Chapter 56 — Peach Blossom Spring (Part 2)
"Traveler… do you have any water?"
Elias stared at the woman for a moment.
So this is the little play Carlile prepared for me?
A sultry farmwife complaining about her useless husband, flushed and panting as she begged him for a drink…
Such a cliché, old-fashioned setup.
But since she worked this hard on it, he didn't mind playing along.
He stepped forward.
"Madam… you seem warm?"
The farmwife—Carlile in disguise—felt her heart flutter.
Her gaze rippled with triumph.
"Oh, I'm hot~"
"So hot my throat aches for relief~"
"So hot my heart is pounding out of control~"
She pulled off her headscarf and apron, letting sweat roll down every tempting curve…
(¬‿¬) "So please… grant me your mercy…"
Elias calmly nodded.
(≖_≖'')
"Very well."
"Flood Magic."
—— BOOM!!! ——
A roaring deluge burst from the sky, crashing down like a collapsed riverbank, swallowing the entire field—
—and drowning the seductive farmwife Carlile in a single, merciless wave!
Outside the barrier, the spectators heard the explosion echo from inside the giant peach.
The whole plaza erupted.
"W–What was that sound?!"
"What incredible force!"
"What violent intensity!"
"What… rhythmic turbulence!"
"Just imagining what's happening inside is making my mind spin!"
Frieren tugged on Flamme's sleeve, baffled.
"Teacher Flamme, what's that splashing sound? What are Elias and that lady doing in there?"
(ᇂ_ᇂ|||) "Frieren…"
"I suggest you stop talking for a moment."
Flamme's thumb was already between her teeth as she anxiously chewed her nail—eyes sharp as knives, staring hard enough to drill through that giant pink peach on the stage.
Damn it… Elias…
What in the world are you doing in there?!
Frieren scratched her head, her big brain filled with a small pile of confusion.
And for some reason… Teacher Flamme seemed seriously weird right now.
---
Inside the Barrier
"Guh—! Glug glug!!"
The farmwife Carlile sputtered, choking on floodwater as she scrambled away—half drowning, half panicking.
From her hiding spot at the edge of the barrier, she peered out.
There Elias stood—calmly standing on the water's surface as if he'd done this a thousand times.
Tch…
He wasn't supposed to be like this.
He was supposed to be a gullible country bumpkin!
Why didn't he fall for it?!
Worse—
The flood he summoned just now was terrifying, almost ripping apart her strongest barrier spell!
When did such a monster appear around the Holy City?!
A mysterious man with no background, no fame, and a face nobody recognized…
Fighting him head-on was suicide.
She had only one path now:
Soft power.
…Except she had no idea what this man liked.
Should she just guess?
Her eyes drifted over Elias again. Despite his plain clothing, that calm, imposing demeanor…
He looked almost like a noble from an older age.
"…Fine. One more try!"
Carlile activated the barrier core.
The floodwaters faded.
The farmland melted away.
Colors dissolved and rebuilt, shapes reformed—
A world flipped in the blink of an eye.
When the illusion settled…
A sprawling noble estate stood before them.
Elias chuckled.
Heh.
A new act, huh?
That woman really had tricks.
What now?
He walked up the marble steps.
The heavy doors opened—
Crystal chandeliers, wool carpets, beast-fur sofas, carved tea tables…
This illusion had every detail meticulously replicated.
Her skill was impressive.
No wonder so many men fell for her.
Just as he was examining the room—
Clatter, clatter—
Someone approached from behind.
Elias turned around.
(≖_≖)… ( ^⦁⩊-^)੭
"Meow~ Maid Carlile welcomes Master Elias home~"
...
A black-and-white lace maid dress.
Thigh-high stockings hugging smooth legs.
Fluffy cat ears.
A swaying tail with a golden bell.
A wink—tongue caught between teeth.
And a sudden, soft little meow.
—Clap. Clap. Clap.
...
Elias applauded politely.
"I'll admit it. Your mastery of charm magic is impressive."
"But as a maid, you obey every order from your master. Correct?"
"Of course, meow~"
Carlile bounced around him like a little kitten.
"Coffee making, floor cleaning—Carlile can do it all~"
Then she pressed a hand to her chest, eyelashes fluttering, sending flirty glances his way.
"And if Master wishes to do… other things, Carlile can do that too~"
(≖_≖) "Good."
"Then your first task—make me coffee.
After that, scrub every floor, upstairs and downstairs."
╭(°A°`)╮ "Huh— w–wait!?"
"Master doesn't want to do other things with Carlile?"
"Depends on your performance."
---
Ten Minutes Later
Elias lounged on the sofa, sipping the coffee.
Even as illusionary magic, she managed to recreate about 50% of the real flavor.
Her craftsmanship was indeed remarkable.
Suddenly—
From upstairs came a desperate scream.
"Maaaster!!"
"Master, help!!"
"I was kneeling to scrub the floor, and I got stuck in the cabinet!!"
Elias teleported upstairs.
There Carlile was—
Her upper body jammed inside a cabinet, black-stockinged legs kneeling helplessly outside.
---
Outside the Peach Barrier
The crowd nearest the stage perked their ears.
"Did—did you hear that?!"
"Sounded like she shouted 'Master!'"
"No, I swear I heard 'Help me!'"
"What the hell are they doing in there?!"
Frieren tilted her head again.
"Teacher, she's calling Elias 'Master'—that means she's given up, right?"
"And Elias must be pretty cruel to make her scream for help like that…"
(ᇂ_ᇂ|||) "Frieren…"
"How about I give you some money? Go buy yourself a drink. Far away."
Feeling Flamme's escalating rage, Frieren wisely shut her mouth.
Flamme trembled, magic leaking off her body uncontrollably.
Master… help…
What was happening in there?
Elias…
Was your cold, uncaring personality…
all an act?!
---
Inside the Barrier
Carlile wriggled dramatically inside the cabinet.
"Master, save me~ I'm stuck~~"
"I can't do anything like this~"
"If a bad man tried to do something naughty to me, I'd be helpless~"
Elias: (≖_≖)
All he could think of—
was Frieren repeatedly getting herself eaten by mimic chests.
His expression immediately darkened.
"You women… Why do you always like getting stuck in random places?"
"Well, since you can't do anything—this match is over. I win."
Hearing his magic charging behind her, Carlile panicked.
"Damn it!"
The castle shattered—
Reality twisted—
A voice echoed through the void:
"This trick has never failed! You're the first man to ever push me this far!"
"Elias! You forced me—so now you'll face my ultimate move!"
A tower erupted under his feet—
Lifting Elias into the night sky!
Stars glittered overhead.
And in the center of the tower—
Elias stood surrounded.
By thirty-six different versions of Carlile.
Each one staring at him…
Like predators eyeing a feast.
---