[Host, Did you know this beforehand?]
Hearing System’s words, Ryuk turned his gaze from the metallic handcuffs and fixed towards the several cells in front of him, while himself standing inside a glowing energy cage, round with a radius of 2 meters.
‘…It was just a guess.’ With a blank face, Ryuk observed the children outside the cage, more specifically one who had tears of helplessness.
Bam!
“Hey, Uncle, it is 1 gold coin, didn’t you see how strong he was!” Sam slammed the table, seeing these robbers who wanted his help in catching someone from a higher continent yet paying him only 8 silver coins.
“Shut up! Know your place, kiddo. It was clear that you had predicted one of our men dying; that’s why both twins rejected accompanying him!” The middle-aged man burst out at Sam.
“Huh, fucker, don’t lash out at my brother.” Moving forward, Mae grabbed the man by his collar, while taking out her energy blaster and pointing it at the mouth of that man with a frown on her face, scoffing, “Give us two gold coins for spoiling my mood, or you are dead.”
“These brats!” The man would have broken their bones if not for their future businesses.
thud
“Have it! And piss off!” The man threw two gold coins at both of the twins, who caught them while placing their blasters behind, before turning their eyes towards Ryuk’s direction.
Approaching him, Sam leaned down with his hands on his waist and eyes fixed on the young man, stating with small tears forming, “Sniff… Please, Uncle, forgive us… Pffft!”
“Hahahaha, you fool!” Sam burst into laughter, seeing this naive man who seemed to belong to the well-known Devereaux family but seemed to lack intelligence.
‘…I see, so they can’t predict me,’ Ryuk ignored their words, focusing on the reason he let himself arrive here, which was their ability to predict things but their childish behavior seemed troublesome.
‘Sigh, now the question is, how to persuade them,’ Looking at the boy who was laughing with his stomach clenched, even falling on the ground with tears forming, and the girl who seemed busy biting the gold coin.
Both were not that easy to persuade to make predictions about other Flagbearer’s location.
‘Whatever.’
Crack!
thud
The handcuffs inside his hand, which seemed to be enforced by Ether, shattered into pieces before falling on the floor, producing a sharp sound which was enough to make both kids halt in their way.
Looking at their widened teary eyes with lips quivering and sweat beads forming, a soft smile formed while placing his freed hand on the cage’s rods, Ryuk stated, “I just want to talk about something with you guys.”
CRUNCH!
Sam lying with teary eyes, the result of his laughter, reflected a figure bending the cage’s rods, tearing them apart with glimmering amber eyes and a dangerous smile which let out a small breath, while lying to them openly.
Pissed his pants.
Who will believe someone that strong will just want to talk with those who mocked and laughed at him?
“M-Mr. Your bear came out of the cage,” Mae, with pauses, turned her gaze towards the man who had hired them, wanting to get some help, but what reflected in her eyes was a sleeping man, ‘how could you sleep in this situation!’
“Sigh, you both again got yourself into trouble, aren’t you?”
Suddenly, a soft yet melodious voice attracted the gazes of both kids, their eyes instantly becoming teary as they sprinted towards the figure.
thud thud
Hugging her tightly, they started to cry, “Big Sister, that man kidnapped us, please take us out of here!”
Pointing towards the steady figure of Ryuk, who was static in his position, not moving while completely statue.
‘Is this time magic or some illusion?’ Ryuk could feel something trying to influence his body, reaching conclusions from the surrounding area where everyone seemed to pause in their position except those two kids and that newly arrived woman.
He didn’t turn his gaze since he wanted to play along.
Flick
“You know what you’ve gotten yourselves into, you troublemakers.”
“Ouch!”
“Ouch!”
Only the sound of two head flicks, added with the cries of both twins, reached his ears, still patient enough to not turn his head.
After all, it was not just time magic he had thought previously; it was an illusion and a high-level one.
The problem was not that it targeted him, but it was more like creating fake scenarios that he couldn’t see through.
His ability could nullify on touch, immunizing him, but if he couldn’t touch it, how could he nullify it?
Soul gaze also, due to its early level, was not able to see through it, making him understand the strength of that person was higher.
Not caring about the power level, which he felt just being an ADEPT Imperfect in Energy Stats only.
“You both leave first. Knowing about them, he will definitely chase after you.”
Another voice reached him, making him understand that at least the woman understood his identity as a Flagbearer.
“Thank you, Big Sis!”
‘They ran away,’ Ryuk felt both kids running out from here, leaving behind the woman and him. From what he could decipher until now, he was going to die now.
tap tap
A sound of approaching footsteps reached his ears, slowly a shadow of a womanly figure became vivid before a white dress came into his sight, leaning forward to match his eyes which were fixed downward where Sam was at some moment ago.
Swish
A soft breeze passed while fluttering the strands of white hair, moving away while tracing his masked face. The woman’s body leaned forward before both of their eyes met with each other.
For the first time in all his life, it felt as if instinctively a word resonated in his mind looking at those pair of golden eyes, ‘Beautiful.’
Two pairs of beautiful gems met with each other, amber eyes which seemed vivid enough were finally outshadowed in the glimmer of golden one, but both of their faces were hidden behind masks, making it difficult for either of them to identify each other.
But in that moment, breaking the breath of that moment was a soft voice, “Thank you for not moving till they left.”
‘…..’ Ryuk understood that the woman was already aware of him not falling for her trickery, prompting him to lean backward with folded hands, adding, “Hm, so I did get caught.”
“Yeah, you did.” The woman softly smiled, looking at the man whose lips and eyes were only visible but was far enough to prove his charm without revealing his complete face.
“They are really good children,” Ryuk turned his eyes towards the direction where both of the twins ran away, while understanding things somewhat.
“Do you even believe your own words?” The woman giggled hearing his words, looking at him whose gaze was fixed in another direction.
What was visible was just his sharp jawlines, and eyes holding depth, and a soft smile adorning his face.
Turning towards the woman, whose folded hand was placed behind, a silver tiara added with a black flower made of cloth adorning her head, lying on white hair, accentuating the whole picture.
“Do you think I am lying?” Speaking calmly, he fixed his eyes with hers, looking with a smile.
“….” The woman, seeing those same amber eyes which were etched in her memories, softly stated, “You know, I hate that eye color the most, But…”
“But?” Ryuk guessed it being related to the Devereaux Family or some other previous event.
“But, somehow, I don’t hate watching yours.” Tilting her head, the woman clarified with the young man.
With his eyes widening before relaxing, Ryuk added, “If that’s the case, then you can watch them forever.”
