A Pearl, Shining Brightly (Continued)

A blush of shyness crept onto Filianore's face like a blooming scarlet rose. But the Goddess of the Oolacile Township neither looked away nor lowered her head—her gaze met Miss Surtr's in mid-air. And her gaze quickly melted away like water, merging into the Flame-haired Girl's invitation.

"I do." Every word she uttered was so clear and precise that it left no room for any flaws or ambiguity.

"No matter what the world becomes, no matter what the future holds, whether I succeed or fail, whether I live or die, I am willing."

"I will follow you, Surtr. Wherever you go, wherever you take me, whatever you want me to do, whatever you want me to become, I will follow you, I am willing to do it all."

"Please accept me. My heart, my body, my soul, everything I have—it all belongs to you, and you can do whatever you want with me. I will be overjoyed."

She reached out and placed her delicate fingers on Surtr's palm—a limb capable of shaking mountains and altering the order of heaven and earth seemed as fragile as a slender reed between his fingers. With just a thought, breaking or manipulating it into some strange shape would be an easy thing to do.

How heavy it is...

Surtr felt the weight; she knew perfectly well that the hand weighed 231.34 grams. The total amount Filianore had delivered, due to the forces of tendons and mechanics, was only so much—almost like a delicate fledgling. But when she truly perceived it, this subtle touch felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.

A thousand pounds—a thousand pounds isn't actually a very large number for her. She knows she can bear it, and she knows she should. However, even so, weight is weight, and weight is responsibility.

Even in those purely erotic visual novels from my past life, such words and confessions were beyond my comprehension. While I always keep my promises and do what I say I will, this kind of... ah, once a promise is made, its fulfillment is forever.

A perpetual burden? It's a challenge. But isn't the very purpose of a challenge to be overcome?

—Ha, so be it. I don't reject it, and she has already given everything. So, if I still can't show the magnanimity commensurate with it at this point, wouldn't I be on the same level as those ancient overpowered geniuses with their halo of reduced intelligence?

—Hoo... Shall I hold this hand?

He gently closed his fingers, holding that delicate, nervous, and slightly shy hand. Then—

"Leave it to me," Surtr replied earnestly and formally.

And just as she made her decision, establishing this eternal promise with words and actions, she saw Kal'tsit suddenly cover her mouth and get up from the table in the corner of her vision.

"Excuse me, I have something urgent to attend to." Miss Lynx's voice was urgent and fast, and she rushed out the door without waiting for a reply.

Miss Surtr looked up at the shy girl in front of her, whose face was flushed from holding her hand—both reason and instinct told her that she should not leave at the moment when they had just made their promise.

So she asked.

"Do you care, Lian?"

She received a response immediately.

"In our world, heroes and kings are entitled to many companions. Because you have many admirers, and your conduct is in accordance with the law and morality—" Filianore gently pulled her hand away from the grasp and lightly pushed the girl's fist back with her strong, slender fingers.

"I am already yours, Surtr. And I am strong, nothing in this world can break me except you... Go after your companion, she is much more fragile than me, and she can only remain strong under your protection."

Miss Surtr nodded and glanced at the Fire Keeper standing to her side.

"Miss, from the very beginning, I have been your Fire Keeper." The Fire Keeper bowed to her. "Please go ahead, I will take care of everything in the carriage."

"...Wait for me at the fortress in Fran." Miss Surtr rose and walked toward the door.

The moment she pushed open the curtain, she heard Filianore's words of advice before she left.

"Surtr".

"Um?"

"Do you trust my judgment? Even though we haven't officially met for very long?"

"Of course I believe you, even if our formal meeting only lasts a few minutes."

"Then, please listen to my advice," Filianore said softly. "Miss Kal'tsit admires you and has always held a deep and unwavering love for you, just as I feel for you. It is a mutual feeling between kindred spirits, and if you have similar feelings for her, I suggest that you make a decision now."

Miss Surtr frowned.

Love? Just kidding... Ah, maybe it really is a bit of a crush or something. After all, she covered her face and ran away in that situation. To say it's really just pure friendship would be a bit self-deceptive. But even so...

--even so...

She gently exhaled a breath of warm air.

"I didn't get along very well with her before. Although I didn't mind too much, there was always some lingering tension—and I didn't think she was the kind of delicate, weak woman who was like a parasitic vine."

"I think... getting along with her as friends is a strategy that's good for both of us."

"But you don't seem to see her as just a friend." However, Filianore's voice rose slightly. "I can see some clues. You want to tease her, and she actually enjoys being teased by you. If you don't completely agree with my speculation, then perhaps maintaining this teasing and being teased state is more suitable for both of you than simple friendship."

Surtr hesitated for a moment.

Her mind was filled with a jumble of thoughts, but she eventually came to the conclusion she had anticipated.

—Yes, I really do want to get back at her... I used to get teased by her every day, and although she's more docile now, that resentment is still there. Although I don't want to hurt her, I do want to hurt her pride, her arrogance, and her body.

—But would she be willing to accept?... Yes, perhaps out of a sense of compensation. Or perhaps for other reasons. If I made such a request, she certainly wouldn't refuse. But the possibility of her being willing isn't one hundred percent.

So, should we trust Filianore's judgment?

Breathe, think.

—What are you thinking? Of course I trust her judgment... If I don't even trust someone who fell for me at first sight, wouldn't I be putting myself in an awkward position? Sigh... Well, that's fine too.

—But...ah, it always feels a little uncomfortable to have someone give me advice in this area.

The thought ended in a single breath, and Miss Surtr nodded slightly.

"I understand, I'll consider it." She paused slightly. "And... wait for me near the Farron fortress. Once we've dealt with Kal'tsit, we'll go straight to take care of the Undead Legion —we've already wasted enough time at this stage of our journey."

I feel awkward and uncomfortable with you all around me.

After speaking, she nodded slightly. She stepped out of the carriage and quickly disappeared into the air with a whooshing sound.

The Fire Keeper watched her leave.

"Your Highness," she said suddenly after a few seconds, "I thought you would hate that Miss Kal'tsit. I never expected you would be willing to help her."

She heard Filianore hum softly.

"Of course I hate it." The little Princess of the sun shifted her posture slightly. "Just as much as you. She clearly enjoys Surtr's favoritism and attention, yet she never appreciates it. This can be seen as willful, or as taking things for granted... If it were any other time, I would definitely teach her a lesson until she realizes her mistake or simply get out of there. But..."

She stretched lazily, completely lacking any ladylike demeanor.

"The situation has changed. Just a few minutes ago, I was first and foremost the Goddess of the Oolacile Township, and then Surtr's fiancée. But now the Oolacile Township has to be put aside, and I am now Surtr's possession. She is my husband, my servant, my master. Naturally, I must act according to her preferences, and if she abandons Kal'tsit in this world, then perhaps one day she will regret it."

"I have to share her burdens, and the best way to do that is to nip them in the bud before they even arise. I don't want her to remember Lordran with a bittersweet feeling of having severed ties with us, in addition to the wonderful memories we shared. If we had already returned to Terra together, I wouldn't care how that Miss Kal'tsit died. But since this is our source world, and the memories we shared with her are precious, having a few dead cats around is always a bit of an eyesore."

"I understand, Your Highness." The Fire Keeper nodded slightly. She reached out and flicked the air, and the miracle that propelled the vehicle immediately began. The exquisite caravan then rose from the ground and soared into the sky.

She sniffed softly, as if sensing something, and looked in the direction Surtr had gone—she sensed a familiar aura, an aura that had a slight connection to the Black Knight armor that Filianore had been wearing earlier.