Nothing's Wrong; Sumeru Doesn't Have Any Normal Women Either

The scorching heat of the journey faded from the yellow sand. The layers of mountains around Aaru Village blocked the desert's fierce winds, and a clear stream flowed below the village. Date palm leaves swayed gently in the breeze, and the village was cut off from the vast, barren desert outside, sustaining the people who lived in this corner of the desert.

Dehya led Xingsu and the Blazing Beasts mercenaries, all of them covered in dust from their travels, through the village entrance. Candace, who was standing guard at the entrance to Aaru Village, stopped wiping down her polearm. Her eyes of different colors held the cautious gaze unique to a guardian as she looked toward Xingsu.

"Dehya, why have you brought a stranger to the village today? People from the Akademiya and the Fatui have been searching the desert for outsiders lately." Candace's voice was gentle, but carried a seriousness that left no room for being brushed off. Her gaze settled on Xingsu's unusual eyes.

Dehya casually rested one hand on her hip. Her fitted waist accentuated her lean, taut figure, and her clearly defined abs stood out beneath the desert sun.

But she herself didn't care in the slightest about her appearance. In a carefree tone, she said:

"You know Cyno, right? The Great General Mahamatra. He vouched for that young man. He's crossing the desert now, heading for the northern ferry. Caravan Ribat's become completely off-limits, so I thought I'd put him up in Aaru Village for a night to rest.

"And people from the city sure are generous with their money." Dehya discreetly held up a number with her fingers. Judging by Candace's slightly astonished expression, it must have been quite a sum. "There's nothing much going on with the young lady's side lately, and he's also a scholar researching Eleazar. All things considered, let him stay here for a night."

Candace fell silent and considered it for a moment. She glanced at Dehya beside her, then at Xingsu. Finally, she slowly lowered her polearm and stepped aside, clearing the way to the homes inside the village.

"If Dehya vouches for him, I'm willing to trust him. But if I find him doing anything to harm the village, I'll drive him out immediately."

She pointed to an unoccupied, detached house deeper in the village:

"That house is usually used to shelter desert travelers who've lost their way. It has clean water and dry rations ready inside, so you can stay there for now. I'll tell the villagers on patrol to deliberately avoid that area and cover your tracks."

Dehya breathed a sigh of relief and patted Xingsu on the shoulder:

"You're in luck. Aaru Village is one of the few places in this desert willing to take in people in need. Get some good rest and recover your strength, then we'll continue our journey."

With that, she turned and winked playfully at Candace. "Thanks, Candace. I'll bring you some more food next time I visit."

The sun sank beyond the vast desert, and the scorching yellow sand finally shed the heat that had seared it all day. An evening breeze swept grains of sand past Aaru Village's earthen walls, bringing the coolness and quiet unique to desert nights.

There were only a few lights in the village. The bustle of daytime had faded, leaving only the gentle sound of flowing water drifting through the air.

Xingsu lay on the simple, hard bed in the guesthouse. The bedding still felt dry and gritty with sand, and he tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.

So he simply got up and gently pushed open the wooden door.

The cool night breeze blew against his face, dispelling the stuffy air inside. Aaru Village was especially peaceful beneath the night sky. Its earthen walls, date palms, and winding irrigation channels took on gentle outlines in the hazy moonlight.

"I should ask Candace and Dehya about the desert. I know very little about it, having spent my time in the Akademiya's insular environment. Hmm... though Candace doesn't seem to be here."

Xingsu looked toward the village entrance. The figure that had stood there during the day was gone. Given his special identity, and the fact that he didn't know where to look for her, he decided to turn back to the little house where he was staying.

Just as he took a step, two familiar voices suddenly came from the stone house next door, where a faint light was shining. They were Candace and Dehya.

"Oh, don't be shy, Candace. Just give it a try. It's not like you'll lose a piece of flesh."

"Dehya, even though we're very close, something like this... you shouldn't force me."

"Come on... I just learned how to do this. It'd be a shame not to try."

Xingsu: ???

Was this something he was allowed to hear?

Should he hurry up and leave?

After one second of fierce inner struggle, Xingsu decided to investigate, true to a scholar's pursuit of the unknown!

"If I don't go to hell, who will?"

"Don't... Dehya, that tickles."

"Just bear with it a little longer. It'll be done soon!"

"Doesn't this look a little strange?"

"How could it!" Dehya took out a small mirror. "Look, it's beautiful! This is high-end stuff I got from Boss Dori. What do you think? Not bad, right?"

"Honestly, if you really want to be nice to me, bring more food next time you visit. Food is always in short supply in Aaru Village."

"I know, I know. You're the same, always thinking about everyone in Aaru Village. You never think about yourself."

"..."

So they were just putting on makeup?

He'd thought it was some kind of knowledge he couldn't learn elsewhere. What a letdown. He was leaving.

"Who's there?"

"Stop!"

Two voices suddenly came from behind the door.

Oh no! He'd been discovered!

What should he do?

Calm down, Xingsu. There had to be a way to get through this.

First of all, he absolutely couldn't panic.

There was no way he could run, so he had to act as if nothing had happened.

Xingsu walked to the door and gently knocked. "It's me, Xingsu."

Dehya opened the door and looked at Xingsu with a slightly scrutinizing gaze:

"It's so late. Why aren't you resting? What are you doing here?"

Then why were they putting on makeup so late at night!

"I can't sleep, so I wanted to ask you about the desert. I suppose I count as a scholar, but I know very little about the desert."

"May I ask if it's difficult for you to obtain food? I often hear that the various desert tribes are in turmoil, but Aaru Village is peaceful and quiet. May I ask how you manage that, Miss Candace?"

Candace came out of the house. She had heard Xingsu's question, and after thinking it over briefly, she answered:

"I never use brute force to drive out every outsider indiscriminately. I've established simple rules that must not be broken: once you enter Aaru Village, you have to put aside private feuds and grudges. Whether you're Eremites who've gotten into a dispute or travelers who've been driven to flee, as long as you don't harm the villagers or damage the irrigation channels and farmland, you can stay here for a while. A peaceful environment naturally gives us the chance to develop agriculture. But the desert environment... as you can see, even Aaru Village can barely get by."

Candace raised her hand toward the polearm leaning against the wall. "If anyone tries to seize the water supply, oppress the villagers, or bring the fighting outside into the village, I'll step in to stop them. I won't start a conflict, but I've never been afraid of one, either. The desert tribes are mostly in turmoil because they fight each other for scarce water and territory. Aaru Village has upheld the principle of distributing water fairly and established clear boundaries, so disputes naturally have a hard time spreading here."

Dehya added from beside her, "Besides, all the Eremites throughout the Land of Lower Setekh know that picking a fight with Aaru Village's guardian isn't worth it. Over time, no one's been willing to come here looking for trouble."

Xingsu nodded and thought for a moment before praising her. "I see. Thank you, Miss Candace. Your character shines like a pearl in a crown. If I get the chance, I'll bring food to visit the children of Aaru Village."

With that, Xingsu turned and left, though for some reason his steps grew faster and faster as he went.

"He seems different from those great scholars from the rainforest."

"It does seem that way. But I feel like I've forgotten something..."