Helial walked slowly around the perimeter of the library pondering how to address the matter with Frankenstein.
All along the walls of the Royal Library were frescos which depicted war scenes and portraits of every monarch who had ruled over Orma before Caesar. Some paintings were of the mythological origins of the proud Goblin population. During his stay in their capital, Helial had discovered that Goblins were other than the barbarian people he had always thought them to be. On the contrary, he had found out that they were far prouder than humans. They clung tighter to their culture. They could also boast a refined taste for artworks along with skilled artisans capable of creating masterpieces of undisputed value.
Presently, Lumia and Snowflake were training on their own. Helial didn’t know where, exactly.
Caesar’s help was letting Lumia advance faster, but the Devil had strongly suggested that she developed a Brown Mana Seed.
Helial had indeed asked for the Devil’s help for Lumia and Snowflake too. The Devil had accepted smoothly. Helial was more and more dumbfounded by that monster who lived inside his Soul and would just easily hand people techniques that were violent enough to raze the planet to the ground. His only concern was that the show would be worth watching.
Honestly speaking, Helial liked that attitude. He was trouble-free and couldn’t care less about the human devious logics. The being he had chosen as a master proved to be teaching him something far more valuable than some Skill or fighting technique.
While he was deep in thought, a sudden thud distracted him.
Boom!
Helial glanced up to three Goblins in front of him. They were looming over a fourth one, who lay on the ground covered with blood.
“You filthy cracker! How dare you read the books of our Royal Library?! You’re a servant, don’t you know your place?” shouted one, while forcefully pressing a foot on the servant lying on the floor.
Crack
The sound of breaking bones hit Helial’s ear. The Goblin lay still on the ground and made no sound. Helial could not see it, but the singular flames that burned down his eyes were turning into ashes the cries of pain that tried to leave his mouth at every blow.
Helial looked about himself. Among the people that were presently studying there, no one dared step in. One could hardly tell whether they feared the Goblins, very likely given their menacing appearance, or they were silently agreeing with their gesture. Helial furrowed his eyebrows tightly and leaned slightly forward.
Frankenstein.
That Goblin was Frankenstein.
Judging from the odds, some descendants from the noblest families in Orma had found Frankenstein reading some book. Nothing could compare that Goblin’s thirst for knowledge. Helial admired him from the bottom of his heart.
Sure enough, he’s an ambitious Goblin. Even though this one is the weakest planet possible, it actually hosts some nice geniuses, the Devil briefly commented.
Helial’s eyes narrowed. If even the Devil somehow praised Frankenstein, he couldn’t let him go.
“How dare you ransack your library, pleb? Who do you think you are? And what about the locket, huh? Where did you steal it from?”
Helial felt heart-wrung. It was probably his fault if Frankenstein had got into trouble. Those Goblins were very unlikely to believe that such an important locked was a gift. They would rather accuse him of having stolen it.
The three Goblins were in the First Phase Late stage, while Frankenstein didn’t even have a Breathing Technique. It was just as fair as adults kicking a baby. Frankenstein had no way of counterattacking.
“So what, filthy cracker? Answer me!” another Goblin shouted, ready to kick Frankenstein right in the face. If he had stricken the blow successfully, he would have killed the poor Goblin instantly. After all, Frankenstein was still far too weak.
“Stop, you slobs.”
His words resounded out calm and icy like a wintery wind. Everyone in the room fell dead silent. The three Goblins turned to look at who had dared offend them so shockingly.
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Helial’s steps rumbled through the silent library. Was it really that brat, that filthy human who had called them “slobs?”
The three Goblins immediately seethed with anger, but before they could even react Helial boldly appeared in front of them.
“Step aside”, was his laconic comment.
One of them raised his right arm to punch at that reckless kid. Suddenly, Helial’s hand rushed to block his arm and squeeze it in a firm grip. Then, he lowered it as though it were no effort to him. A number of veins started bulging violently on the Goblin’s forehead. That human’s Strength got him terrified.
Without further ado, Helial put his other palm on the Goblin’s chest and pushed him gently. Behind his calm gesture though lay a devastating power. The Goblin was forced to back off a dozen steps back before regaining balance.
Helial kneeled and smiled at Frankenstein: “Forgive me. It’s my fault if they did this to you. If you can stand up, it’s time you and me have a talk.”
Frankenstein looked at him in astonishment, and then his gaze turned to look at the disciples of the Royal Academic right behind him, who were staring at the human with bloodshot eyes.
Before he could even warm him though, they heard someone shouting.
“WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU?! IT’S TWO FUCKING HOURS I’M LOOKING FOR YOU TO GET DINNER! WHO THE FUCK TOLD THE COOK IT TAKES AT LEAST TWO TO HAVE DINNER IN THIS SHITTY GOBLIN RAT-HOLE?!”
Everyone exchanged a stunned look. Helial’s eyes started stinging with tears. Why on earth had that curse of a cat to follow him everywhere?
“AND SO?! … WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU WANT? KEEP QUIET IN THE LIBRARY? GET THE FUCK OFF OF MY WAY, THIS SUPREME CAT IS STARVING, GO ASK YOUR FUCKING KING WHY THEY WON’T FEED ME IN THIS SHITTY LIBRARY. MY TUMMY IS A STAR GUEST HERE. IT’S COME TO SHOW YOU WHAT GOOD MANNERS REALLY ARE, YOU FUCKING GREEN STINKY PEOPLE.”
Helial truly took into account the hypothesis of banging his head to the ground and drop dead. At least he would have saved himself that four-legged cataclysm.
Snowflake approached them boldly, followed by several servants who were dashing behind him to keep him quiet. Their eyes were stinging as well.
“WHAT QUIET AND QUIET?!” boomed out the cat as he shot a withering look to a student that was staring at him, annoyed. “HERE YOU ARE, YOU HUGE SACK OF CRAP. I KNEW I WOULD FIND YOU SHUT IN THE LIBRARY WITH THESE GREENISH FAGGOTS.”
Now Helial took into account the hypothesis of darting away instead. If only he had been quicker than Snowflake, he would have probably done so already. Then, he reflected that leaving Frankenstein there wouldn’t turn out to be a wise choice.
“Just wait for our friend to stand up, Snowflake. We’ll go and have lunch right away,” Helial said in frustration.
Snowflake nodded and wore a smug expression, but a moment later…
Pffff!
“Snowflake? Hahahahah, what a shitty name is that?
Helial froze. He glanced at the Goblin who had just spoken, his eyes full of terror. He knew there was nothing left to do to avoid disaster.
Indeed, it took less than a sigh for Snowflake to turn into a silver thunderbolt. He was too quick, even for Helial. During the past few days, Snowflake had been training hard and had come home only to eat. His Skills appeared to have levelled up, since now Helial could hardly keep up with his speed.
Boom!
Crack
The Goblin who had mocked Snowflake suddenly found himself with his head pressed against the floor, just close to Frankenstein’s, who still lay on the ground unable to move. The impact was violent. Several stones cracked open. The Goblin fell unconscious, half-dead. Helial looked at Snowflake and said: “You can’t kill them. You know the rules.”
Snowflake licked his paw, staring at the unconscious Goblin whose face was covered with blood. “Easy, slut. I’ll take care of the other two and then we’ll go eat. No one mocks this Supreme Cat’s name.”
Frankenstein was utterly shocked. Astonishment was dribbling out of his face. How could that cat knock down so easily an Outer Court disciple in the First Phase Late stage? Who were they, the human and the cat?
Helial shook his head sadly and turned to look at Frankenstein: “Stand up.”
He pulled some Elixirs out of his Interspace Ring, Call of the Mermaid, and handed them to the Goblin as he said: “Take these. It should be enough. Then follow us.”
“Hurry up,” Helial added angrily as he addressed Snowflake.
Snowflake delivered a new attack before he could even finish talking.
Fwooosh!
His claws slashed with a frightening whistle. Helial furrowed his eyebrows. Snowflake had really grown stronger. It was highly likely that he didn’t even need the Devil’s help, for the moment.
“How strong is he?” Helial asked secretly.
The Devil was staring at two perfectly identical glasses, trying to decide which one was the most suitable for his half-lain table. “Given his race, he couldn’t have a better Breathing Technique in the whole universe. He doesn’t need my help on that. This Heavenly Star Tiger is way stronger than you imagine.”
Helial nodded slowly, wondering about Snowflake’s real origins.
“Then he would be considered as one of the strongest even among Heavenly Star Tigers, right?”
“Strongest? There’s probably a couple of Heavenly Star Tigers with such a Breathing Technique in the whole universe. I don’t know who this cat is, but I would compare his level to the heir of a great Clan or the descendant of a powerful Sect. But you can’t really grasp this comparison… or can you? At any rate, don’t look down on that mouthy one. I actually think that… Never mind. He will be the one to tell you, in due time.”
A strange light flashed in Helial’s eyes. The Devil had just deliberately withheld something. All in all, that Devil’s Divine Sense was so powerful it could have plumbed the depths of an Immortal’s Soul without even his knowing it. However, he had respectfully concealed something. Despite being shameless, the Devil seemed to abide by a honor code of his own. The better Helial got to know his personality, the more stupefied he was.
Meanwhile, Snowflake had torn to pieces the two Goblins’ clothes. They were covered from head to toe with red scratches from which blood leaked in rivulets. It was quite a miserable show.