Upon returning home, Lu Xin saw Ailya crouching at the door, looking at the three monsters.
Without turning around, Ailya said softly, “You’re back.”
“Mm.”
“Are you sure you’re going with them tomorrow?”
“Mm.”
They were silent for a long time. Ailya stood up and turned to look at Lu Xin, her eyes filled with complex emotions.
Worry, reluctance, and something Lu Xin couldn’t understand.
Ailya tentatively asked, “I’ll go with you.”
“No need. This time it’s not as simple as looking for a cat. Besides, the Knight Order probably doesn’t want outsiders coming along.”
“Oh~, so you’ve become one of the Knight Order members now.”
“……”
Lu Xin’s scalp tingled. It seemed that whenever the topic involved Audrey, Ailya’s tone always turned strange.
“I’m an auxiliary member, probably also serving as cannon fodder.” Lu Xin shrugged and said self-deprecatingly.
“By the way, since you’re leaving, why did you have them hunt these monsters?”
Lu Xin looked at the monsters on the ground, then took out the bag of gold coins and handed it to her.
“Here.”
Ailya stared blankly at the bag full of gold coins. A flicker of surprise and delight shone in her amber-colored pupils, but she quickly recovered.
“You… why are you giving me this?”
Ailya turned her face slightly away. She didn’t understand why Lu Xin was giving her this.
“There’s no way I can take this into the forest. Of course I’m leaving it in your care.”
“You… aren’t you afraid I’ll take this bag of gold and leave Morning Breeze Town?”
“I am.”
Hearing Lu Xin’s words, Ailya puffed out her cheeks, looking at him with a mix of anger and grievance.
Lu Xin reached out and ruffled Ailya’s red hair, while stuffing the bag into her arms, chuckling softly.
“What I’m afraid of is that I won’t see you when I get back. As for the gold coins, they’re meant to be spent. It doesn’t matter if you spend them or I spend them.”
Hearing Lu Xin’s explanation, Ailya felt much better and couldn’t help but rub against his palm.
‘Oh, being able to pet Ailya’s red hair openly felt great.’
Lu Xin enjoyed the softness in his palm and added, “The monsters on the ground are for you to eat.”
“This much meat should last you a long time, probably.”
Owlbears and tree pythons could be used to make fairly good magic items, but Lu Xin didn’t have that much time to wait, and no one in the small town could make them.
Now that Ailya had a bag of gold, he would leave these monsters as food for her.
Given Ailya’s own strength, even if he left, she should be able to live well.
Thinking this and that, Lu Xin suddenly remembered something.
“Oh, right.”
“What is it?”
“Do you still have that mana-restoring water you had me drink before?”
Ailya trembled almost imperceptibly, her face instantly turning bright red. She turned away and stammered.
“You… you want some?”
“Mm, so I can replenish my mana in the forest in time.”
“Tomorrow morning… I’ll get it for you. How many do you want?”
Lu Xin stroked his chin and pretended to ponder. “Hmm, let’s start with a hundred bottles.”
Hearing this, Ailya slammed into Lu Xin’s chest, nearly making him think he was about to die on the spot.
“Are you trying to die? How could… a hundred bottles be possible?”
Steadying himself, Lu Xin gasped a few times and quickly explained, “Just a joke. Three bottles are enough.”
Huffing angrily, Ailya crossed her arms and turned around with a “Hmph.”
The next morning, Lu Xin slung the wooden spear on his back, tucked a short sword at his waist, and hid throwing knives in his chest.
He reached out and took the three small bottles of clear liquid Ailya handed him. In addition, a bottle of purple potion was also tucked into his chest.
After packing up, he pushed open the wooden door.
Outside the door, Audrey was already waiting with most of the Knight Order members. She had left only two members on standby in Morning Breeze Town.
Including Audrey and Ruilin, the Knight Order members on this trip totaled 19 people. With Lu Xin, that made 20.
Besides the Knight Order members, the townsfolk who were friendly with Lu Xin also came to see him off.
“Big brother, you have to come back safely.” Lina was accompanied by two orange cats, still round and chubby.
“Mm, you can come play with Sister Ai when you have time. Without me to keep her company, she’ll definitely be bored.”
From behind, he felt a light tap. Lu Xin turned around and saw Ailya staring straight at him, clearly signaling him not to talk nonsense.
Lu Xin nodded, indicating he understood, then turned back to Lina and said, “See, your Sister Ai really can’t bear to part with me.”
“Lu Xin!”
Audrey watched helplessly as Lu Xin and Ailya joked around. On the other hand, her adjutant Ruilin seemed quite interested.
“What is it, Ruilin?”
“Captain, don’t you think that Miss Ailya…”
“Hmm?”
Ruilin hesitated. As a dark elf, she was very sensitive to mana and racial scents.
This was her first time meeting Ailya, but she inexplicably felt a bit of trepidation toward her.
For this expedition into the forest, except for Audrey who rode a horse, the other members followed on foot.
Lu Xin was a bit puzzled about this. Although he hadn’t interacted much with Audrey, she shouldn’t be the type to be pampered.
But seeing that the other knights had no objections, Lu Xin didn’t bother asking.
Lu Xin had originally thought to talk with the knights—no, without horses, they should be called soldiers.
Lu Xin had intended to chat with the soldiers to get some information, but unfortunately, no one was willing to start a conversation.
Although Ruilin was curious about Lu Xin, she only wanted to follow Audrey.
The departure time arrived. Audrey glanced at Lu Xin, then led the Knight Order people toward the Misty Forest.
Ailya stood at the back of the crowd, not moving forward, just quietly watching him.
Lu Xin waved at her, then turned and strode to catch up with the Knight Order.
The outskirts of the forest didn’t require Lu Xin to guide them. What truly needed Lu Xin was the interior.
But how could Lu Xin possibly know the way inside the Misty Forest? He could only blame the increasingly absurd rumors.
However, Lu Xin didn’t really mind. He just had to lead these people inward.
Curiosity was his compass.
Ailya returned to the cabin. Seeing the empty room, she still felt a bit lonely.
Usually, she was with Lu Xin, having someone to talk to.
It was all that woman’s fault with her cold face, and that dark elf beside her, who didn’t seem like a good person either.
The more Ailya thought about it, the angrier she got. So angry that she started to process the monsters Lu Xin left behind.
After eating, Ailya stared in the direction of the Misty Forest and pondered.
Lu Xin should belong to her. How could she let Lu Xin go alone into such a dangerous place?
Besides, that cold-faced woman and the despicable dark elf must be going in for treasure.
Treasure, treasure.
Thinking of this, Ailya smiled blankly.
‘She thought, why shouldn’t she and Lu Xin together seize the treasure?’
Having thought this through, she nodded seriously, her eyes growing brighter.