Chapter 37: Ireas student (1/2)
”Excuse me?” Layn's eyes opened in shock when he heard the young man's words. After the display of perfect hospitality and politeness, this was how he acted towards a clear guest of his teacher?
'And what's with the two of them being teachers and elders? Could it be the reason…?' Pondering over the situation in his head, Layn looked amiably at the kids in front of him. Initially, it was Layn's shock that stopped him from flying into a rage. But in the end, it was just pity that held his fury.
”Layn, please…” Before the youth could make the situation any worse, Irea intervened. Turning with a frightful expression towards the archmage, she looked at him with pleading eyes.
”You know, this kind of hurts.” Calmly reaching for the girl's head, Layn rustled her hair before allowing the sadness to appear in his eyes. ”I'm not some kind of monster that goes around killing kids.”
'If I let them run their mouth, the situation will only escalate. A small display should be enough to keep them back.' Even though Layn didn't plan to cause trouble for the girl, it didn't mean the other party was willing to make things easy for him. But since Irea clearly didn't wish for him to cause a scene…
”The young lives according to their own dreams of greatness.” Replacing the sad look with a gentle, amiable smile, Layn removed his hand from the girl's head only to pick up her hand instead. ”Isn't this our role as adults to cut them some slack?”
Going as far as sending a quick wink to the girl, Layn forced Irea's fingers apart only to push his own fingers in the gaps. Clasping his hold on the girl's hand down, Layn then looked at the youth in front of him with a triumphant look on his face.
'What are you going to do now, kiddo?' Amused by the sheer fact that such a weakling dared to pick a fight with him, Layn could no longer feel any hostility towards the kid.
”I said, get your filthy hands off her!” Contrary to Layn's expectations, this kid turned out to be far more stupid than he hoped for. ”Men, get him!” Pushing his hand forward, the youth ordered.
In an instant, the place turned crowded. As if half of the people walking on the street turned out to be assassins in hiding, a mass of people threw themselves to forcefully part the two.
”Layn, I beg you.” Incapable of tearing off the look of dread from her face, Irea grasped Layn's palm with both of her hands. Looking at him with tearful eyes, she didn't even attempt to hide the shaking of her body.
”Didn't I tell you?” Shaking his head in response, Layn used his free hand to pull one of the leftover stones from the recent fight. Given how all the enemies failed to conquer just the initial formation, Layn still had a few useful tricks up his sleeve. ”I'm not some kind of monster.”