The Greed of Kronos

Welcome Aboard

Sixty-eight: Welcome Aboard

The moment Kronos got back to the dorm, it was already time for dinner. And even before he could even go inside, he could hear the chatters and waves of laughter coming from the dining hall as usual.

Feeling hungry, he stopped by and joined the meal. Kronos expected for them to interrogate him, but they were unexpectedly quiet as if they didn’t want to pry. But Kronos still prepared himself if ever Asisi would ask as he was the only one who’s brazen to ask anything.

However, even after they got to bed, no one asked. Even his roommate Astian acted normal and did not pry with his business at all. Hence, they both slept without Kronos knowing what their epitropi was and vice versa. Although Kronos was not concerned about it since Astian would talk if he would feel like it.

And it seems like Kronos was actually telling the truth. While he was trying hard not to make a noise while preparing to get out, Astian, who was a light sleeper, got up and called for him as he was half-asleep. “Kronos?”

Hearing this, Kronos flinched as he looked back to see Astian, who was hugging his pillow while his eyes were closed. “Yes?”

“Are you going somewhere?” Astian asked in a sleepy tone of voice. He forgot to ask Kronos about the epitropi. That was why he must fight with the drowsiness to know about Kronos’ epitropi.

“Yes,” Kronos replied.

With that being said, Astian then remembered what Sir Samael told him yesterday. Hence, he asked to confirm his suspicion while nodding off. “With the crown prince, Eros?”

Come to think of it, even if Eros was widely known as Anastasius, Astian still called him Eros back when he greeted him. Was it because his family was the powerful family only second to the imperial family?

Thoughts aside, Kronos then continued stuffing some of his things on his luggage as he replied. “Mn.”

Come to think of it, he does not know the other kid’s epitropi. Hence, even before Astian could speak, he immediately added. “You?”

“Oh, we will be going to the public library and will be retrieving a relic,” Astian mumbled as he was still nodding off while hugging Kronos’ pillow.

The amazing thing was that Astian still managed to have at least a sense of answering questions very well, even though he was sleepy as hell. Because their epitropi is connected to the Imperial family. They have been very careful not to take it as a light topic. Which was why Kronos never heard of anything when he arrived from the student council office.

Kronos, on the other hand, was still packing as he replied. “Relic?”

With that being said, Astian then replied as he was still in the state of dozing off any second by that moment. “A relic that belongs to the imperial family~ They stole it on some certain pretext that Papa won’t say.”

Even if he came from a ducal house, because there’s equality in the Academy, he could not use the status that he had ever since he was born. Had he known then, Kronos would also know at that moment.

But it was not crucial to Kronos. After all, Astian’s well-being was his top priority. “I see. Take care, then.”

“Of course, I will,” Astian mumbled.

After that was silence. Because Kronos was focused on packing his things, he did not notice that they were already not talking. But for Astian to prevent from sleeping even before he could send Kronos out, he needed to speak to him.

That was why after a moment of silence, Astian asked a question. “In any way, how long is your epitropi going to take?”

With that being said, Kronos then pondered for a moment before answering. “I don’t know.”

It might be long, but no one actually knows how long it would take. A week? Two weeks? Kronos could not say anything in regards to the duration of his epitropi.

Hearing this, even though Astian was struggling on not to sleep, the gloomy tone of voice was still apparent that it was hard for Kronos to ignore it. “Then I will be alone for the next few days.”

“You can bring Yohan and Ajax here to keep you company,” Kronos replied as he finished packing and then went towards Astian to push him back to laying down.

When Astian was laid down, he nodded with his eyes half-closed as he looked at Kronos. “Yeah, I’ll definitely do that.”

“Take care without me,” Kronos replied as he gently caressed Astian’s hair.

“Of course! Take care too.” Kronos’ action made Astian to feel even more drowsy to the point that he could not seem to control himself anymore.

But it was actually what Kronos wanted to happen. He noticed that Astian was only fighting back not to sleep. That was why he’s putting him off to sleep by caressing his hair. “Go back to sleep. It’s still early.”

Regardless of that, Astian remains stubborn as he mumbled with a scowl and his eyes fully closed. “No~ I want to send you off~.”

“It’s alright. Sleep.” Kronos replied as he insisted.

And because Astian could not take it anymore, he did not resist, and then in a split second after responding to Kronos, he went back to sleep. “Okay then.”

With that, Kronos stared at Astian for a long time before getting out of the dorm together with a piece of luggage and a bag of money.

When he arrived at the entrance of the dormitory, Eros was already there waiting for him.

And when Eros spotted Kronos walking towards him, he waved his hand and greeted the latter. “Good morning, my dear best friend.”

“Morning.” Kronos simply replied as he took a glance at Eros’ belongings.

He had two suitcases with him that made Kronos to feel dumbfounded. Are they on a one-month trip or something? What’s with the two pieces of luggage? Is the other one for a dead body?

While having those thoughts, Kronos snapped back to reality when Eros leaned closer to him and replied in a playful tone of voice. “Did you bid your goodbye well~?”

With that being said, Kronos then shifted his gaze from the luggage to Eros with a scowl. “Your f*****g mouth seems to be having a f*****g problem.”

“It’s working very well, thank you for your concern~” Eros laughed nonchalantly as he replied.

If it’s teasing Kronos, no one could really beat Eros. He knows when and where to push his buttons.

“Tch.” See? Would you take a look at that?

For a moment, Eros did not delay their departure time further as he cleared his throat and started to get serious. “Teasing aside, why don’t you call Skia so that we can depart now?”

With that being said, Kronos looked at him with disbelief. He knew that Eros was really cheap to even just rent a carriage for them to go and would use Skia instead as a means of transportation, but he still could not get used to it.

The clueless Eros, on the other hand, raised a brow, and he accepted Kronos’ expression on his face. “What~?”

Hearing this, Kronos heaved a sigh as he called for the shadow king. "Skia"

And in a split second, Skia got out of Kronos’ shadow and appeared in front of him with its head dipping low. “Master.”

Seeing the old acquaintance, Eros forwarded as he pats the shadow king on the back and calls for it in a warm tone of voice. “Skia~”

And with that, Skia looked back and smiled when he saw Eros. “Ah, your highness. No wonder master called for me. I had a feeling that I would be a carriage again.”

Because Kronos and Skia share the same thoughts in regard to Eros, it was also wary of him. Although the way they approached Eros was very different, they had the same thoughts.

Eros, on the other hand, nodded as he replied with a laugh. “Of course, of course~ Skia know me so well~.”

“Then, shall we depart?” Skia replied as it folded its knees for Kronos to get on its back.

When Kronos successfully got on the shadow king’s back, he then looked at Eros and called for him. “Eros.”

But then, Eros appeared to be also ready to depart. “Oh no, I already have my own familiar. Of course, I won’t be having a ride with you anymore~.”

His familiar was a four-winged giant bird that was as elegant looking just like its contractor. Its color was pure white that it seemed to represent Eros hiding his true nature, and when Kronos got a glimpse of what was inside its beak, he noticed that it had thousands of sharp teeth. And that probably represents what Eros actually was.

Seeing that Eros was already on the back of his familiar, he silently celebrated with the thought of riding Skia alone.

Hence, shortly after, Kronos straightened his back and replied. “Alright then.”

“Skia, teleport towards the pier~” Eros informed Skia about where to drop them off. Of course, he would be the one telling that specific information as he was also the one who was in charge.

The only thing that Kronos was tasked to do was to order Skia once again. “Go.”

Of course, a familiar only respond to their master’s words. Thus, when Kronos gave him a permission to teleport, Skia replied abruptly before reporting together with the other familiar of the crown prince. “Yes, Master.”

But it seems like they both had a problem with their each familiar that they teleported not at the pier but at a boat. When the scenery had changed from the entrance of the dormitory to a secluded place on a ship, Kronos looked at Skia, who abruptly looked down as if it was avoiding getting scolded.

It was fortunate enough that the familiar of Eros seemed to be also an i***t because if he happens to be not, then they might have been separated, and it would be a big problem. Kronos only bought luggage and a bag of gold coins with him. Meaning he does not have any tickets. It might seem to be not a problem, but the pier was strict at the moment, and the customs were in a foul mood to let some walk-ins who have the money but don’t have the ticket feel welcomed on the ship.

More importantly, they were not sure what part of the ship was their location. Hence, when Kronos looked at Eros and was about to say something, a crew entered, found them, and interrogated them right away. “This place is off-limits. Tickets?”

With that being said, Kronos was on the verge of panicking. But then, why would he be responsible when the damned crown prince was the one who brought him all the way for a mission?

Hence, Kronos looked at Eros with a glare. “Ah.”

Seeing this, Eros was taken aback at first as he was not sure what the glare was for. But then, when he realized that Kronos was actually troubled and was waiting for him to deal with the situation, Eros laughed nonchalantly as he rummaged through the pockets of his blazer.

When he felt rough papers inside, Eros then pulled them out and presented them to the staff. “Here you go, good sir~.”

And as soon as the staff saw it with their own eyes, his expression had changed and his attitude towards Kronos and Eros as well. He escorted them back to where the passengers were gathered up until to the room that they would be staying.

And while they were on their way, Kronos could not help but to wonder how the crown prince was fully prepared with everything. “Eros.”

“I bought tickets in advance, you know~?” Eros smiled warmly as they continued walking.

Amazed as he was, Kronos replied with the same facial expression. “Wow.”

If Eros and Astian had something in common, it would be that they could understand Kronos very well. “That’s a praise, right? I’ll take that as a praise~ More importantly, I bought the tickets where the best view is located.”

“Wow.” Kronos once again commented as he got inside the luxurious room. It was as if exclusive only to the imperial family. Although it’s impossible since the both of them were using fake identities in order to investigate secretly.

Hearing Kronos’ being amazed once again, Eros could not help but to feel a sense of satisfaction. “Another praise, I see~.”

When Kronos was looking around the room, the magic stone on one corner of the wall glowed before a voice came out from it as it seemed to serve as a speaker. “Ladies and gentlemen, the boat will be sailing now towards the northern empire! Welcome aboard!”

Since the northern empire was far, it would at least take three days before they could set foot on the ground again. Kronos just hoped that they could have a smooth sailing journey ahead of them.