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Chapter 98: Team Member Introductions

Not only the two who knelt on the floor weeping, but even the rest of the party stared in surprise at the still-smiling youth.

On King’s Continent, the strong rarely cared whether commoners lived or died, for the two groups belonged to completely different worlds.

Yet this black-haired youth, who was clearly no saint, cheerfully produced 20 gold coins so two strangers could save a single peasant, even though the healing might have cost only 5.

Everyone in the team could have spared 20 gold coins, for such a sum meant little to them, but only the black-haired youth handed it over without hesitation!

The kneeling giant named Stone snatched up the pouch as though clutching a life-saving straw.

But he looked at Ashura with hesitant eyes and struggled to say, “Sir, is this really okay? I need only 5 gold coins to hire a priest, so I will return the rest to you!” and with that he tried to open the pouch to count the money.

Before he could loosen the drawstring, Ashura said airily, “By the time you finish counting, your aunt may already be dead; if she matters to you, run back right now and save her life… keep the rest for your future living expenses!”

The seemingly slow-witted giant raised his head toward the still-smiling young man, paused, then bowed deeply and shouted, “Please wait a moment, sir, I’ll be right back!” After speaking, he hoisted the boy named Rocky onto his shoulder and bolted out of the adventurers’ tavern.

When the surrounding mercenaries realized the show was over, they sneered that the oaf would surely abscond with the brat’s money and never return, adding that 20 gold coins would be better spent letting them enjoy the brothel next door for a few days.

Yet when Ashura’s smiling gaze swept over them they fell instantly silent, for the blood on the tavern door had not even dried, and no one knew whether the ejected White was dead or alive.

Ashura looked around, saw that the clamor had ceased, snorted lightly, and turned his head to glance at the few teammates beneath the pillar.

He curved his lips into another gentle smile and said, “Let’s get acquainted again; I’m Ashura, proficient in strength and speed… may I know your names?”

The people under the pillar straightened at once and introduced themselves earnestly, for the strong always commanded respect and acknowledgment.

The recruitment notice had been posted by the pair in silver armor, a brother and sister: the brother was Clay, the sister was Christine, both 2 years older than Ashura at just 19.

Both were 2nd-stage Grand Martial Masters and knights, but because mounts were useless in the dense Beast Forest they sought to form a party before entering.

They did not explain why they had come to the Beast Forest, merely stating that they aimed to hunt Beasts.

Clay felt embarrassed that he had not stepped in when White challenged Ashura, for he had wanted to see whether someone so young truly had the strength to join the team.

He would have intervened had Ashura been unable to withstand the blow, but the outcome surpassed his expectations, leaving him awkward, yet Ashura still nodded at him with a smile.

His sister Christine, seemingly trying to ease his embarrassment, flipped her large golden curls and executed a graceful knight’s salute.

When the tall Christine bent forward… she was at least Ashura’s height… his sharp eyes caught sight, through the collar of her silver soft armor, of two immense, perfect curves.

Ashura involuntarily compared their size to that of the other girls he had seen; though he had not measured them himself, they were probably no smaller.

The male mage was Gais, a 1st-stage Grand Magician of the fire element whose explosive damage made him highly sought after in the tavern, with many parties vying for his membership.

As for why he joined this team, Gais admitted openly that he was pursuing the female wood-element mage named Jella.

The seductive Jella appeared flirtatious, yet she was actually the daughter of the Saint Gobban City Magic Guild’s vice chairman, so few fools in the tavern dared harass her.

Moreover, Jella herself was a 2nd-stage Grand Magician of wood element, and at 21 she brimmed with youthful vigor.

Her restless, adventure-loving nature made her radiate allure at all times, yet no one had ever managed to gain real advantage over this thorny rose.

From the moment he first saw her, Gais had been utterly captivated and pursued her relentlessly, following wherever she went.

This time Jella was drawn by the party’s strength requirements, intending to temper herself in the Beast Forest; at 21 she possessed absolute confidence in her own power… she was a flower, but never one kept in a vase!

While introducing herself, Jella gave Ashura an enormous hug and even winked her lively eyes at him.

The instantaneous soft-body impact pleased Ashura, but before he could savor it he noticed Gais’s darkened face and immediately sensed that this thorny rose was no simple woman.

The last member, a cool light-gold-haired girl carrying a bow, said simply that her name was Luna, a 1st-stage Grand Martial Master archer and a good friend of the mage Jella.

After speaking she nodded once to Ashura in greeting and said nothing more.

She seemed to hide her face behind her pale golden hair, so Ashura could not see her features clearly, only sensing that her facial lines were sharp; he did not mind, for everyone had their secrets.

He nodded back to Luna and smiled, saying, “Once we’re inside the Beast Forest, if we meet any high-tier Beasts, I’ll be counting on your arrows, lovely Luna!”

Luna, apparently unaccustomed to dealing with strangers, shrank shyly and gave a small nod.

Jella then hopped beside Luna to whisper something, making Luna so embarrassed she no longer dared look Ashura in the eye.

It seemed this was the first time everyone had introduced themselves in detail, and the atmosphere grew much friendlier; Clay waved for a waiter to bring a round table and six chairs and graciously invited everyone to eat and drink.

No sooner had Ashura seated himself than the sultry Jella settled on his left, her big eyes sending volleys of charm at him, causing Ashura to frown slightly.

Fortunately Clay took the seat on his right and clinked cups with him, proposing a round of rum.

Ashura naturally drank and chatted with Clay, which made Jella on his left knit her brows, for it was the first time someone her age had resisted her allure, and her pride in her beauty stoked a fierce desire to conquer him.

She licked her sensual lips, wondering how to make this black-haired boy fall beneath her magic robe and then discard him ruthlessly.

Seeing Ashura’s indifference, Gais breathed a sigh of relief, darted past the dazed Luna, and parked himself beside Jella to shower her with flattery.

Luna appeared unsure how to handle the situation and froze where she stood until the golden-curled Christine kindly pulled her to a seat beside herself.

The group ate and chatted happily until hurried footsteps rushed to the table, and the thud of someone kneeling sounded clearly even in the noisy bar.

A muffled, booming voice called out, “Stone pays respects to Master!”

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