Chương 585: 548. Useless

Adam chose against resisting the spell, allowing the magic to take hold. It was warm, though slightly invasive as he felt his mind and throat tingle. The rest of his companions also allowed the spell to overtake them.

"I will ask that you all confirm with yes or no," the guild worker stated, staring at them suspiciously.

"You slew a dozen boars and a giant boar?"

"Yes," Adam replied, along with his group.

"Thirteen hawkbears?"

"Yes."

"Three hydras?"

"Yes." The guild worker paused, glancing between the group. There were quite a large number of Iyrmen within the group, and there were almost two dozen of them.

"You fended off four manticores, but did not kill them?"

"That's right," Adam said, while the others replied properly.

"Please reply with a yes or no."

"Yes, sorry."

"You were attacked by twelve direwolves, and you killed them all?"

"Yes."

"Then you…" The young woman blinked at the notes she had written down.

"You killed a wyvern, fending off another four?"

"Yes."

"Finally, you killed five trolls?"

"Yes." Korin and Lady Sara sat with the group, and hearing it back, they glanced between one another. Dunes, and the others around Adam, didn't seem to find this out of the ordinary in the slightest. Adam, on the other hand, tilted his head, furrowing his brows.

'Man, that does sound like a lot…' Quest Complete: Trouble in East Port XP Gained: +600 XP: 9400 -> 10 000 Stamps Gained: +6 Stamps: 18 -> 24 Due to the roaming beasts after a Great Twilight, one didn't make quite as much from adventuring, since the price to kill creatures had decreased, and the price of their parts had also decreased somewhat. However, many adventurers continued to adventure, because the experience was invaluable. Due to all the creatures the group had killed, they received a bonus.

Jurot calculated the gold to be around three thousand, if it wasn't after a Great Twilight. With the roaming beasts around, he supposed they could manage to earn roughly a thousand gold, plus whatever bonus the group received. If they sold off the parts of the creatures, they could easily earn more. The guild handed over just under two thousand gold for their service, taking their fee from the reward. Adam stared down at it, realising each of them had earned just under a hundred gold.

'Well, damn…' That was until he realised that the teens and Nobby all shared a single share.

"So that's what, fourteen shares for the gold?" Adam began to do what he dreaded most within his head.

"Let's call that…" Adam tilted his head.

"Actually, if we say the party funds has a share, it works out at one twenty each."

"That sounds good," Jurot said, nodding his head.

"Perfect. Jeremy, you can keep a full share, because I don't want to do any more maths today." Adam waved his hand dismissively at the porter. Jeremy wanted to retort, but the entire journey had been rather exhausting, and terrifying. He had forgotten how crazy Adam was, but was glad that he paid appropriately.

"Thank you."

"It's a little annoying that they don't pay whole prices for the creatures," Adam whispered quietly.

"Still, I suppose we can't complain, since they house us for one gold coin each."

"The Adventurer's Guild needs to maintain balance," Jurot said.

"It is why Ritetu is one of their main deities." This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"I suppose that makes sense."

'Balance…' Adam thought about how they had come across so many foes.

"Jurot, did we come across too many creatures?"

"In some ways, yes," Jurot replied.

"Hmm. You know, I have this strange feeling that we're…" Adam tried to form the words.

"I feel like we're going at someone else's pace."

"As if the story has already been written?"

"Yeah. I don't know if I'm crazy, but that's what it feels like."

"There is a chance that the Iyr would have died out before it could become the Iyr," Jurot said.

"We follow this story, and what will come, will come."

"Aren't you worried?"

"If the gods have a plan for me, I will follow it, until I no longer wish to do so," Jurot said.

"If Baktu has plans for me, then I will give myself willingly, for there is little greater glory than that."

"I don't care who has plans for you, I'll make sure you become a Diamond Rank adventurer, and then we can worry about whatever plans the gods have for you, Jurot." Adam grinned wide, holding out his fist. Jurot bumped fists with his brother and said no more. Adam was not someone who followed the whims of the gods, and he certainly wasn't going to start now. The party eventually returned to the common room, where those who had remained behind were relaxing.

"Did you have fun?" Vonda asked.

"I did," Adam replied, groaning as he sat down.

"It was rough."

"I am sure it was."

"We'll take a few days off and then head back to adventuring after. Have you been resting well?"

"I have."

"Good, good." Adam slowly nodded. Later that evening, Jaygak dragged the teen Iyrmen to a side room.

"You've all done well!" Jaygak declared with great passion. She hoisted out a wine bottle, revealing it to the group, though they didn't recognise it.

"Let me pour you a drink." The teen Iyrmen allowed Jaygak to pour them a drink, unsure of what she was up to. They were fully prepared for her to prank them.

"Drink!" Jaygak declared, drinking the cup of wine, which was fiery. She could feel the tickle in the back of her throat. Laygak sighed happily, though the other Iyrmen were not quite so healthy, feeling their throats burning.

"How is it?"

"Great!" Laygak replied, licking his lips.

"It was good," Nirot replied, feeling the burn in her throat.

"Good," Jaygak replied, before smirking slightly.

"It's Yellow Sun wine." Laygak raised his brows in surprise.

"You received it from Yellow Turban."

"That's right. I was thinking about sharing it with the everyone else, but you all deserve it. You've done well, slaying as many creatures as you did." Jaygak beamed with a large smile as she looked over her younger cousins.

"One day, when your younger siblings do well, you will need to treat them like this."

"How did you procure this wine?" Faool asked calmly, trying not to sound suspicious.

"It was gifted to me by Yellow Turban," Jaygak said, her lips a coy smile.

"A sign of gratitude."

"For what?" Faool asked, trying to pry more.

"For staying out of their business," Jaygak replied. Faool understood it was to do with the fact the Iyrmen had closed their gates, and he fell silent once more.

"I'm not like Jurot, Kitool, or even Adam," Jaygak said, pouring them each another cup.

"But even I can do this much."

"You're strong," Laygak said, before drinking the wine.

"Anyone can become strong fighting side by side with Adam," Jaygak stated, smiling towards them all.

"So make sure you stick by his side, and bring great glory for your families."

"Yes!" the teen Iyrmen replied, with far more vigor than when they were answering the guild worker.

'This is all I can do for you,' Jaygak thought, pouring them each another cup. Over the next few days, Adam relaxed and ate his food. The Iyrmen went about their rounds, sending information back to the Iyr, as well as receiving news. They were informed of the current events from the underground network.

"If you're staying here, we should head out to the west," Dunes finally said over dinner one evening.

"We'll be leaving on the morrow." Adam frowned slightly, feeling the guilt eat away at him.

"I'm sorry we haven't been more helpful, Dunes. I should have put it as my priority."

"You have done so much for us, Adam," Dunes replied, smiling reassuringly.

"I'm sure you had something to do with bringing me together with Sara and Korin."

"Lady Sara," Korin corrected. Dunes threw a response back at him in Aswadian, before continuing to speak with Adam.

"If you can stay here and keep an eye out for her, it would be appreciated."

"Yeah, of course." Adam glanced between the trio. He couldn't blame them for wanting to leave, but it was rather dangerous.

'Aswadians travelling through Central Aldland? Sounds like a bad idea…'

"Why don't you take Jonn with you?"

'A Half Elf? What am I, an idiot?'

"Fred too."

"You do not need to change your plans for us," Dunes said.

"I'm not changing no plans," Adam said.

"Look, how about…" Adam paused for a moment to think.

"Take Jonn and Fred, and I'll feel more at ease. Jonn was once a member of an order, so he probably knows something about something, and Fred is an Aldishman, which should keep some people off your back. Actually, sending Vonda along with you might be best too."

"I should remain here if you are to continue adventuring as you have," Vonda said.

"You may need my healing."

"That's true…"

"Fred and Jonn are more than enough," Dunes said. Adam slowly nodded his head, smiling sadly as he did. When he went to bed that evening, he thought about what he had to do.

'Damn it. I should have helped Dunes more. His friend was in trouble and all I've been doing is slaying monsters. Then there's Freya too.' Adam rubbed his eyes as he stared up at the ceiling.

'I need to get to Level 7. No, Level 9? There's a rule about Fourth Gate spells or something…' The Half Elf sighed, losing himself to his thought.

'Bell, how much is it to increase my Trained Bonus?' [1000.]'A thousand? What? Since when?' [Since Level 5.] Adam hit his head on his pillow, groaning quietly.

'I can't believe I'm this damn stupid…' XP: 10 000 -> 9000 Trained Bonus: +2 -> +3'I have what, 78 HP? 91 when I'm Level 7. Fourth Gate spells too…' Adam thought about the Fourth Gate spells he would take.

'Just having more Mana would be good too.' Adam's thoughts fell to his children, who were being raised in the Iyr, and would soon be raised within the fort outside of the Main Iyr.

'No. Level 9 isn't good enough.'