The group arrived at the Crown Prince's residence, where Xue Qinghe quickly arranged rooms for everyone.
The little fox girl got her own room, while Paimon and Aether were placed in one together.
Paimon and Aether, sharing a room?
Xue Qinghe couldn't help feeling surprised.
But Aether and Paimon didn't say anything, as if it was completely normal.
All he could do was silently sigh.
...
It was late at night, and the sky glittered with stars.
"Traveler, are you asleep?"
On the large bed, Aether and Paimon were sleeping back to back. Paimon, seemingly unable to fall asleep, suddenly asked.
"No, what's up?"
"You really have gotten stronger, haven't you?"
"Hm? You can tell?"
"Heh heh, I am Detective Paimon—no detail escapes my eyes!"
"Then how did you sense it?" Aether asked.
"Just answer—did you get stronger or not?" Paimon countered.
"…A little, I guess."
"Hehe~ I knew it." Paimon giggled, then added:
"I wanna get stronger too…"
"So you can eat even more?"
"How dare you! Traveler, I can't believe you'd think that about me!"
Paimon shot upright, hands on her hips, fuming as she glared at Aether.
"Just admit that was part of your reason."
"…Hmph! I'm not talking to you anymore."
Exposed, Paimon clenched her tiny fists. It looked like she was ready to sock Aether in the face any second.
"Fine, it's not just that. But think about it—no matter where we go, you're always the one fighting. If I got strong too—like, strong enough to one-punch a hilichurl—it'd save you a lot of trouble, right?"
As she spoke, Paimon began to throw imaginary punches and kicks in the air.
"Sure, but… could you get your foot off my face first?"
A cold, slightly clammy sensation pressed against his cheek. Aether was pretty sure Paimon was doing this on purpose as payback.
"Eh-heh? Oops, didn't notice…"
Paimon quickly pulled her leg back and looked mildly embarrassed.
She definitely did it on purpose.
That'll teach the Traveler to keep calling her out—hmph!
"Come on, sleep. Weren't you saying you were sleepy?"
Aether closed his eyes, done with the nonsense.
"I'm kinda hungry."
"…We just ate not long ago, didn't we?"
"All that exercise worked off the calories!"
"…"
Of course. That's so like you, little Paimon.
Always with the excuses.
"I'll tell you a trick to stop being hungry."
"What trick?"
Paimon perked up immediately.
Was the Traveler actually going to get her a snack?
Wow, maybe she shouldn't have yelled at him earlier!
"The trick is… sleep. If you fall asleep, you won't feel hungry anymore. Go to sleep."
As soon as Aether said it, he felt a chill coming from Paimon's direction. He instinctively pulled the blanket tighter around himself.
Ah, much warmer now.
"Argh! You're bullying me again!"
In her mind's eye, Paimon saw the Traveler holding a plate of sticky honey roast—only for the image to shatter before her.
"That's it! I've decided! I'm going to awaken a Martial Soul!"
"Huh? What do you mean?" Aether shot upright at her declaration, accidentally flinging the blanket and nearly toppling Paimon off the bed.
"Awaken my Martial Soul! Didn't Qinghe say something about Martial Souls today?"
Paimon remembered Xue Qinghe explaining that everyone in this world could awaken a Martial Soul. That meant she could too, right?
And once she did, maybe she'd awaken something super powerful—something even cooler than what the Traveler had. It'd totally blow his dumb smug face away!
Then she'd beat him up, make him cry, and force him to go fetch her food whenever she wanted. Hehe… hahaha…
"Achoo… Why are you laughing so weirdly?"
Aether sneezed and turned to look at Paimon's face, which was twisting into a disturbingly devious grin.
What kind of thoughts was she having to smile like that?
"Eh?" Paimon snapped out of her daydream and looked a little sheepish. She quickly continued:
"Qinghe said you need a Soul Awakening Stone to do it. Let's ask him for one tomorrow, okay?"
"You're seriously going through with this?" Aether was surprised. He thought she was just messing around.
Ever since they met, she'd never shown interest in fighting or power—only in eating.
Now she suddenly wanted to get stronger? Aether found it hard to wrap his head around.
"Yeah, I wanna try it." Paimon said. Then, after a beat, she added:
"But don't get the wrong idea! It's not because I think you can't protect me or anything. Even if I get super strong, I'll still stick with you—promise."
She patted Aether's shoulder solemnly, like she was taking an oath.
She could already imagine the scene—danger loomed, and she'd leap in front of Aether, blasting monsters to pieces. He'd be so moved, his sense of security soaring through the roof!
"…Are you sick?"
Aether reached out and pressed a hand to her forehead. Normal temperature. So why was she spouting nonsense?
"Heh heh~ Then it's settled! Sleep time!"
Paimon batted his hand away, curled up in her tiny blanket, and within seconds…
She was out cold.
In her dreams, she had awakened an ultra-powerful Martial Soul and was now leading the charge against evil with Aether by her side.
"Paimon?"
"..."
"Paimon?"
"Zzzzz…"
"..."
With the way she conks out instantly, she's already a legendary powerhouse in her own right.
Aether sighed in defeat.
"Awaken a Martial Soul, huh…"
Seeing her fall asleep so easily, Aether lay back down, turning her words over in his mind.
Xue Qinghe said that everyone in this world could awaken a Martial Soul—but neither of them were from this world. Could they really awaken one too?
He shook his head. Paimon had totally derailed his thoughts again.
But if she wanted to try, then he'd go with her.
They'd find out soon enough whether it was possible or not.
Aether wasn't expecting anything miraculous like the stuff she imagined.
As long as he was with Paimon, even if the sky came crashing down—he'd shield her from it.
...
"Traveler, wake up, wake up!"
That familiar 'alarm clock' voice rang in his ears. Aether rubbed his eyes, asking on instinct:
"Paimon, is the sun up?"
"The sun's been up forever! Hurry and wash up—we're getting food after!"
"Okay."
They'd had this exact exchange so many times, Aether had lost count.
"Morning, Keke~"
"Morning, Paimon."
"Morning, Qinghe—eh? What are you two doing together?"
Paimon stepped outside and found Yu Keke and Xue Qinghe sitting in the courtyard's pavilion. She walked over and waved.
"Mmm~ I saw His Highness when I woke up, so we decided to wait here for you and your brother."
Yu Keke rubbed her eyes, looking like she hadn't slept well.
"Paimon, is your brother awake?"
Xue Qinghe waved, then glanced at the doorway. Seeing Aether hadn't come out yet, he asked.
"Traveler, Qinghe wants you~"
Paimon turned toward the room and shouted inside.
"Hm? His Highness wants something?"
The moment she called, Aether walked out, looking puzzled.
_
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