Many questions spiraled through her head.

She was supposed to save this level 1 NPC?

Take him through Selden and out of the forest??

Xinyan shook her head.

Questions could come later!

She had planned on relying on the NPC to help them get out safely, but it seemed that wasn't possible. 

She quickly moved up the branches towards him.

Because the branches were spaced not too close, she could only sit in front of him to check his condition.

She tentatively reached out to move his hood down.

As the cloak fell away, her heart stopped.

Only one word could come to mind.

Handsome!

Even though his face was contorted in discomfort, he was incredibly handsome!

His black, tousled hair and smooth face was absolutely stunning!

Sweat was thinly seen on his face, but it only made it seem more immaculate!

Thump! Thump!

Xinyan could feel a blush creeping up her face!

She quickly closed her eyes to try and calm down.

But when she opened them again, she could still hear her heart beat!

She quickly nudged Elendril before she lost focus!

"Elendril, Elendril! Are you alright?"

She called out to him.

His eyes opened.

Xinyan felt she was peering into a deep, deep lake for a moment!

But they soon clouded over feverishly.

"Ezekriel? You're here too?"

Xinyan tilted her head.

Ezekriel?

It must be a character related to this NPC.

"That's great! I was so worried about you and Dad! Do you know where Dad is now?"

Elendril grabbed her and hugged her tightly.

Xinyan froze.

Her heart began to thump furiously.

She could feel the blush explode on her face!

'No!'

'This can't be the first hug I get from a boy!'

'He's an NPC, for God's sake!!'

'Oh my god, I can't ever let Yang Mi know of this.'

'She'll never let this go.'

'He's really muscular under that cloak...'

Xinyan tried to break free of the hug, but Elendril was too strong!¹Elendril has 5 strength to her 3, because he's a main character. ^^

Lost in thought, she was hugged for several seconds.

She tried another approach. 

"Y-Yes, Elendril, it's me, Ezekriel. Dad's waiting for us at home. Let's go home now, yes?"

She weakly said.

Xinyan's eyes were swirling in embarrassment.

Elendril smiled.

"Yes! Let's head home! Let me let Sylvanax out first. She'll make sure the townspeople can't find us!"

Sylvanax?

Elendril drew a small brick from his pouch.

He then pressed his finger onto the brick, and it turned blue.

It began to slowly transform into a replica of a dragon.

It moved!

Xinyan's heart was caught in her throat.

He had a dragon golem??

As expected of an important-sounding NPC!

Hiss!

Sylvanax prepared to attack Xinyan!

Elendril stroked Sylvanax.

"Calm down, Sylvanax! Why are you so aggressive towards Ezekriel today? I know the two of you aren't best friends, but let's get home first, alright?"

Sylvanax slowly moved back in a begrudging manner.

Xinyan could feel a flash of threatening from the burning blue eyes!

'Whatever. I wouldn't attack him anyhow. Free EXP, here I come!"

Elendril quickly hopped down from the tree. 

"C'mon, let's go!"

He softly said.

Xinyan could see his feverish eyes still burning.

It seemed he was still delirious.

The dragon swirled into the air.

Coo!

Xinyan felt the dragon was extremely cute!

She jumped down as well, only to stumble and almost faceplant the ground!

Her blush, which had calmed down from earlier, exploded again!

'Ahahahaha, thank God he's delirious right now. I can save face!'

Elendril tilted his head towards Sylvanax.

"Sylvanax, scout for me and Ezekriel. Let me know if there's any monsters or townspeople!"

Coo!

Sylvanax flew ahead of them, beckoning them forward. 

Elendril took Xinyan's hand.

He quickly frowned and looked at Xinyan.

"Hmm? Why do you seem so small today?"

Xinyan was concerned.

What should she do?

How would she explain-

"Ah, the townspeople must have made you younger, right? Does that mean you don't know the moving technique anymore?"

Xinyan sighed in relief.

Thank God this NPC was really good at lying to himself!

"Yes, I became really young again."

Elendril's feverish eyes suddenly twinkled in delight.

"Ha! It's time for your little brother to carry you this time! I won't let you forget this, hehe!"

Elendril crouched down and patted his back.

"C'mon little Ezekriel, let Elendril carry you home~"

He said in a sing-song voice.

Xinyan hesitantly got on his back.

He suddenly clasped her legs tightly, and he quickly flew into the forest!

But he suddenly stopped.

"Ah, but. Where are we from home again?"

"We need to head west for three hours."

"Haha, don't worry! You must've forgotten how good our dad's moving technique is!"

Elendril began to move quickly once more, towards the west. 

Xinyan was shocked!

She felt as if they were gliding through the forest!

At one point, she had tried to run through the forest just to find more flowers. 

She was almost caught by a monster and had to stop.

But still, Elendril right now moved almost as fast as her running!

And this was with an injured leg!

Elendril frowned.

"Hmm. It seems my body isn't doing too well. One of my legs feels really weak, so it might be longer than one and a half hours."

Xinyan's eyes bulged.

That was already very good!

And he thought this was bad??

Sigh.

The world of a big shot and someone like her was worlds apart!

She had to make sure she hugged his thigh very tightly!

Sylvanax only returned once to report to Elendril.

He had simply moved to the trees instead, hopping through them as if it were nothing.

Even though his leg was injured, he acted as if it were perfectly fine!

Xinyan truly felt miserable.

The main character energy around him was insufferable...

-----(:)-----

They arrived at the city gates, right before the sun began to set. 

Sylvanax had long entered Elendril's pouch and become a brick again.

"Hey, Ezekriel. Where's dad's house?"

Xinyan quickly made a lie.

"Ah, we're actually inside the city right now. But I have to take you to the doctor first, so they can make your leg feel better, alright?"

Xinyan used her sweetest voice to convince him.

After all, she didn't know what could happen if she was too slow to treat him!

"Okay, let's head in then!"

They joined the line and reached the guard.

The guard saw them.

"8 coppers."

"What? But it was 3 coppers a person earlier!"

Xinyan protested.

"8 coppers."

The guard repeated.

"Don't worry, Ezekriel. I'm sure I still have some money..."

Elendril dug into this pocket.

"Ah, right here!"

Elendril fished 8 copper coins.

"Here you go, sir!"

With a wooden face, the guard took the coins.

"Go in."

Elendril headed in.

"Tsk. That's what they get for being a lovey-dovey couple."

Xinyan could vaguely hear the guard's words.

Her face blushed again.

"Uhh, Elendril. You can let me down now."

Elendril laughed.

"Of course not! When can I get the chance to carry my brother like this? So where should we go first?"

Xinyan pouted.

"Fine, Elendril! Head to the city square first!"

"Alright!"

Elendril began to move towards the square.

However, Xinyan felt something was wrong.

He was a lot more sluggish than when they first began.

She glanced down. 

The wound had opened as well, and blood began to drop down.

She was extremely concerned!

Di! Di! Di!

Xinyan accepted the call.

"Xinyan! How did the quest go? The food here is really good!"

Xinyan could hear Yang Mi munching on something in the background.

"Seriously, Yang Mi. How do you not get fat??"

Yang Mi smacked her lips in delight.

"Not relevant~! So where are you?"

Xinyan sighed.

"I'm going to the town square. Meet me at the fountain with the woman."

"Well, I'm already here, so, waiting for you~!"

Yang Mi closed the call.

Xinyan sighed again.

How was she going to explain this to Yang Mi...