Ch. 26 - Betrayed

[Casting illusions is often far simpler than seeing through them. The former means you know it's false; the latter means you must guess whether it's false. Obviously—you guessed correctly.]

[You have obtained 'Truesight Eye Potion':

A potion that helps you reveal illusions, lasting 8 hours.

Note:

Best not to use it while charmed by an illusion. Otherwise, you could be lost in false pleasures rather than facing a hag drooling at you.]

"[Alertness], [Truesight Eye Potion]... I actually got two rewards this time?"

The moment he finished reading the journal's contents, Tang Qi suddenly felt something bulging in his pocket.

Reaching in, he found a small glass vial the size of his finger.

The liquid inside was crystal clear—if he hadn't been told it was a potion, it would look more like a small bottle of water.

"Better keep something like this on me at all times."

He tucked the potion back into his pocket, then flipped to the title page to confirm his fame and followers were still at 'unknown' and a lonely '1', verifying this wasn't a bonus from 'widespread fame.'

"So the rewards I receive come from my actions within the story.

Does that mean the value of the rewards is also related to how exciting and complex the story is?"

For instance, last time's [Tavern Performance] was a single event.

But this time's [Recovering the Starberries] was a compound event combining 'cave exploration' and 'seeing through lies.'

That's why he received two evaluations and double rewards.

Tang Qi felt he'd grasped the journal's reward pattern:

"I've tried writing fake stories and other people's stories, but the writing gradually fades and yields no rewards.

This means it's encouraging me to actively participate in more and more complex events. As long as I can survive them, I shouldn't just hole up..."

Danger brings opportunity—this was clearly a double-edged sword.

"Kuru."

Tang Qi called out to the kobold in the corner, who was clutching his staff and studying earnestly.

The creature probably wouldn't let go of that precious stick even in its dreams.

Since he'd asked a few more questions about the 'dragon egg' after dinner, the kobold had grown displeased, and they hadn't exchanged another word after returning to the room.

But he was its 'life-saving benefactor' after all. Even though 'gratitude' didn't exist in kobold philosophy, it ultimately bore no great ill will toward Tang Qi.

So its ears twitched, and after hesitating for a long while, it finally raised its head:

"Rua?"

"In a moment, when I'm not paying attention, try to whack me on the back of the head with your staff—remember, don't use magic."

"Hit... you?"

"You have to do it when I'm not paying attention, like when I turn my back..."

As Tang Qi spoke, he turned around, pretending to write at his desk.

But almost the instant he turned his back—

That urgent sense of impending danger he'd experienced so deeply in the cave, like needles piercing every pore of his body, struck him.

His scalp tingled, and his hair practically stood on end as a physiological response.

When he realized the danger came from behind, Tang Qi instinctively dove to the right—

"Bang!"

Kuru's club smashed hard into the desk!

"It can even determine the direction of danger? Almost predicting the attack's source, just like—"

Spider-sense?

Before he could finish the thought, crisis struck again, and without thinking he dodged aside once more.

This time the club landed squarely on the floor beside him.

"That's enough—"

Another strike.

"I said that's enough!"

While dodging the club strike once more, Tang Qi grabbed the front end of the staff, wrenched it from Kuru's hands, and smacked the kobold's rear hard:

"You did that on purpose, didn't you?"

Kuru didn't understand. He'd clearly been following Tang Qi's orders—why was he getting hit with a stick? He looked at Tang Qi with a wronged expression.

Only then did Tang Qi realize that the kobold's grasp of the Common Tongue was still half-baked at best. He had to gesture along with his words:

"Enough—stop. Understand?"

"Enough, stop."

Only then did Kuru react, rubbing his rear end.

Tang Qi wondered if he'd been too rough.

He bent down to check whether the kobold's backside would bruise—

The bedroom door burst open with a "bang":

"Mr. Tang Qi, are you alright?"

Having heard the commotion upstairs, Catherine pushed the door open.

But what met her eyes was Tang Qi's face trying to get closer to the kobold, lifting its robe to expose its tail and rear—

"Bang"—the door slammed shut.

"Sorry for the intrusion."

Her certain beliefs seemed to have taken a hit, as evidenced by her apologetic footsteps hurrying away moments later.

"..."

The human and kobold in the room looked at each other in bewilderment.

---

The next morning, at dawn.

As the first rays of white appeared over the mountains, Tang Qi tried to explain to Catherine as she loaded cargo:

"Last night you misunderstood..."

"I understand, Mr. Tang Qi, you don't need to feel awkward. Yesterday I was just... startled. Of course, that doesn't mean I don't respect my friend's preferences.

On the contrary, I'm willing to support you—even if it's somewhat exotic."

Rumor had it that bards' tastes were always bizarre and varied.

Apparently that wasn't just legend.

"I still need to explain—I like women."

"So Kuru is female?"

"I said women! Humans with distinctly female human physiological characteristics—uh, humanoid beings!"

Catherine blinked, trying to parse this complex sentence:

"I understand... you're multi-oriented, right?"

Images flashed through Tang Qi's mind.

Humans, elves, beast-eared girls, succubi...

He finally nodded.

Catherine also thought it through in her mind.

Distinct female characteristics?

Humans, female goblins, dairy cows, scarecrows dressed as females...

She understood: "It's fine, Starberry Town is an inclusive town."

Did she really understand?

Tang Qi had his doubts.

Afraid he'd feel embarrassed, Catherine quickly added:

"Don't worry, I also have a friend with different preferences. I won't discriminate against you for it."

"I give up trying to convince you."

Tang Qi followed Catherine closely, loading the last crate of starberries onto the cart.

The girl wiped sweat from her forehead and said:

"Three hundred kilograms of starberries, all here. Let's transport them to the estate before anyone wakes up."

"How much did all this cost?"

"If you bought them yourself, Holtz would probably charge you the same price as the merchant caravan—about 13 gold coins.

But he thought I wanted to buy an extra batch for myself, so he knocked off 3 gold coins."

"Thanks to you, or I'd be even more heartbroken."

That left him with only 10 gold coins—not even enough to buy a decent longsword from the blacksmith.

Who knew how much hitching a ride would cost?

Tang Qi instinctively assumed it wouldn't be cheap.

"By the way, if you want to attract their attention, as a poet you might find this useful."

Catherine hurried back into the tavern, and soon returned with a ukulele—

Similar in appearance to Tang Qi's broken lute, but this instrument was smaller, more delicate, easier to carry, and had only four strings.

Oak trees were carved into the brown wood, much like the one in the tavern's courtyard.

"This is the instrument my mother used to play before she passed. I would curl up on her lap and listen to her sing country folk songs.

It can't play many tunes, but at least it'll keep your singing from sounding so dry."

"Consider it borrowed."

Tang Qi did need an instrument, so he gladly accepted it.

"Then there's just one last problem."

"What?"

"I don't know how to drive a cart."

Tang Qi pointed at the "mooing" old ox—Catherine's family's workhorse.

Seeing this, Catherine had no choice but to climb onto the front of the cart and extend her slender but work-roughened hand to Tang Qi:

"Then I'll have to ask you to provide accompaniment for my family's laborer."

Tang Qi grasped her hand and used the leverage to sit beside her at the front.

This farm girl drove the cart with the composure of a knight leading troops.

She gave a light call, and the ox before the cart began its slow pace.

A ray of dawn light pierced through the mountains, blanketing the country dirt road.

It illuminated the muddy wheel ruts, pointing toward the unknown ahead.

"Rua!"

Accompanied by melodious music and the kobold's shouts, they arrived at the lord's estate.

But Tang Qi's smile quickly faded—

He discovered the massive merchant caravan standing at the gate, waiting for their arrival.

This meant that before the plan had even begun to be implemented, it had already been exposed.

"Fuck, we've been sold out."

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