Elsword – Time Trouble v2c2

2. Engage
Elder.
El Search Party tracked Banthus who ran off with the El to Elder. El Search Party members were all
baffled at Elder’s bustling streets that was incomparable to Ruben’s.
“Wow that castle is huge…..”
“Ms.Rena! May I go buy some drinks?”
“Yea sure, do you want some too Eve?”
“I’m not particularly interested.”
“Cherry aid is fine right?”
“….I’ll request lemonade please.”
El Search Party members harmoniously exchanged conversations as they walked through the
bustling streets. Only Add was not moving his mouth amongst them.
His mind was in such disarray that nothing came into his eyes…..
“Ah, cold!”
Add got startled and stepped back as he felt sudden chill on his cheek.
Rena had brought a juice towards Add’s cheek and was making a beaming smile.
“Here, take this. It’s a cherry aid. You didn’t say anything so I chose what to get.”
“Who said I wanted to drink?”
“Then would you like me to go exchange it for a different flavor?”
Add couldn’t resist anymore and took the drink after seeing Rena hold out the cup towards him with
sociable smile. He’s been wondering about this for a while…..Rena was always treating him like a kid
she had to take care of.
Of course, Rena paid attention to the other members as well. But it was certain that she was extra
attentive towards Add. Well, it was probably because Add kept trying to keep himself in the
outskirts of the group.
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Add took a glance at the other three with a straw in his mouth. Ara, Elsword and Eve were drinking
their juices while sitting and talking to each other harmoniously.
Elsword and Eve had been traveling together so it was obvious they got along. But Ara was quite
sociable as well so she had a decent relations.h.i.+p with the other members.
“Sigh….”
Add let out a sigh as he looked at the three of them, particularly Elsword.
Other members didn’t seem bothered at all by Elsword’s sudden growth.
Elsword, 15 years old. He was partic.i.p.ating in the El Search Party as Velder Kingdom’s knight.
“Kukukuk.”
Time travel he performed thoughtlessly had caused such a drastic change. It was actually quite
frightening. He couldn’t tell what might change next if he time traveled again.
El Search Party’s total battle strength did go up because of Elsword’s growth. But there was no
certainty that changes that will happen next were positive.
Add had thought he could erase all unfavorable events by using time travel until now….
“As I thought, it’s not something you can use carelessly.”
Although Eun determined the time s.p.a.ce coordinates for him, a huge undesirable change could
happen if he continued like this. As he thought, he should refrain from using time travel much as
possible…
Grab!
Add was deep in thought while drinking his juice when he felt his body suddenly getting pulled. Add
turned around in surprise to see that Rena was smiling with her arm tied around Add’s neck.
“Why are you making such a gloomy face?”
“G, Get off!”
Add got startled by the soft sensation of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s on his back and quickly tried to pull his body
out. But Add’s physical abilities were that of a normal boy. There was no way he could escape the
grasp of Rena who was an Elf warrior.
It stuck closer the more he struggled.
“You should just go talk to them if you want to play together.”
“Who said I wanted to play!? Don’t stick so close to me!!”
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““G, Get off!”
Add got startled by the soft sensation of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s on his back and
quickly tried to pull his body out.”
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Add got fl.u.s.tered as he abruptly turned his head around. He could smell indescribably good aroma
from Rena….his head started to feel dizzy.
It seemed Rena didn’t care about what was going on in Add’s head and continued to ask while
sticking close to Add’s back.
“Hmm, so were you able to apologize well yesterday?”
“….It’s all done. You can go check if you’re doubtful.”
“I was asking if you were able to ease your mind.”
Rena finally let go her arm that was tied around Add’s neck. Add hastily organized his crumpled
clothes then noticed Rena’s gaze as he frowned.
For him to get so fl.u.s.tered from something like this; it felt displeasing because it felt like he had
shown signs of weakness to her.
“So do you have some business with me?”
“Umm, I’ll go talk with Mr.Hoffman now. So please do a good job of watching over the kids for me
will you?”
Rena was trying to hand over the command of the group to Add. Well, Add was the most
trustworthy one amongst this group when Rena wasn’t here.
Eve was fine in every respect but wasn’t knowledgeable about worldly affairs, Ara tried her best in
everything she did but was unreliable because she was clumsy. Elsword was the youngest among the
group.
In Add’s case, his weakness was that he was bad with personal relations….. But Rena thought
highly of his unexpectedly sensible thought process and ability to improvise.
It was a selection Rena had put various thoughts into. But against Rena’s expectations, Add didn’t
accept the leader role and,
“Wait a moment.”
did not decline it either.
“If you’re going to meet with Hoffman, I’ll go too.”
“Hmm?”
Rena glanced at him quizzically but this was something Add had decided on beforehand.
“I have something to suggest to him so I’ll go too.”
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And knowing Rena’s personality, she won’t deliberately refuse this. Add resolved himself as he
waited for her reply.
I’ll change the future.
And I’ll do anything in order to do so.
In the end, Rena and Add headed to Hoffman’s house while leaving the command of the other
members to Eve.
“Mr.Hoffman will meet you soon.”
A servant guided the two to the guest room then lightly bowed before going away.
Add fidgeting his fingers then stole a glance at Rena. Rena noticed Add’s gaze and smiled
benevolently in return.
“What’s wrong?”
“No, it’s just….”
He already knew from past experience that Rena would listen to him even if he made an abrupt
request like this. But it still felt uncomfortable.
“What I’m about do to…..is to not make anyone cry.”
“Yea, alright.”
Rena replied with a tone that said she was listening. It was a light response but her voice was friendly.
“So trust me…and let me take care of this.”
“Yea okay.”
Rena lightly nodded as if to tell Add that he didn’t need to speak any further. She had entrusted Add
with this task even though he didn’t give her any further explanation.
“…..”
Rena will probably just kindly reply back if Add tried to nitpick at her naïve reaction right now. Add
had been really confused by Rena’s naïve methods before….but he could somewhat accept it now.
Let’s do what he had to do now since Rena entrusted him with this.
“Welcome, I’m Hoffman.”
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Finally, the door opened and a well looking middle aged man came inside the room. Rena came to
meet Hoffman in order to investigate Banthus’ whereabouts. But Add’s purpose was different.
“I came here because I got a proposition for you.”
“Proposition? Who are you people?”
“Oh, we’re the El Search Party. Here’s the letter of recommendation from Ruben’s chief, Hagus.”
Rena pulled out Ruben chief Hagus’ recommendation letter and handed it over to Hoffman. They
had heard Hoffman was a close friend of Hagus. This letter should have special meaning to
Hoffman.
As expected, Hoffman looked at Rena with a trusting gaze after reading Hagus’ letter.
“So you’re here to get back the El that was stolen from Ruben. Then….”
“We’ll put that aside for now.”
Add boldly cut off Hoffman’s words and took a deep breath before moving on to the main topic.
Hoffman didn’t get angry at Add cutting off his words and carefully stared at Add. Rena smiled as if
nothing was wrong.
“We, the El Search Party will help Elder’s citizens in overthrowing the tyrannical castle’s lord Wally.”
“Hmm? What are you saying all of a sudden?”
“Kukuk, you don’t have to play dumb. We already know everything. Not only is he issuing
unreasonable taxes, he captured all of the girls in this town right? Isn’t resentment amongst the
citizens sky high already? Didn’t you already form a militia and is waiting for an opportune moment?”
Hoffman winced when Add hit the mark. But he didn’t get fl.u.s.tered and reacted in a composed
manner. It was no wonder why people of Elder trusted him.
“I don’t know how you found out….but it seems you already know everything.”
“Yes, how we found out isn’t important. We’ll help you guys so you guys help us in return.”
Hoffman didn’t respond immediately to Add’s suggestion but it seemed he was drawn by this
proposition. His good friend Hagus had already approved of the El Search Party’s skills.
This was a desperate time where they were preparing for their revolution to overthrow Wally. Each
and every help mattered greatly. There was no reason to refuse when the El Search Party was
volunteering to help.
“Then how should we help?”
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“Our request is simple. Help us get into Wally’s castle.”
“We know about an Underground Waterway that leads into the castle….”
“That’s not it. There’s absolutely no point in going that way.”
Doing so will only repeat the previous events. He had to aim for a different location, attack from a
completely unexpected angle.
“We have to infiltrate deep into the castle. Only then can we rescue the captive girls.”
“Of course we’ll be extremely grateful if you can do that….”
Hoffman’s words trailed as if such a thing was impossible. It seemed he had pondered every
possible rescue plans but couldn’t manage to come up with anything.
But Add grinned with satisfaction.
“There’s a great way to rescue them easily. That is….”
“That is?”
Rena who was listening also looked like she was very looking forward to Add’s answer. Add couldn’t
turn things back anymore if he said this.
Add gulped and revealed his secret plan.
“Girls from us El Search Party will get captured and get taken into the castle. They obviously won’t
hold all the girls in separate places and keep them all together. We will pretend to get captured and
cause a disturbance from within to rescue the girls. Kukukuk, it’s a perfect plan.”
“Ohhh….”
Hoffman exclaimed as he looked at Rena. They couldn’t use this plan because all the girls in Elder
were captured.
But if the El Search Party that had just arrived in Elder, more precisely the girls in their party
pretended to be captured and then carry out the rescue from inside…
This plan was worth a try.
“I understand. We’ll pretend to be obedient to Wally and notify the castle that we have captured
couple of traveling girls. We’ll prepare this plan right away. How many amongst you are planning to
go?”
“Umm, there will be three.”
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Rena also accepted this plan and answered. Ara, Rena and Eve were girls so that number was
accurate but…
“There will be four.”
“Huh? But Add? There are only three girls amongst us.”
Rena made an obvious indication….but Add continued his words while suppressing the feeling of
wanting to vomit out blood. He knew this choice was going to ruin his life but he still couldn’t
afford to keep himself out of this plan.
“I’m going too!”
“…..Add, could it be that you were a girl?”
Rena asked earnestly and Hoffman also carefully scanned Add. Awkward reactions continued but
Add just spoke the words he had to.
He leapt through time determined to do anything in order to save Eve from the Demons. He
couldn’t back out just because it was shameful.
“I’ll become a girl starting from now!!”
…..Although it felt like he’ll kick in his sleep later.
Elder’s Inn.
Rena gathered the El Search Party members and started explaining with a lighthearted voice.
“Okay then, now I’ll explain the plan.”
Other members who didn’t know the situation listened carefully to Rena’s explanation. But Add had
his face facing towards the ground with a sour taste in his mouth. It felt so shameful that he didn’t
want to be sitting in this conversation…..But he had to supplement Rena’s explanation whenever
they weren’t enough.
Everyone had to work in unison in order for this plan that Eun had suggested to work properly.
“That’s all. Is there any questions?”
“Big sister Rena? What about Banthus?”
Elsword asked an obvious question. They had come to Elder in order to find Banthus. But now they
were putting aside Banthus and were trying to overthrow castle’s lord Wally. Of course he wouldn’t
be able to understand.
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“No, if Mr.Castle’s lord is really a pervert that likes to throw obscene parties with captured girls then
I cannot forgive him no matter what!”
“I agree with that too…. But doesn’t finding the El come first?”
The two’s opinions seemed to clash so Add explained instead of Rena.
“The El Banthus stole has already gone into Wally’s hands.”
“What? Really?”
“Banthus was hired by Wally in the first place. Didn’t you think that it was strange how such a small
fry was commanding Nasods? There’s also a reason for them in taking all the girls by force. They
seem to be plotting something by joining hands with the demons. We cannot let this be.”
Add’s explanation made sense but there was a hole.
“How do you know all this?”
Eve didn’t miss that hole and asked quietly.
It would obviously look suspicious if Add acted like he knew everything that was going on in Elder
when it hasn’t even been a day since they’ve arrived here.
“I had bad relations with demons since long ago. I found out when I was researching various things
about them.”
“….”
Eve didn’t look satisfied with this explanation. Well, it should still be more convincing than telling
her he knew because he was time traveling.
“Hmm, we can’t leave the tyrannical lord like this right? Let’s help Elder’s citizens.”
Everyone nodded when Rena made her decision. Attacking Wally first while leaving Banthus aside
felt like the orders got flipped, but everyone accepted because Rena had said so.
“Then what should we do? Shall we go right now?”
“I’ll lead the way!”
Ara grabbed her spear and got up immediately. She had become extremely enraged after hearing
Wally’s evil deeds and was now raring to go.
“I’ll help too. We need to get the El back after all.”
“Wait, I have a plan.”
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It was good that everyone was willing. But charging in like this will only end with the same result
from last time.
Add repeated the same explanation he gave to Hoffman while ignoring Rena who was making a
bitter smile.
“That’s a great plan! I’ll do it too!”
“I don’t mind as well….but why is there 4 people?”
Eve spoke questioningly.
“T, That’s because…..”
Add quickly made his move first before Rena who was forcefully suppressing her laughter while
trying to reveal the truth.
He’d rather say it himself than let someone else say it!
“I’m going too. By becoming a girl.”
“….”
“….”
Eve coldly, and Ara confusingly stared at Add. After staring at Add’s chest for a while, Ara asked in
a tone as if she couldn’t understand at all.
“But Mr.Add doesn’t have b.r.e.a.s.t.s. Were you a girl?”
“…..”
Eve’s face seemed to stiffen for some reason but let’s ignore that. Add suppressed the feeling of
wanting to burrow into the ground and forced out his words.
“I, I’ll disguise myself and go together.”
“Ah, so you’re disguising yourself like a girl!”
Ara clapped her hand and made a large nod. …..Please don’t show such a welcoming reaction; I’m
going to die from embarra.s.sment.
“….Big brother Add, will you be okay?”
Elsword asked with the eyes that were looking at a pitiable person. Add nodded with his teeth
clenched tightly. Add started to feel increasingly more wretched the more he talked.
“Okay…. I just have to stand ready outside with the militia right?”
36
Elsword finished up the conversation with a tone that meant he won’t talk about this anymore.
Right now, this kind of reaction was more grateful for Add.
“What should we do to make them believe Mr.Add is a girl?”
“C, Can’t we just put some r,ribbons on his head? Pfft.”
“You look like you’re having fun, Rena.”
Three girls started to have an in-depth discussion about the sudden topic of dressing Add up like a
girl. Their atmosphere felt like they were enjoying this…. Add hoped this was just his imagination.
“I don’t know much about decorating but I’ll do my best!”
“I’m not too knowledgeable about adorning but I’ll give it a try.”
“I, I’ll…. Make you pretty too. Pfft.”
Just laugh out loud if you want to laugh. Add made a huge sigh seeing the three girl converse in
front of him.
“We should give him big b.r.e.a.s.t.s. Since he’s pretty tall.”
“It would be best if we gave him a skirt right?”
“We need a wig.”
…..My heart is seriously getting torn apart listening to this.
Add couldn’t handle the girls harmoniously talking about dressing him up anymore and returned to
the guys’ bedroom. He kept getting impulses to turn back and erase this event even though he was
the one that had brought it up.
Add moved out to the balcony and looked up at the sky while grabbing the railings. The sky was
very dark and perfectly reflected his feelings right now.
“Kukuk, this isn’t funny.”
Seriously? cross-dressing? It was such an absurd plan. Add had opposed it when he first heard it
from Eun too. But he ended up agreeing to it after listening to her explanation.
To protect Eve, Add who knew about the situation had to be beside her. Then why couldn’t they
just send only Rena and Ara to the Wally’s Castle?
That won’t be any different from the time when Ran appeared and destroyed Eve.
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The back bone of Eun’s plan was that the battle occurred when much of the party members were
together as possible.
Thus, it was better for Eve to get taken along with Rena and Ara….and Add had to be beside Eve as
well. Thus, he had to dress up like a girl in order to do so.
He extremely disliked this plan but couldn’t deny it logically.
“It totally feels like I’ve been fooled…..”
“It’s a proper for guys to allow themselves to get fooled by girls.”
Add winced at the sudden voice that came from below him. Tap! Ara who jumped up from the
bottom floor’s balcony grabbed onto the railings and pulled herself into the upper floor’s balcony.
It was an unbelievable physical feat. But the girl who now suddenly stood beside him shrugged when
Add gave her a surprised stare.
“Even Ara can easily perform this much.”
White hair that waved from the wind, fox ears that curled up and down, it was Eun, not Ara.
“You’re popping up too often recently.”
“I’ll switch if you have a business with Ara.”
“Just tell me what you came here to say.”
Eun was the one that told Add about this plan in the first place. She probably came out to explain
the tomorrow’s plan in more detail.
“I’ll be awaiting your pretty form tomorrow.”
“Get lost, don’t ever come out again.”
Eun burst out laughing when Add bared his teeth and got angry.
“I was joking. The problem is how we’ll fool the castle’s soldiers.”
“It will work out somehow. It’s not like they’re taking girls based on their appearance.”
“It could be troublesome if there’s a guy who falls for you because you’re so beautiful.”
“Go back this instant if you came out to say such garbage!”
Eun laughed enjoyably as Add glared at her. In some sense, Eun was much more difficult to face
than Rena.
“What will you do if you fail tomorrow?”
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“I won’t fail.”
“Still, just in case. What will you do if you were to fail?”
Add frowned when Eun questioned him persistently. He didn’t know why she was trying to confirm
this.
“I’ll find you and time travel again. Is there a problem with that?”
“Aren’t you afraid of…..what might happen if you time travel again?”
Add couldn’t answer immediately to her quiet question. Elsword’s sudden change. Would Add have
decided to time travel so lightly if he had known about this change beforehand?
His time travel started bringing about a strange phenomenon. It was light changes at first, but now it
had completely changed a person.
Something even more serious could happen next.
“You’ll just have to tell me what will happen next. Didn’t you send me knowing full well that
Elsword would change like this?”
“I said I’d help the boy. I never said I’d tell him everything. I don’t intend to reveal what will happen
when you time travel.”
“…..”
“You look like you want to ask me why. But I won’t answer that either.”
But Add could somewhat understand Eun’s calculations.
If Add heard beforehand about how something even more serious, something even more drastic
than Elsword’s change might happen…..It could make Add give up time traveling.
“So your goal was to make me time travel.”
“My goal is to resolve this situation. Making boy time travel if necessary.”
Eun didn’t deny Add’s guess.
In the end, it meant that Eun knew how Add would despair after seeing Eve be destroyed in front
of his eyes then repeatedly time travel only to fail. Yet she didn’t do anything and just observed as all
of this happened.
It honestly made Add angry….but there was no point in getting mad right now. Didn’t he already
a.s.sume that this thing had its own agenda?
“Forget it. I’ll succeed for sure tomorrow.”
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“If need be, I’ll also help both physically and spiritually.”
Eun smiled without a constraint but Add couldn’t let his guard down. They were cooperating for
now but as he had thought, she was way too suspicious.
Eun shrugged at Add’s angry glare and grabbed the railings to throw herself downwards.
“Then I’ll be antic.i.p.ating boy’s beautiful form tomorrow.”
Eun fell down before Add could retort. There was no need to check. She probably landed on the
bottom floor’s balcony safely.
“I don’t like this.”
He was playing into that fox’s hands right now. But he had no other options at the moment. He’ll
just have to be patient and make this plan successful.
“I don’t want to do this ever again….”
He just hoped that the girls talking so excitedly about dressing him like a girl didn’t bring about
some hideous result. Add prayed to the stars in the night sky.
Next day morning.
The stars were heartless. They don’t listen to people’s wishes.
“It fits you.”
“You look great Mr.Add!”
“Hmm, you look better than I expected.”
Add bit his lower lip as the three girls complimented him. He didn’t even want to imagine what
miserable form he had right now.
A skirt came into his view when he lowered his eyes. Although Add had agreed with dressing up
like a girl, he protested desperately against wearing a skirt…. But his height was the problem.
Add’s height was 176cm. Tall for a girl. This will obviously attract attention so they had to make this
disguise believable as possible and Rena’s opinion was that just disguising the b.r.e.a.s.t.s wasn’t enough.
Add couldn’t logically refute her.
“Is it….over?”
“Here, want to take a look in the mirror?”
40
“No, no matter what.”
Add spoke with a grave look. He never wanted to confirm how he looked right now with his own
eyes.
“That won’t do Add, you have to make sure nothing is wrong with your own eyes.”
“I changed your voice so you don’t need to worry about getting found out.”
“Okay Mr.Add, stand still.”
When Add kicked the ground and tried to escape from the room, Ara grabbed Add by locking him
down by brining both of her arms from under his armpits. He couldn’t move and….her b.r.e.a.s.t.s
were touching his back!
“Hey, hey! I’ll look! So let go! Let go of me!!”
“Eh? What’s wrong Mr.Add?”
“I said I’ll look!!”
Panicked Add finally managed to shake Ara off by twisting his body. Add let out a big sigh then
looked inside the wall mirror although he really didn’t want to.
A girl he had never seen before in his life stared back at him with a frown.
She was a girl anyone would look back at if they saw her pa.s.sing by in the streets. Even Add who
had no particular interest in girls admitted this internally.
……The problem was that this girl was him.
“It was really fun to do. This doesn’t look bad at all since Add was already pretty.”
“It’s excellent.”
“Yes, no one will be suspicious.”
“Are we done now? Then contact Hoffman already. Tell him to bring the castle’s soldiers here.”
Add notified the girls lopsidedly and got out of the room. He’d only become a laughingstock the
longer he stayed in there.
“….This is driving me crazy.”
It was something he had determined to do but actually doing it had a different weight. Add carefully
moved his steps, watching out so he didn’t step on the bottom of his skirt.
41
42
The problem with this plan of girls in the El Search Party getting captured was how they were going
to secretly bring their weapons. Unlike Add who had physical abilities of a normal boy, the other
girls were quite powerful even without their weapons. But you never know what’s waiting for them
inside the castle.
When others couldn’t give any particular solutions, Add solved the issue by using an area specific
optical camouflage. Put the Dynamos inside a large bag then put all of the group’s weapons inside.
Then make the bag invisible.
There won’t be any problems long as no one touched the bag directly. All preparations done.
“….They are late.”
Add clicked his tongue after coming down to the inn’s first floor because he didn’t want to be with
the others. Sidelong glances of the inn’s guests that came in and went really annoyed him. Especially
how the group of men that just arrived were staring at him with wide eyes.
He would have blown them away under normal circ.u.mstances. But he was right now disguised as a
frail girl in order to be captured. He couldn’t cause a scene until the soldiers arrived.
‘…..Do girls always get these kinds of stares from guys?’
He had to withstand all of these stares until he could achieve his goal. Add was busy suppressing his
boiling rage….when a young man sat across from him without any permission.
Who the heck is this? The man smiled and held out his hand towards Add. Add was already in an
unsatisfactory mood so he glared at the man.
“Beautiful lady, may I join you?”
“….Get lost.”
Let’s never cross-dress again even if this plan fails and he had to time travel again. Add thought as
he refused the man while grinding his teeth. But the man just smiled in return.
“My, it seems what they said about beautiful roses having thorns were true.”
“…..”
Wow that just gave me goose b.u.mps. Add was trying to focus on suppressing himself while
s.h.i.+vering in disgust, then the man abruptly grabbed Add’s wrist.
Add was now beyond s.h.i.+vering and was about to have a seizure. Add got startled and tried to pull
his hand out but the man grabbed on tightly and didn’t let go.
“My, lady your wrist is beautiful too.”
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Add couldn’t win in a contest of physical strength. The man’s tone had become impolite before long.
Sound of whistles.
“Mac! Don’t treat the lady so roughly!”
“Hahaha!”
For some reason, cheers rang across the floor as if the man did something cool. There was no one
around to help Add and the man in front of him was trying to be overly familiar by relying only on
his physical strength.
Come to think of it, disguise or whatever…did he really have to take this? Wasn’t it more natural to
cause a ruckus in town and get captured instead?
“Kukukuk…..”
Add stole a look at the bag that lay near his feet and at the Dynamos inside. He then stretched out
his other hand and put it on top of the man’s hand.
“Oh? Do you feel like talking now lady? You should tell me your name first.”
“I’ll tell you. If you still got a head to remember.”
Just when Add smiled viciously and was about to move the Dynamos….a familiar hand slightly
pressed on Add’s shoulder.
As if to tell him to be patient.
“Do you have some business with my younger sister?”
Rena was standing behind Add. The man was too focused on trying to hit on Add that he was late in
noticing Rena’s presence. The man’s face turned red soon as he looked up.
“Ah, that’s….”
“I’m sorry but people from the castle will come soon. Could you come later if you have some
business with us?”
“F, From the castle….?”
The man winced in surprise then got up from his spot and hurriedly left the inn. The man’s friends
that had been standing still out of their minds due to Rena’s beauty also stopped staring and left
quickly.
Rena sat across from Add where the man was sitting before after resolving this situation.
“You did well in holding back, Add.”
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“….I could have handled it by myself.”
Rena smiled brightly when Add muttered back.
“Hmm, please try to understand those people. They must have been lonely because all the girls in
Elder got captured.”
“Why do you always think so positively?”
Add was dumbfounded and couldn’t help but to ask. He knew she was seriously soft
hearted……but wasn’t this too much?
“I would have suppressed him if he didn’t let go. But he listened when I asked right? So they are not
that bad people.”
“….”
It was more like they got mesmerized by Rena’s beauty then got scared and ran away when she
mentioned the castle. Add tried but still couldn’t make sense of what Rena said.
“You did really well in holding back.”
Add frowned when Rena complimented him again. Rena spoke kindly in response after noticing that
Add’s frown was meant to get her to stop talking about this subject.
“You didn’t have to deal with this if you had stayed in our room.”
“….Everyone is getting ready to be captured.”
Add couldn’t stay in that room because Ara and Eve now had to wash and get dressed themselves.
Both of them had helped with Add’s disguise soon as they got up this morning.
“What’s wrong with that? Add is also proudly a girl now right?”
“If you say that one more time…..”
Add was about to retort in anger but decided to sigh instead. There was no reason to reply so
sharply when Rena was only making a light joke.
“Hmm, what I said before was too much. I’m sorry that we got too carried away.”
Rena admitted her mistake and seriously apologized to Add.
“I know Add is doing this even though he doesn’t want to. This is something very important for you
after all.”
“….What do you mean?”
45
Does she know something? Did Eun tell her? Add went on alert but Rena just smiled calmly.
“Since Add is being so patient and is trying his best I’ll also help the best I can.”
“What am I trying?”
Does she know about him time traveling? Add asked while staring at her suspiciously but Rena
continued to reply modestly.
“You’re trying your best despite knowing that this doesn’t suit you. That’s very admirable.”
“….”
I’m totally being treated like a kid. Add clicked his tongue but didn’t deny what she said. From how
it seems, Rena must have noticed something just by her wits.
When he continued to keep his mouth shut, Rena stretched out her hand and patted Add’s head.
“There, there you’re a good boy.”
“Don’t treat me like a kid.”
Add got angry and pushed her hand away but Rena continued to smile regardless. He couldn’t stay
angry anymore after seeing her smile.
No. Normally, Add should be able to grind anyone’s smiling face….but he somehow couldn’t do
that against Rena’s smiling face.
Add sighed and admitted this internally. He didn’t know since when, but he wasn’t able to treat Rena
with contempt anymore.
Also just sitting together with her in silence didn’t feel uncomfortable at all.
“Ara thinks you’re admirable too. Eve also.”
“What? Why?”
Add got surprised at such nonsense and asked back. What did he ever do to get that kind of
evaluation from them?
“You’re coming with us even resorting to disguising as a girl because you don’t want to send just us
frail girls by ourselves right? Of course they’d be touched.”
“…..”
That was not what he had intended. Add was at a loss for words….but didn’t bother to correct Rena.
Rena will probably think positively of whatever Add said in response.
46
“Hmph.”
Add made a snort and was about to bring the coffee mug to his mouth, then Rena asked suddenly.
“So who do you like more Add? Eve or Ara?”
“Pfffffttt!!”
Add spat out the coffee he was drinking then started to beat his chest. He managed to avoid getting
his attire dirty….but he couldn’t stop coughing.
“Oh, are you okay?”
“C, cough. Cough. What the heck are you saying?”
Add glared at Rena with fire in his eyes after wiping his mouth with the hand cloth that Rena
handed to him. He couldn’t just gloss this over even if it was Rena who had said it.
“Hmm? Could it be that you like me? Ah, knowing that Add likes me makes me happy.”
“….Don’t say such nonsense!!”
Add got up abruptly hitting the table and yelled so loud that his voice rang across the entire floor.
He was glad no one was in the first floor.
“Hmm, it makes big sis sad when you deny it so seriously like that.”
Add closed his mouth after seeing Rena lower her head with a really depressed expression. He knew
Rena had mentioned this only as a joke. But Add yelling in response made the matter serious.
“I, It’s not like I hate….. That’s…..”
“Which is it? Do you hate me? Or like me?”
Add became fl.u.s.tered and couldn’t think of how to answer when Rena asked with a sad voice. This
was the first time in his life that he was asked this kind of question so he didn’t know what to say.
Because he was fl.u.s.tered….Add was late in realizing that Rena’s shoulders were lightly s.h.i.+vering. He
had first thought it was because she was sobbing. But upon closer inspection, he realized that the
end of her mouth was slightly curved upwards.
“….are you laughing right now?”
“P, Pfft. I’m sorry.”
Rena couldn’t hold her laugh anymore and openly burst out laughing. Add stared blankly at her not
knowing how to react after realizing that he just got made fun of.
47
“It’s because Add got so fl.u.s.tered…..I couldn’t hold back. Ahaha, are you mad?”
“….Quit it.”
Add made a deep sigh then dropped back on his seat. He was so fed up that he couldn’t get angry
anymore.
Rena quietly whispered seeing Add numbly stare up at the ceiling.
“As I thought. Add is a good kid.”
“You’re saying something stupidly soft hearted again….”
Add answered accordingly but Rena was serious this time.
“You actually pondered seriously just now. You did that because you were worried about hurting my
feelings right?”
“I just couldn’t answer right away because it was so absurd.”
“Alright. I’ll just remember Add is a good kid by myself.”
Rena’s tone became very soft.
“So please don’t let Ara and Eve, any one of them get hurt during this mission. Got it?”
“I was planning to do so even if you didn’t mention it.”
That was why he had traveled back in time and was enduring dressing up like this in the first place.
“Okay, that puts me at ease.”
“You too….”
Add hesitated if he should say this but his words came out faster than his hesitation.
“You never know what could happen so you should be careful too.”
Rena was the strongest amongst the El Search Party currently. She could probably handle most
opponents without letting them ever get close to her.
But their destination was Wally’s Castle. Although it looked like a normal castle from the outside, it
was a demonic den where you couldn’t tell what was waiting for you.
“Yes, okay. I’ll be careful so that I won’t worry you Add.”
“It’s not because I’m worried. It’s because I’ll end up taking care of the others if you’re not here and
that’s bothersome for me.”
48
Add purposely made a blunt remark. He could have just left everything to Raven instead if he was
here….Why didn’t he join up with them already? Just what was he doing in Ruben?
Come to think of it, various changes had happened so far as Add time traveled. Even a drastic
change where Elsword suddenly grew up happened. But there were no cases of Raven rejoining the
El Search Party.
Raven was equally skilled as Rena. Couldn’t they succeed easily if they were able to bring Raven here
somehow?
Add had realized this fact and was about to speak….but Rena spoke in a soft tone first.
“Please take care of everyone if such time comes.”
“…..”
That gentle smile was something that existed in memories of his far past.
Add’s numbly stared at Rena’s smile. Then his face got contorted. Just when Add was about to
instinctively raise his voice, Rena got up as if the conversation right now didn’t happen.
“Okay, our guests are here. Let’s get ready.”
They could hear busy footsteps outside the inn. Soldiers had come to capture the girls that had
newly appeared in Elder.
“….”
Add also stood up with a sour taste in his mouth.
Eve, Ara, Rena and cross-dressing Add followed the soldiers and headed to the Wally’s Castle. It
was protocol to have the captives tied up during this process but they managed not to get tied up
because Rena had asked the soldiers politely.
It would just look like some soldiers were protecting couple of girls in the eyes of other people in
the streets that didn’t know the details.
“Hmph….”
Add snorted unpleasantly. Soldiers were all too busy trying to sneak a side glance at Rena that they
were tripping over rocks and hitting their heads after losing grip on their spears….Their military
discipline was a mess.
49
Upon closer inspection….they weren’t distracted only because of Rena. Lots of eyes were also
focused on Ara who walked quietly with her head down and Eve who was a Nasod also became a
large target for attention.
Their gazes were filled with curiosity, admiration and l.u.s.t.
‘….How dare they?!’
Add got filled with rage and slowed down his steps. Eve who was walking quietly at the very back of
the group stared at Add when he slowed down to walk beside her.
“What is it?”
“It’s nothing.”
These soldiers would have normally been not even worth a single punch. No, even now he could
move the Dynamos inside the bag to blow them all away. Add had to struggle a lot in order to
restrain the destructive impulses that boiled up from within him.
‘I’ll have to be patient for just for little longer….then blow them all way later’
Soldiers got startled when Add angrily glared at them. But then they stared back at him(?). Those
stares were kind of like….the same looks they were giving the other girls?
‘These imbeciles….’
Did they get fish eyes transplanted to them? When Add let out an angry groan, Eve calmly
persuaded Add.
“You can’t. Eren, restrain yourself.”
“….What?”
A noun that he had never heard before came into his ear.
“I chose it because I thought you’d need an alias. There were other candidates like Ave, Era, Aena,
Ari, Adi, and Aru.”
He had to change names now? Just because he’s disguised as a girl? It made sense although it wasn’t
too desirable.
Rena should have at least stopped them from coming up with foolish things like this. Add thought
as he glared at Rena who was walking lightly at the very front. Seeing Add glare in front of him like
this, Eve spoke to Add with a serious tone.
“Certainly, Ara Haan’s hips are ideally shaped for having children. It’s no wonder why she’d attract
attention.”
50
“….”
“Huh? Ehhh?!”
Ara was walking in front of them with her head drooped down when she heard this sudden
evaluation come from behind her. She reacted by hopping then covering her hips with both of her
hands.
“W, what are you saying?! Ms.Eve!”
“Person beside me was staring at your hips very pa.s.sionately, Ara Haan.”
“I wasn’t!!”
Although I agree with the opinion.
“M,Mr I mean Ms.Add! That’s so mean!”
Shouldn’t she refrain from addressing him as Add altogether right now? Ara protested as her face
turned red but Eve tilted her head in response.
“Isn’t saying you’re ideal for having children a compliment for human females? That’s how I learned
it.”
“T, That’s….”
Ara couldn’t seem to figure out what to say and instead stared at Add with a clingy look. Add turned
his head around and ignored her as if he didn’t hear anything. He didn’t want to join in this
conversation.
But Ara didn’t back down easily.
“Ms.Add! If you stared so intently then please help me explain this to Ms.Eve!!”
“I told you I didn’t!!”
“….Did I say something wrong? Then I apologize. It was actually an unsatisfactory pelvic structure.”
When Eve nodded and corrected her words, Ara’s face turned red even more and she could only
repeat the words “Ummm….”.
Soldiers began to stare at them with a curious look when the three’s argument got larger. Since the
soldiers didn’t know the details of their conversation, they’d just think that an argument just broke
out amongst the three girls.
Ara also must have realized the surrounding gazes because she tightened her hands into fists then
stared at her hands with a surprised expression. She must have unconsciously tried to grab her spear.
51
52
“Uuuu….”
Add let out a sigh after seeing Ara shake in anxiety for not being able to do anything. Rena who was
walking in the front must not have heard this ruckus because she was now taking the leisure to chat
with the soldier beside her.
Only Add could resolve this situation.
“It’s rude to give such evaluation to humans.”
“Isn’t it a great compliment to say that you are a superior ent.i.ty for propagation of your race?”
“Hmm….”
Well what Eve said wasn’t baseless when you thought about it. Wasn’t it an evaluation that said you
are a superior individual amongst your race?
Add thought about this for a moment then answered with a serious tone.
“You would be right if you considered the entirety of the human race. But humans value themselves
more than the many. Evaluations based on individuals are more important than the evaluations
based on entire human race.”
“….Then for example, would Add be fine with me badly evaluating the entire human race?”
“I wouldn’t care about that.”
He wasn’t a person from this age, and even without time travel, Add didn’t have much interest
about the evaluation of human race.
But Eve seemed quite shocked at Add’s response and stared back at him with a stiff face. Her gaze
started to make him feel uncomfortable.
Just when Add couldn’t stand Eve’s gaze anymore and frowned, Eve made a low sigh then asked
Ara.
“Is it the same for you Ara Haan?”
“Um…..No. I’d like to help Ms.Eve understand that there are good things about humans as well.”
“I see. I’m glad.”
Eve heaved a sigh of relief.
“I just found out that there are humans that don’t take pride in their own race.”
“….”
53
So in the end, I’m the only one that said something bad. Add snorted and purposely slowed his steps.
Unwelcome person should read the mood and back off.
But despite how Add slowed down, the fact that Eve was still walking beside him didn’t change.
Noticing that Eve had also slowed down, Add increased his speed this time.
Even then, the fact that Eve was walking beside him didn’t change. She was adjusting her speed to
match with Add’s.
“Kukukuk. What? Do you have something more to say?”
Add found this difficult to ignore anymore and asked bluntly. Eve stared at Add for a moment then
spoke with an indifferent att.i.tude.
“Your view is different from mine but it is also true that Ara Haan was embarra.s.sed by my
evaluation. I judge that this is not something where one side is correct and the other is wrong.”
Eve slightly lowered her head toward Add.
“So thank you for your explanation.”
“I just didn’t want to get strange misunderstandings.”
Add replied bluntly and stared in front of him only to notice that Ara was gone. He didn’t know
since when but Ara had moved beside him and was now walking to his left.
“….Why do all three of us have to walk side by side?”
“That’s because Ms.Add keeps staring at my, umm, my bottom….”
“I told you I didn’t….”
“B, but….”
Add let out a deep sigh after seeing Ara speak so hesitantly while still covering her hips with her
hands.
Eun was uncomfortable to deal with in various ways, but Ara was also uncomfortable to deal with in
a different sense. Ara was normally a righteous and polite girl but now she looked like she was about
to burst into tears at any moment.
‘Just how is she older than me again….?’
“Do what you like.”
After hearing his approval, Ara nodded with a relieved expression as if her worries were finally over.
Add ended up getting an undeserved misunderstanding but he didn’t bother to explain himself. Ara
will forget everything and run around wildly soon as she got her spear back.
54
In the first place, was looking at her hips while they were still covered by clothes such a big deal?
Didn’t he accidentally look at her naked already?
But judging by how Ara acted like she had forgotten all about what happened back then, this matter
will probably also get treated as if it never happened.
It wasn’t just Ara that acted like this….Eve and Rena also had these tendencies.
“Kukuk.”
Add let out a laugh before he had realized it himself. Then he noticed there was a gaze directed at
him and frowned. Rena who was talking with a soldier in the front was giving Add a slight glance
while waving her hand.
“….So she was listening to everything.”
To pretend not to hear even though she had noticed the argument back here. Add was at a loss for
words but didn’t feel like protesting to Rena anymore.
Because the demonic den that threw him down into pit of hopelessness and despair time and time
again,
Wally’s castle started coming into view.
Wally’s Castle.
It looked like the soldiers couldn’t afford to keep the four of them unrestrained anymore. So the
four’s wrists got tied up with ropes after arriving in the castle. Soldiers suddenly seemed very alert
because even the smiles of soldiers that had been chatting with Rena had disappeared.
‘As I thought, there’s something going on in here.’
Add felt doubts after seeing the changed atmosphere of the soldiers. But before Add could figure
out what was going on, the group ended up getting confined inside the inner most building.
Slam!!
Add let out a thin sigh after hearing the giant gate slam shut behind him.
“…We’re finally here.”
“I can only sense two of the Mr.Soldiers outside.”
“I’ve already scanned the surrounding area on our way here.”
“Is everyone here all right?”
55
Upon Rena’s enquiry, questions rose up in the eyes of the girls that were already here. This place was
a large area that must have been used as an a.s.sembly hall. There were over hundreds of young girls
inside this hall.
The captive girls let out a thin sigh after looking at their new comrades with a very gloomy
expression.
“There’s more….”
“Were there people like them in Elder?”
“They must be travelers that had been pa.s.sing by.”
Captive girls that were here before them stared at the group while conversing amongst themselves.
Amongst them, a girl with an impressionable blonde hair got up from her spot.
“h.e.l.lo everyone. I’m Ariel from the COBO service. Welcome…… although I don’t think that’s
appropriate here.”
Rena smiled brightly after seeing Ariel make a bitter smile.
“h.e.l.lo. I’m Rena. Hmm, we came here to rescue all of you.”
“Is that true?”
Ariel who came forth as a representative made a surprised expression but the face of the other girls
stayed gloomy. It looked like they were listening but weren’t expecting much.
Explaining things to them like this will take a long time.
Add brought forth his Dynamos and discharged high intensity electric current thinly as possible. He
began to burn away the knot that was tied around his wrist.
Only a small gap the size of one’s finger lay between both of his wrists. To burn away the rope that
was positioned between this gap required a very high level of skill. He’d burn his own wrist away if
he made a mistake in precise output control or made a mistake in area designation.
But Add showed no signs of doubt. Dynamos were basically like an extension of his owns hands at
this point. There was no way he’d fail in their manipulation.
“Kukukuk.”
After realizing what Add was doing, the girls stopped talking amongst themselves and focused on
his actions. Gazes showered from all directions but Add didn’t lose his focus.
56
With the sizzling sound of a rope getting burnt off, the knot that was restraining Add’s wrists broke
away easily. After gathering everyone’s attention on him Add stretched out both of his arms to show
them.
“Kahaha! Now will you believe that we came to rescue you….-”
Snap!
Ara who was observing Add’s method tilted her head then moved both of her arms in opposite
direction.
With only that, her ropes snapped off as if they were strings.
“…..”
“…..”
The girls’ eyes opened wide at the much more direct and quicker display than Add’s.
Even Add’s eyes widened.
“Ah, did I make some kind of mistake? …..Was I not supposed to take this off now? It was really
uncomfortable.”
Ara asked Add in a clingy voice while making a very nervous expression. Add was in shock just like
the other girls but he came back to his senses and stared at Ara’s arms that were now free.
“H, how did you do that?”
“Ah, it’s easy. You just have to combine the moment when your breath and body moves. Would
Mr.Add like to try as well?”
Ara was looking uneasy before and now she rejoiced as she tried to teach Add. Add shook his head
and looked beside him, Eve conjured up knives and instantly cut off her ropes.
“Wha, What?”
“Could she be? Nasod?”
Eve stood still silently as if she was used to all the curious gazes.
When Add finally turned his gaze towards Rena….Rena was also finis.h.i.+ng untying her ropes slowly.
Unlike the other three, there wasn’t even a sign that she used any tricks.
“W, What?”
“How did you do that?”
57
The girls that were looking at her exclaimed in surprise and Ariel’s also raised her voice in surprise as
well. Rena spoke as she smiled awkwardly.
“I asked one the soldiers on our way here. So I wasn’t actually tied up properly.”
“….Ah.”
The look of how the girls viewed the El Search Party changed completely. From the helpless
hostages that had been captured just like them into heroes that had really come to rescue them.
“Then let’s start the talks quickly.”
Add let out a blunt voice while ignoring Ara who was untying the parts of his knot that the
Dynamos couldn’t burn off completely.
He had no reason to maintain his disguise anymore. So Add let Rena and the other members take
care of talking to the captive girls while he changed into his original outfit.
“Phew, I finally feel alive.”
Add shook his head honestly. He will never do something this insulting again no matter what
happened.
Add made a vow to himself and turned around…..then winced at the awkward stares. The eyes of
the girls that had been busily discussing the escape plan were now all suddenly fixed on Add.
Add took a step back due to all the gazes that showered upon him like the rain.
“….Wha, What?”
He was the only guy here amongst hundreds of girls. Was it just his imagination or was he feeling
very exposed right now?
“Umm, I know our Add is handsome and all, but can we talk about that later? Going home is more
important for everyone now right?”
They must have all agreed to Rena’s words because the girls regrettably(?) withdrew their gazes on
Add. Add who was shedding dry sweat now let out a sigh of relief.
…..He didn’t know why but that just now was kind of scary.
“Phew….”
“Are you nervous already? The plan is set to execute during night time.”
58
Eve approached and told Add about how things were proceeding. Rena had gained the other girls’
trust and was now coming up with an escape plan.
“It’s impossible for the soldiers to not notice us if this many people moves all at once. We should
cause a disturbance inside the castle and…..”
“You can’t.”
Add gravely denied this plan. What the El Search Party was trying to do right now was obvious. Add,
Ara and Eve grabbed the attention of the soldiers by causing a disturbance while Rena uses that
chance to help the hostages escape. It was a very rational plan.
But that won’t be any different than the first time they came to the Wally’s Castle. Wally Robot will
appear again then Shadow Master will appear after.
And there was no guarantee that it will end after those two.
“We have to all move together.”
“That’s waste of manpower.”
Add also admitted Eve’s indication. He would have also gladly accepted the current plan if he hadn’t
known anything.
“There’s no use talking with you. I’ll go talk with Rena personally.”
It would be unreasonably stubborn of him, but Rena will probably accept what Add said if he
prepared his words right. Add got up and was about to head towards Rena who was having a
discussion with the girls, but stopped his steps.
Eve’s gear was floating in front of him.
“You still haven’t explained to me why you are acting like this, Add.”
“…..”
Add couldn’t move forwards anymore now that his name was called. He could just walk away
ignoring the gear and pretend he had not heard anything, but he couldn’t.
“I would like you to explain it to me in a way I can understand.”
“….Because it could be dangerous.”
It was fine if she didn’t believe him. No, he didn’t expect her to believe him. He had just wanted to
say it. This conversation was a waste of time….but wasn’t time something that was abundant to him
anyways?
59
Nothing will change by having couple of meaningless conversations. But there was also no reason
not to have those meaningless conversations either.
“There could be something unexpected waiting for us inside this castle. I have a very bad feeling
about this place. It’s already strange enough that they captured all these girls and were just keeping
them confined here. So Demons might have rigged this place somehow. Since you never know what
might happen, to prepare for that…..I”
“Understood. I’ll go request Rena for change of plans.”
Eve nodded as if she had understood everything. Add mind numbingly stared blinking as Eve’s back
quickly moved further away.
Did that work just now? But only thing she had to go on was that Add had a bad feeling about this
place.
A Nasod, that should be making decisions based on reason, is going to believe such baseless words
and make changes to the plan? Add stared at Eve as she conversed with Rena but still couldn’t
believe his eyes.
“I’ll protect you if you feel uneasy, Mr.Add!”
Hearing Ara speak energetically brought Add to his senses. The event just now was so unexpected
that it felt dreamy.
“Strange. Why….did she agree to what I said?”
“That’s because Ms. Eve also knows about Mr.Add’s feelings.”
“My….feelings?”
Add looked beside him with a numb expression. Ara was making a pleasant smile but then her
cheeks slowly started to turn red.
“B, because you’re reflecting on your actions from back then and is trying to make amends!”
“What do you mean back then?”
Ara’s face turned even redder when Add asked blankly.
She looked like she couldn’t dare say this out loud. But when Add continued to make an expression
as if he didn’t know what she was talking about, Ara spoke in a tiny voice.
“T….The bath.”
“What?”
“I mean….about”
60
“I can’t hear you.”
When Add asked back vacantly, Ara covered her ears with both of her hands then shouted out loud
as she could.
“About that time when Mr.Add p, peeped on us while we were bathing!!”
“….”
Add stiffened at the loud voice that suddenly rang out across the hall. But Ara must have interpreted
this as Add not understanding what she shouted and continued to speak.
“When we were bathing!! Mr.Add suddenly appeared and…..Mmh?! mmmphh!!”
“….”
Add instinctively shut Ara’s mouth with his hands. He couldn’t afford to let Ara speak anymore.
The hostages’ gaze towards him seemed to have changed but he could care less.
“I see. So that wasn’t….something meaningless after all.”
Should he say that the misfortune from back then had turned into an advantage? It seemed Add
making a mistake and then apologizing, then following the group to the extent of withstanding
humiliation must have earned him the party’s trust.
“Kukukuk….”
Well he didn’t care much about their trust. Important thing here was that he was able to create a
different result than last time. Add let out a confident laugh.
“Great, very great. This is the best result possible. Kahahaha!”
They were now fully prepared. He didn’t know what kind of enemies might pop up but at least the
party’s strength was in top condition right now.
Well, Elsword wasn’t here…but he was still a brat even if he grew up a bit. He would only create
variables that could put Eve in danger anyways. It was better for him to be not here.
“I can’t wait for… tonight.”
Finally, his time for revenge had come. Add’s eyes gleamed dangerously.
“Mmmmph?!!”
Ara was still struggling for breath after getting her mouth covered up by Add’s forceful hand. Add
let his hand go and backed off after finally realizing that he was still covering Ara’s mouth.
61
She was strong so she could have shaken Add’s hands off easily if she had wanted to. Was she really
that slow?
“Haah, phaah… i, it was tough not being able to breathe.”
Add ignored Ara’s sigh and enflamed his fighting spirit. The time to return everything to normal
had come.
He’ll destroy all the Demons that were after Eve! Then steal her Core after!
“Kahahahaha!!”
I’ll be the one who’s laughing from now on. Add laughed much as he could while drawing picture of
the enjoyable future inside his head. It felt great, it almost felt like all the suffering he went through
were disappearing.
“Are you also trying to breathe more Mr.Add?”
….Let’s ignore Ara’s indicati