CHAPTER 62: [ BLACK VAN ]

Alexander stood with his arms crossed while the officials chuckled at each other, amused by something he simply couldn’t get.

The moment they felt someone with their arms around their shoulders their faces turned into shock, their eyebrows instantly going into a frown.

As they turned to see who stood between them, their expression once again turned—this time, for something a lot more apologetic.

They took a step back and instinctively performed a few frightened bows when they realized who it was.

"Sunder?... What are you doing here."

Sunder waved his hand, a bright smile on his face.

"Came to see my favorite guild. Heard you’re already completing high tier dungeons..."

He then glanced at the two officials, his unwavering smile sending chills down their spines.

The officials scrambled for words, trying to come up with something.

"Yes—well, high tier..."

The two men were still stepping back, now slowly heading toward their black van while facing Sunder.

Sunder hadn’t changed, he still wore his golden trinkets and jewelry. Things he now knew came from Brak.

"I heard what happened, I’m surprised you were able to get through it. I was told it was nearly a B-tier dungeon that you went through, as a fresh dungeon runner it shouldn’t even be possible to get through its lowest monsters."

Alexander took a few steps forward, accompanied by Fae.

A feeling of relief flowed through him, a friendly face finally greeting him.

"They’re trying to get rid of me."

Sunder nodded with an understanding smile.

"That they did."

He walked next to Alexander, laying a hand on his back to direct him out of the alleyway toward the street.

"The E-tier director isn’t behind this. The cause was rooted deeper in the guild," said Sunder.

"It’s too late. I don’t trust them anymore."

"I paid them a visit today, they shouldn’t do anything underhanded anymore, but if it happens just let me know. I doubt they’ll do as much as look your way."

They reached the street, it was serene. The night was well underway, while no stars shone upon them the soft street lights glowed on the empty street.

There was nobody around to film him, nobody to follow him or insult him.

"You’ve seen the articles, or the threads online."

"I did."

"Then—"

Sunder smiled and laid a hand on his shoulder.

"Before going into your inner path you didn’t tell me you wanted to be a hero. You didn’t say you wanted to save everyone, or work for the common man. You told me you wanted to be a dungeon runner, and this is what you are. Everything else doesn’t matter—you don’t need anyone’s approval. I sure don’t have much approval myself."

Alexander glanced at Sunder, while his smile was over the top he could feel it was genuine.

"I’ve gone through the same experience. I’ve done exactly what you did, I stopped caring about what wasn’t important. I won’t hold against you if you go through your dungeon runner life this way. Eventually, you’ll reach my status, and nobody will be able to get in your way."

They walked down the street, Alexander matching Sunder’s pace as they slowly made their way through the city.

"Your class gives you a unique advantage. It’s perfect, in a way. I heard that you easily dealt with the ’Coal and Steel’ guild."

Alexander was truly surprised by the sudden praise he received from Sunder, expecting criticism instead.

"Since we last met I’ve unlocked quite a few spells. It’s clear now that my class is leaning toward the support archetype. I’m lucky to have a companion," he said, patting Fae’s head.

While it was hidden underneath her mask, her face was glowing.

Sunder nodded. "Specialists usually are the ones receiving a summoning class or beast tamer class. Some runners actually have it the opposite way around, where their companions supports them. Sometimes both the companion and the runner are offensive types, and just grow stronger over time."

Sunder pointed at Fae.

"I can tell she’s pretty strong. I know a summoner that’s similar to you. Even without their summons, their spells sometimes double the strength of their allies, a truly scary experience."

Alexander nodded, unsure of where Sunder was going.

"So, you have a companion. But, do you know what we call a support with your kind of spells?" Sunder asked.

Alexander shook his head, unsure of what exactly he meant.

"You’re a control support. Your strength lies in controlling the battlefield, allowing your allies to have a clear advantage."

Alexander nodded once again, this time gazing away in thought.

Controlling the battlefield was indeed something he could do, from teleporting around to making people stop moving. The [ Witness of All Paths ] alone granted anyone receiving it the ability to read everything that happened before their eyes.

"Control? I think you may be right," said Alexander.

"However..."

Alexander took a deep breath. He knew there had to be a lecture somewhere down the line.

"What?" he said.

Sunder’s eyes were set on Alexander’s. They were cold, freezing. He could feel something completely wrong with him—darkness he couldn’t imagine. His smile only served to heighten this chilling sensation that the person he talked to barely was human.

For a moment, he saw a side of Sunder that he hadn’t seen before.

"Every time I cast, I know someone might die. I’m fine with killing them, actually. Even when I’m going for a little pain, or just to make a point. They could die, and truly I couldn’t care less."

Alexander frowned, unsure of where he was going with this.

He could feel Fae by his side tensing up, a similar feeling rising in him as well.

"One thing I can’t tolerate is hypocrisy," said Sunder, his smile fading.

He stopped moving, turning Alexander to face him.

Fae’s hand directly went to the hilt of her sword, her grip tightly holding onto it. Alexander’s hand instinctively went to chest, stopping her from moving.

Sunder continued, unbothered.

"When I use my magic, I’m aware that anyone it touches might never go home to their family. I make a conscious decision everytime I cast, ’this could kill them and I’m fine with it’. I don’t care what you do, but now that it’s come to this, you need to start making that conscious decision of killing people."

His thoughts tangled, his expression warped in confusion and slight fear.

Sunder continued.

"You’re strong, now. You don’t get to be a hypocrite, lie to yourself. Don’t just cast your spells thinking you’re putting them to sleep. Don’t think you’re just having them pass out. You need to think: ’I’m killing them’."