Chapter Two: The Fenrir Squad

Not far away, there seemed to be a rising clamor. If Mo Tan remembered correctly, that direction should be where the recruitment office was, as the innkeeper had told him earlier.

With this in mind, Mo Tan immediately quickened his pace, sprinting toward that direction. God only knows how long he would have to wait until dawn if the recruitment office closed, and he didn’t even have money to stay another night at the inn. It was better to get there early.

The small city called Dieyan was not large, but there was a steady flow of pedestrians along the main roads. Though the evening glow had begun to appear on the horizon, the city remained lively. Aside from ordinary residents, many were dressed as combat professionals or spellcasters.

The recruitment office was not far from the Green Grass Inn. It was a fenced-off area where seven or eight soldiers of various races maintained order. Many onlookers had gathered nearby. As Mo Tan squeezed inside, he happened to see a tall green-skinned orc break a thick log, as thick as a thigh, with a snap using his bare hands.

“Passed. You there, take him to the back to receive the military badge,” said a lazy-looking lizardman officer seated behind a long wooden table. He waved at a short soldier beside him and then turned to the crowd, yawning, “Anyone else?”

Mo Tan waited a moment. Seeing no one stepping forward, he slowly entered the field and smiled at the drowsy lizardman. “I’m signing up.”

“A human?” The lizardman officer narrowed his slender blue eyes. “And unarmed. A spellcaster?”

Mo Tan nodded straightforwardly. “Yes.”

“Passed.” The officer replied without hesitation. “Care to demonstrate a spell?”

[Guidance quest completed. Choose a reward profession: Ranger / Warlock / Priest]

[Guidance quest completion 100%, no additional rewards]

[You have gained new skills and attribute points]

After a series of system notifications, Mo Tan’s somewhat anxious heart finally settled. He had truly feared the officer might ask him to cast a spell or inquire further before saying “passed.”

Fortunately, everything was still under control.

In a world shaped by DND rules, magic is always powerful and dangerous. Whether elemental forces of various natures or mysterious divine arts, no mistakes are tolerated. The consequences of backlash or magical chaos can be severe, and spontaneous explosions are not impossible.

Since the lizardman captain had asked, Mo Tan took the opportunity. He was at least seventy percent confident that even if he said he couldn’t demonstrate on the spot, others would understand. Now, this task seemed quite simple. After the word “passed” was spoken by Gaat, the captain, Mo Tan immediately completed it and received two rewards suited for spellcasters.

“Of course, no problem~” Mo Tan quickly operated on a mental panel invisible to others, then extended his hands as a gentle pale golden light shimmered between them, illuminating the dimming ground before sunset.

[Light Conjuring]

Holy Light School Active Skill

Requirement: Holy Light School Level 1, Intelligence 5

Cost: 1 Faith point/second

Effect: Illuminates the environment within a 5-meter radius, reducing enemy stealth level in range by 1, no cooldown

[Note: Tell your deity ‘Let there be light’]

After two seconds, Mo Tan ended the spell, then received a rough iron military badge and sixty copper coins.

“You’re assigned to Fenrir Squad, recruit,” the lizardman officer Gaat whispered to Mo Tan. “Report to the barracks before noon tomorrow. You can rest at the church during downtime, but preaching within the unit is forbidden—unless you want to get beaten.”

Mo Tan had no objections. After asking for the barracks’ location, he took his leave. The day’s recruitment officially ended. Captain Gaat, after having several soldiers collect the registration forms, went off drinking with his subordinates.

Five minutes later, at the Dawnlight Church in Dieyan City—

“Welcome, child. How may I assist you?” An elderly priest bowed slightly to Mo Tan, his gaze kind.

Mo Tan smiled and looked up at the statue of the Goddess of Dawn at the church’s center, softly saying, “I have received the grace of the Holy Light during my wandering. In the name of the Dawn Goddess Pakoshi, I wish to join the church.”

Though he had no idea what the Dawn Goddess was just a few minutes ago...

The Dawnlight Sect, devoted to Pakoshi, was one of the most established factions on the Innocent Continent. Even the smallest city, Dieyan, had a church. Upon learning this, Mo Tan, who chose priest as his base profession to wield holy light, immediately came here and expressed his wish to join.

“Grace of the Holy Light? Oh, Goddess above...” The priest was surprised to see the pale golden holy light flickering on Mo Tan’s fingertips and let out a low exclamation. “Of course, of course you may. Pray by the statue. Once the Goddess recognizes you, the initiation ceremony can proceed. Hehe, don’t look at me like that. You will be acknowledged.”

Seeing Mo Tan’s somewhat embarrassed expression, the priest smiled warmly and patted his shoulder. “You are blessed to comprehend the mysteries of the Holy Light on your own. The Goddess will surely look upon you with favor.”

[Hopefully so...]

Mo Tan knelt on the soft cushion before the statue, feeling uneasy—not from himself, but due to other concerns...

Yet, no unexpected event occurred. Almost as soon as he closed his eyes, a gentle, ethereal voice rang in his mind—

“My blessing shall be with you, child. Do you wish to become my agent in the mortal realm, spreading my radiance and defending my dignity?”

[Do you agree to become a follower of the Dawn Goddess Pakoshi?]

[Warning: Betraying your faith will incur great consequences]

“Yes.”

Mo Tan answered easily. His current personality did not mind whose follower he became. By all measures, he was a compliant person, lacking ambition or obsession, unlike some of his other personalities. But precisely because of this, he could easily blend into society, like any ordinary twenty-year-old.

Choosing priest as his base profession was also because, rather than striving alone to become a hero or legend, he preferred to get along with others and place himself in a safer environment, increasing his survival odds. Moreover, healers are always in demand among NPCs and players alike.

From this, one could see that among Mo Tan’s multiple personalities, Hei Fan was more like a gamer.

[Congratulations on becoming a follower of the Dawn Goddess Pakoshi. Faith value fully unlocked.]

As Mo Tan finished speaking, the system notification came.

[Your Priest profession has advanced to Level 2, current experience 90/150]

[New attribute points gained]

[Unlocked item compendium, character compendium, story compendium]

[Dawnlight Sect added to compendium]

Mo Tan did not get up immediately but opened his eyes slightly to check his updated information.

[Hei Fan]

HP: 170/170

MP: 190/190

Stamina: 140/140

Faith: 100/100 (Pakoshi)

Profession: Priest Level 2, current experience 90/150

Faith: Dawn Goddess Pakoshi

Alignment: True Neutral

Base attributes: Strength 5, Dexterity 5, Intelligence 9, Constitution 7, unassigned: 2

Combat attributes: Holy Light Knowledge Level 1

Skills: Light Conjuring, Holy Healing, Tenacity Prayer, Light Arrow

As an experienced gamer, Mo Tan was a little confused when he first saw “Holy Healing” at Level 2—after all, he was only Level 2!

But when he clicked on it...

[Holy Healing]

Holy Light School Active Skill

Requirement: Holy Light Knowledge Level 1

Cost/Limit: 20 MP

Effect: Restores a small amount of HP to the target, cooldown 1 minute.

[Note: What did you think this was? That ‘Holy Healing’? Don’t be ridiculous!]

Three letters popped into his mind, but clearly, it wasn’t polite to say...

After reviewing his attributes, Mo Tan was quite satisfied. He assigned both unallocated points to Intelligence, then stood and bowed slightly to the smiling priest, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, child.” The priest handed him a thick tome. “This is your scripture. Wherever you go, never forget the Goddess’s teachings.”

Mo Tan took it, unsurprisingly finding it was an equipable item.

[Scripture]

Weapon category: Off-hand

Quality: Common

Attack: None

Attribute: Intelligence +1

Equip requirement: None

[Note: First, it would be strange if this had attack power; second, it’s just a book—what kind of equip requirements could it have? Literacy?]

After reading this malicious note, Mo Tan rolled his eyes and thanked the priest again before preparing to leave—only to be stopped.

“Wait, kiddo.” The priest called out with a smile, holding out his hand. “Universal edition Scripture, 1 silver coin per copy. You can give me a wholesale price, say, 20 copper coins.”

...

Mo Tan left the church with a dark face, holding an extra book, an added faith, a level-up, and 20 copper coins fewer. He didn’t know whether to complain about charging for the scripture or the 400% profit margin. After holding it in for a while, he felt utterly exhausted.

There was no main quest in the Innocent Realm, so Mo Tan planned to report to the barracks early and then play it by ear. Though he enjoyed the game, he had no clear goals yet.

Within minutes, Mo Tan arrived at the Dieyan City Autonomous Army barracks. After a quick glance around, he approached the gate guard.

“New recruit?” A Mediterranean dwarf warrior clad in plate armor eyed Mo Tan suspiciously. “Got your dog tag?”

Mo Tan nodded, pulling out the military badge given by the lizardman captain from his small pack and handed it over.

The slightly balding young dwarf inspected it and nodded, then tossed it back. “Number 9527, Hei Fan, right? Go inside, take the second gate, then turn left. That’s Fenrir Squad’s quarters.”

Mo Tan, who hadn’t examined the badge carefully before, twitched his mouth in disappointment, gave a simple thanks, and entered through the main gate. Then he heard the dwarf’s voice behind him.

“You’re a priest, right? I heard Fenrir Squad was missing one. I like making friends with healers. I’m Heifis Desak, Beaver Squad.”

“Pfft!” Mo Tan nearly spat blood. He turned and gave Heifis a twisted grin, then covered his face and hurried toward his destination, muttering, “Mediterranean Head & Shoulders? And the last name’s Desak (Thick)? Tsk, way worse than 9527…”

About five minutes later, he arrived at Fenrir Squad’s quarters. It was a somewhat dilapidated tile-roofed house, dark inside, but several people stood chatting outside.

“Hey, you there!” A middle-aged man holding a shield waved. “You look new.”

Mo Tan showed his 9257 military badge again. “I’m Hei Fan, the new recruit assigned to Fenrir Squad. Nice to meet you, senior.”

He said this because the man’s chainmail chest bore a white giant wolf emblem, which matched those on the others’ armor—anyone who missed this was a bit foolish.

“Yo! You’re the priest Gaat sent us?” The man sized Mo Tan up for a moment, then extended his hand with a hearty laugh. “Alright, I’m Ned, Fenrir Squad leader, shield warrior. Everyone, introduce yourselves—looks like we’ve got a medic now~”

He shouted the last part to his companions.

“Krab, warrior~” A burly black-skinned orc beside Ned crossed his arms and winked at Mo Tan. “Ever seen blood, little bean sprout?”

Mo Tan shrugged. “I’m better at dealing with blood. But if you want me to take a good look at it, just get hurt sometime, and I’ll help.”

His somewhat fiery reply wasn’t instinctive; Mo Tan knew very well that a gentleman who always backs down before provocation would never gain a normal orc’s respect.

As expected, Krab didn’t get angry but burst into laughter, clapping Mo Tan hard on the shoulder across Ned. “You got guts, kid!”

“Hehe, take that, big guy~” An elven girl sitting cross-legged on the ground made a face at Krab, then turned to smile kindly at Mo Tan. “I’m Yinna, Yinna Chenlu, apprentice ranger~ Nice to meet you!”

Mo Tan smiled back. “Likewise.”

“I’m Salacha.” A blue-skinned lizardman leaning against the house door wore leather gloves on both hands, speaking coolly. “Monk.”

Mo Tan nodded, then looked with interest at the last person who had been staring at him since the beginning.

“I’m Futaba,” said an orange-haired girl in black-rimmed round glasses. “Mage, an otaku.”

No doubt, she was another player.

Ned glanced at Futaba oddly, then shrugged and smiled at Mo Tan. “She’s new too, a bit eccentric. Anyway, welcome to Fenrir Squad, Hei Fan.”

“Honored,” Mo Tan saluted the group humorously.

“No missions during recruitment these days. Just gather at noon daily. If you have property in town like Futaba, you don’t have to stay in the barracks,” Ned shrugged. “This place isn’t the best environment anyway.”

Of course, a player wouldn’t have a property in this small city on the game’s first day, but Mo Tan still nodded. “That’s great. So, reporting now means I’m done?”

“Of course~” Futaba smiled playfully at Mo Tan, then stretched lazily. “I’m heading home. Since you also live in town, want to walk me?”

Mo Tan winked at Ned. “May I go?”

“Go ahead.” Before Ned could speak, Yinna chimed in, “Don’t forget to gather tomorrow. We’re planning to rest too.”

After bidding the group a brief farewell, Mo Tan left the barracks with Futaba.

This slow-paced small city had no curfew, and the loosely disciplined autonomous army didn’t mind soldiers leaving barracks when off duty.

“You must have joined the autonomous army today too, right?” Walking under the moonlit broad avenue of Dieyan City, Mo Tan took the initiative, smiling at the girl. “You know a lot.”

Futaba smiled faintly. “I thought you’d ask how I got a house on the first day of the server.”

Mo Tan shrugged. “I just find it inconvenient to log off in the barracks.”

Smart people’s conversations tend to be simple.

“I got here a bit earlier,” Futaba yawned slightly. “Just heard some rules and tried to gather intel, but I’m not good at socializing.”

Mo Tan nodded. “Maybe I’ll try tomorrow.”

“Sure.” Futaba rubbed her eyes tiredly. “I gotta log off now. Got stuff to do. By the way, if you log in around 8:30 PM real time tomorrow, you can catch the gathering. See you then~”

Without waiting for Mo Tan’s response, she vanished in a flash of white light.

“A typical logout effect, huh.” Mo Tan sighed. “But how does she kno—”

Suddenly, an anomaly occurred.

[You have been disconnected abruptly. Please choose whether to reconnect.]

“?”

[You have been disconnected abruptly. Please choose whether to reconnect.]

“Yes~”

[Reconnecting...]

[Connection complete, loading character information.]

[The Innocent Realm is now open to you. Character creation process will begin...]

“What?!”

Chapter Two: The End