Chapter 9 Dispute

Lamina's day begins with a prayer to Utoska, the storm god.

After prayers, I performed my daily training, cleaned myself, and checked my weapons for wear. It was my brother's turn to cook today—another mumm-fruit stewed silverback with grilled mara. Damn. I finished my breakfast and reported to the hunting team. Basa's injuries were serious; he was still unconscious. I was worried. I assigned tasks and formed a team to install some kind of "dragon-proof net." The black-haired noble would also be accompanying him. Tsk, I was annoyed.

"The break is over."

The Natalin warriors packed their bags silently and swiftly. Lamina, who was standing on the tree surveying the route, jumped down lightly and looked down at the black-haired noble who was still sitting under the shade of the tree. She focused her attention on the other's abnormally flushed face and the cold sweat on his forehead, and slowly frowned.

"How are you, can you continue?"

The other person raised his head and looked at her, without saying a word. He just supported himself with his hands on the tree trunk beside him and struggled to stand up.

Since this journey required entering the deep primeval forest on the east side of the valley, a rarely visited area with dense vegetation and no paths, the team had to travel the entire distance on foot. The Natalin warriors in the hunting team were mostly warriors, with a few sorcerers as well. All of them were in good physical condition, and even carrying equipment meant that this distance was not a problem for them.

It's just a pity for the noble lord who looks like he has hardly walked on his own since he was born.

But to Lamina's surprise, the other party never complained or gave up. Although she had intentionally controlled the team's pace, the guy was still trying his best to follow, even though he looked like he was about to die.

This did change Lamina's opinion of him a lot—but soon this subtle good impression was torn to pieces.

"Don't you understand what I'm saying?" The red-haired girl suppressed her anger, wanting to punch him. "Going further is the territory of the Level 7 Thunder Python, and there are only five of us now. I'm the strongest fighter, a high-level apostle warrior. I won't let my people take this risk for no reason!"

The combat power levels of the Ambrose Continent are divided into four tiers: Attendant, Apostle, Lord Prayer, and Saint. Each tier is further divided into three stages: Primary, Intermediate, and Advanced. A Senior Apostle is roughly equivalent to a Level 6 Magical Beast.

"I understand." The other party spoke fluently in the local dialect, without any initial hesitation. "But the terrain here is not suitable for laying out foundations and erecting poles. To achieve the overall effect, we must advance about 500 meters. The field survey work should have been completed in advance, but you told me that we were short-handed—and that's why I'm here."

"Damn it, it's only 500 meters?" Lamina was a little irritable.

"A seemingly subtle difference can lead to the collapse of the overall effect," the other party said coldly, quickly retorting, "Don't question my judgment with such self-evident and unproven fantasies."

Lamina: “…”

Soldier Natalin was amazed at how audacious the stranger was to confront the leader: Wow!

Lamina wanted to beat him up even more - but it looked like this guy couldn't withstand a single blow from her. In less than three seconds she was kneeling on the ground giving him first aid and resuscitation.

Nova also took a deep breath. His feet were in great pain and he was a little out of breath. He still had to patiently explain a bunch of nonsense to strangers who didn't believe him. This made him irritable and his tone became more and more impolite.

"Time is running out. We have other poles to erect, and we also need to get rid of the Thunder Python itself. Snakes have a tendency to climb and could damage equipment. Its presence is a huge hidden danger. Do you want to risk sending people to inspect and repair it every day? With all due respect, this huge waste of manpower is completely impractical and foolish."

…Although what this guy said seems to make sense, why is he so annoying?

Lamina took a deep breath and said, "...I'll go scout the situation and lead the main attack. The others will follow from behind to assist me."

"Let's wait ten minutes. The Thunder Python ate a large mountain goat about six hours ago. It was quite full, so it'll take about two days to completely digest it." The black-haired young man met everyone's shocked gazes and uttered an infuriating "Drag marks, hair, different soil types, the direction of branch breakage—you should be more familiar with these than I am."

"When frightened, snakes will first vomit their food before fleeing or fighting, even monsters are no exception." The professor's face was expressionless, but his unquestionable tone sounded as if he had seen the future. "I brought gunpowder. Give me ten minutes to set up a simple diffusion device and ignite the gunpowder. We're far from the snow-capped mountains here, so there's no need to worry about causing an avalanche. The sudden loud noise will frighten the thunder python. Since the situation is unclear, it will immediately vomit its food instead of releasing lightning. Then the thunder python will be easier to deal with."

"You don't have to trust my judgment." Those smoky gray eyes were cold and sharp, like an arrogant and arbitrary tyrant. "But if you don't want people to die, you have no choice."

…

The God-Favored One met his nemesis in the tribe's witch doctor's house. He was checking Basa's injuries when several hunting team members walked in with the professor, who looked unhappy, and pressed him to the bed without explanation.

The other party did not seem to be willing, with a frown on his face. He tried to get up several times, but was pushed back by those people, like a cat that was caught unwillingly.

Azuka was a little surprised: "What's wrong, isn't it going well this time?"

Lamina is quite capable. Although she is a little impatient, she acts carefully and cautiously, so nothing should happen to her.

"The one favored by God?" The tribesmen only then noticed him and hurriedly bowed their heads respectfully, receiving a gentle nod in return.

"No, everything went smoothly. Thanks to the professor, no one from the hunting party was injured this time, and we even brought back a thunder python!" A Natalin warrior couldn't hide his excitement. Thunder pythons are delicious, tender, and large, making them a rare delicacy.

The one favored by God raised his eyebrows and glanced at the professor with a sullen look on his face - what was going on?

Another Natalin soldier suppressed a smile and replied, "The professor twisted his ankle on the way back."

Azuka: “…”

He forced himself to control the curve of his lips, so as not to annoy them. After the tribesmen left, he gently but firmly pressed the other person's shoulder to prevent him from getting up. "Sit and wait for a while. Grandma Naka is going to get medicine and will be back soon."

"No need to bother, I can go find the ship's doctor." Nova frowned. He would rather believe in the medical skills of the ship's doctor, old Jason, than stay here and smell the strange and pungent smell of herbs.

"Do you have any extra medicine?" the God-favored One asked calmly. Without waiting for the other party to answer, he pinched the back of the black-haired young man's neck. The heat in his palm made the man shiver subconsciously.

"Don't move."

He whispered, loosened his grip, bent down to roll up the other man's trouser leg, and carefully examined the horrific purple injury on his ankle, leaving Nova sitting there with his eyes wide open, not knowing how to react for a moment.

But soon, a sharp and intense pain suddenly attacked his ankle. Nova groaned in surprise and subconsciously grabbed the other person's arm, trying to pull his foot back, but he was held down and unable to move.

"It's still this foot. The previous injury hasn't healed fully." The other party quickly let go and put his trouser leg down again.

"Thankfully, the bones are fine, but you must apply medicine regularly, otherwise your foot will sprain or even dislocate again." The God's Blessed One looked at him calmly. For some reason, Nova felt that he was a little... creepy.

Fortunately, someone lifted the door curtain and walked in, breaking the strange atmosphere.

"Grandma Naka." The one favored by God no longer looked at the other person. He stood up and supported the wrinkled and trembling old man, and took the things in the other's hand.

The old man narrowed his moist eyes and carefully identified the person for a while before he smiled kindly and patted the other person's arm.

"Elena, good girl."

The other party was silent for a moment, then said helplessly: "Grandma Naka, you've made a mistake again. I am Azuka, Elena's son."

"Oh, I'm so old! Isn't this Little Bird? - Don't help me, I'm not that old yet."

The old witch doctor took out some medicine powder from the small medicine jar he had just brought and sprinkled it carefully on the wound of the unconscious person on another bed. The other person groaned weakly and struggled unconsciously for a few times, but Azuka held his arm down again.

"Okay, this is more effective - he should wake up tonight at the latest." The old man clapped his hands contentedly and looked at the black-haired young man with a smile: "Good boy, what's wrong with you?"

Nova was a little stiff. He wasn't good at dealing with such kind elders. Fortunately, another person present spoke up to help explain, "He sprained his foot twice in a short period of time. Could you please take a look?"

"Hmm, let me see..."

The old witch doctor came over to check it out, pinched it a little, and finally took a small jar of ointment from the full medicine shelf behind him and told Nova to apply it twice a day.

The ointment seemed to smell different from the one given by Lambda. The difference was probably that it was more pungent and unpleasant.

Nova: “…”

The one favored by the gods did not let him go. He first helped the old witch doctor to the inner room to rest, then came back, washed his hands, prepared bandages and ointment, and planned to condescend to apply the medicine to the person himself.

"This medicine is quite irritating, so it might be a little painful." The other person's voice was very soft and gentle, almost like he was coaxing a child: "Bear with it, I'll try to be gentle."

The professor finally couldn't stand it anymore: "Are you sick?"

Were they familiar with each other? This overly gentle and considerate look was simply creepy to Nova. Even though he was often called "brain-sick", he now found it difficult to understand the other person's train of thought.

The author has something to say:

Professor: He has a good brain and speaks harshly, but he is polite. You see, he uses "you" (not) when he insults people.