Chapter 184: “Target Out of Range”

Nolan’s bedroom was warm and cozy. Anna had long since ordered the room cleaned spotless. The fireplace burned brightly, crackling softly as it drove away the chill of the late autumn night. The bed had been neatly prepared, and beneath the blankets were even two cloth-wrapped warmers thoughtfully placed inside.

After years of adventuring, Nolan was already accustomed to sleeping out in the open. With his current Gold rank physique, he was practically immune to heat and cold alike. Still, who would refuse such meticulous care?

“The chief steward is truly attentive. She even takes such thorough care of her lord’s daily life.” 

Ailindel gently closed the door behind her, shutting out the cold air from the hallway. Her pleasant voice echoed through the warm room, carrying a faint teasing smile. Naturally, she had noticed the almost fiery glares Anna and Vivi gave her downstairs.

Nolan merely smiled without responding. He genuinely had no idea how to address that topic appropriately, so he simply stared upward as if nothing had happened.

With a thought, the heavy Mythic-grade armor Immovable Bulwark covering his body emitted a series of crisp clicking sounds as it automatically opened. Nolan stepped out of it, and the armor closed itself once more, standing upright at the side of the room.

Freed from the armor and dressed only in a fitted combat outfit, Nolan finally relaxed completely.

“What did you need me for, Nolan?” Ailindel walked over and asked curiously. Her starlike eyes looked especially bright under the glow of the fireplace.

“It’s something good.”

Nolan’s expression also became serious.

After thinking for a moment, he explained in a half-truthful manner. “When I broke through to Gold rank earlier, my spiritual power resonated with the surroundings. For a brief instant, I think I… caught a clue. Maybe a method that could help restore your strength.”

There was no way to explain the system, so using “sudden enlightenment” as an excuse fit the logic of this world far better.

“Restore my strength?” Ailindel’s beautiful eyes instantly lit up, and even her breathing quickened slightly.

Ever since escaping her imprisonment, she had constantly been trying to recover the power lost during her endless years of guardianship. But while the body of a war spirit granted the advantage of immortality, it also came with major drawbacks. She could not strengthen herself through normal meditation or training, and even precious magical potions had greatly reduced effects on her. Though she possessed ten thousand years’ worth of combat techniques and battle experience, she remained restricted by a mid-Gold rank power level and could not sustain prolonged high-intensity combat.

She had come to this new era wanting to experience this future world and witness the legacy left behind by the heroes of her age. Gold rank strength was enough to dominate a place like Coldsteel City. But when looking across the entire continent—facing ancient beings lurking in the shadows, not to mention the future undead calamity—it was nowhere near sufficient.

More importantly…

She looked at the man before her.

From the moment he grabbed her hand and ran with her through the “Gap of Ages,” she had found herself unconsciously drawn to him.

He was brave without being reckless, confident without arrogance, and deep within him existed the same selflessness and nobility she remembered from her own era—the spirit of fighting to protect others. She admired his ideals and sincerely wished to help him.

And after learning about the Elfin Kingdom’s current internal and external situation, she understood even more clearly how difficult the road ahead would be.

As someone who had once stood at the peak of the Origin realm, she desired more than anyone to regain her strength and become the sharpest sword and strongest shield at his side.

Naturally, Nolan had no idea Ailindel’s thoughts had traveled so far in only a few moments. Still, from the bright shine in her eyes, he could clearly see her anticipation and happiness.

“Ailin, I should tell you in advance—I’m trying this for the first time myself. I can’t guarantee what kind of results it’ll have,” Nolan warned her beforehand.

Ailindel assumed he was worried she might be disappointed if the attempt failed. Seeing how considerate he was of her feelings warmed her heart.

This man was always so gentle.

She smiled and shook her head softly. “It’s alright. Whether it succeeds or not, the fact that you even thought of this for my sake already makes me very happy. Come to think of it, ever since you awakened me from that endless solitude, you’ve always been the one helping me.”

Nolan was slightly confused by Ailindel’s sudden emotional sincerity. But if she was willing to cooperate, then that was already wonderful news.

“Alright, then I’ll begin.”

Since the person involved had already agreed, there was nothing else to say. Nolan opened the system panel before his eyes.

Skillfully, he entered the Territory Management interface and found Ailindel’s name among the core companion list.

He selected the progress bar beneath her name labeled 【War Spirit Armament · Strength Recovery Progress: 7%】 and focused his thoughts on the “Upgrade” option.

Three hundred thousand experience points! Spend it!

Yet the moment he confirmed it, a red error message popped up across the system interface.

【Unable to select. Target out of range.】

Nolan froze. Range?

There was a range limit?

He glanced at Ailindel. They were separated by maybe two steps at most. 

And that counted as out of range?

This system’s standards were ridiculous!

Still, it was hardly an unsolvable problem.

Nolan naturally stepped closer toward Ailindel until he stood directly in front of her.

“What’s wrong?” Ailindel tilted her head up at him.

“Nothing. This distance is better for… applying force,” Nolan improvised casually before focusing once more on the panel and confirming again.

【Unable to select. Target out of range.】

The cold, emotionless system prompt appeared once more. 

The corner of Nolan’s eye twitched violently. What exactly was that supposed to mean? How close did he need to be? Any closer and they’d practically be pressed together!

Unwilling to believe it, he adjusted his position slightly and shifted half a step left.

【Unable to select. Target out of range.】

Half a step right.

【Unable to select. Target out of range.】

…

Several minutes passed.

Nolan circled around Ailindel from multiple angles and even tried absurd positions like standing on one leg or half-squatting, but the red warning remained fixed stubbornly in place as though welded to the panel.

Nolan was starting to lose his mind.

Seriously, what exactly counted as “within range”? Just tell me already!

Ailindel simply stood there, looking up at him.

First, she saw him walk closer and then stand frozen in place, staring blankly somewhere around her shoulder.

After a while, his expression began turning increasingly strange.

Sometimes he frowned, sometimes he gritted his teeth, and fine beads of sweat even began forming on his forehead.

Then, as if possessed, he started hopping left and right in front of her while muttering incomprehensible things under his breath.

As she watched these bizarre actions, Ailindel’s heart gradually sank. She understood now. That troubled and anxious expression on his face clearly meant he had encountered a problem he could not solve.

Was the body of a war spirit truly so special that restoring its strength would never be easy? Could even Nolan, whose knowledge surpassed this era, do nothing about it?

An unavoidable trace of disappointment welled up within her. Not disappointment toward Nolan, but helplessness toward her own unique body. This was the price of eternal guardianship. She had never liked troubling others, and seeing Nolan continue struggling desperately against empty air filled her with guilt.

Forcing out a smile, she instead gently comforted him. “Nolan, it’s alright. The people who understood the secrets of war spirit bodies have already become history and legend. Some things simply can’t be forced.”

Nolan paused and looked at her.

Though she was smiling, the disappointment in her eyes was impossible to hide.

What kind of man lets a lady down?

Nolan steeled himself and said, “Actually, there is a way. It’s just that after trying for so long, I still can’t seem to complete it at this distance… You understand what I mean, right?”