City Lord’s estate in Rat City, 10 p.m.
Sleep was already tugging at us like a soft tide; today’s play had wrung us dry.
With the light snapped off like a firefly going dark, I crawled into bed, burrowing into a warm nest of quilts.
“Mm, Xinuo, where are we going tomorrow?” My voice drifted lazy as dusk.
After tucking the blanket, I turned to the Xinuo beside me, the room calm as a still pond.
“Mm, the Eastern Moon Empire.” She rolled over, thought a moment, then let the words fall like moonlight.
“Eh! We haven’t even finished the Latvis Empire. Why jump to another one?” Surprise pricked me like a cold breeze; we hadn’t even walked all of Rat City today.
“Servant, you’re really dense.” Xinuo sighed, pinched my cheek like kneading dough. “If we combed every empire top to bottom, crossing the whole world would take ages.”
She flicked my forehead, a pebble tapping water, then added, “Besides, on the Eastern Moon Continent, the one place worth a proper trip is the Eastern Moon Empire.”
“Eastern Moon Empire? Master, what’s fun there? Why does it share a name with the Eastern Moon Continent?” Hill poked her head out from the quilts, curiosity bright as a lantern.
“Well— how to put it.” Xinuo thought, her pretty hands still kneading my face like soft clay. “The Eastern Moon Empire is the strongest empire on the Eastern Moon Continent. That’s the gist.”
“Eh? That simple?” Hill and I stared at her, speechless, like two sparrows blinking at thunder.
“Isn’t that enough? Servant, Hill, just know it’s the strongest. The rest— see it with your own eyes tomorrow.” Xinuo slid her hand from my face, her tone calm as winter rain. “Alright, sleep. No more chatter.”
“Oh!”
“Okay.”
We zipped our mouths like folding fans and let quiet settle, sleep flowing over us like snow.
…
The night passed without waves; in a blink, morning rolled in.
Next day, 7 a.m.
“Mmm, slept so full.” I threw off the covers and stretched like a cat greeting sun.
A pinch of worry rose like steam: better get breakfast going, or Xinuo will gripe if I’m late.
“Xinuo, give me a sec. I’ll wash up and then make breakfast.” I spoke as I slid off the bed, feet finding the floor like stones in a stream.
“Mm.” She glanced up and nodded, then let her gaze sink back into the novel like ink into paper.
“See you in a bit.” Shoes on, I flowed toward the bathroom like a quick current.
Washed and clear as a new leaf, I left the room and headed for the kitchen.
Half an hour later.
“Hill, Xinuo, breakfast’s ready.” I came back balancing trays, steam coiling like morning mist.
“Lilith’s here too!” And Lilith trailed in, smile bright as a blossom.
“Oo-oo! Welcome, welcome! Boss, hurry up— your underling’s starving!” Hill slapped the table, her voice bouncing like a drumbeat.
“Yeah, yeah, Hill, you really are a foodie.” I set the dishes down and flicked her forehead, a light tap like tapping a gourd.
“Hmph— your underling isn’t a foodie!” her words puffed, yet she was stuffing meat buns in, cheeks ballooned like dumplings.
“Uh, Hill, slow down. Littlesky, don’t choke.” I tilted milk into her cup, white as fresh snow.
“Of course— mmph!” Right then she jammed up, hands clutching her throat like a trapped sparrow.
“Drink the milk, quick!” I lifted the cup to her lips, milk washing down like a stream.
“Hu— that was rough!” She exhaled, relief blooming like warm sun.
“Seriously, eat slower.”
“Mm-hmm, Boss, got it!” Hill nodded, obedient as a small fox.
“Good. Let’s eat.”
“Okay.”
We dug in, warmth spreading like a hearth fire.
“Big brother sure works hard.” Lilith chuckled mid-bite, her eyes soft as spring water.
“Yeah, it’s tough.” I felt it in my bones, ache and pride mingling like tea and honey.
“He’s a Servant, so hardship is natural.” Xinuo looked at me, her voice cool as jade.
“Uu…” I sighed, and breakfast wound down in easy chatter, words drifting like willow fluff.
…
When I finished the dishes and headed back, I found Xinuo, Hill, and Lilith standing by the door, a little flock ready to take wing.
“Alright, Servant, we’re leaving for the Eastern Moon Empire now.” Xinuo spoke as I stepped in, her tone clean as a bell.
“Eh! Big brother, you’re leaving?!” Lilith’s gaze held me, reluctance clinging like dew.
“Mm, we are.”
“Then remember to come play with Lilith when you’ve got time!” She stared a moment, hope steady as a candle flame.
“Of course. When I’m free, I’ll come find you.” I crouched and stroked her smooth black hair, soft as silk.
“Mm, then bye, big brother!”
“Bye.”
“Servant, we move. Spatial Shift!” Xinuo raised her hand, words sharp as a blade.
“Uh!” A blinding flare burst like lightning; my eyes slammed shut by reflex.
…
I opened them to a city blazing with life, prosperity stacked like shining towers, far beyond Rat City by several folds.
Here, nearly everyone was a mage; the weakest were D-grade mages, and the strongest included several Sacred Realm mages, light intense as noon.
Yet within ten meters of us, no one passed. Feet curved away like water around a rock, and no eyes dared lift toward us.
“…” After a few seconds, I understood— Hill was already spilling that overwhelming Dragon Aura, pressure rolling like a stormfront.
“Xinuo, where are we?” I took in the streets, breath steady as a line on sand.
“This should be the capital of the Eastern Moon Empire— Proudmoon City. Servant, let’s stroll. On the Eastern Moon Continent, Proudmoon is a famous name.” Xinuo glanced around, calm as the bright sky.
“Ooh! Then let’s go shopping!” Hill hopped, joy bursting like firecrackers.
“Mm, alright.”
“Then let’s go.”
We wandered at ease, the city’s pulse beating like drums— Proudmoon far livelier and louder than Rat City by a long march.
There were almost no street stalls, only lavish shops, auction houses, and exchanges, their façades gleaming like carved jade.
The streets were clean and bright as polished stone; buildings stood with crisp design and fine timber, any random inn finer than the City Lord’s estate in Rat City.
So we walked happy, smiles opening like flowers.
Meanwhile, in the Kage Family manor, main hall.
“Oh? I didn’t expect them this soon. Good thing they kicked up a storm the moment they arrived, or finding them would’ve taken elbow grease.” Aisha spoke while nibbling pastries, drawing a crystal ball from her bodice, its glow cool as moonlight.
“Aisha, does that mean the boy has reached the Eastern Moon Empire?” Asasya, seated opposite, sipped tea, words smooth as smoke.
“That’s right, and they’re close— they’re in Proudmoon City right now!” Her eyes shone, certainty sharp as a blade.
