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Chương 20: 20. Aiko is jealous

Lia shouted as she clumsily tried to salvage the dumplings in the pot.

A while later, Aiko, with her face covered in cucumber slices, came downstairs from the second-floor bedroom in a huff.

Her wheelchair, a custom model from the Alchemist Guild powered by a Demon Core, had no trouble with stairs.

"What's wrong?" Aiko arrived at the kitchen.

"The dumplings' skins have all burst." Lia said in frustration, "Why must they give me such a hard time too!"

Aiko glanced at them and immediately understood the problem, somewhat speechless, "Did you boil them in cold water?"

Aside from fighting, the captain was truly useless at everything.

Aiko thought indignantly, even unable to cook properly, she really didn't know where Lia found the confidence to agree to Lin Da's departure from the team.

Fortunately, the girl wasn't stupid enough to throw the resignation letter directly at Lin Da. Until she formally cancels the contract at the Adventurer's Guild, Lin Da was still technically a member of the Snow Goose Adventure Team.

This was an opportunity to seize, and Aiko needed to take the chance to properly persuade Lin Da to stay.

Aiko pushed back her thoughts, looked up at Lia, and said with a pretended smile, "Of course they would burst, you have to use boiling water, don't you know even this?"

"I've never made dumplings before, how was I supposed to know that? What right do you have to criticize me?" Lia threw her spoon onto the stove and retorted forcefully.

Aiko grew even more frustrated to the point that she felt her patience was wearing thin.

It was always like this; nothing was ever Lia's fault. If a mistake was made, she always shifted the blame onto the team members.

Taking a deep breath and suppressing the veins jumping on her forehead, Aiko said through clenched teeth, "Go rest, throw these out, I'll make a new batch."

"That won't do, wasting food is not a good habit." Lia refused.

Aiko wanted to swear.

That was typical stingy adventurer logic, able to be swindled out of a hundred Gold Coins for gear but so frugal over small expenses like clothing and food, unwilling to lose even a single copper coin.

She forcibly contained her anger, ushered Lia into the living room, and dished out the dumplings to bring them to the table.

"Pig feed?" Klrona, who had been starving waiting at the table since she came down from the second floor, scratched her head in confusion at the sight of the ragged dumplings in the plate.

"I made them," Lia narrowed her eyes.

Klrona didn't dare to say another word.

With a pained expression, she swallowed a half-cooked dumpling and couldn't help but ask, "Miss Aiko, when is Lin Da coming back?"

In Klrona's eyes, the concept of Lin Da leaving the team wasn't quite clear.

It probably meant he would return by evening.

"Uh, well..." Aiko glanced at Lia.

Lia said nothing, furiously stuffing dumplings into her mouth as if trying to prove to the two of them that they were in fact edible.

"He'll be back tomorrow, right?" Klrona looked at Aiko hopefully.

"It'll take a few days, Lin Da went out to clear his head," Aiko said as she patted Klrona's head. While she spoke to Klrona, she cast a sidelong glance at Lia, clearly noticing that the moment Lin Da was mentioned, Lia's dumpling-packing hand stiffened unnaturally.

Aiko sneered inwardly.

She really didn't want to clean up after Lia.

But the Snow Goose Adventure Team indeed needed Lin Da, even if his level was a bit low. Having him at home developing strategies or cooking would be beneficial.

She needed to persuade Lin Da properly and convince him to come back as her own... oh no, that's not right, as a teammate.

A faint blush crept over Aiko's cheeks as she seemed to think about something.

All three of them were preoccupied, and silence ensued at the table, leaving only the sound of eating.

This quietness seemed to make Lia quite uncomfortable; her right foot kept tapping the ground beneath her, an irritating sound.

Aiko always had the feeling that it wouldn't be surprising if this powder keg exploded at any moment.

Why didn't she use her own skills to beg Lin Da to return?

She was only good at giving team members dirty looks, wasn't she?

Aiko couldn't take it anymore and coughed lightly, confronting the issue head-on, "I will find a chance to talk to Lin Da."

Lia, sipping her juice with her head lowered, did not respond, but the tip of her foot that had been tapping stopped.

Noticing this detail, Aiko's disdain for Lia was almost overflowing like a sea. She tried her best not to let this expression show on her face and said calmly, "I'll go ask him if he's realized his 'mistake'."

Before she had finished speaking, she heard Lia snort coldly.

"Anyway, I won't let him rejoin the team."

Aiko smiled, wanting to smack the bowl down on Lia's head.

'It's Aiko and the others who want you back. I didn't agree! If you really want to come back, then work hard and don't slack off!' Aiko could completely imagine the scene when Lin Da returned.

Thump thump thump!

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

All three turned to look.

Aiko thought to herself, "I'll go take a look."

What if it was Lin Da outside?

She couldn't let that little bitch Lia have alone time with Lin Da, not late at night with just the two of them, too dangerous.

Aiko opened the door, holding a sliver of hope as she stepped outside.

But it wasn't Lin Da.

A group of young men were gathered at the villa's entrance.

The leader was a neatly dressed, lean young man, with a band around his head that read 'Ice Flower Adventure Team Support Group Leader'.

Aiko's face twitched, these people, they're what you call 'homebodies', right? Ones who don't dare venture into the Mystic Realm, but idolize adventures so much that they make someone else's adventure team their spiritual pillar.

What disgusted her even more was that this group was the Support Group for the Ice Flower Adventure Team.

Ever since she heard that Isa had invited Lin Da to join the team, she hadn't felt good about Isa at all.

"This is the Snow Goose Adventure Team. Haven't you arrived at the wrong place?"

Aiko smiled warmly, like a mature big sister, perfectly concealing her true inner thoughts.

"So elegant! You truly deserve the title of 'Holy Mage' Aiko!"

"So gentle, we won't get scolded even for disturbing her in the middle of the night."

"From today on, Miss Aiko will be my second spiritual pillar."

The crowd cheered and hollered excitedly.

Aiko caressed her cheek, casually revealing a strand of snowy white at her shoulder, smiling radiantly, "So, why have you all come to the Snow Goose Adventure Team? Is there something you need, or are you lost?"

The group was so mesmerized they found their mouths going dry, but thankfully the leader Dawen was resolute, pinching his thigh hard as he said, "Actually, we're here to see Mr. Lin Da."

Lin Da?

Aiko's expression changed.

The matter of Lin Da leaving the team was currently only being whispered among a few adventurers; ordinary people like Dawen were still unaware.

She didn't mention the fact that Lin Da had left the team and asked indifferently, "What do you want with Lin Da?"

"It's like this..."

Dawen retold the events of the afternoon, when Lin Da had helped the Ice Flower Adventure Team out of a crisis, clearing the twelfth floor.

"We wanted to find Lin Da to thank him, to express our gratitude for his help with the Ice Flower Adventure Team!"

"Also, to warn Lin Da not to lay a hand on our Captain Isa!"

"Captain Isa belongs to our Support Group!"

Facing this group of nerds, seriously uttering revolting words, Aiko could barely keep the smile on her face from faltering.

Lin Da... he helped Isa clear the twelfth floor?

How could he do that, what right did he have?

Aiko felt a faint jealousy.

And it was lucky that it was her who came to the door; if it had been Lia, she probably would have had a stroke on the spot.

The Snow Goose Adventure Team struggled and fumbled through nine floors, yet once outside, a few sentences from Lin Da helped Ice Flower clear the twelfth.


Chương 21: 21. Getting Started with Classic Skills

Originally, Aiko was relieved when she heard that Lin Da had turned down Isa's invitation and didn't join the Ice Flower Adventure Team.

But the arrival of Dawen and others made her heart leap to her throat again.

To Isa, there was a big difference between a well-reputed level 15 Healer and one who could lead the Ice Flower Adventure Team through the twelfth layer.

Leadership was generally a responsibility of the captain, but since Isa played a front-line role, multitasking took a considerable toll on her energy. That was why, when a front-line player was the captain, this task was usually delegated to someone in a supportive role in the back, just as Snow Goose Adventure Team did.

Lin Da's withdrawal was akin to a stroke of luck for Isa.

Once she lowered herself to ask, Lin Da might actually join.

It was mainly because Lia was too vile. By comparison, Lin Da stood a good chance of being swept away by Isa.

All of them were equable... Aiko nearly let her disgust show on her face.

"Sorry, Lin Da is not at home, so you made the trip here in vain."

After Aiko sent away Dawen and the others, the smile gradually faded from her face, and she stared icily at another mansion in the neighborhood, unable to resist punching the wall with a bang.

Being a Mage, her frail fists split open and bled.

Yet she herself seemed almost unaware, her expression stony as she bit her lip.

Not pampering himself, going to someone from Ice Flower instead?

Why?

Aiko was so furious she felt like exploding.

The dog she had painstakingly nurtured for three years hadn't even reaped rewards yet; why should Isa hijack it midway?

Lin Da wandered outside like a stray dog—that was fine. But if someone intended to take the stray dog home, Aiko would never agree.

"My things, no one else should even think about taking them..."

Aiko bit her thumb, her eyes shadowy. Her teeth grated against her nail, producing a chilling, crackling sound.

Just then, a stray cat passed by; seeing this monstrous figure with two large protrusions on her chest, it couldn't help but screech and flee in terror.

"What's the noise about, Aiko?"

Lia walked out with a frown on her face.

"Nothing, just some flies. I shooed them away."

Instantaneously, Aiko's smile returned, and she hid her injured hand behind her back, her voice utterly genial.

"Is that so?" Lia was absent-minded and didn't suspect anything. She went back inside the mansion.

Aiko purposefully didn't tell Lia about Lin Da helping Isa.

What if Lia suddenly realized and tried to bring Lin Da back?

Although it was unlikely, what if something happened between them? It could ruin her plan.

Aiko saw right through Lia, but Lin Da... He might have felt something three years ago, but now, Aiko couldn't tell.

"It's the same whether it's Lia or Isa: if you must compete with me, don't blame me for not being nice."

The light from the mansion's open door spilled out, casting a shadow over Aiko's face under the eaves.

In the place hidden from Lia's view, Aiko squinted, her cheeks flushed, and a twisted smile stretched across her lips.

It was as if a monstrous beast, hidden in the darkness, drooled thick saliva from its jagged, gaping maw.

Aiko operated her magic-powered wheelchair, following Lia into the mansion. From start to finish, Lia didn't notice anything unusual about Aiko.

...

At the same time.

In the Sparrow District, an old residential building, rental room 303.

Creak~

The wooden door swung open, and Kafni returned carrying food.

"Here, this is yours." Kafni placed a steaming hot pork chop rice in front of Lin Da.

Lin Da looked up in surprise, "Thanks?"

"Heh, even I, as a deity, wouldn't let a hero starve. After all, we must rely on the hero to defeat the Demon King."

Kafni opened her own luxurious eel rice, standing tall and proud, speaking as if she were above everyone else.

Seeing the eel rice in her hands, Lin Da twitched, sensing a bad premonition. The pork chop rice was 20 copper coins, while the luxurious eel rice was at least 50... Doing the math, he and Kafni had less than 1 silver coin left.

Simply put... A deity that wastes money!

Lin Da helplessly rubbed his forehead.

Although he didn't want to, he would need to borrow some gold coins from old friends tomorrow.

With Kafni's spending habits, they would be starving the day after tomorrow.

"But why isn't it two portions of luxurious eel rice?"

He suddenly found it strange. If Kafni knew nothing about money, why hadn't she brought the same for him? Why had she opted for a cheaper pork chop rice for him, but a pricey one for herself?

"Wouldn't two portions cost a silver coin?" Kafni replied as if it were obvious, "The hero is supposed to serve the deity, right? Not bringing plain rice is already being considerate on my part."

"That does sound somewhat reasonable." Lin Da gave a wry smile, moving his arms slightly, "I think we need to clarify who exactly is the 'master' here."

Kafni's face changed slightly, clearly aware that she was no match for Lin Da.

Lin Da's hero occupation boasted extremely high initial attributes.

Although only level 0, his attributes were already comparable to a level 3 warrior, far beyond her capabilities as a level 0 thief.

"Wait...! Actually, I was just joking. I splurged on eel rice because something good happened!"

Kafni, sweating profusely, frantically explained: "The 'Legendary Skill Stone' that I ordered has been delivered! I spent all my Contribution Points on it, so treating myself to eel rice isn't too much, right?"

She hastily pulled out a golden, round stone from her chest.

Under the stone's emitted light, the dim rental room was instantly lit up, the surroundings filled with a thick magic power.

"Legendary Skill Stone?"

Lin Da, having forgotten his resentment towards the eel rice, curiously took it from her.

The stone was small, about the size of a quail egg, and warm to the touch.

When it came into contact with his palm, the Skill Stone buzzed and trembled, a surge of golden light flooding into his body.

A personal panel popped up in front of him.

System Notification: You have acquired the Legendary Skill [Witch Purification]!

You can view the specific effects by clicking on the skill in the skill panel.

Witch Purification: Through physical contact with any part of the body, purify the contractual erosion within a witch's body. After complete purification, a Witch Series Skill Tree will be unlocked.

Note: The higher the witch's trust level, the more thorough the purification.

What the heck?

Lin Da frowned, feeling like he hit the jackpot with a ten-pull but ended up with an off-target product. The Legendary skill seemed good, capable of unlocking a Witch Series Skill Tree — a type that's usually pretty solid when unlocked under special conditions.

However, the issue was that unlocking the skill tree required fully purifying a witch.

That would make it considerably difficult.

Regarding the occupation of witch, in the game it was manageable; paying 1688 as a 'price' to sign a contract and convert to [Witch].

Subsequent monthly payments of 648 allowed continuous use of the witch occupation. However, if one stopped paying, the witch would suffer contract backlash and become consumed by the shadow.

This setting was trivial in the game; one could simply curse the planners to death and that would be the end of it.

But placed in the reality of the Mystic Continent, when this setting becomes real life, the situation becomes...

In any city, merely mentioning the word 'witch' would result in arrest by the Law Enforcement Bureau.

There was a rumor that if you mention a witch, then a witch might indeed appear at your side, bringing calamity.


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