Chapter 177: Please Call Me Ultraman
"Woo... woo..."
Seeing the hanging Barbarian struggling with his feet, about to pull his head, which was "embedded" in the Ceiling, the Assassin quickly rushed over with ill intentions, grabbed the Barbarian's feet, and pulled hard. With a "whoosh," he pulled the entire person down.
"Oh my! Hockley, that was really dangerous! Thank goodness I was here!"
The Assassin said with a grin, pretending to be relieved. His embarrassing moment was definitely going to be spread by his three mischievous friends, and he was just getting a headache about it. He didn't expect to find a companion so quickly.
"You bastard, even without your help, I could have gotten out myself."
The Barbarian, coughing loudly from being suffocated, turned his head and glared fiercely at the Assassin who wore a 'cunning' smile.
"Hockley, what kind of 'willful' things are you saying? At a moment of 'Crisis' like this, as your best partner, could I possibly just watch you struggle in difficulty and do nothing?
I know what you're worried about, please rest assured. I won't spread the story in the Tavern about 'Brainless Hockley accidentally sticking his Head into the Ceiling while using Leap, having Difficulty breathing, and his Life hanging by a thread, when merciful Assassin Qiert Lord miraculously appeared and rescued the dying Barbarian Hockley from Danger'."
The Assassin patted the Barbarian's broad shoulders vigorously, his eyes full of sincerity, almost squeezing out a few tears.
"Didn't you already prepare the lines? You bastard! And I risked getting my Boots dirty to rescue you, the 'first unlucky Assassin Qiert in history to be captured by Arach's Spider Capture, hung up like a piece of fresh meat and carried back to the Lair'! Is this the Attitude you have towards your savior?"
The Barbarian widened his bull-like eyes, staring intently at the Assassin with a fierce expression like a Butcher. The Assassin also met his Gaze without backing down. The air between them seemed to ignite, bursting with the smell of 'gunpowder'.
"Alright, alright. Can you two stop being rude In Front of the Guest?"
The Paladin and Sorceress, who had laughed enough, slowly came over. The Sorceress's hand was emitting balls of Flame, burning away the invisible and colorless Spider Silk on the Ground. Don't misunderstand, he wasn't using Inferno, but a very ordinary Flame, just like the Fire Spell Sarah showed me last time. It didn't belong to any Skill. Of course, this powerless Flame could only burn things and threaten Ordinary Persons. It was impossible to deal with Enemies from Hell.
"Guest? Where is the Guest?"
The Barbarian curiously turned his neck back and forth, trying to find the Guest the three of them were talking about.
"That Friend, you've been standing there for so long, it's time to come out and introduce yourself."
The Assassin looked helplessly at the ignorant Barbarian, then turned his Head and shouted towards the shadowy Corner where I was standing.
Among the four, it seemed only the Barbarian, who lacked a Brain, hadn't noticed my Existence, which genuinely surprised me a little. Although I hadn't deliberately concealed my Aura, the other four were also in the midst of an intense battle just now. To still be able to notice the appearance of a third party under such circumstances only proved how strong their vigilance was.
"Sorry, you were all so humorous that I momentarily forgot to come out and introduce myself."
Under their sharp Gazes, I slowly walked out from the shadows. When Light Snow and the other Ghost Wolves' massive bodies slowly emerged from the shadows behind me, they were visibly startled and quickly reacted.
"Don't be nervous, they are just my Pets."
Seeing their wary Appearance, I explained with a Smile.
"You are Druid Wu Fan... Lord...?"
The surprised Sorceress beside me reacted first, blurting out my Name. After a moment of hesitation, perhaps out of admiration for my ability to appear here alone, or perhaps due to the Pressure emanating from Light Snow and the others behind me, he added the word "Lord" at the end.
"I dare not accept the title of Lord. It's just a humble Name."
Seeing the others react, I slowly took off the Cloak Hat on my Head and walked towards them with a Smile. To be honest, these four people were really interesting, so much so that I had the 'intention' to actively make friends with them.
Among the four, the Sorceress and Paladin were clearly better at socializing. After confirming my Status, they quickly stepped forward and exchanged pleasantries with me. They wore formulaic Smiles and spoke in a very polite Tone, showing no trace of their earlier playful antics.
"Grumble—"
Just then, the Barbarian's stomach behind me let out a rumble like thunder. Feeling everyone's Gaze, the Barbarian awkwardly 'rubbed' his bald Head.
"Damn it, after a fight, I'm hungry."
Seeing the Barbarian's simple and honest Expression, we all looked at each other and smiled, feeling the Distance seem to shorten a bit.
"If you don't mind, let's find a suitable place to sit down and get to know each other properly."
The Middle-aged Mage suggested. I naturally nodded in Praise.
With the Assassin and Light Snow scouting ahead, everyone walked and chatted. Soon, they found a suitable place to Rest. During this Time, I also got a general idea of the situation in their Party.
Hockley, a Level 21 Barbarian, and Qiert, a Level '?' Assassin. I already knew their Names from before. The other two were Carteryev, the Sneaky Style Sorceress, a Level '?' Wizard Class, and the last one was the Paladin. When I heard his Name, I almost spat out what I was drinking. This Party was indeed very good and very Powerful.
When the Paladin introduced himself, he coughed slightly awkwardly, straightened his Image, and seemed a bit embarrassed to say it. The other three also cooperated with his Movement and secretly laughed, making him so angry that smoke came out of his seven orifices, yet he was helpless.
"Cough cough, I'm a Level 21 Paladin, cough cough, my Name, well, it's called Ultraman..."
He coughed twice, and finally, with a Voice like a mosquito, he stammered out the Name that made me freeze on the spot.
"Please don't misunderstand, although my two buck teeth do look a bit like Arach, my Name is indeed Ultraman."
Seeing me frozen on the spot, he quickly waved his hand to explain, and even brought his face, which couldn't be described as handsome but was still pleasant-looking, closer. He grinned, pointed to the two slightly protruding teeth on either side of his mouth, and said.
"Arach, aren't you just making things worse?" The Sorceress patted his shoulder sympathetically with ill intentions.
"Don't call me Arach."
The Paladin angrily slapped away the Sorceress's sympathetic hand.
"Don't worry."
After being stunned for a long Time, I finally reacted, my face more serious than ever before.
"In my heart, you will always be Ultraman! How could that Arach compare to you!"
I gave him a Thumb up, my shining teeth slightly bared in a grin.
"It's not easy. I've been ridiculed for decades, and I've finally found a Comrade."
Although he felt my Statement seemed a bit off, the Justice Hero who didn't think deeply about it... no, it was Paladin Ultraman, immediately shook my hands vigorously, looking like he had finally found his Organization and was crying tears of Pain. Decades? It seems he's another poor child shrouded in the shadow of childhood trauma.
In an instant, Ultraman and I quickly became familiar with each other. Of course, if he knew what I was thinking, he would probably immediately give me a Sacrifice.
"So you are the Special Action Squad guarding Ai Anqila Village!"
At that Time, I was in a hurry and only briefly glanced over the list of the other nine members of the Special Action Squad, but I didn't remember it deeply. Now that they mentioned it, I suddenly had a slight impression.
But thinking about it, there's nothing strange. Their average Level is already Level '?', which is quite a bit higher than me and Druv at that Time. It's not surprising that they were selected for the Special Action Squad.
The five of us gathered around the Campfire, holding Water Bags filled with the Special Clear Spirit Water Akara gave me. And Hockley, whose stomach was rumbling with hunger, was eating the Roasted Meat and drinking the water with great relish, one bite of meat, one sip of water. Let alone the others, even I felt a little heartache. Akara's Spirit-Clearing Water is not easy to make, and it was being wasted by this bull.
"Alas, it's a pity we didn't fulfill our responsibility."
A hint of sadness flashed in Carteryev's Gaze. Anyone who recalls the Warriors who fell In Front of them in that brutal War would probably not be able to Smile.
"Yeah, the four of us together couldn't even compare to you alone."
The Barbarian, his mouth full of Roasted Meat, said somewhat dejectedly and vaguely. If it were anyone else, I might think this was a subtle provocation, but coming from Hockley's mouth, it wasn't offensive at all. Perhaps this is precisely the Charm of the Barbarian's simple, honest, and straightforward personality.
Assassin Qiert looked enviously at Light Snow , who was guarding by the door – her pure white Body, Powerful physique, sharp Gaze, and imposing Presence. Anyone who saw such a Pet would probably find it hard to resist feeling envious.
"I feel a little regretful now. I actually wanted to be a Druid before." He sighed with the Vicissitudes of someone reminiscing about the past.
"Then why did you choose to become an Assassin later?" I asked curiously.
"Because..."
"Because when he was queuing up to register at the Training Camp, he saw that the other line had fewer people, so he cleverly 'cut' in, and ended up becoming an Assassin in a daze."
The Sorceress beside him took over his words and gave an explanation that made me collapse with laughter, then looked at him with a contemptuous Gaze and mocked him mercilessly.
"Give up. Even if you became a Druid, you'd be a useless Druid. You should actually be thankful that your mediocre self chose the mediocre path of an Assassin."
"Mind your own business, Carteryev! Don't you remember how much face you've lost for the Mage Guild?"
Qiert, his face flushed with shame, glared angrily at the Sorceress opposite him.
"I didn't become a Wizard because I wanted to either."
Carteryev also 'revealed' an Expression of painful memories.
"When I was a child, I greatly admired the idea of becoming a majestic Paladin, but..."
He shook his Head, 'revealing' a painful Expression.
"But when I registered, the Paladin instructor said my legs were too short and I wasn't suitable for a Melee Profession. Damn it, why did my parents do this to me..."
Everyone: "...!"
"Actually, I didn't intend to become a Paladin at first either."
This Time, it was our Justice Hero Ultraman's turn to 'expose' himself.
"My dream back then was to become a brave Barbarian, but..." He sighed with great emotion.
"But the Barbarian instructor said I was too short, my Body was weak, and my Voice wasn't loud enough... Damn it, my dad was clearly very tall, and when he scolded me, the whole Village could hear him. Why is this happening..."
Ultraman excitedly hammered the Ground with his hands, looking Incredulous.
Everyone: "...!"
The four of them simultaneously turned their Gazes towards the Barbarian who was still eating and drinking heartily, looking as if to say, "It's your turn, be sensible."
"Me...?"
Hockley, his mouth greasy, pointed to himself with the Roasted Meat in his hand, a few bits of meat still stuck to his face.
"Actually, I was more envious of Amazons back then, but the instructor told me Amazons don't accept Men..."