Chapter 113: The City Beneath the Shadow of War

You could see it easily even from here.

It towered above the other buildings, grand and commanding.

Nothing about it felt calming.

If anything, Victor could feel the opposite.

Tension.

It felt like it was hovering about the palace like an unseen fog.

There was no way it was a normal occurrence inside those walls.

Victor looked at him for a moment before turning away without a word.

This is what war does.

The thought came to him without warning.

It transforms even the most stunning places into nothing but ruins.

A town did not have to be ablaze to be in pain.

Sometimes, all it took was fear.

Fear could empty streets faster than fire.

It could close businesses.

Separate families.

Turn neighbors into strangers.

And ensure that each and every soldier is a threat to every single average man.

Victor continued walking.

For a while, he said nothing.

There wasn’t much to say anyway.

The city spoke for itself.

Finally he could also smell the fresh baking.

It was faint at first.

Then it grew stronger.

Victor was on the trail when he finally saw an food stall between the older construction.

Surprisingly, it was still open.

The stall itself was simple.

A wooden counter.

A small cooking fire.

Several baskets filled with pastries.

The vendor is selling dried meats on a rope attached to his back.

Nothing about it was special.

And in the city that seemed to be dying more and more, the modest booth felt like home.

Victor stopped.

Behind the counter stood an old man.

His hands were inexpert and seasoned beyond their years, well used and telling of their stories without need for a word. Years had been hard on this man.

His face was covered with fine lines.

But what drew Victor the most were his eyes.

They looked tired.

Not merely from age.

There was worry sitting behind them.

A brief look at Victor, a forced smile.

Young Master, do you wish to make a purchase?" he asked.

His voice was polite.

But there was exhaustion underneath it.

I’ll take the tiffin from the man. He moved down to p.7 to be able to see the other patrons sitting in the outside queue. Victor scanned the food at the stall.

Temporarily he considered only preparing a few dishes.

There was no need to take everything.

And then his eyes caught the sight of the old man.

The man’s exhausted expression stopped Victor in his tracks.

It appeared he had been there all morning. He was wearing well-worn clothing, and his hands moved sluggishly, as if they had been put out to work too long a time.

Victor quietly sighed.

"Yes."

He pointed toward the stall.

"I’ll take some of everything."

The old man froze.

His eyes widened in surprise.

"Everything?"

Victor nodded.

"Everything."

Opening his hand, he extended a coin and dropped it into the greedy old hand. Without a word he withdrew his hand.

"Keep the change."

The old man stared at the coin.

He paused for a few seconds like he didn’t know how to respond.

Then he hurriedly shook his head.

"Oh sir, this is way too much. I... I can’t..."

Victor waved his hand dismissively.

"It’s fine."

The old man’s lips trembled slightly.

He bowed himself down seven times.

"Nice. Thank you. Thank you so much, young sir."

He quickly began packing the food.

One basket after another was filled.

Victor simply stood nearby and waited.

Something oddly satisfying in seeing the weariness in the old man’s face soften.

When all was packed away, Victor carried the baskets.

Then a weak spark of spiritual energy shot through his palm.

The food disappeared into his storage ring.

The old man gazed and then averted his eyes quickly.

Victor gave him a small nod.

Then he turned and left.

He was not going to be wandering around the city.

Having wandered the streets for some time, he decided he had enough.

Approximately one hour later, Victor went back to the house.

---

By the time Victor returned home the sun was already setting.

The mansion was quiet, but he could feel the presence of his family inside.

He entered through the front door and into the main hallway.

Anna was sitting at a table with a book in her hand.

Her black hair flowed over her shoulders.

Red eyes trained on the pages.

The F-cup breasts of a beautiful girl were crushed against her black robes with red petals sewn onto them.

Clara was at her side, they were rifling through some herbs.

Her purple hair shimmered in the candlelight.

Her purple eyes sparkled with intelligence.

E-cup breasts, heaving with every exhale.

Rias was at the window, her red eyes watching at the horizon.

Her red hair was like fire.

Her D-cup-sized breasts were flattened against the inside of her red robe.

"Victor, you’ve returned," Anna said, gazing up with a sincere smile.

"I brought some food with me." Victor said, opening the baskets in his storage ring.

The women stood around as he set the food on the table.

A mixture of fresh baked goods and dried meat permeated the atmosphere.

" You went to the city?" Clara asked, purple eyes wide with interest.

"Yes," Victor said.

"And I learned something important."

Lane and Skyla exited the kitchen and smiled when they saw him.

"Young Master!" Lane called, running toward him.

"You’re back!"

Her black hair bounced with each step.

...while her E-cup tits shifted back and forth beneath her black mocker.

Skyla followed, her green eyes bright.

"We missed you."

Her blonde hair shimmered.

Her D-cup breasts was pressing against the green robe.

Victor smiled and hugged both of them.

"I missed you too."

Victor looked on without comment as the women ate the food he had supplied.

All three of them were beautiful in his/her own way.

Anna, his mother, was attired in a form-fitting black surcoat embroidered with red petals that circled her narrow waist.

"Her biggest weakness." The red sash accentuated the fragile curve of her peach-shaped hips.

How long is her hair? It is hanging down to her back, like a black waterfall of moonlight.

Although she was eating her red eyes were warm but Victor knew that the concern was simmering under the surface.

Clara (His aunt) was dressed in a purple robe embroidered with white petals and worn over silk.