After the series of events, Yujin was resting in his room.
Damage from the sudden heavy rain. Some fields were completely contaminated and unusable, crops swept away by the deluge. Power outage due to dam failure. It was a total mess, but the farmers of Dahuang were finding ways to survive.
"…Whew."
In the dark room, Yujin sighed looking out the window. The wounds on his arm and cheek healed quickly, but he realized how powerless humans were before nature.
"Why the sudden downpour..."
An inexplicable catastrophe. Usually, catastrophes don't discriminate, but this rain was too strange. As if mixed with human malice, as if a god sent a disaster to destroy Dahuang.
Hearing the stories, they said Dahuang had faced such things over the years and seasons. Past or present, Dahuang, responsible for Yan‘s agriculture, grew while enduring harsh storms.
Dahuang will rise again this time too.
Whatever storm hits.
Even if the true catastrophe hasn't arrived yet thanks to someone's protection.
"Yujin, are you asleep...?"
A quiet voice woke Yujin from his thoughts. A voice from behind the door.
Yujin opened the door. Standing beyond it was Shu in light clothing.
"What brings you here this late at night?"
To be honest, Shu and Yujin weren't close.
A stranger who arrived in Dahuang not long ago.
A Tianshi responsible for Dahuang's agriculture, whose time of arrival was unknown.
Connected by Chongyue. He only received the kindness Shu offered unilaterally.
Yujin is a Sarkaz. Normally, he would be turned away at the door, and others wouldn't look kindly on a wandering Sarkaz without affiliation.
Thus, Yujin helps Shu. Whether Yujin farms for a year or stays in Dahuang briefly, Shu had no reason to show kindness. But upon hearing Yujin's story and Theresis's business, she offered to teach agricultural techniques, albeit with a slight condition.
"Are your wounds okay?"
"I went to the medical department. They said it's nothing. No Oripathy either."
Of course, Shu could ask Why? to Yujin's words.
Originium fragments flew and scratched his face and arm. Unrefined Originium fragments at that.
Not catching Oripathy made no sense. Shu saw Yujin get hurt at close range. Others might dismiss it as being scratched by stone fragments, not Originium, but Shu clearly saw Originium fragments scratching Yujin's arm.
But she didn't ask. Yujin might have secrets he was hiding. Just as she...
Had secrets.
"Want to take a walk?"
Shu‘s suggestion. Yujin nodded. Coming outside, the cool summer air embraced them, and the sounds of frogs and cicadas were heard.
Fireflies flew around. Shu reached out, carefully embracing the light, then let it go.
"Yujin."
"Yeah."
"You know everything, don't you?"
What he knows.
Or if he thinks she is different from ordinary humans.
Yujin didn't answer.
"…You won't answer?"
"I... don't know what you want to gain from this conversation."
"Really?"
Yujin doesn't answer even though he knows.
Walking silently on the ground, Shu looked at Yujin. Yujin‘s eyes were dyed a vivid platinum. Shu thought those eyes were beautiful, opened her mouth to speak, then closed it, seemingly pondering something.
"…Pretend you didn't hear that. I just wanted to say thank you. For protecting me at the dam, and for healing me with Arts when I collapsed."
"It's what I should do. I'm a knight."
Knight. Hearing that, Shu smiled faintly.
As if she liked what Yujin said.
"Yujin, you asked about my dream. Then, what is your dream?"
Shu asked Yujin as if suddenly remembering what he said yesterday afternoon. Hearing Shu's words, Yujin thought for a moment.
Dream. He couldn't say clearly. Yujin‘s wish was complex.
Still... if there was one thing he wished for in his heart.
"A world where people live like people, and the value of death isn't light."
"I want that."
Hearing Yujin‘s words, Shu looked at him quietly. The boy reflected in her eyes was already dreaming a grander dream than herself.
"A good dream."
It's a dream because it's unreachable. It's called a dream because it's not easy to achieve.
Then, Shu...
Moo~
A stockbeast not yet asleep approached Shu and rubbed its head against her leg. Shu smiled, patting the stockbeast‘s head.
That sight kept catching Yujin‘s eye. Afraid that the smiling Shu would collapse like yesterday. When she couldn't open her eyes. When she stayed in Yujin‘s arms, curled up as if dying.
"Shu."
"Hmm?"
"Whenever you need help, tell me immediately. Then, I'll go help right away."
"…Thanks for saying that."
"Sorry, but I mean it seriously, not as a joke."
Yujin wanted to help her.
A week passed. Yujin, practically excluded from farm work by Theresis, helped Shining and Theresis with physical labor or simple tasks.
Or to put it bluntly, mechanization was so good there wasn't much need for physical labor.
However, a scandal was circulating in Dahuang. The reason was...
"Sister, were you desperate for a man... wait? Stop!!"
The problem was that Yujin was treating Shu almost like fragile porcelain while helping her.
He could have rested in his spare time, but Yujin followed Shu around and helped her. When something happened due to the heavy rain last time, Yujin stepped in immediately to handle it instead, and when Shu rolled up her sleeves to do something, Yujin told her to let him do it and helped her.
A sturdy, handsome man sticking to Shu made the ladies whisper, Could it be...?, and rumors naturally spread fast.
Of course, if you talked like that in front of Shu, you might get buried alive with only your head sticking out, so be careful.
Like Nian over there.
"…You should be careful with your words, Sister."
"U! Is this my fault!? Honestly, Shu unnie needs a break too!"
Why couldn't Shu stop Yujin? If it were ill intentions, she could have firmly rejected him, but it wasn't. Yujin was just worried about Shu and purely wanted to help. When she told him not to, he made a face like a wet puppy. What could Shu do?
"Hmm..."
Honestly, it was comfortable for Shu too. Usually, she handled things alone. With Yujin helping, work finished quickly, and Yujin following like a guard didn't feel bad.
Also, she liked that Yujin understood her feelings well. Knowing exactly what was needed and preparing it, or doing it just right, meant Yujin‘s talent was outstanding. Though it was a mystery why such Yujin couldn't do farm work.
But today was different.
"I need your help."
None other than Chongyue asked.
"…Is it something requiring force?"
"Yes. We need some strong people. Of course, I will go too, but it would be better if you were there."
Chongyue looked at Yujin with a benevolent smile. Though it seemed he looked at Yujin more favorably than usual, whatever.
"The target is the Originium mine that caused the dam accident last time."
"Mine...?"
"Vein explosion. The Tianshi of Dahuang want to investigate it. The Originium activity state was stable, and no unusual reactions were observed. Yet an explosion happened suddenly, almost feeling malicious. It's dangerous, but Dahuang needs to investigate to prevent recurrence."
In terms of force alone, Chongyue was enough.
But with the Dahuang military. And the Second Brother watching him and his family. And Yujin for unforeseen dangers.
Yujin was practically brought along specially by Chongyue, so others didn't know Yujin‘s strength in detail, but with this much force, they could handle any Originium slugs or monsters instantly.
...Even if that came out in the worst case.
Yujin didn't know yet. What lurked beyond the boundary and mountain range. It would be the worst if it rushed out, but Chongyue knew Yujin wouldn't break before such monsters.
"I'll go too. If it's to protect people, I should do it."
"Thank you."
Briefly expressing gratitude, Chongyue stood up. Then walking with Yujin, he found a wooden box. Looking at the Second Brother who brought it, he opened the box.
"…He must be quite anxious. Bringing something unusable."
A wooden box with antique patterns. Inside was an ordinary-looking sword.
The Second Brother looked at Chongyue frowning in displeasure, then bowed his head deeply. As if sorry for bringing such a thing.
Chongyue, who had protected Yan's border all his life. He had reason to be respected by this country.
"What is this sword that makes you so displeased, Lord Chongyue?"
Yujin asked, looking at the sword. It looked like an ordinary iron sword. The only unique thing was that it was contained in a crimson scabbard.
"Dragon-Slaying Sword (斬龍劍) Chi Xiao (赤霄)."
Dragon-Slaying. Cutting dragons.
"A sword containing the myth of slaying a dragon."
...Hearing the story, Yujin thought it was natural to frown. Chongyue and his siblings were all modeled after dragons.
"Understandable that it's unpleasant."
"It's a useless sword anyway. It has a will, so only those qualified can draw it. The Emperor might be disappointed, but there's no one in Yan who can draw this sword right now."
Unlike modern swords, it was slightly modified, but Chi Xiao was modeled after ancient swords.
"Ah, since you are a swordsman, want to touch it? It has no owner anyway, so it's just scrap metal right now."
"Not really interested... but I'll touch it once."
The Second Brother didn't stop Yujin either. Perhaps thinking the same as Chongyue.
Holding Chi Xiao, it was no different from other swords. Just like an iron sword. Contained in a scabbard.
However.
Except that as soon as Yujin grabbed the handle, it slipped out of the scabbard like the wind.
"......?"
"Didn't you say it doesn't come out of the scabbard? Then why...?"
Judging by Chongyue and the Second Brother beside him gaping, it didn't seem like a normal occurrence.
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