[Cheat] Chapter 127: The Barrier

But such nonsense wasn’t enough to fool someone as experienced as Jean. She crossed her arms, fell into a brief silence, and instantly grasped the crux of the matter.

“So, what you’re saying is... you tricked Klee into signing a slave contract?”

“Why would you interpret it like that?!” Zephyr panicked. “First of all, I didn’t trick her—she signed it willingly! And second, it’s not a slave contract… Well, if I think about it carefully, maybe it’s kind of close? No! It’s called a pact! It enhances the strength of the one who signs it!”

“Oh really? Well, I personally think it’s better not to enhance Klee’s strength. She already causes enough chaos and trouble as it is. If she gets even stronger—say, ends up like her mother—I don't even want to imagine the consequences.”

“Uh…” That made a lot of sense. He had no words to refute it.

Klee puffed up her red cheeks in protest, “Mama didn’t cause trouble! Mama is a legendary adventurer that everyone respects! She only accidentally blew up a mountain during one of her adventures. It was totally an accident! Jean, you’re not allowed to talk bad about my mama!”

Paimon was stunned. “She accidentally blew up a mountain during an adventure!?!?”

She turned a bewildered and shocked look toward Jean. Jean could only nod helplessly.

“No way…”

“So, you see what I mean now, right?” Jean continued. “Klee may be small, but she’s already showing signs of becoming just like her mother, Alice. If you really let her grow stronger… the consequences…”

“But… she already signed the pact.”

“Which is exactly why I have a headache.”

In truth, Zephyr had never planned to take Klee to another world. For one, his team already had two elite Pyro users—adding a third would mess up the elemental balance. And second, Klee was just too young. Taking her on adventures across worlds might end up creating traumatic memories. So from the start, he had no intention of bringing her along.

But would Zephyr ever admit that so easily? Of course not. What he thought in his heart and what he said were two completely different things.

“Klee is a powerful ally to me. Asking me to give her up? Impossible! Unless… Jean, you’re willing to replace her and join my team.”

Sudden reversal.

“Me?” Jean looked genuinely surprised.

“That’s right!”

After all, Jean was a noble Anemo user and would perfectly pair with Lumine to form a double Anemo team—no more energy recharge issues. Plus, she was an elite healer. Once her burst skill activated, her healing was off the charts.

And… this was also a form of petty revenge for all the times Amber kept nagging him about Jean. Heh, pulling Jean into his team and making Amber’s most respected person his own teammate? Delicious.

Whether Jean accepted or rejected him, Zephyr had already mentally prepared himself.

What he didn’t expect was that Jean neither agreed nor refused. Instead, her face turned slightly red, and she gently bit her lip with a flustered expression.

He was dumbfounded on the spot. What… what’s with this reaction?

Maybe Jean noticed her own inappropriate reaction, because she quickly turned away and said, “Give me some time to consider.” With that, she shooed everyone out of her office.

??? Zephyr’s mind was full of question marks.

“What just happened?” He had mentally prepared himself for a yes or no. But this? This he was not ready for.

He looked down and asked, “Klee, do you know what’s going on?”

Klee tilted her head and said, “Klee’s not sure either… hmm, maybe it has something to do with the novels Jean reads?”

“Novels? What kind of novels?”

“It’s called Melancholy of the Maiden Vera.”

Melancholy of the Maiden Vera?

Amber gasped. “Isn’t that a romance novel?!”

“Wait, Jean reads romance novels? Klee, are you sure you’re not mistaken?”

“No, no! Klee is absolutely sure! One time Klee went to play with Jean, and as soon as I walked in, I saw her panicking and trying to hide a book she was reading.

Klee was really curious, so I pretended I had gotten into trouble again. While Jean came over to scold me, I snatched the book and ran off! Hehe!”

Klee looked so proud, like she’d just accomplished some incredible feat.

Paimon commented, “Such a rascal!”

Amber asked curiously, “And then? What happened next?”

“Then Klee ran away, of course! Klee was super curious about what kind of book made Acting Grand Master Jean so obsessed. But there were way too many words in it, and Klee didn’t recognize a lot of them. Most of it didn’t even make sense to Klee…”

Amber said, “That’s normal, Klee. It’s totally fine that you couldn’t understand it… But still, I can’t believe Jean actually likes that kind of novel… Hehe, knowing Jean’s little secret is kinda awesome.”

A strange thought surfaced in Zephyr’s mind. “Wait… could Jean have misunderstood and thought I like her?”

Although, to be fair, he did like Jean—but it wasn’t the kind of “like” most people would assume.

He was just… tempted by her looks.

Though, that kind of temptation could easily evolve into genuine affection too.

Paimon said, “Now that you mention it, that really could be the case.”

Zephyr pondered. It really was possible. Everything that just happened could easily be interpreted as him having feelings for Jean, but being too embarrassed to say it out loud. So instead, through Klee’s connection, Jean gradually got to know him. Then with Amber awarding him the title of Honorary Knight, Jean slowly let go of her initial misunderstandings about him.

If Klee hadn’t suddenly butted in, and he’d just kept pushing the angle… maybe he really would’ve gotten Jean to join his team.

But precisely because Klee jumped in, Jean must’ve realized something.

Still, all things considered, the outcome was looking good. Judging by her reaction, there was a high chance Jean would eventually agree to join.

“Honorary Knight, Klee promised to go fish-blasting with Dodoco today—wanna come with us?”

“Sure!”

Suddenly, Klee’s expression changed. “N-no, wait! Klee just remembered something—Klee better not go fish-blasting after all.

Klee should go hide and lay low for a bit. Honorary Knight Sis, Klee suggest you do the same.”

Then whoosh! she vanished.

“Hide?” Zephyr’s heart sank. “Why do I suddenly have a bad feeling about this?”

Paimon added, “Funny. I was thinking the exact same thing.”

“Could it be that Klee caused trouble again?”

“But didn’t she just say she didn’t cause any today?”

“Maybe she meant yesterday?”

“…”

Paimon said, “You know what? Maybe we should just get out of here.”

Zephyr thought for a moment. “No way! I don’t believe Jean would actually have the nerve to arrest me!”

“…”

Paimon muttered, “Ahem. If you think about it… Klee caused the trouble, she’ll take the punishment. We had nothing to do with it, right?”

“Yeah, you’re right!”

But Amber, being the responsible one, said, “You two stay here. I’ll go find Klee and figure out what she did this time, then maybe I can help plead her case to Jean.”

“Amber, you’re so kind,” Paimon said.

With that, Amber hurried off, leaving just Zephyr and Paimon behind.

“By the way, I’ve always been curious about the second floor of the Knights’ Headquarters.”

In the game, the second floor of the Knights’ building was always off-limits.

“What are you planning? This is the Knights of Favonius, you know. If you act suspicious, they’ll arrest you on the spot.”

“What a joke. I’m the Honorary Knight—how could I possibly be a suspicious person?”

Still, he started walking toward the staircase to the second floor.

“Hey!”

Thud!

Suddenly, he hit something—like an invisible wall that blocked his path.

//END