Although various kinds of magic were the mainstream of this world, there were indeed a small number of martial arts experts as well.
While they might not be able to alter terrain with a wave of their hands like High-tier mages, their speed and strength in close-quarters combat often reached levels that left mages of the same rank stunned.
And in this world, Greg knew of only one person who could release a sword aura like the one just now.
"Allie, I knew it was you! I was just planning to look for you."
The moment he rushed into the alley, Greg immediately spotted that familiar figure through the slanted golden rays of the setting sun.
She was standing in the depths of the alley, half of her body bathed in golden light while the other half was submerged in the shadows cast by the wall.
She was a beautiful girl with dark golden hair.
Her long hair was tied behind her head in a neat high ponytail, exposing her slender, pale neck.
A few strands of hair hung beside her cheeks, glowing with a soft luster in the twilight, and in her hand was a longsword she had just sheathed.
Judging by the dress she was wearing, though, she had likely just been out for a stroll.
It was only because she happened to hear the commotion nearby and saw Greg when walking over that she chose to draw her sword to help.
Otherwise, given her personality, she would most likely have walked away, treating it as none of her business.
Greg had expected to be greeted with a barrage of sharp words for his actions, but to his surprise, Allie merely gave a cold humph, turned her head, and stepped deeper into the alley.
Her steps were swift, showing no intention of waiting for him at all, her ponytail whipping behind her in a crisp, sharp arc.
There was only one possibility.
Allie was angry.
Greg froze for a second, then immediately gave chase.
Though he didn't know what this idiot maid was mad about this time, he knew full well that if he didn't soothe her mood now, any subsequent plans could kiss smooth progress goodbye.
After all, he was still relying on her as his main enforcer to conquer the Empire Dungeon.
"Hey, Allie!"
Greg picked up his pace to walk side by side with her, turning his head to size up her expressionless profile:
"You don't look too good. It's a waste of such a pretty face, you know."
Allie didn't look at him, offering only another cold snort as she turned her head away.
Undeterred, Greg circled around to her other side and pressed on:
"It's still early. How about I take you out for a big meal, just the two of us? Anything you want! Barbecue? Seafood? Or that dessert shop you said you wanted to try back then?"
"Hmph!"
Allie's response was still that same cold humph, her eyelids not even twitching.
Greg: "..."
Running into a brick wall twice, he had gained zero useful information.
Normally, with his personality, he would probably give up for now and wait until her anger blew over.
But not this time. The next dungeon conquest depended on this powerful ally, so he had to resolve the issue today.
And so, he decided to break out his final trump card.
Greg worked up his emotions for a moment, then reached out and took Allie's wrist, softening his voice with rare sincerity:
"I'm sorry, Allie. I know I was wrong. I promise I won't ever do it again."
This was a man's last desperate card to play when pushed to the wall.
Even if he had no idea what made her angry, admitting fault first was the way to ease the atmosphere and open communication.
Hearing this, Allie indeed stopped in her tracks.
She turned her head, her eyes coldly fixed on Greg, her expression showing little sign of improving.
Her lips curled into a mocking arch, her voice laced with a deliberate tone:
"Hmph. How could a person as brilliant as you, Young Master Greg, ever make a mistake? The one at fault must be me—a maid whose cooking you can't even stomach."
Greg immediately rebutted:
"Who said your cooking is terrible! I think your... cooked rice is pretty good! Besides, comparing my intelligence to yours is like a firefly trying to outshine the full moon! So the fault is definitely mine! You aren't in the wrong at all, Allie!"
Allie's brow twitched slightly, but the tension in her expression hardly softened.
She stared at Greg, fell silent for a brief moment, then spoke slowly, an underlying anger echoing in her voice:
"Since you know you were wrong, why were you hanging around that woman again? Looking as if you were rekindling an old flame, no less?"
"That woman...?"
Greg froze for a second, then immediately realized that "that woman" Allie referred to had to be Vivian.
But he remembered that Allie and Vivian ought to have known each other for a long time. After all, as his personal maid who had been with him since childhood, there was no way Allie didn't recognize the blue-haired girl who had once been betrothed to him.
That was precisely why he had ultimately agreed to hit the streets with Vivian, believing there would be no harm even if the two ran into each other.
But right now, looking at Allie's expression that clearly suppressed a surge of rage, he suddenly realized things weren't as simple as he had imagined.
Allie seemed to hate Vivian even more than she did Victoria and the others.
Just why was that—
"..."
A few drops of cold sweat broke out on Greg's forehead.
Suddenly, a clue dawned on him.
He only now remembered that three years ago, when his engagement was broken off, Allie had stormed off to the royal capital alone to vent her frustration for him, causing quite a stir.
Back then, she was genuinely indignant on his behalf, truly wanting to demand justice for him.
So from her perspective, seeing him today looking like he was rekindling an old flame with Vivian and fighting side by side again would indeed make her extremely pissed off.
After all, regarding the broken engagement back then, even though he had been an unmitigated scum, she had stood by his side so unwaveringly.
But Greg noticed a critical flaw in her logic: the premise of Allie's anger was that he had rekindled an old flame with Vivian.
But in reality, he hadn't rekindled an old flame with Vivian at all!
Although he had successfully resolved the conflict between the sisters Vivian and Lilith, causing the estranged relationship between him and Vivian to shift slightly, Greg felt that change wasn't major.
At most, they had gone from strangers who avoided each other into friends who occasionally exchanged favors.
Shopping together today was merely because he happened to run into Vivian, and she likely just wanted to buy something to return a favor.
That was far from rekindling an old flame!
Rate on N.U.
