AWB Chapter 75 Azure Crown
Chapter 75 Azure Crown
'Sigh…' Ethan sighed and started walking towards the academy's exit. The past week had been quite stressful for him because he had watched the videos of monsters ravaging the city of Nisolia after the attack.
'Those monsters were so powerful... even so many hunters couldn't stop them.' Watching the recording, he understood something simple: becoming a hunter and awakening one's true potential was a stroke of luck.
He witnessed the unawakened being slaughtered by monsters, only to be rescued by the hunters. They were powerless, unable to do anything in the face of the strong.
However, awakening doesn't mean hunters are invincible. No, rather, he saw many hunters struggling on the brink of life and death, and in that moment he understood why his father and her brothers and sisters always said that being a hunter wasn't as easy and cool as it seemed.
Without effort and ability, awakening is meaningless.
He himself has only recently come to realize how difficult it is for an ordinary person to fight against those monsters.
'I have to get stronger as soon as possible. I can't stay weak like before.' He wanted to help others and clear out the dungeons. Like his idolized father, he wanted to become a hero.
This was one of the reasons he accepted Emily's request. First, he wanted to gain more experience, but he didn't want to ask his family for help. He wanted to face difficulties independently, which was, arguably, a source of pride for him as a man.
Secondly, he wanted to help the girl. Hearing about Emily's situation, he wanted to help her. This was an innate part of his character.
Now, he is embarking on his first real dungeon adventure.
"Ethan. Where are you going?" Just then, he heard that familiar voice.
Lucas saw Ethan crossing the school's playground and called out to him.
“I have some things to do,” Ethan replied.
"Ah... it's about that dungeon? Hehe... you got invited?" Lucas teased with a mischievous smile.
"Tsk, shut up," Ethan muttered under his breath, clearly not wanting to be teased.
"Okay, okay. When are you coming back?" Lucas asked sincerely.
"I don't know, maybe tonight?" Ethan replied, his mind still on his upcoming dungeon adventure with Emily.
“I understand. Let’s get together again later, it’s been a while since we hung out together. I’d like to invite a few girls,” Lucas suggested, giving Ethan a gentle nudge.
Ethan hesitated for a moment. "You know I don't like going out with girls."
"Come on, give it a try. Enjoy your student days," Lucas encouraged.
“Okay, okay, I’ll go.” Ethan reluctantly agreed.
“Pinky promise,” Lucas said, extending his pinky. Ethan shook his head, watching his friend act like a child. Lucas was always like this, but he was happy to see him like this.
Ethan sighed and hooked his little finger with Lucas's. "I can't guarantee it. You know how unpredictable things are in the dungeons."
Lucas smiled. "Well... call me if you need help."
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Do you think I'd need your help?"
Lucas grinned smugly. "You bastard, have you forgotten you awakened later than us? Want me to beat you up?"
Ethan rolled his eyes, but couldn't help but smile. "Sigh... okay, I'll call you if I need anything."
"Then I'll wait for your call."
After saying that, Lucas waved and left, while Ethan continued on his way to the meeting point for the dungeon exploration.
When he arrived at the designated location, he saw Emily and the other members of the expedition team.
"Ah, Ethan. You've come." Upon seeing Ethan, Emily immediately came over and greeted him with a smile.
He was in a guild building, but Ethan could see that it was very different from his family's guild.
The difference in rank was evident even from the design and style. Although the guild hall looked somewhat dilapidated, Ethan could see the determination and hope in Emily's eyes.
“We’re waiting for the last member to arrive before we can leave.” Just as Emily was about to speak, she suddenly saw the person they had been waiting for.
“Ah, he’s here.” As she spoke, her gaze turned to the newcomer, and they saw him walking over—black pants, a black T-shirt, and a hooded jacket.
"Morse?"
And those indifferent purple eyes.
......
After receiving the message from the Azure Crown guild, I immediately began preparations.
According to my information, I have no experience as a hunter; they're probably waiting for someone else.
But from the beginning, I knew this position would be vacant. Because in the game, there are no archers in the team, and the healer is the demon contractor.
Therefore, I was prepared long ago.
'Silencer.'
First, I had a suppressor custom-made for my gun. Because it wasn't a branded product, but rather a custom-made one by a blacksmith, the suppressor needed to be made specifically for me, which took some time.
'A bunch of potions, antidotes, and light-attribute bullets.'
These three things are essential for the upcoming expedition.
The final item was a month's worth of food and water, a high-quality tent, and plenty of ammunition.
These things almost filled my space bracelet to the brim, but they were all necessities.
Once everything was ready, I headed to the meeting point. Since they had already sent me the address, finding the place wasn't difficult.
Then, I arrived here.
"Morse?"
I arrived at my destination in front of the somewhat foolish protagonist and the girl with a slightly contemptuous expression on her face.
“I thought it was someone else, but it was you?” Emily said, her gaze sweeping over me.
"..." I didn't respond, ignoring her disdain. This was something I expected. If I were her, I would also be a little angry, after all, the weakest student had actually participated in the dungeon expedition that would determine the future of her guild.
"Sigh... I'm sorry, I've been under a lot of pressure lately." Realizing that provoking me would obviously be a mistake, Emily sighed and apologized.
'She's clearly well-suited to be a leader.' Comparing her reaction to that of another girl, I could clearly see the difference between them.
“Come on, let’s start making plans.” Emily gestured for us to follow her into the guild hall. The scene before us was exactly the same as in the game. Initially, the place showed obvious signs of dilapidation, mostly due to their limited budget.
However, things will change here in the future.
I remember this place would undergo tremendous changes in two years, which speaks volumes about its potential.
Emily led us into a room to discuss strategies for exploring the dungeon.
squeak
As the door opened, four people appeared in the room: three women and one man. The woman standing in front immediately walked towards us, looking at us intently.
Anya Guzman.
I immediately remembered what she looked like in the game.
Wow, you're so handsome.
She says this the moment she sees a player. Considering Ethan's appearance, this is understandable; after all, if he wanted, he could become a model and live a life of luxury.
"……Thanks?"
Ethan was clearly bewildered by the woman's sudden behavior. 'Indeed, he behaves the same way in the game, because that's just who he is.'
Bang
“Hey… Anya, calm down. We’re not here to play around.” Emily patted Anya’s head, then turned her gaze to the others in the room.
“This is Ethan, the one I mentioned to you before. And this is Morse, the archer in our squad.”
"Hmm...this one's not bad either," Anya said, walking towards me. But before she could reach me, she was patted on the head again.
"Didn't I just say that?"
"OK OK."
After introducing us, Emily wasted no time and gestured for us to sit at the table.
"Don't be so stiff... These are the remaining team members."
She waved and pointed to the other people in the room, who then began to introduce themselves one by one.
“I’m Faye Barnes. It’s nice to meet you.”
"Harry Fulton, it's a pleasure to meet you."
Ethan smiled and responded as he watched the others wave, glancing at me with curiosity in his eyes. He seemed to be wondering why I was there, but he would probably figure it out himself.
So we walked over to the other two people sitting in the chairs.
With that in mind, I began to observe the people here.
Recalling this event in the game, I remembered their names.
'Faye Barnes. She's 18, and her future is uncertain. She's a swordswoman, the vanguard of the squad. She wields a greatsword—a strange choice for someone so petite.'
I observed her physical features as I thought about it.
She was a petite girl with a pink bob haircut, purple eyes, but she was very muscular. At least stronger than me.
In the game, her future is uncertain because she cannot progress further as a hunter and will eventually remain stagnant.
Then I turned to the next person.
'Harry Fulton. She's 19 years old. She's a self-taught hunter who has never attended any academy. As a self-taught hunter, she has exceptional talent with dual scimitars. She has moderate fire affinity and is also proficient in fire magic. She joined this guild a year ago.'
She had long blonde hair, clear blue eyes like the ocean, and a slender figure. She was beautiful, but not as beautiful as the other main characters.
The third one is our captain.
'Anya Guzman. She's 20 years old. However, she suffered from a strange illness, which caused her to start training late. She graduated from a small hunter academy two years ago and has been working for the Azure Crown Guild ever since. She's a hunter who uses a spear and shield, and also an earth mage, so she'll be our team's tank.'
As I observed her figure, I pondered in my mind.
Her body was adapted to using a shield. Her back and core muscles were well-developed, but her legs were her strongest part. The scars on her body showed she enjoyed her work as a hunter.
As I thought this, my gaze fell on her slightly open blouse. Her muscular, muscular body was visible through her exposed, tanned skin. Combined with her brown hair and brown eyes, she exuded a peculiar aura, reminding me of some race from the past, one filled with warrior women.
Finally, there was the young man with black hair standing at the back. He had a friendly and easygoing expression on his face, but he couldn't hide the unusual aura about him.
Fred Nelson. Also known as "The Man with a Thousand Faces".
He is the target of my exploration today.