Reveal Your Stats

Maxwell concluded that the mysterious man he encountered had to be a supreme being, one so powerful it granted him the strength to defeat a demon lord. While the idea might not seem entirely far-fetched, Fay found it utterly absurd.

"There's no such thing as a being that powerful, Maxwell," she said, crossing her arms with a raised brow.

Maxwell stood firm, his voice tinged with frustration. "Then how do you explain the power I got? And the fact that I was the only one who could see him... He even knew my name!"

Fay sighed, shaking her head with a mix of pity and disbelief. "Isn't it more logical to think you imagined the guy? You were intoxicated when this supposed 'encounter' happened. And besides... why you? What makes you so special?"

Maxwell flinched at the question, unable to answer. He didn't know why the mysterious man had chosen him, but one thing was certain—he was real.

Fay leaned closer, her tone sharper now. "What I'm more interested in is how you managed to use healing magic. Your mana pool is way too low for anything beyond a low-level fireball spell. So here's the deal: show me another spell. The healing magic could've been a fluke. Prove me wrong, and I just might believe your story."

Determined, Maxwell prepared to cast another spell, the magic welling up inside him. But as he readied himself, doubt crept in. Why was he going to such lengths to convince his best friend of all people? Shouldn't she believe him without question? The thought stung, and he let the magic dissipate.

"You know what? Never mind," he said, his voice quiet but firm. "I guess you'll find out with the rest... when it really matters."

Turning on his heel, Maxwell strode away, his heart heavy with disappointment.

"Maxwell—wait!" Fay called after him, taking a step forward. But she stopped herself, realizing he needed space. Surely, she thought, time and clarity would make him let go of this ridiculous delusion.

Or so she hoped.

Meanwhile, Arthur stood in the grand castle where the Greater Council resided. The chamber was vast, with towering marble pillars and banners representing the four great races: giants, dwarves, fairies, and humans. Each council member was the most competent leader of their race, their combined authority shaping the world's fate.

The original Greater Council had once created the adventurers' guild, a force sworn to protect the people and vanquish the demon clan's reign. Now, Arthur had come bearing news of a monumental victory.

"The 10th demon lord has been vanquished," Arthur declared, presenting the demon lord's insignia as proof.

The council members leaned in, their expressions a mix of disbelief and curiosity. However, their focus quickly shifted when Arthur mentioned the unsettling details—the location of the battle and the cryptic information about a boy with a rock embedded with a yin and yang symbol in his eyes, a boy the demon lord had been seeking.

The human councillor, a stern man with piercing grey eyes, fixed his gaze on Arthur. "Tell me, Arthur... were you the one to defeat the demon lord?"

Arthur hesitated, his shoulders tensing under the weight of the question. "No, sir," he admitted. "We don't know who accomplished the feat. We were all knocked out before it happened." He kept his eyes lowered, unable to meet the councillor's gaze.

"How disappointing," the human councillor said coldly. "Drop the insignia and take your leave."

"Yes, Father... I mean, Sir," Arthur said, his voice faltering. The slip of the tongue revealed the human council member's true identity—his father.

He placed the insignia on the table before turning and walking out, his heart heavier with each step.

As the doors closed behind him, the council convened, their voices filling the grand hall.

"This is good news indeed," the dwarf said with a hearty laugh. "No one has ever defeated a demon lord before. This will send shockwaves through the demon clan's continent!"

"True," rumbled the giant, his deep voice echoing through the chamber, "but this victory raises many questions. Who accomplished such a feat? No adventurer we know of could achieve this."

"Perhaps it has something to do with the boy the demon lord was searching for," the fairy mused, his delicate wings shimmering in the light.

"Maybe," Arthur's father, Pendragon, interjected, his tone heavy with suspicion. "Or perhaps someone in my son's party is hiding something... like the elf girl."

"Fay?" the dwarf scoffed, stroking his braided beard thoughtfully. "She's infamous for being the only elf with a mana pool smaller than a human mage's. It's impossible for her to possess the strength needed to take down a demon lord. Sure, elves might have the potential for that kind of power, but we all know their nature—they're pacifists. They avoid conflict, let alone involve themselves in a war like this."

Pendragon's eyes narrowed. "My instincts tell me otherwise. That girl is hiding something. But regardless, we cannot ignore the obvious—a demon lord was killed on our doorstep. Our city is now a target, and we must act swiftly. The demon clan's interest in this boy is our only lead. If they're desperate to find him, he must hold something valuable—something we could use to weaken their forces."

"Hah! I like this idea!" the giant roared, his laughter shaking the chamber. "If the boy is the key to their downfall, then finding him should be our priority!"

The council murmured in agreement, each member aligning with Pendragon's strategy

By the end of their deliberation, the Greater Council had reached a unanimous decision—the boy would be found at any cost.

The very next day, Maxwell arrived at the guild early for once, practically buzzing with excitement. He was eager to take on their next quest and finally show off just how powerful he'd become.

At the guild counter, the receptionist cast a stat-revealing spell on Arthur and Hana to gauge their progress since their last battle against the demon clan.

Hana, who had previously been a level 59, grinned when the spell revealed she had finally reached level 60. Arthur, however, was still at level 80, and the disappointment on his face was impossible to hide.

As the two processed their results, Fay approached Maxwell. "Are you still mad at me?" she asked softly.

Maxwell smiled, shaking his head. "You know I can't stay mad at you for long."

They exchanged a quick fist bump, but the moment was interrupted by Arthur's sharp voice.

"You. Elf girl. Show me your stats. Now," he commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Fay blinked in confusion, taken aback by the sudden demand. "Why do you need to see my stats?"

Arthur stepped closer, his expression intense. "When Tadesse attacked us, he came for you first. Now, my ears may not be as sharp as yours, but I could have sworn I heard him call you the greatest threat in our party. Funny thing is, last time I checked, I'm supposed to be the greatest threat here."

"That's ridiculous," Fay scoffed. "He probably assumed so because I'm an elf. You know elves naturally have larger mana pools than most mortals. How was he supposed to know I'm an exception?"

Arthur's eyes narrowed, unconvinced. "If that's the case, then showing me your stats shouldn't be an issue. I can't even remember the last time you checked them. My memory's a bit hazy... care to remind me?"

Fay hesitated, her usually calm demeanour faltering. Maxwell, noticing her reluctance, began to feel uneasy.

Arthur smirked, sensing he had struck a nerve. "And that wasn't all he said, was it? Tadesse mentioned something about that armour of yours you never take off... something about its markings—"

"That's enough!" Fay snapped, cutting him off sharply. Her voice carried an edge that made the entire group pause. She exhaled heavily, glaring at Arthur. "Fine. You want to see my stats? So be it."

She turned to the receptionist, who went by the name Lucy, her expression unreadable. "Do it."

The air grew tense as the spell was cast, everyone leaning in with anticipation.

When the results appeared, Lucy gasped audibly, her eyes wide with shock. "Oh my... she's a level—"