For a man who had lost his wife, it was odd. Even depression would be logged as ‘moderate’ since it would impair the body’s normal functioning capacity. But for his state to be logged as ‘good’ for consecutive days on end? It was too abnormal.

Shuri did not wish harm or ill-will on Baraquiel. But what she did want to know, was what was it that could make a man who had seemingly lost everything recover so quickly.

[I want to see exactly what it is that made him forget us.]

Ta! Ta! Ta! Ta! Ta! Swoosh!

.

|DxD|

.

Conventional teleportation magic was relatively easy to detect. Higher entities could especially sense if someone was about to teleport next to them. Knowing such a fact, it was why Shuri was adamant that they did not teleport directly to Baraquiel’s coordinates.

Her reasoning was irrational. She couldn’t even fully justify it to herself why she wanted to approach him secretly. It was just a desire she had and she would see it through.

Steadily reaching their destination, she took out the book again just to confirm the remaining distance.

Zuuu!

With the familiar purple magic circle forming, it continued pointing westwards alongside the remaining distance.

[Three-hundred metres remaining.]

Closing the book and tucking it back into her inner pockets, she surveyed the situation ahead. The general height of the buildings had decreased to average two-floor constructions. There were numerous billboards perforating the storefronts of each building she was running on top of.

From furniture retailers, to supermarkets, to even barbers, it was all there. The neon signs had lit up to expose all sorts of fancy titles in bold colours to attract tourists. Yet even though she qualified as a tourist, exploring the town was the last thing on her mind.

Ta! Ta! Ta! Ta! Ta!

Having already calculated that she had advanced by roughly a hundred-and-fifty metres, her eyes glanced around before she found an alley she could descend into. Standing at the edge of the building, she carefully observed the situation down below, both with her eyes and with her ears.

[Clear.]

Swoosh! Krrrrr…

Jumping off and sliding down the vertical walls, her fall was slowed down enough that she could jump off and land safely without having to use her mana*. With how close she was to Baraquiel, she didn’t want to possibly tip him off by using any sort of energy.

With her concealing magic having been dispelled as well, she once again surveyed the area to make sure no one saw her stunt.

“Clear.”

Ta…Ta…Ta…Ta…

This time, she did not run, but walked casually. Walking towards the exit of the alley…

Su!

…she was soon joined by Azazel who instantly appeared next to her. Both walked out of the alleyway normally while navigating the piss-filled puddles and rusty rubbish bins. Yet despite their clear elite-class appearance, neither showed any sort of aversion to the stench of urine, faeces, and rotting food.

While Azazel was donned in a suit with a dark coat draped over, Shuri could certainly be mistaken for a rich woman from the colder countries. With a smooth long black cloak and scarf, her appearance would certainly raise a few eyebrows, but they would be more along the likes of envy or admiration over suspicion.

As the both of them walked, she examined her gloved hands for any damages. After sliding down the wall, she inwardly gave a nod of approval when she saw that the material still held well. After all, this outfit she was wearing hadn’t seen use in over a decade. It was only thanks to her former self storing it properly that the material didn’t “rot”.

Satisfied with her current state, they finally exited the alleyway and blended into the flow of traffic.

[Fifteen metres now.]

Having mentally calculated the distance, she guessed that her “target” would most likely be inside the restaurant ahead.

“Sabor…Caribeno.”

As she read the name of the restaurant, Azazel offered an explanation for the name.

“It means Caribbean Flavour. And judging by how full it is, people must really love it.”

And right he was. The restaurant was absolutely packed with more patrons coming in than going out. The atmosphere inside was jovial with relaxing music playing inside. Waitresses walked about with trays full of food or menus for newly-arrived customers.

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

With decorative banners, balloons, and lighting, there was clearly a festival of sorts that was happening, especially when out of the corner of her eye, Shuri could see special price offers titled, ‘Havana Celebration Specials’ in the menus that were carried around.

But such things were unimportant to her. Standing outside with Azazel, her only goal was to find if Baraquiel was on this floor or upstairs. Scanning the area with her eyes, her expression remained neutral even when she couldn’t see Baraquiel.

Continuing to look around, she spoke with Azazel.

“Please remain here while I search the first…floor…”

Her words trailed off as she saw a tall man with a gruff beard walk out the back with two trays of food on his tanned muscled arms. Unlike the long coat she saw in the pictures, he was in a black striped shirt completed with a bow-tie. With the sleeves rolled up, he had black suit pants and some stylish shoes to complete the look.

The biggest addition he had however, was the black apron he was wearing with the words, “Sabor Caribeno” embroidered on it.

“...”

She watched-no. She was frozen stiff in shock and disbelief. Her daughter was crying for him in her sleep yet here he was playing waiter on the other side of the world. Her eyes followed his figure as he walked towards a table of customers and hand them their order with a smile on his face.

“...”

Her brain seemed to stop working as he delivered his last tray to the following table. Watching him return to the kitchen, he was intercepted by another tanned woman who grabbed his arm…and gave him a quick peck on the lips.

And the worst part was…he smiled.

Crack!

“...”

It was broken. The last shred of hope she had for him was broken. He didn’t dodge. He didn’t fight. He didn’t push her away or even show any dissatisfaction on his face. It hadn’t even been a month since she died and he was already frolicking with another woman while his daughter had to live without a father.

Shiinng!

All she had left was pure hatred. Drawing out a short sword from her waist, she was about to blindly rush forward when Azazel wrapped his arm around her waist while another restrained her arms.

“LET ME GO!!! LET ME GO!!!!!!!!!”

All she saw was red. The pure hatred on her face was glaringly visible as she looked at Baraquiel like how a priest would glare at a demon. She thrashed about violently, but Azazel’s arms were like a vice. Twisting her body two and fro, she even kicked out with her legs, but it was futile.

Azazel held her down while trying to calm her down, but it was for naught.

“Shu-”

“Why?!?!? WHYYYYYYYY!!!!!!”

Her wails of anger and anguish were heard even by the patrons inside the restaurant. Their eyes darted to this foreign woman who was causing a scene outside. Some held looks of distaste. Most had confusion. Few, upon seeing the tears on her face, felt a trace of pity for her.

But one person, felt as if his world had been rekindled. Shock, suspicion, realisation…and hope. Those were the emotions Baraquiel felt upon gazing at his wife.

“Shuri…?”

He found himself walking towards her, but her piercing gaze filled with hatred stopped him in his tracks. Eyes that used to look at him tenderly with love now glared at him like a sworn enemy.

Locking eyes with her husband, tears of pain and betrayal flowed down her face. She didn’t understand why, but she felt an immeasurable pain in her heart. It was like someone took a knife and twisted it in inside.

“Baraquiel!”

Her voice came out hoarse.

“Why did you do this to me! Why did you do this to us! Why!!!”

The crowd of people around her had already cleared a space, especially when they saw the rather long blade that she had clutched tightly in her arms. But Shuri didn’t care about them. Her focus was on her husba-no…the man who abandoned her. The man who abandoned his daughter.

“TELL ME WHYYYY!!!!”

“...”

As the man stood frozen without answering, Shuri became so angry that her skin turned red.

“YOU LEFT ME! YOU LEFT AKENO! YOU LEFT YOUR FAMILY!!!! AND FOR WHAT?! FOR WHAT!!!!!”

Azazel did not try to silence nor calm her down. He only held her tightly while looking at his brother. Even now as he witnessed it, he still couldn’t believe it, couldn’t rationalise it. He out of all people knew how much Baraquiel loved Shuri. But the facts were right before his eyes.

His brother was caught red-handed with another woman. And that woman was fidgeting under Shuri’s intense glare.

“Did you know that he had a family? Did you know that while he was here, his daughter cried day and night for his r-return?”

She couldn’t keep her voice from breaking as she looked at Baraquiel. Yet this time, there was only immense sadness

“Twenty days. You’ve been gone for twenty days, Baraquiel.”

She wasn’t even struggling anymore.

“In all twenty of those days, have you not once thought about coming home?”

Her eyes that had dried up welled up in tears again.

“Have you not…have you not thought of your daughter?”

Her eyes were flooded with so much tears that her vision had become blurry.

“Answer me. Does she matter that little to you?”

Baraquiel had no words that he could say. His mind was still reeling from the fact that his wife was alive. Yet before he could get excited, he was confronted with her sudden hatred. His mind was suddenly caught in a whirlwind of happiness, surprise, shock, and despair that he couldn’t even think.

“Sh-Shuri I…it’s not what you think-”

“LIAR! I’ve seen the book! Not ONCE have you left this place! Not once! Are you telling me that she is worth more than your daughter?!”

.

|DxD|

.

Azazel had long since sensed Baraquiel’s whereabouts. The moment they were a few-hundred metres away, he had detected his brother. Naturally, his ability to erase his presence and the stealth enchantments on Shuri’s clothes made Baraquiel unable to do the same.

Maybe if he was focused, it would’ve been possible. But…that was not the case in his current state. As smart as Azazel was, he would’ve never expected that his brother of all people would be having another relationship. Not that it was wrong, but the timing was…just atrocious.

Even as he held back Shuri, even as the minutes trickled by, he still couldn’t process what he just saw.

“Let me go, Azazel! LET ME GO!!!”

With Baraquiel’s pathetic explanation of “it’s not what it looks like.”, her anger had been reawakened. She was struggling furiously to regain control of her blade arm trapped within Azazel’s hold. He did not acquiesce to her request.

He of all people knew what would happen if he let her go. And knowing that her current state was too volatile, he had to resort to some extreme methods to silence her.

“Sorry, Shuri. We’ll talk properly when you wake up.”

Pa!

With super quick movements, he tapped the back of her neck and effectively knocked her out. Feeling her body slump in his arms, he tossed her over his shoulder while also grabbing her blade. Having subdued her, he turned to look at his brother…

“Cleria’s mansion.”

…with a very…very disappointed gaze.

“You have some explaining to do.”

Not caring for the bystanders observing the situation, a teleportation circle formed underneath him before he vanished along with Shuri.

Vwong!

.

AN

.

1. Jumping off and sliding down the vertical walls, her fall was slowed down enough that she could jump off and land safely without having to use her mana*

Explanation: As far as my knowledge extends, it was never specified exactly what type of energy those from the five principal clans use. So until I am corrected, mana will be used to specify the energy type the average human can use.