Chapter 205 In a Cabin sneath a Tree II (1/2)
CHAPTER 205
IN A CABIN 'NEATH A TREE (II)
Lino sat on top of a half-way bridge looming over the river that he himself had built, his legs heaved over the edge, a fishing rod in his hands extending into the rapid current beneath. He wore only pants reaching down to his knees, ripped by the edges, letting the somewhat chilly wind augment the sun's blistering warmth.
He hummed a low tune freely, looking at the distant mountains stretching into the sky's mist. A sense of serenity had washed over him, causing him to even drop his usual alertness. It truly felt for a moment as though he was free from everything, from every linking chain leading back to the Empire, to the Devils, to the Writs and Bearers and Gaia and the Holy Grounds and the rest of the world at large.
Living inside a self-imposed bubble made his breaths calm, full and free, washing away the worries from his mind. Yet, deep down, he still knew it was but a temporary tranquility -- like all others which life generously gifts from time to time.
Behind him, still donning the mask, Hannah left the house with two pots of stew, walking toward the somewhat loose-looking bridge. Despite having seen them before, the scars extending over the rather wide back still startled her. Though most of them were from the recent battle, she also saw more than a few dozen that were over ten years old at least.
She took a small breath and walked over, slowly sitting down next to him, heaving her legs of the edge as well and handing him a pot. Lino only then awoke from his daydream, putting the rod down and taking the pot and the spoon, eating it slowly.
”Oh, it's spicy today.” he exclaimed softly. ”What'd you put in?”
”Red chili,” she replied. ”You like it?”
”Yeah, it's really good. Gives quite a bit of a kick. What do you want to drink?”
”Ale.”
”Here.” Lino reached into the void world and took two gourds, handing one over.
”... just how stacked are you with booze?” she asked, taking it.
”Let's just say I could live for a long-ass time here without ever running out.”
”Damn, you have a problem.”
”Problems.”
”Hm?”
”Not a problem,” Lino glanced and smirked. ”But lots and lots of problems.”
”What do you want? Pity or encouragement?” she asked, smiling back.
”Yeah, coming from you? Neither.”
”Aww, that's just mean.”
”Have you ever heard yourself speak?” Lino rolled his eyes at her. ”You know, words hurt.”
”Are you really the one who should be saying that?”
”My hypocrisy is half of my character. You can't compare us.”
”Of course I can't compare us,” she said. ”You're insane and I'm the greatest woman in the world.”
”Oh, wow,” Lino exclaimed, chuckling. ”Your back must have some deep dents considering how much you were patted on it throughout your life.”
”Eh, what are you trying to say? That self-love is your exclusive thing?”
”Naturally. I own the patent on it.”
”Yeah, sure you do buddy.” Hannah finished the pot of stew and put it down, slowly sipping the ale. ”It's a very nice day.”
”... yeah.” Lino said, taking a few sips too. ”Have you been living here the whole time?”
”Yeah.”
”... you just made me crazy jealous.”
”What? You like this place?” she glanced at him. ”But the nearest brothel is like two hundred miles away.”
”... it feels very dehumanizing that you'd assume I care for brothels so much.”
”But you do.”
”How'd you even conclude that?”
”Because for the past three days you've done nothing but ”think” out loud all the 'faire maidens' you've bedded in hopes of seeing me react to one of the names.”
”... oh. So I was found out?” he chuckled lightly, glancing at her from the corner of his eyes.
”Oh, no, no way. Your scheme is too clever for someone as lowly as me to uncover it.”
”Heh, that's what I thought.” Lino said. ”Truth is, half of those names were made up.”
”I know,” she chuckled. ”I mean, I know a lot of people who hate their children, but I've never heard any single one of them saying they hate their children enough to name them 'Boozedslutana'. How'd you even come up with that shit?”
”Just combine my two favorite hobbies into one.”
”... so, like the most gorgeous woman in the world,” she said. ”Who, instead of milk, has tits full of booze-on-demand?”
”.....”
”Why do you look like someone who's trying to think really hard about how to make that a reality?”
”Because every man alive would immediately declare me their god?” Lino glared at her for a moment.