Chapter 347 (Patreon)

Artin would never admit it aloud, but he was beginning to feel ridiculous.

For years he had infiltrated enemy territories, tracked criminals through forests, gathered intelligence from hostile nations, and survived missions that should have killed him several times over. Yet somehow, after all those accomplishments, he now found himself soaring above the Empire's capital in the form of a bird while secretly following two young people around the city.

The realization made him sigh internally.

If anyone ever discovered what he was doing, he was fairly certain his reputation would never recover. Still, Rose Light had asked him to keep an eye on Kana. Whether he liked it or not, a mission was a mission.

The pair's first destination was a small stall selling oversized sugar candies. Artin landed on a nearby rooftop and watched as Sheen purchased one before handing it to Kana. Her reaction was immediate. The moment she tasted it, her eyes widened slightly in surprise.

Apparently, the Empire had discovered how to compress an unhealthy amount of sweetness into a single object.

Kana took another lick.

Then another.

Artin shook his head.

Somehow, despite surviving monsters, and powerful assassins, she still looked genuinely vulnerable against candy.

From there, the two wandered deeper into the city until they came across a crowd gathered around a sand pit. A wrestling match was taking place in the center while spectators shouted and exchanged coins.

Kana immediately stopped walking. Not because of the betting. The fighting. Artin could almost see her attention locking onto every movement the wrestlers made. 

One match ended.

Then another began.

Then another.

By the time Sheen finally managed to pull her away, Kana looked as though she had just attended an important lesson.

The entire time, Artin couldn't help noticing a pattern. Sheen seemed already had plan this beforehand.

Every destination felt carefully chosen. Every stop seemed designed to leave an impression. The young noble won a few wagers during the wrestling matches and appeared quite pleased with himself afterward.

Kana, meanwhile, seemed more interested in analyzing throwing techniques than the actual gambling.

Artin almost felt bad for him.

The afternoon continued with several more stops before they eventually arrived at a restaurant tucked away near one of the older districts of the city. It wasn't a place most visitors would notice. The entrance sat between larger buildings, hidden within a narrow side street.

Curious and he had no choice after all, Artin shifted forms and slipped inside as a black cat.

The restaurant was crowded and loud. Merchants, laborers, and adventurers filled nearly every seat. The moment Sheen entered, several patrons greeted him by name. A few immediately began teasing him about bringing a girl along.

The reactions alone told Artin everything he needed to know. Apparently this wasn't probably a common occurrence. Sheen laughed off the comments while Kana focused entirely on the food placed in front of her.

The dish itself looked deceptively simple. A massive serving of meat covered in a thick black sauce, seasoned heavily with spices. Kana took one bite.

Then another.

Then several more.

By the end of the meal, very little remained on her plate.

Artin had learned enough about Kana to recognize that as high praise.

As the afternoon slowly drifted toward evening, Sheen guided her toward one of the elevated sections of the capital. From there, the city walls no longer blocked the view of the surrounding desert.

Even Artin paused.

Beyond the walls stretched a massive oasis. The setting sun reflected across its surface, transforming the water into molten gold. Waves shimmered beneath the fading light while the desert beyond glowed with shades of crimson and orange.

For a moment, the entire world seemed painted in fire. It was beautiful enough that even Artin forgot he was supposed to be spying. Eventually, the sun began its descent and the pair made their way back toward the guest estate.

The moment they entered the gates, however, it became painfully obvious they had been expected.

Several knights lingered outside despite having no reason to remain there. Chelle stood nearby. Rose Light watched from the shade of a tree.

And Suri looked like a person moments away from exploding from curiosity.

"Kana!" Chelle called the moment she spotted them.

Kana waved back casually. Before anyone else could speak, Sheen offered Rose Light an apologetic smile.

"I know it was sudden."

Rose studied him for a moment.

"As long as she wasn't harmed."

The answer seemed acceptable enough. Unfortunately, it also gave Suri the opening she had been waiting for.

She stepped forward immediately. "Can I ask something?"

Sheen nodded. "Of course."

Suri's grin widened. "Why did you take Kana out?"

The question drew far more attention than it should have.

Several knights suddenly became very interested in nearby crates while simultaneously listening with perfect concentration.

Kana froze for a moment.

Artin noticed. So did Suri.

Sheen, however, appeared completely unaware. "Why?" he repeated.

He tilted his head as if the answer were obvious. "She's like one of my younger sisters."

Silence.

"I usually bring them around those places too whenever they visit."

The courtyard became so quiet that Artin could almost hear people's thoughts.

Then he saw it. The exact moment realization struck everyone.

More specifically, the exact moment everyone wondered whether Kana herself had considered another possibility.

Suri's smile trembled.

Then it widened. Then it trembled again.

Unfortunately for Kana, Sheen chose that exact moment to climb onto his horse.

"We will see each other again. Next time probably in the arena."

With a wave, he rode away, blissfully unaware of the devastation he had left behind. The gates closed.

A heartbeat passed.

Then another.

Finally, Suri broke. "I can't hold it anymore!"

She doubled over laughing. Not a polite laugh. Not even an ordinary laugh. The kind that stole a person's ability to breathe. She collapsed onto the ground clutching her stomach while tears gathered at the corners of her eyes.

Several knights quickly turned away.

A few others failed spectacularly at hiding their smiles.

Even Rose Light looked suspiciously interested in a distant wall.

Suri pointed toward Kana between gasps. "You thought about it for a moment, didn't you?"

Kana froze. Only for an instant. Unfortunately, that instant was all Suri needed.

She burst into another fit of laughter. "You did!"

The words echoed through the courtyard. Slowly, very slowly, Kana turned her head. The movement alone caused several nearby knights to instinctively take a step backward.

Her expression was calm.

Far too calm.

Artin had seen that expression before.

Monsters had seen that expression before.

Most of them hadn't enjoyed what happened afterward.

Suri's laughter weakened slightly. From his perch above the courtyard, Artin watched the unfolding disaster and wisely decided not to interfere.

Kana smacked her head before entering to the guest house.

…..

The next morning marked the seventh day since their encounter with the Four Heavenly Jhings. Life within the guest mansion had gradually settled into a routine. At dawn, the knights gathered in the courtyard for their daily exercises, unwilling to let comfort dull their discipline. Kana joined them without complaint, while Suri and Chelle had been dragged into the training with considerably less enthusiasm.

The two girls spent more time groaning than exercising. Every stretch, every sprint, every drill earned another dramatic complaint. Kana couldn't even blame them. The heat of the Empire was relentless. Even during the early morning hours, sweat clung to skin and clothes as though the sun had already climbed high into the sky.

A sudden shout interrupted the training.

"They're here!"

Everyone turned toward the mansion gates.

Two familiar wagons rolled into view, their wooden frames scratched and scarred from travel. Deep marks carved across the sides spoke of recent battles. One wheel had clearly been repaired in haste, and several sections of the wagons looked as though they had been patched together with whatever materials had been available.

The knights immediately abandoned their exercises and moved to greet their companions. Greetings echoed through the courtyard. Hands clasped forearms. A few exchanged rough hugs. Laughter followed, mixed with the relief of seeing familiar faces return safely.

The vice captain approached one of the arriving knights, a broad-shouldered man whose cloak was torn in several places and stained with dust.

"How have you been?" he asked.

The knight let out a tired chuckle. "We've been better. Got attacked a few times on the road. Mostly bandits." He shrugged. "Though some of them were tougher than they had any right to be."

His expression darkened slightly. "No casualties, thankfully. We lost some supplies, though. Had to abandon a few things to lighten the load."

Several knights nodded knowingly. Surviving was always worth more than cargo.

Before the conversation could continue, a strange silence spread through the courtyard.

One by one, heads turned toward the mansion.

The front doors had opened.

A figure stepped outside slowly, one hand shielding his eyes from the sunlight as though the brightness physically hurt.

For a heartbeat, nobody moved. Then realization struck. "Boris?" someone whispered.

The courtyard erupted.

Suri was the first to react. She practically launched herself across the distance.

"Boris!"

Before he could even finish blinking, she crashed into him and wrapped both arms around his waist.

"We were so worried!" she shouted. "Why did you sleep for so long?"

Boris stumbled backward from the impact, looking more confused than anything else. He scratched his cheek and glanced around at the gathered crowd.

"I think..." he said slowly. "I think it's a side effect of my new skill."

His brow furrowed as he searched his memories. "I should probably only use it when absolutely necessary."

Kana approached alongside the others, crossing her arms.

"Do you know how long you've been asleep?"

Boris looked at her and shook his head. nKana answered anyway. "Exactly seven days."

For the first time since waking up, genuine shock appeared on his face.

"Seven days?"

His eyes widened.

"That long?"

Perched comfortably atop his head, Thorne remained completely unconcerned. The lizard had somehow made Boris' hair into a nest during the week-long sleep and seemed determined to continue living there. It merely opened one eye, glanced around, then settled back down.

The sight almost made Kana laugh.

Almost.

Then a loud rumble echoed through the courtyard.

Everyone froze.

The sound came again.

Boris slowly lowered his gaze toward his stomach.

His face immediately turned red.

"I..." He coughed awkwardly. "I'm quite hungry for some reason."

The courtyard remained silent for a single heartbeat.

Then the knights burst into laughter.

Even the vice captain failed to hide his grin.

Seven days asleep. A battle against one of the Four Heavenly Jhings. Anyone would feel sluggish. However, the first thing Boris worried about after waking up?

Food.

For the first time in days, the atmosphere around the mansion felt light again. The shadow left behind by the Four Heavenly Jhings seemed a little farther away. Boris was awake. Rose had survived. Everyone who mattered was still alive.

For now, that was enough.

Post note:

Boris finally woke up!1st chap of the week.

Hope you enjoy the chap! 🙂

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