Chapter 585: Mage, Mage

Someone tossed over a bag of Energy Beans; Shi Qian caught it casually and handed it to Luo Qi first.

Luo Qi looked up and saw several Battle Mages conjuring rations and water for Mages, distributing them to the others. Some, like Wen Lin, were casually performing other Magic they were skilled in, reinforcing the Barrier or creating tables, chairs, and sleeping bags to rest on. It seemed that because night was falling and only their small camp was stationed in the deserted wilderness, these people had become much friendlier.

Luo Qi's gaze was drawn to one person: Zhou Ruisi, Luo Qi remembered his name. He had been standing not far away for a while, constantly trying to attract his attention.

Luo Qi nodded toward him, though he felt a bit strange inside. This person was actually quite young, no, he should say green. Luo Qi stared at his stiff face; his shining eyes looked very familiar, just like a startled rabbit in a wilderness documentary. He walked toward Luo Qi, and in Luo Qi's impression, it was truly rare for this to happen—someone walking toward him with bright eyes, yet harboring no malice?

Luo Qi looked at the newcomer with a calm expression, though he was completely bewildered inside. He leaned back in his chair, a posture he had also designed; he let all the muscles in his body relax, as if he were fearless and in control of everything. Only his eyes remained fixed on the newcomer, secretly pondering every one of his physical gestures.

This green rabbit seemed to harbor a sense of piety, like a five-year-old child running to a parent, so his footsteps as he walked toward him were a bit heavy, shuffling and kicking up a layer of loose dirt. Du Zhengyi, who was listening to Wen Lin, shifted his gaze to look at him for a moment; Zhou Ruisi must have sensed this subtle glance from Du Zhengyi. Do not underestimate the sensory nerves a rabbit mobilizes out of fear and timidity; Du Zhengyi's glance was not so easily detected, yet he felt it, and the facial nerves across his entire face tightened because of it, making him look a bit like he was having a stroke.

As it turned out, this actually attracted Du Zhengyi's attention; usually, when a psychopath intends to launch a thunderous strike, they would also look like this. Du Zhengyi stopped his conversation with Wen Lin and half-turned to look at him. Now, Du Zhengyi's cold observation became overt, as if ten thousand Swords of Damocles were pointed at him; he lost his composure and involuntarily quickened his pace, heading straight for Luo Qi. This misled Du Zhengyi even further, and Du Zhengyi frowned and took a step forward.

Luo Qi let out a "pssh" of laughter. He could predict that the mental pressure was about to make Zhou Ruisi scream; this was truly ridiculous. His laughter happened to relax the taut string of nerves, and Zhou Ruisi froze for a moment, looking a bit silly. Du Zhengyi also stopped in his tracks, and after a moment, Du Zhengyi turned his head back to continue talking to Wen Lin, as if nothing had happened. Zhou Ruisi caught his breath and finally finished the ten-meter distance, approaching Luo Qi to a distance suitable for normal social interaction.

"Don't you want to warm up by a fire?" he said, putting on a friendly smile. He was clumsily pretending to be casual, as if they had met by chance and he was just striking up a conversation. Luo Qi didn't speak; he didn't want to give someone this opening for free. Shi Qian looked up at him in confusion, but he hadn't been in the mood to talk anyway, and was just pondering finding a chance to walk away, sinking back into absolute silence like a stone.

Zhou Ruisi glanced at Shi Qian, cleared his throat unnecessarily, and looked at Luo Qi again; Luo Qi was watching him quietly. He became nervous again, seemingly recalling what he had just said, "Ahem, of course, of course, we are currently inside the Battle Mage's Barrier, the temperature is comfortable, no need to light a fire. But, um, what I mean is, in the wild, one should always light a campfire, it's cozier, a cozy little fire..." He shut his mouth, knowing for certain that he looked like an idiot.

"A cozy little fire," Luo Qi finally spoke, pondering for a moment, "and we could roast a Delicious Wind Serpent."

Shi Qian looked at Luo Qi in confusion; Luo Qi smiled teasingly, and Zhou Ruisi's face turned red. "I... I play games occasionally."

"Which server are you on?" Luo Qi asked.

Just as Zhou Ruisi was about to answer, he suddenly noticed that the surrounding Battle Mages were all looking at him, and he finally understood that Luo Qi was teasing him, so he shut his mouth.

Luo Qi suddenly asked him again, "What class are you in the game?"

"Mage." Zhou Ruisi couldn't help but answer the question.

"You mean you are a Mage, but you are still a Mage in the game?" Luo Qi asked calmly.

Shi Qian let out a short laugh and lowered his head.

Just when Zhou Ruisi was completely uneasy, he suddenly heard Luo Qi say, "Sit."

He felt as if he had been granted an amnesty, hurriedly dragged over a chair, and joined Luo Qi's small circle.

"Want some beans?" Luo Qi handed him a bag of cat-food-like beans from his other hand.

Zhou Ruisi took them eagerly, politely ate one, and swallowed it with a frown.

"I am not a Battle Mage," Zhou Ruisi said after finishing the bean. "I have never camped in the wilderness, although strictly speaking, this isn't camping either. There is a suitable temperature, humidity, and a field protection here; even if it rains, it won't fall inside the Barrier. But I have a bit of agoraphobia; in a place that is visually this open, I can't fall asleep."

Luo Qi watched him silently, though he remained bewildered inside. According to Luo Qi's way of thinking, he would just dig a hole on the spot and bury himself in it; that would solve the trouble of agoraphobia. Or, he could weave a tent himself, though Luo Qi figured he probably didn't have the ability of a Battle Mage to materialize complex objects. But no matter what he wanted to do, he didn't need to come and tell him; was he expecting him to go dig a hole with him?

Luo Qi remembered the days he spent learning from Mahjong; he hadn't learned anything else, but he was quite good at digging holes, and filling them back in was fast too.

"What I mean is, can I go back first?" Zhou Ruisi asked Luo Qi.

Luo Qi looked at him blankly.

He explained eagerly, "My hands-on ability isn't very strong; there really isn't anything here that needs me. To tell you the truth, the only thing I can do by staying here is eat beans."

"That is true," Luo Qi said hesitantly, restraining himself from showing any sign of confusion. He had to appear experienced, with everything under control; it was impossible for him to be unable to understand what a fool was saying. But in the end, why did he come to ask for his understanding? Did he look like a sympathetic sister?

"Look," Luo Qi said as if deep in thought, though he was actually trying to explain the situation to him, "it's not very safe here, and it's dozens of kilometers to the nearest usable Pendragon Orbital Terminal. It is not safe for anyone to act alone. Can you traverse? I don't think so. Then just stay here."

Zhou Ruisi dropped his shoulders in disappointment, looking at Luo Qi imploringly, "I am truly non-combat personnel. According to the regulations of the Institute, non-combat personnel must be evacuated in this situation. Can't you send two Battle Mages to take me to the station? I can evacuate from the station?"

What... the hell?

Luo Qi stared at him in astonishment... Me? Send? Two Battle Mages?

(End of chapter)