Chapter 198: A Gathering of Heroes
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 198: A Gathering of Heroes
After finishing off Charon, Xie Bai casually dusted herself off.
"Phew. This skill is actually pretty handy; I don't even need to stack base stats."
As she spoke, she glanced at the nearby rift.
"Judging by the recovery speed, it should be completely healed in a few days."
While the strike had been terrifying for the Shadow World, it was far from fatal. To the world itself, it was merely a localized ache that would take a few days to mend.
At least, that was what she believed.
Once she was certain Charon hadn't left any traps behind, Xie Bai tore open a spatial rift and returned to the Imperial Palace.
The moment she stepped out, she found Brandon and the Imperial Guard waiting for her.
"What are you two doing?"
Xie Bai glanced at the Imperial Guard.
"Wait, you're not dead yet?"
Given how many abilities the guard had absorbed earlier, Xie Bai had assumed he would overdraw his life force and die immediately after the battle. Yet here he was, standing before her completely unscathed.
Had she finished the fight so quickly that he hadn't even had time to burn through his life?
In response to Xie Bai’s question, the Imperial Guard gave a respectful bow.
"My lady, thank you for your assistance. It seems that because you intervened, the entity that granted me power withdrew it just now. In short, I don't have to die."
With that, the guard produced a badge.
"I have nothing else to offer in return but this. It is a medal of honor I earned on the battlefield years ago. It carries the Emperor's blessing. If you do not find it beneath you, please accept it as my thanks."
The badge floated automatically into Xie Bai’s hand.
[Sword of Rolands]
"What does this... do?"
Xie Bai wasn't particularly interested in the reward. To be honest, she hadn't expected anything at all. But seeing the resolute expression on the guard's face, she eventually accepted it.
Perhaps it would make a nice souvenir.
Unfortunately, since this was a timeline, she doubted she could take anything out with her.
After putting it in her inventory, Xie Bai turned to Brandon.
"By the way, Brandon, aren't you a wanted man? Why are you still standing here?"
Brandon gave the Imperial Guard a proud pat on the shoulder.
"Let me tell you, while you were gone, I had a little chat with Morris. Turns out we’re quite the kindred spirits..."
Morris, the Imperial Guard, suddenly grabbed Brandon’s arm.
"Brandon, while I believe your claim that the Emperor has been led astray by an Evil God, you still need to leave immediately. As for your two friends, I’ll see if I can find a way to fish them out of the dungeon."
Brandon shook his head at Morris’s advice.
"I appreciate the sentiment. But I don't think my brothers are that weak. They probably haven't even been caught yet. There's still time."
Morris hesitated for a moment.
"Then I wish you luck. I hope we don't meet in the dungeon tomorrow."
With that, Morris took his leave.
Xie Bai watched the exchange with an amused expression.
"Tsk. He just let you go? Impressive."
She really hadn't expected Brandon’s social skills to be this potent. In such a short time, he had managed to flip an Imperial Guard—someone willing to die for the Emperor—to his side. If he were left to his own devices, he could probably talk his way into starting a revolution.
"I never heard him mention these friends before, though. Is it because Immortals live so long that they eventually forget?"
That was the only explanation Xie Bai could come up with.
"Whatever. Anyway, how do you plan on finding those two brothers of yours?"
Brandon blinked, looking stunned.
"Uh... I haven't actually thought that far ahead."
"Huh?" Xie Bai stared at him.
Brandon quickly added, "But Velo and I have a great rapport. If they realize something's wrong and make a run for it, they’ll likely head in my direction."
Xie Bai massaged her temples. "What kind of logic is that..."
Was the young Brandon always this unreliable? He felt like a completely different person from the one she knew.
Just as Xie Bai was doubting him, a shout echoed from the distance.
"Talk about a stroke of luck! How did we run into that Evil God right at the start? Hurry! My gut tells me we won't run into the Imperial Guard if we go this way!"
"Wait up, Velo! I can run on my own, stop pulling me! Also, can we not be so terrified? It was just a mollusk; it's probably not an Evil God..."
"What kind of 'mollusk' recites your entire family tree back eight generations?! It even read out the love letter I burned when I was a kid! That thing is cursed!"
Two figures suddenly rounded the corner.
Brandon’s face lit up with joy. "Velo? And Lai—"
Before he could finish, the newcomers slammed right into him.
Thud!
Once they regained their footing, Velo looked up, rubbing his head.
"Ow... who’s standing in the... wait, Brandon? What are you doing here? Weren't you supposed to be outside drawing attention?"
His gaze then drifted toward Xie Bai.
Gulp.
His eyes lingered for less than half a second before he hurriedly looked back at Brandon.
"Brandon, your brothers are in there doing life-risking work, and you’re out here finding a girl this cute?"
He leaned in closer. "Is she an adult? Is she human? Does she have an older sister? A younger sister? Anything?"
Whack!
Brandon smacked him over the head.
"What are you talking about! This is the reinforcement I found for us! We’re being broadcasted as wanted criminals right now, we need to get out of here!"
"Huh? We’re wanted? Since when?"
Brandon scratched his head. "Uh, it’s complicated. You see..."
While Brandon explained the situation to Velo, Xie Bai scrutinized the two "brothers."
Velo. Short white hair, delicate features, and a hint of youthful greenness. He had the elegant air of a noble, though it was somewhat undercut by the rugged exploration gear he was wearing.
Unsurprisingly, this was the Traveler.
The other one looked much more mature. Long, waist-length blonde hair and a tall stature—this had to be the Alchemist. However, he looked perpetually exhausted, wearing a "dead inside" expression as if he hadn't slept in years.
Xie Bai checked the Alchemist’s panel, but only his name and class were visible.
"Rhinedottir..."
Tsk, what a powerful name. Why hadn't Brandon mentioned these names before?
Wait.
Xie Bai looked again. Waist-length blonde hair, Alchemist class... It matched. And considering Brandon also had the "Atheist" trait...
"Wait, if that's the case..."
Xie Bai glanced at Velo.
"Tsk... this really is a gathering of heroes."
If that were true, many things started to make sense. She just wondered what had happened to them along the way.
Xie Bai was so focused on Brandon’s group that she completely missed the change in Rhinedottir.
He was staring at Xie Bai, his heart racing with shock.
This person... why does she also possess the power of the Void?