Chapter 296 Early Encounter

"I don't think they got what you are trying to say," Iliana remarked from behind Basil.

"I don't deserve to be called a genius if I can't even understand that." Basil shook his head faintly.

"Have people told you that you are... Narcissistic?" Iliana quirked her eyebrow lightly. "You got skills and all, but aren't you too full of yourself?"

"Prove me wrong then." Basil smirked.

"Well, I can't. You are indeed a genius—just like me."

"Talking about being narcissistic..." Basil snorted lightly in amusement.

Iliana just shrugged, then didn't say anything else. She just hugged Basil's waist as she gazed at the people around them cheering his name in delight.

She had expected Basil to be an amazing fellow ever since her eyes landed on him at the Regional Tournament, but she had never expected, in less than half a year, the young man who had managed to gain her interest could turn out to be a Hero.

Basil himself actually didn't like to be called a Hero—she understood his reason well, and very much agreed with him—but from the perspective of the people, he was indeed a hero.

They might stop hailing him as a Hero once they knew what he was willing to do to achieve his goal, but there was no way that would ever happen. Basil would never leave anyone who had seen the underhanded deeds he had done alive.

She was the lucky person, who he had allowed to witness him doing his questionable deeds—she could tell people about it, but she would never do that. He would be harmed if she did that, and she didn't want that to happen.

"It is weird, isn't it?" Iliana mused to herself about why she had such a fondness for Basil. "I've been putting off asking about it, but what are we actually?"

"What do you want us to be?" Basil asked back.

"I have a weird desire for you to be my disciple."

"Then, so be it."

"I don't have anything to teach you though." Iliana frowned slightly. "Well, there may be something we can learn together."

"I need to stop you right there." Basil put his hand on top of Iliana's hand that was already just a few millimeters away from touching his member. "Let's do it when you are 24."

Iliana clicked her tongue in annoyance, and muttered, "I knew it—he must be into older women! No wonder he let that sleazy Viscountess cling on him."

"... That was the quickest and worst conclusion I have ever seen someone make." Basil chuckled lightly. "Don't worry. I am only into you, but I will only pluck you when you are mature enough."

"You sound like an old man—a perverted old man," Iliana said dryly.

"I am not old—just an experienced man. An experienced perv—forget it."

Iliana blinked her eyes in surprise, before laughing humorously. "So you know how to joke too! I thought your sense of humour was as dry as a desert—I am glad it is not."

Basil merely shook his head and smiled softly at that. He knew Iliana was just trying to cheer him up; he must have let his emotion seep through his Mana, and Iliana had sensed that.

He was just actually irked that the crowd didn't get what he had wanted to say, but Iliana must have sensed the faint sadness he was feeling.

He didn't know where that feeling even came from, but he strongly believed that he felt it due to the faint influence of the Fragment he was was connected to. It felt so strange, since he felt it was unfortunate that he had chosen to abandon humanity.

He also didn't know what Iliana thought he was currently thinking about, but he wasn't that curious about it. He was sure it was better to not ask about it, rather than risking causing a bigger misunderstanding.

"Hey, are you going to wash yourself when we reach the camp?"

"Actually, we have already arrived, but yes. Why though?" Basil quirked his eyebrow faintly.

"I want to wash myself too, so let's do it together."

"No mature activities until you are 24," Basil reminded calmly.

"I get it," Iliana said dryly. "Seriously though, what do you see me as now?"

"A family that I will hate to lose."

"... Have I just gotten sister-zoned?"

"Would it satisfy you if I mother-zoned you instead?"

"No, I'm fine staying as your girlfriend."

Chuckling lightly at Iliana's response, Basil patted Deacon's head as he told Deacon to enjoy himself while he was taking a shower. He then swiftly turned his body around, surprising Iliana in the process, before jumping off Deacon with her.

Everyone was surprised when Basil suddenly jumped away with Iliana like that, but no one questioned what they were going to do as they disappeared into the city hall.

They had an idea what the couple were going to do ... Though not all of them got it right.

"Wow... He really is a clean freak, isn't he?"

"Well, who doesn't want to enjoy a bath after having a tiresome day?"

"Ah... It reminds of the days when I was young."

"Mate, you are 30."

"I mean, younger. I was like them too with my girlfriend."

"You never had a girlfriend."

"Who are you, who are so knowledgeable of my life?!"

While the Legion Commanders had the right idea about what Basil was going to do in the city hall with Iliana, the other people could only assume things. His friends were no different from most of the people there as they shook their head bitterly.

Unaware of and uncaring to the people's misunderstanding, Basil and Iliana took their time washing their body.

...

As Basil and Iliana got out of the bathroom looking fresh 20 minutes after, they were greeted by the equally fresh looking Legion Commanders and Vice Commanders, who had been waiting for them in the hall.

"It is good to see you again, Head Commander!"

"Did you enjoy your bath time, Head Commander?"

"You look great, Vice Commander Iliana."

Basil quirked his eyebrow at them, but they greeted him first instead of directly addressing what was the matter. He nodded his head lightly at that, whereas Iliana complimented Cassandra back who had complimented her.

"Someone wants to meet you, Head Commander," Glenn said seriously. "You can't unfortunately refuse this as—"

"Edward is here?"

"Pardon? Uh, yes," Glenn answered in bewilderment. "How can you..."

Glenn was wondering how Basil could possibly know Edward had come, but he would never figure that Basil had known it because of the Guide. Scratching his head in confusion, he eventually shook his head to forget the matter afterwards.

"Anyway, Prince Edward says he wants to talk to you about something."

"Just me?"

Glenn's eyes moved towards Iliana briefly. "He wants to see all of the main stars of this battle."

"I see..." Basil turned to Iliana, then nodded his head lightly. "I will see you later, so you can go ahead and join the others without me."

"I'll be waiting for you." Iliana nodded her head lightly. "The others will wait for you even until the world's end this time, so make sure to join us later. See you."

"Ah, Vice Commander Iliana, wait! The Prince also... Wants to see you..." Glenn sighed helplessly as he looked at the disappearing back of Iliana, who didn't pay any heed to his words. "Head Commander..."

"My girlfriend is allergic to Royalties." Basil waved his hand nonchalantly. "It's better to not let them meet each other."

None of the people there understood what actually Basil meant by his words, but they nodded their head nonetheless. Basil and Iliana were, after all, both hard to understand, so it was better for them to not question anything that came out of the two's mouth.

Instead of getting an answer that would clear up their confusion, they would get more confused after all. Walking silently behind Basil, the Legion Commanders went out to meet Edward together with him.

They could see many people surrounding the city hall to greet them the moment they got out of the city hall, but none of the people dare to make a noise as Edward was also there standing not far away from the city hall's door.

Quirking his eyebrow as he wondered how Iliana had avoided Edward, who he was sure had already been there even before they finished showering, Basil soon found her talking with the students from Randalvine Magic Institute a few meters away from Edward.

He smiled in amusement as he could imagine Iliana ignoring Edward's gaze the moment she got out of the city hall. He was sure it was the case, since there was no way Edward didn't recognize Iliana's face.

"I have heard many things about you, Basil Pacifer," Edward remarked with a smile as Basil arrived in front of him. "Everyone here is also talking about you—I can't find a single person not talking about you."

"It's nice to meet you, Edward."

Basil extended his hand under everyone's bewildered gaze. Edward also blinked his eyes in surprise, but he immediately grasped Basil's hand with a chuckle afterwards.

"It's nice to meet you too, Basil." Edward smiled pleasantly. "You really are as... Unique as the rumours make you to be."

"I, unfortunately, can't comment anything about you, since there are not that many rumours circulating about you." Basil lightly smiled. "You have a strong grip however—I can easily say you are more than the rumours make you to be."

"Thank you for your kind words." Edward let go of Basil's hand, then said, "What about having our conversation in a more quiet place?"

"You should have waited there instead of meeting me here."

"Hahaha! I was just too excited to meet the Hero of Woster County."

"I am Basil, not a Hero. Get it right, Edward."

As Basil and Edward walked away together while merrily talking to each other as if they were good friends, the people watching the exchange between the two could only blink their eyes in bafflement and utter bewilderment.

They had initially thought Edward would throw a Royal tantrum when Basil had called him without addressing his status as a Prince, but he had taken it extremely well.

Not only did Edward not get mad at Basil, but he had also responded Basil like he was childhood friends with Basil. He looked too pleased with how Basil treated him, so it further bewildered them.