NOVEL NEXT Ch. 157
Chapter 157. Their Treatment (2)
Elsyde’s fortress felt familiar now.
Walking the vast corridors lined with white marble, I thought so.
I glanced around.
Flags with blue patterns on black hung from the ceiling, and countless people passed through the wide passages.
Despite the spacious halls, I instinctively took shadowy, secluded routes, nearly chuckling when I realized I was following my ingrained stealth paths.
Beyond swordsmanship training or talent recruitment, I’d naturally honed my skill at avoiding attention.
Returning from the district, it was past lunch. Sunlight streamed through the corridor’s glass windows.
“Phew.”
The job was done, somehow.
My two-handed sword, cased with my robe, was stashed in the underground training hall.
In the district, I’d used the Sword Saint of the Waves’ two-handed sword as a freelancer, but as Enoch on missions, I wielded the Last Sword Saint’s one-handed sword.
Even the sword case was Elena’s product for the district.
Witnesses might’ve seen me use a sword there.
I didn’t want to risk identification, so such precautions were worth the effort.
Overcoming fatigue, I grabbed the doorknob.
A loud bang erupted, the door flying open, hurtling toward my face.
Reflexively, I leaned back, narrowly dodging.
“What?”
Startled, I looked up. Sirocco stood there, glaring with sharp eyes.
Her bare leg was raised, having roundhouse-kicked the door, as usual.
“You’re finally back!”
“Quite an entrance.”
“Hmph, got a problem?”
Before I could reply, she grabbed my waist, sniffing me.
I looked down, asking.
“…What’s this about, again?”
“As expected.”
Ignoring me, she glanced up, adding primly.
“You smell like a female. Stronger this time.”
“Smell?”
“Yup, super intense.”
Her canine ears twitched, tail swishing irritably.
“What smell…”
Puzzled, I tilted my head.
Odd.
My SIEG Industry robe was designed to resist odors, and no one had touched me…
“Oh, right.”
A district memory surfaced.
There was contact. At [Bolt & Spanner], I caught Nano when she fell. And with April on the hill, I’d touched her shoulder.
But that was it.
If that left a scent, it was practically magic.
“…Your nose is that good?”
“Hm?”
I stared at Sirocco, dumbfounded. The original mentioned her keen senses, but this? Experience taught me more than I expected.
Suppressing a chill, I pushed her back.
“Step back.”
She crossed her arms, huffing, chin raised, as if protesting, ‘I’m mad.’
Seeming upset, I asked curiously.
“Sirocco, you angry?”
“Hmph, you noticed.”
“Why?”
“Obviously!”
She leaned in, stating clearly.
“I was bored all day without you!”
“You looked for me?”
“Checked the training hall yesterday, but you weren’t there. Searched everywhere!”
“You went there to find me?”
“To spar, duh! I wanna get stronger!”
Her sharp tone and earnest expression showed sincerity.
I nodded.
Her drive to improve was always welcome.
But time didn’t allow me to focus solely on her. The district job proved that.
My sword training—linkage practice and more—was delayed for various reasons.
Thinking, I offered a rational proposal.
“How’s this? There’s a public sparring arena for Elsyde mages. If I’m away, sign up there for sparring.”
“Hmph, don’t need that.”
“Don’t?”
“Obviously!”
She leaned closer, glaring confidently.
“I want you as my sparring partner!”
I tilted my head.
Oddly phrased. Her bold personality aside, sparring with diverse combat mages would build experience. She’d know that.
“You challenged everyone at the banquet.”
“That was to shut down anyone underestimating you. Not for my growth!”
I didn’t quite get it, but okay.
Her attitude wasn’t an issue. I nodded slowly.
“If that’s what you want.”
“Hmph, good!”
Her tail wagged, eyes sparkling.
Her mood recovered quickly, a relief. I stepped inside.
She followed, tail swishing.
High-rank mages like Sirocco rarely appeared at public arenas, only during official events.
Finding suitable combat mages there would be tough.
Sparring with me consistently seemed better. I could tailor her growth, knowing her progress best.
But there was a catch.
“Sparring’s fine, but if it’s like last time, it’s pointless.”
She crossed her arms proudly.
“Hmph, don’t worry. Since our last spar, I’ve thought hard about beating you.”
“Really?”
“Duh. [Awakening] stage and all, I’ve got a long way. I won’t stop here.”
She declared resolutely.
“So, let’s fight today!”
“Sure, but wait a bit.”
“Hm? Why?”
“Had stuff to do yesterday, didn’t sleep. Need to recover.”
No lie, pure truth.
My vision blurred.
The Order’s fatigue-recovery potion on the train was too effective, keeping me awake. Its effect was fading now.
I collapsed onto the bed, hugging a soft pillow.
Sirocco lay beside me, poking me with her tail. Upset I wasn’t sparring?
It didn’t hurt, just soft.
My device buzzed.
Grabbing it, I saw messages from Nano and April.
> [April: Yo]
> [April: Get back okay? Can you tell me what to call you? No profile set.]
> [April: Also, about that contact, when’s it happening? Freelancers live by schedules.]
> [April: Hello?]
> [April: Your reply speed’s legendary.]
> [April: Yo]
> [April: Ugh]
Annoyed by notifications, I hesitated, then replied.
> [(Unknown): ㅇㅇ]
Her response was instant.
> [April: Whoa? What??]
> [April: You can reply?]
> [April: So all my unread messages were…??]
Sensing a long rant, I pressed back.
Below April’s chatter was Nano’s message from hours ago.
> [Nano: Freelancer! Hello!]
> [Nano: Not sure, but Ronto said you helped him big time!]
> [Nano: Thank you so much!]
> [Nano: Oh! He mentioned a huge job coming. Excited for it!]
A job?
I smirked. Ronto promised to ‘talk’ to Nano, and this was his spin?
Clever kid.
My district reward was these two girls.
Nano, the original’s genius engineer-mage, and April, a sniper to bolster my squad’s mid-to-long-range firepower.
“Sweet deal.”
“Hm? What’s that?”
“Nothing.”
Ignoring Sirocco’s puffed cheeks, I turned my head.
Perfect. If I kept upgrading specs and recruiting talent, everything would go as planned…
A cold presence made me shiver.
A silver-haired maid stared down coldly.
“…”
Lien’s icy blue eyes fixed on me. Her stunning beauty nearly stopped my breath.
I hadn’t noticed her approach.
Honestly, if she claimed she’d tailed me in the district, I’d believe her.
Her cold demeanor and shadow-like presence often went undetected.
She spoke quietly.
“…You’re back.”
I nodded.
“Yeah.”
She’d know I was gone for a day.
Her piercing blue eyes watched me.
“…Hey.”
She leaned closer.
Her icy eyes neared, breaths almost touching. She spoke softly.
“I’ve got something to say about your body.”