Jobless Transmigration: I'm the only one who loves monsters.-Chapter 119

Chapter 119:

’ To think that this bastard had actually won, how could he have actually passed the first test, using one of her pieces!’

The thought burned within her mind like acid eating through metal, fueling the fury that never seemed to diminish no matter how much time passed. And now he stood there staring at her silently.

’ Was he expecting her to beg? Was that it? Was he waiting for her to humiliate herself further by pleading for his acknowledgment after everything that had passed between them?’ The mere thought of it, the idea that she might owe anything at all to this insignificant speck of humanity, set her blood boiling all over again. Not only had he humiliated her at the gathering point with that casual, infuriating touch, but even now, even here, he was finding new ways to make her feel small and dependent.

’ Tsk... I refuse!’

Who cared about him anyway? Why should she care what he thought or what he wanted? Thanks to his foolish decision to reveal his method to everyone, she could simply pass this examination on her own without any help from him at all.

Once he left, She would find the pieces she needed, and would solve her own puzzle, and she would do it without owing him or anyone anything.

She wanted him to just wait and see that she didn’t need his charity, and she most definitely didn’t need his acknowledgment, nor did she need anything from him whatsoever.

Her eyes swept across the hall, taking in the other examinees who were still working on their puzzles, and a cold smile touched her lips.

She would simply take what she needed from these peasants, and none of them would dare to refuse her. That was how things worked, after all. That was the natural order of the world, and she was perfectly comfortable enforcing it.

But then Lucuis spoke, and his words shattered every assumption she had just formed.

"Of course she is part of our group." His voice carried across the space between them with that same calm certainty he had shown throughout. "After all, we would not have passed without her contribution. Her piece was the final piece we needed, How could we possibly claim victory and leave her behind after she provided something so essential?"

’ Even if she did try to kill me because of it just now.’ he said the latter part to himself, not bothering to say it out loud.

His reply left strange expressions on several faces throughout the hall, particularly on the face of the stout old man who had earlier accused him of cheating.

They found it genuinely difficult to believe his words, how could they accept that he meant what he was saying, because it was absolutely clear to anyone paying attention that he could have simply collected the piece he needed from any number of other sources.

He had not needed the princess specifically. But instead had chosen her specifically, and that choice made no sense according to any framework they understood.

Even the princess herself felt the absurdity of his words pressing against her consciousness, rejecting the possibility that he meant what he said. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Instead , she continued to believe that he was still probably trying to force her to owe him something. To think he was so shameless as to continue trying to create a debt that she would be bound to acknowledge despite her hatred of him, she thought to herself.

That had to be it. That was the only explanation that made any sense to her.

But then, contrary to every expectation she had formed , the very man she despised above all others turned toward her with a charming smile that held no trace of mockery or triumph within it. His expression was open, warm, almost inviting, as if they were old acquaintances rather than bitter enemies.

"Like I said before, it has been a very long time since I last met someone like you." His voice carried genuine warmth now, filled appreciation for something he saw in her that she could not begin to fathom. "There is no way I would let you fail here, After all..."

He began approaching her as he spoke, his steps slow and deliberate, and despite every instinct screaming at her to attack, flee, or do something other than stand there frozen like a statue, she found herself rooted to the spot, unable to move as he drew closer.

"We promised each other that we would duel after we both passed the entrance examinations, did we not?" He stopped when he stood directly before her, close enough that she could see the details of his features, the intelligence burning in his eyes, the genuine anticipation lurking behind that infuriating smile. "I am still very much looking forward to that duel, you see. I would appreciate it greatly if you did not stand me up by failing in anyone of these tests. That would be terribly disappointing for both of us, well for me to be frank."

The princess clicked her tongue with obvious dissatisfaction, her teeth grinding together as she fought against every urge to respond with violence. "Tch. Do not think for a single moment that I will go easy on you just because of this. If anything, I will fight twice as hard to make you regret ever laying eyes on me."

A smile spread across his features at her words, permeating excitement and anticipation the simple joy of someone who had found a challenge worth pursuing.

"I would not want it any other way." His voice dropped slightly as he spoke. "If you went easy on me, you’d only disappoint us both."

" Rather, I want you to give me everything you have, alright!" He said, yet before anyone could say another word, before the princess could formulate any response to this unexpected declaration, magical circles erupted into existence beneath the feet of every single person Lucuis had collected pieces from throughout this examination. The light blazed upward, surrounding each of them in turn, and the examiner’s voice was heard through the rising glow.