Chapter 167: 103. Shirt
Fisher exited through the side door of the Full Moon Church, carrying his belongings, while silently organizing Anna’s words in his mind. He shifted his footsteps in the direction of the Magic Market, opting not to take a carriage, as walking would help him think.
When moving, his thoughts flowed more quickly, though he couldn’t tell if it was just his own illusion or the truth.
Anna’s motives still needed to be considered, but engaging in trade with Anna posed no risk for Fisher, which was also the reason he reached a consensus with her first.
Her demand was to destroy a relic that Blake had hidden in his treasury in exchange for her freedom. Before that, she needed to provide Fisher with information as leverage for her request. This meant that Fisher would have many opportunities to assess whether her words and needs were true or false, to avoid falling into a trap set by Blake or an ulterior motive.
However, Fisher found Anna’s claim that Blake was the mastermind to be credible, which made him feel that the matter was somewhat tricky. For Blake was not a simple character, and he also seemed to possess a completion manual.
Fisher walked quickly, and the scenery of Saint Nali unfolded before him, forcing his thoughts to pause.
“Get out of the way! I’m the bravest sailor of Nali!”
“Our ship is about to reach the unknown continent!”
On the street, several children were playfully fighting in a wooden cart, shouting at a streetlight with wooden sticks as if the light were a giant beast from the ocean. They pretended to swing swords or fire cannons to bring it down, displaying innocent childlike enthusiasm.
The tavern’s radio on the street continuously played songs praising the expansion into the outside world, some with nostalgic tunes like those Lady Martha used to listen to, along with new songs by recent artists.
However, the themes hadn’t changed much: some described the thrills of adventure, others spoke of sailors’ bravery, and some portrayed the scene of a giant ship laden with gold and treasures entering the harbor.
The biggest dream of the children was to become captains who conquer the ocean and the continents beyond. Currently, the most profitable industry involved merchants crossing continents, and the New Party’s policies leaned toward liberating expansion methods.
All of this stemmed from several decades ago when Captain Blake returned triumphantly from the Southern Continent. He brought a fervent wave of maritime exploration to the entire Western Continent, inspiring humanity’s enthusiasm for outward expansion for decades and shaping a new generation of Nali people’s values and worldview.
Undoubtedly, he would be a great figure written in human history.
Thinking of this, Fisher’s expression darkened slightly, but his footsteps did not halt; he soon arrived at the entrance to the Magic Market.
Fisher came here because he needed to purchase basic materials for the magic he would inscribe later. Before leaving, Renee had left several high-level magical inscriptions on his staff, but their usage was very limited in the densely populated Saint Nali. He needed more powerful magic to use.
After all, Fisher was a senior member of the Magic Association and preferred using the two spells he invented for considerations of convenience and cost. However, that did not mean he was unwilling to inscribe other spells.
He quickly entered the Magic Market, skillfully navigating past shops selling different magic materials. Previously, with Jasmine around, he needed to pause and explain things for her to observe closely, but this time was not a classroom; Fisher didn’t need to do that.
This time, while shopping, Fisher didn’t even haggle over prices; he simply picked up the magic materials he favored and walked to the next shop without wasting any time lingering. This nonchalant demeanor would have surely startled Renee, as he had not been like this before.
Mainly due to the Nali he had acquired by exchanging gold with Bai Mu, Fisher felt confident now, enjoying the thrill of purchasing items without bargaining.
It must be said that consumption is sometimes one of the pleasures of humanity, especially when cost is not a consideration.
Soon, Fisher carried a large bag of magic materials worth tens of thousands of Nali, preparing to return to his rental apartment.
Once he began working, these magic materials would transform into several mid-level spells valued at over six or seven hundred thousand Nali. This is the high value a magician can create; otherwise, every year there wouldn’t be so many students eager to enter the Magic Academy.
However, before inscribing magic, he still needed to find that timid, shy little whale.
Jasmine was very timid; even when she escaped from the girls’ dorm, she wouldn’t have gone too far, likely lingering somewhere near Saint Nali University, which provided him with a general idea of where to search for her.
Fisher took a carriage back to his rental apartment. Since he previously worked at Saint Nali University, all other mail was sent there, so Lady Martha did not need to help him carry a pile of mail back to his room every day.
However, this created a situation where Blake and his associates were in the dark, and he was in the open. Once the authorities could not intervene, Fisher felt very passive. Now that he had resigned, it was clear he was ready to roll up his sleeves and confront Blake, the mastermind behind the Healing Room of the Pink Pavilion.
He was not afraid of that legendary figure, especially after being provoked by several attacks.
Fisher did not check his mailbox but, when he glanced up at his apartment on the second floor, he noticed that the window, which had been closed, was now slightly open. Normally, Martha would not move his belongings unless necessary.
Fisher frowned slightly, glancing at the unlit first floor of his rental apartment, knowing that Martha should not be home.
So, had someone else entered his apartment?
The first thought that crossed his mind was the monster hunters from the Healing Room. After all, they had seen him just last night. Did they suspect that the runaway Jasmine was here? Were they planning to take matters into their own hands instead of waiting for the Nali officials to capture the fugitive half-human student?
They shouldn’t be that foolish.
Fisher placed the magic materials at the door and quietly used his key to unlock the room. The room was dark and eerily silent.
Fisher scanned the first floor, confirming there were no living creatures. He then shifted his gaze toward the second floor, where his room was located.
He gripped the Fluid Sword and gradually stepped up against the wall near the staircase, quietly making his way to his room’s door. He gently grasped the doorknob.
He held still for a few seconds, then turned the doorknob and peeked inside through the crack in the door.
His room looked just as it always did, seemingly without any signs of anyone entering.
However, after a meticulous look, Fisher suddenly noticed a very familiar whale tail lying on the floor beside his bed.
As soon as that adorable tail came into his view, Fisher’s previously stern expression turned into one of deadpan surprise.
He no longer hesitated and directly pushed the door open to find that the pitiful little whale girl was squatting by his window.
Upon seeing the door open, she reacted even more strongly than Fisher, quickly raising her hands to cover her face with her cloak, but her ears were flapping in panic, and her hands waved in front of her, along with her cute voice saying,
“Woo, I’m not a thief, I… I just came to find Teacher Fisher… Please don’t call the police.”
“Jasmine.”
“Woo, hey? Teacher Fisher, you’re back!”
Upon hearing the voice of the person at the door, her big watery eyes, which were hidden under the cloak, opened wide. She gently took off the cloak covering her face, appearing both pitiful and happy.
After the cloak was removed, Fisher noticed that she was covered in dirt, with some stains on her bare little feet.
Realizing that Fisher was looking at her, she pitifully tucked her small feet back beneath her nightgown. She had fled in a hurry the night before and hadn’t brought anything with her. From Saint Nali University to Fisher’s rental apartment was not a short distance, and she had to pass through the outskirts of Saint Nali. Running barefoot, she indeed looked quite messy.
“How did you know I lived here?”
“I followed Teacher Fisher here all morning. I was supposed to follow you again when you went out just now, but I was… too hungry, so I snuck in to rest a bit.”
At that moment, Fisher noticed that she had been leaning against the window without moving, holding her little belly. Thankfully, it didn’t make a “gurgle” sound, but she clearly looked like she was about to starve.
Counting from the time Jasmine escaped last night, she hadn’t eaten two meals, and now she was this hungry. Why did the whale folk seem to eat so much once they were out of the ocean trench?
Or is it that human portions are just too small, and she had never been full?
Recalling how Jasmine had emptied his wallet during their last meal together, Fisher sighed, glancing downstairs. After a couple of seconds, he turned back to Jasmine and said,
“First, go wash up in the bathroom; I’ll make you something to eat.”
“But… I have no clothes.”
Jasmine pinched her dirty nightgown, looking a bit downcast. She was still holding onto a small notebook and, aside from that, hadn’t brought anything else out, even running barefoot over such a distance.
However, this was indeed unexpected for Fisher. He had thought that given her timid nature, she would never dare to run far from the vicinity of Saint Nali University. He had even prepared to search for her nearby. Who would have thought she stubbornly ran back into Saint Nali City with him? This was truly…
After hearing her words, Fisher walked over to the wardrobe nearby and glanced at the clothes inside.
There were clothes belonging to both him and Renee. Originally, Fisher intended to give her one of Renee’s clothes, but sensing Renee’s signature scent, he reconsidered.
Not to mention she might not fit into them; if Renee found out, she’d definitely be furious.
Fisher looked at the size of Renee’s clothes, thinking this, completely unaware that Jasmine behind him was secretly eyeing Fisher’s back and then the wardrobe. Upon seeing several women’s clothes hanging inside, she slightly pouted and curled up tighter.
“You can wear mine for now; there are no suitable sizes for you. I’ll buy you some later tonight when I go out.”
“Hey, what? Wear… Teacher Fisher’s?”
Upon hearing this, Jasmine’s face instantly turned bright red. However, Fisher wasted no time; a piece of clothing was already thrown over to her.
She frantically caught it, her lips trembling as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she merely pressed them together and said nothing, tightly clenching the clothing in her hands.
“That one is clean and washed, don’t worry. You know how to use the bathroom, right?”
“Y-Yes! I can do it.”
Fisher glanced at her nervous and shy appearance, nodded, and turned back to bring in the magic materials while also preparing something delicious for the little whale girl. He wondered if Lady Martha’s supplies were enough to cater to this little orca’s lavish habits.
The apartment had an adjacent bathroom, and to ease her shyness, Fisher closed the door behind him.
Jasmine watched as the door closed, and once she couldn’t see Fisher anymore, she finally relaxed a bit. Every time Fisher was around, her heart raced uncontrollably.
Now that he was gone, she quietly extended her small feet from beneath her tail and sat upright, but her face still carried a slight blush.
After hearing Fisher’s footsteps going downstairs, her ears flapped twice, and she focused her gaze on the oversized white shirt in her hands.
Looking at the clean white shirt, her throat moved slightly for a couple of seconds, and a terrifying thought suddenly surged in her mind.
This is Teacher Fisher’s clothing.
No!
Jasmine, you can’t…
This is simply…
Her tail gently tapped the floor behind her, and her heart began to race with thoughts of shame.
Clearly, there was no one else in the room, and the door was closed, yet she anxiously glanced around before tremblingly bringing the clothing closer to herself.
She lowered her head and gently sniffed the scent on the fabric, but just as Fisher had said, he had washed it, so there was no trace of his scent left, only a faint aroma of laundry.
The next moment, Jasmine disappointedly lifted her head, looking as if she had found nothing, pressing her lips together.
But soon, she realized what strange thing she was doing.
This is so shameless… It’s all Milica’s fault for showing me those romance comics!
Thinking of this, her cheeks instantly turned bright red, and she closed her eyes, letting out a self-reproaching sound.
“Chirp.”
After a while, she finally clutched Fisher’s shirt and walked towards the bathroom connected to Fisher’s room, where there was a bathtub for cleaning oneself. As she filled the tub, she carefully hung Fisher’s clothing on the doorknob.
Water gradually filled the tub, but she kept gazing at that white garment.
“Woo, the water’s full!”
The price of the shirt was nine pounds and fifteen pence.
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(End of Chapter)
