TBR CH79.1

Chapter 79: Extra (3) – The Rightest Time

B.

The brass spoon swirled in the amber-like liquor. Tar finally took off the hood of his cloak, revealing that pair of beautiful pupils. There was no need to hide in the crowd anymore. The demon blinked and said to Edwin in a low voice, “They are all looking here.”

The man with light gray eyes raised his eyes, neither lightly nor heavily. He did not hide the dangerous aura on his body at all. His black outer robe was still impeccably buttoned, and not even a drop of blood had splashed onto the hem of his clothes. His gaze was like an elusive mist, meeting those gazes that were secretly peeking. The customers were startled and quickly lowered their heads, as if afraid of being cut by this grayness.

“The Two-Masted Ship” returned to normal at a speed even faster than a helmsman could turn a real ship. The bodies were cleared out. The owner had long declared himself a neutral figure. To receive unidentified guests in a chaotic area, he naturally had forces behind him that were enough to protect himself. The terrified customers crawled out from under the overturned tables. The spilled wine and dishes on the ground were cleaned up, like a wound healing at high speed. Soon, “The Two-Masted Ship” returned to its initial operating state.

Except—Tar moved restlessly in his chair. He was still not used to being the center of attention. Edwin, on the other hand, seemed completely unfazed. It wasn’t until the demon mentioned it that he decisively resolved this trouble.

Things simply went to the other extreme. Everyone quickly lowered their heads, not daring to cast a single glance this way. This area of the tavern was completely empty, like an independent island.

“Uh… thank you?” Tar made the wine glass turn meaninglessly in his palm with his right thumb and asked hesitantly, “I mean, now the Holy See and the Abyss Demon King both know I’m here. Shouldn’t we leave quickly?”

Edwin raised his eyes with some surprise.

“Or do you think it’s also safe to stay here?” the demon added. “I don’t get you.”

“You said ‘we’.”

“What? Oh—” Tar spun the wine glass again, his eyes fixed on his reflection in the liquor. “Whatever you’re thinking, the two of us are definitely tied together. It makes no difference to those people. If you care about this, yes, you’re on my side. I have to admit this fact.”

The demon’s soft black hair fell unbound. He turned his head to look at him, no longer as fake as before, ready to flee at any moment, but cautiously revealing a little trust.

Edwin felt his fingers itch slightly. He somewhat wanted to touch Tar’s hair, to tie up a raven-black strand of his silk-like hair with the most precious gems. But he temporarily suppressed this disrespectful thought in front of his young god.

Edwin curled his lips and smiled. His light gray pupils could not be illuminated even by the bright lights of the tavern, but when he smiled, it seemed to sparkle for Tar. For a moment, Tar even felt pity for the other customers, those who were completely afraid to look at the two of them due to Edwin’s power.

What a pity, they couldn’t see the gentle and indulgent smile on the person before them.

“As you wish,” the companion who had been just a “dangerous stranger” a few hours ago said so. “Tar, then where do you want to go? Anywhere is fine. I’ll go with you anywhere.”

The demon avoided his gaze with some discomfort. Tar had never seen such a strange person. Edwin had just appeared by his side so suddenly, like a genie from a lamp in a fairy tale who grants every wish. To go anywhere, to face any enemy, this sounded like such a light promise, but he seemed to really be able to do it. Tar hopelessly found himself starting to believe Edwin.

The most terrible thing was, when the other’s gaze suddenly softened when it reflected himself, and covered him layer upon layer like a damp mist, Tar realized he had avoided his gaze, and his face had started to burn.

This was terrible.

By the time he came back to his senses, Tar found he had already walked outside the tavern with Edwin.

They bypassed a large pile of bodies. Perhaps they were not dead yet, but no one cared about that. These people destroyed by Edwin were reflected in his eyes, faintly, without leaving a single trace. He still only looked at himself.

“Where are we going?” Tar stepped on a small stone on the road. He was now not sure if this was a good idea, following a stranger he had only known for a short time to an unknown place. He didn’t seem to belong here at all, not among them. But Edwin was neither from the Holy See nor from the Demon Realm. The aura on his body was not biased towards any side.

“A quiet place,” Edwin stopped his steps. Before them was a simple and low-key building with guards patrolling the door. Tar recognized this place in an instant: a safe house directly under the non-human mercenary guild. They had always operated on the principle that anything could be done with money, gathering a group of powerful desperadoes and adopting the most airtight security measures and confidentiality regulations. In most cases, this was enough. For someone like Tar, it was barely enough to hide for a while.

This place was simply a paradise that all wanted criminals dreamed of. The problem was that most people couldn’t earn the wealth to walk into a safe house in their entire lives.

Obviously, Edwin did not belong to the majority.

Tar looked at the gems in Edwin’s hand and felt his eyes were about to be dizzied by the brilliant splendor. Since his escape, he had not seen so many priceless treasures.

The dwarf at the front desk blew his beard excitedly. He helped Edwin with the check-in procedures at the fastest speed and wanted to chat with him for a few more words, but was forced back by the other’s cold gaze.

How is he so rich? Tar followed the man with light gray eyes inside, while thinking that if he could get a gem from his hand, it would be enough to cover his expenses on the run for a long time.

At first, he had thought that since Edwin had offended both the black and white sides, he would definitely become his accomplice on the run. Now he was not so sure. With such terrifying strength and such powerful financial resources, this person was not on the same path as him at all, and did not need him at all.

Wait a minute. Tar suddenly stopped in his tracks—check-in procedures?

“What’s wrong?” Edwin had been deliberately slowing down to wait for the thinking Tar. He tilted his head to look at the demon’s expression, and cast a slightly confused gaze at him, as if everything was a matter of course, including the fact that he had just gotten only one room.

He’s not going to sell me for a few gems, is he?

This terrible thought only appeared for a moment, and then, even Tar was not sure why, he subconsciously defended Edwin in his heart: he shouldn’t be that kind of person. Besides, he had just helped him escape from the hands of the Holy Knights and the Demon King’s subordinate. He listened to his words very much. He…

He’s clearly a stranger, Tar. The terrible thing is that you’ve already started to trust him.

Another cold voice in his heart said so. Do you know what’s waiting for you behind the door? Letting your guard down is terrible in any situation. Even if he doesn’t want your life, there are plenty of ways to break a person’s wings and treat him as one’s own property.

Edwin has an abnormal desire for you. Can’t even you see that?

A person like him has countless ways to get a low-level demon. Why is he being special to you?

The demon’s red eyes dimmed slightly in the dim light of the corridor. He silently glanced behind him with the corner of his eye. As he had expected, his foolishness might have already sent him into a situation with no return. In this narrow and cramped space, he could not escape the ending written by fate.

A quiet place, no one would know what was done.

“Ah,” Edwin sighed as if in understanding. He walked over step by step, his light gray eyes flashing with a strange pressure in the faint light, like a venomous snake approaching its prey.

He seemed to have completely given up his disguise. At this moment, his dangerous and repressive aura became particularly obvious. Every step he took seemed to be shedding his gentle and harmless mask.

Tar retreated step by step until his back was against a certain door.

“You misunderstood, Tar.” At a time like this, such words were completely useless. The other’s gaze fell on him without any concealment, his light gray eyes almost filled with an undeniable love and possessiveness.

How on earth had he been targeted by such a person? Tar felt the skin being watched by his gaze start to burn. He closed his eyes unbearably, then quickly opened them again.

There was nowhere to run. The demon suddenly showed a smile, his voice as sweet as honey: “I like it.”

This time it was Edwin’s turn to be stunned. The young demon curled his lips. His raven-black hair was pressed against the wall, like a splashed-ink painting. His long eyelashes, like butterfly wings, trembled slightly. His red eyes were like the most intoxicating wine. He deliberately pretended to be weak and obedient, and said in a low voice to the person approaching him step by step, “Don’t you like me? I like you too.”

He was doing it on purpose.

Too cunning, the demon. This was the last chance he could grasp. The moment Edwin was stunned, Tar stood on his tiptoes, intending to jump out like an agile little beast. This was obviously very effective, because Edwin did indeed stop all his actions because of his sudden confession. Tar propped his hands on the door he was leaning against. He just needed a little leverage—

Bad.

The door slid open backwards the moment he touched it. Tar’s actions were faster than his thoughts, but it was still too late. His center of gravity fell backwards, and he fell into the room.

The world before him suddenly tilted. The white ceiling was reflected in his pupils. Tar thought with a grimace, it must be inappropriate to fall so wretchedly in such a situation.

But he did not fall heavily on the hard floor as he had expected.

What magnified before his eyes was a pair of light gray eyes. Edwin barely needed any reaction time. He had grabbed him one step ahead and supported his waist with his hand. Edwin’s hand was a little cool. This was Tar’s first feeling as he felt the temperature transmitted to his skin through the thin clothing. He was caught properly, but the bad thing was, their distance was now closer than ever before, so close that Tar could hear Edwin’s slightly fluctuating breathing if he closed his eyes.

A little closer, and they might have kissed.

Tar closed his eyes for a moment, and pushed Edwin away with all his might.

Strangely, the other did not resist at all. He easily struggled out of the embrace and stood up straight in front of the other. The demon hadn’t had time to think carefully when the door in front of him closed tightly with a click. The gap to the outside world shrank to an almost invisible thread.

“This is our room,” Edwin actually began to explain in this situation. “The mechanism of the safe house is rather special. Even the front desk doesn’t know the customer’s room number. As long as you stand in front of an empty room and use the induction key, and choose whichever one, the room will automatically open for the visitor.”

The demon told himself that at least he had figured out the operating principle of the safe house. At the same time, he felt that knowing this rule was completely useless. After all, it was this rule that had trapped him here, and in the foreseeable future, he would not have enough money to stay here again—if he had a foreseeable future.

This room was also terrible.

The room was spacious and bright, with exquisite and expensive furnishings everywhere. All daily necessities were available, but there was only one soft, large bed, as if hinting at something.

“Is it me you want?” Tar interrupted him.

Edwin was stunned again, then chuckled in a low voice. “Is that what you think? Perhaps…”

Since running away was already useless, he should be prepared to face him. Tar stood where he was, feeling his whole body as stiff as a rock. Edwin had used honorifics, but the demon obviously did not notice this.

The other approached step by step. Why on earth was I targeted by such a troublesome and dangerous person? Tar thought somewhat desperately. And how did I lose my basic vigilance against him as if I had lost my mind, only to find out after being brought into the room?

Edwin only needed to reach out his hand to touch him.

The Bishop lowered his eyes, concealing the gentle smile in his light gray pupils and the occasional cunning side of his character.

The young demon was simply slippery, like a sleek fox escaping from the hunter’s hands time and time again. Such a Tar was too cute and too real. Edwin indulged the demon’s misunderstanding of him, but of course, the misunderstanding should be limited to a harmless scope—

“Please don’t worry, you are my god.” Tar’s eyes constricted slightly. He looked in shock as the powerful and cold-tempered man before him bent his knees and half-knelt before him, saying such words in a low and gentle voice, “It was my dereliction of duty to have startled you. In the future, I am your most devout believer, so please do not doubt my loyalty anymore. I will not do anything against your will.”

It took Tar half an hour to get the general situation out of Edwin. Even so, sunk in the soft sofa of the high-end guest room, he still felt there was a big mystery before him.

God and believer. This was a distant, even like another world’s matter for him. He was just a low-level demon. In historical records, no god had such an origin. Probably no god had lived so wretchedly either, being hunted by two forces from time to time, always ready to escape.

Tar thought, what kind of god was he? He couldn’t be the god of wanderers, could he? This thought made him curl his lips.

In the process of asking and getting answers, Tar had thought more than once that Edwin was crazy. But he really didn’t look like a madman, and a person with that kind of strength had no need to prostrate himself before a low-level demon to fabricate a scam.

Speaking of which—

“Edwin,” he crossed his arms, but still couldn’t help but ask, his face slightly hot, “Are you just my believer? I mean, are we…”

He asked halfway and still felt this question was a bit inappropriate, so he silently swallowed the second half of the sentence and instead asked an irrelevant question, “Then in the future you speak of, how am I to you?”

The guest room had everything. Edwin bent down and picked up a cup of brewed hot tea. Hearing Tar’s question, he first handed the tea to Tar. The temperature of the cup was not hot, very suitable for warming hands. Then he smiled. “The god is of course very good to me. Please don’t worry. You will praise my achievements and personally bestow upon me the supreme crown. Of course, when necessary, you will also give me a reward.”

“What reward?”

Tar didn’t know why he had seized on this word in the answer. Perhaps it was because Edwin had deliberately paused on this short phrase. His voice was low and soft. When he uttered this “reward,” he really sounded like a devout believer grateful for God’s gift, but inexplicably, Tar also felt a faint ambiguity.

He wanted to grasp this clue, but in the end, why was he interested in this question?

It was as if his Great Archbishop had long set a trap for him on this question. Edwin tilted his head to look at him. After his mentality had changed, Tar found he looked surprisingly pleasing to the eye. The bright light in the room illuminated his silhouette with countless fine threads of light. That pair of light gray eyes stared at him so intently, but no longer made him feel wary.

The person before him purely and gently loved him. The feeling of being needed was much better than the most beautiful imagination.

This was also a kind of credulity.

This warm and comfortable emotion only lasted for a few seconds before Tar was frightened.

The man in front of him reached out and straightened his impeccably buttoned collar. At least to outsiders, this outfit was really ascetic and cold. However, he pursed his lips, which had little color, but spoke as naturally as if he hadn’t realized he had said something terrible at all: “You have always rewarded me like this.” While speaking, he unfastened the top two buttons of his black robe. His eyes suddenly took on a kind of wet cape mist, mixed with a slightly salty meaning. Tar had seen Edwin kill people with his hands, but his pale and slender fingers moved nimbly, and the action of unfastening the buttons was also smooth and beautiful. No, that wasn’t the point—

“Edwin, you…” Tar said one word and then immediately changed his pronoun. “I…”

Generally speaking, Edwin was always at a loss for words because of the god’s actions. Tar liked to speak frankly in all kinds of situations. His character had a bit of mischievousness and cunning. The result of every prank made Edwin’s heart so soft he didn’t know how to indulge him.

But now, the young demon’s tongue was tied because of his cunning trap, and he was even blushing a little.

I want him so much.

Edwin couldn’t help but curl his fingers. Tar was so good, so he wanted to possess him so much. How could a human keep a god? This incredible proposition was like a butterfly resting on the back of his finger. The Bishop rarely had some mischievous thoughts. He slowly stopped the action in his hands, and pretended to look at Tar with some surprise, while explaining to him, “I forgot, the current you still doesn’t know. I am a half-blood of human and succubus. So of course, that is undoubtedly the best reward the god has given me.”

Succubus. This word also sounded very wrong.

However, the man in front of him looked like he had no connection with the ambiguous word “succubus.” All the words opposite to “succubus” could instead be placed on him, especially before he took the initiative to mention it—now although his image hadn’t changed much, how should one put it? It was almost like a deliberate seduction. He always felt that some temperament in Edwin had changed. It wasn’t softer, but it had neutralized that deadly danger, making that danger magnificently strange.

Tar finally found his voice: “Does the future me like you?” Otherwise, it would be too irresponsible. This was the second half of the sentence he said in his heart.

The demon wandered all over the continent. He had witnessed many loves, or tragedies caused by desires disguised as love. Tar had long since come of age, but the tragedy of his parents made him have a natural suspicion of feelings. Establishing a connection based on emotion or desire with any existence in the world was terrible, especially for a wanderer like him with no fixed abode, who stayed at most for a week in any one place.

Edwin liked him. The other didn’t hide this at all. But did he like the other as much as the other liked him? Was such a feeling imaginable? Tar suddenly felt both confused and uneasy. Perhaps the future was better than he had imagined, but he didn’t know how to believe it.

His hand felt a touch. Edwin had touched him, lightly. The Bishop raised his eyes to look at him. His light gray gaze was like a soft cloud of mist. The so-called charming meaning had completely dissipated. The man who called himself his believer just looked at him with focus and seriousness: “I do.”

“Tar, we both love each other as much as the other is loved.”

In an instant, the pounding heartbeat seemed to calm down. Tar looked at Edwin in a daze as he shed the playful meaning from before, and also did not deliberately confine himself to the identities of god and believer, but swore an oath to him as his future lover, gently and firmly.

This was the real him, the demon suddenly realized, and, this was his unreservedness only for him.

It was like hard glass suddenly melting like water.

This person was clearly all blades. Tar suddenly felt that even if he was deceived, it wouldn’t matter. If it was an illusion, before he died, to be able to feel being unhesitatingly chosen and protected by someone, to let him see a love that had been forged to be incomparably pure and beautiful, he still had a half-understanding of what would happen in the future, but he seemed to have guessed why he would like Edwin.

The other needed him, very much.

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