Chapter 32: Isn’t That My Line?

Crack!

It was as if something had shattered in the air.

That was Kate’s blood pressure monitor exploding.

Fine, fine, fine.

Looking at Eileen’s face, she had not only let Atia stay in her own home but was also thinking of finding Atia a stable job with decent benefits.

And this was how she repaid her?

“Atia, do you dare say that again?”

Kate suppressed her rage, but her hand had already reached behind her back.

Atia didn’t understand.

She could feel Kate’s anger, but she didn’t know why Kate was angry.

She hadn’t done anything wrong, right?

But no matter what the reason for Kate’s anger was, she still had to state her resolve.

After escaping from the merchant caravan, she had felt lost for a time, until she met Eileen.

Now that she had finally figured out what she wanted, she absolutely could not let go.

She looked at Kate again, her eyes extremely resolute.

“Miss Kate, I want… mmph?!”

Before Atia could finish speaking, Eileen hurriedly covered her mouth.

When Kate got angry, she wouldn’t vent it directly.

This might also be related to the highly restrained habit of controlling her emotions that she had cultivated since childhood by practicing martial arts.

But once she did vent it, it would be a complete disaster.

The reason Kate asked Atia again was not to test Atia’s resolve, but to find a reasonable excuse for her own outburst.

She had not the slightest doubt that once Atia finished speaking, the next second Kate would pull out her spear and stab Atia into a skewer.

“Kate, what Atia means is that she wants to continue adventuring together with me. There’s no other meaning. Please don’t misunderstand.”

Eileen found an excuse for Atia.

Although she and Atia hadn’t known each other for long, they were at least partners who had experienced life and death together.

Wanting to adventure with such a partner seemed perfectly reasonable no matter how you looked at it.

Hearing Eileen’s explanation, Kate’s emotions finally calmed a little.

“Is that really what she means?”

Eileen kept nodding, and Atia also chimed in in agreement.

“Yes, Miss Kate. What did you think it meant?”

Atia looked completely clueless, as if she had no idea what had happened.

But it was precisely that look of hers that made Kate feel she had completely lost face.

Clearly Atia didn’t have that kind of intention at all, so why did she herself keep associating it with that?

Besides, would Eileen even like Atia’s type?

No figure to speak of, height only barely reaching Eileen’s chest.

Those who knew she was a dwarf were fine, but those who didn’t would think it was a crime!

“Nothing… But Eileen, do you still plan on being an adventurer?”

Kate asked.

With her current income, she could fully support Eileen.

She only needed to stay at home being beautiful, while she herself was responsible for earning money to support the family.

“About that…”

Eileen had originally planned to go to the Adventurer’s Guild to cancel her adventurer qualifications and completely withdraw from this industry, to avoid being tracked down by other ex-girlfriends she had played, but because the itinerary was too rushed, she had come straight to the Royal Capital, leaving her no time to cancel.

However, this also gave Eileen some inspiration.

“Kate, you know me. I can’t stay in the Royal Capital forever. My strength is no longer what it used to be, but I also don’t want to become a burden to you, so I must find another way out.”

Of course, the main reason was still not wanting to run into the Duke’s family.

Almost everyone in the Duke’s family knew her.

As soon as she stepped outside, there was a risk of being recognized.

What’s more, Cassandra seemed to have a rather good relationship with Kate now and would often come over to visit.

Even if she just stayed cooped up in the estate, there was a high chance of running into Cassandra.

To be on the safe side, it was better to temporarily keep the adventurer qualifications, making it convenient for her to run away later.

Kate’s willow-leaf eyebrows furrowed slightly.

“Then how about coming with me? My current work mainly involves running around the Principality, which should definitely be able to solve this problem!”

However, Eileen shook her head.

“Kate, now that you’re an S-rank adventurer as well, I imagine you’re quite clear about the current situation of the Principality.”

Simply put, the Principality had always only been a vassal of the Empire.

Its land area was rather limited, and its resources were relatively scarce as well.

In the game, the Navora Principality was equivalent to a beginner village.

She could spend her newbie period here, but she wasn’t some Ten-Mile Slope Sword God who could farm low-level monsters in the beginner village for a lifetime.

You have to know, the New Game+ timeline had already reached five years after the ending of the first playthrough.

Those female characters she had previously conquered were almost all prodigies of heaven with extraordinary talent.

Who knew to what terrifying degree they had grown after five years?

Even Kate, the first female character she had conquered back then, had now become the most attention-grabbing S-rank adventurer in the entire world.

What about the other female characters?

She didn’t even dare to imagine…

If she were caught by them, she probably wouldn’t last even a single second, so she still had to raise her own strength first.

“This…”

Kate had nothing to say in response.

To ordinary people, the Navora Principality indeed appeared like a behemoth, but once one stood at a higher vantage point, one would discover that the Navora Principality was merely the tip of the iceberg in this world.

If one wanted to lie flat and coast, the Principality was indeed a decent choice.

But if one had higher pursuits, then the Principality was definitely not the correct choice.

“Don’t worry, Kate. This time I won’t vanish from the human world the moment I leave like five years ago. I’ll contact you regularly. If I fail to contact you in time, you have to come save me.”

Eileen grinned, as if feeding her a reassurance pill.

Kate helplessly rubbed her forehead.

“I really can’t deal with you. When you’re out, you must ensure your own safety and can’t mess around like before anymore.”

“Kate, isn’t that my line?”

Eileen playfully raised an eyebrow.

In the past when she teamed up with Kate, it was because Kate always liked to run around randomly that every time they farmed a dungeon they would wipe once, until their levels went up and it got a bit better.

Kate gave an awkward smile and hurriedly changed the topic.

“That was because I was still immature back then. These next couple of days, you and Atia should rest first. I’ll head over to the guild later and help you look for any suitable commissions…”

Atia looked at the two of them chatting so happily, her eyes full of envy.

When would she be able to chat with Eileen as happily as Kate did?

She really wanted to understand Eileen’s past, and even more wanted to become Eileen’s future…

Knock knock knock…

The abrupt knocking sound broke the warmth inside the room.

Atia trotted over to the door with small steps and opened it.

Outside was the butler Trenton, holding an envelope in his hand.

“Lady Kate, this was sent over from the Duke’s residence. It’s said to be an order from His Grace the Duke.”

“I only just got back less than half a day ago…”

Kate had a look of utter despair on her face.

She had been thinking of properly enjoying a two-person world with Eileen.

But since it was an order issued by the Duke, she had no reason to refuse.

After taking the letter from Trenton’s hand, she immediately opened it.

Dear Lady Kate Connor,

News has come from Steward Nilsen. Another suspected S-rank magical beast has appeared in Miluk County in the western part of the Principality. Please proceed to the destination as soon as possible.

Additionally, please organize an investigation team to head to Mordin City in the same direction to investigate traces left by a suspected high-rank magical beast.

— Duke Edgar Navora