4. The Heartless Man, The Great Deceiver

After all, Nilu wouldn’t avoid us for such a trivial reason as “not wanting to argue with Kephir.” So at this moment, I don’t need to look at any script to know: Nilu must be hiding for some other “reason,” and this reason clearly has nothing to do with Kephir. So, with that ruled out, isn’t the only remaining answer “me”?

Therefore, what I could think of was that “Nilu is worried about whether her existence can be accepted by us.” Although in the next moment, I realized: it seems that the childish one this time is me.

Could it be because of Nilu’s recent continuous help to me, coupled with her last act of seemingly sacrificing herself, that I suddenly found myself justifying this big BOSS in my heart? I completely underestimated the purpose that Nilu has always had regarding me.

To be willing to turn against her former master for the sake of “gaining me,” and then to engage in a fierce battle of three hundred rounds with the “big BOSS,” how could her thoughts be so easily set aside?

After all, what I received was Nilu’s response!

“How could it be, Mr. O’Keefe? I’ve never worried about whether I could be accepted. As for how Kephir responds, I care even less. I only care about your thoughts…”

As she spoke, Nilu walked towards me, revealing a mischievous smile that left me utterly unable to refute her words. “And you, you’re quite the flirt, it seems you don’t intend to resist at all.”

Don’t use such ambiguous words that could lead to misunderstandings!

It was then that I realized: if Nilu really wasn’t “cleared of suspicion” and was instead nervous and afraid enough to avoid us, then me, all alone, running off to find Nilu in the middle of the night, wouldn’t that be…

A bit like a lamb walking into a tiger’s den!?

Thinking of this, I suddenly lost my composure. The surroundings, which had seemed so ordinary, now appeared somewhat “dangerous” in my eyes. Of course, I couldn’t let Nilu know how I felt, and as for what Nilu was thinking, I could only leave it to fate.

Should I… check the script?

Just as this thought crossed my mind, Nilu seemed to sense my “script-checking” action and immediately stopped me.

“Wait, I… I’ll just say it. You’d better not use your abilities too frequently.”

“And… perhaps you actually ‘see nothing’ at all.”

After being stopped from reading the script by strange words, Nilu hesitated for quite a while before finally speaking to me.

“Actually… it’s not a serious reason at all. It’s just that I swore a long, long time ago that if I could find you, I would give you everything I have regained…”

What did Nilu’s previous “oath” have to do with meeting me? This kind of “we knew each other in our past lives” trope has long since gone out of style.

I didn’t think much about the meaning behind Nilu’s words, perhaps because something unseen was preventing me from overthinking it.

“Whether it’s the Rodmar Empire, or the fairies here, or even myself, they can all be offered to you. It’s just that I’ve been so focused on my own desires that… I haven’t considered your own views. Do you want these things? This is a question I’ve never asked. Perhaps to you, they are just some worthless ‘trash’…”

“Don’t call yourself trash.”

The moment the response slipped out, I realized: I had to answer Nilu’s question immediately.

First of all, Nilu’s self-deprecation was completely unnecessary; she is the “big boss” in the script, and I only see her as an enemy, with no other derogatory thoughts. Otherwise, the story might not even reach the appearance of the two white-haired elves, as Kephiel would have already sent Nilu to the afterlife with a stylish sword strike in their “final battle.”

Secondly, regarding Nilu’s words, it was precisely because she always made me feel inexplicably “humble” in front of me that I wanted to clarify.

“Nilu, the Rodmar Empire is actually your empire; I’m just an outsider.”

It was just words, yet they seemed to “overlap” with some other voice.

“I’m merely [recording…]”

“!”

I immediately stopped mid-sentence, even too preoccupied to notice the surprise on Nilu’s face at that moment. Just now, I felt like I had “misspoken,” but it wasn’t the kind of slip of the tongue that everyone occasionally makes; it felt more like something… I might never say out loud.

Not to mention that right after this, I quickly found myself not remembering the earlier incident as clearly, even forgetting the reason why I had said such things in an instant.

Noticing that I was a bit distracted and not being very polite to Nilu, I hurriedly planned to respond to her.

However, all I saw on Nilu’s face was sheer surprise.

“Nilu, what, what’s wrong? Haha… I think I was a bit nervous just now; let me rethink my wording~”

“…It’s nothing, you didn’t seem abnormal at all just now.”

After a moment, Nilu smiled and shook her head, “It’s just that you surprised me; I never expected there to be such a fickle and perfunctory man who could forget what he just said even while looking a woman in the face.”

Cough cough cough!

“That’s not right, this…”

It’s over! Because it really was my own mistake, I can’t even defend myself against Nilu’s mockery right now!

Nilu interrupted my words.

“So, I’ve changed my mind too.”

“Hmm?”

“Clearly, asking for your thoughts is pointless, since you can charm anyone with similar tricks. Your response will probably just be something like ‘I don’t think I dislike you’ anyway, right?”

No, this…

It’s over… Nilu completely guessed it.

Even if Nilu disagrees this time, I still want to see the script, because with Nilu’s words, I increasingly feel that her attitude is strange at this moment.

If I had to say, it seems to me that… Nilu treats me as if she has known me for a long time.

It’s not some “flirting technique,” but rather as if she really knows me well. This makes it seem like she can anticipate whatever I say, even… those thoughts I might be hiding deep inside that aren’t exactly “gentlemanly,” she sees right through.

We’re all men; some thoughts can’t be hidden while pretending to be noble and righteous.

I admit, I am a bit tempted! After all, what man doesn’t dream of growing “a pair of wings” behind him? But I have a wife, and reason tells me that I should act a bit more serious in front of Nilu right now.

Although… looking at the outcome, it seems like that’s an impossible task.

【Nilu decides to take the initiative!】

This is what I see in the script right now, clear and straightforward, because… Nilu has already started to make her move.

“This time, you won’t be able to refuse.”

“Who told you to be such a despicable, unfaithful ‘heartbreaker’ who can’t keep promises!?”

The cramped, enclosed space gives me no chance to react.