Chapter 350: Never Tempt Fate
Qin Chu wasn’t overly concerned about Shaye Shub-Niggurath’s emergence from seclusion.
The crucial information was the confirmation of another Shaye’s existence.
As for her leaving her laboratory… she was probably just bored, wanting some fresh air before returning.
Even if she did venture out, it would likely be within the vicinity of the Demon King’s Palace, not a human city.
And even if she did visit a human city, the Heavenly Continent was vast, with hundreds of major cities. It was unlikely she would come to the Imperial City.
And even if she did, the city was large and populous. A chance encounter was highly improbable.
He wasn’t worried.
He was even slightly curious about what would happen if the two Shayes met. It would be… interesting.
Having received Candice’s report, and after some… intimate activities, Qin Chu left.
He had another destination.
Lex’s weapons shop.
He was curious about Lex’s condition, over a month after being infected with the Evil God’s thread.
He walked through the streets of the commoner district, soon arriving at the shop, which was brightly lit despite the late hour.
The clang of metal echoed from within.
A man was hammering a piece of red-hot metal.
Was that Lex?
He wasn’t sure.
While the man’s attire and facial features resembled Lex, his physique…
His once-scrawny frame was now muscular, his arms bulging, sweat dripping onto the hot coals, sizzling.
His bones seemed broader, denser.
Suddenly, the man looked up.
While his face was no longer wrinkled, its contours were unmistakable. It was Lex.
Qin Chu frowned.
It seemed the thread hadn’t corrupted him, but had instead… enhanced his physique?
This wasn’t what he had expected.
Lex, seeing Qin Chu, grinned, his teeth now uneven and jagged, bits of flesh stuck between them.
His bloodshot eyes glowed red, and beside him sat a large piece of raw meat, presumably beef.
A grill sat over the coals, chunks of beef sizzling on it.
This guy knows how to live, grilling while he works.
“Ah, Hero! Welcome!” Lex said, wiping his greasy hands on his clothes.
“I came to check on my weapon,” Qin Chu said, nodding slightly.
“Hahaha, it’s finished!” Lex said excitedly, a strange glint in his eyes: “I don’t know what’s happened, but I’ve been feeling incredibly energetic lately, full of strength.”
“I spent an entire month forging your weapon, day and night. I guarantee you’ll be satisfied.”
He reached for a piece of beef from the grill, seemingly oblivious to the heat and his dirty hands, bringing it to his lips.
The meat was still bloody, clearly not cooked through.
He was about to bite into it when he remembered Qin Chu, his face flushing slightly as he offered it to him: “Hero, would you like a piece?”
Looking at the bloody meat, Qin Chu’s stomach churned.
He forced a smile: “I’ve already eaten.”
Lex, no longer hesitating, devoured the meat, his face and mouth smeared with blood.
Qin Chu had a theory. The Evil God’s threads were meant to transform their hosts into monsters, like Karsus and O’Niens.
But they had been powerful individuals, easily transformed.
Lex, a mere mortal, wasn’t strong enough. So, the thread was enhancing his physique first, preparing him for the transformation.
And during this process, the host seemed to require… a lot of food.
Lex was exhibiting signs of… beastial transformation.
He devoured the meat in a few bites, then, as if remembering Qin Chu’s presence, he chuckled awkwardly and retreated into the back room.
His primal instincts and his remaining rationality were clearly clashing.
This man wouldn’t last long. He was another Karsus in the making.
Qin Chu looked forward to it.
After a while, Lex emerged, carrying a long sword.
Seeing his masterpiece, his consciousness seemed to return, his eyes filled with reluctance.
After a moment of hesitation, he presented the sword to Qin Chu.
The familiar silver scabbard, the feather-like handguards, the dark golden hilt… adorned with images of the sun, moon, and stars.
He drew the blade, its polished surface gleaming.
It was a beautiful, deadly weapon.
He held it point down, then released it.
With a swoosh, the blade pierced the stone floor, sinking a foot deep.
“Hero, what do you think?”
“It’s perfect,” Qin Chu said, nodding in satisfaction.
“It seems even better than the one you used to kill me in my past life,” Shaye said, having reappeared.
She tried to maintain her usual demeanor, her arms around his neck, her head resting on his shoulder, but a faint blush colored her cheeks.
“Shaye, I…”
“Let’s not talk about what happened earlier. Everything is as it was before,” she said, trying to sound nonchalant.
While clearly not unaffected by their earlier encounter, she wasn’t ready to discuss it.
Despite her power, she was still, in some ways, like an ordinary girl.
Lex, oblivious to Shaye’s presence, beamed, his excitement evident.
“Mr. Lex, thank you for forging this weapon for me. I’ll repay you handsomely,” Qin Chu said, smiling.
“Hero, you jest. You’re the savior of the Heavenly Continent. Forging a weapon for you is my greatest honor. I don’t need any reward. Just… visit me again sometime,” Lex said happily.
No, a reward is necessary. And you’ve already received it. I’m sure you’ll be… very satisfied.
Qin Chu smiled, nodding slightly, leaving 100,000 mana as payment, then turned to leave.
Outside, he handed the sword to Shaye: “Can you remove the magical trap?”
Shaye grumbled, but she took the sword, vanishing into his body.
She was annoyed by his attitude. Couldn’t he say something nice after… that? He was acting as if nothing had happened.
What a jerk.
Qin Chu sensed her displeasure and sighed inwardly.
You were the one who said not to mention it. And now you’re angry?
Women…
He shook his head, heading back towards the Residence.
The night air felt heavy, oppressive, the usually bustling streets eerily quiet, only his footsteps echoing, a lonely sound.
He reached the noble district.
He saw two figures in the distance.
A man, his face familiar.
It was Carlos, the man who had pursued Natia in the library, the man who had beheaded him with the Damocles Sword in the first loop.
He was a handsome man, his face always adorned with a charming smile.
He was talking to a woman.
“My lady, your beauty rivals the moon itself. Would you grace me with your presence at dinner?”
Couldn’t he come up with a better pick-up line? Qin Chu thought. That was pathetic.
Carlos, the president of the Adventurer’s Guild, a War God, his strength, status, and appearance impeccable, was undoubtedly popular with women.
But he was devoted to Natia.
Qin Chu was curious about the woman who had captured his attention.
He looked at the woman standing opposite Carlos.
Her silver hair shimmered in the moonlight, her crimson eyes captivating, a combination that was particularly effective against Heroes.
It was like she was dancing on his XP.
Qin Chu nodded approvingly, assessing her.
Her face was delicate and lovely, her lips full and inviting.
Her figure was tall and slender, her waist narrow, her curves perfect.
A long black dress hinted at the shape of her legs.
She looked familiar.
The more he looked, the more familiar she seemed.
He rubbed his eyes, then his eyes widened…
“Holy shit!”
Chapter 351: Because You’re So Beautiful
Holy shit!
Qin Chu wanted to slap himself. Never tempt fate.
He had thought that even if the other Shaye emerged from seclusion, she would likely stay near the Demon King’s Palace, unlikely to visit a human city, let alone the Imperial City. And even if she did, a chance encounter was improbable.
And now… here she was.
Indeed, the woman Carlos was trying to pick up was none other than Shaye Shub-Niggurath.
The other Shaye was currently residing within his body, showing no signs of activity, so this one must be from the Demon King’s Palace.
What was she doing here?
His shock quickly subsided, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the situation.
In his previous life, she had rarely left the Demon King’s Palace until he had nearly reached it.
Had she come for him, for the other Shaye?
No, she shouldn’t be aware of the other Shaye’s existence.
Shaye and Nagath were the only two level 100+ beings in the Heavenly Continent.
While he was now much stronger, capable of facing level 90+ opponents, he was still no match for Shaye. Too many beings were leeching off his experience.
The difference between level 99 and level 100…
Even at level 99, one was still within the realm of mortals.
But reaching level 100 transcended human limitations, breaking free from the Heavenly Continent’s constraints. One was no longer entirely human.
Not quite a god either… perhaps a demigod.
Like Nagath’s attack, that arc of energy he had been unable to withstand, escaping with a teleportation scroll.
He still couldn’t withstand such an attack.
Encountering Shaye so soon was a bad omen.
And worse, he had exclaimed “holy shit” out loud.
In the quiet night, his voice echoed through the streets.
Carlos frowned, irritated.
He had been trying to woo Natia. While he was devoted to her, he still had… needs.
As the president of the Adventurer’s Guild, a nobleman, he couldn’t simply visit… those establishments. He maintained a respectable image.
And he wasn’t interested in the other noble ladies, most of whom were… well, not to his taste.
Only someone like Natia, powerful, beautiful, elegant, and noble, was worthy of him. His only regret was her lack of noble status, despite being a Grand Mage and the future leader of Sage Mountain.
But Sage Mountain’s influence was considerable. He could tolerate her commoner status.
Marrying her would grant him control over Sage Mountain’s resources, and with the thousands of adventurers under his command, he would become a powerful force in the Heavenly Continent.
He was an ambitious man.
But his invitation to dinner, his planned confession, had been rejected. She had even declared her love for the Hero.
That damned outsider.
He had barely managed to suppress his rage, his desire to kill Qin Chu.
That bastard, stealing the woman he had set his sights on.
But he wouldn’t give up. He was certain Natia was merely infatuated with Qin Chu. She would eventually realize he, Carlos, was the better choice.
He had visited Sage Mountain, hoping to see her, but he had been turned away. All the Grand Mages were in seclusion.
Dejected, he was returning when he encountered a breathtakingly beautiful woman, far surpassing even Natia and Loseweisse.
Her beauty was such that he didn’t even care about her status. He wanted her as his wife.
Though they were strangers, he had approached her.
He had thought they were alone, but that rude exclamation had ruined the moment.
Damn it! Whoever that was, they were dead.
Both Carlos and Shaye turned towards the source of the sound.
Carlos, about to unleash his anger, saw the person and his face paled: “Hero…?”
Indeed, it was the Hero. Countless thoughts raced through his mind. Was he deliberately sabotaging him?
It had happened before with Natia, and now again with this mysterious beauty. It couldn’t be a coincidence.
Hearing the word “Hero,” Qin Chu cursed inwardly. He didn’t want Shaye to know his true identity.
While she was merely a guest of the Demon King, unconcerned with the war between humans and Demon Beasts, his status as the Hero could still make him a target.
As if to confirm his fears, Shaye’s crimson eyes seemed to brighten, her gaze fixed on him with curiosity.
Seeing her interest, Carlos’s heart sank. Surely this beautiful woman wasn’t also attracted to the Hero?
Shaye tilted her head, as if pondering something. After a moment, her clear voice echoed through the night: “What does ‘holy shit’ mean?”
Both Qin Chu and Carlos almost choked.
That was what she was curious about?
She didn’t even know what it meant. How… innocent. To Carlos, she suddenly seemed even more appealing.
And hearing those words from such a beautiful woman was… strangely captivating.
Qin Chu’s eyes darted around. While it was a common phrase for him, explaining its meaning was surprisingly difficult.
After a moment of thought, he smiled, bowing slightly: “My lady, I apologize for my outburst. Your beauty is simply… breathtaking.”
“I couldn’t contain my admiration.”
Shaye’s eyes narrowed dangerously.
She was well aware of her own beauty.
She thought she understood now. Because she was so beautiful, he wanted to… What?
Seeing her expression, Qin Chu quickly clarified: “Please don’t misunderstand, my lady. I was merely expressing my surprise, nothing more.”
Is that so?
Shaye’s expression softened, a smile even touching her lips.
This woman is clearly captivated by the Hero’s sweet words. If this continues, his own chances will be ruined. Carlos wouldn’t allow that. Maintaining his charming smile, he stepped forward, blocking her view of Qin Chu.
“My lady, I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure of learning your name. Might I invite you to dinner?” He seemed to have a strange obsession with dinner invitations.
He wasn’t interested in the noble ladies, finding them… lacking. This had resulted in a lack of experience in… courting women.
Shaye, annoyed by his interruption, frowned at the smiling man, then sidestepped him, her gaze returning to Qin Chu: “Compared to this… clown, I’m more interested in the Hero.”
Carlos’s face flushed, his body trembling with rage, his eyes blazing.
He clenched his fists, his teeth grinding.
This was an unprecedented humiliation.
His pride as a nobleman had been trampled upon.
But Shaye ignored his reaction, tilting her head, her gaze fixed on Qin Chu, a puzzled look on her face: “Hero, have we met before?”
“I feel a strange familiarity…”
And a sense of kinship!
