The Dreamer's POV

Chapter 89: Departure From Terance

[00 Months: 06 Days: 03 Hours]

Together with Benard and a striking woman named Fey, the best Ranger in Terance, we formed an elite rescue team.

Bernard's trusted deputy, Andre, was left in charge of the city as we ventured forth from Terance.

Our destination? The site of the brutal bandit attack on the Lyma Family's delegation.

As we approached the scene, I could already smell the distinct scent of blood and the acrid tang of burnt wood in the air.

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It was the smell of battle, of death. The carriage, once a symbol of wealth and power, lay in ruins.

Around me was a stark panorama of destruction and death. Dead bodies of both bandits and guards lay strewn across the terrain, their final moments etched onto their faces.

Dried blood painted the ground, forming a grotesque tableau that told a chilling tale of violence.

I could feel the echoes of their final screams, their futile struggles resonating in the very marrow of my bones.

Strangely, the sight of such carnage didn't faze me.

I felt no repulsion.

No overwhelming urge to retch at the sight of the carnage.

Instead, my mind was cool, analytical.

'This isn't my first encounter with the grotesque spectacle of death, but to think I actually don't feel anything now...'

It was a surprise to me.

As I surveyed the battlefield, my senses sharpened, absorbing every detail, every clue that might lead us closer to the Lyma delegate.

"By the spirits..." Fey muttered, her hand clapped over her mouth. "How can you... stand to look at it all, Luke?"

'Hm? She doesn't look too good.' I noticed the Ranger's pale countenance.

She looked at me, her wide eyes filled with a mixture of awe and concern.

"I feel like throwing up," she confessed, her voice barely more than a whisper. With that, she excused herself, moving away to a safe distance.

'Isn't she a veteran?' I wondered to myself.

I suppose, even for the Adventurers of this world, scenes like these didn't come by very frequently.

Benard drew closer to me, his face etched with worry. "I must commend your composure, lad," he said, his voice low.

"Such strength in the face of such brutality. It's astonishing."

"Is it?" I murmured, my eyes returning to the gore and hopelessness of the sight before me.

"I never thought I'd say this, but I'm impressed," he muttered. "Someone as young as you, standing so composed amidst this brutality... I've never seen it before."

I shrugged, my gaze not leaving the gruesome scene.

"I've seen my fair share of carnage," I said, my voice devoid of emotion. "You could say I've become... desensitized."

Silence filled the air for a moment after I spoke, almost as if the Guildmaster next to me was slowly absorbing the contents of my words.

"Perhaps," Bernard murmured, a somber note in his voice. "But I can't help but wonder just what you've seen that has allowed you to be this calm when looking at this."

I could sense the sadness in his tone as he walked away.

"I think that in itself is a tragedy..."

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{Moments Later}

[00 Months: 06 Days: 05 Hours]

When Fey returned, the color gradually finding its way back into her cheeks, she didn't waste a moment.

She hunched over, her keen eyes scanning the ground for the tiniest of clues. Her fingers gently ran over the churned earth, feeling for disturbances that the untrained eye couldn't see.

"They've attempted to cover their tracks," she muttered, her gaze narrow and focused. "But it's sloppy. They're clearly not experts at this."

I watched as Fey moved through the wreckage, her movements precise and methodical. Her words echoed in my mind, fueling a growing suspicion.

'Either they're amateurs, or they didn't think it mattered.'

Amateurs wouldn't have been able to dispatch a multitude of trained guards and overpower someone of Sirius' caliber. It was more plausible that they were arrogant in their strength, seeing no need to hide their trail.

I felt a tingle of wariness at this thought. I had to remind myself that I wasn't bound by any heroic vows here.

'If things end up getting too overwhelming, I have the choice to retreat.'

Yet, I also had to admit, there was a tantalizing lure to the risk. The potential reward, the advancement it could offer me, was difficult to ignore.

'If we save the delegate, my plan succeeds. I might even be able to score more points with Benard and establish some sort of connection with the Lyma Family.'

Plus, if the enemy was strong, and I defeated them... I could finally get the chance to Level Up.

'I've been plateaued in Level 35 for a while now...'

While I was still considering all of this, a third possibility slowly began to form, a hypothesis that chilled me to my core.

'Is there a chance that these bandits are merely pawns?'

What if they were simply amateurs being manipulated by someone who was an Earth Survivor like me?

It made sense, then.

'That's why they would be very strong, yet sloppy in hiding their tracks.'

What if this was simply a cunning strategy masked by seemingly sloppy execution?

If this was the case, I was walking into a more dangerous situation than I had initially thought.

'So many factors to consider. I should use <Immersion>, just in case.' I finally decided in my thoughts.

As we followed Fey, tracking the cryptic trail through the dense foliage and over rugged terrain beyond the barren path, I mentally steeled myself for whatever lay ahead.

The forest around us grew denser, the shadows beneath the thick canopy of trees deepening.

The air was laden with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves, punctuated by the shrill calls of unseen creatures.

My senses were on high alert, my body primed for any potential threats.

I watched Fey's back as she led the way, Bernard following closely, his usual joviality replaced by a severe grimace.

All the while, my mind was spinning, analyzing every possible outcome, every possible threat.

I didn't know where this trail would lead us. But one thing was certain, I had to be prepared for anything.

'No risks... no rewards.'

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[A/N]

What will happen from this point on? Stick around to find out!

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