Episode 66
Chapter 23: The Ghost Sword Kashimir (Part 1)
“…Is it good?”
“Yeah! It’s delicious, mister.”
“I’m not a mister.”
Being called “mister” at fifteen is a harsh fate.
“You are a mister.”
Jin gave an awkward smile and shrugged his shoulders.
He had just bought an ice pop for the little kid clutching a dragon plush. Watching the child crunch on the sweet, icy treat was undeniably adorable.
But inwardly, Jin wondered, What on earth am I supposed to do with this kid?
Watching Murakan cautiously scanning the surroundings made Jin’s fists clench involuntarily.
Even Gili looked seriously upset this time, her expression cold and sharp. Of course, whenever the kid glanced around, Gili would break into a bright smile.
It was a small mercy that the only witness to Murakan’s transformation was a mere five-year-old.
No, it was a huge relief.
If a whole group of adults had seen it, the bounty on him would have been issued by the Guild that very day.
Murakan had learned a lesson from this incident. While humans generally don’t meddle in others’ affairs, he resolved to be far more careful about transforming in the future.
Jin, who had been glaring at Murakan’s back for a while, let out a deep sigh.
Yeah… it must be frustrating for him too. A mighty black dragon who’s never had to watch anyone else’s reactions until now.
Though five years had passed since Murakan awoke from the glass coffin deep beneath the Storm Fortress, his mindset was still stuck a thousand years in the past—right before he fell asleep. He held back his wild impulses for Jin’s sake, and adjusted his entire way of life around him.
Aside from a few minor accidents during their time at the Storm Fortress and the Garden of Blades, Murakan had been remarkably patient.
Thinking about it that way, I feel a little sorry.
Jin bought another ice pop and handed it to Murakan. Without a word, Murakan accepted it and immediately brightened up. Gili, who caught that moment, chuckled quietly.
The little kid, unaware of the full story, smiled along with the mood.
“So, then, is that mister a cat or not?”
“No, I think Yuria was mistaken.”
“Yuria’s not wrong. That mister is a cat. But that mister isn’t a cat.”
“Haha, you must really like cats, huh?”
Sitting side by side on the bench, sharing ice pops with Jin’s group, was this adorable little girl named Yuria.
“Ugh…”
“Yuria, do you know the way home?”
“No, Yuria doesn’t know.”
From what they gathered, Yuria’s parents had briefly lost sight of her. She had been wandering the streets when she happened upon Jin and the others.
So the three of them decided to find her parents first. There was no urgent problem to deal with right now.
Twenty minutes had passed, but no sign of Yuria’s parents.
“Master, maybe we should take her to the nearby guard post? We have no connections here.”
“That sounds right. Let’s finish the ice pops first…”
But the moment the word “guard post” was mentioned, Yuria frowned.
“I don’t want to go there. They always make mom suffer.”
“The guard post makes your mom suffer?”
“Yeah, mom’s really tired because of the guard post.”
A flood of thoughts raced through Jin and the others’ minds.
Are they being exploited by the guards?
Or could Yuria’s mother be some kind of criminal?
There weren’t many ways to interpret “mom’s suffering because of the guard post.”
After a brief discussion, they agreed it was still best to take her there. Yuria pouted but eventually seemed to accept it.
“You’re a good kid, Master. Did you ever have a time like this? Hmm, I guess not. Haha.”
Finding the nearest guard post was easy enough. True to its name as a free city, the people of Tikan didn’t really distrust outsiders.
The guard post building was neat and clean, with white walls and freshly painted letters:
—Tikan Free City Central Guard Post.
Jin liked that it was the central post. It’s always easier to get things done at the top.
“This is the Tikan Central Guard Post. What brings you here?”
“Well, it’s about this child…”
“Oh, Yuria? Hey, someone fetch the captain.”
“Do you know this child?”
“Know her? She’s the captain’s daughter.”
“What?”
The little girl who hated the guard post was suddenly treated like royalty.
Ah, so that’s what she meant by her mom suffering because of the guard post. The three of them chuckled quietly.
“Kid, you dare try to fool Murakan?”
“I’m not fooling you, cat mister.”
“I told you, I’m not a cat.”
Footsteps approached briskly.
A towering woman came over to where the three were standing. Easily two meters tall, broad-shouldered, with a fierce scar near her left eye.
She looked like she could run five dark organizations like Tesing without feeling out of place, yet she wore the guard post uniform. The insignia marking her as “captain” was unmistakable.
She scooped Yuria up in her arms.
“Haha, Yuria. Sorry, sorry. Mom suddenly had urgent business and rushed back, completely forgot about you.”
“It’s okay.”
“Of course it is. Everyone in this city knows that if you mess with you, you’ll end up in the afterlife. Or worse, never see the sky again.”
Her grim joke in front of her five-year-old daughter was unsettling, but the affection was clear.
Jin and the others were momentarily at a loss for words.
“You brought Yuria here? Sorry for the late introduction. I’m Alisa Batzer, captain of the Tikan Guard.”
Before they knew it, Jin and the others shook hands with Alisa.
“You’re travelers, huh? Since most people here know Yuria’s face, I was a bit careless.”
“No, it’s a relief to know she’s your daughter. We were worried it might take a long time to find her guardian.”
“Looks like she even got an ice pop. Yuria, a proper bow. That’s right. Anyway, thank you so much. How can I repay you?”
“If you could recommend a good place to stay nearby, that would be wonderful. We just arrived.”
“A place to stay? One moment. Yuria, what did you say?”
Whispering.
Alisa bent down as Yuria whispered something.
After a moment, Alisa tilted her head, scribbled something on a piece of paper, stamped it, and handed it to them. It was a simple letter of introduction.
“This is a letter with my captain’s seal. Show this at any lodging, and you won’t be overcharged or treated poorly. The food they serve will be better too.”
“Wow, that’s amazing. We’ll put it to good use. Well then, we’ll be on our way.”
As the three left the guard post, Alisa shrugged.
“Yuria, you really saw someone turn from a cat into a person?”
“Yeah. But the mister and the lady didn’t want to tell anyone. So I just pretended I didn’t see.”
Alisa ruffled Yuria’s hair playfully.
“Good job. Everyone has their secrets.”
Then she thought to herself:
Transformation… only dragons can do that. There’s no way Yuria was mistaken. I should tell Kashimir about this.
The power of the Tikan captain’s letter of introduction exceeded their expectations.
Jin and the others chose a top-tier lodging on the outskirts. The moment they showed the letter, a dedicated staff member appeared, and all services were discounted by half.
Moreover, they were given access to the highest-grade rooms, which normally required reservations. Thanks to that, the group enjoyed a proper rest for the first time in a long while.
“Wow, I’ve only ever been treated this well in Hupester. Power really is everything, huh?”
“The bed is so soft, I love it, kid. Yeah, this is what a good inn should feel like. My back was killing me in Akin.”
“I think things will go well in Tikan. Getting this lucky right after arriving is a good sign. Oh, this cocktail and shrimp dish are delicious, Master. Want to try? Should I order more?”
“Oh my, Gili, why ask? Just order it, quickly.”
It truly felt like a vacation.
This is a first.
Though they’d been together since the Storm Fortress, this was the first time they’d had such a moment.
Especially Gili, who hummed a tune nonstop, clearly in high spirits. Jin felt a pang of bitterness—surprisingly, this was the first time he’d seen her so happy.
She enjoys this so much. Since becoming a lady, she’s stuck by my side so much she’s had no time to play or have her own life.
He vowed not to make Gili miserable like in his past life. He would make sure no one dared treat her badly, not even other purebloods, even in Runkandel.
But was that really what was best for Gili? Maybe it was better to just let her enjoy her own life freely.
For a moment, that thought crossed his mind.
“Gili.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Have you ever regretted becoming my nanny?”
Gili paused, then looked intently at Jin. She immediately understood the meaning behind his question.
“Not even once. My happiness means nothing if I’m not with you, Master. Oh, and of course, Murakan too. Though sometimes he’s really annoying.”
“Speaking of which, Strawberry Pie, I want to ask you something too. Why do you cling to Runkandel? You’re not like that Emma person who craves wealth or power.”
Jin was grateful Murakan interrupted. He didn’t know how to respond to Gili’s answer.
“Um… well…”
“Have they caught something on you? Or do you owe a lifelong debt to Runkandel? Your devotion seems a bit too blind.”
“Can I tell you both the reason later?”
“When will you tell us, Strawberry Pie?”
“When I become a grandmother?”
“That’s short notice. But I can wait that long. Just make sure you give me an answer.”
Gilly said it jokingly, but Murakan took it seriously. Considering his lifespan, a few decades really wasn’t that long.
“Ha ha, anyway, I think I’ll order more shrimp dishes.”
As Gilly left the room, Murakan called Jin over.
“Kid.”
“Yeah?”
“You’re living a charmed life.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Then Gilly came rushing back in.
Her face was so urgent, you wouldn’t think she’d just gone to order more shrimp.
“Master, Murakan-sama, something’s wrong. There’s not a single person in the lodging.”
“What?”
“Not a single staff member or guest. Everyone’s suddenly gone. Something’s…”
At that moment, clack, clack, clack—
From the hallway stairs came the sound of dozens of footsteps. Definitely warriors wearing steel boots.
The overlapping footsteps grew closer, then suddenly stopped in the corridor. Then, one calm set of footsteps continued forward.
A man entered through the open door.
Murakan didn’t recognize him, but Jin and Gilly did—a famous swordsman.
“Good day.”
It was Kashimir, the Blade of the Spirit.