Elder brother's garrison

Page 1346

Looking at Mutsu's casual oversized shirt, and then at the beer cans and spicy snacks on the coffee table, Xiaobai immediately pictured Mutsu sitting on the sofa with his long, white legs crossed, watching TV while eating spicy snacks and drinking beer.

"Ms. Mutsu...do you live alone?" Shiro asked Mutsu.

"Yes." Mutsu said as he walked to the coffee table, tidied up the beer cans and spicy snack bags, and turned back to give Shiro an embarrassed smile. "I'm so sorry. I wanted to relax and treat myself after I finally got over something on my mind, so I indulged myself a little in my private life."

"It's okay, it's okay," Xiaobai waved her hand.

Mutsu picked up the remote and switched the TV, which was playing a drama, to a quieter channel. Then, she cleared the items off the coffee table to make room for Shiro and the Vestal Goddess. She then took out two bottles of juice from her ship's storage space and pushed them in front of Shiro and the Vestal Goddess.

“Originally, when honored guests arrive, we should serve them tea as a courtesy. However, there is no time to prepare anything now, so this is all we have. I hope the Kitchen Goddess will not be angry.” Mutsu did not sit on the sofa with Shiro and the Kitchen Goddess, but instead placed her hands flat on her thighs and knelt down beside the coffee table.

"Um... Mutsu, you should sit down too..."

The goddess of the hearth and Xiaobai looked at Mutsu kneeling in front of them and felt that this hierarchical perspective was strange, so they reminded Mutsu.

"Doesn't the goddess of the hearth like this?"

“I don’t like looking down at people…and isn’t the sofa quite spacious?” The goddess of the hearth patted the spot next to her and said to Mutsu.

“Since the goddess of the hearth has said so…” Mutsu obediently stood up and sat down on the sofa seat an arm’s length away from the goddess of the hearth, smiling at the two of them, “Wouldn’t that be alright?”

"Mmm, much better..." The goddess of the hearth nodded comfortably, then grabbed a juice bottle from the coffee table, gulped down a couple of mouthfuls, and revealed a dashing smile, "Mmm~ so delicious!"

"Miss Mutsu just said that she has put her mind at ease. Is it related to the goddess of the hearth?" Shiro asked Mutsu as she sat down on the sofa.

"Exactly." Mutsu nodded with a smile, making no attempt to hide anything.

"Huh? It has something to do with me?" The goddess of the hearth was enjoying her juice when she overheard Mutsu and Shiro's conversation and exclaimed in surprise, "Oh dear! How come something else concerns me? What's going on? Is there another conspiracy?"

“No, that’s not it.” Mutsu shook her head with a smile. She pondered for a moment and then explained to the Stove Goddess and Little White, “It’s not what you think, Sister Stove Goddess. Actually, when I said I had settled a matter on my mind, I was just referring to an agreement I made with a friend.”

Seeing the questioning looks on the faces of the goddess of the hearth and Shiro, Mutsu smiled and continued to explain.

"Actually, I only learned about your existence a month ago through someone else. The reason I came to Kyoto is because a friend earnestly asked me to come here to protect you, the Goddess of the Hearth."

"Huh? Protect me? What do you mean?" The goddess of the hearth frowned upon hearing Mutsu's words, looking puzzled. "Wait... a friend of yours? Who is your friend? Do I know her?"

Mutsu is truly a man of few words, but when he does speak, it's astonishing.

The amount of information she conveyed in a single sentence was so vast that the Kitchen Goddess and Little White were momentarily at a loss as to where to begin asking the question.

“My friend… ah.” Mutsu murmured these words, his eyes dimming slightly. Then he raised his head and said to Vestal Goddess, “Hmm… more than whether you know her, Vestal Goddess, it’s probably more that she knows you, Vestal Goddess. A long time has passed, Vestal Goddess, you probably don’t remember, but she was a ship girl who… once received treatment from you, Vestal Goddess.”

"Has he/she sought medical treatment...?"

"Yes, she is a very well-behaved heavy cruiser ship girl. She has smooth black hair, fair and delicate skin, and exquisite features. She likes to bow deeply when she sees people. When she smiles, she has two small dimples, and there is a small, beautiful beauty mark near her mouth..." Mutsu said to the goddess of the hearth.

Mutsu's description of the image is rather rough, but surprisingly vivid.

As soon as Xiaobai listened to Mutsu's introduction, the image of a well-behaved and cute heavy cruiser ship girl quickly popped into his mind.

"She sounds like a very cute child, Vestal." Xiaobai said to Vestal with a smile, "To be remembered by such a cute ship girl, you truly live up to your reputation, Vestal..."

Xiao Bai paused abruptly halfway through his sentence.

because.

Just now.

After hearing Mutsu's explanation, the female hearth goddess, for some reason, seemed to have heard something terrifying. She suddenly clenched her hands tightly on her thighs, straightened her back, and widened her eyes, revealing an unexpected expression of tension.

Or rather, a look of panic.

Xiao Bai looked at the female stove god in surprise.

This was the first time the goddess of the hearth had ever shown such a nervous expression in front of him...

"Huh? The goddess of the hearth? What is this...?"

"I...I know her..." The female hearth goddess grabbed Xiaobai's wrist, holding his hand tightly as if seeking solace. Then, looking at Mutsu, she swallowed hard, slowly lowered her head, and nervously said, "I...I know her. I...I recognize her...She's...the ship girl who came to me three years ago to have her ship equipment repaired, right..."

"Yes." Mutsu nodded.

A hint of sadness flickered in the eyes of the goddess of the hearth.

"...And...her symptoms are...heavily damaged attack." The Vesta said softly, "She is a ship girl I failed to heal...

Xiao Bai looked at the female stove god in surprise.

Mutsu's room fell silent for a while, with only the soothing music from the television playing in the air.

The silence lasted for a while.

Mutsu took a deep breath.

“So…the goddess of the hearth still remembers her.” Mutsu murmured, a relieved smile appearing on her face. “She would be very happy to know this.”

"Um...you, you knew her before?" The female hearth goddess looked up nervously at Mutsu, her voice lacking its previous confidence, and even began to stammer, "I,I back then, I..."

"She never blamed you, Sister Vestal." Mutsu seemed to see through the thoughts in the Hearth Goddess's mind. She smiled and said to the Hearth Goddess, "And... she has told me many times that you, Sister Vestal Goddess, have always been a noble ship girl worthy of our respect."

The goddess of the hearth stared blankly at Mutsu's smiling face, as if trying to find some hidden information on his face. She stared for a long time before finally slumping her shoulders as if she were both relaxed and dejected.

"What...what is her relationship with you..." the female hearth goddess asked softly.

"She is one of my juniors. As for me and her... well, we are colleagues in the same mercenary group... or rather, former colleagues."

Mutsu stroked his full bosom and spoke slowly to the goddess of the hearth.

Xiaobai could sense that when Mutsu mentioned the words "former colleague," the goddess of the hearth's breathing quickened, and even her shoulders twitched noticeably.

4000-word steamed egg custard

Chapter 1731 A Movie Ticket

When the words "current colleague" are linked to the phrase "ship girl whose treatment failed," Mutsu probably doesn't need to explain the consequences of that ship girl's current situation any further—she has likely dismantled her ship equipment, given up her identity and power as a ship girl, left the mercenary group, and become an ordinary person.

The female hearth goddess hung her head and remained silent for a long time.

No wonder the female hearth goddess acted this way.

Although Xiaobai hadn't spent much time with Vestal, and although Vestal always said that she did her best in healing and left the rest to fate, showing no remorse or regret for the ship girls whose healing efforts failed, in the end, judging from the fact that Vestal would give a large portion of her salary to ship girls whose equipment was severely damaged, and her repeated avoidance of the topic... she still harbored some unique feelings for those ship girls whose healing efforts had failed, feelings that others couldn't understand.

Xiaobai was a complete outsider to this matter and didn't know how to comfort the female Kitchen Goddess.

"As expected, this matter has put pressure on Sister Vessel..." Seeing Sister Vessel's listless appearance after the conversation, Mutsu sighed softly and gave her an apologetic look, "I'm very sorry."

"...It's nothing." The female hearth goddess shook her head. After a short while, she raised her head slightly and looked intently at the female hearth goddess, asking, "She...you must have a very good relationship with her, right?"

"...The mercenary group we joined has a different atmosphere than the family-like Obsidian Mercenary Group. Our mercenary group is a more hierarchical organization. The ship girls in the mercenary group interact more as colleagues, so... while the relationships aren't bad, they lack a bit of warmth." Mutsu said to Vestal and Shiro, smiling slightly. "As for that child... when she first joined the mercenary group, she was a newbie. Perhaps we took a liking to each other, as she always liked to stick close to me and ask me for advice. Over time, I gradually got used to having such a little sister, so after leaving the mercenary group, we still occasionally keep in touch."

"She...left the mercenary group." The goddess of the hearth lowered her head and murmured softly.

"The reason for that child's heavily damaged ship was that during one of our mercenary group's scheduled ship girls to be placed in the repair pool, there were a lot of large ships that were injured at that time, so the number of slots and funds were tight. That child happened to be heavily damaged during that period—perhaps she was afraid that if she reported the news of her ship's heavily damaged equipment to the mercenary group, she would be seen as an untimely burden, so she deliberately concealed the news of her ship's heavily damaged equipment from us. Later, the mercenary group, unaware of the situation, sent her out on a mission... and then..." Mutsu said to the Vestal Goddess, pausing slightly here, her gaze flickering slightly, but she quickly adjusted her expression, bowed respectfully to the Vestal Goddess, and said, "So, Sister Vestal Goddess, this matter, whether in terms of cause or effect, is that child's own fault. Sister Vestal Goddess, you did your best to treat that child, and that child did not blame you at all, so you should not feel guilty."

"..." The goddess of the hearth.

The atmosphere in the Mutsu family's living room seemed to be returning to quiet.

Xiaobai sat awkwardly on the sofa, looking at the female kitchen god and Mutsu. To avoid an awkward atmosphere, she quickly clasped her hands and started talking to Mutsu in front of her.

"Ah... well, so that's how it is! From what you just said, Miss Mutsu, it was your ship girl friend who asked you to come find Vestal, right? When did that happen? Was there any reason for it?" Shiro asked Mutsu.

"That's how it is." Mutsu looked at Shiro with gratitude and explained, "Actually, before this happened, I didn't know about Sister Vestal—after that girl was severely injured by the Abyss during her heavily damaged attack, she only left a farewell letter saying that she was going to seek some elusive cure around the world and disappeared for a while. When I saw her again, she had already dismantled her ship equipment and returned to the mercenary group as an ordinary person to submit her resignation."

Later, she left the mercenary group to seek opportunities in human society, while I remained in the mercenary group.

Little sister, you know how it is. Sometimes, even without actively searching, news will inevitably drift in from all directions when you're in a circle. Just recently, while working with mercenary groups, I heard that the leader of the Obsidian Mercenary Group was getting restless, leading a large number of ship girls to Kyoto. This is very strange, because Kyoto is deep inland, safe and not near the sea. Without the rampant deep-sea monsters, there are no orders or business. For mercenary groups, there are no reasons to stay long. For mercenary groups that usually live on the coast, it should be a city they wouldn't even pass through. Yet, the Obsidian Mercenary Group is strangely leading a large force of ship girls to Kyoto this time. It's truly perplexing.”

"Uh..." Xiaobai smiled awkwardly upon hearing this, "Yeah... it is quite strange."

Lin Yueyue had told Xiaobai the reason why the Obsidian Mercenary Group came to Kyoto before, so Xiaobai knew it. However, this reason involved the family scandal of Lin Yueyue's family, and it was not appropriate for him, an outsider, to explain it to Mutsu in a short time.

"So, during a casual phone conversation with that girl, I mentioned this out of pure curiosity," Mutsu said to Shiro. "At first, I really thought it was just some gossip, but I didn't expect that after I told her about it, she suddenly became quite panicked and nervous. After confirming with me that the Obsidian Mercenary Group's actions were true, she earnestly begged me on the other end of the phone to come to Kyoto to protect a ship girl. She also told me that the Obsidian Mercenary Group was coming to Kyoto with people, most likely because of the Goddess of the Hearth. Then she explained things about the Goddess of the Hearth to me, and that was when I first learned about her."

At this point, Mutsu closed his eyes, as if recalling something.

"A special ship girl who can quickly heal the ship girl's equipment power... When I first heard this description, I thought that kid was joking with me like Santa Claus." Mutsu opened his eyes and smiled at Shiro.

"Ah... but in the end, Miss Mutsu, you still came." Shiro looked at Mutsu.

“Yes, after all, it was my sister’s once-in-a-lifetime sincere request.” Mutsu nodded, his gaze shifting to the goddess of the hearth on the sofa. “So, I came. And just as that child said, there really is a wondrous and noble ship girl living in Kyoto.”

"Ah... I see." Xiaobai nodded, muttered for a while, then had a flash of inspiration and asked Mutsu, "So... Miss Mutsu, ever since you came to Kyoto and met the Vestal Goddess, you've been using all sorts of methods to stay at her house, is it to protect her? And when the Obsidian Mercenary Group's ship girls captured me, you were the first to appear and save me, was it because you were keeping an eye on the Obsidian Mercenary Group's actions?"

"Gathering information is such a laborious process," Mutsu muttered to himself with a smile, without replying to Shiro.

“No wonder Lady Vestal said you couldn’t be driven away before… but as soon as our business with the Obsidian Mercenary Group ended, you disappeared the very next day…” Xiaobai said to Mutsu with a sudden realization, rubbing her head. A hint of doubt quickly returned to her brow. “Uh… but why didn’t you just tell Lady Vestal about this? If you had made it clear from the beginning, Miss Mutsu, that someone wanted to capture Lady Vestal and that you were there to protect her, she probably wouldn’t have tried to drive you away like before…”

“In terms of results, this approach should be more effective.” Mutsu nodded, his gaze sweeping over the goddess of the hearth who was bowing her head, but he paused for a moment. “However… I think you, little sister, should also know the idiom ‘beating the grass to startle the arrow.’ Putting aside whether the goddess of the hearth would have trusted me at the time, if the news were to leak out and make the imagined enemy more alert, that would not be the result I wanted.”

"Ah..." Xiaobai shrank his neck.

Mutsu's explanation was quite accurate.

Xiaobai silently watched Mutsu, her gaze moving from Mutsu's loose-fitting home clothes to the objects in the living room, finally settling on the coffee table.

If you say so.

When Mutsu said she had finally put an end to something, she was probably referring to the fact that after the Obsidian Mercenary Group incident, the task entrusted to her by the ship girl was finally completed, allowing her to end her mission in Kyoto and relax...

After the mission is over... where will Mutsu go?

As Xiaobai looked around, she suddenly spotted a neatly packed suitcase in the corner of the living room.

"Huh?" Xiaobai was taken aback.

“…I have a question.” Just then, the goddess of the hearth, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up and addressed Mutsu.

"Sister Goddess of the Hearth, what would you like to ask?" Mutsu straightened up and looked at the Goddess of the Hearth.

"That ship girl you just mentioned... the one who left your mercenary group," Vestal said softly, slowly raising her head to look seriously at Mutsu. "...How is she...doing now?"

"..." Mutsu blinked, looking at the goddess of the hearth in surprise.

"Have you been suffering a lot?" The female hearth goddess asked nervously, her hands clenching nervously as Mutsu remained silent.

"..." Mutsu smiled with relief, a comfortable curve appearing at the corners of his mouth. "No. Sister Vestal Goddess, she's doing very well. After leaving the mercenary group, she was spotted by a very talented talent scout and joined the entertainment industry. Now she has become a very good actress with a considerable number of fans, and her life is very fulfilling and prosperous—and..."

Mutsu drawled out the last syllable, then raised a finger and smiled brightly at Shiro and the goddess of the hearth.

"In a few months, her movie will be released in theaters. If you don't mind, Sister Goddess of the Kitchen, I can ask her to save you a premiere ticket!"

Chapter 1732 broke the record for giving away things at lightning speed once again.

The goddess of the hearth stared blankly into Mutsu's eyes.

After a while.

A sense of relief and emotion welled up in her eyes. The female hearth goddess raised her head, took a deep breath in front of Shiro and Mutsu, and then exhaled.

"hiss----"

"ha----"

The goddess of the hearth slapped her thigh.

"Oh, I see! I'm relieved!" The goddess of the hearth regained her spirits, as if her earlier disappointment and frustration had never existed. She grinned at Mutsu, revealing her white teeth. "Haha! What! So you've become an actress!"

"Yes, you really can't judge a book by its cover." Mutsu nodded with a smile, clasping his hands together as if introducing his own child. "That child was always shy and reserved in the mercenary group, and didn't like to talk to people. When she told me she wanted to be an actress, I was quite worried about her. But later, when I saw her in several TV dramas where she played supporting roles, her acting was quite good. I was very surprised at first."

"Ha! Ha! Ha! How come I never thought of that before? Even without the power of ship girls, their natural beauty and charm are enough to make a living in human society!" The Vesta stood up from the sofa, hands on her hips, clenching her little fists, and nodded energetically. "Hmm! There's really nothing to worry about!"

The female hearth goddess spoke confidently, the satisfied smile on her lips impossible to hide.

"Sister Goddess of the Hearth, would you like me to get you a movie ticket for the opening ceremony?" Mutsu said with a smile. "If that child knew that Sister Goddess of the Hearth was going, she would be very happy."

"Uh... never mind." The goddess of the hearth shrugged. "I didn't even help her, so why should I get involved now... Besides, you said it's the movie opening ceremony next week, right?"

"Yes?"

"I can't wait that long either." The female kitchen god shrugged indifferently, her gaze shifting to Little White beside her.

"..." Mutsu quietly looked at Shiro and the Vessel Goddess. She blinked, a look of realization flashing across her eyes, and then smiled with relief, "So that's how it is... Vessel Goddess, you've finally found your home... That's a good thing."

"So-so." The female hearth goddess rubbed her nose, looked at Mutsu's respectful appearance, and sighed helplessly. "Besides, now that things have come to this, you shouldn't keep calling me 'Sister Hearth Goddess.' You were so respectful to me before simply because you wanted to stay by my side and protect me, right? Now that you don't need to protect me anymore, you don't need to keep acting."

"Not at all, Sister Vestal." Mutsu smiled brightly. "Although I did have that idea at first, after witnessing you heal one ship girl after another who came to my door for free, my respect for you is from the bottom of my heart. The word 'sister' is not an exaggeration at all."

"Um...really?"

"Absolutely true. And after all, with Sister Vessel's strength, she doesn't really need my protection at all, does she?"

"Hmph..." The female hearth goddess hummed twice, tacitly agreeing with Mutsu's words. Then, as if remembering something, she asked Mutsu, "So what are you going to do next? Will you stay in Kyoto for a while longer? Or will you go back to your mercenary group and continue working?"

"Well..." Mutsu smiled and lowered his head, pondering for a moment, "Well... actually, the lease on my apartment in Kyoto is almost up, and I've been packing my bags since yesterday..."

"Hmm... so that means you want to go back to your mercenary group?"