Chapter 15: Can't Stomach

Chapter 15: Can't Stomach

"Ugh... Blergh!" Liu Ji vomited another mouthful of stomach acid.

He had been unable to control his gag reflex all this while, and having already emptied his stomach, all that came out now was pure gastric juice.

Yaine squatted by Liu Ji's side, patting his back, trying to make him feel better. Nearby, Mervant's gaze wandered; he was unsure where to look.

After all, Liu Ji was completely naked, leaning against a tree trunk and puking, which was somewhat hard to watch.

"Yaine, what's wrong with him?" Osar asked as he approached.

"It's his first time killing, and the scene was somewhat..." Yaine raised her chin toward a nearby area.

"Hmm? You mean this mess?" Mervant glanced down at the mashed-up remains by his feet. "I was wondering what kind of magic could have this effect; I never imagined it to be the doing of this fellow."

Osar walked over to Mervant, took a look, and drew a sharp breath. "Sheesh... This is indeed, how should I say... too intense for a first kill. But how did he manage it?"

"It's a bit complicated to explain." Yaine mused for a bit, and went on, "Putting it simply, you guys can think of him as a druid who can transform into a bear spirit..."

"Eh? He can turn into a bear besides a potato?" Mervant raised an eyebrow. "And seeing how it went, looks like he's pretty strong in combat too?"

"Mm, yes. It was all thanks to him; otherwise, my spellcasting might have been interrupted." Yaine shrugged. "Their scouts climbed the mountain much faster than we anticipated. Without his help, we would have really been in danger."

"Hahaha, we should really thank him, then." Osar grinned, hands on his hips. "I told you this fellow was a good lad. Seems my judgment isn't bad, eh?"

"Didn't I remember you talking about his muscles or something before?" Mervant's lips twitched.

"Yeah. If a person's muscles are good, then that person surely can't be bad, right?" Osar said cheerfully.

"That's... Alright, whatever you say." Mervant shrugged. "But we do owe him one."

"Yes, not many can make you owe them," Yaine said subtly. "But maybe you should try being a bit nicer to him first?"

"I think I've been rather friendly." Mervant put up his hands in a show of innocence.

Yaine pursed her lips, noncommittal.

And now that he had violently vomited most of his stomach acid, he still couldn't bring himself to eat a hearty bowl of stewed meat. Rather than watching others eat while he starved, he'd prefer to happily photosynthesize in the ground.

Liu Ji, in a potato state, was unaware that the others were staring at him intently.

"He really turned into a potato..." Osar was carefully touching Liu Ji's glossy leaves.

"What do you mean 'really'? Didn't you see him transform from a potato into a human with your own eyes previously?" Mervant retorted.

"That's true, but it still feels so unreal," Osar muttered. "And wasn't he much larger last time? How has he become so small now?"

"Concentration is essence, ever heard of that?" Yaine remarked offhandedly. "His magical energy concentration is frighteningly high right now. Probably because all that large body mass has condensed into this small plant."

Then, she tapped Mervant's shoulder with the notebook she was holding.

"Hm?" Mervant took the notebook. "What's this?"

"Blueprints," Yaine explained. "You two stop slacking off and come eat. While we eat, we'll discuss the details of the house. I don't want to sleep on the ground tonight, and we don’t have much time left today, so we need to hurry."

"Question!" Osar raised his hand.

"Ask," Yaine responded.

"To speed up eating, may I use my hands?" Osar asked.

"Ah? What else would you use if not your hands? We didn't prepare any utensils for you," Mervant, unaware of the backstory, made an ignorant remark.

"No, didn't I tell you before?" Osar retorted, exasperated. "She previously made me use two wood sticks as utensils to pick up the meat, saying it was more convenient and hygienic."

"Two wood sticks?" Mervant looked toward Yaine in bewilderment.

"Yes, two sticks." Yaine casually pulled out her own chopsticks, showing Mervant how to use them. "They're very handy and hygienic, and they don't dirty your hands. I've decided that from now on we'll eat with these... Well, but you guys are off the hook for this meal.

"Wait a minute, you big cat, don't just grab! At least go wash your hands first!"