Chapter 23: Wait, Is This the Classic Love Rival Showdown Scene?
Chapter 23: Wait, Is This the Classic Love Rival Showdown Scene?
There was no need to turn around—Lin Wei instantly recognized that voice.
That bristling, impatient tone could only belong to one person. Lin Wei calmly sipped his hot tea, then glanced over. As expected, it was the striking red-haired girl.
Her delicate, beautiful face was twisted into a furious scowl. Crimson eyes, matching her vivid hair, flashed with anger. Coupled with her perfectly proportioned figure, she would have been a breathtaking sight—if only her temper wasn’t as fierce as her looks. The only thing that didn’t quite fit her fiery personality was her rather modest chest.
Lin Wei gave her a cursory look, then promptly lost interest.
“I live in Aurens Town. What business do I have at the Adventurers’ Guild that could possibly concern you?”
A single, casual sentence was enough to leave Iresha, who had been bristling with anger a moment before, utterly speechless.
It wasn’t strange for her to appear here; after all, this was the Guild. But just the sight of her reminded Lin Wei of their previous unpleasant encounter—more than enough to sour his mood.
What he hadn’t expected was for this so-called country bumpkin adventurer to fire back so bluntly—especially in that laid-back, tea-sipping manner, as if she didn’t even exist. That only made Iresha’s anger flare hotter.
“You—!” Iresha jabbed a finger at him, her lovely face flushing scarlet, trembling slightly with rage.
“Miss Iresha, is there something you need?” Lilia interjected at just the right moment.
Though she didn’t think much of the mage from the Hero’s Party, if a shouting match broke out, Mr. Lin Wei might end up at a disadvantage. It was best to cut things off before they escalated.
“Rude country folk... Forget it!” Iresha huffed.
Even though she was fuming, Iresha really didn’t have any good reason to pick a fight right now.
She took a deep breath, forced herself to swallow her temper, and finally turned to the counter.
“I’m here to buy some high-grade healing potions,” she announced.
“And give me one each of illumination, amplification, antidote, and mana restoration potions. The best quality you have in stock—price is no object.”
With a flourish, she tossed her coin pouch onto the counter, radiating utter confidence.
She sat down right in front of them, with no concern whatsoever that someone might pocket a few coins while she wasn’t looking.
“We’re all out of high-grade healing potions,” Lilia replied after checking the inventory. “But we do still have the other potions you asked for.”
“What? Typical backwater town. How do you not have the most basic adventuring supplies in stock?” Iresha grumbled, her voice sharp and impatient. Then, as if something occurred to her, she glanced out the window, paused for a moment, and finally waved her hand dismissively. “Fine, I’ll get the healing potion somewhere else.”
“Just give me what you’ve got! Hurry up.”
If Lilia weren’t on duty, she would have started arguing with Iresha ages ago.
“Please wait a moment,” Lilia said, barely concealing her frustration as she headed to the storeroom to fetch the requested goods.
“Hm…”
Lin Wei, on the other hand, was in no hurry. He sipped his tea and read the paper, occasionally glancing at the carelessly tossed coin pouch on the counter, letting his mind drift to idle thoughts.
It’s always what you dread most that ends up happening.
Hero Oshu hadn’t given him any trouble; instead, it was this red-haired girl who nearly caused a scene.
If only there were a way to bury her out in the wild, life in Aurens Town would be a whole lot safer.
Of course, that was just a passing thought. There hadn’t been any opportunities lately, and she was never alone. If he acted too openly and the Holy Church found out, things would get complicated fast.
So, even if he wanted to teach her a lesson, he’d have to wait until they were far from Aurens Town—somewhere less conspicuous.
But now that I think about it, something seems different about her mood today.
Out of the corner of his eye, Lin Wei caught another glimpse of the red-haired mage—and suddenly noticed something.
At the moment, Iresha seemed genuinely uneasy.
She tapped her fingers irritably on the counter, glancing outside again and again, her brows furrowed as if plagued by unpleasant thoughts. She bit her lip, muttering complaints under her breath.
“They didn’t follow me... Never listen to a word I say.”
Her voice was low, but Lin Wei, sitting right beside her, caught every word.
That tone—full of grumbling and frustration... Was it a fight? An argument? A classic love triangle scene?
Lin Wei had no real interest in a woman so lacking in charm, but as a bored bystander, he certainly didn’t mind watching the drama unfold. If the Hero’s Party fell apart on its own, all the better for him.
Unfortunately, that kind of drama rarely played out so conveniently.
Before Lin Wei could eavesdrop any further, Iresha drew her gaze back to the counter, muttering under her breath.
“Ugh! Let them do whatever they want!”
“But where else can I get some high-grade healing potions? If I can’t even buy those before heading into the labyrinth alone—wait.”
Just then, her eyes lit up as she caught sight of something behind the counter.
Lined up neatly in the corner were several potion bottles, each exuding an unmistakable aura of quality.
Her own Potion Crafting skills might be middling at best, but with a mage’s keen senses, identifying the grade of these potions was child’s play.
What the hell…? There are healing potions right here—and they’re top quality, too! Is this backwater guild clerk deliberately making things difficult for me?
Muttering to herself, Iresha stood up, intent on reaching behind the counter to grab one.
It’s not like she wasn’t going to pay. She’d already handed over her coin pouch—however much it cost, they could just take it.
Smack.
Just as her hand was about to close around a potion bottle, a crisp, not-quite-painful sound rang out as something struck the back of her hand.
Iresha froze for a moment. When she saw who it was, she shot to her feet, glaring daggers at Lin Wei, looking ready to explode.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing, you jerk?!”
Lin Wei, who had been quietly observing with his newspaper, had rolled it up and swatted her hand away at the last moment.
Unfazed by her furious glare—her eyes practically boring holes through him—he replied calmly, “Those potions are for a commission I need to submit.”
“Hah! You? A country bumpkin like you made healing potions of that caliber?”
Iresha didn’t believe it for a second.
She was a mage from a wealthy family—she’d seen her share of fine goods. Just from the sheen of the liquid, she could tell these potions were of exceptional purity.
Even in the capital’s Adventurers’ Guild, these would count as top-tier healing potions.
And now you’re telling me this country bumpkin made them himself?
“You’re just looking for a fight, aren’t you?”
Even if this guy really had picked up a mountain of Potion Crafting commissions, Iresha refused to believe he was actually capable of producing potions of this caliber. At best, she figured he was making low-tier potions for simple jobs.
“Oh, so just because I’m from the sticks, I must be freeloading off your family’s table? Ever consider that my [Potion Crafting] skill might already be maxed out?”
Lin Wei clenched his fists, fighting the urge to throttle her. The more he talked to this woman, the more infuriating she became.
How had she even survived this long? Did she spend her whole life arguing with everyone she met? With a temper and a mind that narrow, how had she not exploded from rage already!?
You know what—whatever. May Iresha live a long, long life!
“Everyone in this town knows about my skills. That’s exactly why Lilia trusted me with over twenty commission requests,” Lin Wei said, spreading out a stack of commission slips on the counter as proof, tamping down his irritation.
“But it looks like you’re in desperate need of high-grade healing potions.”
He paused, giving her a pointed look. “What’s the matter? Need me to sell you a bottle?”