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Chapter 56: Trouble at the Tavern?
🕑 Added 2025-02-04 14:11:28 +0000 UTC
“Whew—!”
After his ability values were updated, Blake jumped off the bed, clenched his hand into a fist, and threw a punch.
“Whoosh—!”
A strong gust of wind accompanied his punch, creating a fierce whistling sound.
Feeling the power behind the punch, Blake nodded in satisfaction.
“The improvement is at least threefold!”
Ignoring Magic for now, his Strength, Endurance, Dexterity, and Agility had all leaped several stages, reaching A rank.
Although his physical abilities didn’t yet rival those of high-level adventurers, he was definitely stronger than most LV.1s and even comparable to average LV.2s. His body had always been exceptional, and with the addition of a premium cleansing pill, his strength had soared.
Now, with a threefold increase, he was likely far superior to LV.2s—possibly even approaching LV.3, though the gap between levels widened as one progressed.
After putting on his clothes, Blake set out with Hestia. He had made an appointment with Syr earlier, and he prided himself on keeping his promises.
---
“Hm?”
The moment Blake stepped out, he paused. His crystal-blue eyes narrowed slightly, scanning a nearby alley.
From the moment he emerged, he had felt several gazes on him. Though they carried a trace of pressure, they lacked malice, exuding more curiosity and envy instead.
“Blake, what’s wrong?”
Noticing his unusual behavior, Hestia, clinging to his arm with her ample and snowy-soft chest, looked up and asked in confusion.
“It’s nothing. Let’s go.”
Awakened by the enchanting sensation of Hestia’s presence, Blake shook his head and smiled. He couldn’t help but note how little her attire did to conceal her figure.
As for those in the shadows, as long as they didn’t cause trouble, he wouldn’t bother with them. But if they made any wrong moves, he wouldn’t hesitate to teach them a painful lesson.
---
In the dim alley, several masked figures stood.
“Boss, I think he noticed us,” one of them said cautiously, glancing at the tall, slim figure leading them.
“Hmm. The Hestia Goddess is with him, so we won’t act for now. Let’s withdraw for today.”
“Understood.”
At those words, the tall figure’s gray eyes gleamed before he leaped onto a rooftop and disappeared with astonishing speed. The others quickly followed suit, showcasing their impressive abilities.
---
In Orario, after a day of battling monsters in the dungeon, adventurers often sought out taverns to relax and blow off steam.
The Hostess of Fertility was one of the most popular spots, bustling with adventurers every evening. The tavern was always packed, and the lively chatter was unending.
At a large table, a dozen adventurers laughed heartily, occasionally shouting or joking while drinking, clearly from the same Familia.
Scenes like this were typical and didn’t surprise anyone—this was the essence of tavern life.
“Hey, Tutt, Ansheng, you should tell us how you got that scar. Don’t give us that ‘I fell’ nonsense. It’s obviously a sword wound, and it’s fresh too!”
In the midst of their conversation, one adventurer suddenly wrapped his arms around two others who looked particularly subdued. They wore sheepish grins, their mouths concealed by long scars, unable to drink.
“It’s nothing, really—just an accident,” the two, Tutt and Ansheng, replied nervously, feeling the amused gazes of everyone at the table. They couldn’t possibly admit that a rookie adventurer had inflicted the injury—it was far too embarrassing.
“Ha! Stop bluffing. I heard you two were thrown out of the Guild recently.”
Another adventurer burst into laughter, completely ignoring the anger building in the pair. Even within the same Familia, competition was fierce—such was the reality of their world.
---
As this unfolded, Syr furrowed her brows slightly while delivering a bottle of wine to a table.
“Syr-chan, why don’t you join us for a chat?”
The adventurers hooted at her as they admired her enchanting figure.
“Sorry, I still have work to do,” Syr replied with a polite smile, declining gracefully.
“Aw, what a pity. Maybe next time, then!”
They didn’t seem surprised by her response, laughing uproariously as she walked away.
Just as Syr was about to leave, she paused and looked toward the entrance.
There, a black-haired goddess with a striking blue ribbon and a silver-haired youth entered, chatting and laughing together.
Finally, they arrived…
Watching the pair enter, a genuine smile unknowingly formed on Syr’s lips, leaving the adventurers around her momentarily stunned. This wasn’t her usual business-like smile—it came straight from the heart.
“Ahhhh!”
However, in the next moment, Tutte and Ansheng, the two adventurers, suddenly let out startled cries, their faces filled with terror as they stared at Blake walking through the door. Their expressions quivered as though they had just encountered a primordial beast.
“Hmm? These two are here as well?”
Hearing their cries right as he entered, Blake frowned slightly and turned his gaze toward them. Seeing the scars on the corners of their mouths, his eyebrows arched slightly.
“Oh? Looks like you’re the one who injured members of our Familia. Not bad, kid. No wonder this woman would fancy a pretty boy like you.”
The startled cries from Tutte and Ansheng naturally drew the attention of their companions, who followed their line of sight to see the newcomers. After exchanging glances, they all stood up, gazing playfully at Blake. Helping out their companions wasn’t their real goal—they just couldn’t stand this “pretty boy” being so close to such a beautiful woman.
“Hey, kid. You’ve got some nerve to injure members of our Familia. Kneel and apologize now, or prepare to crawl out of here,” one of them threatened as the rest stood by, sneering menacingly.
At this, Blake’s dark eyes turned cold, narrowing as an icy gleam flashed within them. An overwhelming aura of suffocating chill and murderous intent emanated from him, washing over the room like a freezing tide. The adventurers who had issued the threat found their expressions frozen in shock, an involuntary shiver running down their spines as if plunged into an abyss of despair.
