Contrary to my previous experiences of going through the sect streets alone, as soon as we stepped through the mansion doors, entire area attention instantly got drawn to our pair. While I would prefer to be rather low profile here, it's not as bad as it might seem on the first look.

In a matter of fact, even with all the looks scanning through me, I'm still invisible for most of them. The one attracting most of the eyes here is Eve! With her light, bright-blue robe and a few small, red additions like waist belt or shoes, she looked like a fleeting fairy descended upon the mortal world. Even with her long blonde hair covering her shy blush on her cheeks, I still noticed how uncomfortable she was in this situation!

"Are you sure you want to go out like that? If you want to change, we still have more than enough time for you to do it!"

I can't say I'm not concerned about her state of mind, but it would be a pity if she indeed changed. Even if she is shy, she had to have some reasons to dress like that. If she goes back on her resolve right now, all of her effort of choosing the right robes would go to waste!

And well, I can't wait to see how Baxhar will react when he sees her! If he realises that's how she dressed knowing that he is going to lose, he might even do something stupid and funny at the same time! If I were, to be honest, I kind count on his reaction to force him to bet the tournament token on our duel!

With every step that we make towards the duelling arena of the inner sect, I can feel the looks that crowd gives me, changing for more and more hostile. While at the mansion doors people noticed me as some small fry on the goddess side, when our direction became obvious, I felt like I have suddenly become public enemy number one!

How did I earn this kind of bad fame? I won't believe everyone here is jealous of me! At least a huge portion of these people is bound to have some sort of relationships with another gender. Aren't they scared of their significant other reaction if they realise whats going on? We are in the cultivation world for God's sake! If we go with the remaining tropes, at least half of the girls here should be so-called tsundere or yandere!

Oh, I really need to stop being bothered by those stares. With Bonger at hand, I'm bound to attract a lot of hostility later on! Rather than being anxious about it, I should use this occasion to temper my mind for future sake!

"I'm sorry."

Hmm? That came out of nowhere. What can she be sorry about? Did she add too much salt to our breakfast and was apologetic about it now?

"What do you mean, sweetie?"

Turning my head towards her, I notice how she looks to be burdened by something. Shoulders dropped low, anxiety in her eyes, legs passively following my lead… Ok now, I will kill anyone who caused her to have such a sour mood!

"If not for me, you wouldn't have to fight with this prick. If not for me, you wouldn't catch his devious eyes in the first place!"

Unable to speak loudly is she didn't want the crowd to hear her reasoning, her silent voice forced me to lean towards her. As a man, I couldn't help but catch a sniff of her hair while doing so!

"Don't you dare speak like that!"

This is the first time when something she said manages to flare me up! Is this what it means to care for someone else? If that's not the case, how her feeling guilty about something like this could spark the flames of my wrath?

"It was my choice to stick with you after our encounter in the forest. It was my choice to disregard this little shit while at that. Now its also my own choice to trash him up for both your and my own sake. While I won't deny that your dubious relationship with him took a part in breeding our conflict, it's his own personality that forced this duel onto him! Instead of blaming yourself, either blame him or praise me for finally standing up to such devious behaviour!"

I simply can't help it. While for you it might not be much, receiving care and warmth from someone else, don't forget that I'm intruder to this world. Maybe its caused by the influence of my previous self whose body I took over, but I'm simply starved for feelings! While there was no great romance or tragic story behind my relationship with Eve, this is not a fucking movie or Kurean drama! In real life, whats matters are the small daily details, that build upon themselves!

"Now, straighten up, push this lovely chest forward with pride and look confident! The happier and more confident you look, the better reaction we will have from Baxhar!"

As I say those words, I pat her back lightly as if to help her to straighten her back.

"What a shameless guy... "

"Not only does he threaten her, he even forces her to fake her attitude like that…"

"Truly, a wolf in the skin of sheep!"

At this moment, with nothing else taking my attention I hear whispers to my side. In that instant, my mood sours while I understand where the hostile looks on me came from! It seems that this little shit played some of his cards even before the duel started!

He is one hundred years too young to think that he can face me off in terms of bullying! While earth might be civilised, we have a great history of bullying each other! Starting from ancient and middle ages of Eurobean dramas, through the real history of politic marriages, ages of colonisation and enslaving other races, ending at the school bullying ordeal that I went through! If he thinks he has any chance in shady games against me, I will teach him a lesson soon!