Kaijin Fighter: So I Have to Make Monsters, So What?-Chapter 1481: A front for the ages.

There’s nothing more awkward in this world or the next than trying to flirt with someone who clearly isn’t into you.

-The words of a man who once tried to court the widowed mother of his best friend.

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[Blazejudicator, should we be worried that our connection to Caretaker is exhibiting a lot of passionate fury?] Corpse Doll asked. [It feels like she’s about to blow her lid at any minute.]

...

When Zhen Liu agreed to Jinju Ren’s plan to pretend to be her lady-in-waiting so that he could get close enough to the [Rainbowsmith’s Manual] and copy it, he had done so with some mild expectations in mind.

Zhen Liu figured that Alain would attempt to flirt with Jinju Ren in a manner most brazen yet civil, as was appropriate for a crown prince from the Radiant Feather continent, all while conveniently ignoring the lady-in-waiting who had just wanted to take a quick peek at this infamous manual that drove so many people bonkers after one reading.

There would then be a moment where "Mei Yue" would showcase that she had some form of fire-manipulating abilities, thanks to Blazejudicator and some artificial aether channels, and open up the possibility that maybe she could glean some form of understanding from the book. Alternatively, if that failed, Zhen Liu would tap into his deep and mildly disturbing reservoir of memories related to romantic visual novels and be the biggest floozie/flirt that Valresta had ever seen.

However, those plans were thoroughly thrown out of a window and stomped into the ground when, whether it was due to bad luck or fate being a bastard, Alain decided to bring a guest to dinner as well.

And not just any guest, but a guest that just so happened to be a cousin of Zhen Liu’s fiancee, Bellona Ecaredies.

A cousin that was an active participant in her kingdom’s succession war, no less.

"...and after we had rescued my fellow kinsmen from the clutches of the Defiant Sons, Alain and I exchanged cups of sake and swore to one another a deep bond of blood brotherhood," Alder regaled to Ren Jia and Mei Yue over the appetizers. "With his help, I am sure to secure the throne for the Bronze Bell Kingdom and establish a magnificent alliance between our two kingdoms. Marvelous, don’t you think?"

At this last question, Alder visibly shot a flirtatious gaze in Mei Yue’s direction.

"Marvelous. Truly, just, marvelous," Mei Yue said with the most polite yet encouraging tone she could muster...all while suppressing her true feelings.

’Okay, two things to keep in mind for the future. Number one, I am probably going to have to slam this man’s head into a wall at some point. Number two, I am never pretending to be a woman ever again. Just...never again.’

On the plus side(?), Mei Yue wasn’t the only one suffering from having to deal with an annoying date.

Jinju Ren was used to taking the lead and teasing the everliving shit out of Zhen Liu, her love language being physical touch and overall being an imp of a dragon girl.

But now, having to play the role of demure princess from a fallen kingdom, the exact opposite of personality, was... grating, to say the least.

On the plus side, Alain didn’t seem to notice or care about Jinju Ren’s discomfort.

If anything, he seemed to think that she was just nervous or something.

That, or he knew better than to bring up this discomfort right to her face.

At least, that’s what Zhen Liu thought before Alain decided to open up with a question that would be insanely loaded under normal circumstances.

"So, princess, do you mind sharing your story with me?"

"My...story?"

"Yes, the story of why you’re currently on the run from your fallen kingdom," Alain asked in an incredibly casual tone. He made it sound as if Ren Jia had a bad case of rats infesting her home as opposed to losing her...home and family.

Regardless of his extreme casualness, Jinju Ren and Zhen Liu recognized that this particular question, down to its delivery, was a test.

The number of people who pretended to be royalty out there was as numerous as grains of sand, with some of these pretenders being psychotic commoners to megalomaniacal nobles. However, not everyone could nail the exact actions of royalty.

The latter aforementioned group, though, had an easier time faking such behaviors. As such, other methods for exposure were necessary.

Jinju Ren was a princess; as such, she was able to perform the acts of royal etiquette and courtly behavior that were necessary for someone of her station. However, she was a princess from a very prosperous empire as opposed to a fallen kingdom.

That sounds like a distinction without a difference, but there was a fairly noticeable one.

A woman who lost everything has this distinct sadness to them that was viciously hard for anyone, save for master class actresses, to mimic.

Thankfully, Jinju Ren knew Zhen Liu, and Zhen Liu knew a...very weird way to convey these particular emotions and thoughts.

"Well...I suppose it all started with my uncle..."

...Flashback time...

"Man, it has been a while since I’ve used...okay, why does the [Poessestol] look significantly more feminine and delicate? What the fuck?"

[Shouldn’t...matter...too much...] Frosttusk pointed out. [As long as...I can...deliver...my...Desires...]

In preparation for this upcoming "date," Mei Yue (Zhen Liu) had suggested that both she and Jinju Ren blast themselves in the face with the [Possestol] using Frosttusk as the payload.

Zhen Liu’s original idea was to have his two most media-addicted kaijin absorb information about fallen royalty and have them basically fabricate a fuckton of memories and feelings associated with such a concept.

However, before such an absurd plan could be put into action, Frosttusk offered to do the deed himself with no need for preparation.

After all, most fallen royals are usually filled with mostly regret and revenge over the concept of losing their kingdoms.

That, and because Frosttusk assured the two of them that he had some more...convincing memories to bestow upon the duo.

"Xiao Liu, remember how you made the Gallop Brothers and that they were essentially the reborn version of the Gallum Brothers?"

"Yes, also, you should be referring to me as Xiao Mei or Mei Yue at this time," Mei Yue corrected. "We don’t want to flub while we’re on that date, ya know?"

"Spoken like a true grifter," Jinju Ren retorted. "But seriously, was that the first time you ever...you know, brought back the dead as a kaijin?"

"I’m...not entirely sure anymore..." Mei Yue answered honestly.

At this time, Frosttusk, Hurricroak, and Nepherage were talking amongst themselves over some inconsequential matter. As they chattered, Mei Yue’s gaze landed on Frosttusk and Hurricroak.

"But...I do know that I won’t ask them about it, unless they want me to know about it," Mei Yue stated in a paternal tone. "It would be wrong for me to pry into such sensitive matters, after all."

"Hmmm."

"What’s with that look and tone?"

"Nothing, just...suddenly imagining how you would be as a father," Jinju Ren teased. "Well, I guess it’d be more accurate to say ’mother’ for the time being."

"Oh, haha," Zhen Liu sarcastically chuckled as he prepared the [Possesstol] and had Frosttusk load themselves in it. "Alright, grit your teeth."

"Wait, i think this is the first time I’ve ever been possessed by a kaijin," Jinju Ren pointed out. "Is there anything I should know about how this should—"

KABAM!

"WHOA!"

"Yeah, it doesn’t get any better on future blasts," Mei Yue commented as she watched Jinju Ren undergo the usual spasms that come with a Kaijin intrusion of the brain. "Take it from someone who does this regularly." 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

...Now back to the present...

"...and after watching my mother choose death over dishonor, I vowed to take revenge by any means possible," Ren Jia finished her tale of woe and sorrow. "And hopefully, it ends with me jamming his head on a spike."

"Wow."

"Whoa..."

Both Alain and Alder looked absolutely shocked and flabbergasted at Ren Jia’s tale of how she lost her kingdom and family, both clearly not knowing how to fucking respond to such a sordid tale.

Then again, there really wasn’t a good way to react to a story about a bond of brotherhood being shattered and twisted by a mix of a broken heart and a coveted crown.

"How viciously sad and terribly cruel," Alder said in sympathy over Ren Jia’s plight. "Do you have any ideas on what to do for your next move?"

"Same as everyone else in a similar situation, I suppose," Ren Jia sighed in a defeated tone. "Try to find a way to get strong enough to take revenge sooner rather than later."

At this statement, Alain developed a strange expression.

"You know...I know someone who could help..."