“…” Ji Bai lowered his head and fell into contemplation.
“…Why do I have to enlist the help of others? I can handle it myself.”
As she looked at Ji Bai’s hesitant expression, Lan Yi knew this move of hers had an effect on him.
“I am only handling things based on the rules and regulations of the Chivalric Order, and ignoring the rest. You need to understand that letting you go already is a textbook representation of going through a backdoor. Concerning a newbie who has entered the chivalric order for less than a month, that is.”
“I understand.” After pondering for a moment, Ji Bai silently nodded and left the lounge.
As far as the inarticulate Ji Bai was concerned, it really was somewhat difficult to negotiate with his demonic classmates.
………………
“…And that’s how it went.”
“Oh-hoh! Sewer adventures, huh! Sounds like it’s going to be quite interesting!” Muttered Huo Lei to himself while hitting a bent sword with his hammer, causing a shower of sparks.
“However, there still are a lot of things I need to do. A few days ago, the weapon shop had sent me some more goods to polish and repair.” Huo Lei stroked his chin.
“Then forget it.” Ji Bai had no intentions to coax and pester him, so he turned around to leave.
“Hey, don’t be in a hurry, comrade, hold on a moment. Even though I don’t have time today, it’s still possible for me to make some time tomorrow. That said, I am not going to help for free…”
“If you’re unsatisfied with the small reward, I can give my share to you.”
“Forget it, forget it. You’d better keep those rewards for yourself and buy some decent clothes. You can just treat me to a cup of liquor once all is said and done.”
“…Thank you.” Ji Bai was silent for a moment before he nodded to express his gratitude.
“What are you thanking me for? It’s natural for friends to help each other in times of need.”
“Friends…?” Asked Ji Bai softly.
…………
“ ‘A cannon that punched through Northwest Shanxi’ has donated twenty rockets! Thank you Master ~ Xiaomi loves you, mwuah~”
“Well then, Xiaomi’s stream is going to end here today~ take a bath and groom yourselves, alright?~ I will see you all tomorrow for another exciting stream ~mwah~ !~”
After verifying that the stream and the webcam device had been turned off, Lil’ Sha wiped her brilliant and sweet smile off her face. Taking off a cat-eared maid hairband from her head, she heaved her sigh as if she was relieved of a great burden.
She used to fumble her way through life in a shy and clumsy manner. But now, she could nonchalantly face a bunch of complete strangers and smile at them, even turning the act itself into a business. This transformation was so dramatic it shocked even herself.
“Meow~” A milky soft little mew seemingly cured the somewhat exhausted heart of Lil’ Sha.
“Xiaomi? Did the noise I made wake you up? I’m sorry, you must be hungry after sleeping for such a long time. Let me make some food for you.” Lil’ Sha dotingly carried the beige kitten that had whizzed its way to the side of her legs. Placing it on her lap, she began to massage its head.
Perhaps due to some particular genes being similar or even the same, the asiatic cat race was able to read and understand the inner thoughts of domestic cats. It wasn’t too far off the mark to say that they had a telepathic bond with one another.
This cat, Xiaomi, was found by Lil’ Sha in the corner alleyway of an old street.
In the middle of winter, it had hidden in a small, shabby box and was shivering. It, pitiful and helpless, had been abandoned, with no one willing to shelter it — Just like herself.
“Hehehe, eat it slowly. No one is going to snatch it away from you.” It was only during such times that the smile on Lil’ Sha’s face was heartfelt.
She carefully fed Xiaomi cat biscuits, while meekly caressing the fur on its back.
‘In this world, you’re the only one who won’t abandon me.’
“Ding-dong.” The sound of someone knocking on her door came to her ears.
“Hey, hey. Xiaomi, continue your meal without me. I am going to answer the door, alright?” After gently placing Xiaomi, who was nibbling on a biscuit, onto the sofa, Lil’ Sha went to the door.
“Patter.” What greeted her after she pulled the door handle was an expressionless youth standing outside.
“Boom!” Lil’ Sha immediately closed the door.
“W-What wind blew you to my house? D-Don’t tell me you’re planning to carry out some sort of retaliation on me?! Are you going to take all my cash and my fleshy body to repay my debts to you or something… Finally, employing various types of s*x plays to turn me into an insufferable…”
“I want to ask you a favor.” Answered a calm voice from the other side of the door.
“Ah? A favor? You twerp! Don’t think of using a pretense to trick me into opening the door! If I did that, you’re definitely going to do some indescribable things to me!” Lil’ Sha was unwilling to accede to his request in the slightest bit. She looked around, searching for something to prop up against the door frame just in case Ji Bai tried to aggressively breakthrough.
“…I was the one to blame for that incident.”
“Someone like you is actually capable of admitting his mistakes?” Lil’ Sha hesitated for a moment after hearing his words.
“Yes.”
“Even if you admit your faults… The last time you promised me something you weren’t able to accomplish it! Do you know that I was just a few millimeters away from dying back then!”
“…” Ji Bai fell silent.
“So, what sort of request does someone like you have for me?”
“The chivalric order has issued an exploration mission that requires a team.”
“Can’t you find someone else?”
“I only know where you live.”
“Wow… The way you said that makes you sound so much like a pervert who chases the heels of young girls.”
“So, what kind of mission is worthy of making you run around asking people for favors?” Lil’ Sha was somewhat curious, since a simple glance would make it clear to everyone that Ji Bai was someone not good at asking others for favors.
“Exploring the sewers.”
“No.” Lil’ Sha rejected his invitation without a second thought.
‘What the mew! It’s the sewers, a place that’s teeming with little cockroaches and maggots in every nook and cranny! There even could be large and hideous rats appearing from time to time! And if some stuff was to get on my clothes, it might contain hundreds and thousands of parasites. No way! I definitely won’t go to a place like this!”
“It’s rewarded with points.”
“Even if that’s the case, I don’t want to! …How many do they give?”
“It seems to be around 50 points.”
“That’s too few… “
“I’ll give my share to you.” Said Ji Bai without any hesitation.
“Did you go crazy? You’d get nothing from the arduous trip if you do that!”
“Yes, so are you joining?” Ji Bai’s tone remained as calm as before.
“You really are a stubborn guy… It was the same last time too. Why do you have to go to such an extent for it?”
“I just feel that it’s worth it; And that it’s my obligation to do so, that’s all.”
A shred of hesitation arose in Lil’ Sha.
“What if something dangerous happens?”
“I’ll protect you.”
“Tch …Don’t say you’ll protect me when you were in dire straits the last time you did! As an insignificant human, you’re not the slightest bit embarrassed when spouting baseless words, are you.”
“It’s best you find someone else instead. I just cannot accept going to such a place.” Lil’ Sha stroked her forehead as if she had a headache coming onto her.
“…” For a moment, there was silence on the other side of the door. It was followed by a series of footsteps gradually disappearing into the distance.
“Hey—Will you head in there by yourself if I don’t join?”
The footsteps came to a sudden halt, as if the other party was pondering on something.
“If it’s necessary.”
*murmur* ‘… I knew it, this guy is a stubborn fool.’
‘Forget it~ Why should the places he wants to visit concern me? Why should I be so bothered by that? If he wants to bore down into the sewers, let him! I heard that recently, mysterious creatures like goblins have appeared near the sewers. Well, those creatures are of no importance to me, right?
‘Why should I care about this obscene middle-aged man anyway? Mhm, I shall go and catch up on the shows I missed now~’
“…”
“Click.” The door opened.
“…Let me say it in advance, your share of the points belongs to me.”