Chapter Eighteen: Shattered

No matter how hard Zhao Nan wracked his brains, he simply couldn’t figure out why Fenina’s favorability toward him had dropped. It didn’t seem as if he’d done anything out of the ordinary. Could it be that he’d been so focused on his tasks that she felt neglected? Scratching his head, with no solution in sight, Zhao Nan could only press on with the task at hand.

Since he was here, he might as well make himself at home.

This time, Zhao Nan’s journey outside the city was filled with tasks all centered around the Chirrup Cats, and the sheer workload might well keep him busy killing through the entire night. Casually, he broke off a piece of elven biscuit and popped it into his mouth, casting a glance at Fenina before offering the remaining half to her.

“I don’t know what you like to eat. But this is all I have for now. Would you like some?”

Fenina stared at the half-open elven biscuit for a moment before nodding slightly, her voice indifferent: “At least this is food fit for people.”

Zhao Nan touched his nose; it seemed this woman was still hung up on what happened at the pet supermarket… Food fit for people? Human-shaped pets were indeed peculiar—no wonder so few owned them in his previous life. But how exactly was one supposed to train a humanoid pet?

He sighed; this, too, seemed an unsolvable problem for now. Perhaps he’d just treat her like a regular pet for training, and if nothing else, he’d swap her rations for elven biscuits.

“Fireball—!”

-49!

“Fireball—!”

-50

“Ding! You’ve obtained a pair of Chirrup Cat paws, gained 1 experience point, and received 1 copper coin!”

Zhao Nan was already level 5. Clearing away these level 3 Chirrup Cats didn’t grant much experience, and splitting it with Fenina made it even less. He estimated that, after completing the Chirrup Cat tasks here, and counting the quest reward, he would barely reach level 6.

Reaching level 6 meant he could learn a second skill. Zhao Nan vaguely recalled that at level 6, mages could learn an area-of-effect skill. Only mages with AOE could break free from the slow solo grinding of the early game. However, there were only two ways to learn a second skill.

The first was to pay at a mage training hall in Dongyuan City. The second was to loot a skill book from certain special monsters. As long as you were the right level, you could master it without the training hall.

“The mage’s second skill is Exploding Fireball…”

Zhao Nan wandered through the Chirrup Cat area. Three years as a swordsman had given him excellent movement instincts—unlike most mages, who could only cower behind swordsmen, shield warriors, or berserkers in the early game.

“Damn it, I can’t remember!”

He fired a small fireball, and a Chirrup Cat in the distance let out a miserable shriek before bursting into chunks of flesh. Zhao Nan walked over with a wry smile and checked the remains, but quickly looked away, disappointed. Glancing at Fenina not far off, he was left speechless.

If not for that damn quest… he’d never bother with this woman!

She called herself a pet, yet not only did she not participate in battle, she could sit peacefully under a tree, cradling a Chirrup Cat in her arms. Even more baffling, the cat didn’t attack her at all—it acted just like a domesticated housecat. How was she doing this? Could it be that natives were immune to monster attacks?

No, monsters attacked natives too; that was a rule of the game.

Wait, Zhao Nan realized he was overlooking something. Abruptly, he strode over to Fenina, opened his mouth, and peered down at her.

At that moment, Fenina looked up as well. Her gem-like eyes glowed with an even more mysterious hue under the faint light of the will-o’-the-wisp. But Zhao Nan’s attention was elsewhere.

He was looking at the Chirrup Cat in her arms. The name above it shone blue, with a bold “LV6” beside it, and then its status—

Elite Chirrup Cat!

The cat nestled in Fenina’s arms, so docile and tame, was actually the elite monster of the entire Chirrup Cat area?

“What are you doing?” Fenina’s voice was cool.

“That cat in your arms…” Zhao Nan asked tentatively, “Could you carry it over to the edge of the safe zone and set it down?”

“Why?”

“Obviously, so I can kill it,” Zhao Nan licked his lips. “We’ve run into an elite monster—of course I can’t let it go!”

“Ding! Fenina’s favorability drops by one percent! Warning: Favorability now at fifty percent. Risk of immediate departure!”

What the hell did I do wrong this time? Zhao Nan was at a total loss. Was killing an elite monster a crime now?

“Are you sure?” Fenina’s voice grew colder. “Do you have to kill it?”

Zhao Nan shook his head—he wasn’t stupid. By now, it was clear enough why Fenina’s favorability had dropped.

“Forget it, keep it if you like.”

What was one level 6 elite monster compared to a divine quest? Zhao Nan knew how to make the trade-off.

However, the elite cat in Fenina’s arms seemed to sense Zhao Nan’s hostility, swiping its claws at him menacingly.

“Be good, kitten,” Fenina held its paw gently and soothed it in a low voice. “Such a person isn’t worth your anger.”

Meow—

Zhao Nan rubbed his forehead, forcibly suppressing his irritation. For the sake of the divine quest, these were but trifles.

Truly, it was nothing!

Fireball—!!

Wielding his novice staff, Zhao Nan swept his gaze over the Chirrup Cat horde. This time, he lured over three ordinary Chirrup Cats at once; instead of casting spells, he chose to fight with his staff, dodging and clubbing the cats as he went. With his equipment’s damage bonus and eight points in strength, even his staff attacks rivaled those of an unequipped level 3 swordsman.

Under his rough assault, the three Chirrup Cats were swiftly battered into patties. Zhao Nan let out a breath, the cold wind easing his pent-up frustration.

He rubbed his forehead again, feeling something off. He’d lost his composure—using such an ill-suited combat style for a mage just to vent.

“If a divine quest makes me lose myself, is it really worth it?”

Zhao Nan suddenly questioned himself. Since Fenina had started following him, he’d unconsciously tried to please her, just to complete the quest… even backing down for fear of her favorability dropping.

“What exactly am I doing? Damn it!”

Gritting his teeth, Zhao Nan made up his mind—no matter what, he wouldn’t bend his dignity for the sake of a quest.

He turned and, step by step, walked straight toward Fenina.

“What is it?” Fenina was as aloof as ever, her gem-like eyes flashing as if to pierce his soul. Before Zhao Nan could speak, she snorted coldly: “So, you can’t relinquish your greed after all?”

Zhao Nan simply shrugged. At this point, with her favorability teetering on the brink and no idea how to raise it, he couldn’t care less.

“I’m sorry. I may be humble, but I won’t twist myself to please you.” His tone was calm.

Having sorted out his thoughts, his old self resurfaced. “Hand it over. If not, you might as well go back.”

“Are you sure?” Fenina sneered. “I could end this journey right now.”

Zhao Nan suddenly whistled, then burst into laughter: “As you please. You were the one who asked to follow me in the first place. If you’re going to tag along, then you’d better behave. Why should I let you dictate my will?”

Fenina, seemingly furious, gave a cold laugh. “Then, in my name, I hereby end this jour—”

But her words were cut short—not because she’d changed her mind, but because the Chirrup Cat in her arms suddenly broke free and charged at Zhao Nan…