MTLNOVEL Chapter 28: After the Departure_2
Looking at the remaining quarter of the bread in his hand, Andrew continued with a sigh, "Actually, I don't have any special preference for food, but... having someone who regularly cooks for me, that feeling... I kind of like that feeling. Whenever I go out and busy myself, I can come home to see the dinner she prepared for me. Maybe I'm really tired."
Turuk took the bread again, and this time returned only an eighth.
Andrew straightforwardly gave the remaining eighth to Turuk, then hugged his knees and gazed at the starry sky, laughing, "She said she would remember me... hehehehe, generally speaking, the only people who say that are my enemies. She's the only exception. But actually, what she remembers won't be the real me. I deceived her a lot, she doesn't even know my real name. Everything, was to deceive her. The real Andrew has never been remembered by anyone."
As he spoke, the smile on Andrew's face slowly faded, leaving only boundless melancholy.
Turuk looked at Andrew in confusion, turned around and ran off, fetching a broken bowl from somewhere, filling it with water and bringing it to Andrew's mouth.
"You drink, I'm not thirsty," Andrew said expressionlessly.
This time, perhaps having already drunk, Turuk didn't take it back to drink himself, but instead poured the water onto Andrew's face and reached out to help wash Andrew's face.
Andrew was amused, hastily stopping him, "What are you doing? Stop stop stop! What are you doing? Are you trying to wake me up? I'm very awake now, really, I've never been this awake before. I'm even suspecting there's something wrong with my brain in the past."
Turuk furrowed his brows, looking at Andrew in confusion. Probably didn't understand what he was saying.
Andrew sighed lightly, reached out to rub Turuk's head, still with a face full of melancholy.
The streets of Udoven at night were empty, only occasionally did patrol squads pass by. All those eyes were staring at Andrew.
There was no helping it. Andrew was the only person left on the entire street, they had nothing else to look at.
From afar, Andrew heard a family arguing, and even the sound of breaking plates. It became the biggest focal point in the silent night.
As for himself, he continued to idle in the empty corner.
...
"I just want to be with the person I like."
With tears welling in her eyes, but still smiling, Christina said, "He is not someone who is suspected to be from the White Bone Holy Light Court, he is the person I like the most, and the one who treats me the best. Better than my father, better than my mother, better than you all. I hate you all, truly."
Christina smiled, surrounded by quiet.
After a while, a loud voice asked, "Do you know what you're saying, Christina."
"Of course I know what I'm saying," Christina replied with a smile, "I am more than happy to say it again, we hate you all, including you, Dragon Clan Great Elder. Because of my father, you are even unwilling to grant my people's identity, yet you intend to exercise control over me. Don't you think it's laughable? I no longer hope to become a member of the Golden Dragon Clan. And based on your actions, I now declare that you will no longer enjoy Christina's respect."
The whole world fell silent, countless dragons were quietly staring at this little girl in the night.
Silence, a long silence.
After a long time, the Dragon Clan Great Elder said softly, "It's a pity, you have given up the last chance to defend yourself."
Christina's gaze lowered slightly, revealing a smile.
...
Sparse raindrops began to fall.
"Mr. Duru! Mr. Duru!" A voice came, Andrew turned his face aside, seeing Hannah. The Blood Elf and Dragon Mercenary Group's mission advisor. She appeared at the corner of the street, hurrying towards him, accompanied by a few guiding soldiers.
Running before Andrew, Hannah panted heavily.
Andrew looked at her in a daze.
"Mr. Duru, I'm sorry, I just arrived in Udoven. Actually, I set off as soon as I got the news, but the army's horses were too fast, so I fell behind them. I'm here to pick you up."
"Pick me up?"
"Yes. The Blood Elf and Dragon Mercenary Group is one of our adventurer hall's most valued mercenary groups, and you are one of the most important members of the Blood Elf and Dragon Mercenary Group. We have a responsibility to ensure your safety."
Andrew stared at Hannah blankly.
"What's wrong? Mr. Duru, don't you want to come back with me?"
"No." Andrew's lips slightly curled up, wanting to laugh but failing, finally hesitantly saying, "Actually, my name is Andrew."
"You mean you're not Mr. Duru?"
"I mean, Duru's real name is actually Andrew. And Conrad, he is also Andrew. I used to deceive you all, including Christina. Andrew is my real name." Having said that, Andrew finally smiled, with both helplessness and relief, "I suddenly want... to live in the sunlight. Like a certain Lich, I also want to live in the sunlight. Yes, even Liches want to live in the sunlight, why wouldn't I? Even Liches have the courage to live in the sunlight, why wouldn't I have it?"
Without evasion, without hiding. Andrew quietly sat in the rain, closed his eyes, smiling, feeling the piercing cold.
This might be the coldest night he had ever felt in his life. But what does it matter?
Cold rain mixed with hot tears flowed quietly on his face.
Life also has its seasons. Spring will always come.
Hannah was astonished.
In the silent night, she stared at Andrew in a daze, not knowing what to say.
Opposite, Andrew pursed his lips, smiling more joyously than ever.
"Miss Christina is missing," Hannah said softly, "We looked for a long time, but couldn't find her."
"I know where she is," Andrew said, bowing his head, touching the green dragon scale in his hand, murmuring, "I will bring her back. Then tell her my true name."
...
Life is sometimes so miraculous.
Before encountering the true person, before setting the true goal, all the time was wasted. That "I", might not even be the real "I."
And when the goal that must be completed is set, life suddenly shines with a different brilliance, no matter how impossible that goal may seem.
What kind of waves can an unknown love between a Blood Elf and a green dragon stir in this upcoming great era?
This I cannot tell you for now. But I can tell you, a month later, Blood Elf Andrew returned to Linlopes with his only disciple Turuk, beginning recruitment of new members under the name Blood Elf and Dragon Mercenary Group. Plotting a grand scheme, preparing for an impossible mission.
Two months later, Andrew sent an apologetic letter to Gray, requesting forgiveness for his betrayal while applying to officially leave the Silver Moon Knight Order.
He got his wish, being removed from the wanted list. After all, Gray was a Lich full of justice.
Three months later, the Blood Elf and Dragon Mercenary Group became a level seven mercenary group.
Nine months later, it became the first and only level eight mercenary group in Linlopes history. Along the way, it even annexed over a dozen mercenary groups, including another level seven mercenary group. Nearly controlling the entire Linlopes, spreading its influence to the Lunbak Royal Family.
Meanwhile, Andrew sent an invitation to the Blood Elf Queen, his former loyalty, to jointly search for Krimasha's secrets.
It turned out that the Blood Elf and Dragon Mercenary Group, without the "dragon," was fiercer than ever before.
Of course, Andrew did not like this phrasing. From beginning to end, he was just the acting commander.
"Towards Krimasha Volume Six: Blood Elf and Dragon" [End]