Three Bros Against the World!

It didn’t take long before the rest of our friends found out about Lora’s close recovery, so we all came back to visit her that night after completing our work for the day. We pretty much chatted away like old times and helped her catch up to speed with things.

It was a shame that Lora lost her blessings, but the girl in question merely shrugged it off. In fact, she became a little more free-spirited and even livelier than before. It was as if whatever shackled her spirits had been removed entirely.

Sure, she pretty much became a normal, magicless civilian, but that also meant she no longer had to suffer from those side effects, and that was more of a victory than a loss.

Lora gave us her usual, warm smile like always, but this time, her warmth felt a bit more sincere. “I’m really okay now, guys,” she said. “I’m just a little sad that I won’t be as useful anymore.”

Sloane shook his head. “There are plenty of ways to aid people without the use of magic. What matters is your unwavering resolve, but I’m confident of your capabilities.”

“Yeah, it’s not like you’ve been using that much, right?” asked Dahlian. “Overusing it had been straining you anyway.”

“Haha, that’s true,” said Lora. “Father Anver told me that I can still work for the church, so it’s all good now.”

“I guess that means you won’t be able to join us on our travels even if you wanted to, huh?” I asked.

“I guess not, but it's okay. I’ve already made myself at home in this city.”

“I see. That’s good to hear then.”

“So everything worked out in the end,” said Ashrenne. “Phew, what a relief.”

“It really is,” I murmured. “The city is still standing, and we all survived. It’s… a miracle…”

Now that Lora truly recovered, a dam inside me started breaking apart, leaking away the feelings I’d been holding back ever since our victory against Florathea.

I stared down at my hands, recollecting everything that happened ever since my arrival here: my crazy tutorial experience, meeting so many people, clearing my first “dungeon” run, learning the truth about Florathea, and so much more.

My eyes grew a bit watery, prompting me to wipe my face.

This whole time, I was so, so afraid of this new route leading me to an unknown future. I was so deathly afraid my smallest mistakes could create a domino effect leading to a worse ending than I could ever imagine.

Realistically, I thought we’d have to fight the queen like in the hero route, only to get pathetically demolished by those ambassadors. I thought that was the case, especially when I was pretty much a deadweight with these glitches.

“I’m not dreaming, right guys?” I asked, pinching my cheeks. “We really did save the city, and you’re all alive?”

Dahlian raised a brow at me before his eyes glinted with mischief. “No, we’re actually dead this whole time,” he teased, wriggling his arms. “Ooooh, wake up, Haruma! You're just hallu—ow!”

Ashrenne debunked him with a simple flick of her finger against his forehead. She even flicked me too for extra measures. “There’s your proof,” she said. “It’s all real.”

“Pfft, you didn’t have to do that,” I said, rubbing my temple.

She chuckled and folded her arms. “So, are you free to leave yet, Lora?”

“Yep, I’m good to go now,” she replied. “Sorry to keep you all waiting.”

“No problem! Haha, we can finally host a real celebration at Barry’s Grove!”

“Finally!” said Dahlian, drooling and pumping his fists. “Prepare yourselves! I’m gonna inhale the entire menu!”

“Oh boy, I’m already getting second thoughts,” Ashrenne murmured. “Sorry, Haruma, I think my wallet’s not gonna survive in this reality…”

“May your wallet rest in peace,” I said.

“Such is the burden of a leader,” said Sloane.

“Ugh, I’m so glad I won’t have to deal with you three much longer,” said Ashrenne, shaking her head. “Well, whatever! Let’s go then!”

“Yeah!” we all replied.

I didn’t even have to describe what went down that night. We partied to our heart’s content, laughing and eating all sorts of amazing food Barry’s Grove offered. I had to race against Dahlian for quite a lot of our meals before he could devour them all, especially the meat dishes. Seriously, the stomach of that guy was as bottomless as the void.

Everyone else also ate plenty, and even Sloane stayed awake throughout the party. I couldn’t be sure if the party atmosphere was too loud or if the shady customers glancing at us in the shadows kept him alert, though.

Thankfully, no one really bothered us during our meals. If anything, it was us who’d been pretty rowdy, especially Dahlian, but that very liveliness fit in perfectly with the tavern, so it was all good.

For a party that lasted the whole night, it felt like time had flown by in the blink of an eye. Before we knew it, the tavern had to close.

Thus ended my final night in Cindespoir City. It’d been a good one, and I’d definitely treasure this memory.

⮽⮽⮽

“Let’s see…” I rummaged through my bag. “Food, check. Water, check. Tools are there… Got the potions… Extra clothes, compass, some cash… Hmm, do I even need a map…? Eh, I’ll keep it just in case.”

I closed my bag. “Yep, we’re all good to go!”

“Nice!” said Dahlian, swinging his backpack over his shoulder. “I’ll help carry the extra food rations since I did ask for it.”

Sloane nodded and closed his bag. “I will watch over the extra potions for the same reasons as well,” he said. “We’re both ready too.”

I nodded at the two, equipped my backpack, and walked out of the base with them. Ashrenne and Lora also stepped out and stood by the entrance, seeing us off.

“You brats better not cause any—too much trouble out there,” said Ashrenne.

“Hey, have some faith in us!” said Dahlian.

“Mm, trouble seems inevitable at this rate,” said Sloane. “We might as well apologize in advance…”

“C’mon, not you too!”

“Hehe, I’ll miss you guys,” said Lora. “Make sure you stop by and visit us, alright?”

“Of course,” I said. “We’ll be sure to write letters too.”

“You better be! I’ll be waiting for them!”

We all waved farewell and finally started our walk out toward the city gates, and right at the borders, I spotted someone familiar loading some cargo into his caravan.

“Charon?” I called out. “Is that you?”

The old man turned around and widened his eyes. “Oh, Haruma! What a pleasure it is to see you again.”

I smiled back. “Yeah! It’s so nice to see you too!”

“You know him?” asked Dahlian.

“Yeah, he gave me a ride here to this city.”

Charon chuckled. “Indeed, I have. All that luggage behind your back tells me you’re planning to leave, yes? Do you perhaps need a ride to your next destination?”

I glanced at my friends. Dahlian tossed me a shrug while Sloane fervently nodded. Of course, the sleepyhead would agree to it.

“Yeah, we’d like that,” I said. “Do you travel outside of Grovendale?”

“Of course. I can go just about anywhere in Erudios. Do you have a destination in mind?”

“We’re heading off to the neighboring kingdom, Aurencia, if that’s fine with you.”

“Oh? What a coincidence. I was planning to stop by there to drop off these goods anyway.”

“That’s perfect then!”

“Haha, then we’ll head off once I’m done here.”

“Would you like us to help speed things up?”

“I’d very much appreciate that.”

The three of us pitched in and helped load the rest of the cargo onto his caravan before claiming a spot of our own inside. With everything all set, we all set off at once, leaving the city gates and heading into the wild.

“It seems like you’ve made plenty of friends since you’ve arrived in this city,” said Charon. “Not to mention, I heard there was some commotion going on a few days ago.”

I sighed and slumped my shoulders. “Yeah, a lot has happened.”

“Ohoho, it seems like it’s your turn to share your story.”

“Haha, I guess so.”

And so, I retold my story ever since my first step inside the city, with Dahlian chiming in every so often. Sloane, on the other hand, unsurprisingly took a nap. Typical of him.

Nevertheless, I could say for certain that my journey in Grovendale, the prologue, was finally over, and despite these chaotic glitches, I’d managed to save the city and recruited two amazing companions. Maybe with these two with me, my adventures in Erudios might not be so bad after all.

I leaned back and smirked at the sunny sky.

Suck on that, dev team. We’ve made a much better ending, and we’re now on our way to ruin the next chapter’s storyline!

⮽ Ɇ▓ᾗḋ ὄ₣█Ꝟὄ▓łὗ₥ἔ█1 ⮽