Chapter 26

~ Fighting Back ~

SW/SW/SW

“Don’t be so tense. We’re friends, right?” Wawan lifted his hands in a peaceful manner.

Friends? Yeah, right. Kail grimaced. His hands itched, ready to pounce anything, especially the disgusting face of someone who stood in front of him.

I want him dead.

Dead.

…should I kill him?

Yeah… if I killed him, then I’d be free…

…I think I should kill him…

Something inside Kail cracked and he snapped, “Oh? Someone who extorts money from someone else counts as ‘friend’? That’s news to me.”

To his surprise, Wawan laughed and walked closer, leaning to him, “You’ve got yourself a nice mouth, eh, Kail? Want me to break it?”

I will kill him.

Kail grabbed the front of Wawan’s t-shirt and punched him in the face. Wawan didn’t fall, considering that it was a weak punch. Kail had never used his fists for violence, until now.

Snarling, Wawan retaliated and slammed his forehead into Kail’s, “You’ll pay for that!”

With a painful cry, Kail fell to the floor back first. Understood that it was a vulnerable position, Kail hastily stood. His movement wobbled a little due to headache. With a shout, he charged into Wawan…

0000

Kail was released along with Wawan for fighting in the park. The police officer gave them one good, long sermon. With occasional slams on the table and harsh intonation, it was clear that the officer was pissed. Thank goodness he didn’t call home. Otherwise, Kail’d be dead.

Instead of feeling sore, Kail felt relieved. It was as if the burden on his shoulders had been lifted. Had it something to do with him punching Wawan?

Was this the meaning of ‘stronger’?

Kail smiled. Somehow, he felt strength flowing into his veins. It was a pleasant feeling, almost addictive. He wanted it again, he wanted the feeling to come crashing down on him like a raging tsunami.

Never had he thought before that being stronger was… fun and pleasing. Was this the feeling of a high leveled player when he killed a newbie? The feeling of total control where the victim couldn’t even retaliate?

If he was stronger both in real life and GeaOnline, would he experience that kind of feeling once again?

0000

“QueeN, I told you this isn’t a good idea…!” Elvaria’s weak whimper came to a deaf ear. She wriggled uncomfortably against her green bikini that, to her dismay, showed her assets a bit too much.

“Oh, zuush! It ist a part ov ze taktik!” QueeN chastised, “if Ace reacts to you looking like zis, zen it’z a success! You agreed to zis, didn’t you?”

“Eeeh… but…” Elvaria started to whimper before it was cut short.

“No buts! Besides, ze Summer Event ist already started and girls out zere vill be all in bikinis! No need to vorry! Also, you’ll get a nice revard if you got enough points from ze judges.”

“Then why aren’t you in a bikini?”

QueeN laughed, “Vhat are you saying? A bikini alone can’t capture meine beauty.”

The door to the guildmaster’s room opened and Maria stepped out, still in her usual gown. Her face lighted up once she saw Elvaria and QueeN.

“Participating in the Summer Event?” she asked with a smile.

Elvaria nodded but then tilted her head at Maria’s clothes, “You aren’t?”

She let out a motherly giggle, “Oh, no. I’m not at least interested in showing off my body. Besides, DPS warned me not to. My party is waiting, so I will take my leave. Be sure to have some fun.”

“Cee ya!” QueeN waved.

When Maria was no longer in the room, Elvaria whispered, “Say, what’s going on between Maria and DPS? Are they lover?”

“Ze rumor ist zat zhey’re living together. Maria never says anyzing avout it, though. If you ask DPS, he’ll pretend zat you veren’t zere. Very hush-hush zose two,” QueeN whispered back as secretively.

“Umm, what do I need to do again? D-Do you think it’ll work?”

“You are chickening out again!” QueeN scolded, “you’re cute in zat bikini! Ace vill be spiichless vhen he sees you! I vill do vhatever I can to make you two togezer alone! So you’d better yuz your time visely!”

Elvaria nodded weakly.

All of a sudden, QueeN placed two hands on Elvaria’s back, pushing her out of the guild room, “So vhat are ve vaiting vor? Ve got somezing ve hav to do! Let’s go! Out, out!”

“But I-I’m not ready…!”

It was too late. By the time Elvaria whimpered, they were already in the hall of the Guild Hall. Elvaria’s body attracted a lot of attention, especially from males. She was a beautiful elf, had a slim body at that! Some cheered on her and took turn shaking her hand. It looked like Elvaria had a fanbase coming up.

After a tiring pushing and screaming, finally QueeN was able to drag Elvaria out of the hungry crowds. “Let’s go to ze Dragonis Park. Everyone’s gathering zere.”

“E-Everyone?! A-Ace, too…?” in an instant, Elvaria lost her courage.

“He izn’t online yet, silly! But I zink he vill soon,” she dragged the elf again to the streets of Dragonis. “Oh! Look at zat! Vhat a crowd! Let’s look for an ice cream!”

The girls explored the big park, which now was full of contestants of Summer Event and stalls. Elvaria blinked in confusion, realizing that the stalls were run by players, not by NPC. Some of them sold rare items and equipment and the rest sold food.

As they licked their ice creams, the person they were talking about came. Embarrassed, Elvaria nearly dropped her cold treat upon Ace’s arrival.

“Yuuz, Ace!” QueeN greeted him in the weird way. He lifted a hand.

“Yo.”

“Look at zis!” QueeN pointed a hand to Elvaria’s bikini-wrapped body.

Ace went agape, blood flowing though his nostrils, “W-What are you wearing, idiot?!”

Elvaria evaded his stare and stammered, “I-I’m participating in the Summer Event…”

“But your bikini… it’s almost see-through!”

“More importantly, Ace, are you alright?” QueeN stepped between them, “you got blood coming zrough your nose.”

Ace took her tissues and plug his nostrils with them. His face was deep red as he spoke, “W-Well, it-it’s not my fault! Elvaria is dressed rather… lewdly! I can’t help it!”

“Ey, I can’t help vhat, Ace?” QueeN teased.

Ace blushed even redder, “B-Beats me! I-I… let me buy an ice cream first!” and he quickly ran to the ice cream stall. It was probably just an excuse to get away from them.

QueeN paid Elvaria a perverted glance, “It vas a success.”

“What was?” Elvaria asked innocently.

“Ze plan, Elvaria! Ze plan vas a success!”

“I think we succeeded in making him nosebleed,” Elvaria murmured her sarcasm.

“Vhat are you talking avout?! He was bleeding! Face red! Stammered! Zey were signs zat he likes you! He cares avout you! If you veren’t his type or he didn’t hav any affection to you, then he’d definitely stare vithout saying anyzing.”

“T-That certainly is true…”

QueeN slapped her arm, “Rejoice, Elvaria! You viiling vill definitely be reciprocated.”

A moment later, Ace came back with a chocolate ice cream in his hand. Face still red, he ignored the two completely and focused on eating his food. The girls snickered silently.

“By the way, how does the event work?” Elvaria asked, “I haven’t seen the judges at all.”

“Ze rumor haz it zat ze judges mingle vith ze contestants, ziicretly judging. Ze winner vill be posted in ze official site, complete vith pictures.”

Elvaria gasped, “Th-Then some of the contestants are… Oh, no… I feel so nervous… What if I did something wrong…?”

“Relax, Elvaria. Zis ist not avout vinning or lozing. It’z all avout participating and hav some fun vith friends!” QueeN then whispered in Elvaria’s ear, “and vith boyfriend.”

“Ah, you are right,” Elvaria let out a shy giggle. Secretly, she stole a glance to her right and saw Ace. He was staring into space, no longer licking his ice cream. Seriousness taking over his usually cheerful personality.

Elvaria felt something inside her begun to stir. What was he thinking about so seriously? Even though it was highly unlikely, Elvaria wished that it was her who Ace was thinking about.