Betrayed, I Met The Demon Lord

Chapter 118 - Suppression

"Where's Ami?" Van asked as he descended the stairs.

"Oh, she was very tired. She told us to tell you she went back to her room," Sylva replied softly.

"Speaking of which... My Lady, we've overstayed our welcome," Vaelthir sighed as he stood and offered Sylva his hand, gently leading her toward the exit.

"Oh, but..." Sylva glanced back at Van, hesitating, but Vaelthir's steady grip guided her away. Before long, they were gone.

'I guess I'll come back later when I can talk to him.' Sylva thought as the door closed behind her.

"I need to train. I've been idle for too long," Savathon declared abruptly, standing and leaving without another word.

"I'll take my leave as well. My smithy needs tending," Arnolt said with a tired sigh, rising to his feet. As he passed Van, he paused for a moment.

"Brat," he muttered, leaning closer. "We formed a party, so till we meet again, don't share anything about what happened. Considering the Goddess herself wants you dead—or whatever that thing that overtook Unicus was—we need to tread carefully. Be cautious about who you trust with this."

His gruff words lingered as he walked away, leaving Van alone with his thoughts.

"..."

'Good strategy. I suppose I can't share too much with Amoria... Tsk, just when I'd decided to spill everything,' Van thought with a shake of his head.

'No,' he resolved, clenching his fists. 'I WILL tell her who I married. That has nothing to do with what these guys decided.'

Turning to Belial and Mirias, he broke the silence.

"What about you two? What will you do?" Van asked, his tone steady but edged with weariness.

"I'll settle here and catch a nap; seeing as we've already rented the place. Following you leads to interesting stuff, but that can come after I lay down," Belial said with a yawn.

"It has been a long journey. Let us go upstairs," Mirias said.

"I'm too tired... Carry me," Belial added, slumping into his chair.

"... Very well." Without hesitation, she effortlessly hoisted Belial into a princess carry. The act drew several stares and whispers from the tavern's patrons as Belial sprawled lazily in her grasp.

"Then, you know where to find us, Hellix," she nodded before leaving the tavern.

'I guess that frees me to talk to Anne and then Amoria and the rest. Time to end this,' Van thought with a huff as he turned to leave.

"STINKIN' BRAT! Don't think you get to leave!" Galdo, the tavern owner, called out, stopping Van in his tracks.

"We need to talk. You ain't leaving until you spill about your relationship with Ami—"

"With all due respect," Van said, spinning around with a profound eye roll, his expression lazy and exasperated, "go fuck yourself, you shitty dwarf. That's not your business. If you're so desperate to talk, do so when I'm back." He turned away again, his words earning audible gasps from the patrons.

"Why, YOU...!!" Galdo growled, his face contorting in anger.

"That's it," the dwarf snarled, stomping toward Van. "I've been holding back because of that girl, but you've just crossed the line—"

Van's hand shot out, gripping Galdo by the throat. His face twisted with rage as he lifted the struggling dwarf off the ground, glaring into his eyes.

"I'm fucking done. Done with you. Done with this fucking city. Done with everyone. I've just saved the girl you oh-so-dearly care about, and that's what you have to say? Call me names? Order me around!?" Van growled, his voice trembling with fury as his grip tightened.