A dull longsword and a heartbroken villager

"Really? That's a real shame." Seeing that Bray didn't want to team up, the woman stopped wasting her breath.

After all, she had already said enough; if she continued, she herself wouldn't want to form a team anymore.

So the woman simply waved goodbye and left, starting to look for other teammates.

"You really aren't going in?"

"Didn't I tell you? It's impossible to go into a place that sounds so dangerous."

"That's not scientific! Don't you like places like this the most?" For a moment, Naruko felt that her previous research on the ecology of dead fish eyes was wrong.

“…” Bray just glanced at Naruko without saying a word.

Let Naruko figure out what Bray is thinking.

“That’s a relic of the Bronze Age.” Just then, a very soft voice reached Bray’s ears.

"The ruins of the angel's holy tower".

Upon hearing the sound, Bray instinctively turned around, only to see a man who was wrapped up tightly leaving his side.

The figure blended into the crowd and eventually became completely blurred. After a blink of an eye, Bray could no longer find the person.

“Brave, a chilly person walked by.” Levy wagged her tail and looked up at Bray, who was taller than her, and said =A=.

"It feels a little scary," Levy said, expressing her feelings.

“Yes, I saw it.” Bray nodded, then casually took Levy’s small hand.

“What is that?” Levy asked.

“A passerby,” Bray answered Levy’s question.

"Oh!" Levy responded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

"What are you talking about?" Naruko, who hadn't noticed anyone passing by and talking, was completely bewildered.

"What just happened? Tell me, tell me!" She swung her long pink ponytail, circling around Bray, and kept asking.

"You're so annoying." Bray stared blankly at Naruko, who was circling around him.

"The ruins of the Bronze Age?" He muttered to himself after pressing down on Naruko with one hand.

Why would a complete stranger suddenly tell me that this is a bronze artifact?

"..." This simple sentence reminded Bray of many things from the past.

For example, the "clues to the ruins" that Gureed discussed with Federal President Pride.

For example, there was the Angel City, which Bray had seen in his "diary" and which was built on the land originally inhabited by the Dark Iron race.

Thinking back to the Second Age, seeing the Bronze Age structures emerging now doesn't surprise Bray much.

However, he happened to land near this ruin, and this tower, which had been dormant for an era, had recently awakened.

It was quite a coincidence that Bray had a stomachache.

It was definitely the right decision not to go in.

"Hey, hey, hey, you useless Master." At this moment, the girl's melodious voice rang out.

"..." Bray was taken aback at first, then he was shocked.

"What's so surprising!"

"Emmmm," Bray couldn't explain why he was surprised, but surprise was surprise nonetheless.

"Go into that tower."

“No, I’ve already said I won’t go in. If I go in, I’ll lose the bet with that pervert.” Bray whispered to “The Last Echo”.

If you don't speak in secret, you'll be seen as a crazy person talking to themselves.

Of course, Naruko was actually looking at Bray with a surprised expression.

From other people's perspectives, Bray was not only talking to himself, but he was also talking quite seriously.

"That guy who just passed by had that clown's aura," "Echo" said quietly.

"But that's not entirely accurate. It should be said that it's close to the clown's aura."

"..."

"They might be up to something again. If we don't keep a close eye on them, things will definitely escalate."

“…” Bray looked conflicted.

Bray gets very upset when Jonathan or Marek are involved.

"Hahaha!!! You really bought this broken rock for 10WG?" At this moment, an adventurer shouted with ecstasy.

Just now, a historian bought a stone from him at a high price.

It looks like a broken rock, yet it sold for so much money! How could I not be overjoyed?

"..." Bree turned his head to the side, a lot of thoughts flashing through his mind.

“Let’s go in.” Bray patted Naruko on the shoulder.

"Hey, you're still not going in... Huh? What did you say?"

“Let’s go in,” Bray repeated.

Why did Bray suddenly choose to go into the tower?

Was it because of a girl's urging? Or because of a connection with a clown? Or because of an adventurer's shout?

In fact, the reasons have become irrelevant.

Because Naruko won the bet.

"Dead fish eyes!!" Naruko looked at Bray with a perverted expression.

Naruko's gaze made Bray feel uneasy.

"Dead fish eyes~"

“…” Bray, who was walking forward, suddenly stopped.

"What do you want to do?" Bray couldn't help but ask.

"You lost the bet." Naruko's expression for a moment was like that of a smug cat.

"Oh!" Levy exclaimed upon seeing Naruko's expression; she looked even more like a cat than Naruko!

No, Levy is a lion, not a cat or a dog!

Thinking about it, Levy shook her little head to herself.

Of course, neither Bray nor Naruko noticed Levy's various little expressions.

"Emmmmmm," Bray hesitated, unable to utter a single word of rebuttal.

He did indeed lose the bet.

"The fruit of our love!" Naruko exclaimed excitedly.

“Impossible.” When Bray answered that, he really felt like he was gay.

But there was no way to let that foolish, infatuated woman succeed.

He will never forget how many men this guy has wrecked.

"Tsk." Naruko's expression changed instantly.

"You're a liar."

"Let's try something else," Bray said helplessly.

"I'll tell you when I figure it out," Naruko said after crossing her arms and pondering for a moment.

"Whatever." Bray shrugged, indicating that he was open to anything as long as it wasn't something bizarre.

"I think you'll forget and then try to get away with it."

“No.” Bray rolled his eyes; he was a pretty honest guy.

"Then it's settled!" Naruko nodded with satisfaction after seeing Chief Breckon.

“Then let’s go!” She stretched her arms, which were covered in gauntlets, and rushed ahead with a smile.

"..." Levy glanced at Bray, took a step, then quickly turned around and grabbed Bray's hand.

Levy almost instinctively rushed forward with Naruko.

“It’s alright… go after them,” Bray said softly.

"Oh!" Upon hearing Bray's words, Levy instinctively ran towards Naruko.

"It's giving me the illusion that I'm at an amusement park," Bray muttered, scratching his head.

This tower is clearly a dangerous place, but Naruko and Levy have made it seem like a fun place.

---

"Don't you think this tower feels a bit chilly?" Naruko said to Bray as they climbed the steps.

The white jade-like staircase looks smooth, but it doesn't feel slippery when you step on it.

The handrails are also made of white jade and are inlaid with gold edges.

This stone tower is so beautiful that you'd want to dig it up and sell it.

The light source is directly above, but it is barely visible to the naked eye.

The light source emitted a faint blue glow, making the inside of the tower appear just as blue as the outside.

"Clang!!"

"bite!!!!!"

Not far away, the sounds of adventurers fighting against the threats inside the tower could be heard.

However, these battles are not intense, and as long as adventurers are careful not to be ambushed, they will generally not lose their lives.

Of course, this excludes those who overestimate their abilities and try to climb higher.

"Run faster!" Naruko urged.

“Wait a minute, I need to check if there are any rocks around.” Bray pursed his lips.

I thought I'd be in big trouble after coming in, but so far, everything around me is still peaceful.

This was unexpected by Bray.

Of course, this is a good thing; Bray isn't the kind of guy who doesn't like things to be done.

It would be best if we could find the clown without going through all sorts of troublesome processes.

While you're at it, you can also look for any ancient artifacts along the way, making it easier to buy a gun when you go out.

Just as Bray was deep in thought, a spider that had blended into the wall gradually appeared.

The seamless integration here is not a mere decorative technique.

"Hiss—" The spider lunged forward, its abdomen about to spin silk.

However, before Bray could even make a move, the spider experienced a rollercoaster of emotions, alternating between fire and ice.

"Crack—" The spider was first frozen by the spreading cold air.

"Whoosh—" Then flames engulfed the ice sculpture, burning it until it evaporated.

"Hmm..." Levy's ears twitched, and then the chill and flames enveloping her disappeared.

"Is Levy amazing?" she asked Bray expectantly.

Sometimes Levy would also like to help Bray with some of the chores.

“Yes, Levy has become even more amazing.” Bray said, holding Levy’s hand.

Just like the talkative goddess used to complain, Levy is someone who grows stronger on her own as long as you play idle games.

Once you put it into practice, you'll basically understand how much stronger Rei is, just like what happened earlier.

“Levy is a Levy fanatic,” Naruko muttered under her breath.

"..." Bray looked at Naruko expressionlessly, having heard her retort.