Chapter 119

Chapter 119

When we reached Wolfwater, Noele immediately retired to bed. She was far too exhausted to deal with my shit— I was paraphrasing, of course. But the meaning of the message was the same. She was visibly more tired than either of the other two adventurers who accompanied her to Arelioth’s Pass, even though they had all experienced mostly the same battles.

Garron escorted her back to her house, but Saros stayed behind. The Gnome Inventor wasn’t sticking around me because he wanted to... he made it abundantly clear multiple times as he followed me to my restaurant. Instead, he accompanied me because he still needed to write up a report about the incident at Arelioth’s Pass for the Adventurer’s Guild.

I ensured he omitted a handful of details, of course. For example— I made him remove any mention of my involvement at any level. In this... slightly revised version of events, Guardian Angel Z357 hadn’t betrayed the three adventurers. In fact, he was written to be the one who saved the day. After flying off to deal with an unseen threat, he returned just in time to confront the revived and Void-empowered Lich King. And after a hard-fought, he came out victorious.

Saros wasn’t too happy about making these changes to the story. However, he eventually acquiesced, even if he grumbled about it the entire time.

“Why must you even tell the Adventurer’s Guild about what happened, anyways?” I asked with a raised brow as he continued scribbling away at his notebook in the lobby of the restaurant.

It was still morning. So Bucky’s Out of this World Restaurant was empty. Except for Bucky who was already awake. She ecstatically greeted me when I returned, not knowing what had occurred overnight.

I fed her a handful of seeds as I glanced up at the Gnome Inventor sitting atop a table.

“Over the last month, I have carried out an extensive investigation into the Sect of the Abyssal Thorns. They are growing bolder and bolder by the passing day, and their ideology is only spreading. But no one knows that. The current policy held by the Adventurer’s Guild is to ignore them. So this is my official petition to change that stance.”

Saros spoke softly, his gaze darkening as he slowed his writing. I drew back from Bucky and stared at him.

“Even an angel has descended from the heavens to fend off the Void. If the Adventurer’s Guild rejects my petition, then I know that it’s rotten from the inside...”

“Right.”

I watched as he sighed and lowered his head. The gnome looked tired— rightfully so. He had been desperately trying to prevent the revival of Ar’elith for a few weeks now. Or to be more accurate, he was incredibly relieved, which fed to his exhaustion.

Even if the First Lich King wasn’t technically dead since Arthur was still around. But I knew that the Gnome Inventor was glad he didn’t have to worry about a looming, impending apocalyptic event. He was still worried about the Sect of the Abyssal Thorns. But to a significantly less extent than he was about Ar’elith.

Although... Saros was still partially upset about that.

I heard a set of footfalls approaching the main lobby from the kitchen. I looked back as Bucky tilted her head, and the gnome scowled. Two figures emerged from the back of the restaurant, wearing identical clothing.

The first was Harlan. A former guardsman, and the first employee I brought into my restaurant. He was relatively young. Like he was in his mid-twenties at the latest. Broad-shouldered, tall. He had calloused, olive skin that made it evidently clear that he had spent a substantial amount of time laboring under the sun.

Meanwhile, the second figure accompanying him was quite the polar opposite. He was slender and pale-skinned. An inch or so shorter than Harlan, but clearly older. Not in an insulting way. He looked like he was perhaps in his early-thirties. And yet, he wore a timeless gaze on his face.

He was Arthur. Previously known as Ar’elith. The former Lich King, and currently my third employee. The initial posting of this chapter occurred via Ñøv€l-B!n.

I got back to my feet. “That’s not true. I said I’ll be right back.”

“And you didn’t return!” Dorien exclaimed. “You vanished, and I waited for you for over an hour!”

I just shrugged. “Sorry about that— but I had to deal with a few things. And apparently they were more troublesome than I thought they’d be.”

The [Druid] narrowed his eyes at me, peering suspiciously. But he couldn’t decipher the meaning behind my cryptic words. Not unless he could read my mind. I approached him as I waved a hand dismissively.

“Anyways, all that matters is you’re here now. So, where are the bees?” I asked as I tilted my head at him.

“They’re—” he started.

But a voice interrupted him. We glanced back to stare at Harlan standing by the bar with a frown. Arthur stood by his side, looking just as lost as Dorien and I.

“Bees?” Harlan asked, furrowing his brows. “What bees?”

“Bees— you know, the one that makes honey?” I waved a hand dismissively. “We’ll be setting up one of their hives here right outside of the restaurant.”

“You’re doing... what?” Harlan stared at me in shock.

“And they’re no ordinary bees either— they’re bastion bees,” Dorien added as he rubbed his temples. “I have no idea how she did it, but she managed to convince Quebi to give her a few workers for their honey.”

Arthur looked as confused as ever. He didn’t visibly react beyond glancing around, puzzled. However, Harlan’s jaw dropped.

“Bastion bees? You can’t be serious, right? I thought they were on the brink of extinction!”

“They are,” Dorien said with a nod. “And they’re also waiting for you right outside of Wolfwater, Amelia.”

Harlan sighed as he murmured to himself. “This is insane— first an angel, and now bastion bees? At least you’re mostly normal, right Arthur?”

Arthur just winced at that. “I’m... uh...”

But before he could reply, I dusted my hands off as I turned to Dorien. I strode forward with a grin plastered onto my face.

“Well, let’s go fetch my bees— we don’t want to keep them waiting for too long.”

The [Druid] rolled his eyes in response. “And yet, you left me all by myself for over an hour..."