“So, the sword you got from the library event was something like a key?”

“You can say that… there are many kinds of swords in this world, and some are special. This white sword is perhaps the most special of them all. But, I can’t use it. And as long as I have this, the only special sword that I can use are the ones like that crimson sword that you have seen already.”

They are the actual keys.

And she was searching for the rest of them.

“The downsides are many.

When I got it, I lost all my levels and most of my unique stats were sealed along with my servants, skills, and powers.

Obtaining the original keys, the sword like that red one grants me back a certain portion of my powers– but with the ones like I got from the steller pouch, I can unlock a portion of those powers once.

Some common things will become available with level up as well. That’s why I am so focused on leveling and hunting.”

Elio knew just how precious that sword was, and if something that amazing was used as mere consumables, he did not want to imagine just how powerful the actual swords would be.

“I can’t even tell you a lot of things because of the restrictions from the trial of this sword.”

The restrictions were many. But, it allowed her to be with him. And she did not want anything more than that.

“Getting the sword was really a good thing. But, I did not expect that bastard to actually go that far.”

They traveled a little further after calming down and resting and set up a campsite when it was evening.

They were all tired and there was still a complicated air around them, so the mother and daughter had fallen asleep.

Az and Miu were chatting by themselves- or so it seemed- and Sera had gone away to survey the area.

The two of them were sitting by the fire, under the night sky, chatting about their first experience even worse than the dark magician.

“That bastard librarian… wasn’t he supposed to hold that tower master until we went to the next town?”

Alex was furious, but she was not feeling the same complicated emotions as he did.

Unlike he who did not have any power to do anything, she was fortunate enough to have that one chance to do something.

She was able to save them, but as she said, most of it was thanks to the circumstances.

“Let’s forget about him for now. He’s gone… nothing will come out of cursing the dead.”

He had calmed down a little.

He cried, he mourned, and he cursed himself for a long time away from their eyes.

And, he was fine now.

“Perhaps this was for the better.”

Had the librarian blocked him for now and he had appeared later on when they were leaving some other town or were going to the jungle, they would have been in big trouble.

And, things would have been even more complicated if she did not have that special power at that time.

“Haaa…”

An obstacle that could have been a hindrance to them later on was dealt with early in their journey.

And, thanks to her finishing him off, all of them had obtained a lot of EXP as well.

They got all the items he had, all the precious materials and things, and his magic staff was also in their possession now.

All three of them who fought against him obtained two rare achievements: [Mage killer (Rare)] for killing an officially recognised mage of great significance, and [Nature’s gratitude (Rare)] for some reason that they did not understand either.

“There’s a long road ahead.”

Alex killed him but she did not get any special achievement or rewards since she used the power of the sword.

Instead of receiving anything, she received a penalty where her stats would be reduced by half for the following few days.

The price to use a great power with her now weakened body was great as well, but that did not matter to her.

All that she cared about was the life of her partner as well as the ones that he cherished.

As he said, killing the mage was a good thing. She did not regret it.

However, since he was a mage’s tower master, his death would be noticed by the magic association soon and an investigation would start.

“I will say it again even though you know it already… none of this was your fault.”

“Of course.”

“Don’t smile like that then. It’s getting on my nerves now. Hmph.”

In case the association finds out that they were the ones to do it and comes after them, Alex will have to take care of them by herself.

But she thankfully would not have to fight with them or go through the long and uncomfortable procedures.

She would be alright. Life of a single (tier-4) mage was not that great to those association people.

“Haha, yes yes. I will start smiling.”

He was laughing. And, it wasn’t a fake laugh. Experience more tales on empire

“Good.”

He did not like that he was powerless, but one thing that dead mage said had remained on his mind.

‘I’m nothing special compared to people around me…’

It was a fact.

He was not skilled and experienced like Alex or Miss Rin, he was not special like Az and Miu, he was also not a unique existence like Misha and Sera.

He was a good mage perhaps, he might also be a good person. But, when it comes to combat… he was useless.

He did not want to kill. If it were up to him, he would have spared even the mage that caused them such trouble… he was greedy, he was arrogant, but the fact that he did not kill them outright also indicated that he was not an evil existence like the dark magician.

He was doing what he wanted because he was strong enough to do it all. And, being strong was not a bad thing.

‘Strength…’

What he needed, what he must obtain was strength unlike anything anyone else possesses. If he wanted to protect Them in extreme and unexpected situations like this one in the future…

He needed to find his strengths.

“Thanks for saving them.”

“I’ll do it again, and again until I cannot. They are as much as mine as they are yours.”

She kissed the hand that he had not let go of ever since they sat here…

It was late at night already, and they needed some sleep.

But until Miss Rin finishes her nap, they need to stay awake and keep watch over the rest of them who were done with their little sleep.

Camping was not that simple, especially when it was done in areas famous for monster attacks.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep