Chapter 185: Matters of the Divine Birth Day (Part 2)
"Little girl, you've got quite the Presence. I thought you'd hide in bed and cry for three days and nights before coming out."
Kashya looked at Sharna with a false smile, but with lightning speed, she swept the large sack on the Table into her hands.
"Don't put me on your level. I'm sure at my age, you hadn't even been weaned yet."
Sharna sneered, staring intently back at Kashya. Sparks flew between the two of them.
"Hmph—"
With a cold snort, Sharna had no intention of wasting time with this Old Hag right now.
"Hehe~~ Do you know?"
Seeing her Opponent turn and leave, Kashya rolled her eyes a few times, then suddenly spoke in a malicious Tone.
"Not interested."
Coldly dropping these three words, Sharna's Footsteps did not stop at all.
Tsk, the Younger Brother is like this, and the Older Sister is like this. Were they printed from the same mold?
Kashya secretly gritted her teeth, but she still tried hard to put on a proud look, whistled, and continued to Deceive/Bluff.
"Is that so? Alas, what a pity. I originally wanted to tell you about that Little Druid's Matter, but it seems there's no need."
"Shaa—"
Sharna's Footsteps, which she had taken, stopped in Mid-air. She slowly turned her Head back, her sea-blue eyes glaring at Kashya as if covered in a layer of ten-thousand-year-old ice.
It worked!
Secretly snapping her fingers, the Smile on Kashya's face brightened. Although she still wanted to take this rare opportunity to properly tease this arrogant Kid, seeing her Expression as if she wanted to eat someone, if she continued to keep her in suspense, a dozen arrows might shoot over at any moment.
For the upcoming Conspiracy, Kashya tried hard to hide the Smile on her face. Like an information peddler, she put on a Mysterious appearance.
"Do you know? That little lover of the Little Druid named Sarah, and the personal Maid named Velas, both of them are participating in this Divine Birth Day performance. They've been busy rehearsing these past few days. This is quite something. I heard people say that Kid Sarah, who has the Little Druid completely smitten, relying on her bit of Angelic Temperament, was Force Upon to play the role of the Saintess to sing the Sacred Song at the ceremony. And that Velas, her voice is truly beautiful. According to reliable News circulating in the Tavern, she is very likely to become the new generation Songstress of the Rogue Encampment, a position vacant for decades. You should be careful..."
Having finished speaking in one breath, doing her utmost to provoke, Kashya grinned and threw Sharna a Gaze that said, "You know I'm good to you now, right?"
"What does that have to do with me?"
Sharna looked at Kashya's comical performance on the side with a sneering Gaze, as if looking at a clown.
"Uh—"
Kashya covered her forehead, almost collapsing, and let out a groan. Apparently, all that she had said was just Nonsense in the other person's eyes.
"Think about it. If Kid Sarah performs well in the ceremony, and that Velas who always likes to consider herself the personal Maid also successfully gets chosen as the Songstress, won't the Little Druid be even more smitten by them? At that time, your Status as an Older Sister, alas, I think it's Danger. Maybe when everyone is sending you off as you Depart for Lut Gholein, he might even be completely oblivious, getting cozy with his little lover and little Maid!"
Kashya sighed and sighed, looking regretful, but was already overjoyed inside.
"Do you think I would be shaken by something like this?"
"If you can put down the Spear in your hand, perhaps it would be more convincing."
Kashya tightly gripped the Spear Sharna swung at her with both hands, with a look of successful trickery and mockery.
"Hmph—"
Heavily snorting, Sharna suddenly kicked, forcing Kashya away, coolly retracted the Spear, and disappeared into the dust without looking back.
"Hehe, now there's a Good Show to watch."
Although Sharna spoke with absolute resolve, Kashya still caught a hint of wavering the moment she turned her Head. Having endured for a long time, she finally burst into laughter.
"You really seem to fear the world isn't chaotic enough!"
Fara, who was beside her, shook her Head with a wry Smile, and began counting Sharna's donation.
"Haha, don't worry. I've long since figured out that little girl's personality. Nothing major will go wrong. However, something interesting might happen, you never know." Kashya replied, covering her stomach with her hand while laughing.
I don't know how I taught this little girl before. A woman could be so slow-witted about Feelings/Emotions to this Extent/Point. If I don't give her a push now, there won't be much chance later. Alas—Novices always grow up...
Wiping away the tears overflowing from the Corner of the Eye, from an angle no one could see, a lonely Gaze flashed past.
"Oh—? As expected of Siblings. This little girl donated quite a bit too. Looking at it this way, even if other Adventurers don't participate in the donation, funding for the next three years won't be a big problem."
"Wait, don't count so fast. Let me enjoy it too."
Fara's exclamation came from beside her. Kashya quickly leaned over, and the two old Foxes chuckled maliciously under the Table...
The next morning, just after finishing breakfast, Sarah came running over with a beaming smile. After clinging to me for a while, pulling Velas, the two of them left mysteriously again.
"Alas, has Velas grown tired of staying by my side? Little Sarah's Training Camp is also on winter/summer break? I don't remember anything like this."
Looking at the Back View of the two leaving, I shook my Head, murmuring Incredulously.
"Wow!! I have a bad Premonition."
Our Saintess Lord with piercing Gaze suddenly blurted out a sentence.
"What are you saying, Alice? As an upstanding Man of the new century, I am completely at ease about them."
"Then why are you wrapping your Cloak so tightly?"
"The weather is cold, I'm scared."
I put on the Black Cloak, wrapping myself up completely.
"What's with the Black Cloth on your face?"
"Caught a cold, preventing infection."
I used my finger to tug at the black ragged strip of cloth tied to my face, which I don't know where I found. Not bad, tied very tightly.
"..., Well, I want to stay home and watch the house, wuwu~~"
"What Nonsense are you saying? This is the Mage Guild. What short-sighted thief would dare come here to steal things? Equipment is ready. Depart!!"
I pointed my middle finger at the sky with full Presence, then walked out of the Mage Guild's back door with splayed steps.
"Wugu~~"
From the Necklace came the distressed wail of the Little Ghost I ignored.
"Damn it, they got away again."
In a certain deserted alley, I angrily tore off my Cloak and mask.
"Divine Birth Day, there are too many people on the streets, and I also have to avoid the frequent Patrolling Soldiers on the main street. Alas—"
"Please don't deliberately ignore your Directionally Challenged Stats."
The Little Ghost's faint Voice came over. It seems she is still holding a grudge against me for Force Upon her into this. Truly a Saintess with little Caution.
"Forget it, there will be other chances anyway. Let's do something else today."
"Wow!! Wuwu~~"
Hearing "there will be other chances," the Little Ghost immediately let out a cry of Despair.
"Ding ding—"
The familiar sound of hammering after a long absence made me unconsciously show a faint Smile. Speaking of diligence, probably no one in the entire Rogue Encampment can compare to the Barbarian Blacksmith before me—Charsi. She seemed to not know fatigue. Aside from dealing with Guests, she only knew how to bury herself in her beloved Blacksmith work.
Suddenly, I became interested in Charsi's three meals a day and her schedule. How late does this honest and diligent tall beauty hammer before sleeping each day? What does she eat for her three meals... No, I should say, how does she eat to get such a "terrifying" Figure? I estimate the latter question is also what all the women in the entire Rogue Encampment want to ask.
"Hi, Charsi. Still so diligent?"
Seeing Charsi put down the ironware in her hand, I only then greeted her with a Smile.
"Ah, Mr. Fan, you're here!!"
The beautiful Blacksmith raised her Head and gently wiped the sweat from her forehead and temples with her hand. That magnificent bulge on her chest showed astonishing elasticity with her Movement, practically like enticing other people's Eyeballs to tremble along.
"Haha—"
I smiled at her, feeling quite speechless. I've been standing here for over half an hour. Only noticing now?
"I'll have to trouble you to help me repair Equipment again this time."
I took out the Ore accumulated over the past few months from my Inventory, and most of the Equipment that needs repairing. Most importantly, the Horadric Malus that dropped from the Blacksmith's hands.
"Ah. Right—"
I awkwardly explained that I accidentally donated all the Equipment I didn't need yesterday and didn't keep a single Item.
"So, I don't have any Equipment to sell you this time."
"Ah ah—No... not at all. Mr. Fan has already helped me a lot."
Charsi's Tone was a bit stiff, and her Expression was also a bit strange. Is she really feeling frustrated because of my oversight? Alas, should I shamelessly ask Kashya for a few pieces back? But I doubt it's possible. Wanting to get Equipment back from that female Scrooge is as difficult as getting a drink of Inn from her on credit.
Seeing that Back View silently leaving, Charsi hesitated several times, wanting to speak but stopping. Holding the Horadric Malus in her hand, she should have been very happy, but now felt incredibly heavy.
"Wuwu~~ I can't say it. I just can't say it no matter what. Seeing such an excited Mr. Fan, it's simply impossible to say, 'That's just Lord Kashya's trick, it's a Method of accumulating Money that happens before every Divine Birth Day'—such a Fact. Alas..."
Letting out a long sigh, Charsi, rarely feeling dejected, lay beside the iron furnace, her healthy wheat-gold Hair also hung down weakly...
However, Charsi's well-intentioned deception didn't make a certain person proud for long.
The reason was that a certain person who had nothing to do suddenly had a whim to discuss with his few Friends, mobilize the Strength of the masses, for his day of eating, drinking, and having fun... No. It should be said that he wanted to make a contribution so that all the residents of the entire Rogue Encampment could have a happy Divine Birth Day.
"...That's how the Matter is. Don't you think those babies are pitiful? Don't you think you should make a contribution for the upcoming Divine Birth Day?"
In the Tavern, I quickly caught a few who were indulging in eating, drinking, and having fun, "troublemaking" elements causing unnecessary waste to a harmonious society. Immediately, with the skill inherited from Doug, I incessantly instilled in them the Principle that "thrift is a virtue" and the Principle that "contributing to society is everyone's responsibility." Seeing their astonished Appearance, I wished I could Force Upon a primary school ethics textbook into their empty Brains.
In front of the Table, there were a total of six people: the Barbarian Brothers—Doug and Gus, the Black-Bellied Paladin Lars, the genuine Paladin Druv and his Wife, the Druid Yihana, and the long-winded Assassin Mardon. All were close Comrades from the last Monster Attack.
"Wahaha—"
Doug, the most straightforward one, was the first to laugh, waving his arms and legs like a comical monkey. I truly felt ashamed of such a Companion. I gave him a disdainful look.
Unexpectedly, what followed were the strange Gazes of the other five.
"I was originally worried that my precious Sarah would be bullied while following you, but now I'm relieved."
Lars exaggeratedly wiped the Corner of the Eye and said while patting my shoulder. It felt extremely awkward. It always felt like he wasn't praising me.
Hey hey, Druv and Gus, you two 'husband' types. Your faces are almost as red as Guan Yu's. Older Sister Yihana, why are you turning your Head away, and your shoulders are shaking so much? Mardon... never mind. This poor child is already lying under the Table. Although you are indeed not as handsome as me, there's no need to be so self-conscious!
"What, you said that was all a trick—???"
My Voice exceeding 100 decibels overwhelmed everyone in the entire Tavern, echoing for a long time. Someone who likes gossip passed it to the Barbarian Instructor's ears, and he couldn't help but sigh towards the sky. What a good prospect, what a pity he became a Druid.
"Wu, don't get too excited. Actually—well... How should I put it... Everyone knows the Situation of the Rogue Encampment. So even if they know it's a trick, everyone contributes Money if they have it, and Labor if they have it. It's just that your Situation is slightly different, hehe—"
Looking at my changing Expression, Druv comforted me with a gentle and serious Tone.
"Is the Rogue Encampment very short on Money?"
I glared intently at Druv.
"As far as I know, it has never been wealthy." He sighed. "Don't look at the high Consumption prices in Lord Akara's shop. An Identify Scroll with low cost is actually sold for 50 Gold Coins. You just have to think, in such a large Camp, the usual public expenditures are already astronomical. And they still have to support tens of thousands of Soldiers, even their families. All of this is supported by Lord Akara's small shop and the meager incomes of a few other Elders. Lord Kashya, who likes to Drink Alcohol, often worries about not being able to Drink Alcohol a bottle of Inn."
"Impossible. She just needs to go out for a stroll and she can earn enough Gold Coins from Monsters. With her Strength/Power, there shouldn't be any problem, right?" I said indifferently.
"Actually, we thought so too, but for some reason, the Monsters Lord Kashya kills just don't drop anything." Druv shook his Head with a wry Smile, seeming to also feel very puzzled. No matter how bad her luck is, it couldn't be this bad, right?
"..."
I suddenly understood this reason. This Old Drunkard Kashya is already Level 78. If Low-level Monsters could still drop Items for her, that would be truly strange. I estimate that even if she killed all the Monsters in the entire Rogue Encampment once, she might not even be able to gather half a Gold Coin.
"What about taxes? Is there no Tax System here?" I widened my eyes Incredulously.
"No. The Rogue Encampment is a mobile, open Gathering Place, and most people don't have much Money on hand. Taxes and such were canceled long ago."
"What about the Training Camp? Don't those Students have to pay tuition?"
"Of course not. If a Student's family has insufficient Labor, the Rogue Encampment must also provide aid. After all, a Warrior with outstanding Aptitude/Talent is very valuable."
I was silent for a moment, then suddenly turned around and strode out.
"Wu, where are you going?" Lars was afraid I was still angry and couldn't help but stand up and shout loudly from behind.
"Going to settle the score with Kashya."