Not that Xi En was lying.
In fact, it was inappropriate for him to use the Sacred Sword in front of the others. If they knew about the sword’s existence, Xi En dared not imagine what would happen.
According to Ni En, the Sacred Sword belonged exclusively to a Warrior. Once it was exposed, Xi En’s identity would be revealed.
As a matter of fact, Xi En did not want it to be out in the open.
It was not just the Sacred Sword, his exclusive and special skill as well as all the fifteen maximum level skills needed to be kept a secret for him to live in peace.
In that case, it would be acceptable for him to say that the Sacred Sword was… ineffective, right?
What others thought of his comments about the sword had nothing to do with Xi En.
Vivian was slightly puzzled but she nodded anyway.
“Let’s go and buy you a weapon then.” Next, she asked, “What about an armor?”
“It’s not necessary for now.” Xi En thought about it and shook his head. “I’ll get it when I’ve enough money. Besides, I’ve you guys with me. It’ll do for the time being.”
Vivian wanted to respond to what Xi En said, but she kept quiet in the end, as if she respected Xi En’s decision.
Although not having an armor was not encouraged, as Xi En mentioned, he had the other Adventurers with him. At least, they should be able to take care of him during the missions. Furthermore, if he was injured because he had no armor, it would serve a good lesson for the others.
With that in mind, Vivian decided not to interfere with Xi En’s choice. Since she had decided, the others had no comments as well.
Xi En and the girls then headed to a weapons shop. At the shop, he bought an incredibly sharp broadsword out of all the other weapons, but it was not comparable to the magic weapons with their accompanying magic effects.
The sword cost only a gold coin and was now Xi En’s.
Soon after, the group left the shop and rented a horse carriage. They left Lamigione and headed north in the horse carriage.
Xi En’s first adventure as an Adventurer had thus begun.
…
As the revolving wheels creaked and turned, the horse carriage travelled at a constant speed along a wide road. It was heading toward the north.
The one who drove the carriage was Vivian. She was seated at the coachman’s position to rein in the horse. Her gaze kept flitting to the carriage behind her. An indescribable atmosphere lingered in the carriage.
Xi En was seated on one side of the carriage while the other three members of Vivian’s group sat on the opposite side. Although they were seated facing each other, they remained silent in a downcast mood.
Xi En took a glimpse at the three young ladies opposite him.
Lumiya was clinging to Diyeer like a child, not daring to look at Xi En as she timidly hung her head and hugged Diyeer’s arm tightly in her grasp. Her anxiety could clearly be felt.
Diyeer sat in silence and did not even give Xi En a second glance.
Meilica was the only one who stole glances at him. Once, she locked eyes with Xi En, she quickly turned away and remained vigilant.
This had been going on ever since Vivian left them on their own.
The only one in the group who was kind and friendly to Xi En was Vivian. Apart from her, the other three girls had not spoken a word since they introduced themselves in the room. If Vivian had not spoken to Xi En earlier, the strained atmosphere would have appeared even sooner.
What transpired was natural now that Vivian was driving the horse carriage and had left Xi En alone with the team.
Externally, Xi En looked unfazed, but he could not help complaining in his mind. ‘Is this how I’m supposed to spend the following month?’
It dampened his mood. He decided…
“Everyone.” Xi En spoke up.
Since no one was going to do anything about the tense situation, he would do it. Nonetheless, the whopping reaction of the three girls in front of him was much greater than he had imagined.
“Ah!”
“Eek!”
Lumiya and Meilica were frightened by Xi En’s abrupt voice. One of them whimpered softly while another jolted and tightened her grip on the magic staff. Even Diyeer focused her attention on Xi En, picking her head up slightly with her gaze under her hood trained on Xi En like a sharp blade.
The heaviness of the atmosphere in the carriage could clearly be felt.
“Uh…” Xi En chuckled dryly in astonishment. “You don’t have to react so strongly?”
It was all it took for Lumiya and Meilica to avert their gazes awkwardly while Diyeer kept her gaze on him.
Xi En scratched his face at the change in them.
‘It seems that they’re leery of me unlike Vivian.’
What should he do to strike a light bubbly conversation with pretty young girls such as them? The protagonists in the novels who could do it without breaking a sweat must have cheat plug-ins.
‘I really hope my cheat code works in this kind of situation.’
Sighing for the umpteenth time, Xi En pondered for a moment as his shoulders drooped.
“Never mind,” he muttered softly.
Yup, Xi En gave up just like that.
Since they did not show any signs of wanting to converse but were vigilant instead, Xi En did not wish to make the situation even worse. Basically, he could not be enthusiastic when he was given the cold shoulder.
Nevertheless, he still said something.
“All of you don’t have to be wary of me. It’s just for a month. I’ll be as inconspicuous as I can, just so my presence doesn’t affect you. I only hope we can meet and part on good terms.”
With that, Xi En kept quiet.
In spite of it, his declaration stunned the three girls.
“Uh…”
Diyeer, Lumiya, and Meilica looked at Xi En in shock as if they did not expect him to say something like that. They then looked at each other before falling silent again.
The ambience in the carriage seemed palpable.
Vivian who was driving the horse carriage had been keeping an eye on the situation brewing inside. Listening to Xi En and feeling the tense mood within, she felt helpless.
‘What happened in the past must have affected them significantly, huh…’
At the same time, Vivian was quite surprised by Xi En.
‘I didn’t expect Xi En to draw the line so clearly and frankly.’
Now, her interest was piqued by him instead.
‘Perhaps he’s different from those male Adventurers in the past.’
As she thought about it, she continued to urge the horse forward.
The wheels kept creaking and thumping against the ground. On the side of the wide path, a large rock suddenly moved.