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Chapter 218: First Stage Complete

Good morning. I woke up feeling as if a truck ran all over me.

I spent the night out cold on the terrace in front of the house. My entire body was stiff and painful, but something fluffy was beside me when I opened my eyes — Riche kept me company and slept beside me while I was knocked out.

「Morning, Riche. I’m fine now. 」
He noticed that I was awake so he licked my chin and I stroked his head.

Not sure if it’s because of Riche having an ice attribute, but I felt warm and cold at the same time. It was a strange feeling. I pet him while still lying down.

Ahh, why are you so adorable, Riche.

I stood up and stretched my sore and stiff body. The sky was gradually getting brighter; it was barely daybreak, almost dawn, the start of a new day. It might be a great idea watching the sun rise, but I still felt a little bit tired.

Yeah, I can just do it after my bath. I entered the house and refilled Riche’s water bowl before heading to the bathroom. Riche normally waits for me in the bedroom or in the living room when he knows it’s time for my bath but not today. He followed me.

The distance between us as he tagged along seemed closer than usual; our feet would bump to each other from time to time. Maybe he’s really worried about me?

I put X-Stick down and removed my coat, prepared the hot water and towels, then placed a bath mat on the spot where the water won’t reach it. Riche started munching on X-Stick while laying on the mat. I pet his head again then went inside the bath.

I gazed at the sky as it changes colors while lying in the tub. Yeah, I’m the sort of guy who finds happiness in simple things.

My strength has returned and I feel refreshed after taking a bath, but I check myself just in case. Alright, my chin isn’t split and there’s no sign of any bruising.

For breakfast, I enjoy a ham and cheese sandwich, a bit of salad, two pieces of sausage, vegetable soup and milk. The bread was normal toast dipped in egg and then fried.

The melted cheese overflowed when I cut the sandwich. What a feast for the eyes. The popping sound of the sausage as I bit into it accentuated its deliciousness.

I spread some butter and blackberry jam on the toast, then munched on the buttered area first. The blackberry jam tastes sour and sweet so it’s also good.
Ahh, another simple happiness.

After breakfast, we went on our usual morning stroll and did some work in the fields.

「Good morning Pal. The tomatoes are turning red now, aren’t they? 」
「Good morning. Yeah, I’m looking forward to them. 」

Pal was also in the fields trimming the young shoots of the tomato. I joined him. The shoots that sprout near the basal part of the stem and the leaves will develop into branches if left alone. They would also produce lots of fruit, but too much and the other fruits won’t get enough nourishment. And so, in order to produce big, glossy fruits, these side shoots(suckers) should be snapped off.

Pal and I chatted about the fruits and vegetables I brought from Japan, the native species growing here, the things I’ve been busy with lately, where I had been and the like while we earnestly worked.

Pests can’t come here and tiny spirits also helped us, so it was quite easy.

「The land on that island isn’t good, right? 」
「Yup. I’m thinking of bringing some from here, or maybe carry some from the forest and mix it over there. 」
「There’s a black ledge to the southeast, so break some off and bring that with you. 」

Pal even gave me some advice about something that worried me just when I needed it.

I finished my morning routine and decided to return to Khan. Riche wanted to tag along so he’s with me. I already warned him that it’ll be super hot in there — oh wait, maybe I can just 【Teleport】 directly into the treasury since it’s huge? It’s a lot cooler underground than outside after all.

We emerged in the corridor instead of the treasury after I 【Teleport 】, probably because Khan and Bayliss were still here, and the door has a push-out mechanism.

「Pardon the intrusion. You guys are still here? 」
Logically speaking, it did make sense that one couldn’t enter the treasury without permission. Ah but wait, weren’t I supposed to receive the treasures here, so isn’t it safe for me to be here? Hm? I didn’t defeat the spirit so I won’t receive it? So, I can’t enter, then?

「Welcome back. I was shocked when you suddenly disappeared — Oh my goodness! 」
Bayliss snuggled closer to Khan.

「What’s up? 」
「That spirit is…? 」
Khan was still sitting, but he looked like he’s trembling for some reason.

「My beloved dog. Riche, say hello. 」
Oh no. Riche was holding X-Stick in his mouth, so maybe that’s why they were so shocked! Oh well, it’s a little too late explaining stuff so let’s just ignore them!

「I have a lot of things I want to take a jab at, but I should express my gratitude first. Thank you for saving Shahira. 」
He placed his fists on his crossed legs and bowed his head.

「You told me that ‘someone fated from your past will appear so I shouldn’t be fooled’. I totally thought the black spirit would do some sort of mimicry because of that. 」

I thought Khan was suppressing the black spirit so it wouldn’t cause harm, but I was wrong.

Nah, it’s probably true that Khan had it under control, but maybe because there was still a part of the original spirit that thinks about humans.

I thought the entire『King’s Bough』 had already turned completely black, but upon closer look, I saw some parts that still remained white. The white spirit that appeared didn’t look like it was a mimicry. I just decided to go for it while thinking maybe the sane part could be separated if the Bough was cut. I’m glad it worked out in the end.

「Why did you leave the black spirit as is? 」
「I felt you were gonna die if I annihilated it. 」
「… 」

「That’s right, he’s been suppressing it for so long that his body must’ve assimilated the black spirit. Besides, your human lifespan should’ve long run out. 」
Bayliss answered for him when Khan shut up.

Actually, it was an unreliable judgment call when I severed the branch based on intuition, and I wasn’t confident enough that everything would be alright if I were to eradicate that black spirit. I did think it would be okay as long as there’s still some white parts remaining, but if I base it on Shahira’s gaze at that time, it was highly likely that it wouldn’t work.

The reason why the white spirit managed to protect its main body, which was the 『King’s Bough』, without vanishing was because Khan, being the king, still loved this land. The 『King’s Bough』is set to crumble and disappear if the conditions were violated, so she didn’t actually have long to live when she became a black spirit.

The white spirit probably protected its original body, the『King’s Bough』 partly because she didn’t want to disappear, but I guess it’s also largely due to Khan’s imminent death if she were to vanish.

「If all things failed, I planned to burn that Bough or do whatever works, so I’m glad that it all worked out. 」
I’m not scared of being glared at by the beauty (Bayliss) after all.

Bayless lovingly caressed Khan’s cheek. I also sat on the ground and started petting Riche on my lap while cuddling him. It’s fine, Riche is absolutely way more adorable.