Who Says I’m Not a Legitimate Adventurer?

“How is it?”

Necros looked at the shocked expression on Lance’s face and asked with a smile.

“Does this reward suit your taste?”

“This is way too valuable…”

Lance felt the ring weighing heavily on his finger and subconsciously tried to take it off.

Not to mention the immense value of the rare class information alone—just the functionality of this ring itself could probably be exchanged for a house in the city center of White River City.

Such a generous gift made him feel uneasy.

“Stop.”

Necros spoke sharply, halting his movement, his tone turning serious.

“Once something is given, how can it be taken back?”The old man waved his hand, signaling Lance not to overthink.

“There’s no need to return it to me.”

“On one hand, it’s because I admire you. Your personality and talent suit my taste very well.”

“On the other hand…”

Necros’ gaze softened slightly as it fell upon the ring on Lance’s finger, as if looking through it into a distant past.

“I no longer need this ring.”

“This was a gift from my old captain when I had just joined the team. Back then, I was just like you—a clueless rookie.”

“He hoped I could survive, and go further.”

“But now I’m old. My body has declined, and I can no longer set out on journeys.”

“If a treasure stays locked in a drawer collecting dust, it’s no different from scrap metal.”

Necros shifted his gaze to Lance and said with expectation:

“Now, it’s your turn.”

“Take it, and go walk the path we couldn’t finish.”

Lance could hear the complex expectation in the old man’s tone.

It was both regret for unfinished adventures and a passing of hope to those who came after.

Looking at the unremarkable silver ring on his finger, Lance suddenly felt its weight grow heavier.

“If you’re compatible with this ring, you should have sensed the hidden class advancement information inside it, right?”

Necros suddenly asked.

Lance nodded, not hiding anything.

“Yes, Aether Silence Demon Swordsman.”

Seeing him nod, Necros revealed an expression of “as expected.”

He leaned back in his chair and let out a sigh of emotion.

“As expected.”

“It has always favored Adventurers who are kind-hearted, brave, resilient, and sufficiently intelligent.”

However, the reminiscing expression on the old man’s face soon faded, replaced by one of interest.

“This ring was created by the Starry Night Witch, Ilysia.”

“Ilysia?”

Lance was slightly stunned. The name sounded extremely familiar.

Necros leaned back in his chair, watching Lance’s thoughtful expression, and smiled as he reminded him:

“You should have heard the story of 《Kiss of Silence》, right?”

The expression on Lance’s face instantly became vivid.

“That story is actually real?”

No wonder it felt familiar.

This story was practically a favorite romantic classic of Nia, Flora, and Amber.

He had heard them mention it countless times during card games or casual chats.

And every time they brought it up, the girls would display utterly enchanted expressions over its beautiful love story.

In this widely known tale, it told the epic love story between an ordinary Adventurer named Karen Valshius and the Starry Night Witch Ilysia—a romance that transcended class boundaries.

They went through countless adventures together. Over the long course of life-and-death companionship, Karen hopelessly fell in love with this proud, beautiful, and occasionally mischievous Witch, pursuing her passionately.

And deep within Ilysia’s heart, Karen had already taken root.

But the pride ingrained in a Witch’s very being prevented her from entrusting her pure love to a man who could not conquer her in strength.

The climax of the story occurred in a classic flashback.

Sitting atop a treasure-filled dungeon ruin, Ilysia lifted Karen’s chin with her star-glowing staff and gave him the famous seven-year trial:

“You want my heart? Fine.”

“Unless you can defeat me in a fair and square duel—with that scrap of iron in your hand.”

But this did not make Karen retreat.

Over the next seven years, they formed a two-person party that became renowned across the continent.

They slew snake demons in the depths of swamps, explored the deepest labyrinths, and even retreated safely from dragon lairs.

During those seven years, Karen issued a total of thirty-three formal challenges to Ilysia.

Every single outcome was the same.

Karen would be blasted into a sorry state by dazzling magic, while Ilysia would treat his wounds with a mix of concern and stubborn mockery of his overconfidence.

It was precisely these thirty-three crushing defeats that made Karen realize that, within the traditional class system, a mortal’s swordsmanship could never break through the absolute suppression of a genius spellcaster like Ilysia.

Thus, after his thirty-third defeat, Karen disappeared for an entire year.

Until the Month of Golden Harvest in the seventh year.

At the ruins where they first met, Karen returned—having successfully created and advanced into the 【Aether Silence Demon Swordsman】—and issued his thirty-fourth challenge.

It was in that battle that Ilysia discovered in shock—

Her proud spells shattered like weathered sand sculptures at her fingertips.

The flowing Aether in the sky seemed frozen. She couldn’t even maintain the simplest levitation spell and fell straight from midair.

Karen steadily caught the falling Witch, pinned her against the broken ruins, and delivered that domineering yet deeply affectionate kiss.

“Aether has fallen into silence. Now, you can only hear my heartbeat.”

This was the most classic line in the entire story.

The reason this tale had endured for a century without fading was because it perfectly struck every audience’s emotional core.

Women saw an undying romantic love, while men saw an inspiring legend of an ordinary man suppressing a proud spellcaster with the blade in his hand through sheer effort.

It even became a staple performance of the royal capital’s theater troupe during annual festivals—every show sold out.

Seeing the look of realization on Lance’s face, Necros knew he had recalled the legend and continued:

“The Witch race, due to the unique structure of their souls, often expresses love in ways different from ordinary people.”

“During my decades of adventuring after obtaining this ring, I encountered several clues left behind by Ilysia’s treasures.”

“Unfortunately, I may just be a crude man who doesn’t understand romance.”

“I couldn’t resonate with that kind of delicate love, and I was never able to unravel their mysteries—only watching those gifts meant for witnesses pass me by.”

Necros looked at Lance, his eyes full of expectation.

“So I hope that in your future adventures, you can make up for my regrets.”

“Take it, and uncover the treasures left behind by Ilysia and Karen.”