“Oh, oh.”
Kim Ji-yeon, who was focused on the story, suddenly interrupted with a mechanical sound.
Her face was expressionless, but the talisman on her forehead clearly revealed what emotions were brewing inside.
[♥(˃ U ˂)♥]
“Already, already. Are we jumping into the relationship? This is a bit… fast-paced. But I find it… exhilarating. I want to keep listening!”
It seemed like she meant the story was progressing too quickly but found it interesting enough to want more.
But I shook my head.
“Let’s get to work now.”
“Oh no, no. How come?”
“Talking like this has dragged on too long. I have a lot to do to prepare for the Demon World expedition, so I can’t stretch this out any longer.”
Plus, considering that we were already two hours late, I couldn’t let Kelaout continue his storytelling.
“Right.”
As expected, the stern Archbishop agreed with me.
“Please save the rest of the story for later. Besides, we must…”
“Ah, why cut it off there?”
At that moment, the door burst open, and Liam walked in, carrying Rohan in his arms.
Why did he suddenly come?
“Liam, what’s going on?”
“I just wanted to see you, and when I heard you talking about the past, I eavesdropped outside.”
“Did you really come just to see me?”
“Actually, I came to ask for one more round.”
“……..”
The enormous vitality of a demigod was still far too overwhelming for me, an otherworldly human to keep up with.
“Hero, you’re no different from a beast. How many times are you planning to go at it since morning? Try to hold back.”
Yao bluntly criticized and stood in the way, but Liam did not back down and walked over to the reception table to sit down.
Then he picked up a candy and smiled.
“Should I tell you the rest of the story? Actually, it’s not that long.”
“Oh, oh! Good, good!”
Following Kim Ji-yeon, who was excited, Yao also subtly nodded.
“If that’s the case, stay a little longer.”
“Looks like you secretly wanted to hear it too, huh?”
“Because it cut off at an important point.”
“That’s true.”
Giggling and crossing his legs, Liam turned to look at Kelaout.
Of course, his attitude as a former reckless troublemaker did not change even in front of the Archbishop.
“Is it okay if I do?”
“…Very well.”
“I knew you would.”
“However, later, I want you to attend a supplementary class with Icle and the Guardian Dragon.”
“Ah.”
In that moment, the demigod slacker’s face showed signs of wanting to escape, but he seemed to give up and leaned back in his chair.
“Alright, that much I can handle.”
“This time, using illusions to cover your face is prohibited.”
“Busted, huh? But it doesn’t matter. You want to know why?”
Liam looked at me and flashed a bright smile.
“Because Clitia was really cute back then. I want to tell everyone about it.”
“……..”
Should I just throw him out?
After pondering seriously for about three seconds, I gave up and sipped my green tea.
‘Cute, what’s that about…’
In truth, I didn’t want to brag about the following events in front of others.
It was a memory I didn’t particularly want to recall.
However, seeing everyone eager for the continuation made it hard for me to pour cold water on their excitement.
Eventually, I sighed deeply and made a suggestion.
“Liam. Don’t tell everything by yourself.”
“Why not?”
“Because if I leave it all to you, you’ll exaggerate everything.”
“I was just going to stick to the facts!”
“Still, that won’t do. I must express how I felt in my own words.”
“Do as you wish. So should we start?”
Liam casually tapped Tiable and began recounting the story.
“Earlier, we ended where Clitia recognized her feelings, right? I had a plan I was concocting at that time.”
*
Near the campsite in the mountain.
Liam had been climbing the mountain for physical training with the Great Warrior Ivar since morning.
Of course, both possessed physical abilities that transcended normal limits, so regular hiking was pointless.
Thus, they carried a large boulder on their backs. Even a hero and a great warrior would find it hard to move like this.
Struggling, Liam muttered softly.
“Isn’t this a bit too foolish?”
“If it’s too hard, go down.”
“Who said it’s hard? I’m just suggesting we pursue a more sophisticated method.”
“Go down.”
“…You don’t like me?”
“Used to.”
So it meant he didn’t now.
Liam had come to understand the taciturn great warrior’s inner thoughts to some extent.
This was one of the fruits of his efforts to change after starting to love.
“Whew, this is definitely a good workout.”
“It is indeed.”
Although they weren’t having a pleasant conversation, at least the atmosphere wasn’t awkward.
A completely different vibe from the days when they didn’t speak a word.
Just a few weeks ago, the two were cold to each other but had gotten somewhat closer.
Thanks to Ivar recognizing Liam’s sincerity as he tried to become someone different after falling in love.
“Can you keep training with me?”
“Such a chilling thing to say between men.”
“Is that so?”
As they continued climbing while chatting amiably, they came upon a spot suitable for a break.
It wasn’t very wide, but it was flat and shaded.
“Want to take a break?”
“Sure.”
Liam and Ivar laid the boulder down side by side and sat against it.
As they did so, they were greeted with the refreshing view of lush green leaves.
It was truly a magnificent sight.
If only big musclehead Ivar had been there with Clitia, it would have been even better.
‘I want to go meet her soon.’
Liam recalled the moment he conversed with the beautiful saintess the previous night.
He couldn’t forget how she shyly averted her gaze, a stark contrast to her usual bold demeanor.
Right now, his mind was completely filled with Clitia’s face.
But…
He felt a pang in his heart at her hesitant expression when he couldn’t respond to her question about whether he had started to like her.
‘She must have feelings for me too…’
It wasn’t delusion.
The other companions also agreed that Clitia clearly liked Liam.
So why was she hesitating?
Did she still not have confidence in her feelings?
If so, he needed to make her honest with herself.
“Ivar.”
As he opened his mouth quietly, Ivar turned his head from his dazed posture.
“Why call?”
“I’ve made a resolution.”
“A resolution?”
Looking into Ivar’s steadfast eyes, Liam finally let out his inner thoughts.
“I’m going to confess my feelings to Clitia again.”
“……..?”
A question appeared on the stoic great warrior’s face. It seemed he didn’t quite understand.
“Why would you do something like that?”
“It’s not just for the sake of it.”
This was not a trivial matter; it was something that needed to be done at this point.
“Listen well. Clitia doesn’t really know what love is. She likely grew up in the convent, which is a place for women to avoid men.”
“Perhaps that’s true.”
“And she accepted my feelings because she was touched by my sincerity. It wasn’t because she liked me.”
In simpler terms, it was still too early to call her a ‘lover.’
If he confidently called her his girlfriend, she might get angry and ask why he did something like that without discussing it.
So…
He had to lay the foundation here.
“So far, it was like a ‘taste of romance,’ but the future is what matters.”
“Hm, so you mean you want to confirm Clitia’s feelings by confessing to her again?”
“Exactly!”
Clap!
Liam clapped his hands in affirmation, his eyes shining with enthusiasm as he smiled.
“But I’m going to mix in a bit of a white lie.”
“…A white lie?”
“If she really likes me, she’ll start fidgeting soon.”
Before long, he would surely confirm the saintess’s genuine feelings, which were still awkward due to her inexperience in love.
Thinking about it made his heart flutter with excitement.
*
At the same time, while Liam was formulating his sly plan, I was feeling dizzy from the bold advice of Haebaji.
-First, gently touch your chest with your hand. That alone will leave most men utterly powerless.
Why was I seriously listening to such nonsense?
-Then, whisper softly. Say that today is a day when you can freely do it without a high chance of pregnancy.
“…Not yet, though?”
-That’s what makes it good. Having a child would likely make the hero Clitia’s man.
“……..”
Is it normal advice to tell a saintess to have a hero’s child?
No matter how I thought about it, this was not right.
I had to find some excuse to back out.
But what kind of excuse could I offer to get around not following the advice?
While I was casually letting Haebaji’s words drift from one ear to the other, a knock suddenly sounded, and the door opened. It was Liam.
Just moments ago, I had been advised to seduce Liam, so my face heated up instantly.
“…Why are you here?”
I tried not to show it and managed to ask. I kept my expression in check too.
“……..”
But Liam looked at me with a determined gaze, remaining silent.
Every time he did that, my heart would race unnecessarily. What was he trying to say?
As I waited with a hint of anticipation, it wasn’t long before Liam spoke with a nervous expression.
“I really like you.”
I already knew that.
Did he come just to say something like that? Is he bored?
As I stared at him, confused, Liam continued.
“Clitia, I want to marry you and live happily together. Maybe have around five kids and spend time together as a family.”
“……..”
That wasn’t just a simple declaration of affection.
Liam was talking about wanting to fill his life with me completely.
He expressed a longing that transcended mere romantic interests, a kind of proposal.
“Before that, I want to become more serious with you. Not just the ‘getting to know each other stage’ anymore.”
Finally, Liam wore a bittersweet expression.
“Give me your answer quickly. If you keep hesitating like that, I might give up.”
“…What?”
“I’m honestly getting tired. It’s been two weeks already; it’s time to decide. Why are you hesitating? Do you not like me?”
That was not true.
I hadn’t realized it till now, but I actually liked Liam.
I should have said something.
Yet for some reason, I hesitated for a moment.
It was inevitable.
I wasn’t used to expressing feelings so openly yet.
“Clitia. Make your decision today. I can’t wait much longer.”
Liam sent me a disappointed look and left the room.
Thud.
The sound of the door closing echoed, and a heavy silence fell.
Was it because the soundproofing was too good?
An eerie stillness filled the room, with nothing breaking the silence.
That was fine during moments of rest, but now it felt strangely chilling.
I stared wordlessly at the door from which Liam had just departed and bit my lip.
‘No, I can’t…’
I had just realized my feelings.
I couldn’t just let everything end so emptily.
“Haebaji. What should I do?”
-That’s not a question you need to ask me.
As always, Haebaji calmly provided the answer.
-Just be honest about how you feel. That you like him. There’s no other way.
“…Alright.”
I made my decision.
I’d boldly tell Liam how I felt.
And then…
I resolved to take a step further.
“What should I do next?”
-That’s simple.
Haebaji paused for a moment, savoring the prospect.
-You should go to the sage and get some enticing clothing from her.
“…What is that?”
-The dress you saw at the shop last time. The sage secretly bought it using telekinetic magic while pretending to be dragged out.
She bought that?
Honestly, I couldn’t fend off the sage’s cunning tactics.
-If you greet the hero wearing that outfit, the relationship will surely progress quickly. What will you do?
“……..”
I pondered seriously for several minutes.
Then I slowly nodded.
“I’ll try it on…”
There was no choice but to proceed.
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