Fallen Chronicles

Well... XD last chapter for today.

And pls if you find any mistakes, pls do comment them,^*^

---------------

Two days later.

In the same secluded alley, at the unchanged rendezvous point, the familiar faces of each other met, yet there was a sense of strangeness in the companionship.

During their second meeting called by Ashe, as soon as Jiu arrived, Ashe frowned slightly and instinctively sniffed a few times.

The reason was simple. If two days ago, at their first meeting, the familiar scent of Ashe had merely faded, now it was completely gone! Even more, Jiu could smell a faint fragrance coming from Ashe, like that of jasmine. It wasn't unpleasant, but it felt... odd.

Jiu shook her head internally, chastising herself. What was she even thinking!

It was already too much to entrust such a challenging, even sacrificial, mission to Ashe. How could she now distrust her?

"How's your body? Any injuries? I've secretly brought some ointment for you!"

The first concern of Jiu, upon meeting, wasn't the mission but Ashe's condition. As she spoke, she smoothly took out a small porcelain jar from her bosom.

Don't be fooled by this unassuming little porcelain jar. Among the demi-human slaves, it was highly sought after. It could effectively resist infection from external wounds and prevent the wounds from worsening. Many slaves died in agony from untreated injuries inflicted by their masters.

Seeing Jiu prepared such precious medicine for her, Ashe was deeply moved. This is why she hurriedly shook her head and waved her hands, saying:

"I'm fine! Not a scratch on me. You should put this back soon, sister Jiu, or else Brother Leng will scold you again!"

"Really? Let me see. Has that human really not done anything to you till now?"

It was best if Ashe didn't need the ointment. While happy, Jiu couldn't help but be more astonished. After all, Ashe was a Catgirl, and an exceptionally beautiful one at that.

'Could a noble human really resist such temptation? Even after three days, not laying a finger on Ashe?'

Worried Ashe was just being brave, Jiu, disregarding the cat-girl's panic, started to undress her.

However, it turned out, the cat-girl, now blushing with her clothes half-removed, indeed wasn't pretending. Jiu checked many parts of Ashe's body and didn't find the imagined whip marks or bruises.

'No... Forget those worst-case scenarios. On the contrary,'

Jiu, turning back to look at the cat-girl across from her, noticed Ashe's complexion had improved significantly compared to a few days ago. Her eyes were brighter, her spirit seemed fuller, and...

Jiu wasn't sure if it was her imagination, but she thought Ashe even looked a bit chubbier!?

"It's good that you're okay! Now I can tell those kids who miss you. You don't know, after you left, those little ones come to me every day, asking when Sister Ashe will return."

"So... how did it go? You said you were investigating the two servants around that young man. Did you find anything?"

Caring for Ashe was Jiu's personal concern, but she didn't forget the main reason for their secret meeting. After quickly steering the conversation back on track, Jiu noticed the cat-girl across from her lower her gaze, her eyes wandering on the ground.

"Yes, sorry! sister Jiu, it's my incompetence. I've only found out that one of them, number 86, she... Ah! The maid, seems to be a bionic maid from the Mechanical Alliance. But as for the maid's strength and the details of the other one, I... I haven't figured it out yet."

"Eh!? A bionic maid from the Mechanical Alliance? Uh... HAHA… I don't understand, but it sounds complicated. This information is important! I'll tell Sister Nozomi and Leng about it later. Ashe, you've done well!"

Ashe's reaction was expected by Jiu. Being demi-humans, they had no right to education or knowledge, so such an unfamiliar term, especially when Ashe deliberately connected it with the "Mechanical Alliance," instantly seemed threatening. It should make the revolutionaries more cautious and not rush into their plans.

But in reality, only Ashe knew the truth from her observations over the past few days. Number 86 was just a housemaid, doing chores like cleaning, laundry, and cooking, clearly not a combat model. If a fight broke out, she probably wouldn't have any fighting capability, posing no threat to the revolutionaries.

However, Ashe deliberately concealed these details, fearing that if she revealed the truth, the group, with their temperaments, might decide to act against Mr. Renji tonight. She, she...

Ashe didn't know what to do.

Although they had only been together for a few days, Mr. Renji, Eileen, and 86 all seemed like good people to her. The reason she knew so much about bionic maid and combat models was that she learned it from 86 during their nightly lessons.

In her heart, Mr. Renji's family were good people.

'And good people... shouldn't have guns pointed at them'

'Just wait a little longer, just a little longer...'

Ashe comforted herself, or perhaps, she was avoiding something.

"Alright! I need to quickly pass on the intelligence you've worked hard for. Do you have anything else to instruct?"

Seeing Jiu in a hurry to go back and discuss, Ashe came back to her senses. She quickly grabbed Jiu and then trotted to a corner of the wall, handing over a small package she had placed there earlier to Jiu's puzzled gaze.

When Jiu opened the package, she found inside...

"This is... an illustration book?"

"Yes, these are the books! They were going to be thrown away by that young noble, and I secretly kept them. Sister Jiu, can you pass them to the children? If Leng and sister Nozomi find out, just say... say you picked them up by chance on your way!"

The truth about these illustration books was that they were a gift from Renji, who had bought the entire bookstore's collection of illustration books for her during their shopping trip earlier that day, after noticing her interest in them. He said it was a reward for her excellent performance in class.

Ashe was overwhelmed with gratitude at the time. When she came back to her senses, her room was filled with three large bookshelves of books. She had originally thought of the children, wishing they too could study and learn. That's why she secretly selected a few books to pass to Jiu for the children.

"You, you! No wonder you are the favorite among the children in our revolution army. Even in such a situation, you still think of them. I really admire you, Ashe."

Jiu gave her a thumbs-up, sincerely admiring Ashe. She quickly took the bag and patted her chest.

"Alright! Don't worry, leave it to me. Wow, the kids are going to be so happy tonight! It will also convince them that their favorite Sister Ashe is safe and can even send them things! No more sad faces as if they can't live without you, it's almost driving me crazy."

"Thank you so much, Sister Jiu."

"I'm off then. But before I go, Ashe, remember, never be careless. Humans, especially those pretentious nobles, many of them are very deceptive. Although you're probably the hardest to fool among us, after all, you belong to the cat tribe, known for their strongest sixth sense! Still, be very careful. We will... wait for your next contact!"

"Okay!"

Watching Jiu quickly disappear from sight with the package, Ashe bit her lips and finally sighed. She turned towards her home, no need to run now. She walked back home, wearing her cloak again.

Another two days later.

"So... the other person beside that noble is actually a gangster from the Holy Kingdom?"

"Yes! Eileen is proficient in all kinds of firearm. She used to be the boss of a gang in a place called 'Blackhole', and she was the underground empress of Blackhole. She single-handedly fought against enemy forces, capable of killing seven in a go. Under her rule, all other dark forces vanished, with no one daring to rebel or challenge her. She has another title."

"A title?"

"Yes, the First Sword Goddess of Blackhole!" Ashe reported solemnly all these glorious stories about Eileen, which she had learned from Eileen herself.

Jiu: "..."

"But didn't you say earlier that she uses guns?"

"Ah! She, she seems to be proficient in swords as well."

Jiu: "..."

This was the third time Jiu and Ashe had met. Initially, Jiu was eager to tell Ashe that Leng had said the maid was not a significant threat and that they could launch an attack tonight if there was nothing else.

But who could have expected another... threat to emerge?

'The First Sword Goddess of Blackhole... sounds scary, at least?'

As Jiu was preparing to leave, Ashe called her back.

"Do you have something else for me to take back this time?"

Seeing the helpless and strange expression on Jiu's face, Ashe smiled awkwardly. This time, however, what she offered was not a package but something simpler.

"What is this? A cross?"

"Yes, yes. Mr. Roland has always been a devout follower of the Holy Kingdom's Goddess, right? While I was... pretending to get along with Miss Eileen, she gave me this authentic cross from the Holy Kingdom's church as a gift. And the first person I thought of was Mr. Roland!"

"They say this cross contains a fraction of the Goddess's power. If one is devout enough, they can even communicate with the Goddess and receive her guidance. I... I think Mr. Roland will love it!"

"Alright then."

Jiu, being straightforward by nature, didn't pay much mind to these things. She just mumbled a few words as she took the cross and left.

"It always feels like Ashe, you're on a holiday, sending us gifts every day."

Today marks a week since Ashe arrived at Renji's place.

Holding a small basket, Ashe arrived at the alley for their fourth meeting. After sending the signal to the revolutionaries, she waited nervously, having made up her mind.

Today, she decided to tell Jiu the truth.

She hoped the revolutionaries would abandon their plans against Renji.

Although she had only lived with Mr. Renji for a week, the experiences during this time, whether it was 86's patient nightly lessons, Eileen's secret escapades, or Mr. Renji's homemade soup under the guise of "experiments," were moments of joy, perhaps even happiness, she had never experienced before in her life.

'Ashe couldn't deceive herself. She wanted to protect Mr. Renji, to...'

A cold snort full of anger jolted Ashe back to reality. A figure emerged from the shadows of the alley.

It wasn't Jiu, the usual tiger big sister.

Instead,

"Brother Leng?" Ashe's heart tightened, her hands holding the basket began to tremble unconsciously.