Chapter 49 - Frates Festival 2 (2/2)

“Fortunately, it seems you don’t plan on bullying me after learning that information.”

“There is no way I would have bullied you!Never!”

The surprised Etna started waving both her hands in denial.Even in his past life, Etna had avoided taking a single human life unless she was explicitly given a command by the Demon King.He was confident that she didn’t hold any evil intent towards him. Still, he had asked the question as part of a plan!He was trying to exploit a weakness with his next attack!

“Please I hope you understand where I’m coming from. Suddenly, a strong and pretty noona like Etna approached me.Isn’t it unreasonable to expect me to not to be on my guard.”

When she heard his words, Etna’s smile stretched from ear to ear.

That’s right!She was weak against flattery!

She kept grinning as she nodded her head.

“I’m not bothered by it at all.It’s fine.Yes, I just thought Artpe was coo……I had a favorable impression of you!Of course, age and skill doesn’t always match up.Still, it doesn’t matter how talented you are.You’ve reached a stage that can’t be reached unless you go through several life-or-death crisis. I just thought that was incredible…..”

“You look young to me, Etna.”

“Hee······.”

Naturally, Artpe enacted a second wave of flattery.He didn’t even need to see the result.It was a critical hit.

“Is that so?I look young. Mmm.Ooh-mmm.”

It didn’t matter if it was a human or a demon.After a certain age, the ultimate compliment that could be given to a woman was that she looked young!The effect of this phrase was amazing! Her weakness had been assaulted, and the gap in Etna’s defense was revealed!

Etna was so happy that she didn’t know what to do with herself.Artpe’s emotion remained cold as he watched her.He was using all kinds of methods to avoid becoming suspicious to her, and he was buying her good will.He was going to use the advantage he gained to acquire first hand knowledge about the Demon King’s army.This was the only thought going through his head.

“So you really just talked to me out of curiosity?”

“Yes, that’s right …..of course.”

······huh?He thought he saw a single cloud cross her constantly smiling face.

Was he mistaken?

He tilted his head in puzzlement as he continued his conversation with Etna.He had to find out what had caused the conflict of emotion on Etna’s face, so he had to keep her here as long as possible.

“All right.I’ll put my trust in you.So you should tell me about other sights worth seeing in Frate.”

“Yes, I will…..By the way, if I order another beverage, will you cast another spell to keep it cool for me?”

“Of course.”

“Thank you!I want another glass of highball!”

At Artpe’s assertion, a smile akin to a full moon was plastered on Etna’s face.

He had done something so simple, yet she was truly happy.She really wasn’t fit for the role of the Four Heavenly King.He let out a bitter laugh inside as he faced her.

Her mouth opened easily.

“If we are talking about what you should do in the harbor town…..”

Around two hours passed from that point.

Their conversation started with Frate, but their conversation naturally moved onto other topics.Etna didn’t talk about the specifics of her circumstances to Artpe.Still, she talked about her everyday life, and she talked about stories that was reminiscent of what happened in their past lives.

Of course, he already knew her identity, so it was easy for him to decipher the current situation of the Demon King’s army through her stories.

‘It seems there isn’t another Artpe in the Demon king’s army.I’m sure about that.’

He had wonder if there would be another existence like Artpe, but with a different name.He also wondered if there was someone different with the same name as him.Neither case was true.It seemed no one in the Demon world was given the same position as what he was given in his previous life.Moreover, there was no one who had possessed a similar ability as his.

He also learned something knew.Unlike Etna’s ranking in her previous life, she was ranked 3rd amongst the Four Heavenly Kings.

She mentioned three beings that were above her.He was sure by the speech and behavior she describe that two of the three was the Demon King and ‘him’. It was the being that was ranked number one in his previous life.The remaining third figure must be the other Four Heavenly King!

‘My existence was completely erased.However, it seems someone else was inserted as the new Four Heavenly King in my place.I wonder who it is?It was someone that was able to reach a higher rank than Etna.It seems nothing is turning out like my previous life.’

Of course, he couldn’t ask her more detailed questions.It would basically reveal the fact that Artpe knew Etna was a Demon, and that she was one of the Four Heavenly Kings.Instead, he let out a laugh befitting his age as he spoke his next words.

“Etna, you are so strong,yet there are others that are stronger than you?I don’t know which country’s magic tower you are from, but it interests me.”

“I’m not from a normal place.It is as you’ve said.I’m strong, but there are others that are stronger than me…..It isn’t a place where a person with a normal heart cannot survive.”

Etna’s voice was as serious as it could be.When he heard her words, Artpe couldn’t hold back a sigh.

It was something he had repeatedly felt in his past life, but he couldn’t believe how lax this woman was. If he wasn’t careful, she would probably reveal that she was from the Demon world by mistake.

Artpe tried very hard not to dig any deeper into Etna’s words.He was barely able to focus the topic on her.

He could see the anguish she had possessed from the moment she was dominated by the Demon King to the last moment he had died in his previous life.It was so clear to him that it was as if he could grasp them with his hand.He didn’t know it, because of his Read All Creation ability.The anguish she was feeling was similar to what he had felt in his previous life.

Maybe, that precipitated it.

He gave up on trying to act like a child.He spoke with words that held a good amount of his true feelings.

“There aren’t that many that is special from the beginning.One starts out with a normal heart, but it gets continuously chipped away by one’s environment.In the end, it takes on a shape thatlooks special to other people.Others may think think it is special….In truth, it is something that is egregious hurtful and sad.”

“Oh my.”

Etna’s eyes turned round in surprise when she heard his words.Then she started chuckling.Her expression looked as if she had been sucker punched.Artpe realized he had made a very serious mistake.

He might have made a mistake that exceeded the ice sculpture he had gifted her in his past life.

“You are an angel sent from the heavens to soothe my heart.What should I do?I’m conflicted.Should I just wrap you up and take you away with me?”

“Please refrain from doing so.You will make my girlfriends cry.”

“······yes, I’ll refrain. However, when I meet you again, I really might not be able to hold myself back.”

As she spoke those words, she got up from her seat.Her chest sensually jiggled, and every male eyes were on her.Her chest was large enough that it made one wonder if they were a burden to her slender body.Of course, Artpe was unfazed.

He was unfazed.

“Artpe, I went through the effort of talking you about Frate, so I’m sorry about this.”

“H..huh?”

“I want you to leave this city as soon as possible.You should do so with your precious girlfriend.”

“What?”

“Goodbye for now.”

Her last farewell contained a teaspoon of regret, and two teaspoon of anticipation.Artpe knew she had a secret she was keeping.Etna didn’t say anything further as she suddenly disappeared from her sesat.

Since she hadn’t left the city, Artpe could find her with his ability.However, he didn’t feel the need to do so.He had heard everything he needed to hear.

‘She wants me to leave the city?That means Etna hadn’t come here for sight seeing.That can’t be.There is no way the Demon King would use her at this juncture in time.This city doesn’t have any weird items or people.Maybe, it has something to do with something on one of the boats that will influx into the city…...’

However, Artpe couldn’t continue down that train of thought.He was so inwardly focused that he hadn’t been able to properly activate his Read All Creation ability.This was why he didn’t notice the two people that had moved stealthily towards him.

“Artpe!”

“Oppa, where did you go go by yourself?”

These rascals….He was sure that their inability to move stealthily had all been an act.Artpe let out a big sigh as he got up from his seat.

“Can’t I spend some quality time alone?”

“Then why is there a cup on the other side?Ah, I also smell a sweet citrus type perfume!Woman!It was a woman!”

“Wow.Unni is amazing!”

Maetel made a sharp observation.At such times, she didn’t seem dumb.She even showed qualities that would make her a great detective.Artpe absent-mindedly had such thoughts as he was interrogated under the clutches of Maetel.

Of course, he had no intention of leaving Frate.

This stage would truly be his from now on.