By this point, Ellie and Celeste had gone over, offering help with Mi-Yung's more than inadequate problem. “We are sorry for the inconvenience, Miss Rose,” Ellie said out of politeness.

  “... I don't care. I don't; I mean, she is my boss and all and...”

  Hound barked, shuddering her knees and letting her scream so much that she managed to get Mi-Yung out of the way.

  William caught Mi-Yung's arm and nearly fell with her. He realized he could barely put her arm over his shoulder without feeling an unnatural amount of weight. Then, it was as if he was moving a mountain sack of shit or a large anchor.

  Gritting his teeth, if it weren’t for Celeste, who grasped the other arm, he would have soon ended up on top of Mi-Yung, or squashed and probably a little happy. Mi-Yung snorted in her sleep, mumbling something incomprehensible. At this point, no one paid her much attention.

  “Thanks, Celeste,” William said, appreciating that she let go of Hound and helped. Ellie couldn't really do that, so she aimed at the door to leave for good.

  Dragging her home sounded like a pain in the ass, though, but it was better than leaving her out there. Perhaps Rose would care for her enough, since moving her was a problem.

  William knew ladies had less safety at night. This place shouldn’t be very different, right? He wasn’t sure, so he assumed it was possible. There were quite a few uncomfortable incidents in the camps throughout his memory. He could at least do this for her, even if that was not possible.

  Rose looked at him from the ground, thoughts unknown and expectations shattered. Her package was aside, on the ground. “W-wait... this.” She placed that forward, but William had no hands for that, and Ellie waited at the door.

  “And that is?” William asked.

  “Think of it as a gift for taking care of our mistress.”

  William was trying his very best to stay firm, so this gift was more like another weight on top of this terrific lady.

  “I don't think I can accept this generosity, miss Rose.” he tried to excuse himself, right when Mi-Yung moved her hand forward and behind his back.

  “Ay whill thake that.” She mumbled and took the package with a hand that was still wrapped around William's arm. It added another weight to the already struggling William, but before it broke the balance, Hound snatched that box away, gnawing at the package and holding it like a good boy.

  William nodded at Hound; a curse of the heavens helped, and Celeste patted it with her single free hand, completely unbothered by the weight over her shoulder. The meal was more than exceptional, and who knew Mi-Yung had such a terrible drinking habit? It happened quicker than eating, and why?

  First, she had no idea what it was like to live in this world, or where to take such ideas from. Second, William knew Walkers had transformed human systems, which included general anatomy, bone structures, and even organs, so immunity against harmful effects was typical. Why she had no immunity to alcohol was beyond him.

  The answer was simple; she used to vent her emotions from her stress in this way when she was young, and it had never left her since. Today was a hectic day... well, ever since she found out about William, even more restless days followed, so she decided to end it on a high note.

  As unfortunate as it was, this little occasion came at a terrible time. The restaurant wasn't empty, so two teenagers carrying a grown ass woman out of this establishment wasn't looking good. She was even the owner, for that matter, so it was awkward as hell for Rose.

  Thankfully, the previous shaking emptied a chunk of the tables, and it was getting late, while a hopping Hound left another powerful impression. He had to grow a little to take this package, since making just a bigger head alone wasn’t adequate.

  As they walked away, in the back of private booths, sat a lone man. He was away, cherishing peace in his dark corner, so he probably had no way of hearing anything. He ate alone, or not at all. It was hard to say, considering a cowboy hat obscured his face, and it was time to leave.

  ***

  Walking out with that dead weight was praiseworthy, and William tried his best.

  “So... heavy...” He mumbled.

  “Heavy?” Celeste added and took firm steps as she held her head straight.

  He glanced at her as if she were a monster and groaned. “Never mind. I lack... training. Yeah. I should train.”

  Falling with her would be his demise, and so far, there was only a flat stone pavement road ahead. That should be enough for this whole journey because there was no way he would ascend any hill like this.

  Humming in dreams or whistling some songs, Mi-Yung was comfortably feeling their shoulders.

  “Is she that heavy?” Ellie asked behind them, uncertain how to help them, and fearful of how to think of that big Hound right beside her. He tapped his large paws against the pavement and seemed overly happy about carrying that package.

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  Surviving this weight shook William’s life, and Mi-Yung was way too relaxed, amused, and dragging them down.

  “She is at least three hundred pounds or more. Maybe more. No. Way more! What sort of woman weighs that much while not being big to begin with? I mean, she is tall, but…”

  “Three hundred?” Celeste hummed, wondering if that number was huge or meaningful. She heard a lot of numbers in the past few days, after all, and couldn’t think much about their meaning. Ellie's lessons had yet to bear such results.

  Then, wasn't this kind of good? A bigger number usually meant a desirable element in her mind, so Celeste felt that a bigger number was a great feeling. It was the same with food. The bigger the catch, the greater it felt. Smiling, she followed his shaking steps, and Ellie took this strange night as another shocking surprise.

  Unknown to them, they weren't alone.

  Reaching the side streets close to their destination, William endured the progress and knew this place was bigger than ten camps combined. At least the streets had great infrastructure and a sense of order. Roads, lamps, and signs made walking around much easier.

  As they turned around a corner, they stopped. There was someone standing in an empty street, right below a bright lamp. It was out of place to stand there, in that liminal space surrounded by dimness and barren shade.

  A cloaked figure appeared faceless due to the shadows, or the cloak itself, which was unusual in this place and time.

  William got a bad feeling about this and tried to back down, but Celeste didn't let him. Wasn't this a thief? A bad person? Celeste was intrigued and thought people could be very weird sometimes. Like monsters haunting her life, she wouldn't let it pass. William met and saw plenty of shitty people, and what they could do for gains might get despicable. Apocalypse or not, some people couldn't help themselves.

  “Can we help you with something?” William asked loudly, looking at this impassive figure that refrained from leaving or coming forward.

  He or she was in the way because the incoming passage was a bit tight, especially when they dragged Mi-Yung between them.

  “I will be a curious one this time and step farther. How about you, Mi-Yung? Do you mind giving this situation purity like we deserve?” a man's voice talked behind the cloak, saying exactly what was appropriate.

  With force and bother and chirping loud moans, Mi-Yung opened her eyes and hated to do the same with her ears. Hearing this shitty voice woke her up and nearly sobered her as well. Almost. It was a familiar, annoying fool, and he didn't deserve her looks.

  “What is this about, old fucker? Don't you see I am very busy at the moment? Digesting these weeks takes ages, I swear,” Mi-Yung said, trying to excuse herself from the troubles ahead. Unfortunately, this was more or less her problem, not anyone else's.

  “So you won't cooperate? There is a civilian close. Let her go away, since this means business.”

  “What? Numerous people are around!” Ellie argued, pointing to buildings, and giving this shrouded figure amusing ideas. She got this was about her feeble life, while this man's intentions and words implied far more than simple words.

  “I see. That is true. I also believe Kaufman would digress. Am I correct?” The man turned his head to a nearby tree.

  He wasn't alone. Another man made yet another entrance. A cowboy hat swayed in the wind, and his worn-down jacket seemed to flail in the wind. He sat on top of a thick branch, looking as if it were the most comfortable seat.

  “I wouldn't digress. Dealing with things as time passes is about providing timing and proving the right time. This one is tougher, like bad hands in poker. I say better times will appear, but I am more fond of cheating or forcing things to become better on my own terms. I suppose Songs are fine with that, as I never won a poker game against any of them,” Kaufman said and dropped with grace as if he were the leaf.

  William figured three possible high-class Walker cretins assembled a cursed love triangle. He knew Kaufman, but that cloaked man was strange and still hiding. He was clueless about how to approach this situation. Seeing Kaufman again wasn't shocking if he was honest with himself. He knew he wouldn’t shrink before him anymore, while the previous conversation with Mi-Yung gave him more confidence, or the power to straight up refute him.

  Drama was incoming, and he might be the cause. If he were, he would flee without a shred of shame, but he couldn't. He was more than irritated by those pesky problems that others decided. In particular, the present Mi-Yung was another special case.

  “Good evening, sir. What is going on?” William asked Kaufman without hiding his irritation. He was on the brink of losing his patience, and it seemed Ellie figured it out as well. Alas, she was like a weed, insignificant, and knowing she couldn’t help anyone. They would pluck her out without thinking, or make her sleep.

  “Some adult stuff. Walker stuff, boy.” The shrouded man said to William in a calm voice.

  “I never thought Walkers would assault another Walker in the Federation. Is this how it works everywhere?” William demanded, out of frustration at being unable to do anything about this.

  “And what are you planning to do about it?” Kaufman taunted him, speaking in a sarcastic tone.

  “I would try to protect Mi-Yung's dignity even if I don't know how. Is that how I should answer a bunch of freaks in human skin?”

  Involuntarily, or in the lack of self-discipline, Kaufman burst into laughter, and couldn't contain himself any longer.

  “Bwahahhahahah. What words. What guts. I like this boy. It is one surprise after another. What does he expect? What had he thought and said, eh, Richards?! Are we rapists? That’s funny.” Even the cloaked figure could not help but chuckle beyond his veil.

  “Anyway, how about making this professional, Mi-Yung? One-on-one. Like adults. I won't do it. I had to. Time is ticking, and William is a good choice.”

  “Aren't you a bit too direct?” Richards said as he moved his hand forward, letting light reveal his face.

  However, a leg was already there, aiming for his head. A shockwave spread and skimmed the wind, pushing against the building's walls and trees in stress.

  In a singular moment, a powerful strike cleaved the air, forcing the air out of this street because Mi-Yung was already there, kicking Richards and pushing him to the wall. Most leaves on the trees darted away, disappearing to the opposite end.

  A second ago, Mi-Yung disappeared from her little helpers and arrived right before that fool. Alas, the only thing on the wall was an empty cloak. Not a body.

  Crouching beside William, who fell to his ass, Richards observed and adjusted his acts. He couldn't help but sweat after experiencing that sheer potential that came out of nowhere. Classic Mi-Yung. Her moves were ruthless. A single brief moment of pain and suffering was often enough to seek much easier ends.

  Her kick revealed a middle-aged man of an unknown nationality and origin. Considering his cloak, he might be affiliated with several organizations, as it was clearly related to Butlers. Teleporting this fast was enough to mark him as a powerful Walker.

  “You almost left my head over your knees,” he let out with a smirk on his face and enjoyed her displeasure. Mi-Yung wore an unsightly expression and had every reason to kick him twice. For the second time, she didn’t plan on missing.