Revive Rome: Wait! Why not make the empress fall in love with me first?-Chapter 486 - 101 Do you think I want to do this?

Seeing that the female knight seemed close to tears, he slowed his tone and said,

"So I’ve always said that people can have great ideals, but remember not to aim too high. You should set a simple, small goal first, instead of trying to be the ’Savior’ right from the start."

"But a person only lives once!" Eleanor insisted, "This time, no one else will save them but me!"

"On this continent, similar things are happening all the time," Aske said, "This time you might save them, but what about next time? You can’t possibly save everyone every single time, can you?"

"Then I’ll do as much as I can to save as many as I can!" Eleanor said angrily, "Does the commonplace nature of evil acts on this continent mean we should accept them as normal?"

"Should we eat the potatoes now that they are cooked?" Aske asked.

"Yes," Eleanor blurted out, then realizing what she had said, responded angrily, "No, that’s not right, I’m talking to you about serious matters!"

"What could be more important than a full stomach?" Aske said as he kicked away the ashes on the ground, digging out the potatoes he had buried earlier.

"Of course! For example, whether we should help others when we encounter similar situations in the future," Eleanor stubbornly said.

"In the future? You think there’s going to be a next time?" Aske looked at her in shock, pulled out a short knife with his left hand, and skillfully twirled a potato with his right hand, so the ash-covered potato skin fell off, "Here, the first bite is for you."

"I don’t want it!" Eleanor said angrily.

"Your mouth says no, but your stomach is quite honest," Aske laughed.

Eleanor also heard the growling of her hungry stomach and couldn’t help but feel some embarrassing shyness as a beautiful blush crept onto her fair cheeks.

"Open up," Aske said as he carved out a small piece with the short knife.

"Ah."

Chew, chew.

"It’s too bland," the blonde knight complained.

"You should be grateful to have anything to eat at all!" Aske said, "To save you, I didn’t even bring my books! Do you think I carry salt and pepper with me?"

"You didn’t bring the book?" Eleanor asked with a raised eyebrow, "Then where did this potato come from?"

"Pulled it from a field nearby," Aske said.

"Then this is theft..."

"Shut your mouth," Aske stuffed another small piece of potato into her mouth.

Chew, chew.

"At least you should have left some money after digging up the potatoes," the blonde knight insisted.

"Leave money? How? Bury it in the hole left by the potatoes?" Aske chuckled, "Truly a genius beauty, thinking differently from normal folks."

"You could find the owner of the potato field and then pay for them..."

"I don’t have time for that," Aske stuffed another piece of potato into her mouth, "Do you know we’re being chased?"

Chew, chew.

Eleanor struggled to swallow the food in her mouth, then asked seriously,

"By whom?"

"The Imaginary Dragon Bruno," Aske said.

"Him?" Eleanor worried, "Can we actually escape?"

"It shouldn’t be a problem," Aske said.

"If it really comes down to it, just hand me over," Eleanor said resolutely.

"Alright," Aske nodded, "When I pass through the next town, I’ll see if I can buy some gift wrapping paper. I’ll wrap you up, tie a bow on top, and hand you over nicely."

Eleanor: ..........

"Is it fun to test me like this?" Aske glanced at her sideways, "I’m not you; I don’t have lofty ideals of selflessly saving the distressed, but I can still manage to keep my team member safe."

"I’m not testing you," Eleanor thought to herself. I was being serious; it’s you who doesn’t want to hand me over... And just like that, she felt an inexplicable little thrill of happiness.

"I’m full," Eleanor swallowed the last bite of potato.

"Let’s go then," Aske finished his share in a few bites and picked her up again.

"Is my body... paralyzed?" Eleanor’s head rested on his shoulder.

"No." Aske said, "Keeping the Unyielding Holy Sword activated for too long will cause loss of control over your will. Meaning the connection between your Mind Body and Spiritual Body would be severed, leaving you unable to control your body."

"Probably a few days’ rest should get you back to normal."

"Oh." Eleanor quietly sighed in relief.

"Be careful next time, and try not to activate the Unyielding Holy Sword for more than half its maximum duration," Aske said, "or you’ll end up like you are now."

"I understand," Eleanor responded.

"Such a good listener," Aske praised her, "I hope you keep it up."

Eleanor didn’t reply, and her face turned a bit red.

After a while, she couldn’t help but say,

"I’m a little uncomfortable."

"What’s the matter?" Aske asked.

"It’s just uncomfortable," Eleanor couldn’t bring herself to say it outright and felt like crying.

"Got it." Aske found some large rocks nearby and piled them up to form a hollow-like stove, and asked, "Can you do it on your own?"

"My arms and legs are still weak," Eleanor felt that her limbs lacked the strength, but going to the toilet was barely manageable.

"Then I’ll cover my eyes and help you with your pants," Aske said, "It’s an emergency. Don’t mind it."

"Mhm." Eleanor bit her lower lip, feeling her bashful blood almost rush to her brain.

With his eyes closed, Aske adeptly pulled down her pants. As for the armor outside, it had been discarded as soon as he had taken her away.

Then he positioned her on the "stove" and turned his back.

"Could you... maybe step a little further away?" Eleanor asked awkwardly.

"If I move too far, my Skill won’t be able to protect you," Aske urged with a pinched nose, "I don’t mind your smell, can you hurry up?"

Eleanor was on the verge of tears.

Nonetheless, the blonde Knight, not being overly sensitive, silently took care of her business, and then softly said with embarrassment,

"I’m done."

"Okay," Aske took out some napkins.

"Wait!" Eleanor panicked, realizing she had forgotten a crucial step, "What are you going to do?!"

"What do you think? Can your arms manage it? I promise I’ll keep my eyes closed."

"No, that’s not okay! Stop it! You... Uh!"

Of course, someone who is temporarily paralyzed can’t put up much resistance.

So, amid her mortified cries, Aske, with his eyes still closed, handled the matter efficiently, then dressed her, and hoisted her up again—Ellie’s face was now flushed completely, her body limp and powerless against his back, like a boneless sea cucumber.

She felt a sense of being "tainted" without reason.

"Look, don’t dwell on it so much," Aske said while carrying her, "You think I want to do this? It’s because there’s no other way. You know about hospital aides, right? Many elderly patients can’t take care of themselves, and the aides have to handle all their dirty work without dwelling on it."

"But hospital aides are women," Eleanor replied, not wanting to engage with him, but when he brought up this example, she couldn’t help rebutting.

"Where am I supposed to find a female aide for you here?" Aske shot back, "Besides, your only options are to hold it or do it yourself. Who made you use the Unyielding Holy Sword to the point that you paralyzed your limbs? Was it me forcing you to show off with the Holy Sword against gods and demigods?"

Ellie was so frustrated that she simply closed her eyes and stopped talking, silently swearing never to bother with him again.

About ten minutes later, Bruno, the Dragon of Imagination, arrived at their previous location.

"What’s this..." Bruno looked at the "stove."

Had they hidden something inside? A plea for help? Their next itinerary? Or a secret message for the other members of their team?

The Dragon of Imagination lifted a hand, preparing for any traps that might be set inside.

Telekinesis!

Under the influence of telekinesis, the makeshift stove collapsed, and he saw what was inside.

...