Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 53

Joshua walked along a narrow tunnel, continuously heading deeper into the darkness.

The thick darkness wrapped around him like a tangible object, yet it wasn’t frightening. It felt like the darkness of a mother’s womb, bringing a sense of belonging, making one want to abandon everything and return to complete blackness.

Joshua kept moving forward.

A familiar figure appeared ahead.

Long silver hair draped over the shoulders, flowing white robes, a slender and lonely back.

“Kester…?”

The person ahead didn’t respond, as if he hadn’t heard Joshua’s voice at all, continuing to walk forward. Joshua hurried to catch up. Just as his fingers were about to touch Kester’s clothes, the man suddenly stopped, turning his head to gaze at the assassin with golden eyes.

“What are you doing here?”

Kester’s voice was exactly as he remembered, or perhaps it was just a forgotten memory?

“Go back.” Kester waved his hand irritably, as if shooing away a fly. “This isn’t the place for you.”

“I…”

One more step, and he could reach Kester, but Joshua’s feet seemed glued to the ground, unable to move. He struggled to move his legs, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t advance.

“Go back,” Kester repeated.

Joshua felt cold all over, as if he had just crawled out of an icy sea. Yet, his right palm was unusually warm, almost burning his skin, like boiling water flowing through his veins and nerves, pooling into a blazing fire in his chest.

“Kester…”

“Go back!”

Kester hated repeating himself three times. Joshua had picked up this habit from him. He knew it meant the young scientist was angry.

So, Joshua tried stepping back, and he could move again. At this moment, he vaguely remembered he had forgotten something important—someone important who was waiting for him on the other side of the tunnel. Yes, he had to go back and find him.

Kester squinted, seeming very satisfied with Joshua’s retreat. “Although you’ll come here eventually, it’s not your time yet.” With that, he turned away, his silver hair drawing a graceful arc in the air. He walked alone, like a solitary traveler, ending a long journey, finally returning home.

The white figure eventually disappeared into the dense darkness.

Joshua opened his eyes.

He saw an unfamiliar ceiling, white and obsessively clean. On closer inspection, the walls and floor were also white and spotless. White curtains filtered the morning light. The blanket covering him was also white, soft, and smelled of hospital disinfectant.

He tried to move, gradually regaining sensation in his body. A joyful voice came from beside him. “You’re awake?”

Alois was sitting by the bed. Seeing Joshua open his eyes, he immediately leaned in.

“Where are we? On the Lady of the Night? Milantu?”

“We’re in Milantu,” the young man replied. “In a Milantu hospital.”

…So, they had returned.

Joshua turned his stiff neck, noticing his right hand was tightly held by Alois, who hadn’t let go, perhaps never had.

Noticing Joshua’s questioning look, Alois coughed awkwardly. “Well… You were unconscious for almost three days. The doctor said to call him when you woke up.” He let go of Joshua’s hand and stood up, but Joshua grabbed his arm, making him sit back down.

“The doctor will do his rounds soon. A moment won’t make a difference.”

“Do you… need anything else? Want some water? Need your pillow adjusted?”

Joshua couldn’t hide his amusement. “I don’t need anything, except for you to stay with me.”

Alois blushed, stammering as he tried to change the subject to ease his nerves. “Uh, after we escaped in the fighter, the captain picked us up. She’s amazing. The Empire pilots were no match for her…” He paused, becoming incoherent. “Leo was so worried about you. He almost cried. I thought AIs couldn’t cry. And, and, Titia said when you’re better, she’ll invite us to her place for a meal. And, um…”

Noticing his hesitation, Joshua asked, “What’s wrong?”

Alois pouted. “Who’s Kester?”

“…What?”

“You kept calling his name while you were unconscious.”

Joshua nearly burst out laughing! But laughing would pull at his stomach wound, making him wince in pain.

“Oh, are you jealous? Because I didn’t call your name?”

“I… I’m not jealous.” Alois stared at the floor, feeling guilty.

“I’m sorry.” Joshua squeezed his hand. “Next time, I’ll only call your name.”

Alois fidgeted, “No next time!” he suddenly exclaimed. “Never again! I don’t want to see you hurt anymore!”

Joshua was taken aback.

“Do you know how it hurt me to see you injured?” Alois’s eyes reddened. “I’d rather be hurt myself than see you like that.”

Joshua paused.

“And what about you?” Joshua retorted, “Why did you let that bastard Gauss do that to you? Do you know how it pained me?”

“I did it to protect you! Should I have just watched him kill you?”

“I don’t need your protection!”

Alois widened his eyes, falling silent.

Realizing his hurtful words, Joshua quickly propped himself up and hugged Alois, nuzzling his cheek. “I’m sorry,” the assassin murmured. “That’s not what I meant. I just…” His thoughts raced, searching for the right words to comfort the young man. Damn it, he knew a thousand ways to kill, but comforting someone was beyond him. He just held Alois tighter, hoping his actions would convey his feelings. “I… I don’t want you to get hurt protecting me. You should know, in my heart…” He took a deep breath. “In my heart, you’re more important than anything. More important than my own life.”

Alois still didn’t respond. After a while, Joshua felt hands on his back.

A faint voice came from his embrace. “…Me too.”

When the Milantu hospital surgeon stepped into Joshua Planck’s room, he saw the patient and his companion locked in a tight, tender embrace. Usually professional and single to this day, the doctor couldn’t help but exclaim, “Public indecency! This is disgraceful! This is a hospital, not your home! Get out! Get out now!”

“Joshua’s not fully recovered yet. How can he leave?”

“Then the moment he recovers, discharge immediately! I never want to see you again!”

So, as soon as Joshua was well enough, the doctor kicked him out of the hospital. Alois borrowed a maglev car from Ibb to take him home.

“Celia said she’s throwing a party tomorrow night to celebrate your discharge.” Alois was practically drooling at the thought of Celia from the Lady of the Night cooking herself.

“Hopefully it won’t turn into a drunken revelry like last time,” Joshua said. “Besides, the doctor said I can’t drink yet.”

Alois, who was driving, turned his head. “I’ll make sure you don’t touch a drop.”

A few minutes later, the maglev car stopped at their door. “We’re here.” Alois got out, opened the door for Joshua, and slightly bowed, making an inviting gesture. “Welcome home.”

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