As Rain was going to reply suddenly, he had heard a very familiar voice.

He turned around and saw Lafetti standing not too far away from them. It seemed like she had just returned from hunting as she was dragging a cow-like animal and together with her was also a group of Lamias.

She looked at Rain, together with her chief and being bounded, Lafetti immediately felt dread she had never felt the likes before. Before she could react, she already found herself running ( Slithering actually ) towards Rain’s direction. Sword unsheathed on her hand.

“Lafetti?!” Rain’s voice echoed.

Lafetti’s expression was strange, quite dreadful to be the least. She seemed to be determined to do something and Rain could guess what.

“Lafetti don’t!!”

Drova and Stagna also felt Lafetti’s change and immediately met with her head on.

Clang!

Swords clashing followed by explosions. Two water balls blasted the two Lamias and Lafetti continued towards Rain.

Zarda didn’t do anything even as Lafetti arrived between her and Rain.

“Lafetti, calm down.” Rain immediately went around and stood in front of Lafetti.

“What are you doing? Stand behind me!” Lafetti shouted angrily. She used her tail and coiled it around Rain, pulling him behind her. But Rain didn’t obey and instead pushed closer to her, stopping her with his body, since his arms were still being bounded.

“Lafetti, I’m fine. The Chief, she didn’t do anything I promise…” Rain said. “She was actually a nice woman…”

Lafetti finally calmed down. The first thing she did was checked his body and suddenly frowned because she found several wounds on him.

Seeing that Rain immediately said, “It’s not them. I fought with some Monsters and won but unfortunately an Orthros or whatever monster appeared and attacked me. Thankfully chief Zarda came and saved me… really, I’m not lying.”

“You fought a monster without me?!” Lafetti suddenly scolded.

“Ah, y, yeah, I did, I’m sorry.” Taken aback by an abrupt change of topic, Rain unconsciously stepped backward.

“You idiot! What will you do if something happened to you!?” Lafetti exploded.

!!

As Rain felt he was turning smaller from Lafetti sudden outburst, a cough suddenly rang behind him.

“Lafetti,” Zarda called out.

“Chief!?” Lafetti immediately alarmed and pulled Rain behind her protectively.

“Lafetti, do you have any idea what you are doing right now?” Zarda’s voice was calm and indifferent but Rain could somewhat hear the coldness hidden within it.

Lafetti’s body trembled but she didn’t back down. She gritted her teeth and answered, “I know, but Rain is mine!”

She yelled out that Rain started to get embarrassed himself. Fudge, that was actually quite embarrassing.

What was that for?

Still, sweetness as if he had eaten a mouthful sugar surged through his heart.

“You will be judged by the tribe, Lafetti.” Zarda narrowed her eyes.

“No! Chief, you said-!?” Rain was cut off when Zarda looked at him. They said that the Medusa’s eyes can turn someone into stone but this might be what they meant.

Although Rain didn’t turn into stone literally, the moment Zarda’s eyes looked at him, he felt like a frog being stared by a snake – of course, he was more handsome than a frog, it’s just an analogy.

Rain just felt as he was stunned and couldn’t move his limbs.

[ Master, this is the Eyes of Petrification ]

Sylphy’s confirmation sounded out. Indeed, it was but he wasn’t turned into stone but instead become immobilize.

“Chief, what are you doing!?” Lafetti immediately became defensive but she was also hit by the [ Eyes of Petrification ] and was immobilized.

What a cheat-ty skill…

“We will talk after we arrive,” Zarda said emotionlessly.

--- ---

Do you remember the feeling when you first stand on a stage?

Rain did and it was extremely embarrassing for him. He wanted to find a hole, jump into it and bury himself.

Anxiety, fear, stage fright, nervousness all feelings surge through him that day. His teacher learned that he can play the flute and since no one volunteered to be the one who will be presented in a class program, and so he was chosen, albeit forcefully.

He couldn’t refuse after seeing his teacher pleading at him like her life depends on it.

And so, that was the worst day of his life.

Due to being extremely nervous, he misses some notes and he noticed someone laughing at him.

At that time, he vowed he would never be in the limelight again nor he would stand on a stage and take the spotlight.

And now that nightmare once again reborn.

At the center of the entire tribe of Lamias, Allen and Lafetti stood side by side as if they were in a Court, waiting for Judgment.

“Lafetti had taken a human and hide it from us… which I found rather disagreeable.” Zarda started while sitting in that rather fancy looking chair made up of vines and branches.

On each side were Drova and Stagna standing like competent guards, their faces serious and glaring as if wearing Noh masks.

Whispers gradually spread, and Rain could feel some malice and hostility from his surroundings but most was curiosity.

Was this the first time they had seen a human? Or maybe they were curious as to what a human like him doing in this place together with a Lamia like Lafetti.

Humans are judgmental in nature. Even if it was to fellow humans, an acquaintance, a friend, a blood kin, if the crowd made a decision, they would also condemn them themselves without hearing any excuses, reasons, and appeal.

However, that seems not true for monsters – Rain concluded.

Even though in their law, Lafetti did something wicked but no one condemned her. Not even a curse, or a hate-filled glare but instead several pairs of worried eyes directed at her.

Lafetti stood in front of Chief Zarda with unyielding eyes and unbending spirit.

Rain felt warm and couldn’t help but stepped forward, grabbing her soft looking hand and give it a squeezed.

Rain realized whenever he holds onto her hand, the feeling that everything will be okay spreads from his hand and through his entire body.

It’s quite amazing. It’s the world’s only hand that lets you know…

Everything will be okay…

Lafetti felt her hand being grabbed causing her to turn to Rain who was looking at her with a gentle, warm smile.

She frowned as if displeased by something. But Rain knows better. She was actually masking her embarrassment within this kind of expression and he felt good.

Fear, unease, anxiety… and everything else was immediately swept away by this, like a flood sweeping logs and garbages in the street.

Zarda can’t help but roll her eyes the moment she saw Rain and Lafetti’s pink mood. Were they actually going straight to their own strange world in front of them?

What nerves…

However, at the same time, she actually felt strange and amused… for quite different reasons.

Of course, she wasn’t the only one who had noticed the chemistry, physics, mathematics and whatever – sciences it was going on between the two lovebirds. Many people were surprised at their seemingly rare pure relationship of Love… however, some also made sad and sorrowful expressions… after all, who didn’t know about humans?

In their history, many Lamias have fallen in love with humans… if they were not betrayed; they all end with Romeo and Juliet scenario…

!!

Zarda awkwardly cough, once again attracting the people’s attention.

“Lafetti, you have known the rules and laws of the tribe… how can you, one of the top warriors protecting the tribe, broke it yourself?”

“I didn’t break any law and I am not planning on breaking anything in the future…” Lafetti gritted her teeth and continued with a “but”. “As the law suggests, Warriors of Amani take what they kill… I’m only taking what I have killed.”

Spoken like a true warrior, Rain almost thought he was going to fall for her again…

“… …” Zarda narrowed her eyes and her beautiful ruby eyes gleamed.

Suddenly, Rain realized something…