Chapter 237: Miss Gil Wants Me to Confess
[Caren's love shell accidentally misfired and failed to hit the god Ibuki-Douji.]
[However, Cu Chulainn and Gilgamesh, who were locked in fierce combat, were unfortunately affected instead.]
A fragrance that made people feel lightheaded spread through the air, sweet like fine wine—the scent of love.
"..."
Cu Chulainn held Gae Bolg, and Gilgamesh tightly gripped an unidentified Noble Phantasm.
The two silently looked at each other, their once-sharp gazes seemingly covered by a romantic filter.
Standing nearby, Eikou's mind flashed with countless curse words.
What the hell! The love-intoxication attack specially made to deal with the god Ibuki-Douji—how did it end up pairing you two grown men together?!
Could these two enemies really have fallen in love?
"…Tch, so it was because of the Golden Wine,"
After a long silence, the King of Heroes turned around, his expression full of disdain.
"This king merely got drunk by accident just now. But you—a stray dog—absolutely must not misunderstand. Merely imagining me is already a crime deserving of death."
"Jeez, you Goldie,"
Cu Chulainn also turned around at the same time, quietly lighting a cigarette.
"I have no idea what you're talking about at all. Imagining? The only thing I can imagine is the moment I rip your heart out."
"Fuhahaha, you really have a death wish, dog."
That said—then why aren't the two of you continuing to fight, and instead just standing there smoking? Why are both of you turning your backs, not daring to look each other in the face?
Even though you're still hurling insults without restraint, why does the atmosphere between you feel… off?!
A drop of cold sweat slid down Eikou's forehead.
Cu Chulainn and Gilgamesh—could it be that the two of you have already started feeling awkward about making eye contact with each other?
"You stray dog, can you stop giving off that weird smell already? Hurry up and change your perfume for this Hero King!"
Gilgamesh shouted.
Why do you think Cu Chulainn wears perfume in the first place? What on earth has he turned into in your eyes?!
"Damn it, you flashy golden bastard, what are you being so aggressive for—don't tell me you secretly looked up my personal profile?"
So you're into that kind of thing too, Cu Chulainn? Do you like the domineering, overpowering type?!
This has already… this has already stopped being the finals of the League Tournament…
No matter how you look at it, it feels exactly like the style of a rom-com titled [Miss Gil Wants Me to Confess]—two absolute tsundere who refuse to be the first to confess, hiding themselves behind a tsundere shell. Are you two seriously competing over who's going to confess first?!
Eikou slammed his palm hard against his forehead; he truly couldn't bear to keep watching.
Watching these two struggle with their feelings was worse than watching Goetia directly carry out Human Order Incineration in the next second!
"No, I seriously can't watch this anymore…"
Eikou hurriedly shook Caren by the shoulders beside him.
"Isn't there some way to snap them out of it, please? If this keeps going, the worst couple in human history is going to be born. This is even more heretical than the Nero & Boudica pairing! Save these lost lambs!"
Caren puffed out her chest slightly with pride and said:
"That's an Arrow of Love personally made by me, plus the Hero King's Golden Wine. Even gods can sink into it—let alone half-human, half-god mongrel like them."
"So will they just stay like this forever?"
"Gilgamesh is a Ruler Class after all, with Magic Resistance at the highest level. He should return to normal before long. As for my dog, he's fine. If he keeps being in heat and causing trouble for the neighbors, I'll take him to Lady Nightingale and have him neutered."
"???"
Why does it feel like you're even crueler to your own Servant? You really don't treat Cu Chulainn as a human at all, do you?!
"Compared to those two, I think you should worry more about your own Servant…"
Caren raised her hand and pointed toward Artoria, who had also been swept up in the scent of fine wine.
"That… Master…"
Before Eikou could complain, Artoria—having also inhaled the Golden Wine—suddenly stiffened, then hurried over to his side.
The Knight King with that full, ample figure had her cheeks flushed bright red. The way she looked at Eikou carried surging emotions like hidden tides; she clearly wanted to say something, yet was too embarrassed to speak.
Y-you… you too?!
After all, she was Lancer Class, with not particularly high Magic Resistance. Just being affected a little was enough to inadvertently make her fall into a charmed state.
"Haa…"
Artoria let out a warm, sweet breath. Her slender fingers lightly touched each other, and in her beautiful green eyes as she looked at Eikou, signs of fluttering emotion appeared.
The Knight King's appearance—both shy and yearning at the same time—really made it hard to ignore!
But this was still the finals. If she got distracted because of enchantment, they would suffer a huge loss. If she was affected, then who would deal with Ibuki-Douji?!
"Calm down, Artoria, we're still in the middle of a battle right now,"
Eikou said:
"I remember you have the skill Protection of the Ends of the World EX that can remove negative statuses, right? Hurry and use it on yourself, quickly break out of the enchanted state."
(Note: I remember that in the game this skill is used to increase the NP gauge… well, whatever)
"Y-yes…"
"Good thing you have a safety measure like Debuff Removal. Otherwise, we'd completely collapse."
"Um…"
Artoria's voice carried the alluring tone of an older sister, clearly revealing flustered agitation, as she reluctantly followed his instructions.
Immediately after that, she grabbed Eikou's hand and, without giving him any chance to react, dragged him straight toward the exit of the arena.
"Alright, Master, hurry and come with me."
Eikou froze. "Go where?"
"When we came here, I noticed there's a love hotel nearby that's specially for couples…"
Artoria lowered her head shyly and said, "I've already completed the safety measures according to your instructions—I used Protection of the Ends of the World!"
"What kind of safety measure did you even use?!"
From start to finish, this girl clearly hadn't understood a single word he said, and she definitely hadn't used Debuff Removal on herself at all.
[It seems that because of the enchantment, Artoria no longer knows how to properly use Debuff Removal.]
This time, it was really a headache.
No one knew when her enchanted state would be lifted.
"Artoria, once we leave the arena, we'll be eliminated immediately. At that point, this Singularity will be beyond saving,"
Eikou said in a serious tone.
"After that, you can act spoiled with me however you want, for as long as you want—but right now, we absolutely cannot lose!"
"So that's how it is…"
"I'm really counting on you, Artoria!"
Eikou looked at her with an extremely solemn gaze.
"I… I understand, Master."
Hearing such grave words, Artoria seemed to regain the sense of responsibility of a king. Her eyes immediately became much clearer.
Right after that, she nimbly mounted her horse, tightened the reins, raised the Holy Lance, and prepared to return to battle.
"Just now, I was far too discourteous, to the point of even thinking about romance on the battlefield… no need to say more, let me wash away this shame with real action!"
With that, the Knight King kicked hard against the stirrups and charged straight toward Ibuki-Douji.
But three seconds later, she suddenly pulled the reins, riding the Dun Stallion back in the opposite direction.
She lowered her head shyly, her face flushed bright red, and said in a very small voice:
"…Um, Master, please sit on the horse with me as well. When you're not by my side, I somehow feel very empty."
Why does you even feel lonely? You'd only advanced a few meters—could it be that you's the kindergarten-type kid who doesn't want to leave their parents' side?!
"…Alright."
Looking at the Knight King before him, Eikou broke out in a bit of sweat and raised a hand to rub his temples.
He realized that whatever he said right now would be useless. Only by staying close to Artoria would she feel at ease. Since that was the case, he could only obediently go along with it, to avoid her causing any more trouble.
Thinking of that, Eikou helplessly mounted the horse and sat behind the Knight King.
"So, do you feel a bit better now?"
Suddenly, Medusa's voice rang out right behind him. Her body pressed close against his back. "Umu, I feel much better now."
Medusa, when did you get up here?!
Medea: "Excuse me, could you make room for one more person!"
"???"
...