Chapter 16: Layla on a Rainy Night

On the other side, deep within a dense forest, Leila was running desperately toward the east gate of the town, carrying Rox in her arms, who was unconscious and covered in blood.

Her face was filled with anxiety; rain soaked her from head to toe, and the droplets on her face blurred the line between rain and tears.

Just moments ago, when a dragon-head-shaped shockwave was about to strike them, Rox had thrown her aside and, relying on the protection of the thorns, had taken the brunt of the blow.

Thinking of Rox’s life-threatening situation behind her, Leila felt a sting in her nose but forced herself to hold back the tears.

She told herself silently, "Don’t cry, Leila. Now is when your master needs you most. Don’t let him down."

Repeating this in her heart, her gaze toward the front grew steadily resolute.

The words Rox had spoken before throwing her out echoed in her mind:

“Leila, give this note to Dave, then take me to find Liss.”

Clutching the note tightly, she carefully discerned the direction of the town’s east gate.

The small figure vanished into the curtain of rain.

...

Dave was lounging in a soft cork chair beside the fireplace, leisurely warming himself.

Today was his day off.

Usually, he would have gone to the town tavern for a drink and a chat with fellow patrons at this time.

But for two weeks straight, he hadn’t set foot there.

There was no helping it; the town had been unusually restless lately, though the brash young men he worked with mocked him for overthinking.

But they didn’t understand.

Having grown up in this town, Dave knew every street, every person, even every stone intimately.

He was certain that something major was about to happen.

His confidence came from a well-developed theory he used to predict upheavals in Wheel Town.

This theory involved observing Charles, the guard at the baron’s mansion gate.

Charles was a middle-aged, professional paladin in his thirties, assigned to guard the baron’s estate.

His usual manner was ostentatious and annoying, so much so that one might want to punch him in the face.

Yet, before every major event, he transformed completely.

Not only did he adopt the demeanor of a polite gentleman, but he also greeted every passerby with his nauseating smile.

Ha.

Charles thought no one knew his secret, but Dave was fully aware.

Now, the baron’s steward also bore the name Charles.

Dave chuckled to himself, reaching for the apple cider beside him, ready to toast his own keen insight and wit.

But a sudden knock interrupted him.

“Knock knock knock!!!”

The knocks were urgent but not rough.

So late, with rain pouring outside—who could it be?

Dave hesitated, then pulled aside the blanket on his lap and went to the door.

Opening it, he found Leila standing there, carrying Rox on her back.

“Good evening, Mr. Dave.”

Leila looked like a bedraggled stray cat caught in the rain, blood and water dripping from her erect ears.

But when Dave met her gaze, he immediately dismissed that thought.

A drenched stray cat would not have such a determined look.

“Good evening,” Dave replied, then glanced at the blood-soaked Rox behind her, pausing before asking, “Your master doesn’t look well—what happened?”

Leila was silent for a moment before answering, “My master went to hunt slimes and something went wrong.”

“Slimes?!” Dave’s voice rose sharply. He stepped inside to grab his coat, muttering, “I told him not to mess with those things. Why didn’t he listen? Wait here—I’ll take you to see Laura.”

Madam Laura ran the town’s only clinic.

Hearing her name, Leila’s heart stirred, ready to agree.

But remembering her master’s instructions, she steeled herself, rushed inside, and pressed the note into Dave’s hand before he could question her.

“No need, Mr. Dave. Thank you for your kindness, but I’m only here to deliver this. My master asked me to give it to you.”

With that, she ran out, carrying Rox swiftly until she vanished from sight.

Dave, puzzled, wanted to pursue her since Rox clearly needed medical attention.

But his plump frame wasn’t up to the chase, so he let it go.

He looked down at the note in his hand, wondering why Rox would send a message this way.

Unfolding the paper, he read every word carefully. His breathing grew rapid.

Finally, wiping the sweat from his brow, he hurried inside.

He had to get his coat and deliver this news to the captain immediately.

If the note was true, Wheel Town was on the brink of a disaster.

...

“Hold on, master, we’re almost there. Don’t fall asleep...” Leila murmured incessantly.

She had been carrying Rox and whispering to him all the way.

Luckily, they were nearly at their destination.

Facing the closed doors of the Adventurers’ Guild, Leila ran up and pounded on the door.

“Liss! Liss! Are you there?”

After a minute of knocking, the door opened from inside.

Liss, dressed in pure white pajamas, peeked out, rubbing her eyes.

“Knocking so hard this late isn’t polite, Leila. If it were someone else, I’d give them a mop to the head.”

But then, her eyes widened in disbelief at the sight of Rox behind Leila.

“What happened?!”

“Liss, please, save my master,” Leila pleaded.

Tears she had been holding back swirled uncontrollably in her eyes.

“Come inside,” Liss said, pulling Leila in.

She glanced left and right before closing the door.

With a snap of her fingers, the chandelier above lit up, bathing the hall in warm, white light.

Looking at the tearful Leila, she asked, “How did your master end up like this?”

Leila hesitated, unsure whether to mention the red dragon.

Liss wrinkled her nose as if catching a scent, then nodded knowingly.

“You encountered that red dragon?”

Leila quickly nodded.

Liss was surprised.

“Rox actually survived that violent she-dragon?”

Seeing Liss’s focus stray, Leila hurriedly began recounting the story from their encounter with Tazanya.

“Liss, please save my master.”

Understanding the gist, Liss smiled and nodded.

“Rox has good taste. I can save him. But the key question is...”

“Why should I save him?”

Leila was stunned.

Rox had never told her this.

She had assumed that Rox and Liss were close, which was why he asked her to come to Liss.

Liss explained, “Rox and I have only met a few times and done some business together. We’re barely friends, let alone close enough for me to heal him for free.”

Leila’s hopes shattered instantly.

But catching the last sentence, she blurted out, “We can pay.”

Liss smiled faintly.

“All right. Since Rox is a regular, I’ll give you a 30% discount. The treatment will cost 4,000 copper coins.”

Leila’s heart sank.

She managed the accounts and knew that even with today’s earnings of thirteen silver coins, plus the four goblin corpses in their magic bag and some miscellaneous items, it was far from enough.

At best, she could cover 150 copper coins.

“C-Can we pay later?” she asked, voice trembling with the last shred of hope.

“No credit at Liss’s shop,” Liss replied, crushing her final hope.

Just as Leila fell into despair, Liss smiled again.

“But I’m interested in your potential. I’m working on a magical research project that requires half-orcs as experimental subjects. If you’re willing to sell yourself to me, I can deduct 2,000 copper coins.”

“I can!” Leila answered without hesitation, her heart filled with joy.

She hadn’t expected to be worth so much. Now her master would finally be saved.

But the next moment, she felt a light tap on the back of her head.

“Not a chance.”

Rox’s weak voice came from behind her.

“You’re mine. Who allowed you to sell yourself?”

Then he looked at Liss and spoke softly.

“The skill book for the second-level recovery cleric spell I reserved last time—the mid-level healing spell—1,200 copper coins, paid in full.”