38. That planet is still alive?

An awkward silence descended. Neither Neel nor Ariel spoke a single word.

Ariel's face was matching with her cherry-red lips.

She wanted to shout at Neel and beat him up for what he did to her, however, she was not able to gather the courage to do so.

So Ariel decided to be civil.

"I-.."

"I am sorry!"

However, Neel apologized to her before she could speak anything.

"That was completely unintentional, I saw a big, soft and fluffy cat. She was close to me, but suddenly she was going away, so to punish the bad cat I-…"

Neel stopped his rolling tongue and put both hands on his mouth.

Because Ariel's face was redder than a tomato.

She was embarrassed as Neel called her big, fluffy, and soft 'cat'.

And to not let Neel see her embarrassed face, she did a simple thing.

"IDIOT!!!!" [Japanese style "BAKAAAAAAA!"]

She punched Neel in the abdomen.

Caught off-guard, Neel took the full blow. But Ariel was considerate with her strength and held back as she did not sense any cultivation from Neel, she did not punch him to injure him gravely.

But it still hurt Neel.

"Ugh… yes I am s-sorry."

Being a gentleman he once again apologized to Ariel.

Ariel felt slightly guilty for Neel. However, that did not last long. As she remembered how Neel spanked her and made her ass jiggle for a few seconds.

"Well, w-whatever. Tell me boy, who are you? Why are you here? And what is the meaning of this?"

Ariel spoke while pointing at 'her' bathing robes that Neel was wearing.

"P-please ask slowly… I just woke up."

Neel said while slowly getting up. And patting the dust.

It was at this moment he realized why Ariel's face was red.

His robes were not tied and because of this, his front side and little Neel were making their presence known to the whole world.

"Oh, Shit!"

Neel turned around and immediately tied the robes once again. He also noticed his boner but ignored it for the time being.

Scratching his head and with an awkward smile he said, "Hello, I am Neel."

"Hmph! What is your purpose here intruder?"

Ariel snorted and averted her gaze.

"Well, I had no other choice."

Neel answered vaguely as he was wary of Ariel.

In Hestia, Neel had met only two people, first Elder Wang, and second the old man Zou.

And the experience of these two was not so pleasant.

Although he sensed no harm from Ariel.

However, it's always better to be cautious. She was a stranger after all.

"Fine, you seem to be wary of me."

Ariel spoke as she saw Neel being cautious of her.

"Be aware of my presence boy, I am Ariel, Ariel Kaiser."

She introduced herself with a voice filled with pride.

She put her hands on her waist and raised her chin.

"Now tell me your full name, boy."

"Well, I don't know my full name. I was only told the first name and that is Neel."

Neel answered instinctively.

Ariel furrowed her brows at Neel's reply.

There were two reasons for this.

Ariel had cultivation reached the point that she can detect if someone is lying and she had a ton of experience with people and their behavior while lying.

And she sensed no lie in Neel's words.

"Hmm… fine for now… so boy, where did you come from?"

Ariel continued.

"Hestia."

Neel replied.

"Lies."

Ariel replied while squinting her eyes a little.

"But I told the truth, I came here from the central continent of Hestia."

Neel had a question mark on his face.

'But I answered her truthfully.'

"Although you seem not lying, there are two reasons."

Raising her two fingers Ariel continued.

"First, almost all the beings born on the planet Hestia are awakened the moment they are born, because of the divinity of the goddess Hestia. There can be irregularity, however, that is still impossible unless…"

Ariel paused.

"Unless you are from a different planet."

Ariel completed.

"And secondly, no beings can enter and live inside this domain unless you are permitted by my master and according to my knowledge not a single being from that planet has the permission of my master, I am the one to keep the records after all."

Ariel gave her two reasons.

"Hmm…"

Neel pondered. Ariel's logic was accurate. And Neel knew that he told the 'half-truth' to her.

"Fine… but I did not lie. I came from the desert in the central continent of Hestia. But my origin is from a planet called Earth."

Neel answered her honestly. Because there was no point in hiding.

After leaving the desert he was now inside some domain.

If he wants information from Ariel then he cannot hide anything from her.

'I should just come clean. If I answered honestly then maybe she can help me.'

He was in a stalemate. From Ariel's previous punch he had a vague idea that she was holding back.

So he can't brute force her. Then as Ariel told him, this was the domain of her master. So whoever this master was, he cannot fight her if he can't even beat Ariel.

Although his thoughts were barbaric this was a probability and situation study he had done for many years.

If Ariel wanted to then she would have killed him any moment she wished for. But she did not.

That means she is a civil person, so he should also be civil and answer her honestly.

"Hmm… Earth…earth… huh? That planet is still alive?"

Snapping Neel out of his thoughts was Ariel's question.

"What do you mean by alive? Or rather 'still'? Was it supposed to be dead?"

"Boy, before I answer your questions… come with me let's talk with a cup of tea. I have some idea of your situation. Come with me."

As if she understood everything, Ariel hit her palm with her fist, followed by an 'Ah!' and bright expression she called Neel.

"Before that."

Stopping herself, Ariel turned around as she heard Neel say something.

"Call me Neel, Miss. Ariel."

Neel said with a resolute expression.

'What is this boy and intruder?! I have a name! Call me Neel!'

Neel was fuming inside. And pouting outside.

"Hehehe~ fine boy."

Ariel replied with a giggle as she felt Neel's current expressions to be 'cute'.

Hearing her calling him 'boy' again, Neel's brows knit.

"Then Neel, follow me."

This time she did not wait for anything and quickened her pace.

This turn of events was something that will matter a lot in the future. But it's not the right time to reveal everything.