Chapter 45: Misunderstanding
After several rounds of drinking, the blonde witch’s cheeks flushed deeper, her eyes flickering as she glanced across the table at the young man, whose expression remained unchanged.
She appeared somewhat surprised and gave a soft laugh.
“Mr. Guy, you have quite the tolerance for alcohol.”
“Miss Bev, you flatter me,” Wang Xi replied, setting down his empty glass and reaching for the bottle to refill both cups. His voice was gentle as he said, “I’m actually not good at drinking; I’m already quite drunk, but it just doesn’t show.”
Indeed, he wasn’t adept at drinking. The reason he hadn’t shown much reaction after consuming so much was thanks to a certain card—
“Drink and Eat Companion.”
An unremarkable one-star white card, yet it greatly increased his capacity for both food and drink. At this moment, it was perfectly suited.
Bev naturally didn’t believe the young man’s words, but she refrained from voicing any doubt, not wanting to spoil the pleasant atmosphere. Instead, her admiration grew stronger. Handsome, sweet-tongued, understanding her, and able to hold his liquor—if only Guy could stay here forever...
Such a thought flashed through Bev’s mind.
Suddenly, Pinocchio, sitting nearby, turned his head sharply as if reacting instinctively, fixing his gaze intently on Bev. He keenly sensed the witch’s emotional shift, especially the possessiveness shining through.
This was bad.
The very thing he feared was about to happen.
Guy, run!
Pinocchio’s eyes were anxious as he hurriedly warned, “Ga-yi, the witch is about to go off!”
Wang Xi and Bev turned to look at him. The boy’s cheeks were puffed up, stuffed with cake and candy.
“Slow down, no one’s taking it from you,” Wang Xi said helplessly.
Pinocchio shook his head rapidly. “Bu-chi ga-yi, I…”
“Don’t talk while eating. Be a refined person,” Wang Xi interrupted, pulling out a handkerchief to wipe the boy’s mouth.
Pinocchio’s face fell as if he had just witnessed Guy transformed into a donkey, with that blonde witch grinning wildly, riding on its back and lashing its rump with a whip woven from gummy candy.
Sharp laughter echoed in his mind.
Unable to bear it, the boy closed his eyes.
Bang!
At that moment, the door to the candy house was suddenly thrown open.
“Bev! I came to play with you!”
A crisp, playful voice rang out. The three at the table turned to see a blonde girl with twin ponytails standing in the doorway, legs apart, one hand still pushing the door open.
She wore a black dress with a red cloak draped over her shoulders, the hood pulled up to reveal a cute, round face. Her excitement quickly turned to shock.
“…”
“Sophia, how many times have I told you to knock before entering? It’s really rude,” Bev said calmly, holding her wine glass.
Wang Xi was momentarily stunned.
Sophia?
Hearing the name again, a spark flashed through his mind, recalling the blonde girl who sold matches—Lilian.
“So these two are her sisters?”
Wang Xi focused his gaze.
Good heavens!
“Wolf Witch Sophia (Scarlet/Five Stars)!”
Dazzling silver-white patterns tightly encircled the title, marking her as a fellow five-star hero, just like Bev!
What shocked Wang Xi even more was the hostile red glow radiating dangerously from the little witch’s red cloak.
“Bev! Why are there two men here?!”
The twin-tailed girl demanded fiercely, her brows furrowed tightly. Amber eyes burned with hatred and murderous intent. She then lifted her head slightly, nostrils flaring as if sniffing the air.
Her voice grew colder:
“No, to be precise, it’s one man and one tin robot... But regardless, you’ve been getting Bev drunk with ill intent—you’re all despicable bastards!”
“Sophia-sama, leave these two to me. Their blood would soil your noble hands.”
A deep, magnetic male voice came from behind the red-cloaked girl.
A tall, upright figure slowly emerged: a blonde man clad in a black woolen robe lined with white silk. He placed one hand on his chest, wearing a respectful smile.
Wang Xi’s heart tightened as he recognized—
“Wolf Butler Igor (Scarlet/Four Stars).”
Silver patterns swirled around the title—another hero unit!
If conflict broke out, Wang Xi and Pinocchio together would surely be no match, likely overwhelmed.
Just as Wang Xi pondered a strategy—
“Sophia,” the candy witch Bev said calmly, “these two are my guests. You’re being very rude.”
“Guests?”
Wolf Witch Sophia sneered. Her scornful gaze swept across them, finally settling on the black-haired youth. Her eyes narrowed, as if recalling something.
“Hmph, Bev, you’ve been deceived by this guy!”
“Guy Farrell,” the wolf butler Igor interjected calmly, “the Scarlet Warlock of Randall.”
He then pulled out a bloodstained parchment from his chest pocket, which unmistakably bore Wang Xi’s likeness.
“A brutal, bloodthirsty fiend who likes to eat human brains, yet sits here posing as a guest...”
“What’s going on?”
Bev cast a glance at Wang Xi, her brows knitting slightly.
Sophia led the butler forward and stopped at the cake table. She raised her chin, her clear voice sharp:
“My pack of wolves caught and killed a sneaky group at the forest’s edge, and that parchment was found on their bodies.”
“Igor examined them; they bear the ‘Finger Guild’ tattoos. So Bev, don’t you understand?”
The twin-tailed girl bared her pale fangs, her reddened eyes fixed on the black-haired young man.
“This guy is a spy sent by the human kingdom to gather intelligence on the Magic Forest and scheme!”
Wang Xi was dumbfounded.
No, that was not true.
How had he become a kingdom spy?
Was she a dormant detective or something?
This was absurd speculation!
“Prince Calvin seeks to exterminate the monsters of the Magic Forest and stands against us. He commands the creation of new weapons while ravaging and polluting the forest...”
“Mintmaster Dick and Minister Ando are his lackeys. The ‘Finger Guild’ is Mintmaster’s henchmen, always carrying out his orders.”
Bev rose slowly, looking at Wang Xi with a calm gaze, seemingly awaiting a satisfactory explanation.
Wang Xi raised an eyebrow.
From the candy witch’s words, he now understood that the ‘Finger Guild’ was backed by the Mintmaster!
So he knew where the problem lay.
Those ‘Finger Guild’ members, caught and killed by the wolf pack, had likely been tailing him from Daphneil. Given their mutual enmity, this was unsurprising.
But because those scoundrels carried his portrait, the wolf witch had mistaken him for an accomplice.
Come on!
Who the hell carries a comrade’s portrait on them?
Where are the parents?
Wang Xi felt speechless.
He was the victim of a bad reputation...
He vaguely guessed the misunderstanding stemmed from his “bad name.” After all, a brain-eating fiend and the Finger Guild’s scoundrels were both villains and must be on the same side.
“First, most rumors about the ‘Scarlet Warlock’ are false. I am neither bloodthirsty nor a brain eater.”
Wang Xi met the twin-tailed girl’s fierce gaze, maintaining calm.
Ignoring her hostility, he continued: “Secondly, if you had learned more about those rumors, you’d know I have a grudge against the ‘Finger Guild’... The group at the forest edge was following me.”
“Do you think I’d believe you?” Sophia retorted coldly.
“Bastard!”
Bang—
Without hesitation, Pinocchio punched the wolf witch. His face stern, black curls flying, a ring of fine holes appeared on his right wrist, spewing fierce energy.
Insult me, yes. But insult Guy? Never!
Boom!
The tall man behind Sophia flashed forward and punched back, colliding with Pinocchio’s fist.
A visible shockwave radiated outward.
The entire candy house trembled.
The mushroom girls huddled together, trembling in fear.
Ssss—
Pinocchio shielded Wang Xi’s side, locked in a tense standoff with Igor. His wrist blazed with growing energy as the wolf butler narrowed his cold eyes.
“Believe it or not.”
Wang Xi sat calmly, facing the aggressive wolf witch Sophia. His expression remained composed.
“My earlier words were not meant to convince you... I only hope Miss Bev won’t misunderstand.”
“Enough, Sophia,” the candy witch Bev said lightly.
“Are you trying to tear down my house?”
“Bev!” The twin-tailed girl looked stunned, hands on hips. “That tin man made the first move!”
“You—you blame me?!” Bev rolled her eyes and then addressed the wolf butler: “Igor, stand down.”
“…”
The blond man lowered his gaze, ignoring the command.
Bev’s expression grew colder.
Seeing this, Sophia snorted and said, “Igor, forget it.”
“Yes, Sophia-sama.”
The wolf butler quietly complied and gradually released his grip. Both he and Pinocchio retreated a step.
“Miss Bev,” Wang Xi slowly rose and turned toward the candy witch, “I apologize for the unnecessary misunderstanding my arrival caused. It’s getting late; I shall take my leave.”
He gestured for Pinocchio to follow.
“Wait!”
Bev spoke up.
Wang Xi stopped and looked back.
“I should be the one to apologize, sir.”
Bev sighed softly.
“I trust you are not a spy for the kingdom. Sophia’s impatience stems from her distrust of humans; please understand.”
“That’s alright.”
Wang Xi smiled.
He glanced at the twin-tailed girl and the blond butler, speaking softly:
“Though Miss Sophia has some misunderstandings about me, I fully understand her feelings. Like you, deep down she shines with kindness and compassion, all to protect the Magic Forest from harm.”
Hearing this, Bev smiled.
The elegance and magnanimity of the black-haired youth captivated her.
“Hey, hey, hey!”
Sophia’s brows shot up as she clenched her fists.
“Who asked you to praise me, you bastard!”
“Sophia, apologize.”
Just then, a cold voice sounded.
The wolf witch was about to retort but suddenly froze.
Everyone inside turned toward the door.
Standing there was a girl in a white dress, her blonde hair slightly disheveled. Beneath her long blue and white lashes, her sapphire eyes were calm and unruffled.
Wang Xi stared at her, stunned.
“Fire Witch Lilian (Green/Skeleton).”
Golden patterns gleamed brilliantly...