Chapter Thirteen: A way of exposure that I never imagined
I hate communicating with young people.
Ah, maybe it's more appropriate to say "not good at".
There is no contradiction between this and my immortality - all I have is the skin of a young man, and there is a difference between a real young man and a "specimen" and a "living creature".
"Living animals" have the qualification to become "specimens" after a few years, but "specimens" are always "specimens".
Once you become a "specimen", it is difficult to change your mind.
In order to enable more "living animals" to get along well with themselves after becoming "specimens", the "specimens" have a task - to convey their finalized concepts to those who have not yet become "specimens"
"Living creature.
This process is the necessary guarantee for the "eternity" of the town.
However, not all living creatures can accept all this obediently, especially an extremely sober existence like Qianzhihe.
At first I thought she was just a little rebellious, but then I thought about it: her behavior was not directed at anyone, but focused on the matter itself.
Rationality is mixed with emotional thinking... Generally speaking, he is a simple and complex person.
Well, it’s just that everyone is complicated.
Now, I am about to meet this young lady who gives me a headache.
The time comes next Sunday.
After explaining the decoration requirements of the tailor shop to the relevant personnel, it was already noon. I had something to eat and then returned to the hotel.
There was no need to enter the room, so I sat on the bench in the hotel lobby and waited quietly.
...What's going on? This inexplicable tension...
I looked around.
I really wish there were vending machines in this world...
I banish my thoughts and let them wander freely - in other words, I am passing the time in a daze.
Well...even now, I still can't get over the prophecy that Al will become a hero.
The only thing that is certain is that I am the only one who knows about this matter.
For more than a hundred years, I have never told anyone the secret that I have divine eyes, because I don’t want to cause trouble.
A hero...
Forget it, it's useless to dream about it.
Besides, the probability is not 100%, so there are other possibilities...
Then...
......
"Huh..."
"Wake up——"
I was tapped on the shoulder, and then heard a voice that was not Raya's.
I opened my eyes.
"Ah..."
It’s a paper crane.
"Haha, why did you fall asleep in a place like this?"
She smiled softly.
So, it seems that while I'm waiting for her...
"Well, I'm old and not in good spirits."
Anyway, let’s stand up first, I thought.
But my limbs still seemed to be awake, and it took me a long time to get off the bench without any energy. However, I staggered again. Fortunately, the dumbfounded Paper Crane on the side held me up.
"You...it's time to exercise."
"I think so."
After several yawns, I finally cheered up.
Alas, it's obviously a young body...it's really useless.
I smiled awkwardly at Qian Zhihe:
"Sorry~~I'm lazy by nature."
"It's okay."
Qian Zhihe shook his head and turned around:
"Let's go."
"Okay."
I walked beside her.
The iconic red hair that reaches Qianzhe's waist exudes a pleasant fragrance. If I were a real young man, I would have been full of joy and full of love.
Unfortunately, I am not, so I only think of:
"Um, won't having such long hair affect training?"
"It will be tied up during training, and the hair will be longer to help bring out Rita's abilities... Oh yes - Rita is the name of my future spouse."
Hey...does a name also need to be given to a married couple?
"Rita's ability is to consume her hair in exchange for a short-term increase in swordsmanship,"
...What a strange exchange.
In other words, regular training can prevent you from cutting your hair.
"Oh? Can we control how much hair is consumed at one time?"
"Yes, generally it does not consume too much. About ten centimeters is enough to increase the sword skill to one hour. Although only the sword skill can be improved... In addition, which part of the hair is consumed can also be controlled." Qianzhihe said, lifting her bangs:
"So don't worry about your hairstyle."
"..."
Lord Elinor, please replace my divine eye with this one. I really need it.
"Your hair seems to be a little too long."
"Really..."
I subconsciously touched my hair. To be honest, I had no intention of meeting Mr. Mackerel.
"I'm used to it, no problem."
......
The theater is located in the lower right corner of the town center. On the way there, we happened to pass by Raya's new tailor shop.
Paper cranes stop in front of the store:
"It looks very impressive."
"Well, there is nothing in the store right now, so it looks quite empty..."
I imagine Raya working here.
Once the luggage is moved in, it’s time to get busy again.
......
When we arrived at the theater, there were still ten minutes before the opera started.
The seat corresponding to our ticket is in the middle of the auditorium.
"By the way, I still don't know the content of this opera."
"You must have seen it before."
Thousand paper cranes came close to my ear:
"It's the classic 'Gray Boy'. My friend plays the role of the noble lady in the play."
"Ah, I understand."
The so-called "Cinderella" is one of the ancient fairy tales in the magical world. It has the same plot as "Cinderella", except that the gender of the characters is completely opposite to that of "Cinderella", and some items have also been changed: Cinderella has become
The gray boy, his stepmother became his stepfather, his sister became his brother, the prince became a noble lady, and the glass slippers became gloves...
By the way, the sudden approach of the Paper Crane just now made me a little excited.
The opera officially begins.
A gray-faced young man came out and sang about his misfortunes to briefly state the background of the story.
Then, the stepfather appeared...
Then there are the gray boy’s brothers.
Although everyone knows the direction of the plot, the actors' wonderful performances and singing skills still won many rounds of applause.
The aristocratic lady has appeared. Her words and deeds are gentle and elegant, but I always feel that her handsome face is more suitable for playing the role of "grey boy".
Qianzhihe's friends...mostly the guards. No wonder they are so unfamiliar.
"Oh, please don't go!"
The opera progressed to the famous scene - the effect of magic was about to disappear, and the gray boy left the ball in a hurry. The noble lady chased him while shouting, but in the end she only picked up the gloves left by the gray boy.
"I will definitely find you. Your hands have unique charm. With this glove, I will definitely find you!"
After the noble lady finished singing, the audience applauded.
......
After the performance, I sat there still unsatisfied.
"What do you think?"
Faced with Qianzhihe’s inquiry, I silently gave a thumbs up.
"As long as you are satisfied——"
She looks happy:
"If you are interested, could you accompany me to meet my friend behind the scenes?"
"Eh? Is that okay?"
Qianzhihe's suggestion made me sit up straight.
"Anyway, I have made an appointment with her to meet. If you are willing to come with us, she will definitely not refuse."
"Well..."
I had no intention of doing this, but after her suggestion, I became curious.
"If you don't bother me..."
"Okay! Come with me!"
Qianzhihe took my arm and pulled me out of the auditorium, towards an aisle that seemed to lead to the backstage.
Before entering the aisle, Qian Zhihe let go of my hand.
The light in the corridor was extremely poor. I followed Qianzhihe. As the visibility became lower and lower, I gradually couldn’t see the back of Qianzhihe... Maybe it was my misunderstanding. She seemed to be speeding up.
steps.
Hey hey...Is this aisle too long...
"It's so far..."
"..."
"...Thousand Paper Cranes?"
Huh? Why is she ignoring me?
[The chance of being stabbed on the head from the front is 100%]
[The chance of successfully dodging to the right is 100%]
[The chance of successfully dodging to the left is 0%]
Huh?!
In an instant, three messages of divine purpose appeared in my brain at the same time. I relied on my instinctive reaction to hide to the right——
——There was a dull sound from the left, as if someone was waving something and hitting the wall of the corridor.
[The chance of being stabbed at the right rear is 100%]
[The chance of success by lying down to dodge is 100%]
[The chance of successfully dodging forward is 70%]
[The chance of successfully dodging to the right is 11%]
[The chance of successfully dodging to the left is 0%]
There was a chill on the top of my head.
My center of gravity was unstable and I fell to the ground long ago, so I was lucky enough to escape the next attack.
Hey hey hey! What’s going on?!
[The chance of encountering a sweep in front is 100%]
[The chance of successfully dodging backward is 90%]
[The chance of successful resistance with the right arm is 90%]
[The chance of successfully dodging to the left is 30%]
Tsk, it’s too late to choose.
I extend my right hand——
"Boom——!"
"Hiss..."
The severe pain made me moan.
Just then, the light came on.
——On the ground is me, who is in a very awkward posture and feels conflicted.
"Are you okay, Mr. Gulao?"
The voice of a young man came, and I felt myself being helped to stand up.
"...What do you think?"
I haven't come back to my senses yet and look at each other faintly:
"Ah~~He, I just said it was too much."
"Sorry!"
The person standing in front of me is Qianzhihe, who is apologizing. The person next to her calls her "Crane"...eh? Isn't she the guy who plays the role of a noble lady?
Only then did I notice that both the boy and the "noble lady" had long wooden sticks in their hands - it seemed that they were the ones who attacked me.
"Mr. Gu, I'm very sorry!"
Thousand paper cranes bow to me again.
"What do you want to do?"
I touched my arm that was still sore. Being treated like this without any warning made me feel angry:
"It's not good to beat the elderly."
"Hahaha~~Aren't you okay? We have no choice but to forgive He."
"Don't say it's none of your business..."
I rolled my eyes at the speaker.
Huh, the "noble lady" is actually so crazy in reality.
"We don't mean to offend——"
The boy holding my arm lowered his head slightly and said:
"Just for testing."
"...Huh?"
"You just...didn't dodge those attacks with your eyesight, right? Even we have to cast night vision magic in advance, otherwise we can't see the surrounding situation clearly."
"..."
I clenched my fists involuntarily.
Oops, I was tricked by these guys.
"And you don't know how to use magic."
Qian Zhihe added.
"...What exactly do you want to say?"
I heard that I didn't have much confidence in my words, but I still stared at her pretending to be calm.
"He, don't be pretentious and just tell me."
The "noble lady" smiled maliciously.
"..."
There is a probing look in Qianzhihe's eyes, but in my eyes, it is as hard to escape as the judge's look.
Their success puts pressure on me, I think.
I originally thought that no one would come here to explore this secret.
Because I never believed that I would be exposed... Even if I was exposed, there should be no suspicion - at least in the small town of Vig.
...Ah, is that why we gave them an opportunity?
Damn you little devils, you actually made me so embarrassed.