Chapter 7:
Eldritch Boyfriend
Carrion sat at the longest dining table he had ever seen.
Granted, he had never actually seen a dining table before, so this one automatically took first place.
Seated across from him were Elena’s parents, both watching him with intense, skeptical expressions.
Elena sat beside him, looking equally intense, but for a completely different reason—
She was trying to mentally escape reality.
The maid from earlier gracefully poured tea into small cups.
Carrion watched with great interest.
Tea…
A fascinating liquid.
Elena’s father, a man with graying hair, a sharp mustache, and an aura that screamed “head of a prestigious witch family,” finally spoke.
“So,” he said, voice deep and measured, “you claim to be Carrion.”
Carrion nodded. “I am.”
Elena’s mother, an elegant woman with silver hair and piercing eyes, raised an eyebrow.
“We have read about your kind in ancient texts,” she said. “But you are the first one to ever appear before us.”
Carrion tilted his head. “Do the records say anything of interest?”
Elena’s father narrowed his eyes. “They say that your kind is—”
“—A calamity.” Elena’s mother finished.
Carrion took a sip of tea. “Hm. That is not incorrect.”
Elena’s soul nearly left her body.
WHY WOULD YOU JUST AGREE TO THAT?!
Elena’s father placed his hands on the table, watching Carrion closely.
“Then let’s get to the point,” he said. “What do you want with my daughter?”
Carrion blinked.
“…She is my mate.”
Silence.
Elena’s face turned bright red.
Carrion continued, entirely unfazed.
“It is natural that I follow her. She is pleasant to look at. Her scent is agreeable. And when I shook her hand, my irises glowed pink. This confirms compatibility.”
Elena buried her face in her hands.
“P-Please stop explaining it like that.”
Elena’s father glared at Carrion.
“And what exactly does that mean?”
Carrion took another sip of tea.
“I have never had a mate before. I am unsure. I am merely following instinct.”
Elena’s mother gave him a long, thoughtful look.
“…So you do not plan to harm her?”
Carrion blinked, confused.
“Harm her? That would be foolish. She is my mate.”
Elena’s father tapped his fingers on the table, deep in thought.
Elena finally spoke up.
“C-Can we please stop talking about this mate thing?! It’s weird!”
Carrion turned to her.
“But you are my mate.”
“STOP SAYING IT.”
The maid quietly placed plates of food before them.
Carrion examined the tableware.
Then, his eyes locked onto something.
A fork.
He picked it up, observing it closely.
“…What kind of weapon is this?”
Elena nearly choked on air.
“That’s a FORK!” she said.
Carrion turned it over in his hands.
“…It is small and impractical. The prongs are too short to pierce deep.”
He casually tested its weight.
“…Perhaps it is a throwing weapon?”
Elena grabbed his wrist.
“IT’S NOT A WEAPON!”
Carrion blinked.
“…Then what is it?”
Elena’s mother sighed.
“It is an eating utensil.”
Carrion looked at it again.
“…Why?”
Elena’s father cleared his throat. “We are not here to discuss forks. Let’s return to the matter at hand.”
Carrion placed the fork back down, disappointed.
Elena’s father leaned forward.
“You are an ancient being of great power. Yet you claim to have no ill intent toward our daughter. That is… difficult to believe.”
Carrion took another sip of tea.
“…What would I gain from harming my mate?”
Elena wished she could disappear.
Her father rubbed his temples.
“…And you have no plans of leaving her alone?”
Carrion shook his head. “No. I will follow her always.”
Her parents exchanged a glance.
Elena, sensing danger, sat up straight.
“W-Wait,” she stammered. “You’re not actually considering this, are you?!”
Her mother gave her a small, knowing smile.
“Carrion,” she said, “do you know what it means to date someone?”
Carrion blinked.
“…No.”
Elena slammed her forehead onto the table.
“Of course you don’t.”
Her mother turned to her husband. “If we let him remain at her side, we can monitor him at all times.”
Elena’s father nodded slowly.
Elena’s eyes widened in horror.
“Wait. WAIT. You’re not actually—”
Her father placed his hands together.
“Carrion.”
Carrion turned to him.
“You may date our daughter.”
Elena let out a strangled sound.
Carrion nodded.
“Understood.”
Elena slammed the table.
“WAIT, WAIT, WAIT—WHAT?!”
Her mother smiled. “It’s the safest option, dear.”
Elena looked at them like they were insane.
“How is THIS the safest option?!”
Her father sighed.
“If he’s with you, we can ensure he doesn’t destroy the city.”
Elena gaped at them.
“You’re not even going to ask me how I feel about this?!”
Carrion turned to her.
“How do you feel?”
She turned bright red.
“D-DON’T ASK ME NOW!!”
Her mother chuckled.
“You were bound to start dating eventually, dear. We might as well ensure your first partner is someone we can monitor.”
Elena covered her face in horror.
Carrion, meanwhile, had no idea why Elena was so distressed.
But he had learned something very important today.
Forks are not weapons.
…Strange world.
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