Chapter 20

"Ha..."

I sighed, tightly clenched my fist.

"Since it involves that idiot, I wouldn't mind fighting. Let me show you the results of my months of practicing Ice Cone Piercing."

Ahem, let me introduce my tactics here.

"Ice Cone Piercing," although I did say that, I didn't really intend to use Ice Cone Piercing. Instead, I planned to use a weak Fire Tongue spell to cover my body and then chant a hypnotism spell. If by any chance it works, I just need to stay here until it automatically cancels when Eileen's talent skill time is up.

A perfect plan. The only thing left to solve is the problem of "premature explanation equals impossible smooth implementation."

This problem is easy to solve. I just need to imagine "a plan as foolish as this can't possibly work" and set up a reverse flag like that. Then, this plan will definitely succeed.

Come on, Eileen, I'm prepared. Let's begin our destined battle--

However, Eileen looked at me, raising an eyebrow as if she was looking at an idiot.

"Ice Cone Piercing? Are you trying to fight?"

"Cough... Don't underestimate me. Even if I've just started practicing for less than three or four months, I can still give you a tough fight. Even a rabbit bites when it's desperate. At least you can't finish me off in a single move. This illusion magic that I've devoted so much time and effort into, and Ice Cone Piercing, surely have some amount of killing power!"

"...Give it up," Eileen rolled her eyes at me. "You, a mid-level threshold magic user, are planning to fight? Even if you use illusion magic on me again, it won't work a second time."

"...Although you figured it out, come at me then! I absolutely won't sit idly and let myself be caught!"

"Don't you want to resolve this peacefully?"

"I understand that a situation like this can't be resolved by sitting down and talking. Even if I say that I want a peaceful resolution, you'll just mock my immaturity with a cold laugh. So, without further ado, let's each bear our own destinies and start this bloodshed battle!"

"..."

"Huh, so...?"

Tsk, she clicked her tongue. "I even thought of several questions. Since it's like this, let's stop beating around the bush and just fight."

"No, no, no, wait! Are you really planning to resolve this peacefully? Then I won't fight. Thank you for your gentleness, kindness, and considerate care."

"...So what does someone like you who changes his mind so easily...?"

Ahem... This is called being tactful at the right time.

Eileen snapped her fingers, and a table appeared in the center of the stage, with a pile of wooden boards on it.

"On each of these boards on the table is a question. When we draw a question, we both have to answer it. The one whose answer satisfies the audience more will win," she looked around the arena then turned to me. "The rules are simple, right?"

Indeed, they are simple, but I have one question.

"Go ahead."

"These audience members..."

"Are me."

"It's you!"

"Hmm?"

Eileen tilted her head, slightly confused.

"What's going on with this person? Why does my opponent, who knows that I came up with the questions and made the venue, and even the referee is on my side, still have an expression like 'Is this a fair duel? Do you have a problem with it?'? No, the referee is not only 'on my side,' but also me!?"

"Hmm..." Eileen pondered for a moment. "It's not really fair, indeed."

"Exactly!"

"But you have no choice."

"...That's true."

"So why waste time? Don't you apologize and waste time."

"...I'm...I'm sorry?"

A barely perceptible smile flickered at the corner of Eileen's mouth, and then she randomly picked an audience member from below the stage and walked up to the stage--The elusive figure... for some reason, the familiar figure approached the table and lifted the first sign. After walking around the arena in front of the audience, it revealed the sign to me and Eileen.

"Come on, you two young souls entangled in love, the first question -"

Why is this title and tone like that? So Eileen's inner self is this kind of questionable personality?

Eileen didn't react at all. It seems she accepted this title. Indeed, her inner self is introverted.

"How long have you known Emile?"

Why is the first question such a vague one that seems like jealousy over love?

"Well... um... for about three months, I guess?"

"Hmm..."

The audience below booed.

Eileen crossed her arms in front of her chest and looked into the distance with a desolate gaze as she calmly said, "Five years."

The audience erupted into applause.

"..."

"It seems without a doubt that Eileen Isomophiel is the winner of the first question. So let's quickly move on to the second question! Prepare..."

The host who was invited on stage elongated the sound, creating some anticipation and said, "What have you done with Emile?"

"Uh..."

"...?"

"No, no, nothing, um... we went on adventures together, explored the wilderness, and destroyed enemy crystals together."

"...Vague."

Eileen shook her head, flattened her shoulders and said, "I spent sleepless nights researching in the basement for Emile, trying to create props that could be useful for her, and then I won the promised magic competition from Damia, just to deliver it to Emile."

"Very touching," the host also applauded, "So without suspense, Eileen takes the lead."

"The third question - what has Emile done for you?"

"Ah... well..."

Please spare me. This is already enough. Let's end this farce quickly...

With the strange question preceding it, I could only think of some random things at first...

"Oh? Don't tell me you can't even come up with one thing?"

"No, I just hesitated a bit. Emile... she..."

What has she done...

From that cave, from that forest.

She led me through trees, dug holes, taught me magic, set up camp, and fought bosses, tearing down walls.

Upon careful reflection, there were indeed many things that could be mentioned, but what can be said...

"Emile saved me, many, many times."

Eileen fell silent for a while.

"...I see."

Then she crossed her hands behind her head and sat on the ground without any grace.

"She also saved me once."

"Emile? What did she do for you?"

Eileen extended her right hand and showed me something.

A withered flower.

"Five years ago, Emile said to me, while I was watching the magma with my back turned,"

"'What, you didn't want to die?'"

...

...

So that's it. Lord Emile, you truly live up to your name.