Illimitable Until Death

Chapter 901: IUD-Chapter 896 How can That be

“By the way, are you sure there aren’t any quests today?”

On the way back to the Adventurer’s Guild, Kazuma swung the sheathed sword in his hand with a strangely sentimental expression, glancing toward Fang Li who was walking ahead.

“The quest we picked up from the Guild gives us three days to take down five Giant Frogs. Aqua and I only managed to beat two yesterday, and that was a close call. We haven’t even touched one today. That means we’ve only got tomorrow left. What’s the plan for the remaining three?”

Kazuma’s complaint wasn’t answered by Fang Li at first, but rather by Aqua, who was walking just a step behind him.

“That’s why I say shut-in NEETs are hopeless,” Aqua sniffed with disdain, looking at Kazuma like he was some failed experiment.

“You’re panicking over a few frogs? Please, don’t go around saying you’re on the same team as the gorgeous and all-powerful Aqua. It’s embarrassing.”

“…Where the hell does this useless goddess get her confidence from?” Kazuma deadpanned, his face twisting like he’d bitten into something rotten.

“Weren’t you the one getting almost swallowed whole by a frog yesterday? And now you’re calling yourself ‘all-powerful’?”

“T-Today’s different from yesterday!” Aqua ducked her head slightly, puffing her cheeks as she snapped back.

“I’ve got this now!”

She proudly raised the staff in her hand like it was some legendary artifact, her tone bursting with smug satisfaction.

“With this baby, I could wipe out ten frogs, eight at the very least!”

“…Is that so?” Kazuma’s smile was all kinds of forced.

“Well then, I’m really looking forward to seeing Aqua-sama’s divine performance tomorrow.”

“Hm hm hmmm~!” Aqua lifted her chin proudly, adopting a saintly air.

“Prepare to be amazed!”

Little did she know, while the staff could enhance magic, an Archpriest like her didn’t actually have any offensive magic in her repertoire.

Even with the boost, she wouldn’t be able to take down a single frog, and if she tried, she’d probably end up as amphibian lunch.

Kazuma was well aware of this, and the way he looked at Aqua now was comparable to how one might look at frog droppings.

Fang Li didn’t join in their banter.

Not because he was above it, but because his already weary mental state couldn’t take any more hits.

Truth be told, ever since arriving in the Main God’s Dimension, this might’ve been the first time Fang Li genuinely felt this drained.

Not physically.

Mentally.

So instead of responding, Fang Li just kept walking forward in silence.

Unfortunately for him, today wasn’t just exhausting, it was cursed.

The misfortune had only just begun.

Just a few steps from the Guild’s entrance, Fang Li came to an abrupt halt.

“Hmm?”

Kazuma, caught off guard, stopped as well.

“Wah!”

Aqua, still daydreaming about showing off divine might tomorrow, didn’t notice in time and bumped straight into Fang Li’s back, landing flat on the ground.

And so, Fang Li stood there, silently staring at the front of the Adventurer’s Guild.

“………”

A heavy silence filled the air.

Because right there, lying sprawled out in front of the Guild entrance, was a girl.

She looked to be about 12 or 13 years old.

Dressed in a dark, mage-like robe, she wore an oversized wizard hat that drooped over her head.

She clutched a staff nearly as tall as she was, her small frame clearly marking her as a child.

Under the brim of her hat, Fang Li caught glimpses of sleek black hair falling to her shoulders.

But he couldn’t see her face.

Because she was lying face-down on the ground like a corpse, completely motionless.

Fang Li simply stared.

For a long moment, he didn’t move.

Then he made a decision.

He chose to ignore it.

“Well, that’s enough for today. Everyone should head back and rest,” Fang Li said, completely deadpan.

“We’ll regroup at the Guild tomorrow.”

With that, he turned to leave.

But fate wasn’t done with him yet.

Something grabbed his foot.

Fang Li froze.

Slowly, he looked down.

The girl, who had been lying face-down in front of the Guild, was now clinging to his ankle with one hand.

“Hey…”

Her voice, muffled and low, came from beneath the brim of her hat.

“Hey, there’s a girl lying on the ground. Shouldn’t you at least check if she’s okay, no matter what?”

Upon hearing that, Fang Li’s smile stiffened a little.

“Apologies,” he replied politely, though his tone lacked any genuine warmth.

His eyes, sharp and weary, were filled not with concern but resistance.

“I’m really not in the mood today to get wrapped up in whatever this clearly suspicious situation is supposed to be.”

The moment he said this, the girl abruptly lifted her head.

Her big, tear-filled eyes locked onto Fang Li, and she cried out indignantly:

“For a girl collapsed on the ground, and when we’re meeting for the first time, don’t you think treating her like some random obstacle is seriously rude?!”

As she shouted, her face was finally revealed in full.

“Oooh…”

Kazuma let out an admiring gasp.

Because in front of them now was a girl with a youthful, soft face, delicate, yes, but definitely cute enough to be considered beautiful.

“Eh?”

Aqua, still seated on the ground and rubbing her sore backside, glanced up at the commotion.

When she saw the girl’s appearance, her eyes widened in surprise.

“You’re… from the Crimson Magic Clan?”

Indeed.

The girl’s most striking features were right there, one eye concealed beneath an eyepatch, and the other glinting like a ruby gemstone.

Those red eyes.

An unmistakable trademark of the Crimson Magic tribe.

Coupled with her wizard’s robes, oversized staff, and her overly theatrical presence, it was clear she was indeed from that eccentric, spell-slinging bloodline.

Fang Li had already sensed as much even before seeing her face.

This girl, frail, dramatic, and clearly more trouble than she looked, wasn’t the same one who had introduced herself earlier as Yunyun.

But just like Yunyun, she carried that same explosive aura of chaos unique to the Crimson Magic tribe.

Back then, Yunyun alone had left Fang Li in complete emotional disarray.

And now here was another one, collapsing in front of the Guild like she was baiting someone to help her?

This reeked of incoming problems.

To make matters worse… Fang Li knew who this girl was.

He didn’t mean “knew” as in “had a hunch”, he actually recognized her.

Which meant he was also fully aware of the amount of trouble this person would bring.

So his plan had been simple: Keep walking.

Do not engage.

But of course, that plan was immediately ruined.

“Well… I mean, we should at least help her inside to rest, right?”

That was the opinion of a certain hikiNEET, completely disarmed by the girl’s looks.

“Crimson Magic?! No way! She must be a high-tier mage! This is perfect! She has to join our team!”

That was the genius idea of a certain brainless goddess, who got excited the moment the girl’s clan name was mentioned.

And Fang Li?

What could he even say at this point?

“Anyway…”

Right then, the girl groaned weakly and spoke again.

“I haven’t eaten anything in ages… My whole body’s out of energy. Could you maybe give me something to eat first?”

See?

Told you she’d be a nuisance.

(End of Chapter)

PS-“For every 200 power stones, I’ll release one bonus chapter (Current-20)!”