The Incubus System Chapter 217. Aw! Aw! Aw!
Emma, Ruby and Larry's PoV
"Is he also the demon that helped you on Ironshade Town's attack?" asked Larry. He remembered that Ruby mentioned it at their meeting this morning and Larry paid more attention to it since the location was near Ethan's house.
"Yeah ... It's him ..." Ruby replied in a gloomy tone. Her eyes on her demon Compass, making sure the indicator pointed to the number 0 which meant there were no other demons around them. Her hand pressed a button on the Demon Compass to report that this place was safe and the police were allowed to evacuate those around them.
Larry fell silent as he remembered the demon's black lances. The same black lances he had seen a week ago.
"He also helped me, Emma and Theo," said Larry out of blue. He knew they decided to keep their mouths shut about the incident since they were afraid the association thought they were lying. But because the demon had shown himself, he decided to say it.
Ruby turned to Larry with a frown.
"When? Why didn't you report it to the headquarters?" Even though Larry was childish, he never covered up important things like this. Especially something related to demons.
"Last week. We didn't report it because we didn't see him in person. He just used those black lances to kill those demons. We didn't even know he was a demon. How could we possibly report something like that to the headquarters?" He turned to Emma.
"Right?" he asked for her agreement.
Emma, who had been silent and only listened to both of them to make sure Ethan's identity remained hidden, finally opened her voice.
"Uh ... Yeah. He helped us, but he didn't show himself. So we just saw him today," she replied without any further explanation since she didn't want to get involved with their conversation. She realized Ethan was much stronger than when he fought the Nefarious Imp last week. But since that Imp was very dangerous and considering what that demon could do to perforate the buildings around them last week. Of course, Ethan had to kill that Imp quickly, even if he had to reveal himself in front of them. In fact, in less than five minutes, those Nefarious Imps had succeeded in changing the streets around them as if they were standing in the middle of the barnacles on the rock surface. She also knew the reason why Ethan didn't use his Devil Space skill was to protect Larry and Ruby. Since they couldn't fight if they were in the Demonic Curse effect.
Ruby frowned again. That meant the demon had helped the demon hunters so many times, she even guessed it was that demon who helped the dying demon hunter last night.
"Why did he fight other demons ... Why did he help us ... Why did he protect humans ..." she muttered in confusion. Her mind was deep in thought, trying to find a reasonable reason. Did the demons fight over the human world's territory? But if that was the case, the demon should have attacked them after killing those Imps. But the demon just gave them a warning and disappeared. He also kept warning them that their time was running out and the demon hunter had to take quick action. But what action? What could they do? Even though the Demon Hunter Association was a big organization, important decisions required the Senate approval with complicated procedures. It was so frustrating in an emergency like this, but they didn't have many options.
'What should we do ...' thought Ruby.
Larry was aware of Ruby's confusion. It was very clear on her face ever since she attended the sudden meeting this morning, so he tried to lighten her mind. He tapped Ruby's shoulder.
"Cheer up. Look on the positive side. There are no casualties from this incident," he said. It was a miracle that there was not a single victim in this incident, considering how powerful their opponent was. Although the association had announced that they were developing a new device that would allow them to fly to fight the demons, it wasn't complete yet.
To Larry's surprise, Ruby grabbed his hand and squeezed it tightly. She turned to Larry with her murderous smile. Her eyes filled with killing intent. Larry's face turned pale even though he didn't know why. But from Ruby's strength, it looks like he had made a big mistake.
"We don't play that stupid couple game anymore, Larry. So get your rotten hand off me," she said coldly.
"Aw! Aw! Aw! What's wrong with you? Why are you angry? Didn't we have a deal?" yelped Larry as he grimaced in pain, holding the pain in his hand. He was sure Ruby's grip would leave a mark on his hand later. Before they met Ethan and Emma, they already had a deal about the dinner. So the deal was Ruby pretending to be his girlfriend and they also agreed to do several other romantic things, including calling each other with cute couple nicknames. In return, Larry would tell her all the information that he knew about a model student at Diamond College. According to Ruby, the man was like a hero in disguise. He was kind and warm but also cold at the same time. A strong man yet gentle. Although Larry was not sure he knew this man since he always stuck to his partner in crime and his only saviour, Ethan, as long as that man was a Diamond College student he only needed to ask other students about him. Who knew Ruby's mood got worse in the middle of that dinner for no reason. But he guessed it was because he used Ruby's story as his bluff to impress Ethan and his mother.
"That deal has expired after we met him," said Ruby with a death glare. Her anger peaked again as she remembered that stupid dinner. Although she couldn't blame Larry since he didn't know her beloved Prince was Ethan, she couldn't help herself but put the blame on him. Even after she vented her revenge by throwing Larry into the Imps, her anger had not subsided yet.
"Who?" said Larry in confusion.
"Your f*cking best friend, Larry," she said in a louder voice in annoyance.
"W-What?" said Larry in a stammering voice in disbelief, hoping he'd heard her wrong. How could his mentor fall in love with his best friend? It was even more shocking than when he found out that Ethan had got his crush, Emma.
She glared at Larry. While Larry could only shrink in horror since he never saw Ruby that angry before.
"Let me repeat it one more time, dumbass. I love your best friend. I love Ethan." Then her glare shifted to Emma. The chill crept upon Emma's spine as she tried to maintain her composure.
"And you, Miss lucky. I will make Ethan fall for me. No matter what," challenged Ruby in frustration. It felt so unfair, just because of her good intentions to help Larry, now her chances to be with Ethan were getting thinner.
"W-Well, good luck. Ethan is one of a kind of man," said Emma with an awkward smile. Ruby was so angry so Emma couldn't say Ethan had more than one partner.
"Wait for a second ... So both of you fight over my best friend?" clarified Larry in surprise, his jaw dropped, his index finger pointing at Emma and Ruby alternately. He couldn't believe that they fought over Ethan, his best friend who looked cowardly and lame, especially for his love life.
Since it was only Ruby's one-sided challenge, Emma decided to explain it.
"I'm not ---"
But Larry interrupted her.
"It's not fair --- Why I'm still single? Whyyy???" he said in an overly dramatic tone. His head looked up with his palms facing upwards as if he was Romeo who had just found out his Juliet had died. Although he was glad Ethan was finally able to get his crush, it made him look like a loser.
Emma cringed at him. While Ruby rolled her eyes to the side since she had known his attitude.
"Cut it out. Even though you don't have any dignity, you are still wearing the demon hunter uniform. At least don't taint the association reputation with your stupid act," said Ruby in annoyance. She was sure the people around them were watching them in silence. Even though Ruby had told the headquarters that they had managed to clear the demons in this area, they still had to wait about five minutes after the attack ended before the police opened their Magic Shields and evacuated the people. This was to make sure that no other demons were around them.
Upon hearing those words, Larry immediately lowered his hand and pretended to be cool again.
"You're right."
The sound of footsteps became clearer accompanied by several cars approaching them, one of them was the association car. One by one the buildings' iron rolling doors around them opened and the police evacuated the people there. The streets that had been quiet became crowded.
"I think we should head on to the headquarters now," Larry said as he turned and walked toward the car. Since this was a large-scale attack, according to the procedure, they should report it immediately.
As Larry's hand opened the car door, Ruby's voice came from behind him.
"Of course ..." Her voice sounded like a death call to him. He turned to Ruby slowly with a pale face and could see a murderous smile had graced Ruby's lips.
Since he quickly sensed what was about to happen to him, he turned to Emma as he gave her a 'Please help me' gaze.
"Y-You should come with us, Emma. I believe they also need your report." His sweat of anxiety started to wet his palms. At least if Emma sat between them, she could protect him from Ruby.
"What are you talking about? Emma is still in her suspension period. She can't come with us to the headquarters," said Ruby in a sweet voice, but her killing intent was still clear from there.
Emma could only wave her hand and smiled awkwardly.
"Good luck." Well, this was inevitable for Larry and she also had no interest in being Larry's human shield.
"B-But ---" said Larry desperately, but Ruby stopped his words by pushing him into the car. Quickly, she entered it and closed the door. Panicking, Larry tried to get out from the other door, but Ruby held his hand tightly.
"Where are you going, Larry?" she said with a creepy smile.
Larry looked at her in horror.
"I-I'm sorry. I-I know I was wrong. B-But I really didn't know," he pleaded.
"It's okay, Larry. I understand, of course, I understand." Despite her words, she squeezed Larry's hand tighter and tighter. Then she turned to the chauffeur who could only look at them in confusion mixed with fear since he knew Ruby was angry.
"Take us to the headquarters and say nothing about what you will see," she said.
"O-Okay, miss." Then the chauffeur immediately started the car.
Ruby returned her gaze to Larry.
"And you, Larry. You should act like an obedient disciple," she said still with the same creepy smile. Her hands were cracked on each other.
Larry shook his head from side to side in fear. Since he knew Ruby would beat him up now, here.
"No ... Please. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry ... Aaaaaaaaa !!!!"
As the car moved away, Emma could only hear Larry's scream from it.
'I hope he's still alive tomorrow,' thought Emma.
Larry is definately taking Ethan's friendship for granted. And he called him a lame friend..srsly? After all the help he gets from Ethan? Ethan needs to cut ties with this loser. He is a leech not a friend.
That maybe true. However calling a friend (especially one that you've known forever) names is pretty much par for the course in some relationships. So is being a bit petty when it comes to other things.
Dude, when did Larry call him lame. Larry said he *looked* lame. There's a difference.
You see a buff guy, you think he probably can throw a punch or two, but in reality he probably can't and actually just love exercising.
Also what I know. The more closer the boys friendship are the more rude they called each other. Like greet with " Yo asshole, where have you been?"
Idk, Larry doesn't know anything about whats happening and I believe he really does his best to protect his friend. He's just hopelessly bad at it and a bit of a cringy loser, but I think he means well.
Also, Ruby is hereby stricken from the waifu list for physical abusiveness.
@Nanakawaichan approved by one of "the boys".
@Nanakawaichan sure men do that jokingly, it all has to do with intent. But a dude that acts petty would never become a close friend. But to each to their own. Not everyone has the luxury of weeding out bad friends I suppose.
Larry is overly dramatic, so anything he says is usually an exaggeration. Ethan knows not to take anything Larry says at face value and instead go more by Larry's actions. The pair have been together through thick and thin, and know they can trust each other to do the right thing when the chips are down.
Loyalty and trust are things Ethan values after what happened with his mother. Larry was Ethan's second closest ally after his sister before the story started. The only reason Larry dropped down a bit is because Ethan doesn't want to risk telling him, and face putting his friend in more danger.
Also ask yourself this: What kind of person risks their life for others? Larry has been involved in deadly combat for years, with no public acknowledgment of his deeds, or major rewards. He's the epitome of want a public servant should be. He would take a bullet for a complete stranger at the drop of a hat. Someone like that is clearly a good person no matter how he tries to hide it behind the image of being an idiot.
@Nanakawaichan yea we call each other lame etc but we don't tell that to other ppls like woman
@Rafski It depends more on the individual relationship than anything else. Those in a highly informal relationship and setting would be fine with such behavior. It is very clear that Larry is informal in general.
With some of my friends if they call me by my name something is wrong and red flags are raised. How dare you not call me asshole what the hell is wrong with you lol.
@judojimmy I approved this. This often happens to my friends (boys only, but not with the girls). If one of them calls the other by name. The red flag is raised and his friend usually make a distance and says.
"What do you want?" Why? Because he is sure that person will ask something from him. And his guess 90% correct
@Nanakawaichan A perfect example of the hidden subtext in language that we tend to not actively pay attention to. Our brains tend to interpret it automatically, but if you know to look you can see it.
Like in the example people tend to go to more formal forms of speaking when they are nervous about offending the other party.
Of course what counts as formal, informal, offensive, and so on, varies by culture. So calling your friend a dumbass might be acceptable in one place, but in another place your relationship might not be close enough for that to be acceptable. Social class also would have a major impact. You wouldn't expect two sailors to speak to each other the same way two CEOs would out on the street. The sailors could use quite colourful language, but the CEOs would have to walk on eggshells even if they are quite close in private.
@Nanakawaichan That's true. We also make a lot of gay jokes and talk about banging each other's mom's. It's all in the tone. It would be weird if you were serious about it, but it's pretty obvious he's not
That really depends on the friendship, though I agree that it's true more often than not. I'm a man and I've never actually had one of those friendships, though I also am the type of person who wouldn't keep up a friendship where they got a kick out of insulting me all the time in the guise of teasing, which is most of "male bonding."
@Nanakawaichan Bem nos meus relacionamentos amigáveis chamo tanto minha irmã quanto minhas amigas de vaca,vadia,vagabundas,piranha,etc...e vice versa é meio que um zueira íntima