"I'm fine, my stomach just hurt a bit at the beginning."
"But it's mostly better now."
Caesar said, rubbing her abdomen.
"True, it seems your thick skin is actually useful for something, Caesar."
"You're perfect material for a punching bag."
"Aya, if your hands ever get itchy for a fight, just go to Caesar."
"She definitely won't refuse, I know her."
"When the time comes, feel free to beat her as hard as you want."
Lucy mocked, whether it was because she lost last night's duel or for some other reason.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"When facing such a powerful opponent, Lucy, even you wouldn't be able to resist issuing a challenge, right?"
Caesar retorted.
"I don't have a hobby for seeking out pain."
"I have plenty of self-awareness. People like us might work hard our entire lives and still never reach Aya's current level of strength."
"As for challenging her, I'll pass."
Lucy pondered. Although she hadn't seen Hoshimi Aya in action within The Hollow, from that strike just now, it was clear that Aya truly possessed Void Hunter Level strength.
It was just like the rumors; there wasn't much exaggeration.
Moreover, it seemed she hadn't even gone all out. To possess such power without using full strength...
There was absolutely no exaggeration involved; this was a genuine Void Hunter Level figure.
"Do you want to continue?"
"If not... can I take this bat with me?"
"I feel like this bat has a pretty good grip."
As she spoke, Hoshimi Aya twirled the baseball bat in her hand, flipping it in a full circle before catching it again.
"Of course you can. No one's using it anyway, so if you want it, just take it."
Lucy said nonchalantly.
Hoshimi Aya nodded at this and returned to her lodging with the baseball bat.
"Hmm?"
"Aya, where did that baseball bat in your hand come from?"
Wise asked with some confusion, looking at the bat in Hoshimi Aya's hand.
"Oh, this?"
"Lucy and the others gave it to me. I was just over there sparring with Caesar, and the feel of this bat was quite nice."
"I asked if I could take it, Lucy said yes, so I brought it back."
Hoshimi Aya explained.
She also performed a flourish with the bat for Wise.
"I see. Billy and I are heading back first."
"I'm planning to bring the HDD over."
"Explain it to Belle for me when she wakes up."
"I'll be going now."
With that, Wise hopped onto Billy's motorcycle.
...
Some time later.
Belle finally woke up from a high-quality sleep.
"Belle, I've prepared breakfast for you."
"Though it might be a bit cold by now."
Hoshimi Aya handed the breakfast she had prepared earlier to Belle.
"Mm, have you eaten yet, Aya?"
"If not, let's eat together."
Belle asked.
"I've eaten. Wise went back a little while ago."
"It's been a while now."
"He said something about bringing the HDD over."
Hoshimi Aya nodded, relaying the message Wise had left.
Belle quickly finished her breakfast.
"Aya, you don't need to buy so much next time, I'm stuffed."
"No way, I have to go out for a walk to digest this."
After saying that, Belle pulled Hoshimi Aya outside. They hadn't walked far before they ran into Billy and Caesar on the street.
"Morning, Aya, Manager! Did you rest well?"
"The Manager must have been exhausted yesterday, right?"
"She fell asleep the moment she lay down."
Billy asked.
"Billy, where are you headed?"
Belle asked, looking at Billy sitting on his motorcycle.
"I just dropped the Assistant Manager back at your shop."
"I just got back. Aya should know about it."
Billy explained.
"Yes, I happened to see Wise as he was leaving. He specifically told me to remind you."
Hoshimi Aya nodded.
"Wise mentioned it to me last night."
"He plans to move some equipment onto a vehicle and set up a mobile Proxy studio here."
"That way, your work efficiency in the Outer Ring will be higher."
"Don't worry, we'll handle the power supply and the network."
"Even in the Outer Ring, we'll make sure you're... as safe as walking on thin ice! Hahaha!"
Caesar said with a grin.
"Suddenly, I'm feeling a bit nervous about the working environment."
Belle responded with a somewhat awkward smile.
"Right, while the equipment hasn't arrived yet,"
"I'll take you down to Wildfire Town to say hello."
"I wanted to take Aya earlier,"
"But you left so quickly before, Aya, that I didn't have time to mention it."
"Lucy said last night that you definitely wouldn't be used to roughing it out here with us."
"So I asked the Mayor to prepare a place for you to stay."
Caesar said with a smile.
"Thank you for going to all that trouble."
Belle replied politely.
Soon, the three of them arrived at a device resembling a lift, where a white Bangboo was stationed.
The three of them used the lift to descend to the area below.
"Kasa, I've brought the Proxys to say hello."
Caesar spoke to a slightly mature-looking woman.
"Oh, Caesar, so these are the Proxys from the city?"
"Turns out people from New Eridu are just like us, coming out to make a living at such a young age."
The woman named Kasa greeted them warmly.
"Caesar, this lady is...?"
Belle looked at the enthusiastic woman and asked Caesar beside her with some confusion.
"Lady? Haha, you city folk sure talk in an interesting way."
"I'm Kasa, the Mayor of Wildfire Town."
"Our town has received a lot of help from the Sons of Calydon in the past."
"So if you need anything, just come find me."
"You'll be staying in this house behind me tonight."
"There's still some clutter inside that hasn't been moved out yet, but I'll have someone clear it out in a bit."
Kasa explained with a smile, appearing very happy about their arrival.
"Kasa, I noticed a lot of people in town are making these woven goods this time."
Caesar inquired.
"We have no choice. The oil pipeline to the town still hasn't been fixed."
"The gas station can't open either, so hand-weaving is the only business left."
"But luckily, we recently landed a pretty big order. And with the Hellfire Ride coming up, the Yangsui are selling much better."
Kasa explained.
"Yangsui?"
"What's that?"
Belle asked curiously.
"Oh, it's these straw-woven crafts."
"Every time the Hellfire Ride comes around, almost every household in the Old Oil Well District hangs them up."
With that, Kasa took out a pendant to show them.
"This pattern looks like a face."
Belle noted, confused about its meaning.
...
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