Chapter 136: Mission Report
They quieted down instantly as Azel answered.
"Well... the mission wasn’t bad and I got to see the Divide," he said, taking a deep breath.
His voice was calm, he wasn’t trying to brag or diminish the efforts of the others.
Azariah turned toward him, one brow raised, but before the Patriarch could speak, Veyra stepped forward.
Her lips curled into a half-smile as she jabbed Azel’s shoulder lightly with her fist, almost like she was trying to knock sense into him.
"Don’t listen to him trying to downplay his achievements, Patriarch," she said.
Her tone had none of her usual teasing edge.
"The mission was a success, and we’ve been able to stop the horde. Naturally, there will be some stragglers, but they can help keep the ecosystem in check."
The way she spoke made Azel’s eyes narrow slightly.
This wasn’t the same Veyra who always cracked jokes at the worst possible times.
Her voice was steady, her choice of words careful, almost professional.
Where had the carefree woman gone?
"Believe it or not," she went on, "Azel made the most contributions during our time. He has taken down over twenty Rank 3’s just there, and the team is drawn to him — including myself."
A faint blush crept into her cheeks as she realized what she’d said.
Her eyes widened, and she hastily added, "And Julius started talking more."
That caused the Patriarch to turn with genuine surprise, his gaze locking on the young man leaning against a tree.
"Is that true?"
Julius froze like a deer caught in torchlight.
His face flushed hot as all eyes landed on him.
He looked down, gritting his teeth. "Yes... but only because he’s an annoying bastard."
That was how things had been for the past three days.
Julius spoke sparingly, and when he did, it usually involved complaining about Azel — about him being a disturbance, a meddler, or, in Julius’s exact words, a bastard.
Still, the fact that he spoke well was good progress, and they all knew it.
Azariah cackled, the sound booming like thunder across the courtyard.
"Hah! I see." His laughter carried warmth, the kind that broke tension rather than added to it. "You all must feel tired. Why don’t you go to the mansion for some rest?"
The suggestion wasn’t really a suggestion.
The mansion wasn’t just a home to the Patriarch but it was also where the warriors stayed when they were around, but still they were obliged.
"Thank you, Patriarch," Veyra said with a bow, and the others followed in unison, their movements instinctive.
Azariah gave them one last look, then turned and disappeared into the streets going back to the mansion.
’He has grown far stronger.’ He noted while looking at Azel.
Azel exhaled softly, his chest loosening now that the formalities were over.
He planned to follow after, but before he could take a single step, he felt someone tighten onto him with sudden force.
"Papa..."
Edna’s small form pressed against his head.
Her hands clenched tightly around him, trembling with emotion.
She tilted her head up, her expression torn between hurt and anger. "You’re a big meanie. You vanished without me. I couldn’t teleport to you."
She punctuated the accusation with a small punch to his head, though her fist lacked any real strength.
Azel chuckled, brushing it off. "Yup, I’m a big meanie. Let’s get something to eat."
He tried to step forward, but Edna clung to him like a stubborn shadow, holding him down with surprising force for someone that was a mage.
"Why...?" she demanded, suspicion flashing in her eyes.
Azel sighed, his hand moving instinctively to stroke her hair.
The tension in her shoulders softened at his touch, but her gaze never left his face.
"We shared the same bath, so I walked in while she was having a bath by mistake. I promise."
Her eyes narrowed further, searching for even the smallest hint of deceit.
The admission clearly didn’t sit well with her, but the gentle motion of his hand across her head eventually coaxed a small purr from her throat.
She pressed closer, still clinging, as if daring anyone else to pry him away.
From the corner of his eye, Azel caught Medusa watching, her expression betraying a flicker of jealousy.
Beside her, Anya stood, her face a blank canvas, though her lips were twitching a lot.
"Alright, let’s get going~" Veyra chimed in suddenly, breaking the tension.
She slipped behind Azel and gave him a playful push, urging him forward. "The mansion isn’t going to walk to us, you know."
...
The moment Azel stepped inside the mansion, he was ambushed again.
"Brother!"
Ellie slammed into him, arms wrapping tight around his chest.
For a brief second, the combined weight of Edna clinging to his side, Lillia right on his head, and Ellie’s sudden embrace nearly knocked the air out of him.
"Hey — calm down, I can’t breathe," Azel said, his voice half-laugh, half-strain.
Only then did Ellie pull back, though not without lingering for an extra heartbeat.
Her cheeks were flushed with excitement, and her eyes shone brightly as she tilted her head up at him.
Azel blinked in surprise.
Something about her looked different.
Her hair, usually a stubborn mess of wild spikes, was neatly combed down.
It fell in smooth strands that framed her face, softening her rough edges.
The effect was striking — she looked... normal.
Too normal.
"What did you do with your hair?" he asked.
"Well..." Ellie twirled once, showing it off with an almost shy pride. "Mother combed my hair so that I would look good when you came back."
She said it as though it were the most natural thing in the world, her voice sweet and expectant.
For some reason, Azel found himself unsettled.
He liked her hair wild, untamed, full of fire.
Well she looked even prettier here and he wasn’t complaining.
Instead, he reached out and patted her head.
After that, a faint glow pulsed across his palm, an item entering his palm.
When he drew his hand back, something small and shining rested in his grip.
"Here’s your gift," he said, holding it out to her.
Ellie’s eyes widened in wonder. "A necklace?"