Eighty-Fourth Chapter: A Small Agreement
The next day, in the Chapel of the Rogue Encampment, we held a simple funeral for Griswold. Not many people came to mourn, because most Class Changers nowadays no longer knew who Griswold was. Only some old people who had a relationship with him were there, including a few Elders I knew, Akara, Kashya, Cain, and a white-bearded old man wearing a Magic Robe—it was surprisingly the Old Mage I saw for the first time in the Tavern who set up the Soundproof Barrier. Could he be the legendary President of the Mage Guild?
Perhaps noticing my Gaze, the Old Mage turned his head and nodded slightly towards me with a Gaze full of Sorrow, greeting me. It seemed he was not unfamiliar with my Appearance, but in this solemn atmosphere of mourning, it was not a good time for chatting, so our meeting this time was just a simple greeting.
Finally, presided over by an old man in a white Cleric's Robe with a face full of grief, Griswold, who had been manipulated by the Hell Clan for decades, was finally laid to rest. In the densely packed Graveyard near the Church, another inconspicuous small Tombstone was added.
After the funeral, I seemed to have nowhere else to go. Sha La had been sent to the Magic Training Area a few days after I left to learn some basic Magic Knowledge and wouldn't be back until evening. Lars and the others weren't around either. Cain and Akara? Forget it, they had just lost an old Friend, who would be in the mood to chat with you? I heard Griswold was also one of the Elders of the Rogue Encampment before.
I thought for a moment and finally decided to go to Charsi's Blacksmith's Shop first to leave some Equipment with insufficient Durability for her to repair, and then I came to the Rogue Tavern. This place was crowded and noisy, making it the best place to gather News. As a Class Changer, being uninformed wouldn't do.
Walking into the Tavern, it was still bustling with people, various sounds buzzing in my ears, making the whole world before my eyes seem to vibrate. Fortunately, there were still seats available. I endured the noise filling my ears and found a seat nearby, pricking up my ears to carefully filter out useful information.
Most of the people nearby were Barbarians, loudly boasting about their Battle Records. These brave yet Face-conscious Warriors never knew what restraint was. As long as they encountered something new during a Trial or killed some Elite, it would become their capital to loudly brag about, as if afraid others wouldn't know. However, three parts were bragging, but seven parts were Fact. Some of these things really opened my eyes. There were also some more gossipy Adventurers, loudly discussing where a certain Party had gone for Trial again, or who had gotten a piece of good Equipment... Although not entirely credible, it shouldn't be completely baseless either.
When I came out of the Tavern, my ears still seemed to be filled with buzzing screams, but the harvest was quite good. I got several important pieces of News. The first was that Blood Raven had been killed by a certain High-Level Adventurer Party a few days ago. Sweat, I had planned to go to the Burial Grounds to find trouble with her after Light Snow evolved. Fortunately, I came to the Tavern, otherwise, I would have made a wasted trip.
The second piece of News was about Lars and the others. They seemed to have already entered the Tamoe Highland, as several Class Changers had encountered them. According to Cain's encyclopedia, a completely new and very troublesome Monster, the Skeleton Mage, had started appearing in the Tamoe Highland. Without high Magic Resistance, it was very dangerous there. Alas! I hope they can be safe.
There was also News about Sister Sharna. I heard someone seemed to have seen her on the second level of the Cemetery, although it wasn't very certain, it still made me breathe a sigh of relief. Having News is better than having no News.
The last piece of News was more mysterious. According to rumors circulating among some Adventurers, the Monsters seemed to be more irritable recently. A Village near the Rogue Encampment called Doug's Village seemed to have suffered a minor Attack. Fortunately, the losses were not serious.
I gathered so much useful information in such a short time. It seems the Tavern is really a good place, I should pay more attention to it in the future, I sighed, looking at the late Sky.
Well, it's time to go to Auntie Shari's place for a free meal.
It was Sha La who opened the door for me. She had just returned from the Magic Training Camp. Before my foot even crossed the threshold, her eyes lit up, and she pulled me with her small hand to sit down in the Courtyard. Then, with her clear voice like a nightingale, she continuously recounted her experiences in the Magic Training Area. Seeing the happy and satisfied expression on her Face, I felt that letting her learn Magic was definitely the right choice.
Seeing her talking excitedly, I simply leaned back against the Large Tree behind me and closed my eyes, letting her clear and sweet voice echo in my ears, occasionally responding with a few words. Looking at her charming Smile, feeling the light breeze gently brush against my Face, it felt a little cool. The snow-white clouds in the Sky drifted leisurely and boundlessly. A faint freshness mixed with Green Grass and Dirt permeated the surroundings, giving me a Feeling as if I were in a paradise. All War and Slaughter, the shadow of death, the bitterness of Survival, were temporarily far from my Brain, leaving only this beloved voice, this peaceful scenery. Unconsciously, I became intoxicated.
When I woke up, the Little Angel beside me had stopped singing. I only felt a warm and soft fragrance in my arms. Looking down, I realized that Sha La had somehow crawled into my arms, her Head resting on my chest, her small nose gently exhaling a sweet Aura. She had actually fallen asleep peacefully.
That cute sleeping Face still wore her signature angelic Smile, I didn't know what beautiful dream she was having. Her quiet and beautiful Appearance was so peaceful and happy. Looking at her Appearance, she was probably exhausted. Magic Training is still very hard. As far as I know, even when learning Magic, one must still undergo some basic physical training every day.
"We made an Agreement, Sha La will be Big Brother's Mercenary in the future!"
Sha La in her dream suddenly revealed a brilliant Smile and murmured to herself. Her pink small Head buried in my Body rubbed a few times, finding a more comfortable position.
Haha, this little girl, I resisted the urge to pinch her small nose. The weather was still very cold. I took off my outer Clothes and draped them over Sha La, then quietly enjoyed—this peace and happiness that I might never be able to enjoy again in my entire life. No, I will fight for it with my own hands. Looking at the sleeping Sha La, I secretly made up my mind.
I Required Strength, I Required more Strength...
In a daze, my nose felt a tickle. I slightly opened my eyes, and what came into view was Sha La, holding a small blade of grass and scratching my nose with interest. Sweat...
I suddenly opened my eyes and pretended to look fiercely at Sha La. She was indeed startled, quickly threw away the small blade of grass in her hand, and turned to run.
Hehe, where are you running? I grabbed her and pulled her into my arms.
"Little girl, you dare to disturb my sleep? See how I punish you this time, wahahaha..." I imitated the laughter of a villain while looking "fiercely" at Sha La in my arms.
Hmm, why is there no sound? My heart panicked, and I loosened the hands holding Sha La.
"What's wrong, Sha La, did I hurt you?"
After a while, Sha La finally raised her Head from my arms, revealing that dreamlike Appearance. Her fair and tender Face was blushing, her eyes flowing, as if covered with a thin layer of mist. Her light red eyes looked at me shyly and timidly, and a charming Aura that should not appear at her age flowed from her pure Face, exuding a fatal temptation.
Not good, very not good. I swallowed a mouthful of saliva—what was this subtle Atmosphere? Although I liked Sha La, it would undoubtedly be very Foul Beast-like to have improper thoughts about her at her age. However, calming down, the soft and Jade-like Feeling in my arms gradually became clearer. The developing Maiden's Body, even through a thick layer of Clothes, could feel the exquisite curves inside. Coupled with the faint virgin fragrance vaguely coming from the air, and that shy and charming angelic Appearance, even a Sage would feel the heat...
Just as I was in a heavenly-human struggle, Sha La in my arms finally made a faint sound like a mosquito.
"Big Brother, I just slept with you, does that mean Sha La is already your Wife?"
I was secretly stunned, and then secretly found it amusing—so that was the reason she was shy. I had just thought she was feeling something... Sweat! Seeing her extremely shy expression, my heart suddenly felt light for some reason. The desire that had just ignited immediately dissipated into the clouds.
"Then, is Sha La willing to be my Wife?"
"Mm."
Sha La nodded almost imperceptibly in my arms, then shyly buried her small Head deeper.
"Then, after Sha La comes out of the Magic Training Camp and becomes an excellent Sorceress, you will be my Wife," I said gently and seriously, lightly playing with her pink long hair with my fingers.
"Come out of the Magic Training Camp and become a Sorceress?"
Sha La looked up at me in surprise, "Mom said it will take at least six years."
"What, can't wait? Oh my, our Little Sarah is really something!"
I teased her with interest. As expected, she shook her Head like a rattle drum in shyness, then fiercely bumped my chest with her forehead.
"No, I... I don't care, hmph..."
"Haha..." I laughed heartily, my affection for her growing even stronger.
"By that time, if Sha La wants to be a Mercenary, then be my Mercenary."
"Mm."
The girl in my arms nodded gently and said nothing more.
"Cough cough..."
Just as the Atmosphere was great, a cough suddenly came from the side. I saw Auntie Shari standing at the door, looking at the two of us with a half-smile.
"Although I don't want to disturb you two, Sha La, I remember I asked you to call 'your Big Brother' for dinner, right? How did calling him turn into being called into his arms?"
Auntie Shari said with a smile, deliberately emphasizing a few words, looking like an irreverent elder, actually teasing her own Daughter.
Sha La finally reacted, cried out in surprise, and jumped out of my arms, running back into the House in a flash with a flushed Face.
As for me, I'm not boasting, I don't have many strengths, but my Face/Reputation is a bit thicker than normal people's. Auntie Shari's teasing was like a mosquito bite to me, not to mention I held a handle over them.
"Not at all, we're just learning from you and Uncle Lar!"
I pretended to be shy and smiled at Aunt Shali, not forgetting to show a look of admiration.
"You brat, what, you're already starting to care for and protect Sha La? Aren't you afraid you won't pass my test?!"
Auntie Shari glared at me fiercely. She was still holding a grudge about the last time she and Lars were caught in a passionate embrace by me and the Barbarian Brothers.