Chapter 22: Crazy Monkey
"Who are you?" Lucien asked, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. Who's this guy? Doesn't he know Lucien's background and overbearing personality? How was he brave enough to confront him head-on?
But the man simply sneered in response, his eyes lingering on Lucien for a moment too long. "Ah, just another entitled noble, aren't you? Born with a silver spoon in your mouth, but no true worth to speak of," he spat out the words with contempt.
Lucien bided his time, waiting for Charlotte's arrival before speaking again. "Charlotte, do you know this...ape?" he quipped, his lips twisting into a smirk as he eyed the man's simian features.
Lucien didn't say that without basis. The man's appearance did indeed resemble a monkey, with his big and pointy ears that seemed to stick out from his head, his long and hairy arms that hung by his sides like branches, and his face that was scrunched up in anger like a baboon's.
"Ape?" The man stammered, seemingly in disbelief that someone had the audacity to mock him like that. His eyelids twitched, and his nostrils were flaring like a raging bull.
Charlotte quickly stepped in between the two men. Lucien could tell she was trying to hold back a laugh, her cheeks puffed out like a hamster's. After a moment, she cleared her throat and introduced the man to Lucien.
"This is my childhood friend Davion," she said, gesturing towards ape, "and this is also my friend Lucien," she added, indicating towards Lucien.
Her introduction wasn't wrong, but it sounded awkwardly formal to Lucien, so he couldn't resist adding a playful smirk and saying, "A very special friend, I might add," while raising his eyebrows provocatively at Davion.
Despite their complicated relationship, Lucien had his sights set on Charlotte and was determined to make her his first wife. He reasoned that since they had each other first, it would be lacking if she didn't become his first wife.
Lucien was also drawn to her dual personality. He found the alluring and flirty Charlotte under the influence of his ability irresistible. While the tsundere, shy, and brave Charlotte when sober, piqued his interest. Her beauty and face also fit his taste perfectly, and he would be foolish to let go of such a catch.
Furthermore, Auman's unexpected aid in Charlotte's progress strengthens his conviction that she will become a prominent figure in the future. Auman, an almighty genie sent by the goddess, involving herself in Charlotte's growth indicates her extraordinary talent and heavenly potential.
So naturally, Lucien felt annoyed seeing an ape getting in his way of meeting Charlotte. What was this guy's problem? He even had the audacity to call him a spoiled brat. Even if it were true, it didn't give him the right to insult him to his face.
"S-special friend?" Davion stuttered in incredulity, his eyes darting between Lucien and Charlotte. He observed Charlotte's blushing cheeks and how she didn't outrightly refute Lucien's statement, instead giving him a playful punch on the shoulder like a couple teasing each other.
Despite all the evidence before his eyes, he still refused to accept the truth that was unfolding before him.
"Ha! Don't make me laugh! Special friend? You wish!" Charlotte scoffed, her face twisted in disgust as if she had tasted something bitter. But her eyes betrayed her true feelings, showing a softness that contradicted her harsh words.
"I'm sorry, okay? There were circumstances that forced me to do that," Lucien said with a helpless smile.
"I don't believe you. What kind of circumstances could possibly justify a man slapping his woman's friend's ass in front of so many people?" Charlotte snorted, clearly unconvinced by Lucien's explanation.
Lucien fell silent. He couldn't possibly explain he was sort of a dead man that happened to be possessing Lucien Devereux's body and was slaved by a system and had to complete quests in order to avoid punishment and obtain EXP, right? That was undeniably too long and an irrational explanation.
As he was about to steer the conversation in a different direction, he couldn't help but notice that Davion was shaking uncontrollably, as if he were holding something back.
"Ass? He slapped your ass..?" Davion said in a trembling voice.
Charlotte blushed and remained silent. What else was there to say? Should she really admit that Lucien had just slapped her butt? That would only further embarrass her and damage her reputation!
What she didn't know was that her silence only fueled Davion's suspicion.
Davion suddenly became quiet, but Lucien and Charlotte could tell something was off about him.
"Hey, are you okay?" Charlotte couldn't help but ask upon realizing Davion's body convulsing intensely. As she reached out to touch his shoulder, her hand was repelled by an unseen force, causing her to cry in surprise, "Ouch!"
Lucien quickly moved to her side and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her close to his back. "Are you okay?"
However, in Davion's eyes, the two appeared to be side-hugging each other, which further enhanced his rage.
"It should be me..."
"What?" Lucien asked, unable to hear Davion's mumbled words clearly.
"It should have been me who slapped her ass!" Davion abruptly exclaimed, causing both Lucien and Charlotte to be left speechless. Charlotte, in particular, was shocked and taken aback. She had always viewed Davion as an older brother figure, someone she could trust and rely on. She never expected him to make such a crude and perverted comment about her.
"This guy's crazy." Lucien muttered to himself. As he said that, he noticed Davion's pupil had gone all white.
As Lucien watched, Davion suddenly vanished from his sight, but he quickly realized that the man had only moved at speed too fast for his eyes to follow. All he could see was a blur of white before a fist materialized in front of him.
'Shit!' Lucien thought alarmingly as he immediately crossed his arms over his chest.
Bam!
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone