Chương 531: Chapter : 531

Naomi walked into the living room. She carried a plate of freshly made turkey sandwiches. She wore comfortable gray sweatpants and a simple black t-shirt. She did not wear her heavy combat boots. She wore fuzzy slippers. Her bright red hair was tied back in a loose ponytail. She did not look strict today. She did not yell at Ken for his untucked shirt. Her attitude toward him had changed significantly over the last few weeks. She smiled a very warm, fond smile.

She walked over to the sofa and playfully bumped her hip against his arm.

"Eat something besides chips, Ken," Naomi teased gently. She set the plate down on the coffee table.

"I made these for the whole team. You need real food." Ken immediately sat up. His sleepy dark eyes lit up with joy. He grabbed a sandwich.

"You are a lifesaver, Naomi. Chewing chips is a lot of jaw cardio. Bread is much softer. You are officially the best boss lady in the Empire." Naomi chuckled softly. She sat down on the armchair across from him. She reached over and took a potato chip from his bag.

"You are impossible. Just share the chips. I bought those yesterday."

"I am guarding them," Ken lied smoothly. He took a huge bite of his sandwich.

"Chips are very fragile. If I leave them alone, they might break. I am protecting the structural integrity of the snacks."

"You are completely ridiculous," Naomi laughed. It was a bright, happy sound. Olivia marched into the living room. The strict spear user looked perfectly neat. Her dark blue uniform was spotless. Her hair was tied in a tight bun. She frowned deeply at the lazy, lounging group.

"This absolute lack of discipline is unacceptable," Olivia stated firmly. She crossed her arms over her chest.

"The Emperor suspended the war. He did not suspend our training. We should run tactical drills in the courtyard immediately." Risa looked up from her sketchbook. The pink-haired healer sat on the rug. She hugged her stuffed teddy bear.

"But it is so hot outside, Olivia. We might get sunburned. Sunburns hurt very badly."

"Warriors do not care about sunburns," Olivia replied coldly. Princess Iris walked out of her private study. She carried a delicate porcelain teacup. She smiled gently at her team. Her violet eyes looked very calm.

"Olivia, please let them rest. We faced a massive ordeal in the arena. A few days of peace will not ruin our skills." Olivia offered a crisp, respectful bow.

"As you wish, Princess." But she still glared sharply at Ken's untucked shirt. Ken finished his sandwich. He wiped a crumb off his chin. He let out a loud, dramatic yawn. He stretched his arms high above his head. He slouched his shoulders forward.

"All this intense talk about training is making me completely exhausted," Ken announced lazily. He stood up from the sofa.

"I am going to take a trip. I need a total change of scenery." Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. Naomi looked up. Her green eyes showed genuine curiosity.

"Where are you going, slacker?"

"I am going home," Ken said casually. He dusted off his navy blue pants.

"I am going to visit my family in the Iron Rose District. My mom makes the absolute best caramel pudding in the world. I need some homemade food to recover my strength." Princess Iris nodded gracefully.

"That is a wonderful idea, Ken. Please send your family our warmest regards."

"I will," Ken promised. He shoved his hands deep into his pockets. He shuffled toward the hallway.

"I will be back in a few days. Please do not do any extra cardio while I am gone. It makes me feel incredibly guilty."

"We will do extra cardio just for you," Laxmi cheered from the rug. Ken walked up to his small, dusty bedroom. He grabbed a simple dark green canvas bag. He threw a few clean shirts inside. He did not pack much. He just wanted to go home and sleep in his old bed. He grabbed a handful of strawberry candies from his desk and shoved them into his pocket. He walked back downstairs. He waved a goofy goodbye to the girls. He opened the front iron gate and stepped out onto the dirt road.

The walk to the transit station was very quiet. The capital city felt incredibly tense. Normal citizens talked in hushed whispers on the sidewalks. The terrifying news of the Bluemoon Kingdom's destruction scared everyone. People looked worried and panicked. Ken ignored the whispers completely. He bought a train ticket. He boarded the train and sat in a window seat. He slouched down low and closed his sleepy eyes. The train hummed loudly as it moved quickly across the city.

He did not care about the political panic. He just wanted his pudding. The train finally arrived at the Iron Rose District. Ken stepped out onto the wooden platform. The air here felt totally different. It was less fancy. It felt very normal and comforting. Small shops lined the dirt streets. Bicycles rolled past. People wore simple, practical clothes. Ken walked down his familiar childhood street. He dragged his cheap shoes on the pavement. Scuff. Scuff. Scuff. He reached a small, white stone house.

A neat garden sat in the front yard. A few colorful flowers bloomed happily near the wooden porch. He turned the brass doorknob. He pushed the front door open.

"I am home!" Ken called out lazily. He dropped his canvas bag onto the floorboards. It made a soft thud.

"Please tell me there are snacks in this house. The train ride burned all my calories." Khadija hurried out of the kitchen. She wiped her hands on a bright floral apron. Her plump face lit up with pure, unfiltered joy. She rushed forward and hugged him incredibly tightly.

"Ken! My sweet boy!" Khadija smiled warmly. She patted his cheeks affectionately.

"You are back! You look so tired! Your shirt is all messy! Do they make you work too hard at that massive estate?"

"They are terrible taskmasters, Mom," Ken whined playfully. He hugged his mother back.

"They make me walk up long flights of stairs. They make me stand in lines. I am basically a victim of intense physical labor." Jasmin walked down the wooden stairs. The dark-haired girl held a thick math textbook under her arm. She rolled her eyes at his dramatic speech.

"You are a victim of your own laziness," Jasmin scoffed. She walked over to him and crossed her arms.

"You literally sleep on the job. Do not lie to Mom."

"I am telling the absolute truth," Ken argued. He gave his sister a big, goofy grin.

"My job is like a highly intense survival anime. I have to dodge magical lasers. I have to hide behind giant rocks. You do not understand the plot armor required to survive my daily schedule." Jasmin reached out quickly. She pinched his arm very hard.

"Ow!" Ken yelped loudly. He rubbed his arm and pouted.

"That was a sneak attack! You bypassed my defensive aura entirely!"

"You do not have a defensive aura," Jasmin laughed.

"You are just a huge goofball. Come into the kitchen. Mom made food."

"Finally," Ken cheered. He slouched his shoulders and shuffled into the cozy kitchen.