Chapter 36

Chapter Thirty-Six

After tidying up my equipment, I rubbed my drowsy head, which was still congested from sleeping in an awkward position, and walked down the stairs. I happened to meet the fat boss, and before I could say anything, a bear roar came from the side, startling me.

"Hey, Wu, you finally woke up, may the great guardian of the barbarians bless you, you slept like a pig."

Damn, I was just starting to wake up and already got hit with a high-decibel attack. I turned my head angrily; the only one who could be called a human megaphone was Doug. Next to him sat the quiet Gouf. I felt these two had extreme personalities: one was introverted and couldn't say a word even if you poked him with a stick; the other was talkative and would wither and turn to ashes if he didn't say enough. If these two could complement each other a bit, that would be great. That would be the most normal barbarian.

The fat boss came over, smiling and bowing to me, "This druid, since you fell asleep the day before yesterday, these gentlemen have often waited for you here."

Is that so? Doug, you old guy, you're really a good friend. Forget it, I won't curse your descendants.

But, the day before yesterday!?

Could it be that I've been sleeping for more than a day?

At this moment, Doug's loud voice came again.

"Ha ha... Wu, do you know? You were sleeping on the floor by the door, and I was the one who threw you onto the bed! How about that, I was pretty nice, right!"

"Thrown...?" My tone was a mix of surprise and suspicion.

"Yep, just like that..." Doug, as if afraid I didn't understand, made a gesture of lifting something from the ground and then swinging it lightly.

Damn, no wonder in my dream, there was a part where I was falling from a cliff. So, the culprit was you, Doug. You really are a sinner, even in my dreams, you don't let me off!

I glared at the excited Doug, gritting my teeth. If it weren't for his bull-like arms and legs, I would have challenged him to a real fighting match.

"Grumble..."

My stomach started to rumble, having slept for more than a day, anyone would be hungry.

"Boss, give me two, no, three bowls of meat soup."

I said to the boss, "Charge it to that barbarian."

I secretly pointed at Doug.

The boss, with his ever-present smile, nodded.

Haha! Dear Uncle Doug, don't blame me...

"Dear Wu, from your appearance, it seems you've gone through a very arduous trial."

I plopped down at Doug's table, and the talkative Doug immediately started asking questions.

"Of course, don't underestimate me. What are those Fallen Ones, corpses, and huge beasts? They're just small fries. Even if they burst into flames, I just swing my club and knock them down."

I said with a hint of pride.

Doug's eyes lit up. Blowing, blowing is good, I, Doug, love to blow.

I saw Doug's eyes suddenly become very bright, and I knew it wasn't good. It seemed my words had a "trigger" effect.

"Ha ha, not bad, not bad, you have the style of my younger days. But don't get too proud. I'll tell you, the adventures I've been through are tens of thousands of times more dangerous than yours. What, exaggerating? How can you say that? Everyone in the Rogue Encampment knows that I, Doug, am the most honest and never exaggerate. Listen carefully, remember once..."

Sure enough, as soon as I finished speaking, Doug started talking non-stop. At first, it was still manageable, with him fighting through five challenges and six battles, and having a lively fight with the blacksmith, eventually becoming friends. But then it got out of hand. At some point, Andariel had recognized him as the leader, Duriel became his mount, Mephisto was his foot washer and bed companion, and even Baal became his personal stable boy. Diablo? Ha, it was still cleaning the toilets at Doug's place. As for the other minor characters, if it weren't for the prestige of the angels, I'm afraid even the angel leader Tyrael would have lost his dignity.

Well, you've taken all the spotlight, what's left for me? A certain person, whose face was no less thick than Doug's, thought to himself.

Just as Doug was spouting off, the meat soup I ordered arrived, three large bowls. One bowl was enough to satisfy a 100-kilogram man, so you can imagine the amount of three bowls.

"Doug, how about a little competition?" I gently tapped the large plate of meat soup with a porcelain spoon, looking at Doug with what I thought was an elegant and challenging gaze, clearly still holding a grudge over his "kind" action while I was sleeping.

Doug looked at the three bowls of meat soup on the table, then at me, and unusually lowered his voice, "Really compete? Can we not?"

I shook my head firmly. Ha, Doug, you have your moments of weakness too? Afraid, are you? Now, I'll show you the true terror of a druid who hasn't eaten for two days. I don't want to leave any psychological scars on you, that would make me feel bad, oh hoho...

But Doug's next words made my legs go weak, almost falling onto the table.

"Alright, since you're so sincere, I can't refuse. Let's compete. Although I just ate seven bowls of roasted meat and am quite full, if it's just a little, I can probably still eat it. But since we're competing, there should be a prize. The loser pays the bill, okay, let's do it."

Saying that, without waiting for my response, Doug immediately turned to the fat boss and shouted, "Boss, give me five more bowls of meat soup."

At that moment, I was completely gray and lifeless...

I admit, my brain must have been kicked by a donkey. Competing in eating with a barbarian is like an ant trying to compete with an elephant, how ridiculous. I had already gotten a free lunch and could have even given Doug a silent loss, but because of my momentary impulse, not only did I lose the free lunch, but I also had to pay for his share.

I watched Doug use a small toothpick to contentedly pick his white, sharp teeth. Damn, every bit of meat on that toothpick was my money. I was so angry I gritted my teeth. The conversation with the boss must have been heard by him, so he took the opportunity to agree to the competition, turning the tables on me. In the end, it was my own naivety.

I finally understood what it means to be old and cunning. Even an honest barbarian, if he lives long enough, becomes shrewd. Not to mention, I never thought Doug was honest from the moment he was born.

Gouf had been watching us the whole time with a stiff smile, not saying a word. Laugh, laugh, you didn't even warn me when I was being tricked by Doug, you're as much a culprit as he is.

Saddened, I pulled out more than ten gold coins and asked, "Can you give me a discount?"

The waiter: "..."

By the way, Doug, while picking his teeth, seemed to remember something, "I heard someone calling you a donkey. Did you make an enemy so quickly? Need help? As long as you take care of my meals."

Damn, if that happens, I'll be bankrupt before I'm killed by my enemies. I severely criticized Doug's shameless behavior.

But, how should I respond? Tell the truth? That would be me cursing myself. With a big mouth like Doug, it wouldn't take half a day for the nickname "donkey" to spread throughout the Rogue Encampment, making me the talk of the town.

"No choice, being handsome makes people jealous." I shook my hair in extreme narcissism, feeling depressed.

"Tsk." Doug showed extreme disdain for my disgusting behavior, immediately baring his teeth and rolling his eyes in criticism. Unexpectedly, the toothpick in his hand accidentally pierced his gums, causing him to roll in pain. Karma, karma.

"Doug, after I left, you guys didn't leave the Rogue Encampment, right?"

I lay half-reclined in the chair, my stomach full, feeling that we shouldn't continue the donkey discussion, so I changed the subject. What? Don't understand? Do you know what it means to change the topic? Stupid! Slap your own little butt a hundred times.

"Yes." Doug burped, saying leisurely.

"Tsk, shame on you. As a great class changer, you're living such a decadent life."

"Why can't class changers live like this? I think we should live like this. Who knows if we'll have another chance to enjoy it, so we should have fun while we can." The thick-skinned Doug said indifferently.

I was stunned, falling silent. This topic was too heavy, let's drop it...

"As for you..."

Doug glanced at me disdainfully, "I really don't understand you people. Why do you need a cloak to hide? You're not doing anything wrong, why cover yourself so much? Look at me!"

He puffed out his chest, half-exposed, like a block of stone.

"I thought Wu was special, but you've been assimilated by those gloomy mages." Doug shook his head, looking disappointed.

I didn't argue—although I trusted Doug and the others, I decided to keep the fact that the cloak was equipment a secret.

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End of Chapter Thirty-Six