Chapter 47: Are there any human rights left?

Flo’s heart leaped with joy, and even the hostility in his gaze toward Ifrora softened.

Her outrageous kiss still replayed in his mind, that awkward feeling surging again.

“Alright, I’ll take him to the territory court now…”

Flo approached the bound Young Master Blake, whose eyes burned with murderous intent, as if he could flay Flo and Ifrora alive. Too bad—he was powerless now.

“Wait!” Ifrora called out.

Blake’s heart warmed. See? Ifrora still cared! He knew it!

But her next words shattered his delusion.

“The food’s here. Let’s eat dinner first?”

Though it was afternoon, they sat down for a candlelit dinner…

After the manager swiftly restored the wrecked room with magic and dealt with the bodies, the two relocated, sitting across from each other, chatting casually.

Hold on—Blake thought—what about me?

Was he the candlelight in this dinner, burning himself to ashes to light up this wretched couple?

This was too much! Sure, he was a villain, a criminal, but even bad guys had rights! He protested!

And so, he watched the woman he adored, his dream girl, laugh and dine with another man, even badmouthing him.

Talking trash without avoiding him? Rude!

This was worse than death! He wanted to chop them up and feed them to dogs, but he could only fantasize, helpless…

What had he done to deserve this torment?

“So, this guy was always pestering you, huh?” Flo asked, noticing Blake’s distress.

“That’s right. I made my stance clear, but Young Master Blake wouldn’t listen…” Ifrora sighed, exasperated.

“Then it’s your fault. Why’d he fall for you and not someone else? Why go crazy over you?” Flo leaned into his past-life keyboard warrior logic, blaming the victim to needle Ifrora.

He knew it was wrong, but it was a surefire way to annoy her. Making his rival squirm was satisfying—especially after that stunt she pulled! Flo held grudges!

“Fine, fine. Then why were you the one docked pay, Pointy-Ears? Why not others? Look inward~” Ifrora fired back, undaunted.

“I… I…” Because of you!

Flo didn’t dare say it, fearing Ifrora might dock his fifteen coins in a huff.

Poor Flo, racking his brain to deal with Ifrora for those coins, unaware that far off in the Fox Kingdom, his trusty Blazewing had effortlessly scored fifty coins—and a promise of fifty more—even if it was just the princess’s compensation…

“Hey! Don’t act like I’m not here!” Blake shouted, only to have something gag his mouth.

Now, even his last outlet for rage was gone. Zero human rights…

If he’d known his assassination attempt would lead to this…

“What’s your next move, Pointy-Ears?” Ifrora asked suddenly.

“I’ll probably… keep investigating the disappearances. They’re happening nationwide, tied to the Demar Guild. Everyone knows they’re involved, but there’s no evidence to convict them, and we can’t tip them off.”

Flo pondered, then answered.

“Pointy-Ears is quite dedicated~”

“Dedicated? Not really. As an Astraea, I can’t ignore this. Even if my power’s a grain of sand in an ocean, I’ll follow what I believe is right…”

Flo’s gaze hardened. Ifrora paused, then smiled softly.

“Pfft, that’s the Flo I know…”

“By the way, Pointy-Ears, you’ve got real Saintess potential~ Er, Saint? Ever considered trying?” The pink-haired girl tilted her head thoughtfully.

“Stop joking, Pink Chick. You know I can’t even pass the monk exam, let alone Saint. The Church would never allow it—you’ve seen their oppression over the years…”

“Maybe the Pope has reasons you don’t understand?”

Ifrora shook her head at her own words.

That idea was absurd, and Flo thought so too.

“Reasons? He’s tied to my parents’ disappearance. There’s an unerasable grudge between us.”

Flo set down his cutlery, spreading his hands.

As for the Time Goddess, she might have plans, but that wasn’t for Flo to worry about. He’d do his part and execute her will—that was enough…

After a long silence, Ifrora said slowly, “I heard… there’s a trace of Crimson Abyss’s humanoid beasts in Fichel Town, on the human border~”

Flo frowned. Fichel Town… where had he heard that? Was it… what Daphne, the mischievous goddess, mentioned?

Too coincidental. Days ago, Daphne told him to go to Fichel Town, and now Ifrora mentioned humanoid beasts there.

Yes, Flo was certain now—those beasts weren’t a new species but living humans transformed through experiments, their bandaged faces hiding human features…

Good times never last. Flo delivered Young Master Blake to his rightful place, though the man resisted. It took effort, but the task was done.

By nightfall, Flo claimed his hard-earned fifteen coins and dragged his exhausted body home.

Yanlu, left at home earlier, was gone. Flo’s first instinct was to check if anything was missing—or if something odd had been added.

He knew Yanlu too* well…