Descending Into A Novel

Chapter 187: 187:Mission Bonanza (7)

"What the hell happened to you guys?"

Raymond stared at Zachary, then Thomas, then the rest of the group one by one.

Each of them looked extremely battered and worn, with their clothes having holes and burn marks. Since they were all wearing civilian clothes rather then actual combat made clothing.

After activating the signal to let them come in, he had been waiting for them at the entrance for nearly an hour. Assuming that they were merely having trouble with the entrance like he was. Only for them to come find him later and tell him that they had successfully killed the demon contractor.

Raymond:Demon contractor? What are you talking about?

Zachary:? Didn’t you call us in to deal with him?

It was only until after a length explanation, that he, Ellen and Noelle finally understood the whole picture.

While the three of them were just waiting around at the top, an entire battle had gone and went underneath their very feet as they all worked together in order to take down a demon contractor.

While Noelle complained about missing out on the fun. Raymond felt the complete opposite.

Wow! Slacking off was the best!

He could feel a glare from Ellen, but that was a separate issue.

"By the way, I’ve been meaning to ask this. But why are you...currently like this?"

"It’s a hassle to change back, Ill do it later."

He stared at him, "No, I mean why are you like this in the first place?"

"I had to disguise myself in order to get past him? How did you guys get in?"

"What? We just distracted him with Lin’s swords and snuck in while he was looking away?"

"..."

Ah!

Raymond had to clutch his heart at the amount of heartache he was feeling right now.

It was like rummaging through a dumpster, only to find out that what you were looking for was on the floor right in front of you the whole time. Lost to your eyesight because you were too focused on the dumpster. So in the end, you just ended up soaked in trash juice. While others celebrated their victory clean.

Raymond wasn’t even sure if this emotion could be called regret anymore, he was already willing to turn over to the dark side.

Seeing Zachary’s expression, as if to say ’wasn’t it obvious?’ only hurt him more.

"...Ill kill him."

***

"Hey Raymond."

Raymond kept his eyes on the floor, knowing damn well what was waiting for him if he even so much as acknowledged her presence.

She poked him, "Hey. Hey."

"..."

"You can’t ignore me for forever you know?"

"..."

"Ah sorry, is it hard to adjust back to your normal body? Being a girl must be we-

BANG!

"...someones angry."

Even in a situation like this, with her back against the wall. She still had the gall to be completely calm. A small smile like that of a cat on her face as she looked back up at him. Unfazed by his sudden actions.

It couldn’t be helped, her provocation was too powerful. Even Raymond’s years of experience couldn’t help him control his emotions the moment she opened her mouth.

He looked down at her, an indescribable expression on his face.

He said slowly, "...you want to know something Ellen?"

Although, the current atmosphere seemed a bit strange?

There was no trace of the usual anger or exasperation stemming from her constant prodding. Rather, only a look of cold confidence and superiority remained.

"I’ve realized this for a while now. But...you’re weak."

"In terms of strength, I clearly overpower you though?"

With Ellen’s current strength, even though Raymond was a perfect human and an entire letter rank above her. She could still easily overpower him in every single physical category.

He shook his head, "I mean mentally."

The two of them had lived together for a while now, and Raymond had been subject to her constant teasing for a period of time no man should ever have to withstand.

It was horrible, and he couldn’t really do anything because she would just plug her ears and act as if she couldn’t hear him.

But it was only in the past few months that he made a shocking discovery.

He continued, "You love to tease and prod at others, but the moment it happens to you...you crumble. You can’t handle the taste of your own medicine."

Raymond slid a finger under her chin, gently tilting her head upwards. Guiding her gaze to meet his.

"See?"

!!!

Come to think of it, there had been signs of this all along. Each and every time, whenever Raymond matched her own energy against her. She was the first to fold and run away, only ever winning when he remained passive. She might have been the one to start, but she wasn’t the one that ended it.

Now that he finally took initiative again, he could see her face turning crimson right in front of him. Eyes darting everywhere else in a desperate attempt to avert his gaze. As well as the subtle shaking in her legs. A sight that she used to once enjoy, except the roles were now reversed.

So Raymond wasn’t all that angry anymore. How could he? When he now realized he held this power?

Letting go of her chin, he took a step back and waved at her. Acting as if nothing just happened and everything was normal.

"I’m going out to get dinner, you want anything?"

"n-no..."

"Alright, see you later then. "

"..."

Ellen quietly collapsed onto the floor, putting her face in her hands.

Such an action only seemed to amplify the intense thumping of her heartbeat however, as well as the extreme warmth that was currently flooding her entire body.

She started kicking her legs out in an attempt to burn away this excess energy.

A taste of one’s own medicine...was horrible.

But trials only served to make one stronger after all, and in the eyes of Ellen. This was about to be her biggest trial yet.

***

"...I want to change rooms."

Instructor Janet raised an eyebrow at her.

"Audrina. If you wanted to change rooms, you should have told me from the beginning. Not now on the last day."

It was her fault that Audrina had to endure this after all, an unfortunate mixup that occurred due to her and Lucy’s minor intervention. Instructor Janet wasn’t oblivious to her struggles. Such as the darker then usual eye bags and even moodier demeanor. But when she never came up to her to ask for help, then she couldn’t do anything just based off of vibes and observations alone.

More importantly,if she was going to ask to change. Why ask on the final day?!

Especially when it was only ten minutes before they were all supposed to return to their rooms!

Janet rubbed her forehead, trying to think of a way to resolve this. It was unreasonable to just get a new room now all of a sudden. She didn’t just want to change rooms, she wanted to have her own room all to herself.

"Can you just bear with it for tonight? It’s already the last one, or you can ask one of the others if they’re willing to swap with you."

"...okay."

Thomas, who had just returned from helping a random lost child quietly turned his head.

He might have been naive, full of whimsy, dull, obtuse, possessing a social awareness level that barely reached up to his knees. But even he could understand the intent behind her words.

"?"

"Audrina. Did I disturb you while asleep in any way?"

She didn’t even blink an eye, "...yes. You are a burden to my rest."

It was just one word, but for Thomas. Who earnestly spent his every second of his life helping and being nice. Being told he was a burden for the first time in his life, might as well have been the equivalent of his parents disowning him. If he even had parents, angel life was still a shrouded mystery.

"I...I am?"

"...yes."

Double strike!

Audrina’s tone was always cold and emotionless purely due to her brutal honesty, a match made in hell for someone like Thomas. She showed absolutely no mercy at all. Audrina didn’t take the initiative to say these things, but now that she finally could voice out her problems. It was like unsealing a shaken can of soda.

"Do I snore?"

"No. Your very presence makes me uncomfortable."

"Is it because I’m a male?"

"No. I dislike being within a three meter radius of anyone."

"Then, is it because I move in my sleep?"

"No. You are irritating. You are too bright. You talk too much."

Raymond and Zachary, who had also just returned to the hotel. Spotted a frozen and shocked Thomas standing still.

"What in the world happened?"

"...I merely told him what he needed to hear."

Wow. Raymond didn’t even know Audrina could say such words.

This was probably the first time Audrina kept up a regular conversation using actual sentences as well, and it was all just because of Thomas.

Ahem. Although, he could understand some of her irritation.

"No. She’s right."

Thomas straightened his posture, the glimmer returning to his eyes. Seemingly regaining his purpose.

"I realize now that I may have been a burden. It was thoughtless of me, I failed to take into consideration your feelings."

"So, please give me another chance. I swear that I shall never be a burden to you ever again. I will make sure that you won’t ever have to endure this again. I will make sure that you can rest comfortably and have a leisurely time!"

To others, this might have sounded like a nice thing. But to Audrina, who only wished to be left alone by him. It was an outcome she desperately wished to avoid.

This was like washing the dishes, only for water to splashback on you when washing the spoon and then later finding out you messed up and now there were even more dishes on top of your previous ones.

It was annoying to do, but knowing that the end goal was a good thing was what powered most people through. Messing up and creating even more work was also usually enough to drive most people off the edge.

"Starting from now. I will make sure you have a comfortable modus vivendi!"

no...

Please don’t!!