Chapter 37 Lost Lamb

Fatty’s predicament was actually easy to solve; all he needed was a +5 level rune gem, and then he could accompany Wendy and the others on their missions.

As for the injured Frost Archer, he still needed some time to recuperate and could not join the team’s activities for the time being.

Luo Yong set out for the underground palace, not in the mood for monster hunting. He summoned two level-13 skeleton soldiers to fight monsters on their own, while he made his way straight to the lair of the two level-12 spider monsters.

He opened the treasure chest and took out the Wish Scroll.

“How can I solve the level cap issue?” Luo Yong placed his hand on the scroll, closed his eyes, murmured the question, focused his mind, and concentrated all his will.

A strange sound, different from what he’d imagined, hissed through the air. Luo Yong opened his eyes to see the magic drained from the Wish Scroll, the magic circle faded, and wisps of bluish smoke rising.

“It seems wishing is not a viable path. What a waste of a wish,” he muttered, shaking his head. Luo Yong used a teleportation scroll, opened a portal of light, and returned directly to camp.

His link with the two skeleton soldiers was severed; they collapsed back into piles of bones. The treasure-hoarding spider took a while to make its way back, but eventually it wandered around Luo Yong in camp.

“What a remarkable creature…” Luo Yong mused, marveling at the spider’s ability to find its way back, though he wondered just where its limits lay. Dismissing the thought, he once again entered that notorious magic shop.

Exchanging a pile of gems for a top-tier equipment summoning scroll, Luo Yong returned to his lodgings at the inn.

Since he’d paid enough in advance, his room was still reserved for him. Wendy and Elia’s room, however, had been reclaimed, as they hadn’t returned in time to renew their lease.

Back in his room, Luo Yong used the scroll and obtained a pair of signature-series boots, replacing his old, nearly-worn-out shoes.

But after a moment’s thought, he couldn’t bring himself to throw the old pair away. After all, he’d brought them from Bluestar, and keeping them was a memento—though, admittedly, the smell was not pleasant…

Ahem.

Leaving the inn, Luo Yong went to visit the Frost Archer. He left him two gems—one for acquiring a storage item, and another as a stipend for daily activities as a team member.

He also made a point to show off the red-and-blue sword-and-shield insignia beneath his cloak.

“You… you actually became this team’s leader…” The Frost Archer looked as if he might throw the two gems to the floor in frustration.

But after a long moment of hesitation, he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

“That’s right, it was a unanimous decision,” Luo Yong said shamelessly, a smug smile on his face. “If you disagree, I can always—”

“Step aside?” The Frost Archer interrupted eagerly.

“No, I’d simply exercise my rights as captain and kick you out of the team,” Luo Yong shrugged. “Honestly, it seems you’re not that attached to this team anyway. It doesn’t matter to me.”

With that, Luo Yong left without waiting for a response.

Next, Luo Yong found Fatty Ge’er and handed him the +5 level rune gem.

“Uh… Luo Yong, actually I…” Fatty hesitated awkwardly, beads of sweat forming on his brow—overwhelmed by Luo Yong’s generosity.

He’d received equipment, gems, and now even a +5 rune gem, which Luo Yong had, without hesitation, pried off the hilt of his own longsword right in front of him.

“Isn’t this a bit much?” Fatty said nervously, not daring to accept the gem.

“Enough talk. I’m pressed for time and leaving soon. Without this, you won’t be able to join Wendy and the others on missions. Take it!” Luo Yong said impatiently, surprised at how hard it was to give someone a gift.

“Actually…” Seeing Luo Yong’s attitude, Fatty steeled himself and confessed, “I don’t have any equipment that can socket a rune gem!”

Luo Yong was speechless for a long moment.

This magical guardian certainly traveled light—nothing to worry about forgetting, because he had nothing at all. He didn’t even use a physical shield.

Luo Yong wondered what would happen if a real shield and a magical shield were combined. Circling Fatty a few times, pondering, Luo Yong sighed, “Fine, you got me. I haven’t even bought equipment for anyone else before.”

A short while later, Luo Yong led Fatty to a blacksmith’s shop a good distance from the magic store.

They sold equipment here too, though not as complete or as cunningly overpriced as the magic shop. The saying “large shops bully customers” was nowhere more evident than there.

“Wooden shield… utterly useless…”

“Knight’s shield… can’t use it.”

“Round shield…”

“Luo Yong, my shield is magical. I can’t use any of these,” Fatty whispered beside him.

“I know.” Luo Yong gave him a dispassionate glance and quickly searched through the merchandise.

Soon, he found a magical bracer with a built-in socket.

“Try this on. If it fits, wear it.” Luo Yong tossed the bracer to Fatty, paid the bill, and they left the blacksmith’s.

“Agile Flicker Bracer?” Fatty examined the bracer’s attributes. A delighted smile crept across his face as he swung his arm. The size was perfect.

“Socket the rune gem. When you’re out on missions, stay alert and don’t let other team members get hurt. Understand?” Luo Yong said, handing Fatty several teleportation scrolls from his storage.

“Use these when you need to—don’t be stingy.”

“I understand, Luo Yong—no, Captain! I’ll be a worthy magical guardian!” Fatty patted his chest in earnest.

“That’s not enough. You must become an outstanding magical guardian,” Luo Yong smiled. After a pause, he handed Fatty another scroll.

“This is…”

“A single-use spell scroll. You know how to use it, right?”

“No.”

Luo Yong rolled his eyes, sighing, “Then give it to Wendy. She’s the vice-captain. While I’m away, you all have to follow her orders.”

“Yes, Luo Yong—Captain,” Fatty replied solemnly.

Luo Yong quietly left the camp. Reflecting on his recent experiences, he smiled wryly, his figure fading into the wilderness.

“Being captain is too much trouble. It’s still more carefree to level up on my own!”

With this thought, Luo Yong pressed onward, heading swiftly in his pre-planned direction.

By now, his class had changed to Wind Whisperer.

Elementalist, level 8, able to instantly cast Wind Blade.

As for his longsword, it now disguised itself as a bracer—an idea inspired by Fatty. Normally, the disguised blade looked like an ordinary bracer, but at critical moments, it could transform into a sword or staff as needed.

He traveled a long, long way through the wilderness, consulting his map repeatedly, but still couldn’t make sense of his location.

One thing was clear: he was lost again.

“Ah, the lamb that has lost its way, blinded by ignorance and folly…”

“Unable to see the path ahead, you stumble through darkness…”

“Like a pitiful soul crossing a river by feeling for stones, led by no guiding hand…”

“If you do not awaken in time and look within, you will be surrounded by darkness, consumed, and fall eternally into the abyss…”

As he passed through a certain area, Luo Yong heard a faint, mysterious voice at his ear.

It sounded like someone softly chanting a spell, or perhaps weeping, or like a girl whispering in the wind…

“What’s going on? Am I under some weird curse, hearing things?” Luo Yong quietly activated his Radiant Angel, bathing himself in a hazy glow to dispel any negative magical effects.

Yet, moments later, the voice came again.

“The starlight shall no longer guide you…”

“The Moon Goddess will no longer bless you…”

Who the hell is that supposed to mean?

Luo Yong kept the Radiant Angel hovering over his head like a talisman. Honestly, if it were life-sized, he might not be able to support it.

Ahem.

After walking a while longer in one direction, Luo Yong came upon two figures in a forest.

They were two young heroes, both melee fighters. One held a rapier, the other a light sword and shield.

In front of them was a one-eyed, bloodthirsty coyote. The beast bore a deep wound, still bleeding, though it was unclear where it had come from. The wound was not inflicted by these two.

Yet, for some reason, the coyote had its sights set on the two young heroes, growling lowly, ready to pounce at any moment.

It was clear the two young heroes were no match for it. If not for the coyote’s grievous injury, they would already be dead.

“Sylvie, don’t be afraid!” The taller hero tried to comfort her companion, though her own sword hand was trembling.

“I’m not afraid,” the other replied shakily, her voice quivering. “Goya, are we going to die here?”

“No… No, Sylvie, pull yourself together. We’re heroes, mighty warriors. We won’t be scared by a wounded beast!”

“I… I was asking if we’re going to die here…” Sylvie said.

Goya: “…”

Whoosh!

A wind blade shot silently from somewhere behind them, striking the coyote squarely and slicing it clean in two.

With a mournful howl, the level-7 coyote collapsed into the dust.