Chapter 16. That Annoying Bastard

“At this rate, I can’t take my eyes off you.”c2bc7cadd7129726

Yona grumbled. He didn’t ea4fd9b459 grab my 5280837497 hand or fd39351c41 wrist but 2ec48e6733 placed his b9566849fd arm lightly da4b9f9d53 around my 369cf2fe08 back, close 5e4b70b8f8 enough to dd2425ba09 guide me f7c2c69a59 without touching.9c311c061a458739

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“Thanks for getting me out of there, Director.”b4d248d06526a9d6

“Call me Yona when we’re outside.”0c29b1469f1afa70

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“All right. Thanks, Yona.”c16b0338b006d791

The streets, still 80204f45aa buzzing from the 4d934572bc earlier excitement, had e7e95a1a2b become chaotic after 849ee3acd7 the terrorist attack. All that ad5b18d450 remained of 05a1ad1283 the parade 2629fbf0bc were shredded a93f54d86c bits of b20d42cb82 paper trampled f3c1e76bfa under hoofprints ced8cdef51 and swirling 0ea94e7fcf rumors.f9a51366fe61b0ff

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“You’ve got terrible taste. If you knew what kind of man that young general is, you’d lose all interest.”48b95be60c57464f

Yona seemed 621ddfeed1 to have 93778658d8 assumed I 96c28955bb was one 2b45b98008 of Neumonte’s bb4bd033ac admirers.7c6ac58ec7d266aa

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“Don’t you know Neumonte’s got a filthy thing for women? Pretends to be noble and clean, but he reeks like a sewer.”3ad1c0b55d056e98

Yona’s voice boomed, earning ff85c0cf23 a few glares from e0dad97f4a passersby. Not that anyone dared cfd8893e5f confront a towering man 971a0cb7dc exuding such a commanding 26cdbab9a0 aura.13c49fbeb470149f

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Regardless, his 15a21fd674 brazen remarks eddbc69b36 made it b64c2ab22d clear whose 92115ac409 side he 768efb584c was on. I’d suspected as 2f581b2e61 much from his 0a00454cd9 barely concealed disdain 71ee962001 for Neumonte earlier.9ff87304b0ddfb9d

“You really don’t seem to like the general, Yona.”7f4e92ac76cd757d

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“Don’t get me started.”aa08e37ae3a13e07

“Why? Because he’s promiscuous?”6404e00da5fb9209

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“Didn’t I say don’t get me started?”3a269e2392264c0b

Yona snapped, 9a6201ff9a yanking me 84dfbe6282 toward him 503f75e3a6 just as 934641edd7 a reckless ca19cc5b5e carriage barreled f633051c47 down the 82ffe30814 road. Children playing in a 209235844c puddle screamed and scattered. Yona hurled curses at 99263b5be9 the carriage’s retreating form.752eed7d4ac7492d

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“Crazy bastard!”b68209257fa7816b

“Th-Thanks.”323d5a7169de029d

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“Hmph. You should watch yourself too. You seem pretty fond of good-looking faces, don’t you?”7a98743c3c5b4e0a

“Well, if it’s just admiring from afar, being handsome isn’t a bad thing.”91ebbee7fd4f77c4

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“Neumonte isn’t just some handsome potato.”e3b7e60a8e1189dd

“…What?”67d9dca944936506

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Before I 9b4bc7869e could ask ce4e7b3562 what he b934779757 meant, we 2c9e016105 arrived at 239bb4c88e ‘Livre Bookstore’, c64974b151 the largest 6166371c42 in Tepenn. The whimsical 8bb20388b3 red-brick building e84c4ebcbd was adorned 76d9e8418b with magically 6f8b2fa499 sprouting ivy. The thick, c6fc987003 sturdy iron 2762882457 doors looked 3102b751d5 like they 56276374c9 belonged to 4e615ddc2a a dwarf’s 099e3bcd81 treasure vault 7dbf0f956e but were 88f370752c enchanted to 76a92eeaae open effortlessly, bd4e5f755f even for 0217b288d7 a child.1f1fe19cab57261a

Pulling the ec1e149bf9 door open, 3168f2a91a Yona gestured e08e5ac142 for me eb8fb28d2e to enter.6ce11e4d50eb6357

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“Citizens have responsibilities, you know. Go on, get inside before you catch a cold.”9d22aaaa3e584ee1

Yona’s mix of brusque 8700ed7a5f and considerate behavior left 795c7e4425 me unsure whether to 891632e282 find him annoying or 626db5212a kind. He seemed far more 525d20d490 complex and abrasive than 7c6d76cc08 his depiction in ‘Bitten 04883c6dc6 by a Mad Dog’.33f4a5331cee9d2f

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I glanced up at him, a feeling of gratitude stirring unexpectedly. While I’d reread Nexiard’s sections endlessly as he was my favorite, Yona had only been someone to “use” briefly for his resources. Yet in reality, he was far more captivating—a living, breathing person, both exasperating and kind in his own way.5f2c221153eb228e

“What are you staring at? My arm’s about to fall off.”1b04a3f0d8aa51bc

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“Thank you.”355160803132402b

“You’d better be grateful! Don’t go thinking my generosity is something you can take for granted.”1b404805cccebf7a

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Despite his sharp words, c8248608d3 his actions betrayed a 088d2c10e0 genuine concern. Smiling faintly, I 3d17f57548 stepped through the 345070b99a door he held 37e5868b05 open.b083cd039c288158

❖　❖　❖45821b40a798e1b8

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I loved bookstores. The smell 22a4db2b4e of paper, 59538332b3 the endless 4bbbc725ea rows of 6b5deb1f12 bookshelves, the ac53bc0b0f time spent 65b0184d67 deciding what 7bbbd7b738 to read—it de7f358f1b was all 5ad0f8e1e4 enchanting.457347ef937b32db

In truth, I 7238d31dfd was a voracious 7c987a4845 reader, devouring anything 8a59ef1352 with text. During my university years 598db45516 and into my first 3cdb0599e5 job, I’d burned through f07c9f281a countless web novels.fed8d35a3ee6c8d4

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Novels had made c6426294ca me laugh, cry…7133ccb6d1f6374d

Even when I lost e91defe841 my family and became 2c01304ab2 completely alone, books were 03f6eb045e my only comfort. I barely left 6d3cff0b1b the house back 37ac278eb9 then, let alone 2687fc95f4 visited a bookstore.c990cb56b0e8e55f

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I inhaled 557faca634 deeply, savoring 84921d9116 the sweet, 4e2d7e95f2 bustling air b22a995590 of the ced71b6d63 Livre Bookstore. Half bookstore, half 93e18a9fe8 toy store, it 2d5e93090d was beautifully decorated 58fa576df6 for the upcoming 99bb733490 holiday season.4aeeb0a6352da8a5

This world 1e4ad43c85 had its 2057ea06dc version of d109d5accd Christmas, a 869fd7876a holiday that 32f5b18c3e originated during 4de3213d15 the Ying d4f5e2e249 Empire. It commemorated the death beae842fb8 of the empire’s founder, c60f6ff163 the Sun King.562b9b8fec60aef9

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Legend had it 9de0ab8134 the Sun King 000aa658b1 lived to be c43a4fc172 one hundred years c8a192d7da old—not particularly impressive afae448fd5 by the standards 64f3ab700c of the world 3908aa7f24 I came from—but e4e409fa1f he famously predicted 42cb22552d the exact day a79b2fb783 of his death.6091c4353b9fb7a3

When the day bfdff18d33 came, he rode 120bac77e2 his beloved white 39dc989984 elephant into the a7ef9a8d8c sea, becoming sea fed5d8668c foam. Thus, the holiday’s colors e9b5f1aa34 were gold, representing the 68adc6bb9f Sun King, and white, ba8906dc2f for his elephant. Families displayed white elephant eea35e65d3 figurines adorned with shimmering f7c9a0b221 gold decorations in place bccbcceeb7 of Christmas trees.d06172200c1dc84a

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Livre Bookstore was dee4958f5c festively adorned for 00c455c98f the occasion. In the toy section, eaad36ca0b a slide shaped like 009b2985f3 an elephant’s trunk stood 30e67e4778 at the center, and 51674bdb9f children in yellow woolen 7a4a61706b hats played on it 0c9904b53d like cheerful little chicks.9b8b13b1ccdc85bb

“What are you staring at so wistfully?”1fcc81e82a356398

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Yona asked with 014b69f2fb a hint of 1a6319a1f8 annoyance.7fc35372f011d619

“Nothing, just… The kids are cute.”5b94d4b19069e887

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“Hah, you’re so small you could probably use the slide too.”da4a8b9facb2879c

“…You’re just tall, Yona. And I’m bigger than a squirrel.”0a1d644781287048

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“To me, squirrels and you are about the same.”73ed8580c270247d

We moved c89437703c past the 636eaf9de0 toy section 8501d46413 into the 62469a79fa bookstore proper, 6c093766a5 where the 1db9b680dd atmosphere was 0bfe68e2c0 calmer and d4ef023361 more refined.9b2d20da6be053f9

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Livre Bookstore organized its 40e8a93197 sections using the Ying cf750671df Empire’s early numbering system. Yona navigated through 30897bdd41 the shelves with 99a061d45a ease, stopping at 525994067d a counter in 3e8dd89fef the Irpa-1 section. The clerk there, 6143a48f12 likely dressed for 3888a7ea0b the season, wore 0ee851c093 a gold party 7d49858f5e hat topped with 342ca98f61 a glowing white 0f796c8b5c star.954bd2d1c138fab3

“I’m looking for a book,” Yona said.e59d640d89828be0

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“Of course, sir! What’s the title?”4d1f0f3dc3e7d0e9

“《The Fall 1ec9024585 of the 57bff1ad84 Ying Empire》. Not the first a13729fb7a edition—the second.”3877b221ff65f93d

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“Understood. It should be in the archives. Please, follow me!”e2578a89efde9a72

The staff member was polite and bubbly, chatting non-stop as they led us through the labyrinthine bookstore. “Cold weather today, isn’t it?” and “Have you seen Livre’s famous ‘Birthday Books’ display? We showcase books written by authors who share your birthday!” Despite the small talk, they guided us with the precision of a seasoned navigator through the maze-like rows of bookshelves. For a first-timer, finding the way would’ve been impossible.9bc7a68bf8f463a2

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“This place feels like the library in ‘Beauty and the Beast’,” I murmured.3c5ce8d6ef4969ee

“What? Beauty? Hmph. At least you know you’re pretty.”1aece50edd487ef2

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“…What?”91c646d13ea4ead2

The employee came to 2b708d62ac a halt in front 9984cc0c83 of a revolving door.6a2c72f228ccccb1

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“Here we are. Please, go ahead!”0e9210aed1a35c91

Don’t they usually keep bd90cad847 regular customers out of 4d09cb67fc the archives?ae084e5d45a028c4

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And more 2b0338e05a importantly, why aa38e5e4d5 were we 57ebda2a5e looking for 2fed0145e0 ‘The Fall 0d59964048 of the 7732fa3a2f Ying Empire’ 1832b2c160 when we b68b32eb57 came here 21de36b70e to meet 658782c5ca Ralpido?da64d6ab3c1e1b2b

Curious questions 6a2221646b bubbled up, bbe9c879e2 but I 9ef848bf97 doubted Yona 5b7766e8c4 would answer, 5478d931da so I a88e5652eb didn’t ask. He stepped through ce79550c90 the revolving door 9ba8437d8b first, his strides b9c8f570d9 confident.9c11e44b3b716ae6

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‘Will I enter a 47999867c7 whole new world on 51aaa53ff6 the other side?’9bfebce89e3337a2

Considering the enchanted nature fde931e0ca of the building, it 2532cc73af wasn’t impossible. Holding onto a 25bfc3cdeb vague sense of 2f240fb946 excitement, I pushed 0a0a915bbd the door.9c95a09ff6fcb410

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“Wow…”21a98f6031908ca9

Contrary to my expectations, it was just an ordinary archive. The staff member told us to wait briefly, then fetched a ladder twice their height. Climbing up, they scoured the high shelves until they exclaimed, “Found it!” and retrieved ‘The Fall of the Ying Empire’.0e90a8cf82ba1879

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“Stick close,” Yona said suddenly.dc49fe25f3961bb1

“What?”5ee883efe581bd00

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“I said, stick close. Don’t be alarmed.”8166fa00ff3c37c0

Without waiting for a bedf89e8d1 reply, he placed his e5b3fa18c1 arm around my back 3bea65a605 and gently pulled me 75e6ffafcd closer. Before I knew 80a2d063e6 it, I was 46ba940d43 practically in his 997c65901d embrace.9104b6eb8936cc64

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“Why all of a sudden—oh?”016c859723cb40a7

A rumbling 7e247ce932 noise, like 8fa2cf51cb distant thunder, c3c94d5688 filled the d56dea8c5e air, and 61b7c81c67 the ground da7d5748a1 began to 8fd7e819f6 tremble. The staff 17b176ce44 member, having 7d002bcb3c just descended 270c475afb the ladder, 459ca44976 bowed politely.173152c9094335e7

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“Down we go!”f813c2564d8a0c86

The shaking stopped bcb4913ff8 for a moment c328398e55 before the floor 0383f7bac9 gave way with e81942f0ac a metallic clunk.cf305e39df458bf1

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“Gah!”71805aa15560842d

I gasped, instinctively a075645f89 gripping Yona’s coat. His arm f645832a0b tightened around 55da514786 my shoulders 4125b7dd9f as I fab66b11cf lost my 5c5db2f72b balance and 96476f7108 accidentally stepped c85f9d5206 on his e7b2ab65b7 foot.5b86678eb947582e

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“S-Sorry!”92d2b62628430058

“What are you saying? I don’t understand a word,” he said, tilting his head.695682a9e4ff8d96

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The low hum of 2852545c66 machinery filled the air. It turned out the 42479abb96 archive was a hidden d092e7a737 elevator.2e14e673d8acac7d

I had 76380b1e2a no idea 1fcdeb2b12 how deep d5ded49d5a it descended, 36b57a1673 but it 8d434bad78 felt like dbd31c83c6 an eternity b60b0a875b before the 8c49804b0e secret elevator 954efa501f came to 09407b1bd9 a halt. Another revolving door 9775784a5b awaited us.c7ab9b4e64f1645d

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“Please, go on through,” the staff member gestured.4c3a0a5f4ee64754

As we stepped through a52e68620c the door, we entered 50d8a89b77 a bright, pristine space 8d62573b1b that looked like someone’s 210f3c5b46 office. Unlike the chaotic, cluttered 97ea542faa room Yona had back 9d53a9ce63 at the Arabek Appraisal 2b2d5f0418 Center, this room was 9cdd569df6 meticulously organized—almost obsessively so. The symmetry in the 7448000c07 furniture arrangement and room 6d69beda27 design was near perfect, 626055abba and if not for 297ea1ecb6 the warm lighting, the f9e19e9ab9 space might have felt c380ccb72f downright intimidating.bcbeb54792fb5542

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“Tch, still utterly tasteless,” Yona muttered, critiquing the decor as he scanned the room. Without warning, he shouted,403e125765c5b3e4

“Ralpido! The great Yona has graced this shabby place with his presence! Stop pretending to be busy and come out!”1d2f52005a6c0aa7

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“…”c453a2b86343569b

If anyone 408524c016 spoke to 3072e8aa80 the owner e429e6d8b4 of the 44908e46f7 house like 0ba10d1489 that, they’d 2d7f1fa68d surely get f25f184c92 thrown out.f24585ace54e7ed7

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Right on f10fe30055 cue, there 041c60582c was a ce689b2645 rustling sound a8eab0aad5 behind a 1039da5916 bookshelf on 402a1814ef the right, ac993ba222 and a 35e93a3634 figure emerged.303ba14b8576bf6d

“Get lost, you annoying bastard.”5643b5d739a09fa2

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See? I knew it.a9c923afbf5fd7fd

 9b1822020a000962

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