Chapter 143 Heartless



The time seemed to stretch on forever as I roamed around the clothes store, my annoyance mounting with every rack I passed.

"How much time do they need to try the clothes on?"

I cursed, throwing a silent glance in the direction of the fitting rooms.

My eyes could see the rough outlines of people's shadows behind the curtains which only fueled my impatience.

Half an hour.

This was the time I spent waiting for the group of teenagers to finish up their fashion show in the fitting rooms.

However, I severely underestimated the capabilities of the girls...

I could feel my sanity starting to crack.

If I had to wait for another minute, I'll-

Swish...

Suddenly, one of the fitting room curtains whipped open with many more following in rapid succession.

"Grrr... Finally!"

I was so annoyed that a growl escaped my lips, making an old guy behind me turn and give me a bemused look.

'Fuck...'

Composing myself, I quickly hid my annoyed expression and leaned against the nearest wall, pretending to be unaffected by the whole ordeal.

Now all I needed to do was wait for the girls to purchase the clothes and leave the store.

Salvation was finally in sight...

"What do you think?"

Suddenly, a familiar voice interrupted my thoughts, making me snap back to reality.

Confused as to why Rose was calling me, I raised my eyes from the floor.

"..."

For a moment, I was quite taken aback by what I saw.

In the Game, Rose was portrayed as one of the most beautiful beings in the entire world of Leclentia.

Every single feature of her face was flawlessly sculpted - her big, mesmerizing eyes shining like the icy ocean, her perfectly shaped nose that accentuated her delicate features, and the way her lips curved into a subtle smile that held both innocence and mischief.

All in all, Rose was kind of an epitome of beauty.

However, as I looked at her now, I realized that she was even more breathtaking in person.

She wore a simple white dress that hugged her curves in all the right places, accentuating her natural beauty even more.

"..."

For a second, I was speechless, trying to keep my cool and not let my jaw drop to the floor.

Somehow, it felt like I'd lose if I allowed myself to be captivated by her beauty.

"Aiden?"

Not hearing my response, Rose leaned closer, calling my name again, this time with a hint of concern in her voice.

This brought me back to reality and I quickly regained my composure, biting the tip of my tongue to ground myself.

"I think the dress looks good."

I showed my fist and raised my thumb up in approval, trying to maintain a calm expression.

It's not that I was bewitched by her beauty, but her new appearance just caught me off guard.

I only required a few moments to regain my bearings.

Oh...

Okay, I'm good now.

After receiving my opinion, Rose gave me a small smile that seemed to hide a hint of relief and was about to dash off back to the fitting rooms, where she came from, to possibly try on more clothing options.

However...

I didn't let her, quickly grabbing her by her hand.

Although I wasn't a fan of touching other people or staying in close proximity, especially with women, this had to be done.

Tough times require tough decisions...

"How long will we spend shopping today?"

I tried to be as polite as possible, however, I knew that my face was slightly twitching.

Well, my control over my facial expressions wasn't exactly the best.

"..."

Rose stared me down for a second, making me conscious that I was still holding her hand.

Quickly, I let go of her hand, forcing myself not to take a step back.

"I don't know~"

However, Rose responded with a playful tone, flashing me a mischievous smile that made my insides churn.

'Should I just run away?'

Looking at her elegant frame going back toward the fitting rooms, I scratched my head and took a deep breath, momentarily diverting my attention toward the street outside.

My eyes instantly locked onto one of the buildings, specifically on its rooftop garden, where a lone silhouette stood.

As soon as our eyes connected, I knew something was wrong.

Those were not the eyes of a human!

Without any further hesitation, I dashed toward the direction of the fitting rooms, managing to catch up to Rose before she disappeared inside.

"Rose, we have a prob-"

I grabbed her by her hand and was about to inform her about the possible attack, when the entire store shook violently, interrupting my words and sending us both stumbling.

Rumble...I think you should take a look at

We both fell to the ground and somehow I managed to become a cushion for Rose, who fell onto me, making me feel like a pillow.

Ughh...

I growled and grumbled as we untangled ourselves from the heap on the floor, my mind racing with concern for our safety.

I could hear the screams around us and the panicked commotion of people rushing to find safety.

Crack...

Cracks began to spread on the store's sealing, making me curse under my breath.

"Cryokinesis: Free Flow!"

However, before the entire building could cave in and crush us under the weight, Rose used her Mana Art to create massive Ice pillars that served as a support structure, preventing the collapse and shielding us from harm.

"What is happening?!"

We quickly stood up, dusting off the dust and rubble that fell on us.

Boom...

I could hear the explosions echoing throughout the surrounding area, parts of buildings falling onto the streets below and killing innocent bystanders.

"..."

For a second I stared at the scene agape, unable to comprehend the chaos unfolding before my eyes.

No, I haven't lost my mind.

However, at that moment, countless thoughts rushed through my head.

Why is this happening now?

Why is the Demon attack that reaped the lives of more than half of the city's population occurring now!?

"We have to move. The city is under attack!"

Turning toward Rose, I barely managed to utter a few words before another shockwave and deafening explosion rocked the street outside.

Without any further explanation, I grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the back entrance of the store.

"Aiden!"

However, she quickly pulled her hand away from mine and turned to face me with a fierce gaze.

"What about the others!?"

She pointed to the people lying and screaming on the ground, helpless and vulnerable amidst the chaos.

Some of them were awakeners like the girls with whom the Rose came, however, I could see their trembling bodies and fear-stricken faces.

None of them had fought a real battle.

"..."

For a second I felt coldness circulating through my being.

My mind became as clear as the ice pillars that Rose had created.

There was no way everyone could be saved. There was simply no way we could reach the safe area before one of the Demons spotted us.

Marching in the group would simply make us a bigger target.

"Rose..."

I spoke or rather growled, knowing that there was no time to argue or hesitate.

I had to make a difficult decision.

These people did nothing wrong, however, they didn't amount to anything either.

My priority was my own and Rose's survival.

While Rose was a protagonist and was crucial to the fight against the Demon God, I had knowledge of the future that could potentially save countless lives.

It is said that human life is invaluable, but in this moment of chaos and survival, I had to prioritize our own lives.

'It is for the better future...'

I said to myself, firmly, suppressing any hesitation or remorse.

"Don't worry..."

Letting out a heavy sigh, I flashed Rose a smile that was probably more sinister than comforting.

"Everything will be fine..."

I approached her and before she could even react, hugged her tightly.

"Ai-den!?"

Rose shrieked in surprise and confusion, her cheeks flushed with both anger and astonishment.

However, before she could do anything else, I leaned even closer to her ear and whispered in a low, husky voice.

"I'm sorry..."

Thud...

I swiftly struck her solar plexus, momentarily blocking the Mana Flow to her core and making her collapse in my arms, rendering her unconscious.

'She'll hate me for this...'

I took in a deep breath, glancing at the unconscious Rose in my arms.

Then my eyes shifted toward the other Mage Academy cadets, who were bewildered and had fear etched across their faces.

"If you want to survive, follow me."

I made sure that the group of girls heard me loud and clear, before turning around and striding toward the back of the store.

I could feel glances of shock and disbelief following my every move, but I paid them no mind.

Although my actions might seem cruel and ruthless, I merely did what was necessary to ensure our survival.

This was what I was willing to do to survive.