CHAPTER 375: CHAPTER 20: ELOPEMENT

Before Andrew could react, Andrejewitsch had already leaped onto the rooftop and vanished into thin air.

Andrew stood there dumbfounded, taking a deep breath.

After a while, he turned around, climbed back into his room through the window, closed it, and then widened his eyes to secretly peer outside through the glass, silent.

The silver moonlight quietly poured down, and the snow-covered city appeared exquisitely pure in this serene night, tinged with a faint chill.

Far away, in a place Andrew couldn’t see, Andrejewitsch sat down slowly against a chimney on the rooftop, gazing in Andrew’s direction and muttering, "I don’t believe you’ll dare refuse me."

With that, he slowly closed his eyes.

The clouds in the sky drifted leisurely, and the silver crescent moon wove through them.

A light breeze swept through the deserted streets.

The whole world was tranquil.

In the blink of an eye, dawn broke. The first ray of sunlight illuminated the towering fortress of Linlopes. Dwarf soldiers stood on the tower, surveying the city below.

The streets gradually came alive with people, and the adventurer guild reopened for business.

After spending the night sleeping against the chimney on the rooftop, Andrejewitsch finally opened his eyes and stretched his limbs.

"Ugh... my back feels sore from sleeping." Rubbing his shoulders, he stood up slowly, then lightly leaped into the courtyard, to the stunned gaze of the homeowner, before jumping onto the adjacent rooftop. He scanned his surroundings and continued hopping toward Christina’s house.

Moments later, his feet landed on the rooftop of Christina’s neighbor, leaving behind a deep footprint. Down below, Aunt Lida was sweeping snow, staring up in shock at the sudden figure on her roof. "Who are you? Why are you on my roof? Get down here right now!"

Andre reluctantly glanced at the clamoring Aunt Lida in the courtyard, then took out his mechanical pocket watch for a quick look. "Eleven o’clock. Only one hour left before the deadline."

Sitting cross-legged on the roof, he stared fixedly at Christina’s house, his gaze shifting between Andrew’s and Christina’s rooms.

"Still not awake? Isn’t this the time for heartfelt farewells? Or are they planning to sneak away without telling Christina?"

Time ticked by. Aunt Lida had already summoned the city’s soldiers.

"It’s him! The man on my roof! Get him down! I even suspect he was the one who left the mess at my doorstep last month!"

"Hey! Who are you?" The chubby soldier, his helmet lopsided, shouted, "Get down here right now! Why did you leave a mess at someone’s doorstep?"

Suddenly, the entire street’s attention was drawn.

Andre’s eyebrow twitched sharply. Casting an annoyed glance at the chubby soldier, he turned back to stare at Christina’s house, unwilling to engage.

"Is he an elf?"

"Looks like an elf to me."

"Why would an elf enjoy messing up other people’s doorsteps? Especially in this freezing winter?"

"No idea. Everyone has their quirks. Maybe he’s been through some trauma."

"Looks young. Yet he’s experienced trauma already. What a pity."

"Being an elf, he might be hundreds of years old."

"Then could it be that he’s so old, he forgot where his own restroom is?"

Before long, Aunt Lida’s courtyard was packed with curious onlookers, each pointing and commenting.

Andre’s brow twitched, and twitched again, suppressing his fury with great effort, refusing to pay heed to these inconsequential beings in his eyes.

"If you don’t come down, we’ll have to use force! Leaving messes at people’s doorsteps is utterly disgraceful behavior! I suggest you surrender now, and we might reduce your fine a little!" The chubby soldier continued shouting.

Grinding his teeth in frustration, Andre exclaimed angrily, "All of you shut up! Keep this up, and I won’t be able to hold back anymore!"

In an instant, the courtyard erupted with chatter.

"What did he just say?"

"He said he won’t be able to hold back..."

"Is he going to leave a mess right here in public? This is too shocking!"

Andre’s face flushed bright red. Just as he prepared to act without holding back, he realized something—the gold coins scattered around Christina’s room were gone!

He froze in place, focusing his senses to scan the surroundings. A moment later, his eyes widened.

"Neither of them is here?"

"Hey! Listen up! Leaving messes at people’s doorsteps is just as disgraceful as doing so on rooftops! If you really go through with it, I’ll..."

Before the chubby soldier could finish, Andre had already dived from Aunt Lida’s rooftop into Christina’s courtyard. Stretching out his hand, a loud crack shattered the glass of two windows simultaneously.

"He’s trying to run! Catch him!" Aunt Lida screamed.

"Don’t let him escape! He’ll only come back to mess up the place again!" The residents jeered.

"Catch him—don’t let him get away!" The soldiers mobilized in pursuit.

Meanwhile, Andre charged into Christina’s room. Lifting her blanket, he found only two pillows disguised as human shapes. He quickly checked Andrew’s room, finding the same.

Aside from a faint magic power residue, there were signs that magic had been used here to simulate their presence, but it had already faded.

Andre’s face turned green, his fists cracking loudly.

"Those two actually chose to run away?"

At that moment, a group of soldiers burst in, surrounding Andre. The leading chubby soldier shouted, "You even invaded someone’s house? Listen up, I now suspect you’re a thief! This isn’t something an apology or fine can fix anymore! You must come with me for investigation!"

Before the chubby soldier could finish, a golden surge of magic exploded with a "boom."

...

Amid the rumbling noise, cloaked and hooded Christina turned back to glance at the direction of her home.

A plume of smoke wafted high into the air.

"Hurry up, don’t look back!" Andrew urged as he pushed the cart alongside her.

Each gold coin weighed about fifteen grams. Over ten thousand coins roughly amounted to two hundred kilograms. Given Andrew’s strength, carrying two hundred kilograms while fleeing was nearly impossible, so he pushed a cart. The cart was camouflaged with miscellaneous items and luggage, beneath which four mice were concealed.

"Does this count as eloping?" Christina asked, turning back.

"Uh... maybe it does," Andrew sighed helplessly. "Lower your hood; you’re too recognizable. Nobody knows me much, so I’m fine."

"Okay!" Christina joyfully linked arms with Andrew, her face radiating happiness. "Where are we headed?"

"Anywhere but here. Maybe we can find a cave, and you can live like other dragons." Andrew replied.

"I’ll go wherever you decide." Christina said excitedly, holding tightly onto Andrew.

Looking ahead at the road, Andrew felt a little lost.

Running away with a dragon... Something Andrew never imagined in his wildest dreams. Even if he did, he’d think it impossible. Why would he embark on such a dangerous endeavor?

Yet fate works in mysterious ways; when you least expect it, impossibilities come true.

Thinking back, Andrew had always been on the move, never settling down. Even during his days as Chief Mage serving under Gray, it had been like this.

Perhaps this was destiny.

Before, he had never sought stability, always feeling the world was vast and worth exploring. But now, all he wished for was a place to live peacefully.

Or rather, a place where he and Christina could live peacefully together.

...

"Quick! Call for reinforcements! That man’s a mage! He’s already injured fifteen of us!" The soldiers shouted.

The entirety of Linlopes’ forces began converging on the scene. Humans, dwarves, one-eyed giants, and all sorts of creatures swarmed the area. Even some mercenary groups from the adventurer guild had been summoned.

One fire spell after another detonated throughout the city.

Furious beyond measure, Andre desperately wanted to calm his mind to divine where Andrew and Christina might have gone, or to trace their escape route. However, that was entirely out of the question.

Having antagonized the entirety of Linlopes, he was left with no choice but to frantically fend off the soldiers and mercenaries charging at him.

In the corner, Granny Sarah stared in shock at Andre rushing back and forth amid the billowing smoke. She cautiously glanced at the ten gold coins in her hand, hastily stashing them away to avoid detection.

The entire city had descended into chaos.

Summons were delivered to the leaders of every reputable mercenary group.

"What in the world is going on!" Bi’an the Sixth screamed from his office.

...

"Why don’t you sit on the cart? I’ll push you." Andrew suggested.

"But I’m stronger than you."

"Still, I’m the man." Andrew wiped his sweat away and smiled warmly, "You should give me the chance to show off."

Christina hesitated, looking at him.

"Compared to you, my life is fleeting. I can only live for a thousand years, whereas you’ll come close to immortality. My existence is but a flicker in your eternal life. I hope... this flicker will be meaningful to you. Give me the chance to prove myself, alright?"

Christina stepped forward, hugged Andrew tightly, and obediently climbed onto the cart.

"Don’t worry—they won’t take you back. I’ve seen my fair share of troubles. There’s nothing I can’t handle. Escaping, that’s my specialty." Andrew said with a sweat-soaked grin, pushing the cart through the snowy streets.

Countless soldiers and mercenaries passed by in close proximity, yet none seemed to recognize him.

Christina adjusted her hood carefully, gazing at Andrew with a sweet smile. Four tiny mice perched on her shoulder chattered away.

The sunlight quietly poured down, and the snow began its silent melt.

From a distance, they looked just like a poor middle-aged man, pushing a cart with all his worldly possessions, moving his family in search of livelihood. So ordinary, it was unlikely to draw anyone’s attention.