40: Xiaonai is not a child

Chapter 40: Xiao Nai Is Not a Child

After drinking a few cups of wine, Old Tom's spirits indeed improved significantly, and his senile dementia even disappeared directly.

As expected of the Warden, Old Tom's conversation, logic, and emotional intelligence were all top-notch; he was quick-witted and sharp-minded during discussions.

Dick secretly rejoiced, glad that he had stopped Old Tom just before the bell-ringing, otherwise he wouldn't have seen the Clock Tower's mystery tonight.

Old Tom was famously fond of talent, and he was especially doting towards his juniors.

The three of them happened to all be talented individuals, so Old Tom was extremely warm and hospitable, turning into a chatterbox and insisting on talking for over an hour.

Before they left, Old Tom offered to give them some small gifts.

Alice quickly waved her hand, politely and courteously declining.

Xiao Nai, on the other hand, giggled foolishly, feigning refusal while actually welcoming it, her eyes practically shimmering.

As for Dick, his skin was as thick as a city wall; whatever Old Tom gave, he took, and he even dared to make requests.

After a few rounds of back-and-forth, Dick left satisfied, holding over a dozen jugs of fine wine, several high-grade magic stones, and numerous magic accessories...

It was already late at night when they moved the gifts back to the student dormitory.

The Academy's daily management was very lax; the dormitories had no matrons, no curfew, and male and female students could even visit each other freely.

At this time, on the large bed in Dick's room, Mina was only wearing a cute pair of panties and was sleeping soundly, hugging a pillow.

As a Holy Knight special recruit, Mina naturally had her own room, and it was quite luxurious, but she specifically chose to sleep on Dick's bed.

Not only that, but all her luggage had been moved in, suggesting she intended to live here long-term.

The young girl's fair skin was delicate and flawless, her sweet sleeping face completely unguarded, and the occasional murmurs she made in her sleep were full of charm.

Clearly, Mina intended to seduce Dick; after all, she hadn't even covered herself with a blanket, her intentions were quite obvious.

Alice pursed her lips and directly helped Mina cover herself with the blanket, thoroughly concealing her skin.

"Dick, you were really too rude just now!"

Turning around, Alice looked at Dick, who was inventorying the gifts, and felt that his behavior just now was extremely inappropriate.

"The Warden just meant it as a token, not the real meaning; you should have just taken it as a simple gesture. But you actually had the nerve to accept everything, that's just meaningless..."

Hearing this, Dick shook his head and chuckled softly.

"The Warden is interested in me, so giving a little something is normal. Besides, this little something is just a small matter to him. If I were to refuse ungraciously, that would truly be meaningless."

Woken by their conversation, Mina groggily sat up, rubbed her eyes, and asked, "What do you two mean by that?"

Dick didn't bother with pleasantries and said directly, "There's still some time until dawn. Let's go check out the 'Corpse Keeper of the Academy's Back Mountain' first."

Literally speaking, this should be the most terrifying of the seven great mysteries, and it has the most witnesses.

Several conjectures have even spread about the Corpse Keeper.

Some say he is the ferryman of lost souls, others say he is a monster imprisoned by the Academy, and some even believe he is an indescribable taboo existence.

Dick disdained these conjecture filled with hype; the truth would be revealed soon anyway.

"Dick, I want to go too..." Mina said sweetly, hugging Dick's arm.

Dick refused directly, "You're so timid, it's better not to go looking for trouble."

"I'm not afraid of those demons and monsters; Dick will definitely protect me anyway... Hehehe."

Looking at Mina's infatuated expression, Dick lowered his head and thought for a moment. Before long, he nodded and said, "Alright, go change quickly."

Mina's personality was too soft; as soon as he was slightly firm, she would immediately 'whine,' unable to refuse at all.

However, Mina happened to be a gifted Holy Knight, a tank meant to be at the very front during group battles.

Later, Mina even became a terrifying Dark Witch who spread fear, an existence that everyone dreaded upon hearing her name.

Dick knew that it was various experiences that allowed Mina to grow and transform, turning her from a soft girl into a tough woman.

And now, Dick didn't mind accelerating this process.

After all, Mina was indeed a bit too soft at this stage. Protecting her too well was actually detrimental to her growth.

At the dormitory entrance, Xiao Nai was cracking melon seeds and waiting. Until all the mysteries were analyzed, she would serve as Dick's guide.

Before long, Dick and Alice came out, followed by Mina. She was wearing light armor, carrying the cicimian holy shield on her back, her pretty face serious.

"Tsk tsk tsk, Dick, you don't look particularly handsome, but I didn't expect you to be so popular with women. I heard that Beyonce from the Swordsman Department is also interested in you..."

Dick ignored Xiao Nai's teasing and said directly, "Let's go! Take us to the back mountain immediately to find that Corpse Keeper!"

"Okay, okay," Xiao Nai got up, patted her clothes, and skipped to the front, chuckling, "I'm really worried, will I be taken down by you too..."

Although it was just a casual joke from Xiao Nai, Alice and Mina looked over simultaneously.

Feeling the two girls' gazes, Dick said somewhat speechlessly, "I'm not interested in children."

Hearing this, Alice and Mina breathed a sigh of relief.

Thinking about it, with Xiao Nai's flat figure and a height a head shorter than Mina's... someone who didn't know might think she was someone's child.

But Xiao Nai was unhappy to hear this and immediately turned back, shouting, "I'm already nineteen years old this year, the same age as you! I'm not a child!"

"Yes, yes, yes, hurry and lead the way, Ms. Xiao Nai."

Hearing Dick's perfunctory words, Xiao Nai let out a soft huff and continued to lead the way, but she still grumbled, "I'm very mature, I could already be the mother of several children..."

Dick smiled but said nothing. Women in this world generally married and had children early; at nineteen, it was indeed possible to have children.

But that also depended on what kind of nineteen-year-old they were.

If they were like Alice and Mina, with full figures and mature development, it would be reasonable.

As for Xiao Nai, with just a simple glance, Dick knew she was a pure maiden with no experience whatsoever.

Moreover, given her physique, putting aside whether she could get pregnant, Dick even doubted if she could do... certain things.

Before long, everyone arrived at the forest on the Academy's back mountain.

Contrary to Dick's imagination, the scenery here was beautiful, with flowers everywhere, and the greenery was neatly trimmed, clearly indicating it was regularly maintained.

This was not a place where eerie mysteries occurred; it was entirely a beautiful garden from some fairy tale.

"This... is really where the Corpse Keeper appears? Are you sure you didn't come to the wrong place..." Dick couldn't help but ask doubtfully.

"Of course, I definitely didn't take the wrong path," Xiao Nai said confidently, hands on her hips, "Just walk a few more minutes forward, and you'll soon encounter the Corpse Keeper."

"He will be holding a blood-stained scythe, letting out hoarse, strange roars, driving away all students who dare to enter the back mountain!"

Seeing Xiao Nai's serious demeanor, Dick was half-believing, half-doubting, but he still walked forward.

There were no ghosts or monsters in this world that could scare Dick; after all, he had cleared this dungeon a hundred times.

Alice and Mina followed closely behind; both girls had immense faith in Dick.

But Xiao Nai was a bit hesitant, "Hey, you really dare to walk forward? Are you crazy..."

"Are you coming or not?" Dick turned back and said somewhat impatiently, "If you don't come, I'll deduct your pay, and you'll have to pay ten times the penalty!"

"Coming! I'm coming! Don't be so impatient..."

Compared to the so-called Corpse Keeper, Xiao Nai was still more afraid of being poor.