24 Hearts

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Chapter 3. Flag Competition.

After hearing the Count’s advice, Judah went on about as usual. If Kain had really gotten Gabriel’s revelation and left for Regen, it would be too late to follow him. He took his time watching the Red Flagstaff to even think about what would be different from being late anyway. After seeing everything until the finals, he called Arhil and Jeanne and asked them to go to Regen now.

“Where?” Arhil asked back as if she had heard it wrong.

“Regen.”

Upon hearing that they would go to the kingdom of mercenaries, Arhil’s eyes shook in disbelief. “Are we really going there? When?”

“Tomorrow.”

It was now too late, but there was nothing else to see in Aslan anymore, so he decided to move on to Regen quickly. Arhil’s expression didn’t seem to look very good. She even seemed depressed. On the other hand, when he told Jeanne about it, she began to eat the food that had been in front of her while sobbing. She looked different from before while she savored the meal.

“But I like this city… Why do we have to go to Regen? Aah. God, why does it have to be Regen?”

Judah felt embarrassed by her as she pretended to shed tears. What about Regen? Was it that bad that it was a tribal country located in the mountains? Still, he made it okay when he set it up, but it seemed that its reputation hadn’t been well received.

“We’ll be leaving tomorrow morning?”

“No wagons are heading for Regen, so shouldn’t we?”

Judah laughed. Frustrated by the fact that she was really going to Regen, Arhil bowed her head, whipping the food in the bowl in front of him with a fork.

“Okay, I have to follow the leader’s opinion. Oh… Jeanne, can’t you tell him something?”

“This opportunity will train us. So please eat more than that. If we go to Regen, you won’t even dream of having this luxury again.”

“…Yes.”

Jeanne murmured with food in her mouth, like a squirrel storing winter food or like a hamster eating until his stomach burst, making her cheeks puff. Of course, Judah himself knew what Regen was like in the game, so he ordered additional food while asking them to eat as much as possible. Then, after their meal was over, his companions left the hotel to go to the general store.

“Is your next destination Regen?”

“Yes.”

The Count, who was sitting at the table next to him, laughed. He didn’t speak, but his laughter came as if he were saying that he could see the troubles ahead.

“You’ll hate it there.” The Count, who was sitting at the table next to him, said with a smile.

“Have you been there?”

“Yes.”

“…If I asked you to visit one more time, will you come and go?”

“If you’re joking, don’t say that.”

The Count shook his hand, gawking at the question. However, he scratched his cheek and tilted his head, and muttered that he could drop by sometime. Judah believed in his magic power, but after seeing his reaction, he began doubting it. Then, Sarah, quietly drinking a beverage, glanced at Judah.

“Once we head to the grocery store, we’ll get the goods we need. We just need to prepare enough water and jerky stuff. Oh, and if we have enough money, we can stop by the tower. That’s a good way to begin, I think.”

“What about a Hearthstone?”

It turned out that there was something as a Hearthstone. However, contrary to what Sarah said, it was not something he can only get with money. It was an item that can be purchased only at a high level of favorability with the tower and at a fairly high price. Sarah seemed to think that Judah was not an ordinary adventurer because he shared the same lodge and hung out with the Count. Of course, it was true that he is not an everyday adventurer since he had fragments, but in reality, he was only a little rich silver adventurer.

“Daughter, Hearthstone is not something that can be obtained with only money.”

“You said you could get it if you gave them money?”

At the Count’s words, Sarah asked back, puzzled.

“That’s possible because I’m your dad. Would you sell any gemstone exclusively imported to the capital of this kingdom? Unless you’re a mage, you would not know. But since we’re parting ways tomorrow, perhaps we can give it to them a gift?”

He didn’t care about other people’s gazes. He reached out and stirred his hand to open his subspace and took out a gemstone from within. It was a long, hexagonal crystal that he seemed to hold in his hand easily. Unknown letters were engraved on the surface of the translucent crystal.

“I made it. It’s a magic stone imported from my mansion in Urun. It activates when magic power is transferred into the crystal. It moves the creatures within a 5m radius around the user. I believe this will be of use to you.”

“Can you give me such a valuable thing?”

“Because I can make it again, it’s not precious from my point of view. It may sound like I’m bragging, but things from person to person.”

“Then, I’ll be grateful.”

The Count nodded as Judah kept the crystal. Sarah sighed as she looked at it, and she looked sad. Her lips frowned, and she looked like a cute little girl.

“But it’s a pity to see you leaving tomorrow. It was nice to be close to Jeanne, and Arhil like friends do…”

“Would you like to go with me?”

“Oh, no, I don’t know if I’m fit for Regen. I don’t know… And I don’t want to go there. You got a gemstone from my dad anyway. Maybe I could go to Regen and then come to Urun? I’ll think about it.”

It was just a joke, but he heard an unexpected answer that she might consider it. But Judah had no intention of taking her as her companion, so he just laughed. Soon, the Count and Sarah went away, saying they would go up and rest for the day because they were also bound to leave tomorrow morning. Judah, who was left alone at the table, thought for a moment. He then went to the counter and gave some gold coins, ordering ten days’ worth of lunch and water.

Upon returning to their room, Judah sat alone on his bed, brought up his status window.

──────────────────────

「Status Window」

[Name: Judah Arche]

[Title: Little Hero of Serenita Castle (2)]

[Level: 36]

[Job: Black Claw _ Shadow Magic Swordsman (Hidden_A)]

[Number of resurrections: 2]

[Strength: 43(C) / Potential A]

[Health: 46(C) / Potential S]

[Agility: 46(C) / Potential SS]

[Magic Power: 44(C) / Potential B]

[Magic Resistance: 54(C) / Potential S]

[Charisma: 8(F) / Potential A]

[Knowledge: 17(F) / Potential B] ◀ Special

[Luck: 84(A) / Potential S] ◀ Special

[Points remaining: 21]

──────────────────────

‘Is it better to save 21 points without using them?’

His current stats were not so low. It can be said that it was quite high despite his rare use of his points. However, it was wasteful if he kept saving them without ever using them. It wasn’t it bad that he saved them, but it would be much easier to use it now.

‘I’ll collect points again later anyway.’

Since the highest level was 100, the other stats will rise considerably by that time, and he would even collect even more points. Troubled for a moment, Judah immediately invested 7 in his strength and 14 in his agility.

──────────────────────

「Status Window」

[Name: Judah Arche]

[Title: Little Hero of Serenita Castle (2)]

[Level: 36]

[Job: Black Claw _ Shadow Magic Swordsman (Hidden_A)]

[Number of resurrections: 2]

[Strength: 50(C) / Potential A]

[Health: 46(C) / Potential S]

[Agility: 60(B) / Potential SS]

[Magic Power: 44(C) / Potential B]

[Magic Resistancr: 54(C) / Potential S]

[Charisma: 8(F) / Potential A]

[Knowledge: 17(F) / Potential B] ◀ Special

[Luck: 84(A) / Potential S] ◀ Special

[Points remaining: 0]

──────────────────────

The moment his points were distributed, the change immediately shot through his body. He felt much lighter and full of strength. He squeezed his hand, feeling like he could do anything. He was a bit disappointed that he had used all his remaining points, but he felt comfortable thinking that he should use it someday. Then Arhil and Jeanne arrived in time, and the waitress whom he ordered from came in with a cart full of lunch and water. The things they had bought and what Judah ordered were stacked in one side of the room, a considerable amount of goods.

“Wow. You bought quite a lot?”

As he picked it up one by one to put in his subspace, Arhil nodded with her arms folded.

“Of course. This is not enough, but I know that Judah has subspace, so we bought with confidence. Hehe.”

Arhil sat next to Judah and explained, handing them one by one.

“This is sprayed on clothes, but it’s a medicine that keeps bugs out of access. This is an antidote. I can treat you all with my divine magic, but… I don’t know what will happen, so I thought it would be better to be sure, so I bought it.”

“This is cheap?”

“Ehem, it’s basic.”

Not only did they buy things from the general store, but they also purchased a reminder-type manastone to install at bedtime. Judah asked her how much it cost her and took out some of the gold coins he had. She said it was okay, but she accepted it anyway, saying that she would not refuse and she would accept.

“Thank you. I don’t think it’s useless if we go to Regen anyway.”

“Have you been to Regen?”

“No.”

“How about you, Jeanne?”

“I’ve never been there, but its notoriety is nailed to my ears.”

It had an evil reputation?

As she straddled the bed, she slowly told her part.

“It’s notorious, but there’s no right way to go to Regen. That’s the main reason travelers and adventurers don’t go to Regen. Nonetheless, those who were eager to visit Regen’s tribes always say they want to come back again. Their bushes grow up to knee high, so you can’t see what’s in front of you, and there are a lot of bugs, so it’s hard without a priest. Some tribes are even said to kidnap beautiful women and handsome men among adventurers and travelers to make them their spouses.”

“Well, wouldn’t it be worth going at least once?”

“If possible, I’d recommend not going, but if you want to go, I can’t help it. I think this will be an experience as well.”

“What about Arhil?”

“Oh, do I have a choice?”

Judah grinned.

“No.”

“That’s too much. Why ask in the first place! If we still have to go, I’ll go. This is also God’s will.”

“Then, let’s go to bed early. We’re going to leave tomorrow morning.”

Judah, with all their luggage in the bag, stood up. They agreed and went to bed. That was how their last night in Aslan passed.

============================ ==================== ======== <ol>Please upload your stat rating table! </ol>

「Ability Grade Table」

0-19 F

20-39 D

40-59 C

60-79 B

80-89 A

90-99 S

100-109 SS

110 SSS