The Ancient Genes

"I am done…my life is over…"

A lifeless Eren sat on the couch staring at the ceiling of the room. His eyes seemed to have lost their glow. He was even letting out silly laughter from time to time.

"Will you stop that already?" Axel frowned as he looked at that guy. He thought that he would probably be fine in an hour, but he had literally been doing the same for half a day. This wasn't a mentality one should have.

"I wish I had said the same to you," Eren replied with a face full of helplessness.

"What are you so afraid of?" Axel shook his head. They had clearly hidden their identities in the guild. There was probably not a single person who had seen their real faces. After all, Axel was very confident in the concealment cloaks that he himself had designed.

"What am I afraid of?" Eren turned his head to look at Axel, "You really dare to ask me that? Bro! You should be asking what I am not afraid of in this situation!! Do you know what you did?!!"

Eren immediately flared up seeing the smile on Axel's face.

"Didn't you hate the nobles to death in the Academy? I am giving you a chance to kill one now. I thought you would be happy.."

Eren's face immediately turned gloomy upon hearing that. What Axel told was true obviously. This was the reason that he knew who the Red Devil was. After all, this name was only known throughout Ocien. But, he being an avid Noble hater had investigated all the trashiest nobles out there who were accused of crimes so, he more or less had an idea about them.

"Fine! I agree that the b*stard deserves death! But, we are not capable of killing him," Eren said with a serious look on his face.

"Is that so?" Axel asked with a smile. He had his own reasons for selecting this quest particularly.

He knew about Crimsons from Max. And, also the fact that the Scarlet Lord and Talia probably were not how the world saw them. He was sure that even if he killed Travis, it probably won't put him against the Scarlet Lord in reality.

Of course, things on the surface would be different though. They probably won't just let him get away with it if he killed Travis. But, things would be different if Max succeeded in pulling Talia out of the Scarlet House, and forced the Demons out.

Besides this, Axel was also thinking about the guild. He knew that as long as things went in their favor, his actions probably would be immortalized and boost the reputation of the guild. And, if they failed, then forget about the guild, they would lose the whole Ocien, hence there was only benefit for the guild in this since it was a do or die situation.

Of course, not everyone knew about this and hence they were freaking out.

"Let me tell you one thing…" Axel looked at Eren, and said, "If you are afraid of just this much, then it probably will be better to leave us and forget about things like joining us.."

Eren's expression immediately changed when he heard that.

"Don't give me a look like that. It might be hard, but it's true. I can't possibly sugarcoat it when the matter is this serious. Do you believe when I say that death might come knocking at the door any moment for us?" Axel asked with a tired look on his face.

"I get it fine!! Do you really need to be like this!! I know that there is danger! But, can't I even complain a little bit! I mean I have to let out my frustration! Besides, taking the path of a mage already meant putting your life on line!"

"And, did you see me running?! If I was really afraid, I would have run long away when you took the stupid quest in the guild, and said things like, 'I don't know this person, just kill him if you want'.."

Axel really was left speechless hearing this guy. But, it seemed that he had underestimated his guts for sure.

"Gosh! I get it! Calm down now!" Axel finally couldn't take his constant bickering any longer, and shut him up.

"Let's go, we are going out.." Axel stood up as they got ready to leave their inn.

"Where are we going now?" Eren asked as he got ready as well.

"To hunt obviously.."

Eren's face twitched, "Are you crazy? I mean I am not afraid, but committing suicide is not my fetish. After the commotion we cause, don't you think people would look for us? And, even that b*stard's security would be tight.."

"Nah, this is the right time to strike..I heard that b*stard is out to entertain a guest today. Since it's like that, I can't possibly leave this opportunity, right? Most people are thinking that I would be hiding today…let's make them realize who the hunter here is.."

Axle was not confident in fighting people head on, but when it came to other ways like concealment, and traps, you might regret messing with a formation master, especially ones like him.

Eren sighed seeing that there was nothing he could do, but follow. After all, he didn't want to be looked down upon. And, he wanted to prove his worth.

Obviously, he would have given it another thought if he knew that guest Travis was going to entertain was none other than the Seventh Son of the Storm Family, the rumored fiance of Erina Scarlet.

The two quietly got out onto the street, the sun was almost down, and it was turning dark.

A long night was about to begin…

….

Scarlet Mansion, Ocien.

"Is everything fine?" Max asked as he looked at Erina who had come to meet him with a troubled look on her face.

"I need your help.." She sighed, and then explained the situation to him. It seemed that she was asked out by Travis tonight, and she knew that Preston was coming, so she understood what this was all about. She obviously wanted to refuse but Talia had just straight up asked her to go.

So, she now had planned to bring Max in the picture, and to not make things awkward, he had asked him to bring Synthia along. That way, even Preston wouldn't be able to find any fault when his own sister was there.

"Hmmn..I see.." Max honestly didn't have much interest in it. But, since she asked him, he obviously was going to help. Not to mention, he had heard something very interesting recently from their guild. So, he was even more willing to go.

'Let's see…he will definitely make a move if he is irritated by Preston ..'