Chapter 301: A Light Change
A short while later, Jenna finally managed to retreat to her room.
She loosened the buttons of her shirt and dropped onto the edge of the bed with a weary sigh.
This room had been her home for the past few years. Ever since being separated from her family, these four walls were the only place where she could truly relax.
"Jenna, open up."
A knock echoed from the other side of the door.
She immediately recognized the voice. It belonged to one of the men from the office—Simon Red, the boss’s assistant. The man who dressed like some old English aristocrat, complete with suspenders and a monocle-like eyeglass.
Jenna opened the door halfway.
"Master Hatoru asked me to deliver this."
In his hands was a black box about the size of a large book, neatly wrapped with a crimson ribbon.
"After Lady Izumi confirmed that everything you reported was true, he prepared this as a reward for your performance."
Jenna accepted the box, curiosity flickering across her face.
"Thank you."
Simon raised a brow slightly.
"Since when did you start thanking me? I’m only doing my job."
His expression remained blank, but his sharp eyes carried unmistakable suspicion.
"W-What?" Jenna frowned.
"Nothing," he replied after a short pause. "You just seem... different."
Her eyes narrowed instantly.
"Are you implying I’ve been compromised? You fucking—"
"Watch it," he interrupted coldly. "I haven’t accused you of anything. No need to get emotional."
His gaze sharpened further.
"Open it."
Jenna placed the box on the table, pulled the ribbon loose, and lifted the lid.
The first thing she noticed was something wrapped in paper, giving off a sweet aroma.
"That is called Vane-moon Bread," Simon explained. "A special item that will help you in your task of protecting Lady Izumi."
"What is this? Am I getting a promotion?" she let out a nervous chuckle.
"It’s a gesture of good faith," Simon replied with the same straight expression. "As the master always says, we are one big family here. He also left you another gift inside."
Jenna picked up the envelope beneath the loaf.
She opened it and froze.
Pictures.
Pictures of her mother and sister.
Her calm expression shattered, and her eyes began to water.
She hadn’t seen them in years. Hatoru only sent photographs periodically, and since being separated from them, she had no way of knowing where they even lived now.
Her sister had grown so much since the last picture.
Her mother looked healthier too.
At the very least, they looked safe.
That alone made Jenna feel her sacrifices hadn’t been meaningless.
All the things she had done, the countless lives she had taken in the name of fulfilling her duties had protected them.
"Are you crying?" Simon tilted his head slightly. "In all the years I’ve known you, I think this is the first time I’ve seen you like this."
"You were always known for keeping your emotions under control. So I can’t help but wonder what changed."
Jenna bit down on her tongue.
Trying to defend herself now would only make her reactions look even more suspicious.
Simon stared at her silently for another moment.
"What? Has our big-shot gunslinger suddenly run out of things to say?"
He exhaled quietly and turned away.
But just before leaving, he paused at the doorway and glanced back over his shoulder.
"If you really have been compromised..." his voice turned icy, "...then I promise I’ll be the one to kill you myself."
Jenna kept her face as straight as possible, but chills still crawled down her spine.
Even with all her prowess and years of training, she couldn’t believe a single man could make her feel such fear.
But Simon Red was no ordinary man.
He was known as the Walking Death.
A monster who had spent years perfecting the art of killing.
Yet strangely enough, she found herself thinking about somebody else.
"...Though he’d probably still lose to that guy," she thought. "Yohan’s an absolute beast."
That thought eased her nerves, but it didn’t change the fact that Simon was right.
Something about her had changed.
Normally, she missed her family, but she never allowed herself to dwell on it for long. Thinking too much only made the separation harder to endure.
Instead, she buried herself in work.
Her thoughts were usually occupied with Lady Izumi’s safety and nothing else.
"But ever since I started hanging around Yohan..." she thought, pressing a hand against her forehead, "...my head’s been filled with all kinds of useless crap."
Feelings.
Distractions.
Things she had trained herself for years to suppress.
It was becoming harder for her to detach herself from people. Harder to remain cold and emotionless the way she always had.
And honestly...
She couldn’t tell whether that was a good thing or a bad thing.
’Who am I kidding? Yohan might be the best thing that’s ever happened to me.’
A small smile tugged at her lips as she closed the door and sat on the bed.
’This must’ve been made by that baker guy.’
She took the paper-wrapped bread out of the box. On the back was a handwritten description.
"Vane-Moon Bread: Feel as light as a feather... that’s all?"
She examined it a little more before ripping it open. A buttery-sweet scent flooded the room. There was no proper way to describe it, but mixed into the aroma was the scent of a chilly night breeze.
This one felt different from all the other enhancement items she had seen before. It gave off an even stronger energy, to the point that she hesitated to eat it.
In the end, she took a small bite and rose to her feet. The moment she did, she almost lifted off the ground.
It was like she was weightless.
She jumped only slightly, yet nearly touched the ceiling with her head.
"So it literally makes you light as a feather... now the description makes sense."
"How is something like this even possible?" she wondered.
She walked over to the punching bag and took a fighting stance.
She threw a few punches, expecting them to be weak, but it was the complete opposite.
Her fists practically flew through the air because of how light she was, and by increasing her weight right before impact, the punches carried almost double the force.
