Chapter 36: I Hate Kids as Sharp as You

Though Meng Linna confessed, Stone Fang was still puzzled.

“So, Teacher Big Dream, why not tell her the truth?”

Kelly gave a thumbs-up.

“Saving someone’s good!”

Meng Linna fumbled for words.

Why not be honest with Na Naya?

She wasn’t sure.

Part of it was fear of Na Naya learning her true strength.

But her teammates’ reactions suggested she could bluff through.

If she spoke up, maybe she could use it to earn Na Naya’s forgiveness.

Yet she couldn’t. Holding a good deed over someone?

She couldn’t stomach it. It’d only deepen Na Naya’s hatred.

Maybe Na Naya would think it was intentional.

She didn’t dare mention it.

“I just… don’t have the courage to talk to her.”

Meng Linna looked down, fidgeting.

“I bullied her as her senior in the past. I want to atone, but she seems to hate me. So I’m a bit scared.”

Spilling her bottled-up feelings lightened her mood.

Stone Fang patted her shoulder.

“Everyone screws up. What matters is regret. If you want to atone, be honest. Whether she forgives you or not, share your remorse.”

Kelly nodded.

“Be brave.”

Her teammates’ acceptance warmed Meng Linna’s heart.

“Thanks.”

She’d find a time to talk to Na Naya.

Seeing her resolve, Stone Fang teased.

“I knew something was off between you two. You say you want distance from the saintess, but your eyes are all concern…”

“I hate sharp kids like you!”

Meng Linna’s face reddened.

***

“What was I doing that day? Maybe drinking. Or flirting. Who knows?”

Facing the drunkard, Na Naya ruled out Hagi as her savior.

A shut-in dragon leaving her hotel to drink was active enough.

Expecting her to wander by a ruin and save her was absurd.

“Last question. Have you taught anyone the Marigold Potion recipe?”

Done asking, Na Naya pushed the coin pouch forward.

“Think so. Name was… Lin-something? Leng-leng?”

Hagi was still half-drunk.

Na Naya rubbed her forehead.

“Only one person?”

“Yep.”

“Thanks.”

Na Naya packed up and left.

She had her answer.

***

“Watch out!”

Stone Fang stretched her right hand, trying to clamp a slippery monster with her Crab Claw Shield.

The Ribbonfish dodged easily.

It was a B-rank monster.

Against a B-rank, their C-rank team should’ve retreated.

But this Ribbonfish was an oddity.

Weakest in combat among B-ranks, but stupidly fast.

Despite Meng Linna’s retreat order, it caught them.

“Hah!”

Kelly swung her Fishbone Greatsword, using its electric skill.

Sadly, though electricity countered ruin monsters, missing meant zero damage.

“It’s heading for you, Meng Linna!”

Even reserved Kelly shouted in panic.

As the rear, Meng Linna saw clearly.

The Ribbonfish targeted her from the start.

Ranged units were its instinct.

She was ready.

“Water Cannon!”

Raising her Crystal Saint Bell, a thick water jet blasted at the Ribbonfish.

Unlike before, it was slower.

But the Ribbonfish didn’t dodge.

It charged head-on.

As a water-attuned creature, it resisted water spells.

Plus, it used the jet to close in faster.

A golden opportunity.

“Wrong move?”

Seeing the Water Cannon, Stone Fang paled.

At this speed, she couldn’t reach Meng Linna to protect her.

Was their team done for?

Meng Linna stayed calm.

One hand held the Crystal Saint Bell.

The other pulled her stall-bought holy seal.

“Lightning Spear!”

A lightning javelin formed from the seal.

Before the Ribbonfish reacted, she hurled it.

Like the Ribbonfish, the spear moved fast in water.

It struck instantly.

The Ribbonfish, weak in defense and countered by lightning, passed out.

“We got it.”

Meng Linna grabbed the stunned Ribbonfish, securing it.

Defenseless high-rank monsters were valuable.

“You did it!”

Kelly was stunned.

Stone Fang patted Meng Linna’s shoulder.

“You lied, didn’t you? You beat a full-strength Water Spirit, right?”

“Just luck.”

Meng Linna grinned, dodging.

Kelly stared at the cracked stall seal.

“New spell. Curious.”

After days together, Meng Linna understood Kelly’s curt style.

She was asking about the Lightning Spear.

Her first public C-rank spell.