Chapter 391: The Flow of Time is Different for Everyone
“Stop it for now. I want to recover and gather my resolve first,” Karn said, pressing one hand against his eyes while extending the other toward me.
“Yeah, I get it. Some of us look like we’re about to sink into the ground,” Retze glanced at Haulon and Dinoss.
Haulon, who looked like he was about to collapse, was barely being held up by Dinoss, who had a firm grip on his arm.
“Why are you so calm about this?” Dinoss shot a dissatisfied look at Retze.
“I’ve said it many times, but I can’t see it, and I don’t really understand the scale of the presence either. Rather than that, I want to accurately grasp Gene’s range of actions. I have a feeling something might suddenly come to Kanum while visiting Gene,” Retze shrugged lightly.
“Alright, I get it. Just listen to Retze,” Dinoss said.
“I can’t handle the Spirits, though.”
“You’re doing fine, you’re doing fine.”
“I can’t! I can’t see them!”
“Then let’s just focus on the big ones that we can see.”
“That’s not okay!”
They really are close. I sipped my tea while watching the two bicker.
I brewed some black tea, adding sugar, milk, ginger, cardamom, cloves, and black pepper… The sweetness hit my mouth, while the spices warmed my throat. I had a small cup of the strong brew, and thanks to the refreshing cardamom, it was surprisingly smooth despite its richness.
“Karn and Haulon seem pretty worn out, so how about we head back and take a nap to prepare for the evening?” Today was the last day at Es, and we had plans to enjoy a boat ride on the Es River in the evening.
“Whose fault is it, whose?!” Haulon shouted.
“It’s the Spirits that came near us,” I replied. I didn’t call for them.
“Can’t you at least act a bit more humble or even a little proud?!”
“Nope.” I answered Haulon, who was inching closer.
“Think a little more about it.” Retze sighed and looked at me.
“—Nope.” I took a moment to think before responding.
“Your thinking time is too short!” Dinoss exclaimed.
“Well, I’ve stopped feeling guilty or holding back to read the atmosphere. I’ll do what I want and won’t do what I don’t want. Unless there’s a purpose behind it that requires patience.”
That’s mostly how I ended up getting tangled up with my sister and unable to move.
“Yeah, you’ve been like that since the first time we met… At least try to maintain some decorum,” Karn said dramatically. It suited him, though.
“Bring someone with a branch! We’ll talk after that!” I still vividly remember Karn and Baylis trying to retreat while I followed them without a second thought.
“By the way, what about Asas?”
“I’m heading underground to set things up. —The time of the Spirits is different from that of humans. I thought the flow of time would be leisurely in Es, but it seems I was mistaken. I had planned to take my time and prepare, but given the circumstances, we need to move quickly,” Karn said, sounding somewhat reluctant about being underprepared.
“Should we set up something like a pedestal? It’s meant to hold the Spirit’s Branch we got from the Ex-Staff.” I had a pedestal that was a bit too grand for just holding a clay figurine.
“Yeah, please do.” Come to think of it, Karn could also sit on the pedestal. It’s the King’s Branch after all. —If he sat on it, he’d look like a sculpture with those muscles.
Why don’t I have muscles? Is it because my body was artificially created, so it doesn’t grow or change shape like a normal one? My hair has been growing slowly, but it feels like it took forever to get to this point.
I should ask about that along with the effects of my Protection. The fact that I could withstand everyone’s Protection back then was probably because I had a lot of lifespan left, but what about now? Is this body itself something special?
“Well then, let’s head back. What about Wanwan?” I wondered if he would follow us.
“Wanwan will return. If my foolish brother is set up, I’ll go see his foolish face, so prepare a bed for me!” Wasn’t that basically a declaration that he would come along?
“Got it, but what’s your preference for a bed?” I asked Wanwan while glancing at Haulon, who was squinting.
“Hmm, ebony would be nice!”
“Ah.”
An ebony bed, huh… Would just laying down some boards be enough?
“Alright, let’s head back to the hotel.”
“Yeah,” Retze replied, and everyone else naturally agreed.
“Thanks for the quick response.” And before I knew it, the dishes were all neatly stacked in one place.
This was the work of Dinoss and Retze. They’re so diligent; is that what’s being required of me?
I stored the gathered items away and parted ways with Wanwan before heading to the hotel. I’d see Wanwan again soon!