“Fafna, it is getting late. We should head over to that place to pick up the clothes.”
Qiaolin remembered the clothing store clerk telling them to return before sunset; otherwise, the shop would be closed for the day.
“Oh…”
Prompted by Qiaolin, Fafna reluctantly pulled herself away from the table of gourmet food.
She looked at Gabriela, who was still eating heartily, and felt a wave of dissatisfaction.
“Hmph, this girl is certainly getting a bargain.”
“Mr. Qiaolin, I will accompany you,” Lockes said, stepping forward.
Qiaolin waved him off with a smile.
“I know where it is. There is no need to trouble you to lead the way.”
“It is an order from the higher-ups, after all,” Loki said, pointing toward Gabriela and Demigula behind her.
“We have to see this through to the end.”
“Very well.”
“Gabriela, we are leaving now,” Qiaolin called out.
The young girl waved her arm, bidding farewell to Qiaolin and his group.
“Oh, slow down a bit. That Dragon Princess is gone, so no one is going to compete with you now.”
“Mhm!”
Whenever she ate, Gabriela forgot all her troubles, and even her wits seemed to vanish.
Although it was the perfect opportunity to strike her, Demigula preferred seeing the happy expression on her face while she ate.
“I will go get some drinks.”
Demigula patted Gabriela’s head and walked into the building.
“Calix, you have come here as well?” Demigula asked.
She poured some orange juice and glanced sideways as a thin figure emerged from the corner.
“Good day, my Empress. It is wonderful to see you here.”
Calix Tepes bowed elegantly to Demigula and stepped forward, intending to help her serve the drinks.
However, Demigula shot him a look that signaled her refusal.
“I heard some things about you from Lockes while we were here.”
Calix’s expression shifted slightly.
Demigula had always been protective, especially toward that young man she favored so much.
Since she had brought it up, she was likely going to lecture him again.
Calix forced himself to remain calm, though he made a mental note to settle the score with Lockes later.
“It was merely a test from a senior. I have always been concerned about Lockes’s growth, you see.”
“No, I heard you made a move against a human.”
“Wh… what?”
Calix had prepared himself for many reasons she might scold him, but he had not expected Demigula to mention that human.
“He is just an ordinary human. Is there a problem?”
Demigula stared into Calix’s eyes.
Suddenly, an inexplicable pressure originating from the depths of his bloodline weighed heavily on his heart.
“The ordinary human you speak of is the Celestial Hero. Three hundred years ago, he slaughtered many of the Demon Race’s powerhouses and killed the Former Demon King.”
The moment the words left her mouth, Calix’s pupils contracted sharply.
“That… how is that possible? How could he still be alive? No matter how powerful he is, he is just a human. He cannot possibly have such a long lifespan,” Calix said in disbelief.
“Besides, his aura is so weak. Perhaps he lost most of his power after the Holy War. Lady Demigula, this is our best chance for revenge!”
“Calix, I am sharing this top-secret information with you because you are my confidant. Consider this a warning to prevent you from causing me trouble in the future.”
Demigula took a light step forward, and her terrifying aura pressed down on his shoulders like a heavy stone.
However, Calix remained defiant.
“Even if he is the Celestial Hero… those of the Tepes family should not fear him!”
“Nonsense! Are you trying to get me killed?” Demigula barked.
“Even I fear that Hero! Who do you think you are? Do not forget that I granted you your noble bloodline. Before that, you were nothing more than a death soldier in my household!”
“I do not care how many people you eat or how much you bicker with Lockes. But if you dare to target that man, I will take back your blood, and you will have nothing to do with me ever again.”
“Do you understand?”
“I… I understand.”
Demigula knew Calix well.
After becoming a member of the Tepes family, he had acted like a nouveau riche, constantly showing off his status and strength.
Even though Demigula had warned him many times, he had never restrained himself.
Fortunately, Calix had not caused her any real trouble yet, so she chose to turn a blind eye.
She was usually far too busy to keep a constant watch on her subordinates.
But this time was different.
This blind fool had actually set his sights on Qiaolin.
After Lockes reported what had happened in the private booth, she had been so furious she nearly killed Calix herself.
She knew Qiaolin’s way of doing things all too well.
Any action that provoked him resulted in nothing but death, and anyone remotely connected to the offender would not be spared.
Fortunately, Qiaolin did not seem to have taken the matter to heart.
His temperament had indeed changed quite a bit.
But Demigula did not dare to gamble.
She preferred to tell Calix the truth — regardless of whether the secret leaked — both as a deterrent and to ensure that Qiaolin could live here peacefully in the future.
—
Qiaolin and Fafna retrieved their clothes from the Magic Tool shop, signaling the end of the task for Lockes and Loki.
“Do you need us to help you carry these?” Loki asked with a smile, looking at the piles of bags on the side of the road.
Qiaolin hesitated for a moment, then placed his hand on Fafna’s shoulder.
“What is it?”
Feeling a warm current flowing over her skin, Fafna did not resist.
However, as Qiaolin’s Magic Power spread toward her neck, her black scales instinctively repelled the energy.
“As expected, it will not work,” Qiaolin sighed.
He explained, “I recently learned a form of Space Magic that can teleport people and objects to another location. However, it seems my Magic Power cannot cover your entire body.”
Fafna blinked in confusion.
Simply put, Qiaolin could not teleport with Fafna.
A Black Dragon’s scales were immune to all magic.
If he forced a teleportation, it would be the equivalent of stripping the skin right off her.
Qiaolin looked at Fafna’s clothes.
He had considered taking the items back first, but he feared that Fafna would misbehave during the few seconds he was gone.
It sounded like an exaggeration, but she was prone to unpredictable behavior.
She was now a genuine Saint-level Powerhouse.
In the entire Demon King’s Castle, Qiaolin was likely the only person who could keep her in line.
To be safe, Qiaolin decided to walk back with her.
“I am sorry to trouble you both. I will find a way to thank you properly another day,” Qiaolin said to Loki and Lockes, who were helping him carry the bags.
“Hehe, you are a guest of the Demon King. We are just hoping you might say a few kind words about us to her,” Loki laughed.
Compared to Lockes, who was draped in bundles, she was only carrying one or two bags.
“You certainly know how to talk your way out of things while I do all the hard work,” Lockes grumbled under his breath.
“Of course. We are friends now. If there is anything I can help you with in the future, just let me know,” Qiaolin said, patting his chest.
Whether it was a sincere promise or just polite talk, it was certainly pleasant to hear.