However, that guy is a ruthless character who can only be restrained by a seal. To be honest, eliminating her is indeed a bit difficult. But if direct methods don't work, Ellie can resort to indirect ones, right?
Besides... Ellie still has Nazarick as a powerful backing. No matter how strong Bai Xia is, she can't defeat all of Nazarick, can she?
"You've only met her? Then, Ligurit, tell me, does Lord Bai Xia really look a lot like me?" Ellie asked, feigning curiosity. This was actually a rhetorical question; if they didn't look alike, the Elf King, Dragon Maid, and Ligurit wouldn't be treating her this way.
"No, she doesn't…" Ligurit shook her head. This answer greatly surprised Ellie. If they didn't look alike, was the Elf King just teasing her back then? That shouldn't be the case. Even excluding that pervert, there was still the Dragon Maid!
"It's not a matter of looking alike… uh… I should say that if both of you were the same age, no one would be able to tell you apart if you stood together." This addition from Ligurit greatly relieved Ellie.
However, a new problem arose. Her previous assumption about Bai Xia's resemblance to her was that it was a coincidence—that one of the forty-one players of Nazarick had created a character based on Shalltear and Albedo's appearances.
After all, it was a very free game! It was understandable for people to have similar faces. However, the current statement was that, except for age, Bai Xia should be a mature, older sister-type character, right?
Chao Lu had also repeatedly mentioned her child-like form, which confirmed that at least Bai Xia was in her older sister state when she created them… And since Chao Lu mentioned it, did that mean Bai Xia also had the ability to change her appearance?
Otherwise, it would be difficult to explain why Chao Lu so readily accepted her, a child-like version of Bai Xia. Of course, this was assuming the previous conspiracy theory was wrong. Currently, Ellie was still more inclined to believe that all of this was Bai Xia's deliberate arrangement.
"Is that so! No wonder they mistook me. So, what should we do next?" Next, it was time to figure out what Ligurit was doing here!
"Since they mistook you for their master, it's easy. My main purpose for coming here this time is to find equipment that can counter visitors from another world," Ligurit said in a low voice.
At this, Bell tilted her head, seemingly confused. Ged was also bewildered, looking at Ligurit. As a visitor from another world, as Ligurit described, Ellie naturally had to feign a puzzled expression to respond.
"Visitors from another world? What are those?" Ellie continued to ask. Since Ligurit brought it up, she must want Ellie to keep asking, right?
"Heh heh! If I were to explain, it might overturn your understanding of this world, but for a young lady with such a legendary past like Ellie, it should be a piece of cake, right?" Ligurit said with a smile.
Ellie nodded with a solemn expression, indicating understanding… Of course—she was faking it. She probably knew more about transmigrators than Ligurit did.
"However, now is not the time to talk about this, little sister Ellie… would you mind asking your attendants to take us to the treasure vault here?" Ligurit said.
"I'll try!" Ellie agreed. There was no reason to refuse in this situation. Although it might mean the equipment left by the Eight Greed Kings would fall into Ligurit's hands, if it really came down to it, she would find an opportunity to eliminate her, right? It would be best if she could use Chao Lu or Snow Elf's hands. Hmph!
...At this time, on the other side, Chao Lu and Snow Elf, who had been sent out by Lord Bai Xia, stood somewhat dejectedly outside the dining room door. Although Snow Elf wanted to eavesdrop on what her master, whom she hadn't seen for a very long time, was saying to the guest her master brought back.
But as soon as Snow Elf pressed her head against the dining room door, Chao Lu pulled her back and stared at her without a word. Snow Elf understood that if she disobeyed Lord Bai Xia's orders again, Lord Bai Xia might leave and never return, so she settled down and squatted obediently outside.
"Hey! Trash can, how long has Lord Bai Xia been away from here?" Snow Elf, squatting, asked Chao Lu, who was beside her, feeling a bit bored. However, Chao Lu ignored her.
"Hey! I'm talking to you?!" Snow Elf shouted again, clearly displeased.
"Hmm? Is the silly kitty talking to me?" Only then did Chao Lu react, replying without any emotion or tone.
"It's just you and me here! Of course, I'm talking to you! Ah! Broken trash can!! You tricked me again! Meow ah!! Uh… never mind, I'll forgive you this time." Snow Elf realized she had fallen for Chao Lu's trick again and was called a silly kitty by Chao Lu.
However… Snow Elf didn't jump up and fight Chao Lu as she usually did this time. After all, Lord Bai Xia was back. What if fighting Chao Lu over such a small matter again, making a mess of the surroundings, angered Lord Bai Xia?
"Then I really thank you," Chao Lu replied to Snow Elf in her usual toneless manner.
"You still haven't answered my question from earlier, have you?" Snow Elf seemed not to have forgotten the question she had asked.
"I don't know, I didn't keep track," Chao Lu replied. However, she did… Chao Lu remembered exactly how long Lord Bai Xia had been away.
"Don't lie to me! I clearly saw you secretly running to the back garden and doing something sneaky before every shift! When I waited for you to go to sleep and ran over to look, I saw the stone wall in the back corner of the back garden was covered in tally marks! What does that mean! Confess honestly!" Snow Elf jumped up and pointed at Chao Lu.
"Hmph, that's your only good point…" Chao Lu glanced at Snow Elf with disdain, then turned her head and ignored her. Snow Elf wasn't so easily dismissed. She immediately pounced, and Chao Lu directly pinched Snow Elf's forehead with one hand.
"Ow ow ow! It hurts! My head's going to explode!! It's going to explode!! Quick! Quickly! Let go!" Snow Elf, whose head was being squeezed, immediately let out a wail.
"You are not to mention this in front of Lord Bai Xia! Understood?!" Chao Lu said emotionlessly, without a hint of feeling.
"I… I know! I! I won't say anything! Let go quickly!" Snow Elf tightly gripped Chao Lu's hand, struggling incessantly, but it was useless.
After all, Chao Lu was specialized in strength; she could crush her head anytime she wanted. Snow Elf, who had been with Chao Lu for so long, understood this.
But Snow Elf also knew… Chao Lu wouldn't really hurt her. Sure enough, after Snow Elf gave her promise, Chao Lu let go.
"Ugh… You always pinch my head. What if I become stupid!" Snow Elf squatted down, clearly displeased, covering her forehead as she spoke.
"It's fine, you're not smart to begin with. Being a little dumber won't be a problem," Chao Lu said.
"Hmph… Maid Chief Chao Lu wrote and drew all sorts of things on the back garden wall! Everyone, go look!" Snow Elf suddenly shouted, which made Chao Lu momentarily show a rare expression of panic, but it disappeared in an instant.
"What do you mean!! Aren't you afraid I'll really crush your cat head?!" Chao Lu said.
"I only promised you I wouldn't say it in front of Lord Bai Xia, and Lord Bai Xia isn't in front of us right now, is she!" Snow Elf stuck her tongue out at Chao Lu, then dodged Chao Lu's iron claw with a flash, moving far away.
"You mark my words! Don't let me catch you! Silly kitty!" Chao Lu did not pursue, because Chao Lu knew that if Snow Elf wanted to play seriously with her, she wouldn't be able to catch Snow Elf, who was specialized in agility and stealth.
Although every time they clashed, she always won, the reason was that she had blasted away all the places Snow Elf could hide. The most serious time, she had almost torn down half of the entire palace. Now that Lord Bai Xia was back, she couldn't do that anymore.
For now, she would let this cat be arrogant for a while. She would deal with her properly when she found an opportunity for her to relax! Chao Lu thought.
"Chao Lu, would you mind cleaning up? We've all finished eating." At this moment, Chao Lu heard Lord Bai Xia's voice from the dining room. As soon as Chao Lu heard Lord Bai Xia calling her name, her face flushed slightly.
"I'll come clean up right away…" Chao Lu immediately responded, then tidied her appearance slightly. This should be fine; she couldn't disgrace Lord Bai Xia, Chao Lu thought, then pushed the door open and entered.
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