Late at night.
The towering World Tree stood in the heart of White Dove City, emitting a mystical and magnificent magical glow like fireflies. Also known as the Golden Tree, its existence attracted countless adventurers like moths to a flame, one after another, throwing themselves into the fray.
On the second floor of a luxury villa, the room was as brightly lit as day. The floor was covered in a chaotic mess of papers scattered by a certain young lady, all filled with strategies for dealing with monsters.
Linda sat at the desk, rubbing his temples, feeling a bone-deep exhaustion.
"It’s been a month! The Ice Flower Adventure Team has already reached the eleventh floor, while we’re still stuck on the eighth. Isn’t the gap just getting wider and wider?"
A slender, fair palm slammed onto the desktop. The girl’s voice, filled with dissatisfaction, made Linda’s head ache.
The girl who had burst into Linda’s room was beautiful, with a delicate, graceful figure. Her long, fiery red hair cascaded like flames, and her slender legs were encased in black over-the-knee socks. She was like a rose with thorns, the center of attention wherever she went.
Her name was Leia, and she was the captain of the Snow Goose Adventurer Party.
When Linda first arrived in this world, he had felt fortunate to meet Leia. Linda possessed knowledge of "this game," and Leia was a talented Swordsman. He believed that by joining forces, they could absolutely dominate the various monsters in the World Tree Secret Realm and make a name for themselves.
But now, looking at this young woman with her arms crossed and a haughty expression, he felt nothing but disappointment.
"There’s no need to rush into the ninth floor. We should be steady and solid, finishing the preparations first," Linda said, putting down his quill, his voice weary.
"Preparations, preparations—you’ve been repeating that line for a month! I heard other teams don't take nearly this long to prepare, do they?" Leia furrowed her brows, looking at him with suspicion.
"The ninth floor isn't as simple as you think. The more thorough our strategy, the better," Linda sighed.
The game "Secret Realm Continent" was known for its high difficulty. In a fifty-floor secret realm, the monsters on each level were significantly stronger than the last. Entering without full preparation was no different from suicide.
Linda deliberated, choosing a gentle way to phrase his next point: "Perhaps our team’s strength is just a tiny bit behind the Ice Flower Adventure Team’s? Plus, the guardian of the ninth floor is likely to be a Lava Giant, which isn't a favorable matchup for our current party composition."
"Are you saying we’re inferior to the Ice Flower Adventure Team?"
Leia’s expression changed instantly. She ignored everything else he had said, latching onto only that first sentence.
"I think you’re just afraid, aren't you?" She pressed both hands against the table, fuming. Even as she leaned forward, her chest, hidden beneath a silk nightgown, remained as flat and featureless as ever. "Everyone else in the team has reached level 20. You’re the only one, our Healer, who is still level 15. Is it because your healing output can’t meet the requirements for the ninth floor that you keep making excuses to drag things out?"
Hearing this, Linda looked up, surprised. It was true that he was only level 15, and his healing output as a Healer wasn't particularly high. But as the captain, Leia should have known better than anyone why his level had fallen behind.
Drafting strategies was not an simple task; it required a massive amount of time and energy. On top of that, he was responsible for procuring supplies and managing the team’s meals. While Leia and the other young ladies were out shopping, eating, and having fun, Linda was staying up all night working.
He could come up with dozens of reasons, but facing the aggressive Leia, he found himself speechless. With her personality, she would likely retort to anything he said.
He attempted to speak: "My level is low because I haven't had the time to train."
As expected, Leia raised an eyebrow, placed her hands on her hips, and said haughtily: "And everyone else has time? If you tried a little harder, you could at least be level 16 or 17, right? In a few years, when we’re all level 30 and have become Star-tier adventurers, are you still going to be stuck at level 15? Don't you have any ambition?"
It was always like this—either he wasn't trying hard enough, or he wasn't serious enough. This young lady always felt that the reason the team was failing was because of him.
Linda couldn't help but want to ask Leia: is it possible the biggest problem lies with you? The members of the Snow Goose Adventurer Party didn't have a harmonious relationship, and their combat coordination was disastrous. Although everyone had excellent talent and high levels, their performance in battle was a complete mess. Without a precise strategy to guide them, they were nothing but a disorganized pile of sand.
Under the girl’s sharp gaze, Linda felt a deep sense of weariness. He didn't retort, nor did he bother to pick up the strategy papers scattered on the floor. He simply picked up a glass of warm water from the table and took a sip, lost in thought.
"I’m talking to you." Leia slammed her hand on the table again.
"I’m tired. Go back for now, we’ll discuss this tomorrow."
Leia frowned, stared at him for a long while, and said slowly: "Would it not matter if you were replaced?"
"What?" Linda didn't quite understand what she meant.
After a brief silence, Leia pulled a resume from her pocket and handed it to him. On it was a young man with dyed yellow hair—barely passably handsome—with the word "Healer" prominently displayed in the profession section.
Linda felt his heart turn cold. It felt exactly like working hard at a job, getting paid a pittance, and then being fired for not being "diligent" enough.
"This is Felix, a level 20 Healer who graduated from the White Dove City Noble Academy. He’s a top student; he came here this morning."
Leia paused and added, "I told him to go back. Do you understand what I mean?"
"Linda, you aren't the only one in the team who is dissatisfied with you. You're only level 15, your background isn't good, and I’m the only one who has been covering for you, persuading the others to keep you on. Can’t you show some backbone?"
Leia stomped her foot in exasperation. "We’re going to the ninth floor tomorrow. You’d better prove yourself then. If you’re never useful to the team, how am I supposed to keep you?"
*Useless?*
Linda looked dazedly at the papers beneath Leia’s feet—the pages documenting every monster strategy. So, in her eyes, he was just useless?
It was Leia who had begged him in the beginning to lead everyone through the World Tree without losing a single person. She didn't want anyone to die, yet she wanted to clear the floors quickly. She was nothing but a difficult, demanding brat who kept making ridiculous requests.
Linda, who had been bottling up his resentment, finally reached his breaking point.
"What if I still don't agree to take the team to the ninth floor tomorrow?"
Leia was taken aback, but quickly said angrily: "Are you intentionally trying to spite me? Do you have any idea how many Healers better than you want to join our team? I was the one who sent them all away! If you still don't want to go tomorrow..."
"And if I don't want to?" Linda’s smile grew increasingly cynical.