Hmm!
Hoo~
A morning after replenishing mana is just so refreshing~
Or maybe the air in the Great Forest is simply fresher than in the castle?
Ileya leaned against a large tree, holding a bowl of milky white thick soup in her hands.
Inside were some healthy-looking brown mushrooms along with diced cured meat and sausage…
She couldn’t help but marvel once again—
Jenny, though still a little immature and flawed in her ways, really was quite the skilled cook.
It was a shame she wasn’t a professional chef.
Thinking that, Ileya lifted the bowl and took a delicate sip of the mushroom soup.
“Tsk tsk…But with skills like these, you won’t have trouble getting married~ You’ll make a fine bride one day.”
The Lady smacked her lips, speaking with the tone of an old woman lamenting.
Bride…
bride…
Sitting nearby, Jenny’s face instantly flushed bright red.
“I…bride, huh…Actually…I…I want to serve the Lady forever…”
“Another bowl!!”
Ugh!
Jenny’s shy confession was abruptly cut off by a loud, carefree voice.
The two exchanged glances for two seconds before Miss Jenny sighed deeply and reached out to take the wooden bowl from the goddess’s hands.
Really…why do I even bother looking after this idiot… tsk!
And haven’t you already had your fourth bowl?
Eating that much…aren’t you afraid of getting fat?!
Fat…getting fat…
Right!
Fat to death!
Then you won’t have any competition!
Thinking that, Jenny’s smile faded a little from helplessness and turned more genuine.
“If it tastes good, eat more~ If you want some later, I’ll make it again for Veil~”
Waaah!!
Such a good person!
Truly a wonderful person!
At that moment, in Miss Veil’s eyes, Jenny—who provided the food—seemed to have a holy halo appearing behind her head!
The Goddess of the Dead couldn’t help but want to cry…
“Hehe…um…Lady~”
And just as everyone chatted idly like this, a flattering voice sounded near Ileya’s ear.
Turning her head, it was none other than the captured member of the Hunter Blade Mercenary Group.
Wind Veiler Erika Reed.
“Um…this Lady Dingzhen, I…you see, I’ve provided so much information to you all…I can’t go back to the Hunter Blade Mercenary Group…could you…take me in?”
Faced with this Wind Veiler’s shameless self-recommendation, Ileya raised an eyebrow slightly.
“You betrayed your old master without hesitation before, and now you’re begging for refuge?”
This one doesn’t look quite as naive as she seems…
“Uh…indeed, but I can promise you! As long as my life isn’t threatened…I absolutely will not betray you!”
Huh?
This kind of guarantee left everyone around—except Amisa and Ileya—in a state of confusion.
Such a promise is almost insulting to one’s intelligence…who would entrust such a person with their affairs…?
Too unreliable…
“Fine~ You’ll work under Jenny from now on. Consider it a chance I’m giving you.”
But what no one expected was that after hearing the guarantee, the Lady wasn’t angry at all. Instead, she slowly nodded and agreed to the request.
Extremely rare.
Because in Ileya’s eyes, Erika truly was a petty, cowardly person…but such people were often the most genuine.
Unlike some who loudly proclaim sacrificing everything for justice and righteousness…
In reality, except for 0.1% of true saints, 99.9% can’t bear even the slightest threat to their own interests… hypocrites.
“So what is it that you really crave?”
“Money! I just want money!”
Erika answered plainly and decisively, once again causing everyone—except Ileya and Amisa—to facepalm.
This one is cunning at times, but somehow oddly honest…
“Hehehehe~ I must say, I kind of admire you. But you know? A year from now, the Human Kingdom might go to war with some High Being…someone like you…would you become a traitor to the enemy and side with the High Being?”
A serious matter.
Ileya spoke while her red eyes slowly stared at Erika.
Huh?
A year from now…
Upon hearing this, the Wind Veiler was momentarily stunned, her expression growing serious.
Then she seemed to genuinely ponder the matter.
“I…probably won’t~ After all…I’m human too~”
After a few seconds of thought, she scratched the back of her head and answered with a faint smile.
Who would believe that now…everyone thought silently.
Breakfast time quickly came to an end.
Everyone in the Blue Crow Mercenary Group packed their belongings, preparing to end this somewhat absurd yet rewarding journey.
“Ugh…why do I have to carry the stuff…”
The Goddess muttered in protest, but seeing Ileya’s faintly amused expression, she reluctantly slumped and loaded the rolled-up tent onto the wagon.
Damn wicked woman!
“Lady!”
Just as everything was nearly packed, Jenny ran over from the side, with the newly allied captive trailing behind her.
She whispered a piece of news into Ileya’s ear…
Yesterday, Blue Crow and Nolan, who were rescued from the Thirteenth Mine, had both woken up.
And both came looking for the public face of leadership…
Jenny.
“Oh? What did they say?”
Ileya had no strong impression of this cheap cousin.
In her memory…they had barely interacted, just like Amisa said…
After her mother remarried, she completely severed contact with her maternal family.
At least officially.
“They didn’t come together but separately. Apparently, Blue Crow and Young Master Nolan had some disagreements before.”
Jenny explained.
Before Ileya could raise an eyebrow to ask further, the Demon’s Retainer spoke up again.
“So I asked the High Priest of the Dark Passage, and it seems that in a critical moment, Blue Crow betrayed Young Master Nolan to save himself. Is that right?”
Ileya nodded slightly; such behavior from Blue Crow didn’t surprise her.
“Then…Young Master Nolan intends to buy a Rock Dragon Egg from us, from you.”
At this, Jenny fell silent for two seconds.
“And then?”
“Uh…when Blue Crow came to me…hehe, he thanked me for the help and suggested we bring out the spoils to divide…”
Jenny’s face twisted in a mix of amusement and embarrassment.
Hmm~
Maybe the defeat in this battle shattered his pride completely, and he’s desperate to prove something…
For example, if he gets the Rock Dragon Egg, he could claim he’s achieved the greatest goal, making all previous failures vanish.
Such psychology is common but looks foolish in the current context.
“And also…”
Jenny pointed behind her.
“Erika said…that guy has been following me since just now. He should be hiding nearby…”
It must be said…although this new assistant lacks scruples, her ability is quite outstanding.
Truly deserving of her reputation as a renowned mercenary.
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