"Water Magic: Clear Lake Light."
The blue-glowing clover grimoire floated beside Balo. Clear water poured over the curly-haired boy's head, extinguishing the burning flames with a fierce hiss. Smoke billowed, and the boy breathed a sigh of relief, "That's great, I'm saved."
When he looked up at the person who had helped him, he quickly ran over. "Uncle Balo, you're back? Haha, what a coincidence."
"These two behind you... who are they?"
Balo didn't answer the curly-haired boy's question. Instead, he placed his right hand on his head, a sinister smile on his face. "Haddon, you brat, always pestering my daughter. Aren't you annoyed?"
"With your talent, if you spent more time practicing magic, you might have a chance to join the Magic Knights next year."
"Mr. Balo, I'm not interested in joining the Magic Knights. As long as Miss Lily marries me, everything will be worth it!" the curly-haired youth named Haddon declared, head held high and righteous.
"Huh? You brat!"
The scar on Balo's face wrinkled with anger, his expression somewhat terrifying. He tightened his grip on Haddon's head, lifting the boy by his curly hair into the air.
"Ow, ow, ow..."
"Uncle Balo, let go! I can't take it, my head's going to explode!"
"You brat, listen carefully. I will never let my daughter marry a good-for-nothing failure. Get lost, understand?" Balo said "fiercely," releasing his right hand, and Haddon dropped to the ground like a radish.
"Never!"
The curly-haired boy cupped his hands around his head and retorted, then scurried away, disappearing from sight.
"That brat... honestly..."
Balo muttered, then looked at Lily ahead. His previously fierce expression instantly softened. He rubbed his hands together and went to meet her, speaking somewhat fawningly, "Daughter, are you heading home?"
"Just finished buying groceries and was about to head back."
"Oh, my eyesight." The man patted his uncooperative eyes and smoothly took the groceries from his daughter's hand.
Lily looked at Bai En and Fragil standing behind her father, Balo, and asked in a low voice, "Are they... outsiders?"
"Yes, they came from Mohat Town in the Common Realm. They'll rest in the village for one night and leave tomorrow."
"You guard the village yourself, and you know about the Bandit Group... What if you let bad people in?"
"I've probed them, there shouldn't be any problems." Balo glanced sideways at Bai En and Fragil, raising his voice slightly. "Besides, you know how powerful I am. Dealing with just two small bandits... humph humph."
Bai En watched them with a smile.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
The red sun set behind the mountains, and the golden clouds in the sky quickly faded. Evening arrived, and the dark night enveloped all things.
In the rising firelight, Bai En and Fragil sat at the dining table with Balo and his daughter, eating dinner. The father and daughter only cautiously began to eat after seeing Bai En and Fragil heartily indulging.
They couldn't help it; they hadn't cooked this meal themselves and couldn't refuse the enthusiastic Bai En, who was their guest.
"Don't worry, my cooking is delicious!"
"No need."
...Every opportunity to increase magic power must not be given up!
"It's fine!"
"..."
"...Alright."
Although they had been present throughout Bai En's cooking, and the dishes looked appetizing and smelled fragrant, they still waited quietly for Bai En to eat first. It was always better to be careful.
As soon as the mushrooms on the table entered their mouths, the aroma exploded on their taste buds: smooth, refreshing, with a hint of spice.
"Delicious!"
The father and daughter exchanged a glance, then their movements didn't stop.
Just as they were eating with gusto, a knock came from the door. "Who is it? At this hour?"
"Don't they know they're interrupting my dinner?" Balo stopped eating and grumbled as he went to open the door. When he opened it, a sharp-faced fellow, hidden in the darkness like a monkey, was revealed.
It was Caso, whom Bai En and Fragil had met that afternoon.
Balo frowned. "Caso? Why are you here?"
"The village chief wants you to come to his house to discuss some matters."
"The village chief? So late... discussing matters?" Balo murmured, reluctantly glancing at his half-eaten dinner on the table. He called out to his daughter, then closed the door and followed Caso.
The three inside the house continued eating dinner.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Balo and Caso stopped at a gray-black building. The candlelight inside dispelled the darkness and cold wind of the night.
They knocked on the door, and it was opened by a stooped, kind-faced old man. His hair was white, but he looked very energetic. Seeing Balo and Caso arrive, he smiled and greeted the newcomers, "You're here. Have you eaten?"
"I was just eating when you called me over, old man. Tell me, what's so important that you called me over at this hour?"
The village chief smiled. "No rush, come in and eat something."
Glancing at Caso behind him, Balo walked in without much thought. The interior space was not cramped; on the contrary, because there wasn't much furniture, it appeared exceptionally spacious. Old tables and chairs, and peeling walls revealing red bricks, made it exceptionally simple.
The table was laden with food, very abundant, somewhat out of place compared to the simple surroundings.
"Oh, old man, what wind is blowing today that you've prepared such a feast?" Balo looked at the interior furnishings and the food on the table. "I haven't seen you so generous before."
"Is there something big you need my help with?"
"Eat first, Caso, you too."
The three sat down. After eating a little, the village chief, sitting at the head of the table, spoke. "You should all be aware of the Bandit Group incident from before..."
Before he could finish, Balo interrupted, "I thought it was something big. Is it still about the Bandit Group? Don't worry, Caso and I won't let our guard down. Besides, haven't those guys already been defeated by the Magic Knights?"
"Scattered stragglers fleeing in disarray, can they really stand against our entire village?"
"No."
The village chief suddenly spoke. He remained smiling in his seat. The wind blowing in from the window made the candlelight flicker, and the indistinct light and shadow illuminated half of his profound face.
His kind-faced appearance changed in the flickering candlelight.
Balo's spoon, with food impaled, stopped at his mouth. He paused, feeling a chill shoot straight to the top of his head. 'What's going on? Is the wind too strong? I just feel a little uneasy.'
"The news I told you earlier wasn't entirely accurate. The real information should be... the Bandit Group slaughtered the Magic Knights who came from the Royal Capital."
As soon as his words fell, the old man leaned closer, his branch-like hands propped on the table. He asked with a wide smile, "Do you want to join us, Balo?"
The candlelight trembled again.
In the dark night, that wide smile... was somewhat eerie...
💎 Power Stone Bonus: Every 100 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter
🌟 5-Star Review Bonus: Every 5 (5-Star) Reviews = +2 Extra Chapters
💬 Comment Speed-Up: If any chapter reaches +10 Comments = The Next Chapter Will Be Released Faster!
🔥 Want to Read Ahead? If you want to read advanced chapters, check out my buymeacoffee(.)com/Oyunbozan