When the players saw Max walking with unusual serious face, they were inwardly delighted. It beca even more extre when they noticed he returned with three missing individuals.
But their shadenfreude didn’t last long when they heard NPCs were cheering, shouting Max’s na repeatedly.
They were absolutely shocked. The training session in the Ranger Post was instantly halted. Sylwen himself ignored the players and went straight to Max, who had just arrived.
He also released his aura, directed at others who eagerly wanted to listen to Max’s tales.
Sylwen glanced at Ethan and inwardly relieved. Ethan had potential. The fact that he survived from his first trial and tribulation ant his potential increased multifold.
Sylwen glanced at Max and wasn’t surprised of his heavy expression.
He didn’t initiate the conversation, though.
Max said, "We succeeded."
Sylwen nodded. "That’s good."
"But Jasper died."
"I won’t bla you. Jasper didn’t die for nothing."
Sylwen’s tone was stunningly soft. He understood what Max felt. It was, after all, his first ti performing a mission and succeeded while losing his mbers, he believed.
Max stared at Sylwen and perceived the joy from his eyes.
He understood him. He couldn’t be sad when the joy of killing a demon guardian, reclaiming the watchtower, and finally having a major contribution for the humanity’s expansion was greater.
Being sad to Jasper’s death also seed to convey the invalidation of his contribution.
Max inwardly heaved a sigh of relief.
He was thankful that Sylwen didn’t want to punish him for failing to protect Jasper from dying. Now, he only had to worry about Branna.
If Branna wanted to punish him, he’d accept it—though, it highly depended on the level of punishnt.
He was confident he could refuse.
Sylwen said, "If you only ca to to apologize for not keeping Jasper alive, you shouldn’t be. We have to accept that we are shackled by limitations of what we can achieve. You did your best, you accomplish what you should have.
I can’t be any more prouder to you."
[Your relationship status with Spirit Marksman Sylwen Thorn deepened.
From "Trusted" to "Ally" level.
At the Ally level of relationship status, you can now access to unique quests, shared faction resources, hidden locations if only you inquire, and the chances of having the player to fight alongside you.]
Once the system was finished with her announcent, Sylwen said with a radiant smile, "If you need anything, I’ll try my best to help you."
Max nodded.
Ethan, on the other hand, was completely stunned. He had not expected there were would be a day for Sir Sylwen to act like what was happening in front of him.
It was simply unimaginable.
Yet, the savior managed to do so even when he failed to complete the mission perfectly.
He stared at Max in a daze.
Max said, "I’ll be borrowing Ethan for now."
Once he received a confirmation of assurance from Sylwen, he turned towards Ethan and said, "Bring Clara to the Chapel first, I’ll be there soon."
Ethan nodded and greeted Sylwen first before proceeding to the chapel.
Max bowed to Sylwen and was about to leave, when the latter said, "Don’t worry about Branna. She won’t bla you."
Max was a bit surprised. He nodded nonetheless and turned around, proceeding to the Warrior Yard.
There was one thing Sylwen wasn’t aware of it.
Max promised Branna that he would protect and take care of Eva.
He failed to fulfill his promise.
Not only to Branna but to himself.
That was what made it even more bitter...
...
When Branna saw Max going towards her, her face was ambiguous.
Max was quite nervous, she didn’t know how Branna would react.
At this mont, a warrior should have already inford her that her daughter wasn’t present when he returned.
Once Max arrived in front of her, it was deathly quiet. Max was troubled of whether he should still report to her or not.
Branna said, "You can’t just stand and waste my ti. Speak what you have to."
Her tone was still difficult to read her emotion, but Max knew he shouldn’t base his action to her.
He stared at Branna with a grave expression and said, "I failed to fulfill my promise... to you. As for the quest, it was completed."
Branna was silent for a while and asked, "What happened?"
Max recounted to Branna what had transpired. Branna listened attentively, her facial expression shifted subtly when she heard what Eva had done.
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and opened them and smiled bitterly.
A tear crawled out of her eyelids but she said without her voice trembling, "But she fulfilled her dream—to kill a demon. She also die as a human, unlike others."
Her eyes flashed with killing intent, even Max trembled when he perceived it.
"And I kill a thousand demons for her." Her tone was resolute.
Max waited patiently until Brannah finally simred down.
She forced a smile at Max and said, "Congratulations, by the way. You, Eva, and others killed a demon—not an ordinary one. If you need sothing from , do let know and I’ll try my best to provide them to you."
Just as Max replied, the system notified him.
[Your relationship status with Blade Saint Brannah is diminished.
From "Trusted" level to "Friendly"level.
At the Friendly level of relationship status, you can still gain access to minor discounts, additional quests, and local information.
Don’t be discouraged, continue cultivating deeper bond with the NPC!]
Max forced a smile. It ached him, as it was also a reminder of how a failure he was when it ca to protecting those he had to.
He replied to Brannah, "I will."
Brannah nodded, turned around, and left.
Watching her back made Max filled with guilt.
He closed her eyes, recalled Eva, and opened them with a serious expression. He took a deep breath and exhaled for soti.
He swore to himself.
I won’t let the sa thing to happen ever again, especially to Enzo and Auntie Sarah.
Max wasn’t aware, but his emotional connection with the NPCs dwindled for a bit...
===
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