[The great Sir Gawain abandoned all sense of shame, and perhaps even his right to inhabit the Earth.]
[But his actions failed to heat up the atmosphere. Instead, due to being accused of perversion, the scene became even more awkward.]
[It's a pity. Deepening the relationship with Baobhan Sith seems to require a different kind of opportunity...]
Failure!
Ei pounded the table hard.
I'm sorry, Sir Gawain! Our passionate combo move simply didn't work!
The simulation system said he seemed to be missing some critical element, but he had no idea what it was.
Must he admit defeat...?
That would be too unfair to Gawain. He simply couldn't bear it. Even if not for his own gain, he had to win some dignity for Gawain.
"Why must I be fixated on Baobhan Sith anyway?"
Getting closer to Baobhan Sith would grant him her Noble Phantasm, but getting closer to more Heroic Spirits might grant him even more.
His original intention for attending the mixer was precisely for these things. Why let one red-haired girl disrupt his strategy?
Mere Noble Phantasms, I can do without! The important thing is not to let a Knight's noble sacrifice be in vain!
The correct approach is: do not focus solely on Baobhan Sith, but find a way to spice up the atmosphere and create a naturally ambiguous and flirty environment.
"The sun... my sunshine is not working..." Sir Gawain murmured in frustration.
"Sir Gawain, you tried your best,"
Ei patted the other man's shoulder seriously. Gawain was looking a bit dejected after his series of actions.
"Watch me now. I swear, in the name of chivalry, I will avenge the humiliation and frustration you suffered."
"Ei, you..."
The counter-attack of the Empire, Part Countered-and-Countered-Again.
"Alright, everyone has introduced themselves,"
Ei suddenly raised his hand and announced loudly to the embarrassed crowd:
"Next, we should play some 'Social Games' to get to know each other better, don't you think?"
"Social Games?" Gareth instantly became excited. "Are we finally going to start a jousting match?!"
Ei thought, Do you misunderstand what a mixer is, or what a social game is?
"No, what we're going to play is—"
He pulled out a set of sticks.
"King's Game!"
The rules of the King's Game are simple: prepare a set of sticks, one labeled "King," and the others numbered. Everyone draws a stick.
The player who draws the "King" stick has absolute command and can order any numbered player to do something.
The player whose number is called must unconditionally obey the King's command.
This is a mixer game full of luck, courage, and various desires.
"What? I can be King?!" Mordred was immediately intrigued.
"Boring..."
Baobhan Sith merely snorted disdainfully.
"My mother and I are already supreme beings. Playing this game is just lowering our status, isn't it?"
"If you don't want to play, fine," he turned to Morgan, who was sitting quietly. "Lady Morgan, would you like to play?"
Morgan's blue eyes thoughtfully observed the "King" mark on the sticks, then glanced at Ei.
If she drew the "King" stick, she would have control over Ei.
In other words, she would definitely be willing to play.
But Morgan said, "I won't play."
"?"
"Unless it's renamed the 'Queen's Game'."
Oh, come on. While changing the name is irrelevant, your desire for dominance is extraordinary!
"Ah, if Mother wants to play, then I definitely want to play too~"
Baobhan Sith immediately changed her mind when she heard her mother was joining.
Gareth hesitated for a long time. The slightly shy girl decided she wasn't comfortable playing such a game and stood aside to observe.
Ei surveyed the people present.
Gareth was observing, and the remaining six were competing for the position of "Queen."
Ei, Morgan, Baobhan Sith, Gawain, Tristan, Mordred.
"Sir Ei, what are you doing?" Gawain whispered. "While playing a game can adjust the atmosphere, your calculations must involve more than just that."
"They do."
Ei thought: Luck is part of a Heroic Spirit's strength. Some Heroic Spirits have inherently poor luck and are disadvantaged in games of chance.
If he remembered correctly, Morgan's Luck is B, while Baobhan Sith and Mordred are even worse, with Luck D.
Ei and Gawain both have Luck A!
In other words, the two of them have a huge innate advantage in the "Queen's Game."
It was time to sound the horn of counterattack! The boys' group was going to take control of this mixer!
As for Tristan, with his Luck E... well, he was mostly there for participation.
He would both help Gawain clear his humiliation and score some Heroic Spirit skills for himself!
[The first round of drawing begins.]
[Which stick do you choose to draw? I. The one closest to you; II. The one furthest from you; III. The middle one.]
Ei chose I.
[Unfortunately, you did not draw the Queen stick.]
[Your number is Three.]
He quickly glanced at Gawain, who shook his head regretfully—Gawain hadn't drawn the Queen stick either.
A long, slender finger painted with blue nail polish slowly lifted.
It held the stick marked with the Queen.
"The Queen is me." Morgan stated languidly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Well played! She actually drew it!
The most deserved outcome of the whole night.
"...Your Majesty, please issue your command," he complied.
Morgan's beautiful face showed no expression as she stated faintly, "Have Number Three sit next to me."
I am Number Three.
She really did choose me?
Thankfully, she didn't ask for anything excessive. Ei was a good sport. He stood up and obediently moved to sit next to her.
As he got close, he could clearly smell the penetrating scent of roses emanating from Morgan, a fragrance so sweet it seemed capable of stealing a man's soul.
As soon as Ei sat down next to her, her cool, jade-like hand gently rested on his.
Ei looked at her quizzically.
She maintained a perfectly indifferent and composed expression, while her hand under the table naturally pressed against his. Yet, in front of her children, she still maintained the demeanor of a strict parent.
Was this intentional, or an accident?
"Lady Morgan, your hand..." Ei tentatively prompted. "...seems to be in the wrong place."
"Ah, how rude of me..." Morgan replied expressionlessly.
"It is indeed so. My hand accidentally slipped. Please don't mind it, Mr. Ei."
"Haha, it's fine..."
Before Ei could finish his sentence,
Morgan's small hand was already acting up again, reaching under the table and resting on his thigh.
"It's fine now."
How is that an improvement? You're blatantly touching my thigh now!
Is it really okay to do this secretly in front of your own children?
But in this situation, he couldn't say anything more. His heart raced and his face felt warm. He quickly suggested: "L-Let's start the next round."