Chương 54: Chapter 50

One more day. One. This number occupied Sobelle's thought when she finally went out to train, as not only was she finally going to get another series of stat points for completing the Gods' daily routine—and also a skill on top of everything—she was also going to finish the "kill goblins" quest the Gods gave her during the raid.

Just what kind of reward it was that they'd give her for killing 97 Goblins in total was a bit of a mystery, but it was a high number so Sobelle knew she did a great job at fulfilling the quest. And when it came to the Gods, a job well done usually meant a very good reward. That was how things worked so far, and Sobelle believed they'd continue to be this way up until the Gods chose to take back the system they had given her.

Which Sobelle hoped wouldn't happen, she'd done a lot of good things with it so far and she'd also followed everything the Gods wanted her to do. By all means, there was nothing the Gods could feasibly use as a reason when taking the blessing they had given her. Then again, they could also just take it from her because they wanted to and Sobelle wouldn't be able to do anything about it. She finished her training for the day and went back to the chief's house with her breakfast already cooked.

Chael had fried the leftover boar meat in its own fat then mixed the oil with herbs to create a sauce that left the entire house smelling like good food. The merchant truly was a good cook, no wonder Chael seemed so proud of herself while describing that a lot of people bought her cooking.

"We also have bread and vegetables Sobelle." The first food the chief described was plainly baked while the second one was roasted on top of charcoal. The chief had a half eaten onion on his hand as Sobelle walked in.

"Chael said that you already recovered because the spirits blessed you the night before? Can I see?" Sobelle lifted her shirt just below her sternum and showed the old man the freshly scabbed wounds. The chief nodded, impressed. He wasn't shocked like Chael, which either implied he's experienced something similar in the past or that he got used to the revelation sometime between Chael telling him and Sobelle's arrival.

"Interesting. It seems that the spirits were kind the day before, how blessed." The chief laughed.

"They must've sensed the energy of our celebration and came to celebrate with us! I should have put a wishing bag by the door to see if they'd listen to my request... Unfortunate."

"Well, I for one am glad that I had the foresight to ask them for aid before we slept." Chael said from the kiln. She carried a steaming pot of food and slowly filled everyone's plates.

"I truly am great aren't I?"

"You act so smug but I know that you only did it because you were concerned for Sobelle." The chief chuckled while scooping up a spoonful of soup and sipping the edges. He looked overjoyed after experiencing the taste.

"Hm! This is good!"

"Thank you Chael." Sobelle said her thanks to the merchant and got a huff in response.

"Don't mind it, I was only doing things any good healer would do— what? Sit down, I want you to eat." Chael frowned and tried to push Sobelle down but it was difficult on account that she carried something and Sobelle didn't.

"Let me help you." Sobelle didn't think that a simple verbal appreciation for the merchant's actions was enough. She wanted to show it through her own actions too, "let me carry the pot back to the kiln, you can eat with the chief."

"You... Alright, fine." Chael relented and took her seat.

"I really don't see why you had to do this, I told you that this was something healers normally did. It was like how I once saw a mid-wife and several maids praying to the Gods for the safe delivery of a baby. It's only natural that I do something like that when caring for someone." Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!

"Yes, I know." Sobelle replied as she got back. She took her seat again.

"But that doesn't change anything, you still helped me and I wanted to thank you because of it."

"Alright, fine." Chael's tone had suddenly changed and a shiver ran up Sobelle's spine when she heard it. The merchant raised one finger, "you can make it up to me by doing me one favor. Is that fine?"

"If you want." Sobelle didn't really mind the possibility of Chael requesting something she couldn't do. Because what could the merchant reasonably ask of her? Any physical labor Chael wanted Sobelle to do, she'd do it without hesitation. She was confident in completing them too.

"Good! Since you agreed, I wish for you to meet me in your room in a little bit—""Is this going to be you requesting that I stay put for the day?" Sobelle crossed her arms. She knew that she internally promised that she'd do anything. Chael asked but this was crossing a line.

"You know that I have to deal with the greenskins, otherwise we'd all die."

"Hm? Maybe?" Chael placed a dainty little finger on the bottom of her cheek and looked up innocently.

"And while you do have a point, I would like to say that not only have you failed in searching for the remaining greenskins these last few days, nothing bad will also happen if you take a break for a single day."

"She is right, Sobelle." The chief had apparently finished his meal in record time. How fast was that?

"You should prioritize your recovery over the death of Goblins, you'd have a hard time finding them now so it wouldn't make a difference if you missed a day." Wasn't he just repeating what Chael said? Or maybe he was reinforcing them? Either way, Sobelle didn't agree with any of it.

"This is not fair—""No." Chael snapped her fingers, cutting Sobelle off.

"You said you will do anything, and this sort of thing is rarely taken lightly by the spirits. You agreed! That is a successful deal between the two of us!"

"I..." Sobelle could not refute any of Chael's claims. The merchant was right, she had agreed. And now she must fulfill her end of the deal, otherwise she'd be seen as a backstabber by the spirits and they'd view her as someone to never be trusted.

"Okay, I'll meet you in my room later."

"Yes. Good." Chael fetched something from her pocket and handed it to Sobelle. When she took it, she saw that it was a weird little leaf with sharp edges.

"Chew on that after you eat, and also, uhm... Wash your mouth with water before doing so. Understood?"

"Yes?" Sobelle was curious as for what the plant could be and the purpose behind Chael giving it to her but quenched her feelings down in favor of finishing her meal. She ate until the bowl was empty and her bread was gone, then after that, she followed Chael's instructions. Rinsing her mouth with water was, at some point, a sort of morning ritual her mother taught her. And Sobelle had done this exact thing just before she left the house ever since.

Though why Chael made her do this was fairly strange, as there's no real benefit in rinsing your mouth.... Except for maybe removing pieces of food stuck to your teeth, but a good stick can do that just as well. If not even better. Sobelle spat out the water and stuffed the leaves into her mouth. She chewed and felt coolness fill her tongue. Was this the same medicine Chael used on her last night? So the merchant was healing her, she didn't trust Sobelle enough to go into the forest in her current state.

"Are you done?" Behind her, Chael had done the exact same thing. Her plate was now empty as well. Sobelle nodded.

"Good, let us go inside your room, we have things to do."

"I don't need any more healing." Sobelle whined as she closed the door behind her.

"Lock it." Chael said.

"What?"

"Lock it." Suspicious, Sobelle obliged and then waited for what the merchant was going to say. The wood snapped in place and Chael finally faced her. Sobelle got ready to right back, her suspicions were at an all time high and her mind went back to the ritual the merchant did the night before.

"Kiss me." It was like a bucket of cold water was dumped into the raging fire that was Sobelle's skepticism. Her clenched fists relaxed and the confusion she felt suffused every fiber of her being. She tilted her head, wondering if she had heard the wrong thing even though she already knew what Chael had said. It didn't hurt to check again.

"What?"

"Kiss me." The merchant said again, and Sobelle's mind finally caught up with the present.

"Do it. That's the favor. I want you to kiss me."