Chapter 314: Chapter 294: Sudden Change
"Mage Zelir, the escort mission isn’t complicated. You just need to ensure the merchant convoy reaches Sengu Town safely."
Booker explained concisely.
"A safe journey would be for the best, of course, but if we run into any unexpected trouble..."
"Understood. That’s part of the job."
Zelir nodded. "We’ll handle it."
"Having you all here makes me much more confident about the security of this transport!"
Booker said, his face alight with pleasure, "As for payment, it’s Ten Gold Coins per person. We’ll cover all other expenses, like meals and lodging."
This five-person team had four Middle Level Professionals and one Mage.
’In the past, Booker would never have been willing to spend so much to hire a team of this caliber.’
’At most, he would hire three or four Junior Professionals, plus one or two Middle Level ones.’
’And the pay was only about Ten Gold Coins in total.’
’To be able to hire a team like this at a ’friendship price’ now... this is a sure bet. I can’t lose.’
"Alright."
Zelir accepted without raising any objections to the pay.
’Hitching a ride straight to Sengu Town and getting paid for it? Not bad at all.’
Both sides felt they had gotten a good deal.
"HOOO—HOOO—!!"
At last, the pre-departure inspection was complete. The leader at the head of the convoy blew a deep, resonant blast on an ox horn—the final signal to depart.
The convoy members began boarding their wagons one after another.
"CRACK! CRACK!"
The sharp cracks of whips echoed through the cold wind as hooves pawed white streaks into the snow-covered ground.
The members of the Adventurer Squad boarded their designated carriage as well... all except for Zelir.
"Zelir..."
A warm, fragrant body pressed into his arms. Bev had suddenly thrown herself around him, her cheek resting against his chest.
"Alright, Bev... Everyone’s waiting. I have to go," Zelir said, gently stroking her hair.
"Be careful."
Bev looked up, her eyes wide and pleading. Her expression was heart-wrenching. "Come back soon."
"I will."
Zelir leaned down and kissed Bev’s cool, soft lips.
As they parted, Bev gave him a reluctant, gentle nip and whispered.
"You’d better miss me..."
Meeting Bev’s gaze, Zelir felt a pang in his heart.
To have a girl look at you with such affection just as you’re about to leave on a long journey, to have her fix your collar and softly say, "I’ll wait for you"...
Zelir suddenly understood all the farewell poems from his past life, the ones he’d always found so melodramatic.
"I will," Zelir said, giving Bev’s soft, pale cheek one last caress.
The driver’s long whip cracked through the air, and dozens of draft horses in the convoy whinnied shrilly.
The guards at the South Gate moved to either side.
The wheels began to turn. Their iron-clad rims crushed the thin ice, kicking up flurries of fine, white powder.
The convoy was finally on its way, slithering like a giant, winding serpent across the snow.
After one last look at the blonde figure standing amidst the swirling snow, Zelir sighed softly and drew the carriage curtains.
The light dimmed, leaving only the faint, orange glow of the small stove.
The carriage was quiet, but the others were giving Zelir strange looks.
"What...?"
Zelir was completely baffled by their stares.
"Be careful out there~"
Gray said in a vivid imitation.
"I’ll miss you~"
Marcus chimed in, mimicking the tone in a strained falsetto.
Even Valles was smirking, enjoying the show.
"Oh, shut up!"
Zelir’s face flushed as he pretended to kick them. "You guys are so childish!"
Marcus and Gray dodged him, grinning.
"A tough guy’s tender side, huh, Zelir?" Gray laughed.
"Your little lover is quite something."
Hill chimed in with a smile, "We haven’t seen you in two months, and you’ve already made this much progress in the romance department."
"She’s not my ’lover’."
Zelir corrected him seriously. "She’s my girlfriend."
’The word ’lover’... sounds too flippant. It could never be used to describe Bev.’
"Alright, keep defending Bev’s honor,"
Gray said, shaking his head.
"Still, I have to give you credit. You two just made it official, and you’re already willing to leave her behind?"
"That’s different. Romance is romance, and adventuring is adventuring."
Zelir said with a straight face, "And getting stronger is important too."
’If it weren’t for that vision in ’Ending Two’...’
’Zelir might very well have let himself sink into that comfortable life.’
’Spending the snowy season hidden away in a warm cabin, maybe even holding Bev close for warmth.’
’It was a very tempting thought.’
"To be honest, I was prepared for you not to show up..."
Marcus said with a sigh. "Zelir, you were born to be an Adventurer."
"Alright."
Zelir clapped his hands lightly.
"Since we’re a team now, we should get a clear picture of each other’s current abilities. It’ll help us know what to expect in a fight."
It had been two months, after all. It was best to be up-front with each other.
The carriage swayed gently in rhythm with the turning axles, the wind and snow outside reduced to a muffled drone.
"I remember the last time we were on a mission together..."
Hill said, squinting as he recalled, "Zelir, you were still a Magic Apprentice."
"And Gray was a Junior Swordsman? Marcus was a Junior-something, too... Only Valles was Middle Level."
"To be honest, when Zelir said he wanted to bring you all along, I was a bit hesitant..."
"I never expected you’d all have advanced in rank..."
"That’s right."
Gray gave a thumbs-up. The Longsword at his hip slid two inches out of its sheath, revealing a flash of azure light.
"I’m a Middle Level Swordsman now. I’ve mastered Wind Attribute Special Fighting Qi."
"Middle Level Ranger, Thunder Attribute Special Fighting Qi," Valles stated.
"Middle Level Warrior. Mastered Fighting Qi," Marcus mumbled.
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