As the words left her mouth, a subtle flicker of real emotion crossed her eyes for the first time.
Fear? No. That’s not fear... Trepidation? Uhtred analyzed. Just the mention of this Demonic Cult made her show a real expression for the first time...
He filed that information away just as Nayu An’s bright smile returned.
She let out a light huff, waving her hand with an easy air.
"Well, that’s in the past now. The Demonic Cult will get what’s coming to them soon enough. More importantly, you actually recalled a logical inconsistency from your past. That means your mind is starting to process things again. Your recovery might be faster than Dr. Mo expected!"
Uhtred offered a faint, grateful smile, offering a small word of thanks for her explanation. He made himself look like a humble outer warrior who was deeply touched that a high-ranking noble had shared privileged information with him.
Nayu An smiled back, turning her attention back to her book. Uhtred returned to the manual on An Clan warrior virtues he had picked up earlier, though his mind was already moving past the conversation.
I almost forgot this scenario is set in a full-blown cultivation world with a clear divide between righteous sects and demonic cults, Uhtred thought, scanning the text without reading a single word. If the conflict in this world is split so clearly between good and evil factions, finding the main storyline objective to clear Floor 2 shouldn’t be too complex.
He knew it was just a surface-level assumption. Even though this scenario world seemed so clear cut between black and white, he had no doubt that the reality was far messier.
More importantly though...
His focus shifted back to the present.
I’ve already laid down the groundwork for when I will eventually check those maps.
Uhtred hadn’t forgotten that he was most likely being watched at all times. The story he whipped up on the fly wasn’t actually meant to make Nayu An bring a map while she was describing the Demonic Cult to him.
Of course, that would have been a bonus outcome, but it wasn’t really what Uhtred had intended.
Rather, he saw this more like planting a seed. If he was caught reading the map going forward and Nayu An heard about it, it wouldn’t seem too surprising.
It would simply look like an amnesiac warrior acting on his natural curiosity about the Demonic Cult that had nearly ended his life.
> SchemingDemon_696: Hoho? It seems this young fellow has some basic skills in subtle manipulation.
> Serial_Troll_Nyx: @SchemingDemon_696 You call that "competence"? That was basic! Anyone with half a brain could come up with that.
> Godly_Fiend_Anjos: @Serial_Troll_Nyx Do you have a personal vendetta against the boy? You’ve been criticizing every breath he takes since he arrived on Floor 2.
> Nine Nether Thirty-First Young Master: @Godly_Fiend_Anjos What’s not to hate about the damn human boy? He has already picked up an issue with me, one that demands his head as recompense!
...
Uhtred glanced at his chat briefly, and as usual, the same thing was happening. The viewers who wanted pure chaos and mayhem were actively demeaning every of his efforts at every turn and trying to rally others behind them.
The voices of reason were now the minority.
At this rate, I won’t even make it to sunset before another mandatory choice pops up, Uhtred thought, his jaw tightening slightly.
Most of these multiversal viewers had no understanding of his actual situation. They were sitting safely behind their screens, demanding instant action and flashy fights, completely oblivious to the fact that a single wrong move here would cost him his life!
Just as Uhtred was musing internally, Nayu An let out a soft, regretful sigh.
"I would have loved to stay here with you longer, Uhtred... but duty calls," she said, looking up from her book. "I have important clan business to attend to, but I will be back in a few hours."
She looked at him with an expression that perfectly blended shy affection and lingering reluctance to leave his side.
Uhtred hadn’t felt this relieved in days. Internally, he was practically leaping with joy, so he channeled that spike of emotion directly into his performance.
He played the part of a young, low-status warrior overwhelmed by the blatant affection of a beautiful, high-ranking mistress. He acted slightly embarrassed by her open confession, yet visibly pleased by her attention.
By the time Nayu An left the library, Uhtred was certain she was completely sold on his act.
He waited in place for a full minute after the doors closed, keeping that flustered, giddy expression on his face just in case he was still being watched.
Slowly, he allowed his expression to settle back into a flat, thoughtful mask. He turned his head toward the high windows near the ceiling, staring out at the bright afternoon sky as if lost in thought.
Then, after a deliberate pause, he turned his head toward the restricted archive section, looking at the map shelves with an expression of quiet, mounting curiosity.
He stood up from his chair and began walking toward the shelf with firm, steady steps.
This is it, finally!
His pulse picked up slightly as he closed the distance to the shelf containing the geographical maps. He kept his guard up, mentally preparing for an unexpected turn of events.
And right on cue:
[Mandatory Interaction Choices]
1. Play it safe: Instead of heading for the maps, change your direction and stroll around the library. Be very cautious. This might be a trap. Who knows who is watching... (10% of your audience have voted to see this outcome)
2. Locate the watcher: Before taking any action, look for the person watching you and pinpoint their location. Trust your instincts. Since you are certain that you are being watched, find out the position of the person watching you first before doing anything. (20% of your audience have voted to see this outcome)
3. Examine the maps: Continue heading for the shelf and read the maps. Take advantage of this opportunity, even though it seems too easy. Trust in what you have set up and go ahead, even if you might be watched. (55% of your audience have voted to see this outcome)
4. Steal the map and flee: Who knows when you will get this opportunity again? Steal a map and find a way to escape. Be bold and daring! You still haven’t shown anything that points to you being a potential Sovereign! (15% of your audience have voted to see this outcome)
[You must select one of these four choices, or else you will suffer a terrible penalty]
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