Chapter 266: A Free Mission.

Since Hector had said the young man wasn't his friend, the other members of the Light Squad paid him no further attention and turned back to examine the requirements for Assignment 345.

Assignment: Collect Sekern Bird Feathers

Quantity: 20 feathers

Location: Magical Beast Forest

Reward: 15,000 gold coins

Time Limit: One month

Adventuring Party Level Requirement: None

"Wow! This one's perfect!" Budno exclaimed, excitedly grabbing Amanda by the shoulders. "Finally, an assignment we can actually complete!"

Dixio and Angel happily high-fived each other.

"Yes! This is amazing! It's practically tailor-made for us!"

Shu Li stared at the reward, his eyes practically turning into gold coin symbols.

15,000 gold coins!

That was a whole 10,000 gold coins more than they'd earned from their previous assignment gathering Starba Grass. How awesome was that?

With eleven people, everyone could receive 1,350 gold coins, leaving another 150 for their shared funds.

Perfect!

Kumandi looked down at his notebook and placed a check mark beside the fourth item on his list.

Ace quickly calculated the distance and travel time.

"If we head north from Igya City and travel straight through the Holy Kingdom of Kesheng and the Kingdom of Ailansi, we'll reach the Magical Beast Forest. If everything goes smoothly, we can complete the assignment in three days."

Shu Li's eyes lit up.

Although they only had two days off for the weekend, he could ask Ilio for leave. They could depart Thursday evening, reach the Magical Beast Forest by Friday evening, finish the assignment on Saturday, travel through the night, and return to Igya City by Sunday evening.

The schedule would be a little tight, but for 15,000 gold coins, it was worth it.

"All right, let's take this one! We'll tell Seriu when we get back and ask whether he wants to come."

Brimming with enthusiasm, Shu Li took out the adventuring party's badge and prepared to register the assignment at the counter.

"Wait, Sperien. Are you sure you want to accept this assignment?"

Hector caught Shu Li by the arm, looking utterly bewildered.

"Hmm?" Meeting Hector's puzzled gaze, Shu Li nodded. "Of course!"

When such an easy assignment was right in front of them, why wouldn't they take it?

"Don't you think you should read the requirements more carefully?" Hector asked helplessly.

"Collect twenty feathers from Sekern Birds. That's right, isn't it?" Shu Li pointed at the assignment description. "The reward is 15,000 gold coins."

Just thinking about all those gold coins coming their way made him break into a sweet smile.

"Heh heh heh~~"

"Heh heh heh~"

Dixio, Angel, and Budno joined in.

Amanda was a beat slower, but he soon started laughing too.

"Heh heh heh—"

Kumandi: ...

The corners of Ace's mouth lifted slightly, amusement flickering through his green eyes.

Siti and Nasha exchanged glances but remained silent. They were just as puzzled as Hector, yet they trusted Sperien's judgment.

Hector was utterly defeated by his innocent, naive teammates.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, he pointed at the assignment board.

"Sekern Birds! Look carefully! The target is the Sekern Bird! A high-ranking magical bird known as the Swift Wind!"

He hadn't forgotten how Sperien had been "abducted" by a Sekern Bird when he was little, carried to the edge of the Faerie Forest, and nearly met with disaster.

If Hector were a Little Fairy who had suddenly been taken somewhere unfamiliar and dangerous, then almost killed by Black Knights, the experience would have left him deeply traumatized.

If he ever encountered another Sekern Bird, he'd run in the opposite direction, not approach it voluntarily!

"I know Sekern Birds are called the Swift Wind. Most of them are high-ranking magical birds of the seventh rank or above."

Seeing the concern in his teammate's eyes, Shu Li gave him a reassuring wink.

"Don't worry. It'll be fine!"

Ever since that incident, the other Sekern Birds had behaved themselves remarkably well around the Little Fairies.

Besides, Shu Li had adopted five Sekern Birds and grown up alongside them. After spending so much time together, he understood their habits inside and out.

Most importantly, the Sekern Birds in the Faerie Forest and those in the Magical Beast Forest were essentially the same population.

They hadn't earned the title Swift Wind for nothing.

Thanks to their incredible flying speed, Sekern Birds frequently traveled between the two forests. Over time, this had developed into a regular migratory habit.

For safety reasons, most female Sekern Birds preferred laying their eggs and raising their chicks in the Faerie Forest. Once the young birds had grown strong enough to fly, their mothers would take them back to the Magical Beast Forest to toughen them up.

Of course, a small number of Sekern Birds considered all that too troublesome. Confident in their own strength, they simply laid and hatched their eggs in the Magical Beast Forest.

This gave adventuring parties and mercenary groups opportunities to steal their eggs.

Unfortunately, anyone bold enough to target Sekern Birds was generally unlikely to survive the attempt.

When Shu Li saw the assignment, he had practically burst with delight.

For him, asking a Sekern Bird for a few feathers couldn't be easier!

Those 15,000 gold coins were practically free money.

Hector didn't know the circumstances, so naturally he was worried. Shu Li was touched by his concern. Unfortunately, this wasn't the right place to explain, so all he could do was reassure him for now.

"Trust me."

Shu Li gently patted his shoulder, his expression earnest.

Looking at the confidence on the boy's face, Hector felt his worries gradually fade. Almost without realizing it, he nodded.

"Come on, let's accept the assignment!"

With an enthusiastic wave of his hand, Shu Li hurried toward the registration counter.

He was afraid that if they delayed, another adventuring party might snatch the assignment first.

"Hector, wait."

Jason, who had been watching the entire exchange, finally spoke.

"You're all Mage Apprentices. Accepting this assignment is practically suicide."

Hector stopped and glared at him with a frown.

"That's none of your business."

As though he hadn't noticed the disgust in Hector's eyes, Jason replied patiently, "This assignment was posted two months ago. Two Level Seven adventuring parties have already attempted it, and both returned empty-handed. When the employer realized no one else dared accept it, they raised the reward to 15,000 gold coins and removed the adventuring party level requirement. Even so, another week has passed without anyone showing interest."

"You certainly seem well informed," Hector remarked sarcastically.

More than ten days had passed since the start of the school term, and he hadn't encountered Jason anywhere on campus. He'd assumed Jason was away from the academy.

After all, Intermediate Mages were qualified to leave the academy and undertake adventuring assignments.

Their unexpected encounter here today suggested that Jason had only just returned.

"If you don't believe me, you can ask anyone here."

Jason sighed.

"I can't just stand by and watch you throw your life away..."

"Thank you for your concern, but I don't need it."

His expression cold, Hector walked around Jason, who was blocking his path, and headed toward the registration counter.

Shu Li glanced back at the young man.

Jason's brows were tightly furrowed, and his expression had turned stern. He seemed to be suppressing his anger for the sake of maintaining an elegant, gentlemanly appearance.

Don't tell me this is another Louvich, someone who goes out of his way to make Hector's life miserable.

Shu Li handed the adventuring party badge to the employee behind the counter and said politely, "Hello. We're the Light Squad, and we'd like to accept Assignment 345."

The employee examined the badge. Thinking Shu Li must have given the wrong assignment number, he carefully sought confirmation.

"You're a Level One adventuring party."

Shu Li replied, "That's right. You read it correctly."

"Assignment 345 requires collecting feathers from Sekern Birds. Are you absolutely sure you want to accept it?"

A group of Mage Apprentices entering the Magical Beast Forest would be delivering themselves straight onto the magical beasts' dinner plates.

"We're sure!" Shu Li declared firmly. "There's no level requirement for this assignment."

The employee had no choice but to process their registration.

What a group of reckless Mage Apprentices! They clearly had no idea what they were getting themselves into.

Still, if they insisted on accepting the assignment, it wasn't his place to interfere.

He could only hope they returned safely.

Once the registration was complete, Shu Li collected the assignment token and cheerfully led his teammates out of the Adventurers' Guild.

Jason stood beside a pillar, watching Hector's retreating figure with a gloomy expression.

"Oh? So that's the one you've been pining after?"

A teasing voice sounded behind him.

Jason didn't turn around. His brilliant blue eyes were filled with obsession.

"Isn't he wonderful?"

An armored swordsman stepped out from behind him, folded his arms, and narrowed his eyes as he studied the departing Mage Apprentices.

"Personally, I think those younger boys are more interesting."

Not only were they exceptionally pretty, but their auras were pure, and they had cheerful personalities.

"Them? Those mountain villagers?"

Jason shot his companion a disgusted look.

"I never realized your tastes were so questionable. You'd even go after little babies?"

"What? No!"

The swordsman glared at Jason indignantly.

"Is there something wrong with your eyes? How are they babies?"

Jason replied, "As far as I'm concerned, children who haven't experienced the world are no different from babies."

Those boys from the mountains looked far too innocent, as pure as blank sheets of paper.

Jason was a man of principles. He would never lay a hand on children who knew nothing of the world.

Besides, his heart had belonged to someone else for years. How could he possibly develop feelings for anyone other than Hector?

Unfortunately, Hector didn't understand the depth of his feelings. Every time they met, Hector avoided him as though he were a venomous snake.

To attract the attention of the person he loved, Jason had been left with no choice but to behave outrageously time and again. Yet every attempt only created greater misunderstandings between them.

Jason suffered in silence, with no one to confide in.

The swordsman clicked his tongue and shook his head.

"I really can't see what's so special about that Hector. What makes him worth obsessing over for three whole years?"

"I know what I see in him. That's enough," Jason replied bluntly.

Hector believed their first meeting had taken place at the royal banquet three years ago.

But he had forgotten.

They had actually met ten years earlier.

After leaving the Adventurers' Guild, Hector couldn't wait to ask Shu Li why he'd chosen Assignment 345.

Shu Li led his teammates away from the crowds and into a secluded street corner. Lowering his voice, he explained everything he knew about Sekern Birds to his human companions.

The more Hector, Siti, and Nasha listened, the more astonished they became. Before long, all three were staring at him with their mouths hanging open.

Was there something extraordinary about Fairies in general, or was Sperien himself the extraordinary one?

He had actually raised five Sekern Birds!

It was unbelievable.

With their group handling this assignment, the reward really would be practically free money.

"Ace, you don't seem surprised," Hector remarked in confusion.

They were both human, and Siti and Nasha had reacted much as he had. Yet Ace had remained perfectly calm from beginning to end.

Shu Li immediately turned toward Ace.

That's right!

When he'd decided to accept Assignment 345, Ace had seemed completely supportive. He hadn't questioned the decision at all.

Something's not right here.

Ace answered without the slightest hesitation.

"After what happened at Woba Grand Canyon, I trust that Sperien has the strength to lead us through this assignment successfully."

His gaze swept over the Little Fairies and the young dragon.

Siti suddenly struck her palm with her fist.

"Oh, that's right! The only actual Mage Apprentices in our party are the four of us!"

How could she have forgotten something so important?

Sperien was an Intermediate Grand Mage, Kumandi was a Junior Grand Mage, and Dixio, Angel, Budno, and Amanda were all Senior Magic Instructors. On top of that, Seriu was a Senior Mage and an Intermediate Great Swordsman.

With so many powerful people working together, how could they possibly fail to pluck a few feathers from some Sekern Birds?

Hector gave an embarrassed laugh.

He really had forgotten.

It was all that detestable Jason's fault!

The bastard had deliberately appeared out of nowhere and thrown him into such emotional turmoil that he'd completely forgotten his teammates' true strength.

Shu Li caught the look of absolute trust in Ace's eyes.

Something stirred in his heart, and for some inexplicable reason, his cheeks grew warm.

He turned his head away and asked Hector, "Who was that man? Have you two had some kind of falling-out?"

"He..."

The smile faded from Hector's face. He clenched his fists, hesitating.

Shu Li raised a hand.

"I'm not trying to pry into your private affairs. I'm just worried he might be another Louvich. We should prepare ourselves in advance, just in case he tries to use his status to bully you."

"Sperien's right!" Dixio declared, waving his fist. "If he dares bully you, we'll help you beat him up!"

"Better to prevent trouble before it starts," Kumandi agreed.

Nasha spoke softly.

"That man... there was something strange about the way he looked at you."

Siti rubbed her arms.

"It was definitely strange. If someone looked at me like that, I'd get goosebumps."

Hector smiled bitterly.

After today, Jason would probably start holding a grudge against his teammates.

In the past, whenever someone became close to Hector, Jason would threaten that person within a few days. Afterward, they would no longer dare be friends with him.

If Hector wanted to protect his teammates from getting hurt, the best thing he could do was tell them the truth.

Taking a deep breath, he gathered his courage and revealed the secret he'd kept buried for three years.

"That man's name is Jason. He's the heir to Lord Ferent of the Pros Empire. He... he's attracted to men. Three years ago, he made an... inappropriate proposition to me, and I rejected him quite forcefully."

Hector stumbled over his words. The longer he spoke, the redder his face became, until even his ears looked ready to drip blood.

"Because I rejected him, he's held a grudge against me ever since. He deliberately picks fights and makes trouble for me whenever he can. I'm sorry for making all of you worry..."

With that, he lowered his head.

His heart pounded with anxiety, and he didn't dare look at his teammates' expressions.

"Oh, so that's what happened?" Dixio scratched the back of his head. "I thought it was something really serious."

"He likes you, but you don't like him, so he deliberately makes trouble for you. That's certainly not very gentlemanly," Angel observed.

Hector raised his head, his silver-gray eyes filled with bewilderment.

Don't you find it strange?

His teammates seemed to be focusing on entirely the wrong thing.

"What's strange about it?" Shu Li asked.

Hector looked at the innocent faces of the Little Fairies and the young dragon.

Gritting his teeth, he decided to come right out with it.

"He's a man, and I'm a man. A man being attracted to another man... Don't you think that's strange?"

As a nobleman, Hector knew that certain young aristocrats indulged in all sorts of debauchery. But they generally visited particular establishments and sought out particular kinds of partners for their amusement. They would never treat another nobleman of the same sex as prey.

Jason was different. He had actually dared make such an outrageous proposition to Hector when Hector himself was still the heir to a lordship.

Hector's aristocratic pride had left him feeling deeply insulted.

What did Jason take him for? Did he think Hector was someone he could easily push around?

Was Jason deliberately humiliating him that way simply because Hector had accidentally spilled wine on his clothes?

Over the past three years, they had crossed paths at various events. Every single time, Jason had stared at him like a hunter eyeing his prey, sending chills down Hector's spine.

The more Hector thought about it, the angrier he became. Eventually, he'd taken to avoiding Jason whenever possible.

The Little Fairies' eyes were so clear and innocent that Hector was almost afraid asking such a question would corrupt their pure minds.

"Oh, people of the same sex falling in love? That's perfectly fine!" Angel said, tilting his head. "As long as they genuinely love each other, there's nothing strange about two men or two women being together."

Hector was stunned.

"You... you can accept that?"

Shu Li cleared his throat.

"Among our people, same-sex couples are perfectly ordinary."

Fairies and Elves never troubled themselves over gender. If two people loved each other, they became partners, and their people offered them heartfelt blessings.

Humans on the continent were far more conservative about such matters.

Hector stared blankly for a moment before asking, "But if two people of the same sex are together, how do they have children?"

As a former family heir, he'd been raised from childhood to believe that his duty was to marry a wife, have children, produce plenty of descendants, and ensure his family line continued for generations.

"We don't have to worry about that," Shu Li replied.

Fairies were born from flower buds, while Elves were nurtured by the Mother Tree. Their people only needed to concern themselves with falling in love and finding partners. They bore no responsibility for producing the next generation.

That was one of the fundamental differences between them and humans.

When Shu Li had first transmigrated, attending a same-sex wedding had come as quite a shock.

But as time passed, he'd gradually become part of his new community and embraced the Fairies' and Elves' philosophy of living in harmony with nature. By now, he'd practically assimilated.

Consequently, he had no objection to people of the same sex falling in love.

Hector opened his mouth, then covered his face, burning with embarrassment.

He'd forgotten again.

Fairies were different from humans. They didn't have to bear the responsibility of producing descendants.

He let out a long sigh, feeling rather awkward.

Now that he'd brought the matter up in front of his teammates, it almost seemed as though he'd made a mountain out of a molehill.

"Pfft!"

Siti reached out and patted Hector on the shoulder.

"There's nothing embarrassing about it. You should be proud!"

Hector's cheeks turned scarlet.

"Proud of what?"

Siti raised an eyebrow and teased, "Proud of how irresistible you are! You're so charming that even men are falling at your... ahem, feet."

"I like women!" Hector retorted indignantly.

"In that case, stay true to yourself," Kumandi said.

Warmth spread through Hector's chest. He looked at his teammates with genuine gratitude.

"Thank you..."

At last, he'd revealed the secret he'd kept buried in his heart, and no one had judged him for it.

The relief was immediate. The weight he'd been carrying seemed to vanish, leaving him feeling lighter all over.

"Come on, let's go find Seriu."

Seeing Hector smile, {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} Shu Li knew he'd finally made peace with the matter.

Before long, the group left the secluded street corner and headed toward a nearby rail carriage stop.

Ace walked beside Shu Li, his expression perfectly composed.

"Do you prefer men or women?" he asked casually.

Shu Li froze.

His foot missed its next step, and his body suddenly pitched forward.

Ace reacted instantly, catching him around his slender waist.

"Careful."

He murmured the word right beside Shu Li's ear.

Feeling the warmth of Ace's breath, Shu Li's ears immediately turned red.

He suddenly remembered that his roommate harbored feelings for him that went beyond ordinary friendship.

So why was Ace asking this question?

Was he testing me? Testing me? Or was he definitely testing me?!

How am I supposed to answer thiiiiis?!