MTLNOVEL Chapter 352: [352] What?
"Disappeared?"
Bete's heart instantly tightened.
"No, he's just too fast!"
With his eyes darting rapidly, he caught sight of a figure charging toward him from behind.
So fast that it left a series of afterimages in its wake. What Bete couldn't accept was that this figure was rapidly closing the distance between them!
"To catch up to me even while running in a curve?!"
Bete's eyes widened in disbelief.
Eiji hadn't taken a straight path. Instead, he had first run to the edge of the courtyard and then deliberately started circling behind Bete.
Bete could guess Eiji's intention.
If Eiji had caught up in a straight line, it might not have been because he was faster—just that he had predicted Bete's movements.
But if he caught up while running the same circular path, there was only one explanation: his speed was simply superior. Bete would have no choice but to admit defeat wholeheartedly.
"This guy... he wants to defeat me at my own game!"
Bete gritted his teeth.
He swung his legs even more frantically, pushing himself to the absolute limit, using every speed-enhancing ability and technique he had.
But.
"On your left!"
Within seconds.
A dark figure appeared on his left side, casually waving at him with a smile.
To Bete, that smile was nothing short of mockery.
The effortless attitude made it seem like Eiji wasn't even taking him seriously.
Whoosh—!
In the next moment, Eiji effortlessly overtook him, sprinting ahead with a speed that left Bete in the dust, surpassing him by ten meters, then twenty...
"On your left!"
Not long after, just as Bete was about to burst with frustration, Eiji caught up from behind again, waving at him once more with that same infuriating smile.
Twice in a row!
The courtyard of Loki Familia wasn't particularly large.
But to lap him while running at high speed meant Eiji's speed was at least several times greater than his own.
If Bete's speed was something even many Level 6 adventurers couldn't match, then Eiji's speed was undeniably top-tier among Level 6s.
But how was that possible?
He was just a human. How could he possibly outpace a werewolf like him in speed?
Bete gradually slowed his pace.
His fists clenched so tightly they trembled, his teeth grinding in bitter frustration.
But he knew he had lost. Even in his most confident area, he had been utterly crushed in the most direct way possible.
The silver-white fur on his ears and tail drooped, mirroring his defeated mood.
Eiji came to a stop as well.
Unlike Bete's ashen expression, his face remained completely relaxed.
Did that mean he hadn't even been going all out?
Bete didn't know.
And he never would, because he couldn't even force Eiji to use his full strength.
"...Speak."
Bete lifted his bloodshot eyes, glaring at Eiji.
"?"
"I lost this time. As agreed, you can make one demand of me!"
"Ah."
Eiji nodded in understanding.
Honestly, he hadn't really cared about the bet.
You're not a cute girl—what kind of demand could I possibly have for you?
And with Bete looking like he wanted to murder someone, anyone watching would think he was being threatened.
"Let's save it for later. I can't think of anything right now."
Eiji waved his hand dismissively.
"Hmph, you'd better think it over soon!"
Bete clicked his tongue loudly, his face openly displaying displeasure.
"Next time, I'll definitely defeat you and take back this condition!"
Eiji's performance had severely wounded his pride, igniting an extraordinary competitive drive within him. From now on, he would train ten times harder than before, pushing himself until he surpassed Eiji!
Bete silently swore this resolution to himself.
"One more thing."
After taking several deep breaths, Bete barely managed to calm his emotions, though his expression remained icy.
"What the hell are you thinking?"
"About what?"
"Don't play dumb—of course, it's about Ais and the others!"
Bete curled his lips in disgust at Eiji's clueless expression.
"That idiot Amazon is head over heels for you, Ais isn't acting normal either, and the women in the Familia practically worship you. What exactly are you planning?"
His words carried an implicit message: Make a decision soon instead of stringing everyone along.
"Are you jealous?"
"Who the hell would be jealous of you?!"
Bete flew into a rage, jabbing a finger at Eiji's face.
"Aren't you into Ais?"
"That's a completely different matter!"
Bete scoffed, his expression turning complicated.
But he clearly had no intention of discussing this further with Eiji, so he swiftly changed the subject.
How is that a different matter?
Eiji was utterly baffled.
Bete liked Ais.
This was an open secret within the Familia.
Yet after months of interaction, Bete showed no signs of pursuing her, nor did he make any special effort to get closer to her. It was downright perplexing.
"Are you a tsundere?"
"I'll kill you!"
"Then why are you meddling so much?"
"None of your damn business!"
Son of a—
You butt into my affairs but refuse to explain why? How annoying!
A vein throbbed on Eiji's forehead.
This werewolf was definitely a tsundere.
But tsunderes are out of style, you know that?
And a guy acting tsundere isn't cute at all, got it?
Sigh…
Eiji took a deep breath.
"You—!"
Bete suddenly understood.
"Let me make one thing clear—you can't deny this!"
Just as Bete was about to explode, Eiji suddenly turned serious.
"This is the condition I'm imposing on you!"
"—!?!"
Bete's face twisted violently, his teeth grinding audibly.
Can't deny it?
After being shouted at so loudly, everyone would definitely grow suspicious. If he couldn't deny it, wouldn't that be as good as admitting it?
Talk about shooting himself in the foot!
Fine! I'll just kill this bastard!
***
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