As Leon and Roselia left the inn, the bustling streets of the town greeted them. Merchants called out their wares, adventurers exchanged tales of daring exploits, and the general hum of activity filled the air.
Roselia glanced at Leon, who seemed lost in thought. "You’re thinking about her, aren’t you?"
Leon shook his head quickly, though his slight hesitation didn’t go unnoticed. "No, just planning our next steps. We need to stock up and prepare before heading to the next quest."
Pausing for a moment, he added, "After all, it’s an SSS-rank quest now."
Roselia rolled her eyes. "Right. And the fact that she basically claimed you as her eternal husband has nothing to do with it?"
Leon sighed. "Roselia, I already told you, I didn’t ask for this. And besides," he added with a small smirk, "you seem more than ready to handle any ’competition,’ so why worry?"
Roselia’s eyes narrowed, but she didn’t press the matter. "Fine. Let’s focus on more important things. Where are we heading first?"
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At the Market
The duo walked through the market, picking up supplies—potions, rations, and a few enchanted items. Leon bartered with one particularly stubborn merchant, eventually securing a powerful mana regeneration amulet at a fair price.
"That should help when things get rough," he said, holding up the amulet for Roselia to see.
She nodded. "Good find. Anything else?"
Leon paused, considering. "We might want to check out the blacksmith. My sword took some damage during the last quest."
"Lead the way," Roselia said, falling into step beside him.
At the Blacksmith
The blacksmith shop was a modest establishment, but the quality of the weapons and armor displayed was undeniable. The burly smith greeted them with a nod as they entered.
"What can I do for you?" he asked, his voice rough but friendly.
Leon unsheathed his sword, revealing a faint crack along the blade. "I need this repaired. Can you handle it?"
The smith examined the sword, his eyes narrowing in concentration. "Hmm. High-quality material. This won’t be easy, but I can do it. It’ll take a day, though."
Leon handed over the weapon. "That’s fine. Just make sure it’s ready by tomorrow."
As they left the shop, Roselia glanced at him. "What’s the plan now?"
Leon stretched, his gaze drifting toward the towering silhouette of the next floor’s portal in the distance. "We rest for the day. Tomorrow, we head to the quest and take on whatever challenge awaits us."
Later That Evening
Back at the inn, Leon and Roselia settled into their rooms. As Leon lay in bed, his thoughts drifted to Angelica and her cryptic parting words.
The trial of Legendary Difficulty... he mused, the weight of her revelation sinking in. If what she said was true, then the treasure she mentioned could be a game-changer. But the risks involved...
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "One step at a time," he muttered.
The Next Morning
Leon and Roselia stood at the edge of the portal leading to the next city. The SSS-rank quest wasn’t in their current city—they had completed all the undead-related quests available there. Now, it was time to move on.
As their turn came, they stepped into the teleportation portal, arriving swiftly at the next city.
The Arcane City
"The Arcane City, famous for mages," Leon read aloud from the large signboard as they entered.
"Well, yes, and they’ve also got an academy here," Roselia added, sharing her knowledge about the city.
Leon nodded. "That’s not unusual. Even in my original world, we had academies."
Roselia glanced at him curiously. "Don’t you ever wish to go out and meet them? After completing the Tower’s Trial, many people leave temporarily to explore the outside world. You’ve never left the Tower, have you?"
Leon shook his head. "I don’t have any ties outside. I was an orphan," he replied simply.
Roselia softened slightly. "Not even friends at the orphanage?"
"None," Leon admitted, his voice flat. He quickly moved on, brushing aside unnecessary flashbacks.
"Are you alright?" she asked, noticing a flicker of something in his expression.
"I’m fine," Leon replied, nodding. "Let’s go."
Together, they walked deeper into the city, Leon admiring the towering spires of the academy and the bustling streets filled with magic users of all kinds.
"Let’s check out the Ascendant’s Guild first," Leon suggested, pointing toward a large building adorned with intricate arcane symbols.
"Lead the way," Roselia said, following him as they ventured into the heart of the Arcane City.
As Leon and Roselia stepped into the Arcane City, the atmosphere shifted dramatically. The hum of magic lingered in the air, faint sparks occasionally flickering between enchanted lanterns lining the cobbled streets. Buildings towered high with intricate carvings, glowing runes etched into their walls, and floating banners announcing upcoming magical duels and lectures.
The streets were alive with activity. Groups of robed mages walked in clusters, discussing theories and spells, while merchants sold everything from spell scrolls to alchemical reagents. A street performer conjured colorful illusions of mythical creatures, earning cheers and coins from an enchanted crowd.
Roselia took a deep breath, her eyes scanning the bustling scene. "You can feel it, can’t you? This city breathes magic. It’s everywhere."
Leon nodded, his expression neutral but his sharp gaze missing nothing. "It’s impressive, but let’s not get distracted. The Guild should be our priority."
The Ascendant’s Guild building was a masterpiece of magical architecture. Tall crystalline spires reflected the sunlight in shimmering hues, and the massive double doors were engraved with intricate runes that glowed faintly as they approached. The large symbol of the Tower Trials—an upward-spiraling staircase surrounded by a ring of stars—adorned the entryway.
Inside, the Guild was bustling with activity. Mages, warriors, and adventurers of all kinds moved through the grand hall. Quest boards lined the walls, magical maps floated midair, and the hum of arcane devices being calibrated echoed faintly.
Leon approached the receptionist, a young woman with short silver hair and glowing purple eyes. She glanced up, her gaze sharp and professional.
"Welcome to the Ascendant’s Guild," she said. "How can I assist you?"
"We’re here for the quest board," Leon replied.
She nodded and gestured to the boards lining the walls. "Feel free to browse. The higher-ranked quests are on the far side, near the Guildmaster’s chamber. If you need additional guidance, let me know."
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"But you do know you can only take Quest based on your Ascender rank right?" she asked as leon nodded.
They have gathered enough points to even climb t 5th floor but not enough to reach the next rank of Ascenders, the bronze rank.
They have now little over 900 points after completing many S rank and A rak quests, but they need 1000 points to advance to bronze rank.
Leon then went to Quest board with Roselia,
As they approached the far end of the hall, the noise of the bustling adventurers grew distant. Here, the quests displayed were not only rare but dangerous. The parchment of each quest seemed to radiate power, glowing softly to signify its rank.
Leon’s eyes scanned the board, his gaze narrowing as he found their target. A single parchment marked with a shimmering golden seal stood out among the rest.
Roselia leaned closer, reading aloud. "The Fallen Archmage’s Legacy: An SSS-Rank Trial. Defeat the spectral remnants of the Archmage Valtheris, recover his lost artifacts, and purge his corrupted lair. Recommended for teams of high-tier adventurers or Ascendants only."
"Sounds like a challenge," Roselia said, her tone light but her expression serious.
"It’s not just a challenge," Leon replied. "It’s a death sentence for anyone unprepared."
Roselia crossed her arms and nodded. "Let’s take this quest, and then head to the library to learn more about him," she said decisively.
Leon nodded in agreement. They returned to the receptionist desk and registered the quest. The receptionist, however, issued a stern warning.
"Be aware, if you fail to complete this quest within a month, there will be a fine of 10,000 gold coins," she cautioned.
"We’ve got another SSS-rank quest lined up," Leon remarked as they stepped away from the desk.
Roselia nodded. "The other one is similar: The Death Tyrant King quest. He was a powerful Sword King-level expert in life, and now he’s been transformed into a Death Knight," she said, recalling their other pending challenge.
leon nodded as he looked at her " how about this we both do one SSS rank quest, I take his Archmage and you take that Sword King" He said as Roselia looke dta him.
"...What happened to you? You always play it safe, so why the change now?" Roselia asked, her sharp eyes fixed on Leon.
Leon sighed heavily before responding. "Remember how Angelica mentioned the Angelic King was Tier 10? I never even knew such a rank existed. All I thought was that Tier 5 was the pinnacle. But Tier 10? That’s five whole tiers above what I believed possible," he explained, his voice tinged with frustration and determination.
He glanced at her, his gaze steady. "If I keep playing it safe, I’ll never grow stronger. I’ll stay stuck, and there’s a whole world of power out there I didn’t even know existed."
Roselia nodded, understanding dawning in her expression. "Alright," she said, her voice firm. "If you’re serious about pushing your limits, then I’ll support you. But don’t forget, taking risks means we’ll need to plan smarter than ever."
Leon managed a small, appreciative smile. "That’s why I need you with me."