My Soul card is a Reaper-Chapter 879: Aftermath

He grimaced. "Yeah, fair point."

There was a pause. Then Orion glanced at her with a playful smirk. "You once said you liked someone. Judging by your expression… I guess it wasn't Zion?"

Selene's face went stiff for a beat.

She looked away, her voice overly casual. "Gosh, no. Why would I like Zion? We're childhood friends, not… that."

But her eyes subtly flicked toward the front of the VIP box—toward a certain tall man in a black overcoat, arms folded, silver hair brushing his collar.

A soft blush rose to her cheeks.

Orion, of course, didn't notice.

He smiled lightly. "I get it. Everyone's got their one-sided crush at some point. I mean… I had one on you the first time I met you."

Selene's eyes widened. "WHAT?"

Orion blinked. "Yeah. I mean, you were cool, beautiful, and super confident. Kind of hard not to get a little crush. But it passed. You're a good friend now."

Selene stared at him in disbelief, but at the same time, it felt like something tugged her heart.

And unfortunately for her, someone else had heard every word.

Gideon.

His ears perked up like a hawk sensing prey.

Within seconds, he vanished from Azrael's side, crossed the box in three long strides, and gripped Orion's shoulder with a deceptively calm smile.

"Did I just hear you say… You liked my daughter?"

Orion felt his soul almost leave his body. "U-Used to! I mean, past tense! Very, very past…"

Gideon interrupted, giving a strong, approving slap to Orion's shoulder. "You have my blessing."

"EH?!"

Both Orion and Selene yelled at once.

Selene turned crimson. "Daaaaaaad! Are you serious right now?!"

Gideon nodded sagely. "He's strong, he's loyal, and he didn't get vaporized in the dungeon. That's good enough for me. Moreover, I married my master's daughter too. I don't see any wrong. I mean, if you two like each other, you can date if you want. Don't worry, this dad's not overprotective that much."

"Oh, Yeah?" Selene raised one of her eyebrows. "In that case, how about you marry your dear disciple to Luna, then?"

Gideon's gaze suddenly turned sharp. "Don't you dare…" He snapped his head toward Orion and grabbed his shoulders, "If you want to date Selene, you have my blessing. But you should stay away from my Luna, alright?"

"Uhh…" Orion blinked his eyes in surprise. He just nods in daze. "Alright?"

Selene couldn't help but chuckle instead. "Just admit it, Dad. You love Luna more than me."

Gideon awkwardly smiled. "No, it's not that. Luna is faint-hearted, you know. She isn't strong like you."

Selene sighed, waving her hand. "Whatever…"

Meanwhile, in a quieter, darker corner of the VIP box, the tension was anything but silent.

Azrael gently reached out and patted Leah's shoulder.

She flinched, whipping around with a sharp scowl, her voice dangerously low. "Don't touch me right now, Azzy."

Azrael didn't even blink.

Leah's voice trembled with barely controlled fury. "What the hell is going on? A public display of affection? In front of thousands? This—this mockery of tradition? And that too between those two? They are aunt and nephew, for god's sake. How could they… Ugh… it's so disgusting to even think…"

Azrael met her glare with tired eyes. "We'll talk later, Leah. Not here."

She clenched her fists but said nothing. Her face turned pale as she turned her gaze back to the battlefield, just in time to see Zion kiss Fiona back.

A small gasp escaped her lips, and her expression darkened.

Down on the platform…

A polite but pointed cough interrupted the soft, stunned silence. "Ahem."

Affea stood a few steps away, her face a bit flushed, arms crossed, her gaze bouncing between the two love-struck teenagers.

"Hey, lovebirds," she called out, her tone half-teasing, half-wary. "You do realize we're in the middle of a tournament? Surrounded by a stadium full of people?"

Fiona gasped and pulled back like she'd been struck by lightning. Her face lit up crimson. "I… uh… I was caught up in the moment… I … uhh… I forgot—"

Zion blinked, realizing it a second too late, his own cheeks burning. But worse, his eyes involuntarily drifted upward.

To the VIP box.

Especially to his mother.

Leah's eyes were locked onto him, her face carved from stone, her fury unmistakable even from a hundred meters away.

"Oh no."

Without another word, Zion reached into his belt pouch, pulled out a shimmering Teleportation Skill Card, and pressed it to his chest. "Sorry. I'm leaving. Talk to you later, Fiona."

FLASH.

In an instant, he vanished in a swirl of blue light.

Affea blinked. "He really just—?" She turned toward Fiona with a mischievous grin.

"Ohhh, Fiona~" she sang, walking closer with a wicked gleam in her eye. "I never imagined you, of all people, would be this bold."

Fiona groaned. "Please stop."

"I mean, Zion?! I thought you two were always at odds—what happened to 'we're just rivals who want to defeat one another'? Since when?"

Fiona looked away, completely red-faced.

Affea clapped her hands on Fiona's shoulders and leaned in conspiratorially. "Relax. I'm happy for you."

"H-Huh?"

"Seriously," she whispered. "No one in the world even knows Zion is my brother's son. Azrael never revealed it. And legally, remember—his birth was the result of a sperm donation. There's no bloodline scandal. No inheritance drama. So if the truth ever comes out, society won't even blink."

Fiona's eyes widened a bit. "You mean…"

Affea winked. "I mean that the only thing you need to worry about is yourself."

Before Fiona could say anything more, a voice suddenly rang out from above.

"Affea!"

Affea froze.

Leah's voice had cut through the barrier like a razor. Cold. Measured. Absolute. "Kindly remember your duties as Proctor. Announce the result."

Affea coughed, straightened her robes, and gave a small, awkward bow toward the stands. "My Apologies."

She floated upward and left the barrier, escaping the awkwardness like smoke, then raised her voice for the entire stadium.

"The match is concluded! Zion Pendragon is the victor of the final battle!"

Thunderous applause erupted—mixed with confusion, excitement, and questions shouted from every corner of the crowd.

But Fiona didn't linger.

Head lowered, she quickly left the battle platform, vanishing into the depths of the arena's inner corridor. Her hand brushed her lips, her mind a whirlwind of questions.

From the highest seat in the stands, Azzy watched her retreating figure quietly. "I see. No wonder that boy came to me to ask about that taboo love earlier," he murmured.

"What do you mean by that?" Leah snapped her head to look at Azzy.

Azzy awkwardly laughed, feeling pressured from her glare. "Well..."