11 「Interests」 (2/2)

”Is this because... I defeated you four times out of five?” Cipher asked as he stared through Momon, trying to gauge his ally's motives.

”Four out of Five? You're holding those against me, aren't you?” Momon brushed off the question. ”No. It would just be good to have someone to talk to, to work along side, that one can relate to.”

Cipher nodded slightly hearing him, ”That is understandable. Let me think on it?”

Momon nodded and started to move faster to catch up with the wagon. He regrouped with Nabe and he was soon walking with the rest of the party.

However Cipher remained lagging behind. The idea of merging with Ainz Ooal Gown sounded promising. He already had a large collection of cash items and world items in his inventory as well as the primary vault of the Citadel.

Pros and Cons, betrayal wasn't something he'd want, but he doubted Ainz would betray him.

The only concern would be being lumped in as being Evil should Nazarick be exposed to the world. If he were to do this, he'd have to get great renown for himself and even a following. He'd need even more of a foothold in this world if he wanted to cement his presence and his freedom.

That's when his thoughts went to the letter of introduction. An audience with the King, the royal family. Could he use this as an opportunity?

”King Cipher?” He wrangled his nose slightly at the sound of it. It didn't quite fit, it didn't resonate.

Thinking back, he could use his real name. It fit the setting enough since he wasn't necessarily Japanese. He didn't grow up in Japan. He just chose to live there in his adult life. ”Jack Graham... King Jack? King Graham... Hmmm...”

The idea of calling himself by his real name made it feel as if he was claiming this reality as his own. It was him admitting it was real, tangible. There was nothing that proved it otherwise, except for having access to the game mechanics.

”Who's Jack?” Ninya's voice suddenly appeared beside him, almost making Cipher jump.

”Oh!”

Ninya smirked a bit having gotten the jump on Cipher, she a bit surprised that she did though.

”It's my given name. My sister's name was Eve,” he chuckled as he scratched the side of his head.

Ninya's smirk turned into a casual smile as she was looking up to him.

”How long had you been there anyway?”

”Uh...” She nervously averted her sight for a moment before looking back to him. ”From the moment you said your name...”

He raised a brow at this and nodded slowly, continuing to walk at a singular pace. He tried his best not to appear embarrassed at being caught talking to himself. Let alone calling himself a King.

”What made you come back here?”

”Oh, Momon said... He wanted to switch spots,” her head tilted to the side slightly. She wasn't quite sure what to make of what was going on.

”He did, did he?” Raising both of his brows, he looked to the back of the bone head in the front. He then looked back over towards Ninya as she nodded to him.

”...Is something wrong?”

”Nope.”

”Can... Can I call you Jack?” Her simple smile was tugged wider as she asked this question.

”You like that name more than Cipher?” Cipher asked curiously, raising a brow.

”I... guess I do,” Ninya began facing frontward as she walked beside him.

Cipher began looking down to her hand which was swaying at her side. He wondered how soft it was, how warm it would feel. Would her hands get all clammy? How nervous and confused would she get?

”Is something wrong with my hand?” Ninya asked as she caught him staring. It appeared he lost track of time and had been looking at her for a few minutes now.

”Hah, no. Nothing's wrong with your hand. It's fine.”

Furrowing her brows, she glanced him up and down for a moment before facing forward again.

”Can I hold your hand?” Cipher blurted out, pointing down at her free hand at her side.

”Huh? What?” Surprised and caught off guard from the sudden request, Ninya had a hard time processing it. ”Why?” She'd squeak at him nervously, bringing her hand close to her center as if to shield it.

His cheek twitched slightly as she asked him why, ”Reasons?”

Ninya calmed down after a few seconds and just stared at him for a few. ”Reasons...?” She could see how nervous he was, but couldn't understand why. She had a vague idea that he knew she was a woman, but still. Out of everyone he had encountered, was he really going to show interest in her?

She was looking at him, she knew he was handsome. The question was though, why did he feel so unnatural to be around? He filled the air with magic just by existing. He had these powers that surpassed any known human being she had ever known of.

She was having a hard time letting herself accept this conclusion.

”I like you,” he said this plain as day.

The moment he said those words though, her world exploded. It was as if she had gone deaf and blind all at once. All she could do was see his face and hear her own heartbeat drumming away in her ears.

Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click for visiting.

”I...” Her voice was shaking, did she like him? Could she like him? She didn't know.