After finishing the exploration of the ruins, Shade immediately felt much more at ease. After Miss Annette left, he too prepared to go home. At that moment, he dearly missed the adorable cat at home that was greedy, lazy, timid, and afraid of trouble.
First, he had to determine where he was. After leaving the Printing Factory, the three of them had jogged all the way to a spot one street away.
After walking a few steps along the low wall by the street, he saw the Silver Parrot Milk Delivery Company standing quietly amid the nighttime fog. Shade had encountered many things in this area. For instance, at the silverware shop at the next intersection, he had seen the Orthodox Church capture Ring Arcanists from the Blood of Mercury. In the alley diagonally opposite the milk company, he had also discovered the statue of the Old God, Vampire Duke Lawell.
"The alley where the Blood of Mercury hid the Old God statue is a dead end, so it's actually quite far from that Printing Factory but so close to the milk delivery company. What a coincidence."
He thought to himself, looked around, and walked toward the hired carriage parked at the intersection. The coachman sat alone on the driver's seat, smoking. The faint glow of his cigarette ember flickered in tonight's fog.
When he returned to Saint Derain Square and took out his key to open the door, an uncontrollable smile appeared on his face. Though the entry hall was pitch-black, the familiar feeling of home put Shade in an excellent mood. Then he heard Mia running down the stairs, which made him even happier.
"Oh, my Mia!"
He bent down and picked up the soft cat. The tiny orange cat meowed happily, rubbing the fluffy side of her