“It’s nothing, really. We’re just here to find someone.”
Well, well.
Just to find someone, and these two girls who had originally resisted the exchange student spots were willing to come all this way?
And from Sakura Province all the way to the mainland, no less.
That was a real, genuine move away from home. Without some decent funds, they probably wouldn’t even be able to afford a trip back during holidays—plane tickets overseas were ridiculously expensive these days.
“Who’s got that much pull to make you two travel all this way just to find them?”
Even if it was a meetup with an online friend, surely it wouldn’t warrant going this far? Usually, even couples who met online stuck to nearby cities.
A trip from a place like Shanghai to the southwest was already rare, let alone from Sakura Province all the way to the capital.
Natsukawa Mirai hesitated for a moment. Since this guy could communicate with Tachibana Rin, even if she didn’t spill, Tachibana Rin would probably tell him anyway. So she decided not to hold back anymore.
“Have you read… Dragon Raja?”
Dragon Raja?
Xia Xi froze.
That was his book! The person these two were looking for had something to do with his own writing?
“Yeah, I’ve read it.”
“The person we’re looking for is the author of that book.”
“Huh?”
Xia Xi was pretty sure he’d never revealed his real identity. So how had he caught their attention?
It made sense that someone like Luo Xinyu—a wealthy heiress—had her own ways of digging into Xia Xi’s background.
And Liu Yiyi and Lin Xuesong had only gradually figured out his identity through frequent contact with him.
Up until now, everything had been smooth sailing. No readers had sent him hate mail or anything. But now, out of nowhere, two girls had popped up looking for him—and they happened to be top-tier beauties.
“Is something wrong?”
Hearing his puzzled “Huh,” Natsukawa Mirai furrowed her brows.
Why did this “Master Wizard” seem so surprised?
Could it be…
“Do you know the author of that book?”
If he didn’t, he wouldn’t have reacted like that just now. Natsukawa Mirai was certain that this guy who’d taken over her best friend’s body had the leads they were after.
“Of course I—”
Xia Xi was still weighing whether to say he knew or not when the system’s voice rang out in his ear.
[Side mission completed. Chewed sake made by Natsukawa Mirai has been delivered to the host’s original body.]
[New side mission detected: Playing the Field Is a No-Go
Admirers of the host want to see with their own eyes what kind of person could create a character like Uesugi Eri from Dragon Raja.
Given that the host claims to be devoted to one person, please prevent them from discovering your identity as the author. No playing the field.]
[Mission reward: A gentle hug from Luo Xinyu
Mission failure penalty: From the day after your identity is discovered, absolute choices will appear in your mind for three consecutive days.]
This unexpected mission made Xia Xi choke on his words for a second.
“Of course I… don’t know any Dragon Raja author! Come on, as a great wizard under the Heavenly Emperor’s command, why would I care about some nobody author?!”
Something’s off!
Natsukawa Mirai frowned, sensing that something was amiss.
In her view, Xia Xi should have realized that she knew he was just an ordinary human. Yet here he was, bringing up the “great wizard” persona again—it felt like he was covering his ears while stealing a bell.
So this guy occupying Tachibana Rin’s body really did have something to do with the author of Dragon Raja!
Could it be that some deity had actually heard their prayers and sent this guy through her spirit-summoning ritual?!
No, no, no!
Natsukawa Mirai! You’re a firm materialist! Stop going on about deities and whatnot!
“Alright then~ I was hoping you might know something about that author. I was even ready to give you a foot rub and a shoulder massage as a little bribe~”
Hearing that, Xia Xi’s mouth twitched slightly.
Were girls these days always this direct? Using stuff like that to test a comrade?!
Since Xia Xi and Natsukawa Mirai hadn’t moved apart and were still standing close together, the warm breath from her words hitting his face brought back that strange sensation in his body.
Xia Xi pulled out Tachibana Rin’s phone to check the time and decided to leave this danger zone immediately. A seemingly pure and cute little shrine maiden fox like Natsukawa Mirai was definitely someone he should steer clear of.
Especially since Tachibana Rin’s body already had feelings for her. What if she went too far one day and he couldn’t hold back? He didn’t want to be some playboy.
Well… technically, even if that happened, it would be Tachibana Rin’s body, not his own…
After mulling it over, Xia Xi didn’t even bother saying goodbye—he just left directly.
After all, this mission didn’t have a time limit. If he couldn’t win, couldn’t he just avoid the situation? He’d just stay cooped up inside while in the capital. Once he got back to Yu City, these two girls would have to stay in the capital for their studies. They’d be miles apart, so there was no way they’d find him.
And if they tried using connections to track him down? Come on—two young girls who’d come all the way from Sakura Province to the mainland—how could they possibly have connections here?
…
“Master Wizard? Why aren’t you saying anything?”
Natsukawa Mirai looked at her silent best friend and suddenly sensed a dangerous vibe.
No way, no way? She’d only acted a little cute—was this wizard already losing control?
What if he pounced on her? He was using Little Rin’s body—if she fought back, would she hurt her? Maybe… she should just endure it? Pretend it was actually Little Rin herself. Two girls together probably couldn’t get into too much trouble…
“Natsukawa!”
“Huh?! Present!”
Tachibana Rin felt control return to her body and saw her silly best friend’s expression shift through all sorts of emotions until her cheeks even started turning pink. So she called out loudly.
Who knew Natsukawa Mirai would snap to attention like a schoolgirl and yell “Present!”—it made Tachibana Rin burst out laughing on the spot.
“Damn it!”
Seeing that, Natsukawa Mirai naturally realized her best friend was back.
“Here I am, doing my best to save you, and you’re still teasing me! You deserve a beating!”
“Hmph! You’ve got some nerve talking about ‘doing your best to save me’—was that ‘best effort’ making me drink that chewed sake you personally made?”
Tachibana Rin twisted her neck, rolled her shoulders, then put on a fierce look like she was about to beat Natsukawa Mirai up.
“I never noticed before—you little fox are actually pretty adorable~ How about… Little Natsukawa, you compensate me with your body for my wounded heart?”
Natsukawa Mirai saw the mischievous smirk on her best friend’s face and shot her an annoyed glare.
“Get lost! So disgustingly lovey-dovey—I’m so over you~”
