Chapter 404 404-The Unforgiving Drill Instructor

Chapter 404 404-The Unforgiving Drill Instructor

"I haven't made a specific decision yet, but they are among the potential candidates," Antalya said calmly.

"Then why did you speak like that?" Greg seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, "You sounded like you had decided to step down."

"I have indeed made that decision," Antalya nodded this time.

"Honestly, we are no longer suited for taking on quests, my situation aside, you also don't have a successor, do you? If that's the case, the adventure group might just get disbanded under our watch!"

"Right now, our priority isn't undertaking quests, but finding suitable successors!"

Antalya's words left Greg feeling somewhat disheartened.

She was right, but such a decision wasn't easy to make.

For him, the adventure group was everything, and now he was expected to hand over everything he had to someone else... potentially a stranger!

It was a concept that anyone would struggle to come to terms with in the moment.

With his head bowed in thought and Antalya silent, merely sitting and observing him, she seemed much older than her appearance suggested.

Despite looking only seventeen or eighteen, Antalya exuded an elder's aura, making Greg seem like nothing more than a restless young man in her presence.

After a long contemplation, Greg seemed to reach a decision.

He looked up at Antalya, "I respect your decision, if you choose them as successors. But, I won't easily hand over the adventure group... If they can't meet the standards, even if the adventure group is to be disbanded, I won't pass the flag to them!"

"Of course." Antalya smiled too, but her smile carried a hint of mischief and triumph, laced with anticipation.

"Ali, what do you think... about the quest the manager mentioned... What level of difficulty might it be?"

Howard sat on the bed, with Jelia beside him, obediently letting Howard help her comb her hair.

Although there were no suitable clothes to change into, Howard had still helped Jelia wash her face.

The little orc seemed somewhat unaccustomed to these kind of affectionate gestures, not resisting but appearing somewhat flustered.

"I'm not quite sure, but if the opponent is also a level 3 magus... I suppose it could be an iron-level or maybe even bronze-level quest," Ali speculated, uncertain.

She smiled as she watched Howard carefully comb Jelia's hair, "Seeing you and Vivia usually messing around, I wouldn't have guessed you're adept at such delicate tasks."

"It's just practice," Howard replied with a smile, having been married before.

After tying Jelia's ponytail with a simple hairband and gently pressing down her hair, he touched the tips of her ears.

"There, go look in the mirror."

Despite still being a bit nervous, the innate desire to look beautiful seemed ingrained in Jelia.

As soon as Howard let go, she hopped off the bed and scampered to the mirror to see her reflection.

Howard then asked, "Have you ever faced a level 3 magus? Not just sparring."

"No," Ali answered almost immediately.

There's a reason for everything, after all."

"What aspect?" Ali pressed, but Greg didn't elaborate further.

"So that's it," Howard nodded, "I was wondering why she seemed a bit off."

"Eh? Is something wrong with me?"

"Rather than saying something's wrong... it's more like, is there anything normal about you!" Greg retorted, attempting to pat Ali's shoulder but, due to his height, ended up slapping her back instead, "Well, to gain something is to lose another; that's also part of balance."

"True normalcy can't be deliberately achieved," Howard added, "When you understand the meaning of this, you'll know what's wrong with you."

Despite Ali's continuous efforts to blend in and appear more ordinary, she was doomed to fail from the start.

Whether it was Antalya or Howard, the first thing they noticed was her.

That's why Antalya moved her from hosting to the kitchen, and why Howard always tried to avoid excessive contact with her.

"Do you guys have any plans next, or is it free time now?" Greg shifted from the previous conversation, standing behind Jelia, adjusting his beard in the mirror.

Jelia ran back to the bed in a slight panic, clutching the hem of Howard's shirt.

"I was thinking of taking Jelia out for a walk, buy some things, and get familiar with the surroundings," Howard said, ruffling Jelia's hair and looking towards Ali, "Do you have any plans?"

"I'll stay in," said Ali.

"Then I'll head out," Howard smiled at Jelia, touching her head, "Let's go."

"Mhm," Jelia nodded.

Getting up and bidding farewell to Greg, who was engrossed in grooming his beard, Howard took Jelia's small hand and left the room, closing the door behind him.

Turning around, his gaze met Vivia's as she emerged from the room across the hall.

"What a coincidence... Are you heading out?" Howard greeted, somewhat awkwardly.

"Sort of, I need to buy some things," Vivia responded, her tone slightly cold as if she was holding something back.

Glancing at Jelia by Howard's side, Vivia's brow furrowed, but Howard didn't notice.

"Are you taking Jelia out with you?"

"Yes," Howard nodded.

"Her clothes are too worn out. I thought of getting her something better to wear."

"Is that so..." Vivia paused before adding, "When you get back, there's something I want to talk to you about."

Howard nodded, walking past Vivia with Jelia in tow.

Vivia remained still, watching as Howard and Jelia's figures disappeared at the end of the hallway.

"What are you thinking..." Leaning against the wall, Vivia pressed her eyes with her hands, murmuring to herself, "What are you going to tell him?"