Chapter 148: Old Friend

On the second floor of the guild, in the guildmaster’s office.

Ugei took out a silver badge from the drawer behind him. The receptionist recorded Wade’s information and stored it in the cabinet dedicated to mission reports and records.

A mage cast a spell on the silver badge. Ugei said, “This is Byron, our guild’s third-circle mage. Once he activates this badge, you can use it at other adventurers’ guilds.”

“Show it to any guild receptionist, and they’ll recognize your adventurer rank. Please keep it safe. If lost, you can pay ten silver coins to have it replaced here.”

Wade nodded and accepted the badge.

“Witnessed by iron and stars, embark on your path to becoming a legendary adventurer!”

Ugei grinned, revealing a row of white teeth, and gave a thumbs-up while delivering the classic adventurer’s joke.

Wade raised the wooden badge depicting a grinning face.

Ugei burst into laughter: “You’re quite amusing, sir. If I were ten years younger, I’d definitely invite you to join my team. But now that I’m married with children, I can’t just pick up and leave like before.”

Ugei rubbed his bald head with some nostalgia, then handed Wade an adventurer’s manual and map.

“Welcome to the adventurers’ ranks. Feel free to consult the guild for any questions.”

Wade nodded slightly. The dragonkin said, “Then we’ll meet another day, Guildmaster Ugei.”

“If you need missions, I can arrange special introductions for you. A Silver-rank ranger is highly sought after—many would want to hire you long-term.”

Ugei escorted them to the door. Afterward, Wade and the dragonkin parted ways at a deserted alley.

Igna handed her traveling pack to Wade, containing maps she’d prepared in advance and money for the journey.

“May your travels go smoothly.”

[Goodbye], Wade raised the wooden sign.

He waved farewell to the dragonkin.

They departed in opposite directions—one heading to the harbor, the other toward the town’s exit.

The midday sun beat down fiercely as Wade set off with his light pack.

While leaving, Wade saw Ugei’s house.

On the red house’s second-floor balcony, Ugei’s daughter laughed loudly while riding on his shoulders. His wife brought sliced bread and fried eggs to the table.

Inside the home, a baby’s cries could be heard. Ugei’s wife leaned against his reassuring arm.

That man’s life could truly be called happy and fulfilling.

Hearing the joyful sounds, Wade couldn’t help feeling envious.

Who wouldn’t long for such a life?

But he already belonged to another world. At least he wasn’t alone—many souls accompanied him.

At the harbor, a merchant ship set sail.

The masked lone ranger walked alone into the distance.

When Wade reached the deserted wilderness, a small spirit sat on his shoulder, curiously observing the unfamiliar scenery.

Through bustling crowds and busy streets,

Wade traveled onward across this peaceful land on foot.

Every ten days, he would summon skeletons to dig in the wilderness, burying his equipment underground to retrieve on his next journey.

In torrential rain, he sheltered under a hay wagon, crossing muddy royal roads.

In villages plagued by monsters, he drew his bow to hunt them down, earning villagers’ gratitude.

At checkpoints, he presented his adventurer’s badge, paid to enter towns, gave alms to orphaned beggars, and plucked a dewy white lily for the little ghost beneath his cloak.

Days passed. Distant from the northern war, he mostly experienced peaceful times.

Several blood moon cycles came and went. After over a year of travel, he crossed the Kingdom of Kunad alone, reaching the warmer central continent.

He encountered no more demon-related incidents nor saw the Silver Moon Elf named Yulia.

The Fairy Dragon’s scale simply lay quietly on the glowing moss, inactive.

Occasionally at adventurers’ guilds, he heard northern war reports—the demon-allied Icelanders were retreating continuously, battlefields filled with victories. The church and allied forces planned a decisive counterattack when the icy sea thawed next year, aiming to conquer Iceland completely.

Among these reports, Wade also heard Lucas’s name. That Lucas who’d abandoned adventuring to raise sheep back home had become a famous Tania hero.

Not just tales of Lucas’s battlefield feats, but also stories of his three-hundred-round battle against the notorious necromancer Quasimodo Vic—including a mysterious unnamed wandering knight.

Someone seemed to have embellished the story. Sometimes in taverns, hearing bards sing of events he’d personally experienced gave Wade a strange feeling.

But somehow, hearing about these people he knew made him feel… connected to this world after all.

He continued his journey, and the uneventful days passed in a blink.

His reputation gradually spread.

The lone ranger carrying a wooden bow—people called him Iron Mask for his signature black iron mask never removed.

Gradually, guards recognized him by his attire alone. Just showing his adventurer’s badge gained him passage.

Many nobles extended offers—hoping to hire him as a tutor for their children or as a castle guard.

The payments were substantial, but Wade always declined. However, if someone sought help eliminating dangerous monsters, he usually agreed, sometimes accepting what other adventurers considered unworthy compensation.

He cared little for money, having few expenses. Sometimes he eliminated monsters en route without payment.

He did these good deeds not for reward, but because that’s who he was.

After a year, not only had he not spent all the travel funds the dragonkin gave him, but he’d even saved more.

Summer of Twilight Calendar 1194, Wade awoke again in the wilderness.

Consulting his map, he saw Nidran wasn’t far—just beyond the gnome homeland of Opal.

Through Opal, he’d reach Nidran’s border.

Returning to the main road, passing guard inspections, he crossed the river by boat and entered Opal Forest.

This was fertile land—black royal soil covered with lush grass and trees, colorful butterflies resting on petals.

Following the map to Opal’s local adventurers’ guild, along the way by a stream, he spotted a small wooden hut.

Before the hut sat a man in a chair with closed eyes—thin yet exuding gentle warmth.

Looking at that face, Wade suddenly stopped.

The man held a wooden staff at the hut’s entrance. Blind, with sunken sightless eyes, he simply basked in sunlight.

“Greetings, traveler,” the man smiled, raising his staff in greeting. “Lovely sunny day, isn’t it?”

That voice and face stirred Wade’s memories.

The staff-carrying, sightless customer who always bought bread on sunny days.

Toven—Wade remembered the name.

Twelve years after his death, he’d met a former customer again.

What astonished him was that after twelve years, Toven remained exactly as remembered—even his clothes unchanged.