Chapter 99: A Small Team - V

After Clementine agreed, Kuvie and Taylor also voiced the same.

Then, they talked about more mundane things as they ascended. With their verbal agreement to collaborate as a team, they felt a little more familiar with each other’s hearts.

They talked about things like Clementine’s apothecary business, Kuvie’s small flower shop slowly taking shape, and Taylor’s addiction to cursed tomes.

"Right, do you still want the book we got from the <War Dungeon>?" Aventine asked.

His mischief seemed to have calmed down. The frenzied undertone of his movements and tone had dissipated.

Clementine and Kuvie, having led longer lives, had keenly noticed this. And because they noticed this, Aventine learned about it too.

’Was it... because of the emptiness I felt after my consciousness shattered?’

Having experienced unimaginable torture and despair through the memories of others, his heart had been obliterated and emptied. The energy he gained afterward felt like his brain had compensated for what it lost so suddenly.

Now, having achieved a small goal, his mind had settled down once more.

Taylor looked at him and gave it a moment of thought.

"Actually, even though it lost its curse, you did say that it had knowledge that would be even more dangerous than fighting the curse. I think I still want to give it a read."

He suddenly hesitated.

"Of course... under Miss Clementine’s supervision."

The weight of the gaze bearing down on Taylor lessened.

Wearing an awkward smile, Taylor continued to chat with Aventine. The latter shared stories of all the weird jobs he had been on after becoming an adventurer, amusing even the long-lived Clementine and Kuvie.

Things that people lost and wanted found.

Little pieces of lost histories and legends.

Random facts about the Grakkis that not many knew.

Many of these topics began with Aventine’s stories, but Kuvie always had a lot to add. Clementine and Taylor would chime in with questions every now and then as the topics progressed towards their respective travels.

Kuvie and Clementine asked Taylor about where he came from.

Taylor asked about how Aventine arrived in Walvaskaz.

Meanwhile, Aventine began to fall into a listening role, already familiar with their histories. Unlike earlier, he restrained his use of [Absolute Awareness] to understand their surface thoughts. He did not want the conversation to turn dull.

There was no fun in the experience if he just read everyone’s minds, prompting their memories to surface with piercing questions and a relentless inquiry barrage.

A part of life—and a part of his own humanity—was the ability to chat and communicate.

***

When the group finally surfaced above ground, they moved to Clementine’s personal property, hiring a simple lizard-drawn carriage to carry all four of them through the bustling crowd of myriad races.

Aventine’s senses had long blanketed the surroundings, looking at faces and listening to random conversations to pass the time and calm his mind.

’Hm?’ His interest was piqued when he looked over their destination.

Near the Snakespawn’s home were two familiar faces about to meet. One was already there, bearing blue hair and unmatched beauty and curves that could tempt all beings. The other reeked of wine-like blood, exuding an aura of sorrow and contemplation.

’Lillie... and Reazue.’

The Werebat had indeed ascended much faster than them, having moved alone throughout his trip back.

The two exchanged polite greetings upon meeting each other. Due to their proximity, Lillie smelled a hint of venom flowing through Reazue’s body. It had a distinct aromatic signature that led Lillie to wonder why Clementine had paralyzed her friend.

’Did they fight over something?’ Lillie thought, licking her lips and drawing Reazue’s inadvertent gaze. ’Or... did they fight over someone?’

"Fufufu~"

A breathy laugh escaped her soft lips, further magnetizing Reazue’s eyes towards her features. It seemed like a little drama had unfolded while she was dealing with her own troubles.

Lillie’s swirl-patterned scales shimmered with the artificial light painting Clementine’s property.

Reazue could not look away.

"Is there something wrong, young Werebat?" Lillie suddenly spoke up. "You look a little worse for wear. Would you like me to give you a little medicine~?"

Reazue, still recently exhausted by the earlier fight with Kuvie and Clementine, was unaware of his own mental weakness. His defenses were... susceptible.

—Gulp.

Though the Werebat subconsciously held a certain prejudice for any reptilian-humanoid race, labelling them Coldbloods, he couldn’t help but admit that their charms were always terrifying.

"What medicine are we talking about?" Reazue managed to eke out a reply.

"Well, what kind of medicine do you want? Ufu~ Is there anything you prefer more than others—"

"I would prefer if you’d stop there, Madame." Clementine’s voice shattered the daydreams that assaulted Reazue’s mind just then.

Lillie looked over, unsurprised. "Hm hm? Stop what? I was merely extending a helping hand, as we all should in such a situation. After all, you went against your own vocation as an apothecary... That paralytic venom of yours is indeed refined well."

Clementine just rolled her eyes, setting her gaze back on the Werebat. "You came here so quickly. That’s perfect. Someone wants to talk to you."

At that moment, Aventine stepped towards Reazue. "Hello again... I’m glad you look better than a while ago. Have you sorted out your thoughts?"

Reazue glanced at his friends—particularly Kuvie—before meeting the Info-Hunter’s eyes.

"Yes... I think I’ve sorted them enough for now. Is there something you need from me?"

Aventine laughed lightly; a feral glint flashed secretly across his eyes. "I was hoping to invite you to the team I’ve been putting together..."

Reazue raised a brow. "A team?"

The Werebat looked at Clementine, Taylor, and Kuvie behind Aventine. "Are they a part of this too?"

Aventine nodded. "Correct."

"...What’s in it for me?"

"Well... I guess there’s no need to hide it since you’ll find out from your friends later..." Aventine seemed to speak to himself for a second. "See, I just recently figured out why your friend Kuvie had access to Blood Arts."

Reazue bristled. The emotions he had just killed resurfaced. His wounds hadn’t even scabbed over.

Still, with centuries’ worth of self-control, he did not let even a pinch of it show.

"What are you talking about? What do you mean?"

From what Reazue understood, all Blood Magic was born from the sacrifice of his fellow Werebats.

"Have you never considered the possibility that... Her Blood Arts originated from a Werebat like you?"

Reazue’s eyes widened. "What?"

"Right? I was surprised too. Apparently, one of Kuvie’s higher-ups is your Vampiric Werebat grandfather!"

"...?"

Unlike the shock that Aventine wanted him to display, Reazue only seemed confused. His reaction wasn’t anywhere near as cute or as fun as Kuvie’s.

"My grandfather?" Reazue squinted. "I... see. I’ll keep that in mind."

Aventine read the doubt on the Werebat’s face.

’Oh well,’ He thought. ’He’ll see it for himself eventually. At least now, he should join me without worry. The team I’ve built will be complete—’

"Hmmm?" Suddenly, a hum rang in everyone’s ears.

Right. Clementine almost facepalmed. Her gaze instantly followed the High Snakespawn’s sudden movement.

"A team? With everyone here?" Lillie had somehow drifted forward, getting abnormally close to the human adventurer.

The softness of her body almost made contact with Aventine’s robes.

"Indeed." Aventine smiled, a gust of wind forming between him and the High Snakespawn. "I would also like to extend an invitation to you, too."

"Aha~? You, a mere D-Rank Adventurer? You want to invite me to join your team?"

Lillie seemed amused, tucking a strand of long, silken hair behind her ear. Suddenly, the curtain that obscured her chest vanished.

But Aventine’s eyes seemed to deepen, piercing deeper than the mere flesh that coated Lillie’s body.

Somehow, this human’s gaze made her feel... naked. Not in the physical sense, no, but Lillie could feel like this human was gazing straight into her soul.

It felt like he was looking straight at her—not Lillie, the High Snakespawn, but at Bliekon the Manipulator.

"Yes, indeed. I would like to invite your esteemed self to join me in an adventure you will surely enjoy." Aventine’s offer stood unwavering.

The two looked into each other’s eyes, creating a silent and dangerous tension that made Clementine, Kuvie, and Reazue’s skin prickle. Taylor, who had a much lower rank than them, couldn’t perceive it.

But it was there.

The three B-Rankers understood more clearly what strength this D-Rank Info-Hunter actually had.

’It’s A-Rank at least...’

Still, compared to Lillie...

His demeanor faltered in comparison.

—Hummmmm.

A low resonance shook the surroundings.

However, the three B-Rankers couldn’t see what moved, or what had changed.

"Interesting. To reach such heights despite being so young." Lillie’s eyes flashed with a subtle greed.

"You’re quite a respectable figure yourself." Aventine’s own eyes gleamed with a similar desire.

The two both wanted each other’s bodies... but not in that physical sense of sexual desire.

No...

They were both insane in their own ways.

One wanted to add the other to her collection of puppets.

The other wanted to add the Spindeiron to his collection of artifacts.

"I accept your offer." Lillie smiled, taking a step back with a smile that meant too many things left to the observer.

Aventine’s own little smile grew. "Perfect."

In his vision, [Absolute Awareness] blanketed every person in his vicinity.

Clementine Vielour, Taylor Alleri, and Bliekon the Manipulator were the three who stood at the center of the <Fate Convergence> that pulled him in.

Because of them, he realized the trap that <Fate> itself wove to ensnare him in its machinations.

Because of them, he was now a part of <Fate’s> plans.

As for Kuvie and Reazue... Although not as entangled in <Fate> as the first three, they were still the bridge that could connect them to the tumultuous Game of Walvaskaz.

With such a lineup.

Aventine peered into the <Fate> threads approaching his body.

’A hundred more strands, huh?’

He finally understood what <Fate> had wanted from him today. He also understood why <Fate> wanted him to act on this day in particular.

For someone with his abilities, uniqueness, and uncanny capacity to know...

A group filled with fated individuals like these was the only appropriate affiliation.

It was...

’Inevitable.’

{ End of Volume 1 - The Collector }