To the Depth of Abyss

Chapter 175: Unfortunate Reunion

Northwest Harbor / Guild Building

Arlene and Elisa went to the Guild Building to find some information about Ars.

"How is it?"

Elisa shook her head. "No hope. The last history of his departure stopped at [Floor 1: West Station]."

Arlene exhaled an irritated sigh.

Keeping track of your travel history in the Guild is very useful to make it easier to track people who want to go looking for you.

"But this guy, he thinks that he could do everything on his own that he doesn't need anyone else."

Elisa couldn't deny Arlene's annoyance. Because she felt the same way herself.

Ars is so strong he can overcome Catastrophe alone.

"He thinks that there weren't any problems he couldn't solve. That way he didn't want to rely on others."

Being with Ars for a year, Elisa learned about that one of Ars' nature. 

This made Elisa feel inferior and think; does he really need me?

"But, you are not someone else to him, are you?"

Arlene's question made her consider her previous point.

On the 1st Floor, Ars initially considered her out of the party; because she is only a little girl. On the contrary, Ars allowed her to continue to be in the party and continued to invite her to every expedition. When she got annoyed with Ars, the man picked her up from the dorm and forced her out. 

Ars continued to drag her along until they arrived at Shield City.

When she thought she would never see that man again, the man became a Sword Master at Saint Arcane Academy. They went through some unforgettable moments before the Catastrophe happened.

In the Northeast Region incident, that man had the opportunity to throw her away, but that man did not do it, and took her to a safe place, away from the chaos. 

Although in the end she got left behind again. 

But at that time she was with someone who also wanted to find that man. If that man went by bringing her along, the two of them wouldn't possibly get the chance to go on an adventure together.

"Well, whatever it is, he must be around this region somewhere. We just need to find some intel and go find him ourselves."

Arlene's positivity lifted her spirits a little.

"Yes. Ars said he would go to this region. So he must be here."

"But the problem is..."

Arlene turned her head, looked at every chair in the room, but could not find the person they were looking for.

"The rumour said she will always be here every morning. But now she is nowhere to be found."

Those in the room were only ordinary Hunters who were roughly Platinum rank. They have no privilege and need not be noticed.

"She is the Silver Sky Staff Holder, right, Miss Arlene?"

"Yup. A stupid warrior who can't escape the past."

For one reason, the Diamond Hunter did not give up her daily life after five years. Waiting at the Guild Building every morning, then when it was already noon, she would disappear in the Mild Yellow Desert.

"What is her reason for doing such dedicate, Miss Arlene?"

On their way out of the Guild Building, Elisa was curious about the Diamond Hunter's motives. Arlene wanted to answer Elisa's question, however, a cold and sad aura appeared around her.

"Well, there are many versions being told about her story."

["She did that to find prey."] ["She did that out of boredom.] ["She is just wanted to keep the Silver Sky Staff to herself. That's why he wants to look busy."] ["She wanted to continue conquering this region, but she couldn't because there wasn't a party strong enough to join her."]

There are some strange stories. Well, that's natural, because the daily activities of the Silver Sky Staff bearer herself are strange. But the most acceptable is the last story.

"She still wanted to continue conquering this northwestern region?" 

"Yeah. In the past, she with her old party was the one who conquered this region the farthest, when the Spear Saint and Troy the Gluttony had descended to the 3rd Floor via the Northern Region's Abyss Pit."

Elisa finds out about the story of Spear Saint and Troy the Gluttony. But it was the first time she heard of a party trying to conquer the northwest region.

That's amazing, but there is something missing about the story.

"Then, what happened to them?"

"They were just an ordinary party with no singularity. Only a party of ambitious people who want to complete a conquest. Until their journey ends, and there is only one of them left."

Elisa shuddered at the end of the story. She did not expect the story, which is full of adventure and freedom, to end tragically.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Faced with disappointment, they went to a restaurant and sat at the edge of the room.

Elisa ate lunch with the fish dish she ordered. Meanwhile, Arlene only ordered one drink and a fish sandwich.

They are enjoying their lunch until one certain guy sits back to back with Arlene. 

"Palace. Greed. Monster."

"Yes?"

Arlene suddenly spoke. Elisa thought she was the one talking to. It turns out that was the man sitting at the next table.

"South Coast Palace is still the same, quiet and creepy. There is no report about that greedy guy coming to this region. As for the monster, he was observed to be near the South Coast Palace. However, no one dared to go on an expedition to prove that."

Elisa was confused about what was going on at first. It looks like the man next door is the intel Arlene called to provide them with information.

"Does the Silver knows about that?" asked Arlene.

"Can't confirm that."

Arlene mentioned a person nickname 'Silver'. That must be the person they were looking for. 

"Last, where does Silver live?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~

They go to a certain apartment in the harbor. The apartment the person they are looking for lives in.

They went straight to the receptionist on duty and asked.

"Does Skadi live here?" 

The receptionist was confused at Arlene's question. It seemed like she had never heard that name before.

"I am sorry, Miss. But, nobody named Skadi lives here."

Arlene a little regret not saying the right name.

"I'm sorry, I mean, Vic "

"You are here."

Suddenly someone spoke to them. 

Arlene turned around and found a woman with long silver hair.

That woman is the person they are looking for. But Arlene was surprised by something.

"You haven't changed at all, even though it's been six years."

Skadi, the Silver Sky Staff bearer. A woman the same age as Arlene. Has a sharp, beautiful face. Her long hair length is down to her knees. 

One thing that is unique from her is her red eyes.

Elisa immediately thought of Ars when she saw Skadi's eyes. But after a closer look, Skadi's eyes were red like roses. Sharp and beautiful. Unlike Ars' greedy and almighty eyes.

"If you come here, that means the rumors are true."

Skadi walked to the elevator, not wanting to discuss their interests there.

Arlene followed behind. Elisa followed behind her guardian.

After they got inside and the elevator closed, they continued talking.

"So, sir Roger is..."

"He fought bravely against a Catastrophe."

Arlene is talking about someone she adores. But she didn't sound sad, or didn't want to sound sad because she is a strong woman.

"Even if he didn't win, at least he saved the northeast region."

"That is a very proud thing."

Arlene and Skadi are old acquaintances, and it seems Skadi also knows old man Roger.

In the midst of these two great figures, Elisa just stood still, listening.

"Why don't you go out today? And what's in that plastic bag?"

When she left the apartment earlier, Skadi seemed to be going somewhere to buy something.

"Bandages, and some potions."

"Potions? For what purpose? Are you doing some research now?"

"I found a half-dead man yesterday."

That thrilled Arlene and Elisa.

"Half-dead man?" asked Elisa out of reflex.

Elisa is a Priest. When she heard that someone was half dead, in her mind that person must be

"No. He is not a demon. His soul is still intact to his body. But, he lost his heart."

Elisha still didn't accept that explanation. "But, doesn't lose a heart, which is the vessel of our souls, make that person dead?"

"When we, Abyssal Contractor, dead, our soul leaves our body, our body unravel, we die. But that man, he didn't. His body is still intact. His soul is still in his body, but it is in a state of disarray, so he is unconscious, he's half-dead."

Arlene tried to understand, but "I can't understand."

"Well, you will know when you see it."

With that, Skadi led them to her apartment. 

Inside her apartment, she led them to her room, which was being used by a bedridden man.

A man Elisa knew very well. The man they were looking for.

"ARS!"