Ren Von Seraphis(2)

--- Finn's POV ---

"...You may ask what you need to, Finn Deimne. And Riveria Ljos Alf, I apologize if my actions were rough, but it's not entirely my fault considering you wanted to kill me on sight," he remarked casually.

His gaze remained fixed on Ais, his attention unwavering. In fact, as he spoke, I noticed a small pouch filled with water materialize in his hand, seemingly aware of her thirst after their intense "training" session.

The sight almost caused my eyes to bulge out of their sockets, but then I noticed a bag not too far away from us.

Was there a need to act so cool!?

I took a deep breath to steady myself. While this man allowed me to take the lead in the conversation, he handed the pouch to Ais. There was no smile on his face, but his eyes seemed to be brimming with mirth.

Suppressing my annoyance, I drew upon the last remnants of my pride as a Commander and spoke up.

"Who are you, Ren Von Seraphis? And how is it that you know Ais Wallenstein so intimately?"

I couldn't help but add the second question. I couldn't fathom how such familiarity was possible, and although there were weightier inquiries that demanded answers, I couldn't shake off this unsettling feeling that gripped my heart.

I didn't have to wait long for a response.

"Well, as for who I am, you could say I'm a Traveler from another world. You're familiar with that concept, right? I simply opened a portal and arrived here. Don't bother asking me for the reason. I had only one purpose, and I'll disclose it only to Ais. If she chooses to share it with you, that's her decision..."

He spoke with a serious gaze directed at her, perhaps the first time he displayed such earnestness.

Ais merely responded with a subtle tilt of her head, yet Ren Von Seraphis didn't pause for a moment.

"As for understanding her, which I assume is your next question, just look at her adorable face. Isn't she an open book?... Look, she's flustered now... and a little angry because I'm embarrassing her. In fact, I'd like to ask how you fail to perceive all of this, really, she's so cut... You do know your punches can't harm me, right, Ais?"

I watched as Ais attempted to strike him, her punches proving futile as they had no effect whatsoever. Yet, he continued his monologue without interruption.

Exasperated, I let out a sigh and settled myself on the floor.

"...Riveria, please take over for me... I'm exhausted."

With that, I chose to temporarily withdraw from the conversation, uncertain if my sanity could endure much longer.

--- Riveria's Pov ---

As the Commander visibly succumbed to "fatigue", it fell upon me to take his place...

Truth be told, I didn't anticipate that conversing with Ren Von Seraphis would prove difficult. It seemed that as long as he could tend to Ais, this man would transform into a tender lover who would willingly provide explanations to any inquiries.

"You mentioned coming from another world... Could you elaborate further? Additionally, I'm curious about how you managed to open a portal and connect two worlds. Are you even mortal?"

Given the Commander's endorsement, I felt compelled to ask the crucial questions.

What if this man suddenly turned against us? While it appeared that the Commander was merely taking a respite due to mental fatigue, in reality, he was likely grappling with devising a plan should anything go awry.

This situation was going too smoothly. There had to be a catch, even if we couldn't discern it yet.

Despite our covert caution and attempts to strategize, what irked me was that this man likely knew our intentions, yet did nothing to impede us. No, he conscientiously responded to my questions, his unwavering focus solely on attending to any needs Ais might have.

His excessive care for her was peculiar. Why was he so obsessed?

Furthermore, I couldn't help but notice his unwavering concern. He never touched her unless he believed he was allowed to. He diligently removed even the tiniest speck of dust that could graze her, even going as far as using his battered shirt to ensure it...

What an eccentric individual...

However, my attention gradually shifted from attempting to coax more information out of him to actually listening to his words.

This man... possessed a wealth of knowledge far surpassing my own when it came to magic. His words alone overwhelmed my mind as we delved into the intricacies of creating a portal.

Did he casually refer to managing seven spells simultaneously as the easiest part of it all?

I swallowed hard, stealing a glance at my Captain, who was still struggling to grasp the situation. For the first time in my life, I was genuinely astonished...

--- Ren's POV ---

I continued answering the questions within my capacity, leaving only inquiries about my past, or the depth of my feelings for Ais. It was disconcerting to realize that I, too, was an open book, and now both Finn and Riveria knew that Ais held an irreplaceable place in my heart.

Over time, I sensed that they had gained a clearer understanding of the reason behind my arrival in this world. Despite my repeated deflections, it was evident that this world was not interesting to me. Thus, the only logical conclusion remained.

I was here because of Ais, though I sternly refused to let out any hints or information as to why and how I knew her.

Finn's gaze toward Ais was intense, and it would have amused me if I hadn't noticed the sadness in my Angel's eyes.

Prompted by her discomfort, I cracked my knuckles, the sound serving as a beautiful melody I wished to let him hear.

It was important for her to realize that I could protect those she held dear, but I would never harm them intentionally.

I was no fool. If I ever brought harm to one of Ais' Familia members or anyone she cared about, her heart would immediately close off to me. In that situation, I might as well be the biggest fucker on this planet.

I took great care to ensure that no hint of murderous intent slipped through, as Ais was keenly sensitive to such intentions.

Deception or the use of magic to manipulate her was out of the question. I also knew full well that any attempt to harm them would ultimately backfire, so I simply refrained from entertaining such notions.

I couldn't bring myself to harm anyone, but I could certainly instill fear if necessary. At most, I would apologize to Ais afterward.

Riveria maintained a stern gaze toward Finn, who responded with an awkward laugh. The unspoken tension between them was palpable.

"...We've been here for quite some time. Shall we return?"

As an individual unaffiliated with any Familia, I had the freedom to come and go as I pleased. However, the trio before me were likely worrying their comrades by staying away for so long without any communication.

"I agree. Just a few more minutes, though. Ais is still a bit fatigued."

One might consider me paranoid, but even with my presence, venturing beyond the 90th floor of the Dungeon would be a manageable feat. Yet, I considered it foolish to be careless in the Dungeon solely due to my abilities.

"I..."

Before Ais could utter a word, I made a subtle gesture with my hand, implying that I would gently insist she rests her head on my lap if she refused. This silenced her, and she complied.

---

Riveria and Finn clearly harbored lingering doubts and hesitations toward me. The prospect of having a private conversation alone with Ais seemed impossible at the moment, but their lack of trust didn't bother me in the slightest.

Their presence as mere extras was inconsequential. I had all the time in the world to prove that my sole "purpose" here was Ais.

Even if they refused to grant me that solitary moment with her, they severely underestimated the depth of my love.

These fleeting interactions with her were so precious they could sustain me for a lifetime. I cherished every second, every glance, every word shared between us.

'I shall shower her with abundant love and care.'

Progressing with my plan necessitated having a direct conversation with her, but I refrained from rushing into it. What if my impatience led to unintended consequences, jeopardizing everything I had worked for? Such a blunder was simply unacceptable.

---

Author's Note:

As per a reader's request, I added "X" POV to make it easier to understand who we're reading in the POV of. Please, do tell me if it's clear, or if I should add anything else in that regard.