Take the Chance [RED SON]☆COMPLETE☆

1 Museum Library

Monday 8:30 AM

 On mornings like these, Red Son usually woke up to continue working on scraps or fixing his father's armor. Sometimes, he hung out with his mother to talk about random things. Usually, it was his mother reminiscing about the good old days when she was a celestial warrior in the heavenly realm, fighting side by side with Nezha and Erlang.

But today felt different.

"Huh, the weather's bad. I can feel it," he muttered, glancing up at the sky. Although it was bright and sunny, he caught a faint, earthy scent in the cold breeze. A rainstorm might be on its way. Grateful for his foresight, he carried an umbrella and wore a jacket to brace against the weather.

One might expect someone like him to be causing chaos or annoying people, but instead, he found himself outside, umbrella in hand, heading toward the museum.

He had visited the establishment countless times—so often, in fact, that he had memorized every exhibit, artifact, and hallway. He could find his way out even if dropped in the middle of the building blindfolded.

"As expected," he mumbled. The rain began crashing down, soaking the streets in seconds. Sighing, he unfurled his umbrella and ascended the museum's stone steps. Its towering pillars stood as a testament to its age, emanating a nostalgic energy. He had heard locals say the building had stood for centuries, and the intricate carvings on the weathered stone only confirmed it.

Time truly brings wonders—or so mortals seemed to believe. How else could such a structure exist?

"And over here are some ancient relics excavated from the deserts! It is believed that..."

Red Son hummed in mild amusement, noticing a group of students on a guided tour. The noise of their chatter filled the otherwise calm space. Rolling his eyes, he stepped past them, his focus solely on reaching the library.

'At least this place is decent, unlike that Noodle Boy and his peasant friends' he thought.

After leaving his umbrella on a rack by the entrance, Red Son began walking down the quiet halls. He frowned whenever he spotted people treating the library as a playground or a spot for romantic rendezvous. It annoyed him to no end.

Grumbling under his breath, he grabbed a book from the shelves and settled at a table. History and academic texts were his preferred genres—articles, research papers, and detailed accounts of past events. Occasionally, the density of certain topics would burn him out, so he ensured variety in his reading.

He stayed there for over an hour, devouring five books before finally standing up to return them to their shelves. One book, however, he decided to borrow for later.

"Yeah, can I borrow this book?" he asked, placing it on the counter.

"Of course! Let me just grab my stamp," a cheerful voice chirped. Blinking, he glanced up—and froze.

The librarian was a tall girl with emerald-green eyes and a radiant smile.

"There you go. Do you have a library card? Can't miss those points!" she giggled, her hands expertly typing on the computer.

"I—I... Uh, yes! I do have a card!" he stammered, fumbling in his pockets before handing it over. She beamed as she processed the loan.

"Here you go! Enjoy your reading. You can return the book in four days, okay?"

"Um... sure," he managed, feeling his throat dry up.

"And just a reminder," she added with a wink, "failing to return it on time will result in penalties. But I'm sure you'll bring it back in perfect condition!"

Before he could embarrass himself further, he nodded awkwardly, clutching the book and hurrying out of the library.

What the actual hell was that?

His heart raced, and his mind was a whirlwind. Was he sick? Could humans transmit diseases to demons? Or was this... a curse?

RIIING!

The sharp sound of his phone startled him. Scrambling to answer, he pressed it to his ear. "Mother!" he wheezed "Red Son," his mother replied calmly, "and here I thought something had happened to you. It's five o'clock. Where are you? Your father's been questioning the bull clones about your whereabouts, and you know how impatient he can be. If you don't hurry, he might turn a few of them into scrap metal."

Sighing, he nodded to himself. His father—the Demon Bull King—was indeed a ticking time bomb.

"Yes, yes, I'm on my way. I was just at the library, Mother."

"Then come along, son. Dinner is ready, but your father is eyeing the bull clones as potential side dishes," Princess Iron Fan chuckled before ending the call.

Red Son huffed in exasperation. He could almost picture his mother's smirk through the phone.

"All right, time to head home... and prepare to fix some wrecked bull clones again," he muttered.

Because if his father was in a foul mood, he was going to need to repair some serious damage.

—Take the Chance