16 Chapter 16
The next day, Ethan's party of four Ethan, Lilia, Wafu and Gooey went to the prairie to hunt for red magpie as well as finishing the red magpie job if possible. Before Lilia joined his party, Ethan usually took 30 minutes to kill a red magpie because the red magpie will fly and attack. Since Ethan and Wafu didn't have any long ranged attack, they took a while to kill a red magpie. With Lilia in his party, they took only 10 minutes max to kill a red magpie. Lilia's archery was better than she claimed before. After killing their first magpie, Lilia said that she can focused more on her aim now since Ethan and Wafu distract the red magpie. Ethan also ordered Gooey to protect Lilia from unwanted ambush from their opponent. So, Lilia felt more at ease and can focused more on her aim.
"That's our 15th prey," said Ethan.
"It really shock me at how fast we kill the red magpie," said Lilia, "and I didn't know we will both get drops too. I thought only the one killed the monster will get it."
"Yeah, that actually something I'm not expecting at all. We get double drops. We can finish the job I took before today and we might be able to buy the land earlier than I thought," said Ethan.
After they killed their first prey that day, they found out that the Drop 50% special skill applied to both Lilia and Ethan if they participate in the battle. However, Wafu was not affect by this maybe because Ethan tame him or because this effect only applied to human.
"Let's keep hunting until evening," said Lilia.
"Luckily you ask me to pack for lunch earlier. We won't waste our lunch break by going back to the city," said Ethan.
After that, they keep hunting for red magpie and finish the job in the evening. That day, Ethan manage to advance to level 4 while Lilia and Wafu both advance to level 3. Lilia mastery of her archery skills increased from 3/10 to 4/10. Wafu mastery of his Null: Tackle increased from 2/10 to 3/10.
After they finished hunting, they went back to the city. Ethan went straight to Modo to sell the drops and Lilia went back to the inn. After Ethan finished selling the drop, he also went back to the inn. Ethan and Lilia had dinner and went to Ethan's room to upgrade Lilia's talent.
"Should I talents absorb this skill now?" asked Lilia.
"I think it's better if you learn the skill first and absorb later," said Ethan.
Lilia has fire element talent and they can get two different fire skill from the red magpie, Fire: Fire ball and Fire: Fire spit.
"I don't want fire spit. It will be weird to use that skill," said Lilia.
"Haha, I also don't want you to learn that. You are a girl and spitting will affect your image," said Ethan while laughing.
"Then I will learn fire ball. That's right, you never test the same skill fusion, right?" asked Lilia.
"You want to test that?" asked Ethan back.
"Obviously, I don't want to waste the fusion and it's better to use it earlier and know what it will do if we fuse same skills," said Lilia.
Lilia held the skill Fire: Fire ball and said "learn," and the skill disappeared.
'Ting~ Learn skill Fire: Fire ball' The System notified Lilia.
Lilia checked her skill status. Fire: Fire ball – zero grade (0/10) – atk+20 MP 20.
Lilia use Fusion: Skill after that and fuse another fire ball to her fire ball and the notification appeared
'Ting~ Fuse two of the same skills. Choose 1. Lower MP cost by half. 2. Increase effect and MP cost by half the original material. 3. Increase mastery by 1'
"Ethan, a notification appeared and ask me to choose between lower the MP cost or increase effect and MP cost or increase mastery by 1" said Lilia.
"Just as I thought. So fusing the same skills will increase their stats. You can choose what you want. That's your skill after all," said Ethan.
"With my total MP, I think lower the MP cost will be more efficient right now. I choose option 1. Lower MP cost by half," said Lilia
'MP cost for skill Fire: Fire ball is now 10' The System notified Lilia. Lilia showed a happy face.
"Try talents absorb now," said Ethan.
"Okay," Lilia held Fire: fire ball skill and said "Talents absorb"
'Ting~ Fire talent increase from 5% to 10%. Skill Fire: Fire ball effect increase from atk+20 to atk+25'
"Wow, my fire talent increase to 10% and fire ball effect increase to atk+25" screamed Lilia happily.
"Lilia, calm down. What if people hear what you said," said Ethan.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I am too happy with this. Thanks a lot Ethan. I made the right choice joining you," said Lilia while smiling happily.
"With your upgrades, our party power increase again and it will be easier for us to complete jobs and hunting," said Ethan.
"What's our plan next?" asked Lilia.
"Tomorrow we will go to the adventurer guild report my jobs completion. Since you help with the red magpie job, you will get stat crystal too. After that, both of us will choose 3 jobs each and finish it together," said Ethan.
"What kind of jobs I should take?" asked Lilia.
"Let's take the one we can finish in the prairie. It will be better if its hunting and collecting drops kind of jobs," said Ethan.
"That's right, we need to save money for our base," said Lilia.
After properly discussing with Lilia, we decide to make the house that we planned to build as our base. In the future we might recruit more people to join our party and it was better if we have our own base of operation.
"Then, I will get back to my room. Good night, Ethan," Lilia left Ethan's room and went back to her room.
After Lilia entered her room, she was shocked to see there were 3 people inside the room. She recognized all three of them. The first man was her father and the other 2 were her father's loyal subordinates.
"F-F-Father, what are you doing here? How do you know I am here?" asked Lilia.
"Can't I come to see my runaway daughter? I have always known where you are. As long as you are in this city it will be so easy to find you," said Lilia's father.
"What are you doing here," asked Lilia again.
Lilia's father looked at her and said, "You dye your hair… I am here because I'm worry about you. I thought that if you were in a bind you will come back home but it seems that that won't happened."
"You should go back. I will do well by myself," said Lilia.
"Are you that sad you do not inherit anything related to our clan? What happen to you happen to few others as well, you don't need to run away from home. Not inheriting anything does not mean you are not part of our clan," said Lilia's father.
"Even if you say that, does not mean everyone thinks the same. When you awakened your power, you were hailed as the most talented and you also got 'The One' title, so you don't know how I feel," said Lilia.
"Yes, I don't know how you feel but I still don't want you to live like this," said Lilia's father.
"If I follow you back home, I can't become stronger. I finally find a way to become stronger and I don't want you to ruin it," said Lilia "And don't try to do anything to Ethan. I won't forgive you," continued Lilia.
"That boy, do you perhaps like him?" asked Lilia's father with serious face.
"What? I do like him but not in a romantic kind of like. He is a nice guy and everyone who knows him will like him," said Lilia.
"…" Lilia's father didn't say anything "I will keep my eyes on that boy and if he tries to lay his hand on you, I will kill him," said Lilia's father with murderous intent.
"Father… Sigh," Lilia sighed. "Go home, I need to rest. Tomorrow I need to do lots of thing," said Lilia.
"Fine, I will wait to see if you can become stronger with the help of your crush," said Lilia's father before he disappeared.
"… He is not my crush," said Lilia.
Lilia's Home.
"I'm home," said Lilia's father.
"Honey, is she okay?" asked Lilia's mother.
"She is fine. No need to worry. If you need something to worry, worry about that kid who helps her. Who knows, maybe she will bring that kid home and said she wants to marry him," said Lilia's father sarcastically.
"There you go again. If she likes that boy, I don't mind as long as that boy is kind," said Lilia's mother.
"… don't jinx that," said Lilia's father.
"Fufufu, you need to accept that our only daughter will get married someday," said Lilia's mother nonchalantly.
