Chapter 138: Leaving (Part 3)
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Not long after, Elula, looking utterly dejected, stumbled back with shaky steps, her face revealing a blankness like that of a tragic Maiden sold into a brothel by her parents.
"Uh, Elula, are you okay..."
Seeing her looking so lost, I asked with concern.
"Ha... haha... Lord, please... please rest assured, I... I am completely, completely fine..."
Seeing me still standing there, and probably realizing I had seen the entire scene just now, Elula seemed to fall into Despair. Her steps became even more unsteady, and her entire Appearance turned a Ghost-like pale.
No, judging by your Appearance, your words have no credibility at all. It's like half your Body has been swallowed by a Python, and you're still smiling and saying you're okay, that you're fine.
"Haha... Mi La Si, Xiao Lu La and the others didn't mean any Malice. Just forgive them..."
Velas walked up from behind, comforting her in a Tone that tried not to provoke Elula.
Xiao Lu La? Are you talking about those few children just now? But what's with Mi La Si?
"Mi La Si is Elula's nickname, you see. Everyone in Vita Village gets a nickname when they're young."
Velas saw through my Doubt at a glance and explained softly beside my ear.
I nodded, but then I thought: Since almost everyone has a nickname, what's Velas's nickname?
Thinking of this, I couldn't help but feel a bit eager to know. It's shameful to say, she's taken care of me for so long, yet I don't even know this much.
However, Elula quickly gave me the answer.
"Ailulu. Stop speaking up for them. When we get back, I'm definitely going to teach them a good lesson. I need to make them understand that every grain of Grain is the result of everyone's hard Sweat. Not eating properly is disrespecting Grain, disrespecting everyone's hard Sweat..."
Elula clenched her Fist. She furrowed her brows and, with a compelling Presence akin to an American presidential campaign speech, spoke endlessly about opinions that were far too mature. Considering her Age and Appearance, it was quite mismatched. Perhaps only her Chest truly reflected her real Age.
Hmm. I didn't have any Ulterior Motive. I was just sighing. After all, she's just a 16-year-old girl...
"Ailulu..."
I snickered into Velas's ear. Her delicate face instantly turned red. Her flustered Gaze was like a Rabbit startled by a gunshot. She nervously tugged at the Chest Binding on her Chest again and again.
"Right, Elula, how is your Family..." I Interruption her increasingly intense "Grain Crisis" declaration beside me.
"Ah, ah, yes, thanks to Lord and everyone's efforts, my Family is safe and sound."
Elula was startled, and a grateful Smile immediately appeared on her face. She bowed deeply to me, and then to the Class-Changed Ones behind me.
"Not at all, didn't you also have a share of the Merit/Contribution in this? Your Family will definitely be proud of you."
My words made Elula blush shyly. As if trying to hide it, she kept bowing, repeatedly saying "Not at all."
"But those few mischievous brats, sigh..." Thinking of the scene just now, Elula got a headache again.
"Mi La Si, I don't think that's it..."
Velas stepped forward from the side, her expression very serious.
"I think they must have realized that soon, Mi La Si will be going out for Trials again, and they don't know when you'll be able to come back. That's why they desperately wanted to be with you and get your attention..."
Velas gently took Elula's hand and lightly placed it on her own chest.
"They all like you very much and are reluctant to see you go..."
Well said, Velas! In that instant, I seemed to see maternal wisdom and radiance emanating from Velas, and I couldn't help but silently cheer for her.
"Is, is that so?"
Elula, who seemed steady in thought and action, was far less mature than Velas in this regard. She was stunned for a moment, revealing a thoughtful Expression.
"So that's how it is. Thank you, Ailulu..."
Seemingly having figured something out, Elula looked at her close friend, whom she had grown up playing with, with a grateful Expression.
"I'm also very reluctant to see you go, you're leaving so soon..." Velas said reluctantly.
"Ailulu..." Elula's eyes were already slightly Moist/Teary.
Although beautiful Friendship is indeed moving, two beautiful Maidens gazing intently at each other, with one holding the other's hand on her own chest, always makes one think of something... Note: Ah, two idiots...
However, my worry didn't last long. Elula, who gradually calmed down, was soon distracted by something else.
Her Gaze slowly moved down from Velas's face, until it reached the hand she was holding, or rather, Velas's...
"Hmm..."
Staring intently at that spot, her Gaze became subtle/strange, and a strange Expression appeared on her face. It seemed to carry a hint of resentment, of course, not directed at Velas, but rather a kind of unconvinced and indignant feeling of blaming Heaven and earth.
"Why, why Ailulu... but I, why, why..." She seemed to be muttering something to herself, looking dazed.
"Ahaha..."
Velas gave a wry smile, quickly released her hands, tugged at my sleeve, and said in a low voice, hurriedly.
"Lord, let's go quickly..."
"Hey, is it okay to leave her alone?"
I was half-dragged away, turning back to look at Elula, who was still stunned.
"It should be fine. How should I put it, it's an old habit..." Regarding this difficult-to-speak-about Matter, Elula fiddled with her Chest Binding, blushing slightly.
"I didn't expect her to care about that so much. You really can't tell..."
"There's nothing we can do. After all, she's a girl, and she's often mocked by her Younger Brothers like this. Even if she didn't care before, she would..."
"So that's why her expression was so strange when she looked at you." I casually glanced at Velas.
"Lord. Where are you looking? Really..."
After the incident just now, Velas seemed particularly sensitive. Upon noticing my Gaze, she immediately lowered her head in embarrassment, tightly hugging her ample Chest, which Elula resented.
Where did you think I was looking? Seeing her defensive Appearance, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry and said.
"I wasn't looking around inappropriately. I was just thinking..."
"Thinking isn't allowed either, Lord, really..." Velas's complexion turned even redder.
"..."
Forget it, it seems no matter what I say, she'll misunderstand...
In a very subtle/strange Atmosphere, the two of us walked in silence. The thought I originally had of inspecting the entire Village was almost forgotten.
However, this state didn't last long. Soon, there was another Commotion ahead, startling us awake.
What's happening now?
This Commotion was even bigger than the one just now. Not only the Villagers, but even the Adventurers were in a chaotic state. Many panicked Warriors, with faces full of terror, dispersed from a certain direction.
What's going on? Has Andariel attacked? Seeing this situation, I couldn't help but let my imagination run wild.
"Lord Wu Fan, this time only you can resolve it." A few Adventurers I recognized immediately came up to greet me as if they had seen a Savior.
Something that can scare hundreds of Adventurers into a panic, and you want me to resolve it? Aren't you overestimating me? With that Doubtful thought, I went against the flow of terror and arrived at the scene of the incident.
"..."
At this moment, my Mood was very complex. If Heaven gave me another chance, I would definitely flee in panic like the other Adventurers and leave this place of trouble.
But it was too late. Seeing me walk forward, those Adventurers actually ran back and watched from a distance, leaving me in a dilemma. Should I brace myself and stay for the sake of Face/Reputation, or turn around and leave amidst everyone's surprised expressions? This was a difficult problem.
Because, standing on Vita's pathetic Training Ground, In Front of me were the two great Witches of the Rogue Encampment. One was the little Witch who was about to solo Andariel, and the other was the great Witch who could Instant Kill Andariel...
Simply put, two women who could make the entire Rogue tremble with a stomp of their foot, Sister Sharna and Old Woman Kashya, were confronting each other on the Training Ground. The Atmosphere was extremely tense.
Hey, hey, you two, are you trying to destroy Vita Village?
Deep down, I absolutely supported Sister Sharna, but my Intuition told me that Old Woman Kashya was not to be trifled with. It wasn't worth offending her for the sake of being a little Protective. So, I could only silently cheer for Sister Sharna in my heart—display great power and beat Kashya to a pulp...
"Old Drunkard, you're not young anymore. Are you planning to throw out your back and then rely on me to take care of you in retirement? Hmph hmph..."
Sister Sharna tossed her sun-like golden hair. Her ethereal and stunningly beautiful Appearance, combined with her dominant and arrogant demeanor that could almost be described as overbearing, two completely different Styles, were perfectly blended together, making people involuntarily want to kneel on the ground and shout "Long live Her Majesty the Queen."
"Ohoho... These old bones of mine are still tough. As for you, little girl, are you perhaps nostalgic for the feeling from before? Do you deliberately want to look for trouble, get knocked to the ground by me, and then look pitifully and crawl into my arms to nurse a bit..."
Kashya's mouth was also exceptionally venomous.
"Old Drunkard, look at that Body of yours. Your Chest shriveled up a hundred years ago. You still want to produce milk? When you lie, you should at least know your limits..."
Sister Sharna continued, counter-attacking while defending, and then it was Kashya's turn...
The Atmosphere gradually became tense. The Smile at the Corner of the mouth of both of them became more and more awkward. It was just for the sake of Face/Reputation that neither made the first move.
"Lord..." Velas, who was following behind me, could no longer stand the terrifying Atmosphere. With a whoosh, she completely hid behind me, trembling.
Don't rely on me! Who am I supposed to tremble behind?! I wailed inwardly. Forget it, I'll run. Rashly intervening in a "family dispute" is inappropriate behavior. I already had Elula as a lesson from the past. I comforted myself and slowly dragged Velas backward, disregarding the expectant Gazes of the Adventurers behind me.
"Hey..."
Before retreating a few steps, both of them attacked almost simultaneously. In an instant, an intense Storm blew up where the two were fighting. The collision of Presence and Strength/Power made the entire Training Ground tremble violently, like a dangerous building in an earthquake.
In my opinion, in every aspect, Sharna couldn't possibly be a match for that old pervert Kashya. But firstly, there were many people here, so Kashya naturally didn't dare to fully exert her Strength/Power to hide her Strength/Power. Secondly, although she said she didn't care, Kashya still treated Sister Sharna as her own, and might also be testing or teaching her. So, at first, the two fought in a lively and exciting manner.
"Bang bang bang..."
Continuous collision sounds, like a Heavy Rain, echoed in the field. Every Move was mixed with terrifying Strength/Power and Presence. The dust on the Training Ground was first kicked up high in the violent collision, and then blown away by the fierce Energy in the next moment. Before long, the entire Training Ground was blown spotless. Ah, no, it seemed even the Soil on the ground was scraped off a layer. Amen...
Both of them were holding Normal Wooden Spears in their hands. The spearheads thrust out like a Storm, and the staff shadows whipping past were so blurry that even I couldn't see them clearly. At this moment, I finally understood how big the Gap/Difference was between Sister Sharna and me in terms of Moves and Techniques. Facing her, the only thing I could present was my Summon, and perhaps...
I watched their Battle, lost in thought, silently thinking. However, experience counts. Even if Kashya suppressed her Strength/Power and Speed below Sister Sharna's, there was still a vast difference in their Techniques and Experience. Before long, Kashya used some Move I didn't know, parried away Sister Sharna's Wooden Spear with one thrust, and then struck her ample buttocks with one staff strike.
"That's for being arrogant, little girl," Kashya said smugly, blowing on her spearhead like those Master Spearmen in movies.
"..."
Sister Sharna silently stood up from the ground, stunned and not saying a word.
"Ohoho..."
Seeing Sharna's dazed Appearance, Kashya laughed even happier.
Outside the field, I couldn't help but worry for Sister Sharna. Could the proud her endure Kashya's mockery? Thinking of this, I decided that even if I was overestimating myself, if Kashya continued to provoke, I would throw a Molten Boulder at her.
However, how could Sharna be the kind of woman who easily gets discouraged? If that were the case, she probably would have ceased to exist long ago. Quickly, I found that I was terribly wrong.
After being stunned for a moment, Sister Sharna suddenly tossed the Staff in her hand, not towards Kashya, but towards the wooden bottle she had placed to the side, which was the Wine Bottle she usually always hung on her waist.
Hmm, so she wasn't stunned just now, but was thinking about how to strike back at the arrogant Kashya.
No matter how strong Kashya was, it was impossible for her to stop it in such a short time. How could a fragile little wine bottle withstand Sister Sharna's full-strength strike? With a "bang," the sound of shattering echoed. In an instant, a burst of wine aroma spread out. Wine rain, like a water balloon bursting, sprinkled down in the air...
Hmm, how could one Wine Bottle hold so much Wine? This Wine Bottle was definitely modified by Old Man Fara.
"Ah... my three days' worth of Wine..."
Kashya threw down the Wooden Spear in her hand and ran over. Looking at the Wine slowly being devoured by the Soil, she held her head and shouted Incredulous, as if it were her own blood being devoured.
Sharna didn't care about that. Taking advantage of the fact that Kashya hadn't reacted yet, she rushed forward and grabbed my hand. It turned out she had already noticed my arrival long ago.
"Uh, Sister, what are we doing now? Is Lady Kashya okay?..."
Caught off guard and pulled along by her, I stumbled slightly, keeping up with her Pace, and asked curiously. Her golden hair lightly brushed against my face. Holding hands with Sister Sharna and running on the main road, along the way, those Adventurers avoided us like the plague. The strong wind blowing in our faces, running freely and unrestrained, made me feel a sense of youthful passion and wildness. I think Sister Sharna must also be enjoying this Feeling, because at this moment, a relaxed and joyful Smile appeared on her face.
"I know she's hiding a spare Wine Bottle in her Tent. Taking advantage of the fact that she hasn't reacted yet, let's go smash it together..." Sister Sharna turned her head. Her pretty face, enhanced by the breeze and Sunlight, and her confident and radiant spirit, captivated me.
"Eh? Eh?"
After a while, I finally reacted, noticing the meaning of her words, and my legs instantly went weak.