Reincarnated as both God and The Devil

"Maybe you two really are related?"

"Viel's practically a younger version of you if you look at it"

Charlotte could not help but be shocked by what she heard. Viel was also capable of detecting dungeons? Then wouldn't that practically confirm that the two of them were related?

Maybe her family had some kind of secret, and maybe all of them were actually capable of detecting the portals?

Now, even more so, she was convinced, "I think Viel might really be my brother's son", she nodded.

"...How so?", Diao Chan placed her hand on her chin, "Has your brother ever been to Taizhou?"

"Well… no", Charlotte shook her head, "He has been missing since he went to war years ago"

"...Are you sure he's not your son?"

This time, it was Sofia who looked at Charlotte, her eyes squinted as she stared at Charlotte's eyes. She was sure of it, she saw the same green flickering lights on Charlotte's eyes when Viel was currently losing himself the other night.

"T… that's impossible", Charlotte waved her hand as she chuckled, "I would know if I gave birth"

"How do you know where the dungeons are going to appear?", Sofia continued her questions, "Do you hear voices?"

"V… voices?", Charlotte blinked her eyes a couple of times before shaking her head.

"Where… do you think your brother is now?", Sofia once again asked.

"I don't know", Charlotte let out a sedated sigh, "But I hope he's alive somewhere"

"Have you been back to your city?" This time, it was Diao Chan who had a question, "You were from a noble family, yes?"

"That…", Charlotte could not help but let out another sigh. They were just casually talking about their love life earlier, but then it suddenly became an interrogation about her past. "I… Not yet, It would be too painful for me to return and see our city in ruins"

"Maybe your brother is there!?", Diao Chan stood up from her seat, almost spilling everyone's drinks.

"I doubt it", Charlotte shook her head, "It was thoroughly destroyed during the war. We were at the center of it all, you see"

"That's it…", Diao Chan clapped her hands, "I will tell my father that we should go there next!"

"Won't we be wasting our trip?"

"Nonsense", Diao chan waved her finger, "What's your family name? Maybe Beatrice knows something about what happened to your city"

"That…", Charlotte was a bit hesitant at first, but after a while, she could only let out a deep sigh before opening her mouth.

"Quinn…", she said, "And our city is named the same"

***

"Hello?"

"Ah, Lord Viel. Please, come in!"

Viel slowly stepped inside Beatrice's office after knocking on the door. Now, it was the brilliance of the moon that reflected on his golden hair. He was about to explore the city with Sofia, but Lady Beatrice called for him.

"You needed me for something, Miss Beatrice?"

"Y… yes", Beatrice slightly stuttered as she gestured Viel to sit, "Would you like some tea and biscuits?"

"Hm", Viel quickly nodded his head as he took his seat.

Beatrice then poured a cup of tea for Viel, the sound of the water hitting the cup covering her nervous breaths. "Are you… finding your stay in our city comfortable?", Beatrice blurted out. She knew her city was not in any way comfortable due to its current state, but it was the first thing that came out of her mind.

"Hm", Viel nodded his head as he took a sip of his tea.

"Sorry you had to find us in such a mess", Beatrice said as she sat on the chair beside Viel's.

"No, it's alright", Viel immediately shook his head, "I am used to seeing cities being destroyed"

"I… I see", Beatrice almost fell on her chair as she heard Viel's response. But after a few seconds, she cleared her throat as her eyes turned serious, "The truth is… I called you here to talk about our engagement"

Van could not help but blink a couple of times as he looked at Beatrice, "That…"

"And the truth is… I don't think I can do it." 

Before Viel could even say a word, Beatrice continued her words, "When I saw you earlier, with the sun seemingly reflecting on you…

...I felt inadequate"

"...", Viel slightly let out a deep breath.

"Someone like you… someone so young who has already established his own city from the ground up… I am not worthy of someone like you", Beatrice closed her eyes, "You're friends with the strongest people I have ever met. You even know the new Hero."

"Someone like you will soar to the skies", she continued, "And I am would forever remain here, on the ground"

"I really… really appreciate all the help you have given and will forever remain loyal to you as an ally. But our difference is just too much"

"..."

"Hm…", no longer hearing Beatrice's words, Viel stood up and walked near to the window, "You're right", he then said bluntly.

Beatrice could not help but feel a tinge of pain in her heart as she heard Viel's words. She knew it in herself, but hearing it from him… it just felt even more so.

"But you see, Miss Bea", Viel let out a long sigh, "You're stronger than me"

"!!!", Beatrice could not help but furrow her eyebrows in confusion.

"Your father died and your city was destroyed… but instead of crying and losing yourself, you still managed to lead a city", Viel turned his head towards Beatrice, "And you did it alone"

"A lesser man would have crumbled and given up", he continued, "I… would have crumbled"

"...Lord Viel?"

"So you are right, Miss Bea. The difference between us is too much", Viel closed his eyes as he took a deep breath, "You can stand on your own…

...while I can't. I would be lost without the people around me"

Viel then opened his eyes and smiled at Beatrice. The sincerity in his eyes almost made Beatrice miss a breath. Viel had always been so childlike for most of his stay in the city. But seeing him here, right now. 

He was so young, but his eyes seem to carry a great deal of pain. Beatrice could not help but look at Viel differently now…

'Is this… who you truly are?'

***

"...Lu Xun"

"...Diao Mei? What are you doing here?"

Lu Xun was a bit surprised, suddenly seeing Diao Mei walking towards him. He has been staring at the ocean for quite a while now, relishing the fresh scent of the ocean.

"..."

Diao Mei stood beside him in silence. She took Violet's advice and approached Lu Xun to talk to him, but now that she was here, she didn't really know where to start.

And so, the moon just shone down onto their quiet silhouette. The sound of the waves crashing on the port and the sound of birds whistling in the air covering their fettered breaths.

They stayed like this for a few minutes, before Lu Xun let out a stuttered sigh. "Viel… is amazing, isn't he?", he said.

"Hm?"

"He could do all these amazing things that one could only dream of", Lu Xun slightly chuckled, "Befriending a spirit, being strong enough to clear a dungeon on his own…"

"...I can't do that", Lu Xun then looked at Diao Mei, "And when the time comes, I can't protect you either", he whispered. He knew it in himself, Diao Mei was stronger than him.

"Lu Xun, I--"

"But I would be willing to die for you, Mei"

"..."

"6 years… It has been 6 years since we first saw each other. And the truth is, I didn't really like you that much back then", Lu Xun let out a slight chuckle, "But then I saw how beautiful you truly were"

"And now that you're standing here beside me… even the moon is not enough to outshine you", Lu Xun closed his eyes as he took a deep breath, "But I know. I know you do not feel the same way"

"..."

"But I… still want to ask", Lu Xun opened his eyes and looked directly into Diao Mei's eyes, "Do you… like me?"

"...No", Diao Mei could not help but lightly bite her lip as she quickly answered.

"I… see", Lu Xun let out a slight smile, "And Viel?"

"Viel?"

"I see you smiling every time you look at him"

"Don't be ridiculous, he's still too young!"

"But do you like him?"

"I…", Diao Mei furrowed her eyebrows as she looked to the horizon. Does she like Viel? She doesn't really know herself. Viel, even though he was gone for so many years, she was still part of Diao Mei growing up. One could even say that she placed him on a pedestal since he was her goal.

But now… what does she really feel about Viel?

"..."

Seconds and minutes have passed and the two stared at the horizon quietly. It wasn't only until half an hour had passed that Diao Mei finally had her answer.

"...Yes"