Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Constellation Gallery EP.24
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After picking up the lighter from the guy, some unexpected sponsorships rolled in.
What the hell is this?
It didn't seem like it was just for killing a thug.
These guys are fighting again?
Always bickering over nothing nutritious, no different from humans.
Anyway, unexpected gains.
Not as big as before, but still pretty decent.
At that moment, the woman came rushing back.
"I got the bags!"
Her arms were stuffed with supermarket bags.
Plastic bags, paper bags, boxes—everything she could grab from the store.
"Good, these'll work."
I nodded in satisfaction and turned to Tulip.
"Tulip, take these and turn them into one big bag."
"Huh?"
"Sew the bags together, boxes together into one big one. Or combine them however you can."
Tulip blinked blankly for a moment, then nodded.
"Oh, got it! I'll try! But if it's for what I think, can't I just touch the store stuff and store it?"
"Are you a genius? No way that's possible. If it was, do that."
She immediately got to work with her small hands busy.
Then Tulip dropped a random question.
"But how do you leave a party?"
I tilted my head.
"What, wanna go independent 'cause Uncle shot up a bunch of people?"
"No? Gotta treat Uncle."
She glanced at my ankle.
Looking closely, there was a slight scratch.
'What blood... from a mid-grade Ghoul scratch?'
I turned back to Tulip.
"Not hard. Just sincerely think about leaving the party."
Tulip focused for a bit, then looked up in panic.
"It doesn't work?"
I furrowed my brows.
"Like with the archers, doesn't Uncle have to disband the party?"
"...Guess not."
But what was this?
Can't leave without party leader approval?
Totally "come in whenever but leaving's another story."
'Well, coming in requires my invite anyway, so not totally free.'
I approved the leave immediately.
"Kicked you from the party like you wanted."
Tulip looked up at me with a slightly hurt face.
"'Kicked' is a harsh way to put it."
"Dunno why that hurts you, but sorry. Not kicked."
Tulip ignored me and muttered while looking at the ankle wound.
"This is 'cause it suppresses clotting factors. Just fix that part, disinfect, stitch—easy."
"Don't explain anymore. Not curious."
"...Hurt."
"Me too."
She glanced at the cloth around my waist, then asked carefully.
"And... can I borrow some curtain?"
"This? It's my clothes, not curtain. Why?"
"Got everything else, but no bandages. Those guys were handled quick, but some wounds need wrapping."
"Sure, go ahead."
I untied the curtain from my waist.
"No! Uncle! Don't untie it! Just cut the hem!"
"Right. Sorry again. But don't use too much. Don't wanna wear a miniskirt."
Tulip, who had freaked out, chuckled and tore the cloth.
"You actually care about that?"
"If I didn't, I wouldn't bother with the curtain."
"Can't you just lose this once?"
"Guess I can't live with losing."
Tulip picked up the knife again.
"More curtain, please."
I glanced down at my waist.
The curtain was noticeably shorter.
"Ugh, told you not too much."
"Nice legs."
"That's sexual harassment."
"Don't you grab what you wanna eat?"
"You've been cherry-picking my words lately?"
Tulip turned away and stuffed food into the huge bag she made.
"Um, uh...! Forgiven 'cause I'm useful."
To my words, Tulip turned back with a playful face.
"What should I pack for Uncle?"
"Canned stuff if possible, easy carry."
"Got it!"
While Constellation Gallery mocked me.
We packed all the food from the mart.
Water, instant meals, burner, butane gas—everything.
Tulip stuffed it all into her huge bag and box.
"All packed?"
"Yes!"
The huge bag and box vanished into Tulip's touch.
As we headed for the door, the remaining women rushed over.
"Can we come with you...?"
"Can you take us too...?"
"Please save us...."
I was speechless for a moment.
The anxious faces clinging together in the mart had turned to resolute determination.
I swallowed a sigh inwardly.
'Unnecessary baggage.'
Even with just Tulip, plenty to worry about.
From now on, real danger ahead.
To tag along, need initiative, combat power, or at least utility.
And sadly, they had none.
"Stock up on water and food here and head home. Home's way safer."
Couldn't guarantee it, obviously.
But say that and shake them off, or they'd cling.
"Th-then! Teach us that weird magic! Even with food, if we run into monsters moving... too heavy to run...."
"Not magic anyone can use."
"Don't know if we can or not, just teach us... maybe we can...."
"Tulip saving your lives not enough? Figure it out yourselves."
I opened the door.
Stepped out, Tulip followed.
Trembling breaths behind, but never looked back.
Then, I re-invited Tulip to the party.
She accepted, and I sent an invite to the self-proclaimed guide woman too.
But.
'...What?'
Blank for a second.
'Party limit's just two?'
Tried again, same.
Not unable to invite, just full?
'Does this make sense? Even MMORPGs have 4-5 party members base? Squad games 4, even dozens?'
This was unsettling.
This woman was just a guide.
But if a contract comes while not in party and she gets ideas?
"...Walk a bit behind."
"Pardon?"
The woman tilted her head.
"We out for a campus stroll? Guide leads."
"Ah, yes!"
She perked up and took the front.
Then glanced back soon after.
"But... where to?"
"You know the way, right?"
"Yes! Confident!"
Her eyes sparkled confidently.
"Then find my house."
"Huh?"
"......Uncle, that's so unfair."
Tulip sighed beside me.
"Just joking. Air was stuffy."
"Not funny."
"Didn't grab from mart?"
"Huh?"
"Strawberry jam, peanut butter. Didn't grab?"
"Ah... please.... So not funny."
"My dad's joke."
"......Kinda funny, maybe."
Tulip looked away.
"Heading home first today."
Stomach growling, check Constellation Gallery, consolidate data.
"Plan ahead there. Change clothes too."
"Really?"
Tulip brightened.
"Your fault. Look at me."
"Was weird before."
"......"
Thinking tomorrow's travel, a car would be nice.
Glanced at roadside cars.
No open doors, no keys in.
'Everyone pulls keys before ditching? If ditching, leave keys in.'
Checking cars, more Ghouls and Deadmask Archers rounded the corner.
Hunted them, more came, hunted again.
Repeating that.
'Party rank up? +1 slot?'
Some system like that.
Party EXP filled apparently.
Criteria unknown—Gold pooled or kills?
Clear: 'Party leader's' rank up, not party.
If Tulip makes party, back to two probably.
'Now invite the guide right away...'
Mid-thought, guide woman cut in.
"Oh! Earlier! Too hectic, forgot—when leaving mart, that contract you mentioned? Got one."
"What?"
"Saw some weird hallucination, that it? Devil contract or whatever?"
I couldn't help but grin.
'Double good news.'
I spoke quickly.
"Accept party first."
"Huh?"
"Party first!"