CHAPTER 77: THE BET

The embrace between father and daughter felt endless.

Richard’s massive arms refused to let go, and Emilia’s smaller frame clung with equal desperation.

They held onto one another as if they feared the moment they parted, the other would vanish again like smoke.

It was so intense, so raw, that anyone who walked into the room might have mistaken them for star-crossed lovers reunited after years apart, not a father and his daughter.

Azel, watching from the side, simply thought,

’Which is fine. Better this than those depressing half-dead reunions.’

The thought brought back memories he didn’t care to dwell on — bodies broken, blood everywhere, two people crawling into each other’s arms just to die together.

That imagery had always left a bad taste in his mouth.

The game was truly sad.

Compared to that, this — this desperate, loving reunion was tolerable.

He stepped farther into the room, his eyes naturally drifting to the others.

Elga and Hilda sat stiffly on the couch, but their eyes were glassy.

Rain of all people was wiping at the corner of her eyes as if to erase any evidence of emotion.

But then Rain’s gaze found him.

Her tear-smeared lashes narrowed, and suddenly Azel felt her stare wasn’t just at him, but through him.

He blinked.

Her expression sharpened, cautious yet curious.

And then the feeling hit him — like fingers prodding against his core, searching.

’She’s... sensing me?’ Azel frowned internally.

There was no mistaking it.

She was probing.

And though his [Concealment] feature was working perfectly, her persistence was more annoying than threatening.

’Well the system did say that it would be visible to higher creatures, perhaps Regressors are amongst them?’

Rain, meanwhile, felt her heart pound harder.

She had sensed the shift the moment he walked in.

Something about Azel’s energy was different. His aura was the same but it was mixed with something that she hadn’t sensed before, and she wanted to find out.

But the energy was hidden, almost as if it was cloaked within a barrier that she had no way of opening.

In her last life, she had encountered many enemies who used similar techniques, cloaking their powers to ambush her later.

She’d grown accustomed to dismantling such barriers. But this one —

It didn’t budge.

[Oh... I didn’t think he would hide it,] the goddess chimed cheerfully in her head.

Rain stiffened.

’Hide what?’

[Why don’t you check?]

Her golden eyes glimmered faintly as she funneled holy energy into them, strengthening her vision.

She pushed her senses against the barrier cloaking Azel’s energy.

Again and again.

Each attempt ended in futility, as though she were clawing at a fortress wall.

Even if she tried to wound the barricade, it didn’t even budge.

At first she thought it was similar to the ones her enemies and other professional mages used but right now? She had never seen anything like this.

’It’s never been this hard before,’ she thought, her teeth catching her lip.

[Ooh, are you having trouble? Do you need my help?] the goddess teased, her voice dripping with mockery.

’NO!’ Rain snapped, silencing her.

Her pride wouldn’t let her lean on the goddess so easily.

She shoved more power into her eyes until her temples throbbed.

Sparks of gold danced across her vision, but the barrier held firm.

It didn’t even crack.

Finally, frustrated, she whispered inwardly.

’Alright, your turn...’

[I don’t wanna~]

Rain almost cursed aloud.

Why was the goddess acting so cheeky today of all days?

Something about her tone seemed... celebratory.

’Please,’ Rain finally begged, her pride folding under the weight of her curiosity.

In that instant, the goddess took control.

Rain’s eyes flared with divine light, and her perception cut through the barrier as if it were paper.

She saw everything.

And her heart dropped.

’What the absolute FUCK?! You marked my hero?!’ she screamed inwardly.

The goddess withdrew control instantly, laughing in her head like a mischievous child who had just stolen a cookie.

[Oops~]

Rain’s hand twitched at her side. Her chest heaved with disbelief.

She could still see the aura of divine light clinging to Azel’s aura — the unmistakable mark of ownership.

She had branded him, it was obvious to anyone who could see the magic... He was the lover or rather the cherished one of the goddess.

Meanwhile, Azel shivered.

A cold chill slithered up his spine.

He turned his head just in time to see Rain glaring at him with the intensity of someone who looked about two seconds away from stabbing him.

’What the hell did I do?’ he thought, bewildered.

Thankfully, Emilia broke the tension.

She finally loosened her arms from her father, though her eyes still glistened with tears.

Richard normally so composed, so invincible looked utterly undone, his hands trembling as if he couldn’t believe she was real.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?" His voice was ragged, desperate.

It was the first time Azel had ever seen the Sword Saint look human.

He was usually a mountain of lazy confidence, an overpowered man who treated life like a nap.

But right now, he looked like nothing more than a father, terrified for his daughter.

"I’m good, Father." Emilia sniffled, her lips trembling into a smile. "I missed you so much."

Her gaze drifted past him — toward Azel.

Azel blinked, then raised a brow as their eyes met.

She bit her lip, then spoke firmly, "It’s all thanks to Azel that I regained my memories again, Father. So..."

Before Azel could react, Richard turned and engulfed him in a crushing hug.

"Oi — old man!" Azel sputtered, his arms stiffening. "I’m not gay!"

But despite his words, his arms moved almost on their own, returning the embrace.

The two men clapped each other’s backs once, twice, before separating.

Richard’s eyes were still wet, but his usual grin had returned faintly.

Azel smirked.

His lips curled upward, a glint of mischief sparking in his eyes. "I won the bet."

The entire room froze.

Rain blinked.

Hilda’s brows arched.

Elga tilted her head in confusion.

’What bet?’

Richard groaned audibly, rubbing a hand down his face. "Of course you’d bring that up now."

"What bet?" Emilia asked sharply, eyes narrowing in suspicion.

Richard didn’t answer with words.

Instead, he sighed, reached into his spatial ring, and pulled out a massive leather pouch.

It hit the floor with a thud that made the wooden boards creak.

Gold coins spilled from its mouth, shimmering under the lantern light.

Everyone’s jaws dropped.

Azel’s grin widened as he casually scooped the pouch into his own storage ring.

"Nice doing business with you, old man. Just what I needed."

Richard scowled. "You’re insufferable."