Astro (3)
Clank!
The metal door creaked open.
As the scene inside gradually revealed itself, a pungent odor wafted into her nose.
Irene’s tail stood on end in spite of herself.
The source of the smell that stimulated her sense of smell was…
“Delicious!”
“So fluffy…!”
It was the sweet smell of honey.
The space was decorated in a cute and cozy way.
In front of the antique-designed table sat familiar children, happily chatting amongst themselves.
They were the foxes that Irene had entrusted to him.
“It’s sweet, and it melts in your mouth…”
“I could eat the pie that Teacher makes every day!”
“Uung…!”
“It's as delicious as the Master's!”
The children were chattering and laughing amongst themselves.
Each of them was gobbling down the pie on their plates.
Could this be the source of the strong sweet smell?
The foxes looked happier than ever.
Every time they brought a forkful of pie to their mouths, their tails wagged pleasantly.
It was a scene that warmed her heart.
“…?”
A question mark appeared above the head of the girl who was watching.
It was because of the unexpected scene.
The tension that had been about to explode subsided.
“It seems like it’s snack time,” a voice suddenly said.
She turned around to see a golden snake smiling brightly.
“Snack time…?”
“Those were my instructions. I made sure they had snacks three times a day in addition to their meals.”
“W-wait a minute… Three times is a bit too much, don't you think?”
“It is important for them to eat and grow well when they are young.”
The boy nodded his head in understanding.
“Don't worry. The chef here is so skilled that even I am impressed,” he added.
She knew the basement was big, but did it even have a chef?
She realized once again that this was a full-fledged facility.
The boy continued his explanation with a pleased look on his face.
“We manage not only nutrition, but also their constitution and eating habits… So you don't have to worry too much about your younger siblings’ health.”
“…”
Irene listened in a daze.
Yet her black eyes didn't lose their light. Her vision was filled with a soft smile.
It was a confusing feeling.
How should she put it?
It was so different from the scene in her head that had made her anxious just a moment ago.
‘Strange.’
Only then did the detailed scenery begin to come into view.
Expensive-looking furniture, soft carpets, and plenty of toys scattered around.
It was a composition that showed consideration for the children.
She had no idea he had such a meticulous side.
She felt ashamed of herself for doubting the basement.
The children were doing well.
The fox quietly watched her younger siblings.
“…Sister Irene?”
As she stood there, she made eye contact with one of the children.
The short word soon spread throughout the room.
“What? You’re saying Sister’s here?”
“Where is she?”
“Can’t you see her standing right there at the door?”
“Oh, you’re right!”
“It looks like Master came with her too!”
One by one, their gazes focused on her.
Irene smiled awkwardly.
“It's been a while, everyone.”
The children’s faces brightened.
They each put down the snacks they were holding and ran straight towards her.
Several warm bodies rushed into her arms.
“Sister! We missed you…!”
“You came to see us, right? We’ve been waiting!”
“It's been a really long time!”
“Sister, where have you been?”
The children chattered happily.
As she received their enthusiastic welcome, a smile appeared on the usually fierce and sassy Irene’s face.
The corners of her mouth drew a clear arc.
It might have been an unfamiliar sight to some.
“…”
An affectionate scene.
The blond boy was watching from a step behind. The reunion of the foxes was beautiful.
He didn’t want to interrupt such a touching moment.
“Please enjoy yourselves,” he muttered under his breath.
Immediately after.
The snake turned his back.
His quiet steps disappeared, leaving only a fleeting footprint.
***
I discreetly excused myself from the room.
While the foxes were busy catching up with each other in the opposite room, I was sitting at my desk.
A faint murmur escaped my lips.
“It’s been a while.”
Indeed.
When was the last time I sat here?
Though it was called the "Master's Office," I didn't actually have many memories of working here.
It was all a bit hazy, as if it were a distant memory.
I shook off the random thoughts.
In front of me was a girl with silver hair. Her aura was reminiscent of winter.
Astro's Vice-Captain, Neria Lightning.
“You called for me.”
She stood at a perfect angle.
There wasn’t a single shred of life in her eyes. It was like looking at an empty shell.
Or maybe a puppet tied to strings.
Anyway.
“There’s something I need you to do.”
“Anything you ask of me, Master.”
I had other business to attend to right now.
Pushing her immediate answer to the back of my mind, I slowly began to speak.
“You may have heard some rumors going around lately.”
“By rumors, you mean…”
“That the movements of the heathens… the Demon worshippers, have been unusual.”
“That’s right. I've been hearing about it from time to time for the past few months.”
“As expected.”
So they were starting to make their move.
Considering the flow of the original story, it was about time they showed up.
If anything, they were later than I expected.
“What about the other side?”
“There’s a rumor that two big players in the underworld have joined hands. I haven't been able to figure out the reason yet.”
“The slave trader… and the lord, I presume.”
“That’s correct.”
“So that’s going according to plan as well.”
The baobab tree, the businessman, the king.
They were the forces that appeared as villains in the original story, but there had been nothing out of the ordinary so far.
They were following the original story to the letter.
“Please continue gathering information.”
“Understood.”
“Just in case, increase the number of patrols… Ah, and one more thing.”
Something suddenly came to mind.
I put on a meaningful smile and looked straight into her silver eyes.
My voice was cold as I spoke.
“There was a bit of a scuffle around here today. It seems some people were demanding tolls on the streets.”
“…!”
“Has management been lax?”
“M-my apologies. I will rectify the situation.”
“It was a task I entrusted to you. What am I to make of the fact that a mistake has been made?”
“I will ensure that this never happens again.”
Neria was visibly flustered.
Her previously cold demeanor was nowhere to be found, and she was starting to crumble.
Why was she so scared?
I was just concerned because she had made a mistake she normally wouldn’t have.
“And to think I put my trust in you, Vice-Captain.”
“P-please, Master, d-don’t throw me a-away…”
“My, my… How could I ever throw away our capable Neria?”
If you quit, our organization will be ruined.
You handle 30% of the entire workload on your own.
“I simply meant that you should try a little harder.”
“…Yes, Master.”
Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything.
The girl lowered her head.
Thinking I should comfort her, I got up from my seat.
“Don't worry.”
“…?!”
I stroked her silver hair.
Slowly, carefully, so as not to mess it up.
Neria seemed flustered for a moment, unsure of what to do, but soon stopped, her posture stiff.
Even so, her shoulders were trembling.
“H-huh… Huh…”
A pitiful moan escaped her lips every time the soft sensation brushed against my fingertips.
You’ve been working so hard.
She was even on the verge of tears.
“I would never throw you away.”
As expected, nothing beats a little encouragement.
The girl gradually relaxed.
I continued to encourage her for a while.
***
Meanwhile, Irene was surrounded by the foxes.
Led by their welcoming hands, she was having a hectic time, being pulled from one place to another.
It seemed like her younger siblings had missed her a lot.
For a while, the basement was filled with the cheerful energy characteristic of children.
“Ha…”
After the chaotic moment passed, Irene sat down in a corner to rest for a bit.
Did young foxes never get tired?
They were already running around and playing amongst themselves.
They were eating well, sleeping well, and laughing well.
Perhaps it was because their overall lives were well-balanced, but her younger siblings were full of a vitality that she had never seen before.
They were a far cry from when they had been locked up in that cramped cage.
‘Thank goodness.’
It seemed like they were doing well.
A belated sense of relief washed over her, and a faint smile spread across her face.
‘I was so worried… He was really helping them with all his heart.’
His sly-looking eyes looked a little different now.
The fox had originally vowed never to trust a human again, but that didn't mean she couldn't be grateful.
As she was pondering about the boy for a moment.
“So you are the guest that Master brought.”
“…?”
A gruff voice suddenly rang out.
She turned around to see a man with red hair. He looked to be middle-aged.
A faint air of heroism emanated from his well-built physique.
“I’ve been wanting to meet you for a while now.”
“Uh… What?”
“Let me introduce myself.”
The man laughed at Irene’s wary reaction.
He nodded his head cheerfully and thumped his fist against his chest.
“Kyle Stroban. I’m the chef here. I’m also in charge of looking after the children.”
“Ah.”
So this was the man the boy had spoken of so confidently.
And he was also acting as their teacher?
With the appearance of the man who was actually taking care of the children, Irene hurriedly returned the greeting.
“My name is Irene Foxis.”
“Hahaha! I’ve heard a lot about you from the children.”
After a brief exchange of greetings, the fox finally began to examine his face.
Vivid red hair and bloodshot eyes.
His arms were muscular, as if he had been wielding a sword for a long time, and his physique was well-built.
There was a cross-shaped scar on his cheek.
The internal waves emanating from him were terrifyingly calm.
‘…Where did this monster come from?’
She couldn’t help but break out in a cold sweat.
The members she had encountered earlier.
Each and every one of them were skilled individuals with extraordinary power, but they paled in comparison to the man standing in front of her.
She thought she had seen countless monsters while crawling through the mud, but…
‘What the hell.’
Something wasn’t right.
Had he been hiding his power until now? His presence was becoming more and more pronounced.
The professors of Galimar, who were known as the best of the best.
They were said to be unrivaled on the continent, but…
This man’s strength was on a whole other level.
‘This is insane.’
His power was beyond comprehension.
And to think that someone like him was just a chef.
Just as she was starting to feel like something was off.
‘He looks familiar…’
A sudden sense of déjà vu struck her.
His deep red hair, his muscular build, the cross-shaped scar on his cheek…
She knew this man.
Her master’s words, which she had heard countless times, echoed in her ears.
-Irene, remember the man in this portrait.
-If you wish to walk the path of the sword… He is a mountain you must overcome one day.
-He is the only one in the history of the continent to have reached the stars.
A forgotten memory resurfaced vividly in her mind.
Her master had constantly shown her a portrait of a certain man and praised his achievements in a loud voice.
In the portrait, a young man with red hair was smiling.
The name of the person in the portrait was…
‘Kyle Stroban.’
Many years had passed, but there was an undeniable familiarity about him.
Irene muttered in a daze, “…The Red Swordmaster?”
The weapon that was hailed as humanity’s strongest.
The most glorious legacy of a bygone era, he had adorned countless pages of history with his unprecedented strength.
The Swordmaster smiled sheepishly.
“I didn’t think you’d recognize me… Hahaha! This is embarrassing!”
His answer was a clear affirmation.
“How could I not?”
Irene murmured blankly.
Why was the man who was called the pinnacle of the continent… a part of a criminal organization?
Her tone seemed to imply such a lament, but…
The truth was completely different.
“You’re supposed to be…”
Confusion, bewilderment, and doubt.
The shock the fox was feeling stemmed from amore fundamental issue.
She muttered in a daze, “…I heard you died in an accident two years ago.”
Kyle Stroban.
His aliases were "The Red Swordmaster" and "The Fallen Star."
He was the hero who had defeated countless Black Wizards and had a profound impact on the peace of the continent. He was the figure who symbolized the last 20 years of the Empire.
And…
According to official records, he was dead.
“…”
“I’m just an ordinary chef now.”
His hearty laughter rang out.
Irene was face to face with a ghost who should not be alive.
“Hahaha! This is also thanks to Master’s grace.”
“What do you mean by that…?”
“Thanks to him, I was able to survive.”
Once again, the "Master" was mentioned.
The Swordmaster offered a brief prayer before falling into a brief silence. His expression was filled with deep respect.
He was in a similar state to the members she had seen outside.
The fox watched the scene, frozen stiff.
‘The slums, a criminal organization, a basement, fanatics… and now, the Empire’s missing hero.’
Just how far did his influence reach?
A sticky sense of unease crept up her spine.
Thinking of the mastermind who must be at the center of all this, the girl had to swallow hard.
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