As soon as Frey spoke, Brand understood her intentions. However, he also calmed down. Having personally experienced at least three hidden tasks of Level 60 and above, he knew there were more and figured it wasn’t worth the risk for just one.
He had already exerted almost all his strength to fight against Albton, and facing characters above Level 60 would be a certain death.
Moreover, another problem occurred to him. After the end of the first Black Rose War, Madara’s army gradually withdrew from Erune’s territory over the course of a month, and the Undead’s control over this area persisted until mid-August. Before then, this area was almost an uninhabited wasteland.
And it was certain that the Undead wouldn’t come to explore this valley. Even if they wanted to, they didn’t have the ability – the Fourteen-Ring Thunder Strike Skill at the entrance was enough to deter them.
This meant that at least until mid-August, he still had a lot of time to use. Thinking of this, he picked up the earring and then retreated, patting the girl on the shoulder: "Let’s go back."
"There will be many more opportunities for adventure, but Frey and I only have one life each," Brand smiled: "You’re right, I was having some issues just now—"
He sighed again, realizing it was because he always felt the time was too tight. The Black Rose War ended at the end of July, the internal chaos in Erune began to show in September, and then there was a coup in November. Even from now, he only had five months.
Brand had no intention of changing history, but to protect Romantic, Frey, and others, he at least had to have the basic strength.
Because he knew how chaotic the world would become, justice and reason had long been destroyed by the war. To survive in this tumultuous world, he had to do certain things.
Frey and Romantic might not understand, and even those who followed him now might not understand, but Brand couldn’t help but think that the Prophet also had the troubles of a Prophet – that kind of powerlessness of knowing but being unable to change it was far more intense than what an average person felt.
Frey blushed: "What did you say?"
"Nothing," Brand replied.
He sheathed his sword, walked out of the rocky area, and signaled Frey to follow from behind.
They had just left when two figures slowly emerged from the shadows between the rocks, one tall and one short.
The taller one appeared to be a woman, wearing a peculiar white robe with blue feather patterns on the cuffs, chest, and shoulders. But it also resembled the desert robes of the Kuilotti people – a very narrow waist but extraordinarily wide sleeves and pants. She had long silver hair, eyes as deep green as the most profound lakes, and two red patterns on her face, with no excess expression.
She stared at the backs of Brand and Frey for a long time before speaking:
"Alorz, aren’t you going to leave them?" Her voice was neutral, unremarkable, like plain water.
"Fulrofa, your attacks should be like claws and teeth, hidden, or it won’t be fun." A highly amused voice answered her.
The short girl looked about fourteen or fifteen in human years. Her golden hair was tied in striking twin tails. She wore traditional leather gear like most adventurers but carried a person-high, heavy iron box behind her – if you looked at the iron box, you could see the pattern of five stars connected together.
Fulrofa pondered for a moment: "Then why did you attack them, Alorz?"
"You’re so dull, Fulrofa, it was just a small probe."
"No wonder, your previous attack’s strength dropped by more than ninety-eight percent. I was worried if there was a problem with the Golden Rule—"
"Fulrofa, I really wouldn’t want to marry someone as dull as you—"
"Alorz, we’re the Dragon Clan."
"’Humans’ is just a figurative use, anyway, I don’t want to discuss this. That human man actually took your earring, Fulrofa, doesn’t he know what that means?"
As she said this, she chuckled lightly.
Fulrofa glanced at her but didn’t respond this time.
"Forget it, you’re dull as ever. But I really want to see their faces when they find that little gift. I heard humans are very greedy beings, you know."
"Aren’t you here to find the legend of the Golden Fruit Tree, Alorz? Why give that thing to them?"