Chapter 9

We reached one of the numerous gorges here.

- And what do you expect from me? - I asked.

- Just to help with gathering herbs from lower parts. Don't worry, I will take you here!

I froze. Was she serious?

- Do you... Do you want me to wander over a high precipice at night?

- Kinda... Yes... But don't worry. The undergrowth there is so thick that it will stop any fall. That's why I don't like going there alone... I mean I can't use wings, and dad can't come with me today... Anniversary and stuff, and I want to pick a lot of herbs for tomorrow as a gift for my parents! - she looked at me with hopeful eyes.

- If you assure me that I will not die... Then I will help - I promised.

- Sure! - she said and just grabbed me without warning... And we flew down!

- WAAAAAAAAH! - she scared me.

After three minutes she sat me down on a tree trunk, it grows perpendicular to the wall... And the plants down here started to glow soon!

- Just in time - she said with satisfaction. - You know how to ID things with your tablet?

- Yes, sure... - I turned on this option.

- Good! I will search here, you can search here! - and she went to her area.

I sighed and just started checking each plant in turn. I can't tell common grass from a medicinal herb or spice...

After a quarter of an hour, I managed to find a few pieces of sweet grass. Sugar is extracted from it or just use this grass. Within the next hour, I had already learned a few plants that I can skip and found more sweet grass. Unfortunately, nothing more interesting caught my eye.

Lily also seems to have drifted quite far away. Getting around here is not difficult at all. Numerous trunks and lianas are a nice way to travel. It is fascinating that plants can grow here even with little access to light. All is thanks to mana veins!

After a while, something new appeared on the tablet screen - "Burner herb". It is an incredibly spicy herb, much loved by Exceeds with the gift of fire. I took it carefully and placed it in the bag I got from Lily earlier. There are 20 pockets in it. Useful.

After another hour, I started to feel exhausted. Climbing is a hard thing. I managed to collect a few more spices. 0 herbs...

- Heeey! Where are you? - I heard Lily's voice finally.

- Here! - I replied to her immediately.

After a few minutes I heard that she is close. I was still checking the surrounding plants until the information about a rare herb appeared on the screen! "Phoenix feather" - a variety of fern that is an ingredient in a potion that heals deep wounds in a few seconds!

Magic potions are for sure amazing... Shame that we can't use them on Earth... It could solve so many problems! Is isolating Earth really that good for people?

- Look what I found! - I pointed to the plant when Lily appeared.

- Wow! This is a once-a-year find! It will be an amazing gift - she is ultra-excited again. - Thank you! - she hugged me suddenly and I lost balance.

We fell to the treetop below us, and in effect, I was lying on her. I turned red and slid off her immediately.

- I'm sorry! - I almost screamed.

- Don't worry - she is laughing. - And look! There is more of it! - she showed me several ferns growing in a line.

We collected a total of 13 pieces. She said it was enough for 130 bottles of potion or even more because they are big specimens.

After it, she looked up.

- I think it's better to go back up through the portal... I can easily go down with you but flying up... With such a load... Is hard. Come - she opened it.

- I don't have good memories from my last trip...

- Don't worry... Was it your first time? Now it should be better!

I sighed and nodded. I have a very weak choice again. I came through it with her and... It was a nice feeling this time! I felt relieved!

- See? I'm always right - she nodded. - Thank you for your help. Come tomorrow for payment. I'm not able to pay you now for the ferns... At this moment I can give you... - after a while, I heard a notification on the tablet. She transferred 50 coins to my account.

- Thanks... I will come tomorrow for sure - I still felt stupid for landing on her but she acts like nothing happened. - Good night.

- Good night, see you tomorrow - she waved at me.

I went home very tired. Unfortunately, my way was blocked by two exceeds and one foxman. Nooooo!

- Pay us and we will escort you safely to your home - they said. - You know... This is not safe for weak ones to wander so late here...

- How much do you want? - I asked.

- 150 per person - foxman smiled.

- I don't have that much... - I desperately looked for an escape route.

- Then you have a problem - one Exceed replied and they rushed at me.

Of course, I ran away. The first idea was an office. But sadly it wasn't a problem for them to catch me though.

- Bad idea - foxman smiled.

He grabbed me by the throat and started choking me. He is of small build, but he certainly has great strength. Is there a guard here?! I see no one else! I felt a rush of adrenaline and started to jerk.

In a fit of anger, I bit him severely. I heard the sound of crushing bone? There also was a metallic taste of blood in my mouth. He started screaming shrilly and the other two released me in shock. I took advantage of this and ran away. This time towards my apartment. Got there in a few minutes and shut up the door asap.

I looked in the mirror and my face and clothes were covered in foxman blood. I looked like a cruel man from a horror movie.

In the bathroom, I quickly undressed and washed myself. I also washed my clothes. I was shaking with shock almost all the time. I... I was able to crush his bones? My jaw looks normal now but earlier it definitely wasn't like that... I felt it...

I was still in shock, but the adrenaline effects are starting to wear off.

Finally, I felt extremely tired. I laid down in bed... I was expecting trouble soon but I was too tired to think about this now.

In a dream, I was standing over a pile of corpses.

- Why? Why did you do that? - I heard a desperate cry of a woman.

I woke up shocked. The alarm clock was already ringing quite loudly. I haven't had a nice or restful sleep yet in this place.

As soon as I got up, I felt terrible soreness. I gave up morning gymnastics because of this...

I ate a piece of cake and got ready to leave. I checked my tablet. I can't see notifications... Maybe this is a good sign. Maybe they decided to not talk about this. On the other hand, who would warn the criminal with messages?

When I got to the market, I immediately directed my steps toward Lily and her dad's stand.

- Good morning - I greeted them.

- Hello, how are you? - Lily asked me very happy.

- Good morning... Thank you for helping my daughter yesterday. Amazing find! - he was very pleased.

- I'm good. Thank you. And you are welcome. It was a nice experience and I think that I can do this more often if you want this - I offered.

- Yay! Sure! Help is always appreciated! - Lily.

She sent me money again. 520 coins!

- We sold them in a few minutes! - she is very happy.

- Good to hear... Can I get more of this? - I pointed to the little orange grapes.

- Sure! One pack is free - her dad gave me what I wanted.

From what I noticed on the stand sign, his name is Alonso.

- Thank you very much! And please call me when it is needed to search for herbs again - I informed them.

After that, I went to the apartment and read about this place again. I was still worried about the possible consequences of yesterday's events... I checked my tablet every now and then, but nothing showed up on it...

Around noon I felt safe enough to go out to buy more things than just food. My shopping list included soap, shampoo, laundry detergent... I expected them to be better than those from Earth. More clothes too. Soon I got to the store and bought all the necessary things and a few extras... For example, a large container for food. Of course don't-go-bad one! It can hold 25 liters of food.

In addition - a rug, a potted flower, a curtain for the window ... I only have 30 coins left after this shopping. But I don't regret it at all. I have food supplies, I also found a part-time job... I am highly motivated to learn as much as possible. Unless, of course, I get into trouble first.