Chapter 8: Spoils and a Secret Letter

"This rich?"

Inside Ali's spell satchel.

There was a dedicated pouch for storing coins.

Rod counted them carefully — a full 102 Jin Along and 75 silver along.

Besides that, there was a pile of spiritual items.

As for his four underlings,

they were utterly broke — combined, they didn't even have 100 copper along.

"Quite the wealthy boss you've got."

Vivian clearly had no interest in such worldly goods.

She stood quietly to one side, silently watching the trees that were still burning.

"Had to do it, otherwise the flames would've spread further." Rod offered in comfort.

"I understand. Flames, trees — natural enemies."

Rod suddenly thought of something and called out to Tally, who was still sorting through the spoils:

"Can you all learn spiritual arts?"

"What kind of question is that."

Tally rolled her eyes dramatically. "Don't assume only humans can learn — the vast majority of intelligent races can, they just don't want to."

True enough.

As the only race on the continent without innate spiritual arts, humanity had practically come to view the ability to learn as their own unique trait.

In fact, a great many of the races that took up adventuring were quite willing to learn new spiritual arts.

After all, it's a skill that could save one's life.

Rod picked up Ali's staff.

It was a staff very much in keeping with halfling style.

About the length of a human forearm, made entirely of lightweight spirit-wood, with the tip curved into a half-circle.

"Vivian, perhaps you could try learning spiritual arts of the water element."

Vivian paused for a moment, then took the staff Rod handed her.

"Is this… an order?"

"No." Rod laughed despite himself. "It's a small suggestion from a fellow friend of trees."

Vivian's face remained expressionless, then she gave a small nod.

【Vivian's obedience toward you +2. Current obedience: 75】

Meanwhile.

Tally sorted through the halfling's belongings and introduced each item to Rod one by one.

A cold-storage magic box for brains, containing 6 brains.

Magic potions of various effects.

A magic short sword that could unleash air blades.

A bottle of flame spirit oil.

A short staff, currently held by Vivian.

A spell notebook.

A secret letter.

Two single-use spell rings.

Various miscellaneous field supplies.

It had to be said, the haul was quite generous.

Rod was very satisfied.

He picked up the spell notebook and flipped through a few pages.

He quickly realized it was the halfling Ali's understanding of his current spells.

It recorded some of his learning process.

Rod could follow the procedures exactly to learn — this could already count as a spellbook.

Just as he was flipping through it,

a laminated photo fell into his hand.

"Hm?"

It was a family portrait of four.

Rod easily identified the one in the 'son' position as the deceased halfling.

Beside him stood a pretty, cute female halfling.

Probably his younger sister or older sister.

"Cute~"

Tally leaned over to look. "What's up? Want to try a halfling?"

Halfling — a term that fit perfectly with something Rod had heard back on Earth in his previous life: 'legal loli'.

"Is that all you have in your head?"

Rod knocked on her head with the notebook.

"Come on~ I'm a succubus now, of course my head's only got that kind of stuff in it~"

Rod couldn't be bothered with her.

The magic short sword that unleashed an air blade.

This rather decent item—although the air blade unleashed by the halfling wasn't all that powerful.

But when Rod held it himself, he realized.

It wasn't weak—that was entirely the wielder's problem!

The air blade it released consumed the user's stamina.

Halflings play the Zhu De Da Fa style, so their stamina was never going to be much.

But in Rod's hands, it was a different story.

With the boost of 【Second Heart】, he could even satisfy a succubus!

As for those two one-use spell rings.

One held a sixth-tier spell that had pierced Rod's heart—Shadow Assault.

The other was also sixth-tier, an ice-attribute spell—Ice Prison.

A rare control-type spell.

On the inner side of both spell rings, there was a small flower.

This was called a Celestial Court Flower.

Indeed—one-use spell rings were a specialty of the Celestial Court Flower Kingdom.

After relations with the Kingdom of Aethelron soured, spell rings had been completely banned from export to that country.

These two items were treasures with a price but no market.

"Celestial Court Flower Kingdom, Yigo Clan again—just how competent is this country, really?"

Rod was speechless.

He turned and opened that secret letter.

He hadn't even started reading yet.

Vivian walked over.

"Corpse, want it?" she pointed at the halfling's corpse.

"You want it?" Rod found it a little strange.

Tree spirits had a habit of collecting corpses? Or did she just want to keep venting her anger?

Surely it wasn't that.

Vivian nodded.

"Corpse, chop up, plant's, fertilizer."

"Uh"

A reclusive tree spirit with no sense of morality—how scary.

He turned to Xiang Taili.

"How do you succubi handle corpses?"

"Corpses? Females get tossed. Males—as long as it's not been more than two days, our fluids can make the dead, uh, stand back up, and keep absorbing their essence."

"."

"What's that look for? Want to give it a try~"

Xiang Taili laughed: "Look, there's a paralysis potion over there. You drink it and play corpse, and I'll do all the moving."

Rod ignored her once again.

He continued reading the secret letter.

His eyes swept ten lines at a glance.

Rod's brows gradually furrowed.

【To the Vanguard of the New World, Ali:

Congratulations!

Congratulations to all the world!

Through our unremitting efforts, the great Yigo Clan has finally awakened from its eternal slumber, and has successfully passed the resolution to leave the Far West and aid the continent's races!

Under the leadership of the great Yigo Clan, we shall at last awaken true free will, pioneer a new world, and walk into the embrace of eternal life!

From this, I sensed in my heart that the border of the Kingdom of Aethelron—Windwall Forest—will be the stumbling block hindering the great Yigo Clan's advance.

I now order the Vanguard of the New World, Ali, to attempt the burning of Windwall Forest. If this cannot be accomplished, please try to replace the local Warden.

After completing the mission, please proceed to the secret labyrinth at Twin Fingers Mountain.

And present this letter to claim a generous reward.

When the mission is well in hand, please assist Father Owen in leading the Count's daughter 'Daphne Agel' into the faith.

Signed: Bishop Hugo】

Just as he thought.

Those Yigo Clan troublemakers again.

Replace the Warden—so he was one of the targets too.

Windwall Forest's main purpose was to block wind and sand—what did that have to do with blocking the Yigo Clan?

Rod was now very glad he had struck first.

If Ali had thoroughly gauged his strength and snuck in two casts of 【Shadow Assault】, even with two hearts he'd be dead.

Speaking again of Daphne.

Her disappearance must surely be connected to this so-called leading-into-the-faith business.

Rod looked up into the distance.

Twin-Finger Mountain. Not far from Shi Ying Town.

"It's not that I want to play the hero—it's just that, with you here, I can't eat or sleep in peace."

(End of chapter)