The Martial Unity

Chapter 3374: Bickering Couple

“Several things…” the dwarven woman replied. “First, I can’t understand your words, but I can hear their meaning in my head. It’s a strange sensation that only therianthropes can do, but I know that the two of you are absolutely not therianthropes. I have already gone through the data scanning your bodies. You don’t have any bestial physical features, but you possess extraordinary strength, like that of a giant, but you’re also too small to be a giant. It doesn’t look like you’re a therianthrope-giant hybrid, either. Then there’s the fact that you mentioned esoteric substances like it was nothing, that is still classified information in most nations in the world.”

A moment of silence lingered in the air as the atmosphere grew more tense and charged with anticipation from those watching them.

Rui’s eyes lit up with interest as his smile widened. “Dwarves really are quite intelligent, just as I have heard.”

Her eyes sharpened. “And lastly, there is that. Your words imply a degree of unfamiliarity with the most basic facts. That tells me that you’re humans, and more importantly, pathwalkers of the unknown ’Martial Path.’”

“…Good deductions,” Rui remarked with a nod. “I am indeed a citizen of the Panama Continent, and I am traveling the world of Gaia with my partner, Amare.”

“Nice to meet you,” Amare waved at the dwarf with a delightful smile. “I think you’re really cute, miss!”

“Er, thanks? But more importantly, be very careful during your time here in the Hlakaschken Trade Empire,” the dwarven warned them. “If you’re here alone. You could end up being targeted once people realize that you’re from the legendary Lost Continent that has shaken the world with its return.”

Rui smiled at her with appreciation. “Thank you for the warning, miss…?”

“You can call me Leaunadea,” she replied with a challenging grin. “I may not be able to give you a weapon that is worthy of your strength, but don’t lose hope because of that. There are many blacksmiths far superior to me. They can definitely supply you with a weapon that doesn’t hold you back but instead makes you stronger.”

“…I would be most overjoyed if that truly were the case,” Rui replied with a smile. “Then, farewell, Miss Leaunadea.”

Amare and Rui departed from the store, continuing their exploration of the dwarven market.

“It was so nice of her to warn us of danger,” Amare remarked with a smile. “I’m so glad that the true world has nice people.”

Rui snorted. “She and her big mouth. She just had to go around revealing that we are human and Martial Artists.”

Rui could feel an increased amount of attention on them already.

Most of it was curiosity and fascination.

However, he could also feel greed and even lust, along with malice and hostility.

“It’s no big deal,” Amare smiled knowingly as she studied some crafts from a dwarven craftsman. “After all…”

She turned to him with a hint of confidence in her smile. “We are surely the strongest couple in the world!”

A wry smile emerged on Rui’s face as his grip around her hand tightened. “We surely are. Though if political power counts, there may be some who can outmatch us, you know?”

“Political power is boring and lame,” she huffed. “I only care for Martial power. Only Martial power is true power.”

“Agreed, but still. Political power can be scary, you know?”

“Even if it could be, you have a lot of political power as well. The entire continent worships you.”

“It’s why I’m enjoying this place.” Rui directed a sweeping gaze across the bustling market illuminated by the heat of the afternoon Sun. The smell of iron and ash hung in the air even as dwarven craftsmen showed off beautiful ornaments and jewelry to interested women who gushed at the exquisite pieces that were on display.

“Here we are just ordinary people, no different from the rest.” He smiled, heaving a refreshed breath of air. “It would be fun to set up a home here and just pretend to be ordinary people.”

“That sounds dreamy, although I still prefer West Genora. The connection I feel to that land is second only to my homeland in the Gen Temple. It is truly a profound and deep connection with not just the land but also the dark elves who reside there. I have made so many friends that I may as well be one of them.”

“West Genora gets boring,” Rui huffed, shaking his head. “Trees. Trees. And more trees. At some point, there is too much green. You gotta have diversity, otherwise it gets too boring.”

Though even he had to admit that the views it made for were absolutely breathtaking. The likes of which he had never seen, even in the Beast Domain.

“Hah, spoken like a man,” Amare murmured, shoving him lightly. “West Genora made me feel like a part of nature. You’re a man, so you could never understand is what the elves told me.”

“Hey, nature is Adaptive Evolution, so I totally get it, ok?”

“No, nature is Martial Art, just like everything else.”

“Tsk, Genism. You’re no longer a Genist, so why even carry water for that boring way of life?”

“I am Gennist, and it is not boring.” She glared at him, folding her arms.

Rui’s smile grew mischievous. “Genists are supposed to be celibate, you know? Your grandmother’s ears would bleed if I told her about what you’ve been like every night since I got back from East Genora.”

The bronze skin of her cheeks flushed red as an expression of embarrassment emerged on her face. Her hand balled into a fist, which soared straight into Rui’s abdomen.

It was within his predictions, however.

BANG!

He skidded away with a grin on his face. “Kidding! I would never tell my grandmother-in-law that kind of stuff.”

“She’s not your grandmother-in-law yet,” Amare huffed, taking his hands once more as she pulled him along through the crowds of the dwarven markets, enjoying each other’s presence as they indulged in experiencing the true world for themselves.