Book 12 Chapter 8

Side Story, Part 2, Chapter 4

"What is this?"

Setsunen asked.

It was a night where all four moons shone brightly above the veil of darkness.

"Menu 고민." (Menu contemplation.)

Lost in thought, Reine spun his fountain pen around and then smiled.

"Menu?"

"Yep, menu."

When Reine swiftly picked her up and sat her on his lap, Setsunen's eyes twinkled as she peered at the paper.

"Not all bread is the same. There's bread meant to be a staple food. These are generally large in volume and don't have things like cream added."

"Nene likes cream!"

"Me too. The bread you eat at shops is mostly that kind of bread. Easy to eat, rich in calories, making you feel full even in small sizes. Popular places make these kinds of bread and pastries well."

"Popular?"

"Yes, a huge number of people come."

"A lot of people… come?"

Nene murmured to herself.

It was the twilight hour, and her voice lost vitality like sunlight fading away in an instant.

"Nene, are you still afraid of people?"

Though she was shaking her head, it was clear what her true feelings were from her face, hidden beneath her conical hat.

It was then.

With the sound of a bell, the entrance door swung open, and the autumn night breeze swept in.

"What, it's quite a bit larger than I thought?"

A wandering warrior with ivory-colored hair tied up neatly, a long martial arts uniform, unique to those who pursue martial arts, fluttered.

"Long time no see, Reine. How have you been?"

"Who might you be… Nene, call the guards for trespassing."

"What, you, you brat! How long has it been since we last met for you to forget me? I'm Celine, the former Heavenly Fire Dragon! Aki's master! And now the leader of the Heavenly Fire Sect!"

"Oh…?"

"Oh? Oh? You damn brat! Because of you! I, uh, sent a dragon to the World's Greatest Martial Arts Tournament and won, uh? For fraud, uh? How much trouble did I go through to clean up the mess when the sect, which had just started to revive, was almost overturned! Do you really want to die?"

Oh, wow…

What a violent reaction…

"I-it's obviously a joke. Long time no see, Celine. Have you been well?"

"Do you think that will make my anger subside? I swore before the sacred tree that if I ever met you again, I'd punch you in the face."

Flames spark from her veiny fist! Scary!

"W-wait! There's an idiom in the Empire. If it's cute, it's innocent, no matter what."

"Where is such a thing!"

"Aki will make it. Just you wait."

"Hmm… that makes sense."

"Right?"

"Yeah. Rather, wouldn't it be better to say something like, 'Aki is innocent even if she splits the world with her fist'?"

"Actually, I tried to enact a similar law, but the Emperor immediately rejected it."

As Celine, who had been huffing, began to nod, both burst into laughter simultaneously.

Bewilderment turned into joy.

Aki's image from their younger days, wearing the same martial arts uniform and excelling in the World's Greatest Martial Arts Tournament, came to mind, and Reine chuckled.

"Anyway, what brings you all the way out here? No, how did you know to come?"

"It's not that far. And you guys sent the letter first, didn't you?"

"What?"

"You've arrived, Celine."

Milia appeared, stroking her belly, swollen from pregnancy.

Having crossed over from the Adrion Continent, the two, who had built their friendship since Reine reintroduced Aki, had become close friends without realizing it.

It was clear that martial artists shared a certain unspoken connection.

"Wow, she really is pregnant."

"Nene, did you say hello? This will be the first time you've seen her since you were very young. She is Aki unnie's master."

Milia beckoned to Nene.

Nene, who had been clinging behind Reine's leg and observing, shyly bowed.

"Hello."

Celine's eyes narrowed.

With the unique gaze of martial artists, quickly assessing an opponent's demeanor, her eyes rapidly scanned Nene up and down.

A sneer formed on Celine's lips.

"Hmm, young Aki was five times cuter, though?"

"That's because you don't know Nene well yet."

"No no no. Even if I knew, the result would be the same. Young Aki's cuteness was the highest reverence."

To others, it was such a conversation, but a question mark was about to be etched into Setsunen's eyes.

What is this…?

And indeed, the trembling in Celine's heart was transmitted directly to Nene.

[Cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute.]

???

[I want to hug her I want to try hugging her I want to tightly hug her but that would be a betrayal to Aki so no.]

?????

As Nene tilted her head in confusion, Celine flinched and cleared her throat.

[Oops, did it show on my face too much? I need to restrain myself a little.]

Then, turning around, she gestured outside the door.

"I have someone to introduce too. Nykke, come in and say hello."

The Heavenly Fire Sect was a sect that handled fire.

But then, the boy who entered at Celine's gesture and respectfully offered a martial arts salute was…

A boy with fierce features, who held ice, not fire.

"I am Nykke, the 36th disciple of the Heavenly Fire Sect. It's a pleasure to meet you."