I'll Show You What "Love" Is

What about human cities? How about staying in [Äußerst]?

I'm not used to it here, and humans might reject Elves, right? After all, to humans, we're an alien race...

"It's hard to say..."

She lowered her head again, this time burying it even deeper, as if she were helpless and without any hope for the future.

Her long hair obscured Lia's face like a waterfall, making it impossible for Galan to see her expression.

Perhaps she was crying, but Elves rarely have such strong emotions; her eyes were probably just red. But for a girl who had grown up in a loving environment, her current situation was truly a dead end. Everyone protected her when she was in danger, but no one thought about what would happen to her after losing them.

"Then why don't you... come with me from now on?"

Galan paused, and after a long internal struggle, he finally spoke his mind.

"Then why don't you... come with me from now on?"

He straightened his expression, making himself look like he wasn't joking, and said it again.

He had originally intended to join the caravan, but he didn't know what other arrangements Frog and his crew would make after this business trip; they might even go elsewhere for another deal.

However, Lia's current condition is definitely not suitable for her to continue traveling long distances and running around with the others.

Furthermore, I have a promise with Serie, and I don't know how long I'll stay in [Äußerst], so I probably won't be able to leave with Frog and the others again.

Perhaps because her voice was too soft and lacked confidence when she spoke for the first time, Lia didn't seem to give any response.

When he brought it up a second time, Lia slowly raised her head, her golden hair slightly parted as if lifting a curtain to reveal her slightly reddened eyes, which were looking at him hazily.

"Me... going with you?" She seemed somewhat puzzled.

"Yes, it's you and me," Galan affirmed once again.

Why? Why are you helping me? This doesn't make sense...

A look of confusion crossed her eyes; it seemed that Galan's suggestion had greatly perplexed her.

"Hey, you wouldn't believe it, would you? When faced with a cute, beautiful girl like you who's in deep trouble, there's always an idiot like me who'll appear and help you without hesitation."

He actually wanted to say it more elegantly, more forcefully, and more logically, but when it actually came to his lips, it just turned into rubbish and lame jokes.

He's like an amateur comedian.

"Pfft, why?"

Seemingly amused by her own nonsensical remark, Lia turned her head, a smile appearing on her face. It seems that occasionally spouting nonsense has a good effect. "Perhaps it's because of lust... ah, no, love at first sight?"

Galan raised his chin as if to appear profound, looking like a philosopher.

"I was deeply attracted to you the first time I met you, yes, that's it, so it all makes sense, right? Simply put, I like you, so helping you is only natural."

"... So that's why you told the Demons that I was your partner back then?"

"Hmm? Hmm! Yes, yes! That's it."

Galan was startled by her words and almost forgot about what had happened before.

Looking back, it was a slip of the tongue. I didn't think it through and blurted it out without any restraint when Nolz questioned me. Now it seems that I have many flaws. If it weren't for Lia, my troupe would probably have collapsed long ago.

Long live stupidity!

"Is that so...? But I still don't understand... What you humans call love is nothing more than a temporary companionship for us. How could we possibly become partners?"

Lia pursed her lips, actually giving the question a serious look. It was precisely her words that left Galan completely stunned.

Yes...:::: Love between humans is just a fleeting moment for Elves, and after Lia said that, Galan suddenly realized that he had never noticed this before, and Lia had never brought it up with him back then.

The idea of a human falling in love with Elf seems to be a tragedy in itself.

Time is the greatest chasm between these two races. If it weren't for the short lifespan of humans, Himmel probably wouldn't have considered falling in love with and marrying Frieren to be an absolutely impossible thing.

Yes... Time is so cruel, yet so incredibly fair...

Galan, who was about to utter some frivolous words, fell silent at this moment, as if he had suddenly realized that there seemed to be a mistake in his answer just before handing in his paper, but he didn't know where he went wrong.

He lowered his head slowly, just like Lia had done before.

Where exactly did I go wrong?

Is it about understanding the question? Or the process of answering it?

Or was it really a mistake?

If I were to fall in love with Lia as before, only to die decades later, just like her family and clan, leaving her alone to face the rest of her life, wouldn't that be cruel? It would be like being a gravedigger.

Perhaps it would have been better if this whole thing—the idea of falling in love with her and wanting her to fall in love with me in return—had never even arisen in the first place.

Is that really the case?

No... that's not it...

As the answer gradually became clearer in his mind, his furrowed brows relaxed as he seemed to understand something.

Galan raised his head, his gaze becoming increasingly resolute.

He believed his answer was correct. The real problem wasn't the lack of courage to face the prospect of facing life alone, but rather the fact that he would have to do so.

The idea that one should lose the will to live simply because someone they deeply love or are close to is fundamentally wrong.

He will make Lia understand that no matter what, even if you are alone, you must live on with strength. As long as you hold onto hope, you can find beauty anywhere, even when you are alone. Even though happiness cannot last forever, we all strive to live for some happy moment.

"Love isn't something so superficial and shallow... It's okay if you don't understand now. In the future, I will definitely make you understand what 'love' truly is, and I will definitely make you my partner, just as I said before."

Looking at the incredibly focused Galan before her, something seemed to stir within Lia, but when she tried to feel it again, she couldn't find that feeling anymore.

What was that just now? It's something that's never happened before.

Is that what he calls "love"?

Lia opened her mouth slightly, but didn't know how to describe the flutter in her heart.