32. Gaining Your Heart Unlocks More Positions

Nilu transformed into a “delicate girl” to participate in the “New Saintess Selection.” Although the first round of registration encountered troubles like “Miss Jader,” once that was dealt with, there were no issues with the results. Not long after, the false address Nilu provided indeed received an invitation that resembled a “successful interview.”

This invitation signifies that Nilu has qualified in the first round of “screening,” earning a brand new identity as a “New Saintess Candidate.” At the same time, she is required to go to a designated location within a specified time to undergo the “second round of selection.” After the second round, the number of girls who initially registered in droves to become “New Saintesses” would dwindle to just a few. Thus, the third round would likely be the “final selection” that could be conducted openly at the church headquarters.

In other words, our plan has succeeded by one-third. Considering that this matter is entirely Nilu’s doing in assisting us, it’s only right and proper that I express my gratitude to her. After thinking for a long time, I could only say, “Nilu, just make a request,” and almost simultaneously, Nilu gave me an answer I could roughly guess—

“Then I want to go on a date with you!”

Kefir… Kefir just watched. What could she do? After all, Nilu had been the one putting in all the effort for this plan. Even Kefir understood: for both emotional and rational reasons, she could only temporarily “grin and bear it.”

So, since Nilu suddenly appeared between Kefir and me, this was the first time Nilu openly had the chance to “claim” me in front of Kefir.

At this moment, in the city.

The script tells me: Kefir had “caught up” with us the moment Nilu and I were alone, but Nilu, insisting on continuing to wear her maid outfit, seemed blissfully unaware, still happily clinging to my arm, brazenly “showing affection.”

This big shot was clearly aware that Kefir was following us; she was fully aware and was deliberately putting on a show for Kefir! Nilu was on the fifth level!

“Mr. O’Keefe, the last time we were together like this was back in the Great Ying Empire~”

The duties of a maid had Nilu holding a basket in one hand, but her other hand was quite unruly, climbing over to me. I don’t know how it looked from the perspective of those around us, but I was very clear: from Kefir’s angle, it seemed like Nilu was kissing me.

“And now, you treat me even more gently than back then. Knowing my current identity, you can still set aside that woman’s prejudice against me. In fact… I know you would never harm me, which is why I dared to appear directly in front of you.”

“Ha… Haha…”

I’m not sure if I’m hurting you, but there’s one thing I’m very clear about.

“Nilou, don’t you feel any ‘killing intent’?”

“Nope~”

Nilou’s response was to lean in closer, and for a moment, I could smell the fragrance of her hair.

“I only sense the sourness emitted by a defeated dog.”

You…

Alright, Nilou, you do have the right to say that, after all, you’re not afraid to fight against someone like Long Aotian. But my earlier question wasn’t about whether it’s sour or not…

“Nilou… even if I agree to your conditions, could you take it a bit more seriously while cherishing it?”

“Sure~”

Saying this, Nilou released her grip on my arm and instead linked her arm with mine. “So, do you want to ‘avoid certain people’ and go somewhere without anyone around?”

“Uh?”

“As you said, this is indeed a reward for my ‘hard work.’ If possible, I really don’t want to be disturbed by unnecessary people. So, I might have to be a bit rough with you~”

By the time I realized what Nilou’s words meant, I had already been dragged away by her. The various fairies flitting quietly through the crowd were definitely helping Nilou find a place where we could be alone without any interruptions or prying eyes. Usually, I never saw those fairies helping me out, but when it came to Nilou’s peculiar orders, they completed them with utmost respect.

Soon, Nilou pulled me into a corner between the houses in the city, and then the fairies’ lights scattered. How could these servants dare to disturb their master’s “good fortune”?

“Phew~ Now there won’t be so many glaring eyes, Mr. O’Keefe~”

After raising her hand and having Claudilus take the basket from Nilou, she slightly tilted her head back to look at me and said,

“It’s clearly an opportunity I worked hard to get, yet I have to be stared at by ‘strange gazes.’ I absolutely don’t want to compromise on that.”

“Well, then don’t do that. Do you want me to go back kneeling on a washboard, watching you argue with Keifel?”

Nilou, standing on her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around my neck. I could break free, but there was no need to.

After all, at this moment, a famous saying suddenly came to my mind: If you can’t struggle, you might as well enjoy it obediently.

What I’m facing now is pretty much this kind of situation.

“And besides, you understand, right? Don’t think that bringing me to a place like this means I will do anything to you. This kind of solitude, at most, just means that what we say won’t be heard by a third person.”

Although I feel that this “boundary” has become somewhat blurred recently, I know that in the script, in Nilu’s thoughts, she is still an enemy of Kephri. Our collaboration for similar purposes does not mean that Kephri and Nilu can each have me create a harem.

It’s just that: Nilu and Kephri won’t harm each other for the time being, and I… also don’t want to hurt Nilu, that’s all.

“For me, that’s enough, Mr. O’Keefe. Because… haven’t you finally ‘looked’ at me this time?”

I seem to have underestimated Nilu’s “simplicity.”

The “anticipation” bursting forth from her eyes is so fervent, as if she has already achieved her initial goal, just as she said!

“Have you forgotten? What I want has never been just something as shallow as ‘the body.’ What I want is ‘this’ from you. To have you focus solely on my service to you, then to glance at me, to admire me, to help me… Although there are some meddlesome women added into the mix, this time… I am truly very happy.”

When I came back to my senses, our distance was almost within arm’s reach.

If it were just about “wanting my body,” that would be one thing, but… Nilu no longer cares about the “body” aspect; she is looking forward to “something else” from me, and this…

In a sense, it is far more dangerous than merely wanting to obtain a body. It also leaves me… unsure of how to respond.

Her lips are almost hovering a mere breath away from mine, waiting for my next answer, her eyes pure and untainted—Nilu really just wants to know the answer to this question.

“How do you think I am performing now? Am I better than her?”

Especially in this moment: the slightest shift on my part makes our lips almost touch, in that tantalizingly close distance!

This is practically a life-or-death question for me.