Chapter 88: Homecoming
Chapter 88: Homecoming
At the crack of dawn, Torch woke up in his bed.
The cold air made him feel slightly uncomfortable, and he could sense the gradually chilling environment even from within his warm cocoon.
"Ah..."
He yawned, feeling drowsy yet unable to fall back asleep.
Often, Lin Sai would wake him up early in the morning for their joint training sessions, and as a result, he now found it easier to wake up early.
Was this a gain or a loss of comfortable sleep?
As he pondered, Torch turned his gaze towards the other bed in the room, intending to call out to his mother.
However, Dan's bed was already empty.
"Mom... She's gone out too..."
Torch stood there, dazed for a moment, before finally realizing.
Today wasn't a day for hunting expeditions, so his mother should still be lazing around in bed at this hour.
But just a week ago...
A group of spider monsters suddenly appeared in the forest, attacking the farms south of the town. Although the town's Awakened repelled them, four farmers still perished under the spiders' venomous fangs.
Since Torch lived on the south side of the town, he had witnessed it all.
The sight of bodies completely dissolved by venom, leaving only skin like a pouch, was chilling even in memory.
It was also due to this incident that the town's Harvest Day celebrations were completely ruined.
Even when it wasn't hunting season, Dan would proactively carry her weapon and patrol the farms, ensuring the town wouldn't suffer another wave of attacks.
"..."
Torch rubbed his eyes, got out of bed, and changed into his clothes.
Following his mother's instructions, he practiced his skill in manipulating the water flow in the washbasin daily, and in the process, he helped himself with his morning hygiene.
Then, he headed to the center of the house.
At the edge of the already extinguished pit, Torch found two flatbreads retaining the warmth of the campfire. He cut them open and stuffed himself with the charred meat inside.
This was his breakfast for the day.
"Hmm... I really should find some time to learn cooking from Lin. Mom's cooking is a bit too casual."
Torch muttered to himself, dissatisfied with his breakfast.
Soon after, he shook his head and walked out, checking the leather drying in the courtyard. Confirming there wasn't any urgent work to be done, he finally left the house.
Perhaps it was a lingering effect of the previous monster attack.
Torch headed to the farms in the south, taking a look.
It was now late autumn, and in the early morning, the farms were mostly deserted.
However, in the distant tree line, he spotted his mother's figure.
The female hunter was sitting on a branch of an oak tree, probably due to drowsiness, as her entire body leaned against the tree trunk behind her, and her eyes were half-closed.
"She's not afraid of catching a cold..."
Torch shook his head, thinking of getting a cloak for his mother from inside the house.
But before he could turn back, he saw the female hunter jump down from the oak tree and wave in his direction.
...She was greeting him.
The female hunter was only feigning sleep, and her awareness of the surroundings was not low in the slightest, fully deserving of her task to guard the farms.
"Hey!"
Torch waved back at his mother.
He saw Dan smile in satisfaction and then nimbly climb back up the oak tree, resuming her previous feigned sleep posture.
Confirming that the female hunter didn't need his assistance.
Torch turned back and, on his way back, he spotted Joel hurrying by:
"Joel, so early? Have you eaten?"
"Yes!"
"Why are you heading to the south side of town?"
"It's not like I'm taking care of Lin Sai's precious plants."
The two exchanged greetings and went their separate ways.
Joel rushed to Finn's log cabin to start his plant-caring duties for the day.
But Torch, having taken just a few steps, had a new thought.
It had been eleven whole days!
Lin Sai and An Rui had set off together over ten days ago.
From his mother and other Awakened individuals, Torch learned that the two had gone to investigate the changes around the Hidden Frontier at the Black Mountain World.
Torch lowered his head, biting his lip, feeling a twinge of envy.
Since childhood, he had heard countless adventure stories from his father and mother, and his greatest wish was to break through the blockade of Black Mountain.
Yet, the reality was that he didn't even know what the edge of the world looked like.
Lin Sai, who had grown up with him, now had the opportunity to venture into the Black Mountain World with An Rui.
Even though the two of them weren't going to challenge the dragon beasts, the disparity between them still stirred up some unease in Torch's heart.
If only he could join them...
"Oh, right, Brother Lin has been gone for over ten days now!"
"Lady Red Moon is alone in the chapel, and she might need some help from a young person, right?"
Torch, at his core, was still a kind child. He didn't let this unease turn into jealousy; instead, he noticed Red Moon's solitude.
This concern wasn't a joke!
He still remembered two years ago when he had the fortune of visiting the graveyard hedge that Lin Sai and Red Moon had built together.
How to describe it...
It wasn't entirely useless, but there was a feeling that it might not be of much help.
Lin Sai's skills had indeed improved over the past two years compared to before.
But with only Red Moon left alone, and winter approaching, this wasn't something that could make one feel optimistic.
With these thoughts, Torch returned to the house, grabbed some simple tools, and headed towards the chapel.
Lady Red Moon remained guarding inside the chapel.
Upon hearing Torch's intention, she immediately expressed gratitude to the young man before her and offered to pay him.
How could Torch possibly accept money from Red Moon?
After an hour-long conversation with the nun from the Death Sect, he finally decided to stay for lunch as his reward.
He then took nails and wooden boards with him.
Torch ran to the graveyard's surroundings and began to inspect and repair the hedge.
This task was quite tedious.
The chapel was located in the most remote corner of the town. Although it wouldn't usually be troubled by monsters, wild animals that appeared out of nowhere would often leave the place in disarray.
It didn't take long for Torch to find the areas that needed repair, and he started working.
Then, while searching for nails, he spotted two figures in the distance: "Brother Lin, Uncle An Rui... Ah?"
Torch's voice trailed off.
He saw that An Rui's left arm was empty, and he dropped the hammer and nails in his hand, his expression filled with panic.
"Uncle An Rui, what happened to you!"
But An Rui shook his head nonchalantly:
"I just encountered some danger, nothing major."
Torch looked at An Rui's empty left shoulder:
"But your arm!"
An Rui sighed and replied calmly:
"I'm alive, thanks to Lin Sai's help."
Only then did Torch turn his puzzled gaze towards Lin Sai.
Lin Sai also wore a smile filled with mixed emotions, but he first pointed towards the chapel ahead:
"Let's talk about the specifics later."
"I just got back; I'll go check on the Abbess first."
After handing An Rui over to Torch, Lin Sai hurried back to the chapel and immediately saw Red Moon sitting inside.
At that moment, Lin Sai inexplicably felt a sense of peace:
"Abbess, I'm back."
Red Moon nodded calmly:
"It's good that you're back safely."
Next, Lin Sai informed Red Moon about the events of the past few days.
After reporting the situation to his godmother, he planned to go out and continue talking with Torch.
But just as he stepped out of the chapel's door,
Lin Sai heard Torch describe to An Rui:
"A few days ago, a group of spider-shaped monsters appeared and attacked the farmland south of the town..."
Who am I, where am I, and what am I supposed to write again?
(End of Chapter)
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