Chapter 53: It’s Dangerous to Be by My Side
Hiltina’s footsteps involuntarily paused.
The words that echoed in her ears felt so familiar.
The last time she had heard them was in a hotel in Deep Blue Harbor, during that endless sleepless night.
Hiltina turned slightly.
Then, by the side of the steel passage, she saw that familiar, slender figure.
He was clad in a black coat, with a heavy revolver holster hanging at his waist. On his collar were two emblems: one engraved with a dark iron crescent moon, the other with an eye pierced by a straight line.
This appearance was exactly the same as when the two of them were fleeing from the Iron Cross’s pursuit in Deep Blue Harbor.
Dark eyes met light brown ones.
Their gazes intersected in mid-air.
Without words, Hiltina understood Rast’s purpose.
“According to regulations, as a first-tier Night Traveler in the protected phase, you are not required to take on high-risk missions like the Calamity Echo.”
“As one of the Twelve Seats of the Round Table and the overall commander of the Calamity Echo strategy group in the Scarlet Frost Territory, I can completely revoke your access to the Calamity Echo based on the academy’s rules.”
Hiltina looked directly into Rast’s eyes: “If you’re here to repay the 1,600 gold coins I mentioned, there’s no need.”
“That was just a joke I made at the time.”
She glanced at the Starry University emblem on Rast’s chest: “Since you’ve enrolled, you should be well aware of how significant conquering the Night World is for Starry University.”
“Without you, ‘Echo of the Night: Deep Blue Harbor’ would never have been cleared so easily. We don’t know how many more lives would have been lost in the historical echoes of Deep Blue Harbor, or what price we would have paid…”
“Just this alone is something no amount of gold coins could ever repay.”
“You don’t owe me anything. In fact, it is I and the academy who owe you.”
“Whether it’s asking Mr. Silver to look after you or using the privileges of the Twelve Seats of the Round Table to help you enroll smoothly, these are just small compensations, far from enough to fully repay you.”
…
“I know.”
Listening to Hiltina’s serious words, Rast nodded.
“But, just like back in the port area of Deep Blue Harbor, when you insisted on adhering to your ‘Ranger’ principles, even if it meant ruining the plan I had carefully laid out, and chose to come back to save me.”
“I’m not here just to repay your favor or debt.”
“I also have my own reasons for needing to grow stronger in the Night World and uncover its truths—as far as I know, compared to the normal historical instances, the Calamity Echo, though dangerous, also reveals many secrets that wouldn’t appear in the normal instances.”
Rast walked to Hiltina’s side.
Then, in a voice only she could hear, he whispered: “I sense a kindred spirit in you.”
“Bound by the ideals left behind by those who have passed, and for that seemingly vain and unrealistic ideal in the eyes of others, struggling through life, fighting through life… even if it means drowning, unwilling to turn back.”
“You’re not the only one like this.”
He smiled slightly: “Since we’re kindred spirits, shouldn’t we sympathize with each other, support each other, and rely on each other for warmth, don’t you think?”
Hiltina’s light brown eyes narrowed slightly as she stared at the boy before her.
Hiltina had thought that after leaving Deep Blue Harbor, leaving the domain where he seemed to know everything, and coming to the world she was familiar with… Rast would gradually shed that mysterious veil and become someone she could understand.
But now it seemed—
She had never truly understood Rast, nor his heart.
As if unwilling to continue meeting those deep, pool-like eyes, Hiltina’s gaze shifted.
Then, she noticed a silver weasel carefully hiding itself behind Rast’s neck.
“Mr. Silver.”
Hiltina’s light brown eyes locked onto the silver weasel on Rast’s shoulder.
“Don’t look at me, this guy forced me to come.”
“He said if I didn’t help, he’d point a g*n at Rodri’s head and make him steal the high-speed train key to come to the Scarlet Frost Territory. I had no choice.”
Mr. Silver sighed helplessly and jumped down from Rast’s shoulder.
“Actually, if you think about it, Young Tina, going to the Calamity Echo alone is indeed too reckless.”
“I believe in your abilities, but this Calamity Echo might involve time-space rules, which are problems that can’t be solved by brute force—precisely the area you’re least skilled in.”
A glimmer of silver moonlight flashed in its bl**d-red beast eyes: “Having him go with you might not be a bad thing.”
Seeing that fading silver moonlight, Hiltina nodded thoughtfully.
“I understand.”
…
The metal passage leading to the entrance of the Night World was nearly a kilometer long.
They didn’t speak the entire way, silently moving forward as the monotonous metal walls shifted around them.
Until the space at the end of the passage came into view.
In the center of the space was a phantom gate, shrouded in a veil of night, emitting a rippling light—a sight Rast had seen before.
This was the entrance to the Night World.
The two of them and the beast paused before the rippling phantom gate.
“I’ll handle the academy for you.”
“I don’t care about the matters between you two, but just know that you both owe me now.”
Mr. Silver snorted twice.
It turned around, its originally light movements now slightly heavier.
“Magical creatures are very stingy. Once we invest something, we must get a return on it, so…”
“Come back alive.”
In the next moment, Mr. Silver’s figure disappeared with a faint spatial ripple, as if unwilling to stay and face the scene of farewell.
Hiltina checked the consumable items she was carrying.
“It’s dangerous to be by my side, you know?”
She didn’t look at Rast beside her, just brushed aside a strand of chestnut hair that had fallen over her forehead: “Many people say that those who team up with me will be buried alongside my stubbornness.”
“If you’re scared, it’s not too late to back out now.”
“I should be the one saying that to you.” Rast smiled slightly.
He took a step forward, and together with Hiltina, they stepped into the phantom gate.
In the next moment.
Everything around them, whether the swaying lights or the flowing breeze, froze in an instant.
Only the increasingly dense night remained—
Gently enveloping the figures of Hiltina and Rast.
(End of Chapter)
