By the ti their eventful evening ended and they were returning to the city from the opera house, it was already approaching midnight. Jenkins had secured the two tal plates, wearing them on his chest just as Robert did. It was a little cumberso, but he felt it was necessary.
Tomorrow, Mary, Robert, and John were leaving on a trip, taking the six o'clock train. During the week Jenkins had been away from Nolan, Robert had been promoted again. He planned to take the family on a vacation before spring arrived, but unfortunately, Jenkins had no desire to leave the city again so soon.
In the carriage, Mary Williams kindly invited Julia to stay the night at Maidenhaven Road. But Jenkins, completely oblivious to the social atmosphere, imdiately pointed out that Julia's ho was nearby and that he could escort his companion back himself.
The cat was still brooding, and John Williams struggled to suppress a laugh. If he let it out, this month's pocket money would likely vanish.
The coachman drove them through the thick fog enveloping the city's outskirts. Jenkins stroked the displeased cat and gazed out the window, wondering how he should handle the situation with the young won.
In his search for the Skull Sword, he had recently fallen into the habit of occasionally activating his Eye of Reality, even when nothing seed amiss. And there, deep within the fog, he spotted three familiar strangers on the other side of the road. They passed the carriage, heading back in the direction the Williams family had co from.
It was Mr. White Cat, Magic Miss, and Silver Flute Miss—three mbers from Mr. Hood's gathering, traveling together just a stone's throw away.
"Oh?"
Approaching them rashly would undoubtedly trigger so new event, but right now, Jenkins was actively seeking the unexpected. Only by constantly engaging with the abnormal did he stand a chance of discovering the Skull Sword's whereabouts.
"Please stop here!"
He suddenly called out to the coachman, who slowly brought the carriage to a halt at the side of the road.
"We're at Julia's place. Her ho is just in a nearby alley."
He shot Julia a quick wink as he spoke. The perceptive maid caught on imdiately and played along.
"Yes, the apartnt I rent is in an alley just around here. It's a short walk. Thank you for the invitation, I had a wonderful evening. Mr. and Mrs. Williams... Jenkins, would you mind walking , just like before?"
"Of course,"
Without needing a prompt from Mary, Jenkins nodded at once, pushed open the carriage door, and hopped out.
"ow~"
The cat leaped down nimbly, landing right at his heels.
"You all can go on ahead, don't wait for ."
He was worried that Robert and his family might wait for him, but in truth, he had no idea how long his next task would take.
"After I see Miss Minnewick ho, I'll head straight back to St. George Avenue."
"Tsk~"
Jenkins heard his younger brother make a soft sound of disapproval.
Robert, in his formal attire, and Mary, in her evening gown, exchanged a look. Neither of them seed to have expected Jenkins to be so bold.
"Of course, dear. After all, your room at Maidenhaven Road isn't ready yet... Be careful. I an, be safe on the road. And don't forget to visit when you have ti. We'll be gone for a week. When we return, there are a few things I need to discuss with you."
Mary finished her last sentence with so hesitation, then leaned out of the carriage to give Jenkins, who stood on his tiptoes, a quick hug. The other two n in the carriage said their goodbyes in turn before instructing the coachman to proceed.
"You know, the air here is really quite awful."
Only after the carriage had completely vanished into the thick fog did the two of them speak again. Julia didn't ask why Jenkins had suddenly alighted, but instead waved a hand through the air as if trying to catch the intangible mist.
"It's a Nolan specialty. People have started calling it the 'City of Fog,' haven't they?"
"I'd heard about it before, I just never imagined it would be this severe."
The young woman shook her head, then turned to face Jenkins.
"Now, do you need to leave?"
She was remarkably perceptive. Though the night's events could easily make one mistake the man before her for a harmless, ordinary youth, Julia knew very well just how dangerous he truly was.
"Hmm..."
Jenkins's first instinct was to send Julia away. She was still only a level one Enchanter, and getting caught up in his affairs was incredibly risky.
But then a second thought struck him. He had only run into so acquaintances. It would be better to find out what was happening before deciding if Julia should stay or go. Besides, a royal maid might even prove to be helpful.
"I'm sorry, but do you happen to have so ti to spare?"
"Yes, I believe so. The royal family's dinners usually last late into the night."
She nodded lightly and positioned herself slightly behind Jenkins, showing no intention of prying into his business.
"That's good... Can you disguise your face?"
"Yes. The princess isn't permitted to show her face when she goes out. I'm quite skilled at altering my appearance."
Her thod wasn't a simple illusion cast with supernatural power. Looking into a small mirror, she first applied so basic costics to her face before using a simple illusion to complete the disguise.
The result, however, was far more convincing than most illusionary abilities. For the first ti in this world, Jenkins learned that a woman's skill with makeup was a formidable power in its own right.
After briefly explaining his connection to Mr. White Cat, Magic Miss, and Silver Flute Miss, Jenkins led Julia down the street, heading in the opposite direction to follow the trio.
They spoke as they walked, and Jenkins took the opportunity to warn her of the potential dangers.
"...If we run into any trouble, just use your lodestone to return to Shire City. I'll take care of things here..."
This was the main reason Jenkins felt comfortable letting Julia stay; he knew she had a reliable escape route.
"What might we encounter?"
Julia asked. Beside her, the man's body was flickering and distorting, finally settling into the form of a young man with a build similar to Jenkins's own. The cat's fur also began to shift, and without any prompting, it took on the appearance of a white cat. His new face was nowhere near as handso as his original, but the cat was just as adorable as always.
"Many things. Cultists, undead, aberrations, Cursed Items... If our luck is bad, we might even stumble upon so ancient evil that's been sealed for several epochs."
He wasn't trying to frighten his companion, only to ensure she was prepared.
Julia nodded silently, inwardly debating whether letting her princess grow closer to this man was truly a wise decision.
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