Chapter 45: Belt + Potion = Token of Love? (Part 2)
Not long after, Lars came down from upstairs carrying a large, sealed Clay Pot. The Clay Pot had a Spout on the side, which was also sealed.
"Wu, I won't say too many words of thanks. Come, try the Ale Shali brewed herself."
Lars knocked off the Seal from the Spout and poured a cup for me.
The golden Ale emitted waves of malty fragrance. Without even drinking it, I knew it would taste good.
In the Diablo World, perhaps because of the long-term Pressure under the shroud of death, many Class Changers, Ranchers, and even Civilians, whenever they get a chance, will indulge in a night of drunken revelry. This widespread situation has driven the development of brewing. Therefore, the Ale here is not as exaggeratedly bad as horse piss like in some transmigration novels. Low-concentration Ale tastes a bit like beer from my original world, just slightly more bitter. I haven't tried the high-concentration kind yet, but I doubt it could compare to Erguotou.
"Mm, it's really good."
I took a sip. The malty fragrance lingered between my lips and teeth for a long time, not dissipating. It was even better than the Ale at the Inn. No wonder Doug and Gus, those two drunkards, were so greedy for it.
"Come, to our friendship, cheers!" Doug was already impatient to clink cups with us, then drained his in one gulp.
"To defeating the Countess, cheers!" *Sweatdrop*...
"To the lovely Wu, cheers!" *Damn you*...
Before long, the large Clay Pot of Ale was already empty. In my original world, I had drunk even better alcohol, so I wasn't as greedy for drinks as they were. When they were all drunk and collapsed on the table, I could still barely remain conscious.
However, my alcohol tolerance was much lower than theirs. At this moment, I was also swaying precariously. In a blur, I saw, it seemed to be Shali, standing In Front of me, bowing to me gratefully.
Mm, we just made such a big commotion, it would be impossible to hide it from her. Damn it, I'm most afraid of being thanked by women.
With the thought of being dizzy and drunk, I finally collapsed onto the table.
Because of Lars' sudden "outburst" and another heavy drinking session, the originally planned itinerary came to nothing. It wasn't until dusk that we all gradually sobered up. It seemed unavoidable that we would have to stay at Lars' Place for the night. Tomorrow morning, we'll go to Akara's Place, and then Depart.
For dinner that night, Shali creatively organized a Campfire Roasted Meat gathering. Everyone sat around the Campfire outside the Courtyard. Shali was carefully turning the Roasted Meat over the Campfire. Now *this* is Comfortable Living in the Other World.
The other five of us sat around the Campfire, just like the night when we had our Encounter in the wilderness, except now we had delicious Ale and hot Roasted Meat.
Ah, and we also have to count Shali, and the Little Loli who's clinging to my Body??...
Hey, hey, something must be a Mistake here. Why is the Little Loli by my side? When she first came this morning, her attitude towards me was still timid. How did she become so close in just a moment?
It's a long story, cough, so I'll make it short. This goes back to noon today. It might be because I picked up a piece of Roasted Meat for her. After I sobered up at dusk, the Little Loli no longer felt any strangeness or distance towards me. Besides this reason, I really can't find any other plausible explanation. But looking at it this way, isn't this Little Loli too easy to fool? She started trusting me just because of a Meat Slice? Or was that one "pick" of mine so cool and charming that it deeply Attracted the Little Loli?
Cough cough...
In short, the Little Loli is no longer afraid of me. But even so, it shouldn't have led to this situation. The main culprits must be Lars and his unscrupulous wife. They actually harbored malicious intentions and created "opportunities". Not only did they greatly exaggerate my "great deeds" In Front of Sha La – uh, although I don't even know what great deeds I've done, since they said so, I'll just assume I have.
Not only that, they even Instigated Sha La to pester me and play, their intentions were truly wicked. And I just happened to remember a few small stories. As soon as I told them, it turned into this situation. Seeing the two of them occasionally glance at me with meaningful smiles made me shiver. I now have a complex about their smiles full of Conspiracy.
"Lars, you scoundrel, are you just pushing your Daughter onto me like this?"
From an angle where the Little Loli couldn't see, I mouthed the words to Lars opposite me.
"What? Weren't those Potions and the Belt you gave today for Sha La? You've already given her a Token of Love, are you trying to back out? Fine, after you leave, I'll tell Sha La that someone 'played with' her Feelings/Emotions and then 'abandoned' her."
Lars said with a face full of being Wronged, as if I had really done something to his Daughter.
"Damn it, you're ruthless, remember this." I couldn't win against Lars in verbal Effort, and besides, he had leverage over me. Who told me to say I was giving the Belt to Sha La when I gave it? Wasn't that digging my own grave? Although I don't believe the Little Loli can understand the true meaning contained in "played with" and "abandoned", I still couldn't bear to make such a cute Little Loli sad.
"Big Brother (I didn't expect the title I had always held Expectation for with Lin Ya would be snatched by the Little Loli first), what happened to the Mermaid Princess in the end?" The Little Loli shook my hand, her crisp Throat carrying sweet childishness. Hearing it made me feel incredibly comfortable, like I had just had a sauna.
"She turned into foam."
I don't have the talent of a writer, so I couldn't just adapt such a classic story. I could only recite it as it was.
"Woo~~ So pitiful, Big Brother is so mean."
The Little Loli's large, watery eyes suddenly became Moist/Teary, as if I had abandoned her.
Hey, I mean...
Seeing Lars and Shali snickering to the side, and Doug and Gus watching like it was a play, I wished I could throw all these old guys into the Campfire and roast them. Although I do have a bit of a Lolicon tendency, you guys didn't have to push a Little Loli who is only thirteen years old and whose Mind is only 7 or 8 years old onto me like that, right? I'm not that serious to that Degree! Besides, I'm a full 10 years older than her! Aren't you worried about your Daughter? Do you really trust me that much?
Actually, I still didn't understand the situation in Sanctuary. As I mentioned before, people in Sanctuary, even Civilians without any Strength, have a Lifespan of nearly 300 years. Their prime youth lasts for over 100 years. A Gap/Difference of 10 years is nothing. Moreover, because of their long Lifespan, their development is somewhat slower. So, although the Little Loli currently looks like she has the Body of a thirteen-year-old, her Mind is only like 7 or 8 years old.
Hmph, I hardened my heart and thought, you guys pushed her onto me yourselves, don't blame me when the time comes. In my world, there's such a thing as a Child Bride, you know. Although the Little Loli is still young, her Angel-like Appearance and Temperament are already fatally charming. What would she be like when she grows up? It would be too much of a pity not to take her in. She's still young now, so there's no talk of Love or anything. It doesn't matter, I'll just train her slowly. I smiled sinisterly, instantly giving Lars and his wife the Feeling that they had entrusted their Daughter to the wrong person.
Thinking of this, I picked up the Little Loli, who was completely clinging to my arm, and had her sit on one of my thighs, freeing up my right hand. The Little Loli's Body was very light, as slender and nimble as a cloud, as cool and soft as water. Sigh, seeing how sincere Lars and his wife were, I'll reluctantly Accept the Reality.
I lovingly stroked the Little Loli's beautiful Hair that reached down to her waist. On a whim, I decided to braid a pigtail for the Little Loli. Uh... I think it's like this, and then like this...
Finally, I looked with a face full of black lines at the two irregularly swinging long pigtails on the back of the Little Loli's head. Her beautiful pink Hair had just been completely ruined by me. The four of Lars' group also glared at me angrily, as if I had done something outrageous.
The Little Loli pulled the pigtails forward to look, and was stunned for a moment. Just when I thought she would start crying sadly, she smiled sweetly instead. Her light red, clear eyes seemed to overshadow the Campfire's Glow.
"Big Brother, thank you. Sha La is so happy. Besides Mommy, nobody has ever helped Sha La tie her Hair." After saying that, she hugged my neck and lightly kissed me. Then, swinging her two strange red pigtails, she happily spun around the Campfire, her face overflowing with a brilliant smile that could melt even ice and snow.
Lars lowered his head guiltily. He hadn't fulfilled his responsibility as a father; he hadn't even tidied his Daughter's Hair once...
Without a doubt, the Little Loli was the Protagonist of the evening. She was our most cherished little princess. Throughout the entire night, the Courtyard was filled with her clear and moving laughter. Perhaps, it was also the happiest time she had experienced since birth.