Chapter 283 - Intermission part 2

Afeus looked at the piece of paper in front of him and was dumbfounded. He read it over and over again, but no matter how much he looked at it the words did not change. His name was truly written in the list of participants. 

"Why is my name in here?!" 

"If I have to guess, Kretos was the one who did it. After defeating the Osted Family, most of the Professors can't stand up to him. So if he asked them to put your name as a participant in the tournament, it would be easy." 

When Afeus heard Mia's explanation he found that what she said made a lot of sense. Based on his understanding of Kretos, he might have really done that.

'I don't have a choice now... If I don't join the tournament and Kretos finds out, he might stop teaching me his ways, or worse he might just kill me outright. I guess joining the tournament might be beneficial to me.' Afeus once again sighed as he accepted his fate. 

...

On the road to the Serbek Kingdom, Valdel alongside his two weapon spirits and the Holy Maiden of the Temple of Justice were walking on the road. He was looking at the invitation letter he received from the Head Priest of the Temple of Justice. 

This was the invitation letter for the Temple of Justice to join the upcoming tournament hosted by the Serbek Kingdom. At first, the Head Priest had no intention of joining the tournament, since there was no need. But seeing as Valdel needed to enter the Serbek Kingdom, this was the easiest way. It was a good thing the Head Priest remembered the letter before Valdel left. 

He was now representing the Temple of Justice in this tournament. Just so that he wouldn't raise suspicion, the Temple of Justice also sent Natasha to join the tournament as well. 

...

During their journey, the group had many stopovers. They helped a town from bandit attacks. They saved an ailing mother by helping a little girl find some herbs on a mountain. They thought an earnest-looking boy who had a dream to become a knight a few basic sword swings and gave him a sword. All of these events happened within a week. 

Natasha was rather amazed by how Valdel attracted such events. Everywhere they went it seems like there was someone in dire need of something, and Valdel would happily help all of them. As someone who was from the Temple of Justice, she too couldn't turn a blind eye on some of those events. 

Also, they got something in return for doing those things. From the village that they saved, Valdel was given an amulet that grants the wearer an increase in strength. The Village Elder claimed that it was from an ancient hero who established their village and retired. 

From the little girl whose mom they saved, they were given a bunch of healing potions. Turns out the mother of the little girl was a rather famous alchemist. The healing potions she gave were of the highest quality, which was the equivalent of a high healing spell. 

From the boy, Valdel thought a bit of swordsmanship, Valdel acquired a promise. The boy who Valdel claims to have a potential greater than his own had promised Valdel that when he needs him no matter the task he would do it. 

Natasha had witnessed these ordinary people turn out to be more than they seem. Valdel would save someone and he gets something incredible in return. 

His luck was incredible it was like it could defy destiny itself. If Natasha didn't know who Ren was, she might have felt that Valdel was abnormal. Yet if you place Valdel beside Ren, Valdel would look ordinary in comparison. 

While Natasha was thinking of these random things, the group suddenly heard a scream. Valdel without any hesitation quickly moved into action. 

...

Upon arriving at the scene, Valdel saw a group of men surrounding a lone girl. She was trembling in fear as she cried for help. Valdel reacted almost unconsciously as he stood in front of the crying girl. 

"Have you people no shame, ganging up on a woman like this!" Valdel shouted at the group of men. Natasha and the two weapon spirits appeared behind the group of men. Seeing the newcomers the leader of the group of men responded. 

"I don't know who you are, but don't be mistaken, we are not the ones in the wrong. It is that monster you're trying to protect that's in the wrong." 

"Yeah, she killed my wife!" 

"She murdered my entire family!" 

"I saw her devour my brother!"

"Don't be fooled by the way she looks that's how she gets you." 

When Valdel looked at the girl behind him, he used his mana to sense if there was anything wrong with her. After checking her out Valdel didn't sense anything out of place. He then looked at his comrades and wanted to see what they think. 

Zwei shook her head, Nika was oblivious as to what was happening, and Natasha also found nothing wrong with the girl. 

"I think there's a misunderstanding here." Valdel talked more calmly this time. 

"There's no misunderstanding! We need to kill that monster before she kills anyone else!" The leader of the group shouted at Valdel. His shout made the girl behind Valdel flinch as she started trembling even more. 

"Do you have any proof that she did everything you claim she did?" 

"... We have no proof, but she was the only one with my wife at the time." 

"That doesn't prove anything." 

"I don't have any physical proof but I did see her devour my brother with my very own eyes!" 

"Could you have been drunk at the time?" 

"... I was, but that..." 

"It seems like there really is a misunderstanding here."

"It doesn't matter if we have proof or none! We must slay the evil monster!" The group men were now looking a bit more deranged. Seeing them act like this, Valdel spoke in a tenser tone. 

"I advise you to leave this poor woman alone, or else." Valdel used a spell to summon a wall of fire. When the villagers saw this all their courage disappeared and they fled the scene. Valdel sighed as he looked at the trembling girl and spoke in a gentle voice. 

"It's alright now, you're safe now." Valdel extended his hand towards the girl. The girl hesitated a bit before she held Valdel's hand and stood up. While Valdel was helping the girl up Natasha was looking at the girl in a weird way. Natasha saw for a brief second when the villagers fled in fear, the girl looked like she smiled.

'It must be my imagination.'