!!!
"Keukk.."
Sylias felt something hurting her eyes, however that pain started to disappear overtime and only 10 seconds later, it disappeared completely, her eyes have turned back to normal, and there's no longer any abnormality in it.
"I– Won, right? Huh?"
Suddenly, a dark purple flame burst out from Sylias's hand, she didn't feel any burning sensation from it, and from the looks of it, the flame seems to have came from her Abyssal Hunter class.
'What's this, it appeared out of nowhere?— Does this mean i have completely controlled the Abyssal Serpent soul?'
Although she had won the fight against the clone in her mind which turned out to be the Abyssal King Serpent soul itself, Sylias can still feel a bit of bloodthirst that is most likely influenced by the King Serpent, she had a few thought about killing, that's how she know that the Serpent's soul hasn't disappeared yet, it only resides within Sylias, trapped forever without being able to intervere except giving Sylias a part of its personality.
'My body is itching to go on a hunt, this is bad..'
She tried to suppress the bloodthirst, and managed to do so without any much problem, it was at the very least unexpected, Sylias thought it would require much effort, but turns out she was wrong.
'For now, it seems like i can control it just fine.'
Sylias shifted her attention towards Rezio's corpse once again, and there was a slight frown forming on her face, she wasn't feeling any empathy or guilt, Sylias was just disappointed of how she became like this, she didn't know where it all started, back when she first reincarnated, her personality isn't that different from her previous self, however after possessing Sylias, her game character, it slowly became apparent that she is turning into Sylias herself.
'If i tried to remember everything i've been doing in the past 4 years— Hold on, i killed someone on my first day of reincarnation, and back then i already lacked any of feeling towards my victim, i remember it was Mortem right? even though he was a criminal, i surprisingly remained calm even when battling against him, the previous me on earth would definitely be too scared to even talk or move when facing the same situation...'
'Is it because i inherited Sylias's personality? But there was no option of how a character personality can be in Serpent Journey, after all players don't really need it do they? If you create a character with loving and caring personality, you as the user controlling that character can just make them do mass murder and it would be allowed..'
'— This world isn't Serpent Journey, no, its different, Sylias in here is most likely different too, i barely have any knowledge about her, i only played her as a game character, i don't know what her childhood is like, her parents, or where she came from, all i know is that i woke up as her one day..'
'Shit, there are too many mysteries that doesn't have an answer, i'll have to find them myself.'
Sylias then scratched her head, thinking all of this made her experienced a headache.
***
Outer Part of Monoghriad Forest, near the forest exit..
SLASH!
GRAAAHHH!!!
A Goblin screamed after its body was slashed by a sword, that sword belongs to Carfeld and his expedition group, they were fighting a group of goblins a few moments ago, but they were dealt pretty easily, all of the goblin corpses are left on the ground for another monster or beast to eat them.
"We encountered more monsters and beasts than usual its getting a bit tiring, it seems like we took a different path than our previous one a few days ago when we first arrived here..' Carfeld said as he sheathes his sword back to its scabbard.
"Yeah, i think so too.."
"Then i guess our horse is gone now.."
"We'll still look our for them once we exited out of the forest, they won't starve since there's grass everywhere, what im afraid is that they could be mauled by some wolves.."
"Carfeld, how is your injury?" Davira asked.
"Its healed now, i'll go to the priest after we're back at Larim, just to make sure.."
"Yeah, me too."
They're all talking to one another as they walked, after traversing through steep landmarks, avoiding dense plants and protruding roots, the expedition group finally arrived at the edge of the forest, they saw the vast grassland and tall mountains in the horizon, the comforting wind that they feel on their face, slimes jumping around in the distance, and also dragonflies that hopped from one grass blade to another, it all feels unreal now after what they have gone through for the past few days.
'B- beautiful..' Carfeld thought.
One of the special knight can be seen holding back tears, he remembered his fallen comrades and friends, Davira saw him and also thought about Rezio, she felt like it was her duty to save him, but there was nothing she could do, she doesn't have the power to save him, she also failed to convince everyone to go back, from her perspective, its as if she was the one that caused his death.
"Hey." Carfeld tapped Davira's shoulder after seeing her frowning and is looking down.
"You okay?"
"A- ah, yes.. I'm fine, sorry"
"No, i know what you're thinking, it's hard to accept it, and i agree with you— Accepting the death of a close friend is never easy, but you'll have to move on eventually."
"— Yeah you're right.."
"Knowing Rezio, i bet that bastard is smiling at us right now, he might not be visible to us, but i can tell.."
Davira chuckled at Carfeld's word, it comforts her for a bit.
"Yeah, he probably is."
"Alright, enough, let's search for our horses– Come on guys."
"Yes!"
"Aye.."
"Alright."
***
A few days later, Carfeld and the remaining group arrived at Larim, they found their horses and came back with many injuries, the news of their comeback was spread all across the city, all of the survivor was rewarded with a badge of honor and also payment of a whopping 100 Large Gold Coins for each of them.
"T- This is!!" Said Julian, shocked after seeing the amount of mithrils that came out of the magic pouch.
Both Julian and Tiel was at the Knight Palace, they visited Carfeld and the group to see the mithrils that they have brought from their mission, right now they are standing at the middle of the palace, where a monument was placed the the center, there was also a circle shape on the ground.
"I can't believe it— This is all mithrils! It's pure too! this is my first time seeing such a high quality mithrils.."
"Sir Julian, is this really—
"TIEL! QUICK! BRING THE DWARVES FROM THE ROYAL BLACKSMITH IN HERE!"
"A- AH! YES!!"
Tiel ran off from the knight palace and immediately goes to the king's castle.
"You said your name was Carfeld right? Im truly grateful, thank you.."
Julian suddenly bowed down in respect to Carfeld and his expedition group.
"I know we can't bring back those who died, but i'll make sure that all of their families received the appropriate compensation, from the bottom of my heart, i thank you for your service, and im sorry, for placing all of you on such a dangerous mission.."
"W- Wait sir Julian, p- please lift your head! Im just doing what i can as a knight, and— Me and the others have already accepted our friends death, so there is no use of talking about it now.."
"Yeah, captain is right, we no longer have regrets now, im sure they're all in a better place now."
"Mhm, my friend, they will be my spirit guardian for the rest of my life, i will be forever grateful to have them."
"Is that so, im glad— Ah by the way Carfeld, i want to personally give you this, think of it as my gratitude for you, i heard from Alaric that you're going to retire young because of your marriage right? Take this.."
Julian then gave Carfeld a piece of the mithril, it shines brightly at Carfeld's hand and he knew this mithril in his hand would be more than enough to support him for life, he couldn't do anything except cry infront of Julian.
"Sir..."
Thump!
Thump!
Thump!
"Excuse me"
Someone called from the distance, Carfeld and everyone else looked to the side and they saw a man wearing an attire that looks to be a message carrier, his fancy clothes suggest that he might be someone important.
"Who is that?" Carfeld ask.
"That is!— Petheos!? the message carrier of King Edharn, His Majesty?!"
"What!?"
Carfeld turned his head towards Julian to see if what hes saying was true or not, and he could tell by just his face that, he is serious.
The King of Latricia personal message carrier, Petheos, is heading towards Carfeld and the expedition group, that means His Majesty himself had something to say to one of them.
"Seems like we've attracted the attention of this kingdom's ruler.." Said Deter.
Petheos approached until he was at the comfortable distance between Julian and Carfeld.
"Sir Petheos, if you're here, does that mean.."
Julian looked at Carfeld, anticipating for a possible shocking news that is about to be revealed by Petheos.
"I have been told by His Majesty, King Edharn, to forward his message to the individual named Carfeld De Herme, which one of you is named Carfeld De Herme?"
Suddenly the whole area was filled with gasp, everyone's jaw completely detached from their mouth and they couldn't believe what they had just heard.
"U- uhh, im Carfeld De Herme, is there anything i can help?" Carfeld said as he stepped up closer to Petheos.
"You're sir Carfeld? alright, with this i'll say what His Majesty had said word for word– Sir Carfeld, I, Edharn En Latricia, by the grace of the gods, extend my deepest gratitude for your honored service. I wish to speak with you in person and commend your efforts. As King of Latricia."
"N- no way.."
Beside the rest of the group, Carfeld received an extra award as the leader and he was personally invited by the King of Latricia to his castle at the center of Larim, where no one except the high ranking nobles would be allowed to enter.
"His Majesty invited me to the castle?.." Carfeld said to the message carrier in the knight palace.
***
Next day, at the king's castle..
"Your Majesty, the honored special knight, Carfeld De Herme, have arrived."