Chapter 26: Brother…?
Arthur swallowed hard.The room, which had been noisy just moments ago, now felt suffocatingly silent.Every pair of eyes was on him—but none weighed heavier than Raven Van Thor’s.Her gaze was like a steel hammer, ready to smash his skull.
Arthur finally opened his mouth, his voice trembling faintly."I-I... just... heal..."
Raven narrowed her eyes."And how exactly did you neutralize the Dark Power’s poison?"
Arthur froze.His brain went blank.How the hell i supposed to explain this...?Do I need to say I saved people... by slapping them?Just thinking about their reactions made his hands itch.
"U-uh..." he muttered under his breath, "...by slapping... heheh..."
A few people tilted their heads in confusion.Meanwhile, the little Bounchiechomie on Arthur’s shoulder gave a soft "Bloop," echoing its master’s embarrassment.
Raven raised an eyebrow.But instead of anger, she let out a long, heavy sigh.Then, in a calm yet weighty voice, she spoke.
"Everyone has secrets. A special skill... that only they know how to use. I respect that."
Arthur blinked."...Huh?"
"I don’t care if you slap, kick, or scream—if you can save your comrades, that’s what matters."Raven leaned forward slightly, her sharp eyes glinting with an unexpected warmth."So keep your secret... and be a good boy."
Arthur froze in place.She... really said that?Why did he suddenly feel like a dumb NPC that just got spared by a limited-edition SSR Heroine?
In the novel he once read, Raven Van Thor had only been a side character.A steel-hearted woman with unrequited love.But now... she was right in front of him.Breathing. Alive. Real.And if she wanted, Arthur was pretty sure she could poke his chest with one finger and make his heart explode.