Anyway, we finally managed to deal with that troublesome Camilla.
But even so, after she left behind a declaration to kill Nuo Ai’er, Nuo Ai’er didn’t dare to return to Weiran’s villa alone.
In the end, with no other choice, under Emilia’s “escort,” she followed this tsundere young miss back to the incredibly luxurious high-rise building in the city center.
In the spacious and bright living room, Nuo Ai’er held a cup of hot tea and briefly explained her situation to Emilia.
She told her about being forcefully pulled into the game by the Witch Weiran, needing to earn 1000 points to redeem herself, and how, because she cleared a dungeon that had its difficulty increased by the backend, she caught the attention of Wei Ran’s archenemy and was hunted by a professional assassin.
Ah, of course, she didn’t mention the whole turning into a little girl thing.
‘That’s too embarrassing…’
“I see…”
Emilia leaned back on the sofa, tapping her long fingers lightly on the armrest, nodding thoughtfully.
“No wonder that Camilla person tried to kill you. That witch you mentioned… maybe another witch wanted to piss her off by eliminating her followers, so they hired an assassin to kill you. That makes sense.”
“But even if you die in the inner world, you won’t really die. You’ll be sent back to the original world, just with your memories erased.”
Emilia said, implying that Nuo Ai’er didn’t need to be so afraid.
Nuo Ai’er set down her cup.
“Thank you for protecting me, Emilia.”
“Hmph, don’t give me that.”
Emilia raised her chin in a tsundere manner and turned her head away.
“It’s not like I saved you because I wanted to. I came to settle a score with you in the first place. Leaving without even saying goodbye… well, but…”
She paused, then turned to look at Nuo Ai’er.
“I promised you before that if you beat Leinata in a duel, I’d grant you one wish… though I don’t know how you won. But I always keep my word. So, tell me, what do you want now?”
“Ah (o—°〃)?”
Nuo Ai’er was stunned for a moment, then remembered that this was indeed a thing.
At the time when she accepted the challenge by the pool, her mind was full of how to get away quickly, and she had long forgotten about this matter.
“You want that 1000 points ransom? That’s nothing to me. I have plenty of points.”
Emilia said.
But Nuo Ai’er shook her head. She didn’t want to owe this young miss too much.
And thinking of Camilla’s parting words, “You’re my prey,” sent a shiver down Nuo Ai’er’s spine.
What she needed most right now wasn’t money, but safety. (sad)
“Well, my wish is…”
Nuo Ai’er looked up, her red eyes carrying a hint of pleading.
“Can you protect me during this time?”
That was Nuo Ai’er’s wish.
“…Hey, is that all you’ve got?”
Emilia raised an eyebrow, seeming surprised by the wish.
“I thought you’d take the chance to hit me up for something big.”
Nuo Ai’er didn’t answer. Instead, she suddenly reached out and tightly grasped Emilia’s hand that was resting on her knee.
“Eh…?”
Emilia was startled by the sudden action, freezing in place as a blush spread across her cheeks.
“Please, Emilia”
Nuo Ai’er held that soft hand, her voice trembling slightly.
“I really don’t know what to do now. Wei Ran is gone, Leinata isn’t here… I can only rely on you now.”
“…Rely on me?”
“Please, protect me.”
Emilia: “Ah ”
Watching this soft and cute little girl looking at her with such dependent eyes, Emilia’s heart started pounding uncontrollably. She opened her mouth, but in the end, she just turned her head away and muttered quietly.
“Fine, fine… Since you’re begging me like this, I’ll reluctantly agree.”
“I’ve been free lately anyway. Raising one more… ahem, I mean, having one more person staying over is no big deal.”
With that, she turned to the maid Anna, who had been standing by waiting for orders, and instructed.
“Anna, prepare a room for Nuo Ai’er. The best one, and get her some change of clothes.”
“Yes, Young Miss.”
Anna nodded with a gentle smile, then looked warmly at Nuo Ai’er.
“Please come with me, Miss Nuo Ai’er.”
Late at night, the moonlight was like water.
Emilia changed into a silk, semi-transparent sexy nightgown that accentuated her alluring figure, and stood on the spacious balcony, gazing absently at the bustling night scene outside.
Soon after, Anna finished handling Nuo Ai’er’s check-in and also came to the balcony.
“Young Miss, Miss Nuo Ai’er has been settled.”
Anna reported softly.
Emilia turned around and looked at her personal maid with some concern.
“How are you holding up from the effects of the Bystander Evasion Card? That item has side effects on the brain.”
“I’m fine, Young Miss.”
Anna smiled gently.
“After all, it was not a high-level interference item. The effects are negligible. More importantly, were you really scared today?”
“What’s there to be scared of? That assassin was pathetically weak.”
Emilia snorted.
But then, an uncontrollable blush and smile appeared on her face.
Anna keenly noticed her mistress’s anomaly. She walked over to Emilia and asked curiously.
“Young Miss, you seem… quite happy?”
“N-no way!”
Emilia denied in panic, but her eyes were wandering.
“I’m just… well, I am happy.”
She paused, then finally couldn’t help but whisper.
“Anna, you know? That little one, earlier she grabbed my hand and said she wanted to rely on me…”
At this, Emilia’s gaze became a little dazed.
“Since I was little, I’ve always been the one protected in the family… No one ever thought I was someone who could stand on my own. No one… no one has ever said something like ‘rely on me’ to me before.”
She continued.
“Nothing good has happened recently… My plan to recruit new players keeps failing.”
“Those new players either look down on my talent that only works on one person, or they think I don’t have enough prestige and don’t want to join my team. Even Leinata, who I found before, left after a few days. She didn’t need to rely on me at all.”
“But Nuo Ai’er though…”
Emilia’s eyes sparkled with a strange light.
“She’s the first one willing to stay. Even though she looks weak and always relies on luck to get through, that feeling of being needed… it’s really wonderful.”
Anna watched her young miss like this and shook her head helplessly.
She could tell that Emilia had developed a strange possessiveness toward Nuo Ai’er.
“Young Miss, you’re not… thinking of not letting Miss Nuo Ai’er leave, are you?”
Anna asked tentatively.
Emilia didn’t answer, a meaningful smile curving at the corner of her mouth.
“Who knows~”
‘Ah, it seems Miss Nuo Ai’er is in for some “luck.” ‘