Chapter 10: A Blushing Meal and a Cultist’s Secret

The glimpse of cleavage at the neckline—Xiluo’er had once yearned for such things herself. Yet, when this sight truly appeared before her, a blush still crept onto her cheeks.

Eve likely thought nothing of it. From her perspective, they were all girls, and it was hardly a big deal. But for Xiluo’er…

Not that Eve’s was particularly captivating, of course. It was, well, rather flat.

Nevertheless, that didn’t stop Xiluo’er from blushing and averting her gaze.

“There, all done. Next time, you’ll have to learn to dress yourself, alright?” After a final adjustment to the clothes, Eve stood up.

She immediately noticed Xiluo’er’s bright red cheeks. This child… was she truly blushing?

Honestly, this girl was far too easily embarrassed. She was like a sponge saturated with water; the slightest squeeze would make it yield.

Watching Xiluo’er’s shy demeanor, a strange impulse swelled within Eve. She longed to tease Xiluo’er a little more, to see her flush with embarrassment again.

She imagined gently pinching Xiluo’er, delighting in her reluctant yet submissive reaction. Of course, she’d pinch Xiluo’er’s adorable little cheeks. Where else would she pinch?

Eve nodded in satisfaction. The Xiluo’er before her, a head shorter than herself, had clearly transformed into a playful and charming young girl.

“Come on, Xiluo’er.”

“How about we eat out today? You must be tired of the association’s food.”

Of course, Eve would never admit that her choice to dine out stemmed from a subtle desire to “show off the adorable Xiluo’er” in front of others.

****

“Order anything you like, Xiluo’er.” Eve watched the slightly reserved girl before her, sliding the menu across the table.

Clearly, she hadn’t forgotten Xiluo’er’s diligent consumption of breakfast just two days prior.

“Mm-mm…” Yet, Xiluo’er had no mind to order, her gaze fixed on the menu. Wearing this dress was truly quite embarrassing.

Sitting on the chair, she felt a chilly breeze, and the space beneath her felt unnervingly empty.

She had a dreadful feeling she might… flash someone. Oh, dear.

Xiluo’er pressed her knees together, clamping her legs tightly.

“Then, this one and this one…” After hastily picking two dishes, Xiluo’er pushed the menu back.

“Alright, I’ll have this and this.”

“That will be all, thank you.”

Handing the menu to the waiter, Eve glanced back at Xiluo’er, who was still fidgeting with her skirt hem.

“Rona told me this place serves food highly characteristic of Kana City. I’ve never had the time to come, but today, I brought you along to try it.”

“Mm-hm…” After an absentminded reply, Xiluo’er suddenly remembered. Right, Rona.

She still needed to find a way to investigate Rona. Hearing Eve mention Rona’s name, Xiluo’er realized that Eve was the perfect starting point for her inquiry.

After all, they were very close friends.

Xiluo’er recalled that in the game’s lore, Eve had grown up in the Adventurers’ Guild of the Imperial Capital of the Kingdom of Versetti. Rona, on the other hand, was a member of the prestigious Knight family, the Cross family. They had known each other since their time in the Imperial Capital, making them old acquaintances.

This implied that Rona, having grown up in the Cross family in the Imperial Capital, should have had no opportunity to encounter anything related to cults. How then, had she become a cultist? Was it perhaps after she arrived in Kana City?

“Sister Eve, are you and Sister Rona very close?”

Xiluo’er’s question made Eve’s eyes narrow slightly.

“Why bring her up? Xiluo’er, are you jealous?”

“No way!” Xiluo’er immediately denied it, her face flushing. “I was just… following the conversation, casually chatting.”

A mischievous smile played on Eve’s lips, but she said nothing more.

“Alright, let’s chat then.”

“Rona and I are indeed very close, and we’ve known each other for many years. However, two years ago, after she came of age, she insisted on taking up a post in Kana City, and we haven’t seen each other for quite a while.”

“She originally had many more options. I believe her insistence on coming to Kana City, a border town, might be related to the city lord here.”

“Xiluo’er, you haven’t been in Kana City long, so you probably don’t know much about the city lord, do you?”

Xiluo’er nodded cooperatively.

Even in the game, Kana City’s lord was merely a background character, killed by the monstrous Rona, and thus had little presence.

“The City Lord of Kana City, Serol, is also a knight of the Cross family. More accurately, she is the ‘Legendary Knight’ of the Cross family.”

“Over a decade ago, the Kingdom of Versetti experienced a severe civil war. The rebel forces at the time almost reached the Imperial Capital.”

“Had it not been for Serol, the ‘Knight of the Scales,’ who stepped forward and steadily repelled the rebels, the Kingdom of Versetti might not be the ‘Nation of Order’ it is today.”

“Rona truly idolizes Knight Serol. I used to hear her talk about her all the time when we were in the Imperial Capital.”

“Rona, you see, deeply admires individuals who are both just and upright.”

Watching Eve’s gentle smile, Xiluo’er was momentarily at a loss for words.

If possible, she wished Eve would never learn that Rona was, in fact, a cultist.

Eve genuinely seemed to have a very close relationship with Rona. The truth that a dear friend had become a cultist was simply too cruel to bear.

“Hello, here is your grilled fish.” The waiter placed the plate steadily on the table, and Eve paused her narration.

“Xiluo’er, you start eating.” Eve stood up. “I’m going to use the restroom first.”

“Mm.” Xiluo’er nodded emphatically, assuring Eve she wouldn’t wander off. Then, she began idly picking at the food on her plate with her fork.

According to Eve, Rona had come to Kana City two years ago. If she had encountered the cult during these two years…

By the way, which cults were active in and around the Kingdom of Versetti during the early stages of the game?

After first ruling out the Cult of Chaos, Xiluo’er began to mentally search through the myriad of bizarre cult organizations she had encountered in the game.

It had to be said, cults truly attracted all sorts of devils and monsters.

There were types like the Cult of Chaos, aiming to resurrect evil gods with terrifying methods. Then there were the simply deranged psychopaths, or the destructive maniacs causing havoc everywhere.

In short, they were cultists; how normal could they truly be?

Xiluo’er didn’t realize that this very thought condemned herself, for she too was now a member of the Cult of Chaos.

Just then, she found herself staring at a group of scruffy-looking men who had just kicked open the restaurant door and swaggered in noisily.

Ah, yes, exactly those types. Like cultists who were both mentally disturbed and brazenly destructive—

Wait, no?

Oh, these were just hoodlums looking for trouble.