Chapter 231
In the province of Trapani, on the island of Marettimo, Arden was cutting a steak at a restaurant with a view of the emerald ocean stretching out before him. "I'm sorry for calling you here during such a busy time, but I wanted to have a meal with you today."
Adela simply looked at the orange sheet cake resting on the table. It was an unforgettable day for the two of themmany years ago that day, Luisa had frozen Volterra, causing Arden to lose his child and daughter-in-law while Adela lost her parents.
Arden put his knife down and solemnly said, "Adela I'm sorry."
A long silence followed. Even though Arden had put his utensils down, Adela carved out a piece of cake with a teaspoon before taking a bite. The soft texture, subtle citrus scent, and sweet white chocolate seemed like something Velvet would like, and she decided to buy it after the matches ended and bring it to the girl.
With that on her mind, she calmly said, "There's no need to apologize"
"Don't you resent me?" Though his eyes seemed happy, his smile didnt.
It wouldve been a hard expression for the past Adela to understand since it wasnt clear whether he was happy or sorrowful, but she felt she knew why he was smiling in such a manner.
"Why would I resent you?" she calmly asked.
Ardens smile awkwardly twitched as if he found the question difficult to answer. As one of WonHaks former party members, he was one of the strongest hunters in the world, but he still found it hard to deal with his granddaughter.
Maybe thats why he ended up telling her how he truly felt. "Aren't there many reasons for you to resent me? For example, I never told you about those statues"
"Wasn't that" Shed been listening to his words before interrupting him as she blankly stared down at her plate. "Wasn't it because you thought I'd be sad?"
Ardens mouth fell open in surprise. His granddaughter, whod always been emotionless, understood him? Then, he looked even more bitter. "To be more precise, I was afraid of something else."
What Arden feared more than seeing his granddaughter cry was the possibility of her seeing her parents frozen forms and not cryinghe was afraid shed see them and be indifferent.
"Adela The first moment I saw you. I had an intuition that Louisa's winter That those terrible memories had broken your heart."
It was the first time the two had ever sat down for such an honest conversation. Of course, Arden always smiled in such a way when he saw her, but shed never realized it was a mask for his sadness before.
Swoosh
Aeden's thick hands enveloped Adela's. "Adela Don't forgive me. I'm just a coward."
In response, she looked up at him and asked, "What were you afraid of?"
"Haa Despite having defeated Louisa's winter after a long struggle the only thing I had left was you, Adela. That's why" He took a deep breath and forced a smile. "I couldn't admit that I failed to protect you as well." With that, he let go of her hand and waited for how shed reply.
Her 10 seconds of silence felt like an eternity to him. Finally, she replied and changed the subject. "Have you heard of Velvet?"
"I received a report. Is she?"
Adela slowly went through her memories and recalled when YuSung had visited her with the egg. "I first met her when she was still an egg and embraced her, cooling her so that she could properly hatch. I remember how fascinated I was by the eggs little twitches.
She started to speak faster and seemed happy. "That's why I felt a bit regretful when Velvet finally hatched"
"Was it because you thought you'd fulfilled your role?" Arden asked.
Adela nodded and smiled. "Velvet said she remembered being embraced by me and receiving my mana and she told me I was her family."
If Adela hadnt been right in front of him, Arden wouldve shed tears since she was feeling attached and had found a way to fill the empty place in her heart. "I see. Adela You must have been really happy."
Adela nodded in excitement, like an ordinary girl, before continuing to talk. "Velvet is a really smart child. She's kind, cute, pretty and has soft cheeks." She touched the air as if she were missing Velvets cheeks. That was just the start of her parent-like doting, though. "Her hair is smooth, and when you stroke it like this a nice smell spreads."
It was the way she wouldve reacted if she had a younger sister. "Although she looks young I can feel how warm-hearted that child is." She was calling a dragon her child. That child had done something even Arden hadnt been able to do and healed her heart.
"Ah, maybe it's only natural Velvet resembles YuSung a lot" she mumbled.
* * *
* * *
YuSungs name was all too familiar, and Arden thought it was a genius move to choose him as Adelas partner for visiting the castle. 'YuSung I will never forget your help.' He made a genuine smile while holding back tears of emotion. How do they resemble each other?
"The day I went to Louin Castle, he hugged me. Hugging like that is also one of Velvets habits."
SeokHan wouldve freaked out to hear such a thing and gone on a hunt for YuSung, but Arden just smiled in joy. Is that all? he asked.
"My heart races whenever I hug either of them." That was proof that she could feel emotions outside of battle. "Maybe. No. Even more than when in the middle of a life-threatening battle"
Arden nodded. Putting aside his status as WonHaks disciple or being a promising hunter, YuSung held importance to him as someone who could heal Adela, so he wanted them to stay together. "Adela. Do you want to stay with YuSung and Velvet?"
Without even a moment of hesitation, Adela nodded and replied, "After facing him with all my strength I plan to return to Gaon." She closed her eyes and thought of YuSung again, the warmth of his embrace, and Velvets soft hair and cheeks. "That's where I belong."
Her firm response caused Arden to ask a certain question. "Do you want to stay by their side?"
Adela just nodded.
Arden furrowed his brow and made an expression of anxiety that hadnt been seen on his face since when he was an active hunter. 'For Adela's sake I cannot let YuSung be taken away. I cannot make the same mistake twice.'
A strong resolve emanated from him. He would do everything he could as a rank 8 hunter and as a grandfather to support her.
* * *
On a high-rise rooftop enveloped in darkness, Li Jn, holding a sword sheath, spoke while looking into the void-like space. "If you're going to say some nonsense, I'll cut you down."
In response to Li Jn's provocation, a fluorescent light burst out of the pitch-black space and left a message. [Hahaha.]
Paf
"As expected. I don't want to talk with you. You're no fun. Teasing you is boring. There's no need to be this serious, right?" Cheat had appeared behind him. Though she had next to no combat capabilities when compared to a hunter, her expertise in hacking and information gathering was unmatched.
Paf
"I came to save you and your poor little sister on behalf of my leader. I don't deserve this treatment~" She removed her trademark helmet and grinned, revealing her shark-like teeth. "Listen closely~"
Unlike her bright and clear voice with the helmet on, her unmodded voice was drawn out. "The Sword God, that greedy woman How long do you think itll be until she lets you go? Do you know what that swordsmanship or whatever she's talking about is?"
Cheat yawned and then chuckled. "Even if you become stronger Will that satisfy her? Will she ever give you the artifact that can cure your cute little sister?"
Cheat's words struck Li Jn to the core.
"You already know, don't you? she asked him again. The Sword God is controlling you by taking your little sister hostage. She doesn't intend to let you go until she's satisfied, right?" Cheat laughed weakly.
Li Jn clicked his tongue. Since it was his little sister they were talking about, he gave it some thought.
Cheat, pleased with this, chuckled and handed Li Jn a stack of documents. "Seeing you this quiet, it seems that you roughly understand You aren't that dumb, after all. Think about it. Even if things go well and you fulfill the Sword God's greed How old will your little sister be by then?"
Li Jn couldn't refute any part of what Cheat was saying.
Having gained the upper hand, Cheat spun around and shook her head like a madwoman. "How many years will you make her spend in a hospital room? How many years are they going to make a sick person spend in the hospital? Huh~? Those dirty and despicable people"
She walked back over to him, stuck out her tongue, and drew her finger across her neck in a slashing gesture. "We wouldn't do such a thing. We'd rather kill in one go. If they were going to leave her like that, it would be better to kill her~"
Swoosh
Unable to bear it any longer, Li Jn drew his sword from its sheath and said, "Be careful with what you say"
Cheat raised her hands in surrender. "Our leader and you are both victims. Let's not do this to each other. We're in the same situation~" Then, she vanished in a flash of light, leaving the echo of her laugh behind.
'Li Mng' Li Jn ground his teeth and looked at the stack of documents in his hand.
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