"Wu, I really don't understand now why God allowed you to Class Change back then. Uh, it's not that I doubt you, it's just... your Bow and Arrow skill level..."
On the way back, Doug shook his head vigorously, looking completely bewildered. He had never heard of an Adventurer being completely clueless with a Bow and Arrow. It was truly astonishing.
I pondered for a moment before saying profoundly, "A Genius is always unique and cannot be understood by others."
Doug: "..."
...
"Oh right, Doug, Geoff, do you know where Lars is? I want to go see him, and then continue my Training."
"He, he's currently in family mode."
In the Restaurant below the Dream Inn, Doug said indistinctly, his mouth full of large chunks of meat.
"Gentle Village, Hero's Tomb."
Geoff uttered a profound truth, his Gaze filled with worry.
"Alright, then we'll go see him tomorrow, and I'll probably set off after that."
"Wu, you're already Level 3 now (I admit, I lied). You should be able to find a Party. It's better not to go Training alone anymore."
Doug said sincerely. In his opinion, although I had luckily survived the last Training session, my combat Skill was still too green. You couldn't keep getting by on luck like that during Training. Forming a Party was safer; at least you'd have someone watching your back.
"Hmm, I'll give it some serious thought."
I took a sip of soup and said distractedly. Although what Doug said made sense, I had my own difficulties. It wasn't that I didn't want to form a Party with others, but that I couldn't.
The night passed without incident. Early the next morning, I got up. If all went as expected, after seeing Lars and then visiting Akara, I could continue my journey by this evening or tomorrow morning.
"Doug, get up!"
I kicked open his Room door and yelled loudly. What? You say I'm getting revenge? How could that be? I'm not the type to hold a grudge.
I saw Doug sprawled on the bed like a salmon, half his large butt exposed, snoring like thunder. My recent loud roar was like a small ripple swallowed by the tidal wave of his snores.
"Doug, get up! The sun's already hitting your butt! You said you'd take me to Lars's place this morning!" I yelled, pulling his ear hard.
Damn, still no reaction.
Very good.
I looked at the Sunlight shining in through the window.
Very good.
I looked at the mirror on the stand.
Very good.
Gently picking up the mirror, I detached the stand, "processed" it slightly, then placed it in front of the window. I adjusted the angle so a beam of light shone at a subtle angle onto Doug's half-exposed butt. Then, I quietly left his Room, went downstairs, leisurely ordered a cup of milk soup, took a sip, and thought, "Alright, countdown begins."
A full half hour passed before a deafening scream came from upstairs...
Uh, what tough skin, I sighed. Although the morning Sunlight wasn't very intense, it had been focused for a full half hour. Even a piece of raw meat would be scorched by now.
"Damn it..."
Halfway down the stairs, the sleep-deprived Doug cursed, his eyes bloodshot.
"If I find out which Wizard dared to burn my butt while I was sleeping, I'll strip off his clothes and throw him into the center of the Plaza!"
A chill ran down my spine, and I couldn't help but shiver. Oh dear, it's a good thing Doug doesn't know the principle of focusing light. Lack of culture is truly terrifying. The ancients truly didn't deceive me.
...
...
Lars's home is here? I stared wide-eyed at the exquisite wooden house in the open space, surrounded by a small wooden fence about a person's height. In the Rogue Encampment, this was comparable to the treatment of a Luxury Villa!
"People with families are just different,"
Doug said with a sigh.
"[**]"
Even Geoff was envious.
"Lars, look who's back!"
That kid Doug was completely oblivious. Without knocking, he just pushed open the large wooden gate and walked in. How could you do that? What if Lars and his wife suddenly got frisky and decided to play a very raunchy and violent Game in the Courtyard outside the house?
Geoff and I quickly scurried after him, planning to watch the show... Ah, no, to stop Doug's reckless behavior.
In the Courtyard, under a lush Tree, green and fragrant grass grew on the ground. A beautiful middle-aged woman sat under the large Tree, holding something unknown in her hand. Beside her was a man kneeling on the ground...
*Cough cough*, I knew your thoughts weren't pure. One test and it was proven.
The beautiful woman sitting under the Tree held a thin little book in her hand, but her affectionate Gaze was fixed on the man kneeling on the grass. The man had a gentle smile on his face, and sitting on him was a Young Girl around 15 years old. At this moment, she was showing a naive face like Sunlight, her two small hands desperately pulling the poor middle-aged man's hair.
What a beautiful picture of familial bliss! But I have to say, Young Girl, how old are you? You're still playing such a childish Game...
Unfortunately, this wonderfully beautiful family scene was mercilessly shattered by Doug's loud voice. The three people's smiles froze, mingling with our three teasing Gazes.
At this moment, the thick-headed Doug, in his haste, actually blurted out something that made even me, a person who transmigrated from a world flooded with Internet Culture, collapse with laughter.
"Sorry, wrong door, please continue." Then, he retreated and closed the door, all in one smooth motion.
Indeed, most famous sayings in the world are born out of awkward situations. If this world started developing a tech and internet trend, Doug might very well become a legendary online sensation on the same level as Sister Furong...
After a while, the door finally opened. Lars, whom I hadn't seen in a long time, was still so energetic. He was wearing a very common set of commoner clothes. At first glance, you'd think he was one of those pitiable old uncles you see everywhere, dragging a tin cart, struggling on the streets with the city management comrades, making a living selling roasted sweet potatoes.
"Oh, our Holy 'Knight' Lars Lord, tsk tsk..."
Doug said in a sarcastic tone, shaking his head and emphasizing the word "Knight" heavily, his level of sarcastic dark humor almost catching up to the Lars of "back then".
"Oh, isn't this Doug and Geoff?"
Lars said with a cheerful smile, showing no sign of awkwardness. As expected, a Paladin's high Defense mostly comes from their thick skin.
"Sarah, your Barbarian (Monster) uncles are here to see you! They even said they want to play horsey with you!"
Lars was Lars. Even after being idle at home for a month, his ruthlessness and dark humor were beyond Doug's reach. In just a few sentences, he pushed Doug into the ditch, and even threw in Geoff for free. His intentions were truly damnable.
As expected, the two Barbarian brothers' expressions changed, and they wanted to turn around and leave. But the Young Girl had already popped out from behind Lars. She glanced timidly at me, this strange yet handsome (Goku, you're lying again =o=) big brother, before excitedly calling out in a clear, innocent voice, moving like a yellow oriole:
"Really? Uncle Doug, Uncle Geoff?"
(end of chapter)