CHAPTER 100: A BIZARRE SIGHT

Three individuals—two young men and one young woman—sat and ate together at a table.

"Please accept my respect, Miss Tseradze! You were amazing back there," Cody generously praised with a smile, repeatedly tapping Elune’s shoulder as she took a large bite out of the roasted chicken leg in her hands.

Moonpiercer couldn’t even wait until she swallowed her food, laughing while nodding repeatedly.

"Hmhmhm!"

Only then did she take the time to swallow her food, responding in earnest:

"I don’t know, I guess I’m just a noble soul? Hahahaha! B-But you can’t go back on your word! You promised that you would keep an eye on Lucas and help me the same way you did for Daru."

"Of course! He lives right next to me, and we’re in the same training field. If he’s up to something, I’ll notice. You can rest assured." Cody guaranteed.

He was sure that he and Daru would be the main targets, anyway.

"Just enjoy your meal and order more, yeah? It’s rare for Brother Daru to treat people, you know? So go all out!"

"Alright then!" Elune smiled, turning to look at Daru and flashing him a thumbs-up sign. "You’re the best, Daru!"

Daru froze for a moment, secretly checking his wallet.

It seemed that he would have to go and sell his loot on a weekday again...

The three continued chatting casually as they ate, though Daru mostly only responded.

It was Elune and Cody who instantly hit it off.

Nonetheless, he liked just being there, listening to the silliness of the two.

A thought suddenly crossed his mind.

Perhaps having friends wasn’t all that bad?

Naturally, the young lady of the Tseradze family recognized Daru, and who wouldn’t?

The Fallen Sword Prince of the prestigious Ashton High School was too heavy a title to forget.

She asked him a couple of questions — a few of them quite spicy — though none really offended Daru.

Around an hour later, they parted ways, promising that they would sell loot together three days after tomorrow.

Elune said she wanted to experience the process for herself.

**

Come the morning of the next day, Daru attended the morning lecture, hopping into the realm immediately after.

The world warped.

He was back at the grove, slightly eager to purchase the maps so he could complete the mission and secure himself a battle with a mythical swordspawn.

Daru also wanted to fight the Grove Sentinels.

However, he understood that it was better not to risk the more exciting battle, plus he would secure his soul while he was at it.

Daru could only sacrifice the Grove Sentinels.

Who knows?

Maybe one day he will also get the chance to fight the Combat Waykeepers of another race?

But then, the moment his vision returned, his eyes widened at the sight that greeted him.

The merchant...had just jumped off from the fifth level.

"Wait!" he exclaimed in a mix of disbelief and desperation.

Unfortunately, gravity doesn’t know patience.

The short waykeeper simply kept on plummeting under his stupefied gaze and slightly open mouth.

Daru’s mind blanked at that moment, and he could only keep watching.

Wouldn’t the merchant die like this?

Does this mean he would have to look for another Novice Grove and do everything all over again?

To his further bewilderment, the waykeeper landed head-first.

There was no surviving after that.

...And then the merchant moved, pulling his head out of the dirt and continuing to run as if nothing had happened.

"There’s no way that’s..." Daru muttered, shaking his head to regather his wits.

Only then did he notice the massive countdown timer in the sky and the three swordspawns standing in an equally stupefied manner near the previous location of the Kahsar Merchant.

He was very familiar with them, as there was a day when they were all he hunted.

"Vashiras?" Daru’s brows furrowed. "How are they here?"

His question would have to remain unanswered for now.

The swordspawns of the Somber Swamp had noticed him and were now charging.

Daru quickly summoned and drew his sword, waving it once and dashing right back with no hesitation.

He changed his pacing in the next moment, transitioning into a Havoc Rush that allowed him to easily take care of the Veresvida Vashira at the vanguard, stabbing his tachi deep in its neck before somersaulting to dodge the attack of the other two.

One of the remaining swordspawns staggered back, struck by the red crescent.

Daru didn’t waste the chance and descended on it, following up with another stab, this time to the forehead.

The dying Vashira hissed, falling on its back as he used its chest as a platform, jumping back and landing behind the last enemy.

He then utilized his superior swordsmanship to end the spawn.

Daru waved his sword once before sheathing it, immediately looking down the bridge.

The merchant was gone...

"Tch," he clicked his tongue, immediately sprinting back to the rope he used to get to the fifth level.

He had a feeling he would not survive as the waykeeper did.

Daru could only take the regular path.

He didn’t notice that he was smiling, enjoying the situation.

Daru looked around while he was running, noticing that the Grove Sentinels were also busy fending off the mixed species of enemies.

One was being ganged up on by three Tahm Throssas, but the waykeeper was still coming out on top, and quite easily at that.

The entire grove was in chaos.

However, Daru knew he could use this to his advantage.

He didn’t have to worry about sneaking around too much. After all, he wasn’t the only enemy here now.

Lots of spawns kept the grove’s guardians busy.

Soon, Daru arrived at the second level, jumping off a bridge and landing on the dirt ground of the first quite neatly.

[-40]

Although he still suffered a bit of fall damage.

His entire lower body was slightly sore, but he shook it off, sprinting in the direction the merchant fled towards.