Passing the gate was the last thing that stopped me from reaching Eve's mansion. Despite how big the sect could appear for locals, compared to the cities from Earth, it was just a small village. With my agility capped at my current maximum, covering the remaining distance took me less than just a handful of minutes.
While travelling didn't take me long, all the events that transpired since I left Eve hanging caused the sun to already start rising over the horizon. While its rays were still only shyly adorning the roofs of the taller buildings, I could feel the morning breeze sweeping through my hair as I run through the empty streets.
As I arrived at the gate leading to the mansion, I straightened my clothes and fixed my hair, dishevelled from my mad dash all the way here. Only when my attire and overall looks suited to meeting someone I fancy, I dared to enter the mansion.
"You are back."
The moment that I opened the door, Eve dressed in plain but colourful clothing greeted my eyes. With her sharp senses suited for a cultivator of soul hazard level, she was bound to know that I arrived before I even got close to the door, explaining how she was able to greet me the first moment our eyes met.
"Yeah, sorry for the delay. Had to go through hellish experience in the grand hall. Apparently, Sect Master wants me to join some tournament later on, so I had no choice but to train."
Using half-truths is the best way to hide some informations. I don't have the guts to confess how did Stella got busy with me, so switching the focus of our conversation to the tournament straight away is my sole lifeline.
"Tournament? You don't mean the annual inter-sect springs?"
As soon as I said these meaningful words, Eve's face blanked down and her hands trembled. Only now I realised that she was busy preparing an abundant dinner. Even now she was holding a plate with the freshly baked breed!
"I honestly have no idea. All I know is that it will take place in the next month, about twenty days from now. If the timing matches, then your guess might be right."
In the end, I don't even have my hands on the participation token yet. It would be strange if I knew the exact name of this event! Looking at the multiple dishes prepared on the table in the main hall of the mansion, I would lie if I were to say that I can focus my thoughts on this entire tournament problem!
"It seems that I'm right. I honestly don't know what my master is thinking, forcing you to participate in just like that…"
After a short sigh, Eve couldn't help but put the bread on the table and sit heavily on the chair.
"Ah, forgive my manners, I guess that you are hungry. Come in and let's talk about it while eating."
God damn… How can such a nice girl exist in this barren world? Not only eager to be with me, not showing any signs of being bothered by my disappearance in the worst possible moment, even preparing a abundant dinner for both of us! What did I do to deserve her attention?
"Thank you for the meal!"
As I sit down, I'm immediately swayed by the rich aroma of various dishes mixing in my nose. While earth might have developed cooking to a point of insanity, with the use of local herbs and loving hand, it cannot even be compared to this world!
Using knowledge of my past self to its fullest, I take a big portion of charred meat from the very middle of the table. According to the local customs, if you participate in a feast instead of a simple meal, you are bound to start from the centre and then go through the side dishes. What's important, while preparing such feast, various tastes are placed on difrent sides of the tables, allowing one to eat what he likes while not limiting himself to just a few dishes.
That also shows me how much importance did Eve attach to preparing this meal. With no idea when I will be back, she had to shuffle the meat and other hot bits between the table and the oven, while taking care of all the cold ones. Additionally, I guess that this full, official arrangement of the course comes from the fact, that she simply doesn't know what kind of food I fancy.
What a truly, truly lovely and caring girl! Whenever I realise ever better how much effort she had to put to present me with this awesome breakfast, I feel a small guilt needle poking my soul. While she was busying herself with working hard for my sake, I was humping her master! How could I not feel guilty right now?
"To bring you up to date, I have a duel with Baxhar next evening…"
Unable to handle my remorse while enjoying the course, I try to start a conversation. Only when the colours that just managed to return to Eve's face disappears again, I realise my mistake.
"Why did you get involved with this bastard!"
Suddenly standing up, her cheeks flush in red. Smashing her tiny fists on the table, she stares in my eyes with mute reproach her pupils.
"While you might be strong, he is a prodigy! There is a reason why he was chosen as a sect representative for his respective cultivation level!"
Oh, so that means that Stella believes my talent is far greater than his? If it didn't differ much, the sole amount of experience that Baxhar has after cultivating for years would definitely tilt the scale of her judgment on his side. If she was keen to see me replacing him, that implies that even with her misconception about my strength, she believed I could become stronger than him in this limited amount of time left before the tournament!
"Oh, you are so cute! While I appreciate your worry, you don't need to bother yourself with this. I can't stand his attitude towards you and challenging him was my personal decision."
A little lie won't hurt anyone. Eve doesn't need to know that this duel was forced on me in the first place. But I wouldn't call myself a man if I didn't use this situation to its fullest!
"While I ask you not to worry, I understand that it's not as simple as just saying it is. Would you mind helping me in my training, both for the duel and the tournament later on? This way, I could put your mind at ease while reaching for even greater strength!"