Vile Evil Hides Under The Veil Chapter 2007: "The Trick is That There Are No Tricks"

Azurea paused, her gaze flickering toward the nearby bottle in hesitation.

She then shifted her attention back to Eren. He sat there like a smug, immovable monument, seemingly untouched by the vast amount of alcohol he had already consumed.

'This is unnatural. Is he using some trick?'

Suspicion clouded Azurea’s mind as she scrutinized him. However, she had been monitoring Eren with hawk-like intensity since their game commenced, and she hadn't detected a single trace of his mana being utilized.

She eventually dismissed the notion of blatant cheating. While something was clearly out of place, it wasn't a result of direct magical manipulation.

"Very well," she conceded, rising from her seat with deliberate slowness.

Whatever scheme Eren was running, she pushed the thought aside. Her only priority was securing her maiden victory against him.

She reasoned that if she could simply persevere a bit longer, Eren’s tactics would either fail or be exposed. If he were employing some dishonorable method, she could eventually claim the win by citing foul play.

Furthermore, Azurea was not the type to surrender. Her innate pride as a noble dragoness fueled a fierce competitive streak within her.

Eren rose to meet her, opening his arms slightly. "At your convenience."

Initially, Azurea approached him with her arms crossed defensively. Then, with a sharp exhale, she uncurled them and locked him in a genuine embrace, pulling him close.

Closing her eyes, she leaned her head against his chest.

Eren remained silent. He simply wrapped his arms around her, reciprocating the hug with a gentle warmth and a firm, steady hold.

The seconds ticked by sluggishly, each one stretching as if it were a minute long.

At the start, Azurea remained rigid, her breathing controlled but shallow. Yet, as the moments passed, the sensation of Eren holding her became unexpectedly soothing. It felt... secure.

The rhythmic, calm thrum of his heartbeat reached her ears, and for a fleeting second, the game they were playing slipped from her mind.

For reasons she couldn't explain, a faint mumble escaped her lips.

"Did you say something?" Eren inquired, sounding unconvinced.

"Shut up," she whispered back.

A soft chuckle vibrated through his chest.

"Thirty seconds remaining."

Azurea offered no reply. Instead, she concentrated on maintaining her composure. The heat radiating from his body, the texture of his garment, and his steady breathing caused an unfamiliar tightening in her chest.

Finally, the two-minute mark was reached.

"Alright," Eren noted, easing his grip slightly though he didn't fully pull away. "You win. Fair and square."

Azurea retreated instantly, averting her gaze to hide her reaction.

"Start drinking," she commanded, her voice regaining its sharp edge as she tried to mask the flush creeping onto her face.

Without a word of protest, Eren reached for the glass.

"One…"

He drained it.

"Two…"

Another followed.

"Three…"

"Four…"

"Five…"

By the conclusion of the fifth, his breathing had grown perceptibly heavier. Nevertheless, his smirk remained intact. "Well played," he said softly.

Azurea didn't answer immediately. She settled back onto the plush cushion, clutching her own drink. The amber glow of the garden lamps made her hair shimmer, while the moonlight revealed a face that was serene yet filled with curiosity.

She turned her head slightly toward Eren, her eyes narrowing as she pondered.

"Eren, what was your true intention behind asking for a hug?" she questioned, taking a delicate sip from her glass.

Eren, having just finished the penalty for the dare, wiped a stray drop from his lip with the back of his hand and reclined in his chair, smiling.

"It’s quite basic," he explained. "I want the three of us to establish a bond. Physical contact is simply the most efficient path toward that goal."

Azurea arched an eyebrow but allowed him to continue.

"Our introduction wasn't exactly ideal," Eren remarked. "We began as adversaries. I am fully aware that I coerced you into this alliance. I also understand your current motivations. One seeks to eclipse her father and escape his shadow, while the other merely awaits his return.

It is nearly impossible for enemies to transform into genuine allies overnight. Even now, despite our cooperation for the sake of White Raven Island and the surrounding waters, we still harbor mutual distrust."

He reached for another glass, his tone remaining level and relaxed.

"These suspicions won't vanish unless someone takes the initiative to dissolve them. Building trust requires an investment. It needs effort, emotion… and intent. Usually, that takes years. However, there are methods to accelerate the timeline."

Eren took a slow draught before adding, "I am merely making a deliberate effort in that direction."

He spoke with the cold logic of a strategist discussing a blueprint—matter-of-fact and calculated. To him, trust appeared to be a structure to be assembled brick by brick.

Azurea let out a soft laugh, shaking her head in disbelief.

"It cannot be that simple," she argued. "I won't suddenly trust you because of a single embrace. I haven't forgotten that we were on opposite sides of a war when God Raashim lived."

She swirled the liquid in her cup.

"You are attempting to manufacture feelings. You're treating connections like a mathematical formula. But do you really think it’s that easy to fabricate such things?

They remain shallow unless they are forged through hardship and time. Unless they are seasoned by... well, the long passage of time."

She cast another glance at Eren, a playful smirk dancing on her lips.

"I didn't realize you were such a hopeless romantic, Eren. Do you honestly believe we’ll be swayed by a few laughs and tender moments? That you can trick two dragons into trusting you so easily? Now that your motive is clear, won't I just be more guarded?"

Eren showed no signs of being offended.

Instead, he traced the rim of his glass with a fingertip, watching the shimmering liquid. He stared into it for a moment, observing his own reflection.

A faint smile touched the butcher's face, as if he were quite satisfied with what he saw.

"Our conscious thoughts are quite absurd when you analyze them," he said with gravity.

"We can be intelligent, cunning, or even brilliant. Yet, our minds continue to fall for the same fundamental traps repeatedly.

The enigma of the mind is simultaneously simple and deep. Sometimes, the ultimate trick is the absence of one."

Grimdawn looked up, meeting Azurea’s eyes as he went on.

"You see, my lovely Lizzy, certain psychological triggers function regardless of how aware you are of them.

In fact, the more we struggle against them, the deeper we sink into their influence."

He chuckled once more before adding.

"It’s like me telling you—do not think about a horse with five legs."

He went silent, observing her expression.

"Now tell me—what image just appeared in your mind?"

He tilted his head with a knowing, teasing smirk, his voice calm.

Azurea blinked, then looked away, a small huff escaping her.

"…That’s a cheap trick," she grumbled, though her smirk remained.

Suddenly, her eyes sharpened as a new thought occurred to her, and she looked at Eren with renewed suspicion.

"Wait... do five-legged horses actually exist in Labh Salem?" she asked.

Eren gave a soft laugh and nodded.

"Indeed. In fact, most male horses in Labh Salem possess five legs," he stated casually.

Azurea was stunned. "What? What are you talking about?"

She leaned back, her forehead creased in confusion as she tried to recall her knowledge.\\

Having traveled across the vast seas of Labh Salem and visited numerous coastal territories, she had encountered countless beasts—both mundane and magical. Yet, she had no memory of a five-legged horse.

"I’m certain I’ve never seen one," she insisted. "Where exactly did you find such a creature?"

Marina, who had been quietly observing, suddenly began to cough. She pressed a hand over her mouth, struggling to suppress her laughter and the faint blush on her cheeks. She gave Eren a look of mock disapproval.

Eren maintained a straight face, though his eyes danced with mischief. He turned slowly toward Azurea, who was now waiting for a serious answer.

"Well," Eren began, "every male horse in Labh Salem effectively becomes a five-legged horse when they get a bit… excited."

He grinned widely.

A heavy silence followed.

Azurea tilted her head, initially confused. Then, a second later, her eyes went wide as the realization hit her like a physical blow.

Her entire face flushed crimson.

"You…!"

She snatched up her glass and hurled it at Eren with a violent flick of her wrist.

Eren tilted his head effortlessly, dodging the projectile with ease. He showed no signs of intoxication whatsoever.

The glass whistled past his ear, flew out of the gazebo, and shattered against the stone floor of the garden. It broke with a loud crack, leaving a small crater and a wisp of smoke behind.

"You absolute pervert!" Azurea yelled, her breath coming in heavy huffs as she glared at him.

Eren only laughed louder.

"Don't blame me. I specifically told you NOT to think about five-legged horses. It seems you couldn't help yourself," he said, giving her a wink.

Marina shielded her face, shaking her head with a sigh while chuckling softly.

"Why are we sharing drinks with this uncouth man?" Azurea muttered, crossing her arms tightly over her chest.

"Because it’s far more entertaining than drinking alone."

Eren replied on Marina’s behalf with a serene smile. However, that expression froze an instant later as a sudden tremor rippled through his soul.

His control over the Sin Series Greater Skill slipped for a fraction of a second, weakened by the alcohol's influence.

There was a specific reason Eren never truly succumbed to drunkenness, regardless of his intake.

It wasn't merely a high tolerance—it was the immense pressure his Greater Skills placed upon his soul. That weight acted as a constant anchor, forcing him into sobriety.

To regulate this, Eren consistently funneled Origin Force Points into Menaka’s Mesh, keeping the passive effects of his Greater Skills suppressed.

But the Mesh had its breaking point. Once a certain limit was breached—especially when external factors or debuffs were at play—the seal could fray, allowing the passive powers to bleed out.

That was precisely what occurred now.

The passive aura of his Greater Skills escaped his control, and in the following heartbeat, the two dragonesses were pulled into its wake.

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AN: The Sin Series Greater Skills' passive effects were explained in chapter 1690.