Free Web NovelChapter 792: Chapter 48: Stories from the Past
Akai Hinako couldn’t recall her impression of the person in front of her.
Nor could she confirm what kind of acquaintance or relationship they might have had in the past.
But from everything that happened in the Seventh Anomaly, and the recent mention by the Gem Elder, the elder’s wisdom seemed to subtly point in this direction... So, even if it couldn’t be determined, she intuitively formed a preconceived hazy notion in this regard.
But that’s exactly why it made her even more furious, wouldn’t you agree!
Even now, this deliberate ignorance and cold attitude towards her made the literature girl exceptionally angry.
"Knock, knock, knock"—
A loud, crisp sound echoed.
Akai Hinako expressionlessly extended her knuckles, exuding a cold aura, gently tapping on the table before her, forcibly drawing everyone’s attention to herself.
"Gudah, I have a way to enhance you, considering the technology of the neural implants and biological exoskeletons from the Sea of the Moon, all of which can be considered, and I have the Divine Legacy from the Atlantic Anomaly Zone as well, which could use nanomachines to enhance you. It’s a technology to complement the Divine Steel Body..."
Gu Mo was enthusiastically giving Fujimaru Ritsuka advice, planning to elevate her from an ordinary person’s level directly to that of a Crowned Servant.
It was also to fulfill his own obsession—
The true Gudah of chaos should tear apart Heroic Spirits by hand, otherwise, what kind of Gudah would he be?!
After being interrupted, he looked somewhat puzzled at the literature girl, hesitating slightly: "Miss Akai Hinako, is there an issue?"
Gu Mo, of course, did not deliberately ignore Akai Hinako, nor did he intentionally treat her coldly.
In fact, he just naturally maintained his original attitude, much like he did in the past Seventh Anomaly.
—Back then, Akai Hinako worked hard to maintain her persona, playing the role of a literature department junior...
—Gu Mo hadn’t exposed it, instead aligning naturally with the advantageous side of Akai Hinako’s state at that time, allowing them to interact reasonably well during that brief journey, even if they didn’t become friends, they at least had a speakable relationship...
But now, while maintaining his past mindset, the literature girl’s mindset across had already changed.
Subconsciously hoping for an explanation or a statement, but when unmet, Akai Hinako naturally felt he was showing a deliberately cold attitude... especially as she formed certain preconceived notions, causing her to lean toward such judgments.
She stared intently into his eyes, unafraid of his power and status, solely seeking answers to her inner doubts, and asked word by word:
"There is indeed something... Don’t you have anything to say to me?"
"..."
"..."
"Seems like no?"
Gu Mo thought for a bit, answering with a somewhat uncertain tone.
Akai Hinako was momentarily stunned, the emotions and momentum she’d painstakingly gathered halved in an instant. This led her to lose a bit of her cool, remaining glaringly displeased at him.
The latter blinked innocently in response, a demeanor that incensed her even more. But honestly, Gu Mo was at a loss about what to say. He couldn’t boldly claim that originally... he was craving her body and thus summoned her via the Address of Suppression?
Well, from a certain perspective, the truth might indeed be that.
But he couldn’t possibly announce accountability for it; it’s not a terrorist attack... truly a head-scratching issue.
Yet continuing to tangle over it will only cause more trouble, so better to clear it up directly—
Hesitating briefly, Gu Mo could only ponder carefully before saying: "Alright, alright, this situation is indeed my fault. Actually, it’s like this, Miss Akai Hinako, I knew about you very early due to some reasons, and at that time needed to borrow your power, so I lied to Chaldea..."
"And then?"
"That’s it, really."
—Though a lot, a lot of specifics were omitted.
—But that’s essentially how things were.
"..."
"..."
The air grew quiet and a bit tense.
Surveying around, likely noting everyone’s odd expressions and looks, Gu Mo sighed, very earnestly adding: "That’s seriously it, and when I say I knew Miss Akai Hinako, it means I knew of her existence one-sidedly, not that we knew each other. So, I seized the opportunity while she was unconscious to extract intel from Chaldea, definitely not for other reasons!"
The tone was very earnest, emphasizing seriously.
Yet the more he stressed it now, the less believable it became.
Fujimaru Ritsuka and others exchanged glances, Akai Hinako also appeared unconvinced: "Borrow my power? I wasn’t aware of this, plus you never mentioned it afterward..."
The elf essentially cared for nothing, having long been weary of everything in the world, and naturally wouldn’t restrain due to the other’s identity, status, or strength. At this moment, she only wished to clarify past matters, to understand why everything was as it was.
"..."
"..."
Another brief silence ensued.
"Borrowing Miss Akai Hinako’s power doesn’t mean directly seeking your help; it’s just that, for me to achieve Immortal Ascension, I needed to reference your body, that’s what it meant..." Gu Mo organized his words, continuing to speak. Since it was already out in the open, might as well explain everything clearly.
