"I didn't expect you to be so handsome. If you say you like games, no wonder I get a dark feeling..."
[T/N: The reporter is wryly suggesting that considering his looks, Alan could be a playa. Of girls as well as games.]
- A sudden assault by an assassination skill has dealt you a critical hit. 300 X 3 damage taken.
"Andel, stop. Can't you see he's talking with me?"
Just as Andel was about to come at him, Alan made a face and glared. Then Andel wavered as he took a deep breath and stepped back.
'Was Andel acquainted with Alan?'
Alan made Andel back off with one word. It wouldn't have be easy to do if their relationship had formed in the game alone. Therefore, it was likely they knew each other in real life as well.
'Is that how Andel recovered so quickly after being totally wrecked by me? Well, it wouldn't be all that hard if a player like Alan was backing him up. And if he was backed up by a high level player like Alan, their relationship must be pretty close. No, there's a chance most of the players in Group 1 are examinees, like Lariette and Andel. I didn't like him from the beginning, but there's yet another reason why I hate Alan.'
While Ark was having such thoughts, Alan, who had been whispering with Andel, slightly turned his gaze.
"Come to think of it, I do remember. Ark, I apologize if you were offended."
"It's alright. Things like that can happen," Ark replied in a cold voice.
Then, with an uncomfortable expression because of the odd mood, Lariette suddenly grabbed Ark's hand and said, "Ah, that's right, why don't you join Group 1? It would be fine at your level, we lost some people in the last battle so we have some openings in the raid. That's okay, right Alan?"
Lariette surprised Ark by suddenly grabbing his hand, but the one who reacted more sensitively was Alan. He frowned as he briefly glared at Ark before saying with a displeased voice, "It's true there are openings. But there are already people waiting to be added at an opening, so... I may be the commander but I can't just add people I don't really know. And since it looks like there's some bad blood between you and Andel..."
"But Alan, I know him very well."
"Group 1's command structure is already set. We'll have to fight the hardest battle for the last day of the quest, so adding someone who doesn't match our rhythm could break our formation."
"But..."
"It's fine." Ark cut off Lariette and shook his head. "As I said before, I also have people I'm working with. I would have to turn down an offer to join Group 1 anyway, so there is no need for you two to fight."
Even if there wasn't the militia or Guard, Ark didn't want to be Alan's subordinate.
One could say it was the jealousy of the good guy or the pride of the bad guy. He just wanted to engrave his name in Alan's mind with his own strength.
"Then there is nothing more to say. I'll take my leave. Miss Lariette, let's go."
Alan looked down on Ark from atop his white horse before whirling around. Then he headed to the inn with his shrieking lady fans behind him. After briefly following Alan's departure with lonely eyes, Lariette bowed crisply to Ark and turned.
"I'm sorry. Ark."
Her strangely regretful voice grazed past his ears.
'Just why is she sorry? Alan or Andel's attitude? Or not being able to put me in Group 1?'
Ark sent her a questioning look, but she was hurriedly going after Alan. Gazing at her, Ark casually remarked to the murderous Andel, "Considering your attitude, I think I can roughly guess your relationship with Alan."
"What?"
"Your master is going. Shouldn't you hurry and follow him?"
"You bastard, I'll let you go for now but just wait and see after the event quest!"
"If you want your stats to go to 0, then anytime."
At Ark's brazen answer, Andel clenched his teeth, glared, and left with Group 1. Then, a little while afterwards, when Ark was about to turn around, a message window popped up before his eyes.
- Alan has used [Feather of Whispering] to initiate a private chat.
"Alright, let's leave at once."