Chapter 25: Sera's Culinary
Lily was caught off guard by Leo's shameless words and turned her head as it grew redder by the second.
"I-idiot... You are also the most precious thing to me. Why would I want you to be in danger?" She muttered to herself, but Leo heard it with his enhanced senses.
He just smiled and beckoned Shyra to come closer. She carried the core and mana crystal to him and then went off to Lily's shoulder, perching around her neck.
Leo's mouth was open when he saw her.
Such Betrayal!!
He had thought of giving the core to her, but she had just had her food cancelled. In the first place, if it was needed, she would have already been drooling; since the boar core was still being digested, she decided to act haughty.
He kept the coins, core and mana crystal in a pouch, and after that, they headed towards the site of the collapsed house.
Leo saw the house with a plain expression, but Lily was saddened as she clutched the metal box tighter. Leo held her shoulder and pulled closer as she leaned on his shoulder.
They both watched the scene silently.
Some people approached, recognising them and asked about their well-being. When they saw their bloodied clothes and Leo's wound, they naturally took it as they escaped death after they crawled out of the collapsing building.
After a while, Leo decided to book an inn until they found a proper place to stay. As they were walking in the silent night street, Leo staggered.
The system interface materialised.
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!Warning!
The host's body was subjected to extreme mobility when it was incapable of handling it. Resulting in muscle soreness and shutdown. Possible treatment with healing magic or potions.
Estimated automatic recovery time - 6 Hours
---
"What--" Leo lost balance as his legs felt heavier, and sore all over his body.
Lily quickly caught him, preventing him from falling.
"What's happening!" She asked, checking for injuries that she might have missed.
Leo just gave a wry smile.
"I think I am just tired..." He was not able to stand straight as his weight fell over Lily's shoulder. Surprisingly, Lily held him strongly. When he tried to exert some strength, Lily assured him that she could handle it and guided him forward.
Their destination was decided—Sera's Culinary.
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It was late at night, and most restaurants would close around this time.
James was busy putting things back inside the building, his heavy and bear-like physique making it look easy task as he lifted the wooden benches. Turning, he saw two figures approaching him.
He squinted his eyes and adjusted his grip on the bench over his shoulder in case he was attacked.
But the moment he got a clear view of who they were, he put down the benches and jogged forward.
"Lily. What happened!" His voice was deep and intimidating, but to Lily, it was only filled with worry. She knew James had rough looks and voice, but he was a kind-hearted person.
"Master James. Please help Leo, he is injured and tired. Our house collapsed because we were attacked by Zolton's Butler." Lily said.
Leo looked barely conscious; it seemed like even if he lay on the road, he would drift to dreamland in an instant.
James' eyes scanned Leo. He could say Leo was tired, completely tired, but his injuries were healing at an astonishing pace, and was not in any sort of danger. He then noticed the blood stains on his and Lily's clothes and also the various tears on them.
How did he survive? With the amount of blood loss, he should already be unconscious, maybe even dead.
"Did he awaken?" James asked for confirmation, to which Lily just nodded.
"James?" Came the feminine voice from within the building as Sera appeared through the door. Her eyes went directly to Lily and the boy that she supported.
"Oh my God, Lily! What happened? Are you fine? And is that man beside you your brother?" She quickly rushed towards them.
"James! What are you doing? Carry him inside, we need to check him." She quickly instructed.
James took Leo from Lily's arm, carrying him on his back inside the building and making him sit on one of the chairs.
"How is he? Will he be fine?" Sera asked James since she could not figure out Leo's condition by just looking.
After examining, James responded with a look of confusion.
"Fine? He is in top condition. Even his wounds have completely healed, only the unusually overexerted body of his. Looks like he pushed himself over the limit."
Sera sighed in relief.
"That's great then, but are you hurt anywhere, Lily?" Sera turned to Lily.
"No. Miss Sera, I am fine, it's just Leo's blood..." Lily replied as she looked at the blood-smeared dress that Leo had gifted her with a complicated expression.
"But what happened? You said something about Zolton Butler attacking you." James questioned.
Lily then gave a brief detail of what transpired with them, making James' anger flare. It reminded him of his own ambush that Baron had orchestrated.
"So Leo awakened as a Beast Master!" Sera ignored the bad things and caught the important ones.
"That's great! Now you don't have to worry about Zolton harassing you." She said, clapping her hands together.
Now that Leo was a Noble, Lily, being his family, automatically became a noble. This will make it difficult for Zolton to use petty excuses of being her a commoner.
"Anyways, it's getting late. Since Leo looks tired, you both rest, and we will continue our chat in the morning. There are some empty rooms upstairs for use." James pointed towards the stairs leading upstairs and gave Lily a key.
Along with a restaurant, they even operated as an inn, obtaining side income.
"Ah yes, you will require two rooms..." As he was reaching for another key, Lily stopped him.
"No. Master James, one room is fine for both of us. I need to take care of him."
After saying that, she supported Leo on her shoulder and began walking towards the room.
"Huh? What was that? Did I just see her blush?" James asked Sera in a baffled expression.
"Hmmm, now that I see it, their faces are quite different for brother and sister, there's also the hair colour..." Sera replied while stroking her chin like an old sage.
"Wait... do you mean,"
Sera just giggled and went to do her unfinished work, leaving James to his own thoughts.