The legend of the Crimson Demon clan started from Suqing

#170 - A good person, but not a good person (more)

Barluta's strength was considerable.

There was a reason he was the youngest knight. Zun Zun had intended to humiliate him with a 'weak forehand, poor backhand' routine, but he didn't expect Barluta's fundamentals to be so solid.

Unlike Darkness, who only knew how to take a beating and defend, his skills were very balanced, reasonable, and comprehensive.

But alas, he still couldn't defeat Zun Zun.

No, not only that...

"Hey, hey... I know Zun Zun is strong, but how can Barluta not even get within seven steps of him? Wait, isn't Zun Zun a Grand Magus? How is his swordsmanship so amazing!"

Kazuma Sato couldn't help but exclaim.

On the training grounds, the two had been locked in a fierce battle for thirty minutes.

Even an amateur like him could tell it was a high-level training match, yet Barluta couldn't even get close to Zun Zun.

Not only that, but the once cheerful and handsome face had been beaten into a pig's head, his bruised and swollen appearance both funny and ridiculous.

"So, so good... If only I could be treated like that... That feeling... Ugh!"

"Darkness is not allowed to intervene."

Kazuma Sato rolled his eyes at Darkness, who was off in her own world next to him.

Zun Zun stood tall on the training grounds.

He held the wooden sword, looked at the pig-headed face kneeling on one knee, and slowly said, "What's wrong? Are you giving up already? It's only just begun."

Powerful, confident, beautiful.

Barluta stared at Zun Zun in fascination, then threw away his wooden sword and raised both hands in surrender.

"...I give up. I apologize for my contempt when I heard you were a Grand Magus, Zun Zun. I didn't expect I would make such a basic mistake. It seems my training is not up to par. Both technically and mentally, I am far from as strong as you."

"Giving up already? I thought you'd be stubbornly unwilling to admit defeat. But... although your fundamentals are solid, you don't seem to have your own understanding. It lacks form and intent. Go train some more."

Hearing Zun Zun say that, Barluta burst out laughing. It was a cheerful, unresentful laugh, as if he had been relieved of a great burden.

It was just that this carefree attitude was made somewhat comical by his pig-headed face.

"Aqua, please heal him."

"Leave it to me!"

Aqua skipped over to heal Barluta, and the pig-headed face gradually returned to its sunny, handsome form.

"This is..."

Barluta seemed to be amazed by Aqua's healing abilities.

Which was only natural. Even among high-level priests, Aqua, who was also the water goddess, would only be better at healing than other priests.

"Okay, okay! Now that you're done, it's my turn! Zun Zun, let's have a duel!"

"Don't come near me, pervert."

"Ugh~"

You couldn't give a pervert like Darkness even a little taste of what she wanted. It was best to let her continue to shrink in the corner and be crazy on her own.

"Kazuma, you go!"

"Don't come looking for me at a time like this!"

After witnessing such a high-quality battle, Kazuma Sato certainly didn't want to embarrass himself, especially not with Darkness as his opponent.

"I, I'm an unwanted sow... Ugh!"

"Miss Lalatina..."

After witnessing Darkness's true nature, Barluta also developed a bit of resistance.

At this time, Darkness's father arrived, and he smiled happily when he saw the group getting along so well.

But his smile quickly disappeared.

Barluta revealed that he already knew that Zun Zun and the others were not a butler, maid, and lady, and with a slightly regretful expression from Darkness's father, he also stated that he had no intention of marrying Darkness.

Darkness's father sighed wistfully.

After all, Barluta was truly a good match.

But this was like XX, you couldn't force it. If there was no spark, they couldn't be connected across the void.

He talked about Darkness's past, including how her fetishes developed, and how he raised his daughter alone, leading to Darkness's intense desire to make friends...

Since Darkness didn't duel with Kazuma Sato and didn't fall unconscious, saying these things in front of her, coupled with her mortified expression, gave Zun Zun great satisfaction in his senses.

While Zun Zun and the others were snickering—

Barluta said, "I think Miss Lalatina is a very attractive girl. If I didn't already have someone I liked, I would really want to marry Miss Lalatina."

He suddenly blurted out an exaggerated statement.

Then he looked at Zun Zun.

"Could you give me a chance..."

"Sorry, Barluta-san is a good person, but I'm very sorry, I like girls."

"Is that so."

Barluta, who had been friend-zoned, sighed regretfully again.

Hearing these words, Darkness seemed to think of something and suddenly smirked at Zun Zun.

Hmm?

"Father, Barluta-sama, actually I already have someone I like! That's right, it's Zun Zun next to me! And to be honest, we already have a close relationship where we've 'licked' that place!"

"Hey...!"

"I knew it! There was definitely something going on between you two!"

Zun Zun twitched his lips.

Kazuma Sato pointed at the two and shouted.

Darkness's father was stunned for a moment and said, "Lalatina... I won't stop your relationship. Such things are common among nobles, but the Dustiness family still needs an heir..."

"Good! Today, regardless of whether you're Darkness's father or not, I'm going to beat you up!"

Zun Zun rolled up his sleeves.

Before the impulsive him could act, he was stopped by Kazuma Sato and Aqua.

"Is that so, is that so, you like Zun Zun? I see, since you two have such a relationship, then there's nothing I can do. I'll just have to give up."

Barluta found it quite amusing.

He acted like he was an outsider and wouldn't disturb them too much.

You too!

The most hateful thing was Darkness, who was still smirking. She seemed to think that dragging him into fabricating such a fetish would solve everything once and for all, and that she could reject Barluta and other marriage prospects.

Barluta stood up and said very seriously, "I will continue to hone my skills. One day, I will gain your approval, Zun Zun. Then we can talk about other things. Also, I will tell my father that I rejected the marriage. That should be better for everyone, right?"

Having said all that, he smiled at everyone, said goodbye, and walked out.

What a good person.

...Just not a good match.

It seemed that this scheme had really worked for the pervert Darkness. She was grinning triumphantly, looking very relaxed and happy.

But she had overlooked one thing.

Darkness's father covered his forehead with a troubled expression and sighed, "My daughter actually has such a fetish..."

The latest novels are available on Liu Jiu Shu Ba!

"It's okay! The Axis Church is all about universal love. As long as the love interest is not an undead or a demon, as long as there is love and it's not illegal, everything can be forgiven."

"...My family has worshiped the goddess Eris for generations."

"Ptooey!"

Aqua's comforting expression instantly turned into disgust.

And so.

Although there were a few twists and turns, this matchmaking event came to an end.

————

On the way back.

Darkness said angrily, "Seriously, if I had known it would be like this, I should have just refused this matchmaking event from the start."

"I was just thinking of saying that! I'm very grateful that you protected me from the lord's false accusations, but how should I put it... please don't use that self-sacrificing method. We were worried sick before you came back," Kazuma Sato complained slightly.

Aqua curled her lips.

"What are you doing? Kazuma clearly wanted to force Darkness onto that Barluta guy. You're planning to pretend that didn't happen. You're such a despicable man!"

"That's right, and you dare say you were worried about me! You clearly wanted to take advantage of the chaos and throw me away like a hot potato! ...Aqua too, you seemed to want to push my marriage, right?"

Hearing Darkness say that.

The two covered their ears.

"If it weren't for Zun Zun's help, I don't know what I would have done... Huh, where's Zun Zun?"

"He said he had something to do at the guild."

"Is that so?"

Darkness was slightly stunned.

————

Adventurer's Guild.

Zun Zun met up with the silver-haired thief in the corner.

"Yo, Chris."

"Zun Zun, you're here."

After greeting the passing guild big sister and ordering a juice and a sparkling wine, the two began to talk while waiting for their order to arrive.

"How is it? Did you find any clues?"

"No."

Hearing Zun Zun ask that, Chris shook her head regretfully.

"Nothing at all?"

"Nothing."

"I thought so..."

Zun Zun wasn't surprised.

In fact, before Alderp started causing trouble, Zun Zun had already thought of a way to deal with him.

Alderp had two divine artifacts.

Leaving aside the artifact that swapped bodies, that artifact that could control demons... as long as he found that, he could confirm Alderp's crime of subversion with ironclad evidence, and even the goddess couldn't protect him then.

However, Alderp summoned that one.

—Markus, who distorts reality.

Like Vanir, he was a Duke of Hell, a super-powerful figure comparable to a goddess. Even if he always lost his memory, it didn't mean he was weak.

Although Zun Zun wasn't that good.

But Chris, the thief whose true identity was a goddess, was fine. Even if she encountered the Duke of Hell, Markus, she could retreat safely, so he used the information about the artifact to lure him out.

Unfortunately, the other party seemed to be on guard, and even Eris, who deeply hated demons, couldn't find any clues.

As for using truth-telling magic items, that was even more laughable.

Zun Zun could think of ways to avoid it, so how could Alderp not think of it? Even if he couldn't think of it, he could use his power to suppress it, or at worst, he could use Markus's ability to distort reality afterwards.

It's a bit tricky.

"Zun Zun, why are you sighing? Your luck will quietly slip away."

"It's nothing. I just divined that Eris might be in danger... By the way, Chris, I want to issue a request to you."

"What is it?"

"Help me deliver a letter to Eris."

Zun Zun took out two bottles of high-level potions worth 300,000 Eris. Chris's eyes lit up.

Money could not only make a goddess perform talents, but also make a goddess help deliver letters.