Chapter 562: 420, The Last Adventure_2
But once she opened her mouth, it was as if a dam had burst and she couldn’t stop.
The others didn’t care,
Aiko only wanted Lin Da to understand the real her.
“When I first joined Snow Goose, I planned to stand up suddenly during dinner to give everyone a scare.”
Aiko said softly, “But seeing a certain fool busying himself buying all sorts of herbs, it became harder and harder to tell the truth. Days dragged on until I could no longer speak it.”
“It’s not too late now.”
...
Lin Da scratched his head and said, “Although it’s quite different from the usual you, well, how should I put it… Aiko revealing her true self, I don’t dislike it. Actually, I have a blond guy around me who is lazier and has an even worse character, without any sense of an adventurer, who only wants to coast through life.
But even that kind of person has his positive side, willing to use skills that harm himself for the sake of his teammates.
Instead of considering if Aiko is a bad person, I prefer to trust the bonds formed with Snow Goose over the last three years.”
Lin Da earnestly gazed at Aiko, “I am honored that you can confess these things to me.”
Aiko said incredulously, “But I am a liar, right?”
“Lia and others, they haven’t been harmed in reality. If I had to say, searching for the herbs was a waste of time.” Lin Da helplessly spread his hands: “You should remember this favor, and repay the Phoenix Tail Flower when you have the chance.”
Aiko pursed her lips, silent.
The girl’s shoulders twitched slightly, and she sniffed hard to keep the clear tears from falling.
Idiot, this guy is a super idiot! She was a great liar who pummeled her instructor till he couldn’t leave the sickbed, all the while spouting lies.
Even if Lin Da left the café with a dark face to expose her at the Knights Order, she would find it normal.
“What old Asaxi…” Aiko thought to herself. Old Asaxi refers to a character trope in comic books where the male lead treats the female lead well, and then the female lead, dumbed down, falls crazily in love with the male lead—a despicable character setup.
But Aiko realized, she actually liked it.
What’s wrong with old Asaxi, using your family’s toilet paper?
“Thank you.”
It took a while for Aiko’s mood to stabilize.
“Hmm, when you go back, you also need to confess to Lia and the others, stop deceiving people.” Lin Da, confirming that Aiko had calmed down, stood up and said, “I must leave now, need to head back to the fountain area.”
“Wait.” Aiko grabbed him.
Lin Da chuckled, “Worried Lia will hate you? Honestly, I don’t think she will; Lia actually has a large heart. If you confess, Lia will probably be happy, thinking you respect her.”
“It’s not that.” Aiko said seriously, “If you hire me, this light mage… this will be my last journey as an adventurer.”
“What?”
Lin Da’s eyelids twitched, and he stared at Aiko in astonishment.
What does the last journey mean?
…
…
“Ah? You’re retiring!?”
In the Snow Goose Villa, inside the third-floor strategy meeting room.
At the end of the long table, Lia stood up with a slam, her eyes wide with shock.
Klyne exclaimed, “Aiko, you’re kidding us, right?”
Klrona said, “Aiko would never retire!”
“Uh, am I the only one who noticed her leg is healed?” Oru said in a deep voice.
“More than that, it’s Miss Aiko’s statement that’s more surprising, right?” Phyllis said with a look of reluctance.
It’s not easy to find such an excellent mage as Aiko.
If Aiko leaves the team, he would want to leave too. Initially, Phyllis’s plan was to ride on Lia’s coattails, making his family and The Mandalas into business partners.
But after half a year, Phyllis realized that Lia was actually an outsider in The Mandalas, with no influence at all.
The only reason to stay in Snow Goose was that the adventure team had good development potential, and Phyllis believed there was a chance to become a Sunrise Level adventure group.
But… without Aiko, Snow Goose’s tactical formation “Iron Triangle” would completely collapse.
“That’s the situation. I will temporarily join Phoenix Tail Flower, help Lin Da and the others conquer levels 16 and 17, and then retire and go back home.” Aiko said with a smile: “Thank you all for the companionship over the last three years.”
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“Mmmmmm—”
Lia’s little face turned dark, her hands gripping the table tightly, glaring at Aiko with a puffed face.
Humph, going to throw a tantrum, huh, I won’t indulge you today. Aiko crossed her arms, ready to counter.
She thought Lia would say something like, “If you leave, how will the Snow Goose continue the Strategy? You can quit, but at least wait until we recruit a newbie.”
Then she could have retorted proudly, “How you manage is your own damn business, I’m lousy and I want to leave, what can you do about it, huh? Everyone is attacking me, fine, then I won’t be polite in attacking you back.”
In a fierce verbal battle, both sides would part on bad terms.
She’d rather end the relationship that shouldn’t have existed in such a manner, as the real her would definitely be detested. Aiko thought that from the beginning her goal had always been Lin Da, with Lia and all, merely incidental side dishes.
But.
Since the appearance of the stray cat Big Orange at noon, things had been developing in an unusual direction.
Aiko prided herself on her cleverness, yet she couldn’t guess a single thing that happened today.
Lia’s eyes were red, her voice slightly nasal as she spoke, “But aren’t we comrades? Why do you want to quit the team?” Gritting her teeth, Lia added, “If you think there’s something improper about me, you can say it. Though I might not change.”
“Yeah, Aiko, although Lia always owes us our salary and is so-so in character, she’s actually not bad,” Oru said naively, trying to persuade her.
Phyllis also looked sincere, “Miss Aiko, please, you must stay! The Snow Goose Adventure Team can’t afford to lose an excellent Mage like you!”
Aiko: “Eh?”
Klyne grasped her hand, “Think it over one more time.”
“Ehhh? What’s happening?”
Aiko was confused. How could this be so different from what she had imagined?
For a moment, Aiko was almost moved by them, feeling like she truly was a part of Snow Goose, that this was her home.
But she had joined Snow Goose with the mentality of having fun.
Now that she had had enough fun, it was time to end the game.
Aiko looked towards Klrona, who was silent and teary-eyed.
“Even the most fun games have to end, right?”
Aiko bent down and patted Klrona on the head.
Klrona sniffled and asked, “Are you really quitting the team?”
Aiko nodded.
This made Klrona even more upset, and her tears fell like little pearls.
Aiko’s smile almost cracked.
She kept telling herself that leaving these troublemakers was a good thing; she wouldn’t have to be annoyed by Klrona’s sudden screams during games anymore.
“So… goodbye, everyone.”
Aiko left the meeting room and slammed the door shut with a bang.
She leaned against the door, feeling weak and dizzy.
Walking heavily downstairs and passing by her own bedroom,
Aiko glanced sideways.
Inside it was already emptied, only a lonely wooden bed and desk remained, and a wardrobe with all doors open and completely empty inside.
Aiko didn’t dare to recall everyone’s expressions in the meeting room, her breathing was suffocated, feeling as if a mountain was strapped to her back.
She walked out of Snow Goose Villa alone, accompanied only by the limping orange cat adopted at noon.
Aiko didn’t look back even once, desperately pushing the memories of Lia and the others out of her mind.
The redhead fool and the troublemaker weren’t worth her reminiscence.
Her destination was Phoenix Tail Flower.
She planned to upgrade from a temporary member to a permanent one, then gradually take over Lin Da, becoming the Vice-Captain of Phoenix Tail Flower, overseeing Lin Da’s harem; anyone who wished to share his bed had to get her consent.
“Damn, I’m to be the wife of a Legendary Adventurer, how could I let the Snow Goose idiots hold me back!” Aiko thought fiercely to herself.
The big orange sunbathing cozily in her arms jumped at her ferocity, its tail bristling.
…
The next day.
World Tree, sixteenth floor, White Bone Desert.
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