Chapter 22: Going back

After making sure the area was safe and her cleansing spell left her spotless again, she crouched and began collecting the rabbit horns scattered on the ground.
One, two, three… twelve in total.

“Twelve,” she murmured, a small smile forming. It was far better than hunting for slimes, and definitely more productive than her first rabbit encounter. Well, technically, she let them go last time, but that didn’t count.

Maybe this was the best way to earn money after all. Horned rabbits were fast, common, and apparently fond of running straight into her attacks. No remorse necessary.
“It’s not like they’re endangered. They breed like crazy anyways, or so from my old world,” she said to herself, pocketing the last horn. "Well, for their horns, I'll show no mercy."

She sighed lightly, glancing at the remains, or rather, the lack of them. It was a shame she couldn’t sell the meat too, but with her current and soon to expire explosive fighting style, there wasn’t much to bring back. Still, twelve horns should be enough to cover a night’s stay. Add one slime loot from that perverted green slime earlier, and it wasn’t a bad haul.

Her thoughts drifted to her staff. She recalled that she had bought it discounted with just slimes, a single horn, and some negotiation. So, by that logic, twelve horns should have way more value than ten copper coins… unless the staff had been cheap for a reason. Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Wait... what if that’s why my magic’s still off?”

The possibility lingered. “Surely Edward’s not a scammer,” she muttered, poking her staff as though it might reveal its guilt. It didn’t. She exhaled and shrugged. “Well, I still need it anyway. Better earn enough just in case.”

Just then, something familiar caught her eye. It was a slightly suspicious plant swaying from a distance.

"... That's familiar," She said as she stared at it, suspicious. Then she slowly waved her hand in front of it, the way you’d test if someone was pretending to be asleep.

And sure enough, there was a faint wobble. Then, blorp! A green slime popped out.

Her reaction was instant. She raised her book and gave it a clean chop before it could even react anything else. Bam.

Another slime down, another shiny little orb left behind. She picked it up and turned it over thoughtfully. She had been referring it to as a slime core from the start, but maybe it actually had a different term. For now, it was a slime core to her, it is.

She looked around. A few more of those plants sat nearby, swaying innocently. Her eyes brightened with amusement. “Heh... should I consider this, a game"

What followed was a quiet flurry of soft squelches and slaps as she went around flattening each one. By the time she was done, she had five cores in total. Another small victory.

After cleansing herself again, she wiped the light sheen of sweat on her neck with her sleeve. Then her stomach growled.

“...Oh come on. Really? Now?” she muttered. She pressed a hand to her stomach. “You couldn’t wait until I got back?”

If only she still had that bread. She scowled at the thought. “It's that Rai’s fault. He had to make a scene, didn’t he?”
She tilted her head slightly. “If I'm cursing him right now, he’s probably sneezing right now. Serves him right.”

She stared off into the distance, debating. Should she go back now? Maybe eat first? For lunch?

Had it even been that long since she left town? Time moved fast when she was enjoying it.

She looked down at a patch of grass. “Should I just eat slime? Or raw rabbit? Maybe even just the grass like a cow?” She paused. “...Just kidding. Yeah, no. Even I have standards.”

After a moment of lazy contemplation, she decided on one last round. “Alright. One more round of slapping rabbits, then I'll hunt for food in town.”

She wandered until she spotted another bush. But this time, she didn’t even need to lure them out. The bush practically exploded as horned rabbits leapt straight at her.
Then another. And another. They kept coming she lost count.

It became an exhausting blur of dodges and slaps until finally, silence returned. She stood still for a moment, book in hand, chest rising and falling slowly. Then she turned back toward the gates, satisfied and utterly tired.

Eventually, she made her way back to the city gates, movin at a tired but satisfied pace. When she arrived, she noticed that the line had disappeared. There was only a single party of adventurers remained being checked by the gate guards. She slowed her pace and observed them with mild curiosity.

They have a sword, a shield, an archer, a mage. A clean formation.

“No healer?” she whispered. Her brows furrowed thoughtfully. There did not seem to be anyone who had a get up of one.

Maybe healers were rare. Or maybe mages could heal too? She’d have to look into that later in the spell list.

At least she wouldn’t have to wait long. Once the group was done, it was her turn.

The familiar female knight who handled her inspections last time stood at the checkpoint. Lylia smiled faintly and greeted her, “Hey, big sister~”

The knight raised a brow but said nothing.

Lylia lifted her arms out to the side, expression deadpan. “I’m ready. You can check me… 'thoroughly'. Don't meet a single spot~” she said, emphasizing 'thoroughly'.

There was a pause. Then the guard, after a moment of silent resignation, did the usual inspection. It was over in seconds. “You can go,” she said curtly.

Lylia blinked. “That’s it?” Her tone was flat, but there was a faint note of disappointment. “You sure you checked 'thoroughly'?”

The guard stared at her wordlessly.

Lylia tilted her head slightly, her eyes faintly glinting with mischief. “You didn’t even check these parts,” she said, pointing at her chest and then lower.

The guard didn’t move. Her face said everything—exhaustion, disbelief, regret.

Lylia sighed softly and chuckled. “Kidding. Don’t take it seriously, big sis.”

She gave a small wave before walking past the gate, still half-smiling to herself, leaving behind a very tired-looking knight and another chapter of quiet chaos in her wake.