6 Volume 1: Chapter 5- Three More Mishaps Part 2

"Kalau begitu … kenapa … kau … di tempat tidur bersamaku" Dia langsung ke pokok permasalahan.

"Bukannya aku punya banyak pilihan, dengan kamu meraih lenganku dan tidak melepaskan apa pun yang kulakukan." Ren menjelaskan.

Reaksi Akjan agak menarik. Matanya terbuka lebar. Untuk sesaat Ren mengira dia melihatnya gemetaran. Detik berikutnya ia terbang dari tubuh Ren, kembali ke tempat tidur, dan bersembunyi di balik selimut. Suara tangisan keras dalam frustrasi bisa didengar. Rasa malu yang luar biasa terlihat jelas.

"Astaga, sekarang bagaimana?" Ren bergumam. Dia berdiri dari lantai dan duduk di tempat tidur dekat Akjan yang disembunyikan oleh penutup tempat tidur membuatnya terlihat seperti batu berbentuk humanoid yang aneh.

"Bagaimana aku bisa begitu ceroboh …?" Ren bisa mendengar bisikan Akjan dalam gerakan terisak.

"Jangan khawatir tentang itu; aku hanya senang kamu merasa lebih baik." Ren mengungkapkan pikirannya yang paling murni sambil berusaha mati-matian untuk menekan keinginannya untuk melarikan diri dari kamar.

"Hiks, hiks. Tentu saja aku merasa lebih baik!" Dia merentangkan salah satu tangannya dari bed cover. "Aku merasa sekuat pohon di bawah … aduh!" Sampul jatuh padanya, sekarang Ren bisa melihat dia memegang bahu kanannya, tempat dia terkena panah. Rupanya kerusakan itu tidak sembuh sepenuhnya.

"Kamu harus istirahat," kata Ren dengan suaranya yang paling welas asih.

Akjan berbaring di tempat tidur dengan punggungnya, mengeluarkan kepalanya dari selimut. Dia melihat ke arah Ren dengan ekspresi bingung. "Dia benar-benar peduli dengan kesejahteraanku!" Dia terkejut, dia tidak berpura-pura prihatin, dan dia benar-benar peduli. Tidak berlebihan untuk mengatakan ini adalah saat dia pertama kali merasakan kebaikan dari seseorang yang bukan dari klannya. Pertama kali iblis luar benar-benar peduli apakah dia merasa sakit atau terluka. Setan orang luar lainnya hanya tahu bagaimana cara menimbulkan rasa sakit dan penderitaan, tetapi dia … dia berbeda.

Dia menyelamatkannya … dan sekarang dia merawatnya. Rasa terima kasih yang dia rasakan dalam dirinya sangat meluap dari dalam dirinya. Air mata mulai mengalir dari matanya.

Ren pikir dia menangis karena kesakitan, jadi dia mencoba yang terbaik untuk menghiburnya.

"Maaf tentang ini, aku akan membawakanmu obat untuk melawan rasa sakit"

Akjan menatapnya dari sudut pandang berbeda.

"Tunggu sebentar, aku akan membawanya" Ren hendak pergi.

"Tunggu! Tolong tetap bersamaku!" Dia tanpa sadar mengatakan hal yang sama dengan yang dia katakan dalam tidurnya yang membuat Ren tersenyum canggung karena malu.

Ren menarik kursi dan duduk di dekat tempat tidur.

"Aku berharap kamu mendapat kesempatan untuk beristirahat dan mendapatkan kembali kekuatanmu setelah aku meninggalkan ruangan."

"Tapi ruangan itu akan tampak terlalu menakutkan tanpa kamu di dalamnya"

Respons Akjan membuat Ren agak bingung, tapi dia hanya setuju. Akjan di sisi lain malu untuk menanyakan ini padanya.

"Itu benar; itu akan kesepian, bukan?" Ren menjawab sambil tersenyum, tidak menyadari fakta bahwa Akjan merasa aman bersamanya.

Akjan menghadap ke arah Ren. Dia berpikir, "Sayang sekali aku tidak bisa tinggal bersamanya, aku ingin mencari tahu lebih banyak tentang dia." Dia sepenuhnya berniat untuk pergi begitu dia pulih karena mengetahui bahwa tidak ada keluarga yang mau menjadi tuan rumah anggota klan Tang.

"Agak menyedihkan aku tidak akan melihatmu lagi, bahkan jika kita baru saja bertemu," Akjan patuh tersenyum ketika dia mengatakan itu.

"Tunggu, mengapa kamu berbicara seperti kamu akan pergi?" Ren tiba-tiba berkata dengan emosi yang tidak diam-diam diharapkan dirasakannya. "Ini hanya masalah, tidak ada yang lain," bisiknya dalam benaknya.

"Aku harus pergi. Keluarga Kas akan mengejarku; aku tidak ingin membuat masalah untukmu …"

"Masalah? Akulah yang menggendongmu ke sini, jadi jika mereka datang, itu akan menjadi tanggung jawabku untuk menyapa mereka," kata Ren, sambil berpikir 'Dari mana keberanian seperti itu berasal, aku takut seumur hidupku berpikir bahwa ada adalah klan iblis lain yang ingin menyerang tempat ini. Tetapi saya harus membuatnya merasa aman; Aku memang menyebabkan musibah ini. Adalah tanggung jawab saya untuk memperbaikinya. Saya harap mereka cukup masuk akal untuk berbicara sambil minum teh … '

Namun di mata Akjan, bukannya terlihat seperti seorang pengecut yang ingin berbicara dengan musuh-musuhnya daripada melawan mereka, Ren tampak seperti pelindung tanpa rasa takut yang bahkan tidak takut dari klan Kas. Persepsinya tentang dirinya adalah kebalikan dari apa yang sebenarnya dia rasakan.

"Meski begitu, aku membayangkan pemimpin klan ini tidak ingin ada anggota klan Tang di sekitar …"

"Sebenarnya, dia bilang kamu bisa tinggal."

Responsnya butuh beberapa detik untuk menetap. Reaksinya luar biasa. Ren tidak menyadari ini sebelumnya, tetapi telinga Akjan terletak di bagian atas kepalanya, warnanya sama dengan rambutnya, jadi mereka menyatu dengan sempurna. Mereka besar dan seperti kucing, ditutupi bulu putih. Reaksi terkejutnya menghasilkan telinganya yang biasanya berbaring rendah untuk berdiri dengan waspada, sementara wajahnya berisi ekspresi yang sangat terkejut. Ekornya berdiri seperti tiang secara vertikal, hampir seperti tanda seru. Tanduk kristalnya berubah menjadi warna kuning.

Namun, yang paling mengejutkan adalah suaranya.

"APA?"

"Aku bilang kamu bisa tetap di sini," kata Ren setelah menunggunya tenang. Reaksinya agak aneh, hampir seolah-olah dia merasa aneh bahwa Tuan Korgan menawarkan tempat berteduh.

"Tapi aku hanya masalah! Tentunya tuanmu menyadari itu …"

"Dia tahu benar, itu sebabnya dia bilang kamu bisa tinggal. Jika kamu memilih itu," kata Ren dengan sikapnya yang paling tenang. Sejujurnya, setelah melihat reaksinya, dia ingin tertawa sesaat. Selama beberapa detik dia mengingatkannya pada kucing putih raksasa, bukannya iblis.

Dia menatap Ren dengan tak percaya. 'Seperti tuan seperti pelayan, bukan? Pelayan keluarga ini menyelamatkan hidupku dan tuan keluarga ini ingin melindungiku? Iblis luar biasa macam apa mereka? Saya tidak bisa mempercayainya! '

Matanya terbuka lebar dengan rahangnya sedikit terbuka, sambil bergumam, "Uhm, tapi, aku …" Dia berjuang untuk membentuk pikiran yang masuk akal.

"Aku mengerti bahwa kamu tidak berpikir bahwa iblis lain tidak akan menerima kamu, tetapi tuan rumah tangga ini mengatakan kepada kami bahwa tidak peduli apa pun jenisnya, iblis apa pun akan dilindungi di sini, dan itu termasuk kamu juga." Ren mengulurkan tangan padanya sambil duduk sambil berjabat tangan. "Aku juga mengerti bahwa klan yang mengejar kamu tidak memberimu pilihan tentang masalah ini, tetapi jika kamu tinggal di sini, itu akan keluar dari pilihanmu sendiri."

Akjan menatap wajah Ren. Wajah percaya diri yang dipenuhi dengan kasih sayang dan pemahaman alam mengisi hatinya dengan mudah. Makhluk yang kuat yang datang untuk memperbaiki kesalahan, begitu kuat, namun begitu lembut. Dia seperti semacam gangguan yang dengan keras kepala telah menemukan jalannya ke dalam kehidupannya dan ke dalam hatinya. Pada saat itu Akjan merasakan seolah-olah sesuatu dengan paksa meremas hatinya dan dia pikir dia merasakan dering bel di dalamnya, menyebarkan perasaan hangat ke seluruh tubuhnya. Matanya basah dan penuh air mata. Namun, setelah mendengar pernyataan Ren, dia tidak bisa menahan air mata mengalir di wajahnya.

Dia adalah penyelamatnya. Akhirnya dia datang …

Dengan setiap saat yang dia habiskan bersamanya, dia merasa seolah-olah terbebas dari rasa sakit masa lalunya.

Di matanya dia membayangkan dia sebagai pahlawan yang kuat dan kuat yang datang untuk menyelamatkannya. Kenyataannya dia sama sekali bukan itu.

Tentu saja, melihat Akjan menangis di depannya hanya membuat Ren berpikir bahwa dia entah bagaimana telah mengacaukannya. 'Oh tidak, dia menangis sekarang, apakah aku salah langkah? Saya harus bertindak alami atau emosinya dapat menyebabkan dia memandang saya sebagai musuh dan mencoba membunuh saya! Saya tahu pasti dari cengkeramannya bahwa dia setidaknya tiga kali lebih kuat dari saya! ' Dalam hati dia khawatir dia mungkin secara tidak sengaja membuat musuh keluar darinya.

Namun, yang mengejutkannya, Akjan meraih lengannya yang terentang dengan dua miliknya. Dia memeluk lengan Ren, hampir seperti bantal.

Ren berpikir, 'Tidak lagi!' Tapi dia tetap diam, membiarkannya bebas berpegangan pada lengannya. Yang dia rasakan adalah dia gemetaran. 'Marah? Apakah dia gemetaran karena marah? Saya harus mencari tahu! ' Dia mengulurkan tangannya yang lain dan menyentuh pipinya dengan telapak tangannya, dengan lembut membuatnya menghadapnya. "Tidak, dia tidak tampak marah," Ren menghela napas lega dalam benaknya.

Itu tidak bergetar karena marah, itu gemetar karena sukacita. Akjan dibanjiri sensasi kebahagiaan yang tidak pernah dirasakannya selama bertahun-tahun. Dan kemudian, ketika dia meletakkan telapak tangan kirinya di wajahnya, memalingkan kepalanya ke arahnya, dia berpikir bahwa mantra yang dia berikan padanya sudah lengkap. Dia mengkonfirmasi perasaannya sendiri – dia telah jatuh cinta padanya.

Dia pikir dia akan melakukan ciuman, jadi dia menutup matanya dan memutuskan untuk membiarkan bibir mereka bersentuhan. Ren agak tidak sadar mengapa Akjan memejamkan mata dan bersandar lebih dekat dan lebih dekat ke arahnya. Dia tidak bisa melihat bahwa dia mengharapkan ciuman.

Tentu saja itu tidak terjadi.

Sebelum bibir mereka bisa bersentuhan, sebuah buku besar melayang ke kepala Ren, menjatuhkannya ke tempat tidur tempat Akjan duduk. Kemudian diikuti oleh teriakan "APA YANG KAMU PIKIRKAN, KAMU LAKUKAN! Kau binatang!"

Ketika Ren mendapatkan kembali keseimbangannya, ia melihat pemandangan yang tidak asing. Seorang pelayan iblis yang ketat dengan rambut hijau dan ekspresi sangat marah ditambah dengan memerah malu.

"Aijasyl, apa yang kamu lakukan?" Tanya Ren tercengang, tidak menyadari bahwa ketika dia terbentur ke tempat tidur dia berakhir tepat di atas Akjan dengan tubuhnya ditopang oleh tangannya. Dia berada jauh di bawah lengannya, dengan seringai konyol di wajahnya. 'Ren sangat berani' adalah pikiran yang memenuhi kepalanya.

"Aku seharusnya menanyakan itu padamu!" Aijasyl menunjuk Ren memegang dirinya di atas Akjan dengan cara yang agak sugestif.

Ren baru menyadari posisi yang baru saja dia letakkan.

"Eh, ooh ow," katanya sambil tertawa malu pada dirinya sendiri. Dia terus turun dari Akjan berbisik, "Maaf …"

Dia turun dari tempat tidur. Aijasyl masih menatapnya dengan marah, tapi sekarang dia tampak lebih tenang.

"Aku hanya datang untuk memberitahumu untuk kembali ke tugasmu. Itu saja!" Dia segera meninggalkan ruangan.

"Benar, tugas panggilan," Ren buru-buru mengucapkan selamat tinggal kepada Akjan yang tampak agak kecewa dia meninggalkan ruangan. Dia harus memeriksanya nanti.

Ren keluar dari kamar dan menyusul Aijasyl yang sedang berjalan pergi.

"Aijasyl, tentang semalam …"

"Lupakan saja. Jangan pikirkan itu," katanya dengan tegang dan dingin. Dia masih merasakan permusuhan terhadapnya karena penampilan manusianya. Namun, ketika dia melihat dia akan mencium setan lain, dia tidak tahan melihatnya. Untuk beberapa alasan dia tidak tahan.

Dia hanya ingin menjaga jarak darinya.

"Kamu bisa mendapatkan instruksi untuk tugasmu berikutnya dari Shaula. Dia sedang menunggumu." Untuk sengaja menjauhkan diri darinya, dia telah meminta Shaula untuk menggantikan sebagai mentor Ren selama sehari.

"Oke," kata Ren dengan seringai konyol. Dia takut pada Aijasyl. Begitu takut sehingga dia berpikir dia mungkin ingin menghancurkannya jika dia mengatakan sesuatu yang salah.

Persis seperti ini, kehidupan sehari-hari di rumah Karatengu berlanjut.

Setelah dua hari istirahat, Akjan telah pulih dari cedera. Ren mengatakan bahwa bahkan dengan bantuan obat-obatan, kemampuan regeneratifnya paling mengesankan, untuk dapat bangkit kembali setelah tingkat kerusakan itu.

Akjan segera bertemu dengan kepala klan Karatengu, Korgan Karatengu, dan menyatakan keinginannya untuk bergabung dengan klan Tengu. Dengan demikian, anggota baru telah bergabung dengan klan Tengu. Anehnya, dia meminta bantuan dari Korgan, tanpa sepengetahuan orang lain, untuk bekerja dekat dengan Ren, yang diterima Korgan.

Sekarang dia sedang melakukan tugas dengan Ren yang pada gilirannya ditemani oleh Orin. Ketika Ren mendapat tugas, itu berarti dia tidak akan melakukannya sendirian tetapi dengan bantuan mereka berdua. Akjan dan Orin rukun dengan sangat baik, mengingat mereka mirip kucing dan kumbang raksasa.

Akjan memberi tahu Orin, "Aku senang sekali diizinkan bekerja dengan Ren, hampir seperti mimpi …"

"Aku setuju; bos adalah iblis yang layak diikuti." Orin menyatakan kesetiaannya sebagai seorang pejuang sementara Akjan tersesat dalam fantasi romantisnya. Orin melihat Ren sebagai pemimpin yang perhatian sementara Akjan melihatnya sebagai ksatria berbaju zirah. Kesan mereka tentang Ren di dalam pikiran mereka tidak menyerupai apa pun di dunia nyata.

Aijasyl terus bersikap dingin terhadap Ren, yang tidak disalahkan olehnya.

Hari-hari itu agak sama, setidaknya dari perspektif luar. Namun di dalam …

Saya agak sibuk saat ini. Rupanya Akjan tahu banyak hal seperti menyelinap ke dalam gedung, mencuri, dan membunuh dengan cepat. Saya tidak bisa mulai mengerti bagaimana dia tahu hal-hal seperti itu, tetapi saya agak senang dia ada di pihak kita.

Sejak saya bergabung dengan klan Tengu saya selalu ditugaskan dengan berbagai hal mulai dari membersihkan rumah hingga mengumpulkan tanaman untuk panen. Dapur adalah area 'tidak, tidak' bagi saya mempertimbangkan kekacauan yang saya buat dengan mencoba memodifikasi sup. Rupanya sup tidak seharusnya meledak ketika direbus, dan itu terutama karena saya salah mengira beberapa bahan, menciptakan bahaya mini. Aijasyl secara eksplisit melarang saya memasuki dapur tanpa ditemani.

Namun, dalam kasus Orin, dia adalah koki yang sangat kompeten. Dengan empat pisau yang digenggam secara bersamaan, dia akan mengiris bahan-bahan dengan kecepatan yang luar biasa. Saya diizinkan membantu di dapur, sebagai asisten Orin. Ketika kami berada di luar, saya yang paling bertanggung jawab, tetapi di dapur posisi kami terbalik. Sayangnya, satu-satunya hal yang saya boleh lakukan adalah mengupas sayuran, kebanyakan bawang.

"Kenapa aku selalu terjebak dengan bawang," aku mengerang ketika mataku dipenuhi air mata setelah beberapa kelembaban dari bawang akhirnya menyentuh mata saya. Merah dengan air mata, aku tampak menangis sedih.

"Wow, Ren. Kamu benar-benar menangis sambil mengupas sayuran. Membuatmu bertanya-tanya betapa kamu merasa menyesal telah melukai bawang." Kata Akjan menggoda. Dia menawarkan diri untuk membantu di dapur. Karena fakta bahwa dia tidak pandai menangani pisau, dia benar-benar tersentak ketika melihat mereka. Mungkin trauma atau tidak. Setelah melihat wajahnya pucat setelah melihat pisau pemotong besar saya memintanya untuk melakukan satu-satunya pekerjaan di dapur yang tidak melibatkan pisau – membersihkan piring. Dia ternyata sangat efektif dalam hal itu, kemungkinan besar karena telapak tangannya yang berbulu manis yang menyerupai cakar dengan lima digit. Itu agak lucu, saya mendapati diri saya membayangkan dia mengeong, tetapi bau bawang bombay membuat saya kembali ke kenyataan.

"Sangat lucu. Aku orang yang sensitif, tahu kan!" Kataku sambil berpura-pura menangis, menyeka mataku dengan lengan bajuku.

"Bos, apakah bawang siap?" Orin bertanya.

"Semuanya, hie hie, kupas," kataku sambil terisak karena mataku terasa agak asam. Bawang, aku benci bawang.

"Terima kasih," kata Orin sambil mengiris bawang dengan cepat menjadi potongan kecil.

"Wow, kamu benar-benar pandai memotong barang!" Aku berkata sambil memperhatikan dengan seksama bagaimana Orin dengan cepat mengubah bawang menjadi zat seperti pasta yang tidak dapat dikenali dengan memotongnya berkali-kali. Pemandangan yang menakjubkan untuk dilihat.

"Itu tidak ada yang istimewa, hanya keterampilan yang kamu ambil setelah memegang pedang begitu lama," Orin menjelaskan.

"Apakah ini benar-benar sama?" Akjan tiba-tiba bertanya.

"Pada prinsipnya ya. Keduanya hanyalah cara yang bertujuan untuk memotong sesuatu, baik itu kepala musuh atau sayuran." Orin berkata sambil tampaknya tidak menyadari dampak dari memvisualisasikan kata-katanya kepada saya. Aku bisa dengan jelas melihat dia mengamuk sambil mengiris kepala dengan duri tajamnya sendirian.

"Aku mengerti … Lalu kenapa …" Dia berkata dengan ragu-ragu sambil melihat dengan gugup pada empat pisau memasak besar yang dipegang oleh Orin. Dia sepertinya takut akan hal itu di atas segalanya, setidaknya begitulah aku melihatnya. Dia mencoba untuk berdiri sejauh mungkin antara dirinya dan pisau. 'Laki-laki sepertinya tidak akan membuatku ke mana pun untuk memintanya mengajari aku apa pun yang melibatkan pisau.'

"Jika itu masalahnya, mengapa aku tidak melihatmu menggunakan pedang, Orin?" Saya bertanya setelah menyadari kesalahan logika Orin.

Orin menoleh ke arahku dan tersenyum malu.

"Bukannya aku tidak menggunakan pedang, hanya saja mereka terus mengerem dengan mudah setiap kali aku membelinya. Selain itu, paku-pakuku sudah cukup untuk penggunaan pertempuran." Dia mengatakan itu sambil melenturkan lengan kanan bawahnya dari mana ukuran lonjakan panjang kaki saya sebentar menonjol sebelum tenggelam kembali ke lengannya. Rupanya itu adalah salah satu dari kemampuannya – tumbuh paku yang dapat diperpanjang yang sangat sulit. Namun kelemahan mereka adalah kenyataan bahwa mereka layu dan berubah menjadi debu saat mereka kehilangan kontak dengan tubuhnya, sehingga mereka tidak dapat digunakan sebagai senjata lempar.

"Saya melihat." Aku berkata berusaha untuk tidak mengingat saat aku hampir menjadi korban lonjakan menakutkan itu.

"Um, Ren, bisakah kamu memberitahuku siapa pelayan iblis berambut hijau itu?" Akjan bertanya.

"Oh. Itu Aijasyl. Dia … semacam … mentorku," kataku ragu-ragu. "Apakah kamu ingin meminta sesuatu darinya, atau sesuatu?" Tanyaku dengan ekspresi polos.

"Tidak, tidak, tidak seperti itu," kata Akjan sementara tanduknya berubah warna menjadi hijau. Dia memiliki tanduk teraneh yang pernah saya lihat, mereka terus berubah warna setiap kali saya berbicara dengannya. Anehnya, tidak ada hal seperti itu terjadi ketika dia berbicara dengan Orin atau orang lain. Mungkin itu berarti sinyal bahaya, jangan bilang dia pikir aku ancaman!

Aku dengan gugup menatap Akjan dengan keringat mengalir di wajahku. Dia tampak baik hati, tetapi bagaimana jika dia diam-diam mencoba membunuhku? Saya mendengar dari Orin bahwa ada setan yang disewa sebagai pembunuh dan kemampuan Akjan cocok dengan kriteria persis! Saya harus bertingkah santai. Santai … santai …

"Ren, kenapa kamu merebus lenganmu di dalam panci?" Akjan bertanya, melihat kurangnya reaksi Ren terhadap panci yang dipanaskan oleh kompor api di bawahnya dengan tangannya yang perlahan dimasak.

"Apa? Aduh!" Saya menarik tangan saya. Saya begitu sibuk dengan pikiran saya sehingga saya akhirnya melakukan sesuatu yang sangat bodoh.

"Bos, tolong jangan lakukan itu ketika aku benar-benar memasukkan bahan ke dalam panci, Nona Aijasyl dengan ketat meminta saya untuk melarang Anda bahkan menyentuh panci itu," kata Orin sambil tampak agak bingung tentang mengajari bosnya.

"Aku mengerti. Maaf," jawabku dengan ekspresi suram. Lalu aku berseru, "Sejak kapan kamu memanggilnya Lady Aijasyl? Bukankah Aijasyl baik-baik saja?"

"Dia adalah atasan atasanku. Aku merasa pantas setidaknya untuk memanggilnya Nyonya." Orin menjelaskan.

"Aku tidak mempertanyakan penilaianmu, tapi gelar itu hanya membuatnya tampak setidaknya sepuluh kali lebih keras daripada yang sudah ada dan dia sudah menjadi iblis paling keras yang aku tahu di sekitar sini!" Saya mengatakan pikiran saya sepenuhnya.

"Itu benar, dia memang terlihat sangat ketat." Akjan ikut.

Kami bertiga tertawa. Ya, itu adalah salah satu hal yang pasti dapat kami sepakati.

Kita semua menikmati kerja sama satu sama lain. Akjan terus mengawasi gerakanku. Aku benar-benar berharap dia bukan semacam pembunuh dengan niat untuk membuangku. Saya benar-benar berharap saya salah tentang penilaian saya terhadapnya.

Aku sama sekali tidak melihat Aijasyl, hanya berhasil melihatnya sekilas saat dia membawa pakaian yang sudah dicuci.

Hari yang damai perlahan berakhir. Saya sungguh berharap bahwa hari berikutnya tidak seperti skenario terburuk yang terus saya pikirkan. Tidak ada yang membunuh saya. Tidak ada yang ada di balik pintu kamarku.

(Ternyata, tanpa sepengetahuan Ren, seorang gadis berambut hijau berdiri di belakang pintu kamarnya dengan gaun tidurnya. Dia ragu-ragu untuk mengetuk pintu. Dia ingin meminta maaf, tetapi entah bagaimana tidak bisa membuat dirinya mengabaikannya sepenuhnya. kebencian bahkan jika itu tidak bisa dibenarkan.)

Keesokan harinya, Orin, Akjan, dan saya pergi melalui wilayah Karatengu untuk memantau apakah ada penyusup. Tugas untuk memantau sekeliling datang secara bergiliran dan ini adalah giliran kami untuk mengambil giliran kerja.

Kami melewati padang rumput. Ketika kami hendak kembali, kami menemukan apa yang tampaknya semacam bangkai aneh.

Orin menjelaskan, "Ini adalah kulit iblis kadal. Barang yang sangat langka. Laku sangat baik di pasar iblis."

Saya melihat kulitnya. Itu kosong di bagian dalam hampir seolah-olah itu ditumpahkan oleh penghuni sebelumnya. Kulitnya tertutup sisik yang tak terhitung jumlahnya dan berwarna hijau kekuning-kuningan.

"Apakah itu sangat berharga?" Aku bertanya pada Orin karena penasaran.

"Sangat, bos. Kulit iblis kadal sangat tangguh terhadap senjata apa pun; setidaknya sepuluh kali lebih keras daripada besi. Ia juga memiliki sifat tahan terhadap banyak mantra. Itu membuat baju besi yang sempurna." Orin melanjutkan dengan mengatakan. "Karena ini, klan iblis lain telah mulai memburu iblis kadal untuk mendapatkan kulit sebanyak mungkin."

Akjan sedang melihat apa yang tersisa dari iblis kadal dengan mata yang sangat sedih. 'Jadi ini adalah nasib yang jenis iblis harapkan satu sama lain.' Dia merasa agak sedih tentang hal itu. Di satu sisi, orang yang memiliki kulit itu mungkin diburu seperti dia, dan dia melihat dengan ngeri pada apa yang mungkin menjadi takdirnya jika Ren tidak campur tangan. Dalam benaknya dia berbisik, "Terima kasih, Ren."

"Memburu mereka? Apakah itu perlu?" Saya ingin mencari tahu.

"Memang. Kulit tidak bisa diperoleh tanpa membunuh iblis kadal." Orin dengan acuh tak acuh menjawab. "Kulit setan kadal yang ada di sini hanya bisa berarti satu hal – ada kelompok setan kadal di dekatnya."

"Kelompok? Bagaimana kamu bisa yakin tentang itu?"

"Setan kadal tidak pernah bepergian sendirian. Mereka selalu bepergian dalam paket. Mereka menyerbu wilayah Tengu. Kita harus menemukan mereka dan mengusir mereka." Orin berkata dengan ekspresi yang sedikit kasar.

"Apakah itu benar-benar perlu?" Akjan bertanya.

"Apa maksudmu? Mereka menginvasi wilayah klan tuan rumah kami, sehingga mereka hanya bisa memiliki niat jahat." Orin menjawab.

"Itu mungkin tidak benar!" Akjan memprotes.

"Di dunia ini, iblis bertahan hidup dengan memberi makan iblis lain. Itu adalah aturan yang tidak bisa disangkal." Orin bersikeras dalam pendapatnya.

Aku menoleh untuk melihat Orin dan Akjan berdebat, jadi aku memutuskan untuk meredakannya sebaik mungkin.

"Itu mungkin jalan iblis. Tapi tolong jangan lupakan cara Tengu Tuan Korgan." Kataku sambil tersenyum.

Keduanya mengerti maksud saya.

Orin berpikir, 'Dia benar, jalan Tengu lebih disukai daripada jalan iblis tua.'

Akjan berpikir 'Iblis yang memilih untuk melindungi iblis lain daripada membunuh, itu adalah cara Tengu.'

Keduanya terlihat agak malu bahkan mempertimbangkan kekerasan terhadap setan kadal tanpa alasan. Saya mencoba meredakan suasana canggung.

"Ngomong-ngomong. Kenapa setan kadal diburu? Apakah mereka dalam pelarian atau semacamnya?"

"Tepat seperti itu, bos. Setan kadal itu sebelumnya adalah bagian dari keluarga besar yang disebut klan Kesir, tetapi setelah kejatuhan keluarga mereka dipaksa untuk bersembunyi dari banyak musuh yang telah mereka kumpulkan."

"Musuh, katamu?"

"Karena sifat-sifat sisik, klan iblis lainnya ingin mendapatkannya, jadi mereka mulai memburu mereka." Orin cukup tahu tentang hal-hal ini.

"Orin, bagaimana kamu tahu banyak tentang setan kadal?" Saya bertanya.

"Sebagai seorang tentara bayaran, aku telah mendengar desas-desus yang tak terhitung jumlahnya tentang mereka. Aku juga melihat pedagang yang menjual kulit iblis kadal dengan harga yang sangat mahal." Orin menjelaskan.

"Aku mengerti, itu menjelaskan banyak hal." Aku menghela nafas. "Baiklah, kalau begitu mari kita mencari setan kadal, tetapi jika kita menemukannya, jangan biarkan mereka membahayakan, mari kita coba untuk menghindari konflik" Aku sebagian ingin menghindari konflik karena aku takut bahwa aku akan dengan mudah dibunuh jika Perjuangan pun terjadi. Setan yang sangat kuat seperti Orin dan Akjan dapat dengan mudah selamat dari perkelahian, tetapi dalam kasus saya peluang saya untuk bertahan hidup sangat kecil.

Orin dan Akjan tampaknya memiliki kesan lain tentang teman pengecut mereka. Mereka menganggapnya sebagai seseorang yang ingin menghindari pertumpahan darah yang tidak perlu. Alasan yang terhormat – kualitas yang sangat langka untuk dimiliki setan. Jadi pemimpin mereka benar-benar adalah jiwa yang mulia!

"Begitu. Lalu biarkan aku melacaknya, Ren," kata Akjan dengan senyum penuh pengertian di wajahnya. Saya tidak bisa mengatakan apa yang dia pikirkan, tetapi saya menerima kenyataan bahwa dia tersenyum sebagai pertanda baik. Untuk beberapa alasan dia hanya tersenyum ketika menyapa saya, tetapi dengan yang lain wajahnya sama sekali tidak memiliki ekspresi seolah-olah mereka nyaris tidak terlihat. Itu agak mengkhawatirkan saya karena fakta bahwa itu bisa menyiratkan dia menargetkan saya. Paranoia terbunuh dalam tidurku membuatku mengunci pintu setiap kali aku tidur, dan fakta bahwa aku mengira seseorang di luar pintu sama sekali tidak membantu. Mungkin saya benar-benar membayangkan hal-hal.

Tanpa sepengetahuan Ren, dia bukan target untuk pembunuhan tetapi karena cinta. Dia dengan cepat mengembangkan perasaan aneh untuk Tengu muda yang hanya bisa digambarkannya sebagai cinta. Dia tidak pernah merasakan cinta untuk siapa pun di luar klannya sendiri, jadi itu adil untuk mengatakan dia tidak berpengalaman dengan jenis emosi ini. Dia hanya tahu dia merasa lebih bahagia ketika dia berada di sekitar setan ini. Kehadirannya memberinya perasaan aman. Dia pergi bersamanya untuk berpatroli hanya karena dia akan bersamanya, kalau tidak dia tidak akan berani melangkah kaki di luar rumah Karatengu. Selama dia berada di dekatnya, dia merasa tidak ada yang salah. Dia adalah iblis yang lebih kuat darinya, dia bisa diandalkan untuk dilindungi. Dalam benaknya dia berdiri sebagai sosok yang kuat yang mampu memperbaiki kesalahan. Dia adalah alasan dia masih hidup saat ini, tidak diperbudak, dan bebas. Rasa takut yang dia rasakan, trauma masa lalunya tidak hilang, tetapi dengan Ren di dekatnya tidak ada yang penting. Dia hanya mengenalnya selama beberapa hari, tetapi dia tahu dalam hatinya bahwa dia tidak salah dengan evaluasinya. Dia adalah ksatria dalam baju besi yang bersinar.

Jika saja Ren tahu apa yang dipikirkannya saat ini, dia akan menyadari dia melihatnya dalam kebalikan dari kenyataan, yang akan membuatnya tertawa pada absurditas memvisualisasikannya dengan cara yang kuat. Lagi pula, dari mereka bertiga, Ren adalah yang terlemah.

Tentu saja Ren tidak bisa membaca pikirannya untuk memastikan.

"Tunggu, kamu bisa melakukan itu?" Saya bertanya dengan bingung.

"Aroma pada bangkai tidak salah lagi. Aku bisa mencium sejumlah setan yang memiliki bau yang mirip dengannya." Akjan menghirup udara, lalu dia memberi isyarat kepada kami. "Ikuti aku."

Orin dan aku tidak bisa mencium bau apa pun dari bangkai, jadi kami tidak punya pilihan selain mengikuti jejak Akjan. Kami berjalan cukup jauh sebelum kami mencapai lokasi setan kadal.

Pemandangannya agak aneh. Ada banyak tanaman jeruk runcing tinggi di mana-mana. Lapisan pertama mengaburkan pandangan kami, jadi Orin harus memotongnya agar kami bisa masuk. Rupanya itu secara khusus dibuat sebagai kamuflase untuk membuat orang luar berpikir tidak ada di belakangnya. Namun Akjan bersikeras bahwa ada aroma yang datang dari belakang tanaman jeruk.

Ketika kami masuk, kami melihat banyak setan kadal di atas batu di bawah matahari. Ada beberapa telur di sana juga.

Rupanya pintu tanaman oranye memiliki alarm tersembunyi di dalamnya, karena saat kami masuk kami disambut oleh setan kadal yang memegang tombak.

Mereka mengarahkan tombak mereka pada kami dengan mengancam. Orin tumbuh paku dari keempat tangannya mempersiapkan untuk berkelahi. Akjan mengulurkan cakarnya di lengan kirinya dengan masing-masing bersinar dengan cahaya putih. Hanya saya yang berdiri di sana, menatap setan kadal dengan ekspresi ketakutan yang membeku.

"Penyusup! Kamu tidak diterima di sini!" Salah satu dari lima penjaga iblis kadal berteriak.

"Kami tidak peduli seberapa kuat dirimu, kami tidak akan membiarkanmu membunuh kami! Kami akan menghancurkanmu sebagai gantinya" Setan kadal lain berteriak dalam geraman yang mengerikan.

Mereka semua kecuali aku siap untuk bertarung. Aku sudah tahu apa yang mampu dilakukan Orin; jika aku membiarkannya bertarung itu akan menjadi pembantaian yang tidak perlu. Di sisi lain, setan kadal terlihat agak mengancam.

Setan kadal itu mengenakan pakaian biasa dengan tidak banyak sulaman. Mereka kebanyakan celana, dengan kulit bersisik terbuka. Beberapa dari mereka bersembunyi di beberapa warna hijau, sementara beberapa berwarna kekuningan. Aku tidak yakin variasi macam apa yang ada di antara mereka, tapi tanpa ragu, tidak ada satupun kadal iblis yang terlihat sama. Mereka semua memiliki taring dan cakar yang sangat tajam, dan beberapa memiliki sisik dengan tonjolan tajam yang membuat mereka terlihat lebih mengancam. Tubuh mereka terlihat tidak terlalu kuat, dari tubuh mereka yang dengan jelas menunjukkan tulang rusuk mereka, aku tahu mereka kelaparan. Namun, lengan berotot mereka masih setebal batang kayu. Tidak diragukan lagi, mereka sangat kuat.

"Ayo!" Rupanya Orin benar-benar lupa dengan apa yang saya minta darinya. Dia membuat gerakan dengan kepala dimiringkan ke belakang. Bola hitam yang familier mulai terbentuk di dasar tanduknya. Oh tidak, dia akan meledakkan mereka!

Setan kadal juga tidak bergerak. Salah satu iblis kadal melanjutkan untuk berdiri kaku sejenak sebelum kulitnya berubah warna dari hijau menjadi merah. Uap mulai keluar dari tubuhnya. Dia adalah pengguna api. Lengan iblis kadal lain menjadi tertutup daun dan tanaman merambat, penutupnya menyerupai sarung tangan. Rupanya dia adalah seorang hand-hand combater. Kulit yang ketiga berubah sepenuhnya putih, tanah tempat dia berdiri menjadi tertutup es. Dia adalah pengguna es. Dua lainnya tampaknya tidak memiliki kemampuan khusus karena mereka hanya berdiri di sana bersiap untuk mencegat kami dengan tombak mereka.

Pada tingkat ini, akan ada korban di kedua sisi. Dan dengan korban saya maksud saya!

"Tunggu! Semuanya tenang!" Saya mengangkat tangan ke atas untuk menunjukkan fakta bahwa saya bukan ancaman bagi mereka. "Kami tidak datang ke sini untuk bertarung."

Lima setan kadal masih berjaga-jaga, tetapi mereka tidak menurunkan penjagaan mereka. Setan kadal putih menjawab saya.

"Lalu kenapa kamu datang ke sini, orang luar" Suara itu, itu pasti milik seorang wanita. Aku tidak tahu dari penampilan mereka, tetapi dari suaranya aku samar-samar bisa membedakan jenis kelamin kadal iblis ini.

"Kami di sini berpatroli sebagai anggota rumah tangga Tengu yang memiliki tanah ini. Kami tidak berharap mendapat tamu di sini. Bolehkah kami berbicara dengan pemimpin Anda tanpa konflik?" Saya bertanya.

Setan kadal putih membisikkan sesuatu pada empat lainnya, mereka bertengkar kecil. Setelah itu mereka membuat keputusan.

Kata iblis kadal putih.

"Aku adalah pemimpin suku ini, Sukesir. Berhati-hatilah, segala upaya yang kami anggap sebagai ancaman terhadap kami akan ditangani dengan eksekusi cepat. Jika Anda ingin berbicara dengan damai, minta sekutu Anda menjatuhkan senjata, kami akan melakukannya juga "Dia agak bersikeras dengan persyaratannya.

Aku memberi isyarat ke arah Orin dan Akjan dengan kepalaku. Orin menarik paku dan bola hitam di dekat tanduknya menghilang. Cakar Akjan di tangan kirinya kembali ke ukuran normal, tidak lagi bersinar, namun dia masih tampak tegang. Keduanya berpikir, 'Ren, apa yang kamu lakukan?'

Setelah melihat bahwa Orin dan Akjan tidak lagi dipersenjatai, keempat setan kadal itu meletakkan tombak mereka, masih mengawasi musuh-musuh mereka dengan mata yang tajam. Sisik kadal iblis putih berubah kembali menjadi hijau. Dia tidak lagi memancarkan aura es. Dia berjongkok di tanah. Dia tampaknya siap untuk pembicaraan damai. Saya mengikuti setelan itu dengan duduk dengan cara yang sama di depannya. Tampaknya itu adalah cara yang tepat untuk melakukan diskusi damai.

"Kalau begitu mari kita mulai. Apa identitasmu? Kenapa kamu ada di sini?" Dia bertanya kepadaku dengan tegas.

"Namaku Ren Tengu. Untuk alasan aku di sini, aku bisa menanyakan pertanyaan yang sama, mengapa kamu ada di sini? Ini adalah wilayah keluarga Karatengu. Mengapa kamu diganggu di sini?" Tanyaku sambil bersikap sopan. Saya tidak ingin mereka menganggap saya sebagai ancaman dan mencoba melenyapkan saya. The four lizard demons behind Sukesir, preparing to grab their weapons from the ground and attack right at the moment I look suspicious or pose a threat to them.

"We don't have a choice. We prioritize our survival above all else. We have to hide ourselves from the sights of the major families that hunt us for sport and our scales." Sukesir looked at me with a sad expression. "We will not go anywhere even if you try to force us. We will rather fight you rather than risk being prey to Major families."

Apparently talking them to leave was not going to happen.

"I see. Then would you like to join our clan instead?" I asked.

The lizard demons behind Sukesir were shocked, such a proposal out of the blue. Sukesir's eyes narrowed to slits. She seemed slightly angry for some reason.

"Have you made a deal with the major families in order to trick us? Do we look like fools to you?"

"Of course not, I am not even sure I know much about major families. I swear upon my name, my intentions bear no ill towards you or your people."

The four lizard demons whispered something in Sukesir's ears.

Behind me, Akjan said in a soft voice "Ren, why did you ask them this? What are you thinking?"

"Relax; I know what I am doing." Seolah-olah! If she knew I didn't have the first clue how to diffuse this terrible situation then she and Orin will see me as incompetent. Worse, if they come to conclusion that fight is inevitable, they will cause a large scale conflict that will surely kill me! This was mostly about self-preservation on my part.

"If you have no vile intentions against us, what do you seek to gain from us?" Sukesir asked. She focused her eyes upon me, trying to discern my trustworthiness.

"Well, our clan's motto is to protect and nurture any demon, no matter who it is. You might not believe me, but that is the rule made by the head of the household. That is the truth." I focused my eyes upon Sukesir's eyes, not backing away; otherwise she would think I am trying to deceive her.

"You are telling the truth, I can tell from your heartbeat." She said calmly. "Our tribe values fairness, so in this case if you are offering shelter to us, we are obliged to give something in return."

"I don't know. I suppose you guys can help raise crops in the fields… Wait, why there are lizard demon corpses everywhere? Don't tell me… you…have you by any chance resorted to cannibalism?" I asked after seeing many carcasses of the lizard demons covering the field.

"Of course not. Those are not corpses. We lizard demons shed our skins once every full moon. It's a natural process." Sukesir explained. "We are not savages like the major families that would feed upon their own in desperate times; we would rather take our own lives than commit such an atrocity!"

I may have hit a bad mark. She was glaring at me almost furiously. I need to think of something very soon or Sukesir will call off the negotiations.

"In that case, how about this. The Karatengu family will allow you to join it, in exchange for working the fields and donating the skins you shed every month." That was the best I could think off.

Sukesir thought of this for a moment. Lizard demons had not value for their shed skins; they were off no use to them. If they accepted this deal it would be like as if they are allowed to join without any disadvantages! The terms this young demon has proposed were more than acceptable. At this moment anyone offering such a deal could be considered a miracle.

Sukesir turned around and whispered something with her four companions. I couldn't hear it very well.

Then, she turned towards me.

"We choose to accept your proposition, but be warned, if we perceive any vileness in your intentions or you try to harm us in any way, we will end your life on the spot."

"Sounds fair to me. On my part, I would expect you to treat the other clan members well, in Tengu clan cooperation and amity is a must." I replied with a firm tone. I wasn't going to show weakness while talking even though every fiber of my body and soul was screaming from fear.

"Then we have reached an agreement" Sukesir extended her left hand.

She was waiting for a handshake. It took me a moment to realize it.

Slowly I extended my hand. Unexpectedly, she grabbed my left hand with her left hand. A silver glow appeared between our interlocked hands.

"I have placed the spell of promise upon both of us; now neither one of us can deceive the other without dying." Sukesir explained.

"Rather over cautious way if you ask me." I said with rather amused tone.

"These are hard times for my people, we can't risk being deceived."

"I understand. Well then, if you and your tribe would be kind enough to follow us, that would be most welcome."

Sukesir stood up and pointed her snout towards the sky. Then she emitted a sound I could most accurately describe as metal hitting metal at a very past pace. It was rather painful to hear.

After she finished her guttural sound, she turned back towards us.

"I have informed every lizard demon of my village. All of us will follow you. Please show us the way."

"With pleasure!" I said while inwardly wondering what Master Korgan would think about a horde of Lizard demons joining the Tengu clan. I can imagine the shocked expression on old man's face when he finds out.

I, Orin, and Akjan were walking in front, leading the way. The lizard demons were following us at our pace. There were so many of them.

"How many of them are there?" I asked my companions in a soft spoken voice to prevent being overheard.

"Approximately around fifty, but most very few of them are warriors, others seem far weaker." Akjan replied.

"How exactly did you count all of them so fast?"

"I took my time while you were having a discussion with their leader; after all there wasn't much else to do but wait for you to handle it, right?" Akjan said playfully with her left eye winking at me. I found myself somewhat embarrassed. I did say I was going to handle the situation, but it seems like the situation has handled me instead.

"Boss, what exactly do you hope to accomplish by recruiting the lizard demons into the Tengu clan? Aren't you suspicious of their intentions?"

"Even with that considered, this was the best possible way." I replied with a sulky expression.

Orin completely misinterpreted Ren's intentions. 'I see, keep your friends close, but your enemies close, huh. A brilliant strategy!'

Just like that, the trio led a horde of lizard demons towards Karatengu mansion.

Meanwhile, Korgan Karatengu sat at the porch of his residence, smoking a pipe. Just like the smoke that disappears moments after being blown, so has life and his loved ones have vanished without a trace.

While he could find a degree of consolation by watching the growth of likes of Aijasyl and younglings, it no longer bore a meaning to him, after all he couldn't even protect the ones he cherished the most. He saw himself as a failure of a husband, protector, and a father. His wife died at the hands of human beings. Omir lost his life in battle with Phoenix clan. And his last son, Ymit disappeared without a trace, never to be seen again. The cruel reality is that all of them have passed on, leaving him behind to lead his purposeless days in complete loneliness.

He was an old man far past his prime. Now, none of the actions he might take bore any significance. His ambitions have died with his family, now he had nothing to live for.

Korgan considered going towards the faraway mountain and ending his life there, in the place he met his wife, the one location he considered the most beautiful and most precious. One of these days, he would have his wish fulfilled. Until then, he has to make sure Tengu clan can fare well with him gone. None was worthy of becoming the leader of the clan, none showed much progress. Aijasyl seemed like a suitable candidate to be in charge of Tengu clan, but scars of the past don't heal so easily. The trauma inflicted upon her by human beings showed itself at most unfortunate times.

In the worst case scenario, Korgan would have to ask his old friend, Akil Ras, the current Demon King to take the Tengu clan members under his wing. Akil Ras and Korgan were old comrades from way back, although they haven't kept in touch for a long time due to Korgan suffering grief for years and Akil Ras choosing to leave his friend in peace. As such, Korgan was unaware of Akil Ras's relationships and vice versa.

Korgan looked up at the sky. 'Such beautiful moons! One red, one blue, and one white, just like the old battle we fought in.' He raised his pipe with his only hand and stared lovingly at the sky. He wondered whether his loved ones are watching over him from above.

'Hrst, hrst, hrst, hrst…'without a doubt a sound of footsteps. Many footsteps. Almost like an army had appeared out of nowhere. Korgan was immediately alarmed after hearing the noise of the footsteps and sensing the demons walking towards the Karatengu mansion.

Korgan then saw large number of lizard demons walking in plain sight towards him. He briefly considered unleashing his spiritual form and attacking them head on until he saw a familiar face waving at him.

Without a doubt, it was that boy.

Ren Tengu along with Akjan and Orin was leading the lizard demons towards the Karatengu mansion.

"Master Korgan! Please come out, we have guests!" Ren was shouting on top of his lungs.

Korgan could only stare with astonishment at young Tengu's actions. He left less than half a day ago and now he returned with an army. 'How exactly does this kid's brain work? I hope he has a big explanation for this!' Even with such thoughts, Korgan was still overwhelmed by surprise at seeing so many lizard demons come all at once. So much surprise in fact, that he had his mouth open with wide eyed expression until Ren along with lizard demons have stood directly in front of him.

"Worry not, Master Korgan, I can explain everything!" I went into a detailed explanation of how we encountered the lizard demons and how I have invited them to join the Tengu clan. I half expected Master Korgan to shout at me or punch me, but he was listening to my explanation attentively, paying attention to smallest details. When I mentioned that I and Sukesir were bound by spell of promise, he frowned a little but it seemed like he was not going to over react. I told him of the deal I proposed and that lizard demons accepted it, and the fact that it would allow more workers to handle the fields considering we had too much work and not enough staff. After I finished my explanation, he stood up and faced the lizard demons.

"Greetings, my name is Korgan Karatengu, master of Karatengu and Tengu clans."

All of the lizard demons sat down and made a courteous bow.

"If you choose, you are welcome to join the Tengu clan. If you do, you shall be under my protection. I promise to protect every single demon under my wing."

Lizard demons looked at him with reverence and respect.

"However, as stated in terms of our agreement, you shall be addressing me as Master Korgan and you shall without any exception treat fellow clan members well. Tengu clan follows the way of protecting any demon, regardless of the type. So if you have any grudges against a fellow demon, I suggest you make amends. The terms of your service and jobs you will partake will be handled by Tengu clan's finest and myself."

He raised his left hand into the air in a grandiose manner.

"Fear not, in here you shall find shelter, safety, and protection. That I will guarantee as long as I live. If you feel mistreated or have any complaints, feel free to ask for help from Tengu clan members or myself." Korgan was a masterful orator, not surprising considering he was the one of the leaders of Demon army back in the day.

The lizard demons stood up from their bowing positions.

The one in front, whom Ren named Sukesir, made a hand sign of respect to Korgan, the motion which was copied by every single lizard demon.

"Then, we shall declare our loyalty to you, Master Korgan and Tengu clan!"

Sukesir's words echoed as each and every lizard demon declared their loyalty. It was a very loud event.

Korgan found the lizard demons a place to rest. Due to the large number of lizard demons, mansion couldn't even fit them even though it was size of a castle, so encampments had to be set outside the mansion to accommodate the new Tengu clan members.

As the lizard demons began to dissipate, going towards multiple locations to find a place to sleep, Korgan and Ren were having a rather interesting conversation.

"Master Korgan, I was…"

"I understand your intention, Ren. You couldn't have avoided conflict otherwise and had we attacked them we surely would have suffered losses against their numbers, so I am rather glad you have resolved it like this. Yet, I have to admit that you did shock me, youngling."

"Sorry about that, Master"

"Think nothing of it, young one."

"I am surprised, Master, I expected you to get angry at me for doing this."

"Why would I be angry at a young demon trying his best to protect his clan and even making his enemy into his subordinates? In fact, I consider it a brilliant plan! You have done a terrific job, so there is nothing to be sad about. Of course, now there will be matter of assigning jobs to them, but with amount of force needed right now for the harvest, that is hardly going to be a problem."

"I see, thanks Master Korgan" I replied with a beaming smile.

Korgan looked at Ren with a slight shock at his smile. Just then, his smile seemed extremely familiar for some reason, but Korgan couldn't place it from his memory.

'Maybe I am overthinking things.' Korgan caressed his beard with his left hand as he was thinking. The feeling of familiarity didn't leave him completely.

Next days that followed were rather fruitful.

Lizard demons were guided by the senior members of Tengu clans on how to harvest the crops. I was one of the demonstrators of how to use a scythe.

I swung the scythe around, showing how to cut grass and put it into stacks.

"Boss, would you like me to show them how to get rid of Jilan snakes? Or would you like the honor yourself…" Orin didn't even finish before getting a panic reaction out of Ren who proceeded to run and hide behind one of the lizard demons.

It turns out most of the lizard demons that joined the Tengu clan are very young, so they were slightly shorter than Orin and their grown counterparts, but they still were half a foot taller than Ren who was desperately hiding behind them after hearing a terrifying word.

"Please don't mention them, I am really begging you!" I said with an expression of absolute terror. I had enough of Jilan Snakes to last me a lifetime.

"Orin, how about you demonstrate it to them, I mean you can wield four scythes at the same time!"

Orin proudly stood tall. "As you wish boss, consider the lesson on teaching scythe wielding to be done!" He lifted a scythe with each hand, and then posed in a rather bombastic fashion in front of lizard demons. He definitely was showing off his skills. I decided to ignore what I just saw in favor of just planting seeds.

With more and more lizard demons helping around with work, the daily workload was much less.

Aijasyl was eagerly teaching the lizard demons the steps in tending to the mansion and the orchard. At least she looks happier than before. The atmosphere between us got very awkward very quickly. She avoided my glance every time I tried to talk to her. I think she is giving me the silent treatment. Orin told me not to worry about it, something about female demons being territorial… I didn't understand what he was getting at, so I just nodded in agreement.

I chose to quickly ignore the weird mixed feelings about Aijasyl and focus on showing the lizard demons the proper ways of plowing the field. I have been a member of Tengu mansion for two months by now, so I am pretty much used to the workload. The lizard demons on the other hand knew nothing of the farming of crops, apparently they relied on hunting and fishing rather than growing plants, but they still were able to consume plant based foods. Sukesir kept a close eye on me, without a doubt so that I would see my end of the agreement through. That was the whole reason that I volunteered to show the lizard demons how to handle the equipment, so that I would not raise suspicion. Maybe I am overreacting; Sukesir seems rather tame for a lizard demon that placed a contract spell on me that will kill me if she suspects I betrayed her. Yes, 'tame' is the right word. She seemed genuinely curious about the fieldwork for some reason, apparently it was something new for her and for the rest of her kin.

As promised the lizard demons were fed and given shelters. As their de facto leader, Sukesir reported any events on lizard demons to Master Korgan, and sometimes to me because she thought I was in charge of looking after lizard demons. I could not deny her; after all denying her would have been fatal. This is why now I am the one in charge of assimilating the lizard demons to the Tengu clan, making me their de facto supervisor. Orin helped me this as well. He was rather great at demonstrating weapon usage and how most mundane item can be turned into a deadliest device. Thanks Great Ones he no longer was my enemy, or I would have been dead in no time.

As for Akjan, she seemed more distant than usual. She seemed fine when she was near me, but when she looked upon the lizard demons working alongside the Tengu family she seemed to be rather lost in trance.

As she watched the lizard demons, Akjan could not stop but wish that her family was here as well. Unfortunately they still were captive of Kas family. But if they could be rescued, then surely with such a generous head of the family like Master Korgan, being admitted to Tengu household is not a lost possibility. She already knew where the captives were held. She spent the time after healing to fully gather her strength. While healing her body regenerated the damages upon her body, she was very much depleted of energy and being struck upon the portion of her body responsible for gathering spiritual energy within her didn't help matters. She spent the last days regenerating her lost powers, her soul power, the ability that every living creature possessed and could enhance with training. After getting injured her soul power dispersed making her weaker than normal, but now she has gathered enough strength in her body to be able to manifest her magical aura. She was a Brass ranked demon after all. She was stronger than a normal, untrained demon and she had the power to prove it.

The rankings from increasing power for mortals were Earth, Stone, Brass, Copper, Iron, Bronze, and Silver. There were of course powerful demons in history that ranked far higher than this, but currently the strongest demon, the Demon King was the highest ranked, Silver ranked demon. Many demons saw him as a role model for growth and enlightenment.

She has finally regained her soul power, now she can sneak into the Kas family territory and allow her family to escape. She was sure she could do it. She hoped Ren would be willing to extend the hospitality of Tengu clan to include her family as well, after seeing him recruit the lizard demons she felt that without a doubt Ren would understand.

That is why, after the third day of training the lizard demons, Akjan proceeded to sneak away from the Karatengu territory towards the Kas clan border. She disguised herself in dark robes, and the only hint of her identity were her large cat-like ears whose prominent outline was visible from outside the cloak she was wearing and the white hair that could be somewhat visible. She chose to sneak away at night in order to not draw too much attention to her and partially in order to catch the Kas clan by surprise. Even if they far outnumbered her, her special ability is to be able to lurk into the darkness and hide her presence. That is why she was able to survive for two months of being chased by Kas family, whenever she found someone searching for her, she used her skill to sneak behind them and quickly kill them. Of course it is only effective on weaker demons. Demons of higher level could detect her presence if she approached to close to them.

Her goals were clear-to get to the prison cells within the Kas territory and free her people. She hasn't seen them for two months so she was confident that they didn't have enough time to make the Tang clansmen go to another location. She was sure they would still be there, waiting to regain their freedom. They told her to forget about them and focus on surviving, but she could not do that, she just could not.

Unknown to Akjan, Ren who had noticed from earlier on that she was acting strange had managed to follow her.

Ren didn't know what to expect. "Did Akjan betray them? No, it can't be! Is my judgment of character really so poor? What was I thinking, trusting a demon I met just recently! She could be an assassin out to get the Tengu clan, and it would be my fault for letting her in! I just need to follow her to find out."

It was strange; Ren could barely feel Akjan's presence. It was as if she almost completely erased her presence. Ren was only able to follow her by following her sound and occasional sight of outline her cat-like ears. She was rather good at this, almost like an expert at sneaking away without any trace. Ren tried to imitate her soundless travel without much success. The only reason she did not see him was because she was too focused on what was ahead of her instead of seeing anyone following her. Akjan assumed that none was following her.

It was quite a long journey. Ren originally thought that Akjan would stop at some point to rest, but she did not, she continued on. 'What a monster she is! How can she not be exhausted? We have almost crossed the Karatengu territory; does she intend to get out of the border? What could she be thinking?' Ren pondered after following Akjan for miles. She entered the fields. Ren followed the suit.

Because of the dense plant growth he was only able to hear her rustle the tall grasses. And then, the sound stopped. Alarmed, Ren kept moving forward and ended up exiting the field. Now it was obvious why the sounds of grass being stepped on have stopped, Akjan had exited the field.

When he raised his head he managed to catch a glimpse of Akjan running away in direction of a river. The river was illuminated by three moons giving it rather light green color in contrast to reddish color it had during the day.

The river began on the side of the mountain. "Don't tell me she plans to cross the mountain?"

Ren's suspicion was confirmed when Akjan came towards the side of the mountain where the river was flowing. Yet, instead of climbing the mountain, she put her arm out to get it wet from the river flowing down below, then she pressed her arm upon the mountain side.

Suddenly, her arm along with her entire body was swallowed into the mountain.

"What was that?" Ren said out loud after watching how a mountain ate Akjan. "No, mountains are not carnivorous, or are they? I will ask Shaula when I get back." He approached the side of the mountain where Akjan was minutes before. He touched the side of the mountain upon which she pressed her hand.

Nothing happened. It was just a solid clump of earth combined with other clumps to make a giant mountain. It wasn't swallowing me.

"Right, she did this!" Ren dipped his left arm in water from the river and put it upon the earth of the mountain. Almost as if reacting to an earthquake, ripples started appearing on the side of the mountain where he has put his water soaked hand. The ripples proceeded to swallow Ren whole.

Strangely, Ren didn't feel any discomfort, just a feeling of being pulled forward. Yet, he could see himself passing through the inside of the mountain almost as if he was an intangible ghost.

It continued on for a couple of seconds before his extended hand had reached the other side of the mountain. Then all of his body was thrown out from the other side.

Ren was thrown out rather unexpectedly. He ended up falling down. He stood back while dusting himself off. Apparently this was a secret magical passageway through the mountain. He was on the other side now, so that means Akjan is here as well.

Ren looked forward and the sight surprised him. It was a small town. Several stone buildings with spiked roofs and strange looking triangular doors. Yet, the strangest thing was none seemed to be there. The town was as quiet as the wind going through it, almost as if it was a ghost town.

Ren took a closer look at the buildings, some of the doors were open, some broken, and some even had slight damages to them. One house was missing the right side of its wall, with a giant gap where the wall should have been. When Ren approached closer he realized that there were many pieces of wood and debris everywhere on the ground. Then a twisted piece of metal that looks so much like…

Ren picked it up. A sword or at least what was left of it.

This is the site of a battle. What could have happened here?

It was clear there was some sort of struggle in this location. Ren managed to encounter several skeletons that without a doubt belonged to demons. After all, having horns on the skull was a definite proof.

Ren walked through this town while looking at it with astonished gaze. The town was deserted and was completely empty. Unlike the lively place that he saw at the market place, this was the truest meaning of desolation and gloom. Almost like a grave.

When Ren approached a certain building, he heard some kind of noise. Sob, sob, sob… Ren chose to follow that sound. It was coming from the underground basement connected to that building from the outside. The entrance was open, so Ren proceeded to enter it. Instead of being dark like he expected, Ren found himself in an underground room illuminated by shining rocks. He kept walking through the hallway.

He then stumbled upon a certain room. Nothing was special about it except for the fact that it had bars and chains within it. Underneath them were skeletal remains of what Ren assumed to be prisoners. On the wall, there were numerous crystal protrusions. Countless of them.

And in the center of the room was Akjan, upon her knees. Crying. 'It was her voice that led me here.' Ren thought.

Ren approached her. She was weeping, tears flowing from her face, while shuddering. Ren wasn't sure for the reason why. He could not imagine what could cause someone with her strong mind to break down in such a way. From the time he has met her she seemed to be so strong, so stoic, and in a way somewhat admirable. But now the mental image of her as a powerful demon was shattered within Ren's mind.

"Akjan."

She turned to look at him. What he saw made his heart cringe. Her face was overflowing with tears nonstop, her eyes seemed red, and Ren could tell she was not faking it from the expression on her face. Something in her seemed broken.

"Ren." She whispered.

Ren came closer. He put her hand behind her back.

"Akjan, could you please explain what is going on here…" Ren didn't get to finish. Akjan extended her hand meekly, pointing at a wall with crystal protrusions. There were so many of them. Ren wasn't sure what was so important about them until he took a look at Akjan's horns.

The crystal protrusions on the wall, no way, they looked exactly like Akjan's horns, except they were not radiating with the emotions, instead staying in constant shade of white.

These are horns of demons. The demons of the same kind as Akjan. The disembodied horns of demons were attached to the wall in full display of the cruel nature of fate that has befallen the owners of those horns.

She did mention her family was enslaved, but if their horns are cut off and put on the wall, does that mean…

"They are all dead, Ren." Akjan said weakly, all the energy and courage she has gathered seemed to be gone. Now her horn was colored deep crimson. "Every single one of is …aaaauauauh" She began crying into her hands.

It was one of the most horrifying sounds Ren has ever heard, Akjan crying, it was so gut wrenching. He knew he must do something right here right now. Anything was fine, right now only he could do something, otherwise Ren felt that something ominous might happen.

Akjan looked at Ren with a desperate expression. Her eyes seemed to be going mad; Ren was worried of what was coming next. 'Please don't kill me' Ren thought, he was worried that in her weakened emotional state Akjan might go in a killing frenzy just like Aijasyl did back at the Karatengu mansion.

"Ren, please end me. I no longer have a purpose left to live. This is it for me." She looked at Ren who was horrified of the proposition. "Please, just do it."

"No way, I am not doing that! No purpose left to live? Why would you say that?" Ren was angry at Akjan for even suggesting such a thing. He could understand why she would feel this way, but he wasn't going to accept it. 'No way, I will not let her die, not after I got to know her.'

"My clan is gone, my loved ones are gone, and now what was left of my family is now gone. I no longer have a reason to even think of freeing them anymore."

"Then why?"

"Don't you see? I don't want to feel this, this pain, it's too unbearable! I just want to end it, once and for all!"

"Me killing you will not will not solve anything!"

"In that case, I will just…" Akjan took out a knife from her sleeve and proceeded to stab herself in the heart. The knife connected with soft flesh.

Blood splattered.

Of course instead of stabbing Akjan's flesh, the knife ended up piercing Ren's palm. Ren managed to extend his hand just in time to block Akjan from delivering a fatal blow to her. She was surprised at his action and concerned at the state of his hand.

"Ren! Your hand!" She wanted to deliver a fatal blow to herself but the last thing she wanted to do was harm Ren, one person she actually came to like.

Ren nonchalantly took the knife out of his palm and threw it across the room. The pain on his right arm stung, but he had to bear it right now, or it might be too late. He looked at Akjan with a focused gaze. He was not going to let her die on his watch.

"Why did you…" Akjan mumbled hesitantly. "Why can't you just let me die! Are you really that selfish to…"

"That's right. I am selfish. Selfish enough to want you to live." Ren said with a serious expression. He ignored the pain on his right palm that felt like a constant burning sensation. He could barely make himself seem as though the pain was irrelevant. If it was any other situation he would be freaking out while clutching his hand, most likely crying his eyes out, but right now he needed to be strong, or at least appear strong.

Then, he did something he wouldn't have just a moment ago. He grabbed Akjan by the shoulders and took her in a warm embrace. Partially in order to make sure she did not go for the knife and partially to calm her down.

Realizing Ren was holding her in his embrace, the strong front that Akjan tried to put up instantly shattered. She was now crying upon his shoulder.

The more she cried, the tighter Ren held on to her. He was going to bear it with her, as long as it takes.

"I hate myself, Ren. I just hate myself." Akjan said while Ren held her close. The sound of her heartbeat could be clearly heard. Her heart was beating so fast. "I wanted to save them, Ren. I just wanted them to be freed from this place, but instead, they are all dead!" She pointed at the wall filled with horns. Now that Ren thought about it, it seemed like a graveyard. Each pair of horns was a life a demon, and there were dozens of pairs. It was a clear evidence of a massacre. What a sad way for a demon clan to end. Stacked on a wall like a trophy.

"I wanted to end their pain, to bring them out of their misery." Akjan sobbed while talking. "They allowed me to escape this place, allowed me to survive."

"But now, without them… I just want to disappear." Akjan was holding on to Ren for support and Ren didn't let go.

"Akjan" Ren extended his left hand in order to touch her face. "I will not allow you to die! Not a chance!"

"Ren, but I am…"

"If you die, their sacrifice will be for nothing!" Ren screamed out loud. He had to think of a way of convincing her to live, even if he has to remind her of her clansmen's sacrifice.

He now had the basic idea of what the situation was. "They made sure you lived while forfeiting their own lives in exchange for your own. If nothing else, honor their last wish of letting you live. I am certain that is their final request of you."

While hearing Ren's speech Akjan was weeping on his chest.

Her crying lasted for a long time. Ren proceeded to pet her back in an effort to calm her down.

"But Ren, my family is dead." She said after finally calming down. "I no longer have anyone I have to live for. I am…"

"Then let me be your family!" Ren said rather abruptly, interrupting Akjan's thoughts.

It took a few seconds for Akjan to process the meaning behind Ren's words.

'A proposal?' Akjan thought confusedly. 'Does he want to ask me to marry him?' She blushed from the thought. 'Why would he ask that of me out of the blue? What could he be thinking? Does he like me?' Thoughts overflowed within Akjan's mind. What Ren said was the last thing she expected.

"What do you mean? This isn't a proposal, right?"

"Of course it is a proposal! What else could it be?" Ren said without understanding what proposal actually is. "It a proposal all right. I propose to you to return with me to the Tengu clan, our place is there now." Ren naturally assumed that proposal and proposition meant the same thing, without realizing the romantic implication of the former. His somewhat naïve perspective despite trying his best to understand the demons he knew led him to be somewhat ignorant of things like love. It is safe to say he had no idea what Akjan felt at that moment.

"Tapi…"

"I understand that you want to end yourself because your family is gone, but what about me? What if you think of me as your family?"

"That is not how it works, Ren." Akjan replied with a sad expression.

"It really is! After all…" He hugged Akjan in such a way that her head was touching his chest. She could hear his heartbeat, loud and strong. "I do care about you, and I promise you that in happiness and sadness I will be there for you, so please live!" Ren said the last part with more emphasis, unaware that this was the part of marriage vow that he just uttered. His right hand held her back, still bleeding, while his left hand was holding the back of Akjan's head in a loving manner, at least in Akjan's mind. Ren on the other hand did not realize how his actions could be interpreted as affection, instead thinking of it as holding on to somebody so that somebody doesn't leave, in both senses.

"But I am a burden, Ren. I will most likely end up breaking and crying." Akjan replied.

"That makes two of us. So what? If you need help to stand up, I will carry you, and if you need to cry…" Akjan gasped. "I will lend you a shoulder to cry upon. No matter what happens I will not abandon you. So Akjan Tang, will you come with me?"

Ren stood up and extended his right arm.

Looking up at the strong look within his eyes, Akjan thought she was seeing a dream. She always had to rely on herself to survive; everyone else treated her with unimaginable cruelty or ignorance. She thought she would be left alone to fend for herself and die at the hands of her enemies, with none to care enough to lend a helping hand.

When she was about to die, he came as if by a miracle to save her, and now he was saving her again.

A wonderful hero rescued her from the endless despair. Her knight has finally arrived.

In her heart, she was thankful to Ren for not abandoning her to death by her own hand.

Akjan took his right arm into her own. "If it is with you, I will go anywhere in this world." Akjan has now lost the spark that motivated her to rescue her family, and in her despair her spark of life was almost extinguished as well. But because of Ren, she gained a new spark, a new purpose for which to exist. And now with his offer, she could not refuse.

When shaking his hand she noticed that it was still bleeding. Ren cringed when she took his hand into hers. Nevertheless, ignoring the pain in his right arm he helped Akjan stand up.

"Akjan remember this, you have a purpose worth living for, so don't throw it away."

"Iya nih." Akjan replied with a heartfelt smile.

Afterwards, Akjan helped Ren to bandage his injured palm. He said "Ouch" couple of times when she was tightening the bandages, but succeeded in staying still long enough for her to tie it to his hand. The bleeding has stopped, but it still hurt.

Ren and Akjan left the underground room after taking the horns and giving them a proper burial. It was a rather sad scene, with Akjan praying for the safe passage of souls for her clansmen.

Afterwards, Akjan and Ren proceeded to return to the Tengu territory.

"Ren, how did you find me?"

Ren scratched his cheek. "I followed you of course. I was about ten meters behind you all this time."

"But how come I didn't sense you if you were that close?"

"Sense me?"

"That is one of my specialties after all." Akjan wondered whether Ren specialized in making his energy signature untraceable. Even with him in front of her, she couldn't feel his energy. She assumed that it was due to advanced control over his energy. In truth it's because of having energy so low that it's almost nonexistent.

"I see, then maybe I was lucky enough to be outside the range of your sensing?"

"That is highly unlikely. My sensing skills can detect any living being within a mile range." Akjan said with a curious gaze at Ren's direction. 'Just how good is your energy control, to be able to be unnoticed even by a sensor, almost like your energy blended in with your surroundings? If that's the case, it's rather admirable!'

"Ah, is that so. Then let's leave it at that, because I personally am just happy to have found you, Akjan." Ren said with a weird grin, while closing his left eye and tilting his head towards the right.

Akjan found the gesture somewhat adorable. She laughed out.

They kept walking until they reached the mountain. When Ren put his hand in water, Akjan looked at his action in surprise.

"How do you know how to access the secret mountain passage?"

Ren scratched his head. "Well, I saw you do it on your way here, so I just copied it."

Akjan stared wide eyed at Ren's nonchalant explanation.

"I am amazed you were able to replicate it so perfectly, after all it's a Tang clan secret passage known only to the members of our clan. To think you were able to find out how to use it so quickly!"

"Isn't it just dipping your hand in water and touching the mountain? Anyone can do that?"

"Is that what you think I did? If that were the case anyone could have gone through the mountain."

"Was there anything else involved?"

Akjan hesitated before answering. "Well, you see, in order to pass through the mountain one must empty oneself of power and clear the mind. Only by being completely empty one can go through the mountain. In a sense it's a skill of enveloping yourself momentarily in darkness, sending all of your energy into void, making yourself momentarily empty. It's not an easy skill to learn."

"Ah, then call me a lucky first timer." Ren touched the mountain. Immediately he was pulled to the other side.

Akjan came to the other side just a few minutes after.

"You did it again! That is not luck we are talking about! Are you sure you never practiced Darkness style? Even I have to concentrate for a while in order to completely empty myself, yet you did it immediately!"

"Not that I recall, but I can't really recall many things." Ren said without realizing the real reason he was empty. His body has almost no magical energy within it, making him in a sense an empty vessel.

"It's fine if you don't tell me, Ren" Akjan seemed rather sad toned.

"It's not about not telling, it's just my memory is hazy" Ren admitted.

"Come to think of it, how long were you a member of the Tengu clan? Orin mentioned that you recruited him, and I have personally seen you recruit the lizard demons. Were you born in that clan?"

"I wasn't born in that clan. At least I don't think so."

"Then why did you join it?"

"Well, Aijasyl pretty much found me in the middle of nowhere and then Master Korgan invited me to join the Tengu clan, and I just went along. And here I am!" Ren said it while having a foolish expression on his face.

Akjan wasn't sure if Ren was telling the truth, but she chose to trust him.

"Is that why she looks at you in such a strange way? Because she is the one who found you?"

"Wait, she does what now?" Ren exclaimed. "What do you mean strange way?"

"Well, I have seen her stand behind your door at night, and she stood there for at least half an hour before going away, so I thought it was rather unusual."

Ren gulped. Was Aijasyl looking for a way to kill him at night? He thought she seemed suspicious, but now he was afraid that she might crush him the same way she demolished that boulder.

"Is that so. He ha ha" Ren said with a raspy voice, obviously trying to conceal the fact that he was terrified.

"Well, she is apparently your and by extension our mentor within Tengu clan, so it would make sense." Akjan did not realize how terrified Ren was after being told that Aijasyl was watching behind the door to his room.

They walked over a large distance. The three suns started to rise. The morning painted everything with a yellow light. It was truly beautiful.

When Ren was admiring the scenery, Akjan asked him.

"What you said back there, did you mean it?"

"I am a demon of my word. So yes, I meant it."

"If that's the case…" Akjan hesitantly extended her hand. Her hand ended up holding Ren's left hand. "Then you should know, I am actually a girl."

Ren didn't look surprised.

"Oh, I already knew."

Akjan reacted to his statement with a baffled expression of her own.

"But, I thought you mistook me for a male demon, I remember you referring to me as a 'he'!"

"Yeah, my mistake. Master Korgan told me about it. I should really pay closer attention to things." Ren said embarrassedly. "Plus, I took my time to confirm it for myself by sneaking into the bath while you were there…Ah!" Ren realized he blurted out a critical piece of information he intended to keep secret until the grave. He nervously turned his head around to see Akjan's outraged face.

"You did what!!!" Akjan seemed completely red with embarrassment.

She grabbed Ren by the collars and started shaking him.

"Sorry, I was just curious!"

"How much did you see?" She was shaking Ren rather violently.

"Well, if I admit to seeing nothing I would be a liar."

"I see." Akjan stopped shaking Ren. She realized that if he thought of her as a woman then what he said earlier was definitely a proposal. The thought of that made her rather happy.

"Then, a promise is a promise, you can't back out now." She smiled the most charming way Ren has ever seen.

"Ok!" Ren said in an exaggerated fashion with his thumb pointing up.

Ren declaring it such a confident way made Akjan happy for having met him.

She was holding Ren's left hand. Ren found it somewhat weird, so he tried to ask her about it, but the only reply he got was "It's ok; after all it's already settled." He wasn't sure what exactly was settled, but he chose to keep silent, she seemed to be so happy for some reason, so he chose to remain quite about it.

Holding hands they kept walking towards the field, nearing the border of the Karatengu territory.

It was just walking within the field, but in Akjan's eyes it seemed rather magical, being led by hand by a demon she came to like, all of the bad things seemingly stopped mattering, the only thing that mattered right now was to hold on to that hand and follow it. 'So this is what it means to fall for someone' she thought. She never thought, she out of all demons, would ever feel so attracted to someone else. She used to think of it as trivial and useless emotion, but now she was seeing for herself how great that emotion felt.

When they finally reached the Karatengu mansion, they saw Orin outside the mansion. He looked rather exhausted. When he saw Akjan and Ren, he cried out.

"There you guys are, I have been looking all over for you!" Then he saw that Ren and Akjan were holding hands. Orin approached Ren and whispered in his ear. "Wow, boss, you really don't waste your time, don't you? Great job!" He made thumbs up sign with all four of his hands.

Looking at the bizarre sight before them Ren looked weirded out while Akjan was embarrassed at the implication.

"Orin, I hope nothing bad happened while we were away, right?"

"Worry not, boss, other than me, none seems to have noticed you two were missing."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that." A voice belonging to a one armed old demon sounded out.

Every one of them gave a surprised sigh. Master Korgan was standing right behind them.

"How do you keep doing that, Master Korgan?" Ren exclaimed.

"Being unnoticed is an easy task while everyone is distracted. But that is of no importance right now. Why the two of you were outside the Karatengu territory? "

"Well, you see…" Ren began.

"It was my fault, Ren was just following me to make sure I was safe. If you are going to blame anyone, blame me." Akjan boldly declared.

Master Korgan didn't seem upset. Instead he sighed and said "As long as you two are safe, that's all that matters. Young one, worry not, I don't have any intention of blaming you or Ren."

"Thank you, Master Korgan." Ren and Akjan said simultaneously.

"If the topic is sensitive, I will not demand a straight answer, but I trust none saw you?"

"None saw us, Master" Ren replied.

"That is good. Then proceed. I trust you have a lot of tasks to take care of today" Master Korgan gestured towards the inside of the mansion and the fields.

"Right away, Master Korgan." Ren turned and ran towards the inside of the house to find Shaula Tengu to ask for his next task. "See you later, Akjan."

When Ren was some distance away from hearing range, Akjan replied. "See you later, husband."

Ren had absolutely no idea what he has gotten himself into.