5. Apate

Randy looked up at the sky from the backyard. He thinking about last night.

"Come on, no need to overthink it. How could you be more surprised when you saw Farida becoming Justiciar instead of seeing the Student Council President become a Valkyrie?" Dalor calmed the dumbfounded Randy.

"Well, it can't be helped? I know her for a long time. Seeing her last night made me shiver. She's like a different person. Her bright face becomes so dark. Her sharp eyes stabbed me in the throat." Randy holds his forehead.

"Stabbed by fact, huh? Just face it, how could she tell you if she was a J? You may laugh at her if she does." Dalor said the sensible thing.

Randy's eyes immediately widened because understood what the demon meant.

"Well obviously, I wouldn't believe it. Especially since my dad was always sending me weird amulets as gifts to me." Randy smiled blankly as he remembered his father's gifts.

"Ha ha ha, right?" Dalor's laughter could be heard clearly from inside Randy's body. "But thanks to your father, I become your damned servant because of it!" Dalor recalls about what happened to him now.

"Ha ha ha!"

***

Behind Randy, his mother watched him. She covered her mouth. Right now, the feeling that wants to tease her son is increasing.

She seems to misunderstand and thought his son had a girlfriend or something. It was rare for Randy to talk so excitedly like that.

"Just do it... continue your wholesomeness! Your mother is supporting you!" His mother whispered from a distance.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

Someone knocks on the door. Maybe just a guest.

"Yes, wait a minute!" Mother walked to the door.

She tried to peek at the guest from the window beside the door. Something never happened accidentally happened. Her face went wide when she found out a girl is coming to her house.

Her face paled and blushed. 'Calm down, is she an affair of my dear?! No-no, that's not possible, she's too young. Is she Randy's girlfriend? (looks at Randy who's still talking on the phone) Nah, there's no way my son has many girls around him. The only safest possibility is: She is the daughter of the neighbor to replace her mother's duty.' Mom tried to think straight, but when she grabbed the doorknob. 'Wait, I've never even seen that kid around here before!'

The mother finally gave up thinking and chose to just open the door.

CTACK!

The sound of the door opening, when it was opened a beautiful girl with short hair and a sweet face was standing behind the door.

"Excuse me." The girl gave a warm greeting to the mother.

"Ah yes, are you looking for someone?" Mother just smiled as she inspected the girl.

"Is Randy at home?"

Mother's face turned pale and sweat dripped from her face. Her face turned to Randy who was on the phone. Mom finally came to the conclusion that the son was talking on the phone with his friend, Ilham.

'He must be talking about the disgusting thing.' Her face was bewildered.

"RANDY! SOMEONE IS LOOKING FOR YOU! AND IT WAS A GIRL!" Mother screamed loud enough that even the whole house could hear it.

Luckily there was no one in the house other than both of them.

Randy who was talking with Dalor suddenly distracted. "A girl?!" The boy's face was pale and confused.

Randy rushes to meet the guest which his mom means. His eyes could only widen in disbelief. All the troubles that happened last night... are still continuing.

Ira smiled by hiding her annoyance in front of the door. "Hi, Randy... I am coming to see you!" Her smile was like bringing the boy into the dark abyss.

My mother looked at him with a very suspicious look. 'Seriously?!' Without saying a word, Randy knew what his mother said.

Randy makes a half-hearted smile when seeing the two of them. "Ha-hello, Ira?"

"So, Randy's mom? Can I borrow your son for a while?!" Ira asks permission.

"Ah, of course, took him as long as you want, ha ha ha." Mother was shocked and stammered. "Randy..." She smiled dreadfully as Randy's silhouette got smaller.

She will surely interrogate him when back. His mother's wanted to ask for clarification on this. Just another bad day for him.

---

Couples are everywhere. They share their romantic wholesomeness love while treating the other visitor as wind. The food stalls that sell their food will surely get empty just by standing and selling there.

On this holiday, where the school is off. Ira brought Randy to the city park. Don't know what she wants to say. But with that man's intentions, she will surely talk about last night.

Right now, she ordered some food for Randy. An uneasy feeling came over him. Like: Why does she treat him? As a man, it feels wrong to him.

"What's your business with me, Ira? You know, right? That treated food by a girl is hurt a man feeling?" Randy finally spoke up.

" 'What your business?' You say? After what you have done to me?!" Ira shouted in annoyance.

She makes the other visitors take an eye on them. It is very embarrassing if someone they know sees it.

He can't do anything. Being guilty is the only thing that he did. He has made Ira into his doll. She couldn't even be free to become a human anymore. All she does is limited by that boy words. He became speechless.

"Forgive me..." Randy looked at Ira with guilty.

"I can't tell anything about you to my ally! Are you made me unable to say it?! And what more worse is my body will also move on its own when you are in danger," said Ira in sadness.

Hearing Ira's word makes Randy stunned in freeze.

So yesterday was because of the compulsion in her. She was forced to sacrifice for the sake of the man who even tried to leave her behind.

Randy sighed as he clenched his fists. He looked at Ira with a serious expression while touching both of Ira's shoulders firmly. "Sorry, but I promise, I will go with you on the next hunt!" Randy's firm tone made Ira believe and blush.

"If that's what you say, then it's fine. But remember, don't make me fight while you're retreating again, alright!" Ira brought her face closer to him.

"I will forgive you because last night you helped me. But remember, there is no second chance." Ira's voice was low as she leaned her head on Randy's chest. And then, she makes Randy's hands that holding her shoulder into a hugging position.

The position of the two of them is like a lover who loves each other. Randy was unaware that he was using the power of 'Justice of Word' to the girl. Ira's trust in Randy increased dramatically.

'Randy now is the time to explain your real plan to Ira.' Dalor reminded what Randy had to do.

'Got it, Dalor!'

Randy whispered in her ear with a gentle voice. He does that to try to persuade her.

"Ira, will you help me?"

"Help doing what?"

"Gathering monsters during Time Fracture."

"Why?"

"To stop the destruction of the world."

Ira suddenly widened her eyes. "Really, but Apate said we Valkyries have to open that World Chest to save the world." Ira finally said what Randy was really looking for.

'Got it!'

'So, it was her all this time, huh?'

Randy and Dalor muttered together in their mind. When it comes to Greek history, Apate is a goddess of lies. There was a possibility that the one who make Justiciar and Valkyrie fight each other was that goddess.

Randy let go of Ira's arms and held the girl's shoulders. "Ira believe me! You, not only the Valkyries but also Justiciar have been tricked by that goddess!" Randy glared at Ira.

"Don't you know that Apate is a deceitful goddess?!" Randy continued his explanation.

Ira could only stare at Randy pitifully. "If that's what mas-... Wait, I can speak without being pressured?" Ira realized her freedom.

"But you wanted to call me master earlier? Has it already become a habit?" Randy teased the girl.

Ira couldn't say anything but blushed, but that wasn't her real reaction.

"DIE!"

THUD!

Blushed Ira immediately hit hard Randy's chin until he fell on the ground.

That was her real reaction.

"Thanks for the punch, Ira." Randy smugly said it before completely passing out.

"You bastard, pervert! Even now is masochist too!" Ira shrieked shyly at the person who teased her.

Ira realized that she had made a mistake. Immideayly, she tried to put Randy's head on her lap. "Fool..." While blushing, she thinking about her choice to help Randy instead of following that goddes order.

If what Randy said was that Apate was a deceitful goddess, then Ira had to help Randy with all her might. She was mad that she did not realize the meaning of the name Apate all this time.

"Wait, why don't we Valkyries and Justiciars feel weird about the name Apate at all? Shouldn't there be at least 1 person aware of that name?" Ira realized something was wrong when she started become a Valkyrie.

"So now... I'm free from the magic, huh?" Ira looked at her necklace which was starting to turn dark.

It was possible that the necklace sealed their desire to know Apate's name. Just like Ira's Necklace which has been controlled by Randy's power which makes her completely obedient. Her necklaces had clearly been possessed by Apate's magic all this time, and now she was free because Randy possessed the necklace.

"Tch, what a bitch!" Ira stared intently at the sky while holding unconscious Randy's head.