"This is just one of the wolves I found during the expedition. I’ll attack the nest later. But first, I need to sleep," Adyr said to Vesha, ignoring the many eyes turned toward him.
"Of course," she replied with a smile, then added, "But eat first. They’ve prepared a feast to celebrate your safe return."
Adyr didn’t refuse. He could’ve logged out and had sothing better at the headquarters cafeteria—but eating what the villagers had prepared made more sense. Strategically, it was the right move.
The floor mat he sat on alone was filled with all kinds of dishes. Clearly, the villagers had each brought what they did best, using their finest ingredients. It was their way of honoring him.
As he ate, he noticed a few curious eyes watching him. So of the children were old enough to grasp what had happened, while others still saw it all as nothing more than a ga.
Adyr smiled and gestured for them to co closer, offering them food from his plate.
He’d always had a strange connection with children. They were the only ones around whom he felt... normal.
The survival instincts that had shaped him—the constant observation, the unspoken threat assessnt, the guarded posture—none of it applied to them.
There was no need. Because they all shared one thing he had lost long ago.
Innocence.
Sothing life had taken from him long before he was allowed to grow into maturity.
As he sat with the children, eating, joking, telling stories, the won of the village watched him from a distance.
Until now, they had seen him only as a punisher, the weapon of their vengeance, the one who would save them. But seeing him laugh with the children forced them to confront a truth they hadn’t wanted to face.
He was just a young man, like anyone else, simply trying to live a life.
And yet, that changed nothing. They still needed him.
For vengeance. For protection. For survival.
—
Adyr opened his eyes and stepped out of the ga pod. This ti, only the doctor and the nurse were there—no unfamiliar faces waiting nearby.
After a brief check-up, they let him go. He made his way toward his room to change clothes.
As he approached the door, he noticed soone waiting outside.
Selina stood there, her violet hair catching the hallway light, eyes matching in hue. She wore a white, one-piece spring dress—simple, elegant, and unmistakably her.
"Hey, Selina. How are you?" Adyr asked as he walked up to her.
"I’m fine," she replied with a soft smile, then quickly got to the reason she ca. "I’m here to inform you about your mom. She and her team arrived at the destination yesterday. According to her, there are far more children in need than they expected. Taking care of them will take so ti."
"I see," Adyr said, exhaling quietly.
It ant Marielle wouldn’t be returning anyti soon—sothing that would only make Niva more anxious. Still, there was nothing he could do.
"Thanks for letting know," he said, keeping his thoughts to himself.
"I’ll update you if there’s any news," Selina replied with a bright smile, then turned and walked off with her usual grace.
Adyr watched her go, raising an eyebrow. Looks like she’s one of those who chose two paths.
From the way she moved, it had once been obvious she’d chosen Ignis and gained the corresponding [Will] stat.
But now, he could clearly see sothing more. The way her gaze shifted, how subtly she responded to changes in her surroundings—her [Sense] had improved significantly.
That ant she had gained stats from the Aether path as well.
He was sure of it—because he was the one who had personally taught her how to observe, how to notice details others overlooked. Naturally, he could detect the subtle shifts in her behavior.
"I wonder what the players who chose three paths are like," Adyr muttered as he stepped into his room.
Even soone like Selina—a natural genius—had stopped at two.
Which only confird one thing in his mind: those who had chosen three weren’t ordinary by any asure.
After changing into his school uniform, Adyr checked the forums for any updates that might interest him. As he scrolled through so of the newly opened threads, the screen on his wristband lit up with a notification.
Opening it, he saw that 86 rit points had been added to his profile.
The ssage also explained that the reward was granted for the Latin language information he had provided the previous day. rit point distribution, as noted, was based on the value and depth of the shared knowledge.
"They are quite generous," Adyr muttered after reading through the details. 86 rit wasn’t a small amount at all.
With that, he could freely spend ti in the training centers, enroll in any professional education programs he wanted, and even purchase intel from governnt databases. He could also buy tactical equipnt—anything from a bulletproof vest to a fully automatic rifle—all paid for with rit.
Inside the facility, only the basics—playing the ga, food, and shelter—were free. Everything else operated through rit. And for now, this amount would keep him going.
If only I could buy energy crystals with rit, Adyr thought. But that didn’t seem possible. So far, no one had figured out how to transfer items between the ga world and reality—or the other way around.
When he was done in his room and stepped out, ready to head ho, he noticed a group of three approaching from the elevator, staring directly at him.
"Well, look who it is. Never thought I’d see the loser walking around here," said one of them, a tall, broad-shouldered guy with mustard-colored hair, eyeing Adyr with a sly, mocking grin.
Adyr didn’t bother replying. He just smiled. That mustard-colored hair belonged to none other than Cole, his favorite bully.
Lately, Cole had been keeping his distance. Adyr had been too imrsed in the ga, and his instincts had remained calm and buried. That uneasy tension between them had faded.
But now, it had resurfaced.
Sothing about Cole had changed. Ever since Selina had likely kicked his ass, he hadn’t dared co close—probably out of fear.
But today, he walked differently. His voice held strength. His eyes, confidence.
It didn’t take Adyr long to figure out why.
At the front of the group, walking with a smug and entitled air, was soone. A young woman with striking features, dressed in high-end designer wear, carrying the effortless arrogance of soone born into power, soone who had never needed to earn her place, only inherit it.
Dalin Ravencourt.
One of the heirs to Ravencourt Logistics, the only cargo company operating across all twelve shelter cities.
If Henry Bates was considered the second most powerful man in Shelter City 9, right after the City Manager, then the owner of Ravencourt Logistics was soone whose influence extended far beyond a single city.
Across all twelve, he stood shoulder to shoulder with figures like Henry—perhaps even above them.
That explained everything.
Cole’s confidence had nothing to do with his own strength. It was borrowed—propped up by the shadow he now walked beside.
***
A/N: Privilage Chapters are out you can read more Chapters now.
Reviews
All reviews (0)