Chapter 149 – Max Level.

“You’re Edmund, right?”

A guard asked, his voice thick with suspicion as he eyed the armored adventurer.

“Where have you been? You were listed as missing after the battle. We thought the Orcs got you.”

The guard’s eyes narrowed as Rusty approached. His armor was still scratched and stained with dirt from the forest. Gleam sat motionless on his shoulder, her metallic body catching the sunlight. For a brief moment, the reflection blinded the guard.

“I went after one of the Orc survivors but ended up getting lost in the forest.”

To the others, Rusty had disappeared for an entire day before suddenly returning as if nothing had happened. He and his guides had agreed it was best to downplay what had really occurred. If he told them he had wiped out an Orc camp and escaped from monsters far above his level, they would start asking questions.

“You got lost in the forest?”

The guard’s tone was skeptical. He probably thought Rusty had disobeyed orders just to avoid cleanup duty after the battle.

“How far did you follow that orc?”

“Not that far. For an hour or so… then I lost it.”

He needed to keep the story believable. It would be suspicious if he claimed to get lost without having tracked the creature for a while. The guard crossed his arms and tilted his head, clearly unconvinced.

“You’re saying you chased an orc into the woods, lost it, and then what? Slept under a bush until now?”

Rusty let out a tired sigh, trying to mimic human frustration, then repeated exactly what Alexander had told him to say.

“I didn’t exactly sleep. I had to keep moving. There were still monsters in the area, like orc scouts and stragglers. I had a few small skirmishes. It took time to get my bearings and find a way back without attracting more attention. I haven’t slept at all. The battle’s over, right? And I still haven’t been paid.”

The guard looked ready to press him further, but when Rusty mentioned money, his expression soured.

“You adventurers and your money. No sense of order or duty. Just coin and credit. Bah.”

The guard spat to the side, then gave Rusty a long, hard look. After a tense pause, he jerked his head toward the inner wall.

“Fine. But you’re not off the hook yet. Commander Aelin will want to hear this herself. If what you say about orc scouts is true, someone needs to know which direction they disappeared to. Follow me.”

Rusty nodded and followed, still wondering why the man had reacted so strangely. He had seen plenty of gate guards taking bribes, yet this one acted as if he were above such things. There seemed to be a great deal of hypocrisy in this settlement, but Rusty chose not to comment. For now, the goal was to get through this and return to his lair in one piece.

He cast a brief glance over his shoulder at the young adventurers. Oliver, Rika, and Tally had paused their work to watch him go. Gleam shifted slightly on his shoulder, her antennae flicking in their direction as if to mark them. A moment later she returned to stillness. They did not interact with him often, but they seemed different from the other humans. Not yet worn down or corrupted by the cruelty of this world.

The city gate creaked open just enough to let them through. Rusty’s boots struck the cobbled path inside Ferndale with a metallic echo. Gleam remained still, though she seemed curious about what was happening beyond the gate.

“They have everyone already working so soon after a monster siege?”

Alexander was the first to speak. The streets were crowded with activity. The remains of the monsters that had managed to scale the walls were being dragged away by adventurers and townsfolk. Some women scrubbed blood from the stone, while others tried to patch the damage caused by crude weapons.

“Why wouldn’t they be working? What else is there to do for those peasants?”

Aburdon answered with disdain. To the demon king, these citizens were nothing more than laborers to be ruled and directed by their superiors. For someone who commanded without concern for the wellbeing of others, this attitude was no surprise. Alexander and Rusty exchanged no words in response. There was no point in arguing with him.

“Keep moving, we don’t have all day.”

The guard said nothing else, just gestured sharply for Rusty to keep pace. Rusty followed, glancing occasionally at Gleam. She had evolved on her own, without needing his input. He wondered if that would become a problem in the future. Still, perhaps it was better this way. If she was choosing her own path, he should respect it. Her evolutions belonged to her alone, just as his did to him. He had reached level fifteen and now stood at the peak of E-rank.

Name:	Rusty
Classification:	Twilight Steel Armor [ E ++ ] L15
Type:	Magical/Inorganic
Hit Points [ HP ]	410/417
Magic Points [MP]	300/321
Special Points [SP]	70/70
Strength	150 [ E ++ ] { + 55 }
Agility	150 [ E ++ ] { + 12 }
Dexterity	150 [ E ++ ] { + 5 } Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
Constitution	150 [ E ++ ] { + 67 }
Intelligence	150 [ E ++ ] { + 20 }
Wisdom Continue Reading You are reading a free preview (50%). Log in to unlock the full chapter and join comments. Log In to UnlockCreate Account Related chapter tags #heavymetal[amonsterevolutionlitrpg]chapter149#heavymetal[amonsterevolutionlitrpg]chapter150#heavymetal[amonsterevolutionlitrpg]chapter151#heavymetal[amonsterevolutionlitrpg]latestchapter#heavymetal[amonsterevolutionlitrpg]readonline 0 chapter views Related Novels Mark of the Fool The Archmage Coefficient (OP Archmage/ Mage Academy/ LITRPG/ Hidden Genius) CASE DISMISSED Beware Of Chicken 0 Comments You must be logged in to comment. Bookmark Quote TTS Link Play Pause Stop Skip Scroll Settings Note DMCATermsPrivacyContact 0 online