Chapter 103 - 4 Months

1 MONTH LATER:-

KANETO'S POV:-

Walking into the market, I observe the surroundings and look at the night sky that covers the city. There are lamps of various colours and shapes all over the city, giving the city a colorful, vibrant look even during the nighttime. Well, it is almost equally similar to Eslaine, though. I then turn to look at the castle on my right. The castle too is brightly shining. I wonder what materials they used to build that. Then, my head turns to the immense tree on the other side, as I observe the Heaven's Library.

It has been a month since we arrived in Alfheim. I and Leraye almost fought daily with each other without using our mana or aura.

'He surely is a fast learner.' I can't help but mutter silently as I think about his fast learning speed. What took me months to learn, he ended up learning it in mere 4 weeks. 

Putting my hands on my chin, I think of our previous battles where he successfully used the manaless air blade. ' was it a stroke of luck or did he really learn to use it? Though I would like to tilt on the later side, but maybe the former is the truth? We will know it in the next battle, anyway.'

I then look at the person in front of me, who is arguing with the vendors over something. Since I know that person very well and I know that she will need my help at the moment; I turn my steps around and start to walk in the opposite direction...until I hear her call me, 

"KAAANEEEETTTOOOO-SAAANNNN" 

She shouts as loud as she can and everyone turns their head at her first before looking at me with pity in their eyes.

Knowing that I shouldn't get involved in this, I hasten my steps, but she comes in front of me as fast as she could. I look at her before sighing and asking, 

"What do you want, Lilith?" 

Lilith huffs for a few moments before catching her breath and looking at me with puppy eyes before asking, 

"Umm...can you...lend me...1..no...3 Gold coins?...Pleeaaassseeee…'' She puts a wide smile with puppy eyes as she looks at me. Honestly, I felt annoyed at her behaviour. This isn't the first time she asked for money from me or perhaps from our party members.

Lucy was the first victim and then it was me...and looks like once again, I am caught in this silly situation for no reason.

"Here you go," I give her the coins before moving forward from here, but she catches my hand and looks at me with a smile before asking, "let me at least treat you something." 

My nerves twitched a bit before I glared at her, signifying that it was my money she was using to treat me, at which she makes a silly pout. I sigh before I nod and follow her to the vendor, where she pays some money and then we move towards a restaurant close by.

We order something to eat and drink, and then Lilith asks me a sudden question, 

"What do you think will happen in a few months? Are we sure we can win against someone like Ladros, who is known for his cunning and calculating nature?"

I look at her, observing me with a serious expression before nodding at her and then creating a sound barrier before speaking. 

" As long as there is no one above the King level in the battle, the situation is within our control. At worst, even if there is someone above King Level, the least we could do is believe in that child."

She looks at me before nodding, then asking, 

"Why are you here, though? I mean, in this party? Do you have a specific reason to do that?" 

I look at her, then ponder over her question a bit before saying, "honestly I shouldn't be speaking this much to a stranger, but since you are somehow already one of us. I can at least tell you that I have taken an oath to protect those kids since their mother asked me to protect them. That is my reason for staying at this party. Well, since we are talking about that, then tell me, what about you? What is your reason for staying in this party?"

She looks at me dumbfounded before asking, "you...protect...that guy?"

'Hmmm? Does she know about Morpheus' power? I don't remember if Morpheus has shown his power to her before? That's a bit interesting...does Morpheus and she know each other from before? That would make a lot of sense.'

She observes me for a few moments before sighing and speaking, 

"Well, if you don't wanna answer, then it's fine. As for my reason, it's quite similar actually, I too have taken an oath to protect a few people in this party from a certain someone. Just don't tell anybody, okay? Our Secret," she puts a finger on her mouth and acts cutely as she winks at me that somehow irks me out and I hit her on her head.

-Pow

"Owww-owwo...what was that for?" She speaks as she looks at me with teary eyes. I smile at her before I observe that our food has arrived.

Not answering her questions, I began to eat the food. Looking at me eating without even asking her, she looks a bit dumbfounded before glaring at me and then eating the food, too.

After eating and bidding goodbye, I look at Icelos and Phan once again, getting carried by Zwain back to the castle. I heard they are fighting every day at almost their full power, and more and more people are visiting to see their matches.

"I lost my bet today on Icelos," I hear another familiar voice from behind, only to find Leraye gloomily looking at me.

'There is even a bet?' A wry smile forms on my face as I observe him. My eyes then turn in a certain direction as I find Morpheus travelling along with a kid in a certain direction. The kid is carrying a book with him and trying his best to catch up with Morpheus.

"I heard Leader is teaching some kids in the Library in his free time," Leraye says as he observes the same scene and I nod at him. I then look at Leraye, then at his scythe before speaking. 

"Want to have another go?"

He looks at me as a smile blooms on his face before he speaks. 

"Sure"