Chapter 239 - 238: Sigh... So Fake.

Chapter 239: Chapter 238: Sigh... So Fake.

Soon, it was time for bed. Lloyd impatiently lay down on his bed and entered the [Thought Realm], preparing to go "visit" Elolo.

A moment later, he arrived in Elolo’s new bedroom.

Compared to her previous fairytale-style bedroom, this one was opulent and luxurious, filled with so much dazzling, glittering gold that it was almost blinding.

Elolo seemed to have just finished a bath. Her hair was still damp, and she wore only a semi-transparent chiffon nightgown. Her delicate figure was faintly visible beneath the thin fabric, making her look exceptionally alluring. She unabashedly revealed her long, shapely legs and her delicate, tempting feet.

She seemed to have been enjoying her favorite cake, but after just a single bite, she had fallen asleep leaning against the sofa. She had that same, completely defenseless look, as if you could do whatever you wanted with her.

This made Lloyd barely dare to look at her, afraid he wouldn’t be able to control himself. He could only grumble internally:

’I know she’s in her own room, but dressed like this, isn’t she worried I might take advantage of her?’

’Then again, why has she been asleep the last three times I’ve visited? Is her job during the day that exhausting?’

As he grumbled to himself, he released his inspiration to begin shouldering Elolo’s Spiritual Contamination. Just then, he noticed a sheet of letter paper lying next to the cake.

Lloyd quickly turned his attention to it, reading the elegant yet childish handwriting:

"Dear Lord Uther:

These past two days I’ve missed you so, so, so, so, so, so, so much that I’m starting to regret running back to the City of Joy...

I know you still come to see me every night. I can feel it when you arrive, but for some reason, the moment I sense your presence, I feel so, so sleepy and always fall fast asleep.

So even though you visit, I still miss you so, so, so, so, so, so, so much.

I think it might be because I’m still too weak to handle your visits...

I also know that being in contact with you hurts you...

So I’m going to work twice as hard to become as strong as the Saint from Radiant City. When that day comes, I’ll be able to stay awake to welcome you, and I won’t hurt you anymore!

Hee hee, then, we can really be together, right?

Oh, right! I left some cake for you on the table, but I couldn’t help myself and snuck a little bite... Hee hee, you don’t mind, do you?

And! And! I bought a ton of things last time in Radiant City but forgot to bring them with me. So, if it’s not too much trouble, could you bring them over for me?

But... maybe you could bring one thing over each day? That way, it’ll be like I’m getting a little gift from you every day. I’d be so happy!

So, will you promise me? Please?

Lastly, I really, really, really, really, really, really, really miss you.

Yours forever, Elolo."

The letter wasn’t elegantly written, but it made Lloyd’s heart feel warm and fuzzy.

’She really... she’s too good at this...’

And he found it impossible to refuse her adorable requests.

The problem was, the huge pile of trinkets Elolo had bought were all back at his house...

With no other options and not wanting to disappoint Elolo, Lloyd took a bracelet with a slow-healing function from his Storage Bag. He then used the "Gift" function on the screen conjured by the Tentacle Grass to send it to her side.

After that, he stayed quietly by Elolo’s side until the half-hour was up, at which point he groggily fell asleep.

............

When Lloyd woke up the next day, he instinctively reached out to grab the little kitten to rub on his face, only to grasp at empty air beside his pillow. That’s when he remembered he hadn’t brought the kitten along on this trip.

’Hmph. Lucky little guy.’

Next, he summoned his panel and completed the ’Three-Day Check-in’ for analyzing the fragment.

[Ding! Madness Value +3000]

’The ’check-in’ reward went up?’

’Did the Madness Value I get go up because the fragment’s analysis progress shot up?’

’But looking at it another way...’

’Doesn’t this mean the hidden Spiritual Contamination within the fragment’s knowledge is becoming more severe and dangerous? That it’s getting closer to Forbidden Knowledge?’

’But it only recorded basic knowledge of the [Manifestation] system, didn’t it?’

’Besides, I got this fragment a long time ago by accident when I cracked the butler’s [Story]. As a High-ranking Powerhouse from an orthodox system, the butler shouldn’t have any connection to Forbidden Knowledge, right?’

’This ’Three-Day Check-in’ really is a mystery...’

Lloyd’s mind raced with these thoughts, and for a moment, he wasn’t sure if he should discuss the matter with the butler.

Just then, a ’narrator’s’ voice sounded in his ears:

"Please come downstairs for your meal and make your preparations. Another spectacular story awaits your exploration and experience today."

"However, you must remember the rules of the game. Do not converse or interact with the other ’readers’."

Lloyd set aside the matter of the Unknown Fragment for the time being and went downstairs to wash up and eat breakfast.

As soon as he stepped out, he saw his two competitors also emerging from their rooms.

Their complexions looked a lot better than yesterday, but they still seemed weak and slightly puffy. The whites of their eyes were still faintly bloodshot, and they seemed to drift as they walked, looking completely listless.

’A Tier Four against a Tier Seven... it really isn’t easy.’

Lloyd now understood why the butler had promised such a handsome reward...

When his two opponents saw Lloyd looking full of energy and vigor, they were both stunned.

If not for the rule against speaking, they probably would have gasped on the spot and cried out in shock.

In their minds, even if they were in a sorry state, it was fine as long as they were in better shape than their competitor.

They had both prepared recovery potions, as permitted by the rules, but hadn’t drunk them yet. Instead, they were taking this opportunity to ’play the victim’ a bit, hoping to make their opponent misjudge them and lower their guard.

These were ’little competitive tricks’ taught to them by the patron who had brought them here.

But these petty tricks seemed utterly ridiculous in front of Lloyd.

’Why? He’s just a Tier Two, and from the [Veto] school, which isn’t even good in the Thought Realm. So why is he in such good shape?’

Disbelief was written all over the investigator’s face.

He already knew that yesterday’s [Story] belonged to his uncle, and he had personally experienced its formidable power, which had left him in a miserable state.

’But how could this so-called ’Bright Star’ be so relaxed? He looks like he’s completely at ease!’

’Did he crack yesterday’s [Story] that quickly? In under three hours? Is that why he wasn’t drained so much?’

’How is that possible?’

’I know my uncle Olga’s methods very well.’

’Was there some flaw in my uncle’s [Story] that he managed to exploit?’

As the investigator’s mind raced, the scholar beside him wore a similar expression of utter disbelief.

’That kid... did he really escape in under three hours yesterday?’

’How did he manage that?’

’Was it luck? Or did he take some kind of powerful potion?’

’Or... was yesterday’s [Story] Lord Randolph’s? Maybe they know each other, and that’s why he got out so quickly?’

’That has to be it. I can’t think of any other logical explanation.’

’But thankfully, yesterday’s story wasn’t the Madam’s. So even if he escaped quickly, it won’t affect her time. Once I drink that potion, victory will still be in my grasp! I’ll seize the initiative in this game!’

’The Madam’s [Story] is incredibly powerful. Even I have a hard time with it. It’ll definitely trap that kid for good!’

’Next up is [Wisdom] versus [Veto], Tier Four versus Tier Two. No matter how you look at it, the advantage is mine!’

The three of them only met briefly in the hallway, but a thousand thoughts had already flashed through their minds. On the surface, however, they simply gave each other polite nods as a morning greeting.

Then they hurried to get ready and returned to their rooms to prepare for today’s [Story].

Just like yesterday, Lloyd summoned his panel and stuck his hand in his pocket.

Unfortunately, the hand of the ’girl next door’ was no longer there for him to hold...

Just as he was lamenting this, he suddenly felt a stir from the flower bud deep within his consciousness.

An invisible force reached out from it, took his hand, and intertwined their fingers.

Lloyd instantly felt a great sense of reassurance.

At that very moment, the [Story]’s narrator began:

"You are a young man named Lloyd, living a simple life with your older sister, Evelor..."

Lloyd started laughing the moment he heard this.

’So today’s story is the butler’s, huh?’

’In that case, there’s no rush. I can take my time and enjoy the butler’s ’plot.’ I’ll try to solve it as slowly as possible to help him gain a big enough advantage.’

’Besides, I can also learn how a high-ranking powerhouse puts together a [Story]. I’ll treat it as a learning experience.’

So, Lloyd found himself looking forward to it with great interest.

’Will the butler set me up with a bunch of beautiful girls? Will he make me the Dragon King’s Son-in-law, or a reincarnated War God?’

He listened to the ’narration’, eagerly anticipating what would happen next.

But the more he listened, the more he frowned.

’This feels kind of...’

’...lacking in ’immersion.’ It’s not even as good as yesterday’s ’folklorist Tom’ story.’

Lloyd knew perfectly well that he was inside the [Story] and wasn’t being interfered with at all.

He had, at least to some extent, been immersed in the role of ’folklorist Tom’ yesterday.

Furthermore, his panel and the Book of Truth weren’t giving him any of their usual frenzied alerts.

’Uh... Mr. Butler, you’re being a bit too gentle with me, aren’t you?’

Just as Lloyd was grumbling to himself, he suddenly heard a familiar voice from outside the door:

"Yi, time to get up and eat~"

Sigh...

Lloyd couldn’t help but sigh.

’This is so fake...’

’At home, I’m the one who always wakes my sister up...’