“Hero Nathan?” Oscar’s voice cut through my contemplation as I surveyed the array of weapons before me. While I had already settled on a light armor that wouldn’t impede my movements, I found myself hesitating when it came to choosing a weapon.
I turned to face him. “What?”
“What are you doing?” he inquired, clearly taken aback by my presence in the armory.
“Isn’t it obvious? I’m selecting a weapon,” I replied, puzzled by his question.
“That’s not what I meant. Why are you picking a weapon?” Oscar pressed further, his confusion evident.
His question didn’t surprise me. After all, I had been absent from most of his training sessions, and when I did participate, my lackluster performance hardly inspired confidence. But my reasons were my own, driven by a desire to monitor the progress of certain individuals—Jason, Aiden, and Sienna, to name a few.
“Because I need a weapon to fend off monsters,” I replied matter-of-factly, hoping to quell any further inquiries.
Oscar’s shock was palpable as he processed the implications of my words. “You’re coming with us?” he asked incredulously.
“Yes.”
“We’re venturing deeper into the forest. It could be dangerous,” Oscar began, his initial concern evident in his tone. However, his expression quickly shifted, morphing into a facade of satisfaction. “Actually, this is very good. I’m pleased that Hero Nathan has finally recognized the importance of training and the looming dangers ahead.”
Despite his words, his smile seemed tinged with insincerity, a telltale sign of his underlying motives. If I had to hazard a guess, he saw this as an opportunity to rid himself of my presence in the forest. Whether he intended to do so himself or simply leave me to fend for myself against formidable monsters remained to be seen.
I knew all too well of Oscar’s disdain towards me, a sentiment that Khione had confirmed through her own observations. He had been undermining me to the emperor and other nobles for some time now, harboring a deep-seated animosity that bordered on hostility.
“Then, could you help me choose a weapon?” I asked, mustering a polite smile despite my misgivings.
“Of course,” Oscar replied, his smile suddenly benevolent in a way I had never seen before. It was clear that he knew how to put on a convincing act.
Approaching the display of weapons, Oscar began to assess their suitability, testing each one with practiced ease. I couldn’t help but wonder if he would genuinely select a suitable weapon for me or if his intentions were less altruistic.
“What level are you?” he inquired, his tone lacking genuine interest.
“Twenty-one,” I replied.
Oscar let out a laugh at my response, clearly unconvinced by my claim. “Please, Hero Nathan. What is your level?”
It was evident that he couldn’t believe that someone with my lackluster training regimen could have achieved such a level.
If only he knew my real level, I thought with an inward smirk.
“Level 16,” I lied, opting for a lower number to appear more believable.
“That’s already an achievement for you, Hero Nathan,” Oscar remarked, his surprise evident, though his words dripped with mockery.
“Well, I am a Hero after all,” I replied, feigning nonchalance. “Do you have a weapon you would recommend?”
“Yes, this one,” Oscar said, presenting me with a sword. “It’s a good fit for beginners and those who don’t know how to wield a sword properly.”
I took the sword from him, immediately noticing how light and easy it was to handle—almost too easy. The moment I grasped the handle, I realized that if I didn’t treat it delicately, it could break under the pressure of my grip, given my true strength. For someone genuinely at level 16, it would have been a suitable choice. At least Oscar was pretending to give me a decent weapon.
“Not bad, yeah,” I said, accepting the sword with a nod.
I could see Oscar trying to suppress a scoff, probably thinking I had no idea what I was talking about and was merely putting on a show.
Oh, if only he knew what I was truly capable of.
After Oscar left, I noticed Aisha standing nearby, holding a long sword. From my covert observations of her training, I knew she possessed a lightning skill and wielded it with impressive proficiency.
“If you’re uncertain, you should ask for advice, Aisha,” I suggested, nodding toward her sword.
Aisha looked at me and then glanced at my own weapon, her expression thoughtful.
I raised my hand and called out, “Cecilia!”
At my shout, Cecilia approached us. From the first day, her attitude toward me had shifted, evolving into a more neutral stance that leaned positively.
“Do you need any help, Hero Nathan?” she asked, her tone polite.
“No, Aisha does,” I replied, gesturing toward Aisha.
“Oh, let’s see,” Cecilia said, turning her attention to Aisha.
Aisha gave me a nod of appreciation as Cecilia began assisting her, clearly valuing the guidance.
But she wasn’t the only one who seemed a little lost.
To my right, a blonde beauty stood motionless in front of the weapons.
It was Gwen.
She seemed deep in thought, clearly unsure of what to choose.
“Do you need any help, Gwen?” I asked, trying to sound helpful.
“No,” she replied curtly, not even glancing in my direction.
“Should I call Oscar to help you?” I offered, hoping to lighten the mood.
This time, her face twisted into a look of disgust as she turned to face me. “I said no. Just take care of your own business.”
Her revulsion was clearly aimed at Oscar, who had been trying to seduce her since day one, with no success.
I knew Gwen well enough to know that even Jason didn’t stand a chance with her. Her standards were incredibly high, and for some reason, my luck didn’t seem to work as well on her as it did on others.
Still, I genuinely liked her and wanted to help.
I glanced around at the array of weapons before picking up a staff and handing it to her. “This one is good.”
“I said I don’t need—”
“Yes, but I suggest you take a look at least,” I insisted, pressing the staff into her hands before walking away.
Gwen stared after me, the staff now in her grasp, and I could only hope she would give it a chance.
Even though the probability of her dying was very low since she was very strong there was still a low probability she met a monster stronger than her. And I didn’t want her to die, it would be such a pity for such a beautiful and smart girl to die.
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