Rangers Endgame

Chapter 138: Winter Preparation

Takahiro gave his flowing violet hair a dramatic flip, flashing his perfect set of teeth, his chin tilted so the lighting artifact would highlight his delicate features. The meadow, unfurling with soft greens and teeming with wildflowers and various herbivores, provided a nice backdrop for his poses.

He adjusted his posture. Then again.

“Hmm,” he contemplated aloud, tapping at the collar of his chest plate. “Perhaps gold embroidery would be more appropriate for this expedition. What is your verdict?”

Behind him, his servant, Rin, stood with the stoic stillness of someone who’d long been accustomed to this routine. “Most flashy, my lord,” she said in that flat tone of hers.

He flicked his bangs from a softer angle. “One must look presentable when guests are soon to arrive. Must be optimal.”

“You have been striking poses in front of the window for three hours, sir.”

“Details.” His reflection copied his dismissive hand. “Yours truly must imply a narrative. Narratives thrive on attention.”

A pause in the air. The servant’s ghostly copy in the window glanced to the side, a flicker in her mature features to indicate something was on her mind.

“You are in the presence of greatness. Why so troubled?”

“Humble yourself,” she scolded. “I just recalled a letter that arrived this morning. From your family.”

“About?” He struck another pose.

“They reiterate that you produce an heir.”

“Reiterate.” His smooth face wrinkled with offense at the word. “How repetitive.”

“They include a timeline, my lord.”

“Ah, of course they did. Their patience wears thin.” He twirled around at last, shoulders heavy with resignation. “Yet, no one has proven themselves worthy of the Nandemo name. All women are the same. They are all so—”

Rin’s hazel eyes narrowed a fraction, more than enough for him to choke on the tail of his sentence.

“Go on,” she dared him.

He forced his stiff body to loosen and awkwardly cleared his throat.

“The suitors,” he amended. “The suitors are all the same.” He threw his hands in the air. “Same powdered faces. Same sultry eyes. Same calculated words. Authenticity has become a rarity these days.”

He glanced back at his reflection. It winked. “Besides, yours truly is certainly not the issue, as he is very much adept at swooning the opposite gender.”

Her eyes jittered, catching them from rolling. “Certainly.”

He spent a few more minutes experimenting before the sound of rumbling wooden wheels on compacted soil caught his ear. Takahiro perked up instantly.

“They’re here.” He skimmed his duplicate for any imperfections before turning away from the window and striding towards the door. “At last, people to witness me.”

Rin followed, escorting him through a wide hall and into a grand lobby shimmering with refracted light from the majestic chandelier.

“By the way, how is Mrs. Harper faring?” Takahiro inquired, adjusting his chest plate.

“Mostly stable for now, last I heard. But overclock syndrome is relentless.”

“Schedule a visit. We haven’t seen her in quite some time.”

“Of course, my lord.”

Voices seeped through the large double doors, some of which he didn't recognize. She went ahead of him as Takahiro rehearsed at the peak of the arcing stairs. Knocks came, and she opened a door. The door groaned, the cool touch of distant winter falling into the cavernous space along with the smell of travel. As she stepped aside, two all-too-familiar faces walked inside.

Takahiro snapped his arms outward with grandeur, striking his signature pose. “Risa! Yuto! Wonderful for you two to have made it.”

Rin offered a respectful dip, hand to her abdomen. Risa touched her arm and gave her a delighted smile, while Yuto opted for a friendly wave.

Risa then turned back to Takahiro, a knowing smirk on her face. “I see greeting guests like a normal human is still below you.”

Takahiro waved away her words, descending the stairs. “A Nandemo does not stoop.”

He was about to escort them through the country home when a third figure entering through the door stopped him. The young man stepped onto the marble floor, combat boots echoing softly, glancing around with a tamed expression before his gaze landed on Takahiro.

“Oh? You have picked up an extra member,” the noble said, bowing politely. “Takahiro Nandemo of the great Nandemo House, one of the guild’s longtime loyal sponsors. Though I trust you have already heard of me.”

Something tugged at the young man’s brow, perhaps suppressed reverence. “Right. I’m Yakeru. A B-rank swordsman.”

Risa stepped beside him while mentioning, “Takahiro here is also a swordsman. A-rank to boot.”

“Well then. If that is all, perhaps we should prepare,” Takahiro said.

“Wait, there’s still one more person,” Yuto warned.

Takahiro drew an impatient circle in the air with his hand. “Fine, fine.”

He repositioned himself in the center of the lobby, slipping back into a practiced, welcoming posture. The last figure came as a silhouette bathed in the afternoon sun, the soft curves of their outline accentuated. Details bloomed across their form as they crossed the threshold, and his posture wavered, disbelief cracking through his polite smile he’d meticulously crafted for years.

He felt his pupils dilate.

The sparkle of blue in her eyes, the confident swish of her hips, the cascade of gleaming silver down her back.

She was easily the most striking young woman to have ever graced his unworthy eyes.

“My lord?” Rin asked, brow slightly raised.

The words got lost in the cloud of lovesickness blurring the world around him. He approached, his usual measured steps gone, his obsession with perfection forgotten.

“Madam,” he started, his voice softer than he thought possible. “You honor this home with your dazzling presence. The ethereal oceans in your gaze, the unyielding determination in your gait, the way your silky hair flutters in winter’s breath.” He drew closer, her face singing of natural beauty. “One must wonder if you realize the effect you have on mortals. Even yours truly must confess a certain fascination.”

She offered no response, her features scrunched.

The noble threw on a charming smile. “One may confuse your steady restraint for hollowness. But no. It is discipline, a welcome trait within the Nandemo House.” He knelt, hand extended. “So, yours truly must unveil his heart. Please, it would be an honor if you were to take the Nandemo name.”

Behind him, the young man—Yakeru, was it?—stifled a snicker. The kind one makes when they know something you don’t.

But he couldn’t be bothered. He eagerly awaited her response, scenes of them walking down the aisle together playing in his head.

She raised a hand to her nose and mouth.

“Your breath is horrendous.”

The harsh words shattered his daydream, and he went as rigid as a statue. The frost in her voice sobered him, and he saw Rin crack the barest of smiles at his dismay. Behind him, Risa sighed, and Yuto shuffled awkwardly.

“Ask a girl her name first before professing love.” Risa offered a tip so obvious that he kicked himself. “This is Fuyumi, and she’s an A-rank combatant.”

‘Like yours truly. Perhaps this is salvageable.’

No matter the harshness, her raw honesty was precisely the authenticity he sought.

“Anyway, wasn’t there something you had for us, Takahiro?” Risa walked, already knowing the way.

He stood, regaining a shred of his composure as he cleared his throat. “Yes.”

He turned and led the rest of them down a hall.

YAKERU:

Risa walked ahead with Takahiro, the coquettish sway of her hips drawing ogling eyes from passing male servants. Yakeru kept a steady pace through the lavender-scented corridors while Fuyumi matched his stride, away from the others.

Yakeru’s eyes stayed on Takahiro’s back, studying, but not sensing ill intent. Only harmless idiocy. “This’ll be… interesting.”

She remained silent. He glanced sideways, a wrathful furnace burning beneath the surface of her stoic features.

“I haven’t seen you make that face in a while.” He called out.

A muscle twitched in her face. “You didn't have to come with me.”

“Have you forgotten that the last bloodhound you fought put you in the hospital?” He responded, his eyes going to Takahiro’s right-hand servant.

“And I've gotten stronger since then,” she argued.

“Strength doesn't negate your clear grudge,” he countered. His mind reeled back to Daichi’s betrayal, when Yakeru forced himself to abandon emotion to survive. “You’ll endanger yourself if you can't keep a cool head.”

“I’m fine. Worry about yourself.” Her words came out sharper than usual.

Yakeru turned further towards her, gaze narrowing. Though he understood her rage, he didn’t spare room for any leeway that could likely encourage recklessness. “If not for yourself, do it for your family’s sake.” His voice dropped to a stern warning.

Her brows furrowed, ready to fire back an argument, but she sobered faster than the words could leave her tongue. Though, she angled her face away, still simmering.

“Here we are,” Takahiro's voice announced from the front. He placed a hand on both handles of the double doors at the end of the hall and swung them open with flair. “Behold our selection!”

Aisles of fabrics and garments stretched out before them, from fine cloth to heavy fur, and a small collection of artifacts lined the far right wall.

Takahiro spun, arms crossed, an unabashed smirk plastered on his face. “Take anything you desire for the mission. You may now praise yours truly for his unfathomable generosity.”

A sparkling-eyed Risa ignored him, already disappearing down one of the aisles displaying luxurious footwear and cosmetics, nothing to do with keeping warm. Yuto roamed the aisle beside it while Fuyumi investigated the room on her own.

Yakeru turned down one of the aisles, skimming over the clothes more meant for fashion than practicality until he found what he was looking for. He browsed the racks, feeling the textures and inspecting the craftsmanship. They were thinner than he wanted, and style clearly took precedence.

‘Are all nobles this ostentatious?’

He settled on the least brassy attire he could find, a long white coat with dark accents that complemented his black armor. Takahiro rounded the corner with Yuto, tapping his chin with an indecisive finger. Yuto had already picked out what he wanted: a thick silver jacket with reflective yellow stripes running across the ribs and sleeves, bundled in his embrace.

“Hmm.” Takahiro scanned the articles of garnish with a critical eye.

Yuto readjusted his hold on the fat coat, impatience surfacing on his features. “You hadn’t picked one already before we came?”

“They are a new series of attire imported from our estate in the Capital. Yours truly has painfully abstained from this room until his companions arrived.” He inspected the fine material of a particular jacket, testing its thickness with a pinch.

“My lord has a certain… taste pertaining to appearances,” Rin explained briefly, shadowing her master.

“A certain taste indeed,” Takahiro agreed. “Yours truly must not be seen sporting subpar quality attire, as the standards of a Nandemo must be upheld. That would disgrace the House otherwise. If one cannot achieve drawing the world’s attention, then he is not worthy of attention at all.”

‘What is this buffoon even talking about?’ Yakeru almost said out loud.

Yuto breathed in resignation but kept quiet. When he turned Yakeru's way, however, his cheeks flushed red, and he practically hid behind the big coat in his arms. Yakeru could only stare, completely unsure of what was going through the stooge’s head.

It took him a moment to realize the young man was looking past him, not at him, and he glanced over his shoulder. Fuyumi had already decided on her coat, inlaid with thick brown fur, and waited by the doors, natural light filtering through the window highlighting her sharp profile.

An “Aha!” drew his attention back to Takahiro, now holding out a brilliant gold coat with icy white feathers fanning from the collar. As he tried it on to feel the fit, the light struck the gold in a way that made Yakeru shield his squinting eyes. “The gold is a tad darker than I would like, but it will have to do.” Takahiro had the audacity to say.

“What are you getting, Yakeru?” Yuto snuck to Yakeru’s side, checking out the article hanging from his forearm.

He only responded by unraveling the coat to briefly showcase it. Takahiro strutted over, nodding with approval.

“Ah, a splendid choice,” he praised. “It flows nicely with your unique aesthetic.”

Next, the young men went to check the artifacts on display. There wasn't a wide array as he expected, but they were of the same theme.

Yakeru skimmed over the artifacts until his eyes rested on a circular device with six grooves around the edges.

“Good. You have some.” Yakeru took one to inspect it further.

“You are already familiar with it?” Takahiro asked.

He simply nodded.

Yuto leaned in. “What does it do?”

Yakeru answered his question by handing it over and activating it. All six grooves lit blue as the artifact began emitting a comfortable heat that Yuto couldn't help but relax to.

“My sister used to use these for freezing environments,” Yakeru curtly explained, tossing one to Takahiro. “They'll be useful as a backup.”

“There you guys are,” Risa sounded ahead, distress in her voice. When they turned, she held up two coats of her own; one polka-dotted with hot pink, the other with sparkling peach. “Which one?”

Takahiro immediately gravitated to the more dazzling of the two, while Yuto suggested the polka dot coat. The two idiots made a fuss over the trivial matter as they took their coats and walked out, leaving Risa still undecided, her glossy lips quirked to one side.

She looked to the only person remaining in the aisle, a cutesy, pleading look in her emerald eyes. “Hey, Yakeru~.” Her voice was a notch sweeter and more feminine. “What do you think? They’re both pretty cute in their own right, but I’m helplessly indecisive. Maybe you could share your thoughts?”

He returned her look with a deadpan expression. “Whichever one is warmer.”

“Yes, but style is equally important,” she pouted. “I really value your opinion.”

Raw disinterest smeared over his features, and he almost didn't catch the approaching footsteps from behind. He suddenly felt a familiar chill slither down his spine and immediately deduced who the aura belonged to.

“Yakeru.” He heard Fuyumi’s frigid voice before she placed herself between him and Risa, side-glancing at him. “If you have what you need, go.”

Risa protested as he turned to leave. “Oh, but I was borrowing him.”

Fuyumi fixed her with a silent, venomous glare that made her step back. He cocked a brow at Fuyumi’s sudden intervention, but was grateful for the assist nonetheless, and he gladly walked away.

He met Yuto and Takahiro in the lobby. The noble tried on his coat again in front of one of the large windows, even drawing odd looks from the passing herbivores, but the oblivious fool kept striking poses for his reflection. Yuto discreetly stepped away from him to reduce embarrassment.

Takahiro finished with his chin resting in the crook of his extended thumb and index finger, flashing a satisfied grin. “As I suspected. It suits yours truly quite well.”

‘Not the first narcissist I've had the pleasure to meet,’ Yakeru coped, unconsciously distancing himself as well.

Fuyumi met with Yakeru in the lobby. Time dragged, and Yuto and Takahiro were about to check on their last party member when she finally emerged, donning a long coat that twinkled with violet fur as it fluttered in a sourceless breeze.

“Well?” she twirled, the dark belt snug against her curves as the fabric fanned playfully. “What do you think?”

Yakeru let the two stooges feed her confidence with approving nods. She flashed a pleased smile, and the servant opened the door leading to the outside world, dipping her head respectfully as she did.

“Rin, do take care of the house in our absence,” Takahiro asked rather than ordered, giving her shoulder a departing pat.

“You can count on me, my lord,” she responded.

“As always.”

Takahiro led everyone outside as the door closed heavily, and he escorted them around the property.

The large, pale beasts lumbered across the grassy field, feasting upon its nutrients. Smaller creatures leaped onto their backs with effortless agility, sifting through the coats of grass-like fur to snack on the impurities growing from the pale beasts’ hides. They watched the rangers for a moment, bulky jaws still working, before they resumed their meals.

Risa, arms wide as she moseyed through the bed of wildflowers, welcomed the sweet scent of flora wafting on the cool air.

“There’s nothing like the aromatic embrace of nature.” She breathed, allowing the afternoon light to brush against her dolled-up features.

Yuto adjusted himself, his heavy coat already donned to shield against the dropping temperature. “I hope this will be enough.”

Yakeru looked over at him. His coat’s padding was so thick that his arms bounced outward, unable to rest at his sides.

“Definitely not. You’re not waddling yet.”

Risa giggled behind her hand, but Yuto only tilted his head in confusion, completely missing his sarcasm.

As the house passed them, Risa and Yuto gasped in awe at the sight before them. Bursting from the dense treeline, the roaring stretch of the Frostmarrow Mountains awaited them. Jagged peaks cut striking silhouettes against the pale blue heavens, their rhythmic dips and climbs reaching from one horizon to the next. It was enough to make even Yakeru stop to admire.

“What a magnificent sight,” Risa gushed quietly.

She and her party members took the time to behold the even interlocking gorges plunging into the earth, then rocketing again, but Fuyumi didn’t waste time. She threw on her coat and trekked forward. Yakeru slipped his on as well, the ends flapping in the breeze as he started moving with her.

“I suppose we should get moving as well then,” Risa said to her companions behind him. “Let’s go.”