Chapter 348: The Puzzle Pieces

Chapter 348: The Puzzle Pieces

"Huh? I don’t know what you’re talking about?”

Frey quietly moved his steps and opened his mouth upon hearing Ruby’s question.

"A regressor? What is that?"

"Just as it sounds."

Ruby stared at him with a serious expression and spoke.

"I asked you, are you a regressor who has experienced the future and returned back to the past?"

In response, Frey gazed at Ruby, momentarily rendered speechless.

"Pfft."

After a brief silence, Frey began to burst into laughter.

"Pfft...Hehehe.."

"W-what, what's so funny?"

"A regressor, you say? That's impossible, right?"

Looking at Ruby with pity, Frey sighed and said.

"You should know it too. It's impossible to turn back time."

"But–"

"What do you mean by but? I never imagined you would be so silly, Ruby."

As Frey sneered at her and moved forwards, Ruby began to look confused.

He’s not a regressor?

It was so strange.

Clearly, all the events that had happened so far could be perfectly explained if she assumed that Frey was a regressor.

However, Frey just denied that he was a regressor.

It was completely different from the conclusion Ruby had come up with after analyzing him over and over again for several days.

"Frey..."

Experiencing a throbbing headache due to the situation, Ruby attempted to stay close to Frey. However, she soon widened her eyes.

No way, how did she know about it already?

The mental transmission that Ruby secretly planted in his mind was conveying Frey's thoughts into her mind.

Should I just tell her the truth?

Frey's expression looked very gloomy as he clenched his hands.

"Uh-um..."

For a split second, Ruby looked stunned as if she had been hit on the head with a hammer.

"What are you doing, Ruby? Hurry up, let's go."

"W-where are we going?"

When she asked with a flushed face, Frey replied with a bright voice.

"Of course, we should go on a date."

"D-date?"

It was truly a strange word for her.

Going on a date with the Demon King like her?

That wasn’t something that the Hero would do, right?

She thought he was just teasing her so far.

Nevertheless, his gaze looked very sincere.

"What are you doing? Aren't you coming?"

"A-are you really going on a date? With me?"

"Of course, it's natural to go on a date with someone you like, right?"

"..."

As Frey's words were becoming a reality, Ruby, who had been hesitating, spoke with a slightly open mouth.

"I-I've never been on a date before."

"Hmm?"

"I have no experience in this. I don't even know what to do, so it'll probably be quite awkward..."

"It doesn't matter."

Frey lifted the corner of his mouth and whispered.

"Because I'll lead you."

"..."

"You just need to follow my lead."

Frey held Ruby's hand and continued.

"Hurry up. Follow me."

"..."

Ruby could easily brush off Frey's frail hand.

He always did something unnecessary, like when he blocked the attack for her earlier.

So, it was only right to brush off a temptation from such swindlers.

"...Alright."

However, Ruby just nodded and let herself be led by Frey.

It’s not that I fall for his tricks. I'm just trying to like this bastard enough to be able to attack him.

Just like that, Ruby continued to mutter inwardly.

The truth about Frey being a 'regressor,' which she had thought about until a moment ago, was now pushed to the back of her mind.

- Thump, thump...

Now, even without Frey adjusting her heart, Ruby's chest was pounding hard.

.

.

.

And during that enjoyable time, she inevitably became certain of one thing.

As expected, Frey is...

"Munch, munch..."

"Hm?"

Ruby, who was quietly lost in thought, casually turned her gaze to the sound coming in front of her.

"What are you eating?"

"Oh, this? Ice Dragon Berry."

"Ice Dragon?"

"No, it's a Puppy Love Fruit."

"Where did you get that?"

"The Ice Witch’s thought form gave it to me earlier. It's refreshingly delicious."

Watching Frey nibble on the fruit with an indifferent expression, Ruby, who had been silently observing him, finally asked.

"Anyway, why did she give me this fruit? Is there any meaning to it?"

"By the way, where are we going now?"

"Huh?"

"I asked where we’re going this late at night."

In response, Frey wore a big grin and answered.

"A motel."

"What?"

"We’re heading to a motel."

Upon hearing his answer, Ruby's expression began to stiffen.

"M-Motel? Why?"

"Of course, to get some sleep. What are you thinking?"

After a moment of silence, Ruby burst into a cold sweat and asked.

"I-I didn't think of anything."

"But why is your face turning red?"

"Just shut up."

As Frey began teasing her again, Ruby showed a stern expression.

"And you have to take responsibility."

"What?"

"You ruined my stomach, didn’t you?"

Frey gazed at Ruby, then he stood up and approached her and made eye contact with her. Then he began to gently stroke her lower abdomen.

- Grab...

"I'll take responsibility for it, Ruby."

- Thump...!

Hearing Frey’s words, Ruby's heart began to pound wildly.

"S-stop talking nonsense. Know your place–"

- Slap!!!

"...Huaah?"

Feeling her uncontrollable heart, she closed her eyes tightly and muttered. But suddenly, her cheek forcefully turned to the side. She blinked rapidly, trying to assess what had just happened.

"I won't hit your stomach for a while."

Frey had slapped her cheek with all his might.

"Until we collected all the puzzles."

It was so painful that her cheeks turned red and swollen, then tears were streaming down her face.

"Got it?"

"..."

It felt as if she, the precious daughter of a duke who had grown up with no fear in the world, was thrown into the unfamiliar streets without any preparation and experienced her first assault.

"...Y-Yes."

While having such thoughts, Ruby unintentionally responded with a dumbfounded expression.

It was the moment she obediently submitted to Frey's unreasonable violence for the first time.

.

.

.

.

.

Meanwhile, at that moment...

"Is this... the Western Continent where the Hero is..."

"We don’t have time for this! We need to find the Hero quickly!"

"We should hurry up before the Hero falls into corruption because of that damn bastard...!"

Upon hearing Frey's declaration, the 1st-year Class A students and the Hero Party who had landed on the Western Continent were leaving the port with pale expressions.

"Should we deal with those things first?"

"...Fine, where is that slut now?"

"Hmm."

Coincidentally, the heroines' party, who had also arrived at the Western Continent on the same day, found themselves in a similar situation.

"His energy lingered the most in the desert area. Let's go there first and see if we can find Young Master."

"Errr..."

"Wouldn't just one be alright? Just one ultimate magic..."

The puzzles pieces were gradually gathered in one place.