CHAPTER 77: CH:77 WE’RE ALL JUST STRAYS

Zeon casually took another bite of his food, eyes still closed, smiling calmly. "So... are you really going to fight your father, Dila?"

Dila froze, her expression tightening. Slowly, her face darkened as if the sun inside her had died. She clenched her fist against the table. "How did you know? You weren’t there when I said that to him."

Zeon chuckled, voice smooth and irritatingly casual. "So rude. But I did see your little snuggle session with the king. So lovey-dovey."

Dila’s entire body twitched. Her voice cracked. "Shut. Up."

Zeon kept smiling, speaking like nothing happened. "Oh? Angry now?"

He calmly sliced another bite from his food and ate slowly, eyes still closed, radiating calm.

Fran, sitting beside Dila, tried to focus on eating her fish breakfast, though her ears flicked nervously. She refused to get involved.

Meanwhile, Zeon’s thoughts ran silently as he ate: Although her power awakened during that carriage incident... I’m not sure if that was real or just luck. She’s too raw. Too unstable. This isn’t good. But... let’s not judge too soon.

He let out a soft breath and smiled slightly to himself.

"Still," Zeon said aloud, "it’ll be entertaining to watch you Dila, to know how it unfold." then he chuckled.

Dila twitched harder.

Damn it, Nari, she said in her mind. I’m going to kill him.

Nari replied nervously:

☆ M-Master, please don’t... your physical strength isn’t enough... unless you throw the plate at him? ☆

Dila glared silently across the table as Zeon calmly kept eating, acting like nothing was wrong.

And yet, his mind remained serious.

She’s too young. She’ll lose.

Suddenly.

Dila slammed her fist lightly onto the table, her face set with determination. "I’ve made up my mind. I’ll fight that old fart with everything I’ve got... until he really farts himself from oldness."

For a moment, there was silence.

And then Zeon exploded into laughter.

"Mwahahaha! You’re such a joker, my daughter!" He leaned back, laughing loudly.

All around them, the knights elves and others has stopped eating, their conversations pausing as every eye turned toward their table.

Without missing a beat, Zeon casually raised both hands, smiling with his eyes still closed. "Carry on, everyone! Just laughing at my own daughter’s jokes. They’re... absolutely hilarious."

The surrounding elves blinked, shrugged, and went back to their noisy chatter and meals, the hall bustling once more.

Zeon, now calmer, chuckled as he opened one eye. "But seriously... haven’t you already fought with everything you’ve got? And most of the time—" he smirked, leaning forward slightly, "—you just get your butt cheeks clapped. Get it?"

Dila’s jaw dropped. "You... insignificant freak!"

The nearby tables once again quieted, everyone glancing their way awkwardly.

Suddenly, from a few tables over the food serving, a voice chimed in.

"Did She mean the food’s... uhh... insignificant, freak?" It was the cafeteria elf who had served Zeon earlier. He looked half-confused, half-irritated because of the word Dila’s said.

Silence.

Then laughter burst out across the hall.

"Ahahahaha! Classic Hero’s daughter!" someone said.

Zeon, still seated, gave a theatrical little bow, smiling confidently. "Thank you, thank you! Always here to entertain."

Even as he sat comfortably, calm and unfazed, Dila looked moments away from throwing a plate at his head.

The noise in the cafeteria gradually returned to its usual hum of banter and chatter as the attention shifted away from their table. Zeon chuckled softly between bites, his tone relaxed.

"If you’re gonna throw that plate, Princess... now’s the time. I’d prefer it before dessert," he said casually, not even looking up as he calmly ate, the tone clearly teasing, not hostile.

Dila’s hand trembled slightly over her plate, her expression twitching. But after a tense breath, she forced herself still. In her mind, she repeated, Keep calm, Dila... keep calm.

Fran, sitting quietly beside her, looked up anxiously. Her ears drooped low. "Sister... are you okay? You’re getting frustrated again. You look... I don’t know... like your self-esteem’s just dropped flat."

Dila blinked, startled at Fran’s gentle, honest concern. Then she forced a smile, waving both hands clumsily in front of her. "No, no, Fran. It’s fine. Just a... funny conversation. Just jokes. Between us."

Fran tilted her head slightly, her tail limp. "It doesn’t sound like a joke to me." Her voice dropped sadly.

Without thinking, Dila reached over, pulling Fran into a soft hug, her hand gently stroking the cat girl’s soft hair. "Hey, don’t be sad. Seriously. It’s okay. I promise."

At that moment, Zeon, still calmly chewing his food, spoke again with maddening casualness. "Look at that. You’ve made your one and only adorable adopted sister sad."

Dila’s eye twitched. Her arms tightened slightly around Fran as she shot Zeon a dark, deadly glare, her lip twitching.

Zeon didn’t even flinch. He just smiled lazily, not bothering to meet her glare, and continued eating like nothing happened.

In her mind, Dila growled, Just let it go, Dila... let it go...

She sighed out, calming herself. Barely.

While Dila gently still hugging Fran, running her fingers softly through the cat girl’s hair, Fran leaned in closer, her voice almost a whisper. "Sister... I think..."

Dila glanced down. "Hmm?"

Fran rested her head lightly against Dila’s chest. "I think you’re fluttering today because... you’re scared to lose, aren’t you?"

Dila froze. Her whole body stiffened. A faint tremble ran through her arms. "N-No... nooo... don’t say weird things," she stammered, her voice cracking.

But Fran only held tighter, her small hands curling around Dila’s shaking ones. "Then why are your hands so cold, sister? And why are you shaking?" Fran looked up softly, concerned, her blue eyes wide and gentle.

Dila’s forced smile wobbled. "I... I just feel cold, that’s all. It’s morning air. You know."

Fran stayed silent for a moment. Then she said softly, without hesitation, "If you’re that scared, sister... I’ll fight beside you. This time. With everything I have."

Dila’s breath caught.

Her head slowly dipped lower, and her tears—silent and sudden—dripped onto Fran’s soft hair as she stroked it shakily. "No, Fran... No. You’ll get hurt. Or... or worse."

But Fran didn’t pull away.

Instead, Fran whispered softly, "Then I’ll just keep working. Or die trying."

Dila’s whole body jolted.

Fran looked up at her, smiling weakly. "Sister, it’s okay. As long as I’m serving you right... as long as I’m at your side... it’s okay."

Dila’s voice cracked into a sob as she hugged Fran tighter. "Don’t say that. Please, don’t say that..."

She rocked slightly, stroking Fran’s hair as her tears kept falling.

Across the table, Zeon quietly watched. His eyes remained closed, his expression unreadable. But in his mind, he thought with a calm grin: Overprotective. Like a stray cat guarding another stray.

He took another slow bite of his meal, savoring the taste.

But behind that composed smile... he grinned in his mind like a maniac.

Zeon, still sitting silently, kept his eyes closed while still chewing slowly. His calm smile never wavered, but deep inside his mind, another quiet voice echoed:

You think you’re the only one who hates that king?

I am too.

He savored the next bite slowly, the taste of his meal mixing with the bitterness of old memories.

Call your father "old fart" all you want, Princess... That’s exactly what I’m rooting for.

His fingers lightly tapped the table once, unseen by anyone, as he continued smiling without opening his eyes—like nothing in the world mattered.

Zeon grinned, his eyes still closed as always.

"Are you really ready to fight that geezer this afternoon? I might bring confetti, just in case you win, Dila."

Dila, still focused on hugging Fran, her voice shaking slightly, muttered softly, "Shut the crap out... freak hero."

Zeon laughed softly. "You know what? I never get bored of your insults, Princess. I love that."

Dila’s voice cracked with irritation. "You’re so... sooo weird. Like you were raised by negative energy itself. and how did you even become a Hero?"

Zeon’s smile widened without hesitation. "Because I am."

Dila flinched. "Stop smiling like that! Your face creeps me out like some molester."

Zeon clutched his chest dramatically. "Awww... you keep hitting my heart." He chuckled, then added, "And as for how I became a hero..."

Dila’s eyes narrowed. "What your a weirdo for liking it." Dila answered again. "And yes i was ready to hear your hero stuff."

Zeon shrugged calmly. "I was forced."

Silence. Even Fran blinked in confusion.

Dila hesitated, staring blankly. "What...?"

Zeon’s voice didn’t change. "Forced. Hero life’s overrated, trust me."

Dila opened her mouth but said nothing.

Zeon smiled lazily, eyes still closed. "You’re not the only one stuck in a life you didn’t ask for, Princess."

Dila said, "I know... but ain’t you going to tell me your full freak hero stuff?"

Zeon chuckled, calm as usual. "Hahaha... no, Dila. It’s not great to hear in this morning, nor even be discovered by anyone."

He leaned in slightly, still smiling with that smug tone.

"Even by you, Dila."