I stretched my arms and muttered to myself, "Alright… it's time to head out." The words came out quieter than usual, almost like I was trying to keep them from echoing in my own head. On either side of me, Lumine and Nilou were still sleeping, their faces calm, while Paimon had somehow claimed my lap as her personal pillow. For once, I didn't crack a dumb joke or complain about pins and needles in my legs. I just looked at them and thought, this is worth it, right?
I gave them a gentle shake. "Alright, sleepyheads. Time to wake up. It's time."
Nilou blinked awake first, rubbing her eyes with that soft, lazy smile. "Already?" she mumbled.
"Yeah. Big day," I said, standing and brushing the sand off me. Greg clung to my shoulder, flicking his tail like he was saluting the morning sun. Or mocking me. Probably mocking me.
Lumine stirred soon after, stretching like a cat. She caught my expression and tilted her head, curious, but didn't say anything. Paimon, on the other hand, shot up dramatically like she'd been struck by lightning.
"Waaah! Why didn't you wake me up earlier?!" she wailed.
"Because I enjoy silence once in a while," I muttered, grabbing my bag. Nilou giggled softly while Lumine gave me a look that said don't start too early.
Nilou smiled gently, tugging on my sleeve. "Don't worry, Shigeru. We'll handle today together."
Her words eased something in my chest, even though I didn't admit it out loud.
After getting ready, we left the teapot and headed toward the meeting point. Cyno was already waiting, arms crossed like some kind of desert statue. His eyes flicked to us as we approached. Greg hopped from my shoulder to my head like a crown, staring at Cyno as if sizing him up.
Paimon pointed ahead. "Look! Over there! Our helpers have arrived already! Let's hurry over!"
"Wait a moment," Cyno's voice cut sharp and low.
Paimon gasped. "Waaah! It's you!"
He raised a brow. "You're my assistant, remember?"
Lumine nodded calmly. "Yes, I remember."
Greg tilted his head at Lumine like he was silently judging her for accepting the role.
"Being my assistant, you must stay with me. Now, let's head over there," Cyno said, his tone flat as ever.
I glanced at Lumine. "Assistant, huh? Should I start calling you Sidekick now?"
She shot me a glare sharp enough to slice steel. "Don't even try."
Nilou covered her mouth to hide her laugh. "I think it suits you, Lumine."
"Not helping," Lumine muttered, marching ahead.
I sighed dramatically. Why is it always me who gets stabbed by her eyes? One day, those glares are going to leave actual scars.
When we reached the clearing, two figures stepped forward. Gaete's voice rang out first. "It's General Mahamatra and his assistants!"
"We meet again!" Luxembarbo added, puffing his chest proudly.
Greg raised his tiny claws as if mocking Luxembarbo's pose, nearly slipping off my head. I caught him just in time. "Not you too, little guy," I whispered.
Cyno gave a short nod. "You're here early."
"It's to show how important we think this operation is," Luxembarbo replied, his words rehearsed but firm. "Since this is a big case for the Akademiya, we are prepared to give it our best."
Paimon crossed her arms. "Hmph! Finally someone else who takes things seriously around here!"
I raised an eyebrow. "Wow, did you just call me unserious? I'm offended. Deeply offended."
Greg flicked his tongue at me like he agreed with her.
Cyno's eyes narrowed slightly, but he nodded again. "I'm glad to hear your sense of resolve. Remember, we must capture them alive. They are our only leads for the case. If they die, we will be unable to continue the investigation."
"Understood!" Luxembarbo said.
Gaete's head snapped toward the horizon. "Everyone! The Eremites are approaching from the west!"
"Make preparations and be ready for combat!" Luxembarbo barked. Then, as the shadows grew larger, he raised his arm. "Halt!"
Rahman stepped into view with a smirk. "Oh? What a warm welcome. What do you want? Judging from those shiny weapons in your hands, it seems like you're not interested in a deal?"
Cyno's voice carried like thunder. "Rahman, the Akademiya has caught wind of your smuggling and illicit sales. If you value your life, I advise you to surrender."
Rahman laughed, low and bitter. "Who're you supposed to be? A matra from the Akademiya? Hah, I can't believe you came all this way just to catch us…"
Cyno's hand shifted to his weapon. "I'm not here to talk."
Something in Rahman's face hardened. He fell silent for a long beat, then muttered, almost to himself, "Nobody's given me this much time of day since I became a mercenary." His voice rose like a battle cry. "Brothers! For that slight, let's wash our blades with their blood! Let's show them we Eremites are not to be messed with!"
The air crackled with the tension of imminent battle. I tightened my grip on my weapon, but in my head, one thought kept circling. I need to hold back. They're not enemies, not truly.
Lumine glanced at me, noticing the edge in my eyes. For a moment, it looked like she wanted to say something, but she brushed it off, choosing instead to ready her blade. Nilou's expression was worried, but she mirrored Lumine's resolve.
Paimon floated nervously near my shoulder, whispering, "Shigeru… you look different today…"
I exhaled slowly, pushing down my usual jokes. No more clowning around. Not now.
Greg tightened his claws slightly on my shoulder, almost like he knew what was going through my head. It wasn't much, but in his own lizard way, it felt like he was saying: We've got this.
I took another deep breath, steadying myself before moving. No wild charges, no reckless swings. Just precision. My expression stayed flat as I lunged forward, blade reversed in my grip. Instead of carving through the enemy like a madman, I struck with the back of my sword, with my hands, with my body. Every move was decisive, meant to knock them down, not to kill. I could feel their surprise—maybe even fear—as I subdued them one by one without unnecessary force.
A fist to the gut, a sweep of the leg, the hilt of my sword crashing against a wrist. One after another they fell, groaning in the sand. The old me would've been shouting, laughing, taunting them mid-fight. But not now. Now it was silent—just the sound of blows landing and bodies hitting the ground.
Funny how silence can feel heavier than noise. Each strike echoed louder because I wasn't hiding behind words anymore. Just my intent.
When the last one dropped, I exhaled slowly and slid my sword back into its sheath. My chest rose and fell, steady again. I glanced around at the others.
"It's over," Cyno declared.
Rahman cursed through clenched teeth. "Aghhh!"
Gaete's voice rang out. "We have subdued them! The operation is now over, all Eremite mercenaries and related personnel in the area have been arrested!"
Rahman spat blood into the sand, glaring. "Argh! You pitiful Dendro Archon dogs… You'll regret this!"
Cyno stepped closer, his eyes like blades. "Hmph. I'm afraid you'll regret it first."
Rahman sneered, forcing out one last threat. "King Deshret will curse you, and you will all—"
"Silence," Cyno snapped. His fist cracked against Rahman's jaw, cutting him off.
Rahman groaned, stumbling back. "Oh! Uh…"
Nilou flinched at the sound, her hand half-reaching toward me before stopping. "That was… rough," she whispered. Her eyes darted to me. "But you… you weren't like that."
I gave her a small nod. "That's because I didn't need to be."
"Restrain them and take them back to Caravan Ribat," Luxembarbo ordered sharply. "Count their numbers and send them to the Akademiya as instructed by the General Mahamatra!"
"Yes, sir!" Gaete saluted and moved quickly. The guards dragged Rahman and his mercenaries away. Even restrained, Rahman's furious glare burned, but he was powerless now.
Nilou moved to my side, her eyes soft with concern. "You didn't overdo it, did you?"
I shook my head. "No. I only used what I needed."
Control. That was the word. If I lost it, I'd prove them right—the ones who expect chaos from me. I'm not giving them that satisfaction. Not anymore.
Lumine stepped closer, crossing her arms, her gaze firm. "You've changed, Shigeru. Before, you would've rushed in laughing like it was a game. Now you fought like someone who knew exactly what they were doing."
Paimon peeked from behind her, pointing at me nervously. "Yeah! You were like a whole different person! Scary but… not in the dumb way! In the… serious way. Which is worse somehow."
I scratched my neck and gave a half-smile that didn't quite reach my eyes. "Guess even idiots grow up eventually."
Greg chose that moment to wriggle out further from my bag, his tiny claws scratching against the leather. He flicked his tongue rapidly before staring at Rahman being dragged away. Then he looked back at me and gave a lazy blink.
I sighed. "Don't look at me like that. I'm fine."
Greg tilted his head, then climbed onto my shoulder, his tail brushing my cheek. Nilou giggled softly, some of the tension easing. "Even Greg looks worried."
"Yeah, well," I muttered, "he's always been more responsible than me."
Luxembarbo stepped forward and gave a respectful nod. "Mahamatra Cyno, I will now take my leave. If you need further assistance, please come to Caravan Ribat and ask for me."
Cyno's arms folded as he nodded once. "Understood. You are dismissed."
"As you wish." Luxembarbo bowed and turned, leading his men as they departed.
"There they go…" Paimon whispered, watching them disappear into the distance. She hovered closer to me, lowering her voice. "Shigeru… you really didn't enjoy that fight at all, did you?"
For a moment, I didn't answer. Then I muttered, "Enjoyment's overrated. Winning clean is better."
Lumine's eyes softened a little, but she didn't push further. Nilou, however, gently tugged my sleeve. "Just… don't forget yourself while trying to change, okay?"
Her words hit harder than a punch. Don't forget yourself. That's the real danger, isn't it? If I strip away the noise, the laughter, the idiocy… what's left of me?
Cyno's gaze swept over the battlefield before turning back to us. "Let's talk elsewhere."
"Let's go then," I muttered, my tone final. My eyes met Cyno's for a long second. He opened his mouth, about to speak, but stopped when he saw the seriousness in my stare. A pause lingered in the air.
Paimon tried to lighten it with a nervous laugh. "U-uh, yeah, let's… let's move before Shigeru starts brooding so hard the sand turns into a desert abyss or something."
Greg flicked his tongue, as if agreeing.
"…Alright," Cyno said at last. "Let's go."
We started walking, the sand crunching under our boots. My hands stayed at my sides, my face still unreadable. For once, the silence wasn't awkward. It was heavy, but necessary.
We followed Cyno as he led us away from the noise and chaos of the aftermath. The air here was quieter, thinner somehow, as though even the desert itself respected the weight of what had just taken place. I stayed close, watching Lumine and Nilou walk alongside me, Greg perched on my shoulder like a silent sentinel. For once, I didn't feel like filling the silence with some dumb joke. I just breathed and kept walking.
Strange. Normally I'd be making cracks about the desert, about Cyno's grim face, about literally anything to cut the heaviness. But right now, silence feels… right. Almost necessary.
Paimon broke the quiet first. "This part of the plan went really well!"
Cyno gave a short nod. "Yes. Things went perfectly."
Nilou let out a soft breath. "Perfect or not, it still felt heavy. I don't think I'll forget the look on Rahman's face anytime soon." She shivered slightly, hugging her arms. Greg flicked his tongue toward her, almost like he was acknowledging her unease. Nilou giggled nervously. "Thanks, Greg… I think."
I glanced at her. "That's normal. Some faces stay with you, whether you want them to or not."
Paimon spun midair, grinning. "That's fantastic! And that punch you gave Rahman there sure looked convincing enough…"
Cyno's tone didn't shift. "Once we're done here, I'll return to Caravan Ribat and oversee the group's transport. I promise I'll get everyone into Sumeru City safely."
I inclined my head. "Thank you, Cyno. That means a lot."
Paimon piped in eagerly. "Yeah, you're the reason why everything went so well!"
I raised an eyebrow. "Careful, Paimon. Compliment him too much and he might start telling jokes."
Cyno's eyes flicked toward me, utterly deadpan. "Unlikely."
Nilou covered her mouth to stifle a laugh, while Paimon groaned. "Ugh, don't even joke about that! Cyno's jokes are dangerous!"
"It's not the time to celebrate yet," Cyno said, his voice cutting through Paimon's enthusiasm. "Hmm… I believe Dehya should already be waiting for you. Go join up with her. She will need you to introduce her to Tighnari."
Nilou tilted her head, her voice softer but edged with concern. "Speaking of which… is it really okay for us not to share the full plan with Tighnari?"
Lumine glanced at Cyno, then at me, echoing the worry. "What if he feels miffed about it and refuses to work with us? We can't afford to lose his help."
I folded my arms, my voice steady. "They're right to worry. Keeping people in the dark always has a price. We need to be certain he'll still stand with us when it matters."
I know what it feels like to be kept in the dark. To be treated like a tool instead of someone who deserves the truth. It eats away at you. It changes things, even if you don't say it out loud.
Cyno met my gaze, unwavering. "I have a very close relationship with Tighnari. Given how well we know each other, I believe my message alone should be enough to bring him to our side. He knows I won't make jokes about things like this."
I let out a breath. He's right about that. Cyno doesn't joke, period. "Fair enough. But even then, we should prepare for the possibility that he might not take it as smoothly as you expect. Just because you trust him doesn't mean the burden gets lighter for him."
Nilou nodded quietly. "That's true… Trust isn't always easy when the stakes are this high."
Greg tapped his little claws against my shoulder like he was agreeing, which earned a faint smile from me despite the heaviness. "See? Even Greg says we should be careful."
Paimon crossed her arms. "That's because Greg just likes tapping you!"
Greg flicked his tongue in her direction, which made Paimon squeak and hide behind Lumine. "Eek! Okay, okay! Don't glare at Paimon, lizard boss!"
Lumine, though, stayed serious. She looked at me for a moment, then back to Cyno. "If Shigeru's saying this, then we should listen. He doesn't usually hold back his thoughts like this."
I gave her a faint smile. "Guess you noticed. Doesn't happen often, huh?"
Her lips curved into the tiniest smile. "Not often enough."
It's strange… she makes it sound like me being serious is rare enough to treasure. I don't know if that's good or bad.
Cyno cut in again, his tone final. "If we need help, Tighnari is the best option. Get ready for the next phase of the plan. Don't keep them waiting."
I nodded, straightening my stance. "Then let's not waste any more time. The sooner we move, the sooner we'll know where we stand."
Nilou gave me a soft smile, though her eyes still carried that shadow of worry. "Just promise you won't shoulder everything alone, Shigeru. We're here too."
That hit deeper than I expected. Shouldering things alone—that's the habit, isn't it? Easier to take it all in, joke about it, pretend it's fine. But maybe that's just another kind of running away.
Greg flicked his tongue again, like he was sealing her words with a tiny stamp of approval.
I reached up and patted him gently. "Yeah. I know."
The desert wind swept around us, carrying away the lingering echoes of the battlefield. And for the first time in a long while, I wasn't the one to break the silence.
________
End of Chapter 140
Quests Completed:
*Aid Cyno in subduing Rahman and his mercenaries without killing them, proving control and discipline.
*Resist the urge to fight recklessly, proving to everyone (and yourself) that you're not just chaos in human form.
*Watch Lumine become Cyno's "assistant" and try not to die from teasing her.
*Allow silence to carry meaning instead of jokes, letting your actions speak for you.
*Accept Nilou and Lumine's concern instead of brushing it off completely.
*Stand toe-to-toe with the General Mahamatra's intensity and earn his acknowledgment.
Rewards:
*+1 Self-Control Buff (temporary, expires if Nilou smiles too brightly)
*+100 Respect Points (Cyno, reluctantly granted)
*+50 Concern Points (Nilou, applied instantly)
*+25 Trust Stacks (Lumine, though she'll deny it if asked)
*+1 Head Pat for Greg (Critical Hit effectiveness)
*+1 Silence Aura Unlocked (Shigeru stops clowning, world panics)
*+1 New Passive: "Non-Lethal Combat Style" (subdue without killing)
*+300 Emotional EXP (from not cracking a joke in heavy moments)
*+1 Desert Wind Debuff (sand gets everywhere, always)
*+5 Glare Resistance (gained from Lumine's steel-cutting looks)