Chapter 7 ~Waited a long time~

In the 『Inn district』, an inn with a sign, having an eagle nesting, had a slight shine come from within.

The room it came from - room 205, had two men laying on the bed, their snow-white skin contrasting against the dark sheets of the bed.

The man with pitch black hair tightly held the man with white hair.

The young man being held, Noah, said to Arteus with a slightly strained voice - "Arteus, you can let go of me now..."

Arteus hesitantly let go of Noah, though he still stayed on top of him - "Noah, don't hate me. I-"

Noah quickly stopped Arteus - "I get it! I get it! I like you too! Well,... I'm starting to, so stop saying that! It feels like my heart is going to burst out of my body..."

He had said the last part quietly, but there was only him, and Arteus, so it was easily audible in this luxurious room.

Arteus's eyes opened wide, they were sparkling with so much happiness, that Noah felt like he was being blinded. Noah's face was completely red, even his neck was blushing. He hid his face in his hands, embarrassed.

Arteus couldn't help but think looking at this - 'Ah shit... he's so cute, I can't keep control of myself... If he sees...'

Arteus gently pulled on Noah's hands - "Don't hide your face. I want to see it...."

His voice was low, his eyes slightly widened, a crazed expression in his eyes. He looked quite scary with such a smile on face, but, as always, still handsome.

Noah noticed this change, 'What's with him? He's suddenly acting like.. we'll, I don't know what to call it... but it's creepy...'

Arteus saw Noah's stiff expression, 'Shit... I couldn't control myself... is he scared?

No, he can't be! He loves me! There's no way!'

He quickly said to Noah - "Don't be scared! You just now you said you like me, you can't get scared now... right...? There's no way..."

Noah - "Well... I'm not scared, you're just acting weird."

He said while circling his arms around Atreus's neck.

"I'm not acting weird, I'm just showing you what I'm like, when it comes to you..."

Arteus wrapped his hands around Noah's waist - "Possessive. Obsessed. Crazy. What do you say? Do you agree?"

Arteus asked with a smile, and looked at Noah waiting for his answer.

Noah looked at this indeed crazy behaviour and thought - 'This.. I've heard about it.. it's...'

"Yandere.."

Noah said out loud the thought he had in his head. Arteus raised his eyebrow, "What's that?"

Noah didn't answer his question, and instead had a flashback -

Noah and one of his female friends were currently sitting down on a couch, waiting for a game to load.

It was an otome game.

"This is my first time playing an Otome game. I heard there were some really crazy characters in these types of game."

Noah said to his friend. He was asking for an explanation of how these games work.

The girl said - "Otome games.. I wouldn't say their easy. You start of the game by being the female lead. You meet the capture targets and then make them fall in love. You get a few options on what you want to say or do, to capture the targets.

There are also mini games to get items, which allows you to make the targets fall in love faster. After you finish the female lead's story, you get to choose other characters, and play them. This can be played as a normal romance game, BL, or GL. It's amazing!!"

Noah seriously listened to her explanation and asked a question - "What about the 'yandere' characters? They're crazy, apparently?"

The girl in turn replied, now with an even more excited voice - "Right! Yanderes! They are just amazing! Those characters are crazy obsessive over the female lead, that they would even kill other characters. But a lot of people like them."

Noah - "Why?"

"Well, they're possessive, and handsome! Those characters are sometime, if not all the time, the coolest characters! And, I guess this might be one reason, but why I like them is because, there's a lesser chance of them cheating on you. You know, how it was for me...

That's why I like them.."

Noah - "oh"

...

That was what he had learnt about these yandere characters.

'To be honest, I like them as well, but they are still scary...

To think I'd end up falling in love with one though...'

Noah - "Mm, nothing. That's just a name for people who behave like you. So... uhh... psychotic...?"

Arteus smiled brilliantly, burying his head into Noah's neck - "Is that so? Then that's the right word..."

He kissed Noah's neck, which in turn brought a ... what to call it.. a sound? It was cute.

"Mn!"

It was a cute sound that made Arteus look at Noah with wide eyes. Noah's face which had finally returned to it's original colour, once again turned red.

"D-don't touch there!"

'That's my weak spot!'

Arteus blinked in confusion - "Why not? I like your reaction."

He smiled. 'That was such a cute reaction! I want to see it again!'

Just as he was about to do so again, with Noah's weak rejection, they heard a loud bang downstairs.

They paused their actions, staying quite for a few seconds, before Arteus scowled - "It's that bitch again."

Noah laughed nervously, seeing his now differently scary expression - "Why don't you just talk to her? She is still young, though almost an adult, you should try and talk to her more properly this time. In a more... understanding way?"

"Why should I" Arteus looked towards Noah with a wronged expression. 'Why do I have to talk to her? It's her fault for not understanding.'

"I know it's her fault, but you're also at fault. You should've rejected her the first chance you saw her falling in love with you. You only told her your sexual orientation a while after she feel in love right? So it would be hard for her to get over you. You should've talked to her, saying something like distancing yourselves. But, you didn't!

You continued to do missions with her, and talked to her like normally, didn't you? That's why it gave her hope, and now she's become a stubborn brat."

As Noah said that, other noises came from downstairs, mainly Victoria's voice - "Where are they!?"

"Tell me quickly, or I'll have you both fired!!"

And such.

"But.." Arteus tried to reason.

"No buts! Go and talk to her! Properly this time, like a father talking to his daughter!"

Noah did not give Arteus a chance, and pushed him out of the room.

"Wait! How do fathers talk to daughters...?"

Noah froze - 'How would I know? My own father never gave me such attention.'

"Just, say something nice! Don't be mean! Now go!"

He quickly pushed Arteus out the door, and closed it in his face.

Arteus stood outside with a baffled expression - 'How am I supposed to do that?'

Sigh~

He stood there for a few seconds, before he started walking downstairs.

Victoria who was fuming, saw Arteus coming downstairs and immediately ran to him - "Arteus-"

"Stop. Noah told me to talk to you like a father would to his daughter, so let's talk."

Victoria blinked in confusion- "W-what..?"

"Just shut up and follow me."

Arteus quickly started walking towards another door, which opened to reveal a pretty luxurious but simple room.

It mainly had warm colours like white, cream and beige.

There were a few potted plants placed around, and sunlight shone in through the open windows.

Outside the window, you could see a small garden, which was not suppose to be there, as right next to it was another Inn.

That was not an illusion, instead it was a large scale immediate teleportation spell.

Once you entered this inn, you would be teleported to a completely different place, but this was never and will never be noticed anyone. Except Noah, Arteus and Mrs.Mr.Oxborg. Only a few guest have also ever seen the 'actual' scenery of this inn's outside.

The whole of [Eagle Inn] was after all, supposed to have a quest.

Why wouldn't it have a few Illusion magic spells here and there?

This room was a lounge.

Different from the other room, which had many tables for customers to eat and drink, this was a place for them to relax and enjoy the sunlight or moonlight. It was beautiful scenery, great to relax people's nerves. It is indeed strange that such an Inn does not have many customers, other than the adventurers.

"Just shut up and sit down. I'll do the talking." Arteus sat down on one of the couches, pointing to another for Victoria to sit down.

Victoria pursed her lips, and obediently sat down.

And so started their 'Father and daughter' like conversation.

It really wasn't anything a father and daughter would talk about though.

Back in his room, Noah sat down on a chair in the balcony.

He looked out at the completely different scenery from.

It was all just a bunch of trees, flowers and other such things.

There were also a few (Animals) who sometimes came on to the balcony, and nuzzled in Noah's arms.

《Would you like to listen in on their conversation?》

The system suddenly chimed in.

Noah calmly replied - 'No. I would rather not listen to the boring conversation their going to have.

But system, are there no new quests for me to do?'

《A new quest can be granted if the host wants to.》

'Then, please give a new quest. These guild missions aren't fun.'

《Understood. Please wait. The quest will processed through and sent to you.》

'Okay. Be fast.'

After the system received it's answer it seemed to have left, leaving Noah.

He continued waiting for either Arteus to come back, or the system to give him a new quest.

He wondered how Arteus was handling Victoria right now.

'I know Victoria. In the game, she always was cheerful, a young girl from a noble family that gave up her position to be adventurer.

She was liked by all new players, because of the resources you got from her.

I guess something's either changed, or were just not a part of the game.'

...

Once again in the luxurious lounging room.

"Ms.Azzella. My Noah said that I've been insensitive. I've given you hope by continuously interacting with you. I've just realised my mistake. But I'm not the only one who's at fault. You should've already know I wouldn't fall in love with you.

So you should get over me. We'll be distancing each other so you can do your job properly. This is for your own good."

Victoria quietly listened and only spoke after he finished - "Can I speak now?"

"Yes." Arteus waited for her to continue, but she din't say anything for a few minutes. He watched as tears slid down her face, and fell on her hands, which were tightly clenched.

She finally spoke up, sobbing - "Mr.Origin, I've loved you since the first time I saw you. I fell for your looks at first but, then I got serious seeing how you treated me.

You were the only person other than my friend, to treat me like any other person. Everyone kept their distance from me, and treated me respectfully due to my position.

I get that they're scared, but I just wanted to make some friends. When I saw you back then, getting an award for being the youngest SSS-ranked adventurer, I really like how handsome you are.

Then, I talked to you for the first time ever, and you treated me so normally, my heart burst out with happiness.

You not once used any kind of formal address once I said you don't have to. You treated me so nicely despite your cold expression."

Arteus frowned as he listened. 'I just couldn't care less, I didn't think it would have this kind of effect.'

"I gave up my position that I worked hard to keep, for you in that moment. I regretted it at first, but I got to see you. Be with you. I got to talk, smile, laugh, eat with you.

In the past four years, not once have I spent not thinking about you.

So why can't you like me too?"

Victoria cried through the whole thing.

Arteus sighed. 'She really is just a little girl. I should've properly told her.'

"Ms.Azzella, you are asking the same thing again. I like men. I understand you do not want to give up, but try and do it.

I promise, it'll be much better. Try to find other guys, or just put all your interest in your work.

I'm not best at these kinds of things where I have to console people. But, you are someone I've helped a lot.

So, I'll help you again. Let's just stop talking to each other. At all. No missions, no small talk, no interaction, at all."

Arteus was running out of patience, as he saw Victoria cry even more.

"B-but! I can't just forget about you! I've been chasing your for so many years! It's impossible!!"

"Ms.Azzella, I understand what you mean. Waiting for someone is not the best thing."

Victoria tried to stop crying and asked with confusion - "What do you mean..?"

Arteus - "I do not know if this will make you give up on me, but I'll you.

Ms.Azzella, I've been waiting for Noah for years now. I've waited until he came to me, just like he promised.

He doesn't remember, yet he came. It might not be by himself, he had gotten help along the way, but he still came.

We promised each other, we'd stay together forever, and yet he left me to protect me.

He gave himself up, and I could not even save him at that time.

But now, now he's back. I couldn't ask for more than him staying beside me, and yet, he still ended up liking me.

Ikve waited for so many years, and now I've finally had my wish come true.

Someone like me, who grants wishes, now had his won wish come true.

So Ms.Azzella, I'm guessing you understand what I mean. You never had a chance, not even before we met, before I met Noah, or any other time.

Waiting for him was painful, but waiting meant that, there's a chance I can see him again.

But you do not have to because you can't have me like you.

So give up."

Victoria looked at Arteus shocked - "I-I didn't have a chance?"

"No, you did not."

"... oh.."

Victoria stayed quite, tears still falling from her eyes.

They both stayed like this. No one talked, there was only the sound of rustling leaves coming from outside.

Arteus looked outside, no longer caring about Victoria, 'I want to get out of here already.'

He truly was a heartless bastard.

Though, it wasn't his fault. He had already had enough of these humans.

Victoria secretly peaked toward Arteus, seeing his indifference, she looked down once again.

'I should... give up...'

She was giving up.

Victoria stood up and quietly walked out of the room.

She stopped at the entrance, a little hesitant.

She looked back to see Atreus come out of the room as well. Slight hope shining in her eyes.

Arteus closed the door, and went upstairs, not giving Victoria a single glance.

The last hope in Victoria's eyes, vanished and she quickly ran out of the Inn.

Where she was going to go? Even she didn't know.

...

Inside the Inn, Atreus entered Noah's room. He found Noah sitting in the balcony, playing with the (Animals).

He smiled and walked to Noah, who noticed him and smiled at him.

"Did it go well?" Noah asked.

"I guess so. She seems to have given up." Arteus said nonchalantly.

Noah narrowed his yes, suspicion obvious in his expression.

Arteus helplessly said - "I'm serious. She really seems to have given up.

I.. told her a story. She understood, and left."

"Alright then." Noah said, and continued to play with the (Animals).

Arteus sat down on the chair that he dragged right next to Noah's.

He only stared at this scene in front of him.

His heart filled up with the familiar scene, he had always seen hundreds of years ago.

Noah also quietly enjoyed this peace, until he heard the system.

《Host, a new quest has been assigned as per your request.

The new quest is -

Reward : 50 + levels/Spirit familiar/Spirit summoning book

Description : hundreds of years ago, a spirit summoner had been born.

He summoned many spirits and helped the Vokrairin kingdom against the previously evil demons.

He is known as the one and only spirit summoner know to the world's history.

No other 'being' has found the way to summon spirits.

Everyone has been searching for his book, to learn more about these (Ancient Creatures) called (Spirits)

Tasks : 1. Find the book

2. Learn how to summon a spirit

3. Summon the highest ranking spirit that you can.

Hints : 1. Complete the quest's 3rd task.

3rd quest : Find the book in room 205

Please enjoy doing this quest, host.》

After the system gave all the details, it once again left it's host.

This time leaving him with Arteus.

'That's an interesting quest. So, it turns out the quest's 3rd task was to find a spirit summoning book?

I guess they'd introduce spirits into the game, once someone found the book.

They probably didn't finish it so, they didn't let any players get this room.

Now then, how to find this book? I'll ask Arteus!'

"Arteus! I need your help!"

——————————————————————————————

A quick look into the next chapter!

"Arteus! I need your help!"

"What is it?"

"Is there a spirit summoning book in this room!? If there is where is it!?

Arteus looked at Noah with confusion, then thought about where this book is.

'I know there is one. But I've never cared about it. Now that my beloved wants it, I have to remember where I saw it.'

He thought for a few seconds before he answered - "It's—"

That it! No more!

Thank your for reading!

ARoseRRRSS