Chapter LVI - Epiphany (part 1)

Valon explained to everyone about the mission. 

 

It was a long mission that not a normal White ranked adventurer can do. So, the Office needed someone else who is not a White ranked, but with abilities on par that of a White ranked.

 

He mentioned that the mission was put on hold for over a year already. And yet, the mission is still available, which means whatever problem lies beyond the paper he is holding can still be solved even today.

It also means that the problem written is still a problem. To this date.

 

"Usually, a mission had an expiration date. In about a month, a normal mission would be retracted by the mission issuer, because the mission was not able to be completed. But, this mission still hasn't been retracted, and the issuer is a very important person."

 

He explained to everyone in the room. They all looked confused and curious. 

 

The issuer of this mission is the king of the eastern kingdom, Veldonia.

 

After explaining the mission, Valon made sure that everyone had understood the situation, especially me. Then he closed the meeting and left the room, leaving everyone else.

 

"Good luck, Young Rize. I hope you can be safe as you do the mission."

 

A noble lady with golden hair, the one I thought was royalty, walked up to me and wished me good luck before leaving the room. I bowed my head at her, and she chuckled as she left.

 

"Good luck, adventurer! The whole kingdom is counting on you!"

 

"I hope you can be safe, Rize."

 

The magician woman and the elder nun said some words for me, so I thanked them. The two noblemen left without saying anything to me. And now there is only me, Klane, and Jonus in the room.

 

I turned around to Klane, my smile had completely disappeared. She looked at me with an apologetic expression. She didn't even say a word, and I realized she was feeling guilty.

 

I don't want to be mad at her. But from her face, it looks like she really felt bad.

 

"Klane--"

 

"Me first!"

 

She barked... but she was silent the whole time.

 

"When Master Valon told me and Jonus about his plan to search for a candidate for this mission, I was shocked. Because I know that deep down, I actually know a candidate."

 

She looked down while telling her story. Jonus behind her simply closed his eyes. He cared, but tried not to look like one.

 

"So, I hid you. Or, at least, I tried to, but you kind of show yourself quite often at spotlights."

 

"I'm... trying very hard not to..."

 

"Really? Because conquering a Blue ranked dungeon with a single three man team, doesn't really sound like 'trying very hard' to lay low. Especially when the boss is a Black ranked!"

 

"T-That's..."

 

"And what about slaying a dragon? You may throw the crowd to the Light Slayer, but you are still near the spotlight yourself."

 

"I was..."

 

"And may I call you 'The Saint Healer'? Who supposedly showed up the same day you asked Keila about the church?"

 

She looked pretty pissed. I guess she was actually trying to hide me, but it was my fault for showing off too many times. And when the master found me, she blamed herself for not doing more.

 

I guess the frightened look on my face made her realize that she had said too much.

 

"... Sorry."

 

She let out a sigh.

 

"Don't be. We both failed at hiding, anyways."

 

Jonus chuckled from behind Klane. A second later, he can feel two bloodlust coming from our way. He awkwardly turned his face away.

 

"So... What now?"

 

I asked her before we leave. She started to clean up the papers in front of her on the table.

 

"Now... You can do whatever you want. The Office will now try its very best to hide you from the world. Whatever it is, the press, the people, even dangers from outside the kingdom.

You're now a White ranked adventurer, just secretly. What do you think has changed?"

 

It... does feel like having a gate to another section opened. Now that the Master has recognized my skills, I can do more things than before.

 

"The thing is, Rize..."

 

She stopped to look at me. Behind her, Jonus is also starting to prepare to leave.

 

"Can you really do this mission?"

 

That question sounded like a simple reassuring question. But when you have a history like Klane and me, you know such a question must never be answered easily.

 

"Yes. I'll finish it and come back in one piece."

 

"Hmm. Okay, then. I'll believe you."

 

She nodded at me and left with Jonus at her side, and Jonus began asking about me being a Saint Healer as they walked.

 

I looked at the mission scroll right in front of me, on the table. I read it one last time and placed it in my space ring.

 

After that, I thanked the butler for showing me the exit and left the mansion.

 

 

That was one hell of a meeting.

 

The outside is still shining brightly. The meeting lasts for only about less than an hour. I looked up to see that there were clouds covering the sun. The perfect weather for a walk.

 

I strolled down the northern main road and went to the centre park.

 

I have been here before with Valey and Cony during our first night out. It's the park at a very high spot in the middle of the kingdom. You can see the northern gate, western gate, and the southeastern gate from here.

 

Because this place was quite close to the middle castle, it was quite lively. Carriages moving on the road right next to the park and people doing their stuff.

 

I needed... a refreshment.

 

I already expected that the meeting would be bad, but that was worse than what I had imagined. It was not a meeting, it was a trap. The very point of me coming there was to put me on the spot so I can't reject their request.

 

The Master really is slick. He is indeed a smart person, and he was being very careful with his moves. The way he showed his cards one at a time during the meeting isn't something a normal boss can do. He even predicted that I'd reject it initially... how annoying.

He may have been an opposition to me earlier, but I have decided to ally with him for the mission. In the future, however... I'm just concerned whether or not I can outsmart him if such a situation happens again.

 

I'll get him back for this next time, but for now…

 

Now I only have around a week until the mission starts. I wonder what I should do...

 

I turned my back and left the park. During the walk, I took out my communication crystal of my team and spoke.

 

"Hello, hello? Anyone there?"

 

There weren't any replies for ten seconds, but then Cony's voice came out from the tool.