Chapter 87: To Stop and Enjoy Life

Authors Note

I had some requests to have a visual representation of the ritual John preformed with Stretch/Rue.

Finally, I managed to create something. So, if you're curious, head to chapter 52 and look at the bottom.

___________________________________________________

After dropping anchor near the Wu Gorge, I stood and scratched my head, trying to find a solution to store the boat without dumping us all in the water; then I facepalmed.

I'm an idiot!

I entrusted Rue with the task, saying, "Watch the boat. We'll be back in a few hours." I knew I could rely on him.

I called Mahya and Alfonsen, took out my E-foil, dropped it in the water, and jumped over the railing. They joined me, and we surfed to the shore. After an hour of walking, we arrived at the gate.

Travelers Gate #158495248

Destination: Limira

Status: Integrated

Mana level: 30

Threat level: High

"That's odd," said Mahya. "Usually, with this mana level, the threat level is moderate or even moderate-low."

"Maybe the World's Information will have an answer?" asked Alfonsen.

I turned to Mahya and asked her, "Why did we never do that?"

"I see no point in reading information about a world I don't intend to travel."

"Okay, but we added Nahun to our list of options, so why didn't we check it out?"

"If the mana level is not dangerous, I prefer not to read. It feels like a spoiler, and I prefer to be surprised. I thought you did, too."

I shook my head.

She started laughing and asked, "Did you forget?"

I was really embarrassed and just nodded in response.

She and Alfonsen started laughing harder. At least Rue wasn't with us. Otherwise, he'd be yelling in my head again, "John! Silly!"

We checked the World's Information:

____________________

12 Harvest, 2552 PON—Traveler Pim Moosi

 Shit world. Don't go there.

 __________________

"Not very informative," said Mahya.

"Lazy Traveler," added Alfonsen.

I just shrugged and checked the next.

_______________________ 

39 Snow, 2541 PON—Traveler Arbert Limi

 This is a gloomy and depressing world to travel. If you have a choice, go somewhere else.

Three empires of equal size and power divided the major continent and have been at war for a long time. I tried asking people when the war started, and the answers were:

"Before my grandfather was born."

"Even the old-timers don't remember."

"Always."

And all kinds of other answers like that.

They send all the young men to the front to fight, leaving only injured or amputee men in the towns and cities.

 Most of the money goes to the war effort, resulting in poverty and many monsters in the wild that nobody clears, resulting in monster surges.

I traveled for a year hoping to find unclaimed dungeons, but because of the low mana level, I found only two, one of which I couldn't clear. It was an ancient dungeon with many floors, and the guardian was too powerful.

I encountered roving bands of war recruiters twice who captured me and attempted to coerce me into fighting, but I managed to escape.

They have nothing interesting to buy and don't have money to pay if you plan to sell.

Skip this world.

________________________

"That was depressing," I said to no one in particular.

"I saw similar situations," said Mahya. "Not the same, but wars and monsters. It's more common than you think."

"On that depressing note, let's get back to the boat," I said.

"Did you intend to rhyme?" Mahya asked me.

"No!"

"You sounded like Rue just now," Alfonsen informed me.

I just shook my head and kept walking, and the two traitors laughed at me. At least I improved their mood.

"What about the Gate count?" asked Mahya.

"Right."

We popped in and out of the Gate and returned to the boat. I looked on my phone and discovered that instead of sailing to Chongqing and taking a train or a plane to Jiangsu, we could turn around, return to Yichang, and sail eastward, passing through Hubei, Anhui, and finally reaching Jiangsu Province.

I showed them the offered route, and they readily agreed.

We sailed for two days, only using the sails because Mahya was doing something with the engines.

"Please don't break anything," I said. "We still need to use it on Earth. When we leave, you can do whatever you want to it."

"Are you an engineer now?"

"No…"

"Then go away."

We were sailing past such breathtaking scenery that I felt the need to stop and absorb it, so that afternoon, I dropped anchor and took out my fishing pole. I wanted to stop moving for a while and just be.

Alfonsen approached me. "What are you doing?"

"Fishing."

"With a stick?"

"No, it's a fishing pole. Sit down, I'll show you."

I took another fishing pole out and showed him how to bait and cast it. We just sat quietly and fished. After over an hour, Alfonsen said, "Thank you for letting me join you. I traveled for three years before meeting you, and I never had so much pleasure in my travels. You are showing me it is not only progress and trait numbers as fast as possible, but to stop and enjoy the journey. So thank you, and I will thank Mahya, too."

"You are very welcome."

I grilled the fish we caught for dinner, took out my guitar, and looked for a new song to learn. I came across the song "War of Man by Neil Young," and it reminded me of the Gate.

"The little creatures run in from the cold

Back to the nest just like the days of old..."

Mahya and Alfonsen also wanted to learn the lyrics, and after they learned them, they sang with me. To my surprise, they both had beautiful singing voices. After we finished singing, Mahya said, "I understand now what you mean when you say music helps you process emotions. It's therapeutic."

I nodded my head and played another song. That's how we spent the evening, with me playing the guitar and teaching them songs and Rue as our backup singer. Of course, Rue wanted a beer; music always makes him want alcohol.