Alice stared at Klein in shock. She spoke sincerely:
"You know what? Right now I feel like I can understand Amon.
"I really, really want to beat you up, but I'm afraid I might accidentally beat something out of you...
"Can you hurry up and get promoted, become the real Mr. Fool tomorrow already..."
Klein gasped in horror.
This reaction made Alice extremely displeased. She glared at Klein viciously for a while, then suddenly smiled and said:
"It's late, go rest early, Mr. Fool~"
That tone of voice wasn't Alice's usual tone, but Klein wasn't unfamiliar with it — after all, he had heard similar tones many times over the past few days — Cynthia.
Forget it, just let her vent... Klein looked helplessly at Alice's figure disappearing on the spot, then got ready to sleep.
He wasn't the type to be particular about beds. Even though he'd been away from the inn's bed for several days, the moment he made contact with it, he still felt that familiar warmth and smoothly drifted into dream...
Dreamland?
Klein opened his eyes in confusion. The sleepiness he had just been brewing instantly receded from his body like a tide, and he became alert again.
"...Alice!" After staring at the ceiling for over ten seconds, Klein finally couldn't hold back and broke down shouting.
The room was silent. No one spoke, no one suddenly appeared. It was as if Alice truly wasn't here.
But Klein didn't believe it at all. He ground his teeth, sat up in bed in his pajamas, pinching the bridge of his nose as he asked:
"What do you want this time..."
With a soft "creak," the door quietly opened a crack. A golden head poked in, blinking as it said:
"Actually, I just wanted to see you get up and lie back down to sleep again..."
Klein was speechless. After a moment of silence, he replied with an all-purpose response: "6."
(Note: "6" (liù) in Chinese internet slang means "awesome" or "speechless admiration," used sarcastically or humorously)
Alice silently withdrew her head.
But since the sleepiness that had been brewing was already gone, Klein called out to Alice:
"Wait.
"You think I could digest the 'Faceless Man' potion by playing as you...?"
Alice, who had only halfway backed out, hesitated for a moment, opened the door, entered the room, and locked the door behind her.
Under Klein's puzzled gaze, she said somewhat hesitantly, "You really won't beat me after playing as me...?"
"...So even you know you're really asking for a beating?" Klein glared at her.
Alice lifted her head and started looking at the ceiling.
Klein gave her a speechless glance and continued:
"I think I've kind of gotten used to it... If you started talking properly, I'd probably feel weird."
Alice looked at Klein in surprise. Just as she was about to speak, she heard his familiar voice: "Shut up."
She obediently covered her mouth and swallowed back her question about "Are you an M (masochist) or something?" Then she lowered her hand and voiced another question:
"But if you're going to play as me, what are you going to do?
"Go to the The Forsaken Land of the Gods and be Amon's toy?"
Klein fell into deep thought. He suddenly realized that playing as Alice might be... a bit too dangerous.
No, even if it wasn't too dangerous at first, if he wanted to stay in character, it would definitely get too dangerous later...
Recalling all the big and small troubles Alice had stirred up, Klein fell silent.
Alice looked at Klein and finally couldn't help but complain:
"Actually, if you really want to be Amon's toy, you don't have to pretend to be me. After all, you two are..."
Klein looked at Alice with a blank expression.
After staring at each other for a few seconds, Alice blurted out: "So you're into body-swap fiction!"
"Get out." Klein was concise.
Alice lowered her head and glanced at the floor, then hesitantly turned to look at Klein. Before she could speak, Klein had a flash of inspiration, reorganized his words, and said:
"Leave."
Alice obediently left.
...
They met Bilt Brando again at noon the next day.
Alice, carrying a mysterious sense of ceremony, came with Klein to the "Sweet Lemon" bar.
Alice didn't hide her figure. While concealing the unique aura belonging to a demigod, the oddly dressed yet outwardly docile-looking girl attracted quite a few stares.
Many gazes landed on her, and then received stares from the crazy adventurer next to her.
Alice acted as if she didn't notice the silent exchange of looks. In a flash, she appeared in front of the bar. Under the bartender's startled gaze, she half-lay across the counter and asked:
"What's the most popular drink here?"
That blink-step, which revealed no trace of mystical fluctuations, succeeded in making everyone withdraw their gazes. Klein paused in his steps, then naturally walked toward the bar.
After hearing Alice's question, the bartender calmed down a bit, smiled, and replied with a hint of pride: "Of course, it's the most popular drink in all of Oravi — 'Sweet Lemon'!"
"I'll have..." Alice fished a one-pound note out from her person, glanced back at Klein, and continued, "Two glasses."
Klein came to a stop.
After appreciating the bartender's fine cocktail-making skills, Alice took the change and the two glasses of "Sweet Lemon," bouncing over to Klein and handed him one.
Klein stared at the liquid swaying inside the glass — swaying, but not spilling — and fell into thought.
Alice didn't bother with him. Holding the "Sweet Lemon," she took a light sip.
This cocktail called "Sweet Lemon" was overall pale yellow, with an indistinct green swirl adding a refreshing touch to the drink's appearance.
Mint leaves and lemon slices decorated the inside. Alice stared at the glass for a few seconds and thought it could use a straw.
She lowered her head, ready to take a sip and taste the flavor, but suddenly heard the sound of someone entering. She looked up at the door in confusion.
The newcomer was a man with black hair and blue eyes, hair meticulously groomed.
He was wearing a tailcoat-style formal suit, stepping in leather shoes, though the cuff buttons were left undone.
He looked somewhat nervous and uneasy, ignored all the gazes here, scanned the bar quickly with his eyes, and successfully locked onto his target.
Without looking sideways — though his arms and legs moved awkwardly — he walked over near the underground boxing ring, exhaled slowly, and a somewhat stiff smile appeared on his face as he stared at the stage without blinking.
Just a new gambler — nothing worth paying attention to — Alice lowered her head again and sipped her "Sweet Lemon."
As she got closer to the drink, a lemony fragrance wafted up. Alice squinted in satisfaction and sipped the sweet-and-sour liquor.
Klein would definitely like this taste... But seriously, a crazy adventurer with a sweet tooth really ruins the image...
Alice licked her lips, glanced at Klein who was currently cosplaying as Gehrman Sparrow.