Chapter 137: A Fated Rival’s Peculiar Arrival

Their eyes met, the girl with heterochromatic pupils gazing at the silver-haired girl before her.

Her grey hair cascaded down, a strikingly beautiful sight.

It wasn’t the dull grey of old age, but a lustrous, delicate shade.

Bai Yu imagined that if she were to run her fingers through it, it would feel as soft as silk.

Even her own hair, which she considered flawless, couldn’t quite compare.

Though Bai Yu used no hair products, Moweila had once told her that a Witch’s appearance was inherently perfect, making such things entirely unnecessary for her.

Bai Yu’s bathing rituals were simply a matter of her love for cleanliness and the enjoyment of the process.

Snapping back to reality, Bai Yu blinked, her gaze falling upon the stunned Maiden before her.

‘What’s going on? Did I just stun her with my cuteness?’

Bai Yu waved a hand, swaying it from side to side, watching as the Maiden’s pupils tracked her movements.

‘She couldn’t have been scared senseless, could she?’

Bai Yu mused, for in the world of Arcanists, anything was possible.

Given the Maiden’s current state, Bai Yu surmised she too had been teleported here unexpectedly.

Perhaps she hadn’t been as fortunate as Bai Yu to arrive unharmed, and had simply been rendered witless.

However, what transpired next quickly disabused Bai Yu of that notion.

The grey-haired Maiden, her eyes fixed unblinkingly on Bai Yu’s face, exclaimed excitedly.

“Rival!”

As if she had just witnessed something profoundly thrilling, the grey-haired Maiden lunged forward, nearly pressing her face against Bai Yu’s.

This startled Bai Yu, who certainly didn’t expect such immediate intimacy.

Blushing furiously, Bai Yu quickly pushed the Maiden away and retreated several steps.

‘Rival?’

‘She truly believed the Maiden’s mind was addled. Who would declare someone their rival the moment they met?’

‘I’m her savior, and this is how she repays me?’

Puffing up indignantly, Bai Yu placed her hands on her hips and stood directly before the Maiden.

“Hey, what ‘rival’? Who calls someone their rival right off the bat? I saved you!”

Though Bai Yu wasn’t much taller than the Maiden, her imposing aura was undeniable.

“Saved me?”

The Maiden blinked, her gaze fixed on Bai Yu, her face etched with confusion. She couldn’t fathom why this fated rival before her would utter such words.

Scanning her surroundings, she found only impenetrable darkness, save for the roaring flames in Bai Yu’s hand, which cast a warm glow and illuminated their immediate vicinity.

As far as the Maiden could see, there was nothing but jagged rocks and endless snow. Beyond that, the void stretched on.

Frowning, she felt a dull ache in her head. She struggled to recall her previous memories, finding herself unable to clearly remember what had transpired.

“A fleet… a boiling ocean… monsters…”

The Maiden murmured, her memories slowly coalescing into sharper focus.

Then came the heavy chop to her neck, instantly rendering her unconscious.

“Luna, you fiend!”

Ellie Roth Charlotte thought of her secretary. She immediately suspected Luna was the one who had knocked her out.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been separated from the fleet, fleeing for her life alone.

Yet, she couldn’t comprehend why she had ended up in this place. Logically, even if she had been teleported, she should have been sent back to her family estate.

Ellie Roth Charlotte glanced around, then at the girl before her. This was certainly not her family’s home.

Ellie Roth Charlotte’s gaze sharpened on Bai Yu. The two instances of fated aura she had encountered at sea had emanated from this very girl.

She had imagined what her fated rival might look like, but never expected such a form…

…the appearance of a mere child.

Still, she held no contempt for Bai Yu; on the contrary, her interest was piqued further.

After all, the strength Bai Yu currently displayed proved her worthy of being her adversary.

Even their beauty was evenly matched. Only someone of such caliber could truly be her fated rival.

Ellie Roth Charlotte rose to her feet, her left eye’s white pupil shimmering with a faint glow as she began to perceive Bai Yu’s condition.

However, no matter how she tried, she couldn’t discern anything about Bai Yu.

This sent a violent tremor through her heart. Such a situation could only mean one thing: Bai Yu’s rank surpassed her own. Never before had an opponent of the same rank evaded her perception.

Bai Yu watched the Maiden’s peculiar movements, unsure of what she was doing, only noticing a faint glint flash in her eyes.

[Be careful, this one is probing your strength. They likely mean trouble.]

Moweila’s voice echoed in Bai Yu’s mind, instantly putting her on high alert.

“Are you probing me?”

Bai Yu directly challenged the Maiden, her brows furrowed deeply.

“Isn’t that a bit much?”

Bai Yu stated sternly, already regretting saving the Maiden.

“Oh? You actually noticed?”

Ellie Roth Charlotte said, surprised. It was the first time anyone had ever detected her probing.

“Why wouldn’t I notice? And who exactly are you?”

Bai Yu asked, despite having seen the Maiden before, even having spied on her for quite some time. Still, Bai Yu had to feign ignorance.

“Hmph, who am I? On the sea, weren’t you already observing me? Rival.”

Ellie Roth Charlotte said playfully, causing Bai Yu to snap her mouth shut.

“So you really were after me back then?”

Bai Yu asked, knowing then that it hadn’t been her imagination.

“Of course. I originally intended to fight you, but circumstances arose unexpectedly, so I gave up.”

Ellie Roth Charlotte’s lips curved into a slight smile, and she unceremoniously sat back down.

“Why are you looking for me? I don’t even know you.”

Bai Yu was utterly bewildered, unable to understand why the Maiden was so fixated on her.

“Destiny. My eyes can perceive destiny, nothing more.”

Ellie Roth Charlotte gazed at Bai Yu with her heterochromatic eyes, a chill emanating from her.

Bai Yu was speechless. Was this person suffering from chuunibyou? ‘Rivals,’ ‘destiny’—she had no idea what she was talking about.

But she decided against pursuing the topic. There was no point in arguing with a Maiden whose thoughts were so inscrutable.

‘What a pity for such a beautiful face, to have such a strange mind.’

“So, what’s your name? As my rival, you should at least tell me that.”

Bai Yu decided to humor her, hoping to glean some information.

“Finally admitting it, are we? Very well. I am Ellie Roth Charlotte, the next head of the Charlotte Family.”

Ellie Roth Charlotte stated solemnly, a hint of pride in her voice.

“I see. My name is Bai Yu.”

Bai Yu had never heard of the Charlotte Family, but judging by the name, the Maiden was likely not from the Dragon Summer Nation.

She could only hope this Maiden wouldn’t cause her any trouble. After all, being stranded in such a desolate place was already dire enough; dealing with a chuunibyou on top of that would be truly unbearable.

Bai Yu suddenly felt utterly drained. Why did she always encounter such peculiar individuals?

‘It felt as if she was the only normal one among them.’