Endless Leveling Done Right!

Chapter 400: Why Am I Not Surprised?

The villagers rejoiced after their brave heroes returned victorious.

Many were injured, but none of their lives were in danger. Because of this, everyone agreed to hold a celebration.

Those who were more skilled at cooking busied themselves with food preparation while the Hunters and some members of the Clawford Tribe prepared the meat from the beasts that they had killed on the way back.

While everyone was busy, Alex, and Latifa lay on a bed together, recuperating from the backlash of using the Verdant Throne.

The two were sleeping soundly because they were truly exhausted.

Lotte and Lumi stayed by their side, making sure that no one would disturb their rest.

Somewhere in the plaza, Chuck was busy bragging to the village boys and girls about how he had single-handedly defeated the Goblin High Shaman while everyone was fighting its minions.

His skin was so thick that the looks of contempt given to him by Nessia, Princess Xenia, and Mary seemed to bounce off without leaving a single dent.

But no one berated him.

This was just Chuck being Chuck. They were already used to it.

”And then I went to Alex who was down on one bent knee and gasping for breath,” Chuck said with a devilish smile. ”Do you know what he said? He said, ’Chuck, please, defeat the Goblin High Shaman. You are our only hope.’”

Chuck tossed his hair, and used a wind spell to make his cape flutter behind him, adding flare to his impeccable looks, and pose.

”And I replied, ’Worry not, I’ll kill that Goblin even if it’s the last thing I do!’” Chuck continued passionately. The village girls and boys looked at him with stars in their eyes. ”And then while everyone was doing their best to support me, I unleashed my strongest attack and killed the High Goblin Shaman.

”It was a tough battle, but I only won with everyone’s help and support. So remember kids, when you grow up, you should aim to become like me, okay?”

””Yes, Sir Chuck!””

”Good!”

The members of the Clawford Tribe chuckled after hearing Chuck’s tale. But none of them made any effort to correct or reprimand him.

Even Cairo, who was maintaining his sword, only smiled a little. He did not care that Chuck was taking credit for the defeat of the Goblin High Shaman.

They had come to help the village not for fame, but because it was the right thing to do.

However, he hadn’t expected to reunite with his disciple and sister when accepting this mission.

When the Catkin looked up from his sword, he saw that Elaine and Efa were talking with Fran and Lapiz.

The two students were entertaining their new friends with stories of Alex’s life in the academy. Elaine and Efa listened closely, eager to know how he had been spending his time after their parting.

”Blackmail King?” Elaine chuckled. ”It seems that he has caused a lot of problems for many people after getting enrolled in Frieden Academy.”

”Alex is not a bad person,” Fran hurriedly explained. ”He’s just misunderstood by everyone. Also he only retaliated after his club members were bullied by other clubs.”

Efa’s smile widened a bit after hearing Fran defend Alex.

During the night when they had shared a lot about each other, Alex had mentioned the names of his Queens to her.

Because of this, Efa went to chat with Fran and Lapiz. They assumed that she wanted to know what shenanigans Alex had been up to. She did not correct them even though her true goal was to get to know the two ladies that Alex had brought up.

Efa could tell that Fran treated Alex as a close friend, while Lapiz seemed to just treat him as an acquaintance of sorts.

’It’s a shame that Astrea isn’t here,’ Efa thought. ’Alex told me that she was a very good singer and dancer.’

She hadn’t forgotten her promise to be his wingwoman.

Because of this, she told Fran and Lapiz about the Monster Stampede in the Town of Thaloria and how Alex helped to prevent the town from getting destroyed.

”Alex is really a good person,” Fran commented after Efa finished her tale.

”I think I misjudged him a bit,” Lapiz muttered.

Elaine smiled knowingly at her friend. She didn’t mind Efa trying to improve Alex’s reputation, especially since she didn’t lie or exaggerate what had happened that fateful day.

Back then, the two of them had been fighting for their lives. Just as they had thought that all hope was lost, Alex had arrived with the Clawford Tribe as reinforcements.

A few hours later, when the sun was about to set from the horizon, a giant bonfire was lit in the centre of the plaza.

The upbeat music, rows and rows of magic lamps, and aroma of dozens of dishes all added to the festivity.

Lavinia went to wake Alex and Latifa up because the party would be starting soon.

”Do you feel better?” Lavinia asked as she sat on the bed. Just a look was enough to tell her the young man had mostly recovered from his exhaustion.

”A lot better,” Alex answered. ”That was a good sleep.”

Meanwhile, Lotte was coaxing Latifa to participate in the celebration. After much cajoling, Latifa reluctantly propped herself up.

”I still feel sleepy,” she declared.

”You can sleep all you want when we return to the academy,” Lotte said with a patient smile. ”For now, bear with it for the sake of Alex, okay?”

”Fine.” Latifa yawned before allowing her two Alters to take her to another room so that she could change her clothes.

After they left the room, Lavinia finally took this opportunity to ask Alex about something that had been on her mind.

”The power that the two of you demonstrated during the battle, is that the reward you got from the Heracle Mountains Trial?” Lavinia asked.

”Yes,” Alex replied. ”It’s called the power of the Verdant Throne.”

”Sounds powerful,” Lavinia commented. ”So how did it feel to merge with Latifa? Did it feel weird to have another person inside of you?”

”It felt amazing,” Alex answered before he could even stop himself. ”I felt so powerful and invincible.”

Lavinia nodded. His response didn’t surprise her because his fighting ability then had easily surpassed that of a Rank 4 Job Class.

In fact, her brother had noted that Alex was solidly in Rank 5, surpassing even him.

”Hey, is there some kind of condition for that skill to activate?” Lavinia continued. ”Does it only work with Latifa or can you merge with others? For example, is it possible to merge with me?”

Alex was a tad taken aback by Lavinia’s unabashed curiosity.

”I don’t know,” Alex answered. ”We were only able to do it because we both have a piece of the Verdant Throne. But merging with other people who don’t have it is also possible.”

There were some skills in ELO that allowed hybrid fusions like this. However, there were strict conditions that must be met.

And the majority of people who could merge and fight together belonged to the Church of the Lovers.

A brief silence descended inside the room before Lavinia stood up and helped Alex out of bed.

They could already hear the laughter and the merry-making outside the house, which meant that the party had already started.

”Let’s go before Chuck makes a mess of things,” Lavinia said. ”He has already convinced the children that he defeated the Goblin High Shaman to avenge you.”

”Why am I not surprised?” Alex shook his head even as he cracked a smile.

Just like his Master, he didn’t really care about gaining fame from this incident.

He had only picked this quest because it would take him closer to Slime Paradise.

While Alex and Lavinia headed to the plaza, a man in a black cloak arrived at the foot of the mountains.

His steps were soft and even, leaving neither footprints nor sound.

Only true masters could walk so silently.

”I smell the strong stench of blood coming from the mountain,” the man muttered as he tried to identify the owner of the scent. ”Goblin blood? Looks like someone raided an entire nest. It must be him...”

Without another word, the man flew towards the mountain top, where the person he was looking for should be staying.

He had traveled such a long way just to see the young man who was currently on the top of the Kill List meant for the younger members of the current generation.