I Reincarnated into a Single-celled Organism! - Chapter 218

I didn’t really want the two wyvern eggs. If it came to payment, I had the entire wyvern’s body in my storage. Compared to the eggs, which required a great deal of time and money to put into them before they returned anything, the parts of the wyvern would serve as a much greater immediate reward. Of course, I couldn’t mention that I had it. Even if there was a chance I had a living storage space to house the rings, there should be no way I had one large enough to store the entire wyvern. They would disbelieve me unless I brought out the body, and I wasn’t willing to do that, as the energy from a recently deceased prestige would be far greater than the eggs.

Yet, even though I had offered them all of the eggs, it seemed that the Lou family had come to some conclusions and chosen to bribe me off. It wasn’t like I had to leave things this way. I would certainly deal with it all later, but for the moment, it was better to just focus on our return trip. One couldn’t call these gains until we were all safely back in Stormberg.

Since we were no longer rushing or attempting to remain secret, Fortune opted to travel along a safer but longer route that went around the forested area. I could tell them that there was no longer a threat traveling through Shadebolt, but that was something else I’d have to prove. In their minds, the howl demon was still a sage beast that needed to be taken care of, and there were naturally still the flesh howlers as well. Thus, we had a rather long, but uneventful walk.

It was soon dark, and we stopped at a serene lake nestled in a valley a short distance off the main road. The water was crystal clear, reflecting the azure sky above, and the air was filled with the sweet scent of wildflowers and the gentle hum of nature. Fortune called for a halt, and the group set up camp on the lakeshore, the calm waters lapping gently against the rocks.

I found myself drawn to the water’s edge. I couldn’t help but reflect on those peaceful years before I had learned just how much larger this world really was. My time existing alongside Tanner’s family had been the best years in either of our lives. It was just a shame that I had never realized how tentative and short that time would be. I wish I had understood it at the time. I might have fought harder to keep everything I had ultimately lost.

While everyone else set up camp, I found myself a distance away, sitting at the edge, running my fingers through the water thoughtfully. This lake was quite a bit later than the pond I had once called my home, but it also felt quite familiar. As I sat there lost in thought, a splash caught my attention. It was a familiar noise, one I hadn’t heard in some time. I spread my senses out. My mana struck a barrier, but the rest of my senses managed to reach far enough that I realized what was happening.

Fate had entered the lake to take a bath. After her tribulation, she had been covered in soot and sweat, and they hadn’t had time to clean off earlier. Plus, the last time we would have bathed would have been the springs in Boltshade. On the short opposite of where I was sitting, she had assigned her brother to keep watch, likely to keep her uncle or horny cousins from peaking on her. At this point, he was already capable of at least standing and giving a warning. Paragons healed quickly in this world.

A small smirk formed on my lips, and without a noise, I melted into the water as my clothing disappeared within my luminal space. I glided effortlessly and silently through the water, little more than a ghost. I didn’t allow my body to disperse, but I still moved as smoothly as any fish. I soon came up on Fate. She had discovered a spot hidden behind a screen of reeds and was using this privacy to bathe.

Her back was to me, her long hair cascading down her shoulders like a waterfall of silk. She moved gracefully, the water rippling around her as she washed. I could see the tension in her shoulders, the way her movements were stiff and guarded. It was a far cry from the confident, almost arrogant demeanor she usually projected.

I gently emerged from the lake, trying to decide how I wanted to let her know I was there without alarming her. I didn’t have to do much, though, as the woman herself froze, and then a moment later spun, her sword appearing in her hand as she pointed it at me.

“Who’s… ah? Spirit?” She stopped mid-word with a look of surprise on her face before she looked around, using one arm to cover her impressive chest while still holding her rapier with the other. “What are you doing here?”

Her words were in a low his, not wanting to alert her family any more than I did. I gave her my best smile.

“Is it wrong for me to visit a lover?” I asked innocently.

Her expression grew annoyed. “We agreed! Once we left the cave, our relationship would end. You and I are nothing but passing acquaintances now.”

“Oh?” I chuckled, swimming slowly toward her. “What about when you kissed me on the mountain during your tribulation? Was that just a passing whim?”

“Stay back.” She tensed as she saw me approaching, her voice barely above a breath. “That was merely a mistake.”

“Which part? I pressed, tilting my head. “Our entire relationship, or just the kiss?”

Fate’s body shook as she turned away from me. “I don’t know what you want from me. Just go…”

“I’ll leave,” I told her, causing her to glance up in surprise. “If you tell me why you lied about the agreement.”

“Huh?”

“Abigail’s agreement. She made a win-win agreement. If I died, you paid my cut, but I survived, so I only got one portion. Why are you trying to pay me off?”

“Pay you off…” Her eyes widened, and then she shook her head. “That’s not it.”

“Then what is it?” I swam a bit closer, leaving us only about an arm’s length away from each other.

She had a complicated expression on her face, but she finally sighed with resignation. “We lied about the agreement.”

I hesitated. “Oh?”

“I bet that you wouldn’t survive. Abigail was the one who bet on your success. It wasn’t a win-win with her.” She looked away shamefully. “She bet everything on you.”

I froze for a moment as I processed what she said. This wasn’t exactly what I expected. I had known the pair were keeping things from me, but I didn’t expect it to be like that.

“Why would Abigail do that?” I asked.

Fate licked her lips, not meeting my eyes. “She saw something in you, something I couldn’t see. I don’t know what you think of Abigail, but she is not as cold and calculating as she seems. She’s vulnerable and she’s alone. She needs someone she can trust. I didn’t understand why she’d put her trust in you… not until-“

She looked up, her eyes watery.

“Until now?” I finished.

“Abigail needs your support.” She looked away again. “I don’t think she can survive another betrayal. That’s why… You need to be with her. Not me. She needs you.”

“And you don’t?” I removed the last bit of distance between us, touching her chin and tilting her head to look at me.

“I’m a supreme now. It doesn’t matter what I need.” She whispered. “I’m the one who has to tell my family from now on. I am fated to walk this lonely path. My… my feelings for you aren’t a factor. This is the path I must follow.”

Her eyes looked resolute as she spoke.

“Fate…”

“I know the Lou family owes you, that I owe you. You not only saved us from the golden tooth mercenaries and acquired those eggs, but I have a feeling that my mutation has something to do with you as well. I don’t know why, but I know I owe you more than I can pay.”

Of course, I wasn’t going to mention using the immortal technique. Instead, I wrapped my free arm around her.

“I won’t give up on you, Fate. Whatever path you walk down, I’ll take it with you.”

I won’t abandon anyone again.

“B-but, Abigail…”

“Let me worry about Abigail.” I gently cupped her face. “I won’t betray her either. I won’t leave her alone, but that doesn’t mean I’ll let go of you either!”

“A-aren’t you being a scoundrel?” She demanded.

I chuckled. “I prefer the term, scum.”

She let out a small giggle, barely stopping herself. She then slowly nodded.

“Fine… at least for now, I’ll have faith in you, just as Abigail does.”

“Then, trust in me.” I leaned forward, and the two of us kissed.