The Tribunal was located /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ in Deerhorn City at the southern edge of the Royal Capital, Rodel. Built upon Cangyuan Mountain, it overlooked the Starlight Coast.
Vieya and the others were presently in Fengxiang Town, the very southern border of human territory. From there, reaching Deerhorn City was simple: take a ship from the town’s port, sail up the Moon River northward, and in less than half a day arrive at the Starlight Coast.
On the way, Rania did not say much, only briefing Vieya on the general situation and a few points of caution.
Deerhorn City was vast, far larger than Fengxiang Town, which itself existed to resist monster incursions.
Yet, when Vieya stepped off the ship onto the Starlight Coast, she felt only a chill of emptiness.
The city’s harbor was filled mostly with rchant vessels; hardly any adventurers or civilian monster-hunting groups could be seen.
By the ti they disembarked, it was nearly noon. Rania seed to have brightened up, her usual sunny nature returning. She led Vieya into a restaurant nad “Madam Rice.”
The restaurant was much warr than the ferry.
On the way over, Vieya had tried to stand at the bow to watch the scenery, but soon found herself shivering unbearably. Even with the many buffs Rania had cast on her, her frail sli-girl body could not withstand it, and she had retreated into the cabin.
The familiar layout of the Starlight Coast, unchanged for years, reminded Vieya of when she used to bring her little disciple on ferries. Back then, she had been far less attentive than Rania. After one trip at the bow, the stubborn girl had nearly frozen half to death—yet Rania never made a sound of complaint.
Recalling such old mories brought a faint smile to Vieya’s lips.
“Miss Vieya, do you have any dietary restrictions?” Rania asked carefully, flipping through the nu.
“I do not eat anything with a bitter taste,” Vieya replied. She rarely compromised when it ca to food—unless there was no choice.
“And you can call by na. No need to add ‘Miss’ after it.”
“...Alright.”
Rania paused with the nu, thought for a mont, and then rattled off a string of dishes like a nursery rhy tumbling from her rosy lips:
“Then... one sweet-and-sour shrimp, one salted roe, braised fragrant sparrow, butter lamb... oh, and so pickled figs and blanched vine leaves.”
When the waiter carried off the nu, Rania poked her cheek in puzzlent, her violet eyes a little dazed.
“Very practiced, aren’t you? Do you eat here often?” Vieya asked calmly, in sharp contrast to the girl’s confusion.
These were exactly the dishes she used to order when bringing her disciple here, even down to the little side of pickled figs.
Rania shook her head, regaining her composure. “It has been years since I last ate here. Back in the Royal Capital, though, I often went to Madam Rice for lunch and dinner.”
“Don’t tell ...” Vieya fell silent for a mont before asking, “...you still cannot cook?”
“...”
The hand holding Rania’s cup froze. She stiffened, then snapped back with forced pride: “Heroes are very busy! We barely have the ti or energy for trivial dostic matters.”
“Is that so?”
“Of course!” As if afraid Vieya would not believe her, Rania lowered her voice: “I’ll tell you a secret. My teacher...”
“Your teacher?” Vieya frowned. “That strongest Hero?”
“Mhm.” Rania nodded repeatedly, then whispered: “Did you know? My teacher could cook rice, but even noodles ca out half-raw. They were unbelievably bad!”
She spread her small hands with a half-joking sigh. “What could I do? If the teacher was hopeless, the student could only follow along.”
“Heh. Let us eat first.” Vieya’s cold laugh cut her off.
Rania felt a chill run through her. Her chattering lips instantly closed.
—
Cangyuan Mountain was the second highest peak in Deerhorn City, second only to Deercry Mountain, said to have been ford from the horns of a deer-shaped demon.
Along the way, many recognized Rania.
Not only was she the sole disciple of that fad Hero once hailed as Humanity’s Number One, she herself was now one of the very few who bore a bestowed Hero’s na.
“Violet-sis, who is she? She’s adorable! Where did you trick her from? Why didn’t you bring along!”
Before they even reached the Tribunal, a girl ca running over, eyes wide as a rabbit spotting a carrot, staring at Vieya who trailed behind Rania.
“Can I hug her? Or at least shake her hand?”
“Shiyu, mind your manners!”
Rania’s tone held so exasperation. “Miss Vieya is an important figure related to yesterday’s incident. Once we reach the Tribunal, none of you are allowed to bully her.”
“Oh—oh?—oh!”
The pink-haired girl called Shiyu let out three long exclamations, each in a different tone and speed, even her gaze toward Vieya shifting with each one.
“Hello, hello~”
Twisting around to slip past Rania, the girl stood playfully before Vieya, one hand behind her back, the other extended forward. With that sly little smile on her face, Vieya could not help but think of a fox that had just stolen a chicken.
“I am Hua Shiyu. You may call Shiyu-sis, or Shishi, or Yuyu.”
Her smile did not falter. “But whatever you do, do not call Hua-girl. If you do, I will cry.”
“Hua Shiyu.” Vieya repeated rcilessly. You little brat shorter than my disciple, and you expect to call you sis? Keep dreaming.
“Call Shiyu-sis. Or Shishi. Or Yuyu.” The pink-haired girl insisted, raising a tiny fist. “Be good, alright~?”
“Enough!”
Rania’s forehead was covered in dark lines. She forced herself between Hua Shiyu and Vieya, even changing how she addressed her: “Senior Shiyu, have you finished your duties at the Tribunal? If so, then help us get our case arranged properly. Do not make things more complicated.”
“A trifle, a trifle.”
Hua Shiyu waved a hand, her deep crimson eyes narrowing like petals.
“But... it has been so long since I have seen Violet-sis care this much about soone else’s business. I am almost jealous~”
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