After the Storm

Are you all right, Su Yi?

Ah! Vita, and Snow!? What are you two doing here? You didn't just see all that, did you!?

Ugh... why do you always show up when I'm at my lowest? Can't we run into each other when I actually look good for once?

Alright, alright... I know you've been here the whole time. You don't have to rub it in.

I heard you mention the Incense Proving. Was that what this was about?

Huh? You two know the Incense Proving's opening today as well?

Of course! People have been chattering about it all morning. It must be a huge deal in Huaxu, like the Silvercandle Carnival back where we came from. Even after everything that's happened, the event's still going ahead on schedule!

Mm. I don't know what this Silvercandle Carnival is like, but I get the idea. Yeah. Something like that.

The Grand Incense Rite goes all the way back to the very founding of the Nine Chapters. Every year, led by the Rite Envoy, the people of Huaxu gather at the Hall of Adjudication to offer incense to the Argent Loong, praying for eternal peace and prosperity across Huaxu.

The Incense Proving is held to select the Rite Envoy best suited to lead the rite and speak for Huaxu before their god. For most Huaxu folk, it's the highest honour there is. Win it, and your family name is made, everyone in the city will know it.

They run it before every Grand Incense Rite, without fail. But the trials change each time, so I never paid much attention before... This year's programme, though... there are even rounds where we Drifters can actually play to our strengths. I couldn't believe it!

So... I want to give it a go.

It's just... this year, you have to enter as a team of three. I slipped out without telling anyone at the Outer Peaks and tried to recruit a couple of curious passers-by. But the moment they heard I was a Drifter, they bolted... Ugh!

W, Well... you know what Uncle Tang's like. He's always nagging, always worrying... he can't help making a fuss. If I told him I was entering, everyone would know by the end of the day. And if he turned up with a whole crowd just to watch... I'd never live it down!

(Nagging and worrying... are you sure you're not talking about yourself?)

Besides, plenty of Drifters are still wary of the world beyond the Outer Peaks. That won't change overnight, and they'd definitely object to me entering. So until I can come back with something to show for it... I'm keeping it under wraps.

Like I said. Winning the Incense Proving is one of the highest honours in Huaxu.

I, I want everyone in Huaxu to see... Drifters aren't sewer rats, and we're not lawless thugs either. We can be people Huaxu can look up to!

Honestly, today's been a disaster from start to finish. If this keeps up, I might actually go and have my fortune told... see if I can turn my luck around.

Hang on. "Drifter" isn't exactly written on your forehead. So how'd they figure it out? Don't tell me you're some big shot in the city now, like my Little Minion?

Um... not exactly. It's because of something I made specially for the event. My Juzi Patrol Nexus, Type Ⅱ: Qingluan, Qingluan Type Ⅱ for short. It's my trump card.

Juzi... something... what's-it-called? I have no idea what it means, but anything with a name that long has to be the real deal. The Demon King approves!

(A long name doesn't automatically make it cooler...)

My teammates and I agreed that once we got into the arena, we'd split up and take different routes. I was going to keep Qingluan Type Ⅱ under wraps until it was time for me to act on my own, so I wrapped it tightly in cloth.

Then the wrapping somehow came undone. And I'd already installed some... ahem... serious firepower upgrades before I'd had a chance to cover them up. The moment anyone saw it, they knew I was a Drifter.

Where is it? That sounds amazing! Show me, show me!

There. On the table behind me.

Su Yi... the Qingluan Type Ⅱ, does it look like an octopus tentacle, or something?

Huh? Of course not! My masterpiece is modelled after a Yi-bird.

Besides, who'd pick an octopus tentacle for a mechapuppet's design? It'd be wet, slimy, and a nightmare to get the biomimicry right. No taste at all.

Oh no... Someone's stolen my Qingluan Type Ⅱ...! I spent countless hours building it!

The tentacle went that way! Come on, let's go!

There's slime on the ground, this way!

Little Minion... I don't think it's this way.

It should be that alley... let's split up!

Hee-hee, there you are! The master thief just vaulted the wall and ran, go, after them! I'll cut them off!

Su Yi... you sound... off.

Do I? Must've been running so fast I bit my tongue.

Don't get hung up on that. Stop stalling or they'll get away!

...Su Yi. Do you remember what we're actually trying to recover?

Of course. Some weird-looking little mech-bird thing, wasn't it?

"Mech-bird thing"? How dare you. That's my latest creation: the newly upgraded Juzi Patrol Nexus, Type Ⅱ: Qingluan!

Stealing my work is bad enough. Now you're wearing my face, spouting ignorant rubbish, and making me look like some tasteless idiot. Unforgivable!

Tch... give me a break.

Give it up, you petty thief!

Hee-hee... petty thief? Watch your mouth. I'm Demon Tabethe the Red Hand!

Big talk for someone who just lost to my Little Minion! Honestly, you're not even fit to shine the mighty Demon King's boots!

Waaah... Two grown-ups ganging up on a poor, delicate, helpless little girl, it's not fair!

How about a one-on-one rematch?

Don't think you can talk your way out of this. Where's my Qingluan Type Ⅱ? Hand it over. Now. If you've so much as dinged a single part, there's no way you could afford to put it right.

Hee-hee... You wanna know where I hid it, huh? Go on, take a guess. Get it right and you might even get a prize~

I'll give you a tiny hint: Demon Tabethe's hiding spots are perfect. You could turn this place upside down and you still won't find it~

...Do you have a problem with me?

We've never even met. And it's not like you can easily fence a thing like that. If you're really short on money, I can buy it back from you.

But Qingluan Type Ⅱ means a lot to me. I put my heart into it, so please give it back.

Tch... Don't get me wrong. Demon Tabethe only steals from bad people. I don't pick on good folk.

I saw you at the port, slinking around with that mech-bird wrapped up like you had something to hide. You're one of those baddies everyone's been talking about, aren't you? One of those... Drifters?

I don't know what you're up to, but don't play the victim with me. I'm not buying it.

Little Minion... what do we do? She's got Su Yi all wrong...

Let me see if I can talk her round.

From your accent, you're not from Huaxu either, are you?

Then you might know this: in Hyperborea, some Charon people wear hats to hide their horns, just to avoid discrimination from the nobles. So who do you think is really in the wrong, the Charons, or the nobles making their lives miserable?

Isn't it obvious? The nobles are the bad guys! Acting like they're better than everyone and picking on people all the time. They're the worst. Pah!

Right. And what about the stories along the coast, about a good thief who targets the rich, steals their ill-gotten gains, and passes them on to the poor? Are they really a villain?

A good thief? Hee-hee... That's a proper hero, of course!

Then you see my point. You've heard rumours. That doesn't mean you've seen the truth. Drifters aren't what people make them out to be. They stand up to bullies and look after the weak.

Tabethe, you said you only steal from bad people and never pick on decent folk. Sounds like you've got your own sense of justice. On that, we're alike.

Oh? Trying to butter me up? Not sure I'm buying it... hee-hee. Go on~ I'm listening.

Drifters are the same. They stand up to bullies and look after the weak. They're not criminals. I can vouch for them.

People like us get misunderstood all the time. But you still stick to your rules... so I'll say you're a good thief, even a hero.

So... will you trust us, just a little?

Alright, alright! You're talking my ears off. It's just a mech-bird, I don't even want the thing. You can have it back.

I hid it in that crate over there. Go on, take it.

The mech-bird's in that chest over there. What, do you need me to show you the way?

I've got my eyes on you this time. Don't get any funny ideas.

Hehe, want to watch me disappear right under your nose? That's what I do best~

No damage to the casing. Everything still works... just a bit of dust in the joints. I'll give it a proper clean later and it'll be fine.

Phew... Thank goodness it's okay. That could've been a disaster.

... I've got it back, but registration for the Incense Proving closes in an hour. Where am I supposed to find two teammates now?

Ahem...

If you'll admit octopus tentacles are the best-looking, classiest, most perfect design in the world... then maybe I'll help you out.

Aha! So you were hiding nearby and eavesdropping on us!

Hee-hee... A proper master thief always goes back to the scene of the crime. You've got to keep your eyes, and ears, open~

Why are you suddenly so nice to me? What are you up to now?

Wow. I offer to be your teammate out of pure goodwill because you looked so upset, and you throw it back in my face?

Wait... did you offer out of guilt?

No! I do whatever I feel like, there's nothing to feel "guilty" about! Besides, you lot made the Incense Proving sound so fun. I'm not missing a chance to steal the spotlight!

Hmm... thinking about it, you lifted my work from right under my nose. That takes guts. And you held your own in that fight, so you're a decent fighter too. You might actually be a better fit than I thought.

Alright... fine. You're in.

One condition: we split the prize seventy, thirty. You get thirty. I get seventy.

That's two. We just need one more teammate...

Whoa... Little Minion, why are they both staring at us like that? Don't tell me they're trying to rope one of us in...

Ahem. With the mighty Demon King of Light on the field, the whole thing would be over in seconds. That wouldn't be very fair to the other players, would it?

I'm not the kind of Demon King who wins by bullying rookies. So I'll graciously leave this chance to someone else!

That's it! With my Little Minion on their side, they'll be unstoppable, like strapping giant wings on a tiger! They'll stroll to victory without breaking a sweat!

It's "to grant pinions to a tiger" a neat way of saying you make something formidable even more so. Still, look at you, using idioms already. Maybe Huaxu's rubbing off on you.

Heh~ Naturally. I'm smart!

But, there's just one problem... Our airship back to Icelake leaves in three days. Will that be enough time?

Don't worry! The Incense Proving only lasts two days. We'll have it wrapped up by tomorrow evening. I promise it won't hold up your trip home.

Then... I guess there's no real reason to say no. Spending our last few days in Huaxu having some fun with a friend doesn't sound so bad.

Yay! Let's go have fun! ...Wait, no, winning matters too. Little Minion, you'd better bring home a win!

Oh! And if that mech-bird gets spotted again, we'd be in trouble, right? Hee-hee... good thing you've got Demon Tabethe. I'll slap a perfect disguise on it~

...That's... a neat trick.

All right, no time to waste. Registration closes soon. Let's go.

Okay, listen up. If we're doing this together, there are three ground rules: no stealing, no running off on your own, and you follow my lead. Got it?

Yeah, yeah... whatever you say, Mum.

Hey, don't give me that tone. Are you even listening to me?

Hee-hee... take a guess~