Chapter 305 - 290: It’s Up to You

Chapter 305: Chapter 290: It’s Up to You

The clamor of Alberti Manor gradually faded, left far behind.

The streets of Black Stone Town were exceptionally desolate at midnight.

The townspeople were either already tucked into their beds, hiding from the bitter cold, or gathered around bonfires outside the manor, feasting and drinking.

All that remained on the streets was the cold wind, sending dry leaves spinning with a RUSTLE.

After returning to the Night Flower Inn, Zelir gave Madam Dejian a casual wave and headed upstairs.

SLAM.

The door was shut heavily.

Sitting in his chair, Zelir’s mind was still a complete mess, his thoughts a restless jumble.

’Seriously...!’

Zelir ran a frustrated hand through his hair, mussing it up, then tore off his bow tie.

He wished he could just slam his fist into something to vent his frustration.

’What a bullshit Evil God.’

’Of all the times to show up, it had to be while I’m alive. Couldn’t it have waited to wreak havoc until after I was dead?’

’And then there are the so-called Six Gods.’

’They all have such intimidating names. Judgment, War...’

’Where were all of you when the world was ending?’

’Are you all dead?’

A cold draft drifted in from the window, the chill clearing Zelir’s head considerably.

He sighed.

’Sigh...’

’I should go explain everything to Bev tomorrow.’

’And apologize. I’d better be sincere about it.’

Zelir wasn’t sure how Bev would react, but regardless... he owed her an explanation.

’Leaving so abruptly tonight was definitely rude.’

’Wait...’

’Something’s not right.’

Zelir’s brow furrowed as he detected a sense of dissonance.

’Hasn’t the window been closed this whole time? Where is this draft coming from?’

He whipped his head around to look behind him.

His body reacted faster than his brain.

The instant Zelir turned, his right hand had already swiped across his Storage Pouch, and the Night Peace Staff appeared shimmering in his palm.

There was a figure sitting on the windowsill!

Zelir’s gaze was sharp.

"VMMM..."

Without a second thought, Magic Power began to flow into the staff. His strongest Attack Magic, Aurora Energy Beam, was rapidly gathering!

’I don’t know who they are, but it’s never wrong to be ready for a fight!’

"Whoa... no need to get so worked up. We’re old teammates, after all."

The figure by the windowsill raised their hands in a gesture of surrender.

She was backlit, so Zelir couldn’t see her face clearly yet.

’But that lazy, feminine voice... why does it sound so familiar?’

The woman maintained her surrender pose.

She hopped down from the windowsill, her movements light and her boots making no sound at all as they touched the floor.

Zelir raised his oil lamp to get a better look and his eyes widened.

"Hill?"

...

The blue Magic Power gathering in the Night Peace Staff dispersed, and Zelir shut the window again.

Hill pulled over a wooden chair and sat down across from Zelir.

"In the middle of the night... trying to scare someone to death."

Zelir tucked the Night Peace Staff back into his belt and shot Hill an annoyed glare. "Ever heard of knocking?"

"Sorry."

Hill pulled off her hood, and long, deep chestnut hair cascaded down. "Old habits from my line of work."

In the soft light of the room, Zelir could finally get a good look at Hill.

Compared to two months ago, Hill’s appearance hadn’t changed much.

Her upper body was still covered by a loose robe that hid her figure, while her lower half featured long legs clad in leather pants.

The tips of her high-heeled leather boots glinted in the lamplight. She had one leg crossed over the other, swinging it leisurely, looking very relaxed.

’If I had to point out a change...’

’...it’s that her aura seems to have become a little more dangerous.’

For some reason, that was just the feeling Zelir got.

As Zelir was sizing Hill up, her eyes roamed over him as well, her gaze turning playful.

"Haven’t seen you in two months, and you’ve gotten even more handsome."

Hill nodded. "Your outfit tonight looks quite nice."

"Ah..."

Zelir scratched his head. "I just got back from a ball."

"I can tell. You smell of another woman," Hill said with a smile.

"Could you please not say things that sound so suggestive?"

Zelir felt the atmosphere was getting a little strange.

"Anyway, where have you been? I went to Dark Alley Street twice to ask, but they said you were away on a long trip."

"Ah... I was indeed away on a long trip."

Hill leaned back in her chair again. "I took a contract from the Assassin’s Guild and went to carry out a mission."

’A contract from the Assassin’s Guild...’

Zelir fell silent for a moment, thinking.

’It probably wasn’t an aboveboard job. Some poor bastard has likely already met their end, right?’

"So, was there a reason you were looking for me in Dark Alley Street?" Hill asked.

"At the time, I wanted to ask you to do a contract with me... The pay was pretty good, but it’s in the past now." Zelir waved his hand dismissively.

"Your skills seem to have improved a lot..."

Hill narrowed her eyes, a gleam in their depths.

"That seamless reaction just now, and that surge of powerful Magic Power..."

"You must be a Junior Mage by now, right?"

"Yes." Zelir didn’t hide it, simply nodding in acknowledgement.

The last mission he had done with Hill before she left was taking Lante to the abandoned mine to clear out the Kobolds.

It was during that battle that Zelir had reached the threshold of a Junior Mage.

He then successfully advanced during the subsequent Tree Spirit extermination mission, becoming a Junior Mage.

"Such fast progress. While I was away on my mission, I also heard some interesting rumors..."

Hill covered her mouth with a light laugh. "Something about you showing up right at their door and capturing the Patriarch of the Wenmier Clan?"

"You can’t blame me for that."

Zelir spread his hands. "He was the one who tried to screw me over with a fake contract first. He should have been prepared for the consequences."

"So true... In any case, I just feel like you’ve changed so much, and it’s only been two months."