Chapter 464 464-The Guilty Becomes The Innocent

'Now that was fine...'

I thought as I walked out of the arrow tower, trying to keep the focus on me to a minimum. After the so-called acceptance by Eleanor, we spent 2 hours of rough, loving sex. Afterward, we talked, trying to be more appropriate. Eleanor kept talking, spilling out a lot of words that were wrapped within her heart. The situation that happened only brought Eleanor closer to me. It also ignited within her the ambition to walk beside me. Sure, she is strong, but now having seen a glimpse of the abilities that I wield, she knew that it is just a matter of time before the world revolves around me. Her mindset changed to be more competitive.

The past experiences I've had proved to her that several other powerful women might soon start to lay their hands on me. In the past, her mind adjusted to the fact that I am special, but she wouldn't have anticipated the fact that I am a hero. This means that very beautiful and powerful women will be attracted to me.

Even now, it's already starting, and I have already shown its patterns to Eleanor. Once she starts investing more, she will soon discover the number of women circling around me. She will work to be more special than the rest of the girls circling around me, which will be fun and useful for my plans ahead.

'Now it's time to wrap that up.'

With such thoughts, I kept moving, using my ways to enter back into the academy. From then onwards, it was a slow, controlled walk to the very location where I used to meet Scarlet. Taking my time, I soon reached the top of the building where I found Scarlet sitting at the edge, looking far into the sky.

Her face looked lost as she gazed into the setting sky. Seeing her, my eyes glinted up, and I started to set up the scene. My shoulders slouched over a bit, my eyes turned a bit darker, and my expression shifted between hesitation, but soon I overcame that 'hesitation' as I walked towards Scarlet. Without saying a word, I took a seat beside her.

The silence between us was chilling, but that didn't last for long as I started to speak.

"All the women I care for now know this, and I think it's time I tell you too..."

Saying so, I started to spew the bullshit I told towards Grace and the rest towards Scarlet, not changing a word as she kept listening. Her expression tried its best to create surprise but failed at it. The reason was the fact that both Scarlet and Celestinia were present in the room when I discussed these things with the three women.

It's natural for both Scarlet and Celestinia not to miss the sparking power of Aria once she's taken out. From there on, it's natural for the two people who love me to be very curious when a power level of a dragon appears near me. From then on Things played out in a scenario that worked perfectly as I planned.

Soon, I finished talking while Scarlet remained silent. But it didn't last for long as she asked, "Will you tell me the quest that you received?"

"No, I can never bring harm to you..."

I muttered, my voice stronger than ever when I spoke of this part.

"Is the reason that you refuse to go deeper with me, the thing that you want to complete before you fully invest in me, this?" Scarlet asked once again, to which I confirmed.

?α?dα- ηθνε|·?θm "Yes."

"The reason why you fear getting more attached to me is that you fear you might not make it alive after this so-called quest?"

To this, I didn't answer, but my silence was answere enough. Hence, once again, the dooming silence lingered over us, and I could see the despair welling up deep within Scarlet's eyes.

"I never planned to get serious about you. The reason I even wanted us to start as friends was to prolong things as long as possible, until I am sure I might survive. Because I can't leave you in pain, but..."

"But?" she asked. To this, I turned towards her, our eyes finally meeting after some time, especially after the tantrum Scarlet threw when I spoke about having a crush on Marlene.

"But the more time I spend with you, the harder it becomes for me to act as I planned. Because no matter how much my lonely heart wanted to be, your company actually fills up my heart."

Saying this, I looked into those dark eyes of Scarlet and turned towards the setting sun as I continued to speak.

"It's funny, you were a stumble I saved through that path I put forth on my quest. A friend I hoped to have in my heart which I gave away. Yet years later, you appear in my life, tearing into the shields I set to protect everyone that I love..."

My voice was heavy, melancholic, and filled with great sadness as I continued.

"You know, there was a woman before you who got into my heart..."

I said, earning her 200% focus.

"But I lost her too as she betrayed me for a reason that I can never understand. To me, who I thought could have love, she threw it all away. So yes, I was afraid, Scarlet. I just wanted to push you away. Yet here I am, quite pathetic, isn't it?"

My words lingered in the air as I kept looking outward. My appearance was enough to evoke sympathy from the cold-hearted. A moment of silence lasted between us, after which Scarlet started to speak.

"You went away from your family to protect them. You pushed away everything to keep your heart closed, and you bear the heavy burden of the world alone. Yet you never cried nor asked for help, and here I was pushing you away..."

Each word Scarlet spoke pulsed with the great pain and humiliation swimming in her heart. No doubt her heart pained from the fact that she couldn't see what I was going through, even when she said she loved me. The past of her lashing out and running away from me at the fact of Marlene no doubt now crushed her heart.

"Austin... I..."

That was all she could mutter as she silenced herself, seeing my face. Without any words, she wrapped her hand around my waist, placed her head on my shoulder, and hugged me tight to comfort me.

"I will never let you get hurt. I will never see you die, and I will never let you go. All those women can try to charm your heart, but I will stay above them all. I will be the wall you will always be able to lean on..."

She muttered in confidence, a sacred promise filling her words. But I didn't say a word; I just sat there looking into the horizon, playing the part of a man who couldn't accept those words, not after having lost everything once and almost losing everything with Scarlet.

My silence seemed to hurt her as I could see Scarlet's face scrunching up. No doubt she was planning ways to regain the love and favor she might have lost. With that, I had turned myself from the guilty to the affected.

[You are playing a dangerous game...]

The system warned me.

[Taking women who were meant to be great, raising their purpose much higher than it should would create monsters. There will be chaos and consequences...]

'Then let there be such chaos...'

I murmured back. After all, only then would this chessboard be enough for me to enter as a player. A cold light flashed through my eyes as I turned to look at a corner where no doubt Celestinia stood.

'Let's see what happens when millennial genius dragons go berserk...'

[Looks like a shit fest is descending...]