The Secret Code of Monsters.

Chapter 312: Home

"Hope" is a god that may fall at any time.

It rarely responds to the prayers of the helpless, and retreats when touched, leaving people with regret and pain.

But there are always some crazy ones, always giving to the unwelcome, extra lucky maggots...

Offer a coin.

A coin that can buy miracles in this age of gray and dust.

Perhaps the god named "Hope" will finally rest in peace.

But we won’t.

……

…………

"The Winged One."

The word pressed against Rose's throat like ice from the snow that had accumulated all night.

“…This is the first time I’ve discovered that you are not completely without artistic talent.” Shandel picked up the teacup and quietly looked at the mist rising in front of him.

"You have a lot of misunderstandings about me." Roland smiled.

"Stealing openly, huh?"
-
Thank you.

"You're plagiarizing."
-
But I also can't tell them that it was the talking voice in my head that gave me the advice, because that would make me look like a lunatic.

"…You think you are good in their eyes."
-
So, thank you?

"It is said that your distant aunt gave you some advice in the letter."

Roland: ...
-
Why do you insist on this?

"Because it's not you who was plagiarized."
-
I can also give you some good ideas to copy.

"You really have the nerve to say that."

Shandel and Rose obviously liked the name, and both of them looked at Roland with a new respect - mainly Shandel.

In fact, Rose was not much better than Roland in this regard.

"The winged ones, I like them."

Shandel shook the teacup: "The one with wings on its back."

"Or weaving a web," Roland said gently, "That's not the spider's fault, is it?"

Just as being blind is not the blind man's fault, being stupid is not Beatrice's fault.

"So the Christian name is also the Winged One?"

Facing Shandel's question, Roland pursed his lips and a low machine-like hum came out of his throat, resonating with his brain.

After seeking help from someone who had been plagiarized once and didn't want to be plagiarized a second time, Roland gave his own original work:

"Triangle of Hope, how about that?"

Shandel: ...

Rose: ...

Miss Snitch tutted, her face full of disdain: "If this name wasn't an imitation of the Holy Cross, I would cut off my hair and give it to you."

"Vansitate, watch your words," Shandel reminded him, then looked at Roland helplessly, "It seems that I have completely saved the money for the course."

The cult must not be called the 'Triangle of Hope' or the 'Quadrilateral of Redemption'.

Shandel couldn't really say it.

She pondered for a moment and offered her suggestion: "The Winged Ones, or - the Tea Party?"

She knocked on the three-tier cake tower on the table, which was filled with a dazzling array of fruits and various exquisite pastries.

"Monster Tea Party."

Rose's eyes lit up: "I like this name! 'Afternoon tea' at night, shadows on the wall reflected by the bonfire, a gathering of monsters! Maybe it can scare someone, what do you think, Roland, isn't it great?!"

Roland: "It's not something you came up with."

Rose: "That's not something you came up with."

Roland: "I also thought of 'winged ones'."

Rose: "I can think of that, but I'm in charge of the food."

Roland: "Then think about it now."

Shandel: ...

The two also said that there shouldn't be too many members to avoid endless noise and quarrels at night.

They were noisy enough.

Shandel didn't understand why they always argued over the strange things?
"—I don't want to think about it now, because Kratov has already said something that satisfies me!"

Roland curled his lips: "You can't think of anything worthy of praise."

The female thief tried to show that she had some talent by glaring and puffing out her chest: "I, I just need to use my brain a little bit - hey, I named the little candle!"

She finally caught the 'proof' and held a piece of bacon suspended in mid-air.

"Little Candle, Little Candle, you are satisfied with your name, aren't you?"

The white snake on someone's shoulder looked up at the bacon and turned back silently.

Rose: ...

Shandel: ... "Look." Roland suppressed his laughter: "Maybe she doesn't like it, but she just can't tell you."

Rose didn't believe it.

She called out a few times, but when the snake ignored her, she got angry and said, "I often feed you!"

Roland tilted his head: "Don't you like this name? Little Candle?"

The snake hissed a few times.

"I like it because my father gave it to me."

"Rose has fed you many times."

'She didn't buy it.'

“…You’re right.”

Green eyes began to blaze with anger: "What did she say?! Roland! What did she say?"

Roland didn't want to attack this young lady any further.

"She said she liked it..."

"You can't lie to me."

"Really, I'm sincere."

"If you want to be sincere, I'll cut off your hair—"

Where did you learn these dirty words?
Especially these strange and dirty words that are meant to hurt you even though the other person is lying.

Xiandel silently picked up the teacup and enjoyed a moment of 'peace'...

She has a home now.

A true home.

…………

……

Since Fernandez's injury is serious, Roland and Cinder's vacation may have to be extended to spring.

This is a good thing.

Because the salary is still paid.

Instead, Rose became busy.

She, Roland, and Taylor's shop was ready - the location was a two-story old house with a large area on the busiest cross street. Taylor bought it and hired someone to clean it.

Next, it was Roland's job.

"what are you waiting for?"

“Aged and mature.”

The second floor balcony of Collins Pharmacy.

Two idle people leaned on the railing and watched the big ants passing by on the street.

"W-what transformation?"

"Aging and maturing." Roland yawned.

Once a perfume is formulated and mixed, it is left to mature for days, weeks, or even months - allowing the different notes to blend and harmonize into a more complex, full-bodied scent.

After this step, it can be diluted, screened and officially bottled.

"Just a little longer. It will be quick, Rose."

He said.

“…What has that woman been doing lately?”

"Ring rise."

Rose was surprised: "She already wants the second ring?"

"Xandel is very talented."

"If I were as rich as she is, I'd be 'gifted' too."

Roland turned his head to look at the girl next to him.

She still had the same short curly hair that didn't reach her chin, and her green eyes narrowed slightly in the wind.

"You're rich now, too, Rose."

Rose said nothing.

It was not until she became a ritualist that she truly understood what the "ring" meant, and that she knew that wealth could not add to a person's innate "qualities" - she could feel the "coldness" in her soul, and knew that something was slowly passing away from her heart and soul...

Or set on fire.

She stared at the flames, watching them burn, but she could not change the intensity of the flames in the slightest.

It burns steadily, evenly, and slowly.

When her soul feels "warm", maybe it will be the time for the next step...

How long will it take?
Will Roland drift further and further away from her?

"You're going to upgrade your ring, too, right?"

(End of this chapter)