Bab 26: 26. Aiko Makes a Move (Please follow and read!)
As he was about to leave the Adventurers' Guild, Lia seemed to remember something and loudly muttered to herself, "Today I switched to a new Twin-Winged Blackblood Horse; it runs so fast. Buying this horse only cost a mere three thousand Gold Coins."
Having said that, she then strode away.
Lin Da was left utterly speechless.
The Twin-Winged Blackblood Horse was quite good, but it wasn't enough to make him envious.
He was just about to step away when a strong right hand landed on his shoulder.
"Lin Da, our team's carriage is outside, want to come with us?"
Turning around, he saw Oru with his blonde hair cut short and a face that betrayed a simple honesty.
As a frontliner in the Snow Goose Adventure Team, Oru, whose level and skills were inferior to Klrona's, often needed Lin Da's Healing Art for support.
Having fought side by side for a long time, they had naturally become friends.
"Mr. Lin Da, good afternoon."
Klyne emerged from behind Oru, smiling and greeting him.
"Good afternoon."
After exchanging greetings, Lin Da shook his head at Oru and said, "You guys go back in the carriage; I don't need it."
Oru lowered his voice, "It's okay, the captain is in a good mood today, just say a few nice words, and she'll let you come back. Klyne, Miss Aiko, and I all support you."
Lin Da smiled but did not explain.
He had already decided to establish his own team.
Though he regretted no longer being able to fight alongside Oru and the others, it could not shake his determination.
"Mr. Lin Da, the adventure team really can't afford to lose you," Klyne also tried to persuade.
Lin Da still shook his head.
"Lin Da... "
"You don't care about Lia, do you also not care about me?"
A soft voice came through.
"Aiko."
Lin Da stopped in his tracks, surprised, looking at the Mage Miss sitting in a wheelchair.
Her appearance was wan, her brilliant blonde hair had lost its luster, and her eyes flickered vulnerably.
Was she really that concerned about him?
Lin Da had thought a few words of retention would suffice, but seeing Aiko's condition, he felt somewhat guilty.
Klyne and Oru also looked at him with hopeful eyes.
Lin Da's heart was filled with many emotions.
It seemed that aside from Lia and that naive youngster, the others in the team recognized his efforts in the Snow Goose Adventure Team.
Three years was not entirely wasted.
"Lin Da, aside from Lia, everyone else wants you back; can you really bear to leave us?"
Aiko said pitifully.
She was dressed in a pristine white dress, her left hand tightly grasping at her chest.
The neckline of her clothing was pulled low, her delicate collarbone barely visible, and her nearly pale skin evoked pity.
Coupled with Aiko's furrowed brows and tearful look, her weak, pleading voice was like a brush softly stroking at the depths of one's heart, swaying even those with the firmest resolve.
Moreover, Aiko's words had another layer of meaning.
Aside from Lia, no one else has offended you; by not returning, you are abandoning your old teammates, that's neither benevolent nor righteous.
In a few short sentences, she had positioned herself on a moral high ground pressuring Lin Da.
Seeing Lin Da looking troubled, a little devil in Aiko's heart seemed to be wagging its tail.
Lia was incompetent, so it had to be her stepping in.
"Lin Da, come back; don't you miss everyone? I haven't been able to sleep well since you left," Aiko said, her large eyes brimming with tears, both hands placed over her chest as if in prayer.
A surprising sight suddenly unfolded in front of her, causing Lin Da's eyelids to twitch.
"Mind your image, Aiko."
Lin Da coughed and stepped in front of Aiko.
Yet, he was utterly oblivious that his actions had completely fallen into Aiko's trap.
As soon as he approached, Aiko conveniently threw herself into his arms, pressing her frail body against his.
The fragrance was overwhelming.
Aiko's body was soft as if boneless, and even a touch through the clothing was a delight.
But Lin Da was entirely numb.
Flashes from Magic Cameras flickered all around.
His hands stretched out, uncertain whether to embrace or not to embrace.
Tomorrow's newspapers would definitely feature this photo.
Being single was one thing, but wasn't Aiko afraid of being misunderstood to be in that kind of relationship with him?
If those reporters from the press maliciously misinterpreted this, it would damage Aiko's reputation.
Lin Da gazed at his hands suspended in the air, then at the delicate back under Aiko's dress, his face turning into a bitter gourd.
What Aiko was thinking, however, was:
"How does it feel to touch the places you haven't been allowed to for three years?
You really got lucky."
She brewed her emotions, letting her voice sound as if she were crying.
"Woo woo woo, Lin Da, have you forgotten? When we were in the team, I was the one who brought you hot coffee to your room every night."
"When you were tired, I would massage your shoulders... Sometimes when you were hungry, I personally cooked midnight snacks..."
Whether it was delivering coffee or massaging, it was all to help Lin Da stay up late and speed up the strategy development.
Cooking was also a pretense, just reheating leftovers to pass as midnight snacks. Though the taste might have altered, she was not the one eating it.
"When Lia was harsh on you, I always stood by your side!"
This was because Aiko hoped Lin Da would rely on her, becoming a toy she could manipulate at will.
So, whenever Lia argued with Lin Da, Aiko was thrilled to appear before him like a timely help, garnering vast amounts of goodwill.
At this moment, Aiko's hands tightly held Lin Da's waist, her eyes reddening, emitting feeble, whimpering sounds.
She distinctly felt something crushed.
If she hadn't worn it, it would have been a knockout blow.
Such a pity.
Aiko thought regretfully.
"All that you've said, I know."
Lin Da sighed deeply, finally letting his hands drop, giving this pitiful mage a ceremonial comforting hug.
His intention was to quickly soothe Aiko's emotions, allowing her mind to clear.
That was what Lin Da thought.
But unexpectedly, the moment he reached out, Aiko clung to his arm as if glued, beginning to drop tiny pearls all over it.
"Lin Da, the person in the team who truly cares about you is actually me, don't you understand? Woo woo woo!"
The girl's fragile cry echoed through the hall.
Pain visible in the eyes, wounds deep in the heart.
The crowd fell silent, involuntarily moved by Aiko's outpouring of genuine emotion.
They even fantasized about the scene where a once amicable Lia and Lin Da, while Aiko stood outside the door, quietly heartbroken.
Now that Lia was ousted, this mage dared to reveal her feelings.
All that she did was for the sake of 'friendship' with Lia, not wanting to hurt Lia by stepping in.
Not until today.
After Lia gave up, she courageously and humbly wept in Lin Da's arms.
Such a tender and kind-hearted girl!
Some adventurers, moved to tears, looked up at the ceiling, as if there were sand in their eyes.
...
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Hadiah
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