"I kind of feel bad," he said "Like your mother said, I was half the reason this engagement happened. So… sorry about that. I didn't exactly plan to walk into your life and change your life like that."
Adrien looked at the fountain again, "I'll try to find a way to break it off."
Rias looked at him, with her eyes widened, "Break it off? How...? We're not strong enough to face my brother..."
"I know. I'll try to find another way."
Rias lowered her gaze, her fingers tightening slightly around her own arm. "Why would you go that far? That's not really your character."
"You clearly didn't choose this, and I don't like being forced into things either. That's all."
Rias stayed silent.
"Look, I'm not Riser. I'm not going to use a contract to trap you and then act like I earned you. Yeah, you're beautiful, smart, and kind. If someone really forced me to pick a pure-blooded devil girl to marry, I'd probably choose either you or Sona."
Rias's eyes widened slightly.
"But that's the point," Adrien continued, "That would only be if I was forced. And I hate being forced into shit. I'm not the type to force myself on someone else either, you see?"
Adrien was not lying. If he truly had to choose a pure-blooded devil to marry, Rias or Sona would probably be his first choices. They were both talented, intelligent, and had enough pride to stand beside him without simply lowering their heads.
"Adrien..." Rias said softly.
"Tsk..." Adrien clicked his tongue and walked passed her heading back to the manor, "don't act like that, It's pissing me off."
A chuckle escaped Rias's lips, though Adrien didn't hear it as he had already entered the manor.
--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>
Inside a medieval-style bar, two hooded figures sat on stools at a long wooden counter. The bartender placed two glasses of liquor in front of them, stared at them for a moment, then walked away to serve the other customers.
One of the hooded men picked up his glass and gulped the drink down in one go. The other took a small sip, froze, and immediately set the glass back on the counter.
"Blughh…! How can you even drink that?"
The first man wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "You get used to it. Besides, places like this are the best for gathering information."
"I don't understand. What are we even doing!? Shouldn't you be training me!?"
"Shut your mouth for a second. The guy should be here any moment now." Adrien raised his empty glass slightly. "Another glass, please."
Issei glanced around the bar nervously. "Isn't there an age restriction for coming here anyway?"
"Of course there is. That's why I got fake IDs for both of us." Adrien leaned closer and lowered his voice. "Don't forget, my name is Valthen, and your name is Basenji."
"I-Isn't my name a dog breed!?" Issei whispered sharply.
"Don't stutter when you talk. If you feel like you can't say a sentence without stuttering, then don't say anything. Think first, then speak."
After Adrien left the Gremory territory, he teleported his Familia right in front of the Agares castle, then immediately left with Issei.
He had already asked Seekvaira to train them in his place, since he needed to train Issei as payment for the information about the White Dragon Emperor.
Issei stayed silent for a second before asking, "Is that part of the method?"
Adrien frowned at him. "What was the first rule?"
"The first rule of the method is that we never talk about the method."
"What is the second rule?"
"The second rule of the method is that we never talk about the method."
"Right. So shut the fuck up."
Issei gulped, then looked down at the glass of alcohol in front of him. After a moment of hesitation, he picked it up and downed it in one go, trying to imitate Adrien.
His face twisted immediately, but he forced himself not to cough.
"I'll imitate your every move, Master."
Adrien gave him a small approving nod. "Excellent."
The noise of the bar continued around them, Adrien sat calmly at the counter, his hood hiding most of his face, but his senses were already focused on the person approaching from behind.
Without turning around, he raised his index finger slightly, signaling Issei not to move.
A man in ragged clothes walked up beside them and sat on the empty stool next to Adrien. His coat was worn at the edges, and the wide hat on his head hid the upper half of his face. He did not look at either of them for long. Instead, he silently slid a folded piece of paper across the counter toward Adrien.
"Twenty-five crowns," the man muttered.
Adrien glanced at the paper but did not touch it. "Twenty."
The man's mouth tightened. "Twenty-three. I'm not going any lower."
"Basenji."
Issei nodded at once. He reached into the pocket of his hooded cloak and pulled out a small leather pouch. When he opened it, the soft shine of golden crowns reflected in the dim light.
The man's eyes widened for a brief second before he quickly looked away, trying to hide his reaction.
Adrien took the pouch from Issei, and slowly counted out twenty-three coins. Then slid them across the counter.
The man took the crowns, slipped them into his coat, and stood up from his stool without another word, then he stood up and left the bar.
Adrien waited until he was gone before taking the folded piece of paper. He opened it and quietly read through the information written on it. After a few seconds, he passed it to Issei.
"I still can't read devil script," he said, pausing a little before speaking, just like Adrien had told him to.
"Then make sure you learn it later," Adrien replied. "It's important to be able to read it."
Adrien picked up the second glass on the counter and downed it without reacting. Then he placed half a crown beside the empty glasses, more than enough to pay for the drinks and leave a generous tip.
The bartender noticed the coin and gave them a short, respectful nod.
Adrien stood up from his stool and adjusted his hood. Issei quickly followed his lead, pulling his own hood lower over his face.
Without saying another word, the two of them walked out of the bar and stepped back into the old stone streets of Velmora.
Velmora was an old town on the mainland of Agares Territory, resting far below the floating island of Agreas. It looked like an old town from an Isekai anime. Its houses were built from dark timber and pale plaster, with steep crimson and slate roofs rising above warm amber windows.
Iron lanterns burned with soft violet flames, and flower boxes hung beneath the arched windows.
"This town is so cool!" Issei said as he looked around, his eyes moving from the old houses to the glowing lanterns along the street.
"Velmora is a very old town," Adrien said. "It was one of the first towns built in Agares Territory. We'll be staying here for the night, then we'll leave tomorrow."
"Are we going to sleep in an inn?"
"Yeah. Where else?" Adrien replied. "But first, I need to change my face."
He stepped into a narrow alley between two old buildings. A few seconds later, he came back out with a different appearance.
He had only changed a few basic features. His hairstyle stayed the same, but his hair had turned brown, and his green eyes had changed to blue. There was also a small mole under his right eye now.
Adrien and Issei made their way to the best inn in town.
It was a wide building made of dark wood and pale stone, with three floors rising above the street. Its roof was covered in dark green slate, and warm amber light shone from every arched window. Above the entrance hung a large wooden sign with a silver stag standing under a crescent moon.
"What's it called?" Issei looked at the name of the Inn written on the wooden sign.
"The Moonveil Stag," Adrien said as he stepped in, Issei followed after him.