Chapter 418 An Adventurer Called Sherlock [Pt 2]
The pubs within the Adventurers City were usually chock-full in the evening, since this was when most Adventurers returned from their daily tasks.
Many wanted to relax and enjoy the evening atmosphere while sipping some ale, while others desired to blow off steam by ranting about their experience to any who would listen.
It was a nice mix of varying minds who desired different things.
As a result, most pubs ended up being chaotic—the later the evening got, the worse it became.
However, compared to the usual nature of such an establishment, the place where Jet, Lux, and Sherlock chose was completely silent.
Perhaps the absence of any other Adventurer—or any other living soul, save for the staff in the establishment—could explain the cause of the decorum. It was a strange sight, seeing a pub so empty despite it being evening.
However, when considering the status of the three Adventurers who occupies the pub, this occurrence couldn't be seen as overly strange.
"This is my favorite pub. It's usually very, very loud, though." Noah began, his friendly smile easily breaking the tension that existed among the three of them.
"I suspected you wouldn't be very comfortable with so much noise, so I booked it ahead of time."
That explained why there was no one else in the room.
"Perks of being a 6 Star, I guess. I don't think any other Adventurer would have gotten away with it, even if they had the money to pay." Noah added as he chugged down the foaming liquid on his massive jug.
Rey watched the boy gulp down its contents, and after a few seconds, he slammed the jug down and gave a heavy sigh.
"Haaa! Nothing beats a good drink after a long day!"
His beaming air of optimism was contrasted by the somewhat gloomy atmosphere that surrounded the other two.
"You… drink?"
"Hm? Why do you ask? What kind of Adventurer doesn't drink?" Noah retorted in surprise as he looked at Jet—or rather, Rey.
"You've not touched your ale, by the way. Hope nothing is wrong. I promise, you'll like it very much."
Rey felt a bit conflicted as he looked at the drink on his side of the table. It would indeed be rude not to refuse to drink anything, but he wasn't much of a drinker.
It wasn't like he hadn't tasted alcohol before, but…
'… I really don't like it.'
The smell alone made Rey sick to his stomach, and he really couldn't stand the taste. He would pick actual juice or fruit drinks to alcohol any day.
'I just don't see the appeal in taking alcohol, especially when it has such a bad side effect.'
Perhaps this was just his teenage brain speaking, but wasn't Noah also a teenager—a more fragile-looking one than him too.
'When did he start chugging down alcohol like a champ?'
Was it really a prerequisite for one to constantly drink alcohol if they were an Adventurer? Rey didn't want to believe it.
"Want to know a secret?" Noah said with a somewhat naughty smile.
He had a somewhat mischievous gleam in his eyes, enough to spark Rey's curiosity in whatever he was about to say.
"I…" Noah brought his face closer and used a hand to block his mouth. "I actually don't like alcohol very much."
'RIGHT?!' Rey's eyes widened as he beamed at the boy in front of him.
"It's so bitter and it tastes so weird. I hear it gives you a certain buzz, but considering how people get drunk, puke all over, and pass out so often after taking this stuff… I don't think it's worth it."
Rey couldn't help but nod and agree at that point.
"I agree. I personally prefer high-quality fruit juice." Rey responded, trying to sound as manly and elegant as possible.
"Indeed! I totally agree!"
Noah's nod and his smile also showed that he was trying to sound like some kind of informed gentleman. In actuality, they were just being kids.
Lux just sat there and watched in silence as the two interacted.
"Alcohol is so blehh!"
"Haha! Indeed, indeed! You are quite the enlightened one, Sir Jet." Noah's eyes gleamed with respect.
Unfortunately, Rey couldn't do the same to Noah.
After all, despite saying he didn't like alcohol, he ended up sullying his throat with the burning sensation of such disgusting-tasting liquid.
At some point, Rey couldn't contain his curiosity and ended up asking the question on his mind.
"Why…?"
"Why what?"
"Why do you drink alcohol…?"
"Ohh…" Noah's face fell a little, but he quickly picked it back up. "Because I have an image to uphold."freёwebnovel.com
Rey raised a brow and waited for more elaboration on that.
Thankfully, he didn't have to wait very long.
"As you can clearly see, I have a small stature, and my face isn't the most intimidating. Other than my strength, many wouldn't really consider me a proper Adventurer…"
Noah's smile only widened more as he spoke, almost as if he was resolute in his desire and intention to overturn those perceptions.
"That's why I come to this pub regularly. It's why I drink alcohol. I maintain my image as a strong, but relatable Adventurer."
As a result, he could truly become 'one of them.'
"Besides, alcohol really does nothing to my body. One of my Class Privileges grants me high resistance against poisons and toxins, so other than the terrible taste, I have nothing to worry about."
Rey's eyes widened upon hearing the information. 'Ohh! That's super convenient!'
Once they finally resolved their discussion on alcohol, the food arrived and everyone dug in. Just as Noah said, it was amazing food.
'The food in the Royal Capital is far better, but this has a unique feel to it. Local and… slightly gamey.' Its unexplainable flavor worked to its advantage, as Rey enjoyed every bite of the steak and salad to go with it.
Once everyone was done eating, making slight jokes and jabs in the process, they finally had to move to the more serious issue.
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[A/N]Chapter 419 An Adventurer Called Sherlock [Pt 3]
"Sir Jet… I would like to officially apologize for any inconvenience my Party Members caused you, as well as congratulate you joining the ranks of the strongest Adventurers in this City."
Noah Sherlock's expression was serious as he gazed upon the man in front of him.
He didn't know who Jet was, or how he got to the level that he did, but there was one thing he knew about him.
'He's strong. The same applies to the girl that's his partner.'
As one of his Class Privileges, Noah had something like a sixth sense that informed him of how dangerous a person or situation was.
Something like a Thief's Intuition that told him whether a risk was worth the reward.
'I've encountered many Adventurers in this city, and I've met all the strongest ones, so I kno my place in the pecking order.'
The Guildmaster was definitely stronger than him, but Noah felt like he could probably win under the right circumstances.
The same applied to pretty much any strong foe he encountered.
'But…' He narrowed his eyes as he gazed at the two who sat in front of him.
Jet and Lux were the first Adventurers who made him feel like he stood no chance at all against them.
They felt like an incredibly tall mountain whose peak was too high for him to set his sights on; or perhaps a deep trench whose depths were impossible to decipher.
Either way, Noah quickly recognized he was way out of his league here.
'He really reminds me of Rey. They both have such a commanding presence…' Noah smiled to himself.
Unfortunately, there was no way they could be the same person.
'Rey is supposed to be in the Royal Estate. They're probably still dealing with the Royal Dungeon and preparing for the war.'
He had heard some news about what had been going on in the Capital, but other than the downfall of the Criminal Underworld—which probably had nothing to do with the Otherworlders—there really wasn't anything happening there.
'I hope he's doing well, though…' Noah returned his gaze to Jet, though somehow his eyes kept going towards Lux.
'She has been silent for most of the conversation. I haven't heard her say anything once, except for a few unintelligible whispers and chuckles.'
Noah was glad to see her laugh to some of his jokes, but more than anything he wanted her to talk to him.
Why? Well…
'She's so damn gorgeous!'
Since they were indoors, Jet and Lux had taken off their respective hat and hood, revealing their incredibly attractive faces.
They were both beauties that rivaled—no, perhaps even surpassed Adonis.
Noah even felt the confidence he had fought so hard to build up nearly crumble just by looking at Jet for a few seconds.
Many had told him he was attractive, but it was mostly in the 'cute' sense. Unlike Jet, who had the perfect blend of masculine beauty and a dash of cute aesthetics… Noah couldn't boast of any such feat.
The only thing he used to comfort himself was the knowledge that he wasn't the ugliest guy around.
In fact, on the spectrum of attractiveness, he was definitely on the high end.
'I wonder how someone like Rey would feel if he saw this guy.' Noah nearly snickered at the thought.
Despite Jet catching his attention, though, the one his eyes really focused on most was Lux—though he did his best not to stare too much.
Her beauty was ethereal.
'How can someone be so pretty and strong at the same time?' Adonis came to his mind, but he quickly shrugged the thought off.
Noah already knew that Jet and Lux were siblings—having done his research before approaching them. As such, he knew there was a chance that she was single.
Unfortunately, his confidence had been too wounded that night to try anything risky.
'Most girls in this city don't care about looks as long as you have power and money.' Noah thought to himself.
Status reigned supreme here.
In that respect, someone like him—who was one of the richest and most powerful Adventurers in the City, with good looks to boot—was a rare treasure in the whole city.
He couldn't think of a lady who wouldn't at least give him a shot
—whether they were an Adventurer or a civilian.free𝑤ebnovel.com
Noah wasn't blind. He could see how many females looked at him, ogling his entire body with their eyes.
A few even mustered the courage to hit on him.
As flattering as it was to be desired by so many, though, Noah found himself slightly growing irritated of the never-ending attention.
'Things are different now, though…'
The girl he had set his sights on was of the same Rank as him, and merely judging from her looks and equipment, she wasn't lacking any money.
Plus, with looks like hers and her brother's, she definitely wouldn't settle for just anyone.
All of these factors made Noah more nervous than he would normally be.
'Damn! I feel like a virgin again!' He nearly cried out, though he managed to control himself by taking constant, deep breaths.
"Thank you for your congratulations. As for the incident the other day, I can understand that it was done with good intentions."
Noah's gaze swiftly left Lux as he heard Jet speak.
Surprisingly, the man had stretched out a hand to shake him. "I hope we can both get along as colleagues."
"Y-yeah! I hope so too…" Noah managed to speak, secretly hoping that Jet didn't just catch him staring so intensely at his sister.
"If you don't mind, I would like to ask you a few questions. Since you're my senior here, I hope it won't be too much of a bother."
"Of course not! Ask away." Noah responded with a bright smile.
'Maybe… maybe if I get close enough to Jet, he could properly acquaint me with his sister.'
Noah wasn't sure how this whole thing would go, but… it was worth a shot.
'I need to have him on my side at all costs!'
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Chapter 420 An Adventurer Called Sherlock [Pt 4]
"Haha! I see, I see!"
Noah was laughing louder than he should have.
He knew that well.
However, he had to make it seem like he was having a very good time. He wasn't forcing things, though, just adding a bit more effort.
In order to get on Jet's good graces, he thoroughly explained a lot of things about the Adventurers City to the two of them—as much as he knew, anyway.
Noah had only been here for about three weeks, and he became a Heroic Rank Adventurer just two weeks ago.
The circumstances behind his promotion was a bit different from the standard, but he also killed an A-Tier Monster and got recognized for his accomplishments.
"I'm sorry about Miss Britta, by the way." Noah smiled widely, vividly remembering his own experience with the stern woman. "She's really very difficult, isn't she?"
"Well, somewhat. She was pretty insufferable." Jet responded with a slight chuckle.
"Haha! Don't hold it against her. She's pretty reliable once you get to know her, though many would consider her rude."
Either way, being nice wasn't a required quality for an Adventurer. The most important thing was their competence in their duties.
"She gets the job done, so she's a pretty competent Adventurer." Noah found Jet and Lux nodding too, so he was relieved to see that they agreed.
'Since there is such a short supply of 6 Star Adventurers, and even very few 5 Stars care to be supervisors, she ends up being the only one who supervises the very difficult Tests.'
It was a heavy load to be placed on one person, so Noah understood why she acted the way she did.
'Most Adventurers would rather explore Dungeons and get stronger than to watch a bunch of newbies try to pass an exam.'
Even he felt the same way.
'I'm pretty sure they'll want me to begin supervising at some point, but since I'm still somewhat fresh, I'll be excused for now.'
Noah felt like he wouldn't mind doing it once in a while, but if it became a regular thing—like it was for Britta—he might have to dip.
"How many A-Tier Monsters did you kill in your Test?" Jet suddenly asked, instantly changing the tone of the conversation.
There was some kind of a serious vibe that Noah didn't fully understand. Still, he made sure to answer as honestly as possible.
"One. I was a lot weaker back then than I am now." He smiled and shrugged. "How about you, Sir Je—?"
"Just call me Jet."
"Fair enough. And is it alright for me to call you Lux, instead of Lady Lux?" Noah asked the lady who sat adjacent him.
"It's fine. You can address the both of us normally."
Noah nearly pulled his hair out when he heard Jet respond instead of the damsel he was addressing.
'Come on, man! I've been nice enough. Even if you don't want to help me out, you can't do me this dirty.' Of course, these complaints were only heard by Noah in the far recesses of his mind.
Lux nodded at his question, though, which at least made him smile a little.
"A-anyway, Jet… how many A-Tier Monsters did you kill?"
Since Noah had been waiting for Jet within the Inn, he couldn't go and confirm from the Guild. As a result, he didn't know the exact number.
'Judging from the faces of the other Adventurers who trailed behind him, it must have been quite a lot.' Noah reasoned.
One of his Party Members, who was watching the two of them from a considerable distance, even told him about their triumphant entry into the city, and just how heavy the sack both Jet and Britta carried.
Of course, he was also informed of the captured Monster.
'My spy wasn't sure if it was an A-Tier Monster or not, but… it probably was.' The fact that they bothered to capture a Monster meant it had to be special.
That was his own theory, though.
'Lux was the one who captured it, so I know she's displayed power that is least stronger than an A-Tier. What about him?'
"I killed about forty."
"E-eh? Did you say… four?"
Four was already an absurd number. Noah wasn't sure he could handle so many at once if they charged at him head-on.
"No. Forty." Once Jet confirmed the figure, Noah felt like it was a joke.
He waited for the punch line, but it never came. "Y-you really… killed forty?"
Jet nodded.
'The hell? How is that even possible?' Noah felt his eyes widening as he felt stupefied.
There was no reason to doubt Jet's words. If they were false, he could easily confirm that from the Guild. It would soon be made public knowledge, anyway.
'I doubt he would want to smear his reputation like that.' Noah smiled to himself. 'Besides, there's no real reason to lie.'
Even if Jet wanted to make a false account, he wouldn't have gone for such an absurd.
'It's common sense to make your lie as believable as possible, right?'
"I-I could probably handle three A-Tier Monsters on my own now…" Noah didn't even know why he was saying this.
Compared to Jet's numbers, his was not impressive in the slightest.
"That's interesting. Britta gave the same response." Jet responded. "You're pretty impressive."
Noah felt like Jet was making fun of him, but his serious tone and honest face made it difficult for him to truly accept that.
"Haha! Not as impressive as you. I even heard you captured and brought back an A-Tier Monster."
What kind of people were these two? Where did they pop out from?
Noah had no idea.freёwebnovel.com
'I've lived here long enough to know that this kind of strength is not normal.'
The only reason he was so strong, despite being so young, was due to being an Otherworlder. These two weren't.
'There can't be any Otherworlders besides us. And if there were, they wouldn't look so young… right?'
Since Noah couldn't know for sure, he decided to keep the thought to himself.
"By the way, Sherlock… I've been meaning to ask this question for a while now." Jet's voice served as the perfect distraction from his thoughts, so he decided to hop into the next line of conversation.
"Yes? What is it?"
"Why did you become an Adventurer?"
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