A good day starts with walking the Slime.
Kael put a leash on Fufu and took it for a stroll through the winding city streets. This was a classic display of having too much free time after a full meal, but Fufu didn't mind; judging by the happy ripples through its translucent body, it was full of curiosity.
They bumped into a voluptuous Noble Madam walking her own pet. Her dog barked piercingly at the Slime, but the Madam was too distracted by Kael's good looks to notice. She pulled him into a fragrant, suffocating embrace—a frequent "hazard" of being the most handsome boy in Roa City.
By the time Kael waved goodbye, the Madam's dog had been briefly swallowed and spat out by Fufu. Its fluffy fur was gone, digested away, leaving only a shivering layer of skin hiding behind its owner's legs.
"Don't eat just anything," Kael warned.
"Goo~" Fufu nodded. It had grown quite used to Sandrone's high-end cakes and usually only acted as her "biological trash can" for failed culinary experiments.
The Alley Ambush
"Bean Sprout!"
Eris appeared, breathless and bundled up against the cold like a fluffy zongzi. She immediately noticed the lipstick mark on Kael's face and began scrubbing it off with enough force to peel skin. "Which shameless woman was it this time?"
"Madam Mary was just... enthusiastic," Kael explained.
"She's only enthusiastic toward you," Eris grumbled. Suddenly, Kael's expression sharpened. He looked behind her; the once-busy alley was now eerily empty. "Eris, where is your guard?"
Before she could answer, a heavy capture net fell from above. Kael didn't even chant. A cyan Wind Blade shredded the high-level beast-hair net into confetti.
CLANG.
An earth spike erupted from the ground, intercepting a lunging swordsman mid-thrust. The spike pierced the attacker's shoulder, lifting him off his feet.
"An Advanced Sword God Style swordsman?" Kael mused. "You don't look like a petty thief."
"Chantless... double casting?" the swordsman gasped in pain. Three daggers whistled from the rooftops, but a cyan wind barrier deflected them effortlessly.
Kael's "dual-tasking" was a feat of magic that the "muggles" attacking him couldn't possibly fathom. Realizing their target was no ordinary mage, the hidden North God Style accomplice attempted to flee.
Kael leapt onto a wall with Eris in his arms. He pointed his index finger like a barrel. "Pew~"
A basketball-sized water ball compressed into a marble and shot out at supersonic speed. The escaping swordsman collapsed instantly, a finger-sized hole punched clean through his heart.
The Defector
"Miss Eris!!"
Her official guard, a tall Advanced Water God Style swordsman, rushed toward them. Eris began to scold him for his dereliction of duty, but the guard's shadow loomed too large. He didn't stop.
Just as his hand reached for Eris, a cold glint flashed. His outstretched arm fell away, severed at the elbow.
Kael stood there, a slender blade in his hand that instantly melted back into a blue Slime. This was Fufu's latest trick: Mimicry.
"You really never learn," Kael sighed. He knew the guard had defected. No one "holds back" an Advanced Swordsman without a sound unless the swordsman wants to be held.
The terrified guard tried to grab Eris with his remaining hand. Kael covered Eris's eyes with one hand and blew a breath with the other. A cyan Wind Blade sliced the man in half.
"Kael! I'm not a child anymore!" Eris complained, pushing his hand away, though she was secretly giddy at his "gentlemanly" protection.
"Where are you not a child?" Kael asked, his gaze drifting downward.
"Bean Sprout!!"
The Mastermind
Kael fired a firework spell, summoning the city guards. While the Self-Governing Automaton was bringing the Boreas family massive wealth, it was also drawing predators. The plan had been simple: kidnap Eris to force Philip to hand over the manufacturing process.
The culprits had cut their ties the moment the mission failed, making them impossible to trace. However, the message was clear. After this incident, Philip realized he could no longer rely on Advanced-rank guards. He needed a Sword King to suppress the growing greed of the Asura nobility.