Chapter 520

Chapter 527: Yearning for the Surface (Please Subscribe!)

Deep within the twenty-seventh level, at the shore of the gray underground lake.

The outcasts circled Izay cautiously, as if observing some rare creature.

For this long-awaited adventurer who accepted their existence, the outcasts still couldn’t fully let their guard down.

It was like when a bigwig suddenly visited an orphanage…a bunch of kids peeking curiously from afar.

Fels could only sigh helplessly at this situation.

Indeed…it seemed impossible to have the outcasts completely accept Izay with just a few words.

But the current scene was enough.

As long as there wasn’t outright resistance, it was only a matter of time before the outcasts accepted Izay.

Not to mention they had an ace up their sleeve in the form of magic.

“Didn’t Reed and the others come this time?” After exchanging greetings with these unfamiliar faces, Izay asked.

He’d been dealing with the outcasts for quite some time now.

Although he hadn’t met the beastmen, half-serpents, sirens, and others present here,

he had encountered a few familiar faces in the past.

Lizardman Reed, gargoyle Grosso…and that massive Tree Dragon, Gurou.

Including songbird Lei, these were among the earliest outcasts, all with Ability Values above Level 5.

With their blades and weapons, they could go head-to-head with adventurers of the same level, or even gain the upper hand.

Though acquainted was one thing…

Apart from the exceptionally outgoing Reed and gentle Lei, the other two maintained a lukewarm relationship with Izay, still somewhat distant.

“Reed and the others are still active in the deeper levels…the new ‘comrade’ born this time seems especially powerful. Recently, Reed and Grosso have been active around the forties, trying to quickly recruit this ‘comrade.’”

Fels explained Reed’s absence, his tone tinged with melancholy.

Clearly, the wise one was somewhat worried about Reed’s exploration of the fortieth floor and beyond.

After all, the twenty-seventh level was already considered deep for the outcasts. What more, the floors below forty?

Don’t be deceived; though the outcasts were born as monsters, their initial strength didn’t exceed their original races by much. It depended on how long they had lived and how many Magic Stones they had consumed.

Currently, there were about forty to fifty outcasts in total, only five of whom had reached Level 5 strength. The majority were still between Levels 1 and 2, unable to venture into the lower levels.

In the Great Tree Maze, the Tree Dragon still guarded a group of weaker outcasts.

After Izay bestowed “Magic” upon the outcasts here, he and Fels would need to visit the Great Tree Maze again, bringing along the successfully transformed ‘companions.’

“A ‘comrade’ born in the deep regions…sounds like a big one this time?” Izay raised an eyebrow.

The black-robed magician spread his hands and sighed, “Definitely. It’s said to be a variant of the ‘Black Rhinoceros,’ extremely strong. Fortunately, it possesses intelligence we can communicate with. Reed and the others are trying to persuade it to join us.”

For any ‘life,’ whether it possesses ‘intelligence’ is the dividing line between sentient beings and mere beasts.

The outcasts undoubtedly possessed intelligence.

This was the fundamental reason why Izay was willing to interact and associate with them.

Though their behavior was still rather rough now, Mary lacked understanding of many worldly concepts.

But learning and improvement were privileges of intelligent beings.

Once Mary and the others could truly step onto the surface, it wouldn’t take long for them to grasp the essentials of living among humans.

Not to mention they had already mastered the Common Tongue early on.

“Izay…I heard from Fels that you’ve found a way for us to reach the surface…is it true?”

The fluttering sound of feathers drifted to Izay’s ears as the songbird gracefully landed beside him, her azure eyes brimming with hope.

Fels hadn’t detailed the method to them, but it was precisely this “enticement” that gathered Lei and the others here.

“Yes, it’s true.” Izay nodded straightforwardly without teasing her.

Instantly, exclamations of “Ohhh!” echoed through the cave, causing a stir among the dozen or so outcasts.

There was no doubt that after Izay personally confirmed this information, it left a profound impact on them.

‘Stepping onto the surface.’

If one were to say what goal the outcasts yearned to achieve…

Then this must be it.

Every outcast dreams.

Dreaming of the sun’s warm rays, the beautiful scenery as it gradually descends below the horizon, skies unseen in the Underground Maze, vast lands wide enough to bring tears to one’s eyes.

Born with the memories of adventurers in their souls, they inherently held a longing for the surface!

“What…what exactly is the method? Could you perhaps give us a hint? Are you planning to secretly transport us using Space Magic? Or…”

Her excitement was palpable, Lei grabbing Izay by the shoulders with a fervent desire to learn about the method.

Only…the Songbird Girl seemed to forget she didn’t possess arms.

Her limbs, akin to those of a half-human, half-bird, were a pair of beautiful golden wings, not hands.

Thus, her action of pouncing felt more like enveloping Izay in her wings, the unique softness of feathers surrounding him.

“Uh…Miss Lei? Perhaps you should calm down first?”

For the first time, Izay experienced being hugged by wings, finding the sensation novel.

At his feet, unnoticed, was a mermaid girl tugging at his pants, trying to pull him away.

“Mmmph…”

Like a child unwilling to share her treasure, Mary wanted to drag Izay out of the songbird’s grasp.

At this moment, Lei also realized the impropriety of her actions, quickly retracting her wings to cover her blushing face, whispering softly beneath her golden plumage.

“S-sorry…my apologies…”

Izay shook his head, “No problem, I understand your feelings.”

Saying this, he also patted Mary’s hair gently as a form of comfort.

“My method does indeed involve magic, but it’s not what you think—using Space Magic to simply transport you out.”

That would merely be treating the symptoms, not the root cause.

Izay added.

If executed this way, for a long time afterward, Lei and the others would still live in hiding, merely swapping environments…with only a little more peace of mind compared to staying in the Dungeon.

One might say, if you’re helping someone, help them all the way. Izay naturally wouldn’t choose such a plan.

Holding out his hand, Izay revealed a circle of grayish-white magic array to Lei and all the outcasts present.

—Illusion Transformation Magic ‘El Arcadia.’

Like a teacher explaining a problem, Izay lectured his “students” about the effects of this magic.