Chapter 231: Apology and Return [1]


    ?


    ***


    With a satisfied expression behind his mask, Amon walked out of the cksmithy.


    The sound of his cane taps changed as he switched from wooden to cold hard cobblestone.


    The foggy freezing air hit him like a st as he stepped outside, depriving him from thefortable warmth of the inside.


    But Amon didn''t mind it.


    As he had said before, he preferred cold in everything except for tea.


    Even for showers, he preferred cold-showers no matter the weather or season.


    His mind wandered back to the deal that had taken ce inside.


    It had gone better than what he thought it would, even after the cksmith told him it would be for free.


    It was because of Amon''s exceptionally high demands and specifications for the weapon. It was the reason why he also insisted Nathan to let him pay and provide the materials himself, since he woulde off as selfish for taking such advantage of the old man''s favor. But to his surprise, no matter how much he demanded and kept voicing out his insistence to let him provide, the old man said it waspletely fine and that he would still be able to process his request with ease.


    And he kept saying this even after Amon finished out his order.


    To think that he was still able to do it for free and not mind it made Amon immensely grateful on top of his surprise.


    This was way too advantageous for him. To the point that even though he didn''t mind being selfish to people now, he felt a little bad.


    But since the opportunity was presenting itself right into his hands, who was he to object to it.


    ''Yeah, this was way better than expected.'' Amon thought with a slight content smile on his face.


    Done with his business in the ck Market, Amon started his way back to the entrance. Even though he felt a deep urge to make his way towards Dungeon Dreamers and book a dungeon for himself to get stronger, he couldn''t do so right now.


    There was the festivaling up in a few weeks and Amon had to prepare for it with much more strength and caution now.


    Then, he was also quite busy with other matters now because of the recent events.


    Remembering what happened left a bitter taste in Amon''s mouth, making it twitch behind the mask.


    This was the first major incident that he had faced in the novel.


    It was a wide-massacre, right in front of his eyes. One that he thought would never happen because of how good he prepared for every arc.


    And since it always went the way he thought it would, it had maken himx and easygoing. Only for it to be a major mistake in his mentality.


    Even though he was attributing it to the change with Arthur, there was no denying it that he was partially to me for this.


    He himself had changed the plotline so why wasn''t he ounting for these unpredictable changes now.


    If he was cautious and always thought about the things that could go wrong because of his interference, maybe this incident would have never happened.


    Or at the very least, he would have been able to minimize the casualties by a lot.


    Amon clenched his grip on the cane holder, his teeth gritting as a cold rage boiled up within him.


    But he quickly calmed himself andposed his aura, realizing how people around him were getting disturbed even from his suppressed aura.


    A sigh escaped his lips,ing out in the form of a white wispy cloud that drifted upwards into the air, disappearing eventually.


    Amon still med himself for the incident.


    More than Arthur. No, he was entirely to me.


    But it was useless toin now. If he could return back to time, then he was sure Arthur would have done it a long time ago.


    He could only reflect upon his mistakes and improve further going onwards.


    Even though he was stronger than anyone in terms of his own year and age, Amon was weak.


    Awfully weakpared to what he had to face in the future.


    He needed to get stronger and faster. Otherwise, such losses would continue.


    Losses that amounted not only to human lives but also his system quest failures.


    Yes. That day, Amon had been inflicted by a deep pain in his body.


    It was as if an integral part of her soul had been torn away from him, setting a burning fire in his body that scorched his mind.


    Itsted for only a minute but it felt like it hadsted for an eternity in him.


    And after that...


    ''[System]''


    The familiar blue holographic interface window opened up in front of him.


    ====[ STATS AND SKILLS ]====


    VIT: ××××? ? ?>>>>>>>> <<? ? ? ? ?


    STR: 000


    AGI: ????


    END:???


    INT: ××× ? ? ? ?*


    Staring at his stats again, an irritating pain ran through his body at the sight.


    It stinged.


    Stinged to fail a system quest for the first time.


    Unfortunately, he could only sigh and hope that he didn''t fail more in the future.


    But it was probably impossible.


    He wasn''t delusional in this regard. Amon knew that there would be still quests in the future where he would fail.


    And this was inevitable. This one was just the start.


    Amon wasn''t able to stop and seed in everything. If Arthur, the strongest man in the world was able to fail, then who was he?


    Lost in his thoughts, Amon didn''t realize until he finally reached the entrance of the ck


    Market.


    However, as he was about to leave, he felt a stare on his back. It was for the faintest of


    moments as it disappeared the moment it came.


    But it was enough to alert Amon as he instantly turned, his cold eyes behind the mask darting towards the spot from where he felt the stare.


    But to his surprise and unfortunately, as his eyesnded upon the rooftop of a building, there


    was nothing to be found.


    Not even a trace or any faintest clue on who it was.


    A high sense of suspicion arose in Amon as he squinted his eyes, his gaze still locked to the


    building.


    Eventually, he turned but not without being on high alert this time.


    He took slow, deliberate steps, ready to active [Void Steps] at the faintest sign of a stare now.


    This was too risky and suspicious. Especially for it to happen after the recent incident.


    Whoever they were, Amon had to identify them quick.


    Unfortunately, he couldn''t even ask Zephyra or Vain as for some reason they had suddenly


    gone to hibernation a day ago.


    He didn''t get any reason, only knowing when he tried to call them out.


    Sighing, Amon headed upstairs, leaving the ck Market.


    Heading towards his next destination now.


    ***


    In the cold misty graveyard where silent frosty winds blew from time to time, soothing the white polished gravestones with a cool breeze, the sounds of footsteps and cane taps were


    heard.


    Except for the asional whooses of wind, there was no other sound in the area a moment


    before.


    However, now it was obvious that someone wasing, his form hidden in the icy murky clouds produced from the rain.


    The sounds were clear because of the hard ground left by the rain and it was made even more obvious as the blurring silhouette of a man could be seen in the clouds.


    And after a mere heartbeat, his form parted through the fog, finally appearing in full sight.


    With his cloak still wrapped around his body, Amon arrived before a gravestone.


    He still hadn''t taken off his mask, despite being hidden in the embrace of the fog.


    In fact, for even more anonymity and efforts to keep himself hidden, there were his clones around him keeping an eye around for anyone.


    Erasing the thoughts from his mind, Amon focused his stare through the mask on the gravestone in front of him.


    It was cleanly polished and fresh, indicating that the person had died not long ago.


    In bold andrge letters, a name had been engraved on top of the gravestone in clear letters.


    [SAMANTHA SINCLAIR]


    A pang of regret and pain coursed through Amon''s body as he read the words. Amon kneeled, removing his mask in the process as well, revealing his painful expression to


    the cold air and the tombstone.


    His hand sneaked into his cloak, eventually retrieving a small bouquet ofvender flowers.


    He carefully set them down in front of the grave. They were his favorite flowers.


    He didn''t know any prayer and he didn''t came here to send one anyways.


    His meaning ofing here was simple.


    A heartfelt apology and confession.


    Staring in silence at the gravestone for a moment with his exhausted baggy eyes, Amon


    opened his mouth to speak.


    But then it closed the next moment.


    Silence descended in the graveyard again as Amon stared down at the ground, gritting his


    teeth.


    Why was it so painful for him despite never meeting the woman in front of him and talking to


    her.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Clenching his fists hard, Amon bit his lip, even forcing a trickle of blood down his chin.


    Pushing himself, he finally opened his mouth to speak.


    To let out all the words that he contained in his heart.


    "I...."