I Know the Secret to Surpass Level 100

It was time for the Etheorians to come home. It was a bittersweet goodbye for Ed too.

The time he his race had found him was the time he had already found his family.

"Are you sure you're not going to come with us, big brother?" Nataniel asked. "I might be pronounced as Duke of Etheoria but I still am not an Eternal. The Eternal genes run through you as the proper Heir."

"If you encounter any problem, just call me, okay?" Ed smiled at his younger brother and hugged him tight. "I'm always here for you. For all of you."

"Your grace," Keurig came running from nowhere ans towards Ed. "Pardon me but I just found this from the Consort's chambers. These are letters your father wrote every year for your birthday."

"I… I don't even know my father's name" Ed chuckled. "May I ask you what it was?"

"Krosswar. He was Duke Krosswar," Nataniel replied and smiled.

Ed nodded, holding his tears back. "Okay. Thank you."

"We will see you soon, your grace." The Etheorians bowed and let their Casters open the portals. Only a handful of them can teleport like Xelon and Keurig, so everyone had to pass through a portal.

Ed glanced at a woman being dragged in chains. She was chuckling like a crazy woman. Axla lost her mind while she was imprisoned in the dungeon, muttering spells that failed to be casted continuously until it burned her out.

"I forgive you," Ed said. "You betrayed us but I forgive you."

Axla laughed, "How noble. Stupid, but noble."

"It's not stupid to give out your forgiveness," Ed defended but Axla shook her head.

"One day, you will regret forgiving people," she said. "That goes to all of you!"

A guard shushed her and dragged her inside the portal. Axla stared at Ed in the eyes and grinned. "This is not over."

Frederick walked in front of Ed holding three snakes. This made Axla widen her eyes and budge her chains. "Y-Your grace! My Duchess!"

The red haird man threw the snakes up and fired flames to it, burning all three into crisp. A dark smoke came out of it, whispering incoherent words before disappearing into nothingness.

"My Duchess!" was the last thing they heard from Axla before the portal she went through had closed.

"We will see you soon," Nataniel said. "Take good care, big brother."

"And you take care," Ed engulfed Nataniel in a hug. "I know you'll be a good leader. Show them how good you are."

"I will," Nataniel grinned. He walked through the portal along with Xelon and Keurig. The portal closed right after they went through, closing the chapter of their own story.

Now, a new chapter begins.

–

'Quest [ Among the Crusty Shores ] available.'

Elliot decided to check the quest later on. For now, he needs to check on the progress for his items.

"Woah," Elliot fell in awe as he watched the items in the counter. "Are these them?"

"Of course!" Francoise boasted. The items were still dull and isn't as presentable considering they're still unfurnished, but the aura it exudes was still amazing.

"You know, this is the second time you brought a very valuable metal in my shop and let me forge them with my hands," Francoise thought. "Do you own an illegal trading business, perhaps? I really wanted to forge another Valorium sword."

"Sadly, I don't have enough money to open up a trading business," Elliot said. "Secondly, I'm only in here as was instructed."

"Oh, so this was one of those secret quests?" Francoise quirked his brow.

"Something like that," Elliot grinned.

"These are still incomplete equipment pieces though, are you sure this is enough?" the old man pouted. "It's as if you don't trust my crafting ability."

"I told you, I'm only here as was instructed," Elliot chuckled, placing the items one by one in his Inventory. "So, how much for these?"

"Usually, working on a hard metal like this would cost you 200 gold coins, but since it's Gallantrium and you're a regular, it's only 100 gold coins now."

"Cool." Elliot placed a hand on his pocket and realized that he was robbed just the day before.

He quickly snatched his pouch and counted his coins, which barely made it to 150.

Francoise was well amused after seeing Elliot sweat while counting. "What happened to you? Gambling? Brothels?"

"I got robbed," Elliot replied sadly. "She said she could see the future and all that, it turns out, she's just a thief."

"Oh, Esmeralda?" Francoise snapped his fingers as if he remembered something.

"How'd you know? She robbed you too?"

"Yeah, but for me she pretended to be a massage therapist," Francoise grinned meekly.

"I'm afraid to grow older," Elliot sighed. "Anyway, I'm off, Gramps. See you later."

"See ya, kid."

Elliot got out of the shop and was instantly greeted by two new notifications.

'Quest [ Harness the Threads ] available.'

'Quest [ Dragon Emperor Set ] available.'

Elliot checked both the quests immediately.

[ Harness the Threads I

Reward: 500 Gold Coins

// A shop from the West Gate needs your help. The seams are ripping. Hurry! ]

[ Dragon Emperor Set

Reward: Dragon Form Level Booster

// Forge two pieces of the Dragon Emperor Set. ]

Judging by the descriptions of the quest, Elliot went on to venture for the first one. He discovered that quests does expire when left for a long time. Besides, it had money as a reward which was rare. The Manual seemed to know that he needed it right now.

He went to the West Gate and explored the shops, looking for the specific one that needed his help.

Elliot read the quest again and realized that this must be something to do with clothing or tailoring. Harness the Threads could mean the task, which has something to do with threads basically and the 'seams are reaping' could mean that the clothes being sewn by the tailor could perish.

"Grandma!"

Elliot instantly run up to the only seamstress shop in the alley. He went inside and saw an old woman lying on the floor. A boy only about a year younger than him was crying in front of her while kneeling and kept on budge her.

In her table was an ominous artifact. A spinning wheel that binges on mana.

"Hey kid, drag her away!" Elliot yelled and ran to the artifact. He placed his hands on the wheel to divert its mana-sucking antics to him.

'Warning! Mana depleting in high doses.'

Elliot gulped and let the spinning wheel absorb his mana. It continued to suck on him until he had barely half left.

In less than a minute, he felt as though he multicasted by how his mana went down.

'Quest [ Harness the Threads I ] completed.'

'Quest [ Harness the Threads II ] available.'

[ Harness the Threads II

Reward: Gallant Leather

// The tailor works wonders in her field. Bring her what she needs to sew the following:

Glorious Button-down Shirt

Glorious Short Coat

Glorious Pants ]

"It's stable. Are you okay?" Elliot looked at the child and his now conscious grandmother.

"W-Who are you?" the older woman asked.

"Hello ma'am, my name is Elliot," he showed his pin. "I'm an Adventurer."

"An Adventurer?" she gasped after seeing the Azure Scorch Guild pin on Elliot's chest. "What business does an Adventurer have with an old tailor like me?"

"Do you know anything about a Glorious Button-down Shirt?" Elliot asked as he helped her up.

The old woman was shocked for a bit before her expression softened, "I never knew I could hear that again. Well yes. My name is Josephine and I was actually threading Gallant Wool from the spinning wheel when I ran out of mana. It used up my HP instead."

"Ethereum," Elliot whispered but did not miss the old woman's ears.

"You know about Ethereum too?" Josephine chuckled. "This is marvelous! A young man who had knowlede among these things. How rare. So precious."

"So, can you do it?"

Josephine chuckled, "Of course. But I do need a lot of Gallant Wool from a Great Gallant Sheep. I believe I cannot buy it in the market since Great Gallant Sheeps are Voracious beasts."

"I'll do it," Elliot said. "But where can I find these sheep?"

"They flock over the hills of Spranty Village. These sheep are very strong and tough, young man, I don't recommend doing it," Josephine said worriedly but Elliot only smiled at her. "Don't worry, ma'am. I handled dragons, I think I can handle sheep."

"Dragons?" the grandson gasped. "You have seen dragons, mister?"

"Large, creatures. As big as a castle," Elliot exclaimed. "Vicious and scary beasts that could burn a city to ashes in a matter of hours!"

"Woah," the grandson looked in awe as Elliot waved his hands in the air to mimic a dragon. He ran to his grandmother with glimmering eyes. "Grandma, grandma, I want to become an Adventurer too!"

"But dear–" Josephine smiled sadly.

"You? An Adventurer?" A middle-aged woman with grandiose clothing came in. "Josephine, don't plant stupid things in your grandchild's head. He might get the wrong idea. Adventurers does not want a brat without an affinity, child. Stick to sewing."

Elliot's smile fell after seeing the light in the boy's eyes flicker away. He clenched his fists but kept his composure.

"Anyway," the woman continue. "I'm her to collect your monthly rent. You're due for two months now."

"But we were taxed heavily by the Lord after the Strikes, I believe I couldn't pay–"

"Again?" the woman roared. "For only 100 gold–"

A coin purse was slammed on the ground. The golden coins clanked loudly as the middle aged woman gasped at the sight.

"Take those and leave. There are 500 gold coins. Don't ever bother messing with Madan Josephine and her grandson ever again. And if I see you do it, I will make sure you'll never get an ounce of sleep or peace of mind for the rest of your miserable life," Elliot threatened, a dark cloud of darkness seemingly loomed over him.

"No one should belittle anyone because they do not have any affinity, no one should belittle anyone because of their poverty," Elliot walked over her and glared at her dead in the eye. "And no one should ever use their words to shatter anyone's dreams. Get that, b*tch?"