When Liam ehe game the day, the excitement surrounding the world boss could still be felt. With more pyers p into the city by the day, the se quickly became lively.
His friends arrived one by one. During a casual chat on their way to the leveling spot, Liam talked about what happeo him yesterday.
“What?!”
A warm feeling enveloped Liam’s heart seeing the shod worry on his friends’ faces.
“It’s ok. It was just some thief.”
“How is this ok?! You could’ve gotten seriously injured!”, excimed Silver Bde.
“No! This ’t be! Let me take care of your security!”
Liam looked at Silver Bde’s worried eyes with some embarrassment. He already felt ied to Merida. He was hesitant to add another debt.
But Silver Bde seemed to read his face.
“We will do it like this:
Colville strus will hire you into the marketiment. With high enough clearance you are entitled to certain security measures.
If I stretch the budget somewhat, I give you two bodyguards and a security system. Deal?”
Liam felt overwhelmed. He didn’t uand why Silver Bde showed so much .
Maybe she is afraid of not being able to clear dungeons without me?
Behind Mirage’s back Cye couldn’t help but snicker. However, a hand immediately nded on her mouth as if having already foreseen the blond woman’s rea.
Silver Bde and Bleary Mirage didn’t notice those small antics. Liam showed a ptive expression before slowly shaking his head.
“I don’t think this security is of much use. They ’t cope with the game’s skills.”
Silver Bde opened her mouth but didn’t say anything. A frown was on her face.
“You might be right. But at least accept the bodyguards.”
“Are they pyers?”
“Of course.”
“ they keep up?”
“They will be on rotation.”
Liam saw that Silver Bde was determined. Finally, he decided not to reject her goodwill.
“Great. I will take care of it tonight!”
Silver Bde had a bright, relieved smile on her face without notig it herself.
In this harmonious atmosphere the party reached Striking Wood Town. But before they left the town, Silent Acacia suddenly stopped in pce.
The others looked at him strangely.
“My friend, is there something you want to tell us?”
The young hunter shook his head but then ged to a nod.
“Yes. Don’t we anize our loot?”
“Oh, I almost fot.”
“You’re right!”
Chuckles could be heard. After talking so much the party members almost fot the loot.
Only Cye looked around sheepishly:
“Loot? What loot?”
Balm rolled her eyes at her good friend.
“Cy, e on, take it out.”
“Take out what?”
“We all know that you literally teleported to those rare items.”
Cye’s eyes moved left and right. Seeing everyone’s eyes on her she let out an awkward ugh.
“Haha, oh those items. Right. I almost fot.”
“Don’t worry. We are here to remind you.”, joked Silver Bde.
Meanwhile the party members began posting all their looted items in the party chat. Three promi yellow-rare items garnered most of the attention. Even the blue items were legated to the background.
[Robe of the sacred wing Category: Rare
Level requirement: 15
Physical Defense: 12
Magical Defense: 15
HP: 400
Effect 1: Increases healing done by 5% up to 200 points.
Effect 2: 2% ce to cast [Sacred Wing] on an ally you heal.
Sacred Wing: ses the target of all ive status effects. If they aren’t afflicted with ive effects grant a shield of 300 points.
Restris: Bound upon wearing
A robe blessed by Her Holiness Lewriova. It is often worn by the healers belonging to the Winged Vanguard.]
[Watcher of the storms helmetCategory: rare
Level requirement: 15
Physical Defense: 19
Magical Defense: 16
Strength: 14
Effect 1: Increases PDMG by 2% up to 200 points.
Effect 2: Whenever wind damage has bee around you i 30 seds your movement- and attack speed increases by 40% and the dodge doesn’t cost stance.
Restris: Bound upon wearing
This helmet was created by Orinould, a hero among wood elves, specifically fhting close to the storm abyss north of the tral Pins.]
[Trousers of the enlightened warrior Category: Rare
Level requirement: 15
Physical Defense: 13
Magical Defense: 15
Strength: 13
Intelligence: 12
Effect 1: Elemental damage + 10%
Restris: Bound upon wearing
This pair of light trousers was woven by the famous monks of Eysue and only given to aplished acolytes.]
Reading the properties of those rare items, a few faces showed broad smiles. Although the others were envious there wasn’t much discussion.
Balm received the robe of the sacred wing. Watcher of the storms helmet was snatched by Quickstep. And trousers of the enlightened warrior went to Watchful Eye.
Even if those three items were everything dropped by the world boss, the party could already be tent. However, this was obviously not the case.
Liam and his friends mao snatch four blue items and a few green and white ones. All in all, it was a prehensive upgrade for the party, preparing them for the uping dungeon.
On top of that they even received some recipes and ables.
Only after s through all the loot did they realize how much they actually stole. Liam roughly calcuted the worth, inf his party.
Hearing the number, Cye wore a big grin which didn’t fade for a long time. The others showed simir emotions. The gloom from not killing the world boss was quietly swiped away.
After s out the loot the party could finally focus on leveling. The determination to get the first clear was clearly felt imosphere.
Even Liam looked forward to it. His petitive side felt challenged just reading a stupid name like ‘Favored Son of aboul’ in the global annou.
Thus, a feassed during the b grind. Silver Bde stayed true to her word.
After Liam signed a tract to bee Colville stru’s ‘Senior VR Marketing Lead for Fate of aboul’, which was ay position without responsibilities, the pany provided him with two bodyguards around the clock.
One of them followed Liam while the other stayed with Serena. Meanwhile Liam also found a private teacher for his sister. Now she could catch up on her education during the ms aer the game iernoons with the aboul Discroup.
Naturally all of this didn’t e for free. Liam received a sary of 4000 Credits a month from Colville strus but had to pay 7500 Credits on Serena.
Fortunately, the gold exge was only a week away. Liam was already pnning ahead to earn some credits. However, the real windfall would be the money earned from his bet with Star Gazer.
Thus, the dungeon still held priority.
Soon it was Daminday, the first day of the new week.
“Finally did it!”
Balm stretched her body. Her face ainted with exhaustion. She had just reached level 20, being the slowest in the party except for Liam who remai level 19.
“Well done my friends. But Mirage, why are you rejeg our assistance?”, inquired Radiant Shield.
“It’s alright. I still o prepare for the dungeon. It should be enough to help me reach level 20.”
“Well, you’re the expert.”, agreed Cye.
The others nodded or shrugged their shoulders. But Silent Acacia had another question:
“So, what should we do in the meantime?”
“Py the game.”, stated Liam with a chuckle.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, have some fun. Don’t get stressed out because of the dungeon.”
Liam looked around. Over the past few days everyone had given their best, enduring the b grind. Exhaustion could be seen in many faces.
“Fun is nid all, but rofessionals after all…”, disagreed Quickstep.
“Why not bih? I need material for my videos. If anyone of you has an iing quest, we work together.”, suggested Fortune.
Silver Bde showed a thoughtful look when she heard this. It was important for the team to satisfy everyone’s needs. Thus, she decided to support Fortune:
“I think that’s a good idea. What do you guys say?”
“I lend you my bde.”
“I will follow the young dy.”
“I help you.”
Balm, Bloody Edge, and Watchful Eye agreed quickly but the others showed some hesitation.
“What about you guys?”, asked Silver Bde, obviously puzzled.
“I would love to join you but… I feel like it’s time to gather some people for uild. I’ll do some advertising.”, expined Cye.
Quickstep looked at her boyfriend, answering calmly:
“We would like to train. Preferably against pyers.”
Silver Bde thought it ity but she could uand. However, Radiant Shield’s hesitation puzzled her:
“What’s your pn?”
“This… I…”
The tank stuttered before avoiding the question:
“I… have something to do.”
The others looked at Radiant Shield strangely. But since he didn’t want to say more his friends didn’t dig deeper.
After the discussion the group split up. Everyone was happy with the decision.
Liam g Silver Bde, admiring her leadership, while stepping into the teleporter.
