(Iris POV)
"Cai Hong challenges Mama to be the cutest!"
I blinked a few times at her, something I had never done even when I'm faced with something incomprehensible.
Yet here I am just staring at her simply because my Omniscience was also drawing a blank at her challenge.
How did she even do that?
Ah… She must have asked Master to prevent Omniscience from revealing things about her so that I could not get the upper hand against her.
I decided to just ask her instead, "What do you mean?"
She giggled, "Ehehe~ We make Papa say who is cutest! Cutest one wins!"
I tilted my head at her, "And how do we do that?"
Now it was her turn to tilt her head at me, "Eh? Cai Hong dunno… But Mama is not cute! Mama needs to be cuter! Papa will be happy if Mama is cuter!"
What is this little dragon talking about? And why is she speaking like this? Was Master still monitoring her?
Ara? Is that why she is like this?
So it looks like the game is already underway~
I smiled at her, "Ehe~ What do I need to do to make Papa think I'm cute?"
The little dragon giggled, "Ehehe~ Mama got cute~ Let's play, let's play! Mama needs to continue being cute while playing for today!"
"Ufufu~ What shall we play?"
She raised her hands in the air, "We can play games! Umm… Hide and seek!"
Ara? It's the incomprehensible hiding game isn't it?
"Papa will seek! Last one to get found gets a cutie point!"
I tilted my head, "Cutie point?"
"Yes! Most cutie points means the cutest! Then win Papa!"
Ah, I suppose the little dragon will be proposing a series of games for us to play and every game is worth a 'cutie point' which will be tabulated to determine the winner at the end.
I looked at the little dragon with mild interest, "Are there any rules to this game?"
She pouted at me, "Mama no cute anymore! Mama needs to be cute!"
Ara? Ufufufu~ That is true~
I made use of my Omniscience to find the proper way for me to respond to her.
Thus, I brought my finger to my lips and pouted at her, "Papa… 'Rwules'?"
The little dragon giggled before taking out a piece of paper from her sleeve and passed it to me.
Unfolding it telekinetically, I read what was written on the paper.
It seemed like she had already planned this ahead of time seeing that the rules for it were all written neatly on the paper. Most likely this is to avoid having to explain to me in detail and break her 'illusion' of looking cute..
The designated area for the game was limited to within the City of Dreams and neither of us were allowed to escape to another dimension, Plane or Universe at any point of time during the game.
We were also forbidden from using or getting others to use their powers on us for an advantage over the other hider.
Our physical capabilities were also limited to that of a mortal child, which meant neither of us could do anything like jumping around the rooftops of buildings or even trying to outrun Master.
Omniscience and Omnipotence were also banned from being used, a rule that I was sure was directed specifically for me.
Last but not least, we were not allowed to try and seduce Master or even give away the position of the other participant halfway through either.
It even mentioned that the physical capabilities limitation would carry on for the rest of my time in this World. Why the limitations on my omniscience and omnipotence was not considered was weird but welcome.
It certainly looks easy enough and I nodded to show my agreement to the terms.
The little dragon cheered and took the paper back from me to hide it in her sleeve.
She then turned towards the throne room, "Papa~ Count to twenty! Run!!"
The little dragon immediately bolted towards the doors of the castle, giggling as she ran.
Right then, Master's voice came from behind the door, loud enough to echo through the halls of the castle.
"ONE…"
I suppose I should also find my own spot to hide as well.
Running out of the castle, I already know exactly where I needed to hide after what I experienced today.
That 'child' had mentioned that the place behind those boxes in the alley was usually the place where Master's split body would last search in the game. That means that this should also be true for the real Master as well.
Even without Omniscience to guide me, my perfect memory allowed me to navigate myself back to that same alley where the familiar boxes laid.
Turning round the corner, I prepared to hide myself behind the boxes when I realised someone else was already there.
"Ehehe~ Hello Mama~" The little dragon giggled.
She then did the unthinkable where she pulled me down towards her so that we could both hide behind the box.
"Shhh! Don't let Papa find us!" She whispered in between her giggles before pulling something out from her other sleeve. "Cai Hong has Papa's cookies! Mama want?"
I was just about to reject it to try and find another place to hide before stopping myself. A 'cute' me would not reject such a thing.
This must have been a trap she prepared to get me to stop being 'cute'. How cunning.
Thus, I settled down beside her and allowed the little dragon to pass one of Master's cookies to me, nibbling on it at the same time as the little dragon.
The little dragon showed an extremely blissful expression on her face while eating the cookie, which prompted me to do the same as well just to keep up that 'cute' requirement.
"Ehehehe~ Mama looks so pretty~" The little dragon muttered, leaning herself against me.
Truly incomprehensible… Are we not competing against each other right now? Why would she act so friendly towards me? In fact, why is she even staying with me? Isn't that the worst idea when you're playing a game like this?
The little dragon then did the most incomprehensible thing of cuddling me before promptly falling asleep while hugging my side.
Is she really alright with this?
Is she not worried that I would simply carry her out into the open and leave her there for Master to find her? Or does she really think that she would win against me no matter what tricks I come up with?
…
At least the cuddle feels nice so I suppose I can just let it slide for just a little bit… Then I'll make sure to hide somewhere to let this little dragon be spotted by Master before I do…
Yes… Just for a little bit…
…
Zzz…
