Chapter 75: Reylin's confession
"The players are known as the answer to the dark times. However, their appearance made residents believe that there are other worlds. Before, no one believed in life outside the Faynom World," Alex started.
He carried on after Reylin listened silently, "If not the players, I am sure the betrayer theory would have been at the top as of now. This theory says that there's a betrayer in the ascended ranks and that he was the one to cause the monsters to pop off around the whole world.
Dark Matter is mana on its own, but it changes people. It's contagious mana that influences both body and mind, so the betrayer knows that no one can live in the world besides his people."
Reylin laughed, "Well, regardless of the theory, you have learned a lot, Alex. Your level also has gone up significantly. You must have a great time here."
"Haha. I have infiltrated just perfectly. My current status is the son of Marquis Theodore. I took a big step toward it, but that was solely because of Sebastian's intel... Anyway, Mr. Reylin. I didn't bring the betrayer just for chit-chat.
I believe this theory is rising in the ranks of nobility because people behind the dark matter diffuse it."
Many existences had turned toward the dark matter. It was mana that influenced people, but should one keep their mind intact, one would receive incredible strength! If not, then they would have some side effects. And at worse, their whole existence would get rewritten by the foreign mana.
Nonetheless, Reylin just laughed, "Church, nobles, and all that shit. I am glad I have you guys doing the most irritating task for me."
"Mr. Reylin has its own problems," Alex jested.
"Tsk. If you find one of those guys, call me. We will fight him regardless of our level."
"Yes, but I think Mr. Reylin will find those guys first. That's precisely why I want to ask you something. Just send Lioness to me."
Reylin narrowed his eyes, and he also unconsciously looked toward her, fighting not too far away from him, "Why?"
"As I said, there are countless existences behind dark matter. Suppose Mr. Reylin finds a person whose intelligence is on par with humans or even higher. In that case, Lioness will hear a lot of valuable information.
If not, and the specter boss turns out to be just a monster relying on its instincts, then Lioness will be aware of the weakness in the Tathum Province."
"A weakness, you say?" Reylin said.
"Many dark matter waves have been spotted around the continents. Players share their drops and information daily, but I don't think the specters are just common monsters. Their mana is similar to dark matter, and I believe there's a connection here." Alex Loyalty said.
He was just doing his best for Reylin.
Recently, Reylin hadn't thought much about his quests. He didn't even spare a glance at the dark matter in his inventory, and he casually vented out his frustration about the typical high schooler on the specters.
If anything, he paid more attention to the city's development.
Alex thought about it in his place and shared his thoughts.
Reylin smiled, "There are similarities, but that's it. If the specter boss is with those dark matter guys, I will need people to keep him busy. Lioness should do."
Alex replied, "I am nothing but a different voice and opinion. Thanks for listening to me, though."
"It's much more interesting with more information on the line. Good work so far, and have fun, Alex." Reylin ended the conversation.
"I wish you good luck too, Mr. Reylin."
-
"Reylin! I think we have found the boss!" The hero shouted the exact words she had typed on the chat before.
Reylin heard her well, then patted her hair, "Don't shout. I can hear you."
He rolled his eyes, then asked for the location.
The hero was quite too excited, so she began talking about the boss before his words. She didn't hear him well, and in her excitement, her words slammed Reylin's ears.
While Reylin's face contorted, others looked at her with warm eyes.
Soon, the hero said, "We will need like thirty people, I think. The boss has his underlings, and the cave is small. I just don't know what kind of abilities it has, so we should be prepared for a few deaths!"
Others nodded again.
That was the usual gaming experience.
Players rarely did the boss on the first run. That only worked if one was genuinely skilled or if their equipment was of the best quality. It was hard to get good equipment in those early stages of the game...
And though the hero had skilled players such as Reylin and Lioness, she didn't think the specter boss was possible on the first run.
It was the boss that influenced the whole province, and his race prevailed for good months!
Reylin chuckled, "We are going to do it on the first run."
He sowed confidence in others, but Reylin wasn't the type of someone who would do something with the thought of losing at the back of his head.
That was how the Crowns were, and they always did their business with confidence.
Reylin's fame and his help for the whole week had left many amazed.
Therefore, his words were the best kind of confidence boost.
"We might really do it," The hero was influenced by Reylin the most... "We will do it!" She ended up unsheathing her sword and pointing it toward the boss' hidden location!
For a week, Maya had been going to Reylin's club, and she had grown stronger! In his presence, she would do her best to not disappoint him and show each of her progress.
With those words, the party of 30 players assembled, and they set up for the battle with the specter boss.
The party was led by the hero whose face was nothing but big smiles.
However, on the backline, Lioness started an exciting conversation.
She spoke through the voice chat, "If you hadn't looked at us with those kinds of eyes, I would have thought you and Maya had become a couple. Since when did you begin patting her hair so casually?"
"What kind of eyes?" Reylin asked.
"Eyes that literally want to devour. Don't try to weasel out of the talk now. I won't let you go," Lioness said while holding Reylin's Flame Robe, "Don't tell me that 'Either three of you or no one' words were genuine?"
Reylin shook his head with a smile, "That would easily solve my plight."
"Oh?" Aria chuckled, "I feel like I know what has been bothering our pyromaniac. It was weird to see your change. From a guy that didn't show any interest to the eyes of a typical high schooler. Haha!"
Reylin's face contorted uglily.
"If you confess to Steel Melody, she will probably kick your balls. If you confess to Maya, she will probably politely refuse. Well, that leaves me with some chances for you," Lioness was all smiling.
"Yes, that's the eyes of the experienced woman. Thank you for sharing your wisdom once again with me, Lioness," Reylin sneered.
Lioness smiled back, "No balls to confess to me? Have you perhaps confessed to Steel Melody already?"
"I am lost, and you attack at a vulnerable time. Do you want to fix your mistake from your former relationship since I share the blood with William?" Reylin asked.
If he had to be utterly honest, he simply didn't know.
How did his mother see through him that easily left Reylin wondering every day, but all those thoughts dispersed after Aria had shown disappointment on her face.
She turned around and left.
[Lioness has ended a voice chat with you.]
Reylin just thought how badly he fucked up. His heart began loudly beating, and he just stared at Aria's back with expanded eyes. Inwardly, he himself didn't understand his defensive choices of words, and it began eating him from within.
He caught up to Lioness and grasped her hand, "Go out with me."
"No, thanks," Lioness shook his hand and started walking again.
However, everyone heard Reylin's words since a voice chat had ended. The group stopped, and all players stared at them both. Each had displayed unusual reactions, but Ferocious Bear had the most unique one as she covered her eyes and blushed no end.
It looked like someone confessed to Maya instead.
Reylin bit his lips, "What were my chances before I fucked up?"
Aria raised her voice as she replied since she was pretty ahead, "100%. I grew up interested in you since you've changed. I knew a different you, and my little brother also shared his opinion about you. And then, we had our adventure here.
After you showed off an interest in me, I thought it would be fun to try a relationship. Since I focus on the game now and have left my business in good hands, I would frequently enjoy your company. Who wouldn't like a strong and confident man around in such a cruel game world?
I know I am unbearable for many, however. That's because I hate boredom, and I constantly challenge myself. Not many could keep up with me, but since you are quite similar to me with how you yearn to become flames itself, I thought you would be the one to cope with me.
Alas, you have disappointed me too much.
Your chances have dropped significantly, and all I care about is to kill a boss."
All eyes shifted from her toward Reylin.
His expression made Steel Melody laugh so much that others had to cover her lips. Two female players pulled her down onto the ground!
On the other hand, Reylin clicked his tongue, "I also feel like beating some boss." His flames awakened on their own, and his flame robes fluttered, "After we beat that shit, I will confess to you for the second time.
And if you reject me, I will keep pestering you. It's you who started it, Aria."
"I will call the police, you pyromaniac," Aria laughed, "We happen to have some heroes too, don't we?"
"I don't think either of them wants to deal with me," Reylin sneered.
"So you have become a simp. It's not the first time I am dealing with those," Aria rolled her eyes and resumed her steps.
She didn't face Reylin, but if she did, he would have seen her blossoming smile.
Reylin chuckled from behind, "Simping for sexy Aria doesn't sound that wrong, and it's better than pondering every day like some fucking typical high schooler. Ah, I feel so free. it's like I have seen the flames for the first time... Love it."
"Simping already?" Aria said from the front, waving her index finger back and forth.
Reylin said, "Yep." And turned around, "What are you waiting for? Why is that masochist on the ground, and why is Maya covering her face?"
"The hero is embarrassed... and the tank nearly died out of laughter... To be candid, she was quite loud, so we silenced her," The female players replied.
"Good job! Hahaha!" Reylin laughed out loud!
That kind of laughter made everyone say in tandem, "The pyromaniac is back."