The sunset by the sea was breathtaking.
The sun, stripped of its midday brilliance, now glowed a deep crimson, sinking into the horizon like a salted egg yolk. Even the clouds above were tinted red by its fading light.
Perched on a large reef, Shin struck a thinker's pose as he quietly admired this timeless scene shared by sky and sea.
"Who first saw the moon by the riverbank? And when did the river's moon first shine on man?"
As long as one finds joy in their heart, what does it matter how many times the scenery repeats?
Shin found himself lost in contemplation.
But, as always, someone had to interrupt his peace.
"Hey there, cutie. All alone? How about tonight?"
With that handsome face and bright, breezy charm, Shin often drew attention. Even the drowning woman he rescued earlier had returned with her friends, hoping to get his contact info—clearly aiming to "taste the younger grass."
Well, it seemed the locals here were certainly… open-minded.
And for all of them, Shin's answer was always the same:
"No, thanks."
Women only slowed down his blade.
The sun dipped fully beneath the waves, and the last rays disappeared beyond the edge of the sky. Just then, a voice he found familiar called out from behind him:
"Hey, handsome. You free tonight?"
"Sure," Shin answered without hesitation, turning to face the girl who beamed at him with a sweet smile.
Her long silver hair was tied in a ponytail, and an old, slightly faded T-shirt covered her developing curves. Her denim shorts, however, left no mystery about her long, pale legs. Her toes curled shyly in her sandals, adding a hint of bashfulness.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
Kiana smiled with a trace of guilt as she tucked one foot behind her and tapped the ground lightly.
"The sunset by the beach is really something," Shin said with a smile of his own.
When it came to Kiana, the Herrscher who might one day offer him a better sword, he was always patient.
"Hehe~"
Kiana glanced at the sky behind Shin, her already-dim-witted grin turning even goofier.
"Let's go. It's getting dark," Shin said, leaping down from the rock.
"Yeah." Kiana nodded, then hesitated as she noticed his right hand. "Is your hand… okay?"
"Oh, this?" Shin lifted his bandaged hand with a solemn expression. "My right hand seals a terrible power. If I were to release it, it could wipe Sicily off the map. So... yeah."
The visible mark from his newly acquired Stigmata was on that hand. Wearing gloves on the beach would've drawn suspicion, so he chose this excuse instead.
Most people wouldn't recognize a Stigmata, but if the wrong person did, it could bring unnecessary trouble.
And Shin hated pesky flies.
"Wow, that's amazing!" Kiana gasped, eyes wide.
"Uh…" Watching her awe-struck expression, Shin suddenly felt guilty. After a moment, he confessed, "Actually... I made that up."
"Huh?!"
Kiana blinked in disbelief, her signature ahoge standing on end.
"I just thought it sounded cool," Shin said, trying to sound honest.
"Ah!!"
Kiana looked completely baffled.
Seeing her dazed and confused face, Shin looked away.
Maybe… he should avoid lying to this fluffy white-haired girl in the future.
Well, maybe kind lies were still okay.
And as for what counted as a "kind" lie... Shin had his own flexible standards.
Dusk passed, and the city lights flickered to life.
Though Sicily still clung to the heat of summer, autumn had already crept into the northern hemisphere. Once the sun set, darkness fell fast.
"I'm telling you, the one thing you absolutely can't miss in Sicily is the seafood pasta."
As they strolled through the lively streets, Kiana excitedly introduced the local cuisine, proudly acting like a true Sicilian native.
"Yeah."
Shin gave a nod.
He already knew about the seafood pasta. On their first day in Sicily, Raven had taken him to a fancy restaurant. He hadn't asked about the price, but he remembered Raven's hand trembling at the bill.
Still, it was delicious, no doubt about that.
Compared to Raven, a top-tier mercenary and absurdly wealthy woman, Kiana was just a wandering girl. Her recommendation probably wouldn't be anything upscale, but her enthusiasm was just as genuine.
The streetlights reflected off the flush in her cheeks, creating a picturesque glow that caught even Shin off guard.
Whatever she ends up treating me to, he thought, I'll give it five stars.
Before long, the two arrived at their destination.
It was a small, unassuming shop with no indoor seating—just a few folding tables and chairs set up outside.
"Don't be fooled by the size. They only use the freshest ingredients every day," Kiana said, worried Shin might be put off.
"It smells amazing. I can't wait to try something you've praised so highly," Shin said with a smile.
It was dinner time, and a few other patrons were already eating, visibly enjoying themselves.
"Haha! So Little Kiana finally brought her boyfriend over, huh? Go ahead, grab a seat!" the burly shop owner called from behind the stove, clearly familiar with Kiana.
"He's just a friend!" Kiana rushed to correct him, then turned to Shin. "Luke's just joking. Don't take it seriously."
"I can tell you two get along really well."
Shin glanced at the plump, bearded man, then at Kiana, whose face was red with embarrassment despite trying to act cool. He couldn't help but be amused.
"I-I just helped Luke out with a few things, that's all."
Feeling the heat of Shin's gaze, Kiana blushed even deeper.
"I see."
Shin nodded.
He doubted the "few things" were really so minor, but he wasn't planning to press. This was just a chance encounter, and he didn't intend to get too involved with Kiana yet.
Who knew if a certain overly protective "dad" was secretly watching from the shadows?
Seeing Shin drop the topic, Kiana sighed in relief and turned to the shop owner. "Luke, we'll take two plates of the classic seafood pasta."
After ordering, she explained, "I've had this a bunch of times. The classic flavor is the best, and it's perfect for a first-timer."
Then she asked, "By the way, are there any foods you don't eat?"
Shin shook his head.
He wasn't picky when it came to food.
The dishes arrived quickly. In just a few minutes, the two steaming plates of pasta were placed before them.
"Not often we see Little Kiana bring a friend around. You better hold onto this one, kid!" Luke said cheerfully as he served the food, his beard bobbing with every word.
"Luke!" Kiana protested, her small fists clenched like she was ready to smack him.
"Alright, alright," Luke laughed, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Enjoy your meal."
Then he vanished at a speed that didn't match his chubby frame.
"People in Sicily sure are friendly," Shin said as he watched Kiana, her face now beet red.
"Y-yeah…"
Kiana glanced at her plate, which was twice the size of Shin's and heaped with seafood. Her expression turned complicated.
She appreciated the generous serving, but this was her first dinner with Shin. Would revealing her appetite scare him off?
Maybe she should only eat half?
No… wasting food is shameful. And Luke would be disappointed.
Her mind spun with thoughts.
Shin, however, didn't seem to care. He dug into his meal with visible enjoyment.
His portion was just as plentiful. With one bite of lobster, he nodded in satisfaction.
The ingredients were just as fresh as Kiana promised, and the flavors balanced beautifully.
And hey, free food always tasted better.
When it came to eating, Kiana was definitely reliable, as long as she stayed out of the kitchen.
Inspired by Shin's contented eating, Kiana let go of her worries and started digging in too.
Everything else could wait. First, fill the belly.
Hic~
By the time she realized it, her oversized plate was completely empty, surrounded by empty shells.
"That was so good, I could've eaten the plate too," Shin said with a smile after swallowing his last bite.
"I-I'll go pay the bill!" Kiana blurted, her cheeks red as she rushed away without even wiping her mouth.
They'd only known each other for a few hours, and she was still easily flustered.
This white-haired fluffball really is adorable.
Shin smiled as he wiped his mouth and watched her argue with Luke over the bill.
Luke gave the price for two plates, but Kiana insisted on paying for three, saying her serving was double the size.
Eventually, the battle ended with Kiana paying for three and promising to bring Shin back again.
"Luke's a good guy," Shin said as Kiana returned, handing her a napkin.
Kind people gather around kind people. It was heartwarming to see the world being gentle to a girl like her.
"He's just a nosy old man!" Kiana grumbled.
Sure, she and Shin were just friends, but Luke loved to jump to conclusions. Though… this boy from distant Shenzhou was really handsome…
She stole a glance at Shin, and her cheeks turned pink again.
Shin just smiled. "Let's walk a bit more. Good to stretch after a meal."
He wasn't the type to ghost someone right after dinner.
But just a few steps out of the restaurant, a group of shady-looking punks blocked their way.
"Hey there, sweetheart…"
*********
Hey everyone! I'll be dropping an extra 1 chapter once we hit 200, 400 power stones! If you're enjoying the story, don't forget to spend some power stones. I'd really appreciate the support. Thanks a bunch!