Unlike Blood Sun City, the human settlement was far from being quiet despite the relatively late hour.
Even though it was night, most people were still awake.
Daring adventurers were walking out of the city, armed to the teeth, planning to take advantage of this time to hunt for goblins.
Amidst this constant movement and chatter, a shadowy figure hidden beneath a cloak was unlikely to be noticed.
As Aurelius entered a remote alleyway opposite his hotel, the surrounding noise instantly quieted down.
With a sigh, he opened his mouth, intending to say something.
But before he could speak a single word, his pupils shrank. He sprang into action.
With a thought, a golden barrier was erected before him. The Armor Manifestation of Solar Manifestation was activated to protect him.
Meanwhile, Aurelius brought his right hand forward, grabbing at the space in front of him.
At first, it seemed that whatever he wished to do had failed. There was nothing there.
Only a moment later, however...
Bang! Bang!
Two booming sounds echoed.
One came from the barrier, as it collided head-on with a sharp silver blade and bounced it back.
As for the other noise, it stemmed from Aurelius’ hand.
Before he knew it, his palm had wrapped around a slender, fair neck before forcefully slamming its owner onto the stone wall behind them.
A painful groan escaped her as her back slammed against the wall. It was followed by the sound of heavy breathing.
Once Aurelius raised his head, he came face to face with its owner.
The mask the other person had been wearing had dropped to the ground. The beautiful face that had been hidden beneath it was revealed.
Dark pupils. Long black hair.
It was a familiar face.
Yet despite its beauty, he felt no desire. The only feeling in Aurelius’ heart was helplessness.
"Haven’t I told you never to do this again?"
"Could it be that you’ve awakened some kind of strange hobby since the last time we met?" Aurelius couldn’t help but complain, making Selene’s face flush crimson.
Whether it was from anger, embarrassment, or the fact that she was still struggling to breathe remained a mystery.
Aurelius shook his head and withdrew his hand, releasing her and letting her drop back to the ground.
Secretly, he was quite shocked. Thankfully, he had been paying attention to his surroundings at all times.
Had Selene managed to enter his room and discover his true identity as her archenemy, she would have gone insane.
Wiping the nonexistent sweat off his forehead, Aurelius gave some time for Selene to recover.
She breathed heavily for several long seconds before finally regaining her composure.
Even so, when she raised her head, she glared at Aurelius with an accusatory look, as though asking how he could have treated her so roughly.
But upon recalling that she had been the one to engage in this competition first, she wisely shut her mouth.
After placing the silver dagger back on her waist, she rose to her feet, dusted her clothes off, and looked at him as though nothing had happened.
"You’ve really come. Tsk, tsk."
"It seems that the churches’ investigation has scared you a lot to make you take such a risk," she clicked her tongue playfully as she picked her own mask.
Twirling it around her fingers, she surveyed her surroundings. After confirming there was no one near, she sighed.
"You’ve really come at just the right time. The goblin riot has intensified over the past few days. If you’d come a little later, I’m sure we would have missed the opportunity I mentioned before."
Aurelius had several questions he wanted to ask.
For example, he wanted to know how she had managed to find the place he was staying despite them not having communicated at all.
He also wanted to know why she had chosen to meet him at this time.
Despite this, he chose against asking them all. Rather, he focused on the most important matter and the primary reason for his arrival at the northern border.
"What is this opportunity you told me about?"
"You previously said it’s related to an Epic Relic, but refused to say anything else." Aurelius lowered his head to meet Selene’s dark eyes.
"Don’t you think it’s about time to tell me?"
Hearing the solemnity in his voice, Selene instinctively wanted to mock him for being too impatient.
However, as she felt the faint pain still running across her smooth neck, she ultimately swallowed her words.
After a moment of hesitation, she nodded.
"Indeed. Since you’ve come here, I assume you’ve already made your choice. There’s no longer a reason to hide things from you," she prefaced her words before continuing:
"I wasn’t lying when I talked about the Epic Relic."
"Haven’t you wondered why the goblins suddenly began rioting?"
"Although people claim it is a natural disaster, could a monster habitat as vast and ancient as the Goblin Mountains possibly be thrown into chaos so easily?"
As she spoke, Selene raised her head and looked toward the north.
Her gaze seemed able to penetrate through the settlement’s walls, landing outside and watching the adventurers and goblins be engaged in a fierce battle.
She gave no time for Aurelius to answer her question. She gave her own answer.
"It’s not possible. Or, more precisely, that’s not the whole truth."
Selene smiled faintly.
"It’s correct that natural disasters have occurred in the depths of the Goblin Mountains. But to say that they are the source of the goblin riot would be incorrect."
"Of course, calling them ’natural’ disasters would also be somewhat inaccurate."
Selene placed particular emphasis on the word "natural", as though urging him to pay attention.
Aurelius was starting to get a headache when he saw her speak like this.
’Could her Sub-Class actually be Charlatan?’
Just as he was complaining inwardly, intending to urge her to speak properly, Selene raised her finger and gently shushed him.
Then with the same hand, she grasped the air. Mana surged through her fingers, rapidly solidifying the air into ice.
"Have you noticed that today is especially cold?" Her voice lingered in the alley.
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