Chapter 241: Scar of a Queen

With Serena’s guidance and the help of her servants, the men somehow managed to emerge looking suitably elegant and presentable for the occasion they were about to attend.

Ethan ended up wearing a luxurious four-piece black suit, complete with a white shirt, tie, and long coat.

The outfit had been carefully tailored to accommodate his Legion Arm, leaving his appearance practically flawless.

Adjusting his collar, Ethan couldn’t help feeling slightly uncomfortable in his new clothes.

’I’ve never worn anything like this in my entire life...’

He murmured under his breath, recalling his previous life.

Back then, he’d spent nearly all his time shut inside his room, endlessly grinding through video games and rarely venturing outside. He’d never had any reason to attend formal occasions like this, so naturally, buying such clothes had never even crossed his mind.

"Haha! I feel like I’m about to attend my own wedding!"

On the other side of the room, Verso was delighted with his red suit and black shirt, a combination that perfectly complemented the colors of his hair.

He really was the sort of man who took life as it came.

The others seemed equally pleased with their new outfits, including the giants of the group, Raiden and the orc-like man standing beside him.

’Come to think of it... I never asked that guy his name.’

Ethan glanced toward the enormous, almost monstrous-looking man, who was happily chatting with Raiden.

For a moment, he considered approaching them and joining their conversation, but quickly abandoned the idea.

He simply didn’t feel any particular need to do so.

Instead, he exchanged a few words with young Chai, who had been the first to finish getting ready.

Asterion finally arrived alongside Serena, having proven himself to possess the most difficult taste of anyone present.

The old man had rejected nearly everything the Queen of Storms offered him, and they’d barely managed to find something simple enough to satisfy his preferences.

"All right! Now that everyone’s ready, let’s go collect the girls!"

Serena took the lead, looking positively delighted to have finally finished dealing with the men.

As they left, Ethan approached the old man.

Asterion was dressed in brown leather clothing, fashioned in a somewhat older style than the outfits Ethan and the others had chosen. He also wore a rounded hat that made him look rather like a detective.

"You’re looking sharp, old man. Clothes really do make a difference."

Ethan smiled, but Asterion merely let out a long sigh.

"What’s the point of wearing clothes you can’t fight in? These expensive things would tear apart in the very first exchange."

Asterion grumbled.

It was a complaint entirely consistent with the personality that usually left him looking more like a beggar than a legendary warrior.

Unexpectedly, however, Ethan agreed with him.

He had to admit that such clothing was thoroughly impractical. If they ever needed to fight, their outfits would do little more than get in the way.

"Well... We’re about to attend a celebration, and security here is extremely tight. I doubt we’ll even need to carry our weapons."

"And who told you that?"

Asterion turned toward him.

"Boy, always keep your guard up and prepare for anything. No one knows what might happen."

Ethan nodded at the warning.

"Good advice. You’ve been saying some unexpectedly useful things lately. What happened to the drunken old man I know?"

Ethan couldn’t resist another opportunity to tease him.

Asterion’s grumbling only intensified as he remembered his precious liquor.

"That drunkard died the moment Moon burned all my expensive booze. I’ll have to wander around the city later and find something as strong as what I used to drink."

"Old man, your liquor could probably get whales drunk... I don’t think I’d survive very long if I picked up your drinking habits."

"That just means you’re still weak, boy."

"You two really are close."

Serena interrupted their conversation, having been listening to their exchange the entire time.

"That’s quite unlike you, Asterion. Have you finally taken another disciple after all these years?"

At the mention of a disciple, Asterion abruptly turned his gaze away.

"This old man has taught me quite a lot, but I’m not sure I’d describe our relationship as that of a master and his disciple."

Ethan answered, turning toward Asterion beside him.

"He’s just an annoying brat I happened to teach a thing or two."

"That’s exactly what you used to say about Chisha."

"..."

Asterion’s expression suddenly darkened, as though Serena had mentioned something he desperately wished not to hear.

Ethan, meanwhile, paused at the unfamiliar name.

"Chisha? Who’s that?"

"Oh... The old man never told you? Chisha was his former disciple, someone he was extremely proud of. Unfortunately, he lost his life when..."

"That’s enough, Serena."

Asterion interrupted her.

"I believe I made myself perfectly clear that day when I told you I never wanted to hear about him again."

His threatening tone caused both Ethan and Serena’s shoulders to tremble slightly.

The Uncrowned Emperor was serious.

More than that, he was angry.

Angrier than Ethan had ever seen him.

"All right, all right... There’s no need to get so upset."

Serena quickly tried to calm him, wisely choosing not to say anything more.

But the exchange had only deepened Ethan’s curiosity about this supposed disciple.

’Chisha, was it? I’ll have to ask her about him privately later...’

Ethan made a mental note of the name, deciding not to pursue the matter while Asterion was present.

The old man was clearly still upset.

Serena skillfully changed the subject, moving on to other matters, including the raid on the Legacy dungeon where Asterion had lost his arm.

As she spoke, Ethan’s eyes unconsciously drifted toward the scar on her face.

Every time he looked at her, he found himself appreciating just how beautiful the woman truly was.

She possessed a mature kind of beauty, quite different from that of the younger women in his hunting squad.

Yet that terrible scar had spoiled her beauty, leaving a noticeable imperfection on an otherwise attractive face.

’Of all the places she could have been scarred, it had to be her face... Talk about terrible luck.’

That was what Ethan found himself thinking as he studied her.

While he was doing so, Serena suddenly turned toward him with a broad smile.

"What’s wrong? Is there something about my face that’s bothering you?"

She asked the question casually, but Ethan was taken aback by how observant she was.

"I’m sorry if I’ve offended you..."

He immediately apologized.

Serena burst into laughter, waving away his apology as though it were completely unnecessary.

"This scar doesn’t bother me in the slightest. After all..."

Her eyes narrowed slightly, and her smile faded as she continued.

"I didn’t get it in a fight or an accident... I gave it to myself."

"You... did that to yourself?"

Ethan couldn’t conceal his surprise.

But Serena ended the conversation immediately after revealing that information, continuing to lead them through her residence without offering any further explanation.

Ethan, however, couldn’t stop wondering.

’Why would a woman as beautiful as her deliberately inflict an injury like that on her own face?’

At first, he couldn’t understand the reason.

Then Asterion moved closer and whispered into his ear.

"Don’t forget, boy... The entire royal family lives here. And among them are some filthy individuals who abuse their authority."

Ethan’s eyes widened.

Suddenly, everything made sense.