Chapter 160: Fluffy Ears

“Is it… related to that mark?”

Dante inhaled deeply.

That sigil wasn’t like a normal slavery mark. It was completely different, and no one would look at it and think of enslavement.

Additionally, a strange mark on the head wasn’t something unusual. An ability of a class, a strange trait, an artifact, a relic, they all could end up giving similar marks.

However, Emeralda was able to see that the mark was related to Dante somehow based on the feeling she had whenever she looked at him.

That feeling was the trait he hated the most after the misfortune traits, Demon of Temptation.

That trait not only affected his appearance, but also his voice and presence. Dante couldn’t stop that trait by only wearing a mask and hiding his face.

Unless he crippled himself, burned his face, and damaged his own throat, he would always be attractive. And his mask couldn’t do anything about that. It could hide the existence of his trait, but not disable the effect.

And he hated that.

He also hated the fact that Ruby got that cursed trait of all things.

’Should I just burn my face? This might annoy Greed, the one who gave this trait to me.’

Many dangerous thoughts played in Dante’s mind for a few seconds before he dismissed them and answered Emeralda: “Yes, it’s actually the same thing. Anyway, are you here to participate?”

Seeing that Dante was avoiding the topic, Emeralda nodded helplessly: “Yes. Jin and I are luckily 25, the maximum age to participate in the competition. What about you and that merchant?”

“It’s only me. Ruby won’t participate, as she isn’t really good when it comes to fighting people…” Dante lowered his head: “She’ll be only watching me. And even if she wants to participate, she’s 27 or 28. Her age doesn’t allow her to participate.”

“Oh, I see.”

The line kept moving rapidly. Ruby and Jin were the only people talking, while Dante and Emeralda only exchanged a few words from time to time before returning to their usual silence.

After finally reaching the building, they all finished their registration quickly. All they had to do was use an artifact that could determine a person’s real age and pay the registration fees…

The fees were 8 mana crystals!

That was almost 160 gold coins or 16 platinum coins! That was enough to feed a poor family for months!

“After 4 months, a small test will be held. Its main purpose is to execute all the weak candidates who think that the competition is a joke.”

Dante and the others nodded to the registration guy before leaving the building, holding a small coin with a special “M” mark on one face and their names on the other face.

That was the proof of their registration. Just like the mercenary licence, those coins were linked to their owners and couldn’t be faked, though it used spiritual energy instead of blood.

“Do you want to rent a room together?” Emeralda suggested with a smile: “We can share the best room possible for the next few months.”

“No, I’m okay being alone.” Dante rejected her offer immediately, then looked at Ruby: “But I think Ruby can go with you.”

“What?! My lo— I mean, D-Dante, I can’t leave you alone!” Ruby shook her head violently.

Her strange behaviour brought strange glances from Jin and Emeralda, especially from Emeralda, who narrowed her eyes sharply.

Dante raised an eyebrow: “Leave me alone? We’ll be neighbours. It’s just that you’ll share a room with them and have people to talk with who won’t slap you suddenly. It doesn’t look bad, right?”

Ruby’s face paled upon remembering Fafnir.

’Is my lord concerned about me?’

Ruby almost cried at that thought, to think that her lord wanted to separate her from his shadow for her own good…

“I understand… You can visit me whenever you want!”

“Sure.” Dante smiled at her.

Emeralda decided to take Jin and Ruby to a good inn that she knew, and Dante said that he’d find one himself and tell them about it later.

“I’ll see you later then.” Emeralda waved to Dante: “Oh, and thank you for your warning back then. You saved our lives!”

“You’re welcome.” Dante waved back to her, then watched as their figures disappeared slowly.

After they left, he walked in the streets in search of a good place to spend the night.

“Filthy peasant!”

BAM!

Just then, Dante heard strange noises coming from a nearby alley.

Upon entering the alley, he saw a woman in fancy clothes kicking a young girl who didn’t look older than 12.

Dante quickly interfered and held the woman’s shoulder, applying some force only enough to cause some pain.

“Sorry for interrupting you, but can you stop? I think the girl will die at this rate.” Dante said calmly with a smile.”

The woman faced him with a furious, ugly face, but upon seeing his clothes and face, her behaviour changed dramatically: “Oh… ah, I’m sorry. Haha, it’s just that I had a bad day and this peasant touched my dress with her filthy hand!”

Dante looked at the woman’s dress, seeing a dirty hand mark on it.

“I understand, but isn’t that enough? I don’t think a dress is worth more than her life.”

The woman raised an eyebrow, as though she didn’t agree with his statement, but she eventually let the matter go and left after giving the little girl a look of disgust.

’Is she retarded? Does she really think that a small dirty mark justifies killing?’

Dante sighed and gave a hand to the little girl, helping her to sit: “Ah… are you okay?”

He couldn’t help but feel some empathy.

After all, he once was homeless and dirty, just like her.

People often called him a criminal despite doing nothing wrong, an addict despite having no money to buy drugs even if he wanted, filthy when he was simply prioritizing food over soap, and pathetic only for existing.

They accused him of things he never did just because of his condition.

They accused him of laziness when they didn’t know how he turned like this.

They treated him as a liability to society when he was working more than most of them. He had to beg because what he did as a job wasn’t enough to feed him.

They were all hypocrites who were simply luckier than him. If they ever had to be in his shoes, they would have done better.

“I’m okay… sniff… thank you…” the little girl lowered her head and cried quietly.

Just then, Dante noticed some strange details about her.

’Are these… fluffy ears?’

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