Chapter 33: Ch. 32 – Return to Normalcy

It has been two days since the... productive meeting with Darius but nothing further has happened since then. Each time I was there the doctor sent me back saying he was in no condition to speak. Somehow I get the feeling that isn't true.

I'm currently sitting at 1987/2025 exp towards Wizard 5. The missing 38 exp will not be a problem, I'll get the new skill later today. I hope it is something good. Not that a single skill or level will make much of a difference. I've still a long way to go before I can feel even remotely safe with people like the commander around.

Aside from that... the last two days were not very fruitful. I learned nothing new about what demon lords are nor what exactly the title would give me.

I'm getting a bit anxious about this whole situation. I've probably screwed up big time back there with Darius... Well, no changing that now without talking to him ASAP. I'll try again after the dungeon trip, maybe he's better off today.

Training and the shower proceed as normal. Still dealing with the 'stage 2' monsters. A lot of them. At least the necromancers are gone, there were only a handful in the first place.

With that, I've enough exp to take the level once I get a chance to rest for a couple of minutes. I should probably do that after I ditch the others, otherwise, they might get a notification or something like they supposedly get when I appraise anything in their presence.

We gather up before the dungeon entrance as usual and... uhh, do I not get a party invitation this time?

Chloe comes over to me and looks a bit startled, "it seems we have a... tiny problem. I can't add you as a regular party member because of... you know what."
Great, so the familiar bond is already starting to cause problems, that didn't take long.
"Oh, damn, now what?"
She thinks for a moment, "...just play along, I have an idea."

She grabs me and pulls me back to the group, "ah, sorry. I forgot that we have to make a tiny change today. It was decided that Jared should take the role of the party leader so he can eventually unlock a specific title. But don't worry about it, that is just a formality. I'll keep issuing the orders.
So, Jared, would you please do the honors?"

A good an excuse as any. Mentally I send out the invitations and soon they get accepted.

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