Got the Pastor

Liyana stared at the big, bald man holding a clay pot with a sheepish grin, her frustration bubbling up. "So, you're the one who led those killer bees here?"

"Ah... my apologies. I didn’t know anyone else was around," Musen replied, his face full of remorse. "I heard screams earlier—was anyone hurt? I can help with healing right away."

"No one was hurt!" Liyana snapped back.

It had been her, after all, who had been shrieking and fleeing for her life from the swarm of killer bees moments ago. Even Xia Lun found those bees troublesome, let alone an archer like her... With that many bees, a single arrow shot would’ve just skewered them like kebabs.

"Musen, what’s with the...?" Xia Lun eyed the pot of honey in Musen’s hands curiously.

"Oh, this? A commission," Musen patted the clay pot, his grin widening. "A high-grade delicacy. Many nobles have a taste for it—should fetch a good price."

A sky-darkening swarm of killer bees... Most adventurers wouldn’t stand a chance against them. Only someone as tough as Musen could walk away with the honey unscathed.

Liyana tilted her head. "Musen, where’s your team?"

Musen scratched his head awkwardly. "Haven’t found new teammates yet, so I came alone."

Moke blinked in disbelief. "But... you’re a priest, aren’t you?"

Then again, Moke glanced at the bulging muscles barely concealed beneath Musen’s white robes and realized the question was pointless.

Priests, known for their healing and support magic, were usually among the weakest in combat... but Musen was clearly an exception.

Moke couldn’t help but imagine the cross hanging from Musen’s neck doubling as a war hammer—though he kept that thought to himself.

Liyana subtly nudged Xia Lun.

Xia Lun nodded, as if understanding her silent suggestion.

Then, he handed Musen a freshly grilled meat skewer. "Want one?"

"Much obliged." Musen accepted it cheerfully.

"Mind sharing some honey?"

"Of course, Xia Lun... Take the whole pot. I’ve got plenty more where that came from."

Liyana facepalmed, exasperated.

Musen still hadn’t joined a team—Liyana’s hint had been for Xia Lun to recruit him.

Aina’s expression darkened slightly. She had assumed that skewer was meant for her.

But soon, another skewer, lightly glazed with honey, was held to her lips.

For some reason, Aina didn’t take it. Instead, she took a small bite.

The honey wasn’t overly sweet—it carried a refreshing hint of lemon, perfectly balancing the meat’s richness.

Liyana watched, wide-eyed. Had Xia Lun already won her over?

Seeming satisfied with the taste, Aina finally took the skewer from Xia Lun’s hand.

Xia Lun walked over to the tents and began packing them up.

The tent frames were made of highly conductive magical material, normally pliant like liquid. No assembly was needed—just a bit of mana to erect them instantly. A dwarven invention, and every adventurer’s top choice for convenience.

Outside, the furious buzzing gradually faded. The killer bees seemed to realize the wall of fire was impenetrable and finally retreated.

All that remained were countless charred insect carcasses, a sight that sent shivers down the spine.

"Finally, they’re gone," Liyana sighed in relief.

Aina calmly stowed her staff away, as if nothing had happened.

Had this not been a forest, she could’ve reduced the entire swarm to ashes with a single spell.

Xia Lun swung his sword once, the sheer force of the slash clearing a clean path ahead.

"Whoa, Xia Lun! What was that for? You scared me!" Liyana yelped. "Trying to show off in front of Aina? Didn’t think you’d stoop to something so childish..."

"Shut it," Xia Lun growled, a vein throbbing on his forehead.

"Oho~ Someone’s flustered—OW! Xia Lun, stop! Don’t you dare hit me with that scabbard—!"

Aina glanced at Xia Lun and Liyana’s playful scuffle but said nothing. She was used to Liyana’s noise by now, as if none of it concerned her.

Musen’s jaw dropped slightly, stunned by Xia Lun’s display of power.

That level of swordplay wasn’t something an ordinary warrior could pull off... yet Xia Lun made it look effortless.

For someone his age, such strength was nothing short of extraordinary.

"Shall we go, Musen?" Xia Lun offered a warm smile.

Was this a display meant for him?

Musen wasn’t sure.

Truthfully, he hadn’t been in high spirits lately, no matter how cheerfully he laughed with Moke and Liyana. Beneath the surface, a shadow loomed over his heart.

After all, someone like him didn’t seem to have the right to weep or grieve.

A hulking, muscular man breaking down in tears would be nothing but a joke.

Yet he was a priest—his heart was just as tender as any other’s.

His former teammates had been his comrades. They’d adventured together, laughed together, celebrated victories together... and now, they were all gone.

Risk and death were part of the job—something every adventurer accepted from the start. But when it actually happened... Musen still couldn’t bear it.

He never wanted to lose precious companions again, never wanted to feel that heart-wrenching pain. That was why he’d hesitated to join another team.

"Pretty strong, huh? Captain Xia Lun," Moke clapped Musen on the shoulder. "I don’t think any monster stands a chance against him."

"And Aina!" Liyana chimed in. "Aina’s crazy strong too! She can one-shot anything—I can’t even imagine her losing!"

Musen stared blankly at the two figures ahead.

The sun rose slowly from the eastern treetops, casting light over the group and the path before them.

Xia Lun sheathed his sword. Aina adjusted her hat slightly, as if shielding her eyes from the glare.

It was time to move on.

"Something on your mind, Musen?" Xia Lun noticed the man’s gaze—hopeful, yet hesitant.

"I... Could I join your team, Xia Lun?" Musen asked, his voice uncharacteristically timid for his imposing frame.

"Of course. We could use a priest," Xia Lun replied with a smile.

"Yesss!"

Liyana cheered, and even Moke looked delighted.

After all, while Xia Lun and Aina never got hurt... they certainly did.