The World's Strongest Faker

Misunderstandings

To Christine who was straddling on his waist and touching his skin here and there, Ernest echoed the question back with a face that showed he had no idea what was going on.

“A-Aieeeeeee?”

Christine instantly released a dreadful scream and recoiled from Ernest.

“Wait, be careful! You’ll fall down!”

Ernest's warning was fruitless. After rising so sharply, Christine’s feet tilted and lost balance. She then fell from Ernest's bed, with a yelp, down to the floor.

“C-Christine!! Are you okay?! Your body just looked like it—!”

“I-I-I-I-I’m fine! I just fell down and...aw.”

“That’s not fine. You would’ve broken your arm from that fall. Stay there. Just still sit for now! I’ll prepare a first aid kit so just sit still! Wait, I’m gonna need some ice. Nurse! I need some ice over here!”

…

“That should do it!”

Ernest treated Christine with the emergency kit from his drawer and ice brought by the nurse, to Christine’s embarrassed gratitude.

“You’re quite good.”

“I’ve always injured myself whenever I go into a dungeon, so I can do at least this much.”

Well, it’s not like anyone helped me or had a healer in my party who would want to risk their life for me.

As Ernest sighed, Christine said something strange.

“Tell me…”

“What?”

“Tell me about yourself.”

“Eh?”

“Three days ago I did some research about you. There’s nothing special other than you being the lowest of the lowest. But you’re strong...maybe surpassing me...so I wonder why the lowest of the lowest have that power…”

“Ah, is that what you're concerned about?” Ernest smiled.

That power she was talking about is the system. There’s no way he’ll open up the secret of his power to some chick who threatened him with his life. But looking at Christine, who has a genuine curious face. He began developing a believable story.

“My father was once an adventurer before. I always looked up to him because he is strong and courageous. He can kill monsters with his bare hands and when I saw him fight in the video recorder he gave me and on that day, something sparked inside me. Like an ambition or goal. Then on that day, I decided to become an adventurer and be cool like dad. Heck stronger than him! So I trained hard, very hard. But in three years of training, I achieved nothing. I can’t even chop a tree nor run continuously for 10 minutes. I was weak and began doubting myself if I could become an adventurer like my father. I knew to myself back then that I have no special talent nor special lineage. It was just working hard. I was so down at that moment that even my father saw me crying in my bed cursing why am I so weak.

My father approached me that day and told me. ‘Son, don’t worry. All your efforts will be paid off! You’re just a child. You’re far too young to worry about failure. You’ll meet a lot of people, gain more skills, gain experience! If you really want to become an adventurer then don’t stop practicing. Cling on to that dream of yours that gives you the motivation to wake up early in the morning that lets you swing your sword dusk till dawn. Remember, I’m proud of you!’”

“Though that was his last word to me”

“What happened?” Christine's face turned pale after hearing that.

“My father died during a dungeon raid. He was the only one that got killed. I was so devastated at that time…”

As it began sounding more depressing, Christine fumbled her hands and stopped his story.

“I see...I got it! I’m sorry for bringing that up. I should’ve known. I didn’t know that your father is an adventurer.”

“Well, it’s not like he’s a high-ranking adventurer. He’s just a common one so I understand. “

“No no no. I shouldn’t have asked about it. I’m sorry if it makes you uncomfortable.” Christine bowed her head, clearly different from the face she showed when they were fighting.

“No no! You’re the first person to ask about it so I’m rather grateful.”

“But your dream is to become the strongest adventurer…”

“You think it’s hopeless?”

Bull’s eye. Christine’s expression clouded awkwardly. She really thought Ernest’ dream was wonderful but...to attain it —

“You don’t have to say it, or make that face either. I know it’s not something I can do easily. But even so— Christine, if you had a dream you just can’t abandon, and if someone told you ‘It’s impossible, just give up, then...would you meekly agree?”

“Ah—”

Christine's eyes opened wide. Her sapphire pupils shined brightly, as if finally understanding something. As if accepting something.

“Hehe...hahaha.”

Christine’s apologetic look vanished and she burst out in laughter.

“Yes, that’s right. I wouldn’t give up. Even if I’m hurt badly, why would I give up?”

After hearing Ernest’s words, Christine remembered that she was the same years ago.

“So that’s the reason. It’s true, we don’t need to worry over reaching our dreams. If my efforts are useless even after I’ve given my all, then that’s that, but we can’t decide they’re useless before we even try.”

“Exactly. No matter how much I lack in all aspects, and how many people say I’m hopeless. I won’t give up on myself because of that. Especially since I hate to lose.”

“Though I didn’t think there was someone else who hated to lose as much as I do.”

Saying that, Christine started to laugh again. It was laughter that sounded very surprised, but very happy.

She relaxed and raised her hands.

“...Ahh. I lost. I put you on a silly fight and didn’t see the real you. It was impossible for me to win by underestimating an enemy and letting guard’s down. It’s my complete defeat, Ernest.”

In speaking those words, Christine felt somewhat liberated. She had no more doubts about him being awakened. It’s in his spirit that made him stronger. And he was stronger—and maybe she could learn from him. And if she followed him she’d surely become stronger herself. With honest conviction, from the bottom of her heart, Christine was now thankful for meeting Ernest. Thankful for her curiosity to check on the lowest of the lowest.

And Ernest, after seeing her bright expression, felt that Christine had come to understand him. Even though 75% of it was true. She seemed satisfied with his replies. In that case—

“Then, since we’ve reached an agreement here—shall we discuss that other important matter?”

“Huh? Which one?”

“Well, I mean...I won the duel, right?”

“Of course. Even though I hate to lose, I’m not so unreasonably stubborn that I’ll deny it when it happens.”

“Then that means Christine is my slave from now on, right?”

“...Eh?”

Christine’s eyes suddenly grew big, like a dove shot down with a pellet.

“Don’t you remember we made a bet? Whoever loses will submit to the winner, and obey any kind of order.”

Instantly, Christine's complexion went boiling red, then paled to bluish-white. It seemed she completely forgot about the deal because so many things had happened.

“So since I won, let’s get started right away—”

“Wha-wha-what will you make me do?”

“Hmmm, I wonder what I’ll demand first. You’ll listen to anything, right?”

“A-A-Anything?! N-No, th-that’s, I did say I’ll do anything, but anything’s not alright! Totally not alright, right?!”

Christine dove into a corner of the couch located near the wall. And grabbed a blanket to wrap herself. As if trying to hide from Ernest. What did she say about not being unreasonably stubborn?

“Eh? Then, Christine, you’re going back on your own word?”

“Ugh…”

“Well, if you’re that unwilling, it’s okay. Ahh, I guess that you can’t keep promises huh?”

“Aa...Ugh…”

“It’s a bit disappointing.”

“Wa-wait a minute!”

As expected, Christine reacted to Ernest’s shameless taunting. Creeping out of the blanket, she glared at Ernest with half-crying eyes.

“Who says I can’t keep promises? I’m the third princess of the Cryoniliese Kingdom. I will never disgrace the name of the royal family for a mere silly promise. I’ll do whatever you want! I’ll do indecent things too! You p*****t! i***t! I hate you!”

“You came up with this now and you’re mad about it!?”

...Well, maybe I was a bit too mean.

Ernest wanted to chastise Christine for speaking carelessly and betting herself so easily, but he seemed to have overdone it. From the beginning, he never intended Christine his slave.

Most importantly, she? A third princess? How can he not know that? Well, he had never cared about memorizing the name of the royal families, to begin with. So this is a surprise to him.

Wait, if she’s a princess then she can give him ‘that’ right.

“What the...you were a princess?”

“Huh?! How could you not know the princess of your country? I expected that you'd react to my transformation in our fight but to think that you don’t know…” Christine pouted.

“I’m sorry, your highness.”

“Moah, please don’t call me that. Call me like you always do…” Christine said as she bashfully played with her hair with her finger.

“Okay, Christine, I hope I won’t get jailed for lese majeste but here are my request—”

—For them to become real friends.

“Eh...that’s it...that’s all?”

“Yeah, I realized that you’re the first person who joined my party request. It made me happy even if you’re just doing it for your own research. But I’m glad. Also...it’s because of another thing…”

Christine's face turned red after hearing that, but Ernest seems he will continue speaking.

“Remember the time where I told you that you betrayed my feelings before our fight? It was not true. The truth is that I’m so amazed at your unrivaled beauty. You’re beautiful and at the time when I first saw you, my heart fluttered.”

Ernest wanted to know more, and more deeply, about this girl whose spirit somehow resembled his own. At his own words—

“Fuah…”

—The girl who was thinking the exact same thing felt her brain boil over.

"Y-You, ju-just… just what are you… calling me pretty… and that you want to be friends… to an unmarried princess like it's nothing. Really, you really have no delicacy at all…."

Maybe she couldn't look up straight at Ernest anymore. Even her ears were dyed red as she averted her gaze. On the other hand, Ernest took that reaction as anger.

“Ah, the-then you don’t want to? Making you become my friend, sorry for saying something so rude. Then I’ll just request some material...Uhm...Christine paying my hospital bills is fine since I will use the earnings from the dungeon to pay my little sister’s tuition. Argh! I don’t know anymore. This is so embarrassing.”

“Wait!”

Christine grabbed Ernest as he was about to leave.

“...It’s fine.”

“Eh?”

“I-I said...I don’t mind it!”

“Eh? It’s really okay?”

“I-I’ll tell you this, but it’s only because it’s an order! I’ll be troubled if you think the Cryoliniese royalty are liars. That’s all, I say! I-It’s not like I-I’m doing this because I want to be friends with you even much!”

Christine stood up after throwing glances all over the place. She really expressed it in a roundabout way… but Ernest understood that she was consenting. That made him very happy.

“Then let’s get along from now on, Your High—I mean, Christine.”

“It can’t be helped, so I’ll be in your care...hmph!”

Christine shook his hand while looking the other way. Her hand was far smaller than he had imagined and far warmer.

“Ah, about your hospital bills. I’ve already taken care of that. And about the tuition of your little sister...I think I’ll settle it.”

“Really?” Ernest grabbed her hand, enveloping it. His eyes sparkling, “Thank you!”

Eh? He’s happy with this?

“Okay Ernest, this is the frequency number of my gem communication rune . You can contact me whenever you want! Order me whatever you want as from now on...you’re my master. I’ll leave now. I’ll have to prepare something.”

“I see. You don’t have to go that far, Christine, anyways thank you.”

Ernest happily accepted her phone number and saved it to his phone.

I have the number of the third princess! I’m so f*****g happy!