Chapter 403: [ Last Dance ]
Before that figure had appeared, countless men in black had started moving about in the darkness. Like ghosts, they appeared around Allen and the others, surrounding them.
Including the one in front of Allen, there were exactly six figures.
As for their sudden appearance, neither Allen nor the two women behind him were surprised or alarmed.
“How is it?” Allen’s soft voice rang out.
“It can be considered a success,” The figure answered. “We had found the camp but 2 of us were killed. From what we can see there were 2 Demon Generals and 3 high-level Demons. The worst is, we found a certain group among them.”
“Group?”
“Winged Creatures… similar to angels but more like avians. We deduced that it should be…”
“… Peri, isn’t it?” A voice answered from behind them.
Walking towards them was none other than, Lord Rajmund along with several people, which mostly were Elders. “I apologize, we accidentally overheard.” Lord Rajmund sent an apologetic gaze to Allen.
Accidentally...? Allen snorted inwardly. Such word was extremely convenient, I wanted to cry.
“My daughter and Lady Eerika were looking for you, so we came here to look but…” Lord Rajmund then turned around and looked at the dark figures wearing long hooded coats. “They are…?”
“My people…” In fact, my clones. Allen answered with a smile. Truthfully he had already known that Lord Rajmund was coming. However, he didn’t do anything because it might cause unnecessary suspicions and misunderstandings.
“Oh?” Lord Rajmund nodded and his eyes gleamed with interest. But he immediately held himself down to inquire further as his full attention was attracted by something else. “So the Peris allied themselves with the Demons?”
The Peri Clan are exquisite, winged-like spirits ranking between angels and evil spirits.
In some stories, they are described as agents of evil who have been denied paradise until they have done penance. In which later, they are benevolent.
Sometimes they were seen as Angels or Harpies.
However, of course, some Peri was also evil nature.
“We’re in for a rough fight tomorrow then,” Lord Rajmund sigh bitterly.
Allen shrugs. After reporting, dark silhouettes then disappeared without a trace.
After seeing that the black-robed people disappeared without him even sensing where they went, Lord Rajmund was secretly shocked. How can this be...?
His power and level were only second in this city. In fact, aside from the ancestor who was resting somewhere safe, he was one of the strongest person the entire Clan. A Mid God, so to speak.
Thus, Lord Rajmund's curiosity deepens.
“I never heard you had companions,” Lord Rajmund asked curiously.
“I had… however, each of them has their own roles to play and I rarely sometimes use them.” Allen honestly answered. He looks at Lord Rajmund and noticed the curiosity as well as suspicion hidden in his eyes and couldn't help but smile coldly into his heart.
In fact, Allen had done this to avoid suspicion as well as have a deterring force against any other Clan.
‘I am not alone… someone out there was looking for me,’
Although Allen had somewhat good relationship towards the other God Clans such as the Aryan Clan and the Kemet Clan, however, putting all his trust and belief towards them was something extremely dangerous.
Just like what Solomon had once said, never fully trust a God.
Who knows when would they change their attitude towards him?
Gods are even more fickle compared to humans.
Obviously, Allen didn’t distrust them at all. Still, he just needs a small assurance when things went worst.
“Are they from the Olympian Clan?” Lord Rajmund had already heard about Allen and the High Goddess Athena’s relationship. It seemed like they were quite friendly towards each other. So it was safe to assume that it was the Olympians who were cooperating with him.
However, Allen shook his head to avoid any misunderstanding. “They are from my world… a family I have who accompanied me when I came into this world.”
“Hmmm, so they are not from the God Clans?”
“No,”
Lord Rajmund hesitated for a bit before resolving himself. The gentle look on his face flickered momentarily before he asked, “Young Lord, I know it’s too late to ask this but, what is your reason for going into the Celestial Realm?”
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“… …” Allen’s smile didn’t waver but Baishe and Laura behind her simultaneously frowned. “Are you suspecting me for something… Lord Rajmund?”
“Of course not, why would I?” Lord Rajmund answered immediately. His face still has that same smile,
“I know that this was rude but… I just can’t fully trust you yet.” He said quite honestly at that. Allen was startled and couldn't help but mused inwardly. What a cunning old fox...
“… …”
Lord Rajmund chuckled and then, he continued: “Actually I was just curious… that’s all. In fact, I won’t hide this from you, young lord but I had tried asking the Norse Clan about you before. However, I couldn’t get a proper answer from them. So, my curiosity was suddenly pricked. I hope you don’t feel offended.”
So that was why I was always feeling as if someone was watching me all this time but I just couldn’t confirm it--This has also the main reason why Allen had shown some of his cards. He felt someone was trying to dip their nose to somewhere it doesn't belong.
“Of course not. It’s natural to feel curious and suspicions were unavoidable. If I was in your shoes, I would probably do the same thing.” Allen said those words with a smile. Looking at Lord Rajmund, his face expressed a smile of sincerity which was able to even portray him feeling a deep sense of admiration.
“Well, it’s not like I’m really trying to hide it, so whatever,”
Seeing Allen’s amiable expression, Lord Rajmund’s eyebrows twitched a bit as he suddenly felt an invisible pressure. Judging by Allen’s calm demeanor, this youth was really no ordinary individual!
Lord Rajmund couldn’t help but sighed inwardly: His actions tonight… was probably a grave mistake.
“I only came to the Celestial Realm for a tour, of course even if I say that you wouldn’t probably believe me. But that is the truth. As for some minor reason, I also came here to look for my brother…”
“Brother?”
“That’s right. My Brother… from what I had heard, he seemed to have gone astray. Joining people with bad influences. Thus, I was forced to come here and drag him back to the right track.” Allen smiled bitterly with a bit of shame.
“… …”
“Anyway, that was my reasons for being here. Currently, I still don’t have any news about my brother so strolling here and there was my main hobby, for now, ~” Allen ended with a wry smile.
Lord Rajmund couldn’t find anything suspicious from Allen’s words and expression and although he was still curious about Allen’s ‘brother’ he stopped his inquiry for now and laughed.
“Is that so? Well, if you need any help searching for your brother, just tell me, young lord, the Aryan Clan will certainly lend you a hand.”
“Thank you,” Allen chuckled as he smiled warmly but in his heart; what a shrewd man. Well, this is the dark side of an imperial position…
Lord Rajmund and the other Elders chatted with Allen for a while before they finally returned towards the hall, wanting to attend the other guests. They invited Allen back but Allen insisted to stay for the time being to catch some air.
When they finally disappear, Allen’s sword –like eyebrows quivered.
The earlier expression of warm and amiable that he had shown before Lord Rajmund and the others earlier had evaporated. Instead, it was replaced with an expression of an endless amount of shrewdness. Obviously, the expression he had shown earlier was fake.
“Master,”
As Allen stood silently in the dark night, Baishe’s voice brought him back.
Allen stretched his hand and lovingly stroke Baishe’s cheeks, “I’m fine. To erase the suspicions they had along with the other God Clans, we don’t have a choice but to stick here for a little while and helped them passed the monsters invasion. The Aryan Clan wasn’t the only Clan that was harboring suspicions towards us.”
“It might not look like it on the surface but most of the God Clans had already known of our existence and was harboring suspicions. As long as we can prove ourselves in this battle to help the Aryan Clan, our movements in the future when visiting other Clans would certainly be easier and more relaxed.”
“What young master wanted to do, we will fully support you,” Baishe and Laura nodded with heavy determination.
Listening to their heartfelt words and seeing their loving expression, Allen felt something well up from the bottom of his heart. It was a feeling, an aching feeling that gave him a sense of warmth and comfort.
He knows that not only Baishe and Laura but the others as well held the same belief and affection.
As Allen wanted to stay something, suddenly, he tilted his ear.
"......the last song is starting." He muttered.
"Hm?" Baishe and Laura titled their heads in confusion.
They then noticed the song change. They weren't aware it was the final piece, however. But Allen grabbed Laura’s hands and said, “My poor Laura, tonight I haven’t had the chance of dancing with you… will you give me this honor?” He smiled mischievously.
“Eh!?” Laura’s eyes widened in shock.
She felt that her pounding heart was racing faster and faster. It took her a full minute to understand what Allen was saying. “Eh? me, me….!?”
“What? You don’t like?” Allen smiled teasingly.
“Of course, I like!!” Laura exclaimed in shock. then she lowered her head in embarrassment because of her suddenly yell.
Baishe standing beside her chuckled in amusement and then she suddenly pushed Laura forward before stepping back. She had already had hers so it’s only right to relinquish this one…
Laura who had forgotten how to speak or even let out a sob, bit her lips. Her eyes were squinted as she smiled sweetly.
She grabbed Allen’s offered hands as her tensed face finally softened.
She raised her free hand to comb through the hair on her cheeks while her eyes turned slightly red. A warm smile beamed from the corners of her lips.
What a beautiful night…!!
What a beautiful night!!
She wanted to cry, scream, yell, all just to show what she was feeling right now.
Under a dome of moonlight and starlight, wearing a clear smile even Allen rarely saw, Laura bowed albeit clumsily and stiffly, trying to act like a real princess in some fantasy movies.
That beautiful smile brooked no resistance.
Was this probably what Cinderella felt that night…?
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