In a comfortable late summer to early autumn season, Xue La set out—she didn’t bring many people, only her new maid Aoweiliya, and two kitchen helper girls.
For protection, there was the retired imperial guard, Kargon. And Luo Yi…
Two guards, guarding four women of House Linde? Enough?
Perhaps enough, because the only one worth protecting was Miss Xue La Linde.
As for the others…
In many senses, they were expendable… at least the madam would think so.
This team soon left the manor and at a crossroads bid farewell to another team.
A complex team consisting of the steward, many knights of House Linde, and Luo Yi’s grandfather Luodelike, was going to Baldwood Town to exchange bills at the money house—five hundred gold coins was no small amount, naturally they had to pay close attention to security issues.
Xue La knew of Baldwood Town, an “autonomous” city within the Kingdom of Norsenia.
Though called autonomous, in essence it was an inland river port town where House Linde sold wool and refined flour.
There, the ferry and town hall flew the green background sheep flag of House Linde.
The name of this town itself was history: hundreds of years ago, it was a dense forest.
It was spotted by one of Xue La’s shrewd ancestors, who spent great effort to develop and manage it, recruiting people to establish the town—since the trees on both banks of the river were cut down, leaving only bare wasteland, then the town could be called Baldwood Town…
Many years passed, and it became the wealthiest town under House Linde’s rule.
A money house was established there, and the Harvest Festival was regularly held there—until that damned Manticore!
Forget it, no need to mention it.
Anyway, Luo Yi and his grandfather had to part ways: Luodelike went north, Luo Yi went south.
Autumn had not yet arrived, so going to the wild to enjoy the natural scenery, pick herbs and other supplies to prepare for winter—this was part of the peaceful pastoral life of the manor.
The helper sisters chattered noisily, discussing not only how to help Lady Xue La pick herbs, but also which wild fruits and mushrooms were worth picking to fill their stomachs.
Xue La wouldn’t pretend not to know, pricking up her ears to listen.
This wasn’t exactly gossip, but a life skill.
Xue La understood that her transmigration into a game otherworld didn’t mean she had transmigrated into the game itself; there were many attached life skills, best to learn them.
The ability to pick various edible supplies was very practical…
Although in the game mechanics, this always seemed to be the skill of another of Luo Yi’s harem members.
But it’s always good to have more skills.
Learning a bit, helping Lei En a little, when the future Brave defeats the Demon King, the trouble of opening a restaurant would be solved, right?
Listening could also increase experience!
Xue La was working hard…
It was funny to say, but she actually noticed it when flipping through the panel.
Unknowingly, she seemed to have activated a familiar yet unfamiliar panel.
[Affection Panel]
Was this panel specially designed for Luo Yi and Xue La?
Xue La couldn’t be sure, because in the game of her previous life, this panel did not exist.
According to the original game plot, roughly as follows:
Luo Yi was a child bullied in the Linde family.
Later he worked hard and met the Grand Mentor Bali Saihe, learned skills, caused a stir in the Royal Capital, and became the Brave, thus embarking on an adventure—the Norsenian Royal Family, wary of the Brave, secretly sent a spy, and her name was Xue La Linde.
That was herself in the original timeline!
What Xue La knew in detail was that the Affection Panel was specially designed for Luo Yi and his harem, but Xue La’s character was controversial.
This inevitably dragged the ridiculous plot planner out for criticism.
If Xue La was not a romanceable target, but simply a villain spy, then this panel shouldn’t have been designed to deceive players.
But if this panel wasn’t designed, wouldn’t it be a direct hint that “Xue La is not a member of the Brave’s harem,” making subsequent game plot progression weak?
What if a fake sweet panel was designed?
Wouldn’t someone break down halfway, and post the planner’s mother on X, Xiaohongshu, or other game forums?
Anyway, these messes had indeed played out many times on Earth before Xue La’s transmigration, to the point that in different versions, this panel was added and deleted, deleted and added.
There was always someone dissatisfied.
Because no one knew how to handle a “villain maid” like Xue La.
But as for the panel itself, Xue La was still familiar with it.
High affection level teammates joining the party had bonuses.
Take the current panel for example—it showed that the mutual affection level between Xue La and Luo Yi was LV1, not 0.
Therefore, in future parties, both would always enjoy a 5% experience bonus and a 1% critical hit damage bonus.
Many a little makes a mickle, increasing the harem… could always improve this value.
Moreover, the improvement of this panel was also fast.
When Luo Yi cast his gaze at her, Xue La sensed the slow increase in affection level…
Since looking could increase experience, perking up ears to listen was probably a good idea too.
Xue La did so without hesitation.
Aside from the small experience gain and no level up, there were no surprises.
More worthy of concern was that mountain.
“The existence of the Manticore is not a good thing,” Kargon said worriedly.
“The master is still searching through past recruitment reports from hunters and woodcutters in the Southern Mountain Area, trying to find clues. After all, monsters come from the south. The Manticore…”
Is external evil breeding?
Among the Four Kingdoms, only the large Northern Kingdom of Norsenia maintained a bit of peace.
As for the other countries… each had its own difficulties!
“Furthermore, the fear effect brought by the Manticore is also affecting the hunter and woodcutter community,” Kargon analyzed.
“During this time, the number of people entering the mountains legally has decreased—so the illegal ones have increased.”
Kargon vividly described an incident where poachers broke into the Varna Royal Forest to steal something.
Illegal poachers were often vicious criminals, carrying bows, knives, or other weapons.
So, no matter how careful, it was not excessive.
Kargon reiterated this point, arranging himself and Lei En to be at the front and back, guarding the girls.
They didn’t have weapons, only carrying baskets and knives, ready to pick enough herbs and wild fruits.
Xue La didn’t take Kargon’s warning seriously.
After all, it was the Linde family’s own mountain forest, so safety should be guaranteed.
House Linde was a rural family, but their territory was not in a border area; peaceful neighbors surrounded them on all sides, so there was no need to be overly fearful.
At least that was Xue La’s thinking.
“I hope so, but one must be prepared for the worst!”
Kargon shook his head with a wry smile.
“What if there’s still a Manticore in the mountains? Or lurking poachers or bandits?”
Xue La looked up and said with a smile.
“Not afraid, I have Luo Yi! With him here, I’m not afraid of anything.”
After all, Luo Yi was the future Brave.
The road grew narrower at the end, and the vegetation on both sides grew denser.
They were finally going up the mountain!
Picking wild fruits, collecting herbs…
Everything was normal.
Until a rustling sound came from the bushes.
From the green vegetation, a bald head emerged.
Or two?
Kargon and Luo Yi, without a word, grasped the swords at their waists.
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