Chapter 146: The harem guy
"The harem guy?" Arthur's face went beet-red as he recorded Leon's words.
His harem was nothing compared to other people's harem, as his beloveds were his childhood friends, and they had a lot of time to develop trust and feelings for each other. And while he loved them, only Arthur stood out because of his physique, so he had proper plans to always be with them despite growing up with a level gap.
Anyway, his harem was small and unworthy of calling him [The Harem Guy]!
Leon smiled and drove his carriage to the side, not wedging himself between the loud guy and other carriages making their way to Madevin Metropolis.
"You're the first man with a harem, so you are the harem guy for me." Leon casually began the talk.
Arthur did his best to ignore that nickname. "How come it took you so long to come here?"
Seeing how the red-haired man didn't like that nickname, Leon decided to save it for a proper time and remembered this man's name. "Arthur, right? We met once at that succubi event. I don't believe one event was enough for you to wait for me every day at the grand walls' feet."
"I wasn't waiting for you every day." Arthur oddly looked at Leon. "I was checking from time to time. You're an odd fellow for me, so I'm interested in your next achievements…."
Leon's features changed, and mainly his eyes somehow rubbed Arthur wrong. Those eyes were dangerous, but Arthur hadn't found a way to see their sharp glint, and with his personality, he wouldn't be the one to feel those golden hues pinning him down.
And as Leon cut his hair and had his vampiress on his left, Arthur wouldn't mistake this odd man for someone else. Moreover, Leon displayed his stats, so it was easy to see through his identity.
That identity was pretty weak since it's been some time since Leon's grand achievement.
But Arthur kept that man in his mind, for Leon easily snatched control over the mass and guided them like an army to the succubi's hideout.
"Sounds like you have nothing to do." Leon openly shared his thoughts, and his women nodded.
Their reactions annoyed Arthur as he had worked hard in the past months! He had seen through his shortcomings after the succubi event, bonded more with his harem, and studied a lot within the walls. When he saw and interacted with Leon, it was his first time adventuring outside the world, so he had a lot to learn.
Arthur could only rely on his strength back then.
He was different now.
"You aren't corrupted by the main guild's system yet. I feel like I can learn a lot from you before your ego grows and you become like others. Wanna be friends?" Arthur asked with clear sincerity shining in his eyes.
And as Leon recalled how people spent a lot of time training up and building their base strength before leaving their homes to level up, he felt like he was looking through the finest example of that training system.
He'd change that system a little and let people experience the world together with teachers. But each to their own, right?
"I'm Leon." Leon extended his hand and shook it with Arthur's.
Arthur smiled. "I'm known as Red Geyser! Name Arthur!"
"So, Arthur…" Leon wrapped his arm around Arthur's shoulder like a good buddy. "Will you help me with something? You must know someone of high status in Heaven Library Guild."
"Why does it sound like you want to smuggle something?" Arthur inwardly questioned his sudden and new friendship. He threw his eyes at Louise and Celes, but these two kindly smiled and didn't say anything.
Arthur wasn't someone interesting in their eyes, even if he had a unique body filled with unusual skills.
Arthur retracted his eyes to Leon and whispered. "You must tell me what you're planning."
"Just call someone really important here. The higher level, the better." Leon whispered back.
Arthur squinted his eyes and murmured in a barely audible voice. "You don't want to do any ego play, right? Leon, I hope you don't have more ego than already ranked guild members. I hate them."
"Says the guy who wanted to fight me for leadership. You are the same but tamer." Leon rolled his eyes, making Arthur's head swell from indignation.
"You haven't seen ranked guild members, so I'll let it slide… If you think I have an ego, you'll change your opinion of me soon!" Arthur decided to bet on his new friendship and opened his system.
Nothing disturbed the chat feature since he wasn't in a battle and was pretty close to the main capital. He called one of his seniors here and warned Leon to not be arrogant or disrespectful.
"My goal is to become the library's guardian. And my relationship with that senior is important, so don't do anything presumptuous in his presence. It'll reflect on me." Arthur explained.
Leon and his women couldn't believe their ears.
"It will take years for you to even step inside that library…." Leon sighed but was inwardly relieved since he should be able to call someone important here and pass Else without anyone noticing anything odd.
And with her explanation, Leon and his party shouldn't receive any mistreatment.
A few minutes later, an old man in brown robes, white hair, and a beard approached Arthur.
"Good morning, Senior Raven! I hope you're having a good day!" Leon's friend swaying red hair calmed down in his presence, and he became like a good grandkid.
He made a respectable gesture by bumping his fist into his palm and bowed.
The senior warmly smiled at him, then locked his attention on Leon Blade.
"Your eyes will turn many people here jealous, young man." The old man said to Leon, then shifted his eyes to Louise and Celes. "You two have chosen the wrong place to start your new lives."
Arthur blinked, looking from Leon's women to his senior like a clueless chicken.
Leon became a little tense. But he didn't feel any ill-intent or second thoughts from the old man, so he was still chill about his presence.
"Heaven Library Guild is a place open to everyone, but our oldies have a very good memory and studied all wonders of our world. Legends aren't legends here. While I nearly couldn't recognize you, the vampiress is not that old, and we have naturally invaded vampires a few times to gather information about them, only to get lured by that vampiress here." The old man faintly smiled. "Yesterday's news. Am I correct?"
Celes nodded, still comfortably warming her spot next to Leon's driver seat.
Arthur felt like pissing himself off from fear. "Huh? She… She killed one of us?"
Senior Raven ignored his student. "The newest generations won't know about you, so I reckon your choice of coming here is not that bad." He then recalled the recent demon incident that Arthur wasn't aware of, sighing. "You can't feel that safe here if you want to start your new life here."
"If someone attacks us, it won't be quiet." Leon snatched the old man's attention, his choice of words bothering him. "We needed you because of someone… Check our carriage's interior, please."
Hearing those words, Alexandra opened the doors and came out, inviting the old man inside. Upon seeing her, the old man's eyes narrowed.
Meanwhile, his student exclaimed. "Oh, the loyal and cute maid! I thought you had lost her! It'd be such a pity!"
"Arthur, you can leave us for now. Go and study the blue dragons. I'll ask you a few questions tomorrow." Senior Raven shook his head and shooed his student away, whose head drooped as he received more homework.
Leon and his women laughed.
Soon, Senior Raven entered the carriage's inside.
"Oh, Raven! We're finally home then!" Else came out from her hideout and greeted the old man. "I've learned a lot after Leon saved me! I had first-hand world experience!"
Senior Raven stood stupefied, certainly not expecting a level hundred party to bring back his guild's wonder child.
"Little Else…" The old man dropped onto his knees, tears crumbling down his cheeks. "Madame Jasmin will finally be able to rest."
"I'm fine. Why are you crying?" Else asked.
Outside, Celes poked her beloved's head with her umbrella. "So why haven't you told Else to use her system and send a message to her mother or anyone in the guild?"
Leon blanked.
Louise snapped and defended him. "Leon must have thought about it! He just wanted to see whether he would be able to enter inside without her help! Right, Leon?"
Leon nervously licked his lips. "I haven't thought about that."
Louise looked at her beloved with wide eyes.
Celes shook her head and left her seat.
"Am I becoming stupid?" Leon asked.
"You have been reading too much of your ero book." Celes casually replied, unfolding her umbrella.
"That must be the case!" Louise nodded and jumped off her seat.
"I thought more about you two." Leon wanted to score a few more points in his new relationship, but that only made him bask in his beloveds' disbelieving and doubting stares.
Whether they teased him or just joked around, Leon had no excuse for his mistake.
Else hopped off the carriage and ran to his side. "Let's go home! I'll show you around!"
Senior Raven stood behind her like a bodyguard and spoke to Leon, whose face flashed with a mixture of doubt and worries. "You've received a ticket to the guild leader's house. I'd take it if I were you."
Else nudged Leon's sleeve.
He took her little hand and followed her.
A shock spread through Madevin Metropolis as the familiar golden-eyed girl went across the streets with a man whose eyes shone the same.