Chapter 53: A Near Kiss and a Close Call

Xiluo’er nodded, processing Freya’s words internally. However, a new question quickly sprang to her mind.

‘What intense emotional stimulus did Eve experience in the forest that allowed her to deliver that crucial “final kick” and achieve a breakthrough?’

Xiluo’er swallowed hard.

The only possibility she could conceive was that Eve had realized someone was plotting against her, and she was furious.

After all, the trap she had set to intercept Eve was so obvious that any normal person would realize the anomalies during the encirclement were man-made.

Recalling the grim expression on Eve’s face when she last saw her in the forest, Xiluo’er couldn’t help but feel a little scared.

She knew all too well the consequences of Eve’s anger.

“Moreover, Eve’s current unconscious state is also related to her advancement,” Freya continued to explain in Xiluo’er’s mind.

‘She really wants to prove her usefulness; it’s heartbreaking!’

“While advancing certainly boosts strength, it doesn’t help with mana recovery. After her advancement, Eve’s mana should have still been in a depleted state. Forcefully using high-tier magic in such a condition would undoubtedly lead to unconsciousness due to mana overdraw.”

Listening to Freya’s smug, ‘Aren’t I smart? Don’t I know a lot?’ tone, Xiluo’er felt a surge of irritation.

“How can you even say that with a straight face! Guess where all of Sister Eve’s mana went?”

“Hehe~”

Although she couldn’t see Freya, Xiluo’er still imagined Freya sticking out her tongue, making a face similar to the Fujiya brand mascot.

“Oh, this great one didn’t expect you would actually use the Hero as a mana source.”

“I must say, you’re quite clever! This is what they call, ‘When the cart reaches the mountain, there seems no road ahead…’ What was the next line again?”

“Oh well, in short, Eve’s mana, as the Hero, tasted incredibly good. That night, I just couldn’t resist… and absorbed too much.”

‘Your words make you sound less like a god who lacks mana and more like a succubus who lacks something else entirely,’ Xiluo’er silently grumbled in her mind.

“Hey, hey, by the way, Xiluo’er, my dear student.”

A mischievous voice suddenly echoed in her mind. Although Freya hadn’t said anything yet, Xiluo’er had a feeling that whatever she was about to say would definitely not be good news.

“What is it? What do you want to do?”

“It’s nothing, really. It’s just that you mentioned you slept pressed against Eve that night, which is why I was able to absorb mana so smoothly.”

Freya’s voice was full of coaxing.

“If your actions with Eve were even more intimate, I should be able to absorb even more mana.”

Xiluo’er’s face flushed. She hadn’t expected that her fleeting thought of ‘negative distance mana replenishment’ would actually prove useful!

“Well, I have an idea, you see.”

Freya continued to ramble, beating around the bush, but Xiluo’er didn’t interrupt her.

“Why don’t you try… kissing Eve, and let me see if it works?”

Freya’s words made Xiluo’er’s already slightly reddened face instantly turn scarlet.

“Impossible! Are you even listening to yourself?”

“What if Sister Eve finds out?”

“Oh, she won’t,” Freya gently cajoled. “Isn’t she still unconscious? Just lean in and try it quietly; she definitely won’t notice.”

“It’s just a try, a little experiment! Don’t you want this great one to recover her strength quickly and go on a rampage?”

Although she had no expectation that the useless god Freya would ever ‘go on a rampage,’ Xiluo’er couldn’t withstand the persistent badgering and reluctantly agreed to try.

Looking at Eve, who lay quietly on the bed before her, Xiluo’er suddenly felt nervous.

The unconscious Eve barely moved on the bed, a stark contrast to her usual terrible sleeping posture.

‘Just leaning in for a quick kiss… she shouldn’t notice, right?’

Though she had been sitting on the chair talking to herself for quite a while, Xiluo’er now became exceptionally stealthy.

She rose from the chair, inching closer to Eve’s face…

Eve’s expressionless, fair face appeared before her, and Xiluo’er’s gaze fixed on those tightly closed lips.

‘No, my heart is pounding so fast. I’m definitely too nervous, aren’t I?’

Slowly leaning in, Xiluo’er hesitated for a moment, then closed her eyes.

‘Forget it, I won’t look. I’ll just give a light kiss and retreat!’

She tried her best to control her breathing, keeping it shallow. Just as Xiluo’er estimated she was about to make contact, she suddenly heard a cool, clear voice right beside her ear.

“Xiluo’er, what are you doing?”

Her body instantly froze. Xiluo’er secretly squinted her eyes, only to see Eve’s grey eyes staring directly at her.

‘This, this, this…’

Xiluo’er reacted quickly, straightening her back in a flash.

“This, um…”

Freya’s voice no longer echoed in her mind. Xiluo’er understood then: Freya was someone who fled at the first sign of trouble!

“Ah-ha, Sister Eve, when did you wake up?”

Xiluo’er immediately employed her skill: changing the subject.

“Just now, I suppose. Xiluo’er was saying something earlier, and her voice was a bit loud, so I woke up.”

Xiluo’er recalled when she had argued with Freya earlier… it seemed her voice had indeed been a little too loud by accident.

‘Wait, doesn’t that mean Eve was awake the entire time I was leaning in to secretly kiss her?’

“Oh, I’m sorry, Sister Eve…”

“It’s fine. I’ve probably been lying down long enough. So, what were you planning to do just now, Xiluo’er?”

Eve used her skill: relentless pursuit!

“Hmph, this…”

“I was trying to see if Sister Eve had a fever, um…”

“To check for a fever, do you need to get that close?”

Eve’s voice carried a hint of doubt.

“And why did you close your eyes just now, Xiluo’er?”

“I was…” Xiluo’er racked her brain for an explanation. “I was trying to feel it. Closing my eyes helps me feel more accurately.”

“Mhm, but luckily, Sister Eve doesn’t seem to have a cold.”

Xiluo’er stood up, dropping her last sentence as if making an escape.

“Um, Sister Eve, you’ve been lying down for so long, you must be hungry. I’ll go get some food!”

Without waiting for Eve’s reply, Xiluo’er had already vanished from the room.

‘Sigh, this child is truly…’

Eve slightly narrowed her eyes, looking at the hastily closed door that hadn’t shut completely.

She hadn’t opened her eyes immediately after waking up. Although she hadn’t clearly heard what Xiluo’er was saying, she had noticed all of Xiluo’er’s surreptitious actions.