Aiko was relieved when she heard that Lin Da had refused Isa's invitation and had not joined the Ice Flower Adventure Team.
But the arrival of Dawen and others made her heart leap into her throat again.
To that Isa, a well-reputed level 15 Healer and a Healer who could command the Ice Flower Adventure Team through the twelfth floor had completely different meanings.
Commanding was generally taken up by the captain, but since Isa belonged to a front-line class, dividing her attention was extremely taxing on her energy. As such, when the captain is from a front-line class, this task is usually left to the support in the back row, just as the Snow Goose Adventure Team did.
Now, Lin Da's departure was equivalent to giving Isa an opportunity she was thrilled about.
Once she bent down to ask, there was a chance that Lin Da might actually join.
The main problem is that Lia was too cheap, and compared to her, Lin Da could very likely be taken advantage of by Isa in her moment of vulnerability.
They're all flat-chested... The distaste in Aiko's heart almost showed on her face.
"Sorry, Lin Da isn't home, you made this trip for nothing."
After Aiko sent Dawen and the rest away, the smile gradually disappeared from her face, and she coldly watched another mansion in the same district, unable to stop herself from violently punching the wall.
As a Mage, her delicate fist cracked and bled.
But she herself seemed unaware, her face solemn as she bit her lip.
She won't lick me anymore, but now she's licking the Ice Flower's people?
What gives her the right?
Aiko was so angry she felt like she was about to explode.
The dog she had painstakingly raised for three years had not yet yielded any fruit, so why should Isa be allowed to snatch it away halfway?
It's fine for Lin Da to linger outside like a stray dog, but if someone wants to take this stray dog home, Aiko would never agree.
"My things... no one is allowed to take them away..."
Aiko's dark gaze fixed on her thumb as she bit it, her teeth grinding against her nail in a chilling, grinding sound reminiscent of a wild beast chewing its prey.
By chance, a stray cat passed near her, and on seeing this monster with two large lumps on its chest, it couldn't help but let out a frightened meow before running away.
"What's going on, Aiko? It's so noisy outside."
Lia walked out with a scowl on her face.
"Nothing, just a bunch of flies. I chased them away."
Aiko instantly resumed her smile, hiding her injured right hand behind her, her voice pleasant and amiable.
The speed of her switch was as if she had put on a mask.
"Is that so?" Lia asked absentmindedly, not suspicious, and went back inside the villa.
Aiko deliberately didn't tell Lia about Lin Da helping Isa.
What if Lia suddenly came to her senses and went to get Lin Da back?
Although it was highly unlikely, what if it happened? If something occurred between them, her plan would be ruined.
Aiko could see right through Lia's thoughts, but as for Lin Da... three years ago there might have been some feelings, but now, Aiko could not be sure.
"Lia as well as Isa, if you insist on competing with me, don't blame me for not being nice."
The light flowed out from the open door of the villa, casting a shadow on Aiko's face under the eaves.
In the place behind Lia that she couldn't see, Aiko squinted her eyes, her cheeks flushed, her lips curling into a twisted smile.
She was like a giant predatory beast lurking in the darkness, her gaping maw filled with serrated teeth dripping with viscous saliva.
Aiko used her magic power to drive her wheelchair, following Lia into the villa. Throughout, Lia never noticed anything off about Aiko.
...
Elsewhere, at the same time.
In the Sparrow District, an old residential building, apartment 303.
Creak~
The wooden door opened, and Kafni returned with food.
"Here you go, your order." Kafni placed a fragrant, steaming plate of pork chop rice in front of Lin Da.
Lin Da looked up in surprise, "Thanks?"
"Ha, even a heartless deity like myself wouldn't let a hero go hungry," after all, I still need to rely on the hero to defeat the Demon King."
Kafni opened her own luxurious eel rice, stood up straight with her head held high, and spoke with an air of superiority.
Seeing the eel rice in her hand, Lin Da's eyelids twitched, sensing an ominous premonition. The pork chop rice cost 20 copper coins while the luxurious eel rice was at least 50... By that reckoning, he and Kafni had less than 1 silver coin left.
This was simply... a deity squandering wealth!
Lin Da helplessly rubbed his forehead.
Though he didn't want to do it, he would have to borrow some gold coins from an old friend tomorrow.
With Kafni's spending habits, they would starve the day after tomorrow.
"But why isn't it two portions of luxurious eel rice?"
He suddenly found it strange—if Kafni had no concept of money, why didn't she get the same for him? She opted for a cheaper pork chop rice for him but her own was pricey.
"Wouldn't two portions cost a silver coin?" Kafni replied matter-of-factly, "Aren't heroes supposed to serve deities? It's already very generous of me not to have just brought you plain rice."
"There seems to be some logic in that." Lin Da forced a smile and flexed his arms. "I think we better clarify who exactly is the 'master' here."
Kafni's complexion changed slightly, clearly aware that she was no match for Lin Da.
Lin Da's hero occupation came with very high initial attributes.
Even at level 0, his attributes were close to that of a level 3 warrior, and he was not someone a level 0 thief like her could compete with.
"Wait...! I was just joking. I splurged on the eel rice because I came upon some good fortune!" Kafni said hurriedly and with a head full of sweat, trying to explain, "The 'Legendary Skill Stone' I ordered has arrived by courier. I bought it with all my Contribution Points, so a meal of eel rice isn't too much, right?"
She quickly took out a golden round stone from her bosom.
Under the light emitted by the stone, the dim rental room was suddenly illuminated, and a rich magic power could be felt all around.
"Legendary Skill Stone?"
The grudge regarding the eel rice dissipated from Lin Da as he took the stone with curiosity.
The stone was not big, about the size of a quail egg, and felt somewhat warm in his hand.
Upon touching his palm, the Skill Stone buzzed and vibrated, and a surge of golden light flowed into his body.
The personal panel popped up before his eyes.
System prompt: You have acquired the Legendary skill [Purifying Witch]!
Clicking the skill in the skill section, you can see its specific effects.
Purifying Witch: Through contact with any part of the body, purify the contractual erosion within the Witch's body. Upon complete purification, the Witch Series Skills will be unlocked.
Note: The higher the Witch's trust, the more thorough the purification.
What the heck?
Lin Da frowned, feeling like he hit the jackpot in a ten-pull gacha but the prize was off. This Legendary skill seemed great, with the ability to unlock a Witch Series Skill Tree, and such skill trees usually weren't bad given their special conditions for unlocking.
But the issue lay in the prerequisite: to completely purify a Witch.
That's when things get tricky.
In the game, the Witch occupation was manageable; you paid 1688 as a 'price' to sign a contract and become a [Witch].
As long as you recharged 648 every month thereafter, you could keep using the Witch occupation. But if the recharging stopped, the Witch would suffer from contract backlash and succumb to the Shadow.
This setup wasn't much of an issue in the game; it merely meant a swift end to the planner.
However, when this setup became reality on the Mystic Continent, it meant...
In any city, merely mentioning the word 'Witch' could lead to arrest by the Law Enforcement Bureau.
There's a rumor that if you talk about Witches, they might actually appear beside you, bringing calamity.