Saintess? Not Anymore! I'd Rather be a Destroyer-Chapter 261 - 247: Elena

Aurianna scoffed, glancing at Batholem. "Your friend is... annoying."

Batholem shrugged. "Just ignore her. And Nae, I believe it’s time you let go of my arm." He offered Nae a polite but firm smile.

Nae’s jaw clenched, her fingers tightening briefly around Batholem’s arm before she reluctantly let go. ’Since when does this coward have the audacity to speak to me this way?’ she seethed inwardly, her gaze darkening as she caught his cold stare.

Elena perked up again, turning to another young man in the group. "Hey, Peter! Since she’s New Era, that means she’ll be joining us, right?"

"I refuse," Aurianna cut in, her tone flat. She hadn’t even grasped what they were talking about, but her answer was instinctive.

"Come on! I didn’t even get to explain what we do!" Elena pouted.

"You’re too impatient, Elena," Shuwi giggled, watching with amusement.

"Fine," Elena huffed, folding her arms. "I guess I can wait... a little."

Just then, a tall young man with noble bearing stepped forward. "Nice to meet you, Lady Aurianna. I’m Panz Heathfield, from the Royal Human family ruling the Owevia Highland." He gave a respectful bow, and Aurianna nodded back with a polite dip of her head.

But as she lifted her gaze, her attention drifted to Peter. "Hmm. Peter, which family are you from again? And which country?"

Panz blinked in surprise, slightly taken aback as Aurianna’s interest had pivoted away from him.

Peter straightened proudly. "My family rules Nervon City. Most of the tasks we take on come directly from my family."

Aurianna tilted her head, brow furrowing. "Wait, isn’t Nervon ruled by an elvish family?"

Peter looked mildly offended. "You mean to say you didn’t realize I’m an elf?"

Aurianna’s eyes widened, her expression one of exaggerated shock. "Wait—you’re an elf?!"

Peter raised an eyebrow. "How could you not notice?"

"How could I? With that unruly hair of yours, it’s impossible to tell!" Without hesitation, Aurianna stepped closer and gathered his hair, tying it back into a quick ponytail, revealing the pointed tips of his ears.

Peter’s face flushed slightly as the others chuckled. "So, now you see," he muttered, a bit embarrassed.

Aurianna grinned. "Much better. Now you look more... elf-like."

Elena laughed, clapping her hands. "See? I knew we’d get along, Aurianna! You’re a natural with us already."

Aurianna shot her a skeptical look. "Don’t get ahead of yourself. I’m still not joining anything."

Elena merely shrugged, undeterred, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Oh, you’ll come around. Everyone always do, even that meanie Peter."

"Who’s a meanie?" Peter asked coldly a d Elena immediately hid behind Shuwi and stuck her tongue out at him.

"I’ve always wanted to touch an elf’s ears," Aurianna said, grinning mischievously before reaching up and grabbing Peter’s long ears, examining them with an excited expression.

Peter flinched, his face turning red. "It’s rude, y’know?!" he protested, squirming in her grip.

She let go with a satisfied smile. "You can touch my hair if you want. Fair trade."

Peter crossed his arms, rolling his eyes. "I think I’ll pass."

Aurianna tilted her head thoughtfully. "So... do elves live in trees?" She asked it with complete seriousness, as if genuinely curious.

Peter gave her a deadpan look. "We live in buildings. Just like you, Aurianna."

"I see," she nodded sagely, then her eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Then why do you eat meat?"

Peter blinked. "Who told you that elves don’t eat meat?!" he groaned, grinding his knuckles into her forehead in playful way.

"But... I learned that elves are vegetarians," Aurianna argued, her face squished between his hands.

He released her, sighing but amused. "And where exactly did you pick up these... facts?"

Aurianna shrugged, rubbing her forehead. "From my country’s books. And also, if you’re really an elf, how are you affiliated with the Church of Time? Don’t elves mostly follow the Goddess of Nature?"

Peter’s expression softened. "Not all of us follow the same beliefs. Some do follow the Goddess of Nature, but others like me have different callings. The Church of Time... it’s more complicated than it seems."

"Wow, everyone here is from rich families," Kiana grumbled, arms crossed tightly as she shot an envious glance around the group.

"Yeah, being in a group full of rich people is kind of depressing," Christopher sighed, his dragon tail swaying in agreement. He looked like a teenager with fair skin, short gray hair, two small horns poking from his head, and patches of dragon scales across his arms.

"Only you understand me, buddy!!" Elena cried, running toward Christopher dramatically.

"Elena!" Christopher shouted, mimicking her enthusiasm, his arms outstretched as he began running in slow motion.

"Christopher!!!" Elena shrieked, running in exaggerated slow motion toward him as well. But before they could reach each other, a loud bang echoed through the air.

Both of them fell to the ground, small harmless bullets having just grazed their foreheads. They immediately got up and turned to see Aurianna standing there, holding her two pistols with a blank expression.

"Oops. I was aiming for some flies," Aurianna said with a deadpan expression, as the rest of the group stared at her in stunned silence.

"Hey! What was that for?!" Elena yelled, clutching her bleeding head as she glared at Aurianna.

Aurianna shrugged. "You were annoying me. And who said I did it?" With a casual flick of her wrist, her guns vanished as if they’d never existed. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Elena pointed accusingly. "Don’t try to hide the evidence!!"

Aurianna just raised an eyebrow, looking entirely unbothered. "What evidence? I don’t see any pistols."

"You..." Elena seethed, her glare fixed on Aurianna, who only smirked back, unfazed. Meanwhile, Shuwi was busily sketching in her notebook, her face lit with excitement, her eyes darting between Aurianna and Elena with a grin.

"Enough squabbling," Zeche interrupted, his expression blank. "Let’s get moving. It seems none of you noticed, but we’ve been attracting some... attention."

Aurianna looked around and finally caught sight of the dazed stares from the onlookers, most of whom seemed to be victims of the former commonsion, whiles others stared in awe because the entire group was filled with beautiful people.

"Well then, Peter and Batjoen, I hope we meet again soon. But Batholem," she added with a playful grin, "you’re still buying me that cake, right?"

"Of course!" Batholem chuckled.

Peter pointed to a shaded canopy by a small restaurant nearby. "Let’s sit there for a while," he suggested, leading the way.

The group settled at the table under the canopy. Aurianna glanced around, watching as a unit of soldiers arrived and quickly set to work, helping citizens repair the damage done to the marketplace. In mere minutes, the area began to look as if no scuffle had taken place.

"Won’t they come looking for you?" Aurianna asked, her eyes narrowing as she looked at Peter.

Peter leaned back, unbothered. "We have a permit. We’re allowed to pursue the criminals who slipped into the city, so we’re under an exception."

Aurianna nodded approvingly. "Good, then. No unnecessary drama then."