Why can't humans do it too?

"Mr. Monkey, have you thought about what interesting scenes might happen later?" Xin Ke asked with interest as she watched the Skywing creature beside her, who was still muttering something but had managed to control its temper and land on the ground, even reducing the width of its robe.

As a theater enthusiast, Xin Ke particularly enjoys dramatic scenes.

Thankfully, Jibril had not yet regained her full power, and her wings were much smaller than those of her complete form; otherwise, Sull would have had no idea how to cover it up for her.

"Of course I've thought about it... I just hope I won't be discovered," Suer sighed deeply, glancing down at his obviously unusual equipment. After a moment's thought, he draped a robe over himself. "At least I won't be discovered by anyone other than Riku. Oh, and by the way, could I ask the great Lord Nielbaren for a favor?"

"Hmm? Speak?"

"Can you call me Sur while we're inside?"

The thought of being called "Mr. Monkey" by a woman in a crowd... just imagining it made Su Er's scalp tingle. If that were to happen, he would want to turn around and leave right now.

"Oh my~, is that how it is?" Deliberately drawing out her words, watching Su'er's expression shift between embarrassment and nervousness, Xin Ke finally nodded decisively, "Okay, then—Su'er?"

“…Thank you,” Su Er breathed a sigh of relief.

The Skywing creatures nearby seemed to be chuckling, but Sull chose to pretend he didn't hear them.

Although he was a little nervous about getting there, Suer unconsciously quickened his pace. The other two didn't remind him, and in the blink of an eye, the three of them reached the end of the passage, where it was blocked by wooden traps and a gate.

The presence of living people was palpable. Through the loose cracks in the wood, Suer could even see a few bright, orange flames emanating from within, accompanied by heat wafting through the gaps.

They didn't deliberately try to be discreet, so the arrival of the three people immediately alerted the guards standing inside the door. Using the sound-absorbing device in his ear, Suer heard rustling sounds coming from inside, which then disappeared—they were probably quietly crouching by the door, weren't they? Then he slowly pulled open the hinges on the door to check.

Sur was already intimately familiar with everything about the settlement, and he wasn't angry about the quietness inside; on the contrary, he felt even more gratified.

Even now, when the frequency of having to go out to collect food and other supplies has decreased significantly, people's vigilance remains, which is all the better.

Liku didn't let them relax... Well, other defense matters will have to be observed after we go inside.

After Xinke and Jibril had taken their positions, Suer took a few more steps forward and stood at the edge of the trap. He didn't play any tricks that could easily cause accidental injury. Instead, he took off his hood and said in a deep voice.

"it's me."

The doorway seemed to explode with noise and shouts, so chaotic that Suer couldn't even hear who was speaking.

Before long, the wooden wall was opened from the inside, and the dazzling light made Su Er squint slightly. The area was already crowded with people, jostling each other. Those who couldn't see from the back kept jumping up and down, trying to get a better look at what was outside the door.

"Surgo!"

"Sur!"

"It really is Sur!!"

"Quickly, go and inform Riku!"

"And Ke'er too!"

"Oh right! And Ke'er too!"

"Don't just stand there, move these things away quickly!!"

"Hurry up, hurry up!!"

"..."

The cacophony of shouts echoed through the narrow passage. The traps blocking the entrance were temporarily shut down, and the barricades were moved aside. Then, Suer was engulfed by the crowd.

At first, there were only a few people standing guard at the gate and people resting in the open space far away from the gate. However, before long, more and more people came after hearing the news. In the end, the settlement was as lively as if it were a festival. Suer didn't even walk into the settlement on his own two feet, but was carried in by these enthusiastic guys.

'You guys are something else!' Even Suer himself felt a bit speechless. Although the equipment he was wearing had been specially treated by Xinke to reduce its weight, it was still quite heavy overall. However, the enthusiastic people in the settlement carried him in with their bare hands.

Although I was in a sorry state, I was very happy.

The feeling that he hadn't been forgotten even after disappearing for more than two years, and had even received such a warm welcome, filled Suer's heart with a surge of warmth. All the pain and torment he had endured were worth it for such smiles and affection.

I felt relieved, and even the shadows in my heart seemed to have been swept away.

Chapter 171 Joy and Longing

In a world like this, to still possess such a vibrant smile and such a passionate heart, then his blood was not shed in vain.

This is light and heat comparable to the sun.

When Suer realized it, he belatedly discovered that his cheeks were wet. He didn't know when it had started, but his eyes were already brimming with tears, which were flowing uncontrollably.

Blinking hard to see the world clearly again, Suer saw two figures, one tall and one short, standing far away in the distance, still wearing their hoods even inside the cave. Strangely, although they had appeared here with Suer, no one seemed to notice them or notice their presence.

Was magic used?

It's really hard to imagine that the Forest Elves and Skywings would participate in such a celebration.

He forcefully wiped away the tears of excitement and joy that welled up in his eyes. His image no longer mattered. Suer shouted loudly, trying to get everyone in the settlement to put him down—but to no avail.

His shouts actually made the cheers even louder, along with the sounds of gratitude.

Those are the words...

"Thanks to you, Surgo!!"

"If it weren't for you, Su'er, sending the intelligence back, we'd probably still be on endless expeditions!"

Ok?

"Anyway, you're finally back! You must have had a tough time out there, Suerge!"

"Yes, I feel sad every time I eat those things. I don't know how much you've suffered outside for those things..."

Uh-huh?

"Yeah, right! It's awful! You're making me want to cry too..."

Hmm? Wait a minute?

Liku, what did you say to the people in the settlement?

As Su'er was being tossed around, he felt his tears welling up and his whole body stiffening – wasn't it supposed to be a coincidence that would never arouse suspicion in delivering the supplies to the settlement?

Suer wanted to ask Xinke some specific questions, but the angle from which he was thrown up prevented him from seeing the woman.

Or is this just another coincidence?

Did Riku just take the credit for him to cover up his whereabouts? Well, it doesn't seem like I'm taking credit for myself...

It made a "Nani" sound.

Finally, the cheers and enthusiasm of the crowd subsided a little. The kind-hearted people did not engage in the perverse pleasure of tossing Suer up and then watching him fall freely. Instead, they carefully helped him stand up.

It only took a few seconds for the enthusiastic cheers to subside and for Su Er to catch his breath as he watched the two people who walked out of the crowd and into his presence—two people who were extremely important to him.

"……Welcome back."

Even though he tried hard to suppress it, the joy on his face was still evident. The corners of his mouth were turned up and couldn't be lowered. The white-haired boy, who was always extremely serious in front of everyone, slowly opened his arms as if to hug someone, but someone beat him to it.

boom!

"Su, Su'er!!! Sister misses you so much, waaaaaah!!!!"

Just as Suer opened his arms to embrace Riku, a red whirlwind crashed into his chest, and Suer even felt the air in his lungs being squeezed out.

Ribs! Someone, save my ribs!!!

Hey, hey, hey, this is while wearing defensive gear! Ke'er, doesn't it hurt?!

"Cough, cough cough cough! Ke, Ke'er, I, I, I really... missed you so much," Su'er coughed weakly, rolling his eyes listlessly. The fact that he could still stand without being knocked to the ground was already a testament to his willpower.

Seeing that Sull weakly waved his arms twice to signal to him, Riku didn't mind the small matter. He simply withdrew his arm and smiled. He was already very satisfied. Even his resolute but dull eyes sparkled with a lively light.

Although he always told everyone in the village that Suer was still alive, only Riku knew that in his heart he had already considered Suer as someone who had been sacrificed. Everything he did was just his little whim, a hope he had set up, a way of remembering that man... that man who was as close as a younger brother.

He is still alive and doing well.

That's perfect enough.

Liku squinted his eyes with delight.

"...Why won't you come back! Do you know how worried your sister is?! I asked Riku so many times but you wouldn't give me a clear answer! You two are so awful!!" She buried her head in Sul's shoulder and cried bitterly. Ko'er's two arms were so tight that Sul felt like she couldn't breathe.

But neither he nor those around him meant any blame—it was a fact known to everyone in the settlement that Kole had always regarded Sull and Riku as his own younger brothers.

And there was that familiar little figure with blue-purple hair. Behind her, Maruda was also smiling and bending down to whisper something in her ear, and gently nudging her back.

It's Nona, Nona who has grown up quite a bit. In just two years, Nona, whose development started much earlier than boys, has suddenly grown half a height.

With a smile and a nod, without saying a word, Suer simply stretched out an arm, and the next moment, Nona slammed into his chest like a cannonball, also attacking Ke'er who was already there.

No, we can't let this child keep following Ke'er around like this; he's practically going to run someone over.

He couldn't help but grin, giving a wry smile to his companions around him. With his other arm around Nona, who had thrown herself into his embrace, Suer gently patted her back.

Nona was already in tears.

Suer felt a little gratified and thought to himself.

That little girl from back then has grown up... but she's still just as prone to crying as she was back then.

"Ah! That's right! I suddenly remembered, weren't there two other guests who came back with Sulgo?!" Cledo, who was also a close friend and had been smiling and standing by, suddenly exclaimed.

"Huh? A guest?" Ke'er looked up from Su'er's shoulder, her eyes brimming with tears. She followed the crowd in confusion. She had arrived later and missed the initial scene. She thought only Su'er had returned.

Credo's shout was like a signal, simultaneously awakening the few people who had initially witnessed Sue, Hinco, and Jibril walk in—oh, sorry, Sue didn't leave.

Has the magic been broken?

While guessing in his mind, Suer also looked over in the crowd.