Chapter 149: I'll Agree to This Deal
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Since Baiyi was very adamant, Leo decided not to pursue the matter any further. However, there was another guy in the Void who refused to give up and kept babbling about the matter non stop in Baiyi's ear. Ever since he saw his descendant were all doing well and were pink in health, the Walker whose picture was hung on the wall in the Dole's mansion no longer worried about the fall of his family name and instead, he kept bugging a certain somebody to help protect his own descendants.
Of course, matchmaking was a very common matter in this world, the Merchant was a responsible elder as well. However, wasn't it a little too heartless of him to push his own grand-grand-grand-granddaughter towards an ancient old monster like Baiyi? Come to think of it, if he really managed to bind the Fifth Walker as his in-law using a woman, a beautiful woman in this case, it would be the most successful and lucrative deal that he had ever done in his entire life.
Obviously, Baiyi did not give a damn about the unscrupulous ideas that the Merchant had but still, he would not be modest when it came to the rewards that he deserved. The black gold armor had already been taken out of Leo's storage pouch and was lying on top of the table in front of him. Although the armor was fragmented into many pieces, it would not pose a problem for him as he could easily re-attach them back into the original form.
Just as he was about to reach out and put the black gold armor away, Leo suddenly put his hand on top of Baiyi's. In a serious tone, he said, "Although I'm no longer fit for this armor and I do indeed intend to give this to you as a reward, there's one thing that I hope you could promise me."
"This armor was actually intended to be given to the mysterious black-cloaked man who rescued Undine from the grasp of the barbarians and who also had promised me that he would take good care of Undine in the future on my behalf. However, ever since we came back, no matter how thorough we searched, we couldn't find him. It appears that he has rejected this transaction so I have no other choice but to come to you for this favor. It doesn't matter whether you marry Undine or not in the future, but once you've accepted this armor, please protect her with all your heart on my behalf."
Somehow this feels like a business deal instead... Baiyi was a little speechless. Still, in front of such an almighty armor that was eminently tempting, he could not reject the deal.
"Alright," Baiyi solemnly promised as he put the black gold armor away.
Relieved, Leo sighed, "This would be the last thing that I can do for that girl... Anyway, you were the one who defeated that mysterious black-cloaked man, right? And you even snatched the War God's Sword from him?"
"How are you so sure that he was the one I fought with? They were both wearing all black anyway. Who knows? Perhaps they were both members from some mysterious organization, you know," Baiyi randomly made up an excuse.
"Oh, yeah, you do have a point..." Leo started to doubt himself. After all, there were too many people who dressed in all black in this realm, there was no evidence left behind by that mysterious guy as well when he rescued them.
Leo still wanted to continue the conversation with Baiyi but at that moment, Undine suddenly pushed the door open. She looked like she still had not had enough sleep, her eyes were drowsy and her pale blue hair was a bit messy. Even her dress was a little umkempt, especially the area by her chest. Because she was wearing a low-cut dress, Baiyi could easily see the fair pair of mounds in front of her. That fair skin of her that was taken well care of by potions and medicines coupled with the black silk tulle dress covering her body, she appeared to be more alluring and enticing than usual.
Still, Undine was not aware of it. With a blank look on her face, she looked incredibly cute with her barefeet, she had not put on her stocking and shoes yet, and Mia's hammerhead shark doll was still firmly clutched in her arms, it's as if she was completely treating the place as her own house. For a short while, Baiyi had an illusion that he was seeing an adult version of Mia.
However, he was certain he would never allow Mia to wear such a bold and sexy clothes, let alone allowing her to meet guests in such a sloven appearance.
"Eh? I-I'm hungry... Huh? M-Master hope?" Undine murmured softly as she rubbed her eyes with her hand. It took her a few seconds before she realized that Baiyi was standing right in front of her. Instantly, she returned to her senses and the fact that she was in somebody else's house--- a person whom she admired on top of that--- hit her hard.
Hastily, she fixed her clothes and covered the fair and lovely view of her chest before speedily straightening her messy hair at the same time. She looked down wanting to find her shoes before she suddenly remembered that they were still in the bedroom on the second floor. Colors crept up on her cheeks in a jiffy, making her look more delicate and charming. Ashamed, she lowered her head not daring to look at Baiyi as she whispered, "I-I'm sorry, Master Hope. I-I've forgotten my m-manners."
Having said that, she threw a glance at her uncle, relief showing on her face at once, and walked towards him to have a clear look at the armor who was striking a handsome pose for her. Touched, she turned towards Baiyi again and bowed deeply, "Thank you so much Master Hope. You're indeed the only one who can mend him completely!"
Unlike last time, she did not say a whole bunch of useless courtesy stuff anymore, instead, she just uttered a simple sentence of gratitude but still, one could clearly hear the sincerity contained in her words, it sounded more heartwarming than all the other tasteful and flowery words.
"It's alright. Let's have our lunch first," Baiyi looked away as he did not want to peek at the pair of lovely mounds that almost spilled out when Undine bowed down. Seeing that it was almost noon, he used his Mana to take the hammerhead shark doll that was still lingering with her nice scent. Then, hugging it tightly, he proceeded to walk towards the dining room.
When they reached the dining room, the table was already full of the lunch that Attie had prepared beforehand. The lunch was not particulatly extravagant but it was pretty sumptuous. The ingredients were sent in by the farmers nearby after Tisdale had contacted them. Attie who prepared all the dishes were sitting on the couch with her head lowered, dozing off tiredly. It looked like she did not heed Baiyi's advice to take a nap.
Baiyi walked towards her and poked her cheeks as he chuckled. "Kyaaaaaa! " Like a cat whose tail was stepped on, Attie leapt up from the couch and almost hit her head on Baiyi's chin. Hugging her chest tighty, she stared at him vigilantly for a long while before she finally relaxed again. Embarrased, she apologized, "I-I'm sorry, Master. I-I accidentally fell asleep."
Didn't I tell you to go to sleep? Why do you have to be so stubborn? Anyway, why did you show that kind of expression when somebody wake you up? Do you really have to have all your guards up like that? And to even cover your chest when you first saw me? Errr... you practically have nothing to show there, okay? Baiyi mocked her secretly in his heart but his face did not show any emotions at all. Casually, he told her to join them for lunch and asked her to rest after having her meal.
After a while, Undine also put on her socks and shoes. She no longer had that girlish shyness and awkward look on her face, she returned to her usual state befitting of her Butterfly Saint of Swords title. She entered the dining room with Tisdale and Mia behind her, the three of them chatting about some topics that Baiyi was not interested in at all.
One thing that was quite puzzling was that, Undine somehow seemed to know the mansion really well. Without the need for anybody to lead her, she knew the location of the dining room and she even went to the kitchen all by herself to get the tablewares and seasoning, seemingly so natural as if she was at her own house.
Still, there was nothing strange about it. Tisdale was a young girl who stayed at such a big mansion all by herself before she got to know Baiyi. Of course she would ask her best friend--- Undine--- to come stay with her once in a while.
After they were settled on the table, with a relaxed face, she sighed, "Ahh, I still think it's more relaxing staying here, it's even more comfortable here than my own house! Come to think of it, it seems like forever since I last came here!"
"Then, Sister Undine, do you want to live here for a while?" Tisdale asked before she glanced at Baiyi for his approval.
Before Baiyi could say anthing, Undine had already spoken, "No, no, I can't, there are too many things for me to do in the Dole family now..." She said as she dined elegantly. Looking at Mia and Baiyi who was sitting by her side, she exclaimed, "Tisdale, you're so lucky now. Look how many people are by your side right now! You don't need me to accompany you anymore!"
"That's not true! I still need you, Sister Undine!" Tisdale quickly rebutted, "Or maybe you could stay here for a few days after you've finished the work in your family?"
"If I'm permitted, yes, I'll come," Undine let out a bitter smile, not saying whose permission that she needed.
Understanding the meaning of her words, Tisdale quickly added, "B-But it's true that there are just too many things awaiting you to do in the Dole family.
"Maybe things will get better after I get married," Undine suddenly said.
"Eh? With that stinky bastard?" Mia interjected. Baiyi was so shocked that he almost flipped the dining table over.
"I-Impossible!" Undine leapt up immediately, "Mia-chan, d-don't think too much! That stinky bastard is the most terrible and evil person ever! How could he dissapeare just like that after bullying me! Who would fall for that kind of disgusting jerk?"
Although her words might seemed to be quite harsh, the tone that she was using was somehow a little weird. It didn't sound like she had any resentment towards him at all and instead it kind off sounded like she was trying to cover up something with her words. The word 'stinky bastard' did not sound like derogatory, instead, it sounded more like a term of endearment…
Baiyi did not dare to continue to listen to their conversation anymore. He kept hoping that they would finish their lunch as soon as possible but those three women could not stop their prattle as they continued to get on with their gossip non-stop. For a moment, he wondered the real purpose of Undine coming all the way to the mansion. Was she here to chitchat and relax?
Bored, Baiyi reached out to play with Mia's two ponytails. Just as he grabbed a hold of her hair, she briskly shook her head hard and freed her ponytails from his grasp but Baiyi did not give up and grabbed her ponytail one more time. Once again, Mia shook her head and freed her ponytails.
After a few more rounds of that, Mia finally could not take it anymore and pouted at him, "You're so evil, Mr. Hope! My head is dizzy now you know..."
"You really don't like me playing with your ponytails, eh?" Baiyi asked curiously. The girl always went along with him but when it came to her ponytails, she would not allow him to play with it.
"T-That's because our relationship has not progressed to that s-stage yet, Mr. Hope," A faint blush crept up her face as she hastily explained, "I-I'm still a little too young to be your girlfriend now... C-Can you wait for another few years till I grow up?"
"H-Huh?" Baiyi was taken aback. What the hell is this little girl thinking?