Chapter 84: Debt 84 - A Wedding?

After receiving the signal that holy knights had arrived in the forest.

Ryan went out to face them alongside Mirian.

Now he understood what kind of power he could expect from certain S-rank adventurers or knights.

Of course, it wasn’t as if every knight or adventurer was the same.

’But at least now I have a starting point to calculate the power of S-ranks.’

Ryan continued looking at her.

"Yes, yes, I remember. But before that, go get whatever epic items that guy you just killed has."

"I’m going, I’m going," Mirian grumbled, but she obeyed the order.

’That should settle the debt.’

While Mirian went to loot the knight’s body, Ryan also went to do the same with the other two.

’Now that I think about it, this forest is a complete disaster. It can’t even be called a forest anymore. Later, I’ll send the elves to clean everything up.’

He stood there looking at the place and the sheer mess.

Then he fixed his eyes on the trench left by the attack of the knight who fought Mirian.

’Even though she did it to provoke him, it’ll actually be useful,’ he murmured to himself while stowing away the items he took from the knights’ bodies.

After storing them in his inventory, Mirian approached him.

[Debt collection applied]

[Debt bonus: +50 Points]

[Debt bonus: +45000 XP]

"Ryan, the only valuable thing he had was this." She was dragging the massive axe along, and in her left hand, she held some bracers.

"Are those the Earth Twins?"

"Yeah," she replied.

Ryan approached and took the axe with one hand, stowing it in his inventory as well.

"I think those Earth Twins will find better use if Karol is their owner."

Ryan reached out to take them.

But Mirian gripped him.

Their fingers intertwined, and the Earth Twins remained pressed between the palms of their hands.

"Yeah, yeah. Karol can have them; I don’t care about that right now."

She drew her body close, pressing herself against Ryan.

"I don’t want to wait anymore."

Ryan didn’t answer; he just leaned in and started kissing her.

Mirian returned the kiss.

She clung much tighter to him, beginning to slip her tongue in.

And after a minute of kissing, Ryan pulled her away.

"Calm down a bit. We have to go."

Mirian pulled back, but she stayed by his side.

"You know, Ryan... all this time, I was so worried. I even thought I’d never see you again..." They began walking toward the village.

But Mirian kept her gaze lowered as she spoke.

"I wouldn’t allow that," he said in a calm voice.

"Huh, but I missed you a lot, you know? It was ten long days... and... I’ve been wondering... you, I mean... Hmm, did you do it with Beatrice?"

Her question took him by surprise.

It was definitely something he didn’t expect.

But he stayed calm, or at least tried not to show any strange expression.

And it wasn’t that he thought she would be upset; what Ryan wanted to avoid was her getting the idea that while he was off having fun, they were suffering.

"Mirian, why ask that all of a sudden?"

"Hmm... aren’t you going to deny it?"

"I just don’t think it’s something important to mention right now."

"You don’t have to answer, but based on how you two act, I’d say she’s deeply in love with you. And of course, I don’t mind; she’s just like us." She said this, referring to herself and probably Helen.

Having said that, she stepped in front of him and began walking backward for a few seconds, keeping her eyes fixed on Ryan’s face.

"Of course I don’t mind, but you shouldn’t forget that even before her, or Helen... there’s me..."

Ryan smiled but didn’t reply to her comment.

Instead...

"By the way, I don’t understand that skill you used to finish off that knight."

"Ah, the Ghost Arrow?"

Ryan nodded.

"I saw you attack him, but the arrows vanished..."

She moved to his side as they walked.

"Well... that skill locks onto a target, and the next skill projects it. I mean, I activated the skill at the spot where I wanted the arrows to appear. When I launched my skill, it was actually like seeing ghost arrows."

She paused.

"Sorry, I’m really bad at explaining, hehe."

"It’s fine. I understand; it’s a fascinating skill."

Then they stopped.

Now they were in front of the village portal.

’Now that I think about it, how did those holy knights get here?’

Ryan thought as he walked into the portal to enter the village.

Then.

Once they were both inside.

Beatrice suddenly appeared before them.

"What’s wrong?" Ryan asked, confused by her sudden appearance.

"Sorry... did everything go well out there?"

"No problem," Mirian said with a smile.

"So what’s going on?" Ryan pressed again.

"It’s just... it seems we have a bit of a problem," she replied with a mix of uncertainty and doubt in her eyes.

Mirian took a step forward.

"Are there enemies in the village? Did those bastards manage to get in?"

"No, no... it’s nothing like that." Her voice sounded very different from usual.

Almost as if she was also confused.

"It’s better if you see it for yourselves. Come on."

Neither of them protested, but since it wasn’t about enemies, they followed her.

As they moved forward, they could see a crowd of elves gathered at the entrance leading to the elders’ meeting hall.

’What’s happening? Is it because Beatrice, a demon, is here? Are they protesting for her to leave?’

"No! That’s absurd! Why are you planning a wedding without telling us anything, you senile old man?"

’Helen? And what wedding?’

Ryan quickened his pace.

Beatrice whispered to him from behind.

"That’s what’s going on..."

"Ah, young Ryan has arrived!"

When the elder spoke, Helen spun around suddenly.

"Ryan! Hey... explain to me what the hell this senile old man is talking about? Why didn’t you say you were planning on getting married?"

’And when did I ever think that?’

Ryan placed his hand on Helen’s shoulder.

"Hey, calm down. I never planned anything like that."

"Really?"

"Yeah." He turned his head toward the elders.

"Can you explain to me what’s happening here?"

Then the old woman standing next to Irina’s grandfather spoke up.

"It’s only natural. We agreed that you would be the King of the Elves, and... how are you going to be king if you don’t have a queen?"

She pushed Irina out from the crowd.

Irina was embarrassed, her shoulders slumped.

"You must marry Princess Irina."