Chapter 311: Pervert [1]
The corridor leading to Jiyeon’s room was half destroyed, with walls blackened by fire, plaster cracked and crumbling, and broken glass glittering across the floor.
The air still carried the acrid scent of smoke and burnt wood.
When they reached her door, it hung off its hinges, half torn from the frame.
The inside of the room looked like it had been ransacked;... the clothes were scattered across the floor, papers were soaked in soot, shelves were overturned, and broken trinkets lay crushed in the corners.
Jiyeon hesitated for a second before pushing the door wider.
Her eyes glanced around the chaos and then softened when they fell upon something familiar.
She crouched near the bed frame, half-buried under debris, and pulled out her mobile phone.
She wiped the dust from the screen with and let out a soft breath. Her eyes fluttered, and for a brief moment, a faint smile curved her lips.
Brandon, standing at the doorway, watched her carefully.
Next, she moved toward a pile of clothes tossed carelessly across the floor.
She picked them up one by one, dusting them off softly. There were a few personal items.
Then she saw the two t-shirts on top of the pile and her eyes widened for a moment.
She slowly picked up one of the shirts, holding it close to her chest.
Brandon’s eyes softened instantly and a look of disbelief and tenderness crossed his face.
He walked to her and hugged her from behind "You dumbass... you still have my tshirts."
She sighed and leaned back onto him "Mhm, well, I wear them on nights when I miss you..."
Hearing this, he smiled and kissed her cheek "Let’s take them with us."
She began gathering the clothes more carefully and Brandon opened his storage ring once more.
A soft glow spread from his finger as he reached out.
He placed the clothes one by one into the ring’s portal.
Jiyeon’s eyes widened in astonishment "You... can store this all... like this?"
Brandon chuckled softly, "Of course, I keep more than weapons in there."
Her mouth parted in disbelief, but then she smiled to herself.
She knelt beside the pile, picking up a few more items a book half-burnt at the edge and a small figurine and placed them gently in his hands.
"Careful..." she whispered in a shy voice.
Brandon grinned and caught her eyes, "I got you," he replied, storing them.
As they stepped out of the corridor into the open space, the sunlight filtered weakly through the dust-filled air.
Down below, several members of the Adventurer’s Guild worked methodically, dragging and lifting the bodies of the fallen attackers.
Brandon’s eyes lingered on the grim scene for a moment and a quiet sigh escaped his lips.
Shaking his head slightly, as if to clear his thoughts, he began walking down the stairs.
Halfway down, his mobile phone vibrated in his pocket.
He took it out and glanced at the screen and without hesitation, he swiped to answer.
"My Lord, is everything alright?" Callista’s calm voice came through the line, edged with concern.
"No worries. I’m fine."
His gaze shifted briefly to Jiyeon, who was quietly following him, "Just one thing... I’ve told them to send the bodies back to the Church. Have them perform autopsies. See if you can find anything unusual."
There was a slight pause as Callista absorbed his words. "Anything specific, my Lord?"
Brandon’s eyes narrowed, "While fighting them, I noticed... they weren’t alive. They were already dead before the fight. Controlled... by someone else."
"Do you remember that attack while I was addressing the people that day?" [A.n: it was Chapter 123]
Callista blinked in surprise "Yes... are you suspecting it’s the same group or person?"
With a slight nod, Brandon replied "Yeah... that’s what I think. So look into it. Check if the same method was used. See if they had that necrotic crystal embedded inside their bodies."
"Understood, Lord Herald. I’ll look through every detail."
"Mhm. Thanks."
"It’s my honor to serve, My Lord," she replied before ending the call.
Brandon’s lips curved into a small smile and slipped the phone back into his pocket.
He then glanced at Jiyeon, who was walking silently beside him, looking at him in the corner of her eyes.
Sensing her gaze, Brandon tilted his head slightly, "What is it? What are you staring at?"
Jiyeon blinked, as if caught off guard, and shook her head quickly "No... it’s nothing," she murmured.
But Brandon didn’t let it go that easily.
He chuckled softly and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer "Come on, tell me. I can see it in your eyes."
She looked up at him. "It’s just..." she trailed off and her cheeks flushed faintly, "you look... different from before."
With a playful smile, he replied "Well, after all that training, my body’s probably gotten a little more... jacked up, I guess."
Jiyeon elbowed him lightly in the side, "Idiot... I didn’t mean it that way... stupid."
Hm? He leaned closer "Then what else did you mean?"
She glanced away and the blush on her face deepend "I am not saying it..."
Eh? He gave her a blank stare "Come on, tell me..."
"No."
---
*creak*
Opening the door to the room, Brandon entered in and spoke "For the time being, let’s stay in this hotel room, we can leave tomorrow."
She nodded her head and entered after him, looking around at the luxurious room "I will go take a bath first..."
Brandon turned to look at her and smiled playfully "A bath?"
Sensing his intentions from the smile, a faint blush crossed her cheeks "You pervert... we made up just today and you are already thinking about it? Pervert, Pervert."
He laughed quietly, stepping closer and instinctively she took a step back, raising her hand "Idiot..."
With a playful smile, he tilted his head "Am I an idiot?"
She grinned and her back gently hit the wall, stopping her from stepping back any further "Yes, you are..."
He hugged her and leaned forward to peck her lips and murmured "I know every inch of your body... how many moles you have, your G spot..."
Upon hearing this, her lashes quivered and she whispered "As if I don’t... I also know about your body, bastard."
He chuckled and his fingers gently slipped into her cloth "Then why are you shy..."
Feeling his fingers slipping into her clothes, she let out a long, breathy sigh, and whispered against his chest, "You bastard..."