The man in old robes had been staying at this shabby inn for days. He had intended to eat lunch as usual, but while descending the stairs, he unexpectedly spotted a very familiar figure by the wall.
"Long time no see, Mr. Watson."
Shade, who had been reading the newspaper with his head lowered, heard someone greeting him in oddly accented Kartherian Language. The moment he looked up, he saw the man pull over the wooden chair opposite the table and sit down beneath the light of the kerosene lamp on the wall.
Very short eyelashes, unusually lively black eyes, an old brown robe from the desert regions, and bluish stubble that was probably longer than his hair.
"Mr. Xiao En Asmon?"
Shade was startled. He had not expected to run into him again.
"Yes, Mr. Watson. I am very pleased to encounter you once more in a strange city."
The Demon Scholar set down his notebook and gave Shade his signature strange smile.
Though that expression was peculiar, it was not Shade's first time seeing it. Besides, he was quite happy to meet an old acquaintance in Kasonlik:
"Mr. Asmon, how did you end up here? First Coldwater Port, then southeast to Middlesburg, and now you've actually turned back southwest and come here."
"Of course, to continue searching for legends of Demons."
He still wore that smile that did not reach his eyes, his scalp nearly gleaming beneath the dim yellow kerosene lamp.
"Besides, Mr. Watson, have you not appeared here as well?"
"Yes, yes. To celebrate this unusual reunion, let me buy you a drink."
As he spoke, he called over the somewhat absent-minded fat waiter, who was twice Shade's size. Mr. Xiao En Asmon did not stand on ceremony with Shade. After ordering himself a mug of