Volume 6 Chapter 46-2 Sometimes External Fuel is Needed to Ignite the Flames
"Cut it out. You think I enjoy getting tangled up with an old geezer and crone?"
"Then shall we head back? I'd be much obliged."
Without waiting for Randy to speak, Keith flashed a smile at Liz.
"Liz, wait. It's not over yet──"
"Your Excellency, Lady Flora, and Sir Cedric, on behalf of my foolish brother, I apologize to our parents."
"Then, Father, Mother, and Elder Brother, until──"
Clarice showed the carpet, and Liz waved with a smile at the 3 before activating the teleportation.
Wrapped in a dazzling light, the group of 5, including Randy, vanished in an instant with Randy's pitiful cry, "I don't want to go back yet!" echoing behind them.
"Father, is Randolph going to be alright?"
Cedric's gaze, fixed on where Randy's group had been, was utterly bewildered.
Unlike Cedric, it was Lucian and Flora who wore smiles.
"No problem at all."
"Yes, such a kind-hearted, good young man."
Cedric tilted his head in surprise at Flora's words as she smiled.
"Labeling oneself a villain, bridging a long time in an instant. It's no small feat."
Leaning back with a smile, Lucian spoke of the true nature of the series of trivial moves Randy had shown.
Madame and Keith.
The two, embracing in the heat of their reunion, were surprisingly awkward and shy for their age.
Yet they also possessed a calmness that suited their age.
In fact, one might say they were too calm.
Though it was out of the question for them to hold hands in front of everyone, they still tried to act cool and collected to hide their excitement at the reunion.
When emotions that once flared are cooled by shyness and composure, it becomes a delicate dance of maintaining a certain distance, especially when under the watchful eyes of others.
"Once something hot cools down, it tends to stay that way."
The item Lucian picked up was a photo that Randy had left behind, featuring the two of them.
Despite his earlier fright, he had managed to take another photo when they returned to the hall.
Keith holding Madame's sewing box.
Madame blushed next to him, turning her face away.
From their behavior, it was clear they were already embarrassed, maintaining a delicate distance.
They seemed like middle schoolers in the early stages of dating, but since it was them, there was no helping it.
Randy, who had captured that moment, once again fled like a rabbit on the run....
"Unable to be honest due to embarrassment, they end up where they are. With age, one can't be straightforward about love and such."
Smiling, Lucian handed the photo to Cedric.
"They look good together, don't they?"
Cedric furrowed his brows, and Lucian nodded, "Yes," but whether their love would ignite from here on out remained uncertain, despite their compatibility.
From now on, the two would return to the same town, but they wouldn't be doing the same job.
Given their personalities, prioritizing work was inevitable.
That might lead to them drifting apart.
That's why, while things were still hot, Randy decided to strike at their hearts.
It might be better to act and make them more aware of each other's presence.
By doing so, they would have to recognize that they weren't just colleagues hired by the same house, but longed-for lovers who had thought of each other for a long time.
That would be embarrassing for them, but it was also a task to confirm their internal and external recognition.
Once everyone recognized it, there would be no need to be particularly embarrassed about it.
"Could it be that mother was so keen on it because..."
Cedric gave a wry smile, and Flora stuck out her tongue, saying, "Yes."
"Sometimes, saying it out loud helps to understand and feel settled."
Smiling, Flora continued that if they left it to Randy, they would surely hear more enjoyable stories next time they met.
"I thought you were just poking fun at them and enjoying it."
"That might be part of it."
Cedric's words brought a smile to Lucian's face, who then took the photo from Cedric, perhaps as a sign of trust.
"Anyway, I do think there's a bit of self-sacrifice... but as a partner for Liza, he has the perfect kind of gentle nature."
Nodding, Lucian left Cedric with no choice but to nod back, "Yes, you're right."
"But... he might be seeing hell right about now."
Lucian chuckled, recalling the reports from [Dark Tide] about Keith's inhuman strength, and figuring Randy was probably crying right now after getting on his bad side.
"Victor is a whole different beast. That's the biggest hurdle when it comes to entrusting Liza to him."
Cedric gave a wry smile, but with a hint of envy in his eyes.
"Don't be so envious. Once things settle down, I can ask Lord Alan to introduce you to a mentor."
Cedric's face visibly brightened at those words.
Aspiring to be a swordsman, Cedric was naturally interested in reaching the pinnacle of skill.
"For that, we must win this battle."
Cedric's expression turned serious, matching Lucian's.
"Let's coordinate information," he said as they began preparing for the upcoming fight.
* * *
"We failed to secure Madame."
The old man, disguised as a man in the park, visibly showed his displeasure with a sharp "What?"
"Who, and why──"
The report from the bench next to him indicated that it was likely the work of Victor.
"Victor...Victor, huh?"
The man muttered, followed by a small "Hmph"
"We'll report this to Sir Leonius. But, this might work out in our favor. Let's leave Madame's protection to them for a while."
The laughing man looked up at the crimson sky.
"If we're not in this doomed land, it's all the same."
The man's unsettling words were carried away by the chilling wind and vanished into the sky.
The setting sun and the cold wind.
Slowly but surely, night was closing in on Braubelg.
Meanwhile, in Victor's world...
"Abel, listen. That guy is no longer human."
"You say that every single time."
"And you’d better keep listening. That thing’s a monster."
"Seriously though, why do I have to be here too...?"
...Randy and Abel were getting a loving beatdown from Keith.
While Liz, Clarice, and Madame watched with smiles.
"...I'm seriously just caught in the crossfire."
"Abel, here he comes!"
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Donate me
Support Me with USDC
(ERC20)
Support Me with XLM
(Stellar Lumens)