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Chapter 14: The Female Adventurer

After staying at home for 3 days, Martina’s leg had fully healed, and when the scab came off it left only a small white scar.

Meanwhile, today was also the day they set out for Dawn Forest to hunt down the goblins.

At the moment they were in Melod’s armor shop to pick up the leather light armor Reiner had ordered 3 days earlier.

The light armor covered only the chest, forearms, and thighs, but it had the advantages of being light and cheap.

All 3 sets cost only 2 gold coins.

If they had chosen chainmail, a single suit would probably have cost 3 or 4 gold coins.

Not to mention plate armor with even better defense; its price was enough to make even a dog shake its head.

“How is it? Does the cuirass fit? If it feels tight, be sure to tell me.”

Nora was fine; her bust was not particularly large, so she had no such worries.

Martina was another story; hers were enormous, and constant pressure would be uncomfortable.

“Mine is fine.”

“It fits me just right.”

Hearing them say so, Reiner nodded with satisfaction and then left the armor shop.

When they passed the plaza, Reiner saw Leonard hanging dead from the gallows.

His death was gruesome, with both hands and feet chopped off.

The old blacksmith, however, was cheerfully chatting with passers-by beneath the scaffold.

Martina also noticed the blacksmith and poked Reiner with her finger.

“What is it?”

Pointing at the greatsword on her back, she asked, “Reiner, how much was this sword? I will earn money to pay you back.”

“15 gold coins.”

“How much is that?” Martina blinked in confusion.

Like Nora, she was completely illiterate with numbers and had no concept of value.

Reiner answered solemnly, “About enough to stuff the entire village we live in full of black bread.”

When he had time, he definitely had to teach the two beast-eared girls reading and arithmetic; otherwise communication was sometimes too hard.

Thinking of that, Reiner glanced at Nora.

Their eyes met.

She guiltily darted her gaze elsewhere.

Ever since the night Reiner had asked to touch her tail, she had become especially conflicted, constantly thinking all sorts of messy thoughts.

(He peeks at me, fine, but why do I peek at him too? Mom, Dad, what is going on here? Someone please tell me…)

Seeing this, Reiner reached out and rubbed her cat ears.

Perhaps he had rubbed them so often lately that she had grown accustomed to it; she no longer resisted having her ears touched.

Sometimes she even leaned her head over and offered them to Reiner.

(So itchy, so itchy, save the rest for tonight! Martina is watching!)

Reiner looked at Martina; sure enough she had widened her eyes and was watching them with great interest.

The two of them locked eyes and stared at each other for a while.

Martina: (Why are you looking at me? I won’t let anyone touch my ears.)

Reiner did not want to touch her ears either.

He had examined them carefully before; the outside of a horse’s ear had a layer of smooth short fur, while the interior had insulating down.

If he really touched them, the texture would certainly not be as nice as Nora’s.

Catgirls were still more fun; Martina spent her days thinking only about eating or sleeping.

On the way to Dawn Forest, Martina asked doubtfully, “Are we going back just to fight goblins?”

“Yes.” Reiner remembered that when he had met Martina she had been fighting goblins. “You have more experience; are these goblins easy to handle?”

Martina shook her head vigorously. “They’re not easy at all. Although they look short and skinny, each one is cunning. If they can’t win, they’ll beg for mercy first, then ambush when you’re off guard, and they’re very good with traps, so we must be extremely careful.”

Reiner had come mainly to sound out the situation this time.

If the risk proved too high he would withdraw and make other plans later.

“Do you know the exact location of their nest?”

Martina shook her head. “No. I fled here after hearing rumors and met you soon afterward.”

In that case they would have to search slowly; Nora was excellent at scouting, so finding it should not be too hard if they really tried.

Just then, Nora, walking ahead, pricked up her ears. “Master, there are people ahead.”

“Bandits?” Reiner raised his morning star, and Martina drew her greatsword as well.

Nora shook her head. “It doesn’t seem so.”

The three of them walked forward for a while, and Reiner saw more than 20 burly middle-aged men carrying various weapons.

Formed into a long column and led by 2 knights at the front, they were marching toward Dawn Forest.

Reiner noticed a female adventurer at the rear of the line; she appeared to be the only woman.

At the same time the female adventurer also spotted Reiner; she sized him up and then greeted him warmly. “Are you… Mr. Reiner?”

“You know me?” Reiner looked her up and down.

The blond, blue-eyed girl wore a dark brown cinched dress and looked only 17 or 18.

She had obviously received a good education; she carried herself with poise and spoke with refinement, perhaps the daughter of an impoverished noble.

Reiner had seen her a few times when taking quests at the Adventurers’ Guild, but they had never talked.

The female adventurer nodded. “I’ve been observing you for a while. Your skin tone is very special, different from ours.”

Reiner nodded, for he came from the distant East and was a descendant of Yan and Huang.

The female adventurer smiled and asked again, “Did you come here to subjugate the goblins?”

Reiner nodded and, looking at the band of adventurers, suddenly worried that the quest might be taken from him.

[Host, rest assured. As long as the goblin nest is cleared, the quest will be completed and cannot be stolen, though certain achievements may fail to trigger.]

That was a relief.

In any case he had no particular urge to collect everything.

Missing a few irrelevant achievements would be fine.

“You as well?” Reiner asked in return.

“Yes. A few days ago a slave trader was killed here by goblins, so the lord issued a bounty for them. There are only 20 slots, and I’m one of them.”

“How is the reward?”

“Fairly generous. If we succeed, each person will get 10 silver coins.” She smiled and then extended her hand to Reiner. “You probably don’t know my name yet. I’m Junice Baker.”

Reiner thought for a moment and shook her hand. “Just call me Reiner.”

Junice looked at Nora and Martina, seeming especially interested in the two demi-humans.

After observing them for a while, she asked Reiner, “Are they your slaves?”

“Yes.”

“Their eyes are very clear; you must treat them well.”

The corners of Reiner’s mouth lifted slightly.

He treated the two beast-eared girls as his own, so naturally they differed from those slaves whose futures were bleak.

After chatting with Junice for a short while, she was suddenly called to the front of the line.

Seeing this, Reiner quietly followed at the back of the procession.

Just then, Nora’s inner voice drifted into Reiner’s ears.

(She’s so beautiful. She must be Master’s woman…)

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