Chapter 289 (Patreon)

Kana stepped out of their boardroom with a long yawn stretching through her, her arms rising above her head as she worked the stiffness from her shoulders, the morning air cool enough to wake her but not enough to fully shake off the lingering weight of sleep. For some reason, watching Suri with intense focus made her fall asleep without realizing it. 

The academy grounds were already alive, far earlier than she would have preferred, and her gaze drifted toward the front where a steady line of wagons rolled in one after another, their wooden wheels grinding softly against stone as they carried crates, luggage, and an almost excessive number of belongings. 

Most of them bore the crests of noble families.

It was the first day of the weekend, and with classes starting on the first day next week, preparations had reached that familiar level of unnecessary grandeur, where essentials somehow turned into entire wagonloads of items no student could possibly need. Servants moved quickly, unloading cargo with great familiarity while a few finely dressed figures stood nearby, overseeing everything with careful attention, as if ensuring their sons or daughters would lack absolutely nothing this year.

Kana watched for a moment, her expression calm but faintly amused, before letting her arms fall back to her sides.

She had only just woken up.

Suri, on the other hand—

Had only just fallen asleep.

Kana glanced back briefly, as if she could still see her through the walls, curled up after a night spent chasing shadows across the capital. Suri had thrown herself into the task with surprising enthusiasm—or perhaps not so surprising, considering the promise of reward waiting at the end of it. Whether it was her sense of justice or her dream of buying summer clothes that fueled her, Kana wasn’t entirely sure anymore.

Suri had spent the entire night using her illusions to scout the city, weaving unseen through streets and alleys, listening, watching, marking. By morning, she had already identified several individuals involved in distributing the dangerous substance, quietly placing them in her mental map like pieces on a board.

And what stood out the most—

It wasn't just the sellers but the buyers.

There were many.

And they were willing to pay high prices. Strange for something that stripped them of themselves. 

Why would they buy something so dangerous and waste coin on them? Kana exhaled softly, the thought lingering only briefly before—

Her body tensed, [High Awareness] flared sharply, like a thread pulled tight inside her mind, warning her before her senses could fully catch up. Something was coming. Fast and large. Closing in on her position at a speed that would have gone unnoticed—

If not for her [High Awareness].

Kana purposely turned just in time.

A heavy force collided with her, knocking the air from her lungs as she was driven straight to the ground, the impact sending a dull shock through her body as dust lifted faintly around them.

But there was no pain.

Only—

Warmth. Weight. And an overwhelming, enthusiastic presence.

Shai.

The massive feline loomed over her, far too large to be behaving the way she currently was, her tail swaying wildly as she nuzzled close, immediately beginning to lick Kana’s face with complete disregard for dignity or restraint.

Kana let out a muffled sound, half-laugh, half-protest, as she raised a hand to pat Shai’s head, her fingers brushing through thick fur as the creature continued her relentless affection.

“Alright—alright…” Kana managed, her voice slightly strained as she tried—and failed—to push Shai’s face away.

A moment later, footsteps approached, far more relaxed than Shai’s enthusiastic charge.

Mica appeared, scratching the back of her head as she looked down at the scene, her expression caught somewhere between amusement and resignation.

“She probably missed you,” Mica said, her tone casual, as if this kind of thing had happened more than once. “It’s been a while, Kana.”

Kana lifted one hand in a small wave from where she was still pinned to the ground, though the gesture was barely visible beneath the large feline currently claiming her as territory.

Shai, completely unbothered, continued licking her face.

“It’s really weird,” Mica added, tilting her head slightly as she observed the interaction more closely. “Every time you’re around, Shai acts like a small puppy.”

A pause.

“She doesn’t do that with anyone else.”

Kana, still very much on the ground, turned her head slightly—more to breathe than to respond—her hand continuing to rest against Shai’s fur as she let out a quiet, resigned breath.

“I’m not sure either,” she admitted, her voice muffled, equal parts confusion and acceptance.

Because honestly—

She had no idea why such a large beast was so gentle at her. Thorne was not, not if she wasn’t holding any snacks. Thorne was supposed to be the same magical beast as Shai. The small animals on the streets—well, they quickly ran as soon as they saw her for some strange reason she was curious as well. What was she missing?

……

“Now I know why this place has gotten so popular lately,” Leo said, lifting his glass slightly as if examining it with newfound respect before taking another sip, his skepticism from earlier slowly dissolving into something far more agreeable.

Kana and Mica had only intended to stop by for a short while, but the moment they stepped into Rin’s father’s place, it was easy to see why the crowd had grown. The space was open, with sunlight though there was a small sun shade place on each table and laughter moving freely between tables, uncontained and unfiltered. Nobles sat beside commoners without hesitation, their conversations overlapping in a way that would have felt unthinkable anywhere else in the capital.

Leo lowered his drink slightly, his eyes scanning the area as if trying to make sense of it.

“The drinks are good,” he continued slowly, as though building toward a realization. “The place feels… open. And the people…” He paused, his brows knitting together for just a moment before the thought fully formed. “Nobles, commoners… it’s like—”

“The social barrier…” Kana began, her lips curving slightly as she caught onto the same thought.

“Does not exist!” they both said at the same time.

There was a brief pause. Then they turned to each other and laughed.

Not loudly, not exaggerated—just enough to acknowledge the strange, shared clarity of the moment, the kind that came naturally rather than being forced.

“I see the two of you are quite close,” Mica said, her voice carrying just enough to cut through their laughter, her tone light but edged with something observational.

Kana blinked who had no idea. Leo froze.

Mica narrowed her eyes slightly, studying them both with a look that suggested she had already drawn conclusions neither of them had agreed to, her gaze shifting between them with quiet suspicion.

Beside Kana, Shai let out a low, rumbling growl.

Not aggressive but noticeable.

A few nearby patrons turned at the sound, their initial surprise quickly melting into amused smiles once they recognized the large feline lounging comfortably like she belonged there just as much as anyone else.

Leo coughed, once, then again, straightening slightly as if trying to recover from something he hadn’t quite been prepared for—not Mica’s comment, not Shai’s presence, but the sudden memory that surfaced alongside it.

A life and death dungeon battles. Or at least, what he considered one. Very dangerous, chaotic and unpredictable. Though if he was being honest, Kana hadn’t seemed nearly as concerned during those times. He even felt Kana enjoyed those dangerous moments. He swore he saw her smiling more so than outside of the dungeons.

“You could say that,” he said finally, his tone settling somewhere between casual and cautious.

Mica stared at him for a moment longer, unimpressed, before letting out a small breath and shaking her head as if his answer had fallen short of whatever she had expected.

“You are going nowhere with that pace.” Mica muttered as if for herself.

The conversation moved on, slipping back into something easier, lighter, the three of them talking idly as the atmosphere of the place wrapped around them again—warm, open, and strangely grounding.

Until—

The table jolted.

.A sharp slam echoed as hands struck against the surface, rattling the glasses just enough to send a few droplets of juice spilling over the edges.

All three of them looked up at once.

And there—

Standing far too casually for someone who had just caused that kind of entrance—

Was a familiar figure. Red dishevelled hair. Half-hidden behind sleep-heavy eyes. Wearing nothing but loose pajamas and slippers.

Kana’s expression tightened instantly, recognition settling in without hesitation.

“Suri?” she said, a faint frown forming.

“I found them!” Suri declared, her voice loud, urgent, and completely unconcerned with the stares she was drawing from nearby tables.

Leo blinked, caught off guard. “Who?”

Suri grinned, her exhaustion somehow fueling her excitement rather than dulling it.

“The people who are going to get me my best summer clothes!”

Kana closed her eyes briefly, her hand rising to her temple as she let out a quiet breath, the words landing exactly as she expected them to.

It was good news.

Yet for some reason—

Hearing it like that didn’t make it feel that way at all.

“They are in the underground district!” Suri grinned as she tied her hair.

“You are going to change your clothing first.”

Post note:

Suri can do almost impossible things whenever she puts all her effort into it? 😂

A bit short but the next scene is a bit long.

Got home late again :(Third chap of the week!Hope you enjoy the chap! 🙂

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