Ch.31Astro (3)

The door opened with a loud screech.

As the interior gradually came into view, a distinct smell suddenly tickled her nose.

The fox instinctively raised her tail straight up.

The source of the scent stimulating her sense of smell was…

“Delicious!”

“So fluffy…!”

The sweet aroma wafting gently through the air.

In the charmingly decorated space, familiar children were sitting together at an elegantly designed table.

They were the foxes Irene had entrusted.

“It’s sweet and melts in my mouth…”

“I could eat the teacher’s pie every day!”

“Mmm…!”

“It’s as delicious as the boss’s cooking!!”

They were chatting and laughing happily together.

The children were munching on pies placed in their bowls.

That must have been the source of the intense sweet smell.

The foxes wore expressions of pure bliss.

Whenever they brought their forks to their mouths, their tails swished happily.

It was a scene that naturally warmed the heart.

“…?”

A question mark appeared above the girl’s head as she watched.

It was because of the completely unexpected scene.

The tension that had been about to burst dissipated anticlimactically.

“I see it’s snack time.”

A voice suddenly came from behind.

Turning around, she saw a golden snake smiling brightly.

“Snack time…?”

“It’s what I instructed. I arranged for snacks three times a day in addition to regular meals.”

“W-wait… isn’t three times a bit excessive?”

“When you’re young, eating well and growing well is important.”

The boy nodded confidently.

“Rest assured. The chef here is so skilled that even I’m impressed.”

She knew the basement was spacious, but to think it even had a chef.

She realized anew how professional the facility was.

The boy continued his explanation with a pleased expression.

“Not only nutrition, but we also manage their constitution and eating habits… so you don’t need to worry about your siblings’ health.”

“…”

Irene was listening in a daze.

Her black eyes never lost their luster. All she could see was a gentle smile.

It was a confusing feeling.

How should she put it?

It was so different from the scenes in her head that had made her anxious until just now.

‘This is strange.’

Only then did the details of the scene start to register.

Items that all looked expensive, soft carpets spread out, and plenty of toys rolling around.

The setup showed consideration for the children.

She hadn’t known he could be this attentive.

It made her feel somewhat embarrassed for having suspected the basement.

The children were doing well.

The fox quietly watched her siblings.

“…Irene sis?”

As she stood there, her eyes met with one of the children.

That brief utterance soon colored the surroundings.

“What? Big sis is here?”

“Where is she?”

“She’s right there! How can you not see her standing by the door!”

“Oh, you’re right!”

“The boss came with her too!”

One by one, gazes focused on her.

Irene smiled awkwardly.

“It’s been a while, everyone.”

The children’s faces brightened.

They put down their snacks and immediately ran toward the girl.

Several warm bodies pressed against her as they hugged her.

“Sis! I missed you…!”

“You came to see us, right? We’ve been waiting!”

“It’s been so long!”

“Where have you been, sis?”

The children chattered excitedly.

As she welcomed their enthusiastic greeting, a smile bloomed on the usually stern girl’s face.

“I missed you too.”

She spread her arms and embraced her siblings.

Though Irene was normally sharp-tongued and fierce, right now she softened completely without any barriers.

Her lips curved into a bright smile.

It might seem like an unfamiliar sight.

“…”

A scene of pure affection.

The golden-haired boy was watching from a step behind. The reunion of the foxes was beautiful.

He didn’t want to interrupt the touching moment.

“Please enjoy yourselves fully.”

He murmured softly.

Then.

The snake turned around.

His quiet footsteps left only momentary traces as he disappeared.

***

Having discreetly slipped away.

While the foxes were busy catching up and sharing stories in the other room.

I was sitting at my work desk.

A faint murmur escaped between my lips.

“It’s been a while.”

Indeed.

When was the last time I sat here?

I had pretentiously created this “Boss’s Office,” but I barely remembered actually spending time here.

Too vague to recall memories, I suppose.

I quietly shook off my wandering thoughts.

Before me stood a girl with silver hair. She had a winter-like atmosphere about her.

Astro’s vice-captain, Neria Lightni.

“You called for me.”

She stood with perfect posture.

Her eyes lacked even a speck of vitality. It was like looking at an empty shell.

Or perhaps a puppet on strings.

Anyway.

“There’s something I’d like you to do.”

“Whatever you ask, I will gladly do it.”

But I had other business right now.

As her immediate response came, I slowly began to speak.

“There have been some rumors circulating recently.”

“What kind of rumors do you mean?”

“News that the movements of heretics… demon worshippers have been concerning.”

“That’s right. We’ve been hearing about it occasionally for several months now.”

“I thought so.”

So they’re starting to move.

Well, considering the flow of the original story, it wouldn’t be strange for them to appear anytime now.

If anything, they’re rather late.

“What about the other side?”

“There are rumors that two underground figures have joined hands. We haven’t figured out the reason yet.”

“The slave trader… and the monarch, I presume.”

“That’s correct.”

“This is following the original plot.”

The Baobab Tree, the Businessman, the King.

They were the villains from the original story, but so far there had been no unusual developments.

We were following the original content exactly.

“Please continue gathering information.”

“Understood.”

“Also, increase the patrol personnel just in case… Oh, and one more thing.”

Suddenly something comes to mind.

With a meaningful smile on my lips, I stared directly into her silver eyes.

My voice rang coldly.

“Today I ran into some trouble nearby, people extorting toll fees on the road.”

“…!”

“I wonder if management has been lax.”

“I-I’m sorry. I’ll correct it immediately.”

“The fact that there was a mistake in the task I asked you to handle… how should I interpret that?”

“I’ll make sure it never happens again.”

Neria was visibly flustered.

Her cold demeanor from earlier was gone, replaced by a cracking, crumbling response.

Why is she so scared?

I was actually trying to express concern.

During my six-month absence.

Neria served as Astro’s de facto leader, handling operations and supervising the city.

How could I scold such a talented person?

I was just worried because she made a mistake she normally wouldn’t make.

“I trusted our vice-captain…”

“P-please, master, d-don’t abandon me…”

“My goodness… how could I possibly abandon our capable Neria?”

If you leave, our organization would collapse.

You single-handedly handle 30% of all our operations.

“I just meant we should try a little harder.”

“…Yes, master.”

Did I upset her by saying something unnecessary?

The girl lowered her head.

Thinking I should comfort her, I stood up from my seat.

“Be at ease.”

“…?!”

I stroked her silver hair.

Slowly, carefully, so as not to disturb it.

Neria was momentarily flustered and didn’t know what to do, then froze in a stiff posture.

Even so, her shoulders trembled.

“Hic, hic…”

Each time the soft texture brushed against my fingertips, a plaintive moan escaped her.

You must have had a hard time.

The poor thing is even sobbing.

“I will never abandon you.”

Nothing beats head pats for comfort.

The girl gradually relaxed.

I continued to encourage her for a while.

***

Meanwhile.

Irene, surrounded by the foxes.

She spent a hectic time being pulled here and there by welcoming hands.

The younger siblings must have missed her quite a bit.

For a while, the basement was filled with the children’s bright spirits.

“Haah…”

After the busy moment passed, Irene sat in a corner to take a short rest.

Did the young foxes never tire?

They were playing among themselves.

Well-fed, well-rested, and full of smiles.

Perhaps because their overall lifestyle was balanced, her siblings were filled with a healthiness she hadn’t seen before.

It was incomparable to when they were confined in narrow cages.

‘That’s a relief.’

They seemed to be doing well.

A belated sense of relief washed over her. A faint smile spread across her lips.

‘I was so worried… but he’s really helping them sincerely.’

Those squinty eyes that had seemed so lecherous now looked different to her.

Although the fox had vowed never to trust humans again, she couldn’t deny feeling grateful.

She pondered about the boy for a moment.

Just then.

“So you’re the guest the boss brought.”

“…?”

A suddenly gruff voice reached her ears.

Turning around, she saw red hair. It belonged to a middle-aged man.

His sturdy build emanated a subtle aura of dignity.

“I’ve wanted to meet you sometime.”

“Um… pardon?”

“I should introduce myself first.”

The man laughed at Irene’s cautious reaction.

Nodding heartily, he placed his fist on his chest and said:

“Kyle Stroban, I’m the chef here. I also supervise the children.”

“Ah.”

So this was the person the boy had confidently mentioned.

And he even served as a teacher too.

Meeting the man who was actually taking care of the children, Irene hastily returned his greeting.

“I’m Irene Foxis.”

“Hahaha! I’ve heard a lot about you from the children.”

After exchanging a few casual words.

The fox began to examine his face more carefully.

Intense red hair, blood-colored eyes.

Arms with well-defined muscles from years of sword training, matched with a sturdy build.

A cross-shaped scar on his cheek.

His inner aura was eerily calm.

‘…Where did such a monster come from?’

She couldn’t help but break into a cold sweat.

The members she had met outside.

They were all impressively skilled individuals, but standing before this man, they seemed to pale in comparison.

She thought she had seen plenty of monsters while trudging through the mud of life, but…

‘What on earth.’

This was no ordinary situation.

Had he been hiding his energy until now? His presence was becoming increasingly distinct.

The faculty of Galimar, known as the Heavenly Thousand.

They were said to be unmatched on the continent.

Yet this was an intensity that could easily crush even such powerful figures.

‘This is impossible.’

A strength beyond comprehension.

To think such a person was merely a chef.

Just as she was about to sense something strange…

‘That face looks familiar…’

Suddenly, a sense of déjà vu struck her.

The deep red hair, sturdy build, and the cross-shaped scar on his cheek.

He was definitely someone she knew.

Her master’s words, which she had heard countless times, flashed through her mind.

-Irene, remember this man in the picture well.

-If you wish to walk the path of the sword… he is the sky you must eventually overcome.

-He is the only figure in the continent’s history who reached the stars.

A forgotten scene replayed vividly in her mind.

Her master repeatedly showing someone’s portrait and raising his voice about the achievements he had made.

In the picture, a red-haired young man was smiling.

The name of the subject was.

‘Kyle Stroban.’

Despite the passage of many years, there was an unmistakable familiarity in his features.

Irene murmured in a daze.

“…The Red Sword Saint?”

The weapon considered humanity’s strongest.

The most brilliant legacy of a bygone era, who had decorated countless pages of history with unprecedented strength.

The Sword Saint smiled as if embarrassed.

“I didn’t expect you to recognize me… hahaha! This is embarrassing!”

It was clearly an affirmative answer.

“This can’t be.”

Irene murmured in a daze.

How could the person called the pinnacle of the continent… be involved with a criminal organization?

At first glance, it sounded like such a lament.

But the reality was completely different.

“You are definitely…”

Confusion, bewilderment, doubt.

The shock the fox felt stemmed from a more fundamental issue.

She muttered in a daze:

“…I heard you died in an accident two years ago.”

Kyle Stroban.

Also known as the “Red Sword Saint” or the “Fallen Star.”

A hero who had vanquished numerous dark mages and greatly influenced the continent’s peace. He was the symbol of the Empire’s last 20 years.

And.

According to official records, deceased.

“…”

“Now I’m just an ordinary chef.”

A hearty laugh echoed.

Irene was facing a specter that shouldn’t be alive.

“Hahaha! This too is a grace bestowed by the boss.”

“What do you mean…?”

“Thanks to him, I survived like this.”

The boss was mentioned once again.

The Sword Saint offered a brief moment of silent reverence after his simple utterance. His expression was filled with deep respect.

It was similar to the state of the members she had seen outside.

The fox watched the scene, frozen stiff.

‘Slums, criminal organization, basement, fanatics… and now the Empire’s vanished hero.’

How far did his influence extend?

An eerie unease crept up her nape.

The girl had to swallow dryly as she thought of the mastermind at the center of all this.