Chapter 45: Comfortable Discomfort

"Are you sure you’re alright?"

Andeen tilted her head as she looked at him, sensing the difference in his behaviour and energy through the vibrations around him.

She couldn’t discern whether he was worried or confused, but she knew something was wrong.

Cashel looked away from the screen. All three were staring at him. Nina looked ready to attack whatever had caused his strange reaction, while Olga’s eyes were as dark as the night sea. And finally, Andeen. She looked calm as ever, but one wrong thing and she’d be acting instantly.

He smiled and shook his head. "It’s nothing," he said, carefully dismissing the screen. He rubbed the back of his neck, trying to sound calm. "Just my System being a little off. It actually recorded my mission beforehand."

Just like before, but this time he found it annoying and strange.

Andeen blinked, her fogged-over eyes tracking the sound of his voice and the vibrations with keen focus. "If that’s the case... then you have nothing to worry about. It does that. Many other things aside from normal notifications."

"Honestly?" Cashel muttered, grabbing the knife and slicing a generous wedge from the first tier of the cake. He placed it on a plate and handed it to her first. "It’s strange, but I kind of like it. Keeps me on my feet." ℯℯ𝑙.

’Annoyingly.’

Nina practically vibrated on the ground as she scooted closer, her eyes locked onto the layers of cream and ice cream. He served her next, then Olga, who stared at her slice like she was looking for something.

"Too much sugar," she noted, yet forked a piece into her mouth.

Cashel sat back down on the floor, leaning against the couch beside Andeen’s legs. He then looked at the television and the news playing at a low volume.

"That reminds me... We need to start packing."

Nina paused with a massive forkful of cake halfway to her mouth. "Packing?"

"We’re moving," Cashel said smoothly. "All of us. Andeen’s transfer went through."

Nina blinked, then immediately looked up at Andeen. Olga raised an eyebrow, though her hand remained firmly wrapped around her fork.

Andeen raised a brow as well. "How... no, why are you saying that?"

"Your higher-ups didn’t call you?" Cashel asked, already thinking of a way to cover up or even resort to calling Nathan or Amia for help.

Andeen shook her head. "They did, but that was before you came. How do you know about that?"

Cashel just smiled. "Got information from a rather reliable source."

’And Lionface actually wasn’t lying.’ he thought, taking a bite of his own cake. The sweetness was a subtle distraction from the incoming migraine behind his eyes. He looked up at Andeen, hesitating for a fraction of a second before deciding to talk.

"So, you might have heard this, but I’m involved with BMM too."

Andeen didn’t look surprised. She merely took another bite of her cake and nodded. "I know you do part-time contracting work for them, honey. General Rain told me when you offered to join us for the last dungeon raid."

"No, that’s different, and it actually applies only to ARM and SAMD," he corrected. "I’m actually deeply involved. I signed a contract, I have an alias, supplies, and apparently..." He chuckled softly. "My boss probably likes me."

That made Andeen freeze. Her brows furrowed deeply, her face twisting with worry.

"Cashel... BMM is a Black Market organisation. If your involvement runs that deep, it creates a massive conflict of interest. SAMD and the Military Alliance tolerate independent contractors, but if the higher-ups suspect you’re tethered to BMM’s inner circle, you’ll be flagged as an enemy of the state."

Cashel just shrugged, utterly unbothered as he leaned his head back against her knee. "They don’t have to know. Only a few people are aware of my involvement with them. I’m only telling you because I wouldn’t want to come across you on a mission and have to explain why you shouldn’t attack me."

Andeen was silent for a moment. The thought of encountering her husband on an actual operation clearly wasn’t one she liked.

She pursed her lips. Her hands instinctively reached out to brush a strand of hair from his forehead. "If you’re that deeply involved, then shouldn’t the BMM leader have asked about Nina and Olga?"

"Well, not particularly. I haven’t been asked, and not everyone knows I am Cashel. The Hunter Association only made it known that Andeen’s husband awakened, and only a few know that I am a part-time hunter with all three. My deployment is focused on dungeons and rifts."

He smiled. "Still, once they know Nina and Olga are here to stay, then you’d have three of us within BMM."

Andeen frowned, while Nina nodded frantically beside him.

Cashel chuckled softly. "Don’t worry too much. We’ll be fine. And besides, you get exclusive protection from an Assassin."

"That’s not funny, Cashel."

"Heh."

By the time they finished eating, cleared the dishes, and took a short nap, it was already evening. The sheer physical and mental exhaustion of the day finally caught up to everyone, particularly Cashel.

The sky outside had turned a deep, bruised navy, and heavy downpour battered the windows.

Cashel took charge of closing the doors and windows and activating the alarms.

Then he led Andeen to the bathroom first, adjusting the water temperature to a soothing, steamy warmth. He helped her untangle her hair, guided her through her evening routine, and laid out her nightwear for her.

Next came Nina and Olga, who were both practically waddling from their food coma. He herded them through the shower and bath, also laid out clothes for them in the spare room, and made sure they were comfortable.

While they settled in, with Andeen deciding to meditate in the other room, Cashel went to work in the kitchen. He saved the rest of the cake and organized the groceries into the fridge. He grabbed a marker, scribbled a quick mental note to pull all the empty boxes from the basement the next day, and finally cleaned the kitchen. He moved his weapon case to the closet by the door.

Exhausted, he dragged his feet toward the main bedroom.

He moved Andeen’s staff from the bed to the shelf above the headboard. He took off his clothes, had a short bath, and got into bed, letting out a long, pathetic groan as his body sank into the mattress.

’Finally, sleep....’

He had barely finished the thought when his eyes shut on their own.

A few minutes later, just when sleep had finally decided to grace Cashel, the bed dipped violently. Cashel opened one eye.

Nina was climbing over him like a cat. She was wearing the baggy gray sweatshirt that swallowed her body. She then flipped directly onto his chest, burying her face into the crook of his neck.

"Ninaaaaa," Cashel grunted, but his voice was muffled against her hair. "What are you doing? Your room is down the hall."

"I’m not staying there," she mumbled, her voice low and calm since she was sleepy. "It’s cold and dirty, and Andeen said we could share with you two."

Before Cashel could protest, the bedroom door opened again. Andeen walked in, guided by the familiar layout of the room and the vibrations acting as a contour for her, followed closely by Olga, who was holding two spare pillows.

They were both in white nightwear, a pair of shorts and the oversized shirt Andeen loved so much. In short, Nina was the only one dressed differently.

"The other room hasn’t been cleaned up before they arrived," Andeen said calmly, sliding into the left side of the bed reserved for her. She pulled the quilt over her lap. "They can’t sleep there."

Olga silently claimed the right side and settled in without asking for permission. "I won’t be able to sleep properly in that room while you enjoy a well-lit and comfortable bedroom."

"You should have said so earlier," he complained, but none of them answered.

Cashel just stared at the ceiling in silence, aside from the soft breathing sounds from all three. He was pinned under Nina’s weight, flanked on both sides.

’More reasons to get a new house,’ he thought with a heavy sigh.

The house was definitely too small. And with what the System had shown him, Cashel had a gut feeling it was only going to get smaller.

Too tired to argue, Cashel closed his eyes and let his exhaustion take him.

However, hours later...