Vile Evil Hides Under The Veil

"Hehe! Was I wild enough?"

Al asked Eren when they met after her battle. The crowd had become berserk trying to meet her. So the organizers had decided to keep her from prying eyes for some time till they vacated the premises. Therefore, she had been made to wait in a spacious lounge hall inside the amphitheater. Eren was escorted to where she was after her request.

Altashia had thought that this was the temporary glory she was basking in. But she didn't know that a lot of rankers had recorded her duel on their image recording artefacts and array disks. Her fame was bound to increase with time.

Eren smiled when he heard Al greet him with that question. He nodded affirmatively before commenting.

"More than I had asked you to be. Are you fine?"

Eren asked while observing Al closely. Then they both took their seats by a plush couch that was part of the hall's interior.

"I'm fine. You should see the other guy. Anyway, Did you find any?"

Al said while drinking the fruit juice that she had been served. Of course, she was also waiting here for her rewards from her opponent. Rodrick had been taken for first aid treatment right after the battle was over. She guessed that it wouldn't be long before the healers patched him up.

"What are you talking about?"

Eren asked with puzzled expressions. Al smirked at his response before adding further.

"Don't try to play dumb with me. You were looking for my weaknesses so you can exploit them when we do fight each other. Tell me, did you find any?"

Eren had a blank face when he heard Altashia's statement. He couldn't help chuckling before adding further.

"Hahahaha! Oh yes. I was looking for your weaknesses. I might have a faint idea. But I won't tell you. Unlike someone who likes to give their opponent some time casting their spells, I'd like to keep my opponents on their toes."

Altashia pursed her lips when she heard Eren's jab pointed at her. She sighed before commenting.

"Sigh! You don't know Rodrick as well as I do. The guy has his share of troubles. Plus, I had to put on a show to make him feel that the rewards he had wagered on this duel were worth this duel. Otherwise, he'd just keep coming back."

Altashia said, receiving Eren's nod in return. Then she put down her half-finished glass of fruit juice and listened to Eren speaking some more.

"By the way, Al. How did you know that I was looking for your weakness?"

Altashia looked Eren in the eye before commenting with playfulness added to her tone.

"Hehe. Those keen eyes are always looking for something. And don't think I don't notice when you glance at me. I can feel that on my skin from miles away. Hmph!"

'Introverts are blessed with some peculiar powers.'

Eren thought to himself before flashing a wicked grin to Al. They were about to chat some more when a rankless staff member announced the arrival of Rodrick.

"Miss Altashia, thank you for entertaining my selfish request. You will find what we had agreed upon in this storage artefact."

Rodrick still had some wounds on his body. But they had been turned into barely noticeable scratches that didn't bleed anymore. His expression was serious as if he had lost more than just this battle.

Altashia took the storage ring from Rodrick and sent her mana sense inside. She nodded her head at the royal before stowing the ring away. With this, their deal was over.

Rodrick sighed after giving Altashia her due reward. He was about to leave when he saw Eren sitting not far away from Altashia. He couldn't recognize the guy. And someone who kept Altashia company had to be special. So he thought of making friends.

"Hello, pleased to meet you. Name's Rodrick Renar. Are you a friend of Altashia?"

Eren, who had just taken his smoke out, was caught off guard by the guy's question just when he was about to light it up. He looked at Rodrick while holding his smoke in his mouth. He took out the Stellar Sativa he had just placed in his mouth before replying.

"Yo. Name's Eren Idril. I am simply the deputy vice-captain of Al's squad in the army. Nice to meet you too, Rodrick. You fought well out there."

'Al? Is he that close to this monster?'

Rodrick thought to himself and smiled mirthlessly before replying.

"You don't need to utter flowery words, Eren. I have come in contact with plenty of such people all my life. Now, I'd rather have someone criticize me for my weaknesses so that I can improve upon them.

Oh!

On that note, Miss Altashia, can you tell me where I got it wrong? I thought I had everything about you figured out. But you still surprised me.

You hadn't shown this level of explosiveness in Royal Ren's Ranking Wars. Not even against that assho… Err… I mean not even against Rehaal Renar."

Rodrick cancelled his plans to leave when he asked. Now that the topic had been raised, he had to gain something out of this wretched deal he had made for himself. But Altashia's answer was only going to disappoint him.

"Hehehe! I want to drain someone of their money if the opportunity arises. As a result, I had to make sure I wing big.

Hmm. As for the post-battle analysis, I'm sorry Rodrick, but I'm only used to receiving guidance, not imparting it.

Plus, I may not be the right person to do it in our case anyway. You'd be better off asking a third person who saw both of us duelling closely."

Altashia's answer worsened Rodrick's already downcast face. He nodded at her half-heartedly before starting to leave. Altashia felt a bit of pity for the guy. Then she looked at Eren and thought of something before adding on.

"Rodrick, maybe you can ask Eren about his opinion? He has watched our battle from start to finish. Maybe he could shed some light on your flaws."

Eren looked at Altashia as if he didn't want to criticize some random dude, especially if it was instigated without giving him a fair warning.

But, alas. It was too late. Rodrick stopped his retreat and turned around once again before commenting.

"Miss Altashia, Eren, no offense but…"

Altashia shook her head before interrupting Rodrick with her words.

"Don't underestimate him. He is also a demon beast tamer like us."