Chapter 257 - A Familiar Name

As he followed Teren and Trisha back to his own mansion, Eron no longer felt anything. Shame, anger, and frustration, they've eventually dissipated.

In his head, there was nothing left. Maybe there's regret and sadness, but overall, the void was eating up his insides.

Thinking about the people that must've died today pulled Eron further into the abyss. The asphyxiation had passed. It was a bit edgy for him to think of it this way but; he was dead inside.

His eyes which should've been filled with complex emotions were now completely lifeless. If he were to die at that moment, he wouldn't be able to feel anything. Eron would already be expecting it.

Where did it all go wrong?

Eron lifted his head and he looked at Teren's back. His face contorted and turned in an ugly expression, full of hostility. But a second later, his face turned sad as his eyes became teary before plunging into paleness again before sighing. A deep, deep sigh.

Teren and Trisha were talking to each other but he was unable to hear anything. What's the point? His body subconsciously shut down his senses. He lost the meaning of his life.

That was, until, his ears picked up something that shouldn't be there.

There was lively chatter. This lively chatter then stopped as the people noticed them exiting the woods.

Trisha suddenly walked in front of Teren, spreading her arms.

"Quickly, hide behind me, they're going to see your body!"

She defensively said but Teren just pulled her to the side.

"I still have my pants. Are you treating me like a girl?"

"Huh? Are you an exhibitionist? They're going to see your def... body!"

Trisha pointed at his toned torso. She almost added the adjective 'defined' before her last word.

"It's fine, I'll just go ask for a change."

Strange whispers then enveloped the surroundings. There were still those who were cautious towards Teren but some were a bit thankful.

"Weird... this is weird, why am I seeing people who are... standing and breathing? I thought you massacred them all?"

Trisha asked but Teren smiled, a bit proud of himself.

"Yeah, I held a lot."

Hearing this, Eron looked around and found that it was true. What was happening? At that point, a crowd in front of the mansion created a path. A middle-aged man walked through with his retro mustache. Behind was a curvaceous redhead. Her eyes were a bit swollen, signifying that she just cried a lot.

Eron's eyes finally stopped to see this middle-aged man and his jaw dropped.

"Boy, I thought you left. I don't know your name yet or have thanked you yet."

The one who talked was the true Drago Lord, Oldren. He glanced and was pleased to see Eron's jaw dropped.

"Y-you're alive!?"

Eron suddenly walked up to his eldest brother.

"Ha! I wouldn't die!"

Oldren played with his mustache, a bit joyful that he did survive.

"How? But Ivan said-"

"Tsk!"

Oldren clicked his tongue and spat the bitterness out of his mouth.

"Don't talk about that unruly brother of yours. No! From now on, that man no longer holds the surname Drago!"

Oldren loudly declares. Those who received the news knew what he was talking about but those who doesn't, like Eron, were giving a questionable face.

Teren glanced at him and entered the conversation.

"Can we talk inside? I need some change of clothes."

Oldren slowly shook his head but this boy was still his savior so he let this slide.

"Okay, come in. Eron, let's continue the talk inside."

Oldren then turned around and led them to an unscathed room where a meal and wine were prepared in a short time. Sitting beside a long table, there were exactly five of them there; Oldren, his daughter Loar, Eron, Trisha, and Teren.

"Holy shit! This is good!"

Oldren squinted his eyes towards Trisha who was eating like a barbaric man.

"Ehem!"

He cleared his throat since everyone's eyes were on Trisha.

"You eat unfemininely... and like a child." Teren said with a frown as he wiped the sauce off Trisha's cheeks with a paper towel.

"Winning really made me hungry."

Trisha glanced at Eron and smirked. Oldren saw this and First as well. The latter stood up in shock.

"You won against Uncle Eron!?"

Eron's face twitched. The relieved and bewildered feelings vanished as the previous humiliation came knocking back.

"You're so proud of your win, Eron must've been a real challenge."

Teren noticed. Trisha wouldn't be so proud of it if Eron was just a normal grunt.

"Yeah, he's good but I won!"

Trisha crossed her arms while lifting her chin up, basking in glory.

Although she's a sore winner, the fact that she actually defeated Eron made the rest of the people there have a different view of her.

Due to this, any hoydenish behavior from her would be associated with the fact that she's strong. To make an example of how strong Ivan and Eron were, if Oldren didn't inherit the Great Spirit of Dragon, he would only be slightly stronger than them. Yet, she was still able to defeat him. Judging from how beaten Eron's face was up, she must've overwhelmingly won with her few burns.

But they didn't know that Teren had already healed some of her injuries. As of now, the two of them have changed into fireproof clothing.

"Alright, let's talk about the main topic."

Oldren then finally addressed the main issue.

"First of all, boy, can I have your name?"

'Wait, he still doesn't know who Teren was?'

Both Eron and First looked at him with shock. Earlier, Oldren already mentioned how he did not know Teren's name yet, however, those words seemed to pass by Eron and First's ears.

"Teren Hark, you can call me Teren."

Teren said before taking a bite from his meal. He was ridiculously hungry as well. Good thing that no one heard his stomach grumbling... except for Trisha who glanced at him with pitiful yet mocking eyes.

Oldren raised a cup of wine and continued, "As the father of the Drago House, I sincerely thank you, Teren Hark, for..." then he stopped. Saying the name himself rang a lot of bells, "Teren Hark... sorry, you have the same name as someone quite disturbing so I paused."

"Someone quite disturbing?"

Trisha asked but both Eron and First already knew what's up.

Oldren's face turned solemn as if he's going to talk about a myth.

"The Devil Himself."