Chapter 34 – Investment

Doug got the horse and connected it to the carriage before night came. Ed looked to see if he had hidden his skills, but he didn’t do anything special. As always, he connected the horses, provided simple snacks, and focused on protecting the carriage.

Still, Ed decided to watch him for a while. Even that night, beasts attacked them. However, perhaps due to the sacred force emitted from the carriage, they could not easily approach and were killed by Ed’s arrow while barking from a distance.

Now, only micro experiences levels have been introduced to them, but they have caught a mountain of beasts. The number of beasts are not infinite, and Nefthael said it would not sleep let Ed sleep at night. Now the number of beasts that come out now were just to keep Ed awake at night.

About thirty appeared at intervals of time to disturb his sleep, but Ed was basically more alert at night. And the sacred carriage was good for relieving fatigue. Perhaps that’s why there was no problem dealing with the beasts that appeared less often than before.

Arin also offered to help, but Ed denied and fought them all by himself. He had to accumulate these micro experiences.

As a result, the life of day and night changed as they prepared for the attack of the beasts at night. Ed alone was enough to deal with the beasts at night, so just in case, Arin decided to sleep at night and stay awake during the day.

Instead, Arin was training on the roof of the carriage during the day. Training on a shaky carriage was good for developing a sense of balance, and Ed also rested as comfortably as possible during the day because he knew how strict her training was. It would be dangerous if a magician attacked, but after checking her ability, he believed that she could better respond to outside raids from the roof of the carriage.

Even if he closes his eyes, Ed is paying attention to his surroundings, so there was nothing dangerous.

Three nights after the carriage left Antsy. The carriage arrived in Bern City when the sunset fell.

A trading city along the Ain River. They have arrived again in the city of pleasure, where there is nothing you can’t buy with money. When Ed opened his eyes, Thane asked.

“I’ll try to find a boat to pick up the carriage, but it’s night, so we won’t be able to leave until tomorrow morning. I’m going for a drink. What are you going to do?”

Ed picked up the “Earth Breaker” and said,

“I’m going to check if I have any acquaintances, and if they’re not here, I’m going to dispose of them in the dark.” “I’ll be on Fishermen’s Night, so come when you’re done. The ale there is awesome.” “I’ll do that. What are you going to do, Arin?”

Arin, who came down from the roof of the carriage, replied calmly.

“I’ll stop by the church and go to the Fishermen’s Night.” “Then we’ll all see you later.”

The carriage was able to easily pass the gates of Bern City, perhaps because of its divine power. As they entered the city, Ed got out of the carriage.

He had a big Battle Axe on his back and a wind sword around his waist, but people didn’t recognize him because he was wearing a shadow cape. Ed went straight for the cancer.

As before, he was guided to buy three black arrows and broken ones. Where he entered, Ed could see a familiar face.

A fairy sitting with glasses on. Arien smiled at Ed.

“Customer, I didn’t expect to see you so soon. What are you here to buy?” “I’m here to ask you something today. Do you happen to know about Gerard?” “Gerard? Why are you looking for news about him?” “I’ll give you something if you tell me.”

The 1,000-gold “Earth Breaker” is clearly a powerful artifact-level equipment, but Ed decided to consider it an investment for the future.

“What kind of stuff is it?”

Ed just asked, smiling instead of answering.

“Where’s Gerard?”

Arien stared at Ed and answered.

“After the last mission, he seemed to like Bern city and decided to stay. And he’s now working on a new quest. He’s become quite popular around here.” “Where is he now?” “I understand he’s staying at the Ash Tree Inn.”

Ed nodded and pulled out two daggers. It was a dagger that was obtained after killing the assassin Denesh, but he decided to sell it because e didn’t think it would be necessary.

“I want to dispose of this.”

Arien accepted the dagger, examined it, and nodded.

“It’s a dagger made of strong iron. It’s not like an artifact, but it’s like a luxury item. I’ll buy it for 30 gold each.”

He earned 60 golds with the dagger. The commission to kill Prince Cliff was very difficult, but he thought it was worth considering what had happened since then. When Ed had received 60 golds, he stood up and Arien spoke to him on his back.

“Akalans will do anything to cover up their mistakes. Be careful.”

Ed paused and looked back at her. When killing the Akalan’s, he burned all the evidence. But if they find out, they could be aiming for him. Compared to the time when Sona was killed, his level went up a few times and he became incomparably stronger. Among humans, there is no chance for a general level to fight against Ed. If someone comes to him again, then he will only gain experience.

“Thank you.”

Arien meant that Akalan was moving. Ed thanked her for her kindness and came out. Ed went to the Ash Tree Inn and was able to read the noisy atmosphere even before entering the hotel. As Ed opened the door and went inside in a crowded place like the day he left, Gerard, who was dancing on the table, caught his eyes. Ed was wondering if he had changed. Then the dancer made eye contact with Ed. He was wearing a shadow cape, but he turned the hood back to show his face, so Gerrard raised his hand.

“My friend!”

He stepped on the table and tried to hug Ed, so Ed dodged him. Gerard, who had been drinking a lot, rolled on the floor behind Ed and woke up laughing, approached.

“I never thought I’d see you again.” “I heard you’re down here.” “It’s a rich city, so it makes a lot of money. I caught two demons while you were gone.”

Gerard said so, guiding Ed to his seat. And there were familiar faces. Hamel, who can’t speak, expressed his joy only with his eyes, and Sirke, the mystic, smiled with her eyes. Ed sat at their table and asked.

“But why are you two here?”

Sirke looked at Gerard sitting next to her and continued.

“I’m working on the quests with him.” “What about Ford?” “He left because he received a quest from a former mercenary general.”

Ed didn’t expect these two to be together. Gerard is the worst player in terms of skills, so how did he get to join them? Looking at the atmosphere, it felt like Gerrard was leading them. Sirke replied with a smile on her face as if she had read Ed’s thoughts.

“I don’t really like to be in front of Hamel or people, but Gerard is good at negotiating, unlike how he looks.” “What do I look like?”

Gerard grumbled while handed Ed a glass and poured it full. Ed emptied his glass and looked at Gerard. Ed thought a second-star in the Demon’s Age would be paving the way for himself. Just like Ed was teaming up with Arin. Still, he didn’t expect Hamel and Sirke to be recruited. Gerard poured the second glass and said.

“Now that I’ve done it together with them, I can tell. I can do better with them than alone.” “Well done. You seem stronger when someone is with you.” “Hahaha. He knows how to look through people.”

Ed looked at Gerard and asked.

“But why is it so noisy here?” “The drinks are on me today.”

Sirke said with a slight touch on her forehead.

“He has no intention of saving money.”

Gerard replied with his chest wide open.

“What kind of money do I need when I’m alone? I’m just spending as much as I earn.”

Ed could tell he was a person that cared more about his present than his future. Well, how much would Ed know about him? Since they met and killed the Creatine together, they drank all night and laughed and talked about random topics. In the meantime, however, they caught the demon, and a team formed, so they knew that they were destined to get caught up in the main quest in some way. The main quests get entangled during the process, so he thought it would be helpful in the future to make this guy strong. Ed took out the Battle Axe on his back and put it on the table. The Battle Axe took over the entire table. The decoration itself stood out because it was unusual. Gerard opened his eyes wide when he saw it.

“What’s this?” “I picked it up on my way here. You can keep it.” “What? Are you really giving it to me?”

Gerard picked it up without knowing what it was. Then he tilted his head and muttered.

“It needs mana, doesn’t it?”

When he saw Gerard hammering in mana, Ed stood up and punched him. Gerard’s jaw swirled and his eyes relaxed and he collapsed.

“Phew.”

If a madman caused an earthquake, the inn would collapse. Sirke also stood up with a cane and was relieved to see him on the floor.

“Is this a relic?” “Yes, it’s called the Earth Breaker, and if you hit like this, an earthquake would hit a 10-meter radius.”

He almost got buried alive because he injected mana into the axe without any time to explain.

“This is the Earth Breaker?”

Asked in surprise, Ed nodded slowly.

“I want to ask you one thing, Sirke’s magic is the wind, right?” “Yes, I use Wind Magic.” “Then this would suit you, Sirke.”

When Ed took out the wind sword and held it out, Sirke put her hand up and admired it.

“This is the Wind Sword?” “You recognize it at a glance.” “It’s called a dream relic for wind mystics. It’s a relic that allows you to do more than your regular abilities.” “This is for you, Sirke.”

Sirke stared at Ed.

“This is a relic superior to the relics of wind mystics. I can’t just accept this precious thing.”

Ed saw Gerard stretching on the floor and said.

“It’s going to be a tough journey with him in the future. I hope that helps at least a little.”

Sirke touched the “Wind Sword” in her hand and looked up. Although there were a lot of people who cannot use this unless they are a Wind Mystic, they were in line to buy it even if they paid money. She was curious about Ed’s intention of giving such a thing without asking for any reward, but she couldn’t resist it. Sirke nodded and said.

“I won’t say no. And we’ll take good care of Gerard.”

Ed got up from his seat…

“I have a group now, too. So I’ll head off now.”

Hamel assisted Gerard, who had fallen, and Sirke saw him off in front of the inn. Ed looked over Sirke’s shoulders at Hamel and Gerrard. Ed guessed Gerrard was still doing his job as their leader. They were taking good care of him too, after all.

“I’ll pay you back whenever I get a chance.”

Ed just looked up and left. Ed, who left the boisterous Ash Tree Inn and visited the Fishermen’s Night by the river. Thane was already there emptying ale with Arin. It wasn’t as noisy as the Ash Tree Inn. It was a place where fishermen who are tired of their work gather and quietly empty their ale. The sight of those waving their hands in such a place made Ed smile. Gerard made his own team, and Ed teamed up with Arin. His own team.