41 Good friends
Chapter 41: Good friends
“It’s a long story,” Alex awkwardly replied.
He didn’t know where he should start his story from. Of course, he was in a worse position as Alex couldn’t reveal his Deathwill’s origins yet.
He contemplated for a while.
While he was deeply thinking about his following words, Remia had been silently staring at his face. Due to her past experiences, it was impossible for her to not feel nervous.
The stress took over her, but just for a few seconds.
From the start, Alex had been pretty nice to her. They both went through the vast and crowded Harlo City, finding the auction house. Then, Alex helped her with the auction’s entrance and offered to adventure together.
While it might seem like he had a goal behind all his actions, Alex proved his loyalty and friendship just a few minutes ago. Before the Demon Goblin, he didn’t take a step back.
He offered help, encouraged her, and made her feel stronger than ever before!
That was why Remia wasn’t feeling nervous anymore. Instead, she saw Alex in a better light and hoped that they would be able to still be friends.
Alex finally parted his lips then, “I appear like a catman to everyone due to a certain skill. I can’t disclose any information about it. But you heard the Demon Goblin, didn’t you? I am not lying.”
“Yes,” Remia nodded.
Even that powerful existence saw Alex as the catman. It showed that Alex was hit by a powerful skill, which undoubtedly affected his lifestyle. No one could see his true looks, which were probably humanoid.
Alex continued, “I am a human… and I am one of the players.”
Those words came out quite softly.
Because Alex was a player, he could afford to die. And if he could die whenever he wanted, his recent words during the battle against the hungry demon lost significant meaning.
But Alex inferred that hiding this truth wouldn’t do him any favor. He spoke genuinely, and he deeply stared into Remia’s green eyes.
“Player…” Remia whispered softly.
After hearing Alex’s words, no one could tell what went through her mind. She gazed absentmindedly, trembling from time to time.
After a few minutes of silence, Remia asked, “Have you received a quest from the Elias Deathwill?”
There was no need to hide this name anymore. The Demon Goblin had mentioned the Deathwill Surname, and he openly told Remia about his objective.
But more than anything, Remia couldn’t shake off the initial expression that had formed after Alex grasped the sword with one hand.
Alex and Elias were somewhat connected.
“I have,” Alex agreed.
Still in his arms, Remia shook her head and said, “You can’t trust him. I know that players like adventures and will do anything to get unique quests, but you shouldn’t trust him.”
On her journey, Remia had met a lot of players.
Their desire for adventures was insatiable. They would do everything to find epic quests, adventures and fight thrilling battles. That was what drove most of the gaming community!
But to her words, Alex smiled widely. He knew that his player status made his relationship with Elias Deathwill and his family easier to understand. Surely, no player would refuse the legendary class and quests!
And Remia was one of the ladies who wouldn’t doubt whether Elias Deathwill’s strength was around the legendary level.
He put her down onto her two legs, then replied, “You are as kind-hearted as I heard.”
Remia blushed deeply, “That’s not it…”
Alex shook his head, “Why? Is it wrong for a kind-hearted person to be strong? Or you believe that a lady with a soft heart can not become powerful?”
To his words, Remia had no reply. She couldn’t reply as she wasn’t certain of her path as well.
Alex chuckled, “It’s not up to me to judge, but I think I am a good-hearted person. And I managed to fight well against the hungry demon and turn his arm inept. You were also merciless, Remia.”
“Um… I felt like a different person, so I don’t think I will be able to repeat the same feat… But thank you…” Remia smiled bashfully.
After everything became clearer between them, the duo resumed their journey. It was a slow journey as they needed to regenerate their stamina and other stats. But as Alex was more assertive, he offered to carry Remia again.
Remia didn’t refuse his goodwill.
“Can I ask what kind of quest have you received from him?” After sharing her view of Elias Deathwill, Remia asked this question.
And her view of the father-in-law was pretty terrible. Indeed, he hurt her heart.
Alex replied, “I am connected to Elias Deathwill through his daughters. I have never met him personally.”
“That’s good,” Remia sighed with relief.
Her relieved side made Alex feel wronger. He hid too much from her. And in fact, he believed that she would’ve seen through him were it not for Elias Deathwill’s empty promises.
If his impact on her wasn’t this great, Remia would’ve probably noticed that Alex knew about her from the very beginning.
He even said that she was as kind-hearted as he heard.
“How are his daughters? He was always proud of Miss Sara. Ah, you know, I only knew about Miss Sara until his big reveal. We were unaware of other daughters.” Remia asked, worried and curious about Elias’ daughters.
Alex rolled his eyes, “How did he hide other daughters from you? I can’t even imagine it.”
As the main gardener of Elias Deathwill’s kingdom, Remia spent most of her time in the castle. She was always here, yet she had never seen Stella or Schnee.
Remia shook her head, “I don’t know. If it weren’t for players, he probably would’ve been living the king’s life and still lying to others. He’s a good liar.”
Alex agreed with her wholeheartedly, “Well, I can tell you a little about his daughters. You might get surprised with how different they all are.”
After talking about Stella and Schnee, Alex asked a few questions back. He was pretty curious about the forest fairies. In this way, he also wanted to change the topic as Deathwill was quite an uncomfortable subject for both of them.
Alex had to hide some stuff, and Remia was wounded by Elias.
That was why Deathwill was a quite troublesome topic.
But as Remia asked this peculiar question, they returned to the roots, “But what exactly do you need from forest fairies? I heard that mother opened our tribe for mage players who wish to study the forest magic… You are a swordsman, right?
Have I been… your goal from the beginning?” Remia asked, not even believing her own words.
“It was a coincidence that we met in Harlo City. But you are right. I was on my way toward the forest fairies to find you and to mend the wounds caused by Elias Deathwill. Not only did he trouble his daughters, but even his vassals and people close to him,” Alex didn’t hide anything.
He knew she would be able to connect the dots and see through him soon.
Thus, after thinking about it, Alex received a simple conclusion.
“I see…” Remia replied shortly.
Alex immediately added, “And now that I’ve seen you, I know you have become a stronger woman.”
“You know too much,” Remia turned her eyes away; her cheeks were as red as an apple.
Alex grinned without saying a word.
At last, Remia looked at him, “I won’t renege on my words. I will be your guide in the forest fairies’ forest, my home. You can look forward to it!”
“I am,” Alex laughed.
[Your relationship with Remia has increased.]
[You have become her good friend.]
Remia also saw similar messages.
That was because they had genuinely shared their goals.
Alex said that he had been looking for her.
And Remia told him that she no longer bothered herself with Elias Deathwill. Although he and his abilities would impact her in person, she was on her path to becoming an independent and strong woman.
Her kind heart wouldn’t allow her to seek vengeance against him. It wasn’t like Elias Deathwill bluntly said that he would accept her love anyway.
At most, Remia would pursue her goal. And in the future, she would show Elias Deathwill that she wasn’t just the gardener. She would show him her strong self and make him regret it!
“That sounds cruel,” Alex grinned.
Remia harrumphed, “It will be cruel if I show myself with someone by my side… But well… Mmm… It’s still just a goal.” She rubbed her nose bashfully.
Alex replied, “No shame in pursuing goals. If we don’t try new stuff, we surely will regret that in the future.”
Remia nodded.
At last, Alex received the system message he had been looking forward to.
[You have entered the Forest Fairies’ Tribe’s province, Leafim.]
[You have a good relationship with their princess, Remia. No fairy will find your presence uncomfortable with her by your side.]
[Your relationship with the Forest Fairies: Unknown.]
Because of the system, it was much easier to see through people. If Alex were to make a significant achievement in the forest fairies’ home, everyone would know about him. If that achievement helped them, his relationship with them would be friendly.
It would translate to all of them being friendly with him despite his race.
But if Alex did the opposite, he would become their enemy. Their killing intent toward them would be unconcealable, and they wouldn’t think twice before attacking him.
Demi-humans were that simple, much more straightforward than humans and their greed.
Of course, Remia also could use her princess status and increase Alex’s relationship with her tribe upon introducing him. However, they both thought of themselves as good friends, and they naturally forgot their statuses.
To begin with, Remia had never thought of herself as a princess. She went against her mother’s warnings as if utterly ignoring them and became closer to the strong human king.
Alex also didn’t want to leverage his new friend.
Thus, such a thought of a grand introduction had never crossed their minds.
They strolled across the forest fairies’ province like true travelers. Strangely enough, even here, Remia hadn’t taken off her hoodie.
That was due to her past mistakes.
Although no one from the tribe minded her rash decision to leave the tribe, the person she trusted betrayed her. Therefore, Remia didn’t want to leverage too much of her status.
If someone glanced at them with suspicion, Remia would expose her royal seal. And then, she would continue her journey with Alex toward her home.
Because of that, Alex had an inkling that he would meet the queen soon enough.