The next day, after breakfast, Xia Li couldn’t wait and headed straight to the eastern district of the city.
The Adventurers’ Association.
The rewards from the monster hunt two days ago were finally ready to be collected!
“Several low-tier monsters, plus a Dark Hollow Treant and a gathering commission.”
After receiving the payment, Filia handed a small pouch of silver coins to Xia Li. “The total reward for the commissions is 70 silver coins. On top of that, there’s the 100 silver coins Enis promised you…”
She couldn’t help but click her tongue at the last part.
Just this morning, she had learned from Enis that, to sabotage this arranged marriage, her younger sister had actually promised Xia Li a reward of 100 silver coins.
Filia was so angry she nearly lost her appetite.
Enis had only recently become an adventurer—where would she get such a large sum of money?
It would all have to be covered by Filia herself as the older sister.
In the end, it meant she was spending money to let Xia Li snatch away her own fiancée?
What was going on here?!
Filia, a gifted high-rank mage, had never before experienced the frustration of feeling so wronged from anywhere outside of the family elders.
“Hehe, now I’m rich~”
Xia Li held her first hefty earnings tightly, her eyes sparkling.
This was a wage that ordinary people wouldn’t earn in a whole year of hard labor.
Being an adventurer really was amazing!
For an average person living alone in the southern part of Stainburg, where the cost of living was lower, this money could last two or three years with no worries.
“Xia Li, let’s eat out today!” Enis grabbed Xia Li’s arm excitedly.
“Of course! It’s on me today!” Xia Li had to thank Enis—if not for her, none of this would have happened, and she wouldn’t have earned so much money.
“Yay! Finally, no more eating sister’s cooking!” Enis shouted happily.
“Do you have a problem with my cooking?” Filia snorted coldly.
Losing 100 silver coins for nothing and still grinning like an idiot—her sister was truly being sold out and still helping count the money…
Sigh, but since it was her own sister, Filia could only bear it.
If Enis wasn’t already an adult, Filia seriously considered dragging her home for a scolding.
“It’s not that, I’m just a bit tired of eating the same thing…” Enis scratched her head and laughed awkwardly.
“We’ll talk about lunch later. Filia, do you still have any commissions like gathering Mistfall Flowers?” Xia Li thought to herself that she had to make another big profit.
“There are quite a few. I don’t know why, but lately this type of commission has become especially common.” Filia paused. “But why should I give them to you?”
“Because of our relationship.”
“Oh? Are we really that close?”
“Of course! We’ve been living together for two whole days now.”
“…Fine, I guess I’ll give them to you. Just keep it down.” Filia noticed the surrounding adventurers were already looking over and clicked her tongue through gritted teeth.
Luckily, the chaos from last night’s wedding snatching hadn’t spread yet. Only a few residents and adventurers knew about it, or they would definitely be the center of everyone’s attention.
“Let me see~”
Xia Li took the list of commissions from Filia.
Rotten Fruit, Mad Thorn Flower, Illusion Grass, Frenzy Mushroom…
These gathering items were similar to Mistfall Flowers—common ingredients used in potion-making, and the rewards were all quite generous.
“Which wealthy alchemist is researching new potions with such high-priced commissions?” Xia Li was curious about the client who posted these orders at prices far above the market.
“I checked. These commissions come from different people, all relatively unknown alchemists,” Filia said.
“Wow, I was just saying that casually. Aren’t you invading their privacy?”
“Filia probably cares about security.” Luya, leaning on her staff, glanced at the list. “Several of these materials are controlled substances. Combined, they could cause serious problems.”
“Luya, you know about potions?” Enis asked curiously.
“Not really. I’ve just tried many kinds…” Luya smiled. “Also, these materials can be used in magic rituals to increase the range and strength of spells.”
“Wow~ Luya really knows a lot, even though she’s younger than me…”
“That’s the benefit of reading more books.” Filia tapped her sister’s head.
“Reading is so boring, it’s definitely not for me!” Enis covered her head and muttered. “You didn’t even read much and still became a high-rank mage.”
“Your sister’s talent is unmatched.” Xia Li pinched Enis’s cheek. “If she hadn’t become an adventurer out of necessity and instead studied at a magic academy, her achievements would be even greater.”
In the game, Saint Filia could eventually become a forbidden spell caster of the Saint rank.
But that required going through a plot arc of studying at Aphrodora—the largest magic academy in this world.
“By the way, Enis is still so young. Didn’t you plan to send her to an academy?” Xia Li asked Filia casually.
“There’s no suitable magic academy in Stainburg. The distance to others is too far… and I can’t just leave her alone. It’s better I teach her at home,” Filia shook her head slightly.
That made sense… Xia Li was already used to Filia’s controlling tendencies.
If she could successfully win over this Saint Lady like in the game’s storyline, she’d probably be able to stay cooped up in the villa, being taken care of every day.
But if any other women outside found out, it would trigger the bad ending of being locked in the basement.
“Let’s chat later. First, let’s accept these commissions.” Xia Li glanced at the three of them. “Today, we’ll head to the commissions near Aiden Forest. How does that sound?”
She was curious about what source Lucifil had mentioned that was attracting monsters in Aiden Forest.
With her current strength plus Filia, a genuine high-rank mage, they could handle even high-tier monsters.
“I have other things to do, so I won’t join.” Filia immediately declined.
“Eh? What things?”
“Guess.” Filia thought of the chaotic wedding snatching last night and already pictured the faces the family elders would show.
“Xia Li, I need to return to my family for a while,” Luya apologized. “My mother’s condition… I have to report to her.”
“Eh!”
“But don’t worry, I’ll definitely come back as promised!” Luya blushed and lowered her head. “So… Xia Li, could you give me some support?”
“Of course.” Xia Li bent down and gently bit Luya’s neck.
Enis’s face flushed bright red at the sight, while Filia’s expression darkened further with disgust.
“You two go ahead and have fun. I won’t disturb you.”
Filia snorted coldly, grabbed Enis’s hand, and turned to leave.
“Sis, what are you doing? Mmm, I still want to adventure with Xia Li!” Enis’s figure was dragged farther and farther away.