer personal strength. I shouldn't be too reliant on some magic sword or armor. Nothing can replace personal strength… and I’m too poor, can't afford their prices.

“Arte and knowledge library… quite the collection, the quality is higher than the guild’s and the Magisterium’s upside.” Viers looked at the scrolls, books, and parchments on the shelves before him. There were tens of shelves in the room.

“The guild’s Artes are shit, too low in quality, only beginner stuff. We have an insider in the Magisterium branch in Luxore so we can copy what they have. Sometimes we raid their place or shipments for Artes we couldn't copy or special Artes.” Abe said while reading something about poison.

I wouldn't simply discard basic Artes as no worth. I killed Leon using the most basic water Arte after all. Although I cheated by stacking it five times...

“So what is the Magisterium anyway? I often heard about them but never know the specifics.” Viers asked.

I went to a Magisterium branch at Luxore last month. The one up above is just a bookshop, mostly about Arte.

“Seriously? You don't know?” Wesk had a tone of amusement.

“I’m a spoiled ignorant kid in the past. I figured I need to broaden my horizons since I joined the cult and all. Hell, I don't even know this world’s name.” Viers shrugged.

“I don't know the world’s name either, too big for me. But we are on the Lumen continent. The Free People Coalition is on the south-east of said continent.” Abe pitched in.

“...All Arte's knowledge is basically monopolized by the Magisterium. They began as a small research society for improving and developing Artes. They become successful, too successful. Then they started trading their Arte knowledge to other countries and kingdoms, receiving their resources and protection in exchange for new or improved Artes.” Wesk dived at a comfortable soft-looking sofa at the library. It made a puff sound when he sat on it.

“Magisterium is a gigantic corporation at this point. Its influence spread throughout the whole continent. One of the few organizations capable of rivaling the church in resources and clout.”

“Hmm, I see...” Viers said while contemplating.

There are a lot of books and writings here, not just Arte but history, geography, alchemy, smithing, monster encyclopedia, martial arts, gardening, cooking, and so on. I need to filter this, choose what benefits me the most. My mutation does not include super memory, pity.

The next place they visited was the healing area. They only looked from the front and didn't go inside because the six beds were occupied so the trio opted to maintain some distance.

“Yesterday’s battle?” Viers tilted his head a bit.

“Mmm.” Wesk nodded while observing the patients lying on the bed.

“I suppose healing potions or Artes aren't sufficient for them?”

“Those aren't cure-alls, Jor. See, you’re still level 0 so you don't know. The higher level your opponent is, the more difficult it will be to cure your injuries.” Wesk explained.

“What? Why?”

“I don't understand the specifics so I’ll tell you about the simplified version. Basically your opponent’s Mana remains on your injury and that hinders healing. If I, a level 1, get injured from a level 2’s Arte, it will be hard to mend the wound, even more so if it's from level 3’s attacks.” Abe said.

“If you and your enemy at the same level, say you both are level 3s, the affects won't be as bad. But it still obstructs your healing, some wounds remain for months or years or downright incurable. High-quality medicines or skilled healers would be needed for such cases.”

“A level 4 won't be hurt by level 2 and 3 but if they did get injured in battle, it would be against the same level or higher level than them. Therefore high-level Path-seekers rarely fight, they carry heavy risk each time they do.” Wesk explained further for Viers.

“I see,” said Viers while looking at the injured patients. They were all still young, one lost an eye, one had no legs, one was bandaged all over his body like a mummy. Viers struggled not to let out a smile.

Something tells me… this complication won't apply to me. Why, you asked? I have HEALING FACTOR! Why else did I get this kind of cheat? Oh, so many inspirations of what I could do to them… So, high-level Path-seekers are afraid of injury? I will eat them for lunch! One injury at a time! Mwahahahah!