"The sky is dark again."
"Looks like it's going to rain."
"Sigh. I hate rain because the air will be cold."
"Unlike you, I like rain because the atmosphere feels great when it rains."
"I also love rain because it feels amazing to cuddle with my wife when it rains."
"That's right. Rainy days are better in my opinion."
"I agree."
"Better my ass! It's good if you are not on duty. Otherwise, it's a torture."
"Damn right!"
"Yeah, yeah. I hate it when I'm on duty."
Like usual, fifteen city guards chatted as they guarded the city entrance.
They talked about many things, from the atmosphere to magical beasts. They even changed the topic of conversations more than five times in the last hour.
Actually, this was normal.
The people guarding the entrance gate were men, so it was natural that they changed the topic of conversation quickly.
After all, men changed the topic easily when hanging out together, especially if they were close or best friends.
"By the way, when will Ace and Lieutenant Valeria be back?" the red-haired man asked curiously.
Scarlett had informed them that Ace and Valeria were still alive. That was why the red-haired man wanted to know when they would return to Nightshire City.
"I don't know." The green-haired man responded, "Captain Noah, do you know when they will be back?"
"City mistress said they would be ba-" Captain Noah stopped his words halfway when he caught sight of Ace and Valeria. "It's them! It's Ace and Lieutenant Valeria."
Everyone instantly turned their heads toward Ace and the others.
"They have returned!"
"They have returned."
One by one, they rushed toward Ace and Valeria.
"Ace, Lieutenant Valeria." They shouted happily.
Ace's subordinates were startled when Captain Noah and the others shouted his name.
"It seems like our leader is famous in this city. The city guards are even welcoming him."
"As expected of our leader, he is sure amazing!"
"Of course, he is famous. After all, he is our leader."
They still did not know everything because Ace only told them that he was from Nightshire City.
"Ace, how are you?"
"Lieutenant Valeria, how are you?"
"Ace, who attacked you that day?"
"Lieutenant Valeria, is it true that you got teleported to Arnlisle forest?"
"Ace, who are they? Why did they call you leader?"
"Lieutenant Valeria, what happened to you and Ace after you two were teleported to Arnlisle forest?"
The city guards bombarded them with questions because they wanted to know what had happened to them after they were teleported to Arnlisle forest.
Ace and Valeria could not answer their questions because they kept throwing questions at them.
They even could not hear their questions clearly because they asked many questions at the same time.
When Captain Noah saw the expressions of Ace and Lieutenant Valeria, he decided to stop them. "Alright, everyone, stop it. They are tired now, so let them go home and rest."
Even though the city guards still wanted to know what had happened to Ace and Valeria, they did what they were told.
Ace and the others had just arrived, so the city guards knew they were tired.
"Have a good rest, Ace, Lieutenant Valeria." The city guards said in unison.
Ace smiled as he waved his right hand.
After Valeria went home, Ace told his subordinates to stay in the inn or hotel because he did not have a place for them to stay.
It was impossible for him to take them to Scarlett's house because her home was not big enough for eighty people.
"I promise I will find a place for you tomorrow." Ace believed he could find a place for them tomorrow because Scarlett would help him.
"Understood, leader." His subordinates responded in unison.
After his subordinates left, Ace headed to Scarlett's house with a smile on his face.
'Scarlett, I'm coming.'
----
Scarlett's House, Her Office.
'Huft… I'm tired.'
Scarlett, who was sitting on her office chair, stretched out her hands.
Since Ace was teleported to Arnlisle forest, she always spent her days working because she would miss him and feel lonely if she did not work.
Sure, she could call him using a communication token, but calling him would make her miss him even more because she could not embrace or kiss him.
This was the reason why she always worked longer hours than usual.
'What is he doing right now?'
She suddenly thought of her boyfriend.
'Should I call him?'
She retrieved the communication token from her space ring.
After looking at the communication token for several seconds, she decided to call him. "Alright, I will call him."
To her surprise, she heard his voice when she was about to call him.
"I'm home." Ace's voice rang out in her house.
Scarlett instantly rose to her feet after hearing his voice.
'It's Ace's voice. He has returned home!'
With a happy smile on her face, she rushed to the living room.
She did not meet him for more than two weeks, so her heart throbbed with happiness when she knew that he had returned home.
"Ace!" Scarlett stopped running after stepping into the living room.
Ace, who had just closed the door, smiled and spread his arms, asking for a welcome hug.
Like before, she ran toward him again.
When she was close to him, she jumped into his arms. "Ace!"
Ace caught her before finally speaking, "I'm home."
"Welcome home, Ace." Scarlett responded with a happy smile on her face.
He walked toward a couch before finally sitting on it. Of course, he made her sit on his lap because he wanted lovey-dovey with her.
He did not meet her for more than two weeks, so he wanted to spend time with her. "What were you doing earlier?"
"I was working." She gave an honest answer.
"I see." He responded.
Scarlett began asking him many questions.
Ace answered all of her questions honestly. She was his lover, so he did not need to hide anything from her.
After talking for several minutes, they decided to take a shower together.
Actually, Scarlett had taken a bath earlier, but she took a shower again because her lover wanted to take a bath with her.
After taking a shower together, they headed to his room and lay on the bed.
"Are you sure you want to meet Lexie alone?" Scarlett inquired.
"Yes. I want to do everything alone." he responded, "If I'm in a difficult situation later, I will use your name."
"Hehe." Scarlett giggled.
Of course, she did not mind it because he was her boyfriend.
'Hmm?'
Ace was startled when she suddenly lay prone on top of him.
"Do you want to sleep in my arms tonight?" he inquired.
"Yes." She did not sleep with him for more than two weeks, so she desired to sleep in his arms.
Ace kissed her forehead and smiled, "Let's sleep now."
"Un." She nodded her head.
Shortly after that, they fell asleep.
----
The following day, Ace headed to the entertainment house after having lunch with Scarlett.
No!
He was not horny.
He was also not looking for a prostitute.
He traveled to the entertainment house because he wanted to meet Lexie.
He wanted to buy two of her buildings, so he went to her place.
'I hope I can buy it cheaper later.'