Xiling, crouching under the bed, silently listened to Lemuen and the others' conversation.
"So it's time for 'My Guide Leads the Way' to begin?"
"Then I'll be out first," the visitor said, opening the door again and walking out.
"Xiling, you can come out from under the bed."
"I think we can wait a little longer. What if one of you, the Sankta Gods, suddenly comes back with another request? I'll be exposed."
Lemuen shook her head and asked Mostima and Fiammetta, "What do you think of this report?"
"It's a bit troublesome. I need to report this to the Pope," Mostima said, looking at Fiammetta. Fiammetta nodded. "I'll go get the person who's handling the inspection report."
"Very good, that's what we'll do. Let's get started." Finally, Mostima returned her gaze to Lemuen. "Are you sure everything's okay?" As she spoke, Mostima peered beneath the bed, her gaze seemingly piercing through the boards, looking down at Xiling below.
"Don't worry, I'm fine," Lemuen smiled at Mostima.
"Okay, we'll come back after we're done with this."
"Don't keep me waiting too long."
"Don't worry."
"Hey, you're still dithering. Hurry up and get moving. Get it done soon, come back soon." Fiammetta, already at the door, called out to Mostima, then took the lead.
"It seems our Twilight Watch is getting impatient. So, we'll be leaving, Lemuen."
"Bon voyage," waving to her two friends, Lemuen wheeled her wheelchair to the bedside and tapped it gently. "How long do you plan to stay down there, Hero?"
"Come out now! You're blocking my path." Xiling shifted slightly under the bed, moving a little further away from Lemuen's feet.
As the saying goes, distance makes beauty. If Xiling smelled something strange, he feared that he would be tempted to tease her, only to be shot in the head by Lemuen, ending his heroic career before it even began.
He emerged from under the bed with a spiral roll, brushing the dust off his clothes. He then looked at Lemuen and said, "Tell me, the Hero, do you have something to trouble me with?"
"Indeed, I do have something to trouble you with."
"Then ask for my help, Lemuen." Xiling placed his hand on his chest and gave Lemuen a reassuring smile. Seeing Xiling's smile, Lemuen was momentarily distracted, but quickly recovered. She covered her distraction with a smile and whispered, "Could you please find this child and make sure nothing happens to her?"
Xiling gave an OK sign. "Of course, a hero wouldn't refuse a companion's request."
"And find someone, and let him take a hit from the Holy Sword." Xiling, looking at Lemuen's wheelchair, left the last word unsaid. "Anything else you want to tell me, Lemuen?"
Lemuen shook her head. "Thank you, Xiling."
"You're so polite. Remember what I said before?"
Lemuen chuckled, recalling Xiling's words: "Group members should help each other. When you need help, don't hesitate to call for the hero Xiling."
Lemuen tilted her head and smiled at Xiling. "Is that so, hero?"
Xiling gave a thumbs-up. "You understand."
"Then the hero Xiling will go stealthily on his way." He struck a military stance at Comrade Lemuen, and Private Xiling prepared to move.
Watching Xiling leap up to the window, ready to jump, Lemuen tilted her head. "Xiling, do you know where he is?"
Xiling turned and gave Lemuen a thumbs-up. "One of the hero's abilities: if they want to, there's nothing they can't do. So, just believe it."
With these words, Xiling leaped down, leaving Lemuen alone in the ward.
Lemuen chuckled softly, pushed her wheelchair toward the window, and looked down.
"Holy crap! Why is someone here?"
"Who are you? Why did you jump out of the hospital window?"
"Ah, well, just treat me as a passing Kamen Rider."
"Come back to the notary office first, and we'll talk later."
"Bye."
Seeing Xiling being pursued below, Lemuen's smile widened.
"The hero is truly unreliable!"
...
"It seemed like he was running this way just now, but he disappeared in the blink of an eye."
"He might be hiding in the bushes. Don't miss the manhole cover either. I don't believe he'd disappear just by turning a corner. He must be hiding."
Xiling climbed onto the roof and took a deep breath. "I almost got caught trying to show off, but luckily I'm a cut above the rest."
Wiping the nonexistent sweat from his forehead, Xiling began to wait. He was escaping with purpose. His Hero's Premonition told him his destination was nearby.
A Hero's ability is a very abstract one. After becoming a Hero, Xiling only gained one: believing that one can do it.
When Xiling learned his ability, a single thought came to his mind: "How lonely it is to be invincible."
Demon King?
I'll take him down and show him the might of a Hero.
That was Xiling's initial thought. Now, Xiling says: "Leaving the Novice Village is victory."
Hero's Ability: Believe that you can do it, and you can do it. Sounds impressive, doesn't it?
It's like a Super Idealist Warrior, but it's not like that in practice. At least Xiling didn't feel that powerful. Finding something with a specific goal was fine, but anything else, heh, he'd lose a bet with Kevin on heads or tails.
As Xiling stood up, an explosion erupted not far away. Looking over, he saw only a puff of smoke, but he clearly saw two people leaping from a window.
"Okay, mission objective found!"
He continued leaping from the rooftops, then down an alley. Xiling casually put the hat on his head and blended seamlessly into the crowd.
He watched a young Sakta man pausing on the street with a little girl.
"That's Easel's mother, and the lovely Cecilia."
Xiling followed them leisurely, crossing several streets, watching the two people ahead point at each other, until they finally arrived at a residential area.
"We're almost there... Cecilia, have you figured out the roads?" Easel asked, lowering his head. Cecilia looked around at the houses and spoke with some embarrassment.
"Well... I've seen all these houses, but... There are so many that look the same."
"Cecilia, did you just move nearby?"
"Move? I don't remember ever moving."
"Huh?"
"Sorry, Brother Easel, Mom always takes me out at night, and the streets are different..."
Just as the two were about to look for a house, a friendly voice rang out.
"Are you two having any trouble?" Xiling walked out of the street, gazing at them with a smile.
"You are?" Easel looked at Xiling carefully, somewhat uncertainly.
"Not Sankta, and not Liberi."
"Oh, isn't it little Cecilia!" Xiling feigned surprise, looking at the little girl. "...Who are you?"
Xiling smiled, squatting down to meet Cecilia's gaze. "I suppose I know your mother."
Easel calmly stepped in front of Cecilia. "Then do you know where she lives?"
"I know, and you know too."
"...I know too."
"7-265 Serfas Street."
After hearing Xiling's address, Easel's expression changed, becoming utterly grim.
Yes, he knew it. He knew the address better than anyone else. But how could it be this address?
Easel hesitated to meet Cecilia's eyes.
He had said he would help this child find her mother, but! But! Easel clutched his head in agony. The child's mother was already dead! He had already confirmed this.
Just as Easel was agonizing, someone gently tugged at the corner of his clothes. Easel lowered his head. "Brother Easel, what's wrong with you? You look so terrible!"
Taking a deep breath, Easel suppressed the pain in his heart, but his voice still trembled. "I'm fine, Cecilia... Let's go home first."
"Let's go home, Cecilia."