“Excuse me, Hero Nathan,” the man chuckled, placing a hand over his chest in a theatrical manner. “I am Radakel, a Divine Knight of the Empire of Light.”
“Radakel, what were you saying?” I asked, striving to mask my apprehension with a casual tone.
The Divine Knights were the very individuals Khione had warned me about. They were the covert rulers of the Empire of Light, the most formidable soldiers serving the empire from the shadows. Khione had cautioned me to tread carefully around them. Perhaps I should have waited to fuck Khione—she might have provided me some form of protection in this situation.
“Yes, it’s peculiar. We managed to recover Oscar’s body just an hour ago,” Radakel replied, his lips curling into a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
“Oh, that’s a relief,” I said, mirroring his smile. “I’m glad we can give him a proper burial. He was a great help to me.”
“Indeed, it is a relief,” Radakel continued, his voice tinged with something I couldn’t quite place. “However, most of his body was devoured by beasts. We could only retrieve a limb and a half-eaten head.”
“Oscar, beaten and devoured by beasts? That’s hard to believe,” I said, feigning shock and incredulity.
“Yes, it is quite unbelievable,” Radakel agreed, stepping closer. “Oscar was one of our best. It’s strange that he didn’t manage to escape for his safety. He was certainly capable of it.”
“How could he escape if he was surrounded by a swarm of monsters?” I asked, locking my gaze with his.
“Oh, you must be joking, Hero Nathan.” Radakel chuckled, though it felt more like a threat than amusement. “Oscar could have easily fought his way out.”
“Maybe he encountered a monster stronger than himself?” I suggested.
“Perhaps.” Radakel muttered not believing at all.
“Sienna faced a monster over level eighty in an area where the monsters are usually around level thirty. So, it’s possible that Oscar met an even stronger monster since we were deeper in the wilderness, right, teacher?” I turned to Amelia for support.
“Yes, I don’t understand what is strange about that, Lord Radakel?” Amelia said, her confusion evident.
She seemed genuinely perplexed as to why I was being questioned in this manner. I sensed that she didn’t want to entertain the notion that they might suspect me of having something to do with Oscar’s death.
“Oh, it’s just curious how monsters attacked Oscar but didn’t dare approach either of you. You must have been quite lucky, blessed even. Or perhaps they were frightened of Hero Nathan?” Radakel laughed lightly, clearly aiming to unsettle me.
The real reason no monsters attacked us was that Khione had been secretly watching over us under my orders. Not that I could reveal that to Radakel. I couldn’t help but inwardly smirk at the thought.
Amelia frowned, picking up on the mocking tone in Radakel’s voice.
“Is that all, Lord Radakel? We will be leaving now,” Amelia said, eager to exit the room.
“Wait a moment. I apologize if I offended you, Hero Nathan,” Radakel said, shaking his head as if to show regret.
“No offense taken,” I replied with a shrug.
In truth, I was somewhat grateful. Radakel genuinely seemed to believe that I was weak, yet he also suspected that I had somehow played a part in Oscar’s death. It was evident he couldn’t fathom how I might have done it.
“Then, may I leave?” I asked.
Radakel scrutinized me for a moment, a smile playing on his lips. “Yes, you may leave, Hero Nathan.”
I cast a glance at the impotent Emperor, who had remained silent the entire time, and the Empress, who looked visibly uneasy, before turning to leave.
Once Khione woke up, I planned to ask her about Radakel. He was smarter than the foolish Oscar, making him a more formidable adversary. More importantly, he was stronger than me, which would make him even harder to kill.
°°°°°
“I can’t believe they are questioning us as if we killed Sir Oscar ourselves!” Amelia’s voice was filled with fury, her face flushed with frustration.
Well, technically, I did kill him. But seeing my beautiful teacher losing her temper like that was strangely endearing.
“It’s nothing, don’t worry, teacher. Oscar was someone important to them, it’s normal for them to lose their temper and feel angry,” I said, trying to soothe her.
“Still, they are the ones who summoned us, and we could have died there without Oscar…” Amelia trailed off, clearly remembering the deadly encounter with the snake in the pond. She believed I had narrowly escaped death, unaware that I had been in control the whole time.
Reaching out, I grasped Amelia’s hand and smiled reassuringly. “The most important thing is that both of us are alive, Amelia.”
“N..Nathan…” Amelia blushed, perhaps recalling our unforgettable encounter earlier.
Tracing my fingers along her plump lips, I gently cornered her against the wall, our bodies close. “You are so beautiful, Amelia,” I whispered, before capturing her lips in a soft kiss.
“Hnn~❤️” she moaned softly against my mouth, her resistance melting away.
“I..I am your teacher… Hmmnnn~~” she murmured, her voice betraying her arousal.
My hands roamed her curves, feeling the warmth of her body through the fabric of her clothes. I deepened the kiss, savoring the taste of her lips, the softness of her skin.
“Teacher or not, you deserve to be cherished,” I said, my voice low and husky.
Amelia’s breath hitched as I nibbled her lower lip. “N..Nathan, we shouldn’t… not here…”
Her words were hesitant, but her body told a different story. Her hands clung to my shirt, pulling me closer as if she couldn’t bear the thought of separating.
I let my hand slide down her back, pulling her closer, feeling the rapid beat of her heart.
“Oh~~mmn!” Amelia let out a sensual moan when I sealed her lips with mine. Her voice was soft, full of need and desire, and it sent a thrill through my entire body.
My hands roamed beneath her blouse, fingers tracing the soft curves of her breasts with hunger. I could feel her heartbeat quickening beneath my touch, her body responding to every caress. Her skin was warm and smooth, and the feel of it only made me want her more.
Oh, God curse me.