Chapter 19: The Last Day of Preparation and the Unforeseen Variable

The next day, Kaega woke up early. Unlike the previous days, he didn't need to think all the time. Kaega simply went out the door and started warming up his body to see how much he had recovered.

"Since coming here, Elina has been preparing medicine for me to recover, but I don't know where she gets it."

Looking at the pile of medicinal herbs in Elina's room, he had to admire that she was truly a healing priestess of the Holy Nation. His body had recovered a little since coming here. He estimated that by the time of the Blood Feast, he could be at fifty percent of his original condition.

He went downstairs. Elina and two children were cooking together, preparing for everyone.

-Oh, Kaega, you're up early?

-Yeah, I'm not used to sleeping much.

-Alright, can you help me with the cooking?

-I'll help, but I don't know anything about cooking...

-Alright, you just need to assist. If you don't know something, just ask us.

Kaega went in to help Elina with the cooking. This was also the first time he had cooked anything. He usually just picked up leftover food that had been thrown away or, if lucky, stole some money from a fool to buy a few pieces of bread.

-Alright, let's set them on the table.

-Yeah...

It took a while to place them on the table because there was quite a lot.

-Elina, this must have cost quite a bit of money. How do you usually earn money?

-Usually, I go to the Gray Dust taverns to heal people because there's always someone getting hurt here every day. And if I have time, I sell some medicines made from herbs.

-As expected, healers and medicine sellers can survive anywhere.

-Not really. Lavish meals like this have only been possible in the last two days....

Kaega said nothing. It seemed that pile of mana stones had been useful for Elina and the children.

-Are you going to eat now?

-No, I'm not very hungry right now.

-Alright, what are your plans for today?

-I'm planning to go out.

-Alone?

-Yeah, I don't plan on asking Lyne to come with me.

-I see.

Elina replied and then went out to call the children into the dining room, while Kaega returned to his room. On the way back, Kaega looked out into the yard and saw Lyne practicing alone. Kaega didn't pay much attention to it.

When he got back to his room, Kaega took out the book on resurrection techniques to read again.

"The necessary conditions to resurrect someone are definitely Memory and Consciousness, or having the soul of the person to be resurrected. But perhaps the most ideal is to have both of the above conditions. But the Head Measurer only has his Consciousness on Lyne, and Memory is impossible because Lyne is not related by blood... His soul has probably turned into mana by now."

Kaega suddenly realized something was wrong.

"Wait, if there's a voice in Lyne's head, then whose was the voice I heard in the ruins?"

For some reason, after Kaega enchanted the Dorgan dagger, he had completely forgotten about that voice.

"Come to think of it, since enchanting the dagger, I haven't heard that voice at all."

Kaega recalled the times the voice had appeared in his head.

The first time was to warn him when entering the ruins, but suddenly at that moment, Lyne lost control.

The second time was after they continued, she said she would protect him.

The third time was during the magic enchantment for the dagger... since then, it had completely disappeared...

"It's also a Consciousness!!!"

Kaega quickly realized that the voice was also the Consciousness of someone. He quickly reasoned along this line of thought.

"Based on the tone, it's female. But before entering the ruins, the only female I had contact with was Lyne..."

Kaega seemed to realize something, a malicious smile on his face.

"Head Measurer, oh Head Measurer..."

-Hmm, brother....

-Huh? What is it, kids?

-Yes!... Yes, sir...

A small group of all-male children came to Kaega.

-Mother Elina told us to bring you some cake...

The children placed a plate of cake for Kaega. In their hands was another plate.

-The other one is for Lyne, right?

-Yes, sir...

-So tell me, what's your purpose for coming to me?

-Huh... uhm.. no purpose at all..

Kaega realized that his smile at that moment probably scared the children.

-Alright, just say it. No one comes in a group like this just to bring cake.

-Ah... hm... we want to ask you to teach us how to fight, sir.

-Ah, is that so... I don't know how to fight... if you want to learn, you should find Lyne.

-But she seems so cold and quiet.

-She may seem that way, but she's very easygoing with children. But you'll need a little trick to get her to accept you. Come here, let me tell you.

Kaega chuckled to himself. After a while, the children's eyes lit up as if they had been enlightened.

-Alright, give me the plate of cake. Let me do that first.

After that, Kaega went out to provoke Lyne, then he went to see Elina to go out, while the children waited for Lyne to finish her run.

-Elina, have you been to the tavern yet?

-No, I haven't been to the tavern lately. Do you want to go out?

-Yeah.

-Then let me go with you. I was also planning to buy a few things to prepare for leaving this place.

With that, Elina went out with him. When they went out, Kaega was surprised that Elina didn't choose to blindfold and carry him anymore. She said that since they were about to leave, there was no need to be too secretive about this place anymore. After walking for a while, Kaega realized he was walking between buildings. Then they came out of that place at a wall.

"This looks like that place."

-What's wrong?

-Did you create this passage?

-No, he created it. There are quite a few places like this in the city...

-He?

-It's a long story, so let's talk about it when we get back. Now, let's get to our own business, shall we?

Kaega didn't ask many questions, and went to a forge in the Faith Guild's territory. On the way, he saw many ruined structures from the battle between the Faith Guild and the Silver Masks. There were also many patrols on the road, but since he didn't show his face, no one paid attention. When he reached the forge he used to know, he clicked his tongue.

"These Silver Mask bastards, why did they have to destroy the forge too..."

The forge here had been destroyed on that night and had not been rebuilt yet. The alchemy room was in a similar state...

"Haaa.... I guess I'll have to waste time going to the Hunters' Guild..."

The Blood Wolves were now forbidding outsiders from entering their territory. If you wanted to enter, you needed a permit. The Hunters' Guild hadn't made any major moves yet, but still allowed people from other territories to pass through.

After nearly 2 hours of walking, Kaega finally reached the forge of the Hunters' Guild. He stepped inside. There was an old man, sweating by the furnace. Without turning his face, he spoke.

-What are you here for?... Buying weapons, armor.... or custom work?

-I need custom work.

-Then put the blueprint or the sample on the table.

Kaega placed the handheld cannon on the table. Then, Kaega said.

-How long will this tube take you?

The old blacksmith turned around, his eyes squinting slightly, recognizing the object on the table.

-It's a gun...

-A gun?

-It seems this little kid doesn't know the name of this thing?

-Picked it up from a dead guy on the road.

-Alright, whatever. 5 gold coins.

Kaega's eyes widened. 5 gold coins, this was like robbery.

-5 gold coins... are you robbing me...

-What's wrong, don't have the money? Then please leave.

-No, I have the money, but why is it so expensive?

-You think making this is easy? The steel used must also be of good quality, otherwise it's very easy to explode when used.

-As expected, this thing still has a chance of exploding...

-As expected?... Have you been blown up once before..

-You don't need to know. So how long to finish it?

-Leave this thing here and come back the day after tomorrow. If you want bullets too, add 50 silver for 30 high-quality ones. As for Thunder Powder, go to the alchemist's place to buy it, I don't sell it here.

-Alright. It's a deal. I'll be back the day after tomorrow.

Kaega walked out of the forge. He had already spent what was left of his 10 gold and 23 silver.

"Now I have to go buy something else to prepare for the Blood Feast."

He walked to the Hunters' Guild headquarters. Although not a heretical guild, the people who worked here were no saints either. Here, as long as you had money, you could get anything done. Looking inside, he read on the bounty board, which described the dangers outside the city.

"Need someone to get a Giant's eye... reward 1 gold... stray dragon... reward 5 gold..."

Kaega skimmed through them and then turned to the reception.

-Hello, sir. Are you here to buy map information, claim a bounty, or hire a bodyguard?

-A map of Braum, and intelligence about the country of Caelithea.

-Alright, it seems you wish to leave Braum. That will be 1 gold and 1 silver 50 copper for the map, compass, and information...

Kaega placed the money, and he received a compass and a map, along with a large sheet of paper with information about the country near the border, Caelithea.

-What about horses here?

-7 gold for an average, slightly old horse...

-Alright.

Kaega closed his eyes and put the money on the table. The remaining money was 2 gold, 20 silver, and 50 copper. He followed the receptionist, got a horse, and left. He led the horse back to the Faith Guild's territory, and there they searched him but found nothing unusual, so they let him pass.

"It seems Lyne bandaged me very carefully last time...."

Kaega didn't know how well Lyne had bandaged him that she could carry him and cause trouble in this area for a whole night without anyone recognizing him... On the way, he saw a large army being assembled, led by a man in shining silver armor.

"Shouldn't pay too much attention, or I'll be suspected."

He quickly turned his head and went back to the hidden wall before anyone could spot him.

Elina was already there. She had also bought a carriage, and it was already loaded with a lot of things.

-You've prepared quite thoroughly.

-You too.

The two went into the wall and quickly returned after being out for 4 hours. When he got back, Kaega went up to his room and placed the money bag on the table. Looking out the window, he saw the kids still chasing Lyne.

"Lyne, will you disappoint me that day?...."

Kaega's eyes turned cold, unsure if the future would be a success or failure, because after all, the center of both Kaega's and the Head Measurer's plans was still Lyne, and her actions would decide who the final winner would be...

Lyne sensed Kaega watching her, turned her head, and saw Kaega looking out with cold eyes. Then he turned his head and left.....

"Lyne, don't disappoint me...."

.....