Chapter 12

  Dirty Nachos

  Anfield.

  (The sound of footsteps rustling through the forest.)

  “Are you planning to turn my interview into a book?”

  “Are you asking for royalties?”

  “If someone actually buys it.”

  “Luminus will probably publish a headline saying I’m the deranged princess.”

  “You’re not deranged yet?”

  “That’s harsh, Mr. Fury.”

  They strolled back toward the cozy little cabin, the gentle sound of a river flowing in the background.

  “Man~ I’m getting sleepy after that huge meal.”

  “Don’t even think about it, Freya. Get to work—that’s an order.”

  “Aaaarghhh…”

  “We bought so many supplies… I wonder if there’s anywhere I could sell them off?”

  “Why would you sell them, Mr. Fury?”

  “To pay you back, of course.”

  “No need, really, Mr. Fury.”

  “I know this kind of stuff doesn’t even make a dent in your wallet, but I don’t like leaving with the feeling I owe someone.”

  “Well then, how about leaving this cabin to me?”

  “…Huh? You serious?”

  “It’s peaceful out here. If I want to sneak off and read or study, it’s way more private than the dorms or that boring old library.”

  “Didn’t you say this place was illegal?”

  “You really think I’ll get caught, Mr. Fury?”

  “Oh? Confident little princess.”

  “Eep!”

  Dan ruffled Nora’s hair with playful annoyance—even had to go on tiptoe to do it. In that moment, he completely forgot she was royalty.

  “Your Highness~ What should we do with these things? Toss or take?”

  Zeedee came out of the house holding a basket of casual clothes.

  “Take the clothes. All the small stuff we can stuff in—bring it. Big stuff like wardrobes? Leave it.”

  “Even hangers?”

  “Those go in my private collection. So yes.”

  “What about this hat?”

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  She held up a dented military cap salvaged from Blackpool.

  “Especially that one. If you break it, I’ll order your teeth pulled—one by one.”

  “Got it~”

  Zeedee disappeared back inside.

  “Actually, Nora… since I’ll be leaving this place in a few days—”

  Dan crooked a finger, motioning her over to a tree trunk a little ways off.

  Nora stood, hands clasped, listening intently.

  “I want to warn you about your safety.”

  “My safety?”

  “You know as well as I do—those Shadows are already hiding among humans.”

  nods

  “There’s a risk—one I haven’t confirmed. But still, you need to be careful. It’s possible some of the students… or even professors at the Academy are Shadows in disguise. Be on guard.”

  “…So that’s why… you haven’t transformed at all since you returned?”

  “Exactly. Because we don’t know if they’ve figured out I’m here. I have to be careful not to scare the chickens.”

  nods again

  Dan glanced around… then looked at her and hesitated briefly before deciding—

  “Listen… seeing as you get assassinated so often, I’ll give you a little something.”

  He pulled off his black glove—left hand.

  Revealing a tattoo etched across the back of his palm.

  Nora: “!”

  “Pay close attention to people with tattoos in odd places. You’ll thank me later.”

  “So that’s… why you always wear gloves…”

  He really shouldn’t be telling her. Losing that advantage could be dangerous in negotiations. But… he liked this girl. And it’d be a shame if she died too soon.

  “Well? I’m disappearing soon anyway. Anything you want to say to me?”

  “…I want to see your real form again.”

  “…Come again?”

  But Nora stared hard—completely serious.

  No one else was here. He could transform safely. But just because she asked?

  He glanced back at the house… honestly, she had practically funded all their supplies.

  “What is your obsession with my real form?”

  “Everyone sees it from afar… but no one’s ever gotten a close look. Except those about to die.”

  “So you want to die now?”

  “Please.”

  “Don’t imitate Freya. You’re above that, Your Highness.”

  “…Please.”

  Dan sighed long and deep.

  “Fine—just the head.”

  Snap! Snap!

  He flicked both fingers. Red lightning flashed—and then the entire head of the young man transformed back into Fury’s real head.

  “Urgh… heavy…”

  Dan staggered a bit, the Diablo skull throwing off his human balance like a cannonball on his neck.

  “Transforming just the head was a terrible idea.”

  “Can I touch it?”

  “The shell’s rough and jagged. Not really pleasant—but go ahead if you want.”

  Her fingers slowly reached forward and touched the prince’s forehead.

  To her, it felt like touching volcanic stone. She’d imagined a smooth hard shell, but the truth was far from that.

  Realistically, a carapace born from war—shattered and rebuilt over and over—should be jagged like a whetstone.

  He hadn’t fought in the past ten years, but his body never needed to smooth out or decorate its armor. It just had to be strong. That was enough.

  “So this… is your armor.”

  poke poke poke

  “These horns…”

  pull pull

  “No use. They won’t budge. My shell’s tough.”

  knock knock

  “Hey, don’t treat me like a door.”

  Nora leaned in—really close. So close, her breath tickled his face.

  Dan had to lean his head back slightly.

  “Besides Miss Maximin’s sword, what else can break this armor?”

  “Not telling.”

  “So there is something. But that’s fine—this much is enough.”

  His head turned back to human.

  “I understand now why Mathema wants to study you, Mr. Fury.”

  Nora leaned down and jotted something in her notebook.

  “I heard the soldiers whisper that Mathema’s got a brutal experimental lab. I bet they want to throw you in there.”

  “Let them try.”

  “…Is this your little hideout?”

  ! ! ! ! ! !

  A voice—female. Calm. Wry.

  A figure in a brown cloak stood behind them, head tilted back to look at the cabin.

  She had revealed herself out of nowhere.

  Neither Fury nor Nora—despite their advanced skills—had sensed her presence.

  Their expressions changed instantly. Dan spun, arms out, ready to strike.

  But that voice…

  It sounded familiar.

  The woman pulled back her hood—

  And Dan’s eyes widened, stretched with disbelief.

  That entrance.

  That face.

  That teasing voice, even in her 30s.

  There was only one person in the world who could be all of that.

  Before he knew it, his feet were running—his whole body launching toward her without hesitation.

  No words needed.

  His body already said it all.

  Nora stood frozen, jaw hanging open.

  The figure in front of her—a living legend, once thought gone.

  “Hey, Fury… my little lizard.”

  Casca Saint-Maximin.