Chapter 176: Snaped
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Both Kaelen Darkfang and the hooded figure frowned and looked around, scanning their surroundings with intense suspicion.
Aether held his breath as he crouched behind the wall, hoping fervently that they wouldn’t discover his hiding place. The tension in the air was palpable, and he could almost hear his own heartbeat echoing in his ears.
Kaelen, who had partially transformed with his long wolf ears, picked up on a sound that made him pause…
“Ba-Dump, Ba-Dump, Ba-Dump…”
Kaelen’s eyes widened in surprise as he pinpointed the source of the sound. He motioned for the hooded figure to remain silent, and very slowly, with deliberate caution, began to move toward the origin of the frantic heartbeat, each step measured and precise.
Aether’s mind raced through a myriad of possibilities. He knew he had inadvertently overheard something, and he suspected that Kaelen and his companion might kill him to ensure his silence. He had no choice but to prepare himself for a confrontation…
However,
‘Sshhhh!’
Suddenly, Kaelen shouted, “He’s running!” when he spotted a black-suited figure leaping into action and darting away with remarkable speed… almost like a ninja.
Kaelen instantly transformed into a wolf and gave chase.
Aether wasn’t entirely sure what had just transpired but allowed himself a moment of relief. However, he quickly noticed that the hooded figure hadn’t followed Kaelen. Instead, it was intently focused on the direction Kaelen had initially moved.
‘Fuck!’ Aether cursed inwardly. He immediately shifted from his crawling position to a crouch, determined to surprise his enemy because he had no other viable option.
The hooded figure moved slowly in Aether’s direction, its steps careful and deliberate. It was just about to peek around the wall when—
‘Chrip!’
A female bird suddenly flew out from the side wall, startling the hooded figure.
“Tsk, just a bird!” the hooded figure muttered in annoyance before deciding to follow Kaelen.
Aether sighed in immense relief. It looked like the same female bird that had sat on his shoulder before. Now, it hovered in front of him as if to reassure him.
[+500 Affection]
Aether felt an overwhelming urge to hug the cute little bird and was just about to do so when—
‘CCCRRRRRHHHHHPPPPPP!!!’ == ‘FOUND HIM, GUYS!!!’
“Fuck!” Aether cursed again, instantly taking off and running from the horde of angry birds that had been looking for him.
…..
…
Aether finally stumbled into his dorm, his body covered in small pecking bruises and his clothes stained with bird droppings.
“I’m gonna roast those bastards next time!” Aether gritted his teeth in frustration, pulling feathers from his ruffled hair with an exasperated expression.
‘Ssshh!’
He then took a long, hot bath, the water pouring out from a device that was run by Arcane energy… just like a heater in his old world, soothing his bruised skin. As he bathed, he mulled over what Kaelen and the hooded figure had said.
“Kill her… huh?” Aether mumbled to himself as the water dripped from his hair. He wasn’t entirely sure what Kaelen was planning, but it seemed like he was intent on killing someone, possibly one of the Arcane Queens.
Looking at his mission tab, Aether deduced that it was either Aqualina or Aria.
“This is going to be tough,” Aether sighed, realizing he needed to keep a close watch on Kaelen.
After his bath, Aether returned to his bed. He noticed that the upper berth was still empty and wondered where Taylor had gone. It was almost night, and she should have been back by now.
Meanwhile,
“-Huff-huff-huff-” the black-suited figure panted heavily, trying to catch its breath while hiding behind a large tree.
“Did you see anyone?” Kaelen asked with a frown, sniffing the air as if trying to catch a scent.
“No, I couldn’t sense that person… It seems he is either exceptionally good at hiding or has already escaped,” the hooded figure mumbled, surveying the dense forest with a scrutinizing gaze.
They had followed the black figure from the alley and were now standing on the outskirts of the city, where the forest spread out ominously.
“What should we do?” Kaelen asked, reverting to his human form with a frustrated expression.
The hooded figure stared into the dark forest, its eyes narrowing. “It’s already night. Even if we search inside, there are monsters lurking. It’s better to leave now.”
Kaelen frowned deeply but eventually nodded in agreement, trusting the hooded figure’s judgment.
Once they had disappeared into the shadows, the black-suited figure sighed in relief and removed its mask, revealing a young woman with chestnut-brown hair and striking purple eyes…..
Taylor sighed again, this time with profound relief.
Taylor had been following Aether all day, albeit covertly. She wondered why he had such an affinity for animals, but she found it endearing as he enjoyed himself, seemingly carefree and oblivious to the world’s troubles.
This was a new side of him she had never witnessed before, and it almost made her heart skip a beat.
Deciding not to write a report on his activities, Taylor chose to leave him be. However, whether by bad luck or some curse, Aether stumbled upon the secret while fleeing from the birds.
Though she found it amusing when Aether was chased by the angry birds, her demeanour became serious when he encountered Kaelen and the other person.
According to her intelligence, Kaelen was around Level 12, making it difficult for Aether to defeat him. The other person remained a mystery, but her instincts warned her that the hooded figure was lethally dangerous.
Determined to help Aether, Taylor intervened….. It wasn’t her job, nor was she compelled to, but when Aether was about to be discovered, her legs moved on their own accord.
Since then, she had been on the run from the group, eventually entering the dense forest.
Taylor examined her wounds, wincing as she recalled how close she had come to being caught by the hooded figure.
She wore back her mask, ensuring her tight black suit covered her completely.
Cautiously, she looked around to make sure no one was watching before stepping out from behind the trees.
She kept a vigilant eye on her surroundings, deciding to run back to the academy.
However,
‘Crack’
“Found you.” The hooded figure appeared out of nowhere, its hand closing around Taylor’s throat.
“Grggg!” Taylor struggled desperately to escape its iron grip.
“I waited for Kaelen to leave so we could have a personal chat,” the hooded figure said calmly, tightening its hold on Taylor’s throat.
“Tell me who sent you, and I’ll make it quick,” the hooded figure said, its tone menacing.
“gggrrrrr cough….”
Taylor remained silent, struggling to breathe as she fought against the relentless grip.
“Sigh, I guess there’s no point in talking then,” the hooded figure murmured before tightening its grip even more.
Snap
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