52 An incredibly thrilling duel (1/2)

I picked up the phone and walked back into the deserted building. Both Damian and Tania followed after me.

”Eugene? Why'd you call me?”

”Why did I call you?! WHY WEREN'T YOU IN CLASS?!” He shouted from the other side.

I held the phone away from my ears speechless.

Bro, that almost burst my eardrums.

”I didn't feel like going. I just skipped.”

”Yuri, you can't just...whatever, where are you right now? I'll go pick you up. School's almost over anyway.” Eugene said after calming down.

”I'm at home, where else?” I lied.

Damian and Tania suppressed their smirks while listening to my conversation.

”What a shabby home you have, Milady,” Damian whispered under his breath and Tania chuckled.

Well, they seem to be getting along fine. That's a relief.

”Really?” Eugene asked again with suspicion.

”Duh. Where else would I go? Some secret club to gamble?” I confirmed while rolling my eyes.

”Yeah...I feel like that's what you would do, actually.”

As expected of Eugene, he knows me well.

”I'm fine, don't worry about me. Did I miss anything important?”

”Not really. The school gave a small update on the dorms and also about some event happening soon. I wasn't really listening.”

”Alright, see you later then. Don't tell my family I skipped class.”

”But your fath-”

”Ah, sorry I'm about to dive into Sapphire. Contact me in the game.”

I hung up.

I really don't like being reminded of how overprotective my father is.

I don't like the feeling of being caged up. I understand that he's worried about me and everything but it's suffocating.

I mean, Joker already knows anyway right? Nothing I can do about it, I might as well just do what I want. Japan is a safe place for me for now.

I'm not that naive to believe that it's all over. I'll prepare for any possible unexpected occurrences accordingly.

I turned to Damian and Tania.

”I'll be leaving. I need to get back home. Tania, contact me if you have any problems okay? Here's a card, use it as you wish. You don't need to worry about it running out.”

I handed Tania one of my never used bank cards. It should have at least a couple hundred thousand yen in it.

I never use the money in the first place so I don't care about giving it to someone else.

Yeah yeah, the privileges of being born into a rich family.

Although, the money in that card was from when I was playing around with stocks.

”T-thank you very much!”

I smiled and quickly left the building. I checked the time, the final school bell would ring soon. I need to make sure I arrive home before Eugene.

I made my way to a more populated area of the city and hailed a taxi. I made sure to pay him extra to speed up a bit.

As they say, money makes the world go round.

The driver gladly did as I asked, he seemed weirdly excited as well.

I can never understand taxi drivers.

-----------------------------------------

I arrived home in just a couple of minutes thanks to the lack of traffic. Eugene hadn't made it back yet so I changed and dove into Sapphire.

I'm excited to see Whit okay? I definitely didn't do this to avoid Eugene. Yup.

My surroundings changed and I materialized in the middle of the village where I had logged off.

Huh? It was oddly quiet.....

I rose my guard and scanned the silent village. Not a single soul was in sight.

Shouldn't things be busier since the deserted knights were going to be implemented?

Suddenly a loud roar resounded from further away. I immediately started running towards the sound.

I hope nothing happened to the villagers...

Don't misunderstand me though.

I don't want to fail my quest.

And if you call me a tsundere then I WILL kick you.

I got closer and closer to the sound. It wasn't that far away so I arrived quickly.

For some reason, the sound seems less like a roar and more like...a cheer?

Arriving at a clearing, I saw all the villagers crowded around a circle where two men who I recognized as the deserters were standing within.

Hm? Are they having a duel?

The crowd suddenly fell silent again.

The two men created some space between themselves and wore grim expressions.