The Cornflower Witch Chapter 175

“Ah, were you all in such danger this time?”

Back in Beig Town that night, the team members gathered again. Everyone reminisced at the table, causing Bona to exclaim in surprise.

“Yes, it’s a good thing you didn’t come, otherwise, you would have almost had an accident just like us.” Bad Apple shook the small wine glass in his hand, drinking the scorching liquid.

“Hmph—” He exhaled deeply, as if only this could dispel the trace of fear in his memory.

The other two were much better. Yarn was gnawing continuously on a roasted chicken leg, and Karl patiently played with the crispy pie in front of him. As for Lia, she was curiously teasing the black cat in front of her.

“Do you need to eat anything?” She gently touched the black cat’s front paw with her finger, causing it to let out a childish meow.

Even though it was a Ghost now, the black cat still retained its habits and memories from when it was alive.

Under Hylial’s careful caress, it rolled over on the table, its body stretched out, occasionally pawing at the air as if grasping something.

After understanding the whole process, Bona also felt lingering fear and was very relieved.

“I won’t tease you this time. What else do you want to eat? I’ll prepare it.”

“Really? Actually, I want to eat roast suckling pig,” Bad Apple suddenly said, his expression changing from melancholy to excitement.

“Tsk, you really know how to make demands, Captain.” She held out a hand.

“Give me the money. I’ll buy the ingredients, but I can’t make it today. You can have it tomorrow.”

“Then forget it. Let’s have roast goose,” Bad Apple thought for a moment, then took out a few gold coins from his pocket and placed them in Bona’s hand.

“This should be enough for ingredients.”

“No problem,” Bona readily agreed.

So, the next day, everyone gathered again. This time, they spent the whole day at Bona’s hut, eating snacks, elaborate meals, playing card games, chatting, and even Bad Apple and Lia sparred for a while during their leisure time.

In the courtyard, the two went back and forth with wooden weapons, neither using the Breathing Method, but merely relying on pure skill to exchange blows.

Watching Hylial’s incredibly agile, coordinated, and precise movements, each time knocking Bad Apple’s weapon flying, the few onlookers finally believed that the girl’s strength far exceeded that of anyone present.

“No good, Captain, you’ve lost five times in a row. Keep it up,” Bona said, deliberately teasing and mocking from the side.

Picking up his dagger again, Bad Apple shook his head.

“It’s no use unless I use my full power. Otherwise, I can’t gain an advantage.”

“Also, don’t look at me like that. I learned a combat style similar to an assassin or rogue, focusing on a single fatal blow. When it comes to sustained frontal combat, I’m definitely not as good as those specialized swordsmen or warriors.”

“But Lia isn’t a warrior either; she’s actually a Gardener.”

“Who said that? I think Lia’s combat skills are so proficient that most warriors can’t reach this level,” Bad Apple shook his head helplessly.

He had been in the Woodland for several years, and he knew the level of his fellow students very well. Even among those from their past two intakes, few could reach Lia’s level of expertise.

After sparring for a while, the two stopped to rest. It was already afternoon by then.

“It’s really nice to stand here and feel the breeze.” The group stood in the open space behind the hut, surrounded only by a low guardrail, from which they could see the peaceful town and chimney smoke in the distance.

“Do you want to say something?”

“Haha, you’re asking the wrong person. I’m not one to feel sentimental,” Bad Apple grasped the guardrail with both hands, easily flipping over and leaning his back against it.

“But let’s gather again sometime. A day like this is truly enjoyable.” After this last day together, the team members headed to the town’s teleportation array the next day, said their goodbyes, and departed.

“Lia.” As Hylial finished packing her luggage and was about to leave, Bona caught up to her and handed her a small booklet.

“This is a cookbook I’ve put together. If you’re interested, you can follow the recipes in the future.”

“Okay, thank you, Sister Bona.” Hylial hugged the book to her chest and gave Bona a sweet smile.

“So beautiful,” Bona couldn’t help but embrace the girl again, sniffing the faint fragrance in her hair.

“Alright, take care of yourself from now on. If you have time, you can come and get some food from me. I’ll probably be here for a while longer.”

“Even if I leave later, you can still write and mail a letter to ‘Golden Orange Mountain Town.’ That’s where I was regularly stationed in the First-Order, and I go back a few times each year.”

“I understand,” the girl nodded again, indicating her comprehension.

Then the two parted ways. Hylial stepped into the pool under the tree and disappeared.

…

The view in front of her distorted for a moment, and when it became clear again, Hylial found herself back in the Glittering Gold Plain.

This was an elegant building constructed of white marble, standing not far from Whitecliff City. Many students and travelers passed in and out of it.

Following others out of the pool, Hylial carried her heavy luggage and walked towards the fortress.

“Would you like a ride, miss? One Silver Coin per person.” Many carriages waited at the exit, and many students, too lazy to walk, got straight in.

“Hmm,” Lia thought for a moment, then handed a Silver Coin to the driver and got into the carriage with her luggage.

Thus, she sat by the window, watching the scenery outside for a while. The three compartments gradually filled up. At this point, a girl with chestnut-blonde hair also got into the carriage. She looked around and, seeing an empty seat next to Hylial, walked over.

“Hello, may I sit here?” Her voice was polite, and her face had a soft, classical contour, with a touch of aristocratic intellectualism.

“Yes,” the girl answered, turning her head. The other girl was slightly surprised by Hylial’s flawless appearance.

“Thank you.” However, she quickly composed herself and sat down quietly.

Soon after, the carriage set off, swaying gently along the road into the city.

The two didn’t speak much during the journey. Only when Hylial was looking at the scenery outside, the girl next to her, wearing a black uniform with a white collar, would occasionally glance at Hylial’s profile with curious eyes.

Upon reaching the city, the two parted ways, each heading down a different street.

Back in her familiar ‘Glittering Gold Plain’, Hylial felt a sense of relaxation. Although she had only been away for a little over a month this time, returning here felt like coming home, with a subtle sense of familiarity.

She first went to report to the Woodland Association, as the association staff had told her when she left that she must visit them upon her return.

She probably had something to tell her, Hylial thought, recalling the Branch President of the ‘Four Seasons Alliance’ inspecting the valley with his team over a month ago.

It must be the official evaluation of her previous application, she mused.

As the girl walked into the association, her subsequent mission arrangements were being discussed for several days by the higher-ups in Whitecliff City and a decision had been made.

But Hylial, who had arrived late, was unaware of all this.