[Ch. 35] A New Problem

My eyes fluttered open, revealing a new ceiling above me. However, it didn't seem as clear as the others had in the past.

I looked at my hands habitually and noticed the healed wounds on one hand and not the other. By the dull pain in my shoulder, I realized I was still in the body of the person I called Mo Zao. Has my sight turned bad? I can still see, but the details aren't as clear.

"Mo!" I flinched and looked to the doorway only to see Sylvia.

If Sylvia is here, then that means that Raylon is gone. I attempted to sit up but felt a sharp pain in my head. I fell back down biting my tongue to avoid crying out in pain. Sylvia flinched and rushed to my side, "Don't move. Your body is very weak right now."

"Weak?" I forced my eyes to open and looked around, "How long was I asleep?"

"For over three days."

"Ah…"

With Sylvia's help, I managed to sit up. She began to explain, "You used too much magic and collapsed. I was really worried…"

"Why didn't you come out of your hiding spot?"

"Raylon would have known who we were if I had. Even if my identity is hidden, he would be able to figure out it is me. Currently, there is only one person who is dead, yet living, who also has a clay arm and a face like this. That person is me."

I nodded solemnly, "That's true."

"Besides, Raylon was there so I wasn't too concerned."

I chuckled dryly, "What difference does that make? Raylon wants me dead regardless of who I am."

Sylvia lowered her head, "But it was odd… When you collapsed, Raylon picked you up. He even carried you to the inn."

I hesitated, "Raylon did?"

She nodded, "But he didn't stay for long. He just dropped you off and left without a word. Good thing he did too. Another moment and Hatsuyo would have stripped you down and discovered you weren't actually a man."

I snickered, "I wonder what his face would have looked like if he did."

Sylvia looked at me severely, "This is serious. Lying about your gender is one thing, but what if they find out your true identity?"

I leisurely played with my hair, "Then they would kill me. Problem solved."

Sylvia frowned, "How is that solving the problem?!"

A knock sounded on the door, stopping our conversation. I hummed in response and soon Hatsuyo flew into the room and nearly jumped on top of me. His eyes watered, "You're awake!?"

I couldn't help my look of disgust seeing how close he was to me. I pushed away his face, "Mmn."

He fell backward and let out a sigh of relief, "Thank goodness… I was really worried. You wouldn't wake up and it looked like you were barely breathing. I thought for sure that you were dead."

I sat up and fixed the inner robe that threatened to fall off my shoulder. I spoke in a low voice, "I'm alive. What happened after I fainted?"

Hatsuyo scrambled to sit up straight on the floor, "After you fainted, Uncle Raylon came and dropped you off. All of the Heroes have left in pursuit of the attackers."

I raised an eyebrow, "Oh? Did anyone interrogate the attackers?"

He shook his head, "Unfortunately, those who survived committed suicide before we could ask them any questions. Whoever planned it, thought ahead. Their skin was tattooed with a spell that would kill them if they activated it."

My face twitched, "Let me guess, it can be activated with a single thought and took the shape of three solid lines on the wrist?"

His eyes widened, "You know it?"

Know it? I invented it. But those notes weren't ever found... Well, prior to my death at least. That would possibly mean that all of my notes have been found. That's not a good thing either.

There were several things I invented that should never be discovered nor used.

I raised my head to look at him, "So there are no leads?"

Hatsuyo shook his head, "Not quite. We know they are part of the Scorpian gang."

"Scorpian gang?"

That's a new one.

He looked at me carefully, "You really don't know? Their base of operations is in the Eastern nation."

I glared at him, "So you think because I am from the Eastern nation, that I should know who they are?"

He paled slightly, "N-No no! I just meant that they are famous. They are a gang who dresses in black and accepts any kind of request if you can afford it. Their methods are dirty and underhanded. They won't even bat an eye if you ask them to kill a child."

"So why are they targeting you?"

He looked away avoiding my sharp stare, "I-I'm not sure…"

He's hiding something.

Hatsuyo began to talk quickly so I wouldn't ask more, "Raylon managed to find a lead and it led to the ruins of the Eastern nation. All the other heroes went with him."

Sylvia looked out of the window and muttered, "All except for one…"

I furrowed my brow, "Who-"

The door was flung open again and an arrogant man with silver hair strolled inside. He looked me up and down with a frown, "So you didn't die."

I smiled at him, "So it was Prince Leon who had stayed back."

Hatsuyo grinded his teeth, irritated that he was there.

Prince Leon ignored his clear irritation and spoke to me, "By the way, that smoke trick you did was killer. How did you do that?"

I shrugged, "It's just an affliction I've had since childhood."

He nodded and held his chin as he thought, "It was so formidable… But I was surprised to see you suddenly cough out blood and faint. Say, can you teach me it?"

I shook my head calmly, "No. Only those of certain body types can use it."

Sylvia sighed unconsciously. She knew I meant only she and I were capable of using this magic because we had been brought back from the dead. However, there was one difference. My heart was beating and hers wasn't. There was no guarantee I wouldn't end up like her, but I had a feeling that if this body died, I would die with it.

I noticed Hatsuyo clutching at his clothes with a troubled expression. I tilted my head, "Do you have something to ask?"

His head snapped up in surprise and he hastily bowed. "I-I want to go to the Eastern nation!"

My eyes widened slightly before returning back to normal, "Oh?"

Prince Leon snickered, "That's no good, little boy. Didn't your Daddy call you home?"

Hatsuyo shot him a glare, "Shut up."

I understood immediately, "You want us to escort you there even though your father wants you to return home?"

Hatusyo bit his lip and lowered his head, "I just… I want to go… Is it no good?"

Sylvia fell victim to his pitiful expression and looked at me, "Mo…"

I looked at him indifferently, "I don't really care." The two of them silently cheered as I continued, "But tell me; why do you want to go so badly?"

Hatsuyo looked away, avoiding my eyes once more. "There is something in the ruins that I'm seeking."

I narrowed my eyes. He seems to not want to tell me, so I won't pry. It doesn't affect me anyway. But what are the ruins? I'm not familiar with this place.

I glanced at Sylvia who leaned over to whisper to me, "After Moao's death, one of the places affected was the cities and villages close to the Black forest. No one could survive the beast attacks there and no one ever came back who tried to go. After that, the cities fell to ruins. Now all that is left of the Eastern nation is the parts that the Baron, the Nords, and the Pheonix nation control. However, the land they occupy isn't that large. They lost most of it over time."

But what could be there that Hatsuyo is looking for?

"I too wish to go to the ruins." Prince Leon played with a lapel on his clothes, "That's why we need you."

I looked at the two of them, "Why do you need me?"

Hatsuyo looked at me closely, "That's your homeland, isn't it? Aren't you familiar with the land?"

I forced a smile, "In a way… But I haven't been for a while so I wouldn't be a good guide."

Prince Leon waved his hand, "We don't need you to be the guide. I am more than capable of guiding you through that dump. Did you forget that the Baron owns most of that land?"

Hatsuyo snickered, "If that's true, then why didn't you go sooner? You were so insistent to stay back instead of traveling with the heroes."

Prince Leon responded haughtily, "Someone had to stay behind and protect your sorry self."

Hatsuyo turned red from anger, "I don't need a babysitter! Besides! I have Mo Zao to protect me!"

He rolled his eyes, "The same man who was unconscious for three days?"

"I-I still have Sivvie!"

Prince Leon turned to Sylvia with a disgusted look, "That brute? She can only fight and doesn't know how to think."

Hatsuyo slapped his lap in anger, "Don't you dare insult Sivvie!"

He snickered, "What? It's obvious that Mo Zao is the brains while this brute is the muscle. What's so wrong with saying the truth?"

I watched as Sylvia deflated, but didn't defend herself. However, he wasn't wrong. Sylvia wasn't well-learned due to her upbringing. She had been in a coma for most of her young life and only awoke as a young adult. Although she has made much progress from that naive childlike self of hers, she still doesn't know basic things and often has a naive outlook on life.

I interrupted their fighting, "Then we should leave tomorrow morning."

They all flinched when my sharp words cut through the air. Hatsuyo looked at me as if his tail was wagging, "You mean it?"

"Yes. Make sure that we have all the rations we will need. I will be fine after recuperating after one more night." I waved them off, "Now leave me. I would like to take a bath."

Prince Leon chuckled smugly, "Good idea. You stink."

Hatsuyo shouted as he followed him out of the room, "Can't you ever say anything nice?"

I stood up and went to the bath after it had been prepared and everyone had left. As I undressed, I paused. In the reflection, I could see several silver strands amongst my dark silky black hair. I pushed it to the side and looked at it with a furrowed brow.

It shouldn't look like this. Why does it seem like I have aged?

First, my eyesight has gotten worse. And now I have silver hairs?!

...Was it from exerting too much power?

I suddenly burst into self-deprecating laughter, "I see. Because I can't use mana, it is taking my life force instead…"

I lay inside the bathtub with a pained smile, "No matter. It's not like I care how long I am here. I will stay a little longer to make sure those kids don't cause too much trouble."

My mind flashed to just a moment before when I was watching those children fight with each other. I leaned back and let out a sigh. All four of us in a room… It reminds me of the time all those years ago when I was with those other three...

Although now I am more like a grandma hanging out with the younger generation.