Global Disaster: I Will Slay Gods In This Second Chance!-Chapter 91: Recklessness

Lunaria, Letran City.

Inside the New Era Building, on the lobby room, an average-looking man with brown hair waited with a pair of twins, shifting nervously. They were naturally Chongji and the twins, Leo and Lia, who were waiting for Maria.

’Will she answer...’

While they waited, Chongji quietly thought back to the past week.

After learning of Zold’s sudden disappearance, he stayed with the twins in the villa until Maria returns.

From the news, they learned that Maria headed to Olympira for an important business meeting. The business meeting took unexpectedly long, and it was only last night that Maria was able to return to Lunaria.

In the past weeks, Chongji also trained with the twins, him mostly acting as their punching bags. To his shock, Leo and Lia had already entered their expression paths. What started with him trying to teach them ended up with him being taught a very wise lesson.

’They’re Zold’s pupils for a reason...’

Chongji inwardly sighed. Although it did hurt his pride to be outclassed by a couple of kids, at least they were distracted during the past week.

He could say the three of them had gotten considerably closer, and perhaps, sharing the similar situation of having their families torn apart by the calamities, Chongji understood what the twins were feeling.

’But after this, I’ll have to leave them...’

Chongji bit his lips, feeling glum. Did Zold feel this way as well? If so, then it also wasn’t easy for his best friend...

Unlike the twins, he understood Zold’s situation since he knew him more than them.

The fact that he didn’t tell anyone he was going away meant he was going to do something dangerous. So dangerous that bringing them along will only burden him.

This was why Chongji was resolved to go to Liberty, regardless of whether Maria answered them today or not. He had lost enough, and he didn’t want to lose his only best friend in this life. But as long as he remained weak, he can’t do anything!

"Mr. Chongji?"

A blonde-haired woman suddenly approached them.

Chongji was startled and raised his head, looking at her in surprise.

"You are..."

"I’m Victoria Wells, President Maria’s personal secretary," Victoria bowed her head slightly. "President Maria heard that someone who knew Mr. Starks was looking for her. She sent me here to receive you."

"Then, did she...!"

Chongji immediately stood up with Leo and Lia.

Victoria nodded slightly.

"Follow me."

She turned around and walked straight towards the elevator.

Chongji and the twins exchanged glances, knowing that it was finally time.

Lia’s face broke out in a wide, genuine smile, her excitement overflowing from her face. Her small hands clenched tightly.

Leo was more calmer, but the smile on his face betrayed his cool expression. His heart raced nervously.

"Let’s go!"

Chongji smiled and quickly followed Victoria to the elevator.

Victoria tapped a button, and Chongji realized she was leading them to the highest floor.

Beep.

They waited in the elevator nervously, their hearts racing as they neared the highest floor.

Chongji was honestly quite confused, sighing inwardly.

’... I didn’t expect I would be meeting the famous Princess Maria in these circumstances.’

The person that everybody admired in their university, and a legendary person in the current era... was someone who had a complicated relationship with his best friend.

He shook his head, amused by fate.

’I can’t embarrass myself...’

Soon, they arrived.

Before the elevator doors opened, Victoria looked at them.

"President Maria is ahead. Although the president is known to be kind..."

She paused, a conflicted expression emerging on her face.

"... Never mind."

Victoria didn’t continue, letting them experience it for themselves.

Chongji and the twins were confused, but at that moment, the elevator doors opened.

Beep.

Ahead of them, a long, brown-haired woman stood, facing the ceiling with a lost and empty gaze. Her brilliant, gleaming amethyst pupils seemed lifeless, and the smile that was usually seen on her face was absent.

But none of these changes removed anything from her beauty, instead, it simply made her seem like a character from a tragic fairytale.

Maria wore a long white dress, concealing her figure. When she heard the elevator doors open, she saw Victoria bring her a couple of faces she recognized, especially the one who was accompanying the twins.

’... Iron Prince.’

She recalled a certain memory, her eyes falling into a daze.

From a distance, Chongji’s gaze turned complex. He suddenly realized what Victoria was implying in her words.

Maria Auburn had changed.

But he didn’t have time to dwell on it, as Maria opened her mouth, her tone soft.

"You’re looking for Zold, correct?"

"...!"

Chongji and the twins were startled.

"Yes, ma’am."

Leo immediately came forward, his expression slightly anxious. He was about to explain, but he was immediately cut off by Maria.

"You can’t help him. Not at your current levels." Maria glanced at Leo calmly as she shook her head. Not even she could get through him, what made them think they could?

Hearing that, Leo froze in disbelief.

"Go back and forget about this. Just know that he’ll come back... just like he always has." Maria said calmly, turning around. "I just wanted to see who was looking for him, now that I know... You may send them out, Victoria."

Her words caused everyone to fall utterly silent.

Maria slowly walked to her desk, uncaring of the four’s reaction. But...

"We can’t go back!"

At that moment, Lia shouted emotionally.

Maria suddenly stopped.

Everyone frowned, but Lia continued speaking, her face angry.

"Teacher is out there alone... we can’t come back!"

"Lia..."

Leo looked at her quietly.

But was it really their teacher who was alone, or was it they who were alone?

Despite knowing which, he didn’t stop Lia.

"We... we can’t..."

Lia’s lips trembled, and tears subconsciously released from her eyes.

"We love our teacher... he... he saved us and helped us! He can’t leave us! We can’t leave him! Please... please, Ms... Maria, please tell us!"

Her words were incoherent, and there wasn’t a trace of reason in them.

Chongji lowered his gaze, sighing.

To everyone in the room, Lia was just like a child throwing a tantrum.

Despite Lia’s feelings, the situation was too dangerous.

As Maria listened, her gaze fell, and her hands twitched.

She shook her head coldly.

"... Victoria, send them out."

Hearing that, Lia’s face lost all color.

"Yes, ma’am."

Victoria nodded and turned to look at Chongji and the twins.

But before she spoke, Leo suddenly stepped forward.

"... Ms. Maria, it seems like you know where our teacher is," He quickly spoke, bowing his head respectfully. He raised his voice slightly. "Can you at least tell us where our teacher is, or reach out to him for us?"

Maria turned to look at them, looking at them softly. A flicker of sadness flashed in her eyes, then she shook her head.

"No. I cannot."

’Because... he already told me to go away.’

She thought somberly.

Hearing that, Leo was silent for a while.

"I see..."

Then, he raised his head and looked at Maria quietly. He bowed deeply.

"Thank you, Ms. Maria. If you ever change your mind, please reach out to us."

Maria didn’t answer him.

Seeing this, Leo held Lia’s hand, clenching it softly as they were led away by Victoria.

Before they left, Maria glanced at them.

"... Sorry."

But her words were faint, almost sorrowful.

***

Back in Zold’s villa, their commute on the way home was utterly silent.

Chongji and the twins entered the villa quietly.

A depressive mood hung in the air.

Seeing Lia’s state, Leo wanted to bring her upstairs. He looked at Chongji and excused himself.

"Uncle Chongji..."

"It’s okay, go."

Chongji nodded, showing a somber smile.

Leo nodded gratefully and immediately went upstairs.

Looking at their backs, Chongji sighed.

"Leo, Lia..."

"It’s too dangerous."

On the second floor, Leo suddenly stopped walking. He held Lia’s hands softly, looking at her.

Since Ms. Maria won’t help, or even Uncle Chongji, then they’ll take this matter into their own hands.

Lia raised her head, confused.

Leo’s eyes were resolute as he spoke.

"Lia, I have a way to go to Teacher."

Before, he couldn’t use his talent to find out where Zold was, as if he was being blocked by something.

But after sacrificing something special to him, his talent improved significantly, and he finally got an answer.

Their teacher was in Nihono!