Chapter 43 - Goblin Invasion
Lili cried for quite some time before she stopped, then started to hiccup. Alex helped her smooth out her breathing with patience. But she was afraid to startle her, so she didn't dare move her stiff body.
Lili then pushed Alex's shoulders away after she calmed down.
"Are you okay now?" Alex asked as she wiped the tears falling on Lili's face with tenderness. She looked so pitiful, with her eyes that became a little reddish and her hair became a little messy.
Lili nodded in response. She doesn't know why she cried on Alex on the spur of the moment. When she always tries to look strong in front of other people, especially with her mother. Yet when Alex moved closer to her, she couldn't hold her tears back at all as they started gushing out in her eyes.
"We will buy the antidote," Ezekiel showed a gentle smile as he exclaimed while he patted Lili's head.
He considered Lili's suggestion as great. Because poison will become troublesome if the duration lasts 24 hours. Losing health every second in a battle is very troubling. Depending on the poison's damage, his healing might get reduced or negated. And the worst-case scenario will be the damage might be greater than his healing.
"How much is the poison potion??." Knowing how the poison works in this world. He realized that it is more essential for the two of them than healing potions if it is not that expensive.
With his and Alex's current damage output. If they encountered a monster that doesn't have a weapon. Then Alex has no choice but to brawl with her fist. And fists are not effective in fighting large monsters, fast monsters, or a boss.
If they have a poison potion with them, one throw of the potion is the only thing they need. And they can have extra damage to their enemy. Then they can run around and shave away the enemy's health at a slow pace.
Lili immediately tried to compose herself. Hearing that not only are they buying their only stock of antidote. They are also willing to purchase other potions.
Lili hurriedly grabbed the green potion in the compartment and showed it to them. "We sell these potions off for 100 silver each. Poison potions are very cheap compared to antidotes because of how easy it is to make them. It is because poison glands are sold very cheap in the market." Lili explained while taking her time as she still felt some shortness in her breathing.
Alex stood at the side and let Ezekiel handle buying things off. Since she doesn't care for the money as long as she can see Lili's smile again. She can take part in a duel again and earn it back anyway.
"How much should we buy?" Ezekiel turned to ask Alex since it is her money.
Alex raised her 2 fingers to Ezekiel. She has 700 silver from winning the duel, while the rest is Ezekiel's money. Alex will not threaten Ezekiel this time to spend all their money to comfort Lili. Because she thinks that Ezekiel might want to buy something with his money. Like a replacement for his broken armor.
Seeing Alex's response, Ezekiel nodded then turned to look at Lili again. "We will buy 4 poison potions." It may look like a lot, but when he thinks about it. All he needs to do is drag Alex around to hunt a lot of monsters that is worth a lot in the market. This way, they can earn a lot of money and acquire better quality armor and weapon for Alex and him.
If he was alone, then he wouldn't dare to run around without any armor. But with Alex as the bait, his life will be a breeze.
Alex smiled, hearing Ezekiel is also going to use his own money.
"Fo...Four?" Lili stuttered as she did not expect that they were carrying a lot of money with them.
"Yes, four poison and one antidote potion, please."
"Ahhh, Yes!!" Lili wiped her face and grabbed a basket cheerfully with haste. She then placed the potion inside with care.
At the same time, Alex took out the money from her inventory and gave it to Ezekiel.
"The total is 900 silver." Lili passed the basket to Ezekiel.
Ezekiel grabbed Alex's money and add it to his own. "Here, 900 sil..." Just when Ezekiel is about to hand over the money.
DING!! DING!! DING!!
A high ringing sound of a bell chimed on their ears.
Ezekiel looked in the direction of the sound coming from, noticing that it is not stopping at all.
"What's happening??" Alex exclaimed seeing, the horror on Lili's face.
"Big sister Alex, big brother Ezekiel... Sorry, but I need to pack up my things now." Lili then hastily packed up his stall and hid the potions in a box one by one.
"Here... take this, but can you at least tell us the gist of the situation?" Ezekiel gave the 900 silver to Lili and grabbed the basket of potions on the counter.
"Mother said that if the small bell rang, women, elderly and children should stay at home. While if the large bell rang, everyone should evacuate the village as soon as possible. Because the village is going to be destroyed by an unstoppable threat." Lili spared a meager amount of focus to explain to the both of them because of their kindness. While she keeps on packing up her things. Lili needs to prepare everything that her mother and her need before she arrives to get her.
"It must be the event!!" Ezekiel exclaimed as he noticed the timer for the event has already reached 0.
"What kind of event?" Alex asked while helping Lili pack her things up. It is because she was wasting a lot of time when her hands were trembling so hard. And she also moved at a slow pace with her tiny body while handling fragile potions.
"I don't know... My A.I. only said something about the tutorial." Ezekiel also gave a hand.
"Lili!!" Out of nowhere, a middle-aged lady wearing something like a lab coat. Called out to Lili while running towards them.
"Mama!!" Lili calmed down a little seeing her mother safe.
"Are you okay!?" The lady checked Lili's condition the moment she got closed to them.
"Uhn, brother and sister helped me." Lili nodded as she dived in her mother's arms.
"Thank you, thank you... but we really need to go now." The lady bowed her head to both of them before carrying her daughter off.
"If you don't mind, ma'am, do you have any clue of the current situation right now??" Ezekiel helped them finish packing up.
"It's horrible. If you go to the northern gate of the village, you will see for yourself. Goblins are swarming towards the village."
"If you are truly our guardians, please help..." The lady held Alex's hand as she stared at him. The instant Alex's figure reflected in her limpid and despairing eyes. The lady froze in confusion at first. Then her eyes were misted with tears that became large drops, that rolled her face in an endless fall.
"Please hold off the Goblin Invasion..."