Chapter 267: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [267] [50 PS]
This bonus chapter is a small gift—may it bring you a touch of tranquility.
---
Eula's earlier impatience vanished as she glared at Lou Qing, her grip tightening on the White Iron Greatsword she had just retrieved. Realizing she wasn't his match in strength, however, she reluctantly loosened her hold.
"Well, Miss Eula, are you going to agree or not?"
Lou Qing's slight smirk infuriated her. To Eula, he resembled nothing more than a shameless merchant.
"If you agree to three more tasks, you'll have this exquisitely perfect greatsword back in your hands~. Doesn't that sound tempting?"
"…"
[Frustration +1 from Eula]
In all her years, Eula had never met anyone so brazenly shameless!
If she agreed to three more tasks now, wouldn't that just lead to another three afterward?
Was this guy trying to play some kind of endless nesting doll scheme?!
"Typical. Snezhnayans truly live up to their reputation as swindlers."
Eula spoke with disdain, realizing she should've known better than to expect a fair deal with someone from Snezhnaya.
"Hey now, Miss Eula, there's no need for such regional prejudice."
Lou Qing feigned indignation. "Say another word of regional slander, and I might just take back that White Iron Greatsword of yours."
"…"
"And for the record, while I'm indeed from Snezhnaya, my bloodline traces back to Liyue!" Lou Qing added, striking a righteous pose. "My lineage carries the soul of the Geo Archon's contracts—built on fairness and honor!"
He patted the Song of Broken Pines in his hand and continued with a perfectly earnest expression.
"Miss Eula, if you think about it, the value of this greatsword is at least three times that of your White Iron Greatsword, right? Asking for three tasks in exchange is nothing short of fair."
"I'm even giving you a familiar discount! What's there to complain about?"
"…"
Lou Qing's reasoning was so convoluted that Eula was momentarily speechless.
Wait… so her greatsword was just a unit of measurement now?
One White Iron Greatsword equaled one favor?
Forget Snezhnayans… no, I can't say that. This guy specifically! Lou Qing! How can you be this shameless?!
"Hmph, and what's to stop you from asking for three more tasks after I finish these?"
Eula's voice was cold, her eyes narrowing. She wasn't falling for this trick again.
"Depends on my mood."
"…"
He didn't even try to deny it!
He was actually admitting that he planned to keep this game going indefinitely!
"Hmph, I'm not agreeing to anything."
Eula turned her head away, forcing herself not to look at the Song of Broken Pines in his hand. As long as she didn't look, she wouldn't feel tempted…
"Still, if you don't at least try, Miss Eula, I'm afraid your beloved sword might leave you forever~."
Lou Qing's voice turned teasing, dripping with temptation.
"I heard this sword holds great sentimental value for you, doesn't it? Such a shame… if you don't act, it might just become my plaything~."
"…"
"Enough!"
Eula snapped, unable to endure Lou Qing's incessant goading any longer.
Why, oh why, can't I just beat this guy?!
"Well then, for the first task…"
Seeing that his provocation had worked, Lou Qing spoke with a calm, deliberate tone.
"Miss Eula, you know where my residence is, don't you? Judging by the distance, it should take you about half a day to get there."
"So, by midnight tonight, please come find me there~."
With that, Lou Qing's figure vanished into thin air, leaving no trace of where he had gone.
He had said everything he needed to. The rest depended on Eula's resolve.
"This guy…"
Eula stood frozen in place for a long moment after Lou Qing's departure, her gaze subconsciously drifting toward the direction of Eagle's Gate Beach.
The first task was simply to meet him by midnight…
It didn't seem like too big of a deal, did it?
Should I…?
Her thoughts were interrupted by a voice calling out nearby, snapping her back to reality. Turning toward the sound, she saw the members of her guerrilla squad returning with reinforcements.
"Captain Eula, we're here to help… huh?"
The squad's leader, accompanied by Knights of Favonius reinforcements, had rushed over at full speed. From a distance, they had only seen their captain surrounded by Hilichurls. They hadn't noticed the giant rock spear impaling the creatures.
It wasn't until they reached Eula that they saw the peculiar Geo construct pinning the Hilichurls to the ground, long since lifeless.
"Captain Eula, what is this…?"
The squad leader seemed puzzled.
Eula's Vision was Cryo. How could these Geo spears have come from her?
"Someone intervened."
Eula's voice was calm, betraying no emotion.
"Someone helped you? Well, we have to thank them properly! Where are they now?"
The squad members looked around but saw no sign of anyone else.
"That person is already gone."
"Ah, I see… well, we'll thank them properly when we meet them next time."
The squad members held great respect for Eula, who had saved them from many dangerous situations in the past. They were immensely relieved to find her unharmed. They made a mental note to find the mysterious savior later and express their gratitude.
"Captain Eula, should we head back now to report what happened?"
"Hmm…"
Eula hesitated for a moment, seemingly coming to a decision. Finally, she spoke.
"You all go back and report. I'll return later."
"Captain, you…"
"I'm going to find that person."
"Oh, of course! It's only right to thank them personally."
The squad members exchanged understanding glances, assuming their captain intended to express her gratitude in person.
"Captain Eula, please convey our thanks to them as well! We'd really appreciate it."
"Yes, Captain!"
"…"
[Frustration +1 from Eula]
---
Nightfall
The full moon rose over the sea, its gentle light blanketing the land in silver.
Lou Qing sat alone on a cliff overlooking Eagle's Gate Beach, humming softly as he gazed at the horizon.
Standing behind him was Natalia, holding a black-and-white outfit adorned with lace. The specific style was hard to discern.
"My lord…"
After a long silence, Natalia spoke, unable to suppress her curiosity. "She probably won't come, right? Should we just head back?"
The cold wind on the cliff was biting, and her thin outfit wasn't helping. She longed to retreat to the warmth of the tents below.
"Says who?"
Lou Qing smiled as he sensed movement in the distance.
"She's here."
---
Ah, Reader. You've stayed for the bonus chapter—how delightful.
Even amidst the quiet of eternity, there's joy to be found in shared moments like this.
If you wish to offer your strength, step forward: [patreon.com/WiseTL].
Each effort helps to shape a world where such moments can thrive.
— Ei
Chapter 268: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [268] [100 PS]
This bonus chapter is a small gift—may it bring you a touch of tranquility.
---
Moments later, the woman stopped in front of Natalia. Her eyes met Natalia's briefly before flickering downward, landing on the black-and-white outfit in her hands.
A sense of foreboding crept into Eula's heart.
"You're a little late, Miss Eula," Lou Qing's voice rang out smoothly.
"You have three tasks to complete. Including this one, two remain."
Eula's voice was cold. "If you pull the same trick as earlier—three tasks, then three more—I'd rather forfeit the sword entirely."
"Well, since you've made yourself clear."
Lou Qing turned to face her, looking perfectly agreeable. With a glance at Natalia, he signaled her to step forward. Natalia nodded and approached Eula, handing over the outfit in her arms.
"What is this…?"
Eula swallowed hard.
"A special outfit I designed just for you, Miss Eula," Lou Qing said with a sly smile. "Why not give it a try?"
"…"
[Frustration +1 from Eula]
Even from just a glance at the lace trim and inexplicably provocative design, Eula could tell this was no ordinary outfit.
He expected her to wear that?
Was this guy serious?
"Hmph, I'm not putting that on. Give up on the idea!"
Crossing her arms, Eula turned her face away in disdain.
"Oh, really?" Lou Qing's grin widened, his voice dripping with mischief.
"This is your second task, after all. You've already come all this way, so wouldn't it be a shame to leave empty-handed~?"
"…"
Eula was silent.
Her gaze darted briefly to the Song of Broken Pines standing beside Lou Qing, then shifted back to the outfit in Natalia's hands.
She swallowed again.
"It's a very nice outfit. Surely Miss Eula doesn't want to miss out on trying it~," Lou Qing teased, his fingers lightly brushing against the sword hilt at his side.
"All you have to do is put it on, and that'll count as your second task. Then there's only one more to go, and you'll have your sword back."
"…"
"Well? It's a great deal, isn't it?"
"…"
Eula stayed quiet, clearly deep in thought.
Meanwhile, Natalia watched from the side, her expression unreadable.
She couldn't help but feel conflicted. Did her lord actually enjoy teasing beautiful girls like this?
But… he's never teased me.
"Tell me this first…"
After a long silence, Eula finally broke it.
"What's the third task? And will you actually return my sword once I've completed all three?"
"Of course."
Lou Qing nodded with a smile. "Once you've completed all three tasks, this sword is yours again. As for the third task…"
He leaned forward slightly, his grin widening.
"Once you've finished the second, I want you to…"
"What?"
"Sweetly call me 'Master'~."
"…"
[Frustration +10 from Eula]
Eula had never been more certain: this man, Lou Qing, was blatantly using her stolen sword as an excuse to humiliate her!
And now he wanted her to call him "Master" on top of wearing that outfit?
So it is a maid outfit!
What a joke!
She was a proud knight of the Knights of Favonius!
To call a Fatui Harbinger "Master" would be a fate worse than death!
"Are you deliberately trying to humiliate me?"
Her fists clenched tightly at her sides as the sting of humiliation coursed through her.
If she could, she would've punched him square in the face by now.
"Hmph! Forget it! I'd rather abandon the sword than call you 'Master.'"
"You just did."
Lou Qing tilted his head, a playful glint in his eyes.
"…"
[Frustration +1 from Eula]
Was this guy seriously nitpicking her words now?
"Miss Eula, no need to be so quick to refuse," Lou Qing continued in a gentle, coaxing tone.
"Look around. We're in the middle of nowhere. It's just the three of us here. Even if you put it on and called me that, no one else would know."
"Trust me, we Snezhnayans are masters of keeping secrets~."
"…"
"Hmph! Keep dreaming!"
Eula snorted disdainfully, shooting Lou Qing a look filled with utter loathing.
Without hesitation, she grabbed the maid outfit from Natalia's hands and tossed it onto the ground.
"I'd rather leave it than agree to this nonsense!"
With that, she spun around and stormed off into the night.
Soon, her figure disappeared into the darkness.
Coming here to meet Lou Qing was easily one of the worst decisions I've ever made!
I thought if he returned my sword, I might even thank him for helping during the day…
Now I wish I'd just cut him down where he stood!
---
"My lord, are you not going after her?"
Natalia glanced in the direction Eula had gone, then bent down to pick up the discarded maid outfit. She folded it neatly and placed it beside Lou Qing.
She knew all too well where this outfit came from.
It wasn't designed specifically for Eula, as Lou Qing had claimed. It was a maid outfit originally made for Rosalyne, one of his subordinates. The only reason it had been offered to Eula was because the two women shared a similar physique.
"Why chase her? My goal has already been achieved."
Lou Qing spoke casually, retrieving both the Song of Broken Pines and the maid outfit into his system inventory.
"…?"
"You genuinely want her to wear the maid outfit and call you 'Master,' don't you?"
Natalia couldn't help but chuckle.
Eula was a proud and stubborn knight. There was no way she would ever comply with such a humiliating demand.
"Why not?"
"I just think it's… unlikely."
"Natalia," Lou Qing said, patting her shoulder lightly.
"When have I ever failed to achieve what I set my mind to?"
"…"
Natalia fell silent.
After thinking for a moment, she realized he was right.
When Lou Qing first announced he intended to recruit Rosalyne as his subordinate, none of them believed him. Yet now, Rosalyne was as obedient as a kitten around him.
Then there was the matter of the Raiden Shogun…
That one's on a whole other level.
To think that someone of her caliber—practically a peer to the Tsaritsa herself—had not only kissed Lou Qing but willingly embraced him…
There's no way to put that into words.
"So, what's your plan, my lord?"
"Simple. Patience, Natalia."
Lou Qing smiled faintly as he waved her along, heading toward the construction site below the cliff.
"Taming a tsundere takes time."
At that moment, Natalia looked at Lou Qing's retreating figure.
He resembled a seasoned captain, expertly navigating the stormy seas of life.
---
Ah, Reader. You've stayed for the bonus chapter—how delightful.
Even amidst the quiet of eternity, there's joy to be found in shared moments like this.
If you wish to offer your strength, step forward: [patreon.com/WiseTL].
Each effort helps to shape a world where such moments can thrive.
— Ei
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