Chapter 179: Betrayal

Clara was the perfect choice for an employee.

Not only was she experienced, with a killer figure, but she was also a quick and efficient worker.

She was also extremely outgoing and had a mouth full of curses, more than enough to handle any difficult customers.

You could say she was a perfect fit for the Golden Sword Hu Grocery Store’s “business philosophy”—

Customers who pay are gods. Customers who don’t can get the hell out!

Besides, the grocery store was currently going through a rough patch with its reputation, and Anna and Zovir were too young to handle any emergencies.

That made finding a “Shop Manager” who could keep things under control extremely important.

Clara might not have seemed very bright when it came to matters of the heart, but Lu Wei had complete confidence in her ability to run a shop.

Otherwise, the Adventurer’s Tavern wouldn’t have become the most successful tavern in town.

“So, how about it?”

“I recall Uncle Yorun pays you a weekly salary of two silver coins, right?”

“Here’s the deal: I’ll cover room and board, and I’ll raise your salary to three silver coins!

“And you’ll be the Shop Manager from day one!

“Plus, you’ll get two days of paid vacation every month!”

“What’s that about being like a slave? Don’t listen to those rumors. The Slave Protection Technique is pure nonsense.”

“Besides, slaves don’t get paid for their days off…”

On the way to the Dome Pillar, Lu Wei was trying his utmost to persuade Clara to come work for him, offering her an unprecedentedly generous package.

After all, Anna’s and Zovir’s current weekly salaries were 35 Copper Coins and 0 Copper Coins, respectively.

The typical wage in town was between 1.5 and 2.5 silver.

So a weekly salary of 3 Silver Coins was indeed very high.

Admittedly, working in the forest carried a certain degree of risk.

But where could one be guaranteed absolute safety?

Working in a tavern, you might get beaten by drunkards.

Working in a smithy, you might get burned.

Working in a clinic, you might develop a mental illness.

Working in Pigeon Lane, you might catch a physical disease.

Clearly, nowhere was safe.

“Anyway, just think about it seriously. I’m about to expand into new lines of business, and I really need the help.”

“Of course, if you’re not interested, that’s fine too. With an offer this good, I’m sure plenty of people will be lining up for the job.”

“Frankly, I’m only offering this to you because we’re friends. I’m opening the back door for you.”

“Huh? Did I just say something dirty again?”

“No, ‘opening the back door’ isn’t what you think it means!”

“…”

The sun climbed higher, its scorching rays baking the forest scenery until it shimmered and distorted.

Lu Wei and Clara, each with a large backpack, chatted as they walked along a barely discernible animal trail through the woods.

Without a doubt, using [Long Stride] would have greatly increased their speed.

But Lu Wei chose not to.

It wasn’t because he was worried about ‘exposing his secret.’

After all, Clara wasn’t an Adventurer; she had no ability to identify Skills.

He figured he could just tell her it was a Universal Skill, make up a name like “Quick Dash,” and get away with it.

Even if she saw through his ruse, it wouldn’t matter.

‘Who made the rule that a Non-professional can’t learn Professional Skills?’

‘I’m someone who’s absorbed a Divine Blessing.’

‘With Divine Power, anything is possible!’

‘Don’t believe me?’

‘Then you’re questioning a Divine Spirit!’

In short, ever since learning [Light-guided Arrow], Lu Wei’s attitude toward using Professional Skills had been consistent—

use them when necessary, with no need for deliberate concealment.

If he had ever encountered a situation that absolutely required [Light-guided Arrow] to solve, he would have transformed into a “Combat Priest” long ago.

So, his reason for not using [Long Stride] now had nothing to do with “secrecy.”

Instead, it was because he had experimented that morning and discovered that while the skill increased speed, it didn’t reduce stamina consumption.

To put it bluntly, he was simply afraid Clara wouldn’t be able to handle it.

“Let’s take a break.”

Reaching a relatively open clearing in the forest, Lu Wei turned to look at Clara, who was already drenched in sweat. He suddenly realized that Bai Ya was actually pretty great.

‘At least her stamina is excellent.’

“Sigh, who knows when we’ll get there,” he muttered.

He plopped down on a moss-covered rock, unfastened his waterskin, and took a drink. His mind was on those two hundred-odd ears as he waited with little to do for Clara to regain her strength.

What Lu Wei didn’t know was that just over an hour ago, two other people had passed this very spot on their way to the Dome Pillar.

And they had already arrived.

…

…

“Huh? My sister came looking for you? She didn’t do anything to you, did she?”

“Oh, okay. Good, as long as she didn’t.”

“You have no idea. She’s a complete devil. She’ll do anything to get what she wants.”

“That’s why I don’t dare go back to town. If I did, she’d have me tied up and dragged back to Kalin Port immediately.”

“Hiding here, not even Gante and Cersei would dare to do anything to me.”

“I figure after a while, when she can’t come up with a plan, she’ll just go back…”

At the Dome Pillar, on the second floor of the grocery store.

Furen mumbled as he sat cross-legged on the floor, his expression lacking any confidence.

It was clear he didn’t truly believe Freya couldn’t get to him.

But for now, he had nowhere better to hide, so he could only take things one step at a time.

Opposite him, Mirana listened in silence, offering no opinion.

It wasn’t until Furen glanced through the window at Cersei standing outside the grocery store that he asked with some curiosity,

“How did you end up coming with Cersei?”

“Your sister was worried you were short on supplies and asked us to bring some over.”

Mirana finally spoke, her voice calm. “I happened to be free, so I agreed.”

“Huh? She’d be that kind?”

Furen’s jaw dropped, a look of utter surprise on his face.

In his mind, it was far more likely that Freya would cut off all his supplies to force him back to town.

However, out of his trust for Mirana, he accepted her explanation after a moment. He even thanked her, a bit embarrassed.

“Sorry to have troubled you… By the way, did you get your Silver Badge?”

“Yes,” Mirana nodded.

“Then you’ve met the head of the Heitai Town branch? What did he say?”

“He said he would do his best to help, but couldn’t guarantee I would get an audience with the Earl of Lancaster.”

“Sigh, that can’t be helped. After all, the Count is here at the invitation of the Silver Scale Merchant Association, and there’s no telling how long he’ll stay in town.”

Furen sighed with a hint of regret and offered some quiet comfort. “But since he said he’d do his best to help, there’s still hope.”

“And even if it doesn’t work out this time, it’s okay. We’ll find another way later. We’ll get Kairos’s leg healed one day.”

Looking at Mirana earnestly, Furen’s tone was utterly sincere, likely because he already considered her a comrade.

The natural “we” in his last sentence was proof that he not only genuinely cared about Kairos’s situation, but was also willing to offer any help he could.

And for the first time, a flicker of conflict appeared in Mirana’s eyes.

“…”

“Young Master Furen, Miss Mirana, please have some tea.”

The sound of footsteps announced Gante’s arrival as he came up the stairs carrying a wooden tray.

On the tray were two cups of Pine Needle Tea. The liquid was clear and gave off a faint pine scent.

This tea, made from dried pine needles, was incredibly cheap. You could buy a pound of it in town for two Copper Coins—cheaper even than vegetables.

That was exactly why it had become the grocery store’s “complimentary tea.”

Furen drank it often, but he wasn’t thirsty at the moment. He took the cup and placed it casually in front of him. Once Gante had left, he continued the conversation.

“By the way, when are you heading back?”

“…I should be leaving soon.”

Mirana instinctively lowered her head, avoiding his gaze.

“So soon? Won’t you rest a little longer? Maybe leave after lunch?”

“No, I have other things to do.”

“Oh, okay. Well, in that case, could you do me a favor?”

As he spoke, Furen opened his backpack and pulled out a bag that gave off a faint, putrid smell of ears. He explained with a helpless expression,

“The night before last, Lu Wei used a Divine Blessing as bait and attracted a ton of monsters—goblins, Kobolds, you name it. These are all their ears.”

“But when Lu Wei and Bai Ya left the day before yesterday, they forgot to take them.”

“If we wait any longer, these ears are going to rot, and then they’ll be worthless for the bounty.”

“I did the math, and they’re worth about 4 Gold Coins. My brother Lu Wei is so frugal, he must be getting anxious about them.”

“So, could you please take them back to him?”

He scratched his head, embarrassed. It was just a small favor, but Furen was being exceptionally polite about asking.

When others needed help, he never hesitated to lend a hand.

But when he needed help himself, he would always hesitate, too embarrassed to ask.

It had to be said, Furen was truly a wonderful friend.

And Mirana, of course, wouldn’t refuse his request.

“Okay, I’ll give them to Lu Wei.”

“Phew, thank you so much. Otherwise, I was worried he’d make another special trip out here just for them.”

Furen let out a sigh of relief.

Then, he casually picked up his teacup.

“Wait.”

Suddenly, almost purely on instinct, Mirana called out to him.

“Hm? What is it?”

Furen paused, looking over at her in confusion.

“I… I just remembered something.”

Mirana snapped back to reality. She lowered her head and began to very, very slowly count out 3 gold coins and 5 silver from her coin pouch.

“This is the money I borrowed from you. I’m paying you back.”

“Oh, this? There’s no hurry.”

It dawned on Furen what she meant, and his magnanimous, rich-kid attitude immediately resurfaced.

“Kairos must need a lot of money, so you should use it first. It’s not like I have any need for it, anyway.”

“No, I have money. Please, take it,” Mirana insisted.

“Well… alright, then.”

Furen hesitated for a moment before nodding resignedly. “Just let me know when you’re short on money again.”

“…Will you still help me then?”

Her fingers, resting flat on her knees, trembled slightly. Mirana had suddenly asked a very strange question.

Furen, of course, didn’t understand what she meant. He looked completely baffled.

“Of course. Why would you ask that?”

“It’s nothing. I just feel… I’m very sorry.”

Mirana kept her head down, the suppressed emotion in her voice seeming to grow stronger.

But her words only left Furen more confused.

‘Sorry?’

‘It was just a small loan. What’s there to be sorry about?’

‘Lu Wei has borrowed from me several times.’

‘Maybe Mirana is just thin-skinned…’

Looking at Mirana, Furen scratched his head in confusion. He wanted to say something, but he was clumsy with words and didn’t know how to express himself.

And so, the scene grew awkward.

As everyone knows, people tend to do something—anything—to relieve awkwardness.

Like checking a Phone that has no new messages.

Or straightening their clothes, coughing, or stretching their neck.

Or, for instance, taking a drink of water.

And so, under Mirana’s complicated gaze, Furen picked up the teacup once more.

And this time, Mirana didn’t say another word, not even as he drank the entire cup of Pine Needle Tea—the one laced with a potent Sleep Powder.