Chapter : 341
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Chapter : 341
When she opened her eyes, she looked across the table at Ken. He was slouched in his chair again. He was smiling a lazy, happy smile. He looked completely relaxed.
Ira’s flat, emotionless face did not suddenly burst into a massive grin. That was not who she was. But the extreme, rigid tension completely left her shoulders. The blank, dead stare in her pale blue eyes turned into a soft, calm, quiet gaze.
The very corner of her lips twitched upward. It was a microscopic, barely visible movement. But to Ken, it was as bright as a summer sunrise. It was a genuine, real expression of inner peace.
"The cake is very good," Ira stated quietly. Her voice sounded much softer than usual.
"It is totally amazing," Ken agreed happily. "You have excellent taste in desserts, Ira. We should definitely make this a regular habit. Next time, I will bring some extra napkins. I am very prone to dropping crumbs on the floor."
Ira took another small bite of her cake. She did not calculate the calories. She did not calculate the time. She just ate it.
"I would find that highly acceptable," Ira replied softly.
They sat together in the spotless, perfectly organized bedroom. They did not talk about the Succession War. They did not talk about the Emperor or the corrupt politicians. They did not talk about magic or combat strategies.
They just sat in a very comfortable, very quiet silence. They ate the rest of the chocolate cake.
Ken listened to the small birds singing outside the window. He felt a deep sense of total satisfaction. He knew Ira was going to be okay. He knew she finally understood that she was safe in this house. She had a real family now.
Ira finished her cake. She set her silver fork down. She looked at Ken. She saw the untucked shirt. She saw the messy black hair. She saw the lazy posture.
But beneath that goofy, slacker exterior, she saw the absolute truth. She saw a genuinely wise, incredibly caring friend. He was someone she could trust entirely. He was someone who protected her from her cruel brother, and now he was protecting her from her own internal fears.
Ira felt completely relaxed. For the very first time in her entire life, she gave herself total permission to just exist.
"Ken," Ira said quietly.
"Yeah, Ira?" Ken asked lazily. He rested his chin on his hand.
"Thank you for the instruction," Ira said. "The mechanics of relaxation are highly illogical. But they are surprisingly pleasant."
Ken burst into a warm, goofy laugh. He gave her a big thumbs-up.
"You are a fast learner, Ira," Ken cheered. "Tomorrow, I will teach you the advanced techniques. We will start with staring at the ceiling for a whole hour. It is a very crucial skill."
Ira gave a tiny, single nod. "I will prepare myself."
They sat in the quiet room for a little while longer. The afternoon sun slowly crossed the blue sky. The estate remained completely peaceful. The 13th Unit was safe, and the bond between the lazy boy and the emotionless water mage grew incredibly strong.
---
The morning sun shined brightly over the 13th Unit estate. The air felt warm and comfortable. The sky was a clear, perfect blue. The birds sang quietly in the trees. It was the exact kind of lazy, peaceful day that Ken Eliot absolutely loved.
Ken sat on the edge of the stone fountain in the center of the courtyard. He slouched his shoulders forward. His back curved like a tired noodle. He wore his standard navy blue suit pants and a simple white dress shirt. The shirt hung totally untucked over his belt. His tie was nowhere to be seen. His black hair stuck up in messy, confused spikes.
He held a large, crinkling bag of sour cream and onion potato chips in his lap. He reached his hand deep into the bag. He pulled out a chip. He tossed it casually into the air. He opened his mouth and caught the chip perfectly on his tongue.
Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.
He chewed loudly and happily. He let out a long, satisfied sigh.
"This is the absolute best," Ken mumbled to himself. He stared lazily at a fluffy white cloud drifting across the sky. "No running. No dodging magic spells. No screaming politicians. Just me, this fountain, and a bag of salty snacks. I am officially merged with this stone. I will not move for the rest of the day."
Suddenly, a loud, sharp noise ruined the quiet atmosphere.
Clang!
The rusted iron gates of the estate swung wide open. The metal hinges shrieked loudly. Ken blinked his sleepy eyes and looked toward the entrance.
Elma marched straight through the open gates.
The blonde servant from the 16th Unit looked absolutely flawless. She wore her pristine white and gold combat uniform. Her clothes did not have a single wrinkle. Her boots were polished to a brilliant, shiny mirror finish. Her golden curls bounced perfectly with every strict, confident step she took. She walked with her chin held high. She looked exactly like a proud knight stepping onto a battlefield.
But her face told a very different story.
Elma’s cheeks were completely flushed. A bright, vibrant shade of pink covered her entire face. The blush reached all the way to the tips of her ears. She marched with purpose, but her eyes darted nervously around the courtyard.
She spotted Ken sitting on the fountain. She walked directly toward him. Her polished boots clicked sharply on the stone path. Click. Click. Click.
She stopped right in front of him. She crossed her arms tightly over her chest. She took a deep breath, trying to look extremely serious.
Ken stopped chewing. He looked up at her. He offered a big, goofy, completely relaxed smile.
"Hey, Elma," Ken greeted her cheerfully. He lifted the bag of chips toward her. "Welcome to the best spot in the yard. Do you want a snack? These are incredibly delicious. They are the perfect breakfast food. I highly recommend them."
Elma stared at the bag of greasy chips. Her blush deepened. She quickly looked away.
"I do not eat junk food in the morning," Elma stated. Her voice pitched up just a tiny bit. "I am here on serious, official business. I need to speak with you right now."
Ken lowered the bag. He rested it back on his lap. "Serious business? Did I leave my jacket at your mansion again? I lose my clothes all the time. It is a serious flaw in my organizational skills."
"No!" Elma snapped. She uncrossed her arms. She stood up perfectly straight. She puffed out her chest. She tried her absolute hardest to project an aura of strict, noble authority.
"I watched the broadcast of the tournament match," Elma declared loudly. Her blue eyes locked onto his face. "I saw your performance. I analyzed your magic. I saw your cyan bullets. You possess a very unique, highly disruptive ability. You broke the rhythm of the entire enemy team."
Ken smiled proudly. He popped his collar with one hand. "I am a master of pointing my finger. It is a highly specialized skill. It takes years of practice to look this cool."