Chapter 13: The Handsome Young Man Delivered to the Door
Diluc’s gaze lingered briefly on her uniform before slowly moving up to her still slightly damp hair, his voice gentle as he asked, “You didn’t dry your hair?”
Pei Nana harbored a natural wariness toward men, and having someone invade her personal space and scrutinize her only heightened her instinctive resistance and caution.
She felt a bit on edge.
But being under someone’s roof, she had no choice but to feign nonchalance, forcing a polite, fake smile. “I was just drying it on the balcony. It’ll be dry soon!”
“Ah… ah—atchoo!”
Before she could finish, she sneezed.
Pei Nana: “…”
Diluc: “…”
She quickly covered her mouth and nose, her face flushing red. “I’m—I’m sorry!”
Diluc shook his head and looked out the window.
Outside, the six-bladed windmill turned lazily, carrying fresh breezes.
“The wind is indeed quite strong.”
He raised a hand, a faint red glow emerging from his palm. “I possess the power of the Pyro element. May I help you?”
Pei Nana: “…”
Is that something a grown man should say to a strange lady?!
Still… Pei Nana hesitated.
She was out of shape and in poor health. After traveling through worlds, climbing mountains, and losing consciousness, she had suffered a lot in a short time. It wouldn’t be surprising if she caught a cold or fever from having wet hair and being exposed to the cold wind.
Try putting yourself in her shoes: you sweat profusely from strenuous exercise, then take a cold shower, and afterward stand on the eighteenth-floor rooftop in the chilly breeze… not getting sick would be the real anomaly.
She stole a glance at Diluc.
He was patiently waiting.
His handsome, youthful face, calm demeanor, and polite manner—always asking for her consent before doing anything—made it hard to imagine him doing anything untoward.
Pei Nana found it almost impossible to sense any threatening or oppressive aura typical of adult men from him.
She bit her lip. (Maybe he’s just being kind? Or maybe his culture is more open? Or perhaps health is more important?)
In an unfamiliar place without anyone she could trust, falling ill would be a huge problem. Besides, although the people here looked similar to those from her world, who knew if their physical makeup was exactly the same? She certainly couldn’t use elemental powers. If a doctor found something wrong, the consequences could be endless.
She might even be dissected for research.
She quickly made up her mind. Looking at the dishes on the table, she moved to the balcony and sat down, shyly smiling at Diluc and whispering apologetically, “Then I’ll trouble you.”
Diluc: “…”
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Seeing her actually step outside, Diluc paused subtly for a moment.
For the sake of his beliefs and goals, Diluc didn’t mind using somewhat “improper” or “unscrupulous” methods—much like a national tycoon who occasionally moonlights as a bartender.
So, though he didn’t want to engage in any intimate behavior in public, he said softly, “You’re welcome,” and followed her out.
What was there to fear? Just a bit of gossip.
Though he typically guarded his reputation carefully, if it was worthwhile, rumors could spread.
Pei Nana’s hair was long, dyed a gentle chestnut brown, and styled in large curls. Diluc removed his gloves and ran his fingers gently through her hair, warmth radiating from his palm without touching her skin, smoothing her hair strand by strand.
Warm and soothing, with a subtle tingling comfort.
Pei Nana felt like a cat being petted into submission, her eyes half-closed as she leaned on the table, nearly dozing off.
Half asleep, she heard the young man behind her ask softly, “Traveler, did you say when you’d be coming?”
Pei Nana blinked drowsily and shook her head.
Diluc’s tone remained gentle, like a loving father coaxing a child to sleep, with a tender, coaxing warmth, “It’s alright. Kōng is my close friend. You can stay here as long as you like.
“Tomorrow, I’ll send someone to accompany you to the streets, to buy you some clothes. You’re not a store employee; that outfit isn’t suitable.”
(Go out?)
(No! No way!)
“No! I won’t go out!” Startled awake, Pei Nana snapped to attention, turned sharply, and met Diluc’s dark, unfathomable eyes.
The young man had been silently wary of her. When she suddenly resisted, he instinctively grabbed the strands of hair slipping from his hand, muscles tensing as he prepared to hold down the “prey.”
“Ugh!” Pei Nana cried out, the hair tugging painfully.
Diluc: “…Sorry.”
He quietly released her, stepping back half a pace. After a brief moment of awkwardness, his delicate, doll-like face showed a confused innocence, as if asking, “What’s wrong?”
Pei Nana’s defiance deflated like a punctured balloon. She clutched her hair roots, eyes watering from the pain, voice trembling but resolute, “I… I’ll wait until Kōng returns! Anyway, I won’t go out. Sniff…”
It hurt so much! QAQ!
Pei Nana had always been self-aware.
If life were an RPG and she could allocate attribute points, most would have gone into her “Charm.”
Her strength, intelligence, and willpower were all lacking.
In short, to put it bluntly, she was a beautiful fool—nothing but a pretty face.
Fortunately, though she lacked outstanding intelligence, she had long since faced reality. If you’re the family’s “intelligence basin,” occasionally getting unintentionally stabbed in the heart by those around you—like your sister breezing through school, your senior constantly at Olympiads, while you struggle to pass exams even with your professor father’s help, and your mom having to sponsor a school building so you can attend a prestigious high school—you’d recognize your place early on. Coupled with the care of parents and elders, she had developed survival strategies from a young age.
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She knew:
—If your combat ability is low, avoid dangerous, remote places.
—If you’re not smart, listen to those who are.
—If you attract trouble easily, don’t go out alone.
—If you feel overwhelmed, don’t stubbornly insist on handling things yourself; immediately seek help from trusted siblings or relatives.
Most people were happy to help her, and many treated her kindly—that was the benefit of high charm.
But here, there were no siblings, no family. The only person she could trust was Kōng.
As for the man before her—
Granted, he appeared graceful, a gentleman of integrity, and claimed to be Kōng’s close friend, but where was the proof?
Though Diluc’s refined appearance and low-key, almost ascetic style seemed perfectly tailored to her tastes, Pei Nana was far from lovestruck. In fact, she was somewhat paranoid.
Since losing consciousness in the Windrising Land, she hadn’t seen Kōng. Everything here was based on the locals’ stories. She didn’t know the truth and dared not offend anyone, so she had to play along and observe slowly.
A simple, helpless middle-aged woman could be a trafficker; a lavish heir could be a con artist; a gentle teacher could be a predator; a seemingly aloof nobleman could harbor chilling control issues.
Villains never wear their wickedness on their sleeves.
The only certainty she had was that if Kōng truly left her here, he must have believed this place was safe. So until he returned, she wouldn’t leave with any stranger!
No matter how suspicious they seemed!
Because in this world, the only person she could wholeheartedly trust was Kōng, the one endorsed by official authority.
Not even Ying.
Besides, who knew if what they said was true? What if they meant to deceive her?
…What if he was Kōng’s enemy?
Kōng was always at the heart of trouble as the hero!
The biggest feature of RPGs about heroes fighting demon kings is gathering teammates along the way and defeating various mini-bosses to gain experience.
Taverns in games are often information hubs, and anyone linked to “information dealers” is rarely purely innocent. As the tavern owner, could Diluc really be a good man?
If he were “unclean,” might some of the troubles Kōng dealt with involve Diluc? Would he resent the meddlesome traveler but dare not act openly?
Maybe the moment she stepped out, a mysterious sniper would take a warning shot from eight hundred meters away, or she’d be led into a trap. Staying here might be safer, as any harm done on his turf would implicate him.
Therefore, all things considered, with no knowledge of the situation, staying put was far safer than running off blindly.