Chapter 69: Kiss of Silence
"Well?"
Necros watched Lance’s stunned expression and asked with a smile.
"Is this reward to your liking?"
"This is... far too valuable..."
Lance felt a weight on his finger and subconsciously started to take the ring off.
Putting aside the immense value of the information on the Rare Profession, the function of the ring alone could probably be traded for a house in the center of White River City.
This grand gift was almost too much for him to handle.
"Stop."
Necros’s voice cut him off, his tone turning serious.
"There’s no sense in taking back something that’s been given."
The old man waved his hand, signaling for Lance not to overthink it.
"You don’t need to return it to me."
"For one, I admire you. Your personality and your Talent are both to my liking."
"And for another..."
Necros’s gaze softened, his eyes landing on the ring on Lance’s hand as if he were peering through it into a distant past.
"I no longer have need of this ring."
"It was a gift from my old captain when I first joined the team. Back then, I was just like you—a greenhorn who didn’t know a thing."
"He wanted me to survive, to go farther."
"But now I’m old. My body is broken, and I can no longer embark on any more journeys."
"If a treasure is left to gather dust in a drawer, it’s no different from a piece of scrap metal."
Necros turned his gaze to Lance and said expectantly, "Now, it’s your turn."
"Take it, and finish the journey we never could."
Lance could hear the complex expectations in the old man’s tone.
It was the regret of an unfinished adventure and a charge entrusted to the next generation.
Lance looked at the inconspicuous Silver Ring on his finger, and suddenly, its weight felt immense.
"If you’re compatible with this ring, you should be able to sense the Profession initiation information hidden inside, right?"
Necros asked suddenly.
Lance nodded, not hiding anything.
"Yes. Ethereal Silent Demon Swordsman."
Seeing Lance nod, an ’I knew it’ expression appeared on Necros’s face.
He leaned back in his chair and let out a wistful sigh.
"As expected."
"It has always favored Adventurers who are kind-hearted, brave, resilient, and possess sufficient wisdom."
But then, the nostalgic look on the old man’s face faded, replaced by an amused expression.
"This ring was created by the Star Night Witch, Elisya."
"Elisya?"
Lance froze for a moment. The name sounded incredibly familiar.
Necros leaned back in his chair, watching Lance’s contemplative expression, and prompted with a smile:
"You’ve heard the story of *The Kiss of Silence*, haven’t you?"
The expression on Lance’s face instantly became a picture.
"That story is actually true?"
’No wonder it sounded familiar.’
That story was the absolute favorite romantic classic of Nia, Flora, and Amber.
He had heard them mention it countless times during card games or casual chats.
And every time they brought it up, the girls would look completely mesmerized by the sublime romance.
This well-known tale was an epic, class-crossing love story between an Ordinary Adventurer named Karen Valcius and the Star Night Witch, Elisya.
They went through countless adventures together. In their long life-and-death companionship, Karen fell hopelessly in love with the proud, beautiful, and occasionally mischievous Witch and began to pursue her ardently.
In truth, Karen had already left his mark on Elisya’s heart.
But the pride etched into her very bones as a Witch prevented her from entrusting her pure love to a man who could not conquer her in a contest of strength.
The climax of the story occurs in a classic interlude.
Elisya, sitting atop the treasure-filled ruins of an Underground City, lifted Karen’s chin with her starlight-emitting Magic Staff and presented him with her famous seven-year trial:
"You want my heart? Fine."
"Unless you can defeat me in a fair and square duel with that hunk of scrap iron in your hand."
But this did not make Karen back down.
For the next seven years, they formed a two-person team that became renowned across the continent.
Together, they slayed the Snake Demon in the depths of the swamp, explored the deepest Mazes, and even escaped from a Giant Dragon’s lair unscathed.
During those seven years, Karen issued a full thirty-three formal challenges to Elisya.
The outcome was the same every time.
Karen would be blasted into a sorry state by all sorts of brilliant Magic, and Elisya would always treat his wounds with a pained heart while stubbornly mocking him for overestimating his abilities.
It was precisely these thirty-three crushing defeats that made Karen realize that under the traditional Profession System, a mortal’s Swordsmanship could never break through the absolute suppression of a genius Caster like Elisya.
So, after his thirty-third defeat, Karen disappeared for an entire year.
Until the Month of Starspica in the seventh year.
Atop the ruins where they had first met, Karen returned. He had successfully created and changed his Profession to [Ethereal Silent Demon Swordsman] and issued his thirty-fourth challenge.
It was in this battle that Elisya discovered to her astonishment that the Spells she was so proud of shattered at her fingertips like weathered sand sculptures.
The Ether flowing through the air seemed to freeze. She couldn’t even maintain the simplest Floating Skill and fell straight from the sky.
Karen caught the falling Witch steadily, pinned her against a crumbling wall, and gave her a passionate, domineering kiss.
"The Ether has fallen silent. Now, all you can hear is my heartbeat."
This is the most classic line in the entire story.
The reason this story has been told for a century without fading is because it perfectly hits all the right notes for everyone.
Women see in it a die-hard romantic love, while men see the inspiring legend of an ordinary person who, through hard work, brought a proud Caster to heel with the blade in his hand.
It even became a staple performance for the Royal Capital Theater Troupe during the annual festival, with every show sold out.
Seeing the look of sudden realization on Lance’s face, Necros knew he had remembered the Legend and continued.
"The Witch Race, due to the unique structure of their souls, has always had unconventional ways of expressing affection."
"In the decades of my adventuring career after I obtained this ring, I came across clues to treasures left behind by Elisya several times."
"Unfortunately, I suppose I’m just a coarse old man who doesn’t understand romance."
"I couldn’t resonate with their kind of delicate love, so I was never able to unravel the mysteries. I could only watch as the gifts left for witnesses like me slipped through my fingers."
Necros looked at Lance, his eyes full of expectation.
"So, I hope that in your future adventuring career, you can make up for my past regrets."
"Take it, and go uncover the treasures left behind by Elisya and Karen."