Lin Da remained silent for a long time.
Drops of water from the cave ceiling dripped down continuously, their echoes lingering.
"Hmm."
After a series of events, Lin Da had long harbored no resentment towards Lia. It was Lia, the ’failure,’ who had taught him how to interact with his team members.
Lin Da had learned many lessons about being an adventure team leader from Lia.
Lessons in failure.
He could avoid the pitfalls Lia had stumbled into.
"Having spent three years with Snow Goose, I have no regrets," Lin Da said.
"What? You’re not angry?" Lia looked up, surprised.
"Of course I was angry," Lin Da chuckled wryly, "Worrying too much, fearing the team leader might fall under the claws of Magical Creatures. Reckless, proud, arrogant, and flat-chested..."
Lia’s face darkened, and she huffed, "Then why did you stay for three years before you quit?"
"Despite all the flaws... she might become a great adventure team leader in the future."
"And it’s not all flaws, she protects her teammates in her own way."
In the cave, Lin Da’s voice flowed like a clear spring.
A bitter feeling welled up in Lia’s chest, her eyes burning.
She hadn’t expected Lin Da to see her this way.
Despite everything she had done to him, Lin Da could still speak of her strengths.
All she had thought about was how to defeat Lin Da, humiliate him, and she almost wished the whole continent knew leaving the team was a wrong decision by Lin Da.
Her magnanimity paled in comparison to Lin Da’s!
Lia sucked in a breath through her stifled nose, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.
As they left the cave.
In a corner, Isa and Monica appeared.
Isa, holding Monica’s hand, silently watched the backs of Lin Da and his companion.
"Is the Lord going to be with Lia...?"
Monica’s heart tightened.
She spread her fingers, counting for Lin Da.
Fortunately, people have two hands.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to count it!
Monica looked at the dazed Isa, then at the distant Lia, saying, "Isa, sister, I support you!"
"Huh?" Isa snapped back to reality, blinking.
What did that mean?
In another place.
Lin Da and his companion walked out smoothly.
The Evil Pumpkin Castle, which could scare regular adventurers witless, was nothing more than child’s play to them.
In terms of courage, the two were quite alike.
Passing through a jungle simulated by an Array, a glowing sign appeared ahead, with the word [EXIT] written on it.
At the exit, two clown-like automata pulled open sprays of confetti, ribbons falling on Lin Da and his companion as the automata shouted, "Congratulations to the two brave warriors for passing through Evil Pumpkin Castle!"
"Not scary."
Lin Da commented.
Lia hummed, "It’s less interesting than hunting Magical Creatures."
Upon leaving the Pumpkin Castle, outside was a tranquil little grove, with night lamps placed not too far apart, and many couples sitting on the benches beside them.
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Lin Da realized it was time to let go of the hand, now that the haunted house adventure was over.
But when he tried to pull away, he couldn’t.
He reminded, "You don’t have to follow the rules now that we’re out of the haunted house."
"Just a little longer..."
Lia lowered her head and nudged a pebble on the ground with her toe, her voice tiny, like the whine of a mosquito.
This was a far cry from her usual clear, loud voice.
"What, you’re in debt again?" Lin Da questioned without a hint of mockery, "After hunting the Epic Monster, I already gave you the reward of 310,000 Gold Coins, plus a level 25 orange-quality Great Sword. That should have covered your debts, right?"
"Still a bit short," Lia mumbled unclearly.
"I’ve been meaning to ask since the last party..." Lia’s voice trembled slightly, "Lin Da, have you ever, liked me?"
The two had just walked into the deeper part of the grove, a profoundly dark place, devoid of people.
Only the bright moonlight pierced through the canopy, scattering patches of light on the ground.
Lin Da pondered seriously.
"Yes."
"What?"
Snow Goose gasped.
"It’s not just you."
Lin Da laughed and said, "Lin Xi, Aiko, Klrona, Klyne, Oru... I like them all."
Lia’s eyes widened, she shook her head and said, "Not that kind of like."
She tilted her head upward, looking at Lin Da.
The peony flower hairpin in her red hair added a touch of maturity to her, her kimono neckline had unknowingly loosened slightly, revealing a clavicle as exquisite as art.
The girl’s other hand trembled as she clutched her handbag, from which Lin Da caught a glimpse of makeup completely unrelated to Lia’s personality, and a fine "Great Sea Clear Sky" brand wristwatch that seemed to match the one she had gifted him.
But today, Lin Da was wearing the one given by Isa, or maybe for that reason, Lia had put it into her handbag.
A flicker of realization crossed Lin Da’s mind.
So that was it.
Lia’s whims were based on her assumption that he liked her, that he was her devoted admirer!
When he first joined the team, Lin Da probably did have some feelings for this young girl.
The valiant figure she cut while battling with a great sword, the splashing glow of her fire-red Battle Qi, was very dashing and cool.
Not to mention Lin Da’s favorite feature: her black silk long legs.
But now...
It’s complicated.
Some people, the more you hang out with them, the more they become just a teammate.
Lin Da seriously pondered the image of him overpowering Lia, only to find it embarrassingly unfeasible.
It was simply too familiar, and he couldn’t go through with it.
"Wuwuwu, Team Leader is so scary inside the Haunted House."
A rustling sound came from the bushes, and Monica and Isa emerged.
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"Lin Da, what are you guys doing?"
Isa clenched her fists and asked in a ’surprised’ voice.
Lin Da and Lia, like people caught secretly trading Dream Herb by the Knights Order, instinctively jumped apart.
Although nothing had happened, it was better not to be misunderstood.
The ambiguous atmosphere instantly dissipated.
Lia discreetly glanced at Lin Da, noticing that he was not planning to respond to the earlier topic, and a flash of disappointment crossed her face.
"Let’s go, we haven’t found Lulu yet." Isa looked at them with complex eyes.
Eventually, the four waited outside Pumpkin Castle for half an hour before a pale, weak-legged Lulu appeared.
"Spiders, inside, so many spiders."
Lulu wiped the cold sweat from her forehead, still terrified.
It turns out she was afraid of spiders.
Lin Da and the others found this quite amusing.
There was still some time before the fireworks show officially started.
They strolled around the amusement park and discovered a shop with a unique design.
It was a huge green turtle shell topped with a crystal ball, inside which glowing, floating letters read:
"Heartbeat Cottage~choo", and a picture of a Succubus with horns on her head, sticking out her buttocks and blowing a kiss.
Driven by curiosity, Lin Da and his companions approached.
Near the cottage, there wasn’t a single visitor.
Quite rare in a bustling amusement park.
At the entrance of the turtle shell, a blackboard stood displaying an introduction and rules for entering the shop.
[Heartbeat Cottage: Want to know his/her heartbeat level for you?
Still worried that you are a devoted admirer?
Perhaps he/she is only after your Gold Coins?
Once you enter this cottage, all will be revealed!
The cottage is fully self-service, equipped with an ’Heartbeat Test’ Array developed personally by the Elf Love Master Aimmi, costing 10 Gold Coins per person.
Note: Devoted admirers and weak adventurers, do not enter!]
Damn.
Lin Da stiffened, understanding why there was no one inside.
First off, the fee of 10 Gold Coins per person; not every adventurer was wealthy like him.
Ordinary level-10 Magical Creatures’ Demon Cores also sell for 10 Gold Coins. Excluding those with extraordinary personal strength, this required at least a three-person, well-coordinated adventure team for successful subjugation.
It was equivalent to spending an entire day’s salary for the whole team on an entertainment that might hit too close to home; just thinking about it seemed very uneconomical.
Furthermore, Gold Coins aside, realizing that one is a devoted admirer could ruin their entire Winter Festival.
Lin Da decided to name this Heartbeat Cottage the "Devoted Admirer Breakdown Cottage."