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“It was me.”
Gwen turned toward the voice and saw that it was Victor.
Hearing Victor claim responsibility, she naturally believed him. After all, as a Tier 3 Mage, Victor’s reputation was well-known. Dealing with mere bandits was as easy as lifting a finger for him.
“Why are you here?”
Gwen turned her head back, puzzled as to why, with Victor present, Liya had still called her over.
She picked up a crystal that shimmered with rainbow-colored light and walked over to Liya’s side.
The colors on the crystal gradually faded. Victor noticed that Liya also had a similar crystal hanging at her waist.
It turned out they were using these magical crystals to communicate with each other, much like a two-way calling device.
Maintaining his usual cold and expressionless face, Victor explained calmly, “My family’s caravan was passing near the capital. I came to meet them and took the opportunity to eliminate these bandits.”
Hearing his explanation, Gwen had no reason to doubt him. She turned around and instructed the knight squad, “Check the bodies and see if any of them can be identified. Conduct an investigation and report back to me.”
“Yes!”
Receiving her order, the knights quickly set to work.
“Liya, be careful. Contact me immediately if you run into danger next time.”
After issuing her instructions, Gwen led the knights away.
Once she had left, Liya pouted, her cheeks puffed up like a steamed bun.
She had taken care of these bandits herself and had planned to show off in front of Gwen, but Victor had suddenly appeared and stolen her credit.
“You should know better than anyone that wealth should not be flaunted.”
Victor’s indifferent remark instantly sobered Liya.
The caravan members were all their own people, so it didn’t matter if they saw her abilities.
But if anyone else found out that she relied on a magical artifact to cast spells, she could end up in danger.
As a merchant, she had never underestimated the greed of human nature.
“Alright… I understand.”
Victor was satisfied, feeling a sense of accomplishment as an elder brother who had successfully educated his sister.
He walked over to Liya and extended a finger.
A dull gemstone flickered with a red light as he replenished its magic.
After finishing, he prepared to leave, but Liya hesitated before asking, “Why did you really come? I don’t believe what you told Gwen.”
“I sensed your magic activation and got curious, so I came to check.”
Victor turned back and answered flatly, his eyes devoid of any emotion, his face as cold as ever.
Liya felt a strange mix of emotions at his response.
In all her life, Victor had never shown any concern for her.
What happened today?
Has someone knocked some sense into him?
Had he suddenly grown a conscience?
Liya’s mind raced with questions, but Victor simply continued, “The attack on the caravan might be connected to one of my enemies. But there are too many to count, so I’m not sure who exactly. You should stay vigilant.”
Seizing the opportunity to retort, Liya sneered, “Oh? So you do know that you’re not well-liked.”
She had her own suspicions about where the bandits came from but chose not to share them with Victor.
“Have you tested the potion yet?”
“The mages all tried it, and they said it’s great.”
Victor’s abrupt question caught Liya off guard, but she nodded, genuinely surprised.
Even the exhausted mages who had tested it recovered instantly after drinking just one bottle.
Even though she wasn’t a mage herself, she understood how remarkable that was.
“This caravan trip isn’t just for ore trading. I’ve already secured a storefront in the capital.”
“There are many adventurers there, especially mages. Selling this in a bustling district will definitely make it a hit.”
Hearing Liya’s words, Victor secretly admired her business acumen. But he showed no reaction—Victor never complimented anyone.
“If you run into trouble in the capital, I might not be able to help much. You should contact Gwen more often.”
Liya tilted her head and dragged out a long “Oh~?” while giving him a suspicious look.
“You don’t know?”
Victor frowned and signaled for her to stop speaking in riddles.
“Gwen is going on a mission in a few days. She probably won’t be back for half a month.”
“For someone who’s supposed to be her fiancé, you don’t even know this? Maybe she should start preparing for a new husband instead.”
Liya taunted Victor while sneaking glances at his expression.
Victor naturally hadn’t heard about this. He and Gwen barely had any contact, and truthfully, he wasn’t even sure what their relationship was supposed to be.
“Where is she going?”
Liya had been hoping to see some change in his expression, but she was disappointed. He asked as if he were inquiring about a stranger’s whereabouts.
Feeling bored, she absentmindedly fiddled with her magic gloves and replied, “She said she’s heading to Mount Vesuvius.”
Although it was considered an extinct volcano, the locals had reported strange sounds from the mountain, prompting the Emperor to send Gwen to investigate whether an eruption was imminent and to prepare contingency plans.
Hearing the name, Victor’s eyes widened slightly as memories flooded his mind.
That place… was no dormant volcano.
Beneath its molten lava lay a massive creature—the very first world boss to appear in the game’s storyline.
It was no ordinary foe.
In the game, world bosses were enemies that every player on the server had the right to challenge. They had incredibly high levels and far more health than regular bosses.
When it awakened in the game, the surrounding towns were reduced to ashes.
The empire’s army and knight squadrons attempted to suppress it but were easily crushed.
In desperation, the empire had to turn to “players”—adventurers—for help.
It took players three days of continuous battle, with countless deaths, to finally deplete its last sliver of health.
Victor himself had participated in that war. He still remembered staying up for three nights straight, logging in every day just to chip away at the boss’s HP alongside other players.
Thinking back, it still made his blood boil.
The rewards had been worth it, distributed generously to every player who had contributed to the fight.
Though he had since replayed that dungeon with different character builds, nothing ever matched the sheer desperation of that first encounter.
Victor was now curious to see what the creature looked like before it awakened.
“The Molten Behemoth,” as players had named it.
Just like its name suggested, it was a towering, fire-spewing furnace of destruction.
Its very presence scorched the land into blackened ruins.
Victor decided that tonight, he would visit Gwen and probe for more details.
And if he could hitch a ride on her mission, even better.