Chapter 384: Banquet and the Devil's Entanglement

The engagement banquet is at the usual place—Agile's grand estate.

It's plenty respectable, spacious and splendid, and it's the property of the Agile family, famous throughout the Kingdom of Etheron—brand value maxed out, basically.

The town hall offers an estate-rental service; every well-off person in Shi Ying Town loves to throw banquets and parties here.

Old gentleman Humbert is a man of standing in Shi Ying Town, so holding an engagement banquet here was perfectly fine in itself.

But the trouble is, the groom isn't him.

The rumors of an affair with his own stepdaughter—if not known by every street corner, are at least known by everyone.

As a commissioner, you've done well in Shi Ying Town—at the very least it's the only still-quiet town on the Dusk Hills—and even if morally it's a bit off, we'll still wish you well.

But what does it mean to have your beloved stepdaughter get engaged at lightning speed to some passing singing bard?

A total cuckold, that's what.

No idea which trigeminal nerve in that old cuckold's head got crossed, but he absolutely insists on making a big show of it, holding a grand engagement banquet on the first night of the new year.

At this moment, Agile Estate.

The estate is enveloped by a large-scale 【Wind Wall Art】 ritual; under the night sky, the soft and mysterious magical glow shines even brighter, making the whole space look like a Disney-level overload of light pollution.

Guests filed in one after another.

Chatting and exchanging pleasantries.

At this moment, a man in a crisp white shirt walked into the 【Wind Wall Art】's range from the howling night wind.

The man was tall, with a rugged yet exceedingly handsome face, a ramrod-straight back, and a gentle smile on his lips. His hair had been slightly tidied, and combined with his calm bearing, there was somehow a blend of a young man's sunshine and a mature man's effortless poise.

Behind him, one person flanked each side—on the left, a slender boy whose features resembled his but were noticeably more delicate and soft; on the right, a glamorous lady in smoky makeup wearing a tasteful black moonsilk gown.

"Mr. Rod! Long time no see."

"Rod! Over here!"

"At last you're here, Mr. Rod."

A few familiar Shi Ying Town locals greeted him first.

Some were investors from New Rank Street, some were owners of ore-processing plants, and some were town hall officials.

Because of Rod's active presence, he'd had dealings with most of them.

And they were all very grateful to and fond of this forest warden who protected Shi Ying Town, so at occasions like this they were more than happy to show up.

Rod himself didn't really remember them, though.

With his arrival.

The front courtyard instantly went much quieter.

Most people's gazes turned to him.

Some outside investors and guests weren't familiar with Rod, but had heard the rumors; they whispered among themselves in their little circles—mostly ladies and young ladies who rarely left their boudoirs.

"So this is that forest warden Rod? He's actually this handsome."

"I wonder if he's married."

"Look, there's a boy behind him—maybe his younger brother? So cute! Exactly my type."

"Hehe, scrawny little boys aren't any fun—one or two rounds and you need to rest a whole day. A tall, sturdy man like Rod is the best; he could absolutely pick you up and carry you without breaking a sweat. Pear, do you dare go talk to him?"

"No thanks—I heard he keeps a succubus in the forest, so his lower half is probably already drained and useless. Besides—can you really guarantee you're more fun than a succubus?"

"N-not necessarily! I have my own bedroom skills too!"

"Hehe."

Rod gave a nod to those he knew as a greeting.

One town hall official's daughter, apparently his fan, saw Rod smile at her and got so excited she started bouncing up and down, making her old father beside her smile wryly.

Rod didn't linger on pleasantries, and led Tally and Chris inside.

He wanted to see how that old cuckold Humbert was doing.

He hadn't run into him in quite some time, so he was at least a little curious.

"A magical banquet? That must cost a pretty penny."

Chris, the banshee once again in smoky makeup as a glamorous lady, raised an eyebrow at the mages surrounding the estate.

She seemed to quite like this kind of banquet and insisted on coming along for the fun.

Rod also noticed the low-level mages nearby maintaining the magical lights.

Just as he was about to say something.

A middle-aged man came hurrying over on a small run, his face pale, his eyes bloodshot, looking utterly exhausted.

"Lord Rod!"

The man was stubbly, with virtually no spiritual accumulation—an ordinary person.

"Lord Rod! Do you still remember me?!"

No recollection.

I generally don't remember men's faces.

Not that he can't remember, though—Rod could remember the faces of the two male elves, Farshad and Bernhard.

During the day he'd run into Bernhard in town; Bernhard had been wandering the street, given Rod a subtle nod as he passed, then walked on.

Per their agreement, before he'd cleanly dealt with the Third Elder's daughter Ashley, he didn't plan to have any contact with anyone from Windwall Forest for the time being.

At this moment.

Chris beside him leaned in and whispered, "Frazer Fairclough—we ran into him and his daughter Orley on the Dusk Hills when we were returning from Jade City to Shi Ying Town. They were being robbed by the Ruins Brotherhood then, and you told me to go help."

Rod looked at the banshee, who seemed rather otherworldly in her smoky makeup, with a surprised expression.

"That good a memory?"

"Don't underestimate a banshee, human." She lifted her chin proudly.

"What did you call me?"

"Master! I mean, Great Master. Please, don't touch me tonight." The Banshee's face changed; she surrendered at light speed.

Her own master was too brutal, and after falling into the 【Charm Fluid】 state, she was too out of control; Chris said she was still young and couldn't take it.

Rod didn't care about her.

He smiled and looked at the middle-aged man, Frezer:

"Of course I remember, Mr. Frezer. I also remember your daughter, Aure, a very cute little girl."

"Yes, yes, yes! No wonder you are my lord Rod!"

Frezer was overjoyed, then shifted to a pleading tone: "My lord Rod, please, save my daughter. Aure, Aure has been entangled by a demon and is near death."

A demon?

Are there demons in Shi Ying Town?

The guys from the Inferno are not easy to deal with.

Rod frowned slightly.

A girl in a dark blue strapless long dress walked over from the front courtyard; the dress stayed up almost entirely thanks to her magnificent bust.

Beneath her elegant swan neck hung a silver chain like waves, resting quietly in the valleys of her pink skin, rising and falling slightly with her breath.

Behind her was a thick golden braid thicker than her waist, the ends at her hips dyed in a gradient of light pink.

— The Witch, Dimia.

She had obviously heard the two's conversation.

On her baby-faced cheeks, which made her broad bosom look even more provocative, hung a bitter smile.

"Mr. Frezer, I remember you discussed this with us. We investigated as well; it was a non-existent matter. Your daughter is simply ill."

"But that's wrong! Aure is entangled by a demon!"

The middle-aged man was vaguely hoarse.

To avoid an awkward scene, Dimia quickly cast a spirit-soothing spell.

Seeing the man's agitated expression calm down, then his arms drop limply, she immediately called a waiter to help escort the man to the lounge.

Rod watched the man's back as he was helped away.

"What happened?"

"A misunderstanding. Mr. Frezer's daughter contracted a strange illness that doctors could not cure. For some reason, he has since believed she is entangled by a demon and has been seeking means to exorcise the demon."

(End of this chapter)