Hazy_0832's Official Website

Back at the Guild, an hour had passed.

By this point, Liz and Michael were sure that Van would resign or get fired. What happened next, however, completely took them by surprise:

Van and Anne exited together, Anne sporting a relaxed, satisfied smile, her skin glistening with sweat.

… Something that Michael misunderstood to an extent.

‘W-what… Why is she smiling like that… And… Sweaty… What… No…! No way, did he…!!?’ he thought, his face paling as he imagined Van taking advantage of Anne in the storage house against her will… Until she inevitably relented, thinking of Michael in her last few moments of clarity.

“WHAT!?” Liz exclaimed loudly as she saw the sight of the two leaving together. 

“Mom, we’re done there!” Anne announced as she left the storage area, Van at her side.

“Ahh, I see,” Marcy replied nonchalantly as she turned to face them.

“Ahh, I see!? Mom, he just completed a task that would have taken us over fourteen hours! The carrier can now take all of the goods!” Anne was visibly amazed by her mother’s calm reaction.

“Well, the son of a workhorse is bound to be a workhorse too,” she said, a proud smirk stretching across her face as she crossed her arms, looking at Van.

‘So, she can smile like that,’ Van thought, his eyebrow raised, pleasantly surprised.

“Anne, this fella’s full name is Van Hellix Jr.—your mom’s old traveling companion.”

“HOLY SHIT, SERIOUSLY!?” Anne’s shout startled the nearby patrons.

‘Woah, what a reaction…’ Van thought, slightly bewildered.

“Dude,” Anne said as she spun around and grasped Van by the shoulders, “that guy’s my hero!”

“He is…?” Van asked, raising an eyebrow skeptically at Marcy, who responded with a playful smile.

“YES! To think he survived over four years with people like my mom and dad, armed with nothing but his willpower and a big-ass sword. DUDE!!! WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL ME!?” Anne shook him excitedly.

Van gently grasped her hands as she shook him, stopping her.

“You didn’t ask,” He started, “Besides, why him? I’ve heard your mother dominated the battlefield much more often, according to him at least,”

Anne looked up, as if searching for the answer in the ceiling.

“Well, I do take after my mom, joining the warrior classes. A bunch of magic-less misfits who are considered the bottom of the barrel. That’s why I have immense respect for someone who never gives up, even against the impossible! He was like a C Rank facing THE DEMON LORD without any special skills, yet he somehow muscled through! CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT!?” Anne exclaimed with fervor.

‘Ahh, so I’m famous for being an underdog,’ Van thought with a wry sigh.

‘At least it’s somewhat flattering. Most would assume I was just dead weight…’

“And from what I saw at the warehouse… You’re easily already E-Rank material! And you’re still so young!” Anne pointed out.

‘So, that’s considered E-Rank nowadays? Back in the day, it would’ve been D – Lesser C Rank at least. Standards must have risen by a lot with the frequent dragon attacks,’ Van contemplated.

 ‘Well, E-Rank it is then.’

“Yeah, my dad trained me,” Van responded.

“Whoa… So he must be incredibly strong now, right?” Anne asked, her eyes wide with curiosity, her mother also looking expectant.

“Hmm,” Van hummed, checking his status window.

STR: 999 (+30,361)

“I suppose,”

‘I haven’t really tested what over 31,000 points in strength can do when pushed to the limit… And perhaps, it’s best if I never have to,’ Van pondered, closing his status window.

“Anyway, Mom,” Anne turned to Marcy, a hopeful glint in her eyes.

“C-…Can Van and I hang out?” she asked eagerly.

“Well, since you’ve finished all your chores… Yeah, go ahead,” Marcy consented, catching Van off-guard.

“Wait, Marcy, about the quest—” Van began, but Anne was already pulling him eagerly away from the counter.

“Shh, relax for now. The quest can wait. You’ve been a big help today, so there’ll be some extra coins for you when you get back,” Marcy assured him as Anne led Van out of the guild.

“And…” Her voice then grew softer as she met his gaze, “Look after my daughter, will ya’?” she said with a wink.

Van’s eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at Marcy’s soft-spoken tone and gentle expression.

‘She… really is much softer than the old days. She’s so much nicer than I remember,’ Van thought as he and Anne vanished into the streets. ‘She might’ve been brainwashed by Magus for many years, but even to him she showed a form of disrespect and roughness. It was part of her personality, even if she meant well.’ He glanced back at Anne as she led him away.

‘I guess kids will do that to you? Will having a kid do something like that to me as well?’ he pondered, once more bringing up the image of Alicia.

“Heh,” he chuckled to himself as they walked together down the streets of the Royal Capital.

Meanwhile, Liz, who had been serving other patrons, looked perplexed yet relatively calm.

“How… What… That guy… Did he do something to Anne or Aunt Marcy?” Lizzy wondered, “I need to talk to her and—”

… Relatively calm compared to a certain someone, that is.

‘That bastard…!! He must’ve took advantage Anne in the storage room… And is somehow blackmailing auntie..!!’ he fumed internally, already imagining Van masterfully stealing her heart as the two were on their own.

Confused and irate, Michael approached Marcy just as Van and Anne exited the guild.

“Aunt Marcy!” Michael exclaimed, his voice rough and urgent, causing the other patrons to feel cold sweat drip down their foreheads.

“That kid, does he have a complaint to the boss…?”

“Oh no, there’s gonna be a murder…” the adventurers and patrons muttered, bracing themselves as they watched Michael.

“Michael, STOP!” Liz whispered urgently.

“What’s the matter, Michael? Why are you not serving our clients!!?” Marcy questioned sharply, her stern tone making Michael shrink slightly as he reached the counter.

“Uhm… It’s just… We’ve been working so hard… W-why is it that Van and Anne got to leave ear—”

“HUH!!? ARE YOU QUESTIONING MY DAUGHTER’S HARD WORK!?” Marcy interrupted, her voice booming across the guild hall and silencing Michael mid-sentence, drawing the attention of everyone present.

“Ahh, that kid’s in trouble…” murmured a D Rank Adventurer, watching the scene unfold.

“Even if I felt I was treated unfairly, I wouldn’t dare talk back to Marcy…” whispered a B Rank Adventurer, shaking his head.

“N-NO!! I wouldn’t dare… It’s just that they left after just one hour and—” Michael attempted to explain, his voice timid, but Marcy’s imposing voice cut him off again.

“THAT’S BECAUSE THEY WORKED HARDER THAN YOU COULD EVER DREAM, YOU MISERABLE LEECH!! NOW, STOP COMPLAINING AND GO HELP YOUR SO-CALLED GIRLFRIEND!!” Marcy’s commanding voice boomed, her stature as imposing as ever—a testament to her past as the formidable S Rank Former Adventurer, Marcilla.

She then grabbed Michael by the shirt collar, spun him around, and sent him stumbling back towards Liz with a firm kick to his bottom.

‘I knew it would come to this…’ Liz thought with a resigned sigh as she watched Michael hobble back, his posture slouched and his face tensed in pain.

“PICK UP THE PACE!” Marcy shouted, causing every adventurer in the room to flinch and look away, her command spurring Michael to recover his pace instantly.

‘Aunt Marcy… as merciless as ever…’ Liz mused internally as she scrubbed a beer spill off a table, glancing at Michael’s pained expression.

‘So… Why does she favor that guy so much? I’ve never seen her show a face like that to anyone but Anne or Father. It can’t just be because he’s Van Hellix’s son!’ Liz thought, continuing to do her work while also preparing herself to help Michael recover.

‘… I have to look some more into this.’

——————–

“Let’s head to the pool,” Anne suggested as she and Van stepped outside the guild.

“What? A pool…?” Van asked, puzzled.

‘How does she know about pools…?’

“Oh, yeah. I forgot you’re not from the capital. It’s a place with lots of clear water where people come to swim and relax. It was my father’s idea,” she explained.

Van scoffed lightly.

‘So that harem bastard capitalized on ideas from our world, huh? I suppose I’d do the same if I had the influence,’ Van mused internally.

Anne grabbed Van’s hand, leading him through the bustling streets of the Capital. Van glanced at Anne’s cheerful demeanor.

‘Look at her. All business before, now so carefree,’ he observed.

“Come on!”

‘I guess there’s no harm in this. A day at the pool with my niece,’ Van thought, letting out a small chuckle as he followed her lead.

“Ah… How vexing,” Varlog muttered under his breath as he awoke, still in the wagon en route to the royal capital. He sensed a disturbance nearby, a ripple of unease stirring the air.

“Elder? Are you alright?” The spokesman’s voice cut through his thoughts, concern etched into his expression.

“Ah, yes, good lad. My house is nearby in these woods, so I shall get off here,” Varlog responded, masking his growing unease with a calm demeanor.

The lad quickly relayed the message to the wagon driver, signaling him to stop.

“Watch yourself out there, alright elder!? I like you, so I’d rather we meet again under joyous circumstances!” the spokesman exclaimed, his voice carrying warmth as he and the others waved goodbye. Varlog offered a gracious smile and returned the gesture before vanishing into the dense woods.

‘Demonic presence… here? This pressure… Could it really be…?’ Varlog pondered, feeling the weight of the dark energy intensifying. With a swift motion, he extended his thick leather wings from beneath his robes, soaring upwards and then darting toward the source of the disturbance.

As he flew, a bone-dragon with a demonic rider streaked past him at an unfathomable speed, heading straight for the Royal Capital.

‘Hmm… This might prove troublesome,’ Varlog thought, his eyes narrowing as he watched the creature slice through the clouds.

———A WHILE EARLIER———-

Alicia sat on the table next to her fancy throne, going over documents related to the state of her kingdom, the light and joy that once sparkled in her eyes now dimmed.

Suddenly, a leather envelope appeared on the floor, materializing within a burst of flames.

‘A letter…? From Varlog…!?’ Alicia thought as she raised her attention which was buried in paperwork. Her curiosity piqued as she flicked the envelope toward her with a gesture of telekinesis.

She opened it meticulously, her eyes scanning the contents.

Just then, a maid entered the throne room, ready to deliver news regarding the kingdom in Varlog’s absence.

“My Lord… Liliac has—” the maid began with a respectful bow.

“Ah…” Alicia gasped softly, her attention snapped back to the note, her hands trembling with the weight of its words.

“Van is… in the Royal Capital… I’m…” she murmured, clutching the letter tightly.

“So… So happy that he’s okay…” Tears welled up as she pressed the note against her forehead, a sob escaping her lips.

‘Master Varlog has found Master Van…!!!’ the maid thought, her eyes widening in disbelief.

“MY LORD, I SHALL PREPARE LILAC, LET US RIDE TO THE CAPITAL AND—” the maid burst out enthusiastically, stepping forward.

Alicia raised her palm, signaling her to halt.

“I know… I know Liliac misses Van, and that he has grown restless with no one to play with him…” Alicia spoke softly, wiping away her tears and straightening her posture as she faced the eager maid. “As do I…” She added, her voice trailing off, her blush faint.

“But I must not leave. I cannot abandon my kingdom,” she declared, her voice firm.

“…But… My Lord, it is Van! We now know where he is! Allow me to manage your throne while you—”

Flames flickered in Alicia’s eyes as her gaze narrowed.

“Do you covet my throne, servant..?” she asked, her voice cold and sharp.

The maid’s eyes widened, fear gripping her heart as she dropped to her knees, bowing her head low.

“I WOULD NOT DARE, MY LORD!” she exclaimed, her voice trembling with the fervor of her loyalty.

“…” Alicia took a deep breath, her muscles relaxing along with the fiery intensity of her gaze.

“…I am aware you have also grown attached to Van. But we must be patient and steadfast. I have a kingdom to manage. And while said kingdom stands more securely on its feet than it did two years ago, I must not take that for granted. I shall wait here and trust in Varlog,” she stated firmly, her resolve clear.

The maid’s hand, pinned to the ground, trembled slightly.

“Why…?” Her voice quavered, filled with confusion and sorrow.

“…?” Alicia raised an eyebrow, prompting further explanation with a soft hum.

“You… You love him, do you not, my lord?! Wouldn’t it then be preferable to go to him, as he once came to you?” The maid’s words spilled out in a rush, her eyes still downcast, her lips trembling.

Alicia remained silent for a moment, her gaze softening as she regarded the maid calmly.

“I.. I just don’t understand, my lord! I… I apologize if this sounds treacherous…!!! But should you not be more loyal to your heart rather than to a castle, to servants who come and go, and to villages full of strangers you hardly know…!?” She pleaded, her voice shaking.

Alicia sighed deeply.

“…Those words,” Alicia began as she rose from her seat and walked down to the kneeling maiden, who closed her eyes, bracing for a harsh reprimand… or worse.

“Before, I would have scorched you on the spot for such treacherous ideals,” Alicia continued, now standing inches from the maid, who flinched slightly. Alicia knelt before her, gently caressing her head.

“But the more I endlessly scorched a certain someone for uttering such foolishness, the more I opened my mind to such notions,” she confessed, gently lifting the maid’s chin to meet her eyes.

“It appears Van has influenced all of us in such a manner, hasn’t he?” she said, a soft smile playing on her lips.

“My… Lord…” The maid murmured, her eyes meeting Alicia’s in a mix of awe and relief.

“I came to realize a truth of my own as I softened the walls I had been forced to build around myself as the queen of darkness. There is no difference between Van and all of you,” Alicia declared, pulling the maid into a gentle embrace.

“You are all home. You are all family,” she whispered, her voice a tender murmur.

“I can’t choose between Van and you because there’s nothing to choose between; you are the same to me,” she explained, releasing the maid and stepping back gracefully.

“That is why I shall wait for Varlog, trusting that he will bring Van home.”

“But… what if Van chooses not to return… after hearing your message?” the maid ventured cautiously.

“There is no ‘if’. I trust Varlog, and…” Alicia paused, a more apparent blush coloring her cheeks as she looked away,

“…I believe in the love Van felt for me, as in the love I feel and will always feel for him. He will come back home, where I shall ensure that… he forgets the pain I once selfishly dealt his heart,” she declared confidently, her resolve firm as she returned to her seat, resuming her paperwork.

“So, if you have nothing else to report, return to your duties, Yilla. Make sure Liliac is fed,” she instructed, settling once more to meticulously review the documents.

Just before the maid left, she observed her queen engrossed in her work.

“My Lord,” she asked hesitantly.

“Yes, what is it?” Alicia replied, her attention fixed on her work.

“Seeing you handle this kind of chore… Why not appoint a substitute advisor to manage this until Master Varlog returns with Van?” she inquired.

“Oh? Do you find this demeaning?” Alicia asked casually.

“N-not at all…”

“It’s alright. You can say this doesn’t befit a queen. I’ve decided not to hire a substitute advisor. If that’s all, return to your duties,” she said calmly, flipping another page and dipping her leather pen into the inkwell before continuing to write.

‘I trust none other than Varlog to this duty, after all,’

The maid nodded, rising to her feet with a respectful bow, then turned to leave.

“My Lord…” Yilla added with a short pause just before she left the throne room.

“…Yes?” Alicia replied, her tone growing slightly impatient.

“…You appear more sophisticated doing this kind of work. Just… look out for yourself.”

“Ah…” Alicia raised her gaze to the maid, “So, you imply I usually appear dull and less intelligent?”

“I shall feed the dragon,” Yilla hurriedly said before rushing out of the room.

“Heh,” Alicia rested on her elbow, watching her maid scramble for the door in amusement.

—————A LONG WHILE AGO————–

“I wish to wed you to someone, Van. Someone who thinks very highly of you, despite your… erratic nature. I would even say, if you strip away her loyalty to the demonic realm, she would be, as you say, a ‘carbon’ copy of you with her overenthusiastic nature. She follows her instincts and her heart. I believe her straightforwardness would suit you perfectly,” Alicia suggested as she pinned Van to the floor in the throne room, her fiery thorns piercing through each of his limbs.

Meanwhile, Yilla stood behind the door, her cheeks flushed as she gripped her chest tightly, her eyes closed in anticipation.

“She is loyal, well-endowed, and… cute, as per your preferences,” Alicia continued.

“Ah, so you finally agree to marry me?” Van replied casually, despite being pinned to the ground.

“N-NO!! I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT MYSELF!!” Alicia exclaimed, her face turning a deeper shade of red.

“Odd. You just described yourself perfectly…”

“I… I DID NOT!!! I AM NOT OVERENTHUSIASTIC AND STRAIGHTFORWARD!!!” Alicia retorted, flames flaring around her as her emotions heated.

‘My lord… It’s as if you just admitted it…’ Yilla thought, a hint of resignation in her mind.

“…Doubt it,” Van said, looking up at her with a slight tilt of his head. “But that only means you admit you are everything else then.”

“YOU…!!!! I MEAN MY MAID, YILLA!!!” Alicia yelled, her blush intensifying as she pressed the fiery thorns deeper into Van’s flesh.

From behind the door, Yilla peeked into the throne room, catching a glimpse of the small, amused smile on her queen’s lips as she faced Van. With a sigh, Yilla turned away from the room, her steps heavy.

‘…I don’t need to hear the rest… Van will obviously refuse…’

“I refuse.” Van’s voice rang out clearly, unperturbed by the pain.

“WHY!!!?! HERE I AM, OFFERING UP A MAID OF MINE ON A SILVER PLATTER FOR YOU, HUMAN!!!” Alicia shouted, her frustration evident.

“Look, I have nothing against Yilla. I actually like her. But I’ve had enough of setting my sights on something and not following through. And right now, you are the only one on my mind,” he confessed, his voice resolute, causing Alicia to slightly jolt backwards.

“Saying something like that so casually…!!!” Alicia muttered, her temper and embarrassment rising.

He continued, “Besides, you will outlive all other demons, so you’re the best choice. And let’s be honest, you’re also the cutest there is, so there really isn’t much to debate.”

Her expression hardened, a blush still coloring her cheeks, “So, in the end, I’m just an immortal doll for you to fancy? Am I supposed to amuse you until you die of old age? ME, THE DEMON LORD!?” she erupted, her rage igniting the air around them.

“Wait, I’ll be the one who lives longer—!!!!” Van tried to clarify, hoping to correct her misunderstanding, but it was too late. His words were cut short as the flames enveloped him, his lungs searing in the blistering heat. Before long, his entire body evaporated.

‘…Called it…’ Yilla thought in frustration, her brows knitting together as she heard the fiery conclusion to their exchange as she walked away.

—————————

‘…’ The maid clutched her chest as she walked towards Liliac’s cage outside the castle.

‘…It has been over three months since Van left,’ Yilla mused as she gently stroked Liliac.

“You also miss him, don’t you, boy?” she whispered to the bone dragon, who remained steadfast in his spot, unmoving.

“You see… Actually, Varlog has discovered his location…” she admitted reluctantly.

‘…What am I doing?’

At her words, the bone dragon suddenly snapped to attention, his entire body turning towards Yilla.

Feeling a surge of excitement from Liliac’s enthusiasm, she couldn’t help but speculate aloud, “I bet if we could find him before Varlog does, we’d be rewarded, don’t you think?” With each word, the dragon grew more animated, his tail wagging like that of an eager dog.

‘Stop…!!! Her Majesty ordered us to be patient…!!’ she chastised herself internally.

“Apparently, Van was spotted in the Royal Capital of the humans in Varolon. But…”

‘I need to calm down…!! I can’t entertain the thought!! Maybe I should try some of “Ace The Venturer’s” techniques for a change…? I used to think them foolish, but perhaps there’s something to them…? No, NO! That approach doesn’t suit me… Perhaps I should consider “The Way of The Sandler” that Van often spoke of…?’ She pondered, closing her eyes to focus.

“Goosfraba…” Yilla exhaled deeply, trying to calm herself with the chant.

‘That’s right… Leaving in pursuit of Van would be foolish… I’m glad I listened to—’ Her thoughts of relief were abruptly interrupted as Liliac nudged his head between her legs, hoisting her onto his back in a swift, fluid motion. With a powerful burst, he shattered his chains effortlessly.

“LILIAC, WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?! STOP!! I WAS JUST JOKING!!” Yilla shouted as the dragon burst through the confines of his cage.

Clutching tightly to his neck bone, Yilla could only hold on as Liliac soared into the sky with a supersonic boom.

“LILIAC, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO—” Her cries echoed into the distance as they ascended rapidly, her heart racing as she gripped her dragon, clinging to her dear life.

‘Why is Sir Hicks talking to the brat of that pathetic bastard like that?’ Garry thought, raising his brow in silence and trying not to attract attention to himself.

“Ah,” Sir Hicks called, turning to Garry. “I’m sorry for keeping this a secret… His father actually saved my life a long time ago, and this young man’s father wanted it to be kept a secret,” Sir Hicks explained, then turned to Van. “Well, it’s been so long, so I hope your father will forgive an old man for going back on his promise?”

“He will, it’s alright,” Van replied flatly.

‘I mean, we’re sticking to the ‘my father’ narrative, so no harm’s done…’

“Excellent. Well, my subordinate and I have to take our leave. We hope you have a fantastic day,” Hicks declared before taking Garry and leaving.

‘Well, Miss Veil seems comfortable with that guy, so I guess it’s alright… I hope he didn’t use some trick on her,’ Garry thought, glancing momentarily at Van after they left the guild area.

“You know this guard, Van?” Marcilla asked.

“Oh, yeah. The night I killed Arutol, I made him swear not to tell anyone I did it… Thought my Untrusted Passive would prove problematic if he told anyone about it,” Van shrugged.

“…Makes sense, I think,” Marcilla replied, her eyes narrowing momentarily.

“Well, I have to take care of some errands. I’ll see you later, Van!” Amoria called as she turned and walked away from the guild, leaving Van in the company of Marcilla.

“Hey, Marcy,” Van muttered.

“Yeah, what’s up?”

“Now that we’re alone… Give me a high-rank, well-paying quest. I need to earn some money. I kinda got off on the wrong foot with her kid, so it’d be awkward staying in the same house.”

“Huh…?” Marcy raised an eyebrow in confusion. “You want… out… of Amoria’s place? Seriously?” she asked, skeptical.

“Is it weird that I do?” Van asked, leaning on the counter.

“Well, yeah… It’s Amoria, you know!” she said. “Since it’s you… I figured you’d really want to stay there and all…” she awkwardly argued.

“…Do I really give off the vibe of someone that desperate?” Van asked.

“Look… It’s not a matter of being desperate, it’s just… I think she likes you being there, that’s all. It doesn’t have to be about desperation. If you like being near her, then just do whatever you want,” Marcy argued.

“I’ll think about it. Now, the quest?” Van insisted.

“Haaah… Fine. I’ll save you an A+ ranked quest when I get one, should be sometime by the end of the day… I heard something was brewing in the South.” She relented, “But since Amoria’s gone, there’s no one here for her. Help me out with storage sorting until then?” Marcy asked.

“Alright. I did promise her I’d help out here.”

‘Normally, Marcy would be less lenient and rougher with everyone else. She would demand my help, or else… I suppose people change after 16 years,’ Van thought, his eyebrow slightly raised as he glanced at her.

“I’ll introduce you to my daughter,” Marcy said as she signaled him to follow along.

Van then noticed Liz and that kid from last night, Michael, arranging tables happily together in the corner of his eye.

‘Well, it’s her choice. If she really wants to entertain that kid, she’s free to do it. I have other things to worry about anyway,’ Van thought with a shrug as he followed Marcy to the guild’s storage area.

Liz glanced over at Van, a pang of frustration washing over her as he brushed past her without paying any mind, especially after last night.

“Liz…? Are you alright?” Michael asked, concerned.

“A-ah… Yeah, it’s just… that guy is here… so I’m a bit uncomfortable, that’s all,” she murmured, looking down.

“D-don’t worry, Liz! I’ll… I’ll definitely protect you this time! That guy’s just an inconsiderate scumbag!” he said enthusiastically, clutching his palm.

“Right… Thanks, Michael,” she replied, smiling weakly at him as they continued their duties.

Marcy and Van entered the storage area of the guild. Van looked around, noticing mainly groceries, armor, and weapons stacked in rows of tall shelves.

“Anne! Get over here! There’s someone I want to introduce you to!” Marcy yelled, her voice booming throughout the storage house.

‘…So she hasn’t changed entirely,’ Van thought as he glanced at Marcy as she let out her booming voice.

Several seconds later, a girl resembling a younger version of Marcy approached, a bandana covering her reddish hair as she wore short clothes, her face and body drenched with sweat.

“What’s up, Mom? Who’s he?” Anne asked casually as she eyed Van.

‘He’s built… But then again, so were the last five boys who volunteered just to impress me and ended up wussing out because the job was too tiring. I had to do it all by myself,’ she thought with a sigh after scrutinizing Van.

‘That and… He’s kind of suspicious. I shouldn’t let my guard down around him…’ She narrowed her eyes, something both Marcy and Van noticed.

Van shrugged it off, as he was used to such a gaze from most people.

Marcy, however, clicked her tongue ever so softly at her daughter’s reaction. So subtle, that only Van with his fairly high Perception stat could tell.

‘Something wrong…?’ He wondered as he took a swift glance at her.

“…Anne, This is Van.” She started, her tone casual.

‘My imagination?’ He thought as Marcy appeared lucid and fairly level-headed.

“Van, this is my daughter, Anne. Get along now. I gotta get back to the counter,” Marcy muttered, patting Van’s back before hurrying away, leaving the two alone.

‘Alright… Let’s make our introductions swift. I want to finish this job quickly so I can get to that quest,’ Van thought.

“Hi, I’m Van, and I came fro—”

“Look, sorry to be rude, but I don’t care who you are or what your name is. I just want to finish sorting before nightfall, especially with the bulk order we got today. Can you handle heavy-duty work?” she interjected sharply, her gaze stern.

Van let out a soft chuckle, taken aback by her response. “…Yeah, sure.”

“Well, great. Try not to crumble. Now let’s go. I’ll tell you what we need to do as we go. No time to dally,” she said hurriedly, urging Van to follow her lead.

‘…I like this one already,’ Van thought as he followed her.

Meanwhile, Marcy returned to the guild’s reception.

‘That girl…’ She thought, looking at the empty space beside her that Amoria used to fill, ‘She said she had some errands… But what errands is she talking about? Getting Van into the Academy? But Lalyn surely can do a quicker job, being an instructor there and all.’ She wondered, yet soon getting distracted by an adventurer coming to the counter. ‘Oh well. It is that priest, so it’s probably nothing to worry about. She probably wants to make sure Van can enter smoothly as well, that worrywart.’

‘Kinda wished I could also help with that,’

“Oh… Aunt Marcy seems to have put him with Anne… He won’t last an hour in there,” Michael said with a small snicker to Liz as he saw Marcy exiting the storage area without Van by her side.

“She usually puts boys in there just to shoo them out because she knows they can’t keep up with her… I guess Aunt Marcy figured out that Van is just a womanizing brute,” Liz said with a small victorious snicker.

“Who is he, actually, Liz?” Michael asked.

“I already told you, Michael… He’s just the son of a friend of my mother’s. That friend was the weakest in their party.” She replied with a sigh.

“So, that must mean he isn’t all that impressive, right?” Michael asked, a hopeful tinge in his tone.

“A-ah… Yes, that’s right. You have nothing to worry about. I bet he will be out of here in the next hour or so,” she assured, forcing a smile.

“Aaah… I see… Great..! I mean… It’s not like I was worried or anything…” he said, shyly looking away.

“Of course…” Liz replied, feeling out of breath despite not working very roughly.

“O-oh, and… Seriously, thanks again… for inviting me to work with you. I really… missed this… missed you…” he mumbled with a blush.

“Right… Ahah… Me too, I suppose…” she replied awkwardly as she rushed to help other people, picking their orders.

Marcy looked at Liz and sighed. ‘Haah… It’s like watching someone work two jobs with the way Lizzy forces herself to look after that boy… So pathetic I want to puke… Well, I can’t go telling that priest how to raise her kid.’

She smiled to herself, “At least my brat is in good hands…” she mused.

“Alright, you see this?” Anne gestured towards an enormous pile of goods, neatly stacked on a cart. “The guild is a real multi-purpose hub—part smithy, part restaurant, part inn, and a lounge for members and adventurers alike. We’re also the distributors for our own network of restaurants and smithies. All these supplies come from out of town, and we’re responsible for distributing them to our various establishments. With the recent surge in visitors to the Capital since the Goddess took down Arutol, we’re swamped. This delivery arrived late, and we need to sort everything out fast to avoid any major losses. No breaks today, we need to get through this by nightfall.”

She was clearly driven, her energy infectious.

“Got it. What do you need me to do?” Van replied, eyeing the heap of items with a calm demeanor.

Anne raised an eyebrow. ‘Not even slightly unsettled by the workload? Or maybe he’s just good at playing it cool.’

“Your job is straightforward, just like mine. We need to sort these items into their correct categories: armor to the armor section, tools to tools, swords and morningstars to melee, bows and quivers separately over there, and magic staves and enchanted accessories to the magic section. Produce goes to produce, and bread with dried meats. While we arrange everything, we must also ensure the counts are accurate. Any discrepancies, and we note them down—otherwise, the guild covers the cost. Once sorted, we’ll organize deliveries for the sub-branches. Those go onto that cart, which our driver will take care of in about fourteen hours, right after nightfall.”

“And you manage all this by yourself, every single day? Why not get some extra help?” Van inquired.

“I’m usually on my own, and I handle it pretty well. Today’s unusually hectic, so my mom promised to send some reliable helpers… Yet, here you are, all by yourself. I’m not sure what your previous jobs were like, but just don’t pass out on me. Even with no breaks, I’m skeptical we can finish on time,” Anne explained, stretching her arms, her voice tinged with concern.

“Don’t worry. We’ll figure it out,” Van assured her, a calm resolve in his voice as he moved towards the massive pile.

“Tsch… You remind me of this guy who really gets under my skin. He’s been messing with my half-sister, pretending to be Mr. Innocent… You’re not like him, are you? I can’t stand guys who think they’re above everyone else, and I’m getting the impression you might be just like that,” she said, eyeing Van with a mix of suspicion and annoyance.

“Look,” Van’s voice hardened, catching Anne off-guard. “I’m not here to talk about who I am or am not. I’m here to get this job done and move on to do a quest. Shouldn’t we be focusing on the work rather than making assumptions?” he retorted, his tone bordering on reprimand.

Van sighed inwardly, thinking, ‘Papapapapasssiiiiveeee strikes again… But Marcy should really go over some manners with this one,’ as he crouched under a pile of armor.

Anne watched him skeptically. ‘He talks a big game but doesn’t even know how to properly start unloading. Always start from the top, not by pulling from the bottom…’

As Van reached for a piece of armor near the base of the stack, Anne scoffed internally. ‘Exactly as I thought, all talk.’

“You’ll need this,” Anne said dismissively, hurling a notepad towards Van’s back.

Without even turning to look, Van flicked his hand behind his back and caught it effortlessly.

‘He caught it…?’ Anne thought, her surprise evident.

‘Well, they’re really similar… So maybe her working on Anne’s manners wouldn’t do much…’

“How about you save that throw for a real novice?” Van quipped coolly, holding up the notepad.

DEX: 887 (Affecting agility)

With an effortless gesture, he lifted the enormous pile of armor onto his shoulder with one hand and started striding toward the fitting section.

“W-what the…!?” Anne gasped, toppling backward in astonishment. ‘That’s… That’s over a ton! I can barely manage 170 kilograms!’ she thought, her eyes wide as she watched Van nonchalantly proceed to the fitting area with the load.

“Wait!” Anne scrambled to her feet and dashed after him.

Van had already placed the armor down neatly by the time Anne caught up.

“I get it, you’re strong, but you still need to count everything!” she exclaimed breathlessly.

“I admire your commitment,” Van replied, extending the notepad towards her. “But I already counted it all on the way here,” he added flatly.

PERCEPTION: 587

Anne took the notepad, her eyes scanning the figures in utter disbelief.

Leggings:

Greaves: 70 [These are metal plates that protect the shin from the knee to the ankle.]

Cuisses: 70 [These cover the thighs.]

Poleyns: 68 [These are knee guards.]

Sabatons: 75 [Metal foot coverings, though not specifically leggings, they are part of the full leg armor setup.]

Torso Armour:

Breastplate: 69 [This was the front portion of the torso armor, covering the chest.]

Backplate: 70 [This piece was worn on the back, often attached to the breastplate.]

‘Impossible! How did he tally these numbers!!?’ Anne marveled inwardly. 

‘And he’s spot on—70 armor sets, exactly as in our order, with some missing, which always happens… I also added extra Sabatons on my own, and he’s accounted for those too… He really did count everything! When!?’ She was awestruck by his accuracy. ‘And it’s not like he should know what all these are like this, too..! Isn’t he my age…? I expected him to come to me at least a dozen times and asked what each of those parts are called!’

Feeling a spark of competitive spirit, she thought determinedly, ‘I’m not going to be outdone here.’ Fired up, Anne hastened to sort the remaining items, while Van matched her pace with an equally brisk efficiency.

‘Marcy could complete all this work in a bit,’ Van thought to himself as he moved, ‘But I guess she wanted to train her daughter, and get her stronger?’ He let out a weak chuckle at the thought.

Van and Amoria meandered through the bustling streets, their hands intertwined, with Van initially taking the lead.

…Until he realized he couldn’t quite remember the way to the guild. Amoria, with a light chuckle at the situation, took over as the guide.

Soon, they arrived in front of the towering guild building.

“Impressive,” Van remarked, admiring the cleanliness and the steady flow of adventurers coming and going.

“It’s modest, really. There are much larger guilds in Varolon,” Amoria responded.

“Really? I recall the main guild being much smaller…” Van said, eyeing the building curiously.

“Well, you’ve been away for quite some time, Van. After the dragon attacks, our engineers and architects had to work overtime. We’ve been building far more impressive structures since then,” she explained as they entered the guild.

“Oh, there she is!” exclaimed Marcilla from the counter, where she was speaking with a Royal Guard official and a subordinate.

“Ah, Miss Veil,” the Royal Guard greeted Amoria warmly as she approached with Van.

‘Hmm… If I’m not mistaken, that’s the guard from two nights ago…’ Van thought, recognizing the older official.

“Sir Hicks! What a surprise! It’s been too long,” Amoria said with a smile, embracing him.

“Ahh, indeed… Apologies for not stopping by sooner. I’ve been busy educating the new recruits,” Sir Hicks replied, patting her back before stepping back.

“You’re taking care of Riry, right?” she asked, glancing at the younger officer.

“-Gary…” the younger officer corrected quietly.

“Ah, of course. He stands tall every day, defending our walls. I’m as proud of him as if he were my own son,” Hicks proudly declared.

“But you have a daughter, sir…”

“…Who you are happily engaged to. Does that not make you like a son to me?” Hicks joked.

Garry looked down bashfully.

‘…They seem like good people. These girls are in good company,’ Van thought, a sigh of relief escaping him. 

Hicks then turned to the tall Van, who was standing patiently behind Amoria.

“Ahh, and who might you be, young lad? Planning to join the Royal Guards? Your build is absolutely perfect; you could be a commander like me someday!” Hicks said warmly as he approached Van.

“…Name’s Van Hellix, officer. Pleasure to meet you,” Van introduced himself.

“Van..?” Garry exclaimed softly. Yet, despite the relaxed environment and Van accompanying Amoria, his hand couldn’t help but be placed subtly on his holstered spear.

“-JUNIOR. He’s his son,” Amoria quickly interjected.

“Ahh… I see… Van Hellix’s own son,” Hicks noted, his tone slowing a bit.

Garry’s expression turned suspicious, his gaze tinged with worry.

——————EARLIER————

“Van Hellix… Why did that name cause her to shudder so much?” Garry muttered to himself, sifting through the records of the Royal Guards late at night, well beyond the end of his shift.

“He’s just a criminal, just some thug. Standing before him felt like facing a demon, not a man with feelings… If Miss Veil knows him, there must be something about him in these records…” he pondered.

After rummaging through the archives, Garry found Van’s name tucked away in the records of those who had left the city. The entry was dated just around the time Magus Veil and his party had departed, some 20 years earlier.

But there were no records of Van ever living in the city—no family ties, no attachments, not even a note on how he arrived there in the first place.

It was as though he had materialized out of nowhere the moment he left the city.

In stark contrast, the archives were filled with details about Magus Veil and his party, chronicling everything from the moment Magus was summoned to his eventual death.

“Just… who is this person?” Garry mused, his search intensifying until he stumbled upon an old dusty tome in the Royal Guard Archive.

“The Demon Lord’s Fall Saga.”

“That’s the story about how Magus Veil and his party defeated the demon lord… My mother used to read it to me as a child,” he reminisced.

“…There’s no way, right…?” he murmured, wiping the dust from the cover and flipping through the book until he found a crucial passage.

[…That was when Magus Veil was summoned into this world with his friend. After three years of grueling training, Magus Veil and his trusted companions left the city to embark on their quest to defeat the demon lord.]

“His friend…? He was summoned alongside someone else… Right… But why don’t they just say his name…?”

Garry read through the entire book. Each member of Magus’s party was mentioned multiple times throughout. Yet, Magus’s friend’s name appeared not even once.

“Was he just that unimportant…?” Garry wondered aloud, flipping back to the end of the book. There, amidst the list of party members, he finally spotted Van Hellix’s name.

“Only there…? Why?” He murmured to himself, closing the book with a sense of unease.

Seeking answers, Garry approached Sir Hicks, who was still on duty.

“Officer? Shouldn’t you be off your shift keeping my daughter company by now?” Sir Hicks asked with a raised eyebrow as he noticed Garry approaching him atop the wall.

“Sir, I have a personal inquiry!” Garry declared, standing firmly.

“…Alright, what is it?”

“A day ago, before the dragon attack, a suspicious individual came by. He claimed his name was Van Hellix. Do you know him?”

“Hmmm… Van Hellix, you say? Can’t say that I do. You should speak to Mongol about this,” Sir Hicks suggested, dismissing the matter with a wave of his hand.

“I’d rather not deal with Mongol… Ugh… Alright sir, good night. Sorry for the bother,” Garry murmured in frustration as he headed towards Mongol…

“Ahh, you want to know about Magus Veil and his party? Their epic battles? Their diet? The places they’ve visited? Their levels? Their group dynamics?” Mongol began, eager to share tales.

“Mongol, please I just want to—”

“Perhaps the time Magus heroically subdued the 4th general but unfortunately lost his true love in the process? That’s a personal favorite of mine. Oh, or when they forged an alliance with the mermaid queen via their human envoy? Or how he brokered peace among the matriarchal kingdoms of Bolo and Harkon? Ooh, maybe you’re curious about how he made The Demon Lord’s bone dragon cower with just his presence… Or possibly Magus Veil’s love life after the death of—”

“MONGOL, PLEASE!! STOP!! I JUST WANT TO KNOW ABOUT VAN HELLIX!” Garry shouted, his patience worn thin.

Mongol, the Royal historian, was a passionate enthusiast of Magus Veil and his party, relishing any opportunity to discuss the exploits of what he considered the most formidable group in the world.

That’s why Garry was taken aback when Mongol responded with a sigh of disdain, his usual fervor evaporating.

“Ugh, him of all people…?” Mongol muttered, rolling his eyes behind his round glasses.

“What the…? It’s unlike you to react like this about any historical figure, especially someone who traveled with Magus… Who was he?” Garry pressed, puzzled by the historian’s dismissive attitude.

“Ah, just some stowaway. Really, nothing special about him. He merely tagged along because he was Magus’s friend. No records about his prowess… And you know what I believe, if it wasn’t recorded, it never happened. He didn’t contribute anything, most likely. Always on the sidelines while Magus and the rest did the legwork. I dislike him a lot… I’ve even made efforts to minimize his mention in every new edition of ‘The Fall of The Demon Lord Saga’, just as my father did before me. However, for the sake of historical accuracy, I grudgingly include his name at least once,” Mongol explained, his voice filled with frustration as he leaned back in his chair.

“Wow… But surely, there must have been at least one notable thing about him…? To make you hate someone this much… I remember you even praising war criminals more highly than him,” Garry asked, still hoping to uncover something redeeming about the enigmatic figure.

‘That aura I felt around him…’ Garry thought, still concerned.

“Hmmm… Nope.” Mongol glanced up, pausing to reflect, “Absolutely nothing remarkable. He was utterly devoid of talent, unlike said war criminals. No special skills, nothing noteworthy. Just a swordsman knight, rank 11 adventurer. There isn’t even a record of his face since he constantly wore a helmet. Such a forgettable character… The only noteworthy thing about him is that he left the party 16 years ago, right after they defeated the demon lord. Quite selfish, really. After Magus graciously included him in his group of heroes, he just walked out on them…”

Mongol explained, yet he was unable but to hum curiously to himself, “Hmmm… Why did he? Likely because he felt left out. He was in the shadow of the greatest hero of all time, after all.” He shrugged shortly after.

“…And that’s it?” Garry pressed, unconvinced.

“Yes. Why are you so fixated on this nobody?”

Garry let out a sigh of relief. ‘I see… So he was just a minor character, too timid to make a mark. That aura was probably just my imagination,’ he thought.

“No reason. It just seemed strange, given that he was summoned alongside Magus Veil,” Garry murmured, trying to reconcile the historian’s dismissiveness with his initial sense of the man.

“I thought it might be odd too. But then, I figured the Goddess must know what she’s doing. You’ve really dampened my spirits bringing that up. Please, leave now,” Mongol concluded brusquely.

“Right…” Garry replied, turning to leave.

As he walked away, a smile of relief spread across his face. ‘Good. He’s nothing to worry about,’ he reassured himself, comforted by the thought.

————————-PRESENT——————-

‘Ah… Sir Hicks is awfully kind to Van… Is he not put off by his aura?’ Amoria wondered, feeling a sense of relief.

Unnoticed by the others, Sir Hicks’ hand had seamlessly found its way into Van’s grasp.

Van’s and everyone else’s eyes widened in surprise as they noticed.

“Sir..?” Garry called out, puzzled by the unexpected interaction.

“I had the privilege of meeting your father some time ago,” Sir Hicks began, a warm smile spreading across his face.

‘Oh…?’ Van thought, intrigued.

“He is a great man…” Sir Hicks continued, holding Van’s gaze with a steady, piercing look while maintaining a relaxed expression.

“…A good man. Please convey my utmost respect to him the next time you see him,” Sir Hicks added with conviction.

“Oh?” Marcilla exclaimed, taken aback by the Royal Guard’s show of respect.

“I am truly honored to shake your hand, Sir Hellix… And thank you,” Sir Hicks said, his grip firm on Van’s hand.

‘Thank you… Huh?’

“You’re welcome,” Van responded, his tone equal in volume to Sir Hicks, meeting his gaze squarely while returning the strength of his handshake.

‘I thought Sir Hicks didn’t know of Van Hellix… Was it a lie..?’ Garry thought, completely thrown off by his superior’s respect for the guy.

Before long, they had left Amoria’s apartment.

As they walked down the street, heads turned to look at them.

“Ah, Amoria…?” Van murmured, his eyebrow lifting upwards.

“What is it, Van?” she asked innocently.

“Well, we’re a bit close?” he noted, glancing at how she clung to his elbow.

“What kind of nonsense is that? Of course, we are… Isn’t it natural for party members to be close?” she replied casually, her smile unwavering as she stayed close to his side.

“…Right… If you say so.” He called, relaxing his body as they walked together; yet his body was still slightly tense.

‘It feels wrong,’ He thought to himself, ‘No, more like… It SHOULD feel wrong. It should feel like something, right?’

Van and Amoria were weaving through the crowded marketplace on their way to the guild when they encountered a swaggering leaning against a cart piled high with fruit. His smirk widened as he noticed Amoria, his gaze openly appreciative in a way that made Van’s eye twitch

‘… Right, Amoria’s a beautiful woman. And If I tried slugging every bastard that threw her this look, I’d have to kill the entire city.’ Van thought, inhaling deeply.

“Hey, pretty lady, why don’t you drop the kid and come hang with me?” the hoodlum, a sly grin spreading across his face as he eyed Van dismissively.

“So, little boy, how about you wait here while I show mommy a good time…” the hoodlum sneered, stepping into Van and Amoria’s personal space.

Instead of anger or frustration, Van regarded him with calm curiosity; and slight confusion.

‘Given her status as Magus’s wife and a member of our party, I expected her to command more fear and respect. What’s with this idiot…?’ he mused, watching the man, unfazed. Amoria’s grip on his elbow tightened slightly.

‘Is she really upset by this?’ Van wondered, sensing the subtle pressure in her hold. ‘Well, guess I’ll have to step in. I’d rather not waste the whole day on this clown.’

Van shifted forward, ready to intervene. “She’s not inter—”

Before he could finish, Amoria’s hand landed gently but firmly on his arm, halting him. Her expression was calm, her cool smile betraying none of the tension.

‘…?’

“I appreciate the offer,” she said smoothly, her voice polite yet devoid of warmth. “But no, thank you.”

The man leaned closer with a sneer, undeterred. “Aw, come on now… I even brought treats for the little boy. You know you want to.”

He turned to Van with a grin that dripped condescension. “Why don’t you convince mommy to come with this nice older brother, huh? I’ll give you all kinds of goodies. Just wanna have a deep conversation with her.”

Van stared at him, unimpressed.

‘Is he seriously trying to get Amoria to bang him behind the dumpster? Amoria, of all people? That’s… bold, considering who Amoria is. She could squash him without even trying, given her rank.’ His thoughts remained level, as if he was watching from afar.

‘Rather than aiming for her, it’s… like he’s more focused on provoking me. But I feel… nothing. I always imagined that if someone hit on Amoria before me, or acted like a sleazebag like that, I’d get angry and frustrated. But there’s just…’ He thought as he focused on his stomach, ‘Nothing. Even if I imagine her actually agreeing to something this outrageous and walking away,there’s just this feeling of…’

‘… It is what it is.’ He thought. ‘Like it doesn’t even matter.’

‘Huh,’

His gaze didn’t waver, calm and relaxed as the man’s bravado grew louder.

“What’s with that look, kid!? Can’t you appreciate me looking out for ya, huh!?” the hoodlum bellowed, his voice booming across the street, drawing curious glances from the bystanders.

“Hey, isn’t that Amoria Veil?”

“Someone’s hitting on her again? How embarrassing…”

“Who’s that kid with her?”

“A relative, maybe?”

Murmurs rippled through the crowd, casting an air of disapproval toward the scene unfolding before them.

Amoria’s smile didn’t waver as she cut in, “Really, we must be going. I have a job, after all…”

Van still looked at him.

Amoria, upon noticing Van’s relaxed palm, placed her soft hand onto it as she whispered.

“Come on, Van… It’s not worth it. He is not worth it.” She said.

‘…? Does she think I’m getting angry over it?’ Van’s gaze flicked to Amoria. ‘I don’t know what you expect of me, Amoria. But I can’t just… Act and feel like I’m your partner in the blink of an eye—’

“It’s not as if I choose which man I should go with based on the number of pieces of rotten meat between their teeth,” She added with a mocking smile as she nudged Van to look at the man’s mouth.

“Pfft…” Van chuckled in resignation, breaking the line of sight with the man as he spotted the meat pieces she had talked about.

‘That was pretty funny, though,’ He thought.

“HEY, WHAT’S SO FUNNY, HUH!!?” He yelled, a single piece of meat falling off his teeth.

“Oh, nothing. You’re such a big strong man, older brother, so I’m laughing out of fear…” He said, earning a light chuckle from Amoria.

‘Well, I guess it doesn’t hurt to try a little just to get out of here, hm?’ His thoughts lightened up.

“But…” He added as he wrapped his arm around Amoria’s neck, “Me and my mommy here need to go to work. Will you kindly let us pass, being the strong man that you are?” Van said gently with a smile, nodding towards the sword on his belt, Amoria casually leaning into the embrace as she looked at him confidently.

“…Hmph. Whatever.” The man grunted as he walked off. The other people around them sighed in relief, looking at Van.

“The way he handled that is so dignified… Who is that young man..?”

“Ahh, he looks so nice too…”

‘Wait, what?’ Van thought as he heard the chatter, ‘That can’t be right. My passive should’ve made them all think I was plotting something rather than think I’m someone dignified…’ He narrowed his eyebrows, yet feeling the pull from Amoria’s grasp, he quickly brushed it aside.

‘Maybe it’s because I’m close to her…?’

Amoria smiled proudly at Van as they too continued on their path.

As Van and Amoria walked off, the man, feeling he came out at a loss, began blurting loudly,

“Whatever, man. She might be top-quality sloppy seconds of Magus Veil, but she’s still sloppy seconds. She doesn’t worth much anymore.”

Van could feel the threads that held him to reason beginning to snap and crack, millions at a time.

He then chuckled, “Just some pathetic hero’s leftovers! She might be why he killed himself, haha.”

Amoria’s eyes widened, her face draining of color as she felt Van’s muscles tensing in an instant.

———-FLASHBACK—————-

“Van… Listen carefully. As a token of my gratitude for teaching me the ways of Ace the Venturer, allow me to impart some wisdom to you. Since you are bound to return to this castle in your pursuit of Her Majesty’s heart, and given that you are human, some demons will inevitably lash out at you because of your origin,” Varlog cautioned. “And they WILL rile you up at some point.”

“When that time comes, what will you do?”

“Turn the other cheek?” Van suggested.

“Turn the… What does that mean, again?” Varlog asked, puzzled.

“It’s a saying from my world. It means not to retaliate or let their mockery affect you,” Van explained with a shrug.

“…No, that is merely the act of a coward,” Varlog countered sharply.

“So, I should kill them on the spot?” Van ventured, half-joking.

“You truly are inept at social cues, aren’t you?” Varlog chided. “Resorting to senseless violence is the mark of a weakling, and worse, a narcissistic, immature imbecile. If you feel compelled to respond…”

“Do it with sophistication. Not only It’ll help score you points with Her Majesty, but your image around the mature demons will also improve.”

“Okay, I’m all ears.”

“Excellent. Here is what you should do…”

————————

“Van… Please… Please just ignore—” Amoria begged, but as she looked up at Van, she saw a relaxed smile on his face.

“Trust me on this one,” Van said softly, meeting her eyes.

“R-Right…” she muttered, reluctantly letting go of his hand as he turned around.

Van turned slowly, his demeanor calm. He fixed the hoodlum with a steady gaze.

‘It’s going to be a little awkward. Despite what Varlog warned me of, none of the demons actually did any of that, so this is my first shot at doing something like this… Now, I’m a little nervous,’

______

Varlog: “First, decide on a narrative and believe it. Act as if you’re the author, and a character in said narrative.”

______

Van began to clap loudly, drawing the market’s attention and the hoodlum’s confusion.

“What’s with you, kid? Got a stick up your ass?” He sneered with a chuckle.

‘Alright, what’s really sticking out about this dude? Hm…’ Van then inevitably recalled Amoria’s comment about this person’s teeth.

“No, no, I was just admiring the willpower of those pieces of meat between your teeth,” Van pointed out, nodding at the man. Everyone in the market glanced towards him.

Upon noticing everyone’s attention on him, he immediately shut his mouth.

“I seriously had no idea food even had willpower until today, with how those pieces cling to your teeth,” Van continued, shaking his head in mock admiration

A few spectators chuckled softly, and Amoria’s tense expression lightened.

‘Yeah, teeth. Teeth is good. Go for teeth.’ Van assured himself.

___________

Varlog: “As the author, you have the ability to decide on which parts of the story to focus. The world is a piece of leather, and you have the quill to write in the details you deem important.”

___________

The hoodlum’s smirk faltered. “You got a big mouth for a little—”

Van cut him off, turning to Amoria. “Hey, Amoria, how come you didn’t fall for this guy? With the way those meat scraps are clinging to his teeth, you’d think their rot had its own gravitational pull.”

‘Teeth, teeth, teeth, teeth, teeth, teeth, teeth, teeth, teeth, teeth, teeth…. Yeah, this is some good shit.’ Van thought, trying to improvise on something else, but couldn’t help but think about the teeth.

The crowd burst into laughter. Amoria pressed a hand to her mouth, struggling to contain her giggles.

‘Wow, I thought I was getting dry, but they’re really into this, huh?’ Van thought as he looked around with his eyebrow shooting up.

“You shitty brat! I’m a former royal guard officer! For such disrespect, I could have you executed!” he bellowed, drawing a stunned gasp from the onlookers.

‘Relax, focuse on what matters…’

Van shifted his stance, facing him directly. “Well, if you’re considering executions, I’d suggest starting with those meat scraps between your teeth. Put them out of their misery first. Isn’t it a former Royal Guard’s duty to take care of his own?” Van taunted.

‘Teeth? Again? Come on, now I’m just embarrassing myself… Find something else to laugh at, you dunce.’ Van berated himself.

“You bastard!” the hoodlum cried as he pulled out his sword, dashing toward Van.

‘Holy shit, he actually got angry,’ Van thought. ‘Really? Is teeth that sensitive a subject for you, dude?’ He looked at him casually.

The hoodlum covered his blade with Aura.

“Hey, hey… Using Aura just for a little joke!?”

“That’s too much! That kid’s in trouble! That Royal Guard’s at least a C-Ranker! Someone help!” the onlookers called out in worry, some looking away as Van stood at the ready.

‘Alright… Yay? I’ll just take him down quick, and we’ll be out of here,’ Van thought with a subtle shrug.

Just then, a large circle of light appeared above the hoodlum, crushing him into the ground and leaving a crater that sent a loud boom echoing throughout the marketplace.

“As a true believer of the Goddess, I try not to meddle with lowly common thugs,” Amoria called out as she stood behind Van, her palm raised against the thug as she began walking forward.

Van turned around, surprised. “Amoria?”

Her eyes were wide with rage as she looked at the thug as if he were no more than a heap of garbage. “But you just tried hurting someone I care about. I think it’s time I reminded you of who I am,” she stated coldly, increasing the pressure of her magic.

Most people around started to feel weak as she increased her magical output.

‘I guess that works too. Though, a bit overkill…’ Van thought, casually standing next to her. ‘She was really… Angry on my behalf?’ He thought as he looked at her, feeling an unexpected wave of warmth.

“I’M SORRY… I’M SORRY… PLEASE FORGIVE ME!” the hoodlum cried out as Amoria’s eyes glowed with the divine light of the goddess. The sound of bones snapping and crackling could be heard from his body.

Van sighed, gently placing his palm on her shoulder.

She looked at Van’s relaxed, nonchalant smile in the midst of her frenzy.

Gradually, she released the magic she was using.

“…Wanna go?” he asked.

Amoria’s smile returned to her face. “Yeah. Marcy will scold me if I’m too late.”

The two turned around and walked away, Van instinctively reaching out his hand for her to grab without even noticing.

Amoria looked at his palm and his nonchalant air around Van, smiling warmly as she reached out and held his hand.

They walked hand in hand away from the agonized hoodlum, who would think twice about the women he’d hit on… and think twice about his teeth.

The crowd’s gaze followed them in disbelief, discovering a newfound respect and fear for Amoria and her prowess…

And a pleasant impression of the boy who walked beside her.

‘Varlog… I hope you’re not too disappointed with this,’ Van mentally thanked in his mind.