Chapter 75: Chapter 75

While Lin Mo was confronting the large slime, Alden also led the other team members to rush out from the bushes and hurry over to provide support.

Those goblins were completely stunned after seeing their leader get taken down, then completely lost their will to fight, becoming scattered like loose sand as they fled in all directions.

Solan drew his bow and fired an arrow, accurately hitting one fleeing goblin, while Carson swiftly attacked from the side, his short dagger easily slitting another goblin's throat.

Ellie charged in swinging her sword, not caring whether it was goblins or slimes—she cut them all down with single strokes.

Facing a mature adventurer team, these lowest-tier magical creatures stood no chance of resistance whatsoever.

Alden rushed over to Lin Mo's side, thrusting his sword toward the large slime.

Lin Mo had just completed his second round of clashes with the creature in front of him, gaining another point of proficiency in [Fortitude]. Seeing Alden arrive, he abandoned his thought of continuing to grind and instead coordinated with him to launch an attack.

Alden's skill had already pushed very close to its maximum capacity.

Lin Mo's subsequent two sword beams encountered no resistance, easily slicing the large slime into four segments.

The core, much larger than other slimes', flew out and was caught by Alden's outstretched hand.

Just as Alden was about to offer some praise, Lin Mo's figure had already shot forward, targeting the remaining dozen or so slimes and goblins.

Alden scratched his head. Was he always this enthusiastic?

Alden's skill had already pushed very close to its maximum capacity.

The battle concluded smoothly. Thanks to the infighting among the magical creatures and Lin Mo's astonishing performance, this victory seemed almost too easily achieved.

The other four team members busied themselves cleaning up the battlefield and collecting loot.

Alden took out the map and began considering where to set up camp for the night.

Lin Mo wanted to help, but the other four refused, telling him to rest properly.

In most adventurer teams, there existed this unspoken rule: those with greater strength needed to bear more pressure and responsibility during combat. Correspondingly, tasks like scouting, setting traps, and battlefield cleanup were typically handled by those with relatively weaker combat capabilities.

Everyone was experienced, working with high efficiency. In no time, all the loot had been collected, and Alden had selected a campsite.

Staying by the river at night wasn't a good choice, as many nocturnal magical creatures would come to drink here. So despite the inconvenience, they traveled some distance to set up camp away from the riverbank.

Summer days were longer. Though it was already around seven or eight o'clock, the sky hadn't completely darkened yet. Rick chopped down a tree nearby and started a campfire.

Carson and Ellie went to set up traps in the vicinity, while Solan took this opportunity to scout around the area and, living up to expectations, returned with a pheasant.

This pheasant was quite large, somewhat resembling the turkeys from Lin Mo's memories.

However, this bird's meat wasn't dry like turkey. On the contrary, the tender chicken meat glistened with appealing oil under the fire's heat. Sprinkled with a bit of salt bought from town, it needed no other seasoning to be utterly delicious.

Lin Mo held a chicken leg in one hand and bread in the other. Aside from missing a bowl of fragrant hot soup, this meal was plenty satisfying.

The time between dinner and sleep was the freest part of the day.

Carson was polishing his dagger, Rick was cleaning his plate armor, and Solan was checking his bowstring's condition. Daily maintenance of one's weapons was a mandatory course for adventurers.

Everyone chatted while attending to their tasks.

The conversation had little to do with their current adventure, mostly consisting of mundane daily matters. For instance, Solan—who never learned his lesson—having just finished eating, was already getting restless to bring up Alden's daughter again.

"I've told you many times, Solan—don't get any ideas about Bella! If I find out you've said anything strange to her, I'll break your legs!"

As a protective father, Alden naturally treasured his only daughter dearly. He glared at Solan with flaring nostrils, looking exactly like an old man guarding against potential suitors.

Carson and Rick chuckled happily nearby—clearly this was a scene that frequently played out in their team.

Lin Mo finished his roasted chicken and bread, drank some water, and cleaned his hands.

Ellie sat hugging her knees a bit further away. Every time they rested, she would hide in a corner , quietly lost in her thoughts alone.

Lin Mo could sense her unspoken loneliness. Although everyone genuinely treated her as part of the team during adventures, fighting alongside her, outside of combat and back to daily life, Ellie seemed to become invisible within the team.

There was no deliberate exclusion, nor malicious bullying—just simply having nothing to talk about, like a natural, effortless distancing.

Lin Mo took two slices of bread from his backpack, retrieved a piece of cheese, cut off some roasted chicken meat to sandwich between them, and placed it over the campfire to toast...

The rich, sweet aroma reached her keen sense of smell. The suddenly appearing, somewhat novel food before her eyes made Ellie look up in surprise.

"I noticed you didn't eat much."

Lin Mo handed the sandwich to her: "This is how we eat it back in my hometown. Want to try?"

Ellie didn't speak, just watched him with her pair of azure blue eyes. Those eyes held flickering light, carrying three parts confusion and seven parts nervousness.

Somewhat mechanically, she slowly raised her hand and brought the food to her mouth.

The melted cheese was exceptionally sweet and fragrant, the toasted bread had just the right amount of crispness, and the chicken in the middle was tender and juicy. With one bite, the blended flavors tantalized her taste buds. Without needing conscious thought, her movements naturally accelerated until her small mouth was stuffed full, her cheeks puffing out. Content orıginally comes from Novᴇl_Fire(.)net

Lin Mo watched this scene with a gentle smile, gathering some fallen leaves to make a spot on the ground: "May I sit here?"

Ellie nodded hesitantly. She pressed her lips together as if deliberately suppressing something, her taken-off shoes placed beside her, pale toes curling slightly, her body tensing up.

She finally couldn't help but speak up, gathering courage to ask: "Is there something you need?"

"Actually, nothing really. I just wanted to chat with you, just for a little while, not too long."

Ellie pointed at herself as if hearing something unbelievable.

Recalling her past decade-plus of life, aside from a few fellow tribespeople like Lena, it seemed no one had ever said such things to her...