Chapter 299: Caution

Morning. Muen opened his eyes and was dazzled by the morning sun that had already lifted half its delicate face over the mountaintop.

A rare late rising.

A faint fresh fragrance still lingered at the tip of his nose—unclear whether it came from the grass, or from the girl who was now nowhere to be seen.

“So this is the benefit of Holy Light. Even that tiny, unconscious spillover actually improves sleep.”

Muen stretched lazily.

Though the sky was his quilt and the earth his bed, and early spring still carried a nip of cold, on top of his already solid body, this sleep left both his body and spirit unusually satisfied.

Muen suddenly found himself envying Ariel. He’d only lain beside Liya for a little while; if he could be like Ariel in the future, holding Liya to sleep every day—that would be such a beautiful experience.

“No, no. I can’t entertain such dangerous thoughts.”

Muen shook his head, hastily driving the notion out of his mind.

If he really did that, Ariel would probably beat him to death on the spot!

It’s not like he was some scumbag who flirted with whoever crossed his path.

He was only doing this to narrow the distance between him and Liya so she’d help put in a few good words for him in front of Ariel, that’s all.

As for being unable to leave a beautiful girl to spend the night alone, so he invited Liya to stargaze—those invisible scumbag motives—absolutely not!

“tsk, scumbag.”

The Pink Bear popped out from who-knew-where, spat, and looked at Muen with contempt.

“It’s only been a few days and you’re already flirting with the little girl.”

“I’m not, I didn’t, don’t talk nonsense!”

Muen glared. “What made you think I was flirting?”

“Hmph. You invited her to look at the stars and you still say you weren’t?”

“Heh. Who says stargazing equals flirting?”

Arms folded, Muen let out a cold snort. “That’s a fantasy only a lifelong virgin who’s never held a girl’s hand would have.”

“Vir... who are you calling a virgin!”

The Pink Bear erupted. “I wasn’t a virgin since I was three! A—anyway, you’ve offended me. If you don’t buy me ten cases of top-shelf cigars and a hundred little yellow books to make amends, I’ll go tattle to that lass Celicia!”

“You think Celicia would believe you?”

Muen rolled his eyes, genuinely speechless at this bear with a head full of filth.

“Forget that for now. Are we crossing the imperial border today?”

“Correct.”

The Pink Bear grew a shade more serious. He stuck out a furry paw, fished up a lousy hand-rolled cigarette from who-knew-where, lit it, took a deep drag, and thin white smoke curled from the eyes and ears of the bear-suit as he drawled:

“Since everything’s gone smoothly and we’re ahead of my schedule, we’ll reach the border in about two hours.”

“Don’t we need to go through a checkpoint?”

“What are you thinking?”

The Pink Bear gave him a look like he was an idiot.

“You’re a duke’s son in the flesh, traveling abroad as a representative of one of the Empire’s most famous academies, and you’re thinking about sneaking across?”

“That would be safer.”

“......”

The Pink Bear stared at Muen for a long moment, then suddenly sighed.

“Kid, you’re too cautious.”

“Am I?”

“Heh.”

The Pink Bear split his bear-mouth in a grin, glanced at the others who were getting up one after another from the carriages and greeting, chatting, laughing—then let his gaze fall back on Muen.

“These days, everyone really has treated this like a trip—except you.

“You provided the carriages, the food, and high-end luxuries most of them might never enjoy once in their lives, letting them savor the journey. But only you... never relaxed your guard.

“Patrolling twice a day, scouting the surroundings. Except for last night, you never sleep deeply, and you check our progress with me at intervals.

“You even...

“Kid, just what are you worried about?”

“......”

Muen was silent a moment, then shrugged and smiled.

“Nothing much. Just some impractical hunches.”

“You go this far over a hunch?”

“Based on my past experience, a little caution never hurts.”

“......”

The Pink Bear scrutinized him for a beat, then suddenly smacked him on the back of the head, nearly making him stagger, and snorted:

“You think too highly of yourself. You’re just a duke’s son—not the emperor on tour. No, scratch that—even when that brat of an emperor goes out, he’s not worthy of me personally keeping watch.”

“Alright, alright. Consider me paranoid.”

Muen said helplessly.

“But...”

Just as Muen was about to leave, the Pink Bear spoke up.

“The governor of this border province... used to serve under your father.”

“......”

Muen froze, then stared at the Pink Bear for a good long while, surprised.

“Sorry.”

“Hm?”

“I shouldn’t have secretly thought your head was full of nothing but filth. As it turns out, even if most of it is filth, there’s a small portion that’s useful.”

“Wha—”

The Pink Bear exploded:

“You little punk, asking for a beating, eh!”

“Wait, wait—don’t hit me, don’t kick my butt, I was wrong, Uncle!”

“Who the hell is your uncle—go to hell!”

...

...

By the time Muen finished washing up and returned to camp rubbing his backside, everyone had already packed and stood ready to # Nоvеlight # depart.

Unconsciously, all eyes gathered on the returning Muen.

Feeling a faint ripple in his heart at the sight, Muen smiled slightly and was just about to speak when he felt his hem tugged, very lightly.

“Um... um.”

Liya had appeared behind him at some point and spoke in a low voice:

“I have something—could we talk alone?”

“Hm?”

Muen showed a trace of puzzlement, but seeing the hint of urgency between Liya’s brows, he said nothing. He merely offered an apologetic smile to the others wearing odd expressions and followed Liya to a secluded spot.

...

“Ariel hasn’t come back?”

Muen blinked, frowned at the anxious Liya before him, and asked:

“Did you try contacting her with the sound-transmission stone?”

“I—I did, but she didn’t pick up.”

Liya clutched the stone so tightly it was about to shatter. Unease filled her eyes.

“Don’t panic. Let me ask.”

Muen soothed her, then went to find the Pink Bear.

“Oh? You mean that flat-chested little lass?”

The Pink Bear, engrossed in a book whose cover alone made Liya blush scarlet, lifted his head and said offhand:

“She’s been sneaking out the past two nights to hack up magic beasts.”

“I know that. What I’m asking is: if she still isn’t back by now, could she be in danger?”

“Danger? From where?”

The Pink Bear picked his nose, utterly unconcerned. “This is the route I chose. Where would—ah, I remember.”

He jolted upright, slapped his forehead, and said:

“I just remembered what it was I forgot to tell that girl last night.”