Chapter 208: Shangguan Wan’er Appears

"Why should I apologize? In the first place, this is entirely Xiao Tao’s fault for having such a misleading condition. I did absolutely nothing wrong. Besides, if we had never picked him up in the first place, we would never have gotten dragged into this troublesome situation. I should be receiving his thanks, not apologizing. I see no reason for me to apologize."

Viktor refused to acknowledge even the slightest fault on his part.

Qiu Nuoya felt a little irritated by that attitude.

"Seriously, you always does this..."

"Ah, a-a... It’s fine, it’s fine! Please stop, Nuoya! I’m okay!!"

"Oh, come on! Wait! That’s really not Taotao! Long time no see! Where have you been all this time?"

A woman’s voice suddenly rang out.

Xiao Tao turned toward her in surprise and Qiu Nuoya instinctively followed his gaze.

Standing there was a female knight(?) dressed like an adventurer. Qiu Nuoya assumed she was a knight because she wore a short suit of plate armor that barely covered her chest. However, since most of her stomach was exposed, he could not help wondering how much protection the armor actually provided.

Her lower body was equipped with armor that appeared considerably more protective, yet for some reason, there were still plenty of exposed areas. Her long, slender bare legs were almost dazzling.

"Eh? Why..."

"Why what? Is there some problem with me being here!?"

"N-No, that’s not what I meant, but I thought you were staying at the castle, Wanwan..."

Huh? Wait, what?

What had Xiao Tao just called her?

"Wanwan, is there some kind of problem?"

This time, an absurdly dazzling young knight appeared from behind her.

At first glance, his clothes looked plain and unassuming, but they were clearly made from expensive fabric, and every piece of jewelry he wore had been meticulously crafted down to the smallest detail.

With golden hair and blue eyes, the handsome young man looked as though he had stepped straight out of a fairy tale.

He flashed the female knight an impossibly refreshing smile and casually put an arm around her shoulders.

"Lucien , don’t get so familiar with me and put your hands on me!"

The woman who had suddenly appeared before them, along with the man who seemed to be her acquaintance, stood facing the group. The woman, who had been holding the man’s arm around her shoulder, roughly brushed his hand away with an annoyed expression.

"Wan’er, I am your fiancé. You don’t have to treat me so coldly."

"What are you talking about? I’ve already told you I’m not getting married! You’re nothing more than my wallet, my wa-llet!"

Her wallet...?

That was basically an outright declaration that she saw the man as nothing more than a source of money. Impressive.

Yet despite the woman’s remarkably harsh words, the man simply continued smiling happily, showing no sign of being hurt at all.

"Wan’er’s words still cut straight to the heart. But that is exactly why I love you."

Wait... Is this guy all right?

He was still young, yet Qiu Nuoya could only see him as some poor fool being manipulated into spending money on a bad woman.

However, judging from the woman’s exasperated expression at his attitude, perhaps she was deliberately being harsh with him.

Huh? Could this actually be some kind of sophisticated game between lovers?

Qiu Nuoya had absolutely no idea how romantic maneuvering between men and women was supposed to work.

"Hey, Taotao, just ignore this guy. Can I join you guys too? Oh, and you, go back to your seat over there. You’re in the way."

With that, she shooed the man away with a gesture like she was chasing off a dog, but he did not seem offended in the slightest.

Xiao Tao, on the other hand, looked confused by her invitation.

"Eh? Ah, no... Um..." He glanced toward the others uncertainly.

It was perfectly normal for people to hit it off with someone at a drinking establishment and end up sharing a table, so there was no reason to object to her joining them. Still, Qiu Nuoya and the others exchanged glances, silently wondering what they should do.

After all, they had already realized who she was.

She was undoubtedly the otherworlder who had come to this world alongside Xiao Tao, the infamous "Saintess of Trouble," Wanwan.

Well, her outfit certainly doesn’t look anything like a saintess’s, though.

"I don’t mind. Is everyone else okay with it?"

"I’m fine with it."

"Me too."

"If Nuoya has no objection, then I have no objection either."

Once everyone agreed, Shangguan Wan’er beamed with delight and dragged her chair over with a loud scrape before plopping herself down between Viktor and Igor for some reason.

For reference, they were sitting around a round table in the following order: Viktor, Qiu Nuoya, Xiao Tao, Warren, and then Igor.

"Are you sure it’s all right to leave your companion like that?"

"Yeah, it’s fine, it’s fine. He actually likes being treated this harshly. It’s scary how much of a true masochist he is..."

A true masochist...

The man who had just been described that way quietly returned to his original table and continued smiling at them.

Apparently, he had other companions at that table as well. They seemed completely uninterested in what was happening and simply continued eating.

Still, when Qiu Nuoya put together everything he knew so far, he had a feeling that man might actually be one of the princes of this country.

It was hard to believe.

Actually, Qiu Nuoya would almost prefer it if he were not a prince. But what were the chances?

"Well then, let me properly introduce myself. My name is Shangguan Wan’er, and I’m a Saintess. That guy over there, Taotao, is my childhood friend. What is your relationship with each other?"

Ah, so she really is a Saintess even dressed like that.

It certainly doesn’t look like it, though.

"We’re an adventurer party. My name is Igor, and I’m a martial artist."

"Is this uncle the leader of the party?"