Hot Spring Side Story, But Not With Airi, Sadness.

"What? Not talking anymore? Are you actually scared?"

Seeing Chang Yuan's silence, Airi immediately teased him.

Chang Yuan just glanced at her and didn't say much.

He believed he could succeed; even the hardest iron could melt eventually.

"Alright, alright, this is so boring. Can't you give me even a little reaction?"

"Then what reaction do you want? Fear? Excitement?"

"Umm, I can understand fear, but why excitement?"

Airi sounded a bit confused.

Was there a necessary connection between excitement and what she had just said?

What, not being able to find a girlfriend is something to be excited about? Wait! Chang Yuan doesn't like guys, does he?

In an instant, Airi thought of a possibility and narrowed her eyes as she looked at Chang Yuan.

"You're not excited because you like boys, are you?"

"...?"

"I don't like boys, hey! Don't spread rumors about me!"

Hearing Airi say that, Chang Yuan almost lost his composure.

Screw you, liking guys? He's not from that place, how could he like guys?

"Ehehe~? Who knows, maybe you just like guys? You've traveled for so many years, and I've never seen your gaze linger on any girl for too long."

With her hands behind her back, Airi walked in front of Chang Yuan as she spoke.

But he didn't notice at all; Chang Yuan's gaze was always fixed on her.

You say I never linger on other girls, but have you ever considered that all my gazes are fixed on you?

"Yeah, I really haven't lingered on other girls. Maybe I just haven't met anyone I like yet?"

"Then your standards are really high. After so many years, you still haven't met anyone you like. I'm still waiting to call you 'sister-in-law'~?."

"...Heh heh."

Hearing this answer, Chang Yuan felt a hint of bitterness for some reason.

But it was also within expectations. If it were that easy to win the heart of this Herrscher of Humanity, then in the original story, many people would have had that patience.

But even so, he had to try. Even if he failed, at least he had been brave.

One year later...

"It's getting dark, and I still haven't found a hotel."

"There's no helping it. The security in this city is too good; there are no hotels that don't require ID registration."

Chang Yuan shrugged helplessly upon hearing Airi's words.

But then he noticed a library ahead, a 24-hour self-service library.

"Here, let's just stay the night in the library. It's at least better than sleeping on the streets."

"It seems like that's the only option. Let's go."

Hearing this, Airi thought it made sense and immediately nodded in agreement.

After they both inserted coins, the library door automatically opened.

Seeing that it wasn't too late, Airi went to get a book to read.

Chang Yuan, on the other hand, started taking out his phone to connect to the internet. After all, buying a phone didn't require an ID.

After connecting to the internet, Chang Yuan began to look for nearby hot springs or something similar, so he could at least take a shower.

He did end up finding one and immediately saved the location, planning to take Airi to the hot springs later.

However, at this moment, a man's scream suddenly rang out.

"No, don't come near me! You're that Pink Demon!"

"Huh? I, I'm not. You must have mistaken me for someone else."

"Impossible! Those iconic pink hair, you're definitely that Pink Demon. Get away from me, don't come any closer!"

"I'm really not. I'm just passing by here to read."

Hearing Airi's voice and that of a stranger, Chang Yuan's instincts kicked in almost instantly.

Library, man, Pink Demon, misunderstanding Airi.

Wait, does that mean I'm going to meet Sakura soon?

"Airi, ignore him. Let's go to the hot springs first, and then we can come back and sleep on a table when we get tired of reading."

"Mmm, okay. But I really wasn't called the Pink Demon."

Airi was somewhat bothered by that nickname.

She's so cute, why would they call her the Pink Demon? Wouldn't "Miss Pink Fairy" be better? What a lovely nickname.

However, Airi didn't dwell on this matter for too long.

Shouldering her backpack, Airi followed Chang Yuan's retreating footsteps.

Seeing Airi actually leave, the man finally believed she wasn't the Pink Demon.

He immediately let out a long sigh of relief.

But as he sighed in relief, he failed to notice a pink figure appear behind him.

"**You used misinformation to steal materials from Flame-Chasing Moth. My name is Forget-me-not, so please meet your end."

As soon as she finished speaking, without giving the man a chance to react, the woman swung her sword, a flash of cold light.

In an instant, the man collapsed to the ground, unable to rise. However, as if not to scare anyone, the pink-clad woman looked around the area.

And after ensuring no one was watching, she performed some simple cleanup, at the very least tidying up the blood on the ground, then finding something to re-tie his neck. After that, she left him lying there.

This way, someone would definitely discover him the next day. Still, she dragged him to a more secluded corner so as not to startle the person who was mistakenly identified as her.

After finishing everything, the pink figure left behind a flower called Forget-me-not. She leaves one of these flowers every time she kills someone, as a declaration that this person was killed by her.

Meanwhile, Chang Yuan, soaking in his private hot spring, was quite annoyed.

This damn hot spring, why wasn't it co-ed? Damn it all!

But thinking that Airi was in the hot spring right next door, Chang Yuan calmed down.

In a way, this was also like soaking in the hot spring together.

Just then, the door to his hot spring room was opened, and the owner of the hot spring establishment walked in slowly, wearing a yukata.

"Guest, would you like any special services?"

"..."

This was a grave insult, a truly grave insult! An insult so great that one hand couldn't even grasp it.

In that instant, Chang Yuan's brain seemed to freeze.

Wait, this place was the Far East? And there was even a hot spring side quest!

And as a normal man, Chang Yuan had to admit, he got excited.

But he quickly turned his head away with firm resolve. It wasn't for any other reason than that Airi was next door. He was a devoted lover, he wouldn't engage in such things.

"Tsk, little handsome, you really don't need anything? I guarantee the service will leave you longing for me, or perhaps you're afraid of your little girlfriend?"

As she spoke, the owner moved closer to Chang Yuan.