Complete it within one day after opening... Put it aside for now, I'll think about it later.
The panel dissipated.
Alan watched Rudy lower his head and hold the holy object right in front of his face, almost touching the tip of his nose, hurriedly interrupting his casting.
"But when you go out to explore the terrain, you must take me with you."
Rudy was stunned, looking at Alan with slanted eyes.
"Teacher, are you also interested in plants?"
Alan pointed his index finger at his face and said deliberately, word by word, "I just said that because I want to be friends with you."
Then, glancing at Rudy's stunned expression, he turned and walked out of the room.
Rudy watched Alan's back.
Friends?
Come to think of it, this guy named Allen looks more mature than kids his age. Maybe we could have some common topics. He seems like someone who lacks love, though. Paul also agrees that we should be friends. Besides, this guy's face—apart from looking a bit fierce—is actually quite tough and handsome. He'll definitely be popular with girls in the future. If I call him "brother," the leftovers might flow my way.
Although my looks aren't top-notch, if he's handsome enough, I'll leave a good impression by being around him.
Girls with little confidence will surely see me as a target. Compared to confident and aggressive girls, I prefer those with some inferiority complex. They're more suitable for training... no, more suitable for cultivation~
It works—just like a beautiful woman brings an ugly girl along as a supporting role, I want to do the opposite.
Allen returned to his bedroom, collapsed onto the bed, and exhaled.
Today's events were sudden and out of control. As expected, even if you've read the novel, involving one more person in the incident would cause different emergencies, and the plot couldn't develop exactly like the novel.
Fortunately, the general direction remained normal. If Sylphy intervened early to save Mother Bai, it would be fine as long as she didn't think too much about it. Otherwise, she would suffer stomachaches every day, thrown mud, insulted, even punched and kicked by her peers.
Childhood experiences led Sylphy to indulge Rudy in the future. Even though she was jealous of Rudy's harem, she could put herself in Rudy's shoes and help maintain harmony because Rudy was her only friend in the Light Village during childhood.
Allen thought carefully and focused on his Dragon Saint Dou Qi Nucleus.
A dark brown groove was next to the magic pattern shaped like a tree with green light, but nothing was engraved on it yet.
The groove for detoxification magic hadn't been engraved with magic patterns yet. He remembered Senis knew intermediate detoxification and often helped at the village medical clinic. If possible, he would get the magic pattern from there.
As for Sylphy, Lokixi caused a butterfly effect after only one night of contact. For Sylphy, he didn't know if early contact would cause problems. Would it make it more difficult for Rudy and Sylphy to separate?
Think it over again. Think it over again.
Consciousness gradually blurred, and Allen fell into a dream.
The sound of gurgling water filled Allen's ears, mixed with discordant noises.
He opened his eyes blankly, dazed. The sun blazed, spreading light between interlaced farmlands. Birds sang, and children's noise buzzed nearby.
He tilted his head to look to the side.
The waves shimmered like fireflies. A small river wound by his feet.
What am I doing here? Why am I standing by the river so leisurely? It's my weekend... just strolling after finishing work at the company. I have to go back and work overtime.
"Stinky kid from the demon clan, get out of the village!"
"Get out of the village!"
"Take my move!"
"You're so lame you didn't even hit me! Look at me!"
"I hit it!"
Cheers erupted.
Allen turned confused to the source of the noise. In the paddy field beside the stream, three teenagers covered in mud were confronting a boy squatting by the riverbank.
Ah yes, I traveled through time and don't have to work... Great... Wait... three people bullying one boy? No, the three embarrassed kids were actually the bullies. They were covered in mud because they had to work in the fields...
The shouting continued.
"Now let's compete hitting the head!"
"Okay, watch me!"
"I hit it!"
"Hitting the head is boring. Hit the face!"
"Oh, I hit it! I hit it!"
"Tsk, this little demon doesn't resist at all. Boring!"
"Let's go, see you tomorrow~"
Maybe they noticed the tall Allen; the kids scattered and ran into the village.
Allen felt hazy inside. He didn't know why he was there but watching the scene made him a little sad.
The bullied boy was short, covered in mud like a small mudman, sitting stupidly by the river.
Allen walked forward carefully.
His hair was a bit long, and mud covered all of it, hiding his expression. An old hand basket was beside him. The "mud" in the basket wasn't mud but food—bread—though all covered in mud.
The boy stared blankly at the basket, ignoring the footsteps approaching. His hands groped something in front of his face, but Allen couldn't see clearly.
Subconsciously, Allen wanted to help him up, but as he reached the river and stretched out his hand, his peripheral vision caught the river surface, and his hand froze in midair.
The river water was clear, reflecting a dirty face.
The owner of the face kept pulling clumps of hair from his muddy head, holding them in his palms. Occasionally, broken hair fell into the river through his fingers. His hands moved back and forth, and more hair floated on the water surface.
The hair in the water was washed by the current, gradually revealing an emerald-green background.
Allen woke up.
Sylphy.
"Don't be like this, Sylphy."
Allen patted her shoulder with trembling hands. Sylphy turned her head.
On the muddy face, only a pair of reddish-brown eyes could be seen—lifeless, numb, and empty.
Allen felt his throat dry and spoke with difficulty.
"Don't pull your hair. It's all mud. Let me wash it for you."
Sylphy looked at Allen blankly, refusing his invitation, but raised the muddy hair in her hand.
Allen looked along her palm.
In Sylphy's palm, the clumps of hair she'd pulled off were entangled in mud, turned black like dirty grass.
She said, "If you don't wash it and it's covered with mud, it won't be green."
"Ah!"
The scream beside his ear woke Allen. He turned over in bed.
The river disappeared, but a boy stood in front of him.
Allen looked at Rudy sitting on the ground in shock and exhaled.
It was a dream.
"No, why are you screaming so early in the morning?"
Rudeus, who came to wake Allen, looked frustrated as if blaming him. The scream was from his mouth, but Allen was definitely the cause.
He pointed at Allen's hand.
Allen looked down.
His fist was clenched tightly, with sawdust deeply embedded in his palm. The wound was so deep the bone was visible. A corner of the bedboard had been crushed by his involuntary grip in the dream.
Allen stared at his injured hand, was silent for a moment, and said to Rudy, "Can healing magic fix the bedboard?"
Rudy looked at Allen's hand, then the bedboard, astonished.
"It seems... not possible."
Allen lowered his eyes.
Free instant task — Get Sylphie's favor, released.
[Confirm release? Reminder: The host only has one day. It's best to see Sylphie before starting the task in case she can't be found today.]
Confirm release.
[Free instant task — Get Sylphie's favor, released.]
[Mission begins.]
[Sylphiette: Countdown: 23:59:59. If completed, Barrier Magic Groove can be unlocked.]
Alan raised his head, looked at Rudy, and put his bloody but clenched hand in front of him.
"Perhaps, do you know healing magic?"