Vile Evil Hides Under The Veil

'Hehehe.

This should be fun.

I'm betting on that scholarly guy to come up with a good excuse or reveal that he is connected to some bigshot in the kingdom,' said a hushed voice to another.

'Haah! Didn't you see the royal crest on their clothes? What can he do in front of the Eldorathian royal family? I am pretty sure that guy and his two mates would be kicked out of Sunhaven soon,' responded another with a voice tinged with absolute confidence.

The patrons at Mystic Hearth restaurant anticipated a spectacle as a group of royals and their retainers attempted to expel Eren, Reen, and Arman.

They refrained from intervening or summoning city guards, choosing to remain silent observers and relish the unfolding drama without taking sides.

Even the head manager of Mystic Hearth found himself powerless to prevent the royals from encroaching on the privacy of other patrons. Firstly, he couldn't risk offending the royals. Secondly, he harbored reservations about Eren's decision to allow a beggar into the establishment.

The onlookers gazed at Eren's table with a mix of emotions.

Some secretly cheered for the royal group, while others hoped Eren and Reen would emerge as heroes and shield young Arman from unjust treatment. After all, not everyone liked royals and their pompous attitudes towards the common populace.

Even if some of them did not particularly like a beggar sitting alongside them, they were ready to support Eren's side in silence as long as he could put up a good resistance against the royals.

It was evident that the scion from Sunhaven's merchant family was gearing up to intervene, taking charge of the situation initiated by the beautiful yet haughty royal girl. Just so that he could impress her and form connections with the Eldorathian royal family.

However, just as the situation appeared to spiral out of control, an unusual turn of events unfolded. The threats from the royal group ceased abruptly, and they all came to a sudden standstill.

In the next moment, they seemed as if they had just awakened from a peculiar dream. Yet, almost immediately, they behaved as though no conflict with Eren had occurred at all. It was as if they had collectively forgotten the presence of Eren, Reen, and Arman.

The silent onlookers observed the trouble-seeking group snap out of their dream-like state and redirect their path. They all turned around at once, as if strategically choreographed.

They resumed conversing as they had before entering the establishment, leaving the restaurant with smiles and jokes. Through some unexplained intervention, normalcy was restored, and the restaurant returned to its previously serene ambiance.

Unbeknownst to the onlookers, Eren discreetly conjured a cohort of spectral serpents when the troublesome group distanced themselves from him.

These ethereal and invisible creatures, composed of various Sin Series Mana forms, swiftly slithered toward the royal scions and their attendants. With remarkable stealth, the serpents ascended their bodies, unnoticed.

Each serpent bared its fangs and delivered a bite to its designated target, vanishing into thin air without detection by either the victims or the spectators.

In the imminent future, a series of calamities would befall these royal scions and their entourage. Some would succumb to forbidden desires, meeting their demise in the process. Others, consumed by rage, would perpetrate heinous acts, ultimately leading to their demise at the hands of the city guards.

Among the group, some would succumb to unwarranted pride, attempting ill-fated sea ventures that would lead to their demise. Others, choosing isolation, would lock themselves away in their homes, succumbing to sloth and eventually perishing due to self-imposed starvation.

The royal girl, who had initiated the confrontation with Eren, fell victim to a Sin Snake crafted from Envy Mana. In time, her envy would intensify, compelling her to take action against her own siblings and start her downfall with her own hands.

The merchant scion, aiming to impress the Eldorathian girl, suffered the bite of a Gluttony Snake. His end would come through excessive indulgence in food. He would die by eating mana-enhanced food bursting inside his stomach due to his inability to digest it.

However, these events were destined for the future. The connections between their deaths and the nature of their demise would remain obscured, leaving observers unable to discern any pattern.

Most significantly, the link between their conflict with Eren and their subsequent fates would remain elusive.

Eren had no issue letting the mortals depart without consequences. However, he recognized the need to appease Reen. She harbored a distaste for those who mocked him.

The butcher had to address the situation before an Elder Seed Artifact Spirit intervened while he was busy with something else. In her desire to seek revenge, she could put countless lives at risk by obliterating half the city in the process.

Reen flashed a smile at Eren as she observed him summoning the Sin Series Snakes. She could guess what they could do to the targets. Only then did she relax, deciding to let bygones be bygones.

***

"What are you so zoned out for?"

Eren snapped his fingers at the still-stunned Arman. "Weren't you hungry a moment ago? Let's dig in," he gestured to the nearby restaurant staff, signaling them to serve the trio from the food trolley.

"Aaaah! Right," Arman shook off his daze, putting aside his questions to focus on the meal at hand. Reen, too, readied her cutlery, ready to join the feast.

As the restaurant staff catered to their preferences, the trio delved into discussions about their upcoming plans. Just as Eren savored the first bite of the main course, he noticed another young man approaching their table.

This newcomer bore the same royal symbol over his robe, just above his heart, akin to the one the royal girl had. Signifying his connection to Eldorathian royalty, he addressed Eren with a courteous bow.

"Excuse me, sir. Would you mind if I joined your table?"

The young man asked politely. Eren, showing a hint of stress, hesitated. He preferred to avoid using his ocular powers in the mortal realms unless absolutely necessary.

Besides, he couldn't fathom how he was attracting so much attention, despite attempting to keep a low profile in Sunhaven.

'They say counting blessings is wiser than counting troubles. Well, this city is making it pretty fucking challenging for me to follow that advice.'

Eren mused to himself, casting a blank expression toward the man.