This Is My Route to Winning Them Over! (Continued)

Worry.

What is there to worry about?

Because Persephone arranged insurance for Alina ... for everyone in Chernobog who might enter the dream? Because she meticulously planned out every detail and loophole? Because she did such a good job that he had to worry about it. Or was it because she didn't explain things directly to him and just barged into his dream without permission?

—No, she already told me. Since she told me to go back to sleep, she must have made the necessary preparations. Both of us knew this perfectly well. There was no question of acting first and informing later.

--but...

The girl sighed and slowly poured the slightly bitter tea down her throat. The cold liquid didn't bring her any pleasure like ice cream; instead, a more subtle sense of melancholy welled up inside her.

"But... but..."

"We had an agreement." She muttered to herself. "They promised me before that they wouldn't 'arrange' things for everyone on Rhodes Island anymore. At least they wouldn't let them realize it... This guy is so annoying, making a promise and then breaking it. He already got the 'price' from me. And yet he did this."

She rested her chin on her hand, gazing listlessly at the vast land before her—under the cover of night, Point Star flickered and swayed on the plain's surface—some were lights leaking from windows, some were colonies of fireflies, and others were various elemental creatures inhabiting the wild or the outskirts—the light was not intense, and mostly even somewhat cold. But their very existence signified peace and tranquility.

—Genshin Impact... was supposed to be a relatively lighthearted world.

—It's the kind of relaxed world where dragons attack cities without a single casualty. Ancient demons resurrect, but aside from causing a spectacular explosion, there are no casualties. It's a world where you can relax, travel, and occasionally beat up some minor monsters without getting bogged down in anything annoying... That's how it should be.

Death is commonplace for me, even after the initial accident. My initial plan was only to save Alina and Talulah. Then, I would embark on a lighthearted adventure on this continent and slightly change some unpleasant events, perhaps slowly, perhaps quickly, but ultimately, I would push open the gate between the two worlds, taking them both and a beautiful memory, back to the world of Terra.

She sighed again, her gaze rising to the sky. The bright moon came into view, but its light was somewhat dim and carried a certain gloom that would annoy those with preconceived notions.

—Everything was planned perfectly, so why did it turn out like this?

—Even though everything seems calm on the surface right now. But... if the situation weren't so urgent that there was no room for compromise, how could Persephone possibly break his promise to me and openly reveal his 'arrangements' for Alina?

—Persephone, Persephone ... How am I supposed to talk to Alina and Talulah and explain all this to them? Or is this all part of your plan?

She downed half a pot of cold tea in one gulp—it was just ordinary tea, yet she vaguely felt a slight buzz. They say it's not the wine that intoxicates, but the person themselves; and if one chooses to be intoxicated, what harm is there in having no wine at all?

Drink it all up.

After finishing this pot, there's another. If there's any discomfort in the stomach, vaporize it with fire within the intestines and let it escape with your breath—this is also a way to refine the strength of your internal organs. An intestine and stomach that can ignore steam will naturally not be afraid of certain curses or poisons.

It's somewhat useful.

But it wasn't very useful.

For the next period of time, Miss Surtr abandoned all thought and restraint. She didn't care about the occasion either, simply sitting on the rooftop, improving her combat abilities in her own preferred way.

Whether it's the Eye of God or the Heart of God, they are essentially just mediums for manipulating elements. They are external magical organs, used to control elements while keeping the body free from the burden. However, if we put it another way, if the body itself can bear elemental power, then the Eye of God is unnecessary.

Elemental beings neither have nor need the Eye of God. This is because their bodies are perfectly capable of withstanding the onslaught of elements of the same type without requiring a medium.

Therefore, if one modifies their own physical form in the same way, granting it a sufficiently large capacity to bear power, similar to an elemental being, then power can naturally flow into their fingertips.

—It's become a distant relative of a slime.

Miss Surtr thought to herself, her primary skill lies in fire. So she adjusted her breathing technique, modifying the internal fusion furnace she had previously used as a makeshift solution and upgraded several times, altering her body in a way similar to that of a fire slime—this worked well. However, she couldn't allow herself to be weak to water or sensitive to lightning. Therefore, many internal details still needed further adjustment and correction.

—Luckily, I have experience, even though the rules of the world are different. I was a slime after all... Ah, I wonder how Rimuru, that adorable king, is doing now. Although he was born to be a Lord of Fiends, being cute really suits him better...

Thoughts swirl, the body adjusts.

Power silently gathers within the body, increasing slightly with each passing second.

With more experiences and more deaths, growth ceases to be a difficult thing. Wendy's guess about her wasn't entirely correct; if she wanted, her growth function could change from a multiple to an exponential function at any time before reaching the limit.

Improve, improve, keep improving.

Then--

A gust of wind slipped out of the window beneath the hotel, fleeing from her senses as if in a panic... Ah, it seems the negotiations have come to an end. Just as she had predicted, it was a resounding victory for Persephone.

The next moment, the girl's warm fingers touched her fingertips.

As a result, the lifting process came to a standstill.

"Is it Alina, or Persephone?" she asked, without withdrawing her hand.

"It's Alina now." — A warm feeling came from beside her, the two girls side by side. "When I was swept up by the wind in the city, she shielded me from the debris in the wind. And that's probably why I was targeted by that dragon. Then, in the forest, Al, when you... left, I activated her."

Alina's horn gently touched the tip of the girl's hair beside her—she still remembered Persephone's last words of advice on the rooftop—"Since you've made up your mind, don't hesitate. Rushing things is dangerous, but at least you should reach a suitable distance first."

How do you bring a magnet closer to its distance?

Since it's impossible to get close no matter what, then try to change its own magnetic poles!

"I willingly handed over control of my body to her," the girl from Elafia uttered. "She told me everything. And after careful consideration, I made my choice."

"—I agree."

Little Deer turned her head to look at her and said earnestly, "She didn't hide anything, and I also feel that we must rely on her intelligence to better help you in this world."

She saw Miss Surtr frown slightly, as if troubled, yet also somewhat relaxed.

"So..." Surtr scratched his head. "It was you, Alina, who released her; you made the decision. Not her who forcefully took over your body?" — This girl didn't force you into her body; I'm the one who's wronged her!?

"Hmm." She saw the Little Deer lower its head obediently. "Let her talk to you."

"I never do anything where the return is less than the cost, Surtr." The next moment, the Little Deer's voice abruptly changed, its gentleness vanishing, replaced by a sharp edge. Persephone's aura swirled around her. "Since I made a promise to you, I will not go back on it. Did you think I would break my promise and betray my vow?"

Surtr, slightly embarrassed.

"So you really think that way, Surtr." The girl beside him lowered her voice slightly, a hint of sadness in her voice. Even knowing it was all a blatant lie, the red-haired man suddenly felt a surge of panic, like being caught reading a novel in class by his homeroom teacher!

"Uh... sorry." She subconsciously turned her head away.

"Sorry alone won't do." The Maiden Doctor, who bore Alina's face, spoke calmly, but her attitude was resolute.

... A bad feeling crept into someone's heart.

"I want compensation," she said. "The Wind God promised to heal that astrologer, but tonight, she took my bed— Surtr —as compensation. I want to sleep on your lap."

Someone gasped.

Is this even possible?!

Using someone else's body to seek this... strange reward. Has she taken the wrong medicine?!

Doesn't she know that doing this is a huge problem, has serious consequences, and that she, not the other way around, will be the one in trouble?

Is this not just compensation, but also punishment?!

"But you're Alina... What will Talulah think if I do something like this!?"—Thoughts raced through the mind as the fool tried to make a last-ditch effort. However, all possible avenues were now ineffective, and only panic remained in the fool's heart.