CHAPTER 43: APOLOGISING TO A GOOD FRIEND IS DISGUSTING

A sharp, restorative gasp sliced through the silence. Eyelids fluttered open.

"Stop," Allen declared.

The shock that filled the room was as if the word shock had multiplied itself by ten. Hearts beat in disbelief, and even the air seemed to grow hotter as the once-unconscious bodies of Caelen and Garric sat up at once.

"Elder Caelen... Elder Garric," Elara and Natasha’s voices cut through the silence, eyes shimmering with tears as they leapt onto the elders in a simple embrace—nothing more.

"H–How did we get here?" Garric muttered, completely shocked, as the last thing he remembered was standing in a place surrounded by bushes, while overseeing the Goblin Clan.

Allen hadn’t just reversed their wounds—he had reversed their entire body systems: their digestion, their energy, and even their memories.

"I’m glad you both are okay," Amaterasu whispered, trying to hide her shocked expression with a forced smile. But when she remembered their state just seconds ago, she couldn’t hold back the tears—both from scolding Allen and the girls, and from the joy of having her longest-time friends back.

"Did the world shift in less than a second, or am I dreaming?" Caelen asked, with Natasha still embracing him tight like a lost friend.

"It’s nothing to worry about. At least you have the information you were sent to get," Allen smirked as he stood up gracefully from the floor, a soft smile etched across his face.

"Yes, the goblin clan is not in any sort of attack..." Garric hummed, still uncertain as he studied the tense faces around him. "But why does Amaterasu look like a crybaby?"

Soft giggles filled the room—yet not enough to erase the thick tension that buzzed in the air.

Amaterasu laughed too, brushing the tears from her cheeks. "Elara, Natasha, Elder Allen," she called, her voice low but loud enough for the walls of the room to hear.

"I’m sorry for—"

"No... no... no... no," Elara cut in immediately, waving a finger sideways. "We aren’t friends—we are good friends. And good friends don’t apologize. That’s disgusting. Good friends simply understand."

"Yeah, Amaterasu," Natasha continued. "Where’s all that energy you had when you almost burnt us alive?"

Amaterasu’s eyes couldn’t hold back the tears, no matter how hard she tried to hide them and maintain a regal posture. It all failed at those words.

"And on my part," Allen added, "I care about everyone in this room—including Fina." He eyed her playfully. "I might use one of those... what did you call it? A cooling water massage?"

More giggling echoed—louder this time—as peace settled for a moment, like warm water in their hearts.

"How did your part of the task go, Allen?" Caelen asked, and his very words reminded Allen of more than just the werewolf incident.

"Hmmm," Allen hummed, as if the weight of something pressed on him. "The werewolves were successful, but we need to call an urgent meeting—one that will involve everyone in this room, including Kealion, Lilitu, and Thalvron."

"Why is that, Lord Allen?" Natasha asked, curiosity drowning her being. "Is it about gathering resources for the werewolves?"

"No... but I advise we gather all concerned now. The meeting will reveal all you need to know."

"In that case, I’ll get Lilitu and Thalvron to the palace before sunrise. But I still want to say—thank you, Elder Allen." Amaterasu smirked.

"It’s no big deal, Amaterasu. Let’s just focus ahead." Allen smirked.

"Any hint about the meeting? Please, Lord Allen," Natasha murmured, her heart already tensed, pounding slightly within her chest.

"The faster we get together, the better—so let’s go," Allen smirked, dismissing the room. He made the mistake of trying to put his hands in his pockets before remembering he was in a clothing-forbidden world. ’Damn... someone’s gotta change these rules.’ He taught while nodding his head sideways.

Amaterasu immediately followed behind, as did the rest, though Caelen and Garric’s troubled expressions never faded.

---

Outside, Allen froze as realization struck at what he saw.

"What are those?" Amaterasu rasped as she stepped out of the building, her gaze fixed on nine unfamiliar, green-skinned, zombie-like beings.

They were the very group of goblins she had slain in the Goblin Clan—now risen as grudges bound to Amaterasu’s existence.

"Are those goblins?" Garric rasped as he emerged.

"Dead goblins. More like grudges," Allen replied, studying them from meters away. "I completely forgot about these ones."

"Aren’t those the goblins I killed?" Amaterasu muttered, squinting until the realization hit.

Allen quickly explained the mystery behind the puzzle in her head, making sure everyone could hear.

"You’re saying that Garric and I were held captive in the Goblin Clan?" Caelen whispered, piecing together Allen’s words.

"Yes—but for now, it’s nothing to worry about," Allen replied.

"So how do we take proper care of them?" Amaterasu murmured, noticing the increased pacing of the dead-yet-living goblins.

"No slashing. Not even an injury. That could multiply our problems. All we need is to restrict their movements."

"I’ll take care of that," Amaterasu smirked, blazing forward and leaving trails of fire on the ground. The goblins immediately changed course, charging toward her direction with completely black eyes and ranging moans.

In seconds, the blazing flames that outlined Amaterasu returned, flashed around the goblins with blinding speed. When she stopped, the goblins were seated in place, roaring helplessly, hands bound in chains, their eyes glinting with black menace.

Far behind, Natasha let out a deep breath loud enough for everyone nearby to hear.

"I’m guessing that’s a hint about the meeting," she whispered, her eyes fixed on the raging goblins sitting helplessly in a tight circle, like broom sticks bounded together.

"No... it’s even worse. They—" Allen paused mid-sentence, narrowing his eyes at Natasha. "Let the meeting reveal," he said slowly, with emphasis.

They commenced their walk to the palace with different thoughts in their minds. For Garric and Cealen, it was the strangeness of having lived through a time they couldn’t remember. For Elara and Natasha, it was the weight of the meeting that had demanded even their presence. For Amaterasu, it was a mixture of her past anger and the blood of goblins still staining her hands. And for Allen, it was simply Hadas.

’I won’t let you succeed with this,’ he thought, subconsciously trying to slip his hands into pockets he didn’t have.