Chapter 590: [ Meeting at the Beach ]

“A Monster King…? Ah!” The Dragon King’s eyes widened. “This aura, so you’re the one from that time… why are you here?”

“I’m this man’s wife, of course, wherever he will be, I will also be there,” Alkrasha answered. She stared at the Dragon King with a warm expression. She had a good impression on the Dragon King due to him sincerely helping Allen, that she can see. She stared at the Dragon King and bowed to him, “…Thank you for taking care of my husband, Sir Dragon King,”

“Wife?!” The Dragon King exclaimed. Then, suddenly he recalled Allen’s reaction at that time when they met—so that’s why he was so disordered—“Are you really his wife…?”

“That’s right… My name is Alkrasha Insectia Bando, a pleasure to meet you!”

“I see… truthfully, I was going to punish you, a Monster King for rampaging in my territory without permission. But since you are that guy’s lover, I guess I’ll overlook it this time.” The Dragon King shrugged his shoulders.

At this moment, coming out from the bushes several figures appeared behind Alkrasha. Most of them are women, though…

“So, what are you going to do to him now?” The Dragon King asked.

“…go back home.” Layla stepped forward, bowed towards the Dragon King and responded. “… Our home is not too far from here. It would be our pleasure if you can come with us and have some tea for a while…”

“Nah, I’ll pass this time. I left my home in a rush, I can’t let my old lady worrying for someone like me in this age~” The Dragon King grinned playfully, not caring about his youthful appearance that is completely contradictory to his words and way of speaking. “Anyway, I leave that guy to you—since you are his ‘precious’ family, you better take care of him. His bearing too much he could take. It would surely make him happy if you stay by his side…”

“That’s something that is not needed to be said.” Layla smiled warmly. Tears falling from her eyes, like pearls from a broken pearl necklace. She extended her hand and grasped Allen’s hand, squeezing it gently, her lips trembled. “His our precious ‘baby’, after all… without us, who knows where and what will he end up to. He is just a big baby who only knows what to do when he is interested in something and doesn’t think of any consequences…not caring what others think of him,”

“… …”

“It’s our duty to take care of him to not get hurt… though we always failed but still… we won’t stop trying to protect him…”

“Is that so…?” The Dragon King smiled. His gaze softened while watching them—a youth surrounded by warm gazes. He can’t help but nod in silence, indeed, this is the precious family he loved and cared so much he was willing to bear everything, even the fate of being a Demon King before the World.

“That guy sure is blessed to have all these flowers willing to do anything for him…” he said, teasingly.

Liu Muxiao chuckled in amusement but there was also a hint of pride flashing on her gaze.“…no, it’s us that feel blessed for having him…”

“I see…” The Dragon King nodded with a happy smile. He then turned around and started walking towards the opposite direction, “It seems like my girl and the others are still having fun in that world, so I’m going to leave them all to you,”

“Is that okay?” Liu Muxiao asked curiously.

“Ah, she said it was a beautiful world and the food seems to be great as well. She has my blessings so we are connected. If something happened to her, I would immediately know. And now, it seems she’s like enjoying that world—I’ve never heard her so happy before so I will leave her to all of you for now… Please take care of them,”

“Ha ha ha, don’t worry. Please leave them to us!”

“Thank you,” The Dragon King waved his hand and disappeared.

When the Dragon King left, the group looks at each other—

“He was a cool man…” Celty mumbled, impressed.

“Yeah, right. So mature… before him, it’s as if he was your father or something…” Xue Ling replied while nodding in agreement. “Although, his appearance was indeed, too young, still you can still feel and sense the vicissitudes of time that were far from us. He was experienced and extremely mature—”

“Now I feel why Allen had opened his heart immediately. That Dragon King is indeed a good man…” Liu Muxiao added.

Looking at the place where the Dragon King disappeared to, Xue Ling, Liu Muxiao, and Celty muttered with a faint smile.

“Though, he sure messes up my man…” Celty smiled wryly as he looked at Allen’s bruised face. Her smile was bitter as she stared at Allen’s wounds, causing a slight pain and dissatisfaction within her heart. Probably, since the magic power couldn’t catch up anymore, his self-healing is working quite slowly.

“It’s been a long time since I saw him and yet, here he was, nothing changed at all. He looked as handsome as always…” Celty gently wiped the dirt from Allen’s cheek while staring at him, going ‘Pyoh~! Pyoh~!’ like a sleeping newborn.

*** ***

A smooth white beach.

Clear blue skies.

The blue endless sea that looked like part of a watercolor palette, with ripples everywhere.

*slooshhh*, a cool sound of waves rang out.

The upcoming waves wet Allen’s feet and bounced off after finding resistance.

“............”

It was the sea.

Waves appeared on the crystal clear greenish water moved by the wind, it shone brilliantly reflecting the light of the sun it was showered with.

Pure white sand spread far and wide, it was white like chalk and hot, raising the body temperature through the soles of his feet.

Allen was walking alone on the beach.

The only person strolling on the vast coastline that was unique in the winter.

The sound of the sand crumbling at his feet made him quite fearful, as he made his way across the dunes—Allen breathed in the crisp and salty air wafting in from the crashing waves. A magnificent spectacle around him as snows falling from the sky, endless and yet the sea still unchanged and unfrozen, snowflakes fell and disappeared upon touched, as if they were illusions.

A scene out of a fairytale.

Sighing, Allen reflected on recent events. It had been over a year since he crossed worlds, fought and advanced step by step in the game of life—all for one goal.

… But, truthfully… he’s tired…

He lowered his head and saw his feet taking another step. Even still, I couldn’t bear to stop—he mused as he looks back at the footprints on the sand behind him. Clear, and doesn’t seem to disappear even in the waves of the ocean.

Walking towards my goal… Even though I’m exhausted, I’m tired… even though I‘m already missing them and wanted to go home…

I…

Allen walked on the shore; he left another footprint in the pure untainted white beach.

Wiiiz. Splash, splash.

The people he treasured, the people he loved and gave him the energy to walk in this tiring path—

His love, his friends, his family…

Tap, Tap—He could hear faint footsteps in his ears as well as the blue waves washing up the beach. He pulled his coat closer because of the chill and continued to walk. Ah, I really miss them… Allen smiled bitterly as he couldn’t help but groaned in frustration. However, lamenting on the problem would not help solve it. Thus, he could only sigh. He suddenly had an urge to just forget everything for once and relax at the moment.

Looking around, he doesn’t know where he was now, or how he got here but—this place was beautiful, calming, comforting—it’s as if he had been here before but just couldn’t remember when.

A memory long forgotten, a memory sealed in the very deep part of his soul—probably like that.

This was not his destination, but it was a safe haven.

Strolling along the quiet beach was an enjoyable experience that put him at ease—though, he didn't know how far he needed to travel.

Allen took his time, there was no need to hurry. Right now, all he wanted to do was unwind, relax, and forget all of his current troubles.

“… …”

The sun reflected from the sea got in his eyes when he raised his head.

The winter sun didn't bring warmth, just blinding light. Quiet footfalls and the gentle and solemn set of footprints extended out like a chain. The sounds of footsteps were like the calming music of an Angel’s orchestra—

Whenever his bare feet touched the blue sea, the shiny particles dissipated.

He tried soaking his feet in the deep blue water and kicked it playfully. He attempted to leave footprints close together like the dance of a bee. Because he was alone, Allen did all this with a serious face.

A rare chance for lonesomeness—nostalgic breeze, aroma—he tried expressing his joy with a smile.

I wanted to have this time in reality as well…

But at that time, my family and my friends would be there—a wonderful memory, it would be. Smile, Laughter, teasing, rest, a quiet harmony that no one would be able to break. I would surely reach that dream!

Thinking about his long, reaching a dream, Allen’s faithful footprints followed him wherever he went.

When suddenly,

He squinted his eyes to look into the distance; a person appeared in his field of vision.

She was sitting on a big rock, quiet, and beautiful.

Allen stops on his tracks, marveling at the slim lines of her figure sitting there with a faint, nostalgic smile.

Allen was surprised by how light his body was and realized he was running. He never realized it but a smile appeared on his face.

The distance that seemed far was much shorter than he imagined. He was close, within just a few steps, and slowed his pace.

He tiptoed over but when he was still ten meters away, the girl turned around.

“…if it’s not my husband, it’s been long~,” The girl said with a faint nostalgic smile.

She was around fifteen to sixteen years old, eternally young-looking girl.

Silver hair and eyes in different colors— red and blue; as vast and beautiful as the ocean, gorgeous and tempting as rubies. In terms of appearance, she was most certainly amongst the finest girl he had seen so far. Her facial features and outline seemed as if they had been painstakingly drawn with a pen. Her beauty was not the least bit intimidating, but it was different from another girl of her age, which was full of harmless innocence. In particular, when she looked at you, her eyes were very bright.

“Indeed, it has,” Allen shrugged as he walked over.

Hel, the love of his life—the one woman he would never be able to forget even if he reincarnated for a million times.

Her skin was smooth and clear like that of a child, and those mismatched eyes were fine like those of a deer. The human eyes could not be that pretty. Her well-groomed eyebrows harmonized with her forehead. Her nose was also wonderful.

If one was to stare at her face for just a while, they wouldn't escape from the gripping radiance.

Even her hands, feet, and body exuded beauty.

The clothes she was wearing were also exquisite, one white one-piece dress as if they were born for her sake's.

Her whole body was covered with brilliance.

Allen silently looked at Hel. But as if she felt his attention, she suddenly fluffed to the side and looked back at Allen.

"Ugh!"

“Charmed?” She asked, teasing. A faint smile that could destroy a kingdom at will.

“You’re as beautiful as ever, I see,” Allen honestly responded.

“Of course,” Hel turned her gaze back towards the horizon with a color of sunset. “They did say, Death is the most beautiful thing in the world.”

“In Death lies comfort and peace—that Living would never be able to find—was that it?” Allen added with a faint smile.

“…You’ve been rather cheeky lately,”

Suddenly, there was a gentle touch on Allen's shoulder. Turning, he saw Hel's head leaning on it.

“Me?” He didn’t turn around, as if having a tacit understanding, they fixed their gaze at the horizon that seemed to be never-ending.

“Yeah, you’ve been meeting Death often compared to before…”

“…??” Allen tilted his head in confusion? Death, when did that happen?

“It’s been getting harder for me to send you back, you know. Can you please not go die so frequently, it hurts my heart and pains me very much.” A fit of unusual anger and blame laded in her voice.

“Eh? What do you mean? I never died, though…” Allen asked, confused.

When did he die? He can’t remember…

Besides, he was an Immortal…

An undying King.

“Seriously, all the time, you know. Even Immortals have limits, especially you who was not yet a true immortal,” Hel let out a sigh. “Oh well, just forget about it. It’s not important, anyway…”

“…??” Allen confused turned his head and look at Hel.

He was then greeted by beautiful sparkling eyes, turning crescent like a pair of beautiful moons.