“I’m sorry, Green, but we don’t need you anymore.”
Inside the bustling tavern, a breathtakingly beautiful woman spoke those words to Green with a voice as cold as ice.
Has this day finally come?
Green glanced at the lavish spread on the dining table, picked up a piece of rye bread, and took a firm bite.
“You are simply too weak.”
Across the table, that suffocatingly beautiful face stiffened into a frown. Her lovely eyebrows furrowed slightly, seemingly displeased by Green’s casual indifference.
“Our Star-Moon Adventurer Team is now a Five-Star team. We truly can no longer afford to carry a burden.”
Hands on her hips, the graceful girl across the table stood up with a sharp rustle. With that single movement, she instantly drew the gaze of everyone in the tavern.
Gulp.
Despite such temptation, the usually boisterous adventurers didn’t dare step forward to strike up a conversation. For she was the leader of the Star-Moon Adventurer Team—the Valkyrie, Freya.
The Star-Moon Adventurer Team was a dark horse that had risen to prominence in a remarkably short time. Though they had only four members, three of them were undeniably top-tier professionals.
Freya, the Valkyrie whose combat skills were supernatural, the jewel of a Duke and daughter of the Kingdom’s Marshal.
The Saintess, adopted by the Pope, possessing a natural affinity for the Light element at a maximum level.
The Legendary Mage, an expert in ancient magic who had deciphered countless ruins of the Ancient Arcane Empire.
Compared to them, the final member of the team seemed exceptionally out of place.
Perhaps, I really am just a burden.
Looking at Freya’s emotionless face, Green felt no resentment in his heart.
“I understand.”
Swallowing the rye bread and savoring its bland flavor, Green nodded. “Then I’ll go pack my things and leave in a bit.”
“…”
Freya froze for a moment, seemingly surprised that Green would give up on the team so easily. Did he not know how many people would break their backs just for a chance to join Star-Moon?
To decipher countless labyrinths, conquer secret realms, and gain immense prestige? Why did a team so many idolized sound like a mundane thing Green could discard in a few words? Shouldn’t he have immediately started crying and begging her—the noble Duke’s daughter—to put in a good word for him with the rest of the team?
“You’re just… leaving?”
Freya spoke coolly, “All these years, your food, your clothes, your shelter—even every breath of air you took—was a gift from me.”
Green, who was about to stand and leave, paused his footsteps.
It was true. Freya was right. It was indeed this young lady of the Duke who had “adopted” him when he first crossed over and was at his most worthless. She had even given him numerous resources to help him become a professional.
Unfortunately… I simply wasn’t cut out for it.
He recalled the countless days and nights of bitter cultivation, hoping to transition from a commoner to a “Scholar,” only to never make a shred of progress—as if his soul were bound by something. He remembered the young lady who had been so enthusiastic toward him when he first joined the team.
When exactly did the relationship between them begin to change?
Perhaps it started when Star-Moon truly conquered a dungeon labyrinth and explored a secret realm where no man had set foot. From then on, Star-Moon was no longer just a game of “house” for noble ladies, but a top-tier team admired by all.
It was also then that Green gradually became the target of gossip.
“Hey, don’t you think that Green guy is out of place in Star-Moon?” “Exactly. He isn’t even a formal professional. How did he even get in?” “Hehe, you guys don’t get it. Maybe the ladies of the team have some… unknown hobbies?”
Those whispers changed everything. From that point on, the other female members stopped chatting with Green, stopped sharing their secrets, and rarely tasted the food he prepared with care. It was as if an invisible, transparent barrier had formed between them.
In the end, I’m just not from the same world as them.
“I understand.” Green looked up and said each word with sincerity, “I will work hard to pay back everything I owe you, My Lady.”
“With what?” Freya’s expression grew even colder. She gave a light snort through her delicate nose, her ample chest heaving. “You are just a mortal with no talent. What you owe me…”
A rare flash of emotion crossed her face—one that usually looked like a ten-thousand-year-old glacier—contempt. “You couldn’t pay it back in eight lifetimes.”
Clack.
Freya lifted a long leg encased in a snow-white silk stocking. Every gesture of hers exuded the elegance and composure of a Duke’s daughter; by contrast, Green, dressed in a plain black cloak, looked more like a servant than a teammate.
“I know.” Green nodded silently. “I’ve organized all the intelligence regarding the dungeons, ancient ruins, and secret realm ecologies we’ve explored into the Adventurer’s Log. The Adventurer’s Guild said they were interested in my analysis…”
“What do you mean, our?”
Freya interrupted his explanation. “Isn’t it me and the other members who truly achieved those results? As for the function of a so-called ‘Record Keeper’ like you… Hehe.”
Freya didn’t finish her sentence, but the answer was self-evident.
Did I… have no function?
Green was somewhat stunned. He opened his mouth slightly. “I know I’m weak, but before every raid, wasn’t I the one summarizing intelligence, analyzing dungeon dangers, ruin traps, and the ecological environments of secret realms?”
Faced with Green’s question, Freya answered airily, “But that sort of thing could be done by anyone else—and likely better. For instance, the top graduates from the Royal Academy?”
Done… better?
Green held his tongue on that point. But he didn’t plan to argue. Since the young lady had already made her choice, why should he bother pressing his face against her cold shoulder?
“Alright, I understand.” Green nodded heavily. “Having a mortal who isn’t even a professional analyze intelligence only serves to limit you all.”
Thwack.
Freya pulled a small pouch from her waist and tossed it hard into his hand. It was… Green opened it curiously, only to see the brilliant glint of gold.
“Take this money as your severance pay.” Freya turned her head away, no longer looking at him. “Your careless words back then did, after all, help me find my path.”
So she still remembers.
Green recalled his first meeting with her. At that time, Freya was not yet the world-renowned Valkyrie, but a lost and confused girl who didn’t want to be viewed as a marriage tool by her father. To be honest, Green missed those early days when they first met.
“No need.” Green did not take the money. “I merely spoke a few bits of common knowledge everyone knows. The one who truly allowed you to ascend to a high-level professional was your own talent.”
Green considered himself a man who knew his place; he dared not claim credit. He had indeed used his intuition to point out the direction for her to break through her bottleneck, but it was her own pride-worthy talent that made it happen—otherwise, how could he, Green, still be a mortal?
“In any case, thank you for taking care of me all these years, My Lady. Goodbye.”
Green waved his hand, solemnly bidding farewell to his benefactor. “By the way, the intelligence analysis for the Deep Sea Labyrinth… though it’s not worth much, I’ve organized it and left it at the team headquarters.”
“Also, Your Lady’s bedsheets, and the other members’—”
“Enough.” Freya spoke with impatience. “Just go. The selection for the Hero’s Demon King Subjugation Party is about to begin. What if your presence in the team lowers our evaluation?”
Hero’s Party selection? Lowering the evaluation?
So that was it. That was why the young lady, who had tolerated him for so long, suddenly decided to fire him. It made sense. Compared to the talented members of the Hero’s party, a man with no strengths like him was just a dead weight.
It seemed leaving the team was the best choice for them. Green no longer hesitated.
Thud.
He pushed open the door and walked onto the street alone, greeting the howling cold wind.
It’s cold.
Even through the thick cloak, Green felt a chill deep in his bones. Come to think of it, since crossing over all those years ago, this was the first time he had faced this world alone.
“So, where should I go?”
Green thought curiously, then picked up the Adventurer’s Log he had kept clutched in his hand even through this great upheaval. After giving up on becoming a professional, this log, which recorded the bits and pieces of his life, had become his spiritual anchor. Perhaps only between pen and ink could he truly become a qualified adventurer.
He raised his quill, intending to write down today’s experience.
“Huh?” Green blinked.
Was it an illusion? The moment he flipped open the booklet, a faint light enveloped his entire body.
Hum—
[Welcome to the Adventurer’s Log. Simulate the lives of various adventurers and complete tasks to obtain rewards.]
[You are a Paladin. As you are about to leave the slums after eradicating members of an evil cult, you encounter a little girl who is starving to death.]
[Seeing that this girl has no father, no mother, and no one to rely on, you adopt her.]
[Task: Cultivate this girl in the Way of the Holy Light and let her become an outstanding adventurer.]
[At the end of the simulation, the higher the girl’s strength, the richer the rewards.]
Flash!
A force swallowed Green. When he came to and opened his eyes again, he found himself in a dark, damp alleyway reeking of rot.
“So hungry…”
A dirty girl with a ponytail, a pale face, and large eyes filled with confusion was stumbling toward him, barely able to walk.
“Whoa… is this my transmigrator perk?”
Green rubbed his eyes, recalling the memories that surfaced in his mind as vividly as if they were real. He turned to look at a puddle nearby. In the faint light, the blurry surface of the water reflected a handsome face.
“It looks exactly like my real self?” Green shook his head. “Well, whatever. It’s just a simulation.”
So… if he adopted this girl and raised her in the Way of the Holy Light, he would receive rewards?
As various precepts of the Holy Light surfaced in his mind, Green truly felt as if he had become a Paladin sworn to defend justice at all costs.
“Child.”
He knelt down and looked at the girl. Despite her hunger, her eyes flickered with wariness, like a kitten protecting its food. “What is your name?”
Green asked gently, his voice radiating an indescribable warmth.
“Alice,” the girl whispered, still shrinking back, but she gave her name.
“That’s a very beautiful name.” Green reached out and stroked the girl’s messy short hair. “My name is Green. From today on, I will be your godfather.”