Arad walked across the ballroom, taking slow and deep breaths as he searched for any vampire. They should smell like blood. The nobles stared at him, his large body, imposing aura, and large hands. Both women and men seek a way to start a conversation, whether it's a maiden seeking a marriage or an elder noble seeking a reliable warrior.
Arad carefully avoided everyone by glaring at them the moment they start walking toward him. But his being taller than everyone didn't help him.
^Most people here are humans. Fighting would be hard.^
[A vampire would use them as blood bags for healing. If a fight started, we should drag it outside.]
^A bad location. Like how Alcott had to deal with fighting the red dragon.^ Arad looked at the nobles around. ^If the vampire can use them to heal, can't I do the same?^
[Unless you want everyone against you.]
Arad sighed and kept walking around. He confirmed that all the current guests weren't vampires. He didn't smell any blood on them.
CRACK! The door opened, and a blond young man walked in wearing a red suit decorated with golden frills. Everyone gasped as they saw him, standing to the side and saluting him.
All except Arad, who stood there glaring at him. "What took you so long?"
"To be honest, the maids weren't satisfied with my clothes that I had to sneak out," Abel replied with a pained smile, approaching Arad with exhaustion.
The people around them started talking, trying to know why is the large man speaking about the lord's son as if it was nothing.
"You could have told them off." Arad looked at Arad.
"And get my ass whipped? No way." Abel waved his hands. "The maids there helped raise us since we were born. They are like mothers to us."
"Let's go have a drink then. You should be able to have one." Arad smiled as they walked toward the drinks.
Abel looked at Arad, whispering, "I asked someone strong to accompany us here. He might be old, but should be able to at least help a bit."
"Just wait and see. Ears are on us." The two sat and took two drinks.
"What do you think?" Arad asked, taking a sip.
Abel looked at his drink. "Tell Jack that he's out of luck. I can use holy magic. So it won't hurt me."
With Abel being a descendant of the Alice bloodline of devils, he can use holy magic and is as immune to it as humans. It was one of the reasons he could live like a human without anyone suspecting anything.
"You didn't bring Sara." Arad looked around.
"Are you joking? And have other nobles drolling over her?" Abel glared at him.
"You really are overprotective." Arad smiled.
Abel finished his drink and turned toward Arad. "Just think about it for a moment. Can I let anyone marry her?"
^If she's a devil. I can see why picking someone trustworthy is important.^
"I can see. Not everyone could handle her." Arad sighed. "Say, do you see anyone that interests you here?" He asked Abel to look for anyone suspicious.
The noble maidens in the room heard Arad's words, and they sprung into action. Posing and trying to show off as they understood it wrong.
Abel smiled, "What about you?" He looked around the room, and still couldn't feel anything. "Anything interesting."
"I didn't. Everyone here is bland." Arad replied, meaning they all looked human to him.
"You're right." Abel sighed and turned toward Jack and the girls. "They are loaded." Asking if they have weapons to fight.
"They are," Arad confirmed.
When the noble maidens heard their words, their eyes shifted back toward Aella and the girls. Trying to guess what 'Loaded' meant. Their eyes stopped at the jewelry. They never saw something like it before.
"That elf, she must be a noble from the elvish kingdom. She can offer a lot of political power." The noble maidens started talking and whispering.
"I'm sure I saw bandages beneath that blond woman's dress. Is she injured?" Another maiden whispered. "No, that's Lydia. A paladin who got promoted by god recently. Having her around is a sign of good luck and fortune."
"That one is Mira, the honored guest. I heard she was a skillful carpenter who made furniture for the lord's mansion." One looked at them. "And that beside her, they look similar. Must be a family member."
Thud! The old man who spoke to Arad earlier approached. "You seem to be enjoying your time."
All the nobles in the room gasped at the old man's courage, approaching the lord's son as if it was nothing.
When Abel looked at the old man, he almost flinched. "Yeah. Care to have a drink?"
The nobles were even more shocked that Abel invited the man for a drink. "Do you know him?" Arad asked.
"Not really." Able looked away, "We can't talk here."
CLAP! CLAP! The butler walked out upstairs and cleared his throat. "Everyone, welcome, and thanks for accepting our invitation." He looked at the nobles. "We have successfully harvested the elder, and lord Esmeray likes to thank you personally."
Chuzuke, the kid walked from behind the butler and bowed. "I'm Chuzuke Esmeray. I'm currently the lord of the Esmeray household, as my father is bedridden."
Chuzuke lifted his head, "Albeit we had some complication, we managed to harvest the elder tree and transport it to the city."
All the nobles started clapping.
"For that, I like first to thank the dragon slayer Arad and his party. And the carpenter Mira for finding and securing the tree." He pointed at Arad and Mira.
All the nobles froze for a second, their heads cracked as they looked at Arad.
"The dragon slayer? Who got the dragon heart for Merlin?" They finally recognized him. They usually ignore adventurers except for ones like Alcott and Nina. So it was hard for them to recognize Arad, especially since he didn't show up at the lord's mansion.
Everything made sense to them. It explains why the lord's son spoke to him, and why the girls around him were as well endowed.
"Everyone, please enjoy!" Chuzuke took a wine glass from the butler and lifted it up. "Cheer!"