You are very strong, but my painting style is better than yours!

Yosuke, however, was always engrossed in his enthusiastic commentary while watching the screen, completely oblivious to what was happening...

He was really into it, and his enthusiasm seemed to have infected the appraiser as well.

First came disappointment, then surprise, then relief, and finally, heartfelt joy. She cherished the time she spent with Yosuke, chatting and laughing as she pressed the controller... The atmosphere was so harmonious that it was hard to break in.

"Ah, those were truly memorable days... Come to think of it, that was probably the happiest day of my life." Yosuke took a sip of coffee. "Iori does play games too, but he doesn't spend too much time on them. Miss Farrell, however, is different. Despite being a complete beginner, her passion for games is extraordinary. She actually played with me all night long!"

"Um……"

Jingwen stared blankly at the scene, seeing his uncle's joyful expression on the screen and Farrell's heartfelt smile, and remained silent for a long time.

Finally, he took off his glasses and rubbed the sides of his nose: "I guess this is a good ending."

"No accidents happened, and our last night at the hotel passed peacefully." Uncle tapped the screen a few more times.

Meanwhile, in the union's library, the various books that were originally neatly arranged were pulled out and placed on the ground. Hundreds of books of different types and ages were piled up like a city wall, surrounding the "King" inside.

Iori slumped to the ground, surrounded by books, several of which were already open in front of him. Although he was just reading, the way he propped his head up with one hand made him look like a lazy emperor browsing through memorials.

Outside, the rain was pouring down, but it did nothing to dampen the thirst for knowledge of this domineering ruler.

As I turned the page, I snapped my fingers, and thunder roared in the sky, adding to the power of the timely downpour.

The subjects he chose for his books were quite diverse, including basic textbooks on magic theory, a complete encyclopedia of mythology in this world, the development history of human nations, and records of demi-human heroes who had appeared in the past... Generally speaking, it is easy to try to learn too much at once and end up not understanding anything, but he was clearly not one of those people.

And so, some people threw themselves into the game they loved, some savored their unrequited love, and some absorbed new and interesting knowledge about the other world... Just as Yosuke had said, the night passed quickly.

The next morning, the roadside was still muddy and the grass was covered with dew, but Iori and Yosuke were already walking towards the other side of the horizon, bidding farewell to the city, as the morning sun rose.

"..."

After reading it, Yosuke showed a nostalgic expression, while Keiwen nodded:

Although it's not perfect, it seems to be a kind of fulfillment in itself.

The bespectacled young man was somewhat relieved, after all, given his uncle's unique way of thinking, this result was already quite good!

"Phew... I'm done reading. The coffee's gone cold. I'll go make you a fresh one."

"Oh, no need for you to trouble yourself, I can do it myself."

"No, I've come to like this flavor lately, and coffee beans that you grind yourself taste the best."

Jingwen watched his uncle walk to the kitchen with a gentle look in his eyes, but when he turned around, he found that the light screen in the air had not disappeared.

"Uncle forgot to undo the spell...wait?"

The fairy of memories replayed the scene from that time, this time from a third-person perspective that Yosuke was unaware of.

"Miss Farrell... you actually came to see my uncle and the others off?"

That's right, it was the appraiser who stood alone on the city wall, watching the two leave. Her tall figure looked somewhat lonely in the wind.

[You can't see him anymore, haven't you given up yet?]

A melodious voice, like that of a lark, rang out, and a pretty young lady in a union receptionist uniform walked out from behind.

[It's really baffling. Falling in love at first sight is one thing, but the object of affection is that unremarkable Wolf... If it were... if it were Lord Aizen, then it would be understandable~ Heh heh!]

Miss Farrell turned around, both amused and exasperated: "There are quite a few people in the union who think the same way. In my opinion, you should all elect a representative to confess to him."

"That won't do! A noble young master like Lord Aizen is simply too far beyond the reach of ordinary citizens like us!"

Hmph! And you're one to talk! What about you? You dawdled and still couldn't keep your sweetheart with you.

【…】

Ah, I'm so sorry... I...

No, no need to apologize, it's true, and I don't mind... I knew last night that it was impossible to keep that person in the city, and even if I confessed, it wouldn't make any difference.

Last night... I heard you didn't come home all night, could it be... really? Farrell, you actually...?

It's not what you're thinking!

Farrell lightly tapped her companion's head: "I just heard him tell some interesting stories, like about his childhood and the scenery of his hometown... and then I understood."

【What? 】

I don't know him at all.

Farrell gazed at the end of the road where the two had disappeared, and murmured: "His hobbies, his family, his past, his goals... I only liked him unilaterally, but I knew nothing about these things."

Ultimately, my 'liking' for this person was just a one-sided projection of my feelings onto him, blindly expecting a reciprocation... I'm such a self-centered person!

Yesterday, I went to his room with a clear conscience.

[Hmm!]

However, listening to him introduce those strange magical artifacts, recount the legendary stories he had read in the past, and share his experiences in his hometown... it was the first time I had ever seen him so passionate about something, so focused, so earnest...

I am so glad to finally see the private side of him that he doesn't usually show in public!

At the same time, I finally understood how determined he was to 'return to his hometown'. Before achieving this goal, everything else was just scenery along the way to him.

He cannot stay in one place; he will only continue to embark on journeys…

"Don't say that, Farrell..." Her female companion couldn't stand it anymore. "If you really like him that much, then go with him. I support you!"

No way!

Because NPCs in the starting village cannot travel to higher-level maps.

[Starter Village? What is an "NPC"?]

I don't quite understand it either; I learned it from magic items yesterday... but strangely enough, I can understand the meaning behind it.

For the 'protagonist,' a low-level NPC like me is merely a burden during the adventure; if the gap between us is too large, we're destined not to stay in the same party.

The appraiser's gaze was distant, as if he were looking at a far-off point in the void.

If I turned into the wind, could I go anywhere with him...? But reality isn't so kind.

【Fariel…】

Just as the saleswoman was about to comfort her, Farrell's gaze hardened.

Therefore, I want to become a "sage"!

【…Huh? A sage?】

[Yes, once you become a "Sage," you can join the party of any adventurer, even a hero, right?]

Farrell smiled and said, "I have already submitted my resignation. Once the formalities are completed, I will head to the capital. My parents have connections there who can recommend me to study under renowned scholars. One day, I will become the foremost sage of this country!"

[Wait...wait! Why so suddenly? Being a sage...that's so far away! And even if you become a sage, what do you plan to do?]

[Of course, it's so I can meet him again, and then—]

Farrell turned to face her female companion and, mimicking her imagined gesture, lifted the hem of her skirt and curtsied.

Long time no see, adventurer... How was your journey?

-

With a light touch of his finger, the light screen paused, and Jingwen took off his glasses.

"Jingwen, how much sugar do you want...Jingwen?"

"uncle."

The young man put on his glasses, turned around, smiled calmly, and made a request to Yosuke.

Let's play "Guardian Heroes"!

"Okay!"

No hesitation!

Yosuke nodded repeatedly: "Of course, no problem! But... Jingwen, you actually volunteered to come with me..."

"It's nothing, I just sometimes feel like playing games~"

Chapter 259: Look, they have elf ears!

Iori and Yosuke teamed up and embarked on a journey to find their way home—but only Yosuke truly had this need; Iori was much more laid-back, believing that as long as they gained something along the way, the trip would be worthwhile.

They had previously raised their adventurer rank by conquering dungeons, and now they were qualified to accept higher-level quests from the guild and obtain related information.

The highest-level quests are given words like "myth," "epic," and "legend," and often involve ancient ruins or super monsters. They are not actually left there in the hope that someone can complete them, but rather as a way to encourage adventurers to try their luck.

After all, many people genuinely aspire to the title of "hero".

Among the paths that Iori had previously listed for Yosuke, becoming a "hero" and forming a hero team was one of them, and theoretically, it was the easiest to achieve.

It's very simple. Just pick a notorious super monster, kill it, and then go to the capital to get it certified by an authoritative organization like the church.

(By the way, this threshold is also flexible. If the church or kingdom needs a "hero" to appear, he/she does not necessarily have to defeat a super monster; other impressive achievements will also suffice.)

Of course, most of the challengers ended up as prey for Warcraft.

After all, those big names on the list aren't pushovers!

Weaker individuals were long ago defeated by powerful adventurers. Those still on the guild's bounty list are almost all those who have appeared in various folk tales. They stay in their lair, have faced countless challenges but have never fallen, and are powerful beings that even the kingdom's army cannot defeat.

Iori and Yosuke naturally had no fear of these super monsters. The former had absolute confidence in his own strength, and he wasn't interested in opponents that weren't strong enough. The latter, on the other hand, had a game-like mentality; no matter how powerful the monster was, in Yosuke's eyes, it was an object that could be defeated. The only difference was what method to use or how many times to try.

They obtained information about one of the monsters and, following the instructions, arrived at a medium-sized town. While resting, they inquired about the monsters, and then, as if a side quest had been initiated, the townspeople readily revealed all the important information.

—If they could really drive away or defeat the monsters in this area, their lives would be much easier.

"The sacred serpent staff?" Iori heard this name while chatting with the fruit shop's signboard girl.

"I saw it in the memo provided by the guild. It seems to be an essential item for defeating monsters, but I don't know the details."

"The guest was clearly from out of town; everyone in the surrounding towns knows this legend."

The red-haired girl with a few freckles covered her mouth and laughed, "Of course, we heard it from the elders. It was a long, long time ago, and nobody knows the truth—but the cane really exists."

"I'm very interested in this kind of story. Could this beautiful lady tell it to me?"

"Hehe, no problem~"

It is said that this happened hundreds of years ago, when a foreigner from a distant land was summoned to Grangbahamar. The world at that time was far from peaceful as it is now. Conflicts between nations and battles between humans and monsters kept war raging in this land.

When this foreigner arrived, the gods in the heavens sent down a decree, asking him what his wish was: to gain the military power to make a name for himself in this chaotic world, or the magical talent to explore the truth of the world.

Worldly fame and fortune were within his grasp at this moment!

However, the stranger said that he was neither a magician nor a warrior, but merely a quack doctor who wanted to save patients but ended up contracting the plague himself.

He used to only know how to do this one thing, but he couldn't do it well. So even if he had unparalleled sword skills or the power to summon wind and rain, it wouldn't matter. If the gods could grant his wish, then let them give him a chance to make up for his regrets.

"Very well, then I will grant you the staff that can heal all wounds."

Thus, the foreigner received a staff entwined with the sacred serpent, a symbol of eternal immortality.

With a wave of the staff, even a novice can use divine magic to heal the wounds and ailments of others, and those blessed by the staff will be free from curses, plagues, and poisons.

The foreigner, carrying a cane, struggled through the chaos of the world. Wherever he went, he would treat the local residents free of charge, regardless of their nationality or wealth. Even the wicked could receive treatment from him.

His behavior aroused deep fear among the king and nobles. No one was able to subdue him, nor were they willing to let him stay in their territory for long. For various reasons, they chose to expel or exile him.

One day, he came to a place where even the soil was full of poison. There he encountered the king of monsters who had been entrenched there and had polluted the land. His enormous body was constantly emitting poisonous gas, and he could easily destroy human villages just by passing by.

The foreigner chose to fight against the monsters in order to help the local residents. Although he was not a powerful warrior, there were many people willing to lend him their strength!

Protected by the cane, the stranger and his companions defeated the poisonous beast and eradicated the poison from the land. However, he knew that the beast would not disappear and would return one day in the future.

In order to stop the venomous beast once again at that time, he chose to settle here and pass on his staff to his descendants, instructing them to help the heroes defeat the venomous beast when that fateful day arrives...

"That's the whole story." With that, the signboard girl handed the peeled apple to Iori.

“It’s traditional but not cliché. If the story ended here, it would be perfect.” Iori said, taking a big bite of the apple—and it was actually quite sweet.

To everyone's surprise, the freckled girl sighed: "Stories are stories, and reality is reality... No one living here has ever seen a kind foreign doctor, but the local lord is someone they see every day."

"Lord?"

"The protagonist of the story we just heard was the ancestor of the lord here, wasn't he?"

Frankly, many people think this was something the lord deliberately fabricated to gain fame.

"The Sacred Serpent Staff is in the lord's house?" Iori was taken aback.