Chapter 180: Distribution of Remuneration.

Falm’s little paws moved fast. He stuffed the remaining half of the fruit into his mouth, disposing of the evidence.

A flicker of amusement passed through Ace’s green eyes. Keeping his expression composed, he asked the boy who seemed at a loss for words, “Is he your contracted beast?”

Shu Li froze for a moment, then seized on the explanation. “Yes! He’s my contracted beast.”

He hurried over to Falm, knelt, scooped him into one hand, and gave him a vigorous rub. “His name is Falm. He’s only a baby, and he’s very gentle. See? I can rub him like this and he doesn’t get angry.”

The little red magical beast was so thoroughly rubbed that he grew dizzy. He waved his short, chubby forelegs in protest, to no effect at all.

Ace came closer and knelt on one knee. He reached out and touched the horn on Falm’s head. “A young fire dragon lizard?”

Falm stopped squirming the instant Ace touched his horn. His eyes widened as he stared at the blond man so close to him.

What... what was that supposed to mean?

He had been warned.

Why?

He had spent the entire day asleep inside the Fire God’s mark. When he woke, he had come out to ask the Little Fairy for food. He had heard the knock, and his keen senses had told him someone familiar stood outside. So he had made no attempt to hide. He had simply stayed on the carpet, eating his fruit in plain sight.

Seeing that [N O V E L I G H T] familiar person appear with an unfamiliar face had startled him. Then he had listened to the Little Fairy and the blond man talk, growing more confused by the second.

What were these two doing?

And now the Elven King had touched his horn to warn him. Falm was completely baffled.

“Yes,” Shu Li said. He stroked the scales on Falm’s back, his gaze soft and his voice tinged with sadness. “His mother abandoned him right after he was born. He was lying half-dead in the grass when I happened by, so I took him home and raised him. Later, he formed a contract with me and became my contracted beast. Apart from eating too much, he’s no trouble at all.”

Falm: ...

Ace gently squeezed one of the little red beast’s short, plump forelegs. “Once he grows up, he’ll be a powerful magical beast.”

“I hope you’re right.” Shu Li grinned, set Falm on the floor, and urged Ace, “Go and have your bath. When the others get here, we’ll divide the payment.”

Ace glanced at the pile of gold coins beside his feet and nodded. “All right.”

He stood and removed his hooded cloak, revealing an ornate magic robe. It was slightly damaged, and dust clung to its hem.

No wonder those bandits robbed him, Shu Li thought. One look at that robe tells you it cost a fortune.

“There’s clean water in the bathroom barrel,” he said. “Would you like me to warm some up with magic?”

“A cold bath will be fine.”

Shu Li frowned. “You could catch a chill.”

Ace hesitated, then agreed. “In that case, I’d appreciate it, Sperien.”

“It’s no trouble.” Shu Li sprang up, took his staff from beside the wall, and chanted two spells at the bathroom door.

Soon a ball of water and a fireball hovered inside.

“Call me when you’ve undressed. I’ll make the water pour down so you can wash.”

“Thank you.” Ace went into the bathroom and politely closed the door.

Shu Li waited outside with his staff. A minute or two later, Ace called to him. Shu Li gave the staff a wave, turning the water ball into a shower.

Before long, he heard water splashing inside.

He put the staff back against the wall, sat down on the carpet, and met Falm’s eyes.

Falm gave him a strange look.

“That was close!” Shu Li murmured, poking his round belly. “All you ever think about is food.”

Falm glanced toward the bathroom, then back at the unsuspecting Little Fairy.

Fine. He would pretend he knew nothing.

“Give me another fruit,” the little magical beast demanded. If Shu Li wanted him to keep quiet, he ought to offer something in return.

Shu Li glanced at the bathroom, quickly took out a Kuku fruit, and handed it over. “Eat it quickly.”

Falm hugged the fruit and began munching happily.

Sitting cross-legged, Shu Li counted and arranged the hundred gold coins. Just as he finished, someone knocked on the door.

This time, it had to be his companions.

He got up to answer it. Sure enough, all five stood outside, freshly bathed.

“Sperien, we’re all cleaned up!” Budno said cheerfully.

“Ace is back?” Angel had spotted a pair of boots with bits of grass on them by the entrance.

“Yes. He’s still bathing, so we’ll wait a little.” Shu Li stepped aside to let them in.

“No problem,” Dicio said with a gesture.

Kumandi paused when he saw the little red magical beast sitting on the carpet, licking his paws. “Why is he out?”

Shu Li sat down cross-legged again and poked Falm’s belly. “You know contracted beasts. Once they’ve had enough sleep, they come out looking for food.”

Kumandi understood the hint and asked no more.

The moment Dicio and Budno saw Falm, they both reached for him. He passed from one Little Fairy’s hands to the other’s as they petted him from head to tail.

Falm flicked his tail in weary resignation. Once they had had their fill, he flapped his wings and flew to the top of the wardrobe.

Angel sat beside Shu Li and looked at the hundred gold coins. Shu Li had divided them into ten neat stacks of ten.

Amanda burped and rubbed his full stomach. After returning to his room, he had not only taken a bath but eaten a sea fish a foot long. At last, he felt full.

Budno kept yawning. If they had not been dividing the payment, he would already have fallen asleep on his bed.

Why couldn’t they divide the coins tomorrow? According to Dicio, earning their first payment for a job in the human world was too exciting to sleep through.

Budno had had no answer to that. He had rallied what energy he could and stayed awake.

Ten minutes later, Ace emerged from the bathroom.

The bandits had stolen all his luggage, leaving him without money for new clothes. After bathing, he had washed the clothes he had taken off and used wind magic to dry them.

His clean magic robe had regained its original color. Apart from the torn hem, it looked almost new.

Shu Li had to admit that Ace was strikingly handsome. His golden hair was as fine as silk, his skin fairer than snow. His features were sharply defined, and his deep eyes shone like green gems. He carried himself with a natural, noble elegance and looked every bit as impressive sitting among the Fairies.

Shu Li guessed he came from a noble family in the Izerafa Empire. It was hard to imagine a commoner possessing such a distinctive bearing.

He did not look down on commoners. It was simply that none he had met resembled Ace.

“Ace, come over here.” Shu Li patted the empty spot beside him.

Ace joined them and sat cross-legged as Shu Li did.

Shu Li glanced at his legs with a touch of envy. Being tall certainly had its advantages. Ace’s legs were so long.

He gathered his thoughts. “We earned a hundred gold coins, but there are seven of us, so we can’t divide them evenly. Here’s what I’m thinking: everyone gets ten coins.”

He placed seven stacks in front of the seven team members. Three remained in the middle. He picked up one of them and set it before Ace.

“If Ace hadn’t suggested it, we wouldn’t even have thought of taking a job to earn money. I think he should get ten more coins. Any objections?”

Good information made all the difference when deciding what to do.

Since joining them, Ace had made the journey more enjoyable and helped them find their footing in the human world. An extra ten coins seemed only fair.

The Little Fairies and the young dragon nodded in agreement.

Ace, however, politely declined. “There’s no need. The same share as everyone else is enough.”

Shu Li puffed out his cheeks and pushed the coins firmly toward him. “If you won’t take them, you’re looking down on us.”

“That’s right! You’re looking down on us!”

Dicio, Angel, and Budno backed their leader at once. Kumandi said nothing, but kept his eyes on Ace. Amanda was a beat slower; then he nodded and repeated, “Right! You’re looking down on us!”

Faced with six pairs of earnest, determined eyes, Ace had no choice but to accept.

Shu Li smiled and clapped him on the shoulder. “That’s more like it, brother.”

Ace glanced at the spot Shu Li had patted. “Brother?”

“The Team of Light works together and shares its successes and hardships,” Shu Li said seriously. “We’re as close as family. We’re friends and brothers who move forward together. Ace, would you like to join us officially?”

He held out his hand to the blond boy.

They had needed a team to accept the commission at noon, so Ace had joined them for the day. After spending that day together, Shu Li and the others had come to trust both his character and his abilities.

Ace took his hand without hesitation. “I’d be honored.”

“Wonderful!” Shu Li beamed. “From now on, we’re brothers!”

Angel was the first to clap. “Welcome to the team, Ace!”

“Heh. I told you he’d say yes.” Budno rubbed his nose.

Kumandi was still wary of humans, but Ace had given him no cause for concern so far. For now, he accepted him as a member of the Team of Light.

Once everyone’s excitement settled, Shu Li turned to the remaining twenty coins.

“I’d like these to be our team fund.”

They still had a long way to go before reaching the central court. They could pay travel costs, meals, lodging, and other shared expenses from the fund, making the accounts easier to manage.

No one objected, and the proposal passed.

With the payment divided, the companions who had been fighting sleep said good night, took their coins, and left one after another.

Shu Li put thirty gold coins into his pack. As captain, he would look after the team fund.

He stretched and turned to Ace. “Let’s get into bed.”

If they stayed up any longer, dawn really would arrive.

Without waiting for Ace’s reply, he pulled back the covers, patted his pillow, and lay down as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

Ace remained seated on the carpet.

Shu Li had already made himself comfortable when he noticed his “roommate” had not moved. He turned and saw the blond boy still sitting cross-legged, looking ready to meditate.

“Ace, aren’t you coming to bed?” Shu Li propped up his head as he lay on his side, puzzled.

The bed was large. There was more than enough room for two.

Falm, who had been dozing on top of the wardrobe, opened his eyes. He spread his wings, flew down to the carpet, and padded over to Ace on his short, plump legs. His tail brushed lightly against Ace’s toes.

Ace reached out and touched the horn on Falm’s head. “I can just meditate,” he told Shu Li gently.

“You can’t do that!” Shu Li sat up in surprise. “Meditating can’t be as comfortable as lying in bed.”

The blanket slipped down. His dyed-black hair fell loosely around him, and the wide collar of his relaxed clothes revealed his delicate collarbones.

The Little Fairy had no guard up around someone he had accepted as a brother. He often slept beside Angel and the others; sharing a bed with Ace did not seem strange to him at all.

Ace was silent for a moment. At Shu Li’s urging, he slowly rose and undid the buttons of his magic robe with long fingers, revealing the snow-white shirt beneath.