21st chapter : nothing seems wrong when it comes to the old people .

After going out for a day off, Marco and Carla had seen some quite new things for both of them. Marco was in charge of preparing dinner for the night and as he forgot to prepare some things he went outside to buy what he needed. On his way to the supermarket he met with Shoko, a bar owner and one of Marco’s work acquaintances. Shoko didn’t hesitate to ask him for a short walk.

“Aren’t we going to your house in this direction!? don’t tell me you are going to rob me!!” Shoko said as she was trying to act childish.

“Don’t joke on this kind of stuff. I need to put these things in the fridge, wait for me here for a second” Marco replied as he entered his house.

“Woah! as gloomy as ever. I don’t remember him telling me about…this house” Shoko murmured then heard a yelling from the insides of the house “a girl’s voice? don’t tell me!!!” Shoko was going to jump to conclusions.

“As I said!! I have something to do. I’ll be back late so prepare dinner!!!” Marco opened the door yelling too.

“hein!! Like I said!! I’m tired so you do…Shoko san?!!!” Carla came after yelling then calmed down as soon as she saw Shoko standing outside the house.

Shoko waved back with a smile then Carla took a deep breath then caught Marco from his shirt.

“What the heck did you do?!” she asked so casually as if Marco ruined things.

After clearing the misunderstanding, Carla had to put on an awkward smile then entered to prepare dinner.

“Pfft!! gahahaha!! and I thought she can act that elegant in the morning. So you two are dating or what?” Shoko asked after laughing a little.

“I don’t date and she’s my partner. I’m working now in red mermaid” Marco said as he was walking Shoko to her house.

“Oh, I see. So, Emilis had accepted a Yomu with him” Shoko whispered with a smile.

“I’m not a Yomu” Marco suddenly replied to her as he was looking to the left side.

“right, right…..wait what!?!!! and wait, how the hell did you hear me too?!” Shoko was shocked.

“Huh, I thought you figured that the moment Carla showed up from my house. you know that I don’t let any strangers into my house”.

Marco responded unexpectedly, making Shoko look at herself for a few times before she could be back to her usual self.

“I’m glad that you turned out to be a holder?” Shoko smiled at him.

Marco looked at her smiling then sighed.

“Please don’t give me that smile, it means that you need some work from me. just say it out loud then” He coldly replied as Shoko slapped his head.

“That’s rude. at least let me play my trump card!! plus if you’re willing to help me then at least act like you blushed or something!!” Shoko scolded him.

As they walked, it was a matter of time to reach her house. Marco thought it was kinda nostalgic to see her house again.

“Now I keep thinking about it, you were working with that girl, how’s she doing?” Shoko asked as she was opening the door.

“Huh, you know that she moved outside the town four years ago ,right?” Marco answered.

“Her father was a holder so I guess she became one too, are you sure she didn’t say anything about it? you two were really getting along!!!” Shoko grinned.

“Well, not like I was forcing her. plus enough speaking and tell me your request already!” Marco was rushing out as he felt something was wrong.

“Don’t rush things!! I’ll tell you!! Marco kun!! I want you to be my guard for two days outside for a small business trip at the Fullost city event” Shoko shouted in the middle of her bar.

The bar was closed so she thought it’s fine to shout at night.

“huh?!” Marco’s reply was as cold as usual.

The next day,

“Heeh!? you’re going to the Billy streets, why?” Carla asked in the middle of the work in the restaurant.

“Because Shoko san asked me to escort her or something, she’s going to attend some kind of event. Fullost or something” Marco replied.

“After reaching this far I can’t handle the eastern part alone!! and the house and stuff. What are you going to do about it!!?” Carla asked.

“You’re being too loud!!” Alice slapped Carla’s head “I don’t mind letting you go, bring some stuff for us when you return. That event is for the ones who have business in wine and booze. Bring some old bottles for the restaurant and if you could, bring some blue wine with you too” Alice accepted his quest suggestion.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

“Alice!! you didn’t tell him the most important thing!!! Listen, Marco!! don’t ever say that you’re from red mermaid, you know that we are hated but you have one thing that we don’t have!! you aren’t announced to the public as a red mermaid member yet. So have fun with your life, don’t ruin it!!!!” Xavier jumped at Marco like crazy.

“He knows that already, so don’t yell at his face. Still, I’d love to drink the blue wine too” Alex said as she entered from the backdoor.

“ah, Alex senpai, you came early today,” Marco said as he was washing the dishes while discussing things with everyone.

“I have only a half day of work today, well you would’ve known that if you came to study like the rest of the students already” Alex replied as Marco sighed.

“I’ll think about it later, now I have to go or she’ll pop up here at the front door” Marco answered as he finished his load of work.

As he was about to take his work suit Shoko entered the kitchen.

“You’re way too damn late!!!” she yelled.

“Sorry, I got caught in the work” Marco apologized naturally.

“I might forgive you because you look sexy in that outfit, can I hit on you!!?” Shoko tried to tease him then Alex flicked her forehead.

“Please don’t say this kind of stuff in our restaurant, the customers will get the wrong idea. How’s life going?” Alex was talking casually too.

“Meanie as usual, Alex chan!! I’m taking him for two days. Will night-hunting be going well without him?” Shoko asked.

“Who do you think we are Shoko san? I can take on his part of the city and there’s Carla too. master Emilis will return in two days so it’s not that bad to let him go” Zack responded.

“Heeh ? Is that true, well I’ll make sure to use him plenty!! then!! Marco kun! Let's go!!” Shoko was acting annoying.

“Hai hai! don’t annoy the customers now!” Marco flicked her forehead.

“Don’t be late, ok!! If you get in any trouble, call for us!! we’ll come and save you” Carla said as she was seeing him off at the front door.

“Do you think I’m a kid or what?” Marco coldly replied.

“I’m trying to be worried about you for one time and you reply coldly as usual. Well, don’t forget to bring souvenirs!! It’s for Sophie and Arthur!!” Carla yelled in his face after expecting his reaction.

Shoko laughed a little then they went ahead.

“Sigh, taking the train so we can get to the closest door is really a pain in the ass!!” Shoko was complaining at the train station while waiting for it to come.

“Well, it’s not like they love us at first thing, I wanna know why really but it seems because we are peasants or something like that” Marco replied.

“Heeh ?! so you heard about it too. They hate to admit that Emilis who’s no royal blood, an orphan whom no one knows where he belongs to, is the strongest man in this world” Shoko said for a second both looked at each other then sighed.

“It’s not that I hate the peaceful life that I’m living but I don’t wanna for my brother and sister to feel that hatred towards them since they will eventually be holders for red mermaid” Marco spoke honestly then Shoko looked at him.

“Huh!? You have a brother and sister?! Did your parents return?!!!” Shoko was shocked for a different reason.

“ah yeah I didn’t tell you, the surprising thing is that you never met me with them. I’m an older brother to two siblings, Sophie and Arthur”

Marco responded calmly yet he knew that he had to scold her for her words. He explained his situation to Shoko on the train on their way to the new city.

“I see, so that’s why you don’t attend school like other boys around your age. Carla is a different case because she was tutored by Alex from her childhood and because she knows about the euro because her family has the euro too and because Emilis didn’t want her to go to school. That’s some pretty dark past you have there!!” Shoko reacted to what Marco explained on the whole trip.

“That’s rude, plus I’m good with me, staying the way I’m. I’ll have Alex senpai tutor Arthur and Sophie at home so they can go to school normally after catching up. So I have to work more for their sake” Marco responded as he saw Shoko wiping her tears with a smile.

“Sniff, hicc, hicc!! fwee!!” She couldn’t stop from crying.

“Why are you crying?” he asked despite knowing why.

“You’re really that good guy!! despite the fact that I know that!! despite the fact that I know that!!!” she kept saying it for quite a time until they reached their destination.

“I really hate when they keep swapping the doors. like, I can’t always search for the number 1898 at the front doors. Give us a door in palm city already!!” Shoko was complaining again.

“Hai, hai, I’ll leave that for the council!” The place owner and the gatekeeper replied to her as he made them cross to close the door.

“This is your first time in the Billy streets right? What do you think?” Shoko addressed Marco as soon as they entered the Billy streets.

Billy streets are usually the lively streets for holders. They’re like hallways but it’s filled with shops for any kind of items or potions, types of food that only the holders can eat. The architectural style looks more like London in the dark ages but more cleaner, the buildings are in good shape despite being old.

“Uhm, if I can say anything about it I’ll say that it’s well built and kinda has a strange feeling around it. Are these bricks made of something like, euro resistant like the cords or stuff?” Marco asked.

Shoko noticed that he has a sharp sense for a person who didn’t know about the existence of this place until a few months ago.

“Yup, they’re the same as the cords items. It’s because that there’s some holders who have, like farseeing serments. For example, the navigators can’t see what’s inside the building. Well it’s easy for an A rank or more to see through though. Also it was designed 250 years ago so the Billy streets were the first district to go undercover in 1898. That's why we always search for that number. Man you should look more at this kind of history” Shoko was tutoring him while they were walking “The event is going to start tomorrow so let’s just take the rest of the day and rest a little, we will be sleeping in this hotel!”.

They entered and loitered a room for both of them. She was surprised then figured it out as soon as she saw Marco’s money loving face and his whispering habits.

“I’m surprised that you don’t think I can make a move on you. You’re eighteen so you’re legally old to get hit on!!” Shoko tried to play tricks on him.

“Try to touch me while I’m asleep and I’ll kill you” Marco smiled at her with a calm smile but filled up with bloodlust.

“Hai, sorry I was joking” Shoko resigned and apologized as Marco showed her that lustful smile. “Jokes aside, I didn’t tell you this cause I didn’t find the time. I’m an important figure for this event since I have a strong eye when it comes to judging the wine quality” Shoko started speaking on her own.

“Jokes aside? I’ve worked with you so I know that” Marco replied.

“Well, it’s kinda embarrassing but it’s the truth, since they can’t enter palm city because of Emilis’ presence. They’ll try to hit the bells and get what they want”.

Shoko tried to explain anonymously but Marco picked on her instantly.

“it’s not because you are a good judge but rather you hate their favoritism and they hate you or your serment I guess” He replied bluntly as she flicked his head because she got mad.

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