"So they’ll put me with Samuel’s team?" Clyde asked. His face relaxed, and there was even a faint smile on his lips. This was going to make things much easier because he knew them.
They were sitting on a bench beside the pond, a quiet place they often used whenever they needed to speak privately. The water rippled gently behind them and the sounds of people in the distance occasionally reached their ears.
"Yes," Maethion answered in the same relaxed tone. "I suggested it. I was fairly certain they would agree. Samuel and Leyan are among the most senior fighters in this Fortress. The other three members of their team are dead, but they have no trouble finding replacements soon after."
Clyde’s smile widened. "Thank you. You’ve been very helpful."
"Don’t mention it. Just learn from your mistakes. Don’t be too reckless when you act."
Clyde nodded, more to himself than to Maethion. "I know."
"That was everything I wanted to tell you." Maethion stood from the bench. "We shouldn’t be seen together for too long. Galmur is already suspicious. We don’t want to give him another reason to investigate you. That man could become very troublesome."
Clyde nodded again as Maethion walked away.
Being placed with Samuel’s group would make things much easier. But Clyde could not reveal his true identity to them yet. There was always the possibility that Samuel or Leyan might report everything to Galmur or they would instead be aggressive toward him.
He still could not completely trust them.
For now, Clyde needed to behave like an ordinary newcomer with exceptional skill who was able to adapt to their fighting styles. He would gradually demonstrate enough strength to keep up with them, and earn their trust. Once their opinion of him had improved, revealing the truth about his rebirth would become much easier. Hopefully.
Clyde sighed and stood from the bench.
He then headed toward the training dimension again. There were no missions waiting for him today. He was also waiting for Hammer to finish his new armor using the materials he had collected from the Ruins over the past several days.
—
Samuel watched Galmur’s back disappear into the distance before turning and walking in the opposite direction.
His expression was solemn.
Galmur wanted him to watch over a newbie because he suspected that the newcomer might possess dangerous potential similar to Clyde.
That was a strange request. Why would Galmur think a newcomer could become like Clyde?
That could only mean the newcomer was already very strong. Samuel sighed and shook his head.
He was tired of worrying about things far beyond his capabilities. Clyde had already given him more than enough trouble when he was alive.
Part of Samuel still felt relieved that Clyde was dead. At the same time, he could not deny the sadness that came with it.
In the end, Samuel simply did not want to think about Clyde anymore.
"I’ll just do my job. Watch a newbie and report anything suspicious? Not a problem," Samuel muttered.
Then he walked away.
—
Several days later, Clyde finally met Samuel and his new team. The meeting took place inside the training dimension.
Clyde stepped through the portal and immediately recognized the two familiar figures waiting on the other side.
Samuel looked almost exactly as Clyde remembered him. He was a tall, lean man with long hair, carrying a spear across his back. His expression remained calm, but there was a certain weariness in his eyes.
Beside him stood Leyan. The elf also looked much like Clyde remembered, but his expression had become noticeably more solemn. The events of the past months had clearly left their mark on him.
The other three members were unfamiliar.
One was a broad-shouldered human man carrying a heavy shield and a short sword. His posture was disciplined and his eyes immediately studied Clyde from head to toe.
The second was a young woman with short brown hair who carried a pair of curved blades at her waist. She looked energetic, but her cautious gaze suggested that she did not trust strangers easily.
The last was a slender man wearing dark robes and carrying a staff. His appearance was quiet and scholarly, but the faint magical energy surrounding him revealed that he was a mage.
They were the new members who had joined Samuel’s team after the deaths of the previous three.
Clyde walked toward them with a relaxed smile. He stopped a few meters away and raised a hand.
"Hello. I’m Jack. I suppose we’ll be working together from now on."
Samuel looked at him for a moment before nodding. "Yeah. Welcome to the team."
The other four men looked at Clyde without much friendliness. Their expressions were more suspicious than welcoming, as if his arrival was already becoming a nuisance.
"Are you really strong, boy?" the large man carrying a shield asked. "We don’t want to spend our time babysitting you."
"Yes. I am pretty strong," Clyde replied calmly.
The man snorted in disdain.
Clyde smiled faintly. "Want to test me?"
The large man grinned. "That would be a good idea, boy." He then glanced toward Samuel, silently asking for permission.
Samuel shrugged. "Sure. Why not? We have a healer here anyway."
The man carrying the staff nodded.
"All right! Let’s go, boy!"
Clyde nodded and followed him. He understood why they were doing this. When going on missions, nobody wanted to bring along someone who would become a burden. If he wanted their trust he needed to prove that he could fight.
This was exactly what Clyde had wanted. The sooner it could be done the better.
The two moved away from the others and stopped several meters apart.
Clyde drew his longsword. The blade slid from its sheath with a quiet ringing sound.
Across from him, the large man drew his own sword and raised his shield. His big body shifted into a stable stance, the shield covering most of his torso.
The man stared at Clyde for a moment. Then his grin widened.
"Don’t cry if you get hurt, boy."
Clyde smiled. "Same to you."
The man’s legs suddenly tensed. He charged.
—
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