<h4>Chapter 324 A hottie, two baldies and me?</h4>


    Winter Break Arc.


    (POV: Lumiere)


    ---


    For the most part, we were still in Argentia.


    I didn''t need to check outside to confirm, the modern attire of the people here was enough to tell me that.


    Still, what was Garret still doing in Drakoria.


    It made sense that he could decide to stay, but the tournament happened in Zarbon city— Drakoria?s capital city. So, the fact that he was here also meant that Genny was here as well, which was an instant bother. We left things in an awkward situation and we haven''t discussed it since then.


    Well, because I haven''t seen her...


    Her, or my family...


    "I should pay them a visit," I muttered to myself.


    I stopped my endless thinking and looked at Ravenna.


    She was already deep in the crowd.


    "Over here!" I told her.


    I made my way through the lively inn, I spotted Garret seated in a cozy booth. I approached him, my eyes inadvertently drifting towards the man seated beside him – Ress.


    My gaze shifted between the two.


    And for some reason, I asked a strange question.


    "Are you guys, brothers?"


    Ress arched an eyebrow, he already looked pissed, but just a bit.


    "Are you asking because I''m bald?" he retorted. "Well, I hate to break it to you, but being bald doesn''t automatically make us rted."


    Yeah, but it was worth a shot though...


    Still, Ress did have a temper. I mean, it was one of the reasons I had to kick his ass early into the tournament.


    Then again, I wasn''t the one who kicked his ass, it was ck, so all that hate went to him and thankfully not him.


    I forced chuckled at his witty response, shaking my head.


    What I was actually chuckling at was how I kicked his ass.


    "What? No, I didn''t even notice that," I admitted.


    "Yeah," Ress frowned at me and folded his arms. "You totally didn''t notice that I was bald..."


    "Not even a little..."


    I swear I could''ve seen his head sparkle after I said that.


    Then, I extended my hand towards Ress, seeking to establish a friendly connection.


    "I''m sorry for the assumption, Ress. It''s a pleasure to meet you."


    "Whatever," he grinned.


    Ress took my hand, gripping it firmly before releasing it.


    Garret''s grin widened. After, he interjected.


    "Well, it''s really been a while, hasn''t it?"


    He dropped his drumstick onto his te and reached for his beer, taking a long, satisfying swig before wiping the foam from his lips.


    "I haven''t seen you since the tournament," he continued. "What''s been going on with you?"


    I leaned back in my seat, a smile spreading across my face. "Oh, a few things came up since then," I replied cryptically.


    While they were running away that day, I had to deal with an ambivalent demon spirit who almost cut me in half.


    Not my proudest day...


    "I actually thought you were a goner, but Genevieve said there''s no way you''d die..." Garret told me.


    "Hah~ It''ll take more than an invasion to kill me..."


    Technically, I didn''t die, so it wasn''t a lie.


    "Well that''s good to know... Bahahah!!" Garretughed.


    "Eh, sure."


    "So," Garret regained his control. "How''d you get out of the city, because I heard the whole ce was packed.."


    "Hm? Oh, I umh..."


    Luckily, Ravenna arrived at the booth, capturing the attention of everyone present.


    Ress'' eyes flew open. "Well, she''s a hottie," he blurted out, causing Ravenna to raise an eyebrow, clearly taken aback by the unexpectedment.


    "Hm?" she said.


    Quickly realizing the need to rify, I reassured Ravenna, "These are friends of mine."


    "Wait, you know this hottie!" Garret shot a stare at me.


    I tilted my head a bit andughed awkwardly. "Yah."


    Garret immediately gestured for Ravenna to sit beside him.


    "There''s never a good reason to keep ady standing for so long," he chimed in, scooting over to make room for her. "Come on, take a seat."


    "Thank you," she told Garret.


    Ravenna then used her butt to push me inside a bit and settledfortably next to me.


    "Eh, Ravenna... he offered you a seat," I told her.


    She gently nodded. "I know, but I''d prefer to sit next to someone I like."


    Ress then cackled a bit, while Garret copsed on his te for a moment, devastated.


    "That''s a little harsh..." I said.


    Ravenna raised an eyebrow innocently. "Is it?" she dressed her wavy hair. "I''m not saying I don''t the bald guy, I just like you a lot more than I like him.."


    "T... That''s... Even harsher..." I pinched the bridge of my nose.


    "It is?" Ravenna wrinkled her face a bit in confusion.


    This immediately made me blurt out augh, but it paused when I saw the res Ress and Garret were giving me.


    "Eh?" I said.


    Soon, we proceeded from that...


    About two minutes passed...


    And these bastards had already forgotten I was here. Their eyes were fixed on Ravenna.


    "So, how do you and Lumiere know each other?" Garret asked her.


    Before Ravenna could answer, Ress cleared his throat dramatically, causing a momentary pause. "Excuse me," he interjected, his carried faux formality, "but a gentleman should ask what thedy would like to eat before prying into her personal life."


    "Tch." Garret grit his teeth.


    "So, my beautiful, raven-haireddy, what would you like to eat?" Ress asked.


    I didn''t even know he could speak in such a porsh manner.


    Ravenna opened her mouth to respond, but before she could utter a word, Garret cleared his throat even louder, effectively silencing the booth. He shot a pointed look at Ress before turning to me with a confident facial expression.


    "A decent man should at least know thedy''s name before interrogating her."


    I covered my face with my palm, letting out a sigh of exasperation.


    "Enough already, guys. It''s getting tiring," I pleaded, hoping to put an end to their relentless teasing.


    Undeterred, Garret cleared his throat once more.


    "Says the guy who can''t even let ady sit when shees to greet two fine gentlemen," he countered.


    If he said ''bald gentlemen'' then I''d know whom he was referring to.


    One of the knights seated with us chimed in, "And us too, right, boss?" he added, giving Garret a nod of agreement.


    Garret''s gaze hardened. His tone became more authoritative. "Shut it," hemanded, his eyes fixed on the knight.


    The knight''s face fell, trying to hold back his tears as he mumbled, "Aye, sir."


    Jeez, these Knights of the Cross members suffer a lot.


    Both in the hands of their captain and vice captain; Garret and Genny.


    And Genny was actually way worse because she always kicked their ass if they stepped out line or tried to bezy.


    Still, it wasn''t enough reason for me to care, I didn''t even know their names.


    "So mdy, what''s your name?" Garret asked with a grin.


    There was some strands of chicken meat caught in-between his teeth.


    Ravenna cringed a bit. "Eh, well..."


    Realizing that the conversation was bing overwhelming for Ravenna, I intervened.


    "Alright, alright," I conceded. "Her name''s Ravenna, and we met in a small program. As for joining you guys to eat, she won''t be able to because we''ll be leaving soon."


    I answered all three of their questions in the proper order in which I''d have asked anydy.


    That was how to rizz up ady.


    Garret sighed heavily, he hit the table a bit and grinned.


    "Oh,e on, don''t be that guy," he chided, showing me a thumbs down. "You should at least give her a choice. It''s not like she''s your girlfriend or anything."


    Give her a choice?


    I''m leaving because she doesn''t want to be with you two idiots!!


    After my mental breakdown, I exhaled a sigh.


    Iughed and shrugged, shooting Ravenna a quick sidelong nce. "Yeah, but she''s not yours either," I retorted, trying to keep the mood light.


    My heart skipped a beat as Ravenna leaned in, she whispered, her warm breath tickling my ear. My eyes widened, and I instinctively nced at Ress and Garret, who were now bristling with barely-contained anger.


    "Didn''t know you could be so protective," Ravenna murmured. "It almost makes me want to kiss you."


    Eh?


    Even after thinking, all I could say was, "Eh?"


    I quickly hushed her, my voice also a mere whisper against her ear. "Definitely not," I replied hastily. "I just don''t want them to disturb you, that''s all."


    Ravenna''sughter tickled my ear, and she gently shook her head in a cute way. "Either way, I''m happy," she confessed softly.


    To be honest...


    Ravenna?s really...