I WAS The Rank–1 Hero-Chapter 144: Departure [2]

This time, the purpose was different. Ruby had specifically requested it. We weren't planning to carry any explosives or guns, we needed it to carry Lily, the small elf girl I had rescued from the auction house.

Both Ruby and I were preparing to leave the Frostvile kingdom for a few days, and we couldn't risk leaving Lily behind with someone else. Just the thought of her crying again whenever Ruby left her alone made my chest tighten.

At one point, we considered leaving her with our Master—Envy. But that idea was quickly abandoned. Even I could imagine the terror Lily would feel if she had to face Envy's cold, piercing gaze every day. She had already endured enough. There was no need to add more to her growing trauma.

'You're gonna get beaten to death by your master someday,' Sera, inside my head, remarked sarcastically.

"...!"

Yeah, no thanks!

Mental note: No more bad mouthing Master Envy. I value my life far too much.

Flip—!

Turning to the last page of the pamphlet, I clicked my tongue in disappointment. None of the designs appealed to me. They all looked either too flashy or too shabby for my taste.

"Can you show me more?" I asked, a frown tugged at the corner of my mouth. "These all look... ugly."

"Yes." The man answered simply, not a hint of offense in his tone.

Despite being a black market shop that prided itself on having almost any item imaginable, his Dimension Cloak collection seemed strangely limited in terms of style and color options.

Rustle—! Rustle—!

The shopkeeper nudged open a large drawer and pulled out a big box. After a brief search, he retrieved something from inside and once again slammed it onto the counter.

"Here."

Compared to the previous cloaks, this one was different. A sleek leather cloak with a shiny, polished surface. The collar was lined with white fur, giving it an elegant yet practical look.

Curious, I picked it up and ran my fingers along the material. It felt sturdy, but light.

Sera, what do you think?

'It's good,' she said, sounding genuinely impressed for once.

A small smile crossed my face. "Alright, I'll take it."

The shopkeeper gave a curt nod. "Two hundred thousand."

"..."

I blinked, stunned for a moment at the steep price. Before I could protest, he added, "It's not just a Dimension Cloak. It's also an anti-Elemental detector, and it's made from highly durable threads. Almost impossible to tear."

Hearing that, I could only nod. Finding an anti-Elemental detector woven into a cloak was rare. Considering the dual functionality, the price wasn't unreasonable.

"Fine. I'll take it."

I completed the payment, tucked the cloak into my inventory ring, and stepped out of the shop. I quickly checked the time.

2:30 P.M.

Almost time for my flight.

Without wasting another second, I quickened my pace, weaving through the narrow alleys of the black market until I reached a quieter street. Once there, I reverted to my original appearance, hiding the disguise I had worn earlier. Pulling out my Nova uniform from my storage ring, I dressed swiftly.

"Alright..." I muttered under my breath.

It was time to board the flight.

Ruby and I had decided to take separate flights to avoid drawing unnecessary attention. Her flight was scheduled about thirty minutes ahead of mine, so she should already be in the air by now.

Stepping onto the main road, I stopped down a taxi.

"To the airport," I said, sliding into the backseat.

As the car pulled away, I leaned back against the seat, letting out a small breath.

…

24 hours later.

Location : Vanilla City, Aquadore.

The moment I stepped out of the airport, a rush of fresh air greeted me.

It carried the strong, salty scent of the sea, brushing against my tongue with a sharp tang that immediately awakened my senses.

The sunlight was warm, and a light breeze tugged at the hem of my jacket.

I glanced around, taking in the sight before me.

Foreigners from various kingdoms bustled about, their different styles, clothes, and mannerisms blending into a lively, colorful tapPeople from distant cities andestry.

Vanilla City was famous for hosting one of the largest beaches in the world — Mira Beach — named by the Second Queen thousands of years ago.

Since then, the name had stuck to every tongue like a timeless melody, and the legend surrounding it only grew with each passing generation.

Aquadore, the kingdom that housed Vanilla City, was surrounded mostly by water and lay far removed from the Demon Continent. It was one of the rare few places where monsters doesn't bother come, making it a prime location for both tourists and adventurers to relax without fear.

Navigating through the crowd, weaving between groups of travelers and families dragging their luggage, I scanned my surroundings carefully.

I was searching for her.

Ruby had arrived ahead of me.

"Where is she...?" I muttered under my breath, shifting my bag on my shoulder.

Just then, two soft hands slipped over my eyes from behind, cutting off my vision.

I stiffened slightly, only to catch a faint scent of sunflowers drifting to my nose it was warm, familiar, and comforting.

A small smile formed on my lips.

"Ruby," I called out, recognizing her touch instantly.

She let out a small, playful chuckle and slowly pulled her hands away.

I turned around, and my gaze immediately landed on her.

Her crimson hair framed her small, delicate face perfectly, glowing under the afternoon sun.

She wore a round, flat-based hat, and a pair of sunglasses perched neatly atop it.

A light yellow shirt and matching shorts completed her outfit, giving her a charming and refreshingly casual look.

To put it simply, she looked dangerously adorable.

"You're late!" Ruby pouted, crossing her arms and giving me a playful side glance.

"Huh?" I blinked, caught a little off guard by her cuteness. "I wasn't the one piloting the plane, you know."

"Such a lame thing to say," she teased, flashing a wide grin.

"And here I thought you'd come running straight into my arms."

I sighed inwardly, trying very hard not to let my emotions show on my face.

Ruby was being unusually bold today, and for the first time in a while, I found myself feeling... shy.

Luckily, with her sunglasses and hat concealing most of her identity, no one recognized her as the current Rank-7 Hero.

To the bustling crowd, we were just another young couple enjoying their vacation.

"I've already booked our hotel for tonight," Ruby said, her fingers lightly tugging at my sleeve. "Come on, let's get going."

Only the two of us were staying at the hotel for now.

Our entire class was set to arrive tomorrow morning, and once they did, I'd have to move into the academy-designated lodging.

But for tonight...

It would just be Ruby and me.

"Alright," I nodded, feeling a mixture of anticipation and nervousness bubbling inside.

Before I could even take a step, Ruby grinned mischievously and, without warning, grabbed my hand in hers.

Her grip was warm and steady, sending a jolt up my arm.

I flinched slightly in surprise.

She was really being too bold today.

"Let's gooo!" she chimed happily, swinging our joined hands lightly between us as we started walking.

All around us, couples strolled leisurely holding hands, laughing together, resting their heads on each other's shoulders.

It was like we had wandered straight into a romantic painting.

The atmosphere made me feel awkward and somewhat self-conscious.

Still, I couldn't bring myself to pull my hand away. Ruby's hand in mine felt... right.

Trying to shake off the swirling emotions, I turned to her.

"You didn't book some fancy hotel, did you?" I asked cautiously.

I wasn't exactly a fan of extravagant, flashy places, something simple and quiet suited me far better.

"Don't worry," Ruby replied with a playful wink.

"It's nothing too grand. Just a nice sea-facing room with a big living lounge. I really liked it."

I let out a small sigh of relief.

A sea-facing room actually sounded pretty good.

I turned my head slightly to the right, catching a glimpse of the vast ocean shimmering under the golden afternoon light.

"And what about my room?" I asked curiously.

"Hm?" Ruby tilted her head, looking genuinely puzzled.

I stopped walking and faced her, our hands still linked together.

"...Don't tell me we're sharing the same room?" I asked slowly.

"Yes," she answered without a hint of hesitation, blinking innocently up at me as if sharing a hotel room with me was the most natural thing in the world.

"..."

I now feel nervous for some reason…