13 Mink Street

Chapter 79: Leaving Home, Returning Home!

The sea wind was heavy with salt and moisture, threaded with coal smoke from the passenger ship. It struck in layers, like over-fried spring-roll skins pressed on while still scorching hot.

On the first-floor deck, the thunder of explosive dance music drowned out the temper of the waves, yet still managed to irritate those aboard who preferred quiet.

On the second-floor deck below, men and women clung to one another. From above, the sharp differences in their accents were clearly audible, but that did nothing to stop the men’s hands from growing increasingly bold, nor to stop the women from playing coy, half-resisting and half-inviting. Even if only moments earlier they had been strolling the deck hand in hand with their husbands or wives, it did not prevent them from finding a brief, borrowed affection now.

Karon even noticed that among two of the couples below, one facing north and one south, the men and women exchanged a tacit glance. That was true marital equality. Everyone played, and everyone knew it.

He turned around and leaned back against the railing. Standing on the railing in front of him was a seabird. It had pale blue feathers, and held its neck high and proud, positioned perfectly in the direction of the setting sun Karon had been watching. The scene formed a composition like an oil painting.

Then—

Woof! The golden retriever leapt forward. The seabird took flight.

Karon sighed and closed his eyes. The golden retriever squatted in front of him, tilting its head in confusion as it looked at its owner.

Not far away, Pu’er lay draped over a life buoy hanging on the wall and let out a sigh. “Even a dog with boosted intelligence can’t understand art.”

Just then, another seabird landed in front of Pu’er.

Meow! She pounced, swatting several feathers loose with one paw and frightening the bird into a hurried flight.

An elderly maid walked over. She was the same woman Alfred had once disciplined in Eunice’s yard. Eunice addressed the woman as Ms. Daly. “Young Master, the madam invites you to dinner.”

“Alright.” Ever since boarding the ship, Ms. Daly’s attitude towards Karon had improved significantly, though he had no intention of being particularly warm toward her.

The entire third floor was divided into two suites, and Ms. Jenny had reserved one for their party.

When Karon entered the suite, he found Ms. Jenny was already seated at the dining table. Eunice stepped forward to help him to remove his coat and hang it up.

It was cold outside, though stifling inside the cabin.

Since boarding the ship, Eunice had casually taken care of Karon’s daily needs, doing almost everything a wife would do for her husband, aside from sharing a bed.

In truth, she did not need to act in such a manner. After all, the ship was heading towards her home, and between men and women, whoever was going to their home territory usually gained confidence. She could have relaxed more, even allowed herself to be less careful. That would have been a natural human response.

Yet she did not do that.

Furthermore, before boarding, Karon had told Ms. Jenny about Tiz falling asleep. Not only that, he had explained the consequences and cost of awakening him. He hid nothing. This was not because Karon was careless, but rather something he did deliberately.

Some things could not truly be hidden. Though the Allen family had declined, it was still not an ordinary family. They might no longer be able to accomplish much, but gathering information was still well within their means.

Rather than putting on a strained performance and pretending that everything was fine, it was better to be completely clear from the beginning.

There was also another reason. If the Allen family intended to look down on him or neglect him because of Tiz’s slumber, or because the Immers family had fallen from being a legacy family of the Church of Order to an ordinary household, then let them reveal it early. There was no need to go through the motions.

Karon had the money his uncle and aunts had given him for emergencies, and a mortgage had already been arranged for him to buy a home, as well as a servant who not only required no wages, but even paid his employer: Alfred.

Without the Allen family, Karon would still survive just fine. He could buy a small apartment in York City and start over, one step at a time.

But as things now stood, Eunice’s attitude had not changed because of his family’s circumstances. If anything, she paid even more attention to details than before.

As for Ms. Jenny—

She had indeed changed slightly, but it was not that she suddenly looked down on Karon. Rather, the faint sense of humility and deference she had once shown towards him had faded after learning of Tiz’s slumber. They had been replaced by the natural warmth an elder might show a junior.

Karon found it troubling that he felt a trace of disappointment in this.

Perhaps the Immers household had simply felt too good to him, making him reluctant to step into the Allen family. If only they showed a bit of snobbishness sooner, he could walk away with a clean break.

With everyone continuing to maintain the harmonious atmosphere, he really was about to report himself to the Allen family.

“Try this fish,” Ms. Jenny said, gesturing to a dish. “The sailors caught it fresh this morning.”

Karon tasted a slice and smiled. “It’s very fresh.”

He did not actually like sashimi.

“Care to have some red wine with me?” Ms. Jenny asked.

“Yes, madam.”

Eunice rose to pour wine for both her mother and Karon.

“The food in Veyn is truly terrible, but our wine has always been famous. Perhaps it’s because Veyn’s royal history has produced kings who appreciated fine wine and fine clothes, but never a king who understood good food.”

“As long as it’s clean, food is mostly about habit,” Karon replied gently.

“I’m from Swillen. You don’t need to hide anything from me. Once you truly reach Veyn, believe me, you’ll feel that Veyn’s people, ancestors included, have been addicted to pig feed.”

Karon chuckled.

“Come, a toast. To a smooth evening.”

“A smooth evening?” Karon asked, puzzled.

“Oh?” Ms. Jenny covered her mouth and laughed. “Did I forget to tell you?”

“Yes.”

“Then let me tell you now. Tonight, we’ll be switching ships.”

“Switching ships?”

“Yes. Because this ship will sink tonight. Someone will come to pick us up.”

“Is this to clean my identity?” Karon asked.

“The word ‘clean’ is very precise. Yes. Eunice and I are already using false identities, but you used your real one; You boarded as Karon of Swillen. So there will be an accident while we are at sea. We will suffer an incident, and Karon of Swillen will disappear into the ocean. Once we reach Veyn, you won’t even need to change your name. Veyn is not small, but it has many people.”

“But—”

“Oh, don’t worry about innocents being harmed. This ship will only suffer a small breach. Tonight it will pass near Sedes Island, where the Royal Navy maintains a military harbor. The rescue will arrive quickly. Of course, some people may be unlucky and get bumped or bruised, but those are minor matters, aren’t they?”

“You’re right, madam,” Karon said. “But I’m not worried about innocents. I’m worried about my luggage. I brought quite a lot, especially books. I’d rather not lose or soak them.”

“Oh, is that all.” Ms. Jenny took a sip of wine.

“No rush. After dinner, you’ll have plenty of time to pack. Aseros is an excellent navigator and will help watch over our belongings. I’ve brought quite a bit of perishables from Roja as well, and they also can’t get wet.”

“Aseros?” Eunice asked in surprise. “The painting hanging in Father’s study?”

“Yes. You’ll see him tonight,” Ms. Jenny replied with a smile. “Eunice has always been well protected. She knows many things, but has not actually come into contact with them.”

“In truth, I’m the same,” Karon offered. Most of his understanding came from the religious books from Tiz’s study.

“Do you need Eunice to help you pack?” Ms. Jenny asked.

“No, madam. I can manage myself.”

“Then I’ll have Daly help you.”

“That won’t be necessary either.”

“Very well. I’ll have Eunice come fetch you an hour in advance. We’ll board together then.”

“Understood. Thank you for your trouble.”

“You don’t need to be so polite with me.” Ms. Jenny smiled faintly. “Sometimes I really do wonder how the Immers family produced such good manners.”

“Because most of the Immers family are really no different from ordinary people.”

“Including you?”

“Yes. Including me.”

“Alright.” Ms. Jenny pursed her lips. “My dear, ordinary Karon.”

Yet I really am just an ordinary person, Karon thought. When compared to my servant, my cat, and my dog.

He rose from the table. Eunice followed him to the door and helped him put on his coat. “Madam, I’ll head back to pack.”

“Mm.”

As Karon passed the railing, he saw Alfred downstairs, seated at the piano and playing. There were several ladies surrounding him, as well as a number of gentlemen, who were no less attentive.

As Pu’er walked along the railing beside Karon, she muttered, “That radio demon is always so seductive.”

“Yes,” Karon replied.

“Do you know, Karon, every day when I see you go to Ms. Jenny’s room for dinner, I’ve been holding my breath.”

“Why?”

“I’m afraid Ms. Jenny will give you a hard time, and I’m afraid Eunice will treat you more lightly than before.”

“That’s an interesting worry.”

“I’ve been thinking that my family has grown very, very stupid. How else can explain how they’ve declined to this state? Stupid people from a stupid family doing stupid things is normal, isn’t it?

“For example, because of Tiz’s slumber, because the Immers family lost value, they might neglect you, look down on you, or in a more extreme reaction, force you to accept repeated humiliations until you break off the engagement yourself. That way, they wouldn’t have to be the villain.”

Karon stopped and looked at Pu’er. The cat looked back at him.

After a moment, Karon continued on towards his cabin. Pu’er froze for a moment, then chased after him, shouting angrily, “Damn it, Karon, you are thinking the same thing! That’s why you deliberately told them about Tiz and the Immers family. You want them to neglect you, look down on you, give you attitude, make things unbearable, then you could leave the Allen family with a clear conscience.

“Most importantly, separating from Eunice wouldn’t be your fault. You’d have a righteous reason. You’d stand on the moral high ground and avoid condemning yourself.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Karon said as he unlocked his door and went inside.

Pu’er followed him in, continuing her scolding, “Emotional withdrawal. Leave her with no way out. Force her to lose her temper and say ‘break up’ first.

“And then you can agree immediately, saying she brought it up first, leaving you with no moral guilt at all.

“You men are filthy!”

Karon sorted the books on his desk and commented in confusion, “I really don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m just being myself.”

“Putting the facts aside, you never thought this way? Not even a little?”

“No.”

“No, you definitely did!” Pu’er leapt onto the desk. “My dear Young Master Karon, have you already begun looking down on the Allen family?”

“No.”

“You have! You see them as a burden! You want to walk freely on your own.”

Karon stopped packing and looked at Pu’er with curiosity. “I remember you didn’t want me to go to the Allen family because you were afraid I’m a heretical god and would bring misfortune upon them.”

“But you’re not a heretical god. The heretical god is a dog now!”

Woof!

“Get lost! Meow! This isn’t your place to speak!” Pu’er shouted at the golden retriever.

The dog immediately shut up and laid down by the door. Even after becoming far smarter than before, it still feared Pu’er. The psychological pressure from their first meeting had never faded.

“I’m just following your advice,” Karon said.

Pu’er reached out and gently scratched the back of his hand. “But I remember that at the very beginning, I told you to carry Eunice into the bedroom and make her give you lots and lots of descendants.”

“She’s your descendent.”

“The situation is different now.”

“It’s different again?”

“Yes. First, you’re not a heretical god anymore, though I don’t know what you are...

“Anyway, something beyond my understanding doesn’t make me feel threatened anymore, bBut I do know this: Tiz used a blood sacrifice to forcibly cut off the spirituality of future Immers descendants.”

“And then?”

“And you weren’t cut off! Now that Tiz is sleeping, all those things that should have existed might end up falling onto you instead.”

“You’re really good at imagining things.”

“I have theoretical backing. The Church of Principle has researched this.”

“They’ve researched even this?”

“Yes. They even design royal tombs.”

“I thought the Church of Principle only studied theory and essence.”

“That’s what people like Hoffen enjoy. As religions develop, they often go astray, especially in this era when gods no longer appear. No one can correct them.”

“Alright. By the way, Pu’er, what is Aseros?” Karon asked because Ms. Jenny’s words had made it clear that Aseros was not human.

“Aseros?” Pu’er froze. “Aseros is still alive?”

“Ms. Jenny told me that Aseros will come tonight to take us to another ship. So what is it?”

“It’s a sea monster. A sea monster as large as a whale.”

“A sea monster that big?” Karon was surprised.

“The Allen family were once infamous pirates. They only settled on land later, so it’s normal for them to still have partners and connections at sea.”

“So the Allen family can still summon this sea monster?”

“Yes. Why?”

“I thought they’d declined.”

“That’s relative to their former glory. They’re still not an ordinary family. Besides, is it strange to summon a sea monster to help?”

“I find it quite strange. Very surprising.”

“Your grandfather condensed three godhead fragments! Oh, I see now. Tiz’s low-key behavior misled you about what kind of standing the Immers family actually had within the Church.

“That day, Tiz resolved matters through a negotiation. If he had truly fought the three elders, half of Roja City could have become ruins, even without using highly contaminating forbidden Arts. If he was still awake, or if he had entered the Temple, you, Karon, would be a genuine little crown prince.”

“Little crown prince?” Karon chuckled. “That’s a strange title.”

“Blame Tiz for never properly showing you the world. He gave you a country bumpkin’s perspective of things.”

“That’s fine. Exploring little by little brings its own joy.”

“Exploring what? Are we going to Veyn to buy farmland?” Alfred asked as he walked in. “My savings might just barely be enough.”

***

That night, Eunice knocked on the door. Karon stood with Pu’er on his shoulder, the golden retriever’s leash in his hand. Alfred carried the luggage and books. They gathered outside of Ms. Jenny’s cabin.

She had also finished packing and stood on the third level deck.

She checked her pocket watch. “It’s here.”

Ahead of the ship, gray fog suddenly surged forward, drastically reducing visibility. A collision echoed from beneath the hull, but everyone on the third floor had prepared themselves in advance, so none fell.

Then, a massive black silhouette slowly emerged from the fog. It resembled a whale, though its skin was covered with clear scales.

“Thank you for your trouble, great Aseros,” Ms. Jenny said, bowing.

Aseros opened its mouth and extended its tongue like a ladder.

“Everyone, climb aboard,” Ms. Jenny ordered.

She went first. Eunice glanced at Karon, but he smiled and gestured for her to go ahead. After Eunice climbed up, Ms. Daly followed with the luggage.

“Radio demon, up you go,” Pu’er commanded.

Alfred climbed up carrying the bags.

“Stupid dog, go!”

Karon released the leash. The golden retriever excitedly leapt up. Everyone continued walking along the tongue to enter Aseros’s mouth.

Just as Karon prepared to board, Pu’er suddenly jumped onto the railing. “You are not Aseros.”

The cat stood on the railing, facing a sea monster larger than the cruise ship. The massive eyes lowered.

“I am Aseros,” a deep voice replied.

“No, you’re not. Aseros would have recognized me.” Pu’er raised her head proudly. “Poelle. Allen.”

Aseros fell silent. After a moment, it spoke again, “You might be speaking of my father.”

“Your father?” Pu’er asked softly. “Where is he now?”

“He has returned to the embrace of the abyssal undersea.”

“Aseros is dead...” Pu’er lowered her head. “Of course. So many years have passed...”

“My father told me many stories of the past, including one about the most noble young lady of the Allen family. He said that the days spent roaming the sea with her were the happiest and proudest of his life. He said that when that noble young lady went ashore, she told him that she would one day call for him to carry her home.

“My father waited a very, very long time. But that call never came.”

“I’m sorry, Aseros,” Pu’er murmured.

“Before sinking into the abyss, my father told me to continue waiting. He said the young lady would one day grow tired of the outside world, and when that day came, she would return home.

“So... are you the noble Miss Poelle Allen?”

“Yes. My name is Poelle Allen. Thank you for coming to fetch me.”

“I hope to carry you home in the way my father once described, the way he and that noble lady loved most. Would that be acceptable to you?”

***

Dawn broke.

A colossal sea monster floated on the surface of the sea. Most of its body was submerged, with only half of its head exposed.

Karon stood there, holding Pu’er.

Aseros sprayed jets of water from its cheeks. Under the morning light, the mist formed brilliant overlapping rainbows. It was the scene the noble lady once loved most, and the game its father had also loved most while roaming the sea with her.

Karon lowered his head to look at Pu’er in his arms. She was curled against him. She looked soft, or rather, fragile.

This was the first time Karon had ever seen Pu’er looking so fragile. She looked up at him and softly said, “Karon, I’m home.”