The Ancient Genes

Edwinson House, Capital.

"I heard you put on a return show? I wanted to watch too….'' Max listened to Bahamut's voice through the transmitter.

"Words sure do spread fast, so how many spies have you got in here…" Max asked calmly.

"Not sure, I heard it from Uncle Giant. Since he is one of the top pillars in the House here, words get go his ears fast." Bahamut replied.

"You call him Giant? He doesn't have a name?" Max asked a bit amused.

"Well everyone calls him that.." Bahamut replied.

"Ok...if you have called to gossip, I am hanging up...I might as well warm up a bit for tonight's hunt…" Max said planning to go into the spirit world.

"What the hell do you even need to warm up for, there are just small fries and they won't be sending another Master Tier mage soon…"

"Yeah, but when they do I bet it won't be just limited to one…" Max replied.

"Let's hope it's not a Grand Master…." 

"Nah..I don't think they will. People at that level are probably executives and important figures..if they come and kill people here under the Association and Union's nose, it will be the same as declaring war." Max said as he shook his head.

"True, but you killed the Dark Lord's son….I won't be surprised if he decided to declare war…" Bahamut replied.

"Oh..yeah, I did kill some trash. I almost forgot about him…" 

"I bet he will be coughing out blood if he hears that…" Bahamut said with a childish laugh.

"Anyway, make sure to send me an invitation to the party in three days...I have a special gift for you...get ready to be surprised…" Bahamut said with a snort.

Max could clearly imagine him smirking.

"Yeah sure...I will be waiting to be surprised.."  Max replied as they ended their conversation.

After that, Max went into the spirit world as usual. Spending time with Sera and training the gang before continuing with his own.

…

"Is it enough?" Max asked as he looked at Andriel.

Andriel nodded as she wiped the blood off of her lips before helping Max to treat the cut on his wrist.

"Why do you keep cutting yourself? I told you there are other methods…" Andriel was clearly upset about it. She didn't like the sight of it. 

Even if Max didn't release a sound, there was no way it wouldn't hurt.

"You have already done so much for me….I don't want to take advantage of this situation…." Max said as he looked at her.

"But I want you too…" Andriel replied with utmost seriousness.

"Why are you being stubborn? If you read my mind, you should know why I saved you? You were needed to stop the disaster, that's why I saved you...I am not the nice person you think me to be…" Max said as he stared at her.

"Then why are you not taking advantage of the situation?" Andriel suddenly asked.

"Because, I don't want you to be attached to me. I want you to pair up with someone else…." Max replied.

"I see…." Andriel nodded as she looked Max into his eyes, "You know, if you could just tell me that 'I love you' , I will give up and serve the person you want with everything I have…''

"But I don't…" Max replied.

"Even a lie would do....you are not a good person, so a lie should be nothing to you." 

Max didn't reply but just looked at her.

"You need to save the world….I am just a tool needed for that purpose so there is no reason to hesitate…" 

"You are really sick…." Max said as he shook his head, "I just don't understand you sometimes…"

"This is what I love about you…." Andriel said as he leaned forward and hugged him.

Max looked at her for a few seconds, before getting out of her embrace.

"I have to go now…I will leave my mom in your care…" Max said as he turned around. He had to say bye to Sera before leaving or she would puff out her cheeks the next time he came.

"Yes, I will take care of Mom…" Andriel smiled as Max almost tripped after hearing her call Lithiya... Mom.

After Max went away, Andriel went toward the bamboo hut to see Leviathan.

"What's with that face?" Andriel asked as she looked at her.

"What would you have done if he really said it?" Leviathan asked with a complicated look on her face.

"He didn't do it…" Andriel replied with a smile.

Seeing Leviathan's face, Andriel couldn't help but smile, "Were you worried for me?"

"Who was? I just was curious...you clinged onto him like glue and now out of blue you were ready to leave.." Leviathan retorted. "I wondered what you would have done if he actually did it?" 

"I would have killed myself…" Andriel's eyes suddenly turned calm as her playfulness was replaced by seriousness.

Leviathan was shocked. her eyes and mouth wide open. She just couldn't believe herself. Did she hear it right? This fearsome witch was going to kill herself over a broken heart?

"Don't joke around? You can't just go committing suicide because someone didn't love you back…" Leviathan replied with a frown.

"You are wrong. This has nothing to do with him. I am already at my limit…...this is the last chance I have for myself…" Andriel said to her.

"What are you talking about?" Leviathan couldn't understand her words.

"Haven't your father told you anything about me?" Andriel suddenly asked in surprise.

Leviathan's face twitched. As the next Queen of the Behemoth race, she obviously had to be well informed about every important thing around the world. 

But she remembered that she always ran away with a red face after hearing the word succubus itself.

At this moment, she suddenly remembered her father passing down a book of records telling her to read it when she had finally gotten over it….

Did she read it?

Nope...she totally forgot about it…

"Well it doesn't matter…..If you don't know it, you don't need to…" Andriel said with a smile as she turned around toward the but.

"But Max would be upset if you did that…." Leviathan suddenly said.

"If he is not the person I am looking for, it doesn't matter to me.…" Andriel suddenly replied as she looked at her. If she didn't know about it, she didn't have to....she didn't want pity....

"Don't tell him any of these....because it will destroy everything I have done...." Andriel said as she looked at her.

"You are being selfish in every possible way!!!" Leviathan shouted in anger.

Andriel's footsteps suddenly paused as he turned around and looked at Leviathan with her eyes glistening.

"I can't help it at this point…..I am sorry….." 

…

As Max opened his eyes, he saw Lilly was up and clinging onto him.

"You are up?" Max asked as he rubbed her head.

"Umn…" Lilly nodded her head.

At this moment, Janet walked in as she looked at Max and said, "Dinner is ready…" 

She still couldn't seem to comprehend the situation.

"Shall we go?" Max asked as he looked at Lilly and she responded by cutely nodding her head.