A welcoming feast

'A feast?'

It came to a shock for both Shily and Benso, as they didn't expect the quiet and bruised slave to spit such a hungry request. Though they already planned to feed him well since he is now part of them. But, isn't treatment the first thought a slave like him—especially in his case—should think about?

'It's not that much of a demand for them, so why the frown?'

Several minutes passed with no one talking.

Genus wasn't sure, but the awkward silence in the middle of the road felt uncomfortable, even for him for some unknown reason.

'Don't tell me I screwed again?'

Suddenly, he recalled how he failed to anticipate Shily's decision, which resulted in his first time losing to gasp a situation, for as long as he remembers at least.

'Is my analysis wrong?'

After observing Shily and Benso for some time, he had figured out their characters. Yet, being in this situation, doubt took over Genus after failing previously in his calculations, prompting him to question his own credibility, which was a first for him.

Genus, expressionless, ran his eyes on Benso, peeking at every inch of his clothes, swords, expressions, reevaluating his guesses.

'I am totally sure that the swordsman is a prideful man, that bent to no one except to those who he approved of. Despite how stern and straight he may look, his loyalty and caring for his lady is unquestionable. Though, he may not have a warm heart for people, but that cold appearance of his doesn't hurt the innocent.'

'How noble of him.'

Genus didn't, even for a second, believe that Benso was a righteous man. But a dignified person, at most.

He shifted his gaze to Shily, doing the same routine.

'His lady on the other hand, who is absolutely an ignorant, yet unpredictable girl, has this cold chaotic sensation around her. Her immature thinking leaves her naked to manipulation, but I think she has a soft heart contradicting her cold look.'

'That is why I guess she won't refuse my request, it's just a couple of dishes after all.'

Genus still didn't find what he missed, or what he got wrong.

'But why are they frowning? It's like they didn't expect it. My body is broken so I need to eat, is it that hard to figure out?'

Contrary to his way of thinking, Shily thought hat he may be mentally damaged by his daily torture. So, she was worried that she may have brought a mindless slave.

Not mentioning the broken limbs, Who would, in their right mind, think of eating when even their mouths gush blood?

"Ahem!"

Realizing the place they were in, Benso straightened his back and cleared his throat, dismissing the awkward silence.

He was the first to speak.

"I just checked your condition, and it's even worse than what I thought. There is no way you can drink water in your current state, let alone eat. Despite how much I hate it, I'll have to spend money again on your treatment."

His serious remarks brought Shily to her senses, worryingly asking.

"Is it that bad?"

"Unfortunately, Y-"

Interrupting Benso, Genus coughed blood to attract their attention.

'I won't let you take this opportunity from me.'

Benso felt his hand squeeze, demonstrating that Genus can move his limbs.

"I.. can..eat…"

Blood slid his mouth with every word Genus spat, but his face was dead serious.

"Are you alright?"

Benso narrowed his eyes, noticing that Genus had lost too much blood, but strangely enough, he is still conscious. After a moment, Genus nodded weakly, then added from his injured throat.

"Food is..my… treatment ..and… I know.... you… don't like.. crowded places."

Shily looked around, noticing the stars of the passing people, which contained the familiar disgust and hate. At that moment, remembering her unfavorable situation, she turned her head away to look at Genus, pondering.

'He's right, I may have decided to confront my enemies, but that doesn't mean to pick unnecessary trouble.'

Benso also noticed the same thing, blaming himself for forgetting where they were and chatting meaninglessly.

'Sigh, anyways, he seems too hungry to care about himself.'

Benso thought that Genus had never eaten these days that his mind could only think of food, which wasn't totally wrong. But why Genus requested a feast and declined treatment, was for an entirely different reason.

Suddenly, with a cold face, Shily started moving toward their destination, Green Moon Inn.

"Let's give him what he wants, since that was my plan all along."

Shily had already planned to prepare a welcoming gift for her new servant, as she did with the others. Leaving his shamelessness out, the slave was eager to eat, despite his condition. Also, after giving it some thought, she realized that Genus was the hated slave in this city, and she had no healer or medic accompanying her, hence she agreed.

Maybe there is hope in food being a medicine, who knows… it all depended on luck, which she doubted was good enough.

Benso wasted no time, he picked Genus from the ground, then followed after Shily.

'Just what is happening to me, am I too stressed to forget?'

Benso was confused, lately he felt strange, missing to notice crucial things. Like, how he forgot to suspect Dermi's couple guards that stalked them for a long time, and how he ignored the absence of a healer, while also talking too much than usual…

'Sigh, I should be more on guard.'

He followed closely behind Shily, ignoring the weird gazes directed at Genus, who swayed around like a potato sac.

'Heh, that's more like it, I knew I was right.'

Genus could only imagine what lavish food they would bring for him, he can't wait!

Benso started his mind gears, trying to think ahead of time and absorb all that had happened today. But the more he thought, he couldn't fathom anything, it was chaos to say the least. From the moment he entered the city until now, everything from how he felt to what he saw was strange—or to be more precise, was out of his control.

Their trip was too smooth to be normal, and abruptly ruined to be abnormal. How mind tiring…

'All of this is out of expectations, yet executed well to appear like a coincidence. Something is not right! But I can't pinpoint what it is…'

Benso stared at the back of his student walking in front of him, and couldn't help but sigh, realizing how much pressure she's enduring.

His sighing mastery had reached the max level, no one can beat him at it!

Far from feeling pressured, Shily was oblivious to all these things, still not really aware of how grave her action would stir the world. No matter how cold or resolute she may be, the fact that she was an immature girl won't change overnight.

'Now I can learn the truth, and then see if he's really that powerful. I don't believe a 'nobody' would manifest killing intent, and to be that sinister nonetheless! I'm in need of him, so I must find a healer before his condition gets even worse.'

Shily still holds the idea that Genus was some enslaved expert from the fallen Ria, who have formed the scarce ability, killing intent. He—mostly—had killed millions if not billions to acquire such a thing. Though she forgot that he can kill her if he was that strong, she still believed she can learn some more useful fighting techniques than the ones she trained on so far.

Yesterday's night, she imagined all kinds of power he may host, which entertained her troubled brain until she fell asleep.

How naive of her to believe what her curiosity manifested. But maybe she is really that tired to even think properly.

But the person in question, Genus, was far more miserable than what she can imagine.