Chapter 21 - Interlude: A Wolf and Grey?

(Grey's POV)

I felt a presence coming towards me at a fast pace. Humanoid, and strong.

Why is he chasing me? The artwork? It couldn't be, no one should've been able to track me this far. I've already erased my presence a few kilometers back.

I ran through countless possibilities as it neared me. I've already ascertained that I cannot escape, even if I did anyone that tracked me this far is unlikely to let me off easily. I should see how things go and try to talk it out if possible.

I pull out my violin. I'm in my adventurer get up, so it's unlikely a fight will start. However, it's still possible.

A shadow leaped out of the bushes, beastmen, he seems to be a wolf type.

"Mister, who are you?" I asked this probing for his intentions. My violin and bow prepared to play.

(Wang Yue's POV)

This whole thing is strange. 8 kilometers back the scent completely disappeared. However, 2 kilometers later another new completely different scent seemed to spring out of nowhere. It felt just like someone was trying to hide their tracks. However, try as I might I could not locate the original scent at all. I could only follow this strange new scent. It is uncanny, someone actually managed to trick this nose of mine.

"Mister, who are you?" The lady who carried the current scent I'm tracking asked this. Judging from her long ears, white skin, slim build, blonde hair, and scent, she seems to be a High Elf.

"I am called Wang Yue, and you are?" I asked this question to her. She seemed to be a bard of some sort, carrying one of those string instruments they like to play so much.

"I am White Schnee. Mr. Dragon Slayer."

Damn, she knows some of my past exploits.

"It seems my name is pretty famous now," I replied with a light chuckle. I have no proof that she is the person I am tracking but I should at least do a bit of probing.

"Of course, you have always been very famous. Someone as respectable as you is what many adventurers aspire to become."

"I am not that great," I replied with a smile.

"I think I've heard of you too Ms. Schnee or should I say the Saintess of Music, the Hero of Tob."

White Schnee, Saint Rank Adventurer. Became famous after the Fortress City of Tob was attacked by a monster swarm. During the entire battle which lasted several days, she played healing and support music covering the entire city, saving many lives. Due to her beauty as a High Elf and her odd humbleness, she quickly became popular amongst adventurers and common folk. Rumoured to be the strongest support based bard currently alive.

"Please just call White, my achievements are nothing compared to yours." She said that with a blush that would drive most men into a frenzy. Good thing I am not like most men. (Yup, you're not like most men, because you like most men...)

"Alright Ms. White, perhaps we should sit, this standing position is quite a strain on my old bones."

(Grey's POV)

Dammit, how did I end up in this dangerous and awkward situation!

Currently, I am sitting down on a log and having a conversation with Wang Yue.

The retired Semi-God Adventurer. Other than Dragon Slayer he has a more prominent nickname which is Predator. Paying homage to his insane tracking abilities and the fact he tends to pounce on unsuspecting men. Once again I blessed myself for having a female body, I would've been truly helpless without it.

Wang Yue got the Dragon Slayer nickname later. Once a dragon stole away his lover, he then tracked the dragon down over multiple continents. Before, according to him, killing it. However, more malicious rumors claim that he 'broke' the dragon and it became too ashamed to ever show its face in the world. Going into perpetual hiding. The fact that he only brought a few scales to show for his supposed kill and the fact that reports claim it was a male dragon seems to support this theory.

Through the course of the conversation, I learned that he located and destroyed my work.

DAMMIT DOES THIS GUY KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO MAKE THOSE STUPID GOBLINS LOOK NICE!!

Calm down, calm down, I need to calm down. My White persona is currently looking very shocked at his description of the piece.

This guy is skipping over so many details, I have half the mind to come out and lecture him about my piece.

No, I can't do that. If it devolves into a fight between us I would have to use many trump cards just to escape.

This body's fighting strength is at Middle Saint Rank, if I were to use all my personas then I could boost it to Pinnacle Saint Ranked. If I also rely on some dungeon summons then I can just break through to Semi-God. However, against a person rumored to be High Semi-God Rank, it would ultimately be useless. Even if I successfully kill him the returns might not compensate for everything I spent.

Right now it's best to just do nothing.

He shouldn't suspect anything of White Schnee after all.

(Wang Yue's POV)

This White is very pleasant to be around. The fact that I am saying that about a High Elf is extremely shocking. Generally, you can call High Elves these three things. Beautiful, arrogant and unforgiving. Their beauty and long lifespans guarantee that they look down on other more short-lived races and they have very long memories, remembering even the smallest grudge even decades after the event.

I heard from Diana the elven word for forgiveness is synonymous with forgetfulness.

I thought most of the stories about her were an exaggeration. It seems like they might not be.

However, it doesn't change the fact that she is extremely suspicious. She appeared in the middle of the jungle, a few kilometers away from where the scent I was tracking ended. She claims that she got here via a teleport spell, on a gathering quest for a rare herb. She claims that she didn't bring her party along because she didn't want to bother them on such a simple quest.

Her heartbeat didn't change. So either she's telling the truth or she is very good at lying.

I can't prove either nor could I disprove either.

"Well, I suppose I've gotta be heading back now," I said.

"Do you have too?" She replied. She seemed to genuinely enjoy my company.

"I would love to stay but if I'm away for long I'm afraid my Guild Master may burn down the guild," I replied with a smile.

"Alright" She replied, pouting a bit.

(Elsewhere)

"Achhooo!"

"Are you alright Guild Master?" A man asked, more out of courtesy than anything else.

"Yes I am alright carry on," Diana replied simply.

"Ok, so the cost of a new Guild Building is 300 Gold, using fire-resistant materials and adding fire resist runes will raise the cost to 800 Gold, please sign here." The man said.

Diana read over the contract once again. It is one of the more cheaper contracts she could get. However, she still vowed to cut Wang Yue's paycheck for the next few decades.