Runemaster in the Last Days

Amelia was stunned.

"Is there anyone who could use runes aside from Riya?"

"… I don't think so? If you mean someone stronger than her, then the answer is no, but if I'm not wrong, she shared this technology with the official," Arnold replied.

What he meant was the technology to apply runes into weapon.

Even though the known runes were limited, but if the officials tried to use their rune masters to apply it to other weapons, it was still possible for them to do it. At least in terms of firearms, their knowledge definitely surpassed Riya.

Before the earthquake happened, Riya was only a student but there were many people in the army under the government. They have extensive knowledge over various weapons and even have a complete directory of it.

So if they tried to replicate the runes that Riya used on other weapons…

They might be able to do it.

"It'll be troublesome, then." Amelia thought about the power of the weapon modified by Riya and felt some headache.

Moreover, Amelia knew her best friend very well. Riya made these weapons for them and didn't really care if others replicate them. Because what Riya wanted was a weapon that her friends could use to protect themselves.

As for Riya herself?

Unless she could make weapons that could kill rank 6 or even rank 7 magic beasts easily, it was estimated that Riya would not care too much.

The formation that she could make was more than enough for her.

"The mercenary has its own means to get information…" Arnold thought about his days as mercenary and felt more headache. "Let's go back for today and talk with the others. I'm sure Yer will not give up so easily. To avoid implicating you…"

"If you're talking that you're going to leave on your own again, then I'll not agree." Amelia interrupted before Arnold could finish speaking.

The two of them stopped their movements of collecting the magic beasts and looked at each other.

In this ruined city, the two of them seemed as if they were ready to fight.

Arnold took a deep breath. "You're Samuel's sister, Mel. You know very well that there are already many people who might want to take advantage of you and if my enemies are added…"

"So what?" Amelia took a step forward, her eyes were staring directly at Arnold's direction. "If you think that by running away, you can avoid the problem, then you're too stupid. I have already appeared here with you and it's estimated that the man called Yer should have seen me. Why do you even think that by staying away from me and the others will solve your problems? Are you afraid of them?"

"I'm not afraid of them, I'm more afraid of losing you!" Arnold replied without hesitation and then froze.

His expression contorted for a moment and he rubbed his forehead.

He really didn't want to tell Amelia about this matter right now because he knew very well that he couldn't live a normal life.

Even after coming back from his work, Arnold would still carry weapon with him. Because he knew very well that it was not so easy for him to get rid of his past and all.

Just when he thought that he could live a normal life and tried to move on, the earthquakes happened. The long lasting memory of the past and the instinct that was honed for so many years on the battlefield was instantly brought up.

Living this kind of life again was nothing much for Arnold.

What worries him was if there were no hope for them to defeat the magic beasts and so on.

Thankfully, the situation was not that bad.

But…

He never expected that what he used to fear would come up at this unfortunate time.

"My brother is afraid of losing me, Riya is afraid of losing me," Amelia said calmly, stating the facts in an indifferent tone.

Amelia might be a bit naive and childish, but she was by no means stupid. She knew very well that being pampered by others, especially someone as powerful as Samuel and Riya would definitely have the consequences.

Because she would be labelled as their 'weakness.'

It was also because of this that Amelia would still follow the training arranged by Samuel and Riya.

If she truly didn't want to, she could just be lazy all the time and tried to escape.

But she understood that because of this 'favor' given by them that she could enjoy a lot of resources and held an important place in their heart. So she had to have a sufficient ability to protect herself to a certain degree.

Even if she couldn't be as powerful as the others, she couldn't be lagging behind.

To be honest, Amelia still has the mentality of going with the flow along with a somewhat lazy personality.

After all, she didn't like training.

But after Victoria's incident, Amelia knew very well that it was impossible for her to live such a carefree life.

She has to get stronger.

Both for herself and for the people who cared for her.

"Arnold, I'm not weak," Amelia said slowly. "You would not be happy living by yourself without any of your friends and I will not be happy either. I don't think Brother will want you to be a loner either… the world is dangerous, so we just have to work hard to protect ourselves."

Arnold looked at Amelia in front of him.

She has always surprised him.

Childish, playful, naughty… this was all the label that many people had given to Amelia. But despite these characteristic, Amelia could also be quite mature and reliable at times.

A contradictory person.

Yet, she was also an amazing person in Arnold's eyes.

"What if…?"

"If something did happen in the end, it just meant that it's our fate and I'll accept it… but lives have to go on," Amelia said softly.