Chapter 395: Cocoon

"Who is this? Showing up only after the fight's over—trying to claim credit?"

One of the fanboys couldn't help but sneer.

His voice was loud enough to draw many eyes.

Just as he finished asking.

Not far away, Tally, having cleared the battlefield, stepped back over the corpses of the dark elves—and immediately spotted Luo De.

She barely held back her excitement and gasped:

"Mr. Luo De! You're here!"

Luo De?

Forest Warden Luo De?!

Many faces changed; after a quick scan, they realized he was a seventh-rank powerhouse—and immediately grew solemn, no longer dismissing him.

They stepped back half a pace, putting distance between themselves and the stunned questioner.

It wasn't their fault they didn't recognize him.

Luo De only came to town two or three times a week, and always quietly.

Aside from those who knew him personally or had served in the Claw Valley, most adventurers only knew the Forest Warden of Windwall was terrifying—but had no idea what he looked like.

Luo De didn't care at all.

They were all brothers; each had contributed to defending Shi Ying Town.

He smiled at the questioning young man and patted his shoulder: "You all did well."

The young man flinched, thinking he was about to be attacked—his fight-or-flight reflex kicked in.

Tally had already run up to him.

Suddenly realizing she was too close, she stepped back a few paces.

She'd just come from a fierce battle, drenched in sweat, her sulfur stench stronger than ever—she didn't want him to smell it.

"Miss Selina and No. 3 were incredible!"

Her skin, still faintly flushed, retained its human softness; her excitement shone clearly in her eyes and brows.

She began describing the zombies and the rat-woman's ferocity and strength, vividly and dramatically.

She looked like a daughter recounting her adventures to her father.

Those who knew her exchanged glances.

Tally was usually so composed and mature—why was she using phrases like "whoosh!" and "bang!" now?

It wasn't her fault.

This was Tally's first time witnessing a seventh-rank battle.

And Selina's violent magic, combined with No. 3's close-quarters combat, had awakened the violent instincts within her demonic bloodline—filling her with longing.

That's why she couldn't help but want to tell someone familiar.

Luo De smiled: "Then go ask Kali to let No. 3 train you."

Tally's fitted leather armor bore numerous cuts and sword wounds; her abdomen had been slashed open, revealing a deep, bloody gash across her slender waist—the tight lines of her abs radiating health and wild charm.

Hearing this, the tiefling girl shrank her shoulders.

Because her teacher Falshard had ties with Kali, she was terrified of the glacial elf in the forest.

"That's not necessary."

"Don't worry—I'll speak for you."

As he spoke, Luo De placed his hand on her abdominal wound and activated the 【Fungal Unity】 domain skill.

Tally stiffened, hands flailing, unsure where to put them.

She felt his palm broad and scorching—hotter than her already elevated body temperature—gradually making her legs weak and her waist numb.

When the wound healed.

Luo De's large hand withdrew.

Tally's mind went hazy—she felt an odd, lingering sense of longing.

"By the way, Mr. Luo De, some beastmen in our area felt the pressure of 【Dragon's Might】—I wonder if it was..."

She suddenly remembered something and asked, worried.

【Dragon's Might】 exerts extra suppression on beastmen, making them especially sensitive to dragons.

Around them, everyone turned to look.

Their eyes held worry and fear.

After all, dragons—these creatures had destroyed towns before.

Luo De nodded.

"Earlier, when I intercepted a dark elf squad, they summoned a dragon before dying—but don't worry, I drove it off."

A female tiger-woman suddenly gasped: "Your body still carries the residual pressure of dragon's breath... Mr. Luo De, you didn't... face a full dragon breath head-on, did you?"

The crowd's expressions changed again—could the Forest Warden of Windwall really repel a dragon and survive its breath unscathed?!

What kind of monster is this?

Didn't the half-deer people have a hero prophecy? Isn't someone like this supposed to be a 【Hero】?

Luo De was pleased with the tiger-woman.

Good question!

He feigned calmness and pointed toward where he'd encountered the dragon:

"Yes, a bit farther north—a black dragon's acidic breath. The acid fog hasn't cleared yet—be careful later. I have other business; people from Shi Ying Town will come to help clean up."

Luo De said.

He then generously pulled out a large pile of healing potions and told Tally to distribute them to the injured.

This instantly boosted everyone's favor toward the Forest Warden of Windwall.

Tally hastily agreed.

Then she watched him soar gracefully into the sky, his departing hand waving—her gaze fixed on the white contrail long after he vanished.

"Still waving? He's gone."

Tally blinked, blushed, and reluctantly lowered her arm.

She turned—and saw it was her friend from the adventurers, the same tiger-woman who'd asked earlier: Kasi.

She was watching her with a knowing smirk.

"Kasi..."

This lion-woman, over forty, had been married twice and bore twelve children; besides adventuring, her greatest passion was matchmaking.

Having just moved to Shi Ying Town, she urgently needed to prove her matchmaker skills.

Fifteen-year-old, exquisite-looking Tally was naturally one of her targets.

As for her tiefling heritage?

She saw it as a challenge to her matchmaking prowess.

"Now I understand why you never show interest in other boys—if it's this Forest Warden, no wonder you look down on everyone else."

"... don't."

"Don't lie to me—I, Kasi, won the 'Best Matchmaker' award in Mogote Town. I can read every hint of affection or lust on a boy or girl's face. You—you're usually so sharp and mature, but here you're acting stupid! When he was healing you, you should've pretended your wound was worse and collapsed right into his arms!"

Tally stayed silent, quietly handing out the healing potions.

She hated the sulfur smell on her body.

After exercise, it was even stronger.

If she'd crashed into Mr. Luo De's arms then—if he'd shown disgust—if he'd wrinkled his nose—if he'd turned his head—if he'd hesitated to speak—if he'd...

Tally's heart ached.

Any one of those outcomes made her head spin and her chest tighten—she already wanted to find a big rock and smash her head against it.

At the edge of the mining district.

Due to nightfall and the festival, even the guards had gone to town to celebrate.

The entire mining district was empty, pitch-black.

Amid yellow sandstorms, not far away, lights glittered brightly—residents unaware of the dark elf invasion, still reveling.

"Didn't I tell you to save her directly?"

Luo De sighed.

Before him, Tally still wore her brother persona—crisp formal attire, proudly straight, her glossy bald head slicked again and again.

At her feet lay two mangled, bloody corpses of dark elves.

But she hadn't escaped unscathed—her left sleeve was shredded, and her arm's skin bore grotesque, burned flesh.

She raised her injured arm.

Wearing a tearful, pouting expression:

"Master, it hurts~ blow on it~~"

"Why did you get hurt? That shouldn't have happened."

These dark elves were weak.

Tally was drenched daily in 【Ellibert's Secret Guide to Love】, exchanging spiritual energy—sometimes so overfilled she rolled her eyes back, yet Luo De still forced more in.

She was far stronger than a typical seventh-rank beginner.

"These guys don't know any other spiritual arts—just invisibility and self-explosion. When they got close the first time, I didn't react in time, so..."

Sorceresses who don't blow themselves up a few times really don't fit their character.

If even Tally got caught off guard, then it's understandable that the Tooth Fairy fairy Rosalia nearly got killed without a sound.

Luo De treated Tally while asking:

"So, where is Rosalia?"

Tally stiffened, then awkwardly scratched her head:

"Um… before you arrived, I turned into a sleazy big guy and sneaked up to scare her… I only meant it as a joke! I had no ill intent at all! But maybe she was badly injured and dazed, and when she saw me, she immediately summoned a huge swarm of silk threads, wrapping herself up tightly into a giant cocoon."

Luo De: "…"

(End of Chapter)