66 Chapter 17

Lucian bought several books before they left the bookshop. He held Sumire's small hand as she walked beside him. Her jelly feet wore cloth slippers that were resistant to the water element.

'It's a shame Shizuka left earlier. It was fun chatting with her. She knew a lot about this world.'

"Do you like your new slippers, Sumire?"

'Nnn! Comfy, dad bought!'

Lucian could feel his world collapse. He didn't want to have children. His world would soon become chaotic and filled with war, death, and loss. Thus, he needed to correct her views on life.

"I am not your father. Call me brother instead, okay? Big brother, yes… That has a nice ring to it!"

'Brother?'

Her head tilted, which was adorable.

However, he could swear this little girl sneered for a moment before she spoke. 'No, it must just be my mind. This cute girl could never sneer.' So he used his special ability reality denial.

'Lushan?'

[*snort*]

"…"

Sumire liked this dirty slum area, she would point to various run down stalls. He ended up spending several silver to keep her entertained. Her presence illuminated the darkness for a moment.

The pair arrived home after several minutes. A red candied apple was in Sumire's hand as she absorbed it with an imitation tongue. She looked like a normal human 5-year-old girl. Two horns grew from her head at some point.

'She's very cute…'

He felt quite tired from reading today and went to bed after a snack. Sumire was lay to his side sprawled out. When her head touched the pillow, she snored. Lucian soon followed her as he thought back to Shizuka and the day's events.

'I'm still a monster.'

Lucian woke to the blistering sun that shone through his window. He couldn't find Sumire and made his breakfast. Altair was gone for two days now and he missed her presence.

'Well, she will be there today. I need to create time magic to see all my women.'

"Today's the tournament. I should head to the arena early."

He still couldn't find Sumire, however, found a strange picture that showed a red ball, probably a slime in a store that had poorly drawn bookshelves. His sense of worry exploded as he used their connection to check her current location.

A world of black and white formed. His mind travelled hundred of metres before he found her signal. She sat beside the bookstore's old lady, eating milk and cookies, reading a pile of children's books. He felt relieved as the old lady peered in his direction with a gentle smile.

However, he never even noticed, as all his attention was on the little slime.

'She's already leaving my side. Such sorrow within my heart!'

Lucian relaxed and headed to the arena. That woman's presence made people feel relaxed. She must have been a top class beauty in the past though.

He travelled towards the arena when he found Zeth holding a girl's hand. Lucian felt glad for his first male friend.

'Let's allow them to enjoy their date together.'

He heard a voice as he moved. Lucian shook his head, thinking Zeth was very dense.

"Ah! Lucian! Lucian!"

Zeth looked at him with enthusiastic eyes as he pulled Sofia along.

"Hey Zeth, looks like you're doing well. Are you on a date?"

Sofia gave an instant nod while Zeth blushed and looked down. He chose a girl that wouldn't allow him to escape, which amused Lucian. Brian was different. He wasn't so shy, but Milly was violent and would beat him often for his dumb jokes.

"A-ah… N-Yes, I am waiting for Brian and Milly. We were going to watch your matches today!"

"Yes, Lucian, he wanted to cheer you on. Isn't my Zeth a kind and wonderful friend?"

Lucian liked the girls the two picked as even when he met them, neither showed any sort of lust or attraction towards him. He felt nothing but a positive opinion of them. 'I am glad there will be no netorare for my boy Zeth. Just you wait, ugly bastards! I'll kill you all to protect his radiant smile!'

Lucian hadn't had friends since he was a kid. His abuse caused him to become recluse and doubt people. There were some that tried, however, would soon grow angry, as their crush would confess to Lucian.

"Hahaha really? Thanks Zeth! I have never had friends before."

Zeth and Sofia noticed how radiant and natural his smile became. He was like a dead person to them as they worried about him in the past. His smiles and emotions seemed realistic, but once they got closer, they felt constructed.

"Oh, if it isn't the two handsome guys in our trio!"

A sarcastic voice filled with a friendly tone came from behind as Brian dived towards them wearing his black tunic and green pants. His arms hung around Zeth and Lucian, which pushed Sofia away as she sighed and shook her head walking towards Milly.

"Your boyfriend is an actual idiot… He stole my Zeth!"

"Tell me about it. He's been yapping about Lucian's fights since we woke up at 5am!"

The two women laughed together and chatted about daily life. They would watch the three men act like children until entering the academy gates. People looked at them with varied emotions. Some mocked them for being idiots, other jealous of the cute girls behind them, nasty women started pairing Lucian as the top, with Zeth at the bottom.

"I wonder who you will fight today?" Zeth said with his cute voice muffled by Sofia's sandwich.

"Eh, what does it matter? Our boy will smash them all and earn me gold!" Brian protested.

Milly glared at him with sharp eyes the moment he spoke. Brian looked away and whistled. He was like a deer in headlights. She smiled like an angel, but the fierce anger that spread told otherwise.

"Oh, Darling~ you didn't gamble again, right?"

The violent acts that ensued were beyond permissible range to be told. Zeth and Lucian's hearts offered him a heartfelt goodbye as their eyes matched.

'Women are scary!'

— 10 minutes after the death of Brian and his revival thanks to Millys kiss.

"Phew! These are the best sandwiches ever. Zeth, your Sofia is the best!"

Brian… he never learns his lesson.

"Darling~"

"Welcome everyone! Are you all excited for today!!" The lion girl hopped around the stage. Most people forgot her name and chanted "Lion girls are justice!" in the crowd. She created a bright mood even with people getting injured.

"Today is the start of our Quarterfinals! Are you excited? Pumped! Let's hear it for the winners so far!"

"OOOOOH!"

She blew the crowd a kiss as her blond hair fluffed up with wind magic.

"Then you all know we changed the stadium for the finals!"

The stage had combined into one. Her voice then roared through the stands.

"Now then! There will only be one fight! We will start with the final eight! Prepare for trouble and make it double!"

The crowd screamed with her both Brian and Zeth joined in only for them to stop halfway and pretend to whistle. Lucian felt very joyful at this experience of being a normal person. He worried deep down if they could see his horns and strange form, would this peaceful relationship shatter?

'Should something happen… I will make sure you guys are fine.'

"Now for our first match!"

Her tongue would roll some of her words that drove the fans crazy and imitated her like a weird game show from his previous life. He discovered this world wasn't much different from his old one.

Therefore, Lucian could forget his troubles and screamed like an idiot at the boys.

"You all know who it is! The one, the only! Our own sexy vampire husband! The beast Lucian Von Silver!"

She did a little dance as, behind her, a massive image of all his fights played. He looked so cool and charming, like some bad ass villain in an anime show.

Lucan felt he was almost as cool as a certain monkey prince who wished to become the greatest warrior of his destroyed race.

"Kyaa! Marry me!" A girl shrieked in the crowd.

"No, he's mine!" A man with a falsetto replied.

"Now! We settled this. He shall be this Luca's husband! Gyahahahaha!"

The men booed, as they wanted this cute lioness for themselves. Lucian was holding glow sticks as the men in the southern stand waved them for Luca. He felt grateful to Zeth and Brian, who allowed him to release his brooding self and become a normal guy for even a moment.

Luca swished her tail and then pointed to the sky as loud drums and music played, which built the excited crowd even further.

"His opponent! Our silent beauty! The number one rabbit you want as your waifu! The dark assassin. Ludris Estala!"

"WOOOOOOAH!"

The males in the crowd went crazy as Lucian also joined in. He wanted to fight this girl for real ever since he discovered the fact that demons and monsters undergo an extremely weak phase when their core develops. His victory in the past was thanks to this.

"Now then! Would the fighters come to the stage?"

He put down the glow sticks and approached the arena. His feet landed on the large stone steps as a voice he wished was a lie flowed in the air.

"I surrender." Ludris said. With a face that seemed unwilling.