The giant owl landed with a heavy thud on the stone courtyard. Its silver claws gripped the castle paving, creating a loud sound of scraping metal.
Fyar and the others disembarked from the bird’s back. Their feet touched the solid stone floor. The air here felt thinner, colder, and calmer.
This guy is rich... does he live alone in a castle this big? How much does it cost to build a house like this?
Wait... Fyar looked around. This place is truly... beautiful and strange... why is this island floating... where is the source of that waterfall? Magic? No Fyar, no, you’re thinking about useless things again... Fyar muttered inwardly.
The castle’s massive double doors opened slowly.
Creaaak.
An old man stepped out.
He wore a neat and elegant black butler suit. His white hair was slicked back with pomade, glistening under the aurora light.
Two curved black horns grew on his forehead. A long black furry tail protruded from under his long coat, swaying gently.
The old man bowed politely. His movement was very smooth.
"Welcome back, Young Master," he said. His voice was deep and authoritative.
This person... looks strong... is he Hasya’s servant? What is his level? Is he a demon? Or another race? I have to be careful of him... Fyar muttered inwardly, looking at Vakmi.
Hasya jumped down from his bird. He walked casually while stretching his neck. "I’m home, I’m hoooome!"
Vakmi straightened up. He looked at Fyar, Rasie, Zaefal, Illya, and Cyhas with a confused gaze. His eyebrows raised slightly, his eyes scanning them one by one.
Hasya, understanding what Vakmi was thinking, chuckled.
"Oh, let me guess."
"’Kyaaa, who are they? Why are they with this brat? Dolls? Lost people? Beggars? No, they’re humans? They, they, they...’"
"But hey..."
Hasya smiled. "They are my party squad."
Vakmi tilted his head slightly. "Excuse me?"
"My squad, yes, my squad."
"I joined them."
Vakmi looked at Hasya, staring at him for several seconds without blinking.
Hasya patted Vakmi’s shoulder lightly. "Treat them well, protect them."
The smile on Hasya’s face then disappeared, his voice becoming heavier.
"Understood?"
Vakmi looked back at Fyar and his party in turn before nodding. "With pleasure."
"Good, good!" The smile on Hasya’s face reappeared.
Hasya then pointed at Fyar’s party.
"That purple-haired one is Fyar, he’s a level 38 adventurer."
Fyar nodded. "Nice to meet you."
Hasya pointed at Zaefal.
"That person who looks sleep-deprived and depressed is Zaefal, he’s level 32."
Zaefal nodded slowly.
Hasya pointed at Illya and Cyhas. "Those two women are witches. The green-haired one is named Illya, she’s level 29... 29 if I’m not mistaken?"
Illya nodded. "Y-yes, nice to meet you."
Hasya pointed at Cyhas. "And that one cyhass she’s level 6."
"Nice to meet you!" Cyhas said with a stiff smile.
Finally Hasya pointed at Rasie. "And as for the angel over there, that’s Rasie, she’s a beautiful level 3 adventurer."
"Y-yo," Rasie said softly while raising her hand awkwardly.
Vakmi nodded.
"Nice to meet you Mr. Zaefal, Mr. Fyar, Miss Illya, Miss Cyhas, and Miss Rasie," he said while looking at Zaefal, Fyar, Illya, Cyhas, and Rasie in turn.
"Hmm, hmm, good, good," Hasya nodded in satisfaction.
"Prepare the best dinner. For my comrades, they must be starving," Hasya said while rubbing his own stomach.
Hasya looked back at Fyar’s party. "Right? You guys are hungry, right?"
It would be rude to refuse... Fyar nodded.
Illya, Cyhas, Zaefal, and Rasie nodded along.
"Of course, Young Master," Vakmi answered. "Please come in."
They entered the castle.
Its main hall was vast and magnificent. The polished black marble floor reflected the light of blue candles floating in the air. A double spiral staircase led to the upper floor.
They all gaped at the room.
How much does a house like this cost... Fyar muttered inwardly while looking around.
How many doors... is there an escape route if Hasya attacks us? Zaefal muttered while carefully observing his surroundings.
Rasie looked around in awe, her mouth wide open. "Damn."
Illya and Cyhas didn’t seem too impressed, they just stared blankly at the area around them.
"Cool right? Cool right?" Hasya said while spreading his arms.
"You know I had to seek the services of Dwarves and ask Fathir for help to make this first..."
"And well, the result is enough for me... Very good..."
"Is it expensive?" Fyar asked.
Hasya raised both eyebrows and nodded. "Very, my friend... very..."
"Very very expensive."
Hasya then sniffed slightly in their direction.
"Uhhh."
"You guys need a bath," Hasya said while covering his nose slightly. "You smell like penguin carcasses."
"Vakmi, prepare the Men’s and Women’s hot springs."
Vakmi nodded. "Immediately, Sir."
Hasya looked at Rasie. "Rasie bath with me?"
"H-H-huh?! What are you thinking, you perverted idiot!!" Rasie shouted, her face turning bright red.
Hasya laughed out loud. "Kidding, kidding."
"You, Illya, and Cyhas to the women’s."
"After bathing we eat."
Hasya fell silent.
He observed Fyar’s party who still looked tense and afraid of him.
"Guys..."
"I know, I understand."
"But relax, I have no intention of killing you."
Hasya sighed. "Well maybe it takes time... but I am now a member of your party... So please act normally around me like you act around each other."
Hasya looked at Fyar. "Yes Fyar?"
At Zaefal. "Yes Zaefal?"
At Cyhas. "Yes Cyhas?"
At Illya. "Yes Illya?"
At Rasie. "Yes my Rasie?"
Zaefal looked at Hasya for a moment before sighing with a thin smile. "We will try, Hasya."
Illya, Cyhas, Rasie, and Fyar nodded in unison.
Fifteen minutes later.
Hot steam filled the men’s bathhouse.
A spacious natural stone pool filled with clear hot water. On one side, the wall of the room was wide open, displaying a direct view of the aurora sky and stone islands floating in the distance.
Fyar, Zaefal, and Hasya soaked in the pool.
Fyar rested his head on the edge of the stone pool. The sensation of hot water touching his tired skin felt extraordinary. His tense muscles slowly relaxed.
"Well, you really are rich, Hasya," Fyar muttered softly.
But well... given an opportunity like this it would be weird if I didn’t enjoy it... plus it would be troublesome if I stayed tense... he might change his mind and kill us because we’re too awkward... well as much as possible I will... act normally around him while being alert for the worst-case scenario... Fyar muttered inwardly.
Hasya sat across from them, spreading both arms on the edge of the pool. He looked at the sky.
"Well... a little," Hasya replied.
Hasya leaned back.
"So... Fathir is married huh... that idiot.." Hasya said suddenly.
Zaefal opened his eyes. "Yes. His wife is a strong mage... she even got the title of the third strongest human in the kingdom."
Hasya chuckled. "Hmm, Lairas is that strong now? Heh."
"I’ll apologize for not attending his wedding..."
Hasya sighed. "It’s been that long huh..."
"You know Fathir looks tough or cool... but actually he is a clingy person when in front of Lairas.."
"He is the same as you guys..."
"Have you ever fought?" Fyar asked curiously.
"Often, often!" Hasya answered. He stared at Fyar. "Before, before he became a ’God’ in the eyes of humans, we, Lairas, and Zikri often adventured together and explored dungeons together... well quite nostalgic come to think of it..."
zikri? The 2nd strongest adventurer? T-they were in the same party?! Zaefal muttered inwardly, shocked, his eyes wide.
Hasya continued, "When I met him he was just an ordinary human with nothing special..."
"But the more we adventured... His level up got faster and faster..."