SC1 4.3 – Window of Opportunity
After installing the bamboo curtain, I went to the edge of the cliff next to the hut. From my position, I observed an open field eight meters below my feet. The open field was as big several hundred meters long, and more than a hundred meters protruded outward from the cliff wall. It was like a giant balcony. In this natural balcony, I planned to build honeybee farm, green house, working kitchen, and big pantry with preservation rune.
But I would reserve the big construction for tomorrow, when I worked together with Yunno and Yui. As for today, I would only build a simple working kitchen. Wasting no time, I used Shadow Hand to lower some ready-to-use bamboo cane. Then, buy using Wind Step and some footholds on the cliff wall I descended to the natural balcony.
The outline of working kitchen I built was pretty similar to the dining hut. It’s just that in the middle of it, I put a giant stone stove instead of dining table. It was made of three stone blocks I arranged in U-shape. In total, it took me an hour to build the kitchen. After that, I handed over some harvest to Tanno and Danno, and then went home.
After quietly landed on the oak forest, I changed back to human form. Then, I casually walked to Sendai, passing by a group of kids who played hide and seek. Seeing and hearing their cheerful laugh made me feel lonely somehow. It seemed the presence of Yunno and Yui in my new life was deeper than I thought.
Wasting no time I accelerated my steps. Then, at the village’s entrance, a few villagers suddenly came over to me with brimming face.
“Sanno, your family is very fortunate,” Uncle Sasuke said with a tone full of admiration, while other villagers around him eagerly nodded.
In an instant bad premonition hit me. “Did a warrior lady recruit Yunno into her guild?”
“Yeah,” Uncle Sasuke firmly replied. “It seems the news already spread over beyond our village.”
“It seems so,” I briefly replied as my stomach wildly churned.
“Sanno, please, when Yunno return for a family visit, don’t forget to ask her if she can bring along one or two other children from Sendai with her to her guild.”
Uncle Sasuke sincerely asked me, but I had no time to give him a reply. Without delay I ran to Tadaoka Household, leaving behind Uncle Sasuke and other villagers who looked at me with puzzle face.
Without lowering my speed, I entered Tadaoka Household’s front yard. In the terrace, I saw Kazuyori, Old Banno, and the rest of the family happily received congratulation from the villagers.
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I bet Kazuyori received a lot of money from the deal, as she would only put a smile as amiable as bodhisattva when such occurrence took place. At the same time, Old Banno tried to call me but I ignored it and went straight to my room.
As soon as I entered my room, my gaze was welcomed by Yuko who sat on my bed, and next to her Yui was weakly sobbing. Her eyes were red and slightly swollen. Meaning, she already sobbed for a few hours at least.
“Big Bro Sanno…. Hics… hics…. They took away Big Sis Yunno,” Yui said as she got up from the bed and walked over to me.
Without delay I kneeled and hugged Yui tightly, “I know.”
“They didn’t take Yunno away,” Yuko who seemed staying in my room to comfort Yui gently said. “Warrior Hisami recruits her as her junior.”
“But Big Sis Yunno doesn’t want to go and leave Yui alone,” In middle of her sobs Yui protested.
“Yui, listen carefully,” Yuko said without realizing that a chill flashed in my eyes, “Warrior Hisami have promised us that every two years Yunno will return for family visit. So, it’s okay for her to leave and take the heavenly chance to become a warrior.
Moreover, Warrior Hisami also promises us that she will recruit you when you are seven-year-old.”
“But Big Sis Yunno doesn’t want to go.”
Yui desperately and stubbornly protested, but she didn’t know how to do it properly, so she could only repeated her words.
“Silly girl, can’t you see that your uncle, aunt, and cousins are very jealous of Yunno’s fortune,” Yuko smiled before kneeling next to me. “Fourth Brother, please help me explain it to Yui.”
‘What a naive lass,’ I cursed as inwardly I heaving a deep sigh.
In the martial world, when someone joined a martial guild or family, they had to totally sever their familial connection. However, it was useless to explain it to Yuko, and I had no time to spare.
“I will explain it to her later,” I calmly said. “In the meantime, please stay and accompany Yui until I return.”
“I will accompany Yui,” Yuko happily said, “But where will you go?”
“I want to say goodbye to Yunno.”
After giving Yui a kiss in the forehead, I immediately left and didn’t give Yuko chance to ask another question. Well, I didn’t even have time to console Yui, even though I could see the separation with Yunno had devastated her heart. The sorrow in her eyes was even deeper compared to the sorrow when she lost her mother.
When she lost her mother, at least Yui already understood that no one could prevent her departure. Moreover, she still had Yunno who tried with all her might to replace her mother. But now, she also had to lose Yunno and it was not under natural cause.
Maybe, Yui and Yunno always worked very hard regardless unfair treatment they received because they believed as long as they were together, everything would be fine eventually. However, now they were being separated.
‘Fuck!’ Regret mercilessly tormented my heart as I ran to oak forest. ‘I shouldn’t trust Yunno and Yui to anyone ever again.’
A few minutes later I arrived at a quiet corner in Oak Forest. After ensuring no one was around, I changed into peregrine owl. Butcher Jin would need a whole night to complete the blood cake, so Hisami would stay in Rokube until tomorrow at least, and I believed she would rent the best room in the town.
Wasting no time I flew to Rokube in full speed. Fortunately, my guess was correct. I found Hisami, her escort, and Yunno sat in the best balcony in Red Oak, the best and biggest inn in Rokube.
Yunno already wore nice clothes and there were lot of high quality fruits and delicious snack in front of her. However, she didn’t touch it and peregrine owl remarkable long-range vision enabled me to see that Yunno had dark clouds all over her face.
Wasting no time, I tried to formulate a plan while circling high above the Red Oak. Then, Hisami suddenly leaved the balcony and brought along two escorts. In a sense, it was a good chance to save Yunno. I could silently kill the Level 1 who guarded Yunno. Unfortunately, it would alarm Hisami and as long as she is still alive Yunno would never be safe.
So, I decided to follow Hisami. Coincidently, a Level 3 warrior quietly followed her, or it seemed Hisami left the inn because she wanted to lure out this stalker.
Well, whatever window of opportunity that presented itself before me, I had to exploit it to kill Hisami. Yunno’s safety was my highest priority right now. It was even more important than my life.
In a glided flight, I then stalked Hisami and it didn’t surprise me that she went directly to a deepest part of nearby forest.
*****
Author’s note:
The next update for this work will be at the end of next month. Thank you and Best regards.