Buy One, Get One Free

"At least don't make the young lady unhappy."

What? This is just one-sided thrashing! But don't worry, Filianore will do it again sometime in the future.

Chapter 192 Buy One Get One Free

—Just as I expected, my Fire Keeper is indeed a gentle girl.

Miss Surtr witnessed Kal'tsit and her companion's return as the first rays of moonlight fell—a subtle atmosphere existed between them, a mixture of distance and unspoken understanding. Their return was accompanied by the radiant glow of a teleportation miracle and a massive covered wagon.

Very good, Lothric- style RV, powered by a gargoyle disguised as a horse using light magic. Not bad, only slightly inferior to the legendary Wizard's Mansion spell.

It seems that we can not only enjoy delicious food while dining, but also have a car available for transportation after the meal.

—Well done. Anyway, I don't need to rest at night, so driving is a good way to pass the time. I can also enjoy the wild scenery of Lothric.

—This must have been prepared by the Fire Keeper for Kal'tsit —after all, although Kal'tsit's existence here should be that of Spirit-like Entity, she should still have normal physiological habits and experience fatigue... Ah, their relationship is so good. My sister is indeed skilled in interpersonal relationships; she gets along just as well with Kal'tsit as she does with Yelena.

The thought flashed through her mind—she extinguished the burning flames of sin in her hand and greeted the two returning people with a welcoming smile.

"You're back! You've been so busy for so long, you must be exhausted."

"It's just a simple matter of moving things, Miss." The Fire Keeper bowed to her and brought the caravan to a stop. Her gaze swept over the perimeter of the purification chapel, and she easily noticed the changes inside.

"Have you dealt with those bystanders?"

"Hmm." Surtr nodded. She glanced at Kal'tsit —the Miss Lynx seemed somewhat conflicted and even avoided her. And in this subtle change, she seemed to sense something strange.

The atmosphere of emotion.

Hesitation, unease, self-blame, sorrow, and a seemingly sharp resolve—this rich array of emotions was hardly something Kal'tsit should possess. And naturally, this piqued her curiosity.

"Kal'tsit, could I have a moment of your time?" Surtr asked her—he already had some issues he needed her to resolve anyway.

"...Hmm." Miss Lynx's voice was gentler than usual—even a little timid.

—Is it because I've made new friends that I need to maintain a good image in front of them? Ah... I wish I had more of this guy's gentleness. Although... things seem pretty good as they are?

She glanced at the Fire Keeper instinctively.

The latter smiled and withdrew to attend to dinner arrangements—the moonlight gradually became clearer as night fell, casting messy shadows among the sparse trees in the distance.

"...Mmm." Kal'tsit replied softly and weakly.

She almost grabbed the creature's hand, but after some thought, she felt she and the lynx weren't quite that close—after a moment's hesitation, the emerald green figure before her took a step forward. And so, in the quiet of the early night, the two walked towards the outside of the wagon, heading towards an area where the Fire Keeper couldn't hear them.

She walked very fast.

As she walked away, she felt Kal'tsit's heart was beating very fast—she could definitely hear it, but she wasn't sure why.

—Is it because you were too busy before that you're tired?

—That makes sense, after all, it's such a big vehicle... And since she gets along well with the Fire Keeper, given her personality, she would naturally do her best to help when making new friends.

She had an explanation in her mind, and because this explanation was beneficial to what she wanted to do next, she subconsciously accepted it as true. Once this preconceived notion took hold, subsequent developments would naturally be slightly altered.

All lines used to ingratiate themselves and show concern have been removed.

Direct and to the point.

Miss Surtr stopped at the edge of the woods—the meeting of warm and cold air created gusts of gentle night breeze. Her hair fluttered in the breeze, swaying in the air as she paused, brushing against the lips of Kal'tsit, who was following behind her.

For a fleeting moment, Kal'tsit's emerald green eyes were clearly filled with confusion and infatuation.

And in the next moment—

"Kal'tsit, I... have something to tell you."

She felt the lynx lady's heart skip a beat as she spoke.

"Yes... yes?" Kal'tsit stammered. The confusion and infatuation in her eyes transformed in an instant into incredulous surprise and anticipation, as well as an uncontrollable fear.

When did this guy become so emotional? Why does he look like he's being held on the gallows waiting for a verdict or a pardon?

—Or perhaps I misunderstood something, or maybe it wasn't just me who misunderstood, but her as well... But I didn't do anything unnecessary or say anything unnecessary.

Red-haired thing, completely baffled.

But the things that need to be done still need to be done.

"What do you think..." She subconsciously lowered her voice and moved a little closer.

She saw Kal'tsit instinctively hold her breath.

Then...

"... What do you think of the Fire Keeper?"

That subtle and eerie atmosphere came to an abrupt halt. The mask of emotions on Miss Lynx's face—a mask of expectation, trepidation, inner turmoil, unease, hesitation, and subtle joy—shattered silently and tragically in an instant.

Her breathing became rapid, and although her heart hadn't stopped, it eventually stabilized after a series of rapid fluctuations. It stabilized, but it wasn't steady. And like someone who had narrowly escaped death, her heart was slightly arrhythmic—she was practically gasping for breath, and a blush crept onto her cheeks.

--baffling.

—There's no way she could have taken the wrong medicine in the dream world.

Miss Surtr tilted her head, waiting for Kal'tsit's response—she had just thought the cat was about to jump up and scratch her. But in the end, it remained only at the level of 'she thought,' rather than going any further.

She saw Kal'tsit lower her head.

"The Fire Keeper, huh..." She seemed to be suppressing something, as if she were gritting her teeth, but ultimately did nothing. And finally, the words that came from her mouth were spoken with a fair tone. "...She is a gentle, kind, tactful, and polite person. And...she relies on you very much."

"I don't know why you're asking this question, or why you're asking me. But I'll try to be as objective as possible—you can trust her, Surtr. You can entrust her with anything you deem important, from saving the world to the most trivial matters... She should be the most reliable person you can rely on on this continent called Lordran. And I believe she won't betray you."

"... I rarely hear such high praise from you." Surtr seemed to want to rub his eyes. A person should be viewed with new respect after three hours of separation.

"Just stating the facts." Miss Lynx raised her head, her usual serious demeanor returning, and her hands clasped to her chest—a psychologically speaking, a sign of insecurity or being threatened. However, Kal'tsit is a well-trained cat, so this posture likely reflects her decision.

Miss Surtr, in any case, never paid attention to such things—she only noticed that the potentially problematic atmosphere had silently dissipated.

Kal'tsit doesn't seem to intend to dwell on the previous situation.

"She is an excellent executor. Her talent, knowledge, and ability to handle affairs are among the best even in Terra. At least in my experience, apart from that gloomy woman Persephone, there are very few executors on her level. But her strategist abilities are still difficult to assess."