Does this even make sense?
Now I see why the uncle was so formidable—he was mixed up with the Abyss Order. But the problem is—
'Am I supposed to take over his role and contact the Abyss Order myself?'
[ No need for that. You just need to do what the uncle was supposed to do. That way, the enemy won't be able to distinguish your existence through their prophecies! ]
Is that how it works?!
Ren looked skeptical. However, Teyvat did have astrology and fate-reading, so maybe at the System's level, this actually made sense. It was strangely reassuring.
So—
'What does this character card actually do?'
He continued his mental dialogue with System-chan while swiping through his holographic screen. He quickly found a shimmering card.
( Note: Per the "acting" rules of this world, the Character Card allows the user to project the aura and persona of the "Villainous Uncle" to trigger specific storyline interactions. )
I'm just a fresh college graduate! A pure-hearted guy who's never even held a girl's hand! This mission seems way too advanced for me!
[ You'll never level up if you don't try new things~ ]
System-chan's snickering was impossible to hide.
"Well, thank you so much for the 'encouragement,'" Ren muttered aloud.
Images flashed through his mind: the heroic Eula leading a SWAT team, and the flushed, vulnerable Eula he had seen in the restaurant. His heart began to race.
Just then—
CLICK.
He turned toward the bedroom door. Eula, dressed in a simple T-shirt and denim shorts, stood at the entrance. Their eyes met.
Speak of the devil.
Ren tried his best to suppress the chaotic thoughts in his head. He looked at Eula as she walked into the room and struggled to find an opening line.
"Uh... hello?"
"Hello..."
For some reason, Eula's gaze felt incredibly strange, and the atmosphere was thick with awkwardness.
On Eula's side, a different "System" was buzzing in her ear.
[ If the Protagonist activates the card, you'll get an immediate notification. You have to get into character quickly, Eula! Don't blow your cover. ]
[ Oh, and when you're in character, remember to keep it natural. Don't make it look forced. ]
Eula felt mortified. 'Do I really have to do this?' she asked internally.
Based on what she had been told, the voice in her head belonged to a goddess. She wanted to be respectful, but...
Looking at the floating text in the corner of her vision—[ Protagonist's Mission: Interaction with Eula 0/1 ]—she felt a powerful urge to run away.
As the eldest daughter of the Lawrence family, she had been raised with strict discipline. Aside from her relatives, she had never even held a man's hand! Now she was expected to "cooperate" with a boy she had known for less than a day? This was—this was too much!
She felt her sense of shame exploding, her face heating up rapidly.
[ We know this is hard for you, Eula. But think about it: if the Protagonist hadn't stepped in, your uncle would have actually drugged and controlled you. That wouldn't have been 'roleplay.' And his intentions wouldn't have been as innocent as our handsome Protagonist's, right? ]
[ Plus, with the Abyss Order involved, they might have used you to infiltrate the Lawrence family! It wouldn't just be you in danger; your entire family and all of Mondstadt could face a catastrophe! This mission is for the safety of the world! ]
Eula bit her lip. While she doubted her incompetent uncle could cause a world-ending disaster, she knew her fate would have been miserable if he had succeeded.
She gritted her teeth. 'I understand!'
[ Yahoo! That's the spirit! ]
Ren, sitting on the bed, watched Eula stand there in silence. Her expressions were changing every second—from shame to resolve to embarrassment. He was completely baffled.
Meanwhile, his own System was cheering him on:
[ Go, go, go! Now is the perfect time to use the card! ]
[ It's just the two of you in the room, and I can guarantee no one will interrupt! Won't you at least try it? ]
'Why do you sound more excited than I am?' Ren grumbled. But looking at Eula—standing there with her tall, fit figure, her long legs looking like a model's under those shorts—he couldn't help but swallow hard.
[ Behind the Scenes ]
"Go for it! Go for it!"
"Charge, Your Eminence~!"
The group of goddesses behind the screen were shouting and cheering like they were watching a championship game.
Ren slowly sat up, feeling a bit weak from the explosion earlier. He looked at Eula and asked, "Um... where's Amber?"
[ Aww... ]
Are you seriously disappointed? Ren rolled his eyes at the System.
"Amber... she went to work," Eula replied. She had regained some composure, but her eyes still darted away whenever they met Ren's. "This apartment was a gift from my father as a thank you. He insisted I stay and show you proper gratitude, otherwise, I'd be at the station right now."
"This place looks incredibly expensive," Ren noted.
As expected of the elite. Getting a luxury high-rise apartment as a "thank you" was a huge move. Suddenly, he felt he had a very good reason to use that card. Father-in-law, I'm ready to join the family!
"Don't worry about it," Eula said, shaking her head. "This gift is a small thing to us. If you have any other needs, you can tell me directly."
[ Ooh, look at little Eula being so proactive! ] the Goddess-System teased.
Eula's face turned bright red. 'I—I didn't mean it like that!'
Ren tilted his head. "Needs? Well, I don't need much... but could you come sit here for a second?" He patted the spot on the bed next to him.
"Eh?" Eula froze. Her heart hammered against her ribs.
[ Ooh! Here we go! Eula, your goal is in sight! ]
'I told you, I don't have a "goal" like that!' Eula screamed internally. Her face was scorching, but she forced herself to take a step forward. "I... suppose I can do that. Is that all?"
[ Great acting, Eula! Keep it up! ]
'Please stop talking!'
"Well..." Ren watched Eula sit down beside him. The faint scent of lavender drifted from her. He checked with the System one last time.
'If the card makes her think I'm her uncle, she won't actually kill me, right?'
According to Amber, Eula was a combat elite. If she really fought back, Ren's "9-Physique" body would be flattened in seconds.
[ Don't worry! Eula will perceive herself as being in a 'captive' state where she cannot resist. No matter what you do, you're safe! ]
System-chan sounded way too hyped.
Fine...
Ren looked at Eula, who seemed to be spacing out. He took a deep breath. 'Goodbye, my life as a pure, innocent youth!'
'System, activate the "Uncle" Character Card!'
[ Confirmed! Character Card effect begins in... ]
[ 3! ]
On Eula's side:
[ Quick, quick! He used the card! Get into character, Eula! ]
'I—I—' Eula was panicking.
[ 1! ]
[ It's showtime, Eula! Look at him! ]
Feeling the heat spread from her face to her entire body, Eula forced herself to look Ren in the eye. Imagining he was the villainous uncle who had tried to ruin her, she said with a slight tremble in her voice:
"You... you villain! What do you intend to do with me?!"
[ Wow! Straight to the point! What an invitation! ]
Eula: "—?!" Wait, I didn't mean it that way!
Realizing how her words sounded in this context, Eula's shame turned into a literal fever.
[ Needs more emotion, though. You don't sound like you're facing an enemy. ]
Across from her, Ren's expression was strange. Why is she reacting like this? She looks... shy?
But more importantly, the fact that she said that meant the card was working!
He felt a surge of adrenaline. System-chan whispered in his ear, fanning the flames:
[ What are you waiting for? Go for it! Time is precious—you only have 15 minutes! Given Eula's physical stats, it won't be easy to 'break' her composure. You wouldn't want the mission to fail, would you? ]
I get it already!
Ren looked at Eula's flushed face and her long, perfect legs. He finally gathered his courage and reached out.
"I'm just going to teach you how to be a 'good girl,' Eula. You'll understand my 'kindness' soon enough."
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