Maylock and Elincia were still engrossed in their conversation about Broken’s unstoppable growth and limitless potential.
“Booba once said that Broken made a contract with a spirit just before you caught him at Princess Alora’s camp,” Maylock continued.
Elincia giggled softly, recalling the incident.
He went on, “Yet, in a short time, Broken was able to conquer a high-level Trial Domain by himself, and so on. Booba was sure that Broken was at a low level at that moment, around level 25. In this case, I believe what Booba said because, even though he looks stupid on the outside, he’s not actually that dumb.”
“Nope,” Elincia replied firmly. “He’s absolutely dumb both inside and outside.”
Maylock continued, “I believe Broken has some kind of special abilities. For instance, he can make contracts with spirits without limitation. First, Polly, who I am certain is at least Unique-grade. And second, Gaia. Although Goldrich said Gaia was Mythic-grade, it seems she limits her power to match Broken’s level. My guess is Gaia is also in the Unique-grade.”
Elincia sighed. “Being able to contract with more than one high-grade spirit is already extraordinarily remarkable!”
Maylock went on, “Broken can equip any weapon and armor he desires without limitation. He can take on any class he wishes, enter any domain he desires, and he can get extra items from monsters.”
Elincia was stunned by this explanation. She then asked, “It’s almost too powerful for a single player. What is the cost to him for these extraordinary privileges?”
Maylock paused for a moment before answering. “From what I’ve observed and concluded, it seems the cost he has to pay is that he might be unable to level up, gain experience points from killing monsters, or perhaps he can only level up in a special way.”
“Are you that certain of your assumption?”
“The fact that Broken’s level is an anomaly is supported by him hiding his profile from the friend list and his reluctance to join a party,” Maylock explained.
Elincia nodded thoughtfully. “I suppose that makes sense too.”
“And I’m sure Freya is the only one who understands this secret.”
“And why is that?” she asked, curious.
Maylock paused before answering. “The Golden Age company has a guidance program for elite players, especially the Divine Champions. They send someone to act as their assistant, helping them to cover everything they might miss in preparation for their future surge in popularity.”
He paused again before continuing, “Considering the way they interact and speak, it’s clear that Freya is not just anyone. While Broken clearly started as a casual player, as your brother claimed. So it makes sense if their relationship exists due to the Golden Age company’s involvement.”
Maylock took a deep breath and sighed. “I believe Broken is hiding this because he isn’t ready yet. That’s why our role is to ensure he has the right support, so he can confidently open up to everyone.”
Elincia nodded. “I will try to be better.”
Maylock then said, “You can keep all my analyses to yourself, and confirm it when he decides to share more about himself with us, and when he trusts us enough.”
“Aren’t we already friends with him?” Elincia asked.
“Not quite,” Maylock replied thoughtfully. “Broken still sees us as allies who can offer mutual benefit. He hasn’t come to trust us fully yet. He seems to find it difficult to trust others, likely because of some unpleasant experiences in his past. That’s why we need to show him that our intentions are genuine-that we are trustworthy partners, or even better, good friends.”
Elincia slowly shook her head. “It’s hard to believe he could be so distant with strangers, but I’m certain that as long as we remain loyal to him, he’ll be a trustworthy ally. That much I am sure of.”
[Name: Ella]
[Textile Artisan (A) – Fabric Enchanter (A) – Precise Cutter (A)]
[Textile Artisan: Crafts fabrics with unique textures and patterns, resulting in highly sought- after textiles.]
[Fabric Enchanter: Infuses fabrics with magical properties, creating enchanted clothing.] [Precise Cutter: Cuts fabric with incredible precision, minimizing waste and maximizing material use.]
Once again, Broken encountered someone with a set of talents that complemented each other and had excellent ratings. Standing before him was a woman in her early twenties, who gave him a kind smile.
“Are you a tailor?” he asked.
“Yes, My Lord,” she replied.
“I accept you. I will provide you with all the necessary facilities,” he said.
“Thank you, My Lord. I will do my best to satisfy your expectations,” she responded gratefully.
As more people became increasingly curious, a long queue formed seeking appraisals.
A man in his thirties shouted in protest when he was not accepted by Broken.
“Are you sure?! I’ve been a skilled farmer for fourteen years now, and you still call me an amateur?!”
“I evaluate everyone based on their potential,” Broken responded calmly.
“How can you judge a person’s capabilities without seeing them in action? Are you some kind of Divine Champion?”
At this, Igor grabbed the man’s arm and pulled him away from the stage.
“I believe this town is doomed. There’s no hope for it. This is a cursed town,” the man spat angrily as he was dragged away.
As the sun set, Broken hadn’t noticed the passage of time. He was pleased with the talents he had discovered, even though not many were extraordinary. Only a few stood above the standard, while the rest were merely average.
Nonetheless, he was confident that he could harness their potential to its fullest.
***
Leon stepped out of the capsule device and took a long, deep breath, exhausted from his busy game day. He had talked with a lot of people, and it had really worn him out.
It was already evening, around 8 PM. He walked out of the room and threw himself onto the plush sofa in the living room.
Lily walked in from the kitchen, holding a bowl of potato chips with a bright smile on her face. “Hi, brother,” she said, sitting down next to him. “Why do you look so awful?”
Leon sighed. “My social energy is drained.”
Lily giggled at him. “I bet it’s going to get even more intense in the future since you now have
a more important role in the game, right? Being a city lord means dealing with a lot of
people.”
“Yeah…” Leon replied quietly.
For a while, he leaned back on the sofa, letting Lily feed him potato chips occasionally as he chewed them listlessly. There was something on Leon’s mind that he had been wrestling with, but he wasn’t sure who to talk to about it. And it was about Alora and Ivana.
“Lily,” he said, opening his eyes and sitting up straight. “I want your opinion on something. I
need to tell you something, but please don’t judge, okay?”
“Yes, I won’t,” Lily replied quickly. “What is it?”
“About,”
“Hazel? You’re not seriously thinking of dating her, are you? Oh no, that’s bad,” she
responded immediately.
“I said don’t judge, but you’re already jumping to conclusions.”
“Then what? Laura? Are you thinking of getting back with your ex?”
“That’s judging too,” Leon replied, exasperated.
Lily laughed at Leon’s response. “I just wanted to make sure whatever you want to talk about
doesn’t involve those two people.”
Leon sighed again and leaned back into the sofa. “Thanks for the concern, sis.”
“Now, where’s the story? Come on, tell me,” Lily said, shaking his shoulder playfully.
“Let me sleep first, I’m tired.”
“No, tell me now.”
“No!”
“You should.”
“No!”
“Leon!”
Leon quickly stood up and dashed to his bedroom, with Lily chasing after him. But the door
was already shut by the time she reached it.
“Is it Freya? Did he fall in love with Freya?” Lily mused and chuckled to herself.