Episode 4: Back to Yumin (4)

The Cottage—Living Room [5:39 PM].

Reaching back towards the cottage, Fei quickly placed all her items down as she headed towards the bathroom whilst stretching her body.

"Yawn~ I'll head to the showers first!"

"You two, make sure to not fall asleep alright?" Kruz reminded. "I've made a special dinner for today!"

"Oh?! R-Really?!" Fei's eyes shone in excitement. "What is it? What is it?"

"You'll find out! Now quickly, hurry and go shower," Kruz said happily as he turned towards a small white envelop by the surface of the table. Soon after, he sighed as he took it, quickly tucking it away. Then, he made his way over towards the kitchen.

...

"Ah~ Refreshed as I'll ever be!" Fei cheered as she was finally in clean clothing. She had been running for almost the entire day, although she still had energy, she was exhausted from today's event. "Now what's the dinner~"

Humming a tune, her eyes turned towards the dining room, as her face quickly lit up brightly. "...!!" On the table within the room, many sorts of food were laid out. One of them was Libria's famous fish cuisine, Curry Fish. With its delicious spices from its lavish forest and high-quality fish from Lake Gentom, it was a delicacy.

Beside that was a beautifully roasted pork cutlet which had an enticing aroma that protruded out, making the entire room be filled with it. Her nose was overwhelmed by the appetizing smell as she gulped instinctively.

The cutlet's cleanly sliced golden pieces of meat was an unexpected surprise that went out of her expectations. Alongside it was a red sauce that is meant to be drizzled over the meat, giving it a juicy and incomparable taste.

"Dad...!" Nearly tearing up, she hurriedly waltzed over towards the table, immediately taking a bowl of rice and then chowing down on the food. The pork cutlet meat at her utensils tenderly ripped off as it entered into her mouth.

"Aha, I'm glad you like it!" Kruz cheered. "I made this dinner especially for you two in celebration of finally becoming guild rankers!"

"...you sure made quite a lot," Damian stared in awe. "This could serve around five people... why didn't you invite Orelia and the others?"

"Well, they have their own dinner to eat!" he laughed. "I made this much just for you two, so eat up!"

"Don't worry, Damian! If you can't finish it, let me take your serving!" she continued to chow down on the food, not leaving a single one behind. "I'll finish it all for you!"

"...how about you just enjoy your meal slowly? You might choke at this rate," Damian glared at Fei.

"No! Not at all!" she pouted. "I'm just fine!"

"Whatever you say." Moving towards the empty seat, he sat down as he quickly took out a bowl of rice. Soon after, he picked up the side dishes that were laid out in front of him.

"Mhm~" Kruz hummed in a happy tune. "Eat lots and then grow strong to work towards your dream!"

"Thanks, Dad!" she smiled brightly.

"Haha. Oh, speaking of dreams..." Kruz pondered on the thought. "Why don't you want to be an Elite Guild Ranker?"

"Eh?" Gulping down her food, she blankly stared at Kruz. "Elite Guild Ranker?? Isn't S Rank the highest rank? So you're saying you're not the strongest?!"

"Ahem... Elite Guilders are, well, special to say the least. So I don't blame you for not knowing," he chuckled. "Though... Orelia should've mentioned it right?"

"...Fei forgot," Damian shook his head helplessly.

"No! This is my first time hearing of it!" Fei cried out.

"Oh then let me rephrase, she slept in class."

"N-No!" Fei refuted.

There were multiple ranks within the guild, from the starting rank of 'Junior' where all who are under a guild ranker starts off. Or for those who took the exam straightaway, becomes an 'E' ranker.

From there, one can make their way up through the ranks in alphabetical order. From E to A. Soon after, its final rank for general rankers: S. As for 'Elite Guilders', this rank had a very special requirement.

"Uhuh. Whatever," Damian calmly said as he turned to Kruz. "Anyway, aren't Elite Guild Rankers nearly impossible for your average guild ranker?"

"Well, who says you can't work towards it?" Kruz laughed. "Just go and save the country, get praise from her majesty the queen, and get the title!"

"...yeah. So easy," he rolled his eyes. "Maybe for you at least."

"Oh come on!" he chuckled. "I worked hard too!"

"Working hard? Dad?" Fei blinked at the statement.

"I go out on jobs a lot!" Kruz said helplessly. "Why do you think we haven't gone broke yet?"

"We have enough to last us for the entire year," Damian said. "That was your words when you took the entire month off last month from doing anything."

"Cough... I needed a break," he frowned. "But in any case, I'll be going out for a new job again."

"E-Eh?!" Fei cried out in shock at Kruz's words. "What job? Is it a long one again?"

"Sadly so," Kruz nodded his head. "I might not be back for quite a long time."

"...quite a long time?" Fei muttered out. "Just what job is this?"

"It's a secret!" he chuckled. "All you have to note is that I won't be around for months. So work hard you two!"

"What? Secret?!" Fei frowned. "Dad! We're guild rankers now! Do you really still have to keep secrets about your jobs from us!?"

"..." Kruz closed his eyes as he picked up the empty plates on the table. "It is something that I have to do. So..." Turning over towards the sink, he placed the plates down. "It's complicated to explain."

"Dad! I don't care if it's complicated, give me the details!" she pouted. "I don't want to be kept in the dark again!"

"..." he shook his head. "No. When I get back, I'll tell you all about it. However... for the time being, I won't."

"Dad!" she cried out.

"Honey, you and Damian are exhausted from today right? You should go and rest," he said.

"Dad, don't dodge the question!" she frowned.

"...I promise I'll tell you all about this when I get back," he nodded his head. "Now give this old man a break and listen to me, will ya?"

"..." Fei reluctantly looked at Kruz in a complex manner. "...fine. You promised this time! If you break it, you won't hear the end from me!"

"Mhm! Good!" Kruz nodded his head in satisfaction. "Now, how about a good night hug, hm?"

"Eh...?!" Fei blinked.

"Come on, it's been a while right? Just this once!"

"F-Fine..." Pouting in embarrassment, Fei quickly scrunched over to Kruz, swiftly hugging him.

"Now, you too Damian!" Kruz firmly stated.

"M-Me as well?" Damian sighed. "Then... I've got no choice." Making his way over towards Kruz, he hugged him. In return, Kruz hugged the two tightly in his arms.

Finally, after a minute, Kruz released his grasp from the two siblings as he stood up. "Now go sleep!"

"Fine! I'll go sleep... but make sure to keep your promise, alright?!"

"Yeah, I will," he nodded his head as he soon noted that Damian and Fei were making their way over towards the second floor. Moments later, after confirming that they went up, Kruz let out a tired sigh. "...I'm sorry. But, I'll be breaking the promise."

Muttering in a sad solemn tone, Kruz headed into his room, quickly picking up multiple bags of sort, as if preparing for a long journey. Then, keeping everything in check, he began to move his way towards the entrance of the cottage, slowly opening the door.

...

Within an Unknown Forest [8:12 PM].

During that time, within a dark forest, a hooded person stood upon the branch of a tree, observing down towards the cottage where Fei lived. Soon after, the person noted that Kruz was making his way out of the cottage in the silence of the night.

"...hmm, it looks he is making his move now!" The hooded person calmly analyzed the situation. "The strings of fate that ties everyone together... this will be the 'beginning' of the plan! Isn't it wonderful?"

Soon from the shadows, a white-haired man appeared. With what seemed to be a scar on his right eye, he donned a white silver coat, as he gripped onto his sword tightly.

"...this 'plan' will finally begin huh?" He said in a solemn tone. "So be it. Let it begin."

Staring into the distance, an unrecognizable voice soon rustled in murmurs.

"Wait for me. I'll be back."