Chapter 3, Confronting the New World (Part 1)

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Ranked fourth is the dangerous level, at this level, the spirits begin to become perilous. Not only are they beyond the capability of immature children (such as Maya) to handle, but even adults can be killed due to momentary carelessness. However, the brash young man claims that this type of spirit can still be dealt with using a revolver.

Anyway, according to that incessantly talkative fellow, this world is indeed somewhat dangerous. However, Marin is fortunate; the last wave of monsters passed only thirty years ago. In this world, such a wave occurs every hundred years. In the earlier medieval era, a wave of monsters could sweep across a significant portion of the continent. With the great advancements of modern science (Marin thought to himself, how can a steampunk world even claim to have science? But later, upon seeing steam trains in the newspaper, he could only be left speechless—at least they are developing, aren't they?), even ordinary people possess the strength to contend with low-tier monsters, thus the tide of death formed by the gathering of monsters is not as formidable. And with the great advancements of modern science (Marin thought to himself, how can a steampunk world even claim to have science? But later, upon seeing steam trains in the newspaper, he could only be left speechless—at least they are developing, aren't they?), even ordinary people possess the strength to contend with low-tier monsters, thus the tide of death formed by the gathering of monsters is not as formidable.

Ranked third is the troublesome level, which is more troublesome than harmless, but only to that extent. Anyone can eliminate creatures of this level as long as they ensure their own safety. All it takes is for them to pick up a revolver; a single shot is sufficient to resolve all issues. This is why Marin has already seen four gun shops along the way

First of all, it is not at a harmless level, but rather at a beneficial level. For example, the giant bee, which is the sole source of honey and beeswax in this world, supports a large number of pest control professionals who rely on it for their livelihood

As for Marin himself, he believes that he does not need to attend school, because based on his observations over the past month, no school can compare to his original 985 degree. The only thing that might attract him is probably the advanced courses in specialized subjects.

Above the lethal level is the terror level, where the entities at this rank are essentially walking reapers. For non-professionals, any encounter is tantamount to a death sentence. Even for professionals, one must be fully alert, adopting the most serious attitude and the best condition to engage in battle, in order to have a chance of victory

As a former man with a square face and facial paralysis, Marin felt that discussing this matter could easily entangle him.

With such a sigh, Marin pushed the cart around the corner.

Moreover, even if the cataclysm is bound to occur, that will be a matter of seventy years from now. The incessant chatterbox patted Marlin on the head and said, "I don't think you are purely human; perhaps you still have a chance to see the - picture - book. I believe I won't have that opportunity."

As for the type of technician he seeks, that is not something Marlin would observe—after all, everyone has their own aspirations. Whether to enter an infantry fighting vehicle or a tank, that is his freedom

Considering that the remarks made by the boy with a loose tongue are somewhat ambiguous, Marlin did not fully believe him. However, based on the seven levels he mentioned, it is quite likely that they are true. If we replace the situation of the monsters with a curve chart, then the number of monsters in the top three ranks on one side of the curve is actually not large. The real abundance in terms of quantity is found in the fourth and fifth levels, while the Horror and Catastrophe levels represent the other side of the curve.

Above the danger level is the lethal level, where many of the entities are immune to ordinary bullets (most possess thick skin that can withstand the penetration of standard ammunition). Ordinary adults encountering them generally have no choice but to flee in order to have a chance of survival. The reason for this assertion, in Marin's view, is that there are numerous cautionary tales of those who have faced difficulties head-on. In Carter Fortress, the most common lethal-level entity is the Drowning Ghost, a misfortunate soul transformed into an entity due to drowning, whose long tongue frequently appears on Gaiat's list of spoils.

Indeed, the average lifespan of mortals in this world is sixty years. Life is threatened by long-term unhealthy diets (Carterburg is a free city under the jurisdiction of 'Sydney United', where locals are exposed to healthy foods like fish daily, yet they prefer fatty meats, and the sight of that white, greasy fat makes Marlin feel nauseous), prolonged heavy work (there are no eight-hour workdays here; instead, the society is filled with jobs that require extensive hours, and this world is so perilous that being eaten by a monster is considered a valid reason for resignation), and long-term pollution (to the north of Carterburg lies an industrial area that emits large amounts of pollution daily, to the extent that Marlin has personally confirmed the existence of techniques that help the human body expel toxins. Surprisingly, these techniques are not solely in the hands of the church; many professionals, such as Gaiat, also possess them, indicating that this technique is likely a low-level skill available to all practitioners). Besides these factors, there is also the existence of monsters.

In the next moment, he caught a faint scent of blood in the air

It can be said that it is an innate quality that cannot be taken away

This was said by the grandson of the old lady landlord next door while boasting with them. Since Marin and Maya are still young, coupled with Marin's subtle bragging, this guy completely lost his restraint. Generally speaking, students in higher grades (equivalent to middle school) begin to acquire peculiar knowledge, a realm of knowledge that Marin cannot catch up with—where do peculiar beings come from on Earth? However, perhaps it can be broadened a bit... if being a bit ugly counts... Forget it, this topic is too dangerous. Generally speaking, students in higher grades (equivalent to middle school) begin to acquire peculiar knowledge, a realm of knowledge that Marin cannot catch up with—where do peculiar beings come from on Earth? However, perhaps it can be broadened a bit... if being a bit ugly counts... Forget it, this topic is too dangerous.

Although he is half a head shorter than Maya, Marin still takes on the responsibilities of being an older brother—whether it is this identity, his status as a corporate worker over forty, or the awareness that a man should possess, Marin does not allow himself to be lazy

By the way, that kid also mentioned that besides spirits, there are also other species, but he did not specify what those other species are, which made Marlin very curious and alert

The level above the horror level is the natural disaster level. At this level, individual professionals have no chance of defeating the creatures; only a well-coordinated elite team of professionals has a chance of winning.

Maya enjoys humming songs when she is happy, but since it is in the language of the Panseao cat people, Marin cannot understand it at all. He can only barely catch a melody, but at least he can be certain of the cat girl's mood, just like when she previously bit her tail—Panseao cat cubs unconsciously bite their own tails when they are nervous.

The smell of rust is very strong, reminiscent of the scent that permeated my face when I first injured my leg during military service, cut by shrapnel.

This truly is a dangerous world

Speaking of which, Marin has often pondered over the question of why Gaiate would adopt himself and Maya in the past half month. Given the current circumstances, the most plausible explanation is that this middle-aged man with graying temples is childless and ultimately ended up adopting a child with both a son and a daughter.

From the observations over the past month, Gaiate does not appear to be mentally ill, and considering that he occasionally returns with lipstick marks on his face, he should not be classified as a pervert either

Excluding harmless creatures like giant rats, through the mouth of the small ones with no boundaries, the people of this world have classified the spirits into seven levels

It is a very normal viewpoint. If one must impose it onto online novels, it may become excessive. Moreover, Marin feels that such wild imaginings are rather uninteresting—middle-aged men have too much drama within; they are either perverse or mentally ill.

As long as he can provide the funds for Maya on time, that is sufficient

Secondly, there is the harmless level, which offers no benefits but essentially has no lethality. The only concern is to take good care of young children, as they are the only ones who can be harmed by the harmless level.