Chapter 150: From Idle Talk To Preparation (2/2)
“Were you his enemy or ally?”
“There are no friends or foes between mercenaries – our positions change together with our employers. It is not uncommon that the one with whom you fought on the same side yesterday, to be on the side of your enemy tomorrow. “
It was a characteristic of mercenaries, who worked just for money. It was understandable on a professional level, but Lapis wondered if it was acceptable on an emotional level.
“If you can’t accept it, you can’t be a mercenary. I probably killed quite a lot of Loren’s comrades, as he probably did mine. If we bear grudges for that, we can’t be mercenaries.”
“Is that how it is?”
“You have to accept the basic givens of our profession.”
Taking her hand from her chin, Tizona answered and folded her arms again.
“About your earlier question, I consider him to be a rare fighter.”
“I don’t really understand?”
“Before we talk about strength, I acknowledge him to be an opponent one can’t be careless with. This might sound like boasting, but he is the only one to ever be able to see through > at first sight and dodged it.”
>, Tizona’s powerful ability, was a horrible one, almost like a foul play: simply by watching it was impossible to tell how many burning ranges she created, or how big the ranges were. The targets wouldn’t be able to know they were targeted until they started burning and when they did, they would turn into ashes with no time to run.
And Loren had been able to dodge it.
“How did he do it?”
“I don’t know. I’ve thought about it a lot, but… I have no idea at all.”
Tizona looked at Lapis with an earnest expression and added:
“Could you ask him for me if you have the chance? How did he evade my ability on the first encounter? Even now I still find it strange.”
It didn’t seem difficult to ask, but Lapis couldn’t help but feel that the chance to get a direct answer from Loren would be extremely low. Considering his words and actions so far, she believed Loren would somehow manage to dodge the question, either by himself or by chance. If that happened, maybe it would be better to not tell Tizona at all.
Just when Lapis started to ponder about this, Loren and Gula finally came back. Loren was empty-handed except for his usual equipment but Gula, who followed behind him, was pulling two donkeys along. Lapis and Tizona looked at their luggage, but for some reasons the donkeys were already packed.
“Welcome back, Loren. What’s with those sacks on the donkeys?”
Lapis ran up to him and asked in confusion. He just scratched his head hopelessly while Gula smiled embarrassingly.
“It’s some food. Gula estimated that our provisions won’t be enough.”
“Wait a minute. From my point of view, the food we prepared will be more than enough for four people during the intended period, won’t it?”
Actually, Lapis believed that the prepared provisions were already a bit too much. She couldn’t really explain it to Tizona, but she’d reserved additional food for Gula. However, it seemed like Gula had found even that to be insufficient.
“So it’s for Gula. How much do you plan to eat with that body of yours? Honestly, I don’t even have the slightest idea where the hell all that foods go.”
“Mainly to my breasts, I guess? Right, Loren?”
She thrust her chest forward to show off her tube-tope-clad breasts. Loren simply dropped a fist on the crown of her head. It made quite a loud sound, and Gula crouched down holding her head. Loren bluntly told her in an exasperated tone:
“I’ll let it go this time since it’s Tizona who pays for all this. But for the next time be prepared and reduce your portions.”
“If possible, please be a bit considerate… My purse is not bottomless.”
Tizona said in a ‘I-know-it-is-useless-to-tell-them’ tone, and Lapis dealt her the finishing blow:
“It’s a bit too late by now, isn’t it? I bought two top-quality sleeping bags and pillows and counted them into necessity expenses.”
“What?! No, rather than that, why two?”
Tizona’s eyes widened at Lapis’ confession, and Lapis said matter-of-factly with no hint of embarrassment:
“They’re for Loren and me. Ah, don’t worry, I bought the normal ones for you two.”
“Lapis-chan?! Aren’t they for us?!”
“Your food expenses cost the most, so please just bear with it.”
Lapis coldly replied to Gula. With a troubled expression, Gula thought hard about what should be prioritized, first-class sleeping bag or food. She finally came to a conclusion and heart-brokenly hang her head:
“Can’t be helped then. I can endure low-quality sleeping bags, but not lack of food.”
“If things continue like this and the exploration ends up a failure, I might have to sell myself even before it’s time to pay for the compensation…”
Just as Tizona’s face darkened at the image of her unwelcoming future, Loren clapped her on the back:
“Talk with Lapis then. The interest rate will be high, but she’ll help you.”
“I’ll be looking forward to discussing it with you!”
Lapis energetically replied after Loren’s introduction. Tizona just stared at her with slump shoulders and an even gloomier expression.