Two days later the entourage reached the bustling town of Carrelem with a load of goblin remains on their back.

Unlike in Lorem, there was no need to visit the guard tower for their identities to be verified. So other than getting an entry stamp at the gates for the transport of goods, the group was free to go.

As per the schedule, the entourage would leave Carrelem after restocking and head towards Eldom forest which they had to cross before reaching the final destination, Parthellam.

Fortunately for the gang, Chief Gallahan negotiated with the guard tower and received a hefty sum of money for the goblin extermination. The reward money was split two ways and distributed among the Tullus and Nero mercenaries.

And since the Nero mercenaries were less in number, each of them got a big cut.

"Are you sure?" Ann raised her eyebrows.

"I'm sitting next to it all day every day. So yeah. I'm sure" Eugene rolled his eyes.

Ann and Eugene were standing next to each other in front of the central carriage. Or to be precise, examining the Orion relic that they were tasked with guarding.

Ever since the goblin attack, the relic had been exhibiting suspicious behavior.

Crackling and vibrations were heard from the relic during travel followed by static noises from the inside.

As the person riding the same carriage as the relic, Eugene was able to detect the changes firsthand. But the problem was there were no distinctive patterns for when the relic would activate.

When Eugene expressed his concern to Ezra, he brushed it off stating that it was impossible.

"The relic was assessed by the Velven Royal mages for safety and stability of transport before being granted a certificate. Your worry is needless" were his passive words.

Something that laid dormant for centuries to activate at a simple goblin attack was far-fetched in his books.

But that was exactly Eugene's concern.

'Something that was dormant for centuries was bound to activate sooner or later!'

Thus instead of spending the hard-earned goblin money, he recruited Ann to appease his supposed hauntings.

"No matter how much I look at it..." Ann tilted her head with her arms crossed.

"It's just a big red shiny box"

"Then check again" Eugene urged her desperately.

He had definitely heard something though he had nothing other than his word to prove it.

"I've checked it like five times, baby. There's nothing there..." Ann shook her head and turned away.

The Orion relic was not a toy they could open up and explore for a number of reasons.

One, they were mercenaries hired to protect it. Not to vandalize the property.

And two, there weren't any latches or holes present to open and check.

Considering that there were not any kind of openings in the metallic box, the possibility of any lifeform surviving within the compact space for centuries was slim.

"Look at the size of my ears!" Eugene huffed, causing his long rabbit ears to perk up.

"Do you still think I'm delusional!?" He bellowed pointing at his ears.

"Whoa. Whoa. Chill out" Ann's leaned back in surprise.

'What is wrong with him. Did he eat something bad today?'

"Hey!"

Right then Noah interrupted them, wrapped his arms around Ann's neck. He casually rested his chin on her head and asked,

"What are we looking at?"

"Haaah..." Ann sighed.

"Eugene says there's something wrong with the box. Apparently, it's talking to him"

"What's it saying?"

Noah felt curious. The usually composed Eugene only ever had one flaw before Ann came along to add another.

It was the fear of the supernatural.

"Yeah. What's it saying?" Ann probed along. There was something off about him today.

For two years Eugene had successfully kept his fear of the unknown a secret from Ann. He was walking around eggshells hiding it from her.

But he had to consult her since there was no one else who had a better understanding of alchemized and magical artifacts aside from her in the group thanks to the influence of Axel Gilbert.

"It was rumbling like thunder or... or...or like an empty stomach" Eugene fell into thought and murmured,

"It's faint. But I can hear it"

"But I don't think there is anything concerning... Unless" Ann gasped as if she realized something.

"Unless what?" Eugene gulped.

"Unless the box is a gateway to another universe where flesh-eating monsters are sealed in. The monsters could feel your presence near them and are now out to get you to feed...." Ann spoke in a low taunting voice,

"While whispering in your sleep..."

"..."

The color drained from Eugene's face leaving behind a soulless pale rabbit.

"Pfft!... Haha"

Ann and Noah started trembling, unable to hold their laughter.

"Relax I was just messing with you" said Ann wiping the tears on the corners of her eyes. It was not every day that she got to see Eugene freak out.

"I really didn't expect you to believe me"

"So.. it's not true, right? You made it up"

"No... I was true about that theory. You know I'm always right at these kinds of things right?" Ann warned placing her hands on his shoulder.

"Flesh-eating monsters..." Eugene muttered, staring at the box that was half-covered with a tarp.

Ann bit her lips. The corners of her mouth started twitching uncontrollably as she lost control of her laughter. He fell for the same trick twice.

"Pfft! Wow... you're really that scared huh?"

She slapped her cheeks and shook her head to regain composure.

"Fine Fine. That was mean. I was seriously joking..."

Ann cupped Eugene's cheek and made him look at her.

"Eugene. Think about this. You are not afraid of the dark. You are afraid of what's in the dark. What scares you is the unknown" Ann looked away in the distance as she continued with a wry smile,

"The uncertainty"

"Now you sound like a wise person... That is so out of character" Noah applauded, visibly amazed by the intensity of her words.

"I'm always wise" Ann smirked.

"I doubt that..." Noah scoffed, earning a discreet punch in the gut.

"What I'm trying to say is that. Don't be spooked by something that is not there when you got people around you to be there"

"See"

Ann tapped the top of the relic.

*tap* *tap*

"There's nothing. Probably some ancient wacko trying to scare the future generation with a vacuumized chest"

"..."

Ann's consoling did not have any effect on him as he still seemed to contemplate on something. With no other choice left, she decided to pull out the ultimate weapon.

"Still not convinced?"

"..."

"If you're still scared. You are welcome to sleep beside me. Mommy will catch all the monsters in the closet for you" Ann ruffled Eugene's hair with a smile.

"I think I'm good" Eugene smiled awkwardly and throttled away.

"Now he's not going to be afraid of ghosts anymore"

Ann watched as Eugene walked away like a robot and disappear into the crowd of people. His complexion was better than before but he was still haunted.

Though he was not completely convinced, the shock from her latter suggestion was worse than an actual ghost haunting.

"You knew?" asked Noah pulling down the tarp covering the relic.

"He wasn't fooling anybody. I just pretended not to notice. If anything, it was cute"

"Hmm..."

Noah jumped down from the carriage and without a warning, started pushing Ann forward towards the streets from behind.

"Hey! Where are you taking me?"

"You'll see when we get there"

"Then let's just walk. Someone might think you're kidnapping me"

"Kidnap? You?" Noah twisted his face.

"Wha..."

Ann felt offended by his reaction. Yet she didn't know how to retaliate.

Before they left, Noah had beckoned the Tullus mercenaries to keep guard of the relic until they return.

'Where exactly are we going?'

Side by side the two headed towards the shopping district with Noah guiding the way.

The atmosphere in the town was just as lively as in Lorem. People were going on with their daily lives. There was a large fountain at the center of the shopping district with thrift shops surrounding it. The basic structure of most of the towns they had crossed during travel was the same with a few minor changes.

In two weeks' time they would have completed the job and be on their way back to Velven.

'I should look upon Mom and Dad before I leave. Time sure does fly fast' Ann was lost in her own thoughts.

Just as they were passing by the fountain, Noah's voice brought her back to her senses.

"So. Were you telling the truth?"

"About what?"

"There being nothing in the relic"

"Nope. I was lying. If I didn't say anything Eugene would've kept racking his brain about it. So I diverted his attention"

"Then the box?"

"To borrow the words so someone I know"

Ann stopped walking and faced Noah as she suggested,

"If you see a magical artifact that you're unsure of. 'Don't screw with it'. You never know which one goes nukemageddon"

"Who said that?" Noah stifled a laugh.

"A grumpy old man. I always thought he was a crackpot. Especially since he was always right"

Ann's words were interrupted by the sound of giggling.

"I think he is cute"

"I don't know. Looks like..."

Two village girls standing on the opposite side of the fountain were gazing at someone with admiration in their eyes.

"He just looked this way. Kyaa......."

"Look what he's holding. Is it for us? Kyaaa....."

'Who are they looking at?'

Ann followed their line of sight to find the person in question. And to her amazement, it was someone she knew.

'Oh my god?' Ann covered her mouth in utter shock.

"Noah!" Ann pulled Noah's sleeve and pointed at the person.

"Those girls. Pfft...!"

"They are what?" Noah raised his eyebrows.

"They are... Pfft!... They are talking about Eugene!"

The person at the receiving end of the loving gazes of the two girls was none other than, the invincible rabbit himself.

It was not only him. Raeden, Jade, and Oliver were uncharacteristically assembled in front of a flower shop.

Though all of them were a sight for sore eyes, the girls were fixated only on one person.

Ann crunched down holding her stomach.

"HAHAHA!"

The flowery background added ammo to his cutesy appearance making him sparkle like an...

"Angel" Squealed the ponytailed girl.

"I wonder what's his name?" Sighed the girl with freckles.

"But I don't want to ruin the moment...Haaah"

"Ahem, ladies... I may be able to help you with that" Ann cut in between them putting her hands on their shoulders.

"Hi. I'm Eugene's mother"

"You're his mother?!" The girls exclaimed in disbelief.

"Of course I am" Ann beamed.

"Now let me introduce the rest of the family. The handsome gentleman with the black jacket is Raeden. He is Eugene's godfather"

"The guy with the blue hair looking identical to the man behind me is Oliver. They are my siblings, Eugene's uncles. Say 'hi' to Noah too"

"Hi" The girls waved at Noah.

"Hello" Noah waved back.

The ponytailed girl hesitantly asked,

"Who's that?"

"Oh him"

For a split second, the girls saw a scowl on Ann's face before she swiftly masked it with a sweet smile.

"He's just the unwanted uncle crashing on the couch. Don't mind him"

But as soon as she finished speaking, Ann heard a low mocking voice behind her sending chills,

"The unwanted uncle had some words to say though"

Ann flinched and slowly turned around.

'How did they?'

The Nero mercenaries who were in front of the flower shop a mere second ago were gathered behind her.

Unable to handle Jade's intimidating gaze the village girls scurried away leaving Ann on her own.

"Jade. I was talking about Eugene's uncle who once lived on the couch in the living room"

"..."

Ann gulped and changed the subject.

"Why are we here again?"

Without answering her, Jade reached his hand behind as if to pull out a weapon.

"Here"

But what came out was a bouquet of yellow flowers. In fact, there were flowers in all of their hands each with a different kind.

While Jade had yellow roses, Eugene had white lilies, and the twins were carrying blue freesias. Raeden on the other hand was holding the queen of the night tulips.

"What is this?" Ann's mouth unconsciously fell open.

Since she had missed the flower distribution ceremony in Lorem, the Nero mercenaries decided to recreate the feel with a ceremony of their own and presented her with flowers.

"!"

Ann felt overwhelmed. Never in her wildest dreams had she ever had a bunch of extremely handsome beastmen surround her with flowers.

One of one the Nero mercenaries presented a bouquet of flowers to their dumbstruck colleague.

"It was Eugene's idea" Oliver bragged and kicked Eugene to the front.

"It wasn't!"

Eugene flushed red. He had suggested the idea to the others after he noticed Ann feel bad for missing the flower distribution ceremony. In any case, more flowers mean he could make more bookmarks for the children in the village.

"Awww... Baby!" Ann exclaimed, receiving the white lilies.

She realized this was why he had her distracted at the carriage sight while the rest of them went exploring the town. They were plotting a surprise!

Eugene felt ominous from the look on Ann's face. And he was right.

"Remember the snuggle session you promised?" Ann smiled passing the flowers in her hands to the twins and spread her arms wide.

"I'm cashing it in now. Come here"

"Save me" Eugene prayed to god and changed to his beast form.

As he stepped before her Ann hugged him to her chest overwhelmed with joy and patted his fluffy hair.

"I feel humiliated" Eugene grumbled, turning beat red till the tip of his ears.

"No, you don't"

Ann smiled, ruffling his bushy hair as Eugene continued to complain.