Kafka's words were like a transparent silk curtain, an invisible spider's web, that easily ensnared the boy, making his heart flutter.
Perhaps she herself had no such intention, but Zāwù couldn't help but feel dazed.
"Really... is it okay?"
When he came back to his senses, he realized he had just mumbled his self-doubt out loud.
Kafka smiled faintly.
Overcome with shame, Zāwù tried to flee.
He didn't understand how he could be so greedy!
He, who had nothing and had lost his memories, was not only taken in by Big Sis Kafka, but everything he ate, wore, and used was a gift from her. He might never be able to repay Big Sis Kafka's kindness! How could he dare to hope for more...
"S-Sorry!"
"I suddenly remembered Big Sis Silver Wolf wants me to practice swords, I'll be going now..."
"Pfft!"
Kafka suddenly laughed.
This kid is so cute, he can't even lie properly.
To be this incoherent. She would sooner believe that Blade enjoyed embroidery—as long as sword flourishes didn't count—than believe Silver Wolf would willingly practice swords. If he went out into the galaxy later, who would believe he was a child she had raised?
Could a devilish woman really raise an angelic boy?
Never mind others, even Kafka herself was becoming curious.
She reached out and took Zāwù's wrist.
"I'm tired. Don't make me say unnecessary words, okay?"
"Zāwù, stay."
"Stay with me."
"..."
Zāwù's body felt as if it had frozen solid, only to gradually melt back to its original warmth under the woman's body heat. He understood now that he had no room to refuse. Just as he didn't understand how he could ever bear to refuse.
"Yes, my..."
The word was on the tip of the boy's tongue, but he quietly swallowed it back down.
In the time that followed, he helped Kafka change into her nightgown, gave her a massage, and prepared a glass of hot milk for her before bed, performing all the duties of a top-tier butler.
Everything except... sleeping with her.
Though, rather than sleeping with her, it was more like Kafka was holding Zāwù in her arms like a large doll. And after a brief moment of blushing, Zāwù gradually sank into that warmth and happiness.
The result was that the love-starved boy fell asleep faster and more deeply than Kafka did, making it hard to tell just who was accompanying whom. He clung to the woman's embrace as if there were no tomorrow.
In his dreams, tears fell.
He murmured sleep-talk as fragile as shattered porcelain.
"Don't... throw me away..."
Kafka's cherry-pink pupils trembled imperceptibly, reflecting the boy's face, like a suffering, pure-white angel.
An inexplicable impulse made her close her eyes and press a kiss to the boy's forehead.
When she opened them again, a coldness like the glint of a bullet flashed through her eyes.
"I won't throw you away."
"No matter who it was that threw you away, we will make them..."
"Regret it for the rest of their life."
...
It was as if he had a very warm, very happy dream.
And the reason the dream was so long was that Zāwù was unwilling to wake up from it.
In the dream, Kafka hugged him.
That was all.
If not for his body, which required material sustenance, protesting, Zāwù's consciousness, which had not yet deliberately cultivated self-control, would probably have chosen to remain trapped in it forever.
He opened his eyes to a blindingly bright, incandescent sunlight. The boy's long eyelashes were already like snow, and now they seemed even more hazy and dreamlike.
"Angel."
It was indeed a fitting word for him.
As he woke, memories of last night flooded back. Zāwù sat up on Kafka's bed, dazed for a very, very long time.
"You're awake."
Kafka, wearing only a white shirt and slim trousers, a woman's tie loosely hung around her collar, lazily looked back from a red silk noble's chair not far away. In her hand, she held a cup of extremely bitter coffee, yet she savored it slowly, without a hint of displeasure.
At least it's much better than what that woman used to make.
Zāwù was a little embarrassed, blushing as he looked away.
"Big Sis Kafka... have you been waiting long for me?"
Kafka shook her head.
"I have been waiting for a long time, but not for you to wake up."
"In fact, Zāwù looks very well-behaved when he's asleep. I like it very much~"
"..."
Even though he guessed Kafka was joking, Zāwù couldn't help but feel shy, and it was impossible for him to feel displeased.
"Then what was Big Sis Kafka waiting for?" He caught the key in her words.
Kafka waved her hand, summoning a panoramic view of the vast sea of stars in front of Zāwù. Before he could even marvel at it, he was captivated by a golden route that seemed to cut through the sea of stars, heading towards an unreachable shore.
Kafka's gaze, however, was fixed on an exquisitely crafted pocket watch in her hand, watching as its hands slowly pointed to twelve.
And at the exact moment the hand perfectly aligned with the mark, a point on the golden route suddenly burst forth with an incredibly bright, shining starlight.
Zāwù could almost hear a steam whistle from a distant, ancient era, echoing once more throughout the galaxy at this very moment.
"That is the path named 'The Trailblaze'."
The so-called "Trailblaze" was the Path presided over by the legendary Aeon, Akivili. Big Sis Silver Wolf had taught Zāwù about their story while playing related games. Akivili left the isolated world of Pegana and constantly trailblazed the unknown boundaries of the universe, trying to find the end of the Tree of Existence. But Their fate ended in an accident. Even so, the Path of the Trailblaze did not end. To this day, there is still a group of brave and fearless Trailblazers who travel on special vehicles along the path the Aeon once walked, vowing to reconnect the stars.
Its name—the Astral Express.
"Someone has already set out."
"We Stellaron Hunters can't fall too far behind."
Kafka put away her pocket watch and closed the star chart. She cast a "follow me" glance at Zāwù.
Zāwù understood.
Not long after, in the Stellaron Hunter's meeting room, the seats for the leader and deputy leader were empty. Silver Wolf and Blade sat in their respective member seats. The former was furiously tapping away at a mobile game. The latter was feigning sleep with Shard Sword in his arms. It wasn't until the door was suddenly pushed open and the "click, clack" of high heels on the floor was heard that the two of them finally roused themselves a little.
"What took you so long, Kaf... eh! Zāwù, why are you here too!?"
"No, wait! Why did you two come together!?"
"I was wondering why I couldn't find Zāwù all morning, don't tell me..."
"He's already been eaten by the bad woman!!!"
Silver Wolf let out a devastated cry, the half-finished game in her hands losing all its appeal.
-------
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