Arknightcraft Modpack
Chapter 461: Almost Forgot One Thing
Neither Yelena nor Patriot had expected Steven to suddenly show up in a place like this.
That said, once they confirmed it really was him, the two of them lowered the weapons they had instinctively raised in alert.
After all, this guy had always been the sort to appear and disappear without warning. So seeing him suddenly show up out of nowhere doesn't surprise them anymore.
However, judging from the rare hint of awkwardness on his face, it was painfully obvious that he was here to ask for a favor.
Patriot might not have been able to read that expression clearly, but Yelena—who held very explicit affection toward Steven—saw right through him at a glance.
"Go on," she said. "What is it you want to ask me and my father to do?"
Her pair of pure white ears, already standing upright, twitched slightly—somehow looking even more perked than before. There was no hiding the curiosity of their owner.
"If you have something to say, then say it without hesitation," Patriot followed up. "The guerrilla fighter already owes you a favor."
After Yelena spoke, Patriot quickly understood the reason behind Steven's appearance. He fell silent for a moment, then accepted the request on their behalf before Steven could even speak.
Strictly speaking, it wasn't just the guerrilla fighter that owed Steven a favor—he personally owed him a debt beyond measure.
If it weren't for Steven, the precious daughter standing beside him wouldn't be standing here so healthy now. Even if she hadn't died on the battlefield, she would have been suffering endlessly, tormented by the cold.
So whether emotionally or logically, Patriot had no reason to refuse Steven's request—so long as it wasn't something unreasonable.
"Hey, your intuition is a bit too sharp, isn't it?" Steven scratched his head. "I haven't even said what I want yet, and you've already figured it out."
He truly didn't think he was that easy to read. How exactly had Yelena known he'd come asking for help?
"Then why are you here?" she asked.
"Obviously to ask you for something."
"Then say it already."
Yelena rolled her eyes at him. Since they'd already guessed correctly, there was no need for him to keep rambling. Steven's personality really was… oddly entertaining.
"Alright, alright, I won't be polite about it then." Steven got straight to the point.
"I don't need you to do anything special. Just… over the next few days, help keep an eye on the safety of a young Infected girl named Alina. She's an Elafia."
"…That's it?"
Yelena exchanged a glance with her father. They hadn't expected Steven to rush over so urgently just to ask for something like this.
Protecting someone—wasn't that exactly what he was best at?
Besides, if even Steven couldn't handle whatever danger might appear, then what kind of terrifying existence would it have to be?
"That's all," Steven confirmed. "She's the only one I care about."
"As for the reason… let's just say there are some complications that make it hard for me to act directly."
Steven narrowed his eyes slightly. He had a feeling that if he personally interfered, this event—like a cog in the machinery of fate—might never occur in the first place.
But that wouldn't mean it was truly prevented.
It would only mean that it was delayed, destined to happen later instead.
In that case, he would rather let this so-called wheel of fate turn as it was meant to.
Even without relying on his own strength, he still had ways to rewrite its ending.
Steven couldn't help clenching his fist when an image flashed through his mind for reasons he couldn't explain—
Alina, limbs torn away, blood soaking her chest, her body left in a miserable, broken state.
Whoever dared do something like that to that poor little deer girl… no matter who they were, no matter whether it was something destined to happen in the future—he would never forgive them.
"Well, that's not really a problem," Yelena said lightly. "Dad already accepted a commission from Talulah, so he won't be able to spare much attention. Keeping an eye on the girl you mentioned will probably fall to me."
The moment Steven mentioned the Elafia race, she'd already guessed who he meant—the other white-haired girl who was often by his side together with Talulah.
And when she connected that with Talulah suddenly saying she needed some time to deal with something she'd already decided on… Yelena felt like she could vaguely piece a few things together.
"That's fine. Having you is enough," Steven nodded.
"Just… help me keep a closer eye on her. If possible, don't let her leave your sight."
Patriot being tied up at the moment was only natural. With Yelena around, it would be enough to hold things together for a while. As long as they could stall, the other reinforcements he'd had in mind would have time to arrive.
After giving such a simple instruction, Steven turned around, looking like he was about to rush off again.
Yelena watched his back, hesitated for a moment, and almost called out to stop him—but in the end, she swallowed her words.
Just as her ears began to droop slightly, on the verge of resembling those of a lop-eared rabbit—Steven, who should have already left, suddenly turned back.
Without warning, he wrapped his arms around Yelena's slightly voluptuous body and planted a firm kiss on her fair cheek.
"Almost forgot about this," he said with a grin.
"Don't forget what you promised me."
Still unsatisfied and about to go in for a second kiss, Steven abruptly twisted aside, narrowly dodging a spear thrust from behind—Patriot's attack—before waving casually at the still-dazed Yelena.
And then, just like that, he vanished from the room.
It took Yelena a few seconds to come back to her senses.
Covering the spot Steven had kissed, her face burning red, she glared in the direction he'd disappeared and spat softly,
"Jerk…"
She muttered it under her breath—but the expression on her face was anything but one of disgust.
Instead, it was filled with unmistakable, girlish shyness.
Meanwhile, a certain Wendigo had witnessed the entire scene from start to finish.
From within the ram-skull mask, scorching white vapor burst forth, the visible rage seeming intense enough to melt the snowy plains themselves. His hand tightened around the spear.
He's going to stab that brat.
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Note: Character Illustration is in this Google Drive:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1iuyfwNVFHzIi9H4rWNT_lAm7jTSiah_M
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[1] https://www.patreon.com/collection/55713?view=condensed
[2] https://www.patreon.com/posts/152281351?collection=55713
[3] https://www.patreon.com/posts/152281351?collection=55713
[4] https://www.patreon.com/collection/55713?view=condensed