Back in Foosha Village—
The banquet ended in laughter and cheers.
After spinning more completely made-up "travel stories" for the villagers, Kairo had grown pleasantly tipsy and was escorted back upstairs to the inn by Makino.
"Mr. Kairo, lie down for a bit. I'll go get some hot water for your feet."
After helping him onto the bed, Makino didn't pause for even a second. She tossed out those words and hurried back downstairs.
Makino had been especially happy today.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say this had been the happiest day of her life.
Part of that was because the Lord of the Coast, once the greatest danger hanging over Foosha Village, had been turned into food and shared among every villager.
The other part was Kairo's travel stories.
They were fascinating.
Especially the one about the dozens of countries in the South Blue that all worshipped Guanyin Bodhisattva. That story had filled her with longing.
She had never imagined that somewhere in the world there existed such a gentle, beautiful, and compassionate goddess.
And even more than that, she had never imagined that such a faith could exist at all.
Over the years, she had heard many interesting things from tavern customers, but most of those stories were just men bragging about how they'd sailed the seas, fought pirates, or done something heroic.
But a traveler like Kairo—someone who told stories about the Three Kingdoms, about faith, about strange lands and ideas—
She had never met anyone like that before.
Still, the story that moved her most was the one Kairo told after Guanyin Bodhisattva.
Because that story had supposedly taken place in the East Blue, in a country called Guzhiba.
According to Kairo, its people had long lived amid warfare. The lower classes suffered endlessly, enduring each day like a year.
Just when they could no longer see any future—
A leader named Chevara appeared.
Under Chevara's leadership, a war against the corrupt royal family began.
After years of struggle, Chevara and the common people finally won.
But the happiness did not last.
Because Chevara had spent years fighting on the front lines, often without enough food even to survive properly. After helping liberate the country, he collapsed from accumulated exhaustion and illness and died.
And on his deathbed, looking at the room crowded with common folk, the great leader spoke words that had moved Makino to tears:
"After we are gone, they will build schools and hospitals for you. They will improve your treatment. Not because they suddenly found their conscience. Not because they became good people. But because we were here."
When Kairo had spoken those words so vividly, not only Makino but many of the villagers had been shaken and deeply moved.
They had never imagined that someone so great could exist in this world.
Someone willing to give his life for the lower classes.
And only so that ordinary people could live under the sun.
Naturally, the villagers had thought of the Goa Kingdom—
That so-called most beautiful country in the East Blue.
The reason Goa Kingdom looked so spotless and perfect within its borders was because it followed a policy of exclusion—throwing away everything dirty, unnecessary, or undesirable beyond its walls and leaving them to fend for themselves.
Just as Makino reached the bottom of the stairs, Mayor Uwoop Slap came toward her with two other villagers.
Before she could react, he spoke with a grave expression.
"Makino, something's happened."
Makino blinked in confusion.
"What do you mean, Mayor Uwoop?"
"We just got word. Mr. Da Hong and Mr. Droopy have appeared in the center of the royal city."
"…What?"
Makino's beautiful eyes widened.
"Weren't they at the banquet the whole time? How did they suddenly end up in the city center?"
"If that were all, it wouldn't be such a problem."
Uwoop glanced up toward the second floor, then lowered his voice.
"According to the latest report from Gray Terminal, Mr. Da Hong smashed open the city gate and forced his way in. He also sent a number of kingdom soldiers flying."
The moment she heard that Da Hong had blown open the city gate and entered by force, Makino panicked.
"Mayor Uwoop, what… what's going on? No, I have to tell Mr. Kairo!"
Without another word, she turned and ran upstairs.
She hurried to Kairo's room—
Only to find that he had already fallen asleep.
"Mr. Kairo?"
She called softly, hesitating.
No response.
After calling several more times without any reaction, she finally walked to the bedside, cupped his face in both hands, and shook him while raising her voice.
"Mr. Kairo, wake up! Mr. Kairo, please wake up!"
Under her shaking, Kairo slowly opened his eyes.
Seeing the beautiful face leaning over him, he mumbled sleepily,
"Makino…"
Then, before Makino could react, he suddenly pulled her into his arms and rested his head against her chest.
"I'm sleepy… let me sleep…"
Makino clearly had not expected things to develop like this.
Only after Kairo drifted right back off to sleep, still holding her in his arms, did she finally snap out of her daze.
In the next instant, her entire face turned bright red.
Her heart pounded wildly, like a frightened little deer.
Although the villagers often called her "boss lady," she was still an unmarried young woman. She had never married, and she had never had anyone she loved.
So being suddenly pulled into Kairo's embrace like this sent her pulse racing.
Even so, she retained enough composure to notice footsteps coming from the hallway.
At once, she struggled free from Kairo's arms and, still blushing furiously, called out again:
"Mr. Kairo!"
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