Chapter 60 60: A Trip Back

The incident with the slave traders took place in the late evening hours but everyone knew what had happened by the end of the hour. News spread by word of mouth and everyone exaggerated the news even more.

"Hey, did you hear about the incident?"

"You mean, the incident where master Shinzou stormed into the slave trader's auction and put an end to it. But I heard that the real mastermind behind Master Shinzou's actions was the grandmaster."

"Grandmaster is such a great person, right? I even heard that the grandmaster was there in person and even captured the leader."

"I heard that the grandmaster went undercover as a slave to ensure that nothing goes wrong. He is such an amazing man, right?"

"Undercover? As if. No self-respecting man would pose as a slave. But maybe for the betterment of human life, grandmaster is capable of putting his pride aside and doing such a crazy thing."

Rumors were spreading around the town like fire. Everyone had a different version of this event to tell but there was a universal fact everyone agreed upon - the grandmaster was a great person who managed to free the slaves.

He deserved everyone's admiration and respect.

"Ohhh, Keith is going to like this a lot. But I wonder if he will be able to keep up with this hype he is building up. He's setting a tall wall for himself to overcome."

Clair watched the town sing praises of the grandmaster. No one had anything bad to say about him now that he had done such an amazing job.

But the man of the hour seemed extremely busy. After all, Keith had a desert to cross and a kid to take back to his home. He could not sit back and enjoy the rumors that were being spread about him.

...…

"Hey, is it really alright for you to take me back? You must be busy as the grandmaster, right?"

Shinu asked Keith with an innocent face. He was surprised that the elder had suggested that they head back so soon.

"Hmm, it's quite alright. My subordinates are strong and smart. They will be able to take care of things in my absence (Clair: Stop piling your work on me all the time, darn it. This is child abuse.)"

"Besides, can you go back home alone? I don't think you are in any position to complain."

Keith summarized the situation with a flat voice and Shinu looked offended. His face was red and his eyes teary.

"I-I can...not go back home alone. Thank you for taking me back home."

Keith could see that the kid was trying hard to deny his words but his honest nature did not allow Shinu to lie. He could only admit his shortcomings and reply with a sullen face.

The Hermit camp was beginning to look visible finally and Shinu ran toward the door. He knocked on the door as soon as he was close enough and the door opened a little bit.

Cold eyes looked at Shinu but he did not budge. This was where he had grown up and spent most of his life. He knew how caring those cold eyes could be.

"Open up the gate for me Sam. I am finally back."

Shinu yelled as loudly as he could. He waited for the door to open but nothing happened until Keith walked over.

Those cold eyes flashed over him and the man finally open the door.

"Sheesh, it took you a long time to open the door, old man. Did the age finally catch up to you or something?"

Shinu teased the elder man, not realizing what had happened here. But Keith noticed the cold shoulder that the older keeper was giving Shinu.

"Priestess Athena is waiting for you inside. Do not keep her waiting."

The air was tense right now. Everyone seemed to be on edge and even Shinu noticed the atmosphere was not right. Still, he did not let it get to him as he ran inside.

Keith gave the gatekeeper one last look but the gatekeeper did not match Keith's intentions. He looked away, not giving Keith a chance to read him.

"Priestess Athena, I am back. The guard uncle said you needed to see me."

Shinu parted the curtains of the priestess's living quarters. It was a place that was easily approachable and the main entrance had no doors. Everyone was expected to know that they could not barge in there.

But since Shinu was a child, it was expected that he would sometime make the mistake of barging in.

Priestess Athena had a grave look on her face. Her eyes were filled with worry and agitation but it all soon melted into relief as soon as her eyes fell on Shinu.

Beside Athena sat a pretty woman with a silver-haired woman with heavy breasts and long hair. She was older than the priestess by quite a few years and her face had some signs of aging.

She looked up sharply at Shinu's voice and her eyes were filled with tears.

"Y-You are back. Shinu, my baby. Just where did you go and who saved you? It was this gentleman by your side that saved you, right? Let me just thank you, mister."

The elder seemed to be out of her mind with worry. Before Keith could say anything to her, she pulled him into a hard hug.

Shinu's adoptive mother had even bigger breasts than Keith had initially expected. All he could feel was that softness against his hand as he tried to push the lady back.

Keith did not know where to touch this lady to make her let go of him. Her big breasts were suffocating Keith now.

"L-Let me breath, lady."

Keith's words were muffled against those gigantic breasts in front of him but the lady seemed not to have noticed. Her body shivered against Keith as his hot breath hit her clothed body.

Shinu seemed to not have noticed anything was wrong but Priestess Athena did notice. And for some reason, she did not like the fact that Shinu's mother was so close to Keith.

*cough* "You can let go of him, Amy. I think you have thanked Keith enough by now." Any more and he might die.

Of course, Athena did not add the last part since she did not want to scare Amy off. Amy finally noticed just what position she had put Keith in and instantly let him go.

She went back to stand by Shinu's side and checked him over for injuries.

"I assume you know what happened by now. I do not think it is safe for you people to be in this location any longer. You have been discovered."

Keith warned the priestess who looked resigned.

The reason Hermits where a traveling tribe was that they were easy to take advantage of. Traveling around was their defense mechanism and something that they were excellent at.

"Perhaps you are right. We have spent a little too long in one place so now it is time to start moving. Amy, will you go and announce me? We shall be leaving in a week."

Amy looked startled but she knew why their priestess had made such a decision. She was not going to go against their priestess since Athena knew what was best for them.

"I will go and let everyone know right now. Shinu, you come with me."

Amy extended her hand for Shinu to take but he looked hesitant. His eyes turned to look at Keith, asking him if he was going to keep his promise.

"Also, Priestess Athena, do you remember what we talked about before? I have made my choice. I want to take Shinu with me from your tribe."

Shinu perked up as soon as he heard Keith's words. It was now official that he had been invited by the grandmaster to his guild for getting stronger.

Athena looked at Keith with a blank expression, almost looking at him like she did not agree with his decision. And truthfully, Shinu was not a choice Athena would have made regarding a pupil.

Despite his upbringing, Shinu was not one of the Hermits because of his race. Heck, Shinu was not even human and no one knew what kind of creature he was.

But if Keith had asked for him then Athena did not feel right to deny him. She had given her words regarding this and she could not go back on her word.

"Very well then. If you have decided to go with Shinu then you can take Shinu with you. Shinu, Amy, you do not have a problem with this, right?"

Priestess Athena asked and Shinu was instantly on board. Amy looked a little hesitant to say anything since she had not understood what happened there.

"E-Excuse me but what is going on here? Where is Shinu being sent? And why does he need to go? Who are you to take my baby away from me?"