Book 13: Chapter 23


    Thank you.


    I ced the broom down. I looked to Ying and smiled: Its all right. I woke you upst night, causing you to wake up rtivelyte, didnt I? Thats why I swept the courtyard in your ce.


    Ying walked up to me and shook her head: It wasnt because of you. I also had a nightmarest night. It appears that the wyrm has be more active. That means theres somebody approaching this region of the ocean. I think theyre here to rescue you, so I must go out to protect them.


    Tone serious, I said: Ill go with you.


    Ying shook her head in response: No. You havent recuperated; you want be able to handle the sea and fight. Moreover, you cant fight, can you? Youre just an ordinary man. Dont put yourself in danger. If I need to protect you on top of performing my duty, how am I going to fight with the wyrm?


    Yingsment hurt. Shepletely neglected my feelings. Most upsetting was that she was right. I would just be dead weight to her if I went with her. I couldnt fight or use magic. I could only provide her with a useless buff.


    I hopelessly turned around with the intention of continuing to sweeping the courtyard. However, she extended her hand forth to stop me: Go and have breakfast, and then head into the vige to buy some food. Also, inform the harbour I will be heading out, so have them prepare a boat.


    Didnt you say you couldnt leave the shrine?


    Am I going to fight the wyrm from within the shrine?


    Ying took the broom from me. It didnt look as though she would ept a rebuff. She wouldnt change her mind once she settled on something. I had nothing else I could say. She was the professional atbatting the wyrm. I, consequently, didnt need to worry about her. If my conjecture was correct, neither she nor the wyrm could kill each other.


    I went into the building and slowly sat down. Breakfast was porridge and a small dried fish. The shrine certainly needed replenish its food supplies. I slowly ate breakfast while watching Ying slowly sweep the ground. Her long hair swayed with the branches. The gentle morning breeze brought with it some of the warmth of the morning sun. It was a particrly warm scene. It was as warm and harmonious as a husband and wife.


    Wait, wait. What sort of weird feeling is this? I asked myself.


    After finishing breakfast, I stood up and stretched my neck. I felt much better. My chest wasnt in pain anymore. It just felt a little heavy. As for my back, it was fine, other than the cracking sounds it made when I moved. Ying ced the basket for shopping next to the tray already. I ced my te onto the tray; then, picked up the small basket.


    I bid Ying goodbye, and then left the courtyard for the first time. I learnt the shrine was actually built on a small hill. It wasnt a tall hill. I, in fact, wouldnt even consider it a hill. Id just consider it a tall slope. At the door were small stone steps. Underneath the small hill were fires. A small vige beyond the small trees and shrubs was visible below. There werent many buildings. The vige probably number around just over a dozen people. I went down the steps and headed to the vige.


    I saw a fair few farmers dressed in short clothing, carrying farming equipment. There were lush fields on the side of the road. Green seedlings grew inside them. The people I passed by were startled to see me. I could understand how they felt, since I was the only one dressed drastically differently to them, and they were sensitive about foreigners. I didnt intend to say anything. I just headed into the vige.


    There were a few tables by the entrance. Children and adults crowded around the tables to eat breakfast. I never saw such a scene before. They all froze when they sluggishly watched me enter the vige. The kids stoppedughing and running around. They were afraid Id draw a weapon to attack them, inducing an awkward feeling.


    I revealed a friendly smile. The adults dawdled before responding with their own awkward smiles. Then, they turned back to continue eating their food. The kids seemed to want to approach me, but a few women ran over and carried them off, vigntly watching me. It was sort of upsetting, but there was nothing I could do; I was a stranger to them.


    I had a question I wanted to ask: You saved me; arent you going to ask me anything or even ask about how Im feeling?


    I shook my head and entered the vige. I looked up at the simply constructed buildings made with hay and wood. I finally saw the store with thentern with the word rice on it. I knocked on the tattered door then entered.


    The interior wasntrge by any means. A few cloth bags with their mouths open were ced inside. Inside of the bags was a bowl. The owner was lying down on the counter to the side. He had yet topletely wake up. Hepletely froze when he saw me enter. He slowly moved his lips the same way a student, who was sleeping, would look at his teacher when they woke him up.


    I said, Ah, hello. I was sent by Ying from the shrine. I came to pick up rice for the shrine.


    Ah. He finally got a grasp of the situation. He stood up and picked up a bowl by the side, So youre from the shrine. Our vige enjoys peace thanks to Yings protection. Here. Here is her rice. Send her my thank you when you return. I was nning to send rice to her today, but you happened toe.


    The bag contained only two bowls of rice. I hesitated for a moment before asking, How long is this tost?


    One month.


    The boss seemed to be very confused. In truth, I was even more confused. Two bowls. Three meals a day. That wasnt even enough for one person, let alone a month.


    How could this possibly be enough?! You people want her to protect you, so the least you could do is let her eat enough, I thought. I thundered, Is this enough?!


    The owner spaced out. He then sighed: Thats the same amount as always. We dont have spare food for her. We wouldnt be sending food to the shrine if she wasnt protecting us. Thats enough. This is food were setting aside. Its a blessing we can provide her with food. Its not as if she can leave She can only stay here We dont have enough food to feed you, too


    <strong>*Bang!*</strong>


    I mmed the table: You sell food, correct? All right, then. I have gold coins on me. Its not the currency you use here, but this is authentic gold. Ill exchange my gold for your food! You dont need to deliver it. You just sell food to me!


    I tossed down three gold coins. He looked at the rolling gold coins with a dumbstruck look. He fearfully looked up at me. I leaned onto the counter and ced the basket on top: Please give me three gold coins worth of rice. Ying isnt protecting you because she cant leave. She can leave whenever she pleases! The reason she hasnt left is because she just happens to worry for your safety. Do you people not understand that?!


    She cant leave We arent feeding her, alone


    What did you say?


    Nothing Here. Here is your rice. You can go now, right? You can go now, right?He pushed the basket to me. Although he was slightly afraid of me, he quickly swept the three gold coins into this drawer.


    I coldly snorted, and then turned to leave. I suddenly realised, What sort of life did Ying lead, before I came? Wait If theres only this much food, she definitely wouldve calcted her daily consumption Ive been here for thest few days. If she had to split the food between two people every day, the food wouldntst for a month. We ran out of food two days ago. I couldnt move at the time; meanwhile, she couldnt leave, since she had to wait for food to be delivered That means She gave me all of her food for thest few days