The scattered footprints that had once been around here had been washed away by several days of rain, making their exact shapes difficult to distinguish now.
"Master, did your investigation into the beast horde's rampage yield any results?"
"None at all. There hasn't been a single trace since that incident." Makarov looked at Rhode. "But I do have a slight suspicion now."
"Um... me too." Rhode felt a little guilty and spoke quietly. "If it really was caused by my magic going out of control, how much would I have to pay?"
Seeing how worried Rhode was, Master smiled.
"No compensation is needed at all. This is unclaimed land, after all. We can't exactly go pay a fine to the king over something so minor."
Rhode breathed a sigh of relief. He had nearly faced an even greater financial crisis.
After walking farther into the forest, the two of them finally arrived at Porlyusica's home—a treehouse.
Rhode looked up at the bright red apples hanging from the surrounding trees, then down at the bag of apples in his left hand, and suddenly felt rather unnecessary.
"Master..." Rhode forced an awkward smile. "Why didn't you remind me?"
"Hahaha... So you can make that expression too? That's hilarious!" Makarov laughed maliciously like a mischievous old child.
Only after laughing enough did he say, "It doesn't matter what the gift is. It's the thought that counts!"
"You're so noisy!" The treehouse door was flung open roughly. "I can hear your irritating laughter from a hundred meters away, Makarov. Can't you be quiet for once?"
Makarov greeted her with a smile. "What's wrong with being lively once in a while? Living here alone must be rather lonely, don't you think?"
Porlyusica noticed Rhode. "Your injuries should have healed long ago, shouldn't they?"
Rhode hurriedly said, "Yes. I heard that you liked peace and quiet, so I never dared disturb you. Thank you for your help and care!"
"Hm?" Porlyusica was surprised by how fluent Rhode's common tongue was, but she did not ask further. She merely said,
"Then hurry back now that you know. I told you, I hate humans."
"Don't be so heartless. This child wanted to thank you, so he begged me to bring him." Makarov said, "Look, he even brought you a gift."
Porlyusica spotted the bright red apples at once and glared at Makarov. "Hmph. A fool's adopted child is a fool too."
After saying that, she turned and went inside, but she did not close the door.
Rhode felt a little awkward after being called that.
But Makarov knew that her snort had not been directed at Rhode. It was aimed at him, for knowing full well that the place was surrounded by apple trees yet insisting on teasing the child with such pointless behavior.
"Don't mind her. That's just how she talks." Makarov was used to Porlyusica's way of expressing herself. "Come on. Leaving the door open means she's inviting us in."
Tsundere?
No, no, that would be far too rude.
Rhode chastised himself for privately criticizing his benefactor and followed Master into the treehouse.
The treehouse was not large, and its furnishings were extremely simple. There was barely anywhere to stand after entering.
The floor was covered with pots of medicinal herbs and bottles containing all kinds of potions.
The only furnishings inside were a bed, a desk, shelves and cabinets carved into the walls, and a single wooden stump serving as a stool.
Rhode looked around, not knowing where to put the things in his hands.
Porlyusica looked at the bottle in Makarov's hand. "You came because of that thing, didn't you?"
Makarov nodded. "That's right. This is soil contaminated with venom. I wanted you to see if there's any way to deal with it."
Porlyusica immediately asked, "Has someone in the guild been poisoned?"
"No. We're simply preparing for the worst." Makarov explained what had happened, and at the end, he even praised Rhode. "This child is very steady."
"Hmph. Another fool who only knows how to pursue power."
With a look of distaste, Porlyusica took out a petri dish, placed some soil inside, and dripped in one medicinal liquid after another.
Rhode did not mind Porlyusica's attitude. This elderly lady had probably experienced something that made her say such things.
Perhaps a companion had pursued power too obsessively and ended up harming himself.
After a series of professional tests, Porlyusica confirmed the effects of the toxin.
"It's a contact toxin. Once it touches the body, it quickly penetrates the skin. At first, it causes a stinging sensation, followed by numbness, and movement becomes sluggish.
If the poisoning lasts too long, the toxin damages internal organ function. In severe cases, it may cause death.
Low temperatures can slow its spread. Its toxicity decreases to a certain extent after high-temperature baking, and inhaling small amounts of the gas it releases has no obvious effect."
After conducting a thorough examination, Porlyusica found a spot outside and told Rhode to release the Swamp Toad.
She needed to collect more venom samples. The Swamp Toad's oral secretion samples and the mushrooms on its back also needed to be studied.
"Come back in a few days to collect the antidote. Until then, don't misuse this monster."
"Yes, thank you!"
"Not you. This is trouble Makarov brought upon himself, so let him come himself."
"Oh, okay."
Rhode had originally wanted to say that he was the one who had caused the trouble, but after considering her words carefully, something felt off.
Perhaps the "trouble" referred to him himself, which meant Master was the one who had gone looking for trouble?
He did not seem able to refute that.
On the way back, Rhode wore a troubled expression.
Makarov asked, "Are you bothered by what Porlyusica said?"
"No. Lady Porlyusica... how should I put it? Although she kept complaining, she did not slack off at all on what you asked her to do.
She's probably a good person with a sharp tongue but a soft heart." Rhode shook his head. "I'm worried about something else. It seems my living expenses have gone over budget this month."
The money for the gift, ingredients for developing Poro delicacy, a new set of clothes he had bought some time ago, and several pieces of fitness equipment...
The banknotes in his pocket always seemed to slip through his fingers without him noticing, and payday was still nearly two weeks away.
Before being transported here, he could have solved it simply by skipping breakfast every day. But that would not work now. Skipping breakfast would inevitably affect his training.
"You should probably try taking on some jobs by now, shouldn't you?" Makarov said helplessly. "At this rate, you'll become a second Nab."
Nab was actually more resolute than Rhode, because he refused to work as a waiter.
"I do want to give it a try, but jobs within the city are paid hourly and might not pay as well as the guild tavern. As for jobs outside the city..."
Rhode looked conflicted. "I just feel that I'm not strong enough yet. It doesn't seem very safe to go out like this."
"Being cautious is a good thing, but at least more than half the people in the guild are no longer a match for you."
Master sighed. "Have a little more confidence in yourself. You're strong. Magic is power born from the heart. If you refuse to believe in yourself, your magic will weaken too."
Rhode was startled. "So even if I keep training hard, I might still become weaker once I go outside?"
"Is that really the point?!" Makarov could not help shouting at Rhode. "Go back and ask Mira to help you choose a suitable job!"
Makarov suspected that Rhode might have suffered lingering effects from being attacked by wild beasts. He needed to get out more, build some confidence, and gain some common sense beyond what books could teach him.
"Oh..."
Rhode nodded reluctantly. Thinking about it rationally, Master had no need to deceive him, nor any reason to set him up.
Perhaps he really should go out more? To be safe, he would have Mira choose a secure job for him. It would be best if he could form a team with someone else.
Before you continue