CHAPTER 180: CHAPTER 179- REQUEST TO REVEAL

Annabelle was standing inside the gymnasium.

There was something that made her curious.

Her Darling mentioned getting involved in a battle.

Last night, a battle happened here too.

She investigated and asked a few questions of the students. And it turned out that only four teachers were actually engaged in battle. The fifth was nearly useless after the first explosion.

She cross-checked and got the same answer.

The world was big, yes. She knew that out there her Darling might have fought another battle, yes.

However, there was a chance too, right? That the only Runesmith who fought on the school grounds last night...could be her...

"Anna?" Ruby’s voice broke her trance as she turned to look at her.

"Ruby, tell me something...how good of a Runesmith your crush is?"

Ruby’s eyes widened as she hurriedly approached her and reprimanded, "Don’t just casually regard him as my crush."

"Doesn’t matter. Just tell me." Annabelle insisted.

Ruby frowned, "Well, he is unique and different. The Tower invited him, and so did I."

Annabelle nodded. Unique she said.

Now that’s something interesting.

"What exactly are you thinking, Anna?" Ruby asked suspiciously.

Anna rested her hands on her waist, "I have a feeling...maybe my Darling is close to me, but I can’t see him." She said while looking at Adrian in the distance.

Ruby’s eyes stretched slightly but then she retained her calm and said, "You mean to say...Adrian?"

Annabelle nodded but then, "He once said Ruby in the chat, a woman named Ruby...but you said you weren’t with Adrian at that time?"

Ruby felt her heart turning heavy in nodding to that question, "Yes...I wasn’t with him at that time." She really was cursing herself to lie here.

Her sister, who has been searching for her Darling for so many years, was so close to him, but Ruby was keeping her away from him.

And it felt worse when she easily believed in her, "If you are saying so, then maybe I am just reading into it a little too much."

Annabelle shook her head and said, "Well, I got what I came for. I can start my hunt from here."

Ruby hummed in surprise, "What did you find?"

Annabelle knelt before removing the wooden floor and scooping some warm blood onto her finger.

"This...belongs to that Acolyte?" The redhead asked.

While nodding, Annabelle informed, "It’s still warm and didn’t turn dry despite the incident taking place more than twelve hours ago." With her expression turning serious, she added, "I was hoping it would not be the case, but I think your man has gotten the attention of an everliving."

Ruby’s brows drew closer, "Those who sacrifice people to renew their vitality. I thought they were part of the myth."

Annabelle shook her head, "Not many of them exist, but they do exist. And given how repulsive this blood smells, I am certain that Adrian fought against an Everliving."

With her gaze hardening, she added, "And somehow he miraculously survived."

....

"So...are you leaving already?" Adrian asked as he and Ruby walked side by side toward the main gates of the school.

"Yes. Since the situation here is under control and Anna has left to search for the perpetrator, I think I should return."

Adrian was stunned to hear that Annabelle had already discerned whom Adrian was fighting against, and she left to search for him immediately.

But following the surprise, he felt slightly relieved that since the strongest Warden is at it, Abraham wouldn’t focus on him for the time being.

They walked in silence for a few moments before Ruby turned to look at him. "Adrian...can I request something from you?"

Adrian hummed, "Yes. What is it?" He believed it was something related to Runesmithing.

But, "If possible, reveal your identity to Anna." Her request took him by surprise.

Lowering her gaze, she added, "It pains me to lie to her. She trusts me so blindly that the thought of how she would react upon finding the truth haunts me."

"Back then, I agreed... because I didn’t want her to have you entirely to herself. But now I see it clearly—her feelings for you far outweigh the affection I thought I had."

Adrian didn’t say anything and just stared at the woman.

"I won’t force you, but if it’s not too inconvenient, tell her. She deserves to know." And with that, she turned and left.

Adrian stared at her distancing back, before a soft sigh seeped through his lips.

’Tell her, huh...I am not sure what change it would bring to me and my life...’

It wasn’t like Adrian was going to hide things from Annabelle all his life. He knew that was impossible.

What he fears is Ariana’s feelings.

Annabelle was obsessed with him for some unknown reason. Something happened in their past lives that made her so affectionate towards him.

But now, Adrian has someone he loves.

Would Annabelle understand that? He doubted.

Then...shouldn’t before telling Annabelle anything, he has to talk to Ariana.

’Alright...I will tell Ariana about everything-’

[I suggest you otherwise, host.]

The system stopped him, making Adrian frown, ’What do you mean? She is not someone related to my past life, is she?’

[If you share the memories you have seen, the relationship you carry with the server members, you would be giving a very biased and unjustified view. And all because you haven’t remembered who they are and how much they mattered to you.]

[But sooner or later, you will unlock your memories, and then, you might regret rushing things and setting a narrative before a person who is completely unrelated to your whole situation.]

"...." The system has some dangerous convincing powers.

It means to say, hastily putting his perception of Annabelle before Ariana might make things awkward and uncomfortable in the future.

What if after regaining his memories, he grows fond of Annabelle too? Won’t he appear like a liar?

’No wait...if I grew affectionate towards another woman, won’t I be regarded as a cheater?’

Adrian rubbed his brows. This was difficult.

However, more than that, he needs to focus on gaining his memories.

And for that, he must learn the fourth thread within ten days now.

°°°°°°°°

A/N:- Thanks for reading.