Now, after learning that the real reason Mary had ventured into Ashbane was to find the cure for her and her sister’s condition, Emilia genuinely wanted to help them. If Selene could be saved, her brother would be overjoyed.
But before that, there were still so questions she needed answered.
"Your clan has higher-level people, right? How co they let you co to Duskwald alone, with just your knight? It’s too risky!"
Mary only heaved a deep sigh.
"Well, it’s not that we don’t want help or don’t have anyone. We simply... cannot."
"Huh? What do you an?"
"Wait—you don’t know? About the area’s level restriction?" Mary asked.
"Ahhh..." Emilia suddenly rembered. Right! How could she forget?
Ashbane Forest was actually one of the level-restricted zones set by the Goddess who governed the region. In Arventia, many zones and dungeons had such restrictions.
For example:
If the maximum level in a zone was 30, anyone above that level would suffer severe stat penalties, OR The arrival of soone far above level 30 could trigger events that spawned monsters much stronger than usual.
And even when there wasn’t a level restriction, the drop rate of materials and dungeon rewards would still decrease significantly if a person had too much of a level advantage.
This prevented higher-level adventurers from farming lower-level monsters excessively, hoarding all the loot, and powerleveling weaker companions.
After all, dungeons, monsters, and challenges in Arventia were designed by the gods to train individuals into strong warriors. They wanted to maintain balance and fairness, rather than allow systems where the strong could easily overshadow the weak.
And for Ashbane Forest in particular, while it’s normally unrestricted, when the Blood Moon arrives, it’s different. Anyone who enters the zone with a level higher than 40 will be marked with the Curse of the Blood Moon and suffer severe disadvantages:
Level reset to 30 upon entering, with all stats redistributed proportionally.
Damage taken 50% initially, scaling up by 10% for every 5 excess base levels.
Automatically becos a hunting target that draws the attention of all monsters in the area.
This ant high-level adventurers should never enter. Worse, having soone too strong in the party would only bring more harm than good, potentially endangering everyone.
"Wait..." Mary suddenly realized sothing, her eyes widening. "Miss Elise... h-how co you’re not affected by the Blood Moon curse? How can you still be so strong?"
To that, Emilia tilted her head.
"Huh? Why would I be? I’m still under level 40."
"WHAAAAT?!" both Mary and Aron exclaid in unison.
"Impossible!" Mary cried. "You cut down the enhanced Death Bear like it was nothing! I thought you must be level sixty or sothing!!!"
"W-w-what is your level, if you don’t mind asking?" Aron stamred, his voice trembling slightly.
"Hmmm..." Emilia pondered for a mont, clearly debating whether she should reveal it. But eventually, she decided there was no harm in doing so.
"I’m level thirty-three," she said simply.
And Mimi owed proudly too.
"I’m level four!"
"N-no way—you’re joking, right?" Mary gasped, eyes wide in disbelief.
"No, I don’t think she is, Milady," Aron interjected. "If you think about it, Miss Elise’s power isn’t restricted by the Blood Moon’s curse. That ans she really must be under level forty."
"Oh... you’re right..." Mary murmured.
"But still, I can’t believe it," she continued, shaking her head with a sigh. "Not only is Miss Elise so powerful, but she’s also both a swordsman and a beast master!"
Mimi puffed up proudly, her tiny mouth curling into a grin.
Haha!
If they knew that Master actually had not two but THREE main classes—beast master, warrior, and mage—they would absolutely flip! And not to ntion... she had just gained ten whole levels in only a few hours!
"But..." Aron was about to say sothing as he looked down at Mimi, then paused.
Oh???
Mimi narrowed her eyes. She knew exactly what he was thinking. That Emilia, despite being both a warrior and a beast master, had only summoned a Noctifelis—so to him, it must have seed like a waste to obtain that second class.
But well, can’t bla him! Noctifelis are just that weak overall!
"Actually, I’m not really that strong, I just happen to possess a skill that counters these undead monsters." Emilia explained.
"Oh, so that’s how it is!" Mary exclaid.
"Could it be... the black fire that wrapped around your weapon just now?" Aron asked, curiosity bright in his eyes.
"Hmm, you are correct," Emilia replied. "Though forgive , I cannot reveal that skill to you—it’s a secret."
"Ah, no, no need to!" Mary said quickly, waving her hands.
"Still, your swordsmanship is incredible!" Aron added earnestly. "I’ve never seen anything so clean, swift, and yet powerful!"
"Thank you," Emilia nodded politely.
Then, the three then chatted a little longer. Emilia learned that Mary was a level 36 Archer, and Aron was level 35 Warrior (Though he already dropped to level 30 now after using Guardian Angel). Their combat abilities were both impressive, far above the average adventurers of the sa level.
It’s just that the Ashbane Forrest under Blood Moon and Blood Rain effects was too much for them to handle.
And then, at last...
Mary and Aron exchanged a quick, unspoken glance. Suddenly, Mary dropped to one knee and Aron followed imdiately, mirroring her gesture.
Emilia blinked, startled by the sudden gesture.
"W-what are you two doing?" she asked, her voice tinged with surprise and concern.
"Please, Miss Elise..." Mary said, bowing her head deeply, her hands pressed firmly to the ground. Her voice trembled. "I know this is such a selfish request, but you are our only hope! Please! Could you please help us obtain the Sanguine Orchid?"
"If you can help us... we’ll do anything in return. Whatever you need—gold, service, rare items, anything! The Fleurant Clan will forever be in your debt. I swear it, in the na of my house and my blood!"
"O-of course!" Emilia replied quickly, reaching out to them.
Both Mary and Aron’s faces brightened with relief and gratitude.
However, Mimi wasn’t so quick to approve.
"OWWW!"
Master, don’t be too hasty!
She owed three more tis, trying to grab Emilia’s attention.
"Huh? What’s wrong?" Emilia tilted her head.
"ow!!!" Mimi continued.
At tis like this, she was so frustrated that the fact that she could not speak!
Even though she wanted to help her new friends, charging headlong into danger wasn’t sothing she could just approve of!
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