Chapter 84 of 100

Chapter 84: A Small Promise

17 min read4,162 words

The next day, in the small chapel of the Rogue Camp, we held a simple funeral for Griswold. Not many people came to mourn, as most of the career changers no longer knew who Griswold was. Only a few old friends, including the elders I knew—Akara, Kasha, Cain, and an old man in a magic robe with a white beard—were present. It turned out that he was the old magician who had set up the soundproof barrier in the bar the first time I saw him. Could he be the legendary president of the Magic Guild?

Noticing my gaze, the old magician turned his head and nodded at me with a slightly sad look. It seemed he was not unfamiliar with me, but this was not the time for a chat amidst the solemn and mournful atmosphere. So, our meeting was just a brief acknowledgment.

Finally, under the direction of an old man in a white monk's robe, who looked deeply sorrowful, Griswold, who had been controlled by the Hell Clan for decades, was laid to rest. Another unremarkable small tombstone was added to the densely packed cemetery near the church.

After the funeral, I seemed to have nowhere to go. Sara had been sent to the magic training area a few days after I left to learn some basic magic knowledge and wouldn't return until evening. Lyle and the others were not around, and Cain and Akara? I decided against it; after losing an old friend, who would have the mood to chat and joke around? I heard that Griswold used to be one of the elders of the Rogue Camp.

I thought for a moment and decided to visit Charsi's blacksmith shop first to have some equipment with low durability repaired. Then I went to the Rogue Bar, where there were many people and much gossip, making it the best place to gather information. As a career changer, it was essential to stay informed.

Entering the bar, it was still noisy with various voices buzzing in my ears, making the whole world seem to shake. Fortunately, there were still seats available. I endured the noise and found a spot to sit, straining to filter out useful information.

Most of the people nearby were Barbarians, loudly boasting about their achievements. These brave and proud warriors never knew what it meant to be reserved. Any new experience or elite kill became a topic of loud boasting, as if they were afraid others wouldn't know. While three parts were exaggeration, seven parts were true, and some of their stories were quite eye-opening. There were also some gossipy adventurers loudly discussing which team had gone where to train, who had obtained a good piece of equipment, and so on. While not entirely reliable, it wasn't baseless.

When I left the bar, my ears were still filled with the buzzing noise, but I had gathered some important information. The first was that Blood Raven had been killed by a high-level career changer team a few days ago. I had planned to visit the Bone Zone to deal with her after Xiao Xue's evolution, so I was glad I came to the bar to avoid a wasted trip.

The second piece of information was about Lyle and the others. They seemed to have entered the Themo Highlands, as several career changers had encountered them. According to Cain's encyclopedia, the Themo Highlands had recently seen the appearance of a new and very troublesome monster—the Skeleton Mage. Without high magic resistance, it was very dangerous there. I hoped they would be safe.

The third piece of information was about Sister Sharla. It seemed someone had seen her on the second floor of the cemetery, though it wasn't certain. Still, any news was better than none.

The last piece of information was more mysterious. According to some adventurers, the monsters had recently become more aggressive. A village near the Rogue Camp called Dago had even been lightly attacked, but fortunately, the damage was not severe.

In such a short time, I had gathered so much useful information. The bar was indeed a great place to gather information, and I needed to pay more attention to it in the future. I sighed, noticing it was already late.

Well, it was time to go to Aunt Sara's for a free meal.

Sara opened the door for me. She had just returned from the magic training camp. Before I could even step inside, her eyes lit up, and she pulled me into the yard, sitting down and excitedly recounting her experiences in the magic training area. Seeing her happy and satisfied face, I felt that sending her to learn magic was definitely the right choice.

Seeing her enthusiasm, I leaned back against a tree and closed my eyes, letting her sweet and clear voice wash over me. I occasionally responded, watching her smile and feeling the gentle breeze on my face, which was slightly cold. The white clouds in the sky drifted lazily, and the air was filled with a faint, fresh scent of grass and soil, making me feel as if I were in a utopia. All thoughts of war, death, and the bitterness of survival temporarily left my mind, leaving only her voice and the peaceful scenery. I was almost entranced.

When I came to, the little angel had stopped singing. I felt a warm, fragrant presence in my arms and looked down to see that Sara had somehow snuggled into my chest, her small nose breathing sweetly, and she was sound asleep.

Her cute sleeping face still had her trademark angelic smile, and I wondered what sweet dreams she was having. She looked so peaceful and happy, probably exhausted from her magic training. I knew that even in magic training, there were daily physical exercises.

"We made a promise, Sara will be Big Brother's mercenary!"

In her dream, Sara suddenly smiled brightly and murmured, snuggling closer to me.

Ha, this little girl. I resisted the urge to pinch her nose. It was still cold, so I took off my outer coat and draped it over her, then quietly enjoyed the peace and happiness—something I might never experience again in my life. No, I would fight for it. Looking at the sleeping Sara, I made a silent vow.

I need power, I need more power...

In a daze, I felt a tickle in my nose and opened my eyes to see Sara pinching a blade of grass and tickling my nose. Sweat...

I suddenly opened my eyes and glared at her. She was so startled that she dropped the grass and tried to run.

Hehe, where are you going? I grabbed her and pulled her into my arms.

"Little girl, disturbing my sleep, let's see how I punish you, hahaha..." I imitated a villain's laugh and looked "fiercely" at the Sara in my arms.

Hmm, why is she so quiet? I panicked and released her.

"What's wrong, Sara? Did I hurt you?"

After a while, Sara lifted her head from my chest, revealing a dreamlike face. Her fair, tender cheeks were flushed, and her eyes seemed misty, her pale pink eyes looking at me shyly. A seductive aura, inappropriate for her age, emanated from her innocent face, and even a saint would be tempted...

As I struggled with my inner conflict, Sara finally spoke in a whisper.

"Big Brother, since I slept with you, does that mean I'm already your wife?"

I was taken aback and then chuckled to myself—so that's why she was blushing. I thought she was getting emotional... Sweat... Seeing her shy expression, my heart suddenly felt light, and the desire that had risen quickly dissipated.

"So, does Sara want to be my wife?"

"Um-hum."

Sara nodded slightly in my arms and buried her head deeper.

"Then, when Sara finishes her magic training and becomes an excellent mage, will you be my wife?"

"Um-hum."

The girl in my arms nodded lightly and fell silent.

"Cough, cough..."

Just as the atmosphere was getting good, a cough came from the side. Aunt Sara stood at the door, looking at us with a smile.

"Although I don't want to interrupt, Sara, I remember you were supposed to call 'your Big Brother' for dinner. How did you end up in his arms?"

Aunt Sara emphasized a few words with a mischievous smile, teasing her daughter.

Sara finally realized what was happening, jumped up with a red face, and ran back into the house.

As for me, I'm not boasting, but I have a thicker skin than most. Aunt Sara's teasing was like a mosquito bite to me, especially since I had a hold on her.

"Where, where, aren't we just following your and Uncle Lyle's example?"

I gave Aunt Sara a shy smile and a look of admiration.

"Brat, how can you start worrying about Sara now? Aren't you afraid of not passing this test?"

Aunt Sara glared at me, still upset about the passionate kiss with Lyle that I and the Barbarian brother had witnessed.

Sara, probably embarrassed by her mother, hid in her room and didn't even come out for dinner or to see me off when I left. I felt a bit disappointed but was mostly happy. The small promise with her was like a warm seed that had sprouted in my heart.

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