Chapter 70 - The Quest Isnst Done Yet 5 (2/2)

“It’s a joke.I’m joking.”

She was sitting at the edge of the bed.She patted the spot next to her.Artpe’s own safety had been threatened, so he was very hesitant.However, in the end, he did as she wanted.

Their bodies weren’t touching, but the two of them were close enough that they were able to feel the faint traces of each other’s body temperature.Artpe weirdly felt ticklish, so he tried to widen the distance from her. Etna kept looking at him with soft eyes, so he had to give up on that idea.

“Is that your cat?She is incredibly well behaved.”

“She’s my familiar.”

[Nyaa-ooh.]

It seemed Roa picked up on the mood, so she was well-behaved.No, she might be too afraid of Etna at an instinctual level.Etna extended her hand, yet Roa didn’t even think about running away.She offered her body up to Etna.Roa was completely in a nonresistance mode.

Etna also realized this fact, so she let out a bitter laugh.

“······it has also been like this.Animals have always been sensitive to my energy. It has always been like this.”

“I’ll bring her back after I raise her.She’ll be strong enough that she won’t be afraid of you.”

“Oh my.Are you already requesting another date?I’m glad.”

Etna carefully retracted the hand she had extended towards Roa.This time she gently took Artpe’s hand.Her hand was slender and delicate.Her hand felt hot as she grabbed his hand in it entirety.

When Artpe tilted his head in puzzlement, Etna pouted as she spoke.

“You said you wanted to hold my hand.”

“Ah.I cooked up those words, because I wanted your magical energy.”

“Ooh-doo-doohk.”

The same sound that was coming out of Etna’s mouth was heard from the joints of Arte’s hand.Etna ignored Artpe’s scream as she kept holding onto his hand.After a long while, she finally let go of his hand.His hand was red.

“You are young, yet you are trying to play with a woman.”

“Are you saying it would have been fine if I was older?”

“Yes. ······so please grow up fast..”

“······huh?”

What the hell?Didn’t he say something similar to someone?Artpe felt himself sink into an odd mood.

Before he could dredge up the answer from his memories, Etna extended her hands to grab his shoulders.She gently pulled him towards her, and she gave him a light kiss on his cheek.Her kiss felt blissful hot befitting the daughter of the Phoenix.

“Uh······.”

“Hoo-hooht.”

At the unexpected sneak attack, Artpe became dazed.Etna let out a bright smile as she stood up. There was a mischievous smile on her lips.

“When you grow up and if we don’t need to fight each other at taht time, let’s meet up once again in earnest.”

“Didn’t I tell you that I have a girlfriend?”

“Hoo.”

Artpe used the invincible shield to protect himself, but his defense broke into tiny pieces.Etna snorted.

“You really think I can’t tell that you were telling me a lie?You are great at hiding everything else.I don’t know why you are so obtuse regarding this subject.”

“Uh······.”

….it was weird.Everyone seemed to be able to read his inner thoughts today.He wondered if a magic that revealed his inner thoughts was placed on him.He explored his face with his hand.Etna let out a cloudless laughter when she saw this.

“I want to stay with you longer, but my time limit is approaching.I have to go now.”

“Etna?”

“Also, this is my present to you.”

Etna pushed the sword towards him.He didn’t even have to check it.It was the Netherworld Flame Sword of Madness he had given her when he entered the room.

Artpe received the sword, and he looked over its information.The Fire Spirit Meltia wasn’t residing within it, but a powerful fire energy remained within the sword.Artpe immediately realized that it was Etna’s power.

It was absolutely inferior compared to the sword that had Meltia residing within it.However, the Record left behind by Meltia remained inside the sword, and it worked harmoniously with Etna’s power.It had turned into an Artifact that was priceless.

“I’m not as good as you, but I’m skilled at enchanting items with my power.Please take care of this sword.You should think of it as me.Ah, you can’t give it to that girl.I’ll really hate you if you do.”

How the heck did she know that he had been planning on giving to Maetel….He was having such thoughts, yet he shamelessly shook his head from side to side on the outside.

“No, I was going to use it.Don’t worry about it.”

“Hoo-hooht.It sound like a lie, but I’ll trust you.Be seeing you.”

In the next moment, Etna really disappeared from the spot.She completely disappeared using the same method she used in the pub couple days ago.However, she had traveled a much vaster distance compared to before.She controlled fire, yet she travelled quickly like the wind.

[Nyaa.]

At that moment, Roa was barely able to regain her composure.She hopped on top of Artpe’s lap.She looked up at him as she cried.Her eyes were filled worry and fear.

[Nyaa-ahhhh······.]

“No, she isn’t a woman that would be swayed by her affections.If a day comes where she has to kill me, she won’t hesitate to kill me.”

[Nyaa nyaa, nyaa-ooh-ahh.]

“Yes, if that happens, she’ll probably be hurt more than me.That is why….. .”

Artpe thought about the lonely expression on her face, and the black shackles that encircled her neck.She was supposed to be a radiant fire that should be freer than anyone else.She wasn’t able to spread her wings.When he thought about her miserable state, it made him grind his teeth.

Still, he was able to confirm something once again today.He was sure of it now.

In the past, the Demon king’s power had felt absolute to him, but he was no longer afraid of it now.

“I’ll end him with my own power this time around.Are you going to help me, Roa?”

[Nyaa!]

Roa gave a short yet fierce answer.Artpe smirked as he petted her head.Then he stood up.He equipped the flame sword given to him by Etna, and he hid it using his robe.Then he bravely headed outside.

“I’ll take care of my remaining tasks.”

After bartering with Mycenae, he was able to flawlessly rebuild the 1st barrier wall.It was already late into the night when he returned to the inn.

It seemed Sherryl and Sienna had already become friends.They slept as they leaned against each other’s shoulder.Unlike them, Maetel was glowering as she waited for him.She wasn’t up for anything important.

“What do you have to say for yourself, Artpe?”

“You might not believe me, but nothing happened.I had other tasks I had to finish.”

“I want to hear a detailed account of what you did.Come here.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

He wanted to go to sleep.The night was fast coming to an end.It took him 30 minutes to convince Maetel that nothing had gone on between Etna and him.After being harassed by her, he was finally able to go to sleep within her embrace.

From Maetel’s perspective, she was trying to make up for the time and affection she had lost to Etna.This was nothing but a form of punishment from Artpe’s perspective.

Still, it was strange.He was able to sleep really well that night within her embrace.He slept for three hours.He had been busy running around Frate, yet all the fatigue he had accumulated was completely washed away as if it had been a lie.