As evening approached, the lights of the mansion were lit, and a servant came to remind the two that they could head over to dine.
For this occasion, Qiaolin took a bath and put on a clean set of clothes.
After all, the person who had invited him to dinner was a prominent figure with a distinguished status; he couldn’t afford to be lacking in etiquette.
However, for Gabriela, there was no need to be so particular.
She was only there for the food anyway, and she believed the master of the house wouldn’t mind her appetite.
Of course, Qiaolin still reminded her not to let her eating manners become too unsightly and to at least show some lady-like grace.
Initially, Gabriela didn’t care about Qiaolin’s words, but when he used his identity as a Demon King to lecture her, the young girl could no longer do as she pleased.
After all, as a dignified Demon King, he had to show some level of cultivation as a superior.
Helpless, Gabriela could only punch Qiaolin 100 times in her heart!
However, Qiaolin’s seemingly polite and graceful demeanor couldn’t help but remind Gabriela of him 300 years ago—that resolute Hero who hated evil as much as he hated his enemies, under whose Holy Sword lives vanished like wind and snow.
Even a single unpleasant word would catch his attention, and going on a killing spree was common practice for him.
It was as if he had never been bound by the so-called morals of this world.
At that time, Gabriela was even a bit afraid of him.
In the Demon Race, everyone called Qiaolin the “Evil Hero.”
However, Qiaolin’s behavior had always been restrained by the Saintess Tor at his side, which prevented even more senseless slaughter.
If Qiaolin had truly redeemed this land and changed his nature because of Tor’s sacrifice, Gabriela didn’t feel any sense of incongruity in that transformation.
It was as if the current Qiaolin was always meant to be this way.
“What are you dazed for? Let’s go,” Qiaolin’s voice came from the doorway.
Gabriela climbed off the bed and followed him.
At least, the current Qiaolin was someone Gabriela didn’t dislike…
***
The two arrived at the main living room, which had been temporarily arranged into a dining area.
A large long table was covered with a pure white tablecloth, and exquisite silver cutlery was placed in an orderly fashion at each seat.
Carts responsible for transporting dishes were on standby, waiting for the master’s command for the dinner to begin.
Arriving at the same time as Qiaolin were another man and woman, both Mages.
He inadvertently glanced at the two walking side-by-side and felt as though they were very familiar with each other.
‘Are they acquaintances?’
Qiaolin keenly noticed this point, but he didn’t care much.
After all, the only one he needed to deal with was the one who appreciated him, Osaran.
“Welcome, everyone, to my mansion for dinner tonight. Please, take a seat.”
Several servants stepped out from behind Osaran one after another.
He waved his hand, and the servants brought the dishes to the table.
As the covers were lifted, the aroma of food immediately filled the room.
Qiaolin’s gaze swept over the servants, and he noticed their steady breathing, their firm and powerful forearms, and their stable footsteps.
One look told him they were trained individuals.
It was likely that these people were more than just servers in the mansion.
Gabriela gazed at the various delicacies before her, many of which were foods she had never seen before.
Whether it was the cooking method or the style, when it came to food culture, humans held an overwhelming advantage over most members of the Demon Race, whose sense of taste was dull.
Osaran clearly saw the impatient look in the young girl’s eyes.
“Haha, I don’t have that many formalities here. Since the dishes are served, let’s eat.”
Osaran Saloran smiled at Qiaolin and said, “This companion of yours really has a good appetite. With my current body, I can only eat some liquid food. It’s good to be young…”
‘This “girl” isn’t exactly a little girl anymore,’ Qiaolin couldn’t help but complain in his heart.
“You’re too kind, Master Osaran. You are the Empire’s greatest Great Archmage. The magic you’ve created has reached heights that even the Demon Race cannot attain. Perhaps only the gods of the Celestial Realm can compare to you.”
Qiaolin started with a round of praise.
Everyone present felt awkward hearing it, and Gabriela almost choked on her food.
‘When did this guy become such a smooth talker…’
“Hahaha, you certainly have a way with words. Could it be that your claim of being blessed by the Church’s Saintess was also achieved through your sweet talk?”
Saloran was not an inexperienced man.
He had met many people like Qiaolin who opened their mouths just to provide emotional value.
“Well…”
Qiaolin thought of Tor, who treated others with gentleness and patience.
In the eyes of others, she was a flawless goddess from the heavens, but once she spent time alone with him, she was a total sharp-tongued source of pressure.
Qiaolin had wondered time and again how such a flippant woman could become a Saintess.
Even a failed spell would bring a wave of cold sarcasm, and if he accidentally injured a civilian, he would be lectured or even beaten.
Even as someone summoned to this world, holding the strongest Holy Sword and possessing the most exceptional magical talent, being repeatedly humiliated in front of her was something anyone would find hard to accept.
Qiaolin lived very miserably during that time.
In his eyes, Tor was not his “White Moonlight,” but a complete devil.
However, being able to withstand such immense pressure also gave him a unique advantage in his later battle with the Demon King of Domination, who specialized in mental manipulation.
“If a Saintess could be moved by the words of a mortal, then she wouldn’t be a Saintess,” Qiaolin laughed.
His experience with Tor was just like that—mutual restraint, mutual understanding, and mutual love.
Along that journey, the Hero was not controlled by desire, but ultimately became a true hero.
“Looking at your eyes, it seems you’ve had quite an unusual past.”
A sharp light shot from Osaran’s cloudy eyes.
Qiaolin was stunned for a moment upon seeing this, then he covered his face with a bitter smile.
He didn’t expect this old man to enjoy gossip at such an age.
“It’s all an old story, not worth mentioning.”
Qiaolin changed the subject and continued, “Why does a great Mage like Master Osaran have no partner? The common folk say you are obsessed with the research of magic. Is that really the case?”
“I’m ashamed to say it, but my magical talent was actually not good. I only awakened my Magic Power when I was 12 years old. At that time, there were only 2.5 feet on the Mana Measuring Stone.”
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was stunned.
This Mage, who was prominent enough to go down in human history, actually had talent that didn’t even meet the standards of an average Mage.
Even Snake Eye and Black Smoke couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
Osaran, whom they had always seen as a thorn in their side and who had blocked an entire army alone, had such a secret.
Now they understood why Karl was so obsessed with talent.
His teacher was such an ordinary, even inferior, person.
“So no one thought highly of me. At least before I was 40, my performance was always mediocre. Although the speed of my Magic Power growth was fast, my Mage qualification always stayed at the level of a Preparatory Mage. It wasn’t until a certain fight against the Northern Barbarians that my so-called talent was finally revealed,” Osaran said.
“Fighting was never my intention. To explore the mysteries of magic in my lifetime feels like my innate duty. Just as you said, Mr. Qiaolin, I didn’t have the extra energy to find a partner, nor did I meet anyone like-minded. After I die, all my magic and property will be inherited by my apprentice.”