Chrona lowered her head and poked the ground with her toes, as if she were stepping on ants.

Phyllis clenched her fists, trembling, as if she had done something wrong.

At first glance, the most striking impression of the Snow Goose Adventure Team was their disheveled state. Everyone was covered in dust and dirt, looking no different from any other team returning defeated from a secret realm.

With the walkthrough that Corinda gave Phyllis, clearing the game will be no problem at all.

What evoked the most mixed feelings in him was that, in just over half a month, a subtle sense of estrangement had already formed among his old teammates.

Behind him were Kaphni and Monica. This chance encounter was also a chance meeting between two different adventure teams.

The streetlights between them cast distinct beams of light.

Their respective captains, along with their teammates, met.

"I've cleared the 12th floor!" Leah raised her head and spoke first. "Did you see that? My performance!"

Aiko blinked hard, as if giving some kind of hint.

Linda naturally understood what Aiko meant, but today... he didn't want to 'understand'.

“No.” He shook his head and said, “I just came back from the wilderness.”

Leah stared at him in astonishment.

"Your eyes..." Linda asked after a moment's hesitation.

"oh."

"It's nothing serious, it's normal for adventurers."

"Just blindness."

Leah spoke nonchalantly, as if she were talking about someone else's business.

"blindness?"

Linda frowned.

Leah thought he would immediately panic and start thinking of a solution.

But after a moment of hesitation, Linda thought: the game seems to be back on track.

In the game, he met Leah, a one-eyed swordswoman with long red hair.

Mature, composed, and powerful, a top swordsman who led the Mandala family to its peak.

But the Lia he met after time travel was much less capable.

He also reflected on whether it was his own problem that he had taken on too much work that should have belonged to the captain, causing Leah to become a giant baby who only complained about others.

After he left the team, the game actually got back on track.

In this way, Leah should still have a chance to become the respected 'Blossoming Flame'.

No one stays the same forever.

Having completed the section where the two roads intersect, it's a good thing that everyone can go their own way for the rest of the journey.

He will lead his team with the ultimate goal of defeating the Demon King.

And Leah will also transform from a giant baby into the reliable swordsman in the game.

"If you don't return to the team,"

To his surprise, Leah seemed to be trying to salvage something, saying slowly and deliberately, "There will be more people who get hurt."

"He might die, who knows?"

Something hot was surging in Leah's chest.

She bet that Linda couldn't let go of Xueyan.

I don't believe Linda can forget the three years of adventures we shared.

If Linda doesn't care about her, why does she spend so much more energy on her than on Ai Ke and others?

Now, Leah is giving Linda a chance.

The girl raised her head, her expression arrogant.

"Um, I'm in a hurry."

Linda didn't look at her, but said to Ai Ke, "Xueyan, it's up to you. You can become an excellent adventure team."

A polite remark made both girls turn pale.

"Let's get together again sometime," Linda said. "I still have things to take care of."

Let's get together again sometime.

The biggest lie of an adult adventurer.

That was a complete excuse.

Aiko felt a bitter taste in her mouth and awkwardly replied, "Okay."

Leah watched as Linda and her team brushed past her, seemingly heading towards a place beyond their reach.

Suddenly, an impulse arose in his heart, and he gritted his teeth and grabbed Linda's wrist.

Aiko and the others all looked at Lia in surprise.

Could it be...

You're ready to say it, aren't you?

That powder keg?

Perhaps Lia, who had been slashed by the snake-man leader, was now a bit more lucid.

But Echo felt sympathy.

It was too late; she could even guess Linda's answer.

Leah said slowly, "If I invite you back..."

Will you go back to Xueyan?

Linda paused.

Monica nervously clutched the hem of his shirt, while Kaphni squinted at him.

Without any hesitation, Linda shook her head: "My team members are in the Phoenix Flower."

Leah's eyelids twitched, and she took half a step back.

"Lia, I have thought about it."

Linda looked at the towering tree in the city center and said, "Take Xueyan and everyone else to the top of the World Tree."

"Then why did you leave the team?"

Leah was completely puzzled.

The original members of the Snow Goose Adventure Team, on a night like this, stood on the curb of a dilapidated street, gazing up at the World Tree, and speaking their dreams under the starry sky.

Since Linda promised to take them to the top of the World Tree, why did she leave the group?

Upon reflection, it became clear that the group had never sat down and talked calmly.

“Xueyan’s original intention has changed,” Linda said.

...

...

(P.S.: Subscription growth has stalled, please don't let the book sit idle, I'm begging for an auto-subscription feature, sob sob.)

By the way, here's how to turn on auto-subscription: it's not the one in the top right corner, but rather on your personal bookshelf page where you click on the "Vote for Recommendation" button. There you'll find the auto-subscription switch. Thanks!