Chapter 27: Easy Problem.
Kazuka still stood at the meat stall as usual. Passers-by were initially just curious that he sold savage beast meat. A few people bought some to try, felt satisfied, then spread the word, making his small meat cart gradually become bustling.
Meanwhile, Takeshi and Airi were together. In Airi's palm, a small snake curled itself obediently. Takeshi glanced over, his eyes clearly showing curiosity. He pointed his finger at that tiny creature.
"So this is the snake you met last night?"
Airi smiled, poking its cheek gently with her finger while walking. The snake seemed delighted, immediately wrapping around her finger intimately.
"Yeah, it's him. I named him Raiga."
"Raiga? Sounds cool."
She nodded slightly, her gaze a bit distant.
"I think he no longer has a mother… so I will adopt him."
Takeshi smiled, nodding in approval. He turned his face forward, his voice low.
"A true fated connection…"
Takeshi was about to say more but suddenly froze. Airi noticed the change, immediately turning to look at him.
In the distance, a familiar figure appeared, smiling cordially while selling meat to customers. Takeshi narrowed his eyes, as if unable to believe his eyes. And then, the corners of his lips curled up, softly calling the name:
"…Kazuka?"
Airi raised her eyebrows, curiously asking:
"Kazuka…?"
Without answering, Takeshi immediately stepped forward quickly. Airi panicked and ran after him.
"Hey, wait for me!"
When approaching the wooden cart piled with meat, Takeshi stood still, his eyes clearly showing indescribable emotions. On the other side of the cart, Kazuka also opened his eyes wide in shock. The two stood looking at each other for a few short but silent seconds.
Kazuka was the first to speak, his voice ringing out, making Takeshi shudder slightly.
"Takeshi…"
"Kazuka…"
Unable to restrain himself, Kazuka lunged over the cart, jumping to hug Takeshi tightly, his mouth grinning widely.
"Long time no see, Takeshi!"
Takeshi was caught off guard, staggering due to the weight of that small-framed boy.
"Calm down… take it easy."
The two faced each other, sincere smiles still blooming on their lips.
"It really has been a long time, Kazuka."
Airi stood nearby, bewildered.
"Huh? It's... this kid? Looks so small, maybe even younger than me..."
Takeshi turned to ask:
"Why are you here, Kazuka? I thought you were still in Juku village?"
Kazuka scratched his head, smiling apologetically.
"Well, I'm studying here."
"Studying? But why do I see you selling meat?"
"Uh… let me finish packing up and I'll tell you. Let's talk while we walk."
After clearing the cart, all three walked together. Kazuka curiously looked at Airi, then turned to whisper to Takeshi:
"Hey, who is that girl?"
"Ah, forgot to introduce. This is Airi, she also wants to go with us."
Kazuka's eyes lit up like a child seeing a new toy.
"Nice to meet you, Airi! I am Kazuka. But… are you strong?"
Airi froze at the sudden question.
"Huh?... Um… probably not that strong."
Takeshi glanced at the cart full of lion carcasses, asking suspiciously:
"Hey, did you hunt these lions?"
"Yeah. My master forced me to live in the forest, having to find food myself, so I hunt to sell for money."
Airi looked at the carcasses, her eyes flashing with thought.
"Could hunt lions… this guy surely isn't an ordinary person."
Takeshi asked further:
"Who is your master?"
"You'll know when we meet. That old wolf is a bit cranky."
They walked for a while and reached a house that was quite large but not small. Kazuka ran inside.
"Wait for me a bit, that old man is probably sleeping."
Inside, Kibaou was sleeping in the middle of the house without pillows or blankets. Kazuka stepped over to shake him awake.
"Hey old man! Wake up, there's something important!"
Kibaou opened his eyes, his voice growling:
"What is it, brat?"
"My friends want to stay here with me. Let them stay together!"
Kibaou's gaze immediately turned sharp and cold.
"No. Only my disciples can stay."
But suddenly, his nerves reacted strongly. A shiver ran down the old man's spine.
"…What is this? This energy flow is…"
"Take me outside. I want to see your friends."
Kazuka led Kibaou outside. Airi and Takeshi were standing there. The moment he saw Airi, Kibaou froze.
"…A vampire?"
Airi spun her body, entering a state of alertness immediately. The atmosphere suddenly became heavy. Kazuka hurriedly reassured:
"This is my master. Don't worry, he doesn't eat human flesh!"
Airi silently faced Kibaou's gaze, eyes red like moonlight illuminating the night. Kibaou also narrowed his eyes, the instinct of a half-human half-beast creature inside him tensing in caution, but then he raised his hand in a slight greeting:
"Greetings to you two."
Kazuka smiled brightly:
"Let them stay here!"
Kibaou thought for a moment then nodded reluctantly.
"Fine. But they must live in the forest with you."
Kazuka frowned:
"Why such discrimination? They are my friends!"
"I am already kind enough just to accept disciples."
Then he turned to ask:
"What are your names?"
"I am Airi."
"I am Takeshi."
Kibaou looked at Airi for a while, then coldly:
"Airi, come with me for a moment."
Airi immediately alerted, but still nodded and followed him into the house. Inside the house, Kibaou turned back to face her, his voice deep:
"Do they know you are a vampire yet?"
Airi was never undermined in any conversation. She stood straight, chest out and looking forward, her gaze not retreating.
"Not yet."
"Why did you appear here?"
"I am the princess of the vampire clan. You probably know already."
"So the rumors are true. I advise you… should tell them soon, shouldn't hide it too deeply, you guys are friends after all."
"I understand. But is that all you have to say?"
"Yeah. I just wanted to confirm."
Coming out of the house, Airi was pensive. Her head was filled with a thousand thoughts.
"Will they accept it when I speak out? Historically, friendships or loves between clans are always opposed, even hunted down like the demon clan."
"Will they accept it...? In this world, it's not just the human race that doesn't accept other species living on their land. To the human race, they only accept when it's a slave."
"Can an outsider live here?"
Kazuka ran over.
"Hey, what did the old wolf ask you?"
"Huh?... It's nothing."
"I just met him and he's already so friendly?"
That night, the three sat by the fire again, a lion was roasted golden brown. The flickering red fire reflected on the faces of the three young people – each carrying a different mood.
Kazuka suddenly ran out from the cave, his face looking worried.
"Oh my god… I forgot to buy glowing stones and other miscellaneous things again!"
Airi and Takeshi still sat still. Airi poked a stick into the glowing embers, her eyes quiet and sad. Takeshi realized.
"Hey, are you okay, Airi? Since returning from meeting the old wolf… you've been different."
Airi forced a smile.
"Nothing… just a bit bored."
"Doesn't look like 'bored'. Just say it, we are friends."
Kazuka was still making noise, shouted at by Takeshi:
"Quiet, Kazuka!"
Kazuka sat down, silent. Takeshi softened his voice:
"Just trust us and speak. We will consider carefully and won't do stupid things."
Kazuka nodded:
"That's right. We are trustworthy!"
Airi hesitated:
"I'm just afraid… if I say it, everything will no longer be like now."
Takeshi and Kazuka looked at each other, then spoke in unison:
"We promise."
Airi took a deep breath, looking at the two.
"…Actually… I am a vampire."
Takeshi's eyes opened wide, an expression of surprise clearly showing on his face. Airi lowered her face even more, as if not wanting to face them.
"Was speaking out the right decision?"
Contrary to the expression of the two sitting. Kazuka jumped up in excitement, he pressed close to Airi with curiosity.
"Really? You are really a vampire? That means you are very strong, and even regenerate, do you want to try a match with me?"
Facing Kazuka's barrage of questions, Airi was surprised, she stood frozen before Kazuka's reaction.
"Hey... You... You don't think I shouldn't appear here?"
Kazuka suddenly stopped his smile, he looked at her in confusion.
"Huh? Shouldn't appear here? What are you saying?"
Takeshi, after sitting and thinking, also connected the events.
"So that's it, is that the reason you could chase away that giant black leopard pack?"
Kazuka curiously leaned even closer.
"Really? Are giant black leopards strong? Tell me, I'm so curious. What on earth did you two do?"
Airi hurriedly waved her hands.
"It's nothing"
"Huh? You guys like secrets again? How boring"
Airi fell into contemplation again.
"Did they ignore my matter already?"
Seeing that contemplation, Takeshi immediately lowered his voice.
"Are you worried about being a vampire? Don't worry, we have no problem with it."
Airi raised her head and was surprised, those red eyes became sparkling. Kazuka also helped.
"That's right, on the contrary, we feel curious, and especially want to try how a match with a vampire would be."
"Really? You two don't think I shouldn't be here?"
"What are you saying? If you are my friend, I certainly wouldn't do that, right Takeshi?"
"Right."
"And if you encounter any trouble, we will still help you, so you don't have to worry."
The old wolf also stood from afar observing. His face in the darkness still showed a faint smile.
"Truly children, solving problems so easily."
The next day. The sun had reached its zenith. Under the noon sun, the high sky seemed washed clean, unusually deep blue. Blazing sunlight flooded the space, casting down onto the ground a golden, brilliant light like honey. Despite the intense heat, clusters of pure white clouds floating lazily high above brought a strange sense of peace. Those clouds were like the brushstrokes of a talented painter, adorning the sky to be more vivid, creating a picture both brilliant and elegant. In the swelter of noon, there was still a gentle beauty weaving through each sunray, hidden behind those white clouds as fluffy as cotton.
Beneath that blue sky, two people were fighting each other. Kazuka continuously launched dangerous strikes, making Takeshi struggle to defend. Airi sat on a small rock ledge next to the cave and under the gentle shade of a tree with sparse foliage.
Airi observed as they fought, her eyes darting continuously following each movement of Kazuka like a hawk observing prey.
"He's strong too, probably going easy on Takeshi just now. But Takeshi just learned from me how to release energy outward and can use it so proficiently, he's like a genius."
The battle was very intense under the dazzling sun, sweat flowed down from their bodies in abundance.
Kazuka launched a punch, forcing Takeshi to raise both hands to defend. Takeshi immediately counterattacked with a spinning kick but he jumped up and evaded it.
Slamming his hands down on the ground and flipping twice. An arc-shaped kick was launched, he struck while laughing as if feeling very excited fighting this match.
Takeshi drifted his teeth, he released energy from his hands with the intent to use it to stop the incoming kick. But Kazuka quickly changed posture, that kick was just a feint. Kazuka ducked down, launching a leg sweep.
Takeshi didn't jump in time and lost balance, falling to the ground. Kazuka walked over and reached out his hand, he smiled.
"Not bad."
Airi still in the distance studied them fighting.
"Kazuka always attacks very relentlessly, it seems Takeshi only managed to throw a few punches then had to defend entirely."
Airi shouted towards Kazuka and Takeshi:
"Hey you two, come here."
Takeshi and Kazuka immediately ran over, they breathed continuously from exhaustion, sweat made their hair look wet with water.
"Did you see me fight well, Airi?"
Airi immediately nodded, she handed them two wooden cups of water.
"It was good."
Kazuka laughed loudly, he puffed out his chest as if proud of himself. Airi turned to look at Takeshi, he had just finished the cup of water and used his hand to wipe his mouth.
"This is your first time fighting, it was very good. Reflexes were very good when blocking Kazuka's strikes."
"That was good?"
"Yeah, that was good enough."
Kazuka turned to ask Airi with a bewildered look.
"But don't you practice, Airi?"
Airi turned away with a look of distaste, clearly showing an attitude of not wanting to practice.
"I don't like practicing at all."
"Huh? Why don't you like it? Don't you want to get stronger?"
"I don't like it, simple as that, if some time I see it necessary then I will practice."
Takeshi turned, whispering into Kazuka's ear.
"Leave her be Kazuka, she's very stubborn."
Kazuka appeared surprised at the information he just heard.
"Oh, is that so?"
Airi froze for a moment upon hearing that seemingly discrete whisper. The corners of her mouth twitched slightly, her eyes narrowed, glancing at the two who had just whispered as if wanting to pierce through their facial skin. Without saying a word, she approached in silence — a silence more terrifying than a scream — and stopped right behind them. The wind stilled, the air suddenly turned a bit colder.
Airi leaned close to Kazuka's ear, lips curling into a smile... not very friendly.
"So... who is the stubborn one?"
The words were gentle but radiated a pressure that made both Takeshi and Kazuka shudder as if a streak of killing intent had just brushed past their necks. Kazuka smiled forcedly, Takeshi was about to back away — but it was too late.
Airi's expression now was a mix of irony, warning, and a bit of triumph seeing the two who dared to secretly badmouth her… now they couldn't escape.
The frantic screams of Kazuka and Takeshi echoed through the forest and mountains.
"Ouch... It hurts... Why are you so fierce?"
"A girl being so fierce"
"Ouch..."
After a moment of venting anger, Kazuka and Takeshi's heads swelled with many lumps. Airi didn't bother and went into the cave.
Takeshi saw the sky seemingly getting darker, he immediately looked up at the sky to observe.
"Huh, is it going to rain?"
The sky, once clear blue, now suddenly became unusually heavy. Dark cloud clusters from the horizon slowly moved in, each thick swirling block like a giant blanket covering the sky. Sunlight was gradually swallowed, leaving only a murky, cold layer of light as if signaling something abnormal about to happen.
The wind began to rise, each strong gust making tree branches sway violently. The sound of rustling leaves merged with the howling wind into an overwhelming sound. The air became suffocating, the smell of damp earth and heavy water vapor wafted in the wind. Dark clouds still kept coming incessantly, swirling high up as if the whole sky was about to collapse.
Kazuka also looked up to observe, he took a deep breath.
"Oh, I smell water vapor, it's likely going to rain for real."
"It's summer now, I think the rainy season is coming too."
"Yeah, I think so too."
They still looked up at the sky, talking.
"What's the date today, Takeshi?"
"Seems to be June 10, year 7208, I don't remember which calendar repetition it is."
"I only asked the date, Takeshi."
"Never mind. So what do we do now?"
"If it rains, we go into the cave, why do you ask that?"
Takeshi immediately went towards the cave, Kazuka followed right after. Reaching the cave entrance, they immediately stopped. Takeshi pointed his finger at the ground separating the cave entrance and the outside.
"Do you see anything strange, Kazuka?"
Kazuka with a pensive face, eyes still looking down at the ground separating the cave entrance and the outside. He suddenly opened his eyes wide as if discovering something, his expression immediately turned into panic.
"This cave slopes down and is lower than the outside. If it rains, our cave will become a small pond."
He observed inside the cave, Airi was sitting on a large rock eating bread and ignored the two, the large rock was high almost touching the cave ceiling, could only sit if on top of it. Nearby was a lower but quite wide stone slab.
It seemed Airi lay on the high rock while Kazuka and Takeshi lay on the lower stone.
"Exactly, do you have a way, I can't think of a way anymore."
Kazuka panically walked in a circle to think.
"What way now?"
He stopped again and observed the cave from afar. Takeshi also walked closer and observed with him.
"Very difficult, Takeshi, look at those cliff walls, it's a vertical cliff. Now we need to make a roof to cover the cave entrance, otherwise rainwater will splash into the cave and we will have a real pond."
"I think making it now is still in time, the rainy season usually has clouds and wind blowing for a long time, at this point clouds just started moving in so it won't rain until near evening."
Kazuka clenched his hands with determination, he stomped his foot hard on the ground to gain morale.
"Fine, let's start working."
Kazuka stood before a tree, energy enveloped his sword, hand gripping tighter. A slash was launched aimed straight at the tree base.
Boom!
The tree fell and caused a loud noise making nearby birds fly away in fear. The loud sound made Airi run outside, she ran to Kazuka in the distance and stood with hands on hips.
"Hey, what are you doing? Why did you cut down such a big tree, and where is Takeshi?"
Kazuka went to the top of the fallen tree, lifted his sword and raised it above his head.
"He went to find vines."
"Huh? Vines for what? Are you guys thinking of a new game?"
Kazuka lowered the sword and cut off the top part of the tree.
"Of course not, look at the cave. If it rains, rainwater will splash into the cave and rainwater falling on the ground will also flow into the cave. If we don't make a roof and a door, that place will be flooded."
"Oh, I see, I just remembered when you said it. But do you guys know how to make it?"
Kazuka cut the large log into many different sections. Some parts were very long, about nearly 2 tharn, but some parts weren't even 1 tharn.
"Of course I know, otherwise I would have thought of another way."
Kazuka strengthened energy through his entire body, he immediately carried the large log and stood it up with a bit of difficulty.
"Hey, can I help with anything? Watching is too boring."
"You're strong too, come help me split wood. I'm also looking forward to seeing your strength."
"Okay, let me help."
A while later, Takeshi returned carrying many vines on his body, he dropped them on the ground and breathed continuously. Airi and Kazuka were sitting on the pile of wood they had finished making into various shapes. Airi with a look of surprise at the pile of vines Takeshi just brought back.
"Oh, a lot of vines. Let's start working."
"Yeah, you rest, we just finished all preparations."
Kazuka stood the very thick large wooden pieces at the cave entrance as if wanting to use them to make a wall. Takeshi also ran over and looked down at the ground then looked back up, he was suddenly surprised.
"Oh, you two created this groove then put the wood in? Truly smart."
"Yeah, a bit difficult, especially at the top, I had to slash very carefully to create these grooves."
Airi was tying the small wooden sticks together with vines, tying and thinking.
"Until now I never knew about these things. I didn't have to worry about anything, everything was provided for me, the only thing I did then was study and practice. Back then even my clothes were helped by servants to put on."
"Thinking back when forced to study and I read many books. 'Staying forever in the house, we only see walls. Stepping outside, we see the whole sky and a vast world waiting for us to explore' or 'He who only sits in the house will only understand the world through a small window. Only when venturing outside do we truly know how wide the world is and how deep our heart is' these two sentences in the books sparked my interest in the outside world more."
It was near evening, Takeshi, Airi, and Kazuka were standing and observing the result they just completed, everyone's faces though tired still carried a joyful smile.
The large cave entrance was now blocked by large wooden pieces. At the edge was a wooden door made quite simply, the door frame was fixed into the stone wall making it sturdier, would be easier to move around.
Above was a wooden roof, assembled from many small logs and tied by large, sturdy vines brought back by Takeshi. It was pinned into the vertical cliff wall, the other side supported by two large sturdy logs.
Takeshi stood with hands on his waist, he laughed loudly.
"So it's done, from now on I think we should call it a house, not a cave anymore."
"Yeah."
Kazuka grabbed the door handle which was a small wooden lump, he pulled it hard with joy and ran inside.
"Wonderful, the feeling of having this wooden wall is so cozy and safe."