Chapter 272: Chapter 272
Azazel couldn't help but feel a bit of pride. His woman was responsible for all of this development. But that could come later.
"So, what's got you so troubled, kid?"
" *Sigh* I don't know."
Igor turned to face him.
"Uncle Ay. Does family make you weak?"
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|DxD|
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For Igor, nothing in this life was more important than his family. The bond he shared with them triumphed all logic and reason. This love and care he bore for those precious to him now conflicted with his deepest passion---training.
To them. it would be two weeks. For him, it would be five years alone in the time chamber. The decision was easy when he spoke about it with Atid. But when those four eyes looked at him with unwillingness, his desire to part from them increased.
As someone who treasured strength and loved the process, he found himself at a crossroads when his passion met with his family.
The logical choice was clear, but his heart was making him hesitate. It was why he felt the need to seek the guidance of Azazel.
Perhaps he could help him.
"Uncle Ay. Does family make you weak?"
"..."
Azazel wondered if the person he was talking to was the real Igor. For Igor to think this deeply…it didn't make sense.
"Whoa. Look at you using that brain for once. You can actually think of such profound questions?"
"Tch."
Igor playfully shoved Azazel's shoulder with a weak smile.
"I'm serious here, Uncle Ay. I want to go back to the time chamber in a few days but I'm hesitating because of my family. When I think of how many years will pass without me seeing them, I find myself not wanting to go."
"..."
Azazel did not reply immediately and observed the boy. He was attempting to lighten up the atmosphere earlier, but the turmoil in Igor's eyes was very clear despite the dim lighting.
"Well, I don't know what to tell you kid. It depends. How important is your family to you?"
Igor lowered his head when Azazel posed this question. What was his family to him? It was everything.
"Very."
*Clenches Fists*
"Anyone who touches them…will die."
"..."
Igor's face was hidden by the shadow of his hair, but for a moment, Azazel saw those red eyes oozing with killing intent.
"Yeesh!"
Azazel placed his hand on Igor's shoulder and playfully shook him.
"Why so serious? I was just asking. If you really love your family that much, then use them as your motivation."
"Motivation?"
Igor faced Azazel with a questioning gaze.
"What do you mean?"
"It means exactly what it means. When you're in that time chamber, don't train for the sake of training. Train for the sake of protecting your family. Every moment you are away, tell yourself you are doing this for them."
"..."
Igor's eyes flickered with unexplainable emotions, but it was an irrefutable fact that his gaze lightened.
"You're…right."
Azazel's words truly struck a chord in him. As expected of someone who's lived for thousands of years. A profound problem for him was a mere inconvenience for them.
"Right? Of course I'm right. Who do you think I am?"
Unfortunately, his elevated perception of Azazel was shattered by the man himself. His lips twitched when the fallen blatantly tooted his own horn.
"Tch. An arrogant halfwit, that's who."
Azazel was 'offended'.
"And you took advice from this arrogant halfwit. So what does that make you?"
Igor glared at Azazel and raised his fist.
"Someone who's about to punch this halfwit."
Azazel hastily raised his arms in mock surrender.
"Hey hey hey! Easy now. I can't afford to get injured. I scheduled some sexy time with my lovely Cleria-chan."
"And you're telling me this why?"
Azazel leaned and nudged Igor on the shoulder.
"Come on, Igor. Who doesn't know of your relationship with your darling Aurelia? We both bagged hot girls with silver hair."
Igor frowned in confusion.
"What? Is that common knowledge now?"
"Tch. Not even a blush? So boring."
Azazel leaned away and sat up straight.
"But yes. Information of your relationship with her has entered the works. There's also word you almost killed an elder for her. It caused some upheaval, but it was quickly quelled by your Satan buddies."
"Oh."
Igor didn't care much for this. But Azazel thought differently. His demeanour gradually shifted into a serious one, all previous sense of casualness fading.
"Don't be so quick to dismiss this, kid. I'm not done. There's been a lot of people purchasing information on you and Aurelia. It's not just limited to the Three Factions. Other factions and pantheons have been enquiring about you lately."
"..."
Igor digested this information. In the past, such an event might've had him jumping in jubilation. Now, it had him considering preemptive measures.
"Who do I kill?"
"No one. You're a new player in this world of ours, kid. It's normal for people to gather information on you. Anyone of significant worth has their own dossier in every notable organisation's archives."
He grabbed Igor's shoulder and gave it a squeeze.
"You don't need to worry so much. Given how powerful and influential you are, you're practically on the 'Do Not Touch' section of everyone's archives."
"What about Asia? What about Akeno?"
Igor's gaze hardened.
"Is there information on them?"
"..."
Azazel knew he had to tread carefully here. Family was Igor's absolute bottom line. A poor choice of words could see the boy commit very reckless actions could destabilize the supernatural world.
Sigh…
"I hope you remain calm for this, Igor. Inevitably, Asia and Akeno have been linked to you. But you don't have to worry about that. Even with you gone, no one would touch those two. Disregarding your reaction, Asia and Akeno are publically known to have the backing of entire factions behind them."
"Asia has the protection of the Aryans and the Church. Aside from me, who does Akeno have?"
Azazel clutched his heart with a 'hurt' expression.
"How you wound me…---Grigori of course! Did you forget about us?"
"Grigori? Wouldn't they be the first to try something against her?"
"Wipe away that prejudice, kid. That kind of discrimination died over the years, especially after the war against your ancestors. There's no denying a few hardliners still exist, but they won't cause problems for her. I'm still the Governor after all. My words hold weight."
"Oh."
For a brief moment, Igor smiled.
"If you and the old man are willing to protect her, then I'm glad."
"Hehehe. It's not just us, Igor. Akeno has the backing of the entire Shinto Pantheon."
"What?!"
Igor was completely startled. Having the protection of a faction was one thing. Having an entire pantheon backing you was another thing entirely. The latter was far stronger!
"You didn't know? Yasaka released official information inaugurating Shuri as Amaterasu's second priestess. As a priestess, any of her children would be protected by the Shinto. Unofficially, that extends to Asia too."
"I never knew that…"
A small smile spread across Igor's face. The knowledge that his sisters had such a powerful backing served to calm his apprehension.
"See? So you have nothing to worry about, kid. Big mama Amaterasu is protecting them so go on ahead and train in that time chamber of yours."
"..."
At this point, Igor regarded him suspiciously.
"Why does it sound like you really want me gone?"
Azazel's face turned stony.
"Because I do want you gone."
He did not hide it.
"Do you have any idea how much work I've been in ever since you came back? You're a walking calamity! It's like every moment you breathe, a document forms on my desk detailing some mess you caused directly or indirectly! I've been swamped in work for the past month because of you! And my Cleria-chan too…"
His rant ended with a small plea.
"I just want to slack off, have a couple of beers, and some sexy time, you know? Is that so much to ask? Do you know how long it's been?"
Azazel grabbed on to Igor's shirt like a beggar.
"It's been three weeks. Three weeks since I've last drained them! A hand is no longer eno-"
"Shit! Don't tell me that, pervert!"
Igor's expression turned very ugly. His face was scrunched up like a piece of paper. A coloured page from a doujin he unfortunately saw surfaced.
"Bloody hell! Why did you tell me!? WHY!?"
He didn't know why his mind pictured it. The cursed images of the yaoi book, the Korean kind that had extreme details on the characters laser-printed themselves into the forefront of his mind.
'It's been so long, Akira-kun. I saved up a lot as you said. Please help me…empty th-'
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAH! I'LL KILL YOU!"
Igor lunged at Azazel, but the man dodged and ran away very quickly.
"What happened?!?!"
He questioned, but all he got was a ki blast narrowly missing his face
"Wait!!!"
Azazel retreated into the skies with Igor hot on his tail. Igor's angry outburst was far beyond his prediction.
"IT WAS A JOKE!"
"DIEEEE!"