Chapter 55: Mother of Two Children

Today is my mother's birthday, and Xiao Hei is on vacation, so I’ve uploaded three chapters at once. Don’t forget to vote for Xiao Hei—every vote counts!

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Mei’s two spells were ‘Wind Blade’ and ‘Lightfoot’. When I found out this ‘Lightfoot’ could be cast on allies and even increased movement speed by three percent, my opinion of this team shifted from initial disdain to genuine amazement.

Although the three first-tier mages were ordinary in both level and ability, when united and complemented by the dwarf’s strength and the giant’s defense, the team’s overall power was elevated to a new level. No wonder five of them dared to venture into the Blackwind Forest—a place only fully staffed ten-person squads usually entered. With good coordination, facing two Blackwind Demon Wolves was hardly impossible.

And that was without me.

Now, with my addition, the situation was bound to change further.

However, it seemed the dwarf and the giant weren’t too optimistic about me, a level 13 bow warrior. Especially when they saw me walking side by side with Mei, chatting and laughing in what they saw as a display of ‘intimacy’, their eyes seemed to spark with jealousy.

They began to regret their chosen races: one cursed himself for being too tall, the other despaired at being too short. Walking alongside Mei, they either got ignored or were mistaken for bodyguards…

Leaving the human race, after all, had been a mistake. Seeing Mei with me, the so-called Scavenger Qilin, anyone who didn’t know better would think we were a couple.

The two of them were filled with regret over this outcome.

Fortunately, we had reached the edge of Blackwind Forest, and their torment did not have to continue.

Surveying the enormous black forest before us, I frowned slightly. The environment was even harsher than I’d imagined… Even the leaves were black. Who knew if there was any light inside?

Even if vision was possible, it would surely be limited. What concerned me most was that, unlike the open plains, forests—especially those this dark—were much more complex. No one could guess what kind of monsters lurked further in!

Just as I halted, my expression tinged with gravity, the dwarf and the giant exchanged a smug glance—their chance to shine had finally come.

An archer’s constitution could never match that of a warrior, and in their eyes, a bow warrior was just a weak, hybrid class—a jack-of-all-trades with neither the power of a warrior nor the range of an archer. It looked flashy on the surface, but that was all. Every bow warrior they had met was unwelcome in any team, and, worst of all, leveling as a bow warrior took more than twice as long as other classes when soloing. With the constant need to swap skills, most bow warriors they knew had ended up deleting their characters and starting over.

At this thought, the pair felt a sense of balance in their hearts.

———

The edge of Blackwind Forest belonged to lesser demon wolves: from level 12 Earth Wolves, level 13 Fanged Wolves, level 14 Swift Wolves, to level 15 Blackwind Demon Wolves, all could be found along the outskirts.

This was also the prime hunting ground for entry-level players.

Looking around, I saw teams locked in combat with the sizable demon wolves. Amid the throng, spells like ice bolts and fireballs shot through the air.

At that moment, I found myself missing the days at the White Cloud Mine. Even though a small plot of land there housed over a hundred miners, at least nobody tried to steal my mobs… But here, there was barely space for us to join in.

Even ‘Talks While Squatting’ and ‘Xuanwu Giant God’, who came prepared for a big fight, looked dispirited after taking in the situation: one clutching a massive warhammer, the other leaning on a four-meter-long wooden staff, both staring blankly at the crowd.

“I remember there being space when we left town…”

“Exactly!”

———

After surveying the scene, I sought the captain’s opinion: “Shall we fight alongside them?”

“Huh?”

The taciturn male elf mage, ‘Meteor’; the aloof Miss Peach Blossom, who looked down on me as a ‘pauper’; as well as the towering ‘Talks While Squatting’ and ‘Xuanwu Giant God’ all looked at me as if I were mad.

“Are you joking? With our strength, we’d be poaching from others?”

“Yeah, we should just be glad if no one steals from us!” ‘Talks While Squatting’ and ‘Xuanwu Giant God’ spoke bluntly, not caring if they dampened team morale…

I frowned. If they had so little confidence, why bother playing at all? Forget it—I couldn’t be bothered to argue. Besides, competing for such low-level mobs would only slow down our leveling.

———

In the end, my modesty and silence seemed to be misunderstood by the dwarf and the giant as consent or even self-reflection. Their contempt and mockery deepened, and eventually, they simply ignored my presence altogether, turning to discuss matters with Mei and Meteor.

Mei, noticing their hostility toward me, quietly messaged me, “Qilin, don’t take it to heart. They probably just saw you chatting with me earlier, so they’re being a bit rude. Don’t mind them; they’ll come around. Actually, they’re good people.” As she finished, Mei stuck out her tongue playfully and gave me an apologetic look.

I smiled—did she really need to tell me? Watching them tag along so closely, their intentions might as well have been written on their faces. If I didn’t get it, I’d be a fool.

Still, I was curious. Mei wasn’t considered the most outstanding type in Magic Era—at best, she was sweet and charming, with a kind heart. What on earth made ‘Talks While Squatting’ and ‘Xuanwu Giant God’ so hostile toward any man who approached her?

After asking, I finally learned that the five of them were classmates from the same academy, studying the same major—enrolled at a college run by the Business Alliance.

The five were all close friends at school, including the enigmatic Black Jasmine…

Hearing this, I couldn’t help but glance at Black Jasmine in disbelief. A student? With her demeanor, I wouldn’t be surprised if she were a mother of two. A student…? Hmph!