Chapter 32: A Surprising Invitation and a Mysterious Change

Setia’s ears, hidden beneath her dark hair, were tinged with red.

She quickly sat upright. “Are you talking about preparing the Dragon Slayer identity for you, Eileen? Right? I’ll go get it ready immediately.”

However, Eileen caught her hand. With a slight tug, Eileen pulled her back down onto the bed.

“Wh-wh-what’s wrong, Eileen?” Setia stammered, utterly flustered.

“I want… you.”

“Eh-eh-eh-eh-eh?!” Setia’s face flushed crimson, her vision swam, and she simply collapsed onto the bed.

“To Gran Town with me… Setia?!” Eileen hadn’t even finished her sentence when Setia fainted directly into her arms.

Eileen quickly checked Setia’s body, finding no abnormalities, though her body temperature seemed a little high.

Eileen turned her back to Setia, her tail curling over Setia’s body to help cool her down.

“What just happened so suddenly?” Eileen wondered, a hint of confusion in her voice.

Still, it was early. The mission had a one-month deadline, meaning it only needed to be completed before their journey to Sky Fantasy Island.

Approximately ten minutes later, Setia slowly opened her eyes.

“Eileen?”

“What happened to you? You suddenly fainted?” Eileen asked, her voice laced with concern. “I originally wanted you to accompany me to Gran Town, but given your current state, it seems like too much of a strain, doesn’t it?”

‘Eh? So it was just about going to Gran Town with Eileen?’ Setia thought, having imagined something entirely different.

‘No! No!’

‘I can’t think about that anymore!’

Setia looked up and saw Eileen’s face leaning close.

Their foreheads gently touched.

In that instant, Setia had already decided what to name the dragon egg they would eventually hatch.

“You seem to be feeling better? No… wait, your temperature seems to be rising still?”

“I’m-I’m-I’m-I’m-I’m fine!” Setia pushed Eileen away.

‘Deep breath!’

‘Setia! Calm down!’

“Eileen, are you saying you want me to team up with you, become a Dragon Slayer squad, and then travel to Gran Town?” Setia asked, a measure of calm returning to her voice.

“Yes, that’s right. After all, solo Dragon Slayer squads are no longer permitted, and I haven’t found a suitable companion yet,” Eileen explained. “So, I wanted to invite you, but seeing you like this… perhaps I should find someone else?”

“Do you really… want to invite me?” Setia asked timidly.

“Of course, if you’re willing to come with me,” Eileen nodded.

“Okay!” Setia bit her lip, then agreed. “When will the identity and armor be ready?”

“The sooner the better, right? We don’t know how long this whole affair will take,” Eileen replied.

“Understood.” Setia rose, preparing to leave.

Eileen called out to her. “Aren’t we customizing armor? You don’t even know my measurements.”

“Don’t worry, I already know,” Setia stated.

“?” A large question mark seemed to hover above Eileen’s head. When had Setia learned that? Eileen couldn’t recall ever mentioning it to anyone.

However, Setia didn’t give Eileen a chance to ask. She stood at the doorway, looked at Eileen, and uttered a sentence that would keep Eileen awake that night: “Eileen, you seem… a little different from before.”

‘What? What do you mean by that?’

Eileen broke out in a cold sweat. ‘Could Setia also have noticed my abnormality?’

‘She couldn’t possibly know about me being a fallen Dragon Slayer, could she?’

‘It’s certainly possible!’

‘After all, Setia used to handle these matters; it would be normal for her to know…’

‘Impossible, impossible!’

‘Only Faltis would know about this. This must just be a coincidence.’

‘Yes, that’s it,’ Eileen constantly tried to convince herself.

‘Damn it! I can’t sleep now!’

The next morning, Setia rushed to Eileen’s room.

“Eileen?” Setia observed Eileen’s mental state, which seemed less than ideal. “Did you not sleep last night?”

Normally, even if Eileen went three or four days without sleep, no sign of fatigue would appear on her face.

But the problem was, Setia’s words had kept Eileen thinking all night.

“What did you mean yesterday when you said I’ve changed?” Eileen asked.

“Just… the literal meaning?” Setia looked at Eileen. “You didn’t lose sleep over what I said, did you?”

“I didn’t mean anything else! The old you was perfect! You were also the only one willing to listen to me, but you were almost too perfect, never doing anything unnecessary.

“Like yesterday… the old you wouldn’t have done those things.

“Of course, I’m not saying there was anything wrong with the old you; it’s just that yesterday’s you was a bit surprising to me.”

Eileen breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, her biggest worry hadn’t materialized.

“I’m so sorry! I truly didn’t expect that a casual remark from me would cause such a consequence!” Setia bowed her head, about to bend over to apologize to Eileen.

However, Eileen steadied her by the shoulders. “It’s nothing serious; don’t worry about it.”

“But!”

“Shh.” Eileen made a silencing gesture. “There’s no ‘but.’ Aren’t I still troubling you to help me prepare the Dragon Slayer equipment? So, is it ready?”

“Everything is prepared, but it’s in the armory.”

“Understood.” Eileen sat on the bed, slipped off the white stockings that encased her delicate feet, and reached out to unbutton her maid outfit.

“Eileen?!” Setia covered her eyes with her hands, though her bangs would have had a similar effect even without them.

She secretly peeked through her fingers at Eileen. ‘Eh? I can’t see anything!’ ‘No!’ “Eileen, what are you doing?”

“Well, to wear armor, the maid outfit certainly can’t stay on.” When Eileen reappeared, she was already dressed in a simple, modest outfit.

Yet, with Eileen’s long, slender legs, exquisite face, impressive curves, and brilliant silver hair, even the most ordinary clothes became extraordinary.

It was Setia’s first time seeing Eileen like this, and she couldn’t help but freeze in place.

“Shall we go?”

“Mm!” Setia quickly nodded, following Eileen to the armory.

Inside, two sets of black armor were displayed.

Eileen reached out to touch them, the familiar bringing a sense of reassurance.

Eileen retracted her tail and wings, then picked up the armor. She put it on with ease, yet even as she did, Eileen found it increasingly strange.

She looked at Setia. “Setia, how did you know my body measurements? I don’t think I’ve ever told you about this, have I?”