VIP System

Chapter 23 - Rekindling Connections

Leo checked his level and thought that, for now, everything seemed to be going as expected. Leveling up before getting his first job was quite a breeze. However, he knew that after being promoted, it would start getting slower since the experience points required to level up would get higher, and the monsters would get tougher too.

He remembered some of the games he played, where he would get stuck at specific levels because they required more time to level up, and all the quests for that level had already been completed. He liked to complete quests first most of the time since they gave additional experience points upon completion, not to mention the extra rewards.

Leo then checked his daily quest. "Hunting Quest: Kill 100 slimes - Complete." He tapped it and a notification appeared:

Congratulations! You have leveled up to Level 7.

Ai's voice, cool and confident, chimed in, "Leo, would you like me to allocate your status points to the recommended swordsman build?" Her feline eyes gleamed with a knowing look, and her posture was relaxed yet poised, exuding an air of effortless superiority.

He paused, remembering that he wanted to discuss something with her. "Ai, I want you to handle things based on what you think is the best course of action for my current tasks," he instructed. "But as for the allocation of status points, let's hold off on that. I already have a head start with my current points, and that's okay for now."

Ai nodded, her tail flicking slightly, and a small, confident smile playing on her lips. "Understood, Leo. I will proceed accordingly."

Multiple notifications then appeared.

Looter pet: Twin cats (White) purchased.

Twin cats (White) looter pet activated!

In a swirl of shimmering light, two white cats materialized before Leo, their sleek bodies moving with fluid grace as they circled around each other. With a flick of their tails, they darted off in opposite directions, their movements swift and purposeful.

Leo watched in awe as the cats navigated the area where he had hunted slimes. Their agile forms weaved between the slimes, which seemed oblivious to their presence. As the cats passed through the loot scattered on the ground, items began to register in Leo's inventory.

1 Slime essence received.

2 Slime cores received.

1 Slime fragment received.

1 Slime essence received.

1 Slime mucus received.

2 Slime droplets received.

3 Slime essence received.

1 Slime essence received.

1 Slime core received.

The slimes, having already respawned, ignored the cats entirely, continuing their gelatinous movements undisturbed. Once the cats had finished collecting all the loot, they bounded back to Leo, their eyes gleaming with intelligence and affection.

Leo crouched down, extending a hand to pet them gently. As he did, memories of the cats he used to take care of flooded his mind. A deep, warm sensation touched his soul, and he felt an overwhelming sense of joy. His eyes welled up with tears of joy as he thought about them, hoping that Sheila took care of them.

"You two did a great job," he praised, his voice trembling with emotion. The cats responded with soft purrs, their sleek bodies pressing against his legs.

Ai observed the interaction, her tone slightly amused. "They are quite efficient, aren't they, Leo?"

Leo nodded, feeling a surge of satisfaction and gratitude. He chuckled softly at Ai's matter-of-fact demeanor, lacking the warmth of human empathy, but he was truly grateful to her. "Yeah, they are. This will make things a lot easier." He looked up at Ai, his eyes still glistening with tears. "Thank you, Ai. This means a lot to me."

He inhaled deeply, wiped his eyes, and stood up, feeling a mix of emotions. Ai was looking at him intently, her expression a picture of curiosity and concern.

"I think we can wrap up leveling for the day," Leo said, his voice steady. "I don't want to draw unnecessary attention by leveling up too quickly."

He decided to head back to the capital and explore the rest of the city. As they walked, Leo noticed how Ai was constantly looking at him, her eyes never leaving his form.

"Ai, stop staring at me like that," he instructed gently. "Instead, study how people normally behave. Try to blend in a bit more."

She nodded, her gaze shifting to observe the people around them. "Understood, Leo," she replied, her tone adjusted to sound more natural and slightly aloof, aligning with her new personality.

Amanda walked briskly across the busy streets of the capital, her stride purposeful. She navigated through the bustling crowds with ease, her eyes fixed straight ahead as if she knew precisely where she was headed. Her destination was a building that stood modestly against the backdrop of the city's grandeur.

Above its door hung a flag bearing the emblem of a lion's head with a crescent moon behind it, creating the impression of horns—a symbol unmistakable to those who recognized it.

She stepped inside and was immediately hit by the familiar yet distant sounds of chatter and the scraping of chairs against the floor. The interior bore a striking resemblance to a guild center, though it was notably smaller. Tables and seats were scattered across the room, occupied by a handful of people engaged in animated discussions or absorbed in checking the guild quest board.

At the far end, some were shamelessly flirting with the front desk clerk, who smiled politely but seemed far more interested in her paperwork.

Amanda's entrance went mostly unnoticed until a sudden cry pierced through the hum of conversation.

"Amanda!" a voice shouted.

Before Amanda could react, a girl sprang from one of the tables and ran towards her. It was Elois, her face flushed and eyes brimming with tears. Without hesitation, she enveloped Amanda in a tight embrace, her sobs muffled against Amanda's chest. Her arms instinctively wrapped around her friend, holding her gently as she let her emotions flow.

"I'm sorry," Elois managed between sobs. "I'm just so happy to see you."

Amanda gave her a reassuring squeeze, letting her take her time. When finally the tears began to subside, she pulled back just enough to look into Amanda's eyes, her face streaked with tears but glowing with genuine relief.

"Welcome back to Silver Mane guild," Elois said, her voice trembling but warm.

A wave of nostalgia washed over Amanda. Silver Mane had once been her second home, a place where she and her party had forged bonds, faced challenges, and celebrated victories—until the incident. Her sudden departure had left many questions unanswered, and many hearts unwittingly wounded.

"Elly, I'm so sorry for vanishing like that," Amanda said, her voice steady but filled with regret. "After what happened, I didn't know how to face everyone. I needed time to... sort things out."

Elois shook her head, her grip on Amanda's hands tightening. "You don't need to explain. We're just glad you're safe."

Amanda gave a small, appreciative smile. "Thank you, but... I wanted to let you know that I won't be rejoining the guild, at least not for now."

A flash of disappointment crossed Elois' face, but she quickly masked it with understanding. "That's okay. Just promise me one thing."

"Anything," Amanda replied.

"Promise you'll stay in touch this time," she said, her eyes pleading.

Amanda nodded, her smile growing warmer. "I promise."

As the two friends stood there, reconnecting amidst the familiar yet changed surroundings, Amanda felt a weight lift off her shoulders. She hadn't realized how much she needed this—to see familiar faces, to share in old memories, and to understand that even though she had taken a different path, her past had not been erased or forgotten.