Chapter 808: The Protagonist’s Love Story (Part 15)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 808: The Protagonist’s Love Story (Part 15)
“Not yet…”
At this moment, Muen was less than three centimeters away from Ariel. He could see his own reflection in her misty eyes and feel her suddenly erratic breathing…
But in the end, she raised her hand and blocked him.
Ariel’s face was flushed, her gaze dazed, as if she were about to be consumed by the sweltering, sultry atmosphere of the narrow cabin. Her iron-clad heart seemed to melt into something soft and yielding…
But she didn’t give in.
The hardened shell of her heart ultimately withstood Muen’s offensive, refusing to expose the softest, most deeply hidden part of her soul.
Ariel’s eyes cleared. She let out a long breath and gently pushed Muen away.
Muen didn’t persist. He straightened up and sat back down, looking somewhat disheveled amidst a helpless sigh.
All his meticulous calculations and immense efforts seemed to have… come to nothing because of that one sentence?
“I…”
Seeing Muen’s bitter expression—seeing the clear flash of disappointment in his eyes, like a golden retriever that had been scolded by its master—Ariel felt her heart tighten for some reason.
Yet, she kept her head high and curled her lip disdainfully. “I told you, it’s impossible to win me over with just this much.”
“Is that so?”
Muen gave a bitter smile. “It seems I’ve ended up as part of that five percent after all.”
“What five percent…?”
Ariel crossed her arms and turned her head toward the window, muttering, “Those statistics you get from who-knows-where were never reliable to begin with.”
The Ferris wheel turned silently. Their cabin had already passed the highest point and begun its slow descent.
In the distance, the lights of the Belland city district flickered. Because they were so far away and it was so dark, there wasn't much left to see of the scenery.
Muen also stared out the window. It felt as if the entire world had been muted again; everything was still, and this time, even the sound of a heartbeat was gone.
The two remained silent, and silent, until…
“Could you not do that next time?”
“Hmm?”
“So suddenly…”
Ariel was still staring straight out the window, but her peripheral vision seemed to catch Muen occasionally. She kept twirling a strand of hair at her temple, her tone somewhat hesitant.
“To be honest, while my heart is indeed strong enough to fear nothing, you doing something like that so suddenly… it still startled me a little…”
“…”
Muen blinked.
Ariel’s behavior made it seem like… even if he had gone for a kiss just now, she wouldn't have drawn her sword to cut him down. At most, she would have just scolded him in embarrassed annoyance.
Ah, I see… Muen realized.
It seemed his offensive hadn't completely failed. When he thought about it, "atmosphere" wasn't something one person could create alone.
Looking at it from another angle, the fact that they had reached that kind of atmosphere meant…
“Alright.”
The bitterness vanished, replaced by Muen’s usual clean smile. “I’ll be more careful next time.”
“There’s… there’s a next time?” Ariel glared at him.
“Of course. This date isn't over yet, is it?”
The cabin touched the ground. Muen opened the door, bowed elegantly, and extended his hand.
“Beautiful lady, the final ball has begun. May I have the honor of offending you by holding your hand?”
“Hold… hold?”
Ariel noticed Muen said "hold," not "take."
“Yes, hold.”
His palm was right in front of her. His fingers were clean and slender, his palm broad and warm.
Ariel knew this because she had felt it before.
More than once.
“Well… alright.”
Having just rejected Muen once, Ariel felt it would be awkward to reject him a second time. Besides, when she thought about it, it wasn't the first time they had held hands, so there was nothing to be shy about.
And so, without any "dire necessity," Ariel raised her small hand like a princess sitting in a pumpkin carriage and gently placed it in the prince’s palm.
Muen took the opportunity to wrap his fingers firmly around that small hand.
“Let’s go.”
“Where to?”
“To the final location of the date, of course.”
Muen said, “Have you forgotten the first thing you saw when you walked in here?”
“Ah…”
Ariel’s eyes widened slightly.
At this moment, behind the golden-haired man who had already become so familiar to her, Ariel saw the Crystal Palace erupt in a brilliant radiance. It was as if all the stars and the moon of the night had gathered inside the palace, waiting for a girl to pluck them herself.
She had actually been having so much fun along the way that she had truly forgotten about the most conspicuous landmark.
“It’s beautiful too, isn't it?” Muen smiled.
Since he had built this Crystal Palace, it was impossible for it to just be there for show. In Muen’s dating plan, regardless of whether he succeeded in the end, the Crystal Palace would be the final stop.
His final arrangement was placed there. To complete it, he had paid a great price and put in a lot of effort; for him, it had been even harder than swindling two manors out of his old man.
After all, having one's head spinning for half a day wasn't pleasant.
“Is this an attraction too?” Ariel asked blankly.
“No, this is a gift for you.”
Muen didn't say more. Gripping Ariel’s small hand tightly, he led her toward the Crystal Palace.
The tourists had dispersed, and the staff were nowhere to be seen. At this moment, the place belonged only to the two of them.
They reached the front of the Crystal Palace. Muen gave a light knock, and the massive palace doors swung open with a boom. It was like a spell from a fairy tale had been recited; everything happened so naturally.
Ariel paused for a moment, looking up at the giant double doors. She felt they fit her imagination perfectly—only with doors this big could she happily lead her beloved beautiful girls in and out at the same time… no matter how many girls there were, it wouldn't be crowded.
Though, for just two people, the doors were indeed a bit large.
“Let’s go in.”
“Mm.”
Holding hands tightly and leaning toward each other, they stepped into the grand palace.
Instantly, all sorts of enchanting lights reflected by the clear crystal flooded Ariel’s eyes. Crystal ceilings, crystal walls, crystal chandeliers, crystal stairs… everything here was indeed made of crystal. Colored spots of light pieced together like countless kaleidoscopes, cut into myriad exquisite shapes.
Ariel’s eyes were dazzled. She felt that the most magnificent and luxurious things she had ever seen in her life were nothing compared to this.
But aside from that…
“Why is it so empty?” Ariel asked in surprise.
Crystal formed the main body of the palace and everything within it, but other than that, there was nothing else. Under the glow of the opulent light, the interior of the entire Crystal Palace felt very hollow.
“Because I haven't decided what should be put here yet.”
Muen turned his head, gazing into Ariel’s eyes. “And besides, shouldn't that be something for you to consider? After all, it’s yours now.”
“Mine?”
Ariel scratched her head, bewildered.
In truth, she didn't know what should be put in a so-called Crystal Palace either. In her past fantasies, it was simply a place where her beloved beautiful girls lived; she had never thought about the other details.
But speaking of beloved beautiful girls… the count was still a pitiful zero. Even the Crystal Palace had been built by this blonde guy next to her… Dammit.
Ariel gnashed her teeth inwardly again, feeling a strange sense of grief and indignation.
Wasn't this also a form of humiliation?
“However, while there’s nothing here for now, I have prepared something for you in the deepest part of the palace,” Muen added.
His gaze bypassed the empty main hall. In a place surrounded by crystal clusters, there was an extremely ordinary door.
Precisely because it was ordinary, it stood out. Ariel noticed the door immediately.
“You should know what’s inside by now.”
“How would I know what you put in there?” Ariel huffed.
But even as she said that, the scenery she had seen from the Ferris wheel flashed through her mind.
The alleyway, the bakery, the convent, the tree on the hill… those familiar sights went from near to far, but in her memory, they flowed from far to near along that river of time.
Based on that, she could roughly deduce what was hidden in this closest place, deep within the Crystal Palace.
“Since you don't know, why not go take a look?”
Muen seemed to see through Ariel’s stubbornness and gave her a gentle nudge.
“Hmph, mind your own business!”
Ariel displeasedly shook off Muen’s hand, appearing very annoyed by his presumptuous decision.
But in the end, she walked toward the door step by step.
The door was made of wood, mottled and old, looking completely out of place amidst the magnificent and brilliant crystal surroundings.
Yet, facing such an old and ordinary door, a door with no special features, Ariel touched it but hesitated to push it open for a long time.
Her heart was full of trepidation because the things behind this door were things she hadn't seen for over ten years…
“Oh my, this won't do, will it?”
Suddenly, a third person’s voice appeared in the quiet Crystal Palace, interrupting Ariel’s reminiscence.
“How can you let go of hands halfway through such a romantic date?”
“Who’s there!”
Muen’s pupils contracted. He instinctively shielded the currently powerless Ariel behind him.
“Come out!”
Clap.
No one answered immediately.
Instead, Muen was met with the sound of a single clap.
It was the sound of hands clapping, coming from an unknown direction. Muen’s heart sank as a sense of foreboding filled him. Although he didn't yet know what the clapping signified, he turned without hesitation and reached out to grab Ariel…
But… it was too late.
Rumble!
The entire Crystal Palace began to shake. A wall of crystal extended with a roar, separating Ariel and Muen.
“Dammit!”
Muen wouldn't be stopped by mere crystal. He drew his blade and slashed through the crystal wall, only to find the other side empty. It was no longer the place from a moment ago.
The entire Crystal Palace had changed, like a twisting Rubik’s Cube. Amidst the roaring, Ariel had been sent to parts unknown.
“See? If you let go of her hand, unfortunate things like this happen,” the voice said with a hint of regret.
“…”
Muen turned back with a dark expression, looking at the elegant and handsome middle-aged man who had appeared in the Crystal Palace at some point.
He wore a tailored formal suit and was scented with a very sophisticated cologne, looking as if he had just returned from a date with a lover. A bright red rose was pinned to his chest.
“Who are you?” Muen asked. “Why are you here? And why do you have the authority to control this Crystal Palace?”
“Respected Young Master Muen, there is no need for alarm. You may call me Pars. As you can see, I was invited by Lord Oranriel specifically to contribute my efforts to your great romantic endeavors… as a Master of Romance.”
Pars bowed respectfully with his hand over his chest. Just like when facing the Pink Bear, even though he wasn't a noble, his etiquette was flawless.
“Oranriel… Pink Bear?”
Hearing the name, Muen paused, remembering it was that bastard’s true name.
“That guy’s meddling again?”
Muen scanned the surroundings with his peripheral vision. There was no sign of the Pink Bear. This was normal; if nothing went wrong, that guy should currently be enduring the Former Saintess’s "lashes of love"… After all, Muen had already told her about the Pink Bear’s erotic book supply channels. With her temper, she definitely wouldn't let him go until he had knelt on a ton of durians.
“So, what is this? Like before, some kind of 'trial' trick to help the conquest?”
The roller coaster explosion, the spirits in the haunted house—though a bit cliché, Muen had to admit they had helped him to some extent. So, intentionally separating him and Ariel now was also to…
“No.”
Pars shook his head. “This time is different, respected Young Master Muen.”
“Different?” Muen narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean?”
“Yes, it’s different. Young Master Muen should already know that those previous methods were meaningless to Miss Ariel. Her heart’s defense is firmer than you imagine.
So…”
Pars spread his arms, the smile on his face becoming fanatical and distorted.
“Why continue such a boring date? Why not let me directly grant you both true love!”
The Crystal Palace continued to emit a low rumble.
Massive blocks of crystal ground against the floor, separating and interlocking. While the exterior of the Crystal Palace remained unchanged, the interior was undergoing a cataclysmic transformation.
But amidst the noisy chaos, Muen still clearly heard that hair-raising whisper:
I love you.
*
“Muen!”
The crystal wall slammed shut, sealing off the space behind Ariel. Even though her reactions were fast, her current strength was nowhere near enough to break through this sudden crystal wall. She could only throw herself against it, pounding fruitlessly.
“Muen! Muen, can you hear me? Answer if you can! Hey! Hey!”
There was no response.
The roaring of the Crystal Palace lasted for several minutes. But even when the sound finally stopped and everything returned to silence, Ariel couldn't hear any voice other than her own, nor could she see any figure other than her own reflection in the crystal.
“What kind of ghost trick is this now?”
Knowing she couldn't break through the crystal or contact Muen, Ariel immediately stopped wasting her energy.
She frowned, her gaze following the crystal wall to its end…
It was sealed off.
The path between her and Muen was completely blocked. In her current state, she definitely couldn't break the seal, so she could only passively wait for Muen to rescue her.
“The same routine as before?” Ariel muttered.
Put her in danger, then let that guy play the handsome hero… she had to admit, it was a tried-and-true routine. Most girls in the world would inevitably fall for the hero who saved them.
But she was different. The first two times had proven that such vulgar routines were useless against her. So even if it happened a third time…
“No.”
Ariel’s eyes suddenly flashed. “Something’s wrong.”
Muen had clearly told her that this routine wouldn't happen a third time.
While lying wasn't hard for a playboy… Ariel didn't think Muen would lie to her at a time like that.
As she had said before, she trusted him.
“So… did some accident happen?”
At this thought, an instinctive unease began to surface in Ariel’s heart, urging her to leave this place immediately.
That’s right, she had to leave quickly and find Muen, otherwise…
“Why go look for him?”
A familiar voice said:
“Don't you hate him the most?”
“…”
Ariel’s pupils shrank. Her gaze followed the direction of the voice, scanning the row of smooth crystal walls.
Sure enough, on the crystal wall, she saw… herself.
It was her reflection, a natural phenomenon formed by the light. But at this moment, the reflection had broken free from the constraints of the original body, moving weirdly on its own.
The reflection looked at Ariel with a mocking expression.
“Why are you going to find a guy you hate?”
“…Love God?”
Ariel appeared very calm, not letting herself be led by the nose by a few words. “You still dare to show your face?”
“Love God? I’m not the Love God. How could I be the Love God?”
The reflection first looked surprised, then let out a tittering, eerie laugh.
“I’m not the Love God. I am your inner self. You understand… I am you.”
“Shut up!”
Ariel’s face darkened instantly. “Don't try to fool me with that nonsense. I won't fall for it.”
“Fall for it? Giggle… haven't you been falling for it all along?”
The reflection gradually approached. She reached out her hand, seemingly about to step out of the crystal to pityingly stroke Ariel’s face.
“How pathetic. Look, how many times have you been deceived by that loathsome blonde…”
“Get lost.”
Ariel took a wary step back. “I have no interest in talking to you.”
“Talking… true. You and I are one and the same; there’s no need for talk. In that case, let’s get straight to the point.”
The reflection smiled. “Let’s return to the original question… Ariel, are you truly content?”
“…”
“Are you content with your childhood sweetheart being snatched away by Muen Campbell?”
The reflection shifted, transforming into Liya’s appearance.
“Ariel.”
Liya’s eyes were filled with tears, looking pitiful. “Save me, quickly. I was forced by Muen. Actually, actually, the one I love is you.”
“…”
“Are you content with the beautiful girls you set your sights on also being snatched away by Muen Campbell?”
The reflection changed into Celicia’s form. However, she didn't have her usual coldness; instead, her face was full of bashfulness and deep affection.
“Ariel-qing, if it’s you…”
“…”
“And are you content with your most beloved Miss Muse eventually being replaced by Muen Campbell, disappearing from the world forever?”
The Miss Muse that Ariel longed for appeared in the crystal. Her wavy golden hair was as dazzling as ever. Her every move, every frown, and every smile seemed to dance in Ariel’s heart.
“Ariel, I can become Muse…”
“…”
“And your teacher, your sword… they aren't by your side. They must have been deceived by Muen Campbell’s sweet talk too. Are you content?”
The Heavenly Fire Greatsword and her teacher’s forms appeared one after another, before finally changing back into Ariel herself.
The reflection gazed into Ariel’s wavering eyes, her hands cupping the exquisitely beautiful black flower rooted deep in her flesh.
“You aren't content, are you?”
“Everything of yours has been snatched away by Muen Campbell. How could you be content?”
“So, come, Ariel. Take this.”
The reflection’s voice carried a sweet temptation, like the fruit that lures one toward the forbidden.
“Just take this, then go kill that Muen Campbell you hate most, and everything can return to—”
“I said—SHUT UP!”
Suddenly, Ariel exploded in rage, slamming a fist into the crystal.
Cracks bloomed on the crystal, as beautiful as flowers.
But because she had no protection from Fighting Spirit or Mana, blood flowed from between Ariel’s fingers.
Her face was contorted, her entire aura like a fierce beast. Her chest heaved with fury.
“Eh?”
The reflection tilted its head. In its dull, lightless eyes, a hint of confusion surfaced.
“Why? Could it be that you…”
“…”
Ariel turned and sprinted away.
The blood on her hand was still flowing. That punch had been too forceful, possibly even fracturing her bones, but she ignored it completely and ran with her head down.
The coldness in her heart became more apparent, and surging darkness spread behind her. Ariel heard angry shrieks; it seemed that after realizing the psychological attack had failed, the reflection chose to forcibly erode her spirit.
Her heart already had flaws, and she had already been affected once. How could she possibly resist this returning Evil God corruption?
Ariel felt her consciousness becoming increasingly blurred. Countless whispers echoed in her ears. Pale hands seemed to reach out from the darkness, trying to drag her back into the abyss of eternal damnation once more…
Creak.
Suddenly, the sound of a door opening came.
Ariel saw that door again—that ordinary door. And now, the door had automatically opened a crack…
【Ah—】
Holy radiance poured from the crack, briefly helping Ariel repel the darkness that clung to her like a shadow. She seized the opportunity and shoved the dilapidated, mottled door open.
Creak—
The sound of rusty hinges—familiar yet strange, something she had once been used to but had forgotten over the long years—echoed in Ariel’s ears.
Ariel stood still, then, amidst that raspy sound, she unconsciously fell into a daze.
She even forgot the pursuit and erosion from a moment ago. She just stood there, staring blankly at everything before her.
A small courtyard full of weeds was reflected in her eyes. There was a dried-up grape trellis, an old well covered with a stone slab, dried persimmons on the low roof… and a wooden sword, stuck right in the center of the courtyard.
“Ah… as I thought…”
Though she had guessed it before, seeing this place—which she hadn't seen for over ten years yet could remember every detail of at a single glance—still caused ripples in her iron-clad heart.
The courtyard. The courtyard she had once burned down. The courtyard where she had lived before she became strong. It had actually appeared before her eyes.
“Muen… he actually rebuilt this place? To even restore all the details perfectly, this is truly…”
Ariel took a deep breath.
Impressive.
No matter how she looked at it, it was impressive.
“Come to think of it, he always does things that exceed my expectations…”
A smile touched the corners of Ariel’s mouth, a rare moment of tenderness.
As a gift for her, this place was indeed worthy of praise.
Ariel decided that once she got out of here, she wouldn't nitpick that guy anymore; she would even give him a proper compliment.
Her small leather boots stepped on the dry grass, making a pleasant rustling sound. Ariel stood on her tiptoes to take a dried persimmon and took a casual bite, letting the sweet scent of sun-dried fruit spread in her mouth.
Even though she had just experienced a moment of extreme crisis, Ariel subconsciously relaxed.
No matter how much you walk through the world with your nerves taut, there is always a place that can make you forget everything.
Ariel had lost that place long ago, and now, she had finally found it again, if only temporarily.
Even if it wasn't complete.
Therefore, no matter what dangers still lurked outside, Ariel didn't want to care anymore. She only wanted to use this familiar setting to mourn what she hadn't mourned in a long time…
With a thud, the dried persimmon fell to the ground.
When the room door was pushed open, Ariel stood at the entrance, her face showing an unprecedented mix of astonishment and confusion.
“Mo… Mother?”
Everything in the room was as it had been. The simple furnishings were no different from Ariel’s memory. Muen had used some unknown method to replicate everything so perfectly.
So perfect that even the figure who should have been long gone was currently sitting on the bed, gazing at the sky on the other side.
The final fragment that could make everything complete had appeared before her so unexpectedly.
“Ariel?”
The figure turned her head, revealing that gentle face Ariel had almost forgotten.
“Are you back?”
“Mo… Mother? How… how can you be here?”
Ariel almost thought she was dreaming, but the stinging pain in her hand was still so clear.
Could it be that this wasn't a dream, but some kind of illusion?
Ariel’s gaze quickly swept across the room, trying to find a flaw… and she truly found something out of place.
On the small table in the room sat a clock—a clock with a strange design, but it looked very old.
The ancient clock ticked and tocked, counting the passage of time, interspersed with the faint sound of gears turning. But Ariel was certain that with her family’s poverty back then, they could never have afforded something like a clock.
She stepped forward quickly and grabbed the clock, about to check for abnormalities… and then she found a slip of paper pressed under it.
On it, a paragraph was written in very beautiful handwriting:
“This is no dazzling miracle, merely a trivial phantom of the past.”
“…”
With slightly trembling hands, Ariel picked up the slip of paper and flipped it over.
“Happy first date anniversary, Ariel.”
“—Muen.”