Chapter 44 : Village Under Heavy Rain
"This... this time going to the village, do I still have to wear the collar?"
"Of course. Otherwise, do you want to be captured and actually experience being tortured?"
"Wuu!"
With absolutely no room for resistance, Lonis could only be chained up again and follow Elucia out of the ship.
The girls had no raincoats, not even umbrellas to block the rain. However, Elucia's method of rain protection was beyond Lonis's expectations...
"Take this."
"Eh, isn't this a phone... what use does this have for avoiding rain?"
"You idiot, did you forget the knowledge I taught you the day before yesterday? Magic crystal stones!"
"Eh?"
"Just adjust the frequency of the Wind Crystal, and you can form an airflow umbrella."
"Oh, I see!"
Lonis suddenly understood, never expecting magic crystal stones could be used this way.
Didn't this mean the phone could not only be used as an umbrella, but even as an electric fan?
"Hmph, let's go once you're ready."
"I'm ready, but... Master Elucia, don't you need to change back to your adult form?"
"Hah?"
"Is there no problem with your current appearance?"
Lonis looked down at the little loli who only reached her chest.
Although she knew loli-form Elucia was also very powerful, it didn't appear so to outsiders—a height just over 140cm seemed like she could be carried away with one arm, easily arousing people's desire to bully her.
"Lonis, you were just thinking disrespectful thoughts, weren't you?"
The little loli frowned, very dissatisfied as she "looked down" on Lonis.
"Ah, no... no!"
"Hmph, since you noticed, I'll be magnanimous and tell you... This is called playing pig to eat tiger. Without acting this way, how can I arouse those villagers' greed?"
"Eh?"
"A submissive girl with a collar, a gothic loli who looks like she has no fighting ability. Any criminal would have improper thoughts about them, right? And if certain villagers make a move, then I can justifiably kill them."
"!!!"
"This way, their wealth becomes mine. Gaining large amounts of money without selling anything—isn't this a profitable business?"
"This..."
Lonis was stunned by Elucia's explanation. This was the first time she discovered this little loli had such a scheming side.
Not displaying her strength, but showing weakness to the enemy, luring opponents to attack first—this fighting method was something Lonis, even as a former hero, had never tried.
"Anyway, when you get to the village, don't talk randomly and cooperate well with my performance. Even if you see the person who hurt you in your dream, don't show anything unusual. Everything waits for my later commands."
"I understand."
............
......
Finding a nearby village wasn't actually difficult.
Because wherever there's a village, there are roads, and wherever you see roads, you can always find a village.
So, under Elucia's guidance,
Lonis finally arrived at a village of considerable size.
The entire village appeared to have over a hundred households. The wooden buildings looked very sturdy, with an elevated design one meter off the ground ensuring that even during heavy rain, accumulated water wouldn't seep indoors.
Heavy rain continued, with water drops constantly dripping from the eaves. Naturally, there was no one on the roads outside the village at this moment.
However, loud crying sounds attracted the villagers' attention:
"Wuu wuu wuu, someone please help us! Our caravan was attacked by monsters, father is missing, only me and my stupid maid made it here. Someone please help us!"
Elucia cried out while advancing with Lonis.
She had ordered Lonis to turn off the phone, so rainwater rolled down her cheeks, mixing with tears.
......
"There are... there are lost children?"
"They must have been attacked by monsters, everyone come help quickly."
Hearing the crying, villagers rushed out of their houses to help.
Some held oiled paper umbrellas, others brought tarpaulin, all running toward Elucia's position.
"Little girl, are you alright?"
"Come inside quickly to sit and rest."
......
......
With the villagers' help, Lonis followed Elucia into a warm large house.
Charcoal burned in the stone fireplace, jumping flames seeming to shut out the damp cold from outside, allowing Lonis and Elucia to temporarily rest.
......
"That's... that's what happened..."
Wrapped in a blanket, Elucia sniffled, her tearful appearance really looking like a poor loli who couldn't find her way home: "That monster attacked the convoy. Although the adventurer brothers fought hard, but... everyone still got separated."
"Little girl, don't worry anymore. You're safe now that you've come to us."
The one receiving Elucia was a kind-looking elderly grandmother.
Besides her, many other villagers had also entered the house, sitting quietly to the side.
"I don't know father's and everyone's condition. I could only run with my slave maid... We ran for half a day and finally escaped from that place. But who would have thought..."
"What happened?"
"This stupid maid's head suddenly went dumb. She keeps talking nonsense, look."
After speaking, the little loli tugged the chain... Feeling the pulling sensation on her neck, Lonis understood Elucia's intention.
(This person... don't tell me she wants me to play an idiot?)
(This is too much bullying, right? How could someone as clever and brave as me play an idiot?)
......
However, although Lonis was unwilling, the arrow was on the string and had to be fired... She could only show a foolish smile and say cheerfully:
"Ai hey, aba aba~~~ Master miss, shall we play with mud together~~~"
"Mm, just like this. She was already stupid before, now even more stupid!"
"Ah, that's really pitiful."
A somewhat weathered-looking man sighed and added: "If I'm not mistaken, what attacked the caravan should be Cube Squid Monsters. That monster isn't something ordinary people can defeat. After encountering it..."
"Old Hu!"
A young woman frowned, seeming dissatisfied as she spoke to the man.
"Sigh, since that's the case, why don't you two rest in the village for now? Have a hot meal first to relieve your fatigue. Maybe by tomorrow, other people from the caravan will also escape here."
"But..."
Elucia's body trembled, that expression of expectation mixed with wariness that little lolis have, performed subtly: "But father told me not to casually accept strangers' food. He said... said something about little Lucia possibly being deceived or something?"
"Ha ha!"
Hearing Elucia say this, the weathered man wasn't angry. He just laughed heartily and said candidly: "If you're worried, we can eat first."
"Eh?"
"Or let your stupid maid eat first, and continue eating after confirming there's no problem. Having a vigilant heart is a good thing, little girl... I hope you can continue maintaining it."
"Oh..."
"I'm called Old Hu. You can come find me if you need anything."
The middle-aged man nodded and said so.
......
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