The red-haired woman in the mirror held a wooden comb, brushing it smoothly through her nine fluffy tails from root to tip.
“Well? How is it, my dear lady? This thing sure is tiring…”
“Hmph~ That’s more like it. I’ve calmed down now. I forgive you.”
Yelena grumbled a few times in displeasure, then looked at the sleek and glossy Fox Radish in the mirror. Only then did she truly forgive Yvette for yesterday’s brutality.
When Anna returned and everyone was dressed, the three pushed open the door of the Sword Saint’s residence and headed straight for the Adventurer’s Guild in Antal City.
The guild hall was noisy and bustling, same as always.
Anna took the monster materials brought back from the Snow Moist Forest to the front desk to exchange for the bounty, while Yelena walked familiarly over to the mission bulletin board.
Now she not only had to improve her cooking skills but also needed to find opportunities to practice her newly unlocked Curse Mage profession in real combat.
Scanning the dense rows of parchment, Yelena stopped in front of a yellowed bounty notice.
[Subjugate B-rank monster Rock Scale Lizard and collect the associated plant, Groundfire Lingzhi.]
Yelena’s eyes lit up.
Groundfire Lingzhi! This was an excellent supplementary ingredient for premium medicinal cuisine.
If handled properly, paired with high-grade black-bone chicken and simmered over a low flame, the resulting broth could warm the meridians and also increase the consumer’s mana cap and physical strength.
If she made this dish, not only could she boost her own mana,
but that Strong Woman Yvette’s stats might climb even higher, and Anna’s combat reaction speed could also greatly improve.
“This one!” Yelena tore off the bounty notice.
Yvette leaned in and glanced at the monster illustration on the notice, then ruffled the Little Fox Girl’s head.
“Want to eat it? Then take the quest. Just a big lizard, I’ll chop it down easily.”
Anna took the notice and went to the front desk to register.
Outside the guild gate, the three decided to split up.
Yvette had to go to the Knight Order’s base to discuss defense issues. Anna went to the market for a bulk purchase of adventure supplies.
Yelena pocketed her share of the bounty and said she wanted to check out the commercial street.
“Don’t get lost, little fox.” Yvette pinched her cheek, then turned and left.
“Muffled cheeks…” Yelena mumbled because her face was being kneaded. Yvette seemed to enjoy it, playing with her like clay.
“Do you really think I’m a three-year-old? This cloak is my camouflage!”
Yelena slapped her hand away, straightened her cloak, and headed toward the Magic Long Street in the eastern district of Antal City.
She was now a bona fide Curse Mage and needed to acquire her proper tools of the trade.
She slipped into a magical sundries shop called Arcane Eye. A withered old man was dozing at the counter.
“Boss, I need premium-grade demon beast blood sand, high-level mana-conductive talisman paper, and a brush made from lightning-struck wood.” Yelena tapped the counter with her knuckles.
The old man opened his eyes and looked at the fox-eared girl before him. Slowly, he pulled out three delicate wooden boxes from under the counter.
“Crimson Flame Crystal Sand, century-old lightning-struck wood brush, high-grade magic talisman paper. Fifty gold coins, please.”
Yelena felt this was blatant daylight robbery!
What could she do? Her share of today’s bounty wasn’t even enough. Fifty gold coins would eat up a lot—not to mention the money she’d earned earlier from her stall…
At that moment, two little people appeared in her head: a little fox with demon horns and a little fox with an angel halo.
Demon Fox: “Yelena, what are you afraid of? Yvette will support you. She’s loaded, spend away!”
Angel Fox: “Yelena, wake up! You can’t let Yvette turn you into a useless fox! You’ll owe her forever! Learn to be self-reliant!”
Ugh, forget it!
But to get stronger, she gritted her teeth and counted out a big handful of gleaming gold coins, slapping them on the counter.
Clutching the wooden boxes as she walked out of the shop, her heart was bleeding.
Still, on second thought, with these premium materials, she could draw advanced talismans. Paired with the Fox Blessing skill, the support effect could double.
’I have a feeling that once I unlock new skills, I’ll show you all what this fox can do!’ She clenched her fist inwardly, cheering herself on.
’First, let’s think about what talismans to make: ten Explosion Talismans, ten Buff Talismans, ten Healing Talismans…’
But just as she turned a street corner, her wrist was grabbed forcefully.
“Waaah!!”
“Yelena! Come with me quick!”
A blonde girl jumped out and blocked the road. It was Aisha. Behind her were the mage Kate and the priestess Sylvia.
Yelena was startled. She shook off her hand hard and backed up two steps. “Miss Aisha? What are you doing?”
Aisha’s eyes were red, her voice urgent. “You don’t have to pretend anymore! Last night… I heard everything last night!”
Yelena was completely confused. “Heard what?”
“Your screams in the tent!” Aisha said angrily.
“That crazy woman Yvette—she actually used such despicable means to torture you just to keep you by her side! You must have been coerced, right?”
Yelena froze.
Screams? Last night? In the tent?
Yelena’s face flushed all the way to her ears, and even the fox ears on her head were about to steam.
’Damn it, those weren’t screams of pain! They were from having my tail touched… Aaaah!’
’How could anyone have heard that?!’ She wished she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into right now.
Sylvia stepped forward. “Miss Yelena, if you’re being forced, you can tell us. Or if you don’t want to speak, just blink.
The Holy See has a dedicated shelter in Antal City. Even if she’s the Empire’s Sword Saint, she can’t just ignore the law.”
Kate chimed in too. “That’s right. Even though we’ve only met a few times, we can’t just watch you fall into a pit of fire.”
“No, as a church clergy member, I absolutely cannot stand by and do nothing.”
Sylvia suddenly put on a serious expression, pulled out a Magic Detector, and her gaze shifted to Yelena’s lower ().
She began to take direct action, her eyes moving further to () the skirt beneath Yelena’s cloak, ready to make preparations.
“Wait, Sylvia! You’re not going to…”
Yelena’s thoughts froze. Then Sylvia added from the side,
“That’s right, exactly what you’re thinking, Miss Yelena. I will redeem you. You will always be a good girl.”
No way, sis… You actually want to open (), and conduct a scientific examination?! !
Yelena finally realized that Sylvia was truly a natural dark horse.
Sylvia was always quite serious about these matters, a result of her family upbringing and the influence of the clergy’s pure-hearted precepts.
Now that Yelena had become a girl herself, she truly experienced Sylvia’s “special qualities.”
Maybe she needed to start reevaluating this seemingly innocent little priestess.
Yelena’s fur instantly stood on end in fear. She quickly covered her skirt and rapidly backed away several steps.
“Don’t come near me! You’re the bad guys!”
“Sylvia, your actions are too aggressive…” Aisha frowned slightly, also understanding Yelena’s predicament. “Find another way.”