In a quiet forest gde, bathed in moonlight, a sturdy tent stood, spacious enough for three. Outside, around a crag fire, Daisuke and Zephyr sat, enjoying a simple meal.
Shadows danced in the firelight as they savored the warmth and each other’s pany. Nearby, a wooden table held the leftredients from their stew. The warble of the noal species could be heard all around. While Zephyr wrestled with a bone, Daisuke regarded him with a smile.
[Name: Zephyr
Level: 31 | EXP: 38,578/150,156 (25.69%)
Race: Divi
Species: Wolf
HP: 6680/6680 | MP: 1329/1329 | Attack: 269 | Defense: 157 | Satiety: 100/100 | Loyalty: 44/100
Strength: 204 (+34) | stitution: 96 (+30) | Agility: 120 (+30) | Intelligence: 180 (+30) | Dexterity: 75 (+30) | Ce: 42 (+30)
Stat Points: 0]
Nice! He gaiwo whole levels while he was out on his own. Sylvia and the others didn’t send a return note, but since Zephyr is rexed, everything must have gone smoothly.
As his of thought trailed off, Daisuke turned his attention to his own Status Window. As he examihe numbers, he unsciously ced his fingers beh his , his expression grave, as if grappling with aential crisis.
[Name: Haxks
Species: Human
Level: 32 | EXP: 29,804/160,000 (18.62%)
Css: Dual Bder
Affiliation: Adventurers’ Guild | Merts’ Guild
Title: Lone Wolf, Pathfinder, Unwavering Spirit, genial Denizen, Master of Divi, Devoted Huhe Liberator of Races
HP: 4516/4516 | MP: 553/553
Strength: 83 (+21) | Stamina: 129 (+22) | Agility: 155 (+35) | Intelligence: 42 (+10) | Dexterity: 35 (+75) | posure: 24 | Indomitable: 14 | Perception: 5
Stat Points: 0]
After the fight with Ranger, he had reset his stats again aributed them back to normal to emphasize speed and endurahankfully, he had itted the ratio to memory and allog the points could be done in bulk, so it wasn’t too much of an arduous task.
But that was besides the point.
There’s no doubt about it, he thought gravely, tightening his grip. The Stat Reset skill is a bance breaker; it’s not supposed to be in the game.
Stats were the bedrock of a pyer’s abilities, serving as the erstohat defiheir strengths and weakhey served as a blueprint to measure one’s standing against adversaries and tize effectively, overing obstacles and seg victories.
But in the face of the most strategids and the gra pns, Daisuke remained an anomaly. With the inexplicable ability to reset and reallocate his stat points at will, he ractically equipped for any situation. At the drop of a hat, he could alter his build to emphasize Physiagical Attack, Defense, Dexterity, Agility, and beyond.
But was it okay for him to have this kind of power?
He distinctly remembered the moment when Goddess Seraphina and Αφιν?τη, or the Goddess of Harmony, came to the rescue when he was about to be permaly celed by the hands er.
The Goddess of Harmony was already an enigma in his mind, but now with the sudden appearance of Seraphina, his fusion deepewo goddesses—each shrouded in mystery—had chosen to a his behalf, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was entangled in something far rger than he had ever imagined.
What exactly did they want from him? Were they just as involved in other people’s lives, or was he just an anomaly in their pns? And more importantly, did they hold the key to unraveling the mystery of his existence?
Setting the thought aside, Daisuke gnced down to the 100,997 gold in his possession. Just a few weeks ago, such wealth would have been nothing but a distant dream. Yet now, he had generously gifted Reeza with over 60,000 gold, a substantial amount of mana crystals, and a magic bag valued at least over 45,000.
If his past self were to witness such a dispy of generosity now, he would surely be in for a shock. And if he learhat he could now afford to eat anything he desired, it would likely be enough to give him a heart attack. So why then, did the realization fail to excite his current self?
As memories of Dusthaven wove in and out of his mind, Daisuke gained a profound uanding. Just as he had fiven Reeza, he realized the importance of extending fiveo Brek and the others. Moreover, he felt pelled to find a way to guide them bato the right path.
pting the tragedy that had befallen Reeza’s family, Daisuke couldn’t help but refle his own mother’s passing and the fact that he hadn’t mao spend much time at her grave. He uood that he wouldn’t be able to fully move on or enjoy his success until he sorted out his past.
“Then that’s what I’ll do,” he decred aloud, pushing to his feet. “I’ll return to Dusthaven to tie up loose ends before journeying to the capital to seek out a bcksmith.”
Zephyr paused his assault on the boo tilt his head curiously.
Daisuke smiled, leaning in to tousle the pup’s head. “What’dya say, Zephyr—do you wanna tag along and visit my hometown with me?”
“Rawrwu!” the e responded enthusiastically, spinning around in a circle.
“Atta boy!” Daisuke excimed. “Tomorrow, we’ll head bato town to see what the guild wants. Then, we’ll stock up on supplies before we hit the road.”
“Arf!”
***
Daisuke chuckled as Zephyr struggled to lick the st bit of barbecue sauce from his nose. “’t say I didn’t deliver on my promise,” he murmured pyfully, pushing open the double doors of the Adventurers’ Guild.
“Ruff~”
Inside, Daisuke’s gaze quickly settled on a familiar figure. Amidst the adventurers, the man stood tall and proud, his posture exuding dignity as he regarded everyone over his he perpetual scowl on his face suggested he sidered everyoh him, and he didn’t even try to hide it.
As Daisuke approached the ter, the man’s patronizing gaze fell upon him. Its iy reminded him of the man he had seen on the rickshaw taxi while he was on his way to the apothecary. The cealing cloak and the expensive armor and on that gleamed within firmed it was the exact same person.
A noble? What business could he possibly have at the guild? Surely, they have enough soldiers to deal with a few monsters on their own.
Ign the man’s murderous gaze, Daisuke stepped into the li the ter, patiently waiting his turn to speak with Thalia.
“Haxks!” she excimed, her excitement overshadowed by more pressing matters. “Why didn’t you respond to the summons you received yesterday? This is really important!”
Daisuke frowned, evidently annoyed. “The st time I checked—”
Before he could deliver his snappy retort, the clerk seized his hand, exged a nod with her rept, and briskly began leading Daisuke up a flight of stairs behind the ter.
***
“It’s an utter tragedy, what befell Arid his family,” said Guildmaster Baldin, his voice heavy with sorrow. As he stared into his tea cup, he could almost envision the man’s once-jovial expression reflected on the surface of the beverage.
Professor Bayley’s ashen gaze shifted to the girl behind the desk opposite the man, her jade green eyes somber as they stirred with a distant memory.
“Lord Beaumont… he embodied the very essence of nobility,” she murmured, her voice like velvet despite her grief. “He atient, patriotid stood firmly against discrimination and needless violence.”
Guildmaster Baldin houghtfully. “He also embodied the true essence of a man—he paid little heed to the pretentious and hypocritical social norms of the upper css.
Instead, he preferred rolling up his sleeves aing his hands dirty while building a strong rapport with his people. He was aremely charismatid ho man.”
“…But young Soren,” Professor Bayley began, his voice tinged with sadness, “he didn’t deserve this; he was merely a child.”
The girl’s eyes shimmered with emotion as she reminisced about the little boy who was like a younger brother to her. He was a beautiful soul just like his father and had a very bright future.
“Mrs. Beaumont made the most delicious cookies,” she fessed with a wistful smile. “Soren and I would gather flowers in exge for her to make us more cookies. She was always so kind, almost like the mother I never had.”
The Guildmaster mirrored her smile, his eyes warm and nostalgic. “My Elowen always dreamed of having children,” he said, holding her gaze. “You bear a striking resembo her in her youth. You both exude araordinary radiance.”
The girl blushed, her gaze dropping at the ued pliment. “I-Is that so? Your wife… where is she now?” she asked without thinking.
The man’s expression tightened, his lips pressing into a thin line. “She—”
KNOOOCK.
Three secutive taps resounded on the door before he could react. With a calming breath, he exged a gh his esteemed guest and Professor Bayley before signaling for the expected visitor to enter.
“A-Apologies for the intrusion,” stammered Thalia as she proceeded into the room with a silver-haired boy in tow. “I’ve brought him as requested.”
The clerk’s cheeks flushed with color as the young girl with coral pink hair and jade green eyes fshed her a warm smile.
“Th-Then I’ll take my leave now,” Thalia sputtered, giving Daisuke a gentle push further into the room before bowing politely and quickly disappearing behind the door.
Daisuke barely mao prevent himself from falling ft on his face, his irritation mounting by the moment. Ever since he stepped foot into the building, he had been chewed out and dragged around like a rag doll without any clue of what was going on. Was anyone ever pnning on filling him in?
“Care to expin why I’m here?” he asked, doing his best to tain his annoyance, even as he sed the room.
“It’s hard to believe you only retly escaped that dungeon,” the Guildmaster remarked, a bemused expression crossing his face.
Daisuke’s eyebrow twitched, his patience wearing thin. “If you don’t have anything important to say, then I’m leaving.”
“I’m amazed you single-handedly mao wipe out the Mhaledictus.”
Daisuke’s fingers stilled just before cupping the doorknob. Theurned, his expression cautious. “How did you—”
The Guildmaster gave a sly smile. “A little birdie told me.”
Daisuke’s forehead creased, butterscotch eyes burning.
Professor Bayley cleared his throat, evidently more attuo the boy’s exasperation than his colleague. “Information is the lifeblood of any anization. Over the years, the guild has cultivated a vast work, ensuring we have eyes and ears in every er.”
Daisuke’s eyes narrowed. The fact that the guild has known and dohing must mean that, just like the Merts’ Guild, they’re a ral anization that solely focuses on their fual goals.
Still, they could have at least informed the lord of Wonderelle—or, simir to Dusthaven, could it be that the lord here is also corrupt?
“You’ve really outdone yourself again, young Haxks,” Professor Bayley praised with genuine warmth. “Well done! Your progress has been nothing short of extraordinary, and I’m incredibly proud of yrowth.”
“As requested,” the Guildmaster said, his voice tinged with respect. “In reition of your remarkable achievement, I’m pleased to announce your promotion from F-rank to E-rank. Thalia has already been informed, so be sure to visit her and update yuild card before you leave today.”
Daisuke nodded. “Thanks.”
“No, thank you,” the professor said, smiling as he bowed respectfully. “You’ve doremendous service for us. The Mhaledictus has been a blight on our town for far too long.”
“If you’ve got eyes and ears everywhere,” Daisuke said, fixing his gaze on the Guildmaster expetly. “Is there any information you share with me about them?”
The professor's expression soured. “You likely have more information than we do,” he admitted, frustration creeping into his voice. “All we know is that they go by the name Mhaledictus—a highly anized crime syndicate engaged in prostitution and sve traffig. Beyond that, our knowledge is sadly g.”
“We’ve sistently faced hurdles in obtaining further information, but perhaps that’s about to ge,” said the Guildmaster, his fingers interced beh his . “The group you dismantled was merely a small-time gang seeking to align with the Mhaledictus. However, we now have a lead that might provide us with substantial insight into this elusive anization.”
“Haxks,” Professor Bayley began, motioning towards the girl with coral pink hair and jade green eyes. “I’d like you to meet Lumielle Arabel Celeste Ainsworth—she’s the princess of Lunarel.”
