The Problematic One Is Actually Me

Chapter 32: The Problematic One is Me

"Does the monster we need to deal with this time have any special background story?"

"Probably not. It's just an ordinary vengeful spirit that didn't dissipate after death due to some coincidence, so it became a monster."

"Then, on our way to find it, we'll definitely need a special activation method, right?"

"...Probably not. It's fixed in that area and can't move around."

"Strange, why does this monster sound so ordinary?"

"Is there a possibility that it's actually an ordinary monster?"

"Impossible, absolutely impossible."

Iris glanced sideways at the Necromancer. "Since you said it can help me improve my strength, it must have something special about it. It can't be as easy to deal with as a giant slime, can it?"

"If it's tricky, it really is a bit," Linton said calmly. "But its trickiness lies in the fact that its true form is an ethereal soul. Although it's fragile, due to its intangible nature, it's always like playing hide-and-seek, making it hard to find. It occasionally ambushes from outside your line of sight, catching you off guard, rather than being the giant, mana-overflowing, high-stats monster you imagine."

"Like an assassin?" Iris began to ponder seriously. "If it's an assassin, it's indeed difficult for me, a Knight, to deal with... although right now, I don't resemble a Knight at all."

Knights are characterized by high HP and high defense, excelling at initiating combat, tanking damage, and taunting enemies. However, the doll girl, despite bearing the Knight class, walked a path of extreme specialization, dancing on the edge of a blade and never intending to return once she engaged.

From this perspective, Iris shared some similarities with those priests who wildly swung their staffs or assassins who went on rampages with greatswords. Anyone who didn't know better would think she was a player!

"Don't worry. Although its peculiar mechanics are indeed difficult for ordinary people to overcome," Linton pointed to himself, confidently stating, "I am the foremost expert in dealing with soul creatures."

"I'd better hope so." Iris paused, then looked at the man in confusion. "Aren't I going alone?"

"Why would you think that?" Linton asked, puzzled. "Even when the Knights Order hunts monsters, it's a collaborative effort among multiple people, isn't it? Do you really think you can defeat a monster that's existed for who knows how long with your own strength alone?"

"Are you looking down on me..."

"Although I believe you could do it, your body would definitely suffer considerable damage. And if I need to repair you, I'll have to search for rarer materials. During that time, you won't be able to improve your strength. Isn't that putting the cart before the horse?"

Linton's words left Iris speechless. She grumbled a couple of times, grudgingly accepting the reality of teamwork.

"I understand. How much further is it?"

"Almost there."

The two walked for another half a day on the path trodden by people until a village appeared in their sight.

Seeing the wisps of cooking smoke rising in the distance, Iris exclaimed in surprise, "Do people actually live in a place like this?"

Her question was indeed reasonable.

They were currently in a deep mountain area, very far from any town. For an ordinary person on foot, it would take at least a week to reach here. To get here themselves, they had spent a considerable amount of money to rent a carriage pulled by an exotic horse, enhanced with magic arrays, from a merchant guild. Even so, it took them nearly an entire day.

Linton guessed, "Perhaps their ancestors have lived here for generations and are unwilling to move?"

Although it was a secluded mountain village, it wasn't entirely cut off from the world like a hidden paradise. Occasionally, traveling merchants would stop here to rest, and the villagers would trade goods like grain with the merchants.

—This was something Linton had inadvertently glimpsed while farming the land back in the day.

"Let's settle down there first. The monster won't appear until tonight."

"Okay."

Iris obediently followed Linton's suggestion.

Upon arriving at the village entrance, a few young children were playing. Seeing outsiders arrive, they didn't look like particularly good people. However, instead of being shy, they cheerfully greeted Linton and Iris.

"Hello, big brother and big sister from outside."

"Hello," Linton replied with a gentle smile, taking out a few candies from his backpack. "Here you go."

"Thank you, brother!"

The children giggled happily and ran off, continuing their play elsewhere.

Iris was somewhat surprised by Linton's actions. "I wouldn't have guessed you like children so much."

"Pure children are the most precious treasures in the world, especially those who are simple and unblemished by the mundane world. It's only natural that I like them, isn't it?"

"That's true. If it were children from Falasong, they'd definitely think you were a human trafficker and give you dirty looks if you offered them candy. Compared to them, these children are indeed very cute. It's just that your past impression on me was too strong!"

"After entering the village, you'd slap a dog and cut an earthworm in half, and you wouldn't even spare an anthill, pouring hot water on it when you saw it. Does that fit your impression?"

Iris nodded vigorously, like a pecking chicken, and then her head was lightly tapped.

"Hurry up and put away that imagination of yours!"

The girl, rubbing her head, shot Linton a resentful glance and turned her head away silently, daring not to speak out of anger.

Although she didn't say it out loud, in her heart, she suddenly felt that Linton had become a little cute.

"Wait, why would I have such a thought!"

Iris immediately suppressed it and sealed it with the label, "It's all the Necromancer's scheme."

How could someone who only knew how to deceive her and play with people's hearts have anything to do with the word "cute"!

"I don't think I used much force. I shouldn't have knocked you silly, right? Why did you suddenly stop moving?"

Iris then realized that Linton was already several steps away from her, looking back to wait for her.

This guy, as expected, was still a scoundrel.

Thinking this, the young lady knight didn't slow her pace, following along cheerfully.

Upon entering the village, Iris found it no different from any other and abandoned her curiosity, turning to ask instead.

"Where will we be staying? There isn't a public square or anything around here, is there?"

"Any house will do." Linton picked one with an intact roof and lightly knocked three times.

The door opened from the inside, revealing an old woman with a wizened face.

Linton clasped his hands together and bowed slightly. "Greetings. We are travelers from out of town. Might we trouble you to let us rest here for a while?"

Iris's eyelids twitched as she listened to the Necromancer speak.

Who asks for help like that? At least say something like, 'We'll offer you appropriate compensation'!

To them, we're complete strangers. Who would agree to let you into their home based on words with no context or explanation?

There's no way they'd let us in, no matter how you think about it.

"No problem at all. You've come at just the right time; we're preparing dinner."

The old woman smiled kindly and then turned to call into the house, "We have guests! Make enough food for two more."

"Please, come in."

Linton bowed again with a smile to express his thanks and followed the old woman into the house, leaving Iris rooted to the spot, lost in self-doubt.

Could it be... that I'm the one with the problem?