Finally, Xiang En was forced to surrender ten donuts to Kagura to escape her wrath.
The exchange was successful, and most importantly, Klee was laughing again, her mood instantly restored by the sight of their absurd squabble.
Soon after breakfast, Xiang En used the excuse of buying Klee necessary clothing to get the whole crew moving. He needed the morning hours for shopping.
Drake also headed out, but his destination was the unregulated, chaotic area of the Archipelago, where he planned to locate his parked pirate ship.
On the way to the market, Klee was ecstatic. Her all-night fatigue vanished. She wore a sun hat Xiang En gave her for disguise, happily jogging along the road.
Kagura remained sulky, her lips jutting out. She couldn't believe she had to leave the house herself, despite having successfully extorted ten donuts. She had planned to lie on the sofa all morning, but Xiang En insisted she come along, claiming he "wasn't suited to offer fashion advice for Klee." He'd even forcibly changed her into socks and shoes.
The mood only improved once they arrived at the marketplace.
Xiang En bought her ten gigantic meat buns.
"Xia-chan, you're the best!" Xiang En received a genuinely affectionate hug.
The 90-degree shift in her attitude astonished not only Xiang En but also Klee. Klee, who had felt guilty about their earlier feud, was amazed to see them reconcile instantly over food.
After Kagura devoured her buns, the three arrived at a clothing store.
"Wow, Sir, your two daughters are too cute!"
The female shop assistant was stunned by the handsome trio. She'd never seen such beautiful girls, let alone two at once, plus the striking orange-haired man, whose fair skin made her fiercely jealous.
"They are very cute, but I am definitely not their father," Xiang En sighed. He was only twenty-four.
The clerk apologized and welcomed them in. As they shopped, her eyes kept sweeping over Xiang En, unable to hide her admiration for his unusual, striking looks.
Initially, Xiang En felt a surge of pride. Finally, my good looks are paying off!
But as the clerk got lost in her daze, failing to help them, the situation became less flattering and more absurd.
"Hey! We are here to buy clothes! Stop staring at my luggage carrier!" Kagura barked, abandoning her lazy demeanor. She stood protectively in front of Xiang En, arms spread wide, shielding him like a territorial animal defending its food source.
"Big Brother Xiang En, let's leave this store," Klee agreed, hugging his arm. "She looks like she's trying to steal your wallet!"
Xiang En looked down at the two small figures huddled around him, feeling both amused and utterly strange. He was supposed to be the hero, not the handbag.
"We are not objects to be gawked at!" Kagura declared, stamping her foot.
The shop assistant snapped out of her daze, realizing her lack of professionalism. "I—I'm so sorry! I got lost in looking, but I truly am not a thief!" She bowed repeatedly in shame.
"You don't need to apologize anymore, Big Sister Clerk. It's good to correct a mistake, and Klee forgives you," Klee instructed in a sweet, surprisingly stern voice. "But staring at people like that isn't polite. Big Sister Clerk should focus on finding Big Brother Xiang En something nice to wear next time!"
The clerk, utterly humbled, rushed to help them find clothes for Klee. To express her profound apology, she used her own money to give the trio a fifty percent discount on the bill and personally escorted them out.
Xiang En didn't get a chance to speak; he was 'protected' the entire time.
Once outside, watching the two girls relax, Xiang En smiled, shaking his head. Despite the oddity, the result was good: a 50% discount and a few valuable life lessons for his companions.
He was most surprised by his high standing in their hearts. After only a few days, their bond was incredibly fierce. Is it the summoning system?
"Because Big Brother Xiang En's aura feels very gentle to Klee, like family, and Big Brother Xiang En is a very good person," Klee replied instantly when Xiang En asked her about the bond on the walk home.
Xiang En smiled, warmed by the "nice guy" endorsement. He turned to Kagura, eager for her reply.
"Hmm… it's about the same as Klee said. It just feels like family," Kagura confirmed, looking at their matching orange hair. Then, she paused and grinned mischievously.
"You're like my favorite big brother who always buys the best food and can't fight for himself
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