With a "thud" Kaelis pushed the door to the fifth section and immediately called out, "Whassup kids!?"
Hearing the familiar voice the duo, Ikoma and mumei jumped up.
"Hm! Oh, it's Kaelis!!"
"And lady Ayame!"
"Kurusu's here too y'know."
Hearing Kaelis's words, Kurusu scratched his head awkwardly and coughed.
"I came to visit and brought these two along with me." Kaelis gestured to his two companions. "Anyway. You guys got another potential problem on your hands."
Mumei tilted her head and then asked, "potential problem? Like what?"
"Apparently, Ayame here got voted down and that guy, Akouji, you him right? Old proclaimed 'fearless leader.' With that ridiculous hair looking like it lost a fight with the wind, and a face so serious you'd think he's auditioning for 'Most Dramatic Man Alive.'"
"…" x4
They didn't know how to react to such a description. It seemed as though Kaelis was mocking the old man.
While mumei had spoken to him before and was familiar with his face, ikoma seemed to know him further.
"…Ah, you mean Aikawa Akouji?"
"Yea him, he's running shit now and he decided to change the route." Answered Kaelis.
"…" both ikoma and mumei were left speechless yet again before they looked to Ayame for answers.
Ayame then explained. "Before Lord Aikawa took over… our route was simple. We were heading toward Kongoukaku, yes—but I planned to stop at several secure stations along the way. Ichinose, Yashiro, Shitori. Each one had resources—coal, water, food. And if survivors were still holding out, we could have taken them aboard."
Mumei raises an eyebrow. "So…what changed? We're still going to kongokaku, aren't we?
"Yes… but not like this." Ayame said, her voice tightening. "He's redirected us to take the central line—a direct military route straight to the capital. No stops."
"The central line? That route cuts straight through Kabane territory! It's been unstable for months. Why would he choose that?" Ikoma cut in with a frown.
Ayame shook her head. "Because it's under the Shogunate's jurisdiction. He said it's the 'official line'—that civilian judgment can't be trusted. He believes the army can secure it better than we ever could."
"He's putting everyone here at risk just to follow protocol." Ikoma hissed grimly.
Mumei snorted before asking, "So what—you can't change the route back?"
"No. Even though lady Ayame is the one in charge, that's only in name, but the koutetsujou is no longer under her command." Kurusu said.
"And besides, we changed route lines twenty minutes ago. We can't exactly turn back now." He finished.
"So we'll be going through a tunnel soon. And will likely be attacked by a kabane horde, so be prepared." Kaelis rejoined the conversation.
Mumei just shrugged. "Doesn't matter what route we take, kabane will always show up. We just have to kill them, don't we?"
"And besides, yours truly is right here. I got nowhere else to be so I might as well give you kids a hand. So you don't gotta worry about them kabane."
"We are truly fortunate to have you here with us, Sir Kaelis." Ayame thanked him.
"Kaelis will do."
"Ah sorry, its force of habit, hehe~" she giggled sweetly with a hand over her mouth.
They finally remembered that Kaelis had helped them again from being devoured.
With someone like Kaelis around, the danger of kabane seemed to have disappeared with only the concern of food supplies remaining.
While they were reminiscing about the dangers of before and how they saved twice before, Ayame had a thought.
"Though that reminds me, Kaelis, aren't you hungry? I saw you refuse kajika's offer before. I don't think you have eaten anything before, right?" She asked with concern.
The other looked at him.
Now that she brought it up, they realize they haven't seen him eat anything since the kabane attacked them at the station.
They also haven't seen anything on him other than his clothes which indicated he doesn't carry items on him.
Then the thought of him protecting them on an empty stomach made them feel shameful and guilty.
Countless thoughts swirled around inside their heads. They even began to see him as a noble and heroic person.
Noticing they were getting lost in their thoughts, he said, "I don't need to eat, you know. I only eat for pleasure."
The meaning of his words eluded them completely.
What does it mean to not need to eat?
"Wait—what do you mean you don't need to eat? That's not possible." Ikoma asked while the others stared awkwardly.
"I'm immortal, you know."
"!" All four of them froze, their eyes wide in disbelief.
They knew he had unimaginable powers but to also be immortal? Well, maybe it's not a stretch but for these ordinary people…
'Maybe he is truly a god…'
'Mr Kaelis is amazing!'
'My brother would definitely be glad to meet him….'
These thoughts such as these ran through their minds as they fully solidified him as a 'god' in their minds.
!
"Mr Kaelis!!" Mumei had a question.
"Hmm?" He looked at her.
"How old are you then?" They again looked at him waiting for his answer.
At first glance, one could mistake him for someone between eighteen and twenty-five years old. Yet for an immortal, appearance alone could never reveal true age.
"Hmm." His right hand drew to his chin. He kind of forgot actually.
Between trying to understand thousands of materials and potential attributes… "I'd say close to 700."
"!" They were again shocked.
700… seven hundred years old? You're practically ancient!! They thought. The two girls, though, looked mildly annoyed.
"Why are you all so shocked? Is it because of how I look—so young? I'll have you know this isn't even my real appearance, hmph!" He snorted.
"What do you mean, not your real appearance?"
"Well, my physical body is merely a shell for experiencing physical sensations, so I can change it to whatever I wish," he explained…
They did not understand what he meant by his body being only a shell as although they know about the soul, or that it might exist, they don't understand its function or uses.
They were about to ask about it but Kaelis cut them off…
"Alright, that's enough. We got a bit sidetracked. Now that you two are up to date on the situation, you should be ready."
"Oh… okay, sure," they said, Kaelis, Kurusu and Ayame then headed for the engine room.
Chapter 14 end.