Chapter 75：Lets Meet There (1/2)

After he returned home from the mountain range, leaving Dimon to heal, for now, Arthur was greeted with an unwelcome guest.

”Hello,” Julia stood up from the couch and slightly bowed her head. Arthur didn't answer and merely looked at his mother, who was sitting on the couch as well.

”Greet the young lady, you brat!” His mother scowled at him, making Arthur not able to do anything but greet Julia back. His mother was always a sucker for etiquette and how society saw them, much to Arthur's disliking.

”What are you doing here?” Arthur asked as he sat on their couch as well, his hand resting on his left temple. He was exhausted from two days of hunting and only wished to rest for a bit before the academy. However, he was met with this unpleasant woman.

”I have something for you. Congratulations.” Julia took out a runic bracelet from her bag, offering it to Arthur. The latter simply looked at it for a second before taking it.

”Thank you…”

”What's that?” His mother asked, snapping her head to see what Arthur held. Unlike the understanding mother Arthur hoped for, who would simply ignore the things he didn't wish to share, his mother was quite nosy. His father must've been after her looks for sure.

”It's nothing,” Arthur tried to pocket the bracelet, but his mother glared at him in a way that said she would stab him if he didn't take it out.

Arthur then glared at Julia for making a mess out of this. He wanted to keep his affair a secret since his mother would only worry, but this woman had to barge into his house and reveal them.

As Julia realized her mistake, she started stuttering as she tried to salvage the situation. In the end, Arthur sighed and explained the whole thing to his mother. Even though he wanted to keep it a secret, there wasn't a need for it to be since it wasn't dangerous.

”I've registered in the Runes Association,”

”The what?”

His mother, being the busy single-mother she was, had no time for news or how the world worked. She knew about everything awakeners-related from his father, but things like runes were taken for granted these days. She didn't understand why an association was needed for that.

”Allow me to explain,” Julia regained her wits and started giving a professional introduction to her line of work. His mother sat there silently as she listened. In the end, Julia had to restore to an ancient tactic: praise someone in front of his mother.

”Your son, he's a genius in this field! I've seen his test results, they're extraordinary. Only someone with the talent and dedication of several years could achieve his level.”

'Dedication my ass, you think my mother doesn't know I only worked in cleared dungeons until now?' Arthur facepalmed inwardly. However, his mother started laughing and bragging how her son has holed himself up all those years to study. She then began to praise Julia and her willingness to come here to report his result, even inviting her over dinner.

In the end, Julia refused and stood up to leave. That was a good decision since she couldn't say anything more with his mother around.

”Can you guide to the station? I'm kind of unfamiliar with these parts.” Julia asked him.

”Use your phone,” Arthur declined since it was a lie.

”Go and guide her!” His mother yelled at him and Arthur had no choice but to grumbly leave his house. Julia simply walked by his side, a foot shorter than him, with her professional business suit.

”You know I can report you to the association for the privacy breach, right?”

”I know,”

”And? What was so important that is worth this risk?”

”How about we find a place to sit down and talk?”

Arthur looked at her in a way that said she had no right to suggest such a thing. Julia simply scratched her cheek and avoided his eyes as a guilty person would do. In the end, they sat in a nearby playground.

”Is there no other place?”

”Just spit it out.”

”How about you show some respect?” Julia frowned and said. She was used to being showered with praise and respect for her accomplishments.

”I don't care if you're a genius or whatever, respect is earned.” Arthur glared back, and a staring contest ensued. In the end, Julia sighed.

”I'm sorry, it was the only thing I can do.” Julia apologized, sounding sincere.