---

「Please teach me the breathing techniques!」

We'd returned to the village.

I lowered my head in a deferential bow. Lia—settled in an armchair with her legs crossed—paused her evening cup of tea and turned to me with a puzzled look.

My hopes of ever beating Seyna and dominating my enemies depended on her answer.

「W-what's with you? Did something happen during the meeting Lorenzo? You're never this enthusiastic... Last I saw you this eager was when we'd first met.」

「I apologize for slacking off during your lessons. But now I have a goal—one I'm not willing to back down from.」

Her eyes briefly widened before reverting to normal.

As I kept my body inclined, Lia took a sip from her cup. A typical sigh left her lips as she scratched her head.

「From what I can tell, you're definitely serious. It's good to see your enthusiasm rekindled...」

「So... it's okay?!」

「Be that as it may...」

She sternly set her teacup on the table beside her, interrupting my elation.

「The regimen involved will be twice... no, three times more intense than your usual training sessions. Dying from overexertion isn't outside the realm of possibility. Even knowing that, can you still stand there and promise me you won't give up later?」

I stepped back for a bit.

Yeesh... death? Isn't that what I'm trying to avoid?

But I had already made up my mind. Logic dictated my next step was to learn the breathing techniques as soon as possible.

As an MMORPG player, grinding for levels was second nature to me. With the way I was now, I barely reached basic level requirements for easy quests.

I'd have to risk dying to attain a higher level, same as my in-game character.

「O-of course! I can handle whatever you throw at me! Teach me down to the bone!」

I stood my ground as best I could.

Lia stared at me narrowly through half-closed eyes. She wasn't buying anything.

「Tell me that when your breathing doesn't falter at the mere utterance of death.」

「Geh!」

As she gulped down the last drop of tea, however, the woman's expression softened.

「Well, there's no harm in putting you through the wringer for one day. I doubt that much training will kill you.」

Hearing her words filled me with immeasurable relief and joy. I had finally secured the means to stand up to that spiteful District Master.

I'm gonna kick your ass Boobzilla!

I leaned in closer to Lia with an excited beam on my face.

「I await your instructions, teacher!」

She replied with an even more confuzzled look.

「L-Lorenzo, I understand that you're keen to find an outlet for your newfound resolve, but...」

「Yeah?」

「It's already nighttime. We'll start at the usual time tomorrow.」

Realizing how late it was, I embarrassedly backed away and apologized for my behavior. Even I was surprised by how childish I'd acted.

「I presume Rysef told you where I was.」

「It was his way of supporting my desire to become stronger. Never heard of this place before.」

The slum dweller hamlet's very own watchtower. It served as both a lookout point and a barracks for the Sentinels' guards division.

It was a dilapidated wooden tower, riddled with holes yet still standing. The bottom floor was the only part somewhat renovated.

Reinforced by stone, the fixtures meshed with the wooden foundation and morphed it into an impenetrable fortress.

Can't feel relaxed here though. I don't know how Lia can drink tea here like it's her own home.

「Next time you should wait until dinnertime to talk to me. We're on the edge of the village and you never know when an attack could happen. It's the last place a kid like you should be lounging around.」

「I-I'll keep that in mind.」

Beyond the tower were the vast woods separating the village and Yarzon City. It was an area Asthos and his team would frequent for hunting expeditions.

For such a large forest, the meat haul is pretty lackluster. Do they just suck at hunting or..?

「Captain! It's your shift now. Nothing to report from my rounds.」

「Ah, Klon! I'll head out shortly. You should leave too, Lorenzo. Send Master Rysef my regards. I'll be waiting at the training chamber tomorrow morning. Show me you're serious.」

I quickly nodded and exited the tower. My nervousness around the other Sentinels hadn't left me.

It would be splendid if I could establish a friendly rapport with them, but alas...

I'm the farthest thing from a people person...

---

Rysef's manor wasn't far from the watchtower. Both buildings were on the outskirts of the slum dweller hamlet.

Its wooden structuring was in line with the other wooden houses, yet you could never miss it.

I ambled a bit on my way back and observed the distant lights scattered throughout the village below. Everyone was living carefree lives around the slum dweller sanctuary.

It had me wondering though...

What separates those who live in the city, and those who live here in the hamlet?

As I pondered the reasoning behind the strange segregation, the manor's front door opened.

Out came an older-looking gentleman with a long handlebar mustache plastered above his lips. He sported black robes and a fitting wide-brimmed hat.

Purple hair and yellow eyes... I see that a lot around here... Are those traits of the Jazgan race?

「Hm? Evenin'」

「O-oh, good evening.」

He tipped his hat and went on his merry way.

Following him from inside down the hallway was Rysef. He waved his hands as he walked towards me.

「Welcome back kid! How'd it go with Lia?」

「She said she'd try training me tomorrow to see if I can handle it.」

「Haha! Now's your chance to prove yourself to her!」

I stepped inside and shut the door behind me. The sweet scent of weathered wood greeted my nose as it always did.

「By the way, who was the guy I just bumped into?」

「Our resident healer, Maksa. You've heard of him right?」

「Is something wrong with Melyn?」

「Oh no. He came here to perform a checkup on her. I'm confident in my healing abilities, but getting a certified medical professional's opinion puts me at ease you know?」

The Ashen Thief and I both quietly entered the thief girl's room. It was my first time there.

It was a tidy room—devoid of the mess and clutter present in my room. Bookshelves filled with clean books lined every corner.

「I thought her book collection was the one in the study.」

「It is. This is also part of her collection. She must own a thousand books in all.」

「What a bookworm... I swear...」

Melyn lay in her quilt-covered bed sound asleep—bandages were wrapped around her delicate body. I almost felt sorry for using her as a tool for my plans.

Rysef placed his big hand on my shoulder and smiled warmly.

「She needs a full week of rest before she can dash around again. Be sure you visit her so she doesn't get lonely.」

「I'll find the time after training.」

「You're as cold as ever kid, haha!」

We then took our conversation to the study room.

It was time to get down to business regarding the illicit substance peddling. Lakua District was facing a great crisis.

The two of us sat across from each other wearing gloomy expressions. The atmosphere began to stagnate.

「Long story short, the pink dust we're dealing with is Nixie dust. Class A narcotic.」

「Nixie dust?」

Rysef dimmed the lantern and spoke quietly. If word spread that a drug crisis was plaguing the slum dweller community, panic would ensue.

Keeping all details under wraps was the best way to go about it.

「A horrible mix between Garrick root powder and Freymist. Possesses the hallucinogenic properties of the former, and the euphoria-eliciting properties of the latter. Cooking requires precise synthesizing methods. So either the producers have access to high-quality facilities, or more likely we're dealing with an alchemist.」

「A-an alchemist?」

「Chemists that utilize magic. It's entirely plausible to whip up thousands of batches in a single day if sorcery is involved.」

I was stunned.

I knew magic could be used for all sorts of things but... this? It hadn't even crossed my mind that something like this was doable.

It must be a nightmare to regulate sorcerers...

「Freymist huh..? That was the drug Seyna used on me this morning...」

「Oh? Come to think of it, she does carry a vial or two of Freymist around with her. It's a miracle you're talking to me now and not completely under her thumb.」

「Melyn's to thank for that. Without her intervention, I probably would've given in to the overwhelming ecstasy.」

I owed a lot to the thief girl. To protect my pride, I was determined to repay her in any way I could.

Otherwise, I'd simply be crushed under the weight of my own shame.

「Where does Seyna get her narcotics from anyway? Is there a chance she's in cahoots with the drug peddlers..?」

「Haha... calm down kid. Rushing to conclusions is exactly something Seyna would do. She's an alchemist that specializes in narcotics sure—but safeguarding the slum dwellers is her raison d'être. She wouldn't dare harm them to further her goals.」

「Really? Even if they were from another district?」

Rysef leaned back against his chair and stared up into the ceiling.

「I've known her for twenty years now. I can guarantee you she's an ally in this case. She may hold extremist ideals, but beneath that brash and impudent exterior is a caring woman who looks after her community. To her, districts don't matter when dealing with the impoverished.」

「Caring..? That malicious succubus..?」

「She was probably taking out her frustrations on you and Mel. It may not sound convincing coming from the guy who almost pummeled her to shreds but... please forgive Seyna.」

Despite his words, I just couldn't forgive the Viridescent Queen. Especially after what she did to Melyn.

Deep down inside I thought to myself...

Rysef's too soft it's painful... I can see where Seyna is coming from...

「Back to the topic at hand... the real clincher is that none of us have any leads. Kayn's men managed to seize a drug den, but none of the slum dwellers there had any useful information. Apparently, dealers come and go at random...」

「So, how am I a part of this? I assume you're telling me all this because I have a role to fulfill.」

「Haha... how are you still on the ball after everything that's transpired today?」

I simpered at his comment. It was nice to finally hear a compliment after being persecuted all morning.

「I was going to ask you to do a bit of information digging tomorrow, but since Mel's out of action, we'll have to postpone it until next month.」

「Works out for me—I'll be undergoing arduous training for a while.」

「That you will. I'll brief you more about it when the time comes. For now, just focus on learning the breathing techniques. They'll help a lot, even if you grasp just the basics.」

Rysef got up and stretched his arms out wide. I extinguished the lantern flame and returned our chairs to their proper spots.

「That's all I want to brief you on today. It wasn't much, but I figured I should let you in on these sorts of things. Your face was blank when the drug issue was brought up you know? Haha!」

As he approached the exit though, something else came to mind.

No leads..? What about the Church Seyna kept referencing..?

I felt as though I'd regret it if I didn't speak now.

「Um... Master Rysef... one more thing...」

The Ashen Thief drew to a halt and listened—his back still facing me.

「Seyna mentioned this but... what about the Church? I don't know much about them but... if someone so hellbent on protecting the slum dwellers suspect them, don't you think—」

「Lorenzo.」

Rysef cut me off. I could only see his unmoving stark silhouette amidst the darkness.

「I've ventured throughout all of Velatya—been to all the eight nations and beyond. Jazga, Merulea, Salzagar, Ingvard, Beafroux, Qianwei, Talhaj, and Pelcazzi. Never once in my travels have I encountered someone like you Lorenzo. You're an anomaly in this anomalous world.」

He opened the door, shining light from the corridor into the dark study.

「When I espied the rising steam from behind the chapel, I had a feeling you were involved. Mel may read a lot, but she's not exactly a cunning strategist. I doubt she could've thought of something like that on her own.」

「O-oh... so you knew...」

「In any case, you've got a bright future ahead of you kid. But getting involved with the Church of Vel will only cut that future short. Never buy into the baseless tripe Seyna spouts... capiche?」

Without giving me a chance to answer, the Ashen Thief stormed off. Either he was religious like Kayn, or the Church was a force to be reckoned with.

In truth, I already knew the answer.

Knock, knock, knock!

Knocks from the entrance door startled me right as I fell into deep thought. As I stood alone in the study, I overheard Rysef answer them.

「Woah, the Ashen Thief himself answered the door!」

「Hahaha! Shouldn'tcha kids be at th' mess hall? Food's gonna be gone by th' time ya get there!」

「We want Mel to join us, is she there?」

「Oh, she's still tired from th' District Master meetin'. She's fast asleep in 'er bed right now.」

「Aww...」

「Can't be helped. Ya brats scurry along now! Yer puny bodies need as much food as they can get!」

「Okay...」

Skillfully dealing with the children, Rysef sent them off and closed the door. His ability to swiftly revert to his usual laidback pretense really got under my skin.

As for the voices, I immediately deduced they were friends of Melyn. Impressive I know.

When not clinging to me, she usually hung around a gang of kids half her age. I wasn't the only one she played big sister with.

They don't converse with me though... rather I feel like they purposely avoid me.

I decided to cast aside my thoughts for the night and prepared myself for dinnertime. Nothing good would come out of a soliloquy on an empty stomach.

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