In the League, but with the Taiwan Server System

Chen Ce looked at the girl before him and found her increasingly beautiful.

Just then, the voice in his mind rang out again:

[Random Quest: This Irelia is such a pain in the ass! Let's tease her!]

[Quest Objective: Make the hero [Irelia] blush once by any means.]

[Reward: Equipment [Doran's Spear] *1]

Chen Ce froze for a moment.

"What's wrong?" Seeing him smile one moment and stare blankly the next, Irelia's heart, which had only just settled, leapt into her throat again. "Don't tell me you injured your head? No wonder the earlier examination found nothing wrong with your body...?"

"No, no..." Chen Ce waved his hands repeatedly. When he looked at the girl before him again, a new feeling arose within him.

This was far beyond merely becoming more beautiful the longer he looked. She was simply breathtaking...

In that instant, he thought of a great way to complete the system quest—

Build a fire!

He could directly build up the fire, send the room temperature soaring, and make Irelia so hot that her face turned red!

What else was he supposed to do? If he did not build a fire, was he supposed to say something suggestive and make Irelia shy? The efficiency and success rate of that would be far too low.

Anyway, it said "by any means." Of course he should do it in the most convenient way possible—did blushing have to come from embarrassment? Was blushing really such an inconvenient thing?

"Miss Irelia, don't you think it's a little cold right now?" Chen Ce asked directly.

"Cold? I'm fine." Irelia shook her head. Her physical constitution far surpassed that of ordinary people, and it was only early winter. Naturally, she did not feel cold.

"But I'm a little cold... I'll go add some firewood. Wait here." Chen Ce quickly jogged over to the fireplace and, without another word, tossed in a huge pile of dry wood. He looked so anxious that one more second of delay might freeze him to death.

Irelia blinked in confusion, but she did not say anything.

As the dry wood was added, the flames in the fireplace suddenly grew much larger.

The temperature in the room rose rapidly.

Before long, even Chen Ce felt his whole body burning up, let alone Irelia, who wore a tight red bodysuit beneath a suit of light armor.

Yet he continued adding wood—as long as the system notification did not sound, he would not stop.

He added wood faster and faster, and the temperature in the room rose at an equally frantic pace.

Until...

A smooth, fair little hand appeared beside him.

"It looks like you really are cold." Irelia crouched beside the fireplace and began adding wood as well. "Is there enough firewood here? If not, I can get more for you."

"Huh...?" Chen Ce froze. "You... don't feel hot at all?"

"Me? I'm pretty hot." Irelia looked at the roaring flames gradually rising in the fireplace and smiled as she wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead. "But I'm fine. If you feel cold, add more wood—you're injured, so you should be the priority."

"..." In an instant, Chen Ce's hand, still holding a piece of firewood, stopped.

Chen Ce, Chen Ce... you really deserve to die...

What a bastard you are... a complete and utter bastard...

"What's wrong?" Irelia was still adding wood. "Is it enough? If it is, I'll stop."

"It's enough, it's enough..." Chen Ce nodded hurriedly and used the tongs to pull out several logs that had not fully caught fire. "I'm feeling a little hot too. We should take some out."

"Hm? You don't need to consider me. If you feel cold, add more."

"It really is enough..."

"Oh, all right." Irelia helped him remove more wood from the fireplace.

Chen Ce secretly glanced at her.

Her face had not turned red yet, but fine beads of sweat already covered her forehead. Her red bodysuit was also beginning to soak through with sweat, becoming slightly translucent...

The sight was enough to stir one's imagination, but Chen Ce felt nothing but guilt.

Bastard...

"I'm sorry, Miss Irelia..."

"Hm? Why are you suddenly apologizing again?" The girl blinked, looking utterly confused. "Did you really hurt your head?"

"No..." Chen Ce shook his head, then turned to look directly into her eyes.

Then, with utmost sincerity, he recited the oath of the Placidium Resistance Army—only replacing the title "Commander" with something else:

"I only wanted to say... Miss Irelia, please allow me to offer you my heart—from this day forward, I will protect you unto death."

"Eh...? What are you saying all of a sudden?" Irelia smiled, then turned and walked toward the table, preparing to use water to put out the still-burning wood.

"It's enough to say things like that during meetings. Rather than swearing to protect me unto death... I hope you can live for yourself."

Chen Ce smiled as he watched the girl's graceful back.

But just as he was about to temporarily give up on the random quest, the system notification suddenly rang out:

[Hero [Irelia] Favorability +5. Current Interaction Level: 41.]

[Hero [Irelia] has blushed. Quest complete.]

[Reward obtained: Equipment [Doran's Spear] *1]

[Note 1: Irelia did not blush because the room was too hot.]

[Note 2: You young people really are such a pain in the ass...]

Chapter 7: Never~ Waver~

Ever since the battle with Glick, Chen Ce had finally been given a few days of vacation.

Of course, part of the reason was that the Seventh Squad he had belonged to had already been wiped out, and he had not yet been assigned to another unit.

Besides, Irelia had previously said she would "promote" him. Which squad he would join and what position he would hold would have to wait for Irelia's notice.

In short, he had been living a leisurely life these past few days.

Every day, he practiced with his spear, exercised, or found an empty corner to test the Doran's Spear he had just acquired—the spear obtained because Irelia had blushed. It was far from a divine weapon, but it suited his current stage perfectly.

Judging by its name... this spear was probably part of the same equipment series as Doran's Blade, Doran's Shield, and Doran's Ring. It was the sort of weapon a novice village hero might use.

With a handy weapon and max-level skills, his combat ability had risen by far more than one level compared to before.

Training these past few days had left him refreshed and invigorated. It was leisurely and comfortable.

This carefree life continued until someone knocked on his door.

"Captain Chen Ce, the commander wishes to see you."

On the other side of the Placidium Resistance Army camp, inside Irelia's office.

Irelia sat upright at her desk. Beside her stood a woman somewhat older than her—Karma.

"Respected Karma, is this really all right..." Irelia finally could not help asking.

"Please trust the ascetic guided by the Spirit of Ionia." Karma still had her eyes closed, and her tone was as tranquil as a lake whose surface had not rippled for centuries.

"Also, there is no need to call me 'Respected Karma.' Simply call me 'Karma.'"

She felt unworthy of the weighty prefix "Respected"—she had betrayed Ionia's spiritual traditions and gone against Karma's ideals.

Yes, "Karma" was not actually her name, but an inheritance—the souls of every previous Karma existed within the next Karma. Their wisdom, insights, knowledge, and power were passed down from one generation to the next.

According to the traditions of all previous Karmas, she should have been in a monastery at this moment, teaching others and resolving their doubts, rather than discussing matters of war with the Resistance Army in its camp.

Karma was a symbol of peace and a spiritual tradition. She was peaceful, humble, and free, and she must never be tainted by even a trace of sinful blood.

But... she had broken that tradition. She had thrown herself into the Resistance Army's war against Noxus's invasion.

She had not heard the voices of the previous Karmas for a long time—they blamed her, believing she had abandoned Karma's convictions.

She had once annihilated an entire Noxian warship with holy wrath—in the span of a single heartbeat.

Her hands had been stained with blood. They were no longer clean or sacred. She had failed every previous Karma.

She had no regrets, but she believed she was no longer worthy of being called "Respected Karma."

She had her own path to walk, and she would continue Karma's legacy in her own way—even if she was no longer "Respected."

"May the Spirit of Ionia guide you..." Karma softly offered her blessing.

"Mm... perhaps I really should give him enough trust." Irelia, unaware of Karma's thoughts, assumed the blessing referred to the person they had just been discussing.

The two silently looked toward the door.

A moment later, faint footsteps sounded outside—two people, one in front and one behind.

The door opened. A Resistance Army soldier in armor led in another, younger soldier.

"Good morning, Chen Ce." Irelia smiled as she spoke the visitor's name.

"Good morning, Commander." When carrying out official duties—especially with others present—Chen Ce could not conveniently call Irelia by name. "And Respected Karma."

Hearing that title again, Karma smiled imperceptibly but did not correct him.

The door closed again. The soldier who had brought Chen Ce left, leaving only the three of them in the room.

Irelia did not beat around the bush and immediately explained why she had summoned Chen Ce:

"Chen Ce, I called you here today mainly for two matters—first, the promotion I mentioned earlier; second, I have a mission for you."

"Understood." Chen Ce gave a military salute, then sat down at her gesture.

"First, regarding your promotion—I intend to appoint you as a member of the Resistance Special Operations Squad. Within the Resistance Army, its authority is second only to mine and that of the legion commanders."

Irelia folded her hands, her ten slender, fair fingers lightly supporting her delicate chin. The expression on her face seemed somewhat... grave.

"Then there is the matter of the mission... Chen Ce, this mission is very dangerous. I hope you are mentally prepared—you can even choose not to accept it. I will not blame you."

Irelia had added the latter half on the spur of the moment.

Chen Ce was briefly stunned, then smiled. "I have never refused you, Miss Irelia."

"...Smooth talker." Though Irelia sounded displeased, warmth filled her heart. "So, you accept?"

"Of course."

"Then... you need to change how you address me from now on."

"Hm?"

"You are to call me... Captain Irelia." The girl rose with a smile and extended a hand toward him. "The Resistance Special Operations Team has only two members—you, the member, and me, the captain."

"Hm...?" Chen Ce froze again.

But that was all right. Irelia and Karma would explain the situation to him...

Chen Ce soon understood from the two women's explanations why the Special Operations Squad had only two members—Irelia and himself.

Because the squad had only been formed today.

For the sake of completing a single mission.

And that mission was... intercepting a suspicious Noxian squad—a Secret Squad escorted by a small legion.

"I received intelligence that the Noxian Secret Squad will pass through Dragonspine Canyon in Navori Province three days from now. That will be our only chance."

Irelia spread the map flat across the table and used one of her slender, fair fingers to tap Dragonspine Canyon, which had been marked with a red circle.

"Dragonspine Canyon has treacherous terrain and can accommodate at most five people walking abreast. Intercepting them there is the wisest choice."

"Mm." Chen Ce nodded in agreement, but he had another question. "But... why not bring more people and set up an ambush above the canyon? Attacking from above would give us a higher chance of success, wouldn't it?"

Irelia did not answer immediately. Instead, she suddenly looked at the scar on his arm.

It was one Chen Ce had received not long ago—during the time he had nearly died.

"I don't want to repeat the same mistake." The girl spoke softly. "There are not many people I can trust—and you are one of them."

At that, Chen Ce understood.

Irelia was still worried about traitors.