Chapter 226 The land of Hinode 1 (1/2)
Mars arrived back at Green river with the four slave soldiers Hanna included, since it was late he showed them to the guest rooms and told them that breakfast would be served in the living room tomorrow morning and he would be happy if they wanted to join. Then since he still need to deal with the demons he had brought on the auction he turned and left but was surprised when he heard someone following him and turned around and saw Hanna.
”Erm... Mars...”
She looked like she didn't quite know what to say but Mars got the message and held out his hand, then Hanna's face lit up and she took his hand and walked with him for a few moments before she spoke.
”... Thank you Mars.”
”What for?”
”Well... For saving me... For the longest time I have felt like I have been walking underwater, unable to breathe and see.”
Mars gave a nod while his hatred for the NNE grew by a sizable degree, but he quickly changed gears and put the hatred into the back of his mind before he spoke.
”That must have been awful.”
Mars gave Hanna's hand a reassuring squeeze before he asked.
”How long ago do you think it was I healed you?”
”Hmm... maybe a year ago?”
”It's been almost four years.”
”Eh...?”
Hanna stopped walking meanwhile Mars kept talking.
”It must have been the slave collar that blurred you sense of time.”
”O-okay”
Hanna gave a nod and lowered her head slightly in thought before she seemed to change gears and asked Mars while she looked left out of the window.
”So Mars, where is this even? I have never been in such a tall building.”
”This is Green river and this sky tree is mine.”
”You mean you own the whole building?”
”Yeah.”
”... You sure have come a long way.”
Mars briefly thought back to when he was living in a cave in a forest and gave a nod.
”That I have...”
Mars and Hanna walked a little more and soon they arrived in the living room where Mars had sent the slaves he had brought. Since there was no room in the couches and around the dinner table some of the demons sat or laid on the floor, but they all stood up when Mars walked in and soon Velvet and the old demon walked out from the crowd. Mars gave a smile and walked over to them while he introduced Hanna.
”This is Hanna, she's a child I have been indebted to.”
”Hey Mars what do you mean child? I am 18 years old you know?”
”Well in my mind anyone under 50 are still children.”
”... You talk like an old man Mars.”
”Well that's because I am an old man over 200 years old.”
”Eh?... Really?”
”Yep, but enough about me, let's get those slave collars removed...”
Mars reached out and touched the slave collar around Velvet's neck and a moment later it released with a click and fell to the floor, then she 'looked' directly at Mars and asked.
”Mars can you destroy the NNE?”
”Hmm...”
Mars fell into thought for a moment before he answered.
”I could, but not now... I have to wait for the right opportunity”
Velvet gave a nod and 'looked' down into the floor, Mars put a hand on her shoulder and spoke.
”Don't worry, it's on my to do list.”
Velvet took his hand and brought it up to her cheek and somewhat nestled into it for a few moments before she let go of his hand and spoke.
”Sorry old demon, I will stop taking up Mars' time now.”
”I don't mind princess.... Son could I trouble you to remove my slave collar?”
”Sure that's what I planned to do anyways.”
Mars spent some time removing the slave collars off the demons before he showed them to some places to sleep, then he and Hanna was left alone in the hallway as they slowly walked back to the guest room he had assigned her.
”... I'm missing about three years of my memories.”
”Yep...”
”Umm... do you think you could stay until I fall asleep?”
”Sure.”