BXBX NOVEL Chapter 95 Bet
"I feel shy around women..."
Rose felt as if something hit her in the head. She slowly studied Aiden's facial expressions, however, it seemed that he was genuine.
He was either honest or a really good liar.
"..."
Rose remained silent for a moment, trying to choose her words carefully before responding, however, she didn't know what to say.
What was there even to say?
"...But I will comply."
Aiden continued, breaking the awkward silence and stretching his back with a small smile.
"However, keep in mind that I won't be chained to you forever..."
His golden eyes glinted with a hint of a challenge as if he was stating a fact. It seemed that he wasn't afraid of challenging even an Elven Princess, whose talent was one of the greatest in the world.
"..."
Rose felt amused by Aiden's bold statement, but also a bit taken aback. She couldn't recall the last time somebody had been so confident with her.
"Very well..."
Muttering under her breath, Rose slowly rose from her seat and took a step closer to Aiden, her expression that of mischievousness.
"Do you want to make a bet?"
Aiden raised an eyebrow in response, his expression curious but cautious as he waited for Rose to continue.
"If you can defeat me by the end of this year, I will speak to my father about being more lenient with you being kept near me. But if you fail, then you must promise to work on your shyness around women."
Rose extended her hand toward Aiden, her eyes shining with playful excitement.
"Deal?"
***
I gazed at Rose's expression, feeling troubled by her sudden proposal. Although my actions were the cause of this, I wanted to avoid making a bet that would put me in a difficult position.
My growth now is fine, however, I couldn't guarantee how I would improve in the future, especially when it came to defeating someone as powerful as Rose.
'Never bet against a protagonist...'
I thought to myself, recalling a piece of advice from the game.
"Give me more time to think about it, Princess"
Standing up from the bench, I slightly bowed my head in respect before turning toward the dorms.
I could feel Rose's gaze boring into my back, but I resisted the temptation to turn around and look at her. It was important for me to make a rational decision, one that wouldn't compromise my position or weaken my chances of succeeding in the long run.
The Shadow Dungeon that is hidden is my priority and I was sure that if I had enough time to master the Mana Art located in that Dungeon, I could stand against the protagonists on equal footing.
"..."
Walking around the corner and out of sight from Rose, I leaned against the wall, feeling droplets of sweat forming on my brow.
This was way too stressful for me.
A single talk with Rose consumed my entire thought process, and I knew that I needed to focus on my training if I was going to have any chance of succeeding in the Shadow Dungeon.
I'd much rather spend my time perfecting my combat skills and mana control rather than making a bet with Rose, especially since if I failed this dungeon the Art would land in the hands of a Demon.
"Should I accept?..."
However, my thoughts were still swirling around Rose's proposal. I doubt that I could defeat her by the end of the year, but the idea of gaining some freedom was tempting.
Although I was yet to be 'restrained' I could already feel a tight collar around my neck.
As I slowly made my way back to my dorm, my mind continued to weigh the pros and cons of Rose's proposition. The idea of gaining more freedom was alluring, but I couldn't afford to let it distract me from my main goal: getting the Mana Art within the Shadow Dungeon.
Once inside my room, I closed the door behind me and leaned against it, taking a deep breath. The room was dimly lit, with faint rays of sunlight peeking through the gaps in the curtains. It was a small, modest space, but it was my shelter for the past few months.
I reached into my inventory and pulled out my trusted Black Katana. Its blade, once pristine and sharp, now bore signs of wear and tear. The edges were slightly cracked, evidence of countless battles I had fought and survived. Running my fingers along the blade, I knew it was time to find a new weapon.
"I should get a new weapon..."
I furrowed my brow as I considered my options for a new weapon. It had to be something that suited my playstyle and would provide an advantage in the early stages of the game. I closed my eyes, delving into my memory palace to retrieve information on the various weapons I had encountered while playing Leclentia.
A few options came to mind, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. One was the Flamebrand Sword, a weapon infused with the power of fire. Its fiery enchantment could deal additional damage to enemies vulnerable to heat and set them ablaze, making it a formidable choice against ice-based creatures or foes weak to fire.
"Too difficult to get and too flashy..."
It was a sword that could be forged in the middle of a Volcano, however, currently, I have no money to request such a sword.
Another option was the Thunderstrike Bow, a weapon that harnessed the power of lightning. With its electrifying arrows, it could stun enemies and deliver devastating critical hits. The Thunderstrike Bow would be particularly useful against foes with high mobility or weakness to electricity.
This weapon wasn't as hard to get, you just needed to properly charge the bow with the energy of thunderstorms and lightning strikes, which would take time and effort.
"Hmmm..."
Then there was the Shadowfang Dagger, a weapon known for its swift strikes and stealthy nature. Its razor-sharp blade could pierce through armor, making it effective against heavily armored enemies. The Shadowfang Dagger would grant me the element of surprise, allowing me to strike swiftly and vanish into the shadows before my opponents could react.
This perfectly suited my combat style, however, it might not be as effective against enemies that were resistant to physical attacks like shadows.
Scratching my cheek, I took a seat on the old chair, tapping my fingers on the ancient desk with a thoughtful expression.
"..."
As I pondered over the different weapon options, a faint memory started to stir within me. It was a distant recollection of a weapon I had come across during my adventures in Leclentia - the Vanara Longsword. The name echoed in my mind, and with it came a surge of excitement.
The Vanara Longsword was a very good weapon, known for its versatility and exceptional craftsmanship. It was said to have been forged by the skilled hands of the dwarven master blacksmiths, using a rare and precious metal known as Darksteel. The blade was said to possess unique properties, capable of channeling and amplifying the wielder's mana.
I frantically searched my memory palace, trying to recall more details about the Vanara Longsword. The image of the weapon started to take shape in my mind - a slender, gleaming blade with intricate engravings, adorned with a hilt made from black cloth.
My heart raced with anticipation. The Vanara Longsword seemed like the perfect choice for me. Its versatility would allow me to adapt to different combat situations, and its good mana conductivity would allow me to enshroud it with Shadows more easily.
"Where is it?"
Without wasting another moment, I reached for the inkwell on my desk and a quill, hastily flipping open a paper that was lying nearby. I quickly cleared a blank space, dipping the quill into the ink.
With a steady hand, I began to paint the approximate location of the Vanara Longsword within the world of Leclentia. Based on my hazy memories, I drew a rough map, marking a cave entrance nestled in the Frostpeak Mountains. It was said that the cave concealed the ancient tomb of a warrior, and within it lay the coveted Vanara Longsword.
As I traced the contours of the cave entrance and the surrounding landmarks, a surge of determination coursed through me. The prospect of obtaining such a weapon was a driving force that renewed my focus and determination. I couldn't let this opportunity slip away.
Once I finished the sketch, I carefully closed the inkwell and set the quill aside. The paper now held a secret, a hidden path that could lead me to the Vanara Longsword.
With the ink still wet on the page, I quickly rolled up the paper and tucked it securely into my Spatial Inventory.
"It's perfect..."
Recalling one time I actually used this weapon in battle once, I remembered how easily Drake could wield, slicing through enemies like they were mere butter.
Although it was useless for protagonists, since they had better weapons, it was perfect for me. It wasn't even that hard to get, since the mountain range in which it was hidden wasn't heavily guarded and was close by.
"Maybe, I'll make it back by tomorrow..."