Return of the Fallen Volume 2 Chapter 51
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Author: Blue_Rat
ch51
Kazuki would have liked to have taken the Mangshi corpses, as the feathers and other parts would be considered of great value but it might create unnecessary tension between him and the newly added mother and daughter. Not only that but the body’s appearances would cause suspicion. Mangshi were only supposed to come from the far west yet these bodies were fresh indicating they came from nearby. In the end, Kazuki thought best to cremate them to appease Mei and Tsura or win them over. By cremating them instead of simply burying them or leaving them out in the open, Kazuki showed respect to the Mangshi people. This caused Tsura to earn a bit more of his trust.
A few days into their travel, both Tsura and Mei felt something odd. It was as though a burden had been lifted from their shoulders.
The Acadian crystal, the power source for the entire forest, had finally run dry. Tsura and Mei both felt a joy unlike any other and the two took to the skies. They flew higher and higher. First, they surpassed the trees and rose further and further. All the way until they were above the clouds.
Feeling the cold air under their feathers, the two felt a sense of freedom and bliss unlike any before.
Only after several hours did the two finally return to the ground. A pleasant smile stretched across their faces for the rest of the day. Tsura prepared a meal and everyone happily ate their fill before resting. This is how their journey went for several weeks until…
*Thud*
Mei landed from high above and returned to her human form. Tsura pulled a loose dress over her but Mei was fussy as she excitedly ran up to Kazuki and the others. Pointing beyond the trees she filled them in on what she had just discovered.
“Ryuta big bro, there’s a place over that way. The buildings were super super big and there were lots and lots of people all over, doing stuff.”
Mei was practically jumping up and down as she explained this new thing she had just witnessed.
Kazuki opened up the map and took note of his location.
“Hmm, It seems Atoh’s map was right then. It looks like we are near a town, called…Edn something, the name is very worn so I can’t read it all the way.”
“Big bro big bro can we go, can we?”
Kazuki scrutinized the map for a bit. Since leaving Treia, it had been nearly two months now. Although everyone wore a bright expression, the journey made them more and more weary. They needed a break, a refresher and soon, otherwise, it wouldn’t be long before they broke down one by one. Kazuki put the map away and sighed in contemplation.
*Haa*
“Hmm, in the end, we are still technically wanted. If we enter that town and there are soldiers we may need to fight, possibly kill our way out. If they have any strong Mages, that as well could spell disaster for us. At the same time, we are severely lacking in supplies. Especially since we still need to travel north. So far we’ve only been traveling eastward due to this forest but when we go north the temperature will drop rapidly and we’ll be dealing with the hard cold. First we’ll take a look before anything is decided.”
Traveling to the edge of the forest, Kazuki and the others inspected the town.
“The wall protecting the town is made entirely of wood and the guards on it are far apart. This probably means there’s no garrison stationed here, meaning very few soldiers.”
Asuna nodded along and added.
“Also there are hundreds of people constantly flowing through the gate. This town is very small and yet there is so much traffic coming in, no way the guards can tell who’s wanted and who’s not.”
“Hahaha, isn’t that kind of thinking a bit naive. Remember we are still very new in this world, maybe there’s magic for identifying if someone’s wanted or not.”
Shin looked at Nunully for confirmation but she shook her head no.
Shin stopped laughing but he still thought what he said made sense.
“I’ll go check it out.”
Asuna grew worried and grabbed Kazuki’s arm.
“I’ll go with you.”
“No, too many people may draw attention. I’ll go down first and check out the town. I’ll look and see if they have any wanted signs of us or anything similar to that. If they do, I’ll simply buy the necessary supplies we need and leave, if not then I’ll come back to get you all.”
Nunully grabbed Kazuki’s other arm and asked.
“But how will you enter. If you are wanted down there and they see your face at the gate, won’t that be it?”
“I have something in mind for that. Right, Tsura Mei, you two will come with me.”
Nunully, Asuna and Tsura all gasped at once.
“Ahh!”
Asuna was the first to voice her complaint.
“You just said too many people will draw attention and now your gonna take the two of them with you, what gives?”
Kazuki prepared to block an attack from Asuna but was surprised when it didn’t come. Instead, she seemed to be pouting.
“It’s not what you think, really. It’s just that Mei is a child and so suspicion won’t really fall on her. Tsura as well is her mother and the two look a lot alike. If you see a pair of mother and daughter the last thing you’ll think is dangerous. The two have never been seen outside so they can easily fit in with all those people flooding into the city. I, of course, could play the part of a grandfather or something along those lines and enter along with them.”
Nunully couldn’t understand.
“This still doesn’t explain how you yourself won’t go unnoticed. So what if you pretend to be her grandpa, that doesn’t change your face, now does it?”
Seeing his words couldn’t convince them he asked Sam to make him a large stone bowl and for Nunully to fill it with water. After that, he gathered a few berries from a nearby bush as well as a few dark leaves from a weird twisted tree. Since Nunully had his back he pulled her in a little deeper with him.
“Nunully, did you forget what you told me about these berries and this leaf?”
Kazuki then proceeded to grind up the berries and leaf in the water with his fist until it became a mushy greenish-black color.
Everyone looked at him weirdly before Asuna asked in curiosity.
“Nunully, what is he doing? What’s so special about those berries and leaf?”
Nunully was stumped for words because she had no clue what Kazuki was doing. Kazuki had put her on the spot but before she could say anything, Kazuki cut her off.
“It’s fine, Nunully, no need to explain. Everyone, just wait a moment and you’ll know soon enough.”
Kazuki then proceeded to dunk his entire head into the greenish-black liquid and held it there for nearly a minute. Mei grew curious watching this and wondered how long she could hold her breath compared to Kazuki but after only 45 seconds she gasped for air. Her eyes grew large as she stared at Kazuki in admiration.
“Big bro is amazing, isn’t he?”
*Puah*
Kazuki lifted his head and took in a breath of air.
*Phew*
“Kazuki just what in the world are you trying to…Eh!”
As Kazuki pulled and squeezed the water out of his hair, something interesting began to happen. His black hair was quickly turning grey. In only 30 seconds all of the hair on his head as well as on his face turned greyish white. The hair on his head, his eyelashes, his eyebrows, and even his noose hair, it was all greyish white.
(If only I had this stuff back in the palace. It would have taken me even less time to make my way out of there.)
As soon as Kazuki thought about that he quickly shook it away. Even if his disguise were 100 times better it would not have stopped the information officer from tracking him down. In the end, it was just wishful thinking that a better disguise would have thrown off the information officer’s scent.
Kazuki then asked Nunully to pull most of the moisture out of his face. At first, she didn’t know where he was going with this but like a bolt of lightning, it came to her. With a nod, she extended a hand and proceeded to extract the moisture from his face until his skin appeared dry and withered.
In only 3 minutes, Kazuki went from a young-looking youth to an old grandpa. Grabbing a well proportioned branch off a tree, Kazuki hunched his back and walked with the branch like it was a cane from nature.
Mei clapped her hands in delight and began laughing hysterically.
“Hahaha, big bro grandpa big bro grandpa, hahaha.”
Shin himself could no longer handle it and started grabbing at his sides while he laughed.
“Bwahahahaha this is good, too good. You truly have the appearance of an old fart. Should I call you grandpa or senior poppy, which do you prefer?”
Kazuki reached out with a shaky hand toward Tsura and smiled crookedly.
“Tsura, my dearest daughter, would you mind escorting me into town? My back isn’t what it used to be you see.”
Tsura put a hand over her mouth but it didn’t help in suppressing her laughter whatsoever.
She grabbed Kazuki’s hand and chuckled.
“Shall we go, my dearest father, hahaha?”
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