"An auxiliary member?"
"Someone responsible for supplying our team with potions and provisions," Xia Lun explained. "This way, you can fulfill your duties while staying in Olie City, and you’ll still be considered part of our Dawn Wings... If you ever change your mind, you can leave the team anytime."
The conditions were lenient, but for Ankula, it merely meant adding another adventurer title to her name... with the added responsibility of regularly supplying them with potions.
Ankula frowned. "But I wanted to go on adventures with you all."
Xia Lun cleared his throat lightly. "So, are you taking the offer or not?"
Ankula huffed. "Fine, I’ll take it!"
Even if it felt like an unfair deal, Ankula signed on.
Deep down, she knew that given Xia Lun and his team’s potential, even if Dawn Wings was low-ranked now, they would surely rise to fame in the future... Joining them would only bring her benefits.
After all, Xia Lun had single-handedly slain a Red Dragon—his strength was nothing short of absurd.
Though Ankula would remain in Olie City... she was now officially a member of Dawn Wings.
"If you ever run into trouble, don’t hesitate to call for us," Xia Lun paused briefly. "No matter when, we’ll come to your aid... And who knows? Maybe we’ll get to adventure together someday."
"Pfft—Xia Lun, you sound like a shady boss feeding empty promises to his workers," Liyana interjected bluntly. "All so Witch Ankula can keep supplying us with stamina potions... Hahaha, think of all the money we’ll save!"
"And Miss Ankula’s healing potions are noticeably better than what’s sold in the market," Moke added sincerely.
Musen rubbed his nose, feeling even more redundant... Maybe bulking up was his only real contribution.
Still, having a friendly witch in their circle would undoubtedly bring many advantages to the adventuring party.
Olie City didn’t have an Adventurers’ Guild yet, but Xia Lun promised to register Ankula’s name with their team the next time they visited one in another city.
Ankula shot him a skeptical look.
"Don’t worry, we’re not scamming you. Next time we’re here, we can show you our guild badges..." Xia Lun fumbled to explain, aware how flimsy his words sounded.
Watching his flustered expression, Ankula burst into laughter, her eyes glimmering. "Alright, I believe you."
Xia Lun exhaled in relief.
Aina sat quietly nearby, her expression hidden beneath her hood.
"So, Xia Lun, when are you all planning to leave?" Ankula propped her chin on her hand, her tone carrying a hint of playful poutiness.
"Kicking us out already?" Liyana feigned heartbreak.
"Of course not! I just need to know so I can prepare your potions in time," Ankula counted on her fingers. "Stamina potions, antidotes, insect repellents, even enhancement brews... As adventurers, you can’t go without these, right?"
"Good heavens! What kind of miserable life were we living before?" Liyana gaped.
"You mean you never used these before?" Ankula eyed them suspiciously.
"Ahem... Funds were tight," Xia Lun admitted awkwardly.
Dawn Wings was newly formed, and the Olie City commission was their first job.
Ankula’s gaze softened with sympathy. "That’s rough... But don’t worry, Xia Lun. With me around, you’ll never lack for supplies."
"Or maybe we won’t need them. We rarely get injured, Musen knows basic detoxification spells, and for things like insects... my magic suffices," Aina interjected flatly.
Liyana blinked. Aina had actually strung together a full sentence.
Ankula arched a brow and turned to Aina seriously. "Miss Aina, magic power is precious. Wasting it on trivial matters could leave you vulnerable in real danger."
Aina almost retorted that her reserves made such concerns irrelevant... but held back. She wasn’t keen on revealing too much.
Ankula continued, "Since I’m part of the team now, I won’t charge extra. But you’ll have to cover the ingredient costs... roughly this much."
Xia Lun winced. Now he understood why potions were so expensive—the raw materials alone were a hefty sum.
Still, they could afford it. Angelie had been generous with their payment for the Dragonblood Blossoms.
Ankula suddenly grinned proudly. "My potions are all-natural, with zero side effects."
"Really? That’s a relief," Liyana sighed. She’d heard horror stories of adventurers whose heads turned pointy from cheap concoctions.
"So, when are you leaving?" Ankula circled back to the main question.
"There’s something in the city that’s bothering me," Xia Lun mused. "We’ll stay a few more days to investigate."
"Perfect! If you left now, I wouldn’t have time to prepare," Ankula beamed. "Xia Lun, let me show you around the city! You saved me, but with the plague and all, I never got to repay you."
Xia Lun sighed. "Miss Ankula... You don’t owe me anything. It was just part of the job—"
Ankula’s cheeks puffed out.
"...Alright then. Lead the way, Miss Ankula."
Under her hood, Aina’s cheeks also puffed out—though no one noticed.
But given her current role, she had no right to interfere. Xia Lun’s choices were his own.
Ankula had singled out Xia Lun, leaving the others behind.
"That jerk... How shameless can he get?" Liyana grumbled. She’d practically handed Aina to him, and now he was off gallivanting with another woman.
Ankula should’ve been hers!
Still, Liyana had tested the waters—Ankula’s preferences were decidedly straight, with no chance of being swayed.
Aina’s sleeve trembled slightly as a blood bat flitted out, vanishing into the distance.
She didn’t care.
But since Xia Lun was her target, if anything happened to him... wouldn’t all her patience be for nothing?