Halochassis

Chapter 40 – Worry and Guilt

It was a peaceful afternoon, and a gentle breeze drifted through the streets of Luminous City, carrying the sweet scent of freshly baked bread from nearby bakeries and the fragrance of blooming flowers that decorated the roadside. The golden sunlight bathed the white stone buildings in a warm glow, while merchants called out cheerful greetings to passing customers. Children laughed as they chased one another across the streets, and the distant melodies of traveling bards blended with the rhythmic clatter of horse-drawn carts.

After leaving the Adventurer's Guild, Lireina spent the next ten minutes walking at a relaxed pace, enjoying the calm atmosphere before deciding to stop by the bustling marketplace to buy fresh fruits and vegetables.

The marketplace was as lively as ever. Colorful stalls lined both sides of the road, displaying neatly arranged apples, oranges, leafy greens, carrots, and baskets overflowing with freshly harvested produce. The crisp scent of vegetables mixed with the aroma of grilled meat skewers and roasted chestnuts, making the air pleasantly inviting. Vendors eagerly advertised their goods while customers bargained with friendly smiles.

Lireina carefully picked the freshest fruits she could find, gently pressing each one with her fingers before placing them into her basket. Once she finished shopping, she thanked the vendors and continued toward a familiar destination.

Not long afterward, Lireina arrived before the large house owned by Zerova. Every time she visited, the size of the estate still surprised her. The polished stone walls, carefully trimmed gardens, and elegant wooden gates spoke of remarkable wealth. As she stared at the house, a familiar question surfaced in her mind. How had Zerova managed to earn enough money to purchase such a magnificent home? Lireina could not help but suspect that Zerova had returned to her old profession as an assassin. The thought left a bitter feeling in her chest, yet she quickly pushed it aside. Even if her suspicions were true, Zerova was only trying to provide a comfortable life for her children. Lireina knew she had no right to judge her decisions, especially after everything Zerova had endured.

The beastkins stationed outside immediately recognized Lireina as she approached. Their ears perked up, and they welcomed her with respectful smiles before opening the heavy gates without hesitation. Over the past two weeks, Lireina had become a regular visitor ever since Zerova mysteriously disappeared. During that time, Zerova's two children, Moby and Remy, had been living under the care of their loyal beastkin companions inside the house. Although everyone did their best to maintain a cheerful atmosphere, an unspoken concern lingered within the household. Every passing day without news of Zerova weighed heavily on everyone who cared about her.

"Oh! It's Aunt Lena!" Moby shouted excitedly the moment he spotted her.

Remy quickly ran after his brother, nearly stumbling over his own feet in his excitement. The two children rushed toward Lireina and grabbed both of her hands. Their fluffy tails wagged so quickly that they became little blurs behind them, expressing a happiness that words could hardly match. Their bright smiles and sparkling eyes carried the innocent joy that only children possessed, instantly warming Lireina's heart.

"Let's play!"

"A-Aunt?" Lireina let out an embarrassed laugh as a faint blush appeared on her cheeks. "I'd rather you call me Big Sis. I'm not that old, hehe."

"Let's play, Big Sis Lena!" Remy corrected himself with a wide grin before grabbing her sleeve and eagerly pulling her toward the backyard.

"Okay, okay." Lireina giggled, allowing herself to be dragged along.

Before following the children, she glanced toward the beastkins standing near the entrance. Without saying a word, both quietly shook their heads. The small gesture was enough for Lireina to understand. There was still no news about Zerova's whereabouts. Her heart sank for a brief moment, but she hid her disappointment behind the same gentle smile she always showed the children.

The next hour passed in cheerful laughter. Lireina chased Moby and Remy around the spacious garden as they played tag between flowerbeds and fruit trees. Their joyful giggles echoed across the estate, accompanied by the rustling leaves overhead and the soft chirping of birds preparing to return to their nests. At one point, the children insisted on showing her the wooden swords they had been practicing with, proudly demonstrating clumsy swings while Lireina praised every little improvement. The worries in her heart faded, if only for a short while, as she watched the siblings laugh without a care in the world.

Eventually, the bright afternoon sky slowly transformed into shades of orange and crimson. Long shadows stretched across the garden, and the cool evening breeze gently brushed against everyone's skin. Realizing it was getting late, Lireina crouched down to the children's eye level before waving goodbye with a warm smile.

"Make sure you eat the fruits and vegetables I brought you, Moby and Remy!"

"Yes, Aunt Lena!" the two children answered together.

"What?" Lireina pouted playfully as her smile twitched. "I couldn't hear you."

The siblings exchanged nervous glances before quickly correcting themselves.

"Y-Yes, Big Sis Lena!"

"That's much better." Lireina chuckled, gently patting each of them on the head. Their ears twitched happily beneath her touch.

She then turned toward the beastkin servants and offered them a polite bow.

"Thank you for always taking care of them."

The current legal guardians of the children returned the gesture with grateful smiles as Lireina quietly made her way through the front gate and stepped back onto the streets of Luminous City.

As she walked along the wide stone sidewalk, the lively sounds of the city gradually softened into the calm rhythm of evening. Shopkeepers began closing their stalls, lanterns flickered to life one after another, and the scent of home-cooked dinners drifted from nearby houses. Despite the peaceful surroundings, Lireina found herself unable to relax. Her thoughts continuously circled back to one person.

Where was Zerova?

It simply was not like her to disappear for this long. Zerova adored Moby and Remy more than anything else in the world. She could barely stand being away from them for a single day, let alone several weeks. Every memory Lireina had of her painted the image of a loving mother who would rush home the moment her work was finished. The longer Zerova remained missing, the heavier the silence surrounding her absence became.

Dark possibilities slowly crept into Lireina's mind despite her efforts to resist them. What if Zerova had already lost her life? What if the Iron Bandits had captured her during a mission? Or perhaps she had failed an assignment, leaving her body abandoned somewhere no one would ever think to search. Each terrible thought tightened around her heart like invisible chains, making it difficult to breathe.

"No..." Lireina whispered to herself, shaking her head firmly.

She clenched both fists and took a deep breath, forcing the frightening images out of her mind before they consumed her completely.

"I still have a date tonight," she reminded herself with a determined smile. "I have to make sure I don't look gloomy in front of him."

With that, Lireina gently patted her cheeks, straightened her posture, and put on the bright, warm smile that so many people had come to love. Though worry still lingered deep inside her heart, she refused to let it show. Carrying both hope and uncertainty, she continued walking toward the Librarium as the last rays of the setting sun disappeared beyond the horizon.

Lireina spotted Shin just as he clocked out from his shift at the front counter of the Librarium. The warm glow of the lanterns hanging from the high ceiling reflected off the polished wooden floor, while the faint scent of old books and parchment lingered pleasantly in the air. As soon as their eyes met across the lobby, both of them instinctively slowed to a stop. Gentle smiles spread across their faces, and a rosy blush colored their cheeks. Neither of them could hold the other's gaze for long before shyly looking away, only to meet eyes again a second later. They raised their hands almost at the same time, exchanging small, awkward waves that somehow made the moment even sweeter.

"Lena..." Shin called softly as he walked toward her, his footsteps echoing lightly through the spacious hall. "I told you I'd pick you up from the Adventurer's Guild. You didn't have to walk all the way here."

"Haha, it's okay." Lireina smiled as she scratched her cheek, her emerald eyes curving into gentle crescents. "I got off work earlier than expected." She hesitated for a brief second before adding in a quieter voice, "Besides... I was looking forward to seeing you."

For a moment, Shin completely froze.

His heartbeat pounded loudly inside his chest, and his face turned bright red almost instantly. His lips parted as if he wanted to respond, but no words came out. Instead, he stood there blinking like a startled deer, desperately trying to gather his thoughts.

"I... uh... y-you..."

Lireina covered her mouth with a hand to suppress a giggle.

She loved watching Shin react like this. A simple compliment or honest confession was enough to send him into complete panic, and seeing his flustered expression always made him look even more lovable in her eyes. There was something incredibly innocent about the way he struggled to hide his embarrassment, and every time she managed to land another emotional "critical hit," she found herself smiling a little wider.

After clearing his throat several times, Shin finally managed to regain his composure.

"S-Shall we go?" he asked, still unable to meet her eyes for more than a second.

Without hesitation, Lireina gently slipped her arm through his and locked elbows with him. The warmth of his sleeve brushed against hers, and she leaned slightly closer with a playful smile.

"Lead the way~"

Shin smiled back, his nervousness gradually fading as they walked side by side through the evening streets of Luminous City. The city had become lively under the glow of countless lanterns that illuminated the stone roads with soft amber light. Restaurants bustled with customers enjoying dinner, while cheerful conversations mixed with the distant melodies of street musicians. The aroma of grilled meat, buttered bread, roasted vegetables, and sweet pastries drifted through the cool evening breeze, making the entire district feel warm and inviting.

Their destination was a modest little bistro tucked between two larger establishments. It was far from luxurious, but it had become one of their favorite places. Wooden tables filled the cozy dining room, potted flowers decorated the windowsills, and the sizzling sound of steaks cooking on iron plates echoed from the open kitchen. The rich aroma of black pepper, garlic butter, and grilled beef filled the air, while baskets of freshly baked bread sat on nearly every table.

Although Shin had insisted several times on taking Lireina somewhere more expensive, she had always convinced him otherwise. She knew he paid for nearly all of their dates, and she never wanted him to spend more than he could comfortably afford. This humble bistro served delicious steaks, fresh salads, and hearty meals at reasonable prices, making it the perfect place for them. Over the past several weeks, the staff had even begun greeting them as familiar faces whenever they walked through the door.

Before long, steaming plates were placed before them. Shin carefully cut into his steak while Lireina enjoyed a forkful of crisp lettuce topped with sliced tomatoes and fragrant herbs. The pleasant clinking of utensils and the soft chatter of nearby diners created a comfortable atmosphere, yet Shin soon noticed that something felt different.

Lireina was smiling.

But it was not the smile he had grown familiar with.

It looked... forced.

Her eyes occasionally wandered toward the window, and every now and then she would fall silent for several seconds before absentmindedly poking at her food. Even when she laughed, it lasted only a brief moment before concern returned to her expression.

Shin quietly set down his fork.

"Lena," he asked gently, "why the long face? Did somebody call you grandma again?"

Lireina's eyes narrowed.

Before Shin could react, slender fingers pinched his cheek.

"You're the only one who keeps calling me grandma!"

"Owowow! Sorry! Sorry!" Shin yelped, leaning away while rubbing the cheek she had mercilessly attacked.

The nearby diners glanced over for a moment before chuckling quietly among themselves. Lireina finally released him, though the corners of her lips curled into a faint, apologetic smile.

"I..." She lowered her gaze toward her plate. "I've just been worried about one of my colleagues."

She paused before quietly continuing.

"Zerova. You remember her, don't you?"

The moment Shin heard that name, every muscle in his body stiffened.

A cold chill crawled down his spine despite the warmth of the restaurant.

Images he desperately wanted to forget flashed across his mind. Blood. Darkness. A lifeless body.

"...Yeah," he answered after forcing himself to remain calm. "The Queen of Shadows." He swallowed slowly before asking, "What happened?"

Lireina sighed softly.

"She's been missing for almost a month now. Nobody has seen or heard from her." Her voice grew quieter with every word. "She left her two children behind with their distant relatives. They keep pretending everything is fine, but... every day they're waiting for her to come home."

She looked down at the untouched vegetables on her plate.

"I visit them often. They always ask when their mother is coming back."

Shin's fingers tightened around his fork.

"...That's..." He struggled to find the right words. "...That's really scary."

His voice became quieter.

"Don't you think she..."

He couldn't finish the sentence.

The possibility was too obvious to say aloud.

Lireina simply closed her eyes and gave a slow, silent nod.

"I don't want to believe it," she admitted. "But... it's becoming harder not to." She released a weary sigh. "I even asked Croft to investigate, but she hasn't found a single lead."

Across the table, Shin forced himself to keep a calm expression.

"No leads here either," he replied without the slightest hesitation.

The lie flowed from his lips as naturally as breathing.

After all, he had been the one who disposed of Zerova's body.

He had thrown her lifeless cadaver into a ditch during the chaos that followed the battle. Whether wild animals had carried her away or nature had hidden every trace of her by now, he genuinely no longer knew where the corpse rested.

Technically...

He wasn't lying.

The thought left a bitter taste in his mouth that no amount of food could wash away.

Lireina noticed the heavy silence settling between them and immediately regretted bringing up the subject.

"I-I'm sorry." She forced out a small smile and gently waved both hands. "Can we talk about something else? It's getting a little gloomy."

Shin quickly nodded, grateful for the change.

"Oh! Yeah. Of course." He smiled, eager to steer the conversation away from dangerous territory. "Let's talk about something happier."

Though the conversation moved on, neither of them realized that each carried a different burden in their heart.

Lireina silently prayed that Zerova was still alive somewhere.

Meanwhile, Shin prayed that the truth would remain buried forever.

The heavy atmosphere gradually faded as Lireina reached across the table and gently held both of Shin's hands. Her fingers were soft and pleasantly warm against his, and the sudden touch caught him completely off guard. He looked down at their intertwined hands before meeting her gentle smile. The candle between them flickered quietly, casting a warm glow over their faces while the lively chatter of the restaurant faded into the background.

"How about we go hiking this Friday?" Lireina asked, her emerald eyes sparkling with renewed excitement. "Just you and me."

Shin blinked in surprise.

"Hiking, huh..." he muttered as he rubbed the back of his neck with an awkward laugh. "I'm not exactly the athletic type."

He looked at her smiling face for a moment before grinning.

"But for you, Lena..." he squeezed her hands a little tighter. "I'd climb the tallest mountain."

Lireina let out a bright giggle, her earlier worries melting away for the first time that evening. The gentle sound of her laughter was enough to make several nearby diners glance over with warm smiles before returning to their own conversations.

"It won't be that difficult," she assured him. "I'm planning to make it more like a little adventure."

Her excitement became more obvious as she leaned forward across the table.

"I know a mountain that's perfect for beginners. The trail is beautiful, the air is fresh, and there are only low-level monsters living there." She smiled confidently. "I'll teach you how to defend yourself while we're climbing. It'll be good practice, and I'll be right beside you the whole time."

She paused briefly before adding with a playful grin.

"And halfway up the mountain, there's a natural hot spring hidden among the rocks. The water is always warm, even during winter. We can soak our tired bodies there and enjoy the scenery before continuing."

As she described it, the image became vivid in Shin's mind.

He imagined crystal-clear water releasing gentle clouds of steam into the cool mountain air. Moss-covered stones surrounded the spring, while the soothing sound of flowing water echoed through the quiet forest. The scent of damp earth and pine trees filled the breeze, and colorful wildflowers bloomed along the edges of the trail. It sounded far more peaceful than anything he had experienced in recent weeks.

Lireina continued enthusiastically, her hands unconsciously gesturing as she spoke.

"And once we reach the summit..." Her eyes lit up. "The view is absolutely breathtaking. You can see almost the entire Cordilla District from up there. When the sky is clear, the mountains stretch all the way to the horizon, and the clouds drift beneath the cliffs like an endless white sea. If we leave early enough, we might even catch the sunset."

She smiled warmly.

"I promise you'll love it."

Shin quietly listened, watching the excitement return to her face.

He had a feeling this trip was about more than sightseeing.

After everything that had happened, especially Zerova's disappearance, Lireina was clearly searching for a way to ease the weight pressing on her heart. A quiet mountain hike, surrounded by nature and far away from responsibilities, was probably exactly what she needed.

Truthfully, Shin needed it just as much.

The memory of killing the second Celestial Warden still haunted him. Although he continued acting as though nothing had happened, the burden of his secret never truly left his mind. Every smile he gave Lireina felt heavier than the last, knowing she was grieving someone whose fate he already knew.

Maybe...

Just for one day...

He could forget about all of that.

He looked at Lireina and smiled, this time with genuine warmth.

"Yeah," he said. "Let's go."

Lireina's face immediately brightened.

"Really?"

"Really."

Her fingers instinctively tightened around his hands before she realized what she had done. A faint blush spread across her cheeks, but she made no effort to pull away. Instead, she simply smiled at him with quiet happiness.

"Then it's a promise."

"It's a promise," Shin replied.

For that brief moment, neither of them spoke another word. They simply sat there with their hands still together across the table, smiling at one another while the warm lights of the little bistro and the cheerful conversations around them made the world feel peaceful again, if only for a little while.