CHAPTER 37: Fluffy tails and Old Friends

The carriage rattled as it rolled along the path, carrying Kaziel, Anna, and Sakura toward their next destination. Inside, a map lay spread atop a wooden box, the trio leaning in as they planned their route.

Kaziel traced his finger westward. “First, we head to Velmore, the nation of magicians. Once there, we’ll need to cross the border.”

Anna rested her chin on her hand, deep in thought. “But in order to reach the coast, we’ll have to fight through the Greeds lurking near the borderline.”

Kaziel nodded. “Most travelers avoid that area entirely, taking a longer detour inland to Selphine Kingdom. The Greeds there are strong.”

Sakura’s gaze flickered with curiosity. “I heard the coastline is beautiful.”

Kaziel chuckled. “The sea, huh? I’ve never been there.”

Anna leaned back, crossing one leg on another. “Me neither. But it might be worth the risk. The Velmorian commander once mentioned about the borderlands—though he wasn’t eager to share details.”

Sakura tilted her head slightly. “Velmore… the land where the sky remains forever gray…”

Kaziel smiled at her, his tone light. “Yeah. But it wasn’t always like that.” His voice softened. “Velmore used to be beautiful. The sky was clear, and from the highlands, you could see the ocean stretching endlessly. Below, the borderlands lay untouched. But now… no one dares go near them.”

Anna listened quietly, already familiar with Velmore’s history, while Sakura’s curiosity deepened. “And if we cross that border, we’ll reach the coastline, right?” she asked.

Kaziel nodded. “Exactly. If we take that route, it’ll be shorter than the inland path. Plus, we could take a detour.”

Anna smirked, arms folded. “It’s just that… we’ll have to fight high-tier Greeds, and we can’t afford to lose our carriage.”

Her gaze flicked toward him, amusement dancing in her eyes. “We wouldn’t want to wreck another one, would we?”

Kaziel stiffened, clearly recalling past incidents. “Y-Yeah…”

Anna chuckled. “I’m just saying. I’m glad this carriage was a gift—or we’d be out of luck if something happened to it.”

She glanced out the window before adding, “I should’ve thanked Illiad for the horse too~”

Kaziel, however, glanced toward Helion, who rode silently ahead. The usual flicker of mischief in his golden eyes was absent—his expression unreadable.

He had been like this since they left the foundry.

Even when Kaziel casually offered to switch places, Helion refused, keeping to himself.

Something was on his mind.

Kaziel considered asking but hesitated. Helion wasn’t the type to talk when he didn’t want to, and pressing him would just be a waste of breath.

Still… something about his silence didn’t sit right.

By the next morning, they arrived in Velmore, Sakura took in the strange beauty of the land. The town was alive with magic, its streets humming with an unseen energy.

But beyond the rooftops, past the distant coastline, her gaze landed on something else.

A dense, creeping fog.

It loomed at the very edges of the horizon, dark and unmoving. It wasn’t natural. It wasn’t just mist from the sea.

A quiet unease settled in her chest.

She had a bad feeling beyond that place.

Yet, when she blinked, the feeling vanished—leaving only questions in its wake.

Velmore, a kingdom that reeked of magic. Unlike Caelivara, where warriors and survivalists thrived, Velmore was a land of mages, scholars, and artisans. Magic wasn’t just a tool here; it was woven into their very way of life.

Many of the citizens were half-breeds, their non-human traits blending seamlessly into the diverse population. Some had pointed ears, others had faintly glowing markings on their skin, and a few even had additional limbs or tails, marks of their mixed heritage.

The streets were alive with energy.

Children ran between market stalls, their laughter ringing through the air. Merchants eagerly displayed enchanted wares, their items shimmering with faint magical auras. Floating spell-lights hovered above the shaded alleys, casting a soft glow where the morning sun couldn’t reach.

Velmore was not just a place.

It was a world of its own.

As they passed through the main square, a familiar voice rang out.

“Well, well, if it isn’t my favorite lost wanderers!”

Kaziel’s head snapped up.

A sharp-toothed grin greeted them—Baihou.

A monkey-like man perched atop a low stone wall, looking just as wild and untamed as ever. His golden-furred tail flicked with restless energy, the wooden handles of his dual nunchaku tapping lightly against his side. Despite the lively square around them, he stood as if time itself waited for him.

“What’s my brother doing in this part of the world!?” Baihou called, his voice brimming with amusement.

Kaziel’s grin widened as he stepped forward, bumping fists with him.

“Baihou?! How’ve you been?!”

Laughter followed as they exchanged energetic greetings, their excitement evident.

Behind them, Anna and Helion watched with mild amusement, while Sakura observed Baihou for the first time—her eyes lingering on the way his tail moved in sync with his emotions.

Anna turned to her, offering a casual introduction. “Anyway, Sakura—that’s Baihou. He’s a traveler like one of us too. But he’s with the other faction. We’ve known him for quite awhile~”

Sakura nodded, “I see…”

Yet, her gaze lingered on him a little longer.

His wild, monkey-like carefree energy stood out—his every movement loose, confident, untamed. The way his tail lifted playfully when he got excited, how his golden eyes shone with mischief…

Then, Baihou sprinted toward Helion, arms wide open.

“Helion! My brother~! Come here, you sly fox!”

Helion did not move.

His expression remained blank as Baihou lunged—

And just before impact, an invisible thread snapped.

Thud.

Baihou landed flat on his face.

Groaning from the ground, he mumbled, “Ow… yeah, should’ve expected that.”

Kaziel burst into laughter, while Anna sighed, crossing her arms, refusing to acknowledge the scene unfolding before her.

But Sakura…

Her gaze wasn’t on Baihou or Helion.

It was lower.

Her eyes locked onto their tails—one thin and smooth, the other golden and fluffy—both flicking in irritation.

She couldn’t look away.

Her fingers twitched with an urge.

Adorable…

Before she could even question herself, Baihou suddenly turned toward her—too close for comfort.

Sakura stiffened, instinctively stepping behind Anna like a startled kitten.

Baihou tilted his head, nose twitching. His tail mimicked the motion. “Huh? Another new member?”

Kaziel smiled, unfazed. “Ah, Baihou, this is Sakura~ She just recently joined.”

Sakura hesitated, then gave a small bow. “N-Nice to meet you…!”

As she lifted her head, Baihou was staring.

Not in a hostile way.
Not even in curiosity.
Just staring.

Helion’s gaze flickered toward him.

Did Baihou sense something?

He was a storm wrapped in golden fur, a blur of movement, and a trickster who never lost a fight. But beneath that carefree exterior, his instincts were razor-sharp—sharper than any blade. If something was off about Sakura, he would know.

The air grew heavy. The silence stretched.

Then, Baihou finally spoke.

“Ah. She’s so short.”

Silence… Kaziel, Helion, and Anna facepalmed simultaneously.

Sakura blinked, completely caught off guard. “…Huh?”

Baihou continued, completely oblivious. “Wasn’t Anna this short before? Oh wait—Anna was even shorter!”

He gestured dramatically, holding his hands up to measure their heights.

Anna took it personally.

With zero hesitation, she lunged at him.

“You little—ARE YOU TRYING TO MAKE ME ANGRY!?”

“W-Wait! OW OW OW—!” Baihou yelped as Anna grabbed him in a headlock, aggressively ruffling his snow-white hair.

Kaziel doubled over laughing. “You haven’t changed, Baihou!”

As Anna continued wrestling him, Kaziel turned to Sakura, amusement flickering in his expression.

“Anyway, Sakura, Baihou used to be one of our party. He’s been on his own for a while now.”

Sakura nodded, still processing the chaos before her. “I-I see…”

Baihou, finally escaping Anna’s grasp, dusted himself off with an exaggerated ahem. “Traveling alone? No way. I have a companion!”

Anna paused, arms crossed. “Oh? Really?”

Baihou nodded smugly. “Yep. I’m traveling with someone who’s obsessed with magic. That’s why we stopped in Velmore.”

He turned toward the village, where the road sloped downward.

From their vantage point, the view stretched beyond the bustling streets, past the rooftops—to the distant coastline.

And beyond it…

The towering wall of the borderlands.

To Sakura’s notice, a strange unease settled in her chest.

Far beyond Velmore’s land, a dark fog loomed in the distance. It was blurred, distant, and yet… something about it felt worse than anything she had sensed before. A suffocating presence.

She tore her gaze away, telling herself to let it be—for now.

⸻

As they walked through the bustling streets, Baihou eagerly introduced them to some of the villagers. Many were shopkeepers tending to their stalls, others were pedestrians who recognized him instantly.

Baihou was well-known here, his energetic spirit leaving an impression wherever he went. But more than that—he was their protector.

“Anyways, I usually help people around here—gets me some good rewards.” Baihou stretched, placing his hands behind his head, his tail flicking lazily.

“Oh! And did you hear? They’ve been creating weapons using Sapphire Hearts! Pretty amazing, right? Maybe you guys could take their request if you’d like!”

Kaziel and the others nodded, absorbing the information.

“I see,” Kaziel murmured thoughtfully.

Unlike other countries, where Sapphire Hearts were often sold as mere commodities, Velmore was actually inventing with them—a unique approach that set them apart.

As they walked, the lively atmosphere of the town surrounded them.

People greeted Baihou warmly, waving as he passed. Some of the older folks smiled knowingly, as if familiar with his antics, while a few children ran after him playfully.

Baihou, grinning, waved them off with ease, his usual carefree energy radiating in every step.

Then, whispers began in the background.

A group of teenage girls, lingering near a fabric stall, suddenly stilled as their eyes landed on Kaziel.

His presence caught them off guard.

They whispered among themselves, their attention glued to him for longer than casual admiration.

But then, their gazes shifted.

Their eyes widened as they noticed Helion.

Taller than Kaziel, with golden hair catching the morning light and a piercing, sharp gaze, Helion’s aura was impossible to ignore.

The girls blushed—instantly.

Meanwhile, a group of elderly women—who were fortunate enough to know Baihou personally—made their way toward the group.

One of them, a cheerful lady, greeted Baihou with a friendly wave. “Evening, Baihou~ Oh my, who’s this attractive guy?”

Her eyes lingered on Kaziel.

Kaziel, ever composed, remained polite, without saying much.

Baihou, however, grinned proudly. “Oh hey! This is my friend—he’s a traveler. We’re reuniting after a long time~”

The ladies giggled, exchanging mischievous glances as they practically surrounded Kaziel.

“Oh my, you got our attention~ Are you free tonight~?”

Kaziel maintained his calm demeanor, offering a polite gesture as he smoothly declined.

“Not really. I have a lot of things more important to do.”

One of the older women chuckled, unfazed. Her voice dropped into a low, sultry tone, her gaze twinkling with mischief.

“Aww, that’s too bad~ But if you don’t mind coming over to our bakery shop sometime…” she leaned in slightly, “we’d love to give you lots of milk for free~”

The group giggled again, clearly entertained by Kaziel’s growing discomfort.

Meanwhile, Baihou stood beside him, visibly sulking.

His arms crossed tightly, tail flicking aggressively as he muttered under his breath.

Tch.

Why the hell was Kaziel getting all the attention?

Where was HIS fan club?!

Meanwhile, Anna’s expression twisted in absolute disgust.

Sakura, on the other hand, looked merely oblivious.

“That’s them! The Sapphire Heart Collectors!”

“Oh gosh, seeing them this up close… they’re so attractive~!”

Before they knew it, a crowd of girls had surrounded Kaziel and Helion.

Kaziel, though slightly uncomfortable at how quickly they had been recognized, remained composed. He politely declined their advances, keeping his usual calm demeanor.

Helion?

He completely ignored them.

Did they just… realize how popular these two were?