It wasn’t strange for monsters to haunt the villages in the border zones, but they were now far from the frontier. They were nearly at the heart of the Sacred Race’s kingdom, so why were those kinds of monsters appearing here?
Lin Shu had a nagging feeling that these monsters weren’t so simple.
“Because the uglies are especially sensitive to magic, the sisters are looking for mages in the town to return to the Imperial City and discuss a way to subjugate them.”
Hati explained the reason behind the large number of clergy members appearing in the town.
“Mages… then what about me…?” Lin Shu asked curiously.
“You don’t need to worry, Lin Shu. Of course, our priority is getting you back to the Imperial City to see the Saintess and the Bishop first.”
As Hati spoke, she tilted her head toward Sophia.
“So, according to our agreement, you should get off here.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, Sophia didn’t move immediately. Instead, Ani, who was sitting beside her, suddenly reached out and tightly gripped a corner of Sophia’s clothes.
Realizing her behavior was inappropriate, Ani’s face flushed bright red. She immediately let go and lowered her head.
Lin Shu’s heart stirred slightly.
It seemed Ani was also reluctant to let Sophia leave. Having just lost her sister and being all alone, it was only natural for her to become dependent on Sophia, who had given her warmth.
‘Perhaps this is an opportunity?’
“What about Ani? Where will you take her?” Sophia asked, taking the opening. “Since the monsters still exist, wouldn’t it be more dangerous to send her to the Spirit Tower?”
“I…” Ani opened her mouth as if to say something, but she swallowed her words.
“Little one, what do you want to say?”
“She doesn’t want Sophia to leave,” Lin Shu said on Ani’s behalf.
Ani plucked up her courage and finally spoke, though her voice was as faint as a mosquito’s buzz.
“Yes… Sister Sophia isn’t in good health. Can we… not throw her away here?”
“Isn’t ‘throw away’ a bit much? We’re just sending her back to a human settlement!” Hati replied.
Ani’s body trembled, and she shrank back.
Lin Shu timely reminded Hati, “Ani just lost her family. It wasn’t easy for her to find someone she could rely on.”
After some discussion, although Hati was reluctant, her heart ultimately softened when she looked at Ani.
She raised both hands in surrender. “Wow, why do I feel like the three of you are in total agreement? I give up, okay?”
After informing Angela of the decision, the other woman didn’t object either.
According to the sisters staying in the town, there would be abnormal weather tonight that would make it difficult for the carriage to travel. They couldn’t stay long and had to continue their journey immediately.
When the carriage prepared to take flight again, Lin Shu finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Taking advantage of the moment Hati went to the front to soothe the white horse, Lin Shu leaned close to Sophia and whispered, “When there’s an opportunity, I’ll give you something to ‘eat’.”
Sophia turned her head and blinked. “You… can you? I might need to eat quite a bit.”
“To be safe, it’s best not to look elsewhere,” Lin Shu said, pointing to the mark on her own forehead. “The new trait given by the contract allows me to heal myself. It’s very practical, so…”
Before she could finish, she saw Sophia’s face darken.
“Ah—” Sophia dragged out the sound, a smile hanging on the corners of her mouth. “That is indeed a very good skill.”
The jealousy in her sarcasm was practically overflowing.
Lin Shu only then realized her mistake—she shouldn’t have praised another person’s ability in front of her!
Lin Shu gave an embarrassed laugh and hurriedly lowered her hand.
The carriage curtain was lifted. Seeing the two of them interacting, Hati’s cheek puffed out instantly. She decisively climbed into the carriage and grabbed Lin Shu’s hand.
“Lin Shu, come sit at the front with me.”
“Eh?”
Before she could react, Lin Shu was pulled to her feet and stumbled toward the front of the carriage.
“It’s no fun being cooped up in the cabin. Come out and get some fresh air.”
The white horse snapped its wings open once more, and the carriage took to the sky. The scenery on the ground distanced itself in an instant.
The sensation of weightlessness hit her immediately, and Lin Shu instinctively gripped Hati’s arm.
“Hold on tight.”
Hati squeezed her hand back and sat a little closer to her.
Lin Shu saw the curve of a smile on Hati’s lips.
She was definitely doing this on purpose.
The wind brushed against the curtain behind them, and Lin Shu could feel a gaze fixed on her from behind, lingering faintly.
***
At dusk, the clouds in the sky were dyed a vivid orange-red, flowing slowly past the carriage.
Lin Shu stared at the gathering clouds, her thoughts drifting back to the news from the town.
“Hati, after you deliver me to the Imperial City, will you have other missions?”
“You’re asking about the subjugation of those ugly monsters, right? The orders have already been passed down.” Hati shifted her sitting position and rested her chin on one hand. “Since they’ve appeared even near inland towns, it means there’s a chance other places will be attacked too.”
“However, I have to get you safely back to the Imperial City first.”
Lin Shu was silent for a while.
“Then… do you still need to break the contract with me? Would having an extra skill help you?”
She remembered Hati’s promise, but if Hati was going to deal with those monsters, wouldn’t having an extra contract skill make her safer?
Hati paused, then turned her head and laughed heartily.
“So you were worried about that? Don’t worry, I deliberately didn’t use the new skill you gave me during the last fight.”
“I’m very strong, you can rest easy. It’s just…”
The wolf ears on top of her head flickered. “I originally promised to treat you to something delicious, Lin Shu. If I take the mission, our original agreement will have to be delayed.”
Hati pouted, looking very regretful.
“And, I’ll have to be separated from you for a while.”
Lin Shu didn’t respond.
She knew Hati’s feelings. Although she hadn’t given an answer yet, she couldn’t remain indifferent in the face of such sincere affection.
The wind whistled past the front of the carriage, catching Lin Shu’s long hair. The black strands flew wildly in the wind, a few of them brushing against Hati’s arm.
Hati reached out and cupped a lock of that black hair. “I’ve wanted to say this for a while, but your hair is very soft, Lin Shu.”
“Back in my hometown, tribespeople with good fur are very popular.”
“Then what about yours, Hati?” Lin Shu glanced at her hair, which looked a bit rough and as if it hadn’t been properly cared for.
“It’s a bit of a hassle, so I cut it short. Most of the time I’m busy with missions, so I just give it a simple comb.”
“Oh, right, Lin Shu.”
Hati’s eyes suddenly lit up. “If I’m sent on a mission and won’t be able to see you, can I ask for something in advance?”
“What do you want?”
“Can I have a strand of your hair?”
Hair? Lin Shu froze for a moment.
“I mean, sure, but why?”
She lost hair every day anyway, so pulling out one strand didn’t matter, as long as she didn’t go bald.
“Hehe, it’s a secret for now. I’ll tell you after I come back from the mission.”
“Then I’ll take it now!” Hati leaned closer, her fingers gently catching a single black strand, and gave it a light tug.
It didn’t hurt.
Hati carefully wound the strand of hair around her ring finger, wrapping it round and round, tying it neither too loose nor too tight at the base of her finger.
Lin Shu blinked. “You’re… you’re going to tie it to your hand?”
“Because this belongs to you, and it’s something I like. I want to keep it tied to me always.” Hati smiled, revealing her sharp canine teeth, her eyes reflecting the warm glow of the setting sun.
“This way, when I miss you, I can feel you just by moving my finger.”
‘That sounds a bit strange…’
It was a bit like the hair ties couples used to exchange, but the hair was a part of her—it was something that truly ‘belonged to her’.
“But won’t it break easily?”
“Don’t worry,” Hati said, pulling a pair of black fingerless gloves from her waist and putting them on.
The leather half-gloves happened to cover the base of her fingers.
Hati clenched her fist. “With the gloves on, it’ll be well protected.”