Read Novel Full Chapter 1797: Meeting the Past: Part-1
Chapter 1797: Meeting the Past: Part-1
^You just thought I was dangerous, didn’t you?^
There was an unmistakable hint of playful amusement in her otherwise calm voice.
Young Aether nearly jumped.
“…”
Yep.
She was definitely becoming dangerous.
Emily, completely unaware of the silent psychological battle taking place inside Young Aether’s head, tilted her head curiously.
“Say…”
Young Aether looked toward her.
“You said your face has the ability to attract older women, right?”
“Yes.”
Emily frowned thoughtfully.
“I can understand the super speed a little. Maybe your muscles are just far stronger than a normal person’s, so your body moves faster. It’s unbelievable, but I can at least force some kind of explanation into my head.”
She paused before pointing at his visor.
“But this?”
She looked utterly confused.
“How does your face seduce women?”
Allen’s eyebrows immediately shot upward.
He slowly turned toward his wife.
“…Why exactly do you want to know that?”
Emily rolled her eyes.
“Because I’m curious.”
“You’re asking another man how his face seduces women.”
“It’s called asking a scientific question.”
Allen snorted.
“Scientific, my ass.”
Emily folded her arms.
“You were literally asking him to teleport meat from the kitchen five minutes ago.”
Allen coughed into his fist.
“That… was also for science.”
Young Aether silently watched the married couple argue again.
‘These two really share the same brain cell.’
He wasn’t sure whether he should answer Emily’s question…
Or simply pretend he didn’t hear it.
Emily shrugged her shoulders and spoke with a calm expression.
“I just want to understand how it works, you know. Maybe if we know how your ability functions, it will help us figure out how to protect ourselves in case something happens.”
Allen thought about it for a second before nodding in agreement…. There should always be a fail-safe!
“Oh… that’s actually a good point. If we know what we’re dealing with, we can prepare ourselves instead of getting caught off guard.”
Both of them turned toward Young Aether simultaneously, their curious gazes landing on the black visor covering his face.
Young Aether simply shrugged his shoulders.
“I honestly don’t know how it works.”
He wasn’t lying.
Even he had absolutely no clue why women reacted so differently to him now.
His face was still his own.
His body hadn’t magically transformed into someone else’s.
The only major differences he could think of were the vampire blood flowing through his veins, the strange scent his body now carried, and perhaps the unnatural charm hidden within his eyes.
Beyond that…
He honestly had no explanation.
Emily frowned in disbelief.
“You don’t know? But it’s your own ability. How can you not know something that belongs to you?”
Young Aether helplessly scratched the back of his head.
“Abilities don’t exactly come with an instruction manual. I only know the results because I’ve experienced them firsthand. I don’t actually understand what causes those results.”
Emily still looked somewhat dissatisfied, but she accepted his explanation and continued asking.
“Then can you at least tell me this? Does your ability make women genuinely fall in love with you… or does it do something completely different?”
Young Aether immediately shook his head.
“No. It doesn’t make anyone fall in love with me.”
The instant those words left his mouth, Allen released such a huge sigh of relief that it almost sounded like he had escaped death itself.
“Oh, thank God—”
The tension disappeared from his shoulders, and the nervous expression on his face finally relaxed into a smile.
Unfortunately for him…
Young Aether wasn’t finished explaining.
“They don’t fall in love with me.”
Young Aether paused for a brief moment before continuing.
“They become overwhelmed by lust.”
He awkwardly moved his hand back and forth in a subtle gesture, making absolutely sure Noah wasn’t paying attention before lowering his voice.
“You know… that kind of desire.”
Allen’s relieved smile instantly froze.
Emily’s eyes widened.
Neither of them interrupted him.
“They don’t suddenly start loving me,” Young Aether continued with a bitter smile. “Instead, they become obsessed with having me. Their judgment becomes clouded, and they stop thinking rationally. Just want to fuck me!”
His voice became noticeably quieter.
“Some women even tried to force themselves on me… And it happened that someone tried to rape me… I barely escaped from them.”
He said with an expression as if those were normal for him.
Allen’s expression slowly changed.
Only a few minutes ago, he had been worried that Young Aether might accidentally steal his wife.
Now, after hearing everything, he realised his friend had been suffering through something far worse than simple unwanted attention.
It’s not his wife who needed to be protected.
It was his friend!
His best Friend!
Without saying a single word, Allen quietly stood up from his seat.
Young Aether watched him with confusion, wondering what his friend was planning to do.
Instead of returning to Emily’s side, Allen calmly walked over and sat directly beside Young Aether.
Then he reached out, firmly grabbed Young Aether’s hand with both of his own, and looked at him with complete sincerity.
“Don’t worry, bro.”
His expression was filled with determination.
“I’ll protect you with my life.”
For a brief moment, Young Aether genuinely felt touched.
Having someone immediately choose to stand beside him after hearing such an unpleasant story reminded him why Allen had always been his closest friend.
His heart actually warmed.
Then…
Young Aether looked directly into Allen’s eyes.
The warmth instantly disappeared.
Allen was trying incredibly hard to maintain a serious expression, but the corners of his mouth kept twitching upward, and his eyes sparkled with an excitement that absolutely should not have been there.
Young Aether narrowed his eyes.
Something felt very suspicious.
Allen gently patted his shoulder.
“It must have been terrifying.”
His voice sounded warm.
It sounded comforting.
It even sounded sympathetic.
Unfortunately…
His face was telling a completely different story.
Young Aether could practically hear Allen’s inner thoughts without needing any supernatural abilities.
‘Every woman wants him?’
‘Seriously?’
‘That kind of blessing actually exists?’
‘God… why couldn’t it have been me instead?’
Young Aether felt another vein bulge on his forehead.
‘Motherfucker…’
‘You’re jealous? You’re actually jealous of me almost getting sexually assaulted?’
Young Aether immediately pulled his hand away.
“Don’t look at me with that expression.”
Allen blinked innocently.
“What expression?”
“The one that says you’re jealous.”
Allen immediately placed a hand over his chest and wore the most righteous expression he could manage.
“Bro, I am simply grieving for the suffering my best friend has endured.”
Young Aether stared at him for several seconds.
“No.”
Allen maintained the act.
“I swear I’m being completely sincere.”
Young Aether pointed directly at his face.
“Your mouth is literally trying not to smile.”
Allen quickly covered his lips.
Emily, who had been silently watching the entire exchange, slowly turned toward her husband.
“You’re actually jealous… aren’t you?”
Allen awkwardly scratched his cheek before letting out an embarrassed laugh.
“I mean… just a tiny little bit.”
Young Aether immediately pointed an accusing finger at him.
“You’re unbelievable.”
Allen shamelessly grinned.
“I can feel bad for you and be jealous at the same time.”
Young Aether could only stare at Allen blankly, completely unsure how he was supposed to respond to that declaration.
Allen suddenly clenched his fist with burning determination.
“Don’t worry. From this day forward, I’ll protect you.”
He spoke with such conviction that it almost sounded like a knight swearing an oath before his king.
His expression was so serious that anyone watching would have thought he was pledging his life to defend his best friend until the very end.
Unfortunately…
The reality inside Allen’s head was considerably less noble.
Don’t worry, bro… As long as I’m alive, I won’t let a single woman lay a finger on you!
FUCK YOU!
Young Aether silently looked at him.
“…”
He really did have a very good friend.
A very stupid…
But very good friend.
Emily quietly watched the scene unfold, and before she realised it, her eyes had become slightly moist.
Knowing that Young Aether’s appearance didn’t make women fall in love with him but instead awakened nothing but uncontrollable lust completely changed how she viewed him.
How terrifying must that have been?
How lonely must he have felt?
To constantly wonder whether every unfamiliar woman approaching him genuinely wanted to know him…
Or simply wanted his body.
Suddenly, all of his earlier behaviour made perfect sense.
The distance he had instinctively kept from her.
The way he had insisted on covering his face before she entered the room.
The cautious way he spoke around women.
She had initially thought he was simply being awkward.
Now she realised… He wasn’t awkward.
He was afraid!
He was just afraied woman!
Just as many women instinctively became cautious around unfamiliar men…
Young Aether had become cautious around unfamiliar women.
It must be really terrifying… You cannot even love anyone without knowing what they were really after!
Emily couldn’t help feeling sorry for him.
What a pitiful guy…
Young Aether quietly looked at both of them.
He didn’t need any supernatural abilities to tell exactly what they were imagining.
These two idiots had completely created their own tragic story inside their heads.
Allen suddenly frowned.
“D-does… Jonathan know about this?”
Young Aether slowly shook his head.
“No.”
Emily looked slightly surprised.
“What about Jonathan’s wives?”
Young Aether hesitated.
“…. No.”
That tiny pause did not escape Allen.
His eyes immediately narrowed.
“Oi.”
Another second of silence.
“Oi!”
Allen pointed accusingly at him.
“What was that pause, you bastard? Tell me!”
Young Aether scratched his cheek awkwardly before letting out a defeated sigh.
“Well…You see…”
“I didn’t actually realise I had this ability until…”
He hesitated once more.
“…until they saw my face.”
The room instantly became deathly quiet.
Allen’s face turned pale.
Emily’s expression wasn’t much better.
They slowly looked at one another before returning their horrified gazes to Young Aether.
Allen swallowed nervously.
“D-did you…”
Ding dong~
The doorbell suddenly rang through the house, cutting Allen off before he could finish his question.
Everyone instinctively turned toward the front door.
A moment later… The door opened.
Jonathan stepped inside wearing a calm but noticeably serious expression.
Behind him followed Maiuri and Sasha, both carrying similarly solemn faces.
Allen and Emily immediately stood up from the couch.
Even little Noah quietly hid behind his mother’s legs again, peeking curiously at the newcomers.
The serious atmosphere lasted for exactly two seconds.
Jonathan suddenly broke into a warm smile and walked straight toward Allen.
“Hello, my friend. It’s been a while.”
He wrapped Allen in a friendly hug.
“How have you been?”
“I… I’ve been fine.”
Allen forced an awkward smile while briefly glancing toward Young Aether before hugging Jonathan back.
“It’s good to see you again.”
Meanwhile, Maiuri and Sasha walked over to Emily with bright smiles before gently embracing her.
“How have you been?” Maiuri asked warmly. “It really has been a long time.”
“We’ve missed seeing you,” Sasha added with a gentle smile.
Emily returned the hug. “I’m doing well. Thank you.”
Maiuri stepped back and looked Emily up and down before smiling teasingly.
“You seem even more beautiful than the last time we met.”
Emily immediately laughed and waved her hand.
“Haha… I’m already getting older. I don’t think I’ve grown any prettier.”
Sasha smiled and gently shook her head.
“No. You really have.”
Emily scratched her cheek in embarrassment.
“Well… thank you.”
Maiuri nodded before looking around the room.
“Where’s the little cutie~?”
The moment she asked, the serious expression on her face completely melted away.
A bright, radiant smile bloomed across her lips, one so genuine that Young Aether had never seen it before.
Not even when she was with Jonathan.
It was the kind of smile that naturally brightened the entire room.
The moment her eyes landed on Noah, they sparkled.
“There you are!”
She hurried over, scooped the little boy into her arms, and hugged him tightly before showering his cheeks and forehead with countless affectionate kisses.
“Oh my goodness, you’re so adorable! I missed you so much! Chu~ Chu~ Chu~”
Noah’s tiny face trembled as though he were about to burst into tears from the overwhelming affection.
Then…
For some mysterious reason…
He simply gave up resisting.
His tiny body went completely limp as he silently accepted his fate, wearing the expression of a child who had realised there was absolutely no escaping.
Young Aether quietly watched the scene.
“…”
He definitely wasn’t jealous.
Absolutely not.
Not even a little bit.
‘Seriously though…’
‘What does she have that I don’t?’
‘I’m handsome.’
‘I’m cool.’
‘I’m literally the greatest uncle candidate imaginable.’
RIN answered almost immediately.
^You don’t have boobs, though.^
Young Aether immediately fell silent.
“…”
After a long pause, he replied inwardly.
‘Please stop predicting my thoughts. It’s honestly starting to get scary.’
He wasn’t joking anymore.
The AI had become frighteningly accurate.
Still…
After hearing RIN’s answer, he reluctantly admitted she had a point.
Babies naturally felt safer around women, especially those who looked warm and motherly.
Meanwhile…
He was wearing an intimidating black visor that covered his entire face.
‘That little brat probably thinks I’m some kind of villain.’
Young Aether narrowed his eyes toward Noah.
‘Just you wait. One day you’ll understand how awesome your uncle really is.’
He silently carved those words into his heart as though engraving an oath into solid stone.
“Anyway, Aether…”
Jonathan’s voice pulled everyone’s attention back.
After exchanging a few greetings with Allen, he turned toward Young Aether, and the relaxed atmosphere instantly became serious again.
“A Hell Gate has opened nearby.”
Young Aether’s playful expression disappeared.
Jonathan continued.
“The Governor has agreed to let us stay as long as we help close the gate.”
His eyes met Young Aether’s visor.
“So… this is your chance to prove that everything you’ve told us is true.”
A confident smirk spread beneath Young Aether’s visor.
“Of course.”
Then he frowned slightly.
“There is one small problem.”
Jonathan raised an eyebrow.
“I don’t have a mech-suit.”
Jonathan smiled as though he had already expected that answer.
“It’s already on the way.”
He turned toward Allen.
“Get yourself ready. You’re coming with me.”
Allen nodded without hesitation.
“Got it.”
Young Aether rubbed his hands together, unable to hide the excitement bubbling inside him.
His heart had already begun racing.
Finally… The waiting was over.
Now things were about to get interesting.