Chapter 331: To Be A Creator (2/2)
”A guest visited me and broke it,” Arthur answered vaguely. Dia turned to him silently, and Arthur could tell she knew what he meant.
”Someone attacked you?”
Arthur was surprised by the edge of her voice, the rage, and the killing intent. With her at the center, the area began to turn frosty under her wrath.
”Calm down.” Arthur slipped his hand into hers, and the cold disappeared before the customers turned into popsicles. ”That's better.” He let go of her hand.
”Who was it?”
”The Knight of Nobility,” Arthur answered. ”Please don't freeze these people.” He hurried to ask of her as he felt the air freeze around her again.
”Did you make sure to beat him up?”
”I did, but the Knight of Courage intervened to threaten me.” Arthur looked at the bidding war with interest as he felt Dia's gaze fall on him.
”You know that this kingdom isn't as perfect as you thought, so why are you so determined to meet King Solomon?”
”He has what it takes to make a change in the world. He's a true ruler.”
”I think you'd make a better one,” Dia said, and Arthur paused. He turned to look at her with confusion.
”A better what?”
”Ruler.”
”I don't think I'm small enough, or straight and flat, to be a geometry tool.” Arthur shrugged. ”I can help you measure distances, though.”
”...” Dia looked at him silently, and Arthur grinned. ”Do you have these jokes memorized or something?”
”I'm flattered that they are good enough for you to think that.” Arthur laughed as Gruen sold another artifact. ”And no, I don't think I fit to be a ruler.”
”You have what it takes.” Dia was persistent, and she stepped closer to Arthur. ”You can be a ruler; I've seen it in you.”
”You've seen power,” Arthur said with a light smile. ”That's the worst quality to look for in a ruler.”
”I've seen compassion,” Dia said. ”But also, determination.”
”That's a nice word for ruthlessness.” Arthur walked closer to Gruen, who was shouting with a red face. ”You forgot one crucial element: I don't want to rule.”
He stood close to Gruen as Dia stood behind him. He turned to her since he knew she had more to say.
”Then what do you want to be?” She asked him, locking her eyes to his. Arthur knew that his answer would determine whether she followed him or not, but he didn't want to lie.
”I want to be a creator, whether this means to build a kingdom or to destroy others.” Arthur looked at her, and he spotted something behind her.
A man didn't look at the artifacts but simply tried to get into the shop. His eyes darted around, and Arthur could see he was sleepless.
”We'll have to talk later.” Arthur walked past Dia as she turned. ”We have an uninvited guest.”
Arthur walked behind the man through the shop. The man tried to stay for a bit next to every artifact before changing direction and moving toward Gruen.
Arthur stood behind the man as the latter kept looking at Gruen. The man then took out a wrapped item from his jacket and flexed his arm to threw it at Gruen.
”Woah there, wait.” Arthur grabbed his arm. ”Let's take this elsewhere.”
Arthur struck the man with the teleport rune before following after him. The two appeared in an abandoned building at the edge of the city.
”Wait, what is going!” The man screamed, but Arthur closed his mouth as his dagger rested on the man's neck.
”Shut up, or you'll die,” Arthur said lightly, with such ease that it alienated him. ”What's in the bag?” Arthur glanced at the wrapped item that the man held.
Suddenly, the man shoved his hand into his pocket and pressed something. The item in his hand was engulfed in flames and exploded.