Skadi, My Wife

"I believe you, but..."

Swire's tone was strange. "If she's Skadi, then who is the Skadi I know?"

Nightingale froze, only then realizing something.

Right. If the Skadi by her side was Skadi, then who was the Skadi this Feline girl knew? Someone who looked exactly like Skadi and had been pretending to be her?

Could such a person exist in this world?

And...

Her gaze involuntarily fell upon Red Skadi's calm face, and an inexplicable sense of dread suddenly rose in her heart.

If that Skadi was real, then who was she?

Chen An Ran Off with His Big and Little Wives!

Unaware of what had happened in Lungmen, Chen An was currently fleeing across mountains and valleys with his big wife Skadi, little wife Exusiai, and Texas.

What, they weren't wives yet? Don't sweat the details!

Before dawn, Exusiai and Texas had followed Chen An out of Lungmen, carrying their packed luggage, their beloved guns, and the two new Guardian Guns Chen An had left for Exusiai as gifts. They had then walked through forests off the main road until now. Exusiai was completely exhausted.

"Wait, wait! Chen An, Skadi, stop walking for a second. Let us rest awhile."

Sweating profusely and gasping for breath, she set down her suitcase and flopped onto the ground.

Texas was much the same. She put down her luggage and sat on the ground without caring about appearances, resting there.

She might have been a warrior, but like Exusiai, she was built for agility. They had spent the better part of the morning and half the night hiking through the mountains, and more importantly, they had been carrying luggage. It was really tiring.

Come to think of it, what exactly was Chen An thinking? Sneaking away from Lungmen without a word was one thing, but why avoid the main road and keep drilling into the wilderness?

That was why they, who could only carry their suitcases by hand, had been exhausted in less than a morning.

Hearing Exusiai, Skadi, who was walking ahead, stopped. Chen An stopped after her as well.

Turning back to look at the two exhausted women, Skadi, who carried nothing but a guitar case, pursed her lips and shot Chen An a pleading look.

Skadi's strength and stamina were absurdly high. The weight of Exusiai and Texas's luggage was almost nothing to her. If Chen An had not kept stopping her, she would have stepped in to carry their bags long ago.

Incidentally, although she had no luggage, Skadi's burden was actually heavier than Exusiai's and Texas's—her guitar case was specially made. Besides the guitar, it also contained her weapon: an incredibly heavy greatsword.

"You should still go back."

Chen An, who was usually easygoing, remained unmoved by Skadi's plea. Looking at Exusiai and Texas, who were too tired to move, his expression was helpless, but his tone was firm.

"Skadi and I are going somewhere very far away. It isn't suitable for you to come with us. Especially you, Exusiai."

Chen An softened his tone and tried to persuade her earnestly. "Didn't you say that you worked at Penguin Logistics not just to make money, but because you wanted to learn the truth about how your sister was injured from a friend who also worked there? If you leave like this, wouldn't all the time you spent in Lungmen be wasted?"

"Quit nagging. Since I decided to come with you, I'm not taking it back."

After taking two deep breaths, Exusiai became inexplicably irritated. "Besides, I've already seen through Mostima. She was never going to tell me what I wanted to know. Otherwise, when I chased her from Laterano to Lungmen and even joined Penguin Logistics because of it, she should have told me the truth long ago. Since there's no hope of finding out anyway, what difference does it make whether I stay in Lungmen or not?"

Her voice grew louder and louder. Perhaps because she was angry, she suddenly seemed energized again.

She sprang to her feet and grumbled, "I was still hesitating a little, but since you really did leave me two Guardian Guns as gifts, then I guess I have no choice but to follow you around and protect you. I told Texas that I would... Ah, that has nothing to do with it. Mainly, you're useless. Outside isn't Lungmen. Without Lord Exusiai and Texas looking out for you, just relying on Skadi, you might get shot in the back someday."

For some reason, Exusiai's words suddenly became evasive, and the tips of her ears seemed slightly red.

Texas stood up as well.

Like Exusiai, she had weapons besides her luggage, though not guns. They were two swords—one was her own, while the other was one she had found in Chen An's house, which he had left behind as a farewell gift before departing.

Also, she did not actually have much luggage. More than half the suitcase was filled with Exusiai's things: game consoles, toys, and strange collectibles.

She had already made up her mind. If Chen An continued choosing to travel through forests, she would throw away the entire suitcase, keeping only her weapons and backpack.

Texas said flatly, "I don't know where you got it, but the sword you left me is an excellent sword. Even the best sword I've ever seen cannot compare to it. A sword like this would cost more than every reward from all the missions I've completed since joining Penguin Logistics combined. Since I accepted the payment, naturally I have to do my job well. Until I feel the payment has been settled, I'll protect you properly."

"Yep, yep."

Exusiai's eyes suddenly lit up, finding Texas's reasoning quite sound. She nodded repeatedly and agreed solemnly. "Even ordinary guns are expensive, or why would I still only have one gun by now? The guns you gave me are incredible stuff. I couldn't afford even one of them, let alone two."

As she said that, she could not help touching the two guns Chen An had given her, holstered at her waist. The feeling was strange.

She had inspected those two guns the moment she got them. Their construction seemed very different from the guns she knew, but they truly were extraordinary weapons.

They were powerful, had little recoil, could fire continuously, and did not even make a sound when fired. Exusiai had seen many guns, but never anything this good.

It was simply... simply like the guns made up by some Laterano writers, guns that supposedly existed only in stories, had become real. They were filled with the impossible.

Just as Texas had said, even if she saved every reward she had earned since joining Penguin Logistics, she could not afford such a weapon. She could not afford even one, much less two.

Exusiai had always thought Chen An was an ordinary doctor with impressive medical skills, perhaps also a great cook, who happened to have Skadi by his side.

But the moment she saw those two guns, she changed her mind.

Forget her—even Emperor, the boss of Penguin Logistics, could not get guns like these. Yet Chen An had acquired two of them in less than a day. How could he possibly be an ordinary person?

But Exusiai did not care. If Chen An said he was ordinary, then she would take it as true. Playing dumb was nothing difficult.

Exusiai declared confidently, "Working for anyone is still work. For these two guns alone, Lord Exusiai is selling her whole life to you."

After hesitating, she asked tentatively, "My dream is to own eight Guardian Guns. Even counting my old one, I only have three now. How about getting me a few more? Then I'll sell you my next life, and the life after that too?"

Wasn't this girl a little too greedy?

Chen An looked at Exusiai speechlessly and could not help shaking his head. He could indeed get more guns, but he had no intention of listening to her and finding her several more.

It was not because he was stingy. Even if he gave them to Exusiai, she would not be able to use them. She only had two hands; two guns were enough. Otherwise, Chen An would not have left her only two.

And...

He sighed often, speaking with emotion. "Good thing Emperor isn't here. Otherwise, if he heard what you two said, he'd think I poached his employees and come fight me to the death with that little pistol of his."

Exusiai complained, "Emperor's gun is just for show. It can only fire rubber bullets. Why would you be scared of him fighting you with that little pistol?"

Although its rubber bullets could shatter car windows, they basically could not harm people when fired at them.

Skadi knew Emperor. She had met him twice while she was with Chen An.

Thinking of that rock-loving penguin, she suddenly became curious. "Chen An, does penguin taste good?"

Exusiai: "..."

Texas: "..."

The two stared at Skadi in horror. She wanted to eat Emperor at the slightest disagreement? That took some nerve.

Chen An, meanwhile, answered seriously, "It's all right. If someone with sufficient skill cooks it, someone like me for example, penguin can be pretty tasty. But if the cook lacks skill..."

He glanced at Skadi, then turned away in disdain. "They can't even make dark cuisine. They'll just demolish the kitchen outright."

Skadi: "..."

She puffed out her cheeks, looking aggrieved.

It was not as though she wanted to be bad at cooking. The kitchen was just too flimsy, okay? Not only was the kitchen flimsy, everything inside it was flimsy too. If they had all been sturdier, how could she still be unable to learn cooking, accidentally breaking even a rice cooker while pressing rice?

Aggrieved orca crouching in a corner.jpg

Chen An could not be bothered with her.

She would not break bowls or chopsticks while eating or drinking, but the moment she entered a kitchen, she got fired up. She would not stop until she had torn everything apart, and she still had the nerve to feel wronged?

"Exusiai, Texas, I'll ask one last time. Are you really not going back? Skadi and I travel very differently from how you travel on missions. We go wherever the terrain is hardest. We haven't gone very far yet, so you still have time to regret this. As for the sword and guns you mentioned, those are gifts from me. They aren't difficult for me to obtain, so there's no need to care about their value."

Exusiai gritted her teeth. "Quit nagging. I said I'm coming with you, and I mean it. If the journey stays like this, then worst case, I'll throw away all my luggage and keep only my weapons and a few changes of clothes."

Texas said nothing. Carrying her suitcase, she walked over to Chen An's side.

Chen An: "..."

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something more, but seeing their determined expressions, he could only sigh helplessly in the end.

"I really don't know what to do with you two. Why are you as stubborn as Skadi?"

Walking over to Exusiai, he picked up her suitcase, then took Texas's suitcase too. Before Exusiai's stunned eyes and Texas's surprised gaze, he made both suitcases disappear into his dimensional space. Then Chen An walked ahead.

"Stop staring. Since you insist on coming, hurry up and let's continue."

After saying that, he suddenly could not help shooting Skadi a fierce glare.

If she had not secretly gone to tell Exusiai and Texas about their departure after he told her they were leaving last night, even telling them exactly when they would go, he would not be in such a difficult position now.

Skadi: "..."

She guiltily turned her face away, not daring to meet Chen An's eyes.

She only thought, I didn't ask them to come with us. They wanted to follow on their own.

Exusiai, All Bark and No Bite

Traveling through the forest was not actually difficult, because Chen An could always find a path.

If there truly was no path, then there was Skadi. She took her greatsword from the guitar case and hacked away with a flurry of blows. Forget trees and thorns—even if huge rocks blocked the way, she would carve a route through them as though they were tofu.

Exusiai and Texas, who had previously found mountain paths difficult, also felt traveling through the mountains had become much easier now that they were no longer hindered by their bulky luggage.

Moreover, unlike that morning, Chen An no longer stubbornly refused to let them rest in an attempt to make Exusiai and Texas turn back. He stopped for breaks every so often, making the journey even easier.

They traveled through the mountains like that, and before they knew it, night had come.

Once the sky darkened, they stopped traveling. The four set up camp beside a small stream in the mountains.

"We're going to bathe. If you want to watch, you'd better tell us in advance. If I catch you sneaking around, I'll beat you up."

After waving her little fist and fiercely warning Chen An, who was preparing dinner, Exusiai dragged Texas and Skadi to the stream to bathe.

It was called a stream, but it was actually quite broad, several meters wide. The water was not deep on average, but after looking carefully, they could still find places deep enough to cover a person to the waist—Exusiai and the others found such a spot.

Having found a suitable place, Texas and Skadi did not think much of it. They removed their clothes and entered the water.

The water was cool, and soaking their sweat-covered bodies after a full day of travel felt wonderfully refreshing.

Skadi, who loved soaking in baths most, submerged herself completely the instant she entered the water. Only the upper half of her head above her mouth remained visible, and bubbles rose around her with a gurgling sound.

Texas did the same, though not because she loved baths. She simply found it comfortable.

After soaking in the icy stream for a while, Texas noticed that Exusiai was still dawdling on the shore instead of coming down. She could not help finding it strange. "Exusiai, you were the one shouting about wanting a bath first. Why haven't you gotten in yet?"

"Well..."

Exusiai stammered for a while, glancing back toward the camp with slight embarrassment before saying awkwardly, "The camp is so close. What if Chen An really comes over later? I think I'd better wait until you two are done before bathing."

Was she embarrassed to get in because she was worried Chen An might take her earlier trash talk seriously and actually come watch them bathe?

Texas understood, but she was also speechless. Usually, Exusiai dared to say anything, casually spouting dirty jokes, yet when something might actually happen, she was more timid than anyone else. She was this innocent, and she still had the nerve to call herself a romance master?

Texas said irritably, "If you want to bathe, get in already. Keep dawdling, and Skadi and I might finish up and leave you to wash alone. If Chen An really comes over then, let's see what you do."

"Hey, how can you do that!?"

"So are you getting in or not?"

"You... Damn it, Texas, just you wait!"

Exusiai glared furiously at Texas in the water. Knowing Texas would keep her word, she hesitated again and again before finally enduring the embarrassment of possibly being seen naked, taking off her clothes, and entering the water.

Before getting in, she had been a little embarrassed. But once she was in the water and remembered that she had already taken off all her clothes, and that if Chen An really came over, it would be too late to regret it, Exusiai instead adopted a what-the-hell attitude and relaxed.

It was not as though he had never seen her before. When they went on vacation by the lake, had he not already seen almost everything? She was only missing a swimsuit now. Even if he saw her, it was no big deal.

Anyway... had she not already thought it through when she decided to leave Lungmen with him?

The more Exusiai thought about it, the more she felt there was nothing to fear, and her courage grew.

How dare you threaten me, Texas? Just wait until later!

After shooting Texas a contemptuous glance, Miss Exusiai, wearing an expression that said, "I'm super brave," hid herself in the water with great pomp and circumstance, revealing only half her face.

When Exusiai glared at her so fiercely, Texas had thought she was about to explode and curse her for being disloyal. Instead, Exusiai's next reaction was to hide in the water. Texas was truly impressed.

What a useless girl.

Not wanting to pay any more attention to Exusiai, who acted like an experienced seductress but was actually just all talk, Texas silently scooped up water and poured it over her shoulders to clean herself.

"...Skadi," she suddenly said.