volume 1 - Chapter 33 (1/2)
TL: Yup. Busy. Many a.s.signments. Need your eyes. Check mistakes. May check errors on weekend if schedule permitting.
Chapter 33 – Before the a.s.sault
Brendel looked at the steep slope that was shaped like a knife, then turned back to Romaine and let her wear the Ring of Spiderweb. He realized that her perception was surprisingly high, and letting her wear this ring would increase her ability.
Romaine had spied on the beautiful ring with black and white patterns for a long time, and was naturally happy to receive it. But she still asked curiously: “Is this a magic ring too, Brendel?”
“Mmm. It allows you to hear better. So pay attention and if there is any commotions, inform Freya. I’ll be back very soon.”
In this valley, there were another monster besides the Golden Demonic Tree that was of considerable danger, a Rock Wurm. It was a rare elite that came from the side effects of the mana imbalance. During the first time it appeared in the game, Brendel nearly ended up being defeated by it.
“There are other enemies?” Both of them spoke at the same time.
“There might be, doesn’t it pay to be careful?” He did not want to act like a clarvoyant as it was not going to be easy to explain things in the future if he chose that path, so he chose to answer in vague manner.
But Freya nodded understandingly and tightened her grip on the longsword and guarded Romaine.
“I’ll protect her, but come back quickly.”
“Erm?” He looked at her in surprise.
[When did this silly girl became so cooperative?]
He was a little fl.u.s.tered, but it did not look like some conspiracy, so he put down his backpack hesitatingly and took out a rope and hook. He looked at the girls again, before carefully climbing out.
“Freya, is Brendel going to be alright alone?” Romaine whispered and asked.
“He has his own plans and we can’t help him with it. It will be enough if we don’t let him worry over here.”
“Freya?”
Freya swayed her ponytail, her bright eyes showed a serious expression. She was not admitting defeat, but felt that her current strength could only do so much. She had earnestly reflected on herself, and she had to have high expectations of herself as a leader of a squadron.
She exhaled slowly and brought her sword close to her chest. She was determined.
On the other side, Brendel advanced on the steep slope by using the rope. He was still tens of meters away from a certain gap in the wall. He breathed in deeply and glanced behind his back. It was fortunate the Golden Demonic Tree and its guards rely on sound and mana to discover their targets, otherwise he was completely open at his position.
He grabbed onto a protruding rock, and the sand trickled from the rock’s surface. The tiny sound did not count for much, but he was worried that it would escalate into something bigger, and he tried to limit his actions as quietly as possible.
[30 meters more. it will soon be over.]
There was no soul gem that dropped along the way, but Brendel knew he still had one more chance. There was a treasure in the gap— no, claiming it as a treasure was sort of wrong. Players would call all resources and rewards from hidden places as treasure, but the treasure was a memento.
In the plot within the game, there was a young n.o.ble who loved to adventure called Bergens. He came to this valley with his allies, and was separated from them. He managed to escape to the gap, but due to his injuries he died there.
There was some possessions along with a keepsake on him. He could bring the keepsake to Bruglas to complete the mission, and even though the reward was not promising, it was better than nothing.
But the possession that the n.o.ble had was more interesting. As it was a random treasure, anything could be given out as long as the person’s luck was good. The greatest treasure that Brendel opened was an Amber Relic Stone. Brendel did not hope to get that, and it would be good enough if he got a soul gem. The percentage to get one was actually pretty high here.
He quickly climbed into the gap and immediately saw the unfortunate n.o.ble’s skeleton collapsing to one side. For one moment Brendel thought he had gone back into the game, as every detail appeared to be the same.
He quickly composed himself and carefully went over to the skeleton, and his eyes fell onto a small bag. He was stunned for a moment as he noticed a piece of dry and dusty lambskin paper inside it.
[There was nothing like this in the game!]
He picked up the paper lightly and discovered that it was a will. There were only a few lines on it:
“Mother Marsha above, I might not be in this world for much longer. If I am to meet an unfortunate end, and the one who chanced upon my will, I would legally transfer all my possessions on my body to you. Furthermore, I have a secret wealth pa.s.sed down from my ancestors, and would award 1/3 to you. Please pa.s.s 1/3 to my wife, Sadie, and 1/3 to my daughter…… (unintelligible).
If you are interested in this wealth, please pa.s.s my will and my keepsake to my wife, and tell her ‘The date on the Barde ball’ and she sill understand what I wish to convey.
Finally, I am sorry, Sadie. May Mother Marsha punish me.”
Brendel read everything and looked blankly at the paper. He had never seen this piece of paper. The only mission to this was taking the seal ring off and pa.s.sing it to the Bruglas citizen registry and he would receive a certain amount of money. The mission would end there and there was no further continuation.
[What does this mean? Is it because this world is different from the game?]
Brendel shook his head. He instinctively refuse to believe that judgment. Everything had matched to his memories to every last detail, and there was no reason why there was an exception here. He pondered on it for a while.
[What could be the reason? Wait— Of course! It might be possible that the first person who discovered this will receive a unique mission. There are many ‘first’ missions and ‘only’ missions… But did such a thing ever happen in repeatable dungeons? n.o.body had mention this before…]