Chapter 754: At Odds
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 754: At Odds
With a sharp crack, the campfire flared. A piece of burning charcoal split apart, sending a glowing ember flying through the air to land right on Muen’s arm.
The ember pulsed with light, still burning hot.
But Muen didn't even flinch.
Opposite him, Ariel was still murmuring something bashfully, but Muen had stopped listening entirely. His mind was stuck on a loop, replaying the words Ariel had just uttered—words that didn't just make his heart flutter, but nearly made it leap out of his chest.
So, that was what she meant by "disguise."
Disguising himself, secretly following her, even learning her signature moves... and when he was forced to appear by her side, he would even fix his "only flaw" to present his best self to her...
Dammit, what kind of perverted stalker is that?!
What kind of mental gymnastics did Ariel have to perform to arrive at that logic? It was practically...
Wait. Hold on.
If he really thought about it... that logic... actually kind of held up?
After all, if one were to be pedantic, he did constantly run into this girl in the strangest of places. If Ariel didn't see those coincidences as accidents, but rather as meticulously planned "chance encounters"...
From Ariel’s perspective...
Oh god.
The perverted stalker was me all along?
"Miss Muse, I know you have your reasons."
Ariel shifted uncomfortably, her bashfulness deepening. "But I don't think things like this should be kept hidden. It’s better to express them early. Setting aside the legal and moral issues of 'peeping,' if you only watch and wait from the sidelines, you’ll end up losing the things you want most. I know that from experience."
"..." Muen was speechless.
I know you know from experience! I’m the one who gave you that experience!
But... but... how was he supposed to "express" something that didn't exist?
Besides, the conditions for "expressing" himself were non-existent. What was he supposed to say?
"My dear Ariel, actually, Miss Muse doesn't exist. I'm actually Muen Campbell, the guy you hate most in the world?"
And then what? Lift his shirt and show off his solid pectoral muscles?
...He would literally die.
"Um..."
Muen weighed his words carefully, testing the waters. "About that... could there be a misunderstanding?"
"A misunderstanding?"
Ariel blinked, then frowned as she sank into deep thought. "My reasoning is perfect. If there’s a misunderstanding... could it be that I need to calculate this from an irrational angle? For example..."
"Wait, wait, wait, wait!"
Muen frantically interrupted her again. "That’s not what I meant!"
Dammit, is this path blocked too?
He couldn't let her keep thinking.
Though this girl’s perspective was often bizarre—especially when beautiful women were involved—he had to admit that her ability to construct a self-consistent logic was terrifying. As Ariel said herself, she was, in a way, incredibly sharp.
If she kept deducing... she might actually figure out he was a man!
If that happened, he was finished. Not only had he done this and that to Ariel, but he also held all her "dark history," and even...
Squish, squish.
Muen absentmindedly squeezed the magic rubber, which felt far too realistic. It no longer felt like rubber; it felt like the blade of a guillotine hanging over his neck, ready to drop at any moment.
He’d be hacked to death.
He’d definitely be hacked to death.
One thousand percent, hacked to death.
"If that’s not what you meant, then what is it?" Ariel tilted her head, confused.
"I... I..."
Muen looked left and right, cold sweat pouring down his back. He searched for an excuse, but found nothing. The quick-thinking reflexes he’d honed through several disastrous "love battlefields" were useless here.
He basically had two choices.
Deny it. Then Ariel would use her formidable deductive powers to keep searching for the truth.
Result: Death.
Confirm it. Then Ariel’s affection for "Miss Muse" would only grow deeper, perhaps to the point of no return. Given Ariel’s "Soaring Phoenix" levels of persistence, she probably wouldn't give up until she’d won Miss Muse’s heart.
Unless Miss Muse was "stolen" by some other yellow-haired bastard... but obviously, that was impossible.
So the result... was still death. A miserable death.
"Miss Muse, you..."
Ariel watched Muen’s shifty eyes and his refusal to look at her. Suddenly, a sharp light flickered in her eyes as if she’d discovered something. Muen’s heart skipped a beat.
Had she finally realized—?
"Are you shy? Oh, honestly! Our relationship is already so close, there’s no need to be shy. Miss Muse, really..." Ariel teased.
"..."
Fine. He was overthinking it.
The current Ariel wasn't going to have a breakthrough that easily.
"No need to be shy. Well... though I’m actually quite shy myself right now."
Ariel hugged her shins, resting her head gently on her knees. "But, you know, I just dreamed of my mother. It’s been so long since I dreamed of her; I’d almost forgotten what she looked like. But I saw her this time. It’s strange, isn't it? Especially since we’re in such a dangerous situation, being hunted and all."
Wait, what? What’s happening now?
The crisis had just passed, so why were they naturally transitioning into a "heart-to-heart" plotline?
"So? I think it must be because Miss Muse makes me feel so safe that I..."
"Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait..."
Muen rattled off a string of "waits," using the powerful lung capacity he’d developed from certain "exercises" to stop Ariel from continuing.
If she kept going, the moment he was exposed, he wouldn't just be hacked to death or minced into meat—he’d probably be ground into dust and scattered to the winds!
"Miss Muse?" Ariel looked at him, puzzled. "Is something wrong?"
"No, I just think... now isn't the time for this."
Muen forced a smile. "Some things... might be better said after we’re out of danger, don't you think?"
"..."
Ariel paused. Her gaze swept over the enclosed stone walls, and a look of realization dawned on her. It seemed she had finally remembered their current predicament.
"Ah, sorry."
Her cheeks flushed red, and she quickly buried her face in her knees. "I think I got a bit carried away."
Indeed, now was not the time to deepen their emotional bond.
Even though she had recently decided to adopt an aggressive "offensive" policy and rejected the "slow-boil" approach, only a knight who successfully rescued the princess was a good knight. If one started boasting before the rescue was even complete, it would only annoy the beautiful princess.
Even if, according to Ariel’s own analysis, this beautiful princess’s favorability was already maxed out, she would never do anything to lower it!
This was the basic professional standard of an emotional master!
"Phew..."
Seeing Ariel drop the subject, Muen let out a secret sigh of relief. It seemed the Goddess didn't want to claim the soul of this "yellow-haired pig" who had defiled the Saintess just yet. Otherwise, his head likely wouldn't have stayed on his shoulders past tonight.
But just to be safe...
"There’s no sound..."
Muen stood up and walked to the wall. He pressed his ear against the cold stone, listening intently. "The monsters should have moved on."
"Are we continuing forward?"
The moment they returned to the task at hand, Ariel transformed. Her expression became serious and focused.
"If possible, I think it’s best we leave as soon as possible."
Muen looked at the small chain on his wrist. "I can feel that the place this branch of the Eternal Cycle is guiding me to isn't far. Besides, it’s not actually safe here. This stone house can't withstand the monsters' attacks. If we’re discovered, we’ll be surrounded again."
"True." Ariel pondered for a moment. "If the goal is clear and the distance is short, the sooner we get there, the better."
"In that case, let’s get ready to move."
Muen began tidying up the campfire and packing away the external medicines he’d used to help Ariel re-bandage her wounds.
Ariel didn't move yet. She stared intently at Muen, her gaze slowly drifting toward his chest.
"Aren't you going to pad them?"
"Eh?"
"Aren't you going to pad them?"
Ariel gestured in front of her chest. "Since I’ve already recommended them, won't Miss Muse give them a try?"
"..."
What is this girl saying with such a serious face?
Muen froze. He turned his head stiffly toward the two lumps of magic rubber he’d set aside. His eye twitched. "That... might not be a good idea. We might have to fight soon."
"Don't worry, I’ve already thought of that! After my careful improvements, this magic rubber is extremely lightweight. It absolutely won't affect your combat ability. I’ve tested it myself!" Ariel puffed out her chest proudly.
After all, she’d worn them while clashing with Zagu. In terms of stability, they were guaranteed!
"..."
Muen wanted to refuse sternly.
But Ariel’s burning gaze made it hard to find a reason. Besides, refusing was one thing, but if it triggered another round of suspicion from Ariel...
"Fine... fine."
He was already cross-dressing; putting two lumps of rubber on his chest didn't seem like that much more of a hurdle.
Muen gritted his teeth. With a resolve as strong as if he were about to slay an Evil God, he slowly stuffed the magic rubber into the front of his dress.
With a soft boing, the magic rubber immediately became firm and elastic, filling out Muen’s loose clothing. The towering peaks were no longer a misty mirage.
They were a fake yet very real existence.
Muen looked down.
The things were indeed as functional as Ariel had claimed. They remained stable even when he hopped around. At the very least, they were much less likely to cause a "wardrobe malfunction" than the illusions created by potions.
It was just... he felt like he’d accidentally lost something precious again.
"So beautiful!"
Ariel’s eyes sparkled. "Miss Muse, you’ve become even more perfect!"
"Ha... haha. As long as you’re happy..."
Muen forced a smile.
He made a mental note: from now on, he had to keep his distance from this girl. He couldn't do anything that might lead to further misunderstandings. If her expectations for "Miss Muse" kept rising, or if she fell even deeper... it would be impossible to clean up the mess later.
"Let’s go." Muen took the lead, turning to walk away with cold indifference.
"Okay."
Ariel used her sword to push herself up.
But before she could steady herself, she stumbled. She clutched her thigh, her sword-like brows furrowing instinctively.
Dammit, why is the wound acting up now...
"What’s wrong?"
"Nothing."
Ariel shook her head and stomped her foot on the ground, forcing herself into a normal walking posture. She gritted her teeth and followed behind Muen.
"Are you sure?"
"I’m fine."
"..."
Muen looked back at her and sighed helplessly.
Sigh.
As expected, Yellow-haired Villains and Destined Protagonists were just born to be at odds. As long as he was in front of Ariel, nothing would ever go according to plan.
"Come here."
Muen crouched down.
"I’ll carry you."