Chapter 312 - Guilty

"GRANDPA…"

Everyone watched as Ryuu was lifted off his feet and hugged like a teddy bear by a huge warrior. The Koutaishidenka was caught unawares for there was no malice in Ivan's movements before he was pulled into a tight embrace. The ridiculousness of the situation probably made him distracted enough to remove his flames and the strength to escape failed him as his embarrassment was stronger.

"What are you doing?"Ryuu complained as he tried to wiggle away, but Gin had started laughing next to him so his frustration increased and his strength failed him as he didn't know whether to be amused or angry.

His handsome face contorted to a scandalized expression as if to ask "What's with this guy?" but then gave up when Ivan wouldn't let him go. He just remained still like a rag doll in Ivan's arms.

On the other hand, the girls all looked confused but with smiles on their faces.

"Ara, what's going on?" Midori and Rin asked.

The latter had stars in her eyes, and remembering her Boy Love mania, Ara quickly went to the defensive.

"No. They're not gay, okay? There must be an explanation," she said in panic but Rin side-eyed her.

"I didn't say anything Ara," she said with a grin, making the other roll her eyes.

Ara had no idea what's happening either so she approached Gin who had collapsed on the floor, rolling with mirth. "Uncle, what's happening?"

Gin removed his mask and sat up although his shoulders were still shaking. "Well, Ryuu's his grandpa if he's from Kres. He's Vladimir's grandson," he explained.

Vladimir was also the Returner to Ancestry, Kresnik, the emperor who started the rumors about the false legends to cover up the portal Stribog made accidentally. He was also the one who sent the Homura House's and Kazehaya House's ancestors to Earth.

"Can someone tell this oaf to unhand me now?" Ryuu deadpanned, acting as if Ivan couldn't understand him.

"Why? Don't be such a killjoy, Kresnik. Don't bully your grandson either." Gin tried to speak properly but failed. He sputtered and laughed at the last part of his speech.

It was at this time when Ivan saw Stribog's face and he stopped. He quickly dropped Ryuu and turned to him abruptly. Just as he did with the Koutaishidenka, Ivan lifted him up and squeezed him in a hug. Gin didn't fight but he laughed so hard.

"WHAT? WHY ME TOO?"

"Great, great, great – I forgot how many Great, Grandpa," Ivan happily greeted him, making everyone break down in laughter except Ryuu.

The dimension warped again as it slowly vanished. The melting colors faded, and the back alley retuned.

"Serves you right," Ryuu muttered as he sighed and smirked at Ivan and Gin. "He's probably an Ovid descent as well."

Ivan who didn't really mind the struggling people finally let the laughing Gin go. He gave them a wide grin as he puffed his chest with pride.

"I'm Ivan Nikolai Alekseyevich, Flame Emperor of Kres," Ivan introduced himself to the two great men before him, followed by a respectful bow.  

Ryuu raised his brow at the title, but then remembered that it was he who had bestowed the title to his mortal descendants in Kres. Also…

A pained and then guilty expression crossed his handsome face as he looked at Ivan, and then turned to his wife who smiled at the emperor. His hand balled into fists on his side as anger burned in his blue gaze.

However, the anger was not directed at anyone else but himself.

Sensing the trouble lurking behind his eyes, Ara turned to him. She searched his face to see any indication of his injuries, and she frowned upon realizing that her husband was still not his usual self. She stepped forward to go to him and her frown deepened when he wouldn't meet his gaze when she already knew that he must know that she was coming closer.

"Why?" she asked.

She was, of course, referring to his injuries. Even if he lost consciousness because he took on her attack without protecting himself, she knew that it was not enough to really injure him for long. This meant that he refused treatment and that he was preventing his body's natural gift to heal fast. It was as if he's fighting to keep his injuries.

At her question, Ryuu turned to her, but his expression was closed off as if he was not willing to share his feelings to her which made her heart ache.

"I deserve it," Ryuu answered simply. "Are you coming back?" he asked afterwards, a little hopeful even, but looked forlorn when Ara smiled apologetically at him. "I see," he said quietly with a nod. "I won't bother you then," he said as he turned his back on her, his attention on Ivan.

"I do not know why you're here. But if you're planning to remain, learn how to act like the mortals," he said as his gaze stared at his clothes. His hand went to his pocket where his wallet was and took something from it that he handed to the redhead after.

It was a black card. "Get everything you need using this," he told Ivan before bursting in blue flames which took the shape of a dragon, and he flew away, leaving everyone staring after him.

"That Emo Kid," Gin muttered followed by a heavy sigh.

"What happened to him?" Rin and Midori asked. "I thought everything would be fine."

They saw that the hostility vanished as soon as they found out who Ivan was. Ryuu even showed concern by giving Ivan access to money. But why did he go looking like he did something horrible?

"Well, I guess we need to go somewhere to talk," Gin said.

Ryuu didn't tell him anything before he left. But as they had been doing for a long time, he was assigned to damage control and had to explain things most of the time. All of them decided to go back to the Cat Café.

"Well?" Ara asked as she too didn't understand why Ryuu was like that.

"Well, what? Kresnik left because he felt too guilty after seeing Ara and Ivan," Gin announced bluntly over drinks, confusing the people.

Ivan who looked confused at first but then snapped his fingers as if he realized what's wrong, finally, and he explained.

"It's because grandpa thinks he betrayed Ali, and I'm proof of that betrayal."

"What do you mean?"Ara asked.

"A long, long time ago, after the first Immortal War, Perun failed to completely destroy Czernobog, and only managed to seal him. Since he can't descend and fight him all the time when his seal weakens, I encouraged all deities to descend to the mortal plane to fornicate with the humans and create demigods."

Hearing this, Ara finally realized what's wrong. Kresnik was one of those gods who came to the mortal world to produce children, and those children created the country of Kres. Ara knew that long ago when she was still Alencica. It was actually one of the reasons why Kresnik didn't want to have a relationship with her at first. It was because he was too old for her and he had lots of experience.

But Alencica didn't care about that. As long as Kresnik would be true to her from the moment they became together, she didn't care about his past.

But Kresnik returned to the mortal plane as Vladimir. Even if he lost his memories back then, he still married and had children with a woman other than Alencica. This was why he felt guilty and couldn't stand to stay.

Ara's lids closed half-way as sadness enveloped her heart. "Stupid Kresnik…"