Chapter 15
Chapter 15
"A... a portal?"
"Elevator."
"An elevator... is that a teleportation array powered by electricity magic?"
Unfamiliar with the term, Kakayan covered her mouth with one hand, her eyes wary.
She'd jumped to the wrong conclusion.
Jiang Li had brought her into the elevator for one simple reason: to move to another floor.
Still, it wasn't entirely her fault.
After all, the so-called elevator was a claustrophobic metal box; anyone would feel nervous. Add to that the way Jiang Li kept "accidentally" brushing against her...
"What are you standing around for? The doors are closing."
Seeing Kakayan still rooted inside, Jiang Li glanced back and waved her out.
"Oh—coming!"
She snapped out of her daze and hurried to his side.
"Does riding the elevator make you queasy?" Jiang Li asked, showing concern for his less-than-bright companion.
"N-no."
Kakayan turned her face away, the tip of her ponytail flicking like a guilty metronome.
"You sure? You look pale."
"Stop asking."
She stamped her foot, darted ahead a few steps, and came to a halt by the women's-care aisle.
Jiang Li looked up at the bold characters—"Sanitary Pads"—and felt his thoughts go fuzzy.
Witches need these too?
Was that why Kakayan had looked so awkward in the elevator...?
"You... need these?"
Scratching his cheek, Jiang Li sidled up and spoke in a low voice.
Kakayan, busy replaying the elevator scene, didn't notice his meaning.
"Need what?"
She blinked, then followed his gaze.
Rows of colorful, brick-shaped packages lined the shelf in front of her.
"What are these for?"
She plucked one down; it was soft.
A quick sniff rewarded her with a pleasant scent.
"It's, uh... for stopping blood," Jiang Li finally managed.
Having roamed the continent of Aze for years, the Hero had seen plenty of oddities—but this was the first time he'd heard of witches having periods. And now his brain refused to cooperate; he had no idea how to explain the product.
Too awkward, too tongue-tied.
Kakayan, meanwhile, turned the package over in her hands, lost in thought.
Watching her, Jiang Li suddenly felt dazed.
He realized he'd never really looked at Kakayan as a girl.
Not that he was especially dense—at first she'd been a boss-level enemy, and his only concern had been how to fight her. The mental image had stuck.
But after two days together, powerless and harmless, she was simply... a teenage girl.
So did today's lunch-and-mall circuit count as a date?
With a stunning beauty at his side, Jiang Li had caught plenty of envious glances. On reflection, it hadn't felt half bad.
Kakayan chose a pink-wrapped pad.
If it's for stopping blood, I might need it if I get hurt. She tossed it to Jiang Li. Non-food items weren't her responsibility.
He caught it as if the package burned him, then flung it back.
"Is it hot?" she asked, tilting her head.
"I'll go grab a basket." Jiang Li spun on his heel and left.
...
Half an hour later, Jiang Li's basket held a mountain of daily necessities—all for Kakayan. Toothbrush, bath towel, rice bowl... He figured he might as well get everything in one go. Even a pair of children's training chopsticks. If Kakayan planned to live here long-term, she'd have to learn to use them. Otherwise she'd never eat at a proper table.
Kakayan trailed after him, eyes everywhere. Everything in this place was new and wondrous.
If I could live inside this treasure trove... and with those portals, getting around would be so easy.
The thought of the elevator made her itch to try it again. She was adept with magic; with a little study she could probably figure out how Jiang Li operated the device. Maybe it could send her home.
But she couldn't bring herself to ask. Jiang Li had brought her here to settle her in; judging by his attitude, he wouldn't let her leave. Otherwise he'd have offered already.
Still, she wanted to try.
The idea of living every day on this unfamiliar Earth made her stomach knot.
So while Jiang Li was distracted, Kakayan slipped back to the elevator. Her plan was simple: ride it, then ride it back before Jiang Li finished shopping. She pressed the button beside the doors.
Humans always hid the switch somewhere nearby.
Moments later the silver doors slid open.
She drew a deep breath and stepped into the "teleportation array."
...
"Where'd she go?"
Jiang Li was mentally reviewing his shopping list when he realized Kakayan had vanished.
He frowned. Could she have gotten lost in the mall?
But the department store wasn't that big—and Kakayan couldn't have gone far. What worried him was her curiosity landing her in trouble.
Like getting her foot stuck in an escalator.
Or worse—she was beautiful. What if some stranger offered, "Come on, let me buy you dinner?" She'd follow without a second thought.
"Kakayan!"
He shouted, gaze sweeping the aisles. No sign of her.
He jogged past every shelf—maybe something had caught her eye.
Ten minutes later, every corner of the fifth floor searched, Kakayan was still nowhere to be found.
Jiang Li was already planning to flag down one of the mall staff.
He'd say he had a relative—sweet kid, but a bit slow—who'd wandered off.
All he needed was for security to run through the surveillance footage.
He'd taken the first step when a voice floated out of the mall's PA system—his own name, unmistakable.
A young announcer with honey-smooth tones chirped:
"Lost child Jiang Li, your Older Sister is waiting for you at the elevator on the first floor."
"Lost child Jiang Li, your Older Sister is waiting for you at the elevator on the first floor."
Jiang Li's brows snapped together. First thought: there had to be some kid with the exact same name.
Second thought—far less comforting—was that the announcement might actually be meant for him.