"..."
"Hmm?"
Behind him, Fischl's eyes widened instantly.
She had been walking while immersed in her own monologue, completely unprepared for Kael to suddenly accelerate like a gust of wind.
By the time she snapped out of it, Kael had already opened a significant gap between them!
Fischl's eyes were round with shock. She even rubbed them subconsciously, afraid she was seeing things.
But no matter how she looked, the reality remained unchanged—
Kael's movement speed had increased drastically.
"Thou... How is it that thou art suddenly as swift as a meteor?! Is this the guidance of Fate?!"
Oz flapped his wings helplessly, translating calmly: "She means: Why are you running so fast all of a sudden?"
Even as he translated, Oz looked puzzled.
Kael had been walking normally just a moment ago. How did he suddenly accelerate?
And it looked so abrupt.
"This... What manner of secret art is this?!"
A flicker of excitement appeared in Fischl's eye. "Could it be that thou hast awakened an ancient power sealed within thy bloodline? Or perhaps the majestic aura of this Prinzessin has stimulated thy latent potential?"
Kael ignored Fischl's ramblings. He just kept staring at the virtual panel in front of him.
Because new options had appeared.
[After spending the day gathering supplies with Seele, your memories of the Underworld have resurfaced. Back when you first arrived in the Lower District, you studied medicine under Natasha. Since many areas hadn't fallen to the Fragmentum yet, you were familiar with numerous supply cache locations. In fact, some of the supplies were hidden by you and Natasha personally.]
[With your help, Seele easily collected a pile of necessary supplies. This efficiency has brought her great joy, and the coordination between the young girl and you has become tacit.]
[The day passed quickly. Although you gathered a lot, there are still more supplies out there. Seele wishes to continue operating with you for the next few days to gather more, and to spend more time with you. Faced with Seele's renewed invitation, you choose...]
[Option 1: Decline the invitation. Gathering supplies is important, but your freedom is more important. You just extricated yourself from a pile of trouble; getting involved now might just drag you into endless manual labor. You choose to quit while you're ahead, waving your hand to indicate you have urgent matters. The affairs of Wildfire won't collapse without you, and Seele is capable enough to handle it. besides, the Underworld's resource needs are a bottomless pit. You might as well leave it to the people of Wildfire. (Reward: Reinforcement Salve: Lightning. A paste made by grinding materials imbued with Path-like power. Applying this tube of salve to a suitable weapon grants effective enhancement.)]
[Option 2: Accept the invitation. You see the expectation in the girl's eyes. As a Walker of the Hunt Path, gathering supplies alone is actually more convenient for her—even if she doesn't know the locations, her speed ensures she'll find them eventually. But Seele is asking because she wants to spend more time alone with you. Looking at Seele now, images of the past surface in your mind. The young girl has grown into a core figure of Wildfire, shouldering the responsibility of protecting the Lower District. Her road is still long, and you—are willing to walk a part of it with her. (Reward: Seele's Path Branch Skill — [Phantom]. Upon use, enter a Stealth state for 20 seconds. While in Stealth, you cannot be detected by enemies. Initiating an attack while in Stealth immediately triggers an Ambush, entering combat with a buffed state.)]
[Option 3: Resources for Resources—You can help, but not for free. You tilt your head, looking Seele up and down, the corner of your mouth lifting slightly: "I can help, but..." You extend your fingers, making a subtle 'transaction' gesture in the air. "Supplies are important, but my time and energy are equally valuable." You indicate that if you are to continue helping, you need extra benefits, such as exclusive resource points known only to Wildfire, or perhaps some treasure Seele is hoarding. "A transaction benefits both parties. Everyone wins." (Reward: Belobog Red Sausage. A processed cooked food made through multiple procedures; the meat source is likely pork. It has been over a hundred years since the Belobog Meat Factory launched the first Red Sausage. A true national delicacy.)]
...
Looking at the three options, Kael fell into silence.
What the hell is the reward for Option 3?
Belobog Red Sausage?
"Unexpectedly, the Lightning Reinforcement Salve appeared too... but compared to the reward of the second option, that is the real prize."
Looking at the reward for Option 2, Kael narrowed his eyes.
If he remembered correctly, this was Seele's Technique (Secret Skill) from the Path.
If he mastered this, he could turn invisible for twenty seconds. The effect was incredibly powerful.
Twenty seconds of invisibility was enough time to do... a lot of things.
As for the first option, declining didn't fit his upcoming plans. Even without Fischl following him, he intended to come to the Whispering Woods to gather supplies anyway.
And if he gathered supplies, he could make Fischl carry the sack for him.
Two people could carry far more than one person.
The second option had only benefits and no downsides.
It concerned a Secret Technique.
As for the third option... what precious treasure could Fischl possibly have?
The so-called "exclusive resource points" would be far inferior to the effect of the Bio-wave Probe in his hand.
Let alone the reward being a Belobog Red Sausage.
Absolutely ridiculous.
While Kael was thinking—
Fischl frowned. Kael hadn't answered her.
She quickened her pace to catch up, her twin tails swaying gently with her movements.
But just as she was about to speak, Kael still ignored her, staring intently at empty space as if pondering something vital.
"..."
Fischl froze for a moment, then the corners of her mouth drooped slightly.
Was she being ignored?!
Her cheeks puffed out slightly, and she stomped her foot lightly, clearly unwilling to accept this.
But a second later, her eyes darted around, and she seemed to think of something amusing. A sly smile crept onto her lips.
"Hmph... Thou darest to ignore this Prinzessin... Very well. We shall see who is truly the swiftest existence in this realm!"
Oz sighed helplessly. "She means: She wants to race you."
Kael: "..."
Hearing this, Kael snapped back to reality.
He smiled lightly. "What you said just now—I agree. I'll be traveling back and forth to the Whispering Woods for the next few days anyway. If your missions are on the way, I can accompany you for a while."
As he spoke, Kael thought about his harvest in the Whispering Woods today. A gleam of calculation flashed in his eyes.
With the Bio-wave Probe, he definitely needed to farm resources properly. This was all Mora.
He suspected that given a few days, he might be able to harvest enough rare minerals to forge that elemental weapon he ordered.
While Kael was calculating profits, Fischl heard his casual agreement. Her eyes lit up instantly.
It was as if a wished-for desire had suddenly come true. A smile of excitement curled her lips.
But quickly, she masked her emotions, waving her hand with feigned composure. "Since thou hast such resolve, this Prinzessin shall permit thee to accompany our entourage."
Oz: "She means: She is very happy."