58 You Make Me Feel Like Lamb (2/2)
”Says the one that wanted me to keep kissing her breast. Obviously, I'm only finding a way to satisfy your needs without disrespecting the emperor. I'm a loyal citizen.”
”You…shameless bully!”
She aimed her index at his face, but seeing the naked insolence with which he looked at her, she wobbled, unsure of what to do.
Clearly, she had been heavily sheltered from birth, and aside from using her sword, she didn't know how to deal with rogues.
So, she summoned her sword.
”Give me back my innocence!”
”Don't be so dramatic. I have yet to actually pin you down…”
”Aaargh! Stop bullying me!”
Nils swung her sword at Konrad's neck only to see him vanish and appear by her side. She spun to slash his chest, but only cut an afterimage. This went on for dozens of moves through which Nils realized that unless she went all-out, she couldn't touch a corner of Konrad's clothes.
”Huh…so fast.”
She panted with her knees half bent and her hands pressed on her thighs. Meanwhile, Konrad was standing right in front of her with a victorious smile and his arms crossed beneath his back.
”Alright, I know you don't really want to harm me. What do you want to do now?”
Only now did Nils realize that she had nothing left to do here and should take her leave.
”I guess I should try to find my fifth brother. He must be worried sick.”
Although Konrad was an insolent bandit, he effortlessly took the boredom away from her heart. It was a rare, refreshing sensation as within the imperial palace, she was trapped between fawners and silently warring factions. There was no opportunity for genuine friendship.
”Does your fifth brother care that much about you?”
”Naturally! In this world, the people that dote on me the most are my father, my eldest brother and my fifth brother. They could burn the country for my sake!”
Nils boasted, but her innocent words had different implications within Konrad's mind.
”Why don't you stick with me for a while. We can hunt Monstrous Beasts together as we seek your brother.”
Konrad offered, feeling the hint of reluctance within her earlier words.
Immediately, her eyes lit up.
”For real?”
”For real.”
”Alright, if you insist!”
She sounded quite magnanimous as if Konrad was the one in need of company and not the other way around.
”But I warn you, we need to have a clear rule.”
”What rule?”
”You need to stay at least three steps away from me.”
Puzzlement shone within Konrad's eyes as Nils' words echoed within his ears.
”Why?”
She straightened her back and looked at him with seriousness.
”Because you're a wolf out of his sheep clothing, and make me feel like a lamb.”
Konrad burst into laughter.
”Hahaha! Girl, I like you.”
”Who's a girl? I am one year older than you! You should call me Nils or…big sister!”
”Also, I know I am fantastic, exceptional, unrivaled under the heavens with beauty transcending fairies and goddesses but…be careful of not falling in love with me.
I would just break your heart!”
Speechless, Konrad shook his head, turned heels and used his Origin Sight to seek new prey.
”Wait, Anselm, wait!”
...
Meanwhile, within the fourth level, a particular Accursed Beast had grown restless.
”How can this be? Was that demonic energy I felt? Is there a true demon within the third level?”
It was an owl beast endowed with terrifying sensory abilities and could feel all energy signatures across hundreds of miles.
Many foreign energy signatures had appeared within its range, but it paid them no heed.
It had lived for more than a thousand years, and new that every one hundred or so years, foreigners would dive into the Prism World to slaughter demonic beasts or get slaughtered in the process.
Although they were fully aware of it, most Accursed Beasts wouldn't leave their territories to attack the invader because, on one hand, they knew the event was controlled by much more terrifying existences that could butcher them at any time, on the other hand, there was not much to gain by doing so.
However, now it was different.
”Judging by the energy signature, that demon must be young and weak. If I can swallow him, I can drastically improve my bloodline. Perhaps reaching the Restoration Beast Rank in this lifetime is not impossible. I must seize the opportunity!”
The Accursed Beast spread its wings and flew toward the third level.