Chapter 117: Old Friends Reunited, Temporary Peace

(Having just completed a minor event, the following passage serves to advance the plot through daily life. It is not filler; writing the mundane is, in fact, far more agonizing for me than writing action sequences...)

Having received his reward alongside Bordeaux, Wang Yu did not linger. He returned to Red Maple Street with the other members of the special operations team. The Professor and Zieg, both busy men with matters to attend to, did not join Charles and Wang Yu in their plan to visit Edward.

The two walked along the streets of Red Maple Street. Fortune had favored this district; as a central thoroughfare near the Stevenson Academy of Magic, it had suffered relatively little from the demonic incursion.

Beyond the sudden appearance of the demon summoner that had left a few buildings scorched, there were only the craters left behind by the infernal worms.

They contacted Edward via their communication devices, and he instructed them to meet at the street corner. It seemed his recovery was progressing well.

As they stepped off the carriage, they saw Edward standing beneath the great red maple tree at the corner. He was holding a bouquet of white flowers, which he began to place at the base of the trunk.

The cat-girl, Sufang, followed behind him, cradling a collection of identical white blossoms. It appeared the bouquet in Edward’s hands had come from her flower shop.

"Hey!" Charles, sensing the somber atmosphere, waved a greeting to Edward, though his tone lacked its usual buoyancy. He walked with Wang Yu to Edward’s side.

Edward turned, nodded, and offered a standard military salute to the tree.

"Who is this for?" Wang Yu politely took a white flower from Sufang, offered a word of thanks, placed it before the maple, and turned to Edward.

"Do you remember the squad leader who faced the Source of Life, Elfin, with us? He’s dead. He didn't realize the power of the demon summoner’s flames and charged straight in. He died right in front of me." Edward sighed, his expression heavy with desolation.

"Him? I do recall him. He was a bit green, but he was a truly responsible leader." Charles followed Wang Yu’s lead, placing a white flower before the maple.

"It’s just… seeing someone you were somewhat familiar with suddenly vanish is sobering. Life is so fragile… I didn't even know his name." Edward gazed at the aging red maple, his words laden with reflection.

"There is no help for it; the world has always been this way. At least you knew this squad leader, so you know of his passing. But what of the other city guards who died in this incident? The civilians? Their deaths go entirely unrecorded. Sometimes, there is little we can do. Just grow stronger, and try to protect those you know."

Wang Yu bowed to the red maple in the manner of his home world. He did not know if the gods of the underworld or the Buddhas existed here, but he hoped they might watch over the fallen squad leader.

This world was perpetually cruel. As the son of a Grand Duke, Edward might need time to grasp that, but Wang Yu trusted that Edward was not the type to be shackled by such existential knots. Besides, Wang Yu was not good at offering comfort; it was better to be clear.

"Yes. I am still too weak. I must grow stronger—to protect those who need me. My family, my friends, my people. That is my duty. Forgive me, some old memories were stirred up."

Sometimes, a man does not need comfort when he speaks; he simply needs someone to listen, and the weight lifts on its own.

"Enough with the 'duty' talk. Look after yourself first—look at those wounds!" Charles walked over and poked Edward’s bare, bandage-wrapped torso, causing Edward to wince in pain.

"Get off!" Edward swatted Charles away, though Charles only offered a mischievous grin.

"Look at you, wounded like this—how are you going to win her over, eh? Though, looking at you two, progress seems decent." Charles leaned in, leering and gesturing toward Sufang, who stood behind Edward.

"Get lost, get lost! You don't know what you're talking about. And you told me her name wrong, anyway!" Edward, flustered, waved his healed arm to shoo Charles away like a fly, though his complexion betrayed his true feelings.

"Hahaha, just admit it!" Charles laughed mockingly as he ran off. Whatever Edward was thinking, the heavy, sorrowful atmosphere had been effectively dispelled.

"Edward, just a word—you were supposed to receive a reward, but it seems your father rescinded it." Wang Yu decided to mention it.

"Oh. That is to be expected." Edward seemed indifferent to the loss of his reward, a sharp contrast to the money-grubbing Charles, who was still being chased.

As the son of a Grand Duke, Edward had acted no differently than Wang Yu, a commoner with no prior influence, ever since joining the special operations team. He had never used his status to seek convenience.

By rights, as the sole heir to a Grand Duke of such unique standing, Edward possessed the authority to mobilize troops and held a status far above the average noble. Yet, he never invoked these rights. The only time the identity had been used was when Charles used it to needle young Daniel.

Edward’s behavior made him an anomaly. Coupled with the past events he alluded to, he was clearly a man with a story. But as with the old knight’s history, Wang Yu would not pry unless Edward chose to share.

Wang Yu parted ways with Edward and Charles, who were planning to grab a drink. Wang Yu, who disliked alcohol, declined.

He had only walked a few steps when he heard the cat-girl scolding Edward for wanting to drink while wounded, followed by the booming, bell-like laughter of Charles.

Reaching his front door, Wang Yu reached for his key, but his expression suddenly shifted. He flicked the key back into his pocket and, without hesitation, activated his Blood-Burning Drive.

Before the motion was even complete, a figure vaulted over the courtyard wall with blinding speed. In a few strides, the person was before him, a foot blurring into a shadow as it lashed out toward Wang Yu’s chest.

It was an attack of wide, sweeping force. Wang Yu dodged with a simple movement, his center of gravity lowered by the invisible force granted by his wizardry, narrowly avoiding the sweeping kick that whistled with wind.

He surged upward, channeling the full strength of his waist into his upper body. He threw a straight punch with all his might, and the attacker’s fist met his in a synchronized, unyielding collision.

*Bang!* The two gauntlets struck, their superior craftsmanship preventing any deformation, the sheer force of the impact ringing out sharply.

Both men were sent sliding backward several meters by the force, the dust on the ground kicked up by the shockwave of their colliding fists. The power behind the blow was staggering.

"Brother Garcia, what are you doing? You scared me!" Wang Yu shook his aching fist, looking at Garcia—whom he had only just seen at the palace—with a sense of speechlessness.

"Your ability is still developing, isn't it? It’s excellent for guarding against blind spots. And you certainly didn't look 'scared' just now." Garcia offered a hearty laugh and lowered his fists.

"The rate at which your strength is growing is terrifying. To have the strength of a mid-level official knight approaching a high-level one… this level of progress can no longer be called exaggerated; it’s a miracle."

Garcia shook his head, unable to hide the shock beneath his smile.

"Try hitting me again." Wang Yu took a stance, signaling Garcia to continue.

"Fine! Let’s see exactly what your level is." Garcia did not hold back and threw another punch.

The fists collided in mid-air, but this time, Wang Yu was sent flying, slamming into the roadside wall and leaving a crater.

"Hm?!" Garcia was stunned. Although he had increased his strength by a fraction, it shouldn't have been enough to send Wang Yu flying like that.

"Cough, cough… My strength actually comes from a combination of my knightly secret arts, void energy, and battle aura. It isn't sustainable. My current limit for this level of strength is three minutes, and it’s purely physical."

Wang Yu fanned away the cloud of dust, reset his dislocated right hand, and explained his power composition to the bewildered Garcia.

Though Wang Yu could reach the physical strength of a mid-level official knight through the Blood-Burning Drive, the strain and the aura consumption meant he could only maintain it for three minutes. He was no superhero; three minutes was never enough.

His true strength was at the peak of a trainee knight, built entirely on physical conditioning. His battle aura was not yet potent. The gap between him and Garcia remained vast; even with the Blood-Burning Drive, he was no match for a veteran like Garcia.

That was only natural. Garcia’s strength had been honed over decades. Wang Yu had only been training for a short while; he could not hope to compete head-on.

"I see. If that weren't the case, your knightly talent would be the greatest in human history."

Hearing the explanation, Garcia understood why Wang Yu possessed such power. If it were merely a short-lived burst, while still impressive, it was at least fathomable.

*Click.* The wooden door opened, and Avia stepped out, wearing house clothes and an apron.

"Wang Yu, you're back? Perfect, dinner is ready. Come eat—eh?" The girl, who had walked out with a smile, froze at the sight of Garcia in a striking stance and Wang Yu, covered in dust, just crawling out of the crater in the wall.

"Ah, er, this…" Garcia felt a sudden awkwardness. His impulsive test of Wang Yu’s progress had left the boy looking disheveled. Of course, it was Wang Yu who was disheveled, but Garcia felt the most embarrassed.

"Let’s go." Wang Yu brushed the dust off his clothes and stood up, unbothered.

"Right."

...

Eating a large bowl of beef stewed with potatoes, Wang Yu felt immensely satisfied. He scooped a spoonful of the broth into his mouth—slightly thick, rich, and perfectly seasoned. Avia’s cooking was impeccable and constantly improving; the culinary methods he had dredged up from his memories were proving quite useful.

Garcia sat opposite Wang Yu, watching as the girl handed Wang Yu a towel to wipe away the dust from earlier. Despite the delicious food, an unspoken awkwardness lingered.

He remembered that Wang Yu had just returned from receiving his reward at the palace. He had been well-groomed before leaving, and though not dressed for a gala, he had been perfectly clean. Now, Garcia’s punch had left him covered in grit.

"Oh, Avia, this is for you." Wang Yu wiped himself clean and handed the girl the copy of the notes he had obtained from the Minister of Finance.

"Eh? What is this?" Avia took the copy, her eyes widening in surprise.

"It should be the notes left by the wizard Roland. The royal archives should be accurate, unlike those nonsensical, fabricated accounts of his life. It should be of some help to you."

"Ah, thank you!" She took the book with genuine delight. For a book lover, the notes of a legendary wizard like Roland were an invaluable treasure, and the research value was immense.

"Glad you like it, haha." Wang Yu shoveled more food into his mouth.

"Also, Brother Garcia, I passed your message on to Ms. Lilia. She said you really are just a child." Wang Yu smiled as he relayed the result of the message he had been tasked to deliver.

"Ah, is that so? That sounds like her. Though, given her age, I suppose she isn't wrong to call me a child." Garcia laughed bitterly and waved his hand. The awkwardness was largely dispelled by the topic, and the three began to chat as they ate.

Most of it was friendly banter, though they eventually touched upon the current state of Alastair and the situation on the front lines of the war.

From Garcia, Wang Yu learned that Sewintan’s infiltration and sabotage of Alestle were well underway, just as Alestle’s own subversive efforts within Sewintan continued unabated; the two nations remained locked in a relentless struggle, both in the shadows and in the open.

As the season deepened into winter, the intensity of the conflict on the front lines began to wane. For these two northern-leaning powers, the price of waging war through the bitter cold would be too steep to justify, even in the event of victory.

This meant that some of the frontline soldiers would soon return to the capital of Alestle, and most members of the Night’s Edge, currently scattered on various missions, would choose this lull in the fighting to retreat to their headquarters in the city.

The return of these combat-hardened souls would undoubtedly bolster the capital’s security, promising a brief respite of peace and tranquility—a window of rest for Wang Yu, the "neighborhood cop" of this special operations unit.

"Oh, look, it’s snowing."

"Indeed, so it is."

"Whew, haha, winter is here again. I’m actually quite happy, yay!"

"True, it’s been getting colder these past few days. If not for the demonic invasion, we’d be busy setting up the hearths by now."

The clamor of passersby drifted in from the street.

Glancing out the window, he watched as snowflakes began to drift down, settling softly upon the coats of the pedestrians below.

The distant sky had turned a pale, washed-out white—a harbinger of the blizzard to come. The sun, hovering just above the horizon, cast a light that was bright yet gentle, illuminating the capital in the mid-afternoon.

The snow began to mantle the city, which was still in the midst of reconstruction following the recent catastrophe that had claimed so many lives. The sight was beautiful, yet tinged with a profound melancholy; one could only wonder how many had perished in the chaos, and how many of the survivors were now nursing a sorrow as heavy as Edward’s.

He turned his gaze back to the brightly lit room, where Garcia, the great knight, was hurriedly finishing a bowl of beef stew that had gone cold while they talked. Avia, bowl in hand, was watching the thickening snowfall just as he had been; noticing his gaze, she offered a gentle smile.

"Well... even if this world is a bit of a mess, there are times when it really doesn't seem so bad."