Chapter 131: Surroundings

Miss Xiao Ke's stamina was much greater than Vivian's.

Almost on par with the land naga Eve.

Perhaps it's because beastfolk are generally stronger in this regard?

Every time this sort of thing happened.

Mornings were always awkward.

Tally hung off the foot of the bed, only her lower half still on it.

Miss Xiao Ke stayed silent, her lower deer-body seated cross-legged at the bedside.

She frantically grabbed the blanket, shielding her not-yet-fully-mature body.

Across from her, Rod was undressed, revealing a sturdy and perfect body.

"I-it's my fault."

Miss Xiao Ke spoke up first: "I didn't expect to lose control at this time."

"I'll take responsibility."

Rod said righteously.

In his mind he began imagining a four-person trip with the succubus, the tree spirit, and the half-deer girl.

Looks like 【Flesh Proliferation】 needs to grow a few more.

Miss Xiao Ke's face flushed bright red.

"You don't need to take responsibility! I'll pay! Just consider it payment for helping me deal with my heat!"

Just earlier she had been hoping Vivian would find happiness, and that the number of girls in the ranger's cabin would stop increasing.

And then in the blink of an eye she had fallen and joined them.

What kind of nonsense is this?!

The half-deer girl Miss Xiao Ke, who followed a monogamous system, absolutely did not want to ruin her good friend's relationship!

"Um, paying probably won't be necessary."

"Yes! Definitely! And you can't tell Vivian!"

Miss Xiao Ke insisted stubbornly.

Rod understood her temperament and didn't want to force things.

He glanced at the thoroughly wrecked bedding.

"Then just pay for the bedding."

Smack—

Miss Xiao Ke shamefacedly hurled a pillow at him.

"You pervy dog, are you blaming me? This is what you did!"

"Last night you were so into—"

"Ah—ah—I can't hear—"

She covered her ears, her face beet red.

No longer chatting idly with him.

Miss Xiao Ke hurriedly put on her clothes, which had been torn at one spot, fixed her hair, and bounced away from the cabin.

Rod really wanted to remind her that her backside was leaking.

But her movements were too fast; in just a few hops she was gone.

Only a few drops of milky-white traces were left on the ground.

A full haul, one might say.

It made his heart itch.

So he shook Tally awake.

And proceeded with the morning bite.

While experiencing the negative-pressure piston, he sorted through his spell satchel.

Unexpectedly, in the section belonging to that fourth-tier one named Luen, he found a copy of 【Dragon Ming Xiang Fa】.

It looked to be of quite a high grade.

At least higher-grade than the Ming Xiang Fa Auna had given him.

"I thought the Overload Ring was already your limit, but there's more?"

Adhering to the principle of 'either don't practice, or practice the high-grade stuff,' Rod decisively switched.

Besides, he hadn't even managed to get started with the previous Ming Xiang Fa.

That afternoon.

Willow Sands District.

Rod patrolled the area as usual.

On the ground was an unfinished magic circle.

Beside it was a dark puddle of blood, spread in an exploded pattern, looking like a flower made of blood.

This was the final life-trace of that mage parasitized by the Dread Beast.

"I heard you all suffered quite a bit."

The witch Dimia walked over from behind.

She had happened to come by to check.

At this moment her face was worried; clearly nothing good had happened.

Rod remembered that Sharon had been directly attacked by the cosmic creature in the Blight Botanical Garden.

"How are they doing?"

"Those three apprentice mages are fine, just mentally damaged; they'll recover in a few days. It's just Sharon—she's sick, and there's a plague-like aura within her."

"A plague?"

That is truly a difficult thing to handle.

On the continent, most things called plagues carry some territorial nature.

Infecting people and animals is one thing, but even plants and the land become contaminated; if left in that state for long, it could even turn into barren wasteland.

"Don't worry, it can still be suppressed. I've already taken her to an isolated house in the suburbs for treatment. Mr. Rod, I recall Daphne once gave you part of the 【Green Grass】 Domain, which is rich in vibrant life force. Could you please help?"

"Just call me anytime."

"I thank you on Sharon's behalf!"

Dimia bowed gratefully to him.

"As for you, can you handle it? You must deal with affairs in Shi Ying Town and care for Sharon. Also, I heard you've taken up the banner of planning the ritual."

On his way here, Rod encountered that rabbit-tribe mage.

He said the witch would replace Sharon and personally preside over the ritual.

"Barely managing."

Dimia gave a bitter smile. "None of it is too difficult. It's just that Shi Ying Town indeed lacks someone capable of holding the position."

As she spoke, she looked at Rod with hope.

But Rod had no intention of getting involved in the whirlpool of territories and nobles.

"Has something gone wrong?"

"Quite a bit. The riot golems of Coral Bay have gathered and launched an assault on the city; two fifth-tier mages died. Moreover, the Ruin Brotherhood has reappeared. They are loitering near Twilight Hills, constantly robbing merchants, which greatly affects Shi Ying Town's trade."

Twilight Hills is the area between Storm City and Shi Ying Town.

"What about Storm City? Have they made no response?"

Dimia shook her head bitterly.

"To be honest, after Daphne and other Argyle family members left, an unknown rebellion occurred within Storm City. Although it has now been suppressed, the people and matters involved are not simple. After forced purges, many parts remain unresolved. In short, they are too busy to attend to their own affairs."

Rod's expression changed slightly.

A rebellion within Storm City?

The terrifying attack that Scorching City carried out inside Emerald City still vividly came to mind; now, a silent attack occurring in a city so close added a strange sense of reality to him.

Chaos. That is the feeling Aethelron gives now: chaos.

"Actually, I came here for another matter and wish to seek your consent, Mr. Rod."

"Speak."

"I wonder if you've heard of the Land Naga coup that occurred in Mirror Desert not long ago. The rebels stormed the palace of the Brar clan, imprisoned the Naga Queen, but were ultimately defeated by the Naga Princess who found reinforcements."

Of course.

The Naga Princess you mentioned once pinned him down in the Open-Air Maze for a full three hours.

And poured in a vast number of her subjects.

"I've heard a little."

"They are coming."

"Who? The Naga Princess?" Rod paused, stunned.

"No, the rebels. They were expelled from Mirror Desert by the Brar clan, and under the divination of Naga priests, chose the Death Desert as their new homeland."

Dimia paused.

Then she added, "They have offered Storm City conditions that are hard to refuse, including vast amounts of money and assistance in handling the dire situation at Twilight Hills."

Trading a useless piece of broken land for a huge sum of money and a band of mercenaries, while also solving the manpower shortage, looks like a good deal on the surface.

But having to resort to introducing non-human races to handle one's own internal affairs is indeed worrying.

Moreover, this is a group of rebels unwilling to stay quiet.

And the attitude of the Brar clan over in Mirror Desert is also an issue.

Rod rubbed his head.

Troubles have finally burned their way to Windwall Forest.

(End of this chapter)