250.
250 different sponsors.
Some of them even were deleted.
"Ha.. Haha..."
Edna didn't know how to react, laughing forcefully and shaking her head.
Arga once again congratulated her son, even though she didn't fully grasped what he had achieved.
Ertex shooed everyone trying to recruit him.
"If I were to talk to them right now, will they hear me?" he asked Edna.
"... Yeah. They even see you all the time."
"..."
"All the time? What if I'm fucking someone, will they watch me?"
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Arga giggled since she was already used to this.
But on the other hand, too much was happening for poor Edna today.
"Is that... really what should concern you in this situation?"
"Just asking."
"... Probably."
"That... isn't too good."
He wasn't really an exhibitionist like others were, not feeling the thrill of being watched.
Well, he'll most likely find a solution about this.
Shrugging, he changed the subject.
"Have you perhaps seen the third ranked dude? He's a bit shorter than me, silver hair, with a weird jacket on him and looking like he was about to off himself."
Edna tried to remember if she saw someone with that description.
"I think I saw him when I finished a trial myself. He went alone in one."
"Cool, cool." he nodded.
'Just you wait. I'll steal every single secret prize you know from that trial. You still think you don't need me? Too bad, I need you.'
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"Where's that?"
"..."
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Edna led them to a place not too far away from the downtown. There were multiple portals with different colors, Ertex guessing the darker the color, the harder the difficulty.
"He went in that one." she added, pointing towards a gray colored portal.
"It's an average one, with a very small probability of a strong demon appearing. But still, to go alone as a level 11..." she finished, shaking her head.
'I was expecting more, but I guess there is something that interested him.'
"Let's go, mom."
"Yes!"
"Want to tag along?" Ertex asked Edna, turning towards her.
"I can't. I've let my team wait for me for more than I anticipated."
"I see."
"It must boring there, being always cautious and all. Join us!"
This time, surprisingly, it wasn't Ertex that said such a thing.
It was Arga!
Edna was, for the hundredth time today, caught off guard.
'Is she trying to...?'
Realizing, Ertex laughed.
'Well, can't say I mind.'
"Yeah, sure. Why don't you join us?"
"..."
"... if the demon appears and you kill it, I'll think about it." she said in a low voice avoiding eye contact, before hurriedly taking off.
'It seems that she wants to but hopes she won't. Problems with her team? Personal matters? ... Do I wanna get involved?'
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'Welp, I was still gonna summon that creature, so...'
He though as he followed Arga in the portal, his eyes glowing.
[Probability of ?##!?# arriving - 0,07%]
[Updating...]
[Updating...]
[Updating...]
[Probability of ?##!?# arriving - 100%]
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Artrus felt something. He didn't know what it was, he didn't know why it was, but he felt something. And it was not a good feeling.
Trying to ignore the feeling, he continued searching.
This trial was not a killing type, but more of an escape type. There was a time limit for one to find the exit, with no monsters present, just occasional traps. If you couldn't find the exit in the time given, you'll never be able to leave it again.
It was dark, with just a few torches on the almost collapsed walls brightening the path.
It's been half an hour since Artrus entered, that also being half the time given. He wasn't worried about that, already knowing where the exit is.
He kept looking at the wall from his left, not once glancing to the right.
Just as he reached what he was looking for, he heard footsteps. He instantly turned around, unsheathing his sword and slashing towards the noise until he felt his sword stopping.
"Jeez, so dramatic."
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"Do you see anything?" squinting her eyes, Arga asked.
"Yep." Ertex nodded, looking around.
Because of his ability, he had no problems with his sight. He could even see Artrus, which was pretty far away. The same couldn't be said for Arga though, so she formed a small ball of fire in her hand, making it float in front of them.
"We only have half the time left. It seems that it doesn't change even if someone joins later." she deducted.
Ertex, seeing how Artrus was still searching for his thing, was in no hurry.
"It's alright, we don't even need it."
Arga nodded.
They were approaching him quickly, since he was walking slowly so he would not miss the spot.
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"Ertex?"
"Yes?"
There was a moment of silence.
"How are you?"
He didn't respond right away, looking ahead.
He smiled.
"Nothing changed, Arga. Don't worry." he said, patting her head.
She glanced at him.
It was saddening, really.
When he doesn't want her to know, she has no idea when he is lying.
All she can do is fool herself.
Fool herself that he is telling the truth.
Fool herself that he indeed is good.
It hurts.
It hurts like a bitch.
But what can she do?
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Just as Artrus stopped, they reached him.
"Jeez, so dramatic."
Stopping his sword, Ertex looked at the wall.
'That small crack?'
Artrus confused, looked at the newcomers.
While he already met the male, he had no idea who that woman was.
The second person he had no memories of.
"We never had the chance to know each other, right? I'm Ertex. Kleiss Ertex."
Right. He should at least try to befriend them. If they are trash people, he'll just kill them from the beginning.
"... Artrus. Kedan Artrus."
"Kleiss Arga!"
"Siblings?"
It was not the first time someone confused them as siblings.
"Close enough. Mother and son. Nice to meet you, Artrus."
Artrus nodded. He didn't know what to do. He didn't trust them nearly enough to just go and take the item he was looking for. Should he just leave and try another time?
Before he could think of an answer, the ground began shaking.
He was confused. There was still enough time. What was happening?
The answer was about to show itself.
The temperature began to rise, making the walls melt.
Because of that, Artrus got distracted and Ertex saw that behind the melting wall was a room. He inspected it to see what Artrus was looking for, finding a purple ring.
[Ayra's Ring - Legendary
Ayra's favorite ring. She lost it when she fought ?##!?.
Significantly increases your magic power.
Has the ability to absorb up to 30% of the damage received and add it to your next move, as long as it's magic related.
Can be upgraded to a better quality using certain resources.]
'Pretty good.' Ertex nodded seeing it.
The temperature kept rising, the walls completely melted. Only the roof somehow stayed intact.
Of course, before being destroyed as someone came through it.
Seeing Artrus looking up, Ertex grabbed the ring. He tossed it to Arga, signaling her to put it on. As she did, Ertex looked at the person above.
Very long red hair with red eyes. A perfect face with no scars, adorned with a playful smile. Long red dress that showed her long left leg but didn't let her breasts breath, and red heels.
'She looks similar to that hologram.'
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Ertex nodded.
"I approve. I like red too."