Chapter 627: Fury, Friends, and Fisticuffs ( 627 )

Javier sighed and walked out of the room, one hand casually slipping into his pocket. His footsteps echoed steadily through the hall—calm and composed.

Ferine quickly followed, matching his pace.

“I’m glad Father’s… back to normal,” she said softly, glancing down.

“When he had that thing you call a celestial… he never acted like this. He was always serious. Like… he kept thinking all the time. Heavy thoughts.”

Javier nodded, eyes ahead.

“Yeah. That’s probably because the celestial was constantly talking inside his head.”

Ferine blinked.

“Wait… it talks?”

“Of course. That’s what makes it dangerous.”

“It’s not just a source of power. It whispers. Twists thoughts. Even the strongest people start doubting themselves… or get consumed.”

Ferine walked in silence for a moment.

“…That’s terrifying.”

Javier nodded.

“It is. Your father is lucky he wasn’t fully devoured by it.”

They reached a quiet hallway overlooking the city beyond the fortress walls. The air was crisp. The sky was finally clear—no smoke, no fire, no wyverns.

Ferine looked out, brushing her hair aside.

“Thank you, Javier.”

Javier raised a brow.

“For what?”

“For saving my father… and this city.”

Her voice was soft.

“Even if he’s annoying… he’s still my papa.”

Javier looked out the window too.

“Don’t thank me. After all, your father will still be punished for what he did.”

“Mm… I know.” Ferine nodded softly.

“Don’t blame me. The ones who want to punish him… are his old friends too. All of them—ruler, king, queen.”

“Mm… I know. Don’t worry.”

Her voice stayed calm, but her gaze lingered on the side of his face.

Javier turned and began walking slowly down the hall. Ferine followed without a word, her footsteps quiet beside him.

Inside her mind, her thoughts swirled—warm and grateful.

“…Thank you, handsome…

For saving my father.

For protecting our people.

Even though you’re not one of us… not dwarven…”

She looked up at him—at the tall, composed human who carried so much weight on his shoulders without ever boasting.

A small smile formed on her lips.

She remembered what her father had joked earlier… about marrying her to this human boy.

She brushed the thought aside, cheeks slightly flushed.

“…He really is handsome.”

“…Maybe not the worst idea.”

Meanwhile, in the third dwarven stronghold—

“Liana? Why are you getting ready like you’re going somewhere?” Gloria asked, tilting her head as she watched Liana strap on her enchanted bow.

“I have a feeling…” Liana said, tightening the strap on her thigh quiver, her smile calm but ominously dangerous.

“…that young master is going to add another girl to his harem.”

Gloria blinked once… then smiled.

“Ara~ I believe in you. Besides… every time you get that feeling…”

She paused, brushing imaginary dust from her skirt.

“…it always ends up being true.”

Liana’s eyes narrowed.

Her gaze slid sideways—toward Felicia, who was lounging casually by the window.

“Just like when he added this stray cat,” she said sharply.

Felicia’s ear twitched.

“My~ what an elegant pointy ear, yet such a rotten tongue,” she said with a grin, then stood up, stretching leisurely.

“Maybe I should start calling you jealous dog?”

“What was that?” Liana’s eyes gleamed dangerously.

“Ara ara~ girls, please,” Gloria stepped between them with a graceful spin of her war hammer.

“Let’s not break furniture inside someone else’s fortress.”

“I’m going,” Liana declared, tightening her gloves as she stood up with purpose.

Gloria, standing by the window, gracefully closed her book and smiled.

“Ara~ then I’ll join you. I can’t let our young master walk into trouble without proper escort.”

Felicia leaned forward, lazily twirling a strand of her silver hair.

“Me too,” she said without hesitation.

“I’ve had enough sitting around. It’s time I saw my future husband again.”

Liana’s brow twitched, but she stayed composed.

“I believe young master already finished his task. And if we let him wander around without supervision… it’s a guaranteed disaster.”

Her eyes glinted dangerously.

“That man can’t be trusted… especially when it comes to women.”

Gloria chuckled softly behind her hand.

“Ara, that’s true. Just because he’s growing more handsome doesn’t mean he can do as he pleases.”

“Exactly,” Liana nodded, arms crossed.

“You two are scary,” Felicia muttered, with a teasing smirk.

“Still… I get it. I wouldn’t want another girl clinging to him either. I am his future wife, after all.”

“You’re what?” Liana and Gloria said in perfect unison, heads turning like synchronized arrows locking on target.

Felicia just hummed innocently, her tail swaying behind her.

“Let’s go before someone dies in here,” Gloria said quickly, already opening the door.

Meanwhile, in the Beastkin Kingdom—

Royal Palace, Courtyard Training Grounds.

A loud thud echoed as King Lioness, shirtless and muscular, drove his fist into a wooden training dummy. The splinters cracked under the force of his rage.

“When I see that stubborn dwarf—I punch him like this!!”

He delivered another blow, causing the dummy’s head to snap backward.

Near the edge of the courtyard, Veldrac, the Demon King with crimson horns and a mischievous grin, leapt into the air and spun.

“And when I see him,” he grinned, “I’ll SLAP his forehead like this!!”

He landed with a loud smack, his palm hitting the air with a sharp snap.

“Let him lift that scruffy hair of his—show that shiny bald spot!” Veldrac chuckled.

“I swear I’ll leave a handprint tattoo!”

From her shaded throne under the sakura tree, Queen Mylezra crossed her legs elegantly, her expression calm but icy.

“Ara~ how dare that fool touch a celestial without our approval…”

She raised her leg slightly.

“Allow me to kick his crotch. Hard.”

She smiled gracefully.

“Right where it hurts. Again. And again.”

Veldrac howled with laughter.

“YES! We take turns!! Let’s line up! That old dwarf won’t forget this for generations!”

Lioness snorted, wiping sweat from his brow.

“First I punch his gut. Then Veldrac slaps his forehead. Then Mylezra smashes his pride.”

“That’s the plan,” Mylezra nodded like royalty.

“And if he dares make excuses, I’ll kick him in the mouth too.”

Garius, the Count of Armand, shook his head.

Standing tall with arms folded, he let out a sigh as he watched the chaos.

“If you all do that… he’s going to die,” he muttered.

The rulers paused.

“No no no!” Lioness quickly raised a finger, grinning.

“I already prepared the best healer unit! Every time he gets hit, the healer will cast high-tier recovery magic!”

Veldrac spun happily.

“Heck yeah! We slap, punch, kick— and immediately heal!”

Mylezra faintly fanned herself, smiling with deadly elegance.

“Don’t worry, Garius. I brought my elite healing priestesses. They’ll be ready the moment his bones crack.”

Lioness burst into laughter.

“Besides! Gumarak’s head is thick! Even if we slap him a hundred times, it’ll just bounce back!”

Veldrac pointed to the ground.

“I even had a demon healer prepare an enchanted cushion—just in case he falls unconscious mid-punishment.”

Garius sighed again, eyes twitching.

“You’re all crazy…”

Lioness nudged Garius with a grin.

“Don’t you want to think about his punishment, Garius?”

Garius narrowed his eyes, lips tightening as he considered.

“Hm…” He crossed his arms, deep in thought.

Then he looked at Veldrac.

“I like Veldrac’s idea. Slapping the forehead…”

“It’s simple. Direct. No lethal damage. But maximum shame.”

A faint smirk appeared on his face.

Veldrac’s eyes brightened.

“Right?! There’s just something satisfying about the pop when palm meets bald forehead—”

“He’s not bald,” Mylezra reminded dryly.

“He will be when we’re done,” Lioness chuckled, cracking her knuckles.

Garius tilted his head slightly.

“Let him keep the beard, at least. It’s the only thing protecting his dignity.”

“Deal~” Mylezra smiled sweetly.

“Forehead slaps, no beard shaving. That’s the pact.”

Veldrac jumped into the air and spun again.

“Let’s slap him until he swears never to touch another celestial again!”

“Agreed.”

Garius’s tone was calm, but the glint in his eyes showed he wasn’t holding back either.

( End Of Chapter )

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