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Main Street in the morning was very different from the cluster of annoyingness in the afternoon. The streets felt so much wider at sunrise - no people, no noise. Every one of the two-story shops had their shutters closed. The shops looked like a long stone wall all lined up in a row.
The eastern sky was getting brighter. The early morning did not mean they were alone on the streets. A few merchants were setting up their store here, and a group of dwarves were talking over there. By the looks of them, they were all adventurers.
"T-today was rough...”
“Oh, was it~?”
Bell took in the view while willing his wobbly knees forward, as he and his only other party member made their way to Miach’s Blue Pharmacy.
“Shouldn’t we stock up on potions instead of always taking refills each day?” Bell asked, feeling a little embarrassed at the mocking laughs he received from the few people gathered outside.
“You’d just spill them~.” The silver-haired beauty replied with no care.
‘At least take some before coming over to the church…’ Bell whined in his head but was too scared to voice it out. Further beating coming from his so-called ‘party leader’ might lead to his death.
They really needed a supporter… Bell couldn’t transport all of their stuff including magic stones and drop items on his own. The beautiful girl walking alongside him refused to carry anything with her. She looked around his age, perhaps a bit younger, and has been teaching him how to fight for the past few days.
They started training in the abandoned church’s backyard in the darkness before sunrise, which meant his body was being beaten to a pulp before going into the dungeon. Bell thought he had taken more damage from her than all the monsters he encountered down there combined.
Her strength was on a whole other level. Meanwhile, it was taking him all he had to keep putting one foot in front of the other on the stone road.
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He understood that this was also part of the training. This was all so he could get stronger. So that he could catch up to her, his instructor and the girl he will one day save, just like in grandpa’s stories.
He kept telling himself those words over and over and ignored his aching joints as he made his way to the potion shop.
“It seems we’ve arrived~.” Shalltear stated coldly.
After what felt like an eternity of suffering, Bell realized he was standing in front of Miach’s blue pharmacy. He breathed a sigh of relief. The pain would finally cease. At least, for a few hours before she throws him into some herd of poisonous ants.
Upon ringing the bell, Shalltear was met by a sleepy Naaza. Her expression unchanging, her lips start to form words. "I was waiting for you two. I wondered if you would pass by…”
Ignoring the curious expressions of the two teenagers, she pulled a rolled-up piece of paper from her pocket and handed it to Shalltear.
“This is a quest. That should be enough to repay what you owe us." She said before covering her mouth with her hand as she yawned.
"Qu—est?” Bell wondered out loud. Moreover, he didn’t know Shalltear owed something to the Miach familia. Was that the reason why she lived with them?
Naaza took a glance at the beaten-up Bell. “Of course, it’d be appreciated if you’d help Aura with this job. Is it possible for the two of you to bring me what's written on this sheet?”
Shalltear and Bell lock eyes for a moment before the former looks down at the piece of paper in her hands.
Wanting to help his party member from whatever debt she owed, Bell agreed. "S-Sure… So c-can I get a h-healing potion?” He pleaded, almost failing to stand straight.
Naaza nodded as she handed a few potions to Bell. "There is no time limit, but the earlier it is done, the better... Oh, you don’t need to pay for these potions, Bell. Consider it your reward for helping out with this job."
“If that’s the case, then thank you.” He lowered his head for a split-second and gave her a bright smile before gulping down a full flask.
The effect was immediate. Bell was completely healed up and started bouncing up and down, glad that the pain was over. He now has the energy to go on with today’s expedition.
“*Swish-swish!* Then go for it.” Showing more energy than she had up until now, Naaza waved them away from the shop’s entrance.
It took all the self-control Shalltear possessed to not burst out in anger and kill everyone in close proximity as a result. She knew losing herself to her temperament might cause her troubles later on, so she had to take the wisest choices possible as to not screw up anything.
“I-Is there something wrong, miss Fiora?” Bell anxiously inquired as they walked away from the building.
She glanced at the curious Bell before looking back in front of her. “N-No… It’s nothing~.”
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