BONUS Chapter for reaching 500 PS
Thank you everyone!
—-
“There are others too,” Mike immediately said, “There really is an influx of players who wanted to join, and the Vice Commanders couldn’t accommodate them all.”
“But . . . Isn’t Icy Cave’s minimum group requirement is fifty? Can they just let in one more?” Saya implored.
“The group is already seventy players strong. Any more and the others feared that the EXP and gil would lessen.”
“. . .” Saya was about to open her mouth when Leonel butt in.
“It’s fine.” He smiled so as not to worry Saya. “I’ll just look around the place and grind in the area. Don’t worry about me. You go and have fun in there.”
“I’ll go with you,” Roz immediately chimed in, and all eyes went to him.
“I’d rather go around and inquire anything about a rare class.” Roz wasn’t comfortable around Mike and Saya. He felt like an outcast when he was with Mike, while he felt like Saya didn’t like him one bit.
Mike and Saya didn’t say anymore, especially since the group was already entering the Cave.
“Whish as luck.” Mike was so excited that he couldn’t see anything but the group ahead. He even left Saya behind while the latter didn’t know what to do.
And when Mike was already some meters ahead, Saya could do nothing but look apologetically at Leonel before she said her goodbyes.
“Leo, I’ll message you after the raid, and we’ll go grind and do some quest together, alright?”
Leonel just grinned and waved at her goodbye. “No worries.” He hid his sadness behind his bright smile. He really thought that the three of them could finally play together.
But it seemed fate had other intentions.
When Leonel and Roz were the only ones left, and Black Lion set out to Icy Cave, Roz looked over at Leonel and asked.
“What now?”
Leonel couldn’t speak for a moment. He didn’t expect that this was going to happen, so he didn’t know what to do next.
He looked at the other players who were left behind and asked if they wanted to party, but the others said that they would go to the other raids. They were desperate to enter Black Lion, unlike Leonel and Roz, who was just there because of Saya and Mike.
“Should we go and grind or go to other raids too?” Roz asked with a bored tone. It was his usual tone of voice, and often times than not, the others mistook him for lethargic and boring.
Leonel thought for a moment before his face lightened, and he hammered his fist against his palm.
“I know.”
Leonel then messaged Ren.
[Leonel: Ren, is there something worthwhile doing around Snowflake Village?]
Leonel didn’t want to tell Ren that he was kicked out from Black Lion because he might take it wrongly. Mike and Ren had not reconciled yet, and anything that would cause a slight splinter might thoroughly crack their friendship apart.
[Ren: Why]
[Leonel: Just wondering]
It took a while for Ren to reply, and Leonel was sweating buckets. Could Ren really be a psychic, and even without him talking anything, Ren already knew what happened?
Ren could sometimes have that ability.
And like Leonel’s greatest fear came to life, Ren replied.
[Ren: What happened to the raid?]
. . . Ugh . . .
Leonel’s face palmed himself. Why did he have to dig his own grave? He knew that Ren might ask that question, but he still went ahead and went to the latter for help, hoping for the best.
[Leonel: . . . Nothing. Everything is fine in the raid]
[Ren: And I assumed that you message me what to do in Snowflake Village because of this nothing when you’re supposed to be in the raid?]
Leonel gulped.
[Leonel: Well . . . you know . . . after the raid]
[Ren: I assumed the raid had just started, and Icy Cave should be a half day of work before you reach the boss. It’s too early to ask that question, don’t you think?]
“. . . ugh . . .” Leonel grumbled under his breath. Why does Ren have to be so perceptive and know it all while he has to be impulsive and idiotic for not thinking things thru?
[Leonel: Fine! I was not part of the raid because they were already full. So I’m stuck here in Snowflake Village, thinking about what to do]
[Ren: I’m?]
Ugh! At this point, Leonel grabbed his hair and groaned while Roz flinched at the side when Leonel suddenly groaned loudly.
[Leonel: Saya and Mike are still in the raid. But don’t worry, once the raid is finished, we’ll grind and do some quests together]
It took a while before Ren replied with only two words.
[Ren: I see . . .]
Leonel almost wanted to cry. Why did he suddenly have a bad feeling?
[Ren: North of Snowflake Village, there should be a large frozen lake, and past there is a small mountain covered in snow.
You’ll find a hidden Boss around that part.
Go there with five players when the blood moon rises to its brightest, and make sure that you have [Raw Meat] with you.
Raw Meat is available if you killed a Four Horned Ice Deer in the same area, but you need a [Foe Grass] to attract it. The [Foe Grass] is available at the little girl who sells matches on the side of the street.
Ask Isolde and Ragnar to party with you]
Leonel’s face brightened. As expected of Ren. Though he got dizzy from all the things he needed to do.
No matter. He would just follow the message Ren sent.
But Leonel’s heart was still racing at the thought that Ren might misunderstand Mike and Saya again.
[Leonel: Thank you! But don’t misunderstand, okay? Mike and Saya did their best to let me enter the raid. It just so happened that the vice commander is making it hard for me because he wants my shield]
[Ren: Even so, they should not have left you alone. They wouldn’t lose anything if they didn’t go. They were plenty of raids in Black Lion that you three could have gone]
Leonel didn’t comment because it was true. Even though he hid it behind a bright smile, he was still somewhat hurt that Mike and Saya still chose to leave him behind.
Leonel sighed and changed the topic.
[Leonel: A hidden Boss! This is going to be my first Hidden Boss! Aren’t you going to come?]
[Ren: I have other matters to attend to]
Leonel didn’t pester Ren anymore before he hurriedly asked Isolde and Ragnar to come with him.