The Smiling Death

"No way..."

Amon stared at Scarlett in disbelief.

"That’s... really hard to believe."

The two were currently sitting together on the large bed in one of the mansion’s bedrooms. Their backs rested comfortably against the headboard, legs stretched out across the mattress.

Scarlett had just finished telling him everything. Her meeting with Vetaal. Or rather Cruoris Sanguine. His real identity as the Blood Devil. His connection to House Bloodhart.

The offer he had made to her.

Amon remained silent for quite some time after hearing everything. His mind was struggling to process the sheer amount of information Scarlett had casually dropped on him.

More importantly there was one detail that disturbed him greatly.

Mordecai Sanguine. He remembered that man’s face. He remembered that portrait. The ancient ruined city he had accidentally stumbled into before...

The enormous mansion and the portrait of the long crimson-haired man with cold emerald eyes.

Back then, Amon hadn’t thought much of it.But now he was learning that the man in that portrait was actually Cruoris’ son.

A chill ran down his spine.

’What the hell is with this ridiculous setup?’ And these coincidences...’

Cruoris had taken Scarlett to the same place?

Amon couldn’t help feeling that these events were somehow connected. He looked back at Scarlett.

"So...What did you do? Did you accept his deal? Or offer, or whatever you want to call it?"

Scarlett nodded.

"Yes. I accepted."

Amon’s expression became serious. He said nothing for a while.

"...Are you sure about this?"

Scarlett looked at him. "What if he’s planning something?"

Amon continued.

"What if all this talk about helping you become stronger is just an excuse? He might be trying to use you. Or maybe both of us. For all we know, he could have some completely different goal."

Scarlett remained silent for a moment. She had clearly considered the same possibility.

Eventually, she sighed.

"I know. I thought about all of that before accepting."

Her hand rose gently. She placed her palm against Amon’s cheek.

"But...I couldn’t bring myself to refuse."

Amon’s black eyes met hers.

"Why? Because of what happened two days ago."

Her thumb gently brushed across his cheek. "He told me something."

"He said that attack wouldn’t be the last. He said you’ll face many more situations like this in the future."

Her expression became serious.

"And now...You’ve attracted the attention of someone dangerous."

Amon frowned.

"You mean that guy? The one who controlled Alaric’s corpse and spoke through him?"

"Yes."

Scarlett nodded.

"Him."

Amon leaned his head back against the headboard and released a long sigh.

"Why the hell do I keep getting dragged into these things?"

He looked genuinely exhausted.

"I’m just trying to enjoy my life like a carefree man."

Scarlett’s lips curved upward.

"I suppose you’re simply unlucky."

Amon slowly turned toward her.

"Are you saying meeting you was bad luck too?"

Scarlett’s smile disappeared.

"...What the fuck did you just say?"

She grabbed him by the collar.

"Hey—!"

Scarlett pulled him against herself before pinching his cheek.

"Ow! Ow!"

"Say it again."

"I was joking!"

She pinched harder.

"Scarlett!"

Amon didn’t seriously resist. Instead, after suffering his punishment for a few seconds, he asked,

"So did Cruoris tell you when he’ll contact you again?"

Scarlett finally released his cheek.

"No. For now, he only told me to focus on becoming stronger."

She paused.

"And he told me to spend peaceful and nice time with you while training."

Amon blinked.

"Really?"

"Yes."

His expression immediately brightened.

"Wow~ Vetaa—"

He corrected himself. "I mean, Cruoris isn’t such a bad guy after all."

Scarlett gave him an unimpressed look.

"That’s all it took to convince you?"

"He respects romance. I respect that."

Scarlett shook her head helplessly.

"He also gave me something."

Amon’s joking expression faded slightly.

"Something?"

"An item that allows me to contact him. If we’re ever in serious danger, I can call him for help."

Amon raised his eyebrows.

"Oh? So you basically gained an ancient Devil as an emergency protector."

"In a way."

"That’s actually reassuring."

She showed him the circular metal disc like thing with runes. It was big enough to be in her palm. After Amon saw it she put it back in her storage ring.

Amon fell silent again. There were still countless questions running through his mind. But there was little point in asking them.

Scarlett didn’t have the answers either. She had accepted Cruoris’ offer because she was worried about their future.

Amon understood that much.

He slowly closed his eyes. One thought became increasingly difficult to ignore.

’Everything keeps pointing toward the same conclusion...This world is going to descend into chaos someday.’

Amon had once expected something like this. When he had first awakened his memories of his previous life, he had been extremely cautious.

He had read far too many NovelPhoenixs. Watched far too much anime. A world filled with magic, monsters, ancient beings, and supernatural powers? Obviously, some world-ending disaster had to be waiting around the corner.

At least that was what his old otaku brain had convinced him.

But then years passed. Nothing happened. as he spend his peaceful life in village.

Eventually, those ridiculous thoughts disappeared.

But now Ancient Devils were awakening. Mysterious organizations were targeting his friends. Someone capable of controlling the dead had taken an interest in him.

And Scarlett had just been offered the inheritance of an existence who had lived for multiple eras.

’Yeah... My peaceful life is definitely fucked... or maybe it was always fucked.’

Amon sighed internally. Then he shifted closer to Scarlett and rested his head comfortably against her shoulder.

Scarlett glanced down at him. Amon gently rubbed his cheek against her.

"I trust your decision."

Scarlett’s expression softened.

"And..."

Amon continued quietly.

"No matter what happens, I’ll stay with you. If Cruoris genuinely wants to help you, then good. But if he ever tries to use you for some selfish purpose..."

His black eyes narrowed.

"...then I’ll stand with you against him."

Scarlett stared at him for a moment.

Then a warm smile slowly appeared on her face.

"Oh my~"

She wrapped both arms around him and pulled him tightly against herself.

"How dependable of you, Amon~"

His face was pressed comfortably against her shoulder as she hugged him.

Amon smiled.

"Of course. I’m an extremely dependable man."

Scarlett chuckled.

"Sometimes."

"Why did you have to add that?"

Her laughter grew slightly louder. Amon complained, but he made absolutely no attempt to escape her embrace.

For now chaos awaited the world could remain problems for another day.

At this moment he was perfectly content staying right where he was.

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