Chapter 382 – A Lead.

“He he he…”

“…”

“Come here you little…”

“… Can I hit him?”

“What if he gets even dumber?”

“You might be right… he might have suffered some brain damage during that fight…”

“He he hah… Huh?”

“Are you awake now?”

As Armand’s eyes fluttered open, he was met not with the sight of the alluring elven wench he had been embracing, but a visibly irritated Roland. Confusion washed over him as he tried to comprehend how he had ended up in the embrace of his brother-in-law, attempting to plant a kiss on his chest. The metallic taste in his mouth suddenly made sense, as it became apparent that his lips had mistakenly latched onto a silver chestplate instead of the desired voluptuous peaks.

“What the… where did she… Argh…”

“Good, you’ve awake now…”

Before Armand could complete his question, a powerful fist struck the top of his head, forcefully driving his body down onto the very bed he had been peacefully sleeping in moments before. Following the conclusion of the platinum test, Elodia and Lobelia implored Roland to transport Armand to the guild infirmary. The Guild Master had rattled his brain enough to have him pass out in the middle of the testing ground with no clothes on.

It fell to Roland to carry Armand’s exposed form all the way to the infirmary while draping him with Roland’s own robe. The memory of the hushed whispers from onlookers, finding humor in the sight of a Knight Commander transporting a naked comrade, still lingered in Roland’s mind.

“Argh, my face! It’s stinging,”

Armand groaned, his hand instinctively reaching for his aching head. One of his eyes had turned a deep shade of black, and his face was visibly swollen from the brutal blow he had received not long ago. Despite being a single, direct hit, the damage it had inflicted was substantial. Nonetheless, Armand’s resilience was commendable as surviving a strike from an opponent over a hundred levels above him was a remarkable feat.

“Quit being such a crybaby and down this potion.”

Elodia urged him impatiently, her frustration evident in her voice. She couldn’t help but feel irritated about the entire situation, especially since she had to cut short her gathering with friends because of Armand. Even though they were all adults, she still played the role of a de facto mother figure to these orphans. Despite the loud arguments that occasionally erupted, everyone in their group understood that it stemmed from a place of genuine concern. Even the usually boisterous Armand lowered his head and began apologizing.

“Sorry for causing you all this worry…”

“It’s okay as long as you understand.”

Elodia replied with a sigh. She then shook her head a few times before placing her hand on his shoulder.

“Anyway, congratulations on achieving the rank of Platinum adventurer. I hope you’ll take your new status more seriously, especially when it comes to your own well-being.”

Armand’s eyes lit up with realization.

“Oh… That’s right, I’m a Platinum Adventurer now! We have to celebrate all the drinks are on me!”

Even before the potion had a chance to work its magic on his swollen face, Armand leaped to his feet. His hands swiftly encircled Elodia’s waist, effortlessly lifting her into the air as if she weighed nothing at all. The joy in his heart was evident as he spun her around a few times, eliciting a mixture of delighted screams from her. With a burst of exuberance, he propelled her into the air in Roland’s direction. She landed securely in his waiting hands, her glasses teetering on the edge of falling and her hair now disheveled, partially obscuring her face.

“Come, little brother!”

“Little brother?”

“We are family now and I am older, so yes! You are the little brother!”

Roland frowned at Armand’s boisterous gesture but understood the reason behind his friend’s happiness. Armand had just achieved membership in the elite adventurers’ club, a coveted achievement for many like them. It was akin to people from his world gaining admission to a prestigious school or securing a life-changing job. However, he was not really willing to get drunk and party in the red light district that this would probably end up in. He was on the verge of getting married, and Elodia, his fiancée, was not particularly tolerant of such activities.

“I think I’ll have to pass. I still have a lot of work to do.”

“There you go again. You need to learn to savor life’s moments, my little brother!”

“Stop calling me that. I’m not your little brother.”

“Don’t be upset. I’m sure you’ll pass your Platinum test eventually!”

“My Platinum test?”

“Don’t be angry just because I’ve done it before you.”

“Angry?”

As Armand continued to laugh heartily, Roland momentarily drifted off in thought. The amusing part of the situation was that he had actually managed to skip the test and attain the Platinum rank without going through the usual process. It was something Roland could point out, but seeing how genuinely happy Armand was, he decided not to be petty and let his ‘big brother’ relish his moment, a decision he almost instantly regretted.

“I need to invite everyone!”

“Yeah… good luck with that. Elodia, I have some things to do so…”

“Just go, I’ll take care of this.”

“Thank you.”

With Armand’s jubilant celebrations echoing in the background, Roland made his exit from the infirmary. He was relieved to leave the chaos behind and return to the relative quiet of the adventurer’s guild’s corridors. As he strolled through them, he couldn’t help but ponder the recent turn of events.

The memory of Armand’s battle with the Guild Master still played vividly in his mind. Despite the vast level difference and the brutal outcome, Roland had managed to gather some valuable insights. It was clear that Aurdhan had skills or abilities that allowed him to negate most of Armand’s attacks effortlessly. While Roland was no stranger to the idea of level disparities and their impact on battles, the Guild Master’s resilience had exceeded his expectations.

Roland knew that one day, he might have to face Aurdhan or someone similar. The ambitions of powerful individuals, and the secrets lurking in the shadows all pointed to a possible future conflict. He needed to learn more about people like the Guild Master and prepare for potential conflicts that he could not power through with more magical power.

There were certain limitations that even he who had recently broken had to adhere to. Things only became more complicated when the thought of not being able to protect the woman that he had chosen started creeping into his head. Roland was not someone that formed relationships easily but when he did, then he seriously committed to them.

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The fight had served as a wellspring of inspiration, igniting his creativity and providing an opportunity to closely observe his brother-in-law’s fight. The frenzied state he had experienced had bestowed upon him a significant boost in his overall abilities. However, it was something he yearned to harness and control, a feat he believed achievable through the aid of divine runic spells. The only obstacle he faced was their implementation, a territory he found himself uncertain about.

Primarily, he found himself capable of using these spells only in sporadic bursts, lacking precise control. This proved effective against undead creatures susceptible to simple divine mana radiation or the creation of uncomplicated spells. Yet, when it came to addressing Armand’s affliction, he recognized the necessity of crafting a focused calming spell that would activate only when he began losing control. This spell needed to be potent enough to mitigate the frenzied state without shattering it entirely.

‘Damn, I think I’ll have to get that idiot to come to the workshop to perform some tests… I’m already regretting all of this…’

…

“Mr. Necromancer, how much longer do we need to wait for? We have been here for a week already… It’s so boring… Can I at least go out and have some fun?”

“No.”