Slowly, Little by Little (4)

After their somewhat awkward meal ended.

Since it wouldn’t be right to completely ignore Shade’s side, Línea and Lost went to meet Shade.

“Oh, finished eating?”

“Yes, so if you have something to say, we’ll make room for you.”

Línea had saved Mar. And they hadn’t yet properly thanked her for that, with Lost having expressed that it would be better for them to thank her directly.

At that, Shade, who had been skillfully cooking with one hand in the kitchen while glancing sideways at Línea and Lost, soon smirked and said.

“Well, I don’t mind, but for the young lady’s sake, it would be good to step out for a moment now.”

“That’s true.”

Given their previous exchange, Lost readily stepped aside.

Though it meant leaving Línea before an assassin, he judged it was fine.

That wasn’t so much about trusting the Shade organization as believing in the individual’s humanity.

“Lady Spirin. Thank you for saving my daughter. This is something I had to convey directly.”

“Ah, please, it was nothing.”

“No, that’s not true. You protected my most precious treasure after all.”

Shade conveyed his thanks regardless of Línea’s humility.

Mar, who was listening beside them, kicked Shade’s shin with a sullen expression and said.

“Precious treasure my ass. When I run away from home you just go off the grid for months.”

“…It was all for your sake.”

“And that’s what caused this mess?”

“When you put it that way, I have nothing to say. Sorry, Mar, okay?”

Línea gave a bitter smile watching the father and daughter bicker.

Hearing Mar’s words made her think as well.

Money and honor are good, but it would have been nice if they had been there together.

During her most difficult times, her family was scattered.

That’s how she ended up here.

That’s why she gave up hoping in her home.

Though she didn’t regret it since it allowed her to build her connection with Lost… there were still regrets.

If she could have known even a little more about them, perhaps Línea too could have overcome those difficult times safely.

“L-Línea! Um… thank you. And umm… if you were that strong, you could have told me? Here I was acting like your guard without knowing…”

Mar said while covering her reddened face with one hand.

Words added to her thanks. Though they were meant to hide her embarrassment, they were also sincere.

“We’re, you know, friends right? Both of us could have shown more trust… Ah, I’m not scolding you. Just, thought it would have been nice if things were like that.”

“…”

Línea stared intently at Mar.

Her words contained only regret about not being told beforehand.

As if she didn’t mind her abnormality at all, no, as if such abilities truly didn’t matter, seeing that attitude made Línea clench her fist.

“So, the conclusion is, you know. Right! Just thank you. The rest was all irrelevant, just wanted to say that and nothing more.”

“…I see.”

Línea finally understood why Lost had brought her to a place like this.

What she lacked most, what she had doubted most.

What the result of that was. Beyond his words from before, Lost was showing her there was one more result.

Though she thought everything had twisted because of her involvement. That there were people she could save through her involvement.

So she wasn’t some cursed evil spirit.

Lost hadn’t meant to end things with just his words then, but was continuously trying to teach Línea their meaning.

“Ah, anyway, I’ve said what I wanted to say so I’m going now.”

Mar quickly left the kitchen as if embarrassed. Seeing his daughter’s inability to be honest, Shade set down the food he had been making on the table with a sly smile.

“Isn’t my daughter cute?”

“…Yes, she is.”

“Takes after her mother. That’s why Viera’s betrayal is even more unfortunate.”

“Were they close?”

“Yes. She was like an aunt to Mar.”

Shade spoke calmly while poking at the stir-fried food with a fork.

Mar’s aunt. In other words, that meant his wife’s sister.

“The more closed off an organization is, the more they tend to value bloodlines. Maybe that’s why she viewed me so unfavorably. Not only did an outsider roll in and take over as leader, but he even went and changed the organization as he pleased…”

It was self-inflicted. Shade said with self-deprecation.

“Well, I’m telling you this because you’re Mar’s friend. Consider it a request to look after her.”

Shade hadn’t told Mar about Viera yet.

But it would come out soon. Just thinking about how heartbroken Mar would be made his mouth go bitter.

After losing her mother, now her aunt too.

All because of her incompetent father’s lack of virtue.

So he didn’t think he could comfort Mar himself.

“Of course I don’t plan to ask empty-handed. I have some shame after all.”

“…You don’t need to ask specially. I’m Mar’s friend so I can do that much.”

“I’m sure. Still, try to understand. As someone powerless, I need to give something in return to feel at ease. The weaker someone is, the more they need material proof.”

“…I understand.”

Seeing Línea quietly nod, Shade pushed aside the food he had been picking at with his fork and stood up.

“Then what would be good? Young lady, is there anything you need? Information perhaps?”

He was still the head of an information guild after all.

Shade shrugged while making what amounted to a self-deprecating introduction.

“Then…”

But Línea had already decided what to ask of Shade. Even if he hadn’t used gratitude or favors as an excuse, she had planned to ask him herself anyway.

“Please teach me how to fight.”

“…Young lady, you know I’m a former assassin when you ask this?”

“Yes, that’s why.”

For Línea who could see opponents’ weaknesses, neither Titan who overwhelmed foes with absolute power nor Lost who subdued enemies through psychological warfare and technique suited her.

“Actually, watching Mar’s movements made me think. That kind of movement is exactly what I need.”

Though Línea had innate talent, it would be difficult to start learning proper combat methods from scratch at this point.

Steady growth would certainly help, but that alone wouldn’t be enough to prepare for traveling with Lost.

Even Lost who had obtained an apostle’s power still adhered to a fighting style that utilized everything he had.

If she wanted to be helpful on that journey, she needed a way to get stronger in a short time.

Neither steady swordsmanship nor overwhelming power.

She didn’t have time to hone those now.

Then she would need an irregular fighting style that could maximize the use of her eyes.

“I basically fought trusting my instincts and physical abilities.”

There was nothing that could be called technique.

She just instinctively utilized what she had.

That was both her weapon and her shackle.

Instinctive movements were good for catching opponents off guard, but they carried proportional risk.

Then she would reduce that risk while gaining more certain means.

“The art of assassination. Swift and stealthy movements to approach the target, strike in gaps of consciousness, and bring them down with certainty – that art.”

And the mindset to kill people too. That was the skill she needed most now.

“Hmm…”

Shade pondered.

Was it right to teach such skills to Línea Spirin?

Assassination was fundamentally a dark and vicious act.

Moreover, it made those who used the techniques cold and cruel.

These weren’t techniques that should be taught to a noble family’s daughter.

Especially if she was his daughter’s benefactor.

“Well, guess you’re in no position to be picky about methods.”

But Shade recalled Belial’s existence. To survive against such a monster, one truly needed to consider every possible means.

Even he who was considered the king of assassins ended up in this state.

Some compromise would be needed to keep his daughter’s friend from dying.

“This much should be fine for someone who saved my daughter. Then come find me again when you’ve recovered, young lady.”

Shade finally shrugged and accepted Línea’s request.

*     *     *

Pantheon Temple.

While Línea and Lost were out, Claire dragged her tired body to the training grounds where Titan was.

Titan’s figure sitting cross-legged in the center of the training grounds with arms folded in contemplation exuded such intimidating pressure that just approaching made one’s knees weak.

But Claire was already used to even that level of pressure.

She trudged over near Titan and spoke to him.

“This is unexpected.”

“What is?”

Titan who had been reviewing his past battles with eyes closed slightly opened them and asked.

“That you’d turn down food. I was sure you’d go with them.”

“White hair.”

“It’s Claire.”

“Right, white hair. Though I know how you all view me, I am still royalty despite appearances.”

“That’s true.”

Titan narrowed his eyes and countered Claire’s rude remarks.

“Reading others’ moods is a virtue kings must possess. A ruler who can’t even guess what their subjects are thinking is no better than a scarecrow.”

Though he tended to be crude and overbearing normally, Titan was sharper than expected.

He knew how to think deeply and that wasn’t limited to just combat. He just chose not to.

“I have that much awareness. You probably can’t even guess how many fiancées I have.”

“…I couldn’t even imagine such statements being possible.”

Due to his usual focus on combat and training, Claire’s face went pale at something she couldn’t have imagined in that direction.

To think there were people engaged to a madman like Titan. Even before the number, the existence of such beings was incomprehensible.

And he was royalty no less.

“Only the idiotic parties involved haven’t noticed.”

“…”

Claire sat down beside Titan as if dumbfounded by this unexpectedly communicative side of him.

Such an unexpected aspect.

But thinking about it, she realized Titan had always been sharp in picking up on things.

He just fundamentally didn’t care about others’ feelings.

“And Lost, that guy probably has a vague sense too.”

“Really? He doesn’t seem like it.”

“Hard to tell when he’s acting foolishly with the black fox.”

“Ah, so Línea-unnie has been demoted back to black fox.”

“Names are a luxury for cowards.”

Just as Claire was clicking her tongue at his crystal clear values.

“Lost’s heart already has someone else in it.”

“…”

“When he’s struggling, when he’s suffering, and when he overcomes it all to fight. His eyes always held lingering yearning.”

“…Amazing. Titan, you suddenly started seeming smart.”

“I was always smart. I’ve just been acting to match the fools until now.”

“What an arrogant person.”

The very embodiment of self-love.

Though Claire grimaced at Titan’s words, she was also somewhat surprised by what he said.

“I hadn’t known.”

“Of course not.”

Having frequently matched with Lost, Titan was able to know.

Lost was a monster who collapsed several times in a short span and got back up just as many times.

No one is strong from the start. Everyone grows stronger through weathering storms.

‘But it’s rare to see someone with such a big gap as that guy.’

Like tempering iron through hammering. That’s how people grow stronger.

But if that intensity is too strong, it could break instead.

That’s why Titan highly rated Lost who hadn’t broken despite such intense pain.

Infinitely hard yet could break at any moment.

“Then is there no hope for Línea-unnie?”

“Well, who knows.”

Though Claire sighed as if regretful, Titan smiled as if looking forward to it.

“Foxes tend to steal others’ dens more often than digging their own after all.”

*     *     *

After finishing her conversation with Mar and Shade, when Línea came out of the restaurant she found Lost leaning against a corner looking up at the sky while smoking tobacco.

“I’m back, Lost.”

“Welcome back. Shall we head back now?”

“That would be nice, but since we have some time left, how about enjoying a night walk together?”

“…That wouldn’t be bad.”

Lost gave a bitter smile as he put out the tobacco he had been smoking.

While Línea gently smiled at this unusual consideration, she followed a step behind Lost who had started walking ahead.

Línea remembered.

The day he first arrived at the Pantheon Temple, when he had secretly been crying.

Though she had brushed it off playfully then, it had been quite a shocking sight that she still remembered now.

‘It was surely longing.’

She didn’t know who it was longing for. Lost wasn’t one to talk much about himself after all.

That’s why it was sad.

Just as Línea had, Lost too was hiding himself.

She could now feel unburdened. Thanks to Lost she was able to shake off her long-held troubles.

But what about the man before her?

That face etched with fatigue made him seem much older despite being around the same age.

She couldn’t soothe that fatigue. It stemmed from some resolution Lost himself carried.

“What was there to see in the capital. I can’t quite remember…”

“…That’s true.”

She surely wasn’t enough.

Lost’s heart already had someone significant occupying it.

But…

“Then may I decide?”

Línea moved boldly.

She who had been walking a step behind came up beside Lost.

Too shy to grab his hand, she gathered her courage to wrap her tail around his wrist as if pulling him along.

“Let’s go this way first?”

She didn’t know who occupied his heart.

But wasn’t it someone who left Lost alone to suffer and struggle on his own?

‘Then I’ll take it.’

If they were neglecting Lost and looking elsewhere, she would just gradually take over that place herself.

Until the day she could completely fill that space with herself.

‘Slowly. And little by little.’

Línea decided to walk beside Lost.