Black Online-Chapter 184: Lady Diana

"...This... Maybe..."

Fang Raon sat on the porch of the cottage and was just looking at the holographic battlefield of the General’s Game.

Rock was taking a nap as he complained about sore joints, even though Fang Raon wasn’t quite sure how you can have sore joints in here.

Thus.

Since there was nothing for him to do, he was just doing some light training to pass some time.

At that moment.

Without him noticing, a brown-haired woman, with two teenage girls in tow, walked over to their cottage.

She seemed fancy and well-dressed.

"Hello, young man, is this where Rock Rose is staying?"

She asked, her eyes hidden behind very dark sunglasses, her voice smooth and confident.

In that moment, Fang Raon raised his head away from the hologram and looked at the three women.

The two teenage girls looked identical, except one of them had her hair going over her right shoulder, and the other had her hair going over her left shoulder.

They were also incredibly pretty, and one of the sisters was wearing a blue bikini top with a flowy skirt.

The other sister was wearing a pink bikini top and a similar-looking skirt that matched her sister’s outfit.

"Yes, who is asking?"

Fang Raon asked.

The fancy-looking woman took off her sunglasses and revealed her beautiful hazel-colored eyes that looked like the cocoa beans.

"My name is Diana, and I am an old friend of Rock. You’re his family member?"

Diana asked with a smile.

’Ah, she is that Diana. If she is really nearing her sixties, she looks incredibly young for someone of her age. Not bad, Rock...’

Fang Raon chuckled and shook his head.

"I am not. I guess I am his... protégé. My name is Fang Raon."

’Protégé?

Diana looked at him from head to toe, as if she were sizing him up, and she then chuckled.

"It’s very nice to meet you then, Raon. Is Rock inside? It’s been a while since I’ve met him, and I’d like to catch up with an old friend."

She said.

"He is currently taking a nap inside, but I can go wake him up if you want."

Fang Raon said.

"Sure, I’ll wait outside."

Diana sat down, while the two sisters kept standing and crossed their arms while staring at Fang Raon.

They didn’t look friendly, and instead of looking like ordinary teenage girls, they seemed like they were Diana’s bodyguards.

Fang Raon turned off the General’s Game and went inside, and when he arrived at Rock’s bedroom, he saw that he was sitting on the bed.

It didn’t look like he had actually taken a nap.

"You’ve been awake all this time?"

Fang Raon asked.

"...Mhm."

Rock nodded.

"...Diana is here to see you."

Fang Raon said with a frown.

"I’ve heard. Can you... get her to leave?"

Rock asked.

"Why? I thought you two were old friends."

Fang Raon said in surprise.

It looked to him that Rock was afraid to meet up with Diana, which was strange, as he didn’t seem to be scared of anyone.

He was, after all, a legendary demon instructor!

"I don’t have to explain, but... tell her that I’ve logged off or something."

Rock said.

"...That won’t work, man. I am sure she has noticed already that I’ve been staying in your room for a while.

"If you had just logged out, I would’ve gone right back to her. She will notice that you’re avoiding her."

Fang Raon said.

"Damn it... Fine."

Rock stood up and took a couple of deep breaths, as if he was gathering his courage—like he was about to face some scary beast.

He then followed Fang Raon out of the cottage, and then, his eyes fell on Diana, and she returned the gaze.

She smiled sweetly.

"Rock~"

Diana stood up to stand, and Rock looked at her with a deep look and then said, "Long time no see," and then Diana approached him and hugged him.

"It’s really been a while."

Diana said, and Rock stood stiff like a tree trunk as he received the hug, and he just nodded awkwardly.

"...Bunny, Sunny... You two have grown."

Rock looked at the two twin sisters, and they finally shattered their cold exterior and actually smiled.

"Grandpa Rock, it’s been a while."

They said in unison.

"Shall we go for a walk, Rock? I want to catch up with you."

Diana said with a smile.

"...Sure."

Rock scratched the back of his head, and Diana then said to the two sisters, "Wait here," and left together with Rock.

’You’re just leaving me alone with these two... Alright...’

Fang Raon rolled his eyes and sat back down on the hard wooden bench, and Bunny and Sunny sat down on the other side of the table.

They were looking at him.

"...Are the two of you participating in the tournament?"

Fang Raon asked awkwardly.

"Yes."

Bunny and Sunny said at the exact same time.

"...Which one?"

Fang Raon asked.

"Amateur League."

They said at the exact same time.

"...Maybe we will be competing against each other then."

Fang Raon said with a smile.

"You will lose."

Bunny and Sunny said.

"...We’ll see about that."

Fang Raon mumbled under his breath.

...

"Lady Diana..."

"Lady Diana..."

While walking, the people of the village greeted the lady of the village, and Diana just smiled back at them.

"You did what you said you were going to do. Build a place of your own. I am impressed."

Rock said.

"Yes, I am really pleased with this place. There were a lot of challenges along the way, but it was all worth it in the end."

Diana said with a smile.

At that moment, they came across an ice cream vendor, and when the vendor saw Diana, he smiled and gave them a free scoop of ice cream.

"Thank you~"

Diana smiled, and with ice cream cones in hand, they walked over to a nearby bench to enjoy their sweet treats.

From the bench, they were able to see the entirety of the village, spreading out below them in a beautiful panorama.

Village people, players, and the tournament attendees were all mingling together in the town square.

There seemed to be love in the air as couples strolled arm in arm—the male players trying to attract the attention of the female players—and the children running around playing games.

"...How’s your wife?"

Diana then asked.

It was a sudden ask, but Rock knew that the question was bound to happen, and he licked the ice cream a couple of times.

"She has passed away. Nearly three years ago."

Rock said.

"...I am sorry."

Diana said and placed her hand on Rock’s knee and gave it a soft squeeze to comfort him—he just nodded silently.

"When?"

Diana asked.

"...A week after my departure. She couldn’t fight anymore and passed away peacefully in her sleep—at least that’s what the doctors told me."

Rock said.

"Did you tell her?"

Diana asked.

"Tell her what? She hasn’t been able to understand a word that I said to her for the last ten years."

Rock said.

"Is that why you never came back to see me? You felt guilty?"

Diana asked.

"...I’ve been busy. With my granddaughter’s guild and everything."

Rock said.

"I heard that you stayed on the 6th floor for a while, at that villa of yours. I am sure you could’ve visited me if you really wanted to."

Diana said.

"...Yes, I felt guilty. Is that what you wanted to hear? I slept with you, and a week later, my wife died. I blame myself for that."

Rock said.

"...It’s not your fault. Your wife was stuck in that hospital bed for ten years, and she was never going to get better. You stayed with her all that time.

"She was going to die either way. It was just bad timing, that’s all."

Diana said.

"...It doesn’t change the fact that I cheated on her. I’m still going to feel guilty about it for the rest of my life."

Rock said with a sigh and shook his head in anger.

"A while ago, my own son also cheated on his wife. Cheated on Della’s mother. I condemned his actions, but I am such a hypocrite."

He clenched his hands hard into fists.

"It’s not the same."

Diana put her hand on his knee and, this time around, squeezed even harder.

"...How is it not the same? I can barely look my granddaughter in the eye. What if she finds out what I did? What if she realizes that her grandfather is as big of a piece of shit as her father?

"She will lose all the trust that she has in men."

Rock said.

"I am sure your granddaughter wants you to be happy. And I am sure that your wife, who is long gone, would also want you to be happy."

Diana said.

"...I don’t know."

Rock stood up, and he looked at the ice cream that was already melting off and trickling down his hand.

"It was nice seeing you again, Diana, but... I think we should just stay as old friends, if that’s okay with you."

He said.

"...This village has always felt empty, y’know. Even with so many people here, there has always been a void that I can’t seem to fill.

"I did ask you to stay with me so that we can build this village together, and I still am hoping for that."

Diana said with a sad smile, and then she stood up, gave one last hug to Rock, and then walked away.

With a pained gaze, Rock watched her walk away and then started heading back to the summer cottage.