“Shopkeeper!” Reese shouted as soon as Ivak appeared, then jumped over the counter and threw herself at him.
“Oh… geuh.” Ivak removed the cigarette from his mouth with his right hand, opening his left arm to catch her.
“Hehe~ Shopkeeper, shopkeeper…” Reese murmured, rubbing against Ivak’s shoulder.
“Hmm.” Ivak flicked his fingers, sending the cigarette stub into a pile of fabric—it should have burned, but it disappeared instead. “Alright, Reese… Harts is still here. Let’s finish cuddling later, okay?”
“Hmph.” Reese lifted her head and glanced at Moaler. “I don’t care if that holy bastard’s here.”
The air froze for two seconds. Ivak said, “Ho-la, Reese, you can’t talk like that.”
“Oh, sorry.” Reese murmured, resuming her rubbing against him.
“Mm-hm, alright, alright.” Ivak reached out to rub Reese’s head.
…Well, that little mix of apology and slight guilt, I can accept… Moaler’s face darkened. “Ivak, I came here for something very important.”
“I know.” Ivak glanced at Moaler. “We haven’t seen each other in decades. You suddenly show up. I don’t believe it’s not important.”
“…Good enough.” Moaler still frowned. “Let’s go outside to talk.”
“Shopkeeper, are you going out with the holy bastard?” Reese asked, looking up at Ivak.
“Eh…” Ivak lightly flicked Reese’s forehead. “I told you not to talk like that.”
“Ow…” Reese winced. “…I know… I just don’t want to be alone in the shop.”
“Mm.” Ivak nodded, then turned to Moaler. “Come on, what can’t be said here?”
“Not safe.” Moaler sighed. “When I left, I checked for followers, but there might be tracking later. If it leads here, it’ll be trouble.”
“Mm, sure,” Ivak scratched his head. “But my meal’s almost ready.”
“…Tch.” Moaler nearly choked, then gave a helpless laugh. “You really haven’t changed at all, huh?”
“No, I still care, of course.” Ivak smiled at Moaler. Behind his lenses, his half-lidded eyes suddenly widened, radiating commanding presence. “Nothing should interrupt me and Reese’s mealtime. Speaking of which… have you eaten?”
“…Not yet.” Moaler looked into eyes that seemed like they belonged to decades past.
“Then eat a little here,” Ivak smiled, letting his eyelids droop again. “Don’t worry about causing trouble; we’ve got an Archangel-level chaos barrier here.”
Hoo… Ivak… you really haven’t forgotten any of your old tricks. But then… of course, you couldn’t forget, given the role you played back then.
“How’s the taste?” Ivak asked as Moaler swallowed a piece of steak.
“Nostalgic… some kind of wild game, I think.” Moaler cut another piece. “Sometimes I still go hunt a bit.”
“Mm.” Ivak sipped his wine lightly. “Many beasts’ fur can be used for clothes, and the meat is edible.”
“Heh…” Moaler observed Ivak’s impassive face. “I never thought you’d end up like this.”
Ivak put down the glass, squinting in a smile. “Same here. I didn’t expect you’d be… handled the way you were by your family.”
“How do you know?” Moaler paused, then chuckled.
“What else?” Ivak cut the steak with his knife. “Even meeting me meant wrapping yourself up tight.”
“…Ha.” Moaler was speechless, forced to laugh.
“…Shopkeeper, what are you talking about?” Reese’s eyes bounced between Moaler and Ivak, full of confusion.
“Kids shouldn’t ask too much.” Ivak pressed Reese’s head gently.
Reese puffed her cheeks. “I’m not a kid! I’m 142 years old!”
Ivak withdrew his hand, almost bitten. “142, huh? Not considered an adult for dragons.”
“Hmph—” Reese glared.
Ivak laughed, poking her forehead lightly. “Well, by looks, you’re a grown girl.”
“Hmph.” Reese fell silent.
“Ho.” Moaler looked at Reese. “142 already… dragons’ growth cycles are slow enough to make one forget the years.”
“Mm…” Reese stared at Moaler. He ignored her.
“Yeah.” Ivak refilled Reese’s glass with juice.
“Mr. Harts.” Reese spoke. Moaler almost thought he’d imagined it.
“You’re going to take the shopkeeper away?” Reese frowned.
“No.” Moaler chuckled. “Actually, I came… to make sure Ivak isn’t taken away.”
“Tch.” As Moaler finished, Ivak clicked his tongue. “Things… have really escalated?”
“What do you think?” Moaler sighed. “Since Anya disappeared, your family hasn’t slept a wink. They’re making quite the ruckus… not sure when they’ll trace it to you.”
“…” Ivak sipped his wine.
“And then…” Moaler paused.
Reese stood. “Shopkeeper, should I tidy up?”
Ivak smiled. “Mm.”
Reese picked up her plate and left.
“…Surprisingly mature at the crucial moment,” Moaler said with a smile. “Hard to imagine… when she was still a dragon egg… so many years have passed.”
“Hmph.” Ivak looked at Reese’s empty seat. “Our relationship… anything I can say, she can hear. But… you’re the holy bastard, aren’t you.”
“…Tch.” Moaler fell silent for a few seconds. “Annoying.”
“Annoying what?” Ivak asked. “Your precious daughter is missing, and yet you seem calm.”
“Exactly because she’s my precious daughter…” Moaler’s expression darkened. “…Ivak, do you understand how I feel?”
“Nope.” Ivak replied immediately. “I don’t really know your family business.”
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