Once their encounter with the gorilla monster had concluded, Ira and Sin made their way back to the grand mansion. Throughout their entire journey, Ira refrained from posing any questions to Sin, leaving him confused by her silence as she is a talkative person at least to him.
It wasn't that she didn't want to engage in conversation, but rather that she was at a loss for words, unsure of how exactly she should inquire about.
Upon choosing to remain in this place, her intention was to delve deeper into understanding him and uncover the origins of his unwavering strength. Nevertheless, comprehending his resilience proved to be an insurmountable task. In terms of truly getting to know him, it became apparent that he was not a vicious individual nor a lazy one, as only a diligent individual could exhibit such unyielding dedication, a lazy guy cannot work hard like that.
She firmly believed that even if an individual were to undergo a complete transition, it would be implausible for their fundamental nature to undergo such a profound transformation.
Afterward, she proceeded to meet with Madam Rubi, where she inquired about the possibility of his true nature being concealed throughout all these years by them.
Madam Rubi's face softened with a warm smile as she took in the news, but her response was filled with a hint of disappointment answering that they didn't hide it. The passing of Jinn had created an immense void between them, causing their once close bond to slowly fade away. Now, Madam Rubi found herself in a perplexing situation, completely unaware of Sin's current demeanor and conduct. She was left grappling with the uncertainty of not knowing the true essence of his character, and more importantly, the extent of his strength and abilities.
In addition, she further stated that it is highly unlikely for him to confide in them about his matter anymore. This is primarily because they have seemingly turned their backs on him, leading him to reciprocate by distancing himself from them as well.
After hearing that, Ira remained silent. Madame Rubi asked Isla, "Do you know when it hurts the most?"
As Ira gazed deeply into the mesmerizing depths of Madam Rubi's eyes, an air of anticipation and uncertainty hung in the atmosphere. Unbeknownst to Madam Rubi, Ira's heart raced with anticipation, eagerly awaiting her response.
Madam Rubi expressed that whenever Sin gazed upon them, both herself and the Judge, it was evident that he did not perceive them as his parents or even as close relatives. It seemed as though he had relinquished any hope he had in them and had made the choice to forge ahead on his own.
Upon hearing this, Ira let out a deep exhale, signifying a mixture of emotions. She proceeded to explain that while she may not have been in love with him, her fondness for him was undeniably blossoming with each passing day. It felt as though he was gradually transforming into someone she could confide in and rely on, becoming an irreplaceable figure in her life. Despite not having spent a significant amount of time together, she still harbors these emotions.
His gaze never held a discerning quality whenever it fell upon her, for he consistently regarded her with the utmost respect. He refrained from showering her with superfluous praise and never once allowed his eyes to linger upon her in a lascivious manner. However, it would be remiss to assume that his lack of overt attention implied a failure to recognize her as a woman. On the contrary, he acknowledged her femininity yet treated her with the same dignity and regard as he would any other individual, acknowledging her as a proper woman while recognizing her inherent humanity.
Ira went on to elaborate that if he had openly expressed his intention to marry her, she would have gladly accepted his proposal. In fact, it would have brought her a tremendous sense of relief, as she didn't want to settle for just any random unknown person. However, her hesitations stemmed from her doubts about whether he truly viewed her as his lifelong partner. In her perception, he seemed like someone who was challenging to establish a deep connection with or even approach.
Madam Rubi's face lit up with a radiant smile upon hearing her, and she enthusiastically conveyed that, there is no other candidate who could compete with her exceptional qualifications and skills.
Despite not forgetting to fan the flame in Ira's heart, she informed her that the arrival of Duke Amir's daughter was imminent, specifically to assess her compatibility with Sin or vice versa. Nonetheless, it seems unlikely that she will choose Sin due to her exceedingly high standards. Nevertheless, Ira must remain cautious and alert in her dealings with her.
Ira then remembered the person, she got defeated by her once. In the Sprite God Tournament. She narrowed her eyes and told Rubi that she would keep that in her mind.
Meanwhile, in other places, a man with noble insignia on his shirt entered an unusual room. He saw ten people sitting on a round table. They all have the same dress, it was as if these ten people came from the same school, though they are much older in terms of age.
The nobleman then asked about the status of Southern Asmodeus Duchy's village news. One of the guys replied that it was defeated by an unknown man. They failed to find that man's true identity. However, that man is strong no doubt.
The nobleman asked, where is the core? That guy replied that the core was taken by that man.
The nobleman said, well even though the invasion failed, however, our goal was achieved. We finally found the first fragment.
One of the guys nodded and said, yes, it was under the stone as you predicted.
If they wanted to take the fragment normally, people would have naturally asked why this outsider was moving the stone. However, if a monster attacked the village and pretended to peek up and throw it at them would anyone question why that big stone was removed?
The nobleman nodded with satisfaction. Then he asked, is there someone who could take the mission to kill Sin Abraham? Last time we failed, but time is pressing us, we need to kill him.