Card Apprentice Daily Log

Chapter 2958: Annoyed Petra

Date: Unspecified

Time: Unspecified

Location: Myriad Realms, Card World, Southern Region, Blossom District, Sky Blossom City

“This is rich. Every time you’re about to lose an argument, all you have to do is threaten to commit suicide, reset all life as we know it, and somehow you win.”

Petra folded her arms and looked at Aqualas with open annoyance. Her tone dripped with irritation. Because this wasn’t the first time nor the second. As far as Petra was concerned, Aqualas had been getting away with shit for ages like this knowingly or unknowingly.

Like always, this time too stakes happened to include the entire Card World, the only difference was that this time she really appeared to go through with it. Making Petra understand just how important Veerott was to Aqualas.

Aqualas opened her mouth to argue, but then paused, because after thinking about it for a moment… It really did sound bad as she was actively threatening to end all life, instead of insinuating it like she does always.

Petra clicked her tongue. At least in the past, there had been options. If Aqualas became too unreasonable, those strong enough to subdue her would throw her into the Void and call her bluff

But that wasn’t option, now. Southern Hope had already promised Veerott that his companions would leave unharmed. And judging by everything she had seen today, he seemed intent on honoring that promise.

Petra genuinely didn’t understand why. To her, such generosity felt reckless. If he absolutely had to make a promise, he should have been more specific, more detailed, and precise, with loopholes sealed shut.

Otherwise, people like these shameless fools would exploit every gap they could find. And judging by recent events… That was exactly what had happened.

“Geniuses my ass,” Petra muttered under her breath.

At this point, she blamed the entire mess on Southern Hope. The more she thought about it, the more she remembered why he annoyed her so much. Her thoughts drifted back to something Cortney had once told her: Southern Hope might come off as cold, but once you get to know him, he’ll become one of the most worthwhile connections you’ll ever make.

Back then, Petra had noted those words. Now… she wasn’t so sure. After all, what kind of person faked their own death just to test a subordinate’s character? What kind of lunatic spared enemies because of a wager?

Petra’s expression grew complicated. She still found Southern Hope unbearable. That hadn’t changed. But somewhere along the way, without realizing it, she had stopped seeing him as merely an ally of convenience. Which, in her opinion, was perhaps the most annoying thing of all.

However, it had already been a long time since they formed this alliance. Throughout that time, Petra had been surprisingly cooperative. At least, by Petra’s standards. She fought beside him, risked herself to avenge him when she thought he had died.

Yet Southern Hope had repaid her by throwing her out of his curse field, keeping her in the dark, and refusing to explain what was going on.

Even now, she still had no idea what exactly had happened between Southern Hope and the giant Veerott. The more Petra thought about it, the more irritated she became. And was beginning to think her goodwill was not being reciprocated. Sometimes, it honestly felt as though she was more invested in this shotgun alliance than he was.

And that realization annoyed her far more than she cared to admit. Because it has been long since Petra had invested in people other than fellow Supreme Beings. She had gotten rusty and trust no longer came naturally to her.

Yet somehow, without noticing, she had begun treating this alliance as something more permanent and more real. That was dangerous. And perhaps that was why Southern Hope’s indifference irritated her so much. Because indifference hurts far more than hostility. Hostility at least acknowledged your existence. Indifference didn’t.

If Southern Hope insulted her, argued with her, or mocked her, Petra could handle it. She would simply insult him back. That was easy. What she couldn’t handle was being ignored. And lately, she had begun noticing something she didn’t like.

Sometimes, she got the feeling that Southern Hope looked down on her. Not out of contempt. That wasn’t quite it. The feeling was stranger than that.

It was as though he viewed her as someone he had to protect. Someone he had to manage. A burden he needed to take care of. Not an equal or a partner, certainly not someone he trusted to watch his back. That realization sat heavily in Petra’s chest. And she hated it. Not because she needed his approval.

At least, that’s what she told herself. But because Stone Supreme Petra had spent her entire life proving she was strong enough to stand beside anyone and not behind them. Which was why, more than anything else, being quietly excluded from his plans annoyed her far more than any insult ever could.

Petra’s irritation and annoyance with me were so intense that I could physically feel the weight of her gaze. Continuing to ignore her, I looked at Aqualas and Seraphina.

“Since you threatened all life on the card world as we know it, things have changed,” I said. “It would be irresponsible of me to do nothing after hearing that. What do you say, Veerott?”

“You are correct, Master,” Veerott agreed without skipping a beat, glaring at his stubborn friends.

Seeing me take a step forward, Aqualas demanded, “What are you planning to do?”

Seraphina blamed herself for the sudden turn of the tide, cursing herself for overreaching and not quitting while they were ahead.

“Imprison you until you come to your senses,” I replied with a smile. “Don’t worry, to be fair, Veerott will be your warden. He’ll make sure you two and all your needs are taken care of.”

“Yeah, good luck with that,” Aqualas sneered, dismissing my plans to imprison them. She was the freaking Ocean. There wasn’t a prison in the world that could hold her.