Chapter 603: [ Gathering of Players (2)]
"What are you laughing about, your excellency?"
Romeia frowned and she glared at Allen who was laughing in amusement.
"Well, this. I just realized that you are unexpectedly cute in certain ways." Allen replied lightheartedly.
"Cute? What are you referring to?"
"You should know very well, Romeia." Allen grinned impishly. His gaze was meaningful.
"What!?" Romeia’s face instantly flushed all red. "… Your Excellency, exalted as you are, how could you speak so rudely to the Dungeon Lord? Please be mindful of your own behavior. Why on earth do you have to call someone like me cute and praise her like one of your consorts!? Earning points at this moment is already a useless act. I already know your real personality and character and I had already made my decision to never associate you in that... ‘certain’ regard or it will surely be my own loss and suffering. So, please do not treat this poor maid, like any other women!" She harrumphed in contempt.
"…ordinary women or not. It’s only because you are very stubborn." Allen smiled mischievously and teased. He then reached his hand out towards one of the sandwiches on the table tray and then took a huge bite from it, containing chicken, organic vegetables and herbs.
Tasty! Allen smiled faintly, satisfied. The leafy greens of the rucola lettuce were very fresh, the thin slices of tomatoes were quite fragrant, and the salty taste of the chicken made it even more delicious.
Simple but I could still give this a 9 rating~
Staring at the sandwich in his hand, Allen muttered as if he was mumbling to himself, “… Things in life, when passed beyond time, only regret will follow. Responsibilities, duties, you are admirable in some ways… however, one must also not forget a life of happiness and excitement."
"...?!!"
"...I’m not talking about the world, like saving the world or world peace, but some minuscule happiness of a sole human can have. It might be a waste of time, but such experiences are nice and wonderful to reminisce when one looks back on it.”
“… …”
“It makes a human’s short life, wonderful and one of a kind. Because of these inexplicable, wasteful, unidentifiable things that the world and life so beautiful…don’t you agree?” Allen glanced at Romeia who stay rooted after hearing Allen’s pure and innocent words.
“That’s…” she found herself couldn’t find any words to refute or say anything about it. Her happiness…?
Pursuing something like that is a waste of time when it is compared to saving the entire world.
However, Allen seemed to have read her expression and completely disagreed with her, “You can’t hope for a world’s happiness if you can’t even make one person, especially yourself, happy... Romeia,”
Slowly swallowing his sandwich, Allen declared leisurely.
"…W, What displeasure, there's nothing of that sort!" Romeia clicked her tongue but her face was burning. “I’ll be more than happy to protect my homeworld! The trifling happiness of mine is not important compared to saving my world!”
Teased by Allen, Romeia denied vehemently, her face flushed red with embarrassment. But he had most likely hit the mark, for she clumsily turned her face away from his gaze.
"Haha, don't be shy. Even as someone from ancient times, that's so childish of you. All I said just now was you're cute and advise you to have fun like ordinary people sometimes, right? That's not something I dislike."
"Eh?"
Allen’s smile gave Romeia a severe fright. Even though centuries had passed since her successful rebirth, the Dungeon Lord and the Brave Warrior who had shaken the Celestial Realm once, was still a pubescent girl.
A girl who had neither experience love nor affection that of between man and woman in her entire life. Romeia held terrifying magical power and prestige. Nevertheless, she was now showing innocent fear as befitted of her appearance.
“Well, since this is the night of festivity you mentioned. Just act like a proper lady of your age, in terms of appearance, of course. Release yourself from stiff duties and responsibilities and have fun. Be an ordinary young woman that likes having fun in parties and balls~” Allen shrugged.
"What!? How rude! Befitting of my age? I am a person who was born countless years past--!"
"No matter how many years ago you were born, nothing has changed your appearance. In any case, this is a time of relaxation. I think it's fine for you to throw childish tantrums to your unending duties and responsibilities and have fun from time to time, right?" Allen smiled at her. His gaze twinkling for some unknown intent.
“… …idiot…” Romeia abruptly turned her face away.
Apparently, she could no longer endure Allen’s smiling gaze. But even turned away, her head was still held up high, secretly watching the latter’s movements.
Her feelings had not been hurt, rather it was probably the opposite.
*** ***
“Arara…he did it again…”
From behind, watching the entire scene happened and listening to their conversation, Mireya and Laura were sighing bitterly.
“Why didn’t you stop him…?” Mireya nudged Laura with her elbow as she watched Allen and Romeia, with eyes full of interest and smile.
“…Master seems to be enjoying himself. I can’t bring myself to interfere and break his fun… you see, it’s been a long time since Master has been in a party like this one, where he doesn’t need to worry about everything and where he can let go of anything that can make him full of worry for a while,” Laura replied with a wry smile, though her smile was akin to that of a mother seeing her child who was happy and excited about going to the amusement park. “... Aren’t you also feeling the same, sister Mireya? If it was the old you, you would have been like an overprotective wolf mother protecting her cub~”
“… …” Mireya giggled. “Is that a pun? It’s not ‘like’, because I’m indeed a real wolf… and that there, is a big bad wolf~” she pointed at Allen while giggling.
Following here, Laura also followed suit and laughed.
Their happy chatter was caught by those who were watching them, and once again even more mesmerizing.
However, really wonderful, Allen thought as he walked towards the bar area just beside the stairs, where a bartender was busy tossing bottles of wines with a cool expression, Allen roamed his eyes around the festive hall.
All the people, save for several small groups seemed to be socializing with each other quite well. Even though all of them shouldn’t be in the same world, much less a group, it seems like some wall separating between collapses as they talk with less formality while laughing together.
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The hall was large and many places were beautiful and well decorated. Hundreds of delicious dishes and sweets were being displayed on the snow white tablecloths that were spread on the tables.
Waiters and maids were also quite skilled as they distribute wine and water glasses as well as attend to various guests inside the room—though; Allen knows that although they look like real people, they are actually similar to Romeia’s current human body; Homunculus and the like.
The performance by the orchestra was very excellent as they performed very elegantly and quite classy music.
It was a truly joyous night as the hall was filled with laughter and whispers from noble looking ladies and gentlemen wearing luxurious formal clothes.
"These people came from different world right... right?"
Thinking the same thing, Mireya posed a question. Naturally, it was directed towards Romeia who was still glaring at Allen as the latter sit at the very center of the bar counter.
“…they seem to know each other quite well…” Mireya asked as she looks around them, people talking happily like some old friends and since they looked like socializing nobles and aristocrats straight out from scenes in medieval-type movies, it’s hard to believe that all of them are players and gamers from different worlds.
There were also some people sitting in the couches near the walls or the snack tables as they talked happily with each other, drinking and immersing themselves in alcohol and women. There were even PA couples with arms over each other’s shoulders, embracing and hugging, the young men and women intermingled freely.
Unrestrained and charming laughter continuously arose.
“Can’t be helped,” Romeia replied, sighing helplessly. “Unlike you, they already started coming here for a very long time. The Dungeon started becoming crowded centuries ago and many players started appearing, probably many people publicized my Dungeon from all over the Thousand Worlds. And during that time, they probably were able to acquaint themselves. My Dungeon might be quite big but it’s just a small world, all of them were bound to meet if they ventured here and there, unlike your womanizing master…” Romeia glared at Allen as the latter tilted the wine glass as if playing with the melted ice within. “…who cooped within their little castle, without the least bit of adventurer spirit…!” she muttered with a smile of mockery.
“What? Are you still angry about the thing a while ago?” Facing this blunt sarcasm, Allen lifted up his wine glass and gazed meaningfully at Romeia. Allen grinned. “... Come on, cheer up, it’s not like you care about feminine things such as indirect kisses like ordinary girls…“
“I’m a woman as well… damn it!” Romeia exploded. Fortunately, Mireya and Laura immediately wedged in-between and tried to calm her down all while giggling in amusement. Thinking she could never hope to compare to Allen, she could only sigh in distress and continued; “…Anyway, they must be pretty excited, after all, it’s not common I held events like this. In fact, I was planning not to till a few years later. The average power levels of the people here couldn’t even reach half of yours, and the strongest group wouldn’t even able to do a thing against that womanizing monster of a master of yours. So sending them in that Dungeon would only be asking for their deaths… even I can’t do something like that…”
“But why did you change your mind…?”
In response to Laura’s question, Romeia glanced at Allen and sigh. “…I thought that this is a good opportunity that I can’t miss, that’s all. After all, a monster like him, I would not be able to meet someone like him after a very long, long time of waiting. And so, I changed my mind…and in addition, it would be unfair if I opened the Dungeon just for him, wouldn’t it?”
“So you immediately held this kind of event just for Allen….?!” Mireya was about to say something else but her words drowned in her throat because at this moment as they were talking several people had already buzzed around their beloved man.
Allen was still preoccupied with his drink when a lady in heavy makeup and gaudy clothing approached him. Her upper body was covered with only a rose-colored bra, while her lower body a black leather miniskirt. Holding an amber-colored liquor in her hand, she staggered and plastered herself onto him.
“Handsome, will you treat me to a drink?”
The woman’s voice was very coy, enough to make any man nauseated.
As Allen wasn’t fond of being picked up like this, the already somewhat hot-headed Allen conveniently pinched the protruding tip of the woman’s bra gently, the woman’s whole body trembled immediately, then gurgled with laughter, “Handsome you’re so nasty, pinching that place of mine the moment we met, if you ruin it by pinching, how are you going to compensate me……”
On one hand rebuking with discontent, on the other hand pressing herself even closer, a pair of shining white arms already hooked onto Allen’s neck.
Allen had a nefarious smile plastered on his face, he had not much interest in a woman like this, and she seemed too easy. Although he likes women and he indeed admitted to being a womanizer but, he likes women with class. Thus, he gently pushed the woman away from his body and said with a soft smile, “I’m not fond of criticizing a woman’s character with a muddy tone, as it is behavior unbefitting of a gentleman…but I really do—”
Allen was about to finish his words when suddenly a strong pulling force grabbed the woman away from Allen.
“Kyaa!!” the woman let out a shocked cry and fell on the ground, “Who dares!!?” She cried in an angry manner. Her power exploded, displaying her status as Mid Emperor Rank Superhuman. However, the moment she raised her head, what greeted her were two glaring Demon Gods—one was a Hannya, while the other was a large wolf-like female baring her fangs threateningly.
“Hiiii!!!”
The pressure emitting from the two instantly caused the woman to pale as her body trembled with fear. The pressure she was feeling was beyond what she could endure and in an instant, her knees gave in from the chilly cold and terrifying darkness that seemed to be emitting from the two women and forgot to stand up, shivering in the ground.
Laura’s face distorted in a very scary and terrifying expression.
A pair of horns appeared at each side of her head and on her face was strange black markings giving him a horrifying ambiance. While Mireya, her body was covered by a chilly cold wind that even freezes the ground beneath them into an icy surface.
Both of them letting out threatening glares and presence that caused other people to be apprehensive. Although they didn't mind how many women Allen had, however, to the women who clearly had other intentions, they didn't want them to get close to him at all.
The commotion instantly attracted almost all the people within the hall and the bar was surrounded by many spectators.
“Get lost! You damn sow!!” Laura coldly screamed, dark hazy shadows appearing from behind her, scaring the girl even more…
But at this moment,
“That’s enough, Laura…”
A solemn voice rang out from behind. Hearing these words, Laura and Mireya’s fierce aura instantly vanished as if it was an illusion and a shadow passed by them, stopping in front of the woman’s shivering figure and crouched down.
“You overdid it…” Allen muttered solemnly, his voice full of blame.
He was frowning and seeing this, Laura and Mireya’s expression paled and their bodies trembled. The one thing they feared the most is being hated by Allen.
“M, master…”
“H, husband…”
The two women wore a dejected expression, like children that have done wrong. Mireya scratches the back of her head awkwardly while Laura hanged her head low.
“… …” Allen stared at them for a while before sighing and then returning his attention to the scared and terrified girl.
“I apologize for what they did…”
As he said, he extended his hand and placed it at the top of the girl’s left shoulder. The girl jumped, in dazed for a while and then suddenly cowered back after their glances aligned, She was shivering in fright when a comfortable feeling rushed through her, calming her down, giving her a warm and comfortable feeling. And from around her, suddenly fabric of cloth started appearing and wrapping around her body.
“Ah, yo, you….”
“It's fine so just stays still,”
Just like the gaudy woman, all the people exclaimed in interest from the sudden use of an ability that caused the gaudy woman to wear a blue long dress in an instant.
There was a pair of blue colored gloves as well and boots, a complete set of formal dress. In this display, there were several people who showed an expression of realization as well, though as to what it was, only themselves knows.
“…as an apology for what they did, please accept this token of apology and wish that you may have a wonderful time tonight—though just like what I had said before, a wonderful woman respects themselves. I hope you transform into a real Cinderella by using this dress~” He whispered the last part, that only the girl was able to hear it.
When Allen stood back up, this time he held onto both of the girl’s hands. At that point, the girl had understood what Allen was going to do and managed to regain some composure. And the fascinating red radiance gushed out again, dyeing her expression with the color of the beautiful dawn.
A small voice that may or may not has resounded, “…th, thank you…” was muttered.
The girl’s cheeks were heating up for some reason. After Allen helps her stand up, “…This should be alright now. And please enjoy the rest of the night~” he said with an alluring voice, and as if nothing happened he turned around.
“Mas, master…I’m sorry,” Laura said dejectedly.
“Nah… I’m also happy that you did it. You will only become angry for me after all…you too, Mireya, though both of you really did act exaggeratedly, Not next time, okay?” Allen smiled at them gently.
“Yes, master (husband)!”
Both of them responded simultaneously.
While walking back to the chair, Allen noticed that strangely he had become the center of attention once again. The crowd was looking at him as if looking at a mysterious person, some exuded doubt and suspicions, several seemed to be slightly complex, and the females had eyes like hungry wolves filled with both amazement and sharpness.
Really…
“Wai…”
The woman was about to call Allen again but blocking her was still the two women who both wore a threatening expression that seem to say, ‘What are you still doing here? Get lost you damn pig!’ causing the woman to stop and sigh, glancing one last time at Allen’s retreating back, she bit her lips and left, disappeared in the crowd.