Chapter 49: This Is Just A Game
Max said in a grave tone, "We don’t have a choice but to get closer."
The party members frowned. The supposed plan was to attack outside of the Chamber. The demonic mana inside was immensely dangerous that they might not last less than ten minutes.
Rhayne asked, "You said it’s dangerous to fight there."
"But we can’t defeat it if we don’t fight inside. Its regenerative ability is monstrous. Do you guarantee that you can accurately hit it every second?"
Rhayne turned silent. Her Bow Mastery passive skill was still at the basic level. If it was on the intermediate level, then she might confidently met Max’s condition.
She gazed at her party members and suddenly looked away, feeling guilty for failing them.
Max said, "My arcane bolt isn’t also enough. His regeneration is faster than my casting speed. We don’t have a choice but to take a risk."
Rhayne immediately countered. "But we are more in danger than you."
Max was enraged. He stepped forward closer to her, bent his back, and grabbed her collar.
His stern face was closer to terrified Rhayne.
He said, "I didn’t ask you to come in the first place. If you aren’t aware, then I’ll tell you. I’m not here for rewards alone. I’m here to save the village. To kill the demons. At the expense of my life. And since you are joining me, then you should be ready to risk it all."
Rhayne was surprised. After hearing what Max had said, she immediately slapped his hand.
Max wasn’t surprised. He let go of her, staring at the maddened Rhayne.
Rhayne shouted, "Why are you saying as if you are really about to die? I’m not talking about endangering myself alone, I’m talking about them. They will die without doubt, for fuck sake. Just how selfish can you be?"
Max promptly replied, "Look at them." He waved his hand.
Rhayne’s eyes moved and landed at Eva and others and were taken aback by their reaction. Most of them were depressed, but the way they were grabbing their weapons, they were willing to sacrifice their life.
"I promised Eva’s mother to protect her. But she is not only a mother, she’s a Blade Saint of the Empire. Between her daughter or for the sake of the humanity as a whole, which do you think she will ch—"
"SHUT UP!" Rhayne roared. She stood up and grabbed Max’s collar. "How can you say cruel things when Eva is around?! You talk as if her life doesn’t matter!"
"I am not—"
"Yes, you do! You even made her feel like her mother will rather sacrifice her for the sake of the world. Are you even a mother?"
She slapped Max, who evaded it with ease.
Rhayne wasn’t disturbed and immediately followed her words. "If I’m a mother, I’ll rather sacrifice my own daughter. To hell with the world!"
"But you are not." Max shrugged. "How selfish. You don’t know how this world works."
He turned towards Eva and asked, "You know your mother best, which do you think she will choose?"
Eva, who was shaken earlier by Max’s statements, had now composed herself. She was now in the right state of mind.
When faced with question, she answered with a stern expression. "She’ll choose the world. She’d rather have not anyone experience the same thing she do. She might prefer to slay a thousand demons at an expense of me."
Rhayne was taken aback. She did not expect Eva’s response at all.
She clearly remembered how shaken Eva was, compelling her to stand up on the latter, but to her surprise, Eva simply accepted Max’s line of thoughts.
Max glanced at her and she met his gaze.
His eyes were sharp and profound.
He said, "You live in a peaceful world where it shapes your perception on a thing that completely contradicts your situation. Your value is completely different than those who live in a constant war.
If you don’t want to fight, then leave us alone. We’ll kill the boss by ourselves—this damn dungeon that’s only supposed to be at E-rank.
And whoever lost their lives in the process will live within me.
Accompanying me with shared same goals to exterminate all the demons."
Rhayne fell in a daze. She stared at Max and mumbled, "You talk as if you live here."
Max shrugged. "Because I do."
He did not bother with her anymore and turned towards Eva and said, "Did you sense the demonic mana? How much longer can you last?"
Eva turned towards the Chamber and said, "I can only last for a minute before the demonic mana will disable me. But, with Clara, I might last for another minute or two."
Max turned towards Clara and the latter immediately responded with a serious expression, "I can use the purify skills five times straight before I run out of mana."
Max nodded. "We have to consider your mental strength to handle it."
Jasper raised his hand and said, "I’ll do my best to distract it. Also, I’ll help on providing information. I apologize if I can’t attack it."
"You know what you’re doing, so no need to apologize," said Max.
He turned towards Ethan and after considering, he glanced at the absent-minded Rhayne and said, "Give me the fifty arrows. I’ll pay you once we leave."
Rhayne was startled awake. She immediately said, "I-I’ll join you."
"No," said Max with a serious expression. "You can’t fight at this rate. You’re useless."
Rhayne felt her heart tightened. It was the first time someone verbally trashed her.
She wanted to reject Max at first, but under his piercing gaze and having a slight understanding of the current situation, she ultimately gave in.
She summoned five quivered that contained ten fire arrows each. She handed it not to Max, but to Ethan.
Ethan received the quivers and sighed. He comforted her. "The young savior is just being real with you. Don’t hold grudge with him."
"I know," said Rhayne.
She turned around and left, searching for a place to stay, while leaving behind words she mumbled...
"I know how insane he’s become. This is just a game..."
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A/N: Thanks for reading! Don’t forget to show your supports by giving golden tickets, powerstones, gifts, and reviews! It means a lot since this is participating for WSA.
