Chapter 170: [170] Flying Kiss

"Speaking about madness." Ark got to his feet with visible effort. Soo-jin had redecorated his body with so many scratches and cracks that his entire body ached.

"What I’m about to ask you is a little on the crazy side."

Soo-jin’s ears perked up, her eyes gleaming with interest. "Now I’m intrigued, what might that be?"

Ark had a serious expression on his face, actually, his face was just as it always was...

He took in a deep breath and said;

"Leave Fable."

Soo-jin’s ears twitched again, only that it was faster this time, and then they were engulfed by an odd silence.

Ark’s request was crazy, actually, it was a borderline foolish request. Soo-jin was not just part of the number one guild in Eden, she was a direct descendant, the daughter of the matriarch of the clan.

She had been born into wealth, bred to be the utmost best in every area. Even now, the guild were likely pumping their resources into making her into an absolute beast.

And here he was. Broke by comparison, full of potential, but not particularly strong, lacking resources, the guildmaster of a guild like that was not even fully registered...

If not for their time in the academy, they would have never crossed paths, and if she had not picked him out to join her party, then they would have never known each other on a personal level.

And yet, as impudent as it was, Ark knew that with him, Soo-jin would far surpass anything she could have been in Fable.

Because in the near future, Kasket will become number one.

Still, that was his belief, Soo-jin had no idea what future lay in wait for his guild. The natural answer should have been no.

In truth, Ark had only made the comment in jest. He planned on getting Soo-jin to join them, but his plan was to rack up achievements first, evidence that the guild had a bright future ahead of them.

So why? Why did she seem to be thinking about it seriously?

A few minutes passed in relative silence, and then Soo-jin turned to stare at him. The usual smirk that tugged at her cheeks was gone, replaced with a cold, expressionless gaze.

’She is really taking this seriously?’

"Can you give me more time... to decide?"

"..."

"Y-yes. Of course."

Soo-jin smiled. "Thank you."

She got to her feet and stretched, her three tails straightening, before once again relaxing close to her back.

Soo-jin glanced at the window at the top of the stadium walls. The sky had turned a deep shade of indigo, and a few stars could be seen glinting outside. It was nighttime.

"I think it’s about time I got back. If I stay any longer, Hisako will tease me for days."

Ark nodded. "Bronya will nag at me if I stay any longer as well..."

Silence...

It seemed neither of them was eager to leave. For the past week, they had been able to see each other so often because of training, but the moment they parted, just like the last time, it could be months before they would see each other.

Ark had a guild to lead, while Soo-jin would be tied down by the demanding schedule of a direct descendant of the clan.

But they could not as well stay here forever.

They heard the sound of a honk from outside the arena and they both turned in the direction of the sound.

"It looks like they have come for you." Ark noted. Isabella and Satella often came around this time to pick Soo-jin up, so that she could rest up before the next day.

"Yeah..." Soo-jin nodded.

<••> ℴ

Ark escorted her outside the building where the girls were waiting for them inside the car. After exchanging greetings, Isabella pushed the door open, and Soo-jin was about to enter when she paused.

"Oh!" Her ears suddenly straightened. "I almost forgot."

She turned around, immediately grabbed Ark’s hand and then waved her free hand over it. The air shimmered above his fingers, a minor distortion in space, and then—

Thump!

A black book fell down. It was the skill tome she had promised to pay him with, Ark had almost forgotten about it.

Soo-jin smiled and leaned a little closer. "Your payment for giving me a good time."

?!

Isabella’s face paled. She glanced between the two of them. When she noticed how disheveled Soo-jin was, her eyes widened even more.

"Hehh?!" She sat up straighter. "Y-you two.. Ark... what did you do?!"

But before Ark could defend himself, Soo-jin shoved her back into the car, laughing as she slammed the door shut.

"See you when I see you, darling!" She blew him a kiss, as Satella began driving away.

"Wait, ARK, YOU ANIMAL. WHAT DID YOU DO TO MISTRESS SOO-JIN?!"

Ark sighed as he heard Isabella’s voice grow dimmer as the distance between them widened.

After a few seconds, he laughed. "What am I going to do with that girl?"

He stared at the skill tome. The paper was yellow, nearly brown, and the cover looked dusty, although it was not dirty.

’An A-ranked skill tome, finally!’

Ark was meant to visit a shop to get one, but he had been so busy that he had not been able to make out time to do so.

With this, there was a chance he would be able to delay his visit to a skill tome shop. Because based on the design of the tome, there was a high chance it contained a dark spell!

As Ark stared at the book, he noticed a white paper sticking out from between its pages. It was odd, something that definitely didn’t belong in something that old...

"What the hell is that?" Ark reached for it, when suddenly—

?!

Swish!

He spun around, his sword materializing as he lashed out at the figure that had appeared behind him.

Clang!

The man held the sword between his two fingers, a sly smile on his face as he spoke,

"Are you love birds finally done with your little game?"

"Tristan?"

His smile deepened. "Let’s go to my office. We need to talk."