310 Grimoire Making 1 (2/2)
\”Master! It's so good to see you again,\” the Eternal Dragon smiled.
Zero noticed that the dragon hatchling was growing up very quickly. \”I'm so sorry I wasn't able to bring you along with me to Heaven...\”
Bob laughed. \”No, I expected just as much. Don't worry, I'm currently hunting with Kerberos in Sleepy Cave to become stronger. That overgrown pup is hilarious! If you have time you should drop by to watch him. Also, I heard that you did something reckless again.\”
Zero laughed sheepishly and rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment. He spent a few good hours simply getting updated about the things happening in the village. The dragon warriors and Olaf had left the village to get registered with the guild and begin their adventure. Olaf purposely left out the part about Truen tagging along with them because the wood elf demanded that it was a secret. Zero didn't ask much about Truen's update and Bob was glad that the teen wasn't too curious about it. The one thing the dragon wasn't aware of is how Truen had been keeping Zero 'updated' about his activities using Hua Tuo as an alibi. The physician was currently working in Hope hospital, a place Zero wasn't able to frequent.
Raj and Tambolt received the branches of the magical trees with gratitude and excused themselves early to start working on Zero's final weapons. The village head also talked to Clowis about the village's defence and the construction works to renovate it.
\”It's all going well,\” the head warrior informed him. He also told Zero that Schaf was able to build up enough finances for them by trading some of the plants Cleo and Latitia grew.
\”We're wondering what we should spend the funds on.\”
Zero thought about it and called for a meeting with Zenobia and Grandma Moppo to find out more about half Moon Village's current needs. Now that Lovina wasn't around, there was a lack of healer in the village. It wasn't a good thing in Zero's opinion.
\”We need to find a healer somehow. Hua Tuo is occupied in the abyss and Lovina will be spending long periods of time in Arabesque with Merlin for her research from now on, only dropping by occasionally. I know that most of the villagers are strong and don't need a healer or doctor but it's always good to have someone around. What do you think?\”
Grandma Moppo and Zenobia agreed. \”We actually thought about it before. Currently, with the portal to Garden of Roth, there isn't a real urgent need for a healer. Hua Tuo's hospital is stationed near the central and we can get any sick or injured there on time. Not to mention, Cleo has been growing many of your medicinal herbs. Lovina passed us some recovery potion recipes and we have some good stock with the Half Moon Trading company reserved for our internal use.\”
Zero nodded. \”How many bottles and what potency?\”
\”Fifty low-grade, thirty mid-grade and ten high-grade potions. In addition, Qin Yun knows a little healing. It's not the same as healing magic but she can use qi to transfer it to another person to aid their recovery. Apart from recovery potion, we have mana potions, cure potions and some others,\” Grandma Moppo explained.
The village head nodded. \”It sounds good but I still worry. The village has many enemies after all.\”
The chieftess smiled. \”It's nothing new for us. You've done a lot for us, Zero. We are all very grateful. However, we don't want to hold you back and worry too much about us. We'll be fine. Please let us handle this on our own and focus on the more important things. Your training with Merlin isn't completed yet, right?\”
The subtle rejection surprised Zero. Grandma Moppo noticed it and was quick to explain that the village wanted to become Zero's strength instead of a burden. \”Everyone is trying their best and working hard so that we can become Zero's support. If you keep babying us, it will only make us feel bad. Even Soon and the other two zombies have gone to the Garden of Roth to learn cultivation. The twins are learning basic alchemy from Lovina's notes. The lab rats have been meeting up with Wiser to learn more about using mana and qi to power their new inventions.\”
Hearing that everyone was secretly working very hard behind the scenes, Zero sighed and nodded. \”Alright. Since you have already spoken, I will lay my hands off this case and place my trust in everyone. However, I am still the village head. If there is a situation that surpasses your power to resolve, you need to let Zoe know so that she could inform me at once.\”
Zenobia agreed and Grandma Moppo gave her word. Relieved, Zero excused himself to look for the zashikiwarashi in the kitchen. There wasn't much time left and the teen wanted to bring back some homemade lemon tarts so that he could earn his teacher's forgiveness faster.
That night, Zero returned late. Bib heated up the dinner and Zero noticed that Merlin had already eaten his dinner without the teen. Zero looked at the household golem and quickly scribbled a note to put in the box before passing it to the golem.
\”Can you help me to pass this to Merlin?\” he asked.
The small golem beeped in affirmation and carried it away while Zero inhaled his dinner. He really didn't like the atmosphere that they had in the tower right now but Zero didn't know how to fix it. He was doing his best to mend the bridge but a certain somebody remain unmoving and stubborn. Zero didn't want to be hated by his teacher but he really couldn't have done it any other way. Back then, if he had given up halfway, the pan would fail and the Tree of Life wouldn't be able to support both planes successfully. The Tree of Knowledge wouldn't hold up for long and Heaven would crumble. Solo would have won and the world would be sent spiralling downwards into destruction. Zero didn't like keeping secrets from anyone but he didn't know if he should tell Merlin about matters relating to Solo.
After dinner, Zero took out his communicator and decided to call someone who could give him an impartial opinion about the matter.