174:
Shelley really wasn’t being a hooligan.
Shelley: I am the last bastion of purity on the Material Plane!
The most serious part of Rui’s condition was not her body… but her spirit. She was completely running on empty. That wail for help to Shelley and the others was not an exaggeration to call a final burst of life.
After careful observation, Shelley knew that this young girl before him had to rest. And she couldn’t be allowed to fall asleep on her own, or she would be gone for good. But he couldn’t just knock her out with a chop to the neck… He could only resort to this.
Shelley: If I don’t go to hell, who will?
[But…]
[Aren’t there priestesses outside who know the Sleep spell?]
“It’s too late!”
[…You.]
“It’s too late!”
[Do you like cat-girls like her?]
Having finally saved Rui’s life, Shelley released her small tongue. Hearing this, he thought for a moment, shook his head, and smiled, “If you’re asking if I like cat-girls, then I’m very sure I do.”
After all, she’s a cat-girl! The dream of so many people.
“But if you’re asking if I do this to every cat-girl I see… I don’t.”
Very carefully supporting the two unconscious cat-girls, Shelley walked out step by step.
[Oh?]
“Oh what? I’m not one of those guys who gets horny at the sight of a woman and has never seen one before.”
Shelley’s expression was a mix of speechlessness and indignation.
“A good appearance doesn’t prove anything. I’ve seen too many women with the hearts of snakes.”
Most of the women in this world had their own ideas, and their various ruthless methods were no worse than men’s, and they were even better at it.
[Then why did you do that to her?]
Shelley handed the two young girls from the door to Erica and the others. He watched the two of them seriously chant a spell, healing the wounds on the girls’ bodies. He was silent for a moment, then said softly in his mind, “I just think that the bond between them… is very beautiful.”
Holding on to a sliver of hope in despair, stubbornly persisting, unwilling to give up. The awake girl, in her excitement, hadn’t noticed that the tattered cloth on her arm had fallen off… revealing an arm full of hideous wounds, and the bloodstains in the mouth of the unconscious girl.
Shelley was also shocked for the first time in a long time.
“Even if she were a heinous villain, for the sake of this bond, I would have to save her.”
[Are there no other methods?]
“…There are! But I don’t want to use them.”
Because… she’s a cat-girl!
**
Rui felt the warmth of the fire. She slowly moved her ears, just about to open her eyes… when a mournful shout exploded in her ear.
“Rui!”
!!!
“Aaaaaaaah!”
The terrified Rui wanted to jump up, but she found herself held tightly in an embrace. Trembling, she turned her head and saw her teary-eyed sister. Although she didn’t know why her forehead was so red, at least she was alive…
Rui’s tense spirit also relaxed.
Thank goodness…
The two sisters hugged each other and began to cry.
Was it for their own survival? Or were they excited that the other was safe? Perhaps it was both…
In the hall full of white bones and rotten flesh, the two sisters cried like pitiful children.
After a long while, Rui remembered her savior. She frantically pushed away her still-crying sister and looked around.
There were five men and women by the campfire. They were all extremely good-looking. A woman who looked as if she had walked out of ice and snow was looking at the two of them with curiosity, occasionally taking a bite of the white food in her hand. Although Rui had never seen snow, she imagined that snow would not be whiter than this.
A lazy woman in a purple robe, her every move showing a mature charm. She was currently twirling a long, silver pipe in her hand, sizing up herself and the man.
There was also a young girl who looked like a child, smiling brilliantly at the two of them. But for some reason, Rui felt a hint of superior pity in her gaze.
The last woman was always looking at the man beside her. She glanced at the sisters and then looked away.
“Ah…”
Although it was a bit much to say… Rui felt that this man was probably the best-looking of them all. It wasn’t just his gentle gaze and exquisite, heroic features. What attracted her the most was the aura he exuded. A warm, bright, and gentle aura… and in Rui’s perception, he exuded an alluring fragrance.
“You’re awake, Miss Rui.”
A clear voice, filled with amusement, startled Rui from her daze. She immediately brought her sister and knelt down, prostrating herself before the group.
“Thank you for saving us! Rui and Megan will not forget your kindness.”
But she couldn’t bow her head… Rui blinked and looked up at the man who had saved them, who was rubbing his temples with a headache. He said, comfortingly, “I accept your thanks, but there’s no need to kowtow…”
These sisters were really cut from the same cloth. Her sister’s kowtowing had startled Shelley just now… and her sister’s waking up was the same routine, a perfect replica.
[That’s right, that’s right!]
[This!]
A series of data rushed up.
[Triggered Intermediate Quest: The Spirit Cat of the Western Regions · Rui]
[First Task: Rescue Megan]
[Quest Complete!]
[Gained 500 distributable experience points.]
[Gained Rewards: Sleep, Fear]
[Sleep · 1st Circle: Can put some creatures to sleep.]
[Magic Mouth · 3rd Circle: You can store a message in a designated object, to be spoken under specific conditions.]
[Quest Initiated: Rui’s Fluttering Heart]
[Congratulations! Conquest Progress has exceeded 40%!]
[Gained Reward “Rui’s Dream”: To leave the desert.]
[Rui Conquest Progress: 48%]
Shelley: !!!!
“This reward skill…”
What’s with Sleep and Magic Mouth… are you trying to imply something?
[How could I?]
“And… the affection level is so high!”
He had guessed that the conquest progress would not be low… but he hadn’t expected it to be this high.
“It’s almost like that group of men looking at Shirley last time… cough, cough.”
He looked at the shocked Rui and her sister, who was insisting on continuing to kowtow…
“The women of the Western Regions…”
Shelley chuckled softly, walked over, and extended his hand. “Miss Rui, I admire your sacrifice. Please get up.”
“I think we have other things to talk about.”
Blushing, Rui slowly took his jade-like hand.
“A certain lord still needs our help.”
Helping the two sisters up, Shelley thought of the trapped man and wanted to click his teeth…
Rice Guan… his legendary strength is one thing… but if he knew I had impersonated him before… would he come after me?
Maybe… I shouldn’t save him? …No.
Looking at Megan’s excited gaze, Shelley still couldn’t bring himself to be so ruthless.
Shelley’s expression became grim. He said in a steady voice, “Tell me all the details you know.”
Since I can’t borrow a knife to kill someone… then I’ll just farm affection.
