Incubus Ascension-Chapter 28

Well, the whole thing with Beatrix and Pyra happened so fast Liam barely had time to catch his breath.

Beatrix looked straight at him for a second, then her eyes snapped back to Pyra.

"See, Miss Princess? I told you I had a way to find him."

Pyra glared at her hard. "I don’t believe the words of some middle-aged shop owner.

You’re too old to be wearing clothes like that anyway."

Beatrix looked shocked. Her usual smile disappeared completely.

She took a slow breath to steady herself, then pointed her finger right at Pyra.

"You know what, shorty? I’m sick of you."

He jumped in quickly before Beatrix could launch whatever spell she was about to throw. "Hey, what’s going on here?"

Beatrix turned her glare on him instead. "It’s all because of you and her.

The moment you vanished, this Pyra girl started poking around the city asking about you everywhere.

She came to my shop because you used to work for me.

Naturally, I told her I’m not some GPS who knows where all my employees live. But she didn’t take no for an answer.

She just started sitting in front of my shop every day, scaring away all my customers."

She paused, still looking annoyed. "Then one night she barged inside, went straight to my desk, and... well, you know what happened next."

His eyes went wide. "So she knows your secret now. That you’re half succubus."

Before Beatrix could even nod, Pyra stepped forward with that proud look on her face.

"Yes, I figured it out pretty fast. Then I faced her again and forced her to track you down."

Beatrix let out a long sigh. "That’s the short version. I could point out your location using our soul pact."

He looked at Beatrix and thought, You just agreed?

No way she would do that unless she had some motive. Beatrix always had an angle.

She gave him this chilling smile that somehow still made her face look beautiful.

"You know me very well, don’t you? I only agreed to help her because I needed you back too.

Plus, I figured I could use her as bait if any monsters showed up."

Pyra snapped at her right away. "Hey! Last time I checked, you were the one always hiding in the back!"

Beatrix ignored her completely and looked at him again. Her eyes narrowed a little.

"I hope you haven’t forgotten our soul pact. And our... ’promise.’"

His heart started hammering against his chest. Right. He totally forgot about that deal between them.

Olivia, who was standing right by his side, turned to him. "What deal?"

He rubbed the back of his head, trying to look casual. "Just a deal about the shop, nothing big."

He felt like absolute shit lying to Olivia, but he couldn’t tell her the truth.

He’d already made that soul pact, and the first rule was clear.

If he told anyone about the deal, his soul would get destroyed. No exceptions.

He needed to change the direction of this conversation fast.

He looked over at Pyra. "How about you? Why did you want to find me so badly?"

Pyra answered without hesitation. "The moment you vanished, Director Elena started searching for you.

She said she might have a clue about what ’the chosen one’ actually means.

So she sent me after you because I was the person who spent the most time with you at the academy.

Plus, I figured I could use the chance to raise my level while I was at it."

Olivia looked at Pyra and smiled softly. "Ohh, I thought MC didn’t have any friends back at Ark Academy.

It’s nice knowing you were there for him."

Pyra waved her hand like it was no big deal. "Please stop. I’m just doing this for the extra credit the Director gave me.

Plus... it would be kind of lonely not hearing his voice when I’m eating alone in the cafeteria."

He looked at Pyra, his eyes going wide. The future dragon witch actually felt lonely without seeing him?

Before he could say anything, she hurried to explain herself. "I didn’t feel lonely eating alone or anything.

I just felt like... right. When you miss drinking from your favorite cup. Mildly uncomfortable, that’s all."

Olivia chuckled at how defensive Pyra sounded, and he couldn’t help but smile a little.

"Okay then. Since we’re all together now, let’s make a party and head back to Wilder to hunt some more. No objections."

Everyone nodded in their own way, Beatrix with a small smirk, Pyra with a quick dip of her head, and Olivia with her usual calm smile.

They turned and started making their way back toward town.

The road was the same one they’d taken before, covered in tall grass that brushed against their legs as they walked.

The sun felt warm on his back, and for a moment it almost felt normal, like they were just four people heading home after a long day.

Then he saw it.

A black figure was walking slowly toward them from the other side of the road.

He wore full black armor and carried a sword at his side.

The second he spotted him, his heart started hammering again.

He remembered that armor. It was the same black knight. Anos, from that castle. The problem that he let loose.

He knew it from the way he was walking. He was coming after him.

Then he noticed the piece of fabric that was tucked in the armor crack.

Wait, that was his clothes. Did he track him just using it? Was he an intelligent being?

But soon he suppressed the thoughts.

Thinking now, in this dangerous moment, was a death sentence. He needed to concentrate on the upcoming fight.

"Girls, get ready," he said, keeping his voice low but urgent.

He pointed toward the incoming figure. "We might be entering a fight soon."

They all nodded and started preparing themselves, hands moving toward weapons or spells.

But the moment the black knight got closer and he could clearly see his level floating above him, his heart hammered even harder.

It was written in deep red, like fresh blood.

Level 37.