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n?Howard stood up, stretching out his hand to stop Vivia: “Don’t come any closer!”

n“What exactly happened to you! You were perfectly fine yesterday, how did you wake up like this today!”

nVivia’s steps halted, but her questions did not.

nYesterday?

nHoward caught onto a key piece of information, his gaze quickly scanning the basket in her hand, which contained breakfast for one.

nHis brain, now operating at an evidently higher speed, quickly sorted through the information.

nVivia obviously knew he was here, and it seemed he had been unconscious for more than just a day.

nOtherwise, Vivia wouldn’t have brought breakfast for one up here; she would have prepared something for him as well.

nHoward felt his speculation was likely correct.

n“What exactly happened to you!” Vivia’s gaze at Howard shifted, “I know you’re worried I might get hurt, but this kind of protection is unnecessary for me! I can bear the consequences of my actions; I’m not a child anymore!”

n“Only children rush to prove they’ve grown up.” Howard looked into Vivia’s eyes, sighing.

n“I am Howard, and I don’t know what has happened to me. Until I figure out the situation, it’s best if you don’t have too much contact with me.”

nHoward wasn’t sure if the effects on him could spread, although this “price” should specifically target him alone.

nBut fate like being “doomed to bring disaster to those around” also targets one person.

nIncidents of collateral damage are far from rare.

nHearing Howard confirm his identity, Vivia seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, her tense body relaxing a bit.

n“You won’t run away on your own again, will you?”

n“There’s no need for that now,” Howard shook his head.

n“My initial choice was made because I didn’t want you all to follow me, hoping Antalya could stop you. But since you’re already here, I guess Ali and Jelia have probably left Breeze City by now.”

n“It seems I should be the one looking for them.” Howard was still somewhat worried about Jelia wandering outside.

nEven knowing Ali would definitely protect Jelia well, this concern couldn’t be entirely dispelled.

nVivia completely relaxed: “Actually, accompanying you isn’t a bad thing. You don’t need to be distracted worrying about me; I can protect myself.”

n“Besides, you’re not heading to Dragon Valley right now. Having one more person is always an added strength. Improving our skills together and completing quests together, that’s the purpose of an adventure group, isn’t it?”

n“Perhaps,” Howard responded noncommittally, asking, “Where’s Nula?”

n“She went out, it might take her a while to get back.”

n“I see…” Howard nodded, looked at Vivia, paused, then said, “How have you been these days?”

n“Not bad,” Vivia dragged a chair to sit near the door.

n“I left Breeze City at night with a trade association. We didn’t stop along the way and came directly here. I planned to do a few quests here before continuing on. I know the location of Dragon Valley, so I thought of waiting for you there first. It seemed like the easiest way to find you.”

n“But, on the third day after I arrived here, the monster tide broke out.”

n“Under those circumstances, I couldn’t possibly leave. Although the monster tide was resolved later, due to its occurrence, there were a lot more quests related to magic potions in Rodel for a while. Thinking it was a rare opportunity, I decided to stay a few more days. During this period, I asked around for information about you.”

n“This place is almost a must-pass route for everyone leaving the Silverwind Kingdom’s northwest Province, so I thought maybe I could get some information about you, making it easier and more directed to find you afterward.”

n“Then, just two days ago, a service worker at the Rodel guild mentioned they had information about you but insisted on a temporary quest before they would tell me.” By this point, Howard had a pretty good idea of how his information was leaked.

n“She asked you to deliver my bounty, didn’t she?” Howard sighed.

n“I was so careful, yet I still showed a flaw here. I don’t know if it’s bad luck or fate.”

n“Whether it’s bad luck or fate, this time you won’t be able to shake me off again.”

nVivia’s words were light, but the determination within was clear to anyone.

nHoward, now with his emotions partially restored, was no exception.

nBesides, allowing Vivia to act alone, Howard would worry about her safety; it would be better for her to follow him.

n“Don’t worry, now that I’ve said it, I won’t go back on my word.”

n“Do you know how Ali and Jelia left Breeze City? Or do you have any clues about them?”

n“I don’t have many clues,” Vivia shook her head.

n“I left before they did. All I know is that they didn’t plan to stay in Rodel but intended to head directly to Sorona, apparently, Ali has some contacts there. Don’t worry, Howard, Ali is no novice. As a level 3 magus, unless he provokes a level 1 magus, he should find ways to keep himself and Jelia safe.”

n“I hope so,” Howard could only nod, “But we should also get ready to leave.”

n“Have you been staying with Nula these past few days?”

nHoward didn’t think Vivia, with her personality, would leave after finding him. 𝘪𝘳.𝒸𝑜𝑚

nShe must have been staying close by, much like those dragons always lurking in their lairs, guarding their treasures.

n“Do you really want me to stay here?” Vivia rolled her eyes.

n“I do like you, yes, but I’m not brainless, you know.”

nDespite being somewhat blind in her affection, Vivia was not foolish.

nThis was Vivia—a complex amalgamation of contradictory traits within a single personality.

nHonestly, Howard sometimes wondered if Vivia had some issues somewhere.

nLooking at Howard’s face, Vivia said with a half-smile, “Though the idea of a shorter lifespan isn’t pleasant, you seem more reliable having aged a bit.”

n“If before you were at most a reckless kid, now you’re showing some signs of adulthood.”

n“But growing up isn’t just about physical changes; experience and maturity matter more.”

nVivia crossed her arms, sizing up Howard with a judgmental gaze, “Your features remain well-balanced, but you’ve become more masculine. It seems in a few more years, you might become a heartbreaker for young girls.”

nIf only that were true, Howard thought, then you might be the first to regret it.

nHoward stood up, fetching his coat and slipping into it.

nVivia sat still, watching with interest as Howard dressed meticulously and then donned a half-armor, fastening the straps.

n“You’re starting to look the part of an adventurer,” Vivia commented, remaining seated as Howard approached her.

n“Move! I’m off to breakfast,” Howard said, placing his hand on Vivia’s hair and giving her long locks a gentle rub.

n“And where’s my bounty? You haven’t pocketed it for yourself, have you?”

n“I have my own money,” Vivia rolled her eyes in response.

n“I really don’t know what got into you on that city wall, to have earned so much bounty. Though I haven’t counted it, it should be no less than a thousand gold coins.”

n“A thousand!” Howard was also taken aback by the figure.

nWhile he had anticipated a significant bounty, he hadn’t expected it to be quite so substantial.

nKeep in mind, the quests he had completed previously netted him just over a hundred gold coins in bounty, and that was with earning some extra on the side.

nWithout those extras, earning a thousand gold coins would typically require completing around ten quests.

nIndeed, no matter the era, improving one’s abilities is always the fastest way to wealth.

nThe battle on the city walls nearly exposed all of Howard’s strengths, and tales of the unnamed level 3 magus were likely already spreading among Rodel’s adventurers.

nSuch stories are the favorite themes of wandering bards, lacking in detail but intriguing enough to captivate an audience.

n“I’ve left your bounty with Nula for safekeeping. Since you’ve been asleep these past few days and keeping it here wasn’t safe, I asked Nula to hold onto it for you,” Vivia said as she stood up and pushed the door open.

n“Let’s go have breakfast. You can get your bounty when she returns.”

n“But, I always have this uneasy feeling,” Howard followed Vivia out, rubbing his head. .𝒎

nHe couldn’t shake the feeling that something unfortunate was about to happen… or perhaps had already happened.

nBreakfast didn’t take long.

nHoward and Vivia sat at a table, quickly consuming the food laid out before them.

nBoth had hearty appetites, and the standard breakfast portions barely sufficed.

nAlthough his appearance had changed, because he was introduced as “Vivia’s brother,” the innkeeper, though puzzled, didn’t recognize the transformation.

nShe was more concerned about whether he would stay at the inn.

nIn this world, business is paramount, and life goes on, no matter who is missing.

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