“Haha, so you realized, didn’t you?” Kuzon finally spoke, after a few seconds of silence.

“What kind of fool do you take me for?”

“….”

The young man snickered, not saying anything more.

“You won’t find me! Not in a thousand years! I’ll keep haunting and hunting you until you pay for what you did.”

“By sending those weaklings? Keep joking.”

“Tch. If not for my responsibilities to the Cult…” Beruel growled.

“Excuses.”

“Yeah? Well why don’t we see about that when I’m done!”

“I don’t need to wait that long.”

The Fairy King, though suspended in midair, sneered at Kuzon and Ana, as though forgetting who the person tied up was.

“You won’t be able to do it.”

“Yeah… I know I can’t. I’ve tried, and with my skillset, it’s impossible. But…” Kuzon glanced beside him and spotted Anabelle’s innocent expression.

Quickly carrying and raising her, Kuzon presented his trump card to the Fairy King.

“I have someone who can.”

“W-what are you doing? P-put me down!!!” Ana screamed, struggling to break free from Kuzon’s hold.

She wanted to cry of embarrassment as she struggled in his grip.

“Together, we’re going to beat you!”

“I see… so you too are a couple.” Beruel’s voice was low, containing a different kind of menacing feel.

“Yeah, sure. Got a problem with that?” At this point, Kuzon put Ana down and smiled coolly at the obviously agreived Fairy King.

“You idiot! Idiot! Don’t carry me like that next time!” Ana beat Kuzon with both her hands, but her assault did nil damage.

In fact, the young Midas was simply intrigued by Ana’s struggles that he was tempted to tease her even more.

“Couples… all couples must dieeeeee!!!” Beruel’s voice peaked, and his body began shimmering.

“Ah, he’s going to self-destruct.”

“Eh?” Ana looked at the glowing Fairy King’s body.

“I-is that alright?”

“Yeah. It’s fine. My strings already invaded his body, and I got what I wanted.” In a flash of golden lightning, a device appeared in front of Kuzon.

It looked like a mechanical construct, no larger than a thumb.

“What of the explo—”

>BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM<

Once again, with even greater fervor and destruction, Fairy King Beruel altered the landscape.

********************

“Are you okay?” At this point, Kuzon drew closer to the girl who was seated on one of his constructs.

It hadn’t taken long for Kuzon to rebuild the large mansion that was destroyed, and even when he did so, his eyes remained on Ana.

Once it was complete, the boy returned to his dear friend.

“What did you mean when you told Beruel we would defeat him together?”

“Ah, down to business already?”

Ana glared at Kuzon, causing the latter to apologize immediately.

“Okay, so… where do I begin?” Kuzon collapsed on the sofa, directly beside Ana.

“W-why don’t you find somewhere else to seat?”

“Really? Why? Are you uncomfortable?”

“No… it’s not that…” Ana fidgeted on her seat.

‘So cute!’ Kuzon grinned internally enjoying every moment of the tease.

“Then I’m staying here.” Spreading his hand all across the sofa, he made himself comfortable.

“D-do what you like! Like I care! Just tell me what you were talking about back then.”

“Ah, well remember when you said I have been doing nothing ever since we’ve been together?”

“Yeah. Cus that is the truth.”

“Well, I was actually cracking this code from Beruel’s Clone—the one he sent after your group.” Kuzon brought out a chip.

It looked similar to the other thing hr brought out of the clone that attacked then not too long ago.

“Can I see?”

Kuzon gave the chip to Ana and continued explaining.

“I’m good at many things, but not mechanics. I tried using Magic to do it, using all the Spells I could, but none are working..”

His goal was to use the chip to backtrack it’s location until he arrived at the source—Fairy King Beruel himself.

“If the thing had self-destructed when Jared was with it, the chip would have also been obliterated. That’s why I intervened and got it in time, destroying the rest of his body.”

“I see…” Ana was distracted by the chip, though she still listened to Kuzon attentively.

“So, as I struggled to backtrack the chip, I knew Beruel would make another move. It was only a matter of time, so I decided to wait until he did so.”

“Hold on… I thought you said you were waiting for me to speak to you before making a move.”

“Well, there’s that factor too. As much as I like your company, I wouldn’t have brought you with me if you’re not going to be useful.

“Hey!” At this point, Ana’s glare was evident.

If Kuzon didn’t vindicate himself fast, then…

“Come on, don’t look at me like that. Shouldn’t you be happy? I don’t consider you a burden, after all.”

“Uh?” Ana looked at him with a changed expression of surprise.

“I actually need your help. That’s what I mean. Now that I’ve gotten another chip from the enemy, that makes two parts. With this, the chances of success should increase.”

“Hold on, what exactly do you want me to do?” Ana stared at the smiling boy.

“Help me find Beruel… the real one.”

For a moment, no one spoke.

They both looked at each other—Kuzon smiling, and Ana dazed.

As much as she disliked being used by people, Ana couldn’t help but feel some degree of pride and inexplicable joy rising from her small chest.

It was almost like the time when Jared told her to work on the Demon-Obliterating device with Maro, Aloe, and Neron.

However, this time it was different.

“Are you sure you need only me? You’ll have better chances with a group.” Ana said in a low tone.

“I’m sure. No other genius could have defeated Lydia of Blanc, and definitely not with half-assed tech.”

Ana blushed a little.

“I’ve also been observing your clothes… down to your underwear.”

A wave of shock enveloped the room, and Ana’s face gree red the moment she realized what the big had just said.

“KUZOOOONNNN!!!”