As Hikaru returned to the Purple Walnut, he found the shop in the midst of its nightly ritual, preparing to close its doors. Without hesitation, he stepped forward to assist Loyd in gathering all the leftover bread, destined for donation to one of Bailey’s orphanages. After completing their task and closing the shop, one of Loyd’s dedicated employees personally delivered the bread to the orphanage on her way home. Meanwhile, both Hikaru and Loyd headed upstairs to the comfort of their own rooms.
Unable to sleep, Hikaru left his room and made his way to the living room. There, he found Lydia engrossed in a book.
As she noticed Hikaru approaching, she set the book aside, and with a warm smile, she greeted him. “Hey, Hikaru,” she said, her tone inviting and friendly. “How did it go with your family?”
“Hey, Lydia,” Hikaru replied, returning her smile. “About that…” Hikaru then proceeded to recount his conversation about the war, explaining how he fabricated a story for his family, claiming he survived because of his squad leader. He also explained his plan to live with her and embark on adventure missions together. Finally, he expressed his desire to give Lydia the role of this squad leader. He then informed Lydia that if she wanted to accept the role, she would probably need to meet with the Kaya clan’s patriarch, as he wanted to thank her personally.
Lydia smiled warmly and nodded. “I’m in. You handled that well,” she said. “It’s just like our current living arrangement, but with different details.”
Lydia asked with a curious expression, “And what about your little sister, Masaki? What is their plan?” Sympathy colored her voice.
Hikaru took a deep breath before responding. “The patriarch said that they needed to find three willing individuals to be Arael’s servants. These people will be bound by divine contracts to prevent their betrayal. Two orphans from the Kaya clan willingly took the spots, but they haven’t found the third person yet. They asked me to fill the third spot, but I naturally refused. Instead, I assured them that I could find the third person with the help of my well-connected squad leader—you.”
As Hikaru looked at Lydia with a pleading expression, Lydia’s brow furrowed in thought. “So, Lydia, could you please do me a favor and find the third person?” Hikaru pleaded earnestly.
Lydia nodded slowly, while pondering to herself: ‘Hmmm, this favor is actually a good opportunity for me. If I do him this favor, not only will Hikaru owe me one, but I also could plant someone near Arael, which would normally be quite difficult. Although the person will be bound by a divine contract, as long as they don’t betray Arael, they could still work for us and provide us with a lot of information. That is like killing two birds with one stone!’
Lydia looked like she was in deep thought before responding: “Hikaru, I understand the circumstances now. Let me see what I can do.” Her measured tone conveyed her willingness to help without appearing overly eager.
After Lydia agreed to Hikaru’s request, they chatted for a while longer, sharing stories of their day. Eventually, with a sense of contentment, Hikaru retreated to his room, bidding Lydia goodnight as he settled in for the night.
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The following day, Hikaru practiced illusion magic alone in the morning. In the afternoon after he finished having his lunch, Lydia informed him that she was prepared to visit the Kaya clan in response to Shigeo’s summons. With Lydia ready, Hikaru hurriedly changed into a more presentable casual outfit and joined her on a carriage ride to the Kaya Clan residence.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Upon reaching the Kaya residence, they proceeded directly to Shigeo’s house. *Knock –Knock –Knock* Hikaru then proceeded to knock on the door.
After Hikaru knocked on the door, one of Shigeo’s maids promptly invited them into the waiting room before informing Shigeo about their arrival. Moments later, the maid returned and guided them into Shigeo’s study room.
“Welcome back, Hikaru,” Shigeo greeted warmly, rising from his desk to greet them. His gaze shifted briefly to the woman beside him before returning to Hikaru with genuine interest. “And who might this lovely lady be?” he inquired, a hint of curiosity softening his formal tone.
Hikaru smiled proudly as he gestured towards her. “Patriarch, allow me to introduce you to someone very special,” he said, his voice tinged with respect. “This is Lydia, the leader of my squad during my time in the Aran war. She’s my savior, my mentor, guiding light, and also party’s leader. She continued to help me even after the Aran war ended.”
Lydia inclined her head respectfully, a faint smile playing on her lips. “It’s an honor to meet you, Patriarch,” she said, her voice carrying a hint of humility despite being introduced as Hikaru’s savior. “Thank you for welcoming me into your home.”
Shigeo’s eyes brightened with genuine interest. “The pleasure is mine, Lydia,” he replied warmly. “Just call me Shigeo,” he continued with a welcoming smile. “Please, have a seat.” With a graceful gesture, he motioned towards the sofas, inviting both Hikaru and Lydia to make themselves comfortable.
Both Hikaru and Lydia settled onto the sofas, graciously accepting Shigeo’s offer. Meanwhile, Shigeo reached for a book from one of the nearby shelves, the title gleaming with promise of arcane knowledge. With a gentle smile, he presented it to Lydia.
“This book is a gift from me, a token of gratitude for your care of Hikaru, a cherished member of the Kaya clan,” Shigeo said respectfully, his voice carrying warmth befitting of a grandparent.
Lydia accepted the book with a grateful nod, her fingers tracing the intricate patterns on its cover. “Taking care of Hikaru is my duty,” she replied earnestly, “so I am simply doing what is expected of me. Nevertheless, thank you, Shigeo.”
Shigeo leaned forward slightly, his expression turning serious. “Now, let’s talk about something else. Did Hikaru mention his little sister’s condition to you?”
Lydia nodded. “Yeah, he told me all about her. I can help with the third spot, but the timing is a bit tricky. The earliest I can provide a willing individual is the first week of next month.”
Shigeo’s face brightened. “That’s good news. We are in no hurry, so next month works perfectly. But forgive me for asking, why are you being so good to us? Do you want something in return?”
Lydia smiled warmly and shook her head. “No, Shigeo, I don’t expect anything in return. Hikaru is like a family to me, so helping him in his time of need is simply what I do. Your gratitude is more than enough for me.”
After hearing Lydia’s answer, Shigeo stopped questioning her intentions. They chatted for a while longer before Hikaru and Lydia decided to end their visit and head back to the Purple Walnut.
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Clay’s POV.
After the tournament concluded, Clay rushed to his father, the King of Bailey, reporting matter regarding Arael’s visit during the tournament semifinal and his healing promotion. The king responded by admonishing many of his subordinates for their oversight, as they failed to notice Arael’s movements, which could have been fatal. While the king didn’t really care about Arael’s promotion, as it was a well-known fact that Bailey had always taken a neutral stance in the conflict between celestials, the fact that he publicly criticized him in front of Clay and so many of his citizens irritated him a bit.
Nowadays, most Bailey agents had been too focused on the matter related to the Orb Converter, inadvertently overlooking the movements of major players like Arael. Recognizing this oversight, the king instructed his defense minister to allocate some personnel to track the activities of the major figures in the surrounding areas, particularly celestials and deities.
In the hush of early morning, two days later, Lydia swept into Clay’s study room with purpose. She briefed Clay about Hikaru's meeting with his family and his request to find a servant for Arael.
Clay responded to her report by saying: “Well, this was a good opportunity for us to plant a spy in the High Elf settlement. You’ve done a great job, Lydia. Give me until next month to scout out the perfect candidate for the job. Meanwhile, keep a close eye on Hikaru!”