Chapter 83 - Volume 2
Chapter 27 – Knowing when to call it quits
Once Brendel heard Freya’s words, he immediately calmed down. He had cleared three secret quests and knew even more of such secret quests that were of equivalent level.
[There is absolutely no need for me to take on such a risk. When I fought against Ebdon, I literally used everything I had to defeat him. Fighting against anything that is above level seventy is completely suicidal. Furthermore, the first player who found this place did so three months later. Madara’s undead forces will retreat in approximately one or two months later, and they most likely won’t search this area because of the protective barrier. If I truly want to aim for this secret quest, I can try doing so later on, especially when my level is higher.]
He took the ring and kept it stashed away and patted the Freya’s shoulder: “Let’s go back.”
“Brendel?”
“There are plenty of chances to take such risks, but we only have a single life each,” Brendel smiled mockingly at himself: “You are completely right. There are problems with my attitude just now.”
[The First War of the Black Rose ends at the end of July, Aouine’s internal strife shows itself during September, and finally there’s a political shift in November. I have only five months to raise my levels as much as possible, but I’m obviously going too fast for considering what I did just now.]
Brendel wanted to gain enough strength to at least protect the people around him, even if he was unable to change the history was about to take place. He knew that the world would descend into utter chaos, and things like justice and logic would be destroyed by the wars ahead. In order to survive in the chaotic world ahead, he had to do ridiculous tasks in order to become stronger.
“Riding with the cavalry?” Brendel did not notice Leto’s expressions, but merely repeat his words in a troubled manner.
[This crazy lass went around the place by tying herself to the horse again? Looks like she has forgotten some of the punishments that I administered a while ago…]
But before he decided to grind his fists into her head again, he heard a voice calling out to him. “Brendel, hey, you’re back?”
Anyone could tell it was the lass with her distinctive voice.
When he turned around, he saw that she was riding proudly on the horse in front of him.
“W-when did you learn how to ride?” Brendel was really surprised when he took a closer look at her. He was able to learn it instantly with the help of the game’s AI system, but Romaine obviously did not have something like that.
“Because I’m one hundred percent merchant material!” Romaine stopped her horse in front of him and answered haughtily.
“What does this have anything to do with a merchant?”
“Eh? It has nothing to do with it?” Romaine’s eyes went wild with surprise. “But don’t all merchants know how to ride a horse?”
“Ah, Miss Romaine, I have to say this, but the majority of the merchants don’t know how to ride a horse.” Leto aided Brendel in his straight retort.
Romaine’s dainty eyebrows nearly bunched up together: “I-is that so? Well, there’s no problem at all since I’m one of the better merchants, right Brendel?”
“Yeah, sure.” Brendel’s reply was half-hearted. He thought that it was heaven’s way of compensating for a natural scatterbrain. He eyed her with her exasperation, dismounted and said: “Okay, little Romaine, since you’re so free, accompany me to walk around the camp.”
“Sure.” She looked quite excited.
“Do you need me to go along, my lord?” Leto asked patiently.
Brendel nearly coughed up blood.
[Nice going, mister. Do you really need to try so hard to be a third wheel?]
But Leto had asked out of good intentions and Brendel could only agree in a gloomy nod.
Suddenly Brendel felt a strange shift in the bag on his waist and he froze momentarily. He opened it to check and his expression immediately changed. He blinked and thought that he had seen something wrongly, so he closed the bag, then opened it again.
He still thought he was hallucinating.
Why would he have this object in his bag?