Chapter 160: Heart-to-heart While Keeping Watch
At night, several people gathered around the campfire, enjoying tonight’s delicious food, soothing their somewhat frightened hearts.
Among them, Yarn didn’t feel much, just thinking that he should have thrown away the shield earlier and picked up the greatsword to output damage, while Karl and Bona on the other side had walked on the boundary line of death once.
In terms of combat power, that giant python might not be stronger than any member in the team, but in actual combat, situations change in an instant, and it’s very likely that the opponent finds a breakthrough and kills the weaker members.
The monster will definitely die in the end, but even if it’s one for one, it’s a huge loss that the adventure team can hardly bear, which is the biggest difference between the students and these monster enemies.
“Tonight Karl needs to sleep well and rest, unable to keep watch, so we can only trouble Tiya.” After dinner, the captain told the maiden.
“Bona will be with you too. You two keep watch during the safer first half of the night, and the second half will be me and Yarn.”
“I understand.” Xilutiya nodded.
Then everyone sat by the campfire checking and adjusting their respective weapons and equipment.
“So scary.” Bona hugged the pillow folded from her coat, leaning by the fire, whispering softly.
Xilutiya beside her was a bit sleepy now; she usually went to bed at this time, and suddenly staying up late today was somewhat unaccustomed.
“Yes, very scary.” She murmured in response, her eyelids fighting up and down, the red flames in her vision blurring, appearing and disappearing at times.
Strands of hair by her ear slightly curled, staying on the soft contours of her cheek, her small ear peeking out from between the strands, revealing a slightly childish earlobe, showing her young age. Her legs were pressed together slightly inward, her shoulder against the tree trunk supporting her head, her chest rising and falling slightly, revealing a gently curving outline.
About fifteen minutes later, Xilutiya’s balance leaning against the tree trunk was broken, her body leaning forward as she suddenly woke up.
Oh, she seemed to have fallen asleep, even though she was supposed to keep watch.
She stood up, looked around, and seeing no major changes, slightly relaxed.
She probably hadn’t slept for long.
She moved her body a bit; probably because of the short nap, she felt much more awake now.
Seeing Bona’s mood somewhat low, Xilutiya walked over, took her hand, and tried to comfort her.
Actually, she wasn’t very good at comforting others; in her past life, she had no siblings, at most friends would take her out to eat when she was unhappy.
However, probably due to her delicate mind, she could easily understand others’ emotions and feelings.
Sitting beside Bona, she gently patted the other’s shoulder, waiting for her mood to pass.
About half an hour later, perhaps having walked out of her emotions, or maybe feeling embarrassed to be down in front of a junior, Bona perked up, her face showing some embarrassment.
After all, she should be the one leading this new junior Xilutiya, but in the end, she was the one being comforted by her junior.
“There’s still quite some time at night; Tiya, what do you want to eat for a midnight snack?” By now, the other three had fallen asleep.
“Making food now, won’t it disturb them?”
“It’s fine; I’ll roast something, no need for frying or boiling, no noise.” Bona rummaged in the bag beside her.
Soon, she took out two potatoes, buried them under the campfire, then got the remaining dried meat, skewered it on thin wooden sticks, and placed it by the campfire.
The two leaned by the campfire, talking softly, sharing each other’s situations.
“I’ve been in the woodland for almost 7 years.” Bona recalled the past.
“When I came here, I was just over 17; now I’m already 24.”
“Back in our old home, at 24, one probably already has several children.”
“Last year, the letter I mailed back finally got a reply, telling me my sister had another child.”
“Now I can’t remember many people from my old home.” She said somewhat wistful.
“After coming to the woodland, can’t you go home?” Xilutiya was somewhat puzzled.
“You can, but entering and exiting the woodland consumes high points, and those points can be used to buy courses or exchange for rare potions; most people can’t bear to waste them like that.”
“If you advance to third order, you can go back for free.” She added.
“Back then, I thought, when I reach third order someday, I’ll go back to see, and make delicious food for my family.” She poked at the campfire, murmuring.
“Although it’s only seven years, it feels like I’ve completely changed into another person; the old me was even shy to talk to boys.” She propped her chin, her chestnut-red short hair outlining her cheeks, revealing a reminiscing smile.
“Being a chef is very interesting, Tiya.”
“You know, seemingly ordinary ingredients transform in your hands into exquisite food, not only with enticing aroma and delicious nutrients, but also helping others improve.”
“Every time I finish making food, I get everyone’s praise and love; that sense of fulfillment and recognition is something the ordinary me back then could never experience.”
“The secret arts learned in the woodland, the slowly improving ability, are like the flames baking the food, slowly transforming me. I’m very thankful for such an opportunity and very enthusiastic about discovering new and interesting things in each trip and adventure.”
“Because my food is very delicious and useful, even if I’m a burden, everyone is still willing to take me along, protecting me without complaint; such things always warm my heart, and I often want to make better food to compensate everyone.”
“Probably because of this mentality, my chef skills improved quite quickly; the teacher said I’m the most talented professional chef he’s seen in the past ten years.”
“Although I always feel I’m not genius enough—after all, I’ve seen a few real geniuses in the woodland—I’m still very happy.”
“Very happy.” She repeated once more, the flames in her eyes reflecting orange-red light and shadows.
“Many people cultivate to become stronger; I don’t have such a strong desire.”
“For me, living happily with everyone and immersing myself in everyone’s love for my chef skills is already very joyful.”
“It’s just that today’s encounter really hit me hard.” She shook her head slightly.
“So scary; that giant python, when it rushed at me, if the captain hadn’t kicked me away, I probably would have been swallowed by the giant python in one bite.”
“Death happens in an instant.” She sighed softly, her fingers twisting the wooden stick with the meat.
“After this adventure ends, I won’t follow everyone anymore.” She seemed to have made some determination.
“After all, always making everyone distracted to protect me is irresponsible, especially as we go further, the secret realms we go to become more dangerous, and me following would drag everyone down even more.”
“Bona…” Xilutiya comforted her.
“It’s fine; actually, preparing delicious food for you all from the rear is also a good way. Welcome you back, prepare tasty rations for your departures; I’m also willing, as long as when you return, you tell me which places you went to and what interesting things you experienced.”
To this, Xilutiya didn’t know how to persuade further.
Advancement, strength… She hadn’t encountered major obstacles in improving her strength yet, so she didn’t feel it deeply.
If she were in Bona’s situation, she would probably feel heartbroken and regretful too, because of her own insufficient ability and strength, having to bid farewell to various adventures and encounters, staying quietly in the rear, waiting for her companions to return.
This is a world with various supernatural powers, vastly different from the ordered society of her past life. Even if she wasn’t keen on fame or fortune, she needed to keep advancing upward to gain more freedom—that’s the ability to roam the world without hindrance or trouble.
Xilutiya and Bona, like her, were both staring at the campfire in a daze at this moment, thinking about their own thoughts and past events, until the oil from the roasting meat dripped down, making a slight sizzle, which woke the two, and they smiled at each other.
“Alright, Tiya, come taste my skills.” She sprinkled on salt grains, then added some delicious spices, and finally handed it to Xilutiya.
Seeing this cute maiden blowing on it in small bites and nibbling the meat, Bona’s face showed a happy smile.
“Is it delicious? I’ll roast some more for you. If you want to learn my exclusive recipe, I can teach you too~”
