Chapter 157 119: Campfire and Witch, Pink Little Sea Snail

This Witch's Soul looked a lot like Noxia's body in the Qi Xin Chapel, though her face was quite different.

After returning to the Campfire, Klemo hesitated for a moment before telling the Witch, Gabrielle, that he had met Mr. Gelo.

However, whether it was because he had gotten smarter or because Mr. Gelo's words had planted seeds of doubt in his heart, he didn't tell Gabrielle about the Soul and the Small Candle.

After hearing what Klemo had to say, the Witch's Soul, Gabrielle, remained very calm, her expression seemingly indifferent.

"Firewood Gatherer, in a world of chaos, nothing can be trusted."

"These so-called 'Candle Spirits' are not your friends. They are merely heretics."

"Why? Mr. Gelo saved me!" Klemo frowned and retorted. "He's the first normal person I've met besides the Survivors!"

"As for the Firewood Gatherers you keep mentioning, I haven't seen a single one!"

Although Klemo was naive, he wasn't completely incapable of thinking and judging for himself.

After listening to him, Gabrielle seemed to be simply denying his claims, though her reasons were a mystery.

"Whether you believe it or not is up to you, Firewood Gatherer. This chaotic world cannot be trusted, and those with sinister intentions are everywhere." Faced with Klemo's rebuttal, Gabrielle simply watched him quietly. "If you can reach the Fire Element Divine Hall, you will meet the other Firewood Gatherers."

Klemo pursed his lips and tightened his grip on the hilt of his Greatsword.

'Fire Element Divine Hall... Fire Element Divine Hall...'

He had heard that phrase countless times already.

Gabrielle baselessly considered the Candle Spirits heretics, while Mr. Gelo had told him that his Soul was incomplete...

'Who am I supposed to believe?'

'What am I even fighting for?'

At this moment, Klemo's heart was a mess of complicated feelings.

Before meeting Mr. Gelo, he had never thought about these things. He had simply assumed he was the one destined to gather the Firewood and save the world. He trusted Gabrielle's words implicitly and fought steadfastly for her cause, traveling through one place filled with Survivors after another...

But now, a trace of confusion had sprouted in his heart.

He didn't speak, and Gabrielle remained silent as well. Her Soul hovered there like a statue.

The atmosphere grew silent.

After an unknown amount of time, Klemo seemed to have recomposed himself and reached his hand out to Gabrielle.

"...Help me grow stronger, Gabrielle."

Gabrielle nodded slightly, and her Soul touched Klemo's hand. The Power previously obtained from the Mad Fallen Demon Ghost began to flow like kindling into the Campfire, causing it to burn even brighter. A moment later, a wisp of that Power flowed back into Klemo...

The Campfire blazed on, burning endlessly, fueled by an inexhaustible supply of dry wood below...

...

BLUB BLUB BLUB...

The pink Little Sea Snail in the container had been growing more and more active recently, letting out small bubbles from time to time.

However, Luo Ge didn't notice. He was intently examining the feedback from the Spirit Candle.

'Maybe it's time to add a new dungeon? Otherwise, the version name doesn't really fit...'

'But neither Seaside Town, the Battlefield Relics, nor the Jinghai Islands have been anchored yet, and there are rewards for doing so...'

'Should I anchor first, or pull in something new...'

Luo Ge was conflicted.

Just as he was hesitating, the pink Little Sea Snail in the container suddenly stopped blowing bubbles. A moment later, the lid of the shell was slowly pushed open.

Two tiny hands appeared, followed by a pair of bright eyes peeking cautiously through the gap, observing the outside world.

Before long, the eyes noticed Luo Ge's broad back and blinked curiously.

As if to get a better look, the little one stealthily pushed the shell lid further open, revealing a small head. She had damp, pink hair, fair skin, and fish scales covering her body.

The little one tilted her head in confusion, lightly blowing bubbles from her mouth, seemingly unable to comprehend what this breathing "thing" in front of her was.

"I'll anchor the island first!"

Luo Ge made up his mind.

The sudden sound startled the little one. She flinched, then quickly grabbed the shell lid, retreated into her shell, and pulled it tightly shut.

Luo Ge was completely unaware of this.

After making his decision, he stood up, preparing to go and anchor the island.

'The rewards from anchoring islands are always good... except for that Little Sea Snail, which hasn't shown any activity for a long time...'

At this thought, Luo Ge couldn't help but glance at the pink Little Sea Snail in the container. After a moment's thought, he picked up the container, intending to change the water.

The pink Little Sea Snail in the container began to sway with the water.

"POP..."

"Hm?" Luo Ge's brow furrowed slightly as he looked at the Little Sea Snail in the container in surprise.

'Did that thing just make a weird noise?'

After staring intently for two seconds, Luo Ge directly covered it with the Power of the Spirit Candle.

A moment later, his brow relaxed, and he couldn't help but laugh. He put down the container and sat down in the Spirit Candle Space.

[Shell Merfolk]

[Tier: Residual Ash]

[Level: 1]

[Talent: ? (Unawakened)]

[Skill: Controlled Shell]

[Explanation: A Little Mermaid incubated within a shell. A beautiful creature of Legend possessing a peculiar special Ability.]

"Hey, little one, come on out. I can see you."

"POP..." The shell lid closed even tighter.

Seeing this, Luo Ge felt a bit helpless. He didn't say anything else and just sat cross-legged in front of the container.

After a while, seemingly sensing that it was quiet outside, the shell lid slowly pushed open, and a pair of clear, nervous eyes peeked out from the gap once more.

But as soon as the little one pushed it open, she saw a big, smiling face watching her.

The shell lid snapped shut again in fear.

After another little while, perhaps sensing that the big creature before her had no ill intent, the little one's curiosity finally overcame her fear, and she opened the lid just a crack.

Seeing that Luo Ge was still sitting there, the gap gradually widened, and the little one finally dared to look directly at him.

A long while passed, and Luo Ge just waited patiently.

Finally, she slowly revealed her little head, tilting it curiously as she studied Luo Ge.

"What are you...?"

This, of course, was the meaning as translated by the Spirit Candle.

The little one only made "POP," "POP" sounds.

"I'm a person. My name is Luo Ge."

Luo Ge said softly with a smile, looking at the cute little one in the sea shell.

"What's a person?" the little one asked curiously.

'A new life that doesn't know anything, just as I thought. I'll have to teach her slowly...'

"I'll tell you all about it slowly. For now, how about I give you a name?"

"What's a name?"

"A name is what you're called. When someone says that name, they're calling you. For example, my name is Luo Ge."

"Okay... Luo... Ge. Give me a name."

"How about Xiaoluo? If you don't like it, I can give you a new one when you're older."

"Okay."

Xiaoluo blinked her eyes. She didn't seem to care much about the name; after all, she didn't know if it was a good name or a bad one.

"Can you sense what your Talent is?" Luo Ge asked.

"What's a Talent?"

"It's an inborn Ability. What kind of Abilities do you have?"

"Ability..." Xiaoluo thought for a moment, then her eyes lit up. She hid inside her shell and said in a muffled voice, "I can close this... like this!"

"..." Luo Ge.

'Forget it. Looks like I was a bit too hasty. I'll take it slow.'

Her appearance was naturally very important to Luo Ge. There weren't many normal, native lifeforms in this world to begin with. Even including Klemo, that only made three.

Besides, as a reward given by the Spirit Candle for anchoring an island, Xiaoluo definitely had some special abilities; they just hadn't manifested yet.

Before that could happen, Luo Ge had to give her a basic understanding of the world.

'Anchoring islands and opening new dungeons... I'll put that on hold for now. No rush. If the players complain about the lack of updates, I'll just say it's in the works...'