Ch. 48 Torrent slowed down a bit so that Kalé behind could catch up

“Kalé!” Mia, riding Torrent, turned back and shouted, “Do you have anything to eat?”

“Only jerky!” Kalé, riding Amia, replied. With Torrent, Kalé finally didn’t have to walk on foot.

“Jerky…” Mia hesitated for a moment. “That’ll do.”

Torrent slowed down a bit so that Kalé behind could catch up. The merchant handed two pieces of jerky to Mia.

Mia was about to reach for money. Then, she froze. When she had Melina level her up yesterday, it seemed… she had dumped all her money out at once. Oh no!

Mia looked at Kalé with extreme guilt. The merchant, however, didn’t realize what had happened at all. He didn’t even mention money.

Torrent moved forward on its own, walking in front of Kalé once again. In the girl’s heart, it was as if two little devils were arguing. One was saying: Anyway, Kalé didn’t ask for money, so why not just let it slide? The other was saying: Yes, yes!

Ah, no, no! Mia shook her head.

She still had to explain…

“Kalé.” Mia looked back, her eyes dodging and her voice lacking confidence.

“Hmm?” Kalé looked over.

But Mia had absolutely no idea how to explain it. If she said she had no money… then where did her money go? She had been eating, living, and traveling with Kalé for the past few days; could such an excuse really pass? Would he think she was deliberately trying to deceive him?

Just as Mia was trying hard to think, Kalé said, “Is it about the money?”

“Eh…” Mia, caught off guard, choked on her words.

“Why bother with money?” Kalé waved his hand carelessly. “Just consider it a cost of traveling together.”

From that deserted village to the beastmen in the forest, Kalé could be said to have been freeloading off the two’s protection the whole way. It wouldn’t do not to give something back. Moreover, there was no longer the same estrangement between them as before. Why talk about money? Talking about money hurts relationships!

“Mm…” Mia nodded, moved.

She said thank you to Kalé, then lowered her head to chew on the jerky in her hand.

Starving, Mia completely forgot her original stance and ate the rat jerky Kalé had made. For the sake of survival, one always has to compromise. Not saying the words “it’s delicious” was the girl’s final stubbornness! The reason was that Kalé’s jerky really didn’t taste good at all.

It belongs to that kind of life-sign maintenance substance that can eliminate your appetite even if it doesn’t fill your stomach.

However.

After getting used to this food, hmm… it’s not exactly unacceptable, is it?

Well, anyway, finding pleasure in pain that others perceive as such has always been one of Mia’s strengths… right?

After that, the group continued to move forward, unchanged.

“There should be a lake around here, right?” Mia asked, looking curiously at the surrounding scenery, towards Wilden in front.

There were no lakes anywhere in sight.

The Soldier leaned on the spear in his hand, not falling behind anyone even while relying only on his feet.

“Lake Agheel,” Wilden answered. “Legend says that a dragon dwells there.”

“A dragon, huh…”

Mia gazed into the distance, her thoughts gradually drifting.

Melina suddenly appeared.

“I would ask that you do not have such unrealistic fantasies at this stage. Even the weakest dragon is not something you can face right now.”

“Could you please not startle people like that!”

“I would ask that you get used to it as well,” Melina answered coldly.

“Haa,” Mia sighed helplessly.

But… what did Melina just say? Was she stopping her from dragon slaying?

“Are you worried about me?”

“No,” Melina denied. “After I possessed your body, I became able to experience a portion of your sensations.”

“Hmm?” Mia was startled.

Sensory sharing?!

What kind of eroge setting is this?!

Is it real!?

I don’t believe it! Unless I test it.

Mia looked around, and like a thief, she quietly pulled back her hand and pinched her forearm very hard.

Without mercy, the force was so great that even Mia herself grimaced.

Melina visibly paused, and then Mia saw her touch her own arm.

Eh, there’s a chance.

If Mia’s eyes were normal, then her expression right now could be described as her eyes shining with excitement.

‘Then could it be…’

Mia looked at Melina, then looked away, then looked at Melina again.

She repeated this guilty behavior several times.

It’s not very appropriate in broad daylight…

But if it were at night, like when we set up camp tonight, could I find a chance to be alone…

“I would ask that you do not have improper thoughts.”

“Ah, no, no.” Mia’s little thoughts were exposed on the spot, and she coughed twice, feeling guilty.

“If you are too mischievous, I might leave you and move along the Erdtree’s branches again. Therefore, please conduct yourself with dignity at all times, and protect yourself.”

“…Oh.” Being lectured, Mia completely lost her confidence.

It felt like returning to childhood, the age of being managed by a mother figure at all times.

What an unpleasant memory.

Melina disappeared again.

Mia pouted and looked into the distance.

Three Spirit Wolves were chasing each other on the grassland.

Ever since Mia got Torrent, the speed of their journey had significantly increased.

The speed of a group always depends on the slowest member, and before, the slowest among them was Kalé.

Because Mia had rented the donkey, Kalé could only walk while leading the donkey like Zhu Bajie.

As for Wilden, he was tall and sturdy, took long strides, and was tireless; from beginning to end, he was the important role who paved the way in front.

But now, with Mia having Torrent, Kalé could also ride the donkey.

Now, the slowest one walking in the group had become Wilden.

Even so, Wilden still walked at the very front, but compared to before, Wilden, not needing to worry about their speed, had completely unleashed his pace.