Ch.29Astro (1)

Whoosh-.

Gently rippling waves.

A warm breeze from somewhere tousles crimson hair.

Familiar silence echoes in her ears.

It was a strange landscape.

An endless water surface.

The sky-blue background resembled an ocean.

In this lonely scene.

“……”

The fox opened her eyes.

Through her blurry vision shone nothing but a dazzling sky blue.

The vast sea was waiting for the girl.

She felt something hard against her back.

Turning around in confusion, she saw straight iron bars surrounding her.

Their surface was rusted, as if weathered by time.

It was a single-cell prison standing in the middle of the ocean.

“Ah…”

The fox immediately realized this was a dream.

A nightmare that had been tormenting her for the past two years.

A familiar scene.

She looked around just in case.

Iron bars densely caging the girl. Beyond them, nothing existed.

Only empty waves crashing.

Creeak-.

The fox grabbed the iron bars behind her and pushed herself up.

The old metal groaned in protest.

“Ugh, nngh……”

Her movements were unsteady.

The floor was slightly submerged, with seawater covering her ankles.

Yet her clothes and tail weren’t wet at all.

This detail confirmed that the current scene was indeed a dream.

Whooosh-.

A passing sea breeze caressed her cheek.

The distinctive salty smell spread across her nose.

Air that cooled her heat refreshingly. The fox furrowed her brow.

She considered its gentleness a mockery.

“I’m sick of this.”

She murmured faintly.

The fox stood leaning against the bars. Worry flickered in her black eyes.

She looked fragile, as if about to break.

This place was lonely.

It felt as if the entire landscape had been created to isolate her.

Nothing but ocean in the background.

Not even the slightest hint of human presence could be heard.

She was completely alone.

“……I wish I could wake up soon.”

A softly muttered lament.

The ensuing silence was peaceful and beautiful, but all the more unbearable.

The fox waited quietly.

To wake from this nightmare.

For this disgusting sense of loss to be filled.

***

The day after having the nightmare.

The fox went to find the snake as soon as she opened her eyes. She had a favor to ask.

The boy tilted his head in response.

“Miss Irene?”

“The children. It’s been over a month since I’ve seen them. I want to show my face.”

“Hmm.”

Tap-.

The boy closed the book he was reading.

After a moment of thoughtful silence, he gave a faint smile.

“Hehe, you seem worried.”

“Well… I can’t say I’m not.”

“I understand. They must be precious to you.”

“If you understand, then let me see them.”

Irene replied gruffly.

While she was indeed worried, her desire to simply see them was stronger.

Perhaps because of the nightmare she had last night.

She wanted to meet the children.

-Big sis! Where have you been?

-You idiot! Don’t cling to her when she’s tired!

-They’re, they’re fighting again… Please scold them.

She desperately needed those pure white smiles.

She needed an escape from the sense of loss that was strangling her heart, which felt like it might extinguish at any moment.

When she held the children in her arms, she came to her senses.

There were still things worth protecting.

They supported her, preventing her from falling apart.

“……Please.”

Though her voice was sharp as usual, there was something pitiful about it.

After a moment of silence, the boy spoke.

“Hmm… well, alright.”

“Really?”

“I was thinking I should visit them anyway.”

“……”

Swish swish-.

Her drooping tail regained strength and began to move.

Though she seemed unaware of it herself, this was a reaction that revealed itself whenever she was in a good mood.

A tender smile spread across the girl’s face.

Until then, she had no way of knowing.

The place where they were heading to meet the children.

That it would turn out to be.

A city known as the Empire’s worst slum.

***

Irene’s request to meet the children.

I was just thinking I should pay those kids a visit anyway, so I immediately nodded.

It would have been lonely to go alone.

“Shall we go then?”

Was there any need to delay?

It was the weekend with no classes. We immediately left the academy and boarded a carriage heading to our destination.

After some time passed, we arrived at an alley.

“This is as far as I can take you with the carriage, sir.”

The coachman refused to go any further.

It was a kind of unspoken rule.

Never enter the “City That Doesn’t Cry” no matter what.

Setting aside issues of looting or robbery… it was uncertain whether one could even make it out alive.

Because of this, we had to walk.

“Are the children really here…?”

“Yes, they are.”

“This is a slum.”

“It’s safer than you think, so you can just go in. Or do you not want to see your siblings?”

“……Fine. Let’s go.”

We walked side by side.

The deeper we entered the city, the hazier our vision became. Like frost forming on our pupils.

It was a regional characteristic.

The City That Doesn’t Cry, Rukiye.

Regardless of the weather outside, thick fog always lingered here.

This made it perfect for villains to nest.

In other words, the neighborhood security was a complete mess.

“This doesn’t seem like a place where children would be at all……”

Irene frowned.

She seemed to be realizing that this was no ordinary slum.

“Are you sure they’re in a safe place…?”

“Of course.”

“Every alley is filled with murderous intent. Isn’t this more like a den of criminals?”

“The streets themselves might be a bit dirty, but… the place where your siblings are is definitely safe.”

“I find that hard to believe.”

“Rest assured. I guarantee it.”

At least as far as I knew.

Because they were children I had raised.

I could confidently assert that there were few places safer than this on the continent.

I dispelled her worries with a bright smile.

“Your siblings are in a ‘good place.’ I personally sent them there.”

“……You. Can’t you stop talking like that?”

“Like what?”

“Never mind… forget it.”

The fox turned her head away with a look of resignation.

I was suddenly given up on.

What’s this about? Why is she acting like this?

I could only raise a bunch of question marks.

Trudge trudge-.

As we continued walking after that strange conversation,

Some shadows blocked our path.

“Hey, you two. Stop right there.”

A gang appearing from the fog.

They were all wearing robes and holding swords in their hands.

Perhaps thugs living off the alley.

I calmly looked around.

‘Nine of them.’

About that many were surrounding us.

Judging by how natural the encirclement was, this probably wasn’t their first time doing this.

Let’s hear what they want first.

“Hmm~ What brings such fine gentlemen here?”

I asked with exaggeration.

One of the robed figures stepped forward.

It was the one who had just ordered us to stop.

“You two don’t look familiar.”

“Of course not.”

“You don’t seem to be locals… outsiders?”

“That’s right. We’re just passing through on some business.”

“You’ve got guts sticking out.”

As I continued to answer calmly, the man burst into laughter.

My confidence seemed to have caught him off guard.

I understood to some extent.

In their eyes, I must look like a scrawny young master.

In a city where crime and murder run rampant,

If they see a fool wandering around without proper guards, of course they’d want to target him.

“Hah… This is the first time I’ve seen someone like you.”

“I’m honored.”

“We don’t intend to take your life. Just hand over about 10 gold and we’ll let you go quietly.”

“You’re asking for a toll, I see.”

“Exactly.”

“Hmm.”

I hummed quietly.

I can’t believe there are still people collecting tolls like this.

And 10 gold is disgustingly expensive.

I definitely wiped them out half a year ago, so where did they crawl out from?

‘Could it be that they haven’t been managing properly?’

They might have gotten lax in my absence.

Perhaps I should use this opportunity to restore discipline.

While I was lost in these thoughts, the fox standing beside me quietly spoke up.

“You… what are you going to do?”

“Pardon?”

“They’re asking for a toll. And pointing swords at us.”

“Surely you’re not worried about me?”

“Say something that makes sense.”

Irene cut me off coldly.

Her furrowed brow seemed to be telling me not to show weakness.

“……You could kill them all with a single gesture.”

“Hehe, that’s true.”

“But I asked because causing a commotion would be troublesome, so I wanted to know how you plan to get out of this.”

“Well…”

I shrugged nonchalantly.

“Let’s just stay like this for a moment.”

“What are you thinking now?”

“Who knows? Maybe a mysterious hero will suddenly appear and save us from this predicament?”

“You’re joking even in this situation……”

Tap tap tap tap-!

As soon as she spoke, some noise brushed past our ears.

Someone was stomping roughly on the ground.

Despite the distance, a faint killing intent could be felt. The scent of a well-disciplined assassin wafted through.

It was a movement I hadn’t seen in a long time.

“Looks like they’ve appeared.”

The next moment.

Slash-!

A sharp cutting sound rang out.

Including the one who had been talking just now, the heads of some gang members floated in the air.

They had been severed in an instant.

“”……!?””

The robed gang backed away in surprise.

Of course, that wouldn’t save them from their predicted death.

Flutter-!

A shadow dissolved in darkness fluttered like a cloak.

The afterimage blinked rapidly.

Iron flowers blooming beautifully.

Too fast to be caught by the eye. Two daggers danced in an instant.

Despite being shrouded in fog, the path of the blade was precise.

Slash-!

A silver line was drawn across the black background.

Following the strike that split into dozens, stars twinkled for a moment.

It was enchanting.

And simultaneously cruel.

While our attention was captivated by the magnificent sword dance.

Thud, thud thud thud…!

The remaining gang members’ heads fell to the ground.

It all happened in less than three seconds.

I smiled gently.

“See? Someone really did appear.”

Though I’m not sure if they’re a hero.

I added a frivolous comment, but Irene didn’t seem to hear it.

Her attention was caught by something else.

“Miss Irene?”

“……”

Her breathing trembled as if tense.

Following the direction of her gaze, I saw a person standing among the corpses.

It was a woman emanating an eerie atmosphere.

Long flowing black hair.

Two daggers held in both hands.

A black mask covering the lower half of her face.

She had a unique appearance.

When the woman’s eyes met ours, she immediately began striding toward us.

“Oh, she’s coming…!”

Irene drew her sword and took a stance.

Perhaps overwhelmed by the woman’s aura. She was mentally shaken.

I calmly tried to soothe the fox.

“Let’s stay calm. She’s not our enemy.”

“……Do you know her?”

Irene asked in surprise.

I wondered how to explain this, but soon gave up.

It would be easier for her to understand by seeing it directly anyway.

Thud thud-!

The woman’s steps had already reached close proximity.

A fierce killing intent spread. It seemed to warn that anyone blocking her path would be cut down.

The woman who had been approaching so roughly.

Suddenly stopped advancing in front of the snake.

And then.

“Commander.”

She knelt on one knee.

After disarming herself, she paid her respects in a perfectly submissive manner.

“I knew you would return.”

The black-haired woman murmured.

Her voice was filled with emotion.

Tears flowed down her pale cheeks. She seemed overwhelmed with feelings.

Her bowed head was full of reverence.

‘……This is why I didn’t want to come recently.’

A member showing excessive welcome from the start.

And the fox staring blankly at the scene.

Both their gazes were blatantly fixed on me.

Seriously.

It was unbearably awkward.