7/16

Chapter 6 Unwanted Encounter Part 1

The Victoria Arcade – what can I say about this place. The biggest shopping arcade on our planet, the arcade is four stories high with a beautiful tinted glass roof allowing the natural light to brighten up the place. The oak-coloured excessive ornamentation makes it appealing to my eyes. But looking at it was not my plan to go there. I can stock up on some items and buy some stuff for Tiana.

「Apart from a toothbrush, I still don’t see the use of anything else. I can just use your soap.」

「You also need new clothes. You stick out too much with that outfit.」

「It should be fine. It’s not like they're gonna see me anyway. Plus I got enough outfits to last me a whole decade in this watch.」

「Fair enough. Also, how can you hear what I think but not the other way around?」

「I am the one with telepathy, not you. I can just stop my thoughts from travelling through. Oh, come on, don’t sulk. It’s not like I care about what you say.」

Even If you say that I do want some privacy. I will deal with it for now. I can ask for the energy ball recipe later. It does have a bad side effect, but I can deal with it. It lasts for so long, anyway. But let’s not get sidetracked. I got some stuff to buy for her. Firstly would be a toothbrush, which I can get from the pharmacy. I will get a couple of them for now. I probably should stock up on some shampoo and body wash. You know what, Tiana? Just buy a different one from mine. But which one would be the best?

「I like the lavender one.」

I was expecting a little pushback, but she is instantly honest.

「No matter what, you were going to be persistent. I'd rather you just get my favourite one than you guess. 」

I grabbed the lavender body wash and headed out to do some more shopping around the Arcade. I had no real plan here after the clothes shopping was out of the picture. I am thinking about it now. How do I explain to the staff why I was buying female clothes? People look down on me already, so buying clothes would make it even worse. Ugh, I can’t think right now. Do you have any idea what I should buy, Tiana?

「Why don’t you get some food for yourself? You haven’t eaten anything since last night.」

「I mean, yeah, but the restaurant I want to eat at is like 10 minutes away.」

「I was thinking that you would eat here.」

I don’t like how she said that, not one bit. She seems too smug.

「Wouldn’t it be better to eat at my recommendation? The seats have separate private rooms where you can eat.」

「Don’t worry about me, I will be satiated if you eat here.」

HUH? What does that mean? I haven't known her for that long, but I can tell she is up to something.

「Trust me, it won’t be a big pain, mostly.」

Mostly means there will be a bit of a pain. I made up my mind: I would do some more shopping and worry about food later.

「Yeah you could go there and get yourself arrested for bringing in a devil, or you could deal with a small annoyance.」

「I will go eat at the Arcade.」

「Good boy, now enjoy meeting …. Eating your food.」

You did that on purpose, didn’t you? You are purposely letting me hear your snickering. I guess there’s no way to dig myself out of this situation. Also, what does she mean by getting arrested for bringing in a devil? You know what? I think I know what she means now. I guess this might be the right choice. I walked down the stairs to the basement level to eat there. There are many options for different styles of food from different regions of the world. There are things you would expect, like Okhotsk, that specialises in things like donburi to even specialise in cuisine like Arslan Cuisine which sells kebabs.

I don’t know what to pick. There are too many options. I guess I will go with some kebabs, but some ramen sounds good, and maybe some fried chicken. Hey Tiana, Can you choose for me?

「Why don’t you ask the person behind?」

「Why the person behind.」

「Good Afternoon, Leo. It’s fancy to see you here.」

「UGH!」

「Hey, don’t ugh me.」

I looked behind me, it was a young girl with long peach-coloured hair wearing a pink summer Fairy Dress with a Sweet Square Collar. I can’t mistake who she is, Maria. So that’s who Tiana was referring to a slight pain to deal with. Ugh it’s not the right time to deal with her yet.

「Hello Maria, what are you doing here?」

「I was going to eat here when I just saw you here and just want to say hello.」

I can tell that she is lying. I can see her trying to stop the heavy breathing, with beads of sweat dripping around her arms and face. I stepped back to stay a bit away from her, but she took a step forward, trying to get close to me.

「I see. I was doing some shopping here, and I just felt hungry, so I came here.」

「Ooooh, what did you buy? looks like you bought some Lavender body wash. 」

I stepped back again while trying to cover the items I bought. Her face changed when she saw what I brought. Her smile dropped while she stared at me. She stepped forward, trying to get as close as possible. It feels like she is throwing daggers at my chest.

「Leo, that’s not your body wash you use. Why are you buying them?」

She’s too close, Tiana. We need to abort. ABORT! GET ME OUT OF HERE.

Tiana: Just say you saw someone in need and want to make a small gesture to help them out or something like that.

「I just saw some homeless kids near my area, and I wanted to help them out, so I wanted to buy some hygiene for them.」

She backed off a bit and reverted to her bubbly and happy self.

「Oh, so that’s the case. Then I will help you.」

「They are closer to my place, and you know that it is pretty far away from the main city, let alone your house.」

「It’s ok, no distance is too far with you.」

「You don’t have to, Maria. I don’t want to trouble you.」

「Leo, I insist on helping you.」

「No, really, it’s fine. Anyway, I need to eat first before I go back to help them. So ….」

She looked at me with puppy eyes while smiling at me. I can tell from her face that she wants me to say something. FINE, I will get what she wants.

「So, you do want to eat something together?」

Her face glowed, and she had a big smile on her face.

「Yes, I -」

「Maria will not be joining you, boy. Is that correct, Maria?」

Maria froze. She looks down in fear, trying to avoid contact with everyone. The almost balding older gentleman with a priest outfit walks toward us. I can instantly recognise that person. Out of everyone I don't want to see, it would be him, the Priest of Karmen, Absalom. When you mean slight pain, you weren’t referring to Maria, right?

Tiana: Yep.

「Y-Yes, Father.」

「 Now, excuse me, my precious daughter, I have some business with the devil.」

He walks slowly up to me, towering over me. I refused to look at his eyes but the glare I feel was immense. I froze in fear. He whispers into my ear.

「Didn’t I tell you, BOY, to stay away from my daughter? You promised me to keep away from her, and I will let you avoid execution. But I saw you here with my daughter, trying to go on a date with her. Is that correct, BOY.」

「....」

I don’t know what to say. I am trapped in a corner. He looked in disdain and called in his disciples. Help Tiana.

Tiana: Just wait for now. The time is not right.

「Well, it doesn’t matter anymore, Boy. I felt something unpleasant from you for years. My Disciples, arrest that man so we can execute that devil.」

They all ran at me and contained me to the floor. I tried to struggle out, but there were too many of them. I see the entire food court looking at us. Please, can you lend me a hand? I’m about to die.

Tiana: I said it’s not the right time. Just wait

「I apologise for causing a scene, my people, but this boy has brought a devil to this planet. I can feel an evil entity has possessed this already cursed boy. Now, excuse us while we bring this boy for execution.」