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Chapter 400: Embarrassed Artoria, You Are Just a Scumbag
Night had descended, and silence enveloped everything.
Above the darkened sky, only a few scattered stars twinkled alongside a moon that cast soft, silvery light across the landscape.
In the Calm Belt, on Rusukaina Island, the quiet land, dense forests, and ancient lakes were draped in a delicate layer of moonlight, giving them an air of serene tranquility.
In the twilight's glow, the world seemed at peace.
Outside a secluded valley, the silence was profound, as if every living creature had retreated to rest.
Suddenly, a faint glimmer of light flickered in the darkness.
A figure clad in a striking white dress materialized, accompanied by a tiny creature resembling a fairy fluttering beside her.
"Artoria, come on, hurry up! I cannot wait to see the master unleash his wild side!" the tiny fairy chirped in an adorable, eager voice.
The creature had delicate wings like those of a cicada, a charmingly petite face, and flowing golden hair that shimmered in the moonlight. This was Jin, Artoria's ever-present companion.
At that moment, Jin noticed Artoria lingering after their arrival on Rusukaina Island and began to prod her impatiently.
"Jin, please do not say such things… it is terribly embarrassing," Artoria replied, her cheeks flushing a deep rosy hue, as if they might drip with her mortification.
Her slender, fair hands instinctively rose to cover her chest, her embarrassment palpable.
Artoria's current attire was undeniably eye-catching.
Her golden hair had been meticulously styled, gathered with a blue ribbon that lent her an air of refined elegance.
But her hair was not the focal point.
The true centerpiece was her outfit: a sheer, pure-white dress, so thin it was almost translucent, faintly revealing the contours of her skin beneath. The gown was her only covering for her upper body, leaving little to the imagination.
Up close, her graceful figure was impossible to ignore.
This bold ensemble, paired with Artoria's shy expression, created a striking blend of allure and innocence.
Naturally, this outfit was not Artoria's idea. It was Jin who had suggested it, even crafting the dress using her own magical abilities.
Wearing such a daring garment to meet her master filled Artoria with overwhelming shame. She needed time to steel herself mentally.
Jin overheard Artoria's faint murmur, her voice so soft it was barely audible, like the hum of a mosquito. If not for Jin's keen hearing, most would have missed it entirely.
"Artoria, you are a king! Why are you hesitating over something like this? You are usually so decisive!" Jin complained, her tone tinged with exasperation.
Artoria's expression darkened slightly at Jin's words. If Jin had not suggested such an outrageous outfit, would she be dawdling here, paralyzed by embarrassment?
She had been swayed by Jin's persuasion, foolishly asking for her help in choosing an outfit. That decision had left her on the verge of bursting with shame.
Noticing Artoria's reproachful glare, Jin felt a twinge of guilt but quickly rallied with an excuse.
"Artoria, I am doing this for your own good! You are far too naive right now. You need to be bolder!" Jin declared, her golden wings shimmering as she flitted through the air.
She perched on Artoria's shoulder and began to speak with earnest conviction, though her cute voice slightly undermined the gravity of her words.
"Bolder… but this is already too bold," Artoria murmured, glancing down at the gauzy dress clinging to her form.
This outfit could not simply be called bold—it was practically seductive! If she appeared before her master like this, what would he think of her?
More than the shame gnawing at her heart, Artoria worried about the impression she would leave on her master.
Seeing Artoria's hesitation, Jin guessed her concerns and spoke with unwavering confidence. "Do not worry! The master is the master. How could he not understand who you truly are?"
"More importantly, you need to be bolder in your actions later, understand?" Jin added, her tone instructive.
At Jin's words, Artoria's imagination seemed to conjure something vivid. Her face flushed crimson, the blush spreading to her neck, and wisps of steam seemed to rise from her head.
"This… this kind of thing is far too shameful! I cannot do it!" Artoria stammered, her eyes spiraling like mosquito coils in her flustered state.
Jin, intrigued by Artoria's reaction, wondered what scandalous image her companion had envisioned. But seeing Artoria so overwhelmed, Jin sighed in exasperation.
"Artoria, you are impossible to deal with! If I were not so small, I would have taken matters into my own hands instead of fussing over you!" Jin huffed.
Jin was a lifeform created by Kai within a nascent system. Because the system was imperfect at the time, Kai had simplified Jin's creation by making her diminutive in size.
Now, Jin's true form was fixed, and altering it on her own was no easy feat.
Of course, she could enlarge herself using her ability called "Hope," but to Jin, that state felt like wearing a puppet's shell. Though she retained all her senses, it was not the form she desired.
"Jin…" Artoria snapped out of her shy reverie at Jin's words, her face still red but now tinged with irritation.
She clenched her teeth and glared at the tiny fairy on her shoulder. Jin's smug expression ignited a spark of frustration in Artoria, and she reached out, snatching Jin into her palm.
"You are so young, yet you think of such things!" Artoria exclaimed, her voice sharp with indignation.
Held in Artoria's grip, Jin showed no trace of fear. "I am not that young!" she retorted, puffing out her chest with a mischievous grin.
"Though I am not as… endowed as that Big-Breasted Monster, I am still quite impressive!" Jin teased.
"That is not what I meant, and you know it!" Artoria shot back, exasperated.
"Hmph! Artoria, being small is not an issue. I am certain the master could help me if he wanted to. But he is so infuriating, always keeping me at arm's length. Otherwise, I would have succeeded by now, and I would not have care about you!" Jin declared, her tone defiant.
As Jin spoke, a silly grin spread across her face, and she seemed to be drooling slightly at the thought. Artoria stared at the tiny fairy in her hand, struck by the vast gulf between their senses of propriety.
Thankfully, Jin was still small. Otherwise, she would be a real handful.
But how could she be so brazen?
Lost in her thoughts, Artoria barely noticed as Jin snapped out of her dreamy expression. The fairy wriggled free from Artoria's grasp and fixed her with a serious look.
"Artoria, you are too timid! Compared to those other women, you are practically a coward. Even if you are a knight, I feel stronger than you!" Jin said, her voice firm.
"The master has been swept away by those women countless times, and here you are, still blushing and hesitating. If you keep this up, there will not even be scraps left for you!" Jin continued, not giving Artoria a chance to respond.
"You know the Scarlet Queen Giada, right? She even sat and chatted with you after your duel," Jin went on, her words sharp. "I could tell her smile was mocking you."
"You do not even know half of it. After fighting you, she went back to the master and spent the night with him. Shall I describe what she did?"
( End of this chapter )