CHAPTER 53: CHAPTER 53: HARMLESS SMILE

Chapter 53 — Harmless smile

Kenan stood in front of Kaden and Meris, his expression cold and unmoving.

Behind him, the waitresses and the manager of The Golden Fork stood stiff, visibly nervous, not knowing how to react. They were caught between two blazing forces—and they knew very well that provoking either Kenan or Meris could ruin more than just their night.

Fortunately for them, Meris noticed.

"You can go," she said, dismissing them sharply.

Instantly, they bowed and vanished like smoke, escaping as if staying one second longer might cost them their lives.

Then—finally—Meris turned her full attention to Kenan.

Her eyes burned with rage. She looked at him like she was one second away from killing him right here, right now.

"You... what are you doing here?" she asked, her voice trembling—barely holding back her fury.

She was livid.

Absolutely livid.

She had waited so long for this. For just one peaceful evening. One quiet, uninterrupted moment with Kaden. She had finally confessed. Finally said the words. Finally lowered her walls.

And just as she was about to hear his answer...

This bastard showed up?

The more she thought about it, the more her anger spiked—and as it rose, so did the cold. The air in the room started to shift, and a creeping frost began to form around her feet.

Kenan saw it. Felt it. And he smiled.

But it was a pained smile. A wounded one. As if he still couldn’t understand why his goddess was so furiouswith him.

Because even now, even after everything he saw, after all of Meris’s actions, Kenan still didn’t blame her.

He blamed Kaden.

He looked at Kaden’s face again, and something clicked.

Black hair.

Red eyes.

The realization slammed into him.

Warborn.

Kaden was a Warborn.

And just like that, his disdain deepened. His voice came out low and sharp:

"I’m sorry, Meris. But this guy doesn’t deserve the attention you’re giving him."

Then he turned toward Kaden, eyes narrowing, voice rising.

"I was fooled by your appearance. The Warborns are supposed to be monstrous, built like bulls—but now I know what you really are."

He sneered.

"You’re nothing but a clan of lunatics who fight for nothing. No ideals. No principles. Just mindless battle and bloodshed. You don’t fight for a cause—you fight because you like it. Like beasts."

As he spoke, the space around him began to shift. The subtle frost Meris had released began to melt, replaced by a simmering heat.

Kenan’s fire affinity pushed back, clashing with Meris’s ice.

He took another step forward.

"You think you deserve someone like Meris? With your kind of character?"

But he didn’t wait for an answer.

"You don’t. So stay away from her."

The moment hung in silence.

Kaden remained still.

Expression unchanged.

Calm. Serene.

Since the start of this whole ridiculous scene, his face hadn’t moved an inch. But inside?

He was deeply annoyed.

Not scared. Not anxious. Not even frustrated.

Just... annoyed.

Because Kaden wasn’t the type to involve himself in unnecessary drama.

Love? Romance? Those were distractions—things that slowed you down on the path to strength. And Kaden had no time to be slowed down.

But like life often proves—you don’t always get what you plan for.

Because matters of the heart...

They’re complicated.

And the truth was—

Kaden was interested in Meris.

There was something fascinating about a woman like her. Beautiful, yes—but more than that: strong, noble, determined. She didn’t chase anyone, and yet here she was, chasing him.

And Kaden...

He... couldn’t really resist it.

That’s why he always said the heart was a dangerous, unpredictable thing.

It could slow him down but he still accepted it.

He accepted the burden of love, the same he accepted the burden of his name.

Because at the end of the day—Child of Blood or not, Warborn or not, reincarnated or not—

Kaden was still human.

And what is the nature of humans?

Imperfection.

But if there was one thing that bothered him more than emotional tangles, it was idiots trying to start trouble for no reason.

And this—this was something he could do something about.

Kaden finally raised his head and looked Kenan straight in the eyes.

With his new intelligence stat, thoughts flowed fast—calculated, sharp, clear.

"You know what we Warborn are. You know our nature. Yet still, you act like this with me," he said calmly.

"That means you’re either an idiot..."

He paused, smiling faintly.

"...or you’re trying to provoke me into fighting you."

He let the words settle.

Then his smile turned cold. Expression flat, but sharp.

"So tell me... which one is it? Although, personally, I’d bet on the first."

Meris, on the side, felt her heart calm as soon as she saw that expression. His blood-red eyes gleamed with a dangerous, predatory light—and to her, it was beautiful.

’He’s so damn handsome,’ she thought, feeling her anger diminish.

Kenan, on the other hand, stiffened.

He hadn’t expected that response.

He knew Warborns. Knew their reputation. Brash. Easy to provoke. Quick to violence. He’d counted on that. He wanted Kaden to lose his cool first.

But now?

’Is he really a Warborn?’ Kenan wondered.

Still, he’d come this far. He couldn’t back down.

He clenched his jaw and said mockingly,

"Don’t tell me you’re scared?"

"A Warborn... running from a fight?"

He tilted his head slightly.

"I wonder what the rest of the Empire would think."

Meris frowned and stepped forward, but Kaden raised a hand—and she froze immediately.

Not because he was threatening her.

But because she understood.

Kaden wanted to speak for himself.

And he was about to—until:

DING!

[You have received a new quest.]

[Quest: Daring Challenge]

[Description: The heir of the Fireborn is challenging you, the Child of Blood and beloved brother of Daela Warborn. Do not cower. Do not run. Fight him and win with an overwhelming victory. No mercy.]

[Condition: Overwhelming victory]

[Reward: Depends on performance]

[Penalty: Warborn reputation will be tarnished across the entire Celestial Empire]

Kaden read the system prompt quietly.

Then looked up right into Kenan’s eyes.

If the world didn’t want to let him mind his business...

Then fine.

So be it.

Kaden stood slowly. Calmly.

"You want a fight with me?" he asked.

"That’s fine by me."

He smiled.

And it was the most dangerous kind of smile—calm, harmless-looking, but steeped in quiet destruction.

"But how about we make it interesting... with a bet?"

—End of Chapter 53—