My AI Wife: The Most Beautiful Chatbot in Another World-Chapter 150: The Return Journey and the Beginning of Brassvale(2)

Chapter 150: Chapter 150: The Return Journey and the Beginning of Brassvale(2)

From inside the castle, Lunethra who was cooking immediately stopped. The knife in her hand fell. She ran out without thinking, her hands already prepared with magic.

When she saw Kancil being chased by a giant monster, she immediately stretched out both hands. Gold mana flowed heavily from her body, and the plants around immediately reacted.

Tree roots grew rapidly—not downwards, but upwards, forming a giant wall in front of that monster. The monster hit the root wall hard, bounced back and fell to the ground.

"Kancil, over here!" Lunethra shouted.

Kancil ran behind Lunethra, his breath panting. "Haah... haah... I-I thought I died..."

Lunethra did not answer. Her eyes were focused on the monster that began to rise. The creature shook its head, then stared at them with glowing red eyes.

"Watch out," Lunethra murmured.

With a graceful hand movement, the root wall changed. The roots that were previously just an obstacle now changed into long whips that moved quickly. They whipped the monster repeatedly, leaving wounds on its thick skin.

The monster growled in pain. But instead of backing down, it became even angrier. It lunged again, this time with even higher speed.

Lunethra sighed. "Stubborn."

She stretched out her right hand, and from the ground, dozens of small roots appeared, tangling the monster’s legs. The monster tripped, falling hard.

The root whips went back to work, beating it without mercy.

Five minutes later, the monster finally gave up. It turned and ran leaving them, entering into the darkness of the forest.

Lunethra lowered her hands, breathing a sigh of relief. "It’s... safe." 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Kancil sat weakly on the ground. "Big Sis... I... I..."

"Are you alright?"

"I... I want to pee."

Lunethra laughed softly. "You may. But not here."

Kancil smiled shyly, then rose and ran behind a tree.

After that business was finished, they returned to the castle. Kancil helped Lunethra carry the carcass of the first Horned Boar—the one still fit to be eaten.

"This one," Lunethra said while pointing at the carcass. "Can be for lunch. The one earlier that ran, maybe it won’t return."

"Sorry, Big Sis. I thought I could handle it myself."

Lunethra stared at him. "You indeed could. But next time, don’t be too confident. Call me if there is something strange."

Kancil nodded obediently.

In the afternoon, they sat at the dining table, eating roasted Horned Boar meat with mountain honey sauce made by Lunethra. The taste was extraordinary—tender, savory, with a bit of sweetness from the honey.

"Very delicious, Big Sis," Kancil praised while chewing. "Crazy, this is delicious."

"Good ingredients, right spices," Lunethra answered simply. But her eyes sparkled a bit—she was happy her cooking was appreciated.

They ate in silence for a few moments. But Kancil, as usual, could not be quiet for too long.

"Big Sis."

"Hm?"

"I want to ask. But don’t be angry."

Lunethra raised her eyebrows. "Just ask. I am not angry."

Kancil put down his spoon. His eyes stared at Lunethra seriously—very seriously for a child his age.

"You like Big Bro Dayat, right?"

Lunethra stopped chewing.

The air in the dining room suddenly felt heavy. Binary lamps on the walls glowed slowly, as if also feeling the tension.

"Kancil..." Lunethra murmured.

"I just want to know. You just tell me."

Lunethra was silent. Her eyes stared at the plate in front of her, but saw nothing.

"I..." she stopped, looking for the right words. "I... yes. I like him."

Kancil nodded, as if already suspected. "Then?"

"Then what?"

"Are you jealous seeing Big Bro Dayat with Big Sis Dola?"

Lunethra smiled—a bitter smile that could not be hidden. "Jealous, Kancil. Very jealous."

Kancil was silent, letting Lunethra continue.

"Every time I see them together, every time Dola hugs him, every time he smiles at her..." Lunethra sighed. "There is something that hurts here."

Her hand pointed to her chest.

"But I have no right. They have been together long before I existed. And Dola... she loves him in a way that I cannot match."

Kancil frowned. "Meaning?"

"Dola is everything to him. Protector, friend, and now wife. While I..." Lunethra smiled bitterly. "I am just a stranger who happened to survive together with them."

"You are not a stranger, Big Sis." Kancil cut in firmly. "You are my friend. You are also Big Bro Dayat’s friend. You are part of the Wailing Horde."

Lunethra stared at him. Her eyes were watery.

"I am eight hundred years old, Kancil." Her voice trembled a bit. "Have seen many things. Kingdoms rise and fall. Wars start and end. But this feeling... is still new. Too new for my age."

Kancil reached for her hand—Lunethra’s hand which was cold.

"Big Sis, I might still be a kid. Maybe I don’t understand much about love." His voice was quiet, but certain. "But what I know, you are good. You are strong. You are beautiful. And you deserve to be happy."

Lunethra was silent.

"If you are sad, just tell me." Kancil smiled. "I can’t give a solution, but I can listen."

Lunethra stared at him for a long time. Then suddenly, she pulled Kancil into a hug.

"Thank you, Kancil." Her voice was muffled on Kancil’s shoulder. "Thank you very much."

Kancil was silent, letting himself be hugged. His eyes were a bit watery too, but he tried to be tough.

They were silent in that hug for a long time. Binary lamps on the wall continued to glow, creating a warm shadow in that room.

Two days later, Dayat and Dola were already out of the Wailing Woods.

Trees began to thin out. The sulfur mist that for days had accompanied their journey, slowly disappeared. The air felt drier—not dry like Terragard, but more towards arid.

The soil around began to change. From fertile black, to reddish-brown. Dust flew every time the wind blew.

Brassvale.

Dayat turned off the Jeep’s engine. He got down, standing on that red soil, and stared at the sky that began to change color.

"This is it," he murmured.

Dola got down beside him. "Brassvale. The industrial kingdom. The place where we once started."

"Yes." Dayat sighed. "And now we return as fugitives."

Dola reached for his hand. "Not fugitives. We return as new players. With money, with weapons, with experience."

"You sure?"

"Of course." Dola smiled. "I am always sure when together with you."

Dayat smiled thinly. Then he closed his eyes.

The Jeep behind him slowly changed—becoming glowing purple particles in the air, then disappearing like mist hit by sunlight.

He opened his eyes, then closed them again. The green gash under his skin glowed, and in his hand appeared two large hoods colored dull. Not ordinary hoods—traveler’s hoods that could cover almost the entire face and body.

"Wear this," he said, giving one to Dola. "From now on, we are not Dayat and Dola. We are just two travelers passing through."

Dola received it, wearing that hood until leaving only a bit of her silver hair visible. Dayat did the same.

They walked.

Half an hour later, a small village began to be visible. A simple Brassvale border village—some wooden houses with thatched roofs, dry fields planted with something Dayat didn’t recognize, and the only building that was somewhat large: a tavern.

"Stop by?" Dola asked.

"Stop by. Look for information."

They entered that tavern. Inside, some visitors sat—mostly farmers with shabby clothes, two merchants who were counting money, and an old man who was sleeping in the corner.

No one turned. They were just two ordinary travelers.

The tavern owner—a middle-aged man with a dirty apron and thin hair—greeted them with a tired smile.

"What would you like to order?"

Dayat sat in the corner, choosing a place that allowed him to see the door and all visitors. Dola sat beside him.

"Food and drink," Dayat answered. "The usual."

"There is grilled meat and ale. Want some?"

"Sure. Two portions."

The tavern owner nodded, then went to the kitchen.

While waiting, Dayat observed the surroundings. The conversations of the visitors merged into one, but he could catch some words.

"...Inquisition..."

"...Bakasa..."

"...Maiden’s emissary..."

Dayat exchanged glances with Dola. His wife only smiled thinly behind the hood.

The tavern owner returned with two plates of grilled meat and two glasses of ale. He placed them on the table, then prepared to leave.

"Sir," Dayat called quietly.

The tavern owner turned. "Yes?"

"May I ask? What is the current news here? From earlier I heard people talking about the Inquisition."

The tavern owner lowered his voice. He looked around, making sure no one was listening, then sat in the chair next to Dayat.

"Where are you from, Traveler?"

"From the north. Going south to look for work."

"Oh." The tavern owner nodded. "If you want my advice, better not go to Bakasa yet."

"Why?"

"The Inquisition is currently active. They are searching for people who have been in contact with the Maiden’s emissary. They say, if caught, one can be imprisoned. Or beheaded."

Dayat put on a surprised face. "That bad?"

"Bad." The tavern owner sighed. "Last week, a merchant from the south was detained. They said he once sold items to a foreigner who looked like that emissary. He hasn’t come out yet."

Dola was silent beside Dayat. But behind the hood, her eyes narrowed—calculating probabilities, analyzing the situation.

"Thanks for the info, Sir." Dayat took out some coins, paying for the food and drink. "This is for the food."

The tavern owner received those coins, his eyes slightly widened seeing those shiny metals. "Wow, this is more than enough."

"Keep it." Dayat smiled thinly behind the hood. "One more thing, Sir. Is there a caravan towards Bakasa? Or at least to the nearest town?"

The tavern owner pointed out the window. "At the edge of the village, there is a trading caravan about to leave for Rustgard. They ride Sus scrofa. Maybe you can join, if you pay."

"Thanks."

They finished the food quickly. Ordinary grilled meat—not as delicious as Lunethra’s cooking, but enough to be filling. The ale was a bit bitter, but refreshing.

After finishing, they went out from the tavern. At the edge of the village, as the tavern owner said, a caravan was preparing.

Some large wagons were pulled by Sus scrofa—giant wild boars with wide backs and thick skin. The merchants were busy loading goods, while some armed guards sat on the wagons, watching.

Dayat approached one of the merchants who looked the busiest. "Excuse me, hitching a ride to Rustgard. Still have room?"

The merchant turned, staring at him for a moment. "Is there payment?"

"Yes."

"Get on. The one in the third wagon."

Dayat nodded, then walked to the third wagon. Dola followed him.

Inside the wagon, there were already several passengers—a small merchant with fabric goods, an old woman who was clutching her bag tightly, and two small children who were joking with each other. They glanced at Dayat and Dola for a moment, then went back to their own business.

The caravan began to move. The wagon swayed slowly on the dirt road, pulled by Sus scrofa who occasionally grumbled.

Dola leaned her head on Dayat’s shoulder. "Safe?"

"Safe so far." Dayat stared at the sky that began to get dark. "But we must stay alert."

Night fell slowly. Small crystal lamps on some wagons began to be lit, creating points of moving light in the darkness.

Inside the wagon, passengers began to fall asleep one by one. The small merchant snored softly. The old woman fell asleep with her bag still hugged. Those two small children were already unconscious, their heads resting on their mother.

Dola also fell asleep on Dayat’s shoulder. Her breath was slow and steady.

Dayat remained awake. His eyes watched every shadow that passed outside the wagon. His hand secretly felt the Silver Thorn behind the hood—making sure his weapon was ready if something happened.

In the distance, the first city lights began to be visible. Rustgard.

Still far. But at least, they were already moving.

In Castle Zero, night also fell.

Kancil was already asleep after a full day of hunting and training. In his room, the sound of soft snoring was heard—a sign he was sleeping soundly.

Lunethra was still awake.

She sat near her room window, staring at the moon that was faint behind the Wailing Woods mist. In her hand, the access key crystal given by Dola was still grasped.

She turned that crystal, seeing the indigo light glowing inside it.

"I will guard this castle," she whispered quietly. "I promise. Return safely."

Outside, the howl of a Thorned Howler was heard. But inside the castle, silence.

Silence and full of hope.