Ch 39: Always By Your Side

After resolving all the Earth Dragons and calming the frightened animals, Phia used Teleportation Magic to send the two people and the Fairy Birds back to their room at the inn. After washing up, the two, as usual, embraced and fell asleep.

A new day, the sun rose as usual, and the two came to the Adventurer’s Guild.

“Mr. Buck, Miss Fei’er, you’re back. How is that Adventurer Squad doing?”

Anda saw the two walk into the Guild, and she quickly inquired about the Randall Squad.

“You mean Randall and the others, right?”

“Yes, it seems the two of you have already contacted them.”

Bal explained to Anda what happened yesterday and stated that the Ranch commission should be resolved soon by Randall and his team, and Anda breathed a sigh of relief.

“Ah, they’re fine, that’s wonderful. Thank you very much, Buck, Fei’er.”

“Don’t mention it. We just did what we should do. After all, if the Ranch matter isn’t resolved, Fei’er would probably wither away from lack of butter and milk.”

“What are you talking about! I wouldn’t do that!”

“Alright, alright, you wouldn’t.”

After seeing the two people’s playful banter, Anda also started to miss Randall, who was still at the Ranch.

They two initially became acquainted because of a simple extermination commission. At that time, Randall’s team only had Katerina as a member. Because there was no support from a healing profession, and he also had to cover Katerina, Randall was frequently injured. However, an accident occurred during that commission. The commission intelligence only mentioned Goblins, but when they arrived at the scene, they discovered something was wrong. A significant number of Halflings appeared in the area where the Goblins were supposed to be. Randall told Katerina to leave first, staying behind to provide cover while waiting for Katerina to seek reinforcements. At that time, Katerina rushed back to the Guild to seek help, but the high-level Adventurers were all out of town due to the Light Moon Festival, so Anda had to go there herself; she was also an experienced Adventurer.

When Anda arrived, Randall was already covered in wounds. He was desperately clinging to consciousness. Seeing Anda arrive to help, he breathed a sigh of relief and slumped to the ground. Anda immediately went over to heal Randall. Just as she was concentrating on healing Randall, a Goblin suddenly darted out, dishonorably initiating an ambush. Anda was caught off guard. Just as she thought she was going to die, Randall, sitting on the ground, threw his sword with all his might. The thrown sword pierced the dishonorable Goblin through the heart.

Later, Reynard and Sera, passing by after completing a harvesting commission, saw this scene and volunteered to help Randall and Anda. Finally, through everyone’s efforts, they narrowly won. Because of this, Randall fell for Anda, and Anda also took special care of Randall; during that time, she frequently visited Randall during her breaks.

After thanking the two, Anda prepared to pay them their reward, but was stopped by Fei’er.

“Anda, this action wasn’t an official commission, you don’t need to pay a reward.”

“But you saved Randall and the others, and helped them so much…”

Seeing Anda’s troubled expression, Phia came up with a compromise.

“How about this, when we come to the Guild in the future, you treat us to drinks, as an installment payment for the reward. As for the time, you can stop whenever you think you’ve paid it off.”

Hearing Phia’s suggestion, Anda hesitated for a moment. Although she had saved some money as a counter lady, considering the possibility of marriage in the future, this money would still be useful, and she readily accepted Phia’s proposal.

“Then I’ll take your advice, Fei’er. Bartender, get these two some drinks, I’ll pay.”

Bal and Phia each ordered a Light Beer. After drinking, they left the Adventurer’s Guild.

They walked down the main road to Mrs. Zeril’s house. Seeing that it was Bal and Phia, Mrs. Zeril quickly invited them inside.

“You’ve finally come.”

“Sorry, Mrs. Zeril, we’ve been busy with some things these past two days.”

“It’s alright, no rush.”

“So, are the materials ready?”

“They’re ready, I’ll take you there.”

Mrs. Zeril led the two to the backyard. In the backyard, a heavy bluestone slab was placed. This was the material to be used for making Mr. Zeril and Young Zeril’s tombstones.

Seeing that the materials and tools were complete, Bal knelt on the stone slab and began to carve.

“I didn’t know you had this skill.”

Phia looked at the seemingly omnipotent superman in front of her, and couldn’t help but be surprised.

“I took an elective during school, and I chose a handicrafts class. It turned out to be carving. I had to learn it for academic credits. Besides, as the saying goes, the more skills you have, the better.”

“Miss Phia, I’ve made some tea and snacks. Would you like to have morning tea with me?”

“Coming right away!”

Hearing that there was something delicious, Phia immediately ran to Mrs. Zeril’s side. Now it became Bal diligently working, while Phia and Mrs. Zeril watched from the side, which looked exactly like the scene in a large merchant guild where one person works and a group of superiors supervise.

While eating tea and snacks, Phia told Mrs. Zeril about the events of the past two days. Mrs. Zeril elegantly picked up her teacup, took a sip of tea, and began to praise the two.

“You two are truly extraordinary talents.”

“We don’t deserve such praise.”

“Phia, don’t be so humble. Even if it weren’t the Light Moon Festival, there are few people in town who can be as capable as you two— solving a murder case intellectually and slaying a Blood Earth Dragon physically. Not to mention you eliminating all the Earth Dragons around the ranch last night, and using large-scale Soul-Soothing Magic to calm the animals. You truly are a worthy pair—the Demon King and the Hero.”

After praising the two, Mrs. Zeril looked at them meaningfully.

“Speaking of which, I only told you our names. How did you know our identities? Especially mine; in the Demon Race, those who know my name are few, let alone you being a Human.”

Phia looked at Mrs. Zeril questioningly.

“Although the town seems peaceful and seems isolated from the world, this town still has ways to obtain news from the outside. I know a Demon who has the ability to investigate news from the outside. He told me that the Hero of the Ferenti Kingdom exterminated the Demon King, and then a Demon Slave Girl appeared by his side, and then he and the Demon Girl died at the hands of an Evil Dragon. The time of their deaths coincided with the day you arrived here. Is this really a coincidence?”

Hearing Mrs. Zeril’s deduction, Phia and Bal both became nervous. They didn’t know how many people in town knew their true identities.

“Don’t worry, only I and that Demon know your identities. That Demon kept his mouth shut, or perhaps he passed away peacefully not long after you arrived here.”

“I see, then I’m relieved.”

After ending this topic, the two started chatting about other things, and Bal occasionally chimed in to lighten the mood. After three hours, it was finally time for dinner.

The two enjoyed Mrs. Zeril’s cooking at the dinner table.

“Delicious! Can you teach me?”

“Phia, you can come and learn anytime you want.”

“What about me?”

“I don’t teach men.”

After being rejected by Mrs. Zeril, Bal ate his lunch with a wronged expression. But then he thought, if Phia learned, wouldn’t she be able to cook for him? Thinking of this, he began to imagine his beautiful married life.

“Dumb Dog, you’re drooling.”

Hearing Phia’s words, Bal quickly snapped back to reality and awkwardly wiped his mouth with a napkin.

After eating, Bal continued carving the tombstone; the work was almost finished.

Half an hour later, with Bal’s final strike of the hammer, the tombstone was finished. It was carved according to Mrs. Zeril’s design. After seeing Bal’s handiwork, Mrs. Zeril nodded in satisfaction. Then Phia took Bal, Mrs. Zeril, and the tombstone and teleported them to the vicinity of the Unique Large Tree growing in the South City Outskirts. Following Mrs. Zeril’s instructions, Bal, with the help of Phia’s Detection Magic, placed the tombstone where the father and son were buried.

After erecting the tombstone, Bal cut down nearby trees and used the planks to build a wooden house, with Phia assisting. An afternoon passed, and under their efficient and coordinated efforts, the wooden house was completed.

Phia set up Magic to Repel Monsters, Beasts, Snakes, and Insects around the house, and then set up Magic to Automatically Adjust Room Temperature inside the house. She then used Teleportation Magic and Storage Magic to move Mrs. Zeril’s belongings into the wooden house. Finally, she set up a Teleportation Formation connecting the wooden house and the mansion; the formation was set to only activate if Mrs. Zeril stood on it for three seconds. After completing everything related to Mrs. Zeril’s commission, Mrs. Zeril gave the two a letter to be delivered to Anda.

Phia put the letter in her waist pouch, said goodbye to Mrs. Zeril, and used Teleportation Magic to teleport herself and Bal back to their room at the inn.

Seeing the two leave, Mrs. Zeril touched the tombstone, and she couldn’t help but cry.

“Finally… I’ve finally found you. Now I’ll come and keep you company.”

————

The perspective shifts to the mysterious Pink-Haired Hooded Woman.

“Bal, we’ll meet soon. You must wait for me!”

Lying on a twig, after confirming that the surroundings were safe, she murmured Bal’s name and fell into a deep sleep.