The Psychopathic Beast Emperor

Lily moved stealthily, her eyes locked onto two people who walked hand-in-hand towards the eatery. Her face was so determined that she didn’t notice the gazes people were giving her. Not like she even cared.

She had a mission, and she must complete it with the best result!

And her mission was pretty obvious, considering who she was stalking. They were Bahamut and Exildra. It was currently noon, and Bahamut had completed his daily exercise. He was on his way to the eatery when he met Exildra on the way, and they decided to go together. They felt there was no reason to hide their relationship. After all, Bahamut had been sent a letter of appreciation and acknowledgement from Exildra’s parents.

He didn’t need any other person’s approval to go about things with her.

Bahamut walked lazily beside Exildra, his hands tucked behind his head, blindfold resting neatly over his eyes. His steps were relaxed, almost carefree, like the chaos of the past few days had never happened.

Exildra, on the other hand, walked close to him, her fingers interlocked with his. Her golden hair swayed gently with each step, her eyepatch doing nothing to take away from her presence.

"You’re smiling again," she said softly, glancing at him.

"I smile a lot," Bahamut replied.

"No. Not like this."

He tilted his head slightly.

"What’s that supposed to mean?"

"It means you look stupid."

Bahamut stopped walking.

"You just insulted me."

"I complimented you."

"That’s not how compliments work."

"It is for you."

Bahamut stared at her for a second, then scoffed.

"Wow. So this is what love does? You start disrespecting me openly?"

Exildra giggled.

"You were never respectable to begin with."

"Hey! I saved your life."

"And I’m very grateful," she said with a soft smile. "Doesn’t mean I won’t tell you the truth."

Bahamut clicked his tongue.

"Ungrateful elf."

"Crazy chimera."

They walked in silence for a moment, then Bahamut suddenly spoke again.

"You know..."

"Hm?"

"If you lose your other eye, I’ll have to carry you around everywhere."

Exildra blinked.

"What?"

"Think about it. You’ll be blind. I’ll be blindfolded. We’ll be the most useless couple in the sect."

Exildra stared at him.

"You’re an idiot."

"I’m a visionary."

"You just said we’d both be blind."

"Exactly. Visionary."

Exildra couldn’t hold it anymore.

She laughed, a soft, bright laugh that made a few disciples nearby glance their way.

Bahamut smirked slightly.

"See? I’m funny."

"You’re something, alright."

"Dangerously charming."

"Dangerously stupid."

"I’ll take it."

They reached the eatery. The moment they stepped in, a few heads turned, some in curiosity, some in recognition, some in... envy. Bahamut ignored all of it. Exildra didn’t care either. They simply walked in as if they belonged there... because they did.

"Table?" Bahamut asked casually.

"Window," Exildra replied instantly.

"Of course you’d pick that."

"I like the view."

"You just want to stare at me in better lighting."

"Sit down."

They found a table by the side, near an open window where the breeze flowed gently in. Bahamut dropped into his seat lazily while Exildra sat across from him, resting her chin lightly on her hand.

For a moment, they just looked at each other.

"What?" Bahamut asked.

"Nothing."

"You’re staring."

"I’m allowed to."

"This is getting weird."

"Get used to it."

Meanwhile, a certain red-haired fox girl slid into a nearby seat with the grace of a seasoned predator. Lily lowered herself slowly, her eyes never leaving the two. She picked a table just close enough to hear them, but far enough not to be obvious. Her tail flicked slightly behind her chair, as her mind worked like a system.

Mission position: secured.

Target: acquired.

Obstacle: blonde elf girl.

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

"I’ll win," she muttered under her breath. A disciple passing by shivered.

"Why is it cold here?"

Back at the main table, Bahamut leaned forward slightly.

"So what are you eating?"

"Food."

"Wow. Very descriptive."

Exildra smiled faintly.

"What are you eating?"

"Also food."

"We’re not doing this."

"We are."

"No, we’re not."

"Yes, we are."

Exildra sighed.

"You’re impossible."

"And yet, here I am."

"Unfortunately."

"Hey."

She smiled again.

"Fortunately."

Bahamut paused. Then leaned back slightly, a small grin forming on his lips.

"Yeah. That’s better."

From the nearby table, Lily gripped the edge of her seat slightly, her eyes twitching from jealousy.

"She smiled..."

Her tail flicked faster.

"No problem..."

She leaned forward slightly.

Eyes gleaming.

"Phase two..."

...

The light chatter in the eatery continued as normal until it didn’t. A chair scraped, soft, but sharp enough to draw attention. Lily stood. Her movements were steady, deliberate, her eyes locked onto one person alone.

Bahamut.

Each footfall carried intent that people noticed; some frowned, some shifted away, some simply watched. At the table, Exildra’s smile faded slightly.

"She’s coming here," she muttered.

Bahamut didn’t turn.

"I know."

His voice was flat and unbothered. Lily stopped right beside their table. She didn’t even glance at Exildra. Her gaze was fixed entirely on Bahamut.

"Can I talk to you for a second?" she asked.

There was a loud silence that made the eatery drop into such a heavy tension that people even forgot to breathe. Bahamut slowly lifted his head.

His blindfold faced her directly.

"No."

Just a word, cold, and final. Exildra blinked in surprise.

That was it?

Just... no?

Lily froze for half a second.

"I won’t take long."

"No."

Bahamut replied with the same tone. A few nearby disciples had gone quiet now. The tension was thicker and heavier. Lily’s fingers curled slightly.

"Please."

"No."

Something snapped.

"Why?!" she demanded, her voice rising slightly. "Why won’t you even listen to me?!"

Bahamut didn’t respond immediately, but when he did, there was a shift. A dangerous one.

"I don’t repeat myself," he said quietly.

Exildra placed her hand lightly on the table.

"Lily, maybe this isn’t the place..."

"Don’t talk to me!"

Lily’s voice cut through hers like a blade. Exildra stilled. That was unexpected. Lily finally looked at her with her eyes burning.

"You..." she said, her voice trembling, not from fear, but from something deeper.

"You’re wicked."

The entire eatery went silent.

"You’re a bad person," Lily continued, her voice cracking slightly. "You act all calm and kind, but you’re not! You’re selfish! You’re greedy!"

Exildra’s fingers tightened slightly on the table.

"What are you talking about?"

"You know exactly what I’m talking about!" Lily snapped, her voice breaking now. "You think you can just take him and that’s it?! That no one else matters?!"

The air shifted dangerously. Bahamut moved slowly and deliberately. His chair scraped as he stood. The sound alone made a few people flinch. He turned fully facing Lily.

His expression was empty and cold.

"Watch your mouth," he said.

Lily’s breath hitched. For a moment, she almost backed down. But...

"No!" she shouted, tears forming in her eyes. "I won’t! I don’t care if you kill me!"

Her voice trembled, and her body shook, but she stood her ground.

"I love you!" she screamed. The words echoed, loud and raw.

"I don’t care what you do to me! I don’t care if you hate me! I don’t care if she’s here!"

Her hand shot out, pointing at Exildra.

"She can’t have you all to herself!"

That was it. Bahamut moved. His hand raised; the intent was clear. The air itself seemed to tighten. People gasped, but he stopped right in front of her. His hand was hovering just inches away from her face. Lily flinched, her eyes squeezed shut, and her body was trembling violently, waiting for the hit, for the pain, for something, but nothing came.

Slowly, she opened her eyes. Bahamut stood there, towering over her. His expression colder than she had ever seen.

"Don’t test me," he said quietly.

Lily’s lips trembled as tears spilled freely now.

"I don’t care..."

Her voice broke completely.

"I just... want you..."

Bahamut didn’t respond. He didn’t even look at her again. Instead, he turned, reached for Exildra’s hand, and held it firmly.

"Let’s go."

Exildra hesitated for just a second, her eye flickering to Lily, then back to Bahamut.

"Okay."

They walked straight out, leaving the place in silence. Lily stood there for a second, frozen.

Then, her legs gave out. She dropped to her knees, her hands hitting the floor, while tears fell endlessly.

"She can’t..." she whispered weakly.

"She can’t have you..."

Her shoulders shook violently as her cries filled the now silent eatery. No one moved or spoke. They just watched... They could only watch as the stubborn fox broke down completely. No one could believe the drama they’d just witnessed, but it wasn’t like they could do anything about it. Most knew of the love-bound curse elves, and foxes suffered.

Most of the time, it was their partners who suffered from it, since you couldn’t take another partner apart from them. But it seemed that Bahamut was different.

They could only wonder and watch Lily cry her eyes out. No one could imagine the pain she was feeling inside.