Stone! Shatter! Heaven! (Astonishing!) (Continued)

—Hmm, it doesn't seem like a bad idea. It's perfectly normal for friends to call each other by their first names. But since she's Filianore, calling her "Felene"... tsk, it just feels a little strange!

Surtr looked slightly confused.

This moment of hesitation immediately spurred Lian's further scheme—she suddenly leaned forward, the overwhelming fragrance and the clean, white cleavage almost triggering a conditioned reflex in the certain red-haired fellow. But "almost" is "almost," because his nervous reaction was defeated by that pitiful, pretty face.

"No way?" Her bright eyes blinked rapidly.

—Wow, this guy... he's cheating a bit.

—But that's still not a problem for me.

"...I think it's fine, Lian." She stepped back slightly and agreed, completely unaware that she seemed to be being led by the nose the whole time.

"That's wonderful." And so the blooming roses displayed even more vibrant colors. "Then, this is the promise between you and me."

"Hmm... it's an agreement." The idiot finally realized something was off. She subconsciously glanced around at the quiet, empty surroundings. Finding nothing to change the subject, she somewhat awkwardly steered the conversation back to where it all began.

"But you haven't told me the second reason yet..."

"Some things, saying them directly versus laying things out beforehand, can have drastically different consequences." Lian blinked, but showed no sign of relaxing. "Surtr, do my appearance and clothing meet your aesthetic standards?"

—What kind of question is this? Is this some kind of matchmaking agency?!

Surtr's temples throbbed. But surprisingly, she wasn't angry; instead, she began to analyze Filianore's motives for those words.

—She doesn't want to say it directly... Hmm, the second reason, is it that she has something she can't say? Or is it that she would offend me? I don't have enough information to analyze it... But she shouldn't have any hostility towards me. Nor does she seem to want to ask me to do anything dangerous.

—Hmm... That's strange. But aside from that, I have to admit she's really quite beautiful. Valkyrie —heroic yet gentle and noble qualities blend together perfectly. Ah, judging solely by her face and figure, I really can't find any flaws... in fact, she's completely hitting all the right spots. If I were playing a visual novel, she'd definitely be the first girl I wanted to romance.

Thus, all the complexities were reduced to a single word. "Perfectly fitting."

However, the problem did not end there.

"Surtr, do my personality and style of doing things suit your taste?"

This is getting weirder and weirder!

—However, this poise and elegance, coupled with a touch of mischievous Princess- like charm... Hmm... it seems quite appealing. And as a warrior, she seems pretty great too.

"I find it hard to say I don't like it... but can we leave this topic here?"

She said that, and then she saw Lian cover her mouth with both hands, looking at her with a pair of watery eyes that seemed to hold a thousand words, looking pitiful.

... He couldn't defend himself.

Surtr covered half of her face.

"At most, one more question. I can only answer one more question like this!"

Lian nodded quickly, her tone filled with anticipation and excitement.

"Surtr, Surtr." Her voice rose slightly. "Do you enjoy being with me?"

That's a good question.

—I can only say I have no idea! I've only known you for less than ten minutes!

"Well, I think so." She coughed. "Perhaps we need more time to get to know each other before we can figure out this issue that requires time to verify. But I can say for now that I don't dislike you... and I probably won't find you annoying either. Hmm, that's about it. Can we get back to the main topic?"

"Mmm, no problem." Lian smiled beautifully and took a light breath.

A warning sign rang loudly in someone's mind.

Then, nuclear strikes followed.

"I love you, Surtr! Marry me."

Miss Surtr blinked. Her upper body instinctively leaned back half a body length.

—?????

But her tactical lean back resulted in Filianore getting even closer, and the blonde girl's expectant yet shyly flushed face looked exquisite in the sunlight.

"Or to put it another way, please give me a chance to be loved by you. Let me marry you."

The confusion in the red-haired fellow's eyes turned into a bewildered state of doubt about life and his worldview.

——??????

—Wait, wait, wait...is there something wrong with me or with you? Or is there something wrong with the world?

This guy wanted to run away.

However, just as she was about to run away, she noticed that Lian had taken her hand in her arms and pressed it against her chest during that moment of hesitation.

"Ah, this, um... isn't there some mistake somewhere?" Surtr stammered—she tried to pull her hand back but found that she was outmatched in strength!

"There's no mistake, Surtr." However, what was more troublesome than her strength was Ren's response. "I've fallen for you, and I want you to fall for me too. It has nothing to do with duty, nothing to do with the contract. I just simply like you, and even if you don't like me, I will still like you."

"I'm sorry, this is a bit too sudden for me... Could you please let go of my hand, Miss Lian?"

However, Lian did not let go, but looked at her with a slightly sorrowful expression.

"... the agreement."

—Wait for me here!

"... Can you let go, Lian?" The red-haired brat suffered a crushing defeat.

Her hand was freed, but just as she was about to pull it back, Lian took advantage of the momentum and moved closer again, then took her arm and leaned on her shoulder.

"...Um, if you're tired, I can find you a place to rest..." Miss Surtr's eyes and the arm that was being held were twitching.

However, Lian didn't give her a way out at all.

"I'm not tired, I just want to hold you. Because I love you."

——! %￥! &#! ...%! &

Thoughts tend towards confusion.

Miss Surtr doesn't know how to deal with the current situation.

Just as she was struggling with her decision, a caravan, whose battle had ended long ago, appeared in the sky above. The Fire Keeper, who was considerate to both of her masters, approached her with a perfect opportunity to break the deadlock.

The covered wagon stopped, and the curtains opened.

Completely unaware of the current situation, Kaimiaomiao jumped off the wagon with the Fire Keeper's deliberate deference.