The Snake That Clung to the Bone

Not long after, Chiyome returned to Kaizu Castle. Looking at the vast city and the Takeda Clan's banner fluttering in the wind on the castle walls, the ninja who had just thought she had escaped death was somewhat lost in thought.

Without returning to the Mochizuki Clan or reporting information to the Takeda Clan, Chiyome arrived at the clinic somewhat dejectedly, and as before, she closed the door tightly.

Looking at the clinic where they had just been chatting so casually, Chiyome sat back down in her previous spot, pulling her legs up and hugging her knees.

"Sigh... did I mess up again?"

The clinic was silent, with slivers of light filtering in from outside, like a ray of light entering a snake's den. After an unknown amount of time, Chiyome felt a sudden pang of unease. She looked up and gazed at the gift she had just delivered in the corner.

Upon opening it, the yellowish snake skin reappeared before her. The familiar stinging pain, accompanied by suppressed agony, intensified her mental anguish several times over.

Bang! Chiyome slammed the wooden box shut without hesitation, which slightly lessened the searing pain in her bones.

"So, it wasn't because of this room. Yes, it's just an ordinary pharmacy."

The chairs in the pharmacy were very long. Bai Mo had prepared a long bench, long enough for Chiyome to lie down on, so that the patients could rest. Although the box was closed, the faint curse still lingered around her body.

But, let it be.

As if tasting bitter fruit, Chiyome quietly accepted the torment of pain. Gradually, she drifted into a dream amidst this suffering, unaware that Electric Current Push autonomously in accordance with her emotions.

A soft knock came from the wooden door, and Bai Mo opened the somewhat familiar door. Shi was still standing in the entryway, saying to him:

"Welcome back. Did you bring lunch from outside today?"

"Okay, the first step of processing is complete. Just peel off the skin and fry it a little more. Sorry, lunch might be a little late today."

Seeing Bai Mo's somewhat apologetic expression, Shi shook his head and said, "For me, being with you is enough. Since you're sure you'll come back, waiting isn't worth it, is it?"

Of course, I'm talking about lunch, since I eat because I'm looking forward to your cooking.

After speaking, Shi still had that gentle smile as she went to the dining room. After preparing the tableware and tea, the girl rested her chin on her hand, her gaze fixed on the busy figure in the kitchen.

This feels so good. It would be even better if I could take my shirt off.

Thinking this, without realizing it, she unconsciously swung her legs, her pure white cotton slippers bouncing like two rabbits.

Like a customer waiting for their meal at a Michelin-starred restaurant, Shi's gaze remained fixed on the kitchen, causing Bai Mo to unconsciously quicken her hand movements.

After a while, Shi used the last piece of pork tenderloin to roll up the rice in the bowl and ate it, then drank a sip of steaming barley tea and let out a satisfied sigh.

"That's great! I was planning to go to the library to read this afternoon, but now I just want to take a nap."

"You slept a bit too long, though it's nothing compared to before." Looking at the languid Shi, Bai Mo said somewhat helplessly, but Shi raised a finger and shook it, saying:

"It's just a time change, shifting your afternoon reading time to the evening. After all, you have to go to work in the afternoon, right?"

Bai Mo, who was washing the dishes, asked with some confusion:

"What does this have to do with my going to the clinic?"

The girl revealed a smug smile and explained to Bai Mo:

"I've recently been reading about the history of the gods, but due to the intervention of a certain outsider, there are some things I don't understand about the Greek Age of Gods."

I think he would be very happy to read with me at night, after all, what I have here is not some mythology, but real historical records.

Upon hearing this, Bai Mo paused in his actions, turned around, and said, "Is that so? I should have gone there sooner. By the way, was there a library here before?"

When Bai Mo arrived in Fuyuki from Greece, she also read a lot of Greece mythology and historical materials, wanting to understand how much impact her butterfly had made.

But so much time has passed, and countless years have gone by, that many of the stories have been completely altered beyond recognition.

After all, it's mythology, and he couldn't stand some of the wild parts. Even something Circe and his own one-night stand was fabricated.

When they met again, the whole world was at a critical juncture of life and death, so there was no time to reminisce.

Therefore, Bai Mo could only grasp the general outline of what happened after he left, since such things are inevitably influenced by the author's subjectivity, especially since it was the Age of Gods.

But if it's a book of the form, then it's not mythology, but a factual record.

Seeing Bai Mo's interested expression, Shi understood the angler's pleasure at watching the fish slowly swim towards the bait. She smiled and said:

"There's a lot you don't know. There's no rush. Someone else needs to see you this afternoon. I'm going to take a nap."

Hearing Shi's words, Bai Mo nodded. After watching Bai Mo finish cleaning the kitchen, Shi returned to her bedroom. A while later, Bai Mo placed her afternoon tea pastries at the door before turning to leave.

Bai Mo opened the door and entered the clinic directly through the back door. As soon as he entered, he saw Chiyome lying asleep on a bench. With his arrival, Chiyome's tense muscles gradually relaxed, and a gentle smile appeared on her lips.

Is this really nap time? Looking at her tired appearance, Bai Mo sighed softly.

I'm really exhausted, I should just take a nap.

A blanket was laid out, Bai Mo casually set up a Runes to conceal his senses before opening the door.

As patients came and went, the sunlight outside the clinic changed from the brilliance of midday to the colors of dusk.

After seeing off the patient, Bai Mo glanced at the pile of small items on the counter. His fees were very low, almost free for some impoverished people, and because of this, many patients would give him small gifts.

Almost all the doctors in the city had joined the Takeda Clan, leaving behind mostly incompetent quacks. No matter how serious the illness, Bai Mo would tell his patients it was just a minor ailment and cure them.

Just as he was about to rush to the market to buy some exquisite snacks for Shiki, a soft murmur came from the bench. Chiyome slowly got up, rubbed her sleepy eyes, and looked at Bai Mo sitting on the counter with some disbelief.

"You're awake? It seems you don't sleep very well usually."