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.