Chapter 21: Brave Oshu: I Have No Idea What Just Happened!
Chapter 21: Brave Oshu: I Have No Idea What Just Happened!
A sudden voice rang out, cutting through the tense standoff and plunging the room into silence.
Every head turned as Lilia emerged from the warehouse, her expression a mix of confusion and surprise.
Oshu, the Sword Hero—who only moments before had been seething with righteous fury—froze in place, his posture stiff and his eyes reflecting utter bewilderment.
Lilia glanced around, clearly lost as to what had transpired in her absence. Her cheeks were dry, her eyes clear—there was no sign of tears, no redness or swelling.
It was as if she truly had been crying just moments ago, yet had composed herself in an instant.
But the most perplexing thing of all was the faint smile lingering on her lips. She actually seemed to be in rather high spirits.
Was this really the look of someone who had just been bullied?
Had I completely misunderstood the situation?
“You’re the staff member who was being bullied just now?” Oshu asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty. “Huh?” Lilia blinked, even more perplexed by the question.
She had just posted a new commission, then dashed to the warehouse to fetch the requested materials. How had things become so strange outside in the blink of an eye?
“I was bullied…? When did that happen? Did something happen out here, Mr. Lin Wei?” she asked, looking from the imperial subjugation squad to the town’s own Lin Wei.
Without hesitation, Lilia turned to Lin Wei, her eyes silently pleading for some explanation.
“I’m just as confused as you are,” Lin Wei replied, spreading his hands. “I was standing here waiting for you to bring the materials, and then this Sword Hero suddenly decided I’d bullied you and wanted to start a fight.”
He turned to Oshu, his tone utterly unyielding. “Weren’t you about to drag me to the city watch? Go ahead and try.”
Backing down had never been in Linwei’s nature.
There was nothing wrong with keeping a low profile. But if someone came charging in out of nowhere, spoiling for a fight—
Even if it meant risking his own secrets, he’d do whatever it took to put them in their place, right here and now.
“There’s absolutely nothing like that!” Lilia interjected, flustered. “Mr. Lin Wei is one of the most respected adventurers in town—he’d never bully me for no reason!”
She waved her hands in a panic, only now realizing this whole confrontation had started because of her.
“But… weren’t you crying when you ran to the warehouse just now?” Oshu pressed, still looking uncertain.
“That was because Mr. Lin Wei helped me complete more than twenty potion commissions. I just got a little emotional, that’s all! Even if you’re a hero from the capital, thinking I’d break down in tears over bullying is a bit much, don’t you think?”
Lilia huffed, muttering under her breath. She was a well-known staffer at the Adventurers’ Guild—how could anyone possibly believe she’d be bullied to tears?
By now, the root of the conflict was plain for all to see, no matter how heated things had gotten.
Lin Wei hadn’t bullied anyone.
On the contrary—he’d helped Lilia with her tasks. If she’d wiped away tears and hurried off, it was only because she’d been touched, eager to fetch the materials for him.
“Hey, Oshu… maybe you got the wrong idea?” one of the Sword Hero’s party members—the hot-blooded one who always seemed a bit too eager—scratched his head and looked around sheepishly. The rest of the party wore similar expressions of embarrassment.
The tense energy in the air dissipated, replaced by a wave of awkwardness as the truth dawned on everyone.
“Looks like it really was just a misunderstanding.”
Oshu finally released his grip on his sword, relief washing over his face as he looked toward Lilia behind the counter.
“As long as the lady at the counter’s all right, that’s what matters. Let’s go find somewhere to stay for now,” he said to his party.
“What the heck, Oshu? Even you can get things wrong…” muttered the red-haired girl, stowing away her magic staff. She frowned, then shot Lin Wei a lingering look of irritation. “But seriously, what just happened? Why did I suddenly find that country bumpkin so annoying too?”
Without warning, she pulled out a heavy pouch of gold coins and tossed it onto the counter.
Clang.
The bag landed with a dull, unmistakable thud.
Lilia, who had just been defending Lin Wei, jumped in shock at the sight of all that glittering gold.
This… This must be at least two or three hundred gold coins!
Her monthly salary was seventy gold. Even in a city like Lotai, that much gold could support a family of three for an entire quarter.
And here this girl was, casually tossing down a year’s living expenses?
What’s going on? There’s no way this is compensation for Mr. Lin Wei, is it?
“This is your compensation, country boy! We made a mistake,” the red-haired girl declared, her tone utterly unconcerned.
Lilia could hardly believe what she was seeing, but the evidence was right in front of her.
Without another word, the girl—Iresha—hugged her staff and turned to leave, as if the matter was now completely settled.
“So, you’re just going to walk out like nothing happened?” Lin Wei, who had been sitting at the counter, suddenly spoke up, propping his chin in his hand with a lazy, almost indifferent air.
“Huh? We’ve already cleared up the misunderstanding and paid compensation. What more do you want, you—what are you planning…?”
Linwei’s gaze was cold—unwavering, emotionless, utterly still.
His face wore a gentle smile, but the moment Iresha met his eyes, an inexplicable chill swept over her, freezing her in place.
For a split second, she was transported back to her childhood—to that night when her mother, furious over her reckless magic, had left her stranded in the middle of a lake as punishment. She’d nearly hurt a civilian with wild magic, and her mother had made her spend the whole night alone, surrounded by darkness and water. Even now, the memory sent a shiver down her spine.
The fiery confidence Iresha had shown just moments before vanished. She stammered, her words faltering.
“Is there something else?” Linwei’s voice was mild, but the unspoken pressure in the air was unmistakable.
The misunderstanding had been resolved, so what more needed to be done? Oshu, too, was momentarily at a loss.
“You should apologize… Oshu…” came a timid voice from beneath a black cloak.
The reminder made Oshu stiffen, realization dawning on his face.
Ever since becoming a hero, his life had been smooth sailing—every obstacle easily overcome, every mistake quickly forgiven by grateful nobles. Even when collateral damage occurred in battle, it was always excused, brushed aside.
It had been a long time since he’d faced a situation where he was truly in the wrong.
But… do I really have to apologize? The thought barely lingered before it was swept away.
Of course you apologize when you make a mistake. Why would I even question that? What’s gotten into me today?
“It was my fault for jumping to conclusions and suspecting you without understanding the situation. I sincerely apologize, adventurer.”
Oshu, having finally come to his senses, stepped forward, took a deep breath, and bowed deeply in apology.
His companions, seeing their leader’s example, hurried to follow suit, bowing in unison.
“Please forgive us.”
“…Mm.”
Their apology was earnest, and they did it in front of everyone—there was no denying their sincerity.
Lin Wei nodded in satisfaction, but his gaze soon shifted to the red-haired girl standing stiffly nearby.
Unlike the others, she made no move to apologize. Instead, she looked tense and restless, her eyes darting around at the gathering crowd. Her hands clenched unconsciously as the weight of so many stares pressed in on her.
“What’s the matter, Miss Mage?” Lin Wei asked mildly. “It seems you have no intention of offering any sort of apology.”
“I’ll give you another bag of gold.”
She raised her head, those wine-red eyes locking on Lin Wei with stubborn pride written all over her face. She seemed to have finally found her solution, as if this was the best way to settle things.
Oh?
Wait a minute—is this what I think it is?
A noble lady, proud to a fault and filthy rich, trying to use money to bulldoze her way through any situation?
Linwei’s expression remained unchanged, but inside, he was suddenly intrigued.
You don’t see this kind of spendthrift, face-obsessed character every day!
Having spent most of his life at war with humans, along with the rest of the demon, Lin Wei had rarely interacted with human nobles.
He hadn’t expected to find out firsthand that these kinds of characters really did exist.
“So even a hero’s party has people this unreasonable,” Lin Wei mused, narrowing his eyes and letting sarcasm drip from his words without missing a beat.
Inside, though, he was practically rubbing his hands together in glee, already imagining mountains of glittering gold coins beckoning him closer.
From everything he’d heard, these so-called noble ladies were the classic type—rich, naive, and easy to fleece, the kind often called “walking wallets” behind their backs.
Simply put, for the sake of their precious pride, they’d fling money around like water. Humiliation was off-limits, but if you wanted them to lose face by spending money? No problem—throw as much gold as you like!
If you kept your cool and played your cards right, you could squeeze a fortune out of someone like this.
Most people would be satisfied with two bags of gold, but him? A Demon Lord wasn’t so easily appeased.
Just watch. I’ll put my genius psychological warfare to the test and wring every last coin out of you!
“But if you don’t want to apologize, that’s fine,” he said, voice dripping with mock sympathy. “Not everyone has the character of a hero, after all.
“Did you really think you could settle everything just by throwing money at it? Two bags of gold—do you think that’s enough to buy me off? Wake up, Miss Mage!”
Come on, come on, let’s see you get flustered and raise the stakes—three bags, four bags, keep piling it on!
If you get so riled up you end up offering ten bags, I’ll consider the apology unnecessary!
Lin Wei could barely contain his anticipation, waiting for her to raise the bet.
But just then, one of Iresha’s companions tugged at her sleeve and whispered softly, “Iresha…”
“Not everything can be solved by just throwing money at it,” one of Iresha’s teammates murmured. “We’re the Hero’s Party—we can’t be that rude.”
“Huh? If it’s not enough, I can just keep adding more—” Iresha started, but then met the eyes of her companions, each of them looking at her with varying degrees of disappointment.
Her words faltered. Face flushing with frustration, she finally lowered her head and bowed, her whole body trembling with reluctance.
“Fine! I’m sorry, alright?!”
Lin Wei, who’d been eagerly awaiting a bigger payout, felt his heart seize up. That’s it? The gold’s really gone just like that?
Why’d they have to step in and talk her down?
He would’ve gladly accepted a few bags of gold in place of an apology. If he’d known, he’d have agreed to it right away—now he’d lost out on a whole bag for nothing!
“Well, since it’s come to this, I’ll let it go. We’re even now,” Lin Wei said, doing his best to sound stern as he eyed the pouch of coins on the counter.
“Hope you all enjoy your stay in Aurens Town,” he added, offering a perfunctory farewell.
Oh well, a little profit is better than nothing.
There are limits, even to the generosity of the rich and foolish. Squeezing thousands of gold coins out of them in one go was never realistic anyway.
“Tch…”
As soon as he finished speaking, the red-haired girl was the first to straighten up.
She shot Lin Wei a glare, tossed the bag of coins onto the counter with a huff, then stalked off toward the door.
“Iresha!”
Oshu hurried after her, trying to grab her arm.
But she shook him off with surprising force, disappearing into the crowd before he could say another word.
“See you around, Heroes—if fate allows,” Lin Wei called out with a casual wave. He scooped up the materials and the pouch of gold, and left without a second glance.
That mage might have a terrible temper, but at least she knows the value of clearing a path with money. Since that’s the case, I, the great Lin Wei, will graciously forgive her.
As Lin Wei departed, the Adventurers’ Guild fell into silence once more.
The girl in the black cloak glanced up, her timid voice finally breaking the quiet.
“Oshu… you were acting strange just now.”
“Yeah, Oshu,” the hot-blooded teammate chimed in, scratching his head. “We didn’t really see what was happening inside the guild, but starting a fight with someone just because you saw a girl wiping her tears—that’s not like you at all.”
They’d been companions long enough to know Oshu’s character. He was never the type to lose his head over a simple suspicion, let alone escalate things this far.
“I… honestly, I’m not sure what happened either,” Oshu admitted, staring blankly out at the street. “I just… noticed him, and before I knew it, I was picking a fight.”
It was the first time since forming the subjugation squad that he’d ever felt this way.
“Maybe I’m just… too tired,” he muttered.
As for Iresha, who had stormed off just moments ago—
Thinking of that troublesome noble lady, Oshu rubbed his temples, a headache creeping in.
“Forget it. Let’s go find Iresha first,” he said, resignation in his voice.