Chapter 164: Red Zone 67 (4)

These two…

Ayen did not know if he was supposed to laugh or roll his eyes at their antics. He could only sigh and watch the two espers play around from the upper deck.

Khal and Devion were now playing around a massive sea monster that was almost the same size as their submarine. They stopped in the middle of the deep ocean when the two decided to eat a sea monster and let Ayen taste some too.

Which led to this scenario. In fact, the two were the only ones enjoying playing with the sea monster, but the monster was fighting for its life.

Judging by its mana density exuded, it was an S-class monster. Yet, the monster that terrified the world was only being toyed with by those two espers.

Who was truly the monster seemed to be something to ponder about.

Ayen watched how the two enjoyed chasing the monster, and his expression relaxed. Well, it was also good.

They needed to relax, too.

As though they sensed his gaze, both glanced at Ayen. Khal waved at him, now standing at the monster’s head. While Devion did the same, Ayen could not see exactly, but he knew that he winked too.

Ayen did not respond with a wave, but his gaze clearly softened. Seeing them like this was rare, proof that Khal and Devion were still human. This side of them remained, and Ayen found himself being relieved by that realization.

Despite the whole world being terrified yet worshiping them, Khal and Devion managed to keep this part of them.

It might not be something that everyone could see. Ayen’s heart skipped a beat at the thought that he might be the only one of those few who could, if not the only one.

Although there was some distance between the sea monster and the submarine, Ayen could still hear their voices. It was loud enough, and the two did not care either way about suppressing them.

After all, they were the only ones there in the middle of nowhere.

“Pull it, babe!” Devion shouted, and Khal showed a sign as if to say wait. “What are you waiting for?”

Khal chuckled at him. “Don’t be impatient!”

“Stop playing around, asshole.”

Khal only laughed at him, not taking him seriously. After all, both were playing around here.

In the end, the two ’finally’ managed to kill the sea monster, or they had already gotten bored. Devion had plans for it and was only grinning when they brought the massive sea monster towards the submarine.

“Let’s go for sashimi.” Devion patted the monster and showed it off to Ayen. “It’ll taste good.” His mouth was already salivating.

Khal shrugged when his eyes locked with Ayen; they both actually had the same thoughts.

Devion was only using Ayen, but he was the one truly craving the sashimi. Ayen did not mind, but he found it amusing sometimes. He was not even that fond of eating raw dishes.

However, he would surely eat it as Devion prepared it for them.

They were almost at their destination. It was not yet close, but not too far either. It might take another day or two, considering their pace and the obstacles along the way.

The sea monster was so massive that they had to use their abilities to cut and prepare it. The mana core was already extracted and given to Ayen for safekeeping.

It just happened like that. Along the way, the two managed to clear sea monster dens, and most mana cores were given to Ayen as usual, as though it were a matter of course.

Ayen had stopped noticing it, either, and took the mana core and put it in storage without any thought.

The sea was an unknown territory, and they were not on an expedition either, and had no intention to clear everything, only those along their route.

Ayen realized that the sea was far too dangerous from the surface, as it was teeming with higher-level monsters, almost devoid of lower-level monsters, and might be just food for these monsters.

It also made sense, as the government almost did not pay attention to this side because of the lack of preparations, and most espers were unwilling to fight in such a disadvantageous location.

It was not long, and the sea monster was no more, and some of its fresh meat was put onto their table. Devion was meticulous as ever, and the plating was world-class.

The vibrant color of the sea monster’s meat emphasized its rank, and Ayen also sensed that it still contained mana. Most monster meat was in demand and highly sought after because of this.

Ayen took a bite under their gaze; these two always wanted him to have the first bite.

“How is it?” Devion especially chose the parts that were highly beneficial for the human body to consume.

Ayen chewed on the meat and paused. He tilted his head and nodded. “Good… I guess?” He honestly could not tell. It was surely of high quality, but he was not fond of raw foods at all.

At this, both espers could not help but chuckle. It was to be expected, yet adorable. Ayen did not mind such a reaction. At this point, whatever he did would generate that kind of reaction somehow.

Khal and Devion began eating as well. Unlike Ayen, they ate faster, especially Devion, who was craving sashimi in the first place.

Halfway through, Khal mentioned something, and both of them looked at him. It was something that had already lingered in his mind for a few days.

“Should we stay in the red zone?” Khal asked. They were almost there, and this needed to be decided on. “We can go back and forth in the forbidden zone. In the break, we return to the forbidden zone?”

That place had already unknowingly become their home. Ayen might not yet treat it as one, but Khal and Devion already did. It was a place also away from intrigue and truly isolated from the world.

Despite the chaotic location, it gave a peaceful atmosphere. Something Ayen had also admitted before. It was as though if he stayed for longer inside, he would already become lost in it.

Unlike Aegi’s paradise, it certainly did not appear serene, but it was more grounded and comfortable without being too out of touch with the world.

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