Memorizing the alphabet was hard; actually learning the tones though, impossible. I just couldn't produce the same sounds. It was almost like you needed to be a demon to be able to speak demonically.
Whenever I attempted, I sounded like a toddler making squeaking noises. Technically, I was a toddler but that wasn't the problem.
However, things were moving along smoother than I expected, particularly because I was hellbent on learning the language and more about the world.
Apparently, there were some distinct islands near the demon continent. Some islands were just typical islands, while others were cursed or something along those lines.
But one thing bothered me a bit. Apparently, there were patches of shallow waters, stretching for kilometers. These waters were haunted by sirens, often had deep pocket, and no one knew if there was actual land or civilization there. Ships couldn't get into the shallow water, and sailors who swam in- never came back. Sounded like a typical horror plot but that didn't scare me. What scared me was the fact that… there was a chance, nay, there was a good chance for Den and Lin to be there. Author Sarton had termed that patch of the ocean as 'the Forbidden Continent' suggesting it might be bigger than most sailors would have you believe. But let's search there last.
Actually, before starting, I needed a good few things. One, a rescue crew; two, even more knowledge; and three, not being a little child. And one of them was actually impossible.
I couldn't let that stop me, however.
The reason I didn't rush to Sun port was simple; I needed a plan. And now I had a plan. I just had to find a way to execute it. And I needed money for that of course.
I already had a good idea about how to make money. But that much wouldn't be enough for long journeys and- No, I should just sell an elixir.
Yeah, that was probably for the best. I had seven remaining, and I could easily sell them for profit.
But sell them to who? Did I even know people who were super rich and were in need of something so damn precious?
Well, the duke won't do.
He already had enough elixirs, and his wife was practically good as new- ahem… they never thanked me officially though. Maybe I could ask for his assistance? He didn't really have any obligation to help me. At least not anymore. I was already asking a lot of Nisa during the meeting sessions, so I couldn't really ask more of her either. I had to consider that she was a different person and had her own goals, separate from mine.
Guess I'll do some Adventuring.
***
Technically, I was one of the lower ranked adventurers. However, upon completing the church's job (or quitting) I got two promotions. I had no idea if it was because Alayla praised me, or because the guild just assumed I did a good job.
Either way, I wasn't the lowest ranked adventurer anymore and that meant I could take on some of the more challenging jobs like helping farmers, rescuing dogs, cleaning abandoned houses; none of them paid well. Of course, they paid more than lowest ranked jobs (cleaning bath tubs and toilets) but still! D ranked adventure jobs are also pretty shit, huh?
Argh… at this rate-
Instead of thinking too much, I went to Anya's place. The fruits were coming along nicely and some of them had taken a rather pink hue.
We actually had some improvements. Namely, the plant grew three more branches and five sub branches and all sub branches grew new buds; the tree itself was a foot taller. Technically, Honeycrisp only ever budded once a year, so this was a miracle. Well, sort of. This was only possible thanks to Rexy, who had to spend a lot of her time here.
And she was doing it for me without complaint.
"Once this fruit ripens, I should stop leaving Rexy here. I need to be a bit more considerate to her."
"Who the fuck are you even talking to?" Anya said; apparently, she was behind me.
"Oh, uh…" Yeah, I might or might not have been speaking aloud for no reason at all.
"I don't think she needs to stay here much. I've been trying to figure what whether this tree would work elsewhere, under different conditions."
Right now, the tree was by the window, showering in the basking evening sun.
"You haven't been secretly moving it around the house, right?"
"Not really. But I have been breaking off branches and shoving them in dirt. Turns out, this guy's really procreative."
"Huh? You're breaking off its branches!"
"Calm down," she shrugged. "We have eighteen new saplings now. And all of them are doing well and would fruit next year; look, this one even has a bud." She pointed outside the window and I took a look. She was right, we had actual saplings and one with buds!
"Huh? How? I mean, Rexy's here, or are you making her work too hard?"
"You really are on edge today, huh?" She sighed. "Well, I have no idea what she did to this plant but it's already a spirit in itself and all its offsprings are also half spirits and have been adapting a bit too well. If not controlled, this plant will spread all over the continent; meanwhile, the main tree will become a giant tree like the one see in the Southern Capital, but better and bigger."
"You mean, I'll get to eat those big Honeycrisps again?"
"Of course that's your takeaway." Anya rolled her eyes.
"Doesn't this mean, we could make a lot of profit?"
"We sure can. I tried talking hypotheticals to an herbalist and he ballparked the saplings to roughly 5 gold apiece."
"Do the saplings also have the same procreative abilities?"
"They don't. But I'm sure if Rexy spends time here with them, they'll become just like the main tree."
"Yeah, let's not do that. We don't want ruin everything else here."
"Pretty sure, it'll be somewhat ruined either way. But good for you. Now you can eat all you can eat Honeycrips."
"Yeah."
Too bad, I won't be here anymore though.