It was a simple question but the expression that appeared on the gate master’s face said a different story.
Kent wasn’t expecting that.
“What did you just say?” the Gate Master asked, looking closely at Kent. It appeared as though her eyes were scanning every inch of his face, observing even the slightest muscle movement.
“I said I am looking for someone called Nara, and my master said I should talk to you,” Kent repeated. The Gate Master’s body shuddered.
Her energy threatened to leak out, but because she had more self-control than one might think, she held steadfast and didn’t make any foolish decisions.
It wasn’t like she would kill him, but she also never expected to hear such a name coming from Kent. That name shouldn’t come from someone like him.
“Who is she to you?” Instead of answering, she asked. She wanted to know first why someone like Kent would be looking for Nara.
“Would you believe me if I said she is someone very important to me?” Kent replied, also noticing that something wasn’t right. The expression and behaviour of the Gate Master hinted at something much deeper.
“Are you joking with me, brat?” she spoke, and this time, she couldn’t hold back her presence. It was just a small leakage, but it was enough to overwhelm Kent.
However, she quickly recovered and reined in her energy.
‘Hoo, Root Transcendents are no joke.’ Kent was overwhelmed for a second there, but he wasn’t afraid.
He was actually very taken aback by how powerful the presence he felt from the Gate Master was, matching nothing like when she had stopped him at the gate weeks ago.
‘She is scary, but I like scary,’ he smiled inwardly.
“I am not joking, Gate Master. I know, to some extent, that Nara was once a disciple in this sect. I was told she is a genius. Now, my master said she died years ago, but that is false.
I have reasons to believe she is still alive—well, barely, but she is still alive—and I want to find and rescue her before it’s too late. So, if you know something, please tell me.”
Kent said what had to be said.
This was what the quest required of him, and he did that. Now, all he had to do was wait for the Gate Master to tell him something about this mysterious Nara.
However, the Gate Master he was expecting an answer from had blanked out.
Her mind went blank upon hearing what Kent said, so he was barely staring at someone who was shocked to the extent that, before he could snap her out of her daze, she passed out.
Yes, the Gate Master passed out, and if Kent had not been a few steps away, she would have fallen to the floor.
“Dramatic much,” Kent said before laying her down in the chair and beginning to wait for her to wake up.
He just couldn’t believe how someone had passed out from a mere question. It was weird, but he also wanted to know why, so for six hours, he waited for her to wake up.
“Welcome back to the land of the living, Gate Master,” Kent said, but before his smile could fully bloom, the Gate Master moved and grabbed his hand.
“Kent, what you said earlier—were you serious? Please tell me if you were being serious,” she asked, her eyes pleading for him to give a genuine answer.
“Why would I joke about something like this? The one I am looking for is alive, and I believe she is still inside this sect. However, for some reason, finding her has proven stubborn, so I wanted to know more about her first,” Kent said, lying about a few things.
The universe would help him locate her, but he had to go through some processes first. Obviously, he wasn’t about to tell her the truth.
“Big sister is still alive… she-she is still alive.” Kent could only watch as the strongest lady he had ever met began to cry in front of him, making him wonder just what he had done to deserve such a sight.
“Take it easy, Gate Master. Though I would pay to watch you cry, we must first handle the matter at hand,” Kent said, making the teary-eyed Gate Master look at him with mixed emotions.
After a few minutes, she calmed down. The sudden emotions that occurred were ones she had bottled up for decades.
“Good, now, care to tell me who this big sister is?” Kent asked, and the Gate Master sang like a bird.
It appeared that she and Nara were the only surviving children from a bandit raid several dozen years ago. Nara was four years older than her, so when they were left alone, Nara took care of her and made sure she had everything.
Then, when they came of age and could take care of themselves, Nara chose to chase a passion she had always wanted.
She wanted to walk the path of the sword, so she joined the Divine Palace Sect. For years, she rose through the ranks, won duels and competitions, and gained the recognition of millions.
However, just when she reached her prime and was about to rise to a level that would have, by now, set her at the pinnacle of this world, she mysteriously died on a mission.
When the news reached her, she was devastated. However, she never, for one moment, believed her sister died as they described it.
So, she chose to investigate.
Since nobody knew who she was, she managed to blend in, and for years, she had been chasing one lead to the next.
She knew her sister didn’t die like the reports were saying. She knew this because whenever her sister was going on missions, she would come to see her first.
But the mission they were saying she died on, she never came to her. So she knew something was wrong and for years, she left her passion as a dancer behind and started looking for answers.
Until today when the most troublemaker she had ever met dropped such shocking news on her lap. Obviously, this was a shocker.
“All I can tell you is, your sister is still alive, and I will save her, so why don’t we start over again?
“My name is Kent Madson, the most trustworthy Swordsman slash Alchemist you will ever meet,” Kent said, flashing all his 32 peerless white teeth.