Chapter 242: Going Home
Chapter 242: Going Home
Held in Sister Ren's embrace, I comfortably rubbed against her from time to time. That soft and fragrant Pillow was truly the most wonderful thing in this Act.
"Oh, right, Older Sister, how did you figure out it was me?"
I looked up curiously, gazing at her fair and pointed Chin. Although I wouldn't claim my Disguise was perfect, I hadn't revealed any Weakness, had I? My face was covered, I had changed the Clothes I usually wore, and I had deliberately squeezed my Voice into a weird, unnatural tone. With such thorough preparation, how could I have been seen through in an instant? It was bizarre, too bizarre.
"Do you really think your disguise was flawless?"
Sister Sharna twirled my Hair Strands around her finger and lightly tugged, a look of amusement in her Sapphire Eyes.
"Look, probably only your Ghost Wolf on the entire Continent is that big. Hmm? It seems to have gotten even bigger. You haven't been feeding it strange things often, have you?"
Pointing at Little Snow, who was lying down not far from us, facing away as if deliberately not looking, and yawning, Sister Sharna showed a puzzled Gaze.
Oh, damn it, I completely forgot about Little Snow. Older Sister was the only person who had ever ridden Little Snow with me, so she naturally knew Little Snow's Appearance very well.
As for its Physique, that had nothing to do with me. It had evolved again, so it naturally got a bit bigger. I absolutely didn't think that my frequent feeding of Little Snow could make it fatter.
Seeing my Expression of Realization, Sister Sharna smiled, lowering her Head to lightly sniff at the roots of my Hair.
"Moreover, even without looking at that wolf, your Voice, your Scent, your Figure. I have firmly imprinted them in my Mind. If my mouth and nose hadn't been covered by Dust at the beginning, I would have discovered you long ago."
Uh~~, truly worthy of being a woman of the New Era, no, she should be called a Queen. To be able to say such Sweet Talk that Ordinary People would be too shy to utter, with such a natural Expression, probably only someone with Older Sister's Style could do it. She wouldn't hide her Likes and Dislikes at all. If she liked someone, she probably wouldn't care about openly ** on the Street with you. If she disliked someone, she might not even bother to say a word and would directly execute Humanitarian Destruction on you.
But speaking of Amazons, they are truly terrifying. Is this a special Skill developed to Track down the Men who fled the Tribe because they couldn't stand their low Status? Can they even smell a Scent from so far away? Truly worthy of being called the Champion of the Jungle.
"Oh, right, I haven't asked you yet. Looking at your getup, you must be one of those Lut Gholein Three Heroes that have been talked about in the past few months, right? Weren't you in Lut Gholein two months ago, even earlier than me? You must have come by Remote Teleportation Array, right? Is it those old blind men and Old Drunkards making you do something Dangerous again?"
Although she hadn't interacted with anyone, Sister Sharna had heard similar things in the Tavern more or less, so she had some understanding of popular topics like the Lut Gholein Three Heroes. Combined with my current Disguise, she quickly figured it out.
Old blind man. Sweat. Mourning for Akara for a moment. But Older Sister's judgment is too terrifying. Just based on this little bit, she guessed almost everything. It seems I can't handle this carelessly.
"Something like that."
I shrugged my shoulders, pretending to be innocent. Although I didn't want to hide anything from Older Sister, this was, as Kashya said, a White Lie. I couldn't involve Older Sister, nor did I want Older Sister to have any conflict with Kashya, whom I secretly regarded as a Mother and Master.
"After the Divine Birth Day passed, the Desert Bandits in Lut Gholein suddenly became rampant. Akara and the others were short-handed, so they asked me to come and take a look. You know, Little Snow and the others are better at Tracking."
I pointed at Little Snow not far away and the Lazy Crow half-lying on the Ground playing dead. There was truth and falsehood in these words. It was true that I eliminated the Desert Bandits. I believe Older Sister should also know that, but that was just a coincidence. The real Quest was to eliminate the Fallen Ones. The Danger Level of the two was incomparable. As long as Older Sister didn't know I was doing Dangerous things, triggering her maternal instincts, she probably wouldn't probe further.
Indeed, upon hearing this, Older Sister's face showed an "as expected" Expression. In her opinion, those Desert Bandits were just Ordinary People. Even if thousands came, it would be a piece of cake and posed no Danger. So, she didn't pursue the Matter further.
"Then the Quest is completed. When do you Plan to go back?"
"Hmm, I Plan to go back in a few days."
The moment the words left my mouth, although it was just a blink of an eye, I still saw a trace of disappointment in Older Sister's Eyes.
"However, since I coincidentally ran into Older Sister, I must stay and accompany you for a few more days." I leaned in affectionately and kissed her slender, fair neck.
"Little smarty, you only know how to say sweet words. If you missed me that much, why didn't you come find me in these past few months? Don't tell me you couldn't find me." Older Sister sighed and shook her Head, but there was still a hint of a smile in her Eyes. Even if it was a lie, women always hope that the person they like will coax them more.
While we were Reminiscing about the past few months' experiences, there was suddenly a sound of falling Stone Fragments from a Corner not far away. Turning our Heads, we saw it was a dry and smelly Corpse, shrugging its shoulders and slowly waking up. It had discovered us and was walking towards us with a wobbly Pace like an eighty-year-old grandpa.
Before we could even stand up, the clever Little Snow, with its subordinates, let out a Roar and pounced. This poor little Corpse didn't even have time to react before it was surrounded by several Ghost Wolves taller than itself and then pushed out. Its Destiny was obvious.
"Your Summon is quite clever." Seeing Little Snow was so smart, a trace of Praise flashed in Older Sister's Eyes.
Although the Corpse was quickly dealt with, after this incident, we also realized that this was not a good place to Reminisce. The Environment was cold and damp, and the constantly Respawning Corpses were also a big trouble.
"Let's go back and talk." Her small hand naturally brushed over her golden long hair, which was tied into a Ponytail and hung vertically like heavy wheat ears under the Sunlight. The dazzling Hair Strands, following Sister Sharna's Movement, seemed to absorb all the dim Light from the Surroundings, emitting a brilliance no less radiant than the Sun.
Turning her Head to look at me, she smiled sweetly. In my amazed Gaze, she tore open a Town Portal Scroll and stepped into it without hesitation. This resolute and decisive attitude was one of her Charms. I wish I could be more resolute and decisive like Older Sister.
Sighing, I recalled Little Snow and the others.
Oh right, where's Little Ghost? She's been silent the whole time. That's not like her Style.
"Humph. Go ahead with your good Older Sister. Anyway, I'm just a pitiful Ghost nobody wants."
Just as I was about to Scry on the Little Ghost inside, an angry Voice filled with Sourness suddenly came from within. Then, as if a door had been slammed shut with a "Bang," my Line of Sight was shut out, and I could no longer investigate the Little Ghost's Actions inside.
Huh? Why is it that the Protagonists in other Novels can always be surrounded by beauties? I sighed again. However, I could tell from the Little Ghost's tone that she wasn't truly angry, but simply Sulking out of Jealousy. Based on my understanding of her, she should despairingly Accept the Fact of Older Sister's appearance after a while, and then cheer up and start thinking of strange Methods to play tricks on me.
Opening the Town Portal Scroll, an azure blue Glow from the Rune Array slowly floated up into Mid-air, forming an oval blue Light Pillar about half a meter thick. I then stepped into the Light Pillar.
Huh? It seems I forgot something! In the instant I was surrounded by the Glow, I tilted my Head in confusion.
The next moment, my Eyes went dark, and the dim Sky overhead was replaced by a bright expanse. I squinted hard under the burning Sun, looking left and right. Indeed, it was the familiar Lut Gholein Teleportation Array.
After my Eyes adjusted to the intense Light overhead, I found Sister Sharna leaning against a pillar beside the Magic Array, watching me carefully.
"Younger Brother, you can't be like this. You lack Training too much. It took you over five seconds to adapt. What would you do if Enemies were waiting outside?"
Older Sister walked over, stroking my Hair, and showed a worried Expression.
"There's nothing I can do about it."
Going from a dim tomb to the intense Sun in an instant, it was already good that my Eyes didn't go blind. After all, this Body of mine wasn't from this Act. Even though it was infused with Druid Strength, its innate conditions couldn't compare to the sturdiness of the Humans born and raised here.
"It seems I really need to let the Old Drunkard train you properly. You rely too much on your Eyes. Remember, Eyes are often the Culprit that confuses your Mind." Sister Sharna suddenly took my hand and walked out of the Teleportation Array.
"Never mind that for now. Where are you staying right now?"
"..."
"Older Sister, isn't this inappropriate? There are so many people."
Looking at the Crowd moving back and forth around us, especially near the Teleportation Array, where most people were Adventurers, there were probably very few among them who didn't know Sharna's Reputation. Therefore, without exception, their Movements paused in Mid-air, standing there dumbfounded. Even the usually most courteous Paladins no longer cared about their Image and stared blankly, their Eyes wide open, their mouths forming an O-shape. They seemed completely Incredulous at the scene before them—the Queen of Lut Gholein, who never put others in her Eyes, was openly and intimately holding a Man's hand on the Street. Oh my god, had the End of the World arrived?
Some Adventurers, due to the immense blow, seeing the small hand of the Goddess in their hearts being held by a Cloaked Man (it should actually be the other way around), couldn't help but let out desperate, Incredulous Wails. Amidst the shouts of their companions, they ran away in tears. What play was this? A Soap Opera? I was sweating profusely and quickly pulled down my Hood, just in case someday late at night in an Alley, a Large Sack suddenly fell from the Sky and covered my Brain, followed by a tragic Group Beatdown and Cursing from thousands of Adventurers.
Along the way, everywhere we passed was like this. Except for the occasional Screams, the bustling Street was so quiet you could hear a leaf fall. I felt as if I were a Giant Panda being watched with amazed stares by a group of Martians who had never even seen bamboo. I couldn't help but feel a bit awkward and wanted to secretly pull my hand out, but Older Sister's grip was surprisingly tight, making my attempts unsuccessful several times.
"What, feeling embarrassed?"
My Actions naturally couldn't be hidden from Older Sister. She suddenly turned her Head to look at me, seeming a bit puzzled as to why I was flustered. She held my palm even tighter.
"There's nothing to be embarrassed about. We don't owe them anything, nor do we need to consider their Feelings. Why should we care about these irrelevant Gazes? Just treat them as Ants by the roadside. Would you be flustered by ten thousand Ants?"
Older Sister's Voice was sonorous and powerful. It was estimated that unless the nearby Adventurers were deaf, they absolutely couldn't have failed to hear her. If it were anyone else who dared to openly say loudly on the Street that everyone on the street was a bunch of Ants, they would probably have been attacked by the Crowd long ago. But she was who she was. She was Sharna, the Queen of the entire Western Kingdoms. So, even after saying this, no one dared to Refute, and even their anger had nowhere to rise.
Unconvinced? Fine, resolve it with the Adventurer's Method. As long as you win, the words will naturally be taken back. Unfortunately, in just a few months in Lut Gholein, Sharna had already proven with her Strength that she was not only the Queen of Lut Gholein but also the number one Expert in the Western Kingdoms. Not a single person who dared to challenge her could last for more than three minutes. It is said that an Assassin whose Words and Actions were slightly offensive is still lying in bed until now.
Sigh~~, I actually wanted to say that even being stared at by ten thousand Ants would feel uncomfortable. But seeing the firm Conviction revealed on Older Sister's face, I couldn't help but give up. Older Sister is Older Sister. Even her Method of doting on me is still so overbearing.
However, since she cared about me a lot, Sister Sharna couldn't help but feel a bit annoyed seeing my unnatural Expression. Of course, the target was naturally those Instigator Passerby. She finally got to meet her Younger Brother; was it easy? How could it be ruined by these people?
"Humph~~"
Sharna let out a Cold Snort. Her other hand suddenly revealed her golden Spear. Her straight and proud Spine was like a Female War God, inviolable in her Might. After lightly twirling it a few times, the golden Spear, carrying immense force, suddenly plunged into the Earth amidst the trembling sound of the Earth.
"Crack, crack--"
The sturdy and wear-resistant Marble Ground began to crack with the spear as the Center. Huge Paving Stones weighing several tons continuously shattered into small pieces and were thrown high into Mid-air, scattering and falling onto the Heads of the surrounding Adventurers, like an intense Stone Rain. And the destroyed Ground actually cracked into a perfectly shaped semicircular Giant Pit. That spear was quietly stuck in the exact Center of the Crater, just like its Master, standing proudly against the Wind.
The Adventurers were shocked. The powerful aspect of this warning strike was not in its Strength; Strength-type Warriors could also cause the same destructive power. The truly subtle point lay in the control over Strength. This wasn't some basic feat where you could casually create a semicircular Giant Pit. And surprisingly, using the spear as a Medium, it formed such a perfectly terrifying semicircular Giant Pit, even controlling the direction in which the Stone Fragments scattered. This was already a Technique completely beyond the Scope of what Lut Gholein Adventurers could understand. Occupying the position of the number one Expert in the Western Kingdoms in just two months, she was unexpectedly terrifying to this extent. The Queen of Lut Gholein truly lived up to her reputation.
The Adventurers who deeply understood the exquisiteness of this move hung their Heads dejectedly, no longer daring to take another look. Comparing people is infuriating. Better go Home and train some more. Their current selves didn't even have the Qualification to polish her Boots.
Among everyone, only I was not surprised but happy. First, the onlookers were gone, and even the Air felt a bit fresher. That was great. Second, I lacked insight and didn't realize the subtle point of this move; I just thought it was very cool and handsome, and not knowing my own limits, I was Pondering when I could also try such a move...
All the onlookers on the road dispersed, and I was naturally happy to be free. Before long, I returned to my Small Villa. Looking at this small but complete two-story Arabic Style Western-style House, Older Sister glanced at me.
"You sure know how to Enjoy yourself."
"This..." I couldn't possibly say it was given to me by the Fat Pig King, could I? If I said that, I would definitely be questioned again.
"This was given to me by Grandpa Ryan." I had a flash of inspiration and found a Scapegoat. I believed that with Ryan's Old and Cunning nature, even if Sister Sharna really went over to verify, he would cunningly handle it.
"Ryan?" Sister Sharna furrowed her brow and pondered for a moment.
"Is that the Old Bookworm's clansman?"
Old Bookworm? Mourning for Cain again for a moment.
"That's right. If Older Sister needs it, Grandpa Ryan will definitely give you another set." Upholding the Spirit of sacrificing others to save oneself, I unhesitatingly pushed Ryan into the fire pit.
"Forget it. Where I live is the same for me."
A trace of Loneliness flashed in Sharna's Eyes. Where exactly was her Home? Perhaps only there. How Sarcastic. The place she had always hated was unexpectedly also the only Home she recognized.
"Older Sister, where I am, is your Home." I tightly held back Older Sister's small hand, pointing at the House and saying resolutely.
"Here, is your Home."
Staring at me blankly, Older Sister suddenly showed an incomparably gentle smile. In that instant, she made me feel as if I were facing Velas. Gently stroking my Hair, two years of continuous Battle had made my Height, which had already reached an Age where it was impossible to grow taller, grow a bit more. Older Sister, who was originally side by side with me, could now only reach my eyebrows. The Childishness on her face also gradually faded. Older Sister looked at me carefully for a long time and softly said,
"How long has it been since our first meeting? Two years, three months, and twenty-five days, right? Younger Brother, you have really grown a lot." Rarely, Sister Sharna's Eyes, which usually didn't show any Feelings, revealed a gratified and complex Expression.
Two years, three months, and twenty-five days? I didn't expect Older Sister to count every single day so clearly. From those precise numbers, I seemed to see Older Sister's Back View, counting on her fingers day by day. How Lonely and Solitary she must have been.
Wiping my Moist Eyes, I tightly pulled back Older Sister's thin and small hand.
"Don't stand at the door talking. Let's go Home, Older Sister."
"Mm." From behind me came a Response that was indifferent yet carried lightheartedness and Joy.
"Bang--"
Just as my hand was about to reach for the Handle, the door suddenly opened by itself without any warning. No, it didn't open by itself. The Figure appearing behind the door instantly made my Movement stiffen.
"Welcome back, my Master. Do you want to eat first, or take a bath first, or perhaps~~"
Her Voice stopped abruptly. The white-haired Three-No Princess with a bun hairstyle fixed her Gaze on Sister Sharna behind me.
Actually, what I most want to say right now is why aren't you properly hiding in your Library!!
"So it was a Guest's honored presence. How rude of me." The Three-No Princess, full of Temperament and Grace, bowed.
An unfriendly Line of Sight suddenly came from behind me, making my Spine feel as if it were being pricked by needles.
"Not a Guest, but the Master."
A cold Voice came over. I don't know whether to say Marissa was Oblivious or what, but she didn't shrink back at all from the Might that could make all Adventurers shudder with fear. Those Eyes that still didn't reveal a trace of Vitality, as if from the Void, were raised like a Doll (Height Issue), her Line of Sight sweeping past me to look behind, quite having a kind of indifference that said, "let him be strong, Calm Demeanor."