On the Ark.

Yeah, why did I come out and join in the fun?

He originally wanted to help Ifrit because she was from Rhodes Island, which was clearly a kind gesture. But who knew his wallet couldn't support his good intentions? It's really frustrating; the money he painstakingly saved up over two years in Chernobog is gone so quickly. So much for being a veterinarian—it's supposed to be a lucrative profession! Sigh, I wonder if being a psychiatrist would be more lucrative.

Uh, it seems I've gotten the wrong idea again.

Lin Ye's attempt to rescue the situation backfired, and he was surrounded instead. This scene was naturally witnessed by the customers who loved a good show, and rumors started circulating again.

Most of the comments were directed at Ifrit, such as "This infected person is so rude, she won't let people who want to help leave," "Lungmen should be like Ursus and isolate all the infected people," "Yeah, yeah, letting these guys run around is just hurting us," or "Why don't we call the police and have her arrested?"

The opinions on Lin Ye were quite unified.

Phrases like "penniless," "trying to be successful even though you have no money," and "can't even afford dessert? It's really pitiful to be broke, but luckily I have some" are used to describe such people.

This made Lin Ye very unhappy, but there was nothing he could do about it.

At that moment, he felt the tension in the back of his collar disappear, and he felt as if he had been freed from his restraints.

He turned his head and found that Ifrit had let go of his hand, lowered her head, and took a step back.

"You can go now." She waved her hand, then turned her head away. "I'll stay here."

After Ifrit said that, Lin Ye felt embarrassed to leave.

"Isn't this a bad idea?"

"You're so annoying!" Ifrit glared at Lin Ye. "You came when I told you not to, you wanted to leave when I told you not to, and now that I'm telling you to leave, you're not leaving. Are you deliberately trying to go against me?! Do you know what the consequences are for going against Lady Ifrit?!"

Lin Ye was speechless. Thinking about it this way, he really did seem a bit like a masochist.

"Then I'll be going," Lin Ye asked. "Wait here, I'll go upstairs and get the money for you. You're looking for Kal'tsit, right?"

"Don't you dare see Dr. Kal'tsit!"

"...Then who should we contact? The forest rangers?"

Ifrit: "Who is that? I don't know him."

Lin Ye: "..."

"Alright, alright, you should go now!" Ifrit simply sat down in the chair. "I don't need you to help me find people. I, Lady Ifrit, have always taken responsibility for my own actions."

"...Let's not make it sound so natural to say that we're just eating for free."

“I didn’t eat for free!” Ifrit glared at Lin Ye, hesitated for a moment, and then muttered in a voice only the two of them could hear, “Actually, I brought money… but not enough. I didn’t expect it to be so expensive here.”

Oh, you brought money.

“Then just give it to them,” Lin Ye said. “I’ll make up the difference for you, but you’ll have to pay me back.”

"I feel like you can't make up for it."

How much did you bring?

Ifrit gave Lin Ye a number, and Lin Ye was completely stunned.

"What are you doing!" Lin Ye said in a low voice, "You didn't even have enough money to buy a cup of black tea! Yet you ordered so much stuff?! Are you doing this on purpose or do you just lack common sense?"

“I really don’t know! What could I do!” Ifrit glared back, her demeanor still forceful despite her wrongdoing. “I rarely go out, and even when I do, I’m with that person, and he always pays. This is the first time I’ve run away from home, and I did it without his knowledge. I just wanted to have a coffee and some cake, but who knew… if that person finds out…”

The second half of the sentence was Ifrit's complaint, and Lin Ye roughly understood what it meant.

Another brat...

"Alright, mind your own business. And don't be a busybody when you get back." Ifrit waved her hand. "If you do, I'll definitely teach you a lesson."

Lin Ye nodded.

Since Ifrit had already gone this far, Lin Ye was definitely going to go back and tell her parents. Watching his brat get a beating was one of Lin Ye's few sources of amusement.

However, just as he was about to leave, he suddenly noticed that Ifrit's hands were tightly gripping the hem of her clothes, her teeth were clenched on her lower lip, and her expression was very unnatural.

Only then did Lin Ye notice that the surrounding discussions had become even more excessive.

If the person eating the free rice were just an ordinary, unruly child, the onlookers would probably watch with amusement, observing how the shopkeeper and parents would discipline her, occasionally offering a few sarcastic remarks. But if the person eating the free rice were an infected individual, then everything was different. All eyes were on Ifrit, and every comment was like a knife piercing her. Lin Ye had initially thought this seemingly carefree girl wouldn't care about any of this, but now he realized he was wrong.

The store manager was also alarmed by this. He ran behind the counter, glanced at Ifrit, and then asked the staff what was going on.

After receiving the clerk's reply, the store manager nodded and calmly said, "Let's call the police. It's better to send an infected person with such egregious behavior to the police station."

Lin Ye noticed that Ifrit's body trembled.

"They're about to arrest you, but they won't tell your parents?" Lin Ye asked Ifrit.

Ifrit glared at Lin Ye: "What's it to you? Get out of here."

Lin Ye shook his head, sighed, and then walked to the counter.

"It's no big deal." Lin Ye smiled and took out his wallet. "This kid is just a little naughty. There's no need to involve the police. Hmm, just swipe my card."

Chapter Fifty: Parents of Unruly Children

I was busy until evening, and by the time I got back to the building, it was already dark.

Walking side-by-side with Ifrit, Lin Ye felt utterly helpless. He had only wanted to relax with some desserts, but before he could even unwind, his wallet and bank account balances were completely depleted, making his already weary heart even more exhausted. Two years of hard work in Chernobog had essentially turned into the bills of this devil beside him and the dessert bag she was carrying.

Ifrit walked beside Lin Ye, her head down. She probably knew she'd done something wrong; her usual rebellious demeanor had vanished, replaced by an obedient demeanor that made Lin Ye think she was a nightingale… well, a nightingale has absolutely nothing to do with the word "obedient."

“Um…” Ifrit stammered, “Thank you. Consider this money a debt I owe you, and I’ll pay you back later.”

"That's what you say, but do you have money?" Lin Ye glanced at Ifrit sideways.

"It's not available now, but it will definitely be available in the future."

"What about your elders?"

"What?" Ifrit became wary. "Are you going to tell on me?!"

"You've caused me so much trouble, shouldn't I tell your parents?"

“No, no!” Ifrit shook her head repeatedly. “Absolutely not! You absolutely cannot tell her… I will definitely pay you back, you absolutely cannot let her pay me back! Don’t worry, with my abilities, I will earn the money very soon. I, Lady Ifrit, am even more powerful than that other person.”

"That guy?"

"Amiya."

Lin Ye looked at Ifrit with some surprise: "Really?"

Ifrit was somewhat displeased: "You can doubt that I have no money, but you absolutely cannot doubt my strength. I can burn you to ashes with a single fire."

"What's the use of burning me? I can't fight anyway."

“Anyone else will do.” Ifrit shook her head, her demonic horns poking Lin Ye’s shoulder, making him wince in pain. “I’m the strongest sorcerer on Rhodes Island, bar none. It’s just that I’m too young to play yet. If I get to play, I can earn back your money in just one mission.”

The strongest sorcerer… Lin Ye didn’t know if Ifrit was telling the truth or not. But to say she was stronger than Amiya? That was probably impossible. Although Lin Ye hadn’t met Amiya, she was, after all, the leader of Rhodes Island and the female protagonist of the game. How could she be weaker than a seemingly underdeveloped little delinquent? It was obviously impossible. However, since Ifrit dared to say that, she might actually have some skills. After all, given the nature of game companies, girls with such flat figures and underdeveloped appearances often seemed to possess considerable strength.

This is reflected in various games, such as Little Red Riding Hood Annie in League of Legends, and the likes of Steel Plate in a certain army brothel.

Since Ifrit said so, he might as well believe her for now, since the money had already been spent. However, he did want to tell the little girl's parents, not just for the money, but because, as mentioned before, watching his bratty kid get beaten was one of Lin Ye's few sources of amusement.

Seemingly sensing the wicked humor of the veterinarian, Ifrit was still uneasy and added, "As long as you don't tell my parents, I will not only return your money, but I can also grant you a request."

"What? Promise me something..."

"Yes, this is Lady Ifrit's promise, so you should be grateful."

Where did this chuunibyou demon come from...?

"I don't need your help with anything."

“Not now, but who knows if it will happen in the future?” Ifrit said with the air of a little adult. As a demon, she and Nightingale seemed to be two extremes. “Consider the money in the café as a loan from you, and that incident as interest. Don’t worry, you definitely won’t lose out. Buy my Ifrit stock, and you’re guaranteed to make a profit.”

Lin Ye was utterly astonished. If Nightingale had the body of an adult but the mind of a child, then Ifrit had the body of a child (though not quite a child) but the mind of an adult (though not quite an adult). Her demeanor was exactly like those shady stockbrokers who cheat people out of their money; so skilled at such a young age, she had a promising future.

The two walked and talked, and Ifrit got more and more excited as she talked, until a detached female voice rang out from ahead.

Ifrit, where have you been?

Lin Ye noticed that Ifrit's expression froze instantly. The two of them turned their heads at the same time to look at the woman who had suddenly appeared at the end of the corridor, her brown eyes glowing faintly in the darkness.

Cat, owl?

This was Lin Ye's first thought upon seeing the other person.

"I...I went out to play." Ifrit said, her head drooping, looking a little nervous.

Seeing this, Lin Ye understood something.

Oh, the parents of this brat have appeared.

"I don't recall ever allowing you to leave," the other person said calmly.

"Sorry……"

"Never mind." The woman shook her head, stepped out of the darkness, walked up to Lin Ye, and looked up at him. "Dr. Lin Ye, right? I heard Kal'tsit mention you. Let me introduce myself, my name is Himer, a medical operator. It's nice to meet you."

"Me too."

They clasped hands together, then let go.

“I hope Ifrit hasn’t caused you any trouble,” Hamer said. “That girl has a rather difficult personality.”

Lin Ye turned to look at Ifrit, who was also secretly watching him with pleading in her eyes.

Ha, the brat gave in.

Recalling Ifrit's previous appearance and seeing her current expression, Lin Ye's wicked sense of humor was greatly satisfied.

"No, she didn't cause me any trouble." Lin Ye shook his head. "She's very well-behaved."

“Really?” Hamer nodded. “That’s good. But I have to take her back now; it’s getting late.”

“Of course, no problem.” Lin Ye immediately stepped aside.

“Ifrit,” Himer looked at Ifrit, “you should go back and take your medicine.”

When the topic of taking medicine came up, Ifrit's expression became even more dejected: "Oh."

"I hope you can be more self-aware."

"I will take it upon myself..." Ifrit replied weakly, then dragged her heavy steps and followed Himer away.

Lin Ye watched their retreating figures, finding it quite amusing. Even though Ifrit was taller than Himer, she walked beside Himer like a trembling quail. Ah, his wicked sense of humor was satisfied once again.

"Oh, right." Himer suddenly stopped and turned to look at Lin Ye. "Nightingale is still waiting for you at Dr. Kal'tsit's place. She seems a little unhappy."

Lin Ye's smile froze.