Bab 16: Chapter 16: Entrusting the Future
"Over thirty people killed in metropolitan area. "
I read the headline of an online news article.
"During the past 24 hours, 36 people have been murdered in the metropolitan area. The police stated that the cases are very likely to be connected as the victims were all found in a brutal manner. "
"Shit... I'm really lucky Albert saved me. "
If he didn't come, I'd probably be a mangled sack of meat now.
"Well. Now I know that I'll have to be careful. "
I stood up and prepared for work.
After doing all my preparations, I left some bread for Amelia on the table.
"Now that's done, it's time for me to head out. "
I turned towards the door when Amelia called me.
"Joshua. " she called.
Amelia was still half asleep, yet speaking coherently.
"Hmm? You're awake already? "
"Do you want me to come with you? " she asked.
"Come with me? " I asked back.
"Yes. It's dangerous out there. You might get hurt. "
"It's fine. Last night must've been a freak accident. "
"Are you sure? "
"Yes. "
"Alright. Just be careful out there. "
She then returned to sleep.
I can't help but to smile.
"Thank you. "
"That's all. "
"Yes sir. We'll do it right away. "
*creak*
*click*
The door closed.
"Are you really sure about this, Merlin? "
"Yes. I have to do everything I can to close the gate. "
"But coming to the front lines yourself... You no longer have your magic power. You're just going to get yourself killed. "
"Don't worry, I'll won't be charging into the front lines. I'll just handle the headquarters myself. "
"Then I'll go with you. You'll never know what may happen in this world. Ever since the gate opened, the natural order no longer makes any sense. "
"Yes. That's why I asked help from Eden. Earth can't defend against the World Ender's alone. The avatars are still in deep slumber. "
"It shouldn't be soon until one awakens. All the chaos in this world is bound to wake up one somehow. "
"An avatar prematurely awakening might be a good thing and a bad thing. But all we can do is hope for the best. "
*Ring*
The chime rang as I entered the store.
"Speaking of Joshua, here he comes! " Michelle exclaimed.
The manager was talking to Michelle and Albert.
"Joshua. I'll leave Albert's training to you. I'm pretty sure that you can handle it given your performance for the past few days. "
The managed placed her hands on my shoulders.
"Alright. I'll do my best. " I told her.
"Good. Come to the staff room later. I need to talk to you three. "
The manager then went to the staff room.
"Well then. I guess I'll be in your care Joshua. " said Albert.
"This feels a bit weird. Given that you're Albert and all. "
I scratched the back of my head.
"Oh right! Thanks again for saving me yesterday. I was almost a goner. "
I reached my hand out.
" No problem. "
Albert shook my hand.
"Wait a minute, saving you? Did something happen yesterday? " Michelle asked me.
"I was attacked by a monster. " I replied.
"A monster!? Are you alright!? " Michelle exclaimed.
"It's fine, Albert was able to save me right before I was mauled to death. " I told her.
*ring*
"Hey. There's a customer. " Albert pointed.
"Oh! I'll handle this. Watch us for the meantime Albert. " I told him.
I just finished my breakfast.
"Well then... What should I do? "
I suddenly remembered something.
"Monsters... "
"The people of this world are in danger... "
I went to the dressing room and changed into my uniform.
I grabbed my rapier and headed towards the door.
"Where do you think you're going? "
A man stood in front of me.
"Huh!? Where did tou come from!? "
I drew my rapier.
"Please put that down, Iris of Iron and Blood. " The man said.
"How do you know that!? "
I pointed my rapier at him.
"Put that down! Put that down! " He exclaimed.
"Answer my question then! " I shouted.
"Jeez... I was about to do that anyway... " I heard him mutter.
"I am the Grand Mage of Eden. " he said.
The man summoned a staff.
"The Staff of Avalon... "
He really is the Grand Mage...
"Yes. Now please put that down... "
I sheathed my rapier.
"I deeply regret my actions. I hope you can forgive me. "
I knelt down in apology.
"It's alright. This usually happens. "
Usually?
I stood up.
"Well then, may I ask what are you doing here sir? "
"I came here to tell you something. " he said with a serious tone. "Please come with me. I'll tell you everything. "
The Grand Mage then led me to a car.
A butler opened the door for us.
"Let's go. " The Grand Mage gestured.
I entered the car.
"Let's go to the convenience store. " he told the driver.
The driver nodded and the car started to move.
"We'll pick up another friend of mine, Knight of Iris. He's also in a predicament similar to yours. " The Grand Mage smiled.
"Thank you for you purchase. Please come again. " Albert told the customer.
*Ring*
The customer left the store.
"Wow. You're a natural. The customers" I told Albert.
"Well he does have an S-Rank Charisma. " Michelle said proudly.
"Yeah, just like Amelia. " I muttered.
" ... "
" ... "
"Wait!? S-Rank Charisma!? " I shouted.
"Just like Amelia!? " Michelle shouted.
""You play Paradise Lost too?!? ""
Michelle and I pointed at each other.
"Come here you three. Let the others handle the store for a while. " the manager called us.
We then went inside the staff room.
"I called you here to discuss the serial murders . " said the manager.
"I don't think it's a series of murders ma'am . A monster attacked me last night. I only survived thanks to Albert. " I told her.
"Yes. I called you to discuss the monsters. " she said.
"You see, the foundation has been trying to hide the fact that monsters exist in this world. You can only imagine the chaos once the people learn that monsters exist. " the manager said.
"Monsters?... So there really are monsters in this world... " Michelle muttered.
"Yes. Monsters do exist. The foundation has kept control over the monster infestation. However, these past few weeks, the monsters have grown considerably in number. I'm telling you to be careful outside especially during nighttime. " said the manager.
"I'll be more careful this time around. I don't want to be monster food. " I told her.
"I'll be careful. " Michelle said.
"I don't let my guard down. " said Albert.
"I know. Knight Commander Albert Kingsley. " said the manager.
"You know? " he asked her.
"Yes. The Grand Mage will be coming here soon. He wishes to discuss something with you. " she told him.
"The Grand Mage huh?... He probably has the answers to my questions... " said Albert.
As if on cue, someone entered the door.
"Hello there manager. "
Mr. Pendragon entered the room.
"Boss. I've told them about the monsters. " the manager told him.
"Good work. Now then. People's Champion. Please come with me. I'll discuss something important with you. " he told Albert.
Albert looked at the manager.
"You'll be excused for the day. " she told him.
Albert turned towards Michelle.
"Wait for me here. I'll come back to get you. " he told her.
"No, no. Don't worry. I can go home on my own. Besides, my time out is before nighttime today. " Michelle said.
"Alright. Take care then. " Albert said. He stood up and approached Mr. Pendragon.
"Let's go. "
The two of them then left the room.
"Well then. That's all. Get back to work. " the manager said.
Michelle and I then headed back to the counter.
"I wonder what are they talking about?... " I heard Michelle mutter.
"Maybe something about the monsters? " I told her.
"That's probably correct. " she replied.
We then manned the counter for a while.
"Alright! Time for lunch! " Michelle exclaimed.
"Already? That was fast. " I said.
"It's already lunchtime but Albert still isn't here. What could they be doing? " Michelle asked herself.
She's waiting for Albert huh?...
Wait. Could she be?...
"Hey Michelle. Do you play Paradise Lost? " I asked her.
"Play? No! I just heard about it! " she replied.
"Then how did you meet Albert? "
"Albert?... Well... I can't really say... "
She's avoiding the question.
"Don't tell me he just came out of nowhere. "
"What? No! I just met him somewhere! "
She's trying to hide something.
"Hmm... Did you happen to pull for him last anniversary banner? " I asked her.
"Anniversary banner?... What's that?... W-what are you talking about!?... "
Michelle seems nervous.
"There were rumors that UR Equipment so I whaled a little bit. But only UR weapons, armor, and pets were pulled from the gacha. No partner cards were pulled. " I told her.
"That's right... " Michelle eased up.
"I'll be heading back to the stock room! " she shouted.
Michelle was about to head back to the staff room when I said something.
"You wouldn't happen to have pulled Albert from the gacha did you? "
"...How do you know?... "
Michelle turned around. I see.
My hunch was right.
Then it will be fine if I also reveal her.
"You see. I'm in a similar situation. " I told Michelle.
"Similar situation? What do you mean? " she asked.
"I also pulled someone from the gacha. " I replied.
"You got a parner card too!? Who is it- "
*creak*
"Joshua. Michelle. Come with me. "
The manager suddenly opened the door.
We then followed her outside.
"I'll leave the store to you. You know what to do. " The manager told a coworker of mine.
We headed outside.
A limousine was waiting for us.
"A limo!? We're riding a limo!? " Michelle exclaimed.
"Yes. Let's go. " the manager replied.
Upon boarding the limo, we were greeted by a lavish interior.
"Woah..... "
I can't help to be in awe of the limousine. The blue velvet seats, the wine rack, the flat screen TV. Everything looks so fancy.
"Where are we going manager? " Michelle asked.
"We'll go to the Metro Skyline. We need to discuss something important. " she replied.
After a while, we reached the tower.
We went up to the fifth floor.
"Here we are. " said the manager.
Room 537. Mr. Pendragon lives here.
*creak*
The manager opened the door.
"Oh! Here they come. Welcome, adventurers. " Mr. Pendragon greeted us.
"Amelia? "
I saw her seated inside the room.
She greeted me with a smile.
"Please be seated. " Mr. Pendragon gestured.
"She knows you? " Michelle asked me.
"Yeah. " I replied.
.
"So you pulled Amelia from the gacha! " she exclaimed.
"That's right. " I replied.
"Now then. With your summoners here, I can now discuss the current situation. " said Mr. Pendragon.
"Earth is currently in grave danger. We are under the threat of a world ender. " he told us.
"World Ender!? " I shouted.
"THAT World Ender!?! " Michelle exclaimed.
"Yes. " Mr. Pendragon answered.
I looked at the others. Albert and Amelia both had a grave expression on their faces.
"No way... What are we going to do!? " Michelle asked Mr. Pendragon.
"As of now, we can't do anything but wait. " he answered.
"Wait? For what? " I asked.
"The avatars. They will be the Earth's defense system against the World Enders. " he answered.
"The avatars? What are those? " I asked.
"Humans with awakened potential. Thet wouldn't be much different than these two over here. " he said, looking at Amelia and Albert.
"When will they come? " I asked.
"We don't know the exact date. All we know is that the avatars and the world enders will descend on the Earth soon. " he said.
"Is waiting really the only thing we can do? "
Amelia suddenly spoke up.
"Yes. Even star-ranked adventurers like you will have difficulty in dealing with the world enders. We can only wait for the avatars to increase our combat strength. " said Mr. Pendragon.
"Pardon me boss, don't you have enough power to fight a world ender? You are the Grand Mage after all. " asked the manager.
"Sadly, I don't. I'm spending all of my mana in keeping the dimensional barrier from shattering. " Mr. Pendragon replied.
"The dimensional barrier? Why? Is it currently at a severely weakened state? " Amelia asked.
"Yes. That's why I have to put all of my magic into maintaining it. One small crack on the barrier will cause a massive flow of monsters into the worlds. " he replied.
"I see. Then we're really on our own against the world ender for now. " Albert said.
"Yes. We need to hold on before the avatars awaken. " Mr. Pendragon replied.
"By the way, why are we the only ones you pulled from Eden? Surely a few star-ranked adventurers won't be enough to deal with them. " Albert asked.
"Opening a large portal will severely weaken the dimensional barrier. Believe me, I tried to get as much people as I can. " Mr. Pendragon said.
"Then how strong is our combat force currently? " Albert asked him.
"As of now, our current force is composed of about than five hundred E -rank, three hundred D-rank, two hundred C-rank, one hundred B-rank, fifty A-rank, and five star-ranked adventurers. " he replied.
"I don't want to die... Is there really nothing we could do? " Michelle spoke up.
"Unfortunately, no. However, I could at least give you a way of protecting yourselves. " Mr. Pendragon said.
"Protecting... Ourselves?... " I was confused.
"Wait a minute. "
Mr. Pendragon pulled out a phone and talked to someone.
"Bring me equipment based on #130127 and #142637 along with my previous order. "
He then closed the phone.
"They'll be here in a short while. " he said.
"Excuse me, Mr. Pendragon? "
"Please just call me Merlin. "
"Well then, Mr. Merlin. What do you mean by protection? " I asked him.
"I'll be giving you weapons and armor to protect yourselves. " he replied.
"Weapons and armor? You're going to make them fight at the battlefield!? " Amelia shouted.
"Calm down Knight of Iris. I won't let innocents be harmed in our battles. I decided to give them equipment to protect themselves. Knowing that they are closely tied to you two, it is inevitable that they will encounter monsters eventually. " Merlin told Amelia.
Amelia then looked at me.
"I understand. " she said.
.
"Are you okay with this Michelle? " Albert asked her.
"It's fine. I won't be fighting anyway. " Michelle replied. .
"Oh. Here they come. " Merlin said.
Six people dressed in combat gear entered the room carrying boxes of different sizes.
"Here's your orders sir. " a woman said.
"Thanks. You can leave them at the table. " Merlin told her.
They left the boxes at the table and left the room.
I felt something mysterious from the black boxes.
"These boxes contain the equipment you'll be using against the world enders. For now, this is the only thing I can do to help you. " Merlin said.
"Now then. I trust that our future is in good hands. " Merlin smiled.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone