Chapter 137: Shadows, Screams, and Supper
The soft rustling of leaves was suddenly accompanied by a small creak behind the tree they where hiding. Dila and Fran froze instantly, their hearts skipping a beat....
But unfortunately it was the one and only carriage driver had quietly approached, his footsteps tentative on the forest floor.
"W-what are you looking at, Princess?" His voice was soft, almost a whisper, as if afraid to disturb the delicate tension in the night.
Both girls startled, but neither made a sound. Dila’s eyes flicked toward him, narrowing slightly, a hint of disbelief in her tone. "I thought you were somewhere else," she murmured, her voice barely audible.
"Yeah," Fran added, cheeks puffed in a mixture of surprise and irritation, her tail flicking slightly behind her as she crouched lower against the tree.
The driver’s hands trembled just a little as he stepped closer, bowing slightly, his eyes filled with apologetic concern. "Forgive me, Princess, and... little cat girl," he whispered, his words coated with sincere regret.
Fran pouted immediately, her ears twitching with indignation. "My name is Fran, you know," she said, her voice soft but firm, clearly wanting to be acknowledged.
The carriage driver scratched the back of his head, a sheepish smile spreading across his face. "Ahhh... okay, got it," he said, his voice low and warm, brushing away the tension. He shifted his weight, trying to appear casual as he glanced at the glowing campfire ahead, though his eyes betrayed his unease.
Dila’s lips curved into a faint smile, her eyes still scanning the shadows, while Fran’s small frown softened slightly. The driver’s gentle, almost awkward presence grounded the moment, lending a quiet sense of reassurance amid the uncertainty of the dark forest.
The forest was quiet for a tense moment, the crackle of the small campfire filling the silence. Dila and Fran had just turned their backs to it, whispering between themselves, when suddenly... a firm tap landed on both of their shoulders.
Both girls jumped violently, their voices escaping in a simultaneous shriek, "Ahhhhhhh!" Eyes wide, hearts pounding, they spun around to face the source.
The carriage driver, standing a little behind them, stumbled in shock, his jaw dropping as he witnessed the scene. A nervous laugh escaped him—"Hahaha!"—even as his mind struggled to process what had just happened.
Before he could even form words, he found himself still collapse onto the dirt, his arms flailing slightly as he sat dumbfounded, staring at the figure in front of them.
Dila and Fran were frozen, their expressions pale, eyes almost completely white with shock, the weight of fear and surprise rooting them to the spot. Fran’s tail twitched anxiously, and Dila’s grip on her skirt tightened without realizing it.
Then the carriage driver, still processing the impossible, managed to stammer, "Is... is that you... Hero Zeon?"
Zeon’s laughter rang through the night, rich and teasing, echoing off the trees. "Hahahaha! Got you!" His voice carried both amusement and the calm confidence of someone who knew he had complete control of the moment.
The forest seemed to pause around them—the firelight flickering across Zeon’s mask as he stood there, his eyes glinting faintly, the shadows bending slightly with his presence. Fear, relief, and incredulous laughter collided in the chest of the carriage driver and the two girls, leaving them breathless and wide-eyed.
As Dila and Fran’s blurred vision slowly cleared, the whiteness in their eyes faded, replaced by the dim glow of the campfire. Dila blinked rapidly, still catching her breath, and said in a mixture of shock and disbelief, "Whaaat... I thought your mission was over... that you already... took care of the bandits?" Her voice trembled slightly, both from relief and lingering fear.
Zeon took a deliberate step back, his posture relaxed, arms crossed in front of his chest, yet his presence alone still carried an unsettling authority. He let out a soft, almost lazy sigh, tilting his head slightly. "Huhhh... mission over?" he murmured, his voice carrying a teasing, almost playful edge. "Hahah... dream on. My mission... far from over."
The carriage driver, still crouched on the dirt nearby, eyes wide and breathing still shaky, couldn’t contain his curiosity. "Hero... does this mean... you’re the one who killed the bandits?" His voice was a mixture of awe and disbelief, almost reverent.
Zeon tilted his head, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips, eyes closing briefly in quiet pride. "Ding... ding," he said lightly, the sound almost like a bell of affirmation. "You’re right." There was a subtle satisfaction in his tone, a calm, confident acknowledgment of his deeds that made both Dila and Fran exchange a glance part relief, part awe realizing once again just how formidable this masked figure truly was.
The firelight danced over his figure, casting long shadows that seemed to stretch across the tense forest floor, highlighting the eerie calm after the storm, as the trio absorbed the gravity of what had just occurred.
Then...
Zeon stepped closer to the soft glow of his campfire, the flames flickering against the surrounding trees, casting long, dancing shadows across the forest floor. "Come on," he said, his voice calm but firm, gesturing toward the fire as he moved to arrange a few additional small logs. "Sit."
Dila, Fran, and even the carriage driver hesitated for a moment, still wary, but the gentle warmth of the fire and Zeon’s steady presence drew them in. They settled around the circle of logs he had prepared, the firelight flickering across their faces, highlighting a mixture of fatigue, relief, and lingering tension.
From a small, neatly kept pack, Zeon pulled out several plucked and cleaned rabbits, carefully arranged and ready to grill. The scent of fresh meat, lightly seasoned with herbs he had prepared earlier, wafted into the cool night air. He smiled beneath his mask, eyes closing briefly as he added softly, "I prepared this for you all. Since there’s a Princess... I had to season the food properly." His tone was quiet, almost intimate, a subtle care threaded through his words.
The carriage driver blinked in surprise, Fran’s ears twitched with curiosity, and Dila, still slightly guarded, allowed herself a small, appreciative smile. The night felt warmer now, the danger of earlier fading, replaced by this strange sense of calm and quiet camaraderie, all centered around Zeon’s carefully tended fire.
Dila’s gaze lingered on Zeon as he carefully arranged the rabbits over the flickering flames, his movements precise yet almost casual. "What happened to you," she asked, her voice laced with a mix of curiosity and exasperation, "the menace, maniac with that ridiculous grin? Where did that go?"
Behind the mask, Zeon’s smile widened, the faint curve of amusement in his eyes visible even in the dim firelight. "Oh... nothing," he said softly, tilting his head, "I’m still me, Zeon... hehehe." The quiet chuckle carried a subtle warmth, an echo of the mischief she remembered so well.
Dila’s expression change, becoming deadpan as ever, though a faint twitch at the corner of her mouth betrayed her amusement. "Ohh... yeah," she muttered, shaking her head slightly, "you never change." The tension of the earlier bandit attack seemed to fade a little, replaced by this strange, grounding moment of normalcy even if it was with someone as unpredictable as Zeon.
Fran, sitting close by, glanced between them, her tail flicking with quiet curiosity, sensing the shift in Dila’s mood. Even the carriage driver let out a soft, almost incredulous whistle, unsure whether to be amused or worried about the calm, yet chaotic energy radiating from the masked hero.
The night air felt lighter, the fire crackling between them like a small island of safety and comfort.
But for some unknown reason.....
Zeon’s laughter suddenly broke the quiet of the forest night, echoing softly against the trees as he leaned slightly on his knees. "Umm... Princess," he said, tilting his head behind the mask, "when I sneaked a peek at you close in the carriage... hehehe... I did see you two pee fully displayed! Your body... so womanly, Princess. But... hahahaha, sometimes you plan like a strategic boy or ack one too, it’s confusing... hehehe."
Dila’s eyes widened instantly, her cheeks flushing a deep crimson as her mind raced. No... no way... he saw... everything... she thought, frozen in a mix of embarrassment and disbelief. Her hands instinctively clutched her skirt closer, as if she could hide the memory from him, though she knew it was too late.
Fran, crouched slightly beside her, hissed sharply, her blue eyes narrowing to thin slits, and her ears twitched aggressively. "I will tear you to death, neaaaaa!" she growled, her tail flicking with sharp irritation. Her small hands curled into fists, trembling slightly, a mix of rage and mortified embarrassment at being seen like that.
Even the carriage driver, still perched slightly beside them, couldn’t hide his own reaction. His face burned bright red, his lips parted as he blinked repeatedly, trying to process the awkward, mortifying confession spilling from Zeon. The soft glow of the campfire flickered across the tense faces, casting long shadows that danced alongside their embarrassment and anger, making the moment almost painfully intimate... and bizarrely funny.
Without a warning.
Dila’s voice shot out, sharp and trembling with frustration. "Forget that, you fool! You devil! Good-for-nothing hero!" she shouted, pressing her hands against her face, eyes squeezed shut, trying to vanish into herself. Her cheeks burned with humiliation, a flush so intense it seemed to radiate through her whole body.
Zeon only chuckled softly, the sound low and amused, his posture relaxed behind the mask. "Insult me all you want, Princess," he said, tilting his head with a sly grin, "but it won’t work on me... ahhh, hahahaha." His laughter carried a strange mixture of mischief and amusement, echoing softly across the forest clearing.
Dila peeked through her fingers, disbelief etched across her face. "You are like... what the... fff... what the fuck!" she exclaimed, her voice cracking a little with embarrassment and outrage.
Zeon leaned back slightly, still smiling behind his mask, and said lightly, "Ohhh... you mean what the fact? That I saw you pee? Well... that’s true." His tone was teasing, almost playful, but the truth in it made Dila shriek, her whole body stiffening. "Nooooo!" she groaned, burying her face deeper into her hands.
Fran, quick to protect her sister, slid closer and wrapped an arm tightly around Dila’s shoulders. She leaned in, whispering firmly, "Don’t mind him, Sister. He’s just a creepy bastard, a big pervert meanie." Her eyes flashed with sharp determination, though a faint blush lingered across her cheeks.
Dila peeked at Fran through her fingers, her own voice softening. "You’re right, Fran..." she murmured, though Zeon’s laughter continued in the background, the sound teasing and relentless, curling through the night air as if mocking her embarrassment. The campfire flickered, casting long, dancing shadows that seemed to echo the mixture of shame, warmth, and the faint, ridiculous humor of the moment.
As they stay silent again then the night air carried a strange stillness, broken only by the crackling of the fire and the faint sizzle of rabbit fat dripping into the flames. The warmth lit their faces, dancing in orange hues, but there was still an edge of unease lingering around the camp.
Finally, the carriage driver broke the silence, his voice a little nervous. "Umm... hero," he said, glancing around the dark forest, "why is it that no one is attacking us? Not even a magical beast... even though we’ve been so loud."
Zeon didn’t look up at first, his hands busy turning the skewered rabbits, the scent of roasted meat filling the air. Then he chuckled under his breath, the sound rough but amused. "That’s simple," he replied, his voice steady. "I killed every magical beast within our radius before I came here. I knew the Princess would scream when she saw me, so... I cleared the area first." He smirked faintly, shaking his head as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Dila stiffened, her brows knitting together. "Excuse me!!... for being loud, hmmmmp!!" she muttered, giving him a quick, sharp glance from under her lashes. But before she could say more, Zeon lifted one of the skewers from the fire. The rabbit glistened with reddish-brown juices, perfectly cooked, the smell is rich with savory flavour aroma. Carefully, he placed it onto a wooden plate carved with neat detail, clean and polished as if prepared just for this moment.
Then, with surprising seriousness, he stood and walked toward her, holding the plate steadily. "Princess," he said softly, his tone calm and composed, "you must eat."
Dila blinked, her lips parting slightly in surprise at his unexpected seriousness. But then, suspicion crept into her eyes. Her voice sharpened, defensive. "What if... you put poison in that?"
Fran gasped, her cat ears twitching as her eyes widened. Even the carriage driver’s face went pale at the accusation. The firelight flickered in their widened eyes, the tension suddenly thick in the air.
Zeon stopped in his steps, then sighed through his nose, lowering his head just slightly. When he lifted it again, his voice was gentler, calmer, almost tired. "Are you nuts?" he said quietly, not mocking this time. "If I wanted to assassinate you... your father would chase me to the ends of the earth."
Fran blinked, her lips curling upward despite herself. She let out a small, amused chuckle, breaking the heavy mood.
Dila, still blushing faintly, crossed her arms, her pride battling against her hunger. "Alright then... give me that," she muttered, yanking the plate from his hand with a quick motion.
Zeon only smiled faintly behind his mask, his eyes narrowing as if satisfied. He said nothing more, simply turned back to the fire. With a smooth motion, he sat again on the log, continuing to grill more rabbits, his posture relaxed. The rich aroma of roasting meat soon filled the circle again, softening the tension and pulling them, one by one, into the comfort of the meal.
The first bite nearly stunned her....
The roasted rabbit was tender, its juices rich and savory, perfectly seasoned in a way that melted across her tongue. Dila froze for a moment, blinking in disbelief, before her body betrayed her with a soft shiver of delight. Impossible... she thought, her blue eyes widening. Is this really his cooking? This... this good?
Her long ears twitched involuntarily, catching even the faint crackle of the fire, while her pupils sparkled as if tiny stars had taken root in her gaze. It was as though she had been lifted to another world, floating somewhere far above, carried by pure flavor. Her prideful restraint shattered. She leaned forward, biting rapidly into the tender meat, devouring each piece with a speed and hunger she didn’t know she had.
Zeon leaned back on his log, watching her with quiet amusement. Behind the mask, his smile tugged wider, his voice low but tinged with laughter. "Calm down, Princess... it’s not running away."
But Dila didn’t listen. She was lost in the rush, savoring every bite, eating nonstop as if she feared the taste might vanish if she paused.
Across from her, Fran’s eyes grew wide, her little mouth parting as drool practically glistened at the corner of her lips. She hugged her knees tightly to her chest, tail swishing behind her as she whispered under her breath, "Sister... that looks so good..." Her gaze flicked between Dila’s blissful expression and the rabbit still roasting on the fire, her patience unraveling fast.
Dila, meanwhile, chewed furiously, her thoughts tumbling in disbelief. Unbelievable... utterly unbelievable. That murderer... that assassin... can cook like this? The words echoed in her mind, clashing with everything she thought she knew of Zeon.
Yet she didn’t stop. She couldn’t stop. Bite after bite, the firelight danced over her flushed cheeks, making her look almost childlike in her unrestrained delight as she kept eating, eyes shining brighter with every mouthful.