After a good meal and a full night's sleep, Kairos began his second morning in Drum Kingdom.
This time, he left the palace wearing a deep-black trench coat.
The coat had been tailored perfectly. Gold-thread patterns lined the cuffs and open collar, and the black-and-gold buttons gave it a restrained elegance rather than a flashy one.
More importantly—
it fit him perfectly.
"The royal tailors really are skilled," Kairos murmured, lifting his wrist to look at the embroidery.
They had worked through the night and recreated his design almost flawlessly.
Once he received the coat, Kairos left the palace.
Before leaving, however, he issued an order that stunned the entire country.
He was abdicating.
The throne would pass to Dalton.
The most confused person was Dalton himself.
He had stayed near Kairos to observe him, correct him if necessary, and stop him if he threatened the people.
So how had he gone to sleep as a guard captain and woken up as king?
The officials were just as baffled.
Who became king for one day, then threw the crown away and left?
No one understood Kairos.
But confusion or not, the news spread immediately.
A new king taking the throne was the most important matter in any kingdom.
The great pirate Kairos abdicates. Guard Captain Dalton succeeds the throne.
The news swept across Drum Kingdom like a storm.
The people were stunned.
The conspiracy theories that had filled the streets the day before collapsed almost instantly.
Some even began to wonder—
had Kairos' real purpose been to save the country from Wapol?
Was he actually… a good person?
At that moment, the man everyone was talking about had already crossed the snow-covered mountains and arrived at the castle atop the peak.
Cocoa Weed Village.
The residence of the doctor known as the witch—
Dr. Kureha.
Doctorine.
Knock, knock.
Kairos raised his hand and knocked on the wooden door.
"Who is it?"
A sharp elderly voice sounded from inside.
The door opened.
Standing before him was a tall old woman with white hair, a purple coat and trousers, and sunglasses pushed up on her forehead.
Her gaze landed on Kairos.
Her eyes were clear and sharp, nothing like those of an ordinary old woman.
Her posture also showed no trace of frailty. If anything, she moved with the brisk confidence of someone far younger.
Freezing wind rushed into the room, making the fire inside sway violently.
Kairos stepped in and closed the door behind him.
The wind stopped at once.
"Are you Dr. Kureha?"
Kairos leaned lightly against the door and nodded to her.
"Kid, I like the way you address me."
Kureha nodded, then looked him up and down.
"You're not sick. What are you here for?"
Kairos sighed inwardly.
As expected of one of the best doctors in the country.
One glance was enough for her to judge his condition.
Just as he was about to state his purpose, an old, hoarse voice sounded from deeper inside the room.
"Kureha, do we have a guest?"
Dr. Hiriluk walked out of the kitchen with a steaming bowl of mushroom soup in his hands.
The moment he saw Kairos' face, his eyes widened.
Clang!
The bowl slipped from his hands and crashed to the floor.
Hiriluk didn't even care that hot soup had splashed onto his trouser leg. He pointed at Kairos and shouted,
"Kureha! He—he's Kairos!"
The moment that name came out, a sharp glint flashed through Kureha's eyes.
She had spent the past few days treating a hunter who had fallen down a mountain while hunting wild boar. She had only finished today and hadn't heard the latest details about Drum Kingdom's new king.
But once Hiriluk said Kairos' name, she understood.
"Yes, it's me."
Kairos admitted it openly.
"You're here to spar with me?" Kureha asked.
She didn't know Kairos' exact appearance, but she had heard enough rumors about him.
If Kairos came to someone's door, there was usually only one reason.
A challenge.
But she was a doctor.
Did this man even challenge doctors?
What exactly was his standard?
"Yes," Kairos said.
Then his gaze shifted slightly.
Hiriluk is here too…
But challenging him was out of the question.
Remembering Hiriluk's illness, Kairos felt a faint heaviness in his chest.
Before he could say anything more, Kureha's lips curled into an easy smile.
She looked straight at him and said,
"No need to spar, Kairos. You win."
After saying that, she stretched her neck and muttered,
"People get old. Bones and muscles don't heal as easily as they used to."
She said it like she was admitting defeat to age, but there was no weakness in her at all.
Kairos' eyes brightened slightly.
Then his gaze moved to Hiriluk.
"I surrender too! You win!"
Hiriluk immediately raised both hands.
Kairos: "…"
He fell silent for three seconds.
The corner of his mouth twitched.
Honestly—
he had only looked at Hiriluk.
That was all.
He really hadn't meant anything else.
Really.
Then the system's voice rang in his mind.
"Ding: Host has defeated Dr. Kureha. Reward obtained: Emiya Shirou Card — Fate/stay night Version, 1 Use."
"Ding: Host has defeated Dr. Hiriluk. Reward obtained: Zenitsu Agatsuma Card — Demon Slayer Version, 1 Use."
Kairos' eyes lit up.
Only one thought remained in his mind.
Can fighting old people actually give lucky cards too?
Or was this good karma for ending Drum Kingdom's tyranny?
Good deeds really did bring good rewards?
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 60 chapters ahead on P@treon → patreon.com/StrawHatStudios