C23 It Is More Complicated than It Actually Is

"Otherwise, how could I have managed such a precise stab if I hadn't seen it coming?" Egerton said with a chuckle.

"I've been defeated." The heretic said no more, bowed his head, and accepted his fate.

With the swing of a sword, a head dropped to the ground, blood spraying in all directions. Egerton's icy gaze then turned to the remaining groups.

"So, what should I do with you all next?"

...

Upon reaching the 100th floor of Skyreach Spire, it felt as though they had awakened from an extended dream. Egerton and his companions had returned to this world once more.

"Have we... have we really come back from that accursed Illusion World?"

Bran pinched his face hard, giving it several sharp slaps. The pain brought him an ecstatic realization.

"Do you have a masochistic streak? Could you find a secluded corner for that? It's not a good look," Egerton remarked with a look of distaste.

"Holy smokes, Egerton, you're unbelievably amazing. Are you even human?" Bran asked, his face alive with excitement.

"If I'm not human, what does that make me, a ghost?" Egerton replied, somewhat irritated.

"How could you be so formidable? Those were Level A magical creatures, and you took them all down single-handedly. My god, it's horrifying!" Bran couldn't contain his amazement.

"That's because my strength reached Class 5 inside there, and you advanced to Class 4, didn't you?" Egerton countered.

"But even at Class 5, it shouldn't be that extreme, should it?" Ngoh said, shaking his head.

"And how do you know that the young adventurer Elvin wasn't that extraordinary before?" Egerton asked with a smile.

"Definitely not. He's known for his strategic command and big-picture thinking. His personal combat skills are decent, but they're nowhere near your level!" Bran asserted confidently.

"Maybe I'm just naturally suited to be a Storm Caster. Too bad I'm not one," Egerton said, gesturing dismissively.

He certainly couldn't reveal to them that the Storm Caster class was so unbeatable in his hands because he was a transmigrator whose greatest skill had always been manipulating the wind.

"It's quite dull, really. You hog all the limelight while the rest of us are just spectators!"

Bran decided not to dwell on it any further, but as he reminisced about the previous events, he spoke with a sense of longing still in his voice.

"Do you want me to send you back in to take another look?" Egerton asked with a sinister grin.

"It's very strange," Hankamer blurted out abruptly.

"What's so strange?" Bran inquired, turning to him.

"Apart from Egerton and Verl, our four identities are quite peculiar," Hankamer clarified.

"What's peculiar about them?" Bran was confused.

"It is indeed a bit odd," Macleay agreed with a nod.

"That's true!" Realization quickly dawned in Ngoh's eyes.

"Stop speaking in riddles and just tell me what's so strange!" Bran demanded, clearly frustrated.

"Apart from me and Verl, the four of you are members of Winterbloom and Stormrage. But since this is a memory from Elvin's past, why would you be integrated into such roles?" Egerton disclosed the answer.

"Could it just be random?" Bran suggested, unconcerned.

"It's not random. In fact, our six identities are the most crucial in that event. We are the indispensable six needed to resolve it!" Egerton shook his head, dismissing the idea.

He hadn't intended to reveal this, but since Macleay and the others had already figured it out, there was no point in concealing it any longer.

"Verl was attacked by Hayo. If it had been the real Reine, she probably would have anticipated this. So, unlike this time where Elvin intervened, it would have been Reine who took action," Macleay explained.

"Conversely, Elvin's abilities are nowhere near Egerton's previous display. Hence, the former approach would have certainly failed, meaning the solution had to come from a different method. The prearranged pawns are the most logical explanation."

"...So, you're saying that the roles the four of us played were actually pawns that Elvin had strategically placed in advance, ready to turn the tide at a critical moment?" Bran finally understood, his voice laced with astonishment.

He had only considered how this event concluded, not the complexity of the original situation.

"Surviving this was indeed no small feat," Macleay acknowledged with a nod, giving Egerton a meaningful glance.

With only half an hour to get acquainted with our identities and determine our course of action, it was challenging, especially without the memories of our predecessors. We were essentially groping in the dark.

In such a scenario, it was nearly impossible for the original group to succeed, even if they attempted the mission again.

In other words, it was a task that, by conventional means, simply couldn't be completed.

Yet, they had managed to pull it off, and the pivotal factor—or rather, the sole factor—was Egerton.

"So, would you like me to bill you for my services?" Egerton asked with a smile, lightening the heavy atmosphere.

He hadn't considered this at first. It only dawned on him when Hayo made his move against Verl.

In that instant, Egerton realized that Verl and her companions were also contributors, and thus they must have had some significance.

But their roles were rendered insignificant by his exceptionally unique presence.

This time it was so, but would it be the same next time?

Egerton gazed at the Level SSS mission still displayed in his mind's taskbar and shook his head silently.

The mission was far from concluded!

In the slums of Sigil Street, in front of a rundown courtyard, a young girl named Quintana sat on a backless chair, her eyes distant as if lost in a delightful daydream.

"How long has Sister Quintana been sitting there?" Two little heads peeked out from a ramshackle wooden hut.

"It's been about an hour now. What's gotten into Sister Quintana?" the little boy asked with concern.

"I'm not sure, but when Mom missed Dad, she had that same look," the little girl remarked.

"But Sister Quintana isn't married yet!" the little boy said, puzzled.

"That means Sister Quintana has found someone special!" the little girl concluded with confidence.

"It can't be that sudden, can it? Sister Quintana was just fine yesterday!"

"That must mean Sister Quintana experienced love at first sight!" the little girl asserted.

"Torros, Tomer, you two little rascals, stop slacking off!" an elderly woman chided as she emerged from the house.

"We're not, Grandma Noelle! We're just worried about Sister Quintana!" Tomer, the little girl, protested.

"Quintana, it's okay, I know what's going on with her. It's nothing to fuss over," Noelle said with a gentle smile.

After sending the two playful children on their way, Noelle glanced at Quintana, who was still lost in thought, and approached her.

"Quintana, follow your heart and don't worry about us."

"Oh, Grandma Noelle, no, I can't. It's just a foolish fantasy. Besides, you raised me. I only became a Class 2 believer because you scrimped and saved for the Divine Infusion ceremony. I can't disregard you and the others just for my own desires," Quintana replied, startled, then quickly shook her head.

She had already shared yesterday's events with Noelle, so there was no element of surprise now.

"The Divine Infusion Ritual for Class 1 only costs 10 silver coins, which you've completely paid off. You don't need to live like you did in the past. Just helping us out a bit each month is more than enough."

Noelle gazed at the determined young woman before her, sighing softly to herself.

If Quintana hadn't given all her extra money to them, how could she, now a Class 2, be without any armor or combat boots?

Twenty silver coins could sustain an ordinary family for two to three years. To the impoverished residents of the slum, it was nearly an inconceivable sum, enough to support dozens of people for several years.

Understanding this made Quintana all the more appreciative that Noelle had managed to save up a full 10 silver coins to allow her to become a Class 1 believer.

"How could I possibly do that! Listen, Noelle, I know you're worried, but I've grown up. I can handle many things on my own now, so please, don't worry, okay?" Quintana grasped Noelle's hand, her plea sincere.

"About that boy—"

"Let's not, Noelle. I'm heading to Sunblessed Vale now. We can talk when I get back, alright?" Quintana batted her eyelashes playfully.

"I just hope she doesn't push herself too hard."

Watching Quintana walk away, Noelle was consumed with concern.

"I can't keep making Noelle and the others worry. Today, I must join a steady Adventure Team. That's the only way I'll make enough money to give Noelle and the others a better life and help them become Class professionals!"

With her resolve firm, Quintana approached the Skyreach Spire in Sunblessed Vale, her heart brimming with hope and ambition.

"We'd love to have you on our team, but you really should get some more defensive gear. No matter how strong your healing powers are, we can't let you face magical creatures without proper protection!"

"Do you have any combat experience, Self-Mender with no armor?"

"If you've got nothing to offer, don't waste our time. What do you think our Adventure Team is?"

Quintana's attractive appearance offered her no advantages. The harsh reality that Egerton had faced just the day before hit her hard, and she realized just how critical a single piece of armor could be for her current situation.

After approaching dozens of Adventure Teams, Quintana found their responses to be remarkably consistent, which brought her a measure of relief, but also a profound sense of disappointment. The relief stemmed from the realization that these teams, which had turned her away, were all earnest and professional, indicating that charlatans like the ones she encountered yesterday were not common at the foot of Skyreach Spire.

The disappointment, however, was palpable. Hours had slipped by in her search, and she was no closer to finding what she sought.