Chapter 38: In That Case, Lin Wei, Take Me Away from Here!
Chapter 38: In That Case, Lin Wei, Take Me Away from Here!
For a moment, even the air itself seemed to freeze.
Alec stared at the young man before him. His usual dignified composure had been shaken; a faint tremor betrayed his shock.
As Bishop of Lotai, Alec was far from omnipotent, but his authority was vast—enough to fulfill nearly any request an adventurer might make.
Equipment? Support? High-level skills or rare resources? All could be arranged.
Even for those wishing to retire from adventuring, he could offer a comfortable post—enough to spend the rest of one’s days in ease.
But this adventurer, Lin Wei, faced with the bishop’s personal promise, had asked for none of these things.
Instead… he wanted to go work in the Imperial Capital?
“Mr. Lin Wei, do you dislike Lotai?”
Alec prided himself on his worldliness. He had seen all manner of requests over his tenure. But this—this was something new. So unusual, it was almost bewildering.
“It’s not that I dislike Lotai,” Lin Wei replied, waving a hand dismissively. “It’s just… after living here for so long, things have gotten a bit dull.”
Alec’s jaw dropped. He could hardly believe his ears.
Lin Wei, however, made no attempt to explain further. He simply shrugged.
“As an Imperial citizen still under review, I’ve spent nearly the entire year here in Lotai. I’ve explored every dungeon worth exploring, completed every quest worth doing. I even mapped the Pascal Labyrinth myself.”
“To be honest, it’s tough being an adventurer when you’re not allowed to venture freely. Since I have to wait out my review period anyway, I’d rather do something interesting. Spending the next two years in the capital beats sitting around in Lotai.”
It was, in fact, perfectly reasonable.
Lotai might be famed as a major trade city in the Empire’s east, but such titles were always relative.
Even if you stacked the entire city of Lotai atop itself, its busiest streets would barely compare to a single avenue in the Imperial Capital. In truth, the difference was like that between a city and a backwater village—albeit a rather large village.
“So that’s how it is—Mr. Lin Wei, you’re still an Imperial citizen under review.”
Now it all made sense.
Alec’s furrowed brow finally began to smooth. The sudden arrival of the Holy Church’s letter had left him scrambling to find Lin Wei, with no time to properly review the adventurer’s background.
But at this point, there was little need to worry about the details. If the Holy See itself had singled Lin Wei out, the Holy Church must have already vetted him thoroughly. Best not to go digging unnecessarily.
“If that’s your reason for wanting to work in the capital, I’m afraid I can’t arrange a job for you directly,” Alec said, straightening as he addressed the still-confused Lin Wei. “After all, I’m just the Bishop of Lotai. Arranging a position in the Imperial Capital is beyond my reach.”
“However, I can write you a formal letter of recommendation, certified by the Holy Church. That should allow you to stay in the capital for about a week. If you manage to find a job during that time, you’ll be allowed to remain.”
“If things don’t work out, you can always return here. I can arrange a position for you in Lotai. Even if you’ve cleared every dungeon and completed every quest, there are still roles here that offer a bit of challenge and are worth your while.”
So, he couldn’t offer a job in the capital—only permission to go.
Lin Wei felt a twinge of disappointment, but this was already a step forward. A whole week in the capital—if he couldn’t find a job in that time, he could always pick up a long-term commission from the Adventurers’ Guild.
As long as he could leave Lotai as a legitimate citizen, he’d find a way to stay in the capital for good.
“Thank you for your help, Bishop Alec.”
“Think nothing of it. I’ll have your letter of recommendation prepared shortly, Mr. Lin Wei.”
With this, Alec had completed half of the instructions entrusted to him by the Pope.
He smiled and nodded, then turned his gaze to the other hero present.
“Well then… Miss Iresha, is there anything you need help with?”
Throughout the conversation, Iresha had been quietly spacing out to the side.
Not only was he a master alchemist and a capable leader—he’d also mapped the Pascal Labyrinth himself? She remembered that the labyrinth had only randomly generated a few days ago. Just how many more surprises did this man have up his sleeve?
Iresha marveled inwardly, her pale red eyes shining with curiosity.
It wasn’t until Bishop Alec addressed her that she snapped out of her reverie. She quickly averted her gaze, cleared her throat, and tried to answer as naturally as possible.
“I don’t need any help at the moment. If I do in the future, I’ll be sure to let you know.”
After all, she’d never lacked for equipment, gold, or skillbooks. As a mere regional bishop, there really wasn’t much Alec could offer her.
“Should you ever need anything, please don’t hesitate to come to the Lotai Church.”
“Now then… allow me to thank both of you again for your contributions to the Lotai region.”
With that, the Pope’s mission was finally complete.
Alec quickly finished writing the letter of recommendation for Lin Wei, then dispelled the holy barrier that had been blocking the entrance. Without lingering, he took his leave from the Adventurers’ Guild.
What greeted them next was a guild hall packed with people—adventurers who had gathered at some point, filling the space wall to wall.
A large crowd had formed, centered on the party of heroes. Reporters, who had originally come to cover the aftermath of the goblin disaster, now pressed in as well, eager to get a statement from the heroes themselves.
But… seeing the once-proud Hero, Oshu, now drenched in cold sweat and flustered, Lin Wei couldn’t help but notice—he clearly had no idea about all the details Iresha had handled during the goblin disaster.
“At least things have finally wrapped up,” Lin Wei said quietly.
“I’m heading back to Lotai. Are you planning to meet up with your teammates, or do you have something else in mind?”
After all, what happened with the hero’s party wasn’t really any of his concern. Still, Lin Wei glanced at Iresha; she’d only gotten into that argument with the hero because of him. Even if it was probably just a spat between childhood friends, he couldn’t just leave her here alone.
“Take me with you.”
There was not a hint of hesitation in Iresha’s voice. Her answer was crisp and decisive as she looked ahead. She had a good relationship with her other teammates, but at this moment, she had absolutely no desire to talk to any of them.
…He knew what she meant, but somehow, the way she said it sounded a little odd.
Lin Wei glanced at the hero, still being hounded by reporters in the distance. For her to ask him to take her away, right in front of her childhood friend—
Bold.
Absolutely fearless!
But… he had to admit, it felt pretty good.
“All right. Let’s go.”
A subtle wave of energy rippled from Lin Wei’s body, spreading quietly through the air.
The moment that thought crossed his mind, Lin Wei seized the brief lull as the crowd shifted and, without hesitation, grabbed Iresha by the wrist and led her straight out of the guild hall.
He made no effort to hide his actions—right in plain view for all to see. The hero, Oshu, still in the middle of an interview, caught sight of them instantly. He froze, stunned, his jaw slack with disbelief.
But before Oshu could react—before he could even move—a flash of light, a shimmer of energy, and the two of them vanished from sight. All that remained was his own twisted expression and a hoarse, desperate shout suppressed deep in his throat.
“Lin Wei!!!”