Chapter Thirty-Nine: Toying with the Earth Knight

The next day.

Their party, now joined by Clark, continued southward through the shadowy forest. With Clark among them, dealing with the magical beasts they encountered became markedly easier. In front of Fanny, Clark made a conscious effort to show off. Thanks to his vigorous assistance, two Windblade Demon Wolves and a Frostwing Eagle were dispatched with little trouble.

Whenever a beast was slain, Han Shuo would quickly step forward, deftly extract its magic core, and, as a matter of course, hand it to Lisa for safekeeping, treating it as their own spoils without leaving even the pelts of the Windblade Demon Wolves for Clark.

Clark, eager to please Fanny, bore this with a pained expression but forced a smile and did not contest Han Shuo’s claim over the cores.

By dusk, the group kindled a campfire, and once more, Han Shuo took up the task of roasting meat. Clark deliberately kept close to Fanny, chatting wittily, while Gene watched him like a hawk, repeatedly interrupting to needle Clark with sharp remarks.

The other students had scattered to rest, some chatting merrily, others quietly tending to their belongings. Only Lisa remained by Han Shuo’s side, watching him leisurely turn the roasting meat.

“Bryan, I’ve noticed you’ve grown more wicked lately—you’re not the same as before!” Lisa said, idly stirring the flames with a glowing stick, her bright eyes resting on Han Shuo.

Glancing at her, Han Shuo replied coolly, “Am I? I think I’m perfectly fine. I just realized I used to live too meekly and wanted to change myself. Is that so wrong?”

Shaking her head, Lisa insisted, “No, no, it’s different. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but something’s changed. Maybe it really is because I cast the Soul Pain spell on you, and that’s what made you like this.”

Han Shuo couldn’t help but laugh silently. He was not Bryan at all, and the Soul Pain spell had nothing to do with him. Yet Lisa, Fanny, and the others all thought his transformation was the spell’s doing—how comical.

“Isn’t this change for the better?”

“Much better! You’re so much improved. Before, seeing you so timid and weak used to make me furious. I was so harsh with you because I wanted to stir you to action. But you always just endured everything, never resisting those who bullied you. Back then, I thought you were pitiful, that living was a torment for you, and you might as well have been dead. Honestly, using the Soul Pain spell was my way of sparing you from living such a miserable life.” Lisa gazed at Han Shuo as she spoke, reflecting on her actions.

Han Shuo frowned, looking at her with some confusion. “So, you’re saying that by using the Soul Pain spell, you were actually trying to help me?”

“Of course!” Lisa lifted her chin, explaining, “Even when I used you for spell practice, I was kinder than the other students. But you were just so disappointing—always so cowardly. I couldn’t stand to watch anymore, so I decided to help you break free. And look at you now—you’ve changed so much I barely recognize you.”

Han Shuo shook his head, saying nothing more, though inwardly he somewhat agreed with Lisa. The unfortunate Bryan had indeed lived a wretched life, and had long contemplated suicide, lacking only the courage. Yet, Lisa’s way of “helping” was something Han Shuo could never fully forgive.

“Bry—Bryan, we think we’ll roast the meat ourselves tonight. No need to trouble you,” said Buck, approaching with Bella and a few others, eyeing Han Shuo warily.

In recent days, the meat Han Shuo roasted for Lisa, Fanny, Amy, and the rest was always delicious, while the portions for Buck, Bella, and their group were nearly inedible. After several days of this, Buck and Bella had suffered repeated stomach troubles. They had once grumbled and cursed Han Shuo, but after witnessing his wild outburst the previous day, they dared not utter a word, afraid he might lose control again.

Now, they were truly afraid of Han Shuo.

Han Shuo offered a sheepish smile. “How could that be? As a menial servant of the Necromancy branch, it’s my job to cook. It wouldn’t do for you delicate types to handle this work, would it?”

“It’s fine, really! We’re out here on an expedition—we should try everything ourselves. Besides, you saved our lives yesterday. We shouldn’t let you shoulder all the chores anymore, right, Buck?” Bella forced a smile, her words awkward.

“Right, we should roast our own food and not trouble you for everything!” Buck, whose stomach had been upset for days, was eager to avoid Han Shuo’s half-cooked meat. Smiling ingratiatingly, he added, “Bryan, I was wrong before—please don’t hold it against me. If you always resent me and, well, if you lose control again and come after me, I’m doomed!”

“Well, since you’re being so considerate, I’ll thank you for it. Here, you roast the meat—enjoy yourselves.” Han Shuo was secretly delighted, grinning as he stood, gathered the cooked meat, handed a generous portion to the salivating Lisa, then picked out a few pieces and walked toward Fanny.

The mouthwatering aroma wafted through the air. Fanny, who had been listening impatiently to Clark and Gene’s bickering, suddenly brightened, licking her lips as a charming smile tugged at her mouth.

“Miss Fanny, Professor Gene, and… Sir Clark the knight, here’s your roasted meat,” Han Shuo said with a gentle smile, handing each of them a portion.

“Ugh, bleh—Bryan, why is this piece so undercooked? It’s terrible!” Fanny suddenly cried out, spitting out the morsel she’d just bitten into.

This time, Fanny, whose eyesight wasn’t great, mistakenly picked up a piece not meant for her—one intended for Gene or Clark—since Han Shuo hadn’t handed her one directly and she’d been overeager to eat, leaving him no time to warn her.

“Uh… Miss Fanny, that wasn’t yours—this one is!” Han Shuo said ruefully. You really are a bit too hasty, he thought to himself.

He quickly handed her a carefully roasted piece, snatched away the half-raw meat she’d bitten, cut off the bitten part with a dagger, and with a smile, passed it to Clark. “Honorable Sir Clark, this piece is for you. My cooking isn’t the best, and though Miss Fanny already took a bite, I trust you won’t mind?”

Clark replied awkwardly, “Uh… I’ll just have some bread, thank you.”

“How can that be? Bread won’t restore your strength, and as a knight, you need plenty of meat. Are you saying you doubt Bryan’s cooking, or is it because Miss Fanny tasted it first?” Gene, knowing full well that Han Shuo’s food always brought misfortune to those he disliked, was secretly gleeful as he pressed Clark with an air of righteousness.

“No, that’s not it, it’s just…” Clark trailed off, at a loss, hands gesturing helplessly. He had seen Fanny spit out her bite and knew that meat was definitely not fit to eat.

“Sir Clark is a man of noble honor and wouldn’t want to eat something someone else has bitten. I understand. Perhaps you should have it, Professor Gene?” Han Shuo, adopting an understanding air, turned the piece toward Gene, shifting the trouble to him.

Gene started to panic, laughing awkwardly and shaking his head. “No, absolutely not! I can’t take from Sir Clark. Besides, this piece is mine—I’ll just go eat it over there.”

Sweat beaded on his brow as Gene hurriedly snatched the other half-raw piece from Han Shuo and fled toward Buck and Bella, clearly intending to re-cook it.

“Professor Gene is truly humble. It falls to you to finish this, Sir Clark,” Han Shuo said with a broad grin, still pushing the meat toward Clark.

Clark forced a pitiful smile, then as if suddenly remembering something, hastily excused himself. “I just remembered something I need to do. Excuse me, please.”

With that, he, like Gene, fled in haste and vanished in an instant.

“Bryan, you really are getting wicked. No wonder Gene and Buck have had stomach problems these past few days—it’s your doing, isn’t it?” Fanny glared at Han Shuo, both annoyed and amused.

“Miss Fanny, you only just realized? Bryan is nothing like before—he’s worse than any student now,” Lisa giggled, then shot Fanny a strange look. “But you knew he was messing with those two—why didn’t you stop him?”

“Because Clark and Gene have been driving me mad, droning on and on, pulling me into their arguments—it’s so tiresome. But Clark has helped us a lot; he is actually a good person,” Fanny replied, grinning mischievously.

Han Shuo was secretly pleased to hear Fanny’s first comment, but when she called Clark a good man, he felt a surge of annoyance.

“So that’s why. Hehe, Miss Fanny, I know of a wide, clear pool nearby. The water is crystal clear, and we haven’t bathed in days. Why don’t we go swimming tonight?” Lisa suggested.

“But Lisa, you never used to like swimming. Why the sudden change these days?” Fanny asked.

“Um… Swimming is good exercise!” Lisa blushed, turned her head, and glanced at Han Shuo before answering quickly.

Han Shuo wore a peculiar look, recalling how he’d once told Lisa that swimming could enhance her figure. She’d seemed indifferent at the time, but apparently she’d taken it to heart and was already acting on the advice. He found this secretly amusing, and his understanding of women’s thoughts only deepened.