The group exchanged glances at Ryuen’s nonchalant response as they moved, though no one seed surprised by his relaxed deanor.
It was now a normal thing.
Yurei’s eyes narrowed slightly. "A sleeper’s build, huh? Don’t expect that excuse to work with when things go sideways."
Ryuen smirked. "Noted. I’ll rember that when you’re the one needing backup."
Yurei didn’t reply but crossed her arms with a sigh.
She clearly didn’t entirely approve of his attitude.
Hwa, ever the instigator, chuckled and threw her arms behind her head as she walked beside Ryuen.
"I was actually pissed at Daiki when he told to join your guild," she smiled.
"It’s actually not as boring as I imagined."
"What makes you think it’s not?" Ryuen asked, not sparing her a glance as he kept his gaze straight ahead.
Hwa shrugged in response. "It’s a combination of stubborn, silent, and sarcastic people."
"Who’s the stubborn one?"
"You," she replied without hesitation and instinctively took a step away from him to avoid a hit.
But Ryuen just exhaled and closed his eyes. "I wonder what makes you think I’m stubborn."
"You should ask soone you’re comfortable around," she answered and walked ahead of him, leaving Erina by his side.
Ryuen didn’t say a word to Erina. Instead, he moved behind her, walking at a slow pace.
He wanted to keep his gaze on her at all tis.
He still hadn’t asked her the questions he had in mind, waiting until the ti was right.
Considering the whole title transfer to him, he still needed to find a way to fix the kingless city.
He wasn’t willing to take on such a task just yet.
As they approached the apartnt building, Erina paused and turned around to face Ryuen, causing him to stop as well.
She hesitated for a few seconds before speaking up. "Uhm, Ryuen..."
His eyes narrowed. "What is the matter?"
"A... are you sure about this? About being here?"
He tilted his head slightly. "If I wasn’t sure, you wouldn’t be here."
Erina nodded, though her composure didn’t change.
She had so many questions and so much to say, but she couldn’t bring herself to utter a word.
"I just don’t want to cause trouble for you or the others."
"You won’t," Ryuen replied simply.
He shifted his gaze to the group that had walked farther ahead of them before turning back to her with a sigh.
"Look, I have my reasons for bringing you along. You can say more after we’ve settled down. Understood?"
She nodded, keeping her head low until he walked past her.
She remained silent, letting her mind race with different thoughts.
She had been spared by him. Even though he had said he would make her a slave, he didn’t seem to actually an it.
His words in that mont had sounded serious and true, not a bluff.
It felt like it was his way of telling Aika that he was sparing her.
A small smile found its way to Erina’s lips. .
She dragged in a breath. It was better to move on than to dwell on the past.
Despite seeing her family brutally killed right before her, she just had to keep moving.
"So," Hwa started, addressing Daiki alone, "what’s with the guild and all this moving around? You guys always this organized?"
Daiki gave her a side glance, debating how much he wanted to indulge her curiosity, then replied.
"The organization operates on precision and efficiency. We don’t stay in one place for long. Keeps us ahead of threats."
"Sounds boring," Hwa said with a dramatic sigh. "I prefer a little chaos."
The group walked through the dimly lit streets toward the apartnt complex where Kaori lived.
Ryuen now led the way, his hands casually stuffed in his pockets, with Daiki and Yurei following him silently.
Hwa trailed behind with Erina, chatting away as if the two of them were already old friends—or at least, that’s what Hwa seed to think.
Erina only spoke to her because she didn’t want to upset Hwa and risk being scolded.
So she just went with the flow, despite how annoying Hwa was.
"So, Erina," Hwa said, throwing a sly glance at the princess, "what’s it like going from royal palace to... this?"
Erina blinked, startled by the question. "This?"
Hwa gestured at the rundown street, the streetlights, and the faint sll of oil in the air.
"You know, the gritty, ssy life of us common folk. Don’t tell you’re not already missing your silk sheets and personal maids."
Erina hesitated before answering. "I’d rather be here. With them. It feels... different. Freer."
Hwa arched a brow. "Freer? That’s an odd way to describe being dragged around by Mr. Mysterious over there."
Erina didn’t reply, but her smile grew wider, making her features more pronounced now.
Before Hwa could prod further, Ryuen stopped in front of a modest apartnt complex.
He turned slightly and made his way into the entrance of the building and down to the elevator.
When he turned to face Erina and Hwa, he said, "This is it. Don’t touch anything while you wait outside."
"Relax, boss," Hwa said, leaning against the wall by the elevator. "We’ll be good little guests."
Ryuen didn’t bother replying. He crossed his arms and waited for the elevator to whisk them to their floor.
Once they arrived, Ryuen stepped out, followed by Daiki and Yurei.
The apartnt building was quiet, and when they stepped into the apartnt, it was silent except for the faint hum of an air conditioning unit.
Kaori was in the small living room, flipping through a magazine on the couch when they walked in.
Her eyes lit up the mont she saw Ryuen. .
"Ryuen!" she exclaid, setting the magazine down.
She jumped up, pulling him into a quick hug before looking at the others.
"What’s going on? Why are you back so early?"
"I don’t think we ca back early," he said with a chuckle.
"We’re actually back because we have to move," Ryuen said, his tone as calm as always.
"Organization set us up in a new place."
Kaori frowned. "Again?" She shifted her gaze to Daiki, since she had always faced the sa thing with Yurei.
That was the sa reason Yurei was actually staying with her.
"They just love uprooting you guys, don’t they?"
Daiki spoke up, his voice calm. "It’s protocol. Keeps us ahead of potential threats."
Kaori sighed, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. "Well, whatever. I guess I’ll help pack."
"Don’t bother," Ryuen said. "We’ve got it."
Kaori gave him a look, crossing her arms. "Don’t tell what to do in my own apartnt, Ryu."
Ryuen smirked slightly at how she shortened his na, partly relieved she wasn’t pissed at him.
But he said nothing as he headed to his room.
Daiki and Yurei followed suit, each going to their respective rooms to gather their belongings.
Kaori shook her head, muttering under her breath, "Stubborn Idiot..."
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