"What is it?" I asked, genuinely curious about the shift in their tone and what was really going on behind their expressions.
Kai let out a low chuckle, his laughter light and almost playful. "It's just that when you said you had conditions, we all thought you were going to make some outrageous demands. You know, something impossible, or at least ridiculous. But, in the end, you asked for such simple things. Really simple things. It's just... surprising. Almost funny, in a way." His voice carried that familiar mocking tone, but there was an undeniable hint of amusement that made it clear he wasn't being malicious or trying to belittle me. It almost felt like a weird compliment, though I wasn't sure if that was intentional.
I narrowed my eyes slightly, taking in the way they all looked at me, trying to figure out what they really meant. "Is that a good thing?" I asked, unsure whether they were laughing at me or with me, and whether I should feel pleased or insulted. There was a lot more to their words than just the surface, and I needed to know if I was missing something important.
Their smiles returned, this time a little warmer, and their expressions held no trace of mockery. It almost felt like I was being included in some sort of inside joke, something I didn't fully understand but could sense was in good spirits. Naomi, the one who usually kept a more neutral demeanor, spoke up, her voice soft yet thoughtful, as if she was carefully choosing her words. "It's just... how can I explain it? You're clearly accustomed to really simple things. You know, things that we all need to live—food, a warm place to sleep, the basics. But you specifically asked for cold water, and that's what's odd. It's not something anyone would think to ask for right away. It's just a little unusual, I guess."
Her comment threw me off guard. Cold water? I didn't realize it was such a standout request. But then again, when I thought about it, I realized how used I was to a simpler lifestyle, one where basic needs were enough to get by. Maybe my requests did seem strange, but that was simply because I wasn't used to asking for anything beyond the bare necessities.
"Oh—" I began, trying to explain myself. "It's just that one of my wraths is the wrath of fire. This makes my body constantly overheated, like I'm always burning up. It's like being on fire all the time, and when I found cold water in the forest, I ended up boiling it while I was showering. It's... ironic, I guess. I need cold water to cool me off, but instead, it boils on me. It's funny and frustrating at the same time." I paused, unsure if they'd fully grasp the strangeness of it. "As weird as it sounds, I actually love winter more than the other seasons. It's cold, everything feels crisp and clean, and there's a peaceful stillness to it. I feel... comfortable in it. It's like a relief from the constant heat I carry."
They were quiet for a moment as they processed what I said, each of them looking at me with different expressions. Naomi's face was thoughtful, like she was considering my words carefully, while Kai, as usual, looked like he was ready to make a comment. And true to form, he grinned before speaking. "With me, it's the complete opposite. I'm all about the warmth. I love the heat, except winter, which is also my favorite season." He said it with a teasing smile, his eyes locked on mine as if trying to get a reaction.
I already knew about Kai's preference for warmth, especially given his fiery abilities. But despite that, he still seemed to have a soft spot for winter, which was intriguing to me. I didn't quite understand his fascination with it, considering his powers, but I let it slide. Sometimes people liked things that didn't make much sense to others. I didn't see the need to delve into it further.
"Anyway, about your requests," Kai continued, his voice taking on a more serious tone as he shifted the conversation back. "I was already planning on providing all of that for you. And then some. I also plan on paying you for your work with us, just like I pay all these other bastards." He waved his hand dismissively at the others in the room, as if they were nothing more than a group of underlings.
I scoffed, crossing my arms defiantly. "You don't need to pay me, you stupid asshole," I shot back, the irritation in my voice clear. I wasn't sure why, but the idea of being paid for my work here felt wrong, especially when I hadn't even done anything yet.
From the corner of the room, Ryusei hummed in approval, his voice playful and teasing as always. "I love the way you talk to him," he chimed in, clearly enjoying the back-and-forth between Kai and me. He was always quick to make light of any situation, especially when it came to messing with Kai.
"Shut up, wolfie boy," I shot back without hesitation, causing Ryusei to blink in surprise. He wasn't expecting me to call him that, and the look on his face was priceless. I couldn't help but laugh a little, feeling a small sense of satisfaction at catching him off guard.
Kai raised an eyebrow, clearly not impressed with our banter. "And again," he said, his tone steady and calm, "I told you, I don't need payment. You're working with us now, so don't make a big deal out of it." He shrugged, clearly not understanding my hesitation. "You're the King, after all. You've got more important things to spend your money on than on me. I don't need your pity." I could tell he was trying to make it sound casual, but there was something in his words that still bothered me. I didn't want to take money from them, not when they didn't owe me anything.
Kai leaned back in his chair, an amused smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "Yes, I am indeed the King," he said, his voice laced with a touch of arrogance. "And that's exactly why I get to decide how to spend my money. If I want to hang around you and piss you off, then I'm going to do it." He said it with a teasing laugh, as if to underscore that he had the power to do whatever he wanted, and there was nothing I could do about it.
The sound of his laughter irritated me more than I cared to admit. I hated how his laughter made everything feel like a game to him, like nothing was ever serious. It grated on my nerves, and I found myself wanting to shut him down before he could continue, but I kept my mouth shut.
"Oh, and about the money..." Kai continued, clearly enjoying his role as the one in charge. "Naomi already set up an account for you in my personal bank," he said casually, almost as if it were nothing. "This is also where the money for all six of these bastards is kept, by the way. You don't even have to spend it if you don't want to. But I'll still pay you. You're working with us now, so it's only fair."
I was about to protest again, but before I could say anything, Kai kept going, his words flowing smoothly. "And when you get familiar with the city, you'll probably want to buy things for yourself anyway," he said, his grin widening. The thought of buying things for myself hit me like a ton of bricks. The idea of having money, of being able to spend it on whatever I wanted... it felt strange, almost foreign to me. I had lived in the forest for so long that the idea of material possessions seemed irrelevant, even unnecessary. But here, surrounded by them, the idea of purchasing things for myself made my stomach tighten uncomfortably.
I'm unsure if I'm even ready to get used to this life. It was a strange thought, one that didn't fit with the way I had lived for so long. I wasn't sure I would ever be comfortable with it, but I had to admit, there was a part of me that was... intrigued by the idea of it.