Chapter 97: Kah-Kamun, My Hometown

  At the edge of the pier, the scene was one of contrasting energies.

  Bob stood patiently beside the main wagon, his large hand rhythmically patting Tama's flank. The massive yak chewed on a bundle of grass with slow, bovine contentment, completely unbothered by the hustle of the port.

  Mila, however, was a different story. She stood with her arms crossed tight over her chest, her boot tapping a rapid, irritated staccato against the wooden dock. Tap. Tap. Tap.

  "Where are they?" she grumbled, her eyes scanning the tree line with laser focus. "They are late."

  "Now, now," Bob soothed, his voice a gentle rumble. "I'm sure they just got lost. It's a big place, after all. Let's just wait a little longer, okay?"

  "We don't have a little longer," Mila muttered, the tapping getting faster.

  In the distance, movement broke the stillness of the jungle edge. Three figures burst from the green shadows, sprinting towards the pier in a cloud of dust. It was Raito, Yukari, and Zhu Lihua.

  They were arguing. Even from this distance, their voices carried over the wind.

  "Why did you turn left at the first intersection?!" Raito shouted between breaths, glaring at Yukari as they ran side-by-side.

  "Why are you blaming me?!" Yukari shot back, her turquoise dress billowing behind her like a sail. "The intersections all look like trees! They're identical!" She pointed an accusing finger at him. "And why did you turn right at the plaza?!"

  "Because I remembered we turned left there when we got here!" Raito defended himself, dodging a crate on the dock. "It's not my fault our guide just left us on that cliff without a map!"

  "I hate that girl," Yukari grumbled, picking up her pace.

  "Sigh..." Zhu Lihua, running effortlessly beside them despite her frustration, shook her head. She looked like she was out for a light jog while the others were sprinting for their lives. "You both went the wrong way. Now just focus on running, we're almost there."

  "Mother, why didn't you tell us?" Yukari complained, looking betrayed.

  "Because I didn't want to believe my daughter has no sense of direction," Zhu said flatly, her eyes fixed on the wagon ahead. She turned her glare on Raito. "Or is it also your influence?"

  "No! Not mine! I swear, ma'am!" Raito yelped, attempting a sloppy salute mid-stride.

  They skidded to a halt right in front of Bob, kicking up a small cloud of dust. They were panting, disheveled, faces flushed from the heat and the exertion.

  "Made it!" Raito gasped, bending over with his hands on his knees, giving a thumbs up.

  "Nope," Mila said, her voice cold as ice. She pointed a thumb at the heavy yoke of the wagon.

  "You're out of time. Now climb up, before I make you pull the wagon instead of Tama."

  "YES MA'AM!"

  Raito and Yukari nodded fervently, the threat of manual labor proving to be an excellent motivator. They scrambled up the side of the wagon, hauling themselves onto the wide, cushioned passenger bench. Mila followed with an effortless vault, settling herself with a stoic grace, while Zhu Lihua stepped up with the dignity of an empress taking her throne.

  Bob chuckled, the sound rumbling deep in his chest, and climbed into the driver's seat. He took the thick leather reins in his massive hands, feeling the familiar weight.

  "Ready?" Bob called back, glancing over his shoulder with a twinkle in his eye.

  "YES!" Yukari and Raito shouted together, their exhaustion momentarily forgotten, replaced by the thrill of the open road. Their eyes beamed with excitement, eager to leave the port and see what lay beyond.

  "Alright then!" Bob cracked the reins, a sharp snap in the humid air. "Next stop: Kah-Kamun, my hometown! Let's move, Tama!"

  Grunt.

  Tama responded with a low, affirmative sound and leaned into the harness. The massive wheels creaked, then turned, and the wagon lurched forward. The rest of the caravan followed suit, a long line of colorful wagons rumbling to life.

  As they moved through the port, rolling past the stalls and the docked ships, a chorus of farewells erupted from the crowd.

  "Safe travels, Bob!"

  "Come back here next time, Bob!"

  "Don't be a stranger, Mr. Said!"

  Random dockworkers, shopkeepers, and even passing children stopped to wave, their faces bright with genuine affection.

  "You really are famous here, Bob," Yukari mentioned, leaning over the side of the wagon to wave back at a group of smiling fisherwomen.

  "Yeah, well," Bob said, adjusting his grip on the reins with a modest shrug. "That is how it is back home. We know each other, hohoho!"

  The wagon picked up speed as they left the bustling port behind, the wheels humming on the packed earth road that cut through the jungle.

  "What about you two?" Bob asked, his voice carrying back to them over the rumble of the wheels. "Enjoying Zarateph, or specifically Kinareh, so far?"

  "We did!" Raito responded immediately, leaning back and looking up at the canopy of leaves filtering the sunlight. "Everything looks so interesting here. The trees, the houses... it's like living in a giant garden. But the desert was way too hot."

  "The food was flavorful," Yukari added, nodding in agreement. "And the biome is very interesting and odd, if I have to say. I definitely want to see more."

  "Hohoho! Well, 'seeing more' is certainly what you will do," Bob laughed.

  "Except..." Yukari’s voice suddenly dropped, losing its warmth. A dark cloud seemed to pass over her face. Her hands curled into fists in her lap, her knuckles cracking audibly. "...except for our encounter with that weird girl."

  "Weird girl?" Mila asked from her seat, intrigued by the sudden shift in Yukari's aura.

  "Yeah," Yukari hissed, steam practically rising from her ears again. "She dared to wrap her arms around Raito! Even when I told her he's mine!"

  To emphasize her point, she snaked her arms around Raito's waist and pulled him close, hugging him with a fierce, territorial possessiveness. Raito just patted her arm awkwardly, accepting his fate as a living plush doll.

  "Hoo," Mila murmured, a flicker of interest in her eyes. "What did she look like?"

  "Red hair," Yukari listed off, her eyes narrowing as she recalled the offender. "Native skin color. Yellow eyes. Similar clothes to what I'm wearing now." Her grip on Raito tightened. "But very flirty against a taken man. She needs to be arrested."

  "I see..." Mila responded slowly, her expression thoughtful. She turned her head toward the driver's seat. "Master, could it be?"

  "Nah, no way!" Bob waved a hand dismissively without looking back. "She is at Kah-Kamun. Why would she be here? It's miles away."

  Raito perked up, peering over Yukari's arm. "Are you talking about the person you want us to meet, Bob?"

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  "Yes," Bob confirmed, a proud note entering his voice. "My niece. Ever since I talked to her about saving a couple on the way in Ruhong, she has been very excited at the opportunity to meet you two."

  "Why us?" Raito asked, his brows furrowing in genuine confusion. "We are not that special."

  "Well," Bob chuckled, the sound warm and rich. "You don't usually meet two people who are starved and half-dead on a dirt road, only to find out they are fleeing from a kingdom. In my point of view, you two are very special." He paused for effect, then added with a twinkle in his voice, "Your tale can be made into a play, you know, hohoho!"

  "PLEASE DON'T!"

  Yukari and Raito shouted in panicked unison, their voices cracking. The traumatic memory of Lily Pence's melodramatic opera—complete with the porridge scene and the dramatic 'kyaa'—flashed vividly in their minds.

  "So..." Raito coughed, desperate to change the subject. "How far is Kah-Kamun from here, Bob?"

  "About two to three hours," Bob said, gesturing vaguely at the winding road ahead. "Not that far. Just relax, enjoy the scenery, or get some nap."

  "Will do, Bob," Raito answered, already settling back into the cushions.

  The travel was peaceful. They rumbled along the open road, the wheels kicking up small clouds of dust as they moved through the heart of the rainforest. Massive ferns brushed the verges, and the air was filled with the chirping of unseen insects and the call of exotic birds, all kept at a comfortable distance by the well-cleared path.

  Yukari leaned out over the side, her silver eyes wide as she admired the scenery passing by like a moving painting. Vibrant flowers bloomed in the shadows of ancient trees, and strange, colorful lizards skittered across the edge of the road. Raito, true to his word, pulled his turban over his eyes and drifted into a light doze, the rhythm of the wagon lulling him.

  Bob hummed a cheerful tune as he drove, occasionally pointing out a particularly interesting tree or bird to no one in particular.

  In the back of the wagon, however, the atmosphere was slightly stiffer. Zhu Lihua and Mila sat next to each other, arms crossed, expressions stoic. They glanced at each other occasionally, then quickly looked away, unsure of what to say to a fellow warrior of such caliber outside of a battlefield.

  Yukari, noticing the awkward silence, sighed softly. She uncurled herself from Raito and moved to sit between the two formidable women.

  "So," Yukari began, her voice light, "Mother, you never told me about your childhood."

  Zhu Lihua blinked, surprised by the sudden question. But then, a rare, mischievous glint entered her fiery eyes.

  "My childhood?" she mused, glancing at Mila, who was now listening intently. "Well, it is not that interesting. How about we talk about yours instead, Linlin. Do you remember the time you cried for three hours straight?"

  Yukari froze. "No?"

  "Oh, yes," Zhu said, a grin spreading across her face. "You were five. Lei tried to feed you broccoli."

  Mila raised an eyebrow. "Broccoli?"

  "Yes," Zhu continued, warming to the story. "She took one look at the green vegetable, screamed 'It's a monster tree!', and tried to freeze it. When that didn't work, she just wailed. 'It's green! It's poison!' she shouted."

  Yukari's face turned a bright, mortified red. She puffed out her cheeks, pouting furiously. "I was five!"

  "It was adorable," Zhu chuckled.

  To Yukari's horror, a low, unfamiliar sound came from her other side. Mila was laughing. It was a quiet, rusty sound, like a gate that hadn't been opened in years, but it was definitely a laugh.

  "Monster tree," Mila repeated, her shoulders shaking slightly.

  Beside them, Raito, who was supposed to be asleep, let out a small, suppressed snort. A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth under the brim of his turban.

  "You're awake!" Yukari accused, poking him in the ribs.

  "Am not," Raito mumbled, though his smirk only widened.

  Yukari huffed, crossing her arms and sinking back into the cushions, her face still flushed. "Okay, it's not fair for me to get embarrassed like this," she pouted. She looked toward the front of the wagon. "So it's your turn now, Bob! How was your childhood?"

  "Oh, the usual," Bob answered, his voice taking on a nostalgic warmth, though he kept his eyes on the road. "Grew up in a loving household with my brother. Met my lovely wife as I grew up, proposed, was blessed with two children. Became one of the biggest merchants in the world, traveled the world, and knew everyone."

  He said it succinctly, without embellishment, as if listing items on a manifest.

  "Brother? Children?" Yukari blinked, her curiosity piqued. "You never told us any of this, Bob! Why do you keep so much stuff about yourself hidden?" She leaned forward eagerly. "We would love to meet your family, Bob."

  "Oh, you know..." Bob's voice trailed off slightly, and a shadow seemed to pass over his usually sunny disposition. "Situations."

  But the moment passed quickly, and his cheer returned. "But don't worry! In due time, you will see them soon, hohoho!"

  "Alright," Yukari nodded, accepting the vague answer for now.

  In the back of the caravan, however, Mila’s expression turned somber. Her laughter faded, replaced by a quiet, distant look as she stared at the passing jungle. Only Zhu Lihua, sitting beside her, noticed the subtle shift in the mercenary's demeanor, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly in thought.

  "By the way, Mother," Yukari said, turning her attention back to Zhu. "You mentioned you also have a business in this region. May I know what it is?"

  "Oh, that," Zhu said, waving a hand dismissively. "Not that important, actually. I am here to meet an old acquaintance." She glanced toward the driver's seat. "I am sure Mr. Bob also knows him well. Don't you, Bob?"

  She listed off the traits like checking a bounty poster. "Short. Busy. Anger issues."

  "Oh, yes! Very well!" Bob called back, chuckling. "I didn't know you were also an acquaintance of his, Miss Lihua."

  "I had to be, even when I didn't want to," Zhu muttered, a trace of old irritation in her voice.

  "Hohoho! Sounds like a complicated relationship," Bob laughed. "But fear not! He always stays at the same places in Kah-Kamun. I'll be sure to guide you to him."

  "That would be helpful," Zhu said, giving a small nod of gratitude.

  Yukari shuffled back to Raito's side, curling up next to him again. She leaned in close, her voice barely a whisper.

  "Seems like there will be many reunions in this region," she murmured into his ear.

  Raito opened one eye, glancing at her. "It seems so," he whispered back. "But it should not concern us too much. Hopefully."

  "Yeah," Yukari whispered, resting her head on his shoulder as the wagon rumbled on. "We are here for another vacation. This time for sure."

  The two-hour travel passed in a blur of green and gold. The density of the rainforest began to thin, the trees spacing out as the path widened into a grand, paved avenue.

  And then, they arrived.

  Kah-Kamun.

  Unlike the organic, tree-woven town of Kinareh, this was a city of structure and purpose. It was a massive, open metropolis, situated in a vast clearing that seemed to have been carved from the heart of the jungle. The buildings were constructed from the same dark, sturdy ironwood as the forest, but here they were shaped into functional, multi-storied structures with flat roofs and wide balconies. It resembled a desert oasis city, open and airy, but set against a backdrop of lush, vibrant green.

  As the caravan rolled through the main gates, Raito and Yukari sat up, their eyes widening. The first thing that struck them was the sheer volume of steel. The air rang with the rhythmic clang-clang-clang of hammers on anvils. Every other shop seemed to be a blacksmith or a weapon dealer. Swords, spears, axes, and shields of every design hung from awnings, glinting in the sun. Merchants stood outside, shouting over the din.

  "Best steel in Zarateph! Won't break on a sand lion's hide!"

  "Discount daggers! Buy two, get a whetstone free!"

  Interspersed between the forges were grand, imposing buildings bearing crests of swords, shields, and mythical beasts. "Iron Will Guild," "The Crimson Hunters," "Sands of Time Explorers"—Adventurer Guilds, dozens of them, serving as hubs for the mercenaries and treasure hunters that flocked to the region.

  In the very center of the city, dominating the skyline, was a colossal structure of white stone and dark wood. It looked like a temple dedicated to history itself. A massive sign hung above its arched entrance: MUSEUM OF CALVENOOR.

  "Whoa," Raito breathed.

  But their awe was cut short by a sound that drowned out even the blacksmiths.

  BRRR-RRR-RRR-RRR!

  A line of people, dressed in crisp, official uniforms of gold and green, stood at attention along the sides of the main street. At a signal, they raised long, polished brass trumpets to their lips and blew a fanfare so loud it shook the wagon.

  A herald stepped forward, his voice amplified by a cone.

  "CROWN PRINCE BOBAN SAID HAS RETURNED!"

  The fanfare swelled into a deafening symphony. The people in the streets stopped their haggling and working, turning to the caravan and erupting into cheers.

  Raito and Yukari stared, their mouths agape. This wasn't just fame; this was royalty.

  Bob, on the driver's seat, shrank down, pulling his turban lower. His face was a brilliant shade of red. "Oh dear," he muttered. "They really went overboard this time."

  But the biggest shock was yet to come.

  As the wagon rolled down the main avenue, Raito and Yukari looked ahead to the end of the honor guard line. There, standing on a raised dais, waving enthusiastically at the approaching caravan, was a figure.

  A large man. With a massive grey beard. A turban. A jovial smile.

  "Bob?" Raito and Yukari said in unison, their heads whipping back and forth between the driver's seat and the dais.

  The man driving the wagon was Bob. But the man waving at them from the end of the street was an exact mirror image of Bob. Same size. Same beard. Same "hohoho" energy radiating from him.

  "But... Bob is right here," Raito said, pointing a shaking finger at the driver. "That doesn't make any sense."

  Then, Yukari gasped. Her silver eyes locked onto the figure standing next to the second Bob.

  It was a girl. Red hair. Sun-kissed skin. Yellow eyes.

  It was the girl from Kinareh. The one who had flirted with Raito. She was waving too, a bright, mischievous grin on her face.

  Yukari’s hands gripped the side of the wagon so hard the wood groaned.

  "WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!" she shouted, her voice cutting through the fanfare, her anger returning in full, blazing force.

  On the driver's seat, Bob flinched, then turned to look at her, his expression shifting from startlement to a slow, bemused grin. He scratched his beard, chuckling.

  "So that 'flirty girl' you mentioned..." he mused, his eyes twinkling. "Hohoho! I truly thought you meant a local guide! I had no idea she'd snuck all the way out to the port to find you first!"

  He shook his head, clearly delighted by his niece's initiative. "She always was the impatient one." He waved a hand towards the dais. "It seems fate has beaten me to the punchline! Yes, that spirited young lady is my niece."

  His grin widened as he pointed to the large man beside her. "And the gentleman who shares my good looks? That is my twin brother... the King of Zarateph."

  Yukari's jaw dropped. Raito just put his head in his hands.

  "Twin..." Yukari whispered. "King..."

  "Of course," Raito mumbled into his palms. "Why wouldn't he be?"

  They slumped back in unison. "We're never going to have a normal vacation, are we?" As they groaned.