Chapter 102: Brant's Betrayal
For the people of Ragunna, this period was destined to be unforgettable.
The reason was simple: the long-suspended Carnevale had reopened, the Order ruling Ragunna turned out to be rotten, a distinguished guest from elsewhere stood up for everyone and became the new king, then the inverted Avinoleum fell, followed by a six-winged demon defeating the evil Threnodian...
Such a wealth of experiences actually happened within just two days. Forget others—even a certain "world's number one" couldn't forget it after the sun rose.
Like most ordinary citizens, many participants knew little about the details.
But they only knew one thing: all of this was under one person's control.
And Brant's assigned task was to bring that person before them to explain everything properly.
"So you fucking dragged me here!?"
"Gulp... Sorry, bro... The Second Young Lady paid way too much!"
"I'll articulate your dream!"
Now, standing once again before this conference room he knew better than his own home, Aeron's intuition told him something was terribly—even nine-tenths—wrong!
The chill was so intense it felt like the air seeping through the door cracks would freeze him solid any second.
Just minutes earlier, as soon as Aeron and Rover returned to Ragunna, Brant had popped out of nowhere and intercepted them. Using excuses like "Bro, you pulled off something incredible this time—we gotta have a drink," he whisked them away and brought them here.
"W-wait, where's Rover!? Why didn't she follow!?"
"Oh, she already bolted right before."
Goddammit, so that saying about cats running away from things they dislike is true!?
"Alright, don't be so tense. Ultimately, isn't it your responsibility to explain things clearly?"
"Then why not just bring me here? Why tie me up?"
"They requested it."
"And you just obeyed?"
"Lady Cantarella added more money."
"May I ask if your bottom line as a captain is somewhat questionable?""
"Haha, not my problem! Get in there, you!"
"Ah!"
Slam!
After Aeron let out a pathetic shriek, the door behind him closed heartlessly.
Before him stood a group of people radiating distinctly different auras.
Among them was Roccia, gazing at Aeron with innocent, gentle eyes.
Cantarella, staring at him as if he were a toy.
Ciaccona, trying to play the "Song of XX" on her lute.
Phoebe, the good junior who looked both relieved and worried, mixed with a bit of joy.
Cartethyia, watching Phoebe with some nervousness.
And Zani, who had burned into pale white ashes on the sofa.
Last but not least, there was Carlotta, her face dark with lines, unabashedly displaying what was written as "killing intent" but read as "friendliness" right in front of Aeron.
Wait, so that intense chill I felt from outside was just from you alone!?
This was no longer a Carlotta—Aeron would call her the Frost Princess.
"Ara... Isn't this our 'Wraith' who showed off so brilliantly during Carnevale? You actually have the face to come back?"
"Wasn't it you who had me tied up and brought here?"
"Are you implying that if I hadn't sent someone to tie you up, you wouldn't have come?" Carlotta retorted.
"How did you even interpret it that way...?"
It seemed reasoning with Carlotta was going to be difficult. Aeron could only shift his gaze elsewhere.
Ciaccona... no need to say more, she was the first to be ruled out.
Then there were Phoebe and Cartethyia—he had a feeling they would side with Carlotta.
As for Zani, while she wasn't exactly in high spirits, she looked more like death warmed over. Better not involve her.
That left Roccia... no, he couldn't drag such an innocent child into this!
So, the only person left to turn to was...
Immediately, Aeron cast a pleading look toward his sole potential ally.
Please, Cantarella, help me out.
Cantarella gracefully lifted her teacup, precisely catching Aeron's gaze. The corners of her lips curved into a meaningful smile.
"Someone who gets themselves into such a mess, even going so far as to say such hurtful things to Miss Carlotta... I don't think that's a good habit, do you?"
"Right, right... Wait, no?!"
Aeron had thought the head of the family was here to bail him out, but it seemed she was coming for him instead.
"It appears someone has absolutely no self-awareness!"
Cantarella gently set down her teacup, teasing Aeron in a soft tone.
"First, you blow yourself sky-high, then you put on that whole 'heroic sacrifice' act in front of the entire city, and finally, you lash out at the people who were worried about you..."
Aeron couldn't muster a single word in his defense—because he had indeed done all of that.
But why did it sound like he was the villain when the head of the family said it?
"Well... circumstances forced my hand?"
"Circumstances forced your hand?"
The moment Aeron finished speaking, Carlotta immediately chimed in.
"Circumstances forced you to tell someone to stop getting in the way? Circumstances forced you to get yourself covered in injuries, then act like nothing happened, dump a pile of responsibilities on others, and run off to the most dangerous place?"
"I was just doing what I had to do..."
Aeron felt his scalp prickle. He could sense that Carlotta's anger was mixed with hurt and lingering fear—much harder to deal with than pure rage.
After all, he and Little Carte were somewhat accomplices to Leviathan and had dragged them into this mess. Admitting that would be too embarrassing.
"What you had to do...? Heh..."
Carlotta repeated Aeron's words with an ambiguous laugh, rising from her seat and striding forward, step by step, closing in on him.
Even though she didn't have the height advantage, Aeron actually felt a sense of pressure emanating from her.
"W-wait, Second Young Lady, calm down—"
Aeron instinctively took half a step back, only for his back to press against the cold door panel. There was no escape.
Carlotta's steps didn't falter. Her usually clear blue eyes now seemed to freeze over like the icy waters of Montelli Harbor, fixed intently on him.
Oh no, I'm done for—
Just as Aeron was about to ask the System to restart for him, Carlotta suddenly lunged forward, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist and burying her face in his chest, against his dust-stained clothes.
"...From now on, you're not allowed to do such things again."
A muffled voice, clearly choked with emotion, reached Aeron's ears. He froze in place, arms awkwardly suspended mid-air, feeling the slight tremors and warm body heat of the young woman in his embrace.
Huh?
This was something Aeron truly hadn't anticipated.
He turned to look at Cantarella, who merely blinked gently and responded with a wink.
I've laid out the stepping stones for you, the rest is up to you~
Understanding her meaning, Aeron took a deep breath, frantically piecing together words in his mind before finally giving Carlotta his reply:
"Next time for sure!"
Crack!
Carlotta's grip tightened further, making Aeron feel like his waist was about to snap.
"To come up with that kind of response... you're truly something else, partner."
Occasional poet, you shut up!
Just as Aeron wanted to say something more to remedy the situation, Carlotta in his arms suddenly looked up, her slightly reddened eyes meeting his.
"You really... can't even say something nice..."
Aeron's stiff arms finally lowered slowly, patting Carlotta's back somewhat clumsily as he sighed.
"Then I can learn for you, Second Young Lady."
"Hah... what's the use of learning that."
Only then did Carlotta finally release her hands, freeing Aeron from the risk of fractured bones.
"Th-this is just formal contact, it's fine, it's fine..."
"Phoebe, calm down first..."
Cartethyia kept trying to soothe the slightly agitated Phoebe.
Roccia hugged her treasure box, speaking softly with a touch of relief:
"Mr. Aeron is being cared for by everyone."
"Pero!"
Cantarella elegantly sipped her tea, watching as the atmosphere in the room gradually eased.
Since she'd already helped... now it was her turn~
"Well, since everything is resolved, where does someone plan to go next? Montelli? Fisalia? Or..."
As these words were spoken, the air in the room instantly became subtle again.
For a moment, Carlotta and Cantarella locked eyes, their gazes instantly turning resolute, while Ciaccona had already started laughing.
"Ah, about that, I've already decided."
Before any argument could even begin, the eye of the topic storm spoke up on its own.
"I'm returning to the Order to continue being a acolyte."
The moment Aeron's answer was heard, the entire room fell into complete silence.
Several seconds later, Phoebe was the first to react.
"R-really?!"