"So, where exactly are we?"
Subtly taking control of the conversation, Sophie began to tactfully gather the information he wanted. He really found that he had changed a bit; in the past, he could only talk so confidently and easily control the rhythm of the conversation in the game.
Perhaps it's because he still considers this place the world of 'Amber Sword'.
The experiences in the game were enough to make him naturally exude a confident aura when facing these young people, as if the other party was still just a child.
This confidence unconsciously influenced others, whether it was Frey or anyone else, they began to feel a slight change. The center of the conversation shifted to Sophie, intentionally or unintentionally.
Not far away, some young people also looked this way—
"This is the Red Pine Forest, don't move." The ponytailed girl took a breath and tried to calm herself down as she answered.
Sophie looked up in surprise—true to her future Valkyrie self, she quickly learned to regulate her emotions, but in his opinion, she still seemed a bit immature.
"Red Pine Forest?"
"Wait, why are you here?" Sophie was shocked again. He remembered this place, called the 'Dwarf Valley' in the game, a habitat for Level 14 brown bears. But this place is south of Buqi; there's no reason for the Buqi militia to show up in this direction.
"We came to find you."
"We came to find Miss Roman; she is a friend of the Big Sister."
"And Roman is a member of the third squad." Everyone chimed in.
"Did you push back Madara's vanguard?" Sophie looked at Frey, which was what concerned him the most.
"How could we!" The girl looked at him, puzzled, as if to say how could you ask such a foolish question: "The Guard Team lords covered the villagers' retreat to the north, and we got separated from everyone. But with more and more monsters on the main road, we could only move south, and besides, I was worried about Roman..."
"So you came here?" Sophie felt his heart sinking continuously.
The girl nodded matter-of-factly, her long ponytail bobbing up and down.
Frey quickly sensed something strange—this young man wasn't Captain Madden, so why did she always feel like he was a head above her in some strange way?
Sophie couldn't help but slap his forehead, not knowing whether to say these youngsters were naive or just plain foolish, thinking about saving others when they couldn't even ensure their own safety.
No, maybe it should be called kind-hearted.
But unnecessary kindness has no place on the battlefield; it would only harm oneself.
Sophie fell silent, his heart bleeding a little. He had set fire to his grandfather's mansion to warn the village, not expecting history to still follow its original trajectory—no, to repeat itself.
And even these reckless guys, Lord Marsha, what kind of joke are you playing?
He sighed inwardly, realizing there was still too little he could change; the inertia of history couldn't be stopped with just a bit of strength. Indeed, he needed to become stronger, but first, he had to survive.
"Captain Madden, oh Captain Madden, it looks like I can't save you either."
How could Black Rose Madara strike before the May Eternal Death Festival? Such an obvious premeditation, isn't it said if something seems too good to be true, it probably is?
Sophie's hopes had entirely fallen through, making him feel somewhat empty. The effort he put in, only to find it made no historical impact, was deeply frustrating.
But after all, it was just the strength of an ordinary person; he had done his best.
"Brand!"
He was in a bad mood when a delighted voice rang in his ear, cheerful as a lark. Sophie turned around to see the incredulous and cheerful Miss Merchant appearing at the edge of the forest, with a girl in gray-white leather armor beside her—the girl who must have gone to convey news.
Like a gust of wind, Roman came to his side, cautiously eyeing him, as if fearing he would suddenly disappear.
"I knew it, Brand, you would be okay." She looked relieved and said happily.
"By the way, Brand. Frey wouldn't let me go back to Buqi, I…" The Miss Merchant then anxiously explained, as if fearing he would be angry.