Chapter 313
Chapter 313
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 313
Chapter Title: Between Love and Love -2
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We'd finished our simple disguises and were hiding in a nearby flower bed.
"...Doesn't this look like we're advertising 'black suits and fedoras for sale here' or something?"
"Of course there's illusion magic on that outfit. We'll look like a bunch of flowers to anyone watching."
"So the illusion enchant is great and all, but was there any reason it had to be all black...?"
"Would you get mad if I said I made it that way to match Yuri's couple look?"
I did get mad. She pinched my side like crazy.
But you can't just not use stuff you already have, right? I'm no miser, but making another artifact with the same performance when I already own one? That stings the heart.
Selbia fiddled with the area around her dress shirt, looking like she finally understood why my chest felt so light. Then her anger flared up again, and she resumed the side attack. Ow.
Design aside, the performance was solid. Even as we chatted openly like this, no one spared us a glance. We could calmly observe Remio.
Name: Remio.
Age: Estimated mid-20s.
Occupation: Hunter. Seems to regularly supply meat from the nearby forest to the inn.
Status: Commoner. From a proper hunter family that's made a living that way for three generations.
"That's all the info we got from a bit of legwork. Now it's time to dig deeper by following him ourselves."
"...So we're tailing him straight-up."
"If it's too much, you can rest at the inn. I'll scoop up everything there is to know."
"I suggested the investigation, so I can't bail. You rest if you're tired, Oppa. I'll uncover all the truth!"
Selbia huffed and focused ahead. Her burning enthusiasm was reassuring.
We followed Remio while keeping our disguises up.
His first stop was a women's clothing store. He told the shopkeeper he was shopping for his lover, then browsed around checking outfits.
He pulled out a small, well-worn notebook—probably for notes—and laid it open.
Perfect chance. His choices would reveal his tastes.
"You can tell that much from this?"
"Every guy has a list in his heart of outfits he wants her to wear. Skim that, and you can gauge his inner walls pretty well."
"...What outfits do you like, Oppa?"
"You're not ready for that talk yet, Selbia. Let's chat after you've reached enlightenment on the pinnacle of the Formless Sword. Ow, ouch. That hurts."
Today was not a day my side would survive.
But come on, blabbing about that in front of a girl who likes you, your childhood friend and disciple? It's embarrassing. I wanted to look cool too.
With Yuri, we could debate it openly like old ballsy buddies... because our mind arts align to a degree.
While we chatted, Remio picked out three dresses. All modest, with minimal skin showing.
I clicked my tongue.
"Wow... boring as hell."
"What's boring?"
"That's just guideline picks with no aesthetic thought. Doesn't suit that elf's figure, can't accentuate her curves, and doesn't even reflect his own desires. Makes the wearer and viewer both miserable."
"Aren't they just normal pretty dresses...? And figures—you can't know without measuring, right? That'd be the weird part. How do you even know that elf's build anyway, Oppa?"
Easy. You scan it at a glance.
I don't even try, but my high-spec brain auto-scans and spits out specs. Just a quick look, and body data pops up.
"......"
Selbia covered her chest and glared fresh at me. Too late. This cyberbrain pierced everything from first sight.
Including that hers were decent but not busty.
"He's moving. Let's tail."
"...Yeah."
Remio's next stop was the salon.
This town had woven magic and holy power into a civilization far from Earth's Middle Ages.
But most folks still farmed for a living. Hygiene standards were low.
In such a world, "salon" meant something different. In a place where not bathing for a week before meeting people was normal, styling hair and skincare screamed luxury.
Expensive.
"At least hunters make enough to use it without hesitation... right?"
"Yeah. Even by mage standards, it's pricey. I tried hair treatment once, and my pouch slimmed down fast..."
"You get treatments?"
"...Gotta stay pretty so you'll look twice, Oppa!"
No wonder her hair swished so nicely. I stroked her growling hair to calm her and kept surveilling.
The stylist chatted amicably while snipping scissors at Remio.
"Back again?"
"Yeah. Last style got good reactions, so same again. Got a date tomorrow."
"Leave it to me. Side hair down over the eye... gray tint on the color. Right?"
Hm?
The details were oddly specific. I glanced at Selbia; she thought the same.
"That's the Bennett haircut."
"...Trend from the holy city that spread here? Hits different realizing I'm famous. Partner of the Saintess, no less."
"......"
Just a trendy style? But I hadn't seen anyone on the streets with a Bennett cut.
The two-hour makeover ended. I watched him pay closely.
His pouch deflated instantly. His trembling hands and fleeting expression screamed regret.
Love so deep he'd pour his fortune to keep the elf? Good sign. A devoted lover throws himself in; they'd live happily ever after, right?
Still, something...
"...Fishy."
"...Yeah, fishy."
The sticky suspicion only grew.
So far, it could go either way. Devoted pure-love guy sacrificing all, or some ulterior motive.
Honestly, suspicion weighed heavier.
Sure, grab Remio and force-read his memories for clarity. But I didn't want to go that far. Not too much, anyway.
Humans habituate to repetition. Get a taste for prying minds forcibly, addicted to the convenience... half-dramatics, but one day I might demand it from Yuna or Yuri: "Prove your love—show me your head."
I won't be that boyfriend checking his girl's phone daily.
If Remio had bad intentions, what was the angle? Targeting the elf personally, or the World Tree in her forest?
World Tree seemed likeliest. Wild elves' prime artifact, and fresh from wild life, no valuables beyond the tree.
So, how to probe his heart cleanly, without the ick...
As I pondered sending a female character to seduce him—morally okay?—Selbia raised her hand.
"Oppa, got an idea."
"Yeah?"
"We do the same. I disguise as a wild elf, you love me fiercely. Pure love? He'd shrug it off. Ulterior motives?..."
He'd react to the sudden rival.
Solid plan. I turned Selbia into a red-haired wild elf; myself into a shady guy who looked scheming from 10 meters.
Her outfit: sloppy mix, like unused to human civ, throwing on whatever. Key vibe.
To draw eyes like that chicken skewer scene...
"Gotta simp hard enough to make folks freak, like we saw. Right?"
"D-Do we have to go that far...? No, if effective. Yeah."
"Needs to spread so Remio hears and comes. Ready? I'll recite simp lines. Prep your heart?"
"...10 years won't cut it. Just do it."
Good. Selbia was resolved.
Maybe 'cause she's in love, she dove deep into this. More passion than usual. Time to step up.
I deep-breathed, set the mood. Focused lights slyly for attention, boomed clear lines.
Kneeling before Selbia, singing them.
"Autumn fades, yet by you I'm hot and dizzy. Must be heatstroke from your sun..."
"Eek."
"If you're my tears, I'll never cry. Scared to lose you..."
"Ughhh."
Selbia's face burned red. Not butterflies—goosebumps, overwhelmed.
Her fists clenched-unclenched; cringe-spawned violence rising.
Lines chipped at me too, but fine. I'd tank self-damage to see her squirm.
"Damn it again. Elves dating like that, why not me...?"
"Ugh, crap..."
Aggro pulled thriftily.
After 30 minutes simping, we split distance and waited. Clean Remio? Ignores another elf fling.
Elf-chaser? Won't sit idle.
Waiting, I pondered wild elf comms. Even if overthinking, future creeps inevitable.
Their network spreads on strong emotions—security hole. I needed to fix it.
Popped Faceless idea. I'd soul-strengthened her new ego. Apply that...
"Hey. Talk?"
"......"
Remio. Face like a cut-in-liner. Our worry was real.
Pity. Fish bit.
Selbia, switched to suit's stealth mode, trailed the mad wizard and Remio. They entered a quiet tavern.
She slipped in, leaned on a wall ten steps back.
Mad wizard grinned sleazily—suspicious as hell. Even Selbia bought the act; Remio reacted fast.
"Why'd you call me out."
"You guess."
"Talking like you patented it. Need your okay to love a wild elf?"
Selbia recalls.
Aisha urged audiovisual media; she learned tons. Piles of modern love stories.
Some overblown, some resonant.
Cheering sub-heroine crushing on harem protag? Unconscious. Mad at posts saying childhood friend always loses?
Like cursing her fate.
"It's done. Date tomorrow. I started first, so I'll finish faster. Butt in? Nothing for you."
"Love's speeds vary. I accelerate, I win. Why quit?"
"......"
Right. Love paces differ.
She met Oppa first, but kid-her couldn't stir him. Natural.
While split, two others floored it to the finish. Reunion? She gunned late...
Now shivering, awaiting his answer.
Reunited sooner? Never split?
Hypotheticals don't change reality.
"Won't yield the World Tree. Compete? Who bags the wild elf—and Tree—faster."
"...World Tree?"
"Hm?"
"Not my thing. Guess we can deal then..."
Two more capable, prettier girls around, yet she clung. Was she wrong?
Bless them and fade—for his sake, hers?
Yet can't quit. Recalling hometown guidance steels her. Hugs Bear, sleepless.
Heart aching, so...
"Not after the Tree? Then why this crap?"
"You know... wild elves link minds? Seduce one, whole village serves me. Elf king, baby."
"...And?"
"And? Pamper me, elf slaves by tribe! Lounge, they feed me; swap for variety, marriage never dull—"
Using love? Unbearable.
Crash!
Selbia smashed a bottle upside Remio's head.
"Guh...!"
"All that for nothing grand? Just lazy ass playing people?"
"Y-You... popping out nowhere...!"
"Some wait heartsick—!!"
Wham!
Follow-up floored him face-first on the table, out cold. Selbia glared, panting, then snapped to the mad wizard.
"Body moved on its own."
"Uh, y-yeah."
"...Now what?"
"Dunno..."
Mad wizard and Selbia fell silent over dreamland Remio.