House keys…
got them.
Phone…
got it.
Denia…
Yep, got her too.
She’s following obediently behind.
“Go, go, go, let’s head out!” Kather was full of energy.
“Oh…” Denia looked a bit listless, as if she hadn’t fully woken up yet.
After locking the door, Kather led Denia to the elevator and pressed the down button.
“By the way, let me remind you beforehand.
There is no Resonance Power here, nor is there anything like Threnodian, so do not use your Resonance Ability unless absolutely necessary,” Kather stated with a slightly serious expression before they set off.
“But what if I really have no choice but to use it?” Denia asked.
“Then hide it well so you don’t get caught.
You know how humans are always curious about the unknown, but that wouldn’t be a good thing for you,” Kather replied.
Denia nodded obediently, agreeing with Kather’s words.
Just then, the elevator chimed and opened its doors.
Kather led Denia inside and pressed the button for the ground floor.
The elevator descended slowly and soon reached the first floor of the building.
As they stepped out the main entrance, the midday heatwave blasted directly against Denia, making her feel instantly miserable.
“Ugh…” Denia felt like she was about to turn into a dried Denia.
Kather smiled helplessly.
It seemed Denia still needed some time to adapt to the city’s weather.
The weather here was not only volatile, but the temperature difference was also massive.
To exaggerate a little, one could experience all four seasons in a single day.
It was noon, the exact time when the sun was shining its fiercest.
The entire city was engulfed by the oncoming heatwave.
Even Kather, who was wearing a T-shirt, was sweating profusely, let alone Denia, who was dressed much more warmly.
Kather took out the umbrella he had brought with him, opened it, and handed it to Denia, who was currently fanning herself with her hand.
“Here, take it.
At least you won’t be constantly exposed to the sun,” Kather smiled.
“The weather here is very different from Lahairo.
You’ll need to get used to it.” “I feel like that’s going to be hard,” Denia said, but her hand was very honest as she took the umbrella and held it over her head.
To be fair, it was indeed slightly better than being baked directly under the sun.
“Where are we going now?” Denia asked about their itinerary.
“To the biggest shopping mall in the city,” Kather replied.
“I’ve already called a ride.” Just as he spoke, a new energy vehicle drove up slowly from the distance and stopped right in front of them.
Kather pulled open the back door and got in with Denia.
With a thud, the car door closed, and the vehicle sped away, carrying the two of them toward the mall.
…
“This is a shopping mall?” Denia stared at the massive building before her, somewhat dumbfounded.
“This is a shopping mall,” Kather confirmed.
“Why do I feel like it’s even bigger than the Academy…” Denia murmured in awe, recovering slightly from her shock.
“It’s normal for it to be big.
In this world, malls aren’t just for shopping; they also encompass entertainment, dining, and other functions,” Kather explained briefly.
“Let’s go, let’s head inside.” Without giving her a choice, he took Denia’s soft, delicate hand and led her toward the mall.
Feeling the sudden warmth in her palm, Denia instinctively wanted to pull her hand back.
But then she realized she might get lost, so she simply let him hold it.
Yes, it definitely wasn’t because she was reluctant to let go.
Surprisingly, Kather’s hand was very rough and covered in calluses, like the bark of an old tree.
However, it was warm enough to bring a sense of security.
“How strange, he clearly looks so young…” Denia thought to herself as she stared at Kather’s sharp profile.
Their pace did not slow down because of Denia’s contemplation, and in the blink of an eye, they stepped inside the mall.
“Ah…
much better.” Feeling the powerful cold air from the mall’s air conditioning, Denia felt like she had finally come back to life.
“What do you want to eat?” Kather asked for Denia’s opinion.
“I’ll leave it to you.
I don’t know which restaurants are good anyway,” Denia shrugged.
“Then how about I take you to Haidilao?
Can you eat spicy food?” Kather suggested.
“What’s that?” Denia asked, tilting her head.
“Have you heard of Huanglong’s hot pot?
It’s similar to that,” Kather explained in a way she could understand.
“Is there a non-spicy version?” Denia understood now.
She didn’t really like spicy food and preferred sweeter things.
“Haidilao has many soup base flavors—spicy, mild, sweet and sour, and savory,” Kather continued to explain.
“If you don’t like spicy, you can try the other three.” Although it wasn’t explicitly stated in the game text, Kather could guess that Little Danya would be somewhat averse to spicy food.
After all, that sensation wasn’t much different from the burning feeling of Tacet Substance in her body.
(That goddamn President of the Residual Star Association, sooner or later I’ll stab you with the Blood Oath Covenant!) “Then let’s go with that.
Let’s go, time waits for no one.” This time, it was Denia who took the initiative to pull Kather’s hand.
She couldn’t help it.
After being out for just a little while, she was already feeling sleepy and wanted to go home to sleep.
Since she finally didn’t have to deal with the Academy’s 8 AM classes, she naturally wanted to sleep as much as she wanted.
“Slow down, you don’t even know the way,” Kather said as he was pulled along.
Despite his words, the corners of his mouth couldn’t help but curl upward, and his tone grew cheerful.
…
There were eye-catching directory boards in the mall, clearly indicating which floor each location was on.
Haidilao was on the fifth floor.
After confirming the floor they wanted to go to, Denia pulled Kather into the elevator.
Instantly, the handsome man and beautiful woman were surrounded by several gazes, looking as if they were about to be thrust into the spotlight for a center-stage debut.
Kather said nothing.
He simply switched from holding hands to wrapping his arm around Denia’s, his gaze turning slightly colder.
This was a silent declaration of ownership and a warning, causing the young men who were harboring designs to shrink back.
Denia was slightly startled.
She had seen that look in Kather’s eyes before—it was the look the Rover gave when facing a potential enemy.
Suddenly feeling very happy, she took the opportunity to lean into Kather’s arm, putting on the appearance of an affectionate couple.
The elevator soon reached the fifth floor.
Kather walked out with Denia, and she went along with him very naturally, even resting her head slightly against his shoulder.
Denia was a good girl.
Her greatest wishes were nothing more than eating delicious food, sleeping well, and being with her friends.
Yet, such simple wishes were an unattainable luxury to her.
Her dual identities as a Threnodian Resonator and a Fractsidus mole had caused her immense suffering, while also creating an insurmountable chasm between her and everyone else at the Academy.
But now, she had a chance to shed those identities and live a peaceful, happy life simply as Denia.
Therefore, he would protect her hard-won peace and happiness, even if it meant using some less-than-honorable means.