Christa

"I don't get it." Zhang Ruofeng and Jiang had discussed the matter for a long time, but they were still going in circles. Neither of them could figure out how a weapon of this caliber had ended up in the hands of Zhang Ruofeng's predecessor—the violent woman Fura had mentioned—or what it was made of. Thinking in this stuffy room had worn them both out.

"Come on. I'll buy you a drink tonight." Zhang Ruofeng sat by the door to get some air and casually lit a cigarette. Watching Jiang diligently polish some of the rough edges inside, he made the offer.

"Sure. There's nothing better than a drink after finishing a piece of equipment." Jiang was delighted at the prospect of someone else paying. His leering expression made Zhang Ruofeng feel another urge to punch him.

"Beer only," Zhang Ruofeng said flatly. He was nearly out of money himself. After setting aside the money for Xin Mu's weapon and the 4,000 Faris he owed Jiang, he had only around 000 Faris left in his budget. He needed to be a little frugal, too.

"Beer it is." Jiang shrugged. "Just give me a moment." He lowered his head and resumed polishing, while Zhang Ruofeng, with nothing else to do, watched the sunset. He was quite interested in the red armguard, but he also felt wary. He didn't believe that something this good could just fall into his lap—or, more precisely, into his Familia's. Though his decision to join the goddess Fura's Familia had been a coincidence, he still couldn't believe the whole story came down to his predecessor saving up. No Level 1 adventurer could have accumulated that kind of money.

By the time dusk had fallen, Jiang had finally finished making the last adjustments to Zhang Ruofeng's weapons. Zhang Ruofeng put both bracers into the backpack he had prepared, then left with Jiang.

"Don't you need to tell your Main God?" Jiang asked curiously. Zhang Ruofeng said he had already told Xin Mu that he might eat out that evening.

"Oh? You mean that gorgeous woman who was with you?" Jiang recalled Xin Mu at Zhang Ruofeng's side. Things had been tense at the time, but if he'd failed to notice her, he'd have to be blind or stupid. "You're pretty lucky, becoming an adventurer alongside your girlfriend."

"No, she's not my girlfriend," Zhang Ruofeng replied coolly. He had never thought of her that way. Not even for a second.

"Wait... she's already your wife?!" Jiang cried excitedly. Zhang Ruofeng gave him a look of utter exasperation and moved a step away. "No!"

"Then... does that mean I have a chance?" Jiang said, stroking his handsome chin.

"No chance at all." Thinking of Xin Mu's personality, Zhang Ruofeng immediately crushed Jiang's hopes. He had to admit Jiang was handsome, but Xin Mu had received countless confessions from high school through university, many of them from rich, attractive men, and he had never seen her fall for anyone. Zhang Ruofeng himself didn't know why she liked him. She had made it perfectly clear that she couldn't stand frivolous people like Jiang, so the odds of him getting together with her were slim.

"I only said one thing, and you got all worked up. She's not your girlfriend, after all," Jiang muttered. Zhang Ruofeng was too tired to keep bickering with him, so he decided that silence was golden.

"This is it. I come here all the time." After winding through the streets with Jiang, Zhang Ruofeng finally reached the main thoroughfare. Getting around without any form of transport really was slow. He was starting to understand just how big Orario was. Getting from place to place took up the most time; even going to buy groceries could take half an hour.

"So noisy." Zhang Ruofeng frowned at the steady stream of people entering and leaving the hotel. Most adventurers in this world had fiery tempers, and he didn't want to get into a fight. He and Xin Mu had unusual identities, so it was best to keep a low profile and avoid drawing attention.

"It's fine, it's fine. I come here all the time. The drinks are great." Jiang slung an arm around Zhang Ruofeng's shoulders and led him inside.

"Boss, I'm here!" Jiang called out as soon as he entered. Behind the bar sat a woman with a stern expression. Even indoors, she wore a black cloak, and her brown hair fell behind her. She glanced at Jiang, then fixed her gaze on Zhang Ruofeng.

"Black hair. That's rare. You're from the East." Then she looked away, her whole presence sharp and cold. She was strikingly handsome, and in terms of looks alone, she might even have rivaled Xin Mu. But the icy atmosphere around her made her difficult to approach.

"What do you think? Isn't the boss super cool?!" Jiang's eyes lit up. He leaned close to Zhang Ruofeng and whispered, "And she's a high-level adventurer..." Before he could finish, the boss had somehow appeared right in front of him.

"If you don't have anything useful to say, keep your mouth shut." The woman gave a cold snort and slapped a sign right across Jiang's face. The loud smack silenced the entire establishment for a moment. Everyone stared at Jiang for three seconds, then the whole bar erupted in laughter.

"I..." Zhang Ruofeng had already sensed trouble and kept his distance, but looking at the scene now, he really wanted to turn around and leave. He wished he didn't know Jiang.

"Christa, couldn't you show me a little respect?" Jiang rubbed his cheek, gazing reproachfully at Christa, whose expression was as cold as winter and whose murderous aura seemed to radiate from her every moment. "You make everyone laugh at me every time! Even I can get angry, you know?!"

"Hmph. Weaklings don't get to be angry." The boss turned and walked back to the bar without looking at him. "Your usual seat. Table seven."

"Coming right up!" Jiang dragged the helpless Zhang Ruofeng over to a corner table near the window, enduring the jeers of the other customers. Even though the place was crowded, the corner was still relatively quiet. "What do you think? I know you don't like noisy places, so this spot's pretty nice, right?" Jiang said smugly. "It's my own private seat."

"Your private seat?" Zhang Ruofeng looked at Jiang, whose nose was practically in the air, and quietly punctured his pride. "You just sit here so drunk adventurers won't beat you into a pulp because of your talent for getting mocked."

After Zhang Ruofeng said that, Jiang's face turned absurdly comical as the truth sank in.