Game World: I Can Share Talents

Chapter 339 - 64: I’m Wired to Be Rather Suspicious and Cautious (Part 2)

"Since the other sisters are here as well, I have no reason to refuse."

Elaine gazed silently at Westheid’s face, which seemed so dreamlike it could have materialized from a fairy tale, and couldn’t help but sigh.

"Duke Qinghui, you’re not what the rumors described. Thinking back, those absurd stories must have been nothing more than gossip!"

"What rumors?" Westheid asked.

Elaine brushed a lock of hair from her ear with her slender fingers and smiled.

"That you make a move on any beautiful woman around you, without distinction. That your close confidants and allies are all part of Duke Qinghui’s personal harem."

The Duke Qinghui stroked his chin and nodded. "Oh, that’s not a rumor. It’s largely correct."

"Hm?"

Elaine’s smile froze for a moment, her beautiful eyes widening as she stared at the man before her.

Westheid explained with perfect composure.

"It’s because my personal ’setting’ is to be rather suspicious and cautious, so establishing deep and close relationships is necessary. As things stand, subordinates who have been completely conquered by me are more trustworthy."

This certain Clan Leader of the Purity Forest, the Imperial [Branch of Prosperity], the Knight King of Yonglan, still possessed the unadulterated mindset of a powerhouse deep down.

’It wasn’t that he discriminated against men; he just felt he couldn’t ensure their complete loyalty. After all, loyalty that isn’t absolute is absolute disloyalty!’

’And the greatest benefit Westheid had experienced was gleefully freeriding on his own Charm. It had already become a path of least resistance. And there wasn’t a single person he had completely conquered who wasn’t utterly devoted to him!’

’Don’t ask! If you have to ask, the answer is the confidence brought to me by [Extraordinary Charm], [Flawless Face], and [Bright Radiance Manifested in the World]!’

Just as Yolanda had said, Westheid’s "estate" was simply too vast!

"..."

Elaine, who had just started to relax, felt her heart leap into her throat again, and she took half a step back without drawing attention to it.

Westheid noticed the small movement and chuckled.

"What are you afraid of? Relax, I would never stoop to using force. You don’t need to worry about that."

’To be honest, even if Westheid was ninety-nine percent in the wrong for toying with their emotions, weren’t the beautiful girls who threw themselves at him at least one percent to blame?!’

The Black-haired Witch’s expression was no longer quite so friendly. Her eyelids lowered slightly as she spoke.

"...Am I to understand this as you placing importance on us? I can’t imagine that with your current prestige and power, you would still need the help of the [Ring of Clear Skies]. You could just beckon, and countless Caster organizations would flock to your side—organizations far stronger than a group of country Witches like us, dabbling in unorthodox arts."

"I do. Of course I do. In fact, it’s extremely important," Westheid said quickly.

"You all know the most about the Demons running rampant in the Thousand Laws Royal Court. Even if the link is broken, the connection is still there... And to take a step back, it should be possible to research some countermeasures based on the remnants of the contract, right?"

Elaine was taken aback. "Duke Qinghui... Are you planning to fight the Demons in the Thousand Laws Royal Court?"

"I wouldn’t say I’m determined to fight them, but it’s always best to be prepared, isn’t it? An unrestricted Celestial God’s Shadow has become something of a threat to my grand cause."

’What kind of super-interventionism is this? He barely manages his own territory but loves meddling in the affairs of other nations. Speaking of which, the fact that an Imperial [Branch of Prosperity] could become the Knight King in the Country of Yonglan is already bizarre enough.’

’Are you a Yonglan Knight or the Qinghui Lord?!’

Westheid asked directly, "Can you do it?"

Elaine took a deep breath. After accepting the power of the Master of Extinction, her only path forward was to serve under the banner of the Qinghui Territory.

So, her answer was inevitable.

"...We can only do our best with the research. We can’t guarantee a result that will satisfy you."

"Ha, that’s fine. Even just having you as consultants would be good."

Westheid didn’t have absolute expectations; he was just in the habit of making thorough preparations for everything.

Clapping his hands, the Duke Qinghui began instructing the maids to prepare for the evening banquet.

Seeing this, Elaine also curtsied and took her leave, ready to carefully digest the information from their conversation.

「Evening soon fell.」

The night in the Holy Land was no dimmer than the day, for this was the Qinghui Territory.

It was the place in the entire Mortal World closest to the concept of the "moon," and had even given birth to a Holy Spirit who presided over "Aesthetics."

The bright, pure Light of Qinghui scattered down gently, casting a hazy glow over the shallow lake, the forest, the lotus pond, and the lawn. Under this pale silver filter, the already picturesque Holy Land became as unbelievably beautiful as a dream.

On the soft lawn, preparations for the banquet were complete. Carpets and tables were laden with fine wine and delicacies, surrounded by various open-air bars and lounge sofas.

The confidants from Su Yue who had been invited gradually arrived at the banquet. Westheid hadn’t been exaggerating; a glance around revealed a scene of dazzling beauty. From the attendants to the Courtiers, not a single woman of even average looks could be found.

’Anyone who didn’t know better would think the Emperor had summoned his imperial consorts for an orgy.’

’Ah, so it really is a harem, fundamentally? Never mind, then.’

As the sole male at the banquet, Westheid was not disturbed. He currently appeared ascetic, dignified, and serious.

He was sitting cross-legged on a smooth, warm spring stone, his face tilted slightly upward to receive the glow of the moonlight.

Although Westheid barely used his ancestors’ Glowing Radiance, and his fighting style was a complete hodgepodge, he showed almost no trace of the Qinghui Bloodline aside from his face.

Moreover, his usual words and actions made him seem less like one of the Purity People and more like the Yonglan People.

But one could not deny the purity of Westheid’s bloodline as the Duke Qinghui just because of his abnormal cultural views!

Even if [Heart and Soul’s Gift] had given him all sorts of bizarre Talents, they were fundamentally manifested out of thin air and did not pollute his bloodline.

Therefore, when basking in the Light of Qinghui, Westheid felt an unparalleled sense of comfort. A cool, purifying sensation spread through his entire body, which he enjoyed immensely.

Just as the Duke Qinghui was enjoying this rare moonbath, a faint fragrance wafted over as a soft body pressed against him from behind. First, a pair of arms wrapped around his waist, then their owner nimbly slipped around to settle into his lap.

"*Sniffle*... West, West... Forgive me, please? I won’t dare to do it again."

Opening his eyes, Westheid was met with the exquisitely beautiful yet pitiful expression of his own Holy Spirit Ancestor. What could he do? He could only sigh and say,

"I wasn’t that angry to begin with. I took into account that you would get carried away. I know that besides me, no one can restrain you."

The Pure Holy Spirit nodded vigorously, like someone pounding garlic, and immediately shifted the blame.

"That’s right, that’s right! It’s all because those maids were telling me all sorts of strange things that I got more and more arrogant. I didn’t mean to disrespect you, you know. My ’setting’ is to be modest and gentle."

’With that cautious and pitiful look, you’d think Westheid was the ancestor.’

’And now she’s even copying the way I talk!’

"Blaming your own arrogance on the fawning and flattery of your subordinates is a mistake. But for you... forget it. Ultimately, it was my own lack of consideration."

Westheid spoke sternly, but in the end, he let her off easy.

’Never mind that the Pure Holy Spirit had lived for so long, her mind was simply too... childish. Hmm, I should say she was just too pristinely innocent.’

In thousands of years, the number of people the white-haired girl had spoken to could be counted on two hands. Since being rescued by Westheid, the intensity of her social life had increased ten-thousandfold. And besides the current Duke Qinghui, the adoration and fawning from the other Purity People toward their Holy Spirit Ancestor—it goes without saying—could easily make the White-haired Ancestor’s head swell.

Since she was admitting her mistake so sincerely now, Westheid decided not to mete out too much of a punishment.

Westheid stood up, still holding the Pure Holy Spirit who was clinging to him like a koala, and walked over to the Half-Elf Maid who had just approached and was waiting respectfully.

"Rozana, the book I asked you to bring..."

"Right here, Duke Qinghui."

Snapping out of her infatuated daze, the Miss Half-Elf Maid with the long, jade-green hair and voluptuous figure quickly produced a thick tome and handed it to Westheid.

The heavy, black-and-gold book was embossed with the script of the Royal Court.

Song of Melody Ensemble