Chapter 150
Chapter 150
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 150
Chapter Title: Revela (3)
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The city of Revela, built steeply along coastal cliffs with the sea right beside it, was one where the atmosphere contrasted starkly depending on the elevation.
The slums and everyday residential areas down below suffered from occasional monster attacks from the sea and poor public safety, while the affluent districts up top on the cliffs were free from such troubles but instead swirled with the shady schemes of the wealthy elite.
“...I'm not exactly one of those shady rich folks.”
“Well, you are rich, aren't you? Close enough, right?”
“...”
As Carlyle grinned and spoke, Elena puffed out her lips and turned her head away.
She wasn't voicing her complaints outright, probably because the people around Carlyle were still glaring at her intimidatingly...
“...”
Elena's eyes began to well up with tears as she flinched.
Just being here felt suffocating to her.
Her eyes darted around busily, searching for someone who might help her out.
“...H-Hey, Vespa! You know I don't think like that! At least take my side...!”
“...”
Vespa smiled brightly.
'Ah.'
The moment she saw that smile, Elena instinctively stiffened, her expression hardening.
This girl was pretty pissed off.
The heavens were merciless. She hadn't even flirted with this guy, so why was she getting treated like this...?
No, all they'd done was hold hands...!
“U-Ugh...”
“Is something wrong, Senior? Are you feeling unwell anywhere?”
“...”
You're the one making me uncomfortable.
No, she didn't hate the person herself, but a little slack would be nice.
And the follow-up words piled on even more.
“If you're feeling unwell, that'd be a problem. Only you and I are supposed to go inside the auction house.”
“...”
This crazy bastard.
Dragging around a bunch of women like this and now planning to go in there alone with her?
“...W-Why?”
It was only natural for backlash to arise.
What was most chilling was that Vespa asked it with the same smiling face.
She was smiling as she spoke, but her eyes weren't smiling at all.
Even this sweet girl could get terrifyingly angry like this.
Still, from Elena's perspective, it was somewhat fortunate. If the others were this mad, even this guy would pick up on the mood to some extent.
At least this Carlyle seemed like the type to read the room—
“You all should patrol around the auction house. If you spot anything suspicious, let me know right away.”
Carlyle said that as he gazed toward the inside of the auction house.
“My gut's telling me something's going to go down here for sure.”
“...Then what about you, Carlyle?”
At Vespa's question, Carlyle gave a wry smile.
“I'm the one who has to go into the dangerous spot. How could I send you all in?”
“...”
“I'd rather take a hit myself than see any of you get hurt.”
“...”
Vespa blushed and fidgeted.
Compared to her earlier sharp anger masked by a smile, this was like night and day.
Even Elena, watching from the side, stared at Carlyle in astonishment.
No, this guy.
No wonder he dragged women around like sausages—he was a natural flirt, breathing it out effortlessly.
And more than that!
“W-What about me?! Am I not important?! Why are you taking me into that dangerous place alone?!”
No, she got why he was going in himself since it was dangerous. But why drag her along too?!
What the hell did he think she was...!
Hearing her outburst, Carlyle looked at her with serious eyes this time.
And, just like before, he gripped her hand tightly as he spoke.
“I'll protect you however I can so you don't get hurt, Senior.”
“...”
Huh.
“What do you mean not important? None of the people here are unimportant to me.”
“...”
Huh?
She hadn't expected him to say it so earnestly, with such intense eyes.
Elena, whose hand was gripped tightly by Carlyle, didn't know what to do and averted her gaze this way and that.
'No, with this guy...'
It didn't feel like the usual smooth-talking playboy lines dripping with honey.
How to put it—his vow to protect her with his life felt like it came straight from the soul, making her want to nod along without realizing it...
And while she was flustered like that, Carlyle went flying from a kick.
It was Gray's dropkick, flashing in like lightning.
“...Huh.”
Elena let out a dazed groan as she saw Carlyle with his neck practically twisted 180 degrees.
Gray kicking things was commonplace, but the anger in this kick bordered on murderous intent.
“Don't mess around.”
Gray said in a cold voice.
To Elena's quick wits, it translated to something like 'Don't flirt with other women in front of me.'
Digging deeper, it even seemed to include 'Say I'm the most important.'
“...Lady, you're drawing attention like this. Please restrain yourself.”
“...”
And when Carlyle emerged unscathed, brushing the dust off his clothes, Gray's face soured.
Back in the day, a few bones would crack audibly and he'd hobble on through sheer grit, but now with his specs up, he wasn't even getting seriously hurt by this.
No, more than that.
“You're not even fazed by getting hit anymore...?”
Why was he only worried about drawing eyes, this guy?
“...”
It made her dizzy.
She wanted nothing to do with this entire party's mess.
Even Vespa, who she'd thought was just nice, turned a bit weird when it came to this man...!
Fortunately, the main culprit of this bizarre atmosphere seemed headed elsewhere.
“Oh, and Lady, could you stay completely outside the auction house?”
“...”
The moment Carlyle said that, Gray's face hardened rigidly.
“Why me?”
“...It's important not to draw attention, and you're too famous for that.”
“...”
He wasn't wrong.
Anyone participating in Revela's secret auction—tycoons gathered from across the continent—would recognize Gray's face.
“...Tch.”
Unable to argue back, Gray could only click her tongue.
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Watching the group disappear into the auction house, Gray scowled deeply.
'...Annoying.'
Truth be told.
The reason was too sound for her to object.
But the anger boiling inside her right now wasn't something she could just dismiss as mere annoyance.
What was it.
The sight of him leaving her behind and vanishing off with other women.
-Because your oppa's a bit unique, you know. It's not weird that he attracts affection everywhere.
-And among them, there might even be someone who could actually make oppa happy?
-Unlike you, Hero, just a 'normal' girl.
“...”
Gray ground her teeth.
The words she'd heard not long ago made her insides bubble with rage.
Asmodeus, that bitch.
She had a real talent for pinpointing and scratching exactly where it itched the most.
'Can't even give love advice.'
...She'd run off saying she knew seduction but not dating.
No way, but.
'Is that bitch a virgin?'
It even felt like she had zero dating experience.
...The Archdemon of Lust was a virgin.
Just imagining it overheated even Gray's brain, so she shook her head and started walking.
Well, she wasn't allowed in, so she'd kill some time outside.
Sighing, she began strolling through Revela's streets.
Her steps first halted at a bookstore.
“...Hmm.”
She liked books.
Whenever she had time, she'd pass it reading them.
Her frighteningly vast knowledge, mismatched with her violent temper, stemmed from that hobby.
Gray strode boldly into the bookstore and headed straight for her designated shelf.
[How to Handle Men], [Men and Women Basics], [Rational Men], [Reason and Emotion], and so on.
Books she'd been devouring lately.
But as her eyes scanned the romance section, Gray's gaze narrowed.
“...”
That jerk ran off giggling with another woman, and here she was doing what?
Fresh anger surged from within...
“You think that'll snag a man?”
As she tapped her foot on the floor, someone suddenly spoke to her.
“Do you have a guy on your mind, Lady?”
Gray shot a glare at the one who'd addressed her calmly.
He was smiling faintly.
Top hat, monocle, cane.
A man with blue irises.
“...”
Something about it.
His smile resembled Carlyle's.
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