31 Blood Oath (1/2)

After killing the pack of wolves, the trio looted their corpses.

”But man, your sword is really overpowered, Shesmu,” commented Leo after finishing looting his part.

”Yeah. The enhanced damage is one thing, but that energy slash. You killed two wolves in one hit from a distance, how broken is that?!”

”Well, it is a gold+ rarity weapon after all. Thinking about it now, if that goblord was able to land one ki empowered attack on us there, we would probably have been one shot. Plus, there was also that black and red energy orb thing. That was scary,” reminisced Shesmu.

”Anyway, we should head now to the tower. But before that, how far are you guys from level 10?”

”I'm level 9, 20% of the way to 10,” responded DepressedRyan.

”Level 8, still need 10% to reach 9,” followed Leo.

”Okay then, we should grind a bit more before going to the tower then.”

Well, if it's about grinding, then maybe we should try and search for a dungeon. Since we're in a wolves area, there must be a wolf dungeon here. Plus, Ryan needs a new weapon, and wolves drop the best daggers at low levels.

Everything made perfect sense in Shesmu's head. The only downside was that unlike the goblin dungeon, Shesmu had no idea where the wolves' is. Thus, the only way was to search for it in the traditional way. When Shesmu's thoughts reached this far, he looked at both Leo and Ryan with a doubtful expression.

”You too, you have no problems with directions, right?” Shesmu asked.

In his past life, Leo was clumsy with many things, but a problem with his sense of direction never showed up. However, that is knowledge based on another timeline. Who knows what kind of changes happened to Leo from the start of the game until the moment he met with Shesmu, 2 years later.

”Ehh, as far as I know, I have no problem,” answered Leo.

”Yeah, this dunce may be dumb at times, but getting lost all the time is not one of his habit,” teased DepressedRyan. He then said cheekily, ”As for me, I can find my way through a maze blindfolded, so don't worry about it!”

”Hey, who did you call a dunce just now?!”

”Well, it's not as if I lied. Who would ever say to a girl: ”Ah, sorry. I was looking at the food.” after she has been hitting on you for three hours-”

”Ah stop, stop! Don't talk about that time, it never happened, okay?”

Looking at his friends' bickering and arguing with each other, Shesmu felt a little bit envious. At this point, who do I even have that I can talk to, bicker and argue with. My parents are abroad, and the friends that I had at this point I can't even remember the face. Am I supposed to just go back and talk to them as if nothing happened- as if those ten years were just a dream?

Shesmu was lost in his thoughts when he blinked his eyes and saw DepressedRyan staring at him.

”Why the long face, Shesmu?” he asked before his smile turned cheeked and he teased, ”Did you forget and left your kids without dinner?”

When Shesmu looked at DepressedRyan's cheeky face, he couldn't bring himself to be annoyed at what he said. Something sunk in Shesmu's inside and warmth spread out. His eyes turned watery for a moment before Shesmu quickly wiped his tears.

”Hey, are you crying?” DepressedRyan asked.

”No, I'm not.”

Hearing Shesmu's answer, DepressedRyan's smile turned sly. But seeing the happy smile on Shesmu's face, he couldn't bring himself to keep teasing him.

”Well, if you say so. In any case, you seem to have reached your own conclusions.” DepressedRyan then thought for a moment before continuing, ”Just know that I and Leo are your friends. Isn't that right, Leo?”

”Hmm, of course, we're friends. Why? Are we not?” Leo asked in surprise and confusion.