Chapter 13 Dog Food
“Paladins can’t lie, right?”
George nodded.
“If someone asks you where you came from, if you stay silent, you can only say you came from the cathedral. Wouldn’t that give you away?” Jima said. “You could pretend to be a mute knight and communicate with the outside world, relying on my mouth to deceive them.”
In fact, this was just a pretext. Jima was more concerned with how this would make it easier for her to deceive. It was an important step towards utilizing George.
George furrowed his brow slightly and said, “Although I can’t lie, my words will be more persuasive to others.”
This should be the paladin class’s first-level ability “Honesty”… Jima took the opportunity to say:
“That makes cooperating with me even better.”
“I’ll lie. At critical moments, if you say a few truths, you can make the other party completely believe us. Isn’t that great?”
George thought about it and felt something was off, but he couldn’t pinpoint it. He nodded and said, “Fine, you handle socialization.”
“But for some key decisions, you must listen to me.”
“You also have to follow my commands in battle.”
“Of course, I’m your slave, Master George,” Jima replied.
“Jima, you’ll be free soon.”
Yes, but the process will definitely be unexpected for you. Jima smiled inwardly.
George took Jima to the training ground, where he explained the basics of combat to her and revealed some of his extraordinary abilities. He also asked Jima to disclose her extraordinary abilities.
“I’m still just a little succubus born less than five days ago,” Jima said. “It seems my words and actions unconsciously lean towards more alluring aspects. Well, I can attract men’s attention casually.”
“Don’t be hard on yourself; this is an innate trait that doesn’t signify anything,” George comforted.
When they came out of the training ground, the stars in the sky were blinking, watching them.
The two walked quietly on the stone path. The only sound was the chirping of crickets in the grass by the stone slabs, bathed in cool moonlight. The tranquil atmosphere calmed Jima’s mind, gradually making her forget the discomfort brought by hunger.
The moonlight is so beautiful. It would be great if a golden-haired cat were accompanying me… Jima glanced at the relaxed George beside her, his eyes dreamy as he admired the white church and the grass under the moonlight.
Unfortunately, only a golden-haired fool is by my side, Jima sighed inwardly.
But thinking about her enemy, still a dead virgin and deeply troubled by poverty, made Jima feel much better.
Ahead, after passing through the courtyard gate, they encountered a woman in a silver robe. Moonlight fell on her, outlining a hazy halo around her, making her aura increasingly sacred as if she had walked out of the moonlight. She turned her head and smiled gently:
“What a coincidence, George. I was just praying with my sisters and got back late, and I happened to run into you.”
Hey, hey, forcing an explanation like this, anyone would know you’re waiting for George.
But George, convinced by her sincerity, showed a polite smile and said:
“Sister Jenna, good evening.”
“Um, um, I heard you will be fighting tomorrow. I want to discuss something with you…” Jenna said, tightening her grip on something in her silver robe pocket.
“Okay, okay, okay.” Jima raised her hands in a mock surrender. “I won’t be the lightbulb.”
“Jima, what’s a lightbulb?”
“Oh, I remember – I left the soup boiling at home.”
“You didn’t make soup at home; that’s a lie.”
“Anyway, I have to go back now.” Jima was annoyed and just wanted to quickly leave the scene of dog food, walking away briskly.
“Jima is acting strangely,” George said, wanting to chase after her to clarify.
“Maybe she’s hitting a rebellious phase,” Jenna gently tugged George’s cloak. “It’s important.”
“What is it?”
Jenna’s clear green eyes gazed toward the nearby large tree, shrouded in hazy moonlight. She didn’t speak, only bowed her head, clasped her hands together, and walked toward the tree.
George followed behind her, wearing a puzzled expression.
Jenna stopped, took out a diamond amulet from her pocket, handed it to George with both hands, took a deep breath, and said:
“Um… you can’t wear the ‘Challenger’ armor to Sand Forest City; it’s too dangerous. This amulet can withstand one fatal blow, remove all disabilities and bindings, and heal you.”
“Thank you, Jenna.” George said. “And your face seems a bit red.”
Jenna almost lost her composure, forcing herself to calm down and awkwardly smiled, “I think I sang the hymns for too long; you know, singing is quite exhausting.”
That’s a lie, George could hear that. But based on the experience of uncovering Jima’s lies earlier, it was better not to expose a girl’s lie.
George accepted the amulet, warm to the touch.
Jenna said, “Remember to keep it close to your heart so it can sense your heartbeat.”
“Mm.”
…
…
In the distance, Jima poked her cute face out from behind a wall, her golden eyes reflecting the moonlight as she watched the young couple.
Earlier, Jima hadn’t walked far when she stumbled upon a dark narrow alley. After hesitating for a moment, she suddenly thought about the current peaceful night and the lone boy and girl alone together – wasn’t that an opportunity for a wild rendezvous? She immediately turned around to sneak a peek.
Under the tree, young George directly stuffed the amulet into his chest. Despite being quite far away, Jima could still sense the happiness radiating from Jenna’s smile. It felt as if the moonlight dog food was being forcefully shoved into her mouth.
“Cliché, melodramatic, boring love. The most cliché movie novel, my favorite kind of flag-raising scenes. I hope the flag quickly brings death to George.” Jima muttered to herself.
For some reason, George looked over at Jima from a distance and waved at her.
Jima quickly retracted her head and leaned against the wall.
After a while, the sound of George’s footsteps approached.
“Jima?” George smiled. “Didn’t you have something urgent to return to?”
“Knight grandpa, you know I’m lying.”
“Since you saw Jenna today, you’ve been acting strange. What’s going on?”
“Nothing, I’m fine.” Jima elongated her tone in response.
“If there’s anything unpleasant, you can tell me. I promise to keep it a secret.” George still didn’t forget his responsibility as her guardian.
Should I tell you that I took away your woman’s first kiss, which she didn’t take seriously and even laughed? Oh, and I still have to sell my body to you, the culprit, for leveling up and survival, after just having a mouthful of dog food.
“No. You know I’m lying, which means I don’t want to talk.”
George fell into contemplation, saying, “After I was sent to the cathedral, I got to know Jenna; we’re just good friends, very close. She’s here to send me off today, and I’m very happy.”
Just good friends? Are you really that foolish?… Jima asked, “Are you sure they’re just good friends? I guess her face must have turned as red as an apple just now.”
“She said she was exhausted from singing hymns for too long. Jenna has always worked hard.”
“Are you really that foolish or pretending? You believe that?” Jima put her hands on her hips and asked. “You don’t understand a woman’s little thoughts at all.”
“Huh? What she said was the truth.”
“She is…” Jima suddenly thought, what if she pierced through that facade? If these two lovebirds fell for each other, it would be even harder for her to dig a hole later, so she swallowed the words and said:
“… Right, she doesn’t need to lie to you. Um, you two are the best of friends.”
George stopped, taking in Jima with the moonlight as if he understood something. He said:
“Jima, you wouldn’t be…”
“What? What?”
“Don’t be angry; I guessed the reason for your unease just now. Some matters are better to be stated directly. Please don’t get mad.”
He can’t be thinking that I’m jealous, Jima thought. As she recalled her previous behavior, the more she thought about it, the more her actions resembled jealousy.
Jima quickly said, “No, you guessed wrong just now; you absolutely guessed wrong.”
“Really? I haven’t even said yet.”
“I can guess it with my tail.” Jima waved her hand seriously as a denial. “It’s absolutely not what you think.”
“That makes sense.” George self-deprecatingly smiled. “Jima just hatched from an egg and hasn’t even been a week; how could she possibly have her period? Eh? Jima, why does your face look so pale?”
“Nothing, just consider I have my period.”
“A woman’s thoughts are truly hard to guess.” George could hear that was a lie.
“Mm-mm-mm.”
Jima wore an unhappy expression, striding in front of George.
George stroked his chin, pondering Jima’s various odd behaviors. The more he thought, the more it seemed like the legendary jealousy.
Could it be that Jima has fallen for him? This crazy conclusion jolted him. He quickened his pace, intending to head home quickly and seek answers in books.
George soon overtook Jima.
Jima glanced at the surrounding dark alley and wanted to call out to George but held back due to pride. She could only jog to catch up.
After returning to George’s home.
Jima almost lay on the table, unwilling to get up.
“Jima, sit properly and straighten your back.”
“Don’t disturb me; I just want to be a salted fish.”
Though she said so, a sharp pain shot through her waist. This was a punishment from the slave contract for disobeying her master.
Jima gritted her teeth and straightened her back, sitting like a proper lady until the pain in her waist slowly faded.
Once I become powerful again, I will definitely return the favor doubly. Jima secretly vowed.
“Jima is such a good child,” George said as he approached. “Do you want to wash up first or should I?”
The moment Jima heard the word “bath,” her thoughts became lively.
Bathing represented an opportunity to indulge in sensuality. Having sensuality meant leveling up faster, which in turn meant she could step on George sooner.
“You wash first.”
As Jima spoke, memories of various “death by bathing” scenarios from her previous life arose in her mind. Targeting an indigenous person from another world wasn’t that difficult. Suddenly, she felt confident.
“Then later, when you have nothing to do, read more books and memorize three pages. I’ll test you tomorrow.”
George took out a large, famous book that made those who saw it gasp and those who heard about it weep – “The Guide to Preaching,” which was a frequent nightmare for Jima.
Jima’s facial muscles twitched slightly, and she gritted her teeth as she said:
“Okay, I’ll memorize it as soon as possible.”
“That’s great; Jima is so enthusiastic, I’m very happy.” George praised her a few times before going to take a bath.
“Enthusiastic, my foot.” Jima flipped through the pages, the densely packed text giving her a headache.
She estimated that George would take about thirty to forty minutes to bathe. If she exerted herself completely, she could probably finish memorizing in about half an hour. There would still be ten minutes left for sensuality.
“I’ve got to give it my all like I did in my senior year.” Jima began to study the book with unprecedented focus.
