Path of the Extra

Chapter 39: Engagement [3]

The act he had been perfectly playing for the past two months was crumbling before his eyes like dust.

Azrielʼs mind went blank.

He could only sit there, frozen, staring wide-eyed at Ragnar after hearing the words that left his mouth.

ʼEngaged? Who? Me? But... I am just an ordinary high school student... Oh wait...

I am Azriel Crimson now... yes, Leo is gone now...ʼ

Aeliana stifled a laugh, holding both hands against her mouth as she watched Azriel, who didnʼt notice that the person next to him was mirroring the exact same expression.

Since arriving at EASC, Azriel had been steeling his mind for almost anything that could come his way—be it an assassination attempt, a void rift, another titan playing with his mind, or even betrayal.

But the word ʼengagedʼ was never one of them.

It was a word that didnʼt even exist in his dictionary.

Why would he even think of such a thing in a world where one could die at any moment?

And to be asked to get engaged, not just to anyone, but to Celestina Frost, the princess of the Frost Clan, one of the main characters in Path of Heroes, and part of the protagonistʼs harem?

How could he have ever anticipated such a situation?

From the previous Azrielʼs memories, he knew that he wasnʼt interested in having a relationship or understanding much about love.

The same could be said for when he was Leo.

Surprisingly, as Leo, he did get confessed to at least every 2-4 months from middle to high school.

But not being really interested and perhaps even being a little scared, he always politely declined them each time.

Even though almost anyone would kill to be in his situation right now, Azriel didnʼt feel the same.

He simply wasnʼt interested and had no desire to get engaged with Celestina.

The only natural response in this situation seemed obvious to him: refuse, as he always had.

Azriel opened his mouth to object to the request but then—

He froze.

ʼW-what..ʼ

Positioned next to the couch of his parents and Ragnar, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, was the last person Azriel ever thought to see.

Before Azriel could react, the person suddenly put his finger against his lips, a mischievous smile tugging at the corners.

”Donʼt do anything stupid. We donʼt want your future wife thinking youʼre crazy... but the fact that you can see me already proves you are. Not that we didnʼt already know that.”

Hearing his words, Azriel surprisingly calmed down, taking a deep breath.

ʼThat was close...ʼ

He had been about to attack the guy on the spot.

”You donʼt say! Really, perhaps you should use [Void Mind] constantly to actually have some rational thoughts, damn animal.”

Azriel flinched hearing him grumble.

ʼYou... you can hear my thoughts...?ʼ

The person didnʼt respond, merely kept smiling at him as Ragnar suddenly spoke up again, trying to break the awkward atmosphere that had settled.

”Back when Joaquin and I were in the academy, we made a promise to each other. If one day we both had kids—a son and daughter the same age—weʼd get them engaged.”

Ragnar suddenly looked at Azriel, but Azriel didnʼt meet his eyes; his entire focus was on the person making his parents and Ragnar look at him in confusion.

”... We were supposed to talk about it last year but... as you know that wasnʼt possible.”

No response.

Both Azriel and Celestina didnʼt seem to properly hear his words.

Ragnar could only sigh.

”I know this might seem abrupt and fast, but there was no better moment than now, since the both of you are going to the hero academy next week... We will go to the ballroom and bid our farewell to the remaining guests while the two of you can talk it out.”

In other words...

It wasnʼt an order.

If Ragnar and Joaquin ordered the two of them to get engaged, there wasnʼt much he or Celestina could do.

But instead, they got to decide for themselves.

Azriel didnʼt even realize they left until he heard the door shut behind him.

Celestina still seemed lost in her own head, making him narrow his eyes at the person.

ʼHow are you here...?ʼ

Visibly scoffing at Azriel, He responded.

”How else? Because of your head that has gone mad, mongrel! Try actually getting more than four hours of sleep for once!”

Azriel gritted his teeth as the person tapped his temples with both his fingers.

He discovered something new today.

Getting insulted by the bastard in front of him was...

Extremely annoying.

Especially when the said bastard is yourself.

Or better said, Leo Karumi.

”What are you looking at me like that for?”

As if in a competition, the two started glaring hard at each other.

Until...

”Tch, forget it. You realize youʼre trying to pick a fight with yourself? Honestly, how much more pathetic can you get? You damn narcissistic coward, stop looking at me when you have such a beautiful girl sitting next to you! Gods! I hate myself!”

ʼYou... how much more are you going to insult me!?ʼ

Azriel was getting extremely close to snapping.

How much more did he have to endure?

And what the hell did this idiot mean by just being in his head?

He wasnʼt insane!

Definitely not...

”Argh! Dammit, youʼre still thinking about yourself, arenʼt you!? We can have our little interrogation at a later date. Right now, youʼve got something, or rather someone, more important to deal with!”

Leo pointed his finger at Celestina, who seemed totally out of it, making Azriel even more worried.

ʼWhat the hell is even up with her...?ʼ

Her face was totally blank as she kept looking at the floor.

”Probably thinking about this engagement... which, by the way, why the hell would you want to object to it!?”

ʼHuh?ʼ

Azriel looked at him in shock and confusion.

ʼI mean, shouldnʼt you know? What reason is there for me to accept?ʼ

”Haa... idiot. Letʼs alter that question of yours a little, shall we? What reason is there for you to deny?”

Strangely, when asked, Azriel couldnʼt say or rather think of a reason.

Why did he have to deny this engagement?

There wasnʼt really much to lose from it.

In fact, he would only be gaining more from being with Celestina.

”Listen, what are we—no, what are you trying to do in this world now?”

Azriel looked confused again at Leo.

”All youʼre doing is surviving, but... is that everything you want to do? Just keep jumping into each important event for what exactly? A coffee shop? Helping heroes? Whatʼs next?

Becoming the big bad himself?”

Azriel couldnʼt think of anything to counter his words.

ʼYouʼre saying that I should get engaged with her to have a reason to keep pushing myself?ʼ

”Exactly! Would you look at that, Iʼm not that stupid after all!”

ʼBut is that even possible...?ʼ

”Hmm? What do you mean?”

Azriel looked at Celestinaʼs face and felt himself getting awestruck, but... that was it.

He didnʼt feel anything like love for her.

ʼIs it even possible for someone like me to fall in love with her? I havenʼt fallen in love with a girl ever. You know that. Why would this time be different...?ʼ

”Ugh...”

Leo slumped his shoulders in disappointment.

”How can I be such a coward? Fighting an entire organization hell-bent on killing the future heroes is fine, but interacting with a beautiful girl and maybe falling in love with her is too much? Seriously?”

Azriel could only avert his eyes in shame hearing Leo.

”Stop acting so scared and just accept it. You are only winning in this situation. If you fall in love with her, then great—you finally have a solid reason to push forward. If not, then you can always go hunting for another. The amount of things in this world are surely enough to keep you excited and motivated.”

ʼI guess youʼre right...ʼ

He should just do what Leo said.

Stop being scared.

ʼBut havenʼt we forgotten the most important thing?ʼ

”Hmm? Important? I donʼt think so... oh.”

Leo suddenly realized as he and Azriel both gazed at the absentminded Celestina.

ʼWhat does she think of this engagement?ʼ