[Agrion, Lord of the Fields, is impressed by your kindness in helping those in need!]
[He grants you 200 seeds of high-quality vegetables and fruits!]
[The seeds’ growth time will be reduced by 80%, and their quantity will be tripled.]
[Congratulations! The seeds have been stored in your inventory!]
Medeia’s jaw dropped. Slowly, she turned her head toward Lucian. She didn’t say a word, but her eyes practically screamed at him to step outside.
"Y-you can eat as much as you want." Medeia hastily shoved the basket toward the soldier before making a swift exit.
The moment she stepped out of the room, she let out a scream of pure excitement and launched herself at Lucian, hugging him tightly while bouncing on her feet.
Lucian blinked, completely baffled. He had no idea what had just happened, but judging by her reaction, he could easily guess that she had just received something extremely valuable from the system.
"Lucian, you’re not gonna believe this!" Medeia pulled back just enough to dig into her inventory, fishing out a handful of seeds. They glowed faintly, radiating a kind of mystical energy. "We don’t have to worry about food this winter at all!"
She leaned in, whispering beside his ear, telling him exactly what she had just received from the system.
Lucian’s lips curled into a small smile. "Maybe in the future, they can also help us improve our base."
That word alone was enough to sour her mood.
Ever since she found out about the watchers, she had been pissed. The idea of relying on them for anything left a bitter taste in her mouth. Now, was she really supposed to be grateful?
The worst part was that Medeia had even considered trying to please the watchers just to gain more benefits.
Had she really allowed the watchers to control her entire life?
Without a word, Medeia suddenly grabbed Lucian’s hand and guided it under her shirt, pressing it against her breast. His eyes widened in shock as he jolted. "W-what ... what are you doing?"
"I don’t want the watchers listening in on this conversation," Medeia said, her tone completely serious. "Honestly, it kind of messes up how happy I feel whenever those bastards give me gifts. I mean, they’re watching me all the time, never giving me any privacy except ... well, you know."
Lucian swallowed hard, struggling to ignore the soft, warm sensation against his palm. He took a slow, steadying breath before speaking. "Think of it as your paycheck for putting on a show."
"You’re basically a celebrity now. Your life is their entertainment, but in return, you get the perks of being adored and spoiled," Lucian explained. "There’s nothing wrong with milking those watchers for everything they’re worth."
Lucian had been a celebrity before. Seraphina once told her that his name had been everywhere—his face plastered on screens, his existence a constant topic of discussion. If anyone knew how to handle a life under a spotlight, it was him.
Medeia’s lips curled into a slow, wicked smile. "You’re right. I’ll make every single one of them fall in love with me and shower me with everything I want."
Lucian gave an approving nod. And whether by accident or not, he gave her breast a quick squeeze before Medeia pulled his hand out of her shirt.
She shot him a sharp glare but didn’t say a word.
On the other side, Lucian gave her a knowing smile, as if silently telling her he was thoroughly enjoying their little conversation.
[What was that, Host?! Were you seriously having sex in the hallway?! In broad daylight?!]
Medeia rolled her eyes and clicked her tongue. "Oh, calm down. We were just celebrating the watcher’s gift."
’We weren’t having sex!’ Medeia mentally snapped. ’It was just a little teasing. Besides, isn’t this a good thing? It proves our relationship is very harmonious.’
If she and Lucian looked affectionate enough, the romance-obsessed watchers might shower her with even more gifts.
"Should we go back inside?" Lucian asked.
She nodded, stepping back into the room. Inside, the soldier—whose name she still didn’t know—was practically inhaling the fruits and vegetables from the basket, tears streaming down his face like a lost child who had just found his mother.
"Don’t eat everything by yourself," Medeia reminded him, crossing her arms. "Your friends will need some too when they wake up." Then, after a beat, she added, "By the way ... what’s your name?"
The soldier froze mid-bite, clearly embarrassed. It seemed he had gotten so caught up in the moment that he hadn’t even thought about his comrades. "I—I’m sorry ... It’s just ... I can’t believe all this food is real. It feels like a dream.
Slowly, as if afraid he’d be punished, he put the remaining untouched fruits and vegetables back into the basket. Then, after clearing his throat, he finally answered, "I’m Ronan Pierce. But you can just call me Ron."
"Alright, Ron." Medeia plopped down onto a chair, resting her chin on her palm. "Your friends probably won’t wake up anytime soon. Those monsters must’ve shaken them up pretty badly. So, when they do wake up, can you explain the situation to them?"
"If they still want to leave after that, just let us know," she added casually. "We’re not in the business of forcing people to stay."
Medeia had only woken one soldier on purpose. Trying to wake all of them at once would’ve been a headache. Besides, it made more sense to gain one ally first, then let that ally convince the others.
That did seem like the most efficient approach.
"I understand." Ronan offered her a small but genuine smile. "Once again, thank you for saving our lives."
There was such sincerity in his words that, for some reason, Medeia felt a strange ache in her chest. She didn’t even know why.
It was just a simple thank you, yet it carried a weight she wasn’t prepared for.
Maybe ... it was because no one had ever thanked her in hell.
After all, who in their right mind would express gratitude to a demon for torturing their soul? Even a masochist would think twice.
"I just did what I thought was right," she said simply. "I have other things to take care of, so I’ll leave you here. If you need anything ... just call out. Someone will hear you."